Just to show how selfless of a person I am ... despite the fact that my brackets would have been TOTALLY screwed given that I picked Kansas to win it all... I was really pulling for Davidson to win. There's nothing I like more than a good underdog story and when I see a small college that no one has ever heard of (OK, I had never heard of) make it to the Elite Eight and play with so much heart, how can you not want them to win?? I always wonder if these moments truly change people by having that period in the spotlight, thousands of fans cheering for you, making you believe you can win despite the odds. Even though you'll never likely play after college, that confidence might propel someone into a different trajectory in their life all because of that one tournament where they were a part of a Cinderella story. At least I like to think it does.
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An update on my friend Beverly who was kidnapped. Her car was used in a drive by shooting two nights later which likely confirms my suspicion that the perpetrators were gang related (though nothing like that has been mentioned in the press). The car was later abandoned. It is currently being dusted for fingerprints. I saw Beverly on Thursday night and she is still quite shaken, but very thankful to be alive.
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oh, and I did take my little walk with brief periods of jogging. I forgot how good it feels to get the heart pumping, and even though I'm ridiculously out of shape - you have to start somewhere right??
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Negativity is Thy Name
I'm going to make myself go for a run ... jog ... perhaps walk mixed with a touch of jogging here and there??? ... when I get off work. I've become a pathetically lazy couch potato as of late and I have some serious negative energy that I'm needing to burn off.
My personal life is pretty awesome, I mean I have a fabulous husband who adores me and sends me flowers for no particular reason (like this week), how great is that?? I am however sorely lacking in the social circle given that all of my close friends live in states far away. I haven't really been able to make a lot of friends since moving here, and the night shift schedule makes it particularly tough to even coordinate something if in theory I had a local friend. I do think it takes a while to find your niche when you relocate, but it's even worse here because I'm so different from most of the people I meet. I'm a flaming, open-minded liberal who doesn't go to church, while most people here .... aren't.
The other big issue is that I am suffering from serious job dissatisfaction at the moment. Unfortunately I'm making such good money that I can't afford to do anything else, but it is really starting to wear on me. I haven't decided if it's working in the NICU in general, or working in this particular NICU. I am so tired of dead beat, neglectful parents and jacked up babies with no chance of a quality of life. There's always a certain element of this in any unit I've worked in, but it seems to be the norm as opposed to the exception where I'm at now. I can't even tell you the last time I had a patient where the parent(s) showed up or even called routinely, it's been over three weeks for sure. It just blows me away because if they show no interest in their sick, hospitalized child, why would I think they're going to give a crap when they're home and healthy?? At some point, I'm guessing that the hospital will not renew my travel contract and I'll have to figure out what to do. It's going to be rough because no matter where I staff at, it's going to be a HUGE paycut. I'll also have to decide whether it's time to try something different and if so, what that will be. I'm kindof looking forward to the opportunity to work in a different realm, but the almost 50% cut in pay??? Not so much.
So yes, I think a walk sprinkled with moments of jogging is definitely in order ... if it stops thundering and lightning that is.
My personal life is pretty awesome, I mean I have a fabulous husband who adores me and sends me flowers for no particular reason (like this week), how great is that?? I am however sorely lacking in the social circle given that all of my close friends live in states far away. I haven't really been able to make a lot of friends since moving here, and the night shift schedule makes it particularly tough to even coordinate something if in theory I had a local friend. I do think it takes a while to find your niche when you relocate, but it's even worse here because I'm so different from most of the people I meet. I'm a flaming, open-minded liberal who doesn't go to church, while most people here .... aren't.
The other big issue is that I am suffering from serious job dissatisfaction at the moment. Unfortunately I'm making such good money that I can't afford to do anything else, but it is really starting to wear on me. I haven't decided if it's working in the NICU in general, or working in this particular NICU. I am so tired of dead beat, neglectful parents and jacked up babies with no chance of a quality of life. There's always a certain element of this in any unit I've worked in, but it seems to be the norm as opposed to the exception where I'm at now. I can't even tell you the last time I had a patient where the parent(s) showed up or even called routinely, it's been over three weeks for sure. It just blows me away because if they show no interest in their sick, hospitalized child, why would I think they're going to give a crap when they're home and healthy?? At some point, I'm guessing that the hospital will not renew my travel contract and I'll have to figure out what to do. It's going to be rough because no matter where I staff at, it's going to be a HUGE paycut. I'll also have to decide whether it's time to try something different and if so, what that will be. I'm kindof looking forward to the opportunity to work in a different realm, but the almost 50% cut in pay??? Not so much.
So yes, I think a walk sprinkled with moments of jogging is definitely in order ... if it stops thundering and lightning that is.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Disgusting!
I'm a little disgusted at the moment. Tonight, I learned that one of the very sweet nurses that I work with who helped plan my work wedding shower was kidnapped at gunpoint. It happened at a local Super Wal-Mart and thankfully they drove about 12 miles then shoved her out of the car. I can't imagine how terrifying the ordeal must have been, but she is very lucky to be alive.
About 10 years ago, the sister-in-law of my uncle (we weren't related, but I knew her from family gatherings at my aunt and uncle's house over the years) was carjacked. Unfortunately, the perpetrator chose to drive a few miles, shoot her in the head, and dump her body in a wooded area off the side of the road. She had a son and daughter in college and a young son at home, obviously their lives were never the same . The bastard was caught trying to cross the Canadian border in the car; then tried, convicted and sentenced to death, though I doubt that gave anyone much comfort. Especially when Gov. George Ryan commuted everyone's death sentences before he left office as an attempt to make his legacy be that of "the compassionate pardoner" as opposed to the scammer and crook that he was. Did I mention former Gov. Ryan is in prison now?? Interestingly enough, the state of Missouri wants a piece of the scum who murdered her for another murder he committed .... maybe he won't be so lucky to avoid the lethal injection this time??
Anyway, I'm just thankful that Beverly escaped with her life, though I'm sure she'll never feel safe again.
About 10 years ago, the sister-in-law of my uncle (we weren't related, but I knew her from family gatherings at my aunt and uncle's house over the years) was carjacked. Unfortunately, the perpetrator chose to drive a few miles, shoot her in the head, and dump her body in a wooded area off the side of the road. She had a son and daughter in college and a young son at home, obviously their lives were never the same . The bastard was caught trying to cross the Canadian border in the car; then tried, convicted and sentenced to death, though I doubt that gave anyone much comfort. Especially when Gov. George Ryan commuted everyone's death sentences before he left office as an attempt to make his legacy be that of "the compassionate pardoner" as opposed to the scammer and crook that he was. Did I mention former Gov. Ryan is in prison now?? Interestingly enough, the state of Missouri wants a piece of the scum who murdered her for another murder he committed .... maybe he won't be so lucky to avoid the lethal injection this time??
Anyway, I'm just thankful that Beverly escaped with her life, though I'm sure she'll never feel safe again.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Bangin' in the Rock
So apparently gang activity is alive and well in Little Rock .... or at least random acts of retarded graffiti.
We have a trail that runs along our back fenceline mainly used by school kids walking home from the elementary school three blocks away, and people in the subdivision walking their dogs. Sometime last week a hoodlum (or two who knows) created this lovely piece of art on our fence.
**edited: photo removed given that it is gang affiliated and I do not want to encourage or incite**
I walked down the trail and didn't see anyone else who was lucky enough to have received such careful attention to their fences. We called the clubhouse (we live in one of those gated communities) and apparently this has happened in the past but not lately. BJ sent it to one of his law enforcement friends involved with local gang activity to see if it's random graffiti or not (mainly out of our own curiosity). I guess we'll have to sand or paint.
Stupid hoodlums!
We have a trail that runs along our back fenceline mainly used by school kids walking home from the elementary school three blocks away, and people in the subdivision walking their dogs. Sometime last week a hoodlum (or two who knows) created this lovely piece of art on our fence.
**edited: photo removed given that it is gang affiliated and I do not want to encourage or incite**
I walked down the trail and didn't see anyone else who was lucky enough to have received such careful attention to their fences. We called the clubhouse (we live in one of those gated communities) and apparently this has happened in the past but not lately. BJ sent it to one of his law enforcement friends involved with local gang activity to see if it's random graffiti or not (mainly out of our own curiosity). I guess we'll have to sand or paint.
Stupid hoodlums!
Houston, We Have Steak!!
After weeks of staring at our pretty grill sitting alone and gas-less on the deck - we HAVE GRILLAGE!!!
The plumber who visited last week came in with an exorbitantly high estimate so we called two others for comparison. Both plumbers 2 and 3 were quite a bit lower, so we settled on one who came this morning to put in the gas line as well as cap off the leaking unused gas line to the fireplace (we're opting out of a gas insert as opposed to spending hundred perhaps thousands in finding the leak and then repairing all of the brick work).
So tonight, we had yummy steaks and baked potatoes on the grill and they were DELICIOUS!!!! What happy meat eaters we are!
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