Links I Visit Daily

I don't feel much like posting or doing anything but just to let you know I am alive here are some sites that I visit daily. Most are just so that I can have a laugh. One is for a non profit that I think everyone should do.

OK, so the few I found over at Seismic Twitch a blogger out of Canada. The first one is called Why not, right? it is photos of people and their kids in well just odd photos that make sense to those who took them and posed in them but not to us who see them on the web.

The next is Awkward Family Photos I think the title says it all.

This one makes me wonder where people hide their brains. It is called Not Always Right I do not drink when I read this site. As it is good for more than one laugh a day. It is costumer service when the costumer is wrong or just nuts.

Emails From Crazy People nuff said.

Now for the one that I never ever miss. When I am so sleepy that I can't see straight I still go here on a daily basis. This site was set up by a kid it is now nonprofit and how it works is easy. Go to the site answer the daily question right or wrong you have just donated 10 pieces of dog food to a shelter. It may not seem like a lot but when more and more people click then it adds up. On the page for the dog there is a link to click on that will take you to the feed cat page. The same principle applies. One question, 10 pieces of cat food. It take all of 20 seconds. So go to www.freekibble.com and help feed a dog and cat.

OMG Sometimes I Love Just Love My Job

Last week I got to work in the ICU. Most of the time down there it is just work but then there are days like Thursday and I realize that I love it there.

In the first 10 min on the floor even before we got report it was a mad dash scramble. We needed the Doc's NOW. Need to get PTA (PT is patient) intabated NOW NOW NOW. Twenty minutes later we got to get report so now we are about 30 min behind where we should be that is OK, that is manageable. I am doing some quick chart work and I hear one of the nurses start to yell, NOT GOOD.

PTB decided that they were going to wake up and extabate themselves. That does not work. So we all run in there ran start bagging, holding the PT hands so that more of the tubing does not come out. That gets fixed. So while we are in with PTB, PTC decides to pull out the NG tube for the 3 time. There is tube feeding liquid all over the bed, the PT, the floor. After all of that is cleaned up I get word that I am going to be sent up to Med/Surg as someone up there is having a break down.

One of the nurses on Med/surge cannot function without a CNA, she can't even push the buttons on the dinamap to take her own blood pressures. So I am going to be sent up stairs so that she won't have a hissy fit. I truly truly hate working with her, out of the hospital she is OK. At work can everyone say "bossy whiny bitch".

So I am running about the unit trying to get things done that will make it easier on the RNs when I have to go upstairs. Word comes from the house super we are getting an admit, the Unit will be full and closes and I get to stay YIPPEE. New PTD has rule out bacterial meningitis. Oh fun, gowns, gloves, and masks for anything done in that room. It was not bacterial it was viral.

So that was Thursday. Friday I worked med/surge and no BWB was not working. After about 4 hours of running things settle down. Then at the 0200 mark all is settled we hear a gawd awful noise. It was a PT with confusion who pulled out a line that she was getting blood through. Blood everywhere floor, walls, bed, PT. PT was panicking, screaming, and would not let us near to stop the bleeding. What a fun night.

Oh and I realized today that this is over my 200 post mark.

Odds and Ends

The psychologists has voted 125 -4 to tell gays that they cannot become straight with therapy or other treatments. You can read the article here.

Today I ran to the library and my loot, yes I call it library loot has some great books in it.
Witch Way to Murder by Damsgaard
The Tree of Enchantment by Foxwood
Green by Lake
The Book of Air and Shadows by Gruber

I should have these done by Monday or Tuesday depending on work.

I joined a fantasy football league. I have never done that before and I can't wait to see how it turns out.

They are counting the signatures for the domestic partnership bill. I hope that there are not enough for it to go to a vote. Gary Randall one of the backers of this is not even a Washington state voter. WTF with that.

I am out of pickles, peanut butter and bread. So until I can go shopping on the weekend I have to cook. I hate shopping on the weekend it is like the grocery stores are mobbed. I might just go Friday am when the store firsts opens and just get things for the weekend then on my day off next week go when there are not as many people there.

Cash for Clunkers NOT

OK so here is the story my car is a 1999 Plymouth Neon 4 cylinders 2L engine with a 5 speed manual transmission. My car has 192,783 miles on it, the AC is out, the blinkers are out (something in the steering column it is not the light bulbs), I have a bullet hole in it from when I got shot at on the freeway in Massachusetts. It was nearly totaled when hit by a straight delivery truck and almost pushed off a bridge into the Connecticut River when I was leaving Agawam. It by all accounts is a clunker.

Neon's have a life of about 200,000 miles so I called about the Cash for NOT Clunkers and found out that my car that is nearly on its last wheels does not qualify. My car when I bought it got on average 36mpg on the highway and about 28mpg in town. Therefore, as my car gets over 18mpg it is not a clunker.

To me the Cash for Clunkers should have another name like PAY OUT FOR GAS GUZZLERS, or GO IN DEBT FOR BETTER MILEAGE, or TRADE IN YOUR HUMVEE FOR A METRO or something along those lines.

I am in a crabby mood

No, it is not that time of the month. That was last week thank goddess. What is doing it for me is the heat. Yesterday, it was 104F here in the great state capital of Washington (for those who are geographical challenged YES there is a WASHINGTON STATE). In the recorded history of WA the highest it had ever gotten was 100F and that was in 1994.

Not that anyone is interested but the blogs that I have listed on this site are not the only ones I read. I have a folder in my Favorites that has about 20 more, some I read daily other weekly.

I want it to cool down, I want it to rain and I want to see my Honey.

See I am alive and will be back when I don't want to whine or wine or whatever...

Addition to the Rainbow Bridge

OK, so I totally stole this post from LilliGirl over at It's a Great Life.

An Addition to the Rainbow Bridge

It is said that when animals die they don't go to heaven, they go to the Rainbow Bridge where they wait for their owners. The area around the Rainbow Bridge is sunny, warm but not too warm, flowers, grass and all the animals have been restored to a youthful healthy state.

On one particular day it was unlike most days at Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray, damp as a swamp and as dismal as could be imagined. All of the recent arrivals had no idea what to think, as they had never experienced a day like this before.

But the animals who had been waiting for their beloved people knew exactly what was going on and started to gather at the pathway leading to The Bridge to watch.

It wasn't long before an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. The other animals, the ones who had been there for a while, knew what his story was right away, for they had seen this happen far too often.

He approached slowly, obviously in great emotional pain, but with no sign of injury or illness. Unlike all of the other animals waiting at The Bridge, this animal had not been restored to youth and made healthy and vigorous again! As he walked toward The Bridge, he watched all of the other animals watching him. He knew he was out of place here and the sooner he could cross over, the happier he would be.

But, alas, as he approached The Bridge, his way was barred by the appearance of an Angel who apologized, but told him that he would not be able to pass. Only those animals who were with their people could pass over Rainbow Bridge.

With no place else to turn to, the elderly animal turned towards the fields before The Bridge and saw a group of other animals like himself, also elderly. They weren't playing, but rather simply lying on the green grass, forlornly staring out at the pathway leading to The Bridge. And so, he took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting.

One of the newest arrivals at The Bridge didn't understand what he had just witnessed and asked one of the animals that had been there for a while to explain it to him.

"You see, that poor animal was abandoned by his owners. He was turned into a shelter just as you see him now, an older animal with his fur graying and his eyes clouding. He never made it out of the shelter and passed on. Because he had no family to give his love to, he has no one to escort him across The Bridge. "

The first animal thought about this for a minute and then asked, "So what will happen now?"

As he was about to receive his answer, the clouds suddenly parted and the gloom lifted.

Approaching The Bridge could be seen a single person and among the older animals, a whole group was suddenly bathed in a golden light and they were all young and healthy again, just as they were in the prime of life.

"Watch, and see" said the second animal.

A second group of animals from those waiting came to the pathway and bowed low as the person neared. At each bowed head, the person offered a pat on the head or a scratch behind the ears. The newly restored animals fell into line and followed him towards The Bridge.

They all crossed The Bridge together.

"What happened?"

"That was a rescuer. The animals you saw bowing in respect were those who found new homes because of his work. They will cross when their new families arrive. Those you saw restored were those who never found homes. When a rescuer arrives, they are allowed to perform one, final act of rescue. They are allowed to escort those poor animals that they couldn't place on earth, across The Rainbow Bridge. "

"I think I like rescuers," said the first animal.

"So does GOD", was the reply.

If you have not read the Rainbow Bridge here is a link.

Wordless Wednesday

This weekend

This weekend was rather uneventful, I worked on the third so the Boy and I missed out on the fireworks. The fourth I was put on call so going anywhere is not really an option.

We did manage to go through a bunch of toys that the Boy no longer wants. They sat on my floor until today when I could haul them to a second hand store.

I am so addicted to Yoville on face book. I have also started playing another game called Wizards 101 not sure about that one yet but it looks good.

So I hope that everyone had a great weekend.

We Are Everywhere.

A few months ago I was working in a hospital during my travels. I had worked there for several months and had gotten to know the staff well enough that they thought I was one of them.

One of the nurses who I seemed to work with more often than not and I started talking. She said that she hated living here in the west that she wanted to go back to the Midwest where there were actual values.

"So," I said. "What exactly do you mean?"

"Well, out here everyone is so liberal that it sickens me. There are the environmental laws, the bleeding hearts over the animals, and then out here you are all so easy on the gays. Welcoming them, treating them like they belonged."

As if that were not bad enough she had to continue. "I am so glad I don't know anyone who is gay, they make me sick."

I did the only thing I could think of doing. I looked at her and said. "Hi, I'm ..... and I am a lesbian."

The respiratory therapist (a woman) standing next to me looked at me and said. "My wife and I have been together for 12 years. How long have you been with your girlfriend?"

Needless to say the look on the nurses face was priceless. She turned pale, and looked at us both, and stuttered.

(This is the best that I can remember the conversation)

Pictures of Pride

Oly Pride

Sunday was Olympia Pride. For me it started out with going to Batdorf and Bronson for a mocha, the Boy said that the coffee shop was decorated like the TV show Friends. It might have been but I love their coffee as they roast it there in the store. That and when there if reading or working no one will bother a person.

After coffee the Boy and I wandered about the booths for a bit, I ran into some acquaintances of mine. Then the parade started. I do know that I love to go to Oly Pride. For me the parade is the best part. I love the colors and the interaction with the crowd.

This year like last year if the Dyke's on Bikes did not have a rider they would pick one out of the crowd, stopping to change riders as they wanted to. Then there were the people who when marching if they saw someone that they knew would run out of formation for talks and hugs.

One young man who I saw there was so cute and fun, he was probably all of 19 20 and hoped into one of the cars that had someone running for city council in it. Then when he got back at the end of the parade he joined in with the Stonewall Youth.

One of the things that I like about Oly Pride is that there are a ton of family's and kids there. It makes it seem like the whole community is out there. There were people there with their dogs, kids and even a few cats on leashes.

I think that next year I am going to try and get to Portland for Portland Pride to see how a bigger cities Pride compares. I have never been to a bigger Pride and next year that is one of my goals.

I love that picture up at the top the way the image is blurred, and the flag is flowing. I have other pictures that I will post up later.

The Sound of Nothing

My son is going to be leaving for AZ in a month and I will be living on my own. The thing that I am wondering about is the sound of nothing.

I am not one who has the TV or radio on for background noise. If I want to listen to music I turn the radio on, if I want to watch a movie the I turn on the TV. So in living on my own in my own silence am I going to long for the sound of another voice or am I going to be on overload when I go outside and am in a crowd or at work.

Or will I become one who turns on noise just to not have that alone feeling. I guess I will have to wait and see.

Then there is work. OMG this week at work I have the worst schedule I have today off then Thursday off, then Sunday off. I requested Sunday off for Pride.

Monday I had off and I slept for a total of 14 hours. I needed it.

I Did It

My son is home for the summer and part of me was dreading what I had to do. So some background.

Every other Sunday a group of us gets together and games. Yes I know, but I am a gamer at heart and for me it is a way to relax and escape the dealings of real problems at work. So I go, roll dice and kill giant bugs. Very therapeutic, tho I think most of it is just talking with other some who are in the medical field and other who are not.

So, at game everyone knows that I am a dyke. Some write about me in their diversity classes, some ask me to check out the woman in that movie. They know they accept or deal with it.

My son however, was not told. It is not that I was being secretive about it, it is just that I did not even know for a long time. Then when I realized "You dumb*$$ your a Lesbian" I had some things to work out. Lots of things to work out. Guilt, hatred of myself, fear, and the list goes on.

When I finally got ready to tell him about Honey what does the boy do. Up and move out of state to go to a HS where he gets better grades then ever.

I did not think that telling him on the phone was a good idea so I waited until he got back home. I did not tell him the way I wanted to but when I did he said, "I kinda figured." Talk about anticlimactic.

So I am out to everyone in my family that I care about, except the two little ones. Honey and I both agreed that their mom is the boss of them and are going by her wishes.

Birthday Stash

The statue is the goddess Danu. She is an Irish Goddess, the books are going to go in my car and be work books for me to read when I am at work. The flowers and the statue are from Honey, and the books are from the Kid.

Night Shift

Lady G asked me how I don't get messed up working nights. I thought about replying in the comments but realized that this would make a great post.

I love working nights, there is a different "feel" about them. One not so rushed, so urgent. However, all of this started when I was little about 8 or so years old. When I would get sent to bed with the lights out, I would lay there awake for hours. Then when the birds would start singing I would fall asleep.

As I got older I hid a flashlight in the bed so that after everyone else was asleep I would read until I could fell asleep. Now, this took forever as reading is exiting and keeps me awake until I finish the story. There were times I would go to school exhausted from not sleeping at night. I just could not do it.

After we moved around, and around. Try 10 different elementary schools in 5 states (my dad was an electrical field engineer) my parents decided to home school us. That was great. I could sleep all day and then do my work when I woke up.

I have always been a night person, I did try to work day shift for a year. That year I was so exhausted that I would sleep and work and sleep. There was nothing else. Even my days off were a chore. No, I love the night and the night shifts.

School

I have been thinking about going back to school. I would like to go to an online school at least to get some off it done. However, I have heard both good and bad about different schools and I am not sure what to trust.

I have talked to an adviser at one of the more well known schools and have been told that what he thinks from what I have told him it would only be a year to get my BA. I would love to go thought with it and have everything done.

The biggest advantage for me with an online school is sleep. I can do all of my classes at night when I am up and not worry about trying to stay awake during the day when I have to sleep so that I can work. I do wish that more places would be accommodating for those who work nights.

I would love to be able on my nights off to go the bookstore when I can't sleep. Some restaurants are open late at night and that is good. But, sometimes a book store would be nice.

Jesus the End or Parts 3 and 4

Then Jesus said take care of those with less then what you have. OK I know the term used in most bibles is poor. But Poor does not cover all that he ever talked about in that regard, I think in terms of less fortunate he meant. The sick, kids with out people who love them, homeless, hungry, thirsty, with out finances, and the list goes on and on. For me I think that working in the hospital covers this one. There is defiantly the sick, the homeless, the addicts, the hungry/ thirsty.

Then there is the last thing. Do Not Judge... Oh crap this one is so hard. We judge on first impressions (the up all night mom at the grocery store in sweats), lifestyle (redneck, gay, world hopper, rich) money, class, education, language skills, the list goes on and on and on and on. So how not to judge, how not to think of others in terms of ewww or wow or fear (look over there it is group of teens)? Personally, I don't want the job of judging others, I have been the one in sweats at the store after being up all night with the sick kid, I am the one with the gay lifestyle (whatever the hell that means). I am the one who because of my job that I choose to do people assume that I have no education. I have packs of teens at my house.

Jesus part 2

Jesus said in so many ways so many words.

#2 Love your neighbor::

Oh Crap. Does that mean the ones next door who wake me with their screaming, fighting and cussing just when I fall asleep? Does he mean the ones up stairs who are currently trying to put holes in my ceiling by playing Dance Dance Revolution? Or are my neighbors the people that I interact with at the store, library or work?

How the hell am I supposed to love some one who screams all the time and keeps the neighborhood awake or is this more of the respect and acknowledgement thing and love was just a generic word for the translations?

Jesus part 1

I have been thinking a lot about Christianity lately. I was raised as a Christian and spent many years going to a legalistic church. I have fit into several very well, and other I have been in subtle ways asked not to come back or have been made to feel so unwelcome that I have never returned. Now, I know that this is not the case in all churches. That my experiences are mine alone.

When I first moved back to Oly I started attending a church just a few blocks away. That was great it was in walking distance and it was a denomination that I was familiar with. The first few times I went it was OK. Then a man and I were talking about bands, what was good, bad and just never ever should have been attempted. After that simple conversation the pastor started preaching on attraction to a married person when the woman is single. I thought that it was just something that was a coincidence. I had no interest in the guy other than he knew who I was talking about musically. Then in Sunday school the women all started to ignore me, when a question was asked and I knew the answer, I was passed over to the next person. I took the hint and never went back.

The next church I was going to a singles class. This church was a drive and I had to get up much earlier to attend it. The class instructor asked the question "What does mainstream America think that Christians look like?"

Well, me being me I said the first thing that popped into my head." Christians have horns, a tail and carry a pitchfork." Needless to say I was asked not to come back.

So that brings me to my point. Jesus said the same thing over and over in many different ways trying to get his point across. He said::

#1 Love God - OK that one is simple enough, or is it?

Does Jesus mean love as in "OHHH What a cute puppy, I just love it"?

Does he mean love as in " IT'S (insert stars name here) I JUST LOOOOVE YOU"?

Does he mean love as in " Oh Baby, (think Berry White's voice here) I love you so much, that I want to take you out to the beach and see if we are fertile"?

Or does he mean love as in honor, respect, show acknowledgement of ? I guess that this is not an easy one after all. I think that he means this one, acknowledgement of. We all like some kind of praise.

Rhoddy Pix I Took for Honey

There is red, light purple, yellow, bright pink, and pink/white.