The Wild Wild West

Perpetual Learner: The new blog

2010-10-20T00:53:00.001-05:00

I am moving on... to a new blog. I liked the wordpress after going out to the sisters sites and decided to change blog sites when I started the new blog. Here is the new addy

http://perpetualadultlearner.wordpress.com/

Hope you enjoy

We have arrived:)

2010-09-06T00:28:00.002-05:00

Here I sit in the RV, it is 1030 on Sunday night and it was a GREAT day! We pulled into Yakima around 840 this morning, arrived at the U Haul, unloaded the trailer and most of the RV and were pulling out around 11am. We parked the RV, took a tour of the RV parks, walked the dogs, had a great lunch at our new favorite mexican place. Met the owner of the gluten free Italian restaurant..(going to see them on tuesday:) Only open tues thru sat) Visited 4 Starbucks (I know, but everyone has to have a vice) and drive around town. It was lovely. I have found an avian vet (good for mom, bad for Mia), the nearest branch of the local library and even called about two rental houses in the area we like:) I am now going to read for a bit and then hit the hay... tomorrow is laundry, more exploring and a bunch of paperwork that I need to hand in on tuesday.

Happy first day of the rest of my life:))

See you all soon!

Food Bloggercise

2010-08-21T02:08:00.002-05:00

Regular meals at the Starratt house consist of....

Vegetable curry with chicken
Thai coleslaw
soft tacos with arrychiarra (sp?) and mexican chimichurri
veggie chicken thai peanut stir-fry
veg lentil chicken soup
spinach salad with almond slivers and rasp vinaigrette
Homemade granola, yogurt and berries
Oven grilled salmon with spicy apricot mayo
greek salad
veggie pasta salad

Anyone interested in a fall favorites potluck?

Reading List

2010-07-31T12:02:00.002-05:00

It is less than a month until this journey is finished and the next one begins:) One of the things I am looking forward to is reading for pleasure again. So I would like to hear from everyone as to their top 10 books to read. These can be classics, new, fiction, non-fiction. Let's here it:)
On the other side of the reading discussion... I bought myself a copy of "The well educated mind" a couple of years ago. It is basically a how to give yourself an classic education. I am planning to start this in January and am wondering if anyone else is interested in joining me in this endeavor. I am giving myself a year to work my way through the topics. I am going to set up a blog with a time table, reading lists etc. Anyone who is interested can join the discussion.
Dave and I are thinking about going to Hawaii in January... a relaxing vacay with a little diving thrown in. We are going to rent a condo, so if anyone wants to join us, just let me know.

30 days to D-day:)

2010-07-27T13:09:00.002-05:00

It's getting closer..... almost there... two exams, 12 shifts and 30 days to go:) Here is the tentative 30 day post graduation plan. We are leaving on Monday the 30th of August and plan to get to Yakima by the 3rd of September. We will get settled in and spend the weekend getting to know Yakima. I am then going to locate the most comfortable spot in the library and settle in for 3 weeks of head down nose to the grind stone studying. Dave is going to go down and visit his mom and sister and we are going to spend evenings fishing and relaxing. I am going to try and schedule my boards for the last week of September. Once I have passed boards then a week of visiting is in order. I will be heading to Mom's for a week of visiting.... I expect to see all the siblings in the vancouver area, their SigOts and any new family members. Aunty cuddling is only required for the new ones:)

Time is very flexible....

2010-06-20T09:07:00.003-05:00

First it races along and leaves you feeling breathless. Then it is like watching molasses pour. I am suppose to be writing a paper and instead I am blogging. It is 68 days until graduation and I am so happy, scared, excited, apprehensive, and generally tired. The condo has been on the market for 2 weeks and no one has come to see it yet... boooooo! Mandy is dragging her butt and generally acting her age... I am hoping she makes it to Yakima, but I think it is probably wishful thinking. I am starting my last two weeks at Joliet and then I am off to the knife and gun club for two months of total bedlam leading up to graduation:) It has been a trial. I have earned every bit of this degree. My skin is old and crows-feet have taken up permanent residence on my face. I now live in a state of tired and never feel rested when I wake up. I spend days in the OR that leave me feeling wrung out and overwhelmed. I am SOOO HAPPY!!! I love giving anesthesia, love talking to patients, love being a part of a team in the OR, love making decisions, love making people feel better..... This is the best decision I ever made and I wouldn't change any part of this experience!

So there is the update:) I am now getting back to work. Keep the home fires burning... I am moving as fast as I can:0

For those that couldn't make it...

2010-06-12T21:11:00.004-05:00

First... I became an American:)

Then I graduated with a Masters in Nursing

2 down.... 75 days until graduation from Anesthesia school and then it is done!

Ahh Spring:))

2010-03-14T20:33:00.002-05:00

You know it's spring in Chicago when....

it takes three days to find your snow boots... in the dogs bed

the dogs gamble when let out the door onto the lawn... rather then prancing like ballerina's on hot coals

the ice-cream truck makes a sunday evening appearance in the neighbourhood.... it tasted great

you can sit outside for longer then 10 minutes, drinking coffee and chatting with passerby's

you feel some impetus to get the car washed... because you know you won't freeze the doors shut

Spring in Chicago is Great!

It is 165 days until graduation! All the big presentations are done! and I am actually feeling okay!

Here is the current itinerary....

April 16th through 18th I will be in Seattle for a conference and some serious networking. Got to see if I can improve the job prospects:)

May 1st: Condo goes on the market (please let brother Dave's house selling karma is a family thing)

May 24th: Carol King and James Taylor concert.... I know, I am showing my age.

May 28th - 30th: Des Moines, Iowa for my certification review

June 1st through 30th: Cardiac rotation and hopefully some good regional experience

June 13th: Depaul Graduation with a Master's of Nursing:))

July 1st: Start my last clinical rotation at the knife and gun club.... should fly by:)

August 27th : Graduation!

August 28th: Pull out of Chicago and head for the WESTCOAST!!!!! Woo HOO!!!!!!

181 days.... this cannot end soon enough!

2010-02-26T12:36:00.001-06:00

I am sooooooo done with school! I just want this to be done NOW! On a happy note. I am going to be in the Seattle Area for the third weekend of April for the Washington CRNA meeting... and was hoping to meet up with the Family for brunch in Seattle on the Sunday? Anyone up for a relaxing lunch?

207 days.... it's getting closer:)

2010-02-01T00:50:00.002-06:00

Today is monday, and another week begins. I have been job shopping and was feeling really down.. jobs had already closed... No contact from the Everrett employer... it was very sad... and then I had a little inspiration. I contacted the CRNA associations in Washington and Oregon and requested a list of hospitals that use CRNA's in the state. I sent that off 4 hours ago... on Sunday, at 8pm west coast time... and less then an hour later I received an email from the head of the Washington CRNA association and I got a contact email address for the job in Everett. Woo Hoo!!!! Keep your fingers crossed people!

2009 is over... and now the fun really starts:)

2010-01-02T23:46:00.002-06:00

I am now, officially, in my last year of Grad school:) and I am pretty happy about it! This year has been one of the hardest that I can remember... right up there with the year that Dad finally moved out. 2009 was a year of tears, trauma, and being bone weary tired. There were never enough hours in the day and certainly never enough days in the weekend. I will be happy to see school come to an end in August... it has not been fun.

On a happier note, we have grown our family by one. The delightful Miss Grace has come to live with us and is settling in quite nicely. She is currently sleeping under my desk and is doing a lovely job of warming my tootsies. Mandy made it through two walks today.. without lagging behind too much and Owen is... still sulking a little but otherwise has resigned himself to living with "her". Mia and Grace have had one close encounter which ended when Mia turned on her perch to find herself nose to nose with Grace.... she let out a very loud "Hey, What do you think you are doing" in my voice and Grace promptly went back to bed. Like I said, settling in nicely.

We had a lovely visit with Margo and her Dave and that has settled the "where are we going to live after school" question. We are coming back to the Northwest, hopefully somewhere in Washington, in the I5 corridor. The goal is less than a 4 hour drive.. preferably minus 3 but we will take what we can get. We are planning to live in the RV for the first 8 months or so... to get the lay of the land, figure out what neighbourhood we want to live in and find the perfect fixer upper. That will be the project for 2011/12... getting the forever house ready. You can all expect invites to come down and help:) I already have plans for Margo's Dave and a lot of custom woodwork.... It should be a very lucrative year for him:)

I would have posted a YIR but I was sad to find that I have not been taking pics... and really have nothing to show for this year, but dark circles under my eyes and a stack of books that I constantly read.

Miss you all,

J, D, O, M, M, G

Soup... it's a good thing:)

2009-11-28T18:59:00.002-06:00

Soup has been my staple food of late. It is filling, satisfying, easy to make and "freezes beautifully" Top favorites are :

Roast chicken, with wild rice and brown basmati rice and pumpkin

Smoked ham hock, yellow pea, leak, carrot and spagetti squash.

Today I made a chicken veg: Chicken breast (diced and browned in the pan), leek, sweet potato, carrot, zuccini, pumpkin and red potato. All the veggies after the leek are put through the food processor to a rough mince. The red potato (only two small ones) is there to thicken the broth. Zuccini adds a fresh green flavor.

Once chicken and leek are sauted, 1 carton of chicken stock and an equal amount of water is added to the pot. All veggies are thrown in , season and simmer. This is what I will be eating for the next two weeks for lunch:)) and I am very pleased with myself for getting this done today.

I will post a photo when I get the camera charged

300 days and counting

2009-11-01T18:57:00.002-06:00

Tomorrow I am back at Highland park. It is so nice to be somewhere that the expectations are clear and the work somewhat predictable. This week of vacation was AWESOME! There is something to be said for just staying home and chillin'. I have clean and groomed dogs. My kitchen is scrubbed to a shine. The kitchen table is organized for tomorrow. I managed to review for a minimum of 4 hours every day of last week and I am loving my Valley review book. Mia had 3 baths this week and is so happy to have spent time with mom... I am not sure who misses who more. Dave and I got to spend time together, just relaxing and hanging out. It has been awesome and now I am ready to get this last year done.

I emailed about a job in Everrett and another at the childrens hospital in Seattle... Keep your fingers crossed people:)

love ya, miss ya

320 days to go

2009-10-11T15:17:00.002-05:00

Here I sit, writing a blog page instead of studying, not out of a need to connect, not because I don't want to study, not because I can't think of something better to do... but because of GUILT! Hope your happy frenchy:))

Things in windy land are moving along. I am surviving what can only be described as the anesthesia wall of my marathon of school. There are no endorphins left, I am just slogging towards the finish line and hoping I don't die before I get there. I have 9 days at my current clinical site and then I am off to Highland park, where I will be worked like a dog and enjoy every minute of it. I will learn a ton and it will be awesome.

It looks like I will be off the week from christmas to new years... no travel this year just extra time to study. Everyone here is hanging in and hanging on. Mia is naked, Mandy only gets excited for popcorn and Owen follows me around the house, never leaving me alone (I have become a woobie). Dave and I are spending more quality time together and life here has smoothed out.

The job hunt is still on.... I have no idea where we are going to end up.. and at this point I don't care, I just want this to be over.

I miss you all and am hoping to see you in the spring.

besso J

A long time coming

2009-09-01T13:07:00.002-05:00

Summer has officially ended and with it my senior year of anesthesia school begins. This last year has been tough in ways I could not imagine. Moving from being the big fish in the little pond to the grub at the bottom of the swamp as a tough adjustment to my self confidence as well as my pride. I am an extremely capable nurse, in the ICU and in the ER. I have run codes on my own, functioned autonomously with just a phone with a doctor at the other end of the line as a resource and have stopped people from dying. I am REALLY REALLY GOOD at nursing.

Then I started Anesthesia clinical and found out that I KNOW SQWAT!@ BUPKUS (sp)and a WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING!!!! in comparison to what I now need to know. This was a very rude awakening!

Now it is a year later and while I know a lot w more then I did, I am realizing every day that there is SOOOO much more to know and instead of looking like this insurmountable mountain of information that I cannot image climbing I am instead starting to see a path up the landslide. This is doable and more importantly there is so much to learn that I will never be able to learn it all. There is always going to be something new and that leaves me with the feeling that I have chosen the right path.

I started in a community hospital, which was a lovely introduction to anesthesia. I gained a little confidence. I saw a ton of new stuff and I had some of the most intense learning experiences in my career.

I then went to another community hospital and was given a rude shove into being independent and making decisions, with some really sharp people standing behind me, keeping my patients safe as I learned my way. Once it was over I was so appreciative of the experience (I am really glad I get to go back to that site this winter)

My third stop on the train was at a large university teaching hospital where I was encouraged to try new things and get new experiences. This was where I stuck my first big needle into someone and found out I really enjoyed the technical aspects of regional anesthesia.

From there I went to the mother ship, my schools hospital. A daunting experience and one that shook my confidence in myself and my skills to the ground. It was bumpy, uncomfortable and intimidating and while I didn't learn a lot about anesthesia, I learned a lot about how I want to practice once I am finished with school and how I want to mentor and teach if given the chance. I will point out that the second month I spent mostly in OB and I found out that I really enjoy OB anesthesia. I love meeting new people on their birthday, watching new dad's melt when they meet the newest member of the family and helping mom's cope with pain control and a calm, competant demeanor (as they say."fake it, til ya make it") I also got to place lots of spinal and epidural blocks and have gotten somewhat profficient at it.

Now I am off to another large university teaching hospital and am looking forward to getting some different experiences and learning how another environment functions. There really are a million ways to give anesthesia and I am enjoying learning them.

On the home front the last year has been tough! The apartment has not really been cleaned since school started and that is probably what I should be doing instead of blogging... but a girl have to have some fun:) Both of the dogs moved into the geriatric stage of life in the last year. Mandy is very slow, very deaf and very white of face. She gets up, moves two feet, forgets why she got up, lays back down and goes to sleep. It's a hard life:) Owen can still jump into the car, but long walks are a thing of the past. We will be lucky to keep mandy until school is finished. Owen should be around for the move, wherever that ends up being. Mia is still as sassy as ever. Bossing everyone around, yelling when left alone and generally getting into trouble. Who says I haven't lived with a toddler? Dave is sick and tired of school, of never seeing me and of only seeing the back of my head bent over a text book when he does see me. I miss spending time with him. The first year after graduation is going to be about getting settled in somewhere and then getting to know each other again.

The where of "where are you going to end up living?" is still up in the air. In truth, we are probably going to end up in a medium size city, with a minor airport, low cost of living and good pay and benefits. This is so that we can enjoy a low cost of living, pay off some debt and do some travelling. Three years is the expected duration and then it will probably be home to the northwest to be close to the family as the the offspring production really gets hoping.

So that is the update, to date, of life. I am sorry it has taken me so long to get this posted. I will try to be better about it. Missing you all, J

Where to land?

2009-06-16T20:03:00.002-05:00

This has been the question of the week. D and I have had long conversations about whether to stay in chicago after graduation or to move back to the north west. The northwest is starting to open up in terms of jobs and that has it's strong points, cause it is close to all the family. Everett and Seattle both look good for positions. Everett is better from the commuting aspect but Seattle has better practice opportunities.

Chicago strong points include, not having to move, not having to move and finally the lack of need to move. I HATE MOVING! I know that eventually I will have to pack everything up and we will move back into the motor home and start living the good life again. (this will occur 2 -3 years after I start working) Then it will be 2- 4 month contracts as locum anesthesia with 2- 2 month vacations in between. Eventually we want to buy property somewhere that we can enjoy in the summer. Maybe Blaine... maybe Pemberton... maybe the Island. That part is a long way off. Now it is about looking into jobs here and on the west coast and picking the best fit. Wish me luck.. I am starting the hunt in ernest this weekend:)

Missing you all, See you in July

The BIG 40!

2009-06-09T18:13:00.002-05:00

I had the best birthday ever! Who can beat getting to go on a weeks vacation, visiting the mother-in-law that you would visit even if you weren't married to her son, seeing almost all of your immediate family (yes, I noticed you weren't there), meeting the newest member of the immediate family, playing the the other short members of the immediate family, visiting with friends and their short people and eating WAY TOO MUCH great food!

The old tooshie may have expanded slightly on this trip but it was all good!! I came home with an ipod nano and nike accoutrements and have used them with my new running shoes (Pressy from hubby), a beautiful piece of art created by one of my sisters, a gorgeous picture frame made by a favorite short person and lots of drawings made by another. I got to take my niece and nephew shopping at TRU and watching the little guys eyeballs expand as we walked into the store was only topped by watching the niece take off on her new scooter like an old pro. Finally, my fabulous Mom sewed up until leaving for a business trip to make me scrub hats for clinical.... which I might add have been praised highly by all who have seen them.

I then returned to Grad school HELL and all I could think was...... Why on god's green earth did I ever choose to go back to school? That was last week.

This week I just smile and say to myself, " I lOVE sticking REALLY BIG needles in people!!!"

I did a spinal anesthetic and then 4 different regional blocks, below the knee groin, Neck for a shoulder surgery and an abdominal block for a big incision. It was SOOOOOOO COOOOOOOL!! I have walked around for the last 2 days with the dumbest grin on my face. I LOVE ANESTHESIA!

I do still miss everyone dreadfully but it is only 14 months, 2 weeks and 3 days until graduation:))

Hugs and smoochies,

See you in July:)

477 days to go:)

2009-05-06T18:25:00.002-05:00

I started at the University of Illinois Hospital this week. Wow, this is a whole different universe! 19 OR's, cases going all day and occasionally all night. It is also the most disorganized disaster I have ever seen.... and slow... room turn over takes forever and there is no sense of being timely. All that said, the patients are sicker and the cases are interesting. I was invited and participated in the resident lecture this morning. It was on fluids and it was really interesting. I realized how much I do know and how much I don't. This is a good thing because it makes me want to review and study:) Always a good thing!

I am really looking forward to seeing everyone in May. We organized the dog walkers today... poor dogs won't know what hit them. Mia is going to the bird sitters for 9 days... which will be good cause she will realize how much fun we are:)

I am now going to make care plans for tomorrow and do some review. Love ya All

485 days to go:)

2009-04-28T18:17:00.002-05:00

Anesthesia is fun! That said, some of the people I have to work with... SUCKKKKKK!!!!!!! Why must people be so obnoxious, irritating, rude, and generally bad tempered! Life is so much easier when you just role with the flow:) I have learned lots during this clinical rotation and am looking forward to learning more on the next one. My test scores are improving and class is going well. I am missing you all terribly and am really looking forward to seeing you all in a month. I have also decided to join weightwatchers. I need help managing my diet and am told this works really well for celiacs. My plan is the pay for a month on line and then keep using it to manage my food choices there after. Wish me luck:)

I am off for a bike ride and then to bed early for class tomorrow:)

Love ya Joey

Thank God it is thursday!

2009-04-22T20:47:00.002-05:00

I suffered through a test and 5 hours of painstaking lecture on cardiac issue.... and now i have a couple of shots under my belt and am watching NCIS... mindless drivel is good!!!! Love you and miss you all! See you soon!

Joey

TGIF

2009-04-17T18:43:00.002-05:00

and I am soooooo happy to be finished this week. I put a couple of really cute little people ( 2 yr old and 7 yr old) to sleep today... and woke them up. Then it was back to grown-ups..(thank god). I like working with pediatric patients, the parents are another matter. Not the most calm and collected individuals. Understandably so... but still difficult to deal with. Then it was down to GI lab for the afternoon... not as stressful but still challenging;)

Now I am home, 3 shots of jack under my belt and this is my last concious act before heading for bed. Life is .... okay:) I am surviving hell and it will be over in less than 500 days! I love you all and miss you all and can't wait to see you all.... 42 Days and counting:)

Love J

500 days and counting

2009-04-13T19:03:00.002-05:00

This is just a short note to point out that those that have more time then me.... Need to post so that I have something to make me smile on these long clinical days

Get it together people :)

joey

Jersey Boys is Awesome!

2009-04-04T21:58:00.002-05:00

First, I had no idea that Frankie Valli and the four seasons had written so proliphically or that they had written so many recognizable sons. I probably sang " under my breath" for over 3/4 of the songs. The players were gifted in acting as well as singing, the flow of the performance was timed to the last second and it came off like clock-work. It was a lovely afternoon. I am currently looking for things to do with Mom and Harry when they come to visit over labor day weekend.

509 days to go

2009-04-04T06:50:00.002-05:00

I am at the half way mark of Anesthesia site number 2 and it is starting to feel... not horrible. My wake-ups are starting to get a little less bumpy and I am getting really good at light sedation. I put a 2 yr old to sleep this week, and woke him up. His mom told all of us that he didn't like strangers and she was worried that he would be upset about going with us to the OR. I not sure if she was happy or not when he put his arms out to me to be picked up and waved "bye-bye" as we walked down the hallway. I really like working with the pediatric patients! The parents are okay too;)

My OR fashion is improving as I got two new pairs of clogs that are super comfy and very cute:) Bling bling blue and Awesome blossom. I also got a hat

I am hoping to make some hats with mom when I am out in May. Need some maple leaf fabric, Canuck logos and possibly something that says Vancouver Olympics.

Today, Dave and I are going to see Jersey Boys, so I need to get to my studying. TTFN

Final Vote

2009-03-21T12:51:00.002-05:00

On the hat the winners were:

Tie back, pattern, with close to head running in second.

*TG no one voted for the big Bouf, I don't think I could have done it*

Stress Management

2009-03-21T10:14:00.003-05:00

I have been informed by my husband, my physician and one of the instructors at school that I am exhibiting a very high stress level. My response varied with the different tellers but my general feeling was... " What would you like me to do about it?"

After taking the last 24 hrs to really consider the problem I have come up with a couple of truths. My short term stress containment is great! I can walk into a room with a patient and have a discussion about surgery, start their IV, take them to the OR, put them to sleep, intubate them and they would never know that my heart rate was 140 bpm and that I am having MASSIVE stress inside. The phrase used to describe this is Fake it till you Make it and I am a Pro.

What I am not good at is really dealing with my stress and getting rid of it. Instead I seem to do one of three things, Cry, Eat or Drink. Crying is okay but limiting as a long term management option. Having chronically red, swollen, puffy eyes is not becoming. Also, it is very hard to study while crying.

I love eating and I love food but I hate the extra weight I have put on since starting Grad school. Eating needs to go.

Drinking is fine on the weekends in a casual social setting, but having three martini's every evening starts sounding like a need to go to AA and being hung over for clinical is considered very poor form.

The plan (come on, it's me, you knew there had to be a plan)

I have started the Medicine ball work out from here and it hurts but atleast I am sleeping at night

Next, on the advice of my Bro I bought a running watch and am starting the running program again this morning. I decided that if I can keep up the running until my birthday... then I can really work the i-pod nike thing (as I do not have a nano and that whole thing is about 200 bucks).

I know exercise makes me feel better, I am hoping that this will help.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated. (I should note that I look and sound just like the rest of the class so at least I have company in this disaster)

Trying to run

2009-03-15T10:03:00.003-05:00

So the learn to run program just doen't work for me.. not sure why, but my guess is too much of having to keep track of the time and not enough wind in my face relaxing exercise. This brings me to a question... what do the readers of my blog now about Nike + running (ipod nano and a shoe thingy) Apparently they have different programs on in ...including a learn to run kind of deal. So, could those in the know, let me know:) If the feedback is good I am going to start working on the hubby about the 40th B-day present (he of course said... " what do you think your apple was:) Also, for anyone who is interested I have a copy of the Tarheels medicine conditioning ball workout. 20 minutes a day and one medicine ball = leaner, stronger individual.

Do not start it on a Monday...tuesday is quite painful:)

To bouffant or to not bouffant... that is the question

2009-03-14T09:01:00.010-05:00

I have decided to join the lemmings and get a cloth scrub hat for clinical. I am going to find a style that I like and when I come out in May I am going to have the mumma help me make a bunch in different fabrics.

The problem is ... choosing a style. This is where you all get to voice an opinion. Which do you like best. This is purely a style issue, so don't factor the fabric color/pattern into the equation.

#1 is a Tie back. I may need to make it a little more roomy in the back for me hair (it has grown since you all last saw me)

#2 is a Modified bouffant, and I would be adding a tie strap in the back to make it a little more snug and tie around the ponytail.

#3 is a Tie back with ponytail pouch

hen there are the Bouffant styles, which all follow the same kind of pattern.

And now we enter the question portion of the day..... what do you prefer.

Rather then picking a picture.... Go to the questionairre I made.

Thanks to all that answer:)

A new travel companion

2009-03-10T18:59:00.003-05:00

Today I finally got ... the bag! For the last 5 years I have been looking for the perfect book/clinical/ purse carryall device and today I found it. It is gray, 3 pockets (laptop, books and accoutrements sections). It is not a backpack (trying to look more grown up) but it also didn't cost the earth (44 bucks), so when it gets people goo on it or the strap gives way after a year of hauling too much weight around I won't be too sad.

I realize this is a slightly pathetic thing to be excited about but.... in my life at the moment I will take all the small victories I can get.

On the clinical front, I have put tubes into 2 sets of lungs so far this week. Placed modified tubes into another 3 oropharynx's, Made 9 people to stones and sleepy to care that they are having surgery and started too many IV's to count. On the down side I only had one marriage proposal and the only pediatric patient I worked with informed me that I was " a very mean lady". He had a point, I did poke a hole in him and take him away from his Dad. I didn't get any points for returning him as his throat was sore and that was my fault too. Sometimes you can't win!

Bitten by an Apple

2009-03-03T21:18:00.002-06:00

Here is sit, in my bed, typing away on my new Macbook.... thats right people, we have gone to the fruit, so to speak. Dave finally got fed up with Windows and the horrible blue screen of death... and his computer finally kicked the bucket. So there we were, a one computer household, which was fine when we were travelling in the RV but not so fine when one of us has to use the 'puter every bloody minute that they are home doing careplans and homework and research and... you get the idea.

The only downer is the time sync that assimilation from the PC to the Mac world is taking. I am still making careplans on the PC (now considered "Dave's 'puter) and spending any extra time on my Mac trying to get the hang of the new programs... Pages is not as "intuitive" as everyone seems to think. Maybe I am just slow:)

On the bright side, if I ever get all my information transferred over I am going to have a blast playing with iphoto:)

Time for bed... see you all soon

One down... Eight to go

2009-02-23T08:35:00.004-06:00

I have finished my first clinical rotation and am now enjoying my first week vacation. It was seven weeks of exaustion, stress, anxiety, and elation. Your basic rollercoaster. The last week was the best as I was told by the head anesthesiologist that he had noticed my hard work and great attitude. My end of orientation evaluation by the senior CRNA says that she "has never enjoyed a student more. Joanna is an easy student to teach, has an amazing rapport with her patients and demonstrates great knowledge and growing ability in anesthesia".

*I'm having a very good day. God likes me... he really really likes me.*

Then I finished that with the arrival of the newest Dunnet, who I get to meet in May and a weekend of not doing any school work:) It was lovely! Now I am back to the grind as I am going to spend my week off getting myself organized for my next clinical site, getting ahead in my reading and studing and catching up on house chores. There is no rest for the wicked... probably why I am always tired;)

Houseguests

2009-02-13T05:26:00.002-06:00

Rudy and Nellie came to stay yesterday and will be here until Sunday... and I alread need a break. These are two dogs that another person in the building owns and we have had for sleep over before when mom and dad went away, and it was fine. This time I am to busy and too tired to pay enough attention and because I am out of sorts, so is everyone else. Owen and Nellie are having a mini war about who is incharge and no one is settling to sleep. I was lulled to sleep by the rhythmic *snick, snick snick* of nails on hardwood floors last night... and woken by hand licking and whining a half a dozen times. I should have moved to the spare room but I was too tired to get up. This insult is added to the injury of having a whopper of a head cold. I was sent home from clinical yesterday as I "sounded like I should be a patient not a care provider". They were probably right as I slept 8 hours, got up for 4 and went back to bed for 8. As I write this I am contemplating calling in sick and staying home for the rest of the day. But I won't cause I have a sickness and it is called Grad school.

18 months, 3 weeks to go

2009-02-07T10:57:00.002-06:00

I was given a nickname this week..... learning whore:) This lovely title was bestowed on me by one of the Anesthesia office staff at 530 in the evening as I was getting ready to go home. I was late because I had spent the day in 1 case, a very bloody partial nephrectomy. We had transfused blood, clotting factors and plasma at an alarming rate. Gave 9 liters of fluids, had oxygenation issues and I had so much fun I didn't go home on time, staying to finish the case and take the patient to ICU. I also got the place an arterial catheter, start BIG IV's and intubate the patient (not in that order). It was AWESOME! I have gotten great feedback from my instructors and even the Attendings are happy to see me.
The downside is that I fall asleep if I stop moving and have not gotten any exercise in months. That is changing this week. I am starting the learn to run today.... again, and am going to try to get a half an hour of cardio every morning. Wish me luck!

On the blogging front... I have sort of taken a page from sister R and am going to try to blog once a week. My own little countdown calender. Now I am off to study for this weeks test. TTFN

19 months, 2 weeks and counting

2009-01-17T11:01:00.002-06:00

First two weeks of clinical is done and it was a doozy! I have never been that tired and had that much fun at the same time in my life. I learned tons of stuff, only to realize that it isn't even the tip of the iceberg. My care plans all have tons of red writing on them and this weekend I have lots of work to do making corrections and getting ready for next week. I intubated 5 people did 11 concious sedations/Monitored anesthesia care cases and saw a thyroidectomy, lots of joint stuff and a couple of abdominal surgeries, variety is the spice of clinical.
On a different note, I got a phone call from work yesterday, letting me know that there was a delivery for me.... flowers and a lovely card. I took care of a little guy (10 mo) over christmas who had very bad RSV(respiratory infection). Mom and dad were in total panic when they got to the ER as the little dude was starting to get blue around the lips and was breathing close to 70 times a minute. 20 minutes later he was asleep on mom's chest, respiratory rate was in the 40's and he was pink. Then mom gave the baby to dad, came into the hallway with me and got a hug while she cried. Relief crying is neccessary and having someone to hug always helps. I didn't realize how much it helps until I got the card and the flowers.
Now I am off to write up positioning details and expand my problem list, If there is any time left this afternoon I have to read 6 articles and 200+ pages on GI pathophysiology. Ahhh the weekend:)

Making people sleep is FUN!!!!

2009-01-11T16:13:00.003-06:00

The first week of clinical is done and while I am exausted it was still a great experience. I intubated 6 people, made another 16 sleep but breath on their own and learned so much I could barely find room in my head for an original thought. Dave was in Florida for the week playing bridge so Mia is miffed about the lack of attention and the dogs wouldn't let me go three feet without getting up to make sure I wasn't leaving. I picked Dave up from the airport this morning and it was great to have him home. I am taking a break (at hour 4 of 10) to write this and then it is back to the grind. Love J

Bloody January again!

2008-12-31T23:59:00.002-06:00

2008 was a year of toil for me. I worked hard at school and worked hard at home. I don't mind hard work but where was the hard play to go with it?
To recap I have completed 16 months of my 36 month anesthesia program. Almost half way there:) Clinical starts in January and I am as excited as a kid the night before Christmas. I know the next 20 months are going to be tough but I am really looking forward to applying all this theory and actually practicing anesthesia. I survived my orientation week with a grand total of 9 intubations (2 of them pediatric), 4 IV's and 1 A-line attempt and had way to much fun:) I know there is tons to learn but I am really looking forward to it.
2008 was also the year that Owen suddenly got old. He has a grey beard and just wants to follow me around the house or lie next to my feet. His ears still feel like a plush toy and he still likes to play tug of war and run like a donkey. Mandy just keeps getting slower but still ran like a puppy in the first real snowfall and still gets excited about meeting short people. Mia is half naked and not dealing well with my time commitment to school but the end is in sight and she will be much happier with a mom that is on a mostly day schedule and has weekends off:))
Dave spent 2008 play a lot of cards and working on his bridge game. He has made a lot of really good friends in Chicago both in bridge and in the neighbourhood and I have a sneaking suspicion that we will be staying here for more then a year or two after I finish school. Good thing they have airplanes that fly from here to Vancouver regularly.
I am still working in the ER at Lutheran and I still love it. Pediatric patients are becoming my favorites and I definitely want a job when I graduate that will let me work with pediatric patients.
That was 2008 in a nut shell.... now on to 2009. Instead of New Years Resolutions.... which never seem to make it past the end of January I am making monthly goals... 3 specifically. Expect a minimum monthly email this year with an update on my goals and any changes made.

Goals for January 2009.
I will exercise 30 minutes every day
I will take my lunch and snacks to clinical
I will eat 3 meals and 2 snacks

Until February:)

Ten years:)

2008-12-09T20:13:00.002-06:00

On the 7th of December, David and I celebrated our ten year anniversary. No gifts or cards, just a nice quite dinner out, sharing plates at our favorite restaurant, eating the best creme brulle ever and talking. It is the thing that has gotten us through every trial and tough time we have had. We like to sit and talk to each other, reminiscing about the past and making plans for the future. When life is hard and things aren't working smoothly at home it is usually a sign that we have been spending too much time doing and not enough time talking.

It has been a very speedy ten years, and honestly if feels more like 3. Time seems to only consistently show on the dogs faces and the creaking as we get out of bed in the morning. I have no regrets in my life... because to change any of it would have taken me off this path... and I love where I am.

That's right people... this year is the big 40!

2008-11-24T05:38:00.002-06:00

And to celebrate the newest addition as well as my somewhat happy milestone there is a tentative plan to come and visit from the 23rd ish of May to the 31st ish of May. As the GFD's will be in the city for some sort of subversive union activity it looks like we will be coming to the city instead of the country. Friday or Saturday is looking good for a group dinner, and I am willing to make the cake:) Emails with availability would be good:) I have missed you all a lot and am looking forward to seeing you all. TTFN J

* I will have to come up with a new sign off as 40 is probably too old to be quoting "Pooh":(

I thought a week of was suppose to be relaxing?

2008-11-20T20:23:00.002-06:00

This was my week off for the term. Time to get ahead in my reading and take some time for me. NOT! This week has been reading, writing and studing with a dash of off campus recertification in ACLS and CPR, house cleaning and lots of walking. My brother in law D, has inspired me, so I am starting my walk to run a 10K plan for the umpteenth time which has been good for me but a little painful for Owen. I will be at home studing this weekend (fri, sat and sun) so if people want to call this would be a good time. Now that I have caught up on the families blogs and eated tacos with Dave for dinner (ask margo, taco's here ROCK), I am off to bed. I can't decide if I am getting old or depressed or exausted or a combo of the three but my bedtime these days is around 9 pm (that would be 7 west coast time)..... who would have ever thought that I would become a not late night person (not quite a day person yet:)

Love ya all

November, what happened to autumn?

2008-11-16T03:18:00.002-06:00

This week was the first taste of winter. While there are leaves still falling from the trees and the squirrels are still running around doing nut clean up the near freezing temps and occasional whiffs of snow coupled with it being too cold to run the dogs around the block in shorts and a t-shirt means that autumn has left Chicago.
I have started pre christmas cleaning (I do it in the spring too but the house has to be clean before the decorations go up and you have to get rid of the old junk to make room for the new junk aquired over the holiday season).
Last week was the kitchen, every cupboard cleaned, junk tossed, if it could be put away it was.... I have way more counter space then I realized. This week is the office and the bathroom. (okay the bathroom gets it every week but it makes me feel productive when the list is longer)
I don't have class this week as the first group of my cohort is getting their week long orientation to the OR. VERY EXCITING and very terrifying! My orientation is the week of the 15th to 19th of December. That is going to be my christmas present this year:) School is trucking along and my grades are holding up. A's and B's unless something goes terribly wrong.
I am missing you all terribly and while christmas is out for visiting, we may come out in the spring to see the newest dunnet and hopefully get to see all my sibs:)
TTFN J

Halloween, without candy or costumes

2008-10-31T13:21:00.002-05:00

It is the 31st of October and a day that I have always enjoyed. Costume parties or dressing up and going to work, I didn't care, it was all fun. I will admit that the lack of trick or treaters in my current neighbourhood is a little disappointing but helpful to know so that I don't buy candy that will end up in my mouth instead of a childs bucket this year.
There will be no costumes this year, because there is no where to go and no one to see and I am just a little to old to dress up just for me:)
Today was a test day. Tonite is airway studing. Tomorrow and Sunday are symposium days and monday is Machine check out. Not an optimal halloween weekend.
That said, I have completed one more month towards finishing school and I am one month closer to starting clinical.
To those that are interested it is looking more and more like Dave and I will stay in Chicago for at least 2 years after school is done. We want to spend some time enjoying the city and seeing the sites, things we really haven't been able to do up till now. Getting a seasons packet of cubs tickets (13 games), going to the theater and Second city, finding a really good blues/jazz bar to spend sunday evenings in are just a few of the things on the chicago bucket list. I would like to swim in the lake and take a stab at the triathalon sprint and the marathon. I think two extra years in chicago without school will be fun and it gives everyone who hasn't visited a chance to do so.... and the ones that have to come and visit again:)
Now that I have a happy thought in my head I am off to study airways and contemplate dinner.

Machines are cool!

2008-10-21T10:04:00.003-05:00

Yesterday my group of students recieved our orientation to the anesthesia machine. We put on scrubs, hair cover and booties and spent 2 hours in the OR learning how our soon to be new best friend/enemy works. It is so COOOLLLL! (I know I am showing my age but what the hell). I am so excited/terrified that clinical starts in January that I can hardly sit still, which is very unhelpful while studing or taking tests.

Back to the important stuff. The anesthesia machine is really 4 machines in one. First is the anesthetic administration part. Lots of valves and mechanical bits that make perfect sense to me (finally something I get). Then there is the ventilator, which works just like the one's in ICU but looks completely different and confused us for the first 5 minutes of orientation. Then we have the scavenger system (this takes all our anesthetic gases and sucks them outside so that we don't fall asleep during a case) Also very interesting. Last are the monitors, some we have used in the ICU regularily and some are totally new. The coolest one is the end tital agent analyzer (basicly a mass spectometer that monitors what the patient breathes out) so that you can monitor how much anesthesia you are giving a patient. There is also a BIS monitor that tells you how much brain wave activity there is so that you can keep track of your patients level of awareness. The idea of waking up a patient from anesthesia and having them tell me they were awake but unable to answer for the whole case is my biggest fear. Seconded by being unable to intubate, anesthetizing a pediatric patient, having someone die, giving the wrong medication, having a patient go into anaphylaxis.... maybe those aren't secondary fears... I can't pick my worst fear now I'm to worried now and I have to study for my local anesthetics exam.
On the exam front things are much better now that I have hemaglobin again. Scores are good, some up some down. I am sitting with a 91% in pharmacology and an 89% in anesthesia principles. I have had one bombing in each class but the rest of my grades are making up for it. School is good!
On the home front, Dave is away playing bridge for a couple of days and so it is just me and the animals. Mia is naked again, Mandy doesn't get excited for anything but food and petting and Owen has declared anything over two miles to far to walk but everyone is healthy and the doggie ibuprophen is working wonders for Mandy.
Now that I have caught you all up I am off to get to work.

TTFN from the lollygagger:)

Mornings

2008-10-13T08:28:00.003-05:00

So for most of my life I have NOT been a morning person. As a child I usually had to be called more then once to drag myself out of bed. The snooze button on every alarm clock I have ever owned has always gotten significant use and it has been more years then I can count since my alarm clock has resided on my bedside table (to close, to easy to turn off while still asleep). This begs the question of why I would choose to move into a proffession in which early morning starts are the norm (up at 4 am and at work at 5). I know I talk about the financial benefits of this change regularily but when the horribly early wake up time occurs all I can think is.... There is not enough money in the universe to justify getting up at this hour! Everyone keeps telling me that eventually my inner clock will get turned around and I will want to go to bed at 10 pm and get up at 5am but I am not so sure. I think some people are born with the daylight gene and some are not and I am fairly certain that I am in the "not" catagory.

Oh well, there is always the hope that I can find a CRNA job that lets me work 11am to 11pm... now that really would be priceless:)

Trucking along

2008-10-09T09:55:00.002-05:00

We are a month and a day into the second year and all I can say is "Whoa Nelly". We have 70 question exams either every week or twice a week and I am procrastinating studing for my nitrous and oxygen exam by posting:) As I keep getting told, "it only takes a couple of minutes" I am trying to make a post alleast once a week. So far that grades are good.... holding in the 90's for all my tests so far (5 of them). Keep sending good thoughts towards Chicago... I need all the help I can get.

The new study group has been very inclusive and it is really helping to get together with them. The old study group is still not speaking to me so.... whatever:)

I am off to study, so love you all lots and take care of each other

Adding insult to injury

2008-09-26T17:54:00.002-05:00

So on my way to bed last night, feeling a little low but better after talking to Angela and Rachel I was informed by the dogs that a last potty break was required. Last time I listen to them! Upon opening the front door we were met by one of the local skunks. My Owen, such a momma's boy, leapt to protect me and took a shot of skunk spray directly to the face and mouth. Mandy brought up the rear with a little growing but missed getting sprayed. So, at 1135 last night I started washing dogs with skunk remover (baking soda, hydrogen peroxide and dish soap), this requires three separate bathes with 5 minute soaks before rinsing. Mandy got one bath with skunk remover and then soap. Owen got three and then soap. He was not amused. He was less amused when he had to sleep in the bathroom-- by himself. I got to sleep at 230 am and was up at 630 for an exam at 9am. The exam went well and after post exam review of the notes I think I got one wrong. Then I was invited to study with two of the girls from the half of the class that is not a part of my study group. It was a very productive afternoon and now I am home, watching TV and having dinner. Tomorrow is another day and Wednesday is another test but that is okay, cause I have people at school who like me:)

I know, it's sad to revert back to grade school but it helps when people are nice to you:)

Have a lovely weekend everyone xoxoxo

Middle school all over again

2008-09-25T17:20:00.002-05:00

What is it about putting a group of women together that makes them all revert to middle school behavior? There are the popular ones, the nice ones, the bitchy ones and the outcasts. I started school in the group that looked nice and inclusive and after 4 days of no one speaking to me I was informed that I am a detriment to people ability to learn and have been uninvited to study. Being Joanna I cried while being oh so nicely dressed down and had a cry when I came home. Hubby Dave gave me the "You don't need them" speech and tried to cheer me up but in the end it just hurts when you get shut out.

I'm not sure how to deal with this tomorrow at school. Part of me just wants to stay home under the covers and forget about school. That, of course, is not an option as I have a test tomorrow. So I guess I will just go in a pretend I didn't get my teeth kicked in. The real downer to the whole thing is that I kept hearing how CRNA school is where you make friends that you will have for life. I guess I am not destined to have any life long friends. Thankfully I have my Dave and my muffins and my siblings and my Mom.

Hemaglobin is good!

2008-09-22T07:25:00.002-05:00

After clawing my way through last year, chronically feeling like I had been backover by a loaded Dump truck and spending the summer worrying that I was never going to feel right again... I have been cured. Three doses of IV iron and I am ready to start training for my first 10K. I have energy again. I sit down at the dining room table and study...cause I want too. I sleep 8 hours a night and wake up feeling rested. My caffiene intake has dropped by half. I love this feeling. There are some minor downsides to it. My arms look like I have been mainlining heroin (I had to explain to my instructor what was going on so that they didn't start worrying about substance abuse) and I have started sweating again. I didn't realize how easy the non-sweating world has it until I became one of them. Your hair doesn't fall flat after running for the train. You can cycle to school without needing a shower and a change of clothes at the end. Now I am torn. Energy is good and not being cold all the time is very pleasant but this sweating thing is just a damn nusiance.

Oh well... will all the good things I get out of being related to this family I guess I can live with this one little draw back. Got to go... the bicycle and the sweat awaits:)

First week: Second year

2008-09-13T06:25:00.002-05:00

So the first week will finish today at 1130 am. "But" you note in horror, "it's Saturday"

Yes, thats right, Saturday journal club has started. This is where 3rd year students get to put on powerpoint lectures on education topics, 2nd years get to glimpse the future and CRNA's from the local area get to come and get education hours neccessary for recertification. So for the next two years, once a month, on the second saturday I will be up at 6am to get to school and be presentable by 710 am. Now for the weird part... I am looking forward to this.

Now for the really strange ... I have voluntarily gotten out of bed at or before 730 am every day this week.... even on days that I didn't have class. Yes, that's right people.... Joanna is becoming a morning person! I fully expect CNN to be waiting outside my front door to witness this miracle at some point in the next two years.
I hope everyone has a great weekend. I am off to get ready for school.

TTFN

Joanna

Here we go again

2008-09-06T15:08:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts but the last 4 weeks has been about reading blogs, reading trash, working and getting my life in order for what will start on monday. My plan was to be rested and ready. I will be neither but that is okay too.
To bring everyone up to speed-- I had a little scare earlier this month. I am anemic again and because the uterus is no longer an issue the two other possibilities were small bowel/colon cancer or one of the bone marrow cancers. So I spent two weeks trying to get appointments and stubbornly not thinking about the possibilites. I got scoped and was told that it is not cancer.

It turns out that while I have been so good about not eating gluten and have grown all my villi back, the basement membrane in my gut is still swollen and I am not absorbing iron. Yesterday was my first iron infusion of 8 that will hopefully let me make normal red blood cells and start to feel like myself again. Of course with the good comes the bad, I managed to break my baby toe on sunday while trying to step over a golden retreiver and an ottoman at the same time, without success. For those that are keeping Karmic track here is the score

Bad
Had horrible Dad
Horrible teenager
Dropped out of highschool
Graves disease
Celiac disease
CRNA school
Cancer scare
Broken baby toe
Extra student loan issues

Good
Found Dave
Passed nursing school
Passed BSN
8 month trip in RV
CRNA school
Mom's visit
Margo's visit

The universe still owes me for Dad, the CA scare just added insult to injury and there are some who would argue that CRNA school falls on both sides of the list. I better have a good second year at school or I am really going to start thinking the world is out to get me.

I hope you all are having a great end of summer and start of fall. Know that I miss all of you and wish that I was coming at Christmas. Take care of each other.

ps. Getting to have Christmas with the family is on my list of nice things I get to do when I finish anesthesia school.

Faith... it really is the question

2008-08-01T14:21:00.002-05:00

This has been my hardest year. I started my graduate school journey with a modicum of confidence. I had made it through an Associates degree and Bachelor completion program with a couple of hiccups, mostly personal and really thought this was just going to be more of the same. I was wrong. Nurse Anesthesia school is another Universe and I never found the guidebook and until today was fairly sure I was going to be deported.

The first term was hard, and I attributed it to needing to have surgery. The second term was harder and I attibuted it to needing to recover from surgery. Then the third term came along and I had nothing to blame it on but myself. Somewhere along the way I had reverted back to that girl in grade school who never believed that she could accomplish anything. I had lost faith in myself and I had no idea how to get it back. So I did what I have tole every nursing student I have ever met. I put my nose to the grindstone and didn't look up until it was over.... yesterday!

You are only allowed one C grade (85%) in your entire course of study and I had to get an 88% or better on the final pharm test to get a B and not use up my C. Grades came in an hour ago and I got

90%

Now you would think that my self confidence would arrive in a flood having seen my grade. It didn't. Instead I have the faith that my nose to the grindstone plan works and the hope that eventually my self confidence will return and that is okay. As my husband tells me "it's about the journey, the destination will take care of itself"

The problem with Ass Food!

2008-07-12T11:01:00.003-05:00

The problem with ass food is that it isn't just potato chips and deep fried anything. It is anything you eat to much of without exercising... and given my lack of free time my ass food list now includes everything but rachels cabbage salad, water, crystal light and green leafy veggies. After coming to the realization (thanks to buying a scale) that I had put on 20lbs in my first 9 months of grad school I decided that while studing is important, so is exercise.
I started with taking the dogs for a walk every morning. Owen is very happy, Mandy lays down on the sidewalk at the end of the 2nd mile and won't get up. (46 lb golden retriever is to heavy to carry more then a bl0ck, 2 mile morning walks are just fine). Now I am not the only grad student having this problem. Some of my cohort are still paying gym memberships(family money) while others have taken to the workout CD's. Yesterday I tried the cardio ball workout. Tried, as in, could not complete it as my legs were shaking so badly from the lunges that I had to sit down or fall over. Today getting down the stairs this morning for the walk was dicey and there was no jogging as I am fairly sure I would have ended up flat on my face. Later this afternoon I am going to try the core abs ball workout.... Pray for me:)

Work, work, work

2008-07-07T14:09:00.002-05:00

I was suppose to work from 3pm to 11pm last night. A nice short 8hr shift which is too short for anyone to get under my skin and allows me to go home rested and be asleep by midnight so that I awake refreshed and ready for another week of pain (studing).
It was not to be.
Instead at 1045 I was approached by the charge nurse, who was wearing that look. What look you ask? The look of someone who is having a HUGE problem and who's only solution is the person she is walking towards. ME!!

3 sick calls from nursing, 7 traumas= only 3 survived and a raft of patients all irritated with being sick, having to wait and not liking their spouse/child/parent/friend take out all their frustration out on yours truly. Throw in a dose of psych and periatric trauma and that was my night. 100 dollar bonuses for staying the extra 4 hours is not enough!

Now it is Monday and I am suppose to be studing and getting ready for class and instead I am sitting at my computer in my PJ's blogging and trying to decide what I am going to have for lunch.

Time lost blogging instead of studing: PRICELESS! and on that note I am off to get on with my week.

July is here! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

2008-07-03T08:52:00.003-05:00

I knew July was going to be a BAD month! 7 huge exams in 5 weeks.... this is what lay people call bad math! A reasonable person needs at least a week to study for an exam... two is better. Then there is the content being tested... Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal, Vasodilators, Respiratory drugs, Diuretics, Antibiotics, Antimicrobials and Chemotherapeutic agents. *Pulling at hair and sobbing softly to myself* The worst part to the whole experience is the knowledge that not only is this voluntary... I am actually paying an exorbitant sum of money to be tortured in this fashion. What the hell is wrong with me?
There are only two good points to this month. First is that after bombing 5 out of 6 pharmacy tests I finally went to the learning resource center to see if they could help me study for the last one, and found out that I am an Auditory and Visual learner and that my ability to learn requires both stimuli to be effective. What does that mean, you say? It means that self-study or on-line classes without lecture are my downfall. (I had learned that on-line is not optimal for me but never knew why) So now we have a plan. Dave is going to read the lecture notes to me. There are a bunch of other steps as well but the LRC lady has promised me a 20% increase in my last pharm grade if I follow her plan..... and that will let me get a B in Pharm. Hallelujah!!!!
Now I have to go cause I am going to be late for class. Maybe I should take a time management class as well?

Gluten free Sushi:)

2008-06-28T00:05:00.005-05:00

When I was diagnosed with celiac disease my eating out choices went from anything I could put in my mouth to Indian, Thai and Authentic Mexican cuisine along with any restaurant that would be willing to grill me a plain chicken breast and make me steamed vegetables. I even got sick having a baked potato because they added stabilizer(wheat gluten) to the butter.

I miss Pizza and Chinese and Korean and burgers and cute little bistros and I have learned to make most of this food at home, sans gluten. The thing I could not get over was sushi.

I have eaten Sushi 3 times since being diagnosed with Celiac disease, and each time I have gotten sick. The first time because I had a complete lapse of thought and ate tempura vegetables and the 2nd and 3rd from cross contamination.

Learning to make sushi is on my list of things to do when I finish grad school.... but tonite I erased it. Tonite I made sushi at home and invited the neighbours to join me. D was playing bridge and so did not have to suffer(he is NOT a sushi fan).

I did a trial run on Wednesday(made rolls with tuna salad and cucumber) and besides the lack of choices for fillings it was quite good. Tonite was the true test. Could I make sushi that other people would be willing to eat?

The menu for this evening was widely varied so that everyone would hopefully find something they liked. All were rolls (sorry chach, I chickened on the inside out... maybe next time), some with cook protein, some with raw and an assortment of sides.

First the prep, of which there was a fair amount but worth getting all the work done so that one can settle into roll making without having to think of other things

From top to bottom we have:

Extras roll: scallop, salmon skin, raw salmon, cucumber, carrot, radish, green, onion, avocado

Salmon roll: raw salmon, cucumber, avocado

Shrimp roll: Shrimp, mayo, avocado, cucumber and carrot

Next plate from right to left is:

Crab roll: with avocado, cucumber and radish

Scallop roll: pan seared scallops with carrot, avocado and radish

Crispy salmon skin roll: pan seared salmon skin (with about an 1/16 th of an inch of salmon left on it), avocado, my gluten-free version of unagi sauce (gf hoisin with extra soy added), cucumber and green onion

and another crab roll (same as above)

It should be noted that I could not eat the crab as it was fake crab and fake crab has wheat gluten added to it as a stabilizer. I could not believe that I didn't read the damn label, but the neighbours loved it.

We ate sushi, and the Rachel cabbage salad with homemade sesame/soy vinaigrette which was AWESOME. Drank a very nice pinot grigio, and had a lovely fruit salad from desert. (See picture below for more presentation info:)

There were also small rice balls for the little person to practice her chopstick skills on and pan seared salmon for the downstairs hubbie K, who is not a raw fish fan. The big surprise of the night was that K ate 6 pieces of sushi and Mia ate an entire rice ball and then said "more please". All in all a very good night!

Things I have gleaned from my sisters

2008-06-23T09:39:00.002-05:00

As the eldest sister, most people would think that I would be the one teaching my younger siblings the wisdom of my advanced years. All I have to say to that idea is "phffsstzzzz". At this stage in the game the only thing my sisters can learn from me is 1. Get on with school early and 2. Don't have regrets life is too short.

On the flip side I have learned many things from my sisters, some of them momentus, some small, but all contribute to my life being better.

1. Threading will give you less wrinkles then waxing
2. I am not the only one with OCD and a propensity for procrastination
3. Excellent home brewed espresso is achievable without a $2000 machine.
4. Cabbage salad is Awesome
5. Grad school is an achievable goal
6. Prioritize the life expanding stuff and the menial tasks (work, school) will fall in to place.
7. Wine is good (okay, I already knew that one but affirmations are nice)

With these lessons I have:

1. better looking brows and a naked upper lip without 3 days of swelling and second degree burns
2. Comfort that I am not the only one in the world that functions like this.
3. I am now the iced latte lady at work and always have latte ready to serve waiting in my fridge
4. Make cabbage salad once a week, it doesn't wilt, can be added into any meal and I am down 4 pounds :))
5. Slightly more confidence that I will graduate from grad school..... someday!
6. Working hard and playing hard go together... maybe even need each other.
7. Wine.... wine..... Have I mentioned I have a huge discount liquor store with a monstrous amount of wine and lovely helpful people who are always willing to help you pick out something new............. and a husband who lets me spend $300 at a whack shopping for the stuff

Anyone know where I can get reasonably priced racking for wine (cellar 40 btls)

This one's for the girls

To be American, Or not to be American, that is the question!

2008-06-17T17:22:00.000-05:00

The time has come for me to decide about getting my American citizenship and I am having some difficulty with this. It is not the idea of becoming an American as much as giving up being a Canadian. I like being Canadian.

Canadians are assertive, polite, wave people into traffic in front of them, stop at yellow lights and don't believe that it is everyone's right to own a handgun. Canada is a mosaic of cultures, each with their own identity but still having the common thread of being Canadian running through them. Canada is about compromise.

America is about being right, no matter what, even if you have to look at your nose lying on the pavement after you cut it off. America is aggressive first and if there is time to say thank-you after taking what you want, they'll think about it. America is about being first, at the front of the line, the winner.

I don't mind learning about the US government system, I don't mind learning US history, I don't even mind the idea that after ten year I am finally use to spelling color and neighbor without a "u". (the "checking" account button on the ATM still makes me cringe) It is the idea that once I am a citizen I will have to take some level of responsibility for this country.

I like being able to say "I am Canadian" when asked who I will be voting for, or if I have ever had jury duty, or why I don't have a gun in my house.

I guess the question is... Do I have to give up being a Canadian in my soul if I become American in body. There will always be a little red maple leaf and a drive to be a peacemaker in my heart. I will always be willing to look at an issue from both sides, and come to a compromise (well, except for chocolate and doctors who are wrong)

I don't know what my ultimate decision will be. I do know that I will make it by July 1st (cause I do not get things done without a deadline!) Wish me luck!

Old Muffins.... and I am not talking about baking

2008-06-16T13:13:00.000-05:00

I looked at my dogs today and realized they are both old. Not aging, not getting on in years, not looking good for their age (even though they do), My babies are old!

Mandy has had trouble jumping up on the bed for about a year. She started pooping out early on walks in the last 6 months and lately if she lays down, she falls asleep within a couple of minutes. She still gets excited and jumps around if I get my running shoes on and grab the leashes and will turn in circle after circle of excitement when I am getting her dinner ready, but the exuberance of youth is well and truly gone. The dancing and jumping is done out of habit and today, for the 1st time in 13 years, Mandy did not watch me get her breakfast, did not dance or jump for joy, instead when she saw me with the bowls, heading for the closet to fill them, she layed down in the kitchen infront of her feeding spot and fell asleep. She is old and I am sad because today is the first time that it seems possible that she is not going to live through my time in Grad school.

Owen it seems will be a puppy until the day he dies. He is sleeping more too and his beard is getting greyer but he still runs up the stairs, keeps up on walks and loves to play tug o war. He still drools while watching you eat ANYTHING! and is happiest if he can sleep next to me, anywhere I am.

And now I am off for a walk with my muffins before it gets too hot.

TTFN to all

Insomnia and studying: a questionable combination

2008-06-10T05:48:00.000-05:00

And yet again I wake at 4am (my usual bedtime on work days) and after readjusting the pillows, checking the clock 6 times (yes I counted) and telling the dogs to go back to sleep, I accept the inevitable and get up.

Now you are asking yourself, what does one do at 3:30 am while avoiding making noise that will wake the hubbie and/or the neighbours. The answer is study pharmacology. There are only two caveates. You can't yell at the computer while editing notes and making note cards and you are not allowed to surf the web, play solitaire or do anything else fun that involves the computer. After 2 hours of solid work I have 2 large packets of notecards completed and a headache. My brain is full, eyes are drooping and sun is rising.... obviously it is bedtime.

I am hopeful there will come a time where the rising of the sun will signal my brain that it is time to join the world and not go to sleep, but after a life time of being a night person I am not holding my breath.

Here is hoping the rest of you slept well:) TTFN

Why is school so damn difficult!

2008-06-09T15:53:00.000-05:00

Student loans are a necessary evil of any Grad school endeavour, particularly Anesthesia. I start every interaction with the horribly disorganized, unhelpful and ignorant financial aid office with a prayer.

*Please, please, please, if there is a merciful higher power in the universe, please let me talk to someone that will have CORRECT answers to my questions*

and yet again I am shown that there is no merciful higher power in the universe, instead the higher power is probably some twisted little man with Machiavellian tendencies who take great glee in giving you a flat tire on the one day you leave for work late or allows the jug of juice to jump to its death from fridge (right after you finish washing the kitchen floor and/or right before you have to leave for work).

The woman that answered the phone at the financial aid office was very nice, willing to help, open to trying to find answers but generally unable to give me any concrete information. I finally got a "supervisor" on the phone, who seemed to have all the answers, directed me to the appropriate places on the website and gave me the inside track on how to expedite my student aid appeal. The karmic debt I will have accrued if his info is accurate will cost me 6 juice deaths, 3 flat tires, and 4 or 5 life altering embarrassing moments that I can't even imagine.
And it will all be worth it if I do not have to call and talk to those people again until May 09.
Hope springs eternal!

On that upbeat note I will leave you all to begin vacuuming my very furry universe. The fun never ends:)

Daily bread: The American Version

2008-06-04T14:46:00.000-05:00

Today, for the first time in my life I really feel old. Now I know that the culprit is post test let down coupled with anticipatory panic over the next two months schedule, but oddly knowing where the feeling is coming from does nothing to make it better.

More sleep will probably help... (two nights of suboptimal sleep hours combined with sleep walking and getting lost in the closet.. kind of scary when D told me about it the next day) along with eating better food (woman cannot live on corn cake sandwiches forever) and so a plan is hatched.

Yes, yes, I know, I am the queen of plans... but without plans there can be no accomplishments (Not quite accurate but it sounds good). So, the plan is...*drumroll*...

To attempt to make a menu plan and stick to it. I am hoping this will help with a couple of issues.

First, I want to cut down on the wasting of veggies in the crisper drawer. If I plan meals and shop appropriately, at the end of the week there should be nothing left in the crisper drawer or the fruit bowl and my colon as my sister R points out, will be much happier.
Second, I would like to get my groc costs down to something managable. Shopping while hungry/tired/uninspired is costly because I impulse buy things that I don't use or the require 7 other purchases to make a meal out of.
Third, I would like my ass to start shrinking rather then keep growing... the grad school 20 could easily become the grad school 40 if I do not get better at noshing.

So, I am making meal plans.... variety for lunches and dinners and basics for breakfast and snacks. Cross your fingers that the if you write it, it is so rule kicks in:)

Have a great day

J

Birthday dinners ROCK!!!!

2008-05-30T17:40:00.000-05:00

Today is a watershed day on a couple of fronts for me. I am going to eat my birthday dinner in approximately 20 minutes (give or take the time needed for appropriately melted cheese and then cooling before cutting) and I am feeling like a little kid waiting for Christmas.

You see today will be a landmark meal on more then one front. First this is going to be the first birthday cake I have not had to bake for myself in the last 6 years. (the first 4 were because there was no really good bakery in Lebanon and I could do a better job then Safeway, and the last 2 were because I can't have gluten and there were no GF bakeries near me).

Today that all changed. Today I picked up my gluten free birthday cake with flowers and writing and everything. Three layers of vanilla cream cake, chocolate mousse filling and chocolate ganache (sp?) on top.

Now if having GF cake was not enough, I found out that the bakery also sells pizza crusts to take home and will make you a pizza if you order ahead of time. So in my oven, as I write, there is a beautiful pizza cooking.

To be perfectly honest, the reason I am blogging right now is so that I will stop staring at my cake and pizza.... I almost ate one of the flowers because I was getting so impatient.

So here are the pictures and I am off to have my happy b-day celebration:)))

TTFN

Ahhh Sprummer:)

2008-05-28T13:15:00.001-05:00

Sprummer has arrived in Chicago. We have warm, hot, muggy, chilly, cool, mornings, days, evenings, nights. Mix and match the above into any combination and that was the last two weeks.

Today is truely a sprummer day. The sun is shining, squirrels are running around the street, the trees are green and lush and the smell of fresh cut grass is drifting in the window on a distinctly chilly breeze.

And I am studing... well blogging... well actually I just spent 15 minutes taking pictures of my view.... and realized that the windows are filthy and I should really wash them.... and the dogs... and the kitchen floor... and this episode of the procrastination game has come to an end.

Back to the joys of cardiac pharmacology:)

It is coming.....

2008-05-27T18:54:00.000-05:00

I am about to have my last 29th birthday.... the last nine were a lot of fun and in someways I am looking forward to turning 34 next year:) but as of right now I am caught between elation and irritation.

Elation because I do not have to bake my own birthday cake this year.... instead it will be picked up from the new gluten-free bakery that is only 20 minutes from my house:)))))) I actually got tearful while ordering. The first building BBQ of the season is on Friday and so it is going to be a combo event with the addition of cake for dessert.

On to the irritation. Thursday is the horrible, evil, vile, nasty cardiac pharmacology midterm :(( which none of my classmates is looking forward too and which is rumored to be the worst exam out of the 6. The nicest description that I am willing to share is "Complete ass kicker with size 20, steel toed boots" which was sent by the nice born again christian woman who blushes when anyone talks about "genitalia". Thursday is going to be very very bad. I am hopeful that it is not an omen for the year to come!

Well, that was my 10 minute study break..... Ta Ta

Weekend? Oh, you mean work...

2008-05-24T13:37:00.000-05:00

Friday was lovely! Finished my Stats final and have most of the group project pulled together... the most pleasant A of my higher education to date. Stayed up late watching TV with D and drinking sangria (fruity, tart, perfect).

Slept late and am now off to my weekend of work.

I love my current job and am going to miss it when I quit in the fall. It is easily the most fun I have in a week while being productive. The people are great, staff and patients, and the work is interesting and there is always something new happening. My IV starting skills have improved tremendously! Grown-ups are a once in a blue moon miss and the only kiddos I have trouble with are the 0 to 3 month range. All that pudge around those brand new veins makes finding pay dirt a trial and a half. I was very heartened to have the NICU nurses come down to start a kiddo last week and have to use the ultrasound to do it. They are the best and if they can't do it I am in good company.

Have to go and eat my lunch (home brewed ice chai tea, greek salad, leftover ribs) and pack my dinner(xtra sharp cheddar and tomato on corn thins, apple, banana and home made iced latte). I am bringing the jug of iced latte to work as it is a nice treat for everyone around 10pm, and carries us all through quite well until 3am.

TTFN to all

It was thursday.... 15 minutes ago

2008-05-23T00:14:00.000-05:00

Where does the time go?

I was up at 9 am this morning ( I love sleeping in), an hour of review, breakfast, drove Dave to the bus and me to school. Suffered three hours of lecture on the immune system, then got my hair cut, ordered my b-day cake at the gluten-free bakery and was home by 6pm.

My lovely husband lit the BBQ and we had mild italian sausages (he, on hotdog buns, me on gluten-free slices of french bread rolls). Apparently I fell asleep on the couch at 8. Was woken at 9 by above mentioned husband, who pointed out that napping this late in the evening was a bad plan. I watched a half hour of TV, starting talking to my love about LAS (life after school), which somehow segued into me posting and D searching for jobs for me on the web.

Alas, tomorrow (today) starts in less than 7 hours and will be just as busy as today.

Tata

My nose is getting shorter and the grindstone harder

2008-05-21T22:17:00.001-05:00

So here is the first post. I was inspired by all my siblings who have been posting to their blogs. It is a very painless way of keeping up with everyone and depending on who I am reading, usually good for at least a giggle:)

I am coming to the end of my third term of anesthesia school, only 9 more to go! As my sister keeps telling me, somewhere in the future grad school is already finished... you just have to get there!

In the meantime there are numerous tests to take and lots of information to learn and not nearly enough time in the day, week, month to do it all.

So, you ask yourself reading this, why is she starting a blog.... the answer...... because I am not going to be answering my phone for the next 10 weeks and this way my family will know I am still alive.

Here is hoping everyone had as productive a day as I did;)