can't see well...eyes are dilated and words are blurry. Someone should have told me that I wouldn't be able to read! New clinical assignments are up and I can't really read them very well!
ARG!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
MMmmm....oh, Mmmm....
This is SO GOOD! (ok, let me explain now that I'm a very verbal eater. if I think it's that good, the people sitting at the next table in the restaurant will know)
Dinner last night...was. so. freaking. delicious.
The last couple of Barefoot Contessa episodes were Paris based which got me inspired to have a night of French cooking.
So yesterday afternoon, I pulled out my cookbooks, made my list, headed to the grocery store, and for the first time in my life, I bought a whole roasting chicken (uncooked...trust me, we've done the cooked versions many times).
Let's first get something out on the table: I am not a cook. I try. There are many memories and stories about me in the kitchen, fighting with my uncooked food. I am the queen of pouring batter into the trash because I don't think it tastes right. I once baked salmon for 45 minutes. Flan has ended up with whole cinnamon sticks because the three recipes failed to mention to remove the cinnamon and the flan has ended up as a sticky mess, running down the cabinets onto the floor during the breath defying 'flip.'
You get the idea....but I've gotten a little bit braver, gained some more self confidence, and if I see how it's made on TV and then read, and reread the recipe about 4 times, I might be able to make something half way decent.
So yesterday I made Barefoot's lemon chicken with croutons and french string beans. The hardest part of the recipe was cleaning out the chicken (I think my chicken had two livers-ew) and then tying the chicken legs together and tucking the wings under. I kept the chicken in the oven for just under 85 minutes.
While that was cooking, I prepped the bread for the croutons and prepped the veggies for the side dish. In the cookbook, Barefoot makes a point of saying to use french string beans, NOT regular string beans. It's pricier, but so delicious. And who doesn't love a little gourmet every once in a while? When the chicken came out of the oven to rest, I put the veggies in the oven and started cooking the croutons. I don't think my oil was hot enough for the croutons, and I probably added too much olive oil, but it all came together nicely.
Ryan was cutting up the chicken while I was sauteing/warming up the string beans before finally mixing it all together with the peppers and onion. (I had already blanced the green beans.)
The dinner was delicious. the chicken was incredibly moist. I was surprised to have not tasted any lemon flavor at all....in fact, it tasted just like chicken, but I didn't find it bland...maybe because it was so moist and I used so much olive oil with the croutons. For next time, I would use an entire red and yellow pepper, not just half for the vegetable side dish-because I liked the sweetness it added. I would have allowed the olive oil to heat up more prior to sauteing the bread for the croutons.
It's an incredibly simple dish that probably took me longer than it should since I felt I had to babysit the meal. It would be a great dinner for guests. I'm curious to see if anyone else has made this (or is willing to try)-let me know what you think!
Dinner last night...was. so. freaking. delicious.
The last couple of Barefoot Contessa episodes were Paris based which got me inspired to have a night of French cooking.
So yesterday afternoon, I pulled out my cookbooks, made my list, headed to the grocery store, and for the first time in my life, I bought a whole roasting chicken (uncooked...trust me, we've done the cooked versions many times).
Let's first get something out on the table: I am not a cook. I try. There are many memories and stories about me in the kitchen, fighting with my uncooked food. I am the queen of pouring batter into the trash because I don't think it tastes right. I once baked salmon for 45 minutes. Flan has ended up with whole cinnamon sticks because the three recipes failed to mention to remove the cinnamon and the flan has ended up as a sticky mess, running down the cabinets onto the floor during the breath defying 'flip.'
You get the idea....but I've gotten a little bit braver, gained some more self confidence, and if I see how it's made on TV and then read, and reread the recipe about 4 times, I might be able to make something half way decent.
So yesterday I made Barefoot's lemon chicken with croutons and french string beans. The hardest part of the recipe was cleaning out the chicken (I think my chicken had two livers-ew) and then tying the chicken legs together and tucking the wings under. I kept the chicken in the oven for just under 85 minutes.
While that was cooking, I prepped the bread for the croutons and prepped the veggies for the side dish. In the cookbook, Barefoot makes a point of saying to use french string beans, NOT regular string beans. It's pricier, but so delicious. And who doesn't love a little gourmet every once in a while? When the chicken came out of the oven to rest, I put the veggies in the oven and started cooking the croutons. I don't think my oil was hot enough for the croutons, and I probably added too much olive oil, but it all came together nicely.
Ryan was cutting up the chicken while I was sauteing/warming up the string beans before finally mixing it all together with the peppers and onion. (I had already blanced the green beans.)
The dinner was delicious. the chicken was incredibly moist. I was surprised to have not tasted any lemon flavor at all....in fact, it tasted just like chicken, but I didn't find it bland...maybe because it was so moist and I used so much olive oil with the croutons. For next time, I would use an entire red and yellow pepper, not just half for the vegetable side dish-because I liked the sweetness it added. I would have allowed the olive oil to heat up more prior to sauteing the bread for the croutons.
It's an incredibly simple dish that probably took me longer than it should since I felt I had to babysit the meal. It would be a great dinner for guests. I'm curious to see if anyone else has made this (or is willing to try)-let me know what you think!
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
What's Your Personality?
From Mike & Erica
Jung/Myers-Briggs Pesonality Test
I'm an ESTJ:
Extrovert 44%
Sensing 31%
Thinking 25%
Judging 39%
Guardian™ Portrait of the Superviser (ESTJ):
Supervisors are highly social and community-minded, with many rising to positions of responsibility in their school, church, industry, or civic groups. Supervisors are generous with their time and energy, and very often belong to a variety of service clubs, lodges, and associations, supporting them through steady attendance, but also taking an outspoken leadership role. Supervisors like to take charge of groups and are comfortable issuing orders. They are cooperative with their own superiors, and they would like cooperation from the people working under them. Rank, they believe, has its obligations, but it also has its privileges.
Comprising at least ten percent of the population, Supervisors enjoy and are good at making schedules, agendas, inventories, and so on, and they much prefer tried and true ways of doing things over speculation and experimentation. Supervisors keep their feet firmly on the ground and would like those under their supervision to do the same, whether employee, subordinate, spouse, or offspring. Supervisors have no problem evaluating others and tend to judge how a person is doing in terms of his or her compliance with, and respect for, schedules and procedures.
Supervisors are unbelievably hard-working. Even as children they are industrious, and they usually respect their parents as authority figures. In school Supervisors are often model students, dutifully following directions, doing all their homework, doing it thoroughly, and on time. Above all else, they wish to do what they are supposed to do, and they rarely question the teacher's assignments, method of instruction, standards, or authority. And their industry and perseverance only become more important to them as they grow into adulthood and take on the responsibilities of job and family.
Supervisors approach human relations along traditional lines. Marriage and parenthood are sacred to them, and they tend to have a large circle of friends, with many friendships faithfully maintained over the years. Social gatherings and ceremonies have great meaning for them, and they look forward to holiday parties, club dances, weddings, class reunions, awards banquets, and the like. In social situations, Supervisors are friendly and talk easily with others. Though they can seem a bit formal in their manners, Supervisors are pretty easy to get to know. At ease in polite company, they tend not to confuse people by sending double messages or putting on airs-what they seem to be, they are.
Jack Webb, Judge Judy, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, George Washington, Sandra Day O' Connor, Mike Wallace, and Vince Lombardi are examples of a Supervisor Guardians.
Jung/Myers-Briggs Pesonality Test
I'm an ESTJ:
Extrovert 44%
Sensing 31%
Thinking 25%
Judging 39%
Guardian™ Portrait of the Superviser (ESTJ):
Supervisors are highly social and community-minded, with many rising to positions of responsibility in their school, church, industry, or civic groups. Supervisors are generous with their time and energy, and very often belong to a variety of service clubs, lodges, and associations, supporting them through steady attendance, but also taking an outspoken leadership role. Supervisors like to take charge of groups and are comfortable issuing orders. They are cooperative with their own superiors, and they would like cooperation from the people working under them. Rank, they believe, has its obligations, but it also has its privileges.
Comprising at least ten percent of the population, Supervisors enjoy and are good at making schedules, agendas, inventories, and so on, and they much prefer tried and true ways of doing things over speculation and experimentation. Supervisors keep their feet firmly on the ground and would like those under their supervision to do the same, whether employee, subordinate, spouse, or offspring. Supervisors have no problem evaluating others and tend to judge how a person is doing in terms of his or her compliance with, and respect for, schedules and procedures.
Supervisors are unbelievably hard-working. Even as children they are industrious, and they usually respect their parents as authority figures. In school Supervisors are often model students, dutifully following directions, doing all their homework, doing it thoroughly, and on time. Above all else, they wish to do what they are supposed to do, and they rarely question the teacher's assignments, method of instruction, standards, or authority. And their industry and perseverance only become more important to them as they grow into adulthood and take on the responsibilities of job and family.
Supervisors approach human relations along traditional lines. Marriage and parenthood are sacred to them, and they tend to have a large circle of friends, with many friendships faithfully maintained over the years. Social gatherings and ceremonies have great meaning for them, and they look forward to holiday parties, club dances, weddings, class reunions, awards banquets, and the like. In social situations, Supervisors are friendly and talk easily with others. Though they can seem a bit formal in their manners, Supervisors are pretty easy to get to know. At ease in polite company, they tend not to confuse people by sending double messages or putting on airs-what they seem to be, they are.
Jack Webb, Judge Judy, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, George Washington, Sandra Day O' Connor, Mike Wallace, and Vince Lombardi are examples of a Supervisor Guardians.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Case of the Nasties...
There's a certain Cable/Internet/Phone company in the area that I despise dealing with.
I had to call them last week because the one TV that gets basic basic cable, was only showing a picture that said to call the company in reference to some sort of box we needed.
No big deal, but it would have been nice to have been notified about this newly needed box BEFORE we had guests.
I spent about 30-40 minutes between transfers, being put on hold, and talking to a human, and while I still dont' have the box, I'm going to hope that it gets here by Monday and that I won't have to deal with their supposed "customer service."
Today we received a letter, addressed to us personally (not dear customer), and the letter stated that our previous bills were in fact too low and that, while we wouldn't have to make up the difference, our next statement will reflect the correct billing amount.
-blood pressure increases-
The letter didn't tell us anything more, except to call for questions. So I called, inquiring about the billing error in addition to asking about the new correct charges.
Between being bored for most of the day and watching House reruns (a new favorite by the way), I picked up a case of the nasties...that or House mannerisms and just didn't care about other people's feelings.
3rd Employee I spoke with (don't ask)....after being on hold: "Ma'm, you're bill won't be changing at all. That letter was sent to all customers, but you won't be affected."
Me: Even though my name is on this letter? This is a generic letter with my name on it telling me about a billing change, but I won't be affected? And my name is on it?
Employee: Yes, that's right...
Me: Geez. Dealing with Verizon is like dealing with people from Mars.
This was 6 hours ago and I STILL cringe when I think of it. No more House for me...
I had to call them last week because the one TV that gets basic basic cable, was only showing a picture that said to call the company in reference to some sort of box we needed.
No big deal, but it would have been nice to have been notified about this newly needed box BEFORE we had guests.
I spent about 30-40 minutes between transfers, being put on hold, and talking to a human, and while I still dont' have the box, I'm going to hope that it gets here by Monday and that I won't have to deal with their supposed "customer service."
Today we received a letter, addressed to us personally (not dear customer), and the letter stated that our previous bills were in fact too low and that, while we wouldn't have to make up the difference, our next statement will reflect the correct billing amount.
-blood pressure increases-
The letter didn't tell us anything more, except to call for questions. So I called, inquiring about the billing error in addition to asking about the new correct charges.
Between being bored for most of the day and watching House reruns (a new favorite by the way), I picked up a case of the nasties...that or House mannerisms and just didn't care about other people's feelings.
3rd Employee I spoke with (don't ask)....after being on hold: "Ma'm, you're bill won't be changing at all. That letter was sent to all customers, but you won't be affected."
Me: Even though my name is on this letter? This is a generic letter with my name on it telling me about a billing change, but I won't be affected? And my name is on it?
Employee: Yes, that's right...
Me: Geez. Dealing with Verizon is like dealing with people from Mars.
This was 6 hours ago and I STILL cringe when I think of it. No more House for me...
Saturday, July 12, 2008
12 hours later.....
I had lunch today at 2:00.
A salad.
That came with tomatoes.
A voice in the back of my head said, "hm, maybe you shouldn't get that."
but then the 'rational' voice said back, "Get real. What are you going to do? Stop eating because of some bad batches? And they haven't pulled it off the market yet, so it can't be that bad..."
And not that you want a history of my bowel movements, but....
and now. at 2:22 am, about 12 hours after eating my salad (which obviously had tomatoes), my stomach is crampy.
I'm hoping this stomach thing is the fact that I've been eating crappy lately and that I'm in a downer of a mood. Stupid Delaware.
A salad.
That came with tomatoes.
A voice in the back of my head said, "hm, maybe you shouldn't get that."
but then the 'rational' voice said back, "Get real. What are you going to do? Stop eating because of some bad batches? And they haven't pulled it off the market yet, so it can't be that bad..."
And not that you want a history of my bowel movements, but....
and now. at 2:22 am, about 12 hours after eating my salad (which obviously had tomatoes), my stomach is crampy.
I'm hoping this stomach thing is the fact that I've been eating crappy lately and that I'm in a downer of a mood. Stupid Delaware.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Biddle-De-Bop!
That phrase has been in my head all yesterday afternoon!
Yesterday was the last day of my med-surg clinical!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The experience wasn't all bad...in fact, with the exception of my first patient, I don't believe I had any difficult patients. And I definitely did not have any difficult family members or visitors. some things I've learned in the past five weeks:
Yesterday was the last day of my med-surg clinical!
YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The experience wasn't all bad...in fact, with the exception of my first patient, I don't believe I had any difficult patients. And I definitely did not have any difficult family members or visitors. some things I've learned in the past five weeks:
1. How to mix and run Nexium. Would you believe that the last 4 or 5 patients I had was on Nexium IV? I've yet to see that purple pill...
2. How to get blood from what looked like a central line (but wasn't a central line...don't ask). flush both lines. Draw waste. draw blood. flush both lines.
3. How to flush a percutaneous tube.
4. How to drain a percutaneous tube.
5. How to flush a NG tube.
6. How to hang a Mag rider. This one is incredibly simple, but was particular difficult for me to understand. I saw how the old Mag rider was hanging. I then spoke to my instructor. I finally figured out that the person who last put up the mag rider did it incorrectly. The poor patient had straight mag running into his line. Ouch.
7. How to change a chest tube dressing.
8. How to look for an air leak ("cough for me please")
9. How to make sure the right IV med is running. And to make sure it is running into the patient, not onto the floor (funny story....)
10. How to separate an IV tube from an IVR (another funny story...)
11. How to use a needle-less syringe (heh...take off the cap)
12. Using a tuberculin syringe to withdraw a certain med.
13. Using a carpujack (sp) holder (hate those). (pain meds)
14. How to take an accucheck....and how to get enough blood on to the strip.
15. How to give insulin with an insulin pen.
16. How to draw insulin up in a syringe.
17. How to give lovenox.
18. How to give heparin.
19. How to give meds via IV push.
20. How to check IV compatibility.
21. How to give lopressor (monitor monitor monitor!)
22. Incentive spirometers
23. Pneumatic Compression Boots
24. Missing Doses
25. Labs
26. BP 80 something over 50 something? page doc. fluid bolus.
27. increase bands count + rhonci = possible infection
28. Diabetic gastroparesis
29. small bowel obstruction
30. NPO (nothing by mouth)
31. Diluting drugs
32. Slicing pills
33. Carry lots of red caps!
34. Ditto for Alcohol pads
35. Flush. Flush. Flush.
36. Get the patient up and out of bed!
37. Cough and deep breathe!
38. MRSA. Hypochondriac that I am, I'm convinced the car, house and I are contaminated.
39. I&Os
40. Always ask why. why why why.
41. Nurses are busy. I will have to learn that the I can start an IV when a doc is talking to a patient. Not that I would want to do this if the doc is telling the patient something awful, like they if they have cancer...My instructor said today: "Get in there from behind the patient and start the IV. You are just as important as that doctor." She probably wanted to see how I would react to a doctor yelling at me for interrupting. Fortunately neither one of us got that chance...the doc was finished by the time I walked up to the patient.
I wish I got to see or do more. A lot of my patients seem to have had the same thing wrong with them (abdominal pain). Only one or two post-ops. No major dressing changes. There was one patient with a wound which required dressing changes, but my instructor wouldn't allow me to change the dressing (the first patient, who my instructor didn't like).
My evaluation went well enough. My instructor thinks I need to go on to grad school and research. I believe that's code for: you can't do any of the practical stuff.
Last night I celebrated with a glass or two of red wine and the Woody Allen flick Manhattan. Something about red wine, Woody Allen, and Gershwin makes for a nice quiet evening. Now if I can only find the motivation to study for exam 2 or write that paper that's due Monday....
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