From Zen Ventures, a little Q & A about blogging-
1.What do you hope to achieve in blogging?
2.Why do you blog?
3.What do you blog about?
1. I really don't know what I hope to "achieve" with blogging, really no aspirations except learning and connecting with folks on a host of topics, share some laughs, and learn more about myself and the great world through others' experiences.
2. I comment, therefore, I blog. I can be quite the commenter, so turn around is only fair play. Some of the bloggers I follow share very personal and heartfelt experiences and I want to give them the opportunity to weigh in on what I have to share. The give and take is what it's all about. I also telecommute and enjoy the virtual community and support of my blog friends. There is genuine connection and caring, it's just wonderful.
3. To borrow the term from the inestimable Lori of Weebles Wobblog, I am a free range blogger posting about whatever catches my fancy and touches my heart. And I try not to bore anyone, including myself.
So there you have it, please play along by answering any or all. Thank you so much.
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Black Humor- Warning:Clinical Adult injury/death/stupidity discussed
Like alot of clinicians and first responders, I have a black sense of humor to help cope with unique and often stressful situations.
When I first became a RN I worked in surgery and recovery room at a community hospital. One evening we had an elderly gentleman accompanied by his extended family come in to have a foreign body removed from his backside. He required surgery, as this foreign object, a can of air freshener, was firmly lodged up his lower intestine. The surgeon said the man told him he sat on the can "by mistake". Some mistake. After the can's removal, we tested the air freshener, (away from the sterile field of course!) It worked perfectly before we put it in a specimen bucket to send to pathology. (That must have made for an interesting pathology report.)
Twenty years ago when I worked in the Emergency Room at a large medical center in Florida, we had multiple trauma victims arrive from a high speed police chase and collision. This included an elderly woman driver in the wrong place at the wrong time and a drug dealer trying to evade arrest. I remember the ER doc and I working on the dealer and when she found a big zip.lock bag of crack coca.ine stuffed in his pants, she held it up to the waiting police and yelled out, "Party at my house tonight". The drug dealer survived. The elderly woman, a grandmother, did not.
Fifteen years ago when I was flying out to California from Florida, the airplane flight crew requested professional medical help. I dutifully pushed my call button and went up to First Class to "check out the situation" at the request of the flight attendant. (Btw, whenever anyone uses the word, "situation", it means seriously eff'ed up.) I walked into the first class bathroom to find a man pouring blood out of his cowboy boot into the sink. There was blood on the floors, the counter, alot of blood. I asked him, "What happened?" He turned to me with bloodshot eyes and reeking of alcohol and said, "I had a zit on the back of my leg and I popped it." I said, "Well, I guess you won't do that again." (Clinical note:It was not a zit. He suffered bleeding from a leg varicose vein and had clotting problems due to alcohol use.) He was stable and we did not have to make an emergency landing, saving Amer.ican Airlines thousands and thousands of dollars from fees and missed passenger connections. For my trouble, I got a lame letter from the airlines giving me a $100 off a FULL FARE Ticket with blackout dates! Talk about black humor, I guess the airlines have it too.
When I first became a RN I worked in surgery and recovery room at a community hospital. One evening we had an elderly gentleman accompanied by his extended family come in to have a foreign body removed from his backside. He required surgery, as this foreign object, a can of air freshener, was firmly lodged up his lower intestine. The surgeon said the man told him he sat on the can "by mistake". Some mistake. After the can's removal, we tested the air freshener, (away from the sterile field of course!) It worked perfectly before we put it in a specimen bucket to send to pathology. (That must have made for an interesting pathology report.)
Twenty years ago when I worked in the Emergency Room at a large medical center in Florida, we had multiple trauma victims arrive from a high speed police chase and collision. This included an elderly woman driver in the wrong place at the wrong time and a drug dealer trying to evade arrest. I remember the ER doc and I working on the dealer and when she found a big zip.lock bag of crack coca.ine stuffed in his pants, she held it up to the waiting police and yelled out, "Party at my house tonight". The drug dealer survived. The elderly woman, a grandmother, did not.
Fifteen years ago when I was flying out to California from Florida, the airplane flight crew requested professional medical help. I dutifully pushed my call button and went up to First Class to "check out the situation" at the request of the flight attendant. (Btw, whenever anyone uses the word, "situation", it means seriously eff'ed up.) I walked into the first class bathroom to find a man pouring blood out of his cowboy boot into the sink. There was blood on the floors, the counter, alot of blood. I asked him, "What happened?" He turned to me with bloodshot eyes and reeking of alcohol and said, "I had a zit on the back of my leg and I popped it." I said, "Well, I guess you won't do that again." (Clinical note:It was not a zit. He suffered bleeding from a leg varicose vein and had clotting problems due to alcohol use.) He was stable and we did not have to make an emergency landing, saving Amer.ican Airlines thousands and thousands of dollars from fees and missed passenger connections. For my trouble, I got a lame letter from the airlines giving me a $100 off a FULL FARE Ticket with blackout dates! Talk about black humor, I guess the airlines have it too.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Death of a Hired Hand
It has been gray and dreary here these last few days with strong storms coming down from Alaska. Winter is the rainy season in Southern California. The rain reminds me of my "Repair Guy" Alex who died in an accident on the slick roads last winter. Like most homeowners, once you find a "Repair Guy" that is good, reliable, trustworthy, and knowledgeable, you are breathing easier knowing you have a partner to help with the things that inevitably break down. Alex was there to help ever since we bought our house twelve years ago. Alex nursed my old washing machine back to health and gently broke the news when it was time to let it go. He tuned up the furnace and easily diagnosed and fixed our tempermental refrigerator. We got to know each other through our intermittent visits to keep this 40 year old house running. He saw my kids get bigger and I learned about how he moved to the United States from the Ukraine twenty years ago and about his wife and son. We had a bond.
I didn't find out Alex had died until last summer when I called his office to schedule a repair. The man who answered the phone became choked up and told me that he was sorry he would have to send someone else out as Alex had been killed in an accident in the rain last winter. I burst into tears, the loss of this young man struck me so hard and I was overwhelmed for quite a few minutes. I apologized for my emotional outburst and expressed my sympathy for Alex's family and coworkers.
A friend who also had Alex as their repairman had a similar reaction as me upon learning of his death. I thought, "Gee, we were just customers of a serviceman. Why this level of emotion?" I realized that it's not the quantity of the relationship per se, but the quality. That this person and I had a genuine connection and caring, and like ripples in the water, it touched my heart and spirit. I think of Alex's wife and young son and how they must miss him. I am not ashamed to say I miss him, not because of his work, but because of who he was and how he treated me, kindly, patiently, and warmly.
Rest In Peace, Alexander. Thank you. (Отдых в мире, Alesander. Спасибо.)
I didn't find out Alex had died until last summer when I called his office to schedule a repair. The man who answered the phone became choked up and told me that he was sorry he would have to send someone else out as Alex had been killed in an accident in the rain last winter. I burst into tears, the loss of this young man struck me so hard and I was overwhelmed for quite a few minutes. I apologized for my emotional outburst and expressed my sympathy for Alex's family and coworkers.
A friend who also had Alex as their repairman had a similar reaction as me upon learning of his death. I thought, "Gee, we were just customers of a serviceman. Why this level of emotion?" I realized that it's not the quantity of the relationship per se, but the quality. That this person and I had a genuine connection and caring, and like ripples in the water, it touched my heart and spirit. I think of Alex's wife and young son and how they must miss him. I am not ashamed to say I miss him, not because of his work, but because of who he was and how he treated me, kindly, patiently, and warmly.
Rest In Peace, Alexander. Thank you. (Отдых в мире, Alesander. Спасибо.)
Monday, February 16, 2009
Love is In the Air
Hello this after Valentine's Day Monday and I hope you had a weekend filled with love. I sure did, I was treated to a favorite meal cooked by my husband. This meal is fantastic, it's broiled salmon topped with brie served on a bed of cooked spinach with dill cream sauce, with a side of sliced poached green apples and Yukon gold mashed potatoes. We are talking major heavenly delight in the tastebuds department. Ah, so good. My other delights were sweet cards from the family and a one lb.box of See's chocolates. Yum, yum, yum. I am lucky that my husband is so romantic. (Sometimes more so than me!)
I think my husband has passed this trait on to our soon to be 14 y/o son who is at the movies on his first date. Ack! Our teen was walking on air and a little nervous when he told us, "C. and I decided we like each other and want to go to the movies tomorrow. Sorry for springing this on you." It's okay, I told myself, it's just great. It's so sweet to see him all excited and walking on air getting ready this morning. I asked him how his guy friends will take his new status as part of a couple to which he said, "They will have to deal with it." And so will I.
"And stay right here, 'cause these are the good old days." Carly Simon, "Anticipation" lyrics
I think my husband has passed this trait on to our soon to be 14 y/o son who is at the movies on his first date. Ack! Our teen was walking on air and a little nervous when he told us, "C. and I decided we like each other and want to go to the movies tomorrow. Sorry for springing this on you." It's okay, I told myself, it's just great. It's so sweet to see him all excited and walking on air getting ready this morning. I asked him how his guy friends will take his new status as part of a couple to which he said, "They will have to deal with it." And so will I.
"And stay right here, 'cause these are the good old days." Carly Simon, "Anticipation" lyrics
Friday, February 13, 2009
A Heart for Art
I am participating in an Art Festival sponsored by artist, Mother Henna. For this festival, I had to post about Art. It can be anything, a poem, a picture of your artwork, an essay describing your relationship with art, etc. I am not an artist per se, but I am passionate about the arts in all forms and seek to make it part of my life and home.
In writing this post, I have been thinking about growing up in an "artistic" household surrounded by artists, musicians, and actors. My parents and siblings are all talented musicians and my mother and I have enjoyed "walking the boards". My mother also painted and sculpted and owned an antiques and art gallery for many years. I remember my mom saying that good music, books, and art are just as important for childrearing as good nutrition, sleep, and play.
I was thinking of art in its' traditional forms, of something that is produced, a final product, a book or something to hang on the wall and admire. Then I realized this is so limiting, art is the process, the journey, the struggle, that connects us to "flow" or higher power where you feel part of and in sync with the universe.
I create art when I am present with my family and comfort and care for them.
I create art when I provide compassionate and excellent care at my work as a nurse.
I create art when I can make a little baby laugh while waiting in the check out line.
The craftsmen who install moulding, a surgeon replacing a worn out arthritic knee, a granny singing to her little ones, the cook creating a meal, these are all artists.
Art is in the doing.
Thank you to Mother Henna for celebrating Art and providing me the opportunity to reflect on its' role in my life. Your thoughts on art and its' place in your life are most welcome.
Many thanks, Martha
In writing this post, I have been thinking about growing up in an "artistic" household surrounded by artists, musicians, and actors. My parents and siblings are all talented musicians and my mother and I have enjoyed "walking the boards". My mother also painted and sculpted and owned an antiques and art gallery for many years. I remember my mom saying that good music, books, and art are just as important for childrearing as good nutrition, sleep, and play.
I was thinking of art in its' traditional forms, of something that is produced, a final product, a book or something to hang on the wall and admire. Then I realized this is so limiting, art is the process, the journey, the struggle, that connects us to "flow" or higher power where you feel part of and in sync with the universe.
I create art when I am present with my family and comfort and care for them.
I create art when I provide compassionate and excellent care at my work as a nurse.
I create art when I can make a little baby laugh while waiting in the check out line.
The craftsmen who install moulding, a surgeon replacing a worn out arthritic knee, a granny singing to her little ones, the cook creating a meal, these are all artists.
Art is in the doing.
Thank you to Mother Henna for celebrating Art and providing me the opportunity to reflect on its' role in my life. Your thoughts on art and its' place in your life are most welcome.
Many thanks, Martha
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Major Blog Housekeeping- Tags, Memes, Awards
I am seriously behind in my blog housekeeping with Tags and Memes to answer and Awards to acknowledge and pay forward. I apologize for my tardiness in this post and really appreciate the Shout Outs from my friends across the cypersphere.
This first item of business is a photo tag from Marvelous Muse Swings all the way from the tropic beaches of Florida. This is a 6th folder, 6 picture tag where you go to your computer's 6th photo folder and post the 6th picture in the folder. You also have to describe the photo. Fair enough. That would be great except I only have 5 photo folders and a bunch of photo orphans, so I posted the 6th picture and here it is.
This picture of me and and some coworkers taken after a team building skit or some other vital piece of business during a work conference six years ago. I am wearing the beehive red wig and cat eye glasses, very glamorous.
The next item I am pleased to share is The Honest Scrap Award which I was so sweetly given to by two of my heroes- Amazing Ashley and Cara Mia.
The attendent rules:
Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Show the 7 winners names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with "Honest Scrap." Well, there's no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. Then, list at least 10 honest things about yourself.
1. Lists about myself make me self conscious.
2. I contemplated answering this list with song lyrics like, "Born in the USA" and "Dancing in the Moonlight".
3. I have provided emergency nursing care twice on commercial airplane flights.
4. I have lived in 5 states.
5. I am good and like all animals, but prefer cats.
6. The most pets I have ever had was six pets. This included the 3 cats and dog I brought to my marriage and my husband's two cats.
7. I met my husband at my cousin's wedding. He says it's a "target rich environment" to meet someone. I wore a purple satin gown I referred to as the "grape gown". It obviously worked.
8. I am very concientious about wearing sunblock. Everyday, all the time, and multiple applications. I had skin cancer removed at the age of 28 years old.
9. I like to cook and bake. Apparently this is unusual, most folks only like to do one or the other.
10. A couple of years ago, my teenage niece told me that she read the phrase, "Don't Take Offense Easily" in a book. For some reason this really stuck with me.
I would like to invite Mrs.Spock, KimboSue, Are You Kidding Me, Annie, Soralis, Heather, and Kalei to play along in the Honest Scrap pile.
The next delightful Award is from The Jason Show, a warm and witty blogger who always brings a smile. Thank you, Jason for The Lemonade Stand Award. (Does this mean I make lemonade out of lemons?)
Here are the rules for The Lemonade Stand Award:
1. You must link back to the person you received the award from.
2. You have to nominate 10 bloggers who are deserving of this award!
The ten bloggers I would like to invite to The Lemonade Stand are:
Mrs.Spock, Momma Val, Cara, Kim, Annie, Kimbosue, Soralis, Kalei,
Are You Kidding Me, and Heather.
You all are the "pause that refreshes", always!
The last piece of business is a meme from dear Momma Val from beautiful Chicagoland. This is a twist on the Honest Scrap Award as you can see by the yes, you guessed it, More Rules:
From Momma Val - "Instead of saying where you live, what state your hair is in, etc. you will share bizarre little things about yourself. Maybe you have some guilty pleasures, maybe you have some OCD that you desperately try to hide, whatever the case may be this is your chance to spill it. Let's all remember to be honest, not to judge, and to have some fun being able to embrace our oddities and laugh at ourselves. Thought this might be a nice mid-week tension reliever.
So please, if you are tagged, copy and paste this entire post. Then replace my quirks with your own and tag up to ten people, unless you have A LOT of quirky friends then tag em all!!! Have fun!"
In the spirit of fun, I will be a good sport and share 10 quirks about me.
1. I find quirks in others very endearing.
2. I have an incredible sense of smell.
3. I have a very sensitive palate and tastebuds.
4. I like my gray hair.
5. Getting older isn't bothering me.
6. I consider myself an intuitive, I can frequently predict who is on the phone or at the door.
7. I have trouble sitting still for extended periods of time.
8. I have been through multiple natural disasters, Hurricane Andrew in Florida in 1992, the Northridge Earthquake in California in 1993, and the California Wildfires last fall.
9. I am good at imitating accents, I am especially proud of my Scottish brogue. My uncle can do a Scotsman speaking Yiddish, so this gift runs in the family.
10. I can remember phone numbers without effort. My husband calls me a walking rolodex.
In addition to tagging the lovely 10 bloggers listed above, I am tagging John Deere Mom and Jason because I want to learn about their quirks too! I am also tagging all of the linked bloggers who would like to share their 6th picture from their 6th folder, well, please do so!
Awards and memes, like most housekeeping, is hard work. Thank you to the presenters and to the other bloggers for playing along. This is the most link intensive post I've ever done.
This first item of business is a photo tag from Marvelous Muse Swings all the way from the tropic beaches of Florida. This is a 6th folder, 6 picture tag where you go to your computer's 6th photo folder and post the 6th picture in the folder. You also have to describe the photo. Fair enough. That would be great except I only have 5 photo folders and a bunch of photo orphans, so I posted the 6th picture and here it is.
This picture of me and and some coworkers taken after a team building skit or some other vital piece of business during a work conference six years ago. I am wearing the beehive red wig and cat eye glasses, very glamorous.
The next item I am pleased to share is The Honest Scrap Award which I was so sweetly given to by two of my heroes- Amazing Ashley and Cara Mia.
The attendent rules:
Choose a minimum of 7 blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Show the 7 winners names and links on your blog, and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with "Honest Scrap." Well, there's no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. Then, list at least 10 honest things about yourself.
1. Lists about myself make me self conscious.
2. I contemplated answering this list with song lyrics like, "Born in the USA" and "Dancing in the Moonlight".
3. I have provided emergency nursing care twice on commercial airplane flights.
4. I have lived in 5 states.
5. I am good and like all animals, but prefer cats.
6. The most pets I have ever had was six pets. This included the 3 cats and dog I brought to my marriage and my husband's two cats.
7. I met my husband at my cousin's wedding. He says it's a "target rich environment" to meet someone. I wore a purple satin gown I referred to as the "grape gown". It obviously worked.
8. I am very concientious about wearing sunblock. Everyday, all the time, and multiple applications. I had skin cancer removed at the age of 28 years old.
9. I like to cook and bake. Apparently this is unusual, most folks only like to do one or the other.
10. A couple of years ago, my teenage niece told me that she read the phrase, "Don't Take Offense Easily" in a book. For some reason this really stuck with me.
I would like to invite Mrs.Spock, KimboSue, Are You Kidding Me, Annie, Soralis, Heather, and Kalei to play along in the Honest Scrap pile.
The next delightful Award is from The Jason Show, a warm and witty blogger who always brings a smile. Thank you, Jason for The Lemonade Stand Award. (Does this mean I make lemonade out of lemons?)
Here are the rules for The Lemonade Stand Award:
1. You must link back to the person you received the award from.
2. You have to nominate 10 bloggers who are deserving of this award!
The ten bloggers I would like to invite to The Lemonade Stand are:
Mrs.Spock, Momma Val, Cara, Kim, Annie, Kimbosue, Soralis, Kalei,
Are You Kidding Me, and Heather.
You all are the "pause that refreshes", always!
The last piece of business is a meme from dear Momma Val from beautiful Chicagoland. This is a twist on the Honest Scrap Award as you can see by the yes, you guessed it, More Rules:
From Momma Val - "Instead of saying where you live, what state your hair is in, etc. you will share bizarre little things about yourself. Maybe you have some guilty pleasures, maybe you have some OCD that you desperately try to hide, whatever the case may be this is your chance to spill it. Let's all remember to be honest, not to judge, and to have some fun being able to embrace our oddities and laugh at ourselves. Thought this might be a nice mid-week tension reliever.
So please, if you are tagged, copy and paste this entire post. Then replace my quirks with your own and tag up to ten people, unless you have A LOT of quirky friends then tag em all!!! Have fun!"
In the spirit of fun, I will be a good sport and share 10 quirks about me.
1. I find quirks in others very endearing.
2. I have an incredible sense of smell.
3. I have a very sensitive palate and tastebuds.
4. I like my gray hair.
5. Getting older isn't bothering me.
6. I consider myself an intuitive, I can frequently predict who is on the phone or at the door.
7. I have trouble sitting still for extended periods of time.
8. I have been through multiple natural disasters, Hurricane Andrew in Florida in 1992, the Northridge Earthquake in California in 1993, and the California Wildfires last fall.
9. I am good at imitating accents, I am especially proud of my Scottish brogue. My uncle can do a Scotsman speaking Yiddish, so this gift runs in the family.
10. I can remember phone numbers without effort. My husband calls me a walking rolodex.
In addition to tagging the lovely 10 bloggers listed above, I am tagging John Deere Mom and Jason because I want to learn about their quirks too! I am also tagging all of the linked bloggers who would like to share their 6th picture from their 6th folder, well, please do so!
Awards and memes, like most housekeeping, is hard work. Thank you to the presenters and to the other bloggers for playing along. This is the most link intensive post I've ever done.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
One Sentence Post - Teach Your Children Well
In addition to educating our teen and preteen about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and reckless driving, I have now just warned them strictly against eating any Peanut products!
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