You know I never know when to shut up. Along with the malfunctioning filter that runs between my brain and my mouth, I often get myself in trouble. Okay, trouble might be too strong of a word, but I can definitely annoy some people.
Two things today showed that there have been no improvements for me in these areas. First, today was our monthly Afternoon with the Arts. It's a home school thing we do where the kids get to each show off something they did or can do. Like artwork, poetry and playing a musical instrument. They have to do it in front of an audience. Then afterward we have high tea for the kids, with finger food, and do a quick etiquette lesson. You know the whole shebang, cloth napkins, real china tea cups, place cards and practicing making small talk. Okay, I know, I know, I digressed. Eventually you'll get used to it. So anyway, who shows up today but the Girl Scout Leader who I previously had issue with. She has been avoiding me since our little to-do. I walk in the door and she's standing right there. She looks like a deer trapped in a snare, she wants to run but can't without being a total ass. So instead of saying a quick hi and letting her escape I make small talk. Forcing her to stay and talk to me for a few moments. It is probably the worst 3 minutes of her day and I thoroughly enjoyed it. After I let her go she was very careful to avoid me the rest of the afternoon. I knew I accomplished what I set out to do. Oh, the small things that bring me joy.
The other thing didn't bring me joy, in fact it bummed me out. I'm not sure what to do with this one. While on the road today we called IT Guy to wish him a happy birthday. After the traditional singing of Happy Birthday on speaker phone by the kids I take the phone. During the conversation I apologize for backing out of having him and his family over for our Passover Seder that I canceled due to an unexpected marathon shift at work. He said no problem and then tells me he doesn't even think we need to invite him over for it since they don't understand or contribute to the seder and they are not raising their kids Jewish. I let him know that he's stuck doing these things since he's the only local family I have. We have cousins out of state who sometimes make it but they can't always. Besides the whole reason for the seder is to tell the story and to learn. Every time I go to or have a seder I learn something new. So he agrees and sees my point. But could I stop there, no I couldn't. I had to open my mouth and continue on. I said I wanted them to be familiar with our traditions, especially his kids so they would understand their cousins religion. Especially since we are practicing Jews. It's hard enough when strangers have no clue about your religion or traditions but to have family members in the same boat is somehow worse. I could hear it in his voice. His discomfort level went up a couple of notches. Even though I have assured him numerous times that how he raises his kids is their decision and not a concern of mine I still get the feeling that he is not comfortable even talking about their choices. I know it's a sensitive issue for him so why don't I quit while I'm ahead. I don't know, maybe it's leftover Jewish Mother Guilt or something but I wish I could get it through his head that I just want them to join us and be a part of it because it's important to my family and we want them to share it with us and nothing more.
Two sides of the same coin. Will I ever learn to control it?
Friday, April 2, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Happy Birthday IT Guy!
Late on March 31, 1964 my Mom went into labor with her second child. At the time we lived in a small town. One where everyone knows everybody. And the local doctor has delivered just about everyone in town and accepts chickens for payment (well maybe not really but you get the idea).
I was first born. We lived in the suburbs at the time and I was born in a big fancy teaching hospital. All the latest and greatest equipment. My Mom went into labor, they knocked her out and when she woke up they handed her a baby. Ta Da! Just like that.
So my Mom is taken into a labor room in this tiny little town hospital. As was customary at the time, my poor Dad was banished to the waiting room. A nurse turns to my Mom and sweetly says, "This is your second, so you know what to do honey." and walks out the door. The way my father tells it; not to long after that he hears my mother yell at the nurse that she is a sadistic bitch. That prompts my father to go see what's happening, after all there wasn't this much fuss the first time around. They don't want to let him in but he isn't going to be denied. He arrives just in time for the doctor to say to the nurse, "give her more gas, there's another one."
That very simple statement was the first inkling they had that my parents were about to be proud parents of two babies, not just one, as they had anticipated. Ten minutes after IT Guy was born, baby number two made his way into the world. Both boys were healthy 8 pounders. It was the talk of the town!
Meanwhile, the clock had ticked past midnight and this surprise actually came early in the morning on April 1st. After day break my Dad, a well known practical joker, called his family who lives in another state to tell them how they are proud parents of two healthy baby boys.
My fathers' brother answers the phone. When he is told how his sister in law just gave birth to twins he becomes annoyed with his forever joking brother, tells him that isn't something he should joke about and slams the phone down. After my parents stop laughing they call them back to assure them that this isn't an April Fool joke and they really do have two new nephews. My father and his brother got many a laugh over the years repeating this story.
Happy Birthday IT Guy! Really, it's not April Fool's........
I was first born. We lived in the suburbs at the time and I was born in a big fancy teaching hospital. All the latest and greatest equipment. My Mom went into labor, they knocked her out and when she woke up they handed her a baby. Ta Da! Just like that.
So my Mom is taken into a labor room in this tiny little town hospital. As was customary at the time, my poor Dad was banished to the waiting room. A nurse turns to my Mom and sweetly says, "This is your second, so you know what to do honey." and walks out the door. The way my father tells it; not to long after that he hears my mother yell at the nurse that she is a sadistic bitch. That prompts my father to go see what's happening, after all there wasn't this much fuss the first time around. They don't want to let him in but he isn't going to be denied. He arrives just in time for the doctor to say to the nurse, "give her more gas, there's another one."
That very simple statement was the first inkling they had that my parents were about to be proud parents of two babies, not just one, as they had anticipated. Ten minutes after IT Guy was born, baby number two made his way into the world. Both boys were healthy 8 pounders. It was the talk of the town!
Meanwhile, the clock had ticked past midnight and this surprise actually came early in the morning on April 1st. After day break my Dad, a well known practical joker, called his family who lives in another state to tell them how they are proud parents of two healthy baby boys.
My fathers' brother answers the phone. When he is told how his sister in law just gave birth to twins he becomes annoyed with his forever joking brother, tells him that isn't something he should joke about and slams the phone down. After my parents stop laughing they call them back to assure them that this isn't an April Fool joke and they really do have two new nephews. My father and his brother got many a laugh over the years repeating this story.
Happy Birthday IT Guy! Really, it's not April Fool's........
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Facebook comment
Dogs wouldn't chase cars if they all didn't "run away".
I'm sorry to bother you with this mindless comment. Someone on a dog forum I belong to posted it and I just had to say it somewhere.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
EMS Abuse
During my marathon shift over the weekend we were busy. So busy in fact I had a hard time keeping up with my paperwork. I ate two meals during those 30 hours and both of them took me 3 reheatings to finish my plate. Most of the shift is a blur now. But one call stands out clearly in my mind. Not because anyone died or was seriously ill or injured. Not because it is a rarity, nope just the opposite, these types of calls are all to common. This one stood out for me because it sums up about how our emergency medical services system is abused. And as an extension of that abuse money is wasted and someone who really needs help is going to have to wait longer to get it.
We were dispatched to an apartment complex that has an entire section devoted to government subsidised housing. We always know when we are in the section that is subsidized since it is a pig pen. There are always men hanging out in front of the buildings, smoking and drinking and doing nothing. I hate going in those buildings. There is always trash in the hallways and God only knows what else. The buildings smell, some like urine most like garbage. Not all of the individual apartments are filthy, some are well kept, but most are gross. We tape the bottom of our pant legs to our boots in some of them to keep the creepy crawlers out. This particular apartment wasn't in bad shape. But like most of them there were at least 10 people living there. The call came in as a maternity. A 15 year old girl, 34 weeks into her pregnancy thought she was in labor. We arrive on scene and there is a large group of people standing in the living room around a girl laying on the sofa. She is holding her swollen belly and moaning. Since she's a minor I ask around to find out where is her mom. One of the women steps forward and said she's the mom. I get a basic story about what is going on from her and go over to examine the girl. She might be in labor but of course she hasn't been paying attention to whether the pains come and go or if they have been increasing in any way. Just that at this very moment she is in pain. She hasn't even called her doctor. Yep, a great help this one's going to be. She tells me she has had prenatal care from the beginning and this has been a normal pregnancy. She and her mom want us to take her to the hospital. So we haul her butt out to the ambulance and get her secured on the litter. Mom said she isn't going to ride with us she's going to follow us to the hospital. And she does, right on the ass of our ambulance all the way.
Here in lies my problem with all this. Why is this girl going to the hospital with us? She can walk. She's in labor. Big deal. I've done it three times and walked my ass out to my car and my husband drove me to the hospital. She didn't bother with the husband part but her mom is with her and she obviously drives. So here we are, tying up an ambulance on this bullshit run. What about the people who really need an ambulance (more on that later)?
So we get her to the hospital and take her right up to labor and delivery. They confirm what we already knew. She's in the early stages of labor. It's gonna be a while.
So then there is the icing on the cake. At the hospital I collect her insurance information for our billing department. She and her mother are on welfare. So my tax dollars are paying for this girl to have a baby at 15 and for a totally unnecessary ride to the hospital in mytaxi ambulance.
This is a perfect example of why I am against government sponsored health care. There is an entire class of people abusing the system that we have. This is just opening it up for more abuse. You can guarantee that if people had to pay for an ambulance ride out of their own pocket so much of these abuses would just stop. But since they just hand over their "get a free ride" insurance card they don't think twice about calling. We have plenty of uninsured people in this country. We don't have people without access to health care. I know because I pick them up all the time and take them to the hospital where they are taken care of and they are cared for whether they can or can not pay and whether they are insured or uninsured.
We need to put a stop to the abuses our health care system endures. The insurance companies need tighter regulations. They need to make a profit but they shouldn't be allowed to take peoples money then dump them when they get expensive. Or refuse to insure them because of pre existing conditions. I also don't think it's right to have a number cruncher override a doctors decision. But how many doctors order tests to protect themselves from lawsuits, not because they are medically necessary. I can't blame them, but what a waste of money. Tort reform limiting lawsuits would be a good start.
Maybe one day we will be able to tell a patient to take themselves to the hospital when an ambulance isn't really necessary. Insurance companies are pushing for just that very thing. I see their point. It costs a lot of money every time one of our ambulances rolls out the door, somebodies paying for it, the insurance companies, and in many cases the taxpayers. In the end we are all paying for it.
I'm sick and tired of paying for 15 year olds having babies and drug addicted idiots living off welfare. Or the lonely elderly woman looking for company who calls for help so she can go to the hospital for some company and a hot meal. Or the 20 year old male who has abdominal pain. Suck it up, go out to the car and get a ride. Your mommy follows the ambulance half the time anyway. One of my favorites is the person who has been sick for days and waits until 3 AM to call for an ambulance. What, after three days of being sick all of a sudden now you need to get help, you couldn't wait until morning to call your doctor?
There are many legitimate reasons to call an ambulance. We carry drugs that can save your life. Whether you're ill or injured we are trained to help you. But we are not a taxi. There is nothing that galls me more than taking someone to the hospital and having a family member ride right behind the ambulance. If my lights and sirens are not on during the transport and you can follow the ambulance then you should have driven the person to the hospital yourself.
Two weeks ago we had a call of a male with chest pains. We were not out on a stupid call and was able to respond right away. He was having a massive heart attack. Due to our quick work he is alive today. That is the way it's supposed to work. His outcome wouldn't of been as good if he had to wait an extra 10-15 minutes for an ambulance to come from further away. He was in the cath lab in under 30 minutes from the time of the initial call. They put two stents in his heart and he has no permanent damage. This is because of the speed in which we got him there and the treatment we were able to provide. Those kind of results don't happen when I'm out playing taxi to someone who really didn't need us.
We were dispatched to an apartment complex that has an entire section devoted to government subsidised housing. We always know when we are in the section that is subsidized since it is a pig pen. There are always men hanging out in front of the buildings, smoking and drinking and doing nothing. I hate going in those buildings. There is always trash in the hallways and God only knows what else. The buildings smell, some like urine most like garbage. Not all of the individual apartments are filthy, some are well kept, but most are gross. We tape the bottom of our pant legs to our boots in some of them to keep the creepy crawlers out. This particular apartment wasn't in bad shape. But like most of them there were at least 10 people living there. The call came in as a maternity. A 15 year old girl, 34 weeks into her pregnancy thought she was in labor. We arrive on scene and there is a large group of people standing in the living room around a girl laying on the sofa. She is holding her swollen belly and moaning. Since she's a minor I ask around to find out where is her mom. One of the women steps forward and said she's the mom. I get a basic story about what is going on from her and go over to examine the girl. She might be in labor but of course she hasn't been paying attention to whether the pains come and go or if they have been increasing in any way. Just that at this very moment she is in pain. She hasn't even called her doctor. Yep, a great help this one's going to be. She tells me she has had prenatal care from the beginning and this has been a normal pregnancy. She and her mom want us to take her to the hospital. So we haul her butt out to the ambulance and get her secured on the litter. Mom said she isn't going to ride with us she's going to follow us to the hospital. And she does, right on the ass of our ambulance all the way.
Here in lies my problem with all this. Why is this girl going to the hospital with us? She can walk. She's in labor. Big deal. I've done it three times and walked my ass out to my car and my husband drove me to the hospital. She didn't bother with the husband part but her mom is with her and she obviously drives. So here we are, tying up an ambulance on this bullshit run. What about the people who really need an ambulance (more on that later)?
So we get her to the hospital and take her right up to labor and delivery. They confirm what we already knew. She's in the early stages of labor. It's gonna be a while.
So then there is the icing on the cake. At the hospital I collect her insurance information for our billing department. She and her mother are on welfare. So my tax dollars are paying for this girl to have a baby at 15 and for a totally unnecessary ride to the hospital in my
This is a perfect example of why I am against government sponsored health care. There is an entire class of people abusing the system that we have. This is just opening it up for more abuse. You can guarantee that if people had to pay for an ambulance ride out of their own pocket so much of these abuses would just stop. But since they just hand over their "get a free ride" insurance card they don't think twice about calling. We have plenty of uninsured people in this country. We don't have people without access to health care. I know because I pick them up all the time and take them to the hospital where they are taken care of and they are cared for whether they can or can not pay and whether they are insured or uninsured.
We need to put a stop to the abuses our health care system endures. The insurance companies need tighter regulations. They need to make a profit but they shouldn't be allowed to take peoples money then dump them when they get expensive. Or refuse to insure them because of pre existing conditions. I also don't think it's right to have a number cruncher override a doctors decision. But how many doctors order tests to protect themselves from lawsuits, not because they are medically necessary. I can't blame them, but what a waste of money. Tort reform limiting lawsuits would be a good start.
Maybe one day we will be able to tell a patient to take themselves to the hospital when an ambulance isn't really necessary. Insurance companies are pushing for just that very thing. I see their point. It costs a lot of money every time one of our ambulances rolls out the door, somebodies paying for it, the insurance companies, and in many cases the taxpayers. In the end we are all paying for it.
I'm sick and tired of paying for 15 year olds having babies and drug addicted idiots living off welfare. Or the lonely elderly woman looking for company who calls for help so she can go to the hospital for some company and a hot meal. Or the 20 year old male who has abdominal pain. Suck it up, go out to the car and get a ride. Your mommy follows the ambulance half the time anyway. One of my favorites is the person who has been sick for days and waits until 3 AM to call for an ambulance. What, after three days of being sick all of a sudden now you need to get help, you couldn't wait until morning to call your doctor?
There are many legitimate reasons to call an ambulance. We carry drugs that can save your life. Whether you're ill or injured we are trained to help you. But we are not a taxi. There is nothing that galls me more than taking someone to the hospital and having a family member ride right behind the ambulance. If my lights and sirens are not on during the transport and you can follow the ambulance then you should have driven the person to the hospital yourself.
Two weeks ago we had a call of a male with chest pains. We were not out on a stupid call and was able to respond right away. He was having a massive heart attack. Due to our quick work he is alive today. That is the way it's supposed to work. His outcome wouldn't of been as good if he had to wait an extra 10-15 minutes for an ambulance to come from further away. He was in the cath lab in under 30 minutes from the time of the initial call. They put two stents in his heart and he has no permanent damage. This is because of the speed in which we got him there and the treatment we were able to provide. Those kind of results don't happen when I'm out playing taxi to someone who really didn't need us.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Did you think I forgot about you?
I'm just coming off a 30 hour shift at the squad. A very busy 30 hour shift. I'm not sure what my middle name is right now. I'll get back to you after some serious sleep.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Who knew that in a country with oceans on both sides that finding fish caught or raised in the USA would be so difficult
I have this recipe for Talapia Scampi. It is yummy. The best part is everyone in the family likes it so there is no bitching and complaining at dinner when I make it. In fact, there is never even a flake left over no matter how much I make. I don't make it often because fish is expensive and the whole house smells like fish for a couple of days after I make it. I don't like that. But now and then the need to enjoy it overcomes my thin wallet and my adversion to lingering cooked fish smells.
I made up our two week menu and my shopping list to go with it. There were cheers all around when they saw Talapia Scampi on the menu for this week.
I didn't have the heart to tell everyone when I got home that there wasn't a domestic talapia fish to be found in the area. I'd even settle for North American Talapia. Farm raised in China was all I could find. The phrase "farm raised in China" just scares me. This was also on the label: Contains additives to preserve and enhance color. I think I actually shivered right there in the seafood section.
There has to be a seafood store somewhere around here. One that sells fish that aren't chemically enhanced. One that sells fish that may have actually swam in an ocean at some point. Not just flash frozen after spending its pitiful existence in a filthy tank. I don't have a problem eating fish that are grown in a fish farm. It's probably the only thing that's going to save our oceans from overfishing. But China isn't exactly known for it's enviromentally healthy ways. I'm sure they aren't too concerned with the enviroment of a farmed fish.
No doubt the groan of another disappointment will be heard if I can't locate a real seafood store in the next few days.
I made up our two week menu and my shopping list to go with it. There were cheers all around when they saw Talapia Scampi on the menu for this week.
I didn't have the heart to tell everyone when I got home that there wasn't a domestic talapia fish to be found in the area. I'd even settle for North American Talapia. Farm raised in China was all I could find. The phrase "farm raised in China" just scares me. This was also on the label: Contains additives to preserve and enhance color. I think I actually shivered right there in the seafood section.
There has to be a seafood store somewhere around here. One that sells fish that aren't chemically enhanced. One that sells fish that may have actually swam in an ocean at some point. Not just flash frozen after spending its pitiful existence in a filthy tank. I don't have a problem eating fish that are grown in a fish farm. It's probably the only thing that's going to save our oceans from overfishing. But China isn't exactly known for it's enviromentally healthy ways. I'm sure they aren't too concerned with the enviroment of a farmed fish.
No doubt the groan of another disappointment will be heard if I can't locate a real seafood store in the next few days.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Rescued Dog Thwarts Car Jacking
A wonderful story about how even dogs that have been horribly abused can make a huge difference in someones life.
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