We've got rednecks!!

Last week, we had some new neighbors move in.
They live in the three bedroom apartment across from us, and from my count, I see 7 of them

Let me paint the picture;

The dad is about 45, wears Harley Davidson T-shirts with the sleeves ripped off, camo pants, a Nascar hat, and of course he has the redneck goatee.

The mom is dressed like she's straight from the 80's with puffy hair, and tight black jeans on.

The angry 15 year old son is full of angst, as evidenced by his huge screaming fit at both parents this evening. Of course, they patched things up with a family cigarette break on the balcony.....

There are two younger daughters around 12 and 9, and two other boys probably around 6 and 8.

I think Ali jinxed the block when she said how nice and safe our area was. Now we have our own version of Dog the Bounty Hunter just outside our window.

Ellery's first words will now be "Get me a damn beer, woman!"

Happy 1st birthday to mini-me

Today marks Ellery's first birthday.
At this time last year, we were making our way to the hospital, where we would spend the next 12 hours eagerly awaiting her arrival.

Our little girl has been the best thing that has happened to us. She has made me more patient, more caring, more sensitive and more aware of my surroundings.


It makes me warm and fuzzy whenever somebody says that she looks just like me.
It must be a good thing if everyone says she's sooooo cute, right?

Everyday with her is an adventure. She makes new sounds, new faces, new words, and I never thought that a 1 year old could have such an attitude when she doesn't get her way!

Happy birthday E. Daddy and mommy love you more than the world.

To quote Madonna, "Holi-dayyyy!"

Today marks my first week of vacation since September of last year.
The weather is finally nice, it's Ellery's big 1 year birthday this Wednesday, and we're heading home for a fishing derby.

What's not to like?

At my hospital, they're starting a new pilot project to retain older nurses. They are offering anyone who is 50 and older with their "magic 80" (the total of age + years of service) the chance to keep working with 6-12 weeks of extra time off. The rate of pay will be %55 of the gross income.

Free money to stay on the payroll but not to work? Where do I sign up?

At the moment, I'm on my "magic 36." That looks awfully sad.
Why wouldn't they offer this to younger nurses, say 25-35? We young'ns always get the shaft.

Loud talkers and white froth

I had this patient last night, who only has one volume - loud!

It's alright when he is talking to you and it's noon, or 3 p.m. but when he is yelling at 2 in the morning as I try to quietly wake him up to do his vital signs, it gets to be a little much.

I asked his roomate if he would like to change rooms. He said not to worry about it, he would have to stop sooner or later.
At one particular point, the patient was talking on his cell phone to his son. He was requesting that his kid bring him in an item from home. From across the curtain, all that I kept on hearing was "It's on my night stand. Bring me a package. A pack. A pack will do..."

The quiet patient with whom I was talking to, motioned for me to lean closer.
He whispered "Do you want to know what he wants his son to bring? Ear plugs."

I guess the loud talking grinds on his own gears after a while.


I really grosses me out when a person is talking to you, and they have that little bit of white froth in the corners of their mouth. It's even worse when it gets so thick that it actually spans out from one lip to another while they are speaking.
I had an instructor in Nursing school who had this problem. My eyes would be drawn to it like a moth to a flame, and you would think that if a person were staring at your mouth the entire time, that you would maybe wipe that shit with a napkin or something.

On that note, have a happy Mother's day tomorrow. Give your moms a kiss, and check for the froth.

Baby's first sick day/fake tanning

Right now Ellery is in the middle of a teething/congested/rashy/can't-stand-to-be-alone-for-a-second mood.
She was supposed to go to my Aunt's house for the day, but I decided that dropping her off for the first time there in this condition was not in anyone's best interest....

We enjoyed some outdoor time, as the weather hit 70 degrees here today. I finally got to put on some shorts, flashing my pasty white legs for the block to see. We all have to start somewhere with the tanning I suppose.

You can always tell the people who fake tan, and the people who fake tan too much. There was a young girl jogging today, and from a distance, she looked like a Sunkist orange. Not natural at all.

I'll take my natural white legs instead of the tangerine look, thank you very much.

So, it's off to the baby sitter tomorrow, as Ali and I head back to that shitty thing called a job.
If I were in Parliament, I would say no work if the temperature is above 70. We should be safe for about three days a year here. ;)