Things to do during down time at work

Learn how to do a simple interrupted suture with instrument tie.

Ok... I'm never gonna need to use this outside of the poor stress ball which is now full of sutures, but when you are waiting for something and you see needle holders and bazillion sutures strawn about... you play with them.

Now I need to go find a sharps disposable container.

I didn't say that...

Years ago, when I was still in college, a foundation contacted me to possibly co-moderate their online support bulletin board.

I was very active and I guess helpful than. Today I was reminded again how glad I am that I never became a moderator. There are some people who are just exteremly opnionated, twists other people's words and takes offense when no one responds to their post.

She made a post which prompted people to respond the big brother/government conspiracy theory stuff.

She definatly twisted my words and clearly did not read what I wrote, or didn't understand what I wrote. I think it's the latter. All I did was present the other side, just facts and some simple logic. Yet, just because of a certain word was used it's automatically an argument against her 'cause'.

The sad thing about her fight is that if it goes wrong, it'll be at a child's expense.

I really want to respond back to her but a brick wall could hold a better conversation.

Natural is good, yeah?

MAMA MONKEY

Hey, so I wanted to ask you, is it ok if I take this supplement before surgery?

EVIL MONKEY

What supplement?

MAMA MONKEY

It's made with earthworms

EVIL MONKEY
*eyes pop out*

What?! NO! Worms?(ew) what else is in it? What is it for?

MAMA MONKEY

Your aunt said it was ok to take it before surgery.

EVIL MONKEY
Who does she think she is?! Just because you had cancer doesn't make you an expert...#$&@^

No it's not ok.

MAMA MONKEY

It's protein or something. It was recommended to me by people. I wouldn't just take anything random...

EVIL MONKEY
Who are these people? Show me some proof it works for... whatever it's claiming it'll do. Wait? what does it do?

No matter, don't take it. You can get protein from lots of other sources. Worms, ew ew ew ew...

I knew this was gonna happen. My aunt is and always has been into all kinds of nutritional supplements. Just because something is 'natural' doesn't mean it's good for you... *rips hair out, bangs head on wall* I have no doubt my aunt will tell my mom to take it, that I don't know what I'm talking about. Lets ignore the fact that she has zero formal training in science or medicine or know the exact name of her cancer (that, btw is so baffling that I can't even grap the concept). I think my brother made her call... Good thing he's there.

So close I could taste it

I was 10 minutes too late in checking the Wii tracker.

Toys R Us had the console for 250, the regular retail value.

I really want one...! They sold out in a little over hour since the tracker has it posted as being in stock.

I want Trauma Center: Second Opinion. I own a ds lite, so I could buy the one for ds lite, but I've found playing games that require the use of the styles in ds lite is causing significant amount of discomfort. This happenes even if I use my wacom stylus instead of the skinny thing that comes with the game console. I don't need to cause flare ups from my previous rsi in both wrists.

I should check out Target early sunday morning but..ow, that sounds painful.

The other side

Recently I've been wishing I wasn't so aware in a subject matter that has brought my family pain and fear.

When others see somemthing as hope and a good sign, I immediatly think of a darker reason causing the same thought process in others.

Mama Monkey

"Well, my blood work and physical was good a year ago so maybe the C isn't that bad."

Evil Monkey's inner monologue

'...if there wasn't any sign a year ago and now there seems to be some activity beyond the primiary.... that's,.. not.. good.'

Evil Monkey

"Uh, Yeah, that's a good sign."

I'm scared. I'd switch places with her in a monkey heart beat.

Things you don't want to hear

ascities... mass on the omentum.

Marketing at it's best...

Standing in the toothpaste isle at Target, I was overwhelmed with the selection. Whitening, tartar control, with baking soda, with out... *dizzy*

I finally settled on an Arm and Hammer tp, and saw two that I liked. One of them was 2.99 and the other was 3.99.
....I read the active and inactive ingredients. They were exactly the same, just ordered different.

I went for the 2.99 one. It just amazes me how companies use packaging to their benefit. I've given up telling people to not take Tylenol PM when they can't sleep and they aren't in pain. That pink benedryl you have sitting next to Ty PM will do, but no... no one reads the label. Thus that led to McNeil marketing Simply Sleep. Benadryl in a different packaging. So so so stupid. OTC doesn't = safe. Natural doesnt = good.

Ok, I have to stop thinking about this cause it makes me bonkers.

Dear Brain

I think you forgot you made me take my medication in the morning.
Thanks for making me take it again. I hurt now.

Signed,

Side effect sucks

Uh, what now?

Hm. Odd. I'm not sure since when imaging alone can be a definative conclusive diagonosis.

Oh yeah. I loved how her NP/PA offered to answer any questions I have, gave her their phone number including the extension for me to call at... and turn around and try to not have to answer my questioins. But who am I kidding? My own won't even return my calls.

When her dr's office found out I'm states away they told me they'd send her dr a message to return my call.

...that sounds all too familier. I wonder if doctors know how the 'gatekeepers' make it so hard to reach them.

Dear faith

This is not funny. I hate you.

I missed the call when my mom's NP called me. Lets just say it's better when you have to hound your doctor's office for imaging results.

I don't know what to do. My mind can't retain anything. I don't think it's going to be just a scare with her. All the facts are not in her favor.

I want to switch places.

Delays....boo.

Typical travel time from DC to Pharmatopia - ~3.5 hrs total inc. travel to from the airport ect.

Actual travel time on Friday - 15 hours

My flight from Dulles to airport E was canceled due to FAA's Ground Delay Program, or something...
I was supposed to leave DC on a 3:12PM flight to airport E.

I wish I had known about the delay... because, I could have spent that time doing fun stuff like going to the NMHM. (ooh... babies in jars... )

The next available flight to the tri-state area was a 9:40PM flight to airport J. I took that... The hours of waiting was made bearable when I discovered I could walk over to concourse B where they actually had sit-down pubs. Concourse A only had a teeny tiny bar attached to Cosi which was full of people from my canceled flight.

After the long wait I finally got on my flight and arrived at airport J. A long haul involving the airtran and two different commuter trains awaited me. I had limited amount of time since the train to my town cuts off after 1AM. So I'm waiting for my bag... and waiting, and waiting. No bag.

I find out that my bag is at Airport L... I'm not at airport L, I've never even been to airport L. Airport L isn't really accessible by public transportation...

Then, when I get to the train station that connects with airtran from airport J, I see that the train I need to take to get into the first train station for my trip back home is 30 minutes late. So more waiting.

So, in the end, I ended up taking the very last train to my town, which was only running at that late hour because it was Friday. It was the most eventful, tiring trip I've ever been on.

But everything prior to the return flight home on this trip was good. I learned a couple of new things... got some good opnions I wanted and generally was very impressed with everything.