Altered Perceptions

It's Sunday already?

I can't believe how fast this weekend went. The plane ride home was hell, cloudy with turbulence the whole way. I had a drunk skanky blond woman sitting next to me that burped garlic the whole way and bitched she thought she was going to barf as she chugged down $5 beers. Argh.

Iowa was cool and cloudy the whole time without one drop of badly needed rain. Things are browning up real nice there.

The nights were cool and peaceful for me, I slept 9 hours each night...even missed the whole coyote fiasco last night. I guess a pack of coyotes was so close to the house last night it woke everybody but me up. I guess living in Detroit I just got used to all the howling and yipping.

The really big news from town everybody is talking about and coming out to see...the city has decided to install a traffic signal. Looks like a damn good one too. It's posing somewhat of a traffic hazard right now...everyone keeps running the 4-way stop signs looking at the crew installing the lights. The crew must be out of Omaha because they ignore everyone who keeps honking and waiving.

Looks like I got home just in time for the apartment complexes fireworks show to celebrate..ummm....Sunday night.

Going Home

I'm leaving for home this morning. I won't be back til Sunday night. I didn't pursue, whine or hound anybody to be a guest blogger. It's a holiday weekend, the last one we get until Thanksgiving...argh! I hope everyone enjoys the last couple of weekends left of summer.

I know in Iowa we can usually expect the first flakes of snow to fly before the end of September...30 days from now. Sounds sick doesn't it?

So I'll be heading out to the airport in about an hour, hopefully a little ahead of the holiday travelers. Probably not.

Have a great weekend.

FLOWER POWER

What else would I be?

What revolution are You?
Made by altern_active

Curtsey to Gennie for pointing out the latest quiz.

Whining Extremists

Paul Hill, the murderer who killed an abortion doctor will be executed next week...unless legal crap postpones it.

This of course gives all the ignorant extremists on both sides of the fence to come out from under the outhouse to spread their fertilizer for fools.

The shit begins to roll:

"In a very significant way, it's a sad day," said Gloria Feldt, president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. "It's sad that people like Paul Hill would murder in the name of life."

Would someone please give this woman a real job? Murdering in the name of life? Could someone please inform this woman that people are murdered in significant numbers daily in the name of life, death, child abuse, the badge, crack, and sometimes for no reason at all other than a woman being pregnant and doesn't want to be bothered. All just because they can, and that's just Americans. What damn closet does this woman live in?

Though Hill still has supporters -- they have maintained a Web site in his honor, with snapshots and ballads -- most major anti-abortion groups have repudiated him.

However, the Rev. Michael Bray of Bowie, Md., the author of a book that justifies the killing of abortion doctors, said Hill "will be recognized after the fact as the honorable man that he is."

Well with that kind of fucked up logic wouldn't it be the honorable thing to do for someone to put a hit out on Bray? By illogical reasoning it seems justified to me. Now could someone educate Mr. Bray on honor, please, he obviously missed that class. Second thought, nevermind, it's obviously too fucking late.

Organizations opposed to capital punishment have urged Gov. Jeb Bush to spare Hill.

"The death penalty gives this individual the opportunity for martyrdom," said Diana Rust-Tierney, director of the American Civil Liberties Union's Capital Punishment Project. "Far from deterring the kind of violence we deplore, it may be an encouragement."

Oh just shut the fuck up, go home and start a blog.

I'll spare you the rest of the circus. I must have PMS...usually I can just ignore the fools, but sometimes people just need to be bitch slapped and gagged.

Failure to Communicate

I had an interesting conversation with one of my Arabic patients family today...one I was not quite prepared for. I was sitting up on the 2nd floor at a nurses station charting when I hear

"Who talk to about transfer?"

I look up to see who is talking and the family member is standing about 8 feet back from the nurses station looking at me. By herself. I thought I heard what she said but I was engrossed in the chart and not sure...so I say "I'm sorry, what did you say?"

Well this visibly irritates her and she repeats the question. I've had one previous conversation with this woman and we obviously had a failure to communicate. I ask "What kind of transfer?" She never approaches the nurses station and says "You know, transfer?

I ask "Does Mrs. So and So need help out of bed?" Reasonable question.

She getting louder states "No, no..transfer to rehab."

Ahh...I think I got it. "Oh ok, the physical therapist will be up to get her for therapy, you don't have to take her down."

Now she's just plain pissed off and states "NO NO transfer!"

Ok...."Mam, I'm not sure what you are asking."

This is when she stomps her foot and bellows "Don't you understand English? What matter with you?"

This is the point where I WANT to say...Are you fucking kidding me you pompous ass bitch, you've only used 10 words out of the English dictionary and you are asking me?" But of course, I don't. I turn to a couple of nurses behind me and ask....."Does anyone know English better than me who can help this woman?"

Of course the chickenshits don't say a word. Who can blame them...a 250# pissed off Arabic woman is nothing to sneeze at.

So I turn back to her and say "No Mam, no one here can help you...try Social Services." She was obviously pissed when she stomped off. She can get over it or get out.

So about an hour later I get a call from a male relative who thankfully sounds American born and has a much greater command of his English and temper. His request "I want Mom in a room with another Arabic person now."

For cryin-the-fuck-outloud...does this asswipe think I grow Arabics on trees?
So I politely tell him "I don't have a another bed open in the place..this is it." Actually he was very polite but states "I want this arranged as soon as possible."

Well ain't that special. Why is it always the ones that my tax dollars are paying for who are always the most demanding...I never did get that. So I politely tell him of another facility where the administrator is Arabic...and maybe he should look into placing Mom there.

That always pisses my boss off when I invite people to go elsewhere...but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

Mailer Daemon

I'm getting spammed to death on my AOL account with this. What's up with that?

The Ten Commandments

So offensive and disgusting. So morally and legally wrong. How offensive it was to America and Americans. A total injustice.

Alabama has been saved. Thankfully we've all been saved.

Are you happy now?

Urban Climbers

When I read this all I can think is why?

A college student and avid rock climber apparently fell to his death while scaling the side of a building Tuesday.

Miller's body was discovered shortly afterward.

I hope it was fun while it lasted.

Insurance

The insurance man came to visit at work today. We all had appointments to see him so he could tell us about the "new and improved" insurance we will have come October 1st.

My varied health, life, dental and disability insurances will be now costing me over $500 a month. Shit. I think the disability insurance has gotta go.

As I'm talking to this guy we are BSing some about the work place, where he's from etc. while he's waiting for the right screens to come up on his laptop to ask me some medical questions.. I can't see the screen. So in the middle of the BS he asks me "Do you have a problems with aides?" I give him a stupid look, snort and say "Are you kidding me? I'm the director of nursing, the aides are killing me."

The man just stops looks up from his laptop and stares at me. While he continues to stare at me, he swings his laptop around and finally says "Umm..question number one." I look at the laptop...

Does the petitioner have HIV?

I about died "Uhh no, I thought you meant my staff."

The guy just shook his head and proceeded to #2.

I'm sure he was wondering why the questionaire didn't ask about mental illness. Oh well.

Something about Nothing

Ever have those times when your brain is racing along faster than your body can keep up. Your body is begging to sleep but your mind has other plans?

I'm almost glad to see summer end and all the vacations end. I know we all need time off but it makes work a nightmare. I don't think there has been a day this summer that I haven't had to fill someone elses shoes at work besides do my own. Alot of businesses can just hire summer help...McDonalds, J. C. Penney etc. But when you are talking about professionals being absent...there is no one to fill their shoes. The ones that are left pick up the slack.

The past 2 days we've had 5 key players out. People were trying to ask me questions through the restroom door when I had to pee. What's up with that?

I'm leaving this state Friday if I have to walk. I never thought Iowa would sound so good. I want to watch the corn grow and hear nothing louder than the damn crickets.

Fumento Who?

I think everyone has run across someone in their life who is so arrogant it's laughable. Of course, unless they are family you never remember their names, probably not even their faces. You remember it the same way you remember seeing a car going down the interstate the wrong way. Just that it happened and someone was a complete fool. You realize that ignorance knows no boundaries.

Well here is your chance to have one of those foggy memories. A glance at ignorance unchained. Some unknown named Fumento is bragging over at Acidman's blog how self important he is. He brags that he has five books, I wonder if he would get any sales if anyone actually knew what he was like. His contact with editors must be extremely limited. His earthworm personality definitely shines especially when he calls bloggers arrogant and of course he has a blog. Go figure.

Muted Blocked Blogger

I obviously have blogger's block. I could pimp out a few links but that would be too much like work. I just keep thinking about how nice and cool my sheets are going to be and how soft those pillows are as I continue to play Hoyle poker.

Yes, that's what my mind is reduced to at the moment. Obviously if I had any sense I'd be in bed.

Digital Makeovers

Every woman in America should see this picture "magic". I'm sorta in shock. Damn, it's not the Neutrogena after all.

Curtsey to Utterly Boring for the link.

Shotgun Serial Bandit

I want to see the Shotgun Serial Bandits life made into a movie. Samuel L. Jackson has got to play the leading role.

Arrested 25 times. Hello? What is wrong with this picture?

Ok, so Albert is geographically challenged. Obviously his acting skills are first rate. But wait, it gets better...

Expertly? Somebody used that word because they fucked up big time. So he roamed the streets of Detroit for 4 more years.

I'm still wanting to know why he was arrested 25 times. There is alot of story missing there. Lots of potential slapstick comedy for actors.

What blond actress should play that part? I'm sure hope the papers follow more of Albert's shenanigans.

HMO's

Q. What does HMO stand for?
A. This is actually a variation of the phrase "HEY MOE." Its roots
go back to a concept pioneered by Moe of the Three Stooges, who
discovered that a patient could be made to forget about the pain in his
foot if he was poked hard enough in the eyes.

Q. I just joined an HMO. How difficult will it be to choose the doctor I
want?
A. Just slightly more difficult than choosing your parents. Your insurer
will provide you with a book listing all the doctors in the plan. These
doctors basically fall into two categories - those who are no longer
accepting new patients, and those who will see you but are no longer
participating in the plan! But don't worry; the remaining doctor who is
still in the plan and accepting new patients has an office just a
half-day's drive away and has a diploma from a Third World Country.

Q. Do all diagnostic procedures require pre-certification?
A. No. Only those you need.

Q. Can I get coverage for my pre-existing conditions?
A. Certainly, as long as they don't require any treatment.

Q. What happens if I want to try alternative forms of medicine?
A. You'll need to find alternative forms of payment.

Q. My pharmacy plan only covers generic drugs, but I need the name
brand. I tried the Generic Medication, but it gave me a stomach ache.
What should I do?
A. Poke yourself in the eyes.

Q. What if I'm away from home and I get sick?
A. You really shouldn't do that.

Q. I think I need to see a specialist, but my doctor insists he can handle
my problem. Can a general practitioner really perform a heart transplant
right in his office?
A. Hard to say, but considering that all you're risking is the $15
co-payment, there's no harm in giving him a shot at it.

Q. Will health care be different in the next century?
A. No. But if you call right now, you might get an appointment by then

Guest Bloggers

It hit me this morning that I'm leaving for Iowa on Friday. From all the catch up from loss of my own productivity at work from the week before I haven't much thought of it.

Rosemary? Kim?
Are you still interested? Anyone interested in maintaining my inane ramblings? Hell...I'm sure my site won't even crash if something of substance were to be posted.

Begging and whining will commence come Wednesday if no one volunteers. I really want to keep my #1187 ranking on TTLB yanno.

Wasted Time

I had to write an action plan for work today. I just finished all I can do at home. It took me 4 hours with probably 2 more hours to go. Ugh. This report is due September 3rd and I'll send it off in email to the corporate yahoos and what really pisses me off, no one will ever read it. I think it's a control thing. Asswipes.

Rights for Women

I'm having a real hard time with the feminists stuff thanks again to Dean. So this morning I run across this article about a gathering here in Detroit to celebrate Women's Equality Day.

Councilwoman JoAnn Watson has this to say:

The celebration is a good idea, but women still have a long way to go to achieve equality with men, said Councilwoman JoAnn Watson.

So I'm sitting here trying to make a list of challenges I'm facing. Other than the ones I'm facing biologically because of my gender there is nothing on the list.

So I look back at my three closest girlfriends from high school. The three of them were from solid middle class families. I was the only one who came from a one parent home, so I'm positive our household income was probably in the poverty level. The four of us were every parents worse nightmare. All four of us graduated from high school only because in our senior year, we realized the real world was coming up fast.

All four of us went to college. None had scholarships, we worked our way through. How we turned out: a pharmacist, a masters - working as the head of a regional Red Cross, a bank president with a masters in business and I'm in nursing administration. Not bad for oppressed women. Damn good for some drugged up hippie wannabees.

Everyone of us has families, had children. We didn't use that as an excuse not to succeed, we used that as our motivation to succeed. We worked hard, damn hard and didn't whine and ask what others were going to do for us. Yes we had alot of obstacles, don't we all. We dealt with them.

Not once have I felt I was held back because I was a woman. Yes at times I was held back, but I had to look at my own performance, not someone elses.

I've posted before that the nursing industry was slow to jump on board with pension plans, healthcare benefits etc. for nurses. I think it was an effort to keep staggering rises in healthcare costs down rather than oppressing a female dominated field.

So if someone can point out to me how my rights are being suppressed...I'd like to know. Don't give me single mom's on welfare crap...they can get a job if they want too. Don't give me stories of oppressed women in third world countries...this is America.

I wonder how many school books that $50 a plate luncheon would buy?

Dennis Miller

Well I had heard rumors that Dennis Miller was on Fox now...but I didn't think I would run across an article by him.

I like listening and reading Dennis...even if I don't give a shit what the topic is. He is entertaining. He needs a blog.

What's the Chances?

The odds of driving down the road and having the doors of an armored truck fly open and rain out money is beyond the imagination. I'm sure it's up there with God getting getting killed by a vending machine.

Of course this had to happen in Iowa and I'm not even there yet.

In the poll over 30% said they would keep the money. I plead the 5th.

Purity Test

Well here is one for you. Let me know how pure you are.

Link via My Head, My Life

I'm So Lazy

Well I need to go get groceries. I hate it. I still have coffee and toilet paper so it really doesn't classify under "must" get groceries. I had to work late last night due to an open house BBQ sorta thing at work. I thought about stopping at the store last night...but Malt O Meal didn't sound all that bad for supper. It was good actually.

Anyway, I just took stock, I have 2 rolls of TP left and a half a can of coffee, one package of macaroni and cheese, three bottles of wine. Wine gives me a headache. I hate when I have to make these decisions. Such a waste of brain power.

I think I'll go see if Acidman has updated.

Just When...

I thought I've seen the best post on a blog ever. I ran across this awesome post by Sgt. Hook.

The words with the pictures hit like an icy cold shower. Amazing.

He is a She or She is a He?

I've posted before how my mind is always on numb for the first hour in the morning. Caught somewhere in parallel universes between totally aware and blind ignorance.

So this morning in an weak effort to become more knowledgable about feminists, thanks to Dean's recent articles which shows he knows more about feminists than I ever would want too. I stumble across this site. So I'm hitting links, being totally bored, thinking enlightenment is not what it's cracked up to being. Then I run across this:

DC Crimes Highlight Violence Against Transgenders.

So I read this and went "Huh"? So I decided it was time for my second cup of coffee and came back and read it again.

So is it men dressed as women getting killed - that feminists are rallying for? Women dressed as men? Both? Do feminists just go for any cross dresser rights?

So anyway in my effort to become enlightened on feminists, it just fucked me up.

Seems to me a while back I was going to stay away from that whole feminists bullshit after seeing them rallying for abortions paid for with my tax dollars. Excuse me...start a charity with your own damn money, stupid bitches.

That was two concepts I never could deal with. If you are going to fuck deal with the consequences and don't expect me to pay for your damn ignorance.

New Blogger

Now where have I been that I didn't know George has a blog. Well sort of a blog. This would be a commentary but I haven't had enough coffee yet to deal with all the colors and stuff. Soon as I seen the little button that said "Be a Team Leader" I had to get off of there.

I think I have a troll!!

I was blessed today with a comment from a dipshit. He left a comment to this post I did on an anti-American response at ...turningtables...

Here's his response:

IP Address: 80.225.88.141
Name: Steve
Email Address:
URL:

As you can see he didn't leave a email address. Is he my first troll?

Damn I've waited forever.

My response:

It seems to me you are already the narrow-minded ignorant one if you needed me to tell you this. I hope you can remember it.
Show me O wise one who must be a Brit...where I am wrong. Point out to me one thing that your mighty little nation excels at.

I'm waiting.

I'm Homesick

Well it's almost 11pm, it's raining, thundering, 85 degrees out....the sirens are blowing. I almost feel like I'm in Iowa. Blow baby blow. Just keep the lights on.

Women are NOT Evil

Greg at Death's Door, the view from the Spanish announcers table is under the misguided and altered perception that women are evil.

He tried to weakly make his point by posting the findings from this site. Which he inaccurately claimed I was more evil than him. I'm only a little evil at 32%...he is trying to claim he is only 27% evil. Yeah right. I checked Greg..you are 33% evil, and I'm sure you cheated with that score.

What percent evil are you?

Great Reading

Well I went through all the blogs in my favorite folder. People are really doing some great stuff. I'm jealous.

Tonight is one of those rare nights that I have absolute nothing to say. Chaos is chained, my world is at peace.

Hope yours is the same.

Manners - Part II

Since I didn't want to go back and edit my post on manners, I do want to say that these findings are for caucasian men. Ethnic groups vastly differ:

Indian men will never hold a door or say "thank you" if I hold the door. I could be naked, the door will slam in my face.

Arabic men will go through a door I am holding and will always say "thank you". They always offer to take the door first..at any age. Doesn't matter what I'm wearing and usually the most friendly of any group.

Koreans, Phillipinos, Chinese etc, will hold the door open at any age - men and women. They always speak, never initiate any conversation. They have a tendency to look visibly uncomfortable to have someone hold a door open for them.

Black men of any age will hold the door open, acknowledge a "thank you" and will always say "thank you" for a door held open. Black men over 50 will usually not go in first but will insist they take the door. Clothes doesn't seem to be a factor here either.

Chemical Ali

Finally they caught the guy. Think he'll give up Saddam?

Manners

I love to people watch and one of my favorite things to watch for is manners. Attack of the Pig People an article on CBS News is entertaining especially when he shares his encounter with Pig Man.

A few years ago I dated a "southern gentleman". This guy was the big on manners...way too big. On stairwells going up, he had to be behind, going down, he had to be in front. He would actually get irritated if I touched a door we were going through. On the street of course he had to walk curbside. All of this was very touching and cute at first...until you chastise me for not following your rules. Dear Daniel didn't last long.

So Daniel is the one that actually started to peek my interest with some manners. So being the stubborn Sicilian that I am...during this relationship I started on a mission to open doors for men. Why not?

This is a practice I've not given up...I've had way too much fun with it. Here is some of my unscientific research findings and the findings differ on how I am dressed. This is my findings if I'm wearing slacks or jeans:

Men approximately over 50 will not let me hold the door open for them, they will hold the door until I go through. These men will hold the door open and wait for me, even if I'm still 10-15' away. They always acknowledge my "thank you".

Men approximately 30-50 will go through the open and door and say "thank you". These men will hold the door open for me if they approach it first and I'm close by. They acknowledge my "thank you" maybe 50% of the time.

Men 25 and younger will not hold a door and almost seem to expect if you are there first you hold the door, but not if it's them. Never a "thank you".

If I'm wearing a dress or short skirt:

Men over 50 will hold the door, will not enter first. Always acknowledge my "thank you" and will initiate small talk.

Men 30-50 will offer to take the door I'm holding and will say "thank you" if I encourage them to go on in. Some will actually just stand there like they are waiting to recall some important bit of information, but it's not quite processing. They usually always look at my legs as they pass through, wondering what they might have forgotten.

Men 25 and younger will always breeze on through and I might get a "thanks" half of the time.

Of course everything is subjective to the length of the dress. Shorts for some reason ellicits the same response as pants. Any men have any ideas on why?

Bullshit

My blogroll seems to be lit up like a Christmas tree tonight with "updated" behind several. Wow...so many people with something to say. So I started hopping around the blogroll...clicking link after link, having a great time.

Then I run on the this stupid ass blog feud thing going on. I follow a link to a site where somebody (not one of the feuders) actually gathered one of the feuders comments over the past couple of months from around the blogosphere...to share with the world, because he's ticked off because that feuder didn't delete a comment that he felt might have helped end it.

Excuse me, but is this bizarre behavior too...or am I once again the odd person out that missed the boat?

If I missed the boat...I'm so damn glad. These people have way too much free time.

Arghhhh!

I don't want to go to work.
I don't want to go to work.
I don't want to go to work.

Whine, whine, whining...on my way to take a shower.

Too Close for Comfort

One of my biggest fears in running a healthcare facility is a fast moving virus. Around ten years ago I was working in a facility in Iowa, where the the week after Christmas we wre hit with a respiratory virus. We lost 13 patients in 10 days.

Patients that were up, walking an talking in the morning, had raging fevers of over 104 and difficulty breathing by bedtime. The ones most severely stricken were dead within 48 hours. The healthier patients and staff were just down and out...quickly. No investigators were sent in even though the hospitals in our communities were over run. No one ever knew what virus the community was dealing with.

So when I read this article this morning about a nursing home hit with a virus in Vancouver I get this nauseated feeling.

Two-thirds of the patients, and one-third of the staff was hit. The virus is genetically identical to the SARs virus. The article is a little unclear of the deaths, they mention 7 dead in "recent weeks". It's easy to see they are being very careful of what is being released. Yes, seven deaths in few weeks is alot. My facility doesn't lose that many to respiratory infections in two years. A WHO investigator has been called in but it could take weeks to find the answers.

Keep your fingers crossed, that this just fades away...and SARs is actually a thing of the past. I'll take a 2 day power outage anytime over this.

Wonder Why?

I bet a lot of people have some great stories about their wedding day. I really wish I could hear what this bride tells her kids about her wedding in 20 years. And she will have children although some should not be allowed to procreate.

If anyone theoretically asks why fewer men are getting married...show them this.

Link Whores

It seems I'm getting a soft spot in my heart for people who like to see that hit meter rise. Jay Solo is a man with a goal..c'mon hit the link.

Twenty thousand hits...damn, I about peed my pants when I hit 2000. Do you know how many times I had to look at my site to get there?

Yes, I'm kidding, I took me out soon as I hit 1000. That's when my spelling errors went up.

Twilight Zone

Ever had one of those days when almost everyone you talk to doesn't make sense? I usually have at least one every day, but today apparently I'm in a parallel universe from the rest of the world.

Let me give you a sample.

Tomorrow is payday and my payroll person calls me to tell me one of the nurses checks is screwed up. Ms. A has 14.75 hours of overtime in, that corporate (supposedly) screwed up and paid at straight time. So she tells me she's going to add 6 hours on to the next pay check to make up for it. Huh? I say no, Ms. A has 48 hours of OT in. She says "well yeah, but corporate only has 14.75 listed so I'm going to put 6 hours on here." Hello?

Thank you sweet Jesus that I am salary. Tomorrow should be interesting.

Next I have a meeting with a nurse, which is actually a disciplinary session and an evaluation. We had alot of things to go over, which is sad, medication errors, documentation errors etc. She's giving me attitude and excuses -way out - ones all the way through this. Parts of it went something like this:

"Ms. B you did a fall risk assessment on Mr. Smith and for muscle coordination you marked a 0, Mr. Smith can't walk, transfer himself, or sit up straight without assist. Mr. Smith is confused, doesn't know his own name, and you gave him a 0. You do realize 0 means there is no problems."

"Well I didn't think it was a problem so I put a zero."

"Well, what do you think it is?"

"Uhh, I don't know. I didn't talk to him, so how would I know?"

At this point what the fuck can you say...so I move on to the evaluation. We get to the part about "Beginning Work promptly" I coded her below average...and she gets visibly upset with this and says

"Well I have a problem with this, I always start work promptly!"

"Ms. B, you are late every day."

"Well so! I always start working right away once I get here don't I?"

Unfortunately our government has made bitch slapping illegal despite the appropriateness of the action. Some laws should be immediately changed. I could go on with more little tidbits of Ms. B wisdom, but it makes my head pound.

Anyway today was either FUBAR or I am. I know it's not a full moon, but I swear I had a dozen conversations like that one today. The worst thing about this is the day isn't over. Whine, whine, whine.

Oh Yeah

One more test...."What's your deepest darkest secret?" Being a nurse, and doing what I do for a living, the results are, well....accurate? I'm not sure I could of rigged this if I tried.

Found via DaGoddess.

YOU BEAT OLD LADIES FOR PILLS!!!


what's YOUR deepest secret?
brought to you by Quizilla

Sexiest Male Blogger AGAIN

Well it looks like Life As I See It finally accepted my nomination. Fair is fair. So for that I'll give Alice two links.

Thanks Alice, now shouldn't I get to nominate a second one?

Just Another Monday

The power went off at work today for about an hour. Seemed to be just a little too long for the generator to kick in....funny how the mind can tell the body to have a panic attack in under 5 seconds.

It was funny how the workers and patients reacted to the power failure....nonchalant, been here done this. The police made it to the cross intersection within 5 minutes this time. Damn we all train easy...kinda scarey.

Well Detroit once again has drinkable water..the all clear came at 3pm today. Just don't go in the Detroit river or Belleville Lake, that's where the Feds let them dump the raw sewage, either that or back up in basements etc.

I changed the info on what is supposed to show on the WHOIS, it's just not showing yet. Thanks to all who gave me the advice.

Well Duh!

Over the months I've been reading blogs I've ran across stories where some asswipe had contacted someone's employer...or in a recent event Child Protective Services. Being the ignoramus that I am I couldn't figure out how they even know who some of these people are.

Sure there is blogs where people say right out who they are, where they live...kids names etc. etc. Then there are people like me who stay on the edge of anonymity like myself because of my profession. So I thought.

Well yesterday doing my normal Sunday morning cruising the web I ran across how to do a WHOIS. Ok, ok...yes, I've seen this mentioned many times before and I let it sail right over my head along with many of the terms that normally do. I'll refrain from mentioning the others in an attempt to not be listed in the Computer Retarded category. Although I'm a card carrying member.

So I do a WHOIS on me...fucking whoa. There is my name, address and for everyones amusement my phone number. Only thing missing is my Visa. At this point I would not be surprised if that is out there too.

Anyway I have to think about this for awhile, I obviously will have to quit posting about work. Which will be hard since I'm there half of my waking life. Maybe I should rethink those Detroit Police Department posts too....hmm, I can see those asswipes fucktards gentlemen taking revenge.

Then again fuck it...hello, my name is Dawn, I live in Westland, MI. My address and phone number is posted for the world...give me a call, c'mon over...I can boil some water for you too.

If this shows up in Google...that's it. I'm drinking the tap water.

I Need Help

Ok, I absolutely love JoniElectric.com but 9 out of 10 times when I visit her sight it's all screwed up in my browser. Why? Whatever am I doing wrong? Help?

Something for Everyone

Looks like there is a toast her here for everyone.

Thank Utterly Boring for the great link.

Sexiest Male Blogger

Well it seems Life As I See It is whoring for links but doesn't want to take my nomination for sexiest male blogger.

So the contest is fixed....hmm. So in the interest of keeping peace in the blogosphere I'll not mention who I nominated. I think when you have these contests sexy isn't necessarily in pretty packaging. It emanates from the heart and soul.

So Sista...you have the link, and I withdraw my nomination.

Peace.

Blood Moon

Check out Sea Doc for a picture of a blood moon. Awesome.

NWA Sucks

Well it seems Northwest Airlines is determined to make a profit on everyone's misfortune. Now I'll be leaving on the 29th. Hopefully. Sothis cost me an extra $100 because I can not fly out by the 21st, although the price of a ticket on the 29th is $50 cheaper. Asswipes.

Sexiest Bloggers

I'm catching up on my blog reading I'm noticing the last couple of days has begat contest after contest to drum up business. First I took a look at the list so far of sexiest male bloggers, then I took a look at the females.

What I really hadn't noticed but doesn't surprise me at all...I read male blogs the most. I have about a 4:1 ratio of men to women if you look at my blogroll and if you could see my Favorites folder. I think women have alot of interesting things to say...but I hear them say it all day long. Even if I don't want too. The women on my list give me a view of a much different life than mine. I like that.

Now I'm sure I will go to my grave trying to figure out men. All these years I've been trying and I know nothing more than when I was 16. I've been trying to get a man to tell me what they think for years. No, no...not about politics, the new car or "the game" or SEX...please, I got those things down.

Interesting enough...the guys on my blogroll write about those things of course, they are men after all...but also other things. Those are the sexy guys.

Powering Down

I finally made it to the gas station...yes, there was still a line, but everything was moving very quickly and efficiently. I grabbed a couple bottles of water and some lemonade.

I came home and put on a couple of pans of water to boil for coffee later and ice cubes. While I was doing this I flipped on the news, finally. It seems Detroit is back to 100% power..almost. We are being asked to power down..rolling blackouts are expected around 5pm and later. Lovely. Fine. I turned my a/c up to 74, shut all the blinds, limited myself to one load of clothes (necessity). That's it..that's my part.

I was lucky enough to catch a video clip of the mayor saying how Detroit was the best behaved city during the blackout...although the rest of country was ready for the acting out and throwing down. Well hello Kwame...guess what, we were expecting it here too.

Even though curfews were imposed on the entire area...most didn't want to be caught on the street in a car or not after dark. Everyone I talked to that owns a house said they slept on their living room floors or front porch...watching and waiting.

Detroit usually gets a bum rap...for good reason. We were good because we scare ourselves shitless. Hell with the rest of the country...no one is more shocked then us that life in metro Detroit was peaceful.

Now the power is back on...tonight will be a free for all. Let the games resume.

Creature Comforts

Well after ten hours sleep I'm back walking among the living. The a/c is running and the coffee (thank God) is good. What a wake up call that was. Instant coffee is now added to my list of things to have on hand. But yesterday morning boiling water and pouring it through a coffee filter into the pot works really, really good. Addicts know how to improvise.

The ice cold shower with the trickling stream was exactly what I needed to be able to face another marathon day at work in a healthcare facility with only generator power, no water or phone lines.

At 4:15pm Thursday the power flickered off, came back on for about 60 seconds and went off for good. The generator came on within 3 seconds. Thank God for the new natural gas powered generator. Although I did not say that 4 months ago when the thing was installed. At that time the electricians hooking us up switched the 110 lines with the 220 lines and the building blew up. That's another story. I guess it was a dress rehearsal for this event.

We figured at first it was one of Detroit's little floating power outages that has been going on all summer. It's a standing joke at work about who and where is the next one...and if it's our turn in the barrell. No big deal at this time..we still had one functioning elevator. All patients on oxygen or any form of electrical pumps (feeding pumps, IV's etc) had to be brought out into the halls and need to be plugged into the red electrical outlets which serve as a power supply from the generator.

It took about an hour for us to realize the magnitude of the situation when arriving visitors started telling us:

Someone hit a transformer.
Terrorists blew up a power plant in NY.
There is a nuclear power plant in Detroit that's emitting a strange gas.
All the power plants in NY are on fire.

Seriously, visitors entering the building told us all of these "facts". At 5pm we declared at work an emergency situation...all office people and non-patient care givers are placed into care giver mode, and no one is allowed to leave the facility unless given the ok by myself for the administrator.

So I found my trusty transistor radio I keep in my office and plugged it into generator power, but who had time to sit and listen to it.

About 6pm we realized the water was going down. I began receiving calls from the nursing administration from the local hospitals not to send anyone unless it was an immediate life or death situation. Now we really had a SITUATION. You can not give care to 160 patients without water, I have people scheduled to go to the hospital for blood transfusions, outpatient surgeries etc. This was going to get ugly.

All bathtubs were filled for water to give care too. The large ice machines and hot water tanks were emptied to preserve drinking water. That bought us about 500 gallons of drinking water.

At 6:15pm the a Detroit Free Press reporter shows up..and wants an interview on how we are coping. Oh joy. Actually we were coping very well. She didn't want to hear that. She stayed about 10 minutes, talking to me, then the administrator and then left to find a juicier story.

Some time shortly after that the phone lines went down.

So the next three hours were spent locating fans, extension cords, sufficient staffing for 11-7 shift. Most working the 3-11 shift agreed to stay over and work a double...and the rest of us left around 9pm...needing to be back in the early morning.

Getting home that late in the evening wasn't a problem. Lots of people were on bicycles and walking...but for Detroit, not much car traffic at all. Very weird site.

When I arrived at my apartment building at dusk, my neighbors were all gathered in the parking lot. Sitting around and chatting. Kids running around playing. Damn...if it wasn't Grandpa's front porch again. I stayed outside and "met" my neighbors til almost midnight. Funny but the men took the kids into bed around 10..and the women stayed out to talk.

About 10:30 a group of guys early 20's pulled up, out they popped carrying a monopoly box. They joked they would have to try that game out since there would be no keyboarding tonight. What a hoot.

Shortly after that the fireworks display started. Who would of thought that many fireworks would still be available from the 4th. Let me tell you my apartment complex has enough fire power to win any war...and put on a damn good display. This was still going on when I crashed around 1am.

Friday morning going to work, Detroit was a ghost town. Staffing at work was at a crisis. Many didn't show up...and of course no way to call anybody in or for them to even call to say they wouldn't be in. Again, all non-care givers were recruited to give care, cook...or do whatever needed to be done. No dietary personnel showed up, so nurses and the staffing coordinator cooked breakfast.

The phones miraculously turned on for about two hours, they were down again by 10:30. The two hours of bombardment calls were a joke. Families calling to see if their loved ones had a fan in their room. Hello? That would be a big fat no. Is Mom cool? Umm...are you nuts? Hospital discharge planners called us asking to admit some of their patients they felt were ready for discharge..once again are you nuts? Even though we had phones for 2 hours, we were still unable to contact physician, lab or x-rays. We were still cut off and winging things.

The building by 11am was running 85 degrees at least. I had one male patient threaten to sue me at this point if I didn't get his a/c on within the hour. Okay, I'll look forward to that lawsuit.
Lemonade and ice water was consistently passed to patients and staff. Many of the staff had brought their children into work..which is good, extra pair of hands was a God send. Lunch came off without a hitch. Not the best lunch...but at this point the patients knew we needed to be thankful for what we had.

Things moved along through the day, without any major happening until about 4:30pm. The generator alarm sounded. Only thing I could say at this point was FUCK. We closed the one elevator down, scrambled our emergency back up oxygen tanks in large amounts to the units. Started triageing in our minds who would have to go to the hospital first. Waiting to see if Plan C..the one with absolutely no electricity goes into effect.

The carts with the food trays would not be sent to the units. Large pans of food was carried up stairwells to carts and served family style down hallways. Once again, everyone was served a hot meal. Why I'm not sure...if it was up to me, it would of been sandwiches and chips.

Anyway at 6:20pm as the generator was sputtering the electricity came back on. Hallejulah.

Damn, I'm tired all over again just having typed this. I'm posting this now, I'll edit it and spell check later...sorry.

Back from the Black

Well damn if it hasn't been a roaring two days. When I pulled into the drive just a little bit ago and seen that the power was on...I coulda cried.

Obviously I didn't go to Iowa since work was in a crisis situation. I'm hot, tired and I stink. The water is on but only at about a 50% capacity. So for now..I'm going to sit back and drink a big damn glass of Alize, turn my a/c down to 68 and sit here and catch up on the news half naked.

I honestly have been so busy at work I have no clue what caused all of this hell.

Homosexuality and Marriage

Once again Dean posted an excellent commentary on gay rights. One thing about Dean he is always thought provoking. In his article he states he believes that the gay right movement has become a conservative movement. I disagree. I believe it is a publicity movement by publicity hounds.

Dean has a list of what he believes has been gays primary issues the movement has been fighting for.

The list:
They want to hold steady jobs.
They want to go to church and join the clergy.
They want to live in nice, respectable communities without being kicked out.
They want to join the military and fight for their country.
They want to join the boy scouts--the freaking Boy Scouts!
They want to settle down, have kids, and raise families.

I have a 29 year old gay sister who I love, admire and respect. Even more so over the past few weeks reading articles and posts about gay rights and marriages. My sister and her partner have been together about four years. They live in a lovely home in a beautiful community in Iowa.

My sister has never told her family, her co-workers, her church, the government or any other organization she works for that she is gay. She does not need the validation. My sister speaks of having children and she will be a wonderful parent.

On the same vein, I've never discussed at my place of employment, to my government or any other organization that I am heterosexual. I do not need their validation. Do any of them really give a damn anyway?

Now if gays want to live a quiet unassuming life...then do it. Publicly flaunting your sexual preferences is not quiet and unassuming. Do not get in my path to tell me you are gay, I don't care. Don't assume what you do behi