My Prince Has Come --er -- the Repairman Has Come!

Last week I wrote of my longing for the "Maytag Man" to come fix my dryer.  Well... I am happy to report that he came today! That's right!  My prince came and I didn't even have to kiss a toad! 

 It was a relatively simple fix - for him at least!  Without too much financial impact and in under an hour, my dryer is working like a brand new one.  And that's a good thing given the fact that I now have nearly three weeks' worth of laundry begging to be done. 

I doubt I've ever been so happy to be able to do laundry!  I'm happy as that proverbial clam sitting here working on the computer while the dryer hums along.  The only downside to doing the laundry is that it means next I'll have more ironing to do!  I never, ever enjoy ironing! 

But that's another story for another day.  For now, I am off to wash, dry, fold, hang and put away laundry.  And in the process, I'll be sure to be thankful for the fact that I didn't have to drag it all to the laundromat!

Reality Check



(This and more calendars can be downloaded at JetCityOrange)

 Today is January 31st.  The final day of the first month of 2011.  So, it's time for my own personal reality check.  Did I accomplish all - or at least most - of the goals I set out to accomplish this month?  In some areas I did; in other areas I didn't do so good... But that's the beauty of the year unfolding -- in many instances you get another chance - on another day.

One of my biggest goals was to get the new blog up and running - and to post every day.  I was successful in getting it up and running right at the beginning of the month.  And, I came close to accomplishing the other, more lofty goal.  I've posted 28 (29 counting this one) posts in January.  There were a couple days where either technological stumbling blocks or very long, late shifts at work interfered with a timely post and therefore I can say I posted 28 or 29 times but if I am honest, I did not post one each of 28/29 days.... but still....

All in all, I'm pretty proud of myself.  And the reality of it all is that sometimes life will intervene and a post will be delayed but if I can continue to post regularly as I've done this month, I'll be satisfied with myself and my blog.

How about you, dear readers?  Have you been able to accomplish the things you'd hoped to accomplish during the month of January?

Nan's Kids Check In With Report Cards

This was the weekend to celebrate five of my seven grandchildren's accomplishments.  One-by-one they checked in either personally or through parents to share their most recent report cards.  They all did well.  And I am very proud of each of them.

I delight in sharing their grades.  I also remember the days when I was their age.  Just like them, I loved to share my report cards with my "Gramm and Popo" - my names for grandmother and grandfather Anderson.  Always aiming to please, and finding school (from elementary all the way to high school) rather easy - I took great pride in letting them see the grades I'd earned.  Their responses were perhaps more important to me than those of my parents.  I'm not sure I can explain why that is, but that's the way it was. 

And now, I see that same behavior in my grandchildren.

It's a pleasure to return the warm fuzzies my own Gramm and Popo shared all those years ago.  Way to go Caleb, Alysa, KelseyRose, Matthew and Rhiannon!  Keep up the good work.  (And Jesse and Chloe, your time is coming all too fast - soon you'll be sharing grades with Nan as well!)

Catching Some Z-Z-Z-z-z-z-z's

Yesterday I drove down to Sevierville to watch Caleb play Upward Basketball.  After a great game where Caleb's team won, he and I spent part of the afternoon together before I had to take him home.  It is always such a wonderful day when it is spent with Caleb.  He is my sunshine!  At 10 you'd think he would be about ready to give up being all lovey-dovey in public but he showers me with hugs, kisses and "Nan, I love you's" every chance he gets.  And of course I don't discourage that! 

Once home, I decided I'd do something I rarely do - take a nap.  And so, around 4:30 I headed off to nap "just for a few minutes".... Well........

Last time I did the math, 4:30 pm to 8:30 a.m. is NOT a few minutes!  In fact, do the math!  It's hmmmmm
16 hrs x 60min/hr.....  It's 960 minutes!  NOT a "short nap" by any means.  I have never done that!  But, I guess I must have needed the sleep... 

But, because I "napped" for 960 minutes, I never made it here last night....  So, dear followers... I will be back this evening with a post but for now, this very well rested writer is off to church and from there....it's anyone's guess what the day holds!

Twenty-five Years Ago Today, January 28th...

"I have a vision of the world as a global village, a world without boundaries. Imagine a history teacher making history"                   ~ Christa McCauliffe


Do you remember where you were twenty-five years ago today?  I do!   One of my girls was sick and I had called in from work to stay home with her. It was mid-morning and the space shuttle Challenger was scheduled to lift off in a matter of minutes.  As I sat on the couch watching t.v. and sipping on coffee, I remember telling my daughter that "When mommy was your age, all the students would go to an "assembly" where we would watch every space mission launch on a small black and white television screen." 

The kids had all been learning in school about the teacher on board this mission -- and looked forward to the reports from outer space that would be science lessons unlike any they'd ever had.  
Although we lived almost four hours' drive from the Kennedy Space Center, we almost always heard the sonic boom that accompanied a lift -off... but all was silent on this particular day.  An eery calm was soon to be disrupted by confusion and a sick-in-the-stomach, heart-in- your-throat feeling...

We watched the lift off together - my little second grader and I - and then...
In 73 seconds, a large white smoke  plume could be seen on the t.v. screen. The news that followed was almost too much to fathom.  The entire crew, including the teacher who wanted to inspire kids to "reach for the stars," had been lost forever - the Challenger had exploded. 

Twenty-five years later, the feelings are not as raw but oh how they can quickly become real once more - the images that are being played on tv and news programming bring that lift off and loss back into our living rooms.  Honoring the Challenger Crew  reminds us all of the great loss our nation suffered that day -- and the deeply personal losses the families of the Challenger crew have lived with for the last twenty-five years.

Ask anyone who remembers the Challenger tragedy, and the first name that comes from their lips is Christa McAuliffe, the teacher from New Hampshire who was the first teacher to go into space.  Her legacy lives on in the lives of teachers who were inspired by her dedication to teaching.  Go here to see an example of how McAuliffe's legacy continues.

The families of Commander Francis R. "Dick" Scobee, Pilot Michael J. Smith, Mission Specialists Ellison S. Onizuka, Judith A. Resnick and Ronald E. McNair, Payload Specialist Gregory B. Jarvis and  New Hampshire teacher Christa McAuliff have created a permanent memorial:  The Challenger Center for Space Science and Education.  This non-profit organization has 48 learning centers throughout the United States.

 Today, 25 years later, ceremonies across the country honored the sacrifices these men and women made. 

"May your future be limited only by your dreams!"

                    ~   Christa McAuliffe  

Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement ?

Okay, last week's lunch trays held a little card for Squirrel Appreciation Day!  Now this week, lunch trays are announcing "Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement"  Say What?? !!  The card simply said "Fact of the Day:  Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement is a little known holiday celebrated each year on Januar 26th.
Now, I originally intended to post this yesterday since that apparently is "official" Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement" but I worked very late.  I wanted to do a little research before I posted this - Find out if it actually is a holiday of any sort - Find out what it means!

I mean really, have any of my readers ever heard of this?   If so, I'd love to hear all about it from you!

Tonight I got home a wee bit earlier than last night and the first thing I did was jump on the internet to do that research.  Here's what I found out at ww w.ehow.education.com.  :

Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement is a little-known holiday celebrated each year on January 26. Originally established as a day to connect with others through the heart, it stresses the importance of sharing a kind word with fellow man. Although the name conjures thoughts of childhood storybooks and amusement park rides, Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement is actually rooted in an 1800s-era school house located in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Origin

1. While on staff at a local community college, Ralph C. Morrison, storyteller and subsequent founder of the Toad Hollow collective, taught an elderly student named Eunice, who was profiled in the local paper. The article mentioned that she attended Toad Hollow Country School, and upon reading the piece, Morrison says he became enamored with the name. He went on to explain during a personal interview that he began spinning tales of the legendary place for his performances, prompting audience members to inquire about its true location, to which he would always respond that it was not found on any map, but only "in your heart."

The Story

2. Morrison's interview further revealed that the legend of Toad Hollow grew into a reality for local residents when Kalamazoo County officials offered him land from a seldom-used park for his storytelling activities. He accepted the offer and organized a nonprofit society to operate the park in 1992. With help from volunteers, they constructed an 1800s pioneer homestead and town and refurbished a run-down grist mill already located on the property. For the next three years, Toad Hollow hosted Civil War reenactments, Renaissance Fairs and even Teddy Bear Picnics. After that, the county reclaimed the property, and the people of Toad Hollow donated all of their improvements, except the mill, to other historic organizations and museums.

People

3. The group that oversaw Toad Hollow were all volunteers. While discussing the park, Morrison described how the volunteers shared their expertise with visitors, teaching classes on blacksmithing, quilting and soap and candle making. At the height of Toad Hollow's popularity, it had a staff of over 100, who referred to themselves as "Voluntoads." After Toad Hollow reverted back to Kalamazoo County, the Voluntoads continued their classes off campus, starting seven schools, including storytelling, writing, barbecuing and early American arts and trades, which continued until 2003. While telling his story, Morrison stated that the idea for the Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement grew out of their passion for helping others, ultimately becoming a way to motivate people to share what is in their hearts every day. From this beginning, the Voluntoads also founded the Toad Hollow Day of Thank You on June 20, and later, the Toad Hollow Week of Encouragement, which falls in mid-March.

Geography

4. The original Toad Hollow Country School---the first erected in Kalamazoo County---was built in 1834 at the end of Knox Street. Toad Hollow Cemetery (also known as Bailey/Southside Cemetery) is located on the north side of MN Avenue, between 38th and 40th Streets in Charleston Township. The park that once served as headquarters for Toad Hollow remains under the control of Kalamazoo County as Scotts Mill Park, and according to its website still features a working water-powered grist mill.

Significance

5. As Morrison tells it, the Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement carried on as a local holiday until the publishers of "Chase's Calendar of Events" contacted him about the possibility of including the January occasion in their publication. After its promotion in the book, word of the annual observance spread, and now sites across the Internet known for listing unusual days of the year contain reference to it. Web-based merchants even offer Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement sweatshirts, coffee mugs and other gift items for sale.

Happy Birthday Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf

"a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is going to write..."       ~   Virginia Woolf



On this day in 1882, Adeline Virginia Stephen was born in London, England.  Early in her adult life she and her family moved to Gordon Square, Bloomsbury.  The house became a place for artists, writers and intellectuals - "The Bloomsbury Group" - to gather.  The house came to be regarded as a place where modern artistic thoughts germinated. 

In 1912 she married a gentleman from the Bloomsbury Group - Leonard Woolf.  Virginia and Leonard Woolf founded Hogarth Press.  She would go on to write many works of fiction and non-fiction, publishing most of them at Hogarth Press.  Despite suffering from repeated mental breakdowns, she was a proliferative and influential writer whose work continues to be read, discussed and examined.

Perhaps best known for A Room of One's Own, the feminist, novelist, essayist and critic died in March of 1941 from an apparent suicide by drowning.

 Her final book - A Writer's Diary - was published posthumously in 1953 .   In 1962, she was immortalized in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf.

 Click here to see photos and hear Virginia Woolf in her own voice - from a portion of a BBC production



Happy Birthday, Virginia and thank you for the legacy you've left all of the female writers who came after you! 

Someday My Prince...I Mean... Repairman Will Come!

"There's really no way to ration dirty laundry.  It's there every week, and it has to be done..."    ~ Brian Wallace

You know those television ads that show the "Maytag Repairman" sitting by the phone wishing someone would call?  Well....  I've called and he didn't come running!  Now, to be fair - the "Maytag Man" I called is part of a small family run appliance business.  He works at the business that sold me my washer and dryer.  It is staffed by only a couple repair men and two front office women. 

When my dryer decided that heat was not a necessary component to the drying process last week, I immediately called them.  Unfortunately, their schedule was in direct conflict with mine.  They could have come out on Thursday or Friday but I had to work my scheduled 12-hour shifts those days.  So, I requested a service call for today - my next day off that would be a work day for them.

My hamper is filled to the brim and then some -- and my laundry has to be done!  I hoped they'd be here early this morning so that I could get on with the chore at hand by mid-day.  When mid-day rolled around and there had been no service call -- in fact, no phone call -- I called the shop.  One of the two service guys had called in sick and the remaining one was doing his best to try to get to everyone. 

Now, don't get me wrong - I have plenty of things to do to keep myself occupied while waiting for the service call.  I can read, write, knit, sew... I should study for my next exam or at the very least run the vacuum cleaner... But, the fact that I was "stuck" waiting for the dryer to be fixed did not thrill me.

As it turns out, I waited in vain.  Around 4:00 pm I got a call saying that there was no way they were going to make it here today.  The tentative voice on the other end of the connection announced "so, we'll have to reschedule you for Wednesday."  Well... No!  You may have to do that, but I can't do that!  Because starting Wednesday we are right back to the same situation as last week -- I will begin a stretch of 12-hour shifts that will make it impossible to have a service call... and then, when I am off again, they will be closed - again.  So now, the service call is scheduled for NEXT Monday! 

So, here I sit wishing that the "Maytag Man" was available and overjoyed to hear of my need for his skills! Instead, I am trying to decide if I want to drag two weeks' worth of dirty laundry to the laundromat and do it, or if I want to wash it here and lug the heavy wet stuff down the stairs to dry it at said laundromat.... or wait it out and hope that the third week will be the charm.  Personally, I think I'll do just that -- wait for the third time and hope it's the charm!

And, as I am formulating that plan, I'm reminded of the first trip home after I started doing the travel nurse contracts some four or five years ago.  I hadn't been back to Naples in quite some time.  When I got to our condo, I was taken back by the sight in the laundry room.  There were piles -- and piles -- and piles of men's socks, briefs and towels  -- all of them white.  More of each than I had ever seen in one place -- and all of them dirty!

When I mentioned them to Tim (aka "Lovie") he said that he just kept buying more of each because he "didn't have time to do the laundry."   And that he figured that if he bought all whites he could just bleach them clean when he "finally got around to it!"   I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.  Here was a then forty-something man (I'm older than he and he delights in reminding me of that daily) who had been a bachelor for many years before we married -- and never did I see more than a couple days' worth of laundry at his little bungalow.  Over time, "wife-y" took over the laundry detail and he no longer had to worry about it.  Then, "wife-y" began to travel for work and he was faced with a decision:  To launder or not to launder - that became the question.  Apparently "Not to launder" won out and Sam's Wholesale Club was the beneficiary of that decision.

As an aside, I was in Naples for six days that visit and while Tim worked most every day... you guessed it .... I did the laundry -- so when I returned to Tennessee he was set for another several months of clean undies, socks and towels without further trips to buy more!  I still chuckle about it and wonder (but am afraid to ask) how high the pile of dirty laundry is now!

Have no fear, dear readers, I will not be buying months and months' worth of clothes so as to avoid the inevitable.  That repair man had better get here next Monday!  And, if not... I'll be making a visit to the dreaded laundromat! 

Finding Merit in the Words of Ayn Rand

"The evil of the world is made possible by nothing but the sanction you give it."  ~  Ayn Rand


I don't usually use such forums to post anything controversial or that might be based on my own political or religious beliefs.  Always wanting to fly under the proverbial radar and not make my readers uncomfortable in any way, I tend to keep my opinions to myself -- at least here on the blog.  But, upon reading Ayn Rand's quote and then seeing the news shows today, I feel compelled to do so.  So, please either humor me or choose not to read this particular segment.  If you choose to humor me, thank you.  If you decide not to read this blog post, I respect your decision but I hope that you'll return tomorrow and all the tomorrows after that!

Yesterday, exactly two weeks after the tragic shooting in Arizona, Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was transferred from the hospital in Arizona to a rehab center in Texas.  A remarkable sign of progress to be sure.  She will have a long, difficult road to recovery but I have no doubt her determination will get her though it.  Our country also has a long, difficult road to healing ahead as well.  Many lives have been impacted by the actions of one individual. 

And yet, two weeks after the shooting that took the lives of several, including an innocent 9 year old girl - Christina Taylor Green - and threatened to take the lives of many more, there are still all sorts of commenataries on the talk and news shows about the role of rhetoric from certain politicians, activists and media outlets.   "Do you think the media is responsible for the events?"  I heard one commentator ask. 

"NO!" I heard in my own mind.  The "rhetoric" didn't go to that grocery store site or pull the trigger.  It was one young man -- who, perhaps is very troubled, ill -- pulled the trigger.  And in a matter of minutes, he  changed the lives of many for a very long time to come.

As someone who believes that, all too often, some individuals will look for others to blame for their shortcomings - never taking responsibility for their actions - the constant references to "did the media have something to do in influencing the shooter?" are maddening to me!  Why is it that looking for outside sources of blame has become more acceptable than expecting - no insisting on - personal responsibility for an individual's actions?

Many read, watched and/or listened to the "vitriol rhetoric" as it's been called.  But only one chose to act in such an unspeakable way.  We are not to be the judges in this case -- there is the legal system and a Higher Power by whatever name you call Him/Her who will do that for us.  But, I feel the need to say that, in my mind, it is not the rhetoric that is responsible for that shooters actions... it is the fact that the shooter sanctioned that rhetoric and allowed evil to reign for a while on that fateful day on January 8, 2011.

Unable to post yesterday

"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's  useless."              ~   Thomas A. Edison   


I have always said that cars and computers are great -- as long as they do what I want, when I want/need them to do it!  But, when they can't meet my needs and expectations -- well, then I have almost no use for them.  In short I get very frustrated when something I was counting on fails me.  I suppose that the same is true of people -- when someone disappoints me by not following through, or "delivering" I get very frustrated too.
 
Well, last night, a post to this blog was just not meant to be.  I've been having lots of problems getting on the internet the past week or so.  But usually after repeated boots and re-boots, I manage to do so in time to post the daily entry on the blog.  This in and of itself has left me frustrated beyond belief.  I find myself mentally echoing my husband's favorite statement of frustration at non-functioning essentials:  "Piece of        

*&$%  !!"  But, alas, that does no good - it doesn't make me feel any better nor does it cause the computer to connet with the internet.  So.... what's the use?         

Then today I woke up and realized that all of these problems connecting to the internet began when I installed a new security/anti-virus program.  Ahh-haaa!  Could it be?  Only way to know is to uninstall the program which is exactly what I did first thing today.  And, poof!  Here I am on line  - first try!  YES!   No longer the "piece of *&$%"    that I called it last night, the first thing I did was check my e-mail's IN BOX.  And, lo and behold, there was the daily quote.  A quote from Thomas Edison:  "Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."  

You are so right, Mr. Edison.  My laptop is not useless.  It just has times when it's not as cooperative as it could be... last night was one such time.  But now that I've diaganosed and corrected the problem, it is very useful, indeed!  Sorry, laptop - I apologize for calling you a not-so-nice-name last night.  Lesson learned.

Squirrel Appreciation Day

As trays were delivered to my patients today, I found myself being asked questions that were totally non-medical in nature...  Some questions made me laugh out loud.   Some caused me to admit that I had absolutely no clue ...

On the trays that allowed for such, little souffle cups filled with mixed nuts were an unexpected treat.  On the trays of those who were not allowed nuts, a little card sat next to the beverage --- announcing "Squirrel Appreciation Day." 

REALLY ? !   Squirrel Appreciation Day?  You've got to be kidding me!

A couple of my patients commented that they had never had nuts on their trays in the hospital.  One lady, who had been very straight-laced all day, took me completely off guard when she quipped "You don't think that the entree is squirrel meat, do you?"  This comment alone was worth the whole experience.  I had to laugh out loud.  There was no holding it in!  That was just too funny!

So, even though my twelve hour shift turned into a fifteen hour shift, I immediately went on a google search when I got home this evening.  And, sure enough!  January 21st is Squirrel Appreciation Day!  And has been for ten years now!

Squirrel Appreciation Day was founded by Christy Hargrove who is a wildlife rehabilitator in North Carolina.

So this revelation begs a question or two...
First,  have you shown YOUR squirrels how much you appreciate them today?
And then, Squirrel Appreciation Day today... What's next?

This Recipe's a Keeper!

Yesterday I blogged about Ms Muse's presence while I was preparing some homemade soup.  I've had a couple of my followers request more details on the soup.  And who can blame them?  The weather for most of us is perfect soup weather. 

This one's definitely a keeper!  It's comfort food for sure!  It is regularly requested by certain co-workers and since it is easy, inexpensive and so delicious I am only too happy to oblige!

CREAM of POTATO & HAM SOUP

3 & 1/2 cups peeled/diced potatoes
1/3 cup diced celery
1/3 cup finely chopped onion
3/4 cups diced cooked ham (You can use more or less to taste; I usually use a full cup)
3 & 1/4 cups water
2 TABLEspoons Chicken bullion granules
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
5 TABLEspoons butter
5 TABLEspoons all-purpose flour
2 cups milk (I use half & half instead of milk to make it even more creamy)

Place potatoes, celery, onion, ham and water in stock pot.
Bring to boil then cook on medium heat until potatoes are tender ( approx 10-15 minutes)

Stir in chicken granules, salt and pepper

Meanwhile, in a saucepan melt butter over medium-low heat
Slowly whisk flour with a fork and cook until thick (approx. 1 - 2 minutes)
SLOWLY stir in the milk making sure there are no lumps.
Continue stirring over medium-low heat until thickened (approx. 4 - 5 minutes)

Stir milk mixture into the stockpot
Cook until heated through.

I also add two hard boiled eggs finely chopped (whites & yolks) sometimes.
You can add shredded cheese or other vegetables if desired.

This hearty soup, when served with a salad and some crusty bread is the perfect comfort meal after a busy day at work!

And, here's an added bonus!  This soup freezes well and is just as tasty when thawed and heated - so I make a double batch.  I take half of it to work to share with my co-workers and I freeze the other batch for a future request. 

2011 = The Year of Ms Muse!

Ms Muse has finally re-awakened!  It's been a very long time since I've felt she has been totally engaged or even half-way engaging!  She was asleep on the job so to speak for much of 2010... But it looks as if 2011 is HER year!

Perhaps it was the fact that I've had seven glorious days off -- days to allow myself to be still and listen... listen to my heart, listen to my soul, listen to Ms Muse.  Originally when my plans to travel to Pennsylvania on these days off were derailed due to the weather I was miffed.  But, now I rejoice in the fact that I've had this time to be a free-spirited homebody.  I've done what I want, when I want for the last seven days.  And the results of this freedom?

At first I noticed that I was more productive in the writing aspect of my life.  Ideas flow more freely and the fingers have been on the keyboard more than they have in a long while.  Then today, while prepping the ingredients for some homemade soup, Ms Muse was in overdrive... Her ideas were running through my head while I chopped and diced vegetables, measured and stirred ingredients, and cleaned up the mess that comes with cooking from scratch.  And all the while, my heart was at peace, my spirit content. 

Cooking is just as much a creative endeavor for me as knitting, sewing, quilting and writing.  Today, with Ms Muse by my side, I was reminded just how important it is to do ALL that nourishes my soul - including washing dishes and stirring the [soup] pot!

Next Stop... The Fossil Site!

Well, it looks like it's time for another visit to the local fossil site!  Ever since he was just a little tyke, Caleb has been in love with dinosaurs.  Imagine how excited he was to learn that I lived within a few minutes' drive of the Gray Fossil Site and Natural History Museum right here in the Tri-Cities, TN area!  The site has become one of his favorite outings.  In fact, just a couple weeks ago he asked if we could go there soon.  I quickly told him that it was too cold to go -- and it is too cold out on the dig site this time of year.  But, it looks as though the folks at Gray Fossil Site have found the perfect indoor activity for the cold, snowy winter months.



The active dig site at Gray Fossil Site




Staff at the site are quick to point out that they do not find dinosaurs at this active dig site because the dinosaurs died out much earlier than did the species that are being found here.  However, this is not the first time a big dino has been a guest here.  A couple of years ago, Sue the T-Rex came to visit.





Sue the T-Rex



But this time, the actual construction of the triceratops skeleton IS the exhibit.  I am certain that Caleb and I will be visiting often between now and May when it is scheduled to be completed.  My little archaeologist-at-heart and I will have to report back here every now and again with photos and commentary on the progress of the triceratops.  So stay tuned for updates!

Going Into The Winter Woods.....

"Go to the winter woods: listen there, look, watch, and “the dead months” will give you a subtler
secret than any you have yet found in the forest."   ~    Fiona Macleod, Where the Forest Murmurs

For me, going into the woods this weekend meant going to Bays Mountain (see yesterday's post ).  So when I happened upon this quote today, I marveled at the fact that even without Fiona MacLeod's words, I somehow knew that looking, watching and listening in the winter woods would prove to be full of revelations.  I had already been to church before heading to the mountain but being there was an opportunity to worship in an entirely different way -- and at a very different and soulful level.

 Never have I thought of this beautiful slice of Nature as experiencing "dead months."  Far from it!  In fact, yesterday the critters and birds were more active than I think I've ever seen them.  A family of three wild raccoons played "hide-and-seek" as they scampered in the snow. I wondered if they knew that they had relatives in one of the nearby habitats.  Birds called to one another from atop barren tree branches.  As if in an attempt to sing in unison, the raptors and owls in their habitats perked up, cocked their heads to one side and opened their beaks although I didn't hear them utter a sound. Squirrels and chipmunks perched themselves on fallen tree trunks and watched as I passed by... as if they were silently daring me to step over them (which I would never do because I believe in enjoying Nature without disturbing those who call it home.)  And, in every habitat the animals basked in sunlight as they spent a lazy January Sunday afternoon in peaceful harmony with their environment.  Wolves romped, deer rested in the sunshine, and the bobcats stood on their back legs while stretching and reaching far up the trunk of the nearest tree.

It appears as though some woodland creature found this otherwise pristine area of snow on the forest floor before I did!  I can't say for sure but I think I stood there for at least 10 minutes wondering how the scene might have differed had I been a few minutes sooner.  Would the owner of these little footprints have posed long enough for me to snap a picture or would it have scampered off before I could do so?

As I stood at the edge of Bays Mountain's lake, I marveled at the stillness and soothing quiet.  The barren trees fascinate me.  My daughters have told their friends "My mom is weird, she thinks dead trees are pretty - in  a different way than the fall trees are."  And, they would be right about that.  When I take in the sight of these barren trees (which we all - including the girls - know are not really dead) I marvel at the stark contrast to how I envision they will look in Spring, Summer and Fall.

For as far as the human eye or a camera lens can see, the sun glistened on the frozen lake while tree branches painted wispy shadows on the snow.  The beauty of this image beckons me to come again soon -- this time with pen and paper in hand instead of (or perhaps along with) camera.  This sanctuary-within-a-sanctuary is the perfect spot to stop and listen for the whispers of my muse.  And so, I watched... I listened... and I looked. And everywhere I turned there were the truths of Mother Nature reinforcing that all is right at that place and in that moment...

Bays Mountain's Kawoni

Today was one of those rare gifts:  an almost spring-like day in the middle of January!  Upon leaving church this morning the blue skies and gentle breezes coaxed me into the woods of Bays Mountain.  This is the same mountain that my grandson Caleb refers to as "Nan's Mountain."  He and I both love it here!  But today I was unaccompanied... an opportunity to experience the mountain on my own terms and in my own time.

At the northern edge of Bays Mountain lies a park and planetarium maintained by the City of Kingsport.  The 3,550 acre park - along with its 44 acre lake - has been one of my favorite "return to nature" spots since I arrived here in Kingsport, TN several years ago.  Bays Mountain's northern peaks range in elevation from 2000-3000 feet.  It is in these mountains that I feel most grounded, at peace and in harmony with nature.

The park has several habitats for injured (and unable to return to the wild) wildlife indigenous to the area.  Wolves, otters, deer, raccoons, raptors, reptiles, bobcats are lovingly cared for by park rangers who use the habitat residents to provide learning opportunities for visitors - young and old alike.

Thirteen months ago a very destructive wind storm besieged the area.  One of the hardest hit areas was the wolf habitat on Bays Mountain.  Towering old trees were toppled like Tinker Toys.  And, unfortunately some of them toppled right onto the double fence that enclosed the wolf habitat. 

Of the eight gray wolves in the pack, six of the habitat's resident wolves took the downed fence as an opportunity to do some "local exploring."  Four returned readily to the place they now call home - the place where their food is brought to them twice weekly and they are free to roam their part of this amazing woods.  Two were not so ready to do the same.

After 54 days on the run, the female "Kawoni" was rescued many miles from "home" and returned to Bays Mountain. Unlike the other  four who willingly returned to their habitat with the use of food and wolf-howling techniques, Kawoni required tranquilizing for the rescue and transport back to the mountain.  During her adventures, she suffered a broken leg which healed on its own and, although she now limped, she didn't require surgery.  A veterinarian declared her healthy.

The sixth wolf - a male - was never found and unfortunately has been presumed dead.

Today, I inquired about Kawoni.  I was told that Kawoni was rather low in the pack's order and so, upon her return to the mountain, she was slowly re-introduced into the habitat area with the rest of the pack.  Reportedly, the other wolves were unkind to her - as is their nature I'm told.  Apparently the stress of trying to fit into the pack after such a long absence was too much for her.  She died a couple weeks after her re-entry was complete.  I was told that the necropsy revealed no physical cause of death and so death by stress is the only answer for the staff.

 How sad.  She was able to survive the pitfalls of being outside her controlled habitat -- a place she was no longer accustomed to navigating for herself.   And yet, after such a long journey, she was unable to survive returning to the place she'd called home.


Two of Kawoni's Pack-Mates





A portion of the reinforcements to the enclosure





Bays Mountain staff and volunteers are in the process of creating a permanent "fix" to the problem of downed trees creating escape routes for their beloved animals. A log barrier that is designed to stop felled trees before they crush the double fence enclosures is being erected.  The work is about a third of the way completed as of today.

Hachi

For all of my sister Richard Gere fans... And, for all of my readers who are animal lovers... You really really need to spend an evening with Hachi !  I'm doing so right now - but it isn't the first time I've seen this remarkable story.  When I was first introduced to it, a friend had rented it knowing that I was a Richard Gere fan.  Tonight, The Hallmark Channel has the good taste to add it to its lineup.  What a great way to spend a Saturday evening alone! 

Hachi is a remake of a 1987 film based on a true story about an Akita named Hatchiko and the professor who befriended him.  It is a dog story unlike any other I've ever seen.  The canine actor that plays Hachi is one of the most adorable pups I've seen in years.  And, the human actor who plays his friend is pretty easy on the eyes too!  This is probably the first Richard Gere movie that I've seen (and believe you me, I've seen them all!) where he takes second billing!  Don't get me wrong, his role is superb but Hachi steals the show and everyone's hearts!

To see the official trailer for the movie, click here  Hachi   .  But, a word of caution!  One glimpse and you'll be hooked! 

The I CAN attitude is now an I DID attitude!

Last Thursday my blog post was about "Having an I CAN Attitude" .  Today, just a little more than a week after I wrote that post, I am thrilled to report that my I CAN attitude has turned into an I DID attitude.  As a post-script to the earlier post, I indicated that I had just requested a transfer to the oncology unit at the hospital where I work. 

Today, I was called in for an interview by the clinical leader and for a peer interview of four of the unit's staff nurses.  Tonight, I can tell you that I have been hired to fill that day shift opening and will begin working back in the oncology setting soon - the week of February 13th to be exact. 

I couldn't be happier.  I've been doing a mental happy dance ever since I was told I had the job.  My mind is a-buzz with all of the things I think I remember, all of the things I think I will need to brush up on, as well as the things I know I need to learn - In the oncology setting, there are always new chemotherapy agents and or combination therapies not to mention I am certain there are new approaches to familiar diseases. 

I look forward to the challenges of being the very best oncology nurse that I can be - to learning  all that I've missed during my non-oncology nursing years - and most of all to the blessings that come from being a part of the oncology patient's life.

"When I think about all the patients and their loved ones that I have worked with over the years, I know most of them don't remember me nor I them.  But I do know that I gave a little piece of myself to each of them and they to me and those threads make up the beautiful tapestry in my mind that is my career in nursing."  ~Donna Wilk Cardillo, A Daybook for Beginning Nurses

Doing the Least to Make the Most

It is a rare day when yours truly decides making the most of the day means doing as little as possible.  But that is exactly how I spent my day -- doing not much of anything.  And it felt good!

When my girls were young, they'd frequently whine "Mommy, I'm bored"   But, it was more like "Mommy, I'm booooooooooored"  To me, that was like the proverbial nails on the chalkboard.  I'd bristle from the inside out.  As they got a bit older I began to verbalize my heretofore unspoken response to their whine:  "I wish I knew what that felt like -- for just one day."   

The reality of the girls' boredom was not that they had nothing to do - it was that they had so many things they could do but they didn't feel like doing any of them at that particular moment.  Well, today I entered their world - sort of - I had plenty of things I could do.  I had plenty of things I like to do.  I had plenty of things I should do.  But I chose to not do any of them. 

I slept late and when I woke up, I took my sweet time getting up and moving!  I savored my morning coffee, put on some of my favorite music and watched the snowflakes drift past my window while birds chirped and flitted in the trees.  I poured a second cup of coffee and went back to my view of the birds, trees, winter sky and snowflakes. 

Eventually I decided I should interact with at least one human being today so I made a long-distance phone visit to my parents.  (Had the weather been more cooperative this week, I would have been in Pennsylvania visiting them today but.... that was not meant to be.) 

Lest you think that I really did absolutely nothing today, let me assure you that because I was in town after all, I did attend a "Throughput Task Force" meeting at work.  But that is about the only thing of substance that I did until I began to post this blog entry.

By doing as little as possible today, I found a new way to make the most of a day -- Usually I try to pack so much into each and every moment of every day.  It's no wonder that sometimes I feel totally exhausted.  If I am perfectly honest with myself, it felt good to do not much of anything today.  I was not bored.  I did not feel guilty.  I felt as though I was, in some strange way, making the most of this day!

All of that being said, I am off to read until I fall asleep for tomorrow's another day...

Can Someone Please Turn Off the White Stuff?

"Snow is so common that I have omitted to note its falling at least two days out of Three."
 ~ William Henry Ashley  



What a winter it's been so far!  No doubt I speak for many when I ask "Can someone please turn off the white stuff?"  I haven't heard too many people recently squealing with delight "Oh boy, another day of snow!"  The first snowfall of the season is always magical.  The second is perhaps a bit less magical but somehow still a welcome sight.  But, it seems that it's been snowing every day since Christmas and whether the snowfall amount is alot or a little, people are getting weary of it. Perhaps the only exceptions are those who are avid skiers and the business people who depend on those skiers.

I was okay with it -- even on a daily basis -- until it foiled my plans to travel north to visit family on a carefully planned week off.  My manager and I crafted a schedule where I would work my three twelves Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of this week and Thursday, Friday, Saturday of next week.  That would allow me to not have to use personal time, earn full pay, and have a nice length of time off to travel.  But, with snow being part of the daily forecast, all of that careful planning has been undermined.  It is just to risky to try to go to Pennsylvania or Kentucky and risk not being able to get back safely.  Here in Tennessee I heard one parent say that since December 12, the schools have been in session only 3 half days and 3 full days.  Even the school kids are tired of snow days!



National Weather Service Map as of Jan. 12  

 I read with interest a report out of the National Weather Service.  As of yesterday the NWS was reporting snow on the ground in 49 of the 50 states!  I don't recall ever hearing of that before so I did a little research. This year, Florida gets the prize for being the only state to not have snow.  70 % or more of the United States' ground surface is covered in snow.  On February 10, 2010 there was snow in every state except Hawaii and on January 19, 1977 all but South Carolina reported snow.

Even though the idea of traveling for a week has now been put to rest, my muse and I have already started to make the most of seven days off.  While there is snow, I am lucky enough to live in close proximity to the hospital.  That means the roads in my neighborhood are carefully cleared so that ambulances can travel safely.  So, I am not housebound.  Today, I went out for a bit of a drive to savor the peaceful pristine whiteness created by the overnight snowfall.  And, upon returning home, my muse whispered the beginnings of a new story...Making the most of today's snowy conditions... As for tomorrow... who knows?

Concentrating on "Making the Most" Even When Depleted

Yesterday's post was not meant to be -- today's almost didn't make it here in time either!  When a twelve hour shift turns into a nearly 16 hour shift it just isn't conducive to any sort of meaningful writing.  And that is exactly what happened today!

But my muse and I are sitting here trying to unwind from the day's demands...contemplating the people and things that would allow us to be true to our vow to make the most of each day.  Sometimes the simple act of sitting quietly and going over the things that made me smile or laugh in the midst of huge stressors can be very therapeutic.

And so, what made the list today? 

The elderly patient who is as cute as can be (but also very pleasantly confused) who, when told she was "so cute," quipped back to me "I know!  I am cute aren't I?" Precious, just precious.

The looks on faces of our co-workers when Christy and I showed up to work in identical scrubs...Priceless!

The great collaborative efforts of our HMG docs and the A-5 staff on a day when there were far more patient emergencies than usual. 

Watching one of my patients accomplish her daily goal -- a goal she didn't believe she could reach.

The walk home in the snow when it is so quiet that I swear I could hear the snow flakes drifting by me.

The "decorations" in the front awning -- three and four inch icicles spaced almost perfectly even across the entire width -- glowing like Christmas bulbs as the porch light illuminated them.

The knowledge that today was the last of my shifts to work this week - and there is a long stretch of days off before going back.

And, perhaps best of all, being able to sit in a peaceful room and type this blog entry without interruptions, bells, alarms, phone and beeper interruptions that cause me to respond like Pavlov's dogs all through the day.

Good night everyone...

Undercover Boss

I love watching Undercover Boss.  The eye-opening experiences these executives encounter while actually working "in the trenches" so to speak ... well, let's just say they never cease to amaze me.
Now, I get that this is a slice of reality tv.  But still, I love it.  Why you ask?  Well...

When I was in middle management (as a head nurse on a busy oncology unit) my philosophy was to never ask any of my employees do anything I wouldn't do myself.  I never thought twice about answering a call light, doing bedpan duty, dealing with a difficult patient or family member, or whatever else was needed to get the job done.

I'll never forget the day a very flippant student nurse (who was nearing her graduation date) had not bathed her patients or changed their bed linens.  Her shift was about to end and it was obvious to me that she had no intention of providing this most basic of care.  I approached her quietly - and privately so as not to embarrass her in front of her classmates or instructor - and inquired:  "When were you planning to bathe your patients?" (Of note, she only had two patients and seemed to have plenty of time to stand in the hall and chat it up with her classmates so this only fueled my fire even more.) 

Imagine my surprise when she looked me straight in the eye and quipped "And just when was the last time  you bathed anybody Miss Head Nurse?"  WELL !  I was so incensed!  The fact of the matter was that I had bathed six patients that very morning because we one of our nurse's aides had called in and the other one had more than her share of work to do.  I was quick to point out to her that while she may think that becoming an RN relieved her of any of the "unpleasantries" of patient care, if her patient needed something she was ultimately responsible.  

But, I digress...back to Undercover Boss...

What I see happening week after week on this show is that the upper management has no clue what it's like to be an employee in any number of the types of jobs the company has to offer.  The other thing I see is that these bosses soon realize that there are communication problems between the workers and management.  And, the often find that there are some positions where the expectations are quite unrealistic.  Every single undercover boss I've seen has really had his eyes opened WIDE - and has taken to heart some of the lessons he learned while undercover.

Alot has changed in the more than 35 years I've been a nurse.   There was a time when the Directors of Nursing knew the challenges their staff faced at any given moment.  But, in recent times, consultants, corporate think-tank individuals, and various commissions that oversee health care have handed down many unrealistic expectations.  The rhetoric is often a mix of ways to cut costs and promises of improved patient outcomes.  But out there "in the real world" - on the busy med/surg units nurses just want to provide good/safe patient care to their patients.  And meeting the expectations of those who either never worked on the floor or who have been out of it for so long they've forgotten what it's like becomes a source of great internal conflict for the conscientous nurse.

We, as staff nurses, know that enforcing quick turn around time between written discharge orders and escorting out the door detracts from one of the roles that nurses excel at:  teaching - educating patients so that they are equipped to handle their health care needs at home  AND so that they don't bounce right back to the hospital within a matter of days.  Throughput they call it... Insanity I call it...We are seeing far more re-admissions than I ever remember in decades past.  And in 2012 Medicare will begin to deny payment for readmissions in a short amount of time for such diseases as congestive heart failure, diabetes andCOPD to name a few.  It would seem to me that we should be taking more not less time with our patients at the time of discharge.   I know for a fact that in the rush to get the patient out the door in one hour or less we short-change them in the education aspect of their care.  That, in my estimation is an injustice to our patients.  But, instead of allowing nurses to gauge how long it will take to teach a patient to self-inject a medication or recognize early interventions they can implement to help them stay at home and be healthy,  we are at a point where we spend more time explaining to management why we didn't meet the one-hour goal that the consultant said was attainable.

I wish that we could have our leadership team be like the undercover bosses I see on tv:  Doing every job that helps make the organization click and realizing that what they sometimes ask their employees to do is far more difficult than the paper pushers deem it to be....Listening to - and acting upon - some of the suggestions the staff have for improvement...Recognizing the goodness of their employees and their ideas...And trying to meet the expectations they have been led to believe are "good for all" only to realize that the system is broken....

I don't need these bosses to give big checks or vacations or help with school like they do on the show - although it would be nice - I just need them to "walk a mile in my shoes" and then come back with open eyes, hearts and minds to find mutual ways to deal with the challenges of today's health care world.

Proud Mom

When my three girls were growing up, I always told my husband that it would be Tara who would be the one who stuck by me (not necessarily geographically but more emotionally) even when they were all grown with families of their own.  He begged to differ with me and thought it would be the youngest of the three.  I've never stopped feeling as though there was a very unique connection between Tara and me.  And last month she proved me correct.

Recently, Tara applied for and was accepted into an RN program in Kentucky.  I couldn't be more proud of her.  What I never realized - until she was in the application process - was the fact that being a nurse had been a long-time dream for her.
As I was growing up I never wanted to be anything but a nurse.  Even when my father was dead-set against it and urged me to become a teacher, I would not be swayed.  I've never regretted that decision.   But, I never dreamed that I was influencing Tara along the way.

As part of the application process Tara was asked to write an essay.  After she submitted it to the school, she shared it with me.  Tears - the kind that can only be cried by a proud mother - streamed down my cheeks as I read her words.  "I've always wanted to be an RN"   I know those feelings all too well.  But it wasn't until she was involved in the process of applying to the program that she shared them with me.

How could I not know?  I've asked myself.  But when I piece together the past many years I suppose that life in general put other things to discuss in the forefront.  Getting her into a private program to complete high school early so that she could accompany her new husband to Korea (as an Army wife) was the first of many transitions that consumed us.  But once she married, graduated and moved to Korea for the duration of his tour of duty there, we never once discussed her dreams and hopes for the future.

By the time they returned stateside, I was dealing with the first round of melanoma treatment and follow ups.  She was dealing with life as an Army wife living far from family.  Then came children - there are three now... and during that time, there were several relocations, meaning several job changes and several mandates to start over again with each move.

She is no longer an Army wife so she is not at the mercy of the Army's plans.  That afforded her the opportunity to receive a degree as a Medical Assistant.  Her first job as an MA was rewarding, enjoyable and allowed her to gain confidence in her ability to deal with patients, doctors, and medical conditions.  I loved to talk to her (she in Colorado and I in Tennessee) and hear her tell me how much she loved her job.  But even through all of that, she never once uttered her long hoped for dream of becoming an RN. 

But, it matters not that she kept that dream to herself until she was actually enrolled.  What matters is that she is about to embark on the fulfillment of her dream.  I know first hand how exciting that is.  I've been in those shoes.  And even though it was many, many years ago, I still remember that first day at school and the first shifts on the floor doing clinicals. 

She'll be a wonderful nurse.  Her sweet smile has always brightened my day.  It is sure to brighten those of her patients and coworkers.  Her kind, caring heart is open and authentic.  Her desire to be the best she can be is evident.  Her joy in the acceptance into the program is palpable.  Patients will be blessed to have her as a nurse one day.  I am blessed to have her in my life every single day.

I love you, Tara !

Decisions, Decisions

Do you ever find yourself hard-pressed to make a decision as to how you'll spend a two hour block of time?  That seems to be my steady state.  Sometimes I wonder if I'd know how to act if I only had one option.


After working a grueling 12 hour shift at the hospital, I come home wanting to unwind...wanting to do so much...wanting to pack as much as I can into each and every moment between entry into my apartment and time to go to bed.  And, after working that grueling 12 hour shift, time to go to bed is often sooner than I'd like.  Some nights I just can't keep my eyes open long enough to do much of anything.


If you were to look at the options before me tonight, I wonder if one of them would jump out and beg for your focused attention.  Or, would one of them be so far from anything you'd ever consider that it would be eliminated without hesitation?


I suppose having so many interests is a natural thing for creative souls.  It seems to me that it is at least a natural thing for this creative soul!  I admire people who can choose only one project in one category and stick to it until it is finished.  Then and only then will they allow themselves to begin another project.  Those people would absolutely cringe if they were to gaze around my living room right now!


In one corner, I have a small table set up with the sewing machine.  When I started to do travel nursing contracts, I wasn't able to take my machine with me.  In fact, the lack of a machine led me to learning a new craft - knitting - but more about that in a moment.  Finally, about six months ago, I was able to purchase a new sewing machine.  On the sewing machine table are two projects begging to be chosen tonight.  Fabric for a new pair of kitchen curtains and matching placemats sit quietly while adorable dinosaur print flannel for my grandson's new blanket screams "Pick me!"


Somewhere close by is a pillowcase I'm embroidering -- an old fashioned project that is delightful in every sense of the word.


Next to my rocker is a basket of yarns and needles -- a pair of socks, a hat, a scarf, and a sweater are all on my needles right now.  The array of colors and types of yarn in the basket are yummy.  Each project would be a delight to sit down and work on tonight.


On my nightstand is a stack of books that I keep meaning to read "one of these days."  On my Kindle is a list of books that would out-do the stack on my nightstand.  Again, all meant to be read "one of these days."  Perhaps the only thing keeping me from diving into one of those books is the fact that I just finished reading an excellent book.  I was sad when I'd read the final pages.  I wanted it to go on and on and on.  Whenever I get my hands on a book like that, it is always difficult to get into another one right away - at least for me.


On my kitchen table is a stack of new recipe cards waiting for my to use for the many pages of handwritten (or in some cases quickly scribbled down) recipes or those torn from magazines.  I know that in the day and age of computers for any/everything including your recipes this may sound rather foreign.  But, while working on a writing project a couple of years ago, I realized what treasures hand written recipes from my grandmother's recipe box were to me.  I want to be able to leave such treasures for my girls and my grandchildren.


On my desk is the study guide and text book for my current class -- one of those necessary evils of the academic world.  In my pursuit of a Masters in Nursing Education, I find myself really wanting to get the job done but not wanting to give up the more relaxing endeavors completely.  I know that I'd be able to move through the courses more quickly if I would just pack up all of my arts and crafts and hobbies but...Really?  You really think I'd be able to do that?  Why no!  Those are the things that make my life full, satisfying, and FUN!


And of course there are any number of writing projects on my computer... each just waiting for me to decide tonight is the night I open up its file and complete the project.


Probably the only creative outlet that isn't within reach right now is the mixed medium artwork that includes altered books.  That requires way too much "stuff" to be strewn here and there while pages dry.  Besides, I know myself and if one of those projects is out, there is a distinct possibility that I'll forfeit sleep time to keep working on it!


Decisions, decisions, decisions!  Indeed!  I suppose that it is rather obvious which creative effort I decided to exercise when I got home from work.  I'd hoped that by the time I hit the "publish post" button I'd be able to pick up another project for a little while.  But, alas!  My eyelids are resisting the inner voice's cry for more creative time before bed.  And, tomorrow is a day off  so I can spend hours and hours satisfying those creative urges.

Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly.....

Oh, listen sister
I love my mister man and I can't tell you why
There is no reason why I should love that man
It must be somethin' that the angels have planned

Fish gotta swim, birds gotta fly
I gotta love one man till I die
Can't help lovin' that man of mine
       ~     "Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine"  by  Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern


Some very strange things are happening.  Dead birds are falling out of the sky.  Dead fish and crabs are washing ashore.  And everywhere we turn, people are offering up their own theories about why. 

Some have tossed out an idea that the birds were perhaps struck by lightening and/or high-altitude hail.  Others speculate that they were startled to death from firecrackers on New Year's Eve - but then that theory doesn't pan out when we look at the birds who have fallen since the fireworks of 12/31/10.  Still others think there is a terrorist plot in action, an alien attack -- or a governmental experiment gone wrong.

The dead fish and crabs washing ashore are subject to equal amounts of speculation.  Marine biologists point to large kills in the 80's and 90's.  If every one of these large kills was located near the Gulf of Mexico some would support the idea that this is a delayed reaction to the gulf oil spill of many months ago.  But, the Chesapeake and the shores of England are hardly in the same vicinity.

My patients and their families spend hours sitting in their hospital rooms discussing the videos they see on the news releases.  They engage any and every one they can in the questions that seem to be lingering in the minds of many yet remain mostly unspoken: "Could this be a sign of the end times?"  "Isn't there something about this in the Book of Revelations in the Holy Bible?"  

Like most people, I am at a loss for any explanation to these strange occurrences.  Maybe the Apocalypse is at hand.  Maybe it's some scientific phenomenon.  Maybe it's a fluke of nature.  And maybe, just maybe it's like the woman sings - "I can't tell you why."   We may never know the whys behind it all.  But the fact remains that "fish gotta swim and birds gotta fly" ....  And one more fact remains:  people are gonna be talking about this for a very long time!

 

Having an "I CAN" attitude

Thank you blogger for not letting me down here this morning!  I was on such a roll about faithfully posting every night before I went to bed... and then.... ta da... the template wouldn't upload properly and I was foiled last night!  So, that being said... here's the post I intended to use yesterday - and I'll still be posting another one later today designed specifically for Jan 6th - provided the template cooperates, that is!


Have you ever stopped to notice how one seemingly small action leads to all sorts of bigger, more exciting possibilities?  Being blessed - or some would say cursed - with a "can do attitude" I am used to taking on projects with all of my being.  Sometimes I know exactly what to expect; other times I only think I know what to expect.  Almost all of the time I get way more than I expected from my involvement in the project.  Like the day in October when I volunteered for RAM - Remote Area Medical.  First a little background:


I've been a nurse for over 37 years now.  More than half of that time has been dedicated to caring for oncology (cancer) patients in one setting or another.  I've just about done it all:  hospital, doctor's office, chemo infusion room, home health... I've been a staff nurse, a head nurse and a clinical educator in the oncology department. 


And, I've been the caregiver to a loved one with cancer.  My father-in-law died several years ago from lung cancer.  I was there with him through his surgery, his radiation treatment, and his Hospice care.  I was the one at his bedside the night he died.


Then, about 12 years ago, I found myself on the other side of the bedrail.  I had become an oncology patient myself.  Diagnosed with malignant melanoma, I had to switch gears entirely.  I needed to go into patient and survival mode while casting aside that professional nurse, cheerleader, caregiver side.  It was not an easy task.  In the past twelve years, I have had two bouts with the often deadly form of cancer known as melanoma.  The oncologist I used to work for always told me (when I was the nurse not the patient) that "melanoma is what gives cancer a bad name." 


Six years after the first diagnosis and surgery, I had a recurrence.  This time, it required more drastic surgery and a year's worth of immunotherapy.  Today I am more than six years out from that second surgery - and more than five years out from the completion of the immunotherapy.  I count each day as a blessing... and I count each day without a recurrence as a double blessing.


Now then... back to my original intent.  The hospital where I work encourages nurses to apply for it's "CAPS" program.   This is similar to a clinical ladder.  But, the requirements for each of the three levels are very specific and include ever-increasing amounts of community service/volunteer work, class presentations, published articles for improvement in care delivery and the like. 


It had already been determined that I would go through the necessary steps to complete CAPS Level 1 by the December 1, 2010 deadline.  And so, when I received an e-mail with a community service opportunity at RAM,  I was thrilled to be able to volunteer for such a worthy cause.  This program brings free healthcare to the underserved and is usually set up over a period of two or three days in any given location. 


Little did I realize that the specific area I'd be working in was with the Northeast Tennessee Cancer Coalition.  Our mission:  to educate folks on the need for screening for breast and cervical cancer, to guide them over to the on-site mammography unit and/or the exam areas where pap smears were being performed.  This was a double bonus!   Not only was I getting my required CAPS volunteer hours, I was doing so by doing that which came so naturally to me - educating about cancer and its prevention / early detection.


A seemingly benign conversation with the woman from the TC-2 (Tennessee Cancer Coalition) turned into something so much bigger than this RAM event.  She ignited a fire that I didn't realize had been smoldering deep within for the past twelve years.  She offered me an opportunity to become part of TC-2 which I gladly accepted.  I now sit on the survivorship and education/awareness subcommittees.   The contacts I made at the first TC-2 meeting back in November allowed me to network with a host of others who spend their lives dedicated to the cause of promoting wellness, educating about cancer and its prevention, and guiding those who are affected by cancer so that they can live with it in as normal a way as possible. 


Yesterday (Wednesday January 5th) I attended an American Cancer Society, Northeast Tennessee Legislative Breakfast.  Again, all because I was working on CAPS and that led me to RAM and that led me to TC-2.  We sat down with area legislators and discussed the goals of the TC-2, the commitments the state representatives have to promoting those goals and the support that can be had from American Cancer Society and its "sister" a citizen-based advocacy and lobbying group that works toward the common goal of ending cancer, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network - CAN for short.


Because American Cancer Society is nationwide, no matter where you live, you too have a CAN network fighting for similar goals -- eradication of cancer being top priority.   Here in Tennessee, the American Cancer Society Legislative Priorities for 2011 are:

1) Double the funding for the Tennessee Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Program.  This initiative was created so that low-income and uninsured or underserved women could have access to the life-saving screenings.  The need in this region is far greater than the budgeted $1 million per year.


2) Increase the Tobacco Tax by $1.00 in an effort to make them more cost prohibitive for children and young people (who shouldn't be able to buy them in the first place but they find ways).  It has been projected that here in TN where the cigarette tax is the 12th lowest in the country, the $1 increase would prevent more than 55,000 children from becoming smokers, save more than 27,000 lives from premature smoking-related deaths, and generate more than $250 million in tax revenues.


3) Create a framework for a Colorectal Cancer Screening Program.   To date, 25 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation to require insurance companies to cover colorectal cancer screenings.  Tennessee is not one of those 25 states.  With a framework in place, the state would be poised to have access to increased funding for these screenings when/if funding is made available.  And, as we all know, early detection is the key for colorectal cancer - as it is for most other forms of cancer.


If you are interested in finding out what the initiative is focused on in your own area, you can do a google search for ACS CAN and learn all sorts of information about the advocacy group CAN and about the ACS goals. 


I've created an "I CAN" page on the ACS CAN site.  You can find it here:  http://action.acscan.org/goto/LeeAmbrose   And, you can check back every now and again if you'd like because I will update it as I go along.  My own personal goal is to get the word out about CAN.  If every person who knew about it would find a small way to become involved they, in turn, could spread their word and the efforts of a few could grow exponentially. 


Wouldn't it be an amazing gift to be able to give your children or grandchildren if you could be part of an effort that would mean they'd never have to hear the words "You've got cancer?"  I think so ! 

Post Script:  I did achieve my CAPS Level 1 in December.  I have been warmly welcomed into the fold so to speak and find myself regularly in contact with other oncology professionals.  I am enrolled in a Chemo Certification Program to refresh my skills as a chemo nurse.  And, just this week an opening on day shift became available on the oncology unit... I have requested a transfer.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this position will be offered to me - but only time will tell.