The woman in the photo is Melanie Jones, the mother of Rhys Jones, the 11 year old little boy who was shot in the back on the neck in Liverpool, England a couple of weeks ago.  She's kissing his coffin as it's loaded into the hearse, ready to be taken to the cemetery where it will be buried.  She won't get to kiss it again, so it's a goodbye kiss for her. That woman must either have some incredible emotional fortitude or be on some good 'azepams' (diazepam, lora...

In order to progress to the clinical part of the class I'm taking, I have to get a physical. I had an appointment for last Thursday.  I'd never seen that particular doctor before, which worried my slightly. My worries were founded.  She came in, took my medical history and as soon as she heard about my back surgery she told me that she wasn't going to continue with the exam because she wouldn't clear me.  I told her that I've been working for 9 months, doing even more physic...

I talked to my mum in the UK this morning.  She told me about an alarming incident that occurred on her street two nights ago. 'She lives in what the British call 'sheltered accommodation'.  It's like a retirement community; people have their own homes but have call buttons in each room should they fall and a warden comes by every day or so to check on them' There's a little alleyway three houses down from her.  People are supposed to use it as a shortcut to get from one street to another,...

D moved units late last year. His current unit claims to be more 'family' oriented, but what they really are, imo, is more 'party' oriented. They never miss an opportunity to have a barbecue or a get together. For instance, in the past 2 weeks there have been 4 events that have included getting together and drinking beer. Whilst none of them have been mandatory, it's been highly recommended that people show up – those of you who are prior or current military will know what that means. ...

My yarn stash is almost out of control. There's a knitting terminology called 'critical mass'.  That means that you have more yarn than you can knit in your lifetime.  My stash isn't at critical mass yet, but it's getting there.  I've got yarn EVERYWHERE.  It's in baskets, in cedar boxes, trunks, tubs, in closets, shirt sleeves, bags....in the vanity under the bathoom sink, under my bed, behind the couch, in the laundry room....it's every frikkin' where. So why is it...

Draginol recently posted an article ( http://draginol.joeuser.com/articlecomments.asp?AID=161032&s=1 ) giving those of us with MS Word 2007 instructions on how to post to JU using that program. I've written this article using Word '07, and (using Draginol's instructions) I've posted it to my blog. How cool is that?!! (Answer – VERY cool!) This is going to make my whole blogging experience MUCH easier!

I've recently been introduced to the concept of 'Freeganism'.  Freeganism is a way of life where.....well, the rules (guidelines) explain it far better than I ever could: *My thoughts about each of the guidelines are in itialics* 1.    I will not buy anything except for food, medical needs or in case of emergency. That seems pretty easy.  However, 'emergency' is pretty subjective.  2.    I will be a vegan. Not so easy.  I'v...

The class was scheduled to start at noon.   I was, as usual, early.   Way early.   Like almost an hour early.   But, it gave me some time to familiarize myself with the school layout, so it wasn’t a terribly bad thing. Despite it being the first day of class, 6 people showed up late, sauntering into the classroom after the first lecture had begun without even so much as an apology.   Why they felt like it was ok to do that I do not know – personally, I felt it ...

This time last week I was getting my patient cleaned up and comfortable in her bed.  I knew that she was on her way out of this life, but I thought that she had a few days (if not weeks) left. If you had told me that I'd be starting college classes today, I'd have laughed at you and told you to check your temperature because you must be delirious.   My life has changed a lot in the past 7 days.  First, my patient passed away.  I knew that she was terminally ill, but ...

Tomorrow is the first day of school for me.  I haven't been a college student....well, in quite some time.  Years.....and that's what scares me. I'm scared.  I can't pinpoint exactly what I'm scared of; it's more of a generalized scared.  I'm a little scared of getting lost, of being late, of not fitting in, of.....of a whole bunch of things.  The one thing that I'm NOT worried or scared about, though, is the class work.  I KNOW I can do that. I guess that I'm...

It's funny how things just fall into place. Whenever a patient passes away, a hospice RN has to come out (she pronounces the patient deceased, contacts the coroner...there are things that have to be done for the patient and she takes care of them).  I knew the nurse that came out on Tuesday; we'd worked together before.  She asked me if I was a CNA or LPN - based on the level of care that I'd provided she thought I was at least an LPN if not an RN.  I said that no, I wasn't, an...

The Mrs of the couple I provide care for passed away yesterday evening. Last night, her daughter-in-law's best friend gave birth to a baby girl. As one leaves, another comes and so the circle continues. I am always amazed at how, when a person has passed away, it becomes very apparent a few moments after their death that who they were; their essence, their soul.....that that part of them has left and the only thing that's left is a mere shell.  I can't put my finger on what it is t...