They didn't forget

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/10/mental-health-2.html

This video makes me cry.  I like it for a couple of reasons.   How over-joyed are those pups?  Their dad has been gone for over a year, and it's like they've never forgotten him.   can't think of a better welcome home party.  But it makes me cry because he has made it home safely.  I  I grieve for the men and women whose dogs are still waiting, but will never see their moms and dads again.  

Try it with love....

I moved into "mour" place yesterday, also known as Wenikio's place, which is now my place.  A few of my friends (Erica, Brian, Matt, John, and Jon) helped me move all of my goods over here in less than 5 hours.  It would have been an impossible chore to do it alone, and too expensive to hire people to do it.  Moving kind of sucks so, I am VERY grateful, thankful, and indebted to my pals that were able to help yesterday....especially in the raining rain.

This place is great.  Even in it's most disorganized and unpacked state, it's just great.  It's warm (both in temperature and ambiance) and comfortable.  As a side note, i think I'll have to turn the pilot light off on the the fireplace soon....it tends to get a little too warm for my liking.  But then again, I'm used to near freezing temperatures in the Mold Zone (the old place). 

I hate technology.  Not really, but I just inserted a picture of the old place from google maps, and it messed everything up...and i had to delete the paragraphS that i typed following the inserted picture because it changed the format and I couldn't figure out how to fix  it.   blah, whatever.

Moving on.  What is it about packing that makes you feel just sapped of any energy.  Maybe I burned up so much energy in the excitement of moving to "mour" place.   Maybe it was hauling everything in the rain.  I did not unpack anything last night.  I changed into pajamas, and watched SNL (a rerun) .  I got into my freshly made bed with clean sheets.  2/3 of the petting zoo joined me.  We woke up in the morning to beautiful sunny skies.   Of course, I couldn't be so lucky to have the sun yesterday when we were moving.  Perhaps, it's just God's way of marking a new start.  A beautiful new start.  I'm excited.  I'm happy.  But i feel like i'm happier than i should be.  Where is it coming from?  Why?  Perhaps it's the change.  It's leaving behind a really difficult year that I struggled with white knuckles to get through.  It's shedding the past and looking forward to what can be.  And to think that it's all because of Wenikio's place.  That's pretty powerful.  

OH, so there is a point to this post......Try it with love.  So, after I got up and got moving, Belly wanted to go to Magnuson (she let's me know by whining like a bad baby.)  I put the mud boots on and we head there and it's gorgeous, except for one thing: all the weekend dog people.  Magnuson is great.  I like going during the week because Ellie has friends that go there midday, and there are less people there in general.   On the weekends, the people to dog ratio is like 5:1.  It's a nut house.  All the badly behaved people come out with their dogs (yes i said that right).  We managed to get to the water, and quickly left to get away from the crowd of people.  We headed for a path that runs along the lake.  It's an ON leash area.  Ellie struggles on the leash.  She hates it, I hate dealing with her on it.  I get frustrated and so does she.  After several yanks and pulls, I made her sit.  I thought "I HATE this.  There must be a better way." Try it with love.  She was sitting there looking up at me and bending over I rubbed her face and told her what a good dog she was for sitting.  And this changed things.  She responded by licking my face, and in the next portion of our walk she seemed to want to please me.  It was that simple.  However, this didn't stop me from going to Mud Bay to buy a new Gentle Leader.  Ellie does not like the gentle leader because it forces her to be a good Ellie.  She ate the plastic clips off the other one.  She's very smart.  Bad Ellie.  (See Good Ellie below wearing her Gentle Leader.)

Meet The Petting Zoo, and about couples.

This is a couple i was walking with at Magnuson while Ellie was romping with their 10 month old dog (the orangie one on the left).  They were warm folk, friendly, but not intrusive.  I fell behind them and just observed.  They had a content quietness about them, a closeness without clinginess.  You know how you go out for dinner and you see some old folks that look really unhappy.  they don't speak.   The old lady is usually grouching at the husband for something insignificant.  But other than barking at each other, they don't speak.  I've seen lots of older couples like that.  It was nice to see the dog park couple.  I liked the scarf and mittens the woman wore.  I liked the way the man smiled when he spoke.  Nice people.  I want some more grandparents.  I miss being in a family.  I miss love.  This is why I collect pets. 

Speaking of pets, let's meet the Petting Zoo!!

Georgie Oranges:  age 5

Significant markings: blue crossed eyes and popcorn for brains

Special talent: playing statue

Gibbon aka Mr. B: age 7

Significant markings: BIG fur, black and white

Special talent: staring with condesceding looks, and drinking water from the bathtub faucet

Ellie aka The Belly: age 8 months

Significant markings: Crazy eyes, with a funny curly/straight coat

Special Talent: eating anything that is not made to be eaten.  

Pepto flavored Bubble Tea?

We get an hour break at work, which is a really nice thing. Most places I've worked give you either two 30 minute breaks, or one 45 minute break.  Having an hour is really a luxury and just one more reason why I like where i work.   I usually go home on my break to feed Ellie (the puppy) and eat dinner.  Sometimes I make a really exciting break by going to WOW Bubble Tea.  Wendy introduced me to it about a month ago, and it's my new favorite thing in the WORLD.  So, today's break was packed.  I drove home, fed Ellie, and then went to get some bubble tea.  I ran into an old friend there and we had a nice chat.  It was very busy tonight.  So I'm standing near the counter waiting for my Taro Coconut Extra Tapioca Bubble Tea.  The door to the back room, or staff room is open.  What do i see sitting on the shelf?  A big bottle of the pink stuff: pepto bismol!  I find it a little disturbing to think that one of the red-shirted staffers about to make my delicious drink is suffering from nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, or diarrhea.  I really hope it's not the latter.  I didn't dwell on it though, because i feel confident that all employees wash hands after bathroom trips and before returning to work.   Right?  RIGHT?  My bubble tea was great, and I returned to work feeling just fine!

"Just a little patience. Yeah"

So Wenikio says "Ridonculus".  It's a word that she and I both do not like, but makes both of us laugh.   So just say that word out loud.  RIDONCULUS.....you want to say it again, don't you?  It makes me laugh because it's so dumb and funny.  ridonculus.   Moving on.....

Patience is a subject that keeps popping in my head.  When I think of being patient, a certain amount of peacefulness is included in that, maybe some passiveness too.  I wish i was more patient.  I wish that i didn't get easily ruffled.  I wish I was more patient.   Our culture doesn't really lend itself much to patience and waiting.  It seems everything is designed to be more efficient and less time wasting.  Robots make the coffee at Starbucks so patrons don't have to wait for a really delicious espresso from hand pulled shots (this is assuming that Starbucks actually had really good tasting coffee that could result in a delicious coffee beverage.  I choose not to frequent Starbucks, but that's another story.)   You can go through the self serve line and check yourself out so you don't have to wait for someone to help you.  Internet service is "comcastic", always getting faster and faster and faster so we don't have to wait to read a blog or check email.   

So my church added another service to our Modern Worship schedule, now at 11:00.  I went for the first time today.  Since there is also a traditional service at 11:00, they pipe in the sermon through the magic of something.  Um, they do a video feed or something like that.  The new 11:00 service is only a few weeks old, and it being my first time, i didn't know what to expect when i came time for the sermon.  As we ended the praise time, the video came on and the pastor began to speak.  She paused, and then there was no sound, and what seemed to be no feed.  People looked around at each other, a couple people began to mumble, and someone laughed.  About 10 seconds later an inspirational video started.    In a matter of TEN SECONDS, people were already beginning their grumblings.  TEN SECONDS.    It's just ironic because the video the pastor was including in her sermon was about being busy, and noisiness, and finding rest.   How strange that the congregation couldn't rest for ten seconds.   

Working in the ED, I want everything done right now (STAT as "they" say).    I don't like waiting for labs to result.  I don't like waiting for patients to finish their stories*.  I want them to get to the point so i can get the things done that need to be done.  Patients don't like waiting.   Most of the complaints we get are because of wait times**.  I'm not good at waiting at work. 

But those moments of forced waiting can be little moments of rest.  Little breaks throughout the day to take a breather.  To reflect, to sit back and have nothing to do.  Isn't that nice?  I think so.  So, when I get to work tonight, I'm going to use waiting to my advantage.  Maybe my good attitude about waiting will transfer to my patients.    The human element of life can be lost when everything is given to us NOW.   The details, quirks, mistakes, sparkles, beauty is lost if we forget about being patient and waiting.  HEY, that reminds me of the benefit of waiting for my true love....there is good in that.  

*This is not true for every patient.  But please know:  I have a small amount of time to get maximum details.  When i ask about why you're in the ED today, I'm not asking about a conversation you had 17 months ago.  I want the cold, hard facts...we'll get to the embellishments later.

**I find that time is a great Triage tool.  People that are subjected to long wait times do 1 of 2 things.  1.  You endure the wait because you are sick and need to be seen;  your complaint may be valid (this excludes squatters looking for a temporary shelter-their complaints are usually bogus and a result of needing a place to sleep).  2.  You leave because the wait is "too long".  Your complaint is usually non-emergent and can be followed up at your doctor's office.   

 

My favorite flowers: ranunculus. That's a lot of "u"s. But i like them anyway. And so does my friend Wenikio.

what is this all about?

It's nothing, really.  It's what crosses my mind in a day- usually random and tangential thoughts.  Sometimes important and impacting, sometimes frivolous and brief.  My brain surprises at times.   How can I be so smart one minute and then have total ADD/8 year old brain thoughts?  Maybe I'm really an 8 year old trapped in a grown up body.  Maybe having all these random funny, sad, funny, quirky thoughts is what keeps me sparkly and faceted.....or maybe I just have popcorn for brains.  And speaking of popcorn brains, I bet these taste good.