| why did gags go out of fashion? |
[Sep. 18th, 2009|02:02 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  angry | ] |
Oh, sometimes one feels annoyed.
There was a kid in ED tonight; drunk, self harming, and took an overdose of... something. All was quiet until handover was meant to have started. And then she started arcing up; swearing, shrieking, *f*ing this and that, biting, spitting. Terribly civilised. Took a while to calm her down (medically, unfortunately).
My thoughts? I'd like to find her parents, and make them sit in the corner while she carried on like that. Then slap them upside the back of the head. Because all she could do was say that she wanted them; and she and her sibs were removed from their care after thirteen years of systematic abuse.
Gah. If some idiot had tried to jump one of the staff coming out of ED on their way to the carpark tonight, they'd have had a very nasty surprise. I think we'd all have liked a chance to punch someone well- deserving of it. Not the kid; she's already had too many slaps as it is. |
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| Sidling back online |
[Sep. 12th, 2009|07:39 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  tired | ] |
Hello!
Long time, no post. Looong time.
Been up and down. Also down and more down, then up a little again. Had some nasties that really didn't help :(
So; updates. There are a few people I haven't seen, who won't know what's been extra recently.
To start; found out I was pregnant. Lost the baby same week. I was seriously disequilibriated by that, as I'd not figured out how I felt. Still not really sure!
My little cat, Ferret, died. She was my friend for eighteen and a half years. Reliable hot-water bottle, cuddle-person and source of company and comfort. She shared gardening time, chill-out time, food and teenaged years. I'm still expecting to see her, or feel her ask to jump onto my lap while I eat my breakfast. She is buried in my back-yard, with cat-nip planted over her to see her through. I miss my Fair Lady.
All the family nastiness continues; some progress I'm hoping.
My fiancee is away :( Lonely.
On the plus side, I've started to get back into the Irish music scene a bit. Would you credit it; I have a student? I strongly suspect that she knows oodles more than I do about music. I have the advantage of having worked out harp playing from a few lessons; made many mistakes all on my own. Having always played by ear makes it a little hard to explain how to work songs out, though. I've also been asked to give a few lessons to a second person, who also has a lot more classical training than me! They're going to find me out very soon.
And I have a new harp! A lady sent an email to the Irish Club, asking if they knew anyone who played harp, and C passed it on to me. So I went around; it's been a bit neglected for a few years, but I've started work on it. I've gotten the rust off the tuning pegs, and started to sand back the body. I'm afraid that I'll need to make a new sound board, but that's okay. My only worry is that the pegs seem to be far too closely set... |
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| help |
[May. 6th, 2009|08:21 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  depressed | ] |
Feeling sad. Feeling low. Not keeping up with people.
It's just a low, but I need hugs. |
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| Gravity seems especially potent this morning |
[Mar. 19th, 2009|08:22 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | tired | ] |
Ohhhhhhhhh flip. I ache :(
I am feeling wonderfully tired this morning, and have felt so every morning this last two weeks. I think I'm just in need of a decent break. The last couple of weeks have been unusually busy (outside of work), and I haven't had much down-time. I have been waking up each day only with the assistance of the alarm clock, and needing ten minute lie-ins to manage the whole "morning" business.
To add to the joy, we had a dollar dress day at work on Friday; and I attended wearing petticoats, skirts, high-heel purple boots and feathers in my hair. (Wild West theme, and I was a bar-room wench). It was lots of fun, very pretty, and very heavy/ uncomfortable clothing to wear. I have a new found respect for the old-time ladies. They suffered for their looks :) The bright orange corset drew many comments. The main down-side was that I forgot to bring any change of clothes, and I was on after-hours...
So the next day, I was wincing as I tried to walk; and every muscle group in my legs, back and shoulders let me know of their displeasure at the previous day's antics. I then had a very full weekend with little chance to sit down and rest. And thus far this week, I haven't had a quiet evening at home.
And then yesterday happened. Unngh.
Very busy morning clinic booked; it happens.
Very busy morning same-day-care unit. Also happens. Unfortunate that they occurred on the same day.
I was covering SDC. The fellow covered procedures in theatre. Of the two consultants, both got cornered by a series of high-care patients/ parents and taken out of clinic action for prolonged periods. Which meant that I tried to help in clinic afterwards. This involved a great deal of running around like the proverbial headless chook.
Morning clinic didn't finish until 2pm. Afternoon clinic starts at 1:30.
And I'm on after-hours today.
Ouch.
Not planning any interesting things this weekend. Will sleep. |
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| Is this a problem? |
[Mar. 15th, 2009|08:07 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  pensive | ] |
I already texted/ talked to/ left a message to most of you today (missed goth_kittie), but there may be an issue with the Swancon group costume.
I was in the bookshop in town, when the woman behind the counter mentioned that some other people are also doing our group. They lack Despair, and (I think) Desire, but they definitely have Death, Destiny, Dream and Delirium.
Now we could work with this (change out costumes; more later), drop our chosen theme altogether for this year, or say "darn them all to heck" and just accept that there will be a second set of Endless.
I'm happy to go ahead, but would probably change from Dream to the new Dream; just need white clothing and wig. Rather than Destiny, we could have Destruction, after all (we were tossing that up, I know). The people for whom this could be an issue are Death, Desire and Delirium; Death hasn't changed (unless you took one of the more period costumes?). Desire ditto. Delirium; you've already got your costume together alias-sqbr, so changing it to Delight could be a major headache. Or at least annoying. The plus side is that we could then compement (rather than compete with) the other group.
Alternatively, if people want to back out, I'll run with the group consensus. I'd feel a bit silly to turn up as Dream on my own without the others for backup :)
What's the opinions, guys? |
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| Other Worlds |
[Feb. 17th, 2009|08:46 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | work | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | sore | ] |
Ah hah! We have a Swancon Masquerade theme! Excellent. And I see that we have accidentally chosen costumes that will fit, this year. Always a bonus!
Amusing occurrence; a few days ago I texted alias-sqbr a question regarding C's costume. The answer arrived while I was seeing a patient yesterday. "Grayish-brown, but of the two, brown". For a moment I couldn't fathom what what was going on! You see, I'd just asked my patient a question, to which alias-sqbr's reponse would have been a very reasonable reply. The possiblity of spy cameras seemed unreasonable, but...
I don't know when the reply was actually sent, but it got to me at the perfect moment to add a hint of randomnicity to my day :)
Ah well, I can hear the munchkin masses gathering without. I had best go and gird my loins for clinic. |
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| Revenge of the Pruned |
[Feb. 10th, 2009|01:42 pm] |
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No, I don't have the runs!
Two weeks ago, my neighbourhood had a bulk rubbish collection. Now, on every occasion up until now, this has been both household items and garden/ green waste. So I trotted out, and started to attack the jobs that require a lot of space (like removing a tree growing through the fence). As I worked away, a gratuitously large pile started to collect on our verge.
Then one of our neighbours came home, and started chatting. And she asked if it was both green and household waste... We went into their house to collect her copy of the collection notice, and sure enough; no greenwaste. You may imagine my feelings when I realised that I had to cart all the braches back into the yard, and store them somewhere for two months.
Poot.
Anyway, I carried it all back in, and stored it away. Finished just as dusk fell, and went in for a shower. A week later, I realised that my arms were strting to itch. And this got worse, and spread to incude my legs as well. Until at its worst, both arms and legs were covered with itching, blistering welts. So the tree and vines had their revenge in full measure. And the worst aspect; still have to carry it all back out again...
I feel that a full rubber suit might well be in order!
In other news; private life stuff continues. Mild settling of symptoms. Cats and icecream help, but not in the same bowl (Kitten loves icecream).
Ferret also managed to get stuck on the roof somehow. Not quite certain how she acheived this, as there are now no overhanging branches. Perhaps she was climbing the lattice to get to the window, and got lost? All I know is that I gat home from work at midnight, to find two younger cats and a massive hairball sitting in the hall (thankyou Kitten), but no Ferret. Fed the terrible twosome, cleaned the hairball up... and noticed a shadow pass across the skylight. Seconds later, a mournful howl floated down from upon high, and a head could barely be discerned against the night sky.
So There I was, at midnight, climbing my house with a big ladder. Monty Python, the tradition continues!
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| Bread |
[Jan. 25th, 2009|09:23 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | PICU | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  accomplished | ] |
I have a found a source of fresh yeast. And a bread recipe that works!
Yes! I have made bread that looks, and tastes, like bread! As opposed to my usual effort; which resembles a cow-pat composed of concrete (but without the charm). Let the experimentation begin : )
In other news, it's my last PICU shift. That means that I have no more night shifts for at least a year. Spooky! |
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| Study techniques |
[Jan. 6th, 2009|12:02 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | PICU | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  amused | ] |
....so, in order to differentiate the nature of a metabolic acidosis, it is first necessary to calculate the plasma anion gap. An increased anion gap suggests the presence of unmeasured anions, which may be of renal (eg uremic acidosis) or extra-renal origin (eg lactic acidosis, ketoacidosis, poisoning). A normal anion gap (hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis) also, may be due to renal or extra-renal pathology. This may be determined by a calculation of the urinary anion gap (most easily estimated by guesstimating urinary ammonium excretion; 80 - (Na + K - Cl). In the setting of acidosis, the kidney should increase ammonia secretion (and thus Cl loss) producing a negative urinary anion gap (for example, biliary or GI losses of bicarbonate). If the primary defect is in the kidney however(such as a renal tubular acidosis) this mechanism is impaired, and the urinary anion gap will remain positive.
Right. While I was figuring this out, it occurred to me that my study methods involve an awful lot of gesturing and hand waving as I physically "place" the concepts in mid-air, to be retrieved at a later point. I must be quite amusing to watch as I read textbooks :) |
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| Life is full of surprises |
[Jan. 4th, 2009|08:36 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | PICU | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  nervous | ] |
Right! I never thought that there could be anything more tiring than an intensive care area full of patients. Turns out that I was not quite correct. A ward with no patients is even worse.
Now, let it be said that I am exaggerating a trifle. We do have two patients; but one could have left yesterday, and the other only hung around so that we could feel needed. And they both head for the wards today.
I feel unnerved. This is not natural. Any minute now, we'll get the call about a bus rollover, or a mini-plague, or something. We be tempting fate, here, mateys.
Worst feature; I didn't bring anything to do today! I have one Georgette Heyer book, which will take all of two hours to read (if I go slow). The patient data for the registry have been collated. I didn't bring any knitting, or embroidery, or anything!!!
So now, what?
In other news, I have been given approval to organise the "PICU- NICU Dance" for the PMH review. Updates as warranted.
And two of my snake-beans have sprouted :) |
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| Humbug |
[Dec. 17th, 2008|09:02 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | work | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  blah | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | monitor alarms | ] |
Do you know, I just can't seem to get into the spirit at all, this year. Maybe it's because I know I'm working on Christmas day. Maybe it's all of the stuff going down in private land. Maybe it's just because I'm on leave-relief, and not really getting the chance to see all of the build-up on the wards. Could even be the lack of television watching this year. But I just seem to be feeling somewhat apathetic. And a bit sad.
*sigh*
So, when I get my day off, I'm cleaning the house and putting up the darn tree. And I'm boxing all of my presents and putting them down. (They're all going to be the same, but what the heck). And I think I'm going to see if I can muster a Christmas party. Consider yourselves warned, peoples! It will involve bringing some food, watching videos, and hopefully being a little silly. I'm working on the 25th, booked for the 24th, and hopefully having dinner on the 23rd; so is anyone free for any evening from the 19th to the 22nd? Otherwise, it'll have to be on the other side of Christmas (which isn't a big issue, really). I just want to see my friends.
And yes, you're all getting home-made foodstuffs. Bwah hah hah hah!!!! |
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| Now I see what Van Gogh was on about! |
[Dec. 8th, 2008|08:53 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | happy | ] |
I have had the most wonderful run of sunflowers blooming in my front garden over the last month or so. They're possibly the most cheerful plant I have ever come across :) The first to make their debut were a little dwarf variety, which only grows to about half a metre high- but makes up for it by being covered in flowers. Unfortunately, these have now finished (I'm hoping for a second flush...). The set that have opened now are over two metres tall with big yellow heads. So, so pretty! Then, the Italian white continue to bloom (small whitish flowers on a branching plant). Some of mine seems to have mutated, to produce bronze-tinged heads this year. I like them better than the pure breed.
I am definitely growing sunflowers every year from now on in. |
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| Enlightenment |
[Nov. 16th, 2008|12:14 am] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | PICU | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  bored | ] |
Ah! It's not F's baby; it's her new nephew. Looks very cute in the photos :)
I'm sitting in ICU at midnight. We're waiting for a child to arrive from the Flying Doctors who (might) have a nasty infection (or not). Apparently someone else has jumped off a bridge.At any moment, there could be a code blue, requiring all hands on battle-stations.
And I'm bored. Bother.
My sunflowers should have their first bloom by the morning. Yay! |
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| Update |
[Nov. 14th, 2008|09:03 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | rants | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | PICU | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  awake | ] |
I've just found someone on facebook that I haven't spoken to in a while, and I think they've had a baby! No names, but if you remember F, who stayed with us for a while, from Belgium... If she's had a baby, that is so cool! And so bad, that I never knew she was pregnant, for lack of contact.
Otherwise, life progresses. I have noticed that if I am upset or worried, I tend to withdraw contact from the outside world. Over the exam period, I barely let people know that I was alive. Just at the moment, things are getting interesting with dad's legal nonsense again, and so I hibernate. Well, it sucks! The thing that helps me feel better is talking to people, after all.
And so, I strike a blow in favour of communication, with this post.
My most recent achievement is that I have made lotsa cordial. It is very yummy. I've discovered that there are two main methods to creating this beverage. The first is to boil (simmer) fruit with some water to release the flavours, then strain and add sugar. Then bring back to the boil to dissolve the sugar. Second method is for the more juicy fruit (lemon, orange, lime etc). Put the zest in a bowl with the sugar and a bit of citric acid, then pour boiling water over the top. Stir until dissolved, and then add the jiuce. Leave to sit overnight, then strain.
Both work well, both are tasty, and both involve enough sugar to knock out an elephant. I'm planning on inflicting these as part of my Christmas presents. A friend has suggested that I should make an orange and cinnamon cordial for the occasion...
Also on the home front, my Fowlers Vacola home preserving kit has arrived. First test will be after I get off night shifts. If this works, I can start bottling my own fruit recipes for the different desserts. Can you imaging being able to produce pears poached in red wine and orange zest at the drop of a hat? Tinned fruit can go jump! And as soon as the cherry season gets going, I am making brandied cherries (and consequently, cherry brandy) for my Auntie Carmel. A little birdie has told me that she's fond of them, but never buys them. And again, something that should keep well, to be produced at a later date as an unexpected delight.
And why have I suddenly been struck by the Martha madness? Well; as you know, a few weeks ago was the Perth Gardening Australia Expo. Yay! I went a couple of times, had lots of fun and watched Pete Cundell talk on several occasions. (Side note- I also got to meet him! Squee! I am so fan-girly where he is concerned :) ). *ahem* But one of the books that I bought was one on the different methods of making preserves, jams, cordials etc, written by a woman called Sally Wise. This is a great book! It starts from basic principles, and explains stuff as it goes. I've never had luck with any of this genre of cooking, because most of the recipes I've ever read were writen with the accomplished 50's housewife in mind. You know; the sort of person who already knew how to test the setting point of a jam. Leaving me, as a not-so-accomplished 90's schoolkid, a bit out of the loop. So to find a book that actually works is brilliant. Now, if I can just find a book that makes my bread work...
On other news, Ferret continues to have no further seizures. As an interesting fact, I've looked up the flea/ worming spot medication that the vet gave her at her check-up (the day before the first episode). Whaddya know? Associated with seizures. If it lowers the seizure threshold, it would certainly potentiate any tendancy she might have for the same. So if there is a lesion in her brain, the drug would have made the seizures more likely to happen. There may not even be a lesion at all. Fingers crossed! |
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| Aaand copied from alias_sqbr and nico_wolfwood |
[Oct. 31st, 2008|08:45 pm] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| |  hungry | ] |
Copy this sentence into your livejournal if you're in a heterosexual marriage, and you don't want it "protected" by the bigots who think that gay marriage hurts it somehow.
(although I'm not actually married yet. I'm working on it, though, and will definitely get it organised.... soon)
Do you know, I've only had two groups of trick and treaters so far? And at a quarter to nine, I doubt many more are coming. I have a lot of left-over sweets. |
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| Well, darn it |
[Oct. 30th, 2008|03:36 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | okay | ] |
Hey ho. Back to work tomorrow! Still, let it be said that I've used my time productively.
Tried out a new recipe for strawberry cordial yesterday. Yummy! I think that it took several hours to come back down from the sugar high after taste-testing. Very nice indeedy :) Will now think about experimenting with lemon cordial, too.
Ferret's so far okay, and all that the lab-work has shown up is early renal issues. Well, she is 17 years old. I'd have probably been more shocked if there were completely normal kidneys in there. So, the good news is; no real bad news. The bad news is; no real news. All that's left as options are either long standing epilespy that we never really noticed (not impossible, I guess), or intracerebral SOL. Other more benign stuff is also not impossible; minor CVA (in a cat!) etc. Given that she's happy and well in herself, I'm not going to fuss. If she gets sick out of all of this, I'll reconsider. I think that the poor vet has had a lot of people fall to pieces on her with this sort of news, or insist that "everything must be done". I guess she's also had a lot of the "we should just put it down now" comments made about healthy animals. I don't think that I could be a vet without slapping someone.
I know that I'll miss her when she does eventually go. Hopefully in another five years' time. I mean, she's been around since I was in year seven. |
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| Of fits and falls and holes in teeth |
[Oct. 28th, 2008|09:57 am] |
| [ | Tags | | | rants | ] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | relieved | ] |
Wow! Not even ten in the morning, and I've already had a busy day.
Okay, so technically it started last night. D and I were just drifting off to sleep when we heard a funny scratching noise from the closet. Anyone who has ever lived with a feline knows the one; scrabble scrabble scrabble, run little mouse, I dare you...
*sigh*
So I got up to liberate whatever small rodent had run awry of my fluffet. Only to find that Ferret wasn't involved with any cat toys after all. Instead, she was cycling away on the ground in a seizure. Ooops! Minor one; self limiting, and didn't last any more than thirty seconds. She finished it with a series of weird howling cries. Typical post-ictal period of about fifteen minutes (dazed cats are funny!).
In retrospect, she's probably had a few in the last year or two- I just never saw the seizure, so didn't recognise the post-ictal state for what it was. She's done those howls on a few occasions, and sometimes seems lost and confused. When she came to enough last night to realise that she was in bed with me, she sat there and purred like mad for about twenty minutes. Really loudly too! I normally have to pet and love her for half an hour to get that sort of a response. Hmmm....
So, yeah. Waiting for the vet to ring back so I can confirm that we don't need to worry too much. I'm pretty sure that cats are a bit like dogs; they get epilepsy, and you can put them on antiepileptic medications, but if it isn't a hassle do you really want to risk your fingers? And if it were something nasty like a brain tumour... well, I don't know of any cat neurosurgeons in this town. Again, until it's a problem, don't try to fix it.
This morning I got up bright and early, did my exercises, dressed, ate etc. And went to the dentist. It's funny, really. I don't mind needles (point in fact- I've been known to allow med students to learn their cannulation skills on my hands). I can deal with blood and all. Heights don't phase me. Spiders, creepy- crawlies no bother. But the kid who showed up at my door in a dentist outfit for Halloween would be guaranteed a reaction. It is a deep, unreasoning fear, and one that I probably need to get sorted out. I mean, come on! I have a lovely dentist; she's polite, gentle, bloody good at her job, and has never once hurt me. And yet, what is the one characteristic that I value most about her? She's smaller than me, and I could probably fight my way to freedom if it all became too much. Hunh!?!
Anyway; no holes to be patched. Yay! Three and a half years since my last checkup, too. The flossing and rinsing is paying off.
So I have come home, and started to look for something online. Regrettably, I have found it. Did you ever hear about those home- preserving kits for fruits and jams and so on? They're very good. In about an hour and a half you can bottle your fruits etc in sterile jars without having to do any pesky boiling or anything. Pity about the price. Anyway, I've put one on order, in the expectation that I'm likely to get some use out of it. What is everyone getting for Christmas? Good guess!
And now, I shall go and make up that spice mix as well. I smoked some more garlic last night, and the pantry smells wonderful! Then I shall go and gather some herbs for vinegars, and to dry.
Maximum Martha mode, anyone? |
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| For the other ones |
[Oct. 26th, 2008|08:05 pm] |
| [ | Tags | | | poetry | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | contemplative | ] |
Oh, where's the time for dreaming now?
When the night is gathered 'round
And the hours, cold
Are pooled in the corners
They stretch their fingers out
to claim the promise of a life
Oh, now's the time for dreams
There's dreams are fought for you, my child
And battles lost
Or won
But how to tell the two between
Is more than I can say
My part is done
So I must sit
With folded hands
And wait
For the turning world to tell your fate
But until then
'Tween dark and dawn
I offer you my dreams
For those who wonder; this is something I've been trying to write for a bit; ever since that disastrous fortnight in NICU at the start of the year. Five babies died in the course of about ten days. One was the bitter failure of a micro-prem who never managed to grow enough lung tissue to make it. I'd been looking after her for four months before we had to let her go. Two were utterly unexpected, severe metabolic disorders; one started to have seizures an hour after he was born; and never stopped. One was an horrific hypoxic birth insult. And the fifth; who died on my last shift on the unit; contracted HSV in utero. It wasn't recognised until the poor baby was probably already unsavable. He took three days to die; I had to call it and cease CPR at five am.
To offset that; there are a couple of parents whom I seem to run into all the time. And their babies are doing fine, growing and learning new skills. The weird thing? When they first present at two in the morning, it's bloody hard to tell which way things are going to go. Some babies, I'm convinced, are going to make it no matter what. Others seem to have only a very brief window in which we could make any difference; and it's over before they even arrive to us. By the time that a baby actually dies, the unit has already picked it hours or days before. But in those critical early hours, you just can't tell. And so we treat as best we know how, optimise all the factors possible, and wait.
And hope. |
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| Whee! |
[Oct. 24th, 2008|11:09 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home | ] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | tired | ] |
Wow!
And another two weeks passes without my really paying attention. This time I have.... not really done all that much. Mostly, I have been Spring cleaning.
Please note: I am distanctly unimpressed by the fact that I washed the curtains and the very next day it rained. Seeing as how there is some leak somewhere in one pane that allows moisture in, to create mildew. Haven't managed to localise it in several years' trying. Oh well.
Just tried an experiment with cupcakes. Qualified success. Very qualified. I shall allow them to cool, and see if they improve a bit with icing.
On the plus side, it was my birthday on Thursday. And guess which day the local gaden expo opened? Yay gardening! I shall go as many times as I can manage :) Pete Cundall rocks!
My beans are flowering.
The kookaburra is starting to become discouraged and/ or bored. Thank goodness for that, too.
And I am working on a poem. More later.
Toodles!
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mandragora2003's journal