Monday, August 22, 2011
Crazy
Sometimes I feel like my unit at the hospital is really a psych floor instead of a cardiac floor. The song of the day is "Crazy" by Gnarles Barkley. Some days I can't believe that people can still surprise me with their words and actions. Some days I also can't believe that I haven't gone crazy after spending so much time with these patients. I think to myself - am I the one who is crazy, or is it every one around me? Who knows :-). All in all, people are N-U-T-S.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The One Who Loves You The Most
It's an every day goal to be happy and comfortable in my own skin and one song that reflects this is by Brett Dennen, called "The One Who Loves You The Most."
The song has a very simple, folksy sound to it which is one of the reasons I like it. I really like the lyrics of this song, especially the last few verses -
When you forgive your imperfections
And you've auctioned all your clothes
And you look to see your true reflection
You will be the one who loves you the most
You will be the one who loves you the most
You will be the one who loves you the most
The song has a very simple, folksy sound to it which is one of the reasons I like it. I really like the lyrics of this song, especially the last few verses -
When you forgive your imperfections
And you've auctioned all your clothes
And you look to see your true reflection
You will be the one who loves you the most
You will be the one who loves you the most
You will be the one who loves you the most
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Greased Lightening
My day off of work has been spent dealing with my car. Therefore, the song of my day is 'Greased Lightening' from one of my all-time favorite musicals, Grease. I can recite the words and arm movements of this scene from the movie and am not ashamed to admit it!
The trouble with my car started a few weeks ago when the right passenger seat flooded with water. And when I say 'flooded,' I mean standing water was on the floor of the passenger seat. I cleaned it up, attributed it to the air conditioner drain being blocked by leaves or something and haven't had a problem with it since. However, on Friday afternoon, when I was trying to get to a wedding, the car would not start. Everything turned on, but there was absolutely no sound coming from the engine. Uh oh. BIG uh oh. I had to improvise and ended up taking the L to my brothers and basically hijacked his car.
I tried jumping the car on Saturday with my roommates boyfriend (no luck). Today my dad came down and we tried changing out the battery (no luck) and looked at all of the fuses (no luck). So. My car is now all by itself at a dealer in the city. The tow truck driver who came was an elderly guy who looked exactly like the guy who played the basketball coach on One Tree Hill. He called me 'kid' and 'little thing' and asked me why with an Irish name like mine I live up on the Northside instead of the Southside. I told him I was a transplant but that I might have to move if the Cubs keep up their terrible act of being a baseball team.
I suppose if my biggest problem is my car not starting then I am doing pretty well :-).
The trouble with my car started a few weeks ago when the right passenger seat flooded with water. And when I say 'flooded,' I mean standing water was on the floor of the passenger seat. I cleaned it up, attributed it to the air conditioner drain being blocked by leaves or something and haven't had a problem with it since. However, on Friday afternoon, when I was trying to get to a wedding, the car would not start. Everything turned on, but there was absolutely no sound coming from the engine. Uh oh. BIG uh oh. I had to improvise and ended up taking the L to my brothers and basically hijacked his car.
I tried jumping the car on Saturday with my roommates boyfriend (no luck). Today my dad came down and we tried changing out the battery (no luck) and looked at all of the fuses (no luck). So. My car is now all by itself at a dealer in the city. The tow truck driver who came was an elderly guy who looked exactly like the guy who played the basketball coach on One Tree Hill. He called me 'kid' and 'little thing' and asked me why with an Irish name like mine I live up on the Northside instead of the Southside. I told him I was a transplant but that I might have to move if the Cubs keep up their terrible act of being a baseball team.
I suppose if my biggest problem is my car not starting then I am doing pretty well :-).
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
American Honey
A song that makes me think of innocence, youthfulness and a simple life is 'American Honey' by Lady Antebellum.
This song fits my night last night because while I have been a nurse for two years, I had never had a to face a patient's death head-on. Yes, I have had patients that I have taken care of pass, but it has never happened under my watch. Last night was different. I was getting ready to go into one of my patient's rooms with some medication and on my way their call light went off. As I walked into the room and greeted the patient's family who had arrived since the last time I had been in the room I asked what I could do for them since the light was on. While asking this question I realized that something was clearly not right with the patient and while the family had been feeding the patient just moments before, the patient was no longer breathing. I won't go through the details, but this patient died. Thankfully the patient and their family had previously made the decision to make the patient a DNR/DNI (do not resuscitate/do not intubate) and the patient was able to go peacefully and very quickly.
My innocence as a nurse, and as a person, has been lost. I knew that the day would come when a patient of mine was going to pass while under my care - in this profession it is inevitable - but I would never have guessed that it was going to happen yesterday with this particular patient who had had me laughing the whole day. Thankfully, it is a situation in which I can know with my whole heart that there is nothing that I could have done to have changed the outcome and I can believe that it truly was their time to join the Lord.
I grew up with a simple, naive life. I have lost loved ones. I have now witnessed a man take his last breath. This first 'hands-on' experience with death will be one that I do not forget.
This song fits my night last night because while I have been a nurse for two years, I had never had a to face a patient's death head-on. Yes, I have had patients that I have taken care of pass, but it has never happened under my watch. Last night was different. I was getting ready to go into one of my patient's rooms with some medication and on my way their call light went off. As I walked into the room and greeted the patient's family who had arrived since the last time I had been in the room I asked what I could do for them since the light was on. While asking this question I realized that something was clearly not right with the patient and while the family had been feeding the patient just moments before, the patient was no longer breathing. I won't go through the details, but this patient died. Thankfully the patient and their family had previously made the decision to make the patient a DNR/DNI (do not resuscitate/do not intubate) and the patient was able to go peacefully and very quickly.
My innocence as a nurse, and as a person, has been lost. I knew that the day would come when a patient of mine was going to pass while under my care - in this profession it is inevitable - but I would never have guessed that it was going to happen yesterday with this particular patient who had had me laughing the whole day. Thankfully, it is a situation in which I can know with my whole heart that there is nothing that I could have done to have changed the outcome and I can believe that it truly was their time to join the Lord.
I grew up with a simple, naive life. I have lost loved ones. I have now witnessed a man take his last breath. This first 'hands-on' experience with death will be one that I do not forget.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Hey Jude
This past weekend was a great one!
In summary - Friday I worked and when I got home my two great friends from college and my roommate were at my apartment waiting for me. Saturday we walked around, hung out, went out to dinner and then had a little party at the apartment with a bunch of other friends from school. Sunday was all about relaxation which involved playing frisbee and swimming at the beach, eating yummy home made pasta salad, walking around the Southport Summerfest that included Mike & Joe (an awesome coverband that we used to go see during college) and some delicious Dairy Queen.
Sunday night was also the first night of two Paul McCartney concerts at Wrigleyfield.... which meant that I sat on my porch and rocked out to old Beatles hits. I've always wanted to hear Hey Jude performed live by the Sir Paul McCartney and I have now crossed it off of my bucket list!!! There is nothing like hearing one of your favorite songs by the legend himself!
Because of this concert, the song of the past two days has really been any song by The Beatles.
I was thinking last night about what Mr. McCartney must think about when he reflects on his life. It really is unfathomable to me. I wonder what the highest point and lowest point of his life is. How does he even begin to remember all of the places and experiences that he has had? What is it like to know that you played such a significant role in the history of music and pop culture? I mean, really, he is just a guy, just one person, but his name will live forever. How does a mere human being even begin to comprehend that? That's all just some food for thought.
Good night!
In summary - Friday I worked and when I got home my two great friends from college and my roommate were at my apartment waiting for me. Saturday we walked around, hung out, went out to dinner and then had a little party at the apartment with a bunch of other friends from school. Sunday was all about relaxation which involved playing frisbee and swimming at the beach, eating yummy home made pasta salad, walking around the Southport Summerfest that included Mike & Joe (an awesome coverband that we used to go see during college) and some delicious Dairy Queen.
Sunday night was also the first night of two Paul McCartney concerts at Wrigleyfield.... which meant that I sat on my porch and rocked out to old Beatles hits. I've always wanted to hear Hey Jude performed live by the Sir Paul McCartney and I have now crossed it off of my bucket list!!! There is nothing like hearing one of your favorite songs by the legend himself!
Because of this concert, the song of the past two days has really been any song by The Beatles.
I was thinking last night about what Mr. McCartney must think about when he reflects on his life. It really is unfathomable to me. I wonder what the highest point and lowest point of his life is. How does he even begin to remember all of the places and experiences that he has had? What is it like to know that you played such a significant role in the history of music and pop culture? I mean, really, he is just a guy, just one person, but his name will live forever. How does a mere human being even begin to comprehend that? That's all just some food for thought.
Good night!
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