Unseelie Bogganism
Jun. 14th, 2009
08:44 am - Long six months...
So, I've been busy. Working at the new Children's Hospital facilities is great. I'm optimistic that all the little annoying problems are going to be worked out, and it is getting better as time goes on. Lots of new process changes, new people, and everyone in a new building has meant that finding things can be frustrating, but with a lot of work and planning, everything has gone quite well.
The biggest reason for the radio silence over the past few months is that I am gearing up for another, more personal move. Mr. Dog and Mr. Cat are giving up their tiny apartment for a house sized living quarters up the street. We've had more than one deal fall through on us, and once a house that was too well priced sold to someone else while we were at the table to make our offer on it. We finally found one that is just right, and better than anything else we had seen, and affordable. No further details until the deed is firmly in my hot little hand, and that isn't yet. In a few days, it will be, and I will be more free to discuss it.
Something really nice happened to me this week. I was in the hospital cafeteria grabbing some lunch on Friday when another nurse realized where she knew me from. "You used to work at Presby. You are the nurse who called the Condition C on my husband. I was telling you that I didn't think that it was necessary just yet, but you said that you were going to do it anyhow. You were right... he was still bleeding and you picked up on it. Thank you!"
I remembered the gentleman in question. He had come to me at the change of shift and it was a big pain to have a code happen right then, but it was the right thing for that patient. He didn't quite fit the objective code criteria. His heart rate wasn't quite fast enough, his blood pressure not quite low enough, yet. I could have waited a little longer, to see if he improved or not. I'm sure that was the reasoning that led a previous nurse to transfer him to me in the first place. His vitals had been becoming gradually more abnormal over the past few hours, but wasn't too bad off, yet. Maybe he would stabilize.
But the purpose behind Condition C is to bring in the resources needed to rescue a patient when they can still be easily helped to stabilize. It saves lives, as interventions are much more effective when they are given early, before a crash. One valid criteria for calling a condition C is that the nurse's intuition tells them that the patient is going downhill fast, and that was my justification for calling the code right then. Maybe he would stabilize... or maybe he was going to decompensate and be difficult or impossible to resuscitate, end up needing an extended ICU stay, catch a nosicomial infection in the ICU, go into respiratory distress, etc. All those tragic and potentially preventable outcomes we term "sequelae."
There are a couple of times when I regret not having called a code, or having called it sooner. But I don't regret a single time that I "over-reacted" and trusted my gut when it told me that a patient needed more help than I could give them alone. It was so nice to hear about the positive outcome of one of those times. I am going to get a lot of happiness out of knowing that I may have helped that couple have many more years together, just by knowing when I needed to ask for a little help.
Jan. 24th, 2009
08:44 am - Sharing recent introspections
It struck me this week how much my reading of Chinese history and literature has influenced me. When I learned that Obama had chosen to take the Oath over again, correctly, so that the letter of the law was followed exactly, I was filled with an intense relief. Our new Emperor displays excellent piety in fulfilling the sacred rituals of state! Surely Heaven will smile on us and the 10,000 things will proceed in harmony.
Unrelated: This morning, I read about another book on how you can hack your lifestyle using just a little cleverness, single-minded self-interest, and a light dusting of mild sociopathy. Not that the strategies don't absolutely work... just that the author and I have wildly divergent values. He defines a good life as one in which he works as little as possible, drives expensive cars, and travels to exotic locations doing outrageous things, while paying someone in India to check his email for him.
For me, driving is an unnecessary evil, and private car ownership is an environment-destroying resource sink. Travel holds very little interest for me when all the information and communication that I could ever want comes to me through a little box on my lap. And as for cutting out work... It occurs to me that what I do is so cool, and so rewarding, that I would want to do it even if I didn't need the income. It was a nice realization.
So, yes, things are still going well. And in under 100 days, the hospital will be moving locations so that I will be able to walk two blocks to work every day. This, my friends, is the good life.
Nov. 29th, 2008
07:18 pm - Well, I haven't posted here in a while!
I am back on the face of the earth.
I changed jobs and am now experiencing vastly less stress than previously. I'm almost feeling human again.
Sep. 4th, 2008
10:15 am - Time flies and other pests
I recall what I did 9 years ago today. Huh. It really wasn't all that special, but sometimes dates and mundane events do get burned into my weird brain.
In just a couple of months, I will have been in Pittsburgh for 10 years. Yes, it does actually seem that long.
Feb. 17th, 2008
09:25 pm - Move over Netflix!
You know how I rave about the paperback book swap club I am in? So, there is now one for dvd's.
Swapadvd.com
If you do join, and list me as how you heard about it, I get credits. nixicat at gmail dot com is my username there. For the cost of mailing your unwanted DVDs to other folks, you can pick out movies that you do want from those that others have posted.
Feb. 3rd, 2008
12:58 pm - Happy Birthday, Sis!
My little sister turns 24 today! YAY!
(If my math is right, anyhow. I have to subtract from my age to figure hers.)
Jan. 30th, 2008
12:57 pm
Everything is still good. Working more than full time. Enrolled in a couple courses to eventually transfer toward a BS. (Still not sure if I want a BSN or a related degree.)
Owe lots of people lots of correspondance. Sorry. I *think* about how I really should get in touch with you. Does that count? Not so much, huh.
The girl had me shave her head last night. She now sports a very freaking long bluegreenindigo chelsea. Hot.
Mr. Dog has a shock/horror video game so awesome that the first copy of it he bought shattered in the drive. Creepy.
I have errands to do, but I am so lazy. I will take advice I recently gave to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
elf_fu, and publicly announce that I intend to get a shortlist of things done this afternoon.
Dec. 15th, 2007
05:28 am - funny haha
"I have noticed that what this pen writes in my diary are the exact same thoughts that i have in my mind. Can this pen be reading my thoughts, i mean, is this at all possible?"
gleaned from
http://amazon.co.uk/Bic-Crystal-ballpoi
Nov. 23rd, 2007
04:57 am - Another uninformative update. (Same old, same old)
Midway through another stretch of 60 scheduled hours in 5 calendar days. For those keeping score at home, that actually works out to more, since charting is never done on time. I get one day off and then two more 12 hour shifts, followed by two days of conferences (wound care and schizophrenia!), and then some more work. I don't recall how many in that row, or when the next days off after that will be. But, if you wonder why I don't keep in touch better... I also have to complete several more continuing education credits by the end of the year in order to fulfill my learning obligation for stroke and trauma competency for work. Don't know when I will get to that.
My girlfriend is at her parent's house for the holiday, but will hopefully be home soon. My boyfriend cooked for me, precisely what I requested. Domestic bliss.
I was a bit of an asshole this week. I didn't properly assemble my snake's new home, and, well, he pooped on my girl's homework. She is still speaking to me, I think. But should have attended to that sooner. Sorry, sweetie! Jasper is much happier in his new home, though he still needs some furniture. A new, bigger water dish, and something to climb. He will get presents from me this week.
Mom is getting me the perfect present for the holidays. She is making a donation to charity in my name. If anyone else feels the need to spend money on me, that would be the best way to go about it. I am anti-stuff, and pro-altruism, and I think this is the best answer to my objections to consumerist culture. If you need to give gifts, direct them to people with genuine needs, not someone already spoiled beyond measure, such as myself.
Still focusing my pleasure reading on Chinese revolutionary history. Finished a biography of Mao. Now picking up books written by people impacted by his policies. All must be critically assessed. Don't know why I find this so compelling. If it weren't this, it would be something else similarly peculiar, I am sure.
God help me, I'm on facebook. Look me up, if you've any interest. Found some old friends from high school already. (Hi, Mandi!) Not that I have enough time to properly correspond. Insomnia (the condition, not the LJ personality) has granted me this moment to catch you all up, but it has been exhausted and so now I have to get back on schedule.
Good thing I love what I do!
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/purplelemon/sassips/ecstatic.gif){kind=small}
chipperOct. 22nd, 2007
12:25 pm - Why my updates are so infrequent
So, I was going to have two whole days off, in a row. There were so many useful activities planned. But then I got a call. Could I work a night shift tonight? Overtime plus bonus after two years with no income except student loans makes me happy to agree. So, now I am napping so that I can stay awake at work tonight. Will resume abbreviated list of plans tomorrow AM. Sleep again early tomorrow evening, and work again the next AM, for my previously scheduled three 12+ hour shifts in a row.
This is doable. Not forever, but for right now. Debt freedom isn't that far away, if I can keep up the pace for just a bit longer.
Meanwhile, I did mean to give a handful of the latest catly news.
I had an incident while protecting a patient from self-inflicted harm. I kept her from major injury to herself, but got a scratch myself in the process. Spent 4 hours in the emergency department and got to take a weekend's worth of combivir until her test results came back negative for all the common blood borne pathogens. Still going to follow CDC guidelines to retest in 6 months, but I am not particularly worried.
I am very good at what I do.
The same weekend, I finally recieved the court order finalizing my divorce. Rob and I had lunch a few weeks back, for paper signing. It was nice, and friendly. I hope that we can move forward as friends, though neither of us are blessed with an over abundance of time these days.
I am working on Halloween. Also Thanksgiving. Also Christmas. Not New Years, however. Certain standards must be maintained.
My little family is doing well. Mr. Dog works and Ms. Lavi attends school, and we all see each other now and again. Our bills are paid more or less on time, and we have the things we need and occasionally things that we want. I do miss everyone that I don't see or talk to as much as I would like.
I realize my posts always say more or less the same things over and over again. Sorry to be a broken record. If I had anything new happening, I would be posting more often.
Oct. 3rd, 2007
04:11 pm - Life is good.
Coconut Cardamon Lassi. Yum.
(Really, what else do I have to say about that?)
I heart the blender. My catly conconctions can now be compounded at 8 distinct speeds.
I work a lot. I sleep when I'm able. Frequently there is food, and laundry, and cuddling, and adventures. This is a full and happy life.
Paperbackswap.com continues to provide homes for my unwanted books, in trade for ones that I am delighted to take in. I get through books more slowly now that I only have time to read on the bus, but I am making progress on my recent arrivals.
My partners continue to tolerate me. Mr. Dog, the lovely Lavi, and I have settled into a very pleasant domestic routine, and some of my favorite people on the planet live upstairs from me. My landlord doesn't suck, and I love my neighborhood. My colleagues and coworkers are free with praise for me and my patients are appreciative. The work is very freaking hard and takes a lot out of me, but I do it well.
It has been almost a year since I started testosterone therapy as part of gender transition to male, and I am very pleased with the outcome. If nothing else, the experience has, of necessity, enhanced my sense of humor. Nixi remains a difficult name for a man to wear, and I stubbornly persist in keeping it.
I feel like I always pretty much say the same things. Things are good, stop. I am happy, stop. Wish you were here, stop. end transmission. But I don't really know what else to say. There are, of course, daily fluctuations in mood and experience. I am a fussy creature, prone to erratic behavior and the loss and breakage of small objects. There are stresses and expenses and regrets. But on balance, I truly couldn't ask for a better life than I have. It doesn't make for exciting reporting, I'm afraid.
Aug. 9th, 2007
05:26 am - So, why I am not around much...
Just saw my paycheck for the past two weeks. 113 hours. I am 7 hours shy of having worked three full time weeks worth in those two. This makes paying the bills easier, to be sure, but I am not seeing my mates very much, let alone anyone else.
I do miss everyone. I will see you all again someday, not too distant, I hope.
Jul. 12th, 2007
10:09 am
Paperbackswap.com continues to do me right. Texts on anatomy, biology, chemistry, and neurology have arrived. Also classics of world literature and political histories of China. All these in trade for books that I considered to be discards. I am sure that someone somewhere is chortling in just as much glee over having finally gotten their Anne Rice novel, of which I was grateful to be relieved. And that some other person is shaking their head in just as much confusion over why anyone would want their copy of "Daily Life in Ancient China on the Eve of the Mongol Invasion."
Work is hard and exhausting and time consuming. But I love it and it is good for me. Someday, I aim to be good at it. Thus all those text books.
Jun. 25th, 2007
10:36 pm - Update
Life is good, but busy. Lots of work. Long list of wants, though, so I don't mind the hours. Do miss quality time. With Dog, with my girl, with myself. Had some of the lattermost this evening. Very nice to sit and read about disasters in late dynastic China. Love Jonathan Spence's scholarship, and so grateful for paperbackswap.com.
So, this week is not good for seeing people. I do have a little time off, but I need to use it to wrap up some time sensitive matters. Days that I work are not good for human interaction. Shifts never end on time, and 12 hours at a time of mentally, emotionally, and physically demanding labor is as exhausting as it sounds. So, when I get home, I babble some incoherent news to my mate, eat the very good chow he has made for me, and then get to bed so that I can do it again. But I am doing work that I love and learning more and more every day. Eventually, the theory is that all this work allow me to afford to live in a style to which I would like to become accustomed. Not that my tastes are extravagant. Just particular.
Actually, life seems to be giving me everything I could ever have hoped for, except perhaps as much time as I would want. So, I work hard and a lot, but the bills are getting paid, my belly is full, and I have more people who love and miss me than I can find time to see. What else could I possibly need?
(Answer: Sleep. Going to go get some of that now. =)
Jun. 18th, 2007
08:55 pm
Hi. I love you all. I am doing very well. I just need a lot of space. Like Montana, all to myself. If you are trying to give me this, jolly good show, thanks so much.
Don't be afraid to keep asking for my company and attention, any of you who might want it. Just please don't hold it against me too much if I have to say no more often than yes.
Jun. 3rd, 2007
05:07 pm - RPG books for sale
I haven't wanted to pimp them out to my friendslist, but the need to sort out my livingroom is now far greater than my sense of pride.
A friend asked me to help him part with a few RPG manuals that he had amassed, mostly World of Darkness and Sword & Sorcery/D20, but with a few other items mixed in.
Quite a few of them are out of print, and most are in mint condition. Some of the rarer ones are pricey, but there are many more that are well below the list price. In any case, I currently have the cheapest prices on Amazon, with some of the new books priced at the same level as teh cheapest used copy. Obviously, I can refund shipping for local folks, and refund excess shipping for anyone who gets more than one. If you need several, email me first to discuss better terms.
Anyhow, here is my Amazon storefront.
May. 23rd, 2007
12:31 pm - Rare political commentary
So, if you have immunity from prosecution and the House Judiciary Committee is grilling you about obvious crimes that you committed, don't dicker with them about whether you broke laws or merely "crossed the line" on certain "rules." Also, it is probably clever not to antagonize the committee members by offering your irrelevant opinions regarding executive privilege. Then again, if you were clever, you probably wouldn't be sitting in that chair in the first place, would you?
Monica Goodling is not very good at testifying. Good thing for her that she did cut that immunity deal. A decent prosecutor would crucify her.
However, this whole US Attorney scandal is incredibly entertaining. Giggles and guffaws abound.
May. 16th, 2007
05:35 pm
I don't update frequently enough. Now I have a handful of things to relay all at once.
The thing where the bus driver failed to respond appropriately when my partner and I were threatened on the bus? Resolved as it is going to get. The driver was formally reprimanded. Nothing is known about whether the transit cops are ever going to be held to any account for the way they fumbled the situation. I now have a camera phone, so that next time something happens I can take photos and make emergency calls on the spot.
I got my RN license in the mail. I guess that means that I passed the exam. All hail the speed and efficency of the PA Board of Nursing!
Also, check out this post : http://byzantine-ruins.livejournal.c
I don't even have words to describe the video to which it links, so I will let Byz do the talking for me. Outrageous doesn't start to cover it.
May. 8th, 2007
11:32 am - Especially for Joelle (seramariasjade) but also of great interest to many of my other friends
www.PaperBackSwap.com
OMG. This is the best thing ever. It is like Amazon, but free. Well, the only expense being the cost of shipping a few of your own used paperbacks to other folks who want to read them.
If you sign up, consider listing me as the person who referred you. Nixicat at gmaild0tc0m was the address I used. I don't know whether there is any benefit for referring people, but it seems possible.
Also, in other, minor news, I took the NCLEX today. (RN licensure exam.) The computer shut off after I had answered the minimum number of questions, that is 75. So, I either bombed it or I am now an RN. Will know for sure in around 48 hours.
May. 3rd, 2007
Apr. 27th, 2007
09:55 am - Nixicat Headline News
A round-up of all the news that is only fit to print in my blog:
Business
Got my authorization to test for the RN. Scheduled my appointment for soonest. No, I am not telling you all when, exactly, because I can do without the extra pressure.
Society
Stephen Hawking got to experience anti-gravity in his lifetime. Got sent up with a full staff of nurses and docs. Good for him!
Technology
Nixicat is wireless again. As much as I hate having a cellphone, current events oblige me to get over it and carry one.
Health
Going to Baltimore early next week. AFK. BRB. Anticipate zero net access from Sunday - Thursday, possibly longer. If you think you might need to reach me during that time, email me for my cellie number now. myljusername at gmail dot com.
Environment
I have to go do the laundry now. This is me trying to stall.
Apr. 20th, 2007
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