Monday April 4th 2022

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2022

Good morning!

Stars, no frost this far east but its been in the 40s. brrrr

Julie, sounds like some things to contemplate.

Had a nice visit. My brother stopped by. First time parents and their kids we on the same room in over 30 years.

Hopefully all goes well and will be home this evening. Was a good trip. My parents are elderly but getting along well. Mom's knee is so bad she is on pain when she gets up.

Just Julie · Apr 4, 2022

Last night was kinda nice. Had a good meal and my mom and had a surprise visit with my baby brother. It turned out to be a feast as both he and I brought food for dinner. Mom is feeling a little better but adamant that Tylenol just doesn't work for her. I hope she will try anyway. She's excited that she can take a shower today.

Back to slightly higher anxiety today. Waiting for that shoe to drop. But I am figuring out the what ifs. What would or could I do if I couldn't work in nursing? I realized that there are a lot of options. Sometimes, drastic changes are needed in a person's life.

Regarding living vs existing, I started the travel nursing thing because I wanted to do and see more. I did see some but not like I thought I would. I wanted to make enough to travel, to buy a piece of land and to build a little house that was totally off-grid. To make a life that I could love. That can still happen, maybe not the way I was planning but it can.

I know that I am rambling on. Letting random thoughts fall out of my head and onto the phone.

Hoping that you all have a great day today.

nursej22, MSN, RN · Apr 4, 2022

And it's raining, again. We had a lot of wind last night, and a big system is coming in, and predicted to dump up to 2 feet of snow on the mountains. The temp was 45 when I walked the dog, but the wind was rather bitey. I was in a grumpy mood yesterday. Dh did his usual sit on the couch, complain about how much he needs to do, and then not do it. I finally left to go to the grocery store because I got tired of listening to him. I did the usual ride to breakfast, and did some declutter, and got the recycle ready for Tuesday. My credit union is going to have a big shred event and I'm gathering old checks, bank statements and tax stuff to take.

At work today, getting another day's reprieve because OCD coworker called out. She just traveled to Dubai, and thinks she contracted a cold, from having so many PCR swabs stuck in her nose. It does seem plausible to carry germs from front to the back of the nose, especially if the mucus membranes get disrupted, into the pharynx. A newer nurse is freaking out because our clerk had a taste of a food she's allergic to, and new nurse wants to give her epi and benedryl. The clerk doesn't carry an epi-pen so I advised against using ours. Our standing order is to give epi for immunization reactions, not food allergies. We don't even have a provider on site.

No Stars In My Eyes · Apr 4, 2022

Hey-ho!

I went on line this morning and set up appt's for Covid shot booster (J&J) for me, hubby and Nannie: 3PM, 3:15PM and 3:30PM. Had to pick out Nannie's "outfit" for her. She may not even have to get out of the car, so who is going to see her? Nobody she knows, I'd bet. Anyway, it's set up, so I am relieved. Hubby asked me to tell him the truth: "In your heart of hearts, and as a professional healthcare giver, do you believe I really need to get this shot?"...."Uh, yeah, because you are diabetic and have COPD and your left lung collapsed twice last year; ie you have co-morbidities!" (smh)

I'll come back by here later on.

Editorial Team / Admin · Apr 4, 2022

Hello to all!

Am enjoying strawberries, bananas, plain greek yogurt, and some keto granola sprinkled over the top (gotta use up the bananas).

The local bluegrass association came out with their bi-monthly newsletter, The Soundboard. A photo of us with Little Roy Lewis (of The Little Roy and Lizzy Show) and Randy Hanson (of Kentucky Sky) is on the cover! Kinda exciting, but not so much as was the initial encounter with Little Roy! He was friendly and a character, and he played my guitar! It was a fun experience!

Also got to read about the various jams and festivals coming up, exciting! It's good to know the festivals are in full swing now, after the covid interruption.

This is my second Monday being officially retired. I may run over to Trader Joe's for a few things. Other than that, have no plans. I may shred some papers...

Have a good day!

No Stars In My Eyes · Apr 4, 2022

Well, good grief! We got our shots and were doing the 15 minute wait afterwards, a pharmacist came over and apologized, asking if we were sent over by the doctor to have our third (ostensibly a booster) J&J covid vaccination. Nope. David Muir on ABC network news was my reference. Anyway, she said she didn't think there would be a problem, but the CDC has not yet OK'd a booster for J&J, only Moderna and Pfizer. I asked if that meant we had to pay for the shots and she said no, just that J&J hasn't been approved for a third shot. And she apologized twice more!

So, basically I think she was thinking that the pharmacy might get in trouble. Though she did not say that, why should she apologize several times to us, otherwise? I mean, well, I guess they have to have the CDC clearance to give a third shot as a booster. I think it's no biggie, but she said they would call us tomorrow to see if we are okay and don't have any side-effects. We didn't have any side-effects the last two times, and I don't expect we will now. Mostly I hope the pharmacy doesn't get into trouble!

But *I* am very happy we got them today, instead of waiting for the CDC to make up its mind and then announcing when it can be given. I think, since the newest "extremely contagious" version of Covid is making the rounds here-abouts, it was the most sensible thing to do. Why wait another couple of weeks for the "OK" for J&J to be on the news, giving an approval date of a month from now? Pfftt. I understand there could be a 'problem', but I don't think a pharmacy tech is going to be strung up by her thumbs. We filled out all the paperwork, and they didn't notice until after we'd had the shots that the J&J hadn't been okayed by CDC. Hubby said they could lift off his bandaid and put a needle in and draw the vaccine back out, and she said she couldn't (seriously?). He told me he hoped the CDC doesn't come and arrest us; or, he said, it might be grounds to have the pharmacy shut down and ownership transferred to ME! Uh-uh. I don't want to have to start working again!

Had supper, and when sitting out on the front porch we saw billows of smoke coming up over from behind the neighbor's roof, across the road. I said I had half a mind to walk around back there and see what's burning, but when their next door neighbor came out in his back yard, I decided if it was anything serious, he would certainly see it.

Mr Perfect Lawn, our next door neighbor, has been mowing and trimming and blowing and weeding. When he stopped for a few moments, I said, "I wonder what he'll find to do next?" Hubby said he thinks the guy is doing outside work to stay out of the house, avoiding his wife. Too bad, so sad.

Gonna watch the news now----

Tweety, BSN, RN · Apr 4, 2022

I'm home safe and sound and decided to go bowling here in a minute.

Julie, I do believe in trying to live a good life with bucket list items not saved for later, but to be checked off while young and healthy. Our dreams may not always be realized, but the time to life is now. I do hope not matter this matter is settled soon for you.

Stars, congrats on getting the booster.

I think my BF is getting another booster, his 4th, of Pfizer soon but I am not. He's 70. I've had three and got the third one just last September and feel it's too early for me. I'm under 65 with zero comorbidities and am seeing people with covid not get that sick. In fact China with their mandatory testing is finding a whole lot of asymptomatic cases. The virus is smart, it's becoming more contagious, but is not killing it's host. Makes sense. If recommended still for my age break next September I'll get it or if cases rise and people are really getting sick I will take it. I'm not anti-vax by no means. Stars, 100% agree with your husband being as protected as possible.

I had a good visit with my parents. They are so old and frail it was a bit tough. Dad talked about his end of life plans and told me where they key to their lock box was, with their wills and insurance papers and some money. I'm to be the executor but everything is to be divided equally between the three kids. But there really isn't that much at all, so it's not like we'll fight over the will. He told me to be sure and "pull the plug". I stated, not to worry that there would never be a plug to pull, that nature would takes it's course with him. He also said he's not sure how much longer he can be the caretaker for my mother. Still they are doing okay for now. My sister has vowed to move up there should and when they need her. I told them I would too if they wait five years until I can retire.

It was therapeutic for me to visit where I grew and let go of some pain. I went to my Junior High for example to forgive the principal for telling me it was my fault I was bullied because I was a sissy. I also had a talk with my junior high self that it was not my fault, but I survived to become a good person.

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · Apr 5, 2022

Rained off and on all day. A little thunder off and on. Dory dog has handled pretty well. She's a little edgy but nothing like the frenzy of Friday night and Saturday. I did order some Rescue Remedy from Chewy.

Tweety, I'm glad you had a good visit and that you were able to deal with some things from the past in a constructive way.

Stars, I think Hubs and his mom got a Moderna vaccine as their booster following J&J. The boys and I had all Moderna. I have to report the medical staff's vaccination rate to NHSN for Q4 2021 and onward. Unless I find something else, I'm going to say the record keeping has been really bad. I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Squirrel feeding was uneventful last night. One of the babies I fed still had its eyes closed. A staff member was giving some new possum babies subcutaneous fluids. And a couple were feeding baby possums using a 4Fr orogastric feeding tube. I will have to find out why.