Tuesday July 9th 2024

[Joe NightingMale, MSN, RN]

NJ22 I too remember years ago when things were tight, managed to get by but just barely

Rose Queen that sounds like a pretty easy recipe

Tweety that seems about the norm with vet visits

Stars glad that you got some time to relax today and still got things done

Work was not too bad yesterday, did get a new case but managed to get it done along with everything else.  Today doesn't look too busy either, but I guess we'll see.  Hopefully the pace doesn't pick up again

Did laundry during lunch, then had to stop at the pet store after work and then exercise, the rest of the evening was quiet

Think making more of an effort to be mindful is really helping.  I'm even doing additional meditation in the evening if I have the time.  I try to be mindful throughout the day though it's a struggle and not always successful

Might do the grocery shopping tonight but we'll see, it's supposed to rain for most of the day

Going to be cooler today, in the upper 70s

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Joe, glad to hear being mindful is helping.

I think mindfulness has definitely helped me.  I did stop the course I was recently taking because it started to go into things that don't apply to me like family and relationship issues. At this point, I'm pretty well versed in the practice anyway, just need to do it.  I have noticed it helps with my anger issues.  

I'm feeling a bit washed out.  Slowbro was wrenching a good deal of the night.  I would wake up each time.  I wonder if was the treats we got at the vets yesterday as he is a little delicate.  I had stayed up late anyway and finally got up around 4AM and cleaned the bathroom.   He ate his breakfast, drank some and seems to be okay since then.  I went back to bed for another couple of hours.  My GI system seems to be acting up as well.  I had real bad heartburn last night and feeling a bit bleh today.  

Nothing much going on today anyway.  

Have a good day.  

[dianah, ASN]

Hello all!

Dh got up rarin' to go, yesterday, so after feeding the felines we drove up to a rustic restaurant (cafe, really) in the mountains and had a late lunch, then drove to Jenks Lake and walked around the lake.  There wasn't a lot of people around, probably a dozen or so fishermen scattered on shore, and one out on a kayak.  It was probably 90 degrees, so the shade of many firs and pines and oaks was welcome, as were breezes that came through.  We dirt-surfed on a steep part of the dirt trail that we took, around the lake.  Dh ended up lying on the ground, covered with fine dust, while I managed to stay upright.  We laughed (no injuries), brushed ourselves off, and continued on.  It was a nice outing, and we hope to do it again sometime.  Saw a family of 10 ducks, all in a row, and several other mountain birds.  Saw a few squirrels (tree squirrels).  On the drive up we passed a deer grazing RIGHT at the side of the road!  I could have reached out and touched it!  I hope it made it back into the forest safely. 

We continue with triple-digit heat here, for at least another week.  The cats are doing well.  Ds's are OK, no complaints. 

Some photos from yesterday:

The duck family is in the middle of the lake.

Have a good day!

 

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

hi. 89 degrees, here, 40% humidity. I just got back from taking our little dog, Jozee, to the vet to see about her eye. As a I suspected, it has a corneal abrasion. She has eye drops, NSAID pills, and a followup appointment in 10 days. This is my first time meeting this vet, and I really liked him. It was the vet office that the breeder used, and they have both dogs' records. 

I went for short jog early this morning, when it was only 70, but it was still mighty warm. I've dragged the hose around to water some pots, and to move the sprinkler in the roses every 30 minutes. The kitchen is begging to be cleaned, but meh. Tomorrow will be cooler, and if dh doesn't do it first, I'll clean it up tomorrow. Trivia tonight! 

A weird, sad thing happened yesterday. I arrived at the Dr office, to go to my sis's appointment with her, and was plenty early. I was sitting in the lobby, in the ac, with my back to the street. Someone came in, spoke to the receptionist, and I heard "should we call 911?". In my head, I said "of course" and just thought someone had fallen in the parking lot. Sis calls me, her battery is dead, again, can I come and get her? Appointment starts in 10, she's 5 minutes away, so off I zoom. As I came out the door, I see fire engines and an ambulance, and an EMT doing chest compressions in the middle of the street!  I feel like I should have paid more attention and looked up when I heard 911, I guess. The ambulance left shortly after, lights and sirens. Anyway, she got there on time, and we had a very good discussion about her dizziness. 

 

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Evening all! The outdoor sauna continues... I crave moving further north to escape it. The AC is struggling today. I'm sure the fact that it is already 2 years past life expectancy doesn't help that. Off to find some ice cream in the freezer so I can cool down from the inside out!

[No Stars In My Eyes]

Beautiful photos, dianah. Thanks!

Okay, so today, SiL did not take Nannie to her house, she took her to an appt with the hand doctor. They said the fx was healing well and to bring her back in 2 weeks. But, at least they did take off that awful, bulky, heavy cast, and put on a thinner, lighter one, and Nannie got PINK stuff ( ARGH! I can't remember the name of that bandage!) wrapped on the outside of it, so she is happy.

I was about to put the two pillows we use to elevate her hand, on her lap and left side. I said "Lift your arm" and she lifted her leg. I said, "No, lift up your left hand." and she lifted her right hand. 🙄 There are many things she does not understand anymore, so you have to speak slowly and calmly and instruct her as many times as it takes, and even then she misunderstands, does not hear, doesn't pay attention, or forgets immediately. I have to remind myself she is not being  purposefully stupid, she can't help that her brain is disintegrating. But sometimes I really do get irritated.🤨 

Oh well. It is what it is, and one day, one day, it will be no more. But in the meantime...... OY!

I didn't do anything today except wonder why Momo wouldn't eat her breakfast; later on she threw up, but I was able to catch it in a folded paper-towel. It is generally light brown and has no chunks of food in it, maybe about two tablespoons worth. This happens periodically, and I don't know why. She always recuperates by the next day.

I've been scooting around on-line reading various things. I still like magazines and newspapers better than the internet, but the magazines cost a good bit more money than they used to!

Temp is 102 today, we are going to continue "baking", the weatherman says,..... and tomorrow it will be even hotter! Not much relief (rain) in the forecast for the remainder of the week. I didn't take the donations over to the thrift store today....maybe tomorrow AM if I wake up early enough. Whooooo knows!?!

Watching the local news. I am glad we do not live in Charlotte; there were 4 different shootings in 4 different places within the same hour. None were connected. More vehicle accidents, a drowning, other shootings in the past 24 hours, and heat-related health problems. Why do I turn the news on automatically at 6 PM? Then the Network (World-News) news is even more depressing. Jeez!

Enough. Later! 

 

 

[Ado Annie, ASN, RN]

Nice pictures, dianah. It looks cool and pleasant, even if it isn't (cool). 

Rose_Queen, one thing that gets me through some hot days is freezer pops. I'm especially fond of the purple-flavored ones but they're all cold and sweet, which is what counts. 

We still live pretty much paycheck to paycheck, though I do contribute to a 403(b) that the hospital doesn't match contributions for. I wish they could. I try to set some aside for rainy days, too, but always end up using it, which I guess is the point of having it. Still, it would be nice to have a little more breathing room. Then again, I know I could make more money if I were willing to work farther from home and a lot of hours. I like my job at the moment. 

Got a haircut today. Picked up the dog's ashes. By the end of the month I will need to have submitted the CMS population and sampling and chart abstractions, taken the CIC exam, and (hopefully, if I get the passport in time) traveled to Montreal. 

[dianah, ASN]

Stay cool, y'all!!

nursej22, what a relief to have a vet who knows your dog, and whom you can trust.  I hope Jozee's eye is better soon. 

Rose, I hope you can cool down! 

No Stars, I'm sure Nannie is happy with her pink wrist wrap!  Sorry to hear about Momo's vomiting; I hope she is better.  Our little chihuahua/pomeranian will go on a food strike every couple weeks.  He won't eat ANYTHING for about 24 hr.  Then the next day he is fine.  Occasionally will vomit but mostly just doesn't eat.  I figure he knows what he needs, so I don't push food on him. 

We did some grocery shopping yesterday, as we were on the road, returning from our trip to the lake.  I will stop by tomorrow, and pick up a few things we forgot.  Tomorrow I have my annual eye appointment.  I don't anticipate any changes.  I mailed a couple birthday cards to friends.  Then this afternoon I roasted the roma tomatoes, a white onion, and a head of garlic (separated into peeled cloves), and some herbs.  I just pulled it out of the oven, and will blend it all in the blender later, for pasta sauce.  I also made some low-carb "crackers" by cutting up cheddar slices into four pieces, and placing them on a parchment piece on a baking sheet.  I sprinkled them with a little salt and onion powder, and baked them for 15 min.  They are crisp and yummy!

Not much else planned for today, as it is just too hot to go out. 

Have a good evening!

[dianah, ASN]

Hello Ado!  Dh loves the no-added-sugar popsicles, he will eat 3-4 every day -- so refreshing!  So, we are often at the grocery store to re-stock them!  There is something to be said for working at a job that one likes, as opposed to being paid more but working at a job that is miserable.  The word "balance" comes to mind.  (((( Ado ))))

[Tweety, BSN, RN]

Rose, I forget, where do you live? I'm in Florida where it's going to hot and muggy until mid-October when it will be nice.  The price we pay for not having a Winter.  But at least it's low 90's with a heat-index of 100 plus.  Not like blistering Arizona or Texas.

Dianah, those "crackers" sound delish.  Nice pics!  

Stars, I think they are just called "cast covers".  Most of my patients don't have casts but splints with an ace wrap so I don't know for sure.  

I'm crazy for popsicles but only as a treat.  I hate sugar free ones.

Slowbro isn't recovered and has been periodically vomiting.  His gums are moist and he was able to drink some water at dinner time but he mostly passed on dinner.  Something he never does.  If this keeps up I'll need to take him to the vet ER.  

 

[dianah, ASN]

((((((((((((( Slowbro ))))))))))))))

[nursej22, MSN, RN]

My old dog Angus would go on food strikes, especially if one of us was away from home overnight. He was always picky about food, so it was a constant challenge to find food he would eat. He didn't vomit or get diarrhea tho. The two we have now are seemingly always hungry and snarf down just about anything. I give them frozen vegetables so they get more to fill them up without calories.