That Darn Cat

So we love our cats...but we have a problem. They love to chew/shred the toilet paper. Especially Squeakers. I am not sure what to do to remedy the issue. Even if I lock them out of our bathroom, their cat box is in the guest bathroom, and our guest need toilet paper! So anyway, I came home after a long day at work to find this....

I have seen little bites here and shreds there. But half of this brand new roll is rendered useless. There is a complete canyon of bites right in the center. Toilet paper confetti. What am I to do?

(Ya sure... look all innocent Squeakers...I know it was you!)

......And don't even get me started on the chewed cords!

Pioneer Day

The 24th of July is a major holiday in Utah. Pioneer Day includes the Days of '47 Parade, family parties and BB Q's, and then fireworks (usually at Liberty Park). When I was about 14 or 15 my sister Jill used to go camp out the night before the Parade on 2nd south "saving a spot". She invited me one year and it ended up being a little tradition for the next 3-4 years. We mainly went because it was an excuse to stay out all night and it was fun to people watch. We would usually either sleep during the parade or leaving early. One year it was so hot that we ended up leaving just as it was starting. But that is about all my involvement with the Days of 47 parade.

Today I slept in because it was my day off. So missed the parade. However, Chris and I did go to his moms house for a pool party. And when Chris gets together with his cousins, they act like little kids. They were coming up with all sorts of games, showing off tricks, and creating new uses for the noodles and other pool toys. The video above is Chris's cousin Jeff who gets the most creative award for his basketball dunking jump. It was very entertaining, but Chris ended up being in the pool about 4 hours and was a very tired boy afterward.

However, he promised me fireworks so we went with my family down to Liberty Park to the "usual spot" to do the fireworks. The first spot we picked had a lot of little bugs flying everywhere so we had to move. But we ended up sitting on 7th east after they closed it down. We were very close to the action and it was the best finale ever! I did try to take a couple of pics but they weren't nearly as good my pics from the Sugar House show because the street lights threw off my camera lighting. But it was a great show!

Jack of All Trades

So, yesterday at work, after being asked yet another random question that I felt had nothing to do with my job, I decided when you are a nurse you have to be a Jack of all trades. Like many jobs, you have to have a variety of knowledge and skills to complete your job. So I know I do not stand alone in this.

I remember awhile ago reading an email or card of some sort that had all the jobs a mother has to do like chauffeur, cook, maid, etc. So I was thinking of all the variety of occupations I feel like I have to do at work and I came up with a list of my own. So here it is!

Social Worker- While we do have Social Workers available during the day...over nights, weekend, and holidays there is just one for the entire hospital. And you wouldn't believe the amount of social issues we have to deal with on a day by day, hour by hour basis. Custody battles, divorce, separation, in-law arguments, arguments in the room, DCFS, etc. So I feel like I have to be a social worker frequently to diffuse situations.

Teacher- Teaching families is part of my job description as a nurse. But I not only have to teach them (Which can often be challenging) I have to teach the myriad of new staff we have hired this year. It has been challenging because it takes twice as long to do your tasks when you not only have to do it, but explain why you are doing it. I also have to teach new staff how to teach the families. I know it is necessary and important, that is why I do it. But it is definitely a challenge. Also, we have a new influx of resident and medical students that you have to worry about teaching how to look stuff up in the computer or use the phone.

Secretary - I answer phones, write orders, transfer phone calls, set up appointments, highlight, sign, paper work, paper work, paper work. If someone needs something, I have to know how to find it or who to call.

Maintenance - I of course don't have to do some of this stuff. But when you call clinical or mechanical engineering you could be waiting all day sometimes. When equipment breaks we have to write a big report about it in the computer and then tape it to the piece of equipment. At my old job we just had one maintenance guy and I would just tape a broken sign to it. AND If I had $5 for every time I was asked about why Channel such and such wasn't working, or was too loud, or they didn't know how the PlayStation worked to watch a DVD, or the VCR wasn't working....I might be able to drop to part time. And like yesterday when I was searching for a screw driver so I could put new batteries in a mobile to entertain my starving, awaiting surgery patient... I was willing to do it... but it isn't something you would expect to be doing as a nurse.

Psychic/Predictor - I have to be able to anticipate what is going to happen during the day. "When will the doctor be here?" "When are rounds?" "When will my baby's test/x-ray results be back?" "When is my child really going to have surgery...we were scheduled at 2:00, but now it is 3:30?" "When will we be able to go home?" (This is my favorite question, because it is the number one question asked to me when they first come up to the room after spending at least 6 hours in the Emergency Department. I just want to say "YOU JUST GOT HERE" but have to say, it all depends on how your baby is doing.) Also when you call a doctor to report an abnormal finding, you have to either suggest or anticipate the next order/step.

Middleman- I know this is not a real JOB, but I am constantly the middle man. If a doctor orders an MRI and the sedation nurse won't sedate the patient because they are on oxygen or have RSV, the sedation nurse calls me and tells me they won't do it. I in turn have to call the doctor to tell them that the sedation nurse refuses to do it and the resident has to tell the senior, etc. Same goes with the Laboratory, Pharmacy, and specialty teams. If you eliminate me and just talk to the doctor yourself, less time wasted (in my opinion).

So like a mother probably doesn't always love being a chauffeur, cook, maid, etc..... she loves being a mother and will do anything required to make her family happy. I am the same way. I don't always love all the tasks I have to do, but I love being a nurse and taking care of patients. So I am willing to do whatever it takes to make them happy.

I would like to dedicate this song....

So I have recently been going through my music in my iTunes to clean it up a bit and add music from old CD's, etc. And it is amazing how much music reminds you of a time in your life, or a specific person. So I decided to take a moment to dedicate some songs to people from my past and present. Songs that make me think of that person or a fun experience that we have had.

Dad - "Cat's and the Cradle" by Harry Chapin. My dad loves music. So there are so many songs I could dedicate.... but this one sticks out most in my mind and reminds me of him. He would sing this song to us on road trips whenever it came on.

Mom- I hate to say that there is not a radio song that really reminds me of my mom. My mom loves Victorian period movies and old TV shows. So I would like to dedicate the "Theme from Anne of Green Gables" to her. That movie will always remind me of her.

Jill- I would like to dedicate "Make Me Lose Control" by Eric Carmen or as we called it "Turn the Radio Up!" As small children Jill and I used to make radio shows on her tape recorder. This was a popular song to add to our show. I also want to squeeze in California Girls by the Beach Boys. That will always be a classic.

Sara- There are a couple. The song "Sarah" by Jefferson Starship or as we called it the "Sara Song". She was so glad there was a song with her name in it. I was secretly jealous. But she loved that song. I am also going to dedicate "The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most" by Dashboard Confessionals and "Vulnerable" by Secondhand Serenade.

Chris- I know I am getting excessive and will try to keep it to one song. But there is oodles of music that remind me of Chris because when we first started dating we both liked the same music and loved going to concerts. So I will keep it to the entire Ocean Avenue Album by Yellowcard (helped me through a lot of lonely times when he was in Cali) and "The Best of Me" by The Starting Line.

Nicole- I know she has been reading my blog because she always leaves me nice comments. And I enjoy going to hers so much too. So I will dedicate "A Child's Prayer" because she would always play this song when we would have sleepovers as we were falling asleep. I admire her strong testimony at such a young age. I also have to squeeze in "California Girls" by the Beach Boys.

Kim- I have to dedicate If by Janet Jackson. She loved this song so much and we would make up dances in her basement and record them on her dad's camcorder. There was also a song on the Janet. CD that we did a dance to at the 6th grade talent show. I think it was Funky Big Band but my memory is having difficulties. We made matching costumes from clothes we bought at K-mart. It was a lot of fun.

Hailey- I would like to dedicate "Will You Marry Me" by Paula Abdul. We had the most amazing imagination. We would play out in her playhouse and go through these wild adventures with our "boyfriends" and at the end they would always ask us to marry them. We would jump on her tramp and blare this song. And " The Dream is Still Alive" by Wilson Phillips.

Jeff - "Ooh Ahh (Just a Little Bit)" by Gina G, "Jellyhead" by Crush, and "Seasons of Love" from RENT for that unforgettable summer before high school at Lagoon with our season passes. We watched the Rock You to the Top show probably 10 times and it never got old. Ode to the Jetstar2.

Afsonai- I am going to dedicate "It's All Coming Back to Me Now" by Celine Dion because the song reminds me of the countless stake dances we attended. I always wished that the cutest guy would ask me to dance during this song because it was the longest song (like 6 or 7 minutes). But if someone you didn't like asked you during this song it was 7 minutes of misery.

Lisa Marie - I will dedicate "I Would Go Anywhere" by Lila McCann because she would play this song all the time as we would jump on the tramp. She is the only person I've ever met that got me to listen to a little country. I repeat...a very little.

Minna- of course "Wanna Be" by Spice Girls. If we ever Karaoke, which is something she loves to do, she wants to sing this song. And anything by the Backstreet Boys.

Jen - "Vindicated" or "Screaming Infidelities" by Dashboard Confessionals. She would nearly scream the chorus of these songs in her car. I also have to dedicate "Ignition (Remix)" by R. Kelly. I never met someone who is more than 5 years old that could repeat and listen to the same song over and over in one sitting.

Katie - I dedicate "Flavor of the Week" by American Hi-Fi because when she was up at Ricks and I came to visit, there was not much to do. So we actually made up hand signs to this song. We were laughing about it the other day because I made it her ring tone. I really have so many songs that remind me of her because she was the person who introduced me to punk (pop punk) music and was my faithful concert buddy. I've seen more shows with her at Bricks/In the Venue and the old DV 8 than everyone else I've seen concerts with combined.

There are a few other songs that remind me of certain times in life, vacations, or old boyfriends, etc. Sorry if anyone feels left out. It is crazy that just going through your music can bring up so many memories.

God Bless the USA

So America's 232 birthday has come and gone. It was one of the first years I actually didn't have to work. So Chris, my sister Sara, and I went to Chris's mom's house for a pool party with his extended family. It was funny to watch Chris transform into a little kid again. Playing all the pool games he used to with his cousins. We all had a blast.

When we came back to our house we were discussing if we would go see fireworks or not. Last year Sugarhouse was so crowded Chris and I decided not to go. But Sara really wanted to see them. However, Chris thought he was invincible to the UVA/UVB rays even though he did get sunburned last week at his mom's house. So he was yet again nursing a sunburn with aloe. So he took a (very late) nap with the aloe and a fan blowing on his back. So it was just going to be Sara and me. Sara called a few friends who bailed out (typical), but we decided we still wanted to fight the crowds at Sugarhouse Park to celebrate.

When we arrived it was extremely crowded. But being only two people we found a spot quite easily. We couldn't remember exactly where they shot off so we were praying we'd be able to see them. We wanted dip and dots, but there weren't any. So we settled for a Snowie. While eating it, it reminded me of my friend Jeff from highschool. He and I got Snowshack's almost every Friday during the summer. We loved them. I always go tiger's blood and he always got grape or lime. So I text him to tell him I thought of him and he text back right away. In fact the very moment I text him, he was buying his snowie! So I found him and we reminisced about the Lagoon season passes we had in 9th grade and how we went on the Jet Star 2 like 4 times and none of our other friends ever wanted to go on it. And we just laughed. I don't know what it is about reminiscing that is so fun!

Sara and I returned to our blanket. I was telling her that I read an article on MSN.com about taking pictures of fireworks. I wanted to see if my point-and-shoot camera had firework mode. It didn't. But I turned it to the lowest ISO and prayed they would turn out. It turned out that our spot was one of the best ones we have evere had! During the show they played the exact same soundtrack they have been playing for the past 10+ years. I tried to take some pictures. They are not spactacular, but at least they aren't too dark or severely blurry.

Anyway, Happy Birthday America! "There ain't no doubt I love this land.....God bless the U....S...Aaaaa."

mmmm....sushi

I am one of those people who love sushi. I don't know what it is. It is just so tasty. So I had a brilliant idea earlier this week that I would make my own sushi. I went to a Japanese market that is in downtown Salt Lake. It is an older building and smells funny, kind of like the dairy farm where my mom always bought our milk growing up. More than half the items in the store are only in Japanese. There were things in jars I couldn't even identify and vegetables that were unfamiliar to me. So I just wondered around the store until I found the sushi kit, seaweed, wasabi, and rice vinegar that I needed. I felt very strange in the store because there were 3 little Japanese ladies at the register, a little older Japanese lady, and me in all my 5'9" and pale glory. I felt a little out of place. And when I payed for my things the ladies all started to talk in Japanese and laugh. You can't help but think when you are standing there and people are talking in a different language, that they are talking/laughing at you. I always think that when I get a pedicure. They are probably laughing at my huge chubby feet. But then again that is probably my own insecurities. One lady said, "You have a sushi party?" and I just laughed and said, "Sort of."

So I had all my stuff. I was going to buy some smoked salmon to put in it, but didn't find the time to during my errand running. I also don't know where I could buy sushi grade fish. If anyone knows let me know! I had some shrimp at home and other good stuffing's so I figured that would be fine. I added shrimp, cucumber, avocado, and my favorite....cream cheese to my roll. I thought I would make a roll with the rice on the outside and the seaweed on the inside so I could put toasted sesame seeds on the outside (like most California rolls). Not a good idea if you have never made/rolled sushi before. I put too much rice on the outside so it ended up being a fatty roll. I rolled it too loosely so it fell apart when I tried to cut it. I guess it can't be perfect the first time around.

So the next roll I wisely put the seaweed on the outside. and rolled it as tight as I possibly could. It turned out a lot better and cut more easily. And it was yummy! It may not been as fancy as the rolls at all the sushi places, however, it was tasty and less expensive. So now I just need to find some more interesting ingredients to put in my rolls. I am thinking of making tempura shrimp and putting it in a roll. Or maybe I will some day attempt my favorite....the Las Vegas roll, that has tempura on the entire outside. Ya that would be good.

Sunscreen

I am grateful for sunscreen. Having a very fair complexion hasn't been my favorite thing. Especially while growing up. I remember all my friends would be a toasty brown color by the end of the summer and I would be either sunburned, freckled, or maybe slightly tan nothing compared to them though. Also when I was growing up I only remember my mom ever having 15 sunscreen. I am pretty sure that is all they had available in the regular grocery store. So all day outdoor events such as Raging Waters usually included multiple lathering on of sunscreen (to the 15th power) throughout the day, and I would still end up with hot, pink, itchy, painful skin somewhere on my body. Usually my nose, face, and shoulders. I remember multiple times having to nurse blisters on my nose, shoulders, and back. The kind that would ooze and then peel about 3 times before it finally healed. I still have scars on my shoulders as a painful reminder. And I wasn't a sunbather, just a regular kid trying to enjoy some fun outside.

So I am grateful that the sunscreen companies have upped the blockage for us fair skinned folk. I own sunscreen of varying degree's. Anywhere from 15 (my moisturizer face lotion) up to 50 (what I use on my face when I am going in the sun). I also saw a commercial for 70+. That's like wearing a T-shirt almost! I also must say that I am grateful to the person who came up with the spray sunscreen. GENIOUS! It cuts the lathering time drastically! My sister Sara said our parents went to Lake Powell with some 50+ sunscreen and my dad was so frusterated because it was thick as peanutbutter. So a quick spray and a quick rub will maybe convince more people to use it. Less rubbing = more time for fun in the sun!

The reason I bring this up is.... I have had a few days off and decided to spend them by my pool. On Friday I put on my spray sunscreen and enjoyed some time at my pool. However, I somehow missed a bottom portion of my legs and ended up with that all too familliar pink, hot, painful, itchy skin. Blast! The saddest part about it was I could see my finger mark on my legs. I really did try! Luckily it went away after a couple days so Today I went to the pool fully sprayed (probably double) and enjoyed a great couple hours by my pool. And good report. I escaped pink, hot, painful, itchy skin and even have a hint of sun kiss (not tan, but healthy glow) and I enjoyed my day without worry and without remorse. So that is why I am grateful for sunscreen.