Wednesday, December 28, 2005
catching up
Apparently I've had nothing to say for the last few weeks... I've been pretty busy! I worked six days in a row a couple of weeks ago, covering for a coworker who had quit without notice and for other coworkers who are in school and had finals. I was a tired girl, and my house got pretty grubby, but I made it.
I also did all my Christmas shopping the week before Christmas, which wasn't the best plan in the world. But I think it turned out okay! My mom and dad came to spend the holiday with us. We had afternoon tea at the Olympic Hotel downtown, and had Christmas Eve dinner at the Hunt Club - which was much nicer than I had expected. We also went to see the Black Nativity at the Intiman at the Seattle Center. I am an atheist but wow! I sure enjoyed the music!
Christmas Day we spent at home. We cooked a Thanksgiving-style dinner, since both R* and I, and my mom and dad, had gone to restaurants for Thanksgiving due to scheduling problems. It was great to have homemade pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes and gravy and all that good stuff. Fattening, though. I think I gained three pounds in four days. R* and I started hitting the gym again on Monday!
My application for nursing school is due next week. After that, it's a sit and wait game. I have a bad feeling that I don't have *quite* enough points to get in... but I will definitely go ahead and apply. The worst thing that will happen is that I'll have to wait until fall quarter, and spend the intervening months working at my current job and volunteering at a hospital. That is not a bad thing.
I hope you all had happy holidays!
I also did all my Christmas shopping the week before Christmas, which wasn't the best plan in the world. But I think it turned out okay! My mom and dad came to spend the holiday with us. We had afternoon tea at the Olympic Hotel downtown, and had Christmas Eve dinner at the Hunt Club - which was much nicer than I had expected. We also went to see the Black Nativity at the Intiman at the Seattle Center. I am an atheist but wow! I sure enjoyed the music!
Christmas Day we spent at home. We cooked a Thanksgiving-style dinner, since both R* and I, and my mom and dad, had gone to restaurants for Thanksgiving due to scheduling problems. It was great to have homemade pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes and gravy and all that good stuff. Fattening, though. I think I gained three pounds in four days. R* and I started hitting the gym again on Monday!
My application for nursing school is due next week. After that, it's a sit and wait game. I have a bad feeling that I don't have *quite* enough points to get in... but I will definitely go ahead and apply. The worst thing that will happen is that I'll have to wait until fall quarter, and spend the intervening months working at my current job and volunteering at a hospital. That is not a bad thing.
I hope you all had happy holidays!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
book report: The Forest Lover
The Forest Lover
by Susan Vreeland
This is a fictionalized account of part of Canadian painter Emily Carr's life and work. I didn't previously know very much about Carr, apart from the fact that she was a Canadian woman painter around the turn of the (20th) century. The novel starts when Emily is already in her 30s, having studied art and painted for many years, and finally gaining some independence from her rather stifling family after the deaths of her parents. Her sisters strongly disapprove of her artistic passion, but Emily defies them and continues on her own course.
During the course of the novel, Emily travels out into the wilds of British Columbia in order to paint First Nations people and artworks, such as longhouses and totem poles. Vreeland skillfully underscores the passion and curiousity that Carr must have had to withstand the primitive conditions and the suspicious attitudes that both native and white people had about her intentions. The reader can feel the emotion that Carr put into her work.
The novel also fictionalizes an account of Carr's trip to France to study with avant-garde French painters, during what would become the Impressionist movement. I personally found this part of the novel less satisfying, perhaps because not much is really known about how Carr passed her time while in France. Her work was exhibited at a respectable salon, which seemed like a victory for a woman at the time.
The biggest disappointment for me was after I finished the novel and went to look up Carr's paintings online. The novel had given me the expectation that Carr's work was bold and shocking and emotional... and I found it kind of tame and boring. Perhaps I am not viewing it in the proper historical context? Anyway, the book is still a terrific window into the time and place where Emily Carr lived and worked, and she is a delightful character to read about.
by Susan Vreeland
This is a fictionalized account of part of Canadian painter Emily Carr's life and work. I didn't previously know very much about Carr, apart from the fact that she was a Canadian woman painter around the turn of the (20th) century. The novel starts when Emily is already in her 30s, having studied art and painted for many years, and finally gaining some independence from her rather stifling family after the deaths of her parents. Her sisters strongly disapprove of her artistic passion, but Emily defies them and continues on her own course.
During the course of the novel, Emily travels out into the wilds of British Columbia in order to paint First Nations people and artworks, such as longhouses and totem poles. Vreeland skillfully underscores the passion and curiousity that Carr must have had to withstand the primitive conditions and the suspicious attitudes that both native and white people had about her intentions. The reader can feel the emotion that Carr put into her work.
The novel also fictionalizes an account of Carr's trip to France to study with avant-garde French painters, during what would become the Impressionist movement. I personally found this part of the novel less satisfying, perhaps because not much is really known about how Carr passed her time while in France. Her work was exhibited at a respectable salon, which seemed like a victory for a woman at the time.
The biggest disappointment for me was after I finished the novel and went to look up Carr's paintings online. The novel had given me the expectation that Carr's work was bold and shocking and emotional... and I found it kind of tame and boring. Perhaps I am not viewing it in the proper historical context? Anyway, the book is still a terrific window into the time and place where Emily Carr lived and worked, and she is a delightful character to read about.
Labels: artists, book reports
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
why I want to be a nurse
The Differential: Medscape Med Students Blogs: Therapeutic Moments
I know that the point the author (a med student) was making was about her own desire to heal, to have that "therapeutic moment" - but I responded so much to this:
"You can walk around making decisions all day long: “decrease TPN to 80,” “d/c phototherapy,” “increase IV fluids,” “stat CBC and blood cultures,” “wean to open crib,” “feed for weight.” But it’s only words. This, the actual blood draw, the actual medication change, the act of talking to the parents, the act of holding and feeding, this is the healing. "
I read that and thought "yes! this is why I want to be a nurse!"
Very affirming.
I know that the point the author (a med student) was making was about her own desire to heal, to have that "therapeutic moment" - but I responded so much to this:
"You can walk around making decisions all day long: “decrease TPN to 80,” “d/c phototherapy,” “increase IV fluids,” “stat CBC and blood cultures,” “wean to open crib,” “feed for weight.” But it’s only words. This, the actual blood draw, the actual medication change, the act of talking to the parents, the act of holding and feeding, this is the healing. "
I read that and thought "yes! this is why I want to be a nurse!"
Very affirming.
book report: The Left Hand of Darkness
The Left Hand of Darkness
by Ursula K. LeGuin
This book is an account by Genly Ai, a representative from the Ekumen, and his mission to the planet Gethen (aka Winter). Ai's goal is to convince the people of Winter to become members of the Ekumen, which is a federation of planets that trades in thoughts and ideas. They have technology that provides faster-than-light communication, but not faster-than-light travel, so material trade is impractical. The major cultural difference between Ai and the people of Winter is their sex - Ai is a human male, while the Gethenians are normally neither male nor female (or they are both?). They undergo a sexual cycle called kemmer, during which they change into either a male or female role for the purpose of procreation.
At the outset, Ai is a guest of the state, but following some court intrigue and some hasty decisions by the (possibly mad) king, he finds himself on the run with a former court official, Lord Estraven. They have to make a long, hard journey across the most rugged terrain on Winter, in theh wrong season. During the journey, they learn a lot more about each other and their respective cultures.
There is something very opaque about Ms. LeGuin's writing. I know I've talked about this before, as I've worked my way through her back catalog. While I fully recognize her mastery of the language, and her undeniable creativity, and her ability to allude to modern human societal issues using the allegory of an alien culture... I have trouble mustering an emotional response to this book. It's all very thinky. That said, I'm glad I read it. The mental experiement of imagining a culture where there is no sexism because everyone's sex is the same is a worthwhile one.
by Ursula K. LeGuin
This book is an account by Genly Ai, a representative from the Ekumen, and his mission to the planet Gethen (aka Winter). Ai's goal is to convince the people of Winter to become members of the Ekumen, which is a federation of planets that trades in thoughts and ideas. They have technology that provides faster-than-light communication, but not faster-than-light travel, so material trade is impractical. The major cultural difference between Ai and the people of Winter is their sex - Ai is a human male, while the Gethenians are normally neither male nor female (or they are both?). They undergo a sexual cycle called kemmer, during which they change into either a male or female role for the purpose of procreation.
At the outset, Ai is a guest of the state, but following some court intrigue and some hasty decisions by the (possibly mad) king, he finds himself on the run with a former court official, Lord Estraven. They have to make a long, hard journey across the most rugged terrain on Winter, in theh wrong season. During the journey, they learn a lot more about each other and their respective cultures.
There is something very opaque about Ms. LeGuin's writing. I know I've talked about this before, as I've worked my way through her back catalog. While I fully recognize her mastery of the language, and her undeniable creativity, and her ability to allude to modern human societal issues using the allegory of an alien culture... I have trouble mustering an emotional response to this book. It's all very thinky. That said, I'm glad I read it. The mental experiement of imagining a culture where there is no sexism because everyone's sex is the same is a worthwhile one.
Labels: book reports, science fiction
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Professor beaten; attackers cite KU creationism class
This is too much. I'm awfully glad I don't live in Kansas anymore.
This is too much. I'm awfully glad I don't live in Kansas anymore.
Monday, December 05, 2005
book report: All In My Head
All In My Head: An Epic Quest to Cure an Unrelenting, Totally Unreasonable, and Only Slightly Enlightening Headache
by Paula Kamen
This book is a memoir by Paula Kamen, a woman in her thirties who has suffered from a chronic headache since her early twenties. In this book, she chronicles the treatments she pursued in the quest to cure her headache, ranging from the traditional (painkillers, antidepressants, surgery) to the downright weird (craniosacral adjustments, guided visualization, strange diets) and everything inbetween (biofeedback, massage, chiropractic). Nothing cures her, although some things do seem to help a bit.
Interspersed with Kamen's own story are facts and statistics about chronic pain and its sufferers. I found that information fascinating. Kamen calls them the "Tired Girls" because chronic pain sufferers who have pain that is not from an obvious cause tend to be young-ish women with fibromyalgia, chronic headache or migraines, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, and so on. All of those disorders cause chronic, disabling pain and fatigue, but without any outward symptoms or foolproof diagnostic signs. So the people who have those disorders end up seeming like they are just lazy and wimpy, and that their problems are "all in their heads".
Even as someone who is sympathetic to the "Tired Girls" - my closest friend in college had fibromyalgia, and I never doubted that she was genuinely suffering, even though I couldn't see the source of her pain - I was taken aback by the callousness that the Western medical establishment, and Western society at large, show toward them. We would never say to a person with chest pain from heart disease, "Oh, quit your whining, if you stop thinking about the pain it will go away" or "if you just weren't so emotionally uptight you wouldn't be sick." Also, I think our medical culture still doesn't give enough consideration to the effects of chronic pain - it's demoralizing and depressing to be in constant pain, especially if you're told by your doctors that you're imagining it!
Finally, Kamen is a witty and funny writer, and really captures the absurdity of her situation. I didn't expect to laugh at a book about a headahce, but I did.
by Paula Kamen
This book is a memoir by Paula Kamen, a woman in her thirties who has suffered from a chronic headache since her early twenties. In this book, she chronicles the treatments she pursued in the quest to cure her headache, ranging from the traditional (painkillers, antidepressants, surgery) to the downright weird (craniosacral adjustments, guided visualization, strange diets) and everything inbetween (biofeedback, massage, chiropractic). Nothing cures her, although some things do seem to help a bit.
Interspersed with Kamen's own story are facts and statistics about chronic pain and its sufferers. I found that information fascinating. Kamen calls them the "Tired Girls" because chronic pain sufferers who have pain that is not from an obvious cause tend to be young-ish women with fibromyalgia, chronic headache or migraines, lupus, chronic fatigue syndrome, and so on. All of those disorders cause chronic, disabling pain and fatigue, but without any outward symptoms or foolproof diagnostic signs. So the people who have those disorders end up seeming like they are just lazy and wimpy, and that their problems are "all in their heads".
Even as someone who is sympathetic to the "Tired Girls" - my closest friend in college had fibromyalgia, and I never doubted that she was genuinely suffering, even though I couldn't see the source of her pain - I was taken aback by the callousness that the Western medical establishment, and Western society at large, show toward them. We would never say to a person with chest pain from heart disease, "Oh, quit your whining, if you stop thinking about the pain it will go away" or "if you just weren't so emotionally uptight you wouldn't be sick." Also, I think our medical culture still doesn't give enough consideration to the effects of chronic pain - it's demoralizing and depressing to be in constant pain, especially if you're told by your doctors that you're imagining it!
Finally, Kamen is a witty and funny writer, and really captures the absurdity of her situation. I didn't expect to laugh at a book about a headahce, but I did.
Labels: book reports, medical
Thursday, December 01, 2005
poo
I had this thought before I fell asleep last night after working the PM shift at The Home... human civilization revolves around poop. Now, I admit I started thinking about this for selfish reasons. When I worked a couple of days ago, I had a giant Code Brown to deal with first thing in the morning, and the resident who created it continued to create more Code Browns throughout the next few days. (Poor dear, she's embarrassed and upset about it, too.) Then, at home, we've got these two elderly cats. Ms. Siamese Kitty is quite constipated and so I'm giving her Laxatone every day to help her go. And Mr. Black Cat is on prednisone because he has inflammatory bowel disease, so whenever his system gets unbalanced, I have to use baby wipes on his butt. Which he does NOT appreciate, no matter how much I tell him that senior citizens sometimes need assistance with their activities of daily living, such as toileting and bathing.
Then I had a weird conversation with my friend A* the other day, where she was telling me about a guy she knows who had gone to visit an old friend and her French boyfriend at their home... only to discover that the couple was in the process of handling their own sewage treatment. They were trying to reclaim their "grey water" to do... I'm not sure what. Water their garden? Anyway, the upshot was, they didn't flush their toilets. Which is just gross, no matter how environmentally correct you are. If you want a non-flushing toilet, you should go ahead and install a composting toilet! Or an outhouse!
That got me to thinking... modern sewage treatment isn't just about the convenience or the stink prevention - it's really about hygiene and public health. In the biography of Florence Nightingale that I read recently (review coming soon), one of the things that she noticed in the military hospitals in the Crimean War was that the men got sicker when their drinking water was not kept clean. Although she didn't know that cholera was spread by the ingestion of water contaminated with infected feces, she instinctively understood that dirty drinking water is unhealthy. This is still a problem today in less-developed parts of the world... which leads me back to the point that human civilization really does revolve around poop.
Then I had a weird conversation with my friend A* the other day, where she was telling me about a guy she knows who had gone to visit an old friend and her French boyfriend at their home... only to discover that the couple was in the process of handling their own sewage treatment. They were trying to reclaim their "grey water" to do... I'm not sure what. Water their garden? Anyway, the upshot was, they didn't flush their toilets. Which is just gross, no matter how environmentally correct you are. If you want a non-flushing toilet, you should go ahead and install a composting toilet! Or an outhouse!
That got me to thinking... modern sewage treatment isn't just about the convenience or the stink prevention - it's really about hygiene and public health. In the biography of Florence Nightingale that I read recently (review coming soon), one of the things that she noticed in the military hospitals in the Crimean War was that the men got sicker when their drinking water was not kept clean. Although she didn't know that cholera was spread by the ingestion of water contaminated with infected feces, she instinctively understood that dirty drinking water is unhealthy. This is still a problem today in less-developed parts of the world... which leads me back to the point that human civilization really does revolve around poop.
Monday, November 28, 2005
book fifty-one
Good Omens
by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
I had read this book years ago, I think in high school, and remembered it being fantastically funny and clever. For once, I was right about something as a teenager.
The story is about Armageddon, or a near miss at it, anyway. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalyse are here... although now they ride motorbikes and dabble in modern technology. The Antichrist is here, along with his Hellhound, Dog. Although the Antichrist is 11 years old and more likely to take over his neighborhood gang than bring about the end of the world. Overseeing the Antichrist's antic are a not-very-evil demon named Crowley and his supposed nemesis, Angel Aziraphale the rare-books dealer.
A modern-day witch following the prognostications of her ancestor Agnes Nutter and a modern-day witch hunter round out the cast of Armageddonish characters. Be sure to listen to Queen ("Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me....") while you read it!
by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
I had read this book years ago, I think in high school, and remembered it being fantastically funny and clever. For once, I was right about something as a teenager.
The story is about Armageddon, or a near miss at it, anyway. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalyse are here... although now they ride motorbikes and dabble in modern technology. The Antichrist is here, along with his Hellhound, Dog. Although the Antichrist is 11 years old and more likely to take over his neighborhood gang than bring about the end of the world. Overseeing the Antichrist's antic are a not-very-evil demon named Crowley and his supposed nemesis, Angel Aziraphale the rare-books dealer.
A modern-day witch following the prognostications of her ancestor Agnes Nutter and a modern-day witch hunter round out the cast of Armageddonish characters. Be sure to listen to Queen ("Beelzebub has a devil put aside for me....") while you read it!
Labels: book reports
Thursday, November 24, 2005
thankful for
I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 21, 2005
I passed I passed I passed!
Yesterday was an extravaganza of waiting around... also known as taking the state test to get licensed as a CNA. I showed up at 7:45 for the written exam, which was supposed to start at 8:00. It actually started at 8:15, and there was a two-hour time limit. There were only 70 questions, though, and even after triple-checking my answers, I was done at 8:50. I was told to be back at 9:45 to get instructions for the skills portion of the test. So, I wandered over to the grocery store, bought some snacks and drinks and some magazines because I'd forgotten to pack a book to read, and returned to the testing location. But aaargh! A couple of people took the entire two hours for the written exam, so I had to sit and wait for half an hour. Happily, they fax in the tests to HQ and get the scores back very quickly, so I did learn while I was waiting that I had passed the written portion.
After getting the instructions for the skills part of the test, I was told that I would be in the group that would be tested at 1:30, and that I should be back at 1:00. So I went home for a while and had a sandwich with R*, and then went back to the testing site and took my magazine inside (which I would like to point out was Harper's Bazaar because I was way too vain to take O The Oprah Magazine inside with me) and tried to read it while a variety of loudmouthed nursing assistant candidates made small talk at high volumes. For two hours. I didn't get tested until 3:00, aaaaaaaaah! Note to self: in next life, do not choose a last name that is so close to the end of the alphabet.
So I took the test and I was very nervous, especially because one of the skills I had to do was to take a blood pressure and get it right. So I finished and went out in the lobby to WAIT SOME MORE. But, after all that waiting and waiting and waiting - I passed! So now I'm certifiable. I mean, certified.
My sweet R* took me out for a fancy dinner at Ray's Boathouse, which was fantastic. I had sablefish in sake kasu that made me want to cry, it was so tasty and tender. And R* congratulated me and I felt quite pleased with myself. Tomorrow, it's back to the grind at The Home, though, so I can't get too uppity, Harper's Bazaar notwithstanding.
After getting the instructions for the skills part of the test, I was told that I would be in the group that would be tested at 1:30, and that I should be back at 1:00. So I went home for a while and had a sandwich with R*, and then went back to the testing site and took my magazine inside (which I would like to point out was Harper's Bazaar because I was way too vain to take O The Oprah Magazine inside with me) and tried to read it while a variety of loudmouthed nursing assistant candidates made small talk at high volumes. For two hours. I didn't get tested until 3:00, aaaaaaaaah! Note to self: in next life, do not choose a last name that is so close to the end of the alphabet.
So I took the test and I was very nervous, especially because one of the skills I had to do was to take a blood pressure and get it right. So I finished and went out in the lobby to WAIT SOME MORE. But, after all that waiting and waiting and waiting - I passed! So now I'm certifiable. I mean, certified.
My sweet R* took me out for a fancy dinner at Ray's Boathouse, which was fantastic. I had sablefish in sake kasu that made me want to cry, it was so tasty and tender. And R* congratulated me and I felt quite pleased with myself. Tomorrow, it's back to the grind at The Home, though, so I can't get too uppity, Harper's Bazaar notwithstanding.
Friday, November 18, 2005
new job
So, I've been at my new job for about a week. The Home is an assisted living facility in a pretty nice neighborhood not too far from where I live. There are about 90 residents in the building, but a little less than half of them are completely independent. I believe there are 47 residents who are on the assisted living program, and a handful of those currently have no services or minimal services (like picking up their laundry). There are 3 nursing assistants on duty during the day and evening shifts, and 2 overnight, but I'm not scheduled to work the overnight shift, thank goodness!
I did three days of training (two on the day shift and one on the evening shift), and then Wednesday evening I worked by myself for the first time. Well, not really by myself, since there were 2 other CNAs there with me. I think I did okay. I'm sure I'll get better at it as I get used to the residents' preferences and schedules. Like the one lady who goes to bed before 8:00 every night, so you have to wake her up for her 8:00 meds. Aargh, I felt so bad waking her, but she was very matter-of-fact about it. It must happen a lot. Most of the residents seem very nice - I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.
My normal schedule will be working two morning shifts and two evening shifts. One of the evening shifts is followed by one of the morning shifts. There's not enough time between shifts to get a decent night's sleep. Oh well - I can see there will be afternoon naps in my future! I'm not working tonight - someone who is leaving is picking up an extra shift on her way out - which is nice because I am taking the state exam to get licensed on Sunday and I'm glad to have the downtime. And I'm not working my normal morning shift next week because I switched with someone and am working a different morning instead. How's that for confusing?
When I have more time, I have some observations to make about class identity and self-image and so forth... but right now I have a messy house to clean instead.
I did three days of training (two on the day shift and one on the evening shift), and then Wednesday evening I worked by myself for the first time. Well, not really by myself, since there were 2 other CNAs there with me. I think I did okay. I'm sure I'll get better at it as I get used to the residents' preferences and schedules. Like the one lady who goes to bed before 8:00 every night, so you have to wake her up for her 8:00 meds. Aargh, I felt so bad waking her, but she was very matter-of-fact about it. It must happen a lot. Most of the residents seem very nice - I'm looking forward to getting to know them better.
My normal schedule will be working two morning shifts and two evening shifts. One of the evening shifts is followed by one of the morning shifts. There's not enough time between shifts to get a decent night's sleep. Oh well - I can see there will be afternoon naps in my future! I'm not working tonight - someone who is leaving is picking up an extra shift on her way out - which is nice because I am taking the state exam to get licensed on Sunday and I'm glad to have the downtime. And I'm not working my normal morning shift next week because I switched with someone and am working a different morning instead. How's that for confusing?
When I have more time, I have some observations to make about class identity and self-image and so forth... but right now I have a messy house to clean instead.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
book fifty
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything
by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
I'm sure you've heard all about this book and I don't need to tell you anything about it, right? I'm not going to rehash the correlation Levitt & Dubner found between the legalization of abortion and a drop in crime rates 20 years later... or how real estate agents are less motivated to help you sell your house for the best price than you think... or how the name your parents choose for you may be closely associated with how educated they are. If any of that sounds interesting, definitely read the book. It's very readable and not at all like an economics textbook.
******************************
In other news, I have completed the 50 Book Challenge! I really enjoy reading and then writing about the books I've read, though, so I think I'm going to continue to post about what I'm reading. I've gotten lots of great recommendations from you who visit my blog, so please continue to make suggestions!
by Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
I'm sure you've heard all about this book and I don't need to tell you anything about it, right? I'm not going to rehash the correlation Levitt & Dubner found between the legalization of abortion and a drop in crime rates 20 years later... or how real estate agents are less motivated to help you sell your house for the best price than you think... or how the name your parents choose for you may be closely associated with how educated they are. If any of that sounds interesting, definitely read the book. It's very readable and not at all like an economics textbook.
******************************
In other news, I have completed the 50 Book Challenge! I really enjoy reading and then writing about the books I've read, though, so I think I'm going to continue to post about what I'm reading. I've gotten lots of great recommendations from you who visit my blog, so please continue to make suggestions!
Labels: book reports, statistics
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
one day left to housewife
I went in today and signed papers at my new job. I'm going to start Thursday morning. At 6:30. At which time it is still dark outside. But thank GOD my local driver-through espresso hut opens at 6:00, and it only takes 15 minutes to drive to The Home (snazzy work alias, eh?).
I think I'm going to like the work, but I'm a little sad about not impersonating a housewife anymore. I honestly do like doing stuff at home, and having the time to cook, and all of that. But this job shouldn't cut into my personal time too badly considering that it's only 4 days a week.
Tomorrow I'm going to take a load of books & videos to Half Price Books. I don't even care if they give me money - I just want them out of my house. There are 3 big bags of clothes on the curb, waiting for pickup by a local charity. Slowly but surely things are straightening up and coming together around here. I still have to tackle the garage, but fortunately the cabinet in there have doors so I don't have to look at all the crap in the meantime.
I think I'm going to like the work, but I'm a little sad about not impersonating a housewife anymore. I honestly do like doing stuff at home, and having the time to cook, and all of that. But this job shouldn't cut into my personal time too badly considering that it's only 4 days a week.
Tomorrow I'm going to take a load of books & videos to Half Price Books. I don't even care if they give me money - I just want them out of my house. There are 3 big bags of clothes on the curb, waiting for pickup by a local charity. Slowly but surely things are straightening up and coming together around here. I still have to tackle the garage, but fortunately the cabinet in there have doors so I don't have to look at all the crap in the meantime.
Monday, November 07, 2005
book forty-nine
Dawn
by Octavia Butler
This is the first book in the "Xenogenesis" trilogy. It's extremely creative in concept - Earth has been invaded by an alien race, the Oankali. The aliens have removed humans from the planet and put them into suspended animation on their vast, world-like ship. The first woman who is awoken by the aliens is Lilith. The Oankali hope she will become a leader, a sort of ambassador between the humans and the aliens. To that end, Lilith is integrated into a group of aliens and lives alongside them for a period of time. She eventually agrees to the ambassador role the aliens have suggested, and chooses a group of humans to awaken from suspended animation. It doesn't go especially well, and Lilith is in an unfortunate position between the aliens and the rest of the humans. What the humans don't seem to understand is that the aliens have made them sterile, and without the participation of the Oankali, humanity cannot reproduce any longer.
Honestly, the book is pretty creepy. The Oankali are not the typical scifi aliens who look like pretty much like humans - they are covered with sensory tentacles, lack eyes, ears, and noses, and some of them have four arms. They're described as being unsettling for humans to look at, which makes Lilith's sexual contact with one of them kind of ooky to read about. I have to give credit to Butler for being so original, though - she managed to get under my skin with this imaginary species, and that shows a gift. I'll post about the other two books in the trilogy as well.
by Octavia Butler
This is the first book in the "Xenogenesis" trilogy. It's extremely creative in concept - Earth has been invaded by an alien race, the Oankali. The aliens have removed humans from the planet and put them into suspended animation on their vast, world-like ship. The first woman who is awoken by the aliens is Lilith. The Oankali hope she will become a leader, a sort of ambassador between the humans and the aliens. To that end, Lilith is integrated into a group of aliens and lives alongside them for a period of time. She eventually agrees to the ambassador role the aliens have suggested, and chooses a group of humans to awaken from suspended animation. It doesn't go especially well, and Lilith is in an unfortunate position between the aliens and the rest of the humans. What the humans don't seem to understand is that the aliens have made them sterile, and without the participation of the Oankali, humanity cannot reproduce any longer.
Honestly, the book is pretty creepy. The Oankali are not the typical scifi aliens who look like pretty much like humans - they are covered with sensory tentacles, lack eyes, ears, and noses, and some of them have four arms. They're described as being unsettling for humans to look at, which makes Lilith's sexual contact with one of them kind of ooky to read about. I have to give credit to Butler for being so original, though - she managed to get under my skin with this imaginary species, and that shows a gift. I'll post about the other two books in the trilogy as well.
Labels: book reports, Octavia Butler, science fiction
Wednesday, November 02, 2005
I am nearly employed!
I interviewed yesterday for the CNA job I mentioned last week... and it must have gone well because this morning I got a call offering me the job! I'll go in Tuesday to sign papers and start training on Thursday.
I'm sure I'll write more about it as I learn more, but right now I think the best thing about this job is that I found it in time to work more than 200 hours before the next nursing school application is due. I think this means that I'll be accepted to nursing school for spring quarter!
I'm sure I'll write more about it as I learn more, but right now I think the best thing about this job is that I found it in time to work more than 200 hours before the next nursing school application is due. I think this means that I'll be accepted to nursing school for spring quarter!
emily needs
I was going to do the work on the "needs meme" myself, but when I googled "Emily needs" I found another Emily had already done it for me!
Thanks, other Emily.
Thanks, other Emily.
Friday, October 28, 2005
maybe I spoke too soon.
In a classic case of getting frustrated before the results have actually happened, I got a call less than an hour after my last post from an assisted-living facility that wants me to come in for an interview. Oh. Um. Heh heh. Sure, I'd love to.
So I have an interview on Tuesday. This is the same place that hired one of my classmates even before she'd finished her clinicals, which makes me a tiny bit nervous - why are they hiring a bunch of people who don't have any experience? But hey, I need the experience, so I'll go and smile and agree to work crappy shifts if that's what it takes. Stay tuned!
Locals, if you want to know where this place is, feel free to email me - emily at emilyskinner dot com. I just don't want to post it publicly for searchability and stalkability reasons.
So I have an interview on Tuesday. This is the same place that hired one of my classmates even before she'd finished her clinicals, which makes me a tiny bit nervous - why are they hiring a bunch of people who don't have any experience? But hey, I need the experience, so I'll go and smile and agree to work crappy shifts if that's what it takes. Stay tuned!
Locals, if you want to know where this place is, feel free to email me - emily at emilyskinner dot com. I just don't want to post it publicly for searchability and stalkability reasons.
new tactic
Okay, R* and I had an idea. Since the purpose of me getting the CNA training was to improve my chances of getting into nursing school, not to make a career out of working at a nursing home... there are other ways to get the same outcome. At Shoreline, there's this complicated point system that determines who the best candidates for the nursing program are. I was trying to get my CNA license and work a minimum of 192 hours before applying in January, because that would be worth 12 points. However, proof of holding down a non-medical job (i.e., spam shop job) is worth 7 points. And 100 hours of volunteering is worth 3 points. I could practically accomplish that in two weeks if I pushed! If I rack up 192 hours of volunteering, that is worth 6 points. Even with the 3 points for 100 hours, I believe I would be accepted, based on how many points were necessary to get in last quarter. There are several hospitals nearby where I could volunteer, although most of them request one four-hour shift once a week, so I may need to pick up 5 or 6 volunteer gigs, haha. This just might work.
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
now what?
So, I've finished my clinical training, I've mailed off the forms to the state and the testing company so I can take the certification exam next month, and I've filled out a form at my local hospital indicating that I want to volunteer there as soon and as much as possible. Now I guess I just have to wait for things to happen.
I'm scouring the newspaper and various websites looking for jobs to apply for. The frustrating thing is that they all want 6 months of experience. Oh well. Someone will have to hire me eventually, right?
I'm scouring the newspaper and various websites looking for jobs to apply for. The frustrating thing is that they all want 6 months of experience. Oh well. Someone will have to hire me eventually, right?
Friday, October 21, 2005
clinical finished
Well, I made it through my clinicals! I have officially completed training as a nursing assistant, and now I need to take the state exam to become certified.
After the first couple of days of feeling nervous and useless, I think I caught on really fast. Just because of the way my brain works, I think I will be able to do a good job keeping track of a batch of residents... although I might need to write more stuff down at first. I am so grateful to the other CNAs who taught me - I think the school owes them a debt of gratitude for putting up with students all the time!
I'm surprised that after only 6 days I left with a round of hugs and good wishes from some of the CNAs. I even got some nice words from some of the residents - my new friend who shares my last name has a lot of trouble speaking, but he managed to get out something that I think was "I wouldn't be surprised if you wound up here" after I told him today was my last day. So sweet! And another resident who is very sick, but is the model of gracious kindness, actually kissed me and wished me good luck.
So yeah, I did spend a lot of time wiping butts and other stuff that might be construed as weird or gross... but what I learned about myself is that I really love taking care of people. I feel sure I'm on the right path now, which is so reassuring I can hardly describe it. Part of my nervousness before clinicals was that I feared I might hate giving care once I was in the thick of it, but instead I like it more than I thought I would. I feel so grateful that I was assigned to a facility that encouraged me, and that my dear husband is so supportive to allow me to quit my job and follow my heart!
After the first couple of days of feeling nervous and useless, I think I caught on really fast. Just because of the way my brain works, I think I will be able to do a good job keeping track of a batch of residents... although I might need to write more stuff down at first. I am so grateful to the other CNAs who taught me - I think the school owes them a debt of gratitude for putting up with students all the time!
I'm surprised that after only 6 days I left with a round of hugs and good wishes from some of the CNAs. I even got some nice words from some of the residents - my new friend who shares my last name has a lot of trouble speaking, but he managed to get out something that I think was "I wouldn't be surprised if you wound up here" after I told him today was my last day. So sweet! And another resident who is very sick, but is the model of gracious kindness, actually kissed me and wished me good luck.
So yeah, I did spend a lot of time wiping butts and other stuff that might be construed as weird or gross... but what I learned about myself is that I really love taking care of people. I feel sure I'm on the right path now, which is so reassuring I can hardly describe it. Part of my nervousness before clinicals was that I feared I might hate giving care once I was in the thick of it, but instead I like it more than I thought I would. I feel so grateful that I was assigned to a facility that encouraged me, and that my dear husband is so supportive to allow me to quit my job and follow my heart!
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
too funny
I just had the funniest email exchange with the sysadmin at Old Spam Job, who we can call Mordac.
I sent him a link to this.
And his response was:
"And this most accuratly describes whats been going on since you left:"
http://www.despair.com/meetings.html
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Did I mention I don't miss my spam job at all?
I sent him a link to this.
And his response was:
"And this most accuratly describes whats been going on since you left:"
http://www.despair.com/meetings.html
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Did I mention I don't miss my spam job at all?
Friday, October 14, 2005
babies? none for me, thanks.
I spent the whole day yesterday with my friend J* and her new son who we will just call Fish for the purpose of this blog. That's not his name or even anything close to his name, so there, potential Internet stalkers! She asked me to come over because her partner had to go into work one day this week, and I was available yesterday before the final exam in my class, but then busy for the next 6 workdays with clinicals. I wasn't sure why J* wanted me there, but when I asked her that after I arrived, she said it was just for reassurance, in case Fish screamed his head off or she needed a nap or whatever.
I had halfway expected to go over there and spend the day with them and come home thinking, "MUST HAVE BABY NOW!" but that's not really how it went. I was actually surprised by my mixed reaction - most of the day I thought "Aw, how sweet, I want to cuddle him, I could totally have one of these for myself...." but I also had this strange realization while J* was nursing him for the third time after I arrived, that Fish is barely anything other than a parasite at this point in his life and being the parent of a tiny infant is completely unrewarding, in the sense that they need your attention and care and boobs 24 hours a day, but you really don't get anything back from them at this point. They're not very interactive at all. Also, Fish peed on J* during a diaper change for the first time while I watched. :)
I hope I don't sound too negative, though, because I *really* enjoyed being there. I love that J* was completely open with me about how she was feeling and what birth was like, and let me watch her breast feed without any modesty whatsoever. It was a very good woman-bonding time! And I held Fish and let him sleep on my chest for an hour, which was the sweetest thinng ever. Being an auntie is like the best of both worlds!
I had halfway expected to go over there and spend the day with them and come home thinking, "MUST HAVE BABY NOW!" but that's not really how it went. I was actually surprised by my mixed reaction - most of the day I thought "Aw, how sweet, I want to cuddle him, I could totally have one of these for myself...." but I also had this strange realization while J* was nursing him for the third time after I arrived, that Fish is barely anything other than a parasite at this point in his life and being the parent of a tiny infant is completely unrewarding, in the sense that they need your attention and care and boobs 24 hours a day, but you really don't get anything back from them at this point. They're not very interactive at all. Also, Fish peed on J* during a diaper change for the first time while I watched. :)
I hope I don't sound too negative, though, because I *really* enjoyed being there. I love that J* was completely open with me about how she was feeling and what birth was like, and let me watch her breast feed without any modesty whatsoever. It was a very good woman-bonding time! And I held Fish and let him sleep on my chest for an hour, which was the sweetest thinng ever. Being an auntie is like the best of both worlds!
first day of clinical
Well, I lived through the first day of my clinical. It was not difficult, in the sense that nothing I did today was hard or super-unpleasant, but it was emotionally challenging on a lot of levels. It was hard to see some of the most incapcitated residents - although they are cared for with skill and kindess (more on that in a minute), it's kind of a shock to see people who are too out of it to sit up or open their eyes or feed themselves. I suppose that says something about our society!
Also, I felt like I was all thumbs today following the NAC that I shadowed - just as I feared, I didn't know ANYTHING. But it wasn't what I expected not to know, if that makes sense. The skills that I learned in class were all completely useful! But I still felt like I was all thumbs because I didn't know where to get supplies or throw out trash or open doors with coded locks or where to find the dining hall or a million other things. Monday will go much better now that I know a thing or two!
I'm not going to talk at length about the specifics of what I did, both to preserve the residents' privacy, and because most of my readers would probably be grossed out. :) But there were a couple moments that felt good... one was when I sat and chatted with a retired lady who lives on a less-assisted floor, and she told me about her previous job and stuff. Another was when I helped a man eat lunch, and he read my nametag and told me my last name was the same as his, and then I was able to coax him to eat all his vegetables. The woman who came around and wrote down what everyone ate was surprised - apparently he'd insisted he didn't want a vegetable.
One thing that made me glad that I'm headed down the nurse career path was that I was hugely intrigued by what the nurses were doing. Of course I'm not shadowing them because I am learning to be an *assistant* not a nurse at this time... but all their charting and med-passing and care-planning looked so much more interesting than what I was doing all day! That is good affirmation that I'm doing the right stuff.
And finally, now it's official - I honestly would rather wipe butts than work at my old spam job!
Also, I felt like I was all thumbs today following the NAC that I shadowed - just as I feared, I didn't know ANYTHING. But it wasn't what I expected not to know, if that makes sense. The skills that I learned in class were all completely useful! But I still felt like I was all thumbs because I didn't know where to get supplies or throw out trash or open doors with coded locks or where to find the dining hall or a million other things. Monday will go much better now that I know a thing or two!
I'm not going to talk at length about the specifics of what I did, both to preserve the residents' privacy, and because most of my readers would probably be grossed out. :) But there were a couple moments that felt good... one was when I sat and chatted with a retired lady who lives on a less-assisted floor, and she told me about her previous job and stuff. Another was when I helped a man eat lunch, and he read my nametag and told me my last name was the same as his, and then I was able to coax him to eat all his vegetables. The woman who came around and wrote down what everyone ate was surprised - apparently he'd insisted he didn't want a vegetable.
One thing that made me glad that I'm headed down the nurse career path was that I was hugely intrigued by what the nurses were doing. Of course I'm not shadowing them because I am learning to be an *assistant* not a nurse at this time... but all their charting and med-passing and care-planning looked so much more interesting than what I was doing all day! That is good affirmation that I'm doing the right stuff.
And finally, now it's official - I honestly would rather wipe butts than work at my old spam job!
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
clothes
Forgot to mention that when I was at the mall earlier today, I discovered quite my accident that I am old. I was casually window shopping as I went from the uniform store to Starbucks to Payless Shoes to Rite Aid. Gap? Yuck. Limited? Yuck. Cache? I would never need to wear clothes like that in my life. Victoria's Secret? I can't stand undies that go up my butt on purpose. Ann Taylor Loft? Why yes! I liked everything in their window and could imagine wearing all of it.
Now I just need a big bucket of money!
Now I just need a big bucket of money!
book forty-eight
Small Gods
by Terry Pratchett
I love the Discworld books. They're funny and clever and easy as pie to read. Like candy for my brain, really.
"Small Gods" is about Brutha, a kid who is a novice at a monastery. He's not very bright and spends his free time working in the garden. Which is where he finds a turtle who speaks to him and turns out to be the Great God Om, who all the monks are supposedly worshipping. However, Om's lowly status as a turtle makes it painfully obvious that no one except maybe Brutha is actually worshipping Om at all. On Discworld, gods gain their power from the worship of humans... so when no one worships a god, it ceases to exist. This same concept was put to use in "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman - probably not a coincidence, since Gaiman and Pratchett have collaborated in the past.
Like the other Discworld books, this is a quick and entertaining read with just enough intellectualism and satire to keep your brain engaged. I'm sure I'll read all of them eventually.
by Terry Pratchett
I love the Discworld books. They're funny and clever and easy as pie to read. Like candy for my brain, really.
"Small Gods" is about Brutha, a kid who is a novice at a monastery. He's not very bright and spends his free time working in the garden. Which is where he finds a turtle who speaks to him and turns out to be the Great God Om, who all the monks are supposedly worshipping. However, Om's lowly status as a turtle makes it painfully obvious that no one except maybe Brutha is actually worshipping Om at all. On Discworld, gods gain their power from the worship of humans... so when no one worships a god, it ceases to exist. This same concept was put to use in "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman - probably not a coincidence, since Gaiman and Pratchett have collaborated in the past.
Like the other Discworld books, this is a quick and entertaining read with just enough intellectualism and satire to keep your brain engaged. I'm sure I'll read all of them eventually.
Labels: book reports
ready to roll
I went to the mall today and got the last couple things I need to be ready for my clinical starting FRIDAY! eeek! I got some non-skid white tennis shoes, just in case my fancypants Danskos don't show up today or tomorrow, a gait belt for totin' old folks, and some heavy-duty hand lotion and some liquid bandage for my hands that are about to be washed more than they've ever been washed in their lives. I'm worried that my skin will crack, or my eczema will flare up and cause me agony. The scrubs I ordered last week are not here yet either, but I have one set I can wear Friday for starters. Eeek, so nervous. I'm sure it will be fine but I feel like hyperventilating whenever I think about. I would really like to take Xanax, but a) I don't have any and b) they probably frown on coming to work under the influence of prescription medications.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
my new nephew
Okay, so he's not really my nephew, he's my friend's new son. He was born at 1:30 Saturday morning. I went to see him this morning and he slept in my arms the entire time! Isn't he precious? I'm tickled that there's a baby in my life who I can cuddle and coo over, without having to commit to having one of my own right now.
Friday, October 07, 2005
book forty-seven
I'm Not the New Me
by Wendy McClure
I checked this book out because I've been a reader of Wendy's site Pound for quite some time. I was a little concerned that the book would mainly recycle material from her website, but happily, it was not like that at all. "I'm Not the New Me" has a pretty coherent narrative rather than being a blog-like series of snapshots. Plus Wendy is FUNNY.
This isn't much of a review, is it? Regardless, believe when I say I recommend the book.
by Wendy McClure
I checked this book out because I've been a reader of Wendy's site Pound for quite some time. I was a little concerned that the book would mainly recycle material from her website, but happily, it was not like that at all. "I'm Not the New Me" has a pretty coherent narrative rather than being a blog-like series of snapshots. Plus Wendy is FUNNY.
This isn't much of a review, is it? Regardless, believe when I say I recommend the book.
Labels: book reports, weight loss
I'm going to be an auntie!
My friend J* just called to tell me her water just broke. Her baby wasn't due for another couple weeks, but it looks like he's decided to arrive early! It's funny, I was just shopping today for prezzies for him for the baby shower that was scheduled for Sunday. I suppose now I'm going to get to meet him in the hospital instead. I'm very excited, in case you couldn't tell - J* is my closest friend to date to have a baby.
no sport clogs
So apparently the white Dansko sport clogs that I want so very, very badly do not actually exist any longer. I knew Dansko was phasing them out, but now it seems that everyone in the whole world is out of them. I suspect that Dansko is sitting on a warehouse full of sport clogs and will sell them on the black market to desparate klutzy nurses... but that doesn't do me any good, now does it?
So now I'm going with plan B, the Dansko Jette. I hope they're as comfy as they look.
So now I'm going with plan B, the Dansko Jette. I hope they're as comfy as they look.
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
book forty-six
Mrs. Kimble
by Jennifer Haigh
I have to start by saying that I really didn't like this book. It's well-written and I would definitely try other books by Jennifer Haigh, but I couldn't get over the fact that I hated all the characters. Kind of like the movie "Closer" - it was well-made and the acting was good, but I hated all of those people!
Anyway, "Mrs. Kimble" is about three women who are each married at different times to Ken Kimble, who I thought was a shiftless loser who made his living mooching off of women who didn't know any better. The first is Birdie, a college student who Ken meets when he is her choir director at school. At the beginning of the book, Ken has already abandoned Birdie and their two small children, and she is rapidly spiralling into an alcoholic stupor.
The second Mrs. Kimble is Joan, a Jewish woman in Florida who is recovering from breast cancer. She meets Ken when he shows up as the fiance of one of Joan's friends' daughter, another college student that Ken met on the job. Ken dumps the girl for Joan.
The third Mrs. Kimble is Dinah, who had been his children's babysitter when they were small. She has a large port-wine birthmark on her face and is flattered by Ken's attention.
The thing that drove me nuts, though, is that all three of these women were total suckers. I found it sad and frustrating that they were so desparate for a husband that they were willing to overlook Ken's obvious flaws and the holes in his story. Also, I understand the story is about the women and not about Ken, but I wish we'd gotten some insight into how he turned out to be such a conniving jerk.
by Jennifer Haigh
I have to start by saying that I really didn't like this book. It's well-written and I would definitely try other books by Jennifer Haigh, but I couldn't get over the fact that I hated all the characters. Kind of like the movie "Closer" - it was well-made and the acting was good, but I hated all of those people!
Anyway, "Mrs. Kimble" is about three women who are each married at different times to Ken Kimble, who I thought was a shiftless loser who made his living mooching off of women who didn't know any better. The first is Birdie, a college student who Ken meets when he is her choir director at school. At the beginning of the book, Ken has already abandoned Birdie and their two small children, and she is rapidly spiralling into an alcoholic stupor.
The second Mrs. Kimble is Joan, a Jewish woman in Florida who is recovering from breast cancer. She meets Ken when he shows up as the fiance of one of Joan's friends' daughter, another college student that Ken met on the job. Ken dumps the girl for Joan.
The third Mrs. Kimble is Dinah, who had been his children's babysitter when they were small. She has a large port-wine birthmark on her face and is flattered by Ken's attention.
The thing that drove me nuts, though, is that all three of these women were total suckers. I found it sad and frustrating that they were so desparate for a husband that they were willing to overlook Ken's obvious flaws and the holes in his story. Also, I understand the story is about the women and not about Ken, but I wish we'd gotten some insight into how he turned out to be such a conniving jerk.
Labels: book reports
Monday, October 03, 2005
time flies
Holy crap, here it is October already, and I only have two more weeks of housewifing before my night class is over! Following that, I'll have six days of clinical training at a nursing home, then it will be time to register for the state exam to complete my certification. I can't believe how fast it's gone!
I haven't gotten nearly enough done around the house. The house is much cleaner and running more smoothly, but I haven't done very many of the projects I wanted to do. I intend to start looking for a new job as soon as I've completed my clinicals, but I suppose there may be a decent amount of downtime before I actually start working. I need to crack the whip at myself!
I went ahead and ordered the Dansko sport clogs I'd been hemming and hawing over. Spendy, but probably worth it. Now I need to haul my butt over to the uniform store and buy some dorky white pants and some scrub tops. At least I can pick whatever top I want as long as I wear it with dorky white pants!
I haven't gotten nearly enough done around the house. The house is much cleaner and running more smoothly, but I haven't done very many of the projects I wanted to do. I intend to start looking for a new job as soon as I've completed my clinicals, but I suppose there may be a decent amount of downtime before I actually start working. I need to crack the whip at myself!
I went ahead and ordered the Dansko sport clogs I'd been hemming and hawing over. Spendy, but probably worth it. Now I need to haul my butt over to the uniform store and buy some dorky white pants and some scrub tops. At least I can pick whatever top I want as long as I wear it with dorky white pants!
Friday, September 23, 2005
hausfrau
So far, I love impersonating a housewife. The house is about 8 times cleaner than it was last week, and I'm starting to tackle the projects that I always mean to do but never seemed to have time for - like going through our books for ones to discard, cleaning out my closet, washing windows, and so on.
But I'm not just sitting around on my butt, either - I'm going to school 3 times a week for the CNA certification program. The "book-learning" part of the course is not hard for me at all, but I feel like such a klutz when it comes to learning new hands-on skills. Like this week, I started learning how to take blood pressure. There's not that much to it - you feel for the person's brachial pulse, you put the cuff on their arm and pump it up, you put the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the brachial pulse, and you deflate the cuff while listening for their pulse to become audible and then fade out, noting the numbers on the gauge at those times. It sounds really straightforward, right? But jeez, I'm so klutzy, I feel like all the tubes and everything are trying to tie themselves in knots. And I'm concentrating so hard on listening that I have trouble remembering to look at the gauge and remember the numbers, which duh, is the whole point. On the other hand, I can tell that as soon as I have the chance to practice some more, it will become totally second nature and easy. I hate this part of learning something new - I really prefer to know what I am doing! And I have a terrible fear of looking stupid.
But don't get the impression I'm not enjoying the class. I am. And I'm looking forward to actually interacting with patients in a few weeks when I start my clinical!
Back to shoes: I tried on a pair of Dansko Sport clogs yesterday (lower, wider heel and more squooshy inside) - I think I like them. And I found a really good deal on them online here. Should I just go for it, instead of trying on 101 other kinds of shoes?
But I'm not just sitting around on my butt, either - I'm going to school 3 times a week for the CNA certification program. The "book-learning" part of the course is not hard for me at all, but I feel like such a klutz when it comes to learning new hands-on skills. Like this week, I started learning how to take blood pressure. There's not that much to it - you feel for the person's brachial pulse, you put the cuff on their arm and pump it up, you put the diaphragm of the stethoscope over the brachial pulse, and you deflate the cuff while listening for their pulse to become audible and then fade out, noting the numbers on the gauge at those times. It sounds really straightforward, right? But jeez, I'm so klutzy, I feel like all the tubes and everything are trying to tie themselves in knots. And I'm concentrating so hard on listening that I have trouble remembering to look at the gauge and remember the numbers, which duh, is the whole point. On the other hand, I can tell that as soon as I have the chance to practice some more, it will become totally second nature and easy. I hate this part of learning something new - I really prefer to know what I am doing! And I have a terrible fear of looking stupid.
But don't get the impression I'm not enjoying the class. I am. And I'm looking forward to actually interacting with patients in a few weeks when I start my clinical!
Back to shoes: I tried on a pair of Dansko Sport clogs yesterday (lower, wider heel and more squooshy inside) - I think I like them. And I found a really good deal on them online here. Should I just go for it, instead of trying on 101 other kinds of shoes?
Thursday, September 15, 2005
library thing
http://www.librarything.com
GASP! .....!!!!!
I'm in love. Also. I totally need something like this for our CD collection.
GASP! .....!!!!!
I'm in love. Also. I totally need something like this for our CD collection.
last day!
I'm packing up this afternoon to leave Dumb Ham Job. I thought I might feel sad when the day finally came, but I don't. I feel excited about moving forward. Also, my coworkers are being phenomenally sweet - I've been taken out for a sushi lunch, receieved a Starbucks card, and a gift certificate to a day spa. Aren't they kind? Too bad the people in charge don't know how to run a company. Speaking of which...I think I'm getting out just in time. Stoner CEO Guy is moving out of state to be involved with his family's business, and he hired Lawyer Guy to come in as president of the company. Allegedly CEO Guy said that he will give Lawyer Guy 6 months to make the business profitable, and after that, he's cutting off financial support. So, set your watches, this place will be closing up shop in March!
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
nursey shoes
All right, lurking nurse readers, I know you're out there. I need some practical advice! The CNA program I'm in requires me to get white shoes for my uniform, but any style of shoe is acceptable as long as they're all white. I'm short, I'm kind of klutzy, and I have a bum ankle from a bad sprain a few years ago. What shoes do y'all recommend? Don't worry about price - if they're worth it, I'll pay top dollar.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
amazing dinner
We had the most incredible dinner on my birthday at a restaurant called Elemental in Wallingford. I almost hesitate to write about it, for fear that even more people might go there. There are, I believe, 4 tables in the joint, plus a few armchairs and a miniature bar. They take no reservations. We went at 10:30 at night after my first CNA class, and had to wait a few minutes for a table - but that was no problem because the incredibly friendly owner/host pulled up some armchairs and fixed us some mystery drinks. We eventually got him to tell us they were made of white port, club soda, and lime juice. Ahhh!
Then, he moved us to a table, handed 'round menus that listed a variety of small plates, and encouraged us to share. We saw that the menu offered "wine service" which turned out to mean a steady parade of glasses to go with each plate as it arrived. My dad was elected to be the Sober Guy who would drive us home, and when he declined the wine, he was instead treated to a nonalcoholic pear cider so he wouldn't feel left out.
We got completely drunk, had some AMAZING food, and apparently said some extremely funny things. My mother proclaimed that she wanted to marry the heirloom tomatoes in the caprese. What you may not know is that "marry" is a polite code word for "fuck" in my mother's vocabulary. R* alleged that he was so enchanted by the fig and cheese tart, he believed he may already be pregnant by it, regardless of the lack of intercourse with said dessert. I believe I announced my intention to rub my face in that same fig tart.
After plying us with cocktails, wines, and teeny pours of raspberry liquor, someone let it slip to our host that it was my birthday. The last thing to arrive at the table was a little glass of what I think was tawny port, topped with a disk of cardboard bearing a birthday candle. So festive!
By the time we got home, well after 1:00 AM, I could hardly focus my eyes. I fell asleep holding R*'s hand in an effort to keep the bed from spinning out from under me. I think we're going to go back for R*'s birthday in November.
What the pros have to say.
Then, he moved us to a table, handed 'round menus that listed a variety of small plates, and encouraged us to share. We saw that the menu offered "wine service" which turned out to mean a steady parade of glasses to go with each plate as it arrived. My dad was elected to be the Sober Guy who would drive us home, and when he declined the wine, he was instead treated to a nonalcoholic pear cider so he wouldn't feel left out.
We got completely drunk, had some AMAZING food, and apparently said some extremely funny things. My mother proclaimed that she wanted to marry the heirloom tomatoes in the caprese. What you may not know is that "marry" is a polite code word for "fuck" in my mother's vocabulary. R* alleged that he was so enchanted by the fig and cheese tart, he believed he may already be pregnant by it, regardless of the lack of intercourse with said dessert. I believe I announced my intention to rub my face in that same fig tart.
After plying us with cocktails, wines, and teeny pours of raspberry liquor, someone let it slip to our host that it was my birthday. The last thing to arrive at the table was a little glass of what I think was tawny port, topped with a disk of cardboard bearing a birthday candle. So festive!
By the time we got home, well after 1:00 AM, I could hardly focus my eyes. I fell asleep holding R*'s hand in an effort to keep the bed from spinning out from under me. I think we're going to go back for R*'s birthday in November.
What the pros have to say.
Monday, September 12, 2005
when I have a moment
I will tell you all about what I've been doing for the past few days. It involves lots of restaurants, a hotel, and 4 hours of class on Thursday night.
But right now, I have no time! However, I do want to take a sense to say a very sincere thank-you to those of you who posted such kind birthday wishes. That was a nice surprise to find inside my computer this morning.
But right now, I have no time! However, I do want to take a sense to say a very sincere thank-you to those of you who posted such kind birthday wishes. That was a nice surprise to find inside my computer this morning.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
happy birthday to me
Last year on my birthday, I was stressing about the presidential election. That didn't exactly turn out well.
But this year, I can finally see that real changes are happening in my life. In the last year, I've finished all the prerequisite classes for nursing school, changed my diet and exercise habits and lost a chunk of weight (more to go, though), enjoyed a really good year with R* (who knew, marriage gets better after you do it for a while!), and progressed to the point of quitting my dumb job to facilitate my career change. That's a lot.
As for the whole turning-30 thing - I really don't know what to think about it. I don't feel any different today. I guess I'd always thought by the time I was 30, I would have a graduate degree and a child, and I don't have either one. But my life is pretty darn good, so I'm not sure that there's anything I need to feel bad about!
But this year, I can finally see that real changes are happening in my life. In the last year, I've finished all the prerequisite classes for nursing school, changed my diet and exercise habits and lost a chunk of weight (more to go, though), enjoyed a really good year with R* (who knew, marriage gets better after you do it for a while!), and progressed to the point of quitting my dumb job to facilitate my career change. That's a lot.
As for the whole turning-30 thing - I really don't know what to think about it. I don't feel any different today. I guess I'd always thought by the time I was 30, I would have a graduate degree and a child, and I don't have either one. But my life is pretty darn good, so I'm not sure that there's anything I need to feel bad about!
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
NEUROTICALLY YOURS CARTOON: HURRICANE REPORT
A cartoon squirrel gives a better news report than CNN. Warning, if you're offended by foul-mouthed language, or if you don't want your coworkers to hear you listening to a potty-mouthed squirrel, don't click.
amazing reading
Medscape
This site is posting first-hand accounts of treating evacuees from Katrina, written by doctors and nurses who are volunteering at shelters and clinics in Texas, Louisiana, etc. It's pretty amazing stuff. I'm getting kind of choked up just reading about it.
This site is posting first-hand accounts of treating evacuees from Katrina, written by doctors and nurses who are volunteering at shelters and clinics in Texas, Louisiana, etc. It's pretty amazing stuff. I'm getting kind of choked up just reading about it.
nurse in training t-shirts
a small way to help
Nurse Ratchett's Alter Ego provides an address where you can send a care package to a random evacuee from the Gulf Coast here. This seems like a terrific way to do something tangible that won't cost a fortune or be a big time committment, if money and time have been preventing you from helping out. I would think you could use a Priority Mail envelope and stuff it full of small useful things - they cost a flat rate of $3.85 to mail anywhere in the U.S.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
I did it I did it!
I just gave notice at my job!
My last day is going to be September 15th. And because I made the plans a long time ago, I'm taking off September 9th to go celebrate my 30th birthday (which is actually the 8th) with my husband and my parents. And Monday is Labor Day. So, I really only have 8 more work days to go!
Here's the plan: I'm going to start the training program at NATI next week, at night. After the training is complete, I'll find a CNA job and work as close to full-time as possible. I need to get 192 hours on the job before January 3rd, which is when the application for the Spring quarter's nursing class is due to Shoreline. I'm a little concerned about the timeline - but it should work out okay. 192 hours is 24 8-hour days, or just over 1 month full-time. I should be able to fit that into November & December even if I can't find a 40 hours/week job.
In the meantime, since I'll be going to training 3 nights a week, I'm going to impersonate a housewife for a while!
My last day is going to be September 15th. And because I made the plans a long time ago, I'm taking off September 9th to go celebrate my 30th birthday (which is actually the 8th) with my husband and my parents. And Monday is Labor Day. So, I really only have 8 more work days to go!
Here's the plan: I'm going to start the training program at NATI next week, at night. After the training is complete, I'll find a CNA job and work as close to full-time as possible. I need to get 192 hours on the job before January 3rd, which is when the application for the Spring quarter's nursing class is due to Shoreline. I'm a little concerned about the timeline - but it should work out okay. 192 hours is 24 8-hour days, or just over 1 month full-time. I should be able to fit that into November & December even if I can't find a 40 hours/week job.
In the meantime, since I'll be going to training 3 nights a week, I'm going to impersonate a housewife for a while!
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
book forty-five
The Dispossessed
by Ursula K. LeGuin
I think I requested this book from the library based on Elizabeth's recommendation. I personally think Elizabeth is much smarter than I am, so I wasn't surprised to find that this is kind of a thinky booky. At first I thought it was unbearably slow and wanted something to happen, but once I got into the story a little bit, I was fascinated.
Shevek is a physicist from Urras, a moon colonized by an anarchist movement from the main planet of Anarres. Since the migration, contact between the two groups has been extremely limited. On Urras, everything is shared, including homes, food, and division of labor. On Anarres, capitalism is in full effect, resulting a society with a divide between the rich and the poor, men and women, residents and immigrants, and so forth. Shevek decides to visit Anarres as a scientist to study physics and to learn about this other society.
While not a whole lot actually *happens* in the course of the book, I was still glued to it. I was intrigued by the idea that anarchy - or perhaps socialism? - could possibly work if everyone was brought up from childhood to disbelieve in the concept of ownership. Children on Urras were taught to say "the mother" instead of "my mother" or "the bed I sleep in" instead of "my bed". And while couples could choose to pair-bond and live their lives together, it was not required or expected that everyone would want to. Really interesting stuff.
by Ursula K. LeGuin
I think I requested this book from the library based on Elizabeth's recommendation. I personally think Elizabeth is much smarter than I am, so I wasn't surprised to find that this is kind of a thinky booky. At first I thought it was unbearably slow and wanted something to happen, but once I got into the story a little bit, I was fascinated.
Shevek is a physicist from Urras, a moon colonized by an anarchist movement from the main planet of Anarres. Since the migration, contact between the two groups has been extremely limited. On Urras, everything is shared, including homes, food, and division of labor. On Anarres, capitalism is in full effect, resulting a society with a divide between the rich and the poor, men and women, residents and immigrants, and so forth. Shevek decides to visit Anarres as a scientist to study physics and to learn about this other society.
While not a whole lot actually *happens* in the course of the book, I was still glued to it. I was intrigued by the idea that anarchy - or perhaps socialism? - could possibly work if everyone was brought up from childhood to disbelieve in the concept of ownership. Children on Urras were taught to say "the mother" instead of "my mother" or "the bed I sleep in" instead of "my bed". And while couples could choose to pair-bond and live their lives together, it was not required or expected that everyone would want to. Really interesting stuff.
Labels: book reports, science fiction
YELLING, that's what I'm here for
Monday, August 29, 2005
book forty-four
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
by J.K. Rowling
I'm finally caught up so I can read the latest book, which coworker L* graciously loaned to me.
Although, I really feel like I should read Order of the Phoenix again... I definitely missed something. The whole prophecy/tank of brains/mysterious gateway bidness sort of went over my head. Perhaps I am dense and should wait for the next movie!
by J.K. Rowling
I'm finally caught up so I can read the latest book, which coworker L* graciously loaned to me.
Although, I really feel like I should read Order of the Phoenix again... I definitely missed something. The whole prophecy/tank of brains/mysterious gateway bidness sort of went over my head. Perhaps I am dense and should wait for the next movie!
Labels: book reports, Harry Potter
book forty-three
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
by J.K. Rowling
Yeah, you know what this one's about too. The movie is coming out this winter, yay!
Harry gets entered in a magic contest where he competes with representatives from two other schools of magic and another contestant from Hogwarts. It's all very dangerous and exciting. Also, Harry starts having funny feelings, possibly in the pants area, about Cho Chang.
by J.K. Rowling
Yeah, you know what this one's about too. The movie is coming out this winter, yay!
Harry gets entered in a magic contest where he competes with representatives from two other schools of magic and another contestant from Hogwarts. It's all very dangerous and exciting. Also, Harry starts having funny feelings, possibly in the pants area, about Cho Chang.
Labels: book reports, Harry Potter
book forty-two
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
by J.K. Rowling
Everyone knows what this is about, right? I'm just catching up with the series - I had originally decided I wouldn't read the books until I'd seen the movies, but got impatient. Also, books stick with me better than movies, so I think I'll remember the events of the story better if I read them.
Very briefly: Harry is being pursued by Sirius Black who has escaped from the magician's prison at Azkaban. He's afraid that this Sirius character wants to kill him. For security, Hogwarts is being guarded by dementors, which suck all the happiness out of people... but Harry learns to deflect them with help from Remus Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
by J.K. Rowling
Everyone knows what this is about, right? I'm just catching up with the series - I had originally decided I wouldn't read the books until I'd seen the movies, but got impatient. Also, books stick with me better than movies, so I think I'll remember the events of the story better if I read them.
Very briefly: Harry is being pursued by Sirius Black who has escaped from the magician's prison at Azkaban. He's afraid that this Sirius character wants to kill him. For security, Hogwarts is being guarded by dementors, which suck all the happiness out of people... but Harry learns to deflect them with help from Remus Lupin, the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
Labels: book reports, Harry Potter
rain
We went to see Neko Case at the Zoo Tunes concert series at, you know, the zoo, last night. She was fantastic. I'm very impressed that she actually sounds like that when she's standing right over there, and isn't in a studio or on the television or anything. Unfortunately, after weeks and weeks of no rain, the skies just OPENED shortly after she started her set. We stuck it out for a little while but we were not as prepared with rain gear as we perhaps should have been. Bad Seattlites! Still, it was kind of an adventure to sit on the ground and eat our picnic and hear some great music and brave the elements. When we got home, we took hot showers and hopped into bed and had a bracing alcoholic beverage.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
FSM
Local coverage of Flying Spaghetti Monster
I love that a Kansas paper is publishing this story. Of course, it's in Lawrence, but still. Even better, click on the "On The Street" link at the bottom of the article!
I love that a Kansas paper is publishing this story. Of course, it's in Lawrence, but still. Even better, click on the "On The Street" link at the bottom of the article!
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
clients are dumb
I am having an epic day of dealing with a client who is either drunk or incredibly stupid. No, more likely, they're all victims of a screwed-up company not unlike the one I work for... but it is incredibly frustrating to try to tolerate, especially when the dumbassery has been going on for more than 24 hours at this point. I was working last night at 7:30. I was working this morning at 6:45. I really want to reach through the computer and knock their heads together, because I think 3/4 of the problem is caused by a lack of communication on their side, amongst each other. Aaargh!
homeowner
Seattle Area Home Owners Club
I just heard about this organization - apparently you pay $50 a year and then have access to pre-screened contractors for all kinds of home repair and improvement work. And the club itself acts as a middleman for payment - which gives the members leverage in case something goes wrong. Interesting idea. "Fences" is listed in the directory of services... and that's going to be our next project at home...
I just heard about this organization - apparently you pay $50 a year and then have access to pre-screened contractors for all kinds of home repair and improvement work. And the club itself acts as a middleman for payment - which gives the members leverage in case something goes wrong. Interesting idea. "Fences" is listed in the directory of services... and that's going to be our next project at home...
Monday, August 22, 2005
book forty-one
Valencia
by Michelle Tea
This is the last of the books I picked up for my summer class. I ended up writing a paper about it, which shockingly earned me a 4.0. "Shockingly" because I thought my paper was kind of terrible, and because the teacher had said that only "near-perfect" papers get a 4.0 instead of a 3.9. Shows what I know.
Anyway, this book is a series of short pieces that chronicle about a year in the life of Michelle, the narrator, who is pretty much Michelle, the author. She's a lesbian. She's in her 20s. She lives in San Francisco. She has a string of girlfriends, some more colorful than others. She does a lot of drugs and has a lot of sex. More sex than drugs, though. She loses her jobs. She briefly works as a prostitute.
The writing is not bad, but for obvious reasons I couldn't relate to any of her story - and I'm not talking about her sexual orientation. It was actually more of a class disconnect for me, which is strange because we were broke as could be until I was a teenager. When I was 26, the age Michelle is in the book, I had a BA and a decent job and was engaged to be married and lived in a nice condo with my fiance and my life was just very different than hers. It was interesting to read in a National Geographic kind of way, I guess, but now I kind of feel like I never need to read it again.
by Michelle Tea
This is the last of the books I picked up for my summer class. I ended up writing a paper about it, which shockingly earned me a 4.0. "Shockingly" because I thought my paper was kind of terrible, and because the teacher had said that only "near-perfect" papers get a 4.0 instead of a 3.9. Shows what I know.
Anyway, this book is a series of short pieces that chronicle about a year in the life of Michelle, the narrator, who is pretty much Michelle, the author. She's a lesbian. She's in her 20s. She lives in San Francisco. She has a string of girlfriends, some more colorful than others. She does a lot of drugs and has a lot of sex. More sex than drugs, though. She loses her jobs. She briefly works as a prostitute.
The writing is not bad, but for obvious reasons I couldn't relate to any of her story - and I'm not talking about her sexual orientation. It was actually more of a class disconnect for me, which is strange because we were broke as could be until I was a teenager. When I was 26, the age Michelle is in the book, I had a BA and a decent job and was engaged to be married and lived in a nice condo with my fiance and my life was just very different than hers. It was interesting to read in a National Geographic kind of way, I guess, but now I kind of feel like I never need to read it again.
Labels: book reports
textbook sites
Just for future reference:
half.com
amazon.com
textbookx.com
bigwords.com
Barnesandnoble.com
valorebooks.com (use the codeword carebear when purchasing your books and you'll receive an additional 5% off your purchase, supposedly)
addall.com
half.com
amazon.com
textbookx.com
bigwords.com
Barnesandnoble.com
valorebooks.com (use the codeword carebear when purchasing your books and you'll receive an additional 5% off your purchase, supposedly)
addall.com
baby steps
I've been reading over the FlyLady website for the past few days... I'm trying to decide if it's something I want to try. I am really turned off by the cutesy stuff, and by the emphasis on stay-at-home moms... but on the other hand, the idea of keeping up a home routine and staying on top of mess and clutter is very attractive. I think maybe I will try it her way when I'm not working and only going to school - if it works for me, perhaps I can continue when I start working again.
I took a teeny step forward on the nursing stuff this weekend - took a Red Cross first aid class. The first aid card is worth 1 point on the application for the nursing program - but 1 point is better than nothing! It was pretty interesting - I learned how to make a sling for a broken arm and stuff like that. Pretty cool.
It is such a relief to be done with my prereqs. I got a 4.0 in the multicultural crap class, yay! I was going to be really bent out of shape if I didn't - it was a LOT of work for a 100 level class.
We went to yoga class yesterday at our neighborhood yoga studio and now I am sore in weird places. I love that about yoga - it causes you to use muscles you didn't even know you had.
I took a teeny step forward on the nursing stuff this weekend - took a Red Cross first aid class. The first aid card is worth 1 point on the application for the nursing program - but 1 point is better than nothing! It was pretty interesting - I learned how to make a sling for a broken arm and stuff like that. Pretty cool.
It is such a relief to be done with my prereqs. I got a 4.0 in the multicultural crap class, yay! I was going to be really bent out of shape if I didn't - it was a LOT of work for a 100 level class.
We went to yoga class yesterday at our neighborhood yoga studio and now I am sore in weird places. I love that about yoga - it causes you to use muscles you didn't even know you had.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
book forty
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit
by Jeannette Winterson
Another byproduct of my multicultural class research - I was going to write a paper about this book, but realized halfway in that it was set in Great Britain and I was supposed to be writing about Americans. I'm not sorry I read it, however - Winterson is a really good writer and her droll voice has stayed in my head.
The narrator of the book is a teenage girl who was adopted by extremely religious parents and raised with the goal of becoming a missionary. However, she thwarts her mother's plans for her by turning out to be a lesbian. The story chronicles her experiences with the church, her parents, and the surprising compassion of some of the members of the church congregation. I'm under the impression that the book is strongly autobiographical... and it makes my head ache to think that people can be so cruel to a girl just discovering who she is. I'm interested in reading more of Winterson's work to see what else she has to say.
by Jeannette Winterson
Another byproduct of my multicultural class research - I was going to write a paper about this book, but realized halfway in that it was set in Great Britain and I was supposed to be writing about Americans. I'm not sorry I read it, however - Winterson is a really good writer and her droll voice has stayed in my head.
The narrator of the book is a teenage girl who was adopted by extremely religious parents and raised with the goal of becoming a missionary. However, she thwarts her mother's plans for her by turning out to be a lesbian. The story chronicles her experiences with the church, her parents, and the surprising compassion of some of the members of the church congregation. I'm under the impression that the book is strongly autobiographical... and it makes my head ache to think that people can be so cruel to a girl just discovering who she is. I'm interested in reading more of Winterson's work to see what else she has to say.
Labels: book reports
Camp Casey
Winds of Change: Camp Casey
Go. Read the first-person story of a woman who went to Camp Casey outside Bush's Crawford, TX ranch. It's way better than anything you'll see on the news.
I think the thing that struck me the most is that the Crawford Sheriff's office told Cindy (the mom who started the whole deal) that they'd prefer if she didn't camp out by the road at night, because they couldn't guarantee her safety. They hear gunshots every night nearby. Can you imagine the kind of person who would go threaten the life of a woman whose son was killed in a war???
Go. Read the first-person story of a woman who went to Camp Casey outside Bush's Crawford, TX ranch. It's way better than anything you'll see on the news.
I think the thing that struck me the most is that the Crawford Sheriff's office told Cindy (the mom who started the whole deal) that they'd prefer if she didn't camp out by the road at night, because they couldn't guarantee her safety. They hear gunshots every night nearby. Can you imagine the kind of person who would go threaten the life of a woman whose son was killed in a war???
book thirty-nine
The Woman Warrior
by Maxine Hong Kingston
This is another book that I ran across when I was researching stuff for the multicultural class. The world is full of books that I know I should have read, but haven't. This was one.
I expected something a lot drier than what I got, happily. I had thought that Kingston would write about Asian-American women and their experiences in American society and so forth... and she did, but in a fictionalized way that drew me into the story in a way that statistics would not. I also didn't expect the long stretches of fiction that appear to be retellings of Chinese legends, or perhaps are stories that Kingston made up in the style of Chinese legends. Her voice is unique and her stories offer a view into a world of immigrant families that I would never experience otherwise.
by Maxine Hong Kingston
This is another book that I ran across when I was researching stuff for the multicultural class. The world is full of books that I know I should have read, but haven't. This was one.
I expected something a lot drier than what I got, happily. I had thought that Kingston would write about Asian-American women and their experiences in American society and so forth... and she did, but in a fictionalized way that drew me into the story in a way that statistics would not. I also didn't expect the long stretches of fiction that appear to be retellings of Chinese legends, or perhaps are stories that Kingston made up in the style of Chinese legends. Her voice is unique and her stories offer a view into a world of immigrant families that I would never experience otherwise.
Labels: book reports, multicultural
book thirty-eight
(In case you're wondering: I heard about this LiveJournal meme - basically, read 50 books this year and blog about it.)
Kindred
by Octavia Butler
I had never read any of Octavia Butler's work, even though several people have mentioned her to me as a terrific science fiction writer. I ran across her name when I was doing some research on minority writers for my multicultural class, and even though I wasn't going to write a paper on her work, I went ahead and checked out one of her books anyway.
It was really good. The main character is a Black woman named Dana who finds herself travelling in time, back to the time of her slave ancestors and their white master. The master's son apparently has the ability to summon Dana for his own protection - she only appears in the past when his life is in danger. And Dana can only return to the present when her own life is threatened.
It's a powerful book, combining a novel sci-fi idea with an intimate look at slavery and race relations in the wake of it. I'm definitley going to look for more of her work.
Kindred
by Octavia Butler
I had never read any of Octavia Butler's work, even though several people have mentioned her to me as a terrific science fiction writer. I ran across her name when I was doing some research on minority writers for my multicultural class, and even though I wasn't going to write a paper on her work, I went ahead and checked out one of her books anyway.
It was really good. The main character is a Black woman named Dana who finds herself travelling in time, back to the time of her slave ancestors and their white master. The master's son apparently has the ability to summon Dana for his own protection - she only appears in the past when his life is in danger. And Dana can only return to the present when her own life is threatened.
It's a powerful book, combining a novel sci-fi idea with an intimate look at slavery and race relations in the wake of it. I'm definitley going to look for more of her work.
Labels: book reports, Octavia Butler, science fiction
home sick
I'm home feeling lousy today. All I've done so far is sleep, eat some cereal, sleep some more, and make toast and tea. According to the black cat sitting next to my foot, though, I should be getting dressed and going to buy cat food because we are all out and he may die of starvation. Nevermind that he just finished emptying the food bowl and is therefore not likely to die.
I feel really weird. You know that feeling you get when you take a bunch of cold medicine, and you're tired and your head feels light and disconnected, and your eyes feel funny...? I feel all of that even though I haven't taken any medicine. It's not very fun.
I suppose I will go out and buy some cat food and then go back to bed for the afternoon. Good thing I stopped by the library on my way home yesterday!
I feel really weird. You know that feeling you get when you take a bunch of cold medicine, and you're tired and your head feels light and disconnected, and your eyes feel funny...? I feel all of that even though I haven't taken any medicine. It's not very fun.
I suppose I will go out and buy some cat food and then go back to bed for the afternoon. Good thing I stopped by the library on my way home yesterday!
Monday, August 15, 2005
book thirty-seven
The Mermaid Chair
by Sue Monk Kidd
I had given up on reading this book this year, after I checked my holds at the library and found I was number 376 on the waiting list for it. But then, out of the blue, darling coworker L* asked me if I wanted to borrow it from her. And of course I did!
The story of this book is superficially quite different from "The Secret Life of Bees," Kidd's previous novel which I adored. But once I started reading, I realized that there were a lot of similarities... both the girl in "Secret Life" and the woman in "Mermaid Chair" are affected by the loss of a parent in childhood. And each finds an unconventional way to come to terms with that loss. And of course there is Kidd's writing, which is hypnotic and sensual. I don't mean sexy in any way - in fact, the love scenes in this book have very little detail. I mean that even though I've never been to the Barrier Islands, I felt that I could taste and smell and see and hear what life there is like while I was reading.
The protagonist of "The Mermaid Chair" is an artist whose daughter has recently left for college. She feels stifled in her marriage although she can't put her finger on why. She is suddenly called back to the island where she was raised when her mother, in a fit of either psychosis or religious devotion, chops off one of her fingers with a cleaver in the kitchen of the monastery where she is the cook. While dealing with her mother's injury and illness, she discovers the truth about her father's death and has an affair with a monk. Trust me, it's all more interesting than I'm making it sound!
by Sue Monk Kidd
I had given up on reading this book this year, after I checked my holds at the library and found I was number 376 on the waiting list for it. But then, out of the blue, darling coworker L* asked me if I wanted to borrow it from her. And of course I did!
The story of this book is superficially quite different from "The Secret Life of Bees," Kidd's previous novel which I adored. But once I started reading, I realized that there were a lot of similarities... both the girl in "Secret Life" and the woman in "Mermaid Chair" are affected by the loss of a parent in childhood. And each finds an unconventional way to come to terms with that loss. And of course there is Kidd's writing, which is hypnotic and sensual. I don't mean sexy in any way - in fact, the love scenes in this book have very little detail. I mean that even though I've never been to the Barrier Islands, I felt that I could taste and smell and see and hear what life there is like while I was reading.
The protagonist of "The Mermaid Chair" is an artist whose daughter has recently left for college. She feels stifled in her marriage although she can't put her finger on why. She is suddenly called back to the island where she was raised when her mother, in a fit of either psychosis or religious devotion, chops off one of her fingers with a cleaver in the kitchen of the monastery where she is the cook. While dealing with her mother's injury and illness, she discovers the truth about her father's death and has an affair with a monk. Trust me, it's all more interesting than I'm making it sound!
Labels: book reports
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
prereqs FINISHED!
After taking the final exam in my multicultural class last night, I have officially FINISHED all the prereqs for the nursing program! Yay!
Next steps: Actually, I have to be a little vague about my next steps, because I know some of my current coworkers are reading my blog, and I don't want to let the cat out of the bag before the proper time. But I will say that next step #1 will be to take training as a nurse's assistant and getting licensed as a CNA. Next step #2 will involve finding work as a CNA, and next step #3 will be reapplying to the RN program at the school where I've been taking prereqs. Progress occurs!
Now, maybe I will find the time to actually clean my house and put some love into my poor neglected garden.
Next steps: Actually, I have to be a little vague about my next steps, because I know some of my current coworkers are reading my blog, and I don't want to let the cat out of the bag before the proper time. But I will say that next step #1 will be to take training as a nurse's assistant and getting licensed as a CNA. Next step #2 will involve finding work as a CNA, and next step #3 will be reapplying to the RN program at the school where I've been taking prereqs. Progress occurs!
Now, maybe I will find the time to actually clean my house and put some love into my poor neglected garden.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
book thirty-six
Snow Falling on Cedars
by David Guterson
I'm sure I'm way behind the times by just reading this book now, years after it was released and made into a movie and everything. But too bad for me! I actually really enjoyed it. Before reading the book, I knew it was about the relationships in a community where some of the residents were Japanese-Americans who were sent away to internment camps. What I didn't know was that it was also a murder mystery.
Reading about these fictional people made me more curious about non-fictional Washington residents who were sent to camps. I've got a couple of holds at the library on autobiographies written by Japanese-Americans who experienced it firsthand.
by David Guterson
I'm sure I'm way behind the times by just reading this book now, years after it was released and made into a movie and everything. But too bad for me! I actually really enjoyed it. Before reading the book, I knew it was about the relationships in a community where some of the residents were Japanese-Americans who were sent away to internment camps. What I didn't know was that it was also a murder mystery.
Reading about these fictional people made me more curious about non-fictional Washington residents who were sent to camps. I've got a couple of holds at the library on autobiographies written by Japanese-Americans who experienced it firsthand.
Labels: book reports
book thirty-five
The Tombs of Atuan
by Ursula K. LeGuin
Just as Quev predicted, I liked this book very much. Although, it was quite different from what I expected after seeing the SciFi miniseries (I talked about that here.) I knew that Ms. LeGuin had been cut out of the editing process for the miniseries... but I hadn't realized that the content from The Tombs of Atuan had been so thoroughly bastardized.
In the book, Tenar is given to the priesthood at age 5, after being chosen as the reincarnation of the former priestess at the time of her birth. She is "eaten" by the dark spirits she serves, and her name and family are taken from her. She is raised in near-isolation, only associating with other priestess-in-training and their teachers. When she comes of age, Tenar is given the knowledge of the underground labyrinth beneath the tombstones near the temple. She is told that she must never use lights in the maze for fear of angering the gods she serves.
Ged arrives at the temple and Tenar discovers him in the maze. She has him locked up and visits him to try to learn why he risked desecrating the labyrinth. She thinks at first that he is a thief... but she witnesses some of his magic and begins to question her beliefs. Eventually she agrees to help Ged and leads him to the heart of the labyrinth where the gods live and guard their treasure. In the treasure chamber, they find the other half of the rune Ged carries... which made whole, will help protect the kingdoms of Earthsea.
This is a much darker and more powerful story than I was led to believe from watching the miniseries. Now I understand why fans of the books were so put off by the series.
by Ursula K. LeGuin
Just as Quev predicted, I liked this book very much. Although, it was quite different from what I expected after seeing the SciFi miniseries (I talked about that here.) I knew that Ms. LeGuin had been cut out of the editing process for the miniseries... but I hadn't realized that the content from The Tombs of Atuan had been so thoroughly bastardized.
In the book, Tenar is given to the priesthood at age 5, after being chosen as the reincarnation of the former priestess at the time of her birth. She is "eaten" by the dark spirits she serves, and her name and family are taken from her. She is raised in near-isolation, only associating with other priestess-in-training and their teachers. When she comes of age, Tenar is given the knowledge of the underground labyrinth beneath the tombstones near the temple. She is told that she must never use lights in the maze for fear of angering the gods she serves.
Ged arrives at the temple and Tenar discovers him in the maze. She has him locked up and visits him to try to learn why he risked desecrating the labyrinth. She thinks at first that he is a thief... but she witnesses some of his magic and begins to question her beliefs. Eventually she agrees to help Ged and leads him to the heart of the labyrinth where the gods live and guard their treasure. In the treasure chamber, they find the other half of the rune Ged carries... which made whole, will help protect the kingdoms of Earthsea.
This is a much darker and more powerful story than I was led to believe from watching the miniseries. Now I understand why fans of the books were so put off by the series.
Labels: book reports, science fiction
Friday, August 05, 2005
schnitzel
I think I learned something
Shrimplate: People Who Need People are the Loneliest People
This post clicked for me after reading this sentence: "Because so many of the homeless and mentally ill are military veterans, any cuts to programs that serve the homeless and mentally ill are budget cuts against veterans themselves."
Holy crap. I knew that military personnel were getting the shaft - but I had never put that together with welfare reform and cuts in treatment for the mentally ill. Couple that with the overrepresentation of people of color in the military, and you've got a nice trifecta of discrimination occuring, as sanctioned by the government.
This post clicked for me after reading this sentence: "Because so many of the homeless and mentally ill are military veterans, any cuts to programs that serve the homeless and mentally ill are budget cuts against veterans themselves."
Holy crap. I knew that military personnel were getting the shaft - but I had never put that together with welfare reform and cuts in treatment for the mentally ill. Couple that with the overrepresentation of people of color in the military, and you've got a nice trifecta of discrimination occuring, as sanctioned by the government.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
did you know?
There's a cheapola 2nd-run movie theatre about 10-15 minutes away from my house. I had no idea. I forsee cheap dates in my future.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
moron-in-chief
Pharyngula::Bush endorses Intelligent Design creationism
Aw, dammit. I thought moving away from Kansas would get me out of reach, but then the stupid president has to go and open his big dumb mouth.
Aw, dammit. I thought moving away from Kansas would get me out of reach, but then the stupid president has to go and open his big dumb mouth.
yum
I made a Cooking Light recipe last night for dinner... it was a chicken version of weiner schnitzel and it was so good I almost wanted to cry. It might be a genetic tendency - my mom's family is mostly German and German comfort foods are important to us! We ate it with salad and whole-wheat rotini, but it would've been perfect with spaetzle. Maybe next time.
I FINALLY hit 30 pounds lost. The last 5 pounds have been a struggle! I had to cut back my calories by about 200 a day and add another 30 minutes a week of exercise to make it happen. In other words, I'd gotten a little lazy and it was slowing down my weight loss. I hope the next 10 pounds is easier.
While on the subject of weight loss, I need to unload about women's clothing sizes. I know, old news. I bought two pairs of jeans on eBay, both the same size, two different brands. The Bill Blass ones fit just fine. The Levis Signature ones are so small, I can't even get the ends of the waistband together around my waist. Same size! Aaaaaaaaaaah!
Next-to-last class session is tonight. In 8 days, I'll have all my pre-reqs completed! And then it will be off to CNA training at night later on this year. It will probably give me multiple personality disorder to work at my high tech day job while I'm doing nurse's assistant training at night. Ooh! Maybe I can be a superhero with a secret identity!
I FINALLY hit 30 pounds lost. The last 5 pounds have been a struggle! I had to cut back my calories by about 200 a day and add another 30 minutes a week of exercise to make it happen. In other words, I'd gotten a little lazy and it was slowing down my weight loss. I hope the next 10 pounds is easier.
While on the subject of weight loss, I need to unload about women's clothing sizes. I know, old news. I bought two pairs of jeans on eBay, both the same size, two different brands. The Bill Blass ones fit just fine. The Levis Signature ones are so small, I can't even get the ends of the waistband together around my waist. Same size! Aaaaaaaaaaah!
Next-to-last class session is tonight. In 8 days, I'll have all my pre-reqs completed! And then it will be off to CNA training at night later on this year. It will probably give me multiple personality disorder to work at my high tech day job while I'm doing nurse's assistant training at night. Ooh! Maybe I can be a superhero with a secret identity!
Thursday, July 28, 2005
I must be getting soft.
This week's class was actually not that painful. I don't know if I'm getting accustomed to being annoyed, or if this week's subject material (Social Policy) was more interesting to me, or what. I hate to say it, but I think the fact that the prof has noticed that I'm one of the "smart kids" smoothed my feathers a little.
Tidbit I learned from lecture: Lyndon B. Johnson was influenced to stay involved in the Vietnam conflict by two of his Texan political backers, who had an oil company named after them called Brown & Root. Brown & Root went on to merge with Kellogg Oil and became Kellogg Brown & Root, or KBR for short. KBR is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Halliburton. I have twisted this around inside my head so that I can blame Dick Cheney for the Vietnam War. I know that's factually inaccurate, but I like dumping them all in the same bucket.
I went to the gym last night with R* and when I got there I realized I had forgotten to put any socks in my gym bag. Another woman in the locker said to her friend, "I forgot my shoes!" and I said, "I forgot my socks!" and she said, "I can help you, I've got socks to spare!" and gave me a pair. It was a really nice thing. Oh, and this may not impress anyone much, but I was able to jog on the treadmill for 12 of the 20 minutes I treadmilled. Usually when I jog for more than 2 or 3 minutes in a row, my heart rate shoots up over 170 and I start gasping like a fish. But last night I was able to jog for 7 minutes, take a walk break, and jog another 5 minutes with my heart rate in the 160s. Yay!
Tidbit I learned from lecture: Lyndon B. Johnson was influenced to stay involved in the Vietnam conflict by two of his Texan political backers, who had an oil company named after them called Brown & Root. Brown & Root went on to merge with Kellogg Oil and became Kellogg Brown & Root, or KBR for short. KBR is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Halliburton. I have twisted this around inside my head so that I can blame Dick Cheney for the Vietnam War. I know that's factually inaccurate, but I like dumping them all in the same bucket.
I went to the gym last night with R* and when I got there I realized I had forgotten to put any socks in my gym bag. Another woman in the locker said to her friend, "I forgot my shoes!" and I said, "I forgot my socks!" and she said, "I can help you, I've got socks to spare!" and gave me a pair. It was a really nice thing. Oh, and this may not impress anyone much, but I was able to jog on the treadmill for 12 of the 20 minutes I treadmilled. Usually when I jog for more than 2 or 3 minutes in a row, my heart rate shoots up over 170 and I start gasping like a fish. But last night I was able to jog for 7 minutes, take a walk break, and jog another 5 minutes with my heart rate in the 160s. Yay!
Monday, July 25, 2005
when it's time for me to find my next job
I've been thinking about how I will go about finding a CNA job after I take CNA training and get licensed. I've assembled this list of resources, but would welcome input from other nursing assistants et al out there! At this point, I'm thinking that I want to try to find a hospital CNA job rather than a nursing home job... not because I have any problem with working in a nursing home, but because I think it would be more useful to my future nursing career to get some hospital experience.
Washington Health Care Careers
Seattle Children's Hospital
Evergreen Health Care
Group Health
UW Medical Center
Northwest Hospital
Overlake Hospital
Polyclinic
Providence
Stevens Healthcare
Virginia Mason
Swedish Hospitals
PacMed
Valley Medical Center
Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center
Highline Medical Center
Washington Health Care Careers
Seattle Children's Hospital
Evergreen Health Care
Group Health
UW Medical Center
Northwest Hospital
Overlake Hospital
Polyclinic
Providence
Stevens Healthcare
Virginia Mason
Swedish Hospitals
PacMed
Valley Medical Center
Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center
Highline Medical Center
Friday, July 22, 2005
book thirty-four
The Stone Book
by Alan Garner
I read this book after Zinnia mentioned it in the book meme (which Quev tagged me for and I still haven't done!). It's completely charming and adorable. It's about a little girl in 19th century England who is the daughter of a stonemason. Her father sends her on a journey into a cave to make a discovery. That's all that really happens - but it's somehow more than that.
by Alan Garner
I read this book after Zinnia mentioned it in the book meme (which Quev tagged me for and I still haven't done!). It's completely charming and adorable. It's about a little girl in 19th century England who is the daughter of a stonemason. Her father sends her on a journey into a cave to make a discovery. That's all that really happens - but it's somehow more than that.
Labels: book reports
Thursday, July 21, 2005
teastick
Monday, July 18, 2005
we need more pirates
http://www.venganza.org/
This is extremely funny. You too can irritate the fundies on the Kansas Board of Education. Arrrrrrrrr!
This is extremely funny. You too can irritate the fundies on the Kansas Board of Education. Arrrrrrrrr!
Friday, July 15, 2005
don't know what to say
I really don't know what to write about lately. It's not because nothing is happening - it's just that I'm not sure what to express. Here's a short overview of what's been happening with me:
Weight loss - I am 1.5 pounds away from hitting the 30-pounds-gone mark. It's getting more and more noticeable that my clothes are getting too big - in fact, I'm going to have to buy some smaller bras. I hate bra shopping, incidentally. Especially when I'm not even sure at this point what size I am!
School - The multicultural class is driving me batty. I'm sure you already know that from my collection of mean-spirited haiku. But! It's half over already!
Work - Aw, hell, I can't talk about work on my blog. It's the same as always. I do have to admit that I like my new cubicle better than my old desk in the open area, but I'm still offended by the whole no-office debacle.
Nursing stuff - I've made a decision about how to proceed. I'm going to take night courses to work toward getting licensed at a CNA. At a point in the future (which I am not disclosing publically since I need to hang on to my job for the time being!), I will quit my day job, finish the clinical portion of the CNA training, and look for an aide job. I'll apply to the RN degree program in January, and if I'm accepted, I'll start RN school fulltime in March.
Cats - The most emotionally exhausting thing I'm dealing with right now is caring for our two elderly cats. Neither of them are at death's door or anything, but they're both getting more fragile and need more care. The black cat needs 3 pills a day. That's fun, let me tell you.
GTD - I've been doing a little reading about "Getting Things Done" - I suspect that becoming more organized with my tasks would decrease my anxiety level, but I haven't yet figured out the best way to attack it.
Weight loss - I am 1.5 pounds away from hitting the 30-pounds-gone mark. It's getting more and more noticeable that my clothes are getting too big - in fact, I'm going to have to buy some smaller bras. I hate bra shopping, incidentally. Especially when I'm not even sure at this point what size I am!
School - The multicultural class is driving me batty. I'm sure you already know that from my collection of mean-spirited haiku. But! It's half over already!
Work - Aw, hell, I can't talk about work on my blog. It's the same as always. I do have to admit that I like my new cubicle better than my old desk in the open area, but I'm still offended by the whole no-office debacle.
Nursing stuff - I've made a decision about how to proceed. I'm going to take night courses to work toward getting licensed at a CNA. At a point in the future (which I am not disclosing publically since I need to hang on to my job for the time being!), I will quit my day job, finish the clinical portion of the CNA training, and look for an aide job. I'll apply to the RN degree program in January, and if I'm accepted, I'll start RN school fulltime in March.
Cats - The most emotionally exhausting thing I'm dealing with right now is caring for our two elderly cats. Neither of them are at death's door or anything, but they're both getting more fragile and need more care. The black cat needs 3 pills a day. That's fun, let me tell you.
GTD - I've been doing a little reading about "Getting Things Done" - I suspect that becoming more organized with my tasks would decrease my anxiety level, but I haven't yet figured out the best way to attack it.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
brussels
R* and I have been watching this show. So far, we've seen episodes about London, Madrid, Florence, and Brussels. I wholeheartedly want to visit Brussels now. I don't have any deep reasons for it - just this modest list:
beer
chocolate
waffles
mussels
frites
Smurfs (aka Stroumfs)
and comics museum.
Also, everyone apparently speaks 4 languages, which is just impressive.
beer
chocolate
waffles
mussels
frites
Smurfs (aka Stroumfs)
and comics museum.
Also, everyone apparently speaks 4 languages, which is just impressive.
book thirty-three
The Wall of the Sky, the Wall of the Eye: Stories
by Jonathan Lethem
I think I've mentioned before that I have a hard time knowing what to write about short story collections. I thought the quality of the work in this collection varied wildly. The first story, "The Happy Man," was haunting and scary in an icky way, and I can still recall it nearly word for word even though I read it nearly a month ago. But I thought the later stories, like "Five Fucks" (or was it only four fucks?) were not as tightly crafted. Lethem has some unusual ideas, like the story about the hardened criminals who are literally hardened into bricks and used to build prisons... but it seems like his execution on those ideas varies.
by Jonathan Lethem
I think I've mentioned before that I have a hard time knowing what to write about short story collections. I thought the quality of the work in this collection varied wildly. The first story, "The Happy Man," was haunting and scary in an icky way, and I can still recall it nearly word for word even though I read it nearly a month ago. But I thought the later stories, like "Five Fucks" (or was it only four fucks?) were not as tightly crafted. Lethem has some unusual ideas, like the story about the hardened criminals who are literally hardened into bricks and used to build prisons... but it seems like his execution on those ideas varies.
Labels: book reports
book thirty-two
Walk on Water: Inside an Elite Pediatric Surgical Unit
by Michael Ruhlman
The author of this book specializes in writing about people who are masters of their craft. Subjects of his previous books include builders of wooden boats and world-class chefs. I was prepared to be a little let down since the writer is not a medical professional, but I wasn't disappointed at all.
The book follows the practice of a renowned pediatric heart surgeon in a clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Along the way, we learn a great deal about the history of heart surgery and the differences between congenital (birth defect) heart disease and acquired heart disease. I had never considered this before, but apparently doctors and hospital units who concentrate solely on congenital heart surgery have much more success that doctors who do both congenital and acquired.
The descriptions of the actual surgeries were quite technical - I was able to follow along because I've had classes in anatomy and physiology, but I imagine that a reader who didn't have an background in the subject would be completely lost.
The title refers to the giant-size egos that most cardiac surgeons reportedly have. After reading about what they do - holding life and death in their hands every day - I think perhaps they deserve to have high self-opinions!
Fascinating read.
by Michael Ruhlman
The author of this book specializes in writing about people who are masters of their craft. Subjects of his previous books include builders of wooden boats and world-class chefs. I was prepared to be a little let down since the writer is not a medical professional, but I wasn't disappointed at all.
The book follows the practice of a renowned pediatric heart surgeon in a clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Along the way, we learn a great deal about the history of heart surgery and the differences between congenital (birth defect) heart disease and acquired heart disease. I had never considered this before, but apparently doctors and hospital units who concentrate solely on congenital heart surgery have much more success that doctors who do both congenital and acquired.
The descriptions of the actual surgeries were quite technical - I was able to follow along because I've had classes in anatomy and physiology, but I imagine that a reader who didn't have an background in the subject would be completely lost.
The title refers to the giant-size egos that most cardiac surgeons reportedly have. After reading about what they do - holding life and death in their hands every day - I think perhaps they deserve to have high self-opinions!
Fascinating read.
Labels: book reports, medical
haiku of frustration
Last night's class was beyond frustrating. I was inspired to write a new crop of nasty haiku... plus one from a guest artist. (Cat, I'm sorry I hung up on you last night, my phone blipped out!)
***************
why on earth would you
use mean word choice like "guilty" -
do you want a fight?
i have a degree!
in english literature!
these marks are just crap.
people who think they
know everything about
everything suck.
are you really a
professor if you don't have
a damn doctorate?
And from guest artist Cat:
I don't hate you 'cause
you are a transsexual -
it's 'cause you're a dick.
****************
Class is halfway over, though, and that means only four more long agonizing sessions!
***************
why on earth would you
use mean word choice like "guilty" -
do you want a fight?
i have a degree!
in english literature!
these marks are just crap.
people who think they
know everything about
everything suck.
are you really a
professor if you don't have
a damn doctorate?
And from guest artist Cat:
I don't hate you 'cause
you are a transsexual -
it's 'cause you're a dick.
****************
Class is halfway over, though, and that means only four more long agonizing sessions!
Friday, July 08, 2005
update on CNA training
I previously posted about places to get training as a CNA or an RN. Since then, my friend C* and I have done some research on the CNA training options, and here's what we discovered:
BELLEVUE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - BCC does teach a CNA certification course for $695 through the continuing education department. Go to this page and scroll down to "Nursing Assistant Certified".
LAKE WASHINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE - teaches RN, LPN, and CNA programs.
RENTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE - Has a half-quarter CNA program.
SEATTLE VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE - Nursing Assistant Certified program.
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - 1-quarter CNA program, gives you a head start on the LPN program if you want to continue on.
SEATTLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Offers CNA training, but only to Virginia Mason employees through some weird contract.
GREEN RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE - It appears that only WorkFirst students are eligible for the CNA program here.
CASCADE VISTA CONVALESCENT CENTER - Redmond - didn't call.
KINDRED HEALTHCARE CORPORATION - C* called three different locations and none of them are offering CNA training at this time.
WHITTIER CARE & REHABILITATION CENTER - Not offering CNA training at this time.
FOSS HOME AND VILLAGE - Not offering CNA training at this time.
FRANCISCAN HEALTH CARE - BOTHELL. Didn't call.
LIFE CARE CENTER OF FEDERAL WAY - Didn't call.
MERCER ISLAND CARE & REHABILITATION - Didn't call.
MOUNT SI TRANSITIONAL HEALTH CENTER - North Bend. Didn't call.
PROVIDENCE MT ST VINCENT - only offer CNA training to current employees.
QUEEN ANN HEALTH CARE - Not offering CNA training at this time.
KAMANGA CNA TRAINING - Des Moines. Didn't call.
SEATTLE NURSING ASSISTANT ACADEMY - C* called them and discoverd the cost of the training is in the thousands of dollars. Screw that!
NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING INSTITUTE - Offers CNA classesfor $495 for about 6 weeks. Classes alternate between day and evening sessions, although all clinical hours are during the day.
NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING SCHOOL - Tukwila. Didn't call.
So there you have it. Hope someone finds this helpful!
BELLEVUE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - BCC does teach a CNA certification course for $695 through the continuing education department. Go to this page and scroll down to "Nursing Assistant Certified".
LAKE WASHINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE - teaches RN, LPN, and CNA programs.
RENTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE - Has a half-quarter CNA program.
SEATTLE VOCATIONAL INSTITUTE - Nursing Assistant Certified program.
SOUTH SEATTLE COMMUNITY COLLEGE - 1-quarter CNA program, gives you a head start on the LPN program if you want to continue on.
SEATTLE CENTRAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE - Offers CNA training, but only to Virginia Mason employees through some weird contract.
GREEN RIVER COMMUNITY COLLEGE - It appears that only WorkFirst students are eligible for the CNA program here.
CASCADE VISTA CONVALESCENT CENTER - Redmond - didn't call.
KINDRED HEALTHCARE CORPORATION - C* called three different locations and none of them are offering CNA training at this time.
WHITTIER CARE & REHABILITATION CENTER - Not offering CNA training at this time.
FOSS HOME AND VILLAGE - Not offering CNA training at this time.
FRANCISCAN HEALTH CARE - BOTHELL. Didn't call.
LIFE CARE CENTER OF FEDERAL WAY - Didn't call.
MERCER ISLAND CARE & REHABILITATION - Didn't call.
MOUNT SI TRANSITIONAL HEALTH CENTER - North Bend. Didn't call.
PROVIDENCE MT ST VINCENT - only offer CNA training to current employees.
QUEEN ANN HEALTH CARE - Not offering CNA training at this time.
KAMANGA CNA TRAINING - Des Moines. Didn't call.
SEATTLE NURSING ASSISTANT ACADEMY - C* called them and discoverd the cost of the training is in the thousands of dollars. Screw that!
NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING INSTITUTE - Offers CNA classesfor $495 for about 6 weeks. Classes alternate between day and evening sessions, although all clinical hours are during the day.
NURSING ASSISTANT TRAINING SCHOOL - Tukwila. Didn't call.
So there you have it. Hope someone finds this helpful!
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
cranky
I am unrelently cranky today.
I've been cranky to my husband (got irritated because the oatmeal he was cooking me for breakfast boiled over).
I've been cranky to my cat (tripped over him while I was going to the pantry and he was going to his food bowl).
I've been cranky to all of my coworkers except maybe A. No, come to think of it, him too.
If I'd chatted with my mom for one more minute I would've been cranky to her.
I'm sitting in my cube instead of going to catch the bus because I'm going to be cranky at least on the inside to the other people on the bus.
Clearly I need to quit my job, no?
I've been cranky to my husband (got irritated because the oatmeal he was cooking me for breakfast boiled over).
I've been cranky to my cat (tripped over him while I was going to the pantry and he was going to his food bowl).
I've been cranky to all of my coworkers except maybe A. No, come to think of it, him too.
If I'd chatted with my mom for one more minute I would've been cranky to her.
I'm sitting in my cube instead of going to catch the bus because I'm going to be cranky at least on the inside to the other people on the bus.
Clearly I need to quit my job, no?
haiku of boredom
I didn't feel compelled to write any haiku of boredom in class last night - we had a guest professor who was concise, conversational, and also cute as a button. And we also watched a video about advertising and how it shapes the perception of women in society. That was infuriating and entertaining. (Interested? Here's a resource.)
But the week before, egad, I thought I would die of boredom. So without further ado, here are my Haiku of Boredom:
after two hours
"level of analysis"
falls to my stomach
are you boy or girl?
evidence suggests either
but - giant man feet.
connie chung's makup
wow, that is from the eighties
got a new film yet?
clearly i am old
this sincere college race stuff
just makes me tired
could time pass slower?
my legs are too short to touch
my butt goes to sleep
better than i thought
i guess i've figured stuff out
done finding myself
ooh, look at me now
the sincerity rubs off!
self analyzing
white guys from Texas
who is surprised they're racist?
they live in Texas!
But the week before, egad, I thought I would die of boredom. So without further ado, here are my Haiku of Boredom:
after two hours
"level of analysis"
falls to my stomach
are you boy or girl?
evidence suggests either
but - giant man feet.
connie chung's makup
wow, that is from the eighties
got a new film yet?
clearly i am old
this sincere college race stuff
just makes me tired
could time pass slower?
my legs are too short to touch
my butt goes to sleep
better than i thought
i guess i've figured stuff out
done finding myself
ooh, look at me now
the sincerity rubs off!
self analyzing
white guys from Texas
who is surprised they're racist?
they live in Texas!
Friday, July 01, 2005
don't I wish
Road Rage Cards :: Sample Sayings
I wouldn't use all of these. Honestly, I wouldn't use any of them. But several do mirror my thoughts when I make the mistake of driving in Seattle traffic.
I wouldn't use all of these. Honestly, I wouldn't use any of them. But several do mirror my thoughts when I make the mistake of driving in Seattle traffic.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
craftland
no one told me
No one told me that this multicultural issues class would really run 3 1/2 hours without a break.
No one told me that the professor was going to be a militant Native American.
No one told me that said professor may in fact be a transsexual, which I'm sure I'm supposed to learn in this class shouldn't be as distracting as I'm currently finding it.
No one told me that I'd have to read a metric assload of REALLY SINCERE essays about racism/sexism/classism/pickyourism.
However, someone DID tell me that summer quarter is only 8 weeks long.
All smart-assedness aside, I really feel out of touch in the class. I'm way past that "finding my identity" part of my life - although I can remember it from when I was around 19 - and as much as I abhor discrimination and misinformation in our society, I feel like it's just wanky to sit around talking about it. I feel it's much more important to simply do unto others and try to be fair and compassionate to everyone. But maybe that's just my dominant European-American culture talking.
No one told me that the professor was going to be a militant Native American.
No one told me that said professor may in fact be a transsexual, which I'm sure I'm supposed to learn in this class shouldn't be as distracting as I'm currently finding it.
No one told me that I'd have to read a metric assload of REALLY SINCERE essays about racism/sexism/classism/pickyourism.
However, someone DID tell me that summer quarter is only 8 weeks long.
All smart-assedness aside, I really feel out of touch in the class. I'm way past that "finding my identity" part of my life - although I can remember it from when I was around 19 - and as much as I abhor discrimination and misinformation in our society, I feel like it's just wanky to sit around talking about it. I feel it's much more important to simply do unto others and try to be fair and compassionate to everyone. But maybe that's just my dominant European-American culture talking.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
I want!
Monday, June 27, 2005
sciencultogy
A Couch Tom Cruise Won't Jump On
make some science
Thursday, June 23, 2005
book thirty-one
The Lathe of Heaven
Ursula K. LeGuin
I LOVE this book. It was so, so good. It's set in Portland in a dystopian near-future, where overpopulation and global warming have taken their toll on society. (This book was written in 1971 - but it's quite prescient.)
The main character, George Orr, has dreams that actually change reality. He is the only one who remembers afterward that anything has changed. Terrified by his ability, he turns to abusing drugs in an attempt to forestall dreaming. He's arrested for drug abuse and ordered to see a psychiatist/sleep specialist for treatment. The psychiatrist at first doesn't believe that Orr's dreams can change anything - but once he realizes that the dreams *are* changing reality, he begins using hypnosis to steer Orr's dreams in order to promote his own position.
Not only is the concept a good one, but as always, the writing is impeccable. LeGuin's words convey the freakishness of the situation without becoming overwrought. Has she written other books like this? I'm only familiar with the Earthsea series and a few of her short stories.
Ursula K. LeGuin
I LOVE this book. It was so, so good. It's set in Portland in a dystopian near-future, where overpopulation and global warming have taken their toll on society. (This book was written in 1971 - but it's quite prescient.)
The main character, George Orr, has dreams that actually change reality. He is the only one who remembers afterward that anything has changed. Terrified by his ability, he turns to abusing drugs in an attempt to forestall dreaming. He's arrested for drug abuse and ordered to see a psychiatist/sleep specialist for treatment. The psychiatrist at first doesn't believe that Orr's dreams can change anything - but once he realizes that the dreams *are* changing reality, he begins using hypnosis to steer Orr's dreams in order to promote his own position.
Not only is the concept a good one, but as always, the writing is impeccable. LeGuin's words convey the freakishness of the situation without becoming overwrought. Has she written other books like this? I'm only familiar with the Earthsea series and a few of her short stories.
Labels: book reports, science fiction
book thirty
Under the Banner of Heaven
by Jon Krakauer
This book was totally fascinating. It's an exploration of the history of the Mormon (LDS) church, framed by the story of two Fundamentalist LDS men who murdered their sister-in-law and her little daughter. They claimed that God told them the woman and the baby needed to be killed. But it seemed more that they didn't want the woman interfering with their brother (her husband) and his participation in the Fundamentalist organization.
In the epilogue to the book, Krakauer mentions that writing about Mormons, in contrast to almost any other religion currently in practice, is relatively easy in terms of research. The church has been in existence for less than 200 years, and has been exhaustively recorded throughout its entire history. I knew very little about the history of the LDS church before reading the book, and it was certainly eye-opening... For example, I had no idea that there were multiple violent incidents in Missouri and Illinois where Mormons were actually attacked and killed. I knew that Brigham Young et al moved to Utah to escape persecution, but I didn't realize the persecution was murder as opposed to, say, name-calling and real-estate problems.
I'm a little hesitant to be honest about my reactions, because I don't want to alienate or offend anyone who may be Mormon. I think I can comfortably say that the entire Fundamentalist LDS movement, which is officially not sactioned by the LDS church, is quite horrifying. It seems mind-boggling that in the United States (and Canada, and Mexico) in the year 2005, there are still polygamist societies flourishing. They marry off teenage girls to much older men. They cast out teenage boys to reduce the overpopulation of males (if all the men have 3+ wives, there'd better be a lot more women than men around!). They have pulled their kids out of public school. They collect millions of dollars of welfare because the non-legal wives are, in the eyes of the state, single mothers. They actively oppose government interference in their affairs, which is easy to do in the isolated areas, because all of the judges and law-enforcement officials are FLDS too. And most importantly, they believe the end of the world is coming any minute now - this seems to inform everything they do.
It's a fascinating read. I wish that Krakauer had gone into more detail about what mainline LDS members believe and practice - for example, I don't know if modern Mormons still believe that the earth was created 6,000 years ago, or if that is one of the beliefs the FLDS folks have hung on to. It's pretty fascinating to me that most of the LDS families I knew back in Kansas were extremely polite, motivated, smart, caring, family-oriented people. What is it about Mormonism that creates that kind of behavior? Or is it coincidental? Interesting stuff.
by Jon Krakauer
This book was totally fascinating. It's an exploration of the history of the Mormon (LDS) church, framed by the story of two Fundamentalist LDS men who murdered their sister-in-law and her little daughter. They claimed that God told them the woman and the baby needed to be killed. But it seemed more that they didn't want the woman interfering with their brother (her husband) and his participation in the Fundamentalist organization.
In the epilogue to the book, Krakauer mentions that writing about Mormons, in contrast to almost any other religion currently in practice, is relatively easy in terms of research. The church has been in existence for less than 200 years, and has been exhaustively recorded throughout its entire history. I knew very little about the history of the LDS church before reading the book, and it was certainly eye-opening... For example, I had no idea that there were multiple violent incidents in Missouri and Illinois where Mormons were actually attacked and killed. I knew that Brigham Young et al moved to Utah to escape persecution, but I didn't realize the persecution was murder as opposed to, say, name-calling and real-estate problems.
I'm a little hesitant to be honest about my reactions, because I don't want to alienate or offend anyone who may be Mormon. I think I can comfortably say that the entire Fundamentalist LDS movement, which is officially not sactioned by the LDS church, is quite horrifying. It seems mind-boggling that in the United States (and Canada, and Mexico) in the year 2005, there are still polygamist societies flourishing. They marry off teenage girls to much older men. They cast out teenage boys to reduce the overpopulation of males (if all the men have 3+ wives, there'd better be a lot more women than men around!). They have pulled their kids out of public school. They collect millions of dollars of welfare because the non-legal wives are, in the eyes of the state, single mothers. They actively oppose government interference in their affairs, which is easy to do in the isolated areas, because all of the judges and law-enforcement officials are FLDS too. And most importantly, they believe the end of the world is coming any minute now - this seems to inform everything they do.
It's a fascinating read. I wish that Krakauer had gone into more detail about what mainline LDS members believe and practice - for example, I don't know if modern Mormons still believe that the earth was created 6,000 years ago, or if that is one of the beliefs the FLDS folks have hung on to. It's pretty fascinating to me that most of the LDS families I knew back in Kansas were extremely polite, motivated, smart, caring, family-oriented people. What is it about Mormonism that creates that kind of behavior? Or is it coincidental? Interesting stuff.
Labels: book reports
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
back to work
I had a fantastic weekend. My mom and dad came to visit for my dad's 50th birthday (which is actually tomorrow, but close enough). He played golf. We went to the symphony. We had dinner at the Oceanaire Seafood Room, which was quite nice. I'd told the restaurant that we were celebrating a birthday when I made the reservation, so the waiter brought him Baked Alaska and lit it on fire at the table! Daddy's face lit up almost as bright at the fire. :)
I went shopping with my mom and picked up a pair of jeans at Old Navy that are 2 sizes smaller than I'd been wearing before the weight-loss program started. That was an excellent feeling. Also, R* and I went by the stall in the Market of the artist who made our wedding rings to buy temporary silver rings, and she chided us for even thinking about platinum bands and said of COURSE she will resize our white gold rings, what were we thinking? R* said later he'd felt like saying "Okay, Mom!" to her.
On Sunday after the parents left, I sanded and sealed the patio furniture. I need to redo the tabletop, because it was in such bad shape that it needs a coat of stain before I seal it again. Oh well. It will be easy with the palm sander.
It was hard to come back to the office. The junior client services guy left recently, and I've taken over some of his duties. It's not difficult or anything, but it does kind of suck up my time. At least it makes the days go faster!
I went shopping with my mom and picked up a pair of jeans at Old Navy that are 2 sizes smaller than I'd been wearing before the weight-loss program started. That was an excellent feeling. Also, R* and I went by the stall in the Market of the artist who made our wedding rings to buy temporary silver rings, and she chided us for even thinking about platinum bands and said of COURSE she will resize our white gold rings, what were we thinking? R* said later he'd felt like saying "Okay, Mom!" to her.
On Sunday after the parents left, I sanded and sealed the patio furniture. I need to redo the tabletop, because it was in such bad shape that it needs a coat of stain before I seal it again. Oh well. It will be easy with the palm sander.
It was hard to come back to the office. The junior client services guy left recently, and I've taken over some of his duties. It's not difficult or anything, but it does kind of suck up my time. At least it makes the days go faster!
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
microgenius
(that means I'm a little bit smart)
I got my 4.0 in Microbiology! I'm very pleased with myself. :)
My pal ThirdDegreeNurse is right, the class seemed very useful. I learned a lot not just about diseases, but about how the body responds to microorganisms. I don't know how I managed to miss the nitty-gritty details about the immune system before - did we even talk about that in Physiology? - but I finally get it!
I got my 4.0 in Microbiology! I'm very pleased with myself. :)
My pal ThirdDegreeNurse is right, the class seemed very useful. I learned a lot not just about diseases, but about how the body responds to microorganisms. I don't know how I managed to miss the nitty-gritty details about the immune system before - did we even talk about that in Physiology? - but I finally get it!
ring thing
R* and I have already lost so much weight that our wedding rings no longer fit. They are too big. Last night we took them off and put them in a safe place and picked out silver bands from his jewelry box that actually fit to wear in the meantime. We're talking about replacing our rings with platinum bands after we reach our weight goals.
I got up this morning at 5:30, did a bunch of cleaning because my parents are coming to visit arriving tomorrow, and then worked out, showered, and went to the office. The truth is, I think I would really enjoy being a housewife. I like cleaning and gardening and cooking and making things run smoothly. I suppose at least some of those are good characteristics for a nurse to have!
I got up this morning at 5:30, did a bunch of cleaning because my parents are coming to visit arriving tomorrow, and then worked out, showered, and went to the office. The truth is, I think I would really enjoy being a housewife. I like cleaning and gardening and cooking and making things run smoothly. I suppose at least some of those are good characteristics for a nurse to have!
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
book twenty-nine
The Farthest Shore
by Ursula K. Le Guin
I made a mistake in checking out this book before The Tombs of Atuan... which isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it. I have recently read A Wizard of Earthsea, but somehow failed to notice that The Farthest Shore wasn't next in the series!
In this book, Ged is now a middle-aged man, the Archmage at Roke. He meets Arren, a prince, when Arren comes to Roke to ask for help. His kingdom is losing its magic, and the witches and wizards who handle everyday tasks like weather-making and crop-charming are no longer able to cast spells. Ged has heard reports of this disappearance of magic from the world from many sources... so he and Arren go on a trip together to find the source of the problem.
They hear about a mysterious man who is promising magicians a way to cheat death and live forever. They determine that they must find this man and break his hold over the magicians, or the light will run out of the world...
It's beautifully written, especially when describing the love and admiration Arren has for Ged. I definitely want to re-read the other Earthsea books.
by Ursula K. Le Guin
I made a mistake in checking out this book before The Tombs of Atuan... which isn't to say that I didn't enjoy it. I have recently read A Wizard of Earthsea, but somehow failed to notice that The Farthest Shore wasn't next in the series!
In this book, Ged is now a middle-aged man, the Archmage at Roke. He meets Arren, a prince, when Arren comes to Roke to ask for help. His kingdom is losing its magic, and the witches and wizards who handle everyday tasks like weather-making and crop-charming are no longer able to cast spells. Ged has heard reports of this disappearance of magic from the world from many sources... so he and Arren go on a trip together to find the source of the problem.
They hear about a mysterious man who is promising magicians a way to cheat death and live forever. They determine that they must find this man and break his hold over the magicians, or the light will run out of the world...
It's beautifully written, especially when describing the love and admiration Arren has for Ged. I definitely want to re-read the other Earthsea books.
Labels: book reports, science fiction
Monday, June 13, 2005
done!
Microbiology = finished! I feel really good about how I did in this class. I fully expect to get a 4.0. I won't actually know until Wednesday, when grades are released.
My parents are coming to visit this weekend. My dad's 50th birthday is coming up soon and he wanted to come to Seattle to play golf and see the Symphony, so that's what we are doing. I'm taking Friday off to hang out with them. Although I'm sure that will cause a hoo-ha at work. Apparently CEO Guy got it into his head last week that I was somehow cheating him by not working on Fridays anymore. I have taken a lot of Fridays off recently for various trips - but I filed the appropriate paperwork and made sure my tasks would be covered! I can't believe I'm saying this but sometimes I wish there was actually MORE bureaucracy here.
Weight loss is proceeding apace. I lost 2.5 pounds last week, bringing me just half a pound away from 25 pounds lost. I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that I'm going to need to buy some new pants soon. I've still got a long way to go, so these will be temporary pants... but I am getting tired of yanking on my waistband 22 times a day! I believe this calls for a trip to the Old Navy sales rack.
My parents are coming to visit this weekend. My dad's 50th birthday is coming up soon and he wanted to come to Seattle to play golf and see the Symphony, so that's what we are doing. I'm taking Friday off to hang out with them. Although I'm sure that will cause a hoo-ha at work. Apparently CEO Guy got it into his head last week that I was somehow cheating him by not working on Fridays anymore. I have taken a lot of Fridays off recently for various trips - but I filed the appropriate paperwork and made sure my tasks would be covered! I can't believe I'm saying this but sometimes I wish there was actually MORE bureaucracy here.
Weight loss is proceeding apace. I lost 2.5 pounds last week, bringing me just half a pound away from 25 pounds lost. I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that I'm going to need to buy some new pants soon. I've still got a long way to go, so these will be temporary pants... but I am getting tired of yanking on my waistband 22 times a day! I believe this calls for a trip to the Old Navy sales rack.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
book twenty-eight
I Love Everybody (and Other Atrocious Lies) : True Tales of a Loudmouth Girl
by Laurie Notaro
I believe I got the idea to read this book from Kristie. And I'm glad I did because it was FUNNY. Very funny. Laugh until I snort audibly on the bus funny. I'm totally going to reserve her other books now.
by Laurie Notaro
I believe I got the idea to read this book from Kristie. And I'm glad I did because it was FUNNY. Very funny. Laugh until I snort audibly on the bus funny. I'm totally going to reserve her other books now.
Labels: book reports
book twenty-seven
Pompeii: A Novel
by Robert Harris
This book was really cool! It's a fictionalized account of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that buried the city of Pompeii. The main character is an engineer (aquarius) in charge of an aquaduct that splits off from the main water line in Pompeii. When the water stops running in a town downstream from Pompeii, the aquarius has to find the source of the blockage and repair it. The blockage is caused by the earth swelling and buckling in preparation for an eruption...
There are a couple of characters based on real people, also, such as Pliny the Elder. He is drawn as an old man with an insatiable appetite for food, wine, and knowledge. I don't know if Pliny really died in the Vesuvius eruption, but in the book he dies watching it happen.
While I'm sure I would also be interested in reading a nonfiction book about Pompeii and the artifacts discovered in the modern archaelogical exploration of it, this book made the eruption and its aftermath come to life in startling detail. I recommend it.
by Robert Harris
This book was really cool! It's a fictionalized account of the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that buried the city of Pompeii. The main character is an engineer (aquarius) in charge of an aquaduct that splits off from the main water line in Pompeii. When the water stops running in a town downstream from Pompeii, the aquarius has to find the source of the blockage and repair it. The blockage is caused by the earth swelling and buckling in preparation for an eruption...
There are a couple of characters based on real people, also, such as Pliny the Elder. He is drawn as an old man with an insatiable appetite for food, wine, and knowledge. I don't know if Pliny really died in the Vesuvius eruption, but in the book he dies watching it happen.
While I'm sure I would also be interested in reading a nonfiction book about Pompeii and the artifacts discovered in the modern archaelogical exploration of it, this book made the eruption and its aftermath come to life in startling detail. I recommend it.
Labels: book reports
