Just Go....

Just wanted to share my video from my recent trip to Hawaii... specifically Maui... I had a lot of fun putting it together, hope you enjoy it!  Aloha!

Random Thoughts #2 of 2011

1.)  I often wonder how much of my day I should write about on my blog since I live in a small town and almost everyone knows everyone.  I can talk in subtleties, but still, how many chest pains and shortness of breaths can you stand?  If I talk about the really interesting cases, chances are someone here will know whom I am talking about.  HIPAA and all that.

So I don't write.  Then I feel guilty about not writing.  Then I think about writing but then wonder if you will find it interesting.  So I dont' write.  Wash, rinse, repeat.

2.)  Tonight I was told to read and write about a book called, "Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk" by David Sedaris.  So I downloaded it to my Kindle for iPhone... which I have started to become obsessed about.  I love books.  I would live in a bookstore if I could.  Now that I can instantly download and carry a virtual library with me I am reaching Nirvana.  Of course, having the time to read all of these tomes will be difficult, but I'm collecting them like a miser, "They're mine, all mine..."

3.)  So this patient walks up to the triage window and states, "my daughter just got bit by this, what do we do?" and lays a glass jar on the counter with this inside...
I don't like scorpions and having one put on my desk by the triage nurse was not something I quite expected.  I live in Northern California.  Redwood forests and the Pacific Ocean.  Not sandy deserts and scorpions.  But, I was surprisingly informed that, yes, these creepy crawlies do inhabit woodpiles in this area.  Freak out!  I was only slightly perturbed to find out that I actually did have to know about rattlesnake envenomations since there is a local species, but now I have to know about scorpions, too?!?!? 

4.)  I just came back from Maui, and I am working on the video pictoral from my trip.  Tonight I am working on a pile of dictations which I haven't been able to do since I lost my voice from this cold I got.  So, my video is pending... but I will share here once I have it.

5.)  I came across this MEME on a blog I follow, which prompted me to put in a blog posting of my own, so in a way, this inspired me to write today.  Post on your blog and share in the comments... I can't wait to read your responses!  Until next time... cheers!

ABC's of Me:
A: Age: 43
B: Bed size: Double
C. Chore you hate:  anything to do with cleaning
D. Dogs: 0 but will be 2 within the next year
E. Essential start to your day: Check on Facebook and morning news
F. Favorite color: Ceylon Blue
G. Gold or silver: Platinum!
H: Height: 5'1"
I: Instruments that you can play: Used to play the guitar and know my way around a keyboard
J: Job title: Emergency Medicine Physician
K: Kids:  Three fur babies
L: Live: in NorCal....
M: Mom’s name: Ana
N: Nicknames:  Montey, VerBon, Vern
O: Overnight hospital stays: Only when I am on night shift and when I used to be on-call.
P: Pet peeve:  People who can't control their speed while driving because they're talking/texting on cell phone
Q: Quote from a movie:  "I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really:  get busy living, or get busy dying."  Andy Dufresne, Shawshank Redemption.
R: Righty or lefty: Righty
S: Sibling: None
T: Time you wake up:  0630 or 1830 on days I work, whenever I get up on days I don't.
U: Underwear:  Always
V: Vegetables you dislike: onions and brussel sprouts
W: What makes you run late:  My husband... he takes a while getting ready
X: X-rays:  Knees and CXR's
Y: Yummy food you make:  my hubby loves my cheesy grits and chorizo
Z: Zoo favorite animal:  meerkats.  always have to get a pic!

A Spalicious Start

Ok, so I just got back from a short trip to Maui, and it was amazing.  After driving five hours south to get to San Francisco to catch our plane, and then flying five hours to get to the island, I thought we'd start off our trip with a little decompression therapy.  Since I had heard so much about the spa at the hotel where we were staying, I thought I'd book us a little spa package.... so worth it!

You start off in a sumptuous lobby area and are then separated (boy's side and girl's side).  You're led into a locker area where you get a towel and your own pair of slippers.  Clothing is optional in the spa area (I opted for coverage), and then you're shown around the different baths.  You get an hour to wander around and enjoy everything from 4 different hot tubs at various temperatures, to a variety of salt soaking baths, to dry or wet sauna rooms, and then a choice of different showers from a full body power wash to a muscle-pounding waterfall shower. 

At some point during your "bath time," one of the assistants takes you into the treatment room for an exfoliation.  It's a combo salt, oil and warm shower massage which leaves you tingly and ready to go back to the baths.  All around are extra towels, water or mango iced tea and fresh fruit.  You can sit and soak or lay back on a lounge chair and relax.

After your hour is up, you're given a robe and told to undress before heading upstairs to your spa treatment area.  I met my husband on a landing which overlooks the fountains, pools and beach in front of the hotel.  We sat and sipped water on lounge chairs while waiting to be called for our treatments.

Soon a pair of assistants called us into our own private room for the rest of the afternoon.  There we had the most amazing exfoliation and wrap treatment followed by a scented oil bath and then a luxurious hour-long deep tissue massage.  We came out of the spa feeling buffed, polished, smooth as silk and as relaxed as we could possibly be at that moment... then the real fun began!