#1661 - On Kismet

Do you believe in fate?

My mother always used to tell me that everything happens for a reason.

I used to think it was to keep me from being disappointed

from whatever teen drama was occuring at the moment,

but as I've gotten older, I've come to realize

that where I am is where I was lead to be.

When I stop and think back on certain decisions in my life,

I realize that those simple choices, like staying in San Diego

during college, or picking one med school over another

have certainly directed me to where I am now...

And, who's to complain?

It's a pretty good place...

#1672 - On Jumbled Mess

The last three days at work have felt like a Jumbled mess all right.

I usually like to get into a flow of sorts at work.

Patient comes in, gets seen, get the workup started,

move onto the next patient.

But, it's been more like:

Four patients waiting in the rooms when I arrive.

Three are old from the prior shift waiting for studies, and one is new.

See the new one and get things going.  Then another new one gets put in.

Try to see the new one while one of the old ones screams that 

they are ready to leave.  The new one needs nothing done and 

can be discharged.  Now two new ones are put into rooms,

and I get called quickly into a room because one of them is really

sick and needs attention yesterday.

Trying to put in orders on the new sick one, while trying to write discharges

on the old and new one, when another old one is ready to go

and the third old one turns out to be sicker than thought

and now needs more orders and a consult.

Get orders in on the sickest new one, haven't seen the other new one,

but then another new one gets placed into a room,

and, oh yeah, the PA didn't show up and there's

four other patients waiting to be seen in Fast Track.

I send my medical student to go see the "stitches removal"

because that should be easy, right?

While I discharge three, try to admit one, finally see another

and put in orders, the medical student comes back saying

that "something doesn't look right."

Now it's leave my work area and go to look at a wound in Fast Track.

Reassure patient and medical student that everything is ok,

and look at two of the three other patients that are there.

They're ready for discharge, so I grab their charts, remove the stitches

from the original patient, and grab their chart as well.

Stack of charts in hand, I go back to my work area to 

find that the nurses have roomed another two patients to replace the ones

I discharged, plus my sick patient is ready for admission,

and, oh by the way, a STEMI is on the way in and

will be in the ED in 3 - 5.

How many more hours until my shift ends....?

2013 A to Z Challenge Post:

J is for Jeep

#1709 - On Inspiration

Which I am sorely lacking.  But, at least I got my post in on time...
Maybe I will have some things to write about over the next several days while I am working the night shift, and also going on a road trip...!

Until then... enjoy a posting from my Facebook page:

2013 A to Z Challenge Post:

I is for Inspiration (oops..!)

#1709 - On Healthcare

I've been really busy over the last couple of days

so today's post is going to be a little short.

Here's an interesting article that came out on

CNN today.

I think it's pretty close to what I've said before...

2013 A to Z Challenge Post:

H is for Hungry

#1722 - On Gardening

How does your garden grow....?  I have been so busy that I am really behind on my gardening.  Last year at this time I had several flats already growing in the greenhouse.  This year, my greenhouse, that fell apart by the way, lays empty.

I hope that in the next couple of weeks I can catch up... for now, here's some pictures to remind myself of what my gardening should look like...

2013 A to Z Challenge Post:

G is for Guiness

#1728 - On Fitbit

I wrote on a previous post how a hike in Yosemite

convinced me that it was time to start

working on my health and getting back into shape.

So I did some research, and around that time

a great review came out on a techie website I follow

Gizmodo.  It talked about something called a Fitbit.

Around the middle of January it came, and I have worn it ever since.

At first, I basically used it just for keeping track of 

my steps and distance.

Then, as I stated in that an earlier post,

I started using the Fitbit to it's full potential.

And, after about 2.5 months the results are finally starting to show

and in a good way...!

Slow and steady with a goal date of November...

We'll see how it goes...!

2013 A to Z Post

F is for Frenetic

#1770 - On Elk

One of the things I love about living in Northern California

is the variety of wildlife we are able to see and enjoy.

And one of the amazing animals we get to see

during our frequent travels are the Roosevelt elk herds

that live in our area.

You can potentially see elk anywhere along highway 101,

but there are certain areas where you are 

pretty sure to see them.

One of them is just south of Laytonville

before Shamrock Road.  To the left is a valley

and cow pastures, and you can often spot the herd off in the distance.

Another (and probably the best) is around 

the schoolhouse near Stone Lagoon...

We've driven north on many occasions and almost run into the herd

here eating by the side of the road...

Including this big male watching out over

his herd of ladies...

Look at the rack on that one...!

Isn't he amazing...?

Depending on the time of the year,

you can sometimes catch the herd along Hwy 20

heading west from I-5.

But you have to look quick because the herd

is usually on the side of the hill, or in the ravines

and can be difficult to see.

When you do see them up close

you just have to be in awe of their sheer size and majesty...

Why hello there...!

2013 A to Z Challenge Post:

E is for Emergency