Monday, February 27, 2006
Friday, February 24, 2006
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Ask Amy
The following Ask Amy column was published in the Washington Post on Monday (Style Section, page C12). It is hard to believe that people are so incredibly naive.
Dear Amy:
My husband and I have lived in our quiet suburban Denver neighborhood for six years.
About two years ago two young gay men moved in across the street. They've taken the ugliest, most run-down property in the neighborhood and remodeled and transformed it into the pride of the street.
When it snows, they shovel out my car and are friendly, yet they mostly keep to themselves.
Last month I went out to retrieve my newspaper and watched them kiss each other goodbye and embrace as they each left for work.
I was appalled that they would do something like that in plain view of everyone.
I was so disturbed that I spoke to my pastor. He encouraged me to draft a letter telling them how much we appreciate their help but asking them to refrain from that behavior in our neighborhood.
I did so and asked a few of our neighbors to sign it.
Since I delivered it, I've not been able to get them to even engage me in conversation.
I offer greetings but they've chosen to ignore me.
They have made it so uncomfortable for the other neighbors and me by not even acknowledging our presence.
How would you suggest we open communications with them and explain to them that we value their contributions to the neighborhood but will not tolerate watching unnatural and disturbing behavior.
Wondering
You're lucky that these gentlemen merely choose to ignore you.
Your neighbors could respond to your hospitality by hosting weekly outdoor "gay pride" barbecues and inviting all of their friends to enjoy life on our quiet suburban street.
I can hold out hope that they will choose to do this, but I'm spiteful in that way. Your neighbors sound much more kind.
In your original petition to these men, you basically stated that while you value them when they are raising the standard on your street and shoveling your driveway, you loathe them for being who they are.
The only way to open communication with your neighbors would be to start by apologizing to them for engaging your other neighbors in your campaign. Because you don't sound likely to apologize, you are just going to have to tolerate being ignored.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Ocular Myokymia
So, for the past few days, my right upper eyelid has been randomly twitching. No other problems with that eye or with my left eye. Apparently this condition is called ocular myokymia. It's an involuntary, continuous muscle contraction, and it can last anywhere from several seconds or hours to days. Most often it is caused by lack of sleep, too much caffeine or increased stress. Certainly someone who has work or school six days a week wouldn't have any problems with that. Of course the only recommended treatment is to increase sleep, decrease caffeine, and decrease stress. Supposedly gently massaging my eyelid will also help. We'll see how that goes. I'll keep you updated.
Charles Arthur
Congratulations to my friend/coworker Lindsay and her husband Mike on the birth of their son Charles Arthur ("Charlie"). He was born on February 16th at 11:55 am, weighing 8 lbs 0.8 oz and measuring 20 3/4 inches long. His Apgar scores were 9 at 1 minute and 9 at 5 minutes. I was privileged to be there when he was born and I have to say he is pretty darn cute.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Clinical Ethics
So, I know I’ve been very bad about posting on this blog lately. But between work, class, and clinical there hasn’t been a lot of time. I finally have a few days off this week. Anyway, I thought you might like to see what I’m “learning.” One of the classes I am taking is Clinical Ethics. Yesterday in class we had to discuss the following scenarios. For each one assume you are a doctor/nurse practitioner and ask yourself: What should be done and why?
1) A patient with a family history of colon cancer and other risk factors refuses your best efforts to encourage scheduling a colonoscopy.
2) An 18-year-old woman requests a cesarean delivery for an uncomplicated pregnancy because she fears labor. You are concerned because there are no medical indications for the cesarean delivery, which has more risks. At the same time she requests a prescription for an antibiotic because “this cold is a drag and antibiotics always seem to help.” You believe her “cold” is viral and not bacterial.
3) You are a medical or graduate nursing student working in a clinical setting and your observe one of your peers falsifying patient-related information in a chart note.
4) As a resident, you are ordered to obtain consent for a procedure from a patient whose decision making capacity appears to be adversely affected by medication.
5) You are part of a team caring for a patient who preferences for a Do Not Resuscitate/Do Not Intubate order are ignored by the attending physician. The patient suffer a cardiac arrest.
6) A nursing colleague confesses to you that an unintentional error he made in a patient’s medication may have been responsible for hastening the patient’s death.
7) You overhear a fellow student using derogatory language to describe a patient with HIV.
8) The family of a patient with metastatic, end-stage breast cancer, who is no longer able to communicate her own preferences, demands that she receive treatment that is “futile” in the judgment of her professional care givers. You are one of the patient’s caregivers.
9) The parents of a 13-year-old boy with limited mental capacities, impaired judgment, and new tendencies to act out sexually with girls, demand a vasectomy for their son.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Friday, February 10, 2006
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Dagens Namn -- 6 Februari 2006
Monday was your name day if your name is: Doris or Dorotea.
P.S. Megan, tell GG I screwed up. Her name day was Monday, not Sunday. Sorry!
P.S. Megan, tell GG I screwed up. Her name day was Monday, not Sunday. Sorry!
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers
I am very very excited, because I just found out that one of my favorite bands, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, is going to be coming the Washington DC area in April. I have seen them perform twice before, once in Dallas and once here in Arlington. They will be playing at the State Theatre in Falls Church this time and I'm excited because the venue is much bigger than Iota where I saw them previously. They put on a damn good show and plus I think Roger Clyne is kind of hot! Listen to a few of my favorite RCPM songs: Leaky Little Boat, Sleep Like a Baby and Wanted (courtesy of Nemo's Goodies). [Hey mrshife, what are your favorite RCPM songs??]
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Thursday, February 02, 2006
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