Somebody had a Birthday!

Friday, March 24th was Caleb Marc Brown's 6th birthday.  Happy Birthday to my favorite son!

I love you!

Happy Anniversary

This is to my wonderful husband, David.  We just celebrated our 8th anniversary on Sunday by...working.  I love you, baby!

 

 

 

 

 

Save Me A Saturday Night

How did I ever find you?
I've been waitin so long
But now your trouble's behind you
Time is hurrying on and all that I want
Is save me a Saturday night
Leave me some room at your table
Slip into your heart if I might
And stay just as long as I'm able
Baby, save me a Saturday night

I'll be someone you count on
Sure, it's hard to believe
But try just keep me around, I'm yours
I just want to be wherever you need me
Save me a Saturday night
Leave me some room at your table
I want to slip into your heart if I might
And stay just long as I'm able
Baby, save me a Saturday night....

Save me a Saturday night
Leave me some room at your table
I want to slip in to your heart if I might
And stay there as long as I'm able
Baby, save me a Saturday night

Please... a Saturday night
Leave me some room at your table
I want to slip in to your heart if I might
And stay there as long as I'm able
Baby, save me a Saturday night

---Neil Diamond 2005

My Tax Bill

In light of the up-coming and ever near approaching tax deadline, I just couldn't help posting a copy this email I received from my friend Brenda...

   

Dear IRS,

Enclosed is my 2005 tax return showing that I owe $3,407.00 in taxes.
Please note the attached article from USA Today, wherein you will see the Pentagon is paying $171.50 for hammers and NASA has paid $600.00 for a toilet seat.
I am enclosing four toilet seats (value $2400) and six hammers (value $1029), bringing my total remitted to $3429.00.
Please apply the overpayment of $22.00 to the "Presidential Election Fund," as noted on my return.
You can do this inexpensively by sending them one 1.5" Phillips Head screw (article from USA Today detailing how HUD pays $22.00 each for 1.5" Phillips Head Screws is enclosed for your convenience.)
It has been a pleasure to pay my tax bill this year, and I look forward to paying it again next year.

Sincerely,
A Satisfied Taxpayer

TODAYS TAXES
Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
Capital Gains Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Court Fines
(indirect taxes)
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax
(FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel permit tax
Gasoline Tax
(42 cents per gallon)
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax Interest Expense
(tax on the money THEY paid tax on already)
Inventory tax IRS Inter est Charges
(tax on top of tax)
IRS Penalties
(tax on top of tax)
Liquor Tax
Local Income Tax
Luxury Taxes
Marriage License Tax
Medicare Tax
Property Tax
Real Estate Tax
Septic Permit Tax
Service Charge Taxes
Social Security Tax
Road Usage Taxes
(Truckers)
Sales Taxes
Recreational Vehicle Tax
Road Toll Booth Taxes
School Tax
State Income Tax
State Unemployment Tax
(SUTA)
Telephone Federal Excise tax
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax
Telephone Federal , State and Local Surcharge Ttaxes
Telephone Minimum Usage Surcharge Tax
Telephone Recurring and Non-Recurring Charges Tax
Telephone State and Local Tax
Telephone Usage Charge Tax
Toll Bridge Taxes
Toll Tunnel Taxes
Traffic Fines
(indirect taxation)
Trailer Registration Tax
Utility Taxes
Vehicle License Registration Tax
Vehicle Sales Tax
Watercraft Registration Tax
Well Permit Tax
Workers Compensation Tax


COMMENTS:
Not one of these taxes existed 100 years ago and our nation was the most prosperous in the world, had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world and Mom stayed home to raise the kids.

What the hell happened ?

Monday Morning Question (On Tuesday)

From Betty:

Its Monday; time for the Monday morning question.

Question: What is your ancestry?

Answer:  Well...mostly French, but WELL mixed.  My Mother's family is French (Dozier) and Scottish (McCartney - yes we're related to Paul).  My Dad is Cajun - which is French Canadian/White/Black/American Indian.  Don't ask me how since my Dad's family (Prosperie) originated in Italy that we are French...but we are.  Confused now?  But that is where I get my darker color.  The rest of my siblings obviously took after the Anglo side of the family.  Ha!  I always did enjoy being an original.

How Well Do You Know Me??

Four jobs you have had in your life:

1)  Registered Nurse

2)  Legal Assistant

3)  Secretary

4)  Office Clerk

Four movies you would watch over and over:

1)  When Harry Met Sally

2)  Sleepless in Seattle

3)  While You Were Sleeping

4)  Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Four places you have lived:

 1)  Mesa, AZ

2)  Sumter, SC (Bobby, I’ve had the strangest dream…)

3)  Moore, OK

4)  Fort Worth, TX

Four TV shows you love to watch:

1)  American Idol

2)  Grey’s Anatomy

3)  Bones

4) House, MD

Four places you have been on vacation:

 1) Santa Fe & Taos, NM

2) San Antonio, TX

3) Galveston, TX

4) Chicago, IL

Four websites I visit daily:

1) AOL

2) Yahoo

3) Bank of America

4)  MLS Listings

Four of my favorite foods:

1)  Mexican

2)  Italian

3)  Chinese

4) Chili’s Hamburgers

Four places I would rather be right now:

1) Las Vegas

2) Hawaii

3) Grand Caymans

4) Colorado

How to Live Your Life

I felt that in light of my last entry that posting this quote was more than appropriate.  I hope it inspires you...

"You gotta dance like nobody's watching, dream like you will live forever, live like you're going to die tomorrow and love like it's never going to hurt."  -- Meme Grifsters

Am I Going to Die Today?

Anyone ever ask you that question?  No?  Well, as an ER nurse, I get asked that question quite a lot.  Most of the time it is someone who is a little overly anxious and with some constant reassuring of resounding “No”, feels better by the time they leave.  Sometimes it is a person who is critical and very frightened and is begging for some assurance that they will live to see another day.  The answer to that question is usually “I don’t know, but I’m going to try my best to help you.  You are very sick and we will work hard to make you get better”.  I’ve literally had to hold someone’s face, look them in the eye, and very firmly say “No…I’m not going to stop what I’m doing and get you a drink (or blanket, or whatever” because YOU ARE DYING RIGHT NOW and I’m working damn hard to save your life!  If I stop what I’m doing right now, YOU ARE GOING TO DIE!”

 

Today was different.  It came out of nowhere.  I wasn’t expecting it, and it threw me for a loop.  I had a 30-something patient come in complaining of “being nervous and I’m all bloated, and I want to lie down on a bed.  And (oh by the way) I used ‘just a little bit of Meth’ 3 hours ago”.  Okay.  Vital signs completely normal, pulse a little fast, but not tachycardic.  Level of consciousness completely normal.  Orientation completely normal.  Answered all questions appropriately.  “Please have a seat in the lobby and we will get you back as quick as possible”.  So here comes the question…”Am I going to die today?”  My response?  “You know, I don’t know when you are going to die.  I don’t think it will be today.  But what I can tell you if you keep using Meth that eventually that drug will kill you.”  “Oh…okay.”  What could go wrong?

 

Fifteen minutes later.  “Can I lie down now?  I’m tired and I don’t feel good”  “No,” I respond, “we don’t have any empty rooms and all our hall beds are full.  If you don’t feel well please make sure you are sitting down in the lobby.  I’m sorry.  I promise I will get you back into a room so you can lay down as quick as possible.”  Okay, problem solved.  Right?

 

Patient appears again in the triage door.  “Can I lay down in here?”  “No.  I have to check in other patients and I can’t let you lay down in here.  Please sit down in the lobby”.  Patient then informs me “I’m going to go outside and smoke.”  I reply “Please stay in the lobby.  You should be sitting down if you are feeling bad.”  “Okay, I will”.  No problem, right?

 

So why then do I get a “someone fell outside in the parking lot” yell about twenty minutes later?  Why then is the patient lying flat on her back, blood pooling behind her head, with fixed pupils?  Why then does the patient have blood foaming out of her nose and mouth?  Why then does the patient have gasping respirations and exhibiting seizure activity?  Why are we securing her neck and back with a c-collar and backboard?  Why are we intubating her?  Why is she now a critical, unconscious patient on a respirator?   And, my most important question of the day?  Why the &$@# didn’t she stay in the lobby like I told her?!

 

So why do I feel bad?  I didn’t do anything wrong.  I adequately assessed my patient.  I visually assessed her every 15-20 minutes.  I strongly advised her not to go outside.  I strongly advised her tohave a seat and stay in the lobby.  So I know in my head I’m not responsible for her current condition.  So why do I feel so bad?  Because…it happened on MY watch.