Today was the most intensely boring day in the history of boring days ever. I feel bad for people who work in HR, because it is so rare that people don't want to poke their eyes out after listening to them for more than 15 minutes. 9 hours. 9!!!! It just went on.... and on.... and on....

But I got my namebadge!!!!!!! I'm official!!!

And tomorrow is "nursing orientation".
I still have no idea what that means.

All I know is that I get to wake up 15 minutes later than I did today.

We shall see.... We shall see....

First we had lunch with my friend Chief Bright Bean and her boyfriend Gus. Yay for a big steaming bowl of Pho from the best Vietnamese restaurant around: Yummy Yummy, on 11th and Irving.

This soup was definitely bigger than Chief's head:

And Gus ordered some fancy panties down home Asian beverage that had coconut milk, red beans, yellow beans, gelatin strips and a large chunk of mung bean over ice.

*Supresses Gag Reflex*

I have some serious texture issues, so this did not please me. It was actually pretty good (I reluctantly took a sip).... But I still stand firm in my belief that things you drink should nothave to be chewed. That's why I don't drink Bubble Tea.

Gus and his mung:

The best part of the day was going to visit Loody's Mom at Guide Dog School. She has a new pup named Rhumba, and this dog is the sweetest, lankiest, softest beast I have ever seen. Plus we got to see all the puppies in training! Loody has much more to say about this, and you should go read her blog.

But here is me, introducing myself to Rhumba:

And last, but not least, I am petrified and excited as all get out to be starting this job. I have only been bitching because I'm scared. It is what I have been working for this whole year (and really, long before that). The hospital that I am going to be working at was like home to me during my clinical rotations, and I am so proud to be able to work there. Oh hey, I mention that I'm scared?

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!

The Omen (I, II, III)
The Exorcist
The Amityville Horror
Friday the 13th (I, II, III, IV)
The Devil Rides Out
Halloween (I-II)
The Fog
The Dead Zone
Poltergeist
Hellraiser
The Shining
Rosemary's Baby
Dawn of the Dead (1979)
When a Stranger Calls

I think that's a good start for now.
There is no such thing as too many nightmares.

Anyone have any other recommendations?

And then today, as I was trying to take a much needed nap (you know, the vacation thing is hard work), he was clipping his nails on the back porch. So I was trying to fall asleep to the incessant *click* *click* *clicking* of fingernail clippings.

Before the nap, I went to visit my furry friend Ein (who I am watching while said Jana is away on vacation), and it was there I remembered why kitties drive me crazy (even though I love him). Here's the scenario:

1. Bridget enters house.
2. Cat yells at Bridget.
3. Bridget feeds cat.
4. Cat pokes nose in bowl.
5. Cat yells at Bridget.
6. Bridget picks cat up for a snuggle.
7. Cat purrs for a minute, then claws his way down.
8. Cat yells at Bridget.
9. Bridget picks up cat.
10. Cat purrs for a minute, then claws his way down.
11. Cat yells at Bridget.

And so on.
It kept on like that for about 15 minutes, until I finally just let him be cranky.

No wonder I needed a nap....

You know, the one about the Army hospital and nurses and stuff in Vietnam.

And I realized that Dana Delany is about as much of an influence on me being a nurse as anything else. Who knew?

I was so obsessed with that show. I used to stay up late and watch all of the episodes. And then when they showed it on Lifetime a few years later, I would watch all the repeats. Again. And again. And... again.... It is still one of the only shows I have ever seen where the primary focus was on a nurse, and it was just so cool in my pre-teen little brain. And it still is. Really.

So kids, there ya have it.
"Why I Became a Nurse"
by Bridget Ahearn

I heart Dana Delany. And Marg... Definitely Marg.

But they haven't ever released it on DVD!!
Bastards!

Yes kids, today was CPR recertification day. Ain't nothing better than 22 people stuck in a 10'x10' room in 90 degree heat, sweating over these little plastic torso clones. At least they used little plastic baby dolls to simulate the infant CPR. Although, my baby's head was coming apart at the neck. I don't think CPR does much good on a decapitated baby.

But I passed, and I finished it 3 days before I have to bring the little card to work with me on Monday. Who says I do things at the last minute. Heh.

Now I have two more years to wait until the last minute to get recertified again. And have nightmares about crazy plastic chests without faces coming to smother me in my sleep.

But in the meantime, I will resume my search for Annie.

I'm procrastinating not having anything to do.
Can you procrastinate procrastination?

I have three days left of this precious vacation before I jump head first into a hugely new experience with new responsibilities and I have turned into a lump. I can't even bring myself to play video games. And I know I'm going to be miserable when I'm not on vacation. Damn unpleasable me!

I bet Frecklegirl, Loody and Nerdle are going to add me to their AIM block list pretty soon.

Harry Potter cannot come soon enough!

It was just sitting there on the sidewalk! Did someone intend to pick it up later? This is really too nice for it to just be left here. And it would go perfect in our little living room...

So we promptly checked to see if anyone was watching us, picked it up, and walked it 5 blocks back to our house, and we now have a totally fabulous (and quite comfy) (and free) new chair. A little disinfecting and it will be good to go.

And nobody came running after us demanding that we give them their living room furnishings back.

We're still waiting for the fuzz.

I'm a little obsessed.

I have struggled for a long time with my own feelings about religion and spirituality, how they are connected, how they are distinct, and where I fit into all of it. When it comes to patients, though, I am pretty clear about where I stand when individuals ask me to pray with them.

In my role as a nurse, if someone asks me to pray with them, I honor that, no matter their religious practice is, or how outside of the framekwork of my own experience it is.

At first I wasn't sure if that was even the appropriate response to have, because what if this poor person found out that I wasn't religous and felt as though I had invaded some intimate and important part of their identity. But I realized, and I think that this is true for most people, that if someone is asking you to pray with them, it is because it is an important moment for them, and they want you to be a part of that and to be with them as support as they are speaking with their G-d, whom or whatever that may be.

To me, to pray with someone is a privilege.

I do, however, wonder if it would be different for me, or more difficult to do that, if I were deeply rooted in a religious community or faith. I think that would change things some.

But for me, the bottom line is that people are asking you to be a part of their experience, and to join them in something that is deeply meaningful to them, especially in times where everything is turned upside down, is just another unspoken part of being a nurse.

But you would never really want your kids to grow up.
And do that.
Especially not your son.

I was thinking today about one of my favorite little pieces of nursing: taking a baby's temperature. You do it by sticking the thermometer (no, not there.) in their little armpit and closing their arm down over it. It's just a quiet little moment with the tiny person and their chubby arm.

Precious.

We'll call it "splurts".

I kind of talk that way too (and I think Casey knows what I'm talking about). I don't say much, but when I do, it's hard to to me to stop and I just prattle on for hours.

Poof. She's gone.

It's called The Sugar Water Festival, and Erykah Badu, Jill Scott, my girl Queen Latifah, and Floetry are all going to be there. I can't even believe that all of these sweet sweet soulful ladies are going to be in once place. I'm drooling as I type.

Eat it, Lilith Fair!!!!!!

But, my bookmarks are online at: del.icio.us/nursebridget

Enjoy! And send me yours!!!