Beth's Contradictory Brain

Memories

I used to sell plasma and this post pretty much nails it - and I swear, they used nails to draw blood. Needles come in gauges - the bigger the number, the smaller the needle - don't ask me why. Normally I use 21 or 23 gauge needles. For kids you use either 23 or 25. The plasma place went from 18 to 16, and that's when I stopped.

I couldn't even use college as an excuse, I was just a poor working person who'd already graduated college.

Anyway. If I have one word of advice for anyone getting their blood drawn for any reason - DRINK LOTS OF WATER before going. It makes a huge difference. I had a nice, healthy, fit woman about 50 years old today that I had to stick twice - the second time I got in a vein in the back of her hand, and the blood was so thick it wouldn't even drip into the tube. I made her drink a big glass of water and we tried again ten minutes later and finally got the tube we needed full.

And the reason they draw your blood at 4 a.m. when you're in the hospital is because your doctor wants the results from the lab before his/her 7 a.m. rounds. Trust me, we don't like waking you up to draw your blood anymore than you do. (Just one of the many, many reasons I do out-patient and not in-patient.)

Life is Good... But...

Life is still feeling pretty good. Sometimes it almost scares me. I haven't felt this positive about life, and life with Nerdstar, in I don't know how long. And I'm not exactly sure what it is that makes life feel good. We're both healthy. We live in a decent area. We're both working. She's not off somewhere being a soldier.

Is that all there is to it? Really?

I don't know. Is this the don't look a gift horse in the mouth thing? Probably.

And I'm feeling closer to God these days. There are little aspects of my life as a Christian several years ago that are creeping back in. Part of it is why I'm in the line of work I'm in. I'm good with people. And even better, I'm good at drawing blood. I cannot tell you the number of patients so far this week who have told me "you have a soft touch" or "you have great hands" or one man even told me "you have angel hands." I don't take that lightly. Some of these patients get their blood drawn weekly, bi-weekly, monthly - they know whether you're good or not. How does that relate to God? It's part of my "even smiling at strangers makes a difference" theology. If I can make the hassle of having your blood drawn just a little better than you expected, and maybe make your day just a little better, well, isn't that how God works?

The one part of my life that I am still really sad about is a lack of friends. I really, really miss having friends, having someone to hang with, to chat with. I know we haven't been in the area long. And it's hard to meet people. But it's been a long time since I've had a really good, close friend. And that's not how my life used to be. I always had a lot of good friends. Right up until I lost all my Christian friends by embracing being gay.

Along with the bad apple at work and all the frustration that brings, this is the first job I've ever had where I haven't made friends with at least one co-worker.

Anyway. That's my rambling on this Wed. night.

Pics

Ok, I posted a few pics from Baltimore today.

Good Weekend

It's been a pretty good weekend. I get frustrated at how tired my job leaves me. I'd love to go to four days a week, but I don't think I'll actually do it anytime soon.

Yesterday we took Ramen to the park again. It seems we attract women there with their kids and dogs who want to tell us all about their lives. It's almost interesting - but not really.

Then we went to see Evan Almighty. Nerdstar's a big fan of Bruce Almight, and we thought it looked fun. We both liked it. I've read it's not getting great reviews - so I really hope it finds it's audience. It's a sweet movie with a message that's good to hear, but doesn't beat you over the head.

Today we got brave and decided to drive up to Baltimore and see if we could find some decent seafood. The seafood we found wasn't anything to write home about (or I guess to really blog about). But we had fun people watching down at the touristy harbour. We didn't even get terribly lost.

And can I just say that now I understand why people enjoy summertime. I can't believe how nice the weather here is.

This Bugs Me

I've been thinking about this news article since I read it yesterday. The state of Virginia has decided to add "civil fees" to fines for traffic violations as a way to fund it's highway department.

Um... aren't fines already "civil fees" - I mean, I guess there's some technical difference in the terms legally.

For instance, an offender charged and convicted of reckless driving for going 20 mph over the speed limit would pay the traffic fines and court costs, plus be accessed a $1,000 civil fee. One-third of the civil fee would have to be paid the day of the conviction. The rest would be paid in two equal installments over the next two years. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is responsible for collecting the final two payments

Now, it sounds like a good idea to fine people heavily for reckless driving - but don't we have that system in place already?

Moore provided a print out of violations that he received at the circuit court clerks conference on June 4 and 5. The print out filled five pages.

And where can your ordinary citizen get a print out of that list?

If a convicted traffic offender does not pay the fees for whatever reason, the person's driver's license is revoked.

Screw the poor who can't afford the fines, fees or a lawyer to make it all go away.

Drivers from out of state will not be penalized by the civil system of fees because “the state can not go beyond its borders to collect the (civil) fees,” said Moore. “These fees are for Virginia residents and those with a permit listing a Virginia address.”

Lucky for me my Texas DL is good a while longer.

Seriously though, do you know of any other states that are doing this?

Isn't this really going to be a boon for lawyers and collection agencies?

Update

Sorry for the light blogging. Life is more or less settling into a routine - and a routine that leaves Nerdstar and I pretty tired at the end of the work day.

My body is mostly adjusting to being on my feet almost all day every day at work. I finally caved in and got a pair of crocs - they were overly popular in Austin, on top of being so damn ugly - and I just couldn't bring myself to try a pair. No one around here seems to wear them, so I finally went and tried some on. (That correlation makes sense in my head.) I do think they're marginally more comfy than my expensive walking tennis shoes, and they certainly are the most light weight shoes ever. But, I think they make me use different muscles in my ankles and skins when I walk, so I'm sore in different places. I guess that'll work itself out in another week or so.

Other than work, we spend the weekends taking Ramen to the park, running errands, and trying new places to eat. Unfortunately, we still haven't found restaurants here that are better than our old favs in Austin. But we're still looking. We did find a Thai place we both like, and it's just down the street.

I was really frustrated with my job Monday and the lack of structure/accountability there. Things got better Tuesday. Not perfect, but they encorporated some more structure in the schedule that helps a lot. I'm still hoping he hires some decent folk to replace the ones who are leaving.

Other than that we're trying to plan a trip to Atlantic City in early August and maybe one to see The Kid in Sept.

Prissy

If we weren't so sure Ramen comes from a long, long line of muts, we'd be convinced he comes from a long line of show dogs - he's so prissy! His theme song is "I'm so Pretty."

Ramen Dog

Just a short example of Nerdstar trying reverse psychology on the dog.

Bad Assumptions

We get a lot of "repeat customers" at our lab. So there are many times a day I explain that I'm new to the area, and that I'm from Texas. I can't tell you how many people love Austin other than Nerdstar and I.

Which, again, is not the point of this post.

Yesterday I had a gentleman ask where I was from, so I told him, then asked where he was from, etc.

Then he asked, "So, is there a Mr. Beth or did you move here alone?"

I didn't know how to answer at first... so I finally just said "Neither" and left it at that.

He was just working from some bad assumptions.

Rambling about Health

It's interesting working "sick" people all day. I generally know nothing other than what tests the doctor has ordered and what color tube that corresponds to for me to draw.

Side note: the different colored tubes when you have your blood drawn are for different types of tests. The one with the gel in the bottom is so that after you centrifuge the tube - the serum and plasma are separated - the red stuff is on bottom and the clear stuff is on top. The plain red tube keeps the blood whole and lets it clot. All the other colors have different types of additives to keep the blood from clotting so the lab can see things like cell counts. For some tubes you can only run one or two tests, or some tests even if they use the same color tube have to be in their own tube - generally because different parts of the lab use it and evidently they don't like to share. You know, in case you were wondering and never asked. I tend to try to explain things like that to the patients.

Anyway. Unless I do the registration for a patient (the computer part) I don't know what their diagnosis is or why the doctor ordered those tests. The test themselves don't tell me anything about why a person is having their blood drawn - unless it's something obvious like HIV or Hepetitis - but even then I won't know if it's because the person already has those viruses or if they're checking to make sure they don't. And as a phleb I never see the results of the tests. And for most tests, even if I saw the results I wouldn't know what the numbers meant. Basically you don't have to worry about your phleb thinking weird stuff about you coming in for blood work.

None of that was the reason for this post...

What I was thinking about today is how dealing with different levels of sick and/or old people all day has different affects on me emotionally.

I have been an amazingly fortunate person regarding my health. I am rarely sick and have never had anything major wrong with me. Even when I broke my arm as a kid it didn't hurt.

So seeing my patients all day reminds me how lucky I am. And it also makes me think about how I would handle it if I were to get some sickness and have to have blood work all the time - or get something the doc couldn't figure out what it was. I'm not sure I'd make a good patient.

And dealing with the older people is both encouraging and discouraging. I mean, these are the people who are 85+ and are still getting out and around and coming to a lab and having bloodwork done. They're not in a retirement home or hospital all the time.

It makes me wonder what kind of old person I'll be. I don't like the idea of getting/being old - even if I've got my own house and car at 90. And I think there will be certain illnesses and I'll have it very clear that I want the plug pulled at X time.

So here's to good health for everyone!!

June

It's been a good weekend - even if I did work 8 to noon yesterday. (Work was so much better without the bad apple around!)

I got my hair cut really short yesterday. As I was about to get it cut I realized I should have done before and after pics - oh well. It was over six inches long and now the back of my neck is visible - which has resulted in me wanting to get a Texas flag tattooed back there. I figure if I still want it in a few months I might look into it.

The rest of the weekend has been mostly getting things done. And we actually cooked dinner tonight. I'm pretty sure we ate out every night last week.

One of the best things about living here so far is the weather. I can't believe how not hot it is. Oh sure, we had one hot day Friday, but even then it wasn't the kind of hot that takes your breath away or leaves you all sticky and sweaty after setting foot out the front door. Then yesterday and today were almost downright cool outside. It was in the upper 70s with a cool breeze and clouds. In June. Who knew that was possible!

I also decided to go back and read what was up the past June's since I've been blogging.

Last year was the trip to Tokyo - that was such a great trip. I guess I'd forgotten that I was working this time last year in KC. It seems like a lot longer ago than that.

'05 we went to Chicago to see Nerdstar's sister and then to Dallas to see my family - both road trips from KC.

'04, not as fun - Nerdstar was in Iraq.

'03, we still lived in Austin, Nerdstar was at Ft. Lewis, WA getting ready to go to Iraq, I was riding my motorcycle around.

King Herion

Driving to work this morning, NPR played several James Brown songs. I'd never heard, or heard of, this one - but it's pretty amazing.

King Herion

A Little Rant

I really, really like my job. I like the hours. I like the patients. I think the hospital is decent.

BUT. I cannot stand my co-workers. It's almost a case of one bad apple spoiling the bunch, but it's a little more than that. Moral and teamwork barely exist. Naturally, it's a top-down problem. I think in the 3 weeks I've worked there the manager has been there for maybe 5 of them, and those were non-consecutive. He's been with the hospital for 35 years and this job is basically his way of getting paid to be retired. So he doesn't care one whit how things run. He thinks he does. He likes to play nice and not enforce rules or tell anyone no. But that just creates a place where people look after themselves with no consideration for anyone else.

And the bad apple takes advantage of all of it. She's one of those people working hard at not working. Then there's the over-educated guy trying very hard to get a better job (and I sincerely hope he does, he's a nice guy). And the pregnant chick who I doubt will be there in two months. And the other nice guy who's leaving in two weeks.

So of people who intend to stick around a while, there's a lady who's so slow at doing things I don't even really count her as there. There's a guy who's so sick I'm not sure how much he counts. Although he's told me every day I've been there how hard he works. And it's not that he's not working, but... Then there's the bad apple, and her friend who just got hired. Bad apple is going to totally rub off on her friend, who I think would be a good worker if BA wasn't around.

I try to not let it get to me when there's a slow patch and everyone wanders off and I'm left feeling responsible for getting the patients out of there in a timely manner. But I tend to have this problem of letting it all get to me.

I'm hoping there's a slight chance that the boss man will be in the office more starting next week, and that might solve a few problems. But I'm not holding my breath. And even if he doesn't decide to come in more regularly, I can hope that he'll at least hire some decent folks to replace the ones leaving.

It's just that it's a stressful enough job without working with some really useless, annoying people.

Bleh.

Stubborn

The weekend Nerdstar was out of town, my Mom called for her bi-weekly catch-up. The Kid usually talks to us a little bit, but he mostly talks to Nerdstar.

My last conversation with him went like this:

Me: Hey Buddy, what's up?

TK: Can I talk to Nerdstar? (he uses her real name)

Me: No, Buddy, she's not here.

TK: Can I talk to Nerdstar?

Me: I told you, she's not here, she went to see her grandpa.

TK: Nerdstar! Nerdstar! Nerdstar! Nerdstar! (Yelling as if she'd be able to hear him.)

Me: SHE'S NOT HERE... put Granny back on the phone.

TK: Then put Ramen on.

Me: (Laughing at this point) Ramen can't talk on the phone... put Granny back on the phone.

Ugh. He talks to me on the phone a little, but not nearly as much as he talks to Nerdstar.

Big Hit

Yesterday I was a big hit with little old ladies. One of them even kissed me on the cheek.

Little old lady patients that is. Several of them were from Eastern Europe and several others were Hispanic. While there may be veins I can't hit (and I usually know which ones and don't try) - I have a very soft touch with the needle.

Unfortunately, there's one of my co-workers who's driving me nuts. It's hard for me to not let it bother me. She's one of those people who will put a lot of work into not working very much. And yet would be pissed and offended if you told her she's not working hard. The manager doesn't care - and he's been told she's wandering off too much. His attitude is that as long as patients don't complain - which would come back and bite him in the ass - he doesn't care what we all do or don't do - we can work it out amongst ourselves. And normally that would be great. But this chick won't change her behavior unless it comes from the manager himself. And really, I doubt it would change even then. If I know one thing - it's that people don't change.

My one hope is that she gets another job soon. This isn't the job she wants. Not that I think she really wants a job at all.

So - being a big hit with little old ladies is what makes my work days worthwhile.