12.17.07
Posted in The ins and outs...., Knitting.... at 1:24 am by smarriott
I finally completed the market bag.
It hasn’t been put to use yet, but…..
Sigma really seems to like it.
As per your request here is ceil. If you think I look slightly nauseous, I’ll let you in on a little secret…. I was! Fortunately for me, I did not follow through with that nasty inclination but had a fairly good first day. No one died. I didn’t lacerate anyone’s fingers during blood glucose checks. I promoted patient and hospital safety in the elevators. Finally, the most important of all indicators, I didn’t feel like a totally incompetent fool! Of course, Tuesday may bring a whole new atmosphere.
Speaking of atmosphere, we had our very first snow of the season here in the Metro East region. That is the first snow to actually stick. It snowed all day with a hiatus of only two hours midmorning. The dogs LOVED it. They pranced and danced and stuck their noses in it. J and I had had enough by evening time. J probably more so in that he had to drive home from the Greater St. Louis area; a typical 30 minute drive took over one hour and if you know J, which most of you do, he hates delays. Although, you really gotta love the snow! Hopefully, that is all we see for the rest of the holiday travel time.
More updates when/if they happen.
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12.11.07
Posted in The ins and outs.... at 7:39 pm by smarriott
My new computer has finally arrived. Actually, it arrived last Wednesday. I have been so enamored with it, however, I have yet to post anything about it. This is mostly because I have spent hours tweaking and fine-tuning it for my technological needs (which mostly consist of streaming television shows) that I could never do on my laptop.
Speaking of laptops, look how little Mojo is compared to Henry. That’s right I named them. Henry is the new apple edition to the 317 family of computers.
In other news, I had orientation on Monday at my new job. It went well despite the fact that I also needed to have my 2nd-step TB test read that same day on the other side of Alton, among other things. I even survived driving all the way to Fairview Heights in the freezing rain to buy scrubs for today. My new set is ceil. Strange name for scrubs if you ask me. “Ceil” is an archaic verb meaning to “line or plaster the roof of a building.” These scrubs look neither like ceiling material nor the color of plaster so you’ve got me why their named that. I just wear them, I don’t name them.
When purchasing scrubs, however, I did NOT get “Grey’s Anatomy” scrubs, although they do sell them. Tempting, I know.
Since I have had orientation, I now know my schedule for the upcoming holidays. Some disappointments, I won’t lie. While I have Christmas eve, Christmas day, and the day after Christmas off, I do have to work New Year’s Day and a few days before, cutting short my excursions with family and friends. All-in-all, however, it is not so bad considering I just started and almost everyone in the nursing world has to work some part of the holidays. At least you will all see my bright and shining face some part of holidays.
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12.01.07
Posted in The ins and outs...., Knitting.... at 12:36 pm by smarriott
For those of you who my not be aware, I have been absent from this site for approximately three months. Three months, yes, that’s right. If you don’t believe me simply scroll down to the next posting and you will see that September was the last day that I posted, most likely with promises to continue posting regularly. Ha! That worked out well, didn’t it.
Now some of you may not notice or more likely you do not care that there has been an extended absence. The latter certainly does not hurt my feelings. I enjoy a good ackbar.org proper posting here and there, but have yet to die from its five month hiatus. Others of you, however, ahem….Joe…. seem deeply forlorn that there has not been a more recent update. In light of this, Joe, this post is for you.
Where to begin, where to begin….
First, let me begin by rationalizing my absence in order to appease my conscience. Posting, or rather the lack there of, is contingent on three elements: time, content, and functional equipment. Now content is a tricky element because one might say that there is never an absence of content, with endless possibilities daily. I might argue, however, that rambling about your dogs and endless chatter regarding nursing stuff cannot always equate to sufficient content. So, I could argue that there has not been endless content to discuss and subsequently due to this, I have not posted. I know this will not appease many of you so I will continue to rationalize my absence with the other items.
Time, eh, that’s debatable as well. Do I waste time watching television? Yes, yes I do. In my defense, however, that time should be used more wisely for studying, I’m just simply preparing to study all those numerous hours spent watching “Pushing Daisies” and “Heroes.”
Finally, the one element that is beyond my control, functional equipment. Many of you will remember that I have been complaining endlessly about my camera and computer. Two critical pieces for updating this cutting-edge blog. Without which you will have blurry photos of my more recent projects and a frustrated author (because I’ve spent 10 hours waiting for photoshop to load or I’ve just had a fight with ackbar himself for confiscating his computer). This equipment problem, however, has been rectified! I am now the proud owner of a Canon PowerShot SD1000! A magnificent piece of machinery that I have yet to explore entirely. The most impressive items I have discovered so far include photographing Sigma yawning without blurring like our old camera (can you tell what that is? Neither can I) and highlighting a single color accent in a this picture. Fantastic. I have also ordered a new computer. I am bursting with excitement for this puppy to grace my presence. It should be here sometime next week.
Now that I have satisfied by conscience, I’ll move on to the updates.
You are now reading the thoughts of the newest PRN Post-surgical Nursing Assistant at St. Anthony’s Health Center. Yay me. I’m sure it doesn’t sound very glamorous to many of you, but I think its just wonderful. Mostly, I’ll be getting a lot of hands-on experience before working as a RN and the hospital will pay for my NCLEX review, test, and licensing. All of which allows me to purchase a new computer and subsequently, bring more posting to you. Excited now?
Next on the agenda, me…..the artist. During my Thanksgiving holiday I was afforded many free hours to watch television and KNIT! Something I have neglected for too long. Once I picked it back up, my fingers were so delighted they refused to put down the needles. I completed a market bag featured on Knitty (I’m too embarrassed to show my own, it is just not as pretty, even though I do love it), scarf, and other items that cannot be revealed here due to the current season we are in….namely, the holiday one. The scarf is mostly stockinette stitch with a herringbone lace pattern at each end.
The herringbone lace pattern:
All odd-numbered rows: purl all sts.
Rows 2, 4, and 6: *K 2 tog, K 2, yo, K 2 - rep from *, end same
Rows 8, 10, and 12: K 3, *yo, K 2, SKP (slip, knit, pass), K 2- rep from *, end
yo, SKP, K 1.
I’ve also adamantly been working on Stella. I gave her some subtle bling.
Now I’ll scoop ackbar.org proper. Recent events include Roboprix 2007, hosted by Edwardsville High School and slow-moving home renovations, to which I’ll bring you a sneak peak.
Roboprix 2007 highlights:
Excellent volunteers and judges.
Intense competition.
Renovations:
New closet space.
Mudding.
I’ll end this exhaustive update here until more exciting news happens.
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09.07.07
Posted in The ins and outs.... at 7:51 pm by smarriott
Is it wrong that I find this so adorable? I also took some where Sigma was carrying the doll’s head around in him mouth, but those did not turn out as well nor were they as cute.
You may be wondering why Sigma has a doll’s head for a toy. Easily explained. I used the rest of this poor doll to create my own for an art group I’ve joined. Mostly, due to time restraints, I found a picture I enjoyed, printed it on an iron-on, sewed the t-shirt fabric together and stuffed it with old stuffing form the dogs toys. The head is hot-glued on. Viola!
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09.03.07
Posted in The ins and outs.... at 7:43 pm by smarriott
I’m sure as avid and sorely disappointed readers, many of you have been wondering in these last few weeks…..”What about Wiley?” What is going on with that troubled, coned, cuddle-bug? Well, I believe we last left off when Wiley received his new cone (see pictures in last post), the largest cone possible. He loathed it and was mopey most of the time (his depression may not entirely have been due to his cone, but may also have been related to his rigid medication regimen). Not long after my last post, John and I left for Nevada, while Wiley and Sigma spent the week in Champaign in the excellent hands. Flash forward one week, however, and Wiley has destroyed his cone! I must admit, however, it was not entirely unexpected. You may notice that a few of the plastic pieces have actually fallen out of the taped edges.
Upon returning home, John and I desperately tried to keep him from hurting himself further (while we spent most of the day away from the house) with various contraptions. These ideas consisted of Wiley both in the cone, or out of it, towels with rubber bands or zip tied to his leg, and various foul smelling concoctions (mostly vinegar). The most successful, of course, was the towels gently rubber banded to his leg (he did not complain or mess with it, so we firmly believe that it did not bother him) and sprinkled with vinegar. Fearing potential physical and psychological damage, however, we began to second guess this idea. It was followed by the more humane zip ties, that Wiley ate within two hours. In the end, mostly in light of protecting Wiley’s digestive system, we hung up the cone, rubber bands, and zip ties for nothing what-so-ever. We decided to let nature run its course and what do you know, he stopped messing with it. Now, he is perfectly content to have four less toes and some new hair growth. Well maybe not new hair growth, but at least its not an open sore.
In other news, I have completed the long overdue green monster. Well if by completed, you count finishing everything but sewing on the buttons.
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08.04.07
Posted in The ins and outs.... at 8:25 pm by smarriott
As you might be able to see, today is a bit of an update day. The site has a new look. My house is much cleaner and looking remodeled. Even Wiley has had an update.
Today was the big day for stitches removal. Wiley was excited and ready for no more bandages! I could almost hear him humming it. What he was not prepared for, nor I for that matter, was an infection and a larger collar. What was a “23″ collar is now a “30″! Apparently, John and I informing the vets that Wiley could reach his bandages with no trouble and our repeated visits for new ones was not enough. It took Wiley gnawing at his own skin and getting an infection to solve that. Needless to say, he is not happy AND he can still reach enough of his leg to irritate the infection. But he does have one thing going for him, no more bandages! He spends most of the day with me, in an effort to thwart his self-mutilation. Don’t worry about him though, he certainly has plenty of meds to heal quickly. As for Nevada in his future, outlook not so good.
In other news the closet extravaganza is complete. Well, complete sans cabinets and front drywall. Now we mud! The goal is to complete this by August 20th, the start of the fall semester. We’ll see if that’ll happen with an upcoming trip across the Rockies!
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08.02.07
Posted in The ins and outs.... at 10:58 am by smarriott
That’s me. Breathing a sigh of relief because the summer can officially begin for me. Too bad its nearly over. I’m not complaining though. Any break is a good one. While 20 hours of coursework can be tough, a test every week for 10 weeks on top of 2 days a week of 10 hour days at the hospital and roughly 4 papers, is a lot to manage during what should be a restful season. Not that the fall will be much more relaxing, but at least I can say I am half way done with school and that much closer to getting myself (and my husband by default) out of the poor house.
In other news, many of you may know that Wiley recently had his surgery. Last tuesday, he was forbidden to eat and rushed to the vets office for a routine dew claw removal, returning home that same evening. Poor Wiley. Bandaged….sedated…..missing some toes. The sedated part wouldn’t have been half bad, if it wasn’t so out of the ordinary. He didn’t eat that evening–not normal! The next day he was much better. Back to his happy, licking, old self. Friday came and I guess John and I got a little lax. Needless to say, Wiley destroyed one of his bandages and by the time John found him, Wiley had managed to rip open the stitches. So he got a cone collar……and then he got out of the cone collar. Again and again. Now he has a duct taped cone collar and several planned and unplanned visits to the vet’s office later, he still has bandages on his feet. Saturday we go in to take out the stitches and staples. Keep your fingers crossed.
Other developments here at the house of dust is that we are remodeling the bedroom. John tore all of the plaster out last week. His dad and brother (well, mostly his dad, although Levi did cuT the 2×4’s anD get rid of the heinous bushes in the front yard–Thank you, Levi) worked the whole weekend with us putting up drywall and building a new, EXTENDED closet. Sadly it is not all for myself I do have to share with Mr. OnE Million White T-shirts who alsO has a quite extensive wardrobe I think the bigger closet and The taller room Should make it a nice, cozy beDroom. I may nevEr want to come out.
Knitting…ha%2 I am still plagued with the green monster of a sweater. I haven’t touched it since the last break 0 weeks ago, but last night I finally sat myself down, watched a few movies and am closing in on its completion. I hope to have it finished before Nevada (I think I can do it). Nothing really to report about the sweater. I am2C however, kNitting both sleeves at one time! Just to mAke sure they arE the same length. Well, I cerTainly think its clever.
I apologize for the photos.0BI took more, but these were the only proper ones to display. The flash on our camera has decided to stop working whenever it feels like it, so all of our pIctures look blurry. I guess the worst that can Happen is you stop reading this blog, that is if you haven27t already!
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07.01.07
Posted in The ins and outs.... at 8:26 pm by smarriott
…..but it certainly is beautiful! I always enjoy the first garden crop of the year. This one was especially spectacular because it was so unexpected. I knew that there were a few strawberries growing, but they were all pale green and slightly ugly looking. Knowing this (and the fact that everything was planted late, late in the season), I did not even think today would be the first pickings. Then to my wonder this afternoon, there was a bright, bright, red strawberry at my feet. Very tart, but you can’t beat a fresh strawberry.
In other news: School is still stressful, long, and time consuming, but the clinicals are great. I believe my baby count for OB was 4 births (2 boys and 2 girls), one c-section, 2 shots, 2 foley catheters, and zero fainting spells. Not to mention a zillion discharge teachings. Now its pediatrics. I hope I like it.
Running: its still going. I usually do around 3 miles (30 minutes) a day.
Knitting: Ha! That’s a good one. Although in my break between spring and summer I knitted a lovely wine-cozy for Jane. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture. Mine isn’t as lovely and was way simpler than this pattern, but it’s cozy just the same.
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04.28.07
Posted in Knitting.... at 7:35 am by smarriott
I know, I know two posts in two days, but I just couldn’t resist posting this image. I think this would be awesome to make, but entirely nonfunctional for the weather. To block the sun maybe, but to protect from the rain, forget it.
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04.27.07
Posted in The ins and outs.... at 8:26 pm by smarriott
As it has been appropriately almost a month since my last post, I feel today is a good day to make an appearance. You’d think that in one month I would have 30 different stories for you. Sadly, this is not true. I can think a only a handful of exciting events for the last 30 days. In other words, April was partly dreary with only a few scattered highlights.
Easter was spectacular and just the perfect weekend vacation I needed, too, after 3 difficult months of school. The only downfall was of course arguing with a certain someone about a ridiculous vegetable tray. I personally feel that vegetables never need to be argued over. But what can you do? Although cold, the weekend was wonderful. Unfortunately, I enjoyed not studying so much that weekend that I have revolted against it the last few weeks. 
I have, however, put in my time with a few papers. One taking me into the first few hours of the morn. I can tell you that day was not my best nor my brightest. However, I am sure I wrote a spectacular paper on the implications of the trans fatty acid ban in NY on nursing.
Additionally, I have decided to quit my job and promptly did so. With clinicals rearing their ugly heads (I jest of course, you know I’m excited), I decided that work, dogs, house, studying, husband, class, and clinicals really didn’t leave me any time for myself, not to mention a free hour in the day! So I will now be sans job. Good thing I have a husband that makes the big bucks and is so eager to throw the bills my way! But seriously, I may not have the green, but at least you will have me and my wit more than you have in the last few months. You’re filled with anticipation. I can see it.
Next on the agenda of scattered highlights is that recently, as in yesterday, I took the HESI (a standardized test for nursing). A test I dreaded for weeks and weeks and was sure I would fail. Of course this test was to show how well I had learned the fundamentals of nursing this semester. No pressure, really. Suffice to say, I did well. I was in the top 10 percentile. You will see no complaints from me. We shall see how well I do on the pharmacology HESI (eek!) in a few days, however, before the major celebration begins.
John found a wonder thing. Now I don’t always give him the credit he rightly deserves, I realize, but this one was great and I just didn’t see it coming. Returning home from Easter, he pulled out a doozy on the ipod….Spanish lessons. That’s right, now I generally loathe the long trips with the ipod simply because I know I will inevitably hear some bad, bad escape pod story, however, the returning three hours of our trip were spent conversing in espanol for several 15 minute sessions. It was awesome. I would recommend Coffee Break Spanish if you are planning a trip soon, although I must say it is more enjoyable for two.
A final highlight of the last 30 days is a sigh of relief from me that I can actually count on one hand how many days until the semester is over. Next wednesday I will be done with this hellish semester and ready to start my summer. The house will finally be in top order and I will have time to knit my heart out. I am so excited!
One final update, we are still running. Almost four months down and eight to go. I believe that a few days ago I made it up to three miles. While I’m not positive it was exactly four miles, I do know it was pretty far and took me at least 30 minutes. Seeing as I usually run a mile in 10 minutes or under, I deduct that it was three miles. Recently, however, I have been having some toe issues and haven’t gone as far. As soon as that issue clears I may even make it to five miles. I’m not making any promises for the next few weeks. I plan to relax.
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