Pinedale

Pinedale, AZ is about 150 miles from Mesa, north east of Payson, AZ (had to clarify, as there is a Payson, UT where I went to high school).  A friend of mine invited me up there with some friends of hers.  I went and had a blast.

Interesting things on the way: highway 87 is divided and at a certain point, the "oncoming" traffic is on the right hand side.  Slightly weird, especially, since I didn't see where it happened; all of a sudden, there's cars driving southbound on the right side of me.

There is a ginormous sign pointing the way towards Phoenix.  Why?  Probably for airplanes, but really, if you're that close and can't tell where downtown is or the airport, you've got a lot bigger problems.

In the little town on Star Valley, there was a sign for "Adult Cabaret."  Of course I try to avoid such places,  but I was so tempted to stop here because of their sign.  So, the sign itself was pretty bland, but on top of the sign was a large, almost life-size plastic Hereford bull, not unlike this one:

What kind of message are they trying to send?

While at the cabin, which was more like a small hotel, we drove ATVs and shot paint ball guns.  As I have been slowly exposed to the world of artificial guns, like paint ball and laser tag, I realize that those guns are not very accurate at all, and I wonder how anyone manages to win at such games.  Real guns have better aim, which is a good thing.  Thanks to Sharon and Julie-Ann, for sharing their shooting experiences with me!

This week...

This week has been really great for me...I've been sick since Monday night.  I haven't been able to walk to the mail box without getting a fever and really winded.  Sad!  That, and I haven't been able to keep down more than about 1/4 of the food that I usually get.  I keep hoping it will go away soon...so most of my news this week is from my family. 

Found out this week that my sister Heather got accepted to New York school of Design!  It's apparently internationally ranked, and she's way excited.  She's still waiting to hear from Finland though. 

Matt did not get accepted to the University of Utah's medical school.  So, he and Caroline will be moving to St. Louis, Missouri, or Bethesda, Maryland this summer. 

I went to the Phoenix Science Museum on Monday morning with Annette and her kids while they are on spring break.  It was cool to see all sorts of things.  Annette and I put a headband on to try to see who's brain waves would move a ball to the other side of the table.  She won--apparently you have to be calm to win the game.  I was too busy trying to figure out how it worked. 

Up and Downs

Today's medical terminology: cachectic (pronounced kakektik): meaning suffering from cachexia, which means a general weight loss or wasting because of a chronic disease.  Basically people who are skin and bones.

The last few days have been kind of surreal.  Here are the things I've learned (or at least had reconfirmed):

1. Driving to work at sunset is kind of pretty, but also difficult because I drive straight west.  I can't wait for the next few months when the sun will be directly in the path of the freeway.  Driving home in the morning is worse right now, but I don't think for long.

2. Old people can be both cute and hilarious at the same time.  For example, I took care of a gentleman that has been ballroom dancing with his wife for years.  He told me that, "Most people can't tell the difference between us and professionals.  Those people on Dancing with the Stars are just learning routines, that's not really dancing."

3. My brother-in-law's grandma died this week.  He told me it's weird for him because it's his first grandparent to pass away.  He knows that life will be different.  I was thinking about it, and it was weird for me because all of my grandparents have died, and then I realized how weird my situation is.  Most people still have at least one grandparent into their twenties, whereas my immediate family only has 2 generations right now.   

4. Although I love old people sometimes, there are times when I definitely don't want to be one.  An 88-year-old woman needed help with her dinner.  She was blind, and I helped her eat.  I told here what food there was, including some pears.  She said that she would like to try some of those.  When she was ready for the next bite, she said, "Can I have more peaches now?"

5. Sometime in the shift, something will not go the way you want it to: a patient will spike a fever, you'll catch a mistake made by someone else and have to call the doctor and you get yelled at, or a non-verbal patient's family will leave and you can't get any information from him.

6.  Some men flirt with every female nurse that walks into the room.  I have once again learned that there is a line about when the nurses think it's cute and funny, and when it's absolutely creepy.  Here's the difference: age.  A 37-year-old flirting with the nurses and asking all about you is totally creepy!  An 85-year-old who says, "You have beautiful Irish eyes!" is absolutely cute and quite endearing!  (I have no idea where the Irish eyes came from...I'm not Irish as far as I know).

7. Sometimes all we can do isn't enough.  The body can only take so much, and it's weird taking care of someone that will most likely not ever leave the hospital again.

8. Old people often want to introduce you to their grandson (or other visitor) who,  "Is so nice and you two would get along great."  Rarely, you actually meet this person, and find out that he's actually very good looking, so you find excuses to go into that room so you can have another look.

9. I was told that I have a Utah accent by someone who used to live in Utah.  So weird!

With all the good and bad, I'm pretty sure I'm enjoying work right now.  I remember to laugh at myself and find humor in all sorts of situations.