Happy Mother's Day

I really don't have much more to say than that....

If you are a mom, enjoy the much hyped Hallmark Holiday.

Rode anyway!

So I felt like crap with a capitol 'C'.

After spending the morning sleeping and resting, I realized that although my throat was burning, I had too much energy to waste a beautiful day.
The sky was incredibly blue and the grass had that perfect spring green color.

Besides, I was going through 'Mule Withdrawal', which in my book,... is nearly fatal. [grin!]

Morris did a hilarious thing when I carried what I needed down to the horse trailer before catching Badger.
He followed me and watched me set my pistol, camera, water bottle, and saddle horn bag inside the doorway of the tack room.

Morris jumped up inside and sat. He wouldn't come out.
Period.

I went to get Badger and when I walked down the driveway towards the horse trailer where I usually saddle Badger up~~~Morris was peeking around the doorway.
I gather he was afraid that I'd tie him up and he wouldn't be able to go!

Our ride was more of a 'stroll' than anything else. At times I got down and photographed some trilliums and at others the three of us just enjoyed the view and the warm sunshine.

At the creek we spent some time...Badger nibbling on greens.
Me just listening to the birds and the creek noises.
Morris finding some deliciously stinky things to roll in.

~~~and it was a fine day.

Well that just stinks.

5AM, I wake up with a pain in my nasal passages and throat.

Crap-o-la.

So it means, I've gotten whatever hubby got.
Rats.

After 3 cups of hot coffee the throat feels a tad bit better, but the head is still in a fog.
I'm so glad that I went out yesterday and took a hike while I felt great.

I may do it again today anyway. I have to work the midnight shift tonight so things should be quiet while on duty.

Welcome to the VA

Welcome to the VA.
They always say that.

What started as a routine appointment for a hospital stay follow up turned into a nightmare of sorts.
My hubby came down with 'common cold' type symptoms the day before his appointment. So we decided to keep the regular appointment and see the new provider that had been assigned to him. [We came prepared to ask more questions and get more answers regarding COPD]

Out of respect for others, hubby used a mask so that his cough wouldn't be spread.

Doctor: When did this come on?

Hubby: In the past 24 hours. I cancelled the Pulmonary Lung Function Test, I didn't think I could've done it today.

Doctor: What are your symptoms?

Hubby: I feel like crap, I ache all over, sore nasal passages, sore throat, cough...I just feel like royal crap.

Doctor: Are you still on your antibiotics?

We look at her quizzically.
Me: He was here in March for the same thing.

Doctor: [she glances at the computer monitor and then back at us] Tell me, so I don't have to look for it in the notes.

[EXCUSE ME? But I oblige]

Me: Doc, he was admitted on March 20th with the diagnosis of a COPD Exacerbation. He was released on March 23rd with a 7 day supply of antibiotics and prednisone to be weaned off. He has been feeling excellent until 24 hours ago.
No~he isn't on antibiotics now.

We are sent to Xray.
When we come back, I am handed a mask packet. I stuff it in my pocket.

Doctor: Well your lungs are clear. But you have classic signs of the flu so I'm going to nasal swabs. You can pick up your Moxifloxacin at the pharmacy. I'm sending you to the ER as you may be a candidate for Tamiflu.

[I'm thinking ... this is a cold like last time, but okay]

We Wait in the ER waiting room for one hour. One hour passes very slowly. I'm tired of ER waiting rooms.

Suddenly we are whisked into an ER treatment room.
One more wait of 40 minutes. I watch the clock.

A doctor pops in and says to hubby.
Doctor: Well sir what brings you here today?

Hubby: Did you get the message from Dr. McMurray? Did you read her notes?
[by now we are getting very tired, the appt has drawn out to nearly 3 hours]

Doctor: Sure I did, but I want to hear it from you.

Hubby tells him, and answers the questions.

The doctor leaves.
I watch the clock. 30 minutes crawl by. I begin to wonder if I push the button that says 'code blue' if I'll get a reaction. I have an urge to try and play with the Dell computer on the desk. I wonder if I can turn on the IV machine and make it squeal.

Hubby tells me to sit still...and he is miserable.
I am peeved.

The doctor re-enters momentarily and then excuses himself to 'check something' out.
[I think he decided to read Dr. McMurray's notes? And then I ask myself: Why won't any of these people read medical histories?]

20 minutes tick by. I watch the second hand, tick, tick, tick.

A nurse walks in.
She has on gloves a face mask, eye protection and a disposable gown.
[I'd heard someone in the hall talk about 'isolation'...hmmmmm]

She picks up the previous nasal swabs and says they were done incorrectly. She re-swabs hubby and I can see by his face how uncomfortable it is.

Nurse: We'll send this off. You will get a phone call one way or the other. I advise the two of you...[she waves in my direction]...not to be, uh...intimate for a while. No kissing, hugging, sharing of utensils. Don't go out in public, stay at home.
Your Tamiflu will be waiting with your antiobiotics at the pharmacy.


We are sent off.
No questions got answered about COPD or his health. I'm fuming a bit of course and irritated, tired cranky, and very hungry.
And it is Rush Hour in Madison.

Welcome to the VA.

Treasure Hunting

So I am not Crabby any more. I laughed when I told a co-worker that I was a crabby person the other night. He was down right shocked and said, 'But you are never crabby here! In fact you are the most pleasant person to work with!' I grinned and said, 'Yep, here I am paid to be pleasant!'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So I've been 'treasure hunting' whenever possible. So what is this Treasure Hunting I'm doing?

That is what I call going out in the woods and exploring and finding plants and wild flowers and identifying them and photographing them.

This time around though, I am also taking notes as to when I found them and where I found them.
Along with the conditions, for example ... was it on a dry hillside? Damp earth? Shady?

My grand plan is to compile a photography book of my Treasures and use all my observations along with the photos.
This may help me remember where and when I found these local beauties.

Woodland Strawberry
Bellwort
False Rue-Anemone

The ER Waiting Room

VMH, our local hospital had a record breaking night.
How do I know?
I was there with my mother in law.
She is fine, admitted for observation.

What I observed while waiting in the 'Waiting Room'.

A young woman who was brought in complaining of a headache. She got mad when she was told that her public assistance was 'not valid'. They tagged her and let her sit and wait to be seen.

A mom with a toddler and a baby, and her sister. Baby was sick, needed to see a doctor. As the mom explained to the nurse through a window what was wrong with her baby, the nurse nodded and said, "Well that is pretty normal, but we'll check her out."
This mom came back into the waiting area with her 4 yr old and the baby. The 4 yr old dragged chairs, climbed things, crawled around, and was in general~~a nuisance. Mom threatened, giggled, looked stern, and laughed as he misbehaved. The 4 yr old ran around smacking the automatic doors.

I tried to bury my face in a book, glancing at the child and then the mother.

The nurse came out and said, "Oh my, how is he doing ... he looks better!" The mom responded, "Oh I brought him in last night, he's fine now! It is his baby sister, she has the sniffles."


Another woman brought in by the 'family'. I could hear the one of the family members in the ER telling the doctor what to do.
...and I wondered.

ER Abuse. It happens all the time, clogging the system up for those who really need it.


Multiple cases last night of people using the ER as a place for an office visit.

It disgusted me.

What people discussed while in the Waiting Room could make for a whole blog in itself!

Call me Crabby Pants

Yep, I know I shouldn't be. But I am.

Went to bed that way and woke up that way.

Let's just call it the result of a v-e-r-y long day at work and then a 'battle' of the computers at home.

I come home from work and first thing I'm asked~~~ [I've been up since 2AM and have worked 12 hrs...]

What's for supper honey???

and then...
While you make supper, I'll use your computer for a while, because it is faster than mine!

[grump, grump...I can feel Mz. Ugly coming out in me. Hold the claws and fangs. Deep breath.]

My initial reaction is to say... with much sarcasm:
Gee, Honey, what is for supper? I've been at work all day!...or...
Why isn't Supper ready?...or
What? You. Are. Kidding. Correct?

Instead~~
I throw a pizza in the oven and glare at him while he is on MY laptop.

My parting words as I drop into bed as he complains that his computer is too slow [it really is slow compared to the laptop]....are:

Go get yourself a computer.

I think I should go out and find some 'nice' pills. After all, today is going to be busy at the plant with the official Outage starting today.

I wonder what IS for supper tonight?