Goodwill Deal?

There is a Goodwill store on the way home from school, so yesterday I took a tour looking for any deals. Although, in my annual visit I never seem to find anything, and I am not interested in owning other people's dishes or wearing their clothes. I get enough second hand stuff at work from patients, like advice and body fluids

There on the shelf at Goodwill sits an incentive spirometer, why would someone donate that and why did Goodwill not throw it away? I understand wheelchairs, walkers and maybe a commode, but trying to sell an incentive spirometer for $2.99. Do people even know what the hell it is or how to use it? Do they understand that someone sick enough to be in the hospital also had their lips wrapped around it. I like a bargain, but I think I will stick to Target.



Old Nurses

I was not sure whether to be flattered or slightly depressed, as the financial aid seminar progressed. The counselor explained how she liked nursing students and had a soft spot for them, especially after the recent hospitalization of her mother and the nurses who cared for her. Well the majority of nurse are likable I thought. As she explained further about her financial aid department doing everything possible to assist us in not worrying about money for school. That helps, because the added stress of money on top of everything else is too much for some people. She then started clarifying the demographics of the students making up the university, including the old nurses.

Okay she didn't exactly say old nurses, what she said was that the average age of the students in the nursing programs, was 10 years older than that of the average age of those students in the school of medicine. Again to self, that explains why those residents and new doctors keep getting younger every time I go to work.

I should give a little more background about this university. It is attached to a large medical and research facility and consists of only medical, dental, pharmacy and graduate nursing programs.

So anyway many of these old nurses entering graduate school have been working for years as registered nurses, before coming back to school for their masters or PhD. The counselor went on to say that they are more likely to have established themselves in life and have families, children and a mortgage. This meant their financial worries and stresses were a little different. Whereas, the medical students tended to be younger, more flexible and probably more willing to move for their careers, while trying to establish themselves in the medical field.
Not sure, what these average ages were, maybe 28 and 38, or it could be just a few old nurses or young medical students dragging the curve along with them.

Thinking again, this is a different stereotype than exists in the outside world, where people usually think of old doctors and young nurses.

Note to self, don't over think it.

Graduate school. I keep repeating it to myself, because sometimes I don’t believe it. So many times in my life, I could have taken the wrong turn and ended up dead, and too many times, I did take that wrong turn and just got lucky. I am sober now, but I gave a fair share of my money to the liquor industry over the years, and when younger tried just about every street drug available. Probably a good thing for bad experiences or I might have taken things too far.


I have thought about this on and off over the last few months and it came up again last night while eating with a friend. She was telling me of her personal conflicts from the past and although different, good life lessons. I understand people who have lived life and been to the edge, I think it makes them appreciate and understand things better.

Memorial Day



Thanks to all those who have served and their families.

Looking at other countries around the world fighting for their freedom I realize how lucky we are. I am free to go to school, have my own thoughts, express them openly, and make mistakes without being persecuted for them.

Extreme Couponing

Extreme Couponing, has anyone seen this, because after listening to a couple people at work talk about the show and saying how much they love it, it made me want to get cable TV again. Everybody has seen the people on TV who go into a store and buy $100 worth of groceries for less than a $1. Well, I guess TLC has taken it to a new level and shows people who make it an obsession and full-time job. They don't pay for anything.

This kind of mental illness reality TV I can handle, like Hoarders or Intervention. You can keep the Bachelor, House Wives of whatever city and those Jersey people. Although, I think those whiny Jersey people have some mental health problems too.

Yes, I have been called cheap a few times over the years, although I prefer the word thrifty. You know a Costco, Target somewhat thrifty kind of a person. Being in school full-time doesn't help either with the money situation, and if I can get a coupon or good deal, I’m there.

The funny thing is that most of the people who call others cheap, are usually cheap themselves and in some kind of denial. Coupons are a good thing and there is a reason companies spend money putting them out there.

OK, these are a different kinds of extreme couponing, but feel free to use them.

Bombing for Peace is Like...........

Sometimes in class you just shut your mouth or wish you would have when certain discussion happen, and there have been some good ones over the years, when I just sit back and bite my tongue wanting to say something. As practitioners in the health care field they say listening is sometime the hardest thing to do. So last night I put in my quick two cents, then told myself to shut-up as the class got into all kinds of different political and health care funding talk. However, I need to get out of my system what I wanted to say.

Certain politicians instead of going after Wall Street billionaire stealing from the middle class, still want to cut programs like teenage pregnancy prevention and family planning. Yes, that includes Planned Parenthood. Where a huge 3% does actually go towards abortion, but that mean 96% apparently, does not. Instead, it is used for things like education, contraception, cancer screening, STD prevention and treatment, and other health issues along with family planning.  You can read their annual report here.  If politicians want to stick by their belief that is fine, I can even respect it at times.

However, some of these same politicians also want to cut programs like women, infant, children (WIC) and Head Start for low-income families with children.

Therefore, these individuals want to take away alternatives and figuratively force women to have the babies, but they don't want to do anything to help them once they do?

It seemed a little hypocritical and does not make sense to me, it also reminding me of the old saying,

Bombing for Peace

 is like

Fucking for Virginity

People should really read the law of Title X

People are People

Over the years of reading blogs, I have see individuals complaining about how they feel like their clinicals or community work is akin to free labor. Maybe they had a bad day; however, I hope I don't become jaded like that, because one of the best experiences I am having right now is volunteering at a free clinic.

In reality, some of why I am enjoying it so much has to do with the years of dealing with stupid hospital politics, catering to patients and families and documenting everything. Yes, I know it is important to chart positive flatus.

As for this clinic, it is very basic and just above street level care with volunteer doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and most importantly interpreters. I love my interpreter, because she understands my weird sense of humor. Anyway, they operate in donated spaces and even out of an elementary school gym one night a week. These are not places for checkups or handing out pain meds; we have signs everywhere letting patients know there are no pain meds on site. These uninsured individuals who cannot afford to see anyone for things like uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension, and they just need a little help and maybe a prescription.

No politics, no bean counters, no egos and no kissing ass, just basic care for people who fell through the cracks.

Things work out

It feels like things are finally starting to fall into place, in the academic world anyway. The bachelor’s degree will be done next month and the acceptance letter to start the graduate program in September has been confirmed. In addition, there is financial seminar next weekend, to learning where the money is coming from, one stress I do not want to deal with.


Even though my finals and papers are coming due, graduate school is right around the corner, my sisters and I are starting a lawsuit against our stepmother and I have no health insurance, my stress level is really low right now.

Maybe it is time to start dating again after a self-imposed hiatus, or go visit some distant family to ratchet up the stress and release of some cortisol.

A Real Mother's Day

What would every mother like for Mother’s Day, maybe a complete and professional makeover of her hair and makeup?

Well, that is what happened in the city yesterday to 25 women, but these women were not part of a win a makeover for your Mother on Mother's day contest.

No, these 25 Mothers called one of the local shelters home and next week they will be receiving job training and interview skills. When you have children, the last place you plan to call home is a shelter. Therefore, although I wish all mothers a happy mother’s day, I wish these ones a little bit more of one.

Happy Mothers Day - Sort of

One day all our Mothers will be this age, so let's enjoy them while we can.