iPhoneRepairsVegas.com

Being so distraught over the malfunctioning of my iPhone, I googled a repair service earlier today.

I mean, I can't go on vacay and not have my phone working properly, right?

I found iPhoneRepairsVegas.com. I was a little sketchy about clicking on the link because it sounded so corny, but I just couldn't help myself when I saw "SAME DAY REPAIR". Score.

So I told the husband about it, and he said let's go.

It was a little place in Chinatown (Eric and I still think it is hilar that Las Vegas has a Chinatown) called Wireless Avenue.

The repair guy's name is "K". Or "Cay". Or "Que". I didn't get a spelling.

And can I just say that this was a GREAT experience.

It took about a 1/2 hour, we walked in without an appointment. It cost $60. And my phone is proper now.

And to top off the afternoon?

Not sure why it is upside down. But I need a nap after that pizza and don't have enough energy to fix it. Or to care.

:)

This Little Light of Mine

Well, I have been wanting to post pictures from Eric's birthday last Saturday, but guess who got water on their brand new iPhone?

Right.

That would be me. Brandee.

How long have I had it? Oh, just since the end of December. In some ways, I am surprised it has taken me this long to cause some sort of damage to an electronic device seeing as I can barely feed myself without using a Tide pen or walk without tripping.

It basically still works. But the high-def camera takes fuzzy pictures. And the light won't turn off. Irritating. It's like E.T.'s finger has been revived and someone stuffed it in my bag, or pocket, or wherever I store my glowPhone. And, of course, everytime I see my phone, I cannot help but start humming the tune to "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine..."

I've had it buried in a bag of rice to see if that will completely dry it out. So, once I turn it back on, and dare to upload, I will post pictures.

On a brighter note, I am transferring to a different unit at work, NICU. (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.) I am VERY excited, but somewhat nervous. There is so much to learn! I start April 24th. :)

Garden!

Eric is getting our little garden going! So far, he has planted cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and lemon thyme.

Oh! And red pepper, spring lettuce and broccoli! (I forgot some of what he planted, so I FaceTimed him to find out. Mmm-hmm sure did...and he was all of 20 feet away.)

Here's what it looks like so far...

Spring Lettuce

 

Broccoli

I know it's little, but can you see it in the middle of the plant?

Red pepper

A peach!

We have a peach tree, and we have a pomegranate tree. We had a lime tree...

I got a little carried away with the pruning. Poor lime tree.

Next week he will be aerating the yard to plant grass...again...for the two hundredth time or something. But he loves me, so he is doing it again.

It is either that or I am going to have to get rid of every horizontal surface in the house because the dust is killing me. Yes, I know I live in a desert. But we both see all the green stuff growing above...I don't think a little grass is too much to ask for.

I finally finished blending, blowing up and getting Eric's dad's picture hung (his mom's was already done). We had a small wallet size but no 8x10. So, I scanned in the picture, did some editing because the pic had a tear and some debris on it. Then I sent it to Costco to be printed.

I love these pictures. I'm not loving the doorbell cover in the upper right hand corner. Next project.

I made a pretty good dinner the other night. Not really notable, I know. Except that I have not grocery shopped in about a month. So, yes, now THAT is an accomplishment. Prep for dinner kind of went like this:

Me - "Hey, honey, how about we have fish tonight?"
Honey - "Sounds good."

I get the fish out - halibut. Yum.

I like to grill it with onion and peppers...we don't have any.

I like to make sauces to put on it...I don't have anything to make sauces. Just butter. (I always have butter.)

I don't even have premade bottled sauces. Well, I have barbecue sauce. But I usually just like barbecue sauce on chicken.

And I wasn't in a Let's-See-How-Barbecue-Tastes-On-Halibut kind of mood. But I might have to try that.

Ok, so no grilled fish (Eric likes sauce on grilled fish.) I am good with it grilled with oil (or butter), salt and pepper and a side of rice. But Eric says he likes more flay-va. I tell him he would taste more flay-va if he quit bathing everything in Tabasco and scorching off his taste buds.

Back to the fish. I am beginning to feel some pressure because halibut is a bit expensive. So, I don't want to mess it up.

I find two apples. I get 'em out. Have no idea yet what I am going to use them for. More pressure...a little nail and lip biting. (It helps me think.)

I look on top of the fridge and see a gift from a friend - tortilla chips. Yes, my friends buy me food as gifts. They know I love food. (This is future reference for you if you don't know this about me.)

Hmmmm...

I think to myself "All those little crumbs in the bottom would make a great coating and I could fry the fish." In olive oil, of course. You know what a health nut I am.

And the hint of jalapeno would maybe give some flay-va for the husband. Cause I love him I think of that sort of thing. He still put Tabasco on it.

So, here is the finished product. Fried fish, side of sliced apples and a box of scalloped potatoes I found behind the sugar.

Ok, it was really good. I could barely wait for Eric to get through saying grace. At least I can show off one of my new plates.

Random

So, right now I am feeling torn between not having posted in so long but not having any one particular thing to post about.

I've been working.

A lot.

But I feel like I should post something. Not like I feel obligated because there are thousands of people turning on their computers in the morning because they can't wait to read my blog, but because I started something that I want to be (somewhat) consistent with.

So, let's see.

Work has been a hot mess but one of the nurses brought all the fixin's for banana splits today.

Mine looked like this...

Eric is doing better...still not 100%. Even though not feeling all himself, he still showed his romantic side. I worked the night of Feb 13th and when I got home in the morning, this was waiting for me. :)

 Mmm-hmm...that's a poem just for moi

The dogs are a constant source of love for us.

We've booked two sets of plane tickets since I last posted, and we have been seriously considering selling everything and moving to Chile.

Just kidding.

But not really. We watch House Hunters. Another couple did it.

I've made some serious changes to my student blog.

We got new dishes, and not one of them is the same. Loving that.

I've done quite a bit of online shopping. Really loving that. :)

I've made some really good cookies, and now can't find the recipe. Dang. Plus side - Eric wasn't around when I made the last batch, so you know what that means. Yep. I got to lick the beaters.

I also made some really good mac-n-cheese.

I've measured Diesel's foot against mine. She has me beat.

Other randomalities...

I laugh at myself often,
I like Ritz crackers...Open For Fun,

Yes, I have two cookie jars...one is for the dogs,
I don't put bumper stickers on my car,
I have a station just for Adele on Pandora (thanks FR),
I frequently rearrange my furniture and all the items in my closet...and lots of Eric's things too,
I am forgetful (which really frustrates Eric when I move his stuff and neither of us can find it),
and I really love Coke Zero and really don't like all the news I hear about diet drinks and heart problems. I will be in denial a bit longer. I heart you, Coke Zero.

Nursing Clinicals

I know this blog is about Eric and I, but I can't resist posting something about my students. And, actually, Eric is a huge part of that - without him, I wouldn't have considered being a nurse. Thank you honey.

Another semester over...it seems like just yesterday I was heading down to the lobby to meet my new students. Bright, happy faces. So excited to learn and be nurses. All from different backgrounds and cultures. All wanting to help others and make positive changes in others' lives.

I remember my clinicals in nursing school. They were so much FUN. And I learned a lot. I have tried to replicate what my clinical instructors did.

It is a lot of work - constant supervision and teaching. The teaching aspect has been interesting. Clinical instruction is kind of like on the job training. A situation comes up and I share what needs to be done in that instance, and then we discuss it in post-conference. I am not sure I could ever stand up in a classroom and lecture. I need to get in there and get my hands dirty, so to speak.

When I am caring for patients, the knowledge is like second nature to me now, like breathing for me. I don't have to think about it for the most part. If I have a patient who is hemorrhaging, what has been learned over time just becomes instinct. I think most experienced nurses are this way. (I'm not digressing. I have a point.)

Now I am thinking about it...because I have to explain to someone else why I do the things I do. I mean, I know why I practice the way I do, it's called evidence-based practice. But regurgitating a process step-by-step to a novice with little to no medical experience in a way they can understand is challenging at times. Even inserting an IV...showing them how to tie the tourniquet, the proper angle for insertion, hooking up the IV, properly dressing it, etc etc.

In spite of that, I love sharing my experiences and knowledge with them. I mean, L.O.V.E. it. And it is so refreshing and encouraging to see someone so excited about giving their first injection or taking out their first IV or the Aha! moment like when they recognized someone in distress today. And not just recognizing it, but then responding properly!

Today, I was sitting in the conference room, preparing paperwork for next semester and enjoying some Dunkin coffee (very good, but I'll take a Level 1 anyday, thank you Seattle) in my new mug - a gift from my Wednesday students that says "What happens in clinicals, stays in clinicals" when all of a sudden the door flys open and one of my students says,

"Teacher! I went into this patient's room and her fingers were BUH-LOOOO! (deep breath, eyes wide, lots of hand movements) So I took her vital signs but I couldn't get a pulse ox, so I took off her socks to try it on her toe AND HER FEET WERE BLUE TOO! (another deep breath, eyes still wide, hands still moving as if she is showing me how to take socks off) So, I called her nurse and the charge nurse and then a stat chest xray was done in the room. And then they called RT and they did a treatment and it got better, but then it came back. But then I couldn't find her pulses, (deep breath, hand now moving in a fast rotating motion, like she is wafting a  smell to her nose...but fast...and her hand is at her waist) so they took her for an ultrasound..." The excited, breathless words just kept tumbling out. And you could tell something had clicked....like she was saying to herself "I saw this, and I did this, and I did this right, and the patient is ok...because of me (and lots of other staff), the patient is ok. I made a difference." I smiled.

(Let me further explain that my students this semester are in their first semester...just learning how to assess patients, and do procedures (in addition to theory, nursing process, disease processes etc). For the most part, they are seeing things for the first time.

It is a great reminder of how what nurses do is so vital...and many times so misunderstood or even just unknown. Many people don't know exactly what nurses do. And the media doesn't help. But that is another post. Back to my awesome, bright, cheery students.

So, I have a Wednesday group

and a Thursday group

and I love them all...

and they seem to like me too...

From a couple of the gifts, it is obvious that they have been well-indoctrinated into the Nursing Sense of Humor. And they have also learned how important caffeine can be...

I will miss them...I really will.

I can't wait to see them at graduation.