Politics

Politics is a very sticky situation. It's one of those taboo things that shouldn't be discussed like sex, and money. Yet, somehow, someway it always rears it's ugly head come election time of any kind. Everyone is entitlee to their own opinions about politics and I certainly respect that. That being said, I rarely discuss politics in "mixed company."

However, at work, we got into the "old political debate." It's amazing to me the number of people actually "hate" those running for President. I mean, how could you actually hate a person you don't even know. I mean, you might "hate" their beliefs, morals, and values, but do you have to hate them as a person? I won't go into great detail my political party preference but those who know me, know who I like and don't like. But the comments I heard were downright ridiculous...Obama is black, "I don't want a black president." Technically, he's not 100% black, plus does race affect how one can run the Country? There have been many great "black" leaders in our time. My coworkers will say, Clinton is female. "I don't want a WOMAN president, my philosophy is, "Why the hell not?" There are tons of SUCCESSFUL WOMAN with high powered jobs in our country. It's time we have a different option, this is the 21st century. In some instances, women hold more powerful, higher paying jobs than men and they are praised for that.

People say, "I don't want Guiliani," he's a New Yorker. Well, whether you like him or not, he did survived a horrid situation while in NY during 9/11. People think John McCain is too old...hello weren't we trying to elect Bob Dole a few years ago, who is ancient and debilitated? Yes, John McCain is 71 years old, but he has his facets about him. They say Mitt Romney is "arrogant" I agree but in some instances arrogance is attractive and portrayed as "confidence." Wouldn't you want a confident leader heading our country?

I could go on and on about this , but I won't. The bottom line is everyone's opinion, morals, values, and ideas are different. So we should respect that and move on. With that said, Everyone in the upcoming election should honor their civic duty and VOTE.

Every Vote Counts!

Live for today...

As I lay in bed last night trying to get to sleep, I thought about how I live my life. It dawned on me that I'm constantly looking for the next day without really living "today" for all it's worth. I think that's how I get stressed out. I worry about too much about stuff that's out of my control to a certain extent.

So from now on, I will try my best to worry less, and live more. I need to do things that I really enjoy doing and not worry about "the next day" and I will start living for and enjoying "today."

How do you define emergency?

It's funny, have you ever thought what an emergency is to you? An "emergency" to a worried parent might be locating that missing child or to a squimish parent, a child's protruding broken bone. An "emergency" to a teenager might be finding the perfect dress or perfect pair of shoes for that once in a lifetime date that he or she will go on or it might be that he/she states, 'It's an emergency that I find my missing cell phone, how is anyone gonna call me if I don't find it? For an elderly man and his wife of 60 years, the "emergency" may be having their doctor on speed dial as their health is failing. For that patient in the hospital having just undergone an appendectomy, the "emergency" might having a nurse call their doctor to prescribe a different pain medication as the current medication isn't strong enough. For firefighters, the "emergency" is rescuing a family of four from a burning house. So as you can see, Emergency is different for everyone.

As I write about this, let me tell you how I define "emergency". A few days ago, while at my mammogram a "suspicious mass" was found for which I would need a needle biopsy to determine if the mass was malignant or not. Essentially, the difference between having breast cancer or not. Being a nurse, I know the different options I have. But that doesn't mean that to me, it's not an emergency that I am able to have the needle biopsy done as soon as possible. In my mind, I need this done "emergently" if nothing else for peace of mind or to mentally prepare for what lies ahead. (Don't worry I am having positive thoughts about the outcome.)

However, it seems as though the nurse of my OB/GYN doesn't share the same feelings I have about emergently getting in to have the needle biopsy done or else she would have returned my call today. I know she's busy but a call back would have been nice. So I will continue to make a pest of myself until I have my appointment for the needle biopsy. Which also makes me aware of just how much a patient advocate you have to be for yourself as you can quickly slide through the cracks of our wonderful healthcare system. So tomorrow, and the next day, and so on I will constantly call and get that appointment. I will let you know how it goes.

As you think about the term "emergency", just think about all the different meanings it has and how it effects all types of people.

Take time to enjoy your view!

Routines

I have to say that I'm a huge fan of one having a routine. Now, I know that some people would rather light their hair on fire than follow a routine. I like knowing when I wake up in the morning I am going to do X, Y, and Z. I have to have a plan or else I am lost.

I write of this, because I have the next couple of weeks off from Prevent, I don't go anywhere til the beginning of February. There is no routine in just being "off" for a couple of weeks. I know this sounds crazy to those who would love a couple of weeks so, well to me, it's horribly unproductive. It's like I need to do something or complete something, or have a "day at work" to feel productive. So, I will develop a routine for the while I am off. We will see how my weeks plan out...I will let you know.

Life lessons and Character Builders

Every once in awhile everyone needs a good life lesson. It just so happens that they often come when they are least expected and certainly unwelcome. However, with all life lessons, one must learn from it and move on toward becoming a better person.

I had a particularly difficult day this past week when a couple of people very close to me came down pretty hard on me. Yes, maybe it was deserved but not in the matter they delivered it. So I was pretty hurt, but it did allow me to learn from what they said and move on. These two people mean the world to me so the blows were hard to swallow but the good thing is I forgive, forget, learn from it and move on. These are the types of things that build character, and I can never have enough character!

On a lighter note, Bill and I have had a great time here in Keystone. We are ready to get home, but this has been a nice retreat from our every day life. Today, we are just hanging out with each other, watching football, and preparing to head home. Next week will be back to reality for us and I'm sure we'll wish we were back here in Keystone!

Enjoy your day!!!

Snow

Well, we are here in Colorado and it's been snowing since the day we arrived. It's awesome, and such a change of pace from the heat of Florida. We arrived in Denver on Monday, had dinner with my sister and her roommates then made our way up to Keystone. What would have normally take 2 hours to reach Keystone took us 3.5 hours as we were lost driving around Keystone trying to find our condo. Picture this, two Floridians driving in snow, in the pitch black of night, in a foreign town, with shitty directions to a condo we had never seen before. Talk about frustrating. But we made it.

The second day, Bill and I rented skis for our first ski adventure together. Let's just say that Bill didn't enjoy sking as much as he thought he would. With being winded, and tired in just walking to the gondola to go up the mountain we knew it was going to be a long day for him. We decided to ski together at first then Bill went in front of me and proceeded to fall multiple times. He skied down one half of the mountain and chose to take the chair lift down the other half of the mountain claiming that his ski days are over and he is now in retirement. I enjoyed sking down the mountain and did okay on the "green slopes."

My sister joined us the third day of sking and she took me on the "blue slopes" talk about a mistake. After multiple falls, I was sure that the blues were not for me. After being on the verge of tears and with multiple aches and pains after the many falls taken, I decided to suck it up, collect myself and try again. With some luck, I did much better after some lessons from Aspen.

I had decided that two days of sking were enough for me. I would love to come out and ski again, and I will I just need to gear up for it. But for now we are enjoying the company of my sister, the sights and sounds of Colorado and of course the diverse people out here. Oh to be on vacation.

A vacation from the vacation

So Bill and I are heading out to Colorado on monday. It will be great to get away, ski, enjoy each other, see Aspen, and just take in the wind chill and the scenery. However, have you ever wondered just how much stuff needs to be done before you actually go out of town on vacation?

It's like you need a vacation from the actual "getting ready" for vacation, then you need a vacation from your vacation when you come back just to recover and gear up to get back to the real world. Nonetheless, we will enjoy our time and say, "wow that vacation went flying by."

So off I go to complete my "to do list" of stuff needed to get done before this vacation....Did I mention I'm excited to go?

New Years Resolutions....

This year, I've decided I'm going to be happy with how I am. Yes, I would like to change certain things about myself. However, I need to practice being HAPPY with Me.

I'm looking forward to 2008! New adventures, New opportunities, New friendships, and a positive outlook. I will stress less, worry less, laugh more, and love more. I won't worry if things aren't "done the way I would do them" instead I will settle for "good enough is good enough" for everyone's sake.

I am looking forward to sharing the new year with Bill, I have a feeling that it will be great for us. I'm so incredibly lucky to have him in my life and he makes me very happy.

Wishing ya'll health, happiness, and much success in 2008.