Extra! Extra! « anyways…

Student Nurses Prayer

August 19, 2008 at 2:02 pm | In Extra! Extra! | No Comments

I recently got comment from the author of the Student Nurses Prayer. I posted on it this year sometime. At the time, I didn’t know who wrote it. Now I do. Isn’t the Internet neat?

Saco Bay Criterium

August 19, 2008 at 1:52 pm | In Extra! Extra!, Health, Nursing | No Comments

Nursing has its privileges. For instance, Steve asked me to be the nurse for the Saco Bay Criterium. It’s a bicycle race. See you there!

A man walks into a bank…

June 28, 2008 at 10:43 pm | In Extra! Extra!, Glad Tidings | No Comments

A man walks into a bank after about 24 hours of attempting to get a loan to buy an automobile. Actually, it’s a credit union - a federal credit union. Are there any credit unions, not federal credit unions? Are there any banks or credit unions NOT FDIC insured? I have never seen an ad for a bank or credit union that goes without the FDIC logo - or better yet, “we aren’t FDIC insured.” Hmmm…anyways, this federal credit union was no ordinary lender - it was the lender to offer a loan to the man at the going interest rate (respectable), and additionally, within 24 hours of applying. The man has some issues with credit - like just starting a job after a few years of school, a fair credit history, but with items that lenders might take issue with. However, the man just raced from the seller’s car lot an hour away to secure the credit, and there’s 10 minutes to closing time. All paperwork was done previous to the meeting, so it went smooth and quick. The man walks out of the credit union with a check in hand for the seller - to buy an AWESOME MINIVAN!
You guessed it, I just bought a new minivan. My old Grand Caravan was having transmission problems. It had 160K+ miles and the tranny was gonna blow. Scotty told me urgently, “She cant hold out much longer captain!” I listened and although I would have rather bought a new vehicle for myself (work, small, economic and safe for winter), the family vehicle had to take priority. The new toy is a Honda Odyssey. I’ve never had a Honda. Kim and I reminisced, though. The first time Kim realized she was in love with me was when we were test-driving a honda civic together. We were “dating” or was it just friends? I already knew I loved her (from day one), but she realized she loved me in a Honda Accord. Too bad the used car dealer was in the passenger seat and Kim was in the back while I was driving. He was just in the way. I didn’t buy the car. What a gushy story, but it’s true. So today we brought it up. We felt romantic while the kids screamed and fought in the back seat of our new HONDA van. Man, what the back seat can do.
anyways…Now on to other matters…I will start my new job on Monday! YEAH! I am looking forward to it. I will actually be a nurse. This is a new job, a new career. MAN. This is so cool!
I saw Mona today. We all went with the new van so we could pick up some stuff she was giving away. We have had a new van AND a new wardrobe - all in one day with less than $25 in our pockets. Thanks Mona and HAPPY federal credit union.

Amber, R.N.

June 27, 2008 at 9:40 am | In Extra! Extra!, Family, Glad Tidings | No Comments

$Amber\'s son - they were there at graduation. Unfortunately, I don\'t have a picture of Amber.$ My cousin’s wife just e-mailed me today. She announced that she passed the NCLEX-RN and she is now a registered nurse! CONGRATULATIONS Amber! That makes two in the family. If you were there at my graduation party, she was the pregnant one. Becoming a registered professional nurse is such a great moment. It accentuates the pinnacle of your educational achievements, which were very hard, emotional and expensive. All the family put their best effort into the whole thing. Again, Amber - GREAT JOB!

18 Car Pileup

June 26, 2008 at 10:52 pm | In Extra! Extra!, Fuss | No Comments

I remember what it was like when I was a kid. I heard on the news that there was an 18 car pileup on the highway. I have to admit…that’s one of my fears. Well, there’s one of sorts in my life. OK, here’s the problem…behind on everything bills because school is done, car will take a lot of moolah to get registered and inspected, van transmission is making can shaking noises when in drive. Every bill, aspect (including the lawn not being cut yet this year), repair and just everything is on hold until I get money from working…and I get paid twice in July. It’s a long wait. I don’t know what we’ll do about the cars…the van is about to die soon and transmissions cost lots of money and time to fix or replace. That means probably getting a new one soon. We were looking at different cars today because we want to buy one when I start work so I can actually drive a car to work. Now it looks a bit different. So our life has a little 18 car pileup…I sure hope there are no casualties (figurative…not literal). Well, at least the muffler got fixed just in time for the transmission to break.

I Have A Job!

June 25, 2008 at 6:32 pm | In Credo, Extra! Extra! | No Comments

I have a job at Happy Hospital.

What a change from yesterday. My wife really helps me sometimes. I sometimes lose faith. But last night, also, I read Luke 22: 32, where it says, “ But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.” I felt that someone was praying for me not to lose my faith. I don’t lose faith in Jesus Christ, but I was coming close to wondering why I have faith if my years of work has finally come to a glorious end, but my righteous prayers of being employed were not being answered - instead, hedged up. With the hospital worried about my back and me not knowing if they’ll even have me…it was really hard to wait until today to get an answer. My Manager finally called and said, what’s the problem? Do you think you’ll be able to handle it? I said, yes (of course). So come on in and start on THAT day there. OK, I says. No problem.

We have no money. Literally. I get some on Monday that will vanish as quick as it will come. My first paycheck comes in a few weeks. That will be hard. We are short by a LOT of money. I’m not sure what we’re going to do.

In any case, I start soon and I can’t wait. I didn’t think I could start in a specialty, but here I am beginning in the emergency department. A NURSE! YEAH!

Graduation Party

June 14, 2008 at 10:57 pm | In Extra! Extra!, Family, Nursing School | No Comments

Today was my graduation party. My mother put it on at her house. I am honored that it was all for me. We all had fun. It wasn’t a surprise - mom had it planned for a while. It celebrates the ending of my initial nursing education. Here’s a list of guests:

Mom & Carl
Mataunt Dot & Uncle Phil
Nicole Marchand
Aunt Linda with her assistant
Mataunte Pat, Josh Pelletier
Jessica, Jeremy, Alexis
Mataunte Jackie & Uncle Morris
Uncle Bill
Sandra & Her Partner
Amber & Kyle Pelletier
Dave
Laurette
Diane Toussaint & Jason Swiesz with Jason’s kids, Jenifer, Alexis and Joseph
Steve & Shannon Bryant
My whole family
That makes like 36 people.

Thank you all for coming. Some brought gifts and cards. Thank you all for such an awesome and memorable day! I love you all! When we came home (late because we brought Laurette home, stopped to get Tylenol for Kim, then again for food, then again for gas), and while I was bathing all the kids, Kim asked, “Do you feel loved? There were a lot of people there today. You’re family is good…I don’t care what you say.” I agree. I did feel loved. Thank you.

It was such a good reason to get together. I got to see everyone. yeah!

On the way home - our muffler fell off. It’s just hanging there under the van. Ugh.

Not moving

April 16, 2008 at 9:35 pm | In Extra! Extra!, Whispers | No Comments

So We have made the general announcement that we’re moving because I didn’t get a job at FMH. Well, that was the case last week. Now, after considerable prayer, we’re not moving. The Lord has a work for us to do in this area. We will remain in the Farmington area until further notice. I will just get a job and travel for a little while longer.

Kim getting sick

April 16, 2008 at 5:25 pm | In Extra! Extra!, Kim | No Comments

Is Kim getting appendicitis? Doctor says she may or may not be getting it. May be scar tissue stuff he says. Yesterday she had a low-grade fever of 99.7, positive rebound tenderness at McBirney’s point and positive Rovsing’s sign. Additionally, she has had increasing abdominal tenderness, especially on moving bowels or passing flatus. Today, she is worse. Her abdominal pain is constant and worsening, she is fatigued, dizzy and sometimes nauseous. Rebound tenderness and Rovsign’s sign persist. The blood work from yesterday came back with elevated WBC and negative XR studies. CT Scan is ordered for Friday. I think she should go back today. The pain is not excruciating, but still. She continues to work and push herself. Prayers are appreciated.

Blog becomes 2007!

October 7, 2007 at 10:16 am | In Extra! Extra! | No Comments

As of the moment of this post, I saw that my blog has had 2,007 views! WOW! that’s the year! The top post over the last 30 days is Ethical Dilemma with 51 hits. Interesting.