Love Love Love

I love you Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee..Let Me Count The Ways..

Thanks for helping me get through my night shifts at work.

Thanks for helping suppress my gigantic appetite.

Thanks for having a drive through because I am too lazy to walk the 20 feet inside.

Thanks for always tasting the same..always meeting my expectations no matter where you are.

Thanks for helping complete my sunny day rituals.

Always There. Always Good. Thanks :)

Life is Precious

One day they are fine and the next they are not. That is the harsh reality we have to deal with as nurses. Usually, we don't know them when they are fine, usually they are critical and we only get to know them through their family and friends that visit and tell us about them. It's always hard to lose a patient but this time was extra hard because I knew him when he was "fine," to use the term very loosely.

He was polite, called me "mam," said "please" and "thank you." He was a religious man; read the bible in bed, blessed the hands of those who took care of him and prayed often. I was worried about his mental status at one point, "W, who are you talking to?" "God, mam." We find comfort in the fact that he was so religious, I believe he is happy and safe now, he is with his God who he loves so much and who loves him. I just don't understand why God had to take him at 43.

Fine one minute, not the next. Puts everything into perspective doesn't it? There is nothing to say that it couldn't have been anyone of us in that bed instead of him. We don't know what God's plan is for us. I am positive that he didn't think he would die 3 days after his admission to the hospital, but he did. I am thankful to have peace of mind knowing that we did everything we could for him, that it was out of our hands. Life is precious. I am learning more and more to be thankful for every minute of every day, to enjoy it. My job has taught me to appreciate the simple things and realize what really matters at the end of the day. I invite all of you to do the same because we never know when it could all be taken away.

80s Love

I recently saw "Hot Tub Time Machine," the title although ridiculous is somewhat self explanatory. The hot tub brings them back to 1986, the year of my birth. As they showed some of the trends of that year it got me thinking about growing up in the 80s/90s and what sticks out for me from that time.

First, the Caboodle. I don't know a girl out there that didn't have one of theses filled with Bonnie Bell.

Alf, I was obsessed with Alf. Never missed an episode. I had Alf blankets, an Alf sleeping bag and even an Alf doll. Funny thing is he totally creeps me out now.

Before Wii, Xbox and play station one, two and three there was nintendo. Just plain, old non HD, 3D anything nintendo and it was great. Loved Mario Brothers, always wanted to be Mario never Luigi..can't forget about Duck Hunt either ;)

Cabbage Patch kids. They didn't cry, eat, poop or talk BUT they did have boy or girl written on their butt and they didn't let you look until after you bought the doll. At the time I thought for sure the excitement was similar to an actual birth except this baby came from a 'patch.'

Scrunchies, enough said.

Jonathon Taylor Thomas, JTT, oh, he had my 12 year old heart. Evidenced of course by tigerbeat posters all over my wall. Edward who?

In west Philadelphia, born and raised.....

Slap Bracelets. These used to get out of hand. I think they were even banned from school at one point.

And who could forget Friday night dates with Snick. Clarissa Explains it All, Rugrats, Doug, Roundhouse, the shows were forever changing but the one that always stayed, the one that scared the crap out of us but we would never admit it.. Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Welp, that's my walk down memory lane, just a few simple, irrelevant things that once put a smile on my face. :)

Addict

I have TMJ that causes jaw pain and muscle spasms in my neck and back. I've tried many things to treat it with no relief. I recently decided to try acupuncture and I am addicted. I was weary about it at first, I mean they stick needles in your back and face for goodness sake. After doing some research and finding that it doesn't hurt and does work I decided to give it a try. The chinese are way ahead of us in the holistic approach to healing. In addition to acupuncture she gave me a regimen of natural supplements and diet tips that have helped as well. After only a few sessions I already feel relief.

After the needles she does a technique called 'cupping.' Essentially they are suction cups that are put on the skin and they suction out the stress and toxins that cause the spasms. It is the best and you feel amazing when its over.

Only down side is the cups leave these round hickey like bruises on the skin..I guess cupping will have to be a winter only treatment. My friend Gina reminded me that these marks will not be cute for bathing suit season.

So the next time you have pain, don't give into the accepted American view of popping a pill. Try a holistic approach first as not only will it solve the problem but it will also get to the root of it which result in lasting relief. The chinese are on to something here ;)

April Tunes

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is drive with my windows down, music blasting, shades on and ice coffee in hand. I love it. I don't even necessarily have to have some place to go. My playlists are forever changing and they are always a compilation of different genres, oldies and newbies. Here are my April tunes...

Bon Jovi- Captain Crash
Eric Hutchinson- Rock and Roll
Lady GaGa- Dance in the Dark
Selena Gomes- Naturally
Jay Z- Forever Young
Missy Higgins- Nightminds
Train- Soul Sister
Five for Fighting- Chances
Lady GaGa- Teeth
Billy Joel- Miami 2017
Dixeechiks- Wide Open Spaces
Melissa Ethridge- Change
b.o.b.- Nothin on You
Bon Jovi- Happy Now
Keri Noble- Piece of My Heart
Miley Cyrus- I Look at You
Hootie and The Blowfish- Hold My Hand

..Happy Cruising :)

Let the Countdown Begin

Much like snowstorms wont be the same as a working nurse, summer wont be either. This would have been my ninth summer lifeguarding at the beach. Some of the best memories of my life. It definitely wont be the same, I will definitely miss it. A new chapter in my life. However, it doesn't change that I am super excited that in just a few weeks I will be spending my days off here...

My cabana at Silverpoint beach club, the best place on earth. Really, whats better then soaking in the sun, eating delicious food, sipping on my Uncle Steve's famous cocktail creations...

Seeing sunsets like this every night....

Oh, and spending quality time with these wonderfully crazy people I like to call my family..

Nope..doesn't get any better then that. :)