Thankful Thursday | 46, 45, 44...
This week, I am thankful:
that I'm down to 46 days in the semester
It felt momentous to get down to less than 50 this week.
for citation machines
This semester, I've had to do a fair amount of APA formatting and I am so so so grateful for the online tools that assist me in making my reference pages.
This type of work is obnoxiously tedious to me so the less time I have to spend on it, the better.
Also: in the big picture, all of the detailed rules about how to reference various types of sources....those are irrelevant for actual nursing practice.
Thankfully, the head of this semester has zero problems with us using technology to assist us with our reference pages. She'd rather have us use our brain space for things that actually do matter in nursing practice!
for mosses
There's a trail that's near my gym and my goodness, it has the best mosses. My walks there take extra long because I am always stopping to touch them.
Mosses have such a satisfying texture. 🙂
for baby leaves
Spring is coming! The world is starting to turn green!
that I don't have clinical this weekend
For one week during the semester, we do a day of something called Clinical Reasoning at the college during the week. And whoever has clinical reasoning doesn't have to go to clinical that week.
Mine was this week, which is extremely fortuitous timing for me. Why?
I have an exam early Monday morning, and this means I can spend my weekend studying (on my own and in groups) to prep for the exam. SWEET.
that my heat has been breaking instead of my air conditioning
My boiler is on the fritz AGAIN. So when I woke up this morning, it was 60 degrees in my bedroom.
But honestly, I felt fine overnight because of my comforter. And even when I got up, I wasn't very upset about it because being cold doesn't bother me nearly as much as being hot.
Another grateful: my landlords have acknowledged that the boiler is indeed on its last legs (it is nearly as old as me!), so they are working on figuring out some replacement options.
If this gets replaced, I will probably have "consistent heat" on my thankful list every week next winter. Ha.
that we are nearly to a time of year when heat is unnecessary
It is 33 degrees as I type, but still, spring is near and so this is a pretty good time to have a bad heating system.
that I love my patient care tech job
At a work shift this week, someone said, "I can tell you really like your job here."
And I said, "Oh, you are so right!" 🙂
I love taking care of my patients...it makes me so happy when I can do something so small (like bringing a heated blanket) and it makes a patient feel so happy.
And I also love my co-workers. I know sometimes nurses and doctors treat techs as less-than, but I am so lucky that on my floor, I have always felt like I am part of the team.
that my student scrubs days are numbered
Only five more weekends of clinical, plus a few random lab/sim days to go! And then I will cheerfully donate my scrubs to the school's scrub closet.
Once I graduate, no more rectangle shirt for me!!
Just a quick note to say that I found yesterday's discussion as thought-provoking as always, and to thank "Elisabeth with an s" for hosting it. I didn't have time for as considered a response as I would have wished, since I’ve been busy with NDN, NDN2, and getting ready to report for county jury duty this morning. (Wish me luck on the jury duty!)
@A. Marie, Good luck on jury duty. I would be tempted to treated it as an anthropological observation (of course, with active listening & a desire for justice!)
@A. Marie, Thanks for such kind words.
Signed,
Elisabeth with an "s" - haha <3
Do keep us posted about how it goes! I was called last fall, but sent in a postponement request due to my school schedule. I sort of hope they forget about me come June because the summons was for something like a six month duty. Sigh.
@A. Marie,
Good luck! As much as I agree that we need to do our duty by serving on jurors, it's not the most fun thing to do.
@Kristen, that 6-month duty would probably have been for a grand jury, not a trial jury (at least as NY State makes the distinction). So I too hope that you slide under the radar for that one.
And a jury duty update: I survived the first cut of jurors, but I was bounced out on the second cut, to my great relief. I did mention my previous employment as a copyeditor for a publisher specializing in mental health texts for mental health professionals, including two editions of a book titled Psychological Evaluations for the Courts. In addition, when the attorney for the plaintiff (it was a medical malpractice case) and the court clerk were joking with each other as we filed out for lunch break, I contributed a remark in passing–and it turns out that jurors aren’t supposed to talk to attorneys except during the voir dire phase. So, one way and another, the gift of gab I inherited from my blessed mother has come through for me. 🙂
@A. Marie, I want y'all to know that I found jury duty to be very interesting, in addition to being one of the few actual obligations of being US citizen. I look forward to serving again.
@WilliamB, Good for you! It's not just an obligation but a privilege of citizenship.
1. A sunny Sunday in the Midwest allowed me to plant more seeds outside! Love spring lettuce, right?
2. Spring bulbs popping up and brightening my back garden.
3. A small spring break trip with family where we found loads of free entertainment.
4. A small change in my work which might lead to more interesting duties than before. Working a less than stellar job for the insurance in tough.
5. A lap cat. My 4th cat I have owned and he truly understands “the assignment” so to speak. Not quite as curious as Miss C, unless I am outside gardening. Love those furry friends.
6. This community. Priceless.
- I’m so grateful (and proud of myself) that I had successful plane trips last week! I’ve been working for more than a year on my severe phobia of being trapped in crowded spaces. Planes are a MAJOR trigger. It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
- My puppy is turning one! He’s calming down and losing some of his “teenage” rebelliousness.
- I’m thankful for all my little vegetable seedlings sprouting up. They make me happy.
- This past week, I did some extensive yard work pulling out weeds and grasses and I did not have any allergy symptoms! Usually, I get itchy, sniffly, sneezy, and pretty miserable overall. My months of allergy shots seem to be kicking in.
@JenRR, congrats on the flight! That's a major milestone.
@JenRR, Wow, that’s a truly big and important accomplishment. Were the flights to planned places or some kind of just test flights?
@ WilliamB and ErikaJS, Thank you 🙂
It was both planned and a test. We live not too far from Chicago. Last year’s Spring break, we took the train there as a first step to challenge the phobia. The plane flight to Chicago is very short, so this year I decided to test myself with the short flight and make another visit to Chicago on the kids’ school break.
Awww, good job working through this!!
@JenRR, congratulations! that's a big achievement!
@Kristen and Sophie in Denmark, Thank you! I’ve been working on this with both a psychiatrist and therapist for 2 years, so it is amazing relief. My psychiatrist will be elated when I tell him at my next visit!
@JenRR, Late to the party, but just here to say congratulations on the flight. That's huge! I've suffered from a phobia myself, so I know that was a milestone for you that took a lot of dedicated work!
* A visit from my youngest sister & her son, my 22yr old firefighter nephew. I had a list of things for him to help me with & he did them all so cheerfully & competently- even finding a few things on his own to do. So, so grateful
* First happy hour of the season, though it was a little too chilly for the front porch. Love how my friends know & care about my family
* These 2 new puppies. Now that the youngest is on ATBs for a UTI, she is housebroken & they play outside all day!! So sweet & funny to watch- could not love more
* Breakfast! Much like Kristin, I love a savory breakfast & prep my veges for this meal: today was cauli rice, edamame, carrots, sautéed spinach, and over easy egg & Thai sweet chili sauce. 4 veges by 8am? Yes, please!
*This blog & the commentariat. I love it every am. So glad to add 2 more blogs to my list from yesterday’s post!
Awww, it’s so sweet that your nephew helped you with all those tasks!
Thankful this week
- for the thrift in our yard that is covered with purple flowers right now.
- for all the buttercups that are blooming
- for being able to go to lunch with friends today that I haven't seen in a while
- for the beautiful spring weather in the forecast for the weekend
- for living close to DD. Their dog died suddenly this week and I'm thankful we could go sit with her and console her while SIL was on the way home from the emergency vet
My cousin and her husband visited for a couple of days. This is a much bigger deal than it sounds. They live in Mexico City and we haven't been more than lightly in touch with that branch of the family (father's sister) for a long time. I decided to visit them Xmas 2023 to establish ties and it's worked like gangbusters. We've always gotten along when we see each other and now we get to see each other more often.
I may have a new friend. As a not-young introvert, I don't make new actual friends often, although I make acquaintances easily. Most recently I've made a lot of acquaintances from knitting, which is how I met my new friend.
Picking up knitting again has been lovely. I enjoy doing something tangible and tactile, which is a contrast to the intangible output of most of my life's work (academic papers, work products, etc). I stopped about 12 years ago as it wasn't compatible with that phase of my life. Now I'm about to finish a sweater I started 13-14 years ago.
Huh. Contrary to usual, this exercise made a difference today. I suffered a negative event in a close relationship yesterday; writing this list helped me realize and remember the wonderful things this week.
@WilliamB, Your final entry is a nice addition to yesterday’s discussion (which was fabulous).
So sorry to hear of the negative event but oh, I'm so glad you had a lovely visit with your cousin. Yay!
@WilliamB, it’s pretty remarkable that your teenaged knitting survived the years of neglect—still liking the project, FINDING the project, and that the moths hadn’t done any damage are all rather astonishing!
@WilliamB, new friends are a hard thing to acquire. I can't remember the last new friend I made. I am impressed!
Those mosses look like little cushions - so cute!
1. Speaking of counting the days, I'm thankful because I am down to 11 months till my retirement . Counting down is fun, but it also makes me impatient to be done, so I also work to remember to be thankful for my job (big one!) and for the good people with whom and for whom I work.
2. I eat at my desk at work, since we don't have a breakroom big enough for a table. Each day, I pull out the placemat my 19-year-old granddaughter made when she was five or six. She made one for each member of the family for thanksgiving dinner, and it features a turkey made out of her handprint cut out of construction paper plus photocopies of silverware - some of mine were accidentally glued on upside down - and has each person's name (mine says "Nana") written on it with wayward lettering, then laminated. I'm thankful for that placemat because of the warm, happy feeling it gives me every workday. No day is ever that bad when I can eat off that placemat!
3. I'm thankful for the cascades of blooms on the arched limbs of the white Lady Banks rose in our backyard. After all the wild weather we've had, this is one of the rose's prettiest years.
4. I'm thankful for finally seeing the ruby-throated hummingbirds again. There are usually a few who stay through the winter here, but not this past winter, even though I left fresh nectar out continuously. I was happy to hear that familiar HMMMMM this weekend and to spot them at the feeders.
5. I'm thankful to have been invited to an organization's banquet tonight by a church member. It's one step forward in getting involved and making new friends for my retirement years.
@JD, your #2 made me smile. I have some of my Niece's art and a little note she from when she was 5-7 yrs old she wrote me in my wallet, she's now a grown married woman and it warms my heart to see her art and pull that note out when I need a pick me up.
@JD, Ditto #3. Mine are just now leafing out. Can't wait for them to bloom.
I am thankful that spring is here. The days are starting to be warm and sunny more often than not, the trees are showing more leaves every day, and I'm finding wildflowers when I go for walks. I love spring so much.
I'm thankful that I can watch the figure skating world championships for free this week (I get a Peacock subscription for free with Instacart+). I have been a fan for over 30 years and still love this sport.
I'm thankful that my cats and I are settling into our new home and feeling more comfortable here. All three of us tend to have a lot of trouble adjusting to change, but we eventually do get back to feeling okay.
I think someone is ready to be done with school! ;-) Guessing it was a mistake, but it made me laugh that you listed how many days are left twice haha
So thankful to my in-laws for spending the week with us. They are lovely people and I don't mind having them in my home (I know that isn't true for some folks!). They have been watching our two young kiddos during spring break so we can save our vacation days. Not only that, but they have kept up with all our dishes (always a struggle here...) and did all of my laundry (washed, dried, folded, and put away). It is such a relief!
Oh shoot. I must have missed that in my editing. I moved it to a different spot in the post and then didn't take out the extra. I will go fix it!
This week I am thankful:
* that everything went through with our new house and we signed the paperwork on Monday. The house is officially ours! Except for the part where there are 30 days until we can get in it. 😉 But the hunt is over.
* that my kids are currently all excited about moving. The night we told them had SO many tears, but they are all excited right now. And they have all "called dibs" on different bedrooms. We actually have a shot at everybody being happy with the bedroom they end up with. Amazing.
* that my kids are content with not travelling anywhere for spring break this year. And most of our friends are also not travelling this week.
* that we ended up with friends to swim with yesterday, even though most of the friends we invited were unable to come for a variety of unfortunate reasons. The surprise friends were a blessing.
* that I can make coffee at home anytime I want.
* for the joy of watching my kids learn things. It's really fun to watch!
* for my little greenhouse. I have a 4-shelf greenhouse (purchased from Aldi a few years ago) that is currently in my dining room and I feel like I could just sit there and watch my baby plants all day. They make me so happy.
Oooh, a new house!! So exciting!
@Ruth T, so exciting for you all!
You have come SOOOO FAR & I just want to say I am SOOO PROUD OF YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS & GROWTH! You are definitely an inspiration to many. <3
Thankful for the sun, though it's been only about half the days. But when the sun's out it's sooo bright. 🙂
Thankful for using less heat as when it's warmer days I turn off heat completely. Hopefully my utility bill will reflect this.
Thankful that even though most of us are BUSY at work I've not worked really late nights yet this tax season. 🙂 Though we are definitely feeling the countdown to April 15th.
Thankful I am doing my Aunt tax return & learning a lot about what to do with houses to prepare for future circumstances/disasters that might affect home value & possible information needed.
Thankful my Aunt closed on the sale of (what's left of) her house (on water property) & it was resold later that afternoon to another person. And that my Aunt asked for (physical) closing paperwork (in addition to digital) ahead of closing & they complied. 🙂
Thankful that teen helped get another landscaping project mostly done & will finish after tax season ends.
Thankful teen making effort on scholarship applications, though need to check for any possibilities might have missed.
Thankful teen & friends/classmates asked questions about graduation dress code & got more detailed information, which was more reasonable.
Thankful for such loving rescue dogs. <3
Thankful that I am able to get bills paid ahead of end of tax season, as I continue to look for another (full time) job.
Thankful for Kristen & her site where we can learn & share with each other.
Have a great weekend.
Aww, thank you for cheering me on!
First and foremost my thanks go to starting Physical Therapy for the third time in two years, in a new place. My hopes include a therapist who seems rough but professional, a welcome change. My biggest hope of course is for it to succeed this time. As I have in the past, I will certainly give it my all.
Sending you so many good wishes for a successful PT round this time.
@ErikaJS, Ack, that should be tough. Not sure of what a rough pt would even be.
@Kristen, Many thanks!
Congratulations on all your successes and being sooo close to graduation!! I am thankful for sunrise,sunset and good friends sand family.
Have a great weekend!
The finish line is in sight!!! Hooray.
And, boy howdy, I wish there had been online tools for citation support when I was doing my degrees. Formatting those was such an incredible nuisance (and waste of time in my opinion). There are many drawbacks to modern technology, but dishwashers, washing machines, and software to help with citations are amazing!
Yes! Getting good at citations has absolutely nothing to do with being a good bedside nurse, so I am delighted to pass off that task.
@Kristen, do you mind sharing the ones you’ve found useful?
1. That the animal rescue group patched the wood fence. At no charge, no less! And they did a wonderful job. It's all ready so the new puppy dog can safely play in the backyard. He'll be arriving soon.
2. For neighbor's wisteria bush having some vines that came over on my side of said fence, and that we have several huge blooms. Gorgeous! Ditto, some white flowering vine with smaller blooms.
3. For this commentariat. So nice to visit with everyone every day.
4. For my house.
5. For my jobs and pensions.
@Fru-gal Lisa,
A rescue dog we had in the past developed raw places at the corners of her mouth. I took her to the vet, and he had me watch her closely for a few days - she was leaping up and snatching the wisteria blooms hanging over our fence from the neighbors' yard, and the blooms were irritating her mouth. I got the neighbors' permission to cut back the vines on my side. Just a heads up in case your dog is as oddball as mine was.
@JD,
Thank you for that information. I would never dream that a wisteria bloom could injure a dog.
I will certainly watch out to see if my new fur-baby jumps, and if he bites at flowers!
@JD, just FYI: the default law is if your neighbors anything grows into or over the dividing line into your yard, that part is yours to do whatever you wish.
There's changes if your jurisdiction passes a law to the contrary.
I am thankful we are getting rain today. Although it has not been detectable by most except for the burn bans, we have been in drought conditions and having a resupplied water table going into the growing season is a blessed thing.
I am thankful that I filled the car with gas before the price went up $.20. Often it is the opposite case.
I am thankful my brother is coming for a visit today. We are in the beginnings of dealing with major financial situation. In a good way.
I am thankful my beloved Molly seems to be doing okay for her age. She is hard of hearing (or beagley ignoring) and her vision is a bit worse BUT she still shows some pep and for that I am truly grateful
I am thankful that I still have some pep. Spring cleaning may drag into summer, but I have the desire and some energy to tackle it.
I am still thankful for the many blooms popping up in my yard and the pollinators that go with them. I watched the bees in the Lenten roses yesterday and there were several. The grape hyacinths and Virginia blue bells were planted by the people who lived here before me and that was over thirty years ago and they are beautiful!
1. For the people around me that are supportive and encouraging and understanding as I have reached the decision that I will have to move my Aunt into a nursing home facility. The dementia has escalated to a point where I don't feel that she is safe in my home, needs care that I simply don't have the skills for and the combativeness is well beyond the threshold that my family and I can bear. This is without a doubt, the toughest decision I have had to make in my life.
2. For allergy medications. Here in GA the pollen counts are through the roof and they have robbed me of my voice. So grateful for Mucinex and Flonase which make life bearable in this season.
3. Spring break is approaching and I will be out of town for a week. I am so tremendously thankful for this time away that I can't begin to describe it to you. I need thinking space and quiet time and room to breathe all of which this trip will give me.
4. For homemade meals, hot baths, coffee , the bible and sermons on repeat that soothe this weary soul.
5. The comfort in knowing that this too shall pass and when it does, I can rest easy knowing I did all I could do, loved the best that I could and fought the good fight.
@Angie,
I understand completely that this is a very difficult decision, although it is the right one, and I pray you and your family will find peace with it, and that your aunt will as well. I hope your Spring break trip brings the space and calm you need.
@JD, thank you so much for this. It brought tears of sheer relief. Bless you!
@Angie,
There is no tougher assignment in life than being a family caregiver. It's rough both physically and emotionally. You are an angel to have taken care of your aunt while it was still do-able. But sometimes you have to let go and let others, who are better equipped, handle it. During this upcoming season of change, allow your auntie to go to a better setting with a professional nursing staff, and give yourself permission to rest, recuperate and take care of yourself. Do not feel guilty. You're doing what you have to do.
@Angie, caregiving is such tough duty. You can’t understand just how “crispy” you are/were until you have some relief/respite/time away from it. No one, except the people in the trenches, can really understand. I am glad you have supportive /encouraging people in your life as you navigate this transition. In my experience, we don’t make those hard decisions until it becomes more than obvious it is necessary - and in hindsight realize the decision is long overdue.
@Angie, count me in among those who completely get it about your #1. My own experience with placing DH in a nursing home was similar (except that instead of the combativeness, he was prone to wandering). And I completely support you in your #5, which is beautifully expressed.
@Angie, that is a very hard decision and I'm glad you have a lot of support for it. Combativeness is extremely difficult to deal with. Enjoy your vacation, you have more than earned it.
@Angie, making a decision like that for your aunt must have been very difficult. Much love & hugs as you and your family navigate this change.
It sounds like you’ve ready thought about what would be best for your aunt & your family, and you’ve made the right choice.
I'm thankful that the past owner of the house loved her flowerbeds, and now I have irises, daffodils, roses, and tulips popping up everywhere. The hellebores have been my favorite as I haven't had those before. It seems something new pops up every day.
Thankful that the peony roots I planted a few months ago are coming up! I am so excited for these since they didn't grow in the Charleston area.
Thankful that after a horrible day with the insulation people...the insulation is done. I've never had 3 men gang mansplain something to me at one time...that went downhill quick when I told them I could explain the contract, or they could just read it and then I walked away. All the old is gone, new is in. Unfortunately, they sprayed it over my giant whole house fan (old fashion where you open the windows and turn this giant fan on and it sucks fresh air all throughout the house and into the attic...like a 30 inch fan mounted in the attic to the top floor ceiling)...I turned it on last night and insulation went everywhere. After the day we had with them I was sooo upset. DH said he will go up and clean it out because he doesn't want them back here.
Thankful that the land clearing in the front yard has gone so smoothly. The gentleman doing the work is so kind and doing a great job. The difference is amazing!
Thankful that after this week the big projects should be complete for now. I can get back to my frugal ways. I know I'm frugal all the time to be able to afford these projects, but it is HARD to spend so much money when you normally spend very little...even if you have the money...just hurts a bit.
@Marlena,
Methinks you should report those jerks to the Better Business Bureau and give them a thumbs down on Angi's List and similar websites. No pro would ever coat an attic fan, nor would they "talk down" to a client just because she's female. The very nerve of those creeps!
@Fru-gal Lisa, I plan to do some online reviews because at one point they even told me "Well, we talked to your husband"...like the man folk had all talked. I explained my husband's name wasn't on the contract, and he wasn't writing a check nor do they cook his meals or sleep in his bed so I'm guessing my husband was going to side with me. I was SOOOO mad. They wanted to install blow in insulation and not install the baffles (which I understand is a crap job...it's exactly why I was paying someone to do it because I didn't want to install baffles). They spent a good 10 minutes trying to gaslight me to think I don't need baffles when YES, you DO need baffles...the longer they went on...the madder I got over the whole sexist, ridiculousness of it all. Finally, I'm said, "The contract says baffles, read the contract, let me know if I have to explain it, but I want baffles" and walked away.
I got baffles, but pretty sure they covered my fan out of spite.
@Marlena,
Sock it to 'em, with your online reviews! I sure hope they are not in my town, as one of these days I'm going to insulate my attic.
@Marlena, i'm sorry you had to deal with all of those jerk
RE: Citations: as you may know, Any online database of academic articles has properly cited sources in a variety of styles somewhere connected to the article, just ready to cut-and-paste. Or you might have special bibliography or citation generators that you type info into.
A student needs to understand how a journal is put together and respect the scholarship that went into the research. Then, YES, your teacher should EXPECT you to use source aids, and not spend your time deciding if something needs a comma or a period. Good for you! These things are magic, especially to those of us who had to slog through typing our own sources.
I scored a pet stroller on FB Marketplace for a score, and I've been able to take my cats for walks. It gets me out of the house and more active, plus my (indoor) cats like riding in it to see the neighborhood. I've used it so much this week that my Fitbit notified me that I'm increasing my "training" and should take it easy. That's the first time I've ever gotten THAT notice! lol
@Mary, my cat loves his stroller so much that on days I can't take him, starts screaming about 7pm cause he wants to go. Every day when I pull it out, he jumps right in. DH refuses to walk the cat in the stroller though haha.
My new kitten isn't brave enough yet for it. I tried, but it scared her horribly. My older cat has been very brave since the day he was born.
@Mary, awww! That is so cute. My cat puts on her harness and leash and rides on my shoulder like a parrot.
1) We've had a few gorgeous days lately, which have made me happy. DH & I have had a lot to talk through, and we've been sitting outside together, which makes heavier topics much nicer.
2) That we almost always have easy dinner options in the freezer. Present self always adores past me for making those decisions & giving myself options on nights I don't feel like cooking.
3) I have so many fantastic friends. I love them always, but especially when you are wrestling with challenges.
4) We have so many blossoming plants at the moment, may with flowers on them. They make me happy to look outside & see.
5) I got a free year's subscription to Calm (the meditation app) through my credit card. I've only used it once, but I'm definitely planning to make it part of my routine.
6) Bonus: I did a different workout class than usual yesterday, and although I hadn't done one with so much running in at least 6 months, I finished it successfully! I was so pleased. And, all of those endorphins felt great.
I'm going to go against the grain a little and argue that I think it's useful to learn how to reference. I don't think it's necessarily bad to use a citation tool once you've learned how to put a reference together but I also think knowing how to source independently, credit authors and understand referencing in general is important, especially with all the misinformation out there!
My thankfuls:
1. I'm thankful to be going out with a friend this weekend.
2. I'm thankful that I feel physically stronger from going to the gym more frequently.
3. I'm thankful that I was still able to go for a decent length run after some weeks away after hurting my ankle.
4. I'm thankful that I managed to get some chores done yesterday.
5. I'm thankful for my sense of humour!
@Sophie in Denmark,
Even though I'm a retired English teacher, I must respectfully disagree.
I don't care if my doctors, nurses or nursing assistants can cite a reference or not.
I don't care what format they use for a term paper; I feel it doesn't matter all that much, just as long as they know the information.
I want them to be able to take excellent care of me, and of all their patients. That is much, much more important!
@Fru-gal Lisa, I definitely agree on knowing the information being the most important thing! I just think there is a danger of throwing the baby out with the bathwater where we say that because something is less relevant, it's not worth knowing. It's not so much the format which I care about, it's generally knowing how to find sources and discern which are more credibile than others.
@Sophie in Denmark, I agree that it is a form of respect and professionalism to understand how research is done and reported.
Thankful for:
Spring break & finally making it to MO home.
Booked bucket list trip flights for June trip.
Have several things needing to be done at MO home but have found good people to take care of them (plus having the money to pay for repairs).
FRIENDS! Old friends who know you & your history are the best.
Rain today - we live in a farming area and it has been very dry.
I seemed to have forgotten it’s spring and allergy season. I get pollen sinus stuff but it also tears up my gut. I always just ate rice but rice while traveling? I had no idea there is frozen cooked rice and pouches of cooked rice on the shelves. I have access to a microwave and fridge so now I have easy cooked rice and my tum is happy. I don’t know who eats this stuff on a regular basis but thanks!
This week I am thankful . . .
For coffee dates with friends. I just got back from meeting up with a friend and hearing all about everything she has going on. She's in a really good place, and it is so nice to hear.
For a quiet commute this morning. My commute is a doozy--1.25 hours of driving and then a half hour of walking from the parking lot. But this morning I had my tea and a good podcast and just rocked it on in. I'm thankful I don't do the commute everyday, but today was okay.
For an absolutely amazing party Saturday night that I am still sore from. My memories from it are more impressional than solid: the sound of clacking fans, seeing fans and puffs of smoke and raised hands above the dancers, the vibe of the dance floor, the heat of the bonfire. Heaven.
For the signs of spring. I wore my wool coat this morning because the air is just a bit chilly still. But the sun is warm on my face, the trees are bursting back to life, and the highs next week are tipping into the 70s.
For the coming summer I have planned. Travel and time with kids and writing. Lots of swimming and reading. I had hoped to be starting a new job, but I have resigned myself that I will be in my current academic position another year. I have decided to embrace it and write like all hells broken loose and just enjoy the moment.
@Amanda in VA, I used to have a walk like that sometimes. I would go as fast as I could and consider it part of my exercise.
• We had a fantastic visit with my sister and niece this week. We went on lots of adventures, had lots of down time, and really just enjoyed each other’s company. I could go on for days about how lovely the visit was!
• I don’t have to go in for physical therapy on a weekly basis anymore! I’ve transitioned to home treatments on my own and I’m starting to feel back to normal.
• My husband got to be an uncle for the first time. He’s an only child and my sister lives far enough away that most visits are quick or adult-only. My husband finally got some quality time with my niece and it was so sweet. He’s great with my kiddo and it made we wish we had a bigger family all around so that I could enjoy his interactions with the littles more.
• A friend gave us a dozen eggs from her chickens and they are GORGEOUS. Not only will this save us some money at the store, but they are just beautiful to look at!
• We finally got a picture of my grandma and grandpa with their two grandchildren and two great grandchildren – that is something I will treasure forever.
@Geneva, I love backyard chicken eggs from friends!
@Geneva,
I got a dozen farm fresh eggs from Araucana chickens (the blue and greenish ones). They were so beautiful, I "blew" them out of the shells with a small pin prick on one end and a slightly bigger hole on the other, carefully cleaned and allowed them to dry. Put them in a mason jar with lid and enjoyed them for several years!
-I’m grateful for some cooler weather, I am not ready for summer in so cal yet!
-I am grateful for my chosen family. My birth family is a bit messed up and it messes with my brain sometimes. My chosen family, my husband and In laws are such a blessing. I don’t give them enough credit.
- for long time friends who know me so well!
- I went ti a friends fathers memorial service and it was lovely and touching. It was such a good reminder that we have a path and a journey that god has given us. The moment is only part of a bigger experience. We all have very hard things we go through.
- I’m grateful for my children’s resilience. January was a tough month for my son and the whole family. He is growing in maturity, and I have faith that good will continue to come.
Thankful:
-For a delicious and frugal lunch from our local Mexican restaurant yesterday.
-For spring break!
-For medium-warm days despite chilly mornings.
-That all my appointments worked out this week and my vehicle works.
-For my friends!
I am happy to see your baby leaves. We have no baby leaves yet in Michigan but do have pretty daffodils. So thankful for SPRING!
I don't normally chime in, but today I'm going to....
I'm thankful for:
* A good dental check-up this morning, no cavities and the new dental practice is wonderful. We had to switch due to our dentist retiring plus he no longer took our dental insurance.
* A great conversation with a co-worker who is going thru some of the same life stages
* a surprise treat of muffins from hubby's co-worker
* Being one week closer to first grandchild's arrival. He's due to arrive in 3 weeks! I'm so excited as is hubby!!!
* signs of spring
*God's provisions.....always <3
I'm going to Poland!! My husband got an impromptu work trip request, and I decided to tag along. I'm grateful to be going, I'm grateful I can use my husband's hotel room for free, that I can work remote while I'm there, and that the plane tickets were a $1k less than I originally priced them out to be!
I'm also grateful our wedding reception last weekend went off so smoothly and was a blast! We got to talk with every guest, dance, eat some great food, and make some lasting memories. And celebrate love. My brother, who is usually not known for his emotional depth, said "to always remember we have something special." <3
Not a whole lot frugal going on here, and I've been quite busy, so I've been quiet in the comments. Missed you guys!
Ooh, what a fun trip!
@Andrea G / Midwest Andrea, huzzahs for your trip to Poland and your excellent wedding reception!
This morning I am so thankful for my job and the people I work with are all friendly and help each other. We are planting our garden tomorrow and I am off my real job and get to be a farmer for the day. I am thankful to be able to read library books and learn new skills. On our daily walks we see nature springing out and it is beautiful.
Someone brought me a warm blanket in post op one time and it was the BEST thing! I also greatly appreciate the nurse who stayed with me in post op another time when it took me seven hours to wake up enough to be able to go home so the staff in the recovery room had already left. And the one in the maternity ward who spoon fed me when I couldn't sit up after having a saddle block; she fed me bites in between all her other duties. I have had some really good nurses over the years. I am positive you will be one of the good ones.
I think you have truly found your spot in the world - nursing. So much of enjoying your life is enjoying your job. That makes my day
I’m an academic and I would never dream of doing citations without referencing software- it’s the first thing I put my students onto! Hooray for the finish line being so close. It’s such a long journey, yet also seems to have gone so fast- funny how that is, hey. You are going to make the most amazing nurse! Do you have to apply for jobs yourself, or is there some system for placing graduate nurses like there is for junior doctors?
This week I’m grateful for:
The kids still being asleep for an hour after I wake up so I can have this time to read my blogs!
Cooler weather (it’s been a hot, humid summer where I live in Australia)
Freely available coffee at home and at my office
Having delicious dinners cooked by my husband and parents the last few nights. Working all day and not having to cook dinner is so nice!
The sound of rain on our tin roof
If you visit Mt Desert Island/Acadia National Park in Maine, be sure to visit Thuya Garden in Northeast Harbor. There is a lovely area with a rock wall covered in mosses and lichens.
My dad was just diagnosed with cancer, which obviously is not good, but there are many related things that I am grateful for:
- a kind and competent surgeon who got his operation scheduled quickly
- good health insurance
- my aunt and grandmother living in the same city as my parents, my being able to be travel there the day of surgery, and my sister visiting this weekend
- surgery being uncomplicated and recover going smoothly so far
- the cancer not having spread (based on CT and MRI)!
Oh, and I saw three beautiful male cardinals when I stopped for a walk during the drive home from my parents’ city.
A lovely day with my daughter, great coworkers, funny cats, a caring husband, and that my adult son still comes to me occasionally for advice. 🙂
I'm thankful that you don't have to suffer through applying APA -- you have an instructor who understands that most of you won't be needing it in your day to day and there are citation managers, etc. that can help.
As I read through your being thankful for this, however, I am thinking, and I'm speaking while I wear my hat as a teacher of academic writing, that APA might become useful if you decide to go on in your nursing studies and perhaps formally publish content for the nursing community, etc. APA and other documentation styles help writer's give credit to the published conversation that has happened before them upon which they are building. And you in turn will appreciate being given credit when others cite your contribution. Also, if you are reading anything in the nursing field/medicine and someone cites a source that is interesting to you, good/standard application by the writer of the documentation style, like APA, will allow you to know how to access it and read it in its entirety. All of this helps move conversations in medicine forward more easily. And in times of crisis, like during COVID, being able to find and take in information fast so that it can be modified/applied becomes especially important.
I guess my point is there MAY be value for you and your peers in your futures. For me, this thinking about value helps me put up with the tediousness of documenting in a more cheerful way.
Oh, I definitely think that citing sources is important. I just think that details like how many space you put after a period and what you italicize on a reference page is not terribly useful information to store in my brain!
I guess maybe I should have specified: I do not rely on technology to figure out where in-text citations go. I'm using the citation machines to help me make my gianormous reference page that goes at the end.
I’m thankful …
1) For my kids’ school. It’s so close by and such a good school with awesome teachers and staff.
2) For my artistic skills that God has blessed me with. I’m finally catching up on and completing my half finished art projects.
3) For the genetic testing results that show I’m not likely to have certain cancers or heart issues. I know I still need to work on my health regardless.
4) For the dates and time together I get with my husband while he’s off work and the kids are at school.
5) For the Libby app since it’s made it so much more easier for me to listen to audio books while doing choirs. Makes washing dishes and doing laundry go by more enjoyably and quicker.
Be glad you have formatting done for you and don't have to do it on a manual Royal typewriter like I did in college (yes, I'm OLD).
Oh my goodness yes! That must have been so, so tedious and time-consuming.
There's nothing like the green of new leaves!
A sight for sore eyes!
Congratulations, Kristen! Isn't it wonderful to have graduation in sight!
My thankfuls this week:
-church benefit for Haitian immigrants went well. We raised $1900!
-DH hired a capable man to clean up our yard. He did a great job and it looks 100% better. We have learned the hard way not to overlook maple leaves.
-our formerly feral cat let me hold her for a few minutes and even purred. Lovely.
-I taped together the pieces of a digital sewing pattern and got the lines straight. Not as easy as it sounds!
-My piano teacher is off this week, honoring the local school calendar, so I didn't have a lesson. A good thing since I haven't practiced.
As a former academic librarian I love hearing how much you appreciate citation tools! I always promoted those to new students and was frustrated when professors would force students to do it all by hand. Who needs that later unless you are going to be a professor?