Zer Netmouse
Below are the 10 most recent journal entries recorded in the "Anne" journal:[<< Previous 10 entries]
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04:22 pm
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The benefits of training
There's something I've been meaning to post about since I went to the ER last week with a sprained ankle.
We went to the ER because this was the second time I'd sprained the same ankle this year, it hurt a lot, and I wanted an X-Ray to make sure there was no bone damage. And, of course, because it was after hours for doctor's offices or even the local "urgent care" clinic, which closes at six. Lovelace hospital ER was almost empty (our second stop after UNM, which handles all the region's Trauma cases and was mobbed), so they processed me through quickly. All the nurses and the doctor were amazed:
I had sprained my ankle, then iced it immediately for 20 minutes, taken 800 mg of Ibuprofen, then wrapped it with a light compression bandage before heading to the ER. Multiple caretakers complemented the wrap and said they wouldn't change it, though they didn't check how tight it was, just asked to make sure I had no numbness or tingling in my toes.
As one nurse put it, "You did everything perfect. NOBODY does that."
But what was strange to me was, while saying most people did not have the "common sense" to do these things, the nurses focused on the question of what I do for a living. When one nurse asked that, I told her I was a human factors engineer, then shortened that to engineer in response to the blank look on her face. When she clarified the question as to how I knew what to do, Brian commented that I have a history of previous ankle injuries (this is true; through soccer or dance when young or, later in life, simply by walking, I'd sprained each ankle three times previously, the other one badly enough to pull bone away from the joint), and that he was an eagle scout. I added that my father is a biomedical engineer, and he and I have both been first responders at accidents, so we've gotten First Aid training.
When we were leaving, the other nurse was also on her way out. "I heard you're a biomedical engineer," she said.
"I've done some biomedical engineering," I admitted, since it was true.
She nodded as though that explained it. "We were wondering. The way you had it iced and wrapped. Nobody does that. Nobody!" and she left.
In retrospect, though, while my biomedical background informs my understanding of physiology and injury, clearly my occupation ISN'T why I know how to treat a sprained ankle and have those supplies at home. I have that knowledge and equipment due to direct experience, education and a family culture of preparedness.
I updated my first aid training a few years ago via a course offered by the Red Cross.
What everyone else who comes in is missing isn't common sense, or a medically-focused occupation. It's experience and training. New Mexico, and ABQ in particular, are known to have poor educational systems and high drop-out rates, so I don't find this lack of education that surprising. What was surprising was how the nurses misattributed the reason why I knew better, even though we gave the one nurse better answers.
*shakes head* I don't know how education will improve in this country if people continue to fail to give it credit for the differences in how people react in given situations.
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10:45 pm
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Not going to 4th Street Fantasy
Some people have noticed that my and Rosie's names are on the membership list for 4th Street this year. I bought those memberships the week before I heard second-hand that some dear friends were getting married that same weekend, in Michigan. That rumor has finally been solidly confirmed, and I am now looking to unload one adult and one kid's membership to 4th Street. If you are interested, let me know.
I'm sad not to be going, but it didn't seem destined to be - Brian has two conventions for work right before 4th street so he wasn't up for another one in a row, and I never really wanted to go without him. I'd like to introduce Rosie to my Minneapolis friends and extended family, but I'd rather introduce Brian at the same time.
Hopefully there will be another, better, opportunity to do that.
At this point the only big conventions/events on our radar are the Community High School Reunion June 30th in Michigan, Bubonicon in Albuquerque, August 24-26, 2012, possibly the Browncoat Ball, also in Albuquerque, September 14-16, Immortal Confusion, January 18-20, 2013, and possibly LoneStarCon3, assuming I come up with some part-time source of income next year. That last will also depend on whether or not other friends choose to attend, so do let me know if you're going.
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02:04 pm
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One neat thing about living in the Southwest
Today a roadrunner crossed my path,
His tail like a dart and his head like a dash.
With a grey speckled back and his neck thrust out,
Fast as a streak he runs about.
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05:00 pm
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Not Enuff Penguicon visits or Playdates but glad for what we got.
Rosie and I hit Penguicon friday evening and most of Saturday. I feel like we ran into most of the people there I wanted to see, but almost all the visits were too short. The best were probably the ones where people joined me in following Rosie around. But in general I was very glad I went.
We also had a few nice playdates during the week, though again there were people I wanted to see that we didn't get a chance to. In the middle of last week I realized we all needed some down time, and We reserved today and yesterday for unscheduled time with my mom and dad before heading back to New Mexico tomorrow.
If we saw you, it was good to see you. If we didn't, I hope to see you on our next visit, which will be the end of June.
Wish me luck flying with one stopover by myself with a toddler tomorrow...
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04:37 pm
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Do you think the U.S. Personal tax exemption should be raised? (it's capped at just over $3k now)
Poll #1835541
Increase personal tax exemptions?
Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 21
I believe, if your household income is below $110,000/yr, the personal tax exemption for you and members of your household should be raised to $5,000 /person. Who's with me?
View Answers
| That's just a random number. I can't support that |
   2 (9.5%) |
| That would bring us back to exempting a poverty level of income. Good idea! |
| 5 (23.8%) |
| Humans cost more than that to feed and house! But it's a start. |
| 11 (52.4%) |
| I strongly oppose this idea |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| I strongly support the idea. |
| 1 (4.8%) |
| I eat strong cheese, drink strong beer and - wait, what was the question? |
| 0 (0.0%) |
| Clicky! |
| 2 (9.5%) |
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07:12 pm
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In Michigan (yay!) and tired (cough)
So. I and the family threw my mom a surprise birthday party yesterday that included a surprise visit from me, my sister, Brian, and Rosie.
Both surprises caught her completely off guard. :)
We revealed that we were here right before lunch, which we brought with us. When she realized the item dad had in his arms that he had 'run out to pick up' was Rosie, she was speechless. It was great.
During lunch, we told her we had dinner reservations with our good friends, Mark and Sandy. We pushed a little to be on time. Mark and Sandy met us at the door of Webers and Sarah and I led the way to the back of the restaurant and the waiting party of around 30 of mom's dearest friends, including one who flew in from California. Mom was stunned and happy. Got her again!
This has been a lot of fun, including a great visit with Don and Dustin Wenzel and Anne Evans, who hosted us Wed night so we could show up refreshed and happy instead of dragging from a day's travel. By the end of the night yesterday, though, we were exhausted. Not just from keeping up with a kiddo who preffered running around or hitting the dance floor to staying with the party, but also from the travel the day before, and lack of naps.
Rosie traveled well, but only got an hour's nap on the plane, in my arms. Yesterday and today she's had decent naps, but coughing has prevented me from napping with her. I rest, but if I try to sleep I start coughing. So I stay up and catch up on lj... :)
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09:57 pm
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New Pictures of the kiddo!
I just posted a bunch of additional pictures to Rosie's Hats! album, of Rosie both serious and silly in her hats, our hats, and other items that she temporarily made into hats.
She grew an inch in the last month or so, and learned at least 10 new words in the past week. Someone commented that at this age (19 months), kids are just sponges, and that seems very true. Especially great was at dinner tonight when Brian told her, "Work it," and snapped 3 times in fine RuPaul fashion, and she copied him!
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02:18 pm
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Soooo tired
On Sunday a friend babysat after Rosie went to bed so we could go see John Carter (of Mars) and that was fun and all, but I feel like I've been sleep deprived ever since.
Last night I should have gone to bed at 9 but my allergies were kicking my butt so I stayed up to 10 to take another dose of meds.
While up I uploaded a video of Rosie signing and posted pictures of a recent toddler tea party to my local MOMs club facebook group. Toddlers in tea party hats are pretty cute. I will try to post some pictures of the kiddo to flickr soon too.
Right now I'm going to join her napping though... Have I mentioned that I'm tired? *yawn*
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09:11 pm
[Link] | Wrapped my sprained ankle today and it seemed to help. We went for a walk along the rio grande at the Rio Grande State park and visited the nature center. Ankle felt ok at the end of the day.
Still not up to full voice. Really miss singing to Rosie. Croaking just not the same.
Looking for help planning the CHS reunion June 30th. Any help, even motivation.
Rosie climbed on top of the (closed) toilet today all by herself. We're in trouble now. I have already shown her how the mechanisms inside the toilet tank work and she banged on the lid asking for it to be removed, then played with them for a little while, filling and then emptying the tank. Hopefully she does not attempt that climb when an adult is not present. Might have to start keeping bathroom doors closed at all times.
It's lovely out today, high in the 70s, but supposed to be snowing by mid-week. Yay spring.
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11:34 pm
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Oh look, it's 11 o'clock again...
Of course, last week this would only have been ten, but it's still past when I really should get to bed considering a) I stayed up until almost 1 am last night and b) the kiddo is likely to wake up at 5:30 tomorrow and she's been fussy enough lately that yes, I will go to her then (and she might go back to sleep after that, but only after an hour or so of mommy cuddles and some noms).
Anyhoo, though I would post a quick update. Those who follow me on twitter or facebook (at least, if you haven't told facebook not to show you twitter posts) may have seen that I lost my voice last week, apparently due to allergies. That was Brian's theory, and the nurse practitioner concurred and put me on flonase and albuterol. I also started taking my base allergy meds 3X a day instead of just in the morning. And I did the salt water gargling and vitamins just to cover my bases, but in two days my nasal passages were no longer constantly bleeding and in four days my voice had returned to a rough croak. It's almost a voice again but not quite.
I have also mentioned spraining my ankle, which happened Friday morning. Just a light sprain, but not the slightest bit comfortable, and has made it a little bit difficult to keep up with the kiddo. I expect it to take a couple weeks to be up to snuff.
Luckily, on Monday, a visitor arrived! Our friend ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=91.7) rikhei came out for a few days, which was really lovely, and yes, we stayed up until 1 chatting last night, getting in last-minute bonding and sharing because she left this morning (*sigh*). It was a great visit and we hope she comes again. We went to the zoo and Tingley Beach and the balloon fiesta museum and had dinner with another Grinnell friend and just generally hung out, and it was good.
In Rosie news, she's doing way more talking in the past week, and it seems to me that her brain is accelerating like it got an extra processor or two. All week I kept telling Laura, "I've never seen her do that before." She already had about 45 signs and I think she started using 5 new ones this week. She also, for the first time, said "nose", "eyes", "shoes", and "down". And all of a sudden she can do the moves for "head, shoulders, knees and toes" in its entirety. At music and movement time at the library on tuesday I could see her doing mimicry in a way I've not seen so obviously before, and she's (yay) getting into drawers and things around the house she's not previously gotten into, and can unzip things with a little help, and unscrew caps that aren't too tight.
It's all very exciting.
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