I am ready for some football!

It begins! Another OSU Buckeye football season is starting and I'm sitting here in my OSU polo shirt with my OSU earrings watching the time to the game tick down on my OSU watch!!
Tomorrow, I will join the throngs of Buckeye football fans as we gather in the 'shoe for the first game of the season. The streets around campus will be rivers of scarlet and grey shirts and hats and buckeye necklaces on fans of all ages.
But the absolutely best part (I have goosebumps as I think of it) is when the announcer says, :And now, Ladies and Gentleman, the Pride of the Buckeyes, the Ohio State University Marching Band" and out from the tunnel marches, in perfect unison, the Best Damn Band in the Land!! Through the ranks of the band members, the drum major runs onto the field, takes a stance and touches the plume of his hat on the ground behind him in a backbend and off they go down the field with the crowd on their feet and cheering. The noise is deafening and it is WONDERFUL!!! Soon after, the team swarms onto the field and the crowd erupts again in support of our Buckeyes.
Being a part of the Buckeye nation is something I treasure and I'll sing the alma mater with all my heart along with all my fellow OSU alums. And to Karen Holbrook, may she never set foot on OSU soil again, all I can say is, "You were among us, but certainly not with us and that is your loss".
Welcome back Gordon Gee!! We missed you!!
Go Bucks!!

My harvest

This is it, my harvest for 2007. On the positive side, I'm sure it will taste really good. On the other hand, I am thankful that my family wasn't counting on me to put food in their mouths for the next 6 months.
This little project started back in late winter when I decided to try my hand at growing something besides flowers. I ordered a packet of Big Boy seeds, some little peat pots and a light especially designed for seed propagation indoors. Some time in late March, I sowed my lttle seeds as directed, faithfully kept the peat moist (but not wet), and even put a heating pad under the tray to provide needed warmth. In about 10 days, little sprouts started to grow and I was very pleased. At the correct time in spring I set out my little plants behind the garage in one of the few spots that gets sun, thanks to a huge old oak tree in the middle of the yard. The plants grew and grew and GREW until they had shot straight out of the tomato cages supporting them and tumbled over into the lawn. I began to be a bit concerned when, by early July, there was only one little yellow flower I could see amidst all these giant green branches. There were a few more flowers to come, but not many, and most of the handful of tomatoes that did grow were eaten by something while they were still green. I think the problem was that my space didn't have quite enough sunlight.
So maybe next year I will find a different, sunnier spot and try tomatoes again. In the meanwhile, I'll eat the one I grew, and the others my neighbor Frank leaves on the back porch from time to time.

Work

Even though today is Saturday, I am at my research job. One really nice thing about doing research in Emergency Medicine is that you can work at 8AM Monday or at 3AM Thursday or even 8PM Saturday night and it doesn't matter! The ED is open and seeing patients all day and all night every day of the year, so that's how flexible my job is. Most nurses and doctors who work in Emergency Medicine gravitate toward "in and out" patient care. They like to greet- treat- and street as soon as possible. They also like the rush of having to make fast decisions in critical situations where the patient's life hangs in the balance. Thank goodness for these nurses.

Clinically, that's not my cup of tea. I'm much happier caring for patients in a calmer environment where there is the time to get to know something about them. My nurse soul is fed by the interaction I have with my patients, and in knowing that we- the patient and I- have left a small part of ourselves with the other. I have wonderful memories of small, priceless moments over the years where I know I made a difference to someone having a hard time and equally cherished memories when my patients made a difference forever in who I am by their strength, hope and wisdom. Such wonderful memories.

So, while I am in the ED doing my research thing, I have found a way to bring my nursing preference into my work. Because ED nurses are so busy trying to keep people alive (and hey, that is KIND of important) they may not have time for the little things that nurses like me focus on. So as often as possible, I find ways to interact with these patients by doing some of the things my ED counterparts are too busy for, like getting an extra blanket or pillow, or having a few moments just to talk with the wife of the man in bed 6 who is here for the umpteenth time with heart failure and she is afraid he is giving up. And I think this works for all of us. My hat is off to my fellow nurses everywhere who do what they do, and I am grateful for my research work that lets me mix a little loving care in with the consent forms.

Lyden

This is Lyden, the official hospice canine companion at the inpatient unit where I work. I say that he is official in all sincerity; as you can see, he has his own photo ID.
Yesterday was an overcast, rainy Sunday in Columbus, the perfect day to stay home with a good book. Lyden, however, reported for duty, although he did manage to find some snooze time in between seeing patients. His primary role is to visit the patients in their rooms. He walks up to the bed and allows himself to be petted. For those of us who love animals, I can't imagine better therapy. He can bring a smile to the face (and the heart!) of very sick people, not to mention the staff. It's always more fun to work with Lyden either roaming around or lying on his dog bed under the desk in the nursing station.
In my view of heaven, all animals get a free pass. Lyden gets a "go to the front of the line".

Heidi and Peter

My kids have grown up and I am proud of and love both of them. They're different in many ways, as is often the case with siblings, even though they are very close in age and grew up together in the same home. I used to think that children were mostly a product of how they were raised. While I do think that a stable, loving childhood certainly is a positive influence, I have come to conclude that we are formed as humans by many other things as well.

I've been thinking about Heidi lately and how much I treasure the friendship we have. She called me yesterday to tell me about some children she cares for. They are autistic twin boys who just returned from several months away, and she wanted to tell about how they had changed and some of the funny things they said that made her laugh. Two of the things she said are worth mentioning. One is that even though it will make her week extremely busy, she is planning to work with these little guys in addition to several other jobs she has because she understands that their need to return to a structured environment is more important than her need to have time off. Such a caring attitude comes from a good heart. But it is the other thing she said that I treasure most. She said, "I wanted to tell someone about them who would get it". I think she meant someone who would appreciate the relationship that has grown between the three of them and who could feel in their heart how special this was to her. I am honored with that statement, and have been trying to think of a way to tell Heidi how proud I am of her wisdom and personal strength, and not because of anything I did. Her journey here has not always been easy or smooth, but out of her trials she has become wiser- the very best wisdom that stays with a person and helps direct who they are and how they treat others. Even more than this, I want her to know that I will always~ always~ honor who she is and strive to be someone she can talk to without fear of judgement. I can't promise I will always agree with her, but I can promise that I will first acknowledge that her decisions come from a good and wise heart.

Ohio prairie

In a park along the Olentangy River, volunteers have worked to create a prairie similar to the ones that once covered parts of Ohio. Approximately an acre of the park has native wild flowers growing 6 to 8 feet tall. It is a spectacular sight, all golden yellow. It made me wonder what it would have been like to encounter acres of this; while beautiful, it would have presented a formidable challenge to navigate through.
I guess every age has its blessings and challenges.

Beware!

Lurking behind the bedroom curtain, a fierce jungle animal is eyeing a potential meal. Do not be fooled by what appears to be a domestic feline. She has the power to appear a cute house cat. But no!! This animal prowls the windowsills and doorways that comprise her savanna, creeping silently and swiftly, fangs bared, as fearsome as the sabertooth ever was.
Few know the only way to distract this great hunter, but it has to do with rubbing her belly.

On the wane

Yesterday I went rollerblading on my favorite trail, which passes through farmland. It was already getting warm by 10 AM when I started

out. Summer was all about me: the sun was bright, the corn green and tall and wild flowers still blossomed red, pink and blue along the trail. And yet subtle changes are beginning to occur; this season is drawing to a end and autumn is creeping ever closer. I looked out over a pond and saw as many shades of brown as green in the reeds and bramble. The red wing black birds, first to arrive in spring, are gone from their perches on the cattails. I used to think that August was still all about summer until several years ago when Jim and I started riding bikes out in rural areas, and was truly surprised to see the browns in the fields. Now I know that summer begins to depart long before the first day of September. And as I skated along, the sun hot on my face, I smiled in anticipation of the coming months, my favorites of all the year.

Fair Sheep

Every year around the first of August the Ohio State Fair opens and we never miss it. Yesterday we decided to brave the 98 degree heat and humidity and set off to see the sights. We entered via the midway and passed by all of the fun houses, rides, and games where dozens of garish, giant stuffed animals were there for the winning.

Our first destination was the sheep barn. We wandered up and down the rows of cages admiring all the different breeds, and petting as many as possible to get the lanolin on our hands. Some sheep were being sheared, and they added their indignant "baaaas" to the occasional calls of other sheep, all in different timbre and pitch. What a choral work! There are beautiful sweaters, scarves, dusters and other items all made of wool for sale, and we selected a pair of socks, thinking of the coming winter months.

Next on our "must do" list was a trip to one if the buildings where vendors sell every imaginable trinket. Our first goal was to come in from the awful heat to air conditioning. And sometimes we are lucky and find something for sale that ends up being very useful. This year, however, nothing caught our eye, so we headed back out to the other side of the fairgrounds to watch our daughter play her trumpet with her high school band. Along the way, we stopped and sampled some of the delicious fair food- a giant bucket of crispy french fries and an elephant ear washed down with cold iced tea.

Leah's band performed about 5 songs in a grove protected by shade trees. They had originally planned to march, but wisely cancelled that portion due to the extreme heat. They played very well. We walked with her toward the buses where all the kids were going to unload their instruments and then head back for several hours of fair fun. We decided that we had withstood the heat and humidity as long as we wanted, and headed toward the car. On the way we made one last stop at the Budweiser tent where the beautiful Clydesdales were munching hay with fans blowing in all directions. I never cease to be amazed at the size of those giant animals. Their tack is just as amazing, not only because of its size, but also because it is kept in pristine, shining condition. In years past, we have watched while they hook the 8 horses up to draw the wagon to the coliseum, where they perform for about 10 minutes before heading back to their tents. That is an awesome sight. It takes about 10 minutes to hook each horse up and the driver has handfuls of black reins when he eventually climbs on the wagon and starts the team moving. This year, I hoped that they would let the animals stay in the tent. The first horse hitched would have to stand in the heat for close to an hour waiting for the others, and it was sweltering.

We finally reached the car and climbed in, hot, sweaty and ready for a blast of AC on the way home. In spite of the heat, it was the fair and the fair cannot be missed.

Each day a gift

As a nurse, I have the honor and privilege of caring for patients at the end of their lives here on earth. They are ill and they know that there may be only days or weeks left.
As I was driving home after working with these folks, I thought to myself, "I am so fortunate because I wake up every day healthy. I wonder what it would be like to know every day when you awaken that your days here are limited."
And then I realized that like them, mine are as well.

Home away from home

I like my job. Having worked at Ohio State for 20 years and in multiple departments, I have to say that this is probably the best. Usually the people working with you can either make or break any job and I have been very fortunate in that category. My boss is a great doctor who lets me do my work, expresses appreciation for a job well done, and allows me to be flexible with my schedule, knowing I will do what needs done. That alone is enough to make a good job great. But somehow I also have lucked out in that the people who work in our office area are all pleasant. Not one gossip! No backstabbers! That is almost unheard of- usually there is always at least one person who is that "fly in the ointment".
One job I had, also at OSU, was just fine. It was a small group- 5- and everyone had very different jobs to do, which everyone did well. Then one day a new supervisor was hired. She was a graduate of Micromanagement University. Even though she had no idea what each of us actually did, and could not have done any of our work, she still wanted to be in charge of when, how, where and with whom we did that job. My middle child became very belligerent and said, "Self, you don't need to put up with this hooey!" And biblically, I shook the dust from my sandles and got the heck out.
In addition to good people, I like the research work I do. It requires attention to detail and organization and that is appealing to my obsessive/compulsive personality type. (ER docs have to have ADHD. Research persons have to be O/C. It's an unwritten rule.) I also have the opportunity to work with undergrads who do volunteer work here. They are all bright and very eager to add research to their CV. Most are planning to go to medical school.
So every morning I either climb into my little green Beetle or onto my bike and head into work knowing that it probably will be another very good day.