Mellow's Corner

Grumble grumble

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:31:16 -0400

I’m so frustrated right now. I work so hard at my job; my patients love me; they feel like I’m a hard working respectable young man (I know this because I overhear them). At the same time, management doesn’t seem to feel like I’m doing enough.

I was presented with a bs write-up today with the details of some incident that didn’t even involve me. Now, in the back of my head, I know the whole purpose of this write up is to resolve the incident in question. A patient was bleeding for several hours; the tech told the nurse 3 times and she said she was “too busy passing meds,” to take care of it. I may be a new nurse, but I’ve been in healthcare for a while and I know the ABC’s ladies and gentlemen.

The problem is that after telling the manager that I had nothing to do with that incident and her verifying that I was indeed telling the truth, she still plans to write me up for “not being quite up to snuff” (that was paraphrased). I don’t know if anybody quite realizes how hard this job is except the people doing it. It’s easy to forget what it was like to be a new nurse. Every suggestion for improvement the manager has given me has been implemented immediately, and I’m showing massive improvements. However, when this situation arose, it didn’t become a “let’s improve” session, it became a lynch mob. We’ll have another conversation about this before we see whether or not I actually get written up; and if I do, I’ll be transferring out of the unit. I hear they’re hiring in home health care.

Ratched RN: I am a douche.

Fri, 17 May 2013 19:45:33 -0400

Ratched RN: I am a douche.:

rnratched:

I am going to come out and say this deep thought I just had.

I am not perfect. I am far from it. This day a year ago I was fresh off of orientation as a new nurse. Looking back, I knew NOTHING. The amount of stuff I learned in a year BLOWS MY MIND. You know what happened in that year? I got good…

This

afternoonsnoozebutton: thepeoplesrecord: The troubling viral...

Fri, 10 May 2013 09:01:16 -0400

afternoonsnoozebutton:

thepeoplesrecord:

The troubling viral trend of the “hilarious” Black poor person
May 7, 2013

Charles Ramsey, the man who helped rescue three Cleveland women presumed dead after going missing a decade ago, has become an instant Internet meme. It’s hardly surprising—the interviews he gave yesterday provide plenty of fodder for a viral video, including memorable soundbites (“I was eatin’ my McDonald’s”) and lots of enthusiastic gestures. But as Miles Klee and Connor Simpson have noted, Ramsey’s heroism is quickly being overshadowed by the public’s desire to laugh at and autotune his story, and that’s a shame. Ramsey has become the latest in a fairly recent trend of “hilarious” black neighbors, unwitting Internet celebrities whose appeal seems rooted in a “colorful” style that is always immediately recognizable as poor or working-class.

Before Ramsey, there was Antoine Dodson, who saved his younger sister from an intruder, only to wind up famous for his flamboyant recounting of the story to a reporter. Since Dodson’s rise to fame, there have been others: Sweet Brown, a woman who barely escaped her apartment complex during a fire last year, and Michelle Clarke, who couldn’t fathom the hailstorm that rained down in her hometown of Houston, and in turn became “the next Sweet Brown.”

Granted, the buzzworthy tactic of reporters interviewing the most loquacious witnesses to a crime or other event is nothing new, and YouTube has countless examples of people of all ethnicities saying ridiculous things. One woman, for instance, saw fit to casually mention her breasts while discussing a local accident, while another man described a car crash with theatrical flair. Earlier this year, a “hatchet-wielding hitchhiker” named Kai matched Dodson’s fame with his astonishing account of rescuing a woman from a racist attacker. But none of those people have been subjected to quite the same level of derisive memeification as Brown, Clark, and now, perhaps, Ramsey—the inescapable echoes of “Hide yo’ kids, hide yo’ wife!” and “Kabooyaw,” the tens of millions of YouTube hits and cameos in other viral videos, even commercials.

It’s difficult to watch these videos and not sense that their popularity has something to do with a persistent, if unconscious, desire to see black people perform. Even before the genuinely heroic Ramsey came along, some viewers had expressed concern that the laughter directed at people like Sweet Brown plays into the most basic stereotyping of blacks as simple-minded ramblers living in the “ghetto,” socially out of step with the rest of educated America. Black or white, seeing Clark and Dodson merely as funny instances of random poor people talking nonsense is disrespectful at best. And shushing away the question of race seems like wishful thinking.

Ramsey is particularly striking in this regard, since, for a moment at least, he put the issue of race front and center himself. Describing the rescue of Amanda Berry and her fellow captives, he says, “I knew something was wrong when a little pretty white girl ran into a black man’s arms. Something is wrong here. Dead giveaway!”

The candid statement seems to catch the reporter off guard; he ends the interview shortly afterward. And it’s notable that among the many memorable things Ramsey said on camera, this one has gotten less meme-attention than most. Those who are simply having fun with the footage of Ramsey might pause for a second to actually listen to the man. He clearly knows a thing or two about the way racism prevents us from seeing each other as people.

Source

Now that you know this is a thing, please stop sharing these memes. Poor Black people speaking candidly about various serious incidents isn’t a hilarious joke.

^Valid point

Some people take things way too seriously. It’s ok to have a laugh when someone is playing up the camera and having fun.

I’m very happy that Ramsey was brave and helped those women get out of the house and call for help. I think his story is remarkable in many ways. The interview he gave was captivating, which is why it went viral.

The danger of this video is apparent, which is why we’re discussing it: racism. Ramsey is not just another poor black interviewee on a local news station, though he may fit that profile. The problem is that there is a profile. The problem is grouping all by one standard (also known as stereotyping). We are all different human beings and deserve to be treated as such. George Clooney, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Denzel Washington, Barack Obama are no more valuable than Ramsey, Brown, Dodson, or anyone else who got less attention, so don’t make it that way. Racism should be put down on the close person to person level. We should encourage each other to talk about it and put down racism rather than publishing that some people think “stereotype.” Intentional or not, that’s pushing those racist stereotypes into people’s heads and giving them more fuel.

The man was heroic. The man is a good story teller. Let him have his fame, but don’t judge him or anyone else by his standard. His story has nothing to do with his race or financial income. Don’t devalue his courage or charm by adding in other factors.

"I guess that’s why they call it window pane."

Fri, 10 May 2013 08:06:04 -0400

“I guess that’s why they call it window pane.”

- Eminem

"Theirs is not to make reply, Theirs is not to reason why, Theirs is but to do and die"

Thu, 09 May 2013 14:58:10 -0400

“Theirs is not to make reply,
Theirs is not to reason why,
Theirs is but to do and die”

- Alfred, Lord Tennyson
“Charge of the Light Brigade”

Not the wurst decision

Fri, 03 May 2013 22:52:33 -0400

So I’m sitting at Max and Erma’s with my beautiful girlfriend, Erin- goodhumorgirl.tumblr.com, and I’m eating this bratwurst burger with sauerkraut and Dijon mustard and drinking Guinness. I’m not regretting the sandwich yet, but right now, I am really happy :)

Guten tag mein freund!

Food

Fri, 03 May 2013 09:33:11 -0400

I love it when my friends post pictures of food they made. It makes me want to raid their kitchens :)

That awkward moment when...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:56:42 -0400

Family members of a patient start playing guitar and singing… in the waiting room… Poorly.

The diff

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 12:45:09 -0400

D: She's got the diff
J: Wow you make it sound cool!
D: lol
J: I want the diff!!

"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important."

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 08:29:30 -0400

“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important.”

- Ambrose Redmoon

thecatwhisperer: dorkly: Gamer Dad He’s Left 4 Dad. Dad jokes...

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:15:00 -0400

thecatwhisperer:

dorkly:

Gamer Dad

He’s Left 4 Dad.

Dad jokes dad jokes dad jokes

GPOY!!

brasssnuggles: fuckyeahfeminists: Sir Patrick Stewart:...

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 22:32:00 -0400

brasssnuggles:

fuckyeahfeminists:

Sir Patrick Stewart: ‘Violence Against Women Is Learned’

The truth is that domestic violence and violence against women touch many of us. This violence is not a private matter. Behind closed doors it is shielded and hidden and it only intensifies. It is protected by silence – everyone’s silence. Violence against women is learned. Each of us must examine - and change - the ways in which our own behavior might contribute to, enable, ignore or excuse all such forms of violence. I promise to do so, and to invite other men and allies to do the same.

Magneto has spoken!
This makes my heart jump for joy!

I would like everybody to stop for a few minutes and watch this video. Realize that what you are watching is a fully grown man in his 70’s, a massively successful actor who can deliver lines with as much clarity, force, and conviction as anyone pausing, stammering, and stuttering to share the story of his childhood. These situations are so difficult for everyone involved. Please watch this, and be smarter for it.

Seeing this game makes me think of a more adult oriented version...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:57:54 -0400

Seeing this game makes me think of a more adult oriented version with instructions from modern r&b and pop songs such as: twerk it, work that out for me, and dougie.

This is my favorite. Pulled from Facebook; I did not create...

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:39:00 -0400

This is my favorite.

Pulled from Facebook; I did not create this.

Parenting

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:48:55 -0400

What a complex arrangement it is to be responsible for the life, responsibility, and integration of another human being. To be a job so deeply sought after is perplexing to me.

I think that too many people don’t really know what all goes in to parenting. They expect to have sweet compliant children, I suppose, that share the same wants and interests (a mini-me). What about when that kid turns out to be just like that annoying ex? What about when your kid is just like that person at work you CANNOT get along with? How about when the child doesn’t get along with other kids or tells you the food you just made/bought for them (which may or may not be exactly what they asked for) is the most disgusting thing they have ever seen/tasted?

I’ve been reading a book to help me out a bit with this since I’m a bit behind in the whole parenting thing. It’s helping me a lot by validating my thoughts and giving me practical advice and food for thought. It’s called “The New Strong Willed Child” by Dr. James Dobson. It’s a more updated version of the same book that came out back in the 70’s.

To those who are unaware, Dr. Dobson hosts a radio show called “Focus on the Family.” Frankly, he’s brilliant. He’s able to boil this complex circumstance down into simple advice. To the atheist, he will come across as preachy as he quotes Bible verses throughout the book, but he’s not trying to have any “come to Jesus” talks with his readers. He mentions the vulnerable spirit of a child as well as the strong will of some children. I would HIGHLY recommend this book to any parent, Christian or not, who finds himself battling a child who is difficult to raise. Also, I would recommend it when the child is toddler age for the best results. Since I started with an 8 and 10 year old, I didn’t quite have that luxury, but it’s helpful for me just the same.

Columbus, IN is diverse…

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 17:29:14 -0400

Columbus, IN is diverse…

DIY stress ball

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 14:49:49 -0400

Nurses, ever need a stress ball for a pt an can never track one down? Hospitals really should carry stress balls, but they infamously do not.

Kerlix + Coban = awesomeness

You’re welcome.

Long Time No Read, eh?

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 09:25:18 -0400

So, I imagine the majority of you haven’t heard from me in a while. I’ll update you on what’s been going on in my life. New job is going fantastic! It’s going so well in fact, that I plan on getting my nurse practitioner license starting in the fall. I need to do more research before I’m enrolled and all that jazz, but I think that’s the step that I need to take. My job is 95% time management and 5% intelligence. I’m sure once I got that 95% down pat, the percentages would shift about 5 or 10%, but honestly, I’ve got time for that while I’m getting ready for the next big thing.

I’m growing well into parenthood, I think. I’ve been doing some reading and chill pills (the kind DRs can’t prescribe) and realized that one of the boys is DIFFICULT. He won’t change; his strong will is a good thing that will help him later in life; so for now, I’ll just try to shape what I can to make him more respectful and in control of himself. The other boy has a strong will too, but he hides it. I’ll keep my eye on him too. We had a really nice day yesterday. They had a snow day, and I couldn’t give up a day to get stuff done; so we ran a bunch of errands and at the end of it, I bought them a couple books of their choice at half price books. Very little complaining or arguing. We even stopped to look at the fountain for a while. They didn’t like dinner a whole lot, but we’ve had this battle enough that there is less fuss over it and more trying to push stuff around the plate as if I’m losing my sight in my old age… (most times they eat everything).

One of my errands yesterday was to pick up my new glasses. I’m not sure I like them. My eye exams have always consisted of “Is it better here [pause] or here?” This time they looked in my eye with some machine and it wrote a prescription for me. The prescription is great if I’m looking straight in front of me, but when I turn my eyes a different direction, stuff gets wubbly like it’s going through some star trek bend the fabric of space warp. I’m not sure if this is normal or a problem with my prescription, but I’ll give it a few more days for my eyes to adjust and go from there.

My girlfriend bought me a fit bit one. For those who are unaware, a fit bit is a tiny device (smaller than your thumb) that you can clip to your undies or put in your pocket or whatever and it tracks your steps, how many calories you burn, how many stairs you’ve climbed, and how many times you woke up during the night. It pairs nicely with an iPhone app that allows you to keep track of the food you eat and track specific activities that you’ve done throughout the day. You don’t need an iphone to use it either; there’s a dongle that comes in the box that will sync with the web account where information can be viewed more in depth, and edited the same as on the app. I figured it makes sense for me to track what I’m doing at baseline so I can tell if something goes wacky. I walked nearly 3 miles yesterday.

Finally, we’ve been thinking about getting a dog. We don’t want a big one, just something small for the boys to play with that won’t knock stuff over or leave big craps in this decently sized apartment. I’m ok with spending up to $100 on the dog itself because after buying the dog, there’s shots and getting a cage, and dog food, and neutering, and all the little and big things I didn’t mention. We were thinking for a while of getting a dog from one of Gavin’s friends, but they’re charging $500 for they boy dogs (cheaper than the one and only girl), and I don’t think they’ll go down to $200 because it sounds like they have to somehow work that out with the “stud” owner (as they call him). I think I’ll wait a couple weeks until I’ve got some financial breathing room and do my research on humane societies and such in the area.

Well, it’s been nice writing to you, but it’s time for me to get to doing something (getting started on my day or trying again to take a nap).

threewordphrase: trophy

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:53:43 -0500

threewordphrase:

trophy

Some stuff really quick

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 13:28:48 -0500

Paused from getting stuff done to update. It’s been a while, but that’s bound to happen when you switch jobs. Things on a personal level are sorting themselves out nicely.

I now work at a small community hospital in a small town, and I wonder why I was ever prejudiced against a smaller hospital. Honestly, my hospital can do 95% of what a big hospital can do, except faster and with less stress. Corporate folks don’t treat us the employees badly because they know us. There are tons of things to get involved in. There are so many ways to grow and improve the system, and get people healthy. I’m very glad I’m fitting in here.

Perks: its next door (literally it’s a 5 minute walk), benefits are fantastic (cheap, great coverage, I’m scheduling appts), discounts and gym memberships.

Yes, that portion of my life is 2,000% better.

Next, i want my tax paperwork so I can get this stuff done!

Resolutions: A book a month (so far, 2 audiobooks and 1 hardback) and get out of debt.

I plan to go back to school to get my bachelor’s in the fall. We’ll see how things work out. I’ve got Ts to cross and Is to dot.