I used to be an avid reader. Most of my childhood allowance was spent on books. In college, despite all my class reading, I usually had 3 different books going at once. There were nights I didn't sleep, so I could finish a book. Since I graduated, and entered the work force, I rarely read. I've limited myself to collections of short stories, which I enjoy, but I don't even finish those books.
I want to read again. I've suggested to the husbo that he and I start a book club. Each month, we would recommend a book to each other, and then we discuss. He reads mostly science, political, and music works of non-fiction. I prefer fiction, short-stories, memoirs, biographies, and children's books. So this could turn us off to reading all together. We'd be reading out of our comfort zones but be able to talk about it with someone who cares.
I have one friend who always lends me books that are dead on perfect for me, but I see him so rarely that I feel bad having his books so long.
If anyone has 3 -5 books that they think are a must read, please let me know what they are. In case the husbo offers some slow reads, I'd like to have something else to fuel me.
Thanks!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Are You Smarter Than an Anesthesiologist?
I was in for sinus surgery, and I'm on pain meds, so that's my excuse for grammar/spelling mishaps.
In preparation, I had to consult my endocrinologist (diabetes doctor) regarding insulin pump instructions during the surgery. He had told me to decrease the basal rate (the small amount that is constantly streaming in me, not what I give myself for eating) by 50% the morning of and throughout the surgery.
My blood sugar was running a little high yesterday and this morning, which usually happens right before my period, which is on the horizon. So, this morning, I decided to only lower it by 30%. It was 189, and when the staff led me to believe I was close to surgery time, I did lower it to 50%.
Then, about a half hour later an anesthesiologist, who was not the first one I consulted with, came in and told me to lower it. I told her that I had already lowered it by 50%. She said to lower it 50%. I said I did. She said 50% of 50%, and I wanted to clarify, so I asked, "You mean 75%?" She said no. I had to ask that if it's orginally set for .900, and was now set at .450, should I set it at about .2 something? She seemed confused and had to think about it, but eventually I got a yes.
I set it way back (by 70%-it only lets me go by tens), because she said I was going back soon, however it was over an hour from that time that they took me back. I was scheduled to be there at 8:45, but I wasn't taken back until after 11:00. Not a problem, but no one came over to give me any status updates.
Anyway, my blood sugar ended up being just a little high after the surgery, but it got pretty high once I left and came home.
I just expect anesthesiologists to have a better grip on math.
In preparation, I had to consult my endocrinologist (diabetes doctor) regarding insulin pump instructions during the surgery. He had told me to decrease the basal rate (the small amount that is constantly streaming in me, not what I give myself for eating) by 50% the morning of and throughout the surgery.
My blood sugar was running a little high yesterday and this morning, which usually happens right before my period, which is on the horizon. So, this morning, I decided to only lower it by 30%. It was 189, and when the staff led me to believe I was close to surgery time, I did lower it to 50%.
Then, about a half hour later an anesthesiologist, who was not the first one I consulted with, came in and told me to lower it. I told her that I had already lowered it by 50%. She said to lower it 50%. I said I did. She said 50% of 50%, and I wanted to clarify, so I asked, "You mean 75%?" She said no. I had to ask that if it's orginally set for .900, and was now set at .450, should I set it at about .2 something? She seemed confused and had to think about it, but eventually I got a yes.
I set it way back (by 70%-it only lets me go by tens), because she said I was going back soon, however it was over an hour from that time that they took me back. I was scheduled to be there at 8:45, but I wasn't taken back until after 11:00. Not a problem, but no one came over to give me any status updates.
Anyway, my blood sugar ended up being just a little high after the surgery, but it got pretty high once I left and came home.
I just expect anesthesiologists to have a better grip on math.
Friday, March 27, 2009
A Fun Five Minutes
Ask someone to say, "Paul Blart: Mall Cop."
Then laugh at him, because it will sound like he said it wrong. So, have him repeat himself. He will say it even more carefully, but still it will sound ridiculous, so laugh some more. Then, he'll ask you to say it, and he'll laugh at you. Let it go back and forth. This is good for about 5 solid minutes.
Then laugh at him, because it will sound like he said it wrong. So, have him repeat himself. He will say it even more carefully, but still it will sound ridiculous, so laugh some more. Then, he'll ask you to say it, and he'll laugh at you. Let it go back and forth. This is good for about 5 solid minutes.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Obtuse
I have been making an effort to exercise more regularly, but since I am not fitting into my usual gym clothes, and I don't want to buy new ones, I am limiting myself to walking and doing exercise videos in my house. Yes, I pay a gym membership fee, but I won't go until I lose some weight. Yes, that's ridiculous.
So, I've been walking around a park near my house, and here are some random things I've noticed or thought about.
When walking on a track, some people go clockwise, some go counter-clockwise. I never like to go the same way two days in a row. I like to mix it up. I usually make my decision when I get to the park and can survey where the other people are, because the worst is when you catch up to people (or them to you), and then you either have to go slower or break into a trot so you're not walking together. But when you are coming face to face to someone, shouldn't it be policy to move to the right of the track? I would think so. Let's say there are two people coming towards you. I would think that they should single-file it (one person moves ahead on the right) until they pass you. It's ridiculous how often I have to move to the grass. It's even worse when it's a duo (or more), and they are walking a dog. I should not have to maneuver to get around a dog. If you've got the dog, you move out of your way so your dog doesn't touch me. I am not anti-dog, I am merely pro-etiquette. I don't know how people can be so obtuse...
Which sort of segues into this next story. I was substitute teaching in a resource room for math this afternoon, and one of the students has actually been dubbed "Debbie Downer" by her teacher and instructional associate. I wish I had a muted trumpet to play after everything she said, except for one thing that I thought deserved a rim shot. We were discussing angles, and she grabbed her stomach, I mean she was actually able to grab it from both sides and move it up and down, and said, "Now this is obtuse!"
I should have pointed out that, no, it didn't match the definition of obtuse, but I decided to ignore it and keep on to prevent myself from going, "Wah, wah."
I wasn't really done talking about walking on the track, I just wanted to get some mileage out of "obtuse." Anyway, I just want to add that I do not get the act of walking and holding hands. At all. I enjoy holding the husbo's hand when we are on the couch together, or in bed, but I find it downright complicated and irritating to try and walk and hold hands. Can someone explain it to me?
So, I've been walking around a park near my house, and here are some random things I've noticed or thought about.
When walking on a track, some people go clockwise, some go counter-clockwise. I never like to go the same way two days in a row. I like to mix it up. I usually make my decision when I get to the park and can survey where the other people are, because the worst is when you catch up to people (or them to you), and then you either have to go slower or break into a trot so you're not walking together. But when you are coming face to face to someone, shouldn't it be policy to move to the right of the track? I would think so. Let's say there are two people coming towards you. I would think that they should single-file it (one person moves ahead on the right) until they pass you. It's ridiculous how often I have to move to the grass. It's even worse when it's a duo (or more), and they are walking a dog. I should not have to maneuver to get around a dog. If you've got the dog, you move out of your way so your dog doesn't touch me. I am not anti-dog, I am merely pro-etiquette. I don't know how people can be so obtuse...
Which sort of segues into this next story. I was substitute teaching in a resource room for math this afternoon, and one of the students has actually been dubbed "Debbie Downer" by her teacher and instructional associate. I wish I had a muted trumpet to play after everything she said, except for one thing that I thought deserved a rim shot. We were discussing angles, and she grabbed her stomach, I mean she was actually able to grab it from both sides and move it up and down, and said, "Now this is obtuse!"
I should have pointed out that, no, it didn't match the definition of obtuse, but I decided to ignore it and keep on to prevent myself from going, "Wah, wah."
I wasn't really done talking about walking on the track, I just wanted to get some mileage out of "obtuse." Anyway, I just want to add that I do not get the act of walking and holding hands. At all. I enjoy holding the husbo's hand when we are on the couch together, or in bed, but I find it downright complicated and irritating to try and walk and hold hands. Can someone explain it to me?
Saturday, March 21, 2009
If I Ever Have a Reality TV Show About Being on the Insulin Pump...
I have a name for it.
(My name): It's Pumplicated
I made up the word pumplications to refer to all the recent mishaps I've had regarding the pump. The husbo brilliantly linked it to Denise Richards' show. By the way, I love how The Soup's Joel McHale always refers to it as "Denise Richards (Colon) It's Complicated."
Last week, I had to redo a 24-hour urine collection test that I had just completed 3 weeks earlier. Why? Because the lab forgot to test it for the main thing it was being collected for. Anyway, because I usually put my pump in my front pants pocket, it is always challenging to go to the bathroom. The pump is in my pocket, and it is connected by a tube to my stomach, so it's complicated (pumplicated). Add peeing into a cup, and it's downright cumbersome.
I successfully collected my urine and was transporting it to the jug that has to be refridgerated. I was carrying it very carefully, and I didn't realize that my tubing wasn't tucked back into my pocket. On my way out of the bathroom, the tubing got caught on the doorknob, and I ripped my site clear out of my stomach. I had just put it in the day before, and since I only have to change it every 3 days, I was super pissed. It caught me off guard, but thankfully, I did not spill the cup everywhere.
A few nights later, 3 to be exact, I changed my site. Three hours later, I was in bed. The husbo had washed the sheets and made the bed, which was nice, but he makes the bed way too tight with the covers not up far enough. I was squirming and grabbing and pulling the sheets, and I accidentally got my hand caught up in my tubing and, once again, yanked my site out. I had to inject another site in, but it must have hit something wrong, because it hurt like a mofo. I took it out immediately, and blood was gushing out. Gross.
Then last night, I went to bed with a normal blood sugar. At about 7 this morning, I woke up feeling strange. I had to pee really bad, and I felt severely dehyrated and sick. I got up to go to the bathroom and felt like I was going to be sick or pass out. Once in the bathroom, I learned that the pump tubing had disconnected from the site. So, I had not been getting insulin for who knows how many hours. I immediately hooked up and gave myself a random heavy dose. My blood sugar was close to 400. Scary stuff.
But at least I have a new stupid word to overuse with the husbo.
(My name): It's Pumplicated
I made up the word pumplications to refer to all the recent mishaps I've had regarding the pump. The husbo brilliantly linked it to Denise Richards' show. By the way, I love how The Soup's Joel McHale always refers to it as "Denise Richards (Colon) It's Complicated."
Last week, I had to redo a 24-hour urine collection test that I had just completed 3 weeks earlier. Why? Because the lab forgot to test it for the main thing it was being collected for. Anyway, because I usually put my pump in my front pants pocket, it is always challenging to go to the bathroom. The pump is in my pocket, and it is connected by a tube to my stomach, so it's complicated (pumplicated). Add peeing into a cup, and it's downright cumbersome.
I successfully collected my urine and was transporting it to the jug that has to be refridgerated. I was carrying it very carefully, and I didn't realize that my tubing wasn't tucked back into my pocket. On my way out of the bathroom, the tubing got caught on the doorknob, and I ripped my site clear out of my stomach. I had just put it in the day before, and since I only have to change it every 3 days, I was super pissed. It caught me off guard, but thankfully, I did not spill the cup everywhere.
A few nights later, 3 to be exact, I changed my site. Three hours later, I was in bed. The husbo had washed the sheets and made the bed, which was nice, but he makes the bed way too tight with the covers not up far enough. I was squirming and grabbing and pulling the sheets, and I accidentally got my hand caught up in my tubing and, once again, yanked my site out. I had to inject another site in, but it must have hit something wrong, because it hurt like a mofo. I took it out immediately, and blood was gushing out. Gross.
Then last night, I went to bed with a normal blood sugar. At about 7 this morning, I woke up feeling strange. I had to pee really bad, and I felt severely dehyrated and sick. I got up to go to the bathroom and felt like I was going to be sick or pass out. Once in the bathroom, I learned that the pump tubing had disconnected from the site. So, I had not been getting insulin for who knows how many hours. I immediately hooked up and gave myself a random heavy dose. My blood sugar was close to 400. Scary stuff.
But at least I have a new stupid word to overuse with the husbo.
Some Dudes
Paul Rudd. Is he not confoundingly attractive?! I think even heterosexual males must question their sexuality when they see him.
Barack Obama. I didn't see him on Leno, mostly because I think there is nothing funny or entertaining about Leno, so I didn't hear the Special Olympics comment. I really expected him to know better, so I am extremely let down. Yes, George Bush also made stupid comments by the cement-truckful, but he was George Bush. I am glad Obama apologized, but there is something that doesn't sit right with me still. Ugh. I just expected so much better.
The husbo relayed a story to me that I found very interesting. He heard it on NPR, so I won't listen to it, because I find listening to NPR one of the more painful things in life. The information could be good, but the delivery is so annoying. I don't even know how to put it into words. I think I could liken it to a muted trumpet on qualudes. Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Anyway, it was about some dude who found a way to help people with phantom limb pain. After they had lost the limb, nerve endings left behind would send missignals to the brain making them think that their limb was still there. In one case, the person felt that his hand was clenched so tight that his fingernails were digging into his palm. The doctor had him put a mirror down his center, so the arm he still had reflected as though his other arm were present. The doctor had him clench his hand then watch the reflection unclench. The action and accompanying visual tricked the brain and the patient felt some relief. Once the mirror was gone, it would return, so it's like a therapy thing that has to be practiced. Kind of like physical therapy, I guess. Neat.
Barack Obama. I didn't see him on Leno, mostly because I think there is nothing funny or entertaining about Leno, so I didn't hear the Special Olympics comment. I really expected him to know better, so I am extremely let down. Yes, George Bush also made stupid comments by the cement-truckful, but he was George Bush. I am glad Obama apologized, but there is something that doesn't sit right with me still. Ugh. I just expected so much better.
The husbo relayed a story to me that I found very interesting. He heard it on NPR, so I won't listen to it, because I find listening to NPR one of the more painful things in life. The information could be good, but the delivery is so annoying. I don't even know how to put it into words. I think I could liken it to a muted trumpet on qualudes. Blahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Anyway, it was about some dude who found a way to help people with phantom limb pain. After they had lost the limb, nerve endings left behind would send missignals to the brain making them think that their limb was still there. In one case, the person felt that his hand was clenched so tight that his fingernails were digging into his palm. The doctor had him put a mirror down his center, so the arm he still had reflected as though his other arm were present. The doctor had him clench his hand then watch the reflection unclench. The action and accompanying visual tricked the brain and the patient felt some relief. Once the mirror was gone, it would return, so it's like a therapy thing that has to be practiced. Kind of like physical therapy, I guess. Neat.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Windows and Avocados
It's been a bit warmer out, and when the sun was out, my car felt like summer at the end of the day. Most people were driving with their windows down, but not me, I turned the AC on.
I wish I could drive with the windows down, but I just can't. First off, the thought of a spider making its way into my car drives me batty. Also, I just feel vulnerable. To what, I am not sure. I need a very firm separation between me and the outside world.
That aside, I think that avocados should be called guacamoles. It's more fun, and it's what they are best for.
I wish I could drive with the windows down, but I just can't. First off, the thought of a spider making its way into my car drives me batty. Also, I just feel vulnerable. To what, I am not sure. I need a very firm separation between me and the outside world.
That aside, I think that avocados should be called guacamoles. It's more fun, and it's what they are best for.
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