She Works Hard For Her Money

*** This post was left as a draft back in August.  I'll just publish it as-is.

Today has been mentally and physically exhausting.  I'm at work, and it's 10:27pm.  I have mostly finished my Kronos training, but I also had to teach some orderlies.  Their stuff is different from ours (techs and nurses), so when they would ask questions, I would mostly say, "I don't know."  There is even an orderly "Super User" working tonight, but for some reason, she doesn't feel like she can teach other people.  The whole thing is a mess, it's confusing, and it's a lot of work.  And it's a pain in my you-know-what.  I can only do so much with the level to which I have been trained.

Speaking of training, the robot was a nightmare today.  The surgeon (let's call her Dr. P.) was in a terrible mood.  She was relying on her very inexperienced residents as her first assistants, and when they kept making mistakes, she would yell at them.  I felt bad for one young doctor, who was having a really hard time with spatial orientation in laparoscopy (a very difficult concept: imagine using a tool that you can only see on a monitor, but which moves in the opposite direction when you manipulate it, and having someone yelling at you and calling you a "retard" when you don't get it right). The rep was making things more complicated than they needed to be, the instruments she wanted weren't working or weren't sterile or weren't available, the patient was really bloody, and the circulators were inexperienced.  Cute Kristy had done some cross-training today, and those two cases made her the most experienced circulator available.  With all of the issues we had, it really wasn't fair to place that kind of responsibility on her.  Lacey (another scrub) and I have scrubbed plenty of robots, but neither of us are really familiar with circulator responsibilities.  And the rep (who is paid to know the equipment backwards and forwards, who is supposed to be able to answer all of our questions) was not helping.  She was trying to tell me what to do, at the same time the surgeon is giving me orders, and there was so much going on and so many things not working that everyone was frustrated.  Thank heavens for Doug (who had technically left for vacation already).  He came in to help us out and smooth things over.  I give him a lot of grief, but Doug really is a good guy.

Getting thrown into stuff you don't really know how to do is not an uncommon thing.  Actually, it happens a lot.  With many surgeries, you can draw on your previous experience and fake your way through it.  That's one reason why I like my job--I learn new things every day, and I get to use my brain to figure things out.  The robot really isn't like that.  I received a fair amount of training to scrub robotic cases, and I feel pretty comfortable doing most of them.  But there's only so much I can do without seeing the circulator side of things.  Reps (vendors who work for the companies of the products we use) are usually a great help, and they can be very knowledgeable.  Not this one.  We (nurses and techs) need more training on the robot, from someone who can actually answer our questions.

I want to be a good employee.  I want to prove myself as an invaluable part of the team.  I don't want to be a complainer or a tattle-tail; I want to help fix the situation.  First, the surgeon should have had a more experienced first-assistant (i.e., an attending physician, colleague, or someone who at least knows enough about the robot to be useful).  She also should have stepped back and calmed down, instead of yelling at everyone for things beyond their control.  Yes, a lot of things went wrong, and there's no one cause.  But verbal abuse is never called for, even if it is said 'jokingly.'  Secondly, the equipment needs to be ready and available.  Surgeons are notoriously impatient, so whenever we have to get something that isn't close by, they get even more wound-up.  Third, everyone needs more training.  Period.  Not just those who already do robots, and not just staff members who are willing to be trained.  It needs to be mandatory.  Until it is, and until our managers know how much we are struggling, days like this will be all too common.

I Am Spread Way Too Thin

It has been so long . . . I have so much on my plate and on my mind that I just haven't had time to get around to writing about it.  Here's a list of my thoughts (or mental to-do list), in no particular order:

• We are house-hunting, and I'd really like to move this month.  It's looking more and more like it won't happen that fast, which makes me sad because . . .
• My dear friend Sam (Elder Aubin, my Zone Leader from Liege), who lives in Germany, is coming to Utah in a few weeks to spend some time at BYU.  I wanted to have a little party/reunion/reception in his honor, at my home, and it's going to be a miracle if we can pull it off.
• I need to plan and organize this fete, but I'm still hoping we can get into a house!
• I'd like to go to the Brigham City Temple Open House (heaven only knows when I'll have the time, and it's being dedicated in a couple of weeks so there isn't much time left!)
• I need to get a temple recommend renewal so I can go to the dedication.
• I need to do my Visiting Teaching.
• I'm worried about Benji, who was sent home from school today with diarrhea.  He was sent home last week with a "suspicious rash" (which was just how his skin looks when he doesn't get lotioned).  Do I need to take him into a dermatologist to say what is normal and what isn't?  Why does he have diarrhea again?  
• I'm feeling guilty about how little I see my boy.  On the days he goes to school and when I'm working, I see him for a total of 45 minutes.  I get him up and dressed about 6:45am, feed him some breakfast and drive him to the bus stop.  I put him on the bus at 7:25am, and then I have to be to work at 11am.  When I get home at 11:30pm, he's already asleep.  It's depressing to be away from him so much.
• Allen is the one who takes care of him all afternoon, after having gotten up at 3:30am and working for 8 hours.  He puts him to bed and then goes to bed himself, and he can't be bothered to do any cleaning.  So when I get home at 11:30pm, the house is a disaster.  I usually spend a good 30 minutes cleaning (more when I have to do dishes), moving and folding laundry, putting the living room back together, etc.  It's pretty rare that I'm in bed before 2am.
• I'm going to be short on hours this week at work.  I was on-call all day Sunday and all day Monday, but I didn't have to go in.  And I'll have to stay home for part of my shift tomorrow, so I'll only have 20 hours for the week.  I have some PTO to fall back on, but I'd rather not use it all.
• I got my hair done yesterday; I went to Paul Mitchell, The School, in Holladay.  A co-worker is in school there, so I had her do my hair.  She did a pretty good job, but it took more than four hours.  I did have a Groupon, so I only paid $25 for a full highlight, and I didn't have any change, so I gave her a $20 for a tip ($45 total, plus the investment of time!).  That's the most I've ever given anyone for a tip (for anything), and although she did well, I hope she doesn't expect me to a) come back to her every time I need my hair done, and b) give her that big of a tip every time I see her.  If I had more $ coming in, I'd be happy to tip more, but for my income, that's a lot.  I may have put myself in a difficult situation.
• I need to catch up on my blogs
• I need to start packing
• I want to go to the State Fair, but I'm doubtful anyone will go with me
• I need to find a gift for Noah's birthday
• I need to start working on Christmas gifts
• I need to go back to school
• I need to get my national Surgical Tech certification
• I should probably become a CPR instructor, if I want to get into nursing school
• It would be a lot easier for me to go into teaching than it would to become a nurse (ironically)
• If I did go into teaching, I could probably spend more time with Benji.
• I need to convince Allen to go to school
• I wonder if I will ever get pregnant again
• I need to pay my bills
• I should cut up my credit cards
• I want to get real family photos this year; we haven't done that since Benji was an infant
• I need to figure out what is going on with my right foot (why does it swell so much more than my left?)
• I should exercise more
• I should get my bike fixed up so I can actually ride it
• I need to join Weight Watchers, like I told Dr. Witbeck I would
• I need to return my videos to the library (have you seen "Midnight in Paris"?  It's utterly fabuleux, and it makes me homesick for France.
• I want to catch up on my shows: Grey's Anatomy has new episodes on Netflix; I have purchased Glee (Season 3) but have yet to watch it, and I want to get Hulu+ so I can watch the new episodes of Breaking Bad and How I Met Your Mother.  I don't have time for any of it, but I really want to see them!!!
• I need a new vacuum.
• When (not if) we move, we need to transport the couches from Mom & Dad's garage to our new place, and they really need to be cleaned.  Do I need to get roof racks on my car?
• I definitely need to take Sylvano in for an oil change and tire rotation.  SOON.
• I need to go through Benji's clothes to take inventory for what I need to get for him during the upcoming consignment sale.
• I should sell and/or get rid of the rest, because who knows if I'll ever have another baby. 
• I need to figure out something to make for Peggy's Pinterest Party.
• I should give up the Diet Coke.
• I should go back to being a vegetarian.
• I hope nothing big happens before the end of the year (medically), so I can get LASIK!
• I need to read the scriptures
• I need to upload and edit my pictures
• I really want an iPad
• I can't believe it's September already . . . where has this year gone?
• I have to start getting my lesson ready for next week, because I (unwittingly) agreed to play the piano for the Dominguez Park Branch for the entire month of September; I thought it was a one-time, one-hour commitment, but it turns out it's a two-hour commitment every week.  At least we have Stake Conference this weekend and the Brigham City Temple Dedication on the 23rd, so I only have to do it three times.  Unfortunately, I am working every Saturday night before I have to play, and it starts at 10am.  So the 16th is really going to suck--I have Noah's birthday party on Saturday the 15th, I have to work 11pm-7am, I have to play the piano at the Branch from 10-noon, and I have to teach Relief Society at 3pm. 

That's all I can think of for now.  I've got a lot going on, and I'm just exhausted from everything.  So I'm sorry my blog has suffered.  Now I have to go set up for a leg fracture with Larky.  Good times . . .

She Was Making Other Plans

I know I have been MIA for a while.  I also know that I should be catching up on life events, rather than writing about stuff that only matters to me.  I guess that if you are actually reading (all two of you . . .), then maybe you do care about what I think is important.  So I guess I will keep writing.

I will catch up eventually; we got back from my family reunion in Yosemite National Park about 10 days ago, and I have been working a ton and I have been super busy with birthdays and such.  Also, I have been designated a "Super-User" for the Kronos WorkForce Services implementation at work (it sounds much more glamorous than it is, believe me), so I have had to sit down with about 20 different people and teach them how to use this new system.  Each session with a co-worker takes 30-45 minutes, and they did not allow for any overtime to get it done.  It has been a major project, trying to do my normal job and this training stuff when there is time, and when I happen to be scheduled at the same time as all of the people on my list.  And no, I'm not getting any compensation for it; I wasn't even asked if I wanted to do it (though I probably would have said yes).  I was walking into work one day and I was told that I had to go to this training, so I could teach other people.  Whatever.  It has been fine, just more to load onto my plate . . . because it wasn't full enough already.

Another reason why I haven't done more event-based blogging is because of the picture situation.  I love taking pictures of family events and I love creating beautiful photographs.  But it is a double-edged sword.  I want all of my pictures to look nice.  I don't want to upload unedited photos, even if it's just cropping and fixing exposure.  It bugs me when I don't do it, and considering the sheer numbers of photos I take, sorting through them all, finding and editing the best of them, uploading them, writing about them . . . it's a little overwhelming.  With my nieces' and nephews' birthdays, it's pretty much all I can do to 1) take the pictures and 2) upload them onto my picasa albums.  It's especially difficult during the summer, because once I'm done with one event, the next one is just around the corner.  So, folks, I'm sorry you don't get more pictures and stories.  I will try.

Okay, fine.  Here's a list of album links, in case you are interested (and in case I forgot to e-mail the links to you).

Ella's Birthday (8th Birthday Party on May 17, 2012)
Zekey's Birthday (1st Birthday Party on May 26, 2012)
Phoebe's Birthday (3rd Birthday Party on June 23, 2012)
Lily's Birthday (5th Birthday Party on June 30, 2012)
Day @ Hogle Zoo with Mach & Lex (July 19, 2012)
Family Reunion* (July 2012) *Warning!  Mostly unedited album, also including random pictures from vaycay!

Oh, what the heck.  Here are the links to Easter 2012 and Mother's Day 2012.  These kids are growing up so fast!  Of course there are lots of Benji pictures in each album, 1) because the boy is so stinkin' cute, and 2) because you never know when you'll get a really good one.  I actually found some great ones from last April that I had totally forgotten about.  And yes, between typing this sentence and the previous one, I had to  take 10 minutes to locate and edit this picture.  I got ones with better smiles, but they were out of focus.  Even so, this was worth it.

FYI, the shirt he was wearing in this picture is now permanently covered in stains from who-knows-what.  I have washed it at least 20 times trying to get it wearable again, all to no avail.  Gah!

This post turned out nothing like what I expected, but I guess that's the way life goes.  "Well you were happy where you were, but that girl, she reeled you in."  (Keane, Neon River).

Talk To Me

All right . . . back to more important things.  It's time for a Benji update.  This is the most recent picture I have of him is from our outing to the newish splash pad in North Salt Lake, in the Foxboro development.  It was a lovely day, and a really nice splash pad.  I met up with Konae there, and Rachael joined us.

Lily, Tessa & Benji @ the splash pad. 

Benji was in his little pirate shirt, which I made for all of the nieces & nephews @ his birthday party.  I'm glad the kiddos still wear them, even if they are ugly as sin!

Konae & her kids, and me trying to get Benji to look up.

Anyway, about Benjamin.  We have had a few big (well, big for us!) things happen in the past week.  First: I realized that he gets songs stuck in his head, too.  He's usually speaking his own language, so we only catch words here and there.  But the other day, he was quoting the Move and Groove song from "Signing Time" (Season 2), which gives you signs and actions.  He said, "Shake, shake, shake, freeze."  The next word is "kick," and eventually he said that, too.  It makes me happy to know that he sings to himself (incidentally, I have been singing Keane to myself for the past several weeks . . .), and that the connection between brain and mouth is becoming clearer.

Second: a real sentence.  While I'm fairly sure I have heard him say sentences before, I'm doubt he knew what he was saying (he said, "I guess I did it," but there was no reason or repetition).  This time, it was a response to a question.  The context: we were at Target yesterday, and he was sitting in the basket while we cruised the dollar section.  Since it is back-to-school time, they have some fun decor and stuff there, among which are street signs (''My Way or The Highway," etc.).  I pulled out a Stop sign (it says "Stop Studying" on one side; something equally snarky on the other), but it is red and shaped like an octagon.  I held it up to Benji and asked him what the sign said.

He replied: "The sign says . . ." then he paused for a minute, and said, "Stop."  I couldn't believe it!  He wouldn't say it again, but I know what I heard.  I think I may need to go back and buy that Stop sign, just to remind me!

Today, church was a bit of a challenge.  He would not sit still for ANYTHING, so it was basically a 3-hour wrestling match.  He was also talking to himself all through Primary, while the teacher was trying to give her lesson.  I also found out that a little girl in his class actually wanted to come play with Benji, but her mom didn't know how that might work with him.  I realized that Benji has very few social skills, and that I haven't sought out many opportunities for him to work on them.  I just know how he his with his cousins, who love him, but don't love playing with him.  I understand, and I'm not offended by it; they want some interaction, and Benji doesn't really know how to play with other kids.  He'll play along side them (sometimes), but he's so caught up in his own world, always exploring and finding things to spin and things to put in his mouth, that I'm not sure how much he even notices other kids. I'm sure this will be something we will be working on for the next few years (and maybe for the rest of his life), but the fact that Natalie actually wanted to play with him gave me a little wake-up call.  I don't think I'll be setting up playdates anytime soon, but I guess that is something that normal kids do, and maybe I should look into that.  I'm really going to try to get involved in the PTA and parent groups at the Pingree School this coming year, because almost all of the parents are going through this same thing.  Social awkwardness is a hallmark of an autistic child, so not having to explain what Benji does, what he understands, etc. will be so nice.

Even though church was pretty rough, we had something pretty monumental tonight at bath time.  He has pooped in the potty before, but only a few times, and most of those were lucky catches.  We always make him go potty (standing up) before he gets in the bath, but tonight he kept scratching his bum, so I sat him down.  I sat him down yesterday for about 20 minutes, and nothing.  Tonight, after about 10 minutes, he went!  He sat there for about 10 minutes longer, getting it all out.  I was so proud of him!  I told him a hundred times how proud I was, and I tried to be super-excited as a motivator for him.  I don't think he noticed how happy I was, but I told him "good job" over and over again.  I'm wondering if he wouldn't do better on a potty schedule.  As of now, he'll go when we take him, but he has never said the words "potty" or "poo poo" or "pee pee" without being prompted.  The other day, he was giving me hugs, and with no indication whatsoever, he pooped in his diaper.  I don't know if we can get on a pooping schedule, but I think we'll at least try a more strict potty schedule, and see if he'll stay dry.

Pretty exciting, at least in my world!  The next challenge is our upcoming vacation.  I don't know how he'll do on the road; I think we'll have to make a lot of pit-stops, but I'm pretty sure that's par-for-the-course when you have young kids.  I long for the day when I can say "Potty up, dudes!"

Shakedown 1979

I have been wanting to do this for a while, and I just need to get it out of my system.  First: an explanation.  There are certain celebrities (the 'cool kids' I feel a certain kinship with, mostly because of age.  Those who are not as close to me in age are just people I really like, and I think we would be friends if we actually knew each other.  As far as the mathematics goes, the science nerd in me needs to make you a graph (don't worry--there's only one axis!).

I have decided to put a number with these celebrities, which I call the PMA (Proximity to My Age).  Because I am thinking of time linearly, I'll note these age differences as positive and negatives, i.e., the difference between my age and Katherine Heigl's (PMA) is -0.17 years (the negative means she is older), and Claire Danes' PMA is +0.12 years (I am older than she is).  I hope that makes sense.  Not that it matters, but that's how I will write this up.  Also, much of my information came from IMDB.  I did try to credit the websites from which I took these pictures, but forgive me if I missed some or misdirected some of the links (there are a LOT of links in this post!).  Sorry.  Contrary to popular belief, I am not perfect (ha!).

So . . . on with the show.  We'll start with the two lovely ladies above.

Claire Danes

April 1979 (+0.12 years)

http://www.dailymakeover.com/hairstyles/all_womens_looks/claire_danes_jan_30_2009?tid_ref=1052

The lovely and talented Ms. Danes got her big break in "My So-Called Life," one of my favorite t.v. shows growing up.    I still remember one scene where she is freaking out about a zit.  One.  And her friend Rayanne told her to pop it and get on with her life.  Yep.  And no matter how big 30 Seconds to Mars gets, Jared Leto will always be hot Jordan Catalano.  That's the way it is in my world.  (P.S. Isn't her hair gorgeous?  I could go for that look!)

Katherine Heigl

November 1978 (-0.17 years)

http://www.deadline.com/tag/katherine-heigl/

Katherine Heigl is everywhere.  Personally, I think she's gorgeous.  I will always associate her with Grey's Anatomy; Izzie really stole the show for the first several seasons (I'm sorry, but Meredith is just so plain!).  Her exit was less-than-graceful, but she has a very fruitful movie career.  Have you seen "Life As We Know It"?  Great movie.  And Josh Duhamel is just delicious.

Neil Patrick Harris

June 1973 (-6.38 years)

http://www.theplace2.ru/photos/photo.php?id=366603

Who doesn't love Barney Stinson?  He's several years older than me, but Doogie Howser, M.D. was my hero.  It ran from 1989-1993, while I was a tween.  I LOVED him.  I'm glad he's one of the few child-actors who have successful acting careers as adults.  

Jason Segel

January 1980 (+0.98 years)

http://im03.thewallpapers.org/2343/actors/celebrities/celebrities/pamela_anderson.php

Since we're on the HIMYM bit, Mr. Jason Segel is just a year younger than me.  He's adorable.  I love that he's tall and goofy and musical (did you see The Muppets?  So great!).  Love you, Marshmallow!

P!NK (Alecia Beth Moore)

September 1979 (+0.62 years)

http://www.billboard.com/column/chartbeat/weekly-chart-notes-p-nk-bruno-mars-band-1004133464.story#/column/chartbeat/weekly-chart-notes-p-nk-bruno-mars-band-1004133464.story

I'm not a HUGE fan of her music, but I think she's awesome.  I think my favorite P!ink song is "Sober," though I really like "Raise Your Glass," too.  She is getting ready to release her 6th studio album . . . wow.  She was married to one Carey Hart, then they got divorced, now they are back together and they have a kid.  All I can really say is that she acts pretty tough for a girl named Pink Hart. ;o)

Adam Levine

March 1979 (+0.14 years)

http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/312201211

Adam is the lead singer of Maroon 5, in addition to being a celebrity judge on The Voice.  He's pretty full of himself, but he is pretty talented and relatively easy-on-the-eyes.  I'd have to say that my favorite Maroon 5 song is "This Love," but I also like "Makes Me Wonder," "Wake Up Call," "Harder to Breathe," and "Misery."  Good times.

Tom Chaplin

March 1979 (+0.11 years) 

http://liveoc.livemagazines.net/articles/single/313

How could I not mention the lead singer of Keane?  Love, love, love.  Definite connection.

Okay, a few more.  No more explanations, because I need to go to bed.

Kate Hudson

April 1979 (+0.23 years)

http://www.go4celebrity.com/kate-hudson-017.htm

James McAvoy

April 1979 (+0.23 years)

http://www.cinemablend.com/new/James-McAvoy-Talks-About-His-Take-On-Professor-Xavier-In-X-Men-First-Class-20791.html

John Krasinski

October 1979 (+0.73 years)

http://www.people.com/people/john_krasinski/0,,,00.html

Love you, Jim!  He and Emily Blunt are one of my favorite celebrity couples.

Jayma Mays

July 1979 (+0.47 years)

http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/06/30/jayma-mays-glee-john-stamos-smurfs-cookies/

Norah Jones

March 1979 (+0.17 years)

Diablo Cody

June 1978 (-0.62 years)

http://www.justjared.com/photo-gallery/954131/diablo-cody-oscars-2008-03/

Katie Holmes

December 1978 (-0.11 years)

http://www.searchnigeria.net/articles/index.php?page=view/article/1347/Tom-Cruise-and-Katie-Holmes-to-divorce

I don't think Katie is the greatest actress, and her teeth kinda bug me, but I think she's got the lowest PMA of all the above celebrities (39 days).  I never really got into Dawson's Creek, but I knew a lot of people who LOVED that show.  In her IMDB trivia, it says her favorite movie is "My Best Friend's Wedding" (definitely one of my faves!!).  Plus, she and Tom (who just turned 50!  Gads!) got together around the same time Allen and I got together (summer 2005).  Of course, they are getting divorced now . . . but she is a very cute mom (I love all the pictures of her and Suri).  Good luck, babe.

Others (born in 1978): Zoe Saldana, James Franco, Malin Akerman, Rachel McAdams, Dominic Cooper, Ethan Embry and Ashton Kutcher.  Born in 1980: Ryan Gosling, Chris Pine, Zooey Deschanel, Michelle Williams, Christina Ricci, Macaulay Culkin, Kim Kardashian.  

Honorable mentions: Natalie Portman (+1.37 years), Drew Barrymore (-3.94 years), and Reese Witherspoon (-2.85 years).  

I know this whole exercise was pointless.  It was kinda fun, though (is it weird that I enjoyed figuring out the PMA numbers?).  Is there a Hollywood personality who you have a connection with?  If Lifetime was going to make a movie about your life, who would be the star?  For me, I think it would have to be Adele (+9.28).  She's not necessarily an actress, but I think she's the closest thing I have to a Doppelganger in the celebrity world.

http://www.adele.tv/photos/?s=photos&page=1&photo=7097%2F7248583494_4c7e631cc5.jpg

Plus . . . I love her voice.  She's amazing.  And if you don't own her album "21" yet, you must be crazy.  It's fantastic.  Her cover of The Cure's "Lovesong" is absolutely brilliant.  And she's expecting a baby in September!  Yay!

It really is time to call it a night.  You may be right, I may be crazy.  But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for.  (Turn out the lights, don't try to save me!)