Last week I received this text message from my friend Maegan:
"I left Shadow alone for 1 hour and she ate a whole loaf of Amish bread and then tried to eat 3 raw potatoes and a can of Pringles!"
I should back up. I don't think I've mentioned my friends Maegan and Kurt or their dog, Shadow. I met them (actually I met Kurt first) at our apartment complex in Charleston, SC. They had just gotten Shadow at Pet Helpers. Shadow is gorgeous. She's half shepherd, half husky. It took Rocky all of about ten seconds to fall in love with her and she's been his "girlfriend" ever since. It's awesome. They're about the same size and they get along really well. When we were living in Charleston, we saw each other pretty much every day. They moved to Maryland last year and I followed them about a year later.
Anyway, Shadow is the better behaved of the two. She can actually be left alone without being put up and away from the kitchen. Or at least she could. Rocky has always been the bad one. The one with the funny stories and the diarrhea. So you can imagine my utter delight when I received the above text message. I was not supportive at all and I actually encouraged Shadow to try harder to get the Pringles can open.
This whole incident got me thinking about everything Rocky has eaten. I've decided to start a list. I'm sure there's no way I can remember everything he's eaten, but I'm going to try.
Here goes nothing:
- my paycheck: he got this out of my lab jacket
- a pound of DRY pasta
- a tin full of treats: he opened the tin himself
- an entire bag of caramel candies, sans the wrappers
- unsalted pumpkin seeds
- rotten blueberries: he ate these along with the pumpkin seeds
- a box of Triscuits that he got down from the back of the stove
- a box of Lucky Charms off of the top of the refrigerator
- 2 pounds of meat, cheese and Hunt's tomato paste: He ate this out of a crock pot. He got the crock pot down off of the counter then preceded to help himself and destroyed the crock pot in the process.
- a half of can of queso dip: he unscrewed the top off of the can
I KNOW there's more and I just can't think of them all, so I welcome any comments from anyone who remembers something I don't. I plan to keep adding to this list as I'm sure it will grow.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Adult Forced Immunizations? Really?
Let me start this post by saying I am a STRONG supporter of immunizations. I was a microbiology major in college, so there's no swaying this girl. My brother almost got punched just by even questioning the pediatrician's stance on immunizations.
I believe firmly in childhood immunizations and even certain immunizations as we get older, i.e Hepatitis, so I'm not going to discuss those. Although, I won't have any trouble about talking about the so-called "autism" link, if anyone wants to go there.
The immunization I am questioning is one that most people don't even think twice about, the flu shot. The seasonal flu is responsible for an estimated 25,000 deaths annually. That's more than HIV (in the United States). Granted, most of the deaths from seasonal flu are the elderly, the very young, or those who are already immunocompromised, but still, that's a lot of people. Every year doctors' offices, clinics, and hospitals are flooded with people suffering from symptoms related to the seasonal flu.
That's where I come in. I've worked in the medical field for almost 13 years. Either in the pharmacy or in a hospital. I've never had any trouble with the flu shot. Needles don't bother me, I'm not allergic to eggs, and I don't pass out if I see a drop of blood. Whenever the flu shot is available to me, I get it. Fortunately, there has only been one year since I began working that I haven't been able to get the flu shot. That was probably my worst winter, sickness wise. I constantly had either a runny nose, cough, respiratory infection, or just ached all over. I swore then I would not miss another one.
Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky as I have been. I've never gotten sick from the shot, but I know lots of people that have. I also know people who haven't had the flu shot in 15 years and haven't suffered a day with the flu. For most of my life the flu shot has been optional.
Until now.
The hospital I work requires every employee to get the flu shot. Seriously, if an employee hasn't been vaccinated by December 1st, they lose their job. Not suspension, but lose the job. The only way out is an allergy to eggs. From what I understand, even religious reasons cannot keep you from facing employee health nurses and their happy syringe filled hands. For some reason, this really bothers me. I understand that I work in a field that is quite literally face to face with people. I get closer to most people than I want. I get coughed on, spit on (usually by accident), and I've even been urinated on, so I understand that the hospital wants to protect its patients and its employees as much as possible.
It just doesn't feel right.
I work with a guy who is terrified of needles or really any kind of sharp object. He went to get his teeth cleaned and had to get gas to get through the process. His mom had to leave work early to pick him up because the dentist wouldn't let him drive home. Last week he went to get the flu shot. He broke into a sweat and had to lay down on a stretcher because the nurses were worried that he was going to pass out. He's never been sick with the flu or called out a day because of it, yet he is forced to get the flu shot or he loses his well paying, union protected job.
I would be more understanding about the process if it was a once in a lifetime thing, like Hepatitis. It just seems forcing people to get the immunization year after year is going a bit too far.
What does everyone else think? Am I completely alone is this opinion?
I believe firmly in childhood immunizations and even certain immunizations as we get older, i.e Hepatitis, so I'm not going to discuss those. Although, I won't have any trouble about talking about the so-called "autism" link, if anyone wants to go there.
The immunization I am questioning is one that most people don't even think twice about, the flu shot. The seasonal flu is responsible for an estimated 25,000 deaths annually. That's more than HIV (in the United States). Granted, most of the deaths from seasonal flu are the elderly, the very young, or those who are already immunocompromised, but still, that's a lot of people. Every year doctors' offices, clinics, and hospitals are flooded with people suffering from symptoms related to the seasonal flu.
That's where I come in. I've worked in the medical field for almost 13 years. Either in the pharmacy or in a hospital. I've never had any trouble with the flu shot. Needles don't bother me, I'm not allergic to eggs, and I don't pass out if I see a drop of blood. Whenever the flu shot is available to me, I get it. Fortunately, there has only been one year since I began working that I haven't been able to get the flu shot. That was probably my worst winter, sickness wise. I constantly had either a runny nose, cough, respiratory infection, or just ached all over. I swore then I would not miss another one.
Unfortunately, not everyone is as lucky as I have been. I've never gotten sick from the shot, but I know lots of people that have. I also know people who haven't had the flu shot in 15 years and haven't suffered a day with the flu. For most of my life the flu shot has been optional.
Until now.
The hospital I work requires every employee to get the flu shot. Seriously, if an employee hasn't been vaccinated by December 1st, they lose their job. Not suspension, but lose the job. The only way out is an allergy to eggs. From what I understand, even religious reasons cannot keep you from facing employee health nurses and their happy syringe filled hands. For some reason, this really bothers me. I understand that I work in a field that is quite literally face to face with people. I get closer to most people than I want. I get coughed on, spit on (usually by accident), and I've even been urinated on, so I understand that the hospital wants to protect its patients and its employees as much as possible.
It just doesn't feel right.
I work with a guy who is terrified of needles or really any kind of sharp object. He went to get his teeth cleaned and had to get gas to get through the process. His mom had to leave work early to pick him up because the dentist wouldn't let him drive home. Last week he went to get the flu shot. He broke into a sweat and had to lay down on a stretcher because the nurses were worried that he was going to pass out. He's never been sick with the flu or called out a day because of it, yet he is forced to get the flu shot or he loses his well paying, union protected job.
I would be more understanding about the process if it was a once in a lifetime thing, like Hepatitis. It just seems forcing people to get the immunization year after year is going a bit too far.
What does everyone else think? Am I completely alone is this opinion?
Saturday, November 20, 2010
I know, I know. I'm behind.
So, I just got a text message from my brother complaining that I haven't written a new post in a while. I decided that while I'm sitting in this big house alone (aside from the snoring dog sleeping next to me), fighting a cold, icing a sore foot, and no car to go anywhere, I would finally write my Rally to Restore Sanity post.
First of all, I have been a little hesitant to write this post because of some of the feedback I was getting on Facebook. I have a lot of friends and family that are on the conservative side and feel that the Rally was an attack on those principles. It wasn't. The point of the rally was to bring common sense back to America. And not the common sense Glenn Beck preaches about, but the type of common sense that brings people together. Everyday, we deal with people who have different opinions, work ethics, and personalities. Everyday, we learn how to work and love all of these different types of people. We've learned how to compromise and make sacrifices for the good of everyone. Even with all of the differences, we still manage to get things done. The whole point of the rally was exactly this. We need to bring basic decency and tolerance back to politics. Also, the rally was extremely calm. There weren't any fights. In fact, the extra security wasn't even needed.
The rally seemed to be some kind of sign making convention. Here is a website that showcases some of the rally's signs:
The 100 Best Signs At The Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear
Some of my favorite signs that I saw:
-I'm a socialist and I'm pretty sure Obama isn't.
-Palin and Pelosi: Both nice ladies.
-Ain't no party like my Nana's Tea Party.
-My text messages are grammatically correct. (Quite possibly my favorite)
-Jon Stewart: I want to have your anchor baby.
-More Doctors, Less Jails.
-Scientists for Sanity.
-Someone said there would be beer?!
-Anyone 4 scrabble later?
-Be the change you want to see in the world.
-Read books.
-Jump rope with a Muslim (you could actually jump rope with a Muslim).
-I may disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure you're not a Nazi.
As you can see, these are not people who wanted to start a riot. I heard a girl a few people away try to start the chant, "F**k, Glenn Beck." She was quieted before she could say it twice. There was a video montage which basically poked fun at cable news. Yes, Glenn Beck and the Foxnews network were featured, but so was MSN and CNN which are two of the networks accused of being a big part of the "liberal" media. No one was safe from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
I also heard a lot of people say that nothing was accomplished. I beg to differ. I think this rally is the beginning of a change. It may be a slow change, but there will be a change. My generation is becoming less tolerant of the intolerance. We want to see people compromise in the political landscape so real change can begin. None of us like to see the huge divides that are created when there is so much fighting that our elected officials won't listen to one another.
Okay, I'm done. I know this was a bit modest, I could go on for a long time, but I'm going to stop now. Except for this. The Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear had more in attendance than Glenn Beck's rally.
Jon Stewart Rally Attracts Estimated 215,000
As a side note, Metro ridership was up about 30% the day of the rally compared to a normal Saturday. I know several people who lived here during Obama's inauguration and said that there was even more people on the Metro during the rally than the inauguration.
Metro sets new record for highest Saturday Metrorail ridership
Transit Frustrations at Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear
Also, just to point out the difference of the people in attendance to Glenn Beck's rally compared to the Rally to Restore Sanity, here are a few signs from Beck's rally:
The Dumbest Shirts At The Glenn Beck Rally
Okay, I'm really done now. If this post seems a little disjointed, blame it on the cold medication.
First of all, I have been a little hesitant to write this post because of some of the feedback I was getting on Facebook. I have a lot of friends and family that are on the conservative side and feel that the Rally was an attack on those principles. It wasn't. The point of the rally was to bring common sense back to America. And not the common sense Glenn Beck preaches about, but the type of common sense that brings people together. Everyday, we deal with people who have different opinions, work ethics, and personalities. Everyday, we learn how to work and love all of these different types of people. We've learned how to compromise and make sacrifices for the good of everyone. Even with all of the differences, we still manage to get things done. The whole point of the rally was exactly this. We need to bring basic decency and tolerance back to politics. Also, the rally was extremely calm. There weren't any fights. In fact, the extra security wasn't even needed.
The rally seemed to be some kind of sign making convention. Here is a website that showcases some of the rally's signs:
The 100 Best Signs At The Rally To Restore Sanity And/Or Fear
Some of my favorite signs that I saw:
-I'm a socialist and I'm pretty sure Obama isn't.
-Palin and Pelosi: Both nice ladies.
-Ain't no party like my Nana's Tea Party.
-My text messages are grammatically correct. (Quite possibly my favorite)
-Jon Stewart: I want to have your anchor baby.
-More Doctors, Less Jails.
-Scientists for Sanity.
-Someone said there would be beer?!
-Anyone 4 scrabble later?
-Be the change you want to see in the world.
-Read books.
-Jump rope with a Muslim (you could actually jump rope with a Muslim).
-I may disagree with you, but I'm pretty sure you're not a Nazi.
As you can see, these are not people who wanted to start a riot. I heard a girl a few people away try to start the chant, "F**k, Glenn Beck." She was quieted before she could say it twice. There was a video montage which basically poked fun at cable news. Yes, Glenn Beck and the Foxnews network were featured, but so was MSN and CNN which are two of the networks accused of being a big part of the "liberal" media. No one was safe from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
I also heard a lot of people say that nothing was accomplished. I beg to differ. I think this rally is the beginning of a change. It may be a slow change, but there will be a change. My generation is becoming less tolerant of the intolerance. We want to see people compromise in the political landscape so real change can begin. None of us like to see the huge divides that are created when there is so much fighting that our elected officials won't listen to one another.
Okay, I'm done. I know this was a bit modest, I could go on for a long time, but I'm going to stop now. Except for this. The Rally to Restore Sanity And/Or Fear had more in attendance than Glenn Beck's rally.
Jon Stewart Rally Attracts Estimated 215,000
As a side note, Metro ridership was up about 30% the day of the rally compared to a normal Saturday. I know several people who lived here during Obama's inauguration and said that there was even more people on the Metro during the rally than the inauguration.
Metro sets new record for highest Saturday Metrorail ridership
Transit Frustrations at Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear
Also, just to point out the difference of the people in attendance to Glenn Beck's rally compared to the Rally to Restore Sanity, here are a few signs from Beck's rally:
The Dumbest Shirts At The Glenn Beck Rally
Okay, I'm really done now. If this post seems a little disjointed, blame it on the cold medication.
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