Vacations over

So obviously I am way behing on my recap of the Washington D.C Trip!
Sorry folks.
I was doing so good until the day I used my phone for all my pictures and then I was lazy in getting them uploaded. Let's face it...it is so much better to upload and rearrange photos on facebook....so that is what I did. Enjoy them there!
(Anyone want to give me pointers on blogspot uploading and more importantly spacing and publishing?!)

Anyways I had an awesome time and was sad to leave my amazing sis.

Good bye D.C. Hope to see you again soon.

Day 5: Museum Day

So Jodi was back to work for the day and I took off to explore the city. I specifically had all the Smithsonian Museums in mind...wow so overwhelming! Here is a website to help plan your trip! http://www.si.edu/

Here are a few pictures from the Natural History Museum. Such amazing and diverse exhibits there!





































































One of my favorite exhibitions there was an area called Written in Bone. They had question and answer time from real forensic anthropologist available. It was so awesome. The theme for the morning was a focus on Civil War anthropology and medicine. It is amazing to see how our techniques have changed or not changed much in different areas of medicine.

Here's a look at the American Indian Museum

I also made it to the Space and Air Museum which I really enjoyed. It was like a giant giant cosmosphere. Then off to a art and sculpture museum. Very exhausting but fun day of musuem touring!

more pictures from Day 4

In front of the Supreme Court

Jodi with our starbucks coffee as we wait in the cold rain for our tour that was actually canceled

a look at the closest we could get to the front of the White House for today

Jodi showing off the Senate only elevator!

Me purchasing my very important umbrella from Target!

Day 4 in D.C.

Today was a rainy rainy wet day!
So much so that I had to stop at Target and buy my own umbrella!

This morning we waited in the rain for our tour of the White House that never happened. All tours were canceled. They never announced why so it just makes me wonder what came up exactly?! We were very disappointed, but there is hope that it still might work out sometime this week. Keep your fingers crossed!

Here is a picture of the closest we could get to the White House for now.

the back side of the white house (closer to the street)














A picture of us and our cute umbrellas with the capitol building behind us!


















We went on an amazing tour giving by Sen Brownback's only intern at this time (who is from Massachusetts!). He gave us the underground tour and since there was just the two of us we got to skip around the big public tours and take private staircases. It was very top secret. Did you know that there is an underground "metro" from the senate buildings to the capitol building? Did you know that there are elevators to be used by senators only? There are a million other fun facts we learned and I of course can not remember to repeat.


Under the capitol dome.








































The supreme court

Day 3

.... in D.C

lazy morning and sore muscle from all that walking....

Then off to Alexandria, Virgina. Where Sara and I visited the very touristy King St and all that it had to offer. We walked on the dock along the Potomac River and ate at a cute seafood place for lunch and then shop, shop, & shop. Really those who know me know I hate to shop but this is tourist shopping and yesterday it was great fun at all the little quiant shops! I will have you know the only thing I bought was some gloves for this cold weather up here from the Ten Thousand Villages store! Here are some photos of the day. The evening was bonding time with her 4 other housemates. Good times!

Me in front of a down town fountain and historical building.

On the dock

a look out on the water

Sara in a chic little boutique just crammed full of fun stuff and already decked out for Christmas.

Sisters in the Metro!

Day 2 in District of Columbia

So Day 2 starts of with an "early morning" to Jodi's work. She works at a school so we were bombarded with people and election propaganda on our way in. (I will not miss those TV ads either!)I got to meet many of her great co-workers and she her space. She really is in here element there. After some printing of google maps I was off to explore the city on my own. First stop: THE NATIONAL ZOO

It was a very cool place and especially nice that it was free! Some of my favorite animals are seen in these pictures. It was founded in 1889 and designed by the same person who designed Central Park in New York City.

I then explored a bit of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood near Jodi's school. Cute little shops and stores for everything.


My El Salvadorian breakfast/snack!! YUMMY!!!

Jodi and I met for lunch near her other place of work in Adams Morgan neighborhood. We had an amazing Mediterranean meal.

Then I met up with Jodi's friend from college Sara and we went to explore Bethesda. I had to go there because it was mentioned on Bones!! I love that T.V. show! (Thanks for putting up with me Sara.) To top the night off we visited another college friend of Jodi's to see the view from here apartment high rise. Amazing!

Sister week in D.C! Day 1

So I have decided updating on Portland can wait..... 1) because all my amazing pictures are at my computer at home. 2) because I am currently in Washington D.C. This city just begs to be blogged about!

So this is the start of my 10 day visit to see my sister Jodi who is currently doing Voluntary Service in D.C. For more about her story I will refer you to more reading of her blog!

Monday was flight day. Poor Liam, Nora, & Kellie who have been so nice to take me to the airport a lot recently and have no been able to go with me!! One day!

I flew to Memphis were I hung out longer than expected for maintence delays on the plane here are some cool art pics from the airport. It was hard to be in the same city as Erin and not see her even if it was only a 2 hour window!
























I finally made it to D.C and Jodi picked me up and we were off right away to go on a night monument tour with her housemates and supportive staff! Here are a few pictures of that!

Leaving...

...on a jet plane!

I am super pumped to be in the friendly skies in exactly 14 hours from now! I should be finishing packing and getting some sleep but I just can't seem to settle down tonight. Could it be that I have worked the last 5 nights or that I am procrastinating packing or that I am just to darn excited to contain myself?

I am going to Portland. A little trip that has been in the works a long time. My amazing college roommate Emily and I are flying to see our dear college friend Claudia. I am excited to meet her two little girls. I haven't seen her since I was in her wedding....its been too long. It will be a much needed get away and girl's week-end.

I have never been to Portland so we are packing it all in! Updates later.

Old school college photo.

word block

In my brain block of words.....I will still share some things I have come across.

a reminder

I needed this! THANKS FRIEND!

Abdominal Pain

-Can you tell me what brought you to the ER today?



-The ambulance.



-Why did you call them?



-My stomach hurts. I came to the hospital yesterday for my tooth pain and ya'all gave me these pills. I took one an hour ago and now my stomach hurts.



-Have you had anything to eat today?



-Just candy and that pill. Your pill made my stomach hurt.





Just a little background to this story...the EMS personal had to wait on this patient to take her to the ER so she could finish heating up her BBQ sandwich at Quicktrip a block up the road. Which during my interview was half eaten in her purse. But it was the pill that made her stomach hurt.

Chocolate Eyes

What have your chocolate eyes seen?

What has your sweet, soft baby skin felt?

Do you know I am here to help you?

Do you know that your Grandma brought you to the ER for help? She doesn't know what else to do. She found bruises...scratches..bumps...that no one can explain. This happened once before and she choose to believe the story that you were just clumbsy. Abuse couldn't happen to you. This time is different...unexplainable. You came to her in the same clothes you left her house in a week and a half ago and dirty. Your dad lives out of town and your mom and her boyfriend just dropped you off at Grandma's house like they did last week and the week before that.



Grandma is concerned and now we are too.



Today I pray you are safe and happy where ever you are.

Riverfest

I had my first Riverfest patient the other day...



Riverfest the host to Wichita's finest.



looks 60-something year old man tells me his story...I was at riverfest and the rushed to get my food so I wouldn't miss the next band. I ate it too fast but made it in time for the band...(says with a sure smile)... that darn* band had the bass and drums up too loud... my left ear is pounding. Then it made me dizzy and since I ate my food to fast I threw up. Doc you gotta fix this pounding in my ear, it sh0r' does hurt.



(* words subject to change)

P.S. This patient arrived to us in an ambulance straight from Riverfest.

Tornado Warnings

What a week of weather...storms...storms...storms...

usually I love them but then I realized that was because I am usually in the comfort of my own home. Safe in a comfortable basement watching the radar. This week I have been confined in the concrete walls of the hospital. Work Work Work. In the middle of a tornado warning with sirens going off and the calming hospital operator over the intercom "We are in a tornado warning please move away from windows and towards the lower level." Humans just never cease to amaze me! Despite this the patients keep coming in...and for the smallest things... tooth pain and a rash...really folks? Get to your own shelter.

Wednesday night I was off work by 11pm...pouring rain finally stopped but left its devastation on West street and all around my house. I live on an island when it pours so hard. So after much internal debate and longing for my own bed...I parked poor low-riding-Lola the Corolla 2 blocks away and started hiking. I am sure I was a sight to see..green scrubs...tennis shoes and a white lab coat over my head as the rain started again with random lightening in the sky. I walked in the middle of the street through knee high water. (Good thing I knew not to drive through it!) I think I am going to invest in monster truck tires and pimp my ride!

split lip

walking into the room I too would have failed a breathalizer.

19 year old kid...drunk...got in a Saturday night fight...looks like he lost

he thought it was just a bloody nose.



poor kid split his lip all the way through

it took me a long time to sew..inside and out...even harder when the intoxicated young man keep trying to talk. (By the way, I am his new best friend. yippee me.)



in the end it looked really good if I don't say so myself. (he won't know it was my first lip to sew) I got compliments from an experienced nurse and my doctor there.



most memorable part: cleaned up and looking better and put back together..the kid says to me "so doctor when can I drink again?"



stunned with the question (and being called doctor),. I was silent. The fast thinking nurse said "at least 2 more years when your 21" and like a good nurse practitioner I piped in "maybe you should think about never drinking again"

Sad Closing Day

The Olympics are over.
Sad day.
Now what will I do with all my spare time?
I don't think I can wait two years!

Olympic Obsession

I guess it started when I was little and dreamed to be a gold medalist…then I dreamed to be an Olympian..…and now I dream just to attend the events someday... funny how our dreams change… probably just reality setting in. One day I will travel and chant U.S.A with the crowds and be there for historical moments.

Those silly bios…they get me every time. I am just suck in to the lives and struggles of these amazing athletes. They have trained for this small moment in time for years. I can’t help but cheer them on. (I also think that any inspiring Olympic commercial narrated by Morgan Freeman makes me want to use my VISA that I don’t even have.)

Thanks to all who made the third Olympic party a success…what a fun time to eat food from around the world and watch the athletes perform with great friends!

Last count U.S.A is ahead with 6 medals. Go Team U.S.A!

This year I cheer from my couch but some year…some year soon you’ll see me there.

darn song

Come sleep come...

why won't you rescue me?

Instead.....
"YEAHAAAA YEAHA PARTY IN THE U.S.A"

Darn that catchy tune! Darn those lyrics!
Darn that Miley Cyrus!
Darn my racing mind!

Thanks ERIN! Thanks a lot!!!!
Good night....I can only hope!

too cute not to share

I may be way behind in my youtube video watching but this was too cute not to share. Thanks to a co-worker for pointing it out to me!

Enjoy!

Pink Glove Dance


Anyone up for making our own hospital version?!?

Do's and Don'ts

A few things I have learned in just a month working in the ER....

Do come in to the ER right away when you lose vision in your eye and have a headache.
Don't wait and then drive yourself in.

Do tell the truth.
Don't lie. I have records and ways of finding out.

Do come to the ER for emergencies.
Don't come in the ER because you stubbed your toe 14 hours ago and it hurts. Then tell me you can't really walk because of the pain but in the next sentence tell me you walked to the ER cause it is only 5 blocks away.

Do try Tylenol and Motrin for your pain and fever at home.
Don't overdose on Tylenol or Motrin.

Do try to call your own doctor first.
Don't think that if you have had this pain for years I will be able to cure.

Do be courteous to ALL staff
Don't talk on your cell phone or txt when I am trying to help you. You came here for help. Its an EMERGENCY remember.

Imagine

Can you imagine innocently wanting to start some laundry one lazy afternoon and stepping in to a puddle at the bottom of your stairs? Brand new carpet mind you! Can you imagine the panic....crawling around on all fours to find the source. Drip Drip Drip there it was ..... the water heater ...

I would like to thank Mr T and my brother for coming over to help control the situation. If only it ended there.

Imagine a week....5 whole days.... with out hot or even warm water!

I would like to thank Kellie, Jeremy & Liam for letting me interupt their family routine and letting me shower daily!

I am the proud owner of a brand new water heater and all the upgrades required to fix it!

I will try never to take hot water for granted again. Neither should you.

The End.