Choking Hazard

After taking a patient off the bedside commode (apparently it's not as cut and dry how to properly put a bedpan under the patient, the tech put it under her backwards. At least it wasn't upside down) I started walking the stool specimen to the lab.

On my way to the lab some people shouted at me that someone was choking in the bathroom.

Damn.

I put the stool specimen in my pocket (fortunately I had double bagged it and had clean gloves on) and walk in the bathroom.

First thing I see in the bathroom was a tall thin man with glasses.  He reported "I did the Heimlich Maneuver and she's still choking!"

I push the door open the rest of the way and I see a tall lady standing next to the sink who then tells me she is still choking. I make eye contact with both of them and inform them both the Heimlich maneuver  only works if the airway is completely obstructed.

I then offer to help her check in to get treatment. She refused and then returned to the sink and induced vomiting.

Seriously, what's wrong with people?

What if?

After a long day at work I went to the grocery store.  Nothing out of the ordinary.  As I pulled in I overheard a domestic dispute.  The lady in the car was yelling at the man in the car to "get out of my car", "stop it", etc.  I couldn't tell what was going on but I could see the woman hitting the man.

Thinking this was only an argument initially I thought nothing of it.  As I walked to the store entrance I got to thinking "What if?".  What if he was doing something to her? What if this was the start of a date rape, etc? What if?  I didn't know.  Because of the situation I didn't want to be the guy that could've stopped it but didn't do anything.  A simple phone call could stop a potentially dangerous situation.

I decided to call the police when I was out of their sight (I parked next to them and my car is pretty easy to point out. I also wanted to remain anonymous).  I gave them all the information I could and the police informed me they would check into it.

I finished shopping and less than 10 minutes later went back to my car.  Four police cruisers had responded.  The lady was arguing with one of the officers stating she was just having an argument with her boyfriend and they argue all the time.  The officer was handling it like a champ.

Though this may have been an over-reaction to the situation after the facts were known, what if?

I'll take a moment here to thank all the officers who respond to calls like this, potentially putting their lives on the line. They never know what they are walking into but they do it every time they respond to a call.  They are underappreciated in our time and we don't have nearly enough of them to help. 

Thank you, officers, for everything you do.

DIY Surprise

Several years ago my wife wanted to renovate the half bath on the main floor.  I don't recall why it never happened but I decided today I would make it happen.  My "quick" DIY projects never turn out as quickly as I would like, I don't know why I thought today would be any different.

First, I needed my children to be away.  That would make it much easier to run to the store quickly and back if needed, minimal problems right?  My in-laws were planning on taking the kids away after Easter and I would pick them up Tuesday morning.  Perfect, no kids for an interruption.  That means I could literally wake up and work on it as long as I wanted until Wifey got home.  Nothing bad, plenty of uninterrupted hours.

Before I even left work I get a text message that my in-laws were ill and couldn't watch the kids.  I should have seen it as an omen.  

I decided to proceed, it's not difficult to make a quick change in sinks right?  I inform the kids and we start the day running to the store after breakfast (easily a good 2 hours later than I anticipated).  I also need to run many additional errands now that I have the kids.  Still, I can manage, right?

This sink has been here for almost 12 years, not bad but obviously lacking something.

So I return from the store with my stuff to swap the sink out.  Removing the faucet wasn't a problem. I then tried to remove it from the wall.  I assumed there was just some caulking around the exterior to help secure it.  Boy, I was wrong.

After well over 30 minutes chipping away at the glue I gave up and tried pulling it from the wall.

DOH!

Lot's of hoping and praying this can be covered without a patch job.

Well, I got it off the wall.  And on the plus side there is no hole through the wall.  Even better the new sink can cover it up without patching anything.  Time to move on to attaching the faucet.  I realize quickly I need something from the store again, load up the kids and lets go!

I get home with the tubing to attach the water to the faucet and now I open the faucet.  Crap! I grabbed the wrong one.  There was an identical name that required a much larger sink.  So much for my surprise.  At this point in the game it's too late to get it finished before the wife will get home.  I conceded and explained to her when she got (ruining the surprise).  At least it looks better.

Kept myself out of the doghouse with the cover up.

At this point I have attached everything except the drain.  After working on this project all afternoon (which should've taken me less than 4 hours) I'm finally at a stopping point.  I give up.  I should just realize that I'm not nearly as handy as I used to be and I should just ask for help.  I wasn't able to get to painting the storm door frame but I at least have everything for that.

The finished product. A much needed improvement from the original sink.    

I need to attach it to the wall but that's a job for another day.  Nobody is going to climb on this (that I know of).

All in all at least it was nice to try and surprise the wife.  A 3 week early anniversary present.  It'll be done soon.

Witch Hunt

Our hospital "upgraded" our specimen collection system to something called Beaker.  Now instead of the lab collecting the specimens sent to them in the computer the nurses and techs do that.  It was a big readjustment for all of us, including myself.

Over the last several weeks they have received unlabeled specimens from our emergency department more frequently.  It's becoming aggravating to my boss to have to deal with the lab and something that should easily be taken care of from our end, just an extra minute of documentation on the computer before leaving the room and you're good.

Because of the number of calls the boss is getting on unlabeled specimens (specimens are usually blood and urine though can include many other things) it feels as though he is on a witch hunt now.

Earlier this week he sent me an email informing me not to send unlabeled specimens to the lab.  He included the patient ID for me to look into the chart.

My response was simple.  If the specimen was unlabeled, how does he know which patient it came from? Or even how did he know it came from me?

As you can see (I think) I also pointed out that the patient in question had results from the urine that was supposedly unlabeled and sent to them along with a collection from myself.

Being the boss man of course I'm going to make it sound a little more professional than that.  His response, it was recollected.

I'm not the only one he has done this to.  Two other people in my department got emails from Big Boss Man with similar accusations.  Their response was similar to mine.  How does he know which patient the unlabeled specimen came from and how does he know which person to blame for sending it to the lab without the proper label?

It honestly sounds like he wants to correct the problem (rightfully so) but it also sounds like a giant witch hunt to me.  Maybe he thinks if he sends enough of these accusations out the problem will correct itself.  Regardless of how he handles it I'm in the clear as far as I can tell.

Lego Death Star

I got what I wanted for Christmas, the Lego Death Star.  I admit half of it is technically my son's but I've been talking about it for a long time.  I saved up some money for it but realized the best way to get it is to have part of it be for me.  It's the only way I could justify the purchase (at $500, wow...)

Because my son got many other Lego gifts this was my project to put together and it took me forever.  I timed it because I was curious how long it would take me to put together the 4016 piece beast.  It took over 1115 minutes to complete. Wow, is that right?  So the second time I did the math it came up at 960 minutes.  Ok adding it up the third time I got 1055 minutes (I'm watching Gabriel Iglesias after 2300 on about 5 hours of sleep while attempting to do math, obviously it's not working).  So it takes me somewhere in the ballpark of 960 minutes at 1115 minutes (and maybe a little longer, I'm distracted the entire time watching Frozen Planet, Blue Planet, True Blood if the kids aren't around, helping the boy put his Legos together when he's stuck which isn't very frequently, etc).

WOOHOO! Lego Alderaan beware!

So opening the box was very exciting for me, of all the Star Wars toys I owned growing up (original toys here back in the early 80s) I never had a Death Star.  I dump out the box and there are 3 smaller boxes in the giant box along with several bags and a 320 page spiral bound book of instructions.

Whoa...Alderaan may have to wait a while...Let's hope Jyn doesn't show up

This jumbled mess came out of the box.  I quickly realized this was going to need a bit of organization.  If you've ever put large Lego sets together you know they come with numbered bags to be opened at a certain time in the instructions. (Side note, my niece didn't know this, opened 4 bags worth of Legos and color coordinated them on a different set, took me forever to find everything).

An organized plan, just how the Emperor wanted.

So after the organizing I realize that yes there are numbered bags but as you can (hopefully) see in this picture there are multiple bags per number.  Instead of one bag #1 there are 3 bags. #2 has 5 bags to go with it, #3 has 3 and it goes on and on with 2 bags without numbers on them.  When you open these bags there are even smaller bags inside with the extremely small pieces (the one piece, etc).  Now you're starting to understand a bit why it took me some time to finish.

This is the cutest Dianoga ever! Watch out Luke!

*Pew, Pew, Pew*

I was going to show the completed stages as I finished the Death Star but I decided to cut to the completed project.  I have no clue how to format with this many pictures so hopefully it's not too confusing.  They show the different sections of the Death Star, many moving parts (closing walls in the Trash compactor, trap door in the prisoner cell that drops to the trash compactor, etc).  I look forward to doing more Lego Star Wars projects in the future.  Maybe Boba Fett's ship, the Slave One (hint, hint).

Mexican Food

Recently we met up with my in-laws so they could watch my children.  When deciding where to meet my in-laws stated Taco Bell was a good meeting place.  They figure there is something for everyone there.  My wife explains to her dad that my kids (8 and 7 at this point) have never eaten Taco Bell.  He is shocked by this remark so my wife points out to him (as if he didn't already know) both my heritage and what I like for food.  He starts laughing when the connection is made.

Considering my heritage (Mexican if you haven't read previous posts) and where I grew up (Southeast Texas), Taco Bell isn't exactly where I go when I'm craving a good taco or burrito.

Taco Bell's burrito, it does look good, doesn't it?

Don't get me wrong, I crave the occasional Grill Stuffed Burrito, but I am forever in search of more authentic Mexican food.  Ever since I left Texas I can't seem to find it frequently.  I get the occasional glimpse of it's full glory in other locations but it's not the same.

For example when I lived in Provo, UT some friends of mine and I stumbled across a restaurant in the downtown area.  It was a hole in the wall, they literally painted the brick wall outside their restaurant white and the name of the place in red (it was called La Tormenta at the intersection of Center Street and 400 North, there is a big Coca Cola sign on it now. If you drop Pegman on the street view look north, you'll see the building I'm talking about.  I'm sad it's gone). The food was terrific and most of the time we would end up with Montezuma's Revenge (worth it every time).

My current place of residence had a great place when I first moved out here 11 years ago.  Unfortunately because of where I live the food went from flavorful with a kick to "gringoized" (dulled down the spice flavor to accommodate the gringo population).

Some of the other places I've found recently are terrific.  They are true to their heritage and as far as I know they won't change anytime soon (and for that I'm eternally grateful).

Sadly the lady is retiring and I'm going to lose one of my go to taco restaurants.  Best tacos I've eaten on the east coast.  The menu is small, only a few items but what she cooks is excellent (it's like a party in your mouth and everyone's invited).

Taco Rico, simple yet satisfying (and terrific)

Recently a friend of mine pointed me in the direction of another restaurant in the area, not too far from home.  I'm excited about this one because they turned a house into a restaurant and they painted their cinder blocks brown.  The food so far has been terrific and I look forward to eating their several more times.

Enchiladas with green sauce

Mole 

Worst case scenario I can cook up my own meal.  I'm still learning a few things but it'll be more than worthwhile when I perfect my dishes.

Chorizo with eggs, refried beans and potatoes, my personal favorite  I make from scratch

Oh the things I would say

I try to be a happy guy. I like to think I'm approachable, and I definitely try to be friendly to everyone.  Around people I know I can be very chatty and slaphappy.

I also like to think of myself as a very patient person.  Definitely no saint but a fuse long enough that it usually fizzles out before anything happens.

Because my fuse is fairly long I can usually tell when I'm starting to get upset and I do what I can to remove myself from the situation.

Usually I walk away, if that's not possible I'll try to make a joke of the situation (usually at work, especially when it's a patient that has pushed me over the edge).

Unlike the Incredible Hulk it doesn't have a lot to do with "You wouldn't like me when I'm angry" but more I don't like how I feel.  Yes I care about your feelings to an extent but deeper than that, I care about how I will react.

Just like many other people when I become angry everything I've been thinking about that person boils to the surface.  It becomes extremely difficult to control when it does start to come out.  Everything I've wanted to say to the person that has by this point pissed me off is on the tip of my tongue.  When I get to this point I can feel my heart racing and I'm ready to go off.


I don't like this.  I don't like losing control of myself.  I would hate to say something in anger, true or not, because once it's out you can't take it back.

If I get to this point I get quiet.  I stop talking because, once again, I don't want to say anything that I will regret.  After getting quiet I remove myself from the situation and away from the person that has pushed me over the edge.

Most of the time I'm successful, occasionally I'm not.

Sometimes I wish I didn't care so much.  Sometimes I wish I could just say everything that I feel needs to be said.  I do care though and if I'm going to say what's on my mind it will be a civil conversation.

Today's society seemingly encourages you to not care about other people's feelings and to an extent they are right.  If you piss someone off for being who you are or saying what you think who cares, right?  No skin off your back if they are offended.

Though I agree that this manner of thinking helps you be yourself (Fitz and the Tantrums The Walker, great song), I feel that overall it's making us insensitive.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I do care what others think about me.  In my mind when I lose my anger/temper in front of them and go off I lose their respect.  I would rather be respected.

In the case where family pushed me to my breaking point, I like to think I forgive quickly.  If I attack them verbally because they made me angry, forgiveness can become much more difficult.  I would rather not put them in that situation. I would rather remain amicable with my family (immediate, extended, and married into) so family gatherings don't get awkward on account of me.

The epitome of family gathering awkwardness

Tattoos

I took care of a 16-year-old girl the other day. Somehow we got on the subject of tattoos and she asked if I had any.  Quick answer is no.  Naturally her follow up question was why not.

Honestly the main reason I won't get a tattoo are my beliefs.  As Mormons we are taught from a young age that we should "respect our bodies as a gift from God" and "not disfigure ourselves with tattoos or body piercings." Knowing it's unethical to share my beliefs to patients (unless they ask), I gave another reason.

I've had similar conversations with my friends and coworkers.  When my colleagues ask if I'm going to get a tattoo I usually say I'm not interested.  When they insist on having more of an explanation than that I bring up the cost.

The better and more intricate the design (and having a good tattoo artist) can get pricy quickly.  I recently treated a patient in the emergency room with a nice piece of body art covering the side of her body. She admitted it cost her $350.  Several coworkers have admittedly spent over $500 for their designs.  I even found an article that will help you estimate how much your tattoo will cost.  Not to mention a botched tattoo coverup cost (or living with an ex's name/face tattooed on you).

I love to travel and I do it as frequently as I can.  For the amount of money I would drop on a tattoo I can do a lot of things (assuming I have $500 to drop on a tattoo).  From where I live I can go to NYC for a day (with extra money to go to the bathroom in case you aren't near any of the free ones), do a Segway tour of DC (when my kids are older), spend a few days at Ocean City or Virginia Beach, go to the Grand Canyon of PA, rent a cabin for a weekend in the Smoky Mountains, etc.  The longer I think about it the more trip ideas I can come up with.  I could even take a photography class online so I can take (and edit) better pictures for when I do get to these places (most of them are already on my 5 year vacation/day trip plans, some of these may come as a surprise to my wife).

Admittedly I thought about getting a tattoo at one point in my life.  And if I didn't feel strongly about my beliefs I would probably get a Disney themed or a Star Wars themed one.  I would definitely drop the money to have the light sabers with a UV glow to it.  But the combination of my beliefs and my desire to travel is much greater than getting a tattoo.

I don't care if you have tattoos and I will admire the new tattoos that are shown to me because, once again, most are fun to look at.  Many people like showing off their new body art because they are excited about it and who am I to rain on their parade?