Lemonade Stands

I am several dollars poorer thanks to all the cute children in my neighborhood who have had lemonade stands this summer. When will parents teach them about eBay? 

Well anyway, it is fun to see how each child's face fills up with excitement (some times their uncontrollable jumping up and down reflects their excitement also) when you stop to give them a few cents for a cold, sometimes not-so-cold and somewhat diluted...ahem...lemon drink. 

Who doesn't remember having a lemonade stand as a kid? It seems like every childhood was in need of the citrus drink to get a few dollars for something special. 

I will always stop when I see a lemonade stand because it represents the right children have to dream.

Lessons From The ER

OK, so most people know that I work at an emergency room (actually two emergency rooms but one of them not as often as the other one). I haven't written anything in my blog for a while and I thought I would write something which may be interesting or at least educational for those who are not so familiar with some of the common things I see at the ER. I will get right to it. These are all things based on my personal experiences:

1. No matter what age you are, make sure you have something in your wallet or someone in your cell phone listed as an emergency contact. You will regret not having done this simple thing if you are unable to speak. It happens quite often. You will also regret not encouraging your loves ones to do this if something terrible happens and you weren't by their side because we didn't know how to get a hold of you. And by the time we get a hold of you, it may be too late.

2. If you are saving up so you can part-ay and travel during your retirement, it probably won't be enough or realistic. I don't know if you are aware that Assisted Livings or Nursing Homes are NOT covered by insurance other than after medical procedures (aka knee replacement etc) only for a few days. So if you or your loved one can't get around your two story house or one of you wonders out in the street dangerously because of dementia, you are all on your own. Assisted Livings average $130 per day. Nursing Homes are anywhere from $120 to $500 per day.You need to plan for that too.

3. Getting medical care should be a priority. Your cell phone and your hair highlights are a privilege. It's sad we have been taught we are entitled or the world "owes us." Unfortunately, even though you can be seen at an ER without making a payment upfront, if you need follow up with a specialist you will not be seen unless you pay a rather large down-payment (meaning a few hundreds). And yes, they CAN turn you away. My suggestion? If need be, get rid of the cell phone and the highlights and save the money you need because my impression is that if you are referred to a specialist it is likely you will not get better without their treatment and without it you will probably get worse.

4. If you ever want to work in an ER you have to be a self-starter and a team player. It's amazing what I have seen accomplished by the great people I work with. 

5. Just because it's an ER it doesn't mean = fast. When you are having several different tests being done, they take time to get results. Be ready to be there for a little bit.

6. Calling an ER with medical questions does you no good. It's impossible to give medical advise over the phone without seeing someone, you could make a fatal mistake. Plus the people who answer the phones are not nurses of doctors. You should just google it or if not, come to be seen by a doctor.

7. Do not let your kids walk around barefoot in the ER!!! I probably shouldn't go into detail for this one but trust me, avoid it at all costs.

8. Please consider organ donation seriously. It is my personal belief that once I am dead, my body doesn't do me any good. So I hope I can help others live or see or walk or hold they children in their arms. If you want to choose to donate, please let your loves ones know. Just because you are registered through the State doesn't mean that your family will choose that for you if they weren't aware. It is very difficult for a loved one to make that kind of a decision when they are in so much pain.

9. Cherish the time you have with your loves ones. Even if they are really young, or the safest drivers you know, or the healthiest people ever, etc; I have seen people pass away for no reason pretty much. Meaning, natural causes which were completely unexpected. It is those times that I am reminded of the people who are important in my life and how most things don't matter. But love does.

Well, I don't think I have much more to say. There are always new things that I am learning but these are the ones that stick out in my mind because it would have been nice to know them a long time ago.

 

This Is All I Need To Say

That is all I needed to say.

Some Songs Should Be Retired

My last post mentioned two shows, one that I like and one that dislike. Today I have decided that I am going to write something regarding a show that has both of those characteristics:

AND...THIS...IS American Idol! 

(could you just picture little Ryan Seacrest saying that just now?)

I am definitely a hater when A.I. begins their season. I think it is mean to make fun of people who think they can sing but they totally can't. I happen to know a few...

I am a lover when A.I. gets to the top 10 (or 12 or 13 or what ever number they choose to "surprisingly" change it to in an attempt of making the season more exciting). It is so fun to watch really talented people do their own versions or popular songs.

There are have been a few times that I believed songs were so good they should have been retired. Here are my top 5:

5. MacPhee singing somewhere over the rainbow

2. Cute dreads guy (Jason Castro) singing Halleluya. I love that it is not perfect but it is so heartfelt

3. Adam Lambert singing Mad World

2. David Archuleta singing Imagine (very touching, I actually shed a tear)

1. David Cook singing Hello (the song start on second 20, the volume is a little soft for this one, you totally need to turn it up to get the full effect). I heart David Cook

These songs should so be retired. Every time another contestant sings one of these songs, you already know they are just not going to be as good! Therefore, they choose to have a disadvantage in front of millions of fans who cannot forget the best version they ever heard!
I'm writing them a letter.

Something To Look Forward To

Now that the Bachelor is over and there is nothing to look forward to on Monday nights, something has been weighing heavy in my heart.  Is there anything that can fill in that emptiness? I mean, crazy Utah chicks wishing death-by-monkeys on other girls is hard to replace.

Well, tonight I found my answer:

RALPH MACCHIO

 

SIGH...I now have a new reason to look forward to Monday nights. My Karate Kid is going to kick some booty on Dancing With the Stars. I actually don't like the show but I will definitely be watching Mr. KK as he karate-chops his way to the top. 

Isn't he dreamy? 

And no, I do not care that he is like 49 years old because he still looks like the teenager who learned how to "wax-on, wax-off" from Mr. Miyagi. 

I'd date him. 

Sorry Will Smith Jr., you just won't ever do.

 

Thank You Dr. Seuss

 Today I watched a show where they discussed how some schools will celebrate Dr. Seuss' birthday. Other than eating green eggs and ham (which I have personally done), they are going to read his books and then each child gets to write a book about themselves. Now, my question is, why don't we as adults do that once a year? I remember as a little girl having to write about myself and making collages of the things I did well or I enjoyed. Would we not be happier if a couple of times a year we wrote books (pictures included) about the things we do well, who we really are or want to grow up to be? I think March 2nd I will be making a book about myself to remember what is special about me. I think we should all do that.

Blue hair is hot

Morning or Night

Sometimes I struggle going to sleep. Not because I am not tired or because I have a lot of energy. The struggle tends to happen when I am really tired actually. I think sometimes I can not sleep because I am excited or nervous about plans that I have been thinking about and for some reason it feels as if I continue to think about it for "just a little bit longer" then I will continue to be excited about it a little bit longer? You are absolutely right, it makes no sense.

This brings me to a very important topic that I have been thinking about (which may or may not have kept me up a few nights). If you are tired at nights and completely crash by midnight AND you struggle every single morning waking up, even when the previous night you retired to sleep very early, are you a "night person" or a "morning person" or neither?

For a long time I have wondered what I am. Since my body feels like I was struck by a moving vehicle when ever I attempt to wake up before the sun has risen, I have decided I am not a morning person. Easy decision.

The problem is, at night when I find myself hoping my date will drop me off not too late so I can go to sleep because I am tired, I think that I am probably not a night person either!

Did this picture not just make you yawn? How does that always happen?

My conclusion is: I am completely lost. Is there not any other time of the day to choose from? I think my best time of day is around 10:00 am. So would that make me a "mid-morning person?" I could live with that.

Three-Ohhh

Fantastically Fantastic!

Yep, I just said that (or I guess wrote it). That is the best way to describe these 30 years of my life. Sigh...the word “thirty”…I say that with some difficulty. Honestly, I am completely fine with being in my 30’s. The ONLY negative is that it is harder to find cute, active, fun guys who have similarities in their lives with mine. I only know a few guys that fit this profile and I do spend time with them. The only problem with it is that once you know they are not right for you, you can still have fun with them but you have to keep meeting other men that fit that profile to date and that is hard. Like I previously stated: the only negative thing is the guy situation.

With all that said, I have loved my life up to now. It has been so full of happiness and love and adventures and learning and so many other things! Sometimes I think I am going to die any minute (which I would be fine with p.s.-I leave everything to my parents), because I pretty much have done all the things I wanted to in my life. Even all the things mentioned in my Patriarchal Blessing have come to pass. So in all reality it could happen at any minute.

Well, I did not mean to start talking about death. My point is that I feel my life has been rich and fulfilling.

Something that I have always been blessed with is good friends. Even though my family moved around A LOT throughout my life, there were always people who were willing to take me in and accept me as a friend. Gracias amigos Chilenos y Argentinos por su amistad. I think a life without friends is not worth living. I hope that I can be that type of a friend myself.

Another part of my life that has been richly blessed is by having a wonderful family. My parents are good, honest people who are supportive (and for all those who know them, they are very funny). When I was growing up, we were the kind of family that would have dinner together and laugh and laugh and laugh. We would play Monopoly until so late that we would have to leave the board out to finish the game on another night. They allowed me to have a big imagination, and I did have a big imagination. My sibs are pretty awesome too. We used to play together, we used to sing together. They are still great and they are so supportive of everything I do. Even from afar, my family has always been very close. Just as an example, even though I did not live with my parents for about 12 years, when they finally moved here it was like we were never apart. I am grateful for that.

One thing I cannot leave unmentioned is the fact that I have always been so blessed in everything! I am someone who believes there is a God and that God is our Father. The little miracles I have seen in my life have proven it over and over and over again. If I could share some...people’s jaws would drop. Literally. Even how my family and I ended up living here, it is all a miracle. I am so grateful for my many blessings every day. There was a really difficult time in my life when it was hard to even get up in the morning and have any strength to do anything. What got me through those difficult times was counting my blessing. I would think about all my blessings as I drove to work (5 to 10 min) every morning. I was not allowed to repeat any in one day. I never had to. The most unreal part about all my blessings is that I am not even that good of a Daughter! Really! Yet still, I am blessed and I am so grateful and will try to be better.

Anyway, just a few simple thoughts about my wonderful life.

Happy birthday to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh Sunny Days...

I know some may disagree with me... but the best part of the year is SUMMER. Oh how I miss the early mornings when you actually want to get out of bed because the sun is out and it is starting to get warm.  Plus all the fantastic things you can do during the summer! I like to ride my bike to the library. I like walking on grass without shoes on. I like washing my hair and letting it dry out. I like having a chocolate covered cone that drips down my fingers (dripping soft-serve ice cream is the best!!!), unfortunately that's how I gain 10 lb each summer. But that's a different story.
Oh SUMMER, I love thee like I will never love anyone (or thing) else. Please come back soon!