Baldur

Ok OK, because of tremendous amount of callers to the station we'll play back to back 'Klaatu' this evening.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFsuHhgoGbY&feature=related

sheftali52

Great music, Baldur. Had not heard of Klaatu before.

Baldur

Their story is quite complicated

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klaatu_(band)

Robindcr8l

Well, well, seems I have missed some international intrigue here on ThinkDraw with hackers and stalkers from all around the world!

Thanks for the music, Baldur. Very relaxing after a hard-day's work. Tonight Boise is agog with excitement over the Fiesta Bowl. Yes, I understand that 98% of you have no idea what the hell that is, but the Fiesta Bowl is some mucky-muck college football game that is played in Glendale Arizona and usually only some teams from more important divisions are invited to play. But this year, for the second time ever, our little Boise State Broncos were invited, despite being in some lower division. Or something like that...don't ask me! Anyway, a couple of years ago, Boise State won this game with like a second left on the clock with a play they called "the Statue of Liberty". (Please don't ask me for details, I have NO clue!) So this year they are playing that same team (TCU or Texas Christian University) and there is much anticipation for perhaps an Empire State Building play, or better yet, (if we stick with a statue theme) the Venus De Milo play. (Yes, I'm being sarcastic, but please don't start calling me maddy.)

Now, this game is so exciting that people were asking for the day off and calling in sick to stay home and watch it, or, if one was rich, they would travel down to Glendale and spend $150 on a college game that Boise feels is better than the SuperBowl itself! There is a patient who went door to door to our other patients asking them to join him in the dining room to watch the game on the big-screen. He was creating his own tailgate party, only, instead of pick-ups, people were in wheelchairs. I could care less about the game, but it was kind of fun to watch all of our patients creating their own big bash in honor of it. One patient's wife brought a huge bowl of homemade caramel corn but was wise enough to wait until we banished the diabetics and swallow-impaired patients from sharing! LOL

At this point I am home and really have no idea who's winning the game, but feel free to check out ESPN. I think that's what channel it's on, anyway.

Work yesterday was so awful, my 12-hour shift took 13 hours 40 minutes and I never once got a lunch break or a pee break. I get crabby when I'm hungry, and I get angry when I spend my whole day meeting other people's needs and can't even meet my own basic needs of food and bathroom breaks. And the sad part is that at the end of the shift, with all the crazy running around, I still felt like I hadn't given very good care to my patients. At least not the kind of care I'd LIKE to give. Alas.

Today, however, I was given an entirely different group of patients on the other half of our unit and I was able to shower people, take them to the potty, get them dressed, comb their hair, AND keep their pain and weariness at bay! I even made them laugh! If only today were the rule, not the exception.

Love all the bird watching. Wondering if anyone has kildeer out there? They are a fascinating bird. The female will protect her eggs and her young from predators by luring the predator away. She lures them by feigning a broken wing, kind of drags it behind her and limps off. The predator will see the weakened bird and follow it away from the nest, then just as it thinks it's going to have an easy kill...the female SWOOPS up into the air and flies away, flipping the proverbial bird at the predator! (SOrry, couldn't resist the pun!)

sheftali52

Thanks for the Klaatu primer, Baldur--they do have a checkered history. Sorry you had a rough day, Robin, but glad you're home and relaxing a bit now. You seem representative of many nurses I've known--they are very dedicated, compassionate, and caring people who just want to make others' lives better. I, too, enjoyed all the bird discussion. Sheftali is blessed with lots of birds who visit her numerous feeders. Was very excited a few weeks ago when I saw an owl in our yard late one night--had heard them before but never seen one till then. As for killdeer, I haven't seen any here in Virginia, but have seen them in Kansas and Ohio. Was quite upset years ago, when our nephew accidentally ran over a killdeer nest in a rock driveway. The nest was well hidden in the rocks and, as designed, was not readily visible. The three eggs were crushed, and we were all upset--so was the mama killdeer, who squawked loudly and seemed inconsolable.

polenta

Robin, isn´t a 12=hour shift too much for a nurse?
I remember that in theory there was like a saying.... 8 hours work, 8 hours sleep... and the rest eating, studying, minding your own business etc.
And I´ve heard to be a nurse is considered a "dangerous" job.... so it should be 6 hours a shift.
I´ve alseo heard that to retire a nurse needs fewer years than a secretary for example because of how "tiring" the job is.

Robindcr8l

Polenta, I am not sure about any of those things, to be honest. I can say that 6-hour shift are not offered anywhere I have ever worked as a bedside nurse. I could do 8-hour shifts, but that would require working 5 days a week in order to be considered full-time and still get the coverage I need for health insurance for my son and I. So right now, the 12-hour shifts work best for me, so that I am only working 3 days a week. Many of the older nurses are strongly opposed to 12-hour shifts, probably for the reasons you mention. But those of us who are single parents, or even 2-parent families, find those 12-hour shifts to be a life-saver. Just over a month ago, I passed over a job opportunity that would have been much less physically taxing on me, but would have required I work 5 days a week. There are always trade-offs in life, I guess, and the more days at home with my son I have, the better for us.

gocards

Robin, Congratulations to all in Boise in the Fiesta Bowl win. All of us University of Louisville fans have pulled for Boise, since we played them in the Liberty bowl several Years ago. The fans that traveled to Memphis from Boise were wonderful. I also hope you have more enjoyable days than stressful days at work.

Robindcr8l

Thanks Gocards. There is much celevration in Boise today over this. I am not all that knowledgable about college football, but my limited understanding is that the university is hoping to be advanced into a better league in college football so that they can play even better teams. This will attract even more star athletes to the school apparently, which will increase the fan base and the money to the college. The part I don't understand is: does anyone at the college care about academics?? Shouldn't they be trying to attract more star geniuses?! LOL!

polenta

Sorry Robin. I now understand what you are doing. Well, if you only work three days a week, that's a good trade-off. At least you have all the time for YOU four days a week.
I hope you enjoy your free days as much as possible!

marius

Loved hearing all about Boise's celebrations! Even if it is football which I know nothing about, it was very interesting to learn about it anyway.

Now, marius has a question. It might fit better in Feedback, but it may have already been proposed there. For a LONG time I have wished there were "theme galleries" besides the Showcase.

Login has a sort of gallery for "things on wheels," but the problem with that is that you must click on each thumbnail to be able to see each picture. How I'd love to step into the gallery labeled, "Things on wheels" and all the pics would be easy to see.

The question is, has anyone else had similar desires? Has this been proposed before?

I'd love to see separate galleries for: portaits, animals drawings, nature scenes, designs and patterns, thing around the home, buildings and so forth. Have no idea how difficult this would be or if others would even be interesed, but for my own part, there are many times when I've wished for a way to call up all the best nature scenes, the best portraits, the best sunsets, etc.

Hazer

Marius, I agree wholeheartedly.

AuntieB

Mailbag Time Faithful listeners!

Dear Auntie B,
Christmas time has come and gone and once again I am left with a dilemma.
My sainted elderly mother has bought me clothing as a gift, AGAIN.
I know she means well, but she always buys me the most hideous articles of garments that I would never be caught dead in. My closets are full of them as I feel guilty getting rid of them. Where this woman got her taste is beyond me! Certainly my advanced fashion sense must have developed on it's own.
How can I get her to stop? Is it wrong to toss this stuff out?
Cathy Couture

Gentlest Listener,
Not everyone has advanced fashion sense. What you hadn't mentioned in your letter is whether mumsy dresses herself dreadfully as well. If so then she is out to sabotage your look so she may continue to shine without competition.
If indeed the addled dear is a poor dresser then it is not her fault, just count the days until you have her commited to a facility where fashion is restricted to garments that tie shut in the back.
Meanwhile you must really get all of those dreadful items out of your sight.
Donate the lot of them to some charity that helps clothe the homeless and forget they ever tainted your closets.
Since you would never get caught dead in them you really must dispose of them before you die. How would you feel if some very irresponsible family member chose from among the very worst to dress you for your interment? Spending eternity in argyle Capri pants with an oversized paisley cowl-neck tunic will lessen your chances of getting past Saint Peter at the Golden Gates.
Let me know how you make out as Auntie B really does care.
Auntie B

AuntieB

- dreadfully as well + tastefully

puzzler

Auntie B, I have had the same problem as your sainted listener - up until this year. My mother always bought me a jumper or cardigan and my grown-up children have always looked forward to me trying the article on, while they roared with uncontrollable laughter! The one which scored highest on the hysteria meter, was a too tight sweatshirt with a neatly appliqued wheelbarrow on the front! This soon winged it's way to the local charity shop! However, because mum never came to us for christmas, I was able to do my dutiful, 'It was lovely' routine over the phone, after everyone had control of themselves! This year, because I moved nearer to mum, she came over and we exchanged presents on Boxing Day - not without some trepidation on my part, despite Puzzler's not inconsiderable amateur dramatic abilities. My children would surely have let me down, had I been required to force myself into another unique garment, but I was spared. Not so my children, (my turn to hold back the laughter), as for the 10th year running, the two boys got chocolate liquers, which they hate! Still, it is the thought that counts!

marius

Dear AuntieB, you are a breath of fresh air as always.

I was about to tell Cathy that one good thing about receiving horrid gifts is that it gives you "material" and I don't mean material as in fabric, I mean material as in what makes stories. And, tee hee, our own redoubtable (20 points) puzzler just illustrated that perfectly. Great story, puzzler! Thanks for the chuckle!

When I was a kid my Dad got presents from the great aunts every year at Christmas. However, these two aunts, Winifred and Josephine, were ticked that their sister had not named Dad, Larry, so they called Dad, Larry, anyway. They addressed cards to Larry and wrote, "to Larry" on all his gifts and asked for Larry when they called on the phone.

It irritated my mom to no end but we kids thought it was a hoot!

Baldur

My own mother has been similarly out of tune with what I would ever wear.
This year I will actually keep my gift for the first time in at least a decade.
She bought me a pair of ugly deep greyish-blue sneakers.
Baldur has not owned sneakers in some time and could really use a pair, but why she chose this color is beyond me.
They will be perfect for shoveling manure in the garden.

Baldur

Today I made myself a pot of vegetable stew for dinner,
It was mainly cubes of pumpkin, potatoes, carrot and onion with a handful of green peas for contrast.
Using my Tunisian cookbook for inspiration I seasoned it with Thyme, Cumin, Coriander, Cloves, Garlic, Hot Red Pepper flakes, Salt & Pepper.
It was rather nice.
Perhaps the most interesting flavored vegetarian one I've made.
The cumin worked better with the pumpkin than a more cautious use of Italian seasonings might have.

sheftali52

Baldur, please forgive Sheftali, but she was amused by your mom's gift to you.
http://www.thinkdraw.com/picture.php?pictureId=76941

On a more serious note, your vegetable stew sounds delicious.

Baldur

For this evening's musical interlude Radio Baldur is pleased to present our very own local yet world renowned mime, Wanda Woonsocket.
She is going to do her version of the hit song from the musical 'Wicked'.
Here is Wanda with her version of:

Popular (lyrics by Stephen Scwartz)

Whenever I see someone less fortunate than I,
and let's face it, who isn't less fortunate than I?
my tender heart tends to start to bleed.
and when someone needs a makeover,
I simply have to take over!
I know exactly what they need!

and even in your case,
though it's the toughest case I've yet to face,
don't worry, I'm determined to succeed!
follow my lead,
and yes indeed, you will be...

POPULAR! you're gonna be popular!
I'll teach you the proper ploys,
when you talk to boys,
little ways to flirt and flounce, ooh!
I'll show you what shoes to wear!
how to fix your hair!
everthing that really counts to be...

POPULAR! I'll help you be popular!
you'll hang with the right cohorts,
you'll be good at sports,
know the slang you've got to know.
so let's start,
'cause you've got an awfully long way to go!

Don't be offended by my frank analysis,
think of it as personality dialysis,
now that I've chosen to become a
pal, a sister and advisor,
there's nobody wiser!
not when it comes to...

POPULAR! I know about popular.
and with an assist from me,
to be who you'll be,
instead of dreary who you were...uh, are.
there's nothing that can stop you,
from becoming popular... lar...

la la, la la!
We're gonna make you pop-u-lar!

When I see depressing creatures,
with unprepossessing features,
I remind them on their own behalf
to - think - of
celebrated heads of state,
or specially great communicators!
did they have brains or knowledge?
don't make me laugh!

They were POPULAR!
please! it's all about popular.
it's not about aptitude,
it's the way you're viewed,
so it's very shrewd to be,
very very popular like ME!

And though you protest,
your disinterest,
I know clandestinely,
you're gonna' grin and bear it!
Your new found popularity!
ah!

la la, la la!
You'll be popular!
Just not quite as popular as ME!