I realize I nodded and gave you an affirmative gesture.

July 10, 2015 ~ ladyquirky ~ Leave a comment

tympanosclerosis audio — This is not my hearing test, I found it on google. But, if I remember correctly, mine looks something like this.

I have some hearing loss in my right ear. I am by no means deaf, but there are certain sounds I do not hear well. Unfortunately, that includes many male voices. Since I find it annoying to say “What?” and “Huh?” and “I’m sorry, I did not hear you,” I have come up with some coping mechanisms. When someone says something in passing I generally assume they are offering a greeting. So, I nod and give a generic response.

This usually works. Unless it doesn’t.

Yesterday I was at work and the CEO of this little hospital walked by as I was waiting on the elevator. He said something unintelligible, and I responded with a nod and a half-hearted little thumbs up. He stopped, turned and looked at me expectantly. I had a moment of sheer terror. What on earth did I just agree to? Oh, crap. I agreed that kittens should be drowned at birth. I may have said I love Michael Bolton. Ugh!

Nope, he had asked me to come open a locked door with my badge. He was waiting for me to walk with him. Oops. I am fairly confident I turned fifty shades of crimson, and I explained how I don’t always hear people, and that I probably should not pretend like I did. He laughed and it was no big deal.

I find it fascinating how people develop coping skills to hide their difficulties. Most of the time my hearing loss is no big deal. It is a thousand times better than it used to be. I have had several surgeries, and my surgeon did a fabulous job restoring most of my hearing. I am lucky.

Sometimes my hearing loss causes me a lot of embarrassment. Just add it to some of my quirks. Yes, I talk loudly. I have no idea when I am doing it. I don’t find it offensive when people give me signal that I have gone up several decibels. Just give me an indication. Seriously. I tend to try to walk to the right of most men, and I usually find it helpful to be facing you when you speak.

If I do not respond to you, chances are very great I didn’t HEAR you! I do not make it a habit to ignore people. That is rude. I am never rude on purpose. Well, maybe never is a strong word, but it is usually not my intention to be rude. I was raised with manners.

When I walk, my path sometimes veers to the left. I may end up walking WAY to close to you for comfort. I may brush up against you. Oops, that tends to be awkward.

So, if our paths ever cross, and I respond wildly inappropriately, just get my attention. We can have a good laugh at my awkward attempt to compensate and life is good.

PS: I am having fun and the doc I am working with this week has the same sense of humor as I do. We both find it riotously funny to see what big words we can throw into random conversation. It has become a challenge. If I were not afraid of defenestration, I would try to see if I could use that particular word in a piece of professional writing. hehe.

Do you wanna be my friend?

July 9, 2015July 9, 2015 ~ ladyquirky ~ 2 Comments

dave — Hi Dave. May I call you Dave? Please? I think you are pretty fantastic. We could be friends.

Okay, I admit it. I am one of those annoying people who fantasizes about famous people. I actually size them up and wonder if they would be a good friend. Now, most people know I am obsessed with Dave Grohl. I am pretty sure he would fantastically fun to hang out with. I am also convinced he would like me and my friends. Oddly enough, as I write about him there is a commercial for the Foo Fighters to be on The Today Show. Funny, because watching The Today Show is what prompted this post.

hqdefault — This is one of my favorite movies EVER! I love a good coming of age story.

Remember that scene from Almost Famous where Billy Crudup hangs out with some good Topeka people? That may be one of my favorite fantasies. Come on! Who wouldn’t want their favorite star to come hang out with them at a party full of their friends? Perhaps minus the acid trip.

sandra-son — Doesn’t she look like a fun person? I love how she presents herself and I am pretty sure we would have a great time.

Perhaps my biggest fan crush is still Sandra Bullock. I am CONVINCED she would love to hang out with me and my friends. I love the people who seem real. Yes, I am very aware they are just normal people. That is the point. So am I! We already have something in common. This all started this morning as I was watching the rerun of The Today Show and Jenna Bush Hager was choosing with Hoda Kotb. She looked so cute in her yellow dress, and she seems so down to earth and fun. I found myself wishing I could be her friend. The first thing I would tell her is how adorable that dress was.

This image released by NBC shows Jenna Bush Hager on NBC News' — Obviously not this dress. However, still adorable. She comes across so friendly and open on air. I love watching her. I am still sure we could be friends. LOL

Now, I have real friends. Lots of them. I also have a whole tribe of new friends who I get to go on adventures with. So, why do I judge people on whether or not I think they would make a good friend? It is a good yard stick. So, what makes a good friend?

Honesty paired with kindness. If I look terrible in something, tell me! It is highly probable I did not realize how off I was that day. However, if I am excited about whatever outfit, hairstyle, or makeup technique I have tried, please be kind. You may gently redirect me if I am way off, but don’t humiliate me. I am sensitive.
Always up for a laugh or a cry. You have to be willing to be with your friends in good times and hard times. If you bail as soon as the good times are over, you pretty much suck.
You like me for me. I am quirky at best. Some people enjoy my quirks. Others, not so much. It is okay if we don’t necessarily gel, but don’t pretend we do.
You forgive mistakes. I am not perfect. I make lots of social mistakes. I am not comfortable in many situations. This is getting better, however I still need lots of reassurance and advice. I want to fit in and have a good time. Help a girl out.
You enjoy getting my random selfies from time to time. Yep. I am a selfie girl. This is new for me. I went years avoiding the camera because I felt fat. I finally realized it is fun to take silly, not always flattering pics of myself. I share them with you to make you laugh. Or just to be funny. LAUGH! That’s the point. I am not shallow I think these selfies mean anything. It has become funny. The middle-aged chick taking selfies like a teenager. Jump in the selfie with me. It is fun.

230 — See? It’s all about having fun. Not taking everything so seriously. Friends are fun!

I spent years feeling awkward and just not fitting in. Then, I learned to just be myself. I have nothing to prove and I am a lot nicer when I am comfortable being me. It helps that I have surrounded myself with people who enjoy my company and laugh when I am being funny. They also laugh at times when I am not trying to be funny… oh well, you can’t win them all.

One of my favorite pics of all time There is a video that was accidentally shot first. We were having such a good time.

Yes, it is completely appropriate to force the waiter into out selfie shenanigans. Don’t worry, we tip well.

Processed with Moldiv — It is all about having a good time. You can be there in the not so good times, but in the end- we are having fun.

DSCN0829 — You know, Angela has been making me take pics for years. She may be the first person who insisted on chronically our adventures with a camera. So, thank her or blame her. Man- Yet another time I was horribly sunburned.

Highly posed selfies are the best. You don’t actually think these funny moments just happen do you? Of course they do! Sometimes they are recreated for the camera… but where do you think we get the idea?

Obligatory group pic! The pretty lady in white was about to be a married woman.

Of course only one of us was ready for this photo…. This is part of the fun!

I wish Kristianne’s face wasn’t cut off… but, I think Angela and I look great! We were having such a good time.

Angela, my best friend probably deserves some recognition. She has been essentially a photo journalist for as long as I have known her. I used to make fun of her for always having a camera, however she deserves credit. She was the first person besides my family who made me get in the picture. I am so grateful for that. It has allowed me to have a lot of memories I could have lost without the record. One important point: not all selfies have to flattering and at just the right angle. We need to stop trying to hide all our imperfections. They are just part of us. The people who love us, love us with our imperfections. They are well aware of those occasional skin breakouts. They know all about that funny face we make when we are laughing genuinely. They love it. Stop trying to make everything so perfect. Our people love us exactly as we are. If they don’t, they are not our people. Nyki, what is your point? You are rambling and for some reason walking down memory lane posting random pics on your plea for famous people to come hang out with you. Well, the point is our friends are the people who we pick to become part of our lives. We share our true selves with them. You can never love too many people. You just have to let them in. It is a good idea to get lots of pics, you never know when you will want to reminisce and enjoy a meandering stroll through your adventures and shenanigans with your friends. PS. If anyone knows Sandra Bullock, Jenna Bush Hager, Dave Grohl, or Vince Vaughn please let them know they are more than welcome to come hang out with me and my friends. I promise plenty of selfie opportunities, and we may just have to take a trip to Target. Why Target? Because that is what we do.

Funny things

July 8, 2015July 8, 2015 ~ ladyquirky ~ Leave a comment

Come on! How could you not love this monkey? He is adorable! He looks like a little old man.

This little doggie makes me laugh. He (she?) reminds me of all the little dogs in my life. I love them. They are such fierce protectors. LOL.

This would be funnier if my ringtone was not formerly Call Me, Maybe. I love cheesy pop music.

Can someone please explain to me how we think it is okay to dress our dogs up? Wait! I know. To make memes is good. Okay. Carry on.

So, I use Facebook as a distraction. Just a little something to make me laugh. I thought I would share some of the things I have enjoyed this week. Oh, and an elevator selfie. I could not pass up the opportunity for a funny picture.

Only three more work days until I get to go home. I miss my new bed. I miss my cats. Yeah, I am a little homesick. I suppose this is normal.

I am somewhat convinced this experience will leave me better off in the long run. It is worth it. I have met some interesting people, and I am learning a lot about myself.

I want to continue to grow both professionally and personally. This is a great way to ensure that. I cannot help but wonder what adventures are coming next. How long can a person maintain this pace?

This weekend when I go home, I get to go to work at my old job. I can’t wait. I miss seeing my nurse coworkers. I miss Work Mommy and Work Daddy (hehehe.) I am so glad to get to work with them again, even if it is just for a few days.

Most importantly, I want to see my family. I love them so much. They are my anchor in this world. When I feel uncentered and adrift, they help me to keep my feet planted on the ground. So, three more days until I head home… I am ecstatic.

Small town healthcare is different.

July 7, 2015 ~ ladyquirky ~ Leave a comment

My professional life has undergone huge changes recently. Working as a locum has been interesting to say the least. This is my first assignment, and to be honest, I am having a blast.

The most interesting part has been some of the things I have learned.

I take knowing the specialists in an area for granted. Trying to keep a sea of new names straight and remembering the process for dealing with them is interesting. I am lost most of the time. (Good thing the nurses know what is going on. I am so grateful they are so helpful. I really think I would be drowning without their assistance.) You do not just consult nephrology, endo, or GI. THEY DON’T EXSIST! So, I am looking up a lot of things I just don’t do often enough.

Small town medicine is different from medicine at home. The best way to compare it to my past experiences is to remember what it was like before I moved to the ICU as a nurse. I remember the mystery and confusion about how things worked after I transferred patients to ICU. Later, I moved to ICU so I could understand how critically ill patients were treated. I feel kinda like I am back on the telemetry floor, most things can be treated on the floor until they require more specialized care.

There is no dialysis. I miss dialysis. Dialysis is my friend. There is also no cath lab. I am not sure if there is interventional radiology or not. (I am pretty sure not.) This means that patients who need these services have to go.

I have a whole new respect for the hospitals that serve as major medical centers. I used to think it was dumb these little hospitals could not handle these issues. DUH! They don’t have the numbers to justify the expense of highly specialized services. That is why you have the larger hospital to receive the funneled patients from a large area. (It’s all becoming more clear!)

Living in a medical hub is quite different from living in a small town. I am not sure which I like better. The small town is interesting, and requires a broad knowledge base. I would think more importantly, it requires a certain sense of humility and practicality. You cannot be afraid to collaborate, and to admit when you are in over your head. It is very likely there are not four or five physicians following each patient, so you need to have a good grasp of basic standards of care for so many situations.

At some hospitals knowing hospital employees makes you a VIP, in these small towns everyone is a VIP. I love that. I think it is exactly how people need to be treated.

Mostly, I am thrilled to see so many competent healthcare providers in this small town. I suppose I always assumed people settled in these rural areas because they could not hack it in a larger hospital system. No… not so much. They are providing services for these communities and I am impressed. I am glad to be here. I cannot wait to see what other adventures are in store for me.

Happiness is Lubbock, Texas growing nearer and nearer…

July 6, 2015July 6, 2015 ~ ladyquirky ~ 2 Comments

I was born and raised in West Texas. I had never even been north of Texas until I was in my late twenties, and yet people always assume I am from “up north.”

For those of you who don’t know, people assume Texans have a drawl when they speak. I don’t have that. (Well, not much anyway.) I do say “Y’all” and I am always “fixin” to do something, however I speak fast. Apparently very fast.

Many Texans insert extra syllables into their words. I am watching the news, and this woman just said the word fun. She pronounced it with two full syllables “F- uhhhn” with a pause between the f and the un. LOL. No wonder they are perplexed.

So, here I am in East Texas and I have been asked more than once, “Where are you from?” It makes me laugh. I had speech therapy when I was young, and I have ADHD. My brain is always going 90 miles a minute. I also have a lot to say. So, I speak fast lest I forget what I was saying.

I find it funny. I am a proud Texan, and I still say some things with a hint of twang. Maybe I should get a T-shirt.

Now, does anyone have any tips for dealing with this terrible humidity? Home is dry and windy. Muggy and oppressive wet heat is permeating my soul. I feel waterlogged. Someone wring me out to dry.

One more week until I head home for a week. I cannot wait. I miss my cats. I miss my family. I miss my friends. I am loving the new things I am learning, and I have met some lovely people, but I am a West Texas girl.

I guess the song was true: Happiness really is Lubbock, Texas growing nearer and nearer. Thanks for that Mac Davis. You may be my favorite redneck philosopher.

I guess happiness was Lubbock, Texas
In my rear view mirror
But now happiness is Lubbock, Texas
Growing nearer and dearer
And the vision is getting clearer
In my dreams

– Mac Davis- Happiness is Lubbock, Texas in my Rearview Mirror

Life is good today.

I am off having adventures, seeing more of my great state, and exploring new opportunities. I am so grateful I have a home to go home to. It is nice to have strong roots. You can branch out and see new things, secure in the knowledge home is waiting for you.

Comfortable and friendly place to stay.

July 5, 2015 ~ ladyquirky ~ Leave a comment

So, I am working out of town for ten days. I am staying at Hampton Inn in Mount Pleasant, Texas. Let me just tell you, it’s a pretty nice place. Nothing fancy, however the staff here is friendly, courteous, and helpful. I cannot stand it when people act like you are interrupting them when you need to use their services.

My room is always clean when I return, and my stuff is exactly where I left it. The bed is pretty comfortable, and the AC works well.

So, why does this earn a blog post? Well, I just had the most lovely conversation with a woman who works here, and she made me feel so welcome. It is the first morning I was not on the verge of a lonely little weep- fest. (Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration, but it is a little lonely without your family or any of your friends around.) I stood there in the breakfast area while she was working, and had a nice normal little chat. Now, I feel ready to start the day. (Ha! I am so glad I snuck in to steal a cup of coffee before breakfast time.)

It is so important for travelers to be welcomed into a comfortable, friendly environment. I imagine I would be miserable if my accommodations were not comfortable.

The hospital I am at this assignment is also nice. It has been a whirlwind of introductions, and I cannot remember anyone’s name. (Someone may be named Amanda- or that could be Katie. – Katie, if you are reading this, I hope you get a laugh!)

I am thinking I am going to like doing this kind of work. It is challenging and I am learning a lot. Maybe someday I will be a seasoned world traveller, and I will know all the tricks to making a hotel room feel more like home. Until then, I am just grateful for the friendly people.

Engaging and eye contact.

July 4, 2015July 4, 2015 ~ ladyquirky ~ Leave a comment

Sometimes I am fortunate to see myself mirrored back to me in another person’s behavior. This is when I get the best opportunity to reevaluate how my actions could impact others.

Sometimes I am a bit much. I am loud, indignant, and somewhat abrasive. It does not matter what my intentions are. I want to be seen the way I feel.

I have a big heart. I care about people. Yes, I get annoyed easily, however I do not want to spread malcontent. I want people to be better after they come into contact with me.

So, I am going to see what happens when I smile and say hello to anyone who crosses my path. No more looking down or pretending to be busy on my phone in elevators. I am going to be engaging. Who never know who you are going to meet.

By the way, spreading good vibes is free. It will not cost me a thing.

I have been accused of being unapproachable. I have been told I look angry. Ha! I am not angry. Have no fear, I will let you know if I am. I am going to try to be more friendly. I feel friendly, so why not allow the happy vibes out into the world?

124 — Just because this kid makes me smile so much! This should be giving you good vibes. What a great kid!

It is not my job to contemplate all the world’s problems every time I am alone and not otherwise entertained. I need to get out of my head and back into the real world. I have to remember this is an adventure. Life is good today.

Mi Vida Locums

July 3, 2015July 3, 2015 ~ ladyquirky ~ Leave a comment

So, the first couple of days were exceedingly hard. I was unsure of myself and I was afraid to make a move. Then, today was my first day really by myself. I did fine. I just did what I have been taught. Treating patients is not different just because I am in a different town. I still know what to do.

The only reason I know this is true, is because I have been taught to do a good job. I have been taught to treat the whole patient and to look at the whole picture.

This is a new adventure. By the way, there is not a Target here. I miss Target. It is my go-to when I am out-of-town.

Having fun, learning a lot, and to be completely honest, I can’t wait to go home and get some hugs from my people. I did not realize how much I hug people. If these strangers don’t watch out, they may be victims of the hugger. LOL. Here’s to new adventures.

Ummm… is this what 35 is supposed to look like?

June 27, 2015 ~ ladyquirky ~ 5 Comments

Yes! It is a tiara. With Glitter. And, yes those are bubbles in my scepter. Why? Because I am a princess. Every one thinks so.

Seriously. What age is it when you finally have it all figured out? I really thought 25 would be it. Then, 28 seemed like it would be the year. Now, here I am at 35…. and I am still pretty much flailing away, and figuring it all out as I go. Sigh.

There is some good news: Every thing is awesome. I get to be and do anything I am willing to try to work for. That is a liberating feeling.

I am on a path of many wonderful adventures.

If you had asked me 20 years ago who I would be at 35, I would have been so wrong. Turns out, I am still the same girl. I only wish I had been a little nicer to her.

So, having a great time. Surrounded by thoughtful and hilarious friends. I promise you, I have never laughed so hard continuously before. Good times, Good beer, and I may have had lemon cake for breakfast.

An Open Letter To All Of My Friends Who Take Selfies

June 27, 2015 ~ ladyquirky ~ Leave a comment

This is a great piece about a selfie-appreciator. The thing is… For me it all started out as a joke… But, now I see it as an opportunity to show me exactly where I am.

The Belle Jar

Dear Friends Who Take Selfies,

I want you to know that I love it when you post pictures of yourself. I know selfies get a lot of bad press, but I think they’re rad. They give me a little window into your life, and you’d be amazed at how much I can get out of one little photo.

I love your pictures because I love seeing what you’re wearing – the outfits you build give me ideas about how to mix it up with my own wardrobe, and seeing you work your shit gives me courage to try clothing that I otherwise might have thought was too outlandish or revealing.

I love seeing how you do your hair and makeup. You look like a hot babe and I wish you would make YouTube tutorials explaining how you get your eyeliner just so. I want you to post pictures every time you change your…

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