Aunt Bytes - The Findings Of Nurse Brenda, RN, BSN

Time to laugh! Enjoy!

Christmas Carols For The Psychiatrically Challenged
Author Unknown

• Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?

• Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Queens
Disoriented Are

• Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas

• Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angles Sing About Me

• Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn
and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and
Busses and Trucks and trees and Fire Hydrants and......

• Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get me

• Autistic - Jingle Bell Rock and Rock and Rock and Rock

• Paranoid Schizophrenia --- I Know They're Listening to What
I Hear

• ADD --- Joy to the-Oh, Look, Christmas Lights!

• ADHD --- All I Want For Christmas Is Everything And I Want
It NOW!

• Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on
an Open Fire

• Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna’
Cry, I'm Gonna’ Pout, Maybe I'll tell You Why

• Passive Aggressive --- On the First Day of Christmas My
True Love Gave to Me (and then took it all away).

• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --- Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle
Bells, Jingle Bells

• Senile Dementia - Walking in a Winter Wonderland Miles from
My House In My Slippers and Robe

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder - I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa
Claus So I Burned Down the House

• Social Anxiety Disorder - Have Yourself a Merry Little
Christmas While I Sit Here and Hyperventilate

• Transvestite - Don we now our gay apparel

• Tourette's Syndrome - Chestnuts...F--- YOU! ...roasting
on...BITE ME! an open fire...A--HOLE!

I'm still laughing!
Later,
Aunt Brenda

Alabama is taking "baby steps" in loosening its penalties for cannabis offenders, but it appears that a "giant leap" would be indicated when it comes to one particular cannabis law in the state.

The law (13A-12-231) states "Any person who knowingly sells, manufactures, delivers, or brings into this state, or who is knowingly in actual or constructive possession of, in excess of one kilo or 2.2 pounds of cannabis is guilty of a felony, which felony shall be known as "trafficking in cannabis."

If the quantity of cannabis involved is in excess of one kilo or 2.2 pounds, but less than 100 pounds, such person shall be sentenced to a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of three calendar years and to pay a fine of $25,000."

Okay, so I agree that people do not need to be selling cannabis. The problem with this law is that if you happen to have more than 2.2 pounds in your house or growing in your garden, even with no intent to ever sell or distribute, (and no other evidence to support trafficking, such as scales, boxes of baggies, large sums of money) you can be hit with a Class A Felony and labeled a "drug dealer" by the state of Alabama.

That's what the letter of the law says. You are now facing felony charges and all the hassles and expenses surrounding something like that. Not only are you going through a "big bunch of stuff", you are clogging up the legal system, using the manpower of the district attorney's office, creating lots of paperwork for the employees at the courthouse, and you may even end up in prison along with the "real" criminals.

And for those of you who scream "But pot is illegal, you know that!" I have but one reply

Yes, I know it is illegal, but so is speeding or driving while "a little bit tipsy". These actions put other people in jeopardy. Growing your own herb in your own garden for your own use can't even compare to the damage to others that can be the result of these other offenses.

And they're not felonies for first-time offenders!

And that is why this is a bad law. It is not applicable in all cases, and should be amended so that more evidence is required, such as unaccounted-for large sums of money, scales for weighing out deliveries, a delivery record or account book showing who-owes-what-to-who-and-when, unusual amounts of "guests", etc. Or how about some good-old-fashioned detective work......narcotics officers can ask around in the "drug community" and find out if someone is trafficking or not. The users will know where they can buy. All these things, and I'm sure more that I'm missing, should be taken into consideration before handing down a Grand Jury indictment for "drug trafficking"!!!!!

But the way the law is written takes none of those points into account. The felony charge is based on weight alone. Period. End of story. Do not pass go, go directly to jail, along with the meth lab "scientist" from across town.

I'm not saying that cannabis needs to be legalized today. I'm sure that will happen in good time. All I'm concerned with is that we have a "bad law" on the books here in Alabama and more people need to be aware of how one change in one law can help clean out the prisons, un-clog the legal system, and keep "homegrowers" from facing a felony charge.

I honestly think this would be a "baby step" in the right direction. Read more about us at GreenEarthMinistries.com

And that's my $0.02
Nurse Brenda

Here's a story I found about an Arizona eating establishment that dresses their waitresses in sexy nurse uniforms. Let everyone know how you feel about this!

Arizona Waitresses Dress As Naughty Nurses
Dec 8, 2:23 PM (ET)
By AMANDA LEE MYERS

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - The Heart Attack Grill - a theme restaurant whose specialties include the Quadruple Bypass Burger and Flatliner Fries, cooked in pure lard - is making health-care professionals' blood pressure rise, and not because of the menu.

It is because of the waitresses' naughty nurse uniforms.

The waitresses wear skimpy, cleavage-baring outfits, high heels and thigh-high stockings - a male fantasy that some nursing organizations say is an insult to the profession.

Several nurses have complained to the Arizona attorney general's office, and a national nursing group has repeatedly asked Heart Attack Grill owner Jon Basso to stop using the outfits.

"Nurses are the most sexually fantasized-about profession," said Sandy Summers, executive director of the Center for Nursing Advocacy, based in Baltimore. "We're asking people, if they're going to have these fantasies, please don't make it so public. Move these sexual fantasies to other professions."

Basso shrugs off Summers' complaints, and refers to her and her supporters as prudes, cranks and lunatics.

"If anything, I think it glorifies nurses to be thought of as a physically attractive and desirable individual," Basso said. "There's a Faye Dunaway, Florence Nightingale hipness to it. Nobody wants to think of themselves as some old battle ax who changes bedpans for a living."

The most serious complaint Basso has faced was made to the Arizona attorney general's office by the state Board of Nursing. In September, the attorney general's office wrote Basso a letter informing him that he is illegally using the word "nurse" at his restaurant and on his Web site. Citing Arizona Statute A.R.S. 32-1636, the attorney general said only someone who has a valid nursing license can use the title "nurse."

Basso refused to remove "nurse" from his Web site but inserted an asterisk next to every nurse reference and included the following disclaimer:

"The use of the word 'nurse' above is only intended as a parody. None of the women pictured on our Web site actually have any medical training, nor do they attempt to provide any real medical services. It should be made clear that the Heart Attack Grill and its employees do NOT offer any therapeutic treatments (aside from laughter) whatsoever."

Basso said the complaints have been good for business, "all they've done is ensure there's going to be a gajillion of these all over the country."

The Heart Attack Grill opened a year ago with a Hooters-like formula of red meat and sexy waitresses. Diners choose from among four cheeseburgers: the Single, Double, Triple and Quadruple Bypass. The Quadruple is a towering monstrosity with four half-pound beef patties, four pieces of cheese and a mound of bacon.

"Essentially, it's nutritional pornography. It's so bad for you it's shocking," Basso said.

If "patients," as customers are called, finish a triple or quadruple bypass, waitresses will push them out to their cars in wheelchairs at no additional charge.

"The service is fantastic," Steve Koebensky of Scottsdale said with a snicker. "But they're overly dressed."

Phoenix resident Amanda Price, one of the few women customers at the restaurant, said the outfits did not offend her. "You don't hear nuns complaining about pregnant nun costumes, and that's more disgraceful than sexy nurses," she said.

But Scottsdale nurse Kira Wilder, who contributed to the letter-writing campaign against the Heart Attack Grill, complained: "Why do they have to denigrate the nursing profession and sexualize nursing? It's just not necessary."

Courtney Chapman, a 20-year-old waitress at the grill, said she found nothing wrong with the uniform or the stares she gets.

"They definitely look at us, but they're guys," she said. "If our butts are coming out the bottom of our skirts, and our boobs are coming out the top of our shirts, we're kind of asking for it."

Link to original story>>

Some nurses will be outraged by this. Others will see the humor.

Which way am I slanting? Well, obviously these waitresses are not nurses. No one in the establishment even hints that this may be so. In that case, who cares what they wear? This is just a business that is capitalizing on every man's fantasy. Why not? Seems pretty tame to me. I almost wish I'd thought of it first!

The actual "crime" here is the kind of food served. The Quadruple Bypass-four half-pound beef patties(!), four pieces of cheese(!) and a mound of bacon(!)!!!!! Yikes, maybe they should use cardiologists for waitresses!

And that's my $0.02,
Nurse Brenda

Dear Ask Aunt Brenda,
I'm working on a tight budget and I know I'm going to have guests drop in around the holidays. Any help for inexpensive meals that everyone loves?
Pulling My Hair Out in Florida

Dear Pulling My Hair Out,
Here's a great tip from an old wife. No, that doesn't make this "an old wives tale", if you were wondering.

Now that the holiday season is thrust upon us once again, we can all probably expect to have the occasional overnight visitor in our home.

I have found a fun way to prepare a quick and easy breakfast that everyone loves. If there are kids around, that's all the better!

Ziploc Omelets

Have guests write their name on a quart-size Ziploc freezer bag with permanent marker.

Crack 2 eggs (large or extra-large) into the bag (not more than 2) shake to combine them.

Put out a variety of ingredients such as: cheeses, ham, onion, green pepper, tomato, mushrooms, salsa, etc.

Each guest adds prepared ingredients of choice to their bag and shake. Make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up.

Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. You can usually cook 6-8 omelets in a large pot. For more, make another pot of boiling water.

Open the bags and the omelet will roll out easily. Be prepared for everyone to be amazed.

Everyone gets involved in the process and it's a great conversation piece.

Try it and let me know how everyone loves it!
Aunt Brenda

Dear Aunt Brenda,

I'm looking for a cake mix recipe like you would use for an easy bake oven. My niece wants one for Christmas and the mixes are very expensive, so I thought maybe I could find a recipe and make up some homemade ones to give to her, I appreciate any help or ideas you have, thanks! Broke in Alabama

Dear Broke in Alabama,

I recently found a website that can help you. It also features many "frugal living" suggestions, as well as coupons, crafts, freebies, and frugal gift ideas. Check it out and let me know what you think!

http://www.budget101.com/kids.htm

Aunt Brenda

If you're one of the 127 million overweight Americans looking for a new approach to drop those extra pounds, dermatologist and best-selling author Dr. Nicholas Perricone may offer hope. In his new book, "The Perricone Weight-Loss Diet," the renowned skincare specialist writes the key to a successful weight-loss plan is simple: "Follow an anti-inflammatory lifestyle." Perricone was invited to discuss the book and his plan on “Today.” Here’s an excerpt.

GETTING STARTED
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
–Alan Kay, computer genius/visionary

In writing this book, I have discovered that the greatest gift I can give my readers is permission to eat healthy and delicious food. This might seem strange considering this book is about weight loss, because traditional concepts of weight loss are all about not eating —nevertheless, it is a fact.

Statistics regarding obesity and excess weight are alarming. The International Obesity Task Force, which is advising the European Union, had estimated in 2003 that about 200 million of the 350 million adults living in what is now the European Union may be overweight or obese. The U.S. Census Bureau’s Census 2000 stated that nearly two-thirds of adults in the United States were overweight, and 30.5 percent were obese.

However, a closer evaluation of the figures in the latest analysis indicated that may be an underestimate.

We Americans (children and adults) are more confused than ever about what constitutes a healthy diet. According to statistics from the National Institutes of Health, the prevalence of obesity in the United States has almost doubled since 1980.

And for good reason. For the past several decades, we have been bombarded with all kinds of misinformation about what we should and should not eat or drink. As soon as one scientific study hits the newswires, another one with equally convincing yet contradictory data springs up. From books to videos we are assailed with confusing and opposing points of view from all kinds of experts and pseudo experts. Consequently, figuring out what to eat and what to avoid has become increasingly difficult.

The Perricone Weight-Loss Diet cuts through the confusion and provides a simple, foolproof eating plan that will improve your health, help to fight the signs of aging, help you to lose weight, and prevent new weight gain. It all begins with learning which foods make this possible and which foods defeat our purpose.

BUT FIRST, SOME HISTORY
Back in the 1960s, the then-young baby boomers began a dietary “back to the land” revolution in protest of the post-World War II introduction of processed foods. In typical backlash fashion, everything this generation embraced had to be “whole,” “natural,” “fresh,” “unprocessed,” and grown without pesticides and chemical fertilizers. This was the beginning of the health food movement, which is stronger and more powerful than ever, and finally after more than four decades, is becoming increasingly mainstream.

That was the good news. The bad news is that this was the last positive dietary trend we have seen. Ever since then, we have had one dangerous and poorly-thoughtout plan after another. In addition, fast food has now become a ubiquitous part of our landscape. According to Eric Schlosser, author of Fast Food Nation, on any given day one out of four Americans has a meal from a fast-food restaurant.

The 1970s saw the introduction of the Atkins low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet. At first glance, the concept made sense; however, there were a number of serious and dangerous flaws (some since amended), among them an overabundance of saturated fats. The ’90s reintroduced this craze, slightly modified.

Perhaps the worst dietary craze belongs to the 1980s, which heralded the age of the no-fat diet. Supermarket shelves were flooded with high-glycemic carbohydrate foods, offering little in the way of nutrients, but plenty in the way of empty calories. These foods became dietary mainstays for many people, especially women, who found themselves indulging in snack foods such as reduced-fat “baked” potato and corn chips, and fat-free rice and corn cakes, cookies, pretzels, and crackers. Suddenly millions of Americans were placing themselves in a chronic inflammatory condition. Why? Because eating these foods provokes a pro-inflammatory rapid rise in blood sugar, resulting in elevated insulin levels.

Insulin is an important hormone that helps the body utilize blood sugar for energy or store it as glycogen or fat. But if the insulin is released too quickly, it has a pro-inflammatory effect (explored further in Chapter 2). After a rapid rise, there will be a precipitous drop in blood sugar, resulting in feelings of hunger, which can lead to a vicious cycle of overeating. This is why a diet centered on breads, baked goods, snack foods, sweets, and other sugary, starchy foods results in unwanted weight gain and great difficulty in losing weight. Ironically, in this instance, it is not the caloric value of the foods causing the weight gain. In fact, a rice cake only has around 40 calories. However, because it is rapidly converted to sugar in the bloodstream, resulting in the insulin release, it will cause you to store body fat. An insulin release can result in the storage of body fat.

Our goal in the Perricone Weight-Loss Diet is to learn how to recognize and avoid sugary and starchy foods, so that we maintain even levels of blood sugar and insulin. Recognize? Yes, because many foods that look healthful can contain added sugars, dangerous trans fats (more about these later), and an ingredient called high fructose corn syrup, which will defeat weight-loss goals and have a negative impact on overall health. By following the Perricone Weight-Loss Diet, you will be able to control your appetite, prevent overeating, stop cravings, and burn excess fat for energy.

KEEPING IT SIMPLE
Some scientists and researchers believe that many of the health problems of today are caused by our departure from the hunter-gatherer diet, which consisted of nuts, seeds, berries, wild greens, roots, fruits, fish, fowl, and game. This is a fascinating theory and I do agree with the premise that natural, unprocessed foods are always the best choices. To be healthy and maintain normal weight we need all of the food groups — but not those that come from the laboratory. Our protein source needs to be pure, fresh (when possible) wild fish and other seafood, and free range chicken and turkey that are hormone and antibiotic free. Our carbohydrates need to be fresh fruits and vegetables, preferably organic. And we need good fats, such as those found in salmon, sardines and other cold-water fish, extra virgin olive oil, nuts, seeds, avocado, and açaí (a Brazilian berry whose fatty-acid ratio resembles that of olive oil). These “good” fats will help us absorb nutrients from our vegetables and fruits, keep our cells supple, our skin glowing and wrinkle-free, our brains sharp, and our mood upbeat. We also need dietary fat to burn fat.

By upsetting the delicate balance with extreme fad diets and ridiculous concepts, whether it is no-carb or no-fat or whatever, we create ongoing physical and mental health problems, including obesity, accelerated aging, and wrinkling, sagging skin. It is no coincidence that the rise of antidepressants such as Prozac occurred during the nonfat food craze of the 1980s — after all, our brains are comprised mainly of fat, and when we starve our brains of valuable nutrients, we become depressed. Salmon, with its rich complement of essential fatty acids, has been shown to be an excellent treatment for depression. Some studies have shown that it is more effective than powerful drugs in treating depression — without the side effects (moderate regular exercise is also great for depression — especially when combined with the salmon-rich anti-inflammatory diet.)

Our goal is to strive for balance, and to use common sense when planning a meal. But how does it all really work? The next several chapters will explain the science behind my revolutionary concepts, and how you can make them work for you.

Excerpted from, "The Perricone Weight-Loss Diet." Copyright 2005 by Dr. Nicholas Perricone. Reprinted by permission of Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, Inc. For more information you can visit: http://www.randomhouse.com/index.pperl

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9519939/

When Jennifer Eddy first saw an ulcer on the left foot of her patient, an elderly diabetic man, it was pink and quarter-sized. Fourteen months later, drug-resistant bacteria had made it an unrecognizable black mess.

Doctors tried everything they knew -- and failed. After five hospitalizations, four surgeries and regimens of antibiotics, the man had lost two toes. Doctors wanted to remove his entire foot.

"He preferred death to amputation, and everybody agreed he was going to die if he didn't get an amputation," said Eddy, a professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

With standard techniques exhausted, Eddy turned to a treatment used by ancient Sumerian physicians, touted in the Talmud and praised by Hippocrates: honey. Eddy dressed the wounds in honey-soaked gauze. In just two weeks, her patient's ulcers started to heal. Pink flesh replaced black. A year later, he could walk again.

"I've used honey in a dozen cases since then," said Eddy. "I've yet to have one that didn't improve."

Eddy is one of many doctors to recently rediscover honey as medicine. Abandoned with the advent of antibiotics in the 1940s and subsequently disregarded as folk quackery, a growing set of clinical literature and dozens of glowing anecdotes now recommend it.

Most tantalizingly, honey seems capable of combating the growin scourgeof drug-resistant wound infections, including group A Streptococcus -- the infamous flesh-eating bug -- and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, which in its most severe forms also destroys flesh. These have become alarmingly more common in recent years, with MRSA alone now responsible for half of all skin infections treated in U.S. emergency rooms. So-called superbugs cause thousands of deaths and disfigurements every year, and public health officials are alarmed.

Though the practice is uncommon in the United States, honey is successfully used elsewhere on wounds and burns that are unresponsive to other treatments. Some of the most promising results come from Germany's Bonn University Children's Hospital, where doctors have used honey to treat wounds in 50 children whose normal healing processes were weakened by chemotherapy.

The children, said pediatric oncologist Arne Simon, fared consistently better than those with the usual applications of iodine, antibiotics and silver-coated dressings. The only adverse effects were pain in 2 percent of the children and one incidence of eczema. These risks, he said, compare favorably to iodine's possible thyroid effects and the unknowns of silver -- and honey is also cheaper.

"We're dealing with chronic wounds, and every intervention which heals a chronic wound is cost effective, because most of those patients have medical histories of months or years," he said.

While Eddy bought honey at a supermarket, Simon used Medihoney, one of several varieties made from species of Leptospermum flowers found in New Zealand and Australia.

Honey, formed when bees swallow, digest and regurgitate nectar, contains approximately 600 compounds, depending on the type of flower and bee. Leptospermum honeys are renowned for their efficacy and dominate the commercial market, though scientists aren't totally sure why they work.

"All honey is antibacterial, because the bees add an enzyme that makes hydrogen peroxide," said Peter Molan, director of the Honey Research Unit at the University of Waikato in New Zealand. "But we still haven't managed to identify the active components. All we know is (the honey) works on an extremely broad spectrum."

Attempts in the lab to induce a bacterial resistance to honey have failed, Molan and Simon said. Honey's complex attack, they said, might make adaptation impossible.

Two dozen German hospitals are experimenting with medical honeys, which are also used in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. In the United States, however, honey as an antibiotic is nearly unknown. American doctors remain skeptical because studies on honey come from abroad and some are imperfectly designed, Molan said.

In a review published this year, Molan collected positive results from more than 20 studies involving 2,000 people. Supported by extensive animal research, he said, the evidence should sway the medical community -- especially when faced by drug-resistant bacteria.

"In some, antibiotics won't work at all," he said. "People are dying from these infections."

Commercial medical honeys are available online in the United States, and one company has applied for Food and Drug Administration approval. In the meantime, more complete clinical research is imminent. The German hospitals are documenting their cases in a database built by Simon's team in Bonn, while Eddy is conducting the first double-blind study.

"The more we keep giving antibiotics, the more we breed these superbugs. Wounds end up being repositories for them," Eddy said. "By eradicating them, honey could do a great job for society and to improve public health."

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/medtech/0,71925-0.html?tw=wn_index_3#csrc1

Paula Lindsay lost both her home and her luxury bath products business in Pass Christian, Mississippi, to Hurrican Katrina last year. Afterward, she moved to Daphne, Alabama, and reopened the Pass Christian soap Company there.

But Paula hasn't forgotten the place where she first created handmade soaps and scrubs in her kitchen. In addition to loofah bars, bath salts, body lotions, and shea butter bars, Paula designed a special "Katrina" hand soap.

All proceeds from the sales of the lemon grass-scented soap help revitalize the coastal town so dear to her.

Lather up for a cause! Visit passsoap.com for retailers.
( Staci Coleman Coastal Living November 2006)

A note from Brenda....

Wouldn't this be a great way to help out one of our neighbors and also snag some really great gifts for the holidays? Check out her website and let me know what kinds of cool things you find there.

Dear Nurse Brenda:

How many servings of fruits and vegetables does the U.S. National Research Council recommend we eat daily?

The U.S. National Research Council recommends that you consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day to maintain a proper supply of food derived antioxidants for your body. Research indicates that only five percent of the U.S. population consumes five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

That’s a lot of food, Nurse Brenda. How can I get these servings without having to shop for, store, wash, chop, peel, (and end up throwing away when they go bad) all the fresh items necessary to meet these dietary demands? I do have other things to do with my time.

We all remember the big “juice craze” in the early eighties. This was a great idea, and many of us bought the specialized gadget, but who really took all the time necessary to chop the fruits and veggies into small enough pieces to fit inside the machine? Much less all the clean-up that went along with the entire process? And now doctors and nutritionists are telling us that commercially prepared juices have too many calories. What now, you might ask? What if I told you that we have found the perfect answer to this problem? (and many other problems we’ll discuss later!)

What is MonaVie?

MonaVie is a delicious and energizing blend of the Brazilian açai berry—one of nature’s top super-foods—and other nutrient dense fruits. Developed with the philosophy Balance-Variety-Moderation, MonaVie delivers the phytonutrients and antioxidants you need to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

How many calories are in this one?

An ounce in the morning and an ounce after lunch (the typical regimen unless there is illness already present) is only 40 calories and that’s per day!

What is açai?

Açai is a small, round, dark-purple berry with amazing nutritional properties. Its appearance is similar to that of a grape, but it has a smaller amount of pulp and a single large seed. Scientific experts have referred to the açai berry as the most nutritious and powerful food in the world.

Where does the açai berry grow?

The açai berry grows in clusters on the açai palm, a genus of 25–30 species of palms native to tropical Central and South America. These tall, slender, and attractive palms can grow 15–30 meters tall, with leaves up to 3 meters long. The prime commercial source of açai comes from the area where several rivers converge within the Amazon estuary, emptying along the northeastern corner of Brazil into the Atlantic Ocean between the states of Para and Amapa. The people of Brazil refer to acai as the “Milk of the Amazon.”

Does harvesting the açai berry destroy the Amazon rainforest?

No. In fact, MonaVie is helping to preserve the Amazon rainforest by harvesting the açai berry. Each week, poachers illegally chop down 5,000–10,000 palm trees to obtain and sell a 12-inch section of the palm known as the “palmito.” As a result, the entire tree dies. On the other hand, by harvesting the açai berry, the palm tree continues to thrive and the natives have an incentive to preserve the acai-bearing palm tree. It is estimated that in 2006, MonaVie, by buying the açai berry from Brazilian suppliers, will preserve over 250,000 acai palm trees.

Do MonaVie products treat, cure, or prevent disease?

It is not the purpose of a natural product like MonaVie to treat, cure, or prevent disease; the FDA approves drugs to treat, cure, and prevent disease. MonaVie’s products are made with a specific selection of fruits and other natural compounds such as glucosamine hydrochloride and esterified fatty acids. These fruits and compounds have been shown in some studies to protect from various ailments.

What is the M.O.R.E. Project?

The M.O.R.E. Project helps provide food, shelter, clothing, and education to the needy children of Brazil, often left orphaned in the slums of Rio de Janeiro. The M.O.R.E. Project not only stands for MonaVie’s Operation Rescue, but to the orphaned children of Brazil, it also represents More Hope, More Health, More Caring, and More Love.

How does MonaVie help to protect the Amazon rainforest?

Each week, poachers illegally chop down between 5,000 and 10,000 açai palm trees simply to harvest a 12-inch section of the tree known as the heart of the palm (or “palmito”). Once these trees are destroyed, they never return. By creating a demand for the acai berry, MonaVie has given locals an economic incentive to harvest only the berries and not the heart of the palm. This not only preserves the trees and the Amazon rainforest, but it also provides a continual source of income for the locals.

Nurse Brenda, How has Monavie helped you?

Actually, I didn't expect it to help me at all. But before I finished the first bottle, I noticed a dramatic improvement in my energy level. It makes sense, really. I know that I don't consume the necessary vitamins and nutrients every day to keep my body in top form, so it only made sense that I would feel better if I did. But something else amazing happened as well. My left shoulder was badly damaged in a roll-over car accident 3 years ago. It has "bothered me" every day since then, even after surgical repair. I noticed that even after wielding a chainsaw all weekend, I didn't have any pain in that shoulder at all. Not even the nagging ache that has become my constant companion! Wow!

How do I find out more about MonaVie?
Just Click here or on the bottle above to learn more about MonaVie.

Did I mention how yummy this juice is? To me it tastes like blackberry mixed with pear. And I like that it's "Rainforest Friendly", helps the Brazilian native people to find a renewable source of income, and makes me feel good all over....leaving no bad taste in my mouth whatsoever.

Try it and let me know how much it helps you in the first week!

'Til next time,
Nurse Brenda

During my last semester in nursing school, I had to work 200 hours with a preceptor in my area of choice. The preceptor is my partner in my learning. What we do together is determine my level of ability and figure out ways for me to learn more in the areas that we both decide I could use some additional teaching. My chosen area to work is a Major Trauma Center.

Why would I choose such a “daunting” place to do my last semester of school? Why wouldn’t I pick somewhere easier? Well, that’s just not my style. I started out as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) almost 20 years ago, and I just can’t seem to stay away from the “gory” stuff.

I have to work when my preceptor is working. I picked night shift. Go figure. This is my chance to find out if I can work that shift or not. I mean, I can do anything for 200 hours, right? The only catch is that I’m doing this during a short semester, and I do have school responsibilities to think about. Okay, it’s time to jump in with both feet!

One of the tasks before me is that I have to write a diary entry for every shift I work. I’m not a big fan of the whole diary thing. I tried it in middle school, but it didn’t seem right for me. But I have to do this for my grade, so I’m going to try to make this a good diary. I want to look back on this and remember what it was like to have this experience. It will be the last time I am a nursing student. Next stop after this is licensure and a job. I’m going to make this the best experience I can, and hopefully my writing will reflect that.
So, on to my first shift……

Practicum Daily Diary

WHAT AM I DOING?

Tonight was my first night in the ER. My preceptor and I started out on the Major Medicine hall and worked there until 11p. At that time, we moved over to the trauma hall until 3am.

The very first patient I saw was a 10-year old girl who was an unrestrained backseat passenger involved in a rollover motor vehicle accident, She came by ambulance, along with her three cousins. She was a bit anxious, but seemed to be in no apparent distress. Her chief complaint was a headache (she lost consciousness at the scene), and had a small laceration to her forehead, as well as bruises to her left arm and left leg. Her care was pretty unremarkable, (her CT Scan was unremarkable as well). I just spent time consoling her and obtaining information regarding the conditions of her family members.

The next patient we saw was a 39-year old home health nurse who was recovering from an upper respiratory infection. Her complaint was chest pain. From the history she gave, it sounded like pleurisy (lung inflammation), but upon examination, I found that her belly was tender to palpation. I performed the Murphy test and she just about came out of the bed! This is a test to confirm gall bladder inflammation. I notified the MD and he ordered labwork to check her enzyme levels. Her labs came back normal, but she was still febrile, very dehydrated, and in quite a lot of pain. She ended up being admitted to the floor after receiving a 2 liter bolus of fluid and pain meds.

I discharged a 6-year old boy who was hit by a car while riding his bicycle. I gave head injury instructions to the dad and sent him on his way. The boy actually wanted to keep the cervical collar the paramedics put on him! (probably for show and tell at school)

After we moved over to the trauma hall, things got really busy. Before we could finish with one trauma patient, another was on the way either by ambulance or helicopter.

We cared for a patient who was in a 4-wheeler accident. He had compression fractures in his upper thoracic/lower cervical area, and was unconscious the entire time we were treating him.

The next was a man involved in a motorcycle accident (no helmet), with an open skull fracture, intubated in the field. There was a lot of blood with this patient, pooling under his head. His right pupil was blown, and he was unconscious the entire time as well. The surgeons actually had to stop his CT before it was complete so they could sew up his head in order to keep him from exsanguinating (bleeding out) right there in the CT department. At the end of my shift, I was cleaning up the blood on his face and head while he waited to return to CT to finish his films.

When Bruce came to pick me up and meet my preceptor, I was wearing a protective gown, gloves, mask, and goggles and standing over this man, cleaning up the blood in his face, and trying to pick the small pieces of glass from around his eyes and nose. That’s not something you see your fiancé doing every day!

WHAT AM I LEARNING?

I learned that I really do know what I am doing! After getting C’s on my exams in Adult 2, I was feeling kind of dumb. I mean, I was an A student before then, so it was a big blow to my confidence to get such bad grades. But now I know that those grades are not really a measure of my knowledge when it comes to patient care. What a relief!

I also learned that the ER is where I need to work. I felt so comfortable in this environment! The other nurses and docs were very helpful and treated me as a peer, even on my first day! That was a great feeling, being part of this type of team again. I realize now how much I have missed this.

HOW DO I FEEL ABOUT TODAY’S EXPERIENCE?

Awesome! Love It! Can’t Wait To Go Back!

What a great first day of work! How many people do you know who get this opportunity to make a real difference in someone’s life? Wow!

Stay tuned for day 2…….. If you would like to subscribe to this blog, leave me a comment and I will email you when the next installment is ready!
Nurse Brenda

POSTED BY BRUCE SHOOP - HER LOVING HUSBAND

CONGRATULATIONS FOR WORKING SOO HARD!

My lovely wife Brenda has just officially received her results from the Nursing Board of Alabama that she has passed her NCLEX Exam! She can now legally practice nursing as a Register Nurse (RN). A celebration is in order for the Love of My Life!

Congratulations to Brenda and I am soo very proud of her for finally making one of her dreams and goals come true and completing a huge milestone in her life. Her official website (currently her Blog) is NurseBrenda.com if you would like congratulate her yourself.

Great thing are on the horizon for Brenda and she deserves it for working so hard for the last three years of intense studying while putting up with me and my rambling ways. It's been a long time coming for Brenda and I certainly didn't make it easy on her during her nursing school adventure. Thanks for hanging in there Baby!

Your Loving Friend, Husband and Soulmate,
Bruce

The wedding was beautiful. But more than that, it was inspiring to everyone who attended. We wanted this to be a major event to show everyone in attendance that dreams really do come true, and it can happen to you!

We married at Fairhope's Storybook Guesthouse in Fairhope, Alabama. This is a magical place! You must see it with your own eyes. The home was built in 1946 with construction leftovers and souvenirs that the owner gathered while traveling around the world. Pictures just don't do this place justice! Everywhere you look, you will be wanting to take your own snapshots.

Reverend Thack Dyson, of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Daphne, Alabama, officiated the ceremony. Thack provided us with our pre-marriage counseling and inserted relevent pieces gleaned form these encounters, as well as humor, into the service. Thack involved the guests by challenging them to help us in any way possible to be strong and further build our relationship.

So the vows have been read and the rings exchanged. Now comes the part everyone was waiting for. The Kiss! It was, to say the least, very emotional. Bruce and I feel very strongly that our union has been blessed by God and we are very grateful for this. Sure makes life a whole lot easier with God on your side!

"And now let me introduce to you.....Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Shoop!" The guests cheered as we exited down the aisle and headed to our "picture spot" on the stone bridge that overlooks the Guesthouse.

See The Pics Here>>

After we took as many pictures as we could in the fading light, we snuck around to the back of the Guesthouse to "make out". (well, as much as anyone can, considering the multi-layered tux Bruce was wearing and the dress that I was tied into!) Sorry, we couldn't help ourselves. ;) But we didn't stay gone very long...we had guests to see!

Roussos catered our reception right there on the grounds of the Guesthouse. The guests raved about the food quality, the presentation, and the service provided by the tuxedoed waitstaff. Roussos also provided us with a basket with samples from the buffet table, as well as a bottle of champagne and wedding cake. This was very much appreciated by us because we never actually got to eat any of the food at the reception. We had lots of people to mingle with, and the garter toss, bouquet toss, toasts, etc.

The band was great. Justin Fobes,a good friend of ours, provided the musical entertainment for the event. Everyone ate, drank, danced, and had a good time. I did a lot of research and ended up hand-selecting a few musical pieces to play during certain times. For example, we played Rod Stewart's "Hot Legs" during the garter toss, Shania Twain's "Man, I Feel Like A Woman" during the bouquet toss, The Turtles "So Happy Together" during the cake cutting, etc, etc. I would encourage every bride to take this task into her own hands. It was fun to do, and it made the entire event more personalized. In fact, if I need an energy boost, all I have to do is listen to the CD I made of our specialized wedding music and I can't stop from dancing. And we all know that dancing is a good way to get the blood flowing!

Justin and the other bandmates followed us home and played for us around our firepit. This was the best party I have ever attended! We finally crashed at around 6am the next morning.

The next morning.....Time to get ready for the Honeymoon! But first, a little breather......

More to come after the Honeymoon...

I typically avoid publishing articles about three subjects: politics, religion, and football. After all, I'm no expert on any of these subjects. I'm Planet Website's resident Nurse. That's where my specialty is.

But I read this piece by an unknown author and felt compelled to share it. As I write, I expect that this poem will land in everyone's inbox....if it hasn't already. But if you haven't read this already....please do. It will really make you think. Are you ready? Let's go.
****************

Your alarm goes off, you hit the snooze and
sleep for another 10 minutes.

He stays up for days on end.
______

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.

He goes days or weeks without running water.
______

You complain of a "headache", and call in
sick.

He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps
moving forward.
______

You put on your anti war/don't support the
troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.

He still fights for your right to wear that
shirt.
______

You make sure you're cell phone is in your
pocket.

He clutches the cross hanging on his chain
next to his dog tags.
______

You talk trash about your "buddies" that
aren't with you.

He knows he may not see some of his buddies
again.

______

You walk down the beach, staring at all the
pretty girls.

He walks the streets, searching for insurgents
and terrorists.
______

You complain about how hot it is.

He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take
off his helmet to wipe his brow.
______

You go out to lunch, and complain because the
restaurant got your order wrong.

He doesn't get to eat today.
______

Your maid makes your bed and washes your
clothes.

He wears the same things for weeks, but makes
sure his weapons are clean.
______

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.

He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.
______

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes
over.

He's told he will be held over an extra 2
months.
______

You call your girlfriend and set a date for
tonight.

He waits for the mail to see if there is a
letter from home.
______

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do
everyday.

He holds his letter close and smells his
love's perfume.
______

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.

He gets a letter with pictures of his new
child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.
______

You criticize your government, and say that
war never solves anything.

He sees the innocent tortured and killed by
their own people and remembers why he is fighting.
______

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun
of men like him.

He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the
wounded.
______

You see only what the media wants you to see.

He sees the broken bodies lying around him.
______

You are asked to go to the store by your
parents. You don't.

He does exactly what he is told.
______

You stay at home and watch TV.

He takes whatever time he is given to call,
write home, sleep, and eat.
______

You crawl into your soft bed, with down
pillows, and get comfortable.

He crawls under a tank for shade and a 5
minute nap, only to be woken by gunfire.
______

You sit there and judge him, saying the world
is probably a worse place because of men like
him.

If only there were more men like him.
in there minds they are fighting for our way of life.

May God be with us all..

Peace,
Aunt Brenda

My very good friend Diane, who is presently pursuing her Master's in Creative Writing, wrote this story for publication in a local magazine. It is the story of how Bruce and I met and fell in love.

***The story you are about to read is true, and no names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Do You Believe In Fairies?
by Diane Batts

Every little girl dreams of the fairy tale. Someday, we believe, someday our prince will come. By the time we've reached our twenties or thirties though, we think that Prince Charming is: dead, gay, or imprisoned by some evil power somewhere. Because, dear readers, 99.8% of the men we've met have definitely not been of his caliber.

Most women, at this stage, feel one of two ways about love. We either "give up" on any kind of fairy tale love at all, settling for the first guy who does not leave his dirty underwear in the bathroom floor or pee on the seat, or we "give up" on fairy tale love, resolving to stay single for the rest of our lives rather than settle for second best.

Brenda Williams would probably put herself in the latter category by the time she reached the dawning of 2003, but she wouldn't count herself amongst those bitter with Love for the dawning of 2004, because in January of 2003 she met Bruce Shoop, and he changed her view of the big L forever.

The night she met him, she was still in that awful phase of recovery from another failed relationship. She was "pretty much hiding" in her house when her sister swooped in and urged her to come out for a kind of "group thing" at Gambino's in Fairhope. Little did she know, but the stars had aligned so that she would meet the Great Love of her life.

When she met him, she had no clue that he was any kind of prince charming. "I thought he was goofy. He was singing Karaoke..."Man of Constant Sorrow," from Oh, Brother Where Art Thou. He pursued me. We hung out as friends for a month or so before he made the moves." The night he began to prove himself as a potential boyfriend was a night they drank red wine together. "I got sick that night (that's when I found out that I'm allergic to red wine), and I slept in his bed. He slept on the couch." Point One to Sir Shoop. And just when we thought chivalry was dead! "He held my hair while I threw up! He took such good care of me while I was sick."

I am not sure about you, dear readers, but I have from time to time encountered men who would do these things--all be them points in their favor--just to get a little nookie nookie. I have also known men who would do this simply as friends, seeing you as a buddy and not a woman to love. Bruce proved to be the rare exception to this rule, the one who is acting on sheer love, the one who has seen something special about a girl and is trying to discover and name what it is.

Brenda was endeared to him after this event, especially when he kept calling and wanting to spend time with her, but she was not yet ready to call it love. "I wouldn't let him kiss me because I didn't want to get stupid and fall in love. That lasted a few months. I realized I loved him one night in when we were in our friend's hot-tub. I just looked over at him and felt this warm surge of comfort and kindness. I grabbed him, pulled him toward me, said "I'm going to marry you!", and planted the most passionate kiss on him! The electricity was awesome! Definitely worth the wait! A few months later, I heard a song on the radio while he was in Vegas for his father's birthday. It was "Here Without You" by Three Doors Down. It was a very popular song at the time and it was played on the radio quite a bit. One time it was playing, and it just made me miss Bruce (more than I thought possible). I knew right then and there that I was in love...real love. He moved in with me after a few more months and we have been playing house ever since."

Simple that makes it a good love story since, if you check the date, it is more than three years later and they are still together, and still very much in love. However, we're not talking about just little "l" love, but fairy tale, whole big, shebang kind of Love. They say that's what this is, and after questioning Brenda about it, I believe it too. Why? Well, when I asked Brenda what Bruce has been to her that no other man has been to her, she described him and his love this way:

"Bruce is that rare Southern Boy with a solid moral sense and a great thirst for life. He's the guy who stopped and picked wildflowers on the way to my house for a date. He's a gourmet cook. He loves animals. He loves gardening. He can fix anything. He goes out of his way to make sure I'm happy, truly happy. He is an honest businessman, and always leaves people with smiles on their faces. He always tries to do the right thing, no matter what it takes. He doesn't do anything "half assed." He loves women. He sees them as unique individuals, each with their own story to tell. He sees them as complicated and fascinating. He has many female friends who absolutely adore him!

"Bruce is a true friend to me. He takes time to ask me how I am and listens to any and all concerns that I bring up. He is strong enough to be with me. He has been very patient with me as I try to recover from my abusive past. He will actually stop what he is doing and "talk me down" when necessary. He puts me first, last, and always. That shows me that he takes our relationship seriously, and that he won't let anything (even me) get in the way of our happiness.

"Bruce has been so good to me. He took care of me after my shoulder surgery 3 months after we met, and helped me get a new car. He has been here to support my family (and me) as we recover from the psychological abuse we suffered in the past. He even arranged a deal with his best friend to help my mother keep her house and land.

"He loves family. He talks to his mom every day. The have such a great relationship! She's the "moral influence" in his life. I love it that they keep in contact like that. Isn't that one of those qualities all the fluffy girl magazines tell us to look for? Well, it's true! It makes a HUGE difference in how a man treats YOU!

"Bruce offered to get a "real job" for the duration of my schooling so that I could focus on what was important (studying), and not have to worry about bills. He enabled me to complete my education and now I'm a nurse! He helped my dream come true!

"The experts say that we women look for the kind of love we felt from our fathers. I don't remember what that's like, so the only thing I can compare this to is the love a dog feels for its owner....Stay with me now...A dog's love in unconditional. They are always happy to see you. They always forgive you when you screw up and they don't hold grudges. They don't care what you are wearing or how your hair looks, you are beautiful to them...always. I feel truly beautiful now. I feel truly loved now. At last."

I was still in that phase where I didn't believe in fairy tales when she told me all this. I was searching for things that might trip her up and reveal everything wasn't perfect. So, I asked about the wedding.

I learned that this, Bruce's first wedding, would be held in October at, of all places, Fairhope's Storybook Guest House. She just as well could've said on Grimm Lane in Candy Land County, in the country of Imagination.

"No," I wrestled in my own mind. I honed in on the fact that he hadn't been married yet. "He can't be a real prince charming; he's too old." That the same could be said about myself occurred to me, but I wasn't expecting my answer to come out of her mouth as justification for his extended time in "singledom."

"Bruce resisted the whole marriage thing this far in his life because he didn't want to make the same mistakes a lot of his friends have made. He wants it to be the real thing, the 'til death do us part kind of thing." If one just added "the mistakes a lot of his friends and family have made" in for what she said, it is my exact statement when asked about the matter. And I know I want the "real thing" so I couldn't doubt that Bruce was the kind of man who was on that same agenda. Plus, I am sure at this point in my life that Real Love is not something easily found amongst the young and selfish, and I can appreciate that it might indeed be easier to find amongst the seasoned and mature.

However, it was still too perfect, so I searched desperately for something else that would take this Romance out of fairy tale-dom. Part of me didn't want it to be real. Part of me wanted to still feel like I had at least one thing better than they did. So, I asked Brenda what kind of altruistic good would come to the rest of the world from this "partnership." In my mind it couldn't be a True fairy tale unless there was a kind of peace in the land or beneficient ruler helping all to live "happily ever after."

To my chagrin, Brenda responded by saying that "Bruce and I are starting our own non-profit corporation. It revolves around the website we are developing...I should get Bruce to fill in the blanks here....But I know that it will be an internet marketplace for goods and services, and 50% of every transaction that occurs will go into the member's charity of choice. We also will use this forum to encourage others to find a way to make a living doing what they love. What a wonderful place the world would be if we all did what we love for a living! So, I guess we're out to take over the world...just kidding. We just want to show others by our example that it is possible to be happy with all aspects of your life. All it takes is a little encouragement and a lot of letting go of the fear that stops you in your tracks.

I am already authoring a website devoted to health and happiness. I'm only writing part-time right now, but hope to get more writers and researchers to help spread the newest (and old tried-and-true) ways to keep healthly and happy everyday."

After knowing Brenda for a time let me tell you, they mean this folks. When I watch the two of them together, eyes on each other in that first kind of lust kind of way after three years of being together, becoming their own secret club in a crowded room of people, I stand in awe of something I have rarely seen in real life. I tell you this because I want you to know it is True and Real when I say "the fairy tale exists, and I have seen it with my own eyes."

I know lots of you would like for it to bust, a part of you does not want to believe it is real and that someone else has it. I sympathize with you and even pity you in that because I have lived in that selfish place for a time. However, there are just as many of you who would like to know it is true and real and attainable. It is to those people that I send an invitation for action. I would have you, metaphorically of course, "clap your hands if you believe in fairies," as Peter Pan once bade his audience to do.

How can you do this? Go to http://www.planetwebsite.com and sign up as a member, write the two of them and ask how you can help, or just offer a word of encouragement, or a story of your own that mirrors theirs. Let the world know that you believe in fairies and their tales. Let everyone know that we would rather the good prevail. It is the best wedding present I can think of to offer a couple such as this, more belief behind them so that their fairy tale does indeed come true.

************************************************************************
Thank you Diane for seeing us for who we are, and believing that fairy tales do come true! THAT is the best wedding present you could ever have given us!

Stay tuned for more wedding news!
Aunt Brenda

Today my wedding dress arrived via UPS. Yes, that's right, I rented my wedding dress.

But why not? What am I going to so with a thousand dollar dress that I'll never wear again? I don't foresee my daughters wanting to wear the dress their 43-year old mother picked out. They'll want the dress they pick out. The one that's perfect for them.

So, instead of plunking down $1000, I decided to rent for a grand total of....you're not going to believe this......$128.95! That even includes shipping both ways!

I know what you are thinking....how nice could this dress be? Well, here's a picture of it, and believe me when I tell you that the picture doesn't do this dress justice!

What do you think? I have to tell you that when I saw myself in this dress I couldn't believe how good it looked!

So if you have an upcoming wedding, prom, homecoming, or just a formal event to attend, my suggestion is to rent from L&L Rentals. They can be found at Formal Dresses for Rent and they are great! Browse their site to see what they have and I think you'll be surprised to find the perfect dress for you for less than you could buy. And it's so convenient! I actually ordered my wedding dress while I was in my pajamas! And the dress was delivered right to my front door. You can rent bridesmaid dresses for $65.00 or a wedding dress for anywhere between $120 and $160.

The people at this company were great! They called me several times to confirm measurements and even promised my dress a week earlier than planned. In fact, I received my dress 2 weeks before my wedding! That gives me plenty of time to get the right shoes and undergarments to go along with the dress. Oh, did I mention that they even sent the fluffy under-slip to go along with the dress? I expected to have to shell out another $100 for this. Imagine my surprise when I opened the box and found the slip inside!

No last-minute alterations necessary. No being afraid my dress wouldn't show up in time. No stress! Isn't that what every bride wants?

Stay tuned for more wedding news,
Aunt Brenda

So, you've pulled that prize-winning bass from the lake.

Congratulations!...What do you do with it now? That fish was too hard to catch. Don't mess it up now with the wrong cooking method! What dish could be worthy of this fish?

You could always fry it. That's the method most Southerners use to cook fish. But, in my opinion, frying should be reserved for only those fish that you don't want to taste. So, what now?

A quick search through your kitchen pantry may yield an answer. On this particular day I found a bag of slivered almonds that was purchased recently and never used. Hmmm....I did another quick search. This time it was on my computer. Yep, you heard it right...Aunt Brenda uses the internet to learn new dishes! I searched on Google with the search terms "almonds" and "fish".

I found a recipe for trout almondine and decided to go with that theme for my bass. And while I have never made anything "almondine", I found that it was quite easy. Just season the fish with lemon pepper and broil it. As you are putting the fish into the oven, pour the almonds into a skillet and brown them on low heat until golden. At just the right moment, before they start to scorch, dump in a glob of butter. Yes, butter NOT MARGARINE. Margarine is evil and must be destroyed!

Please don't send me angry emails about cholesterol and heart attacks. And, Mrs. King, if you are reading this....I really did pay attention in nutrition class. But some dishes require the flavor and texture that real butter provides. This is one of them.

Sorry, I got distracted...Back to the sauce! The butter will sizzle and smoke a little. Keep stirring and dump in another glob of butter. Keep stirring until you have a yummy, brown sauce full of toasted almonds. That's it! Turn off the fire and cover with a lid or foil to keep warm.
Take the fish out of the oven when it flakes easily. Don't overcook the fish! Serve the bass with the almondine sauce on top.

Yum Yum Yum!

And THAT'S how to cook a prize-winning spring lake bass!

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Yes, you read that title correctly! I recently found a Grimm's Brother's fairy tale that I had not read previously. I must share it with you. The story itself is not particularly funny, but the idea certainly is!

Choosing a Bride
Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

There was a young herdsman who wanted very much to marry, and was acquainted with three sisters. Each one was just as beautiful as the other, so it was difficult for him to make a choice, and he could not decide to give the preference to any one of them. Then he asked his mother for advice, and she said, "Invite all three, and set some cheese before them, and watch how they cut off a slice."

The youth did so. The first one ate the cheese with the rind on. The second one hastily cut the rind off the cheese, but she cut it so quickly that she left much good cheese with it, and threw that away also. The third peeled the rind off carefully, and cut neither too much nor too little. The shepherd told all this to his mother, who said, "Take the third for your wife."

This he did, and lived contentedly and happily with her.

Source: Die Brautschau, Kinder- und Hausmärchen (Children's and Household Tales -- Grimms' Fairy Tales), no. 155.

And now you know the story of how to choose your bride by how she cuts the cheese!

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Labor Day Weekend 2006 beheld a special treat for your Aunt Brenda.

Fishing Spring Lake in Citronelle, Alabama has so far been a difficult venture to say the least. I don't really know how to fish. I never learned, but I really want to catch a fish! Maybe it's the whole "survival thing", I don't know. But, I digress....on with my fish tale!

The lake is spring-fed from the west, with a dam at the other end. The dam was severely damaged during Hurricane Dennis, when several nearby trees were uprooted in the strong winds. With the recent shortage of rainfall, the lake is not being refilled quickly enough. On this particular weekend, the water level in the lake was extremely low.

I knew that this situation was going to pose some issues, but I never expected to end up in mud up to my thighs!

I was pushing myself off from one of the banks when the mud grabbed my only paddle right out of my hand! I pushed off with quite a bit of force, so I was moving pretty quickly towards the middle of the lake, the deep part.

I thought I was being smart. I paddled the boat all the way around the lake, looking at what was underneath the water from all angles. I had finally decided where the most likely spot to find fish was going to be, and was headed in that direction.

Unfortunately for me, I was headed there without a paddle. I had a quick decision to make as I watched my paddle get further away from my hands. I jumped in the lake! I kept my right hand on the boat and tried to "walk" through the mud to the paddle without losing my shoes. I could feel the mud trying very hard to suck them right off my feet!

Back into the boat, muddy legs and all, I headed for the spot I was certain would be the Taj Mahal for Bass. Earlier, I found a "channel" in the underwater weeds where I watched the fish move from the shallow end of the lake to the deeper end. They were so pretty swimming around down there. I could almost hear them saying "Pick Me.....No, Pick Me, Pick Me." Dinner. Yum.

I used a reel I had been learning to cast that very morning. It was a "spinning reel." I have seen these reels before, but I never tried to cast one. It looked very complicated. So I spent a few hours that morning getting used to the feel of the reel, and learning how to not get tangled up in everything around me.

I rowed myself to the exact spot, very carefully lowered the anchor, and reached for my pole, all the while whispering "Here Fishy, Fishy." I cast my line just past where I knew the fish were so I could drag it across the channel. Right before the lure reached the bottom, I felt something "bump" it. Then I watched in amazement as my line started to reel out. I have a fish!...At the end of this pole!...that I'm holding!

I kid you not, this fish actually jumped out of the water the way they do on those fishing shows! I was in absolute heaven! I'm glad Bruce was there with me to witness this awesome event! He quickly grabbed the net and brought the fish into the boat. It looked big to me, but he knows so much more than me about fishing, I guess I needed the "Bruce stamp of approval". Well let me tell you, I got it! This is the biggest fish pulled out of this lake to date, weighing in at 3 pounds! WooHoo!

Check out the pictures at My First Bass

So I guess I learned on this special Labor Day Weekend that I can do anything I set my mind to. What's my next challenge? Not sure yet, but you can bet I'll have a great time beating it!

Later,
Aunt Brenda

There has been alot of news recently regarding computerized medical records. Is there any reason why we, as healthcare consumers, should be concerned? I don't think so. There are many ways to limit access including the use of passwords, as well as tracking services that can tell companies exactly who is retrieving this data.
Click on the link below to read an article I found on this very subject (It's about an emergency department physician who spear-headed a project to integrate two hospitals' medical records when they merged):
One Doctor's Struggle to Cut Through Red-tape

Here's my opinion:
I honestly believe that the integration of patient medical records into a central database could do nothing but improve the quality of healthcare today. There are many instances where emergency situations arise, and the only information we get is directly from the patient. Sometimes the best response we get is "I had a heart problem many years ago but I don't remember what my doctor said about it", or "I take a heart pill, it's small and white". Very vague.
With more specifics, better care can and will be given.
Even if you just look at the medication errors that could be prevented, this technology is greatly needed. Patients don't carry around the list of their meds that we, as nurses, take the time to fill out for them. This leads to a costly "guessing game."
As far as the patient privacy issue goes, I'm not sure that this will be any more of a problem than it already is. As long as access is monitored, with passwords and tracking, the right information can make it to the right people at the right time for the right reasons. And that is what we all want, isn't it?
For more information about this system's safeguards, check out:
Computers in Medicine
If you find other information on this, and any healthcare related subject, then I would love to hear from you.
Later,
Aunt Brenda

Okay folks! We've set a date for the big event!

The "Wedding of the Century" will take place at Sheldon Castle in Fairhope, Alabama on October 14, 2006.

It promises to be a very emotional event, as many dreams will come true that day. My dream to find someone as wonderful as Bruce to spend the rest of my life with; Bruce's dream of finding "that special someone" with whom to share adventure and love; Bruce's Mom's dream to see her son get happily married; and my children's dream to see their Mom blissfully happy will all come true that very moment!

I am so very much in love with Bruce, you would not believe it! If you know us at all, you know that my life has changed so much for the better since I met Bruce. All my personal and professional dreams are coming true right before my eyes. It's amazing!

But, that's what happens when you find your true "soulmate". Good things just naturally start happening, almost out of your own control. (Control is over-rated, anyway.) I have found that I am much happier when I just "let things happen". It always seems to work out better that way.

Be there or be square! The "Wedding of the Century" doesn't come around very often, and it would be a crying shame for anyone to miss it!

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Some people ask me, "How can you be so excited about nursing?" Well, let me tell you!

For those of you who don't know me very well; it has been a long, hard road to get where I am today. Many challenges and obstacles have been thrown in my way, but I always knew I was meant to be a nurse.

My childhood memories include watching my favorite television show, "Emergency". In fact, I directed a play in fifth grade depicting an episode of this popular show. I just had to play the part of Dixie, a no-nonsense nurse who worked in the emergency room.

In later years, I fell in love with *MASH*, and the part played by Loretta Swit, "Hot-Lips Houlihan", a nurse in a combat hospital in Korea. Not because of the "Hot-Lips" part, but because she stood up to the doctors for the health and safety of her patients, and she always seemed to know what to do..

In the Eighties, there was "China Beach", another program that I couldn't seem to get enough of. I felt a connection with part played by Dana Delaney, "Colleen McMurphy", a nurse in a combat hospital in Vietnam. Basically for the same reasons I liked "Hot-Lips".

Detect a pattern here?

I started working toward my degree in healthcare in high school, even taking the dreaded Latin classes. Marriage, babies, the military, divorce, and bankruptcy all played a part in delaying my progress, but it didn't stop me! I have been "nickel and diming" my education the entire time (21 years!), taking one or two courses at a time, mostly at night, while holding down various jobs and raising my children.

I applied for the nursing program at The University of South Alabama at the age of 41, and got in the first try! I found out later that there were more than 200 applicants. Wow!

Every single day since then, I have known that nursing is where I am meant to be. I love interacting with patients and families, and the knowledge I have learned has literally changed my life for the better!

That's why I am so excited about my nursing career. I finally feel like I've found the right fit for me, and I know I'm shining every day because of that.

My future's so bright I gotta wear shades!
Aunt Brenda

You'll never look at a banana the same way......

Bananas
Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose.

Combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy. Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes. But, energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND among people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood, and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium, yet low in salt, making it the perfect way to beat high blood pressure.....so much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham, England school were helped through their exams this year, by eating bananas at breakfast, break and lunch, in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber... including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach, and with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals, helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria, found that pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort foods like chocolate and potato chips. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders, because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers, because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6/B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain, and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine", eating bananas as part of a regular diet, can cut the risk of death from strokes, by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives, swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with plaster or surgical tape.

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrates, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

Just some food for thought!
Aunt Brenda

Hey, I have to tell you guys about what happened with my whole "aversion to snot" thing.

I was determined that I was going to get over this, so the next night in clinical, I told my instructor about it so I would be more inclined to follow through. So she found a patient who needed trach suctioning. But this time, the patient was awake and looking at me, with his wife standing next to the bed. Quite intimidating! But I did it! (with no gagging or feeling like I was going to pass out!)

Later in the evening, the boy who was comatose needed to be cleaned up. As I worked with his assigned nursing student, rolling him from side-to-side, the patient turned red in the face and looked like he was in distress. (he was choking on the secretions in his airway) I knew we needed to clear his airway quickly, so I grabbed the needed supplies. Thankfully, everything I needed was nearby. I quickly donned my sterile gloves and prepared the equipment. The other student helped as I moved rapidly in order to help this patient breathe. I suctioned his trach, maintaining sterile technique the entire time.

What amazes me is that when I noticed this patient in distress, I felt a calm come over me. It was almost like I was watching myself go through the motions necessary to help this boy. It was weird. But I guess that's what happens when you have the proper training in what to do. (even though I successfully performed this task for the first time only hours before!)

This event has really helped confirm to me that the ER is where I need to be. You must be able to "think on your feet" to be successful in this area, and I think I have finally proven that to myself.

So I'm giving myself a little pat on the back for overcoming the last obstacle in my quest to be the best ER nurse I can be. Hooray for me!

Commercial over,
Aunt Brenda

Hey Everyone!

I'm headed for Baltimore! I fly out on Wednesday morning at "ugly o'clock". (I have to be at the airport by 5am) Can you say "yuck"?

I'll report on my trip once I return, so keep checking.

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Everyone should know this!!

Signs of Alcohol intoxication:
Slurred Speech
Uncoordination, Clumsiness
Disorientation

Signs of a Stroke:
Slurred Speech
Uncoordination, Clumsiness
Disorientation

Hmmm......How can you tell the difference?

Here's a very simple test that anyone can perform.

1. Ask the person to smile.
2. Ask the person to raise both their arms above their head.
3. Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. (i.e., "My dog has fleas.")

If the person has difficulty performing any of these tasks, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY!!! Describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

Doctors in the emergency room have a medication they can administer to reverse the effects of a stroke (in most cases), but it has to be administered within three hours of the onset of the stroke!!

This is why it is up to us to recognize these early signs and get that person to an emergency room quickly!

Keep this in mind at your next family gathering, when you are in the grocery store, or anywhere people gather.

And, yes, people can and have had strokes sitting on bar stools!

But if you know these three steps, and use them, you could save a life!

For more information on stroke, its warning signs, and prevention, visit The National Stroke Association at http://www.stroke.org

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Hey Everyone!

School has been so all-consuming lately that I haven't had much time to update what's been going on.

That having been said, I must relate this story from my week in the hospital.

The patient I am going to tell you about was not my primary patient, but he was so "out of it" that my instructor had us practice procedures on him.

He is 17 years old and was driving a motorcycle 100 miles per hour (without a helmet). Someone was chasing him (I think he stole the bike). Needless to say, things didn't go well for this young man. He ended up with a severe head injury. Now he is in a "coma", with a trach hooked up to a ventilator.

Sweet Pea, another nursing student, started his first IV on this guy. Hurray for Sweet Pea! I decided that I needed to get over my whole "aversion to snot" thing, and practiced suctioning his trach. Yuck, Nasty! I ended up breaking a sweat and feeling like I was going to hit the floor! So much for "getting over it"!

It's kinda weird, but my fellow students and I just couldn't seem to stay away from this young man. In fact, every time I was heading in to "check on him", there was already another student in the room! Maybe it's due to the fact that we never saw any visitors in the room the entire time we were there. Kinda sad. There were, however, cards and pictures all over his window sill.

In fact, while we were in the room, I decided to read them to him to see if I could elicit a response of any kind. His breathing would speed up while I was reading to him! That was cool!

I don't know what will become of this young man, and I'm sure many of you reading this will say that he "got what he deserved", but nurses don't think that way. We see him as someone's child, someone's friend, someone's lover, and I really hope that if it was me underneath all those tubes and wires, someone will see "me" (no matter what stupid things I may or may not have done to "put myself there").

So, what can we take from all this?

Number 1- Wear a helmet!
Number 2- Don't judge! "There, but for the grace of God, go I"
Number 3- Hug a nurse today! We really have to deal with alot of things that most people pretend aren't there. We do it with Caring, Compassion, and Comraderie. (and Chocolate!)

Gotta Fly!
Later,
Aunt Brenda

Hi Everyone!
It’s Aunt Brenda
Time to Laugh!

(Since we're trying to keep things clean, I have modified the a*s word with "booty") Let's see if it works out okay........

We all know those cute little computer symbols called "emoticons," where: :) means a smile and :( is a frown. Sometimes these are represented by :-) and :-( respectively.

Well, how about some "booty-cons"? Here goes:

(_!_) a regular booty

(____!____) a fat booty

(!) a tight booty

(_*_) a sore booty

{_!_} a swishy booty

(_o_) a booty that's been around

(_x_) kiss my booty

(_X_) leave my booty alone

(_zzz_) a tired booty

(_E=mc2_) a smart booty

(_$_) money coming out of your booty

(_?_) a dumb booty

Oh, but it gets better!

The Rocket and I were tailgating at a "Roll Tide Roll" home game, and our friend played the "Booty Song."

ANY groups of girls who were walking by, from cheerleaders to Hooter's girls, stopped and wiggled their bootys to the song. It was a big hit!

The song is done by Tim Wilson, and you can hear it at:

Just Click Here To Listen To Booty Man now.

There's your laugh for the day!
Check back often for new content!

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Hi Everyone,
It's Aunt Brenda

Paul, another student in my nursing school class sent me this story about "the newest scam." Thought you might get a chuckle out of it

Beware NEW SCAM!

According to Snopes.Com, this one is true! Be careful...

I was the victim of a new scam that's happening in shopping mall parking lots.

Two young, good looking women come to your car as you are parking.

One begins wiping your windshield with a handkerchief and the other leans into your window and bends over so far that her breasts just about fall out of her blouse.

While you're distracted, the other one gets in the back seat and then they both beg you for a ride home.

Be very wary, because as soon as you start driving, one of them will take off her shirt and rub her breasts on you while the other climbs over the seat and unzips your pants.

This is when they steal your wallet..........

.........I was robbed last Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, But I couldn't find them on Saturday or Sunday.

Good one, Paul!

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Hi, Aunt Brenda again!



You don't have to be old or have bad eyes to develop eye strain from computer use. I've been spending alot of time looking at my computer screen these days. You would not believe the amount of paperwork that goes along with being a student in nursing school!

But, relief is in sight! And now, so are the words on my computer screen, thanks to a tip from my future mother-in-law, Barbara Shoop. Here goes, you're going to like this one!

This tip is very useful when trying to read small print (especially in the early hours). If you hold down the Ctrl key on your key board and then turn the small wheel in the middle of your mouse away from you or towards you, the print size will change - it will either get larger or smaller - depending on which way you turn the wheel. It really works!

How cool is that?
By the way, how do you like this prototype of the Ultimate Girl-Friendly Mouse?


Later,
Aunt Brenda

Hi, this is Aunt Brenda!

Everyone needs a little laughter in their life! Numerous studies have proven that can also be beneficial for your health.

So, what are you waiting for? If it's permission you need, you got it!

Please take a few minutes each day to laugh. Tell a joke, badly. Then laugh at yourself. It's fun to be a "dingbat" sometimes.

Here's a great way to get your daily dose!
They'll send a funny to your email everyday. I've never gotten spam or viruses from these guys, so don't be afraid to sign up. If you don't have time each day to read them, put them in a folder in your email program and then when you need a good laugh, they'll be waiting for you. Great plan, huh?

Here's the link,
http://funnieststuff.net

Enjoy!
Aunt Brenda

Hi! This is Aunt Brenda again.

I just had to share this picture I took today.
This woman was walking around Orlando dressed like this! This place has gone mad, I tell you!

Right now, I am sitting in the press room at the Bassmaster's Classic and Convention in Orlando, Fl. I'm supposed to be studying for the MedSurg 2 exam we are having Monday, but I thought I'd take a break for a minute. Directly behind me, through a large glass window, is the studio where they are filming the show. There seems to be an awesome light show going on in there, and there are people sitting in the audience actually rooting on their favorite fishermen! It's almost as crazy in there as a NASCAR race!

The fishing is happening around Orlando in the lakes that are here. Right now, they are having the daily weigh-in. This event goes on for several days, and they just weigh what they catch each day, add it all up, and whoever has the most total weight wins something crazy like $500,000. Man, I never knew you could make a living as a professional bass fisherman! And you get a fan club and everything!

Maybe I should rethink this whole nursing thing. These guys have the BEST of everything. The best boats, best motors, best rods, best reels, best electronics, cool jackets and hats, and all they do is fish!!!!!! What a deal!

Wait a minute, let me think this through....I'm allergic to mosquitoes....I don't like being cold and wet....I don't look very good in hats anyway....And I can just see me trying to give CPR to a fish (they have to be alive when weighed)....Maybe I'll just stick to the path I'm on. And stick to performing CPR on people.

Speaking of sticking to a path, I'd better get back to studying. It's pretty loud in here, so that's why I need to focus a little bit more and get my studying done.

I still want my own fan club
and maybe a batwoman costume

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Hi, it's Your Aunt Brenda again,

We at PlanetWebsite have received an urgent message from Shannon LaForge, Courtroom Deputy to Judge Robert Junell, U.S. District Court for the Western District.

According to Ms. LaForge, we can now add to the list of victims abducted during daylight hours. (The retired 77 yr. old TCU professor from Ft Worth whose body was found last week in Oklahoma---- and the 11 yr. old in Sarasota, FL)

Please refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation...

This is good information for every age, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or political affiliation! Apparently, crime is equal opportunity.

Read these 9 crucial tips, because it never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. If a robber asks for your wallet and or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. DON'T DO THIS!) The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

a. If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF!

Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:

a. Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.

b. If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

c. Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a security guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot This is especially true at NIGHT!)

(And better paranoid than dead.)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, preferably in a zig-zag pattern!!!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP. It may get you raped or killed !

Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point:

Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door."

The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door."

He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls from women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

DO NOT open the door for a crying baby ---- the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled a serial killer in Louisiana.

I'm sad that we have to think this way. But at this point in the planet's history, it seems prudent. It is always better to be safe than sorry, so remain aware of your surroundings.

In fact, it's time we opened our eyes to alot of what's going on around us. And I don't mean the bad stuff. There is still beauty all around us, yes even in the midst of all this chaos.

I challenge you today to:

**Take the scenic route home, and really look around at your community.

**Try to notice the landscaping, instead of the concrete. Notice the trees above and around the structures, instead of the structures themselves.

**Look up at the sky and notice the clouds, instead of the traffic lights and billboards.

**If you see beautiful wildflowers on the side of the road, stop and pick a bouquet. No one is going to stop you.

**Take your kids to a park, instead of the mall or movies. Throw around a frisbee. Don't you remember how fun it was to try to learn?

**Ride bikes together, it forces you to slow down, and it's very peaceful.

**Grow something, anything. Find someway to get your hands into some dirt!It is so rewarding, and it doesn't take that much of your time. Come on, how much of your life to intend on spending in front of a TV or computer, anyway? 3 hours a day? 4? 5? Is that what you saw yourself doing with your life?

**It's all still out there, waiting for you. There are just so many ways you let yourself get distracted from what's really important. Why?

Princess Alexis says "Happy Mardi Gras!"

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Clinical Activity Log: Day Three
Wednesday, February 15, 2006-

Hi, Your Aunt Brenda again. the saga at the Migrant Clinic continues....

Description of Agency: Again, I spent today at the Migrant Clinic in Baldwin County, Alabama.

Clients Seen: Today wasn’t a very busy day, so my patient experience was quite limited. I did, however care for a mother and her two daughters. They came in to the clinic to be seen for sore throats, headache, fatigue, fever, and cough. I checked their vital signs and took them to the exam room. I knew with that type of history, that I needed to perform the rapid strep test on all three of them. The other MA helped me organize the supplies needed and helped perform the tests by swabbing the back of the patient’s throats. This is when I noticed the “strawberry tongues,” a classic sign of strep throat.
This test is pretty interesting. Two reagents a introduced into a test tube. The swab is then inserted into the mix and swirled around for a full minute. The swab is discarded at this point. A dropper cap is then placed over the top of the tube, and two drops are placed into a well in the test strip. After 5 minutes the results can be read. Using the chart that was in the box with the kit, I was able to see by the lines, or absence of lines, if the test was positive or negative for Strep A.
The patients I tested today were all negative. The daughters needed a nebulizer treatment for their asthma, and because of the asthma, they were started on antibiotics for their symptoms. (Yes, antibiotics when the test was negative.) Asthma lowers a patient’s resistance to airborne pathogens, and since the girls were obviously ill with an upper respiratory infection, the antibiotics were indicated.

Collaboration with Other Disciplines: I worked with the MD and nurse practitioners in caring for patients today. One woman had a BP of 205/110, and stated that she cannot take
Clonidine (the drug of choice) because it makes her sleep (a common side effect). I approached the NP with this info, and she determined that the MD on duty should see the patient. She ended up going home and taking her own Clonidine. This was the safest choice, besides sending her to the ER.

Nursing Role as Client Advocate: I didn’t really find any opportunities to advocate for my patients’ care. I did, however, get asked a pretty good question by a nine year old girl. She asked me what the patch on my shoulder read. I showed her that it says “College of Nursing University of South Alabama.” She asked me, “Why do grown-ups go back to school?” I answered that , in my case, I married young, had children, and spent many years caring for them and taking care of the household. Once my children grew up, I didn’t need to be a full-time Mommy anymore. That’s when I decided to go back to school and get a degree in Nursing. Now, I can spend time caring for others who need it. Since I like being a Mommy so much, it seems like a perfect fit. She was still a little confused. I guess when you’re nine, you can’t imagine anyone going to school because they want to.

Summary and Impression:I spoke with one of the nurse practitioners, Deborah Langham, at length about her career path. She started out as a travelling nurse in order to pay down her student loans, but the time away from her husband facilitated a change in that plan. She did, however, travel long enough to get her nurse practitioners license “on the run”, and to pay down a significant amount of her debt. These are things I’m thinking about right now also. My plan is to sign on with a travel agency ten months after graduation, and Bruce and I are going to start our “trek across the planet.” It was nice to hear that travel nursing is everything I expect it to be from someone who has already done it.
I had a great opportunity for client teaching when I left the clinic and went to the Mellow Mushroom for lunch. (By the way, their portabello sandwich is the best!) The waitress’ 7 year old daughter was there handing out menus and delivering food. She was so cute! I heard her mom call her “Savannah.” I just had an 8 year old patient in the hospital that I took care of named Savannah. I told her about the other Savannah, and how she was in a car accident and got really hurt because she was only using the lap belt in the back seat. Her Mom was wanting more information on this subject, and I told her and Savannah what I learned about her age group and the best safety practices in the car. She should still be using a booster seat with a shoulder and lap belt to prevent the serious injury that can occur otherwise. I explained to her that with the force of an accident, her entire lower abdominal contents would be “squished” between the seat belt and her spine. This causes internal injuries, as you can well imagine, as well as causing fractures in the lower spine. Savannah promised she would use her booster seat from now on, and this also gave her Mom the reinforcement she needed to enforce this. It felt really great to share this information that I learned in my hospital rotation, in order to better someone else’s life, and to help the Mom to “win the car seat battle.”

Goals for the Following Visit: The next visit to the clinic will be my last, so I plan on implementing my teaching project and placing the posters in key areas (exam rooms and bathrooms).

Do you need information about the safest way for your children to travel by car? Check out this link...

http://www.paaap.org/pdf/teleconf/020806/aappol.pdf

***You'll want to change your view to 125%. Otherwise, you need a magnifying glass!
READ THIS, IT MAY SAVE YOUR CHILD'S LIFE OR AT LEAST, SAVE THEM SOME MAJOR PAIN!!!!

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Clinical Activity Log: Day Two
Tuesday, February 14, 2006-

Hi, Your Aunt Brenda again. The saga at the Migrant Clinic continues.....

Description of Agency:
I spent today at the Migrant Clinic in Baldwin County, Alabama. I worked with two medical assistants, one physician, and two nurse practitioners. There were three people working the front desk/records area and two lab techs on duty.

Clients Seen:
Today the patients I saw ranged in age from 8 months to 64 years old, and presented with a variety of symptoms.
Some of the duties I was able to perform today-
· Helped the lab tech get a blood sample from the heel of an 8 month old boy to test for lead poisoning,
· Performed a rapid strep test (it was positive) and gave home-care instructions to a twelve year old girl and her mother,
· Gave a dexamethasone shot to a 64 year old man who has arthritis in his right knee,
· Performed a visual acuity test and interviewed a thirteen year old boy who was at the clinic for a sports physical so he can play soccer at school,
· Observed one of the nurse practitioners examine a 29 year old female who had a distended abdomen, rebound tenderness, and diffuse pain across her abdomen and lower spine. (We sent her to the ER for further examination. We suspected she had a perforated appendix),
· Explained to a 42 year old diabetic woman, using my previous experience with the subject, that sometimes it can take up to six weeks to get a reply back from a drug company regarding a patient assistance application.

Collaboration with Other Disciplines:
As noted above, I worked with both nurse practitioners, the lab tech, and the MA’s.

Nursing Role as Client Advocate:
The nurse practitioner called the ER and gave report on the patient we were sending to the Charge Nurse on duty. She made sure that the staff was expecting the patient and gave any pertinent medical history necessary for proper care.
Summary and Reflection:
In between helping with patients, I spent time observing Anita King, a nurse practitioner who is an expert in diabetic education. (She is also an instructor at my nursing school, The University of South Alabama.) She had many handouts and information packets written in Spanish, as well as English. She volunteers at the clinic on Tuesday evenings, helping the patients get control of their diabetes with dietary changes and increased exercise, as well as medications. It was great to see her “in her element”, and to get the one-on-one interaction. I learned a lot about diabetic teaching during the time I spent with her.
I also did more research on my teaching project today. I have decided on prevention of disease through proper handwashing.

Goals for the Following Visit:
My goal for my next visit is to gather more information on my teaching project. I plan to check out the available materials at the clinic, and determine any lacking information on proper handwashing. I then plan to find or design a poster in Spanish to be posted throughout the facility.
Day two turned out very well, I felt I gained some understanding of the cultural differences between myself and my Hispanic neighbors. I know this will serve me well when I am caring for patients as Bruce and I travel the world! The only thing I'm concerned about is that it's very hard for me to learn a new language. I don't know why. I took Latin in high school so I could better understand medical terminology, but how many Romans do you think I'll run into on the street to use it in conversation? (I hope none!)

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Clinical Activity Log: Day One
Friday, January 13, 2006-

Hi, this is your Aunt Brenda again. I am writing journal entries for my time at La Clinica de Baldwin, an assignment to fulfill my Pediatric course requirements in nursing school. Thought you might be interested in the kinds of things I'm doing while in school. Here goes!

Description of Agency:
I was assigned to the Migrant Clinic in Foley, Baldwin County, Alabama. I am to spend four days at this facility. This clinic was started by Carolyn White, one of our instructors at The University of South Alabama College of Nursing. She also taught us pharmacology our first semester, and is now the faculty advisor for the Student Nurse’s Association. The agency has grown quite a bit since she started it. They now take BCBS and Medicare, but if the patients lack coverage,a sliding scale is used, based on income.
Upon arriving at the clinic, I met with the CEO, Bob. He was genuinely happy to see students at the facility. This started the day on a positive note.
The clinic is staffed with medical assistants (MA’s), nurse practitioners (NP’s), one translator,and one doctor. Labcorp has its own employees at the facility to handle the lab related issues. The MA’s “load” patients into rooms, charting their vital signs and performing any necessary procedures or tests indicated. They also keep the exam rooms cleaned and stocked with supplies.

Clients Seen:
The patients I encountered today were all adults. I checked each patient’s vital signs and charted them. I then asked what brought them to the clinic. Their presenting complaints ranged from upper respiratory infection to finger laceration to high blood pressure.
One patient’s blood pressure was so elevated when I took it using the machine, I rechecked it manually. Even then, the BP was 194/110! (That’s “stroke” bad) I immediately approached the NP, and she asked me to give him 0.1 mg clonidine, and recheck his BP in 30 minutes. (The clonidine brought it down to a more reasonable figure, otherwise he would have gotten a trip to the ER.)
I decided to try out my Spanish-English book on a male patient who spoke very little English. Using the pictures and text in my book, he explained to me that he had an “itchy penis.” Boy, I sure can choose well! He ended up getting a shot of Rocephin, and prescriptions to take home for himself and his wife.

Collaboration with Other Disciplines:
The LabCorp techs were pretty territorial regarding anyone else performing phlebotomy in “their” area. So, instead of having someone breathing down my neck while drawing blood, I snuck my patient into their room when no one was around, found the paperwork and supplies I needed, and obtained the required specimen without complications. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Nursing Role as Client Advocate:
One of the MA’s takes care of the patient assistance program. This program helps patients obtain their medication free or at drastically reduced rates. She fills out the necessary paperwork for each drug company, gets the prescriptions written, and submits the applications. When the medication comes in, she calls the patients for pick-up. This is a great service to offer these patients. I handled this exact program at Dr. Alfred Chance’s office in Fairhope, and though the paperwork could be quite time-consuming, the patients really appreciated the service.

Summary and Impression:
I performed all the same duties the MA’s were responsible for today. I checked in patients, performed their vital sign assessment, and documented their chief complaints. This process flowed very smoothly until I encountered a patient who spoke only Spanish. I would then have to stop what I was doing and find the translator. If my Spanish was better, I wouldn’t have had any issues at all.
I performed phlebotomy and the required paperwork to have the sample picked up and analyzed by the lab. No problems there!
The rapid strep test I performed came back positive, and the patient was able to start antibiotics right away because of this. I was glad to see this test available at this facility.
I dressed a finger laceration, but found the facility had meager supplies for dressings. I could only find paper tape, and there were no Klings to help hold the dressing in place. I am very experienced in applying dressings, but with the lack of proper supplies, I was sure the dressing wasn’t going to stay on long enough for him to walk to his car!
I gave Clonidine to a patient with dangerously elevated blood pressure. I was very glad to see this protocol in place.

Goals for the Following Visit: I plan to determine what the subject of my teaching project will be. I’m pondering whether to do it on better sleep, better nutrition, or prevention of disease through proper handwashing. I will report back later on my decision.

What do you think about nursing schools sending students to facilities like this one?

Since there were no children seen, and this is supposed to be a pediatric experience, I was sort of disappointed. But, all in all, I found it to be a pleasant experience. In fact, it may inspire me to learn a new language!

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Q: What do you do when the driver in front of you is turning?

Hi, this is your Aunt Brenda again. New Subject...What do YOU do when the driver in front of you is turning? Do you turn on your blinker also? Why or why not? Do you like this practice, or does it just confuse you? (It confuses me!)

Speak Up! I'm conducting a poll to find out what people REALLY do in this situation. I want to know how YOU feel about this, then I'll give you my opinion and what I think may be the safest move. Stay tuned to find out!

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Funny Stuff
Some Southern Bell Humor (actually it's more like redneck etiquette)

Hi, I'm Your Aunt Brenda!

If you have any questions about anything regarding improving your life (or just enjoying it more), please feel free to ask! I have access to many databases with pertinent info on all topics regarding health and well-being, and I would just LOVE to share them with you! I believe in holistic healing, taking under consideration the WHOLE person, not just some symptom or ailment. I'm hoping to introduce true health and happiness to anyone who so desires.

Right now, I am a senior at the University of South Alabama College of Nursing. I currently serve as Director of Community Service for the Student Nurse's Association, and am involved in many school activities.

I am currently working on a teaching project for the Migrant Clinic in Foley, Alabama. The topic is "Handwashing". I'm gathering my evidence, and putting things in their proper order, dotting my i's and crossing my t's, and will be presenting this to the children who visit the clinic during my time there this week and next. I don't speak a lick of Spanish, so this should prove to be very interesting! I'll let you all know how that goes.

In my spare time (yes I still have some!), I love organic gardening, healthy, creative cooking, tromping through the woods with my Sweetie Bruce, traveling to new places, and I truly enjoy helping people to improve their lives. Right now, I'm also helping my Mom learn how to cook healthier meals for the whole family. Right on, Mom!

I'm very happy to have been given this opportunity to share what I learn with you. I'll be posting links to some cool things I find while I'm searching for school-type stuff. So Keep Watching!

Hope you enjoy your visit to PlanetWebsite! Visit often to check for new content, we are working day and night to get as much information to you as humanly possible.

Later,
Aunt Brenda

Just Go Ask Aunt Brenda! After hearing it for the 100th time around MeMe's house, I suggested we set up a place on the internet for when we (the infamous Aunt Brenda and I) decide to take off on our world travels. Well the site is now under construction, so in the meantime I have set up a Projects Page to serve as Brenda's temporary home page.

This blog will now be the official gathering place for the lovely and sweet nurse Brenda to share her talents with The Global Webisphere!

Look Out Web... Here she comes!

Introducing...

my partner in life
my partner in love
The LOVE of My LIFE!

Yours Forever,
The Rocket