Alexander Fleming and I have something in common. We both encountered serendipity. Fleming's serendipity was probably a bit more obvious. He stumbled upon a petri dish infected with mold which lead to the discovery of a penicillum colony which sprouted the birth of modern chemothearphy and changed modern science as we knew it.
Today was my second time volunteering the emergency department except this time I didn't have anyone to "shadow." It was beyond cool, and never have I felt better about my decision to quit public tax accounting and go back to school for nursing. I've never felt more rewarded.
Today SO much happened. I watched a woman get intubated and a man have his toe cut open to relieve an infection/puss pocket (I'll spare you the details). The rest of the time, I made sure patients had warm blankets, helped the nurses with admitting patients, got the patients juice/water/crackers (if it's okay with their nurse) and a couple of times I even got a "God Bless you Sweetheart" in return (a tax return would never bless me). I couldn't help but think to myself that this is truly the best thing I could be doing with my time right now.
PS - I took the TEAS (Test of Essential Academic Skills) last Saturday and got a 86.5% Composite Score, the required score is 77.8%! This test is an entrance exam for the nursing program at Samuel Merritt, so I feel pretty satisfied with my performance! Life is GREAT!
August 26, 2009
August 25, 2009
Emergency Department - Day 1
On Friday I volunteered in the Emergency Department, and boy was that fantastic. So fantastic, that I can't believe that I failed to blog about it on Friday, but it's Tuesday and so here we go...
I shadowed a girl about 5 years younger than I. She was cute though, but young. She is 21 and knows that she wants to be a plastic surgeon, so mature for her age. The first question she asked me definitely gave away her age though and that was if I lived alone or had a roommate. I told her I had a roommate. Needless to say, she showed me how to restock the swabs, where to get bed pans, warm blankets and water or juice if a patient wanted any. Next she showed me how to fill out the patient belonging forms (which is cool because you get to actually be with the patients) if they are to be admitted to the hospital. It was very neat and she was SO helpful.
About two hours into my shift, a man was having a heart attack and there were about 14 doctors all standing around him, more calm than I've ever seen 14 doctors standing around a man having a heart attack (although I've never seen this in real life, only on TV). Apparently, a heart attack and a myocardial infarction can be mutually exclusive. The man was not showing any classical symptoms of a heart attack (sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, sweating and so fourth).I was later told that one quarter of all myocardial infarction's are silent, without chest pain or other symptoms, so I guess this guy fell into that statistic, which could explain the ease at which everyone was, including the patient.
It was just a very neat experience overall, and it REALLY gives you a different perspective on life. There were lots of elderly patients coming in, some with family, some without, which made me realize that you better be nice to your kids and your friends and family so you aren't alone in those situations. It's also interesting to observe family members and their body language. It's really easy to tell those children, brothers and sisters, who truly care for their loved one (the elderly patient in this case) versus those that are there to make sure their name is included in the will and testament. It's like looking at the sky and saying it's blue versus looking at grass and calling it green (assuming you aren't colorblind).
One man came in because he was having a difficult time breathing. He explained that his breathing had gradually been getting worse, so he finally decided he'd stop by. I left before the doctors decided to admitted him or send him home, but not before I could offered him a warm blanket and sat and talked with him for a bit. He explained to us (me and my younger counterpart) that he was shocked to see two blue eyed girls working at the hospital and then quickly realized that we were not doctors but volunteers, definitely from an older generation, where apparently it's ok to say racist things. He did have an interesting perspective though. When we offered him a magazine to relieve his boredom, he quickly replied by saying that he didn't mind just sitting (being bored), that he was just happy to be alive. I guess he had a point.
Anyways, more to come I'm sure, as I volunteer again today! Always exciting....!!!
I shadowed a girl about 5 years younger than I. She was cute though, but young. She is 21 and knows that she wants to be a plastic surgeon, so mature for her age. The first question she asked me definitely gave away her age though and that was if I lived alone or had a roommate. I told her I had a roommate. Needless to say, she showed me how to restock the swabs, where to get bed pans, warm blankets and water or juice if a patient wanted any. Next she showed me how to fill out the patient belonging forms (which is cool because you get to actually be with the patients) if they are to be admitted to the hospital. It was very neat and she was SO helpful.
About two hours into my shift, a man was having a heart attack and there were about 14 doctors all standing around him, more calm than I've ever seen 14 doctors standing around a man having a heart attack (although I've never seen this in real life, only on TV). Apparently, a heart attack and a myocardial infarction can be mutually exclusive. The man was not showing any classical symptoms of a heart attack (sudden chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, palpitations, sweating and so fourth).I was later told that one quarter of all myocardial infarction's are silent, without chest pain or other symptoms, so I guess this guy fell into that statistic, which could explain the ease at which everyone was, including the patient.
It was just a very neat experience overall, and it REALLY gives you a different perspective on life. There were lots of elderly patients coming in, some with family, some without, which made me realize that you better be nice to your kids and your friends and family so you aren't alone in those situations. It's also interesting to observe family members and their body language. It's really easy to tell those children, brothers and sisters, who truly care for their loved one (the elderly patient in this case) versus those that are there to make sure their name is included in the will and testament. It's like looking at the sky and saying it's blue versus looking at grass and calling it green (assuming you aren't colorblind).
One man came in because he was having a difficult time breathing. He explained that his breathing had gradually been getting worse, so he finally decided he'd stop by. I left before the doctors decided to admitted him or send him home, but not before I could offered him a warm blanket and sat and talked with him for a bit. He explained to us (me and my younger counterpart) that he was shocked to see two blue eyed girls working at the hospital and then quickly realized that we were not doctors but volunteers, definitely from an older generation, where apparently it's ok to say racist things. He did have an interesting perspective though. When we offered him a magazine to relieve his boredom, he quickly replied by saying that he didn't mind just sitting (being bored), that he was just happy to be alive. I guess he had a point.
Anyways, more to come I'm sure, as I volunteer again today! Always exciting....!!!
August 23, 2009
"The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility." - Albert Einstein
Annie having a baby has got me thinking...
WARNING: For those of you who are faint of heart, close minded or are easily persuaded to think people (me) are crazy with their crazy thoughts stop reading here, I'm serious.
WARNING: For those of you who are faint of heart, close minded or are easily persuaded to think people (me) are crazy with their crazy thoughts stop reading here, I'm serious.
Tonight, as Brett and I were walking home from the movie 'Inglorious Bastards,' I suddenly realized this fact: The fact is, that we are all so special (newflash). It is for this reason that I say so: out of all the times your parents did "the deed," all the practice rounds and passionate escapades, out of all of those times, a child was NOT conceived. But you, you are the exception. Does this make sense, are you following me? And then if you think before your parents, and all the times your parents parents fornicated - and that was before you were even a seedling - your grandparents conceived your Mom/Dad - the possibilities are endless, the probability is maddening (and you thought the lotto was impossible to win!). Really, it's more than one in a million or even trillion odds that you are sitting where you are sitting today reading this, living, breathing, thinking.
Here is some food for thought; In my developmental psychology course, we learned that the average male ejaculate (I warned you) contains 40 to 600 million sperm. That's just one episode of hide the sausage (or whatever you want to call it). Those are horrible odds that you would make it here, and you did! And then you consider the special mixture that had to be your Mom and Dad for you to get here, with all your quirks and idiosynchroncies.... I should probably stop while I am ahead, but do you see where I am going?
So next time you are down and out, or just a little off, happy, sad, mad, or glad just embrace how special it is that you are here, feeling those feelings. Enjoy yourself and celebrate exactly who you are (even if you're not 100% sure who that is, you can celebrate that too). Or if not, you can just celebrate that you don't have crazy thoughts stuck in your head like me. I'll leave you with another quote from Albert...
"A human being is a part of a whole, called by us "universe," a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."
August 19, 2009
The Miracles in Life
Well, I have some news... drum roll please...
ANNIE AND ROMY HAD THEIR BABY GIRL! . Well, Annie had the baby, but Romy helped too.... Baby and Mom are healthy and the three of them come home tomorrow, and are VERY excited! Reagan Belle Zeid was born on 8/18/2009 at 1:08 pm. Annie looks great as usual and Romy, as Annie would put it "is a rockstar." They were up for 23 hours plus some during the long awaited arrival of baby Reagan! She is so adorable and healthy and precious, just reminds you that life is a TRUE miracle. Annie is my best best best friend and it's been so amazing -words cannot describe the feelings that I am having. But I am staarting to understand why they call childbirth a miracle and children a gift from God.
Now back to me :) I'm not being selfish, I've already been pinned "Crazy Aunt Gina" so I am going to try to refrain from speaking too much of baby Reagan and the Zeid family) so on to me...
Today was my first day of my last two prereq's, Microbiology and Nutrition. So I did the student thing, bought some books, ran into a couple of friends from classes previous (yes, I've made friends) and after a long day of class and visiting the Zeid family at the hospital I was inspired to do something great (cue second round of drumroll pleeease....) I swam 80 laps at the pool!! Brett calls it 40 laps (he counts there & back as one, but I call it 80 - there, one, back, two). Let me know if you need clarification. I know, I am surprised as well, I had no idea Gina could swim like that. I guess I've just been inspired by a few HUGE events in the past couple of days, did I mention ... ANNIE AND ROMY HAD THEIR BABY GIRL!
So it started off like any other day at the pool, which of them I can count on my right hand and the other three on my left. I was in the slow lane, where apparently the snails that know how to breast stroke come to swim, and let me tell you did they come. I started out swimming with a small asian lady who liked to do her breast stroke REALLY WIDE! Then a 400 pound white guy joins the lane with us, and he too is doing a REALLY WIDE breast stoke, so I have no choice, I HAVE to switch to the medium lane, and that I do.
In the medium lane there is an beefy 6 foot Russian male who apparently enjoys doing a modified backstroke in the CENTER of the lane. I signal to share the lane, of which he does. I'm feeling good, I think I'm on lap 50 now, going strong, but this Russian guy is annoying me. He'll swim 2 laps (units of measurements being gina's not Brett's) and then he'll stop. This creeps me out because - well it just does. I'm in the zone and he's definetley measing with my mantra. I've had it, when about 8 laps later, he is swimming RIGHT ALONG SIDE ME WITH HIS KICKBOARD! Then he will speed up so his kick wake is kicking right in front of my face!!!! Then he'll stop, creeping me out once again, and resume. Thankfully, it was approaching 6 and I had to pick up Brett from work, but this Russian fellow was a piece of work.
Needless to say, I have no idea where the 80 laps came from. I just kept thinking to myself about Brett's half Iron Man and about little baby Zeid. It's amazing to think that someone hundreds of days old and someone less than two days old can inspire you, and to only think how Annie and Romy are feeling. And not to mention, my breathing was amazing, it was like I had no superglottic stenosis or whatever they say I have from that day, it was a miracle.
ANNIE AND ROMY HAD THEIR BABY GIRL! . Well, Annie had the baby, but Romy helped too.... Baby and Mom are healthy and the three of them come home tomorrow, and are VERY excited! Reagan Belle Zeid was born on 8/18/2009 at 1:08 pm. Annie looks great as usual and Romy, as Annie would put it "is a rockstar." They were up for 23 hours plus some during the long awaited arrival of baby Reagan! She is so adorable and healthy and precious, just reminds you that life is a TRUE miracle. Annie is my best best best friend and it's been so amazing -words cannot describe the feelings that I am having. But I am staarting to understand why they call childbirth a miracle and children a gift from God.
Now back to me :) I'm not being selfish, I've already been pinned "Crazy Aunt Gina" so I am going to try to refrain from speaking too much of baby Reagan and the Zeid family) so on to me...
Today was my first day of my last two prereq's, Microbiology and Nutrition. So I did the student thing, bought some books, ran into a couple of friends from classes previous (yes, I've made friends) and after a long day of class and visiting the Zeid family at the hospital I was inspired to do something great (cue second round of drumroll pleeease....) I swam 80 laps at the pool!! Brett calls it 40 laps (he counts there & back as one, but I call it 80 - there, one, back, two). Let me know if you need clarification. I know, I am surprised as well, I had no idea Gina could swim like that. I guess I've just been inspired by a few HUGE events in the past couple of days, did I mention ... ANNIE AND ROMY HAD THEIR BABY GIRL!
So it started off like any other day at the pool, which of them I can count on my right hand and the other three on my left. I was in the slow lane, where apparently the snails that know how to breast stroke come to swim, and let me tell you did they come. I started out swimming with a small asian lady who liked to do her breast stroke REALLY WIDE! Then a 400 pound white guy joins the lane with us, and he too is doing a REALLY WIDE breast stoke, so I have no choice, I HAVE to switch to the medium lane, and that I do.
In the medium lane there is an beefy 6 foot Russian male who apparently enjoys doing a modified backstroke in the CENTER of the lane. I signal to share the lane, of which he does. I'm feeling good, I think I'm on lap 50 now, going strong, but this Russian guy is annoying me. He'll swim 2 laps (units of measurements being gina's not Brett's) and then he'll stop. This creeps me out because - well it just does. I'm in the zone and he's definetley measing with my mantra. I've had it, when about 8 laps later, he is swimming RIGHT ALONG SIDE ME WITH HIS KICKBOARD! Then he will speed up so his kick wake is kicking right in front of my face!!!! Then he'll stop, creeping me out once again, and resume. Thankfully, it was approaching 6 and I had to pick up Brett from work, but this Russian fellow was a piece of work.
Needless to say, I have no idea where the 80 laps came from. I just kept thinking to myself about Brett's half Iron Man and about little baby Zeid. It's amazing to think that someone hundreds of days old and someone less than two days old can inspire you, and to only think how Annie and Romy are feeling. And not to mention, my breathing was amazing, it was like I had no superglottic stenosis or whatever they say I have from that day, it was a miracle.
August 17, 2009
Today I waited...
And waited... and waited, and I am stilling waiting - we are still waiting...
MY BESTFRIEND IS HAVING A BABY GIRL! Annie's in the hospital right now and without getting to specific, we are waiting to hear the good news... that Annie and Romy are now parents to the most beautiful & healthy little girl ever created. Needless to say, I am about to lose it, I am so excited for them and can't wait to met little Reagan! I really can't believe it!
MY BESTFRIEND IS HAVING A BABY GIRL! Annie's in the hospital right now and without getting to specific, we are waiting to hear the good news... that Annie and Romy are now parents to the most beautiful & healthy little girl ever created. Needless to say, I am about to lose it, I am so excited for them and can't wait to met little Reagan! I really can't believe it!
August 14, 2009
Volunteering - Day 2
Today was my second day volunteering at CPMC and things have ramped up a bit, and I have a funny story. I showed up at 9 am sharp ready to serve. I clocked in and made my way up to the 4th floor nursing unit. I immediately found the charge nurse, introduced myself, and stated the amount of time that I would be volunteering today. She was nice (not as eager as I was) and so I went about my way. About 15 minutes later, I realized that I was in the wrong section of the 4th floor. I was in the south nursing unit and I should have been in the north. Maybe you had to be there.... clearly I was not ALL there.
Needless to say, I made it to the appropriate nursing unit and began my duties. Today has made me realize something special. I am so thankful for my past work experience because it taught me how to be a self starter. It's imperative that you be a "go getter" in both environments, volunteering and paid slavery. Both require that you keep yourself busy, know how to ask for work when you don't have any, look busy when you aren't, and most importantly, be proactive with a "yes man" attitude. So at this time, I'd like to thank PwC, for running me into the ground so I can suceed in environments where there is no supervision and the expectation that you know what and how to do things you've never been exposed to before. I am not saying the hospital is like that (at least in my ideal mind/world it isn't - don't ruin the dream for me now people), although I am sure at some level that expectation is there as well. But I was shocked, no one even tells a VOLUNTEER what to do and no one is in charge of a volunteer. So, you sorta just find work for yourself, which I am perfectly ok with. So today, I had Gina stamp patient blue cards again for each nursing pod, organized some files, run down to the kitchen to get a patient a soda, and had her do something with some linens. She knows it doesn't sound like a lot, but the three hours went by pretty quick and I think she felt pretty good, so mission accomplished.
It's sad though, while I was working at one of the nursing stations, a 92-year-old Russian speaking woman (no english) was screaming her head off, she was so scared and lost and her poor son, he didn't know what to do for her. When I showed up earlier in the morning, her son was talking to the doctors trying to understand what was wrong with her and why she was seeing things and yelling. The doctors were very helpful which was nice to see but again, it makes you just appreciate what you have and not worry about the things you think you don't have.
After volunteering, I caught the 1 bus to downtown and met Brett for Pho in China town. It was the first time I have had Pho before, it makes you feel so warm and good inside. As Brett and I were eating, I stopped and just told him how blessed we are to be able to just be. That we need to be so thankful for and cherish the simple moments in our lives and if we're lucky enough, someday we'll be 92 and our son will be by our bedside making sure we're ok.
Needless to say, I made it to the appropriate nursing unit and began my duties. Today has made me realize something special. I am so thankful for my past work experience because it taught me how to be a self starter. It's imperative that you be a "go getter" in both environments, volunteering and paid slavery. Both require that you keep yourself busy, know how to ask for work when you don't have any, look busy when you aren't, and most importantly, be proactive with a "yes man" attitude. So at this time, I'd like to thank PwC, for running me into the ground so I can suceed in environments where there is no supervision and the expectation that you know what and how to do things you've never been exposed to before. I am not saying the hospital is like that (at least in my ideal mind/world it isn't - don't ruin the dream for me now people), although I am sure at some level that expectation is there as well. But I was shocked, no one even tells a VOLUNTEER what to do and no one is in charge of a volunteer. So, you sorta just find work for yourself, which I am perfectly ok with. So today, I had Gina stamp patient blue cards again for each nursing pod, organized some files, run down to the kitchen to get a patient a soda, and had her do something with some linens. She knows it doesn't sound like a lot, but the three hours went by pretty quick and I think she felt pretty good, so mission accomplished.
It's sad though, while I was working at one of the nursing stations, a 92-year-old Russian speaking woman (no english) was screaming her head off, she was so scared and lost and her poor son, he didn't know what to do for her. When I showed up earlier in the morning, her son was talking to the doctors trying to understand what was wrong with her and why she was seeing things and yelling. The doctors were very helpful which was nice to see but again, it makes you just appreciate what you have and not worry about the things you think you don't have.
After volunteering, I caught the 1 bus to downtown and met Brett for Pho in China town. It was the first time I have had Pho before, it makes you feel so warm and good inside. As Brett and I were eating, I stopped and just told him how blessed we are to be able to just be. That we need to be so thankful for and cherish the simple moments in our lives and if we're lucky enough, someday we'll be 92 and our son will be by our bedside making sure we're ok.
August 13, 2009
A Fairy Tale
"I once read a silly fairy tale, called The Three Princes of Serendip: as their highnesses travelled, they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things which they were not in quest of: for instance, one of them discovered that a mule blind of the right eye had travelled the same road lately, because the grass was eaten only on the left side, where it was worse than on the right—now do you understand serendipity?"
I found this story and was intrigued for two reasons. One, what was I - what am I in quest of? I feel as if I relate better to the blind mule more often than a high Prince with the priveledge of a third party perspective. It seems as if it's pretty much a given that to be a human is to be a blind mule. Look, we usually travel the same roads to work/school everyday, eat from the same locations, shop at the same grocery stores, walk our dogs on the same street each evening, this list goes on. Is this simply because we trust it, or is it because we are all living serendipidously?
Secondly, what's the deal with these Princes? "...they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of...". Must be nice that through "accidents and sagacity" you stumble upon a golden ticket of some sort (if this was a Princess, there would be no accidents it would be meticulously planned, but apparently all the Princess are busy waiting to be saved and/or too distressed to make the auditions). Back to my second point, if you reread the story, it implies that these Princes too are living a quest serendipidously unaware, they are only privy to the blind mule's serendipitous nature (I think I might have just found the key to the door of our jealous nature).
However, I don't believe the moral of this "fairytale's" story is about jealousy or third party perspectives, or Prince vs Princesses, although if it was a Princess, I believe she might have a better chance at seeing her own serendipity (wink). But on a serious note, I think the story is telling us not to be so autonomous that we miss the opportunity to travel a path, familiar or foreign, with one eye or both, but just to go as we are. That on occasion, this could (and quite possibly) lead to the accidental discovery of new knowledge. Is this the path to enlightenment?
I found this story and was intrigued for two reasons. One, what was I - what am I in quest of? I feel as if I relate better to the blind mule more often than a high Prince with the priveledge of a third party perspective. It seems as if it's pretty much a given that to be a human is to be a blind mule. Look, we usually travel the same roads to work/school everyday, eat from the same locations, shop at the same grocery stores, walk our dogs on the same street each evening, this list goes on. Is this simply because we trust it, or is it because we are all living serendipidously?
Secondly, what's the deal with these Princes? "...they were always making discoveries, by accidents and sagacity, of things they were not in quest of...". Must be nice that through "accidents and sagacity" you stumble upon a golden ticket of some sort (if this was a Princess, there would be no accidents it would be meticulously planned, but apparently all the Princess are busy waiting to be saved and/or too distressed to make the auditions). Back to my second point, if you reread the story, it implies that these Princes too are living a quest serendipidously unaware, they are only privy to the blind mule's serendipitous nature (I think I might have just found the key to the door of our jealous nature).
However, I don't believe the moral of this "fairytale's" story is about jealousy or third party perspectives, or Prince vs Princesses, although if it was a Princess, I believe she might have a better chance at seeing her own serendipity (wink). But on a serious note, I think the story is telling us not to be so autonomous that we miss the opportunity to travel a path, familiar or foreign, with one eye or both, but just to go as we are. That on occasion, this could (and quite possibly) lead to the accidental discovery of new knowledge. Is this the path to enlightenment?
August 12, 2009
"Surviving is Important. Thriving is elegant." - Maya Angelou
This morning I was so graciously awakened by the sound of Brett's voice, asking me if I could take him to work. This is a very standard routine we have, which if I do say, is the least of measures I can take for him to let me stay at home all day with the dog and do nothing (wink wink). The wake up call/escapade downtown wasn't all bad, that is to say if you ignore the glares and stares from the business people of the world during our excursion into downtown.
I've decided that these glares could be possibly warrented. These people ("the suit's") probably think that I am some trust fund kid, that doesn't work. Can you picture this charade? I'm rolling up, fresh out of bed, in my sweats, hair tattered in a side ponytail, teeth yet brushed, small dog in hand dropping off my Husband ... and they all just stare, it's laughable. The only issue that is not funny, is that I have to be on prowl for ex-coworkers, because if they saw me like this, certainly they'd make the assumption that I'd made a HUGE mistake leaving PwC (I've certainly crafted quite the scenarious in my head, haven't I?).
Anyway, back to the wake up call. Brett brewed me the most delicious cup of pete's coffee (this has become a sort of condition to get me out of bed), which I am now currently enjoying while listening to the beau-ta-mous (thank you Catherine for that rendition of beautiful) sound of the fog horn blowing off in the distance. I also can't complain, since again, I do not work and can go back to school with 110% support from Brett. Not to mention the endearing love of his parents, especially his mother of whom verbally (often with gifts as well, medical dictionaries, note pads, stationary) expresses her support toward my decision to return to school at least once everytime I see her, which gets me to the POINT of this blog :)
After my traditional jaunt down to the financial district this morning, I immediatley checked my inbox when I returned home. I had 1667 emails in my inbox! Now, I know what you might be thinking, "Wow, 1,667 people responded to Gina's Serendipitous Quest?!" No, 1,665 are old/junk related emails, I have an issue deleting old emails. But one, one email really took my breath away, it's subject line: "Blog Journal!!!!"
Hi Gina!!! Your blog is the first one I have ever ventured in to read and I loved your entries and reflections. I clicked to try to sign up in order to sign in ( WOW!!!) and got intimidated so will wait for A's assistance. The title you created for your blog captures the essential spirit by which you live your life...your own personal adventure. I am heartened to be a part of all this. I know you will welcome this new day. Take good care. Hi to Brett!!! Love,Kathy"
As I am sure you can infer, or maybe you already know, Kathy is Brett's Mom, and the best mother-in-law this world has known. Now, I know if she is reading this right now, she is probably a little embarrassed that I am posting her email and I surely hope this does not deter her from additional supportive measures, but isn't she the greatest?! By far, the most supportive, loving and caring Mommy I have ever met.Even after my car accident, when Brett and I were mere aquaintances, Kathy sent me a $50.00 for graduating from College. For our friends and family who attended our wedding, you are aware of the poetic speech Kathy gave, about life's seasons and genuinly embracing all life has to offer, and most importantly following your heart.... Her entire mantra, her day to day being, each and everytime we go over for a visit to the Cummings, is just as her speech was. Simply put, it's magical.
While we can all survive through survival mechanisms, innate qualities that we are born with, thriving is different. Thiriving takes the gracious love and support of individuals like Kathy. It's no wonder Brett turned out to be who he is today, and why I can say I feel lucky to have Kathy as a mother-in-law. We are truely blessed to be provided with someone who intends to increase our distinction, if for nothing more, to have that distinction and hope that we can conquer all, instilled within our hearts.
I've decided that these glares could be possibly warrented. These people ("the suit's") probably think that I am some trust fund kid, that doesn't work. Can you picture this charade? I'm rolling up, fresh out of bed, in my sweats, hair tattered in a side ponytail, teeth yet brushed, small dog in hand dropping off my Husband ... and they all just stare, it's laughable. The only issue that is not funny, is that I have to be on prowl for ex-coworkers, because if they saw me like this, certainly they'd make the assumption that I'd made a HUGE mistake leaving PwC (I've certainly crafted quite the scenarious in my head, haven't I?).
Anyway, back to the wake up call. Brett brewed me the most delicious cup of pete's coffee (this has become a sort of condition to get me out of bed), which I am now currently enjoying while listening to the beau-ta-mous (thank you Catherine for that rendition of beautiful) sound of the fog horn blowing off in the distance. I also can't complain, since again, I do not work and can go back to school with 110% support from Brett. Not to mention the endearing love of his parents, especially his mother of whom verbally (often with gifts as well, medical dictionaries, note pads, stationary) expresses her support toward my decision to return to school at least once everytime I see her, which gets me to the POINT of this blog :)
After my traditional jaunt down to the financial district this morning, I immediatley checked my inbox when I returned home. I had 1667 emails in my inbox! Now, I know what you might be thinking, "Wow, 1,667 people responded to Gina's Serendipitous Quest?!" No, 1,665 are old/junk related emails, I have an issue deleting old emails. But one, one email really took my breath away, it's subject line: "Blog Journal!!!!"
Hi Gina!!! Your blog is the first one I have ever ventured in to read and I loved your entries and reflections. I clicked to try to sign up in order to sign in ( WOW!!!) and got intimidated so will wait for A's assistance. The title you created for your blog captures the essential spirit by which you live your life...your own personal adventure. I am heartened to be a part of all this. I know you will welcome this new day. Take good care. Hi to Brett!!! Love,Kathy"
As I am sure you can infer, or maybe you already know, Kathy is Brett's Mom, and the best mother-in-law this world has known. Now, I know if she is reading this right now, she is probably a little embarrassed that I am posting her email and I surely hope this does not deter her from additional supportive measures, but isn't she the greatest?! By far, the most supportive, loving and caring Mommy I have ever met.Even after my car accident, when Brett and I were mere aquaintances, Kathy sent me a $50.00 for graduating from College. For our friends and family who attended our wedding, you are aware of the poetic speech Kathy gave, about life's seasons and genuinly embracing all life has to offer, and most importantly following your heart.... Her entire mantra, her day to day being, each and everytime we go over for a visit to the Cummings, is just as her speech was. Simply put, it's magical.
While we can all survive through survival mechanisms, innate qualities that we are born with, thriving is different. Thiriving takes the gracious love and support of individuals like Kathy. It's no wonder Brett turned out to be who he is today, and why I can say I feel lucky to have Kathy as a mother-in-law. We are truely blessed to be provided with someone who intends to increase our distinction, if for nothing more, to have that distinction and hope that we can conquer all, instilled within our hearts.
August 11, 2009
Day 1 - Volunteering
Today was my first official day volunteering at CPMC Medical Center in Pacific Heights (cue round of applause), and well, before you say "yeah Gina," let me interrupt, it was anything but eventful. Sure the nurses were nice, and I received some smiles from the janitorial staff, but my idea of helping change peoples lives and having a positive impact on them one encounter at a time just didn't happen for me today. Instead, I stamped "blue patient cards" onto tomorrows acute care charts for three different pods in the Nursing Care Unit.
It's not that I was expecting a gold star or confetti to come dropping from the ceiling, and really, there is only SO much I can do, but did I tell you that one of the nurses on shift this evening Peachy (not sure if this is her birth name) thought that I was in high school. I quickly felt the need to tell Peachy (and I did) that I had a Bachelors of Science in Accounting and my CPA license. She looked confused, like she was going to go into shocked and for a moment I thought that I would have the chance to help save Peachy. It's too bad that conversation did not happen before she so meticulously showed me how to stamp the "blue patient card" onto the acute care charts.
I'll stop bantering now. Brett just went over the monthly budget with me, and I just realized I just encountered my first shock patient that I must attend to.
It's not that I was expecting a gold star or confetti to come dropping from the ceiling, and really, there is only SO much I can do, but did I tell you that one of the nurses on shift this evening Peachy (not sure if this is her birth name) thought that I was in high school. I quickly felt the need to tell Peachy (and I did) that I had a Bachelors of Science in Accounting and my CPA license. She looked confused, like she was going to go into shocked and for a moment I thought that I would have the chance to help save Peachy. It's too bad that conversation did not happen before she so meticulously showed me how to stamp the "blue patient card" onto the acute care charts.
I'll stop bantering now. Brett just went over the monthly budget with me, and I just realized I just encountered my first shock patient that I must attend to.
My first post! Woo whooo!
Serendipity - An unsought, unintended, or unexpected discovery or occurrence, made by accident and sagacity - Wikipedia
sagacity (plural sagacities)
The quality of being sage, wise, or able to make good decisions. - Wikonary
Quest - (kwst) n.
The act or an instance of seeking or pursuing something; a search.
So here it is, my very first "blog." I can't help but think to myself that I should have started this a loooong time ago, or at least when I decide to quit my job, and go back to school to follow my dreams of becoming a nurse, but as the saying goes, there is never a better time than the present... or something to that effect.
The culmination of my decision, to quit my senior associate position and world class firm, put my CPA on the back burner and probably, unknowingly (hmm...ok maybe I knew) break my father's heart, and go back to school to become a nurse was implanted in to my heart several years back (a story for another day). Not to mention, going from two incomes to one income, although, I shouldn't pride myself too much there, even though I was making "good money" it was not worth the dread of my exsistence at that time (ask my Husband).
So here I am, on what I will coin as "The Serindipidous Quest..." and LOVING IT!
Have you ever felt like you are right where you are suppose to be? I mean really really right where you are suppose to be and REALLY LOVED where you are at? I get that excited in love feeling whenever I think about my new path in life. It's like a million tiny butterflies twirling and dancing around in my tummy. I couldn't say that 6 years ago, or even 5. There have definatley been (as many of my friends and family can attest to) countless beautiful moments in the past years to the present moments; engagements, weddings, baby's, "life's events," and I have been very content and continue to count my blessings up. But this feeling, of fullfilling your life's purpose, is just, well, almost indescribable. Everything in life just feels, as my Husband would say "... as if the Stars have aligned..."and yet, the most beautiful part of of this quest is that I truely believe that it's just the beginning. . .
sagacity (plural sagacities)
The quality of being sage, wise, or able to make good decisions. - Wikonary
Quest - (kwst) n.
The act or an instance of seeking or pursuing something; a search.
So here it is, my very first "blog." I can't help but think to myself that I should have started this a loooong time ago, or at least when I decide to quit my job, and go back to school to follow my dreams of becoming a nurse, but as the saying goes, there is never a better time than the present... or something to that effect.
The culmination of my decision, to quit my senior associate position and world class firm, put my CPA on the back burner and probably, unknowingly (hmm...ok maybe I knew) break my father's heart, and go back to school to become a nurse was implanted in to my heart several years back (a story for another day). Not to mention, going from two incomes to one income, although, I shouldn't pride myself too much there, even though I was making "good money" it was not worth the dread of my exsistence at that time (ask my Husband).
So here I am, on what I will coin as "The Serindipidous Quest..." and LOVING IT!
Have you ever felt like you are right where you are suppose to be? I mean really really right where you are suppose to be and REALLY LOVED where you are at? I get that excited in love feeling whenever I think about my new path in life. It's like a million tiny butterflies twirling and dancing around in my tummy. I couldn't say that 6 years ago, or even 5. There have definatley been (as many of my friends and family can attest to) countless beautiful moments in the past years to the present moments; engagements, weddings, baby's, "life's events," and I have been very content and continue to count my blessings up. But this feeling, of fullfilling your life's purpose, is just, well, almost indescribable. Everything in life just feels, as my Husband would say "... as if the Stars have aligned..."and yet, the most beautiful part of of this quest is that I truely believe that it's just the beginning. . .
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