The Tanookie Rises...from the Crabgrass?!?

Since returning from our trip and passing the boards, I find myself with A LOT more time on my hands. Much needed because I have started to clean up our house. Didn't realize just HOW MUCH the house was neglected between December and now! It also has allowed me to think about some random things...

1) Does anyone want to join me in a managed deer hunt? Damn these animals. With the help a famous Disney movie, they have may look innocent and helpless, but THEY are the ones that threaten MY home. When we first moved into our home, I was incredibly eager to start planting outside. I bought some pansies and planted them around our tree and borders. I swear to you, the VERY next morning (barely 15 hours had gone by!) every single one of them were ripped out from the ground and eaten! The bastards! AND NOW, as our third spring approaches, they have struck again! Last week before leaving for Costa Rica, I was thrilled when I saw that my tulips were sprouting. I was even more elated when I saw that some of them had even multiplied! When we returned, I noticed that not only were the tulip leaves missing, but that some of the bulbs were ripped clean out of the ground! AND, some tulips were neatly beheaded by those buck-toothed chompers. WTF?!?!

Last year's tulips...BEA-U-TI-FUL!

The same are of our lawn this year...damn, those deer.

2) Spent the later afternoon "thatching" our lawn. Never heard this word before until we owned a house and yard. Basically, you rake your lawn free of any dead grass and leaves. That allows the lawn to "breathe" (yet another term I had never used) and grow healthier grass. Scary thing is, I think our ENTIRE lawn needs to be thatched because I was ripping up entire clumps of grass and leaving behind pockets of dirt. Which leads me to #3...

3) Crab grass: friend or foe? "Foes" because they may look like grass, but are actually weeds. Spent the OTHER half of late afternoon ripping these things out of (or worse yet, what's left of) my tulip beds. They are easy to rip up and some, surprisingly infiltrate deep into the ground. I say "friend" because I have a sneaking suspicious that our ENTIRE yard is all crab grass. Therefore, they keep our yard green and prevent our yard from looking like an abandoned softball field.

4) Why can't clueless drivers accept their mistakes? I was on the 795 connector highway getting ready to merge onto I-695 South. Let me illustrate that there are 2 lanes merging into I-695 South. I was in the inner (left) lane and a few cars in front of me there was a big white car in the outer (right) lane. As these 2 lanes begin to separate from the 795 highway, the white car suddenly realizes that this is NOT the way he wants to go. It was obvious the he wanted to stay on 795. Let me remind you that he is in the outer right lane and now all I see are brake lights ahead.

This is where I have problems with drivers. Rather than submitting to the rules of the road, this white car SUDDENLY slows down, signals (HAHA), forces his way into our lane, and attempts to squeeze his way BACK onto 795.

Why is that people can't admit they are going the wrong way?!?! They have to quickly fix their problem by making sudden turns, thus putting other people at risk of collision. Why couldn't he have continued going the wrong way, take the first available exit, turn around (safely), and re-entered the highway in the direction he wanted?!?! I tell you why...because that is a selfish driver who does not think of anyone else, but himself and where he needs to be. He cannot be inconvienced by a wrong turn on a major highway. Instead, all he cares about it getting into the right lane and crossing a few solid lines.

I've seen this selfish phenomenon done several times. It pisses me off every single time...

5) Ever discriminate against the elderly? I was the grocery store approaching the check-out lines. I only have one item in my hand and could easily qualify for the "15 items or less" aisle. I stand in line behind an old lady with EXACTLY (no joke, 'cause I counted) 15 items in her cart and a handful of coupons. Rather than giving her the benefit of the doubt, I stealthfully move to the next check-out aisle. Why did I do this? Why? Because I assumed that this would be a painful check-out process to witness. I didn't have the patience to watch her skinny, arthritic fingers shuffle through her coupons or count out exactly $19.09.

You think I'm bad?!?!? What would YOU do if #4 AND #5 were added together? You see what I'm sayin'?!?!?!

Pura Vida!

Hola!!!! Hassan and I just returned from a week in Costa Rica! Our friends Katrina and Justin were married last Saturday aboard the Tom Cat catamaran at sunset in front of 20 family and friends. Needless to say, it was absolutely perfect! Everyone should get married the way they did...laid back, no pressure, small audience, fresh air from the ocean, pictures on the shore, and wearing flip-flops instead of heels!

And yes, these are all real pictures from our trip!

We TRULY enjoyed our time in Costa Rica...after a stressful 6 weeks of studying for my NP boards (yup, I passed!), my jagged nails that I have bitten have now fully grown back! There is no feeling in the world knowing that you are COMPLETELY done with one chapter in your life and ready to start another! Good-bye, ICU and Helllllllloooo, medical office! Enough for now, I'll blog about this later...
















Back to Costa Rica...we spent one week in the Manuel Antonio/Quepos area of Costa Rica on the Pacific side. I'll never forget seeing the beach for the first time...the whole thing unfolded like the set of "Lost"! I immediately noticed the large rocks that rose from the middle of the ocean and that we were enclosed by mountains on either side of us. Instead of high-rise hotels, condos, and board-walks that lined the ocean front, there were the lush tropical jungles! All the hotels were hidden away or carved into the side of the massive hillsides!

This area of Costa Rica was definitely non-touristy...just the way I like it. No annoying spring-breakers drunk in the streets or MTV's "TRL" televising from the pool. We were away from it all! Our hotel room literally had NO phone, clock, or television. Forget about a "continental breakfast"! No traffic in the streets. There was only one main road connecting Quepos and Manuel Antonio. These roads twist and turned with the geography of the mountain we were on.

Manuel Antonio is famous for it's national park and wildlife. Sitting on the beach we saw a group of endangered Squirrel Monkeys literally swing by and play around! Iguanas and three-toed sloths are typical of the region as well.

One of four beaches within the Manuel Antonio National Park

Here are some to the things that we did during the week:

1) Watched NUMEROUS sunsets (how often do you get to watch even one?!?!?!)
2) Napped on the beach (my personal favorite)
3) Boogie-boarded and swam under waves
4) Ate every dinner with an ocean view
5) Rode my own ATV through the local villages and date palm farms (and crashed into an abandoned wood pile!)
6) Jumped off a waterfall (that was Hassan!)

No joke, he jumped!

7) Zip-lined through the jungle and rappelled down trees in the Canopy Tour! (That's Sandro...he has NO fear!)
8) Bought Costa Rican coffee
9) Ate freshly cut pineapples everyday!
10) Enjoyed REAL yogurt (it's SO much richer!)
11) Saw what a real cashew looks like before it's been roasted
12) Watched Costa Rican youths dance the modern salsa and merengue at the discotheque
13) Enjoy fresh seafood: SO fresh that the tuna tastes like chicken and has the firmness of steak!

Pura Vida literally means the "pure life". The Costa Ricans we encountered were very friendly and laid-back. Driving through their villages, they have a simple life. Kids walk home to eat "almuerzo" (lunch) at home. Wet clothes dry on a clothes line with the real "ocean breeze" scent. Even the local dogs are well-nourished and behaved. We spotted one little black dog running long side his owner who was riding a bike down the street. He had a sea-shell collar!

Simple Life

What Costa Rican's call their "guava"

It appears they have a balance of modern day luxuries and rich culture. Unlike their Central American neighbors, they are a self-sustaining country invested in it's own natural resources. They respect the land they live off of. When their main export of bananas fell victim to high heat and sweltering humidity, the Costa Ricans focused their resources on propagating the date-palm tree as an alternative. Not only do these palm trees produce dates, but when refined, become the "palm oil" that we all recognize in major cosmetics and hair products. A local guide even showed us the maturing teak tree farms that will produce millions of dollars in exotic lumbar.
I would definitely visit Costa Rica again! There were barrier reefs to snorkel, volcanoes, and hotsprings that I have yet to visit!

I'll never forget what the real "Pura Vida" is like in Costa Rica. We all should try to remember...

Non-alcoholic, of course!

A Public Awareness Announcement

I was absolutely floored when the news of Dana Reeve's death hit the news. It was about 7 months ago that she announced to the public that she had lung cancer and only 17 mos after the death of her husband! She joins a handful of other famous people who have recently died of lung cancer. What is even more shocking is that she claims to never had smoked a cigarette. Makes you think...

As I'm studying for my board exam, I though I'd share this little factoid with you (besides, it allows me to blog and review some material):

1) In the U.S., the top cancer among males is prostate cancer.
2) In the U.S., the top cancer among females is breast cancer.
3) In the U.S., the top cancer DEATHS in males and females is LUNG CANCER.

There are a couple things to extract from these 3 statements:
* Although prostate and breast cancer are the most identified types of cancer, most men and women DO NOT die of these diseases.
* Clinicians do a decent job in the U.S. screening for prostate and breast cancer. There is a good amount of public awareness about prostate and (mostly) breast cancer. To name a few: Race-for-the-Cure, the Yoplait pink lids, and those "Live Strong" pink bracelets.
* However, given that BOTH men and women actually die from lung cancer, there is a desperate need to not only screen for lung cancer, but to actually educate the public about preventing lung cancer (i.e. SMOKING). I've found that thetruth.com ads in the media is a pretty good start in reaching the public about the link between the tobacco industry and lung cancer.

* NOTE: Other celebrities that are battling or have died from lung cancer: Don Knotts, Bob Denver (bronchial CA), Peter Jennings, and Tammy Faye-Baker.

Terrarium

I am continuing to procrastinate. I really should study, but of course I can't until I'm done blogging. So after my appointment, I derail from the agenda, to make a trip to Michael's craft store.

I missed my brother's birthday because it was in the middle of the week. This week I'll be seeing him at my parents and so I decided to make his birthday gift: a terrarium. I know that he was interested in the concept: a self-sustained, enclosed environment in which you can grow plants with very little water. All you have to do is provide light!

I researched terrariums on the internet and made one for myself a few weeks ago. This is a picture of mine in our kitchen. I bought this "Murry" cat from Michael's today and added it to the scenery. I envision that this is what Murry would look like if he were an outdoor cat. I plan on making another one for our guest bedroom. I'll post the directions on how to make a terrarium later. You can use virtually any large glass container to grow plants in. My ideal glass container will be the one from Crate and Barrel as shown.

Mikey's terrarium will be all-glass, but I haven't picked out his "animal" yet. I was thinking a polar bear to make things more interesting. You are probably wondering why a polar bear. Hint: Mikey and I are dedicated fans of "LOST"!

Well, gotta study. Sigh...looks like Murry, fake "Murry", and the fish aren't the only ones living in a terrarium...

Procrastination

So it's Friday...I don't want to study. The Tanookie transforms itself into a big ADD monster. Studying definitely works like a bell curve and I'm on it's way down...way down. My life is so stagnant right now that all I do is study AND occasionally get to breath fresh air.

My one outing of the day was to the doctor's office. Yipee. Before we went to Hajj we had to get immunized against some 3rd world communicable diseases...meningitis, hepatitis, influenza, tetanus. The works. I had to go today for my second series of the Hepatitis A. (Don't worry...I was A LOT better behaved than Murry!)

All was well until I had to pay the fee...a whole $75 for one measly shot and 5 minutes of actual clinical time! I explained to the secretary that my insurance (good 'ol BlueCross of Illinios) covered this vaccine. But all she could say was "Sorry...we don't accept insurance for vaccines. YOU have to submit the claim and get reimbursed. " WELL...I ain't fallin' for that sheeznit of an answer AGAIN.


Flashback to 5 months ago: I racked up a $320 bill on the inital vaccines and travel consultation. Paid the ENTIRE bill on my VISA and spent the next 2 months playing the middle-man between my insurance company and Patuxent Medical. Submit this here, wait a few weeks, resubmits again, and again...


Flashfoward to TODAY at 11am (before my appointment): Spoke with the insurance company to verify that I am indeed covered for this visit. If they want me to pay, I have to play the part of the "annoying patient who refuses to pay" and "the disruptive one". Note: currently on month 3 in trying to get Has' $220 reimbursed from his initial visit. How fun!

Flashfoward to the present: Waiting patiently at the check-out window while (the secretary) whispers to the billing lady. I can see them, but refuse to look at the waiting room full of sick patients as they wait for the doctor who is Takeisha*45 minutes behind schedule. Yikes. Anyways, talked with the billing lady and explained my story...she verifies with the computer and confirms that I am indeed covered. My VISA stays in my wallet and I dodge the middle man bullet. Freedom!


*Flashback to Takeisha checking me in: she says, "Is Christina...(long pause)...mmm, I can't even say this (last) name. " The nerve! How embarrassing was that?!? In front of everyone! All I could do was laugh...Surely, I could have managed. Dang, 4 years in Baltimore City...I've seen every name imaginable and when I'm unsure of the prounounciation, I ASK.

"Life can lick a nut"

...a quote from Aamina's blog about nuts and life. I kinda like that saying...






So it begins the countdown to my Family NP board exam...13 days until 3/13. Is that bad luck already?!?!?!? At least it's not on a Friday. I've been studying pretty regularly ever since we got back from Hajj. Not CrAzY studying or anything. I've been listening to a lecture review on CD, doing practice questions in a review book, studying with Jenny every week at the library, and condensing my ALL the information I need to know into a 1 inch binder PLUS.
Now, I'm done. Out of the 24 in our class, I know about 10 who have taken and PASSED that darn test. (Dang!) Most of which are now working Monday through Friday and 9-5 putting their FNP, CRNP credentials to work (Dang, again)!!! Why does that make me so CrAzY and AnXiOuS?!?!?!?! I'm going to literally throw myself into V-tach if I hear one more person passes before I even take the exam. (Jenny takes her exam on Thursday...good luck!)

I feel like I'm preparing pretty well...but it is cognitively impossible to retain all this information. Just when I thought I had a handle on the information, I find yet another detail or concept I didn't even learn about! AGHHH! I didn't study NEARLY as much for my RN exam...I remember I bought a dinky review book ("The NCLEX-RN Made Easy") that I didn't even finish because I ran out of time studying! Seriously, if you are looking for a review book, that review book was great because it broke down the concepts into it's simplest form AND it had cute pictures to help remember the difficult concepts. (Ahem, Aamina!)

Has tries to calm me down by saying, "Don't worry so much...the worse you can do is fail. Here have ANOTHER cookie. (munch, munch) " WOW...I guess that puts it into perspective. I know I shouldn't be anxious about this exam...there's no NP job waiting on me. I have a job now in the PICU.

I usually tell myself, "It's not the end of the world." It usually does the trick. It brings me back down to the ground and slaps some sanity into my head. There are more important things out there than passing this test on the first go-around. Sheesh, Chris!

...wish me luck. Speaking of "lucky days"...

Oh yeah, after my exam, no matter what happens pass or fail, Has and I fly to Costa Rica for a week! Friends Katrina & Justin are getting married at sunset on 3/17 on a catamaran! Congrats, guys!






PS-Jenny called me after her exam and told me that she passed! Congrats, Jenny!!! Sigh...one more classmate down...