Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Meet my new best friend!

I had a brain-drain a few weeks ago and thought I might enjoy going back to work in an Emergency Room and doing some real nursing, unlike what I've been doing in the schools. After talking to the Director of Emergency Services at Del Sol Medical Center, I was a little overwhelmed at how much things have changed from my wonderful Thomason days. But not to be deterred, I dove into the ER Orientation manual they gave me. It was daunting from the very first page.

The director said Del Sol, which is now a Level II trauma center, would, by next year become a Level IV. That means they'll be able to accept critically injured/ill patients most of the time, but the "good ones" as we call them, will still end up at Thomason, because they're a Level V trauma center (it's a staffing issue). A Level V trauma center is a good place to be if you're in really bad shape.

Del Sol is also putting together a first rate Cardiac unit in their ER. That's when I really panicked! I've never felt really confident with cardiac patients. I've always known WHAT to do for the patient, but never really WHY I did it. That goes all the way back to having a really sad anatomy and physiology class - one that was structured for athletes only, not medical people. We learned things like where the heart was located, that we had a brain, and there are 206 bones in the body. We didn't have to name them, just know how many there were! We also learned that the Good Lord must have been tired when he created the knee because it wasn't a particularly well-constructed joint!! I kid you not!

So that's where my new best friend comes in. We spend ALOT of time together, on the couch. I examine every part of my friend and try to soak up everything I see. It's a one-sided relationship as my new friend just sits there. Ummmm, I apologize...let me introduce you to my new best friend:


My friend is teaching me the anatomy and physiology of the heart with pictures like this:
I know, I know...they look like cartoon drawings, but au contraire! This is one of the most complex and confusing topics I've ever embarked upon! What ever happened to good old TRAUMA! Give me blood and guts and I'm happy! That's what ER's are all about! People with cardiac problems should go to....well, I guess the ER! So I need to smarten up! So give me a few weeks before you have a problem with your heart, or just hope I won't be on duty when you arrive!

My new best friend is beckoning. I must leave you now!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Memory Lane Mondays ~ Applets, Grapelets and Cotlets

Years ago I was at Patti's house during the Christmas holidays when she received a package. It turned out to be our Christmas gift from Daddy. We were too excited to wait to put it under the tree, so we just tore into it like wild animals! In the box were three packages of applets, grapelets and cotlets, one for Patti, one for me and one for our brother, Rico. If you don't know what applets, grapelets and cotlets are, they're a gelatinous candy made from the respective fruits (I think) with nuts added and then rolled in powdered sugar. They're pretty disgusting to be honest.


Then one of us noticed a couple of envelopes, one addressed to me and the other to Rico. I opened mine and in it was a Christmas card and $25.00. We looked for an envelope for Patti but couldn't find it. We searched and searched thru the packaging materials and the trash, but hers was no where to be found.

One of us got the bright idea that maybe Daddy might have included Patti's monetary gift in with Rico's. So yes....we opened Rico's card, only to find a nice note from Daddy to Rico, and $50.00!

It's important to know that at this point I had two kids, and Patti had three. I don't think Rico had any kids. This will make sense shortly.

We wondered if Daddy had made a mistake, and how were we going to figure this out?? Finally we decided I would call Daddy and tell him we had received his candy and money gifts and just casually mention Patti didn't get her card. So I made the call and after thanking him for the gifts, I told Daddy that while we were unpacking the box we noticed an envelope for me and Rico only, and if maybe he had forgotten to include Patti's.

Daddy said no, he hadn't forgotten but he didn't think Patti needed any money because she had "all those kids!!" This is one of those moments when I wish I had a picture of Patti's face to show you! Daddy's mind didn't work like most people.

So Merry Christmas Patti! Hope you really enjoyed those applets, grapelets and cotlets that year!!

Monday, August 18, 2008

Memory Lane Mondays ~ Daddy and his nicknames.

When we talk about Daddy, we probably don't always leave our readers with a very good opinion of him. He was an unusual character who wasn't warm and cuddly, but he provided well for us, and we had many good times with him. It wasn't all bad!

One of his little quirks was to give nicknames to people. Each of us had one and most of our good friends did too. We can't tell you why he chose these names, because there was rarely a reason for the name, except in one case. Here's the list:

Patti was and still is "Doodle Bug." Daddy would sing a little song he made up that was equally ridiculous as the name. It went something like:
Doodle Bug, Doodle Bug, Doodle Bug, Doodle Bug dee-doh
Doh dee oh doh, doh, doh dee oh doh, doh doh doh,
Doh doh dee oh doh, doh doh. (The last line went sort of like "shave and a haircut, two bits!)

Bobbi was and still is "Little Turkey." Daddy told me he chose this name because when I was mad, my rear-end stuck up in the air like a turkey! Of course I never saw that! He sang the following song for me, but I don't think it had anything to do with my nickname:
Gim' big kiss and Piggly Wiggly
Gim' big kiss and Piggly Wiggly
Gim' big kiss and Piggly Wiggly
I don't think the song had a closing line. It could have gone on forever!

Rico was named either "Nifty" or "Ace." I can't answer whatever questions you might have up to this point! I don't remember a song that went with Rico's name. Rico didn't like his nicknames.

David, Rico's best friend was "Moose," or "Moose, you ace." Moose, by the way, was tall and weighed about 110 pounds. Sometimes I wonder if "ace" was a nice way to say something else (like a particular body part), because most of the time, Moose was sort of an "ace."

Ercie, Patti's best friend and next-door neighbor was nicknamed "Reverse," which I guess was a play on the pronunciation of her name ("ursy"). After he came up with this name, he never called her by her real name again!

Ercie had a brother Arnulfo, who already had a nickname from his parents - "Nuco," but Daddy renamed him "Margarine" - pronounced mar-jer-REEN. Remember Nucoa Margarine?? One of Daddy's favorite pasttimes was to turn on the sprinklers whenever Arnulfo/Nuco/Marjereen parked his prized midnight blue '55 Chevy within range and after he had just spent hours washing and waxing it. Nuco probably had some choice names for Daddy, as well!

Daddy had his own nickname - "Hoot." I don't know the story behind that name, but all his friends called him Hoot. Daddy's given name was Percy and he hated it! Our attorney told me Daddy had his name legally changed to Perry in the 1970's. I think he told the IRS it was a typo! I don't think Perry is a whole lot better than Percy!

Our mother wasn't given a nickname, but he had some other choice names for her occasionally. In a strange way, she was spared.

Daddy didn't give the grandkids nicknames, but because Trevor was so curious and would run off with Daddy's tools when he was a little boy, everytime we went to visit Daddy, he would say he had to "Trevorize" the house before we got there!

Yes, Daddy was unusual.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Things I Love About My Big Sister

I feel obliged to respond to Patti's previous blog, but this is an easy one. There are so many great things I love about Patti, this list can't begin to cover everything, but I'll try:

1. Patti is so good at crafts and home decorating, like all the improvements she's made to her house (painting, wallpapering, etc.) They always look so professional to me.

2. Patti is a very kind person, to everyone she knows (unless she's really angry with you, then it's best to just tuck and run!) Usually tho, she goes out of her way to be kind to people.

3. She is so thoughtful of others. I remember the story she told me about accidentally ending up in a first class seat when she was coming home from her trip to Ireland and Scotland. After she was seated and comfortable and thrilled with getting that seat, a man with some kind of physical handicap walked onto the plane. I'm not sure what was wrong with him, but he was struggling. Patti immediately offered him her seat and she ended up sitting in coach for the trans-atlantic flight! That's a LONG flight, and I'm sure the man will be forever grateful to her.

4. She says I'm like a sheep, and she's partially correct. If I like someone and later find out she doesn't like them, then I don't like them anymore, even if they're perfectly fine and wonderful people! Right about now, you're probably asking yourself "How old ARE you two???"

5. I love how she treats my family. We always feel so welcome in her home. It's such a happy place to be.

6. When I came back to El Paso to start nursing school, I was just paralyzed about having to make certain important changes in our lives. So she just took over and said this is the way it's going to be and that's the way it was. She made so many important decisions for me, mostly those involving what to do with the boys while I was in school. I'll never forget that. She took such a heavy weight off my shoulders.

7. Patti babysat my boys during alot during my nursing school years. She took really good care of them but it bothered her alot that Troy wouldn't eat anything except PB&J! I never could have made it through nursing school without all the help I received from Patti and my mom.

8. She's right about the hysterical phone calls. Sometimes all I have to do is say "Hello" and we start laughing to the point we can't talk. I don't know what it is, but I love it. If I have a funny story to tell, it's so much funnier when I tell Patti. But no one else ever gets it.

9. Church is hard for us. Something will happen and all we have to do is glance at each other and it's all over! It's all in the eyes!

10. When we have holidays dinners at her house, they are always lovely and delicious, and on the rare occasion she uses paper plates, they're the prettiest paper plates I've ever seen each and every time. She brings out the paper plates for BBQ's and that's the time to use them.

11. Patti is so gracious and seems to really love it when she gets an unexpected gift. Well, except maybe for the chile dress I bought her. When I saw it, I didn't like it at all either, but in my opinion, it had teacher written all over it!! (figuratively) She was horrified!!

12. She's not afraid to let her anger out and I admire that. She's really good about getting things out in the open and not letting them fester.

13. I think SHE's the one who always looks nice. She's tall and slender and looks so good in everything. She also knows how to put together an outfit with jewelry and accessories so that it looks just great.

14. She exercises by walking almost everyday. I wish I had that kind of discipline. Once she sets her mind to something, it's done.

15. Patti is always improving herself by reading books. I read alot, but she reads 100 times more than I do! Ask her anything about the Holocaust or the Civil War and she'll know the answer. She's very smart and has a wide range of interests.

16. She's the funniest person I know, even when she's trying not to be. She can make me fall apart with just one word sometimes, and her funny stories are MUCH funnier when she tells them! Sometimes we laugh until we can't breathe!

17. I love her self-deprecating style. She acts so dopey sometimes but doesn't realize it and that always makes me smile. And you can tease her mercilessly! Mom was right. We tease her because we love her.

18. I wish I could get a picture of her face when she's shocked or doesn't quite believe what you're telling her. Her chin drops straight down, leaving her mouth wide open. It looks so much like Daddy!

19. I don't know anyone, except maybe myself, who loves UTEP football and basketball games like Patti does. We rarely miss a game, even when the team hasn't won in months! Sometimes I think the only reason we go is to hear the National Anthem and the UTEP fight song, but I really think it's mostly just to be together.

20. I've always been a little envious about how talented she in on the piano and organ. I remember how hard she practiced when we were kids and still does. Her talent has served her well.

21. Patti's a wonderful, loving mother and grandmother, and it shows in her kids. They're such good kids and it's obvious they love her as much as she loves them.

22. Most importantly, Patti is always there when I need her, no matter what!

Patti is a great role model for me to look up to. She's a really good person, a hard worker, and a perfectionist, but mostly she's my best friend. I'm the only person in the world who can say Doodle Bug is my sister! How great is that??

Friday, August 8, 2008

Things I Love About My Little Sister

Bobbi complained in a comment that I left her out of my first list of some of the things I love, but actually I was saving her for this post because I could never convey all I love about her in just one line. So here goes, Bob - a list all about YOU!

I love my sister because:

1. She brings me food when I'm sick, like on Wednesday she brought over homemade chicken and rice soup which was
delicious and really hit the spot.

2. She takes the time to wrap birthday gifts and Christmas presents, etc. in gorgeous paper and ribbons, while I sometimes
dont' wrap gifts at all!

3. She has taken such good care of Mother over the years at great sacrifice.

4. She's hilarious and makes me laugh all the time. My family always knows who I'm talking to on the phone because I get
so hysterical and they want to know what's so funny. When I try to tell them, they just look at me strangely and walk away.
They have no sense of humor.

5. She married "The Rock" who I love and respect and is one of the kindest, gentlest, and most generous men I have ever
known.

6. She made our trip to New York a blast, and along with Robyn teased me unmercifully about all the dumb things I
did. But I just think it's funny when she teases me because Mom always told me that when people tease you, it means
they really like you!

7. She gave birth to Trevor, Troy, and Benjamin, all three of whom I really love and also admire for all their
accomplishments. And I love Beth and Ayrel, too!

8. She chose me to go with her to see the Cowboys play at Texas Stadium when she could have chosen any one of her
myriad of friends instead.

9. She always brings me a prize when she goes on vacation somewhere.

10. She's the best shot giver in the world - you can hardly feel anything at all!

11. I have her to sit with in church and we have way too much fun for sitting in church and I HATE it when she's not there!

12. She's always given me a shoulder to cry on - since we outgrew our childhood, anyway!

13. She didn't kill me (although I'm sure she wanted to) when I permed her hair one time and got distracted with somebody
else during the perm. I left on the chemicals much too long and her hair was completely fried and a total disaster!
When I saw it after she had tried to style it, my first comment was "Is THAT your hair??!!" which didn't endear me to her
any further, but she still didn't try to kill me.

14. She helped me so much in finally accepting Kristin's leg problem when, after hearing me feel sorry for myself for
weeks and asking her for the umpteenth time "why me? she looked straight into my eyes and asked me, "Why NOT you?"
That question really turned my attitude around, let me tell you.

15. She put herself through nursing school as a single mom to two very young little boys, which must have been very
difficult.

16. She hosts so many wonderful holiday celebrations in a very classy way, whereas my usual idea of classy is to buy nice
paper plates.

17. She always is well put together with classy clothes, shoes, and jewelry.

18. She gave me a shopping spree at Brighton's although she didn't have to. She bought me a beautiful bright red handbag
that I get so many compliments on! I was so proud to have that purse with me when John and Bethany invited me out to
Cafe Central and I was asked if I would like to use a purse rack. I said sure, although I had no idea what a purse rack was.
It turns out that it's a small wooden rack to place a purse on (thus the name "purse rack") instead of just putting it down
on the floor. They don't have those at the restaurants I frequent (McDonald's). I would have been humiliated if I
had been carrying my not-so glamorous needlepoint purse that I probably bought at Target several years ago.

19. She made shopping for our brother's casket a MEMORABLE experience!

20. She's just Little Turkey, the best sister I could ever have!

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Tuesday's Health Tip of the Day ~ Learn CPR!!!


You never know when you'll come across someone who is choking, or not breathing at all. Possibly their heart has even stopped beating. You'll probably be wishing you had taken that CPR class that was being offered! It's never too late. It's easy and almost fun, it costs about $40, and takes only 4 hours to take the class and get your license! Your license is good for two years. You'll learn lots of good information such as one and two person CPR, infant CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver. All you have to do is call Pro-Action at 915-533-3414, or visit their website at http://www.pro-action.org. Knowing CPR is a good thing!

Monday, August 4, 2008

Memory Lane Mondays - Dallas vs. the 49'ers

Back in October, 1993, Rocky was given a trip for two from one of the hospitals to Dallas to see the Cowboys play against the San Francisco 49'ers. He decided he'd stay home and gave the trip to Patti and I. We were THRILLED, as you can imagine. That was when the two teams were rivals and Troy Aikman and Steve Young quarterbacked against each other. We also got to see Emmit Smith and Jerry Rice. It was SO exciting.

We flew to Dallas, but not before promising Mother we wouldn't act like a couple of hayseeds! She's a diehard Cowboy's fan and didn't want to be embarassed by her daughters. I'm sure we broke our promise more than a few times.

The plane ride was fun because there were other Cowboy fans there, and of course the bus ride from the hotel to the stadium was nothing but Cowboy fans! We could hardly contain ourselves.

From the seat numbers on the tickets, it "appeared" we had pretty good seats, but in reality, they were on the very top row (and that's pretty high at Texas Stadium) and it was hot and humid and sticky. At first we thought it wouldn't be all that bad because our section was shaded with a huge awning, but all that did was become a death trap for the brutally hot Dallas air. There was absolutely NO circulation!!! It was all good tho. Nothing could have spoiled it for us.

You can't imagine the excitement and noise when the teams came onto the field. It was such a rush! To be able to see all those talented and famous football players was almost more than we could handle!

We sat right under the press box and we knew John Madden was announcing the game. We both LOVE John Madden and his silly little drawings. So we probably spent 3/4 of the game trying to look thru the darkened glass to get a look him! Mother would have been so embarassed and ashamed of us!

Seeing the Ring of Honor almost brought tears to my eyes. Bob Lilly (he's my hero), Roger Staubach, Don Meredith, Too Tall Jones - all those great Dallas Cowboys were all honored there. The following week, Tom Landry's name went up. I wish we could have been there for that.

After the game we drove around Dallas and did some shopping. Patti and I both like to buy Christmas ornaments from places we visit, and we both bought these wooden stars, painted like the Texas flag, and were decorated with a rustic wire hanger and raffia. After 15 years, this is still my favorite Christmas ornament! It brings back so many great memories of the fun Patti and I had!!

Friday, August 1, 2008

A few things Bobbi loves . . .


We were going to try to keep this funny and ridiculous, but now that it seems we're running out of things to say, I'll tell you a few things I love! Patti has a huge advantage because she has "all those grandkids!" I DON'T HAVE ANY GRANDKIDS, only grand dogs. Isn't that the most pathetic thing you've ever heard?

1. I love my best friend, Rocky.

2. I love my other best friend, Patti.

3. I love my doggies, Xander and Bo.

4. I love my three boys, Trevor, Troy and Ben.

5. I also love my daughters-in-law, Beth and Ayrel.

6. Alone time is a wonderful thing, but not too much of it.

7. Naps! Hmmmmm, nothing better

8. I love Victoria, British Columbia.

9. Listening to an audiobook is OK, but I'd much rather read a great book. I love the smell and feel of a good book to curl up with on the couch.

10. I love my mom. She is so awesome.

11. All of Patti's grandkids are so fantastic, and I love them all too.

12. Ranier cherries - I can eat them until I'm nauseated! Ask Patti.

13. Accomplishing a craft and actually displaying it. This rarely happens. That's why it's such a treat!

14. Swimming is the best even tho I don't do it as often as I should. It's all about the bathing suit!

15. I love it when I accomplish everything I have on my mental (or paper) list for the day.

16. Making it through all 3 hours of church is hard sometimes, but always worth it.

17. Receiving an unexpected surprise just because someone was thinking about me

18. Thanksgiving - my favorite holiday

19. Driving around town looking at Christmas lights. Also going to Ruidoso during the Christmas season

20. UTEP football and basketball games

21. Jimmy Buffett concerts

22. Sitting on the couch with my feet up, listening to Luciano Pavarotti

23. I love the Fall season.

24. Snow and cold weather

25. The smells of Christmas

26. I love being a nurse, even though I'm not doing the kind of nursing I really love.