We had to put my grandfather in the hospital on Monday and I have been visiting daily. I just need to say that I have a huge amount of ever-growing respect for GOOD nurses. They put up with humanity at its worst and the good ones still do it with a positive attitude and a smile. Some of them are complacent and cranky,I guess that happens in every profession and with everything they see (pain, suffering, death) how can you blame them.
But to each of those that remain good natured and positive - you are a light to not just the people in your beds, but the people who love them and are suffering emotionally with them.
Thank you.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Define harmless
“Oh don’t worry. It’s just harmless little flirting/prank/friendship.”
Watching stuff go down in the lives around me and knowing stories of what has happened in the past for people close to me, I have heard this used a lot. And apparently my definition of harmless is a lot different than others.
Per Dictionary.com:
harm•less [hahrm-lis]
–adjective
1.
without the power or desire to do harm; innocuous: He looks mean but he's harmless; a harmless Halloween prank.
2.
without injury; unhurt; unharmed.
That’s what I thought.
It seems that soon after those words are said harm comes to someone, or has already been caused and that phrase is just a (terrible) excuse or attempt at a get out of jail free card. Usually emotional harm, sometimes physical, often financial comes of it – it is all ugly.
I also tend to hear it a lot when the person is in an unhappy situation. It is their excuse to go out of the normal bounds.
Often, the person says that the incident/event/conversation/whatever is harmless and then if you asked them to flip it around (“How would you feel if your boyfriend/girlfriend/parents/cat/whatever did that to you”) it may cause them to pause, but won’t often change the behavior unless it is done back to them.
I have been there, I have used the excuse. But I look back now and realize that it was completely unfair and I recognize it now in myself and others, and it makes me sad. Also scares the crap out of me when I hear it from the people I care about.
Watching stuff go down in the lives around me and knowing stories of what has happened in the past for people close to me, I have heard this used a lot. And apparently my definition of harmless is a lot different than others.
Per Dictionary.com:
harm•less [hahrm-lis]
–adjective
1.
without the power or desire to do harm; innocuous: He looks mean but he's harmless; a harmless Halloween prank.
2.
without injury; unhurt; unharmed.
That’s what I thought.
It seems that soon after those words are said harm comes to someone, or has already been caused and that phrase is just a (terrible) excuse or attempt at a get out of jail free card. Usually emotional harm, sometimes physical, often financial comes of it – it is all ugly.
I also tend to hear it a lot when the person is in an unhappy situation. It is their excuse to go out of the normal bounds.
Often, the person says that the incident/event/conversation/whatever is harmless and then if you asked them to flip it around (“How would you feel if your boyfriend/girlfriend/parents/cat/whatever did that to you”) it may cause them to pause, but won’t often change the behavior unless it is done back to them.
I have been there, I have used the excuse. But I look back now and realize that it was completely unfair and I recognize it now in myself and others, and it makes me sad. Also scares the crap out of me when I hear it from the people I care about.
Monday, April 5, 2010
To be or not to be
I was reading back through some of my entries from the beginning of the year and realized that I haven't really used any names (except for Dennis, sorry Dennis). Haven't really been doing it on purpose, it is just how I decided to write.
hmmmm... guess it really doesn't matter. I'm really writing for myself. Mucho cheaper than therapy.
I have only told a few people about my online blog shenanigans (though I am pretty sure that the manfolk has spilled about it to a few). It isn't like what I write is anything inflammatory or scandalous, I just haven't been comfortable enough with it to share a lot. At the same time, I don't care who reads it (or if anyone reads it at all). That probably makes no sense at all.
hmmmm... guess it really doesn't matter. I'm really writing for myself. Mucho cheaper than therapy.
I have only told a few people about my online blog shenanigans (though I am pretty sure that the manfolk has spilled about it to a few). It isn't like what I write is anything inflammatory or scandalous, I just haven't been comfortable enough with it to share a lot. At the same time, I don't care who reads it (or if anyone reads it at all). That probably makes no sense at all.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Now it is spring
I love baseball. Like to watch the hometeam on TV, but there is just something about the ballpark experience. I just don't know what it is.
Last year I had partial season tickets to the Rangers and absolutely loved it, even when it was 108 degrees in the shade. Not able to do that type of ticket package this year so I am just looking forward to getting out to Arlington when I can.
Bunches of my friends are taking off tomorrow for Rangers Opening Day and I am incredibly jealous. Thought about doing the same but just couldn't after having so much time off for surgery. *sigh* Oh well, have happy hopes for my team this year.
GO RANGERS!!
Last year I had partial season tickets to the Rangers and absolutely loved it, even when it was 108 degrees in the shade. Not able to do that type of ticket package this year so I am just looking forward to getting out to Arlington when I can.
Bunches of my friends are taking off tomorrow for Rangers Opening Day and I am incredibly jealous. Thought about doing the same but just couldn't after having so much time off for surgery. *sigh* Oh well, have happy hopes for my team this year.
GO RANGERS!!
Easter Memories
Easter has evolved for me. Always been a holiday that didn't get much thought but always provided happy memories (and usually a long weekend).
When we were little we used to be forced to stay upstairs until all of the kids were up. Then we would scour the house for easter eggs filled with chocolate and change. There was always an easter basket on the table for each of us.
When we moved to Texas we made some friends. Two other families that lived up the street. Beginning in 1991 we spent spring breaks and Easter with them. Easter consisted of a kids only scavenger hunt in the yard. Each of us got a list and they would release us out the door youngest to oldest (I was always last) to race to finish. Chocolate, snacks, random stuff, and as we got older beer and little bottles of wine. There is video going back to that first one (scary, hopefully that doesn't come out for the manfolk viewing for a few more years - Junior High years weren't kind to my hair). When everyone was driving age it became a cross town hunt - boys vs. girls - with a disposable camera and some very specific rules. The last one of those were at 2006 (reason for cancellation is a story for much later).
We still get together each year, last year was a trip to Denver and we spent Easter morning bowling and taking advantage of the build your own bloody mary bar. Tomorrow we are off for a washers tournament and cookout.
As I grow older I appreciate these people and memories more and more. What started as neighbors and people I used to babysit for has become family. As I was growing up if I started dating (heaven help them) and got serious, the new man had to pass muster by my whole extended family. They really are my 'go to' people. When my marriage fell apart last year these folks were there for me before anything else. I tried to tell them what it means to me, but again don't really know that they understand. Family. It is just the only way to explain it.
This year we are working in time with the manfolk's family too. Should be a fun adventure. Church and MeeMaw's home cooking (which I am already addicted to) and then off to my family festivities. Cheers to another great Easter for all.
When we were little we used to be forced to stay upstairs until all of the kids were up. Then we would scour the house for easter eggs filled with chocolate and change. There was always an easter basket on the table for each of us.
When we moved to Texas we made some friends. Two other families that lived up the street. Beginning in 1991 we spent spring breaks and Easter with them. Easter consisted of a kids only scavenger hunt in the yard. Each of us got a list and they would release us out the door youngest to oldest (I was always last) to race to finish. Chocolate, snacks, random stuff, and as we got older beer and little bottles of wine. There is video going back to that first one (scary, hopefully that doesn't come out for the manfolk viewing for a few more years - Junior High years weren't kind to my hair). When everyone was driving age it became a cross town hunt - boys vs. girls - with a disposable camera and some very specific rules. The last one of those were at 2006 (reason for cancellation is a story for much later).
We still get together each year, last year was a trip to Denver and we spent Easter morning bowling and taking advantage of the build your own bloody mary bar. Tomorrow we are off for a washers tournament and cookout.
As I grow older I appreciate these people and memories more and more. What started as neighbors and people I used to babysit for has become family. As I was growing up if I started dating (heaven help them) and got serious, the new man had to pass muster by my whole extended family. They really are my 'go to' people. When my marriage fell apart last year these folks were there for me before anything else. I tried to tell them what it means to me, but again don't really know that they understand. Family. It is just the only way to explain it.
This year we are working in time with the manfolk's family too. Should be a fun adventure. Church and MeeMaw's home cooking (which I am already addicted to) and then off to my family festivities. Cheers to another great Easter for all.
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