tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55272483266520000732024-03-12T17:11:36.088-07:00Color CoordinatedThe Vibrant Journey of a Fantasy WriterAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.comBlogger365125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-32122110963607635672018-01-17T05:00:00.000-08:002018-01-17T05:00:30.981-08:00Favorite books of 2017<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">For the last three years, I’ve made reading goals because I
feel that it’s important as a writer to also learn from other writers. Last
year was the first year I actually accomplished my writing goals, and I read 47
books in the year of 2017. There were so many amazing books, and I want to
share my top ten with you. This is in no order, because it’s hard enough to
choose just ten!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Traitor’s Kiss – Erin Beaty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Oh my goodness. I don’t even know where to start without
gushing. The story is amazing, and so are the characters! There were some twists
that I definitely did not see, and there are definitely sections that I’ve gone
back and reread over and over since my first reading.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">War Cross – Marie Lu<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">I’ve read Marie Lu’s books before, and the premise to this
book sounded so different than anything I’ve read before. The technology
imagined for this was fascinating, and the main character was so much fun! I
mean, why wouldn’t you cheer for the person who accidentally hacked into the
biggest virtual reality game in the world? Definitely made me think about the
direction technology is taking us!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-size: large;">Wraith and the Dawn/Flame in the Mist – Renee Ahdieh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">How have I never heard of Renee Ahdieh before? I actually
read three of her books this year, and I was blown away by each one. Each one pulled me through so many emotions, and made me love characters I was
determined to hate. Her worlds are so fascinating and extensive, and seeped with culture. I’d suggest
all of her books!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: large;">Heartless – Marissa Meyer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: large;">I feel like I can’t go without one of Marissa Meyer’s books
on here. This book was not what I expected, and although I knew the premise, my
heart was still torn out at the end. Marissa Meyer’s characters are so real
that in the end, I only want them to be happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Poison’s Kiss – Breeana Shields<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">I loved the culture here. It’s set in ancient India, and
based on a specific folklore about women who could kill with their kiss. It’s
one of many I read that were fantasies set in more than just the European
culture, and I have to say, I love the trend!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">Forbidden Wish – Jessica Khoury<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">This was an Aladdin retelling that I’m not going to forget
anytime soon. Again, this was set in the Arabic culture, and was full of plenty
of angst and deceit. I could not put it down. Honestly, go read it!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Caraval – Stephanie Garber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">This book was fascinating to read. The rules of the world
made little sense. I told my friends it’s like Alice in Wonderland – on crack.
So many things going on, and it’s a murder mystery type story as well. I loved
all of the twists and turns!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;">Daughter of a Pirate King – Tricia Levenseller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Okay, I did read quite a few pirate themed books this year.
Mostly because I have pirates in my books as well, and I’ve become slightly
obsessed. I will say, the pirates don’t play a huge role in this book, but
there’s enough seafaring to sate my needs. I can’t wait for the next book to
come out!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;">Unwind – Neal Shusterman<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">This one is a little bit older, but it definitely made me
stop and think for a long time afterward. If you like happy endings, I
definitely don’t recommend reading this the same week as Heartless and then
going to watch Rogue One. Unless you have no heart. But the science behind it
is fascinating, and I loved the concept. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Noble Servant – Melanie Dickerson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">I’m a huge fan of Melanie Dickerson’s books. They’re just
the right amount of fluff and story, and they always bring me out of a funk. I
read several of her books this year, but I have to say that the Noble Servant
was probably my favorite. Probably because Goose Girl has always been one of my
favorite fairy tales of all time. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-40010131493603329132018-01-03T06:15:00.000-08:002018-01-03T06:15:10.634-08:002018 Writing and Reading Goals<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">2018 means a brand new year with brand new goals! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Reading wise, I’m going to stick to the same goal as always.
45 books. It doesn’t seem like a lot, but I’ve only achieved that once, so I
hope this year makes it a streak! If any of you have books to recommend, I’d
love to hear it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Writing wise:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Finish this rewrite of Commissioned. I’ve had several
requests, but they always seem to get stuck on page 50. I had an awesome beta
reader help me tear it apart, and I’m slowly building back. I think it’ll make
the novel much stronger, but it’s a lot of work. I don’t have a set date for
this, which is unusual, but the first few months of 2018 might throw me for
some unexpected spins. We’ll see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I’d also like to revise Jackie and the Giants. I had some
betas go through it and give some feedback. I’ve finally gone in and fixed the
(put science stuff here) sections, and so now it’s time to work on wording and
pacing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I’d like to continue querying Commissioned once it’s
polished up again. And possibly get Jackie ready for querying as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">For NaNoWriMo, I want to write a new book. Which means I
have to come up with the idea. I’m not too worried yet, but it’s only January.
Ask me again in September. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Also, this year, my awesome group, Rexy Writers, is starting the 500 club, where we write, edit, revise or read 500 words a day. It was suggested by one of my co-coordinators, and I'm already in love with the idea! If any of you want to join us, we would love to have you!</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">How about the rest of you? What are your goals for this
coming year? Need help sticking to them? I’d love a goal buddy or two!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-56767120055993709612017-12-29T07:00:00.000-08:002017-12-29T07:00:54.230-08:002017 Year End Review<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Hello everyone! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Wow. It’s been a while, hasn’t it? I think 2017 got away
from me near the end of the year. And, to be honest, I’m not expecting 2018 to
be much better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Next year, I’m going to have to focus on realistic goals,
and that means cutting back on my blog. Not completely, but enough to give me
some breathing space. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Since it’s the end of the year, I want to do a year-end
report, and talk about how I did on my goals for 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">I finally reached my reading goal! I guess third year’s the
charm. I ended up reading 47 books in 2017, and that’s not counting the
unpublished ones. I’ll write a post on my favorite books from 2017 soon, I
promise, but I’ve got to say, there’s so many good books out there! And if any
of you have recommendations for this year, I’d love to hear it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">My writing goals were a little more specific. I ended up
rewriting Commissioned in the beginning of the year, and then worked on
revising book 2. I also queried Commissioned and I’ve been getting some
requests, which has been quite exciting. I also smashed my NaNoWriMo goal for
this year, which was to write more words than I did last year. There’s some
changes coming into my life, and I had a feeling that 2017 might be the last
year I’d be able to get that many words written. I ended up taking a vacation
the first two weeks of November and my grand total was 271,568 words in 30
days, which ended up spanning 4 books. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">So I’ve got to say, it’s been a good year. A hectic year,
but definitely good. And I honestly can’t wait to see how I do next year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">How about the rest of you? How did your goals for 2017 go?
Any exciting news?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-45377439800630832902017-08-14T04:00:00.000-07:002017-08-14T04:00:00.179-07:00Living with Racism<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I wanted to write a post in response to everything that I've
seen over this past weekend. It's going to be a long one, so fair warning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm a Japanese American. My mother was adopted, which means that as much
as I wish, I don't have a strong connection to my Japanese heritage. I don't fit people's expectations. I love pasta and I love bread. I eat a
lot of rice, not because of my mom, but because of my Bolivian husband. I watch
a lot of cartoons, but until I married my husband (an anime aficionado), I'd
never watched a single episode of anime. (Though I might have binged a whole
series last week.) I was good at math in school, but I preferred English. I
took Spanish in high school, and although I tried to audit a college Japanese
course, I didn't learn much. At home, I speak Spanglish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I feel like a fake. I feel like I'm not 'Asian enough' for the Asians that
I meet. Yet, when it comes to the
American culture, I'm too Asian for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm quite lucky, actually. My whole life, I dealt with very little racism.
At least, that I noticed. Most of my friends didn't act like I was different,
other than a few jokes here and there, and I think I was too shy to put myself
in a situation where I met a lot of strangers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">That all changed when I became a nurse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">On a daily basis, I'm exposed to complete strangers, some of whom are incredibly
nice. Others who aren't as much. But even when someone's nice, there's still an
underlying difference in the way that they treat me. I would say probably about
80% of my shifts, I have at least one patient who asks me some version of 'who
are you.' They may ask where my family comes from, where I come from, what my
heritage is, or who my 'people' are. (That last one tends to be a little harder
to take than the others.) I try and stay positive and pleasant. Usually, I just
say Japan or let them know that my mom is Japanese and they drop it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Then there are those that don't.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've written a few posts in the past about things my patients say, but I'm
going to condense this into things my patients say that refer to my race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Are you here all night? And you're Chinese? Oh, Japanese, interesting.
Well, we'll enjoy each other tonight.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">There's my dark-haired beauty</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">How do you say pee-pee in Japanese?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Am I in a Chinese hospital?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Get out of here, Yoko!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">There's my little Indian girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Oh, are you sisters with that other Oriental girl?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">I see 'you people' didn't waste any time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Good job, Short-round!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">I had a vision I was going to marry a little Vietnamese girl.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Those are just a few that I've written down over the years. It's nowhere
near everything I've heard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've had patients who have asked not to have me because I make them
flashback to WWII. (A much older lady with confusion. Apparently, I scared her
every time I went into her room.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've had patients be especially vulgar to me because of my race. One patient
told me he had a 'vision' he was going to marry a 'little Vietnamese girl' and
then attempt to get me to hold his hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I've even had coworkers unwittingly leave things for me because they
assume that it will be easier for me. The moment when this was most apparent
was one night when I came on shift, and the previous shift told me that they
left an admit for me because the patient didn't speak English. When I asked
what language he did speak, they told me Laotian. He was Asian, I was Asian, so
obviously, it would be easier for me to communicate with him. (By the way, I
don't speak Laotian, or any other Asian language, for that matter.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I can usually laugh it off. In fact, I try and beat other people to the
punch, so that they know that I'm not offended by their comments. I tell my
coworkers that I work nights because my ancestors lived on the other side of
the world, and that's what time they were awake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Honestly, I don't get offended easily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">But it gets tiring. Being treated as 'someone else' isn't fun, no matter
how you spin it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Recently, I had a super sweet patient who was a little confused. She made
a few comments, which were fine, and I even joked about them with my coworkers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">At first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">The comments never stopped. Every single time I went into her room, she
referred to me as 'The Japanese.' When I went into her room while she was on
the phone, she told them to wait because I was in the room. Except she didn't
refer to me as her nurse. She referred to me as 'The Japanese.' Like I said, she
was sweet, and she was confused. As a nurse, I try not to be confrontational
with people, especially when I know I'm not going to see them again after a few
days. If they want to ask about my heritage, I'll tell them. But this sweet
lady was my undoing. After two nights of being addressed by my race, and not my
name, or my profession, I broke down crying on my way home from work. I couldn’t
understand why she couldn’t see me as just her nurse. As just another person.
It was always different, and she always had to point it out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm a person. I'm a nurse. I'm a wife, and a sister, and a daughter. I play the piano and I hate to exercise. I've got a weakness for cream puffs and I'm terrified of ghosts. But
when people see me, they don't see that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">That's what racism is for me. When no matter who you are, no matter what
you do or what your interests are, you're classified by what you look like. Who
your ancestors were. The stereotypes you fit into. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe that's why I joke about it with my coworkers. Why I write about it on my blog. Because it exists. Even if not everyone sees it.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-52338601662320743222017-06-26T06:19:00.000-07:002017-06-26T06:19:05.222-07:00Shiny New Ideas<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Two years ago, I was starting to get worried. It had been a
while since I’d had a ‘shiny new idea’ and I knew that NaNoWriMo was coming up.
I try and write something brand new for NaNoWriMo, and by the middle of the
year, I usually had a basic idea for what I would work on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">I really didn’t need to worry. It’s amazing how stress can
affect the creative muscle. By the end of July, I had a full-fledge idea, one
that turned into four books, and sustained me for two years of NaNoWriMo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">You’d think that I’d learn from that experience, but here I am,
two years later, again worried about NaNoWriMo. The rest of the year, I know I’m
set. I’m editing and revising to my heart’s content, but the closer I get to
November, the more my brain starts to panic, thinking that I won’t be ready. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Most of my panic is because I’m a planner. I need a thick
and detailed bible ready before I can even start writing the first word. I want
to know the direction the story’s headed, and the character backgrounds. I need
to know the culture, their beliefs… I even tend to draw out the setting so I
have a feel for the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">I had a basic idea, but it wasn’t fleshed out, mostly
because it was so generalized and so vague that I didn’t even know how to flesh
it out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Here’s the secret to shiny new ideas:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Always pay attention to everything. You never know what will start a spark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">Last time this happened, hubby and I went to the museum for
our anniversary. Not because either of us were particularly interested in
pirates, but because we wanted to get out of the house. The entire experience
was a fodder for ideas, and pirates played a heavy role in my later book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">This year, all it took was an article on Pinterest, with a title
that was much more interesting than the article itself. It was the spark that I
needed to turn my vague idea into something that keeps me awake at night,
planning and plotting for November.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;">How about the rest of you? Where do you get your ideas? Are
you already planning for NaNoWriMo?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-56717832466283691042017-06-19T05:00:00.000-07:002017-06-19T05:00:33.802-07:00Visualization <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s amazing how brains work. Sometimes, it seems like we’re
all on the same page, and then other times… we see things very differently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">When I was probably 12 or 13, I remember reading the Robe by
Lloyd C. Douglas. I really enjoyed the story, and I thought one of my parents’
friends would like it too. I’ll never forget my mom’s response when I suggested
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">She told me that he doesn’t ‘see’ when he reads. She thought
he wouldn’t enjoy the book because he wouldn’t be able to visualize the images
that the author used. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">For little twelve-year-old me, this was an absolute breakthrough.
Mostly because I never knew that anyone could see the images in their heads. I
assumed the description was just there to give the story more depth. I had no
idea that it meant something to a lot of people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">So yes, I’m a writer who can’t visualize anything. Every
once in a while I can pick out shapes in my mind, but usually, it’s blank. You
know what I can do though? I can hear sounds. That’s what draws me into a book –
sparkling and realistic dialogue because I can hear it. I love the back and
forth, and it’s a lot of what I focus on in my own writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Even now, when I write, I have to remind myself to put in
physical descriptions. If I didn’t collect pictures of my characters on Pinterest,
I would have no idea what they looked like. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m curious about what other readers focus on. Do visuals
draw you in? Or do they just leave a blank?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-33938764798790016882017-06-12T05:00:00.000-07:002017-06-12T05:00:05.289-07:00Nursing Necessities<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Last week, I mentioned that things have been a bit crazy for
me. There have been several different things that have thrown me off balance,
but not all of it was bad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">During the end of April, and the month of May, I became a
preceptor for a student finishing up her nursing degree. The program requires
that she work 120 hours with a nurse, and they wanted her to take on a full
load by the end of the 120 hours. I know that was the same requirement for me
when I was a student nurse, but to be honest, I barely remember my own
preceptorship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">It was a blur, and except for a few memories that stand out,
I don’t remember what kind of a student I was. I have a feeling that I was shy
and withdrawn, mostly because that’s my normal personality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">This student was not that way at all. I was quite impressed
with her knowledge and her work ethic. It was an interesting experience for me,
to watch her learn skills that have become almost second nature to me. There
are so many things that I do without even realizing, and after having to stop
and think about it, I’m kind of amazed by much I’ve changed since becoming a
nurse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">For example: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: x-large;">Assessments:</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">I remember the first time that I had to do a full body
assessment. I went textbook, asking the questions in order and stopping to
record every single answer. Now, I do it while I’m working with the patient. If
I’m preparing their medications, I ask them how their day was. I ask how their appetite’s
been, and if they’ve had any nausea. If I get them up to the toilet, it’s a
great opportunity to check skin, instead of making it a completely separate
assessment. I can also check to see if they have any swelling in their legs
when I’m swinging them back into the bed. Every interaction with my patient is
a chance to assess, and most of the time, I forget that’s even what I’m doing
until it’s time to chart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Which of course leads to the next part of nursing –<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: x-large;">Charting:</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">I don’t remember much about charting during my
preceptorship. I do know that the system that they used was more user friendly
than the one I’m using now. It honestly doesn’t matter, because charting in
itself is pretty standard. Making sure to focus on all the systems, chart the
irregularities, focus on their diagnosis. When you know what you need to chart,
then it’s easy to store that information for the time you have a chance to sit
down at the computer. I feel like it took me several months before I fell into
a rhythm, and knew what needed to be the focus of my charting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: x-large;">Projecting:</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Now this is something they didn’t teach me in nursing
school, but there should totally be a lab on projecting to mostly deaf
patients. Not yelling, because that increases the pitch and doesn’t always work,
but speaking up so that you can be heard. Especially for people that are
naturally shy like me. I call it my nurse voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: x-large;">Growing thick skin:</span><span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">People aren’t always pleasant when they’re sick. Sometimes,
they can be downright frustrating. It’s hard not to take everything personally,
especially when you have a patient who’s being particularly difficult. I will
be honest, sometimes, I still struggle with this one, but I still try not to
take everything personally. I’m sure I would lash out if I were a patient as
well. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">What about the rest of you nurses? What are some things you’ve
picked up over your years of working?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-5406458452853358622017-06-05T05:00:00.000-07:002017-06-05T05:00:03.157-07:00I'm Back!<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">Hey everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">It has been a while since I’ve posted here on my blog. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">Things have been a little off for me lately. I’m used to
things being off. I’m a night nurse, which means that half of the time I’m
awake during the day and half of the time I’m awake during the night. I never
work the same days of the week. Sometimes I work one shift by itself. Sometimes
I work four in a row. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">I’m used to that. It’s part of the job, and I’ve done it for
long enough that I’ve learned how to adjust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, too many irregularities have made it
difficult for me to focus on even the smallest things. Not all of them were
bad, but when added up, my body, my brain and my emotions have been on the
fritz.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">After two months, I finally feel like I’m getting semblance
back. Last week was the first time I was able to work on a large chunk of my
writing without losing interest or focus. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">So yes, I’m back, but I’ll be starting slow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #cfe2f3; font-size: large;">Here’s to a great summer, with structure and regularity!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-60407200841764238972017-03-31T05:00:00.000-07:002017-03-31T05:00:00.532-07:00Patients that Changed My Life: Carol<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">As a nurse, I have the chance to meet a lot of people from
all walks of life. Some are fun, some are not so fun. Then there are those that
change my life, and changed the kind of nurse I am. For privacy purposes, I won’t
use real names, but I want to tell you their stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">To read about previous patients, click here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">In one of my first ever nursing jobs, I worked in a facility
specifically for Alzheimer’s and Dementia. I didn’t really know what to expect,
but I found that I loved working with them. They kept me guessing, and usually
laughing. We had this one lady, who I will call Carol. She was active, even
though she was declining rapidly. She used a merry-walker, which kept her safe
when she would suddenly get tired and need to sit down. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">She had almost no short term memory. You could have a
conversation with her and seconds later, she wouldn’t remember it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">That doesn’t mean that she didn’t remember anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">She had an issue with me almost immediately. No matter what I
did, she got angry, and she would scream at me. It wasn’t that unusual, since
she had a temper, but she did seem to single me out more often than not. I had
no idea why until a few months into the job when she said something that
surprised me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">“Get off my husband!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">I wasn’t sure how to respond, but I let her know that I wasn’t
on her husband. Over time, she kept making comments that made me believe that
her husband must have cheated on her with an Asian woman. Comments like:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">“Get out of my house!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">“Get out of my husband!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">“They’re my kids, not yours!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">“Tell me it didn’t mean anything and you didn’t enjoy it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Most people don’t really think about it, but it’s the
emotionally traumatic events that seem to stay with Alzheimer’s patients. They
may not remember that they just ate, but they remember how people made them
feel. Those memories stick with them longer than anything else, even if they
don’t even know my name. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Just because they’re confused, it doesn’t mean they aren’t
there, and that they don’t notice what’s going on around them. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-89262217608170815562017-03-29T05:00:00.000-07:002017-03-29T05:00:10.468-07:00Self-Published Vs Traditional<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I participate in a lot of writing groups online. I guess the
right phrase is that I lurk in a lot of writing groups online. Depending on the
group, I may or may not write anything, or participate, but I always learn. It’s
a great way to interact and build relationships with other writers. Most are
super positive and helpful. We’re all learning the craft after all. There’s
always something new we can gain from the interactions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">A little while ago, I read a post that just floored me. It
was deleted pretty quickly by the admins, but the commenter asked if there were
writers in the group who were serious about their craft or if they didn’t care
and planned on self-publishing no matter what. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the past few years, I’ve interacted and met multiple
self-pubbed authors, and I’ve got to say, they know what they’re doing. They’re
putting themselves out there without support of a publisher, and all on their
own. They’re brave, and they’re definitely serious about their craft. If they
weren’t, then they wouldn’t bother.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Of course, that doesn’t apply to all self-published authors.
Years ago, I gave away free critiques, and one of the girls I gave a critique
to asked me what she should sell to make the most money. This was around the
time that dystopias were big, and she made the comment that she should probably
write that because she heard vampire stories are out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s pretty easy to tell which author is serious about their
craft, and it has nothing to do with traditional or self-published. It has to
do with the effort they put in. Whether or not they’re willing to learn about
the craft, and whether they’re willing to take criticism. Those are the authors
I admire, no matter which path they choose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Last month, I read a book by a self-published author, and I was
very impressed. In fact, I had no idea it was self-published. The cover was
professional, the writing solid, and I fell in love with the story. For those
of you interested, it was the Unfortunate Fairy Tale Series by Chanda Hahn. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Professionalism has nothing to do with pathway. It has to do
with the end result.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-32752216185982942182017-03-27T05:00:00.000-07:002017-03-27T05:00:29.282-07:00Learning from Point of View<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;">A few weeks ago, I posted about dealing with racism in
nursing. It’s something I have to deal with on a regular basis, and I wanted to
share my own experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;">I’ve been quite lucky. I don’t deal with too many overtly
rude comments. Most of them are done quite innocently. After sharing that blog
post, I had someone make a comment that just floored me. He identified himself
as a white male and then told me that he doesn’t see racism where he works. He
told me that I’m being overly sensitive and that my patients were trying to
make small talk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;">Which might be true, I’m not negating that. Except there
have been enough situations where I’m positive that’s not what they were trying
to do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;">I’ve never had someone tell me that I’m not experiencing
racism. That I’m being too sensitive. To be honest, I’m one of those people who’s
grown so accustomed to it that I didn’t even notice it until it was pointed out
to me. But for someone to tell me, as a white, male, that it doesn’t exist just
felt wrong. And it made me wonder how many times I’ve done the same exact thing
without realizing it to someone of a
different culture, race or gender than me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;">Here’s the thing. I may not agree with you. I may see things
through a different lens, but from here on out, I’m not going to negate your
situation. I’m not going to say that you’re not feeling what you are. Because
here’s the thing, I don’t know what you’re feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;">As a nurse, I’m taught that pain is subjective. A patient
may look like they’re in no pain, but if they’re telling me that they’re in
pain 5/10, then that’s what their pain is. I can’t tell them that they’re not
in pain. I’m not qualified because I don’t <i>know.
</i>I’m not them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;">I love learning about other people’s experiences. That’s why
I share my own, because I want people to see from my point of view. So please,
no matter who the naysayers are, please share your stories. There’s always
someone out there who needs to hear it. Someone who can learn from you.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-17724036896261309632017-03-24T05:00:00.000-07:002017-03-24T05:00:14.237-07:00Hospice<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">After working for years in long-term nursing, I’ve become
very familiar with hospice. In fact, my first nursing job was on the hospice
floor of a facility for Alzheimer’s/Dementia. Not all of our patients were on
hospice, but there were quite a few that were. I loved the hospice we worked
with. They were involved, and they always worked with the nurses on the floor
to make sure that we all agreed on the plan of care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Often, we had a patient who would go on hospice and would be
diagnosed with ‘failure to thrive,’ especially if they suddenly lost weight, or
wouldn’t eat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Here’s the thing though, they didn’t stay on hospice until
they died. Often, the doubled effort between the facility and the hospice
caused the patient to have increased care and as a result of that, their health
usually improved. As a floor nurse, I let the hospice nurse know whenever I had
concerns, or if I thought something would be more beneficial. Increasing their
protein shakes, or switching them to finger foods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">More often than not, after a few months on hospice, the
patient would start to improve to the point that they no longer qualified, and
hospice would discharge them into our care. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">For me, hospice wasn’t an end of life kind of thing. Of
course, it’s for those who have a poor prognosis, or who have been given a
short time to live, but that doesn’t mean that they will die within weeks of
going onto hospice. Hospice was an assist for the patient and the family so
that they could cope, and, most importantly, to make sure that they were
comfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, I’ve discovered that my first experience with
hospice was the exception rather than the rule. I’ve worked with multiple other
hospices since then, and it often feels like the program is created to
transition into death. Too often, they’re cut off everything they might need to
extend their life because they’re just going to be ‘comfortable.’ All blood
pressure, thyroid, or even heart medications are discontinued. They’re cut off because
those medications aren’t necessary if they’re going to die. I’ve even seen
hospice nurses hurry the process because they want to go home for the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Hospice was create for the patient and family to have support.
So that they’re not alone in the experience. I’ve been there, and it can be
scary, especially when you don’t know what to expect. But in the rush to help
with death, I fear that too often they forget to allow life.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-44499559904484396352017-03-22T05:00:00.000-07:002017-03-22T05:00:26.275-07:00Critique Partners<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">I know I’ve talked about this quite a bit, but I just want
to talk about it a little more. I love my critique partners. They’re really
just some of the most awesome people I work with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">Here’s the thing, I love what I write. On most days. There’s
also the days where I think I’m writing just plain crap. On both kinds of days,
I need someone to pull me to reality. I need someone to pull me off my pedestal
and point out my shortcomings, or pull me out of my funk and help me see my
strengths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">Writing is an art. It’s a very subjective medium, and at
some point, there’s going to be someone who hates it. There’s going to be
someone who loves it. To be honest, that’s not what’s important. What’s
important is that I create the best kind of art that I possibly can. Most of
the time, I’m so involved in my story and in my characters that I don’t
necessarily see all of the flaws. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">I’ve had some amazing critique partners over the years who
have pointed out character inconsistencies, or plot holes or even just a lack
of voice. Seeing my manuscript through someone else’s eyes is so absolutely
essential and I appreciate them so much for putting in the time and effort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">I’ve been thinking about this recently because one of my
critique partners, Valerie Bodden, posted something on Facebook that I
absolutely loved. She commented on how she appreciated my critique and feedback
because I <i>get </i>her book. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">It’s true. There’s been many critique partners over the
years, but not all of them have been long term. I need someone who can see the
end goal. Someone who loves my story as much as me, and is willing to let me
bounce my ideas off them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">So for all my critique partners, thank you! You’ve made me
the writer I am today.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-54427397028634979442017-03-20T05:00:00.000-07:002017-03-20T05:00:13.106-07:00Hello Kitty<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;">Growing up, I never really dealt that much with Racism.
People knew I was Asian, but they didn’t mention it that much, and they didn’t
use a lot of stereotypes around me. Probably because I wasn’t raised as an
Asian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;">When I moved to Spain, all of a sudden, I was treated very
differently. People came up to me on the metro and started speaking to me in an
Asian language, and I would have no idea what they were saying. I earned the
name “Chinita” among a lot of my friends because that’s how I looked to them.
Like a little Chinese girl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;">I think the most bizarre situation though, started a few
months after I moved to Spain. I walked to school every day, and halfway there
was a newspaper stand. The guy who worked there was very friendly and would
wave to me, and often make odd and suggestive comments. After a few weeks, when
obviously I wasn’t responding to his advances, he started yelling at me every
time he passed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;">“Hello Kitty! Hello Kitty!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;">After our multiple interactions with one another, I knew
that he didn’t speak English, but I think he’d figured out that I did. Except
it didn’t feel like an English thing, it felt like him trying to get my
attention by calling out the only thing he knew from Japanese culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;">I started taking a different route to school soon after
that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-85407072321602060932017-03-17T05:00:00.000-07:002017-03-17T05:00:42.568-07:00Never Enough<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">This week, I'm talking about Jodi Picoult's Small Great
Things, a book about a nurse who was sued because a family member saw her
performing her job and didn't understand what was happening. They saw what they
thought was abuse and because they had already asked for her not to touch his
son (because she was black), they thought she was hurting him on purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><span data-term="goog_41849773" style="z-index: 0;" tabindex="0"><span style="z-index: -1;"><span class="aqj"><span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">On Wednesday</span></span></span></span>,
I talked about how this book made me think from a racial standpoint. Today, I
want to talk about the nursing side of it. Ironically, this is the side that
I'm more nervous talking about. Not because I don't have anything to say, but
because I'm very cautious about what I say online about work. I'm very
conscious about HIPPA, and about protecting the integrity and reputations of
where I work and where I used to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Here's the thing, I've worked in multiple facilities, mostly
long term, as a nurse and CNA. When people are sick, they're not themselves. I
understand that. Patients are dealing with pain, dealing with a new diagnosis
that has flipped their lives upside down, or with loss that they can't quite
accept yet. In a way, it makes sense to lash out at the people taking care of
you. They're right there, after all. But in many other ways, it doesn't make
sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">At least, not to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">My typical workday consists of a twelve hour shift. I usually
get to work half an hour early so that I can read up on charts. So that I can
prepare myself and know the information necessary to properly take care of my
patients. After my shift, I give report to the next nurse, so that they know
what's changed, and to promote the best possible care for my patients. Some
days, things get hectic. I might have to stay late to chart, or to finish my
responsibilities. Maybe one of my patients had a sudden change in status right
before I leave. Either way, my typical shift tends to be closer to thirteen and
a half hours -- on a good day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">I'm there all the time. It may not seem like it, especially
if I'm in someone else's room, but that doesn't mean I don't see what happens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">The problem is I'm only one person. Just one nurse, and even
though most of the places I work have great support systems, a lot of the
responsibility falls on me. I understand that and I accept it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">There are just too many days when I feel I'm not enough. With
my knowledge, with the skills that I'm still perfecting, I'm still never
exactly what my patients need. There's so many instances in my shift when I
have to make a decision, when I have to choose between two patients who need
me. Maybe it's more than two. I can't count the number of times I walk out of a
room to see the entire hall lit up with call lights, and know that no matter
how fast I work, no matter what I do, I won't get to them in the time that they
want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">That's when it sometimes feels like it's too much. When I
already know I'm doing everything I possibly can, it's hard to hear patients
and families complain that I should be doing more. I'm not allowed to tell you
what I'm already doing, or what the other patients need. There's no way for me
to tell them that I have a patient next door that's going septic and might need
more serious intervention in the next few minutes. Or a patient who's confused
and jumping out of their bed, and I want to keep them from falling and getting
seriously injured. I can't tell them about the patient who broke my heart
because no matter what I do, I can't seem to control their pain. Or the patient
who's detoxing from drugs and hasn't stopped screaming at me since I arrived on
the floor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Nurses carry a lot of what they experience in their hearts.
I've seen it in so many coworkers. It's a taxing job, and there are times we
snap. I know I have, though I've been fortunate that it's never been in a
patient's room. There are moments when I have to leave the floor because I
can't deal with it anymore. It's frustrating, and often not because of the
patients but because of the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">My husband often tells me that either you cry or you laugh.
He tells me that whenever I'm angry or annoyed. He says "Do you want me to
cry or laugh?" That's how it is with nursing too. We have to get these
emotions out. Often, it comes out in the form of jokes, in a way of relieving
the pressure that we feel. It has nothing to do with what we're really
thinking, it's a coping mechanism, one that helps us to be the best we can be
with the circumstances around us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">I think the hardest part is knowing that often, the most
memorable experiences are the bad. If a patient is upset with their care, it
doesn't matter how much we've done for them. It's what more they wanted us to
do. Often, I feel like I'm measured by my shortcomings, rather than by my
actions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-57527393262603614492017-03-15T05:00:00.000-07:002017-03-15T05:00:00.157-07:00Racism in Nursing<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">On Monday, I mentioned how I wanted to talk about Jodi Picoult's Small Great Things this
week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">When I first started the book, I honestly thought it was from
the 50's. The white supremist family felt off to me, because I don't deal with
it on a regular basis. Ruth seemed to take offense with everything, and acted
like people treated her differently because of her race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">The more I thought about it though, the more I realize that
it still happens. I don't deal with the same kind of racism, just because I'm
Asian, not black. Even so, I do deal with prejudice from my patients
constantly. Not just my patients, but from my workplaces as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I honestly can't count the number of times that someone has
said something that I've blown off. I heard them, and I always assumed that
they didn't mean any harm by it. I've had patients call me the 'Little Chinese
girl' and 'that Asian one,' and I even had one sweet patient call me his
'Little Indian' every single night. For me, it almost felt like a distinction.
I am Asian, I'm not going to deny it. If they don't remember my name, then it's
an easy way to describe me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Then there's the ones who aren't quite so nice. I've been
screamed out of a patient's room and as I left, her closing comment was
"Get out of here... Yoko!" Which for me, didn't hold quite the same
impact. I wasn't alive during the Beatles' time, and I have no idea if people
actually hated Yoko Ono, or if it was the only Asian my patient knew. I've been
called a Jap before, which, again, because I was exposed to very little racism
growing up (I think in large part due to my parents), it doesn't sting the way
I know it should.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I had one patient who was very sweet to me, but when I
returned to work the next day, I was given all the same patients back -- except
for her. Her family had stated that no Asians could take care of her. It wasn't
put in the chart, I don't think, but it felt a little strange to me. She'd let
me take care of her the night before, and I felt I had done a good job. Her
family took me aside and told me that I didn't need to feel bad, because for
some reason, seeing me gave the patient flashbacks to WWII.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Here's the thing. I never feel guilty. If someone has an
issue with my race, or the way I look, I'm not going to apologize. I'm not
going to assume that it's my fault. It's such an odd way to look at things, to
think that the person who's receiving the prejudice might feel guilty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Along with the obvious signs, there's also some odd things
that have happened with some of the management that I've worked for. I remember
very clearly arriving to work one night when a patient had been admitted. No
one had started the admission, and they decided to give the patient to me. The
reason? He didn't speak English. Which is fine. I speak Spanish, but it turned
out the patient didn't speak Spanish, he spoke a very rare dialect from a South
Asian country. He couldn't mime because he was blind, and it was assumed that I
would have an easier time doing his admission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Obviously because we're both Asian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I'll admit, I joke about it a lot. I don't get offended. I
tried, about a year ago, and it was exhausting. To assume that everyone has an
ulterior motive, or to assume that everything that someone says is a jab at my
race or said to be rude. My husband and I enjoy being different, and we accept
that we are. I believe that's why, when I started Small Great Things, I was
confused. I didn't see racism because I didn't focus on it, even though it's
all around me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I'm sure there's a fine line. I do need to recognize when
it's inappropriate, but in the workplace, a lot of times, there's nothing I can
say or do to change it. My patients... well, they still need care. In a day or
two, I'll probably never see them again. Besides, I need them to like me, just
so that I can get good reviews and avoid the situation that played out in small
Great Things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-67925291816927201552017-03-13T05:00:00.000-07:002017-03-13T05:00:20.114-07:00Small Great Things<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">This week, I want to try something new. In February, I
started reading a book called Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. When I was in
college, I read her book My Sister's Keeper, and I was quite fascinated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">My tastes tend toward fantasy and science fiction when I read
or watch movies. I also like crime shows, like Bones and Criminal Minds. One
thing that I don't tend to read or watch is anything medical related.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">That's what I do on a regular basis. I've been a nurse for
six years now, but even before that, I was a CNA and I was in nursing school. I
know what it's like behind the scenes. I deal with death and sickness and on
really difficult days, the whole spectrum of human emotions. I know what it's
like to be talked down to -- by family members, by patients, even my coworkers
at some point. I understand more than I want about the politics behind every decision
made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">When I read, or when I'm watching a movie or TV, I want to
escape. I want to leave the world that I know and enter a world that I don't.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">When I read the description for Small Great Things, I was
intrigued. It sounded like something I would be interested in, and after some
recent misses in books, I wanted something I could connect with. I just didn't
expect to connect quite so well. Small Great Things is a book about a nurse who
is black and has to deal with prejudices of a family who is incredibly racist.
At first, while I was reading, I thought the book was set in the 50's or 60's.
Ruth speaks about racism in a way that made it feel real, that made it feel
like it still happened. But then there were small references -- to Tiana from
the Frog Princess, and even to Elsa from Frozen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Suddenly, instead of reading an interesting book, I felt like
I was reading about my life. I've been in her situation before. Not to that
extreme, but I've been 'fired' by patients before -- just because of how I
look. Because I'm not white. I've never stopped to think about what could have
happened if an emergency had arisen like the one that Ruth faced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">I'm going to be honest, I had to stop reading. It was
horrific to read, and mostly because I'm a nurse, I'm a minority, and I know
exactly how she felt. I know what it's like to be treated like that by
patients, and I've lived with the terror that maybe I didn't do enough, or that
a family member would take me to court for something that I did. I didn't want
to know how it ended. Good or bad, I knew that it could be me, and I didn't
want to live it if I didn't have to. Maybe that's the coward's way out, but I'm
okay with that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">But it made me think, which is exactly why Ms. Picoult wrote
the book in the first place. It's supposed to make us reexamine our lives, and
the society that we live in. So this week, I want to look at myself, at my race
and at my profession, from the eyes of this book. I'd love to hear your
comments, especially if you have stories to share as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-70004553069402958952017-03-10T05:00:00.000-08:002017-03-10T05:00:21.778-08:00Being a Patient<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">As a nurse, I deal with a lot of sick people. In fact, I don’t
deal with people unless they’re sick or unless they have something going on
with their body that they can’t control on their own. As a person though, I’m
fairly healthy. I don’t tend to get sick very often, and when I do, it’s not
bad enough that I feel the need to go to the doctor. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining about that, not by a
long shot, but sometimes I wonder if it makes me less empathetic with my
patients. I understand nausea, and I’ve dealt with it on a personal level, but
other things – pain, broken bones, etc – I haven’t experienced, so I can’t
exactly know what my patient’s feeling. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">That’s not to say I don’t try. I know that pain is a very
subjective thing. We have no right to tell someone when they are or are not having
pain. Someone who never deals with pain might have a lower threshold than
someone who has chronic pain. I understand that, and I try to put it into
practice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">Last year, I had my first chance to be a patient in a long
time. I had a UTI, and after several days not being able to pee, I finally went
to the doctor. He gave me antibiotics, and I figured that was it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">Several days later, I ended up with a rash. It was one
unlike I’ve ever experienced, and it covered every inch of my body. Behind my
ears, between my fingers, on the bottom of my feet… it was excruciating. I
tried ice packs and hydrocortisone cream, but nothing worked. I ended up going
to the doctor again, and he gave me a steroid shot, and as much as I hoped it
would work, it didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">I still had to go to work. I wasn’t contagious, and I couldn’t
find a good reason to call off. If I was going to be miserable and itchy at
home, I might as well be miserable and itchy at work, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mphC_gM4YSv9wSfAtWSaZj7BXBlW90Z-u47wqzPaqQaVV-JQLji2Cm5rz-WVoMbTAbph22O6nw6Ftj4B0HEZKrZs0skIdDcN20yxjpOZtkJwD4UvtzsPZyylkOb8k7jaj-m9NH3AK2E/s1600/_DSC5734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9mphC_gM4YSv9wSfAtWSaZj7BXBlW90Z-u47wqzPaqQaVV-JQLji2Cm5rz-WVoMbTAbph22O6nw6Ftj4B0HEZKrZs0skIdDcN20yxjpOZtkJwD4UvtzsPZyylkOb8k7jaj-m9NH3AK2E/s320/_DSC5734.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">The only thing that helped was time. After a few days, the
rash started to disappear, and the itching subsided. It was excruciating, and
it was eye-opening to me as a nurse. We give meds and treatments, but they won’t
always work. I understand the impatience when you just want it to stop hurting,
or burning or itching, and nothing seems to work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">Unfortunately, time is the only key in some instances, and
as well intentioned as we are as healthcare workers, sometimes, all we can do
is empathize. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-14633165202289914882017-03-08T05:00:00.000-08:002017-03-08T05:00:17.734-08:00No More Lonely<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">In February, I went to LTUE, which is a writer’s conference
for science fiction and fantasy writers. It’s an amazing conference, but the
best part is the human interaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">For some reason, a lot of people think that writing needs to
be a lonely thing. Sure, I have to sit and write the words on my own, but that
doesn’t mean I don’t interact with others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Last year, when I went to LTUE, my writing partner and I were
planning on going together, and we had someone ask if she could go with us. We
ended up bonding through the experience, and now all three of us get together
to write as often as we can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Xq0u4LOo7cQigSQlkPtdFxV3uaBcZEB2wDOHUp3agP0ivM73YY5AaEGdEo4u6uphIxCB-fSw_g6n9sECk9FrZ6kXI5uSTLDqUhXueDNcGF4NWJuRHrpFHdjt2i3FcYl7KY0OanBof3g/s1600/image+%252851%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Xq0u4LOo7cQigSQlkPtdFxV3uaBcZEB2wDOHUp3agP0ivM73YY5AaEGdEo4u6uphIxCB-fSw_g6n9sECk9FrZ6kXI5uSTLDqUhXueDNcGF4NWJuRHrpFHdjt2i3FcYl7KY0OanBof3g/s320/image+%252851%2529.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">This year, we had two of our friends from our writing group
going, and they had a mutual friend who asked if she could join us. The best
part about being with other writers at a conference is that you can be
yourself. You can talk about the stuff that makes other peoples’ eyes gloss
over. Plot and story structure? There’s actual classes on that. You can analyze
your own with your friends and work out the kinks in your own story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgEe9_ad9hhpo_y-tOcTgexr43vnmz4wram_9-VOp2rDqPXtXUlZEIxJc_I3KmrAsmHLA472sjdIvjk8fs7ssgNdNxJGm7h_GJHhsMSxcR88mU6sRpX2CDPVsjQuzyOUZfn1m8hThAfQ/s1600/IMG_1430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrgEe9_ad9hhpo_y-tOcTgexr43vnmz4wram_9-VOp2rDqPXtXUlZEIxJc_I3KmrAsmHLA472sjdIvjk8fs7ssgNdNxJGm7h_GJHhsMSxcR88mU6sRpX2CDPVsjQuzyOUZfn1m8hThAfQ/s320/IMG_1430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Writing is a private thing, and you always put a little bit
of yourself in your writing, no matter what it is. When you share your writing
with someone, you’re sharing a part of yourself. The other great thing is that
they’re a natural support group. They know what you’re going through. Writing queries?
Pitching to an agent? They know how nerve-wrecking that is. Finally figuring
out your villain’s motivation? They know what kind of a breakthrough that can
be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkehx0myiaVtrEjlJm52bGxJddVHIYpdqKPskxPWtnZOBgQ9bFSN-RNjCuIjuli9ncUSWV95-FC7f_aj9OXMkKU9XvhGVVrjDj9NcsLO_4iPLxJGrgryfAgMKMCQWZTJ6H8fuAV6GYtY/s1600/IMG_1443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkehx0myiaVtrEjlJm52bGxJddVHIYpdqKPskxPWtnZOBgQ9bFSN-RNjCuIjuli9ncUSWV95-FC7f_aj9OXMkKU9XvhGVVrjDj9NcsLO_4iPLxJGrgryfAgMKMCQWZTJ6H8fuAV6GYtY/s320/IMG_1443.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I love my writing friends, the ones I’ve had for years, and
the ones I’ve made recently. And I know that each one of them has influenced
the kind of writer I am now.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-2681880990142807672017-03-06T05:00:00.000-08:002017-03-06T11:38:32.930-08:00Accents<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Today, I want to talk about accents. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Hubby is still learning English, though he’s definitely
picked up quite a bit. A few weeks ago, we were talking to my uncle about hubby’s
difficulty finding an internship. (Side note: If any of you know if any
electrical engineering internships, we’d love to hear about it!) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">After talking to hubby for a while, my uncle said something
we hadn’t actually thought about. He mentioned that hubby’s accent might still
be too thick for people to understand. I don’t really notice his accent
anymore, mostly because I live with him, and I have to communicate with him on
a regular basis. But my little bro, who just moved into town, still has to have
him repeat some of his words. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Then there’s the whole issue with rice. Hubby loves rice,
but whenever he orders a side of rice, he inevitably gets a side of fries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Every single time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">I’ve been thinking about accents a lot because of it. When I
first started taking Spanish in high school, my dad came home from a
parent-teacher night looking a little concerned. He didn’t say anything until
near the end of the year, when he heard me practicing Spanish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">My dad knows Spanish, and he served a Spanish-speaking
mission for our church. He heard my Spanish teacher talking, and he was worried
I would pick up her accent, which was, admittedly, quite bad. He was right to
be worried. There’s a tongue twister that I learned from her, and even though I
lived in Spain two years, and learned Spanish from hubby, if I recite it, her
accent comes out. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">It annoys hubby so much that he’s asked that I stop saying
it. It’s not that I don’t know how to say it correctly, but it was ingrained
into my mind, and it’s muscle memory at this point.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Which means that right now, hubby and I need to work on his
English accent. We need to make sure that his muscle memory is one that people
can understand. It’s not a question of whether or not he can speak the
language. It’s a question of whether they can understand him.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-30600852106359752702017-03-03T05:00:00.001-08:002017-03-03T05:00:39.416-08:00Sleep Deprived<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Earlier this week, I mentioned that things had gotten a
little crazy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">One of those things that got me all out-of-wack was my work
schedule. I’m a nurse, which means that I work 12-hour shifts, three days a
week. Plus, I live about forty minutes away from where I work, so added to
arriving early to read charts and prepare myself for my shift, and finishing my
shift at the end of the day, my shifts end up being close to fifteen hours. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Before working at my current job, I’ve worked night shifts,
mostly because it’s hard for a nurse to start a new job and get a day shift.
People like working days more than nights, which I guess makes sense. I’ve
never had an issue with working nights, mostly because I hate mornings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">Waking up early in the morning makes me want to cry.
Actually, it has made me cry on multiple occasions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I love working night shift because it lets me live on less
sleep. I don’t know how it works, but I can survive on five hours of sleep when
I work night shift. I have to have at least seven hours of sleep when I work
day shift. I don’t know why, but it just works that way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHN5vsQmaNzs7psUxOhyphenhyphen6UYJw1wXPMxHH2jOGVPOe-CEKwFo2AY5PkT7xSuWRrnhptfcekILiJ_UJmHQF5HB_Yf6ejYNy824G6lfvtTsEuK-VWHFaZdRdpGu-b4a9p7WJuL2sMvMjGvA/s1600/IMG_1391.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXHN5vsQmaNzs7psUxOhyphenhyphen6UYJw1wXPMxHH2jOGVPOe-CEKwFo2AY5PkT7xSuWRrnhptfcekILiJ_UJmHQF5HB_Yf6ejYNy824G6lfvtTsEuK-VWHFaZdRdpGu-b4a9p7WJuL2sMvMjGvA/s400/IMG_1391.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">When I started my current job, I let my boss know that I wanted
to work nights. He was okay with that, except he wanted me to get to know the
doctors, which mean that the last eight months I’ve been working what is called
‘mixed shifts.’ Basically, I work two months of night shift and then a month of
day before doing it all over again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">February was my month of days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">It’s interesting how sleep deprived healthcare workers
really are. We work long hours. When there’s not enough people, we pick up
shifts. We work overtime and we work weekends and holidays. If we have
something during that day or that night, then we just go without sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">It’s almost natural for me to go without sleep, at least
until my body gets mad at me and forces me to collapse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">But that doesn’t happen… often.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">When I was in junior high, my sister did a science fair
project where she had people go 24 hours without food and then 24 hours without
sleep and then take a math test and see where they failed. Every single person
required sleep over food. Every single person except for the nurse. She did
much better, even while sleep deprived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I don’t know how it works, or where we learn it, but we know
how to do our jobs when we’re half asleep. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;">I’m proud to be part of that profession. I’m proud to be
able to repress my own needs to be able to care of my patients’ needs. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-33833292787461061422017-03-01T08:00:00.000-08:002017-03-01T08:20:13.906-08:00Writing Conferences<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Last month, I had the chance to attend LTUE, which stands
for Life the Universe and Everything Symposium. It’s a writing conference, and
whenever I try and describe it to anyone, they say it sounds like comic con for
writers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">That’s probably true. I don’t know, I’ve never been to comic
con. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Last year I attended the same conference for the first time,
and it was my first conference ever. There were so many classes, and I was so
excited, that I planned my day down to the minute. Which classes I was going to
attend, and I didn’t plan for a single break. I was going to make the most out
of the conference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">It was a great experience, but by the end I was absolutely
exhausted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">This year, I had a different goal. I wanted to get what I needed.
If there was a class that I needed, I would go to it, but if there wasn’t one
that jumped out at me, then I didn’t go to one that I didn’t want to go. I
spent my time interacting with other people. On attending critique groups. On
actually working on my own writing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">I got to meet and talk with so many writers. I ate dinner
with friends. I loved spending time with my friends, and exchanging information
after. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">Writing conferences can be whatever you make it. As I talk
to others who attend other conferences: Storytellers, WIFYR, etc, it sounds
like you get whatever you put into it. If you’re willing to put yourself into
it, and if you’re willing to make an effort, then you gain so much. I learned a
lot last year, but this year, I experienced a lot. I made lasting friendships
and I became a better writer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;">And in the end, isn’t that the whole purpose of a writers
conference?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-41581560933411543232017-02-27T05:00:00.000-08:002017-02-27T05:00:37.700-08:00Decisions<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hello Everyone!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">It’s been a total month of crazy. Well, I should say it’s
been about two months of crazy. There’s been work and health issues that have
popped up and I had to choose something to step away from. That thing was my
blogging. I love getting my thoughts out and interacting, but there’s sometimes
a need for a breather.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">That being said, I’ve heard a lot of people mention that
they haven’t heard from me recently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">2017 has been an interesting year for me. A year of
decisions, which I guess I wasn’t expecting to start out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hubby and I made some important decisions regarding our
infertility, and which direction we’d like to go with starting and raising a
family. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Hubby is still in the midst of making a decision about
schooling and graduating. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Work-wise, I made the decision to take straight night-shifts
for reasons very obvious to me. They’re not so obvious to other people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Writing wise, now that I’ve finished the entire Commissioned
Series (first drafts of the later books), I’m looking at what I want to do with
it. My writing partner and I founded a writing group in our area, and we’ve had
to make some decisions about what direction we wanted our activities to go. We
also had to decide what was too much, and what would be fun for our writers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">I’m starting to see things calm down, but that doesn’t mean
that life won’t throw another curveball or two. For now, I’m writing, I’m
working, and I’m staying happy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">How about the rest of you? How’s 2017 treating you so far?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-38571622081455573532017-02-01T05:00:00.000-08:002017-02-01T05:00:28.835-08:00My Favorite Books of 2016<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">For the past two years, I’ve made reading goals, and I still
haven’t quite reached my goal. Last year, I was close. I wanted to read 45
books in the year 2016, and I read 34 published books, and 4 nonpublished.
(Beta reads for other writers). Many of them were really fun reads, and I
thought I’d let you know the top in my list!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;">Also, this is in no particular order.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Shades of Milk and Honey – Mary Robinette Kowal</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f3f3f3; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">I hadn’t heard of Mary Robinette Kowal. I knew of Writing
Excuses, but I didn’t really listen to their podcast. Last year, I went to a
writing conference with a friend, where Mary was on multiple panels. I thought
she was hilarious, and I really wanted to read her book, especially since my
friend highly recommended it. I loved the Austen feel with magic, and I’m
pretty sure I read the whole thing in less than a day.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Ian Quicksilver – Alyson Peterson</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ea9999; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #ea9999;">Alyson was another writer I met at the writers’ conference.
She hadn’t published Ian Quicksilver yet, but after meeting her, I was dying to
read something she’d written. Let me just say, Alyson knows how to write
teenage boys. Ian was a character who jumped off the page and kept me laughing
through the entire book.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Healer’s Apprentice – Melanie Dickerson </span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">I discovered Melanie Dickerson last year when one of my
sisters recommended her books. Apparently, I was in the mood for a lot of
historical type books last year. I actually read a lot of her books, but this
was the first one that I read, and I loved her style of writing. I’m also a
sucker for fairy tale retellings, so it was just the perfect balance for me.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Passenger – Alexandra Bracken</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #ffe599;">I love Alexandra Bracken. I devoured her Darkest Minds
series, and when I found out that she had a new book, I just had to read it.
This book was completely different, but I still loved it. She addresses so many
issues in a way that made me want to keep reading. She addresses gender and
race as her characters time travel to different times and different areas of
the world. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Originals – Cat Patrick</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">I have no idea how I discovered this book. I got a notice
from the library that my reserved book was ready, and I couldn’t remember
reserving it. It was definitely a happy accident though. Cat Patrick writes
light science fiction, and I think she’s the reason why I tried writing science
fiction last November. I read several of her books, and I loved that there was
a slight mystery to everything. She’s the one who turned me on to contemporary
science fiction.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Winner’s Kiss – Marie Rutkoski</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">This is the final book in the Winner’s Trilogy, and after
several disappointing final books to series, I picked this one up with not very
high expectations. But I shouldn’t have worried. Marie Rutkoski knows her
characters, and she made me love them even more. It’s one of the best final
books that I’ve read in a really long time.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Grave Mercy – Robin LaFevers</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #d5a6bd; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I had randomly downloaded this book before going on a
writers’ retreat. I had spent the day writing – probably close to ten hours,
and I wanted to relax before going to bed. This book wasn’t really what I would
call relaxing, mostly because I had to find out what happens next! It’s such a
unique idea, and I loved the execution. Plus, the romance was slow burning and
just awesome.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5527248326652000073.post-21505331608519278202017-01-30T05:00:00.000-08:002017-01-30T05:00:10.288-08:00One Day at a Time<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Years ago, back when my husband and I first got married, we
spoke Spanish at home. We met in Spain, and we spoke Spanish over there. In
fact, he was the one who taught me Spanish. So it seemed natural to keep
speaking Spanish once we came to the US. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Hubby started taking ESL classes through the community, but
even with that, it seemed like his grasp of the language was very slow. He was
having a hard time adjusting to the new culture, and even finding a job. We
went to my aunt’s house for Thanksgiving, and she gave us advice that really
changed our lives. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">She told us to speak English at home. We’d tried before, but
I became impatient with him, because he couldn’t express himself well. He also
found it easier to switch to Spanish if he couldn’t figure out how to say it in
English. We told her that it was too hard to just switch to English. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Her response was: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">Just do it for one day. For one day speak English at home.
And when you’ve done it that day, then do it the next day. Take it one day at a
time until it becomes natural.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">We were a little skeptical, but we decided to try it. She’s
a very wise woman, and we wouldn’t lose anything by at least trying. We tried
for one day. It was a long, exhausting and frustrating day, but we got through
it. At the end of that day, we realized that we’d spoken only English for one
day. Then we tried the next day. We spoke English for the second day, reminding
ourselves that it was one day at a time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">After a few weeks of our ‘one day at a time,’ Hubby started
to have amazing progress in his English class. Suddenly, he started shooting
through the levels, passing the tests, until he took the TOEFL. (Test of
English as a Foreign Language) and did well. Six months later, he was attending
classes at the community college, and then a year and a half after that, he
transferred to a university. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #ffe599; font-size: large;">It was amazing to see the results of one day at a time. It
was work, and yes, it got frustrating, but we worked through it. Baby steps
sometimes makes a huge difference.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17527989806224086214noreply@blogger.com0