Archive for Winter

Snow Storm Allison

{ December 13, 2009 @ 1:05 pm } · { AmeriCorps, Random, Uncategorized, Winter }
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Back home in good ol’ Wisconsin snow storm Allison moved through leaving them with 15″ (yes that right over a foot) of snow in about a day. (I’m a little jealous about this – ok a lot jealous.)

In Delaware, Snow Storm Allison is now moving through (I think) and leaving us with…rain. Not the snow I hoped for. What was I thinking, moving to Delaware? All they get here is rain and a lot of it. It’s one thing that I really can’t stand. (Hopefully I’ll start to get used to it, but that’s doubtful.)

Snow makes me happy, rain just makes me sad and want to stay inside all day. I’m much rather be back home enjoying the cold wet white stuff.

Randomness

{ March 25, 2009 @ 5:12 pm } · { Babies, Camp, college, Ethics, Job Hunt, News, nursing, Random, senior year, Uncategorized, Winter }
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Random Updates from the Past Week(ish)

  • Spring is finally here, at least in the time of year sense. We’ve had some warm beautiful days, and some cold crummy days, but hopefully more of those warm days will be coming again soon. It seems like it’s been raining since I got home on spring break, even though it’s really only been the past two days. It finally seems like its going to be nice out today (at least in sunshine, I’m not so sure about temperature).
  • On my way home from school on Saturday I stopped at the camp I’ll be working at for the summer to get a lay of the land and check out the procedures/protocols. I’m getting so excited for this summer. I am eager to share my faith through nursing with the staff and campers! I’ve also come to realize that I have a lot of stuff to get together before camp starts and not a whole lot of time to do it. I’ll be graduating on a Sunday and the following Tuesday I’m off to camp!
  • The job search (post summer camp) is not going well. I have yet to hear back from anywhere I’ve applied to. Keep your fingers crossed for me!!
  • Graduation is just around the corner! (SEVEN WEEKS to be exact.) Talk about coming up fast. Before spring break we had a meeting with the nursing department to discuss our pinning ceremony and preparing and taking the NCLEX exam (nursing boards). Once I’m done with school you’ll probably hear me grip about the NCLEX for awhile.

Random Stories from the News

  • More flooding? In Fargo, ND the river is rising and schools are closing in order for the students to help sandbagging efforts.
  • OCTUMOM: still in the news, go figure. What needs to happen to make sure these kids are safe? The most important thing is making sure the kids are getting the love and support they need – she now has 14 kids, how is she going to take care of 14 kids? Ethically we need to make sure these kids are going to be ok.
  • In Local news: the seven-year-old girl from my hometown who was pulled from Lake Winnebago after being submerged in ice water for 30 minutes was released from the hospital five weeks after the incident. It is reported that she has some problems with her short term memory and her finger dexterity, but she is doing well. Please keep her in your prayers.

Midwestern Thaw

{ February 9, 2009 @ 10:02 pm } · { Random, Uncategorized, Winter }
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It’s February in the Midwest. Apparently this year that means warmth! It got into the 40s today. (Yippee!!) Of course, this means all the snow is melting creating a lot of mud and puddles.

I’ve lived in the midwest for 21 years (or my entire life). I love the snow and the cold and the beauty of it all, but there comes a time each year when I’m ready for it to warm up a little bit. (60-70 degree weather would be perfect.) But as much as I want it to warm up… I always miss the snow when it’s gone. (Then of course, the flowers bloom and that’s the end of my longing to have the snow back.)

The weather warming up does have it’s downfalls (other than the melting of snow). Ice also melts… this means no ice skating and I have not managed to go at all this winter (go figure).

Ah well, the weather will have it’s way and there is nothing that I can do to stop it. (Unless someone has a weather machine I can borrow…)

Letters from the College Dorms

{ January 15, 2009 @ 8:00 pm } · { Ethics, health care, Random, senior year, Uncategorized, Winter }
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Dear Drug Companies,

In my ethics class this week we saw a video called “The Constant Gardener.” It’s all about the horrors of you and your drugs invading Africa. African people are people and not cheep subjects for you to test your drugs on. Just because they have no other options for getting drugs to treat their medical problems does not give you the right to use them as test subjects. (Especially since you don’t fully inform them and therefore their consent is not actually “informed consent”.)

Oh, and withholding treatment for those who don’t want to be a part of your study is a surefire way to get subjects, but think about the ethics behind this. Do you have any morals?

-Someone who agrees research is important but only if it’s done ethically.

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Dear 2009,

I hope you come bearing great things. I do not want a repeat of last year, thank you very much. I would like to ask for a few things this year as we look into the future together:

1) My diploma

2) A ‘real’ job

3) An overall healthy year

4) More bookshelves

Of course, the bookshelves are optional, I can probably make do without them, but having more space really would be nice.

~A hopeful soul

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Dear Mother Nature

I’m a Midwesterner and as much as I love the cold weather and snow, don’t you think this is getting to be a bit much? We got nearly 4 feet of snow in the month of December alone. And now you’re throwing more at us along with -41 degree Fahrenheit temperatures (that’s with the wind chill of course). Are you trying to freeze us to death?

~ A very cold Midwestern

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Dear Luther College

The temperature on my walk to class today was 41 degrees F below zero with the windchill. When all the schools in the area (along with the community college in a neighboring town) are closing don’t you think it’s time to give in? I don’t really want to freeze on my walk to class. I know we’re suppose to be supperior to everyone else, but this is just ridiculous. (Bare skin can get frostbitten in the time it takes me to walk from my apartment to the union.) Even the professors think it’s crazy.

~A student who doesn’t want to end up in the hospital with frostbite

Emergency Supplies

{ December 9, 2008 @ 4:05 pm } · { Growing up, Winter }
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I grew up living in Wisconsin and I go to school in Iowa. I’m bound to experience snow. It’s not a secret. People know this right? Living in the Midwest = snow in winter.

If this is the case (and I’m pretty sure it has been since the beginning of time), why do people not come prepared?

Here is a short list of the necessities to keep in your car (or at least nearby at home).

1. Snow scraper – umm…duh? Keep one in your car. (No the trunk does not count). If you’re going someplace or live someplace where you can’t park inside or under something so your car does not get buried in snow, you need one. Leaving it in your trunk guarantees that you will not get to your destination on time. (And you’ll be stuck with cold wet gloves from trying to clear the snow off of your trunk to get at it.

2. Jumper Cables – don’t just have them, know how to use them. Getting stuck someplace in the middle of winter when it’s cold and your car wont start is not a situation I would ever want to find myself in.

3. First Aid Kit – Not just for those of us who live in the snowy Midwest. Keep a small first aid kit in your car, you never know when you’ll need it

4. Boots – if you get stuck somewhere (or need to dig your car out of a snowbank) these will come in handy. They’re great for keeping your feet warm and dry.

5. Warm socks – these go along with the boots (enough said).

6. A small shovel – This one applies more to college kids and people who are at risk for getting plowed into a parking spot/driveway/etc. If you choose not to have one in your car – have fun digging your car out by hand (or finding some nice guy to lend you his).

7. a blanket – Again, if you get stuck you’ll thank me.

8. an extra pair of gloves (and a hat might not be a bad idea either) – this will help keep you warm if you get stuck or find out that it’s colder out that you thought. And chances are you’re gloves will get wet trying to scrap/shovel your car out of a snow pile this way you’ll have a warm dry pair to slip on when you’re done.

The first Christmas present I got once I had my own car was an emergency kit that included a flair, jumper cables, first aid kit, etc. The best thing I’d ever gotten. (Even though I thought it was corny at the time).

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