Last last week a new resident moved into our unit. I'm not sure what her story is, but previous to coming to the nursing home she lived on her own in a senior citizen highrise. For people who are confused moving into a new place full of people you don't know & suddenly having a roommate is a very difficult transition.
This particular resident is having trouble sleeping at night - so she rings her call bell a zillion times. It's sometimes frustrating because we each have 20 residents to take care of. There's definitely time to devote a little one-on-one time to each of them, but it's really hard to constantly be running back to her room "just to chat."
But, we've all done our best, because becomming familiar with her surroundings & the new people is what she really needs.
So imagine my surprise when we got report from the nurse last night & were told that this resident's family requested that she have all her meals back in her room (and stay in there pretty much the entire day...alone) because they don't want her in our dining room "seeing some of the other residents."
And I knew exactly what residents they were referrinf too. There are people with end stage Alzheimer's desease, who have totally lost the ability to speak, but who frequently have loud vocal outbursts. There are people who have lost the ability to move their arms & legs, so they are very contracted in their chairs. These people are elderly & can't do things the way they used to, so some spill their food.
But, these are still people. They deserve to be treated with dignity & respect, not only by our staff, but by visitors as well. They are not the scourge of the earth. They are someone's parents & grandparents.
I know the stigma that sourrounds nursing homes. And I also know that, if you're not used to it, some of the things you see can be jarring. But at the end of the day our purpose is to take care of those who simply can't do it on their own anymore. Those things are meant to be embraced so that these residents have a good quality of life until the end.
The ignorance of some people will never cease to amaze me.
Showing posts with label FML. Show all posts
Showing posts with label FML. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Off to see the wizard.
Yesterday afternoon while I was watching the news a tornado watch was issued for some surrounding areas, including the county I live in.
Normally I just ignore them. I know that sounds terrible, but I have been fortunate enough never to see a tornado in my area my whole life. Plus, I'm a lover of crazy summer thunderstorms.
Last night was different though. When the warning was issued I started to get anxious. I was upset because I was scheduled to work at 11 last night, & I was planning to be napping when the wicked storm was supposed to hit. DJ wasn't going to be home, & I was convinced that the house was going to be blown away without me knowing. He assured me I was crazy, like usual.
Although I slept a little, I kept having bad dreams & ended up waking up long before my alarm was set to go off.
I turned on the news, & what do you know?
The report was bad. The storm was headed to us, & would be on top of us within a half hour. People were reporting seeing tornados where it was already raining, & the meteorologists were seeing cloud rotation close to me.
When the storm was about 10 minutes away & a few towns over, the weatherman said, "There is definite cloud rotation. We can't confirm whether or not a tornado is already on the gound. It's heading for Renee's house (I know I souldn't joke about this, but wouldn't that have been funny?). You have 10 minutes to get into the basement."
And so, that is what I did. I took my laptop, knowing I would lose power & not get news reports from the TV. I just hoped the internet would hold out. It did not, by the way.
Next I trapped my 2 girl cats in the basement, which was easy enough to do with a bag of treats. Then, I had to carry my dog downstairs. She had never even seen a flight of stairs until we lived in this house, & she is not brave enough to venture down. Once that was done, I had to fight with my boy cat. He doesn't like to be held, so it was an epic battle...that I ultimately won. I essentially hog-tied my cat, covered his head with my shirt & ran down the stairs while trying desperately to hold on.
Once my fur babies were safely downstairs, I didn't dare open the door. In my panic, it didn't occur to me to grab my flashlight or candles or anything I might actually need. No, no, instead there I was with 3 misbehaving cats, a terrified dog, my cell phone & a laptop that soon proved to be worhtless when the internet failed.
In an attempt to keep myself calm, I talked to my mom & MIL periodically. I had no idea what was going on. There was no way for me to know what the situation with the storm was. My only view of the outside world was through a tiny (& dirty, because I don't clean it) basement window. I couldn't see anything because the sky was black, except for occasional pink lightening.
I'll be honest, I was pretty freaking terrified. I was also sure this was not going to end well. Thankfully, it did. We got a severe thunderstorm & nothing more. Everyone was safe.
We were without power for a few hours, so when I ventured back upstairs I lit every candle in the house & read a book by flashlight.
DJ got home shortly after the power came back on. And although I was able to laugh a little about my disaster precautions, I was still a little on edge.
In hindsight everyone will probably think it was silly of me to go so overboard, but I don't think it was. Not only did the newscaster say it was specifically headed to my town & I had 10 minutes to take cover, but I knew this was coming since 3 in the afternoon.
Call it a message, or maybe a sixth sense, but I was sure this storm was going to be bad & I needed to be awake when it arrived.
I guess the moral of my story is this: trust your instincts. They're right more often than you think.
Normally I just ignore them. I know that sounds terrible, but I have been fortunate enough never to see a tornado in my area my whole life. Plus, I'm a lover of crazy summer thunderstorms.
Last night was different though. When the warning was issued I started to get anxious. I was upset because I was scheduled to work at 11 last night, & I was planning to be napping when the wicked storm was supposed to hit. DJ wasn't going to be home, & I was convinced that the house was going to be blown away without me knowing. He assured me I was crazy, like usual.
Although I slept a little, I kept having bad dreams & ended up waking up long before my alarm was set to go off.
I turned on the news, & what do you know?
The report was bad. The storm was headed to us, & would be on top of us within a half hour. People were reporting seeing tornados where it was already raining, & the meteorologists were seeing cloud rotation close to me.
When the storm was about 10 minutes away & a few towns over, the weatherman said, "There is definite cloud rotation. We can't confirm whether or not a tornado is already on the gound. It's heading for Renee's house (I know I souldn't joke about this, but wouldn't that have been funny?). You have 10 minutes to get into the basement."
And so, that is what I did. I took my laptop, knowing I would lose power & not get news reports from the TV. I just hoped the internet would hold out. It did not, by the way.
Next I trapped my 2 girl cats in the basement, which was easy enough to do with a bag of treats. Then, I had to carry my dog downstairs. She had never even seen a flight of stairs until we lived in this house, & she is not brave enough to venture down. Once that was done, I had to fight with my boy cat. He doesn't like to be held, so it was an epic battle...that I ultimately won. I essentially hog-tied my cat, covered his head with my shirt & ran down the stairs while trying desperately to hold on.
Once my fur babies were safely downstairs, I didn't dare open the door. In my panic, it didn't occur to me to grab my flashlight or candles or anything I might actually need. No, no, instead there I was with 3 misbehaving cats, a terrified dog, my cell phone & a laptop that soon proved to be worhtless when the internet failed.
In an attempt to keep myself calm, I talked to my mom & MIL periodically. I had no idea what was going on. There was no way for me to know what the situation with the storm was. My only view of the outside world was through a tiny (& dirty, because I don't clean it) basement window. I couldn't see anything because the sky was black, except for occasional pink lightening.
I'll be honest, I was pretty freaking terrified. I was also sure this was not going to end well. Thankfully, it did. We got a severe thunderstorm & nothing more. Everyone was safe.
We were without power for a few hours, so when I ventured back upstairs I lit every candle in the house & read a book by flashlight.
DJ got home shortly after the power came back on. And although I was able to laugh a little about my disaster precautions, I was still a little on edge.
In hindsight everyone will probably think it was silly of me to go so overboard, but I don't think it was. Not only did the newscaster say it was specifically headed to my town & I had 10 minutes to take cover, but I knew this was coming since 3 in the afternoon.
Call it a message, or maybe a sixth sense, but I was sure this storm was going to be bad & I needed to be awake when it arrived.
I guess the moral of my story is this: trust your instincts. They're right more often than you think.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Wordless Wednesday: So gross...
I know it's Wordless Wednesday, but I think this requires some explanation.
My vacuum wasn't working properly, which usually means there's a clog.
This is what I emptied out of the vacuum hose, & it makes me question my decision to own pets.
My vacuum wasn't working properly, which usually means there's a clog.
This is what I emptied out of the vacuum hose, & it makes me question my decision to own pets.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Just one of those days...
Last night was my last night at work before my 11 day vacation.
So naturally, nothing went smoothly at all.
Actually, I shouldn't say that. Everything was fine until about 4:45 AM.
At 4:45 AM I was on my way to empty my dirty linens, & as a passed one of the resident's rooms I heard the most awful noise.
A nurse & I went running in only to find sed resident totally naked, covered in poop & bleeding from the head - because she slipped in a puddle of her own pee.
Needless to say chaos ensued & before it was over I was covered in all manner of bodily fluids.
Have I mentioned lately how much I need this vacation?
So naturally, nothing went smoothly at all.
Actually, I shouldn't say that. Everything was fine until about 4:45 AM.
At 4:45 AM I was on my way to empty my dirty linens, & as a passed one of the resident's rooms I heard the most awful noise.
A nurse & I went running in only to find sed resident totally naked, covered in poop & bleeding from the head - because she slipped in a puddle of her own pee.
Needless to say chaos ensued & before it was over I was covered in all manner of bodily fluids.
Have I mentioned lately how much I need this vacation?
Saturday, April 2, 2011
About last night
My 3rd shift life started earlier this week. Although there have been a few speed bumps, for the most part things are going really well. I'm adjusting to a new sleeping schedule, & a new routine at work, but I'm excited. I know I made the right decision.
Why then, you must be asking, are things going well only for the most part?
Last night I met my charge nurse - someone that everyone (from CNAs to nurses & back again) has warned me about since I accepted this 3rd shift position.
And let me just say, she lives up to my expectations. FML.
I think annoying is the best way to describe her. She's the kind of person who needs to be taken with a grain of salt, & that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Instead of talking about her, I've got a cute story for you.
During 3rd shift most of the residents are in bed. The CNAs make rounds throughout the night to take people to the bathroom if they're able & make sure the ones who can't are clean & dry.
So, there I am, making my rounds at some ungodly hour of the early morning, when I meet a celebrity!
I go into a resident's room expecting to have to wake her up. As soon as I click on the light she pops up in bed, all bright-eyed & bushy-tailed, & says, "You know I used to be Ginger Rogers, right?"
I wish I had thought to ask for an autograph.
Why then, you must be asking, are things going well only for the most part?
Last night I met my charge nurse - someone that everyone (from CNAs to nurses & back again) has warned me about since I accepted this 3rd shift position.
And let me just say, she lives up to my expectations. FML.
I think annoying is the best way to describe her. She's the kind of person who needs to be taken with a grain of salt, & that's exactly what I'm going to do.
Instead of talking about her, I've got a cute story for you.
During 3rd shift most of the residents are in bed. The CNAs make rounds throughout the night to take people to the bathroom if they're able & make sure the ones who can't are clean & dry.
So, there I am, making my rounds at some ungodly hour of the early morning, when I meet a celebrity!
I go into a resident's room expecting to have to wake her up. As soon as I click on the light she pops up in bed, all bright-eyed & bushy-tailed, & says, "You know I used to be Ginger Rogers, right?"
I wish I had thought to ask for an autograph.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Starting to panic a little.
A week from tomorrow I switch to my 3rd shift life.
I'll be honest, I'm a little terrified at this point.
I've never worked 3rd shift before.
I have some great friends & some family members who work 3rd shift where I do, so they've given me the rundown on how it works. I'm sure I can do it - but you know, I'm a nervous Nelly & that will never change.
I haven't heard anything good about my new charge nurse (from both CNAs & nurses alike). I've worked with all kinds of people before, & I'm not afraid to work from someone with (how shall I put this?) personality issues, but things always go more smoothly when you get along well with your co-workers.
So I'm trying to keep my cool & realize that everything is going to work out ok - but the countdown is killing me a little.
I'll be honest, I'm a little terrified at this point.
I've never worked 3rd shift before.
I have some great friends & some family members who work 3rd shift where I do, so they've given me the rundown on how it works. I'm sure I can do it - but you know, I'm a nervous Nelly & that will never change.
I haven't heard anything good about my new charge nurse (from both CNAs & nurses alike). I've worked with all kinds of people before, & I'm not afraid to work from someone with (how shall I put this?) personality issues, but things always go more smoothly when you get along well with your co-workers.
So I'm trying to keep my cool & realize that everything is going to work out ok - but the countdown is killing me a little.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
She did what?
I've talked about my mother before on my blog.
She's a little nutty, & it's amusing to laugh at the crazy things she does. And once again, she didn't disappoint today.
She's at war with her neighbors - but she's the only one who thinks so. Shortly after we moved into the house where she lives now (10 years ago), she & my stepdad were making some improvements on the backyard. They built a new, bigger deck & garden area. These neighbors, who I will admit are a little off, approached my mom in the backyard one afternoon to adress their "concerns" with the home improvements. While I can't recite the entire conversation, I can tell you how it ended.
Crazy neighbor: How would you feel if someone new moved in & suddenly made all these
changes?
Crazy mother: I don't really fucking care how you feel.
I think it's safe to say any cordial, neighborly relationship was over at that point. From then on, my mother spied on them through an upstairs window, & Mr. Neighbor purposely threw sticks & shoveled snow into our yard.
Well, not to be outdone, my mother had a fence built - down only one side of the yard, which happens to be between these two houses. Really mature, right?
After that, she continued with her spying, but they were powerless to throw random things into the yard anymore. That's pretty much how the relationship has continued over the better part of a decade.
She spies so much that she knows all the following informaiton:
And the saga continued this evening, when my mother attended a school board meeting.
Why you ask?
Because Mr. Neighbor works for the school district, & they are planning to make spending cuts - so she wanted to know if he would be fired.
She seriously needs to get a life.
She's a little nutty, & it's amusing to laugh at the crazy things she does. And once again, she didn't disappoint today.
She's at war with her neighbors - but she's the only one who thinks so. Shortly after we moved into the house where she lives now (10 years ago), she & my stepdad were making some improvements on the backyard. They built a new, bigger deck & garden area. These neighbors, who I will admit are a little off, approached my mom in the backyard one afternoon to adress their "concerns" with the home improvements. While I can't recite the entire conversation, I can tell you how it ended.
Crazy neighbor: How would you feel if someone new moved in & suddenly made all these
changes?
Crazy mother: I don't really fucking care how you feel.
I think it's safe to say any cordial, neighborly relationship was over at that point. From then on, my mother spied on them through an upstairs window, & Mr. Neighbor purposely threw sticks & shoveled snow into our yard.
Well, not to be outdone, my mother had a fence built - down only one side of the yard, which happens to be between these two houses. Really mature, right?
After that, she continued with her spying, but they were powerless to throw random things into the yard anymore. That's pretty much how the relationship has continued over the better part of a decade.
She spies so much that she knows all the following informaiton:
- Where & when they grocery shop
- When they are planning a birthday party for their children
- When they are having medical issues
- When the couple separated, & ultimately reconciled
And the saga continued this evening, when my mother attended a school board meeting.
Why you ask?
Because Mr. Neighbor works for the school district, & they are planning to make spending cuts - so she wanted to know if he would be fired.
She seriously needs to get a life.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Lazy Sunday, lazy blog post.
I was woken up a little too early by my dog, & then kept awake by a snoring, beg-hogging boyfriend.
I had the largest pile of laundry I've seen in a long time taking up space in my bedroom.
I desperately needed to mop my kitchen & bathroom floors.
So, I devoted the day to getting this house in shape. Here's what I did today.
Who else loves that show? Cheese curls & elk - c'mon now!
I had the largest pile of laundry I've seen in a long time taking up space in my bedroom.
I desperately needed to mop my kitchen & bathroom floors.
So, I devoted the day to getting this house in shape. Here's what I did today.
- Started the laundry at 10:00 AM. Still going strong at 6:30 PM. FML.
- Mopped those nasty floors.
- Cleaned some stuff, & then cleaned some more stuff.
- Took my entire vacuum apart because it wasn't working. Found so much fur in the hose that I should have named it & put in in a designer bag like Paris Hilton.
- Organized both my living room closets
- Argued with my dog everytime she needed to go outside. She doesn't do rain so well.
- Febreezed the shit out of some stuff so it doesn't smell like cigarettes. Even though I have a strict "No Smoking" policy in this house, it still stinks. I'd really like the boyfriend to drop that nasty habit sooner, rather than later.
Who else loves that show? Cheese curls & elk - c'mon now!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The four words that ruined everything.
I was on cloud 9 yesterday!
I found out on Thursday that I got the 3rd shift position I bid on!! Third shift is much less demanding & stressful, not to mention that my weekend schedule now coincides with MIL's. Yay!
But the bigger news is, I checked the mailbox before I went to work yesterday afternoon & there was a letter from the nursing school I applied to - & I passed my placement test!!!!
That was the biggest sigh of relief that I've had in a while. I'm so glad that I don't have to go through it again. Now I can move on to the next phase of the admissions process, which is submitting transcripts & references & having an interview with the program director.
My interview is scheduled for March 17th.
And although my mood will likely change, I'm not stressed about the interview processright now. I've had both good & bad interviews in my life, but I'm in a place where I'm comfortable with them. It will be ok.
By this point you may be wondering why I was on cloud 9 & what 4 words ruined everything.
I was at work last night all in my good mood & such, & one of the nurses that I love brought me an envelope from the office. She told me she didn't know what it was for, just that they asked her to bring it to me. I told her it was my paperwork for my schedule change to 3rd shift.
She said she was really sad to see me go (she works on the horrible weekend with me), & had lots of questions about why I was going. I explained the nursing school schedule was the biggest factor - Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 2-9:30. She asked about my days off for third shift - every other Monday & Wednesday & every other weekend (the same as now, just on a different shift).
And then she said them - the four words that ruined everything.
"When will you sleep?"
My immediate reaction was, "It's only for a year & a half. I'll be fine."
But those words were like a ticking time bomb in my brain, which is why I woke up at 7:00 this morning, sick to my stomach...after having gone to bed at 3:00 AM.
When will I sleep?
After I graduate.
I found out on Thursday that I got the 3rd shift position I bid on!! Third shift is much less demanding & stressful, not to mention that my weekend schedule now coincides with MIL's. Yay!
But the bigger news is, I checked the mailbox before I went to work yesterday afternoon & there was a letter from the nursing school I applied to - & I passed my placement test!!!!
That was the biggest sigh of relief that I've had in a while. I'm so glad that I don't have to go through it again. Now I can move on to the next phase of the admissions process, which is submitting transcripts & references & having an interview with the program director.
My interview is scheduled for March 17th.
And although my mood will likely change, I'm not stressed about the interview process
By this point you may be wondering why I was on cloud 9 & what 4 words ruined everything.
I was at work last night all in my good mood & such, & one of the nurses that I love brought me an envelope from the office. She told me she didn't know what it was for, just that they asked her to bring it to me. I told her it was my paperwork for my schedule change to 3rd shift.
She said she was really sad to see me go (she works on the horrible weekend with me), & had lots of questions about why I was going. I explained the nursing school schedule was the biggest factor - Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday from 2-9:30. She asked about my days off for third shift - every other Monday & Wednesday & every other weekend (the same as now, just on a different shift).
And then she said them - the four words that ruined everything.
"When will you sleep?"
My immediate reaction was, "It's only for a year & a half. I'll be fine."
But those words were like a ticking time bomb in my brain, which is why I woke up at 7:00 this morning, sick to my stomach...after having gone to bed at 3:00 AM.
When will I sleep?
After I graduate.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Unfortunately, I may have to save your life one day.
I'm not unwilling to save your life, I just hope it never comes to that.
What I'm trying to say is, I took a CPR recertification course on Wednesday night. It wasweird interesting, to say the least.
The instructor was a little unusual, but I can live with that. He's been teaching this class (& teaching in general) for over 30 years. He was very nice & very knowledgable, just a little quirky.
Before the class started a woman came in & introduced herself as a newly trained instructor. Before she taught a class of her own, she wanted to observe one in action. Seemed reasonable to me, however, this woman was - how shall I put this? - a little "tightly wound." This class probably wasn't the best for her to observe. She couldn't handle the quirks. And when the instructor tried to include her in the discussion, which was meant to help, she ultimately said, "I'm not here. I'm just observing."
Umm...ok then. But you do realize that you are actually here, right?
Then there was this really weird girl who showed up late. She came in & announced she would only be staying for the adult/child portions because she didn't need infant CPR. There are two problems with that.
The weird part happened later on. She ended up being there for the whole class, including the infant portion & test. The Red Cross employees accidentially miscounted the supplies, so there weren't enough answer sheets for the instructor to make his own. When we reviewed the tests we went around the room & took turns reading a question & giving the answer.
When it came time for weird girl to read her question, she just blurted out the answer. So the instructor asked her to read the question like every else did. Instead of doing that she says (in a scratchy voice that I was hearing for the first time, "Do I have too? I've been sick & I'm losing my voice."
Really? Because it seems to me that you've been talking & being weird for the last few hours with no issue.
No issue speaking, that is. There were definitely some other issues there.
We actually found out after this whole ordeal that weird girl had the extra answer sheets the instructor was looking for. Somehow she just didn't notice - or couldn't talk, so didn't say anything.
Despite the unusual environment, the class went well & that's one more thing crossed off the nursing school to do list!
What I'm trying to say is, I took a CPR recertification course on Wednesday night. It was
The instructor was a little unusual, but I can live with that. He's been teaching this class (& teaching in general) for over 30 years. He was very nice & very knowledgable, just a little quirky.
Before the class started a woman came in & introduced herself as a newly trained instructor. Before she taught a class of her own, she wanted to observe one in action. Seemed reasonable to me, however, this woman was - how shall I put this? - a little "tightly wound." This class probably wasn't the best for her to observe. She couldn't handle the quirks. And when the instructor tried to include her in the discussion, which was meant to help, she ultimately said, "I'm not here. I'm just observing."
Umm...ok then. But you do realize that you are actually here, right?
Then there was this really weird girl who showed up late. She came in & announced she would only be staying for the adult/child portions because she didn't need infant CPR. There are two problems with that.
- It's all sort of mixed together because the skills are generally the same.
- The test we have to take isn't given until the end, & you need to be present for that to be official.
The weird part happened later on. She ended up being there for the whole class, including the infant portion & test. The Red Cross employees accidentially miscounted the supplies, so there weren't enough answer sheets for the instructor to make his own. When we reviewed the tests we went around the room & took turns reading a question & giving the answer.
When it came time for weird girl to read her question, she just blurted out the answer. So the instructor asked her to read the question like every else did. Instead of doing that she says (in a scratchy voice that I was hearing for the first time, "Do I have too? I've been sick & I'm losing my voice."
Really? Because it seems to me that you've been talking & being weird for the last few hours with no issue.
No issue speaking, that is. There were definitely some other issues there.
We actually found out after this whole ordeal that weird girl had the extra answer sheets the instructor was looking for. Somehow she just didn't notice - or couldn't talk, so didn't say anything.
Despite the unusual environment, the class went well & that's one more thing crossed off the nursing school to do list!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The waiting game.
I woke up so early yesterday morning that I don't even want to mention the time, as it might frighten some of you. I'm so not a morning person, but yesterday was the big day - the placement test for nursing school.
As some of you probably know, I've been dreading the math for a while now.
Turns out, the math was the least of my concerns -even though the $25 book the school suggested I buy to study was of virtually no help, which I'm slightly annoyed about.
Sure, there were some math problems I just had to guess on, but for the most part I was pretty comforatable with it.
The problem? There was hardly any math.
There was a whole lot of "which word doesn't belong" & "what comes next in the series?"
Ok. I can handle this.
And then, this is where the problems started. There was a natural science section, which I had no warning of at all. This section had questions related to everything from earthquakes to diseases caused by eating undercooked pork.
I don't know about you, but I don't store that type of information in my brainin case I'm on Jeopardy for situations such as this.
While overall I'm feeling pretty good about the test, I've got a nagging feeling about the science section. Hopefully my educated guesses were enough (it was all multiple choice) & I won't have to take it again.
Because I just don't know if I can get up that early anymore...
As some of you probably know, I've been dreading the math for a while now.
Turns out, the math was the least of my concerns -even though the $25 book the school suggested I buy to study was of virtually no help, which I'm slightly annoyed about.
Sure, there were some math problems I just had to guess on, but for the most part I was pretty comforatable with it.
The problem? There was hardly any math.
There was a whole lot of "which word doesn't belong" & "what comes next in the series?"
Ok. I can handle this.
And then, this is where the problems started. There was a natural science section, which I had no warning of at all. This section had questions related to everything from earthquakes to diseases caused by eating undercooked pork.
I don't know about you, but I don't store that type of information in my brain
While overall I'm feeling pretty good about the test, I've got a nagging feeling about the science section. Hopefully my educated guesses were enough (it was all multiple choice) & I won't have to take it again.
Because I just don't know if I can get up that early anymore...
Monday, February 21, 2011
Happy freaking birthday.
We're having another party at work today to celebrate someone's birthday.
He's one of the alright people, & he turned 50, so it's a big deal.
Everyone takes turns making an entree for these parties, so I offered to bring barbeque this time. I'm fine with that. No story there.
But, I do have a funny story about the most awful lady ever!
After I started working on my current unit at the nursing home, the first party we had was for the most awful lady ever. I offered to make a cake, since no one else had. I specifically asked my co-workers if there was something particular that this woman liked (at the time I sort of cared because she hadn't shown her awful colors yet). Everyone told me it didn't matter & anything would be fine.
So, I made chocolate cake with cream cheese icing. See, the thing about me is I hate cake. I haven't eaten a piece of cake in literally years. I have no idea what kind of cake people like to eat. But, I do like chocolate & cream cheese, so that sounded good to me.
Everyone loved it too - except for the most awful lady ever. When I asked her if I had any cake she said, "I don't eat that." Not, "thanks for the gesture," or, "I can't eat it because I'm allergic to chocolate & it would kill me;" just, "I don't eat that."
I can't stand this bitch.
One of my other friendly, understanding co-workers told me that the most awful lady ever doesn't really eat sweet stuff in general. I can respect that, because I'm sort of the same way. I live for salty snacks. So, even though she was rude about it, I chalked it up to not being a cake fan.
Flash forward to a few months later when it was time for my birthday party & another co-worker made a different kind of cake. There I am in our break room listening to the most awful lady ever go on & on & on about "how good that cake looks," & how she's "going to eat some of that."
Now, if I were more adult I would have just let it go...but where's the fun in that? What would I do to amuse myself if I weren't annoying my co-workers?
So, the next time we had a party: chocolate cake with cream cheese icing.
I am a force to be reckoned with. It's best if you learn that early on.
Clearly my message was read loud & clear, because the most awful lady ever is bringing cake to this party today.
I think we can safely chalk this one up as a win for me.
He's one of the alright people, & he turned 50, so it's a big deal.
Everyone takes turns making an entree for these parties, so I offered to bring barbeque this time. I'm fine with that. No story there.
But, I do have a funny story about the most awful lady ever!
After I started working on my current unit at the nursing home, the first party we had was for the most awful lady ever. I offered to make a cake, since no one else had. I specifically asked my co-workers if there was something particular that this woman liked (at the time I sort of cared because she hadn't shown her awful colors yet). Everyone told me it didn't matter & anything would be fine.
So, I made chocolate cake with cream cheese icing. See, the thing about me is I hate cake. I haven't eaten a piece of cake in literally years. I have no idea what kind of cake people like to eat. But, I do like chocolate & cream cheese, so that sounded good to me.
Everyone loved it too - except for the most awful lady ever. When I asked her if I had any cake she said, "I don't eat that." Not, "thanks for the gesture," or, "I can't eat it because I'm allergic to chocolate & it would kill me;" just, "I don't eat that."
I can't stand this bitch.
One of my other friendly, understanding co-workers told me that the most awful lady ever doesn't really eat sweet stuff in general. I can respect that, because I'm sort of the same way. I live for salty snacks. So, even though she was rude about it, I chalked it up to not being a cake fan.
Flash forward to a few months later when it was time for my birthday party & another co-worker made a different kind of cake. There I am in our break room listening to the most awful lady ever go on & on & on about "how good that cake looks," & how she's "going to eat some of that."
Now, if I were more adult I would have just let it go...but where's the fun in that? What would I do to amuse myself if I weren't annoying my co-workers?
So, the next time we had a party: chocolate cake with cream cheese icing.
I am a force to be reckoned with. It's best if you learn that early on.
Clearly my message was read loud & clear, because the most awful lady ever is bringing cake to this party today.
I think we can safely chalk this one up as a win for me.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Purple room: 1. Renee: 0.
DJ & I moved into our house a year ago.
For the most part, I keep the place tidy as much as I can. But, I do work full time, & it's not always as tidy as I'd like it to be.
But, one thing I can't blame a full time job for is the state of my spare bedroom.
We don't have children, therefore no need for the spare bedroom. So, it's been our storage space - & there are boxes in there that have never been unpacked from when we moved a year ago.
It's sad, I know.
Today I was sure was the day. I had no other plans. I was going to clean that purple room.
And I started...but I didn't finish. Sigh.
I did make a good dent in it, & I'm going to do a little more each day until it's completed - but I'm feeling defeated for not getting it done today.
But, Big Bang Theory on the DVR was calling, & I couldn't help myself. I mean c'mon - Leornard & Penny are going to get back together one of these days! None of you care about that, but you should. That show is so funny!
Wow. It just became abundantly clear to me why I haven't unpacked my spare room after a year...
For the most part, I keep the place tidy as much as I can. But, I do work full time, & it's not always as tidy as I'd like it to be.
But, one thing I can't blame a full time job for is the state of my spare bedroom.
We don't have children, therefore no need for the spare bedroom. So, it's been our storage space - & there are boxes in there that have never been unpacked from when we moved a year ago.
It's sad, I know.
Today I was sure was the day. I had no other plans. I was going to clean that purple room.
And I started...but I didn't finish. Sigh.
I did make a good dent in it, & I'm going to do a little more each day until it's completed - but I'm feeling defeated for not getting it done today.
But, Big Bang Theory on the DVR was calling, & I couldn't help myself. I mean c'mon - Leornard & Penny are going to get back together one of these days! None of you care about that, but you should. That show is so funny!
Wow. It just became abundantly clear to me why I haven't unpacked my spare room after a year...
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Day 2 - Oh, how I love thee! Let me count the ways...
I tend to not choose the subject matter of my blog. It usually chooses me. Something will happen that is either so funny, so sad or (most frequently) so annoying that I just have to get it out of my system. And that is how the subject of today's post came about.
There I was at work last night trying to think of a list for today. This challenge is all about promoting my blog, so I was trying to come up with an idea for listing the kinds of topics I usually write about. But, I wanted to do something different. Hmmm...
Then it hit me, or rather, it talked in my ear. Let me be clear that I blog about work a lot. If any of you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that I work in health care & my posts are sometimes graphic. I'd like to start by saying that this post is not about poop, although there's bound to be at least one as we work through this challenge. Today's post, is about a coworker - the worst co-worker ever.
This is a woman in her 50s who has been at this job for 10 years. Understandably so, she is tired, & doesn't have the same level of energy that she did when she started working. But, she's more than capabale of doing the job, even if at a slightly slower pace.
But her age & her energy is not what slows this woman down. What slows her down is constantly watching what everyone else is doing so she can write things down in her notebook (she actually does that!!!) & use it as ammunition later on.
Are you serious?!?!? Who has time for that?? Look, I know I'm blogging about this woman & it probably seems like the same thing, but I don't think it is. I'm venting my frustrations. And, I don't have a notebook dedicated to dirt on my co-workers.
Anyway, back to my story: there I am yesterday at the nurse's station waiting to get report from the charge nurse. I work with elderly residents & a lot of them are confused. Some wear alarms so they don't fall & hurt themselves. One such alarm was going off, & a co-worker that I love went to answer it.
Mean, horrible lady then whispered to another co-worker, "Oh look, she went for an alarm! I can't believe it." Then she went onto say, "Some people don't answer alarms, or take your residents to the bathroom while you're on break, & maybe that's something the supervisor needs to know that."
See, I know this is all very juvenile, but the thing about mean, horrible lady is that she's never going to say anything to any supervisor. She just likes to stir the pot. She likes to cause trouble & have an attitude. She believes that she will always get her way because we're scared of her, but in reality people go along with what she says because no one wants to listen to her.
This drove me crazy last night, but I refuse to get involved in work drama. I go, do my job & come home. It does not control my life or make me sad or angry after the fact, & I'd really like to keep it that way.
But today, I need to write a list, & I've been inspired by mean, horrible lady. If she thinks she's keeping tabs on everyone else, I hope she realizes we're keeping one on her - but not actually in a notebook, because that's just sad. Anyway, here goes...
All the things mean, horrible lady does wrong:
I just need to rise above it - but sometimes I just want to call her a stupid-face.
There I was at work last night trying to think of a list for today. This challenge is all about promoting my blog, so I was trying to come up with an idea for listing the kinds of topics I usually write about. But, I wanted to do something different. Hmmm...
Then it hit me, or rather, it talked in my ear. Let me be clear that I blog about work a lot. If any of you have read my blog for any length of time, you know that I work in health care & my posts are sometimes graphic. I'd like to start by saying that this post is not about poop, although there's bound to be at least one as we work through this challenge. Today's post, is about a coworker - the worst co-worker ever.
This is a woman in her 50s who has been at this job for 10 years. Understandably so, she is tired, & doesn't have the same level of energy that she did when she started working. But, she's more than capabale of doing the job, even if at a slightly slower pace.
But her age & her energy is not what slows this woman down. What slows her down is constantly watching what everyone else is doing so she can write things down in her notebook (she actually does that!!!) & use it as ammunition later on.
Are you serious?!?!? Who has time for that?? Look, I know I'm blogging about this woman & it probably seems like the same thing, but I don't think it is. I'm venting my frustrations. And, I don't have a notebook dedicated to dirt on my co-workers.
Anyway, back to my story: there I am yesterday at the nurse's station waiting to get report from the charge nurse. I work with elderly residents & a lot of them are confused. Some wear alarms so they don't fall & hurt themselves. One such alarm was going off, & a co-worker that I love went to answer it.
Mean, horrible lady then whispered to another co-worker, "Oh look, she went for an alarm! I can't believe it." Then she went onto say, "Some people don't answer alarms, or take your residents to the bathroom while you're on break, & maybe that's something the supervisor needs to know that."
See, I know this is all very juvenile, but the thing about mean, horrible lady is that she's never going to say anything to any supervisor. She just likes to stir the pot. She likes to cause trouble & have an attitude. She believes that she will always get her way because we're scared of her, but in reality people go along with what she says because no one wants to listen to her.
This drove me crazy last night, but I refuse to get involved in work drama. I go, do my job & come home. It does not control my life or make me sad or angry after the fact, & I'd really like to keep it that way.
But today, I need to write a list, & I've been inspired by mean, horrible lady. If she thinks she's keeping tabs on everyone else, I hope she realizes we're keeping one on her - but not actually in a notebook, because that's just sad. Anyway, here goes...
All the things mean, horrible lady does wrong:
- Accuses people of not helping other, even though she rarely helps anyone else. She's actually never helped me...ever.
- Changes peoples wet briefs or incontinent pads without acutally cleaning the person because "it's quicker & then they're dry."
- Lies about walking residents who are still able to do so in an attempt to look good for the nurse.
- Sits & watches while other CNAs (& sometimes people visiting residents!!) put clothing protectors on the residents before dinner. I FREAKING HATE THIS!!!!!!
- Doesn't feel bad about sticking someone who is does not regularly work on our floor with the most difficult group of residents, extra assignment or shower to give.
I just need to rise above it - but sometimes I just want to call her a stupid-face.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
It's 11:30 on Saturday night: do you know what your vet is doing?
Mine sounded as if he had been sleeping when he returned my call.
Why was I calling my sexy, silky voiced vet on Saturday night????
Because my stupid effing cat has a hole in her belly.
The thing is, she got spayed on Monday. The vet says things like, "Keep her separated from the other animals," &, "Try to limit her activity."
Hahaha! Isn't he precious?
He's a lovely man, but he doesn't live with these cats. They are the Satan's spawn, of that I am sure.
And so, since Monday I've been giving Kiki her pain meds every morning & periodically looking at her inscision, which has looked good all week - despite the fact that she runs & jumps around the house like a ninja on a mission.
Then, at 11:30, things in our house were winding down. DJ & I were on our respective computers, when Kiki took her customary spot on my keyboard. When she rolled on her back I noticed that I could see inside her inscision, which was not cute at all.
So me, being the level headed girl that I am, started having what I can only assume to a panic attack. And DJ, my rock, offered these words of encouragement: We need to call the vet now because that's going to get infected.
Imagine how much worse that made the panic attack.
So my poor vet got the call. He called back right away & was very gracious about the whole thing. He assured me that she's not going to get gangrene & die tonight like I was convinced she would. He did suggest that I put, & a quote, "a little kitty t-shirt" on her to prevent her from licking it (ewww!) even more. That made me laugh, & snapped me out of panic attack mode.
Unfortunately, I don't have a little kitty t-shirt, or I would so make her wear it. Instead, I think I've got to buy her one of those cone collars tomorrow. I'm ok with any form of cat humiliation at this point, so the cone works for me.
Most unfortunately, however, is the fact that more of you don't live around me so I could refer you & your fur babies to the most patient, kind & wonderful vet there is. He's the best!
Why was I calling my sexy, silky voiced vet on Saturday night????
Because my stupid effing cat has a hole in her belly.
The thing is, she got spayed on Monday. The vet says things like, "Keep her separated from the other animals," &, "Try to limit her activity."
Hahaha! Isn't he precious?
He's a lovely man, but he doesn't live with these cats. They are the Satan's spawn, of that I am sure.
And so, since Monday I've been giving Kiki her pain meds every morning & periodically looking at her inscision, which has looked good all week - despite the fact that she runs & jumps around the house like a ninja on a mission.
Then, at 11:30, things in our house were winding down. DJ & I were on our respective computers, when Kiki took her customary spot on my keyboard. When she rolled on her back I noticed that I could see inside her inscision, which was not cute at all.
So me, being the level headed girl that I am, started having what I can only assume to a panic attack. And DJ, my rock, offered these words of encouragement: We need to call the vet now because that's going to get infected.
Imagine how much worse that made the panic attack.
So my poor vet got the call. He called back right away & was very gracious about the whole thing. He assured me that she's not going to get gangrene & die tonight like I was convinced she would. He did suggest that I put, & a quote, "a little kitty t-shirt" on her to prevent her from licking it (ewww!) even more. That made me laugh, & snapped me out of panic attack mode.
Unfortunately, I don't have a little kitty t-shirt, or I would so make her wear it. Instead, I think I've got to buy her one of those cone collars tomorrow. I'm ok with any form of cat humiliation at this point, so the cone works for me.
Most unfortunately, however, is the fact that more of you don't live around me so I could refer you & your fur babies to the most patient, kind & wonderful vet there is. He's the best!
Friday, February 4, 2011
Do I get a drink now?
Last night at work I was sent to another floor that was understaffed for the night. The most interesting part about the evening was the repeater resident. Very much like a child, this woman repeats everything she hears on TV, everything she has already says &, for some strange reason, the phrases, "Do I get a drink now?" & "Ok bitch, it's over!"
So last night while I was doing her care this is an example of how the conversation went - but I wasn't doing any of the talking.
"And who are you?"
"What are you doing?"
"Do I get a drink now?"
"Traffic is heavy on the northbound side."
"And who are you?"
"Ok bitch, it's over now."
"Do I get a drink now?"
"What are you doing?"
"Is that pie or cake? I think it's pie."
"Oh, it's cake."
"Do I get a drink now?"
By the time I got home last night, I'm the one who needed the drink...
So last night while I was doing her care this is an example of how the conversation went - but I wasn't doing any of the talking.
"And who are you?"
"What are you doing?"
"Do I get a drink now?"
"Traffic is heavy on the northbound side."
"And who are you?"
"Ok bitch, it's over now."
"Do I get a drink now?"
"What are you doing?"
"Is that pie or cake? I think it's pie."
"Oh, it's cake."
"Do I get a drink now?"
By the time I got home last night, I'm the one who needed the drink...
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The next step.
Some of you may remember how much of a loser I am from my recent post.
Although I would like to just sit around eating ice cream & feeling sorry for myself, there is a Plan B.
Plan B is another nursing school I applied to, this one for an LPN instead of RN.
And while it's not what I really want to do, it's the option in front of me (& actually may be better in the long run).
The LPN program takes a year & a half, compared to the 3 years the RN program would have taken. So in a year & a half I'll be able to get a much better paying job, & money won't be so tight when I ultimately decide to go back for my RN later on. Plus, I'm hoping I can transition to working part time so I can spend more time at home with DJ, as he'll be needing more help as time goes on.
At the end of the day, as my MIL put it, "a nurse is a nurse is a nurse." And she would know, because she is one.
So, instead of sulking & eating ice cream, onward I go. Well, I'm sure there will still be lots of ice cream, but that's besides the point.
The point of this seemingly pointless post is to say that I'm scheduled for a placement test for the LPN program on February 2nd.
The test starts at 8:00 AM. I'll pause why you shudder.
Seriously? 8:00 AM? Don't they realize that some of us work until 11:00 the night before?
Guess not.
In any event, it starts at 8:00 & is scheduled to take 3 1/2 hours. This just keeps getting better, doesn't it?
So, at 8:00 AM after a long night of work I have to go take my first real test in almost a decade - a test that my future is actually depending on.
Can you tell how confident I'm feeling?
The school suggested a picking up a GED book to use as a study guide, so my co-worker/fellow applicant & I are headed to the bookstore tomorrow to pick it up.
I've never taken a GED test before, but I did graduate from high school. And, contrary to how I'm probably making myself sound right now, I am pretty smart.
I can do this, right?
I don't have a choice. I need to do this.
Although I would like to just sit around eating ice cream & feeling sorry for myself, there is a Plan B.
Plan B is another nursing school I applied to, this one for an LPN instead of RN.
And while it's not what I really want to do, it's the option in front of me (& actually may be better in the long run).
The LPN program takes a year & a half, compared to the 3 years the RN program would have taken. So in a year & a half I'll be able to get a much better paying job, & money won't be so tight when I ultimately decide to go back for my RN later on. Plus, I'm hoping I can transition to working part time so I can spend more time at home with DJ, as he'll be needing more help as time goes on.
At the end of the day, as my MIL put it, "a nurse is a nurse is a nurse." And she would know, because she is one.
So, instead of sulking & eating ice cream, onward I go. Well, I'm sure there will still be lots of ice cream, but that's besides the point.
The point of this seemingly pointless post is to say that I'm scheduled for a placement test for the LPN program on February 2nd.
The test starts at 8:00 AM. I'll pause why you shudder.
Seriously? 8:00 AM? Don't they realize that some of us work until 11:00 the night before?
Guess not.
In any event, it starts at 8:00 & is scheduled to take 3 1/2 hours. This just keeps getting better, doesn't it?
So, at 8:00 AM after a long night of work I have to go take my first real test in almost a decade - a test that my future is actually depending on.
Can you tell how confident I'm feeling?
The school suggested a picking up a GED book to use as a study guide, so my co-worker/fellow applicant & I are headed to the bookstore tomorrow to pick it up.
I've never taken a GED test before, but I did graduate from high school. And, contrary to how I'm probably making myself sound right now, I am pretty smart.
I can do this, right?
I don't have a choice. I need to do this.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
My lazy Saturday comes at a cost...crap.
I didn't do the laundry & clean like I planned to today.
Instead, the dog & I watched all six episodes of The Walking Dead (freaking love that show!) & various other things I needed to get off the DVR.
And while my Saturday on the sofa was pretty glorious, it means one thing: I have to clean tomorrow...on Sunday. And we all know how I feel about Sundays.
I really need a maid.
PS.
In case you haven't noticed, I've been totally uninspired lately. I'm hoping to get back on the train to Bloggy-land ASAP.
Instead, the dog & I watched all six episodes of The Walking Dead (freaking love that show!) & various other things I needed to get off the DVR.
And while my Saturday on the sofa was pretty glorious, it means one thing: I have to clean tomorrow...on Sunday. And we all know how I feel about Sundays.
I really need a maid.
PS.
In case you haven't noticed, I've been totally uninspired lately. I'm hoping to get back on the train to Bloggy-land ASAP.
Friday, January 21, 2011
She was looking kind of dumb with her finger & her thumb in the shape of an "L" on her forehead.
I applied to nursing school this year, which was a concept that terrified me for several reasons:
Although I'm confident that I can do the math requred to be a nurse, my poor math history is preventing me from getting that chance. I got a letter from that school today, & they can't even allow me to take the pre-admission testing because of my math grades in high school.
It doesn't necessarily mean I'll never get into that school, but it does mean I'll have to delay it for at least another year - probably more.
I knew this was a very distinct possibility all along, but I still held out hope because I'm a non-traditional student & virtually no one applies to the part-time program. But, no exception was to be made.
Sigh.
Here's where I get all "after school special" on everyone: this whole situation was avoidable. I'll be honest, when I was in high school nursing wasn't my plan. I wanted desperately to go to a four year college & major in art history. That being said, I didn't take math & science classes as seriously as I should have. But, life sometimes happens, & art history was not meant to be...& here I am, held back by my former self - who I would like to kick right now.
And so it's time for plan B - in theory, but truth be told, I can't assume I'll get accepted to plan B. So while Plan B is the plan, plans C-E are currently also in development.
- I've been out of high school for almost 10 years, & I've never taken any college courses.
- It's a big life/career change.
- The program I desperately wanted to attend is very competitive, & my math grades weren't always the best.
Although I'm confident that I can do the math requred to be a nurse, my poor math history is preventing me from getting that chance. I got a letter from that school today, & they can't even allow me to take the pre-admission testing because of my math grades in high school.
It doesn't necessarily mean I'll never get into that school, but it does mean I'll have to delay it for at least another year - probably more.
I knew this was a very distinct possibility all along, but I still held out hope because I'm a non-traditional student & virtually no one applies to the part-time program. But, no exception was to be made.
Sigh.
Here's where I get all "after school special" on everyone: this whole situation was avoidable. I'll be honest, when I was in high school nursing wasn't my plan. I wanted desperately to go to a four year college & major in art history. That being said, I didn't take math & science classes as seriously as I should have. But, life sometimes happens, & art history was not meant to be...& here I am, held back by my former self - who I would like to kick right now.
And so it's time for plan B - in theory, but truth be told, I can't assume I'll get accepted to plan B. So while Plan B is the plan, plans C-E are currently also in development.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
No good deed goes unpunished.
The situation with our home has taught me exactly how true that is.
Let's start at the beginning. DJ used to live in Florida, where he went to school. When he moved back to the area a few years ago there was a house for sale in between his sister & grandmother. Having just been in school he wasn't in a position to buy a house. An angel of a family friend wanted to help because he thought the size of the house & location were perfect for DJ. So this angel bought the property & made some modifications with the intention of doing a lease to own agreement with DJ.
As time went on it became apparent that this house really wasn't in the best shape, & not much could be done about it. It wasn't the kind of place DJ could live in forever given that his mobility would be decreasing over time because of the MD. And then to put the cherry on top, I'm in the picture now - so there's two of us, a dog & 2 devil cats living in this very tiny house.
So, the angel does his angel-y (I just make up words sometimes. You like?) thing once again, & tells us that he's talked to another business owner/angel in the area, & they're going to build us a brand new house. Not only are they building the house for us, but they're donating the labor - so our cost would be materials & the initial cost of the property - a big ass lot that was cheap because of the house that was on it.
The house was built. We've been living here for almost a year now. Trying to get a mortgage has been the biggest headache ever. Our credit is great, & we have the income to make the payments - but our unusual situation has been a hinderance time & time again. We were actually supposed to settle 4 different time since April of last year, but on the day of our settlement our contact at the bank found some problem...all 4 times. The mortgage lady at the bank is totally disorganized, which added to the issues. The only reason we stayed with that bank is because our initial agreement with them was done in time that allowed us to get the first time homebuyer tax credit. But in the end, we didn't get a mortgage.
After all that we needed a break for a while, but now it's time to get back into the swing of things. So the angel was discussing our situation with the local bank, & we're going to get together as a group to discuss it.
I have all my fingers & toes crossed in hopes that it works out this time, because honestly...I feel like a freaking bum. The angel hasn't asked us to pay rent, because the bank will pay him for the entire cost of the property & new house. And although it doesn't phase him, I feel like a squatter.
Wish us luck!
Let's start at the beginning. DJ used to live in Florida, where he went to school. When he moved back to the area a few years ago there was a house for sale in between his sister & grandmother. Having just been in school he wasn't in a position to buy a house. An angel of a family friend wanted to help because he thought the size of the house & location were perfect for DJ. So this angel bought the property & made some modifications with the intention of doing a lease to own agreement with DJ.
As time went on it became apparent that this house really wasn't in the best shape, & not much could be done about it. It wasn't the kind of place DJ could live in forever given that his mobility would be decreasing over time because of the MD. And then to put the cherry on top, I'm in the picture now - so there's two of us, a dog & 2 devil cats living in this very tiny house.
So, the angel does his angel-y (I just make up words sometimes. You like?) thing once again, & tells us that he's talked to another business owner/angel in the area, & they're going to build us a brand new house. Not only are they building the house for us, but they're donating the labor - so our cost would be materials & the initial cost of the property - a big ass lot that was cheap because of the house that was on it.
The house was built. We've been living here for almost a year now. Trying to get a mortgage has been the biggest headache ever. Our credit is great, & we have the income to make the payments - but our unusual situation has been a hinderance time & time again. We were actually supposed to settle 4 different time since April of last year, but on the day of our settlement our contact at the bank found some problem...all 4 times. The mortgage lady at the bank is totally disorganized, which added to the issues. The only reason we stayed with that bank is because our initial agreement with them was done in time that allowed us to get the first time homebuyer tax credit. But in the end, we didn't get a mortgage.
After all that we needed a break for a while, but now it's time to get back into the swing of things. So the angel was discussing our situation with the local bank, & we're going to get together as a group to discuss it.
I have all my fingers & toes crossed in hopes that it works out this time, because honestly...I feel like a freaking bum. The angel hasn't asked us to pay rent, because the bank will pay him for the entire cost of the property & new house. And although it doesn't phase him, I feel like a squatter.
Wish us luck!
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