Dad :D

I've been uber-busy lately- but I had to put in a late entry for my Dad for Father's Day...I love my dad, he is my hero in more ways than one.
We are more alike than I would like to admit to, but different enough that we don't get on each others nerves all the time.
My dad has cheered me on at games, gotten kicked out of some of them, and always shown up for any function that was important to me. That seems silly, but I have a lot of friends who never had anyone waiting out in the audience and now that I'm older, I'm getting pretty sentimental about that kind of thing.
I love that he has entered the technological age and now I get random texts from him--- usually all ending in "Love Dad", like I don't have his number saved in my phone :)
I love that he helped shape me into a strong woman that was able to put myself through school, find a man I wanted to be with- not needed to be, and can help provide for a family I am hoping to have soon.
I love that he trusted me enough to make my own mistakes in life, because quite honestly the "They'll only do it once" philosophy really does work.

I love him lots and lots and count myself incredibly lucky to have him in my life...

Love you Pops!

Since my dad hates the camera, I have few pics to choose from... I need to catch him in the lens more...

Success!!!!

I suck at IV's. I am almost done with nursing school and they still scare the shiz out of me... I don't want to hurt anyone and I'm kind of a perfectionist so I don't like doing things that I'm not really comfortable with- I want to be the IV master!
My first attempt was on a fellow student (Sorry Melissa!) at school. She was super calm and collected, but my lab teacher was yelling like a banshee over my shoulder, "Why are you doing that!?" "Hurry!!" "Why did you do that?!" "No! That's not how you should do it, that's all wrong!" Not exactly conducive to a learning environment...
My second attempt was in an Emergency room with a nurse who seemed to forget I was a 'student' and sent me into a room with a little dehydrated lady who 'has bad veins'. She then watched over my shoulder as I 'blew' this little old lady's vein while her husband muttered "God damn amateurs, don't know what the hell they are doing" in the corner of the room.... Not really building up my self confidence.
I figured I would learn best by being thrown right in the fire- I set up my preceptorship at a surgical center with a pre-op nurse-- IV's all day everyday! Good plan, no?
Thank God that Chelise is a very patient and helpful person, she walked me through the steps several times, let me watch her do several and then actually let me practice on her, Bless her heart!
I do not feel like the IV master yet, but since I was able to successfully stick myself I am actually looking forward to getting to try again....

PS the Davis Surgical Center gives a numbing shot to their patients before they start the IV, so I don't feel like such a bastard trying to place one... yay!

Messican

I am .... Hispanic? Chicana? Mexican? Latina? I prefer American, because I am from America after all, this answer doesn't satisfy people but I figure, eff it- they are being nosy anyway so why do I care?
My parents were both born here as well as all of my grandparents. I'm not from Mexico so I feel awkward saying I'm Mexican. I tell people that I am Mexican to simplify things and all they really want is to place a label on me anyway.
I'm very light skinned and don't look like the stereotypical Mexican. I am often asked which of my parents are white... uh, neither. I don't know when it became appropriate to ask people this, it kind of bothers me. I don't walk up to white folks and ask them about there heritage. It shouldn't matter.
I am subject to racism because I don't look like the traditional stereotype of a "Mexican". People say things to me that they probably wouldn't say to me if they knew I was Hispanic, which is worse because I feel like they are letting their true colors show.
A co-worker once told me that she used her "Mexican" tupper-ware that day. I didn't get it, in my head I was thinking: "Does she only put Mexican food in it? Is it a chili container? Is it red/green/white?" I had no idea and I asked her why she called it that. She told me it was because it was an old butter container and it was "ghetto" so that's why she called it her "Mexican" tupper-ware. I just stood there, shocked. She equates Mexican people with something cheap and dirty.
I look for certain things when looking for friends and not one of those things is what the color of their skin is. It takes all kinds so let's just all get along and be open to what each other has to bring to the table.
There, now I will get off of my soap box :)

Update: July 19th 2012- I went to DOPL to apply for my RN license and they asked me my ethnicity... my choices were Hispanic: Cuban; Hispanic: Mexican and Hispanic: Spanish descent..... I told her I was American :D

Ma

It's mothers day and I have to give props to my mom, she is an amazing lady who has worked her ass off to provide for her family and I am grateful that I get to see her whenever I want and talk to her almost daily on the phone. 

I have never understood people who say, "Ugh, I hate my mom (or dad, or sister or whatever)!" I love my mom, she is one of my best friends. It's as I grow up that I realize just what she has done for me. She is there for me no matter what, she never questions me- she loves me unconditionally. 

While I outgrew her around fifth or sixth grade she can still intimidate me because I have that much respect for her, she means business! I love that there is an ever growing list of words that she can't pronounce (Library, Ideally, Aluminum... to name a few) I live my life to be able to say, my parents are proud of me. I hope that I can be half of the woman that she is one day, let alone the mother that she is. 

 

I'm so glad that she is getting to enjoy her retired life and can spend time with her parents, grandchild and my dad and really get to live her life. I love her so much and hope that she knows how much she means to me, I would be lost without my mom. 

Pharmacy Phun

Walgreen's pharmacy, technician speaking, may I help you?
Well hello there Technician....he he he
I say it because the law requires me to... not because it's my name... please don't call me Technician and then giggle...


(Customer walks up to counter)
Hi, how can I help you?
I need my prescription
Okay...
(Customer continues to stare at me as if trying to communicate through brain waves)
So... are you dropping a new one off or picking one up that's been filled?
Picking up
Okay...
(Staring.....)
What is the name you are picking up for?
Steve
In what world do people file by first name, Steve?!?!?!?
What is the last name Steve?

(Customer pulls up through the dreaded drive-thru, Pick up phone to speak to customer)
Hi, How can I help you?
Silence...
Hello?
More silence and stares....
Ma'am? Can I help you?
I will wait until you get off of the phone....
Um... I'm on the phone with you, it's how I talk to the drive-thru
That little speaker in front of you.... that's where the voice comes out... from the phone... We on the same page yet?

I just need this prescription filled
Okay, have we ever filled for..... um... River before???
No
What is his birthday?
(Disgusted look) HER birthday is xx/xx/xx...
Oh sorry.... ( I thought River was a body of water, not a little girls' name)
I can't tell what sex a child is by their names anymore... please cut me a break if I get it wrong. Especially when the child you are holding is bald and wearing green and yellow... I can't tell!


Okay sir, your copay is $78.20
No it's not
Um... yes... your copay is $78.20, but it looks like that is going towards your deductible
No it isn't. I paid my deductible
Okay... well it is January and those start over every year so..... it's $78.20.
No it's not, it's never been that much before
Well... if you would like to hold off on picking up the prescription and get in contact with your insurance company that is up to you.
Mumble mumble.... sons of mumble mumble....
Just because you tell me "No" doesn't mean that it changes the price of your prescription... I have no idea what your deductible is, when it restarts or why they changed your formulary... I work for the pharmacy... not your insurance company


Your prescription is ready... $5.00
Can I get this stuff back here? ( Pointing to overflowing cart containing thousands of items)
(Staring at the three people behind her and listening to the phone ring behind me)
Is there any way I could have you take that up front, we are really busy
But I only have one check!
Okay.... 'beep'... 'beep'... 'beep'.....
Oh wait, I don't want that, that is supposed to have a coupon, that's not the right price...
This is why I DON'T WORK IN THE STORE... take this crap up front and quit wasting my time!

You have a $3.00 copay
What?! I have NEVER had a copay before!!
Well you are no longer pregnant and Medicaid now has a copay...
But I am pregnant
(Staring at newborn child in her arms) Um... Didn't you just have your baby... the date of birth says xx/xx/xx
Yeah, but I am pregnant again
Oh good God, like that is really what you needed... Birth control perhaps?

Ma'am, your insurance is rejecting your prescription (for 240 Lortab 5/500)
What?! Why!?
It says you just picked them up a week ago
Well I didn't!
(20 minutes later)
Ma'am, the insurance said you just picked up 180 Lortab 10/500 seven days ago from Macey's
Oh yeah, I did. But that was from my other doctor for my back, these ones are for my knee pain
Pain meds work all over, your narcs for your back will work for your knee... don't screw with me lady...


(Whispering) I need to buy a Plan B
Okay, I need your ID.... that'll be $50
(Yelling) Oh my God, that's expensive!
Yes, but not more expensive than a baby or a monthly copay for birth control... oh yeah, you can buy condoms for WAY cheaper than that as well... have a good day!

Awesome

I don't mention my husband on Facebook a lot because he doesn't like people knowing his business... haha, okay babe, whatever.

But this is a less public format so I'm gonna go crazy!

My husband is one of the most patient, understanding and empathetic people that I know, I don't deserve him but I'm so glad I've got him. 

I don't get to do big splashy things for him for his birthday (April 13th) because he doesn't like the attention. I think I've got him to let me do a family party for next year though, we are making progress!

He really doesn't want me to make a big  deal out of the promotion that he just got, but I'm so proud of him that it is hard for me not to. I want to sing from the roof tops how amazing he is, the youngest manager in the entire district.

A good friend mentioned that while they were talking about his promotion, he was so excited but not because of the title or the increase in his salary...but because now he could help me more. I started crying when my friend told me that, he never once thought of how this would affect him, but how it would affect US. 

It's been hard working full time and going to school full time, it's even harder when there is something really good at home and you want to be there more than anything. Armando has offered many, many times to get a second job, third job and side jobs to allow me to stop working so much and concentrate on school. I have just never felt comfortable with it, allowing him to shoulder all the responsibility of our financial situation. We don't have kids, I am physically able to work and I feel like I need to help provide for us. 

The fact that he wants to do this is what humbles me. He doesn't want me frazzled about my schedule or deadlines, he is willing to take on the extra stress to relieve it from me. Amazing, I told you!

Squinting into the sun... not scuzzing the camera off

Old People

When did they get so old?
I have had the good luck in my life to be able to know both sets of my grandparents. I take it for granted that everyone gets this luxury. I've recently realized how old I am getting, and it set things into perspective of how old that makes everyone around me, my parents and grandparents in particular.
What will I do when they aren't there?
Who will I talk (yell) at on the phone because she can't hear me when I call to say 'Hi'...."NO I'M FINE GRANDMA.....YES, MONDO IS OK TOO..... YES I'M EATING PLENTY..." While the whole store turns to stare at me yell into my phone.

Who else would I be willing to watch Fox news with when I go over to their house? Who is the only person I respect too much to mention that Sean Hannity is an ass-hat and 99.9% of the shiz that comes out of his mouth is lies?? My grandpa, that's who. I would rather watch Bonanza than that crap and thank my lucky stars when they are watching the western channel when I swing by.

For some reason the Sandovals never smile in photos... it's going to hard to explain how happy they always were when all of the pictures I have of them look like mug shots. 

The Archuletas are just as quirky and full of life. 

I will never forget when my grandpa called my future brother-in-law Casey by the name Guy for about the first five years they dated. This was just one step up from his previous name: Jive Turkey.

My grandma is so funny with her little sound effects that she makes and the fact that she will sit through an entire conversation with you, nodding her head in the appropriate places and agreeing with you... and when you ask very loudly if she has her hearing aid in... she smiles and says "No".

Still dancing the night away

My cute little mom and grandma

I've been living my life and forgetting that as I'm getting older, they are too. Health problems and other signs of age are creeping their ugly heads up and it's making me panic because I realize: they won't be here forever.

My grandma has had a pretty severe stroke this last year and it has left her weak and sped up the memory problems that she was already struggling with. She's recently been signed up with hospice services and it breaks my heart. I know in my head that she could be on hospice for a long time and it doesn't necessarily mean that she will be going soon, but I can't help but feel that fear clutch at my throat that she may not be with us for long. She may never get to meet my kids and I don't know how I can deal with that.

She had her stroke the week before I was getting married and the week I was supposed to start school. I remember going to her house to check on her because she had been falling and was having a hard time remembering things. As soon as I saw her I knew, something was wrong. I took her in my car to the ER and I just remember her holding my hand the whole time up to the hospital and she just started crying. My grandma has always been so strong when it has come to her own health problems, never wanting anyone to worry about her, she has always been the caregiver.
I know it isn't possible to keep my grandparents around forever, but I'm selfish and I want it anyway.