Scattered thoughts

I'm ready to blog again but don't have anything special to say. Some scattered thoughts are on my mind so I'll see what comes out!

Work life

Sometimes I feel like my job takes up 75% of my time and I don't have much of a life outside of work. This week has been especially intense and I'm ready for a weekend off. It's been over a month since we had a "normal" weekend at home! This is the time of year when performance evaluations are going on. Each employee rates themselves on how they are upholding the core values of St. Joe's (reverence, integrity, compassion, excellence) as well as job performance. The manager also rates the employee on the same points and has a one-on-one talk to discuss how you are doing in your job. This is not necessarily a pat on the back and "you're doing a great job" type of situation. Mine went well though, and I made it known that I would like to be the main ante room tech. I was told I am one of two people being considered for that position. In the meantime, I'm scheduled to work in the ante room most often. It can be high pressure and very demanding, which I usually like. There's days when I constantly have five or more things to keep track of at one time. In my eval, my manager asked if I had anything to bring to her, and I mentioned the way our schedules our made. It's a complicated process that I feel should be managed a little differently, so I suggested a few things. In the discussion, she said something about "you should try making the schedule" and I said I'd like to! She let me do the next schedule as a trial and had the lead tech look over it. It sounds like I might be doing that more often now, too! It's like doing a puzzle. It took me quite awhile to fit all the pieces in and make it work, but I enjoyed it.

Family life

We've been feeling pretty lonely now that Shelby and Kait moved to Tennessee. Since they lived a couple hundred yards down the road from us, we saw them often and Cliff especially had a lot to do with them. When I'd work evenings or weekends, he'd do things with them, and frequently went to eat ice cream there in the evening.😄 It's kind of painful to drive past their place several times a day and be reminded they're gone. 

Foodie talk

August is Pennsylvania produce month. There's an abundance of fruits and vegetables available, and I'm loving it! There's very few things so delicious as a fresh peach. I cooked up a vegetable soup the other night with fresh tomatoes, eggplant, green beans, carrots, and more. It's so satisfying to make soup.

End of summer

The night is loud with the late summer sounds of crickets/cicadas(?). I love their noise but it also makes me feel a little melancholy because I know summer is coming to an end. Every chance I get, I'm going to soak up the sunshine and warmth while it lasts. Schools are starting, and the nostalgia for teaching is still there, just less intense the longer I'm away from school.

Words that thrill
I had this on my WhatsApp status, but had to post it again because it resonated with me so intensely.

This one I saw on a friend's status and it really made me think. I relate too well to the ones that show regret. I want to do more enjoying and doing.

Boston, huzzah!!

To celebrate our 15th anniversary, we took a weekend trip to Boston. I've always wanted to go, now I know what it's like! We had absolutely beautiful weather the whole time - the kind I can never get enough of. I wasn't expecting Boston to be so citified and we were surprised by how similar to New York it is. Traffic was terrible, parking expensive and hard to find, and hordes of people walked the streets. The general population seemed more average than high-class, unlike New York. We weren't really interested in experiencing city life, but wanted to see some historical sites. On Friday we took a walk into history tour, which covered sites along the Freedom Trail such as the Boston Massacre, Boston Common, and the graveyard where Paul Revere is buried. Tour guides are dressed as a character from history. Ours was Samuel Prescott, one of the Sons of Liberty who was part of Paul Revere's ride. He did a great job retelling historical events and relating little-known facts. He told us the British way of cheering was to shout "huzzah!" and several times gave us the cue to cheer. We really enjoyed it, but were ready to go somewhere by the water and relax the rest of the day. We decided to go to Castle Island, the site of Fort Independence.

It was a fantastic place to walk, watch airplanes and boats, and lie on the grass in the sunshine. Boston Harbor is full of sailboats, yachts, and all other kinds of vessels, creating a picturesque view. We got some fresh seafood at Sullivan's, a restaurant on the island.

After awhile we left and checked in at our hotel, got ice cream, then went back to Castle Island to walk along the water and watch the sunset. True vacation mode!

On Saturday we had reservations for a whale watching cruise. We arrived about an hour early and spent the time on Long Wharf, watching ships and people. Cliff looked through his binoculars at all the activity and spotted a lone man in a tiny dinghy anchored a little way out, just lying in his boat, reading and soaking up the sun. 😄 Finally we boarded our boat and made our way to the top deck.

Once we were out of harbor, the ship picked up speed until we were cruising along at approximately 35 miles per hour. Our destination was Stellwagen Bank, a protected marine sanctuary and whale feeding ground. It took about an hour to get there. We never lost sight of land and there were always boats nearby and in the distance. Whale watching tours departing from Provincetown and other locations come to the same spot. Our ship slowed and we began looking for spouting and other signs of whales. While watching, our tour guide gave us some interesting information on the behavior and kinds of whales common in this area. After a short time, we saw the first one make an appearance and motored closer. It was a humpback whale and very active, so we all were able to see it surface and dive.

These whales even have names, and can be identified by their tails. Another whale was spotted and we moved closer. This one had a calf and really put on a show! She repeatedly surfaced, swam belly-up with her fins above the water, and waved her tail back and forth. Our tour guide said she had never seen that particular whale being so active and commented that this was one of the best trips she had been on! The first whale we saw was still nearby and there were others farther off in the distance. It far surpassed our expectations of what we might see and was totally worth it. On the way back to Boston I went inside for awhile because it was so windy and cold. The cabin was really nice but I liked being outside best, so I went out again for the last thirty minutes. The wind really picked up as we got closer and at one time I felt my head covering starting to blow off. 😂 It got warmer the closer we got to the city but was still too cold for my liking. The whole cruise lasted a little over four hours. Afterward we walked around a little but decided we were done with the city and headed to a quieter part of town to get something to eat.

We love going on outings like this and I had a few revelations this time.

•  Don't worry about how much it costs, enjoy the time off and go back to work when it's over.
•  Go traveling now, while we're in the prime of life. Tomorrow is never promised.
•  Summer doesn't last long enough. Soak up every minute possible. 
•  Less city, more nature.

Huzzah!

A child who reads will be an adult who thinks

I've had a topic on my mind for awhile and decided tonight I was ready to tackle it! A lot of my thoughts come from what I observed and learned about reading comprehension when I was teaching. For as long as I can remember, I've loved books and reading. One of the first books to make an impression on me was Charlotte's Web. Dad read it to me before I could read and I cried at the end when Charlotte died. Another favorite was The Digging-est Dog. At one time I probably could've recited the whole book from memory. Jan and Faylene Weaver read the Curious George books over and over to me and my siblings while babysitting us. By the way, thank you!!

It's well known that children who read have an easier time in school. There's many studies and research that proves this. Here's a few statistics I found interesting.

• The single most significant factor influencing a child’s early educational success is an introduction to books and being read to at home prior to beginning school. 

•  By the age of 2, children who are read to regularly display greater language comprehension, larger vocabularies, and higher cognitive skills than their peers.

•  Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than 3 times a week

I'm not a parent, but I believe reading to your children is one of the greatest gifts you can give them. To build reading comprehension, take time to explain words they might not understand, ask and answer questions to make sure they are following, and explain background or historical context. Don't be afraid to read books that are above their level. This stimulates their mind and can actually build comprehension.

As a teacher, I loved reading to my students and introducing them to new books. Seeing their interest and hearing their comments on the book we were reading for story hour was one of the most rewarding parts of being a teacher! I never felt bad about reading past schedule because I felt it was just as educational as any other subject.

I know not all children like to read, but are there any who don't enjoy being read to? Also, I firmly believe that those who think they don't like to read just haven't found the right kind of book. Expose them to a variety of genres - nonfiction (kids love true stories!), fantasy, historical fiction, mystery - try it all!

I love to hear of families who go to the library, read out loud to their children on trips or winter evenings, and read chapter books to their pre-school age children. Kudos to you and keep it up!

His Great Plan

Yesterday we attended a wedding and one of the congregational songs was "His Great Plan". Listening to a group of around 400 singing in amazing harmony was deeply moving. I was touched and it left an impression on me.

The hills are the arms of God, lifting me to Him
All the beauty of nature - mountains, oceans, seasons, birds, flowers, sunshine, blue sky - speaks of a divine Creator. Observing its majesty draws us to Him.

My every need is given by His hand
How blessed we are. We've been given so much and sometimes take it for granted.

Though I'm just a grain of dust, I'm part of His creation
To think of the vast universe and all the people God created makes me feel tiny and insignificant. I'm just a grain of dust, yet He made me and cares for me!

I'm glad He had a place for me in His great plan.
These words are hard for me. Sometimes I feel He doesn't have a place for me and His plan for my life is not what I wanted. In fact, believing these words is almost beyond my grasp. That's the bare, raw truth.

Singing this song when I was in the youth was inspiring and hopeful. Now that I'm older and have walked through some tough times, it's not very easy to sing. The most uplifting part is the hills are the arms of God, lifting me to Him. I choose to focus on that instead of the words that make me sad.

I was somewhat reluctant to share these thoughts, but decided to step outside my comfort zone. Maybe it will be a blessing!

something to do, something to love, something to hope for

Life has been busy, but good! I can hardly believe July is almost over. I haven't spent nearly as much time outside this summer as I would've liked. It seems work and other obligations take up too much of my time and I kind of rebel against that. Right now there's a list of things I should be working on, but I decided to sit on the deck with my gorgeous flowers and enjoy the evening for awhile. Why can't I have more time to rest and enjoy nature? I usually enjoy my job but resent that I have to be inside most of the time and it's been a drudgery lately. I know I still have it better than moms with babies and children to take care of, but looking at it from my perspective, I think, "at least moms can be home and go outside or take a nap if they want!"

I experienced a few days of family life when we went to Ohio to help Chad and Keela move into their new house. We were there five days and filled each one to the brim. I set up the kitchen, pantry, and laundry room and arranged her decor. Cliff's handyman skills were a tremendous help for hanging shower curtain rods and shelves, wiring lights and receptacles for Keela's sewing area in the basement, and other odds and ends. Chelsea (3) begged me to color with her and I couldn't always oblige because we were so busy unpacking and organizing, but managed to get a few pictures in! It's so neat to be integrated into someone else's life for awhile. A sister's house feels like my own and there's no pretense or false politeness necessary. Yes, it should be that way with everyone, but the truth is I'm just not that comfortable with anyone else! Even though we worked hard while we were there, it was still a vacation from our jobs and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

What are your "grand essentials of happiness"? For me "something to do" and "something to love" are kind of the same, but I'm blank on "something to hope for" (besides Heaven). Here's my essentials.

Something to do:  A fulfilling job I enjoy.

Something to love: Things I find pleasure in doing - being outside, planting and caring for flowers, reading, going on relaxing vacations like this one, spending time with family.

When I was young, there was always something to hope for. I looked forward to going to school, getting converted, graduating, turning 16, driving on my own, going to teach Bible school, going to girl's class, being with my friends, going to weddings, teaching school, getting married... now that's all over! I've been married almost 15 years, don't have my own children's milestones to look forward to, and am mostly content with my life. Sometimes I think the best part of my life was my youth years, even though there were turbulent times and I wish I would've done some things differently. Maybe I'm not understanding these "grand essentials of happiness" correctly though. Also, it's not necessarily scriptural so maybe it has no meaning. I'd love to hear your feedback!

This is home

Each stately tree and patch of woods

Lush green grass soft underfoot

Bubbling creeks and mountain streams

The whistle of a train

Warm summer breeze

Crisp autumn wind

Cold winter chill

Hills and small mountains

Covered bridges

Horse and buggy

Holstein cows

Narrow, winding roads full of cars

Italian-style pizza

Where childhood memories were made

Familiar faces

Dad and mom

Grandpa and grandma

Family

School that helped me grow

Church to show the right way

Old stone houses and barns

Dutch

No place I'd rather be

Pennsylvania

This is home

weekend getaway

For the last three years we've taken a short summer vacation to the Hudson River valley area in New York. It's only about three hours away and is so lovely! We usually stay in the Bear Mountain vicinity.

This time we stayed at the Inn at the Garrison, a small inn located on a golf course. It's also a wedding venue, and there were several while we were there. It wasn't a super quiet place because of that, but very clean and comfortable.

On our way to the Garrison, we stopped at our most favorite place to eat, The Filling Station (TFS) in Haverstraw. We discovered this place the first time we vacationed in that area and have been going ever since! Their specialty is burgers (made while you wait) and fries. You would be hard-pressed to find a better burger anywhere! The building is literally an old filling station. Definitely not a fine dining establishment, but quirky and unique.

Condiments are kept in old tool chests, like shown above. It's worth driving three hours just to eat there!

On Saturday we took a 2.5 hour cruise from Peekskill to West Point on a 36 passenger former Coast Guard boat called Evening Star. 

Unfortunately, it rained several times while we were on the trip. It was still fun though! We found out some interesting facts and history about the area. Although several places claim to be the inspiration for the yellow brick road in the Wizard of Oz, the actual road is supposed to be in Peekskill, where L. Frank Baum attended military academy. Seeing West Point from the river was pretty impressive.

West Point 

Saturday evening we went to Hudson Creamery for ice cream. I got the yellow brick road sundae, which was fantastic! It came in a waffle cone with crushed Nilla wafers and dulce de leche sauce. Quite a treat!

Lots of time to rest, beautiful scenery, and good food made for a relaxing getaway. It just went by too fast!

Thoughts on jobs, education, and culture

A recent conversation got me thinking about jobs, education, and the Mennonite culture. I did some quick research on how many people in our congregation are self-employed or working for a member versus those who are employed outside of our circles. The result was 95% self-employed or working for a member, and 5% working outside. A larger majority of the 95% are self-employed, which helps create jobs for others. We are fortunate to have jobs within our circles, and probably don't realize how good we have it. Most likely we are getting paid more working for a member than we would if employed elsewhere. Time off for weddings and vacations is easily granted and maybe even expected.

Will the majority of people in our circles continue to be self-employed or working for a member as time goes on? We might need to broaden our horizons and seek work elsewhere. When looking for a job, usually one of the first requirements is a GED. Where I work, even a housekeeper or dishwasher is required to have a GED, with a starting wage of $9 - $10 an hour. Jobs that require special training but not a college degree (phlebotomy, medical assistant, pharmacy tech, etc.) start out at $13 - $14 an hour. That comes out to a yearly gross income of approximately $30,000. If you're single you might manage to live off that, but it would be insufficient for supporting a spouse or family. Jobs that offer a better wage - say $50,000 or $60,000 a year - are generally going to require a college degree or experience working in that field.

The saying "it's not what you know, it's who you know" is certainly true. I've seen this at work. When management is looking to fill a position, they're much more likely to hire someone who was recommended by an employee. The hospital seldom hires pharmacists right out of school without any experience, but one new grad got the job because someone who formerly worked at St. Joe's recommended her. Also, I question whether all the housekeepers and dishwashers actually have a GED. I tend to believe they get hired if the manager knows them or someone recommends them.

Now for my main objective. I know this may be controversial, but I'm going to put it out there. An 8th or 9th grade education is no longer basic education and is insufficient for the time we live in. A basic education should be high school or equivalent (GED). In Pennsylvania, you have to be 18 to take the GED test. Most 8th graders could probably pass the GED, but after being out of school for 4 years they're going to have a harder time. By the time our young people are 18, they're thinking of going to a unit and getting married. Girls especially are probably not going to be interested in continuing their education because most women in our circles are homemakers and don't have to work to support themselves. However, there are single sisters, widows, and single moms who have to make a living.

Sixteen is the basic minimum age for employment, and there are laws that regulate how many hours a 14 or 15 year old can work. If our school went to 10th grade, students would be 16 when they graduate. An extra two years of school could be spent learning more work skills and better preparing our young people to find employment. Classes could include resume writing, computer skills, CPR and first aid. More time to practice math, grammar, and writing would be an advantage. Our schools are weak on science and social studies because we cram so much in eight years. Further study in those subjects would be an asset.

I don't claim to have answers, but have felt for a long time that we need a better school system. Times have changed since our church schools were established, and maybe it's time to take a closer look at how to better prepare our students for living and working in this modern age.

Impressions from an ordinary week

Since sleep is eluding me, I might as well do something! I don't have any big inspiration to write about, just some impressions from last week.

This is my weekend to work, and yesterday was a good day. It started out with a caramel latte from McDonald's - my work weekend treat. One of the pharmacists who is an amazing cook brought in food for the whole day. For breakfast, homemade quiche made with eggs, potatoes, ham, broccoli, onion, and cheese as near as I could tell. Also fresh fruit, consisting of watermelon, grapes, blueberries, and strawberries. And of course, cronuts!! There was a beautiful looking salad for lunch that included chicken, black beans, tomato chunks, colorful sweet peppers and purple onions, with toppings of tortilla strips, cheese, salsa, and homemade Ranch dressing. It was all so delicious! It amazes me that she went to all that work for only the six of us who were working. It's not like that every weekend - it depends on who's working if food gets brought in. There hasn't been much food brought in lately so on Friday I took in whoopie pie bars, which went over well!

Last week I trained for the 6:30 am  - 3:00 pm position. The lead technician usually works that shift, although everyone gets trained for it. The 6:30 person is the one in charge of keeping the front pharmacy running smoothly. I enjoyed it and especially liked getting off earlier! Now I am officially trained in all areas of the pharmacy, almost a year after I started. I'm really glad I have all that behind me. The first few months were a steep learning curve and I feel like I've learned so much in the last year!

One special moment last week was when I had to go in the C-section room to refill Pyxis and heard a baby's first cry! Another sweet, unexpected gift was a bouquet of wildflowers from Shelby. He picked them along the road and delivered them to my house just for me! 😍

We've had some beautiful summer weather this week and my flowers are showing it. Looking out my windows and seeing flowers makes me happy!

Maybe I'll get up now and make a coffee cake to take to work this morning. I've been inspired by the pharmacist who so generously made all that food yesterday!

Five senses of summer

Summer

Tastes like...

• A caramel sundae on a warm evening
• Juicy watermelon       
• Fresh-picked blueberries 
• Sweet iced tea

Feels like...

• Silky, warm bedsheets against your skin
• Comfy flip flops 
• Heaven

Smells like...

• Sunscreen
• Fresh-mown hay
• A hamburger fry

Sounds like...

• Birdsong
• Children's laughter 
• An evening thunderstorm 

Looks like...

• Freckles, sun-kissed skin, and lighter hair
• Queen Anne's lace and blue chicory blooming along the road
• Winking fireflies 
• Porch-sittin at the end of the day

What are your five senses of summer? I'd love to hear!

seven small positive thoughts

This has been a soggy week and I've been struggling to find joy in the daily grind. When day after day the clouds and downpours continue it starts to affect my mental health. My work schedule has been so topsy turvy the last few weeks and I'm experiencing bullying at work which adds to the unhappiness. I believe it's time to list some positives!

1. It's officially summer and the longest day of the year! Plus, the sun came out this afternoon and it's supposed to be a nice weekend! 🙌

2. A delicious supper at Charles & SaraBeth's tonight and time spent with my nieces. 😍

3. Donuts! How can you be sad when you're eating a donut? Some things are just worth the calories. I believe a trip to our favorite bakery tomorrow would be in place.

4. Cliff isn't picky about having full course rounded-out meals. Taco salad suits us just fine for supper!

5. Scented lotion. Such a small thing, but it makes me happy when I'm wearing it!

6. Books - the ultimate escape.

7. A good night's rest. Helps to clear the mind and prepare for another day.

Favorite home and garden tools

I thought it would be fun to write about some of my most used/favorite home and garden tools.

Favorite garden tools

1. Brentwood Wheelbarrow

I'm so pleased to own a pink Brentwood wheelbarrow! It's sturdy, easy to manipulate, and one of my most useful outdoor tools. Every bit of our mulch was shoveled and unloaded from this wheelbarrow by yours truly. It's hauled loads of rocks, weeds, and plants as well.

2. Dewalt cordless blower

I was skeptical when Cliff bought this little blower because I thought a battery operated blower wouldn't have much power. However, I found out it works wonderfully for blowing off the walk, porch, and deck. It's lightweight and so handy!

3. Nitrile touch gardening gloves

These gloves fit snugly and don't feel bulky, allowing full use of your hands for gardening. They're tough and will last awhile too.

4. Amish reel-type clothesline

My grandma used to have a reel-type clothesline that I always thought was neat. They are very popular among the Amish, who have looonng clotheslines for their big families. My wish for one was granted several years ago, stretching from the deck to the storage shed. Mine is only long enough for approximately two loads of wash. As I mentioned before, I like hanging wash outside and I love my clothesline!

Favorite household items

1. Simplicity cordless vacuum

This is definitely one of my most used household tools. It operates like a regular vacuum, without a cord. The salesman at our local vacuum store highly recommended it over other brands. A fully charged battery lasts for around an hour and the suction is wonderful. The only thing I don't like about it is that there's no attachments - it's just a bare bones vacuum (but not a bare bones price 😬 FYI, I did not pay the amount you see if you click on the link!) It's so quick to pull this out when you have a little mess to clean up, but I even use it to vacuum the whole house sometimes. Cliff often comes home with bits of spray foam on his clothes that fall off in the bathroom. He can grab this vacuum and sweep them up, no stress!

2. Yeti Rambler 30 oz.

I keep this cup at work and use it every day. It keeps my water colder for longer than any other drink cup I've had. Plus, it's pink!

3. Fly lady purple rags

Several years ago Keela gave us ladies each a set of these rags for Christmas. I keep one under the kitchen sink, bathroom sink, and in the laundry room for quick cleaning. They do a great job!

4. Norwex microfiber dusting mitt

I got one of these at Christmas and have used it a lot. See some dust? Grab your mitt, run your hand over the spot, and done! For some reason it makes dusting seem much easier!

5. Heavy duty clothes drying rack

Another Amish favorite! I use this a lot in the winter when it's too cold to hang clothes outside. I set it up in the basement and heat from the woodstove quickly dries the laundry. It holds a surprising amount of wash, and won't collapse. Well worth the cost!

Night shift in the pharmacy

My second night at work is over, three more to go! Working night shift is a little different than days, and I've been seeing new parts of the hospital. At night is when we restock the OR, cath lab, and other areas associated with procedures. There are eight operating rooms, two endo suites, and four cath labs, each with a Pyxis machine.

Pyxis anesthesia system

Unless there's an emergency, the OR suites aren't used at night. There's only a few operating personnel on call, and you might not even see them. I've never had a good look at the operating rooms - I've had to go up during the day a time or two when they ran out of something, but usually they would be in the middle of a case and I had to get in and out as quickly as possible. It's quite a feeling to be in a cold, silent operating room at night, surrounded by expensive equipment and technology. It makes me even more intrigued with what goes on there. I'd love to watch a procedure in real life sometime. One of the rooms is for robotic surgery.

Da Vinci robot

In a robotic surgery, the instruments are held by the robot while the surgeon sits at a console, controlling the arms. When I was studying medical coding, my course gave me access to videos of real-life recorded surgeries. I watched one of a robotic surgery and was totally fascinated.

Our job during night shift is to pull all the drugs for the OR Pyxis machines, label all IV fluids and OR solutions for the day's cases, and deliver them. At night there's only one pharmacist and one tech working, so you are also responsible to answer phones, make any stat IV meds, and deliver meds to nursing floors as needed. The first night I was training was a lot busier than last night and I didn't even have a chance to sit down until around 5:00. Last night was slower - it depends somewhat on how many cases are scheduled for the day. The first night went by pretty fast, but last night seemed to drag because I had more time to watch the clock.

The first night I felt good and wasn't tired until towards morning, but last night wasn't so great. Being up all night and sleeping during the day messes with your internal biological clock. I worked night shift one week when I first started at the hospital as a secretary and was training in the ER. My stomach was upset for the first few nights and I'm experiencing that again. I had a few snacks and tried to drink lots of water, but that didn't really help. I feel like I need a caffeinated drink to keep me awake and alert through the night, and that probably doesn't make my stomach issues any better. Both nights I got a McDonald's large sweet tea and sipped it throughout my shift. For some reason a coffee drink didn't seem enticing, but now sweet tea doesn't sound good to me either. I'm not sure what I'll have tonight. After tonight I have one night off, then finish up Sunday night. I kind of wish my five nights were all in a row instead of broken up like that. It's hard on your circadian rhythm and you can't really get in a routine. But this too shall pass!

Yesterday was a gorgeous sunny day and after sleeping until noon, I worked outside for several hours. Today is rainy and dreary and I don't have much motivation to get anything done. Maybe it will be a curl-up-on-the-couch-and-read type of day!

work and leisure

Random happenings and thoughts are on my mind, so I'll just start writing and see how this turns out!

Last night at work there was a little excitement. A patient in CCU had to have an emergent bedside TEE. Normally this procedure is done in the cath lab, where they have all the needed meds and supplies. Since it was being done bedside, pharmacy had to send some meds. I took a call from the cardiologist who said, "Listen, I need you to get that Hurricaine spray and lidocaine up here NOW." I told him we were working on it, and he said "Yes, I know you're working on it, but the patient is sedated and I need it in the next 30 seconds." He wasn't mean about it, but definitely put the pressure on! Interesting side note, this cardiologist is a nephew to Joan Rivers. He's very talkative and intense, and I think he's a good doctor. Awhile later, the pharmacist told me this same patient needed Kcentra, an IV medication given for an uncontrolled bleed. I never mixed it before, and they already called asking for it. After getting a brief instruction from the pharmacist, I headed back to the clean room to figure it out. The method of mixing is a little different than normal, and I had a few problems so the pharmacist ended up coming to help. Thank goodness I didn't mess it up, because the dose the patient got was worth at least $60,000! Next time I have to do it, I'll know much better how to do the manipulations. It seems most people, including me, learn a lot better by doing, rather than watching. That's how we get trained in the pharmacy, anyway! 

My work schedule is a little undesirable right now. I have 9 work days of 2:30 - 11 PM, followed by night shift training, which will be 5 nights of 11 PM - 7 AM. By the time that's over, it will be the middle of June. Such a lovely month and I'm confined to being indoors working or sleeping the day away. I find it hard to get a routine when I work until 11 PM. When I get home, I'm not ready to sleep right away, so I end up reading or something until 1 or 2 AM. Then I sleep late, maybe do a few things around the house, leisurely get ready for work, and start all over again. It makes me feel sluggish and I find myself procrastinating even more than usual. 

My flowers and woodland gardens are looking great even though it feels like I haven't given them much attention. Thanks to Preen, the weeds in the woodland beds are staying quite manageable. I still need to plant some flowers by the mailbox. I wanted to try bubblegum petunias but when I checked at two greenhouses today, they were gone. 

Today was a perfect sunny day and my day off, so I spent some time reading in my chair on the deck. I believe in seizing the opportunity to enjoy a perfect day when you get one!

The sky was the clearest blue, and it wasn't humid. It was a perfect wash-drying day, and I can't wait to sleep on my sun-dried fresh sheets tonight! Hanging wash outside is so satisfying. 

After supper I took a walk. The last few weeks I've been sporadic in keeping up that habit. Maybe if I publicly acknowledge that I've been slacking, it will motivate me to try harder! I always feel better when I do it, but my self discipline is lacking.  

It's June... live in the sunshine, smell the flowers, spend time porch sittin', and seize the day!

The Hochstetler Massacre

This is a post I've been wanting to write ever since I told the story of my ancestor Rosanna.

Jacob Hochstetler emigrated from Switzerland in 1736, making his home in the Northkill Amish settlement in what is now Bern Township, Pennsylvania. During the French and Indian War, Delaware Indians attacked his home. There were 6 people at home the night of September 19, 1757; Jacob and his wife, sons Jacob Jr, Joseph, and Christian, and a daughter. The son Jacob was awakened by an unusual noise from the dog. He opened the door to see what was wrong, and received a gunshot wound to his leg. Realizing they were being attacked by Indians, he managed to close and lock the door before Indians could get in. Immediately the whole family awoke and could see 8 or 10 Indians standing outside near the bake oven. There was no moon that night and no light in the house, so the family could not be seen. Plenty of guns and ammunition were in the house, and Joseph, Christian, and their father were good marksmen. The sons pleaded with their father, but Jacob stood firm in his belief in non resistance and told them it was not right to take the life of another, even to save their own. After consulting among themselves, the Indians set the house on fire. The family took refuge in the cellar as the Indians stood guard outside. When the fire burst through the floor, they sprinkled cider on the burning spots and beat back the fire as best they could. It was nearing daybreak, and they were hoping to hold out until the Indians departed. Finally they saw them leaving one by one. As the fire continued to burn and it became impossible to stay in the cellar, the family crept out a small basement window. A young warrior had stayed behind gathering peaches and saw the family escape. The mother was a fleshy woman and had trouble getting out the window, also the wounded son Jacob had to be assisted, and by the time everyone was out they were surrounded by Indians. Joseph, being a swift runner, managed to escape even though two Indians followed him. When he saw they had given up the chase, he returned and hid behind a log. The son Jacob and his sister were tomahawked, and their mother was stabbed to the heart and scalped. Father Jacob and Christian were taken captive. An Indian caught sight of Joseph in his hiding place, and he was captured as well. Before leaving, Jacob advised his sons to fill their pockets with ripe peaches. Upon arrival in an Indian village, prisoners were made to run the gauntlet. Some captives died before reaching the end. Jacob and his sons presented the chief with their peaches, which pleased him so well they were saved from running the gauntlet. The Indians plucked out Jacob's beard and all of the hair on his head except for a tuft about four inches in diameter. He and his sons were separated and made to conform to Indian customs. Jacob never gave up on freeing himself, and after three years managed to escape. At the end of the war in 1758, a peace treaty was made with the condition that prisoners were to be returned, but very few ever were. Finally in 1762 Christian was released, and after much trying, Joseph was released a year later.

This historical marker is near the present day town of Shartlesville. More information can be found in this article from wikipedia.

Joseph Hochstetler is my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. Both Rosanna and Joseph are ancestors through my mom. I wish I knew more stories of my ancestry, but I'm lucky to know this much! Maybe some day I'll research and find out more about them.