Jacquie’s blog

I used to be Snow White...but I drifted

nobody@vox.com(Mountain Gypsy) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 07:56:55 -0500

Mae West.

A bit of humor to end what seemed like the never ending week. Boss Dr left yesterday for Portugal with his wife and one son. The other son is in college at FL State. His preparation for this 10 day va/ca drove us all nuts. So many cases to get put into place and cover. Plus on Thursday he did a Cruciate Repair on a very nasty dog. Expensive and intense surgery that always gets him "twitching" all over the hospital. Until he actually gets into the surgery room he's edgy and stressed, once he's in there he settles but the 45 minute prep time is brutal with him around. Usually we keep them overnight but this dog is vicious so we sent him home that night. We finished appointments at around 7 pm. then headed on to treatments. I helped get those done and got most everything cleaned up in Surgery, Xray, Prep Room and Treatment area while Dr did his charts and Tech started her Lab work.

It was Bonnie's first shift back from her rough week of dealing with her Twin Sister's death. She looked like shit and I felt so bad for her. Plus she was sick which added insult to injury. Yesterday was the first day in two weeks that I only had to do my jobs and not hers too. I was glad she was back. I had three dogs for grooming and finished around 1 o'clock. I ran out an grabbed some lunch and came back to eat it. Bonnie and I talked for a bit and then I changed into my T/A clothes and clocked in to start afternoon appts. Dr Trish had a full block so I knew we'd be busy. Clients started coming in at 2 and off we went. We had one client in a room and she had just started that appt when SUDDENLY the front door opens and in comes this young woman SCREAMING and crying with her limp cat and just hands it over to one of the receptionists. All of a sudden everything changed.....it was mad chaos. Techs running, Dr T running, me running. Crash Kit, Oxygen Tank on, syringes, CPR, Trach Tube, IV's started.....if I heard my name once I heard it a hundred times......."Jacquie get me" Meanwhile this poor girl was just hysterical and whaling so loudly it was painful. And we had clients everywhere. Just hearing her cry made them cry, it was so hard to keep it together back where we were. Some left. Those in exam rooms stayed. Working on this beautiful 9 month old kitty were Dr, me, Melissa, Darryl and Bonnie in the background doing whatever she could. Dr kept ordering more Epy from me and I kept drawing it up for her, one cc at a time. There was no time to put every sharp in the sharps container, there were syringes everywhere and I just kept grabbing them in between orders and throwing them in the sink. They continued CPR and we all worked on this cat to no avail. He was gone. He came in with no pulse and no heartbeat and we were never able to get him back. Dr Trish called it. Then the crying started in our room. I remembered this kitty. He was so sweet, I was the holder for his first visit as a kitten, I was there the day he got neutered, I stayed with him during recovery. A few minutes to gather ourselves and Dr Trish took a deep breath and went to tell the young lady......silence for a second and then.......the girl lost it. It was a shitty deal all the way around. She was unconsolable. And rightfully so, one minute he was greeting her at the door and the next he got stiff, meowed out loud and dropped unconsious. Now he's dead. It was a heavy blow.

Bonnie left for a while, it was way more than she could handle after what she'd just been through. My heart broke for her too. We had to gather ourselves and get back on track. It took about an hour for all of us to regroup but we all pushed forward and got through the rest of the day. I started at 7:30 yesterday morning and got home around 7:30 last night so thankful if was Friday. Today I have a couple of dogs to groom at my nieces kennel and then I'm done. I plan to get to things I've been wanting to do for weeks now. Small things like packing my summer clothes and overdue stupid cleaning.

I need a break.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

It's only Tuesday

nobody@vox.com(Mountain Gypsy) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:34:10 -0400

Well, I finally returned little shit dog back to Sue & Tom on Sunday. Secretly I was becoming attached to her, she settled in here quite well and was starting to behave like a good little dog should. Of course, within minutes of being home she picked a fight with one of the other dogs and got the worst end of it. She returned to her aggressive, excitable self in no time flat. I know Sue loves her, but I don't think that she will be truly happy with 4 other dogs even though one happens to be her litter-mate. Anyway, I'm glad to be back to just Honey and I. Tara adopted out another one of her kittens last night so we're down to four living at my house. I think 6 week old kittens are the absolute cutest things ever created. But they'd be much cuter in new homes. It's getting to be a lot for me. I don't get the study time I really want for my ASL class and I don't have the freedom to move about my own domain after work as Tara is always here and I can't just do what I want to do.

While at Sue's on Sunday I got a very sad call from my coworker Bonnie. She was crying hysterically and I could barely make out what she was trying to tell me. Her twin sister was killed instantly in an ATV accident in NH. Oh my God.....it was horrible. Her sister had never been on an ATV before Sunday - and yes she was wearing a helmet. Apparently she was part of a fund raising event for Walmart. While on the trail there was one sharp curve after which she navigated but spotted an accident between a jogger and bicycalist just as she turned the corner. In an effort to avoid them she turned too quickly and went down a steep embankment. Even with a helmet on she hit the tree below so hard she fractured her skull and broke her neck. Next behind her was her dear friend - an EMT....he ran down the steep hill and tried to start CPR but she was gone. They say she died instantly.

Bonnie was close to her twin, Betty. She left yesterday morning for NH. Her brother in law has no living relatives and Bonnie is the closest both emotionally and distance wise. Bonnie always talks about her twin sister, shows pictures regularly and had just gone to share her 30th wedding aniversary a month ago. Every summer Bonnie rents a cottage on Canandaigua Lake for a week. Betty and her husband come every year and I always hear what a good time they all have. Bonnie called me last night, she sounds a little bit better than she did on Sunday but I think being there and helping with the funeral arrangements and taking care of her b/i/law is helping her in some way. She was worried about me taking all of her hours as we have no other kennel person other than she and I. Not to worry, it'll all get done Bonnie. The staff is upset for her and one of the really nice things about working at our Hosptial is that we all pull together during times like this. We deal with emergencies every day. We are compassionate & caring people. You take care of you and we'll take care of the rest.

It's gonna be a long week. I will only have about an hour to study before class tonight. I fear I am falling behind. It would be so nice to have a study partner. I'm thinking that if I don't feel like I've really got this language solid by the end of the beginners session, I will repeat it. Rochester Institute of Technology offers a degree program in ASL Translation that I'd love to look into. I think I've done okay so far considering I don't get the study time I feel I should have. I love what I do now but my body doesn't. At 53 the signs of age are creeping up on me and I am not the agile body I used to be. I can't just pick up 60 lb dogs anymore, I can't kneel and get up again like I used to, my back hurts while holding dogs and my hands cramp up while holding cats. I'm okay most of the time while grooming because it's just a matter of standing a lot. That time is running out as well and I need to start seriously thinking about another job that is less physical and pays better.

Speaking of pay....time to go and earn some.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

My Dad

nobody@vox.com(Mountain Gypsy) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:25:32 -0400

Yesterday would have been my dads 85th birthday. I still miss him. I was 21 when he died (Oct. 30,1977), he was only 55. He missed so much, we missed so much. But he did get to see his first two grandaughters, who are both now in their 30's and fantastic mothers, wives and women. One of the last photos taken of him was at my sisters house holding the "baby" and next to him was my mother holding the "other" baby. They had not spoken in years until that day. It was a monumentous moment and forever in my minds eye and in my heart. I've always felt that if it were not for my mothers drinking, they'd have never seperated. My father loved her to the moment of his last breath. I wish I could have found someone to love me like that. I learned many things from him and honestly I always knew how much he loved me. Being the middle child of five, I was forever feeling torn. He knew that. He knew my struggles and my insecurities, me weaknesses and my strengths. My dad always had a way of making me feel special. I think I got some of his creative talent too. A WWII veteran, born to Italian Immigrants, he came home from the war to help his parents in their store, he made the displays for their store windows. He ended up being a Window Dresser for the Liquor industry. My dad always had a way of encouraging those tendencies in me. He'd buy me little kits of things to make. I remember one kit was a paint on velvet Pansy Flower thing. When I had finished it he asked if he could take it, shortly after, I noticed that he had pined the velvet masterpiece to the inside of his car visor. The moment I saw that, I knew what he couldn't say but my heart was happy and I had proof that he loved me. He never spoke in words, he showed it in actions. I learned to pay attention to actions. Subtlties of people speak volumes.

I realize that I have spent a good portion of my adult life hiding the fact that I have a missing piece in my soul. The piece of me that has never felt truly loved. That comfortable, warm and confidence in the knowing that one special man loves me as much as my father loved my mother. Yep, I've pushed that way down. Far enough to keep it from ruining my day to day life. Time just keeps going by and that person just hasn't come. I continue to live my life for myself. Work hard to make it as good a life as I can. There have been lovers in my life, one I spent 15 years with, he never really loved me, it was all about him. But it gave me the chance to love, the chance to use what my dad had taught me and the gifts he gave me. There's something to be said about that I suppose.

There is no sadness, only wishes and wonders. I know my dad is in a better place. I believe in God. I believe in life and love. And thanks to my father, I believe in myself.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Learning the signs

nobody@vox.com(Mountain Gypsy) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:51:44 -0400

I aced my ASL quiz last night. Got 30 out of 30 right! To say I was pumped is an understatement, I never do well on tests. Though, this is a beginners class and it was only our 3rd week, still with everything I have going on and the fact that I worked 7 days straight I still managed to get some study time in. It would be really nice if I had a study partner or someone I knew was a signer. I need to use what I've learned everyday to make it more comfortable and get it in my brain. I really wanted my sister to take this class w/me so that we could study/practice together. She said she'd take it next time around, so I'll be in the Intermediate and she'll be in the Beginners, that'll be helpful I suppose. Anyway, I am so glad I did this and am looking forward to the day that I can interpret for our Dr.'s at work. Boss Dr talks so fast, if I can keep up with him it'll be a miracle. I want to be that good.
Sue and her cousin pulled into town yesterday around 1 o'clock. She called me from Columbus OH Monday night saying they were going to push hard to get to Erie PA that night. They did. I took little dog to work with me and then home to Sue's after work. I was only mildly sad to see her go. She's a snippy little thing but has a cute side. She sort of came unglued a bit when she walked back into her own house as there were dogs everywhere! Sue's cousin came complete with 3 dogs! So now Sue has 8 dogs running around her house. Better her than me. Been there - done that and don't want to do it again. I came home yesterday afternoon to a quiet home with one fantastic Golden Retriever who was - as usual - very happy to greet me.
Baby kittens are all thriving and growing. I found a cage in the hospital basement yesterday that is perfect for them now that they're moving and playing more. Damn, they are cute! They try to play with each other and fall over, then just play with the air. It's fun to watch them. This is the best stage, fat little bellies and all purring. So innocent and sweet. I pray they all have good lives for years and years. I have to remember to take my camera again today.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Sleep & the change of seasons

nobody@vox.com(Mountain Gypsy) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:38:36 -0400

We are in the midst of the changing of seasons. Here in Western NY state the leaves are starting to change, the air is much cooler and the rain clouds have been passing through a few days at a time. I broke down last week and turned the furnace on a few times and shut it off again so as to save $$. Also, I reluctantly opened the blanket chest and unwrapped my winter bedding. Two sets of acrylic sheets and my precious super thick down comforter. It's a luxury I give myself, a soft and sumptuous bed. For me, there is nothing better than waking up without an alarm on a Sunday morning wrapped in warm, soft sheets.
Not really sure exactly why but since Friday all I want to do is sleep. I have no energy whatsoever. Maybe it's the kittens, maybe it's the crazy little dog I'm watching for my friend, it could be that I didn't get a day off this week having worked yesterday morning for a fellow employee who was sick, or the change in seasons. Who knows, I just know I'm tired and going to bed last night was just plain fabulous. Even if I had to set that little alarm switch to "on."
I have been down in my studio though. That makes me happy. Have managed to put a few small cards together. The $12 size is 5x7". My sister is doing a show in November and likes to take some of my artwork with her for her booth. I have about 6 done and am working on more. Tomorrow is my only short day at the animal hospital and I'll have a few hours to go down and put together a few more things. Before my ASL class at 6:30, which I need to study one more time for.
My friend Sue should be back in town either today or tomorrow. She flew to NM to meet up with her cousin so they could drive to NY together. I've talked to her a couple of times, they're having a blast. I'm so jealous. Her cousin has 4 dogs with them and is going to stay here at Sue's until the end of October. They've shopped, done the RT 66 thing and done a bit of sightseeing. Sue told me the other day that her cousin brought her trailer so that she'd have extra room in case she finds big items to purchase! What a life huh?!
Well, I'm off to feed kittens and gather them up with two dogs - all to go to work. Sleep will have to wait.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

What Luck

nobody@vox.com(Mountain Gypsy) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:34:41 -0400

Remember last week when I said I had purchased a portable external hard drive? I installed it Wednesday morning, all went well. My computer is getting old and though there isn't really a lot on it, I do have lots of photos, music and small random things I wanted to secure....just in case.
I posted about the Woodchuck/Puppy and within an hour my computer turned itself off and will not restart!!!! Now what are the chances that I'd have gotten the most important things backed up just in the nick of time? My dear friend Sue just got a screamin' new computer a couple of weeks ago and so loaned me this one until I can get mine fixed. It didn't take me long to load my internet software and get it configured and here I am....back on line. Good friends are great to have. I'd rather have a small amount of REAL friends than lots of just friends. She has always been there for me. I love that. She is the reason I am living in this house and have my dear Honey with me too.
So now I can study my ASL homework before class on Tuesday night. That's a big relief as well because I have never been a fabulous student. This class means a lot to me and I really want to do well.
So since I had been without internet since Wednesday, I should go and check what my cool VOX neighbors have been up to.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Puppy or Woodchuck?

nobody@vox.com(Mountain Gypsy) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 10:17:49 -0400

Stvh92409 006

Took this photo last week, he's much bigger now and looking more like a puppy than a woodchuck (gopher to some) this week. Born to an unstable female German Shepherd and created with 7 year old frozen sperm. Yeah, people are stupid and this one is a piece of work. Can't stand her but have to keep my mouth shut as she is a "special" client of boss Dr. (Won't take much imagination to figure that one out.) She had a very nice male shepherd that she neutered because his hips were so bad, before she did that she saved his sperm. Long story short....he died. So she got this female to use his sperm with to get "another" just like her male because she couldn't live without him. Nut job. A normal healthy person would understand that our time with our dogs is limited. Enjoy them, love them and hurt when they go. Be thankful for their precence in our lives, how they emotionally can save us, love us and protect us both physically and emotionally. So, this breeding turned to disaster when the female couldn't deliver. The first two puppies were born alive, one with it's intestines prolapsing out of it's umbilical opening and this one above with no tail and possible rectal/colon issues. The other three born dead. We had to euthanize the one with the prolapse. Sick, sick, sick. Boss Dr and tech had to "talk her into" not euthanizing this pup. The statement from her was "I breed for perfection"! I wanted to vomit! Perfection?! How does that work? The sperm was 7 years old and it was from a dog that had Hip Dysplasia!! Hello?????? So boss Dr took this little guy to bottle feed and there you have it.

It'll take some time to see for sure what this little guys issues will end up being. My bet is he'll be an awesome dog.....with no tail. Strong and like a true German Shepherd, will have the Heart of a Hero. In the meantime, I get to hold him and love him up, and that's all good.

But he still looks like a woodchuck to me.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Things for Tuesday

nobody@vox.com(Mountain Gypsy) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:28:01 -0400

Yet another busy day just about to start. Hope I can keep up. Have six kittens in my charge. They are about 2 1/2 weeks now. Eyes opened, ears opened and certainly their mouths are ALWAYS opened! Very cute though. Abandoned of course.

Luckily I only have to work a half day today...so much to do that's not work related.

Call Lawyer that I think may have stiffed me for $300 a g a i n! Lawyers.

My hair appt at 2

Go over all of my ASL homework before tonights class. I've got my alphabet just about perfect, our words from last week and I found a fabulous ASL Dictionary online to work with. Even made up my own short sentences "I bottle feed baby kittens all night" thought that was a good one. We have a quiz tonight. And I hope that I can stay focused during class 'cause I am not getting much sleep. I really want to do well.

Set up backup hard drive I bought yesterday to save my pics and music. Hope this one works better than the one I just returned.

Need to fix a problem with my friend who had her foster dog spayed with my boss Dr. Mild issues with hormones and he was an absolute jerk when I spoke w/him about it yesterday. He can be such an ass.

Here's kitties. Gotta run.

Stvh92409 001

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

It's a Wednesday thing

nobody@vox.com(Mountain Gypsy) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 06:33:47 -0400

It's mid week and I'm not sure why but work hasn't been all that tough so far. Though the next three days are my long days and at our hospital things can change in a heartbeat. Very often one phone call can take an otherwise "normal" shift into total chaos, but so far things are good. We'll see what today brings....

Last night was my first night of American Sign Language class. (beginners) My sister was supposed to come with me but she backed out so I had to go it alone. The check in process went fine but I was blown away at how many people were there! Once we were all in the cafeteria together they sent us to our individual group classrooms and off I went to venture into this new world of language for me. My class is small, maybe 10 of us and all women. Not that that part matters, just an observation. My next big surprise came when I realized that our teacher is deaf. That was a shock for me! I thought surely for beginners they would have a speaking person to get us started, but nope, our teacher is deaf. Once I started to catch some of what she was trying to say I got a bit more relaxed but I admit I was so clueless the first 20 minutes or so. I truly believed I was knee deep in doo doo and thought more than once "how am I gonna get this?!" As the time went on I started to figure out what she was saying and got a bit more relaxed. I learned how to spell my name, sign a few greetings, questions and verbs. We have homework, I'll be studying a lot this week too because she informed us that we'll have a quiz next class! That's one of the reasons I wanted my sister to come with me. I need a study partner. But I think I will see if someone from work can help me study.

My neice Becky, the one I work for on Saturdays, has given me the coolest gift. She has added me to her cell phone family plan and by the end of this week I should have a cell again. To say I am very excited about that is an understatement. I am a gadget geek, or at least I used to be when I had a financial life. Back in the late 80's I was one of the first to get a cell phone, a big black box with a handset and everything. I never overspent but always had kept updated with the newest technologies whenever financially feesable. Since '04 I haven't had a cell, or lots of other things either for that matter. I've learned to live without and for a very long time now, not been sad about that. Do I wish I could have my fortunes back? Sure do. But that part takes hard work and time and I am working through it all as best I can. There have been times when a cell phone would have come in handy and very often I have been told to get one for saftey reasons. Being single and working late hours and all. But Becky adding me to her plan is not only kind but the cost is so cheap I couldn't pass it up. I am excited to get the phone I picked out.

One last thing before I get ready for work......we are finally getting our summer! The first day of Autumn here was almost 80! A bit overcast and some stuff that thought it might be rain but turned out to be mist. What a wonderful feeling coming home from class last night with the windows down and warm air blowing around me! I love it!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Harley the wonder Corgi

nobody@vox.com(Mountain Gypsy) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 19:49:04 -0400

Corgi called Harley 001

I remembered to take my camera yesterday. This is my little buddy Harley I spoke about in my last post. After returning from his morning walk I fed him his breakfast while still in his "wheels". A bit of food and a biscuit with a dab of peanut butter on it, he likes that.

In all honesty I have never been a fan of Corgi's. Just about every one I've ever known has some kind of issue. Either they're biters, obstinate, bark constantly...it's always something unpleasant and or annoying. Add to that I was pretty pissy myself about having to lug this dog around to get him in the cart, down the stairs, through the parking lot to the walk yard.....and all of that in reverse again. He's heavy and on the larger side, not to mention he can't move his back end and he's so damn low to the ground it really is an effort to lift him into the cart. What sucked more is that unless you remember to put your own foot behind one wheel, the darn thing won't stay still and you're trying to get his two stubby little legs into their proper holes!

That was last week. Monday I gave him his bath, yesterday I sat on the floor where he's standing now in the picture and meticulasly brushed and combed his coat. He loved it! Just laid his head down and let me get all of that undercoat out. By this morning when I got there he was glued to my side. And me to him. How the hell did I fall in love with this little Corgi? (well, okay not so little but you know what I mean) I helped Bonnie get him hooked up and outside for his morning walk and back in again. It was fairly quiet around the hospital that early so we just let him wander around. He followed me everywhere! Oh yeah and now he is so comfortable in his little cart that he's figured out that he can RUN again! Ooooo, so cool to watch him. We played "hide n seek" around the back of the hospital and it was a blast to see him so animated and excited. And free, to be a dog again. Just around the time I started my grooming I hit the bathroom real quick and wasn't he waiting outside the door for me?!

His mom came to take him home and I could feel my heart beating. It was so sad for me to see him go and I'm not like that. I won't let myself get attatched that much. This one grew on me over the past 10 days he boarded. I think because I watched him go from a miserable crippled dog to a happy, loving, mobile dog. I loved every second of the transformation, from watching him get used to the cart to trying on his own to go up/down stairs, learning how to manuver himself widthwise when he'd bump corners or walls and the two best ones to watch were when he figured out how to go backwards and run!

The pay for my job sucks. The hours suck. The work can be brutal both physically and mentally, but damn, it is so very rewarding!

Read and post comments | Send to a friend