Dying at the Pump

I was driving to see my nephew's last track meet of the season on Thursday, and I passed the local Sheetz. I nearly wrecked my car. $3.77/gallon for regular unleaded. Good God! The irony of gas prices is that they vary from gas station to gas station. For example Sheetz was $3.77/gallon...the 7-11 less than 1/2 mile from the Sheetz was $3.69/gallon...and the 7-11 that is about 2 miles from the Sheez was $3.55/gallon. WTF? How can three gas stations within a 5 mile radius, and all in the same state and county, have three different prices for gas? One of the stations was charging $0.22 more a gallon. Someone is laughing their ass all the way to the bank, and it isn't me or any of the other Americans trying to fill up at the pump. 2007 marked the biggest year of profits EVER for the oil companies. How ironic - considering 2008 is going to mark the beginning of a recession for America. I agree that we need to invest in alternative fuel sources. But that's going to help in the long run - we need help now. We can start by putting someone in the White House who isn't sharing wealth with the oil companies. It must be nice to pad your pockets while the average American is dying at the pump. It's time for change. January 2009 can't come quick enough!

Concert of the Summer

Ah, it's that time again. The trees are in bloom, the birds are chirping, and tickets are going on sale for the summer concert season. Wahooo! Today I made my first purchase (and likely BEST purchase) for concert tickets in 2008 - Crue Fest. My sister sent me the announcement last week. I've seen Crue before and I wasn't much impressed. But...this is the best part...this isn't just a Crue concert. On the line up with Crue - Buckcherry, Papa Roach, Trapt, and Sixx A.M. My 16yo niece almost had a heart attack. Let's put it this way - she was scheduled to attend a medical conference at Stanford University in California during the weekend that Crue Fest will be in town. She cancelled the trip. I purchased tickets today. We're 16 rows from the stage. Pretty awesome. Jamie put the kabosh on pit seats. But that's ok - I've had enough pit for a while. It's gonna rock. It will also be Jamie and I's first concert together. He's in for a treat! We all get a little wild at the rock shows - not showing your boobies wild - but definitely jumping/screaming wild. Let the count down begin - it's officially 13 weeks and 1 day until the concert. :)

Those Who Can - Do

A fellow pharmacist and supervisor shared some words of wisdom with me this week. When I told him that I had been selected for an interview with the position at SU, he just shook his head. He then told me that I would make a terrible teacher. I took great offense to this and stomped out of his office. I suppose common sense finally kicked in and he realized how callous his comment was. He approached me later that day and told me that he didn't mean his words in the literal sense. I just glared at him. He then said, "Those who can - do; those who can't - teach." I then informed him that I took even greater offense to this comment because teaching is in my blood. My mom spent 33 years of her life shaping the lives of the youth in our community. Her effects are still felt in some individuals' lives. I have had friends tell me that my mom was their inspiration to pursue a teaching degree. I have had friends tell me that my mom's compassion for the underprivelaged has inspired them to contribute back to society. I have had strangers stop me in the store and tell me that my mom changed their lives. Needless to say, my mom's a pretty awesome woman. My Nanny dedicated 41 years of her live to shaping the lives of first graders. She retired to stay at home with me. She shaped my live tremendously. When she passed away 8 years ago, the chapel was filled with former students and coworkers. My mom got her abilities honestly. :) My esteemed coworker then clarified that his comment only applied to those teaching in post-high school institutions. (Nice recovery!) I suppose the glaring darkness in my eyes caused him to further clarify his position. He then blurted out, "You're one of our best pharmacists. I don't want to lose you. I think you would be bored teaching. You give so much to our department and we need to you to keep doing that." Why didn't you just say that in the first place? I have had time to reflect on his comments - especially the insults. I agree with his "those who can" statement - but my belief in that statement ends starkly at the "do". I don't believe those who pursue careers in academia "can't" be pharmacists. Their desires just lie in a different area. I will say that my love in pharmacy comes from the impact I have on my patients' lives. Whether it be a warning about a side effect when I'm counseling a patient - or when I'm making an amiodarone bolus for a code - I am directly affecting the outcome of a patient's life. It's a heavy burden to carry, but I wouldn't want to spend my life doing anything else. It's taken me two years to develop some of the relationships I have with our physicians. Now some of them call the pharmacy and ask for me by name. Talk about a reward! :) So since I can... I think I'll do...and I'll keep doing it at the VA. :)

P.S. - I officially withdrew my name from consideration for the SU position.

In Honor of Dr. King

Got Hope?

If you pull in my driveway, this is the first thing you see. :) My mother purchased this awesome Obama head for display at my house. Isn't it the coolest? I have it displayed with my Obama 08 sign. I made my first ever monetary contribution to a political campaign last week. I never thought that I'd ever throw money at a politician. That being said, if there was ever a man that could change the course of this country, it is Barack Obama. And - I am going to do everything in my power to get him elected in November. (Sorry honey, this includes tying you up on election day so that you cannot vote for McCain!!! Ah, my Republican boyfriend...God love him. One day he'll see the errors of his way. But, until he does, I'll have to keep the rope handy.)

Senator Jay Rockefeller is officially supporting Obama's bid for the presidency. And apparently, he's also pissing off McCain. Honestly, mudslinging will only hurt our efforts to win the election. It was in the 2004 election that the Republicans were attempting to tarnish Kerry's service record. McCain is decorated war veteran - no one should attempt to take that away from him. His military service record should not be the focal point of this election. We need to focus the current state of affairs in the United States - the war in Iraq, ever rising gas prices, the impending recession, a crashing housing market, etc, etc, etc. Let's not focus on a war that was fought 40 years ago. Obama can change this country for the better. I know it.

The Sun Does Shine...

This past week made me realize what has made me so miserable at work lately - lack of patient contact. I spent this entire week up on the 4th floor working with patients who were preparing for discharge from the hospital. It was awesome. I've missed that interaction so much. Granted - there were some catankerous old men who wanted nothing more than for me to leave them alone - but on the whole, it was refreshing. I was discharging this 89yo guy and asked him if he had any questions for me. He replied, "I sure do Honey. Will you run away with me? We can get married and I'll fix you prime rib every night." HA! He was so cute. Then there was the guy who ripped his IV out while I was talking to him and showed me the needle. It was at this point that I realized his competancy was in question. At this point, I also ran for the nurse because I don't do needles or blood. Then there was the manic guy at the nurses station banging the tissue box demanding a doctor come see him N-O-W. He was dropping the F bomb like no one's business...but as soon as the cops came up the back stairwell and showed him they were packing heat - he immediately stopped banging the tissue box. He was escorted to the psych ward for an olanzapine shake. I also spent some time in the ICU working on a complex case. That was pretty challenging. And I even spent some time on 5C, our intermediate care unit, talking to a veteran about his medications. He was so appreciative that I sat down to talk with him. He really touched my heart. So - now I know what I need to keep me happy - patients!

Friday I also received my final letter of rec for the SU position. I am going through with the application. I just need to get out of the basement and back with my patients. Whether that means I get the 4th floor clinical job at the VA or leave for SU - I have to get out of the four walls. See...the sun does shine after all. :)