Everyday Life

Categories Work

SnOw weenie

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It’s official: I am SO a SnOw weenie.

And I’m never going to do THAT again.

THAT being calling off a trip to my facilities in Grand Island the day before based on a weather report.

The snow stopped yesterday, leaving us with 8ish inches of snow.

The roads were being plowed, all was good–but everybody was buzzing about how the winds were supposed to pick up.

So I sent an e-mail to my facilities out of town and told them I’d be postponing my trip out to see them.

I woke up this morning to clear skies and still clear roads. The only possible road hazards were a wee bit of snow and ice on 30 by Central City.

That’s it, I decided. From now on, I wait until the morning of to decide whether to risk the roads or not.

No use messing up my schedule for a danger that doesn’t exist.

sNOw weenie NO more!

Categories Thankful Thursday, Work

Thankful Thursday: Work

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Five years ago, when I was halfway through my undergraduate education in dietetics, I never would have guessed that I’d be working in long-term care.

It wasn’t that I didn’t like the idea. I just intended to go a different direction. Should I not end up married before the time came to get a first professional job, I’d try to find something in community nutrition, education in the community.

And that is what I tried for–but jobs in the community are few and far between (and not always that greatly funded.)

So instead of a community position, I found myself in Columbus, Nebraska as a long-term care dietitian. And I love it.

Thankful Thursday banner

Today I’m thankful…

…for a good first day at the two facilities I’m now consulting for (even if the previous dietitian couldn’t be there to orient me to the facilities)

…for a just the right length to-do list. Now that I’m caught up from my conference and am full-time, I have enough work to keep me busy but not so much that I’m scrambling to keep afloat.

…for affirmation from a coworker who thinks I’m doing a good job (Thanks, Jen!)

…for a visit from my consultant RD who was able to catch something I was doing inadequately so I could correct it (before it became an issue)

…for conversations with coworkers before weights meetings

…for dark chocolate from my Secret Santa in our post-Christmas exchange

Above all, I’m thankful that God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to place me as the in-house dietitian in one long term care facility and as consultant dietitian to two others. It isn’t what I would have chosen for myself, but apparently God’s better at choosing than I am!

Categories Everyday Life

Road Rubric

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Back when I was commuting (Oh how nice it is to use the past tense there!), I had to get from point A to point B in the shortest possible time. I generally had less than 15 minutes of wiggle room on either end–and generally had to eat, walk to my car, answer student questions or unload my car in that time.

Which meant I spent some time perfecting those little techniques to make sure you get where you’re going fast enough. Techniques like passing all the slow-pokes before the road narrows to one lane. Techniques like passing the MOMENT you have free room (not waiting until a car approaches and causes the passing room you once had to disappear.) Techniques like knowing which car to get behind when there are people stopped in BOTH LANES at a red light.

Do you know which car to get behind?

I’ll let you in on the secret.

You get behind the vehicle that’s going to accelerate faster–er, whose driver is going to accelerate faster.

Which means, if your options are a car and a truck—
Choose the car.

If your options are a truck and a minivan?
Choose the truck.

If your options are 2 cars?
Choose the younger driver over the older (unless either is driving a Geo Metro–in which case, get behind the car that’s NOT the Geo Metro.)

If your options are 2 trucks?
Choose the man over the woman.

If your options are 2 minivans?
You’re pretty much doomed.

Categories Work

What has she gots in her pocketses?

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To a clinician, the lab coat is generally more than a mere uniform or a symbol of status.

It’s a savior (from slightly-too-short-short-in-the-back shirts), a necessary layer of warmth (I’m always freezing), and…

a place to stash everything we might possibly need for the course of a working day.

Yesterday, I accidentally left my pockets at home after washing my lab coat.

I won’t be repeating that mistake.

As it was, I had to run home to grab my lab coat pockets’ contents. I just couldn’t do my job without them.

What do I keep in my pockets that’s so essential for my work?

Contents of my pockets

  • My name tag, telling residents and coworkers who I am and why (or why not) to talk to me.
  • Black pens for signing charted documents
  • Mechanical pencils for taking down notes FROM charts
  • A highlighter to highlight who I need to see that day or when a certain piece of government paperwork is due
  • A sharpie to mark out confidential information I’ve recorded in my planner or to write notes for the kitchen staff
  • A paperclip, or several, for corralling paperwork
  • My calculator, one of the most important tools of my job, useful for calculating how much energy or protein someone is actually taking in or what their approximate needs might be or whether the weight loss they just experienced was significant or not
  • Chapstick to lubricate dry lips before talking to residents. (If I’m well hydrated and my lips are moist, residents can hear me better.)
  • A hairnet to cover my hair for a quick trip into the kitchen.

That’s what I keep in my pockets. So tell me, what tools are essential for you to do your job? What do you keep in your pockets (or purse or diaper bag or whatever)?

Categories Family & Friends

A Christmas Announcement

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Our family Christmas last night was enjoyable, but the last gift absolutely stole the show.

In a box labeled “From the Menter family to the Menter family”, we found two cards and several “Grandma” and “Grandpa” baby bibs. It was my brother and his wife’s way of announcing that they’re pregnant.

Baby J. Mentner will be making his arrival somewhere around the middle of July.

They’re not finding out Baby’s sex, but Debbie and I just KNOW it’s going to be a boy. (Grace reads over my shoulder and says “And me!”) Daniel, of course, is obstinate and insists it’s a girl–and that she’ll be the cutest girl in the whole world.

The pre-wedding plan said something about having the first kid somewhere around January 2012–but I’m glad they re-thought that plan and decided to start a bit earlier. Since they anticipate moving elsewhere for Dan’s Ph.D. program sometime in 2012, this gives Auntie Rebekah a bit more time to spoil the little one!

Yep. This announcement definitely stole the show.

And NOBODY is complaining!

Categories Work

Ugly Christmas Sweater Day

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My workplace has been having a mini-spirit week in this week leading up to Christmas. Today is Ugly Christmas Sweater Day.

I hate ugly Christmas Sweater Days.

Why?

Because I love ugly Christmas sweaters.

I’d wear them everyday if I could and still be a professional.

Wearing them on “Ugly Christmas Sweater day” makes me seem complicit in the “make fun of themed sweaters” trend. Which I’m totally not into.

But I like to wear my Christmas sweaters–so I’m wearing one today.

Ugly Christmas Sweater

But please, if you want to make fun of Christmas sweaters–do so behind my back. I happen to like them.

**Please forgive the remarkably poor quality of the picture above. I didn’t have time to make sure I got a good one.**

Categories Everyday Life

Small Talk

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I’m great, thanks for asking.

It just so happens today went well. I left work after less than nine and a half hours–for the SECOND time this week!

What’s more, when I got home and checked the mail, I found THIS

Letter announcing that Bubble wrap is inside

Yes, that’s right. A letter announcing that it had Bubble wrap inside.

I appreciated the physician directory and the first aid kit welcoming me into the community, but the Bubble wrap definitely stole the show!

But enough about me. How have you been? Have YOU gotten anything interesting in the mail recently?

Categories Everyday Life, Thankful Thursday

Thankful Thursday: Easy Days

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It’s not too often that I have an easy day–a day where it feels like things are running smoothly and I’m getting things accomplished and I’m not too rushed.

Which means that when those days do come, I need to stand back and savor them and not forget to send my Thank You‘s heavenward.

Thankful Thursday banner

Today I’m thankful…

…for temperatures above freezing and a jaunty walk to and from my car

…for a new computer at work–that means I don’t have to wrestle for someone else’s (I’m sure Heather is just as thankful–or more–for that one!)

…for 90 days at my “new” job–and that they still want to keep me after this first quarter

…for smooth assessments. I notice and complain when admission heights and weights aren’t taken, when I have to go digging for orders or information. But some days, the nursing staff is all at the top of their game–and I need to remember to say “Thank you” that they’ve recorded all the information I need.

…for prompt faxes from MDs. Sometimes it takes forever to hear back from an MD–or the MD just seems to ignore my faxes. Today, my faxes have been returned promptly. Thank you, docs of Columbus!

…for leaving work early (just a bit, and feeling unrushed–that NEVER happens)

…for a delightful seven note sixth grade band concert. I know I’m gonna love Columbus. These kids, this life, is fantastic.

This has been an easy day–and I am most thankful for it.

Thank You, Lord, that You know when I need a little rest–and that You provide it, even amidst an eleven-hour workday.

Categories Everyday Life

I’m not dead…

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Just letting you know.

Actually, I’m just massively busy.

As of yesterday a little after midnight, I am officially a resident of only one city. I got my house in Lincoln cleaned up and locked the door one last time. Now, instead of commuting to Columbus for work at the nursing home, I’m commuting to Lincoln to work at the University :-)

This week is probably the busiest yet, with a rush of papers to grade before I give my lab practical at the beginning of next week and catching up from the holiday at work and dealing with a few really touchy issues.

So (except for a Thankful Thursday post that I’m still hoping to have time to write tomorrow :-P) you probably still won’t be seeing me until at least the middle of next week–or more likely, the end of next week.

Nevertheless, despite the busyness and a number of relationally/emotionally/spiritually challenging little events, I’ve been delighting in the greatness of God (Thank you, Pastor Justin, for an excellent intro to JESUS this past Sunday) and unexpectedly surprised into tears by the gospel-saturated lyrics of (you’ll never guess)
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LeCrae.

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See, I told you you’d never guess.

Not a fan of rap. Not a fan of CCM. Picked up a bunch of CDs from the library, procrastinated listening to that one because I don’t like rap or CCM. Finally popped it in on my drive this afternoon. Found myself literally in tears over the immensity of depravity and the awesome greatness of election.

Dang. That’s good stuff.

Anyway–I’d best get to bed. I’ve got a full day ahead of me.

Hope you have a wonderful, Christ-saturated rest of the week!

Categories Everyday Life

Kitchen in the House of Dreams

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Would you like a peek into the kitchen at the House of Dreams?

Of course you would.

Kitchen in House of Dreams

Grace looks into the dishwasher. There’s LOTS of drawer and cupboard space. And I’m thrilled that the refrigerator (and its accompanying freezer) is large.

Kitchen in House of Dreams

Perhaps you can’t tell, but the range is super-wide, with a nice blank space in the middle–and the oven has an accompanying warmer drawer to keep your food toasty while the rest is cooking. It’s perfect for enormous dinners–like the type I like to put on!

Kitchen in House of Dreams

Set back a bit from the wall the range is on, there’s another little nook. We’re setting this up as a beverage station/cookbook area. There’s some decent space on the other side of the room for a little kitchen table.