Mean, Median, Mode....

words to strike terror into the heart of one who swore never to take another math class after she got out of highschool.

Yup. That would be me. I managed to get through a whole university degree without ever taking another math class until now. If I ever want to go forth and get an advanced degree (which I think I probably will at some point) they tell me I need a statistics course and another biology-type course.

Yuck. There is nothing that could be worse to me than math. So here I am trying to conquer the world of statistics and all the confusing terminology, equations and graphs - through an online course. Was this the smartest thing to do? Some might say no but on the other hand I'm finding it relatively comforting that everything is open book and I get to work on my own time.

Check back in a couple of months when the course is done. I'll let you know how it went. No matter how much I may dislike math I'm still determined to keep my GPA up so I won't be happy with anything less than and A!!

What on earth is a Neti Pot?

This was my thinking when I scrolled through my favorite lampworking forum, Lampworketc.com where someone was asking whether anyone had used a neti pot and if it was effective.

Curious me did some reading and for all of you who are now similarly intrigued here's a link to Wikipedia. Turns out it's all about nasal irrigation. For someone who is currently suffering from congestion due to a crazy head cold I was all over anything that would clear my sinuses. So off I went with DH in tow to the nearest pharmacy where I proceeded to check out all of the nasal irrigation kits out there.

I opted for a positive pressure device (essentially a big squeeze bottle) instead of a gravity device since I couldn't really figure out how to put a teapot to my nose. Anyhow, suffice it to say that I'm sold!! In went the solution and out came the guk. It's awesome!!! I can breathe again and I'll be the first to recommend nasal irrigation to anyone suffering from congestion whether due to allergies or a cold.

I'm not affiliated with these folks at all but liked the Sinus Rinse from NeilMed.

Hooray!!! I can breathe again.

Still human...

I don't talk much about work because I figure there are tons of other bloggers out there who are saying pretty much what I'm thinking in a much more eloquent way. However, when I read this particular 2-part post I felt compelled to jot down a few thoughts.

Undoubtedly if you've read any other blogs by healthcare professionals, especially those who work in the ER, you'll have already figured out that we're chronically short-staffed seeing a bunch of people who really are not having emergencies but who have no other form of healthcare and use the ER for their primary care.

We're burned out and short tempered and, for me, alot of the time many things are reduced to how much paperwork has to be done. For example, blood transfusions and moderate sedations are a pain in the butt because you have to fill out so much frickin' paperwork (don't even get me started on people who use the ER for their routine blood transfusions then get made at you because they're going to be admitted and aren't going to be going home right away!). Sadly, even death has become about paperwork.

Rewind to my opening paragraph. When I read the post by DisappearingJohn I found myself with tears in my eyes. Gosh, am I ever glad to find out I'm still human because most days I feel like a robot.

Thank you John!

Sux to be sick....

So I've been working like a madwoman. I guess my body just decided it was too much and my immune system took a break since I wasn't going to. Now I'm phlegmy (sp?) and coughing and my sinuses are all clogged up. Yuck. Do you think this is my body's way of telling me I should slow down a little?

On top of all of that I finally signed up for a Stats course. It's online. Eeeeek. AND I found out today that my first assignments are due by midnight on Sunday. Yeah.....so much for my relaxing weekend off.

I need a vacation.

Hi. My name's Yee

and I'm a glassaholic. Yup. I have an illness that compels me to buy glass (rods that is!) even when I already have tons of stuff sitting around that hasn't yet been melted.

Actually, I think I'm actually getting better. I've sold of most of my stash and have been really good about holding off buying (much of) anything new. I just sold of my entire stock of Bullseye glass (minus odd lots) and am now down to 3 types of glass only. Oh....don't get me wrong. It's not like I haven't been tempted. All the talk of new odd-lots coming from Vetrofond. Even the borosilicate glass manufacturers are getting into the odd-lot phenomenon. True to our natures as addicts all of us crazy lampworkers buy, buy and BUY!!!!

But it isn't limited to glass. I think I'm just addicted to colorful things. Back when I was sewing it was fabric. You wouldn't believe how much fabric I had accumulated when I finally decided to go through and liquidate it.

In a funny way I do think it is somewhat of a compulsion and the compulsion, whatever it is, lurks inside each and every one of us. We all have our vices. The question is whether we have those under control. I think for now I've curbed the glass monster but there's no telling how long that will last. Besides, how can you say no to pretty, colorful stuff when it allows you to make this: