Central Texas has been setting new records for the number of days over 100 degrees. Depending exactly on where you happen to be, this is somewhere on the high side of 41 days, and there is no end in sight. Naruna is a couple of days ahead of Austin I think, but it is hard to keep track when the temperature routinely hits anywhere from 101 to 111 every day.
This kind of record is not something to which I aspire. I was never the competitive type, and I would just as soon someone else be leading in this category. Nobody tries to fry eggs on sidewalks here like they do in New York when they have a warm day. Hot, dry weather is not something we like to joke about much. At least until after the floods have come and the drought has been pushed back for awhile.
Today was not the end of our drought by any means. But we were pleasantly surprised this afternoon when it began raining in Naruna. It only lasted about 15 minutes, and the sun never stopped shining. It stopped as suddenly as it started, and then it was hot and steamy rather than hot & dry. The surprise came when the LB went out to check how much we received...instead of the expected tenth or so in the rain gauge, we had 1.7". Not enough, but still very welcome...especially since it was not accompanied by any hail, high wind or tornados.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
"We're here to help you."
Anyone who has spent time in the military knows that when someone utters the phrase, "We're here to help you", it means the IG has come to town to see what's hidden under all the rocks. It is understood they don't really mean what they say...after all, their job is to find things that can be blamed on the local commander and his staff. And they will find something.
In the world of civilian medicine, the counterpart of the IG is The Joint Commission. This is a private organization which has attained near mythic powers over the decades of its existence. Without its blessing and the small wall plaque which comes with successfully completing a survey, hospitals are severely limited in participation in Medicare and other government programs. Every three years, a small group appears without warning and throws the hospital into panic. Every aspect of the care provided to patients is scrutinized and compared against both TJC's constantly changing standards and the hospital's own policies and procedures.
Last week was our turn, with three surveyors appearing one morning at our front door. One was focused strictly on the physical structure and whether it was safe for patients and staff. One dedicated three days to looking at the Home Health and Hospice which are associated with the hospital. And the third was a nursing surveyor who was interested in everything. She wandered from the Emergency Room, through Radiology, to inpatient nursing areas. She talked with staff members, questioning how they took care of their patients. Documentation of that care was reviewed to see if it matched the staff's explanations as well as the hospital's policies and procedures. Patients were interviewed to find out what they knew about their own care and what was being planned for them. Personnel files were pulled to see if staff had documentation that they were competent to take care of the patients assigned to them.
Finally, she arrived at the most important part of the entire survey...the Operating Room! Okay, so maybe I'm slightly biased since it's mine, but it is still one of the core areas which incorporates all aspects of caring for the patient. How do you know your surgical instruments are really sterile? Do medications get labelled as they are placed on the sterile field? How are implants tracked? Are surgical sites always marked preoperatively by the surgeon to verify it is correct? What is the process for identifying your patient and the surgery to be performed? In the Recovery Room, how is pain assessed, and how is it documented? Throughout the surgical experience, is the patient's medical information kept safe and private? All these topics and more were raised, discussed and responses evaluated.
After three days of walking on eggshells, it was finally over. We survived as a hospital, once again making it through with no major problems. Of course, they did find some things, since that is their job. These opportunities for improvement will be studied, plans of correction drawn up and implemented, results evaluated and forwarded to the Joint. After a week or two of relaxing and recuperating, the cycle begins all over again. The job of making sure our patients are safe never ends. Three years isn't very long when you are preparing for your next survey.
Did I mention that we get to pay for the privilege of being examined by The Joint Commission?
In the world of civilian medicine, the counterpart of the IG is The Joint Commission. This is a private organization which has attained near mythic powers over the decades of its existence. Without its blessing and the small wall plaque which comes with successfully completing a survey, hospitals are severely limited in participation in Medicare and other government programs. Every three years, a small group appears without warning and throws the hospital into panic. Every aspect of the care provided to patients is scrutinized and compared against both TJC's constantly changing standards and the hospital's own policies and procedures.
Last week was our turn, with three surveyors appearing one morning at our front door. One was focused strictly on the physical structure and whether it was safe for patients and staff. One dedicated three days to looking at the Home Health and Hospice which are associated with the hospital. And the third was a nursing surveyor who was interested in everything. She wandered from the Emergency Room, through Radiology, to inpatient nursing areas. She talked with staff members, questioning how they took care of their patients. Documentation of that care was reviewed to see if it matched the staff's explanations as well as the hospital's policies and procedures. Patients were interviewed to find out what they knew about their own care and what was being planned for them. Personnel files were pulled to see if staff had documentation that they were competent to take care of the patients assigned to them.
Finally, she arrived at the most important part of the entire survey...the Operating Room! Okay, so maybe I'm slightly biased since it's mine, but it is still one of the core areas which incorporates all aspects of caring for the patient. How do you know your surgical instruments are really sterile? Do medications get labelled as they are placed on the sterile field? How are implants tracked? Are surgical sites always marked preoperatively by the surgeon to verify it is correct? What is the process for identifying your patient and the surgery to be performed? In the Recovery Room, how is pain assessed, and how is it documented? Throughout the surgical experience, is the patient's medical information kept safe and private? All these topics and more were raised, discussed and responses evaluated.
After three days of walking on eggshells, it was finally over. We survived as a hospital, once again making it through with no major problems. Of course, they did find some things, since that is their job. These opportunities for improvement will be studied, plans of correction drawn up and implemented, results evaluated and forwarded to the Joint. After a week or two of relaxing and recuperating, the cycle begins all over again. The job of making sure our patients are safe never ends. Three years isn't very long when you are preparing for your next survey.
Did I mention that we get to pay for the privilege of being examined by The Joint Commission?
On-Line Again
One of the joys of living in a rural paradise is getting away from all the many ills and problems associated with our modern society. Unfortunately, you also are far from all the modern conveniences urban dwellers take for granted.
Almost three weeks ago, my Lovely Bride was trying to connect to the Internet using our usual dial up connection. She was unable to get past a chronically "busy" message, and told me I needed to call and investigate. After quietly checking to make sure I had remembered to pay the bill, I gave the ISP a call. The short version of their tale was that the company they had obtained access to most of the smaller hill country towns through had suddenly, and without any warning, gone out of business and no replacement was available.
A few calls and a check of the local yellow pages revealed few options for Internet service in our neck of the woods. The only way to have any sort of broadband access out where we reside is via satellite. Several neighbors reported having good luck with WildBlue, and so a visit was made to their local installer to review what would be needed to get connected to the rest of the world once again. Equipment was ordered and after a week, a couple of "professional installers" appeared and got us hooked up. If you are interested in how professional these installers were, you need to visit with the L.B.. I'm not sure she was terribly impressed, but everything seems to work okay. Not the fastest connection I've used, but a lot faster than our old dial up.
We managed to keep our old email address, so nobody has to learn anything new or make any changes to address books. It's good to be back.
Almost three weeks ago, my Lovely Bride was trying to connect to the Internet using our usual dial up connection. She was unable to get past a chronically "busy" message, and told me I needed to call and investigate. After quietly checking to make sure I had remembered to pay the bill, I gave the ISP a call. The short version of their tale was that the company they had obtained access to most of the smaller hill country towns through had suddenly, and without any warning, gone out of business and no replacement was available.
A few calls and a check of the local yellow pages revealed few options for Internet service in our neck of the woods. The only way to have any sort of broadband access out where we reside is via satellite. Several neighbors reported having good luck with WildBlue, and so a visit was made to their local installer to review what would be needed to get connected to the rest of the world once again. Equipment was ordered and after a week, a couple of "professional installers" appeared and got us hooked up. If you are interested in how professional these installers were, you need to visit with the L.B.. I'm not sure she was terribly impressed, but everything seems to work okay. Not the fastest connection I've used, but a lot faster than our old dial up.
We managed to keep our old email address, so nobody has to learn anything new or make any changes to address books. It's good to be back.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Independence Day
Happy Independence Day!
I had a rare weekday off yesterday, and the Lovely Bride & I meandered into Austin and watched the latest Star Trek movie. She is not a Trekkie(or any kind of S-F fan), and even she liked it. It was in the form of a "prequel", revealing events which led up to the original tv series, and did a fair job of illustrating how some of the crew relationships began and developed. After the show, it was off to a little hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese place for some really good noodles and such. I miss not having such things close by, but would still rather live in Naruna.
We have no plans for the actual 4th, but are just trying to not melt down. 105 at mid-afternoon, and I'm just waiting for a little shade to get on the, still new, above ground pool before I go float the afternoon away. Maybe a couple of cold Peroni bieres will help with fluid & electrolyte replacement.
My only semi-productive activity this holiday weekend is reading a new book. To those who know me , that hardly qualifies as startling news, but this is a little different from the usual novels I lose myself in. The book is by Giles Tremlett, "Ghosts of Spain", and is about the Civil War, its aftermath and its effects on current Spanish life and politics. In particular, he looks at the "pacto del olvido" or "pact of the forgetfulness" which existed throughout the reign of Franco and has only begun to crumble thirty years after El Caudillo's death. Not an easy read, but worth it in the long run, I hope.
I had a rare weekday off yesterday, and the Lovely Bride & I meandered into Austin and watched the latest Star Trek movie. She is not a Trekkie(or any kind of S-F fan), and even she liked it. It was in the form of a "prequel", revealing events which led up to the original tv series, and did a fair job of illustrating how some of the crew relationships began and developed. After the show, it was off to a little hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese place for some really good noodles and such. I miss not having such things close by, but would still rather live in Naruna.
We have no plans for the actual 4th, but are just trying to not melt down. 105 at mid-afternoon, and I'm just waiting for a little shade to get on the, still new, above ground pool before I go float the afternoon away. Maybe a couple of cold Peroni bieres will help with fluid & electrolyte replacement.
My only semi-productive activity this holiday weekend is reading a new book. To those who know me , that hardly qualifies as startling news, but this is a little different from the usual novels I lose myself in. The book is by Giles Tremlett, "Ghosts of Spain", and is about the Civil War, its aftermath and its effects on current Spanish life and politics. In particular, he looks at the "pacto del olvido" or "pact of the forgetfulness" which existed throughout the reign of Franco and has only begun to crumble thirty years after El Caudillo's death. Not an easy read, but worth it in the long run, I hope.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
What do they really think?
Have you ever wondered what people really think of you? I mean, everybody is nice to you, but what are their deep, dark thoughts when it comes to how they really feel? I recently had a chance to take a closer look when I received an email quiz. It only posed one question, "If you saw ME in a police car what would you think I got arrested for?" Of course, there was more to the email; such as admonitions to forward it to all your friends within 3.5 seconds or suffer a fate worse than death, etc. I ignored the warnings and gypsy curses, but decided to send the question to some friends and family members who have known me for quite some time to see what they came up with.
I picked out a few of the responses which were suitable for mixed company and wanted to share.
The first response came from one of my oldest friends. We ran together back in college and he was the best man in my one and only wedding. We have maintained contact over the years, but only get together every year or two. "Public Intoxication since it is an easy charge to bring. I am just remembering the old days." I'm glad Larry is able to remember the good old days, because I think I drowned more than a few brain cells back when we would skip afternoon classes and drink our lunch up on Lake Somerville. Unfortunately, my capacity for alcohol is now greatly diminished, and if I exceed my one margarita limit, I just go to sleep.
One of my sisters gave a very succinct analysis of how exciting she thinks my life is with her reply. "Sleepwalking." I wish! But even in Naruna, there is never enough sack time.
A co-worker I have worked with every day for the past 14 years gave one of the more unsettling answers, "embezzlement!!!!!!!!" What is there to embezzle?
Our middle child, who always was accused of being the Daddy's Girl while growing up, offered an interesting thought. "Poss Marijane, we always suspected you might have been a hippie back in the day. Maybe ‘cause of the long hair and mellow attitude…" Sad to say, the hair isn't nearly as long(or thick) and the mellow attitude has more to do with all the children being out from under foot.
My Lovely Bride gave an answer that shows how trusting she is and how much she loves me. "What?? Is this a trick question? My first instinct would be that you were an innocent by-stander to a crime, and were being taken in for questioning." After more than 34 years of marriage, she still thinks I can do no wrong! What a woman!
I picked out a few of the responses which were suitable for mixed company and wanted to share.
The first response came from one of my oldest friends. We ran together back in college and he was the best man in my one and only wedding. We have maintained contact over the years, but only get together every year or two. "Public Intoxication since it is an easy charge to bring. I am just remembering the old days." I'm glad Larry is able to remember the good old days, because I think I drowned more than a few brain cells back when we would skip afternoon classes and drink our lunch up on Lake Somerville. Unfortunately, my capacity for alcohol is now greatly diminished, and if I exceed my one margarita limit, I just go to sleep.
One of my sisters gave a very succinct analysis of how exciting she thinks my life is with her reply. "Sleepwalking." I wish! But even in Naruna, there is never enough sack time.
A co-worker I have worked with every day for the past 14 years gave one of the more unsettling answers, "embezzlement!!!!!!!!" What is there to embezzle?
Our middle child, who always was accused of being the Daddy's Girl while growing up, offered an interesting thought. "Poss Marijane, we always suspected you might have been a hippie back in the day. Maybe ‘cause of the long hair and mellow attitude…" Sad to say, the hair isn't nearly as long(or thick) and the mellow attitude has more to do with all the children being out from under foot.
My Lovely Bride gave an answer that shows how trusting she is and how much she loves me. "What?? Is this a trick question? My first instinct would be that you were an innocent by-stander to a crime, and were being taken in for questioning." After more than 34 years of marriage, she still thinks I can do no wrong! What a woman!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Mea Culpa
Why is it that every time I vow to be more timely in my postings, I fail miserably and fall farther and farther behind?
We just returned from a week at Lake of the Ozarks with family. One daughter and son-in-law gave us a ride up, and all we had to do was share the cost of gas. Did I mention they hauled their 28 foot boat from Texas to Missouri? Even though the gas mileage suffered, it was well worth the trouble. They had the freedom to blast around the lake when the mood struck them, drop in on little lakefront restaurants, and laze around quiet sheltered coves while their nieces practiced their swimming skills.
The Lovely Bride's little garden is flourishing and little green tomatos and tiny okra are beginning to grow. The basil of varying types makes me dream of Italian cooking every time I brush past, and I'm already thinking of expanding her space soon. So long as we remember to give it a drink occasionally, everything stays happy & green.
We just returned from a week at Lake of the Ozarks with family. One daughter and son-in-law gave us a ride up, and all we had to do was share the cost of gas. Did I mention they hauled their 28 foot boat from Texas to Missouri? Even though the gas mileage suffered, it was well worth the trouble. They had the freedom to blast around the lake when the mood struck them, drop in on little lakefront restaurants, and laze around quiet sheltered coves while their nieces practiced their swimming skills.
The oldest daughter and her hubby came with the three Grand Girls in tow. The oldest, Sarah, certainly showed an affinity for the water and spe
nt every moment she could in one boat or the other. When she wasn't swimming or boating, she was buttering up her Uncle Steven in hopes he would take her out again. Amazing how good they can be when they want something!
nt every moment she could in one boat or the other. When she wasn't swimming or boating, she was buttering up her Uncle Steven in hopes he would take her out again. Amazing how good they can be when they want something!The twins are just past 2, full of energy, and masters at getting into trouble. We were preparing 
for bed our first night after 14 hours on the road, when wails echoed from the little girls' room. Ellie managed to fall(tripped, pushed,??) and tried to break the frame of the sofa bed with her head. Lots of blood and tears, so off to the ER we go. Fortunately, it was a
slow night, and she was seen immediately. Less than an hour saw her evaluated, get a CT of her head, and then have her forehead stuck back together using some industrial strength superglue. Home and to bed by 1:00am.
for bed our first night after 14 hours on the road, when wails echoed from the little girls' room. Ellie managed to fall(tripped, pushed,??) and tried to break the frame of the sofa bed with her head. Lots of blood and tears, so off to the ER we go. Fortunately, it was a
slow night, and she was seen immediately. Less than an hour saw her evaluated, get a CT of her head, and then have her forehead stuck back together using some industrial strength superglue. Home and to bed by 1:00am. Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Dirty fingernails
Another happening in Naruna during the past month was the LB deciding she wanted a small garden. I think she got tired of listening to me grumble about eating store-bought tomatoes; plus she was wanting some more space for her herbs. She had seen several articles about using elevated beds for growing vegetables and herbs in a small space. Most of these use landscape timbers to 
enclose an area which is then filled with a mix of dirt, compost and fertilizer, but she had the idea of using concrete blocks. One of the advantages of this is she can plant her herbs in the holes of the blocks, keeping them separated, and allowing her to water each only when needed. Now we just have to wait and see what grows.
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