What do you get when the universe combines one housecat, a Dymo label maker, and one bored husband? Our cat, Buddy, puts up with ALOT---I try to make up for it by giving him the best canned catfood money can buy. We're not sure how old Buddy really is as we adopted him when he was already quite the older adult cat, but given the fact that he only has two teeth left, we think he's reached his Golden years. He thinks he's a dog and so, the dogs think that too. Buddy, like most cats, believes he owns the place and we let him think that too.Today is the first day of a two-week respite from both of my part-time jobs which I have been looking forward to for some time now. Spent today trying to help the DH install a pre-hung door (well, he did most of the work---I just provided lifting (read: grunt work) help and dumb looks when he asked for suggestions on how to fix the crookedness. You'd think that installing a pre-hung door would be akin to child's play---I'm here to tell you folks, it's NOT! It's times like these when I realize how unskilled and unknowing I am about a whole bunch of things in life.
Anyway, I've got a list going of all the things I'd like to have done at the end of two weeks---by that time, I'll be well into the Tour-de-Fleece (see prior posting). I'll let you know if my goals are met!
I've devoted most of my life to providing anesthesia to those having various surgical, as well as other pain-producing procedures. I am, by profession, a CRNA (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist) and in case this is the first time you are hearing that term, be informed that our kind were the first grouping of licensed, trained professionals to give anesthesia in the US. CRNAs are Registered Nurses with a bachelor's degree and additional training in anesthesia which currently leads to a Master's degree. There is a move on currently to require nurse anesthetists to have the DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice) degree.
CRNAs are a proud bunch; indeed, we enjoy taking care of our patients. The specialty is unique in that we must strive to foster a trusting relationship with those in our care in a very short amount of time. We see all levels of fear and every different way there is to exhibit fear. Our mission is to quell that fear as best we can, instill trust, and safely deliver an effective anesthetic. My career is very rewarding to me and I love what I do. So the next time you see those initials: CRNA, you'll know what it means!
If you are familiar with Ravelry, each year, the 'Tour de Fleece' takes place in July. Okay, before you all think I'm daft----the 'Tour de Fleece' takes place during the same time as the more well-known 'Tour de France.' For those of us who are 'bicycle-challenged' and fiber-oriented, we choose to "spin" in a different way. We spin fiber---of our choice of course, with the idea that we start spinning when the Tour de France starts and by the end of THAT race, we have our "goal" yarn. Enter, stage left, my fiber----called "It's Complicated" the colorway named by Linda Diak of Diak Designs in Grafton, Vermont (I like to stay local). And so, in July, on the day that the Tour starts, I will start spinning 'It's Complicated.' (By the way, I just saw the movie last night and it's GOOD! But, I'm a sucker for Meryl Streep who comes from my alma mater state New Jersey). Not sure if I'm going to ply 'It's Complicated' with itself or with another colorway from Diak Designs---stay tuned! P.S: I've joined the "CogSPINitive" team.
We farm folk tend to be slightly excited when acquiring new animals. Meet Sayda (Spanish derivation; "extremely lucky"). Sayda was purchased at Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival and road home in my friend's Prius (9-hour drive). My friend and I were dog-tired at the end of the journey, but we laughed practically the whole way! So, I ask, does one get a prize for bringing home a sheep in a Toyota Prius?
As I take my first few steps on this venture to blog, my mind is jammed with ideas. I guess I should first introduce myself---I am Ruth and I live in Vermont with my husband, 2 Golden Retrievers, Buddy the cat, 4 French Angora rabbits, and 6 sheep. We moved here from New Jersey about 7 years ago when we only had one Golden Retriever and a cat (not Buddy-more about that later perhaps).
I am an avid knitter, crocheter, and spinner of all things fiber. When I'm not doing that, I earn a living as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (more about that later too). So, when searching for a name for my blog---I chose something kitchy that encompasses these two very polar aspects of my life i.e.: since I put patients to sleep for procedures, I thought Counting Sheep was very appropo (I was an insomniac in my youth---and my mom used to tell me to count sheep). And, well the "sheep" part fits with my farm life.
Anyway, I titled this post "many goals" because that's what I have---most anesthetists have a type A personality and we tend to be over-achievers. So, I'm going to attempt to start small---I want to blog about my life here on the farm as well as my career which I believe many people find mysterious---I'll attempt to take some of the mystery out of it.
A mid-range goal of mine is to start podcasting and that I'm really excited about---and I'll post about my progress with that.
Hopefully, I'll be able to get pictures up with each post which will include what I'm working on and farm life (can't really post pictures about job stuff as it would violate privacy laws).
So enjoy reading; and post a comment---I welcome suggestions, questions, comments......
Until the next post,
Ruth
