Southwest Veterans' Business Resource Center Grice's Blog

Recreation in 1946

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 00:11:28 GMT

Milking 100 cows each morning and evening, Bailing hay, Feeding the cattle and slopping the hogs was all part of daily activity on the farm.

However there was always time for fun per the photo attached.

Left to right is brother Chuck riding Barney our shetland pony. Next is Carol in the saddle on her beloved spotted Indian pony Ginger. Standing on the ground is brother Bob. To his left is his spotted Indian pony Smokey. A friend on the saddle.

The building in the rear that looks like a house is the country school we attended with all 8 grades in one room. I was the only student in my class until the 8th grade when joined by a boy that was held back to repeat his 8th grade studies again.

It's Been a Great Ride.

Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:50:03 GMT

All in all, it is been a great ride! Click on the sentence in red to read the story.

I appreciate your support. My School of Nursing deleted this information. In my mind no instutition should delete it's histortical data. Thus it is now posted on the SWVBRC website by my request.

Carol.

Tallinn, Estonia (Last chapter about 3 weeks in Russia)

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 21:29:24 GMT

Tallinn, Estonia

We left Leningrad by bus for a 51/2-hour trip to Tallinn. It rained most of the way. The countryside was pretty. We made one pit stop to use the bathroom, which consisted of trees and bushes at the side of the road. I have developed a bad head cold and feel terrible.

We arrived in Tallinn at 1430. Scheduled to stay at Hotel Tallinn, but the tour company changed the reservations, which was a good thing. Hotel Tallinn was the pits. We ended up at Hotel Viru, which was Finnish built, and run by staff from Finland. It was considered the best hotel in the entire Soviet Union.

Our room was very nice with plenty of space, and a decent shower. We rested for a while then had dinner at 2000, followed by a lecture with questions and answers with Dr. Feldman.

Monday 17 July 1989. I decided to skip the morning city tour and rest. My cold is terrible and don’t want to spread my germs and make anyone else sick. Got up around 1030 and feel better.

The site of Tallinn is thought to have been settled by Finno-Ugric people around 2500 BC. There was probably an Estonian trading settlement here from around the 9^th century AD, and a wooden stronghold was built on Toompea (the hill dominating Tallinn) in the 11^th century. The Danes under King Waldemar II (who conquered Northern Estonia in 1219 met tough resistance at Tallinn and were on the verge of retreat when a red flag with a white cross fell from the sky into the bishop’s hands. Taking this as a sign of God’s support, they went on to win the battle; the flag became their national flag. The Danes set their own castle on Toompea. The origin of the name Tallinn is thought to be from the Taani linn, Estonian for Danish town.

With the start of the Protestant Reformation the German influence became even stronger as the city was converted to Lutheranism. There are many beautiful churches in the city.

During WWII the city suffered greatly with thousands of buildings destroyed during Soviet bombing in 1944. After the war, under Soviet control large-scale industry was developed in Tallinn – including the USSR’s biggest grain handling port. The population of this city speaks 3 languages. French 5%, German 20-25% and the rest speak English. Although under Russian control from 1944 to the present, most of the people refuse to speak Russian. Tallinn gained its independence in 1991. It was a fascinating city to visit.

After dinner we had several people from the city speak with us. Five teachers and 1 physicist.

This brings my 3 weeks in Russia to a close. Tomorrow we board the Ferry to travel approximately 2 hours back to Helsinki. My exchange student and her father will be meeting us to take us to the home in Pori, Finland for 3 weeks of sightseeing in Finland.

I hope you have enjoyed this adventure. I doubt however anyone has bothered to read it considering not one single comment has been posted. Such is life. One can only make an attempt to post an interesting event even if no one is the least bit interested.

All in all, it is been a great ride!

Leningrad, Russia

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:36:57 GMT

Welcome to Leningrad

In this beautiful city of canals and bridges, the sightseeing was breathtaking. The former capital of a grand and Glorious empire, which stretched over much of the globe. It is chock-full of culture and history. Although just 300 years old it has an exciting history. Founded in 1703 by Emperor Peter the Great as his “window on the west”. Named then St. Petersburg. Sightseeing took us along the Nevsky Avenue. The main street of the city. Planned by Peter the Great as beginning the road to Novgorod and Moscow, the avenue runs from Admiralty to the Moscow Railway Station and, after making a turn at Vosstaniya Square, to the Alexander Nevsky Lavra. The chief sights include the Rastrellie Stroganov Palace, the huge neoclassical Kazan Cathedral, the Art Nouveau Bookhouse, Eliisseeff Emporium, half a dozen 18the century churches, a monument to Catherine the Great, an enormous 18th-century shopping mall, a mid 19^th-century department store, the Russian National Library, and the Anichkov Bridge with its horse statues.

The Nevsky today functions as the main thoroughfare in Saint Petersburg. The majority of the city’s shopping and nightlife, as well as the most expensive apartments, are located on or right of the Nevsky Prospekt.

Summer Palace of Emperor Peter the Great. This private palace was built between 1710 and 1712. It contains just 14 rooms and was the summer residence of Peter the Great and his family from 1712 until the Emperor’s death in 1725.

The two story yellow palace is very modest in appearance for a royal residence. Each floor of the palace consists of 7 rooms. Peter the Great resided on the lower floor of the palace while his wife preferred the upper floor.

The palace stands on the bank of the Fontanka River where if flows into the mighty Neva River.

Past History of interest. A socialist City: Leningrad (1924-1941). Shortly after the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin died the city was renamed from St. Petersburg to Leningrad (supposedly by public demand). During the years of the Revolution the population of the city had dropped dramatically and the city was slow to recover from the rigors and tragedies of war.

In the late 1920’s mass construction of cheap housing for workers became a very prominent feature of the Leningrad landscape. Many cultural centers, palaces of culture, were built to provide the city’s people with entertainment, clubs and other social activities. In terms of architecture most of what was built was rather modern and less than inspiring. The large apartments that had been constructed during St. Petersburg’s Imperial era were turned into “communal” (shared) apartments, housing several families. Life was not easy in the socialist city of Leningrad, but the population was to suffer even greater hardships during WWII and the dramatic 900-day Siege of Leningrad.

The siege of Leningrad lasted September 1941 to 1944. By the end of the siege, some 632,000 people are thought to have died with nearly 4,000 people from Leningrad starving to death on Christmas Day, 1941. The city, one of the primary targets of “Operation Barbarossa” was expected “to fall like a leaf” (Hitler)

This was undoubtedly the most tragic period in the history of the city. A period full of suffering and heroism. The city’s almost 3 million civilians (including about 400,000 children) refused to surrender and endured rapidly increasing hardships in the encircled city. Food and fuel stocks were limited to a mere 1-2 month supply. Public transportation was not operational and by the winter of 1941-1942, there was no heating, no water and almost no electricity and very little food. Only about ¼ of a pound of bread per day.

In January and February of 1942, 200,000 people died in Leningrad of cold and starvation. Despite these tragic losses and inhuman conditions the city’s war industries still continued to work and the city did not surrender.

The treasures of the Hermitage and the suburban palaces were hidden in the basement of the Hermitage and St. Isaac’s Cathedral. For some extremely interesting facts (5 pages) google “The Siege of Leningrad.

Other items of sightseeing included a visit to the palace of Catherine the Great. The palace may even be more impressive than the Hermitage.

Evening entertainment consisted of dinner at the city’s best restaurant atop the Leningrad Hotel with a magnificent view. We also were treated to an evening at the Opera and an evening of ballet. We completed our time in Leningrad on 16 July 1989 at 0930 and headed for Tallin. A 6 hour trip by bus.

Kiev, Russia

Sun, 21 Aug 2011 19:57:43 GMT

Kiev

The flight to Kiev was very pleasant. We were scheduled to stay at the first class Hotel Lybed. Kiev is the capital of the Ukraine, on the Dnieper River. Known in ancient times as the route between the “Varangians and the Greeks” in Constantinople, this city and its people have a long great culture and historic heritage.

According to ancient legend Kiev, the capital of the Ukraine was founded by 3 brothers and their sister.

The city was named after the oldest brother, Kyi, which is Ukrainian spelling. Kiev is Russian.

Archeological excavations show evidence of the first settlements on the territory of Kiev, 15,000 to 20,000 years ago. During the 11^th and 12^th centuries ancient Kiev reached its greatest period of ascendancy. By the 11th century Kiev was one of the largest centers of civilization in the Eastern Christian world. At that time, there were about 400 churches, 8 markets and more than 50.000 inhabitants.

Kiev suffered severely during WWII, when many unique architectural and artistic treasures were destroyed.

As we explored various historical buildings many had photos at the entrance of the extensive damage done to the building. Then we were able to witness the restoration that had taken place in the following years. It was extremely impressive.

Our only excursion this afternoon was of the Kiev Museum of Western and Oriental Art. Approximately 17,000 artworks and 2,000 pieces. The day was ended with a very nice dinner, which included flowers and a birthday cake for Mrs. Grice. Dinner was followed with dancing.

Tuesday 11 July 1989. We started the day with a nice breakfast and then went on a City Tour. First stop was St. Andrews church. It took 6 years to erect the church and 15 more to decorate its interior. When you walk inside, you cannot help being impressed by the lavishness and at the same time graceful beauty of the interior decorations, and looking at all these splendors one stops wondering why it took so long to decorate the church with paintings and stucco work. St. Andrews Church is a true architectural marvel and it would be futile to give it justice by trying to describe the exquisite gracefulness of its shape. One has to see it with one’s own eyes. It is unique in its design and there is not a single one like it anywhere else in the world.

Directly across from St. Andrews church was the ruins of “The Church of the Tithes. At the time all buildings were built from wood. This was the first to be built of stone during the years of 989-996. The only thing that currently remains is the foundation and a few crumbled ruins. For additional history do a google search.

Following lunch we visited the Friendship Society to speak with University students regarding the changes occurring in Russia.

We had dinner at 1730 at an International Restaurant, which included a few cockroaches running around on the table and floor. One must be a brave person with a strong stomach to travel in 3^rd World countries. After dinner we attended a performance of Russian Folk dancing.

Earlier than the sovereignty of Peter the Great, dance in Russia subsisted only among the commoners, among the peasants and lowest classes living outside the city fortresses. The feudal aristocracy did not dance, but enjoyed the entertaining performances of dancing clowns, who were on the whole, men. First certified evidence of Russian folk dancing and Russian folk music goes back to the year 907 when Great Russian Prince Oleg celebrated his triumph over Greeks in Kiev. During the grand Dinner, 16 male dancers clad as bears and four bears clad as Russian dancers performed for the guests. After the dinner was over Great Prince commanded to release the bears into the wild and to execute all the dancers.

After the civil war came to an end and the blood of the revolt had dried out, the Soviets fixed the funds to arrange the first state established troupe of the Russian folk dancers. In 1937 the first skilled group of Russian folk dance was born under the guidance of Igor Moiseyev. It is still believed to be the preeminent academic group of folk dance in the world. Moiseyev laid the establishment of the classic dance for the creativeness and elation of the Russian folklore. This initiative was victorious, the west loved it and nowadays the group is enormously famous. Almost all the choreographers in the world use the performance, tricks and concepts of this dance company.

Wednesday 12 July 1989. Following breakfast we visited Kiev Pechersk Lavra Monastery and Catacombs, which is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery. According to the Primary Chronicle, in the early 11^th century, Anthony as an Orthodox monk from Esphigmenon monastery on Mount Athos, originally from Liubech of the Principality of Chernihiv, returned to Russia and settled in Kiev as a missionary of monastic tradition to Kievan Russia. He chose a cave at the Berestove Mount that overlooked the Dnieper River and a community of disciples soon grew. Prince Iziaslav I of Kiev ceded the whole mount to the Antonite monks who founded a monastery built by architects from Constantinople.

The Kiev Pechersk Lavra contains numerous architectural monuments, ranging from bell towers to cathedrals to underground cave systems and to strong stone fortifications. There are over a hundred burials in the Lavra. During the Soviet era the bodies of the saints that lay in the caves were left uncovered due to the regime’s disregard for religion. However after the fall of the soviet Union, the bodies were covered with a cloth and to this day remain in the same state.

Today we had a very special lunch that included Russian folk music and wine.

After lunch we visited St Sophia’s Cathedral. The first foundation was laid on 1037. It took 2 decades to complete. The history is long and complicated. If interested please google for additional information.

Our next site was Babyn Yar Monument, dedicated to the Jewish people killed by Germans during the occupation of 1941. The Hitlerist bandits commented mass murder of the Jewish population. They announced that on September 29^, 1941 all the Jews were required to arrive to the corners of Melnikov and Doklerev streets and bring their documents, money and valuables. The butchers marched them to Babyn Yar, took away their belongings then shot them. They marched tens of thousands of Jews to the Babyn Yar

Ravine stripped them, shot them and pushed them in.

Dinner was at 1830 followed by a 90-minute boat trip down Dineper River. A fabulous trip full of wonderful sights.

Tomorrow we head for Leningrad, so stay tuned for 4 days of interesting events.

Baku, Azerbaijan

Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:26:49 GMT

Baku Adventure.

Arrival at the airport for our flight to Baku was yet another interesting situation. There were lots of cartoons about Perestroika with English translations. The jest of them is “if it belongs to you, you are likely to take better care of it”. Wonder why it took them so long to figure that out.

We are traveling with about 1 gallon of water for use while in Baku. The water in Baku is not safe to drink.

Entering the plane was yet another breathless experience. The odor was horrible and the carpet was so wrinkled the flight attendants had to lift the cart down the isle. The flight was 2 hours and they did offer some food. A piece of cold greasy chicken, a large tasteless cookie and a cup of tea. They reuse the cups and only rinse them out between uses. Taking photos in the airport or the inside of the plane is forbidden. Without photos to back up my claims it is likely no one would believe the condition of this flight. The flight attendants were certainly not selected for a beauty pageant. They were nearly as wide as the isle between the seats. Uniform was navy blue skirt, white blouse, white shoes without hose. One does need a fly swatter when taking a flight on a Russian commercial airplane.

We finally arrived at our destination and as we deplaned there was an apartment complex near the airport that was indeed very near to a slum area as you might imagine. Someone in the group yelled out Baku Airport Hilton anyone? The expression on Wilma’s face was priceless.

We drove to the hotel in downtown Baku. It wasn’t much better than the slum like apartment complex near the airport.

The odor in the lobby was horrible. Equivalent to the extremely polluted Grand Canal in China.

The room was a little larger than the last hotel, but oh my! The construction was something else. Door handles falling off. Sink was broken and no face plate over the keyhole. Just a hole in the wood. AC did work.

This area is located in the South Caucasus, located partially in Eastern Europe and partially in Western Asia. It is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the west and northwest Armenia to the southwest and Iran to the South. In general it was indeed not a very clean area.

Sunday 9 July 1989. 0900 breakfast of baked eggs, bread, cheese and apple juice. Before our Russian guide had a chance to warn me I drank the juice, which was watered down, and as mentioned above the water isn’t safe to drink. Oh well, I must have a cast iron stomach as I did not develop any adverse symptoms.

After breakfast we went on a city tour, which included an ancient market, and the 11^th century Tower of the Maiden. Baku is thought to been inhabited since the Stone Age. It has a rich history and in particular the 12^th century Maiden Tower. I suggest you google to learn more regarding the Maiden Tower.

Lunch consisted of steak (which was extremely tough) potatoes and an excellent soup. After lunch we visited the Fire Temple which originates from the 17^th Century. A pentagonal complex has a courtyard surrounded by cells for monks. It was abandoned after 1883 when oil and gas plants were established in the vicinity. The flame still burns but from natural gas piped in from the city of Baku. Next we visited the City Bazaar. It was extremely crowded and had lots of fruit and vegetables for sale. The main resources of this area are cotton and oil.

Monday 10 July 1989. Happy Birthday Carol.

Up at 0600 and guess what? An upset stomach and diarrhea. Must have been the apple juice watered down with the Baku water. Today we leave this less than desirable place. Hotel baggage people were informed to take large luggage but leave the hand luggage. Hand luggage was to be placed in the hotel lobby. So much for instructions. Some of the group had all luggages taken to the airport, including their hand luggage and went straight to the airport. A total complicated mess.

For breakfast I ate only a hard-boiled egg and drank some tea. Vera, our Russian guide gave me some pills to take for my upset stomach. She said “You see you have been eating Russian food, so you have to kill it with Russian pills”. I’m not certain I agreed however I thought one of 3 things could happen. I would get better, get worse, or stay the same. So I decided to take the pills, but also added a little Pepto-Bismol, which I always carry with me when I travel.

We arrived at the airport at 0910 for our flight to Kiev. The airport waiting room had a terrible odor. Cleaning and proper odor elimination certainly isn’t high on their priority list of things to do to make the tourists have a pleasant experience. Time to move on to another adventure.

Hope you are enjoying this historic trip with a great group of people.

Simferopol/Yalta

Sun, 07 Aug 2011 21:04:52 GMT

Simferopol/Yalta

Notes of Information: When we arrived in Moscow a young Russian lady/tour guide greeted us. She stayed with the group for the entire week.

Tipping: Gratitude for service was not given in the form of money. Tips consisted of giving them items they were not able to obtain in Russia. Such as lipstick, perfume, fashion magazines, blank cassette tapes, ballpoint pens and small games for children.

Drinking water was also often a problem is certain areas. Thus the trip was planned in a way that the city water was safe to drink but the next city the water was not safe to drink, so we were tasked to carry our own water for use in those areas.

The Flight to Simperopol

Don’t think for a minute you will be served cocktails, peanuts or a snack. But then who wants to eat or drink on an airplane that smells like a cesspool. The flight was 2 hours. When we arrived we had our evening dinner in this location. Plain boiled old potatoes, tough chicken, tomatoes, cucumbers and ice cream. There were wrapped pieces of chocolate candy on the table that smelled something like mothballs. Following dinner it was a 2 hour buss ride to Yalta. We are 800 miles south of Moscow so it does get dark at night. I slept during the trip. We arrived at the Hotel 30 minutes past midnight. The room was nice but extremely small which made it super crowded with our suitcases in the room.

I’m starting to look like a bum. My clothes are dirty, baggie, wrinkled and smelly from the rain, heat and humidity.

Thursday 6 July 1989. As we were extremely tired from yesterday’s long trip, breakfast was scheduled for 0900. Once again we were served the traditional 60% fat salami, cheese, bread, pancakes and juice. After breakfast we toured the Alupka castle. It is situated at the foot of the Crimean Mountains. Constructed 1830-1848 to be used as the summer residence of the Governor General. It over looks the Black Sea. It was extremely beautiful and interesting. There was a tour guide giving us information about the castle. She got on my case because I was recording what she was saying because I had not first asked for her permission. Oh well, we are in a Communist country.

After lunch we to a trip to the Children’s Pioneer camp. It was huge. Children come from all over the East Block countries to attend this camp. It is the one that Samantha Smith attended. (The American youngster that wrote a letter to Gorbachev and was invited to stay at the camp for 10 days). There are approximately 2000 children at the cam and it is run year around. During the winter months they have regular school sessions. The children are age 10 and above. The counselors area age 18 and above. The children preformed for us with dance routines. They also wanted to converse with us. They were cute and most pleasant. We gave them our gifts of ballpoint pens, writing tablets and other school supplies. Then we returned to the hotel for dinner.

After dinner we had another discussion regarding the changes in the Soviet Union, Then a few of us went to a very quiet cocktail lounge. Some of the group went to the lounge at the opposite end, which had extremely loud, and a terrible band. It was extremely crowded with people from East Germany.

Friday 7 July. It looks like a beautiful day. After breakfast we had a boat trip of the coastline that included the Swallow’s nest castle. I highly recommend you google the Swallow’s nest castle to learn of it’s history and view some awesome photo’s.

After lunch we had a tour of the Ukrainian summer palace of Czar Nicholas II, the last emperor of Russia and the site of the Yalta Conference.

Dinner was at 1930 which consisted of wonderful white fish, fresh tomatoes and believe it or not wine and champagne. Dancing followed dinner.

Saturday 8 July 1989. The morning was free. After lunch we had a group photo then a 2-hour bus ride to the airport for our flight to Baku. It is the capital of Azerbaijan.

You haven’t lived an exciting experience until you take a flight to this area. So stay tuned for another adventure.

Moscow Third Day of Sightseeing

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 17:51:54 GMT

Third day of sightseeing/Moscow

Tuesday 4 July 1989. Breakfast at 0830. In Russia if you want a cup of coffee prior to 0900 you are out of luck. They absolutely refuse to serve you coffee until you have finished your breakfast. You can imagine how well that went over with a bunch of American’s who gulp down a cup of coffee before their eyes are even open. In order to finally get a cup of coffee we had to indulge in apple juice, salami and a cheese blintz. The salami was 60% fat. Finally they served us a cup of coffee.

Our adventure for today was to visit the Kremlin and Cathedral Square. We saw the building where Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan had their talks. Also the largest bell in the world, which cracked and has never rang and the largest cannon in the world, which has never been fired.

Next stop was the Armory. It is one of the oldest and most opulent Kremlin museums, which houses a major collection of applied and decorative art. Built over many centuries the collection contains nearly 10 thousand objects documenting the achievements of craftsmen in Russia both native and foreign, within and outside the Kremlin from the 12^th to the 20^th century. Items owned by royalty such as silver, gold and china collections. Gowns worn by Catherine the Great and clothes worn by Peter the Great. Robes and carriages owned by Royalty. .

The work of Faberge and his colleagues was not accorded due recognition until recently.

Faberge “The Imperial Easter Egg” The interesting history is much too lengthy to include in this writing. Many of the collection were not available for viewing as it was on tour outside of Russia. My favorites were Coronation Egg, The Trans-Siberian Railway Egg and the Red Cross Egg with Resurrection Triptych. Faberge created 56 Imperial Eggs for Czar Alexander III and other Czars that followed. These exquisite eggs were given as gifts to each other with in the Royal family. It was breath taking.

Time to return to the Hotel for lunch and yet another interesting meal that consisted of Beef Stroganoff, rice, peas and ice cream. The Stroganoff was 90% onions, 5% sauce and 5% beef. (I HATE ONIONS). The ice cream was good.

After lunch we went to the Lenin Museum. The museum was opened in May of 1924, with more that 12,500 exhibits displayed on 3 floors. On November 16 1993 President Boris Yeltsin ordered the closure of the museum. The building that housed the museum since 1936 is expected to be returned to its orginal purpose-housing the Moscow Duma, a local government council. The museum’s collection of Lenin’s memorabilia is being put in storage until a decision is made where to keep it.

Back to the Hotel for dinner and prepare for an evening at the Tchaikovsky Theater of folk music and opera. The theater was extremely warm and it was difficult to stay awake.

We returned to the Hotel at 2200 to pack for tomorrow’s trip to Yelta. We were up until midnight. Even though tired it seems it is difficult to sleep when the sun never sets such as here in the land of the midnight sun.

Wednesday 5 July 1989. We were up at 0530 to dress for the day and place our bags outside the Hotel room by 0630 for pick up. Keeping our carry on with us.

Breakfast of Cream of wheat, hard-boiled eggs, bread and the usual fatty cold salami. After breakfast we toured the Puskin Museum of fine arts. I was forced to check my purse because of its size. I guess they thought I might steal something.

Our last event in Moscow was to visit the residence of a female PhD for a round table discussion about Russia. She was 69 years old and a devout communist and proud of it. It was an interesting discussion and she was obviously very diplomatic to have survived the many political régimes over the years without being executed or jailed. Her apartment was extremely small consisting of 3 rooms and a bath.

We returned to the Hotel for lunch which was fairly decent including fresh tomatoes.

We gathered our hand luggage and left for the airport for our trip to Yelta. The airport was a zoo. It was very dirty and poorly maintained. So many people you could hardly move. We boarded the plane (Areoflot, which we lovingly called Areoflop) at 1715. Due to technical problems the take off time was delayed until 1840.

Next blog is about our flight to Simferopol which is the closest airport to Yalta, Russia.

Stay tuned for more Russian adventures.

Sightseeing in Moscow

Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:21:11 GMT

Sight seeing in Moscow

Sunday 2 July 1989. It is raining in Moscow but that doesn’t interfere with the schedule.

At 1230 we were treated to a City Tour. One of the stops was Red Square. Red Square began life as a slum; a shantytown of wooden huts clustered beneath the Kremlin walls that housed a collection of peddlers, criminals and drunks whose status left them outside the official boundaries of the medieval day. It was cleared on the orders of Ivan III at the end of the 1400’s but remained the providence of the mob, the site of public executions and rabble rousing until much later.

The squares name has nothing to do with Communism or with the color of many of its buildings.

Red Square came into it’s own in the 20^th Century, when it was most famous as the site of official military parades demonstrating to the world the might of the Soviet armed forces.

Since Perestroika, however the emphasis has moved away from the official pomp and Red Square has been used increasingly for rock concerts, big classical music performances and a whole range of large-scale events from fashion shows to festivals of circus art. Moscow met the millennium here with a huge firework display and street party. It was indeed a fascinating place to visit.

We returned to the Hotel to prepare for dinner. In Russia you do not leave your room key at the front desk. Each floor has a key lady. You turn your key in and she gives you a card. When you return you give her the card and she gives you the key to your room. Their shifts are 24 hours long.

We showered and dressed for dinner. Our room was adequate. No bedspreads, towels did not match and appeared to be pieces of Terry cloth cut towel size and hemmed on the sides. No wash clothes. The glasses were plastic and likely previously used. Needless to say I scrubbed my glass thoroughly prior to using it.

DINNER: This is dinner? I won’t be gaining weight during this trip.

Ham and 3 olives on a plate.
A small pastry cup with Red caviar.
Deep fried fish. Ok considering we were very hungry.
Dry jellyroll for desert.

It was such an interesting meal I fell asleep at the table. The service was worse. One of the waiters walked around picking his teeth while a few others were attempting to sell jars of black caviar to us. This day needs to end.

Monday 3 July 1989. We awoke at 0400 after a wonderful 8 hours of sleep tucked under our belts and still truly felt like a freight train had run over us. Jet lag is such a wonderful experience. The beds are hard. The pillows are square and hard and the sheets are like starched table clothes. The city still sleeps except for the rattle of streetcars buses and a few taxi’s. It is overcast and looks like another cold rainy day.

Breakfast was at 0830 and by no means an elegant champagne gourmet occasion.

Watered down plum juice, bread, cold cuts, salt free butter and oatmeal. The cream was warm and had the appearance and smelled like watered down Similac or Enfamil.

City tour started at 0930.We went to the Exhibition of Peoples Achievements. A very large area that contains many exhibitions, including the Space Exhibition. The building that contained the space exhibition had a very bad leak in the roof and the floor was covered with water.

Another area was the Children’s achievement exhibition. This was an interesting morning. Now it’s time for lunch. At this point food is becoming a thing with me so look forward to something at least somewhat tasty. We had coleslaw but it was loaded with onions (which I can’t eat) Potato soup was excellent. Pot roast, French fries with a sauce on them (that’s different) and lemon vanilla ice cream. Like our hotel room it was adequate but the service is still very bad and the one waiter continues to pick his teeth while waiting on the tables.

At 1400 we went to the Metro Circle. (Subway). Moscow has approximately 140 miles of subway transportation in operation and 7 million people per day use the subway system. It is the only public transportation that pays for its self. All others are state subsidized. The stations are indeed beautiful. The walls are marble with ceramic floors, statues, mosaic creations on the ceilings, cut stained glass and crystal chandeliers. One of the stations had 32 stained cut glass creations. Each station is dedicated to a different situation, such as art etc. All stations are different. Trains come every 60 seconds. It is so far beneath the ground it goes under the Moscow riverbed. The escalators are extremely rapid and seemingly nearly straight down. A bit frightening, as it is so steep with a very rapid decent. The cost is 5 Kopecks to enter and you can ride the entire metro system as long as you don’t go out of a station.

Our next adventure was to go shopping at a Beriozka. A shop for foreigners only. The Russian people are not allowed to purchase from these shops. I didn’t purchase a thing. I must be sick.

We returned to the hotel and dinner, followed by an evening at the Moscow Circus. I decided to skip this event, as tomorrow will be a very hectic day. The weather is not pleasant. Cold and lots of rain.

Third day of sightseeing in Moscow to follow in the next blog. I hope you stay tuned for additional adventures in Russia.

Helsinki to Moscow

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 17:29:47 GMT

Helsinki to Moscow (15 hours by train)

Upon arriving at the train station we had to walk the entire length of the platform to our reserved car #2. Luggage had been delivered to that area of the platform but it was up to us to get it aboard. It was a frantic time as the passageway on the train was only about 3 feet wide. When finished the entire passageway was filled with luggage and there was barely enough room to walk. Wilma settled us in a compartment. It was approximately 5 x 6 feet with 3 bunks. Originally we were to have only 2 people to a compartment but Russian tactics suddenly had us assigned 3 to a compartment. Dr. Feldman was running around trying to get everyone divided and settled with 3 individuals to a compartment. As he breezed past our compartment I said, “Do we get you? About 20 minutes later he returned and said, “Here I am girls --- I’m all yours”.

After this monumental ordeal of confusion, we decided it was time to break out the scotch and snacks. A few of our traveling companions joined us for cheese, crackers, wonderful supermarket cold greasy chicken and scotch to wash it down. We will be hungry by the time we reach Moscow providing we are still alive.

Now that we were reasonably settled for a lengthy trip to Moscow following being fortified with a little food and scotch, time to check out those areas that might be part of managing this ordeal. Such as the head facilities. For you non-Navy people that is the bathroom. It was located at the end of the car and was indeed a breathless experience.

Darn. Why didn’t I think about bringing a biological odor eliminator with me? Or better still a gas mask. The non-smokers on the trip suggested we smoke in the head to improve the odor. They thought smoke would be a welcome improvement. As I did an inventory of the facility I noted the following. The paper towel dispenser was mounted upside down and of course was empty. There was a dispenser for seat protectors but it was empty. As for the toilet paper that was available you might compare it with a fine type of sand paper. My trips to this area were as infrequent as my bladder would allow.

As we traveled over the rails in Finland the ride was smooth. When we crossed the boarder into Russia the ride became extremely rough. The countryside was changed from well-groomed farmland and buildings to very poorly kept farmland and shabby homes and other buildings.

During the first few hours of travel on the “Green Train” we had multiple stops for Passport and Visa inspections. Then we decided to explore the rest of the train and perhaps the dining room. This was not an easy task as there was not a secure walkway between the cars. We leaped from one car to another hoping we would not fall onto the tracks below. At 2330 we found the dining car packed with people.

Time to make an attempt to get some sleep. We finally figured out how to pull the bunks down and get the bedding organized. Not that it mattered much. We slept in our clothes.

Dr. Feldman had the top bunk. Wilma the middle one and I had the bottom. Dr. Feldman was not a bargain compartment mate due to his intense snoring. We managed about 1 hour of sleep and was awake at 0300. We decided to fix some left over food from our wonderful evening meal. We were hungry so even stale bread and room temperature cheese tasted pretty good.

We arrived in Moscow at 0845 on Sunday 2 July being met by a downpour of rain. Moscow has been the capital of Russia since the late 15^th century. Population about 9 million. People who presented them with a bouquet of flowers greeted Russian passengers.

We boarded a bus and were on our way to our Hotel. Cosmos Hotel. Room 1123. We settled in our room, brushed up a little and went to the dining room for breakfast. As it was about 1030 instead of normal breakfast time it appeared the waiters were totally confused. I am rapidly figuring out the people don’t adapt well to the out of the ordinary situation.

Next blog title: Sight seeing in Moscow.

The Many Faces of Russia

Thu, 14 Jul 2011 03:32:04 GMT

The Many Faces of Russia 1989

On 29 June, 1989 Wilma Slough and I departed Orange County, California to go to LAX for our flight to Helsinki, Finland. We checked in at 1220 then browsed around the airport until 1500 hours. We boarded Finniar Airline Flight 164 for our flight to Helsinki, Finland. We were in the air at 1540. It was a wonderful flight and the view over Canada, Iceland, Greenland and Norway was breath taking. We arrived in Helsinki at 1200 hours. It was approximately a 12-hour flight and it was daylight the entire time. As we picked up our luggage I discovered the handle was broken on my new suitcase. Wonderful. I have 6 weeks to go on this trip with a broken suitcase handle. I wonder how many other interesting things will occur during this adventure.

We were scheduled to stay at the Ramada El Presidente Hotel. We were on the 7^th floor. Nice clean hotel. After checking in, I received a call from Essi. She was a foreign exchange student I had for a year. She and her boyfriend Arntee arrived at 1600 and we chatted until 1830. Unfortunately we missed our group-scheduled dinner in the dining room, so ate a snack (expensive) and went to bed at 1930. Due to jet lag, time change and midnight sun we were awake at 0300. We spent the next 3 hours getting prepared for the upcoming adventures of the day. At 0600 (today is 1 July 1989) we decided to go for a walk. In Helsinki they still have early morning street cleaners. They push a trash cart around and sweep the sidewalks and curb of the streets. There was a great deal of cigarette butts and other items of trash.

Breakfast was served at 0700. It was a delightful Scandinavian buffet. The coffee was wonderful but very strong. Keep you awake for a week. We took extra food from the buffet (rolls and cheese) for our train trip to Moscow. Unfortunately we did not have any plastic baggies so we used our shower caps to protect the food.

Our train trip was scheduled for 1700. Our bags were placed outside our rooms at noon for pick up and then went on a city tour of Helsinki. We saw the Monument for Jean Sibelius. He was a famous Finnish composer of the late romantic period. A best-known composition is Finlandia. To learn more goggle him for information. His music is beautiful. The next site of interest was Helsinki Cathedral. The oldest building in Helsinki, and The Church in the Rock. Weddings are scheduled at this church every 30 minutes which last for 20 minutes then 10 minutes for tourists to visit. Reservations to have a wedding at this historic place must be made one year in advance.

Our bus then delivered us to the train station for our overnight trip to Moscow. There was a super market near by where we shopped to purchase food for our over night trip. We purchased fruit, chicken, cheese, crackers, candy and bottles water. Check out was interesting. When you decided on a certain item you placed it in a bag then on a scale. There were pictures of different items. Press the button of the picture of the item and a price sticker pops out which you place on the bag for check out.

After our interesting shopping experience we crossed the street to the train station for our next adventure. A 14 hour train trip. The train looked like something you would see in the USA in the early 1900’s. Not much progress in luxury in this part of the world.

Stay tuned. It gets better. Or worse. How you perceive the situation. I highly recommend you have a very good sense of humor for traveling in Russia. It happens that was a must as Dr. Feldman interviewed each of us. If he thought you could not cope with difficult situations he would not include you in his tours.

What Industry am I interested in?

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 22:07:02 GMT

What Industry am I interested in other than Health Care?

Travel Agent/Tour Operator. Responsibilities are arranging and providing all services and accommodations offered in connection with specified tour itinerary.

In 1989 I participated in a 3-week adventure of “The Many Faces of Russia”.

A period of time when “Perestroika” (restructuring) and “glasnost” (openness) were Mikhail Gorbachev’s watchwords for the renovation of the Soviet body politic and society that he pursued as general secretary of the Communist Party from 1985 until 1991.

Our tour guide was Robert S. Feldman. Director of the Russian and East European Area Student Program at California State University, Fullerton.

During the tour we had round table discussions with Soviet academics and journalists about the current developments in the Soviet Union.

My story to be continued with the next blog.

What Industry Am I Interested In?

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 02:26:51 GMT

Chapter/Level III. What Industry am I interested in?

You must have long-range goals to keep from being frustrated by short-term failures. Charles Nobel.

Subject: Statistics regarding positions available in the Health Care Industry.

I started my research by going to Yahoo.Hotjobs to discover on that site alone there is a listing of 31,514 available jobs in the Healthcare industry. It covers the entire US and a variety of positions, such as Medical Assistants, Release of Information Specialists, Data Entry Clerks, Front Desk Business Associates, Sterile Processing Techs, Medical receptionists, Dental Hygienists, RN, LPN, CMA, Medical Front Desk/Scheduling and on and on.

My next task was to determine information regarding Nursing Shortages.

American Association of Colleges of Nursing fact sheet information as follows.

In the July/August 2009 “Health Affairs” Dr. Peter Buerhaus and coauthors found that despite the current easing of the nursing shortage due to the recession, the U.S. nursing shortage is projected to grow to 260.000 registered nurses by 2025 A shortage of this magnitude would be twice as large as any nursing shortage experienced in this country since the mid-1960’s.

On July 2, 2009 the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the healthcare sector of the economy is continuing to grow, despite significant job losses in nearly all major industries. Hospitals, long-term care facilities and other ambulatory care setting added 21.000 new jobs in June 2009, a month when 467,000 jobs were eliminated across the country. In September of 2009 the BLS confirmed that 544,000 jobs have been added to the healthcare sector since the recession began. The fact sheet of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing is 5 pages long in small print. Much more information than I can give on this blog. If interested, please do some research.

My opinion is look at the healthcare industry. It is never to late to learn a new profession and this is one profession that will only accelerate in its needs as the baby boomers come to the age of needing healthcare.

Today, I looked at the jobs available in the newspaper.. Something I found interesting was an advertisement for Medical Career Training. “Train to become a Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant. Other training offered consisted of Pharmacy Technician, Dental assistant and Respiratory Therapy. Does that give you a clue of the incredible needs in the healthcare industry?

Being an animal lover for as long as I can remember, my next thought about an industry would definitely be to look into the industry of Veterinary care.

Giving care to others is apparently who I am and I would encourage others to look in the mirror and determine what you can do to always serve others.

I consider Chapter/Level III completed, unless I hear otherwise from someone that thinks I haven’t elaborated enough on this subject of “What Industry Am I Interested In?

My parting comment is.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, “I used everything that you gave me”.

Erma Bombeck.

What Industry Am I Interested In?

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 01:43:42 GMT

Chapter/Level III. What Industry Am I Interested In?

A Nurse’s Prayer

When I falter, give me courage

When I tire, renew my strength

When I weaken because I’m human

Inspire me on to greater length

As doctors and patients become demanding,

And days are to short for all my duty

Help me remember I chose to serve

To do so with grace, and spiritual beauty

In humility Lord, I labor long hours

And though I sometimes may fret;

My mission is mercy – abide with me,

That I may never forget.

What are you going to do when you get out of the service? No one ever asked me that question. However I had no doubts about what I would do when I retired. I decided on the field of nursing at the age of 18 and have never questioned that decision. My only interest was to increase my knowledge so I would always be better prepared to meet the needs of those individuals under my watchful eyes and my dedicated care.

The Nightingale name is ours. The ideal persists, the lamp burns on, and the symbol endures. If you don’t try to do something, beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.

The only other industry I was slightly interested in was “Travel Agent”. I must admit this was for selfish reasons, as I had learned that if you sold enough airline tickets, I could travel by air at 75% off regular cost. I did take a 2-week course with Western Airlines.

It was a very interesting course and I was glad to learn more about the industry, however nursing kept me busy, so I did not pursue this industry. I think I wrote a few flight tickets, but it did not seem to give me much satisfaction. I prefer to focus on what I do best. Helping others.

While I was in charge of the Medical Intensive Care Unit here at Camp Pendleton, one of my patients asked me to talk to him. He was pretty insistent, that I give up my career as a nurse as well as my military career. He said, I have noted that you are so observant I could make you a millionaire in the Real estate business in nothing flat. I shook my head and said, “My dear patient, I don’t want to be a millionaire. I want to be a nurse”. I know where I am going with my career and I do not wish to go in any other direction.

There are many, many areas in the health care industry to travel. And the need is critical.

While I was a patient with my fracture a few years ago, one of my caregivers was a very tall, very squared away young man. I asked. “Are you or have you been in the military?

He said “Yes Ma’am. I am currently in the military”. I said, are you a corpsman? Much to my surprise, he said, “No Ma’am, I’m a Marine”. I was shocked but said to him. Young man, I praise you. Stand fast and believe in yourself. Follow your dreams and make them a reality. As I was there such a short period of time, I was never able to follow up with this individual and his on going endeavors. I often have felt sad, that I was not able to be there as a source of encouragement. However, one can’t be all things to all people. Just always be an inspiration when the occasion arises.

As I already had a retirement it was not something I really worried about with the jobs I took in the health care industry. I formulated my own second retirement fund by investing in an IRA fund. I am guessing there are health care industries that do have retirement funds. Likely Kaiser Permeate has a retirement fund. If that is your interest, then you must do your research if interested in the healthcare industry and potential retirement benefits.

I will make this observation. One is never too old to enter the healthcare field. I know this from a situation I encountered.

While I was a consultant at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, I happened one day to sit down at a table in the cafeteria at lunchtime with a few student nurses. One of the students was a 52-year-old male. He informed me he had been a mechanic but became allergic to the fluids dealing with that type work. He decided to change directions and entered the BSN program at University of Nebraska. He had been tasked with caring for his mother while she was ill, and dieing and out of the blue, made an entire life style change and loved every single minute in his new roll.

You are likely wondering why I was an independent contractor. I did not ever have to seek out this position. Due to my clinical specialty of which there are only less than 2000 world wide, Medical centers and hospitals would find me, and seek my willingness to become part of their team. Physicians admired the ET nurse on staff.

In this current economy the healthcare industry continues to hire and add jobs to their system. In nursing alone, by the year 2012 the nation will have a shortage of over 400,000 nurses. I’m sure other positions in the industry will also have a shortage. This is a field where there will always be jobs available, so I would urge anyone remotely interested to look into the industry for various positions. You might find it to be an industry that will give you a great deal of satisfaction.

So in parting “What industry am I interested in? I think I’ve made it clear as to “who I am?” and what industry I am interested in and have always been interested in since a teenager.

I made some smart choices. Luck perhaps, but I see it mostly as dedication.

The next part of this Chapter/Level III, I will provide some statistics regarding the Healthcare industry.

“It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected of him.”

John Steinbeck.

Who am I? Chapter VIII

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:07:24 GMT

Who Am I? Chapter VIII (Age 70 to the present) 2002-2010

Character is the sum total of our every day chores, and to achieve great things you must first believe it.

Whoops! Just realized I got ahead of myself. The trip to Thailand was not in 2001, but in 2003. Seems I kept things in order writing this story, until I reached age 68. Oh well, the friend I traveled with also could not remember what year we went to Thailand and she is a couple years younger than I.

In 2002 I made a trip to Nebraska to visit my family. Nebraska is usually nice in late summer or early fall.

2003 was my trip to Thailand. Have already related that story in the previous blog.

In 2004 off to South America. It was by no means a pleasant trip. We were on 15 flights in 19 days. On the 2^nd day I fell in a cathedral and injured my right knee. The tour guide kept insisting I be seen at a hospital. I told him he had 2 choices. Believe I was capable of managing the situation with a knee brace and some anti-inflammatory medicine or put me on a plane back to the US. There was not a prayer I would embrace medical care in a country with Socialized Medicine. The itinerary was horrible. On one day we experienced 5 different modes of transportation. Bus, boat, bus, boat, bus. I will admit I enjoyed the interesting sites. Iguazu Falls were spectacular. Rio de Janeiro was interesting but I was ready to return to the US. Not however without another negative situation. The grand finale was to be blessed with food poisoning. The food on the South American airline, which flew me into Dulles was the cause of that situation. I was very sick and must have looked like death warmed over, as the flight attendant moved me to business class and put an Oxygen mask on my face. I flew from Dulles to San Diego and was very happy to be home. No, I did not plan this trip. It was planned by my friend and as she also planned the trip to Thailand, which was very nice, I did not expect this trip to be otherwise. I decided to end my escapades of world travel. I tend to live by a motto. Once burned, twice learned. Besides my next episode would indeed prevent me for additional travel.

On 7 January 2005 I slipped in my kitchen, fell and sustained a fracture of the head of my right femur. The pain was excruciating. However, Dr. Hartman nailed me back together.

Truthfully. I have 2 stainless steel pins on the right hip and thigh. I get attention when I go through airport security.

Following a few days post-op, they decided to send me to a nursing home. I pitched a fit and said NO WAY! You have two choices. Send me to rehab, or send me home. I refuse to go to a nursing home. They questioned my ability to endure rehab. I told them not to worry. I would do just fine and perhaps more than required. After a few days I was told I needed to slow down, as I was an over achiever. The entire situation did however slow me down a little due to having to use a walker for 6 months, but I was back at my volunteer work within 6 weeks following discharge from rehabilitation.

A few words about my Volunteer work. I served as Oceanside Area Manager for Operation Interdependence for about 5 years or more. We shipped c-rats to the troops. Locally I had volunteers that were the best, as well as many others from surrounding areas that would have group packing parties and deliver large numbers of boxes to our center for final inspection and preparation for shipping. One year the Oceanside office reached over 192,000 troops. When an office in LA was opened the Oceanside office was dismantled. That was in about 2007. There were a variety of reasons, but shipping to the troops continued from other OI centers, so that was all that counted.

In the fall of 2007 my College of Nursing honored me by posting a 2 page story in our Alumni news letter reflecting on my career from graduation to the present. During the summer I received recognition from the Blue Angels and was included among a group of active duty military and veterans to attend the Ronald Reagan Golf Classic Legacy Dinner. In December I accepted an award from the Daughters of the American Revolution.

On 29 May 2008 I traveled to Nebraska under the watchful eye of my guardian angel and close friend, to accept an award for Volunteerism from my College of Nursing. The most prestigious award given by the College. Such an event. I was so humbled I could not keep my eyes dry during dinner and the presentation presented by video to the audience. However, when they asked me to approach the stage to accept my award, my military bearing set in. I couldn’t let a large audience see a sniveling Naval Officer get on stage to make a short speech and accept my award. As I approached the stage escorted by my 2 brothers, and my guardian angel (a Marine of course) bringing up the rear, there was a standing ovation.

As I look back I marvel at all I have experienced. It’s been a “great ride” and I’ve loved every minute of it.

On October 25^th I had a routine physician appointment. As I wasn’t feeling well, my friend Vicki Black took me to the doctor. Not a good day. I was immediately admitted to the hospital with an infected gallbladder, gallstones and MRSA of the distal colon. It seems I was a pretty sick lady. Thus I missed the opening of the first SWVBRC office, which was dedicated in my honor.

In August I decided to become a learner. My purpose was to set an example for other learners and hopefully be a support system. As I review blogs of other learners, it seems I have been about as effective as running a manure spreader during a windstorm. So I tried and now it is time to move on to Level III, as this completes Level II of “Who am I?”

In parting, I give this advice.

PROMISE YOURSELF

PROMISE YOUSELF TO BE SO STRONG THAT NOTHING CAN DISTURB YOUR PEACE OF MIND; TO TALK HEALTH, HAPPINESS AND PROSPERITY TO EVERY PERSON YOU MEET; TO MAKE ALL YOUR FRIENDS FEEL THAT THEY HAVE VALUABLE QUALITIES; TO LOOK AT THE SUNNY SIDE OF THINGS AND MAKE YOUR OPTIMISM COME TRUE; TO THINK ONLY THE BEST. PROMISE YOURELF TO BE JUST AS ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF OTHERS AS YOU ARE ABOUT YOUR OWN; TO FORGET THE MISTAKES OF THE PAST AND PRESS ON TO THE GREATER ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FUTURE; TO PRESENT A CHEERFUL COUNTENANCE AT ALL TIMES AND TO SMILE AT EVERY LIVING CREATURE YOU MEET.

PROMISE YOUSELF TO GIVE SO MUCH TIME TO THE IMPROVEMENT OF YOURSELF THAT YOU HAVE NO TIME TO CRITICIZE OTHERS; TO BE TOO DETERMINED FOR WORRY, TOO NOBEL FOR ANGER, TOO STRONG FOR FEAR, AND TOO HAPPY TO BE BLOCKED BY OBSTACLES.

PROMISE YOURSELF

Who Am I? Chapter VII

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 03:57:47 GMT

Chapter VII 1992-2002 Age 60 to 70

Follow you passion and success will follow you. Arthur Buddhold.

As I recall the only trip I made in 1992 was to California. Nebraska gets wicked in the winter months, so being a warm weather person I did need to return to warm weather and visit my friends. When I say wicked that is likely an understatement. I recall once not being able to go to the mailbox at the end of my driveway for 3 days, due to temperatures of 40 degrees below zero. My poodle was much braver than me. She loved the snow and would dig holes and come back in the house with ice cycles hanging from her long beautiful ears. I think it was this year I sustained a knee injury and had an arthroscopy, followed by being on crutches for a few weeks.

1993, A trip to Texas to visit a friend. My trips were brief, as both my parents needed my nursing care. I continued to work for the Ophthalmologist as well as some independent consulting.

In June of 1994 with friends, a cruise of the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean visiting Yalta and Odessa, Russia. Followed by Istanbul, Kusadasi, Ephesus, Olympia, Romania and ending in Venice. Flights were a little messed up due to weather conditions.

In January of 1995 Dr. Schlichtermier treated his entire staff, including spouses to a 6-day trip from Omaha to Cabo San Lucas, including handing each of us $150.00 at the airport for spending money. It was his way of saying Thank you for the many hours the staff had worked during the time when RK surgery was high on the priority list of those that were near sighted. He holds a record of never having an employee resign, for any reason, other than relocation away from Omaha. My father passed away the end of October of this year.

In 1996 I flew from Omaha to Honolulu to board the USS Nimitz on a 6 day Tiger cruise. My stepson was with one of the squadrons and they were returning from deployment. As I have related I’ve been on many luxury cruises, but 6 days on the Nimitz was a shinning star in relation to all other trips. When they announced over the loud speaker, “all Tigers to the flight deck” you can bet I was the first one up to the flight deck. We sailed from Hawaii to San Diego. My two-step daughters were also on the trip. An aircraft carrier is a huge floating city, however the food was so good, I managed to gain 8 pounds.

I returned to Nebraska to continue the task of caring for my stepmother who had Alzheimer’s disease. She passed away at the end of the year. Both of my parents were cared for in their home and not subjected to a Nursing Home. We all managed to do what was required to accomplish keeping them at home to the end.

In 1997 having reached my golden retirement age of 65, I put in my resignation to the University of Nebraska. Somewhere along the line I had been hired as a staff member, instead of a consultant. I might have lasted a little longer, however having 3 patients; ages 49, 50, and 51 all expire within a 2-week period took toil on me. As many WOCN’s burn out in about 5 or 6 years, I figured lasting 15 years was a pretty good record. I decided my tasks given to me by a higher power were complete and it was time for me to move on. Again I will encourage you to schedule a colonoscopy if you are over the age of 50. I may be a Nebraskan by birth, but a Californian by choice. My stepson and family persuaded me to move to Hanford, California. It is in the San Joaquin Valley. He was stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station. That turned out to be a terrible mistake. That Valley is the 2^nd most polluted place in America. Houston, Texas ranks first. With my history of allergies I was actually told my physician I needed to get out of the Valley. Even my little poodle, Cherie developed emphysema. Not to mention the fact it was a very boring place to live. I did attempt to do some volunteer work for the Health Department, but didn’t last long, when I called a nurse on the fact that she given a patient and his wife incorrect information. Sounded to me like a little more of the fraud I witnessed working for VNA of Omaha. And where does the Public Health Department get their funding. The California Tax payers, of course. House went on the market and I made trips to Oceanside to find a house. Oceanside, is where I wanted to move to, when I left Omaha, but got side tracked. At last, my goals are falling in place.

I moved to Oceanside, 20 October 2000. I had to march down to this area in a hurry, to beat the moving company for a door-to-door move. I arrived about 2000 on the 19^th and the moving van arrived at 0800 the following AM. I stayed in my newly purchased home, as long ago, I learned to carry a Japanese futon, pillows, sheets and a blanket with me so I could avoid dealing with motels because of my 4 legged friends.

By the end of March of 2001 I was reasonably settled, so went on line to find the local Navy League Council. Yes, yes, yes. Who was on the other end of the phone, but our friend? That would be Mr. Albert R. Renteria. I wasn’t on the phone 3 minutes, when he was twisting my arm to become the Council Secretary. My answer. I’m a nurse, not a secretary. Did that work. Of course not. He put people on my trail and I got one message I really remember. “Who takes better notes than a nurse”. Thus the beginning of a new adventure.

I know this is getting lengthy, but would like to make it to 2002 in this chapter, so bear with me.

Through Navy League, I also became acquainted with some special and I do mean special people. Many are still fast friends and have been at my side, when I was in a dilemma of some sort.As a result of these new friends, my introduction to Operation Interdependence, ending up as Area Manager of Oceanside for 5 years. I will have to admit, I loved the job, but did take a break and travel to Thailand for 3 weeks with a friend from Kentucky. I highly recommend this trip. I traveled to San Francisco to greet my traveling friend that I had not seen for 30 years. We landed in Bangkok, traveled to Chaing Mai, and then went to Cambodia. I don’t remember our exact itinerary but in short in Bangkok the outdoor market, the Samnoen Duduak floating market, Opium Museum, Orchid gardens, training center for elephants, Kanchanabouri War Cemetery, Golden Triangle, Bridge over the River Kwai, built during the last 2 years of WWII, by 16,000 allied prisoners of war, mostly from Btitain, Australia, USA and Holland. Just before the end of the war, the allies’ bombed the bridge. We had a raff ride down some steam of water, rode elephants and had a dinner cruise on the Chao Phranga River in Bangkok. We also visited the island of Phuket.

I don’t know about you that are reading this, but this lady is getting tired of writing, so as this brings me up to 2002, I managed to accomplish these 10 years without turning it into 2 parts. I’ll polish my halo tomorrow.

You are not stuck where you are, unless you decide to be. Unknown.

Who Am I? Chapter VI (Part 2)

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:11:21 GMT

(1988-1992)

Enthusiasm is a volcano on who’s top never grows the grass of hesitation. Kahlil Gilbran.

9 July was another day of sadness for me. I lost my Josephine. She joined her friend Gigi.

3 days later I called a poodle breeder in Newport Beach, looking for another silver toy poodle. One had been born on the previous night. I immediately traveled to Newport Beach to write a check to put a hold on this tiny one. I had to wait 6 weeks to bring her home to join Brie and Nellie. I named her Cherie Suzette.

In August of 1988 I traveled to Nebraska to pick up a car given to me by my father. While gone I had returned Cherie to the kennel where she was born, thinking that would be a safe place. It was not. When I returned and picked her up the next day she collapsed. I rushed her to emergency and she was saved after being on intensive care for 3 days. She had an intestinal infection and her Blood Sugar was down to 29.

In August I received another exchange student for a one year stay. She was from Finland. I had lots of fun with Essi and she enjoyed being in America. Not to mention, she loved my poodles. She departed to return to Finland in June. 1988.

In April 1989 I sold my home in Tustin, CA and moved to Nebraska with my 3 poodles.

On 29 June 1989, a friend and I traveled to LAX to join a group for a trip to Russia. We had a great flight to Helsinki, Finland. We arrived late Friday afternoon, spent the next day seeing the sights of this city then headed to the railroad station complete with food for the long over night trip to Moscow. The rail tracks in Finland were nice and smooth. It was a different story once we crossed the boarder into Russia. I maintained lengthy notes while on this trip and perhaps I can reflect on those unusual situations at another time. We visited the following cities. Moscow, 3 days, a flight to Simferopol followed by a 2 hour bus ride to Yelta, for 3 days, then a bus ride back to Simferopol for a flight to Baku for 2 days. (Trust me you do not want to visit Baku if you can avoid it.) As it was unsafe to drink the H2O in many places we often had to carry water from a city where the water was safe to the next city where the water was unsafe to drink. On the 2 hour flight to Baku, we had a greasy piece of cold chicken, sliced cucumbers, a large tasteless cookie and a cup of tea. When we landed and went to our hotel the lobby smelled like the Grand Canal in China. Gross. The condition of the hotel was about the same as the smell of the lobby. Next trip was a flight to Kiev for 3 days followed by a flight to Leningrad, 4 days. People in this city were starving. Allowed one slice of bread per day.

We left Leningrad on a 5-½ hour bus trip to Tallin, making a pit stop half way through the trip. Our toilet consisted of roadside bushes. Is anyone having fun? Yes we all had fun. It was a fantastic group of people and everyone rolled with the punches. If you are a complainer about the lack of comforts, do not entertain the idea of going to Russia. You must be tough to travel in other countries. Russia is only one of several, however the experience is fantastic and I am one that is always willing to explore other situations which in turn gives me tons of thanks for being an American. We spent 4 days in Tallinn. It is one of the most picturesque cities in the Soviet Union. It dates back to the 13^th century. People in the republic refuse to speak Russian. They will only speak German or English. In Russia tips in money are not given. Tips given are fashion magazines, lipstick, perfume, nail polish, blank CD’s, cassette tapes and other things not available in Russia.

Now my 3-week trip through Russia has ended with a ferry ride from Tallinn to Helsinki to spend 3 more weeks in Finland. Our host and hostesses are my foreign exchange student Essi and her great family. We all settled in a hotel for the night. The following day, the group returned to the US, except my roommate Wilma and myself. Essi and her father picked us up for another new adventure in Finland. We drove to their home in Pori, Finland. Spending time with the family and taking some nice day trips to see the country. It is an interesting and beautiful country. Many, many beautiful lakes. We had a nice and relaxing time. Now back to reality.

I returned from my 7 weeks in Calif, Russia and Finland approximately 12 September. During this month, I had scheduled a dental appointment with a Periodontist. His office was difficult to find so having noted the officer of the Visiting Nurses Asso. Of the Midlands, I stopped there for directions. They gave me the needed information, but would not let me leave the office until I filled out an application. Apparently they were desperate for help. Well heck, I guess I could manage to work a couple of days per week and was willing to work on weekends. That was a difficult job and truthfully when I rang the doorbell I was never certain if a human being would answer the door, or perhaps a large rat or mouse. I have never encountered such squalor in my entire life and that included homes in some very upscale residential areas.. Not to mention drugs and people that were on welfare because they had made the choice to not work. I didn’t last very long, as I was instructed to document care in the negative, so the organization could continue to keep the patients on their care list. I considered that fraud and did indeed express my displeasure with this attitude, considering most of my years had been dedicated to teaching patients how to manage their own medical needs with supervision as needed. I will not ever compromise my ethics or standards so I resigned. The management was not real smart, as they did not have an ET nurse on staff and they had many ostomy patients and various difficult type wounds to deal with. I had done a great deal of teaching in this area with case managers to increase their knowledge so they would better be able to manage some of these difficult situations. If I were to describe some of the incredible difficult wounds and the drainage I might have somem consider looking for an emesis basin. I will tell one very special story. Three days prior to Christmas, I was asked to see an ostomy patient. I could hardly believe what I encountered. This lady was bed ridden with copious amounts of liquid stools. I went to work, managing the entire situation (you don’t need to know all the nitty gritty), but I am proud and delighted to report I resolved the situation and she was able to get out of bed and celebrate Christmas with her family. When I visited her the day after Christmas, she was a very happy lady.

Evidently I live a charmed life, or so my sister-in-law thought. Very soon I was recruited by 2 hospitals to serve as an independent contractor as an ET nurse (WOCN). Then one day I went to have my eyes examined at an office near the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where I was working as a consultant. I noted the nurse had graduated from the same college of nursing that I had graduated from. I left the office with an appointment for an interview and was hired a few days later. This was only to cover her pregnancy if a problem occurred as well as maternity leave. That turned into a 4 days a week job for 3 years. In between time I continued to fulfill the needs as an independent contractor. Some how I can always manage to find time to do what I love most. Always being there to take care of those in need of my ability to make the situation better.

During my spare time I took on the task of remodeling an old farmhouse, doing much of the work myself. Again, I lived a charmed life. I had a fantastic contractor to accomplish the things I was not capable of doing.

In 1991 I joined a friend of mine, Sharonann Gain, for a Panama Canal cruise, which ended in the Caribbean. Great shopping in St. Thomas. And Sharonann was a great traveling companion. Tons of great fun on this fabulous trip.

In July 1992 I turned age 60 and my brother Chuck had a great big really special party for me at his home out on the farm in Elkhorn, Nebraska.

So this brings me up to 1992 and completes Chapter VI Part II.

Seems some or many are bored with my story, as I have not had a comment to my previous blog. However, I will march on because I made a commitment. I signed an agreement and I will not fall or fail to complete the agreement to the best of my ability.

If you are doing your best, you will not have time to worry about failure.

Who Am I? Chapter VI (Part I)

Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:14:16 GMT

Age 50 to 60.

Life is what we make it. Always has been, always will be. Grandma Moses

Yikes! I’m getting old. As this chapter starts, I still have 15 years of Service to give to the sick. I look forward to it with gusto. As always being willing to add knowledge and become a specialists in a field that few nurses are interested in.

But first I will regress just a little. In 1979 I lost my beloved poodle, Gigi. I had lost Fifi while living in Arizona. Now my Beautiful Silver Josephine was a lost little girl. She seemed to not understand why her best friend had left. She did indeed mourn and I often had to wipe the tears from her eyes.

It is often said that Nurses are hard and not capable of crying. Trust me that is absolutely a total untruth. Not just for my beloved poodles but often for many of my patients.

As my career progressed the DON called me into her office and asked me if I was interested in becoming an ET nurse. (Then it meant Enterstomal Therapist) Now referred to as a WOCN. I’m tempted to make you guess, but will say it stands for Wound, Ostomy, Continence Nurse. This is a clinical specialty of which there are less than 2000 worldwide. Well, why should I not accept the challenge? The DON was willing to pay for the course, pay for an apartment in LA, so I would not have to commute and continue my salary while under instruction. If you think about it, it doesn’t get much better than that. What to do with my poodles. I was hosting an exchange student from Vastervick, Sweden for a year. He was reliable, could cook and when I talked to him about this situation, he was more than willing to keep the home fires burning in my absence. And the foreign exchange student leaders, lived only a block away. I of course came home on weekends. I missed Per Albin Jarnestrom as well as my poodles. He was a delightful young man. In the course of my hosting of foreign students I hosted a total of 10 from various countries. Off to USC School of Enterstomal Therapy for another adventure. It was a graduate course in 6 weeks. I was a basket case when I finally completed the course. I do not think I have ever had so much information stuffed in my mind in 6 weeks in my entire life. My instructor was the most caring individual I had met in a long time. She said, “No one fails my class”. Another few words of wisdom among many were always listen to your patients. They have words of wisdom that will assist you on your way to rehabilitate them.

When I returned with all this knowledge, my first patient was the father of one of the physicians on the hospital staff. He had colon cancer, an intestinal blockage and the surgical procedure was a loop ostomy. Not something I learned about during my education. I was beside myself wondering how to deal with this difficult situation. I said to myself. Carol, think it through. Consider all aspects of dealing with the situation. There was an incredible outflow of liquid intestinal substances spilling all over his abdomen as well as into the bed. I knew only one thing. I had to do something to preserve the dignity of this patient. I thought the entire difficult situation through very carefully and came up with a plan and it worked with lots of effort and creative thought on my part. His physician son was indeed thankful for my efforts. I became very close to this entire family and as nurses never cry, I will tell you and I’m not ashamed to admit, I sat in the room with the family and cried with them while he was dieing. I did also attend his funeral. I think it is important to let your patients and their families know that you think they are special. And that is how I spent my life in this field of nursing. This is likely the most difficult aspect of nursing I have ever dealt with. Rehabilitation of ostomy patients takes a strong resolve and an occasional kick in the ass of those that are playing the poor me game. It was often not a pleasant situation but I had no choice but to move them onward and give them the strength to deal with this life style change. On a slightly humorous aspect in this patient care, I had one 72-year-old female patient ask me if she could still climb mountains. I said “What kind of mountains”. She said, mountains, mountains. My answer to her was the only change in her life is the mode of exit. As I attended another patient elsewhere his brother made an interesting remark. He said, Harry, think of it this way. It is just a different way to fart. I’m not gross. This is reality and the rate of intestinal cancer is increasing rapidly. I ask that anyone over the age of 50 consider having a colonoscopy. It might save your life.

OK, enough of my ET stories. Wound care was another issue. Things had changed a great deal and my knowledge was not well received by any stretch of the imagination. It was a fight to educate the staff that my method of wound management resulted in healing 3 to 5 times faster than old antiquated methods.

I think I now need to take an interesting trip or two. With my retirement and the nice salary I was earning due to my clinical expertise, I decided to embark on some worldwide travels. I had already been on 2 Caribbean cruises, as well as a cruise that started out in Athens Greece. The Greek Islands and the Holy Land. While on active duty, I had also traveled to Italy with the Association of Operating Nurses.

1984 I traveled through Norway, Sweden and Denmark. My 52^nd birthday was celebrated in Stockholm with the family of my first exchange student. From there I traveled by train to Vastervick, Sweden to visit my 2^nd exchange student and his family. Traveling into Denmark I was fascinated by the terrain. It reminded me so much of east Nebraska that I suddenly realized why my Danish grandparents stopped in Nebraska to start life in the US. I visited the same church my grandmother had attended about 100 years before.

1985 a Grand European cruise, which visited 6 European capitals. 1986 a Pacific Crossing starting in New Zealand and ending in Los Angeles, making stops along the way. Mostly we were at sea for 12 days. These cruises are referred to a relocation cruises and they are not very expensive.

In between my travels, which were a large trip once a year, I actually did have a job and worked. My schedule was always busy and I carried a beeper 24/7, to meet the needs of my patient load. That would include going to work just about any hour of the day or night if required to solve a problem. Once while in Greece, I was informed by someone I had met that Americans are lazy. It was said they never learn a foreign language and no one speaks Greek except the Greeks. Well I decided to surprise a few of the shipboard individuals the next time I sailed with Royal Cruise Lines. I enrolled in a Greek language class. I really enjoyed those classes and to top it off, also learned how to prepare several Greek dishes. My Baklava was a hit. One student asked me for my recipe, as his mother was from Greece, but told me, my Baklava was better than hers.

Going to Athens to leave on the Grand European cruise, I decided I wanted to see just what a hospital looked like in a foreign country. So I whipped out my directory for ostomy and wound supplies and found the names and addresses of the reps in Athens for Hollister and Convatec. I wrote a letter and sent it to them in English as well as in the Greek Language. I informed them my date of arrival and the name of the Hotel where I would be staying. A tiny, inexpensive hotel located at the foot of the Acropolis. I wasn’t in my room very long before I received a phone call from one of the reps, informing me I was scheduled to give a lecture at the University of Athens, medical center the following day.. Oh boy. What did I get myself into now? At least I had been smart enough to pack a lab coat to wear over my civilian clothes, so I would look professional. To my surprise, physicians, registered nurses, as well as student physicians and nurses attended my lecture. Now my Greek was pretty good, but not good enough to give a lecture, so a drop dead gorgeous Greek surgeon translated for me. My topic was “The role of an Enterstomal Therapist.” What I thought would be about a 30-minute situation, turned into 2 hours, due to the many questions the audience wanted to ask me. They were shocked to hear I carried a beeper 24/7 and wanted to know how much I was paid. Not wanting to give a dollar amount in a 3^rd World country, I informed them I was paid at the Administrative level.

I must admit I was shocked by the medical care I witnessed. No screens on the windows, and only one nurse on duty for the purpose of administration of medications. The patients were taken care of by family members. I found very little indication of patient care documentation and absolutely no such thing as a policy and procedure manual. Washing my hands even turned into a problem. No paper towels. Just the cloth towel that belonged to the patient. I decided to drip dry. I did visit a modern hospital that was air-conditioned and met the medical director Dr. Bisbee’s. He had founded the Greek National association for ostomy care. I also made a house call with one of the ostomy supply reps. I’ll not comment about that experience.

I was royally entertained in the evenings at nice restaurants. They are really party people and do not eat the evening meal until about 2200. Time to board my ship after an interesting and informative 3 days. When I returned I commented to my Greek teacher---

Nina, no offense to your country but I would not like to get sick in your country. She just laughed and said, “Neither would I”.

In 1987 I flew with a group and my travel agent to Kyoto, Japan to board “The Pearl of Scandinavia. We started in Kyoto, traveled south and ended this cruise in Hong Kong. We stopped in Nagasaki, Japan then on to China, stopping in Dalian, and Qinhuangdao. From this stop we took a 3 ½ hour train ride to Beijing. This was a 3-day program. Returning to the ship we were greeted with a huge Welcome home from the ships crew, as well as the local natives. We pulled anchor and headed to Yantai, Qingdao, Shanghai, Xiamen, and finally Hong Kong. As I remember we had to anchor in the harbor in Shanghai, having lost our priority to the Queen of England.

In 1988 I traveled with a group for a 3 week shopping trip to Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong. Wow! Nothing like shopping in the Far East.

This brings me to a 5-year period in this Chapter. So I have decided again this Chapter needs to be divided into 2 parts. I’m not windy. I just did tons of things.

The pleasantest things in the world are pleasant thoughts; and the great art of life is to have as many of them as possible. Michel de Montaigne.

Who am I? Chapter V

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 21:09:42 GMT

Age 40 to 50

If you are near the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. Anonymous.

My duty at Barbers Point was demanding with a patient load of at least 300 per day. Navy Physicians numbered about 10 to 12. Navy Nurses 3, Civilian nurses 2, a large Corpsman staff and 3 or 4 Volunteers per day. During this period of time all medical records were changed from the alphabetical filing system to using SS. Numbers. A difficult task which took a few months to accomplish. Mostly things went very well as everyone worked as a team. “Thank you Snoopy”. As luck would have it, I became ill with pneumonia on a Sunday, with a Fever of 105 degrees. I went to work and was immediately sent home. Not smart, but I returned to work on Wednesday, only to be chastised by my corpsmen staff asking me if I didn’t think they could handle things. I hung my head in shame. Of course I knew they were all very capable. They sent me home and made me promise I would not return until I had recovered.

As our daily activities went on, one day the crash bell rang and rang and rang. Yes indeed something very big. A Braniff 747 inbound from Japan, loaded with passengers was not able to deploy its landing gear. Medical personnel from every medical facility on the island headed for Honolulu International Airport. The landing flight pattern was directly over Barbers Point. We all ran outside, including patients, to watch as the plane, escorted by two Air force jets from Hickam Air Force Base flew overhead. The runway had been foamed for a belly landing. Just in time the landing gear came down, however they could not land on a runway that had been foamed, so it was full throttle ahead to climb up, do a turn around and land on a different runway safely. Talk about an adrenalin rush. Yikes!

Collateral duties included escorting the Director of the Nurse Corps to Midway Island as well as being sent there for 3 days on TAD. I enjoyed Midway Island and found the “Gooney” birds fascinating. I purchased a book “The Albatross of Midway Island” to learn more about these interesting birds.

On the home front, I hosted many houseguests from the mainland, as well as a dinner party at least twice a month and attending functions given by other members of our military family.

My husband retired from the Marine Corps in April 1973. He studied Real Estate and did that following retirement. One person he brought home for dinner was a great gal whose name is Dianne Uyehara. We still remain friends and you can find her registered under Community Directory. Dianne became part of our family. She is a fun and delightful person and I treasure her friendship. Dianne has the true Hawaiian spirit and would do anything possible for you when needed.

Another interesting journey was a trip to Alaska with VP 1. One of the squadrons based at Barbers Point. My husband thought I was going to jump out of the plane when they started giving us ditching instructions. He said, I’ve never seen you look so frightened.

It was an interesting ride to say the least. Touch and goes at Adak, then finally a landing. We flew from there to an Air Force base, where we spent the night. The following morning while preparing for take off, we had engine trouble. I’m beginning to wonder why I was dumb enough to go on this “free trip” to Alaska. Problem fixed and I assumed the pilot and other crewmembers were likely not willing to fly a plane if they thought it wasn’t safe. Did I really have a choice? Certainly I couldn’t stay there and the Exec. of the Squadron was also on the plane. Our destination was Kodiak, Alaska. Here I was introduced to the Alaskan mosquitoes. Good grief. I had no idea the Lord made such huge mosquitoes. It was a fun and interesting place to visit and best of all, I returned with 100 pounds of King Crab legs in the belly of the plane. Price $1.00 per pound. We flew directly back from Adak to Barbers Point to complete my time and prepare for retirement. I retired on 1 October 1974.

We had considered remaining in Hawaii, however my allergies were so severe, it was suggested I move away from the Islands, as it was not possible to desensitize me with allergy injections. We relocated to Tucson, AZ and I enjoyed instant health, totally free of allergies. While living in Arizona, I worked at an Alcohol and Drug detoxification center part time, as well as a surgical ward part time. My marriage became problematic so I divorced and moved to Orange County. I secured a job under the recommendations of a friend and retired Navy Nurse. I was hired by an over the phone interview. My duties as team leader on a surgical ward lasted about 2 weeks when I was called into the Nursing Office and offered the job as Supervisor of Central Supply. When I asked how long I had to consider it she said “five minutes”. My answer was, Yes, I’ll take the job.

Hesitation has never been a part of my life. I instantly saw this as advancement and the trust of the Nursing Office that I was capable of dealing with this task.

This was likely the most interesting place of employment in my entire professional life.

The hospital was Physician owned and although it did take good care of patients, other things puzzled me. On person on the staff was a mystery. His title was hospital Chaplain.

In reality, I’m not really certain he was indeed a Chaplain, as he was the actual person that was (are you ready for this) “The Great Imposter”. His name was Fred DeMara. I must admit I shook my head in disbelief but all staff members insisted that indeed he was the one and same that was once the “Great Imposter”.

As for my job, it turned out to be a royal battle with the Engineer department. The head of which was a retired Naval Officer. I uncovered the fact that the Ethylene Gas sterilizer was not properly vented to the outside of the hospital. Guess who won? Over looking situations that have not previously caused a problem is not how things should be handled. And who knows if a problem might not later be the cause of an illness from exposure.

As time went on, it seemed the hospital was about to fold, or something was not quite right with the situation, so I decided to move on. I applied for a job as a Head Nurse at a hospital in Placentia Linda. More trouble. The ward Secretary did not like me in any way shape or form. It seems she was running the ward and the previous head nurses were not functioning in their positions. Instead, they were leaving running the ward to the Ward Clerk as they were out on the ward doing patient care. Absolutely not the function of a charge/head nurse. In retaliation, she decided to undermine me. She would transfer orders and put the stat orders. (Stat meaning immediately if not sooner) at the bottom of my huge stack of orders to review and check off to determine if orders had been properly carried out as ordered. When I discovered this, I lost it. I immediately wrote a letter of resignation and presented it to the supervisor. No way, will I work with someone that is deceitful. The supervisor knowing how effective I was as a Charge Nurse made every attempt to persuade me to change my mind. I told her flatly no. She called a meeting between the three of us. Her, the Ward Clerk and yours truly. The ward clerk played the crying game and promised she would never do it again. I live by a motto. If you lie to me once I will never trust you again. As it was close to Christmas and many had plans I said I would stay for one month, instead of the traditional 2 weeks, to make sure that no one had to be negatively affected by my resignation. And so I left, not having a clue what was next in store for me job wise. Anyone that doesn’t think they have a guardian angel needs to listen to this story. I had presented my resume to a hospital that was located very close to where I lived. As I spent a couple of weeks looking at the want ads and trying to figure out my next move, I received a phone call from the Nurse recruiter that informed me the DON, would like to interview me for a job as Hospital Supervisor. I later found out, she had already fired 3 supervisors that were not capable of doing the job. This DON, was hell on wheels, and I love working for people like that. She actually had a sign behind her desk of a witch riding her broom. I loved it. I love tough people that have one goal in life. Do it right the first time. She later told me; after we became friends she hired me before I even walked through her door for an interview. It again was a troublesome position. It had been a physician owned hospital and the nurses all thought their jobs depended on doing anything they could do to protect the physicians, even if it was illegal. The first thing I uncovered was the fact that narcotics were being given past the 72-hour dead line. I instated a stop to that situation and of course was met with resistance. Quote “The doctors won’t like that”. Answer.” Do you think I care? Ladies it is a Federal Law and no one is taking my nursing license away from me because some doctor might not like a change that I have made. Physicians aren’t stupid. They knew very well I was right and conformed without question. The nursing staff however was intent in getting rid of me. I was a threat. As it happened I had a request to return to the hospital in Anaheim to fill the position as Material Manager. I was pretty certain it might be a short-term position but I did not need to deal with any more back stabbing, so I moved on. About the time I thought I would again be looking for a job the DON, at Tustin called me and said, Carol, I have a job for you. I need someone to plan an implement a Diabetic teaching program. I said, Betty, I know nothing about Diabetes. She said, you will. If you take the job, I will send you to a 2-week teaching program in Minnesota. Minnesota in January for a California person. But we must do what is required to progress and be successful, especially if someone else thinks so highly of your capabilities. And so, I returned from yet another learning process and planned and developed the first Diabetic Teaching program at this hospital. Later at a Medical staff meeting a Cardiologist asked, “When would they get a Cardiac teaching program”. I said, Dr. Vangrow, I had no idea you wanted a cardiac teaching program. I will get right on it, immediately. Thus another teaching program to better the outcome of patients following discharge. I loved my job.

So stay tuned for more adventures as this brings me to the magic age of the big 50.

The way to have a better tomorrow is to start working on it today. Anonymous.

Who am I? Chapter IV (part 2)

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:06:13 GMT

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

At this point of my duty at Camp LeJeune, I had learned the previous CO had been ineffective due to alcoholism. No wonder the place was such a mess. We were blessed with a new CO wo was hell on wheels. He later became US Surgeon General. His office was often referred to as “the pressure chamber”. In addition to this one very tough and demanding CO, was added a Chief Nurse that was also hell on wheels. She was promoted to Navy Captain in 9 years. She had served some time in the Army Nurse Corps, but left and spent her time getting additional education. Then she transferred to the Navy. It was a privilege to work for her. There was no doubt in my mind I better not screw up or there would be hell to pay. As it turned out, she somehow recognized I was a person that could get a job done. One job that blew me away was to be put in charge of all the ice machines in the hospital. My husband was bewildered. He asked me if that wasn’t the job of the dietary department. I told him I was sure she had attempted to go the route and found it unsuccessful. I had to scratch my head trying to figure this one out. Then it occurred to me all of the ice machines were likely highly contaminated because no policy had been established. You can imagine how popular I was when I shut down every ice machine in this 300 bed hospital and sent a notice that ice would be retrieved from the galley until further notice. All ice machines were drained and cultured. Same bacteria I found in the isolates in the Nursery. I looked for and found some ambulatory patients that would be willing to follow my instructions on how to properly clean the ice machines. Warning them following the cleaning, I would again do cultures to determine how effective the cleaning process was. Now, as this was a Marine base, I of course had the finest of the fine to help me accomplish this unusual task. My second cultures were great. In the meantime I wrote strict protocol regarding removing ice from the machines that was issued to every ward as well as posted on each machine.

Problem solved but to maintain a bacteria free situation all ice machines were cultured on a monthly basis. If need be, action was taken to clean them.

In addition to some of these unusual tasks I was assigned as Supervisor of all the Medical Wards. That didn’t mean I had a soft daytime job, as all Supervisors had to take their turns at supervision on the evening, night and weekend shifts. Those assignments resulted in walking at least 10 miles in 8 hours. As time moved on Captain Cannon assigned me to the Emergency Room. I have already stated how much the ER corpsmen looked forward to having me in the system.

Well, it all turned out very well. After about 2 months of figuring out I wasn’t going to crash and burn, the Sr. Corpsmen asked if he could speak to me privately. A private place consisted of the utility room where bedpans and emesis basins are emptied and cleaned.

A great office environment. He said “Mrs. Grice, don’t you know what we have been trying to do to you”. I just smiled and said “Hasn’t worked, has it”. He started to laugh and said, you are right, it hasn’t worked and now we have decided we not only like you but also want to keep you around. You are one very tough lady. Together we turned that ER into a spotless part of the hospital. Bless their hearts. They even scrubbed the wheels on the gurneys.

One day we received a radio transmission from Bldg. 15 that a gun shot wound of the abdomen was headed in our direction with an ETA of 5 min. I called the Surgical watch and much to my dismay, he told me he was too busy and hung up on me. I looked at my corpsmen who said “What happened?” I said if you can believe this that SOB told me he was too busy and hung up on me. What was I to do, said they. I headed for the door straight towards the office of the CO and said you are soon to find out. I ran into the Executive Officers office, under protest of the receptionist and explained the situation to the Capt.

He came out from around his desk like he had been shot out of a cannon, saying get back to the ER. I will take care of this situation. As they wheeled the patient into the ER the CO and the Exec. came to our aid. Emergency care followed by transfer to the OR. There is no way I can tell all the ER stories. Many were grim and bloody. The best story of all was when I was assigned to plan and implement the party for the Nurse Corps anniversary. I was so busy I had forgotten to make a hair appointment. When I went to the Chief Nurse and requested to leave work 15 min. early, she said NO. When I returned to the ER it was evident I had tears in my eyes and was very frustrated. Corpsmen to the rescue. That fantastic group of my team managed to (without me noticing) set every clock in the ER up 15 minutes. One of them took my car keys out of my purse, ran over to the parking lot and brought my car back to right behind the ER, off to one side of course, so I wouldn’t see it. Right on schedule they informed me it was time to leave to have my hair done. I immediately looked at my watch, only to be informed, my watch was wrong. As we were not allowed in town in a working uniform my Sr. corpsmen removed the oak leaves from my collar saying he was keeping them as a souvenir and told me I was now a civilian and I needed to get moving. As I continued to protest he said “Does one of us have to go over the hill to get you to the beauty shop on time? We want our nurse to be the prettiest lady at the party.

While assigned to the ER, I was also called to the Nursing office and asked to go to Ward 4 (the Dependent ward) and straighten out that mess. I asked how long I had and she said 4 days. My reply was Capt. It took them 40 years to screw up that ward and you want me to fix it in 4 days. And how am I supposed to justify my presence. She looked at me calmly and said, “You’ll think of something”. I justified my presence by telling them I wasn’t busy in the ER and came to help them. Now if you really want to know what is going on with patient care, answer lights. That is when I discovered there wasn’t a single roll of toilet paper on the entire ward. I of course had to threaten the supply department as it wasn’t the normal ordering day but I did indeed have 2 cases of toilet paper on my door step in 30 min. At home that night, my husband asked what great accomplishments I had done during the day. I rendered my Marine husband speechless when I announced I had ordered 2 cases of toilet paper (Using different language of course) I explained you couldn’t take care of patients very well if you can’t even wipe their behinds. I followed my 4 days of discovery with a report to the Chief Nurse. All my suggestions were implemented. During these 4 years, my husband was deployed twice. And as things don’t always work out time wise for one reason or another, it was my task to sell the house, contact the movers and supervise them for 5 days, while I was on night duty.

Husband arrived when everything was completed. On the 4^th of July 1971 we gathered up Gigi and Fifi and headed across country again for duty in Hawaii. I had considered leaving my 2 poodles with my parents in Nebraska rather than 120 day of quarantine.

I quickly changed my mind when we were greeted by 4 German Shepard’s as we drove into the driveway of my parents home a mile north of Elkhorn, NE. After a brief visit we were off to San Francisco to continue our trip to Hawaii.

We arrived early to look for and purchase a home. I manage to get pretty lucky in finding the perfect house. I had found a fantastic Real Estate Agent advertised in Navy Times. He was a retired Army Col and he and his wife remained friends for years to come.

My husband was to be stationed at Camp Smith and my duty station was Sr. Nurse Corps Officer at Barbers Point, Hawaii. Once again I was greeted with an incredible amount of undesirable situations. And yes once again the problem was the previous Sr. Medical Officer had an alcohol problem. His replacement was pretty special. He had served with the space program during all the Apollo space flights. The Nurse Corps Officer I relieved had been less than effective. However I had an E8 Corpsman that was fantastic. Mary Ann was delighted to find out she finally had a Nurse that was willing to deal with difficult situations. And I was equally delighted to have a Senior Chief that was totally squared away.

These were my problems.

!. A very dirty dispensary.

2. Sterile technique being used was out dated.

3 Steam sterilizer had as far as I could determine never been checked to see if it was

effective in sterilizing items that were placed in it for sterilization.

4. Sterility of emergency trays was out dated by a year or more.

5. No crash cart in the ER. (Only a small tray with a few emergency items on it that was

kept locked up in the Pharmacy).

6. Ambulances were a disaster, as well as the equipment contained in them.

As well as many other problems I can’t currently remember.

My solution to solving the lack of cleanliness was pretty interesting if not brilliant. I had noted all the staff were Snoopy fans. Every single one of them had a Snoopy pin on their lab jackets. So, I said to Mary Ann, how talented are you and perhaps your roommate. I want to construct a banner that says the Snoopy award. It was a total hit. Snoopy standing by his doghouse doing a white glove inspection, complete with swagger stick under his arm. You never saw a place get so clean so fast in your life. Everyone was competing for the Snoopy Award to post over the doorway of his or her department. I didn’t even have to be a butthead and issue orders. Competition did the job for me and I was one very happy Senior Nurse. At least in the cleanliness area. All in all, once I instilled a sense of pride in the entire staff, everything else pretty much fell in place without too much grief. Except getting a crash cart. I had to pound on the Adm. Officer’s desk every single morning and say loudly. “CRASH CART”. He finally got the picture I was not about to give up, so authorized the purchase of a crash cart. Having previous Emergency Room experience, I knew exactly what the contents should be and I did have to order a few additional items. It was sealed with a wire seal and when used it must be inventoried and the inventory signed before they could get a new seal to replace the one that had to be broken to use the equipment.

One funny thing before I depart. I had at this point indeed turned age 40. I had gone to the pharmacy to pick up an Rx for a patient and as it was a controlled drug I had to sign and nearly give my life’s history. Age? When I wrote 40 I suddenly realized I had indeed turned 40. I was in shock. For my 40^th birthday my husband had given me a beautiful, very rare 2-karat diamond. It is silver in color. The given name. “Natural silver Mink”.

Chapter V coming up.

A person who moves mountains begins by carrying away small stones. Chinese Proverb.

Who am I? Chapter IV (part I)

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:48:16 GMT

Who Am I? Age 30-40.

To carry his load without resting, not to be bothered by heat or cold and always be content. These three things we can learn from a donkey. Indian Proverb.

I turned 30 in July of 1962 and my brothers were all referring to me as their “Old maid sister”. Like I really cared what they thought. I knew exactly where I was headed. Nursing and my career were my first love and I needed a partner that understood my passion for the Navy and Nursing. I married in October of 1962 then returned to Camp Pendleton. Cuban Missile Crisis was in progress, so when we returned having a Honeymoon cut short due to orders to return to base ASAP, I went on Night Duty and my husband worked 15 hours or so. We didn’t see each other for 2 weeks.

In July of 1963 we both received orders to Marine Corps Supply Center, Barstow, CA.

I requested orders to that duty station and as Navy Nurses weren’t knocking one another down to get orders to Barstow the Navy detail officer gladly sent me on my way to Barstow. Promoted to LCdr. 1 October 1963.

I actually loved that duty station. Lots of hard work but lots of fun. One thing the Nurses did the day after the Marine Corps Birthday Ball was give a hang over party for everyone that wanted to attend. Each year the theme was different. One year the theme was put a tiger in your tank. All the nurses were dressed in plain shift style dresses fashioned out of material that resembled the skin of a tiger. I was the seamstress. We held the event in the patio area of the Nurses Quarters. It was set up like a sick bay. Diet kitchen, IV therapy that were IV bottles hanging from IV poles filled with various types of booze, such as Scotch, Gin, etc. IV tubing connected to the bottles with a shot glass to measure your amount of spirits. There was a post with signs and arrows directing you to each place, including the morgue. Crazy bunch we were. When ever I heard someone complain about a duty station it told me they don’t know how to look at the positive side of situations and likely were in need of an attitude adjustment.

In 1966 I had the privilege of being the first female officer to attend a Marine Corps Mess night. That was after I saw the General and stated the rules read “All Officers will attend”.

During the time in Barstow, my husband spent 13 months in Okinawa. Just another military adjustment.

My husband received orders to Camp LeJeune, NC in June of 1967. Again the Nurse Corps was kind enough to transfer me to the same duty station. We traveled across country by automobile. Each of us had a poodle in the car with us. Gigi was with me and Fifi was with Marshall. We arrived about a week in advance prior to our check in date to look for and purchase a house. I got really lucky. The greatest house I could have ever imagined. When I walked through the front door, I said, I don’t need to see any more. Mrs. McArthur was shocked. She said, you don’t want to see the rest of my house. I said, No, I already know I want to buy it. The home had been featured in House Beautiful and Mrs. McArthur having seen it, she and her husband built this incredible house. Price in 1967. A real expense at $25,000.00. Many great parties were hosted in that fabulous house.

The day I reported to my duty station and was in the process of orientation, 2 helicopters collided over a shopping center in Jacksonville, NC. The small town outside of Camp LeJeune. That led to utter confusion and people scrambling like mad. There were Navy physicians on board that were there, visiting some of their friends. Everyone immediately turned to, ran to the ER and the OR to do what needed to be done. The quarters on base, near the hospital, that had once been Nurses quarters, had large walk-in refrigerators. They were overflowing with deceased individuals from this terrible crash.

Obviously my so-called orientation was brought to a screeching halt and I was sent immediately to the family hospital to take charge of the Newborn Nursery. Told the orientation would continue at a different time. That never happened. That was fine with me. After so many years in the Navy, I hardly thought I needed a week of orientation. Just give me the basic facts in a couple of hours and I’m good to go and very capable of knowing what is expected of me.

The newborn nursery was a disaster. Having been run by civilian’s for a long period of time, I could find nothing positive about the entire situation, other than the fact that in spite of some less than desirable practices, they had luckily not had any deaths. The premature nursery was so poorly managed that when I did cultures on the isolates, I found they were loaded with pseudomonas. Lacks of knowledge of how to properly clean the equipment. The lack of communication with the formula rep. was another issue. The civilian nurses insisted he was not doing his job, so when he made a visit, I chewed his behind for 5 solid minutes without drawing a breath. He nearly backed out the door and said, “Where the hell did you come from?” As it turned out he had left the Marine Corps having been a MC pilot, because his wife insisted he leave the MC. As I continued my research into the situation it turned out, it was not him that had failed to do his job, but the nurses that had failed to take inventory of the formula needs and then would call him for additional formula at 0200. Once I found out he was a former Marine, there was absolutely no doubt in my mind that he was not at fault. Formula was not the only issue. These civilian nurses would use the last baby shirt then call out the corpsmen on watch to bring baby shirts to them at 0300. Again a lack of not following the 7 P’s. Not one speck of concern for a corpsmen that had worked all day and was standing a night watch to attend to the wishes of those that were not capable of doing their jobs. I also objected to the fact they were putting chuk’s under the heads of the babies to catch the slobbering, so they didn’t have to change the sheet on the crib mattress. So, I instituted a disposable crib mattress cover that was form fitting and gave instructions, under no circumstances were they to put those items under the head of a baby. The backing on the chuk’s was plastic, and I explained if the baby pulled it over their face, it would cut off their oxygen and cause death. One day I was scheduled for a meeting and the people in the nursery did not think I would come on duty. Unfortunately for them the meeting was cancelled and I showed up to find they had defied my order. That was not a smooth day by any means. However they continued to defy me, until a night RN admitted to me she had picked up a baby that had indeed pulled the chuk over his face and when she picked the infant up, it was blue and not breathing. In time she was able to resuscitate the infant and death did not occur. I finally made my point, but only after nearly a loss of an infants life. The Marine baby formula rep. was so unhappy not any longer being in the Marine Corps, I convinced him to return to where he was happy. And being the PIA that I am I told him bluntly, if she doesn’t agree with what makes you happy, “Get rid of her”. And so as I reported all these findings to the Chief Nurse, she asked my thoughts. I suggested with a delivery rate of 300 babies per month and a large Premature Nursery, it deserved the leadership of a Navy Nurse. In my opinion the civilians had done a pretty terrible job. She followed my suggestion and replaced me with a sharp young Lt.

The Chief Nurse wanted to move me on to another situation. Or so it seemed, as my next task was the Operating Room. As the supervisor of the OR was a friend of mine I was not effective in dealing with her attitude and her lack of leadership in that department. I expressed these concerns to the Chief Nurse and she understood and decided to move me on.

Oh my. The Emergency room. A department that had always been run only by physicians and corpsmen. I was about as popular as the Black Plague when I entered those sacred doors and announced “Hey guys, this is my new assignment”. I am very well aware that you are less than pleased with this turn of events, but as a team, I think we can make it work. What they thought, I have no idea. I do know without a doubt they had only one goal. That was to get rid of me. They had already managed that prior to my assignment.

These hard core Navy Corpsmen that had returned from Vietnam, had no use for those such as Navy Nurses. The Navy Nurse that preceded me was admitted to the hospital.

Not a physical illness. They managed to put him (a male Navy Nurse) in the hospital in the psychiatric department. Nice job I had facing me.

Now as I have managed to get into page 3 of this story and have not even touched on all the interesting things at Camp LeJeune, I have decided perhaps I should divide Chapter IV into 2 parts. Will continue with the second part in a few days.

The difficulties in life are intended to make us better not bitter. Anonymous.

Who am I? Chapter III

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:55:30 GMT

Ages 20 to 30.

Dost thou love life? Then do not squander Time, for that’s the stuff life is made of..

Benjamin Franklin.

Senior year begins with a ceremony called striping. A black velvet stripe was put across the top of our nurse’s cap, which indicated we were seniors. We still had a great deal to learn and a few heartaches to deal with. At this point we had lost nearly half of the number of girls that started. They had either quit, or were bounced for one reason or another. The school was extremely hard on our class, as the class ahead of us had 5 students fail the State Board Examination. That was not about to happen again. Indeed one head nurse even commented in her years working there, she had never seen any class be so disciplined as our class. She said they are downright hard on this entire class.

My Pediatric affiliation was scheduled during my Sr. year. That just about did me in. We were sent to Children’s Hospital for that period of learning and it was during the time when polio swept the Middle West. (1952-1953) Many young children in Iron lungs, chest respirators or what ever else was needed to support respirations This was such a heartbreaking experience. I went home and informed my Mother and Father I wanted to quit.. I didn’t think I could bear watching another child die. Again, my father came to my rescue. He encouraged me to stick it out and said when finished he thinks it will have turned out to be my favorite part of training. Now it was my turn to think he had lost his brains somewhere along the line. Well, he convinced me and he was right. What a thrill to see these critically ill youngsters taken out of the iron lung or some other type breathing apparatus and progress to riding a tricycle. As it happened one of my little patients had the same last name. One day he asked a nurse for Miss Andersen. His mother was a volunteer and went to see what he needed. I informed her that it was Miss Andersen he was asking for. Mom found me and told me the story, that it seems my son has a crush on you. I think he was about 7 years old.

Moving right along I completed my training in early October 1953 followed by writing my state examination boards to qualify me for the title of RN.

I quickly visited a recruiting office to get started with the process of being accepted into the Navy Nurse Corps. Following a lengthy waiting period of nearly a year, I received orders for orientation and permanent duty station following orientation as a direct Presidential appointment to the rank of Ensign NC USNR. One of my classmates and I headed for New York in September of 1954 for 6 weeks of orientation and learning how to become a Naval Officer. One of our instructors was a Marine Corps drill instructor. I was glad I was already skilled at knowing how to march as well as being a fairly good swimmer. I do however occasionally ask dumb questions. I asked a Commander Nurse instructor if a war broke out, would I still be able to get out of the Navy at the end of 2 years. Hum-m-m. She looked at me and said “Miss Andersen, if there was a war, would you want to get out”.

Lesson learned. Think before you ask a stupid question.

Completing orientation I experienced my first flight from. NY to Norfolk, Va., my first duty station. I had been told it was a terrible place to be stationed, however as the men out numbered the women 35 to 1, I could find absolutely nothing wrong with that situation. While there, I was assigned to so much night duty one of the corpsmen asked me if I was on night duty again or still. The detail officer informed me they had to assign nurses to night duty that could be trusted. My answer to that was “So, you have to be a bad nurse to get good duty hours”. She said, Miss Andersen, you wouldn’t do something like that would you? I told her I might consider it, but she was right. You should take what is dealt out to you and recognize the reason. In this case the reason was I could be trusted to make good judgment calls in difficult situations. I loved the Navy and within a year was asking to be transferred to Regular Navy. That didn’t fly, as I was told when they looked at me, they heard wedding bells. Well said I, glad you can hear them as I certainly haven’t heard any wedding bells. Promoted to Ltjg. 19 November 1955.

In June of 1956 I received PCS orders to Sasebo, Japan. I eagerly looked forward to a new adventure. One year in Sasebo, followed by a year in Yokosuka, Japan. While at Yokosuka I managed to fracture my 5^th metatarsal dancing stocking footed doing the Mexican Hat Dance in a Japanese nightclub. My Chief Nurse informed me I should get dressed in the uniform of the day and go to sick call. Sure thing Cdr. Lindner, as I hopped around on one leg.

As I was considering my situation Cdr. Gordon Brown MC came to my rescue. Apparently my date Lt. Bill Friel, had informed the ships doctor regarding my situation. I did manage to get in uniform (ward whites) and Gordon carried me to the Orthopedic Department. I was blessed with a walking cast. But of course, duty requirements must march on. Mostly I worked in the New Born nursery. I had fallen in love with one of the premature babies. Her name was Mary Frances Bussy. The pediatrician waited until I had the day off to discharge her to home. Sniff, sniff. Occasionally also in Labor and Delivery. Promoted to Lt. (03) on 1 March 1958.

In August of 1958 I headed for duty at Naval Hospital Oakland, CA but first went on leave to be the soloist for my brothers wedding.

While stationed at Naval Hospital Oakland, one task given to me was military escort duty back to Nebraska in the middle of January. On my return trip by rail, I met Rene Blum the Director of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Certainly an exciting experience including free tickets (great seats) to Swan Lake and Gaite Parisienne. A very exciting experience.

Duties included Medical wards, Chest ward and a short period of time on the NP wards.

It didn’t take long for me to figure out working in psychiatry was not my choice of nursing, not to mention Med-Surg Supervisors were shaking their heads and making the remark to me “What a waste of talent”. Besides the NP supervisor thought my attitude was non-therapeutic. I displayed anger when an acutely psychotic patient grabbed me and tried to kiss me. I thought my attitude was totally appropriate. Oh well, I had previously asked to return to the Medical wards and was asked “Miss Andersen, can’t you adjust?”

Perhaps I wasn’t able to adjust, as I didn’t think being attacked by a patient on the locked ward was exactly an appropriate thing to have to contend with under any circumstances.

In July 1960 I was transferred to USMC Base, Camp Pendleton.

I loved my duties at Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton. Charge nurse on a busy General Medical Ward with a terrific Medical Officer Lt. Carl Leigh, who thought so much of my capabilities, he requested I assist him to establish a Medical Intensive Care Unit.. I had an outstanding Sr. Corpsmen, which made my task less hectic. The ward capacity was 16 and we were generally full.

While I was stationed at Camp Pendleton, I met a Marine that would later become my husband.

As this takes me up to age 30, time out until Chapter 1V.

“The bamboo for prosperity,” a Japanese friend explained to me, “the pine for long life, the plum for courage---"

“Why the plum for courage?” I asked, picturing courage as a great oak.

“Yes, yes,” answered my Japanese friend. “The plum for courage, because the plum puts forth blossoms while the snow is still on the ground.”

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Who am I? Chapter II

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:21:35 GMT

Age 10 to 20.

You will find as you look back upon your life, that the moments that stand out are the moments when you have done things for others. Henry Drummond

While living and working on this Nebraska Dairy farm, I attended a one-room school, which happened to be right across the highway from our farm. That’s right, one room for all 8 grades and one teacher for all grades. I still remember her name and it happens that one of my classmates from Nurses Training is her sister. Marilyn told me last year while I was in Omaha for my College of Nursing Alumni functions that Elaine is still teaching. I just whipped out my calculator and figured out she is 83 years old. Talk about being dedicated to doing things for others. I take my hat off to that special lady.

I graduated from the 8^th grade at age 13 and entered high school the following year. No longer just across the highway but still I walked to school. It was about a mile. Remember it is often cold and snowing in Nebraska.

While in high school, I sang in the Church Choir, as well as participating in Operetta performances staged by the high school. I also found time to be a cheerleader and still remember my favorite cheer. “ S U C C E S S That’s the way you spell success. Beat _______ name of other team.

Now that I had the idea that I was becoming a young lady I informed my father I wanted to graduate from the barn at age 16. Being the wise man he was, he sold the milk cows and started raising beef cattle. Hum! Just a different job, but I was good at rounding up cattle with my Indian pony and cattle dog to drive the cattle to the yards, where we would either brand them and return to the fields, or cut them from the herd to send to the stock yards.. Never could master that darn laureate to be able to rope and tie down the cattle. Tomboy? Probably.

I don’t remember why but my father sold the Dairy Farm and we moved to Iowa. A farm in the Corn Belt, right on highway 66. That is where I completed high school, having participated as a baton twirler with the marching band, singing in church, both in the choir and solo. Singing in school with the Glee Club and other musical events, such as entering the Iowa State music contest as a high Soprano. The musical number I chose was “Italian Street Song” by Victor Herbert. I do not remember where I placed but I’m pretty sure I came in 2^nd place. My lilting soprano voice was a gift from God. No voice lessons except of course from the high school music teacher.

My job as a farm girl had been pretty much reduced in compared to Nebraska, except for the summer. I always took a job to de-tassel corn Much seed corn is raised in Iowa and the female rows of corn had to have the tassels pulled. We were paid $1.00 an hour. A job I continued to do, even on my vacations while in Nurses Training.

When I graduated from High School in 1950 I left the rural area of Glidden, Iowa and headed for Omaha. I got a job at Mutual Benefit of Omaha as a typist.

In August I had been directed to assist some gals with filing. While in that department the girls were all talking about their boy friends that had just left for Korea. As I listened to them a light went on in my head. I suddenly knew without question that I wanted to be a nurse and I wanted to be a military nurse. I was so excited about my new idea; I could hardly wait to get off work to investigate schools of Nursing in Omaha. Much to my dismay, every school had started classes except one. Yikes! This was on a Monday or Tuesday and I took my pre-entrance exam the following Saturday. I could not wait to find out if I had been accepted and still give 2 weeks notice to resign from my job, so I put in my resignation with the idea, there wasn’t a chance I would not be accepted. I was determined this was my destiny.

My parents thought I had dropped my brains somewhere along the way but went along with my wishes. I entered Training at Nebraska Methodist school of Nursing in September 1950 to begin yet another new task. And indeed a task it was. We were required to carry 21 college credit hours the first semester. Oh well, as social life was extinct what else did I have to do but study. We lived in Nurses Quarters and were allowed to stay out in the evening to the late hour of 2030 providing your grades were acceptable. If not you were in quarters at 1900 under supervised study in the library. Some of our classes were taken at the University of Omaha (now University of Nebraska at Omaha). Chemistry was extremely difficult for me so I did have the opportunity to have supervised study periods. On Friday and Saturday nights we were granted permission to stay out until 2230 and have one over night per month, providing we could prove we spent the night under adult supervision. I was indeed glad my parents had left Iowa and moved to Omaha. Be assured we had no opportunity to do anything without permission.

We signed in an out of Nurses Quarters and if you were late, your privileges were taken away for a specified period of time. At the end of 6 months, if you managed to survive all the regulations, we graduated from our probationary period and received our caps at a capping ceremony. I might add that through out our training we were required to attend Chapel every single day regardless of which shift you were assigned to.

Following our capping ceremony we were then assigned a work status taking care of patients under supervision in addition to the hours of class work. The second semester classes were held in classrooms in Nurses Quarters. It mattered not what your work schedule was. You did show up in class. No excuses were acceptable. My class started out with 42 students. When we graduated there were just 21 of us left and an extra student that had transferred from another school of nursing. They were tough and if you didn’t toe the mark or walk the straight line, you were history.

The second year marked the beginning of affiliations, such as Douglas County hospital for contagious diseases, Operating Room, Obstetrics, Special Diet Kitchen and the State Mental Hospital in Hastings, Nebraska for psych training. The beginning of my Sr. year brings me to age 20. So time out until the next chapter.

In parting I will say, give to the world the best you have and the best will come back to you.

Chapter III coming up after I meet the requirement of a specified number of replies.

Who am I?

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:34:58 GMT

I expect to pass through this life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow-being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. William Penn

Who am I? I have already been who I wanted to be. That however does not mean that I stop learning or not make every attempt to help my fellow-being along the path to success. That is my goal during this learning endeavor.

Chapter I (Birth through age 10)

I was born in Omaha, Nebraska on 10 July 1932 at 1030. The first 5 years were reasonably uneventful.

Going to school was a challenge. We lived in North Omaha, up at the top of a very steep hill. One winter day, I stood at the top of the hill covered with ice and wondered how I was going to get to the bottom. My lunch pail gave me the answer. As I set down it slid all the way to the bottom. So I sat down and I slid to the bottom. Stood up, brushed off the ice and snow and continued my journey. Getting back to the top of the hill following school had not yet entered my mind. The sun solved my problem. The ice had melted.

My father was an Omaha Policeman during the depression. About 1935 or so, he started a trucking business that hauled Kraft Cheese from Omaha to Chicago. When WWII broke out on 7 December 1941, it was impossible to hire truck drivers and the government had frozen trucking rates. Thus he sold the trucking business and moved the family to a Dairy Farm in Bennington, Nebraska. At age 10 I began a new life. That of a farm girl that included milking 100 cows each day before and after school. I was learning what hard work was all about as in addition to being a milk maiden which included knowing what and how much to feed each cow according to the amount of milk she produced and cleaning the barn to maintain a spotless enviornment, as we sold Grade A milk to the Army Air Base in Lincoln, NE. I also learned how to bail hay, walk the cornfields to look for and pull cockleburs, and any other job my father could dream up to keep us busy. At this tender age, I learned how to sit with the mother pig while she gave birth to the tiny piglets. It was my job to rub them clean with straw, place them in a basket and take them to our house to get them warm so they could begin their new lives.

To end chapter I, I will comment that Great oportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us daily.

Hope you stay tuned for Chapter II.

Orientation

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 02:53:14 GMT

As a new learner I might stumble. However it is my opinion that the only difference between a stumbling block and stepping stones is how you step on them.

My orientation was perhaps somewhat different, as it was partly devoted to an educational process for the new Executive Officer and the Resource Officer. I am always delighted to share my time and learning process with anyone else. That is what life is all about. Sharing and learning with and from each other.

Orientation was held at my home, complete with coffee and some goodies. I must admit I felt a little confused when it was over, but never let it be said that I will not make every attempt to figure it out and hopefully be a resource to someone else that might feel somewhat confused. I have been through many learning situations during my life time and in most cases one feels just a little confused at first. I say, that should never deter you. Lace up your boots and march on. I have always felt every situation should always be met head on with a determination to make sure you come out of it a winner and that your ultimate goal is to help others.

You will learn more about me as I start my "paper back". Let me assure you it will be more like a novel with about 3 or 4 additional volumes. My goal is to let you know the issues I have dealt with and what I did to eventually become successful. Some of it will be funny and sometimes you will say. "I don't believe it". Be assured every word written will be factual. So hope you stay tuned for the life and tribulations and successes of this new learner.

Hugs for all.

Carol A. Grice

Oh yes and LCdr. NC USN (Ret) I'm very proud of that and most proud of the fact that I served my country and loved every minute of it.