Walden University.

An online school that offers the flexibility for people to earn an advance degree without commuting or kissing up to your professors. I asked for information and talked to an advisor for about an hour over the phone. Everything seems nice and then she turned into a sales woman.

She wants all my information, copy of my nursing license, social security numbers of all my ancestors from 200 years ago and essay with letters of recommendation within 3 weeks. I told her I'm not thinking of starting in 3 weeks but more like next fall. She was telling me that people make up excuses to delay things. Okay, I'm being pitched.

The information about the degree I'm interested with arrived, I like what I see. The saleslady called me twice and emailed me stuff. Two days before the deadline, she told me if I don't respond within 24-36 hours, I'll be removed from their prospect list. Big fucking deal, LOL. What a sorry ass school. I can't imagine three years with this type of hard selling bitch.

Time to buy another luxury car. Fuck this advance degree bullshit.

Canceled wedding gig.

I was suppose to have a wedding gig next weekend when my buddy canceled me as the photographer. His fiance wants a traditional Indonesian wedding where the ceremonies last for 16 hours or something like that.

To be part of this traditional wedding, my buddy was adopted by an Indonesian family (weird). Then there are offerings of goats (weirder) and other rituals that goes on and on and on when he was telling me the story.

For a guy that's been married twice before and it's her second wedding, why do all this ceremonies when the chances of divorce is 50% anyway? I don't understand. One thing I do know, love makes people do irrational things like letting their spouses control all the financial issues. I know many folks who divorced and was bankrupt because their spouses took everything. A co-worker drives a Cadillac SUV and lives in a large house because she took everything. She laughs about it. Poor guy, he's stupid enough to let her have it all.

Anyway, she wants 16 hours of photography and has found someone else to cover it. Fine with me. I was invited as a guest but the invitation hasn't arrived. I'm dropping the wedding part of my business as it's a pain in the ass anyway.

Death anniversary and taxes.

I had my taxes done today. I made less last year and I survived. Hmm, work less and still survive, now that is a concept. Most people want to be rich, then there are the ones who will be satisfied being out of the hole they are in. There are different types of people. Super achievers look at ordinary people as complacent and lazy. Dreamless fools who settle for ordinary things. I guess I'll be in the middle. This brain of mine is just ordinary. Middle of the line talent that will not shake the world with genius work. That is fine with me. As I sat here on my lazy boy recliner, I thought of my lack of genius. By lack of genius I mean God's gift of effortless work that creates unique awesome something that shakes the world in awe. Everything about me is ordinary. Nothing awesome to make me uniquely famous. I don't need fame. Would be nice but my brain can't think of anything genius to make me famous. Oh well, I'm satisfied. The gift of life alone I'm grateful for. Lots of things to be grateful for. I pray to win the Lotto, oh yeah, there is still hope to be rich.

The 15th of April is mom's death anniversary. One of the darkest day of my life. I went to the cemetery and bought a nice bouquet of flowers. When i got to the site, the sprinklers were on. I was able to dig for the brass water vase but it was stuck and my fingers were weakened by digging out the grass. Nothing is working here. I left the flowers on its side and said a small prayer. Can't keep from crying. Going to the cemetery is never easy for me that's why I'm down to twice a year visits. The holidays are ok but anniversaries sucks.

The contacts I made at the job fair are calling. It's always nice to know there is a demand for nurses. Now it's time to pick the highest bidder and the closest to home. At $3.19 per gallon of petrol, I need to weigh the choices.

25 years in America!

I almost forget to commemorate this year as my 25th immigration anniversary to the US. It was a bitter sweet 25 years. Got two degrees, lost both parents to disease instead of old age, still single but loving it, own a home and still finds a million things to complain about. That's life I guess. Can't complain if I'm 6 feet underground. LOL.

25 years ago, I wouldn't have thought of being where I am. I would say that I pretty much was flying by the seat of my pants. Grabbing opportunities and trying them out. Most didn't pan out but I sure did tried and learned about my strengths and weaknesses.

Both my siblings are now married. One has three girls, the other is still in honeymoon in Europe. They both have decent jobs. Mom and dad would be proud.

I will celebrate every 5 years. Glad that I'm out of the 3 P's of the Philippines, pollution, poverty and political pestilence. Thanks to the people who took the chance to get out of their comfort zone and make things better for their family, my parents.

Looking for a new gig.

The Casa situation has changed as the people there are just getting to my nerves. From CNAs to doctors, bunch of discomfort to my rear end. How did an organization lasted this long with these types of people? The answer is complex.

Things in the past is no way similar to todays' standards. Rehabilitation medicine, the spinal cord and traumatic brain injury type has changed in terms of who pays the bills. Medicare has changed the requirements for people to get rehab care. If they don't have any of the seven or so set diagnosis, they don't get therapy or rehabilitation. This ensures that rehab patients have some other disease from dementia, heart diseases, renal problems, stomach and intestinal issues and other diagnosis before they can be admitted to our hospital.

Sicker patients makes for more complicated nursing. With LVNs and CNAs with no skills in taking care of these patients, there is never any lack of work for the RNs. More work means unhappy nurses who are not used to it.

I personally don't care about any of the "hard" work but getting to pick up other people's work is frustrating. It's not because I can handle it means I should work harder than the rest of them. No siree, not me. I enjoy doing less like everybody else.

Yesterday, one of the nursing magazines held a job fair. I inquired to a couple of non hospital position like home health and patient education. I think this is just where I want to be. I'll be transitioning out of nursing this year to next year as I get the photography gig going.

I will be discussing the two new prospects as soon as I get to know what is required. One thing for sure they both require driving. The education gig needs six months training in Woodland Hills. That is 50 miles one way. 100 miles a day at gas prices at $3.15 regular unleaded. After that, it's telecommuting. That it is the good part. The home health gig is definitely driving involved between LA and San Bernardino county. Pay range is $40-70 per visit depending on the nursing skill required. There is an ICU opening on my old hospital in Glendora but it's nights. Not bad but working days on the business will take it's toll. The education gig may not include weekends, now that is a plus.

Oooops...

It was getting warm here in my part of the woods. Sarge's coat is pretty thick and he seem to be in total annoyance when out with the sun blazing at him. I decided to cut off all his winter coat. What a relief until the weather starts getting cold again. Sucks for Sarge.

He didn't enjoy the next following days. It was cold and he can't rest on the cold concrete floor of the outside porch. He will make whimpering calls to get into his indoor kennel. Poor puppy pooh. I will let him in and toss him a pig ear. That makes up for the cold. The house is heated so he feels just fine.