Stitches
I submitted the scrap afghan article to Associated Content. It's being processed. I'll post a link as soon as it's posted.
As much as I love designing crochet patterns, I don't know how much I'll be doing in the near future. It just takes too much time. But I think I can still contribute to the crochet world by writing reviews of crochet books. I've checked, and there aren't many detailed reviews written out there.
Scripts
I volunteered at an h1n1 vaccine clinic today. I gave about 25 pregnant women shots, and I was able to get a look at the package insert for the vaccine. The clinical trials cited in the manufacturers info had about 9,000 people in the test group, and side effects similar to the seasonal flu vaccine. Why this info isn't available anywhere online, I don't know.
I was happy to help out at the clinic, but honestly, I'm hoping I don't have to give any h1n1 shots at work until the restrictions have lifted. I think all the extra questions people have about it are better directed to their doctor or health dept.
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label crochet. Show all posts
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Miscellaneous Cheering and Griping
Stitches
Yay! I found my crochet hook stash. It was right where I left it, of course. I was sure I looked in the big bag with the...mmmm... maybe 1/5 finished scrap afghan. But do I want to work on that now? Of course not! I've started a small swatch of a crazy stitch scrap afghan. I've been wanting to write an article for Associated Content about making scrap afghans, but I felt I needed more pictures of different stitches and color combo's. I hope to get the swatch and article both done tomorrow while I'm waiting for my eyes to recover from the eye doctor dilating my pupils.
Scripts
I know I said I wasn't going to complain, but I have to vent a little here. Flu shots are driving me out of my flipping mind! Someone at our main office got a bright idea to run a big ad campaign saying how we were Your Neighborhood Flu Shot Headquarters. But did they give us any extra support at the store level? Are you kidding me? I understand that this year is different, and everyone should get their seasonal flu shot early so they can get the h1n1 vaccine when it's available. But why do they have to get it from me on a Monday night when I have a backlog of 100 scripts to fill? And I can't stay very late tonight, because, guess what, I do have a life outside of pharmacy, and I'm meeting a friend for a drink because it's her birthday. I'm sure the pharmacy manager will complain tomorrow about what I didn't get done, but at this point, I really don't care.
Yay! I found my crochet hook stash. It was right where I left it, of course. I was sure I looked in the big bag with the...mmmm... maybe 1/5 finished scrap afghan. But do I want to work on that now? Of course not! I've started a small swatch of a crazy stitch scrap afghan. I've been wanting to write an article for Associated Content about making scrap afghans, but I felt I needed more pictures of different stitches and color combo's. I hope to get the swatch and article both done tomorrow while I'm waiting for my eyes to recover from the eye doctor dilating my pupils.
Scripts
I know I said I wasn't going to complain, but I have to vent a little here. Flu shots are driving me out of my flipping mind! Someone at our main office got a bright idea to run a big ad campaign saying how we were Your Neighborhood Flu Shot Headquarters. But did they give us any extra support at the store level? Are you kidding me? I understand that this year is different, and everyone should get their seasonal flu shot early so they can get the h1n1 vaccine when it's available. But why do they have to get it from me on a Monday night when I have a backlog of 100 scripts to fill? And I can't stay very late tonight, because, guess what, I do have a life outside of pharmacy, and I'm meeting a friend for a drink because it's her birthday. I'm sure the pharmacy manager will complain tomorrow about what I didn't get done, but at this point, I really don't care.
Monday, September 28, 2009
What's in your pocket?
Stitches
I found some t-shirts at Goodwill and cut them into loops with moderate success. Anything less than 1/4 inch falls apart when you stretch it, but crocheting with 1/4 inch or bigger loops (so you're really crocheting with 2 strands at a time) requires a pretty big hook. I suppose it would work for a rug or maybe a pillow.
I see some people are selling t-shirt yarn on Etsy.com. Apparently they have cut a t-shirt in spiral to get one long strand. I'm not sure I have the patience for that. However, I did cut a couple of my loops apart and made a macrame bracelet out of them. Only problem with that is figuring out what type of closure will work. I just tied a knot in the end and slipped the beginning loop over. It fell off at work, and I found it later in my smock pocket.
Stripts
Speaking of pockets.... those of you not in the biz may have noticed that we seem to have a lot of stuff in our smock pockets. Here's a list of what's in mine and why:
Ballpoint pens - pharmacists are completely lost without pens. I have 3 at all times because I have found over the years that 1 backup just isn't sufficient. I buy my own so that I know which ones are mine. Otherwise, I steal everyone else's and have a pocketful of pens at the end of the day.
Highlighter - there's always something to call attention to; a change in directions, a note that the patient needs to see the doctor, a note that the insurance company, in their infinite wisdom, has decided to stop paying for a drug, etc. There are usually highlighters around, but they always seem to be yellow which doesn't show up well on our receipts.
Pastel permanent marker - to make a big X on the open stock bottles. I'm generally pretty easy-going, but it does bother me when other staff members can't take a second to mark an open stock bottle and we end up with a bunch on the shelf. Everyone knows when I've been working because the shelves turn into a lovely rainbow of pastel shades.
Black permanent marker - mostly for writing notes on faxes to doctors. Regular pen either doesn't show up well enough or the doctor's staff just ignores it.
Small note book - I feel naked without my little cheat book. It's mostly phone numbers. But it also has lots of notes about fixing insurance rejections (override PA codes, DUR rejection codes, group numbers or processor control numbers that aren't on the patient's insurance card but we have to enter anyway.) The days when all I needed to know was drug info are long gone.
Colored lip balm - Hey, I still wanna look good!
I found some t-shirts at Goodwill and cut them into loops with moderate success. Anything less than 1/4 inch falls apart when you stretch it, but crocheting with 1/4 inch or bigger loops (so you're really crocheting with 2 strands at a time) requires a pretty big hook. I suppose it would work for a rug or maybe a pillow.
I see some people are selling t-shirt yarn on Etsy.com. Apparently they have cut a t-shirt in spiral to get one long strand. I'm not sure I have the patience for that. However, I did cut a couple of my loops apart and made a macrame bracelet out of them. Only problem with that is figuring out what type of closure will work. I just tied a knot in the end and slipped the beginning loop over. It fell off at work, and I found it later in my smock pocket.
Stripts
Speaking of pockets.... those of you not in the biz may have noticed that we seem to have a lot of stuff in our smock pockets. Here's a list of what's in mine and why:
Ballpoint pens - pharmacists are completely lost without pens. I have 3 at all times because I have found over the years that 1 backup just isn't sufficient. I buy my own so that I know which ones are mine. Otherwise, I steal everyone else's and have a pocketful of pens at the end of the day.
Highlighter - there's always something to call attention to; a change in directions, a note that the patient needs to see the doctor, a note that the insurance company, in their infinite wisdom, has decided to stop paying for a drug, etc. There are usually highlighters around, but they always seem to be yellow which doesn't show up well on our receipts.
Pastel permanent marker - to make a big X on the open stock bottles. I'm generally pretty easy-going, but it does bother me when other staff members can't take a second to mark an open stock bottle and we end up with a bunch on the shelf. Everyone knows when I've been working because the shelves turn into a lovely rainbow of pastel shades.
Black permanent marker - mostly for writing notes on faxes to doctors. Regular pen either doesn't show up well enough or the doctor's staff just ignores it.
Small note book - I feel naked without my little cheat book. It's mostly phone numbers. But it also has lots of notes about fixing insurance rejections (override PA codes, DUR rejection codes, group numbers or processor control numbers that aren't on the patient's insurance card but we have to enter anyway.) The days when all I needed to know was drug info are long gone.
Colored lip balm - Hey, I still wanna look good!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Loops
Stitches
Usually as the weather turns colder I start getting more serious about crochet. I like to watch movies that no one else around here wants to see, crochet, and drink too much coffee. The next DVD of Dead Like Me will be arriving soon. Now I need to decide what my next project will be.
I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head. I've been trying to make a mobile/sun-catcher idea work, but I can't seem to find yarn that drapes well and looks good with the cut glass drop beads that I bought.
Another idea that I've been kicking around is cutting up old t-shirts and crocheting them into something. So I think I'll run by my neighborhood Goodwill today, buy some t-shirts, get out the rotary cutter, and go to town. I'll try to follow the instructions for making plarn and cut straight across the t-shirt, making a big loops and then hook the loops together.
Scripts
You know how I was complaining before about other pharmacists being so negative? I've got a story for you that could easily be told as a rant, but I found humor in it, so here goes...
A woman called me on the phone at work last week and said she wanted her methadone refilled. I told her that methadone can't be refilled; it has to be a new written prescription each time. She argued with me that her doctor did put refills on it. And I replied that even if he did, I still couldn't legally refill it. Looking at her file, I saw that she had a refill on hydrocodone and asked if that was what she wanted. She said no.
She then called her doctor's office, and they called us. They spoke to the technician who didn't know about my earlier conversation with her. I don't know exactly what the doctor's nurse said, but the end result was that the hydrocodone got refilled.
The customer came in, and the cashier rang up the hydrocodone. The woman called me over to say we made a mistake; we were supposed to fill methadone. A circular exchange transpired.
"I want the methadone; the round ones. The doctor called in refills."
"The doctor has to write new prescription each time. It cannot be phoned in."
"What's this?"
"Hydrocodone. That one they can call in"
"I don't want that. I want the methadone; the round ones"
We go around and around a few times. I really don't know how else to say it.
As we're chasing our tails, I notice she has a rolled up piece of paper in her hand that looks like a prescription. After a minute or two she says "Oh, so you need this." And she hands me the piece of paper which is, indeed, a written prescription for methadone written about 2 weeks before.
We fill the methadone, and as we're ringing it up she asks me if we can put a note on her file so that we don't get confused next time. I gave her my biggest customer service smile and said, "So we don't get confused? Oh no, we're fine, Ma'am. Just bring us the written prescription next time and everything we be easy." While I'm saying this, I hear the technician behind me trying not to laugh.
Usually as the weather turns colder I start getting more serious about crochet. I like to watch movies that no one else around here wants to see, crochet, and drink too much coffee. The next DVD of Dead Like Me will be arriving soon. Now I need to decide what my next project will be.
I have a couple of ideas floating around in my head. I've been trying to make a mobile/sun-catcher idea work, but I can't seem to find yarn that drapes well and looks good with the cut glass drop beads that I bought.
Another idea that I've been kicking around is cutting up old t-shirts and crocheting them into something. So I think I'll run by my neighborhood Goodwill today, buy some t-shirts, get out the rotary cutter, and go to town. I'll try to follow the instructions for making plarn and cut straight across the t-shirt, making a big loops and then hook the loops together.
Scripts
You know how I was complaining before about other pharmacists being so negative? I've got a story for you that could easily be told as a rant, but I found humor in it, so here goes...
A woman called me on the phone at work last week and said she wanted her methadone refilled. I told her that methadone can't be refilled; it has to be a new written prescription each time. She argued with me that her doctor did put refills on it. And I replied that even if he did, I still couldn't legally refill it. Looking at her file, I saw that she had a refill on hydrocodone and asked if that was what she wanted. She said no.
She then called her doctor's office, and they called us. They spoke to the technician who didn't know about my earlier conversation with her. I don't know exactly what the doctor's nurse said, but the end result was that the hydrocodone got refilled.
The customer came in, and the cashier rang up the hydrocodone. The woman called me over to say we made a mistake; we were supposed to fill methadone. A circular exchange transpired.
"I want the methadone; the round ones. The doctor called in refills."
"The doctor has to write new prescription each time. It cannot be phoned in."
"What's this?"
"Hydrocodone. That one they can call in"
"I don't want that. I want the methadone; the round ones"
We go around and around a few times. I really don't know how else to say it.
As we're chasing our tails, I notice she has a rolled up piece of paper in her hand that looks like a prescription. After a minute or two she says "Oh, so you need this." And she hands me the piece of paper which is, indeed, a written prescription for methadone written about 2 weeks before.
We fill the methadone, and as we're ringing it up she asks me if we can put a note on her file so that we don't get confused next time. I gave her my biggest customer service smile and said, "So we don't get confused? Oh no, we're fine, Ma'am. Just bring us the written prescription next time and everything we be easy." While I'm saying this, I hear the technician behind me trying not to laugh.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Exceptions
StitchesI've been crocheting for about 6 or 7 years now, and I've gotten a little bored with following patterns. These days I usually try to come up with my own patterns. It takes a lot of time and patience, but it sure feels good to know I created something original.
Sometimes I make exceptions to the no pattern policy for special projects like the 7-pointed star baby blanket for a co-w
orker's grandson. He's due any day, and my co-worker doesn't know I made this. I'm counting on her being too busy to see this before I give it to her. The pattern is from a book by Ruthie Marks that is on my virtual bookshelf at Powell's books. Click here to check out my shelf.
orker's grandson. He's due any day, and my co-worker doesn't know I made this. I'm counting on her being too busy to see this before I give it to her. The pattern is from a book by Ruthie Marks that is on my virtual bookshelf at Powell's books. Click here to check out my shelf.The hat was also a pattern from a book. The hubs has resisted letting me crochet anything for him, but I knew he wanted a warm hat. I searched the web for pictures of finished hats, and gave him 3 or 4 to choose from. He chose the one from Son of Stitch and Bitch which is also on my virtual bookshelf. I was surprise he chose this one. I was sure he was going to want the Flying Spaghetti Monster hat.
Scripts
There are a couple of dramas on TV right now about nurses, which has me wondering why there aren't any shows about pharmacists. I think my professional life would make a great sit-com. Of course, the lead would have to be played by a stunningly gorgeous brunette actress. The pilot episode would be about the time a customer brought a bug in a bag to the pharmacy and asked me if it was a louse.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
I Actually Finished a Crochet Project!
Stitches
Yay! I finished the tote bag. It turned out deeper than I wanted, and it's still a little poofy on the sides. But I think I have the concept down. I'll go ahead and use it for awhile, see how well it holds up, etc. Then I'll try to make one more the size I really want.
I rarely use patterns anymore. I'd rather try to figure out how to make something on my own. As a result I end up doing a lot of frogging, but I sure love finally getting something finished.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Setting Trends
Stitches
Here's the tote bag I've been working on.
I was pretty down on it before, but I've decided to give myself some credit for attempting my first bag without a pattern. I think I know what I did wrong now. I'll frog the sides and try using a smaller hook so that they will lay more flat and be more dense. Hopefully, that will give it a little more structure.
Once I get it down, I'll post the pattern to AssociatedContent.com along with a couple of others that are already there.
My crochet empire is growing by the minute. Now if I can only get Oprah to make my bag one of her Favorite Things.....
Scripts
I discovered a breakthrough in suspension reconstitution today. After adding half of the distilled water, tightly cap the bottle, turn it upside down and drop it on the floor. It works great!! Those little chunks that sometimes would stick to the bottom of the bottle and refuse to mix go away just like that!
Of course, I discovered this by accident. I'm a more than a little clumsy, and I didn't mean to drop the first of 4 bottles of amoxicillin on the floor. But when I saw how well it worked, I dropped all of them. I'm sure they will be teaching this method in the pharmacy schools this fall.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Are there any happy pharmacists out there?
I waited this long to start blogging mainly because I didn't think I had the time. I'm working part-time. I've got a kid and a house to take care of. And a lot of my free time is spent with hooks and yarn. But the other day I decided to check out the pharmacists' blogs out there, and you would think from reading them that all pharmacists are homicidal or suicidal or probably both.
Wow, people, if you hate it that much, get a different job. I know it's hard to walk away from the paycheck, but your negative attitude is making the rest of us look bad.
OK, so I'm complaining about people complaining.
I think it's all about how you say it. For example, one of my pet peeves is when customers act like the 30 seconds I want to spend counseling them is a total waste of their time. I could go on about how they roll their eyes or are sometimes downright hostile. Or I could say how I love it when they act that way and then it turns out that I actually do have something to tell them that they didn't know. Yes, I am more that I pill-counter. Yes, I know what I'm talking about.
So in the script section of this blog, I will attempt to keep it positive and share the stories of the funny and rewarding parts of the job.
In the stitches section, I'll post my progress on various projects. (I always have several going at a time.)
I'm trying to make the sun catcher idea work, but I need yarn that will drape better (I love excuses to go yarn shopping!) And I just finished my first tote bag that I designed myself. It looks pretty bad actually, but in the spirit of positivity, I'll say it was a learning experience. I'll post a pic as soon as I figure out how, and then I'll frog it and start over.
Wow, people, if you hate it that much, get a different job. I know it's hard to walk away from the paycheck, but your negative attitude is making the rest of us look bad.
OK, so I'm complaining about people complaining.
I think it's all about how you say it. For example, one of my pet peeves is when customers act like the 30 seconds I want to spend counseling them is a total waste of their time. I could go on about how they roll their eyes or are sometimes downright hostile. Or I could say how I love it when they act that way and then it turns out that I actually do have something to tell them that they didn't know. Yes, I am more that I pill-counter. Yes, I know what I'm talking about.
So in the script section of this blog, I will attempt to keep it positive and share the stories of the funny and rewarding parts of the job.
In the stitches section, I'll post my progress on various projects. (I always have several going at a time.)
I'm trying to make the sun catcher idea work, but I need yarn that will drape better (I love excuses to go yarn shopping!) And I just finished my first tote bag that I designed myself. It looks pretty bad actually, but in the spirit of positivity, I'll say it was a learning experience. I'll post a pic as soon as I figure out how, and then I'll frog it and start over.
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