WOWZA...Friday...longest day ever?

Possibly...but hey what the heck, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.
Speaking of which, I left the 12 year old at home to babysit the 5 year old, and am hoping I still have a free standing house when I get back this evening. I left clear instructions with the 5 year old to be nice, no crying, listen to her Bubba and please, please...don't destroy anything...including the neighbor's house. On top of that, when I left...the Bubba was still sleeping. Not a real good start, but I fed the wee one, PB&J waffles,with added syrup (that outta keep her wound tight as a bobbin for about 4 hours) and turned on Dora. The only question I got was, "Does this mean I can wear whatever I want today?" Sure kid...have at it....and with that said, I'm pretty sure she is putting on winter tights, a dress that is too small and some sort of Princess regalia over top.
Whatever floats your boat...because I will be at the hospital til 1:30 then off to the nursing home for my first shift alone....until 10:30pm...the goal for me to day is, make sure everyone is pilled and still breathing by the change of guards....cross your fingers for me.
I chose not to work at all this weekend.
Maybe tubing? if it clears up?
I guess I'll just take one day at a time....
I'll let you know if I make it through the night
hey isn't that a song?

Issues...pitiful, pitiful issues

Issue #1: My 5 year old hates me...Last night I went to bed in tears because for about the 25th time she has told me, "Momma, I wish you looked like her:"

her:

and yes, Her (my bestest girl ,Synda)

I know, I know...she's 5...she doesn't know what she is saying...I don't care...it sucks.
I know everyone in blog world lives these perfect enchanted lives where they have all day to go to the Organic Farmer's Market, french braid their daughter's hair, make blueberry crumble from scratch, create some sort of fabulous Etsy creation, and have dinner on the table for their husband who arrives home promptly by 5 pm from his perfect job, so that he can change clothes and help his family with arts and crafts before dinner.

My life is NOT that.
I bust my ass...I'm not always happy, I barely have time to take a crap, my 12 year old (who for the record, doesn't hate me yet, but will) has to help me vacuum and do the dishes(he's a boy), and I have had dried up cat vomit on my back porch under the swing for 4 days...I'm waiting for the rain to wash it away.
I have zits...I'm 40....
My 5 year old wishes she was with a different mom, well at least a different looking mom.
She even said to Daddoo, " Daddoo, wouldn't You like Mommy to be prettier?"
BAAAMMM!! ZING!!!!
ouch

Why does this bother me...?
I'm not sure. Maybe its a combination of things.
Maybe it's the recollection of my Mom telling me, "Honey, You are beautiful on the inside."
What kind of bull shit statement is that for a 12 year old?
When I was in school...I was a little chubbier, or Rubenesque as we called it in college.
I looked better..my face was round, they told me I looked like the girl from the Divynyls, Chrissy Amphlet
with a bigger nose.
I lost weight...now to me, I look like a man...whatever
I photograph like crap.
(ME...basically, with red hair)
after the kids...my hormones are whacked
(I don't know if other people have this problem, but I'm laying it out there)
My skin is yukky, I have hair everywhere...including a few chin hairs...
and the hair on my head is definitely not luxurious.
the Dr. said it's my age.
Really?
See those pictures above, the ones my daughter would like for her new Mom...
They are my age.

It's a Man's World, or Maybe Not so Much

Male nurses make up a whopping 3-7% of the nursing community. So you can only imagine what it is like for them to go through nursing school in this female dominated area. I often wince during class when we are discussing subjects and the teachers pull out the chick card. The 'how to handle the penis'..."oh sorry, you guys all ready are familiar."
or
"Everyone remembers what it is like during your period when you ovulating...the pains you may feel? "...'Um, I don't have ovaries' "Sorry....(insert one male nurse's name here) you'll just have to believe us".

I could go on and on, but what's the point? The point I am trying to make here, is that there ARE male nurses...or as we call them....just plain "nurses". We are equal, we all manage the same tasks, do the same clinicals , and have a will to give and care take. Male nurses have excellent bedside manners and often appear less stressed out than their female counterparts. They bring a good vibe to the area and can often bring a new sense of humor to an otherwise stressful work environement.
Right now, I have a male friend who has completed the first part of the nursing program and is wanting to move forward. He deserves to move forward but is facing a few setbacks. I am just going to lay them out on the table ( hope you don't mind *JACK, that I am talking about this.)

1. Male in a female area of school
2. Program that caters to young single moms
3. His age (which I, personally admire him for)
4. Program which keeps changing the criteria to continue.
5. A new day and age.

*Jack gets by fine in the female area of school. He's got a sense of humor and an understanding of the way things work and evolve within our circle. He has this gift because of #3 on the list. He is older and has worked in many areas of life and has now headed toward nursing. This is admirable to me. It's not easy going back to school as a 50+ something male in a 20 something female dominated area . It's not easy, getting your shit together enough to go to class all day, work a real job, and take care of the wife and kids at home, all while trying to maintain your manliness. *Jack does this fairly well, most of the time. He is up with technology, he is willing to give things a try and he is also willing to help the people around them regardless of their sex or age.
Our nursing program has changed every year which I have been in school. Either asking us to take more classes to get onto the "wait list", or retaking a different level of the same class we have all ready taken. It would, honestly, be an unacceptable system in the real world, but within the college system, it is perfectly acceptable to give people the run around,expect more, give less and pull out every roll of red tape you can find to just get people to pay and quit halfway through... instead of helping people graduate with a new life in hand and great things to say about their experience. It just wouldn't fly...look at the the Big Car Corporations right now if you need proof.
*Jack, has maintained a C average as requested by the school (yes, he knows he could have often done better, but he often had to pick between home life, work, health, then school). Now the school says he must have a 2.5 average combined...which is a C average, for him to go forward. 2.5 is a low average, you may be saying to your self. Well, yes it is...but many nursing classes are pass or fail...and *Jack has passed all of those...the grades come from math and biology, psych classes and English...classes we know are needed, but not always necessary to place a catheter or calm a scared patient... *Jack is amazing at those skills.
*jack has a 2.2 average...now after 3 years of wait list, completing the LPN program, and trying to get into the next level for RN they are telling him NO...because he has a 2.2 average...(which is technically a C average, which was the request upon entering the program). No, you can't go on...Yes, we know you have passed everything...but basically screw you becasue of 3/10th of a grade average. Here's a man who is going to change lives,he may have been the one to care for yoru sick parents, but he happened to make a LOW 'C' in Pathophysiology...so he can't go on unless he pays again, starts completely over...and hopes for the best.
An adult man, who would like to change his career at an adult age, who doesn't cheat on tests, shows up, does the work and is perfect for the job....3/10th of a grade...sorry, buddy...this is the college system built for younger students who have more available cash flow and the time to screw around....not for you, *Jack.

But we are going to fight this one....yes we are...I am sick of watching people cheat their way through the education system to become lawyers, doctors, whatever...*Jack deserves this shot.

* names have been changed to protect the innocent

A Little Trip

A little "staycation" for you....

To My Dear Friend

Happy Birthday, Synda

I got this little cakiepoo with man attatched just so you would have something cool, from me, for your birthday.
You've done so much for me these past years and no gift from Target could ever express my Thankfulness for having met you 11 years ago.
You have come and gone and come back again and have always been a friend....
a true friend.
today is your special day, whether you want to celebrate or not...
the world is a more artful, beautiful place because of you
and your artsy self.

love you
m

Would I be laughed off the floor?

I would so buy this if it came in a different color than white, beige would be fine...maybe I'll buy it anyways. Can you imagine what my fellow RN's would say if I showd up to work wearing this and some crazy ass tights? I imagine if you are Mormon and a nurse you would wear something like this ? Correct? I think it's hot!....
just look at it, I'm serious. If more RN's still had to wear the dress...there would be less weight problems in the field .

Felder's Whimsy Garden

On my lunch break I was looking for inspiration for small plain back yard and came across this fabulous whimsical site. I was ecstatic shooting one email after the next telling bobby THIS is what I want...something like this! Something with whimsy and suurprise!!!
go look at the wonderful website and see all the neat things you can easily do with recycled materials and a bit of thought.

Felder's Weird Yard

Running in Circles

As you can see, my running has all but stopped. Between school, training at the new job, and still working full time at the hospital i literally don't have time. Seriously. I guess I could get up at 345 am and run for 45 minutes...but in my head it makes for a really long ass day. I could get home from work at 6 and run, but it totally throws the family for a loop when I walk in change my clothes and head out the door again. They stand there looking like lost, hungry puppies if I don't put my stuff down and march right into the kitchen and start making dinner.

I did my grocery shopping last night, so that is out of the way. There is NOTHING like coming home from a day of work and have them say "there is NOTHING to eat!!!!"
yeah yeah...you guys do realize the grocery store is actually less than .5 miles away right?
I swear to god there is absolutely no one who truly likes to grocery shop for the entire household. no one.

Oh yeah! I wanted to tell ya'll that I'm on a 2 day dinner winning streak! Both nights yummy, according to the kids. Sunday night Olive and I had Italian Panko encrusted Tilapia with jasmine rice and broccoli. That Panko stuff can make anyone seem like they know what they are doing. last night: Bean,cheese and rice burritos and side of applesauce.

Today I talked Bobby into taking Olive to daycare so that I could get to work by 6am and get a 10 hour day in. I brought my workout clothes and running shoes...so I will try to do 4 miles on the treadmill, which to me is like running in a gerbil wheel. It sucks and seems way longer than it should. I can do my stomach workout, because I know that one...Jillian Michaels needs to be brought back off the shelf this week.

lets go

I want to go camping...is it too much to ask? maybe I will camp in the backyard this weekend

My Second Blog Post Ever...let's see how...

Let's just see how things have progresses since 2007...quite funny...because I will be working all day...6am-1030pm 2 different jobs....we will just go back and do a funny little rerun, a little something before you guys knew me...

have a great Friday
xoxoxo

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Oprah did it to me

The other day I managed to get off work early. I got home and because noone was around I grabbed a beer and crawled under the heated blanket and flipped on Oprah. I figured it would be a nice story about rape or AIDS but to my dismay it was all about the "Secret". I decided to watch; only other show on was a POKEMAN cartoon. It,the Oprah show, was the show and the day that has changed my past 2 weeks.
Now, if you haven't heard of the Secret, I'm not going to go into detail. The belief system has been around forever. The lowdown is that energy is energy...what you put out, you get back. HMMMM seems too easy, but try it yourself. Walk around with a big fat grin on your face and see how many people smile back at you. It is a simple feat yet it works and actually brings joy to others. Energy is energy, good brings good, bad brings bad. Got it?
The only problem I have with this is they talk about how everyone is here for a reason. Yeah! Here for a reason. This is great, that means I MUST have a reason, Oprah says, so it must be true...here is where the issue comes. I sat there, peeling the label from my empty beer thinking, "reason,calling,hmmm". Am I here to take care of kids? Please say that isn't so. I have been waiting to get into nursing school, is that it? Am I here to make people, ie: husband, kids, dogs, people at work, lives easier? I couldn't come up with my calling! Damn Oprah.
The weekend came around and I found myself asking Bobby, who by the way knows his calling and has since he was 10, "Do you know what my calling is?" "How the heck would I know your calling? Why don't you try an art class?" His answer to everything...take a class. I thought some more. Jazz Club, Art Gallery, Photography? Nothing. Damn Oprah.I asked my 10 year old, "What do you think I should do when I grow up?" He says,"Mom, you make good salad. I don't know? But I want to be a Hobo that can make balloon animals." Great, I think to myself even my kid knows his calling and note to self, save money for his therapy.
For 5 days I have been asking complete strangers if they know their calling and if they have any suggestions on my calling. You would be amazed at how many people KNOW where and what they are here for! I on the other hand can't start my Secret Life because i'm clueless. I have received some great ideas. My favorite idea is to become an elephant trainer. This suggestion came with the note attatched, GOOGLE where to get an elephant. That person is a genius, he knew that would be my first question, "Where the heck will I get an elephant?" My last idea was a body builder (mostly to just see if I could complete the task) and when I told my sissy, she said, "Myssi, that's a great idea...go for it, do it for your self....plus you'll look great sitting on your elephant." (this is why I LOVE her)
She's right. I'll look great on my elephant. I can't wait to get started. Bobby thinks I'm insane anyways, and he's pretty busy with band stuff ,so he may not even notice. The kids will enjoy the elephant.
My calling and the Secret. I want to put it out there. Yessiree, Oprah did it to me. Think about it. The same day I figured out my Calling I was sent an email from the school I'm waiting to get into that it could be another 3 years before I get in. Screw Nursing school. Elephants, smiling and buff body.
I'll keep you posted

Obstetrics clinicals...Mint Julep: do not read

Umbilical Cord

2 arteries....1 vein...draw the blood...don't freak, sometimes it pulsates.

yep...

2 days of clinicals in my (so, I thought) least favorite setting, OB.

I'm not quite sure what to expect when they send me off to the unnamed hospital for our observation of the area. Are we to actually have hands on or are we to just sit back and watch?

Because I'm a hands on learner ...I go for broke.

At the first little group meeting I announce my name, the school I'm from, my status : Student RN , first semester, (this part is important...so they don't expect much yet are pleased when you know something), and that what ever they got that is cool...let me know...even if they have forgotten what is cool....I always note to everyone * remember, I've seen nothing, all is amazing and new to me :).

I smile big and cross my fingers, hoping for the best. The Charge nurse usually sets you up with a RN to follow and if you have a great RN, it's a great day, if you have a cranky RN, uhh not so good. (as I've noted before).

My RNs were awesome~

They liked the fact I was a go getter and asked questions, I was willing to help, and I only expressed true concern and dismay maybe ...let's say once or twice.

Here were my 2 days and what I saw...then I'll give you the short run down.

3 live births, many fundal checks(look it up), ice packs, teaching, 1 cesarean, 1 trip to the mortuary and hand holding.

Live births: amazing every time. I'm a freak and have to start telling myself to not cry when the baby comes out and screams that first gurgly baby scream. I also had to be reminded to not "push" myself (if you know what I mean) every time I was coaching a mom and holding her feet up. A nice young RN came over to me and whispered in my ear, " You aren't crazy, it happens all the time, but I'm just going to tell you....if you PUSH for 10 seconds every time they do, you will prolapse your entire bladder by the end of your shift....do kegals instead."

such sage advise. thank you RN Shannon.

Live birth...I feel better about my vagina now* note to self, everyone is different and I can now vouch for that.

C-Sections, wowza. I was sad it wasn't more fun for the mom. She was scared outta her mind and puked about 5 times before anyone but me noticed....in her mouth.

not enough explaining what was going on, especially for a first time mom, first time in the surgery room. Not really the ideal birth. Especially if you have been reading "What to Expect When You are Expecting".

That damn book tells you nothing about the temperature of the room and that is so flippin impersonal you want to shoot yourself in the foot.

But the end result in this scenario was the same.

Baby....a really cute one named Abigail Marie.

***Mint Julep...or any pregnant person stop reading here***

My first day I did have to come home and drink a bottle of wine. I had a trip to the mortuary on the baby floor just so I would see the unfortunate side of the coin. People don't talk about the 1 chance in I don't know how many that you might not give birth to a live baby, or even worse the precious angel leaves before it lives her first day.

We walked into the little room with few pieces of paperwork to fill out. The big sweaty mortuary guy, dressed in your typical black and white, with a bow-tie sat down and started filling out paperwork. I glance at my nurse...she looks at me and opens a large fridge and gives me a forgiving look. First a bucket. She says , "25 weeks, cremation, parents have signed off, they don't want anything or any contact."

?/?/???

She looks at the guy and says, "Are you taking the girl?" he states they will be leaving her until Thursday.

I look into the fridge and see a large bundled 'package' on a blanket wrapped in more baby blankets.

????/??

uh -uh I think...this is not where the dead live....is it?

They sign the paperwork and he leaves. My RN looks at me and says," do you want to see her?"

"I don' t know, do I want to see her?"

"it's up to you...she was born, and died after her first breath. I haven't seen her since she was delivered. It was awful, the entire family was at the birth.

She was perfect."

ok

we gently unwrapped her and pulled the covers back. You could feel the coldness through the blankets. I had no idea what I was going to see. The top blanket was taken from her head and underneath was the most perfect baby I had seen yet. Her ears were perfect, her little head as round as could be, and if I didn't know I would think she was sleeping....except she was ice-cold, her lips and fingernails were black....and her little body was hard. Her skin was smooth and her blond hair curled around her face like a cherub. I stroked her beautiful cheek, and wanted to smell her head like you do with precious babies...but knew that would not be right. As I pulled the blanket back I noticed she was dressed.

" She was dressed for family pictures".

????

I know they do this.

"Her entire family...you know, pictures. They didn't want to know what happened....no autopsy, they couldn't bare to think of her cut up."

i understood that part....

Her little onesie she had on was a perfect shade of baby doll pink to match her blond hair....it read:

Bestest Little Sister

I wept. I couldn't control myself....

I just plain wept.

First day of Long Term Care

I am home and relaxing after my first typical shift at a long term care facility...or what you folks know as an Old Folks Home.

I arrived promptly at 6am, figured out where I was to be, hustled my butt up there to have the LPN who was to train me, give me the once over and basically raise her hand and say, "Don't ask me any questions". Great, should be an informative first day.

My goal...try to figure out where a few of the things are, who a few of the patients are, and what the hell I'm to be doing and it what type of time frame.

Here it is summed up: Do a shitload in a short amount of time.

You start at 6am getting pills together for 27 patients and just imagine...approximately 9 pills each patient and the occasional Insulin shot. Yes...and when you get that done, you start agin because it repeats itself at noon. Luckily I got to leave at 230. I made it through, the LPN chummed up to me, because I helped and she got to sit on her duff, and I managed not to kill anyone.

For the next 2 weeks I work straight through, sometimes working 2 shifts a day. This will not include my parenting schedule (that will have to find it's own way into my life).

When I arrived home from work this afternoon, Bobby said we were going to friends house for some sort of lamb bbq? (me, I'm vegetarian). I looked at him and said, "would you be terribly disappointed if I just stayed home to finish my Pediatric Medical Calculations and then curl up on the couch?"

HUH!!! ? this is family stuff, I go to your things!!!

I almost cried, he must have seen the tears welling up and said , "OK., I guess."

thank you

thank you

thank you.

I made blackbeans,brown rice and sweet potato chunks...watched my boyfriend Anthony Bourdain, finished my homework, knitted, folded laundry and am no going to wash the MRSA off of me (which I should have done first) then hit the bed...with my book.

hugs and kisses

m

center for balance

The other night I made time for myself to go to yoga. I had missed my running due to my orientation at the new job and felt like I owed it to myself, and to Synda, to show up to something...
It was in an adorable tiny studio in Loveland and we attended the "candlelight" class. It was dark and I had no idea what I was doing. I have previously been going to the Hot Yoga classes which Synda used to teach. It's similar to Military Yoga and would kill a frail person if not knowing what to expect. Candle light yoga is more similar to flow...but it doesn't really flow if you don't know the names of the positions and have to crane your neck to figure which direction your butt is supossed to be facing.
As we worked through the class I felt confused and couldn't hold a pose. I knew it was because I was not thinking about my body I was thinking about what comes next.

As we walked home, Synda commented on how strong I am. Yes, I'm strong. But it doesn't do any good until you can use your strength.
I have no balance.
I know I have no balance in my life right now.
The lady who was with us made a fabulous comparison for me, and it really hit home.
She said," It's like a potter's wheel and clay...once you let your mind go and know your center the clay just lines right up with your body."
You have to know your center, you must have balance in your life, you must let your heart line up.
Maybe this is why I needed to go to that candlelight yoga.
center

redneck party deuce

a few more choice redneck pictures from the redneck party...I just want you to know I have a huge scab on my forehead from the curling iron trying to fashion a mullet...
(click the picture to get a better view).....and no we did NOT let the kids drink beer...it was for the picture

Excuse me, I think I killed the Sim Baby...

yesterday, we had a SIM lab. Sounds exciting, huh? It is somewhat...but also somewhat funny. You step into a classroom which is full of mechanical mannequins which can be programmed via the computer to cough, cry, have weird heartbeats, and give birth. Yes, give birth.

this sim above is the one I was using (not me in the picture)

pregnant and gives birth....
birthing....
So, to start the day I did my vag (grossest word ever) check and the laboring mom was at about 4cm. Needs to be totally effaced before pushing...good, I'll move to the newborn, see if I can do a nice easy assessment. I walk over...look at the screen, everything seems pretty good. There are a lot of things laying out for me to use. Itty bitty blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, intubation tubes, heel sticks, feeding tubes, diapers...basically everything.
I got my stethoscope and started to do my evaluation. I unwrapped the swaddled baby and started listening for lung sounds, heart beats and to see if there were any heart defects. As I was going through the motions, the nurse standing next to me started giggling...Your baby's face is turning blue. I look up and gasp! yikes...what's going on? I see the heart rate has gone up...I start to panic...hmmmm First thing into my mind...go for broke...INTABATION... STAT! Like something off of ER I grab the tubes, no gloves (duh, fail), spray the lube on and start jammin the tube down the babies neck. Of course it gets stuck and at this point the girl next to me is laughing hysterically. My babies vitals are down the shoot and there is beeping galore...and the baby is now glowing blue. Jeesus christ...Jam, jam , jam...I wrench the kids neck back and the tube goes down. I slap the top piece on it and look at my work proudly...as the baby flatlines...Nice... UHMMMM...
The nurse next to me is laughing...I look over and say, "well, what would you have done?" She giggles and says, " How about just wrapping the baby in a blanket and put the hat back on? It was freezing...It had hypothermia from you taking the blankets off and putting that ice cold stethoscope on it....hahahahaha"
What? You mean NO TUBE? All I needed to do was burrito wrap that kid back up and all the bells and whistles would have gone back to normal?!!!
great....
I look over as one of the girls is yelping about the SIM mom "crowning". She gets her gloves on and the baby starts to appear from the gaping rubber vagina. Lovely. She says the baby is coming!...I say, "Hey, Isn't' the face supposed to be facing down?"
"Well, yeah...I suctioned, but the baby won't budge..."
I say again, "The face of that baby should be down." thinking to myself that the computer must be set for a problem birth.
The girl takes the baby's head and wrenches it so that the face is NOW down and CRRRRRRRRRRRuuuNch" Baby head is now down and baby head is a goner. She looked at me like I did it from across the room.
"Heehee, I said it is supposed to be facing down, not crack the head off and make it down!"
Uhm, teacher...I believe we killed the SIM Babies...
Lord, this is why we don't get real patients.

redneck riviera on Garrison Street...

Please enjoy while we recover.

the kid always has her hand in her pants or something...seriously, and while I was taking the picture of the guys...she just showed up...funny, her name is Hannah...the neighbor kid.

this about sums it up.

a snippet of the weirdness at the RedNeck party (2 words or one?).

All I remember is something about Cotton Eyed Joe and Jello shooters...no one blew their hand off with fireworks, so I don't think it was an actual full "blown" redneck party. enjoy...

I'm back into reality now.

Staycation...enjoy

I'm at work....
no one else is, really.
But it's ok. I'm working, thinking and waiting for the work day to end and the fun day to begin.
The weekend holds a BBQ at the Princess's house and then a "Redneck BBQ" at the Koldjeiz' house.
Bobby has been growing his patchy beard out for 3 days, I saw Aviators on his dresser and some sort of ghetto headband.
I'm not sure what I'll wear...maybe a shirt tied up in a knot and some too short shorts...curlers in my hair? who knows...but what I do know is that I will be with good friends, plenty of food, and lots of ice cold beer...
That is what Staycation Holidays are all about right?

Right...enjoy yours
xo
m

strength

My legs are strong...
They have carried me far.
My heart is forgiving...
It loves without thought.
My mind is vast...
It moves forward and openly.
My eyes are clear...
They see beauty in this life.
I am strong.

xox,
m

Disney, It's not such a Small World

We went to Disneyland to celebrate Olive's 5th bday. It was an experience all in itself. We had a fabulous time, the waits were never longer than 20 minutes and we were treated lovely. If you ever have the chance to do your bday there, I would recommend it. From the minute we walked in the park, people smiled and said, "Happy Birthday, Olive!!" Every little kid ride we went on, we were shuffled to the front cart and greeted like royalty. The characters took a minute to pat her on the head and point to her button...smiling with their huge heads and plastic eyes. She was ecstatic...then came the questions only a 5 year old can ask honestly.

"Why are the people so FAT here, Mammoo?"

hmmmmmmm...answer kindly...what do you say to your child when there is no good answer?

"Because people are unhealthy and they eat when they aren't hungry, because they can...and sometimes it just happens. I don't know."

So Bobby and I started to look around. See what the little one was seeing that we really forget to look at anymore. We saw...Big, Big people.
We noticed in every seat at the dining areas there were over weight people...the worst was overweight people with huge strollers and overweight kids eating junk!

We stood in line with people who could not fit through the turnstiles. These people got to be shuffled through the handicapped section with people who were in wheel chairs, because they were too large to walk the park. We waited at the front of a line, waiting to board the ride a bit longer than usual, because they had to stop the ride to help a morbidly obese person get out of the cart. It appeared they were stuck. This person could not even sit with their kids because he took up an entire cart himself.


We decided this was one of the reasons the lines weren't as long...85% of the people used the handicapped section. They often were waiting much longer than the normal line.

As much as I wanted to find humor in the entire thing...I couldn't, it was sad and upsetting and often very gross. There was a lady who was so hot, we were guessing, she took her shirt off and was in a bikini top....Olive pointed out that the lady forgot to put her shirt on!

colros' photos of big big people at disney

Fat Ladies Guide to Disney
here is the guide if you need it, it's quite comical...

Disney did manage to offer healthier fare and it was less expensive than outside the park. We went to House of Blues( right outside the park) where Bobby had a 12$ burger and I had a 11.99 salad...wasn't that great, but they did have beer. I later asked one of the "cast members" what we should do if we were vegetarian. He sent us to Astro's in the park who had 7$ veggie burgers and said there was also fresh fruit and such over by the Pirates. Great. So we had fruit, fresh squeezed lemon-ades and kept well hydrated...we were fine. You just had to make an effort. We saw many people eating Huge Ass Turkey legs, bags of cotton candy, Nachos and just weird stuff in general. Personally, I can't even imagine people spending that kind of $$$ in the park...We were there 13 hours one day and only spent 21$ in the park. So it can be done.

We also noticed there were no signs posted about being overweight and not being able to ride the rides. Did Disney have to conform? There were signs about pregnant or expecting mothers and about height but I don't remember seeing one sign about girth. Is that safe?

I assured Olive, things happen...it's ok, maybe they will get healthy one day, maybe they just can't help it...some people are just big...we are small, our family is scrawny...so it's a rough comparison...but hopefully she understood.

it's really not such a "Small World" after all is it?

***these are not the actual people I talked about and if these pictures are of you or your relatives...I did not want to offend...just think, pictures say a thousand words***