Self-Absorbed & Inconsiderate Day-Walkers

"American Transgender" mini-review

[NOTE: I write this on an iPad, with a 21 month-old asleep on my lap]

 Male or female?  Boy or girl?  Most of us can answer that question without a second thought.  But for some people, the answer isn’t so simple.  Go firsthand into the daily lives of three people who are transgender, and witness their struggles for acceptance and the triumphs and hardships they face along the way. 
--from 3 Sisters Pictures promo for "American Transgender".

"American Transgender" TONIGHT at 20:00 EDT on the National Geographic Channel.

"American Transgender" is a documentary from 3 Sisters Pictures about three individuals, one Male-to-Female (Clair) and two Female-to-Male (Eli and Jim)' who have "transitioned". "American Transgender" is neither gross (à la the Thailand sex change video) nor shock theater (Rupaul's Drag Race) and, for you parents, it's perfectly fine for children--unless you object to the entire subject.

The piece offers good insight into the areas of gender identity, gender transition and parental reactions "I was just getting used to 'gay' and now..." I'd have liked more on the parents/families and friends and associates.

BTW, Eli's mum looks remarkably like Liza Manelli. Just sayin'.

Other than being one of those "Roll Tide" Bama fans, Eli styles himself just a good ole boy from down South. I could care less about football, but I'm on Planet Texas and one is legally required to give Bama fans grief here... Clair just wants to be a regular girl and Jim went from being a reclusive girl who avoided her peers in school to a bit of heartthrob and model in the trans community. BTW, both Clair and her identical twin brother "came out" as teenagers.





"American Transgender" briefly addresses the offered statistic that "50%" of transgender individuals have been assaulted because of being trans--Jim was attacked at bar. On a side note: there have been a rash of assaults and killings of transgender people back home in D.C. I think "American Transgender" could have delved into the negative experiences some transgender individuals experience--including being thrown out and disowned by family--however, a run-time of 48 minutes can only cover so much material.

"American Transgender" has high production values and tight edits.

 If you're looking for an overview and understanding of these issues--this is a good start.

"Lights! Models! Guest list! Just do your best, darling."
--'Edina', "Absolutely Fabulous"


{Edited 09:57 02 MAY 12}

Do you know how to identify a Brain Aneurysm?

When in doubt CALL 911 and get EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE IMMEDIATELY

Symptoms can resemble "intoxication" and/or "heat stroke"

What are the symptoms? (from webmd.com)

Most brain aneurysms cause no symptoms and may only be discovered during tests for another, usually unrelated, condition. In other cases, an unruptured aneurysm will cause problems by pressing on areas in the brain. When this happens, the person may suffer from severe headaches, blurred vision, changes in speech, and neck pain, depending on what areas of the brain are affected and how bad the aneurysm is.

Symptoms of a ruptured brain aneurysm often come on suddenly. If you have any of the following symptoms or notice them in someone you know, call 911 or other emergency services right away:

• A sudden, severe headache that is different from past headaches.

• Neck pain.

• Nausea and vomiting.

• Sensitivity to light.

• Fainting or loss of consciousness.

• Seizures.

Cerebral Aneurysm (from wikipedia.org)

Symptoms for a cerebral aneurysm occur when the aneurysm pushes on a structure in the brain. In the case of a cerebral aneurysm, the symptoms for an aneurysm that has ruptured and one that has not ruptured are different.

Symptoms for an aneurysm that has not ruptured:

▪ Fatigue

▪ Loss of perception

▪ Loss of balance

▪ Speech problems

Symptoms for a ruptured aneurysm:

▪ Severe headaches

▪ Loss of vision

▪ Double vision

▪ Neck pain and/or stiffness

▪ Pain above and/or behind the eyes

Risk factors for an aneurysm include:

-diabetes

-obesity

-hypertension

-tobacco use

-alcoholism

-high cholesterol

-copper deficiency

-increasing age.

Do you know how to identify and remediate heat cramps/heat exhaustion/heat stroke (Heat Casualty)?

Heat "injuries" are NOT, repeat NOT, something to be taken lightly--especially in minors (read: children)--and can result in long term health issues, permanent disability(s), mental/cognitive impairment and/or DEATH.

DRINK WATER!

According to the Mayo Clinic: In general, doctors recommend that the "average adult" drink eight (8) or nine (9) eight ounce (8 oz) cups of water per day. (ref: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/water/NU00283).

If you are "thirsty" it is already too late. HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE.

Drink water--not coffee, not soda, not "pop", not beer--WATER.

If you suspect a heat casualty--CALL 911 or seek assistance IMMEDIATELY

U.S. Army Common Task Training, Skill Level 1 081-831-1008 (SL1) - Perform First Aid for Heat Injuries

Performance Steps
1. Identify the type of heat injury.
a. Heat cramps symptoms.
(1) Muscle cramps of the arms, legs, or abdomen.
(2) Excessive sweating.
(3) Thirst.
b. Heat exhaustion symptoms. (The first five occur often. The others occur sometimes.)
(1) Profuse sweating with pale, moist, cool skin.
(2) Headache.
(3) Weakness.
(4) Dizziness.
(5) Loss of appetite.
(6) Heat cramps.
(7) Nausea, with or without vomiting.
(8) Urge to defecate.
(9) Chills (goose flesh).
(10) Rapid breathing
(11) Tingling of the hands and/or feet.
(12) Confusion.
c. Heatstroke symptoms.
(1) Flushed, hot, dry skin.
(2) Headache.
(3) Dizziness.
(4) Nausea.
(5) Confusion.
(6) Weakness.
(7) Loss of consciousness.
(8) Seizures.
(9) Weak and rapid pulse and breathing.
2. Provide the proper first aid for the heat injury.
a. Heat cramps.
(1) Move the casualty to a cool or shady area or improvise shade.
(2) Loosen the casualty's clothing unless in a chemical environment.
(3) Have the casualty slowly drink at least one canteen of cool water.
(4) Seek medical aid if the cramps continue.
b. Heat exhaustion.
(1) Move the casualty to a cool or shady area or improvise shade.
(2) Loosen or remove the casualty's clothing and boots unless in a chemical environment.
(3) Pour water on the casualty and fan him unless in a chemical environment.
(4) Have the casualty slowly drink at least one canteen of cool water.
(5) Elevate the casualty's legs.
(6) Monitor the casualty until the symptoms are gone or medical aid arrives.
Note. If possible, the casualty should not participate in strenuous activity for the rest of the day.
c. Heatstroke.
WARNING Heatstroke is a medical emergency that may result in death if treatment is delayed. Start cooling measures immediately and continue while waiting for transportation and during evacuation
(1) Move the casualty to a cool or shady area or improvise shade.
(2) Loosen or remove the casualty's clothing unless in a chemical environment.
(3) Spray or pour water on the casualty and fan him unless in a chemical environment.
(4) Massage the casualty's arms and legs unless in a chemical environment.
(5) Elevate the casualty's legs.
(6) If the casualty is conscious, have him slowly drink at least one canteen of cool water.
Note. Watch the casualty closely for life-threatening conditions, check for other injuries, and seek medical aid.

Grandma Cynthia's Pot Roast--overnight, Crock Pot style

-2 Lbs rump roast (in this case cut in two pieces)
-Whole, skinned onions (I used eight this time)
-Whole potatoes with skin, washed (I used like six big ones)
-Beef gravy

Put meat, onions and potatoes in Crock Pot, season as desired--do NOT, repeat NOT, add salt*.

*: Salt will leach from ingredients during cooking.

Cover with gravy, up to top/fill-line.

Set Crock Pot for eight (8) hours on low.

Image(s) (C) Copyright 2011 Max Daddy DC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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San Antonio Water

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A note on safety

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MacBook Pro, Apple and The Apple Store--NorthStar

Really!?! Really!?!

My MBP (17 in) fails on, suspiciously enough, its third (3rd) anniversary?

The logic just went "boom" overnight in its sleep!?!
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The Texas Way

Singles, on-ice, to-go at a gas station...

Just might like this place after all.
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SATX Departure Prep

The Man Cave has been decommissioned...
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Mission Status

(Two month PEDS appt 13:59 EDT)

T+: 38 days 10 hours 46 minutes
Length: 18.5" (47cm)
Head circumference: 32 cm
Weight: 5.1 lbs (2.2 kilos)
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#SAHCG: Stay-At-Home-Care-Giver

So acronym and #hastag soup: SAHD, SAHM etc etc.

SAHD: Stay-At-Home-Dad

A stay-at-home dad (alternatively, stay at home father, house dad, SAHD, househusband, or house-spouse) is a term used to describe a father who is the main caregiver of the children and is the homemaker of the household. As families have evolved, the practice of being a stay-at-home dad has become more common

SAHM: Stay-At-Home-Mom

Some contemporary women are leaving the paid workforce and concentrating full-time on parenting. Many of these women have left the paid workforce so that they can focus on raising their children, particularly through the children's early years before entering kindergarten. There is considerable variability within the stay-at-home mother population with regard to their intent to return to the paid workforce. Some plan to work from their homes, some will do part-time work, some intend to return to part or full-time work when their children have reached school age, some may increase their skill sets by returning to higher education, and others may find it economically feasible to not return to the paid workforce.

Well that's more than a little limited and myopic in my view. My span of tactical, operational and logistical responsibilities, taskings and concerns include:

-A 34 day-old (preemie)

-A 43 year-old

-A 67 year-old

-A 92 year-old

-A 14 pound, 10+ year-old cat

-A severn pound 3+ year-old cat

In fact, it can be quite "entertaining" trying to to keep track of who needs to be where, when, "why" and pulling it all off...

"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult."

--E.B. White

Carer (UK, NZ, Australian usage) and caregiver (US, Canadian usage) are words normally used to refer to unpaid relatives or friends who support people with disabilities. The words may be prefixed with "family" "spousal", "child" to distinguish between different care situations. The general term dependent/dependant care is also used for the service provided.^[1] Terms such as "voluntary caregiver" and "informal carer" are also used occasionally, but these terms have been criticized by carers asmisnomers because they are perceived as belittling the huge impact that caring may have on an individual's life, the lack of realistic alternatives, and the degree of perceived duty of care felt by many relatives.

A widely-accepted definition of a carer/caregiver is:

Someone whose life is in some way restricted by the need to be responsible for the care of someone who is mentally ill, mentally handicapped, physically disabled or whose health is impaired by sickness or old age.

"It's my Duty Isn't it?"

—Baroness Pitkeathley (1989)

So I propose that the hastag #SAHCG, Stay-Home-Care-Giver, be added to The Twitterverse.

Because, quite frankly, some of us are highly engaged in dynamic tactical situations that #SAHM or #SAHD simply does not begin to describe/define...

Washington Hospital Center

Tweets to turn into blog post later

[1/3] Washington Hospital Center SUCKS DOGS BALLS. Very little infection/vector control or access control #medstar

[2/3] "Nurse" said stuff about "'contact' infection"--like anybody touches my baby--and then said something about "typhoid"... #medstar

[3/3] So, our friend is on a floor w/an infectious vector and there are NO warnings!?! #FAIL #medstar
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SIT-REP/Update

Elapsed Mission Time (time on the surface): 22 days 17 hours 17 minutes

Length: 45 cm (17.716535 in)
Head: 31 cm (12.204724 in)
Waist: 28 cm (11.023622 in)
Weight: 2.11 kilos (4.6517537 lbs)

Up to 45 cc's per feed

(Bunch of posts to write--when I get the time)

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SIT-REP: Day 4 of our 20+ year mission

"Crash" drank five (5) cc's of mom's milk this morning, then eight (8) cc's of the 10 cc goal at "lunch" and did a pretty good job three hours later.

He's still in the NICU, but breathing ambient room air on his own and has been weaned off most the meds.

He appears to be geometrically improving/progressing on most parameters...

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam

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SIT-REP: End of Day 3/Start of Day 4

SWEET! First no ventilator and now no more oxygen--"Crash" is breathing ambient air for himself!


VI VERI VENIVERSUM VIVUS VICI


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"Dad's Life"

{Smirk}

SIT-REP: post rounds

11:53:12 EDT
"They" just "rounded" on him:

They want to start "Crash" on mother's milk in the morning.

Steady improvements on most parameters

Heart's improving.

Being weaned (sp?) a bunch of meds.


"Mon centre cède, impossible de me mouvoir, situation excellente, j'attaque"
--Ferdinand Foch, Marshall of France


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SIT-REP

09:42:07 EDT

Sweet! He's vocalizing and moving around!

Plus, they've stopped one med and are backing him off others.

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam
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SIT-REP

06:26:05 EDT

"Crash" is now in the NICU at Georgetown. Mein Liebchen is one floor below.

He's off ventilator and breathing on his own.

And, he has "The Kung Fu" grip ;-)

We're about to go see him.
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