This is nuts! *graphic content*

*Warning- if you happen to be eating at the moment or are an animal rights activist the post below may bother you*

I'm all about new experiences and boy was today one! I was invited by a co-worker, Michelle, to come out to her family's ranch for a calf branding day. In the spirit of adventure of course I said yes. Today three different families came together to get the job done. Branding is important so that no one can steal other people's cows. The brand is required when the cow gets sold to prove it belongs to the person selling the cow. So here's how it's done:

The branding irons heat up over hot coals.

The poor babies await their fate.

The momma cows are pissed that someone took their babies away and are quite vocal about it. #mooooooo

Two people wrestle a calf to the ground, then several other people run over and brand the calf, inject antibiotics (which make them fatter), and if they are unfortunate enough to be a baby boy cow....well it's an especially bad day.

"Rocky Mountain Oysters" can be enjoyed right off the branding iron coals or saved and prepared for later. No, I did not try them.  #eeeewwwwww

When the work is done everyone gathers for a big potluck meal. Branding days are big social events that bring the whole family together a few times a year.

After the traumatizing part of the day was over, my friend Stacey and I took a tour of the farm:

It was a very educational experience, but I sure am glad I'm not a cow!

Thankful

This was the first Easter Sunday in several years that I hadn't spent weeks planning and leading worship. I wanted to find a way to celebrate God's love for me even if I wasn't in church. For me, the next best thing to singing my heart out in worship is spending time in His beautiful world outdoors. So Chippy and I found Nebraska National Forest and Chadron State Park. The surprising beauty of the landscape took my breath away.

And here are a few Instagram pics I got:

It was a pretty great Easter Sunday!

Lattes and Craft Beer?!

I get two whole days off this weekend and have no idea what to do with myself. Sleeping and reading gets kind of boring after a few hours, so I have made plans to venture into the nearest “city” of Chadron, NE (which does have some cool history going back to the fur trade).

It’s about 30 miles from Rushville and my co-worker says I can get my oiled changed there. I drive into town and see a Walmart AND a McDonalds…woah, look out! Usually these things don’t get me excited, but it means that I, in fact, AM in civilization! I get my errands run and meet some new friends for lunch. It was a pretty good little Mexican place. I have now determined A) You can find Mexican restaurants anywhere in the country and B) There is no such thing as bad Mexican food.  Back to the story… I wanted to find a good Internet connection so I could ramble on to you folks on this new blog. I asked around and was directed here:

Bean Brokers
They have great coffee in addition to craft beers and good wine. They host open mic nights on Wednesday with the local college fraternity. The place is decorated with all kinds of antiques and has a really neat vibe. After ordering my latte I sent an excited text to my coffee loving friend Michael , “Civilization found in the form of lattes and craft beer!

4/18/14 Blurred Lines

My first day with patients went very well. The outpatient clinic here is actually in the hospital.  This provides me with alot of support from multiple other providers as well as the rest of the departments in the hospital such as pharmacy, radiology, and lab. Everyone I work with is more than happy to help and seems to just appreciate me being there.

My view for 13 hours a day.

As expected, I saw many people who were in some sad situations today. What I found most interesting was a conversation with the head of social services. As you can imagine there is great need for social services in this the 49th poorest county in the US.  Some of the support needed includes child protective services, elderly assistance, keeping people's electricity on so their oxygen machines work, helping patients and their families get to and from larger hospitals when referred, and so much more. Some funding for these programs comes from the government. Indian Health Services (IHS) is a hospital funded through The Department of Health and Human Services (like a VA Hospital), but doesn't receive funding for all the social services listed. Here is where the tribal government comes in, but the line gets blurred, funding comes in short, and people are left in need with no resources. There are also no long-term care facilities or hospice services on reservations, so family members and primary care providers carry the heavy burden of providing end of life care.  It really is a very different world, even different from very poor and rural Alabama and Georgia that I have experienced.

4/17/14 Stop to Smell the Roses (or take an Instagram)

I survived the night without any ghostly disturbances! After I calmed down last evening I actually settled in nicely. I opened a bottle of cab, turned on my music and started cooking. It was nice to have an evening to myself actually. I started orientation at the hospital today. It wasn't too exciting either way, but the staff was very friendly and helpful. And I had my first "Indian Taco" (a giant piece of fry bread topped with the ingredients of a taco. Yummmm!

 I learned a little about reservation life. As I was taught in school there is widespread poverty with high diabetes and substance abuse rates among the tribe. Alcohol is actually illegal on reservations and people frequently go to prison for 3-6 months for drinking! Now I'm feeling like a rebel with my bottle of cab...( But for the record I'm not living on the reservations so I'm not breaking any laws). I learned there is also a high suicide rate and recent outbreak of Shigella, a nasty gastrointestinal bug. Wash your hands folks! 

 I was able to leave work early and stopped on the side of the highway to admire the pastures since the sun was still up. I've learned to stop and smell the roses (aka take an Instagram). It really makes life better when you take note of the enjoyable moments :)

My first day with patients starts tomorrow...I'm sure I'll have more good stories!

4/16/14 I'm Not in Kansas Anymore....

Tumbleweeds are real thing.
Cows stink.
And "the middle of nowhere" exists.
These are all thoughts that I had driving over 1,300 miles from Atlanta, Georgia to Rushville, Nebraska for my first assignment as a traveling Nurse Practitioner.

When I finally arrived to my rental house, a sense of panic that I usually don't experience (not even when diving with a 8 ft bull shark) hit me. The house is in a town that seems to be the length of 2 football fields. Population 890, turns out. I'm on a street of houses and cars that have definitely seen better days. There is a field of cows behind me that seems to stretch to the horizon. My house appears to be a house built onto a house built onto a house, using chicken wire and concrete. I enter into the house and assume it must be under construction noting bare wooden steps, plastic over windows, and an odd collection of floor, space, and electric heaters, of which none seem to be working. As I explore the house I find a backdoor covered in duct tape. Then I go around the corner and find a stairwell boarded over. Well, at least there is a dream catcher in the window..that will protect me from the torture room upstairs right? After making a few frantic phone calls I reach the landlord who is going to come over and show me how the heaters work (and reassure me this isn't the start to a bad horror movie...)

Good thing I have Chippy to keep me safe!