Eating Out in Paris free essay sample

An enormous scope of food is accessible in Paris, from the rich meat dishes to the light, flaky for which France is well known. 1. French cooking is a despite everything developing workmanship. Conventional French cooking is spread put together and focuses with respect to meat, poultry and fish. Today, be that as it may, the culinary specialists of numerous Parisian eateries are getting increasingly keen on territorial food and in straightforward, home-style admission which depends on new, occasional fixings. French cooking tends not to be exceptionally spiced, albeit new herbs like chives and parsley are basic fixings in the sauces that go with most exquisite dishes. 2. One of the most charming parts of Paris is the assorted variety of spots to eat. Bistros are little, regularly respectably estimated, eateries with a constrained determination of dishes. Brasseries are bigger, clamoring diners with colossal menus, and most serve food for the duration of the day and are open late. Bistros (and some wine bars) open early and the dominant part near to 9 pm. We will compose a custom exposition test on Eating Out in Paris or then again any comparable point explicitly for you Don't WasteYour Time Recruit WRITER Just 13.90/page They serve beverages and food throughout the day from a short meny of servings of mixed greens, sandwiches and eggs. At lunch most offer a little decision of hot day by day specials. 3. The server for the most part takes your decision of dish (first course), at that point the plat (mail course). Sweet is requested after you have completed your fundamental course except if there are some hot treats which must be requested toward the beginning of the supper. In many cafés you will be inquired as to whether you might want a beverage before requesting food. In many eateries you will be inquired as to whether you might want a beverage before requesting food. An ordinary aperitif is kir (white wine with a blackcurrant alcohol). Spirits are not commonly tanked before a supper in France. 4. The main course for the most part incorporates a selection of servings of mixed greens or vegetables or pate. Little fish dishes like smoked salmon, flame broiled sardines, herring, shellfish or clams are likewise on offer. Primary dishes for the most part incorporate a determination of meat, poultry or fish presented with french fries and vegetables. Strongly suggested are moules marinieres (mussels steamed in wine) and chevre tiede sur un lit de salade (barbecued goats cheddar with a blended leaf serving of mixed greens). . Costs change from incredibly conservative to galactic. Numerous spots offer a formule or fixed-value menu, particularly at lunch, and this will quite often offer the best worth. In the event that you need a more noteworthy selection of dishes, go for the individually menu. Recollect that a container of wine will expand the size of y our bill altogether and that espresso for the most part conveys an additional charge. Costs for the most part incorporate assistance. In spite of the fact that you don't need to leave a tip, it isn't unexpected to do as such and depends on 5-10% of the aggregate.

First assist surgical study Case Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

First help careful - Case Study Example It includes cutting the connecting parts and afterward leading a standard vaginal medical procedure to remove example from the body. 1. Organ Structure work: The ovaries are two organs that are a constituent of the female conceptive framework and are answerable for creation of ova. Every one of them is oval fit as a fiddle and practically equivalent to the almond in size. They are found close the fallopian tubes in the extraneous mass of the pelvis in a walled in area alluded to as ovarian fossa. Every one of the ovaries is associated with the fimbria of the fallopian tube. Three entry points will be made. These can be seen by the patient. The first is to oblige the telescope and is inside or near the navel. Different cuts are done in the lower some portion of the midsection. These are 5mm extended period of time the first is 1 cm long (Petri et al. 170). Another cut is done at the highest point of the vagina to evacuate the required material for examination. The patient will wake up in the recuperation room after the technique and after the impacts of the sedative decrease. A few patients may require a breathing apparatus to aid the inward breath of oxygen ((Querleu, Leblanc and Castelain 580). Lukanovic, A; Drazic, K (2010). Hazard factors for vaginal prolapse after hysterectomy. Global diary of gynecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 110 (1): 27â€30. Petri Nahã ¡s, E.; Pontes, A.; Nahas-Neto, J.; Borges, V.; Dias, R.; Traiman, P. (2005). Impact of total stomach hysterectomy on ovarian blood flexibly in ladies of conceptive age. Diary of ultrasound in medicineâ : official diary of the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine 24 (2):

Smokers Lungs vs. Normal Healthy Lungs

Smokers Lungs vs. Normal Healthy Lungs Addiction Nicotine Use Smoking-Related Diseases Print Smokers Lungs vs. Normal Healthy Lungs Visual, Cellular, Molecular, and Functional Changes in Smokers Lungs By Lynne Eldridge, MD  Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time. Learn about our editorial policy Lynne Eldridge, MD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Doru Paul, MD on December 01, 2016 Doru Paul, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. Learn about our Medical Review Board Doru Paul, MD Updated on February 04, 2020 More in Addiction Nicotine Use Smoking-Related Diseases After You Quit How to Quit Smoking Nicotine Withdrawal The Inside of Cigarettes Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Coping and Recovery Many people remember hearing about the difference between smokers lungs and normal healthy lungs at some point in time. These changes occur on a visual level, on a cellular level (under the microscope), and even on a molecular level. In addition to these structural changes, there are several functional differences between healthy lungs and smokers lungs as well, ranging from lung capacity to oxygen exchange. You may even recall the posters depicting the black, ugly-looking lungs of people who smoke. Does that really happen? What does cigarette smoke really do to the lungs? Differences Between Smokers Lungs and Normal Healthy Lungs To really comprehend the effect of tobacco smoke on the lungs we need to take a look at both the anatomyâ€"how the appearance of the lungs changes, and the physiologyâ€"how the function of a smokers lungs differ from those of healthy lungs.?? Yet we want to dig even deeper than that. What do a smokers lungs look like beginning with the changes you can see with your naked eye, down to the genetic changes too small to even be seen under a microscope, but often more ominous? The posters we spoke of earlier didnt lie. Lets start with what you may see if you could look at whole lungs exposed to tobacco. What Do Smokers Lung Look Like? The photo above is honestly what the lungs of a life-long smoker look like on a visual inspection with the naked eye. Its important to state that not all black lungs are related to tobacco smoke. Other irritants that can be inhaled may cause this appearance as well, such as the black lung disease sometimes seen in coal miners. Yet, its very easy to tell when looking at a set of lungs whether or not a person smoked during his life. Many people wonder what the black or brown color comes from. When you inhale cigarette smoke, there are thousands of tiny carbon-based particles that are inhaled. Our bodies have a special way of dealing with these particles to get them out of the way  if you will. As soon as you inhale a puff of cigarette smoke, your body is alerted to the fact that toxic particles have invaded. Inflammatory cells rush to the scene. One type of white blood cell called  macrophages  may be thought of as the garbage trucks of our immune systems. Macrophages essentially eat the nasty brown-black particles in cigarette smoke in a process called phagocytosis. Since these particles could be damaging even to garbage truck cells, they are walled off in tiny vesicles and stored as toxic waste. And there they sit. As more and more macrophages containing debris build up in the lungs and lymph nodes within the chest, the darker the lungs appear. You may be wondering if the brown and black color ever goes away. After all, macrophages dont live forever. When a macrophage dies, and the vesicles of cigarette waste are released, younger macrophages rush to the scene and ingest the particles. This process can occur over and over during a persons life. This is not to say that healing doesnt take place when someone quits smoking. It does. But the discoloration in the lungs may remain indefinitely. Smokers Lungs at a Cellular Level Taking a step down in size and looking at the lungs more closely, an increasing number of tobacco-related injuries are found. Under a microscope, the cells and surrounding tissues become visible as a well-appointed city, but a city ravaged by the toxic cloud of smoke that has descended upon it. Different structures in the respiratory tract are affected in different ways.?? Cilia:  The  cilia are tiny hair-like appendages that line the bronchi, and the smaller  bronchioles. The job of the cilia is to catch foreign material that finds its way into the airways and propel it up and out of the lungs to the throat in a wave-like manner. From the throat, this material can then be swallowed and destroyed by stomach acids. Unfortunately, toxins in cigarette smoke such as acrolein and  formaldehyde paralyze these tiny cilia so they cannot perform their function. This result is that other toxins (over 70 of them  carcinogens) and infectious organisms end up being left within the lungs where they can do damage both at the cellular level  and at the molecular level, changes that can, in turn, lead to cancer and other diseases. Mucus:  Inflammatory cells that are drawn to the scene in the airways secrete mucus in response to the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke. This mucus can limit the amount of oxygen-rich air that reaches the smallest airways where gas exchange takes place. Mucus can also provide a nourishing breeding ground for the growth of harmful bacteria. The Airways:  Under the microscope, the airways can appear stretched outâ€"like the elastic in an old pair of shorts. This decrease in elasticity caused by components of tobacco smoke has important functional repercussions as well (discussed later on). The Alveoli:  The  alveoli  are the smallest of airways and the final lung-based destination of oxygen that we breathe in. These alveoli contain elastin and collagen which allows them to expand with inspiration and deflate with expiration. Altogether, the surface area of your alveoli is around 70 square meters, and if you laid them flat and placed them end to end they would cover a tennis court. Toxins in cigarette smoke damage these tiny structures in a few ways. It is easy for toxins to damage the thin walls causing them to rupture. Cigarette smoke also damages the alveoli that remain intact, decreasing their ability to expand and contract. Damage to the alveoli is a self-perpetuating problem. As more alveoli become damaged, there is more air trapping in the alveoli (air cannot be breathed out) which results in the dilation and rupture of more alveoli. In general, a large percent of the alveoli must be damaged before symptomsâ€"hypoxia due to less oxygen being present for exchange to take placeâ€"occurs. Problems with oxygen exchange between the alveoli and capillaries are discussed further under function. The Capillaries:  At the cellular level, its not just lung tissue that is damaged. The tiniest of blood vessels, the  capillaries, that are closely associated with the smallest airways are also damaged by tobacco smoke. Just as smoking can cause the damage to larger blood vessels (that can eventually lead to heart attacks), it can cause scarring and thickening of the capillary walls in the lungsâ€"walls that oxygen needs to pass through in order to combine with the hemoglobin in red blood cells to be carried from the lungs to the rest of the body. Smokers Lungs at a Molecular Level:  Genetics and Epigenetics To really understand how smoking causes some lung diseases such as lung cancer, we need to look deeper inside the cells to the molecular level. This is a level that we cant see directly through a microscope.?? In the nucleus of each of our lung cells lives our DNAâ€"the blueprint of the cell. This  DNA  contains the instructions for making every protein that is needed for the cell to grow, function, repair itself, and tell the cell it is time to die when it becomes old or damaged. You may have heard that a series of mutations in a cell is responsible for the link between  lung cancer and smoking, but many mutations usually take place prior to a cell becoming cancerous. In fact, there are usually thousands of mutations in a single lung cell exposed to tobacco. Some genes in lung cells code for proteins that are responsible for the growth and division of the cell. One type of genes called oncogenes, cause cells to grow and divide (even when they shouldnt). Other genes, called  tumor suppressor genes, code for proteins which repair damaged DNA or eliminate damaged cells which cannot be repaired.?? Several components in cigarette smoke have been found to cause mutations (they are carcinogenic) but studies have even shown ways in which tobacco specifically causes the damage which may  lead to cancer. For example, some tobacco carcinogens cause mutations in the  p53 gene, a tumor suppressor gene that codes for proteins that repair damaged cells or eliminate them so that a  cancer cell  isnt born. Epigenetics Finally, in addition to genetic changes caused by smoking, tobacco can cause epigenetic changes in lung cells as well. Epigenetic changes refer not to actual changes in the DNA of a cell, but the way that genes are expressed. According to a 2017 study, DNA methylation (epigenetic changes) that can be detected in the blood of people who smoke are associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Unlike genetic changes in cells, epigenetic changes are more likely to be reversible with a healthy lifestyle. Function of Smokers Lungs vs Healthy Lungs (Physiology) Just as there are many changes that occur structurally in the lungs of someone who smokes, there are several changes that take place on a functional level as well. Pulmonary function tests  comparing people who smoke with those who do not smoke often show changes very early on, even in teens who smoke, and long before any symptoms occur. Some people who smoke feel reassured that if they are breathing without problems, they dont have a problem. Yet a large percent of lung tissue is usually destroyed before any symptoms occur. To understand this better, consider that people who have a whole lung removed (a pneumonectomy), and are otherwise healthy, can adapt so that they can carry on a reasonably normal lifestyle. Some have even climbed mountains. Lung Capacity in Smokers Lungs vs. Healthy Lungs Smoking can affect measurements of lung function in a number of ways. Total Lung Capacity The  total lung capacity, or the total amount of air you can breathe in taking the deepest breath possible is decreased by smoking in several ways. Smoking can result in damage to muscles in the chest reducing the expansion necessary to take a deep breath. The elasticity of the smooth muscle in the airways is likewise affected, and combined with the  loss of elasticity, can limit the amount of air breathed in as well. And at a microscopic level, when fewer alveoli are present (due to destruction by cigarette smoke), or air cant reach the alveoli (due to cigarette-related damage to the airways and build up of mucus), the intake of breath is also affected. These forces all work together to decrease lung capacity. Forced Expiratory Volume In addition to lung capacity, smoking results in difficulty in exhaling the carbon dioxide that is transferred from the capillaries in the lungs to the alveoli. As noted above, decreased elasticity of the larger airways and decreased recoil of the alveoli leads to air trapping. This results in a decrease in  forced expiratory volume. Smoking Cessation Helps Thankfully, researchers have noted that one of the  benefits of quitting smoking that occurs after only 2 weeks  is an increase in both lung capacity and expiratory volume. Oxygen Exchange in Smokers Lungs vs. Healthy Lungs Its not just the ability of oxygen to enter and pass down to the alveoli, or even the number of healthy alveoli present. Oxygen that reaches that alveoli must pass through the single cell lining of the alveoli and then through the double cell layer of the capillaries to reach the hemoglobin in red blood cells to be delivered to the rest of the body. Diffusing Capacity As noted above, cigarette smoke can affect both the alveoli and the lining of the capillaries making the passage of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the two more difficult. Not only is there less surface area available for gas exchange, but the exchange is compromised. Its harder for oxygen to pass through the scarred walls of the alveoli and capillaries. The  diffusing capacity  is a pulmonary function test which measures this ability of a gas to make this transition from the alveoli into the bloodstream. Weve known for several decades that cigarette smoking can reduce diffusing capacity. Other Physiological Changes in the Lungs of a Smoker There are many more changes that occur in the lungs of someone who smokes, and the ones mentioned here only touch the surface. We mentioned how cigarette smoke can affect the capillaries, but also affects every blood vessel in the body. Damage to the larger blood vessels can lead to changes in blood flow that compromise the delivery of blood to the capillaries in the lungs in the first place. And its not just the arteries. Cigarette smoking is associated with a significantly increased risk of blood clots in the legs (deep venous thrombosis). These blood clots can in turn break off and travel to the lungs (pulmonary emboli) causing further damage, resulting in less healthy lung tissue (if a person survives). While some of these changes are not reversible, it is never too late to quit smoking both to minimize the damage and to allow your body to repair the damage that can be restored and healed. The Bottom Line: Lungs of a Smokers vs. Non-Smoker   Looking at all of the structural and functional changes in the lungs of someone who smokes stresses the importance of smoking cessation, though its not just the lungs that are of concern. There are a multitude of  diseases caused by smoking, with tobacco playing a role in nearly every body system. It is also not just lung cancer  that is of concern. Take a look at this list of  cancers caused by smoking  if you still feel any reluctance to stop today. If you still need a few facts?? to encourage you to quit: Overall, 1 in 5 deaths are due to smoking30 percent of cancers are due to smokingSmoking is responsible for 80 percent of lung cancers, the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and womenSmoking is responsible for 80 percent of COPD deaths, the fourth leading cause of death in the United States But the news isnt all bad: Heart disease risk drops drastically within a year of quittingStroke risk drops significantly two to five years after quittingThe risk of many cancers declines significantly by five years post-quitting Quitting Smoking:  Help Is Available! Thankfully, quitting smoking at any time can stop further damage from being done to your lungs and can reduce your risk of developing the diseases and cancers linked to the habit. We know its not easy.Yet its possible. Start today with quit smoking lesson 101 - reasons to quit  in order to make this attempt your final and successful attempt to kick the habit. A Word From Verywell It can be somewhat overwhelming to look at the vast number of ways that smoking affects both the structure and function of the lungs, but the important point is that smoking does not affect the lungs in just one way. Even if we had a way to bypass the damage caused, say, to alveoli, smoking would still be a problem. In other words, theres no healthy alternative to quitting. Despite this vast amount of damage, our bodies are amazingly resilient, and repair begins only seconds after the last puff.

Three Domain System

The Three Domain System, developed by Carl Woese in 1990, is a system for classifying biological organisms. Before Woeses discovery of archaea as distinct from bacteria in 1977, scientists believed there were only two types of life: eukarya and bacteria. The highest ranking previously used had been kingdom, based on the Five Kingdom system adopted in the late 1960s. This classification system model is based on principles developed by Swedish scientist Carolus Linnaeus, whose hierarchical system groups organisms based on common physical characteristics. The Current System As scientists learn more about organisms, classification systems change. Genetic sequencing has given researchers a whole new way of analyzing relationships between organisms. The current Three Domain System groups organisms primarily based on differences in ribosomal RNA (rRNA) structure. Ribosomal RNA is a molecular building block for ribosomes. Under this system, organisms are classified into three domains and six kingdoms. The domains are ArchaeaBacteriaEukarya The kingdoms are Archaebacteria (ancient bacteria)Eubacteria (true bacteria)ProtistaFungiPlantaeAnimalia Archaea Domain This Archaea domain contains single-celled organisms. Archaea have genes that are similar to both bacteria and eukaryotes. Because they are very similar to bacteria in appearance, they were originally mistaken for bacteria. Like bacteria, archaea are prokaryotic organisms and do not have a membrane-bound nucleus. They also lack internal cell organelles and many are about the same size as and similar in shape to bacteria. Archaea reproduce by binary fission, have one circular chromosome, and use flagella to move around in their environment as do bacteria. Archaea differ from bacteria in cell wall composition and differ from both bacteria and eukaryotes in membrane composition and rRNA type. These differences are substantial enough to warrant that archaea have a separate domain. Archaea are extreme organisms that live under some of the most extreme environmental conditions. This includes within hydrothermal vents, acidic springs, and under Arctic ice. Archaea are divided into three main phyla: Crenarchaeota, Euryarchaeota, and Korarchaeota. Crenarchaeota include many organisms that are hyperthermophiles and thermoacidophiles. These archaea thrive in environments with great temperature extremes (hyperthermophiles) and in extremely hot and acidic environments (thermoacidophiles.)Archaea known as methanogens are of the Euryarchaeota phylum. They produce methane as a byproduct of metabolism and require an oxygen-free environment.Little is known about Korarchaeota archaea as few species have been found living in places such as hot springs, hydrothermal vents, and obsidian pools. Bacteria Domain Bacteria are classified under the Bacteria Domain. These organisms are generally feared because some are pathogenic and capable of causing disease. However, bacteria are essential to life as some are part of the human microbiota. These bacteria preform vital functions, such as enabling us to properly digest and absorb nutrients from the foods we eat. Bacteria that live on the skin prevent pathogenic microbes from colonizing the area and also aid in the activation of the immune system. Bacteria are also important for the recycling of nutrients in the global ecosystem as they are primary decomposers. Bacteria have a unique cell wall composition and rRNA type. They are grouped into five main categories: Proteobacteria: This phylum contains the largest group of bacteria and includes E.coli, Salmonella, Heliobacter pylori, and Vibrio. bacteria.Cyanobacteria: These bacteria are capable of photosynthesis. They are also known as blue-green algae because of their color.Firmicutes: These gram-positive bacteria include Clostridium, Bacillus, and mycoplasmas (bacteria without cell walls.)Chlamydiae: These parasitic bacteria reproduce inside their hosts cells. Organisms include Chlamydia trachomatis (causes chlamydia STD) and Chlamydophila pneumoniae (causes pneumonia.)Spirochetes: These corkscrew-shaped bacteria exhibit a unique twisting motion. Examples include Borrelia burgdorferi (cause Lyme disease) and Treponema pallidum (cause syphilis.) Eukarya Domain The Eukarya domain includes eukaryotes or organisms that have a membrane-bound nucleus. This domain is further subdivided into the kingdoms ProtistaFungiPlantaeAnimalia Eukaryotes have rRNA that is distinct from bacteria and archaeans. Plant and fungi organisms contain cell walls that are different in composition than bacteria. Eukaryotic cells are typically resistant to antibacterial antibiotics. Organisms in this domain include protists, fungi, plants, and animals. Examples include algae, amoeba, fungi, molds, yeast, ferns, mosses, flowering plants, sponges, insects, and mammals. Comparison of Classification Systems Systems for classifying organisms change with new discoveries made over time. The earliest systems recognized only two kingdoms (plant and animal.) The current Three Domain System is the best organizational system we have now, but as new information is gained, a different system for classifying organisms may later be developed. Here is how the Five Kingdom System compares to the Three Domain System, which has six kingdoms: Five Kingdom System: MoneraProtistaFungiPlantaeAnimalia Archaea Domain Bacteria Domain Eukarya Domain Archaebacteria Kingdom Eubacteria Kingdom Protista Kingdom Fungi Kingdom Plantae Kingdom Animalia Kingdom Three Domain System

Kennedy Last Name Meaning and Origin

The Irish and Scottish surname  Kennedy  has more than one possible meaning or etymology: A name that means ugly head, a surname derived  from the  Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Ó Ceannà ©idigh, meaning descendant of Ceannà ©idigh.  Ceannà ©idigh is a  personal name derived from ceann, meaning head, chief or leader and à ©idigh, meaning ugly.An  anglicized form of an Old Gaelic personal name Cinneidigh or Cinneide, a compound of the elements cinn, meaning head, plus eide,  translating variously as grim or helmeted. Thus, the Kennedy surname could possibly be translated as helmet head. Kennedy is one of 50 common Irish surnames of modern Ireland. Surname Origin:  Irish,  Scottish (Scots Gaelic) Alternate Surname Spellings:  KENNEDIE, CANNADY, CANADY, CANADAY, CANNADAY, KENEDY, OKENNEDY, CANADA, KANADY, KENNADAY, KANADAY Interesting Facts About the Kennedy Surname The OKennedy family were an Irish royal dynasty, a sept of the Dà ¡l gCais, founded in the Middle Ages. Their founder was the nephew of  High King  Brian Boru  (1002–1014). It is said that the famous  Kennedy family  of the United States descends from the Irish OKennedy clan. Where in the World Is the Kennedy Surname Found? According to WorldNames public profiler, the Kennedy surname is most commonly found in midwest Ireland, specifically the counties of Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Kildare, Wexford, Carlow, Wicklow and Dublin. Outside of Ireland, the Kennedy surname is most commonly found in Australia, and in Nova Scotia, Canada. Famous People With the Surname Kennedy Joseph Patrick Kennedy -  American businessman, investor, and politician, and father of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Senator Ted Kennedy.John F. Kennedy - 35th president of the United StatesFlorynce Kennedy - American lawyer, activist, civil rights advocate and feministGeorge Kennedy - American actor Genealogy Resources for the Surname Kennedy Kennedy Society of North AmericaSeveral hundred active members belong to this society,  a non-profit social and historical organization interested in the Scots, Scots-Irish, and the Irish Kennedys (including spelling variations,) and their descendants who came to America. Kennedy Family Genealogy ForumSearch this popular genealogy forum for the Kennedy surname to find others who might be researching your ancestors, or post your own Kennedy surname query. Kennedy Family DNA ProjectA Y-DNA project set up on FamilyTreeDNA to utilize DNA testing to help prove a family connection between Kennedys and related surnames when a paper trail cannot be established. FamilySearch - Kennedy GenealogyExplore over 3.8 million results, including digitized records, database entries, and online family trees for the Kennedy surname and its variations on the FREE FamilySearch website, courtesy of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kennedy Surname Family Mailing ListsRootsWeb hosts several free mailing lists for researchers of the Kennedy surname. DistantCousin.com - Kennedy Genealogy Family HistoryFree databases and genealogy links for the last name Kennedy. References Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore: Penguin Books, 1967. Hanks, Patrick and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. New York: Oxford University Press, 1989. Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. New York:  Oxford University Press, 2003. MacLysaght, Edward.  Surnames of Ireland. Dublin: Irish Academic Press, 1989. Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.

Succubus Blues CHAPTER 9 Free Essays

Returning to Queen Anne, I discovered I still had a lot of evening left. Unfortunately, I had nothing to do. A succubus without a social life. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus Blues CHAPTER 9 or any similar topic only for you Order Now Very sad. It was made sadder still by the fact that I could have had any number of things to do but had dropped the ball on them. Certainly Doug had asked me out often enough; no doubt he was now enjoying his day off with a more appreciative woman. Roman I had also turned down, beautiful eyes and all. I smiled wistfully, remembering his easy banter and quick, bright charm. He could have been O’Neill, made flesh from Seth’s novels. Thinking of Seth reminded me he still had my book and that I was going on Day 3 without it. I sighed, wanting to know what would happen next, to be lost in the pages of Cady and O’Neill. Now that would have been a way to spend the evening. The bastard. He’d never bring it back. I’d never find out what – With a groan, I suddenly wanted to smack my forehead for my own stupidity. Did I or did I not work for a large bookstore? After parking my car, I walked over to Emerald City and found the massive display of The Glasgow Pact that was still up from the signing. I grabbed a copy and carried it to the front counter. Beth, one of the cashiers, was momentarily free. â€Å"Will you demagnetize this for me?† I asked her, sliding the book over the counter. â€Å"Sure,† she said, running it across the pad. â€Å"Are you using your discount on it?† I shook my head. â€Å"I’m not buying it. I’m just borrowing it.† â€Å"Can you do that?† She passed the book back to me. â€Å"Sure,† I lied. â€Å"Managers can.† Minutes later, I showed my prize to an unimpressed Aubrey and turned on the water in my bathtub. While it filled, I checked my messages – none – and sorted through the mail I’d picked up on the way in. Nothing interesting there either. Satisfied nothing else required my attention, I stepped out of my clothes and sank into the watery depths of the tub, careful not to get the book wet. Aubrey, crouching on a nearby counter, watched me with squinty eyes, apparently pondering why anyone would willingly immerse themselves in water ever, let alone for extended periods of time. I figured I could read more than five pages tonight since I’d been deprived for the last couple of days. When I finished the fifteenth, I discovered I was three pages from the next chapter. Might as well end with a clean break. After I was done, I sighed and leaned back, feeling decadent and spent. Pure bliss. Books were a lot less messy than orgasms. The next morning, I went to work, happy and refreshed. Paige found me around lunchtime as I sat on the edge of my desk and watched Doug play Mine Sweeper. Seeing her, I leapt from my position while he hastily closed down the game. Paige ignored him, fixing her eyes on me. â€Å"I want you to do something with Seth Mortensen.† Uneasily, I remembered the love slave comment. â€Å"Like what?† â€Å"I don’t know.† She gave a small, unconcerned shrug of the head. â€Å"Anything. He’s new to town. He doesn’t know anyone yet, so his social life is probably dismal.† Recalling his cold reception yesterday and conversational difficulties, I wasn’t exactly surprised by this news. â€Å"I took him on a tour.† â€Å"It’s not the same.† â€Å"What about his brother?† â€Å"What about him?† â€Å"I’m sure they’re doing social things all the time.† â€Å"Why are you fighting this? I thought you were a fan.† I was a fan – a major one – but reading his work and interacting with him were proving to be two very different things. The Glasgow Pact was amazing, as was the e-mail he’d sent. Spoken conversation was a bit†¦ lacking. I couldn’t tell Paige this, of course, so she and I went back and forth a bit on the issue while Doug looked on with interest. Finally, I agreed against my better judgment, dreading the prospect of even proposing the venture to Seth, let alone embarking upon it. When I finally made myself approach him later in the day, I was fully braced for another brush-off. Instead, he turned from his work and smiled at me. â€Å"Hey,† he said. His mood seemed so improved that I decided yesterday must have been a fluke. â€Å"Hey. How’s it going?† â€Å"Not so well.† He tapped the laptop’s screen lightly with his fingernail, eyes frowning as he focused on it. â€Å"They’re being a bit difficult. I just can’t quite get the grip I need on this one scene.† Interest swept me. Bad days with Cady and O’Neill. I had always imagined interacting with such characters must be a nonstop thrill. The ultimate job. â€Å"Sounds like you need a break then. Paige is worried about your social life.† His brown eyes glanced back to me. â€Å"Oh? How so?† â€Å"She thinks you aren’t getting out enough. That you don’t know anyone in town yet.† â€Å"I know my brother and his family. And Mistee.† He paused. â€Å"And I know you.† â€Å"Good thing, because I’m about to become your cruise director. â€Å" Seth’s lips quirked slightly, then he shook his head and looked back at the screen. â€Å"That’s really nice – of you and Paige both – but not necessary.† He wasn’t dismissing me as he had yesterday, but I still felt miffed that my generous deal was not being embraced, especially since I was offering it under duress. â€Å"Come on,† I said. â€Å"What else are you going to do?† â€Å"Write.† I couldn’t argue with that. Writing those novels was God’s Own Work. Who was I to interfere with their creator? And yet†¦ Paige had given a directive. That was nearly a divine commandment in itself. A compromise popped into my head. â€Å"You could do something, I don’t know, research-related. For the book. Two birds with one stone.† â€Å"I’ve already got all the research I need for this one.† â€Å"What about, uh, ongoing character development? Like†¦ going to the planetarium.† Cady had a fascination with astronomy. She would often point out constellations and link them to some symbolic story analogous to the novel’s plot. â€Å"Or†¦ or†¦ a hockey game? You need fresh ideas for O’Neill’s games. You’ll run out.† He shook his head. â€Å"No I won’t. I’ve never even been to a hockey game to begin with.† â€Å"I – what? That’s†¦ no. Really?† He shrugged. â€Å"Where†¦ do you get the game info from then? The plays?† â€Å"I know the basic rules. I pick up pieces on the Internet, patch it together.† I stared, feeling betrayed. O’Neill was absolutely obsessed with the Detroit Red Wings. That passion shaped his personality and was reflected in his actions: fast, skilled, and at times brutal. Believing Seth to be meticulous about every detail, I had naturally assumed he must know everything about hockey to have written such a defining trait into his protagonist. Seth watched me, confused by whatever stunned look I wore. â€Å"We’re going to a hockey game,† I stated. â€Å"No, we – â€Å" â€Å"We are going to a hockey game. Hang on a sec.† I ran back downstairs, kicked Doug off our computer, and got the information I needed. It was just as I’d suspected. The Thunderbirds’ season had just started. â€Å"Six-thirty,† I told Seth, minutes later. â€Å"Meet me at Key Arena, at the main window. I’ll buy the tickets.† He looked dubious. â€Å"Six-thirty,† I repeated. â€Å"This’ll be great. It’ll give you a break and let you actually see what the game’s like. Besides, you said you were blocked today.† Not only that, it would fulfill my obligation to Paige in a way that didn’t require much talking. The stadium would be too loud, and we’d be too busy watching to need conversation. â€Å"I don’t know where Key Arena is.† â€Å"You can walk to it from here. Just keep heading for the Space Needle. They’re both part of the Seattle Center.† â€Å"So when are you meeting me?† There was a warning note in my voice, daring him to cross me. He grimaced. â€Å"Six-thirty.† After work, I set off to run my own errands. I had nothing new to work on with the vampire hunter enigma until Erik got back to me. Unfortunately, the mundane world still had its own share of requirements, and I spent most of my evening taking care of miscellany. Like restocking my supply of cat food, coffee, and Grey Goose. And checking out the new line of lip glosses at the MAC counter. I even remembered to pick up a cheap, assemble-it-yourself bookshelf for the fire-hazard stacks of books in my living room. My productivity knew no bounds. For dinner, I grabbed Indian food and managed to land at Key Arena precisely at six-thirty. I didn’t see Seth anywhere but didn’t panic just yet. The Seattle Center was not easy to navigate; he was probably still wandering around the Needle, trying to make his way over here. I bought the tickets and sat down on one of the large cement steps. The air had turned chilly tonight, and I snuggled into my heavy fleece pullover, shape-shifting it a bit thicker. While waiting, I people-watched. Couples, groups of guys, and excited children were all turning out for Seattle’s fierce little team. They made for interesting viewing. When six-fifty rolled around, I started getting nervous. We had ten more minutes, and I worried Seth might have gotten seriously lost. I pulled out my cell phone and dialed the store, wondering if he was there. Nope, they told me, but Paige did have his cell number. I tried it next, only to get voice mail. Annoyed, I snapped my phone shut and huddled farther into my own embrace to stay warm. We still had time. Besides, Seth not being at the store was a good thing. It meant he was on his way. Yet, when seven and the start of the game arrived, he still wasn’t there. I tried his cell again, then looked longingly at the doors. I wanted to see the beginning of the game. Seth might never have watched hockey, but I had and liked it. The continual movement and energy held my attention more than any other sport, even if the fights sometimes made me squirm. I didn’t want to miss this, but I’d also hate for Seth to walk up and not know what to do when I wasn’t where I said I’d be. I waited fifteen more minutes, listening to the sounds of the game echoing toward me, before I finally faced the truth. I had been stood up. Such a thing was unheard of. It hadn’t happened in†¦ over a century. I felt more stunned than embarrassed or angry by the revelation. The whole thing was just too weird to fathom. No, I decided a moment later, I was mistaken. Seth had been reluctant, yes, but he wouldn’t just refuse to come, not without calling. And maybe†¦ maybe something bad had happened. He could have been hit by a car for all I knew. After Duane’s death, one could never predict when tragedy might hit. Yet, until I had more information, the only tragedy I faced now was missing the game. I called his cell again, this time leaving him a message with my number and whereabouts. I would come outside and retrieve him if needed. I went into the game. Sitting alone made me feel conspicuous, driving home the sadness of my situation. Other couples sat nearby, and a group of guys kept eyeing me, occasionally nudging one of their number who wanted to come talk to me. Being hit on didn’t faze me, but looking like I needed it did. I might choose not to date, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t do it when I wanted. I didn’t like others perceiving me as desperate and alone. I felt that way enough sometimes without outside confirmation. At the first break, I bought a corndog to console myself. While sifting through my purse for cash, I found the slip of paper with Roman’s phone number. I stared at it while I ate, remembering his persistence and how bad I’d felt refusing him. My sudden painful abandonment fired the need to hang out with someone, to remind myself I really could have social contact when I wanted. Common sense froze me briefly as I was about to dial, cautioning that I would be breaking my decades-long vow of not dating nice guys. There were more prudent ways to deal with an unused hockey ticket, that reasonable inner voice reminded me. Like Hugh or the vampires. Calling one of them would provide a safer interaction. But†¦ but they treated me like a sister, and while I loved them like family too, I didn’t want to be a sister just now. And anyway, it wasn’t like this was even a real date. This would be a simple matter of companionship. Plus, the same precautions it had provided for Seth – lack of interaction – applied for Roman too. It would be perfectly safe. I dialed the number. â€Å"Hello?† â€Å"I’m tired of holding on to your coat.† I could hear his smile on the other end. â€Å"I figured you’d thrown it away by now.† â€Å"Are you crazy? It’s a Kenneth Cole. Anyway, that’s not really why I called.† â€Å"Yeah, I figured.† â€Å"Do you want to come to a hockey game tonight?† â€Å"When does it start?† â€Å"Um, forty minutes ago.† A Seth-worthy pause. â€Å"So, you just now thought to invite me?† â€Å"Well†¦ the person I was going with didn’t exactly show up.† â€Å"And now you call me?† â€Å"Well, you were so adamant about going out.† â€Å"Yes, but I’m†¦ wait a minute. I’m your second choice?† â€Å"Don’t think of it like that. Think of it as more like, I don’t know, you’re stepping up to fulfill what someone else couldn’t.† â€Å"Like the Miss America runner-up?† â€Å"Look, are you coming or not?† â€Å"Very tempting, but I’m busy right now. And I’m not just saying that either.† Another pause. â€Å"I’ll stop by your place after the game, though.† No, that wasn’t how this was supposed to play out. â€Å"I’m busy after the game.† â€Å"What, you and your no-show have other plans?† â€Å"I†¦ no. I have to†¦ put together a bookcase. It’s going to take a while. Hard work, you know?† â€Å"I excel at that handy-type stuff. I’ll see you in a couple hours.† â€Å"Wait, you can’t – † The phone disconnected. I closed my eyes in a moment of exasperation, opened them, then returned to the action on the ice. What had I just done? After the game, I skulked back home. The elation of winning couldn’t overpower the anxiety of having Roman in my apartment. â€Å"Aubrey,† I said upon entering, â€Å"what am I going to do?† She yawned, revealing her tiny, domestic-sized fangs. I shook my head at her. â€Å"I can’t hide under the bed like you. He won’t fall for it.† Both of us jumped at the sudden knock at the door. For half a second, I did consider the bed before deigning to let Roman in. Aubrey studied him a moment, then – apparently being too overwhelmed at the sight of a sex god in our midst – darted off for my bedroom. Roman, casually dressed, stood bearing a six-pack of Mountain Dew and two bags of Doritos. And a box of cereal. â€Å"Lucky Charms?† I asked. â€Å"Magically delicious,† he explained. â€Å"Requisite for any sort of building project.† I shook my head, still amazed at how he had managed to weasel his way over here. â€Å"This isn’t a date.† He cut me a scandalized look. â€Å"Obviously. I’d bring Count Chocula for that.† â€Å"I’m serious. Not a date,† I maintained. â€Å"Yeah, yeah. I get it.† He set the stuff on the counter and turned to me. â€Å"So, where is it? Let’s get this started.† I exhaled, uneasily relieved by his matter-of-fact manner. No flirtation, no overt come-ons. Just honest, friendly helpfulness. I’d get the shelf built, and then he’d be gone. We tore into the huge box, dumping out loose shelves and panels, as well as an assortment of bolts and screws. The directions were short on words, mostly containing some cryptic diagrams with arrows pointing to where certain parts went. After minutes of scrutiny, we finally decided the large backboard was the place to start, laying it flat on the floor with the shelves and walls placed on top. Once everything was properly aligned, Roman picked up the screws, studying where they joined the various parts together. He examined the screws, looked at the box, then turned back to the shelf. â€Å"That’s weird.† â€Å"What is?† â€Å"I think†¦ most of these things usually have holes in the wood, then they include a little tool to put the screws in.† I leaned over the wood. No premade holes. No tools. â€Å"We’ve got to screw these in ourselves.† He nodded. â€Å"I’ve got a screwdriver†¦ somewhere.† He eyed the wood. â€Å"I don’t think that’ll work. I think we need a drill.† I felt awed at his hardware prowess. â€Å"I know I don’t have that.† We hightailed it over to a big chain home store, walking in ten minutes before they closed. A harried salesclerk showed us to the drill section, then sprinted off, calling back a warning that we didn’t have much time. The power tools stared back at us, and I looked to Roman for guidance. â€Å"Not a clue,† he finally admitted after a span of silence. â€Å"I thought you excelled at this ‘handy-type stuff.’ â€Å" â€Å"Yeah†¦ well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He turned sheepish, a new look for him. â€Å"That was kind of an exaggeration.† â€Å"Like a lie?† â€Å"No. Like an exaggeration.† â€Å"They’re the same.† â€Å"No they aren’t.† I let the semantics go. â€Å"Why’d you say it then?† He gave a rueful headshake. â€Å"Partially because I just wanted to see you again. And the rest†¦ I don’t know. I guess the short answer is you said you had something hard to do. So I wanted to help.† â€Å"I’m a damsel in distress?† I teased. He studied me seriously. â€Å"Hardly. But you are someone I’d like to get to know better, and I wanted you to see I’ve got more on my mind than just getting you into bed.† â€Å"So if I offered you sex here in this aisle, you’d turn me down?† The flippant remark came off my tongue before I could stop it. It was a defense mechanism, a joke to cover up how confused his earnest explanation had made me. Most guys did just want to get me into bed. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with one who didn’t. My glibness succeeded in killing the pensive moment. Roman became his old confident and charming self, and I almost regretted the change I’d wrought, wondering what might have followed. â€Å"I’d have to turn you down. We’ve only got six minutes now. They’d kick us out before it was done.† He snapped his attention to the drills with renewed vigor. â€Å"And as for my so-called handy skills,† he added, â€Å"I’m a remarkably fast learner, so I wasn’t really exaggerating. By the end of the night, I will excel.† Not true. After arbitrarily picking out a drill and coming home, Roman set himself to aligning the bookcase’s pieces and putting them together. He fit one of the shelves to the backboard, lined up his screw, and drilled. The drill went through at an angle, missing the shelf entirely. â€Å"Son of a bitch,† he swore. I moved in and yelped when I saw the screw sticking through the back of my bookshelf. We took it out and stared bleakly at the conspicuous hole left behind. â€Å"Probably it’ll be covered by books,† I suggested. He set his mouth in a grim line and attempted the same feat again. The screw made contact this time but was still at an obvious angle. He pulled it out again, finally inserting it correctly on his third try. Unfortunately, the process only repeated as he continued. Watching hole after hole appear, I finally asked if I could try. He waved his hand in a defeatist gesture and handed me the drill. I fitted in a screw, leaned over, and drilled it in perfectly in my first attempt. â€Å"Jesus,† he said. â€Å"I’m completely superfluous. I’m the damsel in distress.† â€Å"No way. You brought the cereal.† I finished attaching the shelves. The walls came next. The backboard had small hash marks to help with alignment. With careful scrutiny, I tried to line it up cleanly along the edges. It proved impossible, and I soon realized why. Despite my perfect drilling, all of the shelves were affixed crookedly, some too far to the left or right. The walls could not fit flush with the backboard’s edges. Roman sat back against my couch, running a hand over his eyes. â€Å"My God.† I munched on a handful of Lucky Charms and considered. â€Å"Well. Let’s just line them up as best we can.† â€Å"This thing’ll never hold books.† â€Å"Yeah. We’ll do what we can.† We tried it with the first wall, and though it took a while and looked terrible, it sufficed as serviceable. We moved on to the next one. â€Å"I think I finally have to admit I’m not so good at this,† he observed. â€Å"But you seem to have kind of a knack. A regular handywoman.† â€Å"I don’t know about that. I think the only thing I have a knack for is barely scraping by with things I have to do.† â€Å"That was a world-weary tone if ever I heard one. Why? You got a lot of things you ‘have to do’?† I nearly choked on my laugh, thinking about the whole succubus survival scene. â€Å"You might say that. I mean, doesn’t everyone?† â€Å"Yes, of course, but you’ve got to balance them with things you want to do. Don’t get bogged down with the have- to’s. Otherwise, there’s no point in being alive. Life becomes a matter of survival.† I finished a screw. â€Å"You’re getting kind of deep for me tonight, Descartes.† â€Å"Don’t be cute. I’m serious. What do you really want? From life? For your future? For example, do you plan on being at the bookstore forever?† â€Å"For a while. Why? Are you saying there’s something wrong with that?† â€Å"No. Just seems kind of mundane. Like a way to fill the time.† I smiled. â€Å"No, definitely not. And even if it was, we can still enjoy mundane things.† â€Å"Yes, but I’ve found most people harbor dreams of a more exciting vocation. The one that’s too crazy to ever actually do. The one that’s too hard, too much work, or just too ‘out there.’ The gas station attendant who dreams of being a rock star. The accountant who wishes she’d taken art history classes instead of statistics. People put their dreams off, either because they think it’s impossible, or because they’ll do it ‘someday’ â€Å" He had paused from our work, his face serious once more. â€Å"So what do you want, Georgina Kincaid? What is your crazy dream? The one you think you can’t have but secretly fantasize about?† Honestly, my deepest longing was to have a normal relationship, to love and be loved without supernatural complications. Such a small thing, I thought sadly, compared to his grandiose examples. Not crazy at all, just impossible. I didn’t know if I wanted love now as a way of making up for the mortal marriage I’d destroyed or simply because the years had shown me that love could be a bit more fulfilling than being a continual servant of the flesh. Not that that didn’t have its moments, of course. Being wanted and adored was an alluring thing, a thing most mortals and immortals craved. But loving and longing were not the same things. Relationships with other immortals seemed a logical choice, but employees of hell proved nonideal candidates for stability and commitment. I’d had a few semisatisfying relationships with such men over the years, but they’d all come to nothing. Explaining any of this, however, was not a conversation Roman and I were going to have anytime soon. So instead, I confessed my secondary fantasy, half-surprised at how much I wanted to. People didn’t usually ask me what I wanted from life. Most just asked me what position I wanted to do it in. â€Å"Well, if I weren’t at the bookstore – and believe me, I’m very happy there – I think I’d like to choreograph Vegas dance shows.† Roman’s face split into a grin. â€Å"There, you see that? That’s the kind of wacky, off-the-wall thing I’m talking about.† He leaned forward. â€Å"So what holds you back from bare breasts and sequins? Risk? Sensationalism? What others will say?† â€Å"No,† I said sadly. â€Å"Simply the fact that I can’t do it.† † ‘Can’t’ is a – â€Å" â€Å"I mean, I can’t choreograph because I can’t write routines. I’ve tried. I can’t†¦ I can’t create anything, for that matter. Anything new. I’m not the creative type.† He scoffed. â€Å"I don’t believe that.† â€Å"No, it’s true.† Someone had once told me that immortals were not meant to create, that that was the province of humans who burned to leave behind a legacy after their short existence. But I’d known immortals who could do it. Peter was always concocting his original culinary surprises. Hugh used the human body as a canvas. But me? I had never been able to do it as a mortal either. The lack was in me. â€Å"You don’t know how hard I’ve tried to do creative things. Painting classes. Music lessons. I’m a dismal failure at worst, a copycat of another’s genius at best.† â€Å"You’ve been pretty adept with this building project.† â€Å"Another person’s design, another person’s directions. I excel at that part. I’m smart. I can reason. I can read people, interact with them perfectly. I can copy things, learn the right moves and steps. My eyes, for example.† I pointed to them. â€Å"I can apply makeup as well or better than any of the department store girls. But I get all my ideas and palettes from others, from pictures in magazines. I don’t make up anything of my own. The Vegas thing? I could dance in a show and be perfect. Seriously. I could be the star of any revue – following another’s choreography. But I couldn’t write any moves myself, not in any major or significant way.† The wall was done. â€Å"I don’t believe it,† he argued. His passionate defense both surprised and charmed me. â€Å"You’re bright and vivacious. You’re intelligent – extremely so. You have to give yourself a chance. Start small, and go from there.† â€Å"Is this the part where you tell me to believe in myself? The sky is the limit?† â€Å"No. This is the part where I tell you it’s getting late, and I need to go. Your shelf is finished, and I have had a lovely evening.† We stood up and lifted the bookcase, leaning it against my living room wall. Stepping back, we studied it in silence. Even Aubrey appeared for the inspection. Each shelf sat at a crooked angle. One of the sidewalls almost lined up straight with the backboard’s edge, the other had a quarter-inch margin. Six holes were visible in the backboard. And most inexplicably of all, the whole thing seemed to lean slightly to the left. I started laughing. And I couldn’t stop. After a moment of shock, Roman joined me. â€Å"Dear Lord,† I said finally, wiping tears away. â€Å"That’s the most horrible thing I’ve ever seen.† Roman opened his mouth in disagreement, then reconsidered. â€Å"It just might be.† He saluted. â€Å"But I think it’ll hold, Captain.† We made a few more mirthful comments before I walked him to the door, remembering to give him his coat back. In spite of his jokes, he seemed more genuinely disappointed about our shelf failure than I did, like he had let me down. Somehow, I found this more appealing than his perfectly timed lines or charming bravado. Not that I didn’t love those too. I studied him as we said goodbye, thinking about his â€Å"chivalry† and passionate belief in me following my heart’s desire. The lump of fear I always carried around people I liked softened a little. â€Å"Hey, you never told me your crazy dream.† The aqua eyes crinkled. â€Å"Not so crazy. Just still trying to score that date with you.† Not so crazy.Just like mine. Companionship over fame and glamour. I took the plunge. â€Å"Well, then†¦ what are you doing tomorrow?† He brightened. â€Å"Nothing yet.† â€Å"Then come by the bookstore just before closing. I’m giving a dance lesson.† The dance lesson would have lots of people. It would be a safe compromise for us. That smile faltered only slightly. â€Å"A dance lesson?† â€Å"You have a problem with that? Are you changing your mind about going out?† â€Å"Well, no, but†¦ is it like the Vegas thing? You covered in rhinestones? Because I could probably get into that.† â€Å"Not exactly.† He shrugged, the charisma on high-beam. â€Å"Well. We’ll save that for the second date.† â€Å"No. There’s no second date, remember? Just the one, then that’s it. We don’t see each other anymore. You said so. Super-secret Boy Scout†¦ whatever.† â€Å"That might have been an exaggeration.† â€Å"No. That would be a lie.† â€Å"Ah.† He winked at me. â€Å"I guess those two aren’t the same then after all, eh?† â€Å"I – † My words halted at the logic. He gave me one of his roguish bows before sweeping away. â€Å"Farewell, Georgina.† I went back inside, hoping I hadn’t just made a mistake, and found Aubrey sitting on one of my shelves. â€Å"Whoa, be careful,† I warned. â€Å"I don’t think that’s structurally sound.† Although it was late, I didn’t feel tired. Not after this wacky evening with Roman. I felt wired, his presence affecting both my body and mind. Inspired, I shooed Aubrey off the bookcase and started transferring my stacks. With each new weight addition, I expected collapse, but the thing held. When I got to my Seth Mortensen books, I suddenly remembered the cataclysm that had sparked this whole evening. Anger kindled in me once more. I’d heard nary a word from the writer the entire time. The getting-hit-by-a-car thing might still be a possibility, but my instincts doubted it. He had stood me up. Half of me considered kicking his books in retaliation, but I knew I could never do that. I loved them too much. No need to punish them for their creator’s shortcomings. Longingly, I picked up The Glasgow Pact, suddenly anxious to read my next five-page installment. I left the rest of my books unshelved and settled on the couch, Aubrey at my feet. When I reached the stopping point, I discovered something incredible. Cady was developing a love interest in this one. It was unheard of. O’Neill, ever the charming ladies’ man, got around all the time. Cady remained virtuously pure, no matter the number of sexual innuendoes and jokes she traded across the table with O’Neill. Nothing tangible had happened thus far in the book, but I could read the inevitable signs of what was to come with her and this investigator they’d met in Glasgow. I kept reading, unable to leave that plotline hanging. And the farther I read, the harder it was to stop. I soon took a secret, irrational satisfaction at breaking the five-page rule. Like I was somehow getting back at Seth. The night wore on. Cady went to bed with the guy, and O’Neill became uncharacteristically jealous and freaked out, despite his usual surface charm. Holy shit. I left the couch, put on pajamas, and curled up in my bed. Aubrey followed. I kept reading. I finished the book at four in the morning, bleary-eyed and exhausted. Cady saw the guy a few more times as she and O’Neill wrapped up their mystery – as enthralling as ever, but suddenly less interesting compared to the interpersonal developments – and then she and the Scotsman parted ways. She and O’Neill returned to Washington, D.C., and the status quo resettled. I exhaled and set the book on the floor, unsure what to think, mainly because I was so tired. Still, in a valiant effort, I got up from bed, found my laptop, and logged into my Emerald City e-mail. I sent Seth a terse message: Cady got some. What’s up with that? Then, as an afterthought: By the way, the hockey game was great. Satisfied I’d registered my opinion, I promptly fell asleep†¦ only to be awakened a few hours later by my alarm clock. How to cite Succubus Blues CHAPTER 9, Essay examples

Critical Thinking for Novice Nurses - Myassignmenthelp.Com

Question: Discuss about the Critical Thinking for Novice Nurses. Answer: Introduction In healthcare, there are various skills that a nurse has to possess to attain competency or be termed as an expert. One of these skills is learning to think and acting critically. This is critical in the sense that it is part of the requirement that nurses have to attain to be competent. However, novice nurses, or those registered to practice in Australia, usually have problem inculcating critical thinking in their practice. It is therefore essential that this kind of group learn to think and act critically in their practice and not blindly following procedures put forward either by their senior colleagues or doctors (Kong, Qin, Zhou, Mou, Gao, 2014, p.461). Thus, this essay tries to elaborate why learning to think and act critically is essential for novice nurses. Additionally, the essay will elaborate some of the importance of a novice nurse having the ability to think and act critically. In addition to that, it is essential to explain why it is not prudent for nurses to enact proc edures blindly without utilizing their skills in thinking and circumstances where this can become unprofessional and even unrealistic. Therefore, even though it is challenging for inexperienced nurses to be tasked with the responsibility of making decisions on their own, it is important to look at the reasons why this is essential. Novice Nurses Newly registered nurses, from nursing college, lack the ability to move swiftly and make decisions on their own. Various reasons study attribute this, firstly, is that the new nurses feel unprepared or cannot make decisions that meet the daily challenges characteristics of the workforce (Parahoo, 2014, p.424). In addition to that, it is common for the novice nurses to feel that they do not possess critical thinking and clinical knowledge essential for one to come up with a sound decision. In dealing with specific cases, the novices appear to face challenges in dealing with an emergency, when caring for a dying patient or end-of-life scenario (Bradshaw, Hultquist, 2016, p.236). Also, in patients suffering from acute illness, new nurses tend to fare poorly in regards to thinking and acting critically. Even though novice nurses execute their decisions appropriately, they lack the confidence to ascribe a rationale behind their decisions, either because of lack of confidence or inexperie nce in dealing with real-life situations. It makes it essential thus for them to find a way to learn the ability to think and act critically. There are various important levels in learning that a novice nurse undergoes before he or she becomes confident enough to make his or her own decisions or attain the status of making his or her decisions based on ability. The first stage is the basic level where a nurse believes that the senior nurse is the one to offer him or her all the answers for any problem (Saintsing, Gibson, Pennington, 2011, p. 356). The second stage is called the complex level, and in this stage, the nurse becomes slightly independent. Even though he or she takes procedures and answers from the senior nurse or doctor, he or she also start making some decisions on her own without involving anyone else. The last level for a nurse is the commitment level, and here, the nurse is entirely independent and has acquired the confidence and clinical knowledge to make almost all decisions on his or her own (Ingham-Broomfield, 2015, p.34). All these levels are as crucial for this topic as they depict the stages and imp ortance of each level that a novice nurse undergoes before gaining the necessary experience and knowledge to think and act critically in regards to treating patients. Additionally, the levels denote various ways that newly registered nurses need to adapt to avoid taking instructions and be independent in solving problems in the workplace (Theisen, Sandau, 2013, p.429). In addition to that, moving from the lower stage to the highest stage improves the nurses professional practice. Importance of Nurses Thinking and Acting Critically For newly registered nurses in Australia, it will be challenging for them to form a successful career in nursing without having to think and act critically. It is also true that clinical skills are essential, but to be a competent nurse, there is more to that. It needs some bit of reasoning and thinking and not just taking procedures. As far as nursing is concerned, the aspects that the new novice need is to be precise, fair, logical, complete, clear and accurate (Freeling, Parker, 2015, p.46). All these elements the novice nurses must be taught during their practice and have to maintain them during talking or acting. This will ensure that the nurse is not just a puppet but one with the know-how and ready to respond to a patient for whatever concern that may arise. The skills that the newly graduated and registered nurse needs to be taught include but are not limited interpreting, evaluating and analyzing (Rush, Adamack, Gordon, Lilly, Janke, 2013, p.350). To start with interpreting , the new nurse has to understand and be in a position to elaborate the meaning of a given scenario. On the other hand, the new nurse needs to possess analyzing skills as a component of critical thinking for investigating of course of action but must come from data which meets the criteria of being objective or subjective (Edwards, Hawker, Carrier, Rees,2015, p. 1258). It is for this reason among many others that make it important for newly registered nurses to learn to think critically and acting the same as well for a successful treatment. Another reason that novice nurses need to learn on how to think and act critically and not just the following procedure is for forming a workplace. This entails making performance expectations which can be in the form of values that are well spelled out for everyone to apprehend in the given workplace. This appears to have a positive influence, especially on professional practice simply because nurses have the option of taking part in the process or have their opinion had in a particular subject (Pfaff, Baxter, Jack, Ploeg, 2014, p.7). Therefore, it is very crucial to create such kind of environment that cultivates professional behaviors because it makes nurses think on how they tackle issues and topics when they practice or rather administer a patient. In addition to that, it is important for novice nurses to learn to think and not just take procedures blindly as this enables them to deal with difficult situations. For instance, in a situation where a choice determines which course of action is fit to be implemented. Moreover, for the novice nurses to make clinical decisions, it is essential that they learn reasoning strategies and some of the criteria which are used by clinical nurses to come up with such decisions (Peters, 2014, p.225). The novice, therefore need to learn by asking why a certain decision has to be made for the nurse to be in the right position to make the right choices for the patient (Reem, Kitsantas, Maddox, 2014, p.1026). By learning how to think and act critically but not taking procedures blindly, the novice nurses put themselves in a position to either make sound judgment or decisions that are largely derived from their knowledge and experience which in turn can develop further skills. On the other hand, one of the best ways for novice nurses to learn problem-solving skills is to stop taking instructions blindly and start learning on how to think and act critically. For the newly registered nurses in Australia, they have to be taught in this phase on ways on how to examine the patient in all manners to identify what the patient needs (Hendricks, Cope, 2013, p.720). It is after this point of critical thinking that the nu nurses should then proceed to solve the problem by the use or application of evidence-based or the characteristics of the patients aimed at improving his condition (Sargent, Olmedo, 2013, p.605). In addition to that, by acquiring skills in problem-solving, the novice nurse put himself or herself in the right position to perform similar tasks again in the future should such a problem arise in the same condition which will not have been the case if she or he continues taking procedures blindly. There arise situations where a patient is unable to adequately communicate or show signs of what he or she requires. By taking instructions from senior nurses or any other authorities blindly, a nurse can never be in a position to help such a patient. This is another situation that calls for not only learning to think but acting critically for newly registered nurses in Australia. A nurse with vast knowledge and experience is such situation may be able to think critically and come up with new and various ways that can be helpful to the patient (Theisen, Sandau, 2013, p.430). On the other hand, a nurse who is not exposed to such situation or one who keeps on relying on another person to formulate procedures or decisions to be followed may prove to be ineffective or rather fail to offer any help to the patient. Novice nurses need to be taught that problems exist and prepare themselves with that kind of attitude. That sort of attitude is essential in both problem-solving and decision-ma king process in a hospital or in a patient to nurse interactions (Franklin, Burns, Lee, 2014, p.1300). Unlike in cases where a nurse is bound to wait for somebody to make decisions or offer guidance, the new nurses, by having this kind of attitude, are well prepared. Additionally, the nurse is aware of the problem that takes place and can form the guideline for solving various problems. It is challenging for nurses to operate in situations where they cannot completely make decisions. For newly registered nurses, it is important they take note that cases arise in a hospital that needs the person next to the patient to offer a solution (Morton et al., 2017, p.141). Additionally, following instructions blindly makes it unprofessional as a nurse need to have some know-how in various ways of responding to a patient. It is with this regard that newly registered and graduated nurses need to learn how to treat, respond and act promptly in situations of emergencies or any other that need their assistance (Phillips, Kenny, Esterman, Smith, 2014, p.110). This explains the reasons behind the need for learning among novice nurses. Studies also show that nurses who are critical thinkers are likely to stick to intellectual standards. This enables them to avoid ambiguity and confusion in ideas. Thus, there are numerous befits that call upon all nurses, and in this case, new gradua te registered nurses to stop following procedures blindly but instead learn how to think and act critically. There are various reasons that novice nurses need to learn the ability to think and act critically. The first thing that makes it so essential is that it brings nurses a form of independence. It is worth noting that nurses enter medical field with little or no working experience (Taylor, 2002, p.15). This makes them be over-reliant to senior nurses or the experienced ones who then act as their leaders in executing most of their decisions (Black, 2016, p.127). In effect, this creates some form of dependence for any decision that they have to make in regards to patients treatment or as the emergency arises. Thus, by learning to think and acting critically is essential to avoid such kind of dependency and attachment that comes with it. Conclusion It is evident that nurses need more skills than clinical knowledge. For the new graduate who has been recently registered as practicing nurses, it is important they learn how to think and act critically for many reasons. Firstly, a practitioner who thinks critically is likely to maintain all the standards practicing procedures. Secondly, a novice nurse will be in a better position to solve problems that emanate from patients that do not necessarily require an experienced nurse. 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