Gabriella Lucretia

Sacred Hearts Cigar Band Ring

 

I have noticed in some of the high end stores cigar band rings are starting to become popular.  Well, it's not new for me.  This was a design of mine from an antique medal I had recasted in recycled sterling silver , then I formed it and added a band.  I have sold it to men and women. 

So what's the history of cigar bands?  Dutchman Gustave Block introduced his cigar band to the cigar trade in the 1830's to distinguish his brands from the others and to prevent couterfeiting of cuban cigars.  He was one of the first European to get involved in the Havana Cigar trade. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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So some say the cigar band also serves a purpose.  Most importantly the aficionado has a place to hold his cigar to prevent his little fingies from being scorched or his or hers white gloves from being stained.  Others say it's to keep the wrapper together, but anyone can tell you a good cigar will never unwrap, band or no band. 

There are many other rules and regs when it comes to the cigar band.  One of the best sites on the cigar band history is Cigar Aficionado .  What I thought was really funny is the answers to the question-- when do you take off the band?  Some say give it a few puffs and the band will fall off, some say take it off before you smoke it. 

But the best lore about the band--reminds me of fashion where people walk around with the big  "Gucci" and "Chanel" plastered all over their bags and clothing.  Obviously, you want everyone to know about your 'expensive' purchase.  Same with cigars, if you leave the band because it was an expensive cigar---then obviously it was probably most of your paycheck.  The rich supposedly pop those babies off as soon as the butler hands it over. ' 

You will bet I will watch Donald Trump next time when he is puffing on his 'Cuban' cuz that guy is wealthy and flaunts it. 

 

  
  
 

Caringbridge

My poor blog, it is sad, it has had no attention, much like my doggies and my poor young daughter for the last month.   For good reason though, my husband and I have been with my oldest son for just under a month in the hospital and in fact we are still here.  Things are better and so is he.  In fact I have been posting daily on a lovely website called Caringbridge which is for families and patients with long term illnesses. 

Luckily for us, we have a huge support network of family and friends, everyone was concerned for my son and wondered how he was.  I remembered Caringbridge from years ago when one of my daughter's classmates used it for his battle with cancer.   So I decided to start a Caringbridge Journal for him about a week ago.  We kept thinking we would go home, and days turned into weeks-- so we decided we better start letting everyone know what was going on with him and us. 

It's great I can post on the journal daily or hourly if I want, and on occasions have.   You can post pictures with your entries also.  We have close to 1000 visits, and roughly 150 guestbook posts.  A guestbook is a way for people that visit to leave messages to my son.  My work, my son's work and my husband's work  and perfect strangers have all posted words of support.  We are pretty far from home so it's almost impossible to visit, but a guestbook post is like a 'virtual visit' we love it.

There are times when I thought I would go stir crazy because it can be so isolating in a hospital room, but the journal helped me keep in touch with the outside world.  Once a day, someone posts how wonderful the site is and how they love to hear about his progress. 

Alright, it's time for us to walk again, so I better say good bye for now, I just wanted to quickly update y'all on his progress.... 

Hospital 101: Healthcare Rant Part II

It should be the requirement for every medical student and nursing student to spend 2 weeks in the hospital, on the other side of a call light in a hospital bed.  It's kind of like putting on a 'fat suit' to see how the obese feel, or living on skid row to feel what it's like to be homeless.  It's the only way to really understand and comprehend---'how it feels'.  I really think pediatricians and pediatric nurses are better providers after they have had kids, and surgeon is better after having is own gallbladder removed.   When you tell your patient, "I know how it feels" you really do.   

A 2 week stay in the hospital for a 'lay person' is like navigating the open seas without any instruments, it's almost impossible.  There should be some kind of manual you get when you are admitted.   So until that manual is written, I have  few thoughts of my own that may help the next person. 

1.  Bring An Advocate- Always, always, always have an advocate with you at all times.  Be it your spouse, sister, mother, best friend or neighbor, make sure someone stays with you, preferably someone knowledgeable about health care.  If not just another set of eyeballs and ears will do.  Please don't get me wrong, it's not because some dangerous beast will attack you in your sleep, it's because when you are ill, that last thing you need to do is to worry about your care.  It's akin to a 'Wedding Planner'.  Let the Bride and Groom relax and enjoy the day and the let the wedding planner deal with all the headaches and catastrophes. 

As a patient, you need to relax and heal, watch silly movies or just sleep all day if you are allowed.  Your job is to heal, you don't need to  worry about absorbing all the jargon and mumbo jumbo that gets thrown at you on an hourly basis. 

2.  The Hospital Is Not a Babysitting Service- Pack a bag and stay with your loved one.  Mind you it may be in a hospital chair, but hospitals are busy, it is what it is so just suck it up. People heal better and do better with a support system around them at all times.  They feel protected and comfortable, nobody loves your loved one like you do and more importantly nobody likes to sit alone in a hospital bed.

3.  Never Be Afraid To Ask "Name, Rank and Serial Number"- Never be afraid to ask questions of your medical provider.  Never worry if someone is a 'real nurse' or a real doctor' for goodness sakes, just ask them who they are and what they do!  You will be surprised who you just told that you haven't had a bowel movement for 3 days, could have been the hospital chaplain for all you know,  most anyone in a hospital will listen to your story. 

In a teaching hospital they work in 'teams'.  There is the medical student, intern, resident, fellow, attending of the medical team, and the gastrointestinal team, and the hepatology team, and the list goes on and on. 

Same with your nurse or other care provider, there are charge nurses, registered nurses, care partners, case managers that are nurses, nurses that just put in your IV lines.  There are dietitians, pharmacists, pharmacy techs--it goes on forever.  You are not expected to know everyone's role, you will need to ask. 

4.  You Have A Choice- hospitals are not prisons, and you are not a prisoner.  You have choices within the realm of safe and quality medical care.  There is not always just 'one way' in medicine.  We are so technologically advanced, there are probably hundreds of ways to fix, diagnose or medicate an illness.   You can discuss your lab results, your medications with your medical provider.   The operative word is 'discuss' because obviously you won't know as much as your provider, but at least you and your advocate can make informed decisions.

5.  Use The Hospital's Resources- hospitals really do want you to receive quality care so they have oodles and oodles of resources you can use.  There is the patient liason, case manager, charge nurse, floor director, chaplain, dietician, pharmacist, you name it.  Use them!  That is what they are there for. 

6.  Read Your Hospital's Patient's Bill of Rights-  there is a Patient's Bill of Rights plastered on every wall in every hallway in a hospital.  READ THEM!  Number One you will blow away all the staff if you do, and number two, you have rights,  that's why this document was established and that's why they are there for you to read. 

These are just a few things I learned in our last hospital stay.  Maybe someday I will write the manual, but for now I'm just the 'Wedding Planner'. 

The Hand Of Fatima

Mariam, the designer and owner of The Hand Of Fatima calls her jewelry  "Curious Eco Luxe Jewelry For The Nostalgic Enchanted ".  It's definitely all that and more.  She's another wonderful customer of mine at Gabby Lu  and has great eye for vintage assemblage pieces.  I was lucky enough to 'snag' an interview with her.  Enjoy the interview and don't forget to visit her Etsy shop for more one-of-a-kind pieces.

 

 

 

 "Bonded"

 

 

 

GL:  How did you come up with the name "The Hand of Fatima" and describe the person 'behind it' the name?

THOF:     The Hand of Fatima is actually a token or symbol of good luck in my ethnic culture, I chose it because I created "Fatima" as a muse, and everything is made by hand, so it's a play on words.

 

 

 

 

 

"Esto Perpetua"  

 

 

GL:   You have been in business for over 3 years, what do you think is the key to your longevity and popularity on Etsy?

THOF:     I guess I can only say that I am in business for three years for three reasons,

1.The gift of creative vision and ability to produce my art from it,   2.Support and encouragement and     3. My customers

 

"Lyre, Lyre"

 

GL:   What is it about vintage that appeals to you in your pieces?

THOF:     Vintage appeals to me because it is a tangible symbol of the past, a period in time, history...it is testimony, souvenir, part of a story, and it allows me to give it new life and new story, new possibility in someone fresh's life. It also allows me to create in a sustainable fashion, remaining eco friendly. Using vintage and antiques is proof that rough edges, use and peeling all make for a juicier, more intriguing story.

 

 

 

 

 

"Nostalgic Shadows" 

 

 

 

GL:   Who is your dream customer and what piece would you design for them?

THOF:     My dream customer, is every woman or man that invisions symbolism around their neck or wrist or dangling from their ear. A person who wants to express their creativity outwardly and share my work as art, curiosity and start a conversation with something or someone unknown. All people are a dream customer and I dream to design for that.

 

 

 

 

"The Typeographer"
 

The Hand Of Fatima

When Did Computers Replace Nurses?

 

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 As I sit in a hospital room with my loved one, I realize how much health care has changed.  I have been in health care myself for over 30 years so I think I am a credible source.  Thank goodness I haven’t been on the other end of a stethoscope very often myself because I am convinced without a family member advocating for your health care you would be in big trouble.  Since, I am the ‘highest medical authority’ in my house, I would be out of luck. 

But now here I am with my family member--2 weeks of ER’s, interns, residents, professors, computers, nurses , blood, tests and I am worn out, frustrated and just plain mad.  We are in a pretty prestigious health care center in Los Angeles that was voted 3^rd in the nation by Time Magazine.  So it should be great.

So does #3 in the nation translate to better health care?  Not necessarily.  Better health care does not mean the best computers, the best technology,  the largest building,  the best research, the best statistics and portable phones in every nurse's pocket.   What translates to better health care is an actual connection to the patient, a real sense of caring and well being for another person's son, daughter, niece, husband or friend.  That means actual touching,  listening, feeling and most importantly caring of every patient that is on your 'watch'. 

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So when did computers replace nurses?  I have been out of the hospital ‘biz’ for over 10 years, so it had to be in the last 10 years.  From the moment we walked in the hospital until today  all I ever see is a nurse at a computer, checking all his/her boxes, filling in all his/her blanks on her screen.  But never once, and I am not exaggerating ONCE did any one pull out a stethoscope and actually do an exam.  I know one of those check marks on those computer screens is what do the “skin signs” look like?  Like is the patient  warm, cool, clammy…whatever.  You have to touch a patient to figure that out.  So either somebody is fibbing or they have superman’s super senses.

 

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Every medication, health question, blood pressure, drink of water or urine in a cup has to be entered in a computer.  Paper nursing notes, pens or stethoscopes are now a rare commodity--sad but true. The “care partner” does 99 percent of  the vital signs for the nurses. The care partner is a fancy name for  basically a nurse’s aide.  They go from room to room and press the button on the automatic blood pressure cuff, look at the heart monitor, look at the numbers on the pulse oximetry, and 'poof'  that's the vital signs.  Basically it's done every 4 hours and entered into a computer.  Reminds me of the time my daughter lost the remote, she didn't realize you could actually walk to the TV and change the channel.  I wonder what they would all do without their electronic cuffs and electronic devices.    So the care partner doesn't really interpret the numbers it’s basically a skill they learn in their course.  The nurse interprets the numbers.

I know there is discussion of making electronic medical records the standard care in the future, somehow thinking it would cut costs.  Well, I am here to tell you –it will increase costs not cut costs because the liability goes way up when you chart something you were too lazy to check.

Let’s give you an example.  I know someone  (wink, wink) who has IV phlebitis to both arms because number one-the nurse never really checked the site, and number two- there was some incompatibility of some medications given that was not known, probably didn't pop up on the computer screen (sorry had to say that). 

Now IV phlebitis is totally preventable just by looking at the arm,  seeing the red line, touching the arm, feeling warmth and asking the patient if it hurts—it’s a 3 minute procedure max.    As you can guess, that's now how our story ended. 

Instead it’s easier to just check off, “IV site without redness” on your bedside computer, or anything else for that matter and ‘boom’ you are out of the room and on to the next task. 

Yes, there is a place for computers in health care but in my opinion bedside nursing is definitely not one of those places.   I am really not trying to berate nursing or specific nurses, I am just saying the profession has changed as a whole and I don't think it is for the good. 

Computers have caused this huge change and unfortunately, computers don't have the ability to reason, touch, feel, think and use common sense which I think has  changed a once prestigious profession into an IT (information technology) job. 

Step Into Spring With Balmain

If you have an unlimited budget and really good arches then these Balmain S/S10 shoes are for you.  I can appreciate a good shoe especially being half filipino, we all know Imelda is the original Cinderella. 

So preorder now..
 
  
 

All Things Alice in 2010

A big saying in our house is, "You're never too old to wear a costume or tights."  I am sure every household has the same saying.  So, 2009's costumes were the Dali Lama for one member and a a beautiful genie for the youngest member-- which by the way took me about 3 days of sewing, loads and loads of fabric and about $75, all for about an hour of candy.   I think I am supposed to say, "That is not why I do it, I do it for the enjoyment and fun of sewing."

One year it was the 'Cathy Rigby's' Peter Pan in all leather!  Do you detect a little OCD here?  Well, the good thing is it still gets borrowed every year by some lucky little girl because the word's out in our neighborhood about our costumes.  Oh, and the Nacho Libre outfit was priceless, complete with metallic red cape, curly wig and tights.  I wish I could show you pictures but my son would disown me. 

Anyway, I was looking at the new Tim Burton film-- "Alice in Wonderland" that is due out in March.  I can tell you right now, it's going to be the 2010 Halloween pick for Miss Gabriella Lucretia.  I should just start doing my research now, since it has to be 'authentic' and there are never any patterns for these beauties. 

The costume designer on this film is Colleen Atwood.  She had a huge impact on the steampunk genre with her Violet Baudelaire costume from Lemony Snicket.  In fact, Alice and Violet look very similar to me.  Ironically, that was another one of our costume picks one year for Gabriella, right down to the blue jacket and leather bodice (I added the leather). 

 

So here's the "Alice in Wonderland" costumes.  They look very similar to me in style. 

 
 
 
 
The LA TIMES predicts "All Things Alice" will be a fashion trend for 2010.  Lots of chesire cats, mad hatters, powdered blue, foliage and things like that you will see from some designers this year.

This Is How I Feel Today

Taking A Break

Enjoy this cute picture from Aww Pix --I need to take a 'blog break' for a bit.  Be back soon!