I am a Certified Medical Assistant

I don’t write about my career as a medical assistant very much. I feel bad about that sometimes, but I think that after nine hours on my feet, dealing with every complaint imaginable – and those just from my co-workers (just kidding) – I like to go into my own little world and make believe with you all.

Once in a while, though, I should pay tribute to my career and this week I would be remiss if I didn’t pay tribute to the individual who got me here. Who got all medical assistants where they are today.

Alice Budny was a young woman working at a doctor’s office in Milwaukee. People of the time may have called her the “office girl”, but she saw something more. She was a medical assistant and proud of it. She wanted medical assistants around the nation to be recognized.

She was in her mid-twenties when she became one of the founding members of the Milwaukee County Medical Assistants in 1945. Ten years later, she and Lois Pluckhan formed the Wisconsin State Medical Assistants Society. She wouldn’t stop there, though. Later that same year, Alice and Lois were invited to Kansas to aid in the formation of a national association for medical assistants. In 1956, Alice chaired the community which hosted the first ever national convention of the American Association of Medical Assistants held at the Pfister Hotel in Milwaukee.

The last time I saw Alice, in 2004, at the state convention in LaCrosse, she was still promoting the profession of medical assisting. She was tireless in her commitment to the organizations she helped to build. Over the years she had even offered testimony before Congress on questions of professional practice and national health care. Where is she today when our nation is in a health care crisis?

I learned earlier this week that on November 5 Alice had peacefully passed away.

Fall Vacation Day 1

Hard to believe that two weeks ago I was on vacation with the Hubby. Not so hard to believe how fast that week flew by. No more vacation plans on the horizon; I need to change that quickly!

This year we only traveled for a few days and bummed around the Southeast part of the state, between Milwaukee and Madison. There really is so much to see and do there and I must admit that we missed a huge part of it.

One place that I have wanted to visit is the Mitchell Park Domes. It has been over forty years since either I or the Hubby have been there. (Does that mean we are old?)

 The Show Dome had a 1950's theme. 

There was a school field trip in the Desert Dome. They were on a scavenger hunt and running all over looking for things like frogs, and snakes, and boots. 

The Tropical Dome was closed, so that was rather disappointing.

 I’ve also always wanted to visit the Pabst Mansion. It is horrible that so many beautiful homes like this have met the wrecking ball. In fact, this house was slanted for demolition and had been saved within days of meeting its end. It is sad enough that it is surrounded by modern buildings instead of its contemporaries, other stunning old mansion of a gone-by era.

don't, don't, don't

Sunday night while visiting my son and a friend in Milwaukee, we went out to eat at the Safe House. A very interesting and fun place. After dinner, we wandered around checking out the many novelties hanging on the walls. Naturally I took lots of pictures, even after finding this sign.

Don’t you hate constantly being told “don’t do this” and “don’t do that”. We hear it from little on, especially when we are little and our parents barrage us with the word “no”. "No" is all right for little kids about to touch the hot stove or run out into the street. Actually I can think of a lot of boys and girls who should hear the word “no” more often. But used too much it loses its meaning, its shock-value.

And even as adults, don’t we sometimes do exactly what we are told not to?