#67 Lobstah Hypnosis and Badass (literally) Bee Sting #2

Do you notice what's sitting on my shoulder?

This was another Badass Penn Nurses' Weekend -- Reunion #3 in the past year. This time, we had an even bigger crew- Alice, Allie, Kirsten, Lizzie, and of course Pam since we took over her farm again.

Pam commented, "Freehold New Jersey's total IQ is going to go up significantly this weekend with this group coming into town". These ladies are (as New Englander Allison would say) WICKED SMAHT! I learn so much just being around them.

We spent three days chatting, catching up on news, and talking business -- from new GI oncology treatment options to data and statistics collections to COVID management and future direction to alternative health treatments to team dynmaics to adolescent health to nursing education. I am always in awe of these strong, powerful, driven women who have made an incredible difference in this world by being badass nursing leaders.

When we weren't talking shop, we were laughing. And learning new things.

For example, Allison brought live lobsters from Gloucester and was determined to teach everyone around our table how to most effectively get every last piece of meat from the savory little crustecacean.

But first, we all had to cook them.

Ugh.

Nooooooooo.

Y'all who have read my past badass challenges know that this is someting I am very, very resistant to do. It just turned my stomach thinking about it. Even though I grew up in Massachusetts where lobsters were common, I always made friends with them after we brought them home and the idea of cooking -- AND EATING -- them was an absolute no-go for me.

But what could I do? These lobsters are going to be dead anyway, right? We can't get them back to Gloucester before they kick it. So our group was determined to find out what the most humane method of cooking them is.

Turns out you can hypnotize lobsters. No kidding!

All you have to do is talk at them in a soothing voice and stroke their backs from between their eyes down to their shoulder area.

Darned if it didn't work! We put them all out on the deck to set them up into their little Lobster Spa Hospice, and even though they flailed and clacked furiously, when we started their hypnosis ritual, they settled down and chilled.

Unfortunately, I started to bond.

I found one guy that seemed to enjoy having my hand resting on his back. I think I was his weighted blanket.

Well, then, I thought he might be more comfortable sitting on my knee. Which I do believe he was. He stopped moving so much I thought he had died. It kind of defeated the purpose of the hypnosis when I shook him a little to be sure he hasn't prematurely gone to the light. He hadn't. Plus, what would I have done? Lobster CPR? Write him up a Do Not Resuscitate order?

After he settled back in again, I realized that if I hoisted him up on my shoulder, I could rock him like a baby. And he snuggled in and took a nice schnooze.

Right up until the moment when Allison grabbed him from my warm, nurturing arms and chucked him in the pot of boiling water.

He was pretty darn yummy.

It was fun learning all about the art of the lobster crack from Allison, seeing Pam try lobster for the first time (not a total fan, but she was a great sport!), and then feeding the lobster shells to the chickens. Might as well spread the Lobstah Love, right?

Allison also taught our group how to do three synchronized swimming moves -- the Egg Beaters, the Ballet Leg, and the Scull. Well, when Alice challenged us to choreograph and perform a routine, did we back down to the challenge? Heck NO! Alice got her camera ready and we performed our stunning, perfectly executed, perfectly in sync, graceful and amazingly skillled routine.

I was going to put it on this blog but unfortuntely Alice's camera only caught the beginning pose.

Too bad. You would have been amazed.

Alice taught us two great things too. She brought out her essential oils toolbox and we all mixed our signature blends. Mine is called "Beth's Happy Mist" and it was Rosemary-Spearamint-Tea Tree blend. Ahhhhhhhh....lovely!

She also taught us how to make Summer Rolls from scratch. Delicious!

Pam's garden is taking off! Her chickens are thriving and delivering daily eggs.

Her bees are happily swarming and doing their job.

Her flowers and plants are growing. I got to sample fresh from the bush raspberries and blackberries. Amazing stuff.

The food was glorious all weekend and we sat and ate and swam and repeated all weekend.

Plus there was a heckofa lot of laughing that went on.

And I got my second bee sting of the Badass Adventures.

And when I say it was Bad-Ass, I really mean it was Bad-Ass.

Let's just say that when I was getting into the pool, I was talking to Allison and decided to sit on the stairs before getting in. After doing so, I suddenly jumped up yelping at the pain.

I had received an unfortunate sting in an unfortunate place where the sun don't shine and bees aren't supposed to visit.

Thankfully, I was surrounded by bad-ass nurses who swooped in and fed me Benadryl, and then babysat me to be sure I didn't fall asleep in the pool and drownded.

I had a lovely nap that afternoon, and when I woke up...no more pain!

We are planning our next Penn Nursing Reunion and I absoluetly cannot wait!!! I love you all. xoxoxoxoxo