Scheduling Issues
That is actually a frequent issue for all married or dating nurses, even staff nurses. Occasionally, as staff nurses at that Big D, we ended up working terrible schedules like that. As a traveler, it is only worse, as you are there to fill in the gaps that the scheduling needs. Jess submitted a schedule and somehow ended up with most of the shifts she asked for. Encouraged, I submitted a schedule, which I think they used as a reference to give me almost the opposite of what I asked for. It's frustrating, but it goes with the territory. We have next weekend off together, three days in fact, and have a lot of options to choose from.
On the other hand, having a night to yourself allows opportunities to do things like go to movies your spouse definitely would not want to go to. I finally was able to see the new Indiana Jones movie. I had dragged Jess literally halfway there until she whined enough about having to see it that I turned around. So, I went to see it one of the nights that she was working. Not only was it a great movie, but feeling shafted by having paid $10.50 for a movie, I snuck into Don't Mess With The Zohan, another movie she wouldn't have enjoyed. Then I ended up going out with other nurses until 4:30 in the morning, which after having her brain drained by two movies she woudn't have enjoyed, she certainly would not have been appreciative of. Not me, though, I had a grand old time.
Last night was my first night in four days, and it set a new record for me. I admitted a patient from the ER who had come in with a temperature of 108.1 F. I'd never seen anyone with a temp that high, much less live through it. He was vented and unresponsive when he arrived, but remarkably awakened (i.e. became combative and annoying) a couple of hours later. I sedated him and quietly ignored the intern's interest in "waking him up," so I don't know how badly he fried his brain. I can't imagine he is going to walk away from this unharmed. Guess he shouldn't have taken heroin and cocaine all on the same trip.
While we haven't made up our minds yet about where to go in August, I did speak to my manager this morning as I got off of work, to see what their position would be for another assignment this fall. While I didn't get a straightforward affirmation that the position would be available, I was happy to hear that they definitely would want me to stay for the position if it happens to be available. I guess that means they won't be firing me.
I have had a very nice four days off. It's great being in a place so accessible to interesting places. People from Connecticut ask me why I came here, since it's so boring. I have found that in contrary it's really a diverse and interesting state, and haven't found myself bored yet. I didn't end up going on the photographer's expedition on Saturday to Mystic, but Jess and I went on Monday, and found that it is a great place. We stayed most of the day in the Seaport, which is an outdoor museum. You hardly notice that it's a museum, however, even for someone who becomes rapidly comatose within hours of stepping into a typical museum like myself. I was so busy taking pictures I hardly had time to even consider it a museum. It's a good place for a day trip.
I had been looking for good scenic areas nearby, and came across descriptions of a 30-mile highway heading north from I-395 to the Massachusetts state line, the Route 169. Apparently, it's described as the essence of New England; stone walls, old churches, quaint villages. Indeed, there were plenty of stone walls, and there were villages along the way. Most were very small, and fairly spread out, though. In addition, there were very few vantage spots, where you could look out over a valley or farmland for photography purposes. The highway itself is lined with tall forests, which I don't find all that scenic. Also, there are no gas stations along the way, and only because this road parallels I-395 as it heads north am I not parked out there still with an empty gas tank. It wasn't all that it was cracked up to be, and I ended up frantically heading down country lanes looking for that perfect vantage point, racing the setting sun. It didn't happen. Then it turns out there's a nearby village, Guilford, is just as quaint picturesque and old, and, even better, is only twenty minutes away, saving me the five hours of driving time. I'm sure there's plenty of villages that embody the spirit of New England that are nearby.
Anyhow, until next time, be safe.
