The drought is over...

But the heat is still on here in RehabLand.Yes, it's always hot here this time of year, but you don't really appreciate it until you're out in it. Since I'm officially escaped from the Hotel Rehab for an ENTIRE week, I'll be back shortly with more interesting stuff.

Right now, I'm still recovering from the last two days out and about. More on that later.

Stay tuned. You'll be surprised, and yes, amazed.

The incredible lightness

The weather since Friday has been lovely. The oppressive heat of the week before has left RehabLand for a couple of days.

I certainly enjoyed sitting outside drinking coffee with Bubba and my sister (Bubba drinks lemonade). Last week when we were outside, we were desperately trying to keep iced drinks going down because the heat and humidity was stifling.

I will enjoy the reprieve. Hope you enjoy your weekend wherever you are!

Multiple headaches today

It all started around 3AM. The front bringing the crazy weather showed up then and the migraine started. Nausea was next, and then the dizziness started. I got some meds and it got better, but the dizziness continued. Snow started at 5AM.

Took the cure for the dizziness and waited. Was still dizzy. Called in sick to the happy nursing supervisor, who did not sound thrilled. Texted my manager and he/she was cool. Went back to bed.

Wind blowing woke me up. Branches broke off trees in our yard. Dearest brother called to tell me his electric was out at his apartment complex. The complex needed assistance and so I called some local agencies via 211, since the staff there were busy making people lunch and running heaters to keep them warm. Electric Company gave no ETA on restoring power.

Went over to give him my battery backup so he could call and text if needed. Somewhere on trip, my windshield cracked. Another headache. Thankfully, the electric came on right after I was over there.

Now, my moody teenager (who was off school) is crabby.

I'm ready for Calgon to take me away, folks. Off I go...stay tuned for more later.

May your day be wonderful wherever you are.

Vacation weekday 2: Cram session

How much maintenance can I cram into one day? Almost as  much as I crammed into this weekend.

So far, I'm clutterbusting while the HVAC tech checked my air conditioning (it's hot as blazes here in RehabLand, so that's good), the bricklayer is here to work on the chimney and the other estimator will be here soon.

To be continued,,,

Vacation

All I ever wanted. Free and escaped from the Hotel for more than seven days. That alone is enjoyment!

To start off this week of merriment, Bubba and I hopped in the Family Truckster (not an actual truck, we call it the big fat Silver Bullet) for a whirlwind trip to Memphis. Thanks to the fine Friendly Neighborhood Tire Store, the Truckster was cleared for takeoff, tires rotated and balanced and away we went.

Dahey got some important correspondence (aka the check the boss said was in the mail since the fourth of July) late Friday, so we left at 0800, since we had to visit our friends at the local bank. After that business was transacted, with our special mix of candy in hand (Swedish fish, saltwater taffy and Jolly Ranchers included), we took our time driving down the highway.

Some people used to count Slug Bugs when I was a kid, but not anymore. Bubba decided to bring the iPad along when he got tired of counting dead armadillos (still not too common in RehabLand) and use up all of my high speed data for the month (luckily, that message didn't come until we were nearly home). Sadly, we noticed 10 armadillos who died on their way to meet Elvis.

Our trip was uneventful and we made decent time, so we decided to head straight for the night's lodging. I decided to try something different, as the captain and chief hotel steward: we went for glamour and fun. As a result, since Bubba wanted to go to see Memphis's favorite pandas, Ya Ya and Le Le, we figured we'd better see some other famous critters while we are there. The Zoo has packages where you can stay at the famous Peabody Hotel downtown and see the ducks, in addition to tickets to see their zoo.

We took them up on it, and had a blast. Bubba was roaming around in the terry cloth robe looking like a Rockefeller wannabe. Thankfully, he didn't drink any of the expensive water in the room ($7) or take the rubber duck toy package home (a mere $9.95 plus tax). He wanted to keep the robe, but at $50, he didn't want to part with his allowance he had saved.  He was happy he had internet and the Travel Channel so he could watch Ghost Adventures.

However, we did leave the room. We are baseball fans, so who doesn't want to go out into a heat index of 106 and see Santa Claus? We did since it was Christmas in July at the ballpark. The players had an ugly sweater uniform (thankfully not wool), they played Christmas songs, and Kris Kringle himself was available for photos. Bubba looked funny and Santa had a good time holding his BBQ nachos (a park specialty). For a moment, I thought Santa might eat them.

The other bonus to the hotel proximity: no driving to and from the ballpark. This was especially appreciated, since I chose to indulge in a couple of cold frosties while I was there. Also, since it was so beastly hot, I made sure to have some iced water at the top of each inning. Bubba ate a huge snow cone, so that helped him, and neither of us got dehydrated. Thankfully, the home team won, and after the game was over, we had fireworks. It was a fun time, even though Bubba missed Dahey a lot.

On Sunday, we finally got to make one of  Bubba's longtime dreams come true: he got to meet a panda. It wasn't like we expected (only one of two showed up in view), but he was happy he got his selfie with Ya Ya while she was behind the glass. Ya Ya must have had one heck of a Saturday night, because she slept right through our visit. As the keepers who do some education outside the exhibit mentioned, pandas like to eat, sleep and poop.  We got a great view of the sleeping part. Maybe next time we'll see the rest.

Bubba was happy to hit the road, but he was hungry and nothing looked good at the zoo. Never fear, our kid loves barbecue and the sides that go with it. He has yet to find a place that doesn't have mac and cheese as a side, so we ordered that as a side for the trip. We got a slab of ribs plate for two to take home for our dinner. They were excellent!

All in all, we had a fun time on the road. Just wish Dahey could have been along for the ride. He was busy this weekend keeping an eye on a coworker wandering over the border in Tijuana.

Stay tuned. Vacation continues...

The end of the week

This is almost the middle of July. I hear the siren song of summer, since here in RehabLand, Bubba and the other kids will be in school before Labor Day early in the morning (clutching pearls).

I have many warm memories of starting school in September (when it was still blasted hot) and one year, I dreaded going to school since my classroom was on the second floor. I was in fifth grade. I had horrendous headaches that year. I figured it was the ragweed (since all the windows were open way back when).

The Hotel was hopping this week, and so was I. I actually got to go out on a field trip. That part was fun. When I wasn't busy doing that, I was getting some groundbreaking work done. Since I volunteer for pilot projects (because our boss volunteers our department), I got to work with some new stuff. It was so cool to make care work anywhere! It also helps that the patients like it, too!

I'm going to stop here. It's time to relax and enjoy what I have of the weekend: housework and a little fun. Vacation is in sight. I can't wait.

Stay tuned!

What's NOT right with the world

1.  I could not believe this when I read it. Charging a victim of rape for a rape kit? Really? Add insult to injury and a little financial burden, why don't you?

2. Product branding in the age of social media savvy terrorism. No, I don't think I'd change the name of my product.

3. I feel the same way about the weather. When will it really be fall...for two days in November?

That is all. Monday will be over soon enough. Just felt the need to vent....ah!

Smog + heat =

Misery. Just misery. Red air quality...yuck!

It is making my allergies go crazy. Either that or it is the 50 degrees in my office since some people need it freezing to work. I love getting sick!

At least the Diet Coke will stay cool if someone like Grumpy happens by.  (the ice machine is a long walk...)

Stay tuned...

It's HOT!

Dear Summer:

I know it's not Labor Day yet, and the kids are back in school, but this 100+ degree temperature thing needs to go.

I finally got used to not freezing to death at the Hotel. Now my space is so cold I have to either 1) talk to patients in the hallway, if it's possible or 2) turn the air off and sweat while I talk to patients.

All this stuff about designing rooms for patients is nice, but once in a while, couldn't we get a universal design that works for EVERYONE?

I know I'll be waiting for the remodeling (that may never come) in my end of the Hotel. Here's hoping the HVAC folks can get it right.

Sincerely (only if you fix climate control),

RehabRN

Summer things I don't miss

1. The dreaded heat and humidity combo.

2. Burning hot cars.

3. Food poisoning. 

Guess which one Bubba decided to get this weekend? Joy. Off we go to the pediatrician tomorrow.

Just another reason not to like Mondays, either.

A dry heat

Dear Recruiter:

Would it be lovely to work the summer in Phoenix? (Yes, a nurse recruiter actually sent me this e-mail today.)

I don't think so. I'll pass. Maybe in January instead when it's icy here.

Sincerely hot (already in RehabLand),


RehabRN

Yes, it's hot

Here in RehabLand, it's getting to be just like the rest of the country: downright hot. This is not terribly unusual for us in July.

However, why on earth is the crime rate going up?

Here are a few things on the local TV crime blotter this morning:

• Man kills his friend for spilling beer in his car around midnight
• Wife kills husband in upscale gated community with a knife

This is can be great for business (people end up in rehab hospitals if they survive) but terrible for society in general.

Just one more reason I really like fall...

More later.

Signs you know the weekend is near...

1. Your NP traveling friend is growling a lot and the bags under her eyes have suitcases.

2. Everyone is saying, "Is it Friday yet?"

3. The heat was turned off in the building (or it seemed that way, anyway).

One more day...

Brr!

Yes, the Arctic blast is back again. I just may have to try some of those tricks I saw on TV.

1. Counting how fast a pot of boiling water freezes when left outside.
2. Throwing a cup of hot water into the air and turning it into vapor.

And yes, at the Hotel, the heating system is crazy. In a couple of rooms, we need some tropical foliage and sand, so we can say we're at the beach.

Or one of our case managers can just put a sign on her door that says "Sauna", since her office temps never go below 90.

It's always something...

TGIF!

Yes, I'm glad it's Friday. The heat and stormy weather may be back, but the weekend is here.

Hooray!

Stay tuned...who knows what fun Bubba will find this weekend.

Too darned hot, part 77

First part: get an e-mail from the gal in HR processing an incentive program for you. Have to escape the office to drive to her office on company time (yippee!) Hot, hot, hot. Had fun, though. Susie, always has the darnedest stories about the idiocies of trying to recruit for the Hotel and Washington and our system.

"Hey, if they need you, you get the incentive period. Don't know why Idiot X in that department cares. Needs to get her panties out of a bunch."

I love Susie. Wish she could order more executives around!

Later, sitting in the drive-thru of the chicken place Bubba chose as his "eat out nite" place was brutal today. As Murphy would have it, we had to line up behind a van load of people with special orders.

Technically, it's was only 102 degrees Fahrenheit, but the temp gauge on my old car said 120 degrees.

Glad that twenty minutes of my day is over and done.

More to come...

Not quite the dust bowl...

But close. The farmers in RehabLand aren't getting much. Some are harvesting their dried out fields not for grain for the elevators, but enough greens to feed  the animals, since there's not much hay.

Our home health nurse D. saw the signs on the highway saying "Extremely dry conditions. Proceed with caution." but the person who threw his/her cigarette butt out the window didn't. Meanwhile, D. saw a brush fire on her way to a patient's home. She called the authorities and when she came back, it was out, but many yards along the shoulder were scorched black.

It's miserable for patients, too. One guy's van broke down on the way to the Hotel. Now he has to find a place that's not a dealer, since the dealer wants to charge him $4000.

When you drive cross country to get to us, that's just too far to go in this heat. We're hoping a Good Samaritan mechanic (and the social services folks) will help him and his wife get on their way home.

Stay tuned...

Simmering Sunday

It may well be that later. Our simmering heat is getting pounded by massive thunderstorms flooding everything.

Since I'm on vacation, I've been cooking here and there (one of my favorite hobbies) and drinking up all the good liquor with Dahey, since I can sleep in every day. (not to excess mind you...gotta keep some for later!)

Why am I drinking? You would if you had your nose buried in these spreadsheets. Class will be over soon, class will be over soon, I keep telling myself.

More later.

Heat and hurricanes...

Can't stop the latest edition of Change of Shift up over at emergiblog. Go check it out!

One more day

I have my work cut out for me. An unscheduled lazy day or two and the rest is work.

It's been fun at the Hotel recently...so much with the crazy, stormy weather here that I feel like I'm getting the dreaded summer cold.

What a way to celebrate some time off!

More later...stay tuned.