On the other side

Did I blink during Nurses' Week and suddenly it's August? Yes, I did. And Bubba reminded me today that in two weeks, he starts high school.

What's happened? My boss was removed, then two months later resigned. When I found out why, I wasn't surprised. Basically, being a bully comes back to get you.

Bubba went to MiddleState U's Science Camp again. He had fun. We picked him up and enjoyed a weekend hotel jaunt in a suite free (that's what happens when you save years of credit card points). We ate, drank and were merry. We wouldn't miss our designated IHOP stop for anything, because it's become a tradition.

The summer of the first year of Trump has been heartening. I last switched jobs fortuitously right before the big 2008 crash.

I'm ready again, but I'm older and more leery. There are some things to be said for basic security, short commutes and decent benefits. All the folks at the Hotel eligible are getting out as soon as they can.

Nevertheless, I'm preparing for whatever fall might bring.

Stay tuned.

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!

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!

Summer reading club

Yes, raise your hand, if you're one of those people who makes a New Year's resolution to read more? That's me, too. In my day-to-day work, I'm always reading. Most of the things I read are guidelines, policies, procedures or official-type documents.

As a kid, I was a veteran of the Summer Reading Club here in RehabLand. I have many fond memories of going to my local library, doing the program and getting my name put up on the wall with those of the other kids in my school in the children's section. I loved getting the certificate of completion and the FREE book. Although I loved to read, my free book was always a Peanuts paperback book. It was something they didn't loan out much in the library, and it was my reward for finishing. Snoopy was the subject of my first book.

Thankfully, I don't have to worry anymore about losing my summer reading club book list. Our new library has a reading club online and they give prizes to adults, too! It may not be Snoopy books, but it's fun.

Here's what I've read or am reading right now. Hope you'll enjoy them, or head on over to your local library and find one of your own.

1.Thoughts are things: Turning your ideas into realities by Bob Proctor & Greg S. Reid. I enjoyed this book about ideas and using them in life.Based on the ideas of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.

2. Small Batch: Pickles, cheese, chocolate, spirits and the return of artisanal foods, by Suzanne Cope. If you love food and love stories, you'll like this book, which talks about history, food and the new companies that have grown up doing what our ancestors did all the time.

3. Simple Lessons for a Better Life by Charles E. Dodgen. I'm still reading this, and I'm loving it. A couple of stories hit home for me, and really look a lot like what has happened occasionally at the Hotel. If you want a different view of nursing homes and older people from a the perspective of a psychologist., this is it.

School is ALMOST out

But I think Bubba's mind is turning to mush already. We worked on the health class project this weekend and of course, had to make last minute changes today before school. However, Bubba forgot to have me sign something this week, so he lost some points for this week. I sign whatever is in front of me, but I make him be responsible.

Tonight, for some physical activity, we decided to go to the rec center, shoot hoops and then play some pickleball. We really just practiced while a foursome played, but Bubba got to learn some skills and watch people play. Hopefully,  this summer, he'll get to play with other kids (and not boring old grownups).

Just counting down the days...stay tuned!

Any day now...

Yes, the term (and the summer) will soon be over.

I won't miss the school part. Teaching has been a learning experience for me: lots of work for even less pay. That is all I will say.

Bubba and Dahey had a good time on our road trip, even though Bubba acted as if he had strep throat again (thank goodness he tested negative). I have had enough of communicable diseases, thank you very much!

We had fun traipsing around a historic playground, doing things we never do at home, and vegetating and enjoying nature. It was fun. I wish I would have felt like writing, because it would have been perfect.

One more class. A couple more days. I will perservere...and enjoy.

Stay tuned!

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.

Dear recruiter (redux)

Dear Recruiter:

Yes, I'm sure Phoenix is a nice city and all, but no, I'm really not interested in even one week there in summertime. 100+ averages are not my thing.

Please call me in December when it is snowing here.

Yours sincerely,

RehabRN

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

Snow again

I'm really going to appreciate spring and summer this year.

I never thought I'd see the day when I thought freezing (32F) was warm.

Ugh!

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.

No I wasn't up all night

Celebrating, just awake with a hacking cough. Thank goodness I finally found some cough medicine which helped me to get back to sleep only took an hour, but at 0200, when you think you may go to the 24 hour drug store...it was a LIFE SAVER!

And to all our folks up north, hope you enjoyed your Canada Day. I was thinking about you and several of my old pals up in Winterpeg and Montreal yesterday.

Miss you guys lots!

More (cough) later...

Welcome to Monday

Here comes the week.

I feel like I've caught the dreaded summer cold. On top of all of it, I had a busy day all day, inspections, and I had patients in two clinics to take care of.

Tomorrow is only one clinic, so we'll ride it out and see how it goes.

If I feel crappy, I'm leaving early.

Stay tuned...

Summer officially begins...

Now I know it's really summer, because I finally broke down and got my toes painted an outrageous color.

Pompeii Purple is not really purple, but has an interesting pearly sheen.

That is all.

Back to meeting prep...more to come.

Hurry up, Saturday!

By Saturday, I will only have two weeks left in my last (jumping for joy!) summer semester graduate school class.

With the quirky instructor we have now, it just won't get here soon enough! Where is Bob (one of my favorite professors) when I need him?

Stay tuned...

Summertime's a comin'!

Signs of summer at the Hotel Rehab: certain characters call up with life-threatening "illnesses".

Here's what my travelling partner, the NP, told me today.

"You'll never guess who called me today?" she says.
"Who?", I ask
"It's the month of May. Who always calls in the month of May?" NP asks.
"I have no idea." I say
"Hint" she says, (squirrely voice) "I think I have sinus drainage that's green".
"OMG! Not again. Where's the hole now?" I say. (patient has a history of doing nearly ANYTHING to get admitted, including puncturing him/herself.)
"No hole. He/she just called and got a Z-pack." she says.
"Nice. I should have known" I said "It's air conditioning season again. Just wait. He/she will be back."

More to come...summer's on it's way!

Heat and furry friends

Yes, in summertime in these parts, you always hear stories about people leaving their dogs (and  sometimes their kids) in the car "for just a minute."

Since WildDog is getting older and belongs to the Loyal Order of Double-Coated Dogs he needed a good bath and grooming.

He now looks a lot lighter, and he's happy he's escaped those groomers, even though they were very nice.

I bribed him with cookies before and after. I'm just hoping he doesn't leave as many hair clumps all around the house.

It's summertime

As the song and an old friend used to say, and the livin' is easy. We'll see how many people call in sick on such a beautiful Monday.

Back to our regularly scheduled Monday...stay tuned!

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.