Planes, trains and automobiles, NOLA version

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was only 24 hours, but darned, it was so good. I felt the pangs of frustration of Steve Martin, the screaming kids, the shuttle that was crammed with folks, but it was really amazing.

Our shuttle driver gave tips on some of the best things to do (and most importantly, eat) in New Orleans. I promptly made my way to Central Grocery to try out their muffaletta, and I made it, just before they closed. On the way back, I ate dessert first: beignets with cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde. My other culinary adventure was to Acme Oyster House, while I was roaming around Bourbon Street before I left. You can't beat an oyster poboy! (NOTE: I don't eat raw oysters, so try it if you are not a fan of these runny bivalve mollusks. They are delicious fried!)

While I was in the neighborhood, I fulfilled a mission: I went back to the French Market and got the silver pendant I figured I didn't need two years ago to go with the earrings I bought to remember the Crescent City.

Coming home I met a nice lady from another conference at our hotel. She worked for a very famous beauty company, and picked up my tab for the cab ride. Thank you Angela! Will definitely buy your products at the store!

The rest of my trip included a layover, but since the massage shop was too busy, I opted for a salty summer brew, then I talked to some fun folks at the airport's Starbucks. And listened to live music in the terminal.

I attended the meeting and longed to stay for the awesome conference I went to last year, but family comes first. I went home to get Bubba and he was happy. He got an awesome trumpet T-shirt souvenir to replace the one he grew out of, and a good one to wear for Mardi Gras this year.

I can't wait to go back and hang out among the many rehab nurses again. It's always a blast. See you all in Philly next year.

Stay tuned...vacation is never dull.

Another day with the boss...

Yes, Boss #1 was up to his usual tricks, just like when we were travelling recently. He made me do this, do that, just because I was in the right office.

But thankfully, I had "earwitnesses" this time when I told him, "Hey, after all this work, you have to buy me something at X's Happy Hour." (still going to way too many going away parties).Thanks P and Q (my classmates) conferenced in on the other line.

I finally got something good out of him: a nice, fresh local Hefeweizen with lemon.

The weekend draws to a close...

Lots and lots of fun was had by all at the RehabRN household.

I got lots done in the house and started getting ready for the next road trip coming in a few weeks. Travelling partner and I don't have to share a room this time, but we plan on learning AND having fun, even if Manglement makes us give three presentations on our spiel when we get back to the Hotel. We may even let Big Boss buy us lunch this year (he/she ditched us last year in Vegas).

Bubba went to his last baseball games and had a grand old time, hitting and fielding. He even talked Dahey into a bounce-back thingamajig so he can practice all the way up until soccer season. Dahey managed to find it on the local sales board at the grocery store.

WildDog actually got to go outside once or twice, and get spoiled with freshly broiled chicken and the occasional leaf of salad (he loves veggies as much as meat).

So now, I return to chores, until I get another moment of freedom. Stay tuned...

A little flippant

That's the word of the day today and kind of my philosophy of the moment. The conference is over. I achieved my goal of presenting. I proved a few things to the folks I work with.

And now, I hit the road. Traveling partner and I had a good time, despite the fact, that in many ways we are polar opposites. In many other ways, however, we are alike. We are adventurous and we enjoy meeting people and seeing the world.

Now it's off to home, then work, then decompression....stay tuned.

Pondering the universe

When it's a slow shift, I often go out looking for stuff. It's just my nature to be busy. Perhaps a little too much of the "idle hands are the tool of the Devil" stuff when I was a kid.

I was surfing away this morning and ran into this post at Reality Rounds. Thankfully, in rehab settings, we don't drop "the bomb" on people too much. That bomb has already exploded by the time we get people, due to accident, illness or other random idiocy, and we're busy picking up pieces and putting things back together for the rest of life.

As a result of too much time, I started looking at labs, and found a high alkaline phosphatase on one of our old timers. We don't diagnose, of course, but when you can historically look at trends, it makes you wonder what's going on with people. I also think it helps me to talk to doctors to see what their take of the situation is with said patient.

Of course, when we have free time, there's always something silly. One nurse buggered up her iPhone and it would not vibrate. We tried to get her to check out www.apple.com to find out what was wrong with it (maybe in the user's guide...hmm?!) but she waited to see what her significant other would say about this problem, since he could fix it since he has the same phone.

Another patient got a generic gadget catalog similar to Harriet Carter. But, he was in for a surprise when he opened one page...they weren't selling any Billy Mays stuff or SlamChops, no they were selling vibrators. He's wondering if the person who gave him the catalog is trying to drop a hint. We shall see, as this becomes yet another inside joke on the unit.

Yes, we have inside jokes everywhere at our place. It's simply a way of coping with time, space and personnel for a lot of our people, who spend an enormous amount of time with us. One guy has his "wife" on our unit. (that's what he calls one of our nurses, who constantly nags him to check his blood sugar).

Finally, a couple of our people said goodbye this week. They went home. One is travelling to a home he's never seen with his long-time fiancee. Another patient is going home, then travelling across the country to live near relatives and meet his online girlfriend. His wife has been gone for a long time and he's finally decided he doesn't want to be alone anymore, after surviving one health issue after another. He is a very smart man, often moody, but frequently nice when he wants to be. With all he's gone through, he deserves whatever happiness he can get.

More later...stay tuned.