What'd you do this week? Here's what I did:
Sunday: work 630-7
- had a patient say to me "I really trust you"
- had a patient go into vtach just raising his head to take a drink because his heart is so weak
Monday: Chemotherapy 9-130
- decided it is very disturbing to watch somebody in a gown and monster gloves hook something up to another human being that can't even be taken out of the bag it is in
Tuesday: Breast Center 9-4
- held a frightened woman's hand while she had a breast biopsy done
Wednesday: work 630-7
- coaxed frightened patients it really was ok to get out of bed, even though their chests had been cut open
- collaborated with my fellow nurses to send a singing-fat-suited-lady birthday telegram to one of the heart surgeons
Thursday: Breast Conference (big meeting with every type of oncology MD) 7-8
- listened to a big group of burly men and a few women talk about how to best preserve and protect women's lives
Radiation 830-12
- entertained the thought that the patients in the radiation department are probably 2nd only to Walter Reed in missing body parts
- concluded that I would have to think long and hard and long about whether I'd personally have radiation or chemo
- was disturbed again by watching a person get shut in a room behind a foot thick gigantic door so they could be torched by a beam
Friday: Home Heath 9-4
- asked for directions at what was called a gas station in Whitwell (pronounced as a one syllable word sounding something like Whutwull) but was hardly able to understand the answer
- walked into some houses where I was more scared to touch anything than in the hospital
- got hugged by a smiling retared girl who had something unmentionable all over her shirt but I just smiled and hugged her right back subconsciously thinking "I'm going to wash this white lab coat as soon as I get home"
* Decided nursing can either be the most rewarding or depressing field depending on your perspective
I decided the 4th was one holiday I wouldn't work this year so I drove up to see Carrie instead. We took a trip to the Hermitage, President (or General) Andrew Jackson's home.
We surprised Ryan with a trip to the bowling alley for his birthday on Sunday complete with Baskin Robbins icecream cake and surprise presents.
The boys
The girls
Ryan trying to use "the force" to help Carrie and Chris knock down the pins. (For you older MPA alumni, that's Krista Collins on the right, she was there with Matt Nash.)
They're back! Ryan is down from the northland and Carrie came from the westland for the weekend. We did so many fun things its hard to believe we fit them all into one weekend!
When you get too good you've got to increase the difficulty.
Saturday night we went downtown for the post-Riverbend fireworks. The views were beautiful with the sun going down. Laying on the bridge waiting was not so comfortable but we met up with some other friends which helped to pass the time. This was one of the best shows I've ever seen! It did make for a late night though, we hit the hay about 1:30 AM by the time we walked back to our car amidst the crowd.
I'm not sure if we came to go boating or to photographize...
Monday was an early morning drive to SixFlags. Why do humans try to fly at 70 mph while strapped into strange contraptions in 95 degree heat so that we can get sunburned and sick? We were chugging ice, water, and drinks every chance we got, even an 11 PM pit stop on the way home. This is called fun... The new ride Goliath was pretty neat. This picture from the Superman was just too good to pass up. Especially when the guy gave us $25 worth for $10 (only a Ford would have to include that detail). On this ride you're laying on your stomach so it really does feel like you're flying. To complete the day, Ryan K won me a big stuffed tiger! Ryan H was the only one with a camera at the park so he's got the rest of the evidence.
I think our favorite weekend activity was the RedSox vs. Braves game!
Good thing we got there early, the game was almost sold out. Plus we got to watch a little of the warmups. The new RedSox pitcher DiceK was playing catch close to us. Here's Big Papi aka David Oritz up close. He hit out of the park almost every time during batting practice. Unfortunately, he was only put in as a pinch hitter late in the game (and hit a fly out) but you should have seen the cameras flashing all around the stadium when he stepped up to the plate.
The stadium was PACKED with almost 50,000 fans! The wave went around the entire place almost 3 times without stopping. The energy was incredible. The "Let's go RedSox" cheers were so bad the Braves fans had to pipe up.
I have now watched my first round of golf. Chris and Ryan let me watch them play yesterday at Eagle Bluff. Despite the threatening clouds and a few rain drops we made it through all 18 holes.
I've decided a few things:
I think putting is going to be my least favorite, it doesn't roll the way I think it will
Gotta love the action shots
This ball hit up on that bank and rolled down close to the hole
Chris spots the shot, oh wait, the ball is still sitting there, this must be a practice swing
As Ryan said, quite possibly the worst lie ever
They were playing from the gold tee boxes, the ones the farthest away
This course was exceptionally hilly which makes it great fun to drive a cart but probably atrocious to walk. This is the view from the tee box on one hole...
And this is the view from below, that tee box is up on the top right.
I think this house would be my pick. How about reading a book in your own turret overlooking a golf course?
The happy golfers
