Happy Nurses Week All

As nurses week winds to a close I am making final preparations for a gift to our union sistas. Times are a bit tough what with negotiations beginning for a new collective agreement as the government has thrown down the gauntlet that there will be no major raises such as those awarded to another nursing union last year. We have begun to wear the mandated white top/black pants uniforms this week with the accompanying angst of fit, loss of orders, logo under the armpit instead of centered and stain magnet. They are a bit sheer so I have sourced some undershirts in the name of modesty. Well, actually I tried to order a Tilley tank top and it was HUGE so has been returned for exchange. The travel underwear (two pair will take you around the world) was a hit though and I haven't even traveled further than work. Much better deal than $9 disposable underwear - and no, not kidding, people actually buy those things.

So I headed in to the NENA (National Emergency Nurses Affiliation) conference last week and managed to pick up a dress for myself along the way, as well as some kitty gifts in the form of a cardboard scratching board and a laser pointer to exercise the 23 lb. Gary. I stopped at Frenchy's as well and so felt the retail therapy had been a success. The conference was as good as advertised and the presentations, displays and discussions were a great learning experience. There were participants from Alaska, Chicago, Philadelphia and all the provinces and territories. There were also attendees from another hospital within my health authority who had their registration and accommodation paid while we were not subsidized so now you know why I have asked for a meeting with management to discuss why we have no funding but.....

Arrived home to find the baby daughter visiting for the weekend and only time for a quick visit before heading back to work the next day. Monday was spent doing an education session on compassion fatigue (look it up it is a real syndrome) and running errands/paying bills/Frenchy shopping - picked up a camouflage suitcase, but more on that later. Three of us went out to supper at Lothar's Cafe that evening before work and it sure made for a long night to have been so busy all day.

After a rainy day snooze following nights I arose and we headed off to have supper at a nearby chef's house. They are European and she is an extreme animal fan as in volunteering at the animal shelter, breeding german shepherds and dachshunds (no not with each other), rescuing strays etc. As we drove in the yard the sounds of large dogs echoed loudly from the shed and enclosure but as she opened the door it was if one of those spring loaded cans of fake snakes had the top taken off of it as two yorkshire terriers, a teacup chihuahua and a 12 yr old dachshund all came flying vertically and horizontally in our direction. One of the yorkies was actually able to jump higher than my waist repeatedly from a standing position - quite the high jumper. The concern was not stepping on animals which are about 1/2 the size of our cat. They eventually settled and as we sat to have supper in the sun room the yorkies suddenly began yipping and acting up. The lady of the house said "oh look at what they see" and pointed to two ducks walking up the shoulder of the highway. When we laughed she said "they've never seen them before, they're from Edmonton" as they had been brought home by their western daughter after a custody battle following a relationship breakup. The conversation turned to the winter spent in Belize by the host and his description of his participation in a medical mission of being the 'head doctor' and when questioned whether this meant a psychiatrist or the chief he clarified that he measured visual acuity and did head checks for lice. The mission provided free health checkups, hygiene and school supplies for all. Ah, one of these years. Only two more weeks before a colleague and myself head out to the tropical health conference in Montreal. Can't wait. 

When I mentioned having scored a suitcase to deliver my medical supplies to third world countries in our host was adamant that he would never use a second hand piece of luggage after his travel partner had only narrowly escaped the previous year being charged for cocaine smuggling. Apparently someone had given him a suitcase belonging to the son of a friend of a friend who apparently was a cocaine user. The very sensitive measurements of customs picked up miniscule amounts of the illicit substance and almost caused his friend great grief but he was able to talk his way out of the situation. As well, when I told a coworker about the camo suitcase she mentioned being careful of using camouflage in locations near military bases as her son's camo suitcase was detained in Hawaii for just that reason. Life is so complicated. 

Was ever so pleased a package on the doorstep meaning Paderno had honored their 25 year guarantee and replaced the kettle which was of better quality than the one which had rusted out as 'that model isn't being made anymore' which likely is code for 'it rusted out and we stopped producing it'. Certainly worth the $10 postage to have a better quality kettle.

A nice day today spent running errands, lunch and a visit at a friends, chat with the western daughter, getting wrapping / cards together for the nurses week gifts and a call to friend in another part of the province I hadn't heard from for a while. So, since I have a case of social jetlag I'm sure - I'll leave you to discover just what that is through this link.

http://bit.ly/JqqD7X

as I'm off to realign my circadian rhythms.