Her Highness Magnolia of the Night

Today was summer, or so I told the shore captain when he made his way home at suppertime. It was sunny, warm (22c) and breezy so comfortable and no bugs. Tomorrow is forecast to be the same. So if these are our two days of summer....I'll take them.

The pig roast on Saturday went off well. We are getting a bit more adept and putting it together. The shore captain still has some 'moments' but he's not a chef so I told him not to act like one. As I was checking on the congris (rice and beans) yucca, boiled plantains and tostones (fried plantains) while waiting for the portions of pork to be brought down from the grill a German chef watching from the dining room commented to a friend "she's keeping it pretty cool there" so I walked over and said "no one is bleeding or not breathing and I'm on vacation, what is there to get excited about?" which caused him to giggle. He was shortly pressed into action to carve the roast pork which I think made him feel useful in his retirement. We served about 30 souls with babies, toddlers, older kids and guests of all ages. I tasked a friend with keeping the salsa music going and he rigged up speakers inside and outside the house which was the next best thing to a live band. By the time more guests dropped by after work it was a long but fun day. Lots of leftovers which we'll be eating for a while out of the fridge and freezer. 

Sunday was an early start as the teacher daughter was running in the local race - a half marathon which is part of the Run NS schedule. I made it to the first intersection for some photo ops, then drive by cheering and another stop, leapfrogging the son-in-law as she made her way through the course. When you're approaching 10km and able to chat it up with your new found buddies from Boston you're pretty fit. There was a large field this year as this race is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon where there is a large show of support since the terrorism of last year. It's fairly flat (although the runners disagree) usually cool with the fog and sea breezes and lots of community energy as locals turn out on their doorsteps, in the church parking lots and on bikes to urge runners on. Her father arrived part way through the race and we continued our cheering - the running buddies were impressed with her cheering section. Waiting for her at the finish line with a time of 1:58 for her first half marathon was pretty impressive. Lots of folks I hadn't seen for a while to visit with and then we took in the social event following. Although she didn't place this year (huge class of her age group) she was pleased with her mug for first half marathon and we had a nice lunch. I delivered her to the in-laws cottage and she and the son-in-law headed back to the city. 

Monday was predicted to be rainy all day but instead by mid morning the sun was shining and the clothes were on the line. My summer neighbour phoned to invite me to go kayaking but I was still cleaning up from the weekend's festivities and so declined. A bit of a black cloud was following me around as I broke a favourite mug, spilled catfood everywhere, couldn't get the lighters in my propane range top to work although they do work when lit remotely. A dog walk later in the afternoon cleared the air with a buddy who we convinced to stay for leftovers and even take some with her to work for her lunch reduced the perishable edibles here. 

Tuesday was rotten weather wise so I headed out for a family visit. My niece and her children were down to visit my sister and so we caught up on the news. It was my great nephew's third birthday so I arrived with helium balloon, noisemakers, water pistol for him and skipping ropes for his sister and friend. A rousing thunder and lightening storm with buckets of rain added to the festivities. We were comparing nursing notes as they related to the Saskatchewan nurse daughter, who is incidentally making 'top of the payscale NS wages' in that province as a new graduate. My niece was impressed with some of the SUN provisions too about shift change without notice etc. When I mused that the new grad was being taken care of by old nurses in the west the way I had advised someone else's daughters over the years in NS. we both smiled. My niece mentioned the new graduates who work on neurosurgery with her are totally overwhelmed and cry every day at work. Since my niece was charge nurse last week she was explaining "I finally had to say, you can't cry at work, you just have to cry on the way home like the rest of us". We agreed that the most challenging units are where you learn the most and the quickest but the problem is that as staff are paid the same rate regardless of where they work so don't want to work harder for the same pay. There are usually two reasons for rapid turnover of staff on a unit - poor management or increased workload. You should run from the first and learn from the second. Home to curl up on the couch to read my book and a nap ensued. Must've needed it. 

Today dawned clear and sunny with a flat calm harbour. Ahhh. I readied myself and headed out to the municipal pool for senior swim. I'm not even sure what the senior age requirement is as the life guard (who's mother was a coworker and my age) is too smart to ask, she just takes our $3 for the hour of wonderful relaxation. The water was 82F today and I visited with a buddy. Only seven of us there in total. I met up with a lady who had posted her breadmaker on the buy & sell so scored a nice Sunbeam for $30. Home to make oatmeal bread - which unfortunately didn't rise well - been so long since I made bread the yeast was dead, will try again. I had a call just after I'd come home from my summer neighbour saying she'd been fastening a bungee cord around something and it had slipped, sprung back and whacked her in the forehead, could I come look at her head? So I made a house call with my limited supplies, but it was a surface wound and so steri strips and a mepore bandage were all that was called for. She was applying ice thus the swelling was under control. I advised no leaning forward for the afternoon - rest and read a book. Returned home and washed all the furniture covers, loads and loads of laundry hung out and finished my own book The Sisters Brothers which was a great read. My the gold rush was a vicious period in North American history! I'm starting Ami MacKay's The Virgin Cure - gotta love that title anyway. 

Some texts and phone calls with the electrician daughter who found herself in the midst of some work related upheaval, none of it her doing. Sometimes it's just best to cut your losses and walk away, there are always options. Back to visit with her kitties for a bit - unconditional love is always the answer to any of life's little annoyances. A FaceTime chat with the nurse daughter who was just recovering from night shifts which sounded rather hectic. Certainly sounds to me as if she's managing herself well but it's a tough gig to be a new RN or a female third year electrical apprentice. Good thing the kids are all smart with a great work ethic, will serve them well. Reminded me of the quote of the day....One's best success comes after their greatest disappointments. -Henry Ward Beecher

Oh and the teacher daughter is of course off for the summer and her husband had found some plans for a shed for the backyard - which were vetted by the father-in-law however....before he got started he took a notion to remove the 'ugly pink' tiles in the rec room in the basement and install laminate flooring. This has turned into more of a project than he anticipated (as those of us who have done renos can testify to) but apparently last night while he was removing the flooring he decided (wrongly it turned out) that he should just cut the phone line because "we don't use it down here". This unfortunately shorted out the phone throughout the entire house. He has a planning degree not technical credentials. 

I noticed an article in the daily newspaper on northern food costs:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/canada/1145193-ag-looks-at-northern-food-costs

which reminded me of my northern home. There are pieces on food security (availability of affordable, nutritious food) in the media lately as a survey has found that Nunavut is #1 in food insecurity but unfortunately Nova Scotia is in second place. 

Sand at 250 magnification

I was playing with one of those name generator gizmos on FaceBook that someone had posted because of the polls about the name for the royal baby. I discovered that my Royal Name is Her Highness Magnolia of the Night - which if you know me at all, you realize is very accurate for this night owl. I was glad to hear that my nurse daughter has inherited her mother's knack for daytime sleeping and is herself a Magnolia of the Night. Here - enjoy it yourself: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2013/07/12/royal-name-generator/2512673/

As well, someone had posted this photo of sand magnified 250 times. Amazing! Wouldn't my father have LOVED the internet and all the information it shares?

Pig in a Parade

This has been a busy but fun week as we prepare for the Moncada Day pig roast we are having tomorrow. As well, I've fit in a little (lot) of socializing. 

Wednesday was our day to 'do lunch' and we three old childhood onwards friends had a wonderful meal and catch up. Bistro 138 was great, although it was a busy spot. We made sure to have lunch + desserts and our soon to be retired friend treated us. Ahhh life is good.  That evening the shore captain headed to Yarmouth for a meeting with scientists and fishermen on George's Bank fish stocks. He was home at 11:30 pm (well past his usual bedtime) after the meeting ran late. Apparently the fuel light came on as he left Yarmouth (90 km away) and so he stopped at gas stations on the way which were closed and then drove very conservatively home on what must've been fumes by the time he arrived. Good thing he made it as he'd let his cell phone go dead. I can't believe he was really a Boy Scout or was it just Girl Guides who had the motto 'be prepared'? I asked his plan for the morning (as we're at least 25 km from a gast station) and he mentioned calling one of his employees to come rescue him, so taking pity I said "you can take my car if you have it back by 9 am as I'm going to get a haircut". When I got up in the morning (thinking I'd have to remind him to return the car) it was in the yard. I walked out through the mud room and the poor dog was lying there with her nose all wrinkled up due to very strong gas fumes. I looked out the window and the trunk of the new car was in the air. I marched out to the vehicle and the gas fumes knocked me over. I was very unimpressed, and when I called mister to complain he insisted that he'd had the gas can in a cardboard box and only spilled gas on himself pouring it in to the truck and hadn't gotten back in to the car. Yeah right. Then he whines that with the weather forecast giving wind the boat which was going fishing isn't, he'd tried to cancel the ice order but his brother-in-law hadn't answered the phone and now 15 tonnes of ice needed to be stored inside. When they were moving it, the hydraulic hose on the forklift broke and hydraulic fluid sprayed everywhere so they were cleaning that up. Okay you win for bad day story. 

I get my haircut and then call the summer neighbour to come with me to the wild blueberry u-pick which has opened. It's not the best of picking days being early in the season and drizzly but we manage to pick about six and a half cups each in about an hour and a half. As we head to get them weighed, it occurs to me that I've not brought my wallet. Yeah, yeah good excuse eh? But, no I've written a cheque for the haircut and didn't bring my purse. Thankfully my summer neighbour generously paid for my berries. Wouldn't want to be accused of a blueberry heist. My goal was to get fresh berries for a recipe that I'd found online for blueberry lemon cream cheese pound cake. It was delicious when I baked it that afternoon:

Blueberry Lemon Cream Cheese Pound Cake

Yield: 1 Loaf Cake

ingredients:

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

4 oz PHILADELPHIA cream cheese, room temperature

2/3 cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoons lemon zest

1 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

PHILADELPHIA cream cheese frosting:

4 oz cream cheese, room temperature

4 tablespoons butter, room temperature

1 1/2 cups icing sugar (AKA powdered sugar and confectionery sugar)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter a 9 x 5 loaf pan. Line the bottom of the pan with parchment paper and butter the parchment paper as well (or simply grease the pan!) Set aside.

In bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

With hand mixer beat together cream cheese, butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, thoroughly mixing each time. Add vanilla extract and lemon zest, mixing until combined.

Pour flour mixture over the batter mixture. Using a large rubber spatula, gently fold in the flour until it’s completely mixed in and there are no pockets of dry flour. Lastly, gently fold in the blueberries.

Transfer batter to prepared baking loaf pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let sit until cool, at least 30 minutes and then remove from pan.

Cream Cheese Icing:

In a stand mixer or large bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and beat on low speed until combined, then on high until frosting is smooth. Beat in vanilla extract.

Carefully frost on top of the cooled pound cake and store in fridge until ready to serve.

Thursday evening I picked up the dog walker and we attended a local evening of Cuban music by Lost Tourists. This is a Cuban guitarist/singer and a drummer (who is actually Hungarian) with computer generated backup. Transported me directly to the land of sun, fun and rum. Ahhh After the intermission there was a documentary shown called Cuba: Island of Music by a film maker who lives locally:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PTcLHAGpBU

A wonderful evening and after a chat with the Cuban musician, the brainstorming of how to have them play live music for our next Moncada Day pig roast. Next year. 

So tonight I headed to Yarmouth to pick up the pig for the roast tomorrow. I stop at Canadian Tire to buy charcoal briquets and lighter (and of course whatever tool was on sale in the flyer for the shore captain) and when I pull up to the stop sign......the traffic is stopped for the SeaFest classic car parade. I could not believe it! So, I phone the shore captain and explain the delay - he laughs out loud as he would've enjoyed the view. Finally I get out in to traffic, so head in the opposite direction and take the back streets to Emins Meats in the south end of Yarmouth. They are the old time butcher shop with all kinds of BBQ cuts of meat plus honey garlic jerky and more. The young fellow carries out the carcass to the wharf box of ice on the back of the half ton and says "it feels like a human body". Not sure how many human bodies he's been carrying around but it looks like a pig to me. I tell him at times like this I'm sorry to be a carnivore and he shrugs. I fill him in on my parade watching and instruct him on securing the plastic top and have to tie down the back with rope "no idea" he says when I ask him to tie a knot. I settle my account and as I am heading out to climb in the truck he says "here comes your parade" so I look up the street and sure enough, here come the classic cars. I pull out into a space in the line up and receive strange looks from the parade viewers as we exit right and head along the waterfront street. Recent model GMC with wharf box on back - hmmmm, wonder what that's in the parade for? I chuckle to myself 'the pig is in the parade'. 

Time to go to bed and get rested up for the big day tomorrow. The teacher daughter and I have just had a little bedtime snack of camembert and strawberries. Not sure how that fits into her half marathon training regime, but it was delicious. We'll see how good an idea it was on Sunday when she runs the local half marathon. 

A grown up job but....no thanks

A foggy, drizzly Tuesday morning which is required if I'm to accomplish (or not) anything indoors. Today was one of those days where I changed from pjs at 2 pm when I heard the man of the house on the doorsteps. The weather has been lovely since last posting and I have been enjoying it thoroughly. As my friend noted "you're home and able to participate in the BBQ and potluck circuit" and that I am. As well as soaking in the ocean view, visiting with friends and neighbours, reading the newspaper, making (and savouring) strawberry shortcake and strawberry/rhubarb pie, staying up late and sleeping in. Generally living the life of a teenager. As I work around the schedules of those gainfully employed this summer I caution you to remember that when you have days off on beautiful September days I will likely be looking at snow flurries through blurry eyes which have been awake half the night and still have to work the day.

Easy to remember 

Friday the cleaning lady came and worked her magic while I was up and off for an early massage appointment and errands in town. I stopped at the dealership and one of the salesmen managed to successfully tame the bluetooth pairing issue between my car and cell phone - so now I am able to use it as hands free while driving. This is a tad more important with a standard (as is not trying to eat an ice cream cone while having to shift) than with an automatic. We figured out setting the radio stations while the mechanic installed my newly arrived license plate and another fellow cleaned the temporary license sticker off the rear window - I felt like I was at the spa. As you can notice to the left, the license plate is an acronym for a colourful metaphor used in texts and online parlance so easy to remember. As I am unable to drive by Frenchy's without stopping....I succumbed to a short (visit with neighbours and coworkers) shop and scored some good finds. A few quick groceries, including a purchased salad package for the social engagement of the evening. 

Late in the afternoon I picked up a neighbour and we headed to Chebogue, which is a lovely small community outside of Yarmouth for a Red Cross volunteer BBQ. The sun cleared, the burgers and sausages were great, there was a mountain of wonderful food and good company. I was thrilled to receive my three year service certificate and pin. I mostly say I'm co-lead of the Disaster Team and my co-lead neighbour does the work as I tend to be away when action is needed, although I do take my turn on call. As I was socializing, my cell phone rang - since I'm now with only the cell phone (no landline) untroubled by telemarketers, a phone call is not a common event - and I answered it with an unfamiliar voice asking for me. "Who's calling please?" I screened the call and was advised that it was HR from GNWT. Oh, that got my attention! One moment and I'll just get somewhere quieter. The short version is that I was offered the 8 week Community Health Nurse job share position in a small Inuit community in NWT which I had interviewed for on June 24th. They had stated all applicants would be notified within two weeks, one way or the other and so when July 8th came without a call.....I packed my 'northern stuff' and left it in Taloyoak for my next contract in September. I asked for details so as to be able to compare apples to apples and agreed to the 48 hours to consider my decision as it seemed rude to decline on the spot. The main issue was that during the interview I had specifically asked about the schedule and was told "you decide that with your job share partner" but when the call came it included the statement "the start date is November 8th". This is the opposite of what I'm doing now as a casual, what works for my work-life balance and is not what was disclosed. When I compared the casual vs job share positions I found that the job share was at least $6000 less per year (not that I won't do something I enjoy for less but....that's a lot less) they don't pay salary for travel days (although you do earn vacation) the rent is $1000/month not $500 and if your job share partner doesn't show you have to work an extra month at least until the employer finds someone, but the biggest concern was that this

is an unknown community and coworkers to me which could turn out to be great or.......purgatory for eight weeks at a time. At this point my life I really don't want anyone telling me the dates I have to work - I want to be the one doing the choosing - while having fun, earning lots of money, having daily adventures and not considering stopping any time soon. Yup, just what's happening now. Why mess with a good thing? As I said to a colleague "I've waited most of my career for this job and now I'm offered it...I've gotten past it". As per Maxine on the right. So, after discussion with the life partner over the weekend, sharing with my daughters and friends the news, and admitting to feeling a real ego boost at being the successful candidate.......I called the HR contact at GNWT and respectfully declined the job share while not burning any bridges as I accentuated the work-life balance issues only as per scheduling. As a colleague said "at this point you can choose, so choose". So I did. It felt right. 

Sunday was another lovely day and I began by making scallop eggs benedict for brunch - not as good as lobster but pretty tasty just the same. By noon time I was on the road to my writing group get together and potluck. A great afternoon of writing exercises, sharing, great food and socializing. Write Away always lifts me up and gives me the boost to write more regularly. Made me determined to register for the online creative writing course this fall when I'm north. Love that I drove two trips of about 400 km total and the gas gauge hasn't reached the 1/2 mark. When I filled it up at the garage on Friday the young fellow at the pump said "nice Dodge Dart you have there ma'am, I like that colour, is it a standard?" When I affirmed this and said "now that I can find reverse, I like it" he says "is it a six speed? that's the way all of those are" to which I replied "where were you when I was on the end of Cranes Point Rd last week?" and he grinned. I smiled when a friend emailed to say that a Dodge Dart had been her dream car when she graduated and began working.....in the 1970s. I had that mental image of the 70s too when I heard what the cute little car was called. 

So, Monday was spent enjoying the sunshine, making arrangements to book myself in to Taloyoak

for the next year - eight weeks at a time which works for me but actually difficult to fit working in around the various vacations - and generally not over exerting myself, except for making plans to 'do lunch' with childhood friends and checking the weather forecast for u-pick blueberry picking. Had a visit from a neighbour with daughter (who used to babysit for us) and grandson - a 17 mo. old cutie who is very behaved for his age, who are visiting from out west. He was happy as long as he had keys to play with - a real farm boy. Stayed up until 2 a.m. to live-stream a documentary from CBC about lobstering in Lockeport. Why not?

http://www.cbc.ca/absolutelymaritimes/

As I listened to the local accents and familiar faces I was reminded of this link:

http://theplanetd.com/the-great-canadian-word-unique-phrases-and-words-of-canada

Us Maritimers always think we don't have an accent, folks 'from away' do, but when I work 'up north' a  flight paramedic from central Canada will ask "what part of the east coast are you from?" as soon as I open my mouth. It's a good guess as about 3/4 of the staff north of 60 would be east of Montreal.

And speaking of getting away....I had been discussing with a friend about travel to the southern USA the first week of December. Why? Because I've read lots of southern novels? Want to eat fresh shrimp or BBQ? Because I've been intrigued with that area of the world for some time. The flights are fairly direct and reasonably priced and the meal/accommodation cost is comparatively low. When an online site that watches for low airfares out of Halifax:

http://www.yhzdeals.com

posted a deal for return (taxes and fees in) airfare Halifax to Atlanta for $318....I took it as a sign. After a brief (very brief) discussion with my soon to be retired friend we were of the mind that we could see a plantation - always wanted to do that since we'd seen Gone With the Wind at the local musty Goudey Theatre as pre-teens, take in the Georgia Aquarium;

http://www.georgiaaquarium.org

which is the world's largest, and in fact the websites are for 169 things to do in Atlanta etc. so I'm sure we'll have to parse the list, not look for activities to fill our days:

http://www.citypass.com/atlanta/things-to-do-atlanta

So, as she headed to bed to get ready for a second 12 hr. day shift, I booked our flight from Halifax to Atlanta (via Chicago) December 1 - 8th. Merry Christmas to the both of us, nice way to decompress before the holidays. And my travel buddy will have to bring along the new iPod that she won this week (with a $25 iTunes card) at the local garden centre. I'm not being unkind when I describe her as a decided technophobe but she does need a spot to store those photos of her cute granddaughter to show others when travelling and some relaxing music for the flights.

"Your attitude is the deciding factor in whether you're happy or not" I advised the shore captain as he whined about the weather forecast for Saturday when we've planned the Moncada Day Pig Roast. Why a fisherman would think he could control the weather is beyond me, not to mention that in Nova Scotia, the weather = forecast ratio is pretty poor. At any rate we shall have fun that day, no matter the weather - if necessary he will roast the pig in the barn then we will eat in the house while we enjoy the company of family, friends and neighbours and that is all there is to it. So, if you're within travelling distance - you are most welcome.

www.marcandangel.com/2013/07/04/7-effective-ways-happy-people-think

As I've had online chats with my co-worker aka adopted daughter vacationing in California, she shared that her (very tall handsome)  German 'friend' (who emails daily, sends cards and packages regularly) had phoned her and they had chatted for 20 minutes. She has been studying German and is in fact researching language schools in Germany near to where he lives. Yeah, sure it's all about the studies - I was that age once too. The good thing is that she will have to continue to work north in order to fund any cross the pond excursions.

Meanwhile my other daughters are 1) moving to a new job as quality control on an electrical project while still an apprentice 2) running in the NS 1/2 marathon this weekend here in the area and looking forward to teaching P/1 at her favourite school in the fall 3) working her way through orientation as a new RN and all the changes moving provinces mean to your practice. The only son is raking irish moss, readying lobster gear and keeping a low profile while the girlfriend raises him - this is a good thing. The little birds are out of the nest and flying on their own. 

Blue streak

Since I've been home for almost ten days now, perhaps I should update the blog. That's the trouble with all this 'not working' it leads to lots of enjoyment and not much structure. 

I worked my last Monday morning and tied up loose ends as I'm not going to be back until........September 10th. The usual routine in Taloyoak is to head over to the airport and check in (clearly the only non Inuk name on the passenger list so I'm identified from the door), leaving the bags (no the bags aren't left unattended they're chucked on the back of the half ton baggage truck) and asking what time to return - about 90 minutes the Canadian North employee tells me because they are checking the progress of the flight as it leaves each community. The caretaker drops me at the apartment where I search for my Aeroplan card without success (must've left it on a counter somewhere) but at least locate the number - gotta collect those points. A quick hug for my co-worker aka adopted daughter and bye to Nellie and the gang.

I notice one of the prenatal patients will be on the flight with me going OFC (out for confinement) to wait at the Larga Home in Yellowknife to deliver her baby at Stanton Regional Hospital. Prenatals are booked to leave at either 34, 36 or 37 weeks gestation (depending on their risk/conditions) and then wait. They usually wish more fervently than usual mothers to deliver early and get back home. As she said a sad goodbye to her sister and we walked across the tarmac to the waiting plane, I said "it won't be long and you'll be back home with your new baby". As I thought of my husband in the delivery room, my family and friends visiting me in the hospital when I had my own babies, I couldn't even imagine delivering my children under those circumstances. Lots of dust and a bumpy take off due to the cross winds. An uneventful flight as I visited with a contractor from another community flying out to Edmonton. Originally from Newfoundland (as many in the north are) moving up in the 80s he theorized that northern life isn't very different from Atlantic Canada with the hunting and fishing, close communities and friendly people. I  had to a agree. A quick service stop in Cambridge Bay where many families visited with passengers 'travelling through' and my seat mate met someone to drop off documents. A full 20 seat flight as families 'went out' on vacation, people were travelling for medical tests and staff were going home. When the flight attendant asked the three year old next to me if she wanted apple juice and the child raised her eyebrows in the affirmative then the attendant delivered the beverage, I realized she's been 'working north' on this run for a while.

A quick switchover in Yellowknife where it is 23c as we head in through security, past the gate and out to the waiting larger plane. A bit of a delay as we wait for some birds to be removed off the runway by ground crew and we're off. An uneventful flight and we're in to Edmonton about half an hour later than planned. Over to the hotel on the shuttle and the electrician daughter arrives shortly after for a sleepover. We head down to the restaurant for a snack and try to figure out if the flight is on in the morning as there was severe flooding in Toronto and all flights in and out of Pearson were cancelled for 24 hours.

Up in the morning (yep it looks like the flight is leaving at 10 am as planned) and we head over to Cora's for breakfast. I overdose on fresh fruit which I've been missing and missy takes me to the airport for the flight. I've left most of my 'work stuff' in Taloyoak and the empty action packer with her in Alberta so I'm travelling with only half a duffel bag - piece of cake. Usual flight from Edmonton to Toronto, I sit next to two women who are travelling to a career fair to hire IT folks for Alberta (21st time they've done this in the past four years) as there is that much need. We land into Pearson and I post that I've got a hot date meeting me and we're going to Pipa for supper. The Alberta daughter texts and says "Dad couldn't make it?" so I laugh out loud and have to explain it to my seat mate. In to the terminal which is absolutely nuts after the cancellations of the day before, but the flight is still on time. We board and I'm sitting next to a young fellow from Red Deer who does drilling work and is flying home to Grand Falls, Newfoundland for a vacation. Then the fun starts, the preflight check find some problems, the pilots try to reset the system several times, we wait for mechanics, then we are told the problem isn't fixable in the short term so we're heading back to the terminal, another wait and we're told the delay is waiting for equipment to be moved from a gate so we can then get off, finally we are deplaned into the terminal and told a gate agent will direct us as to when another plane will arrive. As we mill around the gate an announcement is made "those passengers on flight 616 to Halifax, a replacement plane will be landing in five minutes, make your way to gate D33" what a crowd of smiling faces make their way through the terminal. By now, two hours have passed and my 'hot date' is almost to the airport and I'm going to be late. sigh. The short flight to Halifax passes as the guy next to me is now (as the Gander passengers got another flight and the 40 people on standby fought for the 12 seats they vacated) a middle aged refrigeration manager who has hired the dog walkers son and we reminisce about people we know in common - talk about the small world stuff. My life partner is waiting for me and my upscale supper changed into a Tim Hortons sandwich eaten in the truck on the drive home. Made it by 1 a.m. so a very long day - good thing I was being paid for it.

I spent my first day at home making the final arrangements for buying my car as an independent mature woman. Decide to take the dealership up on the suggestion of 0% financing and the salesman tells me I must have great credit as it's the quickest response he's seen. I'm taking the loan to make sure I have the good credit I tell him. Insurance. Since this vehicle is registered in my name - first time that's happened since I used my maiden name, although I've certainly paid for every one I've driven - this meant the car can't go on the corporate insurance unless it's registered to the business or.....the shore captain. The final cost was $680 (not too bad for a new vehicle with $2,000,000 liability coverage) and spite can carry you a long way in these kinds of decisions. Best $680 I've spent for a long time. In the end I buy the coverage from a local company and not because I'm afraid to tell people I have Grey Power insurance but because it's cheaper for the same coverage.

Arrange to pick up the vehicle late in the afternoon and the life partner arrives to take me in. The salesman is flabbergasted that I am paying off an invoice from a family bill left there rather than rushing to see what colour the vehicle is. It's a Dodge Dart - blue streak which is a medium dark sparkly blue. I decide to leave the car in the parking lot and we head down to Bistro 138 for supper. Have only eaten lunch there but it was very good - bruschetta to start, flat bread and salad and the partner had chicken penne. Back to the garage to pick up the car, the shore captain leaves and I climb in, adjust the seat and mirrors and......can't get it started. I phone the life partner and he suggests I don't have the clutch in far enough - yep, he's right. I ease out into the street and through town shifting as I go. Ahhh, been a while since I've driven a standard but I'm managing okay. Get to the first stop sign and of course don't want to stall so as I accelerate I manage to squeal my way through the intersection. As I'm headed out of town towards my spa appointment on the rural road I'm feeling more confident and am early for my session so decide to go for a spin. As I attempt to turn around at the end of a small country road I realize that I can't put the car into reverse. Every time I try with the clutch engaged I am rolling towards the steep ditch and am getting dangerously close to crashing my brand new vehicle on its way from the dealership. I wrench the wheel around sharply and drive down the dirt road, there is no cell service to call for help so I  am hopeful that at the end I'll be able to call. Two deer jump out in front of me and I stop several times to see if I can find reverse. Nope! At the end of the road there isn't enough space to U turn so I call the life partner. He suggests all the things I've been trying and finally offers to come and rescue me as I'm late now for my appointment. I get out the manual, no mention of a secret button or way to engage reverse. The shore captain arrives and struggles for at least five minutes with the stick shift. I swear that if he had simply put it in reverse as soon as he arrived, I would've kicked the car and then him. Finally (since his hands are bigger than mine) he touches something on the shaft of the stick shift and when he lifts it up to the knob....voila, it easily slips into reverse. Obviously the safety feature to prevent an inadvertent reversal. By then I am so annoyed with the car that I insist he drive it home and I'll take the truck to the appointment. When I arrive home after the spa he says "it's a pretty touchy little car to shift" so I feel better about my rough driving.

Spent the next day around the house, catching up on the mail, walking the dog, visiting with friends and drinking tea. All those things I missed while away working.

Lunch at Lobster Shack

Friday was a day to run errands. Went to help a friend figure out how to do PLAR (prior learning credit) for a course. I think the concept is to make it so complicated that you can't figure it out and will go to school and do the program. Completely unnecessary but it takes a Philadelphia lawyer to figure out the rules. And anyone who knows me is aware that I've done my share of independent study. After I picked up my hooked wall hanging (the shore captain aka designer of the home vetoed the hanging on the wall and instead proposed table centrepiece) which I'd bought online from afar. My buddy very generously took me to lunch at the Lobster Shack which is a newly opened upscale eatery in the area:
http://www.lobstershack.ca
I had lobster sushi with sautéed bok choy and she had lobster nachos - both were yummy. We caught up on the news and solved all the problems of the world while we ate.

Saturday we entertained with a BBQ for friends - had salad, biscuits, ribs and steak and strawberry shortcake for dessert. Sunday was a day to go out with my summer neighbour in one of her kayaks in front of the house and along the shore on smooth as glass waters then clean up and relax and. Monday was to run errands again. Took the car to have three year wax treatment and scotch guard the interior so I borrowed a friend's car while she was working so I didn't have to stay in town which was really hot and humid. Went to the Vet and picked up a flea/tick collar for the dog (not recommended to use the topical stuff on older dogs they admitted) and topical worm medicine for the cats - no struggle at all to put that on them. No drama.  Made a strawberry/rhubarb pie (with rhubarb from my OWN patch) which was yummy. Tuesday was a run to Bridgewater (test of my skills with all those hills) and a nice outing with the car. I stopped for an ice cream at the dairy treat and the lady asked if my polar bear earrings were ivory - her sister had been in Iqaluit for 18 yrs so she recognized northern art. Caught a bit too much UV on Wednesday as I was reading my vehicle manual and figuring out all the features so was more careful today with the outdoor activities. As well, the large green headed horseflies have struck - evil things.

Gary relaxing

It has been really warm and sunny this week - perhaps I brought the good weather with me - and those who don't handle the heat well have been complaining, the rest of us have been smiling. Have to wait until the temperature cools a bit to walk the dog in the evening.

Tomorrow is a massage appointment and I'll drop by the dealership to see if they can set up my cell phone with the system in the car. I called the number in the manual (it was USA) who directed me to a Canadian number where the representative told me she "wasn't technically trained and I should call the dealership" What the purpose of her answering the phone was, I'm not quite sure. The garage assured me that someone would help when I dropped in. Also, I'm invited to a Red Cross volunteer BBQ about an hour from here so that will be my social activity for the evening and there is a writing workshop and potluck on Sunday, so able to do lots of things I had hoped when on vacation.

Had a nice FaceTime chat with the youngest REGISTERED NURSE daughter - you read that correctly - tonight. She is mighty relieved and pleased to have passed her exam especially as the results were slow getting to her. She is settling in to her orientation in a new province and new healthcare system with all it's changes so lots to learn. She is going camping with her sister on the weekend so it's good for them to be close enough to get together. I've already given her my return date so she's requested the day off in September and we'll get together.

A phone chat with the teacher daughter who is just back from a road trip to Ottawa - the trip was great, the 15 hours each way in the car was a bit much though. They are heading down next weekend for the pig roast we have planned on Saturday to celebrate Moncada Day and she is running in the race on Sunday.

Time to do a walk thru inspection to ensure the cleaning lady has surfaces to clean tomorrow. 

Mechanical back pain

Into the final stretch now as I only have today (which is a day on call) and the morning to work tomorrow before my flights begin tomorrow afternoon. Not the best schedule to be on call the day/night before you leave but this is the way it worked out. 

I have had an exciting last week. It's been fairly busy and I'm not sure if that is because more folks came in off the land or there has just been a series of events. One night there was a kid who was 'jumping on the sticks' at 10 pm which translates as jumping on the bundles of construction material stacked up in a parking lot. One of those activities that when you walk by you think/say "that's not a good idea, someone's going to get hurt" and sure enough it was, as she fell and fractured her radius. That gets you and your mother a fight to Yellowknife for an ortho consult. There was also a 3 am call for someone who had wiped out on their bike "no, no you come in at 9 am" and when I said "what were you doing out at that hour?" the 12 year old says "riding my bike, it's not even dark" in a very indignant voice as if I'm the one confused as I asked him to come in at such an early time. I was most impressed when I had a little guy (about 3)  in for an allergic reaction "playing with a bug" he says when I examine his swollen arm - must've been a bee - he shrugs when asked to describe it, again when I ask size, colour, did it fly? When I warn the benadryl I'm giving might make him sleepy his mother says "it's almost his bedtime anyway" so I look at the clock and think it must be at 11 pm as that's what's coming up. 

There were some humorous situations this week such as when a nursing mother had to go out to have tests in Yellowknife. Since the plane crash in Nunavut last year where a baby (with a mother escorting a patient) was killed, the rule is that the only babies on flights with mother's are those coming back from being delivered or the baby is the patient.  We tell the mother the nurses will get her a breast pump at Stanton. Of course it's busy and there aren't many pumps and so she only pumps once out there. Now from Nunavut to Yellowknife for tests is a two day turnaround because of the flights. You get in too late to have any tests, you have them the next day but all the flights back start out early so it's usually two nights and three days (if all goes well) before you're back in the community. She brought one of her older children over to be checked when she returned as he'd had a fever in her absence and I checked over the baby. "Please wake her up and she'll feed" she said as she was anxious to get herself  back on track. As she nursed the baby she said "I was in the airport and a baby cried and I was so full I thought - I could feed that baby even if it isn't mine - I knew it was wrong to even think it but I didn't care", We both laughed as I well remember coming home from work and saying "give me that baby" a few decades ago. A patient I dealt with having slipped a few feet off a ladder was having intense back pain and came back twice on my call shift. We were concerned about caudal equine syndrome where there is saddle like paralysis as he had numbness. On his second trip (after he had NOT followed my instructions) he was brought in by his wife and a male I assumed to be a family member. I again reviewed the plan for what I thought was soft tissue injury. Ice (not heat) take the ibuprofen regularly and rest and I explained very patiently, simply and completely the anatomy and what I felt was going on. The patient moaned, his wife (who was supposed to be interpreting for him) kept saying "I hope he won't be paralyzed" and other such unhelpful things so clearly was not listening but….the young fellow kept nodding his head, asking appropriate questions and totally buying in to my theory. I assured them they could call/come back during the night as I was on call and the young fellow says "i could bring you any time" so I think 'what a caring family member'. The next day when the HomeCare vehicle won't start and the garage is called, the mechanic arrives to jumpstart the vehicle. And….it's him! The chauffeur of the night before - not in any way related to the back pain guy. Nurses can tell you about mechanical lower back pain, but this? My nerves. 

We also had a very unfunny  patient who was very upset, rude, screaming, supposedly had abdominal pain 10/10 and retching, gets morphine and gravol  then her boyfriend comes in and she eats an entire hungry mans dinner in record time. Not anxious to go home she says "can I come back and get more morphine?" Hmmmm. As she's being medevaced the next day the flight paramedic shows us a trick - he checks her pupils while pressing very firmly on her abdomen in all areas - she doesn't flinch. What would that tell you? That when's distracted she forgets to have the pain. The paramedic is explaining what's going to happen on the flight and that he will take care of her. "If I get more pain can I have morphine?" she asks. "Is that what you want morphine?" he says and she nods happily. Hmmm. 

Friday was pay day and I bought a car. It's a manual transmission Dart in blue streak. The dealer has to go pick it up from PEI for me and will have it ready when I get there on Wednesday. There was discussion about the colour - there's orange, red, laguna blue - which do you want? I say "anything but ugly purple or green" and the dealer says "even orange?" so I ask him if he thinks a woman of my age shouldn't drive an orange Dart? No, no he wasn't trying to offend but the laguna blue (sort of an easter egg blue) is one colour people either really love or really hate. I tell him that I'm going to be sitting inside it so I don't care and I'm only driving it for six months of the year anyway. Will be nice to have air conditioning again what with the weather reports I'm getting from home. 

I also stitched up a young fellow's face as he was cutting up a caribou and the knife slipped and struck him just between the eyebrow and bridge of the nose. I froze it with xylocaine and put five, 5-0 prolene sutures in to close it. A plastic surgeon I am not. Down south he would likely have had steristrips put on but……down there people don't use their eyebrows to say yes and no. He was satisfied and I was pleased with myself as he had to hold a gauze to cover his eye and I had to work around his hand, nose and eyebrow. The suturing reminded me of everyone asking about the son's fingers etc. when I shared the photo of the deck he had constructed. Proving he had carpentry skills after all. 

The afternoon was routine as I wrote a summary letter then medicated a patient I'd dealt with while on call who was going out schedvac for testing in Yellowknife. Then things break loose. A female comes down the hall calling me by name and when I acknowledge her turns on me accusing me of not believing her sister, sending her home, telling her to see the mental health worker, being stupid and unprofessional and that I could've killed her - am I happy? I am stunned, try to defend myself, attempt to find out what she's talking about and calm her down. She is referring to the morphine requesting, hungry man dinner consumer. The nurse in charge (Nellie) appears behind me and shows me a discharge form with no findings on it. The screaming and abuse continues and the mental health worker appears and attempts to calm the situation. The staff of the health centre (thankfully no patients in the waiting room) scuttle off and turn their heads as we are herded to the empty Dr. exam room. More abuse and anger heaped on me and then a quick departure. I am shaken. Nellie says "it was just you who got singled out this time" and is supportive. I try to carry on but I am so angry I feel the tears and tell my coworker I'm taking a short break and head upstairs to the apartment to compose myself for about 10 minutes. I return and start some mindless paperwork when Nellie pops her head around my office door and says "pick up line one she has something to say to you" and it is the screamer who is calm, apologizes sincerely saying she was out of control and doesn't want me to think she doesn't like me". I tell her that I have a sister so I understand her concern and feel much better. A few moments later Nellie pops back and says "I told her it was me who suggested her sister talk to the mental health worker". I was absolutely gobsmacked. I have worked in health care many years and i have been unjustly attacked a number of times but….I have never had a patient apologize or a manager both defend me and take ownership of something she did. I realize that was the gift in the whole nasty situation. I would be very sad if I didn't come back to this community. Nellie is not a touchy feely kind of person but she said after work "let's go for a walk" and brought me a nectarine - knowing that I needed to clear my head. Waited a long time for that kind of management support. Nellie reminds me of a quote I read:

“It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.”

-Robert G. Ingersoll

Yesterday morning when my much younger coworker (who I call my adopted daughter) was on call she received a 6 a.m. wake up with a fellow asking if he could come pick up some condoms. She (who is a morning person) was wide awake and said very enthusiastically "yes, yes you can!" which surprised him a bit as the community does know the rules about not coming for routine requests in off hours. When he arrived shortly at the door he was wearing sunglasses and had a huge smile on his face. He quickly trotted off with his bag of condoms. Much better than dealing with the lack of them in the form of unwanted pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. 

determined - growing in a rock

really tiny but close up

beauty of a day but ice still

look like hyacinth

Yesterday was my last walk of the season due to work constraints. II watched the First Air flight ready and take off and

Soon to be me 

then hiked to Sandy Point (yes that is the name of the beach I have been frequenting believe it or not) and around the shore to take some photos of the ice. 
Then I had to climb what felt like Kilimanjaro to get back as the ice at the sand was too thick. I was hot and bothered and then I noticed the……flies were out. Time to leave when the bugs come to your community.

Last evening we were invited out for homemade pizza and wine from a box at a coworkers and that was lovely. Good people, good conversation. The other two have bedtimes at about 9 pm so they called it in first and my coworker and I headed up the hill to the health centre in the bright sunlight of 10 pm. As I said "isn't it amazing to get a sunburn at 3 am?" Will have to get used to the dark at night now when I go home. 

Today on call has been a series of sick babies, 7 sutures in a knuckle of an elder filleting char from his nets, lots of calls for calamine lotion as the mosquitoes are biting the kids who are allergic of course and the back pain patient who was still not following directions and taking his ibuprofen. Sigh. But at least the x-ray did rule out a fracture so this old nurse was right with the soft tissue diagnosis. 

I am for the most part packed with one bag which can be left depending on where my next contract will be. The bag of 'to be left' stuff is larger than the 'to take home' stuff. Not going to be looking at uniforms for two months because….it's just wrong to work in the summer. 

Tundra trip

Today has been a day off but not a day of rest. We (my coworker and me) entertained the Mental Health Worker for supper. And not because we needed to lay our troubles on her, in my case it was to repay the lovely supper she'd served me a couple of weeks ago. My coworker's contribution is that she had the cleaner apartment and enjoys doing dishes so.....we ate over there. As we were all Nova Scotians I made creamed lobsters, potatoes, carrots and we had wine to go with, then there was carrot pie (made in a frying pan as there was only one small foil pie plate) and apple pie with ice cream with butterscotch schnapps for dessert. We also had a lesson in the anthropology of the area from the MH worker ranging from arranged marriages, forced relocation, customary family patterns and the various traumas (some we were familiar with) over the past generations. Kind of like a lunch n learn event. I need to bake / eat my way out of Taloyoak as I'm heading into my final week here - as hard as it is for me to realize it, I will be flying out a week from tomorrow. As expected this contract has passed by in a blur and of course five weeks in the spring/sumer is a lot shorter than almost nine weeks in winter. 

Arctic daisies

5plex - count the windows

Taloyoak 

 I headed out one evening this week around the neighbourhood to capture some of the spring goings on. The construction work continues on the 5plex which is being built the edge of the water. There were some small arctic daisies struggling to bloom on the edge of the gravel road, seen above on the left. I snapped a photo looking back towards the health centre up on the hill to the left int the photo and although it's kind of cloudy, it's another view of the hamlet. 

Thursday and Friday were the usual days with the programs we run, walk ins and calls. I was up Friday night twice but could only be compensated for the second call. The first call at about 1 a.m. was a guy who was convinced that he'd phoned the RCMP about "the drunk people yelling around his house and he just wanted to go to sleep". He even identified himself by name as he was so certain he was speaking to the police. It took some firm convincing to end that phone call. The second call at 2 a.m. I had to get up and deal with. When a 15 year old comes with a headache and ends up with a positive pregnancy test it takes a bit of work for this old nurse to get back to sleep. I stood on the front steps and

3 a.m not p.m. that is 

the entire community was up from the sounds of the yelling and whooping it up. I took a photo of the middle of the night which looks like middle of the day scene at 3 a.m I was creeping FB when I heard a disturbance under the open window and it's a group of about eight kids making a racket so I stick my head out the window and they've lit a bunch of grass on the corner of our building on fire! I yell at them "what do you think you're doing? come back and put that out! what are you doing out at this hour of the night getting into trouble? go home and go to bed or I'm calling the police!"The tallest of the group popped back around the corner, stomped out the flames and rejoined his buddies. I was glad to not have to go down and fight the fire or kick any butts. Slept in after that middle of the night shenanigans. 

Then there was page from Nellie saying "I want to go catch a fish, does anyone want to come with me?" so I accepted the invitation and by noon time we were off on our expedition. There was too much ice still in the lakes so Nellie didn't get fishing but we had a wonderful stroll across the tundra at both German and Middle Lake where local folks go to stay in their cabins or large white canvas tents. A sample of some of the photos here:

German Lake - fire pits

Cabins at Middle Lake

Caribou skull / antlers

Dried trout/char and caribou

Fresh water clams

Heather blooming on tundra

Last yrs heather for fires

Boiling tea over a heather fire

Tea kettle boiling

Frigid swim

Qamatiks ready to go

As we walked, I asked Nellie various questions about her work in the north and the community. She is a notoriously private person but has much knowledge to share, so I was pleased when she volunteered that at many times she is the only nurse in the community and it's hard to get time to yourself as folks always know where she's gone fishing (her passion) and come to find her saying "_____ has broken ____ you have to come". She said that when she's working solo, sometimes downstairs on call for long hours at a time that ladies just out walking in the community will come in and scrub the floors, empty the garbage, wash, dry and fold a load of laundry, whatever is needed. That young men will phone and say "Nellie when was the last time you ate? have you slept?" and bring her bannock or dried meat or fish. There is an older gentleman who speaks no English that comes when she is alone in the health centre and sits in the waiting room until the last patient is seen - and this could be all through the night - then he gets up, goes to the door and says in Innuqutan something to the effect of "I'm locking the door now" and goes home. None of this happens when there are other nurses here and all of it happens without any request. She's been here 14 years so she knows the many generations of Taloyoak, they respect her (with good reason) and it's a relationship that is based on trust. We met folks out camping and Nellie was able to call each of them by name - I did recognize the faces of some. It was a great two hour ramble across the tundra and we were glad to see the vehicle again as we rounded the corner. 

I was back and enjoying a few moments of down time after eating supper when my coworker on first call phoned to ask for assistance. A three year old (the size of a 6 yr old) had been brought in downstairs because.....he had inserted a rock into his nose. Don't ask why preschoolers do this, but they do, with alarming regularity as an ER nurse can tell you. I gave him the "this was a bad idea, NEVER do it again" speech and he looked suitably subdued. He was very cooperative as we sorted through our collection of implements for just such an occasion, used some viscous lidocaine on the left nostril and while I inserted and held the nasal speculum and my younger (non bifocal wearing) coworker wielded the forceps, quickly retrieved the long narrow stone. His mother was telling me that he called himself John Cena (apparently a professional wrestler) and when he hopped off the stretcher he indeed did a very good representation of a wrestler's strut. My coworker and I found this hilarious, his mother not so much. I'm sure she had seen it before, but mostly she was still ticked that he had done this, and off they went home. 

I suggest that my coworker go out for a walk as she's been stuck inside all day and I will answer the on call phone for her. I only have one call for advice while she's gone and then.....she's calling up the stairs in a breathless voice (which I at first think is a scam to pretend there's an emergency) to say that she has come across a Honda accident with injuries which will be here soon so get ready. She phones the police to ask them to pick up the wounded and the on call phone from the front entrance rings "emergency line, nurse on call" (to impress those phoning that this is not a directory assistance, weather reporting or appointment line)  "I have an emergency" the caller announces emphatically. Down we go. And he's not wrong. Both are inebriated, one is not very mobile (he was the one they were trying to get off the ground at the scene) and the other looks like Freddy Kruger attacked him but is walking. We get the less mobile one into the treatment room - only one stretcher here - and I instruct the other one to sit on the bench in the waiting room and task a female who I've known to be sensible before to watch him. The guy who did the transport of the injured stands up and says in an accusatory tone (as if I'm forcing him to remain) "I cant' stay and look at this" and walks towards to the door so I say "what's your name?" which he announces. My coworker says "think we should call Nellie?" and that's a quick affirmative. I call Nellie and ask "have you heard us having fun down here? No?" and describe the situation giving her only the first names of the patients and she nails it with their last name as they're brothers. Impressive. We head in to deal with the first patient and just get started when a loud thump is heard from the waiting room. Now I have to tell you that after 40 years of working in health care the sound of a human body striking the floor is clearly identifiable. I delegate my younger coworker to go investigate. Yep, haven't lost my touch. There is mister flat on the floor and all by himself as the supposedly sensible minder has absconded. As we attempt to convince him to get up, Nellie arrives. She asks "did he walk in here?" and the answer is yes so she firmly states "then get up" and walks away. He does. I put him in my office on the exam table. The abbreviated version of the next five painful hours is that Nellie has missed her calling as a plastic surgeon as she she reconstructs patient # 1s ear and repairs large gashes in patient # 2s forehead and shin. The Dr on call is contacted, which is of little use except butt covering. The RCMP arrive, take photos, statements, charge and serve papers and threaten more if the patients don't watch their language and request a statement from the coworker as she was a witness at the scene. Family of multiple generations fill the waiting room. Both patients are obnoxious, the driver is charged with impaired driving causing bodily harm, the passenger with something else. So at midnight we clean up the havoc wrecked on the department and head upstairs. Now that was a long evening. 

Today as I am baking I get a call from Nellie who is on call today saying "I need one of you to drive a patient to the airport" and as I hang up I think I hear "fast".  So I grab a sweater and head downstairs. Yep, trying to make a flight with someone for a schedvac. Oh look it's a sober, hurting unit in the form of patient # 1 from last night. I transport he and the partner to the airport and he is politely grateful this time for my help. I head back up to my baking. 

So, time to get to bed as it has been crazy busy on call this evenings as evidenced by all the comings and goings of the Hondas out front and I am sure that tomorrow will be more of the same. 

I close with the quote of the day:

"If you can't figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead right into your purpose." T.D. Jakes