Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Dashing Through the Snow

Your intrepid hospice nurse pulled another double shift last night. I think it's the pleading tones of the supervisor that get to me. She sounds so reasonable and needy that I find I can't say no. To add to that, she prefaced by saying, "I know you're having a quiet night," at which point, I should have screamed the word NO! NO! NO! She had invoked the curse of nurses everywhere by saying the word, quiet.

Bye-bye Japanese car (I'm going to miss you). Hello made in Kansas Ford Escape.

The weather was, in a word, wretched, with already 2 inches of heavy wet snow and more mixed precipitation expected. Emboldened by my new sleigh, I accepted the mission of working 16 hours. Fool. Big dummy head. That's me. Weak, weak, weak.

The phone didn't ring again until just shy of midnight and I had to drive 25 miles to see a patient. Even with four wheel drive and my snappy V6 engine, it still took close to an hour to get there because the slush was so deep on the freeway. I got home at 3 AM and fell asleep. Deep in slumber, and probably paralyzed during REM sleep, I didn't hear my beeper go off at 6:45 and missed calling a family back promptly to answer a question. I felt awful, when I finally awoke at 8 AM to see the page.

That's it. No more doubles. I don't care how sweet she sounds or how nicely she begs, the next time the supervisor calls me, I'm going to let her go to voicemail so I have time to practice saying no.

In an attempt to find humor today, I came upon this holiday video. That Ozzy is a naughty boy:

14 comments:

Miss T said...

Answering the phone is usually a bad idea!

Rudee said...

Miss T, I couldn't agree more.

Celia said...

I have a hard time saying no too. Nice wheels!!

Lisa L said...

my next Hospice weekend call...24/7 x 3 days is on 12/18. (covering a 460 sq mile area by.myself.) i'm already experiencing anxiety..the dread, the dread. i'm sorry you had to go out into the muck last noc.and yes..no more the doubles...

Jane said...

my heart goes out to you, we are not designed for double shifts

Brenda said...

All work and no sleep....no fun. Just tell yourself you can only do so much. Nice car.

SkippyMom said...

Glad you got home safe. Doubles are for the birds! :) Just Say No!

Ruth said...

Practice - "now No can't do it - sorry I'm not safe if i do"!

Rositta said...

Nice Wheels... I was thinking of you with the storm happening. It arrived here with full force early this morning. Nice, slushy, heavy snow, yuck. Glad you were safe...ciao

Anonymous said...

Doubles are just bad ideas, especially when the weather is so bad. Slushy, heavy snow is the awful to drive in. I'm glad you made it home safe and sound and into a deep sleep. Remember the slogan of the 80's "Just Say No!" Easier said, but a must. I'll work on it, if you do.
It would have been so much nicer curled up and knitting.
XXXXX

Renie Burghardt said...

Kind hearted people have a harder time saying no. Nice wheels and I'm glad you made it home okay. We didn't get snow, just frigid temps. Brrr. Stay warm.

Stephanie V said...

Hey! I like your new ride. That would be a much better bet for Santa than reindeer.
It IS hard to say no, isn't it?

sandy said...

Ahhh what a fun video to watch! Congrats on the new wheels.

Darci said...

Very purty!