Wednesday, October 6, 2010

The Universe

Something is amiss in the cosmos. We've been slammed at work since late last week and I have to tell you, I'm exhausted. I worked 2 hours on Saturday to catch up from Friday, and on Sunday, a friend plead with me to attend the semiannual hospice memorial. I haven't had a break from hospice stuff in a week and a half. Last night, I ran from 4PM until 1 AM and stopped only once at a local coffee shop to stock up on caffeine and use the facilities--it was the little girl's room that was most important. I then hit the road and put 150 miles on my ride. Once home, I reported off to the next shift and went to bed without shutting off my phone.

That's a mistake I won't be repeating tonight.

I can't believe the day shift people, people. Why would someone call my home at 8:12 AM when report made it plain that I'd worked overtime? There wasn't just one call, there were 3 between the first and the last at 8:35 AM. If people could READ, they'd see that everything they wanted to know had already been reported. Hello? What's the point of killing myself to get my documentation done if nobody looks at it?

Believing the universe to be done crapping on me, and since I was already up early, I went to the Secretary of State to get a driver's license to replace the one I lost. I waited 2 hours with a sea of humanity, many with bad hygiene and some looking too sick to be out mingling with the healthy. I had number 34, which I didn't think was too bad, but when I heard them call number 68 first, I realized there were 66 people ahead of me.

What's a girl to do? I knit. I got two solid hours of knitting done on those socks and so I guess in the overall scheme of it, things weren't all that bad. If I'm sick tomorrow, I'm going to be angry, but at least I'm ahead on the socks.

As the midnight hour is approaching, I'm overcome with desire to call the three women who awakened me this morning and ask them each something stupid, like, is your refrigerator running? If so, you better catch it before it gets away. Better yet, "did I wake you?" That's the one stupid question I like best at 8 AM. Yes, you did. Nobody ever offers to hang up and each only has a quick question. By the time they're done asking, I'm up. For good. I just hate when I forget to shut off my phone.

It's childish, but I really want to call them right now. Instead, I'll just shut off my phone and go to bed as soon as the big and little hands are on the twelve.

Sweet dreams.

18 comments:

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

oh buggers! you know d#1 works for hospice, did i ever tell you that? i understand completely what you are saying. and the drivers license place? sarge and chuck spent the day there too! chuck got his license back today after some years of, well, lets say, not having one? anyway he had it now and he's a happy boy again. boy? krap, he'll be 40 next month! yikes! well i'm rambling, i think i'm tired too.

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxooxox

Kathleen said...

I just love that streak of mischief, Rudee! I so wish I could muster that up myself! Sleep well!

Jane said...

Having worked nights, I know exactly how it feels. The ones I hate are the ones that ring off, and then just as you get back into bed ring again,

unmitigated me said...

As far as the license goes, I have two words for you: Livonia Supercenter. Never spent more than 30 minutes there, even with 100 folks in line.

The callers? Deserve the evil eye.

Gail said...

Bless your heart! The rest of the week will be great...it has to be!

Gail said...

PS: Call them...I triple-dog dare you!

Ruth said...

We are quiet at work quite a surprise - so perhaps you have our busy for a bit. H1N1 is keeping us very busy most of the time having a late flu season.
Glad you got some knittin done while waiting i would have gone mad with nothing to do.
Double dare you to ring them up.

NCmountainwoman said...

The thing is, those idiots aren't going to change. No matter how clear your communication is, they will still call and ask something stupid.

ari_1965 said...

Eww! It's too bad we can't charge for certain phrases. That would cut down on their use. Those co-workers of yours would never ask "Did I wake you?" if it meant that US$100 would be deducted from their checking accounts.

By the way, my blog is now at www.prawnoffate.blogspot.com

ari_1965 said...

P.S. To get your license tabs in St. Louis Park, MN, you go to the AAA offices. In other words, not a government office. They've leased out the job in St. Louis Park to Triple AAA.

I went on the last day of the month (had to scrape up the cash, you know), expecting to stand around for hours with all the other last-minuters. But, no. 15 minutes was all it took. The process, people and equipment were all so efficient that a huge crowd of us was dealt with and out the door in no time. If I weren't a disgraced knitter and I'd brought my knitting to while away the time, I'd have brought my knitting bag for nothing.

SkippyMom said...

I wish I had seen this last night because I definitely would've gone all high school on your and goaded you into calling them. heehee - I know, I know - I am 14, what can I say? They deserve it.

Thanks again Rudee. You do make a difference.

SkippyMom said...

I wish I had seen this last night because I definitely would've gone all high school on your and goaded you into calling them. heehee - I know, I know - I am 14, what can I say? They deserve it.

Thanks again Rudee. You do make a difference.

Celia said...

I hope you were able to get some sleep. I would love to see pictures of the socks.

Brenda said...

I don't know who the person is on your sidebar but I love the quote. I think I am becoming a tall 2 year old even though I am getting enough sleep. I am just way too tired and grouchy some days. I can only imagine how tired you must be. I would say to call them as they have you and then they may rethink any future calls to you. Sometimes people need a dose of their own medicine to learn something. Glad you were prepared with your knitting so the 2 hours weren't a total frustration.

Stephanie V said...

Oh, yes! Call them! What totally inconsiderate twits! Well, there's a lot of that about, I guess.

Hope the sleep you were needing was unbroken and you're not waking up sick!

Lisa L said...

nobody reads the notes....except medicare when they come in and do one of their charming surprise checks....its all about compliance unfortunately.

Devon said...

Arrgh! My pet peeve... phones after 9pm and before 9am! Even worse is when they know that they woke you and just keep yammering!

Fortunately I work with a really kind group of people now, they are all really respectful, coinsidentally they are the smartest nurses I have ever worked with... a connection maybe?

Sweet dreams!

Rositta said...

May the gods of the universe smile on you for the next little while...go ahead call them, think of some dumb reason to do so, I dare you.
Ignore that, I'm kind of drugged out or I wouldn't have said that...ciao