Sunday

My first week on the job went well; I'm going to be happy there once I know the EMR better. Yes, it's the same one I used in my previous job--but here I will be actually creating the note that the doc uses. Which means technically that after I enter all the vitals in one screen, I then select a button on the screen called "Note authoring"; it opens up a whole new set of screens, with numerous options for each section.  All of that is something I've never even seen, much less done. At my previous job only the providers were allowed to use the Note authoring button.

So that's been the biggest learning challenge: there is a massive amount of info to collect and enter on the EMR. I have a great group of co-workers. There are two receptionists, two more RNs (who work with the docs in the procedure rooms doing injections and the more surgical types of treatments), and then me and three others; one of them is training me because I will be replacing her. The other two are another MA and an RN. The RN works for the female doc, and I will be with the male, while the third staff person serves as back-up, catch-up, additional help. The two docs are busy!

 We have 30 minutes for lunch when all the pts are done for the morning, and then we start again at either 1 or 1:30. We leave at 4:30, assuming all patients are gone. Physically it's a small office, small enough that when the receptionist up front calls out "Pencils down, time's up!" at 4:30, we all laugh, and start shutting everything down. Everyone is gone within 5  minutes. Except the docs, of course.

Next morning we are there at 7:55, (because we aren't allowed to clock in before then), even though patients begin arriving at 8. So it would be kind of a scramble in a regular office practice, but these are extremely thoroughly documented visits, and it takes easily 20 minutes if not longer to grab the vitals, room the patient, review meds, and then start the note with all its questions.

Then the docs come in around 8:30, and the morning round begins.  There are only 5 exam rooms total. We could use maybe two more, and in a perfect world the other provider, a physician's assistant, could see pts on his own also. But in this office, the PA will see the pt only to ask the same questions we just did, and then he goes to report these results to the  doc--who will also ask those questions when s/he goes in the room. Sigh. Seems redundant to me, but that's the way this office is run.

Then the MA or RN goes in with the doc and "scribes" for him/her, documenting the results of the physical exam. And when the visit is over, the doc will also dictate to the MA what to type as far as followup instructions, ordering any tests or labs, and also printing out any narcotic rx's, or electronically sending rx's to the pt's pharmacy. Meanwhile you have also obtained a urine drug screen and those take time, too. So we keep busy.

I like everyone, and they all seem very helpful and friendly. The doc I will be with is from India, and he's got a thick accent, but he's very easy to talk with, and patient as I'm learning. I don't know how long I will have for training, but I have one more week in the office, and then the following week I have two full days of orientation in another building before returning to the office for the final three days.

I still don't have access to the computer or email, apparently because they spelled my last name with two L's instead of one. Hopefully that will get corrected this week. It's funny: growing up I had to continually correct people to spell my last name with two L's, now it's the other way around, with 1 L.

I came home every day this week just drained. There are no windows to the outside in this office, so unless I leave the building at lunch, I have no idea what is happening until I walk out at 4:30. It's a quick drive, about 10-15 minutes maximum til I arrive at home. Back in my old home I would quickly change and then take the dogs for a walk. Here it's just too hot for me or the dogs to do that until it's cooled off later in the evening.

Plus the mosquitoes are just ferocious here, and while they never bothered me in Oregon, they love me here. The bites and their reactions are visible on me for 3-4 days, and those first two days are the worst--itching and swollen, and it's all I can do to not scratch. I've already gone through a tube of hydrocortisone cream, just in the two months we have been here.

J has been equally busy here all week; in addition to preparing meals and clean up work, he's been tackling various projects. It's very satisfying to have a written list on the fridge and then to work on checking things off as they are done, and then writing or updating a new one. 

This week he bought and installed a 3-inch piece of something like trim board to go vertically on the outside of our double front door; the door was installed so long ago that it hangs just off balance allowing for air (and critters--Lizard, I'm looking at you...) to leak out or in. So instead of buying a new door (which would not only be incredibly expensive, but here in this county you actually have to get a permit to hang a new door on your own property!), he will add another piece to the bottom of the door also, and update the weather stripping before we tackle actually painting the outside stuff--doors, shutters, window trim, etc.

He's also worked on the yard debris, and painting the damn cupboards yet again, and installed a couple of new gutter/drain pieces, replaced a couple of ceiling fans, and other things I cannot remember. Each night I come home and we exchange news of what we've done or learned, and we are so tired that sometimes we don't remember what the other one said.

This week he did finally finish the painting of the kitchen cabinets/cupboards. So the main color in there is ivory, and the doors themselves are a lovely French blue, aka "Bluish"  by Valspar. It looks so nice, and makes the kitchen really stand out. It was totally worth it to go through all of the hassle.

Friday after I got home we changed clothes and headed out right away to Sis' Yoga class, and then went home after picking up some groceries. The next morning I went to my morning meeting as usual, and then went home. J's young grandson and his girlfriend arrived shortly afterwards. We had lunch here, and then headed out to check out the beach. They live about 45 miles inland from the Gulf side, with their two big dogs. (Fortunately they did not bring the dogs! We would have had to say no if they asked to bring them...)

 Their drive here was about 2 hours, so it's not too bad of a drive. I feel a lot better knowing J has Family on his side here in FL also; he made a big sacrifice to move here with me because my family was here, and I'm aware that sometimes he feels a bit isolated. Especially now that I've returned to work and he is alone all day. When I leave in the morning he comes out and waves to me until I am out of sight. As I watch him  in the rear view mirror, sometimes he appears so forlorn, missing me. It's not quite Home yet, but it's feeling more like it. Still, he really misses his male friends.

Anyway, we took the kids to the beach, and sat there for an hour or so, using my sister's driveway as a parking lot for the car. It was incredibly windy. While the water was heavenly and the perfect temp, there was also a rip tide current warning not to go into the water unless a lifeguard was near. I personally did not see a lifeguard, but then we didn't go in deeper than knee-high that day. Because it is a holiday weekend the place was packed despite the incredible heat.

Later we went to the cheesy tourist shops hoping to find some more BikeWeek T-shirts but the stores were closed! There were some high school graduation ceremonies being held out there, and there were a couple of other BigEvents/Festivals, so many of the stores were closed because of the tremendous amount of traffic. So we just cruised along the main drag and people-watched, and then headed home.

Sis and BIL arrived later for dinner and pool-time; J is having a blast with the propane grill, and loves the challenge of preparing all those meals, in addition to finding special meals for Sis who is vegan.  It was a lovely evening, and while the kids seem quiet, once they are drawn out they do respond. They are very polite, and you really can't tell what they are thinking. At 21 and 20, I think sometimes they must be bored out of their minds at the conversation but they never show it or act like it. Kevin adores his grandfather, and keeps repeating how happy he is that we are here in FL also. They moved here in December so we are all newly adjusting to being here.  Both kids are working, and the gf will be attending cosmetology school starting in August. 

Still, having guests here is far easier than having them in our previous home. There's so much room, and places to spread out. The kids have their air mattress  set up in the second bedroom, and are in and out with J. I'm here inside in the living room typing (because the AC is my idea of heaven), while J and the kids are outside in or by the pool. It's hot and humid out there!

Later today after the kids leave, J and I will go to Sis' for dinner and the hot tub. We will bring the dogs with us for the first time, to see how everything goes. Sis has 3 cats...and we're not sure how all the furred ones will do with each other. Time to find out. That way we don't have to leave the dogs here in their crate when we go visiting, or worry about how long they have been in there while we are out doing whatever.

I'm glad it's a three day weekend; I really need some down time, time to myself. This week I also was dealing with the horrible leg cramps. For three nights in a row I was burdened with waking every hour or so because a cramp would strike. I leap out (or hobble out) of bed and try to walk it out, stretch it out, make it relax, and sometimes it's quite a long cramp. When it relaxes I gingerly lie down again, and try to get back to sleep...and then the next one will hit me; this cycle happened over and over again Tuesday night, Wednesday night, and Thursday night. By Friday night I was really feeling sleep-deprived. I took a muscle relaxer, and had more wine, and thankfully that night the cramps did not attack.

In July J's oldest daughter will visit, bringing her 5-year-old grandson. This should be fun. Kinda. Hopefully we will have some furniture for that room by then, but if not, they will be camping on the air mattress we have.

This morning we did the Pilates class, and then drove to the cheesy tourist shops which were finally open. Grabbed our things, and then took the scenic route home. Kids wanted to be outside by the pool as much as possible, and that is understandable!  The temp here is 86, but "feels like 93" according to the weather app I use. Ugh. So wonderful to be inside, and have the option to cool off in the pool!

I'm caught up now, and can breathe.  

My sons turn 30 next week, June 5. Hard to imagine. Seems like a milestone birthday. SonJ has broken up with his gf and is now living with his brother, apparently; I just learned of this last night. SonN is happily partnered with his gf/"baby mama", and they will be going to Hawaii in November with the baby to visit her dad. I know no more than this. But it will be N's first time in years on a plane, and of course the first time in Hawaii. He sounds pretty excited about it. I'm happy for them.

So happy to have a good job, with a great company. Phew!

Sunday

Got to meet Nancy and Steve last Sunday, about this time: we rode back over to the Beach Bucket where we'd met Bro and SIL Friday morning, and while the place was packed, Sis and BIL had snagged a table outside with an umbrella. A very tall slender woman got up and came over to hug me; this was Nancy. Husband and co-Realtor Steve was also very outgoing and the six of us sat there for a few hours, enjoying the breeze and the view of the water and the background music, just getting to know each other.

Later J and I went home and had our quiet evening. Monday morning my interview was actually a second interview at 10 am with the gastro office: I met the RN manager and she was great. Interesting job, but I would be considered a back-up person, a "hallway helper": I'd have regular duties but not with a specific doc unless that doc's MA was out or on vacation. Money was not discussed, but she seemed interested and said she was hoping to make a decision by the end of the week.

Home again and tried to relax until the 2 pm pain management interview. J and I had errands to do afterwards so he drove me there, and I went inside to my interview. Maddie was the practice manager, and I liked her a lot. We talked for a good 45 minutes. Then I was taken on a tour of the office and met all the  staff, including a longer interview with one of the docs (whose MA is transferring to another position which is why this opening is available).

Then back to Maddie's office to talk more and wait for the other doc to become available. Finally she did come in, and she asked me a few more questions, paying close attention. By the time I left there almost 2 hours had gone by. I went down to where J had parked the car and he was drenched with sweat (because he doesn't want to run the AC if the car isn't moving!).  However he was not at all upset, despite the two hour wait...he was pretty excited for me, seeing the length of the interview as  a very good sign.  They also said they'd be making a decision by the end of the week.

Nothing left to do that day so we did our errands. The rest of the week had no positions I could apply for either on craigslist or indeed.com.  I tried to keep busy with going through files and boxes of papers, cleaning a bit, watched a couple of movies, walked the dogs every morning at the  park. J and I even went to an actual movie theater, and with our "senior discounts" we were the only ones in the entire theater to be watching The Jungle Book. What a gorgeously done movie-- I loved it.

Thursday afternoon the phone rang and it was the Pain Management office; actually it was HR calling for the PM office, offering me the job!  I accepted, and learned the pay was better than the previous offer at the hospital, and the benefits are better, and despite the 90-day probation period before the the benefits kick in, that was the only downside. There is tuition coverage, there is reimbursement for when I need to get re-certified in a couple of years, the EMR is the same one I used back in OR. Such a relief!!  Also the dress code is that RNs, LPNs, and MAs all need to wear blue. Just blue--any shade, solids only.  Fortunately I love blue.

So Friday morning I went for the health screening, the TB testing, the drug testing, the lab work. Everyone I met was happy for me, congratulating me, assuring me it was a great place to work. Almost everyone I've met has been there long-term-- I'm hearing 5 years, 9 years, 13 years, some even at over 20 years.

After all that J and I went to the same scrub shop where I have that in-store credit and I found two new sets of blue scrubs.  Then we went grocery shopping for our guests. Came home and cleaned up the house; headed out to Sis' yoga class at 5:30. A good class this time. I relaxed and enjoyed knowing I have a job!

Saturday morning I went to my meeting, planning on heading home afterwards to join J and the kids (our guests) at the car show  for a few hours. Instead I discovered a text from J that the kids are actually arriving next weekend! Argghh! So he went to the show with BIL for awhile instead.

Then we decided to just do the last errands we needed to take care of. Getting the will notarized--turns out our big national bank won't do that, so we went to one of the local money provider places and paid $10 for this.  Then returned some stuff to Lowe's that wasn't going to help us with getting the cabinets to dry faster after all. J just has just gotten so fed up with this.

A few weeks ago he lost his one set of the truck keys. All he had left was a spare ignition key and we have been meaning to get a copy made ever since, while we've also been tearing the house apart every other day or so, looking for the missing keys. We were also going to have a spare car door lock key made, by a locksmith, and were informed it would be approximately $120.  Gulp. 

Yesterday just before we were leaving to get the will signed, that turned up missing too!  Quite maddening. I was completely frustrated by then. J remembered last seeing it in the Caddy, so we both went outside and he searched that car. No will, but he ...found the truck keys...which on their lanyard had slipped in between the seat and the console...Thankful we no longer have to pay that $120.

We went back inside and printed out another copy of the will, and we headed out to do all those errands. Will was notarized, items were returned, spare keys were made, and back home I went to put the unused coupons away...and there was the first will...in that same drawer.

It's wonderful to finally have all errands completed, and mysteries solved. But it's also exhausting!

Then later Sis and BIL came over for dinner, and J cooked on the propane grill for the first time.  We stayed in the pool quite a long time, as the water temp has finally warmed up to 78 degrees.  Dinner was great, and we all had a  blast.

This morning Sis picked me up at 8:30, and along with three other of her friends we rode out to an organic u-pick blueberry farm 90 minutes away, which is apparently the closest one to this town. It was fun to get an idea of the central part of the state, and see all the lakes, and horse farms, and fields with cows standing under palm trees. Very warm weather, but there was a breeze which helped a lot!  Next to the blueberry farm is an Amish bakery, and we all chose delicacies to bring home.  We all picked about 5 pounds of blueberries, and had a lot of bonding time.

Tomorrow morning I go back to the Lab before 8am where someone will read my TB test, then I drive to the same building (in the next town) where I had my original job testing for this company, and I will have orientation at 9,  and have my badge made, and direct deposit set up, etc. Then I head right back to the first building where I had the interview, and spend the rest of the day and the week in my new office. (That is, assuming everything goes well with my drug screen. I haven't taken any of my big-gun pain meds specifically for this reason, that I might be drug-tested and I sure as hell don't want to go through that fiasco again.)

I'm excited, and nervous, and looking forward to getting comfortable with a new job. Our new routine will change again. J is doing some grieving because he really wants to be with me 24/7. He loves that I have been home with him since March 11. But unfortunately I really need to be working, we really need that paycheck. We used the credit cards a lot here after running through much of our savings, and we need to start getting those paid off again.

Plus we still don't have a bed frame, or end tables, or book shelves, or a dresser...or wood so J can build any shelving. Both the truck and the car need oil changes, and we owe Sis money; she has been a doll about patiently waiting to be paid back until I had a job. I'm so grateful I had this time between jobs to get settled in.

TYG.

Sunday

Back to my usual posting schedule, thankfully; I have to laugh at myself when I get "off schedule". I have such a routine, and I'm careful not to think of it as a rut, (although I have been called stubborn. Same thing? It may be). I like having a routine, and it calms me to know what to expect. Surprisingly this does not get boring.

We have done major shaking up, with major changes in the past 2 months:  moving across country,  leaving children behind, losing a beloved pet, leaving one job, searching for another, rekindling relationships, learning a whole new town and way of life and geography and climate. Every single thing is different, except me and J, and our dogs and cat. Having familiar belongings around us really helps, although  many are not unpacked yet, due to lack of shelving. It's all coming together, but it's not quite there  yet. Slow and steady progress.

Yesterday J and I drove past the church at our corner and saw they were having a yard sale. There was a tall, wooden ...book case? ...storage unit? Something. Needed some repairs, but it was large and would definitely fit our needs for shelving. J asked how much it was; $1. I thought that was a joke, but no, he was serious. We loaded that thing up, and last night J had help from BIL and my brother with unloading it. J will be fixing that up this week: needs tweaking, and paint, and it will be perfect. Score!!

This past week I had an interview at a pain management office.  They have several locations in this area, and the interviewer and I got along quite well. She liked my responses, and said she wanted to send me an email with a link to an online personality test;  after I completed that she would set me up for a second interview with the RN at the site I'd be working in.  I agreed, and we shook hands, smiles all around.  I went home and have not heard a word since. I did call two days later to let her know I hadn't received an email. The receptionist said she would pass the message along.

That was Monday. Tuesday  I checked email obsessively all day with no word. J also had his meet-the-doctor appt at the same office where BIL has his doc. We found it with no problem, and waited for almost an hour. Very frustrating, and both of us were not impressed, wondering if this was going to be an ongoing issue. But we were finally called back into a room, and the RN who brought us back and "built" J's chart in the EMR as we sat there talking also turned out to be the doc's wife. J got along well with her.

When the doc did come in, he was instantly likable, knowledgeable, a bit ADD like J, but quirky and eccentric like J too, in a good way. Quick to laugh, quick to pick up on things. He thoroughly reviewed J's history, and did a quick exam, and agreed to send him to a cardiologist and a pain management doc.

Because apparently in this state only PM docs can prescribe any narcotic pain meds. J can only take morphine (due to his history of a serious ulcer he cannot take NSAIDs),  and thankfully he has plenty left from his previous doc. But to get any more he will have to be seen by PM. J was upfront about his use of medicinal herb for pain control, since it is legal in OR; this new doc is totally fine with that, and agreed that FL is on the way to approving it for medical use also. Phew. I love when everyone can be honest and aboveboard about these things.

No wonder so many PM clinics are springing up! This explains a lot. Speaking of which, a previous company I'd tested for but never had an actual interview with called me with my choice of 3 positions, one of which was ...pain management. That's the one I'm interested in. I have an interview with them for Monday, tomorrow, at 2pm.

Wednesday I had an interview for a CMA position in a gastro office. Their corporate office is up in Jacksonville, so I was asked to drive up there for the first interview; if I was invited back for the second it would be held at the local office I'd be working in. I agreed and asked how far Jax was from DB, and she said, oh it's about 45 minutes...  She said she would send an email with directions.  That had been the previous Friday. No instructions and no email had arrived by Wednesday morning so I looked online for the address. Jax turned out to be 90 minutes away... So J and I both hopped in the car, and drove up. Had a quick lunch at a deli before my appt at 1.

Got to the address, where I was told it wasn't the correct building, nor was the second building correct. The third one was, but the door to that HR office was locked! I stood out there in the hall wondering what to do. Soon someone came along and opened the door and said she would let the interviewer know I was there.

Once I was actually in the interview with A, it went just fine. We had a good connection, she was impressed with my background, and quickly she said she'd like to schedule me for that second interview. That one is tomorrow, Monday at 10 am. 

J and I drove all the way back home, and let the poor dogs out of the kennel/crate, and while I was exhausted, he jumped right into bathing the dogs, and blow-drying them; then it was my turn to do the grooming and pampering.

Thursday morning J and I had an insurance man come over. This was in response to a solicitation asking if I had insurance which would give survivors a way to pay off the mortgage if I died.  I didn't, so was interested, and we liked him; I think we will probably sign up for some kind of coverage, but I told him I wasn't ready to do anything until I had a job because my employers normally offer this same benefit. He was very low key, and we have looked over the info, very impressed.

Later Sis took me to lunch at a wonderful pizza place called Mellow Mushroom. Excellent pizza with fresh ingredients, fantastic crust, vegan options for her--couldn't have been any better.  We both enjoyed that a lot. Then we went shopping at Target for groceries, and then home. She stayed for a glass of wine, and we discussed my brother's upcoming arrival, and our tentative plans for the weekend. My brother and his wife were scheduled for closing on their new house here in DB, and were flying in for that and to meet with a contractor. And of course to have a family reunion!

Meanwhile J has been again working like a horse around here, both on our "normal" house projects, and on sprucing up for my brother's arrival.  I see him work all day on various things, and at the end of a day he wonders why he is so tired... but he sleeps like a log, and then gets up and does it all again the next day.

Friday morning J and I and Sis met my brother and his wife at a local spot for breakfast. C and I haven't seen each other since my sister's wedding, 9 years ago; I don't know about him but I was a bit anxious. I needn't have been--it all went wonderfully, and we all chattered like magpies, trying to catch up on old and new stuff all at once. It was so emotional for me, to realize we are all living in the same town, for the first time since 1974.  I just can't even express what this means to me.

After breakfast they went on to meet their realtor, and J and I went home. We have discovered that while my will is up to date, J's is not. So I have retyped it all so it's reflecting our new locale --it's not very long-- and Monday we'll stop by the bank for them to notarize it.  MissS paid their rent and that enabled us to do some shopping for non-food supplies.

A neighbor stopped by and offered J his older propane grill. So J is in the process of cleaning that up; it needs a few replacement parts but it apparently works just fine.These are not cheap, so he is thrilled. (I didn't really want one, because they scare me, but J is pretty comfortable with propane.) And apparently it's much better in the summer here to use the outdoor grill, instead of heating up your house and wrecking the air conditioning...

And that late afternoon I went to yoga with my sister. She brought me home afterwards, and J and I watched a cheesy old movie with Rhonda Fleming. Terrible acting, but it was just what we were in the mood for.

Saturday morning I went to my regular AlAnon meeting, and that is always wonderful. I feel so at home there now. I stayed for the business meeting which took less than 3 minutes, and once you have voted on any issues, you really feel invested in the meeting.

Then I drove about a block and a half, and met my brother and his wife at their new house! It is adorable: spotless, beautifully painted, updated, completely empty except for their air mattress and sheets and personal items from their suitcase. It is small, less than 1000 sq feet, but just pristine. Naturally they want to make some changes, but it is absolutely move-in ready.  And they have a garage!  I'm jealous of that!

 (This actually made me a bit more anxious about what they would think when they saw our house later that day, because while ours was able to be lived in, it needed a lot of work, and is an ongoing project... and again, I learned I had no need to be anxious; they are most understanding, and seemed to really love this house, too. Phew!)

J had met them earlier at Lowe's so he could transport their new propane grill in his truck. The four of us stood at their kitchen bar and talked, and it is so amazing to believe this is happening. Brother is currently looking for work so they can both live here full-time, but he is experiencing the same thing I am: people express apparently-sincere interest in you as an employee---and then you don't hear anything back. Very puzzling, and frustrating. Not to mention, rude.

Then J and I went home and spent two hours cleaning our house, and doing prep work for the reunion dinner. Sis and BIL arrived around 4 bearing food and tools and wine and champagne and a beautiful gardenia blossom. BIL instantly went to work on fixing an electrical outlet in the kitchen which had been installed upside down. This had apparently been bugging him for months so he corrected that--what a sweetheart!

Then Bro and SIL arrived, also bearing gifts--food, wines, desserts... and we all had a blast.  We ate and drank and laughed and talked, and took photos. We pretty much just sat out by the pool in a big half circle, overlooking the pool. Listening to the birds (and planes!), and getting reacquainted. Wonderful. No one left until about 10:30, which I think was late for all of us!

This morning J and I went to Sis' Pilates class, and later today we are meeting them back at the same spot as Friday morning, where we will meet Steve and Nancy, the realtors who sold us the house. They all know each other, but I haven't met either of them yet, although J spent a lot of time with them last September on his visit here.

This morning also, MissS emailed us photos of a tree which has fallen down, narrowly missing our house in OR once again.  Thankfully she is okay. J will ask our friend Mal to stop by and report as to whether we need the official "tree guys" to do anything, or whether Mal can (and would) chop this up and deal with it. I hope J doesn't need to go back there, but even so it's going to cost something....

So this coming week I have two interviews Monday, and then nothing else on the schedule. J's cousin in NJ shipped us the first of two ceiling fans she is gifting us with, and J will install that either today or tomorrow. It will go in the bedroom to replace the one that has died. The other one will maybe go in the kitchen to replace the outdated fluorescent light fixture from the 70s.

Next Sunday one of J's grandsons Kevin, and his gf Kayla, will be driving over from the Tampa area where they moved to in December. We saw them last summer when they visited in OR, and they are a very cute young couple.   On Sunday J and they will go with BIL to a classic car show here, and meanwhile Sis and I with some other of her friends will go to an organic blueberry farm for some do-it-yourself picking. Maybe I will have good new by then about a job.

If not, I have plenty to do around here. I have numerous boxes of paper files to go through, and this down time between jobs is an excellent way to do that without feeling rushed, or as though I am giving up precious weekend time to do this.

I have a half hour before we head out again, so will stop this for now and try to relax. I love quiet Sundays. Love my life here. TYG.

Monday

All things happen for a reason. I'm re-learning that, every single week.  Monday I went and "shadowed" with the MA in the primary care office. She was amazing, and it all went very well. I could definitely do this job, and the amount of walking would not be an issue. I felt very comfortable. I left after 2 hours, thanking the MA. I assumed I would hear back from the office manager.

Tuesday was a quiet day. My dad did have his heart testing done that day, and thankfully all went well, and he was given the go ahead to resume normal activities. SUCH  a relief.   Wednesday was too--and that day it also rained and thundered and lightening'd.  It was cool to go through; each storm gives me more info on how it will be when a hurricane hits. I'm trying not to anticipate, but I'm also trying to level out my PTSD. So far so good. The temperature dropped quite a lot and that really helped. No pool use on those days!

 J and I did errands both days, and worked on the kitchen cabinets: removed them and stripped down as much of the layers of paint as possible, and then painted. This stuff did not dry!  J had to put 3- 4 coats on over 4-5 days, and was completely frustrated at how thin it was and how slow it all was to dry. We used the same paint as we had been for the second bedroom, which was a great medium sky blue. Very pretty.

One day we also pulled everything into the middle of the front "mud room" and then painted that room, a different blue, again using stuff we had plenty of. It required two coats also, but dried much faster. That room now needs the ceiling painted white, and then we are done.

By Thursday I still hadn't heard from the primary care office. Hmm. That was the day that Sis and I had a blast; she picked me up around noon, and we headed out to do some shopping. She had a list of places she needed to go. I have no money (or very little which we are not spending until I have a job), so I got to be the cheerleader, and we just had such fun.

At one place however I did find an in-sink dish drainer. We have been struggling with the use of the dishwasher: it runs for almost an hour, and doesn't do a great job. J and I both balk at using it, but we didn't have a place to dry the dishes if I wanted to do them myself. No store I've looked at has a dish drainer which would fit our sink, and I did not want one which used up our limited counter space.  Until Thursday.  I even called J to tell him about this and get his opinion whether to spend the stupid $13. Of course he was all for it once I told him the measurements, and so I bought that, and a gorgeous dark blue tin cup with the letter E on it. That was a big fat $1.59 after the discount....I was thrilled.

Now I do my own dishes, and we both feel much better. We have the option of using the dishwasher for those bigger nights, of course, if we are entertaining (!) but we don't have to use it.

Anyway, we had a blast shopping and talking and just hanging out. Oh, I also picked up my BP med for the first time here in FL, and there was no charge!!  That was awesome. We got home after 5, and she stayed for wine and supper, and that was awesome too.

Afterwards I decided to do a Google search on the term "research technician" which was the job I was interviewing for on Friday. Much to my shock it had no mention of the actual job description, so I started to panic.

To make a long story short, the research job I thought I wanted was not the one I was imagining it to be. This company does Phase I trials, the first step after testing on animals. (Previously I've done Phase 3 and Phase 4, quite a big difference.) Subjects come in and stay overnight, anywhere from 4 to 40 days depending on the type of meds they are being tested on. It sounded absolutely fascinating, and the interviewer and I got along just fine. I loved it, the more I learned.

Then, the hours: a rolling schedule which alternated weekends, in addition to two weeks on day shift, then two weeks on an afternoon shift (1-9pm), and the final two weeks on nights (9pm to 7am). Then the day shift started again, etc.  DAMN it.  I initially thought I  could do this, but as the interview progressed, and I later discussed it with J, I realized it just was going to be too difficult despite the much better pay and benefits.  So I emailed her later in the day explaining all this, and asked her to pull my app; this makes the second time I have withdrawn from this company. Yeah, I've burned my bridges there. Sigh.  I could feel a headache worsening as the day went by.

Later that same day I found an MA job in Pain Management to apply for and did so. One hour later I got a phone call, and I have an interview today for that one.  I also applied for one in Gastroenterology, and they called too, so I have an interview Wednesday for that position.

Meanwhile, J had cleaned up the window AC units which were left here, and put them on craigslist. Within a few hours we had a phone call from someone who drove here from Jacksonville and bought all three. That gave us almost $270, and we went to buy groceries.

Saturday, I still had the headache, and went to my meeting anyway.   I drove by my brother's new house which turns out to be one block from my meeting. It's a sweet little house, needing outside TLC--there's one big ol' palm in the front, and that's it. He and SIL are going to have  a blast doing that landscaping. The interior is pristine, and brand new, and lovely. They will be here in town next weekend to close on it, and I'm pretty darn excited to see him, to see them.

Saturday afternoon the headache just worsened, and taking a dip in the pool did not help, nor did being quiet, or drinking plenty of fluids. I don't think we did too much that day, as J was tired too. He had gone to BIL's house in the morning to help with the deck building, and BIL had said he could fix my little computer that day so J had taken it with him. I have to say I felt a sense of loss not having it with me, not being able to get online whenever I wanted do. I did get my "fix" using J's but ...it wasn't the same.

Sunday morning I did go to Sis's Pilates class, which was held later in the morning than usual--that really helped. Headache was still there but at some point I just need to try to ignore it. Frustrating that the change in climate did not help. Sigh.  After returning home to change and eat lunch, we both jumped back in the car and headed to Sis' house where J again helped BIL with building the deck steps, and she and I walked on the beach. It was in the upper 80s, and quite bright. Very nice, but the minute you leave the beach and walk toward her house, the heat/humidity was intense again. We didn't stay too long after that, and came home to hide in the air-conditioned house.

BIL had successfully installed Windows 10 on my little laptop, and so at home I tried playing with it to see what was different, and get used to its new look.  Then a text from Sis: Ok if we stop by for some pool time?  Of course... and we had a wonderful time.

Last week they had brought us some rubber duckies, which look like the typical yellow rubber duckies you find as bathtub playthings.  These duckies have a little thermometer as a rudder, letting you know the pool temp.  BIL also brought us a giant rubber duckie, which is a cleverly disguised chlorine dispenser.To see this flock bobbing around the pool is a real kick.  Anyway, the pool temp is usually 76 or so during the day, and last night it was down to 72.  Refreshing, as they say. Once you are in, it's heaven...

They ended up staying for dinner, and we just had so much fun. I love having her so near, and watching J and BIL developing their relationship.

Today is Monday, and thankfully Mother's Day is over. I have such mixed emotions about this "holiday", strictly due to my sons,  my ex's way of handling the day, and my own mother's expectations.

Yesterday however the day was lovely-- my husband cooked a wonderful breakfast as he always does, and sent me a very sweet card/email, and my daughter sent a video of herself talking to me about Mother's Day, and my sons each did text. I have no complaints at all, but the leftover stresses do a number on  me, still. One of these days I will stop dreading it.

Must get ready for my interview. TYG.

Sunday

So everything changed last week. I no longer have the job at the hospital. On Monday I'd gone in for my pre-employment screening, labs,  UA, and also met the doc I'd be working with. All went fine. I was told to return Wednesday morning for them to read the TB test results, which I did. Then all I needed was to wait for the results of the drug screen which was supposed to come back that afternoon.

Meanwhile during the week J and I did all kinds of other stuff here: he is still working on the pool issues, and also did some smaller stuff inside. We also drove to a town  20 miles south of here after he found a specific tool he needed being offered on craigslist at an incredible price. That was a beautiful drive, and it was nice to see areas other than Daytona.

On Thursday morning someone from the lab called me, and said I'd tested positive for a particular drug and asked me questions. I said it was my headache med, which I've used for many years. Frankly I'd forgotten I took one the day before the test--and that was a big mistake. (Or maybe not...all things happen for a reason.)   This lab person then notified me I needed to contact my pharmacy and get a printout of the last 3-4 months worth of refills and fax it to them, so they could determine how often I was using it. Then, I was to also contact my doc and get a letter from her stating that the use of this med would not affect my ability to do my job. Oh, and they then said that I could not use this med on the job anyway.

Inside I was freaking out. What the Hell!   It is something I have used for years, and without that assistance at times, there would be no way I could  work. I've never been questioned before. Frankly it was disturbing, and humiliating, and I didn't like the feeling of being on the defensive or of having to justify my use.

But I did as they asked. Called my old pharmacy and left a msg asking for their help. Then I called my doc in Oregon, and explained what I needed to the front desk person, and stressing the urgency of this being done asap because without it I wasn't going to be able to start work Monday.

The pharmacy called back and had no problem with printing it out, having the pharmacist sign it (another of the requirements), and then faxing it to that lab. I was very appreciative. Then the hospital HR dept called, asking how soon I'd be getting that letter to them, because without it I couldn't start work. I explained I was waiting for the call back and would contact HR as soon as I had it.

Then my doc called, or rather the MA, and she explained that my doc was not going to be able to write this letter: one of the side effects listed in the prescribing info is "sedation" or "drowsiness", and you are not to use it while operating machinery until you knows how this med will affect you. Well, yesss...I said I knew that as I have been on it for years, and it does not make me drowsy or sedated, and of course I drive. It does not impair me. Nevertheless, the MA had the unpleasant job of telling me again she, my NP, would not write the letter, because to say it hadn't affected me up til now didn't mean it couldn't ever happen, and if she did write that, it would be fraud.

Good god. I was in shock. I had to accept this as a job-killer. I called HR and told them, which effectively put me out of the running. She did explain that some docs have no problem writing a letter like this, and others won't, and since it appeared my doc wouldn't, then yes, the job offer was rescinded.  Very disappointing all around.

So after talking with J about this (he was utterly outraged, and then very angry at them), and trying to remember that everything happens for a reason,  I found a job on indeed.com which sounded interesting and sent off an app. Then I emailed my contact at the research job and asked if that position was still available, as I was now in the market again.

Within 45 minutes the first job's manager called and I was scheduled for an interview the next morning.  The second place both called and emailed saying yes they were still interested and would like to interview me... I called back and left a msg giving my availability for an interview--which she had said would be a 2 hour process!-- and now I'm waiting for a call back from her. That will happen this week.

So last Friday morning I had the interview: in a primary care office not far from here. It does sound intriguing but while the hours are great and they could meet my pay requirements, I would be rooming up to 40 patients a day, 4 days a week. I'm not sure I can physically do that because of the hip bursitis. But I was invited back to shadow with the current MA on Monday morning for a couple of hours to see if it's do-able. They did like me, and I liked the set-up. So we'll see.

I think I would prefer the research job, if it's offered; I don't know if I'd have the same issue with the drug testing so I'm just going to tough it out and try not to take that particular med for a few days. That will avoid the whole mess. Of course, that means that I live with a bad headache on some days. Sigh.

This whole thing was bogglesome to my mind. I expressed my disappointment and frustration on my Facebook page, and asked for some comments or thoughts. Holy cow--the response was tremendous. Every single one of my friends was extremely supportive, and encouraged me to find a better atmosphere, a  better environment to be in, that not all places were like this, that anyone who was that restrictive would be bound to nitpick in a lot of other areas, etc. I was overwhelmed with emotional support and validation. The previous neuro NP I worked with offered to provide me with a letter if I need one, if it comes up again.  My cousin the  lawyer even offered to call that prescribing doc and "explain a few things to her", saying this was an ADA violation. 

I did some research online regarding "testing positive for a legally prescribed medication", and learned a lot. Apparently employers have a lot of leeway in their responses to this for pre-employment screening. The hospital just happened to be one with an extreme response, maybe because of being faith-based, maybe not. My previous employer had no problem with my testing positive, once I explained it was for headache treatment. So reading all this made me feel better.

Friday afternoon, I attended my sister's yoga class, and then she and her husband came to our house for a wine/beer/pizza/pool party because it was their 9th wedding anniversary!  We had a wonderful time; lots of laughter and story-sharing.  J had bought two helium balloons and stored them in the car trunk until we got home, where upon he opened the trunk...and the balloons flew away.  He was crushed and so frustrated with himself, but I started laughing, and reassured him it made a great story. Sure enough, when we recounted this sad tale to Sis and BIL they did laugh, and that's how the whole evening was. The pool was amazing and refreshing. The three of them even saw an owl fly into a tree above the pool, and then also saw it float away. I did not ever see where they were all pointing to, because my night vision is pretty bad; still it was a good omen.  We stayed up far too late, but had a blast.

Saturday I went to my AlAnon meeting, and did share there for the first time. I really love this group so far, and feel totally at home. My higher power did provide me with a wonderful supportive new home group. 

I had woken with a bad headache, but because of my decision not to take any of my prescription med, I just suffered until I couldn't take it anymore. In the middle of the meeting I realized it was becoming a migraine so I did pop a pill.  On the way home I returned an item to Walmart and got a few groceries, and then at home I tried to just rest and relax. I even took a nap when J did.

When we woke up, the headache was still there, but  I didn't dare take any more. I drank a lot of water that afternoon. Sis and BIL arrived at 3 to pick us up for the surprise cruise that Sis was giving him as a late birthday "experience". He did not know where we were going, so it was fun to be in on the surprise, not to mention being invited along!

At the cruise site, he was very happy to learn we were doing this all together, and we parked and walked next door to have a drink and snacks while waiting to board.  It was a lovely warm, not terribly humid day, and the restaurant/bar was outside on the water; we watched the water and the birds and the boats and the people, listening to some pretty bad live music...

At the appointed time we lined up to board. It was a catamaran, which I've never been on, and 45 other people were also on the boat. We four were the first on, and found seats along the side, giving great views.  The rest of the evening--it was a 3 hour tour out into the ocean and then back along the river and the bayshore for bird-watching and wildlife viewing-- was absolute heaven.  J was so unbelievably happy to be back out on a boat, and on an ocean, in the wonderful warm sea air and breezes, surrounded by lots of other pleasure boats and fishing craft, and jet-skis, and even some parasailors.  He was just so quiet, so blissful.

The staff of three passed out plenty of drinks (either alcoholic or not), and then plenty of snacks: cheeses, crackers, veggies, dip, cut -up fruit. There was no limit, you could have as much as you wanted. Needless to say it was like happy hour literally on the water. Absolute heaven. We saw dolphins, more than once! And egrets, and herons, and cormorants, and pelicans. Sis was so happy we wanted to come along, and J and I were like Are you kidding me?? Of course we want to come along! We couldn't imagine anything better...

What a way to celebrate a late birthday, and an anniversary. We got back to our house about 8:30, to discover that the dogs had had a lot of fun in the kitchen. We had blocked access to the rest of the house, but given them free rein in the kitchen and fresh water and...forgot to remove the pile of recycles waiting to go outside....so they had torn into the cardboard pizza box, and gotten on top of the kitchen table where they found my reading glasses and pens, and chewed those up along with a box of tissues...all Havanese have a thing for paper. Oh, they had a wonderful time.

Well, we cleaned up and had some left over pizza. Then Sis and BIL left, and J and I stayed up for a bit, but soon headed for bed too.

This morning J was up early as usual and applied a third coat of blue paint to the cupboard doors; these had been removed, sanded, and had holes drilled in them for the new door handles and pulls, and then cleaned up. Meanwhile I had been soaking all the hardware in vinegar and water first, and then in dish-washing liquid, and then scrubbed them all clean and set them out to dry.  J will then re-hang them tomorrow, and start on the lower level of cabinets. It's going to look awesome.

Then he headed out to BIL's to help him with their hot tub deck building, while I went to Sis' Pilates class. When that was done I discovered the back tire was flat on the Caddy, so J came back to fix that, and then followed me home to make sure I got here safely.  The dogs were delighted to see me, and there was no mess this time!  He's gone back to Sis', and I'm here now catching up, enjoying the silence.

My dad has been notified of some unexpected heart issues; he is having a stress test on Tuesday. I'm a bit concerned, as we all are. He is 83, and this is a tough test; based on those results he might need surgery or not, we just don't know yet. I called and spoke to him this morning, and that felt good to hear his voice. My brother will take that day to drive up and be with him, and that's a real blessing. I'm so grateful he is fairly close by. He's closer to Dad than I was to mom as far as driving distance goes, but it's still a chunk of travel time, and I so appreciate his flexibility.

Well. Mid-afternoon Sunday.  Life is good, and full, and family is all around. I'm pretty lucky.