So Betty is the name given to the GPS voice in my blackberry purchased only for this trip. Otherwise, everyone knows that technology is not my strong point. Where would I be without her right now? Well probably somewhere in south IL because that is where she led us astray....we didn't really plan this trip, at all. I'm too busy with all the other chaos and mom really hasn't the information from me because of my hate to "plan". The first time I slept on the trip I wake up to mom, Betty and an atlas. We went with Betty. We went 17mi off track in IL ending up at a rest stop then Betty says, "make the next legal U turn". You can never fully trust Betty.
Who do you trust on an adventure....your travel agent, your friend's opinion, intuition, instinct, prior knowledge, or just plain guess on life? I chose the latter of these which leads me to discuss my job! I work in 2 different facilities, skilled nursing facilities. One a psych unit and the other a locked down unit for Alzheimer's diseased patients. Now this is the last stop on my career path for sure. But is it?
There are certain things in your life that you know absolutely that you can not possibly get through....not one more second in that dentist chair, not two more hours at the circus with your kids, not one more time to the vet with your dog increasing the costs, only one trip to your favorite espresso shop on johnson drive, your dad's funeral, the last time you see your friend for a year, the day at the office where you know for sure that you are not helping anyone.
If there is anything in life that I know for certain, it is that you can do anything that you thought previously to be impossible. The job "opportunity" was a pre-planned sacrifice on my part professionally. I knew that I wanted to be in Mass to experience what I wanted/needed to and that meant some bargaining. I did not know quite the sacrifice, but "everything happens for a reason". This job is so counter-intuitive to my every fiber as an OT, but in many ways this is making me stronger already after one week.
So I do what I do as an OT. I help patients with their self-cares, I do wheelchair seating evaluations, I work on upper extremity strengthening, and functional transfers to toilets and showers, I train staff on proper handling, I help relearn feeding techniques, I buy nurses chocolate in turn for referrals, I kill the east-coasteners with kindness and I go home at night knowing that I still do what I love! Just in a different culture!
I started today with 4 patients from the psych unit, sitting at their breakfast table and evaluating how they can feed themselves more independently. The charge nurse glaring at me, the CNAs annoyed that I was taking up a chair. The patients thrilled at the company and talking about my home state of Nebraska. Middle of the day I fielded questions if I should leave Mass and my facilities/apt to a different location. End of the day evaluating a patient with Alzheimer's. I ask him if he has any pain, he says to me, "how could I? I'm in heaven right now. Can you come see me every day".
Life is simple on paper. When you get into the gray areas we have questions.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Road to Massachusetts
Mom and I left at 4:30am Thursday Oct 15th to drive through NE, IA, IL, IN, OH. Stopped at 9pm (after time change) to sleep in Mentor, OH. Mom was amazed at the hotel room, sweet $90 and made it in time for my shows on Thurs! Next morning driving through rain, snow, rain, sunshine we went through OH, PA stopping at lake Erie, then again in NY at Niagra falls. Well really what is all the hype about anyway? Is it the Canadians making a big deal about this waterfall, because in the land of Jackson Hole, WY we determined that you can find much neater waterfalls in much better scenery that it doesn't take border patrol and money to view!!! But it was great!
Made it to Worcester, MA at my downtown apartment in the dark around 7pm, finding no parking of course with a stuffed SUV!!! Dealt with the non-english speaking parking garage attendant across the street to leave the truck there and attempt to get my keys from an unknown security guard who was not on duty YET! Well me, being the go getter that I am and being that I had to pee really bad, I stole the keys to my apt from behind the desk! Why not!
Pulling up to the apt there is not parking/unloading zone! So we park in emergency zone and unload all my SUV onto a bellhop cart from the apt on the side of the curb!! Fun times with the mother!! So the apt is not exactly like the video by the way! Close but not close! We slept the first night on a bed of rocks listening to the police apparently "cleaning up downtown".
The next day went to buy apartment stuff which sent us on another adventure thanks to "Betty" the GPS lady in my blackberry. got home really late in which again, no parking!! So I now went to the apt and retrieved a shopping cart and unloaded my SUV. I sent my mother downtown Worcester with a shopping cart packed to the brim, walking with a limp to my apt while I parked the car!!! PRICELESS!
Sunday, Boston! Rainy/snowing all day of course. Hopped the commuter rail from union station Worcester to Boston, then onto the Trolley. Ate at Legal Seafood, walked through Quincy Hall and Fanuiel Hall. Had a crazy trolley driver that got mad at some passengers and we swore he was either going to quit and leave us stranded or drive us into the river/ocean/lake or whatever body of water those people had a war over and threw tea in!
Made it back safe and sound to Worcester, next day in Worcester....BEAUTIFUL. Who would have thought, right? I worked at my my new job, mom made her way around downtown blending in with the homeless and pissing off the apt managers asking for a wrench to reverse my fridge!! Who would have thought of doing that?? MY MOM! Love her! After my awesome...(not really just pretending so you don't have to send me pity mail) day of work, we went and had good Italian food and one great dirty martini!
Mom left today! Managed the commuter rail, to the silver line, to the airport, to Chicago, and to Omaha! Thanks so much mom, memories will be held for many years and stories shall be kept secret! Hoping for a new bed on Thursday and cable someday! Met a great pal named Cookie whom let me try on all her wigs tonight and hang with her dog....Casanova! Lovin' Mass.
Made it to Worcester, MA at my downtown apartment in the dark around 7pm, finding no parking of course with a stuffed SUV!!! Dealt with the non-english speaking parking garage attendant across the street to leave the truck there and attempt to get my keys from an unknown security guard who was not on duty YET! Well me, being the go getter that I am and being that I had to pee really bad, I stole the keys to my apt from behind the desk! Why not!
Pulling up to the apt there is not parking/unloading zone! So we park in emergency zone and unload all my SUV onto a bellhop cart from the apt on the side of the curb!! Fun times with the mother!! So the apt is not exactly like the video by the way! Close but not close! We slept the first night on a bed of rocks listening to the police apparently "cleaning up downtown".
The next day went to buy apartment stuff which sent us on another adventure thanks to "Betty" the GPS lady in my blackberry. got home really late in which again, no parking!! So I now went to the apt and retrieved a shopping cart and unloaded my SUV. I sent my mother downtown Worcester with a shopping cart packed to the brim, walking with a limp to my apt while I parked the car!!! PRICELESS!
Sunday, Boston! Rainy/snowing all day of course. Hopped the commuter rail from union station Worcester to Boston, then onto the Trolley. Ate at Legal Seafood, walked through Quincy Hall and Fanuiel Hall. Had a crazy trolley driver that got mad at some passengers and we swore he was either going to quit and leave us stranded or drive us into the river/ocean/lake or whatever body of water those people had a war over and threw tea in!
Made it back safe and sound to Worcester, next day in Worcester....BEAUTIFUL. Who would have thought, right? I worked at my my new job, mom made her way around downtown blending in with the homeless and pissing off the apt managers asking for a wrench to reverse my fridge!! Who would have thought of doing that?? MY MOM! Love her! After my awesome...(not really just pretending so you don't have to send me pity mail) day of work, we went and had good Italian food and one great dirty martini!
Mom left today! Managed the commuter rail, to the silver line, to the airport, to Chicago, and to Omaha! Thanks so much mom, memories will be held for many years and stories shall be kept secret! Hoping for a new bed on Thursday and cable someday! Met a great pal named Cookie whom let me try on all her wigs tonight and hang with her dog....Casanova! Lovin' Mass.
Getting started
Most of you know all about my last 2 months but I found a great analogy to my crazy life as I know it. It was like planning a wedding, buying a home, selling a home, buying a car and selling a car, while starting a new job out of state! So if any of you can equivocate with one of these....try all of them at once! Yes my hair is falling out :(
So I have always wanted to be a traveler but managed to come up with some really great excuses not too. One night I decided, enough excuses, make it happen. So I found a company, rented out my house, Steph took my dog, packed up my entire house which is either at my families homes or in my attic, bought Heather's SUV, sold my car, went to Chicago for my new car and then to Mexico for vacation, was homeless for about 3wks living with friends and going back to NE, had 4 going away parties and now in MA!
Settled on Worcester for my first location because I have a fellow OT traveler here in Mass, Allison, whom will appear often on my later posts!!! I will be here through January 17th, then on to another location. My company is called Cross Country Travcorps. I am still doing the same job as an OT, but now I get to travel around the US every 13wks to do what I love.
I simply started this blog because someone told me too! :) And I thought all of you would find some fun/humor/comfort in hearing my wild, scary, boring stories from where ever the heck I am living! Thanks for following along and feel free to call/email me whenever!
So I have always wanted to be a traveler but managed to come up with some really great excuses not too. One night I decided, enough excuses, make it happen. So I found a company, rented out my house, Steph took my dog, packed up my entire house which is either at my families homes or in my attic, bought Heather's SUV, sold my car, went to Chicago for my new car and then to Mexico for vacation, was homeless for about 3wks living with friends and going back to NE, had 4 going away parties and now in MA!
Settled on Worcester for my first location because I have a fellow OT traveler here in Mass, Allison, whom will appear often on my later posts!!! I will be here through January 17th, then on to another location. My company is called Cross Country Travcorps. I am still doing the same job as an OT, but now I get to travel around the US every 13wks to do what I love.
I simply started this blog because someone told me too! :) And I thought all of you would find some fun/humor/comfort in hearing my wild, scary, boring stories from where ever the heck I am living! Thanks for following along and feel free to call/email me whenever!
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