Tuesday, October 28, 2008, Nashville, TN, 7:35 a.m.~

Dear Journal~

Louisiana here.  Sorry if I haven't written in here; been busier than a centipede in a toe-countin' contest, as they so often say 'round these parts!  LOL  Hope you'll forgive me!

Between working oodles of hours at my job (am there now; tryin' to get my bearin's together, wait for the coffee to hit before I navigate the wonderful world of nursing care), raising our village LOL, and trying to get the place ready for the upcoming holidays (not to mention, company!!), I don't have much free time anymore; that's why you haven't seen much of me.

Add to the fun, the upcoming Fall Harvest Festival at our church, which is in just three days, on Friday.  YIKES.

Work has been stressful most days, slow on some.  Today, thank God, is a slow one.  Only have two patients to my name:  both in Orthopedics (a man with a broken leg, another woman with spina bifida who's recovering from her umpteenth surgery).  Thankfully, both are doing very well; I am happy at how they're progressing.

Yesterday I worked in the E.R.; it was a madhouse.  Had a bad accident at a construction site, on top of all the other cases:  a guy came in with a good sized piece of steel emerging from his chest.  Impaled himself when he fell.  A nasty accident; it was gross.  We worked hard to try to save him; it was beyond our means; efforts to save him were fruitless:  the guy, mercifully, died.  It put a damper on my day; sometimes the E.R. does that to a person.  There's nothing more heartbreaking to see human suffering at its worst; you definitely find that in the E.R.!

I'm glad I'm in Orthopedics today; it's a lot less stressful, quieter, for one thing!

Bill is having his problems at work, too.  Dealing with irate customers, shop lifters, inattentive co workers, kids running around, with no parental supervision; it is driving him up the tree!!

Bill would love to look for another job if he could; however, he's physically disabled, and he's in his forties.  People only want to hire young people, even teenagers; they don't want to give us "oldsters" a chance.  Or they look at a person's outside instead of looking at what they can do; it's no wonder so many people, qualified, experienced people, are out of work!  It's crazy!!

I wish Bill could come work here at the hospital; I'm sure the supervisor could find a desk job for him to do!  There is one but small problem, though:  Bill faints at the sight of blood, especially if a.) it's his own, or b.) there's a lot of it.  :P 

Bill's always had a weak stomach when it comes to blood.  LOL  And my one daughter is the same way.  She sees blood, and it's "good night, nurse"!  LOL

I am trying like he** to keep my kids healthy so they don't get sick for the Fall Festival.  Already have taken 'em to get their flu shots; that was Friday.  Oh, what a mess THAT was!  YIKES!!  Took well over an hour to inoculate all the kids; at least they're now protected!  Or if they DO get the flu, it will be a lot less severe.  I got my shot too, as did Bill; we're all protected! 

Thank God for flu shots; they're saying this upcoming flu season could be the worst one in years; they're recommending everyone get the shots!

So far, not even a sniffle to be heard, thank goodness.  Coughs, yes, or sneezes, but those are due to allergies, not the cold or flu. 

I pray my family doesn't get sick; that'd be worthy of the international news!! LOLOLOL

Election's coming up quick.  Bill, I, and the kids old enough to vote have done our patriotic duty, done our part.  (No, we did not vote for the popular guy, in case you're wondering.)  I pray the voters vote with their heads instead of their hearts; our country's future is depending on it!  I am praying for the right guy to get in!! 

Lord, if we ever need you, it's now!!  God, touch our nation and God bless America again!  We are long overdue!!

Oooh, dear!  I just looked at the time; in five minutes, I start!  I should be gettin' out of here; need to clock in!  I will write in here again soon; until then, take care and God bless!  I will write about the Fall Festival next time!  Bye for now!

~Love, your friend, Louie May. :D