daily life and a special visit

This week I worked somewhere different each day. One day I was in the ICU, the next, unit for women and children only, and lastly a med-surg unit .  Different flavors and hats of nursing.  It was especially difficult on the med-surg unit.  I had a higher patient load, 5 people, and a lot more busy work.  The most difficult thing about this job has been conforming to the rolls and policies of the various units.  It makes your head spin a little.  Especially when you have to redo some things, and you end up doubling your work..which I was already behind on.

Ashley and a therapy dog

They have volunteer therapy dogs on the unit a lot.  They come for the patients, but the nurses take a little TLC from them as well.

The best gift patient's families can give nurses is food and coffee.  A frequent gift has been fruit baskets with these guys in them.  Persimmons. This was my first taste, and perhaps my last.  They are overwhelmingly sweet and the bite is similar to that of an apple, but not as juicy.  People here love them.

Friday I met up with a friend from Pittsburgh, Whitney.  She and her husband are in SoCal for a conference, so we got to spend a good part of the day together.

We went antiquing and shopping in Pasadena.  There are a lot of great shops there.  

Whitney sketching an idea for a Christmas present while it's still in her head

Then we went out to lunch at this great place, Plate 38, which the owner of one of the antique stores suggested we try out.

We stopped and I got a tea at a little cafe, called Tiffany's Coffee where this lady greeted us at the door.  I love stuff like this - which was the only decoration in the restaurant.  Other than an elaborate statue, the cafe was bland and had  plain ol' tables and chairs. 

In the evening I met up with Ashley and her sister in Hollywood for Rock-e-oke at the Hard Rock Cafe. They had a live band. Ashley sang Hit Me With Your Best Shot, and had the crowd (of about 20 or so people) clapping above their heads and singing along. 

Next, I was called to the stage.  

Many of you may know that in my past I did a number of performances and at one point thought that acting was the only career for me. Well, it may surprise you to know that any sort of "stage presence" I had in my youth has since left me with awkwardness and armpit sweat. 

I was nervous.

The song I chose was Sitting On the Dock of the Bay, an old favorite, slow, but fun to sing.  The band started off and the guy on the left, "the back up singer" was going to help cue me to start.  Well apparently I misread him because I did that thing were I started with "sit.." before it was appropriate.  Then the band played the intro again and I missed the starting point.  Intro again, and the gentlemen next to me helped me start the song. 

My arms were locked to my side and the lights were so bright, I could only look at the computer screen which displayed the lyrics.  My voice was just loud enough for myself and people closest to the speakers to hear.  At one point, the MC ran up on the stage and put his arm around me and sang into the mic with me for a few lines, to make me more comfortable..?  Toward the end everyone in the room whistled the last bit of the song while I stood just stood there.

They clapped, as the MC said, "let's hear it for Ashley!"

Woops.  Luckily, there were few people at the restaurant, but a hand full of them felt it was necessary to come tell me, "hey you were great! there's nothing to be nervous about!"

Thanks.. If anyone else needs me, I'll be hiding under this table.

Ashley hinted about going back for another episode of Rock-e-oke.  Perhaps I will... but my role with be strictly audience next time :)