Update for 2016.
It's been awhile since I have added to my blog. Besides a trip to Mexico, I have been working and riding.
Last year, my work began an enormous renovation and expansion. In January, the construction crew decided they had to close us down for 2 weeks to complete the renovation. Charlie and I decided to take advantage of this break and quickly planned a vacation to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.
We stayed at the Royal Playa del Carmen and had a fabulous time. We went SCUBA diving. We took four dives in the ocean and two dives in freshwater underwater caves called Cenotes. The cave diving was the BEST! There are so many miles of caves. We can go many more times and never see it all.
One day we rented Harley Davidsons and rode from Xpu-Ha up to two of the ruins We left the rental place and it started raining about 5 miles down the road. No windshields and the rain felt like needles on our faces. We pulled over under a bridge to wait it out a bit. We were joined by a truck full of workers and another couple on a motorcycle. We first rode to Coba, inland about 25 miles. We got a bike taxi out to the ruins as it wasn't practical to walk out there in our motorcycle boots. When we got to the ruins we found that it was allowed to climb to the top. I wasn't up to the task and it was pretty steep but Charlie did it. He said when he got to the top of the pyramid he could see across the trees and where there was more archaeologic diggings going on. We got a ride back to the parking area and got back on the bikes and rode back to the coast to the other ruins called Tulum.
Tulum is where the Corona beer commercials are filmed with all the white sand. When we got back to the bikes, a busload of tourists started taking pictures of Charlie riding the Harley. He had on his leather vest and a borrowed German style helmet. Good times!
Motorcycle ride
I'm quite comfortable just jumping on my bike and go for a few hours. Got to stop for gas and water!
June
We had to say Goodbye to our little Jake. He was nearly 14 and suffering from Alzheimer's. He had lost so much weight and was so angry. Quality of life was pretty bad. It was hard but he needed peace.
My BFF Kathy and I headed on a great trip from Medford, Oregon to Susanville, California. Nothing extravagant - we stayed in motels and made a few stops. One was the Lava Beds Monument.
June
Early morning ride I stopped in Jacksonville, Oregon to take a picture.
Took a trip to Redding, stopped at Castle Crags park.
Shasta Dam was cool
August
My Dad and I took a great ride from Medford to Bandon Beach. Had a great time. I had my first real martini as the sun set over the beach.
Doc and Bob are doing well, can't believe he will be turning 30 soon.
August
Another great ride with Dad. A stop at the aquarium in Crescent City and then lunch at the pier - great as usual.
October
We took an awesome vacation to Europe. We took an 8 day cruise on Norwegian and saw some amazing things. There is a whole separate blog for that trip.
November
I started a new position at work when I got back from Europe. The OR was just getting too hard. Not only physically but mentally as well. My thinking skills were slipping. I was having a hard time and was slowing down in the OR so I wouldn't make a mistake - and then some of the doctors were complaining that I wasn't fast enough. I actually was worried and I saw my doctor about it. He said it was stress and not to worry so much - because I was only stressing myself out more. I am grateful that my employer valued my skills enough to find a less stressful position for me.
I'm lucky I have an outgoing personality and am able to talk to anyone. I would be doing all the pre-op phone calls and pain clinic phone calls.
One of the scrub technicians gave me some great advise: Take the position and make a real job out of it. Make is so they can't do without you.
I took on every opportunity I could and now I make all the calls for pre-op, pain clinic and triage. I am now the official Employee Health Nurse, Accident Investigator, member of the Safety Committee. I'm busy as hell but it is a great job. Turns out I am on the cutting edge of a new position. I have read articles on surgery centers using a single nurse as a way of maintaining patient continuity and make sure all the patient's are given the same pre-op surgical advise.
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