April 30, 2014

I have a couple of bad habits

When think of a book that I might want to read, I check my local library's website to see if they have it in their catalog.  If they have it, I place a hold on it.  Sounds reasonably normal, right?

The problem is that a lot of the time, I don't remember doing this.  It could be that a lot of this occurs late at night.  Technology makes it so darn easy to access the Internet and thus the library's website, all without leaving the comfort of my bed.

I picked up five books from the library today.  I could recall why I wanted one specific book and placing the hold.  Three of them, I could remember placing the holds but not why I wanted to read these books.  

The last one is a complete mystery.  I'm holding a copy of "Where Death Delights," on loan from the University of Nevada (!) that I apparently requested.   I don't remember requesting this book, but there it is, with my name on the card.  I also can't recall why I wanted this book...apparently I must have had forensic medicine on my mind at the time.

I'm actually impressed my little shack of a library crossed a state line to get me the book in the first place.

Which leads me to bad habit #2:  actually getting around to reading these books, as well as all of the other unread books that I have around the house.  I blame the children in part:  by the end of the day, when they're both wrangled into bed and I have some time to myself, I'm too darn tired and fall asleep two pages in.  

I also blame the Internet as well, because when I am awake enough after the kids are asleep to actually read, I'm online checking e-mail, exercising my forum duties, and getting lost on Wikipedia adventures.  And technology makes it so easy to do that, all without leaving the comfort of my bed.

*sigh*

April 19, 2014

Of Church and Sheep

I'm a Catholic sheep.  There's only one Catholic church in my town, which is surprising given my general proximity to Mexico.  I figured there'd be at least two.

There's a lot of Catholic churches in the state, though.  There's actually one right across the border in the next town, but I talked to them on the phone and I didn't get quite the warm and fuzzy vibe that the church in town gave me.

I wanted to go to Confession today before I started attending services on a regular basis, but my local church cancelled the Confession hours because of the Easter Holiday.  So I have to go next week.

Yes, I know it's now called Reconciliation.  I'm also an old-school Catholic sheep.  I can't bring myself to call it Reconciliation; it will be Confession until the day I die.  One of the reasons I'm going to this specific church is because they still offer the kneel-in-the-dark-cubicle while-behind-the-screen option for confessing.  I tried it the modern way where the priest and I sit in lounge chairs in a well-lit room and talk as though we're chatting about sports, and I wasn't comfortable.

Anyhow, it's not as though I was going to be at Easter Mass anyway as I have to work.  I'm serving God through patient care tomorrow...someone has to do it.  I know it's not going to go over well with the extended family, but they know I'm a nurse and it's part of the job.  They're still going to grouse though.

I'm the only practicing Catholic in the family--and I think the only one in my family as a whole--although I'm not practicing as well as I ought to be.  My sister doesn't practice.  My mother was involved in the parish when I was growing up, but as I got older her participation declined.  Now that there are grandchildren about she has has a sudden fit of piety...at least in that she wants them to be raised Catholic.  But as far as her practicing what she preaches...er, no.  My father isn't Catholic.

The other half is not Catholic either.  They're Protestants.  There are former Catholics in the other half's family, but they all fled the religion.

The other half's family would love for me to convert to their religion and bring the little ones over as well, or at least send the little ones to the fold.  I admit that I gave their religion a good try, but realized it wasn't happening.  I'd go to Mass...er, services, and answer everything with the Catholic responses.  I'm used to services being a specific way.  As informal as I can be, I'm used to a certain level of formality in my religion that their religion seems to lack.  There's no Confession, at least, not the way that I know it.  I'm not used to seeing priests...er, pastors married with children.

Try as I might, I just could not feel comfortable in their flock.  It's no slur upon their religion; I guess I'm just too much of a Catholic at heart.

The topic of religion is at times a point of contention with the families, especially when it comes to the little ones.  But the other half and I have decided that we're going to do what we feel is best for our family, and everyone will have to deal.

The better half supports them being raised Catholic if I want them to be.  My personal belief is they should be baptized as Catholic, but I'll hold off on the rest until when they become teenagers, so they can make up their own minds and choose their own choices in the theology department.  I'd rather they embrace a faith whole-heartedly, even if it differs from mine.

For the record, I do have some issues with the Catholic Church and their stand on a lot of things, though seeing Pope Francis in action has helped me feel better.  I've adopted his POV on a lot of those matters.

April 18, 2014

If you celebrate it, have a blessed Good Friday.  If you're Jewish, Happy Passover (albeit a few days late).  If neither fits you, Happy Friday.

No movement on the matter referred to in my annoyingly cryptic post, so no update there.

I'm going to start pulling inpatient shifts at my main facility.  I decided that while I enjoy my agency work, I'd rather be working at my main facility for a few reasons.  First, this is a probable contender for where I want to work when I decide to sign on permanently somewhere, which will probably be in the next year.  Second, the pay is a hell of a lot better than what I get from the agency.  Seriously, my current hourly rate here is the same as my time-and-a-half agency rate; if/when I sign on permanently, even with the pay drop, it'll still be more than the agency.  Third, it's resume diversification.

I'm still keeping my ties with the agency, though I'll probably drop my availability down to once or twice a month.

I've been warned to watch out for drama.  Of course, this is second-hand info, so I'll see for myself if there really is any drama present.  I'll pretty much go into it with the same mentality that I go into the agency assignments with:  I'm not permanent staff, I'm not getting involved in any politics or drama, I'm not trying to make any best-friends-forever.  I'm going in just to get the job done, then going right back out.

It's been a couple of months from when I actually oriented to when I'll be working there, so I'm understandably nervous.  Fortunately, I take great notes, have a decent memory--in this department, anyway--and pick things up fast, so I'm expecting the awkward finding-my-feet stage to last only a couple of shifts.   As I told one of my preceptors, the essentials of psych nursing are always going to be the same no matter where one works--it's just the little details and routines that need to be learned at each facility.

I am also jumping in on a weekend, away from the glare and hassles of administration.  

All this being said, I'll never turn down happy thoughts and wishes of luck.

April 7, 2014

In which Meriwhen is annoyingly cryptic

So I had an interesting bit of news come my way...let's say I was truly surprised by it.  However, as nothing is definite right now--in fact, I'll admit to being somewhat skeptical of what's happened--I won't discuss the specifics but will ask for your good thoughts and (if you are the praying type) prayers.

Once things are settled one way or another, then I will provide all of the details.

April 3, 2014

I interviewed for another job.   I didn't get it.

It wasn't as though I am unhappy where I currently am.  My current facility treats me well...for the most part.  It pays well and I get enough hours as of late.   Sometimes I feel a little under-appreciated and trapped.  I know they'd rather I stay where I am instead of working in the inpatient side.  But I'm also trying to lay down the ground work for when I take a permanent position next year.  I don't know if that will be at my current facility; sometimes I can see myself working there until retirement, while other times I feel like I should see if there are better options out there.

After talking to a friend who had been encouraging me to explore those options, I brushed up the resume and applied to where he worked.  Hey, I may as well work a network connection.

Like I said, I wasn't unhappy where I am...I think it was half to see if I could get in this facility which is notoriously hard to get into, and half to see if I still an attractive candidate to other facilities.  I guess I was attractive enough in that I got an interview.  Not attractive enough though as I got the rejection e-mail a couple of days later.

I'll admit, it wasn't my best interview:  I'm a couple of years out of practice.  There were some questions that I could have answered a lot better.  I think I was a little too honest/open about a few things which may have made them wonder if I'd be a good fit.  And the job, while interesting, wasn't quite what I thought it would be...and I think that conveyed.

*sigh*

So it was a nice ego boost to be considered for an interview.  And a little bit crushing to be rejected.  But the feeling is more from the rejection itself than because of not getting particular job.  But at least I know what to expect should I ever interview with them again.

Though it's not as though I'm wanting for work lately.  I've been working a lot...a little too much actually.  As in working 5-6 days a week for the last few weeks.  I think I'm starting to burn out.