Finding My Groove

Yesterday, the sun finally reappeared.  The clouds dissipated.  The rain vanished.  And with it all, my bad mood evaporated.  Or, maybe it’s just that I’ve been back long enough to find my groove.  Whatever the cause, I’m feeling back to my old self.  Work is good.  Life is even better.  And... only a few more work days before I’m off for three.  We definitely have some exploring to do.  Maybe the zoo, or some whale watching?  Only time (and weather patterns) will tell…

Mother Nature's Fury

Those of you who know me know that I love anything outdoors-y.  Hiking, camping, skiing, snowshoeing… if you can name it, I probably do it.  There is just something about being in the wild that clears my head and makes me feel alive.  And, while I know that all of my favorite activities involve a certain level of risk, it’s easy to forget this when I’m out there having fun.  But then, something happens to reminds me that bad things can happen.  While Mother Nature is beautiful and amazing, she also has an unpredictably vicious temper.  Two of my friends were recently canyoneering in Zion National Park and found themselves caught in an unexpected rainstorm and, subsequently, a flash flood.  By pure luck, they were OK.  If they had been rappelling, or even near the edge of the cliff, they wouldn’t have had a chance when the water came.  Thank heavens they were able to climb to higher ground!  The party behind them wasn’t so lucky.  They were swept over a 120-foot drop, and had to be airlifted out of the canyon.  Scary!  Anyway, I’m including this link to the YouTube video of the incident.  Check it out.  It’s a great reminder that we need to respect Mother Nature’s power.

Beating the Blahs

Coming home from vacation is never fun.  Sure, after five days in the wilderness, I was craving a hot shower and comfy bed, but I wasn’t ready to re-enter the real world.  Even after being back for an entire week, I still don’t feel ready.  I just can’t get back into the swing of things.  I’m too busy dreaming of turquoise waters and sandy beaches.  My head is in the clouds, with no indication of coming back to reality.  All of this vacation-envy is leaving me feeling very blah.  The fact that it’s been grey, rainy, and just plain chilly everyday isn’t helping matters, either.  It’s like the dull, dreary weather is mimicking my current state of being.  Like me, it’s caught in this constant state of blah-ness.  Ugh.  I just need to remind myself we’ll be back on the road in a couple of weeks, doing what we came here to do – explore and play.

The Whitsunday Diaries - The Final Chapter

Day 4:

July 20, 2010

Today, we reached our final destination – Sandy Bay on South Molle Island.  Joe’s Beach was kind of boring, so we packed up and hit the water early.  And thank heavens we did!  Once again, the journey proved to be more challenging and time-consuming than imagined.  Crossing the Whitsunday Passage was tough.  The choppy water and big swells made every stroke a battle.  I lost count of the number of times I was slapped in the face by a massive wave.  I felt like a salty, drowned rat by the time we reached the shores of Sandy Bay.

It was worth the effort, though.  This portion of the island is surrounded by coral reef, so (of course) we took advantage.  We braved the cold waters and spent the afternoon snorkeling.  I wish I could accurately describe the unique beauty of the reef, but words fail me.  For a short time, it was like being transported to another world.  It was simply captivating.

Eventually, the water temperature got to us, forcing us back to dry land.  Now we’re chilling on the beach, watching the sunset as the tide comes in.  Tomorrow, we paddle back to Shute Harbor before catching the short flight to Brisbane.  It’s been a good trip.  And, although I’m long overdue for a hot shower, I’m sad to be leaving the islands.  I will definitely be back.

Day 5:

July 21, 2010

Holy windy!  The wind picked up when we turned in last night, and has been howling since.  It’s our last day on the islands and we’ve spent the majority of our morning trying to keep all of our belongings from blowing away.  It’s crazy out here!  Unfortunately, it’s even crazier out on the water.  I can see the whitecaps from the shore and am nervous about the paddle back to Shute Harbor.  It’s going to be one rough ride.  What a way to end our journey!

The Whitsunday Diaries - Day 3

Day 3:

July 19, 2010

The rain started sometime during the night and continued well until noon.  It started off so gently that I barely noticed the initial sprinklings as I slept, exhausted from yesterday’s paddling.

The Whitsunday Diaries - Day 2

Day 2:

July 18, 2010

This morning we awoke to butterflies – hundreds of indigo and black fairies fluttering through the sky, welcoming us into a new day.  It was magical, like stepping into the pages of a storybook. 

The Whitsunday Diaries - Day 1

Day 1:

July 17, 2010

We’re in the Whitsunday Islands!  After a couple of hiccups (Nothing ever goes as planned.  Does it?), we have finally arrived at Whitehaven Beach, via the water taxi, with our kayak and gear in tow. 

I’m surrounded by beauty.  The sand is blindingly white.  The water an impossible hew of turquoise.  The landscape, while less tropical than I imagined, is remarkably unique and absolutely breathtaking.  The sun brings out a certain vibrancy and brilliance in everything; this world just seems to sparkle.  Yet when the sun fades into the horizon, a different type of beauty is born.  The world becomes muted, taking on an understated elegance.  The sea, sky, and distant islands melt into shades of slate, lavender, and rose that make my heart ache.  It’s like catching a glimpse of the loveliest painting, knowing it will quickly disappear into the blackness of night.  Nonetheless, it’s a sight to see.

We’ve settled into our campsite for the night and are relaxing on this magnificent beach, taking in the tropical paradise.  We listen to the waves lap onto shore, as we prepare our first meal of Ramen noodles and dehydrated food packets.  And, of course, we’ve brought along our trusty box wine.  It may not be gourmet, but thanks to the ambience, we’re in heaven.

Back to Reality (aka I'm Already Missing the Whitsundays)

Back to life.  Back to reality.  After five amazing days in the Whitsunday Islands, we’re back in Brisbane and it’s business as usual.  But, I doubt anyone is interested in the boring details of normal life.  For the first time in a while, I can actually blog about a REAL Australian adventure.  Woo hoo!  To avoid any mind-numbingly long entries, I’ve decided to break this travel long into several small articles, just as I recorded our journey during the trip.

First, a little background information.  The Whitsunday Islands are comprised of 74 islands off the central coast of Queensland, Australia and sit in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef.  We flew into Prosperine, where we caught a shuttle to Airlie Beach, which was the launching point for our adventure.  From Airlie Beach, we caught a water taxi to Whitehaven Beach.  This was the starting point for our kayak trip.  Over the course of four days, we paddled from Whitehaven Beach to Henning Island, then to Joe’s Beach on Whitsunday Island, then to Sandy Bay on South Molle Island.  On our final day, we made our way back to Shute Harbor on the mainland.  It was a challenging, but unforgettable trip.  Check in tomorrow, for a detailed description of our first day.

My Moment of Bliss

I was right – Wednesday night was the most painfully slow shift imaginable.  Each stroke of the second hand seemed an eternity.  But morning eventually arrived.  Before I knew it, I was at the airport searching for his face in the crowd.  And there he was.  He appeared, grinning and waving.  I thought my heart might burst.  At that instant, everything felt OK.  It was as if I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief.  He was here by my side and nothing could change that simple fact.  It was a moment of pure bliss.  How nice to know he can still make me feel that way!

Now we’re off to the Whitsunday Islands for an extended weekend of ocean kayaking and island-hopping.  We’re excited, but also praying that the weather cooperates.  I will be sure to post the trip highlights and pics when we return.

The Longest Night Ever

In less than twelve hours, Mouse will be back in Brisbane.  His plane is scheduled to land in the wee hours of the morning, just as I’m finishing my shift.  I predict tomorrow’s patient handover may possibly be the quickest, most succinct report in nursing history.  I will be out the door and en route to the airport in the blink of an eye.  I already feel like an antsy school child, eagerly anticipating the final bell prior to summer break.  I’m so excited; I can barely contain myself.  I fear this excitement and anticipation are going to work against me, making each minute of tonight’s shift seem like an eternity.  But I only have to survive one more shift – ten measly hours – until I am with him again.  Only one more night until I can finally wrap my arms around him.  This is definitely going to be the longest ten hours I have ever endured…

A Sinking Feeling

Everyone makes mistakes.  We’re human.  It’s bound to happen.  But, as a nurse, I do my best to keep my work-related mistakes to a minimum.  My patients are my responsibility, a fact I take quite seriously. 

So, this morning, when I realized I had made a pretty big mistake, my stomach sank.  My heart began to race.  I became nauseated.  One of my patients missed two doses of an important medication.  To top that off, his early morning obs hadn’t been completed.  I wish I could pinpoint exactly why.  My best explanation is that this was a prime example of team nursing gone awry.  A simple miscommunication led to this oversight.  Everyone thought the other person had completed the tasks.  And, in the flurry of our pre-dawn activities, the chart went unchecked.  We didn’t catch our mistake until shift change. 

I felt like a failure.  I was mortified.  I’m pretty sure all of the color drained from my face when I realized what had happened.  It would have been easy to blame the agency nurse, but that wouldn’t be fair.  I should have checked her work.  That was my responsibility.  I’m the one familiar with our policies and procedures.  I know which medications are crucial.  I shouldn’t have assumed anything. 

Luckily, no harm was done.  The patient was fine and incurred no adverse effects.  We got him back on schedule with his medications.  We reported the incident to our charge nurse and followed the appropriate channels.  Still, this was a hard lesson learned.  Self-doubt has clouded my mind all day, causing me to question myself and my practice.  But, I guess, this may be the “silver lining” of mistakes.  It forces self-introspection and demands improvement.  So, I’m trying to take this incident in stride.  I’ve learned from last night’s events.  I will not make the same mistakes again.  Now, I just need to get rid of the guilt, because I have another long night of work ahead of me.

Life in Limbo

Lately, I feel like I’m living my life in a type of limbo, as if I’m suspended somewhere between reality and fantasy.  I go through all of the normal motions of daily living.  I get up and go to work.  I go running.  I make dinner.  I go to sleep.  I even explore the city and take myself on day trips.  I’m enjoying life out here, but it’s as if it doesn’t belong to me.  I can’t shake the feeling that, somehow, none of this counts.  Maybe it’s due to my absolute lack of a social network, or that I haven’t been here long enough to develop a sense of permanence.  Maybe it’s because the vast majority of my free time is spent alone.  Whatever the cause, I feel like I’m floating aimlessly about this pseudo-life, that my real life is back in the states, and I’m watching it unfold before my eyes.  Loved ones pass.  Girlfriends get married.  Friends relocate to distant cities.  Life is moving forward without me, and I can only watch it from afar.  I never thought it would feel so sad, so isolating, to live out here.  I’m beginning to understand adventure comes at a price. So, I do my best to keep in touch with those I care about, to make sure a small part of me remains in their lives.  I keep up with emails.  I phone when possible.  I remind myself this isn’t forever.  Someday, I will be back and rejoin my life as I know it.  Then, I will truly be able to appreciate the familiarity and security of being home.

The Final Countdown

The countdown has begun.  Mouse will be back in just three days.  I'm so excited, I can hardly contain myself!  Woo hoo!

Aussie Speak: Part 4

Australian Urban Dictionary

(aka Aussie speak for Yanks)

Part 4: You’re Wearing What?

·      thongs (θô nz) noun: sandals, specifically flip-flops

e.g. – Hey, mate.  Can you hand me my thongs?  This sand is hot!

·      trainers (ˈtrān ərz) noun: shoes suitable for sports; tennis shoes

e.g. – Oh bugger!  I forgot my trainers!  Now I can’t go for a run.

·      tog (täg) noun: a very brief two-piece swimsuit for women; a bikini

e.g. – Did you see Jess’s tog?  I reckon it barely covers her arse!

·      trackies (trak ēz) noun: a loose, warm pair of pants with an elastic or drawstring waist, worn when exercising or as casual wear

e.g. – Those trackies look really comfortable.  Onya!

·      jumppa (ˈjəm pə) noun: a garment with long sleeves, worn over the upper body; a sweater, a sweatshirt, a hoodie, etc.

e.g. – I’ll be ready in a tick!  I just need to grab a jumppa.

·      singlet (ˈsin glit) noun: a sleeveless garment worn under or instead of a shirt; a tank-top

e.g. – I’m wearing a singlet under this jumper, since it’s supposed to warm up this arvo.

·      nappy (ˈnap ē) noun: a piece of absorbent material wrapped around a baby's bottom and between its legs to absorb and retain urine and feces; a diaper

e.g. – Will you hand me a nappy?  The baby needs a change.

Invasion of the Dust Balls

I did it.  I finally broke down and bought a vacuum cleaner.  I couldn’t stand the disgusting bedroom carpet any longer.  It was vile.  I’m convinced the prior tenant did not vacuum once while she lived here.

The Semi-Single Life

It’s Friday and, after a very long stretch of seven shifts, I finally have a day off.  I feel like I can breathe a sigh of relief, at long last.  It’s unbelievably nice to have this time to myself, to be able to do whatever I choose. 

Closer to Normal

“Good morning, pookie!” he cheerfully greets me at the break of dawn.  His voice is the first thing I hear, waking me and cajoling me into my morning, before I even roll out of bed.

Happy 70th, Story Bridge!

The Story Bridge, one of Brisbane’s most recognizable structural icons, turns seventy today.  Built as an Australian public works project during the Great Depression, it took five years to complete, and opened to traffic on July 6, 1940.  At twenty-two stories high, this steel and concrete behemoth connects Fortitude Valley, on my side of the city, to Kangaroo Point, on the south side.  I drive across it every day on my way to the hospital and often make use of the pedestrian lanes during my runs.  The Story Bridge may not be as fancy or sleek as its more modern counterparts, but it is one of my favorite pieces of architecture in Brisbane.  Its massive steal beams, sharp angles, and imposing presence are a reminder of life in another era.  It’s simply breathtaking.

*For more info, check out the Brisbane Landmarks page on ourbrisbane.com.

*To view a photo gallery with some great shots of the bridge, including construction photos, check out this page in the brisbanetimes.com.au.

The Whole Story

I was reading through my work entries, the other day, when it dawned on me I haven’t been painting the most flattering picture of my employer or my job.  One could, justifiably, question if I even like working out here.  I guess this is because it rarely occurs to me to write about the positive things.  Let’s face it, good days are boring; they don’t translate into an interesting story.  I suspect if I only wrote about how wonderful things are, this blog would become VERY boring VERY quickly.  Somewhat unfortunately, it’s the annoying, frustrating, and shocking things that get me going and inspire me to write.  So, I complain about infection control, silly uniforms, and pay debacles.  But, by focusing on the bad, I’ve failed to provide the whole story.  The fact is, despite my occasional frustrations, I really like nursing in Australia.

A Very un-4th of July

Today is the 4^th of July.  Wow!  My brain can barely wrap itself around that fact.  It seems so strange and improbable, without all of the usual cues to clue me in.  Normally, I would be relaxing, doing something fun with friends.

Aussie Speak: Part 3

Australian Urban Dictionary

(aka Aussie speak for Yanks)

Part 3: A Few More Fave Aussie-isms

Stuck in the Middle

March 25, 2010: Queensland Health apologises to staff after new payroll mix-up, The Courier Mail

April 8, 2010: Queensland Health pay bungle continues, The Medical News

April 13, 2010: Government still fixing Queensland Health pay bungle, ABC News

June 2, 2010: Queensland Health pay bungle continues into June, The Medical News

June 29, 2010: Queensland Health to change payroll system again after bungle, The Australian