yarrrrgh

Yes, I still intend to update this, when there are things to talk about.

Yes, there are plenty of things to talk about. But there's no time, yo! I have, like, six entries half-written in the Drafts section. Someday they'll blend in and make it look like I wasn't actually blog-free for 8 weeks or whatever it's been. Sigh.

Hey, is it completely normal to have five days left before the lease is up, a burning need to reduce all of your worldly possessions to one carload and some limited storage space, and then to not really have started preparing at all?

Yeah, I thought not.

The plus side for right now is that housing is set until August, books are paid for and should be waiting for me out East, we're visiting the Leinenkugel brewery on the way, and everyone I know is happy and encouraging about my whole deal.

One quick observation from tonight. In my last shift at the ED for a while, a bunch of patients called me 'doctor.' Must be the appearance of smarts and skills. Which is nice, but I always correct people.

The calm and poise come from not worrying about it -- because my duties and responsibilities are well within my comfort zone. I guess people assume optimistically that said zone includes all the stuff they wish someone would hurry up and do, and I get swept along in the expansion of expectations. If I really were this cool while being tasked with (and trained to) reading C-spine radiographs, diagnosing heart problems, or evaluating a tendon repair post-op, then I guess I would be The Man after all. But I'm not, so sorry folks, you'll need to wait. Can I get you a warm blanket?

Also, tonight I heard Metoprolol called "Metropolis." Awesome.

Finally, extra bonus points to me, because I spelled the drug name right the first time. Okay, I'm going to bed now.

What Occupies Me

At the bottom of the tax form, after your signature, you're asked to list your "occupation." I have always wondered, where does this information go? And where is it supposed to come from?

Recently, getting ready for the big move, I had a look at my tax forms from the past few years. Sure, job titles are good, but I don't always stick to them. The year I earned a $100 honorarium for being part of the "guest ensemble" (that's "chorus" to most of us) in a 3-month-long production at my favorite theater, I was also starting my job at the cool company (the one I just left after 7 years to go out East, back to school). That year, I listed my occupation as "Actor."

2004 was the year I started working at the hospital, in November. I was an "EMT" that year, and the next, if I'm remembering correctly. All of which is true, but maybe not entirely descriptive of where I spent most of my working hours. I was happy to be associated with the cool company, but as the years went on the day-to-day enthusiasm ebbed and flowed over time. Toward the middle there, I might have put "hapless cube-monkey" if I thought I could.

So I guess I will be a "student" soon, and that's both clear and accurate. It feels good to have no conflict to resolve. Just one more indicator, I guess, that it's time to do this.