Cleveland Indians/reply to Dolores

[Guest guest]

Hi Dolores!

I don't believe all the new people know me, so they wouldn't know that my last

two postings are about the briefest I have ever done.

Things are fine here. We are actually going on a one week vacation this month.

Heading for Nashville TN for 3 free nights and 2 cheap ones. Tickets to the

Grand Ole Opry are included, along with 2 free golf games. My son will be able

to play and his mom says she would like to try. I get to drive the cart. Imagine

me swinging a golf club: Think about those old movies where one of the

characters would swing a bat or a golf club and would totally swing around and

fall down. I wouldn't even be able to get around before landing on the ground.

However, the good news is that I have not have a PLS fall for almost two years.

I am setting a new record as each day passes - a personal record for me.

I did trip at work in February and ended in ER, requiring at least seven

stitches in the back of my head. I got a day off work for it, but it was my own

time. I tripped over a bump in the " new " vinyl floor that was rising in several

places. It had been poorly replaced and really was a danger. Others had

complained, but nothing got done. The day I returned to work, the " bump " was

fixed, along with several others in that work area. It is the Nursing Station

and I am in it and the Chart room, which was also repaired, daily . Seems

someone suddenly became aware that I might " cause trouble. " Funny thing: the

carpet is now buckling and the vinyl floor is coming right back up. I have to be

VERY careful while walking around in there.

I have also been able to walk around our yard without a walker or any other

support. I have made myself familiar with the area and am comfortable with it. I

have to look down or I will probably lose concentration and fall. Helen and I

have been taking long walks two or three nights per week, along with our

faithful dog, Angel. Adam sometimes joins us, but he rides his bike. My 2 1/2

year old grandson walked with us two nights. He had to be carried for the last

half of the walk, but the next night he was a little demon and Helen had to

chase him. He walked the entire mile and a quarter with no problems and was

awake until almost midnight. His sister said that was unusual. Get this. His

sister, my granddaughter, and her uncle, my son, Adam, are only two years apart

in age. He's 13 and she's 11. is a big 2 1/2 and is a tall 11.

Adam is an average 13 and is again looking up at his younger niece. In about 6

years he will be looking up at if he grows like has and there is

every indication that he will grow faster and taller. It is fun to have them all

together, but the two older ones try to lose the younger one. I do believe he is

smarter than they, though, and they are both very intelligent. No brag, just

fact. I don't know where any of them got it, but I blame their mothers.

I guess I am having a good summer and am looking forward to a short break before

the Joint Commission (JACHO) surveys our Hospital. All the management types are

on edge and the line staff, me included, are not even bothered. The really bad

thing is that WE, the line and direct care staff, are the ones being surveyed.

The Administration doesn't understand why we don't care more. Duh! If we don't

do well, it reflects on them and the lack of training we have been trying to get

for years. My service line manager is a Nurse who has not been a manager very

long. She sees it and is telling her " peers, " but none of them are willing to

believe her. Seems they are really more out of touch than we thought. We'll do

fine, though. We do know our jobs and our patients and that is what is being

surveyed. You would probably know what I'm talking about, too.

Well, I've rambled, so I need to leave and wish you a Happy 4th of July, a great

Labor Day weekend, and those other holidays that follow. I have been having

problems with my computer again (NO comments, Jeanne Ann!). My email address

will also be changing on Aug 1st to magray@.... They bought Insight

about a year ago and are just now coming to my " small town. " Got a letter last

week informing of the change that no one was supposed to know about. Gee, all

the techs I have talked with while getting this broadband connection set up knew

about it and told me. No secrets there.

Have a good day and a better week,

Mike Gray