bringing home the bacon...

I am grateful for my job.

I am so grateful to be able to say that! One thing they mentioned in orientation is to be careful talking about work on the internet. It made me a little bit paranoid... so I will try and be careful.

I have worked 2 weeks consisting of 6 night shifts. But let me start at the beginning...

The night before the first night I worked I stayed up all night and then slept some during the day. My roommate and I cooked a good dinner and grilled chicken on my grill.

I watched the show "My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding" TLC OnDemand and pinned on Pinterest like it was my job. I mean, I blew it up... out of control... I bet people unfollowed me after that night. AC was so sweet and stayed up super late with me (and then slept on the couch for a little bit, she knew I liked the company).

This is not an approach I would recommend to anyone. I wish I had just slept really good the night before and taken a nap before I went in. But it happened. And I cried a lot. I was nervous and tired and I showed it through tears... Sorry roommate!

About 6:30 I got to work and went up to my floor and stood there and had no clue what to do. I didn't even know how to clock in... After meeting the nurse who would be orienting me we jumped right in! She is so kind and a good teacher. She has had a good balance of stretching my comfort zone but supporting me along the way. I am beyond grateful for her.

I have a locker!! It is super tiny but makes me feel legit...

During my first week I had such a treat to look forward to! Dinner with sweet Camp friends! We met at the Terminal and parked near the Chattanooga Carriage ride HQ... I wonder if they bite...

So fun to see Annie and Grace! Grateful for Camp friendships that continue off the mountain.

Sidenote: is this not the most generous paper towel dispenser ever??? I was amazed! Usually they give out like three square inches... an amount this large is almost not helpful!

Sadly, I had to work Halloween night. But oh well, there are worse things... On the way to work that night I almost missed a turn because the joker from The Dark Knight was in the car next to me and scared me. Then I drove behind a person in a tutu on a bike... talk about talent, I would crash for sure!

I love getting off of work! It is such a good feeling, you put in twelve hours and then the next shift gets there and you pass off your problems and successes and get in the elevator and leave it all! I get in my car (this week I had to scrape off my windshield every day) crank up some music that my rockin' brother Nick probably told me about, and drive with my back to the rising sun.

**Sometimes I think night shift workers should have to have designated drivers... or someone should warn all the UTC students when I get off work so they won't attempt to cross the street outside of the crosswalk. Or I need one of those flag cars that lead those trucks on the interstate carrying half of a house. You know, the ones that have flags and signs that say "wide load"? I need a lead car that says, "Caution, Night Shift Nurse."

I get to see it reflect off the downtown buildings and rise over the walking bridge with fog rising off the river. It is be-autiful (two syllables, yep, it makes a difference).

Then I get back to the apartment and see this pulling into the parking lot...

And then I get in my bed, tell myself it is 8:30pm instead of 8:30am and sleep...