  The thing I hate the most about working nights is never knowing what day it is. I know the date. Today's the tenth. But I can never keep the day of the week straight. People do tend to think you're crazy, high, or just a little weird when you look at them very earnestly and say, "Wait! What day is it? " Their first answer will always be not to give you the day, like you asked, but the date.
"No, I know that. What DAY is it? " Then they look at you again like you're crazy (nurses especially are great for this. We assess people all the time for how oriented they are-to time, place, and person. ) But you know.. it isn't really our fault. We go to work on one day and go home on another. Is it any wonder that when I wake up I can't always remember what day it is?
All I know is that I have to go to work. Again. Actually, I have a long stretch off coming up. I'll be spending four days in Hillsborough hopefully undergoing some intensive learning. I know I've cried a million times before how hard it is for me to learn and advance in any way being here all by myself. This will be really good for me, to specifically go up with the idea and purpose of learning some things. Mother Krishnapriya has it all set up for me, so it should be really good. I'm going to go up on Sunday and come home on Wednesday. (Ha! I knew those days, didn't I!! ) Then, a few days later, Anne and I are going to Charleston.
At least we made plans to go. With Anne, nothing's set until it actually happens. I am also going to put forth a proposal that on the one hand is going to eliminate these long stretches off, but on the other hand is going to make my life a little easier in other ways. I feel like it's detrimental to the unit that I only work three days a week. We really need a presence around more than that. My proposal is that if we can get enough staffing, that I move to working eight hour nights-from 7PM to 3AM. This would cover the busy time, and put me on the unit five days a week instead of the current three. I think it would help a lot. I mean, let's face it, the way I'm setting up my schedule these days I might be gone for six or even seven days at a time.
That really isn't in the unit's best interest. I know, I know, you think I'm crazy. I am going to think about it a little more before I throw this proposal out. But I do think it would be better for the floor. I wouldn't mind getting off twelves either. They just suck your whole life up for those days.
Then by the time you've recovered from them, you only have one day left before you have to go back to work anyway. We'll see how it goes. Let me meditate on it a bit. Have a good night. It's hot out there. Chant Hare Krishna and be happy. urlLink 
