My calendar is black with commitments and prioritized lists. There's a sketch of an optic neuritis (eye infection) I saw a couple of days ago on one corner of the page and the rest of the calendar is filled in with work schedules, itineraries, and appointments. Anyone looking at the drawing would wonder what the hell it was; a boggy balloon or maybe a donut with sprinkles. I only have two days off between now and the day I fly off to DC on May 14th.
My schedule is full and yet it still feels like I'm in control. Yesterday I gave a lecture at the Urgent Care Conference on "shoulder pain", went directly to work in the ER and didn't get home until 2:30AM. I had a strange dream which seemed to start immediately after I lay my head on the pillow about an African boy with a wound infection but I was treating him in secret because I wasn't supposed to treat any embassy employees. The nurse caught me and was angry and threatening to turn me in. But it turned out to be her brother and I woke up as if I had just read a novel in which I had became the main character. It was 10AM, warm and sunny out. What seemed like a 7 hour dream was really only 10 minutes.
On my to-do list was a concern regarding housing while in DC. Our generous government provides a per diem for housing. Most new FS employees are there for 7-8 weeks but in my case I'm only there for 3 weeks and then 3 more later in July. Nobody wants a 3 week binge. But I was fortunate enough to find an apartment through another FS correspondent (Dr. Ed Miron) who will be in my orientation with me. The apartment manager had a lovely British accent and I explained my dilemma. We talked about all sorts of things and eventually she agreed to rent me the apartment on two separate stints (with and without family). A tremendous relief and a big scratch off my list.
After the first two weeks in DC, I'll be flying to Seattle for Milla's 50th birthday party. Then I return to Portland on June 3rd. I will hopefully see Pop soon after and continue to work in the ER and family practice clinic through most of June. Then I fly to Minneapolis, Minnesota for a Comprehensive Adult Life Support (CALS) course. That's where they teach you stuff like how to evacuate a patient and assist in a premature delivery, etc. I will also have the opportunity to meet NP's from embassy posts. June 30th will be my final work day at OHSU. We plan to make a trip down to California for the 4th of July, visit with family and store the Saab at Dina's parents' garage. A rental car will get us back here to Portland. I will probably work a few more days at the family practice clinic and the movers will come around the 13th (Stefan's Birthday). We all fly to DC on July 16th.
I may find this boring to read in a few days but it's actually very exciting. The thing of it is, Dina is just as busy. She has deadlines with Hanna and a huge brochure to produce for the Portland Baroque Orchestra. Camille heads for OMSI camp for 4 days with her class on the Oregon coast. Stefan says "no fair!" Despite the tight time lines, we still find ourselves saying, "Can you believe this?!" It's important to understand and be aware that the demands made upon us now effect our daily lives. Sometimes it's intense. I said that I feel in control but sometimes I know that I'm completely losing it.