T'was a Rough Day

I do not recommend doing what I did yesterday.

I went to work for my usual 7:30 a.m. start time, ran around the hospital campus all day, extinguishing fires, presenting to the execs, and facilitating staff meetings in my clinical areas (we have some policy changes about which I need to inform everyone). I had been invited to the evening's Cubs came up at Wrigley the previous week, but we were thinking of canceling because of the rain. Our host assured us that our seats were under the covered area at Wrigley and we were good to go.

Rats. No escaping that harrowing drive up to Wrigley!

So I drove up through the Loop's rush hour traffic to meet three new VP's from neighboring health systems. EVOO was supposed to meet us there later, so I was on my own to find these VP's in the throes of a pre-game Wrigleyville! I eventually found everyone and after a few rounds of beer and nine non-scoring Cubbie innings, we headed back to the bar to finish talking about our work.

I've never met a group of people and skip the cursory "Hi, I'm _____, I work at _____, I did my undergrad at _____ and my graduate work at _____." Instead of the formalities, we immediately launched into dialysis quality measures, the Illinois stroke treatment network, and how to move low performers out of your organization. However, they're getting me involved in Chicagoan healthcare politics, a regional stroke committee, and well, I just got to spend time with these folks to figure out how they tick. The whole evening gave me a bit of culture shock.

As was hanging out in Wrigleyville far, far past my bedtime. After dropping off one of the VP's at her downtown appartment, I headed home and pulled up in my usual parking spot. Glancing at the clock, I couldn't believe it was 1:12. 1:12 a.m.? As in, I-only-have-four-hours-to-sleep-before-doing-it-all-again?

Rats! Again!

So I stumble up the front steps and a sleepy-looking Jack greeted me at the door. He waited up for me and I was glad for it. I threw myself in his arms, relishing the "married-ness" of it all. After hanging out with these single VP's all night and hearing their voracious tales, I was insanely happy to return to my "boring" life with Jack. I don't consider my life boring, but the VP's probably would!

After curling up next to Jack for three hours and 50 minutes, I climbed out of bed to do it all again.

And that's why I'm posting this at 6:53 p.m. and heading straight to bed!!!