Weekends

As I start the week I feel slightly more drained, even for a Monday. Friday was nothing more than an alcoholic blur of bar hopping culminating in a game of basketball at 0430 in a community recreation center. My friend is the caretaker and lives on site. Saturday was filled with fuzzy headed four wheeling in the cold overcast weather. The unexpected dip in the river turned the ride into a wet cold cloudy day. But fun was had by all, with no human injuries we were left to limp home on machines that were not be built tough enough for how we ride. We broke one half shaft, completely submerged one in the river and ruined the transmission on another. I arrived home just in time to slip into bed and get a little rest as I started my on call shift 0800 Sunday morning.

The gods apparently decided that sleeping in was not needed as the tones went off at 0830 for a minor call I can't even remember. Easily enough we turned the call pretty quick, just in time to attend breakfast with the usual group. I bob and weave my way down the buffet line and hit the table ready for round one. I grasp the first piece of perfectly cooked bacon, not crisp nor undercooked but perfect. After savoring two bites of the coveted meat I'm stolen away as the tones go off again. I feel like I'm singing the 100 bottles of beer on the wall song, as it just another minor call, the only detail to change is the run number. 99 bottles of beer on the wall 99 bottles of beer...

I return in time for my much needed nap, I've gone the extra mile, I'm not messing with the couch, going straight for the gold I crawl into bed. It was awesome, the floating peacefulness as I drift off the sleep only to awake to the nextel and my girlfriend, both parties unaware of my plan. This time a fire truck had an issue requiring a little attention, we did everything we could, but this one is for the surgeons, call the mechanic. I'm back home in a half an hour, will the bed still be warm I think to myself. Well with the tones yelping at me I will never find out. The call sounds promising, an assault ending with a stabbing. The patient walks away with a nice laceration, which is almost surgical looking and the attacker walks away with the PD. Bleeding was controlled before we arrive, turns out it's another minor call, 98 bottles of beer on the wall, 98 bottles of beer. We sailed into the ER, a little pump fake for the ER tech and I find my running back nurse, the hand off is flawless, we're back on the road in minutes. Now a little break, I found someone to cover my calls while I attend nice calm hockey game. The was great, a nice reprieve. Back home and in bed, I will sleep tonight, I insist. Although fun the weekend has taking it's toll and I'm ready for a nice quite night to sleep, leaving me somewhat ready to start the week. Mr. Diabetic saw to it that very little sleep would be had, and of course he takes oral meds and is having issues with them, so he wins the prize of an ambulance ride at 0030 in the morning. Like a snail I drag myself home, slivering into bed, I grab my pillow and hope for silence, I haven't even taken the time to grab the blankets, I leave my socks on.

Almost two whole hours fly by, until Mr. My Tummy Hurts, calls in the reinforcements. I felt sorry though, having the flu sucks, but your wife that was up and followed us in her SUV probably could have brought you in too. But hey I guess I can't think of any better way to piss away a grand then on an ambulance ride. Now it's 0330, I'm tired, the hospital now hates me as I've just about filled up there ER and all I want is a little sleep before I do this all over again tonight. I collapse into bed, I'm asleep in seconds, the weight of the night acts like a heavy quilt and sends me peacefully to sleep. I slept through the night until 0600 for the alarm clock. I had to check the pager to make sure I hadn't slept through anything as I know I was dead to the world.

Now as long as I don't fall asleep at the computer or driving home I can look forward to another night of not sleeping. God, why am I starting medic school?