Residency, tater tots, small acts.

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I met up with my friend Kate for lunch.  She was in my community health clinical last term and graduated in December.  She was kind enough to give me both the textbook & study notes for my last class that I’m taking this semester – leadership.  Things have changed since I started nursing school three and a half years ago.  When I started, you could get a hospital job, train with an experienced nurse for 6-8 weeks and then they would send you out on your own. My initial plan was to do the 6-8 weeks and then go to part time as fast as I could (a shift a week) and maintain my current job full time.  Now, in an effort to better train their nursing staff, many hospitals are establishing residency programs which are training programs for a full year and require full time status.  Kate is starting the residency program in a couple of weeks at Shady Grove and I wanted to hear the inside scoop.  I’m trying to figure out how to combine both my current career and the nursing career into something like 1.35 careers.  I can not work 2 full time jobs.  It will take me some time to figure it out.  I love school.  I could go to school forever.  Work is something else, especially hospital work were it involves weekend and holiday work (two Saturdays and two Sundays a month for everyone).

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Tonight, the boys had to get back out the door by 6:45 pm, so I made my good old lazy dinner standby, chicken patty sandwiches and tater tots.  With Martin’s potato rolls.

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I got mini tater tots which, as you know, as the size decreases, the surface to volume ratio goes up and then so does the deliciousness.   (Though I did burn them a little which then makes the deliciousness go down).

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Small act:

Today I did this:

Today’s action. Critical.
Getting Steve Bannon off the NSC may be the most important action we take. Looks like his appointment isn’t legal. CALL RIGHT NOW to urge the Senate HS Committee to push back.
CALL THE SENATE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY:
202-224-4751


Staff are saying each call matters. REDIAL till you get through, voicemail is full. You can also send an email to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Gov’t Affairs (see comments for link).
SCRIPT:
I’m calling because Steve Bannon should NOT be allowed to sit on the NSC. Any appointee who’s not at cabinet level must be Senate approved under US Code under Section 3021(a)(6) I’m calling to urge that the Senate Committee on Homeland Security represent their constituents faithfully by upholding that rule of law.

I’m trying to figure out what to do with the DeVos nomination, it’s close.  We have 2 Republicans, we need only one more.  VanHollen & Cardin are already voting no.

I have the luxury of everyday going to work and, if I don’t want to, I don’t have to at every moment think about the incredible free fall that the US has found herself in.  But Jeremy doesn’t have that luxury.  While everyone else is distracted about how we are pissing off Australia (really?  how is that possible?) and how the Terminator and the President are in a Twitter war, Jeremy is trying to prevent years of environmental work from disappearing with just an hour of deliberation. You can read about it here (I think he worked mainly on #2).  He sighed this morning as he left for work – we are losing and we are losing fast.

Good night loves.  Start again tomorrow.

Hill work, Chinese lessons, DC Happy Hour Lana.

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Jeremy was on the hill today fighting the good fight.

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With Congressman Raul Grijelva.

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Vince and Dad back at the old routine.

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After various childcare snafus, I made it downtown for happy hour & dinner with Jeremy and Lana. No photos of us, I forgot!

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Small acts:  Became a member of WAMU.  Gave $ to Stephanie Hansen’s campaign in Delaware.  Special election coming up on Feb 25th, trying to keep Del. blue. per Sister District.

Track, resume, taco.

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Beautiful morning at the track.  Two mile workout – sprinting the straights, jogging the curves.  By the time I was almost done, I noticed three military helicopters flying by.  Someone is bypassing the regular morning DC gridlock.  Jeremy just told me he’s determined not to know the SCOTUS nominee until tomorrow morning because he’s mad at the Celebrity Apprentice-mode of the announcement.  It didn’t occur to me not to know, but frankly, I’m fine with shutting the internet down in the house at 8pm tonight, I’m tired.  So I’m rushing with this blog post.  Not that I never rush with the blog posts, I always rush.  Hence the poor editing/grammar/punctuation.

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Went to class this afternoon where two hours were spent on cover letters, resumes and interviews. Why didn’t they do this at any other school I’ve ever been to?  I found out my assignment (preliminary) which is at Shady Grove.  Relieved I don’t have to drive to Baltimore.  Now I’m hoping I don’t have to do nights.

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Taco night tonight, baby!  Best night of the week.

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Small act: None!  boo. Nothing besides fretting and complaining.  Does saying “great job” & “thank you” to a pal who advocated for Medicaid services count as a small act?  I hope so.  Go Marta!