Full Time, Week One

Jen and I spent Wednesday through Sunday of last week in Florida to celebrate her thirtieth birthday. It was really nice to see our families and spend so much time on the beach. I have a false sense of being tan right now because I was just so pale before. As you've heard me say, we had a really cold, long winter so our vacation felt like the final goodbye (or giving the middle finger) to the passing season. And like we brought some warm FL air back to NYC because it's finally warming up here too.  

I'm sure you're wondering how my first week at my first full time career job is going, so let me tell you. I like it. I have six patients, a few of which I see twice a day. Only one is regularly "non-compliant" which is not bad from what I'm told. Despite her threats that she'll scream if I make her walk any further (after effortlessly walking about ten feet), I remind her that until she proves that she can manage the distance and stairs required to get in and out of her house she cannot go home. I actually met some a her family this week and after asking their advice on getting her motivated, they laughed and said good luck, she's stubborn and lazy. So she's going to be a real treat to work with... The other therapists are always willing to lend a hand, answer questions I may have, and give me advice on difficult patients. Where I am feels like a good place for a new physical therapist to start. The coverage that I did at other clinics in the last few weeks showed me just how unorganized and overwhelming rehab departments can be and I'm happy where I ended up. 

What has not been fun is the commute at over an hour long each way. A book, or the Italian language CDs that my Italian brother-in-law made for me will help the time go bye, but don't do much to relieve the numb rear end I get from sitting on plastic seats for almost three hours a day. I'm also used to time off when I want it. How things changed when I became a career man... gone are the days when I quit two weeks before Christmas and take all the time off I need. Although it will be nice to be paid while on vacation for once, I have no seniority and will likely have to use my time off when no one else is... getting the day after Thanksgiving is not looking too promising but I'm going to try so I can see my country kin-folk. I hope it works out.