Sure, that'd be great.

Today for work we had a class-- PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) which I was sure would get me fired, as when I studied I learned that I'd need to be able to insert an ET tube, IO catheter and other heinously crazy things that are so far beyond my scope of practice I couldn't even think about pretending to fake my way through them. So the whole week I'd conjured up a peptic ulcer as I obsessed over the fact that I would be 'that girl' who obviously shouldn't be a nurse and somehow slipped through every crack possible from day one in nursing school to being hired at the esteemed institution of which I am an employee.
My alarm went off this morning, but lo and behold I didn't hear it. Anticipating this event (as it has happened frequently over the past months), I'd asked a friend to text me to make sure I was up. Why I heard the "beep" followed by a buzz from her text and not the train whistles, crowds applauding, and bells ringing for the entire hour before is beyond me. I figured it was an appropriately awful start to what would be an awful and humiliating day-- first confirmed by the fact that as I biked my heart out down busy rush hour Chicago streets, I realized I'd forgotten my lunch.

However, as the day went on, I was pleasantly surprised.

In my anxiety I studied for this class a lot. More than I studied in nursing school. Well, maybe not, but after so long of not studying it felt brutal. So I actually knew what they were talking about. So refreshing. And apparently I don't have to know how to do crazy things such as ET tubes and IO's... but I still got to practice putting an IO in on a chicken leg-- just to 'know what it feels like and know the process' in case I ever help with one or something. (PS chicken legs are sick and they smell awful). I was still bummed about my lunch, though, and decided to just go with some people to where they were eating (because they said 'Kristin, do you want to come with us?' and in my head I said 'OMG YES. YES I DO. I WOULD LOVE TO GO WITH PEOPLE. ANYONE. ANYWHERE.' but I actually responded with 'Sure, that'd be great'). On our way to some restaurant with the word 'pig' in it, we passed a woman handing out cards on the sidewalk. Usually I try to do an about-face and walk around the block the other way to avoid interactions with solicitors, but our group of four was less than sly like that. She handed us these coupons and said "Do you want a free sandwich?" YES. I mean, sure-- that'd be great. A new Mediterranean restaurant opened right across the street from the hospital and they wanted people to come try their food (there are about 8,000 restaurants within an eighth of a mile of the hospital.. I imagine business is pretty competitive..) So we decided to nix the pig (praise the LORD), and head over to Nesh (the new place). As I read the coupon it said it was good for a free Schwarama (sp?) sandwich. I read what that was-- lamb or chicken on pita. Awesome. So I just asked if I could have a different sandwich with the coupon (vegetarian options are always cheaper than meaty options anyways) and the guy said yes. HOORAY. Free lunch and nice people to eat it with. YES PLEASE.
We went back to the class after our glorious hour of eating (yes a whole hour, compared to two minutes here, five minutes there working on the floor). We went through stations and what not then got out at 3:15-- an hour and 45 minutes earlier than we were supposed to! YES PLEASE.
So I decided to go to the gym and at least lift-- I've been slacking so much in anything regarding exercise, and lifting is one I can't rationalize. And it is painfully obvious that I need to pick that up again. So I went, kind of reluctantly because that's a very busy time for the place typically. However, it was quieter than I anticipated. Wonderful. I lifted and dodged GI Ponytail (who has converted in to GI Bun) SIX TIMES. Seriously this lady stalks me or something. I was done lifting and contemplating running. My foot kills. I can't even get over it. When I have to talk myself into running, there is a problem. I have an appointment to get some medical advice (if they say ice and advil I'll kill 'em) but that's not til the 25th! So that leaves a solid week and a half. I decided to look at the group fitness schedule and lo and behold there was a spinning class coming right up. So I did that. It was the second spinning class I've done at this gym. The first wasn't awesome (hence the lack of follow through) mainly because the instructor was really unenthusiastic and not super great at spinning herself so, for me, that makes it hard to like feel good about it. I don't know. So I was warming up and the same instructor walked in and my heart sank. I decided to stay, though, because I needed to exercise, and this was my only real opportunity if I wanted to save my foot a little bit. It was a lot better than the one before. She's still not awesome (and I still miss the Courthouse more than words can ever articulate-- shoutout Heidi and Audra-- they're PHENOMENAL spinning instructors), but I felt better than I would have if I'd skipped cardio. It felt good to do a challenging workout that didn't make me want to amputate my dominant foot.

So that's that. My foot hurts and it's not getting better. I ran 2 miles yesterday and had to stop because all I could visualize was my fifth metatarsal breaking more and more with each step. I let my imagination get the best of me sometimes, I'll admit it. But it hurts so much and takes any endorphins or good feelings that come with running and kills them. Very sad. Even the fancy new shoes didn't help! =(

All in all, a better day than I'd anticipated. However the test for this class is tomorrow afternoon, so I guess we'll see how that ends up then. Maybe the instructor will say 'no, you don't need to take the exam, you're super smart.' To which I'd think in my head 'HA! you're crazy, but okay sucker!' but I'd actually respond 'Sure, that'd be great.'