I really love Christmas break. I get 2 whole weeks to do whatever I want. Today I slept until 2pm. I haven't done that since 1998. Really. I think part of it is that I'm taking pain meds from a surgery I had on Monday. Funny how pain strikes you more at night.

It's so weird being on the other end of the OR. I'm used to being the one helping the patient move over, putting chest leads on them, etc...and this time I was the patient. I've always heard that medical people make the worst patients, so I made a real effort to NOT be annoying. I think the only obnoxious thing I said was after being given Versed and was feeling loopy. I told the CRNA that I'm a runner and have a resting heart rate in the 50's. I'm sure everyone around got a kick out of that, and she probably rolled her eyes. Actually, I just didn't want her to think I was getting bradycardia and give me atropine, so I was really just giving her health information. All the nurses at this private hospital were so nice, and they are have been nice when I've been there for other things. I can't really judge their competence level, but as far as patient care goes, I'd give them an A+. I guess I'm so used to the nurses at university hospital that I forgot how much better nursing in the private sector is. There are good nurses at university, but I definitely believe they are in the minority.

I can't believe it's almost Christmastime. I never did any Christmas-y things this year, except play in my band's Christmas concert last week. I haven't even been to the mall. I did all my Christmas shopping online this year. As a result, I've managed to keep my sanity. This year has just been different. I was preoccupied with buying a new car and then my surgery, that Christmas just sort of came out from nowhere. My boyfriend went to Portland, OR yesterday to spend time with his sister, so I'm really just hanging out with my family. One cool thing is that a friend of mine, Tracie, from undergrad is in town and we are going to go to a hocky game Christmas night. I can't wait to see her. We haven't seen each other since 1998. We lost touch, and come to find out, she was serving in Iraq for awhile then living in Germany. She and her family just moved to Virginia Beach, and she came home for a visit. Tracie and I go way back. We met one summer in high school while working at White Water, then we both ended up attending the same music school and became really good friends. She plays a mean bassoon! Anyway, she's kind of my kindred spirit. If I was a lesbian, she is definitely the type of person I would date. I even told her that one time and she took it as a complement (because she understands me and knew what I meant).

Merry Christmas Eve!