I have never thought much about Centralia Washington. Tia and I even stopped there once and didn't recall that we had been there before until we noticed the Burgerville we had eaten at on our way to Vancouver BC. It was wholly forgettable. Just another place off the interstate to fuel up the car and fill up on fast food.
However, once in BC, we met a couple from Centralia who recommended a more extended visit. Since it is less than 100 miles distant and Tia's birthday was near, it seemed like a good place for an overnight getaway. They even boast a McMenamins (Olympic Club Pub) which we decided to stay at. Evidently the town is known for its antique stores and an outlet mall. Sadly, neither proved impressive.
I should preface the rest of this entry by stating that we had a fun time. This was largely due to going to a nearby casino for a few hours and the cheap spirits proferred by the Olympic club after 10pm. The town itself resembles the kind of place where meth production probably began if for no other reason than because there was nothing else to do. The antique stores were chock full of expensive wares, though the houses in the surrounding area did not give the impression that anyone could afford them. The restaurants were the kind of cheap diner locales that sport tasty, inexpensive, and straightforward fare and the downtown lacked for most anything that was open after 8pm (save the place we stayed). The outlet mall was scattered about in three or four locations that were not near enough to one another to walk between and held about 30 stores, few of which were worth bothering with. The Olyimpic club itself was quite well preserved and has an interesting history behind it. The only failing of it was its proximity to fairly regularly used train tracks. The windows did little to dampen the sound of the horn blasts each time the train approached. However, the amber nitros did a fine job of mitigating that minor obstacle to restful slumber.
So, all in all it was a fun getaway, but I think Tia and I will probably not soon return to Centralia to stay........or shop for that matter. WE might, however, stop in for a pint at the Olympic club or some seasonal shakes at Burgerville on our way to more interesting destinations.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Calvin pissing on Toyota
I was driving home from work one day last week and ended up behind a car sporting the, what I thought was long defunct, image of Calvin peeing on a car logo, this time a Toyota logo. Typically, these decals appear on vehicles either masking the insecurities of the driver, living out some kind of suspended adolescence, or a combination of the two (yes you a-holes with the jacked up trucks, the Freebird blasting Camaros/Mustangs, or the cars sporting decidedly homemade looking ground effects and exhaust systems that sound like a magnified version of baseball cards in bike tire spokes). However, this car was none of the above. In point of fact, it was a late model Toyota. So, I had to deduce that either: A. They hated their car, B. They were making a statement about the status of lost American autoworker jobs overseas, C. They were making an ironic statement about the stupidity of the decals or D. They were too dumb to understand the point of the decal. Take your pick as to my guess.
Other than that minor bit of diversionary whimsy, my week was hellacious. I was involved in more PICC lines in the span of the week that during the previous 2 months.....including my training on PICC lines. Insane. Even more frustrating was the fact that at least one line was removed the VERY NEXT DAY because the patient's treatment was completed. So, rather than putting in an extremely low risk inexpensive peripheral IV line, the doc opted for an expensive and far more technical PICC line. BTW, the risk of infection, despite the sterility of the procedure, is many times higher. The short sighted nature of some of the doctors is truly infuriating. Other than that, the job is going well although my new cropping of grey hairs would argue otherwise :)
Not much else has transpired of late. Just another batch of movies:
Frost/Nixon: great grownup entertainment by my account. Tia found it dull.
The Lookout: interesting and solid. Good acting overall. Good enough to see once and then not again.
Yes Man: not just awful, god awful! Truly terrible. Wasted the talents of all involved.
Off to play today. Work tomorrow.
Other than that minor bit of diversionary whimsy, my week was hellacious. I was involved in more PICC lines in the span of the week that during the previous 2 months.....including my training on PICC lines. Insane. Even more frustrating was the fact that at least one line was removed the VERY NEXT DAY because the patient's treatment was completed. So, rather than putting in an extremely low risk inexpensive peripheral IV line, the doc opted for an expensive and far more technical PICC line. BTW, the risk of infection, despite the sterility of the procedure, is many times higher. The short sighted nature of some of the doctors is truly infuriating. Other than that, the job is going well although my new cropping of grey hairs would argue otherwise :)
Not much else has transpired of late. Just another batch of movies:
Frost/Nixon: great grownup entertainment by my account. Tia found it dull.
The Lookout: interesting and solid. Good acting overall. Good enough to see once and then not again.
Yes Man: not just awful, god awful! Truly terrible. Wasted the talents of all involved.
Off to play today. Work tomorrow.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
We swim like lions through the crest and bathe ourselves in zebra flesh
It has been incredibly hard to post lately because there is very little that has really changed of any note. My work remains stressful but overall enjoyable. I still, weekly if not daily, encounter situations that I had heretofore no experience with and try piecing answers together with less direction than Ikea furniture comes with. However, I generally learn from my errors. So, the good news is that if you come down the pike in about 6 months I ought to be pretty well schooled.
My weekend workmate, partner in crime, has gone on her maternity leave early. This leaves me with people from the float pool who, hopefully, are versed in the clinic. The last time my cohort was out, I ended up being the MOST experienced member of the group with a number of patients scheduled for the clinic (an error quickly and mercifully remedied by the people up at the top). This could have been a bad thing. I have the capacity to perform a majority of the tasks required at this point........but only IF everything is ready to go and proceeds smoothly. If either aspect fails, then I end up with that blank stare that woodland creatures get when a car's headlights strike them. Hopefully the foresight of those in charge prevails and I dont have to develop a permanent thousand yard stare.
In other news, Tia actually had to turn down an intriguing opportunity this week. It would have taken quite an offer to pry her loose from her current position (she has a great work environment and a stellar group of coworkers) including about a 15% pay increase, and that wasn't part of the offered package. The job would have been more in line with her direct interests, but one always has to be careful what they wish for. They tried though and it is always nice to know you are in demand. I think we both realize how fortunate a position we are in when she can turn something like this down. This economy truly sucks.
The house buying, while not put to bed, is in its pjs waiting to be tucked in. The rise in interest rates caused a corresponding decrease in our interest in purchasing. Plus, it is increasingly clear that our residence is not a highly desirable commodity. Ah well........only a few more months. Int he meantime, my sis found a great place out in Beaverton.
My dad finally made it out to Portland. And not a moment too soon with the unbearable heat of summer already quite pronounced down in Florida. I spent one summer working with him out in the heat and I will forever be thankful that he did that for the family because the weather, especially on blacktop, is unbelievably cruel. I am overjoyed to think of him spending his retirement puttering and tinkering and doing it at his own pace while exploring all the Pacific NW has to offer. You deserve it dad!
Other than that I am agonizing (okay, that's hyperbolic) over the purchase of a netbook to replace my ill mannered laptop (it tries mightily to inflict third degrees burns on whatever surface it rests upon.......frequently the lap. Ouch!). I always take FAR too much time researching these things because I fervently hope that, somehow, I will make the best decision possible and end up with something that will actually last me. Of course, all the research really does is make me wonder aloud if, as soon as I pull the trigger, the next newest greatest will come along. My worst fear isnt that of course, but rather buying a lemon like the one I presently own. On the upside, a netbook is only a fraction of the cost of this POS. decisions decisions.
Saw Up! this past week. Quite good really. Is it sad that between that and Wall-E, I feel like they can now put more emotional depth in a cartoon than in real actors. Also recently watched Benjamin Button which, to me, felt a lot like a less humorous, slower paced, Forest Gump. Of course the acting and the look of the film was fantastic but the story, for whatever reason, didn't get me to emotionally invest in it. Also recently rewatched Back to the Future. Still holds up, though it doesn't have the 'magic' that I remember it having. Might have to rewatch the trilogy.
Well, I have the dreaded Friday (our busiest day of the week typically), Saturday, Sunday rotation this week, so I better shuffle off to lala land. I will try to be better about updates......but unless the mundane becomes the exceptional, it is dicey. Until next time, you stay classy Portland.
My weekend workmate, partner in crime, has gone on her maternity leave early. This leaves me with people from the float pool who, hopefully, are versed in the clinic. The last time my cohort was out, I ended up being the MOST experienced member of the group with a number of patients scheduled for the clinic (an error quickly and mercifully remedied by the people up at the top). This could have been a bad thing. I have the capacity to perform a majority of the tasks required at this point........but only IF everything is ready to go and proceeds smoothly. If either aspect fails, then I end up with that blank stare that woodland creatures get when a car's headlights strike them. Hopefully the foresight of those in charge prevails and I dont have to develop a permanent thousand yard stare.
In other news, Tia actually had to turn down an intriguing opportunity this week. It would have taken quite an offer to pry her loose from her current position (she has a great work environment and a stellar group of coworkers) including about a 15% pay increase, and that wasn't part of the offered package. The job would have been more in line with her direct interests, but one always has to be careful what they wish for. They tried though and it is always nice to know you are in demand. I think we both realize how fortunate a position we are in when she can turn something like this down. This economy truly sucks.
The house buying, while not put to bed, is in its pjs waiting to be tucked in. The rise in interest rates caused a corresponding decrease in our interest in purchasing. Plus, it is increasingly clear that our residence is not a highly desirable commodity. Ah well........only a few more months. Int he meantime, my sis found a great place out in Beaverton.
My dad finally made it out to Portland. And not a moment too soon with the unbearable heat of summer already quite pronounced down in Florida. I spent one summer working with him out in the heat and I will forever be thankful that he did that for the family because the weather, especially on blacktop, is unbelievably cruel. I am overjoyed to think of him spending his retirement puttering and tinkering and doing it at his own pace while exploring all the Pacific NW has to offer. You deserve it dad!
Other than that I am agonizing (okay, that's hyperbolic) over the purchase of a netbook to replace my ill mannered laptop (it tries mightily to inflict third degrees burns on whatever surface it rests upon.......frequently the lap. Ouch!). I always take FAR too much time researching these things because I fervently hope that, somehow, I will make the best decision possible and end up with something that will actually last me. Of course, all the research really does is make me wonder aloud if, as soon as I pull the trigger, the next newest greatest will come along. My worst fear isnt that of course, but rather buying a lemon like the one I presently own. On the upside, a netbook is only a fraction of the cost of this POS. decisions decisions.
Saw Up! this past week. Quite good really. Is it sad that between that and Wall-E, I feel like they can now put more emotional depth in a cartoon than in real actors. Also recently watched Benjamin Button which, to me, felt a lot like a less humorous, slower paced, Forest Gump. Of course the acting and the look of the film was fantastic but the story, for whatever reason, didn't get me to emotionally invest in it. Also recently rewatched Back to the Future. Still holds up, though it doesn't have the 'magic' that I remember it having. Might have to rewatch the trilogy.
Well, I have the dreaded Friday (our busiest day of the week typically), Saturday, Sunday rotation this week, so I better shuffle off to lala land. I will try to be better about updates......but unless the mundane becomes the exceptional, it is dicey. Until next time, you stay classy Portland.
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