The “good news, sorta” refers to an email I got today from the woman I share my job with, that our employer has decided to keep us both working 20 hours a week through the summer.

The original plan, as spelled out to us when we were hired, was that we’d be furloughed for the summer months and brought back in the fall.

So at least my work hours/income will be reliable; I’d been wondering what was going to happen when this particular source of income dried up in the summer, especially given that my unemployment is due to finally end in 2 weeks time. I guess they discovered they get an awful lot done with two $12 an hour people.

Do you sense the ambivalence? The job is a snooze and bores me silly. And my immediate manager annoys me. But it’s helping me get by. (Never had I thought I’d be here this long…about 5 months now….but anyway….)
Speaking of income…

I spent the bulk of today at Yale-New Haven Hospital to take part in a clinical study looking at gender differences in how people respond to food cravings. I had to be there at 7:30 am without having had breakfast. Basically, they starved me and then put a bunch of tempting food in front of me while I was very, very hungry, didn’t let me distract myself by watching TV or doing anything, and then wanted to see if I could keep from eating when given a financial incentive to do so (of course I could, I’m a Saving Advicer!)

They were drawing my blood every 15 minutes for a 2 hour period and had me answering questionnaires about how I felt. It was very boring. They said my blood pressure was very good, and in fact it kept dropping while I was there. But I earned $145, plus they paid for my parking, which is a real pain in New Haven. Between that and the one-way streets, I keep forgetting why I don’t like driving in there.

While I was there, I remembered how the last time I stayed at Yale New Haven…a world-class teaching hospital, mind you…I was there for surgery and wound up with an infection that extended my stay. Of the dozens of nurses, aides and other assorted personnel who made their way to my room, I remember that only ONE washed her hands at the little sink just inside my door, despite prominent signage there that all should do so.

So this time I’d forgotten to check to see if my nurse was following protocol. When she left for lunch, a 2nd nurse took over, and this time I made a point to see what she’d do. The door to my room was closed. I noticed when she walked in that she was wearing gloves and she came over with her little tray and prepared to take my blood. I said, aren’t you supposed to put on a sterile set of gloves before taking my blood? She said, oh, I just did. I said yeah, but you had to touch the doorknob. She didn’t say anything but she didn’t look happy. She complied. I explained how I’d gotten an infection years earlier at Yale-New Haven and so I was probably more aware of the problem than many. She said, “Understood.” But I mean, c’mon! Patients should not have to tell nurses why it’s important.

After that, I made a point to check what she did, and then what my original nurse did when she returned from lunch. Each time, they put on their new gloves in front of me, so I was satisfied. (Although one time the first nurse put on the gloves and then proceeded to write something with a pen with the gloved hand, which I’m sure contaminated the glove.) You can’t be too careful! Especially when I remember reading in the fine print of what I had to sign to be in this study was that if I was in any way injured during the study that they would treat me, but that the cost would be on me!

When I got home from Yale, I got a call from the registrar of voters, who wants me to work next Tuesday in our town’s second budget vote. I wouldn’t have bothered to call her if she hadn’t called me, becus this is another thing I’m ambivalent about. Because it’s an incredibly long, 14-hour day, from 5:15 am to 8 pm at night! But again, I hate to pass up a chance to make money. From this I’ll make $175. It comes out to about $12 an hour.

I mowed the lawn this afternoon, knowing we’re in for a period of rainy weather (much needed) starting on Wednesday, after which everything around here will really start sprouting.

Tomorrow’s chores mostly revolve around yard work. I need to pick up a new mower blade at Home Depot. Need to finish mowing, and then do weed-whacking. Need to finish planting the rest of my veggie seeds and run to Agway to get tomato plants. Would be very good to get everything in before the soaking rains expected for rest of week. I’m also supposed to have my new range hood installed, though I’m annoyed they haven’t called to let me know when tomorrow. So I’ll have to call them. And work the rest of my schedule around it. Want to get more free mulch from dump while supplies last.