PARTY TIME

This evening at 5pm is my retirement dinner at a local restaurant.  I am really looking forward to seeing former co-workers and old friends.  I understand that about 60 people have called in their RSVP.  I've made up a photo collage out of the many, many pictures I've taken over the years. What was really bizarre was that out of the 9 years I worked in the Admitting Dept of the hospital, I could only find one picture.  Maybe there's more somewhere but I couldn't find them the last few days, when I was getting these pictures together.  Luckily, the one I found is of a gal I shared an office with for about two years.  And I understand she and her husband are coming tonight....I haven't seen her in years !!  The only non co-workers who are coming are my friends  Barbara, Lynnette and Bob.  Bob & Barbara are going to be armed with cameras to get pictures of everyone that comes thru the door. 

I actually worked for the Health System two different times in the 1970 when I was still married.  Then I went back the 3rd  and last time on January 25, 1982.  I've worked in various departments, the Switchboard, Mailroom, Admitting Dept, then at the Family Practice Rural Medicine Residency Clinic and finally the Customer Service Call Center.  The last two departments were both great experiences.  I feel I've worked with some of the greatest doctors and nurses on the planet. I've seen young doctors come in out of medical school, go thru their 3 year family practice residency and then go out into the world (literally) to use their knowledge and skills to help those around them.  The last 6 years I've worked in the call center shared with the 24 hour telephone advice Registered Nurses.  They wear headsets and use a computer to help those folks calling in with questions about something as simple as a headache to heart attack symptoms.  They are as caring and compassionate as the nurses we encounter in the doctor's office or hospital but their work is all done over the phone. Their part of the office is staffed 24/7 so that there is someone available 24 hours a day, 365 days a week to answer the public's questions. Anyway, I'll report on the party later.

I hope everyone will go see the movie that's coming out today called "The Astronaut Farmer."   My friend Bob has a cousin that lives in Carson City, NV.  His cousin's daughter Wendy is married to Mark Polish.  This film, starring Billy Bob Thornton, Bruce Dern, Bruce Willis and Virginia Madsen is Mark's latest creation.  He's being trying to break into the film business for years and it looks like he may have made it.  Mark & Wendy's own daughter, Logan, is Sunshine in the film and it also stars some of Mark's other relatives.  This last Tuesday evening Bob's daughter and family that live in Pasadena, CA got to get all dressed up and go to the premier and the after party.  I talked with Bob's daughter yesterday and she said it was so much fun and even their teenage children enjoyed the whole affair.  The ads for the movie, say it's a movie good for the whole family.  A movie about following your dreams.....If you see it, I'd love to hear what you thought of it.   I would have liked to go today, but decided to wait until Monday (don't want to fill up on popcorn today, when my dinner thingy is in just a few hours.)  Billy Bob Thornton was on the "Regis & Kelly" show today and even Kelly asked him if this was a true story.   He said no it wasn't but he stated that there are several people in the U.S. who have built their own space rockets with the hopes of shooting them into space.

I'm hearing on the news at noon about heavy snow fall in some towns north of here. I know it's colder today than it has been and thankfully there's no snow coming down here in my area.

Well, that's all for now....until next time, Linda