Oh, the Days

I don’t know. Maybe its just one of “those” days, whatever that means. Its a Sunday evening, after dinner, and all is quiet around the unit. We tried for our fresh air break, trekking down to the second floor all bundled in sweaters and hoodies, but it was raining harder outside than what could be determined from the fourth floor window. Opening the heavy double-doored portal to the park our small group was thoroughly chilled by a gust of moisture-permiated cold air. We schlepped back upstairs. So now everyone is doing their own thing as we wait out the remainder of CO. Its pretty astounding actually, and almost a little eerie. It hasn’t been this quiet around here since the rash of new arrivals; back when so many were getting ready to leave and constantly out on passes.

I can hear the staff on duty laughing in one of the back rooms. In half spanish and half english its hard to decipher whats so funny but, at least from what I can gather, its got to do with something on the computer. For however subdued things might seem at the moment though, this morning was the opposite. 10 a.m. and we were promptly out the door. It was 6 of us on level 3 or above, Cora and Jonathan for staff escort, and Brynn who was only on level 2 but had special permission to attend.

Actually, the trip itself was of Brynn’s making. There wasn’t much time so it was more of a speed-shopping trip than anything else but it was all her idea. I was initially surprised because usually the staff doesn’t go out of their written boundaries to grant this sort of thing often. They really try to stay consistent with the rules and privileges that come with level changes so there is no foothold for pointed discrepancies. It was very apparent that Brynn, who only had enough to wear countable on one hand, needed clothes. Because of this Target became the destination of choice and we all hopped on the one train heading northwest.

Although we had to be back by lunch I would say the trip was very successful. Not one of us, including the staff, came back empty-handed and everyone seemed to be in an outwardly good mood on the way home. I don’t know what this new obscure silence is about but it can only last so long. The overall moods of the unit at any one time seem to roll in and out like the tide so I know this will be over eventually. Until then I think I’ll just make the most of the rare peace and quiet.

Weekending

It seems that lately things around here have been a strange oscillation of slightly uncertain, a bit topsy-turvy, and relatively quiet. Its almost as though everyone is waiting cautiously to see whats going to happen next but they have no idea what that might be. Then again, maybe thats just the take I am getting from things. Although there havent been any recent arrivals, apart from the new med students starting their monthly rotations, there have been a few departures and pending dates to return home announced.

Right now I am RTU (restricted to unit) for the weekend. This is because I didn’t gain the minimum of 3/4 of a pound between Wednesday and Friday. When I got on the scale I was only off by a quarter of a pound and half-heartedly cursing myself for using the bathroom when I first awoke this morning. It is what it is though and theres not too much I can do about it at the moment. I’m still eating 100% of everything so the slight slip isn’t from lack of trying. All it really means is that I can’t go outside for fresh air breaks until the next weights on Monday. There isn’t any reason why I shouldn’t make that one unless my metabolism goes truly haywire and Wednesday morning is the one I really need to be sure to make anyway.

This coming Wednesday is the Target trip everyone has been waiting for. We are supposed to leave here at 11:30 am, lunching at Applebees first, and then carrying on to shop at Target and it’s surrounding stores. Then we are supposed to be back by 5 pm, just in time for dinner. I don’t plan on buying anything clothes-wise because I’m in such a transitional period as far as my body size goes right now, but I’m still looking forward to the outing whole-heartedly.

There is an Applebees menu floating around here somewhere too because most of us have to preplan our lunch order so no one is caught off guard when we are at the table and only have about 5 minutes to decide. I’m pretty excited about Applebees because the group of us eating there is probably going to prove to be very interesting. I think I am prepared for just about anything to possibly happen. I just need to make my Wednesday morning weights…my fingers (and toes) are crossed for it!

Other than that the weekend looks like its going to be pretty slow. Not being able to spend time outside, art being cancelled, and recreation being held in the gym tomorrow where I can’t go on RTU, theres not a whole lot left on the docket. Oh well, Maybe I’ll be able to get some artwork done. That would be nice and I have been eager to try out the brand new liquid acrylic paints my boss from the tattoo shop bought for me before I left. So thats the wekend – relaxation…its not a bad thing.   🙂