Man, I'm thirsty enough that that half-empty pils looks appealing.

Work

I'm almost at the three week mark at the new gig. I'm feeling comfortable with my new role, starting to feel confident in my understanding of the research protocols I am on-paper in charge of. I figured out my lab coat sizing and I'm feeling more relaxed when I go up onto the inpatient floors to collect data and samples. My last gig was almost 100% outpatient and there's definitely been some adapting to the increased gravitas of the inpatient setting. These are some super sick folks and they can go from pleasant and conversational to full coma in the span of hours, as a completely expected and 'normal' course of their illness.

My boss has high expectations, much like the last one. In contrast to the last one though, he's got a very structured way about onboarding new research staff and having an itinerary to fall back on is nice when things get slow.

Related, I met my first patient with Tuberculosis today and I think I handled myself well. Not that I thought I would freak out or anything, it's just an unknown that is now becoming more and more normal.

Also my whole unit is going to Washington DC in November for a conference! This is rather exciting for me as I've never had the chance to attend an investigators conference except by webinar and that's not at all the same thing. This working group really makes a point to network the research staff at different institutions so that we know each other well enough to feel comfortable bouncing ideas and problems back and forth, rather than everybody overwhelming the coordinating center with inanities.

Play

The RPS and I spent the weekend at Coast Guard festival on the west coast of Michigan. Because my workday now starts at 0700 and I'm a creature of habit we were up before 8 both Saturday and Sunday and used the time to go do (lazy) yoga on the beach, listening to gulls fight each other for the detritus of the day before. I'm not normally a morning workout person but there was a certain satisfaction that came along with being productive before most people were awake, or at least active.

Thoughts

When we got home on Sunday I had a real emotional moment where I realized on a pretty deep level that I'm going to be okay. I've weathered all kinds of storms and managed to not only survive but have some fun in the process. My RPS and I have endured a brief season of scarcity and doubt and came through it stronger, and we are well prepared for the next few months as she gets back into school. I'm deeply grateful for her and her influence, and I hope to be as supportive of her as she has been of me.