Well, Christmas has come and gone, and while it was really difficult being so far away from home, I had a wonderful substitute. Christmas Eve we had a big dinner here at the absolutely B-E-A-utiful lodge. A mix of guests came, some doctors, nurses, x-ray tech (as there is only one in this community, literally, one x-ray tech and one lab tech, so they’re are on call all the time - literally! hahaha), cafe owner, and the caretaker of the property. We all sat down and enjoyed a wonderful meal made by my roommate and nurse, Ruth. Turkey and all the fixings! It was delicious (but not quite mom’s!).
I also had to work Christmas Eve night. Lots of community and family members brought lots of gifts in for the LTC residents. It was so nice to see. Everyone knows everyone too and is always quite pleasant to talk too. I had a couple ER patients that night, one acute inpatient and the 8 LTC residents. Yes, it’s a SMALL hospital! But the ER is quite organized, it’s great!
Coming home to the lodge Christmas Day was a weird feeling, but being so tired from the night shift it was nice to get into bed and sleep the day away. I got to message lots of family before I went to sleep and may have had a little sad moment, but only for a second. I got the BBM video with the Fallis side of the family later in the day while they were eating supper. It was so nice to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and to see most of the family (minus my brother and Jamie). I got to give them a little tour of where I’m staying. I miss the family a lot, but am really enjoying the experiences I am having while out traveling. I cooked up the leftovers from Christmas Eve and we had a little sit down dinner together here at the lodge then relaxed by the crackling fire and lit up christmas tree. It was super relaxing. I have the best sleeps out here, it’s so quiet, and if its not quiet it’s raining and hearing that is also really relaxing.
The time change is still messing me up a little bit. I find the mornings the worst. I wake up at 0600 and have a hard time going back to sleep, but somehow I manage LOL. I’ve gotten to use an industrial type chef’s kitchen while here, I’ve never cooked with propane before, and really like cooking on a gas range! Kendal and I took out one of the trucks today to explore the town of Bella Bella. I got some awesome shots of the water and the mountain range. Some mist, so the snow capped mountains weren’t always visible, but it’s still just breathtaking. I absolutely love this landscape. Kendal also told me that she heard either a whale or a dolphin in the water the other night coming up for air - whatttttt?!? I reallllllllly hope I get to see something like that! Residents at the LTC have said that they’ve often seen whales jumping out their windows in the spring/summer. I would love, love, LOVE to see that! So when I’m awake and it’s light out, I’m usually sitting in my little corner with the view! This morning up in my room I actually saw a seal about 10 ft from the lodge! It was so cute!!! So I’m hopeful for a whale or dolphin!! We drove through town, out to where the Ferry comes in and out. Just stunning landscape. One unfortunate thing is how shabby the town appears. The Band owns all of the houses and allocates them to Band members, so none of the houses are owned by any individual, so you don’t really see the pride taken in the homes. Why take care of it when it’s not going to give you equity in the end? That’s the feel you get when driving through town. There are a ton of dogs roaming about, all over the street, who seem to purposely not move out of the way when driving through LOL. We went into the Band Store, which is where you get your groceries (the only place). A bag of CheeseStrings was $10.15!! They also suggest coming in on Sunday’s or early in the week since Sunday is when they get the fresh off the boat food. Interesting, huh? Upstairs in the store is a bit of a General Store, getting some basic needs covered and some little trinkets, and it’s also where you can buy booze. So everything you could ever need, it’s there!
I got to round out my evening with a BBM video chat with the Jolly family, well, most of them! It was SO nice chatting and showing them around here too, I wish everyone could come out here and experience the beauty too! Photos will be the next best thing : ) unless you’re going to come out and visit me!! there’s 17 rooms here - and only 4 of us here right now!
I hope everyone had an absolutely fantastic Christmas with friends, family or whomever you spend the holidays with! I miss everyone lots! I miss my LMH family, everyone at work every where I go is really nice and welcoming of the agency nurses, but it’s just not quite like my LMH family.
Miss everyone back home : ) I’ll be home soon! Although briefly!
xoxoxox Chelsea
I also had to work Christmas Eve night. Lots of community and family members brought lots of gifts in for the LTC residents. It was so nice to see. Everyone knows everyone too and is always quite pleasant to talk too. I had a couple ER patients that night, one acute inpatient and the 8 LTC residents. Yes, it’s a SMALL hospital! But the ER is quite organized, it’s great!
Coming home to the lodge Christmas Day was a weird feeling, but being so tired from the night shift it was nice to get into bed and sleep the day away. I got to message lots of family before I went to sleep and may have had a little sad moment, but only for a second. I got the BBM video with the Fallis side of the family later in the day while they were eating supper. It was so nice to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and to see most of the family (minus my brother and Jamie). I got to give them a little tour of where I’m staying. I miss the family a lot, but am really enjoying the experiences I am having while out traveling. I cooked up the leftovers from Christmas Eve and we had a little sit down dinner together here at the lodge then relaxed by the crackling fire and lit up christmas tree. It was super relaxing. I have the best sleeps out here, it’s so quiet, and if its not quiet it’s raining and hearing that is also really relaxing.
The time change is still messing me up a little bit. I find the mornings the worst. I wake up at 0600 and have a hard time going back to sleep, but somehow I manage LOL. I’ve gotten to use an industrial type chef’s kitchen while here, I’ve never cooked with propane before, and really like cooking on a gas range! Kendal and I took out one of the trucks today to explore the town of Bella Bella. I got some awesome shots of the water and the mountain range. Some mist, so the snow capped mountains weren’t always visible, but it’s still just breathtaking. I absolutely love this landscape. Kendal also told me that she heard either a whale or a dolphin in the water the other night coming up for air - whatttttt?!? I reallllllllly hope I get to see something like that! Residents at the LTC have said that they’ve often seen whales jumping out their windows in the spring/summer. I would love, love, LOVE to see that! So when I’m awake and it’s light out, I’m usually sitting in my little corner with the view! This morning up in my room I actually saw a seal about 10 ft from the lodge! It was so cute!!! So I’m hopeful for a whale or dolphin!! We drove through town, out to where the Ferry comes in and out. Just stunning landscape. One unfortunate thing is how shabby the town appears. The Band owns all of the houses and allocates them to Band members, so none of the houses are owned by any individual, so you don’t really see the pride taken in the homes. Why take care of it when it’s not going to give you equity in the end? That’s the feel you get when driving through town. There are a ton of dogs roaming about, all over the street, who seem to purposely not move out of the way when driving through LOL. We went into the Band Store, which is where you get your groceries (the only place). A bag of CheeseStrings was $10.15!! They also suggest coming in on Sunday’s or early in the week since Sunday is when they get the fresh off the boat food. Interesting, huh? Upstairs in the store is a bit of a General Store, getting some basic needs covered and some little trinkets, and it’s also where you can buy booze. So everything you could ever need, it’s there!
I got to round out my evening with a BBM video chat with the Jolly family, well, most of them! It was SO nice chatting and showing them around here too, I wish everyone could come out here and experience the beauty too! Photos will be the next best thing : ) unless you’re going to come out and visit me!! there’s 17 rooms here - and only 4 of us here right now!
I hope everyone had an absolutely fantastic Christmas with friends, family or whomever you spend the holidays with! I miss everyone lots! I miss my LMH family, everyone at work every where I go is really nice and welcoming of the agency nurses, but it’s just not quite like my LMH family.
Miss everyone back home : ) I’ll be home soon! Although briefly!
xoxoxox Chelsea