Cats and Ghosts of our Past
Cats and Ghosts of our PastOK wow
Finally I am in my new pad.. And oh what a difference it makes.. I have completely done it up to resemble my humble little 6 tatami mat room I had in Shimousa Nakayama, Tokyo.. it even has a traditional Japanese entrance curtain (Noren) at the door of my room that I had bought in Shin-Koiwa … I have really sweet, friendly roommates, who strike a great balance between socializing and giving each other our own space. They are all professionals as well; 2 are college professors and the other teaches grades7/8. The most significant differences I noticed right away are that they have such great positive attitudes and have lots of energy and drive in life, they are always on the go and love to chat.. so the Italian in me is just loving this place… they are also the types that would take responsibility for thier actions and have had to actually work to get where they are today.. on the weekends I wont have to worry about them constantly being drunk/ hung over or strung out on drugs. Its great to be hanging out with people who are doing things were thier lives vs just sitting around spending thier parents money and never amounting to much...Which is an amazing change from the past 3 months. The one thing I will totally miss is the puppy Kikki, I totally grew attached to that little furball.
Things on the work front would be totally awesome if I was bi-polar. When I’m teaching the residents or the clinical clerks we have a blast, The way these men and women handle such stressful situations with little or no sleep absolutely amazes me…I got the great opportunity to teach with one attending physician, Dr. Patulo.. Who is one of the world’s leading Infectious Disease practioners… well we totally hit it off and got the medical students in stitches with our stories from living overseas.. he really liked my teaching style and others have also said I would make a good physician if I ever decided to go into the field. The residents were all jealous that I was on a first name basis with him after only 15 minutes, and the look of shock on their faces was soo funny. Working with the physicians is like being in an Old Boys Club, once your in, your in and they are soo friendly…I’ve even been invited out to poker night with some of the attendings…
The nurses are another story…. They despise me with a passion and have no problems telling me to F’ off during my RN training sessions. On Monday I found myself coming to tears in one 4 hour session I was leading… it was me and 23 female nurses in a room..
I felt like I had been dipped in fresh blood and then thrown into a cage full of feral cats……I was trying to be my usual smiling self and show them the new system and all the wonderful new functions of the system… well they just didn’t like it, like computers nor did they like me.. on the course evaluations I got all zeros or negative numbers for the question “ how would you rate the instructor”
They were not just nasty to me but also to each other…. I have no idea what could possibly have happened in their lives to make them this bitter.. but they were out for blood.. I swear the next class I am wearing full body armour and a cup just to be on the safe side.
I think for most of these women who are getting close to retirement age they don’t want to learn something new.. they couldn’t seem to understand that with an electronic patient chart, we would no longer be having paper requisitions and printing their med sheets will be something of the past,,, the current system many have been using was first brought into Calgary in 1964, with an upgrade done in 1988 to make it a DOS based system and since then there has been no computer upgrades… so for many who have been practicing they have been doing the same routine for 40 years and now everything is going to change… I keep telling myself this to help me understand why I am being screamed at..
its just kidna hard to get up in front of 20+ people to train them in a computer lab when every 5 mins someone is yelling “ Die you mother F*ing Liberal C*k S*ckin F*g F* U”
Who knows maybe these women have a bad case of group Tourettes Syndrome..or maybe I should bring holy water and a cross with me, Linda Blair’s possessed character had a cleaner mouth. But whatever it is… I will just keep on plugging along
But I have been sending my resume out very aggressively.. and not because of the verbal abuse.. my skin is starting to thicken now…. But because of the crazy workload
They have us training back to back to back classes but across town… on thursday I have a class at 7:30am till 12 at SAIT and then another class at the Rockyview General that starts at 12:30 till 5… and a third class from 530 – 10 at the Lougheed Medical centre…which means I have only 30 mins after each class to drive across town, find parking which is not on site but rather a 10 minute walk to the hospital, prep for class which on average takes 15 mins if I rush, eat lunch as this would be my only break,,, and Calgary is a large spread out city.. it would be like driving from the Hamilton General to Dundas to Caledonia….and with all the construction and street closures it can be easy to get lost in this city…and during the classes its not like I can take a 15 minute break because during the break I’m answering the students questions.. English teachers in Korea have better working conditions.
Anyways.. I will keep plugging along…. I have more physician classes this week and fewer exorcisms to perform
On the Boy front- THIS IS GOOD
Not good for me… but would make for a good movie
In the last blog Tristen and I were getting along famously.. he is the first person in Calgary that I have really meshed with… but being the free spirit he is, he is of course seeing other people.. which is totally cool with me… as I have come to learn to just accept the things in life I can not control..
So I say power to him… and if and when we do hang out, I know I totally enjoy my time with him…
So I tried to go on another date with someone else.. and we went for coffee… and the moment we sat down… this other “True” Calgarian really hit a nerve with me… the second question he asked me into our conversation on the patio at Starbucks was “ how much money do you make?” and I looked at him… and asked why was that important to this conversation… and his response was “ well Matt, I make 55,000 a year in oil and gas and I don’t want a boyfriend who I have to pay for everything…”
Well that just floored me… that how much I made would be a casual first date conversation topic… well I may be fairly liberal in how I treat my friendship with Tristen, but then again I found I really got along with him.. this starbucks guy though was another story… he just had this typical “ Calgarian” im better than you attitude.. so I politely said.. “ I actually make more than you.. and Im going home now, good evening”
Its something I never thought I would have the bulls to do…. Maybe the constant feral cat attacks at work have really started to toughen me up a bit
Anyways… on a funnier and weirder side…it came to Tristen and I’s attention this week.. that he used to be good special “friends” with my ex- finance back in Ontario…. I mean how “ Sex-in-the-City- Carry Bradshaw” ISH is that???
I travel 4000kms to the other side of the country.. and the ghosts of relationships past come back to haunt me…since this discovery Tristen hasn’t been returning my calls…in a cell phone txt message he basically just said that this was too weird for him…
I do hope we can talk about it… I fear that he is totally weirded out that he too came 4000kms to get away from his past.. and once again it gets thrown into his face… I have no idea about what happened in their (Tristen and Darius’s) past to cause any friction but what an important life lessons I have learned these past few weeks
1- no matter where in the world you run to, your past is always a part of who u are and follows you
2- people don’t like change
3- never go into a room full of Calgarian nurses without candy and holy water
eh everyone
just wanted to touch in and let ya know how things are going
Calgary is really starting to grow on me now as I start to make more friends and get out and do things with cool people... mind you, warts also grow on ya...not that Calgary is a wart but it can be a definite "growing concern"
had an amazing week.... now that the official count down to me moving out has begun.. Tim and I have been talking a lot more..he must be getting heaps excited that I am finally leaving his place.
as for the boi front... things have been fun....
Ive been hanging out with a dude named Tristen.. who is from Niagara-on-the-lake and just moved out to Calgary too... one of the great things is he has been a good cheap date... we have gone out for dinner twice.. once to Denny's and the other time to the Ikea cafeteria... then this Saturday we rented a raft.. and floated down the bow river... it was really neat.. the river here is really shallow.. and on a weekend there will be hundreds of rafts of all shapes and sizes just floating down the Bow... it was a definite adventure... took us 4 hours... and about halfway into it... he decided he was hungry... so we stopped the raft on an island in the middle of the river.. which even though it is shallow runs very fast... and then he could see a 7-11 on land... so.. he waded across the river and climbed up and embankment, over a fence and 4 lanes of traffic to go and buy some bag of chips and a slurpie.. it was the funniest sight ever.. and when we finally got back to the raft..he tripped getting in and the slurpie and candy got donated to the river....it was a nice hot day out.. so we got burnt something fierce.. and the raft had many leaks.. so we were constantly pumping it up with air as we were floating...but if we sank its not like we had far to walk...
at one point.. we got stuck on some rocks.. and so we got out and walked the raft back to where the river was deeper... but it was also very fast.. and we didnt really pay attention to how close we were to the bridge... and as soon as we pushed off into deeper water.. the fast moving current took us head first into the bridge... poor Tristen was in the front... and we smacked the bridge really hard but luckily we had just re inflated the raft ... and when we hit the bridge... we got jolted back.. and thrown around... but somehow managed to survive...
it was soo much fun.....
its totally cool to be hanging out with people who agree with me that Calgary can be a very cold, mean city... but Tristen.. puts it in perspective really well.... its all about the company you keep./... and I definitely hope I can keep his company. He is all about enjoying life but to him, his enjoyment of life does not come from buying $400 pair of jeans nor doing heroin ... so I think at the very least I have made a really good friend.
Oh yeah 4 more sleeps till I move into the new pad.
NO White Towel
Eh guyssome of you may have heard what happened.... and so I want everyone to know im fineCalgary has been interesting...the past few weeks I have been coming into a really good pace at work.. and really making a huge impression with the physicians... they really like me and my training style.. so things are improving on the work front...as the docs are all impressed...i helped to streamline this whole process for DVT prophylaxis protocols and made it as simple as point and click.. and the docs are all excited about that as it will be a pan departmental order set for all 4 acute care sites.and make thier lives so much easier and hopefully save some lives..BUT... on the dating front.. thats another storyI went out with this one dude... we will call him Rude Dude #1... we had gone for out for coffee a couple of times.. and things went smashingly.. so we decided to go for dinner..and we went to one of the fanciest places in Cgy it was nice... very 4 star... anyways at the end of the meal.. I picked up the bill.. as we were walking out of the place... I asked if we could hang out again.. and he said to me" No you 2 Fugly... I just wanted a free meal" and walked away... I have never seen him again and dont plan on it.... so crazy eh?then the second dude I met... he went for a walk along the river... then the next night we went to see a movie... Ant Bully...he is a big football player from Calgary originally who played college ball down in the states... and I figured if he took me to this kids movie.. he must have been a sweetie... well was I wrong... the next night we were suppose to go up to Banff..... tim was having a bday party for his friend and I got the feeling Tim wanted me out of the house for the night.. which was totally cool because I thought I had a friend to go to Banff with......... but Football Player changed his mind at the last minute and wanted to go clubbin in Calgary instead.... it was at some weird strange night at a sketchy club called the "eagle"/////(( need I say anymore))) anyways..I totally did not fit in... I was dressed in an Abercrombie shirt and had a baseball cap on I was all preppy and everyone there was dressed in hard core leather and Chaps... it was the scariest place I had ever been to... anyways..I was trying to find the bathroom in this dark scary bar.. when the Football dude and his friends attacked me from behind... after a few moments of struggling.. I managed to punch him in his eye and then I threw his face into the wall.. and I ran out of the bar ... you can call me a sissy.. but I dont care.. I started to cry.... and as I was running towards my car in the parking lot.. there were people doing drugs and shooting up... it was soo scaryso I pushed them out of the way and got into my car and sped away as fast as I could... I didnt know where to go.. as I dont really have a lot of friends here in Cgy/// I decided I should report this to the police.. and when I went there to file a report... the police officer just laughed at me, called me a fag and said to go sober up.... the thing is I dont drinkanyways... I should have complained to his supervisor but at this point it was 3am and I was all shook en up...and crying.. and I couldnt deal with some red necked cop making fun of me... i was tempted to just drive str8 back to Ontario.. but instead I went back to Tim's... at this point it was 4am.. and him and his friends were still up partying...I apologised profusely for coming back while his friends were still there.. Tim was a bit cold and I kept apologizin.. and I can understand he didnt want me crashign his party... but his friends didnt seem to care I was there.. I didnt tell them what had happened.. I just cleaned up and went to bed Today I have been to a few places trying to find an apartment... everywhere I go there are usualy 2 or 3 other people there .. also trying to rent the place... so its going to be some hard work trying to find a place.. but hopefully I will... Im off this Monday and I think I will take it easy and maybe just go canoe up in the mountains again by myself...hey as I am writing this email.. Dude # 2 just texted me... apparently I broke his nose and he needed 3 stitches last night.. **Im not going to respond.... dont feel I need to...... just keep moving forward and smiling... if you ever want to experience a truly western frontier experience.. come to Cgy...anyways... Im off now to see an apartment... wish me luck..BIG HUGS
from Paris Hilton's castle to the UFC ultimate Fighter house Eh Guys
it looks like I have a new pad come Sept 1st... I will still be in Marda Loop just down the street from Tim... which is a trendy area in Calgary.. kinda like what westdale is to Hamilton.. I'll be living in a house with 3 other dudes... and 2 are team players...its near an area in Cgy called westhills which has amazing views of the mountains...
all of my new flatmates are teachers... 2 teach recreation at a College in town and the other is a grade 7 teacher... .. it will be nice since they are a bit older and more mature.(25 to 38yrs old).. and they are very active big muscle dudes and love the outdoors...
it will be a big adjustment.. Tim was very nice to let me stay at his pad but he needs his space and im sure will appreciate having his apartment back... I will miss Kikki his little Chiauawa, she always loved to run up my head and lick my eye every night.
it will be a big change.. moving from Paris Hilton's castle to the UFC Ultimate Fighter house.. where I will be sharing one shower with 3 other guys... wish me luck
oh and on another blond moment.. I went and tried to pay my mastercard on line... and instead of paying $40.. I somehow managed to pay them $4000... and when I called my bank to have it changed.. they said I needed to go to my Branch... the only thing is my branch is in Hamilton.. ehehhehe so I guess I will be using my mastercard for everything for the next few months..
big HUGS.. and keep the emails flowing.. I love to hear whats going in other places of the world other than the land of Steven Harper
The new mailing address:3316 - 36 Ave SWCalgary, ABT3E 1C1
Does Cgy hate me?
July 30th
ok talk about a crazy and wild few daysafter the whole bashing incident and getting beaten up on Sat... I finally found an apartment on Monday... right downtown.. really amazing.. and relatively cheap..I gave the apt dude a cheque for the security deposit, but we I wasnt able to sign the lease because the office was closed... he was jsut the site superintendent and they have a main office that handles the leases... so anyways... I was like wow.. things were really improving then a lady at work was going to sell me a mini dachshund.. and I got all excited about that....so after work I went down to sign the papers... and when I get there... the apt dude just looked at me as if he didnt know who I was... and I said I was here to sign for unit 204... and he said.. "who are you?" and at this point I could feel my neck get red ... (I have huge visible veins in the neck now from living in Cgy for 3 months).... he then said..." oh right.. someone came in today and outbid you for the apartment by $200...sorry better luck next time" OMG at this point I freaked....I said " well we shook on it" but that apparently doesn't mean much in these parts..so he told me to leave his office.. and I then demanded my security deposit back... and he refused.. saying that I should trust him that he wont cash it well it's needless to say where my vein went after that statement by the apt dude... I then got very angry and demanded he hand me my check that instant otherwise I would put his head threw the desk..** i have never been so violent before moving out to Alberta*** anyways... after that I calmed down.. and then drove around the city for 3 hours.. calling every building that had a phone number on it to no avail...I even started to go up to different apartment buildings and ring the superintendent...and with the biggest puppy dogged eyes asked them " will you let me live here?"/// but nothing..... :( I will keep on looking for a place... but at this rate oh well?.. I know I promised not to give up on Calgary... but maybe .. just maybe there is a fat lady somewhere getting ready to sing...
Cgy's Emery Cloth Man
July 20th 2006
Howdy Folks
How are things back in the sweltering heat? out here its been heaps cool but don't tell that to a Calgarian...
they seem to think they are in the middle of a heat wave...and I keep asking them... "when does summer come to Cgy?" .. just to egg them on....
it went up to a high of 24.....with zero percent humidity.. and everyone here has been complaining about the intense heat... as a true Southern Ontarian I keep laughing at them... I don't consider it a heat wave when the majority of people are wearing spring jackets in the evening to keep warm.
Stampede is finally over... hopefully that will mean less drunk drivers on the street.. drinking and driving is only socially acceptable during stampede......Cgy may be one of the last cities in North America to still allow smoking in bars and restaurants...city hall has been debating the issue this week... and of course the anti smoking movement was voted down... it's one thing a lot of people here take pride in... the amount of alcohol and cigarettes they consume...
on the work front.. I didn't get the promotion I was up for... but Im not too upset about it now...
at first i was upset... manly in the way it was done.... the project director is a big fan of the reality shows like american idol and " So you think you can dance...
and being slightly over dramatic... she brought our team into a room and closed the door...
she then starting to talk all dramatic like Ben Mulroney or Ryan Seacrest on the shows where they declare who is safe and who goes off...
and she then went and talked about each of us individually and went on about our strenghs and weaknesses...... I must say that Simon Cowell had a lot more tact than she did when she was talking about us..
and she went through the room.. and said things like " Kate... you have strong computer skills and your clinical background in women's health is very strong.. you have been late to work 3 times and you will NOT be a site coordinator....Rose.. you have impressed everyone with your persistence and dedication to the team... you need to work on group presentations skills because you present like a 4 year old girl singing at Stampede...(long pause).....you ARE the first site coordinator to be selected today.".. ((
it should be noted her name is Rosita not Rose))\n \nit was the silliest and most unprofessional team meeting I have ever seen... no one in the room said anything.. we mostly just either rolled our eyes at how rude and obnoxious this project director was being or had our mouth\'s open aghast at her total reckless behaviour...\n\npeople like Simon Cowell are funny in the context of their shows...because they are shows and are meant to be entertainment... but what this lady was doing wasnt entertainment... it was really rude...\n\n \nwhen she got to me... she said " Matt... you are always at work early and your efforts to streamline the training process has met with some success .....***and then a long over-dramatic pause**** but you will not be a site coordinator...you will continue to work exclusively with the physician groups"...\n\n \nafter she went through the group... she told us that all the vacation requests will be denied because of how busy we will be and understaffed we are...\n \nat this point.. I got a bit upset.. because when she had met me in Toronto before I had accepted the position... one of the things we had discussed was taking a week off over the Christmas Holidays and she had agreed..\n\n \nSo I immediately interrupted her.. and said.. but what about the Christmas holidays...\nand she responded " we dont call it Christmas.. we call it the December Holidays, Matt.. and no time off will be granted.... everyone on the team will be working over the December holidays.. we need to continue to train over those days.."\n\n \n ",1]
);
//-->
it should be noted her name is Rosita not Rose))
it was the silliest and most unprofessional team meeting I have ever seen... no one in the room said anything.. we mostly just either rolled our eyes at how rude and obnoxious this project director was being or had our mouth's open aghast at her total reckless behaviour...
people like Simon Cowell are funny in the context of their shows...because they are shows and are meant to be entertainment... but what this lady was doing wasnt entertainment... it was really rude...
when she got to me... she said " Matt... you are always at work early and your efforts to streamline the training process has met with some success .....***and then a long over-dramatic pause**** but you will not be a site coordinator...you will continue to work exclusively with the physician groups"...
after she went through the group... she told us that all the vacation requests will be denied because of how busy we will be and understaffed we are...
at this point.. I got a bit upset.. because when she had met me in Toronto before I had accepted the position... one of the things we had discussed was taking a week off over the Christmas Holidays and she had agreed..
So I immediately interrupted her.. and said.. but what about the Christmas holidays...
and she responded " we dont call it Christmas.. we call it the December Holidays, Matt.. and no time off will be granted.... everyone on the team will be working over the December holidays.. we need to continue to train over those days.."
When she was finished talking about how no time off will be granted until the second quarter of 2007 sometime in April of next year.. she stormed out of the room like Cruella Deville .. \n\nit was funny... but at the time.. not many of us were laughing... we all kinda looked at each other as if to say.. was she for real\n \n \nas it turns out... the 4 ladies who got promoted to Site Coordinators are all people I trained...and im happy for them... but I asked if the raise was good .... Rosita just looked at me and started to cry...\n\napparently its just a title with more responsibility but no increase in pay...\nand poor Rosita was all upset... she wasnt too sure what to do... she is afraid if she declines the new job.. she will be fired...and is a single mother of 2.. her husband is in the oil and gas business and just left her for his Secretary... so Rosita doesn\'t know what to do...\n\n \nI feel totally bad for her and the others...because they will be expected to work from 7am till whenever and not get paid any overtime\n \n*** I am now considering what I should do.... do I stay in CGY? I cant find an apt.... this city has a lower vacancy rate than Tokyo or London now... and the superintendents I call just laugh at me or don\'t answer their phones... although I have been placed on the waiting list for 3 buildings for November....\n\n \nI am also considering coming back to Ontario... there are tons of training jobs in Toronto.. but a part of me.. doesn\'t want to seem like a hurt little dog crawling home with my tail between my legs because I couldn\'t make it in Cgy\n",1]
);
//-->
When she was finished talking about how no time off will be granted until the second quarter of 2007 sometime in April of next year.. she stormed out of the room like Cruella Deville ..
it was funny... but at the time.. not many of us were laughing... we all kinda looked at each other as if to say.. was she for real
as it turns out... the 4 ladies who got promoted to Site Coordinators are all people I trained...and im happy for them... but I asked if the raise was good .... Rosita just looked at me and started to cry...
apparently its just a title with more responsibility but no increase in pay...
and poor Rosita was all upset... she wasnt too sure what to do... she is afraid if she declines the new job.. she will be fired...and is a single mother of 2.. her husband is in the oil and gas business and just left her for his Secretary... so Rosita doesn't know what to do...
I feel totally bad for her and the others...because they will be expected to work from 7am till whenever and not get paid any overtime
*** I am now considering what I should do.... do I stay in CGY? I cant find an apt.... this city has a lower vacancy rate than Tokyo or London now... and the superintendents I call just laugh at me or don't answer their phones... although I have been placed on the waiting list for 3 buildings for November....
I am also considering coming back to Ontario... there are tons of training jobs in Toronto.. but a part of me.. doesn't want to seem like a hurt little dog crawling home with my tail between my legs because I couldn't make it in Cgy
\nI am also thinking of Vancouver...since I am soo close...\n \nso who knows... for now I am going into work.. and giving it my all... the physicians so far have been ok...i think manly because they are scared of me...I am getting a bit of a rep for being mean and abrasive...\n\nsome of my physicians have nicnamed me "Emery"... which is short for an abrasive emery cloth they use for sharpening some medical equipment...\nI must admit I really miss my days at Circles when I was known as a cuddle teddy bear....\n \nwell mates.. im off to do rounds... this Abrasive jerk from Toronto has to teach some Anaesthetists how to chart their Naloxone Protocols..\n \n \n-- Matt Stewart~Saru mo ki kara ochiru \n\n",0]
);
//-->
I am also thinking of Vancouver...since I am soo close...
so who knows... for now I am going into work.. and giving it my all... the physicians so far have been ok...i think manly because they are scared of me...I am getting a bit of a rep for being mean and abrasive...
some of my physicians have nicnamed me "Emery"... which is short for an abrasive emery cloth they use for sharpening some medical equipment...
I must admit I really miss my days at Circles when I was known as a cuddle teddy bear....
well mates.. im off to do rounds... this Abrasive jerk from Toronto has to teach some Anaesthetists how to chart their Naloxone Protocols..
July 22nd 2006
I must say a big hugs and thanks for all the emails and support... I may be 4000km away but all the on line support has been amazing.. so thank you everyone ** 3 SNAPS***a lot of people have been asking about my love life... and so instead of sending 18 different emails.. I'll just send my one usual big over winded email.. actually there totally isn't much to write about... a lot of you have asked "what about Tim?"... but unfortunately I wasn't good or hot enough for himand before you say ""ahhhh" its ok.. we are still on good friendly terms... he has been kind enough to let me stay at his place... otherwise I would be out on the streets since I have had no luck in finding an apartment we just were not compatible in many ways..... I'm totally cut from a different cloth than he is... and I wish him all the best.. he was so sweet to let me stay here.. Im not a prettyboi and maybe thats what he needs.... It was funny... the moment I arrived in Cgy when he first laid eyes on me... he had the biggest look of disappointment on his face.. kinda like a kid at Christmas who unwraps yet another gift of socks...he is totally doing well.... hot guys always do... and apparently is seeing another hottie with more of the same interests that he has....and I think that is totally amazing...because everyone deserves someone who makes them smile :) I finally came out at work.... not that I was ever "In".... I just think it took most of them longer to clue in.... the girls kept asking me if I had a wife or girlfriend.. and I was like NO and they kept asking me what my type was... and I think a few of them were too young to get when I said "a young Steve McQueen" but finally they light came on for them.. and for the most part the ladies have been great..... in fact they are soo pushing to find me a man..... they dont want me to leave Cgy and their logic is if they find me a hot doctor or someone like that I will stay... ( crazy eh?) I think its cute...but after the beatings dr scott used to give me im still, after all these years, weary of dating a dr again.... anyways the ladies at work went and got me an on line profile at "
www.plentyoffish.com" and wrote up this crazy little bio on me too.... there is this one clinical clerk they keep trying to set me up with... he plans on going into internal medicine.. and is cute and all... but is totally shy... each day for the past week they have made sure he sits with us for lunch... but he is soo shy.. and wont say much to me other than " hi and bye".. I think I intimidate him because apparently I have a "Loud Personality" according to the girls... that and most of the residents and physicians were calling me " Donald Brashear" or the "enforcer" because I am quickly becoming the Enforcer at the hospitals for making the docs enter 100% of their orders electronically... before coming to Cgy the rate was only 15% and now its 75% and soon to be 90% or higher at Rockyview General thanks to my take no excuse attitude.. they like to intimidate the nurses and I soooooo dont stand for that... and I gotta credit my time at Circles for that...I really got to hone my "bad cop" skills there... so who knows what we will happen in the love dept.....maybe in my time left here in Cgy .. Tim and I can go on a double date...its Saturday and I think I am going to head up into the mountains again alone... I really like it up there... so peaceful and I totally need it as I reflect on the decisions I need to make soon about where I go from here
July 13th 2006
Eh MatesJust a lil update from the land of Crazy Oil Money.... Its still Stampede... and we are milking the relaxed dress codes to the max at the hospitals... Im finally getting used to wearing my cowboi boots... and my big cowboi hat has been a bit hit with all the patients... I got some amazing accolades from my manager today at a big team meeting... I guess they really like the work I am doingwe have a team of 30+ trainers... and my manager has asked me to join a select group of just 2 other trainers who will be directly responsible for training Physicians and Surgeons.. since they are such a difficult group.... the director has decided that only a select few should deal with them directly.... that way we can create a greater bond with the doctors as they are seen as very competitive and the most adverse to change... she put it in a great way.. she said "Doctors are the intellectual cream of society who also have the social graces of bulls in heat...and therefore need trainers who have soft gloves but can also wrangle with the biggest bull egos." So im taking that as a good indirect compliment.i think (?).. so wish me luck.. as I found out I am already being considered for a promotion... I have only been on the job for 6 weeks..crazy eh..and one of the reasons is that I have also been working on creating and testing Low molecular weight Heparin protocols and order sets for Emergency... anyways.. yada yada yada// my work has got the attention of the Chief of Medicine and the chief residents of the 3 emergs in town... one of them even said to me today in the biggest southern cowboy drawl...... " Kid.. I like your style, you've got the most non-threatening-take no bullshit air to you."I have no idea if that was an insult or a compliment.... but all I know is that since then I am getting invited to more and more high level meetings... so keep your fingers crossed.... maybe just maybe.. this gay boi from Ontario can win over some of these red neck Albertans...big hugs... and chat soon... ps.. its ok if I call them Red Necks... the Chief has a big sticker on his pick-up that says " Red Neck and Proud"
July 9th 2006
Eh Gangjust a quick little check in to let you know I am safe and sound.. had an accident/collision on Saturday but I will survive... but more of that story coming up in a bit.... Stampede Craziness has invaded the city Friday was the official kick off to biggest outdoor show in the world.. called the Calgary Stampedeor SILLY INSANE as I call it :)the city literally has shut downI had to go to work.. and assit the clerks in Emerg since everyone went to the opening Parade.. and I mean like everyone... over a million people.. more people were at the Stampede than the official population of Cgy... everyone I spoke to was shocked I had to work...and I was like... dude... people still get sick.. even during StampedeEveryone from the grocery clerk to mail men to the Emergency physicians were all decked out like cowbois it was kinda funny... we were in cowboy boots, hats and medical scrubs...Oh i decided to join the Calgary Canoe Club (CCC).... we have a little Reservoir here in Cgy... its kinda like a big bath tub....but its where all the rowers, canoers go in joining the CCC I have full use of facilities including a club house...and I can take out a canoe or Kayak for free as long as I stay in the reservoir...and for a little fee I can take them off site for like $5 a day anyways on Saturday it was a beautiful day so I decided to head out to the Cgy bathtub and being the weekend it was extremely busy out on the waterfrontif anyone has been on a Kayak they would know how fast and uncontrollable they can be.....well im out there doing my thing and had a complete blast >>> then as I was at the dock disembarking..I was standing on the dock and bent over lifting the kayak out of the water... when.... a competitive rower comes flying by in the water and WHACKS me in the back with this 14 foot oar... all I remember is hearing a big crack... and bam was knocked flat out.. when I came too.. I had a few people standing around me on the dock... they were not there to make sure I was ok... but they were consoling the rower who was all upset that his favorite oar was now cracked in two...and he started to scream at me at the top of his lunges...it was sooooooo funny.... well maybe not funny at the time.. but I can laugh about it now as I think back to when it happened... no one cared if I was ok... I literally couldn't focus my eyes.. and the world was spinning as I tried to sit up... and this "asshole" for a lack of a better word.. was yelling at me and he actually started to cry...as he was yelling epithets at me.. I slowly got to my feet...took off my now torn bloodied shirt...and said to him... " I am so sorry my back rammed your precious oar" anyways.. after a night of taking it easy I can walk around.and touch my toes.... my back isnt that bruised up and I will be ok... I think I may avoid going to the CCC for a few days... it would be a shame if the back of my neck should happen to ram a canoe or something... anyways... im off to enjoy this crazy city... for Stampede there are an ecletic group of bands performing... everyone from Stompin Tom to Alan Jackson, Rex Goudie, to Nelly Fortado.. and even MC Hammer... because nothing says Western Cowboi music like a little MC Hammer cheers
June 25th 2006
Hi GuysI have posted two short movies I made while canoeing this past weekendyou can take a look at them by drilling down on the the following links
http://blip.tv/file/44696http://blip.tv/file/44699
June 30th 2006
Thanks for all the words of support....I really needed some good "old fashioned" Ontario lovin after this week.I hope all is well back in the homeland....out here things are the same I'm really coming to expect obnoxiously rude behaviour as the rule of thumb when I'm at work now.. for those of you who asked.. the 4 day class I taught only got extra special after our first day.. On the 4th day I had the VP of IT come in to be a guest speaker to talk about how the new program will be implemented across the 4 hospitals.. and needless to say these special people showed him about as much respect as they showed me.. so I knew I shouldn't take any of it personally...While he was presenting two of were talking on their cell phones making plans for their Canada Day BBQ... others were checking email.. or on ticketmaster buying Stampede tickets...they all took 45 minute breaks and a 2 hour lunch break that day and then complained that they wanted me to let them out early...
after the VP finished I went up to him and apologized for the \n rude behaviour of my class..and he just said..."why are you apologizing... \n they were the best behaved group all week"he said that with the \n straightest face possible...I wasn\'t sure if he was serious or not...but I \n wouldn\'t be surprised if he was serious...at the very least the class didn\'t \n tell him where he could shove his face... ~~~~Oh I am responsible \n now for orientating the new staff in my department.. which is kinda funny \n since I have only been on the job for a month and didn\'t receive an \n orientation myself.. but they somehow feel I am the best person for the \n job...anyways this new lady started and at first she seemed soo sweet... she\'s \n in her 50\'s and has a voice like Melanie Griffith.. very high pitched \n and annoying after 4 words....so we\'re alone in this big computer lab and I\'m \n showing her the computer system...and she turns to me and says " Have you \n accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?" not wanting to offend \n her.. I just tried to steer the conversation back towards the systems \n functionality...but she kept pressing the issue...and asking what my religious \n beliefs were.. so I finally told her...that I felt really uncomfortable \n talking to her about this.. and it wasn\'t work related.. and we really should \n focus on work.. Well that just upset her.. and she started to cry.... \n and now I felt like the biggest ass...but I figured part of the reason \n she was crying.. was because this computer program was a bit hard for her.. \n she didn\'t know what a "right Click" was or the difference between "single \n click or double click".. So to make it easier for her.. I started to \n make Biblical Analogies .. and she just LOVED THAT and started to really \n understand...as I was explaining the different screens I would compare it to \n the struggles of Cain and Able.. and then when I was demonstrating how the \n program can build reports we talked about Moses and building his arc..well she \n just ate it all up and had the biggest smile on her face.. she was starting to \n act like a little girl getting all giddy because finally she was understanding \n how to use the system.. and every time she did something right..like order a \n chest x ray, or chart a blood infusion in the computer correctly.. she would \n raise both her hands into the air.. wiggle her fingers and shout out \n "Hallelujah.. praise Jesus!" ",1]
);
//-->
after the VP finished I went up to him and apologized for the rude behaviour of my class..and he just said..."why are you apologizing... they were the best behaved group all week"he said that with the straightest face possible...I wasn't sure if he was serious or not...but I wouldn't be surprised if he was serious...at the very least the class didn't tell him where he could shove his face... ~~~~Oh I am responsible now for orientating the new staff in my department.. which is kinda funny since I have only been on the job for a month and didn't receive an orientation myself.. but they somehow feel I am the best person for the job...anyways this new lady started and at first she seemed soo sweet... she's in her 50's and has a voice like Melanie Griffith.. very high pitched and annoying after 4 words....so we're alone in this big computer lab and I'm showing her the computer system...and she turns to me and says " Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour?" not wanting to offend her.. I just tried to steer the conversation back towards the systems functionality...but she kept pressing the issue...and asking what my religious beliefs were.. so I finally told her...that I felt really uncomfortable talking to her about this.. and it wasn't work related.. and we really should focus on work.. Well that just upset her.. and she started to cry.... and now I felt like the biggest ass...but I figured part of the reason she was crying.. was because this computer program was a bit hard for her.. she didn't know what a "right Click" was or the difference between "single click or double click".. So to make it easier for her.. I started to make Biblical Analogies .. and she just LOVED THAT and started to really understand...as I was explaining the different screens I would compare it to the struggles of Cain and Able.. and then when I was demonstrating how the program can build reports we talked about Moses and building his arc..well she just ate it all up and had the biggest smile on her face.. she was starting to act like a little girl getting all giddy because finally she was understanding how to use the system.. and every time she did something right..like order a chest x ray, or chart a blood infusion in the computer correctly.. she would raise both her hands into the air.. wiggle her fingers and shout out "Hallelujah.. praise Jesus!"
by the end of the day she had me doing \n that too...and we started to sing church songs like "On Eagles Wings" and "the \n Lord is my Sheppard" while we were charting medications , Flamazine \n applications and starting IVs.. I must say I am getting the hang \n of Calgary now.... like when I\'m shopping in the grocery store..and someone \n body checks me into the aisle.. I don\'t get upset anymore... instead I realize \n that after working out for a year I\'m a bit bigger now..and have a wicked body \n check myself... and before I used to hate driving thru a 4-way \n stop in Calgary....for the longest time I was really frustrated cause I was \n the only person to come to a complete stop and wait for when it was my right \n of way to go..... and I used to always get the finger from some redneck in a \n pickup because right of way apparently is only a suggestion here.. Now I \n know in order to survive I have to be like them.. so when you come to \n Calgary... just remember the red sign the says "STOP" really just means "slow \n down".. unless of course your in a pickup truck.. then that red sign really \n means "accelerate"... on Saturday I went shopping to get my Stampede \n outfit... we went to Lammalls which is the official cowboy store of \n Calgary...and I got some real cowboy boots...and some real cowboy jeans.. and \n a shirt that just screams BrokeBack Mountain...I must have looked like the \n biggest fool... because I soo cant walk in those boots.. I felt like I was \n doing cowboy drag or something because the boots had such a huge heel on them \n I was falling over.. and they had soft leather soles so on carpet I was \n slipping everywhere... it was like wearing figure skates... that \n evening was the Gay Rodeo... the biggest one in the world.. so i figured ... \n why not..I have the outfit.. well. I ended up going with some guys we \n had met in Edmonton because Tim and his friends were all going too...and he \n had no more room in his car for me. ",1]
);
//-->
by the end of the day she had me doing that too...and we started to sing church songs like "On Eagles Wings" and "the Lord is my Sheppard" while we were charting medications , Flamazine applications and starting IVs.. I must say I am getting the hang of Calgary now.... like when I'm shopping in the grocery store..and someone body checks me into the aisle.. I don't get upset anymore... instead I realize that after working out for a year I'm a bit bigger now..and have a wicked body check myself... and before I used to hate driving thru a 4-way stop in Calgary....for the longest time I was really frustrated cause I was the only person to come to a complete stop and wait for when it was my right of way to go..... and I used to always get the finger from some redneck in a pickup because right of way apparently is only a suggestion here.. Now I know in order to survive I have to be like them.. so when you come to Calgary... just remember the red sign the says "STOP" really just means "slow down".. unless of course your in a pickup truck.. then that red sign really means "accelerate"... on Saturday I went shopping to get my Stampede outfit... we went to Lammalls which is the official cowboy store of Calgary...and I got some real cowboy boots...and some real cowboy jeans.. and a shirt that just screams BrokeBack Mountain...I must have looked like the biggest fool... because I soo cant walk in those boots.. I felt like I was doing cowboy drag or something because the boots had such a huge heel on them I was falling over.. and they had soft leather soles so on carpet I was slipping everywhere... it was like wearing figure skates... that evening was the Gay Rodeo... the biggest one in the world.. so i figured ... why not..I have the outfit.. well. I ended up going with some guys we had met in Edmonton because Tim and his friends were all going too...and he had no more room in his car for me.
WELL... when we got there I felt \n like I had truly entered another world...it was at this crazy ranch in the \n middle of no where..and the dance was in this big old converted barn... \n everyone was in their cowboi gear and the music was totally crazy... it \n completely embodied every gay and western stereotype one could imagine... \n well when Tim and his friends got there I went over to say hi and \n introduce myself... but no one acknowledged me or even my presence \n there...well my friend from Edmonton was like... ok Matt lets go \n dance.. figuring maybe they couldn\'t hear us.. it was loud and crazy busy \n so we were doing some crazy two step on the dance floor .. when Tim and \n his friends come out to the dance floor.. and they walked right by us... \n I just thought maybe they didn\'t see us.. so we went over to them and said \n hi... I went again to introduce myself to them.. put my hand out ... and the \n other guy just looked at my hand ..looked away and turned his back to me.. \n and my Edmonton friend got really upset and said something to the guy.. \n and then asked if we could leave the dance floor...He thought Tim and his \n friends were ignoring us because he\'s from Edmonton...and I asked.... " who do \n they hate Edmontonians too".... and I guess there is this thing between the \n two cities..but its not like people from Edmonton or Ontario are visual \n minorities... so anyways..I couldn\'t believe it was true.. and went \n and found Tim and his friends who were now outside...walk up to the group.. \n said hi.. and again tried to introduce myself to the group since I didn\'t know \n anyone...and as soon as I put my hand out again .. in almost perfect unison \n they all turned their back to me and walked away... I didn\'t know what \n to do next... like should I go and ask Tim (who I am living with) whats up.. \n or just ignore it...well my Edmonton friend and I just went back to \n the dance floor and had a good time.. but we left fairly early..and as I drove \n him back to his hotel.. we talked about how its like a "tale of Two Cities" \n here and how the rivalry between Calgary and Edmonton was deep rooted and goes \n back generations... ",1]
);
//-->
WELL... when we got there I felt like I had truly entered another world...it was at this crazy ranch in the middle of no where..and the dance was in this big old converted barn... everyone was in their cowboi gear and the music was totally crazy... it completely embodied every gay and western stereotype one could imagine... well when Tim and his friends got there I went over to say hi and introduce myself... but no one acknowledged me or even my presence there...well my friend from Edmonton was like... ok Matt lets go dance.. figuring maybe they couldn't hear us.. it was loud and crazy busy so we were doing some crazy two step on the dance floor .. when Tim and his friends come out to the dance floor.. and they walked right by us... I just thought maybe they didn't see us.. so we went over to them and said hi... I went again to introduce myself to them.. put my hand out ... and the other guy just looked at my hand ..looked away and turned his back to me.. and my Edmonton friend got really upset and said something to the guy.. and then asked if we could leave the dance floor...He thought Tim and his friends were ignoring us because he's from Edmonton...and I asked.... " who do they hate Edmontonians too".... and I guess there is this thing between the two cities..but its not like people from Edmonton or Ontario are visual minorities... so anyways..I couldn't believe it was true.. and went and found Tim and his friends who were now outside...walk up to the group.. said hi.. and again tried to introduce myself to the group since I didn't know anyone...and as soon as I put my hand out again .. in almost perfect unison they all turned their back to me and walked away... I didn't know what to do next... like should I go and ask Tim (who I am living with) whats up.. or just ignore it...well my Edmonton friend and I just went back to the dance floor and had a good time.. but we left fairly early..and as I drove him back to his hotel.. we talked about how its like a "tale of Two Cities" here and how the rivalry between Calgary and Edmonton was deep rooted and goes back generations...
totally crazy eh? I mean we \n have our rivalries in Ontario but not like this....I think this was a bit \n extreme...I don\'t think Tim meant any harm and I\'m not mad at him...he \n is a sweet guy.. but I totally really started to miss all of you... at \n least you guys would shake my hand..well I\'m off now.. going \n canoeing up in Banff againhave a good one.. Cheers :)-- Matt Stewart~Saru mo ki kara ochiru
OMG dudesI soo have to tell you about my day ..... today I started teaching at SAIT ( Southern Alberta Institute of Technology)- for a 4 day intensive session that the Surg, ICU and Emerg RNs, and Residents and Superusers have to pass in order continue to work in their areas.. it was made mandatory by their Department Heads/chiefs that these folk get 100% proficient in the new technology for patient safety... which makes sense.. because who would want a Dr who can only get 90%... anyways... I have a class of 32 students and a new instructor and it was her very first day....I kinda felt sorry for her cause I couldn't really explain much to her as I was busy teaching.. and she couldn't answer any questions the students had since it was her first day..... I came into class pumped thinking I would totally handle it and make the day really fun for everyone... and despite some grumbling in the 1st few minutes from those who were resistant to change.. I had the class laughing and enjoying the material in no time like I usually do... (sometimes I think I'm less a trainer but more a Stand-up comic)... anyways.. things were going soo smoothly... until about 11am...up until then I had neglected to mention where I was from cause I didn't think it was important and I have a lot of info to get thru in 4 days....its total information overload.. but then again these are bright people who should be able to pick up new things quickly...... then a student asked me directly where I was from...WOW....and i paused.... thinking to myself.. should i answer this question or should I avoid it...and I made a fatal mistake and said I was born in Hamilton..... WELL>>>> the class went into an uproar when that came out...You would have thought I was the Devil and had eaten their first born child.... for the first few minutes of them harassing me because I'm from Ontario.. I thought it was all in jest and In fun....and I just nervously laughed and smiled and tried to change the subject back to the curriculum material. BUT NO>>. they would not have it... they kept drilling and drilling me with insults..and it got really nasty... the words and insults they were hurling my way were insanely cruel.... it became really apparent that a few of these people were really upset and offended that they had a teacher from Ontario...I could see their necks getting redder and redder from the anger... so I asked... why the hostility towards me.."what did I personally do?"... so then a few of them starting yelling at me saying that Ontarians are always trying to ruin Alberta and that we are always meddling in their affairs...she mentioned something about the "national Energy program back in the 70s and 80s" and how "FUCKED-UP I WAS" and " how Fucked up everyone in Ontario was" then others starting to use the F word.. and were clearly very upset and angry... at this point I was actually afraid for my physical safety.....I mean this was something that happened back when I was like what... 3 years old????? I was totally shocked by this outburst which lasted at least 10 mins or more... the poor new instructor was almost in tears...her first day and she sees me getting steamrolled...So.. to defuse the situation I went to the front of the class and turned off the lights.. and in my sternest voice possible... told them that "All non clinical systems dialogue would not be tolerated anymore for the duration of the class.. and the next person to swear or get off topic will fail the class and not be able to continue in their areas"! the class went silent.... then there was about a good 30 second stare down.. where no one said anything... it kinda felt like an old western movie where two people have a gun dual....then the "F-word lady" finally broke the awkward silence and said " you wouldn't seriously fail us, would you?" my cold response was" Of course I would! I am from Ontario! "Tomorrow should be fun... the new instructor said she would come back..all I know is I won't be buying candy or tim bits for this class... Cheers.... at least Banff is pretty
HI All :)just wanted to let you know I am doing well.. this weekend I went up to Banff by myself.. cause Tim had to work.. and I couldn't find anyone else here in Cgy willing to leave the city,,,it was totally amazing.... I climbed several mountains.. went Canoeing...saw lots of wild life... tip to others coming to Banff... dont go hiking alone... you could be fined $2500... I was given a warning by the park police.... something to do about bears or something crazy like that.....if you wanna see the pics... go to
http://photos.yahoo.com/mattspicsinalberta
Hi guys here is a pic of me teaching a class and being a bit silly...
JUNE 8th 2006
HI Gang
All is well in Calgary.
my new job is nuts...but then again so I am.. so maybe I will fit in... just wanted to send along a picture of the hospital I have been training at.
This week I am at Rockyview General Hospital and as you can see from the picture it has an amazing view of the Rockies. I will try to take more pictures soon and post them to my web blog. Over the next few weeks I will be training at the other hospitals and at the technical College SAIT which stands for the (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) (? I think)
Oh ya I am an official Albertan now.. I got my plates and my drivers licence
I have been to Banff, Lake Louise and Lake Moraine.. which is like WOW.... whenever you get a chance to get out here I will have to take you..
we went to Calloway Park which is their mini version of Canada's Wonderland, it only has one real roller coaster so it was ok.
Las Vegas was amazing and so was the Madonna concert...which I took heaps of pics.
Tim is really amazing and I hope everyone gets to meet him soon. We are driving up to Edmonton next weekend to see the big Mall there... and in September he is taking me to Vancouver for the weekend.
I gotta tell you about the insane 2 and a half day drive it took to get out here.... the rude Albertans, the silly moose, the funny clubs, cute cowboys and all.. but I will save that for the blog.
Hope all is well with everyone... big ALBERTAN hugs
