8 weeks done...3 to go!!

January 18 seems so long ago - but I only have 3 more weeks to go before I head home to Calgary. I have enjoyed seeing different parts of Canada (can say I have gone coast to coast - Halifax to Vancouver); enjoyed meeting fellow coders and sharing some similar challenges we each face at our facility; when comparing codes from the original coder and myself - nice to see that we are matching up majority of the time (always great knowing you are on the right mind set. The major challenge I found on this study - being away from home and my support system. I have spent most of the study working by myself (I will be teamed up with someone for the next 2 weeks), so it does get lonely in the hotel room night after night. Of course, as I mentioned previously, a couple of my friends have been going through challenges of their own and I have felt bad not being there for them (they have told me they have appreciated the calls and emails).

Well, one of the perks of this study is that I have been able to reconnect with some friends too. I had finished my charts a couple of days ahead of schedule last week and my project lead said she could send me home. Being I was coming back to Ontario (Toronto), I said fly me up to Thunder Bay where my mom live (at least we would be in the same province). So for the past few days I have been enjoying a mini-vacation in Thunder Bay. Have been able to go out for dinner with some friends which was great (having some good laughs). Friday night my mom took me to see the musical CHICAGO. Great music and dance numbers too.

This afternoon, I fly back to Toronto to spend a week there. I will be going back to Sick Kids again. Knowing from last year - they will be challenging charts. Hoping at the end of the week, to meet up with my brother Bruce and his wife for dinner. Next Sunday, I leave for Manitoba. I will be flown to Winnipeg and then drive 3 hours to Brandon where I will be staying for a week. My last week I am at the 'Peg and funny enough a former coworker from Thunder Bay works at that hospital - it has been years since I have seen Peggy.

Wishing you all a great week.