I would give the hospital staff $1,000 to let us go the hell home.

Try this time proven method: "Dad, I'm beat and achey. I think I'm going to go home. If you need a ride home, I'll come back and get you, but if you're going to stay overnight just call me anyway so I know."

You haven't lived until you've witnessed me completely losing my shit in a public place. No, really. I saw the "cafeteria closed" sign and just started bawling.

Oh god, I totally know how that goes.

Steph - I'm so sorry about your dad's health (my dad's on heart attack three, and has apparently chosen to self medicate with cigarettes, beer, and porkchops), and I'm especially sorry that you're the only one who can be there to deal with it so it all falls on you. (FWIW, you are the Daughter of the Year in a lot of ways, and letting him take a cab home wouldn't change that. And dealing with someone who's stubborn.) It's really rough being on your own in a situation like that, and I especially especially wish you wouldn't keep feeling like you shouldn't throw some of that burden to us when you need to. Buffistas were my lifeline when my mom was dying - the only place where I only had to worry about me, where I didn't have to put on a front or put aside my own struggles to shore up other people. And I thank god for that. So bitch about your damn tuna sandwich, and bitch about your dad thinking it's as easy as putting him in a cab and going home and relaxing, and get it out in a place where it doesn't matter and there won't be hurt feelings and no-one is judging or expecting anything from you.

Brenda is wise.

The staff keeps making encouraging "we're-going-to-let-you-go-home" noises, but then drifts back out saying they still need to talk to Dr. So-and-So and Dr. ThatGuyOverThere.

In fact, nurse #3 just came in, saying the same thing. She's trying to get the IV out of Dad's arm and just said -- I swear to you -- "Let me just talk to Dr. ThatGuy."

It seems like freedom is imminent, for all values where "imminent" means "sometime before Monday morning." No, I shouldn't exaggerate. For all values where "imminent" = "sometime before 9 p.m."

Christ.

I hope you get out of there soon, Steph, and get to treat yourelf to a nice meal, or a decent meal and a good sleep.

I'm sorry Teppy. It is so frustrating when no one can give you a real answer.

I've got whines too, but yours looked more serious...

Much health and coping ~ma to Lilty and her family and Tep and her dad.

Tep, if anyone has a good excuse to vent, it is you. Really.

Lilty, I imagine that the parents on the Alaskan cruise are well on their way home by now, but if they happen to be in Juneau and need anything at all, see my profile to reach me.

I deserve everything that happens to me, you know?

For the record: CRAP!

Unless you mean you deserve everything good that happens to you, but you definitely don't deserve to have shitty things happen to you, Tep.

{{{Teppy}}}

Nothing sucks more than being ready to leave the hospital but lacking official permission to do so.