Today was stupid meeting day, and for the first time in a long time, we actually had two in a row without being cancelled. It was, of course, as pointless as ever. The budget sucks, but they aren’t talking about layoffs (like they’d talk about layoffs before they laid you off). They’re trying to get more “autonomy” from the State on benefits and purchasing. Things are bad, but not as bad as they are for our “sister” institution in Brooklyn (SUNY Downstate Medical Center), because the hospital that we bought up here isn’t in as bad a shape as they one they bought down there (King’s County). Oh, and there’s an electronic suggestion box for money-saving ideas (how about not having useless biweekly meetings?).

Hopefully we won’t go out of business, because I need to figure out a way to pay for puppy patella surgery. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to be causing her much in the way of pain – just seems to pop in and out pretty easily. Of course, I can’t let that go on for too long, but I guess I can still hold out for a miracle and it’ll fix itself. Or maybe I can win the Powerball drawing tonight (about a half a billion dollars – even after taxes, that would work out quite nicely). Of course, I haven’t bought a ticket, so my odds aren’t great.

Oh well, tonight’s my late night, so I reckon I’d better get out there in the cold and go for a walk to kill some time. I wish I’d brought a hat.