Uproar!

Uproar here.  The rules have changed.  It used to be that if you were a patient for 72 hours, and you were detoxed and wanted to leave, you were free to go.  Well, not so much anymore.

Now, regardless of how long you have been here, once you voice your intent to leave, you can still be held an ADDITIONAL 72 hours.  So, here we go.  A few of the guys who have been here all week want to go home for the holiday, and figured no problem.  They called their families, made plans, arranged rides.  Only to find out that they have to stick around another three days after all.  But here's the rub.  This particular facility does not discharge patients on the weekends.  To make a long story short, no one is getting home for the holiday.  As a matter of fact, they will all be here until Monday. Anger abounds.  It's actually kind of funny, only because I plan to be here anyway.  I just asked the duty nurse to try to find us some unopened puzzles.  No kittens, though.

So, after about 3 PM today, the long wait begins.  Tomorrow will be the acting holiday for the federal employees, so essentially the place will shut down for three days. Another holiday weekend of my life, stolen from me by alcohol.  Or perhaps I should rephrase that.  Another holiday weekend of my life, given over to alcohol.  And I can't stop thinking about my girlfriend.  It is going to be a long 96 hours.  Lots of writing, hopefully some of it will be entertaining.