It is the Thursday before the start of public school here in our county and most of the surrounding counties. This is when the department all participates in the Ice Cream Social to celebrate the end of summer and the kids going back to school. It is also a sweet break before the end of year rush really begins.
This is the 11th year that the department has participated in the tradition.
Well, I participated. But more on that in a bit.
I made cinnamon ice cream. I’ve made it before in homage to my very favorite ice cream in the ENTIRE world- the oatmeal cookie chunk from Ben & Jerry’s. At least until they stopped making it several years ago and stopped selling it in their store a few years ago.
It is cinnamon ice cream, oatmeal cookie chunks, and chocolate chunks. And it is amazing!
It is made with 2 c heavy cream, 14 oz of sweetened condensed milk (an entire can), and cinnamon flavoring. In the past I have done a combination of cinnamon and cinnamon oil. And that was good. But this time, I made it with an additional 1/4 of cinnamon syrup. Like the kind that the coffee shops use.
Yuuuuuuum-mmmm-mmmmmyyyyy.
I made it last night and, knowing I needed to head to the hospital for something, I was going to bring it to the hospital immediately after making it, so that I can freeze overnight. Condensing my trips, you know? Next I went to the pharmacy and to pick up the Too Good To Go order at Whole Foods.
And I got called in at 0400. For a critical patient. I didn’t leave until nearly 0800 because charting and wanting to get the patient to the ICU, etc.
I had encouraged the night call people to try it after the case because it had frozen by then. Because who doesn’t need a sweet treat after that train wreck?
I got dressed and was ready to leave and I decided to check the freezers for ice cream.
Nothing but freezer burn ready meals, ice (for whatever reason, there is an ice machine on the counter), and a wrist brace.
This was frustrating. Because I had announced the Ice Cream Social at the leadership meeting, it was announced at the various department meetings. There were signs with slots to sign up to bring ice cream, toppings, cones, bowls, spoons, all the things at each department counter. Yesterday I asked the admin to put up reminder signs on the lounge doors. I wrote a reminder on the white board in the lounge on Monday.
Frustrating.
And a bit disheartening.
As I was looking through the freezers, people jumped into give me money to run to the store to supply the entirety of the ice cream social.
I collected $60 in short order and headed out.
I am sure you have noticed the price of goods at the grocery store these days. However, the grocery store I went to was having their end of summer ice cream sale. Jackpot!
With the $60, I bought 4 gallons of ice cream (at buy one get one free prices), 3 types of syrup, canned whipped cream, 2 types of ice cream bars, sprinkles, bowls and spoons.
Next year I will just collect money instead of relying on my coworkers memories. Time has shown that with the decreased participation over the last three years. Because I am not there to remind them every day.
I needed to taste my own ice cream before I left because by now it was 0900 and I was NOT coming back at 1400 because I was going to be asleep. I didn’t need any syrups or sprinkles or whipped cream. All I wanted was the cinnamon ice cream.
One of the techs participated in my taste test.
Moment of silence for how good the ice cream was.
My coworker said it tasted like a cinnamon bear.
It was amazing. Will definitely do again.
Dispatches from the Evening Shift 