I'm outta here!

So my plan to update more frequently with smaller bits of information has obviously been a failure! I don't have an excuse...just lazy I guess. Anyhoo - I'm leaving Virginia...today actually...and going home to Oklahoma for a visit. I head back to Columbia in NYC on June 5th for a 13 weeker. It wasn't my first choice - heck, it wasn't even on my list but the economy is taking a toll and there just aren't many options. I feel very lucky to even have a travel position at this point...many travelers are going staff due to the lack of jobs. Just to put it in perspective...Cross Country (my company) usually has around 3000 jobs...as of Monday, they had just under 150 for all types of nurses all over the US. There are probably that many travel companies and you can be most of them have those jobs listed as well. Thankfully, I've been at this awhile (both nursing and traveling) so that tends to make me a more marketable and desirable candidate.

I'm meeting Lucas and Megan for breakfast before I head out of town so I've gotta go get ready. They just got a job yesterday (after 3 weeks of looking) in San Antonio so we are going to celebrate our blessing!

I just want to make a quick shout out to my most faithful reader and honestly the reason I continue to write these things...

Julie Jo - you and your little man, Wes and Hazel are in my prayers! I'll be thinking about you and praying for you on Thursday (and every other day!) Love you always dear friend!

Greetings from Virginia

I made it to Fredericksburg Saturday evening, only a few minutes before my Mom thanks to the usual traffic jam on 95. I arrived at my apartment to discover that I did not have water (great thing to discover on the weekend!) but after a call to the emergency line for the complex a maintance man was en route and had me fixed up in no time. Lucas came over (we are living in the same complex) and we all went to one of my favorite restaurants for dinner...Cracker Barrell! We made a quick Wal-mart run and then home to bed. We were greeted early the next morning by a text message from Lucas (whom my mom now refers to as the "cat's meow") informing us that coffee was just outside the door! Ahhh...now I can face the day! The three of us headed to DC to show my Mom a few of the sights which, lucky for us, included the cherry blossoms! It was a full day but so much fun. We met Megan for dinner and then were able to just sit around and catch up.

I had to take my Mom to the airport today...unfortunately she has a life and responsibilities in Oklahoma and can't just stay with me. :( She hates to fly but I guess that's what Moms do...suffer for the good of their children! So...thanks Mom...I love you and I'm so glad you finally got to come visit me!!

I start work tomorrow night...should be interesting! I'll have to let you know more on that later!

Best picture of the day!

We thought the Washington Monument was falling on us!

The cherry blossoms at the tidal basin...I'm blocking the Jefferson Memorial.

This is the look you get when you trick me into taking a picture!

The talents of Mr. Willoughby...thanks for playing photographer once again!!

I have a job!

I received an unexpected phone call from my recruiter this morning to tell me of a new job posting in Stafford, Virginia. It is very close to Fredericksburg (about 15 min north) and is a brand new hospital associated with Mary Washington which is where I worked before. I gave it a few minutes thought before I called her back to tell her I was interested. She submitted me and within four hours I had interviewed and been offered a job which I accepted. I was hesitant at first because it wasn't even on my radar but the pot was sweetened by the fact that Lucas and Megan are in Fredericksburg through May and financially it's one of the best offers out there.
I'm so blessed without even trying - a great paying job and friends nearby too! I don't know what I've done to deserve this but I hope I keep doing it! The only wrinkle is that due to the orientation schedule, I have to start April 6th. I finish up here the morning of the 4th so I won't have time to fly home, get my car and be in VA by 8am Monday. Worst case scenario - I'll have to do without things like linens and dishes for a week or so until I can go home. Best case scenario - my Mom and I have discussed her gathering the things I'll need and driving my car to Virginia. I think that sounds like great fun and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for option B!!

So I suck at blogging!

I apologize to all my friends whose blogs I read religiously for sucking so bad at this thing. I was so excited to actually do this but most of the time I just don't have it in me to try and be witty! I think I'm going to try to do smaller updates more frequently so I'm not so overwhelmed by the amount of information I want to share.

To start - it's flippin' cold today...I'm not leaving my apartment unless it catches on fire and even then, it's gonna be a judgement call! I'm so ready for warm weather. It looks like the job market is gonna help me out with that one! It's slim pickins out there kids...who knew hospitals would fall prey to this economic wreck we are in? California looks to be the most promising with the highest number of jobs so I may end up there. I'm secretly hoping for an opening at home...just want to have some company for awhile!

I am kinda over the city and haven't been able to come up with much energy to get out and do stuff. I have a list of broadway shows as long as my arm but just cannot bring myself to walk the few blocks over there and see a show. My disappointment with Phantom took the wind out of my sails and I'd rather pay $12 for a movie that might suck as opposed to $60-80 for a broadway play (homeskillet doesn't pay full price btw)!

I almost got to go see Letterman but the darn ticket people were recruiting for the next days show and I had to work. Funny thing - I was standing in the TKTS line (cheap broadway tickets from the theater foundation) and literally bumped into Mike who I worked with in Virginia. The lady comes up to talk with us about the Letterman show and it turns out he went to high school in PA with her - it's a small small world!

I guess this just basically lets you know I'm still kickin'...I'll try to get up the energy to fight the picture posting process later though I think most of you who read this have access to my shutterfly, facebook or myspace (why don't I have the time to blog?)!

New York

I made it to New York...got here on the 2nd. I had the weekend to get acclimated so on Friday I just ran a few boring errands (toilet paper run and scoped out the immediate area). My apartment is almost centered between Penn Station and Time Square...very cool!! I was pretty tired from all the travel (flew out of Tulsa at 7am) so I went to bed fairly early. On Saturday, I got an early start and just went walking...found some familiar sites like K-mart and Payless! Lucas came up around 1pm and we hung out at my apartment for a few hours and then went in search of food. We ended up in an area with a heavy oriental influence (couldn't even find menus in English) so we just kept walking until we got to Southside Seaport. That was the first place that had anything remotely american! Sunday I did some grocery shopping and ventured out a little further from my apartment. I took the subway to the hospital and figured out where I needed to go for orientation. I started work on Monday with a little "classroom" time to learn IV pumps, code carts, etc and take care of some housekeeping items. I was off Tuesday so I walked around in Chelsea...saw some interesting outfits (on the men!). Wednesday was computer class for the charting system my hospital uses. I am working at Columbia which I'm very honored by...it is ranked 6th in the nation of US hospitals and the neuro department (I'm in Neuro ICU) is ranked 5th. Lucas came up again on Wednesday (he had finished his assignment on Long Island that morning) and we just hung out, walked a little bit, and I had my first taste of Thai food! Thursday and Friday were night shifts on the floor and so far...I like it. It is super crazy busy but part of that is because I'm learning where things are, the routine of the unit, and what the Docs expect. I can see it's going to always be busy but hopefully within a couple of weeks I'll find my rhythm and things will settle some! The best part of things so far is the the residents and fellows from both Neurology and Neurosurgery are literally on the floor most of the night. So, my patient seized and they were actually close enough to come witness! They also accompany us when we have to leave the floor for things like CT and MRI (which I did twice within 6 hours for one of my patients) so there is an extra layer of comfort! I have also met a fellow traveler that lives in my building (we met in orientation on Monday) and we have hung out and are going exploring on Thursday! I'm very grateful for that...really helps keep the loneliness at bay! Tonight is my first night solo...hopefully, I won't have a totally different opinion in the morning!!


This is the view from my apartment...not a great picture but there's certainly lots to see!

This is my living/bedroom! The apartment is lots bigger than I expected...plenty of room for an air mattress or two if I have guests!

More New York pictures!

These are just a few more shots of my New York adventure! I've finally got my mind around being in the city and am excited to get up there and start exploring. My first stop will be the builing in the first picture (Metropolitan Museum of Art or the MET) to purchase my membership! I plan to spend alot of time here!! I've signed my contract, passed all my tests and am just waiting on my license to get processed. I have a few more housekeeping type hoops to jump through (drug test, immunity titers, etc) but that's just details. I still haven't found out about housing and that's the last thing that is actually giving me any anxiety. I just feel like I can't really start planning until I have that last bit of info...hopefully soon. I'll keep you posted! If anybody feels like a visit....


The MET...Starry Night is here.

Lucas told us to "frolick," we were in Central Park after all.

Ground Zero....just plain sad.

We really liked the tiny building behind us which I have now been seeing in commercials for Rhapsody!

Trinity Church in the Financial District at the corner of Wall and Broadway...I'm told it was used as a triage facility for the victims of 9/11. It's a gorgeous building though the picture doesn't really capture the reality of it.

I almost forgot!

Apparently I've become computer illiterate because not only can I not get my pictures to move, I cannot cut and paste my text. Therefore, pictures first in a totally inappropriate order! I must remember to add the images and then type! If I weren't so lazy, I'd just redo it!


This is the tree at Rockefeller Center, no lights yet!

Me at Radio City Music Hall

I bet you can figure this one out all on your own!!

Manhattan skyline - this is the Financial District, potentially my new home!

A very nice young woman on Wall Street offered to take our picture...see, I told you they were friendly!

Megan and I on Wall Street...can you see the sign at the top?

With our fabulous Thanksgiving dinner! This is actually Megan's picture but I have something in my hair in mine!

I have been so busy I almost for got to get on here and update! I'm sure sighs would have been heard 'round the world! Anyway, I really have been a busy girl. I've been taking trips in between working and now I'm trying to get all packed up to go home for Christmas!

I went home early in November for my uncle's funeral. I wrote about him and his cancer diagnosis earlier. I hadn't planned to go home for his service but it worked out that they scheduled the service for a time when I had seven days off. So, I couldn't just sit here in Virginia knowing that my family would be getting together. I don't see that side very much anyway so it was a really great time. Due to the short notice (I found out Sunday and flew home Thursday), I didn't really tell anyone so it was a big surprise. I think it was the right thing to do...an unexpected happiness in a time of grief. I hope that doesn't sound conceited...I'm just as surprised as you at how much my family actually loves me and likes it when I'm home!!

I came back to Virginia and worked for a week or so and then flew to New York for a visit with Lucas and Megan. We had planned, even before they left, to try and do Thanksgiving together the week before the actual holiday, knowing we would all be working and unable to go home. I arrived on a Saturday afternoon after a 45 minute flight that was scheduled to take 1.5 hours. Needless to say, I had a little wait at the airport before my friends arrived! Saturday was pretty low key...Lucas had cooked a traditional turkey dinner and so we ate and chatted and went to bed early! Sunday was a full day with a train ride into the city and an agenda full of touristy activities. They actually live and work on Long Island but it's just a 45 minute ride into Manhattan. We started off in the Financial District and just walked all over. We saw Ground Zero, several beautiful churches, and walked down Wall Street. We ended up at Southside Seaport where we took a little cruise on the East and Hudson rivers to see the Manhattan skyline, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and the Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges. We walked thru Chinatown and Little Italy and then made our way down 5th avenue (or maybe up...I'm really not sure!) to Broadway where we were able to score tickets to the supposedly sold out "Jersey Boys." It's the story of Franki Valli and the Four Seasons....very interesting and funny and the music was phenomenal!! We got out of there around 5:30 or 6 and it was already dark! We just kept walking though!! We went by Radio City Music Hall on our way to Rockefeller Center. We caught a peek inside Radio City...so ornate! They were just starting to put the tree up at Rockefeller and it was still in the transport box...I'll post pictures so you'll know what I mean! I was surprised at how small the ice skating rink is...in my mind I expected it to be huge! We went up to "Top of the Rock" which is just the rooftop of the Rockefeller Center and saw some great views! A walk through Times Square ended our night in the city! I must say...it was my lucky weekend because there was not many people. It was very crowded by my country standards but Lucas and Megan assure me the city was pretty empty! We slept in on Monday and then Lucas took me for a tour of their town and a Mediterranean lunch (a turkey sandwich and baklava). We met up with Megan and went back to the city for a walk in Central Park. I wanted to go to the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art) but unbeknownst to us, they are closed on Mondays! We walked all the way from 86th street down 8th avenue to Penn Station...finding quite the competition between Starbucks and porn stores along the way! There was at least one of each every other block or so! We had breakfast for dinner at the Stage Door deli across the street from Penn Station. We walked right past Mo Rocca but Lucas and Megan didn't know who he was so that kinda lost some of the thrill. He is a comedian who was on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart and also does some stuff for VH1, just FYI! After we filled our bellies with really great french toast, we had a relaxing ride home. We planned to stay up really late because Lucas and Megan had to work Tuesday night and wanted to try and sleep most of the day. Lucas and I took a nice long walk in the rain which definitely served its purpose of keeping us awake! Tuesday was lazy...slept until 11, showered and packed, my first taste of New York pizza and then a short flight home! I really had a great time and realized most of my fears about the city may be justified, just overinflated! The subway isn't some dark hole with a criminal in every corner, nor is it as complicated as I feared. People are actually somewhat friendly...though most that I encountered where probably tourists! And English is a minority language...lots of tourists from across the seas!! I'm really glad I was able to go...it didn't look promising until about two weeks before I went but some schedules were able to be changed and it all worked out.

Of course it was great to see my friends and explore some parts of the city they hadn't seen together but now I'm even more grateful because I am going to be working in Manhattan for my next assignment! I never would have had the guts to accept if I hadn't had some fears laid to rest during that visit! I'm still waiting on a contract and my license but I have been offered a job and if everything works out, I'll start January 5th! So, I'll get to spend Christmas AND New Year's with my family!! I will be working at New York Presbyterian's Columbia campus which is associated with Columbia's Medical School. It is in Washington Heights, which is an area that has historically been unsavory but is really coming along. There are some neat things to do up there but it still has a high crime rate, 2nd only to Harlem. For that reason, I won't be housed up there and will have to take the subway to work but that's probably for the best. If I'm going to be in Manhattan, I want to be where the action is! Washington Heights is almost the northermost point in Manhattan, not far from the Bronx. I'll be either in the Financial District (southermost point of Manhattan) or on the upper west side (by Central Park) but both are fairly close to the water! I'm hoping for upper west just because the apartments are a little bigger (meaning up to 600 square feet instead of 350!) and a little nicer! Living is expensive in Manhattan...my allowance is $3000 and for that I may end up with 350 square feet of space! The upside is that all I'll have to bring is clothes...no dishes, no linens, etc. So, I've been trying to pack and while doing so, throw out a lot of crap that I insisted on bringing to Virginia and haven't touched in 6 months! I've already carrried out 4 bags of junk!

I'll, of course, be driving home and leaving my car. I hope to get there by Thursday (the 18th) afternoon. My plan is to get off work Wednesday morning, sleep until late afternoon, do whatever walk-thru for the apartment and then drive all night, not stopping until home! The construction on 64 in Missouri is almost finished so I will be able to take the most direct route which should be about 16 hours. Sounds like a lot but I did about 13 on the way out here before I stopped for the night. I'll just play it by ear and if the weather is going to be bad, I won't sleep as long on Wednesday and drive part of the way and stop at night. We shall see! Then, Ill be home until January 2nd when I'll fly to NY. I'll move in on Friday and spend Saturday and Sunday finding the best route to work and acclimating to my new neighborhood! Unfortunately, Megan will be working when I arrive and then she leaves on Sunday morning for home so I don't think I'll get to see her! I'm not sure about Lucas as he finishes his contract one week later but I know he'll be working Sun, Mon and Tue so he can go home on Wed. It's kind of a bummer to have them that close and yet so far away!

Now for the best part of my ramblings...the pictures! Just a little note, Lucas had the camera and got some really great shots...the best part is that I'm in most of them!! ;-) There are so many great shots, I'll post more on another day!!