My New Years was very chill. I have wanted to do something exciting for New Years for a while. This year I thought was going to be the year. At first I was going to go somewhere, then I was just going to go to Denver, then I decided to go snowshoeing. Well, none of those things happened. I was mad at how they did the schedule because I had to work the 29, 30, and 1st. I only had New Years Eve off. Kinda bad when you have to make sure you get some sleep before and after going to work. Also, a storm came in, making it hard to drive anywhere in a timely manner. Temperatures got down into the negative teens that night anyway, so snowshoeing would have been miserable. So what did I end up doing? I ended up spending the evening in my pajamas, making pizza, and watching movies. Kind of a weird New Years when I would think about other people partying it up! Next year though, New York City here I come!! Planning will be starting soon for anybody interested
I have not blogged as much during my time in Pueblo, not because I haven’t been doing anything, but mainly because I have not had much time or not too much to talk about because I have been mainly just snowboarding! So far it has been the same ol same ol; work and snowboarding! Snowboarding has been fun though! I have mainly been going by myself, one day I met a person riding up the lift and we rode the rest of the day together. A few days I was able to go with a friend, another day I went with a friend of mine’s friends, who I had never met! And then I was able to go one day to Copper with another friend. Kind of strange I have only been with my dad maybe once or twice. He is the main person I usually go with. I have gotten quite a few days in though! Of course, with snowboarding, you can never get enough! Seems like every time a storm would come through, and the resorts would get dumped on, I had to work. Bummer, no big powder days for me yet. Oh well, I am thankful for just getting to board!
I am completely finished with my contract in Pueblo now! I am actually very excited about that. I mean, for one, Pueblo is not the most exciting place to be in Colorado! And second, well I am sure many of you already know the second reason! Haha. It turned out to be a good assignment though. Met some people, again, that I hope to keep friendships with. And the fact that Pueblo is only two hours from Buena Vista should make it easier for me to see them in the future. That is my hope anyway. Everyone at this hospital were great to work with and very helpful. Was able to spend some time with a few people outside of work. It is kind of weird coming from spending 7 months in Oregon to only 3 months in Pueblo. 3 months is short, but really short after having 7 months to get to know a hospital, the area, and the people. But I am thankful for the people I have met as well as the opportunity to go home and spend some time with family and enjoying the mountains!
Now it’s time for something new… a big change actually. First, I was getting very frustrated with certain things that were happening with the company I have been with for the past year. I continue to talk to many different companies and have been considering changing companies for a while. Finally, I did it! And so far I like the new company, except having to do TONS of new paperwork, tests, documents, etc. That has been a pain. But the nice thing about travel nursing is that even though I have changed companies, I didn’t actually “quit” my last company, just not renewing a contract with them at this time. So if I ever needed to or wanted to I could just go to them and tell them I want to look for another contract with them. And it is easy to take time off between contracts. No dealing with staffing issues or getting approval from your manager to take such and such time off. Just don’t renew a contract until you are ready to. But…this also means no pay during this time. So you kind of have to balance it out. Take time off to enjoy life, but not too much so you aren’t going too long without pay. I think this is an ok lifestyle for me right now! Why not, nothing else keeping me tied down!
That brings me to the part about change, and something new. If you don’t already know, I have my next contract. It starts February 7th. I have many mixed emotions about this assignment. Whenever I was offered this assignment, I surprisingly did not have much hesitation taking it. And it was a huge shocker to my parents. First, they had no idea I was switching companies. Second, I took this assignment without ever mentioning anything to them about it before, which I usually discuss my options with them. I hardly ever know my next assignments so far in advance either, so it’s surprising to have so much time to prepare! So where is my next assignment and why so many mixed emotions? Well…first I will say I am very excited, scared, nervous, anxious, intimidated, and much more. I will be right in the middle of a huge city, TONS of people, and a huge hospital. But, it is going to be a great learning opportunity for me and resume builder. This hospital delivers about 600 babies A MONTH!! That’s a lot of babies! It delivers many famous babies as well! I am going to Cedar-Sinai in Hollywood, California! I am excited because it is only about two hours from Luke and Jackie. I will get to go to the beach and go snowboarding with them. But when else am I going to live in the middle of Los Angeles? I hope never! Haha. So this is an opportunity for me to go somewhere and experience something totally unlike me, and something I would probably not normally want to do! 3 months though! I can survive! Luke and Jackie are excited, I hope anyway! My parents are surprised, but I think they realize now what a good opportunity this is. I am going to be such an outcast there! Small-town mountain girl living it up in Hollywood! It is going to be very interesting! My problem is, I probably won’t even know I am seeing famous people when I am seeing them! Anybody is welcome to visit and come see some stars! And your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated. Not only is this place going to be totally out of my comfort zone, and probably going to be really frustrating for me being in the city, but also the hospital is going to be very stressful. I am looking forward to the experience, but know it is going to be hard work. For all I know I will just go from delivery to delivery. Once I deliver one girl, on to the next! No, I have no idea what is going to be like, but that’s all part of the experience I guess.
So what am I doing between my contract ending in Pueblo and starting my next contract? Well, my parents are spending the whole month of January in Florida, and taking a cruise. It was a deal just to add one person on to the cabin for the cruise, so I am joining them! I finished my last night of work in Pueblo, slept a couple hours, then headed to Denver to fly to Orlando, Florida! Long trip to Florida working off 2 hours of sleep. Us night shift people like to describe that feeling as a walking zombie. To everyone else you look like you are functioning just fine, but in reality you are a walking zombie. You feel fatigued, irritable, and the only thing running through your mind is the next time you can close your eyes. But then sometimes when you do try closing your eyes, you’re too tired to sleep. It is very frustrating. And your bodily time clock is so messed up; it doesn’t know what to do with itself! By the time I got to Florida, my childhood friend, Natalie, was able to come to the airport with my dad to pick me up. She is living in Florida right now and was able to come visit for the night. It was great. Always love catching up with friends. And Natalie and I have been friends since she was born. I say she because I was born in August and she in November, I guess I could say we were friends while she was still in the womb! Haha. I was only in Orlando for the one night because we had to head down to Ft. Lauderdale the next day for the cruise. Which means, unfortunately, no Disney Parks for me. Oh well…
We are currently on our way to Samana in the Dominican Republic. It is kind of exciting because all I knew was that the cruise was leaving from Florida, I had no idea of the destinations we would be going to. Now I know, and I am so excited! I have never been to any of these places. Where exactly are we going? That will be a surprise for me to talk about after I have been. It will be fun, but I also have to survive spending 9 days in a cramped cabin with my parents and brother. Could prove to be a challenge at times, but I love them and know they love me, we just get on each others nerves sometimes! Friends, what do you say…should we go on a cruise next?!
For the next 8 days we will be out of country. So no cell phone use, I can receive texts, and may be able to send a few, but cannot make any calls. Also, it is kind of expensive to use the internet, so I may not be on the internet other than to post this blog, we have not quite decided what we are going to do about buying internet minutes. I hope to get on after the cruise! Miss you guys and hope everyone is doing great!
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