Los Angeles

In case I haven't mentioned it before, Cedars-Sinai Hospital (where I am working right now) is a Jewish hospital. Around the hospital and where I live is a very large Jewish population. We have many Jewish patients. Sometimes they are not the easiest patients to deal with, but I have had a few great ones. The picture shows above is one of those great patients. I actually triaged her and sent her home, it was when I was working 4 days in a row, so I told her if she came back in the next few days she could ask for me, and she did! So I was able to connect with her and bond. She had a very tough delivery, but made it through! She didn't know what she was having but when she had her boy she invited me to his Bris, which they perform when they are 1 week old. The Bris, or "Brit Milah" is the "covenant of circumcision," a Jewish ritual performed on a baby boy 8 days after birth. The parents owned two Kosher restaurants so they held the Bris at one of them, which might seem gross, but was actually a good idea because there was so much food it made preparation and clean up a lot easier, and there was lots of room. I was very honored she invited me and thought it would be a very good experience for me. And man, was it an experience. I felt totally awkward because it was mostly all Persians...and there was me, white girl in the corner feeling awkward! Then during the actual ceremony so many people were gathered all close, so I couldn't really see anything, but heard a lot of chanting and praying! It was very interesting, and the food was good! One thing I really like about this population and their parties, is they show up, stay during the purpose of the party, fill up their bellies, then leave. They don't feel guilty eating and running, its normal, the party is over, time to go. Glad I went, even though I felt very weird.

I have learned a few things about the Jewish religion while here. One important one affects our care to patients significantly. On Friday nights after sundown until Sat. night sundown they are not allowed to work or involve themselves in anything technological. So, for example, this includes not being able to drive anywhere, not pushing buttons in an elevator, and no pushing call lights for their nurse. So women in labor will walk to the hospital and if they need the nurse they have to find the nurse or will just wait until the nurse comes in the room again. So we have to be aware to check on the patient more often since they might not call for the nurse. And the hospital actually has their elevators automatically stop on every floor on Saturdays since they cannot push the buttons, interesting they can actually use the elevator though! And on Friday evenings and Saturdays you notice how big the Jewish population is because they are all out walking instead of driving! Passover week has been especially abundant with that as well!

A couple weeks ago I decided to go to Las Vegas. I was going to meet Brea and Tom there to do some mountain biking, but the weather decided it wasn't going to be good for mountain biking, so we cancelled the biking plans, but I still decided to go for a night because I got a night at Circus Circus for only $30!! Thought I couldn't beat that! So I got there on a Thursday afternoon, drove around a bit, checked in then decided it would be fun to see Phantom of the opera. When I was in middle school we had a field trip to Boulder for the Phantom of the Opera dinner theatre. It was awesome and I have loved this play ever since. Couldn't pass up the opportunity to see it in Vegas. Before the play I walked around the Venetian a while cause that is where the play was at. It was fun. Wasn't too weird at the play by myself, only after while I was waiting for my car that I had Valet parked because the group of older guys was looking at me weird, probably wondering why I was alone! Back at the motel I got free chips and salsa and a drink. The next day I found a good all you can eat sushi place then walked around the outlet mall and got some stuff for going to Europe (I leave in less than a month)! The outlet mall is fun to walk around, but still very expensive stores for an outlet mall! But it was a fun quick trip to Vegas.

That Friday evening I left Vegas to meet Luke and Jackie in Lake Havasu, AZ. Jackie's parents live there and we were going for a weekend of fun times and jet skiing! It was a little chilly and stormy on Saturday so we didn't jet ski that day, instead we went to a boat show then Luke and I decided we needed to practice some lake swimming for our triathlon. It was a good thing we decided to practice! We knew the water was going to be cold, but it was very cloudy and windy as well, so I was not looking forward to swimming then running, but we knew we needed to do it. With just our shorty wetsuits on we get into the water and I attempt to start swimming, but I was overcome with the cold water and many waves. I couldn't catch a breath worth anything and was shivering. There was a little point across the way we were just going to swim back and forth to from where we started. When I was about half way and Luke at the turn-around point he looks back and sees me struggling. I couldn't swim. I was cold and couldn't breathe because it was so wavy. I was kind of panicking and hyperventilating. Finally I made it to the turn around point. The way back wasn't much better. I was swimming, but still couldn't put my head under because I couldn't breathe. The 2nd attempt went a little better, and by the 3rd I was finally feeling a little more comfortable. I finally started swimming instead of just surviving. It was interesting. When we were done swimming, we rushed up and put on our running clothes with frozen fingers and feet, making it an interesting process. We took off running and by this time luckily the sun had come out a little bit, still windy though. About halfway through the run I finally got feeling back in my feet. It was a good learning experience for both of us! Glad we did it, it wasn't necessarily fun, but constructive!

Then next day was nicer so we were able to take the jet skis out. Between Luke and Jackie and her parents they have 7 jet ski's total. So we were all able to have a jet ski. I really didn't want to get in the water because it was still freezing, so I was a little nervous staying stable on Jackie's unstable jet ski, but I managed. It was fun riding along the lake, cold going fast with the wind, but a good time. And Luke did well avoiding the water on his standup. We got to play around on the jet ski's a little, I got to ride Jackie's dad's, which you can get up to more than 75mph, but the speedometer caps at 75. I got it up to 70 for a second and that was definitely fast enough for me! It was fun! Jackie's parents have a 90% solar powered energy efficient home. It's gorgeous, they have a pool and hot tub overlooking the lake. Very nice house, and they like the heat so it is a good, fun place for them to live! No pictures of jet skiing unfortunately, kinda hard to be on the water and take pics!

Anybody watch Glee? I have to admit I do, and I really like it. I am asking because I was at the gym last week after work. I was walking around trying to find a medicine ball and I see the back of a guy who I think looks like one of the characters on Glee. I only saw the back of his head and when I walked around I saw the side of him and was even more convinced, so I kind of started walking slowly looking back and he turns and starts heading right towards me and then I knew it was him! He walks up and I ask him if he is the guy on Glee. He said jokingly and plainly No, and kind of teasingly touched my medicine ball. I walk next to him and tell him I really like the show, he says thanks then heads into the gym to play basketball. I got to watch him play a little ball, with other, completely normal people. Well he is normal too, but you know...he is famous! It totally made my week! I couldn't believe it, I mean, I should believe it, my gym is right on Hollywood Blvd, but still. Afterwards I felt like a complete idiot, starstruck and girly. But what else was I gonna say, "Hey man, how are ya?!" Anyway, it was Mark, the guy that plays "Puckerman." He has a very distinct haircut! In the picture above he is the one on the bottom right.

The other day I was riding my bike to the gym and I saw a robbery in action at a bank along my way. All the cops were outside with their guns up and waiting. That was entertaining! Mom and Papa, don't be scared, I wasn't in danger, I just went to the other side of the street!

Now, time to talk about the triathlon! Finally, last weekend Luke, Jackie, and I woke up on Saturday morning at 3am to drive to Lake Perris, about 70 miles east of LA. We arrived at about 5:30, registered and got all prepared for the race. We were happy to find out he and were starting in the same heat together. He was in the military category so he started in the same heat with all the other women, lucky he signed up for that category so we could start together. So we are waiting for them to tell us to go, we tell each other good luck and give each other hugs. Then off we go. I see him once right after we started, then it was time to get serious. But, I had another similar experience as the test run in the lake, there were so many people around, kicking and splashing. I was hyperventilating and couldn't swim right. I was using a lot of energy. All I could think about was how far away the buoy looked and I had to make it all the way to it and back again. Finally I started actually swimming and got in my groove. Made it to the buoy and I knew I was going to be fine after that. It was a good swim. Then as I am about to make it to the end of my swim to get out, I see Luke getting out of the water. I couldn't believe it. Out of all the other people in the water we finished the swim at about the same time. It was great. Jackie was holding our sunglasses and watches so after she handed Luke's his I had to holler that I was coming up so she could grab mine. It was a long, hill run up to the transition area but not as bad as I expected. I took off on my bike with Luke behind me. He passed me, then I passed him, then he passed me again and stayed ahead of me. But I could see him the whole time. As I ride up into the transition area, he is just running out. So I saw him the whole run as well. I got dizzy right at the beginning of the run, it faded a bit, then dizzy again at the end. But I made it through, about one minute behind Luke. Luke finished 4th overall in the military category, 40 something of guys, there were a lot of guys! The guy that got 3rd in military was like 15 minutes faster, so it would have been very hard for Luke to beat that, so at least he didn't miss 3rd by just a little bit! I finished 9th overall girl, and 2nd in my age category! Luke really enjoyed it! We both won something in the raffle afterwards, Luke won a free entry at their next race in October, so he may be doing another one! It was a fun time and it was good to have our support person and photographer, Jackie, there cheering us on!

Sprinting it out, trying to beat the guy next to me and not fall over due to dizziness!

Ride Luke Ride!

Way to go Luke! You did awesome.

No! Don't do it!!

Sunday after the triathlon we played frisbee golf at the very first frisbee golf course. About 30 min from my place. It was a 20 hole course. It was fun, and the weather was perfect. And this past week I have done a little more LA life stuff. I got a facial with Katie, another travel nurse. I highly suggest doing this, it feels great! We had a small pool party on our roof of the apartment and we went to a salsa club for some salsa dancing. This was very fun, it is tough, but a good workout and very fun to do! Takes some time getting used to. And you feel like an idiot because most everybody there knows what they are doing. Another day I went to Newport Beach with some ladies I work with where we got an hour long massage for only $15! It was a very interesting massage too. They used all their bodies and force to get in your muscles, and they stretched you and pounded you. It was painful sometimes, but overall felt great. Then we had all you can eat sushi and hung out at a yacht club for a bit. Figured out that one of the ladies, who is an older Korean lady, is awesome to hang out with! She knows how to pick up the guys and flirt, haha, she is entertaining.

After this week I only have a week and a half left. Time goes by so fast...

Time flies

Didn't I just move to California? Wasn't I just all worried about being able to handle and tolerate the city life and the big hospital? I feel like I just got to California. Hate to break the news, but I only have less than 4 weeks left in LA! That's crazy. Less than a month left. I do have to say, I know LA is not for me, haha. But I didn't even have to go to LA to know that. Living in LA makes me become someone that stays within a 3 mile radius of my apartment and the hospital. When I do branch out, bad things happen with me and traffic! No worries, no accidents or anything like that, just too much traffic and really bad road rage! I needed to go to REI the other day, the closest one is at Santa Monica beach, so I decided to spend the afternoon there, (which I will talk about more later), and it ended up taking me more than an hour to get back home. I didn't even leave the beach until 7:30 that evening, I thought I would have avoided the traffic, I was wrong. Definitely took away from the effects you get from being at the beach! Nice area though, for a beach in the city...need I say more?

I am staying very busy and enjoying my time even though I dont go too far too often. One thing I am sad I am not doing more of is hiking. There is hiking around, but it takes forever to get to anywhere decent and by the time I get back home thru the traffic I will just be frustrated again, not worth taking the hike. A few things still on my list that I hope I get to do include eating Korean BBQ (I have heard its amazing!), go to the Chinese Theatre, and go to San Diego.

Chinese Theatre

Middle of March mom and dad came for a visit. We had planned on going to China Peak Ski Resort with Luke and Jackie but then Luke got a very late notice TDY and was gone the whole time the parents were in California. It was really sad. So Jackie came to LA and spent some time with myself and my parents. First day we did a little LA exploring. We did the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Then we went to Universal City. Not Universal Studios, just walked around the city area. Had some yummy sushi for lunch! Then we drove around UCLA campus. It is a pretty campus, not as big as I expected, kinda crammed in a small area next to Beverly Hills. Mom couldn't believe I live so close to Beverly Hills. I can run to it from my apartment. I also run by the LaBrea Tar Pitts all the time, very close to my apartment and just down the block from my gym. I just saw a movie the other day that was so funny because the dad was asking his little girl if she wanted to go to the Tar Pitts or to the Farmer's Market, which I drive by all the time going to work. Very fun and good Farmer's Market. Not as tempting as I thought it was going to be, I have only gone two times, with Luke and Jackie, then with my parents. I should go more for the fresh produce, but again, I don't like battling for parking and all that stuff! Mom is very jealous of the farmer's market being just down the road from me! We also drove around and saw some of the houses in Beverly Hills. Most of the really nice houses you couldn't really see because of fencing and plant walls! Not cool! Some good views of the city though.

WALK OF FAME

The second day we went to Knott'sBerry Farm. No, this is not really a farm. Well it used to be and they still have the farm somewhere to grow berries for their jams, but it is a theme park. I never knew this until Jackie was telling me about it. Never imagined Knott'sBerry as an adventure park. It was fun. Did some good roller coasters. There weren't too bad of lines. Mom did a lot more rides than I expected her to. And dad and I did a coaster that goes from 0 to 82 in like 2.3 seconds. It was fast! You see everyone sitting in the coaster while your waiting in line, then all the sudden...their gone! They disappear so quickly!

The next few days my parents and I went to China Peak. It was a long drive there, but once we got into the Fresno area and headed up the hills, the drive was gorgeous. So many rolling, green hills. Didn't feel like we were headed to skiing. Made me want to go wine tasting or something! We made it to the mountain early afternoon so dad and I were able to get a few days of riding in. Then we went the next two days as well. We got free passes to China Peak with our Monarch passes, so it was a good deal! The motel at the resort was not good though. First, it was kind of set up like a dorm room, the more expensive rooms had bathrooms, but most rooms just shared a community bathroom in the hall. And each room had tons of beds. Kind of makes me think of a hostel actually. And there was nothing else at this motel, not even a hot tub! And to top it off, little selection in food. I haven't had a hamburger or chicken fingers in years, and I was forced to order each of these. Made my stomach hurt! The snow was very icy in the morning, had to stay on the groomers, and would get very soft and mushy in the afternoon. It was so warm. Probably the warmest I have ever rode in. Well, actually last year the second time I went to Mt. Hood in Oregon it was very warm too. We had to catch the few hours top of the day where the snow is soft, but not too mushy that you can't even move! We enjoyed it though. I think dad's knees were horribly sore afterwards. Of course, he is so tough he never said anything, but I know they were. My knees were even sore, of course his was. That thick snow is tough!

The last day of their visit was girl's day. I took mom for a massage. We were actually supposed to massages, facials, and mani's and pedi's, but they could only do the massage. After the massage we went for tea. We had fun but were a little disappointed. Part of the LA disappointment. So expensive here, we couldn't even get different types of tea without paying for another full pot. Our favorite tea place in Oklahoma City you can try as many types of tea as you want and you get a muffin included in your meal. We like that place! All in all it was a fun visit with the parents! I am glad they were able to come.

So in the past month I have had appointments with a Neurologist and an ENT specialist. And neither of them could figure out what is wrong with me and getting dizzy every time I run outside. So frustrating! I hate it. I wanna just be able to go out for a run not dreading the feeling it is going to give me. Keeps me from doing things I want to do, like longer races! Good news is the Neurologist said my balance was fine, which I knew, and that there was no indication I needed any kind of scans, it didn't sound like I had any neurological problems or anything. No, just this really bad problem that happens when I run or hike too fast!! So annoying!

A couple weekends ago Luke and spent some quality time together learning to do a new extreme sport! Kiteboarding! He has been into learning how to do it for a while and talked me into it. It was something I was always slightly interested in because I would see all the boarders out on frozen Dillon Lake in Silverthorne riding on the lake with their kites and I though it would be fun to be able to do it. So Luke came out to LA and we spend the weekend learning. The guy we took the class with was really cool and into just expanding the sport. He ended up spending at least 3 hours longer with us than he was supposed to. The first day was spend just on the beach learning to manuever the kite. Which Luke picked up fast because he has a harnes and trainer kite that he has been practicing with. It's amazing how difficult the kite is at first, but once you start playing with it a little it is fairly easy to catch on to how it works with the wind. The trick is, you have to know the wind and be very careful. It is very easy to dip the kite into too much wind power...and off you go! We were watching a training DVD the night before and I knew I was just going to do tons of faceplants! I think I ended up only doing one actually, in the water.

So after day one on the beach, day 2 we were in the water, and supposed to get up on the board. This was really scary, and difficult. Not only do you have to worry about the kite and keeping it up in the air, which can be difficult to do, and if it falls it can be hard to re-launch. Then you add the board into the situation and have to learn to maneuver the kite with one hand while picking up the board and carrying it into the water. Before we got the board we learned body dragging in the water. This was so much fun! Just letting the kite pull you through the water! It is interesting how both Luke and I when it was time to get on the board, things we had learned with the kite kind of got forgotten. There is so much to think about! We had to learn to take our time and really concentrate. The kite has to be in the perfect position in order to even put your feet in the board. Then you have to get the kite through enough wind power to get you up and stay with enough power to keep you going. Luke and were a good team to learn together. Neither of us gets frustrated with the other and we both were moving at about the same time in our learning process, Luke slightly faster because he had more practice and naturally has a little more capability to pick things up faster, but I'm used to that! By the end of it I was able to get up a few times, once fairly well for a little. And Luke got up a few good times. It was awesome. Then to top it off, on Luke's last run, when he was up on the board, a couple dolphins came up behind him. It was amazing! Luke didn't see them of course, he was a little busy, but it was the coolest picture ever. Made the day for sure! I can't wait to go more and learn to get on the board better. And the ultimate goal...riding on Dillon Lake! Thanks for a fun weekend Luke, I highly enjoyed it! I love you!

I went to the beach the other day because like I said earlier I had to go to REI. I walked around a little and then went down to the beach for a little run. It was nice. The beach wasn't as packed as I thought it was going to be for a California beach, but the beach is also really big, very long and wide. It was a little more difficult to run on this beach than it was in Oregon because the sand wasn't as hard packed as far up on the beach as it was in Oregon. There is a big difference in how the beaches are in Oregon vs. California. The reason there is so much harder packed sand in Oregon is not because it rains so much there, but because the beach stays so shallow as you go out into the water, it doesn't ever just suddenly get deep. Most beaches you have shallow for so long out then you drop down and it gets deeper. In Oregon the tide changes so drastically due to this fact that the beach inclines so gradually. It makes for good running. Here I had to stay right up along the water line in order to run well at all. But I am glad I got to experience it, even though my run didn't last long just because I got sick, oh well. That is all for my beach experience while I am here that I know of. Not planning on going again. Unless Luke and I get to go out and kite-surf again soon!

So if anyone is wondering where I am going next, I do not know. Too early to know. I have personal travel plans to complete before I go somewhere else, but I will keep you updated!