HOLY SMOKES!!!

So after I arrived in Delaware, I got settled and put my things away...there is one fact about me that is sooo true...I have way too many clothes, most of which still remain in the tubs that they were transported in due to lack of space!  After getting settled, I just relaxed!!  I know what most of you are thinking...why didn't you go explore, well people I have 3 months to explore and after that 24 hour drive I was EXHAUSTED!!! 
Sunday I went to church and was excited that it is so close I can walk to it!!  It was kind of cool out, but not cool enough not to walk a block!  When we were singing the last song in church, I heard some sirens, and like I always do I said a little prayer for the people that were in need.  As I walked out of church and turned to walk down the block little did I know that the prayer I had just said for the person in need was for me...there were 6 fire trucks, 3 police cars, and 2 ambulances surrounding my building complex. All I was thinking was HOLY SMOKES...literally!! As I got closer to the building I could smell the smoke and saw it rolling out of the lobby doors!  I stood outside for about an hour watching all the firefighters run around like chickens with their heads cut off...thank goodness that is was just a blown transformer and I was allowed back in the building, but not after I was already FREEZING!!!  It took me all afternoon to warm up!!  However, needing to warm up was a great excuse for a long Sunday afternoon nap!  On a side note, there was only two cute firefighters...
I have started working out...my little sister is showing me up and I as a big sister, I can't have that!!!  The weather has not allowed me to run by the beach yet, but I'm hoping it will warm up/not rain soon!!!  Since I can't work out outside I busted out the ole P90X and Jillian Michaels workout DVDs...HOLY SMOKES!!!  I am one hurtin' unit today!!!  I'm beginning to think that running is a lot easier than all this squatting, jumping, push-ups, and sit-up!!!  However, I have always said this when I'm sore from working out..."It's the hurt that I love!!!"
Today I started my first day of work at Beebe Medical Center!!  As I was sitting there listening to the HR lady talk up this hospital and about how they are such a good hospital all I was thinking was, "Yea, Yea every hospital says this about themselves!"  HOLY SMOKES....isn't even the terms to use to describe how boring it was...but I made it through!!!  I can't wait to get to the floor next week and take care of those hearts that I love to do so much!!!

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

After 2 days, 1,550 miles, 9 states, and multiple tanks of gas I have finally arrived in Delaware!!!  I pretty much love it already!!!  My condo is nice, clean, and looks over the ocean, so what is there not to love!!! The drive was long and tiring, but after I got out of Ohio the scenery was beautiful, even in the dead of winter!!!  I loved driving through the mountains of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, even though it was winter, it was still amazing!!!  The farmsteads that were tucked into the side of the mountain were just like what you read about in history class and the houses were unbelievable!!!  The drive across the Chesapeake Bay was the highlight!!!  It was so pretty and I was up on this huge bridge where you could see the whole thing!!!! 
My condo is nice!!!  Actually it's a lot nicer than the condo I had in Corpus Christi!!  I had a smile on my face when I opened the door. The only thing that I'm still getting used to is the murphy bed!!  It's in the wall, and you have to pull it out every time you want to go to bed...and it's in my living...that's right, no bed room (pictures coming soon)!!!   I love waking up to the Atlantic Ocean sunrise...well I am hoping to love that!!!  There is a Catholic church just down the street that I can walk to!  The boardwalk is right in front of the condo building!  There are some many things that I have to explore and I can't wait to do that!!! 
The weather could be better!!!  It has been in the 40's and windy...so pretty much cold!!!  The next two days are supposed to be in the 60's, so I'm praying for that!
I start my job on Monday and I am soooo ready!!!  I am desperate for a pay check!!  I love what I do, and even though I was in much need of a little time off, I'm beginning to think that it was too long!! 

So, I have a confession!!!  I have totally fallin' off the workout bandwagon once again!!!  My goal is to start back up again tomorrow...I have to be ready for that half marathon in Oct.!!!  I'm going to try something different...tomorrow when it's time to step on the scale, I'm going to take pictures of myself and continue to do it once a month...just to so that I can physcially see the changes (is there are any)!  I also went to the grocery store today and bought nothing but healthy stuff!!!  Motivation is much appreciated!!  Right now, I'm catching up on The Biggest Loser, desperately hopin' for some motivation!!!
Well, I'm signing off for the night!!  I'll update on Monday after my first day of work!!!  Until then, have a good one!!!

Home SWEET Home

After becoming extremely nervous that I wasn't going to get my Delaware nursing license on time, I have relaxed now knowing that the one thing that the board of nursing needed is in their hands!!!  I can now get excited about my trip to Delaware that will begin tomorrow!!!

HOME SWEET HOME....those words have ran through my head several times this last couple of weeks as I have been enjoying my time at home with my mom and dad!!!  These last two weeks have been the most relaxing two weeks I have experienced in a long time, and they are coming to an end tomorrow!  I know that I have said it time and time again, but my mom has got to be one of the most caring people in the world!!  Despite the fact that I'm 27 yrs. old, at times it felt like I was in high school again when I would ask questions like, what's for supper tonight, when are you doing laundry, is it ok if I go out with some of my friends tonight, are you going to the basketball games tonight, want to go get a pop and drive around...etc!  I LOVE IT!!!  Begin at home for 2 weeks, I have experience all types of weather, from a snow storm, to 70 degree weather, to 20 degree weather with extremely cold wind chill!! As I type this, I am sitting in the infamous chair that my sister and I fight over.  I will miss this chair terribly because as my dad said the other day, "I think you have a permanant butt mark on that chair." This time spent at home has been priceless, but I'm ready to get started on my next adventure!

I am leaving the big town of Oakley, KS tomorrow late morning and headed to see my sorority sister's in Lawerence for dinner, then on to KC and spending the evening and night with one of them!  Thursday morning, I will begin my trek across the US and hopefully make it it Columbus, OH or Wheeling, WV where I will stay the night and then continue on my journey on Friday until I hit Lewes, DE!!!  Yesterday, I got wind that I will be making this trip by myself...I was wishin', hopin', and prayin' that one of my best friends could road trip with me again, like she did when I went to Corpus Christi, but she wasn't able to get off work, so Delaware here I come...solo!!! 

The next post will probably be from the 4 walls of a hotel room in who knows what state (if I'm not too tried to post) or from the big city of Lewes, Delaware (being a little sarcastic as Lewes is not that big)!!!!!

Last Sunday in Corpus Christi: Super Bowl Sunday

As many of you know, I love NFL football!!!  Even though my Chiefs weren't in the Super Bowl, there wasn't a better way to spend my last day in Corpus Christi.   I was cheering on the Steelers because I have a special 12 year boy in South Dakota that is a Steelers fan when the Chiefs aren't playing.  However, I personally wasn't bummed when the Steelers lost.  I LOVED the halftime show as I am a big fan of the Black Eyed Peas, and of course, I drool over Usher!!! :)
The point of getting together for the Super Bowl wasn't about the football game, it was about spending time with the wonderful friends that I have made during my time in Corpus.  I will never forget the friends that I made there!!!  There is a reason that each one of them has entered my life and became a huge part of it!  As I drove home from Corpus on Monday, I was remincsing the last 6 months of my life...there were laughs, smiles, tears, and great memories!!!  It wasn't until I saw the lights of Oakley, KS that I really had a good cry, all I could think about was the life and friends that I had meet and became my "family".  They were the ones that let me vent to them, that I laughed with, that I made traditions with (like Tuesday night half price sushi), that opened their homes to me when I was stranded, that made me feel special on my birthday, that taught me many things about my career, and most importantly they treated me like I was one of them and not some travel nurse that came in from Kansas.  They took the chance to get to know me before putting a label on me and for that I am grateful!!!  Even though, I am super excited to continue my journey as a travel nurse, I will always remember the great experience I had in Corpus Christi.  I had a great experience because the people there made it great!!!!
To my fabulous Corpus friends: I know that I can count on you guys to be my friend when I need you, and you don't meet people like that everyday!!!!  Thank you so much for the fabulous I experience I had for my first assignment!  I couldn't have chosen any better of a place to have my first assignment!!  In Julie's words, "You truly spoiled me!"  I'm going to miss each and everyone of you!!!  Know that I will always have a place for you to stay in Delaware, so come visit me!!!  I miss you guys already!!! :)

Corina and I!!  This lady was like my mom away from home!!

Jackie, her son, and I

Rachael and I

All the girls...Jackie, me, Rachael, Julie, and Corina

The group!!!  Scott, Vince, Jackie, Joe, me, Rachael, Julie, and Corina

LEWES, DELAWARE

I have signed my next contract and will be headed all the way across the US to Delaware!!!  I can't tell you how excited I am because I have never seen the east coast and have always wanted too!!!  Lewes, Delaware is a smaller town, but has many cities close by to visit!!  I will be working in a cardiovascular ICU, which is my favorite, so that makes it even more exciting for me!  My contract starts Feb. 28th, so I be making my roadtrip across the US starting on the 24th.  It will be a 24 hour drive, so I will definitely be making a 2-3 day trip out of it, but I will get to see states that I have never been too!!!

Today is my last day of work, but I will be in Corpus Christi until Monday, then I will be making a 15 hour drive back to western KS to stay with my mom and dad for a  couple weeks!!  I hope I get to see my sisters, and old friends that I haven't seen in a while!!  I am just going to kick back and relax!!!  However, my mom has already got me signed up to work in her classroom a couple days!

An update on the training for the marathon...I have been SLACKING!!!!  YIKES!!!  I am going to get back into the routine on my mom's treadmill and stationary bike!!!  I'm hoping my mom will give me motivation since she works out all the time!!!