Denver, CO

It's offical....I am moving to Denver, CO to live permanently!!!!!  No more of this living out my car, moving every 3 months, making new friends every 3 months, living thousands of miles from my family and close friends!  I accepted a job at St. Anthony's hospital and will start Oct. 17th!  I just need to get out to Denver soon and look for a place to live & then begin my life in a new city!!!  I am excited for this new adventure and to be close to my family!  I can't wait to get moved!!!!  Say a few prayers for my as I begin this journey and get settled in Denver!!!! 

Future Plans....

I know that most of you that follow my blog as awaiting the announce of the location for my next travel nurse assignment, but there is not an assignment in the future for me.  I have been busy filling out applications and hurrying up to wait on phone calls from hospitals in Denver, CO for a permanent job.  When I first started travel nursing, I told myself that if nothing in my life changed I would travel for 3 years until I was 30, however it has lasted a year and a couple months and I am ready to be done.  I have loved every minute of the time that I have spent as a travel nurse, but I am ready to settle down, be in one location, have a place to go to at the end of the day that I call home, and have some stability.  Living out of my car and moving every 3 months is getting old, so I have made the decision to settle down! 
I have applied to several hospitals in Denver, CO and after waiting 2 weeks and saying a million prayers; I have 3 interviews at 3 different hospitals in the next couple of days.  I am excited for this new journey in my life to start.  I am hoping to get settled in Denver, start taking some classes, and apply to PA school in the near future!  I ask that if you are reading this blog post that you say a few prayers for me and my new journey!!!

Vacation on the East Coast

After I completed my assignment in Hays, I hit I-70 and headed to KC to jump on a plane to Philadelphia!  I met my mom and dad in Philadelphia and together we cabbed it to a hotel in downtown Philly!  We were in Philly for my uncle's installation as ArchBishop of Philadelphia!  I can't even begin to tell you how proud we are on him!  Anyone that understands the issues that are going on in the Archdioease of Philadelphia, know that my uncle will have his hands full, but like the popular saying, "God doesn't give you what you can't handle." He will more than excell in his duties and will make the people of Philadelphia become more connected with catholicism.  As a family we are a little saddened that he will be thousands of miles away instead of a 3 hour drive when he lived in Denver, but we are very supportive and can't wait to visit him!
Here are few pictures from the installation:

My uncle Rex, Aunt Jolene, Mom, Dad, and I at the luncheon held prior to the installtion

Dad, Mom and I outside of the Archdioease of Philadelphia

Cardinal Rigali putting my uncle in the cathedra to make him offically the ArchBishop of Philadelphia

ArchBishop of Philadelphia Charles J. Chaput

                                      

Mom, Dad, and I in front of the alter in the Basilica

Mom, me, Aunt Jolene, Uncle Chuck, Dad, and Uncle Rex at a recption for Chuck thrown by the great people of Denver!

After the installtion my family toured around the city of Philadelphia and saw places like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, St. John Neumann's shrine, and of course we had a Philly cheesesteak sandwich.  We had a good time, except for the 2.5 mile walk we made through the not so good part of Philly just to get the the St. John Neumann shrine.  Needless to say, I had an upset father who is not a fan of walking long distances anyway!!! 

Liberty Bell

Liberty Bell with my Aunt Charlene & Uncle Scott

Clock at Independence Hall

Independence Hall



After all the festivites were over with my uncle, one of the travel nurses that I met in Delaware flew into Philly and we rented a car and drove back to Delaware for a few days!  We had a blast hanging out with old friends we met when we were working there.  We spent the majority of our time visiting our favorite places we had when were living there such as a Saketumi, a sushi resturant, Dos Locos, a mexican resturant, Rehoboth Beach, the outlet malls, getting a pedicure and manicure, and hanging out at our friends house that we stayed at!  We had a great time!!!!

After being on the east coast for a week, I was glad to get home!  In the last couple of days, I have moved out of the farm and am back in Oakley in between my sister's house and my parent's house!!!  Mostly, I'm just spending time lovin' on my little Mia girl!!!! 

One more contract down...

I know that is has been forever since I last posted on the things going on in my life, and it has even been over a week since I finished my contract in Hays, KS.  When I first started my contract in Hays, I was less than impressed, and was ready to quit that job within 4 weeks of being there.  After having several conversations with my recruiter and the manager at HaysMed, I chose to tough it out and try to get through my contract! Darn my parents for instilling in me that giving up on something is NOT an option! :) After the manager had a staff meeting and addressed some of my concerns, the things that were going on that was making me not like this assignment subsided and I enjoyed the last part of my contract a lot better. 
It's hard when someone walks in to the ICU that you have been working in for years; taking your hours and getting paid more, but eventually those girls got over it and started treating me better! 
They were nice enough to make pastas, salads, and deserts for my last night there and all we did was eat.  They even told me to come back and visit them when I was in the area. 
So even though this assignment wasn't my favorite, and I had to deal with some cold shoulders; I learned a lot, had fun being close to my family & friends for the summer, living on the farm and semi-becoming a farm girl, seeing familiar faces around the hospital, and having another contract as a travel nurse under my belt!  Now I am going on another journey....keep reading all my updates to find out what I'm up to and where I'm going!!!! :)

Little Miss MIA!!

Most of those that know me, may find this as a surprise...most importantly, I surprised myself and I got a little puppy!! I truly believe my sister tricked me into getting with little pup because she wanted one and begged me to go with her to pick Gia out, and how was I going to say no to this little princess that was so scared she was shaking and crawled right up into my lap.  Mia is an 11 week old yorkie and the cutest little thing you ever did see!!  I never saw myself as a pet owner, but this little dollie has stolen my heart!!!  She is the most loving little girl!  She loves to give kisses, play with her sister Gia, snuggle on your shoulder in your hair, chew on her bones, and sleep!  Housetraining is quite trying, and Mia finds herself in time out more often then not, but she will get it sooner or later!  When I first got her, she was 9 weeks old and weight 1.1 lb.  I took her to the vet today to get another shot, which she took like a champ, and she has gained 0.5 lb, weighing in at 1.6 lbs.!! 

Miss Mia with her sister Gia!!!!