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!!!!

Memories

Last night I went to my college sorority house to help the active members with their formal recruitment...let me tell you, they were awesome!!!  It was a bittersweet time since I left the house full of heart break and disappointment.  When I was a senior the house was less than desireable; we were struggling for membership, we had LOTS of drama, there were girls that weren't so nice, everyone was stretched to the max with holding multiple offices etc...I think you get the point.  I was at my wits end and almost quit around Thanksgiving due to all the turmoil that our house was dealing with.  I spent all my time at the library with my nursing friends or at my boyfriend's house, I wasn't about to be at the sorority house for any extended period of time.  I am sure that part of the turmoil had to do with my attitude about not even wanting to be at the house and a few of the other upper classmen's attitudes who felt the same way. 
Since I have graduated, I have warded off any alum groups for the simple fact that I was not a fan of Delta Zeta when I graduated.  I didn't want anything to do with it when I was a senior and up to graduation and I wasn't going back to those same feelings...so I guess you could call me a sour puss!
As I was putting on my Delta Zeta badge yesterday for the first time in 5 yrs. and I was headed back to the house for the first time in 5 yrs., the bad things never crossed my mind...all I was thinking about was the fabulous time I had my previous years, all the leadership experience I got, the friends I have made (who are still my best friends today!), the memories that make me laugh out loud.  As I took a house tour, each room brought back a memory or experience that I will forever remember. I got to see our house mom at the time...and she brought back tons of memories...memories of all the good food she made us, the talks we had a dinner time, the times when she was truly our mom away from home giving us advice or just lending a listening ear...and now I get to call her my sorority sister since she joined Delta Zeta recently as an alum.
After watching the active members do their recruitment peices, sing their songs, chant their chants, give house tours, and talk about how much they love Delta Zeta, I began to wish I was back in college and an active member of Delta Zeta again, something I never thought would cross my mind.  They are full of Delta Zeta spirit and they truly loved everything they were doing! 
Thank you to those girls that showed me that they turned the house around, they showed me that they love Delta Zeta as much as I did my freshman-junior years while in college and they brought that love for Delta Zeta back to life again in my heart! 
As soon as I settle into a more steady life style and make my home some place...I am going to join a Delta Zeta Alum group thanks to the girls that are active members in my chapter that showed me Delta Zeta wasn't about the hard times we had as a chapter/friends; it was a about the good times that were made/shared together, it was about the meaning of Delta Zeta, the well-roundedness it makes you as a person, the moments that you still laugh about, the friends you made, and most of all the sisterhood that we all share!

The Final Countdown

When I have 4 weeks left in my contract, I begin the final countdown!!  And I am to that point!!  I have 4 weeks left, and as I am counting down the days to be done at this hospital, however I am dreading the goodbyes that will come when I leave the farm!  Now is the time when my recruiter starts looking for another assignment and the whole process starts over!  We are looking in the KC area right now, and I am praying for some time with my closest friends, being a little closer to my older sister so I can go watch my nephew play football, the fall season, Chiefs football, still close to home, ect...after making that list I am more determined to get a job in KC for what could possibly be my last travel assignment. 

I posted in a previous blog that my cousin won grand champion bucket calf at the Ellis County fair, well she pulled it off again and won grand champion bucket calf at that Ellis Free Fair.  Here is a  picture of Anna and Cocoa:

At the end of July several of my best friends from college got together and had a BBQ in Topeka!!!  We always have a great time and really enjoy being around each other.  Another reason that I am hoping for an assignment in KC for the fall!  Here is a picture of some of us that were at the BBQ!

In the last few weeks, I have spent a lot of time in Oakley with my mom, dad, little sister, and brother-in-law...we have been busy!!!  My sister and brother-in-law bought a new house and we have been busy moving, cleaning, putting things away, cutting holes in walls, mounting TVs, arranging furniture, and having meltdowns!!!  Oh those funny meltdowns...we have had stomping feet, slamming doors, and f-bombs a few times...but a few hours after those meltdowns we laugh about them!!!  :)  All these things have lead us all to be a little delirious...Saturday night my dad put his foot down and said that we were stopping all this nonsense, going to church, and then going out the country club to drink whiskey...well that is exactly what we did...however some of the things that were said just didn't make sense and were just plain funny!  I mouthed off to my dad about something and his comeback was "I'm gonna slap you silly until your shit faced", well that made no sense, but I think we laughed about it until we were blue in the face!

Since my last update, I had a date with my 8 yr. old cousin and we went to The Smurfs Movie...it was really cute, and I love Neil Patrick Harris so the movie was good before it even started!! Sometimes I wish he wasn't gay...he's such a cutie!!!! 

On Saturday, in the midst of moving Tori and Darren; my mom, Tori, and I threw a baby shower for my friend Kendra.  This was the first baby shower that I have thrown so I wasn't exactly sure as to what the theme should be, what to make for food, what colors to have...so since Kendra isn't the baby boy blue type of person, I decided to go with a baby forest animal theme and have red, navy, and green as the colors!!  I thought it turned out great.  My mom was in charge of the cooking and she even tried a few new recipes...and they were a big hit!!! 

Well, I think that is about all the updates that I have right now!!!  Hopefully the next time that I blog it will be about my next assignement!!!  I am praying that it will be!!!  I hope that everyone that reads this is doing well and that life is blessing you just as much as it is blessing me and my family!!!  Happy new school year to those that are starting school this week, may God bless you with patience to put up with all those children this year!!!

Alli vs. Allison

When I was growing up the only time that I was ever called "Allison" was when I was in trouble and most of the time it sounded something like this ALLISON JOOOOOOOO!!!! That was my mother yelling at me!!!  Everyone called me "Alli" including my immediate family, my extended family, & my friends.  I remember one time telling my mom that "Alli" was stupid and I when I got to chose I was going to go by "Allison" when I got older.  But, little did I know back then when I was mad at my mom would it really come true!  When I was filling out my college admission paperwork, job applications, & sorority forms as I was a senior in high school it was weird for me to write down "Allison".  However, it quickly became the name that I would go by for the coming years.  Now, when someone that I don't know calls me "Alli", especially without asking it really bothers me.  There are some people that have asked if it was ok...and I'm probably am not going to tell them no, but I don't shorten anyone's name, not even my patient's names without asking first. 
When I was in Delaware, I had a patient that pretty much just said what ever he was thinking & there were many times that I would have to tell him to quit talking to his wife the way he was.  He was just disrespectful & always had to be right. (Man, I can still picture his face.) One day I was in his room & he asked me a question, and I gave him an answer that he didn't want to hear.  Instantly he got defensive, and addressed me by "Alli".  I'm pretty sure you know how this story went, but he was immediately told that my name was "Allison", and that yes, there are times that I go by "Alli", but he wasn't allowed to call me "Alli" & I turned around and walked out of the room.  He had that open mouth insert foot look on his face & was polite the rest of the day. 
Yesterday while at work, I was giving report and a repiratory therapist, who I have never met before addressed me by "Alli".  She had to look at my name tag that clearly said "Allison" to see what my name was and she still addressed me by "Alli".  I was in a different world and trying to get out of work in time for mass, so I wasn't able to correct her, but had a realized what she said before I answered her question, she too would have gotten the lecture about calling me what my name tag says. I didn't shorten her name from "Jennifer" to "Jenn" when I answered her question, so why is it ok to shorten my name. If she would have asked, I would have told her it was ok to call me "Alli", but I just think it's plain to rude to shorten someone's name when...
a: you don't know the person or just met them
b: you didn't ask if shortening my name is ok
c: I have introduced myself as "Allison"

I just feel like "Alli" is from back when I was younger and people that knew me then are more than welcome to call me "Alli".  My entire family & most of my childhood friends still calls me "Alli", and that is most definitely ok, I even have a few college friends that call me "Alli", but these people know me on different level than one of my peers/patients that has never seen/meet me before.  They know a lot about me & know me on a personal level. Other people that call me "Allison" know me on a personal level as well, but when I first met those people I introduced myself as "Allison", so that is all they know me by.  I kind of feel like I am on my soap box, but this is a huge pet peeve of mine and drives me crazy!