A New Musical Experience

One of the best things about meeting new friends is enjoying new experience with them. I have a friend who loves jazz and while I haven't ever had a dislike for jazz that isn't the music I turn to, but that may change. I went to a George Duke jazz concert recently with a friend and thoroughly enjoyed it! George Duke is a native of the Bay area. I loved the music itself, but almost more than that I loved watching the musicians and the audience as they listened. People were moving to the music, vocally responding to the music and everyone was smiling to the music. You couldn't help but smile. I'm looking forward to perhaps enjoying a little more jazz in the future.

2013...and No Resolutions?!

I don't know if New Year's Resolutions is a thing of the past or if people still make them. Walking by my local gym (I know, perhaps I should walk INTO the gym. :) it appears that there are a few who might make some resolutions. I have yet to make any resolutions for 2013. In fact I was very reluctant to make any...and that makes me a little sad. Have I lost the desire to become a new and improved person? So, on January 9 I am reconsidering New Year's Resolutions for 2013 and composing a list. I want them to be things that will be encouraging to others and help me grow as a Christian. So I am going to make some resolutions with those goals in mind. Happy 2013!

Thanksgiving 2012 in San Diego with the family

In Any Language...

A scolding is a scolding in any language. I was walking downtown San Francisco a few weeks ago. I was one of a crowd of people waiting for the light to change and a young Hispanic boy around 11 yr old started drifting out onto the street while he was waiting. His mother suddenly grabbed his arm and jerked him up on the sidewalk all the while gesturing to the street and the sidewalk speaking in very rapid Spanish. I didn't need an interpreter to understand how that conversation went!

The Daily Bus

I am riding the bus daily now on my way to my new Monday-Friday job. There are quite a few people that I see regularly in the morning. But it has been the evening crowd that is some of the most interesting. We are currently in the middle of the tourist season. The tourists can be easily picked out of a crowd by the paper maps of the city in their hands and the way they look around fervently between glancing down at their maps. It was one older couple the stood out the other day. They appeared to be in their 70s and they sat close together. The man had a map in his left hand and reached out with his right hand to link his fingers with his wife's speaking quietly to her in another language (Eastern European?). He then looked at her with concern and touched her arm appearing to ask if she was cold. She shook her head and touched the sweater around her shoulder. It was so sweet and simple.

So tired....only six more weeks of night shifts!

It is a lovely night at work (I won't mention the "Q" word here), but I am oh, so tired! This is an effort to keep my mind alert and body awake for another four hours. I will be starting my new DAY job in July! (Can you hear the excitement in the all caps day?) It will be a Monday thru Friday, 8am-5pm job in an outpatient clinic. The patients I will see will be dressed in their civies and require everything from a quick little lab draw to an all day IV infusion. I love seeing "healthy" patients in and out of the clinic.  I am even more excitied that I don't have to force myself to stay awake all night. I understand why that could be a method of torture.
One of the things I love about night shifts is the staff I get to work with. Tonight I am working with a lovely woman who is orginally from France. She has lived in the US for several years now. She has such a quiet, calm personality and we have had several lovely night shifts together talking about living in San Francisco, French vs. American education and food. That has made the night much more pleasant.
Well, I should get back to patient care.

Another move

I didn't realize until recently that I have been slacking on my blog. Since my last post I took a RN travel job in San Francisco, CA and have decided to stay! The city is so colorful, full of amazing food and the beach is close by. The secondary draw is that I will have normal hours at my job 8-5/M-F! I am excited to enjoy the stable hours with the opportunity for stable activities. No excuses now!
For now I am finishing my travel contract and enjoying the city with a roommate for a change. I haven't had a roommate since my sister and I lived together in Rochester five years ago. It has been fun to catch up with "old" friends and make some new ones.

Sailing with Erin and Kristine

San Diego with Michael, Libbie Andrew and Holly

A visit from Anna Laura

AAA

After my detour yesterday I woke up early today to do the errands I didn't do yesterday only to get in my car, put the keys in the ignition and have nothing happen. It made me wonder what message I was suppose to be getting from these daily plan changes. Thankfully, I had decided to get AAA a month ago and the AAA battery guy showed up in a half hour with a new battery! My neighbor filled me in on the fact that my cabin light had been on all night the other night, but since he is new to the building he didn't know which condo I lived in. Nice way to meet your neighbor. I am hoping tomorrow will not continue in this pattern. It's time to go back to work!