Employed x2

So I mentioned briefly in my last post that I got a second job...

I love it

for so many reasons...

To begin with, it puts me back into a hospital setting. I didn't realize how much I missed that until my first day. I love being able to focus on my 4-5 patients and really give them the best care I can (that's more difficult to do in the nursing home with 30+ residents). I love learning from all the other nurses on the floor. I feel like this job will stretch me and keep me from getting complacent about what I do know.

I get benefits. I've never had benefits before and let me tell you, they're a beautiful thing.

They also gave me a magical jug that gives me unlimited access to the soda fountain AND the world's most glorious pen (it has a squishy pad to grip with your work worn fingers and lights up blue when you click it on).

There are some downsides. Nurses are required to work every other weekend and some holidays at this facility...it makes sense, patients don't miraculously recover so they can spend Christmas with their families or rebound to lounge about on the weekend...it still stinks though.

I'm really lucky to have found something I love this much. I was lying on our couch after a long day at work with my head in Robb's lap, my feet sticking up in the air (nursing=lots of standing), and Robb patiently listening to details from my day. In the middle of explaining a procedure I glanced up and saw Robb looking at me with an expression that made my heart go all mushy. "This is the perfect job for you," he said. I agree.

Reader's Digest Version of August

Utah Valley Specialty Hospital made me an official job offer to work full time on their Med/Surg floor.

We traveled to Great Basin National Park which is located in the middle of Nevada. I personally have little love for the state (and if you had to drive through it every time you wanted to see your family, you wouldn't be that keen on it either :) ), but Great Basin apparently is their best kept secret.

According to the National Park website, Great Basin is the best place for star gazing in the continental US because it's so far away from everything. That night we got a breath taking view into the heavens. The sky was perfectly clear and hundreds of stars strung throughout the Milky Way were visible.

The next day we hiked. My favorite part were the Bristlecone pines (as an Oregonian, I have a thing for trees...google them sometime though, they are amazing).

We came back to civilization.

My faithful laptop of four years died.

We went to Washington and helped my parents move into their new house (P.S. the picture wasn't taken in front of their house, that's where my mom works :) ).

We traveled to Medford, Oregon, the land of my youth and probably one of my favorite places in the world and went RAFTING (I love rafting, I love rivers, I love attacking random boats with dipsticks, I love the thrill of making it through a difficult rapid, I love spending so much time with my family...it's amazing). Once again there were bears. I'm not sure why, but I decided a few years ago that being mauled to death by a bear was probably the worst way to die...and they've kind of freaked me out ever since. I guess my furry friends heard we are longer on good terms and now, out of spite, they are popping out all over the place. THREE bear sightings this trip, THREE!

And one of my mom's best friends got married around the same time so we got to attend the wedding. Congratulations, Brenda!

Back in Provo, Robb built me a computer (yes, he is that amazing) to replace the Mac and we prepared to start a new school year and a full time hospital job.

Life couldn't possibly better be :)