| 3 months since last entry-- lame-o! |
[Aug. 8th, 2006|12:29 pm] |
So sorry if any of you have been checking this at all! I don't know where the time has gone.
Since mid-May-- what has happend? Found out I had a crazy high hormonal level and it could be caused by a benign brain tumor. Freaked out. Found out how much my insurance sucks. Had an MRI. Went to Hawaii to see Trish with Tami. Found out I do have a tumor, but that it's the only type of brain tumor you can treat with medication. Started taking bromocriptine, which is also an infertility drug and Parkinson's drug, so if I ever want to get knocked up or get tremors, I'll be prophylactically ready. It made me narcoleptic-- I literally slept through pediatrics. Had my levels checked, the drug's working some but not enough, so my dose was increased. Told her how tired it made me, now I take all three pills at night, and it's working well. A nice side effect is it has some antidepressant effects! So the mood stuff I had along with the hormonal stuff is much much better. I actually feel like I might find a man someday-- I had seriously given up the thought for a while there. I blame nursing school.
Chicago is amazing in the summer. I didn't believe people when they told me in the dead of winter that summer could make up for no sunshine and biting wind, but it's beautiful, vibrant, and there's always stuff going on. I wish school wasn't so tiring and busy, but I've seen what I could. I didn't like my peds rotation, but I did like OB. Not that it's my calling or anything, but I got to see 3 babies be born and like really getting to know my patients and their hubbies. It was encouraging to see how supportive a husband can and should be. Now I'm in gerontological nursing. I work at a nursing home, and so far I like it, except that I was put into an Alzheimer's unit for the first week, which brought back a lot of painful memories of watching my grandmother die a long, depressing death from the disease. They do a great job with the unit though-- the try to really stimulate the patients and keep them as active as they can be. I'm looking forward to the next 3 weeks and getting to work with old people!!
Anna came to visit for a week (cousin from Redding). We had a complete blast. I loved showing off Chicago. Saw the Cubs lose horribly to Arizona but it was great always to be at Wrigley.
What else? Still really like my church, and God has been teaching me a lot. Oh yeah, I live alone for the first time ever. Just for two months, but I love it right now. After Jackie, I needed a break! I like being able to do whatever I want and even be a hermit if I feel like it. Anyway, God's been showing me how little time I give to Him and how wasteful I can be with my time. (Writing this might be a case in point). Another weird thing: I'm starting to really feel ready to get married. The unfortunate part is that I really don't have a major prospect... there's a guy at church who I really want to get to know better, but it's hazy if he even thinks that way of me. But I feel like I'm starting to grow up a lot and that I could make someone happy and I could sure use someone to make me happy.
Alright, I need to get at least something done with my day off! |
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| Sigh |
[May. 14th, 2006|10:57 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Home | ] |
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| |  jubilant | ] |
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| | Keith Green | ] |
What a week.
Monday was awful. Found out that I couldn't break my lease and move into the killer apartment my friends and I found... found out I blew a test, blew another test, went home to take a nap to regroup, and when I went to check my email afterward, my computer had completely crashed. And, I've been having to take some crazy high doses of hormones to get my system going because my new doctor told me I'm running the risk of getting cancer eventually. So I was already feeling pretty precarious. Tuesday was a bit better but I was still pretty shaky. Wednesday was uneventful. Thursday was a-mazing! Like the a-mazing cave in Vietnam. It was my day to observe in the operating room, and I had joked the night before that I would like to watch brain surgery. I DID! It was so cool. Didn't hurt that the attending neurosurgeon was pretty hot and I thought of him as my own Dr. McDreamy. Don't make fun of me, you know you know what I'm talkin' about. I'm tired so I won't tell the details, but it was one of the coolest days ever and part of me is seriously interested in going into neuro now. Plus, my mom sent my system restore stuff for my computer and I was able to fix it myself! Friday, I had off. Ahhh. Yesterday, worked on a paper most of the day, and went out last night. My friend had a dinner party, and a few of us went out afterward. It was so fun. Except I lost my phone. I was a little frantic. A guardian angel was in the cab after us that I left the phone in (and I was the sober one-- will I ever grow up?), and while I was at church, my friend went and got it for me. Angels. Then a few of us went to Devon (pronounced Dee-vahn), which is like "Little India." We had an a-mazing buffet lunch. Worked some more on the paper, and have been relaxing a lot tonight.
I'm tired. But I was thinking about how bad this week started and how cool God is to work all this stuff out... even my stupid mistakes like the phone. School is so hard and I hate it sometimes, but the neurosurgery thing made me realize how lucky I am to be here once again. The only part that hasn't worked out yet is the apartment thing. My roommate is moving out in a few weeks, and I'm going to be alone and furniture-less...I'm a little freaked out. I have great friends 5 steps down the road, but you know what I mean? God has just really proved Himself over and over this week. I can't do it justice in this. I just want to trust Him more instead of worrying so much. |
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| long time no write! |
[Apr. 24th, 2006|11:29 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | home sweet home | ] |
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| | content | ] |
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| | Jars of Clay | ] |
Wow, I can't believe I've been zoning on this so long. I've been dabbling in the world of myspace for awhile, but knowing that anyone in the world can read what i write there lends me to write surface stuff. and i kind of like the anonymity of this site. in fact, since it's been over a month since i've written in this, i doubt if anyone at all will check it. ahhh. it's, like, a journal now.
life is good. it continues to be weird, ever-changing, and exciting and exhausting all at once. i really love my new city... the more i get to see it, that is. school is still pretty crazy but i sort of made a rule to not let it rule me this quarter. i went home for spring break and it was wonderful to recharge, see my family and friends in redding, and sleep. and realize that nursing school is not everything-- especially not particularly important to people who aren't in it... it was a tough realization because i felt like i had so little i could talk about with people in a way. this year is so nuts. but that makes me all the more thankful for my girls here-- we're affectionately called the Party of Five by another friend. i don't know what i would do without them. and without my downstairs neighbors, these two med students who have sort of adopted me and have brought me to a wonderful church that i love so far.
what else? i have actually started to be healthy. i haven't had a drink in 4 months on the 28th. nor a ciggie. nor very much junk food. and i've begun to-- gasp!-- regularly exercise. i feel good. turning 27 freaked the heck out of me.
i like my roommate a lot. we're pretty different. she's funny. she cusses like a sailor. with a wild midwest accent. it's hard to describe. she's moving out in june, and i might be living alone for the first time ever, unless the school finds a roommate, which is apparently not gonna likely happen in the summer-- no programs starting then. should be a learning experience...
yesterday was cool. church was amazing, and i had an epiphany that i don't feel awake enough to do justice too. went out to a great diner with church folks, had coffee with a girl from church i'm super excited to get to know better (we're going LINE DANCING!!), and went to this perfect, artsy coffee shop i've wanted to go to for ages by myself. it's called filter and it's what i hope heaven will be like. it's in bucktown or wicker park-- can't tell the difference between the two neighborhoods. it was splendid.
i've been surprisingly productive today... probably in large part due to my said epiphany yesterday. forgiveness and letting go are so good, and so relieving. i feel lighter. no wonder God tells us to do it or else.
i might not even need to take ambien to sleep tonight... maybe just in case... |
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| what a day |
[Feb. 24th, 2006|10:44 pm] |
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| |  exhausted | ] |
i feel much better now than i did at 3:30pm; my two downstairs roommates invited me over to have pizza tonight and i met some of their med school friends. and then i had another dinner with a friend from l.a. i had a really bad experience with the son of my patient today, he called me "the bottom of the food chain." i cried in front of all of the nurses on the floor and my clinical group from school and was just really embarrassed. now that i've had the chance to think it through a little bit more, i'm not taking it as personally. i had to give the same patient my first shot, so i was really scared already at the beginning of the day and it just got worse. my clinical instructor took me aside when i got upset and talked through the whole thing and said that she wasn't going to put up with me being talked to that way and that she was going to talk to the man who was rude to me. i'm just exhausted.
thanks in advance for the prayers... |
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| fun day, but stressed... |
[Feb. 12th, 2006|11:56 pm] |
today was one of those days that had nothing particularly exciting but it was still really fun. i went to church downtown with my two downstairs neighbors, and we took the El together and were just all chipper and happy and exchanging stories-- they're both med students. sooooooo smart. church was super good. there was a jazz concert outreach last night (didn't go, busy studying), and some of the performers graced us by playing as the worship team. it was amazing! especially one song that was all instrumental and there was a zylophone, piana', and bass player. it was fantastic. we sing a lot of hymns, and they, well, jazzed them up. the message was good, as usual, even though it was a touchy subject. afterward, i headed back on my own and i had one of those perfectly content moments... i had my complimentary church coffee, a beanie, a fuzzy scarf, and a down coat, walking down washington avenue in downtown chicago. it was all cloudy and cold and about to snow, and i loved it. went downstairs to get on the blue line, and there was a token singer with a guitar in the station. last week, the guy was pretty bad, but i couldn't help but walk down to see this guy. he sang really simply, but had one of those "i've been around," haggard voices and pretty soon there were about ten of us, quietly watching him. i hadn't heard the song before, it was something about "smile for me, sara" and it was kinda bluesy. ahhh. i couldn't have been happier. of course, the rest of the day i was shacked up in my "home" the library... but it was still cool because i love what i'm learning about. i have a fat test tomorrow so i need to cut this off. but the last fun part was two of my girls came over to watch grey's anatomy, and katie brought ice cream and mini chocolate chips and all three of us were on the edge of our seat the whole episode and cracking jokes (albeit pathophysiology jokes) every commercial... good times.
sidenote::: it's 25 degrees... gonna snow tonight...
oh yeah, i joined the myspace crew... check me out... add me if you haven't... i posted some pics of myself in the snow and of my walk to school! |
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| kinda tired |
[Feb. 5th, 2006|08:54 pm] |
It's been a weird few days. Still liking it here a lot and all but it's hard sometimes when I'm feeling pretty emotional and I realize that all of my friends out here have only known me for a month and a half and I just wish I could talk to people I've known for ages and go grab coffee and not have to tell old stories to catch them up.
My friend from college, T-, was diagnosed a few days ago with cancer. And I had just heard a lecture in pathophysiology the day before on this particular type. So it was extra hard to hear.
Then Friday at the hospital was pretty hard because we almost saw a guy die. It was amazing to see the pros act, but still really overwhelming. I saw a guy get intubated. That's like a highlight on your average e.r. episode, and I got to be right there, even take his blood glucose.
Heather was supposed to come visit this weekend, and at the last last minute, she had to bail because she lost her wallet. It was such a bummer. She already rescheduled, but it was one of my anchors, y'know? I knew that after my first month, she'd be here and we'd go explore.
Not to gross out the two of you who might read this, but I've been having hormonal problems for about 5 months now, so I basically feel like I have PMS all the time. I just get emotional for no reason, so when actual stuff like all this happens, it really hits me. Plus, all the stress that's just what my life will be for the next 11 months.
Aside from that, things are still remarkably good. I went back to Holy Trinity, the church in the Loop, for the third time today. I really like it, was fighting off tears the whole time. I gotta go. |
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| I must love it here. |
[Jan. 15th, 2006|10:16 pm] |
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| |  bouncy | ] |
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| | Mouse clicks | ] |
I'm not sure if I've ever felt this stressed out, but I'm still so happy! I love all that I'm learning, and being around tons of people who are just as passionate as I've become about being a nurse. We are all complete dorks, but it's okay. I spent all day yesterday and today in coffee shops studying with friends. I went to downtown Chicago last night for my roommate, Jackie's birthday. We went to the Cheesecake Factory in the Hancock Building and downtown had tons of pretty canopy lights and horse-drawn carriages... I just love it here. I can't wait to have some free time and really explore the city. Then this morning I went to a church in the "loop," or right in the middle of downtown. I really liked it-- smallish, good mix of people, and the teaching was amazing. I didn't find myself zoning out or getting distracted, even though I'm completely stressed out because I have two huge tests this week. I plan on going back.
Oh yeah-- had my first day of clinical on the hospital floor on Friday too! It was only for a few hours, but so cool-- got to listen to "report" by the night nurses to give the dirt on the patients, and then I was assigned to write down all I heard about one patient who I was going to take vital signs on. It all sounded like Greek to all of us, but my clinical instructor, Ramona (who is so funny and calming and passionate to us, her "babies") helped explain it all to us. I couldn't find my lady's pulse, but then I finally did and I calculated it right! And I was most nervous about getting the BP right, and it was right on... what a relief. All of us were stoked to get the first day over with, of meeting patients, touching patients, etc... I think next Friday, which will be all day, won't be nearly as nerve-racking.
I feel soooo blessed to have a good group of friends already and a great roommate. I have no complaints at all. Wow. |
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| 38 degrees is WARM. it's all about perception i guess... |
[Jan. 10th, 2006|09:53 pm] |
nursing school has already started to be even more hectic than i imagined. i love it though. i completely lucked out with a good roommate and meeting some very cool friends already in my program. i've barely been more than a block and half from my apartment to go to school, but chicago is still as lovely as i built it up to be. albeit cold, although it is apparently "unseasonably warm" for a winter, and it's going to get "all the way to 50 degrees this week!" midwesterners are fun in a novel, very weird sort of way so far. i refuse to call soda "paaaap" though, and i miss the good old west coast already.
it wouldn't be right to not tell at least one andie story, now, would it? i have a class that's called nursing therapeutics lab, and it's where we learn all of the skillz to pay da billz... i was really nervous the first time because i'm not the most dexterous... i was particularly scared about learning how to test blood glucose on people. we were geting ready to learn, and guess who has to be the demonstrator? yep. my partner was very nice, luckily, since i had to stick her THREE times. the machine kept shutting itself off because her fingers weren't bleeding enough, and then we finally realized we were putting her precious few droplets of blood in the wrong place! finally, i got a reading, and she had all kinds of dried blood on her fingers.
on that note, i must bid you adieu to do some pharmacology reading.... |
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| I'm here... |
[Jan. 1st, 2006|07:56 pm] |
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| | restless | ] |
I am now an Illinois resident. It feels weird. I'm trying not to get too overwhelmed. My roommate took me grocery shopping, which was nice. I'm trying to get settled and relax before classes start. |
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| Ugggggggghhh |
[Dec. 31st, 2005|02:02 am] |
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Moving stresses me out. I'm a wreck. If anyone reads this tonight or tomorrow, please pray for me because I'm super tense and emotional. |
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| Buh-bye L.A..... |
[Dec. 22nd, 2005|12:41 am] |
It's my last noche aqui... sad sad sad. I got quite attached for only being back for three months.
Orientation in "Chi-town" was long and kind of boring but I DID meet some cool folks... moved into my place, met my roommate- she's great but a neat freak. Uh-oh, as Trish said. I didn't realize how good my school was until after I'd applied! It rocks, apparently. Got to hang out with Nick, an L.A. transplant to Chicago, as well, and it's so nice to have a friend there already.
This week in L.A. has been fantastically crazy. Sunday was mellow yellow because I had to wait for Southwest airlines to bring my bag that they lost. Went to Church, which was really good. Met up with Dena, Anna, Paul, John, Matthew, and the owner of the bar/restaurant The Arsenal at The Arsenal for dinner, and it was super yummy. The owner comped our entire bill, which was unexpectedly cool. Tami had the week off, so we played all week long. Monday, we had Vietnamese food and did a bit of shopping. I gave platelets, too. Matthew and I had a long but funny goose chase trying to get English brekkie. We finally succeeded and it was amazing. We caught the end of a good show at the Viper Room. Tuesday was my birthday, and it was fabulous. Tami and I had lunch at a Southern Indian place, and it was delicioso! We did a bit of shopping and I learned how to book-bind. Matthew got me and we went to see the light show at Griffith Park, which had some random displays that made me laugh, such as dinosaurs and spaceships- I guess to signify Christmas through the ages. Hung out at the apt. for a bit, then met up with peeps for Cuban food at Versailles. Yuuuummmmmm. Sangria, as well. Sidenote: I got so many sweet phone calls and emails-- thanks to all of you who remembered me!!!! Then we went to Tom Bergins, an Irish pub. Will and Colin showed up, as well as Dena and Paul. Good times. Then we finished out the night at Daddy's, one of my favorite bars in the world- very chill and 40's. I had a great time. Today, I had to pack up my stuff, which is weird. So much moving. Tami and I chilled most of the day at her place. Matthew and I did some Christmas shopping. Tami's b-day party was at Q's, which was fun. I had to say goodbye to a lot of people last night and then Tami today, which makes me sad. I'm scared of being really lonely in Chicago...I'm really going to miss my friends here. But it's been a great week. |
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| awwwww... |
[Dec. 9th, 2005|10:08 am] |
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| |  tired | ] |
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| | corporate silence | ] |
Sonnet 14 - If thou must love me, let it be for nought
XIV
If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say
'I love her for her smile—her look—her way
Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day'—
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,—and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry,—
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning |
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| whilst twiddling my thumbs... |
[Dec. 8th, 2005|10:17 am] |
i sent out this survey to a bunch of friends about me- i include my favorite replies so far:
1. My name:
(everyone got this right)
2. Where did we meet?
Mom- "Probably in bed, actually it takes at least a couple of days for conception to occur :-}"
Angie- "Bible study (funny huh?)"
3. Take a stab at my middle name:
Will- Louise (that's my mom's!)
Casey- Elaine
Kat- Lou
4. How long have you known me?
Mom- almost 27 years
5. When is the last time we saw each other?
Heather- lunch
6. Do I drink?
Casey- "like a fish! Just kidding, more like a small guppy."
7. Do I believe in God?
everyone: "yes"
8. When you first saw me what was your impression?
Mom- "Thank God!!!"
Kat- "CATERPILLAR BROWS"
9. Month of my Birthday?
(everyone got it right!)
10. Color hair?
Kat- "DON'T KNOW IF I'VE EVER SEEN IT NATURAL, BUT YOUR ROOTS ARE BROWN"
11. Color eyes?
12. Do I have any siblings?
Mom- Meepew
Kat- "A SEXY BROTHER NAMED MATTY"
13. What's one of my favorite things to do outdoors?
Will- "Do you do things outdoors? Umm, take a hike."
Casey- "Does drinking on a patio count? Hmmmm."
14. What's one of my favorite things to do indoors?
Will- "Antiquing and trying on different outfits for tomorrow. And cooking."
Casey- "Eat, drink, and be merry. You seem to enjoy life no matter what you're doing."
Heather- "sleep"
Kat- "MAKE CURRIED GUACAMOLE"
15. Do you remember one of the 1st things I said to you?
16. What's my favorite type of music?
Mom- "goofy country"
Heather- indie
Kat- "DON'T KNOW THE NAME FOR THE GENRE OF MUSIC BUT KINDA SOFT AlTERNATIVE. BUT I DO KNOW YOU WANT 'INTO THE
MYSTIC' PLAYED AT YOUR FUNERAL. HOPE I NEVER HAVE TO USE THAT INFORMATION."
17. What is the best feature about me?
Angie- "After your looks of course...your honesty"
Casey- "Physical or personality? Physical...you have a great figure and a smile that is contagious. Non-physical...you can always make me laugh."
Heather- lips
Kat- "YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR, SENSITIVITY, INTELLIGENCE, AND YOUR AMAZING BROWS"
18. Am I shy or outgoing?
Kat- "OH, PLEASE"
19. Would you say I am funny ha-ha or funny sarcastic?
Kat- "HA HA. AND SOMETIMES INTENTIONALLY"
20. Am I a rebel or do I follow all the rules?
Casey- "A bit of both"
21. Would you consider me a friend, an acquaintance, a good friend, or something else?
Kat- "SOMETHING ELSE--THE DEAREST FRIEND."
Heather- "a best friend"
22. Would you call me hippie, glam, nerdy, snobby, or something else?
Will- girl-next-door
Angie- "gosh...you are a mix of nerdy (smart) and totally independent style...you don't conform"
Casey- "modern-retro"
23. Have you ever seen me cry?
24. If there were one good nickname for me what would it be?
Will- Dingles
Angie- Scarecrow
Casey- Dingy Dingman
Heather- Nurse Diesel
Kat- THE FANTABULOUS, BENDY MONKEY-GIRL
25. If I had broccoli stuck in my teeth would you tell me?
Angie- "Yes...while I laughed hysterically."
Casey- "Absolutely, I'm not a bitch"
Kat- "ONLY AFTER I TOLD YOU TO SMILE FOR THE CAMERA"
26. What kind of car do I have?
Mom- hotweel?
27. Am I in love with a special person?
Angie- "ME"
28. What is their name?
Angie- "Angie"
Kat- "Jesus"
29. What is my favorite food?
Mom- tots
Kat- "KIELBASA"
30. What is my favorite drink?
Mom- Starbucks
Will- Beer
Angie- "anything with alcohol"
Casey- Morgan's and Diet Coke
Heather- "anything with alcohol"
Kat- "OUZO" |
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| Another day, another few dollars! |
[Dec. 6th, 2005|11:27 am] |
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| | content | ] |
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| | Utter silence | ] |
I gots me a new temp job! Just as easy as the last one, but in an amazing building right in the center of downtown and I don't have to get here until 10am. Sweeeet!
So Tami had the idea that I should chronicle some of my odd personal history... such as my long chain of odd jobs and some stories of my famous interview skillz. I'm bored, so I think I shall.
Let's start at the very beginning, a very good place to start....
I was 14. They were two and seven. Both were girls. I was their babysitter. For two dollars an hour, forty hours a week. Erica and Ashley, they were named. I think they were a large part of why I haven't particularly wanted children for most of my life. Not that they were horrible, or hated every minute of it, but it was just so intense for a girl just about to enter the ninth grade.
Next was "real" job number one: Burger King. Cashier. "Promoted" to drive through cashier and opener. For ten cents more per hour, I got there at 5am every Saturday. Ridiculous. I remember they had a sign behind the counter that said "Having a bad day? Fake it!" That basically sums up that job for me. The boss was this really mean, fiery-tempered man named Grant.
Next was a glamourous position in sales, at Sears. First women's clothing, then shoes. I was actually pretty good at selling shoes, believe it or not. I made commission and did a bit of alright for myself! I didn't particularly hate it, but my boss was kind of evil. I lied to people to get them to buy our crappy shoes.
Next up was a law office job that my friend Matt got me. I was the "gopher" for Nisson and Pincin, Attorneys at Law. They were nice enough, but Cynthia, the paralegal/office manager was awful. She once called me the "low man on the totem pole." Way to boost morale. It was only two and a half hours a day, but I hated it. Lots of photocopying and running to the court house.
Next was grocery sector: I was a checker at "employee-owned and proud of it" Waremart, later called WinCo. Let's just say that this was the kind of grocery store that was much busier the first of the month than at any other time... many interesting customers...I had really fun co-workers though.
I was also working at Deja Vu restaurant and bakery at this time. My friend Rebecca and I worked together, and had a blast making up various gourmet coffees and drinking our "mistakes." This was the summer between high school and college, so I worked like a dog.
At UCLA, I worked my first proper office job, as a receptionist for College Tutorials. This is where I began to truly learn how to pretend to work. I've been refining the technique since then. It was fun to listen to the tutorial sessions- gave me great pointers for my own papers.
The summer between my freshman and sophomore year, I moved to San Francisco and lived with Sara, John and Hilda. I had so much fun, even though I worked about 60 hours a week between Virgin Megastore shifts and scooping at Ben and Jerry's. Too many stories to tell, but this gives the jist: At Ben and Jerry's, my boss let me go home early to clean up pretty often because he so chilled out- I soon found out this was because he was a heroin addict...
Back at UCLA, I was a Program Assistant my 2nd year... not too exciting. Planned activities for disinterested college students. I was later an Orientation Counselor, which was a blast. That was the summer I learned to drink. Many crazy stories.
Junior year, I was in Brighton, England. I worked as a barmaid at Blimey O'Reilly's pub and then Sumo Bar and Restaurant. What a crazy, fun time at both places. I will never forget Doug, the regular at Blimey's who would announce he was "on me toes" when he was headed out each night. Trish and I were mainly relegated to be "glass collectors" at Sumo, but we had a ball hanging out with Canadian Robbie.
Back in L.A., I worked as an intern at Ballantine Books, then Variety newspaper. Boooooring... but I got to be published nationwide, which was cool.
Then, ArtShare L.A., a fun nonprofit. Enjoyed that. My first taste of "urban" L.A.
Then UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture. Not too exciting. Good pay.
Then off to bonnie Scotland. Waitress and bartender at Acanthus Restaurant. Too fun for words.
Back to the U.S. of A., I worked as a management trainee for Enterprise Rent-a-Car. Wow. I hated that job. I sold insurance, badly. Backed an Expedition into a tree. The one good thing that came out of that job was that I met a ton of nurses.
Followed was a brief stint at Starbucks. I wasn't perky enough...
Then I was a counselor at a loony bin...I mean mental hospital. It was fabulous. I got to drive the van and everything!
Then I took a nice long break to go to Asia and another to start taking nursing classes. Ahhhh. Just started working again in September. I've been a temp at a hospital, art mover, conference center, and now an architecture firm. And the majority of the time, I haven't actually had to work. Thus, this entry.
I can't believe I'll be a nurse in a little over a year, and have to actually be responsible.. |
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| two weeks to go... |
[Nov. 27th, 2005|12:20 pm] |
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| | discontent | ] |
til Chicago... kind of freaks me out. i had a feeling this would happen- that i would start to feel really comfortable in l.a. and then it'd be time to go.
i sold my car.
i found out who my roommate is- she sounds great.
i bought furniture.
so, it's really happening.
i got to house-sit for the last 5 days, which was way fun. for will and colin. got to play with a bulldog and a three-legged cat. fun. and it was nice to get out of matthew's way for a few days.
i'm really dreading going to work tomorrow. i might get "fired" from my temp job, becuase of a miscommunication with my boss who i don't get a long with very well to start with. i don't even like working there, but i haven't ever been let go before so it's freaking me out.
i guess that's about it... |
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| Monday again. |
[Nov. 21st, 2005|08:12 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | melancholy | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | CNN | ] |
I'm so tired. I feel really blah. I don't want to whine and bore anyone who might read this. So I think I'll keep it short. I'm just in a funk. |
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| why I look forward to driving someone nuts someday.... |
[Nov. 18th, 2005|11:28 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | pleased | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | CNN | ] |
I Do, I Will, I Have
How wise I am to have instructed the butler
to instruct the first footman to instruct the second
footman to instruct the doorman to order my carriage;
I am about to volunteer a definition of marriage.
Just as I know that there are two Hagens, Walter and Copen,
I know that marriage is a legal and religious alliance entered
into by a man who can't sleep with the window shut and a
woman who can't sleep with the window open.
Moreover, just as I am unsure of the difference between
flora and fauna and flotsam and jetsam,
I am quite sure that marriage is the alliance of two people
one of whom never remembers birthdays and the other
never forgetsam,
And he refuses to believe there is a leak in the water pipe or
the gas pipe and she is convinced she is about to asphyxiate
or drown,
And she says Quick get up and get my hairbrushes off the
windowsill, it's raining in, and he replies Oh they're all right,
it's only raining straight down.
That is why marriage is so much more interesting than divorce,
Because it's the only known example of the happy meeting of
the immovable object and the irresistible force.
So I hope husbands and wives will continue to debate and
combat over everything debatable and combatable,
Because I believe a little incompatibility is the spice of life,
particularly if he has income and she is pattable.
Ogden Nash |
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| I laaaag |
[Nov. 15th, 2005|10:54 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | calm | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | CNN | ] |
I can't believe it's been over a month since I've updated this. Particularly because I don't actually work at my job! It's just more fun to write in this when I only have a few minutes for some reason.
Life's good. I'm starting to freak out a bit about the big move. I didn't get that scholarship, so I'm going to have a truckload of debt. I'm trying to keep myself calm about that, remind myself that I'll make enought money to pay it off before I die.
I'm still really loving living in L.A. The sun is shining outside, even though it's mid-November. How can I not be grateful? I've been going to a great church called Mosaic as well, which has been super encouraging, real, and challenging. Matthew's beeng going with me. I still haven't gotten used to getting up at 5:15am, but the money has been helping. And it is nice to have a totally mindless job before the craziness of school.
I decided to live on campus so that I can sleep more and not deal with commuting on the train in the snow/rain/subzero-ness.
No romance, but lots of good times with friends. I had a date with two hot gay men on Saturday night...
Comment/write back if you read this so I feel loved :-) |
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| Mondays are depressing. |
[Oct. 10th, 2005|08:27 am] |
| [ | Current Mood |
| | bouncy | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | CNN news | ] |
Especially when you've had a really fun weekend. Oh well. It's not like I'm actually thinking or anything, right?
The really funny thing about working in this pointless job where I actually do no work is that they love me and actually seem to think I'm useful. I don't get it, but I'm not going to fight it. I haven't even pretended to work yet today and I've been here an hour and a half. Random. Oh well. As my pen pal Jason says, he gets paid at least double what I do, so I don't feel too bad.
The weekend was fun. Or at least funny to talk about.
Friday, I opened a new checking account at a bank that has several branches in Chicago. It felt weird but good. I've realized in the last few months that I actually want to feel settled somewhere. I never let myself feel settled in Redding because I never wanted to admit that I was even living there. Now, I'm on Matthew's futon... which I'm ever so thankful for, but is obviously only temporary. It feels good to know that I'm going to have to commit to something for a whole year, possibly even three. I am still pretty terrified re: Chicago, the weather, falling into a loneliness-induced depression out there, failing miserably out of nursing school, adding 40k in debt, etc., but I'm also excited. I'm actually committing to something. I'm actually deciding what to do for the rest of my life, or at least for the rest of the length of my loan repayment. So anyway, I now have a new checking account. I went home, watched the previous night's e.r. because I go to be early because of my pointless job requiring me to get up while it's still night, and relaxed. Heather came over and she and Matthew and I went to a show in Hollywood. It was only 5 bucks, and it was a one man show called the Mullen Mix. It was pretty "campy," or in other words, flaming. He was funny at first but it got to be a bit grating... I mean, I'm straight, but I don't make it the central issue and conversation topic of my life. Heather laughed at me because of my reputation for liking gay or possibly gay guys and the fact that I found him attractive. We left after at the intermission. My favorite line: "that's a whole other episode of Oprah and half a Dr. Phil."
We then meandered to the 3 Clubs, a cute lounge bar in Hollywood that's featured in Swingers. It's swanky but casual. Kind of like a classier, hotter version of the Squire Room, my local in Redding. Heather and I had a double date planned with a couple of friends we'd met the weekend before. Manny, my date, is a male nurse who asked me out even after I said to him, "You're a male nurse and you're STRAIGHT?" He's nice enough, rather cute, and funny. His friend's name is Horne. Horne Jr. actually. Something was wrong with Horne. I don't know exactly what. But he was very obnoxious and pushy and loud. The bar was pretty loud too, and I realized before the date even started-- when they didn't recognize us right away-- that I'm sick of dating. It was hard to actually be on the date after this realization. I was pretty silent and not as charming as I usually attempt to be. Nevertheless, Manny made it pretty clear that he was into me. I was just trying to not stare at the mole on his cheek or burst into "Hero" by Enrique Iglesias. Then they tried to get us to ride to West Hollywood with them, when we'd already said repeatedly that we wanted to stay in Hollywood so we could walk home. They blatantly seemed to want to get some... and I wasn't drinking much so I didn't even sort of want to. I was strong for once. We talked them into staying in Hollywood, or so we thought. I had forgotten my ID, so they took us to Matthew's apt. to get it. On the way out of the car, Horne told me, no, demanded me to get a beer for him while I was up there. That was it. As I got my ID, I decided I was going to get Heather and leave them. When I came and told her we should just stay, Horne told us to get out of the car. Nice. Manny was still pretty sweet and seemed bummed, but I was relieved. Being alone isn't so bad. At least I have the possibility of something great coming along.
Saturday, I went to the Cal game with Matthew and John. It was super fun to tailgate, and the game was awesome. I, as usual, got pretty bored at around halftime, but the last three minutes and the ensuing surprise victory made it worthwhile. The "victory dogs" had never tasted better. Heather's old roommated Danijela was in town, and we went out Saturday night to Daddy's, which was fun. Especially when I told Heather that I liked a guy's argyle sweater and she didn't hesitate to get up and try to get him to give it to me. It was a fun night.
Yesterday, I was just lazy all the day long. Watched some bad t.v. with Anna. I went to Mosaic, a cool, progressive church that meets in a dance club downtown. The message was about our attitude, on Phil. 2. It was really good and I felt something, which was great. I've been so numb for a while. I think I'll go back. Hopefully Matthew will come. Maybe even Heather.
I take the subway to work. It gives me 30 minutes each day to read, which is great. I'm over halfway through a book called Blue Like Jazz that I'd heard about a lot. It's so good. It's about Christianity but not too preachy. Written humbly yet beautifully. I recommend it.
I've been paid to work while not working for two hours. Sweet, as Napoleon Dynamite would say.
Hope all who read this are well. |
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