Weekend

This weekend I had company at my house. Kari flew in from Colorado on Thursday. Jack and Julie came up Friday night after work. I was off Friday through Tuesday. So on Friday I made my first homemade cheesecake using Alton Brown's method of baking it. ( If you have not tried his method, believe me, it is the best way to go!) On Saturday, the girls headed over to David's Bridal to try on the bridesmaid dresses together with Kari. Kari also got her veil.

After we got done at David's and the guys ( Jack and Jason) got done looking around at a hardware store, we went uptown to try out a restaurant recently featured on Food Network's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives- The Penguin. It is a small little greasy spoon that serves burgers, fried pickles ( which are sooo good), and other fried foods. Don't be fooled by the cheap prices- you get a ton of food for the money!! After that, we went back to my place and played a couple really fun and hilarious games of Trivial Pursuit- the 90's. Kari and Jason met his friends for a monster truck show that evening while Jack, Julie, and I cruised up to Concord Mills to shop.

All in all- it was a fun little weekend. :-)

And they called it Puppy Love...

So I went down this weekend to visit some girlfriends in SC and to also see how Piper would do with the dog she is going to be staying with while I am up in Boston next weekend. ( Annabelle had already met him.) Piper fell in love with my friend's Westie - a short, fluffy rug ( as I call him) named Hugo. She and he were non-stop in playing and chasing each other all over the house. And at night, they would cry in their separate kennels...

Next weekend is my mom's graduation from BU in Boston. So I am leaving late Fri and coming back Mon. Fun, fun. We will be staying in Woburn, MA, which coincidentally is where one of our ancestors is buried ( I think it is the Salem witch trial one, but I am not for sure now).

Tomorrow is the day!!

For my interview!!! It is from 8-3+. So it is all day long!

The evil sore throat

So while I have for several days been meaning to post Part II of the lovely Out West trip, I have not. I have been sick since Sat and I think it is a touch of tonsilitis. Grrr... Anyway, I have been spending lovely days ( if I can call them that) lounging around, watching tv, working on a project, and being with my dogs. So please wait patiently, as part II will eventually be posted.

Rainy Thursday

So today Piper got her last puppy shots. She is now 10 lbs 5.5 oz. She was a little more nervous about the whole vet thing this time because last time she got a shot that really burned. She did well, though.

It looks like they are trying to set up my other interviews for May 2.

My sister is coming up from Charleston on Sunday and then leaving to go to AL on Monday. I will be flying there on Thursday to ride up with Kari to Colorado Springs, CO, next weekend. Kari will be there for about 6 months. I am looking forward to visiting Colorado.

What AL and NC need and other misc items

Yes, we can read. A few of us can even write. I saw this am on GMA that Mississippi is on a big campaign to change the "label" that people think of when they think of this state. I do believe that Alabama and North Carolina could benefit from such a campaign. The problem: some of the things people say ARE TRUE.

On a different note: I had my first interview today. It basically was a preliminary interview to see if the applicants had enough critical care experience to go on to the other interviews. I made it past round one. However, now I am REALLY nervous. The next interviews can take up to 3 hrs total. There is one with the chief surgeon, the director of either trauma or the surgical ICU (can't remember now), several of the other surgeons, and at least a couple of the NPs already working for the service. There are three NPs total right now. There are two openings for two more, and then they want to get the 6th person next January. I will update when I know when the next interviews are.

Currently reading: Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. Not my first choice but sent with great recommendations. It is about a midwest family seen through the eyes of the eleven year old son. So far the book contains excellent writing, great commentaries on faith and miracles, and charming descriptions that make you think of being at your grandparents' as a kid ( or at least for me because they lived out in the county and had cows and all).

Doggie Update: Currently enjoying the lovely weather on the back porch. Looking forward to a trip to SC to stay with friends (people and doggies) while mom is gone to AL and then CO with Kari.

The Interview

My interview is for Monday at 10:00 for the trauma NP job.

Trying again...

So I had a blog before, but it didn't last long. ( And I really didn't need to be paying for a blog at the time.) So I am giving it a whirl again.

Where we are at:
I now have two dogs, Annabelle and Piper. Annabelle is 2 1/2 yrs old now. I rescued her from the Pitt County Animal Shelter. She is foster mom to my sister's dog Berkley and now to Piper. Piper is our currently 8 lb 7 oz jack russell/wired haired daschund that my dad found in a box at a gas station with her two brothers at Christmas. She is actually a pretty good puppy- housebroken fairly quickly, etc. Both of my dogs are pretty calm natured. I am lucky.:-)

Ok, so job-wise. I am now past my 6 months at Carolinas and can transfer to an NP job. I am really interested in a couple that are posted right now- so if you think of it, pray that the best thing for me works out! I am currently working in the cath lab holding area. It is totally boring after my last ICU jobs, but it has been a wonderful break from the whole total burnout of ICU patients and their families. I do miss the occasional adrenaline rush...

On a more sour note...
This year I have currently had what appears to be the Norovirus twice. I was horrendously sick both times. I did escape the whole hospital/ER thing this last time, though. Anyway, I have had quite enough of this virus and hope to not see anymore of its reckless behaviour for the rest of the year(s).

On a positive note...
Tomorrow is officially Spring and I am ready for it to be here, so move over Winter!!!