Waiting is not my better point

Well the last few days have been one roller coaster ride after another.  The travel company has submitted me to a facility in Portland, and now to two places in New Mexico.  Now for the part that I really do not like, hurry up and wait, you get 15 minutes to locate and send the 100 documents the facility requires and then you wait, and you wait, and you wait some more.  I really would love the job on the Indian Reservation, the four corners area has some really amazing hiking and scenery.  There is also some nice RV dealerships up there, I would love to make a side trip to Eugene, OR to that huge dealer up there, they have a really large variety, but right now I am torn between the Voltage 3950, and the Raptor 410LEV.

OUCH My Hand

It has been awhile since I posted anything, last Sunday I managed to break a bone in my hand, I never knew just how bad that could hurt!  Now I am stuck in a brace with a swollen right hand with some nasty bruising all across the palm.

I have been looking at the new Dutchman Voltage 5th wheel, the model 3950 has caught my eye, unfortunately the closest Dutchman dealer is way up in Tennessee, a trip I will have to save until after the holidays.

I have applied for Nevada and Oregon licenses, I received the paperwork packages from the licensing company yesterday so off to get fingerprinted again and this and that notarized to mail off on Monday.  You would think I was applying to be the President of the United States with the amount of questions and information they are asking for.  Hopefully January will bring a contract in Washington, there is a really nice RV Supercenter in Eugene, Oregon that I want to go shopping at.  I am so ready to get back to traveling, although I have a job it is not a travel assignment, there is allot to be said about a 8 - 13 week assignment, you do not get involved int he politics and favorites game that is everywhere, just go to work and do your job and go home.  When your assignment is over you just pack up your stuff and off to the next adventure.

I went Friday to look at a used Winnebago and my fears about a used bathroom were realized, although the unit looked very clean, there was a smell of sewer as soon as you opened the door, and around the toilet was frightening, guess they forgot to clean that up before showing it.  I was going to take some pictures but turned on the camera and immediately had dead batteries.  Just my luck ...

Used RV

I wanted to go yesterday and look at some "gently used" Class C, and Class B to get a feel for the local market and what is available.  I am never really sure just what "gently used" means whether it is clothing, cars, trucks, and in this case a recreational vehicle.  While financially it does make sense in getting started to begin with a used model, I just cannot get out of my mind the sanitation aspect of a second hand RV.  Yesterday we watched "Bridesmaids" and that scene in the bathroom when Melissa McCarthy is sitting on the sink with explosive diarrhea from food poisoning was hilarious, BUT what if something similar happened in that "gently used" RV before I buy it?  What can be growing in those holding tanks, and water lines?  Will it be like buying a used car where you never know until after you have had it a few weeks if they just patched it up enough to sell it, or you found a real deal and it will suit your needs very well.

Job wise my ultimate goal is a travel assignment in Seattle, or somewhere in Washington State, my license from there should come any day (permit already in hand!), now I am in the process of obtaining Nevada and Oregon licenses as well.  It seems that although I am ready, the holidays and staffing needs in Washington are not in synch.  Before I got my license, there were positions posted everyday they called me about "if you only had your license" we could submit you to.  Now that it is getting closer to becoming a reality of leaving on a travel assignment in the next month or so I am very psyched about starting this next chapter of my life, but also the reality is starting to settle in; I will be leaving Michael, Moose, Missy, Bart, Thomas, and of course Herbert behind here in Alabama.  I am not sure who will be more miserable while I am gone, Michael or Missy.  I can see her walking around the house with that huffing bark of hers, and poor Michael who will he talk to and read trivial stuff off the internet?  I guess Skype will have to do, or Tango, either one will work well on my Ipad.  More details later.

What to do, where to go?

It has been several days since I have posted anything, mainly because I have not felt really great.  Yesterday was heartburn that was almost debilitating, we went to Sips n Strokes Monday night for a painting class (and drinking), that Merlot although delicious set off my GERD to the point I had tears in my eyes!  Got to love good old BC/BS and their preexisting clause so they do not have to cover the cost of my Protinix.  I really have a hard time with how the healthcare system operates here in the USA, you can demand access to free care - just go to any emergency room, they cannot refuse to treat you, but if you are truly sick and need just medical care and prescriptions you are just crap out of luck if you do not have insurance, or qualify for Medicaid. 

Job wise time for some updates, it seems that Washington is slow for travel positions with my selected travel nurse company, there was talk of a potential position in Nevada but it got snatched up.  Now maybe Oregon, or wait until January for Washington, it is only a few weeks, and it would be nice to be in the area for the Holidays, scheduled to work both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at my new job, what a nice welcome aboard present!

Saturday I am planning to take a ride to Oxford and look at some RV's, if I am going to do the travel nurse thing, then I definitely will need to get into an RV or something along that line, when your home changes every 8 - 13 weeks, it would be nice to have the same place to put your underwear day after day.  I remember traveling before, waking up in a new place those first few weeks can be VERY disorienting, especially for a 2 am bathroom run.

Just talked to my recruiter, it seems that Oregon has several openings, and they have per-diem shifts available as well, some extra cash to catch up on bills, and add to the RV fund would be nice!

Decent Day

Today is some warmer, but muddy outside.  I am thinking of driving over to Anniston to look at some RV's, take some pictures, compare costs and features.  I am expecting to get a contract next week or next for Washington so the journey will begin.  I will post pictures if I make it to Dandy RV.

Black INK - YUKK!!!

I just got home from repeating my fingerprints for my Washington State RN License.  I got a package that said they could not scan the other ones and I needed to repeat them ASAP.  The only problem is that black ink that does not completely come off, you get what you think is all of it off, and as I witnessed when I took whites out of the dryer, it does not all come off.  What fun this is going to be!

Unprodutive Day

After getting cancelled from work this morning the rest of the day has turned out to be a wash.  It is cold and wet outside so the puppies did not want to go outside so they have been under foot all day long.  I decided to take a big nap as I noticed that Greta had assembled her a nest of 8 socks in her crate, I have already taken several away from her today, and she ate one yesterday.  So after taking them all away from her I set out to take my nap, I look and she has yet another sock in her mouth so in her crate she went; she was not happy because I made her stay in her crate and Bart got all of the cuddling.  Now that I am up I have started on laundry, plenty to do the dirty clothes hamper is running over, one load in, first load of whites sprayed to depuppify them, now 12 more loads after that and maybe be caught up.

Say What?!?!?!?!

Well this is turning out to be a pain in the butt day.  As bad as I hate to get up at 4:30, I get up as usual, perform the the basic S's and head off to work only to get there to find out I have been cancelled!  Now I feel like an atheist at his own funeral; all dressed up with nowhere to go.  Yet one more reason to add to my list of reasons I am going back to travel nursing as soon as possible.  The money is better, you don't get cancelled, and its a working vacation all year long.  The extra income will be used to further my dreams of getting into an RV and it will be tax deductible even!

Chance of snow

Well now I know it's time to take off for warmer parts, they are calling for the possibility of one inch of snow over night, still not supposed to stick, but Texas or anywhere warm sounds like a good idea to me.

Wintertime

I went out this morning to smoke and let the babies run around and it is wintertime once again!  I sat down with that first cup of precious java and they are talking wet snow of 1 - 2 inches but don't worry it will not stick.  Get me out of this frozen tundra!

Looks comfy right?

Last night was one of those nights that you wake yourself up dreaming, I saw myself in this kitchen making a lasagna and wouldn't you know it I woke up right before I got to taste it!  I hate when you wake up in the middle of a good dream before the end!  This is my dream home, I remember this spring Michael, Momma, and I went shopping, we spent the day going through every 5th wheeler on the lot, this was one of the last ones.  It was a very hot day, we wore momma out so she sat in one with the air on, napped while we looked at the last 20 or so, this was the one that I know would be a perfect fit for the family.  I think we have used the dining room table maybe twice this year, we normally eat in the den in front of the tv, so why would we want a RV with the wasted space of a dining room booth, or table just taking up space?

I am thinking a nap is in order, it is a dreary rainy day, and I might just get to pick up my dream and get a taste of that lasagna.

The Day After Black Friday

It's Saturday, and my left knee is killing me, not sure just what I have done to it, could be the over abundance of chairs at work that I keep turning the corner and running into and slamming with my knee.  I used one of those ThermaCare pads on it last night, it helped but it is still just killing me.  I think warmer weather would be the cure to fix it right up.  At least that is what I am telling myself.  :)

Thanksgiving End of Day

It's 10:17 PM and about time for me to get to bed, up at 4:40 AM to get to work.  Upon reflection of today it was a good day, I spent it with my family, and MICHAEL, ate way to much and managed to stop by to get 5 Power Ball, and 5 Mega Million tickets, I pray I win at least the 5 balls on either one, $250,000 would allow me to start my Ultimate Dream.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

Thanksgiving Day

I woke up this morning surrounded by all three babies, Michael was off to do his early morning shopping deals.  The air inside the house was crisp, the weather here this time of year alternates between cold and warm in a matter of days.

I have many things to be thankful for, I have a job, a nice place to live, three Weimaraner's that adore their daddy, and two kitties who also love their daddy very much.  I have a wonderful partner who has been very supportive and loving even when I was out of work in between jobs.  I have my health that is holding steady which hopefully will hold up until my health insurance kicks in next October 23, 2012.

Although I am very thankful for all of the blessings in my life, I am still human and dare to dream, where would I like to be this morning?  I feel the need to hear water, south Texas has a nice ring to it.

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Texas, USA

Dreary Day

Yucky day here, the weather is cloudy and looks like rain.  I wonder what the weather is down in Gulf Shores?  I dreamed last night of waking up and making breakfast on the outdoor kitchen as the babies played on the patio.  Moose would need a chaise lounge, he is passed out in the chair next to me unaware of the world around him.

All is quiet

It's almost 1 AM here, as usual I am wide awake, everyone else is asleep.  At these times I think back to my childhood and the travels and I wonder; where could we be beside here?  Montana, South Dakota, Texas, Mexico, Arizona, Gulf Shores, Louisiana, Florida?  The possibilities are endless .... maybe one day

Dreaming of a river

What a great night this would be to be parked next to a river, stream, deck down sitting on the patio with the babies watching the stars.  I'm thinking Texas, Florida, Mexico, or Gulf Shores would work to.

Now is the time of night when the RV lifestyle would be a perfect match, Michael and all of the babies are sound asleep and snoring, me I am wide awake - too chilly here to be outside star gazing!

Bart, Greta, and Whitaker

Now these babies will not fit into just any old RV!

Obstacles and Roadblocks

Top reasons preventing me at the moment from my dreams:

Chronic health conditions with no health insurance coverage (I have insurance with preexisting coverage exemption of one year, and medication costs are greater than my gross income each month.  BC/BS of AL with 2010 record profits).

Like many Americans I was out of work for an extended time causing me to sped every dollar I had, cash in retirement accounts, and borrow money from anyone who had a dollar to spare just to survive.

$80,000 in Federal Student Loans

Starting over again at near 50

Personal loans to repay everyone who helped me while I was out of work

Lack of ability to finance the new pickup and toy hauler

Why a Toy Hauler?

Top Reasons Why I choose a Toy Hauler:

Three Weimaraners
Two adults
Two cats
Having a complete home away from home with washer, dryer, garage for
the critters, and to have a home so that I can continue to work as a RN
and pay the bills
Being free to pickup and move on to the next adventure

Ultimate Goal

My ULTIMATE dream is to travel the great USA in a 5th wheeler (Raptor Toy Hauler Model 410LEV).  As a child my family traveled the USA in a truck camper, that wandering spirit has never left me.  I have traveled the world, now some way, some how I need to figure out how to not only afford the RV and F-450 Super Duty Diesel, but the income to allow me to travel.

Any suggestions???