Contract Extension

I was asked by my current assignment to sign up for another contract of 13 weeks on Friday.  I have mixed feelings, I am sure that this would be a nice place if it ever warmed up, but the 45 minute drive to work with nothing but rocks and dead grass (what small amount there is here) is rather depressing.  The money is not bad, but there are no real social things here to do, this not like a typical assignment, although there are many traveling nurses here, there is no socializing partly because there is no corporate housing here, we are all scattered in this motel and that one, a few have RV's but they are married couples who have no interest in socializing.  I think there are two restaurants in town that have an actual liquor license, several places have beer & wine licenses, but one can only eat at Red Lobster, and an Irish Pub so many times.  I miss socialization, at least being able to at least once in awhile have a nice dinner and a good martini.

This hotel life is definitely not for me, you can only eat so many microwave meals.  This year some how, some way I have got to get myself into an RV.  Another added bonus once I get the RV is I can have the babies with me, I miss them terribly.  Off to work I go, just got called in

Saturday Feb 25, 2012

Have you ever had one of those days when you feel like somebody in one of those dumb blond jokes?  I am on call this weekend for the hospital which means I have to stay close to be able to go in within 45 minutes so I decided to explore several of the local RV dealerships.  I looked at over 40 yesterday, they do not sell new ones here, but there are a dozen lots that sell used RV's.  Some we too scary to even get close to, probably as old as I am, and nasty, but I found myself captivated by a 2007 Montana 5th wheeler so I looked it over, went inside when the salesman came in to close the sale.  I had walked through the outside and inside several times, taken multiple photos and was sitting in the recliner pondering if this would work out for me, I had laid my camera down and the overeager salesman decided to let the slide out, as the slide got almost out there was this grinding and growling noise, followed by what sounded like a horrible thud, the slide had caught my digital camera and crushed it, plus I don't think it was to healthy for the slide that was now lopsided.  Needless to say I was not amused, nor would I have bought that RV now for love or money.  The worst part is that when the slide crushed my camera, it broke the SD card, now I have lost all of my pictures.

I sure hope my lottery numbers were winners.

Weather

It seems that we might just get a bit of snow here, I went to the store a few minutes ago and there were flakes in the air, nothing sticking but it was snow none the less.  Tomorrow is a Federal Holiday so I am on call all day but not required to work unless I get called in for an emergency surgery.

I just checked my PowerBall, Mega Money, and Hot Lotto tickets, not even close :(  Guess that means I will be headed back to work on Tuesday.

February 12

Tonight I wandered out and found a restaurant called Clancy's Irish Pub, I forget that I am in New Mexico with the strange liquor laws, there are so few restaurants here that serve beer & wine, and even fewer that can afford the $220.000 cost of a liquor license.  The food was decent, nothing I would call authentic Irish Food (frozen fish is not an Irish delicacy).

I went yesterday to the local RV dealers who have nothing but used inventory, I am not sure where they decided to pull the list prices from but several that I looked at, Montana, Winebago View were about 20% above the NANDA price recomendations, I guess they sell allot to the resident navajo tribal members.  I looked at a 2002 14 X 72 mobile home with a list price of 45,000 that looked like it had more room for roaches than people, the toilet was cracked, the countertops had cigarette burns and stains, and several cabinet doors were missing.

Saturday I sent off my third set of fingerprints to the Oregon Board of Nursing, and my paperwork to COBRA my health insurance, my recruiter tells me that Oregon is where the best paying jobs are right now so that license is a priority.  I did receive my permanent license for Washington State where I really want to be, but the assignments there are slim pickings at the moment.

Saturday I had to bite the bullet and upgrade my Iphone 3GS because the battery would not stay charged, I now have the 32 G Iphone 4S and I must say it is a very sweet piece of equipment.  Not only are my data downloads and uploads much faster, but you got to love Siri.  Today I had to do laundry, I was down to my last clean pair of underwear, although I have another two weeks worth of t-shirts (I need to correct that imbalance) and no socks, I simply asked Siri where the nearest laundromat was and off I went (18 dollars poorer).  As I stood around with the hundred others washing clothes I saw that they will do a double load - wash/dry/bleach/fabric softner for $10, for two dollars more I could have dropped it off and picked it up washed and folded.

I need to check my lottery tickets in the morning, I have PowerBall, Mega Money, and Hot Lotto tickets to check.

Stay tuned, more to come ...........

January 31, 2012

I started my assignment yesterday, all settled into the hotel and work is good.  I have seen a ton of little RV parks, some are just a gravel lot, and a few seem to have an amenity or two.  I plan to get out this weekend and scout what is out there and available.  There are several RV dealers here in the area that I want to check out this weekend.  It seems I am on call next weekend so that will keep me close to the hotel.  This area is so beautiful.  I plan to post pics this weekend. 

Oklahoma City Memorial Muesum

On Thursday we stopped in Oklahoma City and went through Toby Keith's I love This Bar & Grill, Michael had the fried bologna sandwich, a 1/2" thick piece of bologna, and I had the country fried steak that was like heaven, perfect crust and so tender the fork slid right through it like a knife through hot butter.  Then we went to the Oklahoma City Memorial Museum, I have to say that is one of the best memorial museums I have been to.  Although that was 16 + years ago, they engulf you in the experience and memories so that we never forget the people who lost their life, and those who sacrificed for the greater good of others.  The chairs on the lawn were a haunting reminder of the lives that were lost that day.  The shallow water feature with just a hint of the sound of water provided the perfect peaceful area to reflect on what you saw in the museum, by the time that we left the museum I was feeling overwhelmed, while I so not think there is anything wrong with a man crying, my eyes were burning, and I felt myself trembling.  If you are ever in the area, this is a definite must see.

In New Mexico

Well after a 24 hour drive I am in New Mexico, the country here is so beautiful. Farmington is much bigger than I realized, last night ventured out and found the 3 Rivers Brewery, great atmosphere and the food was amazing with reasonable prices. I believe I am going to like it here. Ran by several camping areas, and RV resorts I want to explore.

Preparing

Ok everything has been washed, packed, and tucked away, I am so ready to get rolling out of here already!

Getting Close

Yesterday was laundry, making my list and start checking things off.  I have my reservations made and leave on Wednesday evening on this new chapter.  One good thing, at least all of the laundry is now done, amazing how it stacks up when you wash just what you need and not everything in the hamper.

I finally have all contracts signed, payroll information sent, and the hundred release forms, lab results sent, I am officially ready to start my new position on January 30, now this week I just need when and where to report and I am ready!

I have been looking at the Leisure Time Unity 24MB as a viable option for my travel adventures, all of the necessary features, small enough to park in any campground, and it has a 5,000# towing capacity.  I need to do some further research on what exactly you could pull behind one of those, it would be ideal if something like a Ford Focus could be pulled with it, the Unity for somewhere to stay, and the Focus to drive back and forth to work.

Cancelled Again

Census continues to be down at the hospital, so I got cancelled today, only one more scheduled shift on Thursday.  Rolling out towards New Mexico next Wednesday evening, I hope to get from Birmingham to Little Rock, AK, then a long 14 hour driving day from Little Rock, AK to close to Albuquerque, NM to pick up the rental car for Michael on Friday before heading to Freemont.  My butt is already numb just thinking about that 14 hour drive! 

It is finally hitting me that I am going to miss everyone, but it is a journey I willingly take not just for the money, and working towards my dream of purchasing a RV, paying off student loans, and not living paycheck to paycheck.  Plus there is no where in Birmingham that I want to work.