It's hard to believe...

....that I've lived in California for almost a year now! I'm still as excited about living here as I was even before I took my NCLEX exam. There is still so much I haven't seen and so many places I want to go. However, I feel like I've learned so much this year (about everything! from how to purchase & haggle prices on a new car...to paying bills on time...finding affordable insurance companies...and budgeting my 401K into my paycheck)...I am such a grown up! When did that happen? I have accomplished a lot this year...most notably, I feel like I have become the nurse that I hoped I would become. CHLA has molded me into a knowledgeable, detailed, and proficient RN.

So, 3 minor earthquakes, only 4 rainy days (yes...only 4!!), and 2 code blues' later...I am still in love with this city!! I can't wait to move into my new house in 3 weeks and see what my next year in LA brings me :)

independence day

Happy 4th of July! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. I spent mine at work and watched some of the fireworks with my kids from the 6th floor windows (not a bad view actually). I had a great night at work. My kids were stable, sleeping, and in no pain. I had an easy admission (pancreatitis). It was the kind of night I wish I had every night at work! We had a potluck and I brought little pre-made sandwiches from Vons and ice cream. Yum! Now I'm going to enjoy the next 5 nights off working on packing up for the big move (3.5 weeks!).

corpus christi

Texas is an interesting place! It seems like almost every woman has tattoos of looney tunes and their kids baby feet on their backs! Ha...but seriously, besides the urhm..well, interesting folk down in Corpus, we had a fun time. I went down to meet up with Nicole, who has a bunch of friends at the Navy base down there. The guys were super fun. We grilled out one night and went to a dive bar (which reminded me somewhat of Pooreboys in good ole' Hburg). Dancing to 90's hair band music played by a local band and drinking jagerbombs ensued. The next day we lounged at the pool & went to the beach. The water is SO warm in the gulf! It felt like bath water. It was really nice actually, compared to the frigid pacific waters in SoCal. The temp outside though was EXTREMELY hot. Maybe I'm spoiled and too used to LA weather, but damn...I felt like I was in hell...literally 115 degrees and humid! We went to SeaWorld the next day which was super fun (minus the heat)...and surprisingly enough I managed not to get sunburned! Overall we had a really great time. It was a good mini getaway and now I can mark Texas off the map of states I've been to. YEE-HAW!

mj!

Can you believe he is gone? What a legend.

There is no denying this man had some of the best moves ever!!


There is art and memoirs all over Hollywood commemorating the late artist. A painting on the side of an entire building in West Hollywood says "Michael Jackson: You Rocked Our World".

My favorite episode of South Park EVER:

Rest in Peace Michael! ...sha-mone!

third eye blind

Best. Show. Ever.

On Wed (the 24th), I was lucky enough to get tickets to the sold out Third Eye Blind show in Anaheim. I've been wanting to see them forever but they have never been performing near me...something told me to check for tickets last week, and low and behold...they were going to be in SoCal 7 days later! Since I wouldn't be in town for the LA show, my friend Jason and I drove down to the Anaheim House of Blues and enjoyed the show there. It was EXCELLENT! They played all of my favorite songs and a few new ones. The place was crowded and it was definitely worth the extra $$ I payed for the tickets. I'll be at every Third Eye Blind show I can get to from now on...you can count on it.

fathers day

Happy Fathers Day to my wonderful Dad! Thank you for teaching me how to be financially responsible ;-), for your never-ending advice, and your unconditonal support. I don't know what'd I'd do without you! I love you so much!

Dad @ age 15months (my guess)

Ben at age aprox 14 months

.... I think we know where B-man gets his good looks from!!!

ode to summer

I love summer. I just do...always have, always will. Maybe it's because I was brought into the world in the peak of summer (aug 9th,1986)...or maybe it's because some of my most vivid and fond memories growing up happened in the summer. When I think back to my childhood, my mind seems to always wander to my backyard in Carterville. Running around the yard in my red Coca-Cola swimsuit, Natalie tap dancing with Erin Shasteen in the garage, Dad putting rocks around the lake, Mom laying out in the backyard with her feet in my baby pool, riding my blue (Duqoin state fair-won) bicycle with Laura up to the orange building that was once Veach's Short Stop for a slurpee, playing tri-c softball at the park, and Erin and her friends making tropical snows for me & my little friends after a game. I feel my best in the summer. I think I look better too. Why is this? Maybe it's why I moved to California in the first place...because it is sort-of an endless summer here. Call this post pointless if you want, but I just wanted to declare my love for summer :-)Enjoying my Pinkberry (pomegranate frozen yogurt with pineapple & cherries) on a nice summer evening in Los Feliz...a favorite summer treat!

a new place to call home.

As of August 1st, this will be the new place that I call home! Nicole, Rachel, and I will be moving in the first week of August. It's the perfect place for us. Within walking distance to Americana on Brand (a huge/beautiful outdoor mall) in Glendale and only a few miles from work...we couldn't have found a better place to call home.

beach bum.

Today I went to the beach with a book and enjoyed my afternoon outside. Something of which I rarely do now that I work nights. I forgot how nice it is to be awake during the day, I got so much done! Back to work tomorrow night....
If you're curious about the book I'm reading, it's "My Sister's Keeper" by Jodi Picoult. I wanted to read the book before the movie comes out later this month. So far its good but I'm only half way in.

st.louis.

My trip to STL was short but sweet! It was exciting and a bit refreshing to spend 4 relaxing days in the city I once called home. I got to see some of my best friends, drink great wine, and catch up on some much needed rest. The first night I got in, we went to Bar Louie in the Central West End (a bar that I used to frequent quite a bit). Luckily, I got to meet up & see a bunch of my Delta Gamma sorority sisters there, some of them celebrating graduation. On Friday, we went to Montell Winery. The view of the trees, barns, and cornfields were beautiful...the wine was great and the conversation was better. We went to Oyster Bar that night, which is one of my top 3 favorite places in St. Louis. The rest of the weekend we spent catching up on each others lives and talking about our future plans.

Hot Damn Delta Gam

Montell Winery

Rachel & Nicole have officially been hired onto CHLA and I couldn't be more excited!! Rachel will be working in the PICU (with Adam!) and Nicole will be working on 6North, a rehab & general medicine floor. They are moving out on August 5th and I have started the process of apt (or house, if we are lucky) hunting. I always felt like the one thing missing from making LA perfect was the fact that my best girl friends are 2,000miles away. Of course I have made wonderful new friends out here the past year, but nothing will replace my best friends!

Speaking of best friends, my sister Natalie is celebrating a birthday today. Happy Birthday, Nat! I love you and miss you lots. Have a wonderful day celebrating your first birthday with Ethan!