In My Sky

Stuck in Africa...the ramblings ensue

2010-02-24T09:20:00.000-08:00

A lonely time in the life of a girl is when she is halfway across the world from her friends and family without the ease of modern communication. It’s so easy to pretend you are tough when conveniences are close at hand. It pains me to say that I am not dealing with the situation of being alone in Accra Ghana very well. I mean, I’ve gone through the motions of getting a cab to a nearby hotel to wait out the hours until I can fly out again. Had I not had my friend, Samson, here helping me – I think I would have gone to pieces. We have spent the afternoon together shopping for good souvenirs to bring home to the family and then ate some street food before hopping in a taxi to take me to the airport. Our first choice in taxis proved to be poor when at an intersection we stalled. After an onslaught of honking the driver hopped out and pushed the car to the side of the road. I thought it was such a funny experience at the time, and of course, it will soon be again. I jumped out and took pictures of the event my thoughts towards blogging about the smoking taxi. But, even though we jumped quickly into another taxi I was still just 5 minutes shy of being able to board my plane. I begged and pleaded with the Ghanain ticket officers. They wanted nothing of my bargaining. When I had exhausted that route and was headed toward the airport door I spotted flight attendants and a few pilots that were from my flight. I ran up to them and solicited their help in trying to get me aboard their flight and to their credit they went above and beyond what I ever expected anyone to do for me but in the end, even with a call from the handsome Dutch captain to the airport manager, I still was not allowed on the flight.

So, here I am at 2am in an airport hotel in Accra. I feel stupid for being so careless with my time. I am beginning to get the slightest inkling of home sickness. And to know that at this point the trip could be 1/3 over and I have a long hard road of negotiation in front of me tomorrow morning and afternoon, the largeness of it is exhausting even in thought.

This morning has brought no advancement in procuring a ticket home. I know my friend Christian was working with Delta last night to put me on another flight but I have no way of knowing if she succeeded because the internet is down here and that is my only form of communication with home. I suppose, really, that I could make an international call, however, at $2 a minute to a country where everyone is asleep in their own beds isn’t the best of options right now. After grabbing 2 cups of Nescafe (I really had thought I was done with that stuff…I’ve lived on it and Star beer for 2.5 weeks..I’ll miss Star) and trying unsuccessfully to get online and smoking a cigarette by the pool that is under heavy and loud construction, I asked the front desk whether they had a toll free line to Delta I could call. They are all smiles when they talk to me and their expressions seem amused that this white girl is trying to solve an African problem with American solutions. “Okay” they say which is how most Ghanains start their sentences “okay, there are no free calls here.” “Like, don’t you have toll free numbers, 1 800 numbers?”

“um, Okay, no free calls, we will charge your room”

It’s not like they are being fierce because these people are the kindest population I have ever encountered. I have met a few swindlers like our last taxi cab driver last night who wanted to take me to a “very nice hotel right next to the President’s house” which had I been alone would have sounded great. Being that Samson was in the car and knew the area he said “No, boss, this woman is a guest in our country and she has missed her flight and we need to find her a place that is safe for the night. I do not like the neighborhood you are speaking of” The taxi driver switched on the dome light and turned around whilst driving down the street to look at Samson in disbelief. Samson laughed and said “You do not have to look me in the face to know that I am telling the truth.” Thus, the taxi dropped us at the Airport View Hotel in Accra and Samson went up to the front desk with me and through this amazing dance of negotiation got me a discounted room rate and free internet.

More people than not have been incredibly helpful. Yesterday, when my 2 other travel companions and I were dropped off at the STC bus station in the outskirts of Accra we were approached by a cab driver. I told him I was going to see a friend but needed to use his phone to make sure Samson was waiting for me. I let him call Samson so that they would understand completely where to meet and after dropping my 2 friends off at another bus station for their destination east, we headed through the crowded streets towards my friend’s house. Samson called while we were enroute to check on me. Then when we got closer the cab driver said “You call your friend when we are there to know where he is standing” “Oh, that’s alright” I said “I’ll find him, just drop me off” “Okay, you flash call him now” “No, really, just drop me off, he’ll see me” “Okay, you call so I am not dropping you off at the street by yourself” When I didn’t say anything he started looking through his phone and said “Is this your friend’s number? I’ll call”

So, he called and Samson apparently told him we had passed him by 200 feet because the cab driver said “He said to turn around” Which is what I thought we’d do but the cabbie put her in reverse and drove backwards IN BETWEEN on coming traffic until I said “There he is!”

I haven’t had a dull moment in Africa and that is a fact!

After our mission the group took a long bus drive down to the coast and stayed in a reasonably posh resort called the “Coconut Grove” in a town called Elmina. On the way down I was reading in my guide book and found that the CG had horse back riding on the beach. “How Cool”, I thought, and spread the word through the bus that we should get a group to go with us. Two other girls, Caroline and Jeanette, who traveled with me to Dixcove the next day signed up and off we went the next morning to find the stables. The front desk told us that the guide was sick and wouldn’t take us but we said “No, we are medical personnel here from America, we can give him medicine for his fever.” I thought they were just putting us on to keep from going out but one look at the guide said that he quite possibly had malaria. We gave him malarone and Tylenol and he saddled two horses with the only 2 saddles he had, English saddles, and gave one of us the option of riding bareback. I chose the bigger of the two saddled horses and although I could tell he was a bit feisty thought that I could handle him. I didn’t feel comfortable upon getting on – I had two different stirrups and one was rusty and my shoe once in wouldn’t easily come out. We walked down through the trees and onto the beach and I was having trouble controlling my horse. “Whoa” didn’t seem to work on this one. Walking in the sand seemed weird and I thought “What am I doing? I am in Africa on a beach with a lovely view, but I could get hurt and that could be a problem out here in the remote village” But then I thought “Yes, but where is your sense of adventure, Jocelyne…you’ll be fine.” So, we walked and I tried to gain confidence and when the guide turned around and said “Would you like to canter?” I agreed and off we started. Just as he said that I spotted our handsome Italian anesthesiologist walking toward us after having a swim in the ocean. I kicked my horse and he started following the guide trotting and then without warning breaking into a roaring gallop right towards the water in unsure sand “WHOA…WHOA” I cried while pulling tightly upwards on the reigns “Whoooaaaaaa” I cried as started to lean towards the left for sure about to fall and then that stupid rusty stirrup broke and off I went into the Gulf of Guinea and a bed of sand. I sat in the water for a few full seconds letting the shock wear off and the relief set in that I hadn’t felt a thing. I was thankful for the stirrup breaking as I could have been caught and dragged. Then, I remembered the Italian. And all I could do was laugh because I realize what an awesomely goofy sight I am sometimes and it’s better to embrace that than run from it….because, you know, I’d probably trip.

So,enough feeling sorry for myself. I am a grown woman and have had a great time in this country and people miss their flights all the time and I am going to work it out. I will let everyone know when I arrive back home. I can’t wait for you to see my fantastic winter tan! Thanks for listening to my ramblings, there was nothing else to do but write. Well, I have become interested in a Ghanaian soap opera….I am dying to know what happens to Efua because she was accused of stealing a large sum of money but I know she didn’t take it and now has lost her job.

After 3 hours in the Delta ticket office and with the use of big fat American tears I have a ticket in my hand that gets me out of the country tonight! I will certainly miss this place however, I can't get out fast enough. It's time to be at home with friends, family and coworkers. I can't wait to sleep in my own bed, shower do laundry! Long set of flights ahead of me - I'll talk to you guys soon.

Love

Joce

Leaving Kumasi

2010-02-18T18:01:00.001-08:00

It's about 2 am Ghanain time and I'm beat. We packed up our supplies at the hospital all day today in the heat of an un-airconditioned hospital. Today was so interesting because the group ended up meeting the minister of defense and it was big publicity for the group. It was also fun because we got to take lots of cool pictures with big military men and all the girls thought that was cool.
We had a going away party with the African people we've been working with. I've made a lot of fun friends these last few weeks and it was hard to say good-bye.
Tomorrow we leave for the coast for some fun and relaxation.

This last picture is of me looking very tired with my favorite patient of the mission, Christopher. He was 16 and so soft spoken but interested in what we were doing to him. ..... So much so, that he asked that I document every aspect of his surgery so that I could show him. His only request was that "you make me feel fine afterwards". I saw him and his mother this morning and Christopher was in street clothes ready to go home! He was a beautiful boy and I hope that he has a wonderful life!

One week down in Ghana

2010-02-15T14:53:00.001-08:00

Well, it's been a little over a week and I still haven't figured out how to get my pictures uploaded. My little computer and the African internet are not friends I guess. It's a shame because I have some absolutely amazing things to show you guys.

It's been a very hard week for everyone. We are working on such sick patients with so little of the conveniences we take for granted in our respective countries. To our credit the things we have done with what we've brought is incredible. On the other hand, I'm struggling with the thought that perhaps we are overstretching our abilities and could almost be leaning towards doing a disservice to the Ghanaian people. I don't really believe that, I guess, I've been able to meet all of our patients and we've developed a close bond with them and to see that we will ultimately extend their lives is so fulfilling.

I am going so stir crazy here in the hotel. Most of the week has been a bus from the hotel to the hospital, work for 10 hours then bus back to the hotel to eat, drink and fall into the hardest bed imaginable. One night we had a group dinner at an Indian restaurant and then went to a real "disco club" where some people let off some steam on the dance floor. Not me!

Last night we had a case until midnight and it was agreed that today we would not operate until we were quite sure that everyone would be okay. I took the chance to get out of the hospital and went with a group to the orphanage. What an amazing day. When I first got into the gates I walked over to a building to take a tour and about 6 little black boys in the same uniform (navy shorts and a navy gingham shirt) ran out to meet us. One ran ahead of the others and for one reason or other ran right up to me and into my arms for a hug. I started filling out adoption papers right away! Then they all wanted hugs and they would stand around us yelling "obruni obruni" which means white person. We worked most of the afternoon in the baby girl's ward. We gave them baths and put new clean diapers on them and then put them down for naps. Then I and another girl took trash sacks out to the playgrounds and picked up trash. One little boy came and wanted to help so he lugged the sack around for me. Mind you, he was probably about 5 years old and he had an old terrycloth belt wrapped around his head twice as a sort of headband. He indicated (because he never spoke to me) that he'd show me where to take the trash so I followed him and the sack to a big smoking pile of trash they were burning and he and another boy climbed on the pile to unload the sack. I understand now why I see so many people in the burn units at the hospital and it makes me sick that these kids are working so close to the fires. But, as we've said often this week when there is just no other explanation "It's the Ghanaian way"
Four of us snuck out tonight and took a taxi to a restaurant. They are very overbearing on our whereabouts here and it was so rebellious to go out on the town. I had a blast. I was also able to go to a market and pick up some great souvenirs and I ate a fresh coconut from a fruit stand. Delicious.
Good night guys. Tomorrow, we do our last surgery and it will be a very difficult patient. He is 16 with severe mitral stenosis. When the operating is done we will pack up all the supplies we brought and that were left here from last year and store them in the hospital for the next mission. I am not looking forward to that work - bt then perhaps we'll have lighter schedules and can see some more of the area. And then, I have vacation time on the beach! I have completely forgotten that I'll be taking that trip because life here is so intense.
More soon - and someday pictures!
love
ps - ok so i got a few pictures to upload! The surgical picture shows me backing up my Ghana counterpart, Stella as she learns how to do cardiac surgery. The other is of some of the boys at the orphanage at playtime!

ok, I'm here!

2010-02-11T13:31:00.000-08:00

My biggest disappointment of the trip to date came on the night that we checked into our first hotel in Accra and I realized I was not going to have internet service to update my family and friends in real time during this trip. I have gone to a lot of trouble to procure instruments that would allow me to conveniently communicate with America and they are useless to me as of right now. However, I will try to keep a journal on this computer so that when I am able I can post this to whoever would like to read it.

The flights to Africa were long, good and uneventful. I met some nice people that coincidentally I saw later in Accra. I didn’t sleep well on the flight to Amsterdam having only taken a half sleeping pill and realizing too late that it didn’t cut the mustard and taking the other half only led to a half sleep state. Thus, I was very groggy when we deplaned in Amsterdam yet determined to start my mission of taking a train into the city. It was a process of changing $50 USD into 30 something euro’s and then finding the train station to purchase a ticket into the city. After this was accomplished I found the platform and waited a few short minutes for the correct train to arrive. I had only waited a minute or two when a girl about my age came up to me and asked if this was the correct downtown train. I told her that I believed so but I wasn’t from here and couldn’t tell her for sure. The next thing she said to me blew my mind and I think you’ll be surprised as well. She said “We aren’t from here either” gesturing to a group of guys behind us “we’re from Waco, Texas and we want to go see the city before we head to Accra, Ghana”. It turned out they were with a church group going to Kumasi to build basketball courts, the first ones ever in the city. When they found out I was alone they asked me to join them and they totally took me under their wing as we walked around the city. However, I was the only one who had researched what to do…so I was the one who told them where to go. It was so foggy in Amsterdam and I know it marred my sightseeing a little bit, but it gave the architecture of the city such a cool creepy feel that I’m not really disappointed in my time there.

The flight from Amsterdam to Accra was so long! I was lucky enough, though, to spy an empty row in the Exit section and was able to sit in there after takeoff and stretch my legs. Landing in Accra was when the real action started. We had to exit on the tarmac and then take a bus to the terminal and as soon as I left the plane this intense heat and humidity hit me and I had to strip out of my coat and sweater that were so needed in Amsterdam. We were lucky to make it relatively easy through customs and then found the man from our hotel who was waiting with a bus to take us away. A strange situation developed, though, because there was not enough room for us all to go at once so three of us had to stay behind and it fell to me and two other girls. I’m not sure why, as were shouldn’t have been left alone in our first hour in Africa. The porters were very nice to us and there were about 5 guys who stayed with us, welcoming us profusely to their country. And then, they started asking for money. I gave them the only cash I had handy, which was 5 euro’s and he still wanted more. I knew that they were swindling us and I refused to pay more but the girl I was with ended up giving them $20 which I thought was pretty stupid. Eventually, the bus came and we got to our hotel, had an African beer, and promptly went to bed.

I met most of the group the next morning as we ate breakfast and then checked out. Checkout was hectic and confusing and took forever. It was my first taste of how slow and frustrating things can be here. After about 2 hours of us all trying to pay for our rooms we finally boarded a “bus”…(really a large minivan, type thing) and rode for a total of 5 hours up from Accra to Kumasi. I got to know some of the people in the group and had a really good time just viewing the sites and the people on the side of the road. It is amazing here. It’s just like the movies only about 10 times more fascinating. I will try but won’t come close to describing how wonderfuly different it is here in Ghana. People are everywhere even in the more rural areas. On our bus trip up t Kumasi there were constantly people on the side of the road. Some were walking and some had stands and were selling oils, cooking pans, fruits, etc. But a lot of people seem always just to be waiting and 4 days in I have yet to figure out what they are waiting for.

Our hotel in Kumasi is very nice. There is a pool and a nice restaurant where you can eat inside or outside by the pool. There are two bars which we use heavily. The group that I am in is comprised of so many interesting people. Most of the group is from Portland , Oregon. That is where the founder of Cardiostart operates and thus the bulk of the volunteers have had a lot of advertisement of the group. Some people are like me and have found the group through the internet. I am sharing a room with an anesthesiologist from London and I quite think I may have a spot of a British accent by the time I return home. There is another anesthesiologist from Italy who is practicing in London and that totals 3 from there because one cardiac surgeon also resides in the UK.

We take a bus every morning from the hotel to the hospital. It is only about a 10 minute drive and on the way we pass a school and it is so much fun to see all the children in their uniforms walking into class with their backpacks.

The hospital is very nice! The section we are in is only about 2 years old. There are four operating theatres (as they call them) and from what I can tell they do mostly small accidents and I have seen quite a few burn patients going in for surgery. The operating theatre we are in (#4) is not frequently used and was empty of supplies when we arrived. We had a storage room full of boxes that we had to unload our first day and delegate spots for them, either in the ICU or the OR. I think at the end of day 2 we are halfway through the room and have completely filled every spot possible with all kinds of donated items. And I shudder to stay that a large container has just arrived by boat today and some unlucky volunteers will be unloading it tomorrow. I will be scrubbing in on our first mitral valve, however, teaching my Ghanaian counterpart the in’s and out’s of cardiac surgery. I’ve also been told that I am in charge of showing the Ghana resident the proper techniques for assisting and that is going to be a fun challenge. I love bossing residents around!

We have stayed at the hotel for dinner the last three nights and I think tomorrow, Wednesday, we are going to go out on the town for something to eat because we are a fun group and are all getting antsy just drinking by the pool.

The only other thing of note I can think to tell you about what I’ve seen in Africa so far is that there are fires everywhere. Small fires on the side of the road that are just burning and nobody seems to care about them. The smell of smoke is always in the air but especially at night and I assume this is because of cooking fires. On the way to the hospital yesterday morning we passed a fire station. It was a large area of land with a fence around the perimeter and just inside the fence I saw three unmanned fires!!!!! I don’t know! Also, there are chickens and goats running free everywhere. I don’t know if they share them here, or they all know where to go to get fed.

Today is Thursday...I think and we have done two surgeries. Both were mitral valves, the first one we replaced and the girl today was a repair. She was only 13 years old and weighed about 50 pounds and was very sick. I want to write more and will give a better description but I can't tonight as internet time is short. I also have some great pictures to show you.....in a few days!!!

I love you guys and miss you but I don't think i want to leave here just yet! :)

I hope my expansive readership has waited for me!

2010-01-09T11:16:00.000-08:00

I finally figured out how to get back into my blogger account! Expect more posts soon.

It's a beautiful Saturday afternoon and I'm blogging about a table......

2007-04-28T15:27:00.000-07:00

As the title suggests it is a gorgeous and sunny Saturday. You may wonder why I am inside chronicling something as boring as my kitchen table on a day like today. Well, two reasons. First I was on call last night and had to go in at 12:30am to do a case that lasted until 9:30 this morning. It was horrible - let me tell you. Having a career that requires call is a nuisance at best. You all know how much I love this new job and consider myself lucky every morning I wake up and get to go work with this group. However, it takes over your life to some degree no matter how much you try to make sure it doesn't. You can't plan anything - a simple weekend getaway or a night out with friends loses it spontaneity when you have to check the calendar and try to trade days with a co-worker, sometimes stooping to bribing or guilting them into taking your call. And like today - I'm not on call - I should be enjoying myself and the cool things going on this city as I had planned instead I'm recovering from an all nighter.

Second, concerning the table, I am so proud and happy to finally have this done. You may recall that when I first moved to Austin I spent a large amount of time refinishing the furniture that I brought to decorate my apartment.
I put many woman hours into the little wooden table I want to use for kitchen/dining. I stripped it not once but twice, sanded allll the little nooks and crannies with my new power sander and I painted it a cranberry red. A red that goes with NOTHING in my decor. I have stared at this table for the past 5 months and wondered what I could do with it to make it better. I spent weekends dragging friends around to Goodwill and antique stores looking for just the right chairs but couldn't make a decision, much to their chagrin. (they are troopers - i love them) But finally after tearing it apart one more time, sanding allllll the little nooks and crannies again (couldn't bring myself to strip it), stealing some cream paint from a previous renter and coating the little table with 3 coats and then using brown accent paint and finally just these past two days putting a coat of clear varnish on it a dining area is born.

It is so nice to have a place to call my own (sorta) and be able to decorate and make mine. I missed that a lot in the last couple of years and maybe THAT's why this table is such a big deal to me.
Nap time for me! Have a great weekend.

Experience Austin!

2007-04-26T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! I've been telling you all how much I love Austin since I got here but I really haven't put too many pictures of the city to show you just exactly why I love it so! This summer I mean to change that.
Exhibit A: Basically....this is my backyard

Even before I moved here when I would come to visit - we would drive over the Lamar Bridge or any other bridge taking you over Town Lake and I would see people kayaking and I would think - "OMG - someday I want to do that!" But it's harder than you would think getting someone to go with you. I finally broke down my friend Christian this afternoon. I got off work early - it was a glorious spring day and so we jumped on a canoe - the first time for both of us. It was fun and exciting and we laughed and got scared by some type of water snake. But we didn't fall in which is what I secretly expected to happen - so I give us an A+!

It's raining - I'm bored

2007-04-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

What a switch in weather I have this weekend. Spring has been here for weeks and it couldn't be more beautiful here in Austin, Tx. But today! augh a nasty cold front has decided to flub up Easter weekend and it is raining and cold and reports are threatening a FREEZE! Can you believe it?

I am all for a thunderstorm and as always am on the lookout for my first sighting of a tornado. Do you guys have a list for things you want to see and do before you checkout for that big vacation in the sky? I have only one thing on my list and it is to see a tornado. I'm not sure why exactly it is so important for me to see this dangerous natural phenomenon. When I was a kid I was terrified of being caught in any sort of bad weather. I can remember being very small - perhaps 4 or 5 years old and living in Gruver, Tx a block away from my grandparents. It could be my imagination cooking up images from stories I've been told but I seem to recall walking (or being carried by my dad) across the street in the dark to the house my grandparents lived in which has a basement. A very scary basement. Even to this day I can come up with a thousand reasons not to go down there. The only other thing I can remember about that night is sitting around in a circle with my parents, my grandparents and a few other neighbors in dim light most likely candle powered and I was SCREAMING and crying. I wouldn't have known to be so scared except by what other people were saying about the situation so I have to place the blame on the adults that were there. My grandmother tends to be real dramatic about the weather so
I assume that is where I get it. The storm passed in the night and I don't know what kind of damage the town suffered but I remember that the electricity was out for at least a day if not more. My terror for tornadoes may have subsided a little as I grew a little older but then my dad hammered the last nail in the coffin when I was a teenager by creating a whole new facet of weather danger to fear. By this time we were living in Dalhart, Tx. There was a utility closet in the back of the house which had a covered opening leading under the house. I never saw what was actually in the hole but one day dad crawled underneath there and came out all dirty with cobwebs hanging from his hair (again, probably more imagination than truth) and proclaimed that were we as a family to be in danger of a tornado then under the house into the tomb of terror we would go to hide. Nothing could have scared me more and from that point on I watched the clouds, I watched the news. I became an expert on weather patterns, what ingredients were necessary to create a supercell storm cloud. I knew every county in the Texas Panhandle by site. I used hook echo and dry line in everyday conversation. And when I heard even the lowest rumble of thunder I would get clammy and nervous, unable to sleep until the news had cleared me from certain death by tornado or claustrophobia.
Eventually I became less terrified and more entranced by the power of thunderstorms and tornadoes. Do you have any understanding of what enormous organization must occur for an anvil shaped supercell to form? A dance between positive and negative energy, warm and cold air, unstable atmosphere and how much moisture is coming up from the gulf. And so I was bitten by the weather bug and for 10 years now I have been on a quest that sometimes borders on dangerous obsession to come in contact with a tornado. I have driven on many a country road blaring Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon (great thunderstorm soundtrack) risking hail damage and high winds to see a funnel coming down from the sky. And to this day all my efforts have been in vain but each spring I think "Is this the year?"

And so those are my thoughts on this rainy day in Austin - which I intended to be a post about the going's on for the past few weeks but instead turned out to be why I am a nerd and a secret closet meteorologist.

Do you have an "ah"ccent?

2007-02-27T17:06:00.000-08:00

I have traveled a bit in the past 3 years all across the country. I have heard many accents! When I was in Massachusetts it was such a shock to hear these new inflections given to old words that I felt like I must be in a different country listening to a foreign language. Massholes (which goes into a whole other facet of the East Coast experience - and is a term taught to me by my friend Barb) put r's in places that aren't there for the rest of the country - such as aorta - it's a term I hear several times a day - in the east it's pronounced aorter, idea is idear, deer......ah, it's dea. Anywhere I have traveled people always ask where I come from (even here in Texas it's a common question) and when I tell them I'm from the Lone Star State (and proud of it) it always surprises the questioner and they always say "But you don't have an accent". I guess it would be fun to have an accent that binds you with your community and gives a hint to others your origin. Anyway, I thought this quiz was kinda fun and reminded me of all the different accents I encountered on the road.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West
The South
The Inland North
Philadelphia
Boston
The Northeast
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Changed the title to: PLEASE don't tell my grandma

2007-02-01T05:03:00.000-08:00

Listen to what happened to me yesterday morning! I had a case that didn't start until 10am so I decided it was the perfect oppurtunity to walk around Town Lake before work. I waited until 7am when it was light outside and started down the trail. There were several people out jogging and walking, not as much as in the afternoon, but plenty to make me feel safe. I took the hour long route and was about 30 minutes in when I met a guy walking the other direction. I noticed him because he was in jeans and a jacket and was obviously not walking for fitness. On I walk, with headphones in my ears and my hood pulled over my head because it had started to sprinkle, when I hear footsteps in the gravel behind me. I noted that it was a walker and not a runner which irritated me because I try to keep a fast enough pace not to be passed by a walker. But nobody passed me and I thought I had sped up enough until I heard it again but this time the footsteps were more of a jogging pace. But STILL nobody passed me so I decided maybe I should turn around and check out what was going on. I turned a little to my left and the guy I had passed earlier in jeans was RIGHT behind me - arms length away. I startled him, he startled me and he started jogging away. "WHAT THE $%*@ are you doing?" I yelled and he ran away even faster. My only thought is he must have been trying to snatch my ipod which was in my right front pants pocket.
I have heard the advice before: always be aware of your surroundings, carry mace, look people in the eyes etc.... and for the most part I do those things but this just goes to show that no matter where you are or what you are doing you really need to be conscious.
I don't write this to scare anyone or to cause anyone to worry. Really, it was a very ridiculous situation with this little pipsqueak trying to sneak up behind me and then to run away. But I will definitely be using a little more caution from here on out.

The truth is out there

2007-01-30T15:41:00.000-08:00

Prologue
Every night when I go to sleep I turn the radio on to Coast to Coast. I listen to the weird program and drift off to sleep (unless there is a particularly scary topic being discussed). While I was traveling the country it was the one constant in my constantly changing lifestyle. A reminder of home if you will. The show was started by Art Bell to bring light to paranormal topics usually skipped over by mainstream media. C2C covers everything from highly scientific findings to UFO abductions, conspiracy theories, psychic experiences, bigfoot sightings - if it's weird or new age chances are Art is going to do a story on it. In 2001 Art took a lighter schedule and George Noory became the host Monday through Friday. Don't get me wrong, I know that 85% of this show is BS but it is good entertainment and some of the guests are really intelligent and have interesting ideas.

About a month ago I read that George Noory is going to be in Austin. I did some research and found that 590lbj - the radio station I listen to at night is hosting a "Talk Fest" and joining George is Neil Boortz and Clark Howard. So last Saturday even though it was a gorgeous warm and sunny day in Austin, Tx I went to the Convention Center to listen to these guys do live programs. It was an interesting experience. Neil Boortz did his program first and although I have never listened to his show he had some great things to say about the Libertarian party and the Fair Tax plan. I guess I was put off a little by his attitude which seemed to me a little pompous and if there is one thing that turns me off it is a self important, egotistical radio host.

Next to do his 2 hours was Clark Howard. I also listen to Clark's show nightly because he precedes C2C. Clark's motto is "Save more, spend less and avoid ripoffs". He deals with getting people out of debt, into good investments and other general financial help. My favorite idea of his is to keep from running up your credit card (in lieu of cutting the sucker's up) is to place the card in a glass of water and putting in your freezer - the next time you are tempted to use the card it's a block of ice - and hopefully you leave it there but if you think you HAVE to use it you'll have to wait for it to thaw out and by that time maybe you can talk yourself out of the purchase.

Last but not least to grace the stage was George. He got a standing ovation from about 400 people (although I heard him fib last night and say that "thousands of people showed up") and one alien who may or may not have been just a guy in a painted rubber suit. George is a very intelligent and soft spoken man. He admitted to the audience that most of his guests and callers were probably delusional but it wasn't his place to make that judgement and he wanted to show everyone the same respect.
At any rate - I highly recommend the show - I know I have at least one fellow faithful listener out there reading this. I wish he could have met George with me but I took this crappy picture just for him:

Heart to Heart

2007-01-26T19:16:00.000-08:00

Today I experienced my first ever (but first of many, I'm sure) heart transplant surgeries. It was SO AWESOME! I was not able to get much history about the person who received the heart, however, I know that this day will change her life forever. This woman had been implanted with a ventricular assist device in October. Although the new pumps are more mobile than they were in the past (the device is implanted into her body and a cord runs from the device and into a machine that is in a rolling suitcase) it must be such a heavy burden to not only be chained to a machine that is doing the work of your heart but also to be waiting for a chance to get a new heart and not knowing if and when that will happen.
I was on the team that got the recipient ready to receive the new heart. Another team flew on a helicopter to the city where the organ was harvested. I also do not know the history of the donor of the heart but believe that this person had been in a car accident. Our two teams kept in close contact through phone calls so that we could time each step to insure that as soon as the heart was brought to the OR we would be ready to transplant it. Getting the woman's old heart and VAD out took about 3 hours. We went on cardiopulmonary bypass to do this. When the team came in with the heart we packed it in ice until the doctors were ready to inspect it and begin the 5 anastomosis that would give this woman a brand new lease on life.
The recipient was in her 40's and the donor was 23 years old. The donor heart was beautiful and after all the tissues had been sewn together and we let it start to beat it took off just like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I was really amazed at how adaptable our bodies and organs are. The doctors I worked with were aware it was my first time and took extra care to tell me exactly what they were doing and why they were doing it. They were very patient with me and it was evident that they were excited to be doing this type of work and cared very much about this woman's outcome. I just love my new job and the people I work with.

Yoga class

2007-01-20T10:35:00.000-08:00

I love yoga. I have been doing it now off and on for 5 years. I first began by signing up for a class through Amarillo College. It was held at the Polk Street Methodist Church and when I went in for my first day I realized that, not reading the fine print, I had signed up for a 55 and older age group. A lot of the people did the poses in a chair. But, the teacher, who was an older woman herself let me stay and I learned a lot in that class. I loved those old people and I didn't mind their farts or their veiny wrinkley legs. Eventually, though it was time to go. Then I moved on to a group who predominately held classes at the Downtown Athletic Club. I loved that teacher, too and really learned a lot about proper alignment and the reasons for each pose. But then I began to feel like I needed a more advanced class because I had been going for a couple of years and these classes were still geared toward beginners. So I moved on to Terry Rudd who is a naturopathic doctor and teaches tai chi as well as yoga. I loved his classes the most. He had a way of working you out hard but leaving you energized instead of tired like you would think. I think I was in the best shape of my life when I was doing his style of yoga. But around that time in my life I started traveling with my job. I was so excited to be able to go to actual yoga studios instead of church meeting rooms or health clubs. I tried one studio after another, advanced classes, kundalini, hot yoga, ashtanga, ayurvedic and I never found a studio I liked in Albuquerque. Worcester, MA had a wonderful studio right down the street from me and that has probably been my favorite of any place I've gone. The teacher was very kind spirited and you had such a good feeling when you left there. I also went to a very well known yoga retreat center in the Berkshires while in that area and had a great time. It is so beautiful in that area.
So, on and on I'm searching for the perfect class but it's so hard to find. I just finished a one week trial at a yoga studio here in Austin. It is a style (Baron Baptiste's power yoga) I've liked in the past and it's a "hot yoga" class which means they heat the room anywhere from 90 to 100 degrees and it seems as if you can get more into your poses if you are well heated. I went to 4 classes in 7 days. Each class was harder and harder. Not because of the physical exercise but other factors. Such as: the person next to me ALWAYS has a cold and they sniff and clear their throat or get up to blow their nose a million time leaving tissues between my mat and theirs. There always has to be one loud person who breathes loud and grunts to show that he is achieving a higher level of enlightenment than the rest of us. There are always a few people but at least one person right next to me who doesn't know what personal space is - so maybe they are in front of me and when you lay down their feet are in my face or when you are kicking your leg up you have to dodge to not get kicked in the head (incidentally, I have had someone fall on me in Tacoma, Wa). The heat and the workout make a tiny room so stuffy and smelly. You never know from one pose to the next what you are going to be inhaling. Maybe you think that yoga is supposed to make you more open and forgiving of these little annoying traits that people bring to class. I say give me a Fellowship Hall with the Senior Citizens any day of the week because yoga studios are on my bad side today.

Good News

2007-01-13T06:15:00.000-08:00

I spent good time with a lot of friends and family over the holidays. One of my very best friends, Andy Hopkins (that's Srgt. Andrew Hopkins officially) was visiting from Germany where he is now stationed after spending a year in Iraq. I have known Andy since the 2nd grade in Dalhart, Tx. Then, when we were in high school, Sierra moved to town and we've all been best friends ever since. We call ourselves the triangle, mostly because we are dorks. This visit marked the first time in 6 years we 3 have spent time together and it was as much fun as I had anticipated. However, what I did not see coming was an engagement of 2 out of the 3 of us. Andy and Sierra, finally after 13 years of friendship came clean and are now waiting for Andrew to get out of the service and come home so they can start a life together.

It's just one more detail that has fallen together so perfectly these past 3 months. I've never felt this way in my whole life. A perfect contentedness that every little thing is exactly how it is supposed to be. I am 100% certain that I am in the right city, living in the right little apartment, working in the most suitable job. Life is so grand and I could wax philosophical about how timing was everything here......was it karma, is it destiny, is it dumb luck....but WHO CARES about the cause , I just want to enjoy the effect. All I'm really thinking is "It's about damn time."

Happy New Year

2007-01-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

2007! Around work during the first week of January I heard many people saying "oh, I just can't believe it is 2007 already!" My thought was "Why?" Didn't those people go to the same math class I did. The 6 always seemed to precede the 7 (not that I claim to be a mathematical wizard) so a new year didn't come as a surprise to me. Then one night last week I was laying in bed thinking of that exact subject and it dawned on me....."7, hmmmm 7 I was born in a 7, 1977...oh my gosh that makes me 30...crap I'm 30!" And then I joined the ranks "I can't believe it's already 2007"

Job

2006-12-16T04:36:00.000-08:00

Something new: I have been working at Seton Medical Center for the past 2 months. It has definitely had it's ups and downs. The OR is huge and there are lots of different people, personalities and attitudes to deal with. For the most part I have enjoyed the hospital and I have some fun co-workers and doctors to work with. I am through with my orientation process and am currently working in the cardiovascular service, which as you all know is my preference. However, I have taken a new opportunity that came up out of the blue and I am really excited about it. I have joined a group of cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons as a private scrub tech. I am one of 6 scrubs, 6 PA's and 17 doctors who work at 6 area hospitals around Austin. Here is a link to their website if you want more information about the group: http://www.ctvstexas.com/
This is an unbelievably big step in my career which brings a lot of new experience and responsibility. I will work exclusively with this group doing only their cases. I will be learning how to do heart transplants and pediatric heart surgery. I will get the chance to assist in these surgeries as well as pass instruments and down the road I will learn to take the saphenous vein out of the leg to be used for bypass grafts in CABGS (coronary artery bypass graft surgery). I know that this will be an awesome job but I also know that I have a big learning curve to face and the next few months will be stressful but in the end I am going to do well in this position. I will keep everyone posted (or try to anyway).

Whirlwind

2006-12-16T04:06:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have been in Austin for 2 months now and I can't remember a time in my life when I have been happier. It is so wonderful to be close to my friends. I didn't realize how lonely and sequestered I have felt for the past 3 years until now. And along with the friends that were already here I have met a big group of new friends to hang out with. This city is so beautiful and there is always something to do. The people here are real friendly. I live in a great neighborhood with lots of coffee shops and restaurants close by as well as Town Lake which is a great walking spot and also a good place to kayak which hopefully I will be partaking in someday. I've done a lot of work on my apartment which is super cute and unique. Here are some of my before and after pictures of the furniture I have redone and also of my tiny 450 sq. ft apt.

Austin

2006-10-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

Just to let everyone know, I am in Austin and loving every single second I've spent here. It's so great to spend time with my best friends and explore the city and shop for new stuff for the apartment. I'm having a blast and will be sure and post new pictures as they come in. This city is so fun and so beautiful. Right now I'm sitting on the balcony of my friend's apartment listening to the Rollling Stones playing live in Zilker Park....sure it might be better to actually be there - but I'm $90 richer for just doing it this way....can't beat that. Start the new job tomorrow - I hope I like it!?!

Vaya Con Dios

2006-10-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

Saying good-bye to Albuquerque

What I've been doing

2006-09-17T07:38:00.000-07:00

Wow, September has been a great month. I always love this time of year because to start things off I have a birthday which always falls on Labor Day Weekend and therefore I usually get a long weekend. Then the weather starts turning cooler, fall comes, the leaves change and it's a very beautiful time.
I've had company for the past three weekends which for someone who has been by themself for so long is a nice change of pace. On the last weekend in August my friend Penny that I've known since the 4th grade came to stay because we had been wanting to go river rafting. Neither of us had ever been and with me being in New Mexico it was the perfect oppurtunity. We drove up to Taos and rode the Rio Grande and had a blast.
For my birthday weekend my dad drove up from Amarillo to keep me company while turning 29. We rode to the top of the peaks on the Sandia Tram and hiked up on the top. It was beautiful. For dinner he took me to "the best Mexican food in Albuquerque" which incidentally seemed like the hottest as well. Sunday we walked/jogged on a trail by my house then went to a museum and a book store before he went home.
Then this last weekend my brother, Mason, flew to see me. We arranged with my work to have him come watch a surgery. I thought this could be beneficial for him while deciding what career move he may want to take. Unfortunately the case he was slated to see got cancelled but we were able to go on Saturday morning and he got to watch some of a Coronary Artery Bypass. I think he enjoyed it. We also went hiking on Saturday and Sunday. I loved that because I'm usually by myself and tend to get spooked or lonely but he was a great hiking buddy.
So this weekend I'm by myself again which feels nice after so much company. I'm on call and we have been working which is a good thing I suppose so that I can raise some money for my next adventure.
I've decided that two years of traveling is enough for me (at least right now) and that I need to go where most of my friends are, Austin, TX. My contract in Albuquerque will be up October 13 and I am working right now to find an apartment and a job down there. I'm so excited and a little scared. This thought came to me out of the blue and I don't know why I haven't thought to do it sooner. I've had a great time seeing the country and the things I've seen and places I've been are priceless memories to me but it's been lonely going it mostly alone. I've made some great friends along the way but it's time to get back to my best friends. Austin is such a cool city and I think with the help of a good friend I've found an apartment in a wonderful area that I'll like a lot. Now....if I can just find a job.
I'll keep everyone posted.

This week

2006-08-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

Hey - I had a great week and I hope ya'll did too. Work load is very light at the hospital right now so we are able to go home early and to have an extra day off during the week. A good thing and a bad thing as you can imagine but I'll take the time as I know when we're busy we are BUSY.

Took a hike on Thursday but I didn't enjoy it very much. I went at high noon and the trail was hard to follow. I did see this little guy, tho.

Then on Friday night we stayed late to finish a case. I left at 6 pm , got home, ate dinner and then an hour late got called into work again. There was a lot of commotion and activity at the old hospital across the street. Trailers and lights and cameras. Turns out they were filming a scene for a movie by the Coen Brothers called "No Country for Old Men". There are lots of stars in this movie. The most notable being Tommy Lee Jones and Woody Harrelson. After our case at around 10:30 we went across the street to watch what was going on. We were able to see them filming one scene which they did over and over again. Tommy Lee Jones walked right past me from his trailer to the set. Too bad I didn't have my camera for that but it is something I've never seen before and am not likely to forget.

10 years

2006-08-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

Life is still good in Albuquerque, NM. The weather has been crazy as we have been getting rain almost everyday. Ya'll know how much I love thunderstorms so this has been amazing for me. Of course, I got a lot of rain when I was in Washington state but there was no lightning and thunder and that's what makes a good storm.

Last weekend I went to my hometown of Dalhart, TX for my 10 year high school reunion. I had so much fun seeing the friends that I grew up with. I went there with some trepidation since the last 2 years of school were not my greatest time. There's no good way to put it but I made some really bad decisions, some very selfish choices, some incredibly stupid moves. I wish I knew why exactly I did the things I did and I still can't understand why I shunned my upbringing and acted like someone who had no morals or values. I'm really embarrassed at this. But I was lucky to have a lot of people who cared about what happened to me. My family, for sure, but other random angels who went an extra mile to make sure I finished high school. A man named Mr. Bliss, for example. He was my 4th grade math teacher turned alternative school principal who would call my friend Sierra and I every morning to make sure we were coming to school that day. And there was Sierra's step grandmother who invited us over to breakfast every morning before school so we would get a good meal (sometimes our only one of the day) and when she foiled our plan of going back home and going to bed after the waffles she started taking us to the school and would actually sit at the door to make sure we stayed there the whole time. I missed a lot of your basic high school monumental times because I was growing up too fast. I traded one life for another and eventually lost hope and felt like I was doomed to live this life I was creating forever. But eventually through the diligent work of my parents and my grandparents and me I grew up - it just took me a little longer than my classmates. And so here I am 10 years later going back to this town and these people to hopefully make some ammends and they welcomed me with open arms.

New old place

2006-07-18T15:52:00.000-07:00

Hi just a quick post to let ya'll know I made it to Albuquerque and that everything is going great. Work is good and I got to see a lot of old friends. This is a great hospital and I really enjoy working here. I had forgotten just how much I loved it in this city. Sure, it's deathly hot, especially considering where i just came from BUT it is so beautiful!
I won't have internet for awhile but am at my favorite coffee shop in town - Satellite Coffee - a branch of the Flying Star restaurant. I'd write more but I'm out of coffee and the sun is beating down on my little table. More to come soon and maybe some pictures, too!

2006-07-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

"the boys" Cody, my stepbrother; his son Corbin; and my brother Mason

My younger sister and dad (and me)

This is Texas

2006-07-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

I'll leave tomorrow for Albuquerque, NM. It's just a 4 hour drive but I'm putting it off until the last minute. I've been having the best time in Texas and I hate to leave my family and friends but it will be nice to get back on a schedule and I do need to start making some money again. Wednesday I went with my dad to the town I grew up in. He works there and my grandparents and other family still live there. I got to catch up with my grandma and that's always nice because we are very close and I miss her so much when I'm away. Plus, she knows the good gossip. Thursday my sister came to Amarillo and the whole family went to barbeque hamburgers at our favorite park. Friday my parents and I went for a 5 mile walk at my old walking trail. I'd forgotten how hot and sans any shade or relief it is. And man, they are in good shape - I stayed about a step behind them the whole way. We also went to an art gallery and viewed some local art which was surprisingly awesome - I say surprisingly because I wasn't aware that Amarillo had so many working artists. Friday evening my good friend Penny and my best friend Sierra came to visit. We got a hotel room and drank a few beers - ate a 2am breakfast at IHOP and talked all night. Today my dad and I went and hit a couple of buckets of golf balls and I'm about 5 shades of red. Now, I'm just waiting for my little brother to get off of work and I'm going to make him spend some time with me. I really have missed Texas. You know the song "the stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas"? It's really true and I'm not sure why the sky is so big or the stars so bright but it is unparelled anywhere I've been so far. I could just sit out all night long and star gaze.

2006-07-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

FINALLY!

2006-07-11T21:02:00.000-07:00

I have finally made it to Texas this evening. I thought the drive would never end - especially today the last and probably most boring leg of the trip. I really want to thank everybody for the calls checking in on me. Always much appreciated! And I especially want to thank Debrah, Delinda and Lea Ann for letting me stay at their homes. You all showed me so much hospitality and it was really cool getting to see your cities and homes and families and friends and dogs!
Unfortunately I didn't take as many pictures as planned to document the trip. I was just too focused on getting to point A, B, C and D. I did get a few so I'll post them here in a minute.
Day 1 -
I left as planned early in the morning - said goodbye to my ghetto apt and my favorite mountain and got on the road. Oregon and northern California were beautiful but hot and getting hotter as my little wheels ate up the road. I was really surprised at how awesome Mt. Shasta and that area was. Way different than Washington or Oregon. I made it to Davis, CA at around 6 in the evening and found my friend Debrah's house and we reunited after 12 years! I can't believe how fast time flies but we got caught up quickly. I got to meet her 10 year old son and they both took me out on the town which is the CUTEST town ever. We walked around looking at shops and ate pizza and walked on a path beside a canal and had Baskin Robbins. I loved it. The town has the greatest most easy going feel to it. We stayed up late talking and drinking a beer and of course I overslept the next morning - so thanks Deb for getting me up.
Day 2 -
The beginning of day 2 was runner up for most boring scenery because after Sacramento there is nothing but yellow grass and a few hills. Ok, some pistachio trees. I made it into L.A. in the early afternoon and went with my friend Delinda to a flea market at the Rose Bowl where she was working a booth. She lives in Pasadena and what a great city that is. We took a nap at her awesome little apt and then she and her friend took me out and gave me the world's most thorough 2 hour tour of LA. First we went to the Santa Monica pier and had dinner and a walk around. It was full of your usual oddities - people with snakes, musicians (one man bands) artists and tourist. We had dinner at the end of the pier at sunset but wouldn't you know it a few clouds rolled in and I felt like I'd never left Washington. We did a little walking on the beach then it was in the car to Beverly Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Blvd....uh, did I leave anything out? Rodeo Drive! They were really sweet to give me the tour and I liked it a lot.
Day 3-
Got to sleep in a little later that morning but poor Delinda had to go to work. So I took a walk around her neighborhood. I'm surprised at how safe and clean LA was - I had this notion that it would be murderous traffic, smog so thick you couldn't breath nor see but it was none of that when I was there. I chilled out with Phoebe a little and then started the drive from Pasadena to Tempe. Across the desert. A little twilight zone - those of you that know me know that I tend to get paranoid and so I must confess I constantly had a Unknown Mysteries commentary going on in my head "witnesses say the woman was last seen buying cigarettes at this convenience store" "she went into the desert and never came out" "attacked by a gang of cacti" yes, it got more ridiculous as the temperature climbed and delerium and dehydration took their course. But obviously I made it safely to my friend Lea Ann's house. She took me to dinner at her favorite little place and we had a great time talking and laughing and reviving some old memories. We spent the rest of the night under the full moon sitting beside her fabulous pool.
Day 4 -
Overslept, AGAIN. Cursed and beat my head against the steering wheel for 10 hours where I finally made it home to my family in Texas and now I'm beat so I'll write about that all later!

Sad Goodbye

2006-07-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

Augh, I can't believe my time here in Washington is over! I've been here for 6 months but it seems like mere weeks in some ways. I have grown so attatched to this area and the friends I have made. I hate to leave but I am definitely taking a lot of happy and crazy memories with me and hopefully this won't be the last I'm seeing of the Pacific Northwest. I've been pretty organized with my packing and haven't waited until the last minutes like I sometimes do. My car is packed to the limit and I've still got a few odds and ends I have to find nooks for.
I have a great couple of days coming up that I've been looking forward to. It's going to be a lot of driving but filled with new places and old friends. Tomorrow morning I will leave as early as possible and drive straight down I-5 through Oregon and into California where I will reach Davis, Ca. I have an old old friend there that I've recently gotten back in touch with who is gracious enough to let me stay with her. We'll have LOTS of catching up to do. Then Sunday I will leave Davis and drive down to Pasadena to stay with another good friend. I'm so excited to see that part of California and I know she'll show me some good spots. Monday I'll drive from Pasadena to Tempe, AZ where, once again, I'll stay with a friend who I haven't seen in awhile. Tuesday will be a long drive from AZ all the way home to my family in Texas. I'll try to keep posting updates and pictures of my 4 day roadtrip!

Hiking in Oregon

2006-06-18T09:33:00.000-07:00

Ok, so maybe you all are getting tired of hearing about volksmarching. However, this weekend I went to an event in Cascade Locks, Oregon and have thus decided that Oregon is the most beautiful of all 50 states and that I probably should live here someday. I was about 1/2 hour east of Portland in the Columbia River Gorge and the drive alone was worth the trip but the hike was so incredibly outrageously gorgeous that it bordered on ridiculous. All in all it took me over 5 hours to go up and down on a 25k course. I started the hike with a couple from Sacramento, CA who were really nice and gave me all sorts of advice for my drive home next month. Then I continued alone for the rest of the hike although there were lots of hikers on the trail and it was fun to meet all these different people. When I got to the turn around point at Crossover Falls I took a rest by the river and then headed back down. I soon discovered on the way down that my water bottle had leaked all over the contents of my backpack. So the last two hours of my hike was done with a wet and sticky back PLUS sans anything to drink. It did mar the experience a bit but as you can see it was such a beautiful view that it wasn't hard to forget about all that.

Winding down

2006-06-11T07:21:00.000-07:00

Hi, everybody! My assignment here in Tacoma, Wa is about to end and I will soon be making the drive back down to Texas. July 8 is the day I'll start the trip and instead of taking the same route I came up here on (ya'll saw how well that went) I think I'll go south on I-5 through California - stopping and staying with a few friends on the way then east through Arizona, New Mexico and then Texas. However, I'll only be able to spend a few days with the family before going back to Albuquerque where I'll start my next 3 month assignment. I'll be working at the same hospital as last time and I couldn't be more excited. I know the point of me traveling is to see new destinations but I figure what good is loving a place if you don't get to go back and enjoy it some more? I truly dig Albuquerque and the surrounding area. I made a lot of great friends and ate too much good food! It's like a second home to me and it's a comfort to know where I'll be spending the next 3 months. PLUS, it feels like I'm just down the street from my family in Tx - seeing how I'll only be 4 hours away as opposed to 30! I'll keep everyone posted on my travels and of course I expect phone calls to keep me company on the 4 day drive.
I really will miss the Pacific Northwest. I am constantly amazed at how beautiful it is and my time spent here has been very rejuvenating. I'll miss it and hope to come back but for now it is time to move on.

Bonsai!!!!!

2006-06-04T12:56:00.000-07:00

Today, Sunday, I did another Volksmarch - this time at the Weyerhauser Campus in Federal Way, Wa. - about a 30 minute drive from my apartment. It did rain or drizzle on us most of the way but the views were incredible. I went with a coworker and we completed the 10k course, ate a Lion's Club breakfast consisting of pancakes and ham and then went around one more time on the 5k course. Volksmarching is a really big thing up here and I am happy that I have found it because it is exactly what I have been looking for. There are events in all 50 states so I should be able to continue to Volksmarch all over the country - AND YOU CAN TOO! Check out the American Volksport Association webpage for events in your area! http://www.ava.org/index.htm There were different parts to the walk: trails through the most beautiful woods, around a pond, through a rhododendron garden (the Washington state flower) and a bonsai exhibit.

Weekend Volkswalk

2006-06-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Today I went to a Volksmarch event at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park (http://www.nwtrek.org/). For once this week the weather was beautiful and I had a great 10k walk. My 2nd. I saw some amazing animals in a great setting - in their own habitats - without cages. After the walk which took me about 2 hours to complete due to all the picture taking I took a tram ride through the rest of the park and saw caribou, bison, rams, racoons and some BIG elk!

Volksmarching!!

2006-05-20T14:18:00.000-07:00

I discovered something new today and it was a lot of fun and something I will continue to do throughout my travels. It is called volksport - which is german for "sport of the people" it's a completely non-competitive way to get out and do sporting events. You buy record books and keep track of your progress. At each event you get your book stamped and if you pay a little more you get a patch or a pin. Each walk is usually 10 km (6.2 miles). My first volksmarch today was on the Fort Lewis Army Base for Armed Forces day. Aside from the walk they had a little street fair with booths and all kinds of army vehicles and whatnot for civilians to check out. It was a great day!

Saturday at Pikes Market Place

2006-04-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

You couldn't ask for a better day than we had on Saturday at Pikes Market Place. We walked around downtown all day - the weather was nice - the weirdos were out and we had a good time! I just got home from dropping off the girls at the airport. Anyone who knows me, knows that I need my alone time. But I had a great time these past 5 days and I'm so glad Melissa and Whitney came to visit. They really showed me Washington in a new light. It's so good to have good friends that you can laugh with. I'm going to miss their company.

Play Day

2006-04-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

Guess Who's Coming To Dinner

2006-04-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

Company has arrived. Whitney, my sister and Melissa my best friend of, hmm.....20 years got to the Seattle/Tacoma airport yesterday afternoon. After getting luggage and ourselves back to the car we headed into Seattle and pointed the car toward the Space Needle. Since they disobeyed me and did not wear their dinner clothes I made them change in the backseat of the car as we were driving downtown. Not to worry I have dark tint on the windows. We finished up in some random parking lot fluffing our hair and bartering jewelry back and forth for the evening.
It's a 40 second elevator ride to the restaurant and you get a fun view of the city on the way up. When you step into the lobby of Sky City everything is deceivingly normal but when they take you to your seat you step into the dining area and you instantly feel like you've had one too many drinks because everything is moving. Thankfully you get used to it and you are treated to a 360 degree view of the city, Mt. Rainier, Elliot Bay, the Olympic Mountains, etc. Our meal was great and expensive but worth it. We were treated to a free smoking sundae at the end of our meal and how can you turn down a free smoking sundae even if you're stuffed with lobster, potatoes and bread?

It's Thursday morning and I have finally gotten everyone up and about. We are ready to start a new day of exploring. More soon!

FINE!!

2006-04-07T15:37:00.000-07:00

Alright - I'll make a new post. I'm tired of hearing all you guys bitch. I guess I have been waiting for something cool to happen or for good picture oppurtunities to arise before I wrote something new. Life is good here. I've had a great time this week. Work for some reason has been really slow until today and we had 4 cases. I worked with a good team today and we really had a lot of fun which can be rare - you know, for heart surgery. The weather has been phenomenal. It's been all sun and no rain and around 60 degrees everyday. I hope I'm not jinxing myself but I really hope this keeps up. Everything is starting to bloom. I'm not sure what the weekend has in store for me. I want to do something but also want to keep it on the frugal side. Maybe a good long drive is in order - that always makes for something interesting. I'll keep you all posted. I have been watching the first season of Deadwood which is an HBO series. The cast includes Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock and shows the town of Deadwood at the beginning of the Gold Rush. It was a very wild and lawless time. I've also been going to a lot of yoga classes trying to get back into shape. And I've been walking on this strip down in Commencement Bay. It's along the water and there are lots of restaurants there and also picnic places, coffee shops, etc. It's a great place to people watch. I'm glad it's Friday. There that's all that is on my mind! See, I knew it would potentially be boring and I was trying to spare you guys that. I'll try to liven up and get something started to blog about soon. I will be having some company before too long. Got lots of plans for Melissa and Whitney. We'll be dining at the Space Needle to start their time off here and I'm totally looking forward to that. Have a great weekend ya'll!

Bathroom humour - it's lamer than you think

2006-03-20T19:24:00.000-08:00

I realize this post may cause some of you to pause and question my taste in pictures...but to others I think it will be appropriate. Notice the homey accents - I do have to say - my toilet is better than yours.
Confused? click here: http://mrk329.blogspot.com/2006/03/these-pictures-are-pictures-of-my-home.html

The universe is not only queerer than we suppose it is queerer than we CAN suppose.

2006-03-11T23:01:00.000-08:00

Wednesday night I did something that I always imagined doing if I lived in a big city. I know it won't sound exciting to anyone reading this. In fact, it may make me sound like a nerd. But I guess as you get older you care less about that and care more about the things that interest and make you happy. I went to a lecture given by a well known (well, not to me - but apparently in the scientific community) theoretical physicist named Michio Kaku. He is a professor at City University of New York and is co-founder of String Field Theory which is a theory developed to explain the universe and it's foundational laws. I heard him speaking on Coast to Coast AM about a month ago and after visiting his website found that he would be coming to Seattle to promote his book. His lecture was very intersting and easy to understand for the most part. He talked about new findings on the Big Bang and the universe and the cosmos in general. He explained how the universe is expanding at a very fast rate and that eventually it will end in a big freeze. He spoke about black holes and worm holes and possible ways to travel through them to get to a parellel universe or to travel in time. Sounds very science fiction but who knows. I believe that our existence is so special and constructed in such an awesome way by God that ANYTHING is possible. It was all very exciting. It was fun to meet the people who also came to hear Michio speak. The lecture was held in a hall in downtown Seattle. Gloria Steinem was also speaking that night upstairs. Driving home that evening (late for me; 10:30) it started SNOWING which is unheard of down in here in the cities. It was bad. Then as I pulled off the freeway and stopped at a stop light I looked over at a convenience store and there was a car in the lot ON FIRE!
MKaku.org Theoretical Physicist Dr. Michio Kaku, science & technology

Oscar's

2006-03-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

Did anyone watch the Academy Awards last night? I got a late start but saw most of it. I found one instance very disturbing. Toward the end of the night a man and woman won an award for maybe sound editing or something. The man took the microphone first and talked and thanked everyone. The woman obviously wanted a chance to talk also but he just kept on and on and then by the time he stepped away and she opened her mouth they had turned off the microphone. I find this so rude. If I knew who the man was I might even write him a letter. How about being a gentleman and letting the woman go first - or since you are splitting the award why not split the 60 seconds you both have to talk. Ug. It seems like I see more and more of this happening. Not long ago I was at the grocery store and an old woman and a much younger man were in front of me. She was slow at getting all of her coupons and payment together and he was very exasperated. When they were done he left her to push the big cart from the store to their car. I'm sure that this was his mother and it took everything I had not to go up and say something to him. Where are manners in today's world? Ok, so I'm pulling a Wanda but I get really disgusted when people don't think of others.

Good News

2006-02-23T15:44:00.000-08:00

I just got great news from the nurse manager at St. Joseph's. She is not only going to extend my contract but she asked me to come on board as permanent staff. I am so happy to stay here another three months. And I was totally sweating this one out because I've had the feeling they were going to let me go. I talked to her on Tuesday and she said she would have to speak to her boss and I felt she was leaning towards no. But then she came to me today to tell me this and man, it is a big load off my mind. So now I will be here until July (unless I decide to move up here for good)(it's a nice thought but I couldn't be so far away from my friends and family). Anyway, people - come here to visit me - it's beautiful and I'm getting tired of having it all to myself.

Mount St. Helen's

2006-02-19T19:54:00.000-08:00

Today I went to Mt. St Helen's. Kind of a spontaneous trip, I guess.

Mt. Rainier

2006-02-14T15:38:00.000-08:00

Mt. Rainier - an active volcano that last erupted 150 years ago. It is 14410 feet above sea level and the tallest of the peaks in the Cascades. It is beautiful but the photo doesn't do it justice. You've got to see it to believe it. And seeing it is harder than you would think because it is often hidden in the clouds and fog. When it isn't hidden people around here say "oh, the mountain is out today".

Road Trip

2006-02-11T20:47:00.000-08:00

I did a lot of driving today! After my drive from Texas to Washington I haven't been in much of a hurry to explore. But the sun was shining and it was a perfect day for a road trip. I forgot how relaxing a long drive in beautiful scenery can be.

I took Hwy 101 North in a big loop from Tacoma to the Washington coast and back down again. I put back the sunroof - listened to some music on my ipod and coasted. I had packed a lunch and when I got the beach I ate on the rocks. My first view of the Pacific Ocean. I don't think you can get a good view of the drift wood on the beaches but big stacks of it run as far as your eye can see. It apparently falls down from excessive rain and glacier slides - travels along the rivers that feed into the ocean and then the surf washes it back to the beach. To get down to the water you have to climb over the mushy slippery logs - it's really awkward - I saw one older lady just crawling on her belly to get over them. Unfortunately my manners kept me from taking that picture and posting it here.

What I wish I could convey most and can't through words or pictures are the smells of the day. In the morning it was mist and wood smoke from Saturday morning fires. Through the forests it was of earth and soil and green. Closer to the ocean it was of fresh and cool air. It was my favorite part of the day.

My drive took me through so many different scenes. Mountains, beaches and forests. Past a surprise lake in the Olympic National Forest. I got the chance to hike and saw a huge cedar tree. There were other people out enjoying the views but not too many to make it crowded - mostly just enough to make me feel safe.

You just never know

2006-02-01T15:29:00.000-08:00

This morning I walked into the dressing room and a lady I work with said "you are working with Dr. X this morning - he's terrible just be prepared to be yelled at". Now, who wants to start the day with that message? We had a morning meeting and I sat and began to dread the rest of the day. I hate to pass instruments on a case if I've never even seen the dr. do a single surgery. And, with the way things went yesterday I'm sure you can imagine all the horrible thoughts going through my head.
But, to the contrary the day went fine. The dr. was very nice and at the end of the day told me thank you and that'd I'd done a great job. It just goes to show you, you never know how a dr. will take to you and listening to the other techs usually just gets you in trouble!
And, the sun is out! I'm off to yoga at Cedarwood Yoga Studio.

I do this for a living?

2006-01-31T17:01:00.000-08:00

Today, what a day! I worked with a surgeon I've had little experience with. He is very full of himself and talks all the time. Heart surgery consists of the same steps no matter where I have gone all over the country - but everybody does things differently and it takes time to figure out someone's steps and idiosyncrasies. This guy didn't really give me a break - and hey, I understand what we are doing is important and that time and perfection are of the essence. But he took things to a new level. He didn't yell but for example I passed him a scalpel and he cut his assistant with it AND HE BLAMED ME for passing the knife incorrectly - give me a @#$%J break.
When I have an experience such as this I wonder why I put myself through this every day for a career.
Oh yeah, and it's raining!

Pikes Market

2006-01-22T19:55:00.000-08:00

Pikes Market is great! There are vendors selling everything you can imagine - food, french pastries, clothing, jewelry, soaps, honey, lavender (there are many lavender fields here) and of course coffee. In fact, right across the street is the first Starbucks. I couldn't catch it on film but at this fish stand there are guys in waders and when someone orders one of these fish, they all yell "hey, hey, hey" and toss the fish back and forth to each other - it's really funny.

2006-01-22T19:50:00.000-08:00

2006-01-22T19:46:00.000-08:00

Good Timing

2006-01-22T19:30:00.000-08:00

I guess I picked a good day to go to Seattle! This afternoon I rode a ferry from Bainbridge Island to downtown Seattle. The ferry ride lasted about 30 minutes and I shared the ship with a bunch of crazies with blue and green hair and the most outrageous outfits. The view of downtown was great as I hope the pictures will show. I went to Pikes Place Market and Pioneer Square. The roar from Qwest Field was LOUD - It was a lot of fun to be down there while the game was going on but I am thankful I left before the game let out.
It's funny because all week long no one that I've talked to had been optimistic about the game. Everybody was a little blase about the whole thing. Now, even in Tacoma there are fireworks going off and I think it's going to be an exciting time to be in this area for the next couple of weeks. Go Seahawks!!

Point Defiance

2006-01-15T08:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday - the sun was out - sorta, in a mix of big grey clouds. In the morning I went to a yoga class in downtown Tacoma, called the Cedarwood Yoga Studio and I really enjoyed it. The class was a small mix of men and women from around my age to an older couple probably in their early 60's. It was a great style of class and we even did poses new to me which is always fun for a new challenge. I will definetley be going there again. They have classes everyday of the week so it should be no problem finding times to go.
After that I went and bought my first iPod! I'm really excited to be able to use it when I walk and on the road. I can also put pictures on it which may come in handy but I'm not sure when. I feel so "current" - a digital camera, an ipod, a laptop - whoa.
In the afternoon I went to a park called Point Defiance where I like to walk. Here is a great link to show the park. http://thepark.thenewstribune.com/
This is where I took the pictures below. As I was driving through the park after my walk I saw something crossing the road - at first I thought it was a cat but the closer I got I saw it was a racoon! I pulled over to the left side of the road as it was on my right (one way road) and got my
camera. I rolled down my passenger window and as the little guy got in my view he started walking towards my car just looking at me with the cutest face. He got closer and closer and I had a GREAT shot - closer and I started to snap the picture but he got closer - right to my window, I took the picture and he walked a few steps closer and I got scared that he would jump in my window!! I don't know if they can do that, but the last thing I need in my car is a wild racoon. I rolled up my window as fast as I could and the picture turns out to be of my car ceiling! Then a car pulled up behind me so I had to pull off the road more - I got out and tried to get another picture but it was dark in the woods and it didn't turn out very well, too bad - I would have loved to have a picture of that tame racoon. (or rabid, whichever).

2006-01-14T19:11:00.000-08:00

Breaking a record

2006-01-11T15:47:00.000-08:00

I heard on the radio news this morning and then it was conversation at work that we are going on 24 straight days of rain. We are on our way to breaking the record of 33 days. It is so unusual because in the past I have always been on the other end of the spectrum of records. "## days and no rain" "drought", "can the crops make it?".
The sun did peek out today - I saw it through the OR windows - ahhhh, what a sight for soggy eyes. However, by the time I got off of work at 3pm - it was hiding again and the rain was back in fine form.
I will say that my skin feels LOVELY and my lotion bill has halved itself.

2006-01-10T15:41:00.000-08:00

The Puget Sound as seen from Downtown Tacoma. What you see in the distance is an island - Vashon Island which as I have heard is a posh residence - you can take a ferry to this island. (I kow it looks like two seperate pieces of land but is just one)

Reporting live from Washington

2006-01-10T15:24:00.000-08:00

I know it has been awhile since my last post and that those of you who do read my blog are wondering what is going on in the new place. But the only thing I can report on is Rain, rain and more rain. It really hampers extracuricular activities - and totally rules out any great picture taking. I do have a few pictures - but I'm not really happy with them. I will post them in a second. The thing is once in a great while - the clouds and fog will clear and I will see landscape of such beauty - but wouldn't you know it - i don't have my camera on me. So, I will try harder to bring it with me.

The first week or so of an assignment is so hard as I've said before. It's a strange limbo stage where you don't know where to start exploring first. But what's harder is work. You don't know where ANYTHING is - important things, like the bathroom or certain instruments or supplies. You don't know the people, you aren't sure of your place. You see people in the halls and you don't know their names. You probably met them on the first day but everyone looks similiar in their scrubs and hats. You feel like such an outsider. That said - toward the end of the first week you have an idea of whether you are going to eventually fit in and like the environment or completely loath the remaining 12 weeks. And I can tell that I am going to enjoy working in this hospital and that when I finally get to go places and experience the Pacific Northwest it will be a magnificent time. That is what I'm waiting for - for limbo to make way for the good times.

I have been struck by the general easy goingness of the area - the friendliness of the people - the cultural diversity. I've had the greatest conversations with the cable guy, the mailman, the people I met yesterday at my hospital orientation. They have a way of making clumsy small talk non-exististent and instead take it to another level well short of a TMI (too much information). Most people have readily offered a lot of good information on the area. I like it!

First Day of Work

2006-01-03T15:41:00.000-08:00

I have made it through my first day of work. The hospital is super nice - very new OR's so that is great. Everyone seems to be friendly and I am sure that I will enjoy my time here. The first day is always rough, however, because everybody is wary of you and tries to test you and feel you out. I don't blame them - I'd be the same way and maybe even worse.

I've gotten a lot of good tips today on where to go and what to do. There is so much to do here but a lot of things I am interested in doing can only be done in the warmer months, such as going to Mt. St. Helens or Mt. Rainier. And depending on their needs I may not be here long enough to see the summer. One thing that is different is that they don't allow their travelers to take call. In one way that is AWESOME because it leaves me free to do whatever on weekends and nights but call is a great way to make extra money - maybe I can talk them into letting me take it when they get more comfortable with me.

The weather is still rainy - I think that's pretty usual in the winter - but people swear that I will see sunshine sometime - we'll see.

2006-01-02T16:57:00.000-08:00

I have made it! I am all settled into my new apartment - I've found the basic necessities and my hospital. I've found a great park on the Pudget Sound for walking and have some great pictures of that but am unable to upload them today. It may be because I'm having to connect at one of the GILLIONS of Starbucks on my street. I should have cable at the end of this week though.
My apartment is in a nice neighborhood in a suburb of Tacoma called Lakewood. It is near McChord Air Force Base and a lot of my neighbors are military.

I love this environment! I mean, yes, it has been very rainy and stormy - but it's not terribly cold and everything is so green and lush. The peopleare so different than the east coasters. Everyone is mellow and no one has honked at me! Not once! Come to think of it - I haven't heard honking period! I'm hoping that my first day of work goes well tomorrow. The hospital is close to downtown Tacoma - I'm about 15 minutes away.

I will be writing more soon!

Oh - PS - when I said I wasn't worthy I just meant I'm no Mormon!

I can be kinda dumb sometimes.....

2005-12-30T18:47:00.000-08:00

Here's something a little funny: I just went out to get a bite to eat and to fill up with gas so I don't have to get out in the freezing cold in the morning. I pulled up to the tanks, stopped the car and started getting my credit card out of my purse. Then I noticed a guy in an old ratty sweatshirt standing at my window. I locked my doors - felt for the mace in my coat pocket and rolled down my window. "Can I help you?" I said in my snottiest - don't ask me for money voice.
"Don't you need gas? Oregon is full service."
Isn't that weird - New Jersey is the same way. It is ILLEGAL to pump your own gas!
So, I sheepishly gave him a $5 tip for my ignorance!

2005-12-30T18:27:00.000-08:00

One of the few spots in Oregon where it wasn't snowing!

Day 2 - Are we there yet?

2005-12-30T18:13:00.000-08:00

Hi friends! Thankfully, I am in my hotel room for the night! I've stopped in Le Grande, Oregon after another day of dealing with those silly storms coming in from the Pacific. They are totally wreaking havoc with my road trip! However, they didn't stop me from taking a detour as suggested by my dad. This morning I went through the mountains of Utah and passed through the ski areas where the 2002 Winter Olympics were held. Man, did I ever want to stop and ski. But, I was scared off by loud booms that I assume were intentionally triggering avalanches. Then I stopped in Salt Lake City to see the famous Mormon Temple and Tabernacle (no, I haven't converted, just curious). In the picture you see the Temple and to the right you see a bit of the Tabernacle which is supposed to be so acoustically superior that you can hear a pin dropped 170 feet away. I would not know because you cannot enter these buildings unless "deemed worthy" and obviously I am not. It was interesting nonetheless and a good chance to stretch my legs.

I've driven through rain or snow or rain/snow most of the day. People are putting snow chains on their tires and I'm getting intimidated - what to do?

Anyway what I've seen of the countryside (Idaho and Oregon) has been beautiful - I should get to Tacoma sometime tomorrow!
I may not have internet right away - so don't worry if you don't see me on for awhile -

Day 1

2005-12-29T17:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, well of course I put this picture up here for you to feel sorry for me. I had visions of stopping on the side of the road and taking pictures of buffalo roaming the plains of Wyoming but instead I was stuck in a line of cars (can't see them can you - neither could I) creeping our way west. But let me start at the beginning. I began the trip early this morning around 6:30. I saw a beautiful sunrise with a crescent moon rising right before the sun - I hope some of you got to see that too. Colorado, specifically Denver was great to drive through. I hope I get to spend more time in that city - possibly a future assignment! Leaving Denver tho, it started to become very windy and didn't let up like I thought it might when I turned west in Cheyenne, Wyoming. And then I encountered what you see in the picture and so I white knuckled my way through most of the southern part of the state. When I finally got through the storm I found that Wyoming isn't such a bad state at all and I will try my hardest not to hold a grudge. Thanks for all the calls and comments - keep them coming - hopefully tomorrow will bring a more positive blog!! LOVE

Big Trip Tomorrow!

2005-12-28T07:57:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone - i thought a blog site would be a great way to track my experiences while I am traveling! Tomorrow I leave Dalhart, Tx for Tacoma, Wa. Hopefully the weather will be good and I can make the 1600 mile drive in about 2 1/2 days. Check back for details and pictures of the journey!