Adventures

There’s nothing like the smell of a cleaned up Texas man.  Those of  you, who have grown up in West Texas or small-town Texas or have roots there, know what I’m talking about.  These are the men who go out and work the pasture or land, whether be it farming, ranching, working out in the oil fields or in the oil or gas refineries, out on the feedlots, or any other trade.  These men go work hard all day and come home in their dirty shirts, oily, smelling like the tractor or truck and dirt, hair disheveled (if they have their hair under their sweaty hat--maybe they already have that hat-induced receding hairline), kick off their boots and take a deep breath and go, “Whew!”  There’s nothing like receiving a hug from a dirty Texas man.  Then, for public or special occasions, they “get cleaned up.”  They go wash off the dirt and grit from a long day of work, put on their best starched and pressed button up shirt, tuck it into their starched wranglers wi...

Last week, Heather, who seems to be the main character of my stories these days since we live in the same bed and breakfast, received a package from someone special.  In her package were two kites, on which were batman and one of the smurfs!  So, thanks to her special someone, Heather, Batman, Smurfie and I went to Venice Beach at Halfmoon Bay and flew her kites!  We had a fun time getting the kites up (it had been many years for the both of us, since either of us have attempted to fly kites!).  I tried to run with mine just dragging behind me to get mine (Batman) up.  Then, it turned out, the breeze off of the ocean was enough that all we had to do was simply hold it up and let the string out.  Oh.  So, we help up our kites, slowly let the string out and watched them float higher and higher until they were just little diamonds in the sky. We laughed at the fact that we are in our late 20's flying little flimsy Batman and Smurf kites on the beach and l...

Hello all.  I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the official season of spring!  It's been a couple of weeks since my last update.  Sorry about that. It's probably nice to have a break (for those of you who receive updates via email : ). Life has been good around here.  Mom and Dad were able to come for a weekend in the Bay the first weekend of March, which was a ton of fun!  They arrived on Friday around lunchtime and the Super-Fast Tour de the Bay commenced!  We:  had lunch at my favorite and very yummy pizza place in San Jose; drove through the Santa Cruz mountains to Big Basin Redwoods State Park so they could catch a very quick glimpse of the big, beautiful, ancient 1,600 year-old redwoods; drove on to Santa Cruz on the coast and watched many catch some waves and surf while watching the spray of the waves on the cliffs; drove up the 1, stopped at a homemade jam place and tasted some jam (very fun little joint); drove on to Half Moon Bay fo...

Heather wanted to go to the coast today.  Heather was gone for a few weeks since her contract at Stanford allowed her some time to go home and attend some weddings.  So, today, while it was raining, we headed to the coast again.  We tried last week, but it was very rainy and cold.  We thought by the time we arrived at the coast this attempt, hopefully the sun would be shining and we could enjoy a hike along the cliffside. When we crested the mountains headed west, the fog slowly began to give way to breaking clouds and some sunshine. But, light rain, even in the sunshine, forced us to kill some time before we could try the hike. We drove about five miles up Highway 1 hoping we would find something to entertain in the meantime.  We found this nice little cafe on "the 1," with an espresso bar and wine tasting.  So, while we waited for the rain to surrender to sunshine, Heather tasted some wines (I partook a couple of sips) and I enjoyed an iced mocha while ...

One of my inn-mates said about 4 weeks ago, "I'm homesick," very matter-of-factly and then asked, "Do you ever get homesick?"  My answer at that time was, "I'm doing pretty well right now.  I've been spending a lot of time with my girlfriends, so I haven't really been all that homesick lately." Everybody knows that "homesick" feeling.  I'm sure it's a little different for everybody, but I think we all know that sinking feeling in the gut of isolation or solitude or separation from the ones and things we love. The past week, I have been homesick.  I guess it's inevitable and no big surprise.  I think it's hitting me now for a couple of reasons: the first being I haven't been spending as much time with my friends, as we've all been very busy working and our schedules are opposite one another and one will be moving in April, then the others possibly shortly thereafter; the second being it's been about ...

I hope everyone is doing well when you read this!  Hopefully, most of you are staying warm and out of the cold after the blizzard!!!  (I'm a little jealous . . . ) So, it has been about four months since I left home and came to California.  So much has happened, it seems like a lifetime!  My uncle asked me over Christmas, "Is it really as good as the emails [blog] say[s]?"  Yes, there are times, like two days ago I am homesick and miss Texas, my friends and all the familiar places and things and I'll wear my cowboy boots around and listen to country music in an attempt to make myself feel a little better.  But, then I'll have a fun day at work or with my fun, new, sweet friends or see a beautiful scene and it makes the pangs of that homesick feeling not so sharp.  I know I'm an idealist and am probably ignorant of many realities of situations, including my own.  But, I cannot help but feel this has been a positive and fun experience, for which I...

I hope this finds everyone doing well!  These past two weeks have been me getting used to the new units and being oriented to them.  I know I may have said it a few times, but, I am working the Ambulatory (which basically means "outpatient") Treatment Infusion Center and it's sister unit, the 23 hour observation surgical floor at Stanford.  The pace is very different from an inpatient oncology floor and presents unique challenges.  Each hospital, each unit, each specialty is challenging in different ways.  It can be refreshing but can also make you feel incompetent until you learn the system and flow of care.  I have enjoyed my coworkers very much so far!  They are very positive, encouraging and helpful.  I think I will enjoy the units and the patients, although I am missing oncology.  It feels great to be back to work and I was reminded this week of how much I really love nursing.  It can be a really fun and neat job! We have had an i...