Hotlanta

I am headed to Hotlanta tomorrow morning. I am going to visit my best friend is as you all will remember is a brand new Mrs. She and her hubby have been married for about 6 weeks now, they are adorable together! I love them both and I am so excited about heading up there with the Nood. He loves his Aunt Keri also so he's pretty stoked.

Other than that there really isn't much going on in my world. I did all my new hire paper work for the hospital this week, got my health physical, got my PPD test, got my fit test...oh and my hospital decal. :) The stupid nurse that did my physical stuck me not once but twice for my PPD the first time she stuck me she looked away the need slipped out so she just jammed it back in there, but it gets better. Then I needed blood work done and I have fantastic veins, I told her they usually stick me in my AC (inner elbow) she proceeded not to listen and to put the turnicate on way too lose then stuck me in my hand, got no flash back then wiggled it around in there. Next she took it out and used the same needle and jammed it into another vein my hand, once again, no flash back she then wiggled it around in there. Mind you this hurt like a bitch. Oh but it gets back better...she then proceeded to do the same thing on my other arm on my forearm didn't get anything and did the same jab wiggle restick thing over again. Are you freaking kidding me?!?! I would have done better just drawing my own blood, I kid you not. Needless to say, after 2 PPD sticks and 4 blood sticks I walked my happy ass over to the lab to have my blood drawn by someone competent.

Note to all my fellow nurses out there, let's listen to our patients--they know their body better then we do.

I also wanted to thank everyone who cross posted my link from my previous post. We now have 35 members in this group! Yay for animal rescue.

Anyways, I will be sure to take a bunch of people over the next few days when I am with Ker. Hopefully I will get on here sometime during the next few days, but I don't know, we'll just have to wait and see.

I hope you guys all have a wonderful July 4th holiday...be safe!

Crosspost

Hello everyone. I am trying to help a non-profit animal rescue group get it's feet off the ground on facebook. I created a page for them and if any of you have facebook I would love it if you joined. Also, if you wouldn't mind reposting this either in facebook or on your blog that would be fantastic. The more supporters we have the better!

Here is the page link, Animal People Inc.

TIA!

S.P.O.I.L.E.D.

Spoiled rotten...if it isn't by me, it is by his new BFF Meeko Fabulous, Blanche and Ta'Killa. We participated in the "Dog Swap" from over on Ms. Sprinkles blog. We got matched up with our buddy out in Cali and his package arrived in the mail today. I thought I was excited, but holy cow, the Nood was by far more excited then I was. Here are some pictures!

Nood made it clear that he was thinking "clearly this is all for me."




"Got Biscuits! Because I've got a billion of them now...be jealous!"


"Please just give me the cookie."


"I see that cookie in your hand...give it here!"


Posing with a strategically picked blue and orange squeaky tennis ball...go Gators, Papa would be so proud!


High TEN (I'm just fancy like that)!


The L.O.O.T.


Our adorable letter signed clearly by Blanche, Ta'Killa and Meeko.


Thank you guys so much, Roman just loves everything!

Hey hey hey hey!

I've got a job, I've got a job, I've got a job hey hey hey hey!!!!

I interviewed yesterday at our community hospital (NFRMC) and I was offered the position during the actual interview. It was unofficial of course since HR has to be the one to offer it, but by the time I walked back to the HR building the nurse recruiter actually had the official offer for me. :) I felt so good. I still went to the interview at Shands today and the nurse manager was really nice and the facility is new and gorgeous, but I felt compelled to take the offer at NFRMC. I honestly can't pin point a real perfect reason I did that, but it just felt right. I start at NFRMC on their hem/onc (cancer) floor on 7/12. I am so excited!

I thank you all for your thoughts and prayers and those of you who are still struggling with the job hunt, I'm still thinking of you all.

Now I'm hunting for scrubs, because I don't want to spend $40 per set before I have a job. The hunt is on for scrubs that are used but in good shape...fingers crossed. :)

Siggy

Just a quick update, I now have 3 interviews lined up for the beginning of the week. I have one Monday morning at 9:30 on a hem/onc (cancer) floor at NFRMC, then Tuesday I have one at noon at Shands on a med/surg/onc surg floor and then lastly at 3:00 at the rehab center. I don't usually freak out before interviews, but there are definitely nerves already for these. I think it is because I didn't get an offer from the other two floors I applied to through the school/shands thingy. I just keep telling myself I can do it. I have already gathered things that I need for the interview, my nursing license, my social security card, my basic life support card and my drivers license. I just want to make sure I have everything. I know I'm a bit early. ;)

I really thing that is all I've got for you for now. I mean I went from Wednesday having zero job prospects to having three interviews (good things come to those who wait...I guess). Nothing else going on this weekend, the furbabies and I are just chilling. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Holy crap, after about an hour I think I was able to get the signature thingy done! Did it work...

MCIT 2

This is the second installment of misadventures of a chef in training!

Eggplant Sandwiches!

This was actually super easy. I am going to break it down for you guys in different segments which will hopefully make it easier to read and understand. Also, I will make sure to put the cooking times in this time...duh!

Ingredients:
Olive Oil
1/4 cup Mayo
2 Garlic Cloves minced
Eggplant
Tomatoes
Fresh Basil
Hoagie Roll
Mozzarella Cheese

Steps:
-Preheat oven to broiler
-Peel your eggplant, cut off the ends, slice length wise and then slice it in 1/2 inch slices
-Brush your eggplant slices with olive oil
-Place sliced eggplant in oven, 6 inches from the broiler, then broiler for 3 minutes
-Cut hoagie roll in half length wise and pop in the toaster oven until toasty
-While eggplant in in the oven and the hoagie roll is in the toaster, mix the minced garlic and mayo together in a small bowl and set aside
-Slice your tomatoes
-Chop your basil leaves
-Once your eggplant is finished cooking, turn off the oven, sprinkle mozzarella cheese on cooked eggplant and place back in off oven so it melts
-When the bread is toasted, put the mayo mixture on the top half of the bread, then layer your eggplant, tomatoes and fresh basil
-Eat it rather immediately because eggplant is very moist and can make your bread soggy if it just sits there

*Enjoy*

A ray?

Could this be a ray of sunshine through my lately cloudy sky? We will just have to wait and see. I will give you a quick run down of my possible ray. Today I went to the local community hospital here to meet with the nurse recruiter. Needless to say, she nor her secretary were very happy with the me just showing up sans appointment (oh well). Anyways, she came out of her office and called my name and was quite short when she said "I just have a couple of minutes we can talk in here (she lead me into a conference room instead of her office)." I started out this "meeting" by saying I just had a couple of questions about the hiring process. I rattled them off (I won't bore you all with them), anyways, she answered them all basically summed it up by saying the job posted on their website are really for experienced nurses because they just hired far too many GNs (graduate nurses or new nurses); however, and this is a BIG however, she is meeting with the nurse manager on the hem/onc (cancer) floor that I am interested in tomorrow morning about possibly filling these open positions with new nurses--she said she will call me as soon as she gets out of this meeting, AND if she says yes to filling them with new nurses she will definitely get me an interview! An interview, you all hear that? That is a chance. **sigh**

After being at the hospital I went over to the mall and met my preggo friend Meghan there. We always have a nice time together, she actually took boards yesterday and passed, so now we can play. Well we had lunch and then shopped, about midway through our day I realized I had a missed call being an ass I said to Meghan "watch it have been a call for an interview, lol." Sure as shit, it was. A 154 bed rehab center called to set up an interview with me for next week. I have an interview next week, on Tuesday. Keep my in your thoughts everyone, I am so stoked. Maybe things are taking a turn for the better. Oh dear God, let's keep out fingers crossed that things are taking that turn.

One more quick side note, you know how I said that I needed a cute little title for my cooking posts well who of all people came up with one? My love Phillip did, he says I should call it "The misadventures of a chef in training" I think I am going to abbreviate is MCIT. Love it. Well I think I am going to cook up something tasty tomorrow night or Friday if I get home too late tomorrow (I'm watching the boys for a bit), hopefully I will be able to make it fab and will keep you all up to date on it!

Thanks for all your constant good thoughts. :)

Delectable Blueberry Muffins

*Edited* Duh, I forgot to add the steps. Silly me!

Preheat oven to 400* and either grease of add liners to your muffin pan.
Combine flour, sugar and baking powder.
Place veggie oil into a one cup measuring cup, then add egg into measuring cup and a fill to top of cup with milk.
Add the milk mixture into the flour mixture, mix well.
Then fold in blueberries gently so you don't crush them.
Fill muffin cups, will make about 8-9 regular sized muffins.

Combine all the ingredients for the crumbly topping and mix well, the butter should be at room temperature before this is done.
Mix it with a fork.
Then distribute the topping onto your uncooked muffin cups.

Put in oven and cook for 20-25 minutes.

Whoops, sorry I forgot that. Thanks Sprinkles for letting me know!



Today is going to be the first post documenting my cooking adventures. I made fabulous blueberry muffins from scratch. I've never made muffins before, well besides the box kind so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I bough a 1/2 pint of blueberries at the farmer's market on Saturday and I am so sick of throwing away food (which I do often) because I don't use them and they rot (super gross).

I am personally not a blueberry fan but I thought with a little sugar I might like anything--I was definitely right!

Here are some pictures of the blueberry babies:





Yum-O!

Here is the recipe:

For the muffin batter-
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour
3/4 cup of white sugar
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1/3 cup of vegetable oil
1 egg
1/3 cup of milk
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla
1 cup of fresh blueberries

For the crumbly topping:
1/4 cup of white sugar
1/4 cup of brown sugar
1/3 cup of all-purpose flour
1/4 cup of butter, cubed (at room temperature)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Anyways, here is my first post from my cooking adventure. I need a catchy title for this adventure. I was just going to call it cooking adventure, but then I realized if I abbreviated it CA part 1, people are going to think I visited Cali. Toss up some catchy little titles. Thanks Loves!

Thanks

Thank you all for your kind posts. I am hanging in there, for those of you who are in the same situation as me I'm thinking of you all. My internet has been down for the last 4 days and I would have posted much sooner if my internet was working.

I am trying to stay positive, it is incredibly difficult but I'm trying. I've decided that since I have nothing better to do I am going to learn to cook. I decided that on Saturday and since I've made honey mustard chicken (for Phillip) with squash, greenbeans and homemade mashed potatoes on Saturday night; I also made eggs for breakfast yesterday; I also made homemade chocolate chip cookies yesterday; then homemade ziti last night. Woo-hoo! I gutted my kitchen on Friday night and reorganized all my cabinets--it is so much more convenient.

If you guys have any fab recipes for me to try just send them to me because I'd love to try them. I am partial to desserts and any meals sans meat. I'll be sure to let you know how it goes once I try them.

That's all I've really got for you guys, thanks again for the previous encouragement. :)

Downer

This is definitely a downer post, so if you are in a great mood that you don't want ruined don't read on. Consider the preceding sentence your warning.

I have no job...I busted my ass to do well in school, busted my ass to pass boards less then a month after graduating and I have no job. I sit at home all day. I emailed the nurse recruiter from Shands who told me that they aren't looking to hire any more new nurses because they are flooded with graduate nurses--basically I'm f-ed. I applied to every single RN position at Shands (with the exception to psychiatry) and the other hospital in town and I haven't even gotten a call to come in for an interview.

Now my mom wants me to apply to jobs back home. She feels confident that since she has worked in the Broward Health System for 30 years that she should be able to find someone willing to hire me as a new nurse. I applied for a job in the PICU at her current hospital. I don't want to move back home, not at all. Moving back home would mean that Super gets sent to Gail's house and all my cats would stay home and have someone periodically come by to feed them and scoop their boxes. Moving back home would suck. I own a home in Gainesville, I love my home, I love my town, I love(d) my life.

To top all of this off, Phillip still has yet to get a job in Gainesville. No one wants to hire him (it probably doesn't help that his degree is in Marketing and that is basically useless in Gainesville). Him not getting a job means he is still stuck at his current job that he could have done in high school, he is miserable as well. He also moved into his sister's house on Saturday this past week, he decided that it would be more economical to move in with her since he is looking to move to Gainesville then it would to rent his piece of crap apartment month to month for something near $900 a month. Now in the evening he is hanging out with his sister and nephew and told me tonight it is rude for him to talk to me which would mean he is ignoring them. Great.

I really thought that since Phillip and I made it through all this crap with his Dad dying and came out stronger then we would be in the clear for challenges at least for a little while. Clearly, I was wrong. Clearly I've pissed off God because my Karma is shit lately--I don't know why, I wish I could do something to fix it.

I am so sick of waking up to nothing, I am sick of coming home to nothing, I hate this. I just don't know why someone isn't willing to give me a chance, I swear I'd be a good nurse, I just need someone to have faith in me. I am smart and a great learner, I promise if someone gives me a chance I wont let them down.

Baby Shower palooza

Yesterday I threw a baby shower for my fabulous friend Meghan. She is having a baby girl who is due on July 6. We decided to do a dessert themed shower and it seemed to be a hit. I also did some maternity pics of her--they aren't the best, but there are a few that came out ok. We will probably get together to try some more maternity pictures next week sometime. Anyways, here are some pictures from yesterday.

The Boy

Some pics of the little man and a couple of the little man with his mama! <3 this boy!

Sucky Blogger

I know I am officially labeled a sucky blogger. I promise when I find some normal life again things will return to normal. In the mean time I will give you all a quick update. I am down south visiting my parents this week, just hanging out, doing wedding things and visiting my dermatologist.

Here is my latest for wedding fun:

We are going to be hanging votives at our wedding site. We are going to have someone (MOH, wedding coordinator) go and turn them all on (LED tea lights) during the cocktail hour, just as the sun is setting--they will already be hung up. Here is a picture of the place where they will all be hanging (from the mangrove branches):









(Sorry all the venue pics look so crappy, I need to take some next time I am down there.)

This is what I want to use:



(from: http://www.wholesaleflowersandsupplies.com/store/p/1261-Bell-Hanging-Votive-Holder.html)

With the LED tea lights:


(Which I'm hoping don't look as fake at night on and from a bit of a distance, does anyone have any experience with these?)

Lastly, here is the (fingers crossed) finished project:





Oh yeah, and one quick little side note: I PASSED boards! I am officially a RN! Woo-hoo!! Thank you all for your encouragement and well wishes during all that. :)