Christmas/NYE/Road Trip

I was sick for Christmas :( Colds are no fun. However, I love my family and had a great time anyways. Spent many hours playing my new Mario Bros game on my Wii with Dave (julie's bf).
On Boxing Day, we had a local reception for J and BPR for all the ppl in MI that couldn't make it to Phoenix. Got to see lots of relatives and people from high school.
I already wrote about my AZ licensing issues and the flight to Phoenix on Wed.
The first day of my road trip ended in Springfield IL. I spent NYE with my Godparents Russ and Cathy. We hadn't seen each other in prob a good 15 years so it was great we could work it out. (Had the licensing snafu not happened and I'd started my drive on Tuesday, they wouldn't have been home... maybe that was the point of the whole thing??) We went to my God-brother Paul's house. I got to meet his wife and their brood of kids :) I had such a wonderful time it's hard to even explain. I just wish my other GBs Jon, David, and their families could have been there too.

Uncle Russ, Jen, and Aunt Cathy NYE '10

Too much laughter to get a good shot :)

 

 

Jess (Paul's wife) and Jen

Day 2 of my trip found me on the road at 915 (went to bed at 3am mind you). The day was uneventful and Lord-willing I was able to make it all the way to Amarillo Tx.
Day 3 was uneventful as well and I was able to complete my journey to Phoenix. Both days 2 and 3 were >12hrs in the car but it was worth it.
Tomorrow morning bright and early... earlier than I've had to get up for work in about 5 months... I head to orientation at Mayo. Nervous excitement ensues.
I leave you with a few pictures from my journey

St Louis Arch

Random statue of Will Rogers - OK rest stop/tollway oasis

Either NM or Arizona, I'm not sure, but beautiful either way

Licensing Craziness and Irritation

For every new state that I work in, I need a new nursing license. Mostly it's just an application and a large check; occasionally fingerprints are required.

This is what happened with my AZ license:
Nov 24- phone interview with Mayo, job offer extended :)
Nov 29- call nursing board, am told okay to do standard process, no need to do 48hr emergency (semi-walkthrough) procedure
Dec 6- board receives application
Dec 22- board actually opens envelope containing application; mails fingerprint card to my house in MI; I make anxious calls to board, my recruiter, and my requirements person. Board rep tells me too bad if you don't get it in time, it'll take 2 weeks for them to check in that piece of mail anyways
Dec 24- fingerprint card comes in mail
Dec 25- highly festive Christmas Day Fingerprinting at the Shelby Twp Police Station (he was very nice)
Dec 27- make many unanswered phone calls/leave messages with mult ppl at board; finally receive return call at 530 est... "too bad so sad, nothing you can do now"
Dec 28- finally speak with supervisor at 130pm, yes if you show up with all the missing paperwork, they can process the emergency temp license, even though the other lady was rude and said you couldn't
Dec 29- 7am fly to phx, 1045am phx time show up at board with paperwork/fingerprint card, explain situation, wait 1hr, while waiting use smartphone to check license status online-temp issued!! yay!!, more waiting, 12pm receive temp license, hang out with bro and sil, 730pm fly home to MI
Dec 30- 3am crawl into bed
Dec 31- begin road trip to Phoenix

This process was frustrating to say the least. There were a few tears, many anxious phone calls, countless hours on hold, 2 quite rude people, 1 helpful person, and 1 gloriously wonderful covering recruiter. Not sure why all the hoops, I'm sure God has a lesson in there for me somewhere, but I thank Him for wonderful people on my support team at my company :)

Frustration

Today was my last day working out with my trainer Dana here in Ann Arbor. Being that our time was at an end, we did measurements and such to check my progress. Almost all of my measurements are the same, except that my arms went down by 2 smthgs on the calipers. My weight went the opposite of down. I know that muscle weighs more than fat n all that jazz, but it's completely disheartening to look at the scale after doing all that work, only to see a number I've never seen before. I'm much stronger now, and I physically feel better; but somehow that doesn't keep me from wanting to hit something... or cry... or both. A few notable achievements, I can do 3 sets of 12 reps bicep curls with a 40pound bar; 2-3 sets of 12 chest fly with 2 25pound weights; and both of those are more than my trainer.

All I really know, is that I'm going to be happy starting a new job where my butt's not stuck in a chair 8hrs/day 5days/wk. The most walking I do at this current job is the 5min it takes to get to/from my car.

I'm just really really frustrated :-/

I love Christmas

Absolutely by far my favorite time of the year. First and foremost: Happy Birthday Jesus :-)
Also, I love to give things. I don't care so much about getting things (except cards, I love those... thanks Laura :-), but I just truly enjoy giving presents. I don't like it when it's stressful, but when it's from the heart and b/c you want to not HAVE to, it's the best. I love Christmas music. It starts Nov 1 (secret- I listen to it randomly throughout the year too, shh don't tell). I love singing Silent Night the right way, which would in fact be Stille Nacht.

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon with my favorite girls from Bible study at ULC. Joanna and I went to pick out a Christmas tree :-) We found the perfect one and I was so proud of Terrence b/c he tucked all 9ft safely inside during the snowy trip to Dundee. You don't believe me? Take a look...

We didn't choose the one she's holding. We took the one in the back :)

Hatch closed and everything

Terrence and I do everything together. I love him... and he smells nice and fresh now.

Once we met Sara and Melanie at Sara's condo in Dundee, we spent all afternoon making/decorating cookies, stringing popcorn and cranberries, singing carols, and playing games. It was great fun. I'm going to miss those girls so much.

Me, Sara, and Melanie making cookies

Finished products

The Perfect Tree

Just Jen Travels To...

Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ!!
I'm so excited. I'm going to be working in an outpatient chemotherapy infusion center.
The bonus of course is that I'm going to be in Phoenix with Beth and Jason from Jan through March :)
Wahoo!

The rest of the story

Sorry for the long delay. Phoenix proved to be very busy (duh) and then I left my charger at home when moving to AA again, so I've been conserving battery.

So let's see, where'd I leave off...
The wedding was awesome :) Beth was beautiful and Jason didn't stop smiling. Our bridesmaids dresses looked great and the shoes went perfectly. I'd been wearing them all week to break them in. The only problem was that I didn't try standing still for an hour. Ouch. We were all very relieved when it was time to kneel! Overall it was a wonderful day. I'm so happy to have Beth as a sister.

I spent Thanksgiving in Chicago with Julie and Dave. It was nice not to be alone (since mom and dad stayed in AZ for their anniversary and the boys were with their respective wives). It was also awesome because Julie and I went Black Friday shopping at a new random Target near her appt. No one was there and I got 2 front page doorbusters even though it was already 9am :)

Now I'm back in Ann Arbor for a month. I'm staying with my friend Carrie and her boyfriend in her new condo. Carrie was a traveler in the office with me before she took a permanent position in the infusion center. It's been nice living with someone who understands what goes on in my day and we get along really well.

I have more news, but that deserves it's own note :)

Phoenix so far

I've made it to Phoenix. For those not in the know, I'm here for my brother J's wedding on the 20th. My job enabled me to come out early (got here on the 10th) to help them with all that little stuff that's left to do even though they both still have full time jobs (weird how life doesn't just stop so you can plan eh?).

I'm loving my time here so far. We've done a lot of hanging out :) Yesterday we watched the first half of the Michigan game at a local bar while eating breakfast, then we tailgated and went to the ASU v Stanford football game. Interesting to see another college's football stadium. It was cool, but the Big House is better (of course).

This morning Beth and I went to the Phoenix Zoo for A Mighty Voice fundraiser walk. It's part of an organization that raises money for motor neuron disease research started by a family who lost 2 little kids to MND.

I'm trying to be as helpful as possible, while at the same time, not getting in the way or being suffocating. So far I have rolled a lot of silverware/napkins and curled a lot of ribbon (with one small injury), delivered coffee and lunch, and accompanied on errands. With the weekend ending, there will be a greater list of things for me to do while they are at work (I think/hope). I love my brother and my SIL so I enjoy just sitting and hanging out, talking about nothing (or even the wedding, since that's on their minds for some reason)

okay, well time to do more planning.