Holiday Time and Then Some...

So....

I'm up doing laundry and putting together my tax info when I realize I hadn't blogged in a while. Duh Stace, rude! So what's been happening you ask? Not much. Just lovin the Magical city of Austin, that's what.

Me and my brother Steve's girlfriend Erin in a random parking lot.

Yeah, that's how we roll. Do we know who's car this is? No. Do we know who took the picture? 

Definitely not. Conclusion: people are friendly here.

Guess what? So this year was the first Christmas Eve/Christmas I didn't have to work in, I'm gonna say six years. Isn't that crazy? So Steve and Erin cancelled their plans to spend time with this girl who would've been completely alone over that weekend. How nice, huh?! Plus, we got another scraggler, my cousin Ryan who drove down from Dallas for the weekend. I think we ended up calling it the Van McClumara Christmas or some combo of all of our last names.
We had fun.

First, we saw Mission Impossible 3 in...dunduhduDUH - 

http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/2011/10/5/mission-impossible-ghost-protocol-gets-early-imax-release.html

IMAX.
For a girl who's not so savvy with heights, this was pretty intense. 

We also took a little stroll down the street to the capital building. It was kind of rainy, but Erin wanted to see the Christmas Tree. Christmas is definitely her holiday.

And here is Steve, being a creepy tour guide. He actually just photobombed me but it turned out to be a KEEPER! That's what you get for photobombing, bro. 

That's right, it's on the internet.

The cuz, Ryan. It kind of looks like it's snowing.

Yeahhhh, Texas kind of has an obsession with Stars. Let's explain this - it cannot be called the "Lone Star State" if there is a star on every single everything. I'm just sayin. 

Oh, would you be wondering where a ridiculous self-taken picture of me at the capital building is? Well, I kind of already had one. When I worked in Dallas in 2010 I came down for a little trip.
Let's reminisce, shall we?

Look how much better the weather is! And how short the hair...

Anywho.

After church on Sunday, what Christmas would be complete without the Luby's buffet lunch? Ok seriously between all of us, that was the best cooking we came up with. It was actually quite delicious. Steve had a chicken fried steak the size of his head. 

Which is saying a lot because his head is well, anyways...

If you think that's as exciting as our XMas was, you'd be wrong. Cause after football and presents, we went down to the local Bingo hall and donated some money to some charities (another way of saying, we did not win). No but really, the money actually did go to charity. And the winners. Just not us. 

Ryan was none too pleased with this outcome.

 Not quite sure why my phone camera was being so sketchy...

Maybe I should tell you about work? I'm currently at Dell Children's Hospital. Check these out:
http://johndurant.photoshelter.com/gallery/Karlsberger-Dell-Childrens-Hospital/G0000SWdi5dKcloI/

These are great pictures of the hospital. The photographer also has great pictures of Rady Children's in San Diego and SWA in Gilbert. I think he's following me...

I'm in the float pool, which I LOVE because I still get to take care of just about everything. The staff here is really friendly (duh, they're Austinites) and I've had some really sweet patients.

See what I mean?

In the playrooms. 

This is the most adorable thing ever.
It's a mini stretcher and CT scanner. Medical play on a whole new level!

So far my contract ends mid-March. But I have the most adorable Canadian snowbirds coming to live in my condo until May so I'm going to have to figure out a living/working situation soon...
I may have an extended contract here. I'll keep you posted.
Until next time...

...stay classy, Austin.