Hello Again

Well, I'm back. Back - as in blogging and living in San Francisco. Yay! I missed this crazy city.

The last couple of weeks have been insane. So to get an assignment (that's what we travel nurse crazies call "a job") I had to high-tail it from my assignment in Austin, which technically ended March 18 - to start on March 22. Not to mention that's my birthday or anything. I digress. So busy people like me schedule things so that It All Can Be Done. I worked three days in a row, flew home to Phoenix, dealt with Real Crazy Canadian renters, did my taxes, did my annual drug testing and lab work, and got to hang out with my mom and her fiance - all while soaking up some Spring Training games. Gosh, I love baseball...
Speaking of taxes though, I love saving every receipt and knowing all the deductions I can possibly take, to help out with this whole traveling gig. I talked about it quite a bit, I guess, when I was at TVRC last summer. This is what my good friend from Nashville sent me:

Hallmark has yet to branch out into this yet, Catie, but I'm sure it will come soon!

After my mini-vacation, I flew back to Austin, where my loving brother (bless his heart) picked me up at the airport at 12:30. AM. Drove me to my place where only one bag was packed. I did laundry, packed, cleaned, and slept (for three hours), packed my car, returned the keys to my landlord, and hit the road.

With Starbucks' coffee and oatmeal, I drove all the way to Las Cruces that day. Let's discuss West Texas again, shall we? Bor-Ing. However, to it's credit, the intense three months of rain Texas got was enough to turn the landscape from nappy brown/beige to a lovely green. That helped a little. Also, my mission to find the strangest place in West Texas helped the drive go faster. Have you ever heard of Marfa? Of course you haven't, unless you're from Texas or are an Austin-esque hippy (no offense intended).

I really thought the town was made up, because this was the landscape after this sign...

I think I'm too used to the "traditional" places where the welcome sign is actually near civilization.

Ok, I give it grief, but Marfa is adorable. I didn't get pictures because there were just so many things to look at. It's a very cute, off-the-beaten-path but still trendy and urban-renewal-y. I make up my own words, but you know what I mean. I highly encourage you to stop by if you're on the I-10. Stay the night, there are adorable little hotels there too. My brother saw a documentary where apparently Mumford and Sons took a train that went through Marfa, and they rocked that little hipster town. 

Getting back to the strange thing...the Prada storefront in the middle of nowhere. I had heard about it before my Austin trip, then saw artwork signage in the living room of a character from my guilty pleasure Gossip Girl. Don't mock me, you probably kind of like it too.

Found online here

After driving forever and ever, and thinking that I missed it, there was (no joke) a Lion King Light moment where the grey skies opened and there was the building on the road before me. It was, as my friend Brianna likes to say, a God moment.

Prada Marfa

After staying the night with my aunt and uncle in Las Cruces, I kept on goin' the next morning. I had a deadline, you see. I drove through Tucson with a very specific purpose:

Oh, Rex's Revenge, how I have missed you. Beyond Bread, one of the places I miss most in Tucson.

Driving through Phoenix I stopped in Gilbert at my mom's. She saw how tired I was and forced me to take a nap before driving more. Thank goodness I did - I missed rush hour traffic and was able to get to Palm Springs before midnight. One trick I have learned from my parents while driving is to keep the A/C on as high as possible. You don't get tired. You get cold and annoyed.

Every drive I take I have a specific place I like to stop, if at all possible, for the night:

Why? I'll tell you.

1.  The cinnamon rolls are amazing. Sorry, that's the main reason.

2. They always have a room.

3. Their beds are soooo soft and amazing AND they have two firmness levels of pillows.

Anywho, I finally got to San Francisco again!

Found the place I'm renting and it's adorable!

Unpacked all my stuff and got ready for my first day of work the next day, aka my birthday. Luckily I knew mostly everyone there anyway and it was only a training day for the new computer medication charting. 

I then got to go to one of my fav. places for a birthday cake!

Turns out, if you go there on your birthday you get a free cupcake. So I got two ;) 

Why settle for just the free one? That's silly. 

That weekend I got to see my Pegah - went to lunch and then wine tasting at Alameda's own winery:

No, I did not drink all of that. The flights we got were really good - all Pegah and I could do was try to think of what we would eat with each sample. We're a little food-obsessed, which is really easy to do here. 

There was an amaaazing view - best seen with photoshop's charcoal shading technique. Did I tell you how much I love Photoshop? Got it with my California tax return. Thanks, Cali.
Soon I will be seeing everything the bay area has to offer. Stay tuned - I'll show it to you. :)

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.

Austin just got a little weirder.

Yay Austin! Just got here Friday after I put 1,000 miles on my car. Zip did pretty well, actually. It was me who was bored out of my mind on the drive through West Texas. I left Thursday and stayed with Auntie Brenda in Las Cruces, then left Friday morning for the dreaded bore of a drive. I stopped at a Target in El Paso to pick up some new cds/sustenance.

Ok, if you've never had those pecans (we all know pecans are the superior nut, btw), you really should try them. I don't know what it is about the combo of dried cranberries, pepper and orange zest but it's quite magical. 

Now that I think about it, this was probably the most organized my front seat has ever been on a drive. 

See "trip to SF" pic:

Wowsa.

Random thought - I'm really fortunate to be tall, because I really enjoy driving with my knees. Doing so, I think I saved a little armadillo's life (I was able to swerve pretty quickly). That puts him (or her) on the pretty long list of "animals I have avoided killing and therefore killing myself" which includes, but is not limited to: moose, a big ole buck, deer, jackrabbits, cows, buffalo (BUFFALO!), and many a squirrel. 

I stayed at my brother's apt on Friday night, and then after a lovely cinnamon roll breakfast he deserted me to hang out with my cousin in Dallas, to watch the new Mission Impossible on Imax. Who's jealous? This girl. But alas, I kept my little self busy with Stevo's NetFlix, a Target run, a trip to the doctor's and finally the much-anticipated obtaining-of-the-keys. I'm renting the CUTEST little studio apartment known to mankind. Take a look-see.

I feel like the closet is almost a bedroom in itself, but I couldn't bring myself to post a picture. It would make my own closet feel bad about itself. It's already pretty empty and lonely. But SOON my Canadians (I call them mine, although I've never met them) will be renting out my darling little condo - I'm excited for it to be lived in for a while, even it it's not me. 

After unpacking ole Zip and putting everything away (it gets easier and faster with every move), I went with Erin (the bro's gf) to H.E.B. - or The Heb as I call it - the inexpensive version of Safeway. I have to say, Texas is quite smitten with itself. I saw that a lot when I was in Dallas, but for serious, people. Not only did we see the Little Miss Texas dolls (with interchangeable cowgirl and cowboy cheerleader outfits, respectively), but also saw these:

Really, Heb? Is that totally necessary? Apparently, yes, they were selling like hotcakes. Although, I've personally never bought a hotcake, they really must be the bee's knees to get their own saying.

How excited are you that I have internet here? Because I'm STOKED. I start orientation tomorrow so I have to finish these stupid online competencies now. And Roberta, if you call me or email me about these "modules" one more time...

Honestly, she makes me so crazy I could just spit. 

Let's Play Catch (Up)

So my time in San Francisco is almost over... Sad!  I have three more shifts at work and then I'm on my way back through Phoenix to get to Austin. I'm so used to NOT driving my car that the next few days in ole Zippy will almost be like torture. I am completely content with any and all bus drivers driving Miss Stacy. :)  So what's been going on since the last post? A LOT actually!
Let's start with Donna and Shelly's Trip:

Donna, my Southwest Airlines flight attendant/bestest next-door-neighbor and her sister-in-law Shelly came in for a weekend of fun. They sadly arrived on the anniversary of my daddy's death, but it was good to have friendly faces close by to keep me company. We went to dinner that Friday night at my local favorite The Grove to enjoy more delish food. The next morning - Muir Woods!

Let's preface this by saying Shelly is a huge fan of National Parks. As in - has a passport and collects stamps from each and every park she's ever visited. She was so excited about the NP's, Donna and I both got hooked and got our own Passports (you can learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_Passport_Stamps, it's very intriguing). We then headed into the woods, and took about three hundred photos. You think I'm joking, don't you? Nope. Here are a few of the shots that I took and then aptly stated "nailed it" afterwards.

Some educational information....

Told ya. That's only a small portion of all the HUGE trees. Can give you a crick in the neck if you're not careful. Then we drove over to Muir Beach, which was just beautiful - couldn't have asked for better weather. 

I suppose I could have cleaned the water spots off my camera first... but we were pressed for time. Lots to see, lots to do. It took 20 minutes to get a parking spot on the hill to see this sight:

There is no place safe from my cheesiness.  Take a glimpse at the Lincoln Memorial circa 2007:

Oh yeah.

After the Golden Gate Bridge extravaganza, we went back to my apt and got ready to meet up with Donna's nephew and his girlfriend in the city. After checking out her adorable place with grandma-like Tiffany blue couches (no disrespect intended, I was sorely envious of those couches), we took off to meet Shelly's old co-worker at the:

Apparently, it's a big deal here....

 Donna and I made a new friend - Justin from Germany. At least, that's what we think he kept saying. He was a sweet widower who just wanted to dance. Not too shabby either!

 Yes, he was kind of tiny. 

Awww.

Seriously, this weekend was exhausting. Because the next morning we went to Alcatraz. 

 Of course I planned my outfit accordingly....

A "Chamber of Commerce" kind of day (per Donna)

We then had brunch with Donna's nephew Nate and girlfriend Katie at the Buena Vista Cafe, where they ordered the famous Irish Coffee (http://www.thebuenavista.com/home/irishcoffee.html) and I had a good old fashioned Cafe au Lait. After brunch, we took off across the bridge to Sausalito. There Donna reconnected with her jeweler friend at Sausolito Jewelers (http://www.sausalitojewelers.com/index.html) while I drooled over all the beautiful jewelry. I quenched the jewelry hunger by buying my mom and I new cable car charms.  During the day, I kept getting text messages from Pegah's husband Dave, because she had gone into labor that morning. After I took the ladies to the airport, I headed over to Berkeley and waited for bebe Leila to be born.

We're working on trying to make her more "camera ready" - she doesn't like the flash too much... Yet.

 Aunty Stacy and the cuddlebug. How sad am I going to be to not be across the bridge from this little one?  I don't even want to talk about it.

November went by really quickly - I went out to Austin for some quality time with the bro, his girlfriend Erin, and their dogs Hitch and Duchess, who have a very complicated love/hate relationship. The dogs, that is. Hitch is a lovey dovey pup who just loves to please, and cuddle. Here from last year:

And Duchess is a spoiled little wiener dog. Duchess looks like a miniature version of Hitch, actually, and they act like brother and sister. I had fun, we played a lot of video games, namely LittleBigPlanet (http://www.littlebigplanet.com/). It's actually the cutest video game ever made. Unofficially, of course. I had 8 glorious days off, then had to return to 5 days in a row. Including Thanksgiving. And while sick. Thanks for the pity, that's what I was going for. I had a horrible sinus infection and couldn't TASTE FOOD for like 5 days. It was awful. I ate soup and drank ginger ale while I should've been eating Turkey and mashed taters. Not to mention this:

The beautiful and scrumptious pecan pie from Flying Star - picture thanks to Uncle Marc and Aunt Pam, who thankfully ate some in my absence. Don't worry, I'll be back up to Albuquerque to get more (time TBD). 

This last weekend, the MAMA actually came to visit! I know, I was shocked and amazed too ;) I showed her the way to eat her way around San Francisco. I don't think she minded too much. We ate at such fine establishments as: Mel's Drive In, Squat and Gobble, Ole's Waffle Shop, Rose's Cafe, and I showed her the evil that is Susie Cakes. 

Strawberry and Nutella crepe from Squat and Gobble 

I took my Mama to my church on Sunday and she loved it like I knew she would. It's a predominantly African-American population and they share the gospel with some Charisma. No kidding. I always leave wanting to put a "praise the Lord!" or a "Lord have Mercy!" after anything I say. So if you're ever in San Francisco and are looking for a sound congregation that Speaks where the Bible Speaks and is Silent where the Bible is Silent, the Uptown Church of Christ is where it's at. Plus it's fabulously located. Get off the 22 bus and walk up the stairs to church.

Proof that Lady came to see me.

Stay tuned, I'll let you in on all of my Austin adventures soon!

I'll miss you, San Francisco!