Some people never change..

When it rains in the valley..

..it's snowing in the mountains..

Monday I went to Mt High and had a great day.  It was fresh powdery snow and I got to try my new custom skis made by my cousin, Jon Holuta.

I've found myself distractedly home sick lately.  For my family, for my friends, and for snow.  I can get lost looking at pictures on people's facebook, texts, and etc. I told someone the other day, before I went skiing, that my heart ached for Pennsylvania Winter.

This distraction has not been to my benefit.

There were times in my youth that I was called to the office or required to stay behind to talk the teacher.  It was never anything bad, just the usual, "you need to pay attention", "stop talking in class", "don't chew gum", and etc.  You know, rules.  After hearing reports of these events, I'm sure my parents would think, "she'll grow out of it once she's older."... It's sweet that they were so optimistic..

It started with Sunday, when I heard someone say quietly, "Megan, would you please speak with me in my office?"  I looked up to see one of the doctors I work with looking down at me with a disapproving glance.  You see, we had had a disagreement, which I walked away from before we found common ground. Now he here was to discuss the issue again.. so, face flushing, I followed him to his office and prepared for the reprimand. 

Before any of you get too uncomfortable and start pacing I'll just tell you that the issue was resolved quickly and professionally.  The nurse in charge that day joined us for the discussion, and we were able to come to a conclusion which ended in apologies that were both genuine and appreciated.

With that being said, let's review today's events..

My morning at work was busy, but productive.  While a lot of the time it's easy to get behind on things, today I was ahead.  From the outsider's point of view, it probably looked like I was sitting in a chair not doing anything, but I promise my mind was working and I was thinking of other things I could get done.    However my boss walked up, paused to look me up and down, then said something to the extent of, "I was going to ask if you are busy, but it doesn't look like I'm interrupting anything"

Oo.. not a good start. 

There were two problems she was going to address with me.  The first being an error that was made Sunday, nothing harmful, but something that a series of people involved in the issue (myself being one of them) shouldn't have let happen.  We had to review my notes in the patient's chart and do a step-by-step of some of the thought processes and actions that I took related to this event.  Once that drill was over we had to review a test that I took recently.  It was a test on preventing pressure ulcers, which is a common problem patients have.  My boss pulled out the test and I cringed instantly as I saw a lot of tic marks noting each mistake. She said, "well first off, you failed, but so did a lot of other people" (thanks for the reassurance.. but we all know there's no reason I should have failed this test) My mind flashed back to when I took it.  Ever heard of the phrase half-assed? I think that pretty well describes how I took that test.. I remember thinking, "they probably won't even look at this", as I chose answers willy-nilly and with no logical thought.

While my boss was talking and flipping through the pages of the test she said encouraging things like, "well a lot of people got this one wrong, so I can see how you chose that", but she also dropped the statement, "I'm not sure what happened on this page" as she pointed to questions that I had either skipped entirely, or circled more than one answer, both incorrect. My mind did one of those fuzzy memory sequences from TV and I flashed back to my 13 year old self sitting in front of  the desks of teachers as they said things like, "I'm not mad, but I'll be concerned if this behavior continues".  Suddenly I found myself saying out loud, "I'm sorry" to my boss.  She kind of blinked at me and said, "Don't apologize, you can retake the test. It's really not a big deal."  I'm surprised I didn't say something else dumb like, "are you going to call my parents?"

There are other examples of obstinance and airheadedness, but out of concern for your judgement of my character, I won't divulge, but instead tell you that I promise to be better next time and I'm going to pay attention real well and I'll totally make it up to you, so please let me hangout with my friends tomorrow..

miss you all.

dayz off 2 and 3

Tuesday, Ashley and I woke up early to see the sunrise and play beach dodge ball and workout (with the same people from Monday night).

It was a beautiful, pink, slightly chilly morning.

In the afternoon we were the audience for a taping of Chelsea Lately - a late night talk show hosted by Chelsea Handler.  Ashley had gotten the tickets, so I joined her.  I don't know much about Chelsea, but it was interesting to see them film the show and there were funny parts.

Then we drove right back to the coast for dinner.

The waves have been really high lately, so we got to watch a lot of surfers.. and dolphins!

Today was my day off.  So I went to Mt High. 

They lost most of their snow due to warm weather.  Today was a sunny 60 degrees. 

Some members of my family were skiing in Vermont this week.  Boy do I miss skiing with all of you.  Skiing is always fun, but it's not as enjoyable when you are solo. I hope next year's adventures find me somewhere closer to all of you and some of that East Coast snow..

5.

Friday I went to Mt High-

The drive up is beautiful, especially through the San Bernadino National Forrest.  There are really cool rocks.

Friday was soooo coolldd and windy.

They were making snow all day too.

The winds have been really strong lately, especially when we drive through the San Bernadino valley.  On the way to the mountain we saw several commercial trucks that had tipped over because of the wind.  Debris was blowing around everywhere. It was a hard to drive in too. 

trees blown by the wind

hot choco on the way home

Friday night I went out to dinner at a little Greek restaurant called Firehouse.

The owner introduced himself to me when I was finished eating.  We chatted for a while and he told me his life story.  Originally he came to the US to learn how to be a pilot. He lived with three friends who were also pilots. One day he was scheduled to fly a plane with one of his roomates to Canada then Germany where they were going to vacation for a while.  At the last minute he got a phone call that he was not going to be flying with them and one of his other roomates was to do it instead.  He was told to fly to NYC.  The plane that his friends were on crashed and they both died.  He had a bad case of survivors guilt for about a year, but then he said one day he just realized it was God's decision to have him live.  After that he got his life together and went to chef school then opened the restaurant in the 90s. He said he tries to run his restaurant and greet people with kindness because God had a plan for him.

Amazing, right?

Today I went to Point Dume State Beach in Malibu. It was a gorgeous 70 degrees. 

The Point has tons of rocks you can climb. Once you get over them you find this private little beach.

rock climbers at Point Dume

After the beach I went to the grocery store and finally got my car washed.  I'm pretty sure there was still Pennsylvania dirt on it.. and every other state I drove through on the way here. 

view from Kanan Dume Rd

In the afternoon I laid by the pool and finished a book I was reading.

In the evening I watched Christmas movies and caught the sunset in Calabasas.

These days have been a great boost for the next 4 days of work.

Wednesday I get home.  5 days left!!

chains and flames and christmas cheer

Perhaps you are wondering after the title of this post.  Well let me cut right to it - for my next tattoo, I want chains and flames..

Just kidding!!

But there is a meaning behind my subject title.  Come closer, and I will explain.

Tuesday; a day away from the hospital.  A day for fresh air, fresh snow, and therapy. A day, at Mountain High.

I arose at the crack of dawn and hit the road. In the Valley, it was cold and rainy.  In the mountains, it was snow and ice.

Due to the rain,  LA drivers were freaking out and creating extensive traffic on the 101.  Thinking that I would avoid hold ups, I took the 405 North, a different approach to the mountains. 

What I didn't take into account was that this route would take me through a National Park and poorly maintained roads.

 Enter the chains.

As I drove further and further North, I was passing signs with warnings.  "Poorly maintained roads"  "chains required" "caution" "death to all who trespass" ..etc.

I'll admit my car was slipping some, but not horribly.  Until the road began to twist and turn, as most mountainous roads do.  The slipping worsened.  When I parked my car on the side and went to assess conditions, I nearly fell, as the entire road was coated in black ice.

Luckily though, I had received much advice and prompting to purchase chains.  So I did and kept them in my trunk. Luckily, again, as per my dad's advice, I bought the "easy to apply" chains, and had no difficulty securing them to my tires. Luckily once more, I made it safely to the resort, with plenty of time to mark some fresh powder.

It snowed pretty much all day, but then the clouds opened up and allowed for a beautiful view.

 The next day we both worked.  The therapeutic snow and cold had helped, but Ashley and I were tired and in need of sushi. So we went to one of our favorite restaurants, Kabuki.

 Last night I was sleeping.  Around 330am, I awoke to the most horrendous noise. At first I thought it was my alarm, but it was too early.  It must have been Ashley's.  I plugged my ears and buried my head under my blankets.  Moments later I heard Ashley's panicked voice calling out to me, "Meg! Megan! Are you awake!? I think there's a fire!"  I called out in a sleepy panic, "is it in our apartment?!?" 

Enter the flames.

It wasn't in our place, but the alarm was sounding.  I opened the front door and the sound poured into our entry way, flooding us with an even louder noise from the long, echoing hallway.  We got dressed, gathered essentials (wallet, iPad, phones, chargers, etc) and went outside. People were scattered, in their pajamas and hats and boots.  Everyone squinting and grimacing, because of the sounding alarms.  It was so loud. Once we entered open air we could smell smoke.  More people in their pajamas with their dogs were wandering around, asking if anyone knew where the actual fire was.

The complex we live in has 7 aparment buildings.  Only 3 were alarming; buildings 2, 3, 4, and the parking garage. The other 4 buildings and their tenants continued to slumber in peace.  The fire truck had arrived and fireman and security ushered us away from the buildings, so we made our way to the very front, beyond the gated entrance.

photos by Ashley

Apparently an apartment on the 6th floor of building 2 had caught fire, but it didn't spread beyond.  After about an hour, the alarms were shut off, two more fire trucks and a cop arrived, and we were allowed to return to our beds. Wide awake, ears ringing, and cold. 

Knowing that I would be tired at work today, Ashley surprised me with one of my favorite Starbucks drinks, a peppermint mocha.

Enter Christmas cheer.

 Just a taste of what the two of us have been up to recently..

The other day Ashley asked if I wanted to go see a movie, New Year's Eve.  I was willing to go, and she asked me to look up the times.  Upon searching, I discovered that the theater nearest to us was also showing NYC Ballet Company perform The Nutcracker, which I have been looking for lately.  I asked Ashley if that was appealing to her, and it was not.  However, she encouraged me to see it, if that was what I wanted.

So, arriving together for the same move time, Ashley and I went to the the cinema for two separate movies, lasting for about the same length.  She in one theater, and I in another.

I want to be a ballerina. 

Needle-sticks and skiing..

Sunday I took Erin to the airport.  It was sad to see her go. This is such a unique time in my life, and I'm glad she got to see and experience it.  Also, I miss hanging out with my sisters..


these girls --

This picture is about 3 years old, I think, but it's one of my favorites of the 4 of us, when we were all still Wallworks. 

Anyway.....! After I took E to the airport I went into work.  Normal day in the ICU...until about 3 hours into my shift. Immediately after giving my patient an injection in their stomach, the needle got caught on something and ricocheted into my left hand. I kept my cool, removed my glove and washed my hands. When I was drying them I started bleeding. That made me realize the needle went deeper than I thought, and I needed to report it.

After discussing the situation again and again, and filling out tons of paperwork, for AMN, KP, and an outside workman's comp company, it was decided that I needed to have blood work done. Here's where another issue was discovered.  Because I am an agency nurse, through American Mobile Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, the hospital I work for, does not consider me "their" employee, but American Mobile's (AMN). Then the back and forth about who would pay for the work-up started.  KP didn't want to, but neither did AMN.  I spent far too much time on phone calls, looking  through my contract, and filling out more paperwork.  My co-workers, in their kindness, kept asking if I was doing okay, and if I was worried.  I was fine, but my biggest issue was that the companies I work for didn't care so much about me and the risk that I had after being stuck by a dirty needle, but about the cost of the blood work. When I expressed this to the head of nursing that day, he said I should just get the blood work done and have them figure it out later.  So I did..  I guess this is a set back of being a traveler.  If I was permanent staff, there wouldn't have been any question.

Today was therapy for me.. or at least that's how I justified going up to Mt High.

Skiing in 60 degrees sunshine.  I skied without a hat or gloves.  Of course that means though, that when I fell I got a nice ice/brush burn on my hands and arms.  Classy.

Tonight Ashley and I thoroughly discussed our options for January, when our contract is up.  No sure plans yet, but a pretty good idea of what we'd like to do.  So stay tuned, and we'll see where this Pig goes next :)

First Day of Ski Season!

Today I went to Mountain High Ski Resort.

A friend of mine from work, Shaun (see above), invited me to join him and his two friends.  

There was a good amount of people out today, maybe 150 or so.  Only 4 or 5 trails were open and 2 lifts.  The hills and roads around the resort were all brown, and the snow was only on the slopes.  This is because most of the snow here is man-made.  

The pond at the top of the mountain used for making snow.

Not only was I one of the only skiers there (there were maybe 10 of us) but I was one of the only women there all day.  This resulted in frequent cat calls, wolf howls, "hey baby"s, and the like. Shaun and his friends are Philippino, as were most of the people at the resort today.  He told me that white girls are especially attractive to men of Philippino descent.  They kept commenting on my hair and skin.  I've heard of this before, from people who's origins started in another country.  Their only exposure to American women was through movies. They tend to view all white American women as the actresses they see in films. 

Oh who are we kidding, we all know I look just like some famous and extremely attractive actress..

It was a warm 55 degrees and sunny.  We had a great time, perfect way to start the season.  The guys I went with today are all nurses that work 3 days a week as well.  They go up as often as they can, and I hope to join them again.

As a side note, I've been walking to work lately and I really enjoy it. This is one of the views I had of the moon early Sunday morning.  It was a lovely pink AM.