The Update

It’s official.  I am going to LA in approximately one week.  Yes, it will have been over two months since my job in Fort Worth ended, and yes, I think I am finally ready for this “vacation” to come to a close.  The time off has undoubtedly been nice.  Due to my job title of “travel nurse” I made it a goal to only work 9 months out of the year, and it appears I am on track for making that quickly become a reality.  (Perhaps a little too on track).  Maybe I should just become a teacher.  That way I’d be guaranteed the time off without really having to think or plan it.  Hmmm….

I prefer to not endorse the option of viewing myself as lazy.  I have tried to work several times at my per diem agency, but it appears that I am just not needed.  In a way this is disappointing  and in a way it really is not.  When I do schedule myself to work I must get up at 4:45 am to call and see if I’ve been canceled.  This means going to bed early, preferably before 10 pm, and having all of my “nurse things” ready the night before so that I can jet out the door quickly.  It also means that I may not be working at the hospital that I originally said I’d go to.  Example:  Overlake says they don’t need me so my agency calls Valley to see if I’m needed there.  So extra time in the morning is good because there is always the possibility of getting lost, not knowing where to park, getting disoriented coming out of an elevator and heading in the wrong direction, etc.  In Fort Worth it took me weeks to understand the hospital’s layout.  I can’t believe I use to brag that I had a good sense of direction.  Being so reliant on GPS totally screwed with my inherent ability to problem solve.  Now I just turn and walk and pray that I arrive at my destination. 

I have to admit, when I make that 4:45 am phone call I secretly hope that my services are not needed.  I feel that if I ask to be scheduled and put in the effort of getting ready for work I should not feel guilty for another day of daytime TV, leisurely coffee drinking, online chatting, happy hour, and evening (or afternoon) wine drinking.  I only wish some sort of monetary value could accompany my efforts.  Too bad for that….

Los Angeles will be good though.  I want to go with no expectations (except for sunny weather of course).   I already have somewhat of a preconceived notion because I have visited throughout my life.  If my memory of reiterated moments by parents serves me right, I first went to Disneyland when I was less than one year old.  There have also been road trips with the family, a high school orchestra excursion, and visits to friends.  Texas was fun for me because I truly did not know what to expect.  I had never heard of Fort Worth, didn’t really understand the whole southern hospitality thing, and just recently realized how far Texas is from Seattle.  I’d go back, but am done with the long drives for now.  Basically I heart Texas and hope to heart LA and Cali as well.

We shall see….