first day at my "grown up" job...

I just realized that my last post was the day before graduation. A lot has happened since then. Obviously, I graduated! My mom, dad, sister, brother-in-law, and I spent all day Saturday the 15th packing up all my stuff and moving me to Waco. Every time I move, I realize that I have way too much stuff! Once I got to Waco, I was only there a mere 24 hours before I left again! I visited my parents in Allen for most of the week, then headed to Abilene to spend some time with my friends and go to a wedding. I'm becoming quite the Texas traveler, however, I only go to the same four places over and over again.

Oh, I almost forgot some other big news...I got a new car! I traded in my little Celica for a 2010 Volkswagen Jetta. It is white with black leather interior and it is beautiful! I love it! Some people have asked to see pictures of it because I don't live close enough for them to see it in person. I don't have any pictures of my car itself, but here are some pictures of the exact same thing from the internet.







Now, I'm back in Waco and today was my first day at my "grown up" job. It was a general orientation day for all new staff members whether you were a nurse, housekeeper, finance person, accountant, secretary, etc. The orientation covered policy, procedures, benefits, infection control,....just basic stuff. We learned the different codes that will be called over the PA system for different situations such as cardiac arrest, fire, infant abduction, bomb threat, weapon/hostage situation, and chemical spills. Overall, it was a really boring day, but it was also very informative and very necessary (if that makes any sense at all). Tomorrow, I start general nursing orientation for all LVN's and RN's. I think there's about 25 of us, but I'm not quite sure. I'm excited because I get to start wearing scrubs and tennis shoes tomorrow! I'm also very excited that I have my name badge now because it makes me feel very important. I can swipe it and get through any door in the hospital! On the back of my badge, it even says, "please permit this individual to cross disaster and emergency lines to reach Scott & White". How cool is that?!? The only bad things about my day were the TB skin test that I had to get and the shoes I wore. I wasn't thinking when I locked all my good shoes in the storage unit and didn't realize until late last night that I didn't have my shoes. So my awesome sister (who wears a size 6.5) let me borrow some cute flats to wear on my size 7.5 feet! She's a lifesaver, but my feet were killing me all day!

Big Weekend :)

I'm sitting in the living room floor with my computer in my lap because Goodwill came by today and took my couch and my coffee table. Only two more days in Abilene. It's so bittersweet. I have that lump in my throat like just before you cry, but I'll try to save my tears for tomorrow. I am so excited about having a real job with real patients and a real paycheck. I'm excited about living with my sister and my brother in law. I'm just sad because I don't want to leave my friends at all. I know I'll come back to visit as often as I can, but there's nothing like the spur of the moment movie nights or just driving around town at night when we can't sleep. I'm also going to miss all of my classmates who have become more like family throughout the past year. I saw them all day 4 days a week...way more than I got to see my family. I think they seem like family to me because we went through everything together...all the stresses of school, and all the joys that came when we passed comp exams.
Anyway, my parents will be here in Abilene by noon tomorrow and Erin and Graham will be here around 5. We have such a busy day! I have rehearsal for graduation in the morning, then a hair appointment, more packing, actual graduation, then dinner. My mom, dad, sister, brother in law, Becky, Ben, Josh, and I are all going out to Buffalo Gap to eat at Perini's ranch after the ceremony. Perini's is named the 2nd best steakhouse in Texas, but I've never been, so I'm really excited to try it! Then, Saturday is the big moving day. I'm hoping that the storms will hold out till Sunday but that's doubtful! I'm so lucky and blessed to have my family and my best friends here this weekend. It wouldn't be the same without them! I better go to bed so I can be well rested for the next two days. I'll blog again once I get settled into my new apartment in Waco.