It's been over two weeks since I saw the kiddos and I am having a harder time than I thought I would. Add to that I had a house full of people for four days and they all left at the same time and I am quite lonely. For the first day or two I enjoyed it....cherished my quiet time. Maybe if I was near to the people I love but still alone as I have been it would be different, however they are over 1200 miles away and that seems to make it worse somehow.
I have been sitting in orientation for three full sunshine filled days. How come when I was working nights and had days off it was cloudy and rainy (still 80 degrees however) and now that I am sitting in a classroom staring out the window the palm trees are blowing in the balmy ocean breeze with a clear blue sky background? Two more days to go in the classroom and I bet it's going to stay sunny....any takers on that bet?
I finally went to have my car looked at and lo and behold it couldn't possibly be something simple like the cellinoid for the transmission, but the whole transmission. My estimate for a rebuilt one is $2400 and 2-3 days of work. There goes all the money I have coming! I am going to start working per diem at another job so that will help to supplement my income and allow me to save for the big move when the kids come.
On the bright side, I am finally in Florida...I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I didn't think it would be quite this hard. I didn't expect all the kinks thrown into the mix with this move. From now on maybe I should look at the dark side instead of the bright side? :)
Also, I started couponing and saved a bunch of money for my first time out. I will get better with time. I spent $66.53 for $141.91 worth of groceries and that was pretty exciting. As if I didn't have enough to do with my time....LOL...but it's a huge high for me and it's saving money for the family. Can't beat that!
Never thought I would see the time that 9:30 PM was late for me but it is since I have to be up by 6 AM at the latest to get ready and be at orientation by 8. Off to dreamland.....
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Alone time
Alone in Florida with lots to do......last night I did some cleaning and enjoyed the sunset from the entry to the condo:
And as promised got more photos of the condo now that it is as completely clean and unpacked as it is going to get:
VERY cloudy this morning, but a nice 73 degrees on the patio with my coffee. Doing some research for a new bank and catching up with some other things that need done with quiet around me. Going to spend the day at the pool reading about Cardiac medications, etc. as soon as the sun comes out. The weather channel promises that by noon I will be basking in 80 degree sunshine!
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
One week into my new life
So I am one week into my new life and it's surreal here. I don't feel like I live here...seems like an extended vacation, even with work thrown into the mix. Had an adventure on the way down with a $1000, five hour stop in Bluffton, SC (just outside of Hilton Head):
Once that was all done and we arrived in Florida, everything should have settled, right? NOT! We walked into the condo remembering it as clean and beautiful.....well, it was still beautiful but not as clean as we remembered. Cleaning commenced the very next day and took the entire day, along with shopping for groceries, etc.
More pics to come once I take them of the areas we didn't quite have done yet. The parking situation here at the condo is another thing....our poor landlady is in NC and has been trying to straighten the situation out with not much success. How hard is it to figure out that she has people subletting for three months and they need a pass to park in her spot? Apparently they are money hungry here and want to do a background check on me to make sure I am not an axe murderer. Question of the day: how many background checks does it take for a person to move to Florida and work here? One week in and we still don't have answers. The HOA wants $100 from our landlady to do this check on me....can we say 'money hungry'? It's not even a gated community for heaven's sake!
We are less than 10 minutes from the ocean and the beautiful beaches that we walked on our second day here. Got approached by a man that just started making conversation about the shells and my kiddos and watched these silly birds run up to the surf and then run back as it came towards them.
Work is a little odd: they don't have a clear picture of how to train us since we didn't have the hospital wide training yet. I had two days of orientation on the floor on two different units and then had a day on my own. Apparently I wasn't supposed to yet, because I went in last night and was on yet another unit orienting. Now I will be on my own Friday and Saturday nights and then on days next week for the hospital orientation. They are really relaxed about the schedule when planning it with me and have no problem accomodating anything at this point. Everyone has been very nice and I am amazed at the difference here. You don't hear people talking behind other people's backs and everyone seems to help everyone else whenever needed.
Had visitors at the condo already....was a full house for the weekend up until yesterday. We all went to the local flea market on Sunday to browse. It was quite fun....might even head back there on my own on Sunday. Then we found a local sports bar to watch some football and drink some beer. Made new friends there as well. Not a thing like "home". Heck, even went to get my haircut and the hairdresser invited us to go see Rocky Horror Picture Show in Orlando that night and gave me her phone number. In what world does that happen? In the world where people aren't nasty to each other or talk about each other just to hear themselves talk....in the world that isn't Jamestown....that's where!
I might be a little lonely now without my family and loved ones, but I will adapt and soon we will all be together and better off for it. All the setbacks just make me stronger and more determined to have a life here with those I love. So for now, I am alone in Florida (feeling a little empty nest syndrome after the long weekend of a full house), but I am LOVING every minute of this new adventure!
Once that was all done and we arrived in Florida, everything should have settled, right? NOT! We walked into the condo remembering it as clean and beautiful.....well, it was still beautiful but not as clean as we remembered. Cleaning commenced the very next day and took the entire day, along with shopping for groceries, etc.
More pics to come once I take them of the areas we didn't quite have done yet. The parking situation here at the condo is another thing....our poor landlady is in NC and has been trying to straighten the situation out with not much success. How hard is it to figure out that she has people subletting for three months and they need a pass to park in her spot? Apparently they are money hungry here and want to do a background check on me to make sure I am not an axe murderer. Question of the day: how many background checks does it take for a person to move to Florida and work here? One week in and we still don't have answers. The HOA wants $100 from our landlady to do this check on me....can we say 'money hungry'? It's not even a gated community for heaven's sake!
We are less than 10 minutes from the ocean and the beautiful beaches that we walked on our second day here. Got approached by a man that just started making conversation about the shells and my kiddos and watched these silly birds run up to the surf and then run back as it came towards them.
I have started walking on top of my regular workouts and swimming. I tackled the Roosevelt Bridge on my first walk:
Work is a little odd: they don't have a clear picture of how to train us since we didn't have the hospital wide training yet. I had two days of orientation on the floor on two different units and then had a day on my own. Apparently I wasn't supposed to yet, because I went in last night and was on yet another unit orienting. Now I will be on my own Friday and Saturday nights and then on days next week for the hospital orientation. They are really relaxed about the schedule when planning it with me and have no problem accomodating anything at this point. Everyone has been very nice and I am amazed at the difference here. You don't hear people talking behind other people's backs and everyone seems to help everyone else whenever needed.
Had visitors at the condo already....was a full house for the weekend up until yesterday. We all went to the local flea market on Sunday to browse. It was quite fun....might even head back there on my own on Sunday. Then we found a local sports bar to watch some football and drink some beer. Made new friends there as well. Not a thing like "home". Heck, even went to get my haircut and the hairdresser invited us to go see Rocky Horror Picture Show in Orlando that night and gave me her phone number. In what world does that happen? In the world where people aren't nasty to each other or talk about each other just to hear themselves talk....in the world that isn't Jamestown....that's where!
I might be a little lonely now without my family and loved ones, but I will adapt and soon we will all be together and better off for it. All the setbacks just make me stronger and more determined to have a life here with those I love. So for now, I am alone in Florida (feeling a little empty nest syndrome after the long weekend of a full house), but I am LOVING every minute of this new adventure!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Final hours in NY
Had a great night with my girls last night. Spent most of the night not thinking about the fact that I was leaving, but got to see everyone I wanted to see before I left. I have very few TRUE friends in this town and saw them all. I can't thank them enough for being there for me.
As for today, I dozed for a few hours after being out late last night and now I'm just trying to get motivated for a shower. I have to go get gas and get on the road. Not sure if I will be able to update on my way or not. I would rather just get in the car and get there.
I can't imagine how I am going to say good bye to the kids in a few short hours. Going to be an emotional wreck for the drive. And so the adventure begins....
As for today, I dozed for a few hours after being out late last night and now I'm just trying to get motivated for a shower. I have to go get gas and get on the road. Not sure if I will be able to update on my way or not. I would rather just get in the car and get there.
I can't imagine how I am going to say good bye to the kids in a few short hours. Going to be an emotional wreck for the drive. And so the adventure begins....
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Last full day at home
Bittersweet day again today....It's my last full day and night here in Jamestown with the kiddos. We are relaxing, hanging out and doing a few things around the house. I'm not really sure how I am going to fit everything I need to into my car, but I will find a way!!!! I'm headed out with the girls tonight for dinner and then meeting other friends.
This move has been a long time coming and while I am very nervous about starting a new contract at a new hospital, I am also very excited to be moving on with my life. I have always wanted to live in Florida...actually thought I was gonna move there after High School at one point, but never made the move.
I have done a lot of growing up over the last year (bout time since I am 38 years old) and become very independent and sure of myself. It's time for this move. Missing the kids is going to be very hard, but it is necessary to be separated right now. The most important thing is finding a good school district for them, and research and looking around is the only way to do it.
Now that I have procrastinated enough this morning, it's time to get moving and get all the loose ends tied up at home. My new quaint little home:
This move has been a long time coming and while I am very nervous about starting a new contract at a new hospital, I am also very excited to be moving on with my life. I have always wanted to live in Florida...actually thought I was gonna move there after High School at one point, but never made the move.
I have done a lot of growing up over the last year (bout time since I am 38 years old) and become very independent and sure of myself. It's time for this move. Missing the kids is going to be very hard, but it is necessary to be separated right now. The most important thing is finding a good school district for them, and research and looking around is the only way to do it.
Now that I have procrastinated enough this morning, it's time to get moving and get all the loose ends tied up at home. My new quaint little home:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)