Happy 4th

Very  funny Scott… Sox have won 8 in a row… Actually, they have won more than the Phillies…

Almost time for fireworks

I’m at my parents house tonight… Kinda surreal that I can drive here in 2.5 hours and not have to book a flight. My parents have a boat on Lake Michigan and the town where the boat club is located is having their fireworks display tonight…. It’s actually a really good display..

So… the Cable guy…. You are right, Ed… it would be a really cool “Meet Cute” story if anything actually happened…

Here is the conclusion…. so, it’s today around 3pm, I had just left the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (I had to get info about what to do for a new license & registering my car… new license plate will be: “WHSOX”, or “CHSOX”, or GOSOX”)..Anyway, as I was getting into my car I decided to call him….

Well, I called the number he gave me and I first got a fast busy signal… I waited a few minutes and then called it again… this time I got the dreaded “the number you are trying to reach is not in service, check the number and try again.”

I tried and tried again… with the same results…  then I got ticked and then I got sad… and then I cried…because it would be just like me to fall for a fake number. Ugh. Gullible I am.

Well, I was maybe 35 minutes outside of Indianapolis when I realized I still had the number he CALLED me on stored in my cell phone. He called me on Tuesday afternoon to tell me that I was next on his route…  So, I look at that number….

The plot thickens… So, the number he wrote down for me was (this is a fake number): 708-341-5687….  Well, the number on my cell was this: 708-347-5687. He was off by ONE number. So, did he really give me a bogus number??? Or did just not remember what his cell phone number was?

I debated the issue for 20 more miles…  In the end… I called the CORRECT number. I got his VM… I left a message. End of story.

So, no “meet cute” story.

Ta-ta for now.

Enjoy your weekend. Try to do something patriotic!

July 1, 2009

Hi Guys & Gals….

Sorry for the long lag between posts. Things are a little bit crazy here. I’m sitting at the main public library in downtown Indianapolis using one of their computers. I still haven’t set up my Internet yet. I FINALLY got my cable TV set up yesterday afternoon and totally love it…but that’s another story.

Things here are going pretty well. I’m lonely but I figure that will change once I start going places to meet people (ie.. work, church, stripper clubs– just kidding!). Since I moved here last Thursday I have spent most of my time getting lost (even with my GPS… damn one way streets), organizing my apartment and taking little road trips to various sections of town.

My mom came down  on Monday (which is kinda cool that she can now drive here for a day instead of flying…). We went to the cool, hip street: Massachusetts Avenue or just “Mass Ave”… and ate lunch at this cool restaurant… comfort food done up with a new twist. I had the hot ham & cheese on a bun… YUM.

Today I got my ID picture taken for work. I’m FINALLY all set to start my job on Monday with orientation.

I’m taking the NCLEX (nursing board exam) on Monday, July 20th. UGH. I actually wish I was taking it tomorrow.

Ok…so, back to the cable story because that’s the most interesting thing that has happened to me since I moved here.

The cable guy was named Mike. We started talking and he’s 39 & never married. He made a comment of me being about 25…  That’s the 2nd person to say that I was in my early-to-mid twenties…  Anyway, we started talking more when I told him that I was almost 38.

More banter between us & then when he gave me my receipt he listed his phone number (NOT to his own cell.. to his Comcast computer/phone thingy) and said (these were his words!!): “Call if you have any questions, problems, or if you just want to chat.” WHAT DOES THIS MEAN BOYS & GIRLS?????????????????????????????????????????????? Should I call him?

UGH.

That’s it for today… I’m thankful that it’s a little cool outside. I’m wearing dress clothes (ie..skirt & sweater) because most of my stuff is still packed and/or I need to do laundry. I’m going to go find some lunch and then hopefully get a hair appointment.. my hair hasn’t been cut since Feb 20th. NOT GOOD.

Ta-Ta for now.

And, yes… I miss Philadelphia horribly… especially WAWA on Sunday mornings.

You’re right Scott…

You deserve a post of all your own. Yes, you’re right… but it’s hard/difficult/nearly impossible to think that it’s going to be any different in a new city than it was in Chicago, Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, or Philadelphia.

Or, just maybe… MAYBE there is a man in Indianapolis who can figure me out and won’t want to run the other direction.

But, that’s not even remotely the reason I’m moving. I’ve come to the conclusion that when God wrote the book on my life.. the word “single” was placed next to it.

This is the first time since 1997 that I’m moving somewhere utterly by myself. This is the first time since 1993 that I’m moving to a new state where I don’t know ANYONE (minus 3 people who I have last seen almost 15 years ago).

Blah. This is hard.

I look like I have track marks on my arms…

Yes, I look like a druggie (or is it “druggy”?). My one arm is totally bruised in four different places… it does look like I was trying to find a vein…but, I swear it’s all from packing and moving today. My little “Relocube” came around 2.30p today. My friend Jamie (THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!) came over at 4 to help me pack… When I first saw the cube online I wasn’t sure if one was going to be enough. They are 8 feet tall, 6 feet wide, and 7 feet long. But EVERYBODY I talked to said that one is enough since I’m not taking tons of furniture. I’m glad that I only ordered one cube..because everything major has been packed… some minor stuff will go into my car and then it’s off I go. Jamie and I finished at 7.30 this evening. Needless to say, I’m extremely tired.

Tomorrow it’s more cleaning and off to my final trip to KOP mall for the near and distant future. It’s weird. I know that I’m moving far away..but it really doesn’t seem that far (although it IS far…632 miles or 9.5 hours). Maybe it will sink in when I’m at my new place, finding a new church…  getting crushed by a new batch of guys…. UGH.

Ok… I just hit the wall… Contacts are coming out and I’m going to bed (it’s 11.23pm). Good night all….

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. I. HATE. PACKING.

2. White Sox WON.

3. I. HATE. PACKING.

4. White Sox WON

5. White Sox WON

6. White Sox WON

And, so Scott… what happened to your beloved Phillies last night???? Ummm.. what was that sound???? Chokin’ in the top of the 9th!!!! 

Seven Days..

I think I’m under some delusion that I’m here longer and that I still have all the time in the world to pack my stuff. In reality… I have today, tomorrow, and Friday morning. I do have a lot packed… but there is still a great deal that needs to be accomplished.

I must remind myself to never move and take the Kaplan review course in the same time frame (but then again, I’m hoping that I will never have to take a NCLEX review course again–although, it’s been very good…).

Job update: They called me on Monday morning to say that they received my paperwork. Monday afternoon I rec’d another call from the NP telling me that she said what “saved” me was having the immunization records from HS. She said that if I didn’t have that proof I received the MMR shots they would have not  cleared me. She said that the infectious disease MD said I would be fine because I have memory cells that the titers do not pick up. The best part was that she went on to say “And, you are working on Krannert 6… and because you will be working with wealthier clients your risk of contracting measles, mumps, or rubella is very low with that patient population.”

I thought just because I’m working with ADULTS that my risk will be low, since those three diseases are mostly CHILDHOOD ones…  It is true that my clients will be mostly wealthy, but that really doesn’t matter… does it?

Anyway, I didn’t open my mouth at all to her…. it was “yes, maam, i understand, and thank you…” Honestly, she didn’t seem happy about clearing me. Maybe she just doesn’t like her job….  Who knows….

Today at 10am is my “readiness” test for Kaplan…  180 questions & 3 hours. UGH. I just want this thing to be over with. Kinda ticked off about the whole NCLEX thing.

That’s about it for now.

Driving back to Midway…

I’m in the car right now with my parents as we go back to Midway. My flight to PHL is at 11.55 CST. It’s been a bummer weekend for the most part.

The major highlight: I might not have a job anymore. I went Indianapolis on Friday morning to do some final tasks before I move. In the early afternoon I had my employee physical at the hospital. Well, it didn’t go at all like I expected OR maybe.. it went exactly like I expected it to. First, part of it was my fault. Of course, I forgot the most important piece of paper back on my desk in Media: a copy of my immunization records from HS that proved I received my MMR shot (3X). The paperwork that I did have to give them showed that my titers were non-reactive…meaning that I’m not immune to rubella & that my Hep B shots also didn’t work like they are supposed to in a normal human. On top of that, it showed that my Herpes Zoster test showed that I’m 0.05 from having immunity from that (aka: Chicken Pox).

The nurse who was examining me was honestly the first person I have met there who wasn’t nice. She was abrupt. She said that if I *didn’t* show her the test results I would have been OK, but since I was honest with them & brought everything she said that she has to address the results & that they will not clear me for employment.

She then asked me: “How did you get through nursing school?” I didn’t know how to respond because my jaw was still on the floor.

She then left for almost 20 minutes & then came back into the office with the Nurse Practioner. She said it was their policy to not clear ANYONE who can’t prove immunity to measles, mumps, rubella, or zoster. In most people they would just give the vaccine, but because of my heart transplant status & immunosuppresant drugs I can’t have either vaccine because they are made with the live (but weakened) virus.

She said that I should fax my proof of immunizations to her (the paper that I forgot) & that she would have to *discuss* my status with the infectious disease doc.

Basically, my drugs mask my immunity… (That’s the short version).

As I was leaving the office, I answered the nurse who asked me how I got through nursing school. My answer: “With honors.”

I have no time..

Namely because I’m lazy.. lazy.. lazy…. I have to have everything packed by next Friday (6/19) at NOON…. I haven’t even started my bedroom yet. Although, the more I think about it… it might not be that bad.. because 90% of my bedroom is clothes… I’m not taking ANY of my bedroom furniture with me. It’s fake IKEA crud from 16 years ago that I got when I was in grad school. I think I’ve said this before.. but I’ve slept in a twin bed all these years… I’m moving on up to a nice Queen size bed from Crate & Barrel. Woohoo.

Kaplan NCLEX course is going well. I’m actually enjoying it. Our  teacher is really good and keeps us engaged for the 4 hours. I think I like it because 90% of the time it’s just answering questions… and I can always answer more questions.

I’m skipping class this morning (from 10-2) because I’m flying home this afternoon and still have tons of stuff to accomplish. Also, for a sad reason. A friend’s boyfriend passed away in his sleep on Monday morning. The viewing is from 9-11 this morning in Paoli. I never met him, but I know that he made her absolutely happy… So, that’s a good thing. From what I gathered on his FB page… he was really young… graduated HS in 96.. so, that would put him at 30? Anyway, I’m rambling…

*** Yes, Scott.. my beloved team lost again last night…

Ta-ta for now.

Hot

I’m s-l-o-w-l-y packing boxes. I finished a BIG BOX (I have 3 box sizes: small, medium, and SUPER BIG). Next. I’m going to tackle the pots/pans next that I’m taking with me (which, thankfully isn’t that many… after 12 years the teflon is starting to wear off & something tells me that I shouldn’t being eating food combined with teflon flakes). The thing is… it’s HOT in here. I have the A/C on…but I’m sweating like a pig (which is totally normal for me)… My arms are literally sticking to my desk as I type this in my bedroom.

Today was my first Kaplan NCLEX review course. I’m enrolled in a class that meets Mon-Thur for the next 2 weeks down at 16th & Walnut. Today we took our diagnostic exam to see where we stand on things. Well, Kaplan SAYS that if you score 65% or above on the 180 item test then you’re golden when it comes to passing NCLEX. It was a 180 item scantron test. We had 3 hours & I think I completed it in 2 hours 35 minutes. I seemed to favor response item #2… if you looked on my Scantron sheet… I had in one column NINE #2 answers in a row…. UGH. I also had a lot of diagnol patterns, etc…  (BTW, it’s my dream to be a teacher and to make a Scantron test where EVERY answer is “A”… I think it would totally be  cool to see which students would catch on by the end)…. Anyway, blah, blah, blah… I checked my score online… 67%!!!  Now, I’m hoping that I can keep it up.

Nothing else utterly exciting to report. White Sox still suck. Blah.

16 Days  & counting……