cha laaem.

[usually of female beauty]: adj.  healthy; happy; glowing; beautiful.

These are the precious girls I will be going to greet in Thailand this June 29th-July 17th.  The live at Breanna's House of Joy, a girl's orphanage in Chiang Mai.  Aunt Terry, Uncle Steve, my dear friend Angie, and a group of high school students will be making the trip to aide, lead, play with, teach, and learn from this cast of young women.  We will also be taking a few days to play on the beach, ride elephants, and drink beverages served only out of coconuts.  Yeah, that's no reason.  This is why I insisted on an 8 week assignment in Texas and why I was so distraught over the idea of having to take a regular staff RN job somewhere.  These annual trips have been going for a while, and I just decided that this year, I really have no business not going.  I missed last year because of Cardiac Camp.  Not this year.  This year Panda's gonna go be changed.  I already know that these girls and that nation will have so much to open my eyes to and so much to show me about the awesomeness of the human condition.  First things first.  

Watch this.  BE inspired to move about the cabin.  Love Love Love.  

Segunda asignación.

I don't know where I'm going

But I sure know where I've been

Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday

And I've made up my mind

I ain't wasting no more time

Here I go again!

I've arrived in McAllen, TX!  I don't quite know what to think about this place.  The apartment I am staying in is on a farm road.  I did, however, venture to the grocery store and passed quite a few beautiful neighborhoods.  There's a Target.  It's kind of like Ellensburg, I think.  I start orientation tomorrow at Doctor's Hospital at Renaissance.  This is strange country, but I have a good feeling about it.  Another perk?  McAllen is 1.5 hrs from South Padre Island.  I think it's time for some "Spring Break WhooHoo!".

Love Love Love.

Wards sound like Prison.

I spent the week hanging out with Stace in Houston, basically in hysterics.  You just never know what you might remember when you bust out the ol' college pictures.  Was it so long ago that we were living in Kennel Club shirts, camping outside for basketball, ingesting Cog grease, avoiding DeSmet, and mudding on Mulligan?!  Check out the fun day we had on the beach in Galveston.  It's basically a little beach town on the Gulf......good food, warm water, and cute people on bikes/skateboards.  

  Love Love Love.

GiddyUp.

After a LOT of driving, I have arrived in the Lone Star State.  Holy culture shock.  Fun fact: Texas is the only state that permits the flying of the state flag at the same height as our national flag.  Says a lot, doesn't it?  Note new address.  I am playing with Stace in Houston for a week and then driving South on Sunday.  Whoo Hoo.  

Mimi says Sayonara to PHX.

These are the final pics from my Arrivederci PHX tour, which included the Scottsdale Culinary Festival and my goodbye party at a karaoke dive bar. I will miss all of my fabulous friends here, but have already promised to return when the weather turns ugly again. Last thoughts on this place:

The Good:
- the weather, duh.
- the super easy highway system and grid roads
- good food, fun bars
- close proximity to the snowbirds in Yuma
- cheap flights out of Sky Harbor
- Camelback mountain. I fell in love with the Summit trail whilst here.

The Bad:
- dumb drivers in the rain
- lack of english speaking inhabitants
- urban sprawl. ew.
- feels like poor man's LA
- the water here tastes like an open sewer drain.

I start my drive tomorrow. Ciao.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye

Faith and determination prevail!

I have signed an employment contract for an 8 week assignment in McAllen, TX in the Rio Grande Valley.  It's a doctor owned hospital, which so far I think is really cool.  They just opened a brand new PICU, and I get to work there.  I will be living at the Texas Guest Ranch.  No typo, that's what it's really called.  There is indeed an airport in McAllen, let me know if you would be interested in a visit to the YeeHawLand.  I'm going to leave PHX on Sunday, and arrive in Houston Monday.  After a week of fun with Stace, I will proceed the six hours south to McAllen to start work on the 27th.  God is good.  Cowboy up!

Love Love Love

Notes on Urban Socialization

On this night amidst my Arrivederci, Phoenix! Tour, I decided to go with Erica downtown to meet some of her friends for a night of giggling, dancing, and ringing ears.  Yes, I wore my tutu.  It felt only appropriate.  We danced our faces off and it was fantastic.  However,

 Some observations:

- why is it that I am approached exponentially more often by black males than any other variety?  are they more bold?  or just amused by my stature?  furthermore, they hastily approach me in bars, as if I might scurry away like an elf.  This night, I hadn't even ordered my first drink when a dark skinned fellow slid up next to me at the bar and blew me away with his opening line of: "how tall are you?"........SERIOUSLY?!  I was wearing a freaking TUTU.  You couldn't have done anything with THAT?!  

- how the hell is a girl of this century supposed to manage the non-confrontational brush off?  I'm told that you used to have to write your name and number on a cocktail napkin and coyly pass it to any man who asked for your number in a public place.  This made a relatively easy out if needed:  fake names, fake numbers!  Now, I have people screaming incoherently in my ear while shoving a Blackberry in my face.  Firstly, I don't know how to use them and doofishly fumbled with the keys to get "Emily Meng" entered into the phones.  Thank goodness I didn't have the guts to enter in a fake number because now THEY CALL YOU IMMEDIATELY.  Who says just because you want mine that I want yours?!  Eek!  In this situation, I thought I was so sneaky in that upon getting the missed call, I immediately blocked the number.  Gotcha.  

- I don't like the ass-grabbing phenomenon that is sweeping this nation.  I can't think of much else needed to elaborate.  That's MINE, and kindergarten says to keep your hands to yourself, bucko.  

-Uh, so.... What happened to the three day rule?  The very next day I have three calls from gentlemen callers seeking "Emily".  Blocking numbers is sneaky.  Not activating the feature on your phone makes you look like an idiot.  Dang it.  

I have recently been told that I give off the "closed off" vibe to guys and that I need to be more open to meeting people....apparently that's healthy.  Well.  You're wrong.  I'm putting my fake wedding band back on.  This is stupid.  

*addendum: it should be noted that blocking calls really only forwards to voicemail....and does nothing to traffic text messages.  may we all pray that someday this changes.    

Like I said,

Just don't give up!  I interviewed for a travel position in Texas yesterday.  I just got a phone call that the nurse manager wants to confirm me, just has to wait til Wednesday for hosp administration to sign my contract.  God is good, and He will provide, every time.  If all goes smoothly, I am headed to Houston next week for a week of waiting at Stace's, and then I start my assignment April 27th.  I am blessed that my recruiter is getting me an 8 week assignment, so I will be done with a free week before Thailand!  How do you say "frickin sweet"  in Thai?!

Told you so.

Sigh.

I'm really sick of constantly making life changing decisions.  I had gotten settled into this travel nurse thing.  My Nordstrom card is paid off.  I was content.  I'm back soul searching again.  If no travel assignment comes by next Saturday....how am I going to find a permanent job somewhere that will let me go to Thailand in July?!  Even so, where in the world should that be?  Warning:  this next statement is oh-so melodramatic but oh-so spot on for where I'm at.  I feel like every time I think I have things figured out, it always goes awry.  

Pray Pray Pray.