Fancy a Flounce?

On a lovelier note, may I introduce my friend Lindsay?

She and I met through her sis Megan at GU. As per usual, we became fast friends. She and I, along with her cousin will be flouncing about Europe in less than a month.

Know what I love about her? She's a magnet for Irish musicians (ahem, exhibit A) and is superfun to be around. She's also tall, which is vastly useful.

Thrashing Through March.

If March comes in like a lion, mine is the King of the Jungle. In case you aren't completely enveloped in keeping up with the likes of me, shall we recap? In March:

• unemployed, lost three jobs and declined one.
• flew one way to Spokane from Kansas City
• got a job, had to drug test three times and had to submit hoards of paperwork while away from my things in Kansas City
• dealt with emotional ramblings of friends for whom common sense isn't common, including fought urges to flail and shout in Kinko's.
• started the mortgage application process and walked through roughly thirty five bung-holes of despair, marketed as single family homes.
• booked a trip to Europe
• put an offer on my house. they countered with ridiculousness.
• flew one way back to KC. packed, drove 1600 miles home through a raging snowstorm.
• packed again, drove to Seattle to start my new job
• spent one carefree night with friends, before I...
• .....smashed Marsha into a black BMW. Good going, asian driver.
• started a new job at Mary Bridge's Hospital
• re-offered on my house, was accepted. ordered home inspection, wrote earnest check.
• Couch surfed for a week while forbearing hospital orientation
• rented a car for the first time, and learned who insurance adjusters are.

And now, for my favorite, some perspective.

I can hardly believe my fingertips as a type this, but.... on my one way flight home at the beginning of this month, I reached into the seat pocket in front of me to see a Skyline Magazine featuring the face of Ashton Kutcher. He's charming. He's eloquent. He's loved by millions, and married to a cougar. Already drained from the job search and failed contracts, I leafed through the journal in search of this fluffy interview that I had already judged to be the perfect kind of brainless reading for this day in my life. But it was not so.

We all know how successful this man is. He owns his own production company, he produces and creates hit movies and television shows. He Punk'd hundreds of stuffy celebs. America loves him, he loves the business. What I really didn't understand is that aside from his impossibly thick eyelashes and blinding glint in his eye, he's remarkably insightful. He has formulated, among other ideas, this theory of the thrash effect. Thrash is the wake of moving toward a target. The more thrash you create, the more earnestly you are moving and the more people you're stirring. Having thrash is not about being popular. Lots of people don't like being thrashed. But they certainly will notice, and perhaps in the process they might understand your Big Picture. He went on to say that thrash effect is purposefully placing yourself in discomfort, to force yourself to move towards what it is you really want. It may not be pleasant to flagellate through your life and constantly be kicking up dust, but smooth rides are also rarely reported. Just sayin.

This month, I feel thrashy. While it's certainly not to comfortable now, I find comfort in knowing that it will bring me towards what really counts. I genuinely believe (and adore) that I was not meant to live a tranquil life, and therefore force myself to smile through all of the muck.

But boy, I sure know how to stir some trouble, dont I?!

Love Love Love.

Boom.

Many apologies for ignoring all of the lovely messages, postings, texts, and vmsgs on my birthday.

In my defense, I was dealing with this:

To say the least, it was an off day. Do not fret, I am working it out as always.

Love Love Love.

Guess What I'm In?

eeeeesssssssss.....crow.

Yikes. Remember that little rancher I mentioned a few posts ago that I loved and (thought I) lost? Well, I told myself that it was the only one I was really thrilled about. Creepishly driving by every day is wildly inappropriate, but also pretty indicative. So I decided that if it was meant to be, something would work out. Both parties decided to stretch a little to meet in the middle. A few well placed texts (yes, texts!) between realtors and one final offer later, here I am. Impending homeowner, closing Cinco de Mayo 2010. Ole!

03.14.2010

twenty four oceans, twenty four skies

twenty four failures, twenty four tries

twenty four finds me...... in twenty fourth place

twenty four dropouts, at the end of the day

Life was not what i thought it was

twenty four hours ago

still i'm singin, Spirit take me up in arms with You.

twenty four reasons to admit that i'm wrong

with all my excuses still twenty four strong

i want to see miracles, see the world change

wrestles the angel, for more than a name

for more than a feeling, more than a cause

i'm singing, Spirit take me up in arms with You

and You're raising the dead in me.

twenty four voices, with twenty four hearts,

with all of my symphonies, in twenty four parts

i'm not copping out, not copping out, not copping out...*

thank you for the birthday wishes. twenty four is poised to be legendary.

Love Love Love

*song: "Switchfoot's 24"

This Little House of Mine.

To add to this month's excitation, I've decided that I need to become a homeowner. You may remove your jaws from the ground. No, I have not had any epiphanies, I haven't wised up, or decided to settle down. I'm not homesick, and this desperado will at no near juncture, come to her senses. I haven't been out riding fences for too long yet.

HOWEVER.

The current financial sitch in the Bank ala Mingni is this: I need to either a) get married (sans current options), b) buy a house, or c) get knocked up. Oy.

The decision was made based on my not loathing Bachelor Number Two, and not even being able to want to guess what's behind Doors A and C.

So here we are.

Did you know that house hunting individuals commonly find themselves in need of sedation? No? oh.

Well I am, and not even from making the decision to embark on this task. I thought the anxiety of putting on my big girl pants and meeting with a lender was just enough.

"Excuse me miss, but may I have large sums of your funds with which to purchase a property to store my off-season clothing?" I'm just glad no one laughed and sent me to the candy dish on my way out the door. Shockingly, I was pre qualified in mere minutes and given permission to start the Hunt. Xanax?

So began my search. With my abundant (f)unemployment free time, I have spent entire afternoons driving around Spokane with my darling realtor, while perusing homes and trying to make an adult judgment call. Meanwhile, I listen in on (and maybe participate in?)the headgames, the drama, and the fakeouts that govern the real estate business. "oh well, we were thinking of making an offer, but really you should know that your house sucks because of x, y, and z. So can we have it for like, twenty bucks?" I try to not barf.

and then I found it. Just as I thought I couldn't stomach another coffin/kitchen, scary basement or mermaid themed bathroom, I come across this little cottage. It's adorable. Small, clean, and updated. Hardwood floors, wide kitchen, tons of counterspace. I sum up any and all maturity I can muster and put an offer on this sweet little rancher in a great neighborhood on a darling street.

The owners won't budge. They're in over their heads and need some stupid person who doesn't care about money and has a lot of it to pay a ridiculous amount of money on their home. Even though I can afford it, this house can't be worth as much as their asking! They're asking me to take on their financial burden and place myself in the muckfest that they have found themselves in. They don't know who they're dealing with. They don't realize my dad is probably in the asian mob.

So I said "seeyuh" and am reinstating the hunt. Homebuying is stressful.

One More Thing.

I finished up in KC, I sweated it out in Spokane, I got an assignment in T-Town. The last task? Fly back to Kansas City to retrieve my things and drive my poor Marsha back to Washington. UUURRRRRRGGGGHHH. 27.5 hours, 1600 miles, seven states in tow days. Most of the times I really look forward to and relish my long drives between assignments, but this trip was something else. First of all, I like the nervous excitement of driving to a new place, and going through States I probably haven't seen before. I like seeing the quirky signs, the foliage, and the scenic turnouts. This drive, I've done before. My destination is home. Yawn. Plus it was just so damn long! To add insult to serious injury, I was caught in a snow storm for four hours driving across South Dakota. To begin with, I had to drive across South Dakota. The snow storm was not necessary, I was being punished enough already. I ended up having toe drive 40mph in the dark, and added two hours to my journey. Nevertheless my poor attitude was lifted when I entered Montana and all that is glorious about the PNW.

A Precious Moment.

The way I see it:

"It's a great day when you've got a plastic nipple shoved in your mouth."

"Oh my Sweet, c'est si bon, it's so gooooooood."

"oh, mon Dieu! pardon me, would you like a taste as well?"

With Much Ado.

After nearly a month of fussing about, I can announce that my next assignment will be working at Mary Bridge's Children's hospital in Tacoma, WA. I know, cue shock. I had previously been huffing and puffing to get an assignment on the East Coast, and I actually came close. I was offered an assignment in the wonderful NYC, which fell through. I was passed over for an even more wonderful assignment in DC. I declined an assignment in Hartford, CT.... because I was just unenthusiastic about night shifts, being on call, and probably Connecticut. So I dropped everything and just flew home to wait out my (f)unemployment. Ten days went by with no leads. Anxiety begins to brew. Just as I was horrifiedly starting to consider that job I rejected months ago in Arkansas, I get a call from an agency I have never worked with. Tacoma. Children's Hospital. Day shift. Housing Stipend. March 15th start date. I liked hearing all of these words and had the agency send the hospital my profile. This was about 1000. By 1500, I had interviewed and was given a verbal offer. By 0900 the next day, I had a contract in my hand, ready to be signed and faxed over. Yes, that's how fast it happens. and yes, I love it.

My assignment end date is TBD, so I dont really know how long I will be in WA. In the meantime, I will be living with Aunt Terry and Uncle Steve, this lovely pair pictured above. Genetically, they belong to TL. But we share, and I claim them as if they're my own. I went with them and others to Thailand last year. They're among the most awesome people I know. They live on this unbelievable farm east of Seattle and I can't wait to be roomies and gather round the coffee maker every morning. Yes, it's going to be a long commute but if you give it some perspective, you see that this is the best arrangement. I only work three days a week, and the other four I will be spending in Seattle playing with my friends and on the farm anyway. SO I will spend more days a week not driving. and there's a beach.

Come play with me, dear ones. Love Love Love.

KCMO wrap up.

For all my interested peeps, here's my final say on the KC.

The Good:

- The people here are just ridiculously nice. Not a snarky comment heard or received for three months. Hear that sound? a HUGE sigh of relief from me for being able to focus on my job without having to dive past the attitude and ego that seems to be a chronic universal illness that the health care system ails from. Seriously, I didnt even have to fight any urges to punch residents in the face or roll my eyes at a big headed attending. It's so refreshing to work in the place where people smile, are generous with thankyous and genuinely play nice.

-The layout. KC is really easy to navigate. Within weeks I got the highway system down, and I am henceforth going on the record saying that the KCI airport is the most user friendly in the US. You should realize how bold a statement that is, coming from yours truly.

-the food. You wouldnt really know it, but these midwesterners may be closet foodies. It aint no San Fran, and it certainly is no NYC, but Kansas City boasts some hidden jewels among the BBQ sauce.

-the hospital. I am also going on the record to say that Children's Mercy is the best hospital I have worked in thus far. Boy, they really earn their magnet status. There are people to help with everything! People to move beds between rooms, people to check your equipment and stock your drawers, people who solely manage pain, and people to set up your rooms. It made working there so pleasant. They really put their money into keeping their nurses happy and as you might guess, happy nurses make happy hospitals. The end.

The Bad:

- the crime. It's rare for pediatrics to deal with gun shot wounds. I saw quite a few. While at work, there was always some trauma coming, a situation, a really bad story. Quelle heartache.

-the culture. or lack thereof. I won't over elaborate, but the area that I lived in was Momsville. An overwhelming majority of the girls I worked with got married as soon as puberty hit, cranked some kids out, and now are in a perpetual state of Mommy. Not what I'm about. I made some really great friends and met really great people, but it was hard to find people with whom I have much in common, and who didn't need a babysitter every time we hung out. Not a flaw per se, but definitely not for me.

-the food. It has to be said. If I stayed in KC any longer, I would blow up to the size of a small RV and need to be rolled outta town. They make food for EVERYTHING. I can't take it. I love treats as much if not more than everyone else, but my waistline and logical mind can't forbear any more cookies. aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh.

The ugly:

I grew up in the incomparable PNW. KC has nothing to climb, jump off of, run through, kayak down, boat across, or traverse down. It's ugly.

You know what's Great?

Meeting an old friend in a new place, sharing a lovely meal together, and taking a picture to capture the moment....in a parking garage.

This is Sarah, and her mom, Margie. A parking garage photo really just says it all for us. When Sarah and I are together, we can rarely get our crap together....but we always have sooo much fun.

Sarah and I lived together one summer during the college years (so she says; 'and everyone wanted to be our friend.'). She, her mom and bf came to KC for a weekend visiting family as I was finishing up my assignment. She got me thinking about all of my favorite friends, which led to the realization that for those favorites, it's always love at first sight.

I seem to know what I like, and can spot a kindred spirit from afar. Any of my closest friends I became close to quickly. We meet, exchange some friendly fire, and BOOM, I want you in the club. The oldest friend I have, Andrea, and I met in the fourth grade. We hated each other for a minute, and then were inseparable for years. TL and I met the first day of high school in math class, and knew everything about each other by the time that bell rang. Kirsten and I met while I was working at Sacred Heart. I just liked her based on what I could tell from the 7 minutes I occasionally spent giving her report at the beginnings and ends of my shift. Sheriann and I decided we were soulmates after one blubbering art class enroller (me) needed to be talked off of her edge by one entirely too calm accounting major (her). There are a million more examples.

I actually don't remember how Sarah and I met, but it must have been fun because I moved into her house about a month later.

What can I say? I know what I like!

Love Love Love

BringEmOut BringEmOut

Put your game face on, this is going to be my biggest binge-blogging purge ever. Gird your loins.

No Code Blue Needed

don't grab the crash cart, don't page the attending.

i'm alive and well.

i've just been distracted these past few weeks.

to sum up:

-finished my assignment in KCMO.

-packed my belongings in anticipation of a too-good-to-be-true assignment in the one and only NYC.

-sighed and moved on when the assignment fell through

-changed plans and flew home to Spokane to await my new assignment

-started HouseHunters 2010 with my own journey to mortgage payments.

-spending time with my poopsie, Sammy Lou, discovering all of her current likes and dislikes. For the record, HomeGirl loves Lady Gaga, puppies, and pickles. Not so nuts about getting her pants changed.

-hanging out with my Spohomies

-loving the unseasonally balmy PNW

-interviewing for a new assignment to start this month... stay tuned.