This past weekend an event that has never happened occurred. My brother and his family came to visit me in Baltimore. This is the first time ever that Blake has ever come to visit me! I am not keeping track of my visits versus his though. I don't want to give the wrong impression. It was a brief visit but an amazing visit. I don't want to brag but I have the most amazing brother ever!
So the Roddy family arrived on Saturday evening. There were a few details that I failed to think about when 4 individuals were on their way to visit me. As a travel nurse, I am constantly seeking ways to become more and more of a minimalist. I am so far from a minimalist, I thought I would be good. I started thinking about the four dinner plates that I have, the four bowls that I have, the four salad plates that I have, the four chairs that I have, I am sure that you are seeing my point. I was not prepared for 5 people total! We made it work though, no problem. So the kids ate on the salad plates. Dessert was also served in coffee mugs/bowls. The coffee table was easily pulled up the table and was just the right height for a fifth chair.
It was after dinner that the usual Shannon Roddy observance was made. Shannon Roddy does not drink coffee, therefore I do not own a coffee maker. I do not own a coffee maker. I do not own a coffee maker. This situation I am learning can almost be a deal breaker. Coffee is crack to many. Luckily, I always manage to have a coffee shop within a couple miles of my domain.
It was that evening that the most glaring oversight became apparent. I only have three bath towels with me here. Hmm, never thought of this. So I offered to use a hand towel for the weekend. Blake came down asking for a wash cloth before the kids showered. I haven't used a wash cloth for years when I shower, I use a loofah. I mean, who doesn't use a loofah in 2014? The Roddy family apparently. Luckily, I was able to quickly locate a really old wash cloth that I keep with me that I use to clean my bike chain. The kids looked no worse for the wear.
Aside from the above listed glitches we had a great visit. We made a visit to Ft. McHenry which was pivotal in the War of 1812 and the writing of The Star Spangled Banner, thanks to Francis Scott Key. We then drove to Federal Hill and had a very nice packed lunch overlooking the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. The South Carolina folks were a bit chilly as it was only 42 degrees and sunny. It was one of the best days we have had here in Baltimore for a while. We have had quite a bit of snow. After lunch, we made our way to the Science Center and learned a whole bunch of nerdy science facts.
Packed into the weekend as well, were some intense battles on the Nintendo Wii. There was sword fighting, canoeing, boxing, tennis, and biking. We were just five kids having a great time together! Monday morning they headed south, back to South Carolina. :-(
Now that I know these things, I shall be better prepared next time!
Friday, January 24, 2014
Thursday, January 23, 2014
The Traveling Wind Is Blowing Me Back To VA
Well, I apologize that is has been so long since my last entry. I have been super busy looking at possible assignments, finishing up my Baltimore tourism list, working, and working out. Quite the busy time.
I was looking at jobs in Boston, MA, Columbia, SC, Arizona and Texas. I hesitate to head west just yet, as there are still some areas that I would like to go to on the east coast. I really am trying to take a systematic approach to this traveling thing so that I am not zig zagging all across the US. So I was half heartedly looking at Arizona and Texas; though it would be nice to ride the winter out there. I really wanted to go to South Carolina to get closer to family, but that did not pan out. Guess it just wasn't in the cards this time around. I was really interested in Boston, but had to really evaluate if I was committed enough to Boston to go there in February. After a couple of snow storms here in Baltimore, my answer was absolutely not. Why not enjoy Boston when it is warm? What I didn't mention is through all of this, I had been in communication with the manager at Virginia Hospital Center where I started my gypsy days. They have had a few senior nurses leave for a number of different reasons and were asking if I would come back for an assignment there. I very much enjoyed the people that I worked with there and I could not love an area more than DC. So I chewed on this option for a couple of weeks and told the manager I would get back with her. I mulled the option over with my close friends and family as well, and decided that the move back to Virginia Hospital Center was speaking to me. So I am excited to go back to familiar faces and an awesome area to live. I do not look forward to the traffic again, however.
I never would have guessed that I would backtrack to a hospital, but as one friend said to me "Loyalty is a good thing...going someplace new is not always the way to go." I made a comment that I felt that my rationale for choosing to go back was sound and it kept popping up. She commented again "there is a reason....listen." So I did, and I am excited to have the opportunity to return. One of my recruiters said "many travelers don't even get a party when they leave and you have a manager calling you back, go Shannon."
So after my stint here is Baltimore, I am going home to Cincinnati for a brief week to see some of my peeps and see some NKU women's basketball! I am so excited to see everyone and eat some Skyline Chili!
I was looking at jobs in Boston, MA, Columbia, SC, Arizona and Texas. I hesitate to head west just yet, as there are still some areas that I would like to go to on the east coast. I really am trying to take a systematic approach to this traveling thing so that I am not zig zagging all across the US. So I was half heartedly looking at Arizona and Texas; though it would be nice to ride the winter out there. I really wanted to go to South Carolina to get closer to family, but that did not pan out. Guess it just wasn't in the cards this time around. I was really interested in Boston, but had to really evaluate if I was committed enough to Boston to go there in February. After a couple of snow storms here in Baltimore, my answer was absolutely not. Why not enjoy Boston when it is warm? What I didn't mention is through all of this, I had been in communication with the manager at Virginia Hospital Center where I started my gypsy days. They have had a few senior nurses leave for a number of different reasons and were asking if I would come back for an assignment there. I very much enjoyed the people that I worked with there and I could not love an area more than DC. So I chewed on this option for a couple of weeks and told the manager I would get back with her. I mulled the option over with my close friends and family as well, and decided that the move back to Virginia Hospital Center was speaking to me. So I am excited to go back to familiar faces and an awesome area to live. I do not look forward to the traffic again, however.
I never would have guessed that I would backtrack to a hospital, but as one friend said to me "Loyalty is a good thing...going someplace new is not always the way to go." I made a comment that I felt that my rationale for choosing to go back was sound and it kept popping up. She commented again "there is a reason....listen." So I did, and I am excited to have the opportunity to return. One of my recruiters said "many travelers don't even get a party when they leave and you have a manager calling you back, go Shannon."
So after my stint here is Baltimore, I am going home to Cincinnati for a brief week to see some of my peeps and see some NKU women's basketball! I am so excited to see everyone and eat some Skyline Chili!
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
The Dog Days of Winter
What have I been up to? Well, my good friend Sylvia is home for a month until January 20th, so while she is away my goal is to not only find my next assignment, but also to finish my Baltimore "to do" list. I still have a couple of museums to see and some people to see.
Over the weekend, I went with some friends to the PA Farm Show. It is quite the to do in Pennsylvania, apparently. I went with friends from work, an African American and an Asian lady. Not stereotyping at all, but I almost died when the AA lady asked in the middle of a cattle show, "Where are all my people?" I lost it. I informed her that "On the average, there aren't a lot of AA farmers." She was shocked at this and upset with herself that she failed to wear her flannel checkered plaid shirt. This show was really just a glorified state fair, though it was huge. We walked through all the vendors and looked at their goods that they were selling, tasted all the samples we could until we were sick, and enjoyed a freshly milked and made milk shake; which was delicious. I was rightfully made fun of for the fact that every time I passed someone selling something leather, I fell onto the product like a Febreeze commercial as I do love the smell of fresh leather. My dad always worked with leather and I always loved those smells. Though I couldn't top the Asian being busted for trying to photograph a photograph stretched on a canvas. The lady said, "Excuse me ma'm, can you please no photograph the photograph?" I couldn't control myself. I said, "of the three of us, it would be you that would bust out the camera." Her response was, "It's not like I pulled out a Canon for the picture, it's just my iphone!" We had a great time and now I can check the PA Farm show off the list, not that it was on the list prior.
Well it is cold here; as I am sure it is much cooler than you are normally used to wherever you are at this time. I tell you though, this weather really makes me think that if I really have a choice for my next assignment to go somewhere cold or warmer, it is kind of a no brainer. Well, I will keep you posted. Tomorrow, I am hoping to go to the Baltimore Industry museum and the Walter's Art museum and then off to get my haircut. That should be enough to keep me busy tomorrow. Stay warm everyone.
Over the weekend, I went with some friends to the PA Farm Show. It is quite the to do in Pennsylvania, apparently. I went with friends from work, an African American and an Asian lady. Not stereotyping at all, but I almost died when the AA lady asked in the middle of a cattle show, "Where are all my people?" I lost it. I informed her that "On the average, there aren't a lot of AA farmers." She was shocked at this and upset with herself that she failed to wear her flannel checkered plaid shirt. This show was really just a glorified state fair, though it was huge. We walked through all the vendors and looked at their goods that they were selling, tasted all the samples we could until we were sick, and enjoyed a freshly milked and made milk shake; which was delicious. I was rightfully made fun of for the fact that every time I passed someone selling something leather, I fell onto the product like a Febreeze commercial as I do love the smell of fresh leather. My dad always worked with leather and I always loved those smells. Though I couldn't top the Asian being busted for trying to photograph a photograph stretched on a canvas. The lady said, "Excuse me ma'm, can you please no photograph the photograph?" I couldn't control myself. I said, "of the three of us, it would be you that would bust out the camera." Her response was, "It's not like I pulled out a Canon for the picture, it's just my iphone!" We had a great time and now I can check the PA Farm show off the list, not that it was on the list prior.
Well it is cold here; as I am sure it is much cooler than you are normally used to wherever you are at this time. I tell you though, this weather really makes me think that if I really have a choice for my next assignment to go somewhere cold or warmer, it is kind of a no brainer. Well, I will keep you posted. Tomorrow, I am hoping to go to the Baltimore Industry museum and the Walter's Art museum and then off to get my haircut. That should be enough to keep me busy tomorrow. Stay warm everyone.
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