a lil catching up

I looked back and it's been 9 days since I posted last... 9 DAYS! You'd think I have a ton to talk about or lots of new pictures to post , but in reality I really don't..... Lets see..... Shaun and I did go to a Mardi Gras parade. It was a lot of fun, I can't remember ever going to a parade before.. We were joking that we should have worn safety goggles because these float people really launch the goods! They were throwing beads (of course) and stuffed animals, and every now and then the "knights" would hand the pretty ladies a stuffed flower... WELL I GOT A FLOWER!! The man that gave me mine was like 60+ years old.. but at least I have some game left right??? They also threw Moon Pies into the crowd, apparently they are the "food" of Mardi Gras....

These are just a few of the floats,,,, someone forgot to charge the camera battery :O(

Other than the Mardi Gras Parade,not too much else exciting has taken place... Of coarse we had Valentines Day... I just fixed a nice meal at home and we watched a movie.... After getting up at 5am and working all day we didn't really feel like going out.... My birthday was a few days later... It was fine I guess, nothing really exciting took place. Shaun did get me the gift I was wanting, so that was a plus.  As far as the day itself went, it sucked.  Shaun went to Mardi Gras for a friends bachelor party so he left the morning of my birthday, I had computer training for my new job all day, then I just came home from and set with the dog... I know pathetic right?  I haven't really been homesick or sad till that point.. but something about being all alone on your birthday really sucks... I'm just used to going to dinner and going out with friends, and since I haven't really made any new friends yet (other than the 60+ year olds at the dog park) I didn't have anyone to go out with........... So I was starting to feel a little down... BUT THEN-> -> -> I HAD MY FIRST DAY OF WORK ON SATURDAY! It was GREAT! I was really only planning on shadowing someone and learning where everything was, BUT I guess the RN in me took over.... I ended up taking care of a patient all day... I know ONE patient isn't alot, but for my 1st day I thought it was pretty good... and on a usual day the RN's here only have 2 patients... So that is kinda nice.... They are completely computerized in everything they do... which I really like, and the people are FANTASTIC! They all work together and help everyone out, just like my friends at Clark do! Next week, I work Tues, Wed, and Thur so hopefully I have good days,,, we'll just wait and see.  Hope all is well at home, and love you all!

Fairhope & Pensacola

I am READY to go back to work! I have enjoyed my time off, but now I'm starting to get BORED!  I went Monday and took my drug test, so as soon as that comes back I can be scheduled for a "mini orientation" then I can start on the floor.   Hopefully, my test comes back quickly! In the meantime I have just been hanging out with Toby, taking in some more of the local sights.  On Tuesday, I drove him down to Pensacola... I thought since he was 7 now, it was about time to see the actual ocean.   The weather was bright and sunny and around 72 degrees, so it was perfect...

I really think he enjoyed himself... We walked around FOREVER, and he got to get in the ocean.. he kept trying to bite the waves....... 

We also spent some time in Fairhope  this morning, which is the next town south.... I've been taking Toby there everyday to the dog park.  Yesterday there were about 20 dogs when we went.  He mainly just pees on everything, but every now and then he'll run around .... usually that lasts all of about 3 minutes then he's tired and out of breath.... today though instead of the dog park we went to the bay park.... They even have Tulips in FEBRUARY!!!

Someone told me in the Spring/Summer this is covered in rose bushes....

They also have a duck pond.... The ducks are really friendly!! Toby was terrified of them... They would walk right up to you.... and the closer they got, the farther away Toby tried to get....

Even though I'm having a great time checking all my new surroundings out,,, hopefully I get to start my job next week..... That would be a great birthday present!

Gulf Shores & Steamed Shrimp

This weekend was a wet but fun one.  On Saturday, we drove down to Gulf Shores.  It was really cloudy and even spit a few rain drops here and there.  We mainly just walked around and took in the sights....We went to the pier, where lots of people were fishing... I told Shaun we need to get some fishing poles.... but I don't know how my ol' bobber fishing skills would do in the ocean.....

The waves were pretty big in Gulf Shores, which made both of us want Surf Boards really really bad! It could have just been the weather, but if the surf is that good most of the time I think we'll be buying some boards in the near future..   After looking around we were gonna go to the "Floridabama" bar but they were having a huge Chili Cook Off, and the crowd was a little too old for our liking.... We ended up going to this bar/restaurant across the street, and it was really good.  We had steamed shrimp and it was so good! So good in fact, that we stopped on the way home at the local fresh seafood market and bought some more for dinner.   Cooking fresh shrimp was something new for me.  I'm used to the frozen variety that is already peeled and deveined.  Anywho after I got the hang of ripping their little legs off and cracking that shell it went pretty smoothly..... Sunday (today) was  a lazy day full of errands and Toby time.   We took Toby to the dog park again today. It was funny because these two female dogs were kind of fighting with each other, growling and such...Toby would stand back and watch then run up and let out a howl, then run off again... The other lady said "Toby, is like the kid on the playground yelling fight fight fight" It was funny to see how he was acting....That's about all the excitement here this weekend, hope everyone at home has had a good weekend as well.  And..... GO GIANTS!

And tomorrow, is sort of my 1st day employed!!! I go for my drug test/ hippa/orientation stuff... I think I'll get my schedule too, and find out where I can buy my new scrubs...... So anyone back home interested I may have a bunch of prints I can't wear anymore....

I GOT A JOB!

I GOT A JOB!
I GOT A JOB!!
I GOT A JOB!!!
no seriously I GOT A JOB!!!!

I am so excited! It's not just any job... I turned three of those down already, I got THE JOB!  The job itself isn't anything tooo spectaular, its an ICU RN job, like I had, but the hours are what MAKE the job. It's dayshift, which is what I wanted, and it's NO WEEKENDS! I'm not opposed to working weekends, but if Shauns working Monday-Friday, then I'd love to be off exploring all there is to see on the weekends.  I mean living by the ocean is great, but not if you can't enjoy it with someone. .... So now that we're going to be off together, I'm thinking its time we look into some surf boards...... Last August, we took a lesson in Cocoa Beach, Fl and LOVED it! We were both able to pick it up pretty fast.  I do have to admit I rode a wave before him.... but his was much longer of a ride.....and had more style.  So back to this job.. I go Monday to do my drug test, and fill out more papwork, get oreintation schedule, etc etc etc, so hopefully I'll get to start on the floor next week... I'M EXCITED! I guess you never really considered how much you like working, unitll you havn't done it for two weeks. I'll keep you updated on  how it goes..... ONTO MORE EXCITING NEWS........... Today, I came across the Fairhope Dog Park.. Fairhope is the next little town south of us, about 4 miles away... and boy do they know how to build a dog park....It was HUGE! Toby, who has never been to a dog park before, LOVED IT! He was running with all the other dogs, there were about 20 of them total....... He enjoyed chasing them, and rolling around in the mudd, one dog even shared his tennis ball with Toby. I think their going to be BEST friends... His name was Oscar, he was a terrier of some sort... It could be that Toby is just naturally good looking, or the fact that Toby would stand their perfectly still and let Oscar hump him for like 10 minutes at a time.... anyways they were inseparatable... and I think they're now best buds.... So all in all its been a good couple of days, besides the constant rain we've had. We're both doing great, and I hope all is well for everyone at home... Tomorrows the weekend, and I think were going to Gulf Shores, and Orange beach. Hopefully its pretty and I can take some good pictures.. Much love!