Boston

I feel like after having nothing much to post about for so long we have finally been some places recently -- and taken a few pictures too (because I know we have so many avid readers out there. ha.).

It's kinda hard to tell but I like this picture cause to the left of the Fenway sign it says Monster.

Jeff made his first trip to the northeast. Unfortunately we were not in Boston for pleasure but of course we had to at least go by the stadium. My grandma June passed away and we went to Boston for the funeral.

My grandma persevered through a lot in her almost 90 years -- epilepsy, basically growing up in an institution because there was no medication for epilepsy, losing two brothers to drowning on separate occasions, brain tumors, just to name a few -- but she was a very optimistic woman with great strength who was determined to accomplish her goals (she worked as a nurse against some odds) and worked hard for her independence. After living alone for almost 24 years she is now surrounded by her loved ones. I love and admire her very much and will miss her.

Of course funerals are sad, and going to two within 6 months isn't so great, but I do enjoy the opportunity to see my family. Seriously, who can resist these faces?

I hadn't been back to Bean Town for quite some time and enjoyed going to see my grandma's beach "cottage" in Wareham near Cape Cod where I have many fond memories. (Please note the street that it is on. p.s. I love my mom in this picture. She was trying to get Anika to smile, I think.)

Last weekend we were up in Virginia/Maryland for my best friend, Sam's wedding but I will entertain with you that on another day since I think I've met my quota for length with this post.

Jeff has also been applying for jobs as an academic advisor within the athletic departments at the University of Wyoming (brrr) and the College of Charleston (beach, mmm). We'll see what happens since he still has a semester of school left -- don't worry, he can finish online. Keep your fingers crossed.

western carolina

This weekend BYU baseball came our way and played at Western Carolina University which is about two hours away from us. So Jeff and Lance went on Thursday and Jeff and I headed down for the Friday and Saturday games. The university is in a cute little town and we stayed on an Indian reservation not too far away. So of course we had to check out the Harrah's casino (don't judge us) on the reservation. When we pulled up I thought there was something going on in town because there were rows and rows of cars parked before getting to the casino. We had to take a shuttle from the car to the casino. We were definitely not expecting this huge casino in this tiny town. But for such a big casino we were pretty disappointed with what was inside. It was mostly slot machines, the tables had high minimums (no dollar tables?) and there was no roulette! And it was extremely smoky. Gross. So we didn't stay too long. We had fun going to the games and seeing the guys sweep Western Carolina.

You know you're in the south when they're offering 12 biscuits for $10. Who gets 12 biscuits all at once?


Homemade candy and fudge on the Indian reservation. Yum.

such is life

Here's what's been going on the past couple weeks:

Spring has decided to grace us with its presence here in Johnson City. I am definitely loving spring weather.

I started working my 2:30-11:00 pm shift. I think the doctors get worse the later it gets. But I do get to sleep in which I always enjoy.

Jeff did some announcing at a few baseball games...maybe we've found a new calling in life for Jeff.

I turned the big 2-4 and am getting older by the minute. Fortunately or unfortunately (take your pick) I can still pass for 18, maybe younger. I once was mistaken for a 16-year-old (when I was probably 22) at a Padres game. But I got a sweet Padres lunchbox that some lady offered me money for later...we turned her down. People tell me it's a good thing to look younger, hopefully it'll stick with me. Thanks for the genes mom and dad.

And finally and sadly our little Fenway (one of Jeff's mom's weenie dogs) is no longer with us. She was accidentally run over (sad I know). She was spunky and loved to be scratched (just like Jeff). We loved her and will miss her a lot. I couldn't find a picture of her on my computer, so here's a picture of her puppies:

more about jobs

So

here's the update:

Jeff is now the women's athletic director. Okay, not really...but with how much he works and all the stuff they have him do they should consider his graduate assistantship a full-time job.

Speaking of full-time jobs...

I got offered one. I'm a little nervous about sitting and transcribing mumbling doctors for 8 hours a day instead of 4, but who can turn down extra money and extra vacation time? Caribbean cruise anyone? I'll be working from 3 to 11:30 in the evening, which isn't ideal, but it's better than in the middle of the night. I would like to take a moment to say that I realize in my last post I sounded a little negative about the whole job thing--you know sitting through orientation is boring--but I really am very grateful to have finally gotten a job, especially one doing something that I am trained to do. And it's really not so bad. Actually, it would be relatively easy if doctors could just enunciate and not speed talk. Is it really that difficult?

Speaking of jobs (which seems to be the theme of this blog recently)...

Look at the great job Lance and Ariel did on making, baking, and popping out this little girl:

She's a cutie. Everyone loves a newborn baby.

Speaking of babies...


Just kidding. Gotcha for a second though, didn't I?

Today I decided I want one of these:

I haven't told Jeff yet. Pretty sure you can't say no to those wrinkles and floppy ears. Even if you're not supposed to have puppies or any dogs at all on new carpet.

Well, Jeff is back at school and busy working with the women's basketball team, and I just finished my first week of orientation/training for my new job. Yes, I said week. A whole week of the same things over and over again. We love our patients, code red means fire, you're a caregiver even if you sit and type all day, yadda, yadda, yadda. Oh, but I did win 2 movie tickets so I guess the hours and hours of sitting were worth it. And then there was the orientation of the medical records department, which might I add is partially in the dungeon of the hospital. Luckily I'll be in the upstairs part where there is real light. Okay, I know some of these ladies enjoy their jobs, but I don't know how they can sit and scan charts or sit at a computer and check bar codes all. day. long. And I thought medical transcription was tedious. I guess someone's gotta do it. Thankfully once I'm up to speed I can work from home. Oh, and don't hesitate to ask me about the importance of handwashing.




A couple weeks ago our friends JD and Jerrica came to visit. We had a fun time and ate way too much cake. You would too if you tried this cake. We checked out a waterfall that Lance and Ariel had shown us, went bowling and realized I'm a horrible bowler, played tennis and realized I need some help with that too, played games, and ate some more. It's what we do best.

December in Review

Went to Bristol Caverns

Spent Christmas in D.C. with my family

Went to the Air & Space Museum (we also went to the American History Museum and the Newseum which are both very good)

Visited my awesome friend Sam & her fiance Andy who are getting married in April :)

In other news, I did get offered a job with Johnson City Medical Center, which I really was not expecting because I thought for sure they would take someone with more experience. I guess they decided to take a chance and offered me a part-time position which is more than fine with me. Now, about that puppy...

basketball, jobs, and puppies

I know, I know, it's winter in the Volunteer State now. We've had a mixture of really nice days in the 60s and very cold days where it snows but rarely sticks.

I know I've been slacking on updating the blog, but every time I log in to start a new post I just don't feel like writing anything and my mind glazes over. That could be due to the fact that I have nothing to write about because our days have been like this:

Jeff goes to school/studies for tests, does well on tests and school stuff (yay Jeff!).

Lynn tries to look for a job anywhere from Target to medical transcription to whatever the heck you want to give her (okay, maybe not whatever), applies for jobs, doesn't hear anything about jobs, resumes sitting on couch watching Ellen and Oprah (the "man" who has woman parts is having another baby. What is this world coming to?). We blame the economy (for me not getting job, not for the man/woman having a baby)...or my lack of experience, but isn't the economy a better excuse?

Jeff and Lynn occassionally take trips to the animal shelter where Lynn tries to make sad faces at Jeff so he will let her get a puppy. These attempts are in vain because Jeff is the practical one and what is that you say? Puppies cost money? Dang. But they're so cute.

Here's how things are shaping up for next semester:

Jeff got a graduate assistantship (school paid for PLUS a stipend. hooray!) with the....wait for it....WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM. That's right, I said women. I think that is what one would call karma. Jeff is already working hard lining up promotional things for said team even though he doesn't get paid until next semester.

After going into the HR department of the hospital system here and being told she didn't get the last medical transcription job she applied for (in SEPTEMBER), Lynn got a call this morning telling her they want to interview her for the job she didn't get. Weird. She will be working on her interview skills and hoping they called the right person. [Insert prayers here]

The jury is still out on the puppy situation. [Insert sad looks here]

p.s. How is Christmas next week? When did that happen? That's right, Ellen is doing 12 days of giveaways and Oprah already had her favorite things show (they were economy friendly this year...because she has to worry about how she spends her billions). Happy holidays!