A Chapter Closed

My time in Washington DC has come and gone. I have tried, but I am able to come up with any combination of words to describe how amazing the three months spent there were. It is a beautiful city, full of history and opportunity. It is a story that will have to be told in pictures...

Washington's "Fabulous Five"
We experiened DC together, saw the sites together. We went to New York City together and drove to work together. We cooked each other diner, ate slice-and-bake together and went to the gym together. We lived together, cried together and laughed at each other. We went to church together, spent lots of money together and even yelled at each other. DC will never be the same.

Around DC

Iwa Jima Memorial

The United States Capitol Building

Vietnam War Memorial

Union Station

Washington Monument

Cherry Blossom Festival

Arlington National Cemetary

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier


The eternal flame and the grave of JFK

Lincoln Memorial

Jefferson Memorial

World War II Memorial

Me vs. The Chinese Parking Attendant

This blog is dedicated to Sarah Elizabeth...because I am pretty sure that she is the only one that ever looks at my blog. Thank you for caring.

So, last night I went to meet a friend for dinner before heading to work. Meredith Cain and I went to high school together...way back in the day. She moved to Arlington in January and is working at an art gallery in DC. We, unfortunately, have played phone tag and had completely opposite schedules for the past 3 months, so we have had a really hard time catching up with each other. But...we finally worked it out and I headed to Pentagon City to meet Meredith for some noodles at the Noodle Co. (Note: Pentagon City is beautiful mall! Outside the mall there is precious little courtyard with all kinds of fun little restaurants, an Elizabeth Arden, Starbucks, and a Bally's where we have been working-out. In the middle of the courtyard is an ice skating rink--a really fun place to go sit and people watch)

Anyway...I get to the Noodle Co. and Meredith and I go to the counter to order. I tell the lady what I want...she tells me how much...I look into my purse...no wallet. Embarrasing moment number 1: I haven't seen Meredith in several years- I call her to meet me for dinner then I have to ask her to pay for mine. I friek out for just a minute because I know that my wallet has been in my purse all day long...but I will worry about it later. Meredith was extremely kind and bought my dinner without accusing me once of doing it on purpose. So we eat and have a wonderful time catching up. As we are sitting there it occurs to me: I'm going to have to pay to get out of the garage and I do not want to ask Meredith for more money. My plan: go to Bally's and stamp my parking ticket...you can get an hour-and-a-half for free when you are at the gym. Embarassing moment number 2: Meredith and I could have sat there talking forever, but I had to tell her I needed to go so that I would not go over my hour-and-a-half parking validation. I'm cutting it close. I run to Bally's. Embarassing moment number 3: I stamp my card and get a lot of funny because I am obvously not there to work out and obviously cheating the system. But...what choice do I have here?? I run to my car. High tail it to the gate. Hand my parking ticket to the chinese lady.

She: You pay 50 cent.
Me: How much? Did you see the validation stamp?
She: Yes. Yes, but you 2 minutes too long. You pay 50 cent.
Note: I have run into this same 5-10 minutes too long issue several times working out and the attendents always let it slide.
Me (Embarassing moment number 4): Mam, I don't have my wallet and have absolutely no money. Is there any way you can let my extra 2 minutes go?
She: 50 cent.
Me: Mam, I am really sorry, but I don't have any money. I thought I was under my hour-and-a-half.
She: You go to ATM with card and give me money.
Me: I don't have my wallet, mam. I have no money with me. I was only over two minutes. Can we work something out?
She: You give me credit card.
Me: I don't have my wallet and, therefore, don't have my credit card.
Embarassing moment number 5: There is now a line of cars behind me waiting to get out of the parking garage.
She: What I supposed to do? Let you go without paying? You have friend to bring you money?
Me: Well...yes, but it would take someone a while to get here and there are now a lot of cars behind me, so I can't really back up. Can I get out and bring you 50 cent (no 's') in just a few minutes?
She: I know you. I let you go and you never come back. I know you American.
Me: I promise you I will come back. I really don't have any other options here.
She (speaking chinese very loudly): slkhoiivasdvnaewgo9zghwgnigdswkjdoginmweglgkjg!!!!!
Me: Ok...I promise I will come back.

As all of the cars behind me are honking, she opens the gate. Still yelling what I can only assume to be Chinese profanities at me.

That is just a summary. In all...about a 5 minutes discussion, a lot of which was in chinese. My dilema: To pay. Or not to pay.

She was very rude and just assumed that because I am an American I would not come back. But I did promise. But more importantly, I had a "I'll show her" attitude happening. She must have been using some kind of Chinese reverse psychology, beause I drive 15 minutes back to my apartment- the opposite way that I should be going to get to work- to get the mean chinese lady "50 cent".

She: Oh, you came back. I not think you do it. You keep money.

And then I was late for work.

A Visit From Old Friends

Over the past few weeks I have had some incredible time with old friends who headed up to DC for a little quality time for yours truly. Reid and Big Al drove up for a night on the town and a whirlwind tour of DC. Two of my most favorite people in the world! By far one of my most favorite weekends in DC. We went from the top of the Washington Monument to the Tidal Basin to the Declaration of Independence. It was an incredible weekend! Here are a few pics! Me, Big Al, and Abe

Reid and Ally Sabin

Me, Maggie, and the Sabins on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

Me and my dear friend Jenn Makins

Jenn and I met and became good friends working together at Camp Redcloud in Lake City, Colorado. After our summer at Redcloud, I convinced Jenn to head to Mississippi and work with me at Twin Lakes...she will never be the same. In more ways than one. ; ) Jenn is an amazing person and her friendship is absolutely priceless to me. Unfortunatley, it has been several years since Jenn and I have actually been able to look each other in the eye. I was not able to spend much time with Jenn while she was in town, but I am thankful for what time we did have. Our glass of wine and death by chocolate cake was way overdue! It was wonderful to see you, Jenn! Let's not let it be so long next time!

On Assignment: Washington DC

I am loving life in DC! I am already more than halfway done with my contract here--I can't believe how quickly it has flown by! I am living in Alexandria and working at Washington Hospital Center in DC. The hospital is huge…think UMC…but bigger. I am working in a Burn/Surgical ICU. Thankfully, I am only technically contracted to work with the surgical patients. The exposure to burns has been a really good learning experience, and in the end I will be glad I had the exposure. But definitely not my thing. It's not bad or not anything that I can't handle, it’s just…well...gross. It really takes a special nurse to work with burn patients -- I apparently am not one of them. The surgical part of the unit has been great. They do things very differently than I am used to, but again, a great learning experience. The staff that I have been working with is phenomenal. They are thankful for the help and go out of their way to make it as eay for the travelers as they can. But the beauty of travel nursing: 13 weeks. I can even handle burns for 13 weeks. Travel nursing, by definition, is a means to an end…a license to travel. I have a great apartment, great friends, and more to do than I can find time to do it in. I love it! Here are a few high points so far…

Meet My New Friends!

Meet Liz and Maggie. They are both Neonatal ICU nurses that live in my apartment complex. Liz is on the left--she is from up-state New York and is one of the most kind, genuine people you will ever meet. She is travel nursing while her fiance is over seas with the military, but he is coming home this spring and they are getting married this summer. Maggie is officially my first friend from South Dakota. We have a lot in common and always have a great time. She and I work for the same agency and are hopefully going to be able to travel together for a while.


Donica and Maggie again. Donica is from south Georgia. Not just Georgia. South Georgia. She is an ER nurse and is also living in our apartment complex. Absolutely hysterical! She keeps us and going! Never a dull moment with Donica and her 3 dogs. Don't you dare lose that southern accent, Donica!!


This is my roommate, Daniella Hartung. She is a pediatric nurse from Charlotte. Wonderful roommate! She tends to handle my anal tendencies well and she always remembers to TiVo our shows for me. Fabulous roommate!