Apologies all around

I've been an absentee blogger for a few months now and I apologize. I've been adjusting to my new work and trying to throw myself into other things, and sadly my little pocket of the web has been badly neglected. But I am back with some new outlooks! Plus, I've discovered a few friends with their own little corners on here and I so enjoy being a voyeur into their worlds its given me more motivation to give you a bit of a peak into mine.

So where to possibly begin? I am officially a full-fledged Neuroscience nurse at TGH now. I spent just over a month with my awesome preceptor, Rabina, as she tried to adjust me to the world of paper charting (which is an incredibly foreign world for me) and then with very little warning I was pushed from the nest! Things have been going well though. The girls on the floor were all very welcoming and I'm comfortable going to them with questions. The hardest part for me is always learning the doctors and knowing who to call in the right situation and that just has to come with time. I can't believe I've been there for 2.5 months already! So stayed tuned to see how work continues to pan out!

Life socially has also been good. Last weekend for Memorial Day one of my best friends from back home came to visit all her friends in the Bay area and I got to spend some quality time with her and a few of her sorority sisters from college. Here's us in downtown St Pete:

I will never have enough good things to say about my Alyson! We have been close since we met in second grade and she's been there for me through thick and thin. Of all of my friends I know that I can tell her anything and it will not change our friendship. She might whip me into shape or tell me what I'm doing wrong but it won't change our friendship or how she sees me. Which is pretty much the best quality you could ever ask for in a friend. And lucky she did come down, because I may have needed a little Aly beating! Ha. Another fabulous thing about Aly is she was just as obsessed with Backstreet Boys as I was circa 1999 and this July we will finally be seeing them in concert - something that has been at least 12 years in the making! Oh, yeah NKOTB might be there too, but who really cares about that part??

Other exciting friend news...most of you should know, but I was a sorority girl in college. Yes, I was one of those girls. An Alpha Delta Pi Diamond to be exact! And I just found out last weekend that my "Big Sister" in ADPi got engaged! I'm so excited for her!! And what makes it even more exciting (for me, ha) is that she asked me to be a bridesmaid! Lisa and I have always had a really good relationship and we're always there for each other but we always had a lot going on in our lives and different social circles outside the sorority so we've never been constant in each others lives. But the love is definitely still there and I feel really honored that she's asked me to stand up with her on her big day. It's funny because I was actually talking with my sister this weekend about weddings and being a bridesmaid because some of her friends from college are getting married and I mentioned that I can't think of the next time I would have the opportunity to be in a wedding...that it certainly wouldn't be for a long time. Boy was I wrong! So I can't wait for the wedding festivities to begin!

One of the most fun things that's happened to me lately...I went to the Taylor Swift concert in Orlando this weekend! Awhile back I posted about my love for Ms. TSwift and I was so thrilled to be able to attend the concert. My parents and sister drove down for the event and we each invited a friend. Of course I asked my country-loving roommate to tag along! She put on an amazing show and I was so happy to hear all of my favorites from the new album played. The best part is that I've been able to put most of memories I connect with her songs away for the concert and just enjoy the moment. Though I can't deny a few tears escaped on Last Kiss. Damn that song! Here's some pictures from before and during the concert.

Well I think that was plenty from me for now! Now its time to start preparing for Book Club tonight and then hopefully fitting in some Bachelorette viewing before bed tonight!

My current favorite song

If only it were true!

DirecTV has these new commercials out about a Russian who has a pet mini giraffe and now they've gone so far as to make an actual website where you can "watch" Vladamir their bull giraffe on a live cam and get on a wait list to purchase your very own Petite Lap Giraffe. Oh, if I could only have my very own Russian-born lap giraffe who knows how to blow kisses at me!

To see the "live web-cam" and the commercials "starring" Vladamir go to:
http://www.petitelapgiraffe.com/

One year later

Sometimes you just have to pray for people...

Fresh Start #2

So 7 months ago I moved my life over to Tampa but the transformation has been incomplete because I'm still commuting to Orlando for work which has made it hard to feel like a true Tampa citizen and meet new people. Well, I can now announce that in 3 weeks I will officially begin working for Tampa General Hospital in their Neuroscience Unit and will no longer have to commute. Its a bit bittersweet for me because I've only had the opportunity to work at ORMC for 6 months and I feel bad for leaving so soon and will miss my coworkers a lot, but I'm excited to actually be working where I live and be able to sleep in my own bed every night. I think this will be really good for me. So here goes fresh start #2!


One thing thats just been haunting me lately is all the changes I went through a year ago and how all of that happened because I wasn't this flexible, adventurous person. I've never been someone who believes things happen for a reason, I think we create our own fate. At the same time I try not to focus on things that have already happened because you can't change them. But I think these instances in particular have been haunting me lately because I have grown into the exact person that I needed to be last year. I feel like I'm more accepting, more willing to try new things, more willing to experiment, and more flexible than I was last year. If I was a person who thought things happened for a reason, I would think I went through that to become this person so I wouldn't lose something so important to me the next time around. But being me, all I can do lately is lament that it took losing so much for me to realize what's important. Sticking to what you know, whats safe and familiar isn't so important. Getting that verbal commitment out of someone isn't so important when actions are telling you everything you need to know. I know its not good to dwell in the past, but somethings holding me back. I guess I just to have to try and accept the lesson learned but its hard when reminders keep invading your dreams. Literally. I miss what I lost and I don't know how many times I have to mentally accept that before I can move on.


But on a happy note...my family comes to visit next weekend! My sister has been to visit a few times but my parents haven't been to Tampa since before I moved in so I'm excited to get to show them my apt and where I live. I think we're going to go to the zoo, the Dali museum, and maybe try to hit up the beach. I can't wait for the Clark Family invasion!

Why I date like a boy

In the year I was single before my last relationship and the year I've been single since, I've made an effort to date and have fun but not get attached to every guy that comes along. The way girls approach dating is dumb. You're not going to be swept off your feet by a guy every time you go out to a bar and he's definitely not going to make you priority #1 over everything else in his life after date 2. Thats ridiculous and unrealistic.

Guys have it figured out. You should go out and have fun with your friends at every opportunity. If you meet someone, take advantage. But live in the moment, instead of looking toward the future. If you find someone you click with, great. Hang out, get dinner, go to a bar, hook up, watch a movie but don't try to turn it into something more than it is. I've found that finding someone I can get along with, enjoy spending time with, and have sexual chemistry with is more rewarding than getting all wound up about worrying about labels and exclusivity. Trust me, if a guy is only about you, he'll make it plain as day eventually. But having a casual relationship in the meantime can still help you feel smart and fun and desired with the added benefit of still being able to have your girls nights out, and not having to schedule your calendar around someone else's schedule, and be free to meet any other guys that you might have something equally as good or better with. I've met some people who don't understand how I'm able to spend time with someone or hook up with a guy and stay unattached, but for me I don't understand why every encounter has to be so life-changing. I'd rather get what I can out of people at that moment, have a blast, and then part on equal and happy terms.

I'm not completely cynical. I'll meet someone that will change my way of thinking eventually. I have a few times in the past so I know eventually I'll meet someone that will make me forget anyone else with testosterone even exists. So if you've met him, great. But my Be All is still elusive so until then I'm going to continue taking a page from the Male Handbook and just have some fun.

Bloody hell

Since 1999, while watching season 4 of Buffy, I've been in love with James Marsters. My heart officially broke this morning when I learned of his marriage. If he wanted someone half his age, he could've had me! Ah well, life goes on.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20463697,00.html