Another Door Opens...

So, I realize it's been awhile again since I've written. A lot has happen.

1. I will NOT be accepted into the 2010 CRNA school board.
2. I am STILL deploying, though communication between LRMC and the 47th CSH Chain of Command is probably a little limited.
3. I'm dating someone ;-)
4. I am now working in the PACU (Recovery Room)

1. Since I will not be accepted into the 2010 class, the CRNA's are encouraging me through other options. Of course, some of them are die-hard Army Program advocates, but many of the CRNA's are encouraging me to look into the VA or find a hospital who will pay for it in exchange for my employment there. There's a million ways to do it, and I'll figure it out.

2. I have mixed feelings on deploying right now. It sounds like I would be entertaining myself in Iraq by playing Rock Band, having unicycle races, and limbo contests instead of taking care of soldiers. May or may not reflect the reality of MY hospital, but that's what it sounds like. I asked COL Cornett yesterday if I was required to go to a pre-deployment Combat Trauma course in San Antonio in June because I had heard nothing from the CSH since before Christmas. She said yes, and she said that the extension packets for those already there were rejecteted so that I would have the opportunity to replace them... yippe....?? So, again, the Army is a giant tease. I am training for deploying, yet I have no definitive orders to go.

4. (skipping 3 for now) I work in the PACU now!! YAAY! I started the 3rd week of April. I was on orientation for a few weeks and now I'm off oritentation and on my own. I'm a big kid now!! It's very different than ward nursing, but it's deffintiately great to be next to the OR. The schedule is 8 hours Mon-Fri and the occasional Saturday, I happen to be working today. We only had one scheduled patient for the OR, I fought for it and got it, and I already sent him back downstairs. Soooo.... now we're just waiting for some doc to decide someone needs surgery... as long as it's before 4:30pm when we GO HOME!! I like the staff up here, it's an entertaining group of people. It's also right across from the ICU. Since working here, I haven't been able to work the ICU really. I thought it might be easier, but it's really not. That's one of the downsides to not working the ward schedule anymore, but some places do consider PACU to be critcal care, and if I really AM going downrange, hopefully I'll get put in the ICU there.

3. So, here's number 3. Many people already know I started dating someone, but they don't necessarily know the story. Well, here goes:

His name is Joe. He's an Army Reservist- Captain. He arrived in Germany in November of 2008 and he's here for 1 year, although he's applying to extend until November 2010. He's a Nurse in the ICU. He's a Police Officer in real life. We met in the ICU when I was being Crazy Michaela. We started talking, we became facebook friends, we worked together with the same patient one day, we went to lunch soon after and that was the start of it all. That was late March. Then I went on leave to Paris and Wisconsin (whoo hoo!) and he picked me up at the airport the morning I got back. We have spent every day together since. It's kind of nuts. Sooo... if I HADN'T worked in the ICU trying to get into CRNA school for next year, I never would have met him. He's also been a great help exploring my options for school. He too is trying to finished advanced degrees so we can help each other out. Once he finishes the degree, he'll make Major.

Joe and I have taken two trips. Amsterdam and Paris. Both are great. He's very easy to travel with. We're coming back to the states in June for another one. We're going to Phoenix and New York! I'm so excited. I hope to see Kristen in Phoenix and a Broadway show in NYC. I also get to meet Joe's family! Joe has a 9 year old son from a previous marriage. He has 4 brothers, he's the middle child. His brother is graduating police academy, which is what we're ultimately going to the states for.

Joe is a great cook. He made a wonderful dinner for my birthday and he's got all these great ideas for summer grilling. He did t-bone steaks a few nights ago at a friend's apartment and they were great. It's nice that he's the chef because I'm the baker. So far, I've liked everything he's made. He's been getting me to eat my veggies.

Joe is also a great interior organizer... in other words, he's a neat freak. He's helped me complete the moving-in process that I started way back in October when I actually moved in to my house. The weather got really nice last month so we started doing some gardening in my front yard, I have beautiful flowers blooming. We also planted a rose bush that is flourishing. I'm very excited for it to get bigger and bud. Next is the back yard so that I can have nice BBQ's when the summer weather returns.

Well, we've had our one patient for the day... just hanging out for a few more hours, then I'm going home for a nice relaxing Sunday off!