One month down!

Holy cow, it's been a month! For as much free time as I have, I have not come up with the time to update this! So many things have been going on though! Now, I am going to try and catch up with the family and friends that I have down here in Houston! :)

So, what has happened... the girls had a housewarming party, seeing that they had just moved in about a week before I got here... it was "B" theme so everyone dressed up in costumes starting with a "b." It was a lot of fun and there was a whole ton of people there. Luckily the rain stayed away!

 Speaking of rain... last year Houston only had three days of rain! Quite the drought. So far it's rained probably 5 or 6 days since I have been here.  Much needed! Plus I got this neat shot of the city when it was all foggy!
(Don't ask how I took this, I will deny all accusations)

 I have tried to keep busy here. I went to a pro dance studio's performance a couple weeks ago, which proved to be pretty interesting. There were two, long, very dramatic performances. Trust me, I can understand the whole "what does it make you feel" attitude towards dancing. In fact, I usually quite enjoy watching dances. This one made me think though. The first was, as best I can describe, like a clock. Each sequence repeated over and over with minor changes. The music had ticking sounds in it and there were lots of tick-ticky jerks of arms and legs.
The second started with the two dancers. After about three minutes I realized that I was pretty sure her shirt was see through. Another couple minutes passed and she had not top on at all! Again, I can appreciate the art of dance. But I think I was just unprepared. Then I could not stop thinking about the children whose parents had brought them to the show, most likely as equally unprepared for the events that were taking place. She spun around and around the stage with no shame (you go, girl) and the man did a superb job of avoiding any awkward grabs during the lifts.

I have caught a couple movies, read a couple books, and tried to fill up my time with little things. Jon Bunch came to Houston for work a couple times so we met up and grabbed drink and some grub. It was nice to have something here from back home.

Then...Shawn, Byron, and Emma drove down this past weekend to see me! We went to the space museum, galleria mall, and then down to Galveston. We didn't realize they were have a huge Mardi Gras party but we were glad because it made for such a fun time! We stopped to watch the parade... I have no words for this photo, it is pretty self-explanatory.

While we were there went for stroll on the beach, played some frisbee, and the boys fed the seagulls some Doritos. We really thought a couple of times they were about to attack our heads or poop on us... thankfully neither happened and it just made for some cool photos. We visited the historic shopping district where people were screaming for beads from those standing on the balconies. Luckily no exposed women were here!

 


They had to leave Monday morning... which kinda broke my heart. I love being down here but I am so homesick for my loved ones and for work! I miss all my CMH people!
Kim was so kind and got Shawn a plane ticket in a couple weeks to come visit again, so I am looking forward to that! Then a little over a week after that I get to come home before we leave for Hawaii! I am so very blessed with this whole situation and I am looking forward to so much! I am not sure how I got so blessed but I am enjoying every minute of it!

 

Along with the rain comes...

Mud? Gloominess? Flowers?
Well, yes. And in Houston, more car accidents that they already have. I think I saw a half dozen serious car wrecks the first week I was here, when the weather was near perfect. I can only imagine how many more have happened now. With the rain, all the radio weather guys keep repeating is that the roads are slick, the roads are slick. I had to laugh when I first heard this. It just reminded me of the sign that accompanies almost each and every bridge saying, "Watch for ICE on bridge."  Uh, duh?
Work is going really well, I enjoy my co-workers so much! I finally had my first day on my own. Which I got kinda screwed, to no fault of anyone really. Every kid had at least one IV med that was given at least twice on my shift. Half of the other nurses left with one kid, they had sent the rest home. I left with 4 of my 5 still there. So needless to say, I was pretty busy all day, giving meds, mixing meds, giving more meds. Still, I really had a great day. I was  little tired but I'd rather that then have nothing to do all day!

On the way home I decided to stop by IKEA. Ahhhh.... I have only seen it on the internet. In person is so much better! A lot of the things are cheaply made, but their smaller items are pretty neat. I will have to go back again before I go home!

On a side note, the Fiesta grocery store about a block away got robbed last night. Someone ran their vehicle into the back where the pharmacy is. They are trying to find out if they took any meds. Some cars nearby have been stolen in the middle of the night. We live right on a main road, so hopefully the number of other cars driving by and the small amount of time that would be allotted for someone to break into our cars or home would deter someone for doing anything to our stuff. Still, it makes me nervous.  For my KC friends, the area that we live in is pretty "hip." If you took a bunch of old, neat, remodeled houses and put them in the river market, that is the equivalent to our neighborhood. A really neat area, but pretty close to downtown.

Today, Lindsey and I are going with our neighbor to look at some cool antiques! He owns an antique shop himself and is somewhat of a "picker." He has really cool things that you never actually see in real life. Plus, he obviously knows the amazing antique shops...So I better get ready!
Kristin