I need chocolate

You're nice and intelligent and I don't want to date you.

How am I supposed to deal with attitudes like that? I think I'm done with dating, at least for a while. I just can't take the heartache anymore. What's the point?

a day late and a dollar short

Congratulations Rachel and Daniel! Charlotte Amelie is precious. I can't tell you how happy I am for you. :o)

new job

Well it's been a week on the new job. It's even better than I imagined. In addition to learning my new duties, I am encouraged by my clinicians (the doctors in charge) to sit in on lectures and rounds. We discuss current cases, previous cases, studies published in journals and anything pertaining to cardiology. I am soaking it all in and it is wonderful.
My clinicians as well as my resident are all Italian. They worry about their accents but I love it! I am starting to think in an Italian accent though, which is a little worrying. ;o)

update!

Hi!

I know, I know...it's been a while. But I was waiting until I had something to report and now I do!

Starting May 12 I will be Kansas State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital's cardiology technician. The cardiology service consists of 2 veterinary cardiologists (oddly both are from Italy), myself, a resident or intern and whichever students have elected to take a cardiology rotation. I am going to learn so much; I'm very excited! And once I get a handle on my new skills, I'll be teaching them to the veterinary students and that is even more exciting!
Instead of working nights, weekends and holidays I will be working Monday through Friday 8-5 with no weekends and no on call time. It's going to be nice to join the rest of the world again.

I'm getting about a dollar per hour increase over what I'm earning now, plus State benefits. My doctors are going to help me become certified as a specialist in internal medicine. I've been wanting to specialize for some time, but it's pretty much impossible in private practice.

I'll be commuting for a little while, but I hope to find a house to buy in one of the small towns in the Flint Hills near Manhattan. There are a number of them and the cost of living there is quite a bit less than in Manhattan. With the salary increase and better benefits I have some hope of fulfilling a lifelong dream of mine in the near future. But we'll talk about that later.

Christy, Youth Pastor?

Last week I decided to stay in Topeka. Tonight my pastor asked me consider applying to be my church's part-time youth pastor. This is something I really want to do and I'm very excited by the prospect! But...I need to slow down a little and give the idea some prayerful consideration before I commit.

Well that's interesting.

I applied for a teaching position at a vet tech school in St. Louis a couple of weeks ago. I hadn't heard anything, so I just thought they weren't interested. That happens. This morning I got a call and an email about my availability for an interview.
This could be very interesting. I love teaching. I always find someone to mentor wherever I'm at. I actually started my college career as an education major. That changed because, even though I like working with teens, I don't enjoy them so much in packs. Especially in the forced confinement of a high school setting. An Associate's Degree program, however...
I'll have to have a look around, and also see what they're offering in terms of salary and benefits. I already checked and they are fully accredited.

Well, it has been a while hasn't it?

Let's see, where were we? Mr. Wonderful turned out not to be. The dates we went on were wonderful, magical and everything a girl could wish. And then he stopped calling or taking my calls. And yes he broke my heart, just a little. But I've never experienced a butterflies-in-the-stomach infatuation like that before. It was fun and it was exhilerating while it lasted and I don't regret the time I had with him.

I'm loving my job more than ever. Unfortunately, I don't know how long it's going to last. There are some indications that the hospital is not in a good place financially and the owner is having personal problems as well. I've been looking to buy a house and even completed a homebuyers class through the city. I want to put down roots and really settle down, I've spent all my adult life moving. So I've put my resume in at Hill's, which is a giant pet food corporation here in town. They have excellent benefits and are rumored to have equally excellent salaries for vet techs. I also put in an application to be a tech at the vet school in Lafeyette, Indiana (1.5-2 hours from Chicago). So even as I'm trying to secure a living here in Topeka, I've got one eye out for greener pastures elsewhere.

Rach, I'm so happy for you! I was thinking about treating myself to a trip to Chicago for my birthday in October. The baby should be old enough for short outings by then. I know you have work, but I imagine I can entertain myself pretty well. What do you think? Also, (this is a bribe, have no doubt) I am an excellent baby-sitter. Nanny duty in exchange for sleeping on your couch? Sound tempting?