EVERYTHING happens for a reason

We had big plans to celebrate ending the PA journey - we were going to Europe. But for one reason or another we didn't really plan the trip and decided that money would be better spent towards a house anyway as we despise apartment living. I have never once this month thought "oh and we could be in Europe" but rather enjoyed looking at potential houses and making plans for the big move, which we'd hoped would come mid 2010. This month, despite really having nothing to do has been a waiting game and I have found some things to do, grateful for the unexpected down time with Shawn. Had we gone on the Eurocruise I would have potentially missed the season opener of Glee and other TV shows I watch to unwind, I wouldn't have read Dan Brown's latest novel (not too shabby, but could've done it in a free weekend), Shawn may have had his pneumonia while on vacay and had a taste of Euro medicine (from what I hear, we should just say "no" to Italian medicine), I wouldn't have been available to prospective employers at critical times (especially if they had actually called back), missed the Pearl Jam concert (tonight - very excited), Shawn may have been missing his mandatory PALS class (a must to keep working as a medic), Wrigs' 2nd b-day and most importantly we may not have been home to receive the news this morning that his remaining grandparent - his maternal grandfather - had passed away early this morning, we may not have been home to make an emergent trip to Minnesota and we most definitely would not have been able to afford a last minute airfare to Minnesota for him to be a pall bearer.
So, with this in mind, it's just further proof to me that everything happens for a reason. (although sometimes we don't know the reason and sometimes never will)
Warm thoughts and blessings for the Leikam family.

Active

I have an active license and now it's time to pounce on a job opportunity oh and finish all the other joys of getting a license and actually entering the work force. Woot woot.
Shawn had his ears cleaned today - now he has no excuse about not hearing me :) but he still has pneumonia but at least he can hear.

Fall has fell

Who gets pneumonia at the end of Summer? That would be Shawn. At least I read his chest film correctly when his doc asked me what I saw. Poor thing. He's never sick. An occasional upset tummy but really never actually sick sick. Hopefully 2 days off of work (and home with me - yay) will make him feel better oh and the antibiotics too.

It's definitely fall here now. Cloudy, sorta rainy feel to it unlike the 90 degree weather we enjoyed yesterday by the pool (yes he went to the pool for an hour even though he's sick - sun therapy I call it).

We're going to Pearl Jam on Sat - I can't wait!!!

New favorite TV series - Glee. It's funny in a smart kind of way (like the office I hear, but I missed that train and am now making up for that) and it also has a dark truth to it. My high school days were spent as a thespian, a cheerio, and a jock (I was smart too) - I feel like I can relate - (but you wouldn't have to have those experiences to enjoy it). Despite 2/3 of these activities being generally well respected in a jr high or high school atmosphere - people remember me because I was a theatre geek. That's just the way it is.

Travel/Pending

So we were going to plan a trip back home since once I get a job we won't be able to head that direction this year at least... so that being said, I was about to book a 5 day trip back to KS and Omaha but I just happen to check my licensing status and I have a number... although the license is still pending... how does that work? So now we will be waiting on that trip so I can call about my license on Monday and have to wait on our trip home to see family. sad.

Waiting for June 2010 for Cubs vs Mariners - all three games! The year of the cub is next year people - just you wait and see!
eamus catuli

really, seriously?

So some time, 6-8 weeks from now I should be licensed in WA then another 2 weeks after that I should have my DEA number. So some time in Nov/Dec I should have a job and be working... should is the operative word.

I had 3 prospective jobs, but then one place - who couldn't even get my name right failed to set up an interview spot after numerous attempts to set one up at a time convenient to them (nope too busy this week seemed to be the best response) and now they've hired someone else - oh well that was in OR. So then I had my other two here in WA, got a big turn off from one and felt great about the other so I was sold. I was suppose to come in to the office the following week meet with another lady and fill out a practice plan. So I did, only no one told the other lady about me signing a practice plan and she was too busy to meet with me, so I left her a hand written message with the secretary to please call me at her convenience and left a note for the head physician whom I interviewed with- no word for a week, so I called again, and the secretary lets me know she forgot to pass the message along. Great! So I leave yet another message because wouldn't you know it both her and the head physician are too busy and out a lunch at the same time. Still no phone call. So frustrating - so glad I kept job #2 on the line just in case which is suddenly looking better than the other - except for the hours -but they are willing to work with me on everything else so far. So what to do? Keep applying for jobs. I applied to another ER job in OR and still looking for something up my alley in WA.

How hard is it to return a phone call people? Seriously! I wish WA would kick it up a notch in their license/credentialing department.

Thank goodness Shawn is holding down the fort - that last loan check from the summer is about to run out...

Looking to 2010

June 22, 23 and/or 24th will be ahhhh-mazing.... Can't wait!!!

Overdosed and Juiced

That's a summary of the last couple days. I made pupcakes and cookies and puppy fudge (made from the carob and PB that hardened too fast to use as frosting). I was so proud! But...Wrigley somehow managed to get to all the puppy fudge on the table outside while it was setting - she ate all but one piece - it was a lot of puppy fudge. Between that and the pupcakes with carob PB frosting I don't know how she survived without a belly ache or a runny butt (cubby on the other hand, like other Bostons - has gas regardless of what he eats) Her neverending appetite never ceases to amaze me and it was a good laugh to watch her make a mess of the cupcake all over the floor - Cubby on the other hand managed to eat his in his dish - no mess at all. She had a good birthday I think as far as puppy parties go, I'm glad - even if she, as a dog, doesn't or can't really appreciate it.

Shawn and I bought a juicer. after Ecuador we vowed to not ever purchase OJ ever again - and we haven't. We got our little motorized juicer and I don't now how many oranges and juiced away. ummm delectable. There is nothing better than freshly made juice - especiallly with breakfast-for-dinner German toast... so good. Today I made watermelon juice - but I used the blender for that. I'm so glad Shawn made it to Ecu to experience the goodness of fresh-squeezed orange juice, seriously we'll never go back. Fresh, no preservatives, no additives, just pure juice.

In regards to jobs - another job oppotunity blinked at me today - upside - a job right up my alley, bad news... it's in OR ala three-ringed circus land for licensing... oye ve, what to do, think I'll submit my CV just for giggles.

Paw-ty at our place

It's Wrigley Lee's Birthday! She's 2 today! I can't believe how fast she's grown.
We're having carrot carob chip pupcakes and PB carrot cookies. YUM! (well we aren't eating them, the dogs will ) and I made enough to share with some of the dogs at Shawn's work that we know! (If Jen hadn't moved to Bend, Mary would also have some too)

So today we are going to paw-ty!

Just think - if I'm like this now with dogs, it may be really scary when we have kids...

Lost?

This morning I awoke to one of the most wonderful things ever - my husband holding a grande no water chai tea latte with a huge grin. I don't even remember falling asleep on the couch last night or texting him at 4am to say goodnight. It was chilly and rainy outside - it was the perfect wake me up this morning. But once I guzzled the chai down and he drifted off to sleep, I got that overwhelming feelings again that I need to be doing something. Not sure what but something. So I tried to be productive and I was but there was still this random feeling of something missing.
Then, out of the blue, it hit me. I'm missing St. Andrews and the sense of community.

I (or we for that matter) are not religious fanatics and I wouldn't even classify us as deeply religious - spiritual maybe but without the deepness, but we belong to an amazing church in KC. The pastor, Holly, teaches and reminds us how to be good, decent people that care about one another regardless of our roots, color or status. The church itself is considered "progressive" but the values it incorporates are really what I think life has always been about, we jost got a little lost along the way. She opens her sermons with a story and somehow winds in some biblical teachings, but if you just stopped by and heard her chat you would only hear her story of reaching out to people and making a difference. Nothing is tradiational about the building - it looks like a building you would find in Central or South America, you're greated with hand widdled chairs in a semi circle from El Salvador and a vibrant cross accompanied by a lone guitar player. I really could go on and on but I will spare everyone - words don't really capture the sentiment. Everyone is welcome, regardless of your beliefs and when you leave, there is something so sound about the "closing benediction" for lack of a better description. The last hymn is most always a toe-tapper coming from a different culture and then everyone joins hands and sings: peace before us, peace behind us, peace under our feet, peace within us, peace over us let all around us be peace.

I've looked for a place like this here in the NW to no avail, aside from family and a couple friends it's the one thing from home I miss and today for whatever reason I was really missing that piece of home.

Ranch hand or Shepherd?

I hate making life-changing decisions for which I can't foresee the future... and I am standing at the crossroad now. maybe I should just say screw it all and go back to school.... just kidding.

I am so excited to work, even more excited to move on with my life with Shawn.

I think I am done with interviews for now, altough I'm only 4/5 for one... with strikingly different jobs it's difficult to decided which direction to go but at least I have some choices.

It's so nice to be home on the weekends and home with Shawn and know I can play scrabble and not worry about studying for anything - although I should be brushing up on some things...

Life is good. (PS - I'm leaning toward shepherd)

How the heck do I know what kind of farm?

I am approaching the point where I am going to have to ask for a farm.... I want the farm, not the shanty across the street - not the mansion down the road but a farm to call my own. I'm having trouble with asking for it though. I know what my bottom lines are... I know what I am willing to let slide and I know what is NOT negotiable in my mind - the problem lies in asking for it. I don't want to come off like some know it all new grad or a new grad that seems clueless asking for the farm with red pain instead of brown and more cows than chickens but I don't want to sell myself short either. Especially when I know - or at least have a pretty good idea what I am getting myself into. It's a tough place to be in for sure. But I know when I send out a few emails to some fellow PA-Cers they'll shoot me straight and give me some insight to the world of farms.

I know I have a lot to offer and I know I have my work cut out for me but I also want to be compensated, I also know I am a green new grad.

My interview went fair today... I can't get the proper clearance I need until my licensure/credentialing is complete - which I am still lolly-gaggin with - it's a lot of money to throw out there if i change my mind and take on the three ringed circus of OR credentialing. It wasn't so much an interview - the only two questions I got were what do you do for fun and what have "they" (meaning the private company that employs the medical people for this company) told you... Everything else was me asking questions - I only had a few and the medical director telling me what my job would consist of. It ended with the Nurse Practitioner he called down from her office basically saying she wasn't interested in mentoring me when the medical director asked her right in front of me...hmmm chin scratching and can we say awkward moment? This would also be a "remote" site meaning pretty much no supervision and minimal chart review. So all this being said.... not sure what to do with this interview/company. At least he got my name right.

Tomorrow - different interview, different place and in the mean time, researching farms.

Still waiting...

Story of my life for the past few days. at least I'm not waiting for my board results, that would be a tough wait but not as bad as those who decided to wait to take it.
So I sit and wait, staring at my WA credentialing packet, dredding filling it out, even though I know it has to be done, I think I'll put it off one more day. It's warm and sunny, when Shawn wakes up, I think we'll hit the pool.

***UPDATE*** have 3 interviews in the next 3 days. I actually had to tell the second one that I had a previous engagement on Thursday but Friday would work great. I'm excited and nervous . Two of the interviews are actually for the same job (it's interviews #3 and #4 of 5 total - deep breath).

Next Chapter

Well, I guess it's time to move on to the next chapter in life. Not really sure what to do with myself just yet. Ready for a job and a schedule and oh yes, a paycheck.

We had an awesome weekend in Chicago and unlike our usual trips where we just see a couple games, we also went to the Shedd aquarium and to Second City. The aquarium wasn't as good as I had hoped, the giant anaconda was neat, as were the dolphins and beluga whales. Second City is a show and improv comedy - home to alumni such as Tina Fey, Chris Farley, Jim Belushi, Steve Carrell, Tim Meadows and the list goes on an on and on. It was pretty funny, better than I thought it might be and we got a signature of an upcoming star - well at least she hopes so... and so do we.

We saw one Cubs game 6 rows behind the dugout and they won! Jake Fox hit a grand slam! It was an awesome game. The second game was 16 rows behind the Met's dugout, it was terrrible. It's the first game we've been to at Wrigley Field that they didn't win. No Go Cubs Go song, the big blue loser flag flying high, it was a long sad walk back to the hotel.

So, now we're back, I'm still on the job hunt, Shawn heads back to work... and it's really strange to not really have anything to do while I wait... except for wait...