Just wanted to let you all know that I have now been doing this blog for a year!
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It was so pretty the other day…I love summer! I could get used to this. In fact, I’m thinking that I really want my next duty station to be in the tropics! Anyway, there is this cute place in Chesapeake where you can go pick strawberries and pay by the pound. They are delicious…and it was kind of fun getting out there and gathering my own—a much cheaper alternative to buying them from the grocery store. After that, I went to my favorite beach hangout. I love this beach since it is very quiet (it’s on a base). I enjoyed listening to my Audible book and watching the waves…and even watching the little crabs hurrying toward the water. I think I’ll go back this week if it is nice out. Mud Run...pretty self-explanatory! I did this run with some ladies from my church and it was so much fun! How many times in your adult life are you encouraged to roll around in the mud?! The obstacles were fun too and my group must have been the muddiest by the end! My next muddy race will be a Tough Mudder...ten miles...and there is something involving being electrocuted. Guess we'll see how that goes! I'll let you know. I love hiking!!! While Eastern Virginia does not have the mountains or hills I am used to, I found the most charming trail to hike! It is a 5.3-mile loop in Newport News near the Mariner's Museum. It is so beautiful and I loved it! I have hiked it two times and just love how it feels like home. I fully intend to go back as it has become one of my most favorite spots! The whole hike is around this beautiful lake! I think I may run it next time...quite a few runners on the trail when I went. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves! As for work, it's been busy lately. Today was especially insane on the unit. The kind of day when you look at all you have to do and just don't want to even face it...and also the kind of day when things inevitably go wrong...IVs going bad right when I walk on the floor, the call lights lighting up like a Christmas tree, and dealing with certain IV drips that you have never dealt with before that day. I could go on and on...but one good thing came out of a day I can't wait to be done with...I was able to keep up! In fact, I did much better than I thought I would. I actually was able to handle all the little things that came at me...and I think it must be thanks to God that I made it at all and with a decent attitude. I also have discovered that I am becoming a great multi-tasker...it's amazing how many things I can do at one time! I imagine this is somewhat how my mom felt growing up with the four of us kids always needing something...at the same time! Beyond that, I attended a Nursing Leadership course recently and found that helpful...lots of things to think about. I was definitely the youngest by rank. There was one other Ensign who was promoted about a week later...so I was about 1.5 years younger in rank than anyone else. Oh well...suppose you can never learn leadership too early in the Navy! Other than that, my most recent schedule has been quite odd...work one day and off one day, work one day and off one day...and on and on. The bonus to that is that on days like today...I don't have to come back tomorrow. Tomorrow...I have plans to go strawberry picking with some of my coworkers...it's going to be a good time! I went to the Nurse's Ball last week and it was fun...probably the best part getting ready and seeing friends! The cheesecake was quite delicious as well! Two things I have determined...I perhaps should not wear a dress with a train. The train on my dress was small, but got stepped on multiple times throughout the night. I'm feeling thankful the dress had sleeves! Beyond that, now that I wear scrubs (essentially pajamas) all the time, I find it rather uncomfortable to wear anything tight...needless to say...I had my sweats on about as soon as I walked in my door after the ball! Can you believe it is almost summer! I went to the beach the other day and it was so pretty outside! I actually got a decent start on my tan (which I will have to earn this year since I no longer work outside) and then I went swimming in the Atlantic...a first for me! I fully intend to go back a lot this summer...and am thinking of bringing my audio books with me as well! Can you think of a better way to spend the lazy days of summer?! Since I wrote the above, I've been back several times and I love living near the beach! Could get used to this! So...my new hobby is riding horses! It is something I have always wanted to do and one of the benefits of being a grown-up is that I get to develop new hobbies. I started riding a few weeks ago and have learned a lot since then...mostly that I don't know very much about riding and it is a lot harder than I anticipated. I have done both Western and English so far. English was new for me, but I find that I liked it--perhaps better than Western because I get to keep both hands on the reins. Yesterday, my instructor said that she thought I was ready to canter...my goodness...that was kind of difficult. I felt like I might come flying out of that saddle at any time and getting my horse to slow down or stop is harder than one might anticipate! It was fun though and I look forward to the time when I don't have to hold on for dear life! I figure that if I keep going, I will get better and better. It is kind of relaxing in a way and I find it to be a good stress-reliever from the craziness of work. There is something about being in the country! |
Prayer Requests...
That I grow in my role as a nurse and always do my best. That I would follow the Lord wholeheartedly. Friendships AuthorI'm Carolyn...am so excited to be starting my nursing career in the Navy. Who knows where this all will take me?! Archives
July 2015
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