Road Trip Day 1 TX LA MS

First Stop: LA

We ate a Buffet Lunch!

We gambled a bit at the Horseshoe Casino

Shopped at the Boardwalk along the Red River

In front of Bass Pro Shop

There was a Sonic inside!

Next Stop: Vicksburg, MS

In front of our Hotel's (Ameristar) Casino

Sunset over the Mississippi River

Adventure time!

Yes

It's true!

The TEXAS RANGERS are going to the world series!

The Series starts tomorrow and so does our ROAD TRIP!

woohoo!

Lake Bardwell

Today we took a drive.

It's almost like a test run for next week's road trip!

The drive took us to....

Lake Bardwell just south of Ennis, TX

It's rare that I drive this far south on 287...so it was enjoyable. I like new drives.

My Dad had heard of this place while talking to a guy in line at Academy. He wrote it down on a shoebox and a couple of weeks later...we made it there!

I guess I don't get out much...because to my surprise, the leaves are starting to change.

It's very subtle, but it's there.

FALL!

I cannot wait to see the leaves in the Smokey Mountains =)

I just hope they didn't peak too early.

We caught some fish, but they were all pretty tiny. The regular folk told us that March is the best time to fish. I believe them. There are pictures on the wall of 25 pound catfish!

Me just sitting...and waiting for my prey

Dad's first itty bitty fish

Part of the Marina (our view for the day)

Dad and I fishing

Mom adventured out by the boats to fish

Dad holding Mom's first catch

Mom's first catch again

Dad fishing

And as always, I made a video

Enjoy!

BLS or BS?

I took the time to get my hair done this past week. My hair lady had been on maternity leave, so I was up for a nice hair fall/highlight. I'm too scared to have anyone else touch my hair. My plan is to have her do my hair when I make visits back home once I move. Hopefully 2 inch roots are acceptable in North Carolina...haha!

Where I get my hair done (Daireds)

My Dad, being the mad scientist he is, showed me some colored fires he created. There were some very colorful creations.

I made it back to my Alma Mater (High School) for it's annual craft sale. Didn't buy much, but it was all food! They have the best goodies: dips, salsas, and candy goods. My mouth was in heaven, but my belly was not. The day was filled with snacking and BASEBALL!

The Rangers were down 0-1 against the Yankees in the playoffs.

I'm glad to say we are now up 2-1. The Rangers didn't even allow the Yankees to score one run in their stadium this evening. The Yankee fans were clearing out the stands before it was their turn up to bat in the 9th inning.

Penny Lane rooting for the Rangers

Here are some pictures from the last week.

Me and Penny

Penny relaxing

I'm almost positive the dogs are getting sick of me dressing them up. They will be very happy once Halloween season has passed.

Tomorrow I will be taking my BLS class. It is 4 hours long and has a test at the end. It shouldn't be too bad. The AHA did officially change the way CPR should be administered today. No more ABC's. Just CAB!

We are almost a week away from our departure from DFW. Hitting the open road sounds good to me! Nothing like a good road trip...I think. It's my first official one...if you don't count the band trip to New Orleans. What I mean is first multi-state road trip.

Texas State Fair

Today I went to the Texas State Fair.

Fun was had by all, but it was a long day.

Not to mention too crowded.

It completely slipped my mind that there was a Texas Tech vs. Baylor game going on today.

I was mainly worried about dodging I30 traffic caused by the Ranger's playoff game and the Texas A&M vs. Alabama game (at the Cowboy's Stadium).

I met with Sandra at her house (downtown), and we took the DART to the fair.

This was our first time riding the DART. I had no idea the thing went underground or anything. Public transportation is a foreign thing to an Arlington native.

I never think about it.

Except for my trips to New York/Chicago/London, I've never really used public transportation.

Fact: Arlington, TX is the largest city in the United States not served by a comprehensive public transportation system.

I found the ride quite interesting. Especially when accompanied by drunk Baylor fans on the way home (Baylor lost).

I had never been squished so tightly into a subway car...this includes rush hour in NYC.

The fair itself was the same it has always been.

Fried Food

Texas Heat

and Screaming Crowds

did I mention crowds?

ok

just checking

THE PLACE WAS PACKED!!!

There is something a little disturbing about chowing down on fried food (around people who look like a heart attack waiting to happen), with sweat dripping down your back/face, and continuing to chow down knowing you aren't being judged.

BECAUSE everyone else is doing the EXACT same thing.

Big Tex

art!

kids were playing in this fountain

part of the car show

fried guac

THE tallest Ferris Wheel in North America

Sandra, Me, Michael, and Sibon

Caroline about to take a bite out of a juicy corn on the cob

Caroline, Me, and Sandra

enjoying our shaked Lemonade

one of the art pieces (and me)

Lone Star

Throughout the day, we all ended up trying:

Nachos

Fried Snickers*

Corn Dogs

Caramel Apples

Fried Guac

Fried Mac and Cheese*

Corn on the Cob*

The ones star'd were my favorites!

As soon as I got home (after a 10 hour day), I jumped in the shower. My feet were making black foot prints in the bottom of the tub. Gross! Never has a shower felt so good...except for maybe after a camping trip.

What a day!

I did get to meet up with Becki last night. She went with me on my trip to Romania. We had dinner at Fuzzy's Tacos and caught up a bit. It was great to laugh and reminisce .

I Like It On The Kitchen Table

Things seem to be coming together. My anxiety about all the things I have to get done before November 1st is starting to go away.

I had my TB test read yesterday morning (bright and early again). It was a negative test (0 mm). For my age and circumstances, anything under 15mm would have been a negative test. The only thing visible on my forearm is a tiny little red spot from where a little blood caused a bruise from the injection spot. What a relief...I'm TB free! ;)

I got a call this morning informing me that my titer lab results were back. I made my third trip, since Monday, up to the health center. MUAHAHAH! My magical blood contains antibodies for both Hep B and Varicella (Chicken Pox). It feels great to have such powerful blood.

I am DONE with immunizations/titers/blood drawings for a LONG TIME! (I hope...*wishes for no needle pricks*)

Earlier this week I noticed a trend happening. I was skimming Twitter updates and briefly remember seeing someone's tweet mentioning they "like it on the floor"

A day later I saw someone else commenting on the fact the "like it on the chair".

None of these people were related or knew each other.

At first I though it was a hilarious quote from a TV show or movie that I had missed out on.

The first show that came to mind was The Office...just a guess.

I ended up Google searching "I like it on the floor".

to my surprise

It was a tool to help spread breast cancer awareness.

The "It" we are referring to my friends:

purses

Where do YOU like to put your purse?

I like it on the kitchen table

BUT

occasionally I like it on the dog

I posted this pic along with "I like it on my dog" on twitter/facebook.

I thought it was a cute idea and it also gave the men out there a little hint.

This awareness tool worked on me...and I'm glad it is catching on.

I seemed to get the most responses from guys with my status (figures), but I did notice a TON of women posting their own "I like it" statuses.

On the exercise front:

I have managed going to the gym, running, and walking the dogs. I've exercised 4 times this week and it still isn't over.

Shots, shots, shots

This morning I woke myself up bright and early to drive to the Public Health Center. I was told to get there right when they opened at 8 AM so the place wouldn't be "crowded".

8 on the dot and I was the third person there.

"No big deal"

"This shouldn't take long"

"I'll be out of here soon"

oh was I wrong

At 9:30, after I had almost been kicked and my personal space bubble had been burst several times by children, I got called to go back.

At this point I was practically "excited" to get poked with many needles.

Here is the scoop:

My arm was wrapped with a band that pinched, but I took it all in stride. The nurse tapped my arm to try and get a vein to pop up. She then proceeds to practically blame me for having small veins.

PS: I can't control the size of my veins

The nurse proceeds by starting out with a regular needle (only guessing, I'm not an expert yet).

It didn't hurt at all until she realized no blood was to be found. She started poking all around...no such luck.

When she pulled out the needle it felt like she jabbed it in again and I let out an "ouuuuch". She looked at me like I was crazy and says "What's wrong with you?"

Next, she tries a butterfly needle (ah, I learned one). That's better...something smaller!

She goes for another vein and I ask her why she didn't do this one in the first place. She replies with "Well we usually get blood from the other vein because it is bigger" I couldn't see a vein there at all. I did notice the second one she tried on from the get go. I would have gone for the second one first...but hey...I know I'm not a nurse so I will shut my mouth.

This one took...success!

I have only had blood drawn once before in my life (that I am aware of).

I remember getting very dizzy.

Guess what?

It happened again.

It isn't the sight of blood or the needle. I can handle all of that. I'm a fan of the gross stuff.

It was just the fact that I had lost blood. My body can't take it I guess. 10 seconds after she started taking my blood, I felt VERY dizzy. She asked me if I felt okay and I just kind of sat there in a daze and let out "I don't think so". She told me to tuck my neck in to my chest and breath.

It didn't really help, but it was eventually over and I didn't pass out!

*Snaps for Rachel*

....

Moving right along.

Time for the TB test.

She injected my forearm with a tiny amount of something. It formed a little bump on the surface of my skin that went down after 20 minutes. I go back in 2 days to see if I have a positive or negative result. So far so good. It hasn't raised.

And lastly, I got a meningitis vaccine.

I think today was a test not only on my patience, but for nursing school.

I learned what NOT to do.

I can forgive the poking and jabbing and not finding a vein business.

I know I will make several mistakes while I am learning and in the future.

BUT, I cannot forgive the way I was treated and talked to.

The nurse was downright rude to me.

Show a little compassion next time, PLEASE!

I had dinner with Lindsay tonight. I finally got to see her new apartment! It looks great and I'm glad I got to see her =)

We ate Hibachi and it was delish.

Flowers I got Lindsay