I can't believe the last time I wrote a blog post was way back in July! I missed August completely! I miss blogging and reflecting on my life... Time to get going again! It certainly wasn't for a lack of having no content, since I've been home I've been SO busy and having a lot of fun! A Christmas, a wedding surprise, dates with friends, time spent lakeside and working full time to list a few.
A few days after getting home, we had a Christmas in August at the house. Mom's family comes up in the summer and we celebrate our family Christmas in the nice, warm sun and lakeside. We eat, catch up, exchange gifts, and probably most importantly for some of the family - fish! I barely saw my mom that weekend.... she was on the boat most of the time! We also did a "Chinese Gift Exchange" outside in the shade of the hot sun. It was a blast, the gifts were hilarious - I ended up with a princess themed tackle box filled with Gummy Fish and Worms! The whole weekends great, and it's a fabulous way to do gifts with a big family full of adults - $20 limit, everyone brings one gift and the exchanging is always a laugh!
After the weekend I jumped right back into work back home in my ER dept. I was riddled with anxiety the night before... I was nervous I wouldn't remember anything (especially all the changes with the documentation etc) and that I would be a crappy partner. I mean, it had been almost a YEAR since working there... Luckily, it felt like I never left once I got back into the flow of things. A perk of agency nursing - you learn quickly (since every place I've been only provides one day of orientation). Also, my co workers are fantastic and welcomed me back with open arms and gave me some slack here and there with things that took a little longer to come back to me. One things for sure, I LOVED working there again. Don't get me wrong, agency nursing has been fantastic to me, but coming back to my dept felt like coming home to my family. I love my coworkers, and missed them more than they know. It was so nice to catch up with them and hearing about what they've been up to all summer and how their families and kids are growing. It was definitely what I needed after travelling for a while.
While getting into the swing of things at work, I was staying just out of town at M&J's house, my Brother and now Sister-in-Law's house! YES - they got married!!! It was a surprise to us all, as to our knowledge, they were on a road trip vacation out East. They came home August 9th and I was eagerly awaiting their arrival back home (mainly because I got to see Marla - the pooch - again, but don't tell them that!), it felt like it was taking FOREVER. Because it was, little did I know, they were making a few stops and spreading the news, and texting me that "traffic was bad" - and I believed them! They finally got home and M said "we got you something" and showed me their hands... and I just about DIED! They got married on Signal Hill in St. John's, Newfoundland on a Sunday evening with incredible weather and stunning views, and just the two of them. They got a photographer who took some stunning photos so we can get a glimpse into their wedding day. A little background info.... J has been in my life since I was 13, M&J were 16 when they started dating. She has been in the family for pretty well half of my life, and I can't see M with anyone else, they're pretty perfect for each other. It's nice to now call her my Sister (in law, technicalities...) since I've always wanted one! They planned the East trip well before throwing the wedding into the itinerary, planning it sometime before they left, without telling anyone! What a great surprise! Can't wait for what comes next!!
While working full time, my days off were spent catching up with everyone I've missed! I've really enjoyed being home a bit longer this time, and not feeling like I've needed to cram in a ton of visits in the few days I'm around. It's been a fantastic 6-8 weeks of catch-up sessions. I got to spend some time up at my family's trailer in Port Elgin and swim in Lake Huron again and revel in some childhood memories, such a beautiful place there, it helps when you have great company, too! I got LOTS of Marla time (the pooch that is..) and snuggled with her most nights, she is such a sweet dog, miss her to pieces!
I finished my full time line and decided to take a couple weeks off before venturing out again! And I'm so glad I did because in those 2 weeks some pretty special friends had their babies! Baby A and Baby L! Two beautiful little girls! I got some Baby A snuggles in before leaving town, and look forward to snuggling Baby L sometime when I get home around Christmas! My co workers are such a small and lovely group that we often have potlucks or meet ups at someones place and have such a great time. Kids running around and chatting and of course eating, and sometimes booze! Hehe! I'm going to miss this crew so much, like always. I recently took this interesting Personality Test that had shockingly accurate things to say about me and how I'm wired. One super bang-on thing was how it said my closest friends are often coworkers, and I couldn't agree more! We had a gathering this past Thursday and we can all just sit and chat for the longest time. Seeing how big the kids have gotten and playing with them is always fun, and makes me even more excited for some future nieces/nephews!
Before heading back up to my parents, I took another course for work, but it was way more fun because L and I were doing it together! She just got back from a contract and we had 2 full days of catching up (and listening to lectures). It was fantastic (minus the lectures part)! We realized that this was the very first time we've ever had time together in Ontario, in the year that I've known her. We met in Thompson, MB and spent the summer in Dawson City, YT, and were both from Southwestern ON. Crazy, huh? That I had to go so far away to meet someone who lives so close to home! I must admit, it has happened plenty of times among my travels! I'm just happy to have met them and find out they are so close that visiting isn't so hard after all!
Now I've come back to my parents, and have a few days to prepare for my next contract. I am heading to Port Alberni, BC. It is a small-ish town on Vancouver Island where I will be working in the ER until Christmas! I've got some friends on the Island that I can't wait to reconnect and explore with!
Sorry for the long, drawn out blog post, but I figured it has been a while!
Hope everyone is staying bundled up in this cool fall weather! I'll be outta here before the snow flies! I miss everyone already, and as always, I'll be available for some Skype/Facetime! Thank you all for such a fantastic time back home : ) Home is where my heart is! <3
Oh, by the way, here is a link to the personality test if you want to check it out - totally legit and interesting (and free)!! http://www.16personalities.com/
See you on the flip side!
chelsea.
A few days after getting home, we had a Christmas in August at the house. Mom's family comes up in the summer and we celebrate our family Christmas in the nice, warm sun and lakeside. We eat, catch up, exchange gifts, and probably most importantly for some of the family - fish! I barely saw my mom that weekend.... she was on the boat most of the time! We also did a "Chinese Gift Exchange" outside in the shade of the hot sun. It was a blast, the gifts were hilarious - I ended up with a princess themed tackle box filled with Gummy Fish and Worms! The whole weekends great, and it's a fabulous way to do gifts with a big family full of adults - $20 limit, everyone brings one gift and the exchanging is always a laugh!
After the weekend I jumped right back into work back home in my ER dept. I was riddled with anxiety the night before... I was nervous I wouldn't remember anything (especially all the changes with the documentation etc) and that I would be a crappy partner. I mean, it had been almost a YEAR since working there... Luckily, it felt like I never left once I got back into the flow of things. A perk of agency nursing - you learn quickly (since every place I've been only provides one day of orientation). Also, my co workers are fantastic and welcomed me back with open arms and gave me some slack here and there with things that took a little longer to come back to me. One things for sure, I LOVED working there again. Don't get me wrong, agency nursing has been fantastic to me, but coming back to my dept felt like coming home to my family. I love my coworkers, and missed them more than they know. It was so nice to catch up with them and hearing about what they've been up to all summer and how their families and kids are growing. It was definitely what I needed after travelling for a while.
While getting into the swing of things at work, I was staying just out of town at M&J's house, my Brother and now Sister-in-Law's house! YES - they got married!!! It was a surprise to us all, as to our knowledge, they were on a road trip vacation out East. They came home August 9th and I was eagerly awaiting their arrival back home (mainly because I got to see Marla - the pooch - again, but don't tell them that!), it felt like it was taking FOREVER. Because it was, little did I know, they were making a few stops and spreading the news, and texting me that "traffic was bad" - and I believed them! They finally got home and M said "we got you something" and showed me their hands... and I just about DIED! They got married on Signal Hill in St. John's, Newfoundland on a Sunday evening with incredible weather and stunning views, and just the two of them. They got a photographer who took some stunning photos so we can get a glimpse into their wedding day. A little background info.... J has been in my life since I was 13, M&J were 16 when they started dating. She has been in the family for pretty well half of my life, and I can't see M with anyone else, they're pretty perfect for each other. It's nice to now call her my Sister (in law, technicalities...) since I've always wanted one! They planned the East trip well before throwing the wedding into the itinerary, planning it sometime before they left, without telling anyone! What a great surprise! Can't wait for what comes next!!
While working full time, my days off were spent catching up with everyone I've missed! I've really enjoyed being home a bit longer this time, and not feeling like I've needed to cram in a ton of visits in the few days I'm around. It's been a fantastic 6-8 weeks of catch-up sessions. I got to spend some time up at my family's trailer in Port Elgin and swim in Lake Huron again and revel in some childhood memories, such a beautiful place there, it helps when you have great company, too! I got LOTS of Marla time (the pooch that is..) and snuggled with her most nights, she is such a sweet dog, miss her to pieces!
I finished my full time line and decided to take a couple weeks off before venturing out again! And I'm so glad I did because in those 2 weeks some pretty special friends had their babies! Baby A and Baby L! Two beautiful little girls! I got some Baby A snuggles in before leaving town, and look forward to snuggling Baby L sometime when I get home around Christmas! My co workers are such a small and lovely group that we often have potlucks or meet ups at someones place and have such a great time. Kids running around and chatting and of course eating, and sometimes booze! Hehe! I'm going to miss this crew so much, like always. I recently took this interesting Personality Test that had shockingly accurate things to say about me and how I'm wired. One super bang-on thing was how it said my closest friends are often coworkers, and I couldn't agree more! We had a gathering this past Thursday and we can all just sit and chat for the longest time. Seeing how big the kids have gotten and playing with them is always fun, and makes me even more excited for some future nieces/nephews!
Before heading back up to my parents, I took another course for work, but it was way more fun because L and I were doing it together! She just got back from a contract and we had 2 full days of catching up (and listening to lectures). It was fantastic (minus the lectures part)! We realized that this was the very first time we've ever had time together in Ontario, in the year that I've known her. We met in Thompson, MB and spent the summer in Dawson City, YT, and were both from Southwestern ON. Crazy, huh? That I had to go so far away to meet someone who lives so close to home! I must admit, it has happened plenty of times among my travels! I'm just happy to have met them and find out they are so close that visiting isn't so hard after all!
Now I've come back to my parents, and have a few days to prepare for my next contract. I am heading to Port Alberni, BC. It is a small-ish town on Vancouver Island where I will be working in the ER until Christmas! I've got some friends on the Island that I can't wait to reconnect and explore with!
Sorry for the long, drawn out blog post, but I figured it has been a while!
Hope everyone is staying bundled up in this cool fall weather! I'll be outta here before the snow flies! I miss everyone already, and as always, I'll be available for some Skype/Facetime! Thank you all for such a fantastic time back home : ) Home is where my heart is! <3
Oh, by the way, here is a link to the personality test if you want to check it out - totally legit and interesting (and free)!! http://www.16personalities.com/
See you on the flip side!
chelsea.