Re Cap

Last weekend was a BLAST. The NC group rented a house together and we just had the best time laughing and hanging out. It was great being amongst high school friends and their fabulous significant others. Here are some pics from the weekend. Now I have to tell y'all what I did with my friend Stu. We decided that Saturday morning we were going to climb Mt Elbert - the tallest mountain in Colorado coming in at 14,430 feet and it would also be the second tallest mountain in the United States. We started our climb at 5:45 and at 9:45 we reached the summit. I can not explain to all how AMAZING it was to be up there on top looking out on beautiful Colorado. I thought I could just jump onto a cloud.

Now this is the funny part of our climb - one I had to pee constantly - I dont know if it was the pressure change or what but I had to pee five times on the way up. And let put this little plug in - after the first hour we were above the tree line. Oh yes. Second Stu had decided our treat for when we reached the top was Kebbler Peanut Butter Sticks. Let me tell y'all how hysterical it was to be on top of this mountain eating cookies while all these other hikers are munching on trail mix and eating apples. Not us Southerners - we need our sweets.

The wedding was that afternoon so needless to say I did not really have a rest time for when we came home I had to get ready for pictures. And help the bride with getting herself together as well. The ceremony - beautiful - cried through the whole thing. The dinner - delicious. The party and dancing - awesome. To minus the cost of a the band - C had some of her closest friends burn CD's for her with their favorite tunes. It made for a great play list and tons of fun dancing. It was great.

Now I'm back in reality - school has started and I have till December and I will be done! WHOOT WHOOT.

Wedding

The real reason for why I came out west is because my best and oldest friend has decided to spend the rest of her life with her wonderful partner. So this weekend I will be in Leadville, CO watching them exchange vows and partying it up. Now tomorrow is her bachelorette party and this evening I spent making her a boob cake. Yes they actually sell cake pans in the shape of boobs. Now it is at this moment ... well perhaps when I was icing this thing that I realized how much I love her and our friendship. But at the same time I was actually more okay with this cake shape rather than the alternative for my other girlfriends which would have been a male appendage. For some reason icing that would have just been more ... what am I saying both just make me shake my head and say this is clearly a once in a lifetime kind of thing.

Hello old friend

So I have now been in Boulder since this past Sunday and well it has been wonderful. I feel like I'm visiting an old friend - if that is possible to have that kind of relationship with a town. But honestly I look to my west and there is Sanitas my favorite mountain and further down the Flatirons. It makes me smile every time.


Now as y'all can imagine I survived my trip in Wyoming. There was absolutely no hanky panky with the ex if anything it reconfirmed to me why we did break up. But I have to say how refreshing it was that we are able to be friends and there isn't any of that flirting oh what ifs - it is what it is and well that is that. And to spend four days backpacking in the back country of Wyoming in the bear invested woods ... well there could have been many moments for either one of us to push one off the mountain. But thankfully there was none of that.

Regardless we had a great trip, lots of self reflection time, and I saw two moose! The first time I decided to strip all down and jump into a mountain lake and not 30 mins later a female moose decided to join in. I about died. The hiking was some of the hardest and most challenging I have ever done - but at the same time I was so proud of myself for just sucking it up and doing it. In the four days were out there we covered over 30 miles of trail and I was the only chick we saw out on the trail! It was like this other side of me came out and I just needed to prove that I can do this.

How the West Tamed Pav

by TWO speeding tickets.

Yes kids that is right - I managed to get two speeding tickets in one day. BUT being the super fabulous person that I am - I managed to get two tickets in two different states. Let me recap my Wednesday morning adventure ...

Nebraska State Highway
Speed Limit 75
Pav's Speed: 86

High Patrol man goes whoop whoop lights go a flashing ... pulls me over asks me why I was speeding. My response well officer to be perfectly honest - I was singing. The Proclaimers were on the Sirius Radio - I would walk 500 miles and well I was inspired to go 500 miles. He responded - "Would you step out of the car? And why don't you come back and sit in the car with me" DO WHAT?! But what was I suppose to do - so I got out of my car and into his ... um I do not think this is proper cop etiquette. Anyway I got to check out all the cool stuff in cop cars - the computer, the middle console that doubles as a printer. Apparently these computers just got put in eight months ago and well the learning curve was a bit much but most people have the hang of it now. He was also such a gem he dropped my speed to 85 in a 75. Also I informed the officer how last year I drove through Kansas on my way to Colorado but this year I wanted to see Nebraska (so glad I did). His response "I drove through Kansas once not a whole lot in that state to look at." OMG Really because to our very right is a corn field and to the left a dug up field. My response "I KNOW! Oh Nebraska is a gorgeous state and I had no idea but so glad I came through!"

Yah Right.

Wyoming State Highway
Speed Limit: 30
Pav's Speed: 47

Okay let me start by saying the speed limit was 65 and dropped down to 30 because we entered into Bridgewater, Wyoming population 338. Seriously. And I was braking - clearly slowing down and the cop pulled me immediately. It was a chick and I knew I didn't even have a prayer. So I just handed her my license and registration said I was sorry and had her write me a ticket. And did she drop the speed or anything - oh no. BUT guess who got $10 off because I was wearing my seatbelt ?! Oh that's right - thanks Wyoming.

How Pav Tamed the West

By jamming out in the Escape to Lady Gaga and Katy Perry and Kei$ha clearly. These mid westerns must love me as I am blaring music while driving (zooming) west on I-70. Anywho's I have to dominate the radio since my fellow driving companion is a musician and when he choses the radio / cd selection it's going to be some crazy French singing lady or a jam band that no of us have ever heard of but of course will be the next big thing. I should lay off because in his defense he has been very nice about me picking the music for the majority of the ride.

Okay so where have I gone today... Well yesterday we hit Nashville ... slept in Pudach, Ky - yah that is a happening town...oh wait not at all. Thank God I bring my own sheets with me to these dive hotels. Love it how I will stay at such gross establishments but its okay because I bring my own sheets, towels, and shower shoes. Like that's really going to prevent me from catching some disease or rash or bug. hmm.

We set off for St Louis ... went down to the water front and checked out the riverboats. It was fabulous - great music was playing it made you feel like you should build a raft and go all Tom Sawyer on the Mississippi. We went up in the Arch - which was really awesome. You can see out for miles - plus the shuttle/pod/tram thing you ride in is really fun. And the people who were in my pod were from Hickory, NC. Yah fellow North Carolinas - they said I was from the fancy establishment when I told them I was from Raleigh. Fancy establishment? Well it is the capital kids...but I mean it's not like Raleigh is NYC.

Next stop - Kansas City, KS for BBQ. Now I spent all morning googling my fingers off trying to find the perfect place for BBQ Ribs. And did I ever. We stopped at WoodYard BBQ and it was DELICIOUS. Talk about hole in the wall fabulous. It is an old house - no AC, wood floors, paper towel rolls on the table, and PBR to drink. I was in heaven. I had the special - the Triple P ... Pulled pork, smoked ham, smoked bacon, with a slice of provolone cheese on a bun, baked beens, creamed corn with dill sauce, and oh well of course 4 ribs with their hot sauce. This place was featured on Food Networks Dives, Diners, and Drive- Ins. See pictures below.

Next we went to Cabelas because I was in some need of some long pants for hiking - for some reason I missed the memo of packing my hiking pants on Sunday morning. I am sure it had nothing to do with my Saturday night activities. This cabelas was HUGE and oh so amazing. I had to restrain myself when it came to purchasing stuff because I was about to go nuts.



After our little detours we finally got back on the road and are now in somewhere in Nebraska ... staying at the lovely Rodeway Inn. Thanks to Kathy who hooked me up with a great deal by giving me a coupon - sweet. Still paying $60. This place is a step up from the dump I stayed in last night. I mean my neighbors are all workers getting the town ready for the State Fair and some of them are working on some train track. Kathy said it's a big ol mess but they should get everything up and running by the end of August - thank goodness!!


Oh one more thing ... I was doing some light reading about Yellowstone - this is our next destination as we are going to be doing 3 nights of camping here. Okay so doing some research and apparently female hikers on the menstrual cycle need to wrap feminine products in two ziplock bags to prevent the bears from attacking. Wow aren't I glad that's not going to be a problem ... oh wait Mother Nature is just such a hoot and holler because guess who started their period - that would be me. Sweet - Im going to get attacked by a bear.


PICTURES!

First Leg Report - no lovin'

So we have successfully knocked out our first part of the trip. We left Raleigh around 1130 Sunday morning and made it to Nashville around 7ish. Ate dinner at this kick ass diner - Browns Diner. Four dollar mouth watering burgers and a bowl of hush puppies for 1.75. Yes please - despite the fact the place looked like complete hole in the wall/crap - it was delicious. After dinner DP and I drove through Vanderbilt s campus - beautiful campus. We ende our tour if Nashville by walking around downtown on broadway. Wow- we saw two country bands play and they were awesome. We stopped in at Legends and some salon bar. These chicks new how to belt it out.

Now we are on our way towards st Louis. My travel companion wanted to stay at a hostel ... Yah a hostel. Um can say hell no? One I have seen that movie and I would be a prime candidate to be taken away and cut into pieces and two this America there are hotels and these great things called AAA discounts. Bless his applachain trail climbing hiking self - I don't do that. Camping yes but not when the red roof inn awaits you across the street. Lord bless my heart I need a drink.

Did I mention ? Oh maybe not ...

So last post I mentioned that Lucy would not be joining me on this road trip ... however someone else will be. I guess this is where some people think the road trip got a whole lot more interesting as a opposed to the fact that I'm just seeing America. I traveling with my ex boyfriend from high school .... oh and part of college. Now first off I have no plan whatsoever to get all let's rekindle the old flame here ... there is reason why he drove me up the wall when were in our late teens/ early 20's and I am sure that reason is still there eight years later. We have been friends again now for about three or so years. But I figured I would mention this little tidbit since I'm pretty sure M&J and JB have a bet going on as to when the first hook up is going to take place on the open road. You can place your bet with them.

Oh and one more thing - why am I traveling across the country with him? Because I have a big mouth and said jokingly - "Let's road trip it out west!" When I found out he was looking a jobs in Denver. Me and my never thinking through grand ideas.

Okay I need to pack being that it's 8:45 and I have suppose to be leaving in an hour and I still haven't showered. And I smell like a bar. Perhaps going to Tim McGraw AND going out to the bars was not the smartest decision. But I did have a blast with everyone last night ... plus I'll just make my traveling companion drive.

And We are Back!

Hello Friends ... if there are any out there still reading ....

I know it has been months since my last post but seriously life was not that interesting and then it got interesting and then I forgot to write about it. BUT IM BACK! And this next segment of blogging is going to be about the travels west. Yes that is right - Pav takes on America Part 2. I will be taking a week to travel out west and plan on doing some mountain climbing, camping, people meeting, food eating, and fun time wedding celebrating.

So hopefully if there is anyone out there reading still - please join me on my most excellent adventure. However as a side note - the Goose will not be joining me on my most excellent adventure. Not cool - I know but Aunt Jenn is taking care of her and since I will be gone for 2 weeks and not 2 months it made more sense to leave her be.

OB/GYN Clinic

So... I spent the day doing rounds at the hospital with one of the docs followed by spending the rest of the afternoon with nurses and docs at a ob/gyn clinic. Let me start with I had expectations of sitting in on ultrasounds (watching the baby move or finding out what sex the baby is!), hearing the fetal heart monitor, and doing abdominal exams in hopes of figuring out is that a head or a foot. All of these expectations were met - however by the afternoon since I am such an eager learner (damn me) I was able to follow one of the docs through all of his other visits. Oh yes the glorious Pap smear, pelvic exam, etc. One two many va-jay jays later I was praising God it was time for me to go home. Granted I love the other aspects of this whole journey of creating life - just not where the journey ends. Hopefully I will get over myself in time for the delivery portion of rotations.

Its Been Awhile I know ...

Hey Y'all

Remember me? Yes I am still alive and so is Goose. I have become a blog stalker rather than a blog contributer but I've decided it is high time to get back into the swing of things. Last semester of nursing school had me in tears um every week - no joke. It was truly one of the most difficult and trying times in my life - every single week it was like - really?! Come on!

However - I made it! I am through and onto the next round ... semester three. I am with the mommas and babies and I love it! I never ever thought that I would enjoy pediatrics but I LOVE IT. I am challenged and yet have a smile on my face every day - well basically everyday. :)

In other news and relations - my weekends have been filled with friend time ... making new friends and spending qt time with the old ones. Fabulousness.

What else? Well hopefully I will start to keep up with this thing and fill you in on my crazy adventures at the hospital - because oh yes I get to rotate through labor and delivery. Hopefully I am caught up in the whole "miracle of birth" part of this and not "oh my that is coming out of that and looks like that?!"

NC State Fair

Oh it is my FAVORITE time of the year - time for the North Carolina State Fair! !

Why I love the State Fair

1 - Food. Big fan of anyplace that offers country ham biscuits, french fries, corn on the cob, gyro's, and deep fry pecan pies within a 1/2 mile radius

2 - Animals. Love love love cows, pigs, sheep, and ponies! Jim Graham building - hands down my favorite place. Where else in the big city do you get the opportunity to milk a cow and buy the milk for $.50? No where - thank you NCSU Vet Students

3 - People. Oh the people are classic ... from the kentucky waterfalls and rat tails, to the baby daddy's, to the clearly traveling 3 hrs plus to the state capital is the high light of your social calender and dentists do not live in your county.

4 - Carnies. You are so creepy. Enough said.

5 - Village of Yesteryear. Ah it is here that I am provided with the opportunity to take a cotton and make thread ... or better yet - learn how to make a gun or a broom. You never know when these life skills might need to be used. I am a former brownie and ninja and know the importance of life skills.

Being Nice

How long do you have to be nice to someone even if you really do not care for them one bit? My mother always told me (and still does) - we are nice and gracious to everyone - take the higher road. Yah well I getting tired of taking the higher road and I chose the "if I have nothing nice to say - I'm not going to say anything at all" approach but it makes me feel like I'm being a snob.

But honestly I do not want to make small talk with you - I do not want you to ask me questions about my dog because if you liked my dog you would pet my dog and be nice to her and stop pretending like you are interested in how I am doing when I know really you are not. I would rather you just stay away altogether because you frighten me. And one more thing to be completely honest - I do not want to feel obligated to ask how you are - because I could care less. So that is where I am stuck - be rude and ignore or be nice even though it is not genuine and not sincere and makes me feel bad for being fake.

Suggestions?

Love to BitP

Hello Blog Friends!! It has been awhile - I know...I missed all of September ... some call it busy others slacking. However I feel as though I have a great post for y'all - this past weekend BitP, M&J, and I traveled to northern VA for a fabulous wedding. It was during this awesome weekend that we came to the conclusion a lady should never never leave ones home for an event without at least 4 clothing options and this is why ...

Friday evening the out of town guests have a party to attend - I get a call from M&J who just discovered something spilled (ie nail polish remover something of that nature) onto her dress bag during the five hour drive and her 3 dresses are not in good shape. Thankfully one of them had very limited damage and she had something to wear for the evening but a trip to the dry cleaners would have to be done first thing Saturday morning. Okay so dress disaster story numero uno.

Saturday: B and I decide after an awesome breakfast at Swirls in Winchester, VA we are going wine tasting and pumpkin picking. We have a great day but become a bit pressed for time for getting ready and getting to the wedding by 4:00. I go to put my dress on and the zipper catches - I pull - it goes off the track. It is 3:30 - panic - obviously can not wear that dress - so I switch into a pencil lined skirt and ruffle top. Okay its 3:50 and we are 15 minutes away from the church - we floor it to the church - last people to arrive- ie the bride is standing there ready to walk down the isle.

I go to slide into the pew and rip... oh yes the back of my skirt splits straight on up. I'm thinking - seriously?!! Really?!! What am I going to do now - because I brought 3 outfits and well there goes number 3. B suggests we go to Target and attempt to find something being that is the only store since we have been in the area. And I am not pleased - but figuring once I get to the reception and enjoy some adult beverages I won't care. This is all going on during the beautiful service which I still manage to cry 3 times during. Good ol ADD...

Service ends and I wrap my pashmina around my waste (I am sure it looked super awkward) and proceed out of the church. I meet BitP outside and explain my current situation of dress disaster and she hands me her room key and says "Go - I have an extra dress and it should fit"

I wanted to start crying yet again but B tells me we need to get a move on if we are to make it to the reception as well. So I yell my thanks as start running for the car and we take off to the hotel.

The dress fit perfectly and was super cute (of course!) - found jewelry and purse to go with - and I was ready to go! For a moment I felt like a celebrity with all of the dress changes ... then realized they changed not because of wardrobe malfunctions.

So in conclusion friends - never feel bad again about bringing multiple outfits to events. Never allow for someone to shun you for overpacking because you never know what might happen! ! !

PS - BitP love you.

Livin' on 40

Y'all I'm here - but nursing school has officially taken over my life. I have been a terrible blogger but these days you can find me at school, in the hospital, at the CV library, or on 40.

Soon I promise updates on my AWESOME rotations and life happenings.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Okay so after being on the floor this week (ie getting up at 4:45 and running around like the good little nursing student with her head cut off that I am) ... my brain is fried and this is what I have been watching since 7pm with a glass of cheap wine. And I'm not sure if it is because I am so tired but I am enthralled with these crazy women. They are nuts.

I miss these

Ahh I'm happy to be back - but - I keep waiting to feel that "Im back at home" happiness feeling and I don't. Does that make sense?

I'm just trying to adjust back to things and life and staying as positive as possible in the process. But somedays it is just harder. Today is one of those days.

I know I know - Im due for a post!

But not today ... and not sure how tomorrow is looking either.

Soon though - I promise!

The Good Ol South - Home Again

Hey y'all!! I am finally back in the south once again and what a road trip! I think it was something like 2,000 miles that good ol Mary Sue the 'Roo covered on this leg of the trip. I will be posting pictures and filling y'all in on how the Goose and I came home.

I'll give you this ... we started in Boulder - headed north to South Dakota - headed east to Chicago - picked up the roomie in Chicago - drove south to NC - just to drive across the state and back north to the Virginia border to go to the lake for the night. I mean when you have already been in the car for 11 hrs what's another 2 ?! Especially when cold beers, a hot tub, and great friends await you!

Okay tonight I will go into further explanation - right now I need to start unpacking and get to the grocery store.

Packing Up and Headed Out

Y'all I'm leaving Boulder tomorrow. 

and I'm bummed. 

BUT 

there is a fun road trip coming up because what fun would it be if I drove back the same way I came right?! 

That's how I roll

My days are cruising on by here and there have been many "Oh shoot! You have to do this before you leave!" moments.  Which is how the roomie Megs and I ended up on the Boulder Cruiser Ride.  This ride has been going on for over 15 years and happens every Thursday. Here are the rules for the cruiser ride. 

The Ride Guide
To have fun and to be nice to everyone...
To ring thy bell, To wish everyone well...
To sing, to dance, to make merry,
To not bring more than I can carry...
To leave no trace, to Cruise and not to race...
To ride in control and not be a troll...
To stay to the right and to ride with a light...

And of course to say... "Have a Happy Thursday!" 

Now what is even better about these cruiser rides is that they have themes.  Let's see past themes have been - Pirates, Gender Blender, 80's, and this past week - Industrial Wrap. 

See picture below: 

I would like for you to notice how Megs headband is made out of turquoise duct tape and I have sash made out of bubble wrap - I later added on Miss NC to the sash - it was hot.  Also please note the PBR Light Im holding - light on the budget and your waistline.  Just keepin' it classy out here.  

At this fantastic bike ride there are people of all ages and probably about 300 people that ended up coming out for the cruiser ride.  We ended up riding our bikes about 15 miles over the course of the evening (walking was an issue on Friday).  We all met in this huge field and proceeded to ride all over Boulder and I mean all over Boulder.  It was awesome.  Ahh let me take this time to show y'all my pony. 

Im too lazy right now to actually upload a pic of mine however mine looks very similar and it is a three speed. None the less Nancy (that is my bike's name) took me all over Boulder with ease.  I love her.