Hi Guys

Hey, I know I owe a lot you you email, but I wanted to update you on what is going on.  Mom, Dad, and Helen are here for the week and we have been having a good time!  Eric and I picked them up from the airport in San Diego on Christmas Day.  We got lost on the way home from the airport a few times, especially while looking for a McDonald's, which wasn't open anyway!  I took them to Vista Point overlooking the valley at sunset.  It was really pretty.  We ate here with Naomi because Thomas was working and we didn't burn anything this time!

Tuesday we rode the Tram to the top of Mount San Jacinto.  Mom, Eric, and I took one of the desert view trails around the top of the mountain and saw some spectacular views.  I started getting dizzy on one of the trails because it is such a sheer drop off.  I kept thinking about vertigo, which our tour guide at the Grand Canyon told us happens when you look down and lose your depth perception.  I got away from that precipice real quick!  Anyway, the Tram rotates 360 degrees on the way up and down,  which if it doesn't make you sick, is really fun!  We went out to dinner at Wally's Desert Turtle, which was owned by a guy who had a chain called the Velvet Turtle.  I really didn't want to know what his fascination with turtles was!

Wednesday we went to the Palm Springs Air Museum.  My Dad is a nut about war planes, and they had a very nice collection, which they actually fly at least twice a month.  Then we went to the Palm Springs Desert Museum, which had this cool exhibit by Duane Hanson.  He sculpted live subjects out of fiberglass and acrylic and they looked so real I expected them to start breathing!  We went to eat at the Elephant Bar, which has a safari motif, and has these cool elephant ear shaped fans above the bar that swish back and forth.  I wish I had a pic of them!

Anyway, today I took them to the Living Desert, which I think I've talked about already.  It's a wildlife and botanical park.  We went to see the animals mostly, and actually got to see the cheetah this time!  I found out that the Disney illustrators came to the Living Desert to sketch the meerkats and warthogs, then drew Timon and Pumba from them for the Lion King!  Pretty cool, eh?  We went to Eric's restaurant and had the most exquisite meal, and to our surprise it was all free!  There's a fire pit outside the restaurant where you can warm your toes after dinner, if you ever decide to go.  It was so good!

Well, I will write more about my adventures with my parents later.  I am about to kill both of them but it is also nice to have them here!  Helen is staying with me, so at least she gets a break!  Hope your holidays are wonderful!

Pics from Vegas

hello again

Hello to all!  Last week was really busy.  Eric was taking a management class for the Marriott all week and I was at the hospital every day but Tuesday.  We did get to have dinner together, though, which was nice.  We went to see Proof of Life Friday.  It was pretty good.... the shots of Ecuador were beautiful!  I can't wait to see Auda and Jared's pics from their honeymoon there!  Just wanted to let you all know that Eric and I will be coming home February 22-28.  I'll be home the whole time and he will be there about three days, maybe four.  Mardi Gras is the 27th this year and I can't wait!

In other news... I went to Vegas this past weekend with Karla and her friend Sarah.  It was a blast!  It is a desert town, except it's considered high desert (whereas we are in the low desert).  The difference is the weather.  Vegas is surrounded by four mountain ranges, like we are, but they actually have four seasons.  It was cool when we were there and actually rained!  They shut down everything for the rain too.  The Eiffel Tower at Paris shut down for a drizzle.  It's funny what they think rain is, and what it actually is!

Anyway, we went to see the Blue Man show at Luxor the first night.  The guys on the Pentium 3 commercial have their own show and it was interesting, but I wouldn't say hilarious like they advertised.  The Luxor is the one with the pyramid and the sphinx out front.  It is a cool hotel, but the only business I think they get is from the show because no one was gambling there.  Afterward we went to see a 3D Imax film starring the Simpsons.  It was interesting wearing space goggles for the film!

Monday we took a bus tour to the Grand Canyon.  We stopped at Hoover Dam, which is prettier at night.  Our guide, Rocky, told us how the first scaler to die there during construction died April 13 and the last died the same day, thirteen years later.  What was really freaky was they they were father and son.  It was very interesting driving through the mountains in that bus.  He kept talking about smacking mirrors with the truckers, which thankfully never happened.  We stopped at a Mobil station that sold old Route 66 memorabilia.  It was nice, but i wasn't paying $5.99 for a magnet!

Needless to say, that Grand Canyon is beautiful.  We went to the South Rim where you can see most of the colors.  There is a ranch at the bottom what you can take a mule ride down to.  The canyon is six thousand feet deep, and I don't think pictures do it justice.  It is something that you have to see.  There are trails along the South Rim and most of them have guardrails.  Supposedly they lose more people where there are rails than where there are not because they lean over to take pictures and slip.  Sarah and I liked going out to where there were no rails because it was a better view.  Karla was so funny... she kept flipping out about it and finally left us on one of the trails.  I'll scan the picture of me on the edge when I develop them!  It was good to see the canyon, but the bus trip was fourteen hours.  It was a little tiring.

We stated at the Alladin hotel, which has its own bazaar, sort of.  It's really a row of stores made to look that way.  There are these little guys who wheel you around in their carts too.  Tuesday we went to see Paris, Bellagio, Caesar's Palace, Harrah's, and the Venetian.  They weren't doing the gondola rides outside so we didn't go, but the singing was pretty good.  Supposedly the best places to gamble are the casinos that are paid for.  Harrah's is one of them but I lost my $1.20.  Paris is the prettiest inside because it has the smallest casino and the rest is devoted to parisian sights.  Bellagio is the prettiest outside because the pools all have blue and green tile at the bottom in these cool designs.  We saw a massive statue of David at Caesar's Palace, but I'll spare you the jokes.  He does have a nice butt though!

I had to leave Tuesday to go back to work, but I saw the prettiest sunset I have ever seen.  You drive through the mountains until about ninety miles from L.A.  The desert sunsets are pretty, but this one lasted about an hour and had every color you can imagine.  Alas, I was out of film.  In news of the weird, I passed an exit for Zzyzx Road.  I wonder who named it!  And I had to go through an agricultural inspection since i was coming from another state.  You can't bring fruit or vegetables into California unless they are inspected!  It takes bout four and a half hours to drive from here to Vegas.  All in all it was fun.  I didn't want to leave!

Other than that, not much else is going on.  Work has been hell because people are always really sick around the holidays.  But I'm sticking to stress relief measures and doing Ok.  I can't wait for my week off when Mom, Dad, and Helen are here!  I will write more later... until then Happy Holidays!

Hello, Hello, Hello

Time for a new update!  I forgot to tell y'all that we have been having fun.  Just kidding.  We went to Mikado's (a Japanese restaurant at the hotel) the other night with the manager from Tuscany's.  We sat at the sushi bar and the chef got us drunk on saki.  There was one that looked like milk.  It was all so good!

Sunday we went to Tom and Naomi's and watched the Sixth Sense again.  But before we did that Tom cooked and we drank red wine and solved all the problems of the world.  I feel like a real adult now!  I always couldn't understand how my parents could do that but it is definitely more interesting when we get to talk!  That was the first night since we've been here that we were out all night.  It was fun!

Thursday night we went to a restaurant called Tommy Bahamas with the manager from Tuscany's (again) and a server from Mikados (we helped set them up).  The food was good, but expensive.  A few people from my work met us there including my supervisor, who is really nice.  She told us we could get the same food at Spago's in L.A. for cheaper.  The thing is that here they cater to seasonal residents who have more money.  Her fiance is the make-up artist for Mimi on the Drew Carey show.  Very interesting!  Everyone that came was straight except one, if you're wondering.  They boys are leaving for Hawaii soon, and they recruited one of the other travelers that I work with to come with them.  Anyway, most of the conversation was about Drew Carey, so I won't bore you with that.

Eric and I went hiking Friday on the Pacific Crest Trail.  It runs along the mountain ranges from Canada to Mexico.  It's basically like the Appalachian trail on the East Coast.  It was nice, but it seems that every time we go hiking it's cloudy.  That makes it a little cooler than we would like... oh well!  It was fun anyway.  I think our next trip will be to L.A. after the holidays.  I am going to Vegas with Karla in two weeks!  I can't wait!

Other than that, life is boring.  Just kidding!  I am getting ready for Christmas and my parents and Helen are coming up... planning things to do while they're here.  It will be nice to see them.  It will also be nice when I finally get to go home again!  Well I will write more soon!  Take care!

Happy Turkey Day!

Guess what y'all!  The holidays are here!  I figured this would be a good time for an update since the Christmas season will be so busy!  Eric and I are doing fine.  We had Thanksgiving dinner last night... it was pretty good.  We burned a couple of dishes, but practice makes perfect, right?  Last week we went to the Living Desert, which is a wild animal park, and botanical (desert) gardens.  I never knew there were so many different plants in the desert!  We saw some animals too, like a camel and a mountain lion.  He had been someone's pet, so he just sat right next to the glass and stared at you.  It was very interesting.  The male leopard did the same thing, but he was a little more threatening b/c his mate is pregnant.  We saw a desert cat that looked just like a domestic cat but bigger.  It was weird seeing what could be someone's pet in the zoo.

We got to use our fireplace that night.  It was cool last week at night, in the low 40s.  Of course the pyromaniacs that we are, we burned all our newspaper and magazines too and made a big mess.  It was fun though!  I went to see the Grinch today with Tom and Naomi.  It was good!  It is so weird that Christmas is coming.  It is 80 degrees today and sunny.  This is quite surreal!

In other news.... Eric and I are thinking about buying a house.  The property values here are skyrocketing.  Tom and Naomi's place is worth $15,000 more now than when they bought it, and they bought it six months ago!  So we'll build up some equity and then move wherever!  I am also considering going back to school for my Masters in Nursing.  I feel like I need more education or more money, or both!  So we will keep you posted!

Before I forget... I went out with some girls from work the other night to a bar.  I thought, no big deal, right?  We'll just go out for some drinks after work.  It should have clued me in when one of them wanted to turn off the football game on the TV as soon as we got there.  It turns out that out of the six people I was the only straight person there!  And we went to a sports bar!   At least the two guys I work with are straight.  But they are leaving in December.  One of the girls asked me to go hiking with her.  I don't have a problem with that since she is already involved, but it makes me feel weird!  I didn't know there were so many gay people here until I went to Palm Springs.  There are quite a few!  I thought I was much more tolerant than I am.  I guess it's just strange to feel outnumbered.

Anyway, Naomi and I went out Saturday night and found out where all the straight people hang out in Palm Springs.  What a relief!  The band there was from Houston and they played "When the Saints go Marching In" as their final number.  The lead singer was trying to get people to second-line but they were clueless!  It was funny.  I asked him about it afterward and he said he tried, but they don't quite get it here.  Well, I will go now, but I will keep you posted on any new developments!  Take care!

P.S.  I'm listening to "They All Axed For You".  :)

Hello to All!

I thought it was time for another email!  I am finished with my orientation at work and today and tomorrow are the classroom part.  I am happy to say that everyone I've met at Desert is good to work with, has a positive attitude, and is my age (mostly anyway!).  The doctors there are just as nice as they were at JFK.  All the rooms are private so there's less room for error (in other words, don't stay in a semi-private room if you can help it).  They even have faux hard wood floors!  The hospital is about 300 beds, which is small compared to EJGH, but they are more high-tech than other facilities in the valley.  I can actually use a computer to do my job, which makes things easier in many ways.  Y'all that worked at EJ with me know this, but my supervisor there was basically pushed out of her position.  What a relief to know that administration finally saw how terrible she was.  I can't believe I put up with her as long as I did.  I just knew that I was moving and that helped (apparently!).

Hi Y'all

How are you?  This was my second day at work and it was pretty good.  The people are mostly my age and are very helpful.  My schedule looks good- I have four days off next week so I think Eric and I are going to San Diego.  He wants to go to Mexico so I'm sure we will go to Tijuana too.  What else.  I think I'll write more later b/c I am exhausted from work and I can't think!

Cali is Cool

Hey y'all!  I have not written in a while b/c a lot has been going on.  I thought that it would take a while for me to feel lonely out here, but after beginning to work nights it happened almost immediately.  Sure I was meeting people at work, but there are other things I want to do during the day besides sleep, and I never saw Eric.  So I have been busy quitting my job and looking for another one, plus getting involved in stuff out here.

I got a day job at Desert Regional Medical Center, which is the biggest hospital in the valley.  It is a trauma center so I figure I'll learn a lot.  The unit I will be working on is a new Telemetry and Med-Surg unit with a new supervisor and all new people, which is good b/c no one has seniority.  It used to be open only during season (Oct-May), but since people are moving to the valley and staying, they decided to keep it open and get some full time people.  I saw an ad for it before I left, actually.  This is the 4th job offer I've had, which is crazy!  All I have to do is walk in and say I want to work and that's it!  I was talking to a nurse today who is a traveler (she gets paid to move every 13 weeks), and she was telling me that the nursing strikes are all over, even in Southern CA.  I guess I just haven't seen anything here.  She was signed up to fly to Northern CA to work during a strike.  I'm not sure I could do that with a clear conscience.

Anyway, Eric and I saw our first sandstorm last week.  It was so weird.  There is this drainage canal that runs through the city (dry of course), and some streets go down so they are level with it, then come back up.  We were driving down one of these streets and it looked like fog ahead.  It was actually sand from the canal.  We didn't know what it was until we were in the middle of it, so we kept going and came out with a dirty car!  It was quite surreal.  What else.  We went hiking two days this week in the mountains and at Joshua Tree National Park.  The mountains were pretty and cool (for a change!).  The desert was beautiful, and it was quite relaxing to drive through the park.  It is so quiet in the desert... it was nice to get away from the noise.  A joshua tree looks like a big spiny cactus posing as a tree.  They grow every which way and are actually pretty.

Tom (the chef) and Naomi got married Saturday and Eric cooked for the reception, which was nice.  I enjoyed eating what he cooked, but was lacking a date, so one of Naomi's friends said he would be my date.  He was really the only person I had met before, but it was cool to have someone to dance with.  Then Eric came out and danced with me a couple times until Tom made some crack about the chef being "on the clock".  They are in St. Thomas for 15 days... must be nice and wish I was on the beach!  You know the desert is like the beach, lots of sand, but no water!!

We found a bar we liked (this is of utmost importance, of course).  The people are young, which is rare in this town, and the bartender knows how to pour a flaming Dr. Pepper, which of course Eric loved.  The only problem is that they close promptly at 2am, whether you are finished your pool game or not!  They actually turn the lights on and kick everyone out!  It reminds me of going out in Fort Worth.  It also served as a reminder that there really is nothing to do here at night, which was another good reason for quitting my job, besides that it made me depressed.  So anyway, that is what is going on!  I hope you all are well and I will try to keep you posted more often!

Hallo to all!

Hi peoples!  Just wanted to let you know that I am thoroughly enjoying my new job.  Everyone there is friendly and seems happy, and people tend to work together.  The doctors are very nice and go out of their way to say hello, which I am definitely not used to.  The hospital is very small, so it is easy to get to know people too.  I start on night shift Sunday so wish me luck!

Other than that, things are good.  Tom and Naomi (Eric's boss and his fiance) are getting married in a week at the hotel.  There are little boats that take you to the restaurants, and the boat will take her out to the point next to Tuscany's (Eric's restaurant).  Then Eric gets to cook for the reception.  Fun huh?

The weather has been nice here, in the upper 60s at night.  It still gets up to 98 during the day but that will go away soon.  Can you believe that the YMCA doesn't have a pool?  I have had no luck finding one yet.  They looked at me like I was nuts for wanting to join and told me that most of their programs are for kids.  So Eric and I are going hiking on Monday afternoon.  I guess that will have to be our new exercise plan!

Anyhoo, Eric and I are going to San Diego soon so we will let you know how it is.  We will also probably go to TJ (Tijuana).  He is just nuts about Mexico and can't stay away from it!  Well, we miss you all and hope to see you soon!

Hallo to all!

Hey guys!  I realized today that I haven't written an email in about a week so I thought I would update y'all.  I am not working yet... I have my physical to do this week and then orientation is Monday.  It is starting to grate on my nerves (after 6 weeks!).  I do have to say, though, it has been a nice vacation.  We finally got our furniture on Tuesday of last week so our time has been spent unpacking and getting things in order.  Of course this includes almost daily trips to Home Depot or Target!  Everything arrived in pretty much good condition and Tiger was happy to have us there.  Alas, I have not been in the pool yet, but have been walking in Civic Center Park.  It is a little place in the middle of town with a walking trail, date groves (oh I didn't tell you but dates and figs are big here), skating ramps, and a dog walking park where you can take your pet off his leash.  Can you believe the cheapest pool towels I have found were $20?  Are these people nuts?

Anyway, our friend chef Mike came to see us Wed. and Thurs. which was cool (he lives in L.A.).  We bought some Mexican heather from Home Depot to plant in window boxes that could border our patio/deck thing.  Well we killed them.  Home Depot took them back, but apparently we used too much manure in the soil mix and burned the roots!  Goes to show you who does not have a green thumb (yours truly)!!  So we bought some more and some herbs and they are growing nicely.  The cactus we got is nice and fuzzy, but please don't touch it... it bites!  Tiger loves the cat grass we got for him, and so far it has not made him loopy.  I think catnip is the only thing that does that, and cat grass is supposed to help with hairballs and soothe his stomach.  Or something like that.

Ah yes.  We passed our DMV tests.  I missed two and Eric missed four.  We also didn't have to wait in line b/c they take appointments there.  Who knew?  So today we went to get our emissions tests done at the gas station and my car almost didn't pass.  Do any of you know anything about these tests?  I know I've been putting cheap gas in the car but it also has 70,000 miles on it.  Any info would be appreciated.  Did you know also that AAA will get your registration certificate for you?  They even gave us our plates so we don't have to go back to the DMV!  Yeehah!  Well I am going to go try out the pool.  I may have to join the Y b/c it is too small for laps.  Anyway, have a good night and I will write more soon when I have an update!

Hello to All!

I just wanted to give you guys (hee hee) and update!  It has been 110 to 112 degrees here lately.  They do this weird thing in the summer where they spray polyurethane foam on the roof of their houses.  I guess it keeps the heat out in 125 degree weather, which is apparently commonplace in late July and August.  I was looking through the phone book and saw a picture of this woman in a bathing suit on top of her house with a guy in the background spraying white foam on the roof.  I felt like I was in the twilight zone!

In other news of the weird... we are going to take our driver's license test tomorrow.  It is a law here that if you take a job or establish residence that you have to get a new license and plates.  You also have to get your vehicle registered based on its age and blue book value, which could cost as much as $500!!  The freakiest thing was that I was advised to study for the written test.  Eric's boss failed it when he moved here from Nola.  So I actually had to drive to the DMV just to get the book to study from!!

Cali Update

Hi guys.  We are still in the hotel.  Our furniture was supposed to be here last Friday but now it won't be here until Sunday.  It got bumped off the moving van b/c it was too full.  Yet another challenge we have to face.  Moving is never easy, is it?  I do have to say, Tiger is enjoying having the place to himself.  The complex has three pools, a spa, and tennis and basketball courts.  Y'all would be so proud of me... I am up to 25 laps in the pool.  I have been going every other day but I'm trying to work up to every day.  It was 95 here today and I thought it felt nice!  It has been 102-105 lately.  Eric and I had the last few days off so we drove up to the Santa Rosa mountains and took the highway through them.  It was a little scary but fun!  Palm Desert is between the little San Bernadino and Santa Rosa mountains.  We were 2000 feet up!  We are planning to go that way when we drive to see San Diego.

I got another job.  Eisenhower was not what I thought it would be.  The staff there didn't seem happy and the supervisor that interviewed me was disorganized.  She had a few projects in the works but seemed unable to follow through on them.  Anyway, I took a night job at JFK Memorial Hospital, 3 12's, and they offered me $2000 for relocation.  It is a Tenet hospital but they don't do those retarded rotating day and night shifts, and the lady that interviewed me seemed very much on the ball.  She has worked with Tenet for 15 years so she knows how to milk the system!  The hospital also seemed much less political and more pro-nursing.  They used to be the public hospital like Charity, and they still operate that way, so it will be a good chance for me to use my Spanish.  The hospital is in Indio where most of the Hispanic population lives.  Ah... plus the staff is a lot younger and more open to new people.  They seemed happy to be there.

Enough about that.  Eric is liking his job and his boss is very nice... about a month younger than him so they are on the same plane.  His fiance is nice and has invited me to hang out a few times.  I am anxious for visitors, though!  I want y'all to see this beautiful place.  I will write more later!

Hello!!

Hey y'all.  You would not believe this.  It actually rained today!  Poured!  I felt like I was home.  I saw a couple of rainbows up in the mountains on the way back to the hotel.  It was cool.

I didn't tell you about the ride here.  Texas took forever.  San Antonio was pretty, very hot even at night.  We went to dinner on the Riverwalk downtown and saw this huge hotel called El Maison that looked like a Spanish hacienda.  The only nice thing about El Paso was the mountains.  'Nuff said.  Phoenix was great.  The weather is dry and hot and there are these misters on the patios outside of every restaurant to keep it cool.  We ate at a great place called Roxsand.  The food was so good and I got a wine glass as a souvenir!  It took 4 hours to get here from Phoenix and the drive was pretty.  We went through Texas Canyon and I felt like the Roadrunner driving through cartoon rocks.  There actually is a huge boulder perched on top of a 4 foot wide rock.  You cross the Colorado River to get to Cali and it is nice and blue, but skinny.  Nothing like the Mississippi.  Palm Desert is about 1 1/2 hours past the border.  The valley gets its water from an underground lake and there are palm trees everywhere.  We are pretty much smack dab in the middle of the valley.  Palm Springs is Northwest of here and Indio is Southeast.  All the towns are next to each other, seven in all.  You can drive down Monterey Ave, and to the left you are in Palm Desert and to the right you are in Rancho Mirage (which is where the hospital is).  Tiger did fine, he whined the first hour every day but slept the rest of the way.

Anyway, we got our apartment keys today and it is nice!  Bigger than I thought but I don't think all the furniture will fit, we'll see.  We don't get the furniture until Monday.  It is a pain in the butt waiting.  We'll have to stay in the hotel a few more days.  Darn.  Well I will write more later!  Take care!

Hello from Cali!

Hi y'all!  It really is nice up here!  Sunny every day, and the mountains are beautiful.  We drove down the strip in Palm Springs Monday and it is nice, but Palm Desert has a lot to offer in itself.  It has a street called El Paseo which is supposed to be like Rodeo Drive, but I'm going to stay away from it for a while.  Everything here is definitely more expensive, so I'll be shopping at Target.  I feel like I'm in Texas b/c the speed limit on all the streets around here is 50, and people are not Sunday drivers.  It is also very hot and dry (hence the name Palm Desert), so I am storing water like a camel and getting nice and pruny.  Needless to say it is a change from what I'm used to but I love it!!  Will write more later.  Take care all!

Hi!  I just wanted to let you know that we are here and Cali is beautiful!  There are mountains everywhere, but not much water.  The average rainfall here is 5.5 inches per year!  It is sunny, needless to say.  I almost miss thunderstorms every day in the summer in New Orleans (not really :).  I got a job at Eisenhower hospital working day shift, 3 12's.  I am really excited b/c it's where I wanted to work and plus I have all kinds of free time!  I think you all have my address but if you don't let me know.  Write more later.

Hey guys just wanted to let you know that this place is beautiful!  There is little or no water here but plenty of mountains... quite a difference!  The Marriott resort rivals the one Eric and I went to for our honeymoon in Cancun... you must come see it!  I got a day job at Eisenhower hospital where I wanted to work, 3 12 hour shifts a week, so I'll have plenty of time to play!!  I miss all of you and can't wait to come home for Mardi Gras.  Call, write, or come visit soon!