Memorial weekend

Tony and i had off memorial day weekend, and although if we were home we would have been at a barbeque, i think we brought in the summer with a bang!
Friday night we took our friend Raul out for his going away party. We had to work the night that he had his real one, so we took him out to dinner and then we met another friend of ours and went out dancing. I gotta say i loved being 22, but i don't miss it. All these slimy guys trying dance with everyone and the drunk flirting-yikes...
oh well, we did have a good time though
Then Saturday night tony and i went to san jose to see this rockabilly band that we love from around here. we got all dolled up and had a blast, Sik Luv they are called, check them out!!!
We got home kinda late, but sunday we had plans with our friends Anthony and Brandy another couple that travels together.
We got on the train and headed to san fran for carnaval. I won't go into too many details, but you can drink on the train, so anthony brought some drinks and we started on the way there. Once there we had a few and watched the sights, and sights there were. i thought it was mardi gras with some of the old chippeys that were walking around half naked...
after we got an eyefull too much, we headed back to our town to have dinner at this Tapas bar that has the best sangria around.
We had a few drinks and then headed home to prepare ourselves for the next couple of work nights.
we are off a few more days now, but then have to work a bunch in a row and then back home to visit- well mostly for nicole's shower!
see ya soon

Ooh, I'll blast your head off for this varmit

just a little quote from yosemite sam! where we spent a few days for tony's birthday..

Tony and i always begin adventures in the evening. This one was a birthday adventure. Thirty one for tony started with a haircut and a mexican dinner followed by a 3 1/2 hour drive to Yosemite. Darkness fell a little after 8 and my sense of adventure followed about an hour later. Driving 25 miles per hour on a curvy mountain roday, talk of a GPS was mentioned, but we managed with our computer generated maps and trusty atlas. At a fork in the road, followed by one fox, two mice and a deer my sense of direction hid under the seat. It was around 11:30 in perfect darkness on a road where there were more stars visible than at a Hollywood Botox sale that i convinced myself ( and tony too, i think) that we were lost.

Just about to empty my bladder and my bravery on the side of the road, i saw the light and realized that we had just arrived at what we would call home for the next 3 days.

This was, for sure, the camp that i had never been to as a child-only with a full bar!!!

We picked up our keys from the friendliest reception clerk and found our cabin. A short drive from the tavern and group camping area we found it. A quaint one room studio like cabin.

no air conditioning, television, microwave or coffee maker, but a view that i'm sure would be amazing in the morning.

As we parked the car i noticed something hanging out near the other parked cars. After thee laps around the lot with a flashlight, Tony deduced that it was a gray fox. I, on the other hand was pretty sure it was a man eating wolf.

He did the husbandly duty and walked on the scary side of the road.

Once we were safely in our cabin for the night, i convinced myself that i was ready to take on Yosemite-bears and all!

So we woke the next morning to a wonderful sunrise and perfect weather for the hiking we had planned ahead.

We got to Yosemite a little after 10:30 and spotted our first bear, which was so awesome, but also pretty scary. There were tons of people around there to take photos of it, but would they be there to take pictures of it ripping us to shreds?? i had obviously read up too much on bears before the trip.

This is how we came up with our bear bait idea! We would keep a safe enough distance to other hikers so that they could be the bait and we would know when to get the heck outta there, but stay far enough behind so we could enjoy nature alone. Not very nice, but either is decapitation by bear teeth :)

So our first hike was a tiny one up to a waterfall. It was quick and easy, and compared to the next waterfall hike we would do, it was kindergarten vs. college!!!

We stopped for a little lunch and then off the our next exploration.

We hiked to Vernal falls, which we thought would be a breeze and we would quickly surpass it and head to the next highest waterfall. However, we forget one thing, we don't live in the mountains anymore and don't have the lung capacity for the thin air like we did in flagstaff.

we did make it to the first falls ( the one we laughed at and thought 'no way, we could do better than that') we were dead wrong.

It was 1000 foot ascent in just over a mile, so it was like walking up stairs for a mile and IT WAS HARD!

Once we got there, it was well worth the red faces that we would soon have!

We did not go all the way to the top of the waterfall for a few reasons. The first and mosr important was that the stairwell ( carved into the side of a mountain) was wet and slippery and if one were to fall down the stairs, you would not end up at the bottom of the stairs, as much as you would end up in the freezing rapids about 40 feet below.

After that hike, we drove through the park a bit and then headed home for the sunset and dinner. After dinner we had a few drinks and played some cards.

The next morning we checked out of the cabin and headed back to the park, where we saw another bear. this one bigger and fatter.

we drove to the meadows on the other side of the park that not too many people go and saw some amazing glacial formations .

We then took another hike to the bottom of a 400 foot descent to see some giant sequoias...it was again, totally worth it.

although on the way down, it is all downhill. so we were thinking, this is no big deal, knowing full well that we would have to make it up, it just didn't seem like a big deal. I should have realized that it was when a group of 10-12 year olds were having a hard time. Now i see the error of my ways. For a moment, i said to tony-' man that is sad that those kids can't even make it up without panting."

and you'll never guess who was panting the whole way up??!?! that's right, tony and i.

as we were hiking back up we saw a couple that gave us the smirk like 'man you are so outta shape, we will own this."

i just wish that we could've stuck around to watch them own it, and then tell them about the kids that couldn't make it without heavy breathing.

anyway it was totally worth the uphill climb.

At the bottom of the hill was a giant sequoia forest. And one that had been carved out by early settlers when the tree became scorched after a fire...

my car could fit in the tree with about 3-4 feet on either side...well see for yourself.

that was the entire adventure, we made it with all our limbs and now we have to work the whole weekend.

But once we have some time off, i am trying to convince tony to take windsurfing lessons with me, he said he would compromise with kayaking, so we shall see.

Tony's Pre-birthday

This week is Tony's pre-birthday. We worked most of last week and finally had the weekend off. So we started by getting up on friday, rushing to get to dinner and then off to see Blades of Glory at the most ghetto theater ever, in fact it was worse than old fairlane movies, so bad that when we walked in i said out loud ' are we gonna get killed?'

We didn't although i almost died laughing... that was by far one of the funniest movies that i have seen in a long time.

After the movie we raced home and tried our hardest to go to bed because we had early plans.

Of course, since Tony and i are like little kids, we couldn't sleep because we were excited ( and i had a hot stomach.)

So we got up around 4:30 ish even though we didn't need to be up until 6:30. Packed our little overnight bag and we ready to go to Napa.

We met our friends-who happen to live in the apartment complex right next to ours) and headed out.

Our wine tour started at 10:30am...We met some other friends for a total of 7 folks ( along with some creepy people that we didn't know) to take a shuttle bus tour to 4 different wineries.

The first winery we hit was the Andretti winery, yes Mario Andretti's and i have to say that it had by far some of the best wine that i have ever had... and that is also where the ER nurses began our journey to headaches.

After that we went to Jessup's. This place was reminiscent of the early double olive, good music, nice people ( before it became a sleazy dude hangout)

we had some good wines, but to be honest, after the first tasting-once our pallets were wet with wine, they all started to taste the same.

Once we got back on the bus, the same woman that told us we should have fun, then told us that we were 'a little loud' and the next winery wouldn't serve us if we stayed that way...

That place sucked... everyone was super stuck up and stodgy.

but we drank their wine anyway :) and then took photos like we were SERIOUS wine tasters

and then had lunch there.

The last winery was Oakville, it was nice, we got to taste outside on picnic tables and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Once we got back to our original meeting area ( long after one of guest discretely vomited in a paper bag) the 4 of us went to dinner ( Anthony, Brandy, Tony and myself) while the others went home.

We had a few glasses of wine at dinner and then went to the hotel that we had booked.

Planning on taking a little nap and then going out that night, we all fell fast asleep....and woke up around 10:30...

so we turned the key in, checked out of the hotel and headed back home!

This morning we went to the farmer's market, got some great flowers and fruit and then took ourselves out to lunch for Pho.

Tony and i then took a little nap ( i think we need a nap intervention) and then went for a bikeride around the bayshore, where we found a place that we can rent paddleboats, windsurfing sails, kayaks, and canoes!!! JACKPOT! i know what we will be doing on our next day off ( well our next day off next week, since this week's days off are planned for Yosemite!!!)

tony is famous..

just kidding. the same chick that did the article on married nurses on the road is always asking us for input on other things...here is an article that tony is featured in!


Male Travelers Embrace Opportunities on the Road
By Susan Schneider, contributor
David Brennan, RN, has been a nurse for more than three years. He said he knew while he was in nursing school that he wanted to be a travel nurse.
“I’ve always known I wanted to travel,” said Brennan, “And travel nursing fit the bill. I made a list of all the cities I wanted to see and then signed up.”
Brennan, who works in Surgical Telemetry and Step Down, is originally from New Jersey. Once he signed on with leading staffing company American Mobile Healthcare, he headed for the west coast. In the last year he has lived in San Diego and Los Angeles and is currently living in downtown San Francisco. He commutes to Stanford Medical Center, which is a 40-minute commute south in Palo Alto.
“The commute is really worth it. I wanted to be right downtown because San Francisco is such a great place to live.
“I like coastal cities,” continued Brennan. “I really enjoyed my time in San Diego, where I extended my assignment so I could enjoy the summer at the beach. It was great. I wouldn’t mind going back there.”
Still on the list for Brennan are Seattle, Miami, Chicago, Atlanta and maybe New York.
“ My recruiter is awesome,” said Brennan. “Her name is Tina Jones. I made a point of meeting her when I was in San Diego, where American Mobile Healthcare is located. We have a great relationship. She really watches out for me and goes to bat when I ask for something that is a little out of the ordinary.
“They (American Mobile Healthcare) make it so easy for you,” said Brennan. “They take care of everything. Your recruiter helps you learn what is available, what you can request and what is negotiable.”
Brennan travels with a female friend. He said having a travel partner makes things easier and more fun.
“Travelers, whether they are male or female, usually make friends quite easily. We’re adaptable people. My friend and I compare notes about assignments and really don’t have any different issues related to gender.”
Tony Bono, RN, has the same perspectives as Brennan. He works for staffing company O’Grady Peyton International.
An Emergency Room nurse from Detroit, Michigan, Bono has been a traveler for over two years. He has lived in Norwood, Massachusetts; Tucson and Flagstaff, Arizona; Ann Arbor, Michigan and Fairfax, Virginia. He is currently on assignment in Mountain View, California, with his wife.
“I think the reasons men and women travel are most likely the same,” said Bono. “I think a lot of travelers do it for the change of scenery and for a chance to get an idea of what various areas have to offer. Things like recreation, parks hikes, etc.
“Generally, I look for cities where I might like to live. I travel with my wife so we get to check things out together.
“When we first get to an assignment, we spend a day or two around our housing looking for good food and places to relax near to us. Then we venture out from there. Staff members are very helpful about recommending hikes, road trips, tourist attractions and areas of interest. A lot of information can be gleaned from the internet as well.”
Bono said he doesn’t think there are any big gender differences when it comes to employers’ expectations of travelers.
“In general, I think the expectations are the same for men and women. In my experience, it is all in how you carry yourself and how you relate to others. It’s just as they say -- first impressions are important – so if you get on well with other nurses and docs from the get-go, it is easier all around

Detroit in the house

This weekend we had our first cali visitor... Scott came in on Friday evening around 7:30.

We made a bee line to BevMo! the best wine/booze/snack store this side of the Mason Dixon line! we bought a GIANT bottle of jim beam. Once we got back to our place, we walked to dinner.

Let me first say that our apartment exits right to downtown mountain view, which is ALL restaraunts...it is insane. So we went for Chinese and then home to have some drinks, play some cards, and catch up.

In the morning-ish we headed to san fran. Scott wanted to drive over the golden gate bridge, so that is how we got started.

Then we went to haight and scott street for some photo opps. After that we headed to Pier 39, where we ate a litle snack and then as we walking around the pier we found the sea lions.

We got home in time to order a pizza, have some more drinks and cards.

The next day we headed to san jose to the winchester mystery house. It is the house that Sarah Winchester ( of the winchester gun fame) moved to once her husband and daughter died. Appearantly a psychic told her that she needed to move from connecticut to the west and build a house big enough to fit all the spirits of the people that were killed by the Winchester gun. So she bought this giant house and kept building and renovating for 38 years , 24 hours a day. the house has 160 rooms. we could only go into like a hundred of them. It was crazy. there were cabinets that only held about 1 inch if space and a door that opens up to the outside, which then leads nicely to an 8 foot drop. A door that leads straight down into a kitchen sink, a stairway that takes you up only one floor but has like 78 steps.

after a 3 1/2 hour tour, we headed to redwood forest, where we mostly drove through it... because i kept getting lost. We drove past the same gold course 3 times... and don't think that i didn't beep every time i drove by. tony was laughing so hard that i thought he was gonna puke! i know, i am 30-but i sure don't know how to act like it!

we got home late, made some dinner of dill pickle soup , pierogi ( store bought, waah-wan) and scott made som kielbasa.

Tony and i had an early class so we went to bed early and scott watched tv i think.

The next morning tony and i had to recert for our pediatric advanced life support and it took all friggin day.. so when we got home, scott had made dinner. if i worked a 9-5 job, i think i would need to hire someone to make dinner for me everyday! Fortunately i don't so i can save some money!!!

We had dinner and a nap and then went to check out a bar in our neighborhood. We drive by at nearly every day, but we couldn't tell if it was a eurotrash or just trashy from the folks that linger outside of it...

so we figured we would check it out while we had some back up :)

plus, tony and i are tough, but scott not only is tough, he LOOKS tough.

It turned out to be not so bad... a bit of a metal bar, but a nice place. the people were so nice and kept telling us that we should come there more often. so i guess we made some 'regualr' bar friends.

we stumbled home and hung out a little while longer. But we couldn't stay up too late, scott had a flight to catch in the morning, so we went to bed and took him to the airport the next morning..

although first i called my dad to see how he was doing ( he had knee surgery) and i was going to wish him a happy birthday, only to realize as he was answering the phone, that his birthday was the day after!

so he got birthday wishes two days in a row.. i wish i was home to hang out with him, not just for his birthday , but because i was home when my mom had her surgery...

anyway now i am getting ready to watch a movie with my husband- we have a long weekend of work ahead of us.