climb on

 for St.Patrick's Day, my fellow adventure-seeking friend, morgan, and i headed to www.climbnashville.com-- the actual place, not the website. 

 we had not been in a good while, so it took us a minute to get into our gear correctly. if you are not totally confident in your ability, they provide a "refresher course" in belaying (which is how to maneuver the rope in such a way so that your partner doesn't go tumbling to the ground). i think we scared the friendly worker because he stayed around a little longer than usual to watch us practice...we got it eventually..

i'm gonna miss my little friend morgan when she moves to seattle to work on a farm for the summer. we had a good time climbing--it is a great workout--and it is super fun! if you ever want to go with me, i'll be happy to show you the ropes (my mom would be proud of that pun).

real

 

friday night was my last night on 8N. for 2 years and 2 months, i have had people ask me where i worked. when i told them general medicine, they would always say..


"Oh, so you have it easy"
"You must be so bored working nights"
"When are you going to a 'real' floor?"


let me just tell you, that group of women (plus several more plus a 6 good men) you see up there are the hardest working, most patient, most compassionate people i have ever been around. 


Medical-Surgical nursing is not easy, is definitely not boring, and it has been the most challenging, rewarding experience of my life. 


i have been honored and privileged to be a part of this team of excellent nurses, care partners, and medical receptionists.


so thank you 8N for the experience. and thank you for showing me what "real" nursing is all about.

biblical

we love hiking. and challenges. so, when we stumbled across the website for the "Walls of Jericho"(aka the "Grand Canyon of the South"), we had to go. named by a traveling minister who was impressed by its grandeur, it is a hike that is well worth the effort.

intimidating. but we persevered.

one of two bridges we had to cross. (the second one had no rails whatsoever). we watched a mother with her 3 year old son clinging to her back for dear life scoot across this one. 

check out the "walls" behind us. this was at the bottom of the gorge. we had our dollar general lunch special of handi-snacks, mini pecan pies, and cereal bars. and camelbak water.   

the very beginning, and/or headwaters of the paint rock river. last place i would want to be in a thunderstorm.

these were all taken on the hike down. about the (strenuous) hike back up...we were in survival mode and not worried about pictures...at all.

according to tony, the (entire) appalachian trail is coming up on the agenda soon. 2,175 miles...i'll keep you posted on that one.

explanation

we met at church camp in 1999. i had on shorts overalls and he had on a mariners jersey. i thought he was the cutest guy i had ever seen. he "saw my potential to look good one day." we always said we were going to get married one day, and 12 years later, after a long road, it is finally about to happen.

tony went to alabama, talked to my grandmother, and brought home her engagement ring. i was unaware of any of this, so subsequently, when he asked me, i thought it was a joke. needless to say, it was very real, and it is happening. 

i love it.

and no, we don't have a date set...