Centralia Outlet

Usually when we say "the outlet mall" in our area, it is generally understood that we mean Tullalilip - that heavenly place that is good shopping! Centralia, half way between Seattle and Portland on the I-5, also has some outlet shops, but I have never stopped at them. I've driven the I-5 corridor to Oregon more times than I care to count and have noticed them building up the mall.

Thursday on our way down here we stopped because Kevin wanted to grab a few things, and of course I couldn't turn down shopping. So we left Phil sleeping in the car and hit a few stores. I got this uber cute sweater in Billabong, then scored some sweet deals in Quiksilver. Men's button up shirts for $7.50??? Umm.... yes please!

So, if you are heading south to Oregon, check out the outlet malls in Centralia!

Portland #4

I was going to call this post Portland, but when I looked back on my blog to find links to my previous posts about this annual trip, I realized that several of them were simply called Portland. So I got creative - Portland #4! Umm.... yeah, not so good in the creativity department.

Anyhoo, as I said, we have been on this trip several times before in 2006, 2007 and 2008. It's become an annual tradition and we love it! We join our friend Kevin who is the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Icicle Village Resort in Leavenworth and help him out at the Portland Ski and Snow Show. He gets company for the trip and someone to help him watch the booth, we get free entrance to the show and essentially a free weekend away. Pretty sweet deal!

This year we are staying at the Hotel Modera which is GORGEOUS! It's a 4 star boutique hotel in downtown Portland with wonderful modern decor. We had drinks in the lounge last night - the bartender made a mean raspberry lemon drop which automatically gives them two thumbs up from me!

Then this morning we had breakfast downstairs with the delightful director of marketing for Modera and got to have yummy breakfast. The restaurant is so nice because it has these HUGE windows that make you feel like you are sitting outside.

I'll be heading out to the show this afternoon, but for now I have to finish my assignment for BCIT and get it emailed off.

So... how's the job?

One of the most frequent questions that I get lately is "how is the job going?". To answer it for everyone - I love it! I love being a nurse, I love my job, and I love the opportunities that lay ahead. Although some shifts are crazier than others, most days I leave work loving my job. After years of frustration and less than stimulating jobs, it is a joy to have one that I love.

Are there crap moments? Yes, of course (quite often those moments literally involve crap). But there are also the great moments. The funny thing a patient says, my awesome co-workers, the constant learning and challenge - these things and many more are what make me love my job.

I gotta admit, after two years of commuting 2 hours each way to UBC, the 25 minute commute to work is also quite nice!

Some people are also confused by my references on my twitter/facebook status updates to homework. Although I finished my degree, I am now doing a critical care specialty certification at BCIT. The best part - work is paying for it! For now I'm just in an online course, but in January I will be going to school full time for 4 months!

After that, I will finally be done with school!!! Well, at least until grad school, and that will have to wait for a few years. I need a break!

Amazing Race

I love this show!!! I've only watched one other season, but I found it on CBS right as it was starting this season and have been diligently watching. Love that we can get full episodes online down here in the good old US of A! I'm thinking that Meghan and Cheyne are going to win, but the brothers and the Globetrotters are going to give them a run for their money.

This is one reality show that I would actually consider going on. I think that Phil and I could do REALLY well on it. Although I'm sure that many couples say that and we end up laughing at them as they bicker and natter at one another.

While most reality shows I find abhorent and ridiculous, there are a few that I have enjoyed. I watched one season of the Bachelorette, but only because our local girl Jill was on it. I do watch Dancing with the Stars.... there is no excuse for that one, it's just my guilty pleasure.

Anyone else have reality shows that they just love?

Putting thoughts to screen

The expression used to be "putting pen to paper" but in our techno-crazed-internet-everyone-can-publish world, I think that it's becoming more "thoughts to screen". Believe it or not, I actually write a lot of blog posts. Tons in fact. They just never make it to the screen.

This is somewhat embarrassing to admit, but I write them in my head. Whenever I get some down time, or I'm doing something mindless, I think of fun things that I could write about on here. When I'm running, or in the shower (again, weird, I know) are the two times that I most often think of posts.

But somehow those posts never make it to the screen. I get busy. Life moves fast. Sometimes the post gets outdated before I can type them. Often I just forget them or run out of time.

For the few people who actually still read this blog, I'm going to make an effort to put thoughts to screen and post my random thoughts about life.

Double Whammy

I worked this past Saturday night. Nothing really new and exciting about that, except that it was Halloween which equals crazy at hospitals, PLUS it was Daylight Saving Time, meaning that the shift was an hour longer!

I went into the shift preparing myself for the worst. Thankfully, I was delightfully surprised and the night was pretty good! The emergency department got slammed, but we had a full house in the ICU and all was well.

No banana peel

On Thursday I was heading out of the grocery store after grabbing a few things when I had a little mishap. My ankle rolled and I couldn't catch my balance so I completely fell in front of EVERYONE (this was all right in front of the check out stands) and my groceries went flying and I was flat on my face.

A couple of the staff helped pick up my groceries, but to my utter humiliation all I could do was sit there because my ankle hurt so bad that I couldn't get up. I glanced up only to see many faces STARING at me. I looked back down. I was finally able to get myself up. The staff were all making a fuss that I should sit and rest, but all I wanted to do was leave.

Now, if my defence, the floors were a bit slipery, and I do have a weak ankle from a previous sprain, and I was in heels.

In spite of all that, here the conversation I had with Phil that night.

Phil: So you fell in front of everyone.
Me: Yeah.
Phil: Was there a curb?
Me: No.
Phil: Was it wet?
Me: No.
Phil: Did you trip on something.
Me: No.
Phil: So basically you were walking in a straight line on flat ground and just fell.
Me: Well, I guess, but... (insert list of excuses written above).

I guess I'm just a clutz.

Head Update

After several weeks of headaches, I thought that it might be a good idea to get my head checked out by the doc.

Verdict - I have a concussion (could have told you that). I'm allowed to ride again after no headaches for a week (so far I'm at 4 days) and he STRONGLY RECOMENDS that I take it VERY EASY and NOT HIT MY HEAD again. Um yeah - I'll work on that.

So the plan is to head to Whistler on Thursday. I will only be riding the lower mountain and I will be taking it very easy.

And the bruising is all cleared up and I look normal again.

Crash

I've been off biking for a couple of weeks since my bike is getting fixed and I need a new fork. So I was SO excited when to head up to Whister this past weekend with some great friends to do some riding!

Friday started out great and I even went all the way to the top of the mountain! I was doing great, starting to do jumps, getting my speed up and generally just loving it!

We were nearly to the bottom of the hill and Phil told me to pull over to let some riders pass. I did. I just got going again when he yelled out to pull over again. Worried that I may be holding someone up, I pulled over to the side. Unfortunately, I pulled over into loose rock. My front wheel turned and I went flying into the side of the trail, hurling head first towards a rock!

Now this wasn't just any rock. This was a very specific rock that was a very specific size. Small enough to fit through the front of my full face helmet, and big enough to cause a bunch of damage to my face. The rock smashed me right between my eyes and on my forehead. Thankfully I was wearing sunglasses or my eyes might have gotten REALLY messed up! My head was spinning and it took me a few minutes to get up, but thankfully I didn't loose consciousness.

Everyone on the trail was super helpful in getting me up and off the trail. And my darling husband was the sweetest and took such good care of me.

We walked back to the condo, with my face all red and bloody. I got quite a few stares from the patio dwelling diners as I passed through the village. When we got back our friend, who is an ER nurse answered the door. I knew it was bad when he was worried.

Erin greeted me with a "Oh sweetie!" and gave me a hug. Then I finally looked in the mirror. Here's about what I saw:

Granted, the flash kinda washes some of it out, but you get the jist. Here is a side profile of the goose egg that grew at an alarming pace on my forehead.

By the evening the swelling and bruising were continuing at a steady pace. My iburpofen and tylenol taking was also going at a steady pace.

The next day I decided to get back in the saddle and ride again. I was cautious my first run, then slowly my confidence built. I decided to go back up to the top to do a harder trail. I was doing great and ripping down it. As I came up to a jump I saw that the landing had a lip and decided to roll it. Turns out I was going too fast to roll it, got airborne, came down front tire first and went flying over my handlebars. And guess what took the brunt of the fall? My head and my shoulder.

Had I not hit my head the day before, it probably wouldn't have been too bad. However, when adding insult to injury (literally) my head was SPINNING and it was all I could do to get down the mountain. I slept it off for the rest of the afternoon.

The next morning the swelling was so bad and my eyes so puffy that I could feel pressure on my eyes. I decided that I could not risk hitting my head again and sat the day out.

Here is my face on Sunday morning with two nice black eyes developping.

To try and cover them up, I went rock star style and wore my sunglasses ALL DAY! and only took them off when I absolutely had to.

Here I am at home on Sunday night, holding my helmet that didn't do it's job. Bruises looking pretty good at this point.

This shows about how big the rock was. Had I hit an inch to any other side, the helmet would have taken most of it. However, my rock managed to make it through the tunnel of visor and chin guard and land squarely on the bridge of my nose.

Finally, here I am on monday night. Healing quite nicely and hoping that makeup can do it's magic tomorrow morning when I head back to work.
In light of my most recent falls, Phil and I decided that a bit more protection may be in order. Here is the protective body suit I got. Should help save me from a few scratches.

Crab Feast

A few weeks ago we got to enjoy a crab feast! Phil went out on the bay with his cousin and pulled up 19 crabs!

Even with 8 people, we barely made a dent in the pile, but it was so good! And the best part of the meal was the overwhelming amount of garlic! Garlic with a bit of butter for the crab, garlic bread, and ceaser salad complete with homemade dressing that was loaded with - you guessed it - garlic!