Home At Last

It just occurred to me the other night that we arrived back in Denver exactly five years to the day I initially moved away.  FIVE YEARS!  It doesn't seem possible.  I still remember the weeks and days leading up to that move like they were yesterday.  It was to be the beginning of an entirely new life, which was terrifying and exciting all at the same time.  I was a new grad and newly in love, making me idealistic in a way that only such an all-encompassing newbie can be.  Looking back, I should have had an inkling Las Vegas probably wasn't the best place to begin a career in nursing, or a new relationship.  The fast-paced, instant-gratification, check-your-common-sense-at-the-door culture that abounds there doesn't do much to foster either.  But I was naive and determined, so I dove right in and gave it my best shot.  Those early days were rough, both for our relationship and my career, but I (and we) survived.  Now, after years of living like a gypsy, I've returned to the city I love, the place where my adulthood began, and life has come back full circle.  Well, sort of.

As excited as I am to be back, things just aren't the same.  This isn't exactly the same city I left, and I'm certainly not exactly the same person I was so many years ago.  Favorite restaurants have closed, with new ones springing up in their place.  My old nursing school abandoned for a new campus east of the city (tear!); its windows boarded, the dilapidated, deserted buildings just waiting to be demolished.  There have been marriages and divorces.  Babies have been born.  Houses have been bought and sold.  Careers have blossomed.  Friendships have evolved and sometimes faded, with new ones to take their place.

And me, well... I'm no longer a scared new grad, but a somewhat seasoned nurse.  I've become tougher (and possibly more jaded) than I ever thought possible.  I'm no longer a single twenty-something, playing the dating game, either.  Now I'm a thirty-something married lady, with a fur-baby in tow.  I'm definitely older, possibly a little wiser (I hope), and most certainly more settled in myself and my life.

But just because this isn't the same Denver, and I'm not the same girl who left this city so many years ago, doesn't mean that I'm not excited to be back.  Because, let's face it, I'm ecstatic.  I'm happy to be back in a real city, where everything is so alive.  I'm happy to be back in a place that boasts such an amazing restaurant and bar scene.  I can't help but smile every time I catch a glimpse of the mountains, and am  downright euphoric with the knowledge that all of my favorite outdoor activities are a short car-ride away.  I love the trees.  I love the green.  I love being able to catch up with all of my friends, old and new.  It's true that this is not entirely the same city I left, but Denver is home to me, and I couldn't be happier to be back.

Perfectly Boring

Ahhh... It's been a long time since I've experienced the luxury of feeling "at home", but I think I finally hit the jackpot this past weekend. Yes, we've been in our new digs for over a month now, but this was the first time in an incredibly long while, that I've actually felt settled. I have to admit, it felt nice.

This was the first weekend we had time to laze around and do whatever we wanted. No parties. No out-of-town weddings. No obligations of any sort. This weekend was all about us.

So what did we do with a weekend to call our own? Nothing much. After maintaining such a hectic pace for the past few months, we were craving low-key. And we got our wish. Friday evening Happy Hour at Pasquinis. Sushi at Sushi Tazu. (Sadly, not my fave.) Cherry Creek Farmer's Market. A bottle of chilled, crisp Pinot Grigio while watching the Olympics. Pearl Street Farmer's Market. Puppy's first excursion to Wash Park. And what weekend would be complete these days without a little home-improvement thrown into the mix for good measure? Mundane? Yes. Nonetheless, these were the makings of my perfect weekend.

Maybe I'm going soft. Or maybe the insanity of this summer has finally worn me down. A few months ago, this probably would have equaled the most blasé weekend ever. But now, I'm grateful for the downtime. Everything about it was pure, borderline boring bliss. Whatever. I'm just thankful we finally found time to chill.

It's Good to be Back... I Think.

Oh. OK. So that's how it feels to work full time.  After eight weeks off, I'd nearly forgotten.  And, even though this was probably the easiest week of my nursing career, I'm absolutely exhausted.  After three seemingly endless nights on my feet, I'm dog tired.  (My eyelids are drooping as I'm trying to finish this entry.)  Let's face it, all this R&R has made me soft.  I can't even imagine attempting to pull a fourth shift right now.  At this point,  I want nothing more than to crawl into bed, pull the covers over my head, and shut the world out.  If Mouse would let me, I would gladly sleep the entire weekend away.  I'm sure the majority of said fatigue is simply related to the drastic change in my schedule, as my body is no longer accustomed to pulling all-nighters.  But my drawn-out vacation is a thing of the past, so I suppose it's time to reacquaint myself with the physical punishment inherent to working nights.  (Which is still far more attractive than the thought of getting up early enough to work the day shift.) 

All whining aside, it's good to be back.  It's nice to get out of the house, feel productive, and meet new people.  So far, all of my prior qualms and nerves have proven to be unfounded.  Sure, there are new things to learn, but getting back on the floor is kind of like riding a bike.  I may be a little shaky at the get-go, but it isn't taking long to find my rhythm.  Soon enough, I'll be back to my old self.  But first, I need to take a very, very long nap.

The End of My Lazy Days

I guess this is it.  My summer of freedom is over.  Oh - I realize there is still a good month of summer left to enjoy, but it won't be the same.  It's finally time for me to get out of vacation mode and re-enter reality.  Today is the day my extended vacation ends.  Tonight, I go back to work.

I really can't complain.  Initially, I had only planned (and budgeted) for a month off.  The extra four weeks were just a bonus.  Quite honestly, I'm ready to get back to work at this point.  Between the move, the backpacking trip, and the new puppy (more on that later), our lives have been in a tailspin.  I'm ready to get back to some sort of normalcy.  I'm ready for a schedule, a sense of purpose, and, most importantly, a paycheck.  (Decorating a new house isn't cheap, after all.)

Of course, my excitement is laced with a teensy bit of the jitters.  Starting a new job always does this to me.  One would think that, after more than a year of working agency, I would be an old pro at this.  I should be tougher than nails.  I am accustomed to going to different hospitals, after all.  But working in Colorado is foreign territory for me.  I may have gone to nursing school here, but I never worked in a professional capacity.  And anyone who has ever worked as a traveler knows that each state plays by its own rules.  I know how to play the game in Nevada, California, even Australia, but who knows what I'm walking into now?

Just like any other position, I have to approach this with an open mind and a positive attitude.  I've been dreaming about getting back to Colorado for years, and this is just another part of my transition into life out here.  So, I'm going to rest up and do my best to mentally prepare myself for my first night back in the unit.  Wish me luck...

Home on the Front Range

Well, here we are.  After months of planning, a month on the road, and the longest drive ever between Vegas and the Front Range, we have arrived in Denver.  We've actually been here for a couple of weeks, but life has been so absolutely insane that I haven't been able to steal away any time to write.  There's so much to do with the new house, new job, and re-establishing Mouse's business that I can barely keep my head screwed on straight.  (Of course, I'm preaching to the choir of anyone who has ever moved.)  Oh - and did I mention that we threw a party two days after moving in?  Yes - we're that crazy.  But even though life has been a mind-boggling whirlwind since we've been back, it's good to be home.