Surroundings

     So now that we were settled into our house, we had figured out the best route to the hospital, and had stocked the fridge with goodies, we wanted to check out the surrounding areas. First up is Ashland. This is a neighboring town about 10 miles south of Medford. They are a small, hippie college town famous for the Shakespeare Festival that goes on year-round. I guess they do all these plays and theater shows and what-not that are supposed to be award winning. Oh yeah... let's not forget... this is the town where after a certain hour, it is legal to be topless on the streets. I hear it used to be ok to be completely in the buff, but too many people complained, so they changed it to where you have to cover bush and crack. Anywhoo.... it's really a cool little town.

 A lady on the street selling feathers to be braided into your hair. Can you tell which one is the seller and which the buyer? Good Lord.

 This entire wall was covered with extracts. Most of which I had never heard of before.

 The famous (to the locals) Lithia Park. This is where most of the (naked) magic happens. Shortly after this picture was taken, we happened upon a young couple and their two children. The kids were running circles around the parents, who were practically dry-humping! EWWWWW.

 A lady who was selling hula-hoops allowed us to take em for a spin. I guess this group the lady started gets together once a week in a different spot every time just to hula-hoop and shoot the shit.

 Shawna trying out her skills.

 Just in case you couldn't understand the sign that said "Closed" on the window.

 Shawna's first experiment with Sake. Not a pleasant one, I would say.

 My super delicious meal at the Thai Cafe on the riverfront.

 I can't believe I forgot her name, but this lady was a really good time to talk to. She worked at this bookstore just to get out of the house a few days a week. We talked all about the way ladies' actions have changed since she was a little girl. Really interesting lady to talk to.

 This is now Jacksonville. It is a few miles west of Medford. Quaint little town that reminds me a lot of Hill City in the Black Hills, but way more posh. It is incredibly expensive to live there, with the average old run-down home going for $500,000. The little boutiques are all cute, but the people who run them are super snotty.

 Gary West. Apparantly everyone who knows anything about jerky knows of Gary West Jerky. I had never heard of them, but sampled some and it was pretty tasty!

This gentleman owned a local antique shop in downtown Medford. He was pretty interesting to talk to as well, and had a great sense of humor. Didn't mind at all when we were playing dress up in the old boots and flipping through this 100 year old book that was supposed to give you all the answers to your most pressing questions! It was exactly like a Magic 8 Ball, just in book form.

    Well, that concludes story time for now. I just got called into work. Bahhhh. They have been calling us off a lot recently because they just don't have the need, so I was a little spoiled. Of course, it has really messed up my sleep schedule, so now I am just a zombie.

More soon!

It's Roller Derby, bitches!

Of course we had to check out the Southern Oregon Roller Girls! This was from the second bout we went to, unfortunately I did not have my camera at the first one, and did not have enough light at the second. Oh well, you get the jist. This is the SORG against the Portland Rollers of the Rose City Rollers. I guess they are so big they have sub-levels of the team. Huh. I think I missed my opportunity to see the Portland girls in action. Damn, they woulda been good.

The Half-Time show. A cute little dance couple, she was 12 and I think he was 10. They got a standing ovation for sure.

 One of the Portland girls. They were pretty bad ass, not gonna lie. Positively stomped on us.

 Pretty excited audience.

 Short skirts, tight shirts... it's ON!!

 "Smack ya Sideways" had some serious anger issues to work through. I wanted to give her the number to my therapist. Or a freakin self-help book. She was good, but positively brutal.

Fresh meat?? Not with these purdy smiles... I like my teeth, thank you very much.



The New Digs

Ok, so we made it to Medford in one piece... now to stock up on all the necessary household items, map our route to the new workplace, and figure out where the hell we were living. Here we are! I warn: I seem like a Negative Nancy (who, me?), but it's not all bad. Molly has a 6'x6' patch of concrete outside the back door, there aren't any cockroaches or mice (that we have seen yet), and the creepy maintanance guy Tony is SUPER "helpful." The meth twins from upstairs moved out last week, and the teenage kid who assulted his younger siblings was arrested, so we don't have to worry about him anymore. But the mentally handicapped "toe-nibbler" lady from a few doors down is still lurking around every corner staring incessantly. So I think we will do just fine.

 My bathroom. So small! At least I got a tub... Shawna only got a stand-up shower. But we finagled a second bathroom. Score!

 All of those who truly know me, know what this closet does to me. I'd like to think that I am not a materialistic person, but the lack of shoes in this closet makes me feel sick.

 Our kitchen where I have burned my share of meals. My mom is sending me her christmas present from us kids from about 1990. It is a pin that we hung on an apron which read, "Dinner ain't done until the smoke alarm goes off." So sad, so true.

 Our living room. Funny... first thing Shawna said was, "oh wow, check out the nice couches!" Yeeeeaaaahhhh.... they are pleather. Have you ever had pleather couches? Worse than leather seats in a car. She knows now.

 My room. Pretty standard.

 The front entrance of the new hospital. Rogue Valley Medical Center. This is their symbol for their Heart Center where Shawna actually works. She is in the Cardiac ICU which takes their open hearts, STEMI's, and IABP's. They say they do about 600 hearts a year, so they are about the same as RCRH I guess. I work in the Adult ICU which specializes in sepsis, transplant patients, and all the other glorious ICU things like DKA, GI bleeds, and ETOH. Awesome. We get a lot of prisoners too! There have really been some crazies out since we have been here. Some pretty gnarly stories. Welcome to "Meth-ford!"

 From the first floor where the main lobby is looking down on the cafeteria seating area. You know it's Oregon when there is live trees and a skylight in the middle of the hospital.

 Fancy! They set out little plates at the entrance to the cafeteria so you know what the menu is for that day. Yes, the cafeteria is the first place we checked out. Next we went to the coffee shop. Priorities, people!

 The view from the road leading into the main entrance of RVMC. Waterfalls and ponds with koy fish. Very well thought out.

 SEE!! And you thought I was lying.

The view from the 3rd floor window on one of the pods. If I didn't work nights, I would take my breaks here.

 At the local Dollar Store... checking out some new shades, stocking up on goods.

 We are on a budget... have to be thrifty!

Our first dinner. Abby's is awesome! A little overpriced, but very tasty. Legen.... wait for it.... dary. 

Polished off the day with a glass of Oregon wine. Don't mind the plastic cup. I'm classy, I know.

       So far we have had a pretty good experience at the hospital. Most people seem pretty nice, and most things are fairly similar. I think we are both doing incredibly well for only having 2 shifts of orientation! (Everyone else gets 4 months.) They asked us after only being on the floor for 2 weeks if we would extend. I know that most people ask you to stay on, because you're just another warm body filling a spot, but I am going to take it as a compliment. But also, I will say... "Hell NO." It's not horrible, just don't want to settle down here. Too many things to see, people to meet, bad decisions to make!


AWESOME

So I came across a funny little tidbit the other day. Thought I would share. So you know those small things in life that make you smirk a little to yourself? Those times when you're just sure no one else but you notices? The circumstance arrises... and you feel the small child in you silently giggling? Be quiet no longer, readers... laugh out loud, call the happenstance to someone's attention, share that information. Here is my contribution of the day:


Bakery air.


Bakery air is that steaming, hot, buttery wall of fumes waiting for you just inside the door of that slightly too-chipper, too-brightly-lit bakery on the corner. It is an intoxicating smell that rivals some of the best smells out there: late summer night barbeque, new car smell, gasoline (for you weirdos out there), fresh baby scent, and even, dare I say it, campfire in the woods. Yes, I went there.

So if I were to someday fulfill one of my many dreams of working at a bakery, would I get used to the smell? Gol dang... I hope not. Would it turn into a boring, regular job of early mornings, oven-scorched eyebrows, and bitchy customers? No. Bakery air is just too good for that. It simply can't become another day at the whim of others, sacrificing your ability to take a break, to pee even, filled with unhappiness.

So next time you walk by an establishment that offers baked goods for purchase... stop and smell the muffins.

We have arrived!

 At Riane's house. The Schoonover's all met us there, we had an awesome dinner. We were so happy to have real cooked food! 3 days worth of Taco Bell, Starbucks and gut-bombs is no bueno.

  A super sweet movie theater in Salem where you watch a movie and order adult beverages and burgers. Suprisingly good food and really cheap movie tickets. Only $7! Suck that, Rapid! (They need to learn a little something, eh?)

The Wildwood Cafe in McMinnville. They have the most AMAZING granola covered thick sliced french toast that will make you slap yo mama. It is Legendary, with a capital L.

 Seven of Hearts. A great little Tasting Room where the guy who actually made the wine served us. He told us all about why and when and how. It was very interesting. This glass is actually made specifically for Oregon wines. Something about the grapes, the decanting, the flow to the nose... whatever. Get In My Belly!

 This is the wine maker dude. Teeth stained from red wines, love it.

 Wine Maker Guy took this picture. He was stoked to get the one of-a-kind floor in the picture. He told us all about how it was made and long it took. He was so CUTE. Hands down, favorite wine tasting so far.

 At Cielo Blu in Carlton, OR. A great little italian spot where we needed to have heavy breads and marinara sauce to soak up the excessive amounts of wine coursing through our veins.

 Another fun little Tasting Room where we tasted some pretty expensive wines. By this time, we were a feeling a little loose...

 So by the time we got here at the next stop we were a little tuned and turned into "Dirty Bunnies."  Let me explain. :)  I asked a cute, somewhat older lady if she would please take our picture. She said, "Who me? Of course!" So when we all posed by the 'art' behind us ready with smiles, she started in on her insiprational talk. She started saying, "Oh yeah, that's it. Right there. Hold it! Now give it to me from behind! Yes! You're all DIRTY BUNNIES!! Love it!"  Oooohhhhh, sweet Jesus. We were positively rolling by the time we left. The icing on the cake? That we were in the most snobbish wine tasting/cigar smoking place in the whole town. There was not a bottle of wine that was less than $60 in the whole place, and there we were... practically on a dirty photo shoot.

Some grapes on the vine growing on the side of a building in Carlton.

 I just love the way people here pay attention to every last detail. We were in some tiny ass town all the way out in Po-Dunk Oregon, and even they took pride in the appearance of the place. This was their version of soft mood lighting.

At "Republic of Jam" where we wanted to have a sampling of their goods. Can't pronounce half this shit, but we had some chicken with a spicy peach chutney, a something-something popover, dark chocolate and blueberry jam dessert, an almond cake with some fruity topping, and all washed down with a lemon vanilla spritzer. Great explaination... I know. Either way = delicious.



The long haul...

The date was July 7, 2011. We were finally leaving Rapid City after a mini-meltdown by yours truly. It was about 200 degrees outside. I know this because I was driving in the hot sun all day. AAchem. *throat clears* Anyways, this is the road to Medford (with a stop in Amity to visit the Schoonover's to come later).

 Wyoming, as you can see. Had to do a drive-by, so caught a gentleman what looks like REALLY trying to get out of the way.

Weren't even 10 miles out of Wyoming and Molly was already passed out. She is such an amazing Travel Dog. Never whined, held it until we stopped, didn't yack. Good girl. 

 Montana. Not quite the majestic scenery I was expecting to see.

 Idaho. Smack in the middle of a pretty scary mountain pass. Horrible roads, crazy drivers. Was white-knuckling it the whole way.

 Oh yeah, forgot to mention it was pretty chilly way up here. :)

 A moment of respite for Molly in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

 Gol Dang, it was really pretty here. All the houseboats, the water, the ducks. Super cute little town. Ain't got nothing on the pass on the way to Portland tho. More on that to come later.

OREGON!! Close your eyes, Mom... had to take a picture while driving because this sign was on the side of the road smack in the middle of a bridge. So this is the true state line...

 and this is the fake state line they had to put next to a visitor center about 2 miles down the road. Betcha never woulda known. The lady at the visitor center was kinda rude (not normal for Oregon). When we asked her about a few things (ie the waterfalls on the way to Portland), she had no idea what we were talking about. Isn't that your JOB as a visitor/information center?! Megan S... woulda made you sick!

Not a great shot, but the drive to west Oregon. Ho-ly Crap it was beautiful! I'm telling ya, people... if you ever get the chance people, go there. It kicks the pants off Idaho. I will be going back and riding bitch so I can get better pictures and video.

 Hwy 30. The scenic loop off I-84 along the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington. We of course drove on the Oregon side.  This is where the Multnomah Falls are. Again... will be going back on a weekday as soon as school starts so I can find a parking spot. It was madness when we passed through. Nowhere to park, people on the side of the road almost getting hit, CRAZY SKINNY roads.

 Portland, how I've missed you. <3

Hang on, Molly... we're almost there!

 4 days of driving later (with a 36 hour layover in Amity), we arive HOME!! This is Medford. Population 74,907 (207,010 metro area). Jackson County. Elevation 1,382 ft.