This week, I am thankful:
for some days of beautiful summer weather
We had a little period of weather that felt a bit like the Seattle summer weather I sampled back in July!
So I became much less indoorsy during that period of time. 😉
I caught morning sun.
And sunsets.
I saw a small deer:
And I always have to stop and notice flowers. 🙂
that nursing orientation started this week
GUYS. My badge says RN now!!
My classmate Kristen and I are both in orientation together
We’re doing a mix of online and in person this week.
This is the kind of thing I wear in-person:
But for at-home on-camera stuff, I only wear a scrub top, because shorts are less hot!
No one cares what my legs look like when class is here:
Chiquita appreciates the online days. 😉
that I live so close to my hospital
I have to drive there a LOT of days over the next three weeks, so I am grateful for a short commute. Even with rush hour traffic, it is not terrible!
for a cat-filled grief illustration
One of our sessions was on end of life care, so of course we covered the Kubler-Ross stages (which are not exactly stages).
But this time, they were illustrated with cats. 😉
for the solace in a raise
My fellow new nurses and I are getting a little tired of sitting in orientation trainings/lectures (we’d rather be out there on the floor!), but we are comforting ourselves with the knowledge that at least we are getting nurse pay for this.
And that is way better than sitting in a college class that you have to pay for. 😉
that I almost never work 8:00-4:30
A lot of our training days run on this schedule and honestly, I dislike it! An 8:00 am start makes it a little hard to get a workout in first, and traffic going home is bad at 4:30.
I’m glad my normal schedule will give me three longggg days on (no traffic, ever!) and then four days off (easy to work out on those days!)
Vanessa
Thursday 14th of August 2025
This week I’m thankful for my boyfriend who I didn’t think I’d meet in my forties, but there he was, we connected instantly and it’s been nine sweet years. Garden tomatoes that are so delicious and abundant…my south west facing deck is full. For a trip off the island…I don’t venture to the mainland often, but I did last week and it was so much fun! A ferry to the mainland and a harbour to harbour float plane home, no need for the car. My cat’s cuts are healing. He got into a scrap with a neighbour cat and came out a little worse for wear. Rain is in the forecast, possibly tonight and we need it desperately.
Brenda
Thursday 14th of August 2025
I am thankful this week that we finally made our move from New York City back to my hometown in Ontario, Canada. I didn't realize just how miserable and stressed we had been until we got here last week and magically became better versions of ourselves. My 13 year old is more relaxed than I've seen him in 10 months. It was a really scary decision to make, but man I will never regret it!
I'm also grateful that we are now living a 10 minute walk from my 82 year old dad's house. He has been over for impromptu dinners a few times and has even just dropped in on walks. To know that he is so close after 24 years of living in different countries and seeing each other twice a year is a gift that I will never stop being grateful for. Life is good!
Marissa
Thursday 14th of August 2025
This is a good week for me to practice being thankful, though I suppose most weeks are! - My job, which gives me the paycheck I put mostly back for a future house. Despite my paranoia about the rather volatile industry, we are still busy and appear to be staying that way through the end of the year. - My parents, who are having their 50th wedding anniversary this month. - My health. I figured out that sitting improperly and lifting too much on the quad machine is probably aggravating my knees, which is a relief because I was afraid the knee pain was because of running or cycling. - A friend who, despite needing to cancel for the first time on one of our activities, is extremely reliable and has never "ghosted" me or dropped out on plans for frivolous reasons. - The thought I've been having this week: that I need to create more empty space in my life. The short opportunities I've had to do so have been calming and enjoyable, and I hope to do more.
PNW Casey
Thursday 14th of August 2025
I totally agree with your online presence! I did the same thing for the my final years of online teaching as a retired professor, but still teaching as an adjunct. I’d be all dressed up with jewelry, etc. from the waist up and then wear shorts, yoga pants, or, one time … pajama bottoms. I really wanted to get to bed as fast as I could after that night class.
My thankfuls are bittersweet … *used airline miles to travel home for the funeral of a good friend. Still had to rent a car and pay for motel rooms and meals, but it made the trip doable and I was able to go at the last minute. *saw so many dear people … I hope to see them again, but going home is limited as I have no family there anymore. *my hubs was encouraging and supportive of the trip. The trip went off without a hitch! *the heat wave has abated! *a friend is grieving the loss of both parents in a short timeframe. They invited themself to dinner last night, which was just fine and I easily made dinner for 3 instead of 2. I’m thankful they know they’re always welcome and our home is a safe and welcoming place.
Kristen
Thursday 14th of August 2025
Yes! No one cares what your lower half looks like. ;)
I'm sorry to hear of the loss of your friend!
Becca
Thursday 14th of August 2025
You look fabulous in those pretty fitted blue scrubs! Congratulations on all the new firsts you’re getting to experience!
Kristen
Thursday 14th of August 2025
Aww, thank you!