US
DALE'S COMMENTS:
November 2, 2003
After my Rancho Mirage job in California ended I did not have work for three weeks. Instead of getting stressed out Denny and I decided to do what we really want to do, travel. We stayed an extra day to see the Wind Farm which is windmills in a canyon between some mountains. It was interesting to learn a little about how the wind is harvested and the energy that is generated is converted to electricity and sent to power plants. Please do not ask me to explain any more than that.
Sunday we took off. We drove north past Los Angeles and then west to the coast of California. It was a little foggy but a beautiful drive that took several days. In the northwest corner of California we went through the Redwood forest. Boy can those trees make you feel small. What they have seen over hundreds of years. We stopped at a park display office. There was a tree trunk there of a tree that had died. On the rings was marked what had gone on, it had been alive all the way back to the time of the Magna Carter!
We then drove up to visit with my brother in Tacoma, Washington. The weather was cold and rainy most of the time. Was so good to see him though. We went to Pikes Pier and Mt. Rainier. Only wish we had had more time. After a week we moved on.
There is a couple in Cody, Wyoming we met in Palm Beach, Florida so we stopped and had breakfast and a wonderful conversation with them. They are members of the Cody Historic Center (which is five museums in one building) and got us in for free. What a place! I highly recommend a visit if you are ever in the area.
Next we drove over to Yellowstone National Park. As we drove into the park for the night (it was about 4:30 PM) there was some light snow coming down. Mind you it was only late September. We stayed for two days and saw geysers, elk, deer, and bison (buffalo). All I can say is awesome.
We drove on to Mount Rushmore when I got "the phone call." A job had come through. I flew out and Denny drove on to see Mount Rushmore. He then went to see Crazy Horse. After that he went to visit family in Ohio and pick up his mother who flew in from Florida. They then went on to Johnstown, Pennsylvania to visit with more family. After a week everyone went their own way and Denny headed in my direction.
I have now been in Suffolk, Virginia for a month and a half. It is a little different than I expected. Thought being so far east it would be more of a big town/city atmosphere. In other words it is more small town. But the cities of Norfolk and Chesapeake are not that far away and a little more big city. Not that I care really. I have learned to enjoy the small town atmosphere.
The hospital where I am working is only a year old and very nice. They do a very nice job of keeping it clean. Why in the world they put the thermostats for the departments in the main hallways, I have not figured out. The hallways are nice and cool and the working departments can get just a little warm.
I am working in a department with five sonographers and four machines which helps keep things moving in a busy department. We do alot of vascular work, and very little OB work. I love going to different places and doing such a variety of ultrasound.
I flew into Norfolk, Virginia just four days after Isabel (as they say here "the big storm") came for a visit. Denny had called campgrounds here but they were all full to overflowing with insurance adjustors and contractors. At that time things were still pretty much in a turmoil. Many were still without electricity (some for up to two weeks). Many schools did not reopen for about a week after the storm because of the time it took to get debris and trees out of the roads. In the Outer Banks, North Carolina a bridge went out and children had to be ferried to shore by boat. Many of my patients either had severe storm damage to their homes or had family or friends who had. None of them were complaining but thanked God that things had not been worse.
My company furnished me an apartment about a half hour drive from work. It has furniture, linens, an alarm clock, pots and pans, dishes, television, and VCR. About the only thing not provided was food. Almost forgot one of the most important things. It had a bathtub! Went out the second day and bought some Aveeno Relaxing Herbal Bubble Bath (or something like that). Had not been in a bathtub in about two years, so I enjoyed soaking almost every other night for a month. Oh, such is the life. Did a bit of reading, and enjoyed the peace and quiet. Have to admit that I am a little attached to the husband and the dog and was happy when they were to got here.
Enough for now. Will talk again later. Take care all and God bless.