This is what it's all about.
I've finished my first week at work. Work doing what I love, at the VA. I'm pretty sure it doesn't get any better than talking about food and nutrition to men and women that served our country. Doing my best to get them to realize their ability to make positive changes, to improve their health and live fuller lives. I'm not sure I'm adequately explaining it.... I feel so deeply and passionately about working with the vets that it actually almost makes me tear up.
It's a pretty amazing feeling, despite the fact that all week I've done nothing but HR crap. Gotta love the government. You know, watch videos, fill out paperwork, do online training, go to in-person training, get access to charting systems, create passwords and signature codes, set up email, voicemail, read policy after policy after policy and (of course) do a serious round of meet and greet. I guess the meet and greet part was pretty amazing and I can't complain. All of my coworkers are fabulous and super helpful. Bonus: another new RD to the team started with me so I've got a buddy in this whole process and she's amazing. So while the "work" i've been doing all week isn't glamourous or stimulating, I know it's just a part of the journey to get me to the good stuff.
So CHEERS to the good stuff because that's what its all about.
Nina Michelle
Friday, September 17, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
The Beast
Day 9 in BK.
Today (sunday) was my first experience with New York rain and apparently it was a wimpy one. Not that I'm wimpy and couldn't handle it but because it was more of a drizzle than actual rain for New York standards. However for this California girl, it was most definitely Rain. In fact, the news reporters back home would have had a field day, leading the news with "STORM WATCH 2010" today. Thinking about how absurd and over dramatic they are makes me laugh. However, this Cali girl took it in stride and embraced the weather. In fact I did what many other New Yorkers were doing today, I went for a run in the park..... yes, during the rain. It was amazing. The park is gorgeous and the smell of fresh rain hitting newly cut grass is wonderful. Now, I realize that going for a run in the rain is not unheard of back home but the difference here is, that it is quite common in New York - at least from what I can tell. I loved it, everything about it. Not knowing if it was my sweat or rain drops rolling down my collarbone, leaping over puddles, seeing a group of guys play flag football and feeling the burn of the warm air escape my lungs and then watching it hit the cool air outside. Best of all, I forgot for a few moments that I was new, forgot that I knew nothing of the place I lived and that everyone one I loved was miles and miles away. I loved it.
The weather is just one tiny example of all the things that are different here. And trust me there are many, many differences. Visiting New York is one thing, living here is an entirely different beast. I'm doing my best to tame the beast... or at least get it to like me and not bite.
Nina Michelle
Today (sunday) was my first experience with New York rain and apparently it was a wimpy one. Not that I'm wimpy and couldn't handle it but because it was more of a drizzle than actual rain for New York standards. However for this California girl, it was most definitely Rain. In fact, the news reporters back home would have had a field day, leading the news with "STORM WATCH 2010" today. Thinking about how absurd and over dramatic they are makes me laugh. However, this Cali girl took it in stride and embraced the weather. In fact I did what many other New Yorkers were doing today, I went for a run in the park..... yes, during the rain. It was amazing. The park is gorgeous and the smell of fresh rain hitting newly cut grass is wonderful. Now, I realize that going for a run in the rain is not unheard of back home but the difference here is, that it is quite common in New York - at least from what I can tell. I loved it, everything about it. Not knowing if it was my sweat or rain drops rolling down my collarbone, leaping over puddles, seeing a group of guys play flag football and feeling the burn of the warm air escape my lungs and then watching it hit the cool air outside. Best of all, I forgot for a few moments that I was new, forgot that I knew nothing of the place I lived and that everyone one I loved was miles and miles away. I loved it.
The weather is just one tiny example of all the things that are different here. And trust me there are many, many differences. Visiting New York is one thing, living here is an entirely different beast. I'm doing my best to tame the beast... or at least get it to like me and not bite.
Nina Michelle
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
and then the strap broke....
so I've been here in BK for a long time now.... all of 5 days, it's pretty serious. Here is the story of my arrival.
I was in San Antonio visiting the fam bam for a few days before I made my way to my new neighborhood. I was flying the friendly skies with my new frenemies southwest. I was happily waiting in the airport for my plane to begin boarding. As my new frenemies don't do assigned seating, they classify the order in which you can board and run to beat the guy next to you to the only window seat left. Anyway, I was in the last "section" to board. However I was never called so I waited and waited and waited. Finally the door to the accordion style walkway to the plane closed and seconds later I heard my name being called over the loudspeaker. "Neena... Nyna Stoooott, please report the front desk". So those of you who know me really well, know that I was slightly annoyed at the poor pronunciation of my name. Oh well, off I went to speak to some lady, who informs me that my plane is about to leave and decides its a fine time to lecture me about delaying the flight. Uh, lady, stop talking to me and then I won't be delaying the flight!! Plus call my boarding section and I'd board! Anyway, her last words to me were "RUN!" So I listened and ran with all my gear in tow, which included: a HEAVY carry on bag, my purse, and my blanket (Kim it's the one you made me for xmas so many years ago! can't leave home without it!!).
So I'm off, my bag bouncing behind me, thinking the worst is over. I was feeling alright..... and then the strap broke.... the strap holding my bag over my shoulder. AWESOME! My bag lands with a massive thud on the floor and I'm about two strides ahead of it. I hurry to turn around and grab it, run on the plane and try to find a seat. As I'm now the last person on the plane, there are only two seats left. The first open seat I happen upon, the guy literally asks me if I wouldn't mind finding the OTHER open seat. WOW! what a jerk. So I did. However, on my way, I manage to hit some guy in the leg with my now broken bag and hit some lady on the side of the head with my purse. Basically, I'm the most loved person on board at this time. The one upside, the guy that I ended up sitting next to, let me sleep on him during the flight. Thanks random dude.
Finally I land!! I was super excited that I survived what seemed like the worst trip ever. I hop in a taxi and arrive at my new casa. I set down my broken bag, my purse, my blanket and my two suitcases and waited at my front door. Why, you ask... because I didn't have keys! A set of keys was supposed to be waiting for me hidden somewhere in my front door area and somehow they weren't there. It's like, wow - can this trip get any better. Luckily enough, my roommates (who happened to be traveling out of town at the time) friend had a spare set and was willing to let me in.
So.... I'm home! Home Sweet Home.
Nina Michelle
I was in San Antonio visiting the fam bam for a few days before I made my way to my new neighborhood. I was flying the friendly skies with my new frenemies southwest. I was happily waiting in the airport for my plane to begin boarding. As my new frenemies don't do assigned seating, they classify the order in which you can board and run to beat the guy next to you to the only window seat left. Anyway, I was in the last "section" to board. However I was never called so I waited and waited and waited. Finally the door to the accordion style walkway to the plane closed and seconds later I heard my name being called over the loudspeaker. "Neena... Nyna Stoooott, please report the front desk". So those of you who know me really well, know that I was slightly annoyed at the poor pronunciation of my name. Oh well, off I went to speak to some lady, who informs me that my plane is about to leave and decides its a fine time to lecture me about delaying the flight. Uh, lady, stop talking to me and then I won't be delaying the flight!! Plus call my boarding section and I'd board! Anyway, her last words to me were "RUN!" So I listened and ran with all my gear in tow, which included: a HEAVY carry on bag, my purse, and my blanket (Kim it's the one you made me for xmas so many years ago! can't leave home without it!!).
So I'm off, my bag bouncing behind me, thinking the worst is over. I was feeling alright..... and then the strap broke.... the strap holding my bag over my shoulder. AWESOME! My bag lands with a massive thud on the floor and I'm about two strides ahead of it. I hurry to turn around and grab it, run on the plane and try to find a seat. As I'm now the last person on the plane, there are only two seats left. The first open seat I happen upon, the guy literally asks me if I wouldn't mind finding the OTHER open seat. WOW! what a jerk. So I did. However, on my way, I manage to hit some guy in the leg with my now broken bag and hit some lady on the side of the head with my purse. Basically, I'm the most loved person on board at this time. The one upside, the guy that I ended up sitting next to, let me sleep on him during the flight. Thanks random dude.
Finally I land!! I was super excited that I survived what seemed like the worst trip ever. I hop in a taxi and arrive at my new casa. I set down my broken bag, my purse, my blanket and my two suitcases and waited at my front door. Why, you ask... because I didn't have keys! A set of keys was supposed to be waiting for me hidden somewhere in my front door area and somehow they weren't there. It's like, wow - can this trip get any better. Luckily enough, my roommates (who happened to be traveling out of town at the time) friend had a spare set and was willing to let me in.
So.... I'm home! Home Sweet Home.
Nina Michelle
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