Save the date!

Sunday October 27, 2013 is the day I get to marry my best friend! 

 

It's all set and booked!  Wedding will be held at the UWA Sunken Gardens and the reception to follow at Villa Pourzand.  Really happy to have it all booked and starting to work on the small things.  This weekend is a bridal expo and I am looking forward to going to that to get some ideas and such.  And with some very special friends that I am soooo lucky to have to share in the planning and fun with!

 

It still all seems like a dream.  Yes, we have had our share of ups and downs over the years, and our miles (or kilometers) didn't help.  But in the end, together, we overcame them.  But to actually be in love and plan to marry your best friend is just so amazing.  I'm still on top of the world!

 

Wayne is currently in Sydney on his path to America.  I hope he has a really nice time.  He loves America and has a lot of friends.  I'm really glad that he has been able to squeeze in some vacation time as well.  It would be a shame to travel THAT far to only be able to participate in the work conference and come straight home.  In the meantime, I am enjoying not having to double check the toilet seat to make sure it's down, and if my bladder decides to awake me at 4am (as it tends to do for the past year now...grrr) I won't even have to think twice.  Of course, what this DOES mean is that when he returns, I will no doubt be far too comfortable and...well, you know where this is going!  haha.

 

In addition to the wedding, I've had quite an emotional week.  My older sister and I lost contact when I was 19.  It was her choice.  Long story short she had a massive fallout with our biological father.  Neither of us have anything to do with him and were both lucky enough to have a step dad that we are fortunate enough to consider our "real" dad and have as an awesome father figure.  Well, not father figure, but as our fathers.  In the past when she cut dies with our biological father, she cut ties with anyone related to him... even if we didn't speak.  Almost 9 years ago, she gave birth to a daughter.  When I found out, I went straight to the hospital.  I had hoped that it would lead to us rebuilding our relationship.  (side note, there are more details to this, but it's not appropriate for a blog).  I left hopeful, but once calls, letters, cards, etc were unanswered, after a few years I slowly gave up hope.  Yesterday, I had a friend request on facebook and a message from her.  Needless to say I was in tears.  I called Wayne and he thought something was wrong.  They were tears of overwhelming joy.  I still get a little teary eyed even thinking about it!   We are working on rebuilding our relationship and she mentioned possibly coming to the wedding pending finances.  That would be so awesome.  She also sent me a picture of my GORGEOUS neice, Ashley.  Which also put me in massive tears.  She has changed from the last time I saw and held her, at the ripe age of 2 days old.

 

I have had a negative encounter with a friend, but right now I'm happy and having some really good things going with the above, work is going great, and life is just too good right now to allow someone to interfere with this!  People and things can only negatively impact us if we ALLOW them to. 

Finding my way

I am now about 10 weeks into my promotion.  It has it's moments, both good and bad. 

 

The good.   Need a hair appointment?  Don't need to ask permission to leave early.  Need to come in late, that's fine.  I have no bipolar boss breathing down the back of my throat... telling me how to do a job that SHE wasn't even able to do.  All the positive changes I felt needed to be made, I have been able to make them!  I get the gratification when my changes put us well into the GREEN and on the upside of things. 

 

The bad?  Interviews and hiring.  I swear, some days I prefer Chinese water torture than enduring 3 straight hours of interviewing.  And it seems to be WORSE when most candidates are not what we are looking for.  Then the other extreme.... firing.   Then all the others such as, saying "no", enforcing changes, saying "NO" and leaving out the "HELLLL" part.  Some days, I really want to beat my head into the wall as I hear about the most recent "he said" "she said" "he took my toy" "no that's mine" "he started it" bullshit.  Some days I have to stop and realise I am running a Medical Center, and NOT a daycare center.  I have had to learn to make sure that my face does not express how I REALLY feel.  And if you know me, you know that my facial expressions tell you allllll you need to know about what I am thinking or feeling (for the most part). 

 

The biggest adjustment has been learning NOT to bring work home.  There are times that it's just unavoidable, and there are stories that I sometimes just HAVE to share.  But in general, I am really working on leaving work at work.  And at the same time, leaving home at home.  Planning a wedding and being somewhat stressed when a wedding venue we like is available but the reception venue we want isn't.... but on the ride to and from work, I reflect.. that is "my" time and that is wide open to whatever I want to think about.  But once I walk into that door, I'm the boss.  Once I walk into the doors at home, wait.. I'm STILL the boss!  HAHAHA.  No, seriously, when I walk home, I'm the fiance who likes to listen to country music when I'm in the shower, who loves to watch "Friends", "will and grace" and "sex and the city", who gets really crabby once a month, and I'm just your everyday woman who is emotional, sometimes irrational, loves dogs, and stresses over most things.  (I am sure most women readers just read this and related!! lol).  I try to not let one cross into the other.  And that's really been helping me cope and not feel stressed out.  And that's another reason that you won't find much about work on my blog anymore.  Part of it is because of professional reasons.  The main part though is it's just not THAT important at the end of the day.  Having a job and income, yes.  But enough to affect my personal life?  Um.  No.

 

So, wedding planning has been full on!  Not being from here, it's been really hard to do planning, so over the past several months we had been doing some wedding reception and wedding venue browsing (yes, that was the big secret).  We had found a place I loved and we stopped looking.  However, we went to it last weekend and suddenly, I didn't like it anymore!!  I mean, it was ok, but it was certainly not a place I could envision getting married at!  So this past weekend and the weekend prior we went to some venues.  I finally made a note in my phone of all the venues, and we rated the venues on a scale of 1-10 (JUST the venue.. not taking any other details into account).  At the end of the viewings, we both rated the SAME place (The Sunken Gardens on UWA campus) the highest.  That lead to contacting UWA and finding out availability today, and checking that AGAINST the availability for the reception venue, our photographer (will get to that in a second!), and our celebrant (the name of the person who marries you).  So, now we have it somewhat narrowed down and just need to discuss it and go from there.  I would like to get it all booked before Wayne goes to America.  If we are happy with the venues, the dates all align, then why not just book it?  Otherwise, we run the risk of our choice venues being booked up then we either delay the wedding (which with my age I'm not happy to do) or then have to settle for less than our top choice.  Grrrrrr...   It's a tad stressful!

 

Ok, so photographer.  Photographers are EXPENSIVE here.  Heck, everything is!  So, we have found 2 reasonable (and below the norm cost!) photographers.  One is a female.  She is cheaper of the two.  She does work on her own, does "all day" (so it's not timed) photos, her pictures I've seen are great and she has good reviews.  The other is male.  He is more expensive.  He is timed.  EXACTLY 8 hrs, or buy the longer package for twice as much as the female, or extend an hour at a time at quite a hefty fee!.  He however, has an assistance, and his photos have that little extra "WOW" factor.  Is it enough to really notice??????  I don't know.  If they were the exact same money (and time) I would go with the male.  No questions.  So, I'm really conflicted over it.  Part of me thinks that we have probably 9-9.5 months before the wedding, so plenty of time to save up the extra $800+.  The other part of me says the female does a nice enough job and will be fine.  HELPPPPP.  Suggestions please??

 

Anyways, Wayne leaves on Thursday for America for 2.5 weeks.  One week is just a work conference, the other time he is going to do a little catching up with friends and my folks in Florida...well at this stage that is the plan.  And I would imagine my folks wouldnt' be overly happy if he came to America without seeing them.  I was initially bummed I couldn't go.  As it has gotten closer, I hate to say it, but I'm kinda glad I couldn't go.  I am full on with work, and realllllly couldn't take the time off.  My director's would have easily let me go (if it had been a free trip, they are from another country so know the expense of traveling home!) but I have a to do list as long as the equator, I have a huge amount of goals for the first quarter of the year,  a new nurse who started last week, 2 new employees starting this week or next, a new doctor who recently just started full time last week, AND a new doctor starting in about 4-8 weeks.  Add the wedding (planning, costs, etc) and the fact that the trip would be far from relaxing, but it would be more of a go go go for me to try to sneak in time to see everyone..... there just really isn't time for it right now for me.  So I'm actually glad that it wasn't an option.  I think if it were an option, and I had to chose, I would probably go because otherwise I would feel bad about skipping a chance to see my parents and friends.  Gee.. that sounds so bad doesn't it!   This is Wayne's first trip in ages...since well before Christmas.  It has felt weird having him home for sooo long.  Usually two weeks straight home is a long time at home.  I am glad he is going to be able to go and enjoy, and I am also looking forward to some down time and me time.  Wow, I suddenly feel like the worst daughter, friend, and fiance!  Geeze. 

 

Ok, now that I have wrapped up the award for terrible person, I am going to sit back and enjoy some cheesy chick flicks, cheese pizza for dinner, and relax on this Monday night.  Only four days to go until the weekend!! 

 

Until next time!

2013????

When did this happen?  Aren't we suppose to party next year like it's 1999?  Seriously!

Another year has come to an end, and a new year is already full swing!  I am happy to see 2012 leave.  While there were a lot of great things (such as the engagement!! Which I will go into today!) there were a lot of blah things.  Nothing massive..just, yeah.  Blah. 

So, as I have done over the past 8 or 9 years of blogging total, I will sum up 2012!

• On December 28, Wayne hit one knee and asked me to marry him.  It was actually at the exact same spot on my first trip here in October 2010 that we watched our first sunset together down south.  I had no clue it was coming when it did.  I suspected it would be New Years.  So there I was, taking pictures of the ocean... he popped onto one knee (being "graceful", I thought he fell, so I quickly turned to see what was wrong" and there he was, on one knee, holding a gorgeous ring and asked me to marry him.  I was so taken off guard (and excited) that a few minutes later, I wasn't sure if I had even given him an answer!! Of course I had, and the answer was yes, so it's looking like 2013 has a wedding in store!!  More details to come on that once we figure out when and where (well, we have to figure out WHERE to have it to see what's available to know WHEN it will be).  Wayne did really good on the ring... 1 carat round platinum.  In the past he had asked me what shape diamond I would want... it's reallllllly cheesy.. but I wanted round to symbolise that we were  "around" the world from each other (I may have blogged that before).  The ring is just gorgeous.  He did really well!!!!
• On January 16 (nearly one year ago!) I started my current job.... which was a part time 2 day a week job.  I was certain that if I was given the chance, I would impress them and be able to move into a full time position.  I am now the manager of the Practice and running the show.  It's awesome.  I have had a massive learning curve and have had to quickly realise I am NOT superwoman, I can't do it all and IF I can, it may not all happen in one day.  I am learning the need to leave work at work and not stress.  I am getting better week by week and I feel so much better when I learn to not stress the small things... or the big things. 
• My parents came for two weeks for their first visit to my new home.  It was really nice to have them here.  I would love love love if one day they decide to retire to the land down under!  Especially once little ones are in the picture.  I'd love grandma and grandpa to be a car ride, and not a plane ride, away. 
• We took our first trip together to America.  In the past, all of our "big" trips were to each other.. never WITH each other.  It was a really awesome summer (or winter if you are in the southern hemisphere) and we made so many memories.  We were able to attend two friends weddings and catch up with a lot of special and important people.  However, I didn't get to spend as much time with some friends as I wanted.  But, that's life really.  Gotta make the most of the time you get, regardless of how much time it is.  Even if you live in the same town really.
• I have become closer with some friends, and more distant with others.  Some of them I suspected would happen.  Some however, have surprised me.  Some of the breakdown of friendships has really been hard on me.  I have finally come to the conclusion that I am not gonna force someone to let me be a part of their life.  It takes two to make a relationship work... and no matter how hard it is to accept that you aren't as important to someone as you once were or as they are to you, if they aren't willing to give back, then it's not a healthy relationship.
• I have been lucky enough to make some awesome friends here.  One of which I have totally clicked with since before we met face to face... while she was still in Florida (right before she moved to Perth).  I know that it's not often in life we meet those people that we just click and bond with.  But Sasha has easily become my closest and best friend here in Perth and I am so very thankful for her friendship.  Both her and her husband have become very special to us and I am really thankful god brought them to Perth and to our life!
• I have stopped drinking!  Yup.  I'm booze free.  And no, I'm NOT pregnant!  lol 
• Bought my first car with the steering wheel on the wrong side!! haha.  Toyota Camry.  I.  Love.  It. 

I know there are more, but since it's well after midnight, my mind is blank! lol.  Life is overall awesome, and there are so many things to look forward to in 2013!! 


Until next time!

I said yes!

I will post a more detailed blog soon. But on Dec 28 at a gorgeous sunset on our mini holiday, Wayne hit one knee and popped the question. We are both very happy. Now the planning hits!!! Luckily we've done some research so we basically know what we want. For the most part.

He did great on the ring. One carat round stone with a platinum band. I have always wanted a round stone when we got engaged to represent we were a"round" the world from each other. Cheesy. I know. Lol

I'll post a pic and hit the sack! It's 2013 down here and late!! Zzzzz and xoxo :-)

Tragedy.

It's simply heartbreaking. An elementary school being attacked by an armed gunman. Victims being elementary aged, as well as the adults who worked at the school. For no reason. And if there was a reason, we will never know. But really, would there ever be a "reason" that would justify this cruel, horrific act?

The media coverage here has been basic. It hasn't been plastered all over the tv and newspapers. It has been mentioned, but nothing like I can only imagine it has been in the States. I honestly see most of my information from Facebook through news sighs More and more stories are coming out and being made public. The teacher who hid her students in the closet and was killed... but saved their precious lives. The little girl who played dead and because of that she is the only survivor of her ENTIRE class. I read a news article about her today that brought me to tears on my lunch break from the New York times (or some reputable source) that she came out, covered in blood, reassured her mom that she "played dead. But all my friends are dead". It brings me to tears even typing this now.

I don't have children yet, so I don't know just HOW intense the love a mother has for her child first hand. I do have nieces and nephews that I love so very dearly and the thought of them being hurt crushes me, much less something tragic occurring to them. I can't imagine how the parents of all these kids feel.

I'm not forgetting the adults that were killed. I'm not saying that is ok. It's just so hard for me to wrap my head around someone doing something like this to children. And so close to Christmas. I can't imagine being a parent, aunt, grandparent, or any other family member or friend. In the next few weeks, thinking of all the small caskets that will be displayed on the news as these young souls are laid to rest. It's just too much to imagine. It does make you wonder what the world is coming to. People talk about the end of times every time something tragic happens. And it does seem to be getting worse and worse. Just when you think you've heard it all, something breaks in with a news update and catches our attention, and rocks our world, shakes our faith. It just makes me sick to my stomach. I find myself avoiding reading articles regarding it because it causes me to tear up. It makes me angry and sad and scared all at the same time.

My heart and prayers are with the families that have been affected, not just now, but in the future. As they approach holidays without their little ones. As they never know what might have been..what their little girls and boys would have grown up to do. Taken too early and well beyond their time. It's just tragic.

RIP little angels.

Helllloooooooo

Not reeeaaallllly much to update from the southern hemisphere.  This blog post is more of a bitching post than anything else... lol.  Well, not really, but kinda.

 

Work is chaos.  Well, whatever level 15 levels PAST chaos is, is actually more like it.  Just when I think I am getting ahead and I THINK I see the light.. I realise that it's just me going crazy and seeing things.  It just really feels sometimes like there aren't enough hours in a day, or minutes in an hour... or even seconds in a minute!  I KNOW.. well, I HOPE that it's temporary.  I still have so much to learn and sort out.  At first I was optimistic that the first month would be chaos.  Now, I'm realistic and know the next six months or so will just attempt to kill me.  I am hoping that it will be worth it in the end.  I have learned in my 20 some odd years of life.  Ok, 30 some odd.....whatever... that NOTHING worth having comes free... or even easy for that matter.  Part of me is tempted to throw in the towel and say, nope.. can't do this.  The other part of me is far too determined and stubborn to throw in the towel this early.  I know these thoughts are because of a bad..... ok... shitty day.  We recently had a doctor work in our office.  He and I had a good time working together because we shared a similar sense of humor.  If he wasn't giving me a hard time, I knew something was wrong.  In addition to being a doctor, he also does professional motivational speaking.  He once told me some advice.  (I won't quote him, because I don't remember word for word..so here goes).  He said never make a decision regarding your job career after one day.  Go home, sleep on it.  If after a MINIMUM of three days and three sleeps you are miserable, then it's time to look at your options.  Not bad advice really.  I'll have a go tomorrow and see how I feel, and I'm hoping that it is better.  I really don't like the thought of giving up on this position.  Right now, to me, it's truly not an option!

 

I can't believe that Christmas is right around the corner!  It is reallllly hard to get into the Christmas spirit when it's upper 80 degrees!!!  I did manage to get the Christmas tree up (before December 1st, even!) when we had a big cold front come through.  Otherwise, it doesn't feel like it's Christmas.  It's hard to believe it's already time for the holidays. I have no clue what to get Wayne... and no clue what I want.... so when he asks, the going answer is "I don't know".... (which is ok, because it's the answer I get in return!! HA!)    With Christmas close, that means NYE is right around the corner as well!  It's so hard to believe it's time to start writing 2013.  What the hell?  When did this happen exactly!?!?!

 

Tomorrow is December 12.  Here in Australia, the date is written date/month/year.  Which is one of the many things I have had to learn and adjust to.  HOWEVER, tomorrow, no matter how you right it, it's 12/12/12.  I'm certain that tomorrow will be an awesome day.  Being positive is half the battle right????  

 

TTFN.

Friiiiiday.

First off.... after my last post I had quite a few emails and fb messages from people asking "are you engaged?".  So perhaps I should clarify that up.  (and I had no clue I actually have more than three readers.  ha.)  We are not engaged.  We are headed that way though and once I can release all the details, I will.  Basically, once everything becomes finalised and official I will happily share the details.  For the sake of our family, we aren't releasing information on the wedding until the official proposal comes and we have had the chance to tell the family personally.  We don't want people to learn of the details second hand via blogger/facebook.

 

I have had quite a busy week, and I am definitely ready for the weekend.  Well, I'm actually not doing much this weekend... I'm just more ready to have a 2 day break from the chaos from work!  As you can probably tell, since getting the promotion, I go into very little details about work.  Being the Practice Manager / Nurse coordinator, it will continue that I don't discuss work into details on my blog.  I don't think it's a professional thing to do as a manager.  But I'll just say I am still totally loving it..... even on the weeks like this one.  I still don't think it's actually "hit" me fully yet.  Today someone asked me to do something and I was thinking "umm... come again?"  And then I realised.. oh yeah, that is my job now.. well, one of the many tasks that go along with my job.  I'm starting to get a routine down and have continued to get good... and even GREAT.. feedback from the Directors/Owners.  It's really an awesome feeling to make things happen and have the physicians and staff happy.  The whole feel of the office has changed, and I am happy knowing that I have a lot to do with that.  Yesterday my business cards came in .  That was a really cool feeling... but on one level it really didn't even feel... real?

 

Wayne is home from being in Sydney for the week.  He's home for the weekend, then away Monday-Wednesday.. and THAT is the last trip.. of.. the... YEAR!!  Yipppp to the eeeeeee.  I will admit that week flew by, and the house is cleaner than it's been in MONTHS.  This also means that tomorrow I might get to have a little bit of a sleep in as there isn't a ton of stuff on my to do list.  And, since I'm up watching the nightly mini Will and Grace marathon, it's looking like another 1am bedtime.  Geeze.... what the hell is up with this.  I use to be the girl in bed by 10.  Now I keep wanting to stay up late... do one more thing... organise one more thing... clean something else.. watch ONE more episode......  Morning April and Evening April are gonna have big problems soon at this rate!

Well, that is it on this side of the world for now... until next time!