Raleigh, NC

After 23 hrs of driving in 48 hrs, Matt and I arrived back in the land of the 60 degree winter. We drove through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, and part of North Carolina to get there. and we only got lost once! As a whole, the drive was pretty bleak, but once we got into Kentucky and West Virginia, it was lovely. Despite it being the Christmas traveling season, we saw hardly another car on the road for most of the Kentucky portion. And I-46 East between Huntington and Charleston, W.Va goes through the mountains and is just gorgeous. We drove through at dusk and it made me really want to stop at WinterPlace Resort and go night-skiing. I would have taken pictures but a) I was driving and b) I thought my camera was broken. Luckily, I'm just inept with cameras and it is NOT broken! We got to my parents' house at 10:30 on Thursday night and everyone was waiting up for us, which made for a very nice homecoming. Now I'm just relaxing like a college student on break (miss those days!) and looking forward to Christmas with the family. Thanks again to the awesome Minnesotans who gave up sleeping in on Weds morning to see me and Matt off (especially Hannah)...miss you guys already!

Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end

My time in Rochester is almost over, and against all odds, I'm very sad tonight. I had my last day at work on Wednesday, and saw some lovely co-workers for the last time. Tonight we had some friends over for a little get together and I spent most of my time pretending that it wasn't the last time I would see them. Ugh, tears. I am such a softie. Yes, I spent quite a bit of my time in Rochester complaining about what the town lacked, but I'm starting to see that I'll miss it a lot! I will especially miss my little Minnesota family - the friends and co-workers who kept me sane even in -20 degree weather. What am I going to do when I can't complain about doctors, c diff, and bed alarms every day?? I can't wait to download some pictures from Hannah (my roommate) and post them on here so everyone can see how attractive our purple scrubs are!

So. The furniture is sold, the clothes are packed, the job is over, and I think it's time for me to get out of Dodge. Peace out, Rochester, I don't think I gave you enough appreciation while I lived here!