Viva Las Vegas

Hello Everyone!!

(Jessica's Journey 2: 03/13/11 2300)

I'm writing from Las Vegas! I am here and pretty much settled in...

My dad and I started the long drive around 5:30 AM Thursday morning Iowa time and arrived in Vegas at about 12:30AM Friday morning Vegas time.

Packing- I had a LOT of stuff!!!!!

It BARELY fit...

YIKES I know.. 5AM...



Dad was so awesome- I'm so glad he came along!!



Stopped for Ice Cream...

The mountains in Colorado and Utah were BEAUTIFUL!!!



Dad LOVED the mountains....



This is my "getting sick of driving" look...a

I LOVED watching the sunrise as we drove and then the sunset over the mountains.. in Utah.

We drove straight through..stopping about 4 times for gas (I think) and once for food. Gas prices when we left Iowa were $3.39/gal; $3.45 in Grand Island, NE; $3.29 in Brush, CO; $3.69 in Thompson, Utah; $3.74 in Mesquite, Nevada; and they are $3.64 in Vegas. (I'm treating these emails as sort of a journal..so bear with me if I add facts like that..someday looking back it will be fun to read these and think of those things)   I am SO, SO thankful that my Dad was able and wanted to drive out with me.  I think it made him feel better to know where I was staying and be here to help me figure out where the hospital was and sort of get settled in.  I think it was a great bonding trip..we laughed a lot and it's one of those little trips you take with your dad that you will never forget..just because it's special.  So, thank you Dad...I very much appreciate you.

The hotel I'm staying in is pretty nice.  It's literally on the Las Vegas Blvd, which is the "the strip". I'm about 2 miles south of all of the major hotels and casinos. I'm far enough away that I don't feel like I'm consumed by the tourists.. but close enough to enjoy it if I decide to.  My room has a mini living area with a couch and desk, a small kitchen area with a full set of appliances, and then a bedroom with a king size bed, walk in closet, and bathroom.  The pool and hot tub are awesome.. I have laid out every day since I've been here.  I'm already getting my tan back..and loving that. I feel asleep at the pool today- which is a big no- no...my back and back of my legs are burnt..but the lesson was learned! I guess I can't lay out when I'm tired...and if I do I will wear sunscreen next time!  The weather has been beautiful..sunny and 70s.  From what I hear it's above average for this time of year..but I haven't been complaining. I love it.

Dad and I did head down the strip Friday night for a couple hours. We were both so tired from the trip that we were in bed and sleeping by 10 that night..but it was nice to drive down there with him.  We also drove over to the hospital I'll be working at Friday morning.  The drive is already giving me anxiety... one of my friends who has lived in Vegas told me I will have to learn to drive like they do out here if I want to survive...and I know exactly what she means.  It's so different.  Don't count on people letting you into a lane just because you have your blinker on and need to merge... and yellow stoplights do not mean you need to think about stopping. From what I have seen they go through them just as they do  the green lights... You have to ALWAYS keep your eye out for cars crossing or turning onto the road your driving on.  The buses and limos will merge into your lane if they want to.. so just stay out of their way.  Things like that make it different than driving in Iowa.

Dad and I- I love him.

After I got home from the airport after dropping Dad off I found this in my computer...

I have been blessed in my life to travel a lot, with family and friends. I know the general rules about going out alone, especially at night by yourself in a city your not familiar with.  I feel like some of those lessons I have learned over the years are coming in handy.  I do not leave my hotel room after dark unless I'm going straight to my car.  Last night I wanted to just step out for a while and there were some guys in the parking lot who saw me and yelled up at me.  Things like that just make me feel uneasy... I'd rather just play it safe.  When we got here Friday morning dad and I were unloading the car and a black expedition kept driving around.  Everyone here has super dark tinted windows..so I couldn't see if there were other people in the car, but there were 2 guys sitting in the front seats. As we were unloading they drove by and yelled out the window a couple times..and then another time from the other side of the parking lot. I was, once again, so thankful I had dad with me.  It's times like that, where even if they were just wanting to talk or ask directions or something (as if I would be able to give them directions...) ... that make me nervous.  I didn't make eye contact with them and ignored them the whole time.  It definitely was not a comfortable situation.  I knew times like that would arise, and I'm sure they will happen again.  I know I have a big God watching over me though, protecting me...

I have been researching churches on line for a couple of weeks and went to a service tonight.  I absolutely loved it.  The service and whole set up reminded me of when I was in youth group at OBC in Waverly.  Some of you will understand.  The worship was great and the sermon was EXACTLY what I needed to hear.  God is so awesome.... He knew exactly how I was feeling when I walked into that service and I felt like every word the pastor spoke was directed towards me.  Very good stuff.  I went into the service not knowing a single person but left feeling like they were sort of my family.  God is definitely going to use my Christian brothers and sisters to help me feel at home.  I look forward to getting to know some of them and hopefully making some lasting friendships.

I start at the hospital tomorrow morning at 0730.  I am nervous, anxious, and excited. I am ready to get through this first week, meet some co-workers, and get into some kind of schedule.  I have no idea what my schedule is..even for tomorrow. All I know if I have to be there at 0730, and I have to take a competency test when I get there. Yikes.

SO.... I better get some rest.  Please pray for continued safety, that God will ease my nerves, and give me health.  I have been fighting a nasty cold through all of this...

I will update again soon and let you know how it goes!  Thanks for reading and for all of your support!!

Much Love,

Jessica