UP NEXT!!!!!

Hartford Connecticut!!!

My job starts June 27th (which happens to be a VERRRRRY big day.. a national holiday in fact.. In my book anyway...)  ;-) and my contract will end October 1st.

Connecticut. East coast. Crazy!!!!

 I have never been to the East coast but I am very excited to go and spend some time. Hartford is about a:

*2.5 hour drive from New York City

*Just under 2 hours from Boston

*About an 1 hour and 45 minutes from Providence and

*About 3 hours from Staten Island.

It's along or close to the subway line.. from what I understand. Doesn't it look beautiful!!? I'm excited to just get out there and explore.. to figure it out. It's totally different. It's not familiar.  It's scary.. but oh so exciting!!!

I have always wanted to go to the East coast and to be able to have 3 months there is phenomenal. Doesn't it just look beautiful!!?

This is how I picture CT or the East coast in general- historic. Cute little churches. We will see how close my expectations are to reality.

I am in the process of researching apartments and activities... I've already discovered several amazing looking

*nature trails

*nightlife activities

*churches

*live entertainment.

I'm sure it won't disappoint!!!

I plan to leave around June 21-23. It's another very long drive..

*1210 miles: 20 hours.

I'll be working at St Francis Hospital. Some facts about the unit:

*Level 3 NICU

*Teaching Hospital

*Rotating shifts with most need on night shift

*12 hour shifts

*CPN charting

*40-45 babies

The process of finding a job this time around was not as easy. I'm not going to lie- I was a little bit stressed out. Not knowing where you will be living the next month is just as exhausting sometimes as it is exciting. I almost gave myself too many options...which isn't always a bad thing but in this case I think it overwhelmed me. I definitely got some great experience interviewing!! I interviewed with 5 different hospitals and received 5 different job offers.

These are 2 of the pages of my 7 pages of notes I've taken- through talking to my recruiters and through my interviews!!! It's quite the process...

The final two choices for me were Everett, Washington (about an hour North of Seattle) and Hartford. I could not decide. I was offered the CT job yesterday (Thursday) and usually they give you 24-48 hours to respond. Being that today was Friday I knew I needed to respond by today. The pressure was on.  I need to take time right now to thank my Mom and sister Heidi for letting me bounce my numerous ideas and thoughts off of them. The three of us shared a lot of time talking with each other on conference calls.. but mostly it was them letting me talk. I'm so lucky to have such great support.

My decision was finally made this way. Heads CT and tails WA. That's how hard the decision was for me!!

Ultimately the choice will be right because I will make it right!! I'm ready for the next adventure!

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. 

 ~Anthony J. D'Angelo, The College Blue Book