October: The Month of Miracles & Bliss

I'm really not even sure where to begin! I am both happy and sad to see October go. October is one of my favorite months ever and this year's October was especially wonderful! Pictures, stories, you know, the usual to follow!

First of all I got to see Mark (and fam!) for 5 days, which is always too short a wonderful, awesome, fabulous, fun, hilarious, exciting, jam-packed-exhausting, wicked awesome good time. 

This is my favorite ice cream place in Texas. It's a throw-back ice cream parlor inside and just adorable. Plus the ice cream (!!!!!) is awesome. This time I got roasted campfire marshmallow (yummy!) and Mark went with his usual: classic vanilla. Out of ALL of the yummy, fun, chunky, crazy flavors he always chooses vanilla. I'll never understand it. 

Mark treated me to Six Flags!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was a blast...until it rained with lightning and we got stuck inside Mr. Freeze for 2 1/2 hours while the rollercoasters were shutdown. 

BUT finally it opened just before we were about to call it quits and we got to ride it twice in about 15 minutes. It. was. AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark also makes a mean chocolate milkshake. They are DELISH. They are a close second to In N Out's chocolate shakes and that, my friends, is sayin' somethin' because I LOOOOOOVE In N Out's chocolate shakes. Then we were going through Mark's baby/kid/high school pictures and he showed me his letterman jacket. What a stud right??? Right. I know. *swoon*

I am quite certain I told Mark 6,785,432 times how adorable his baby pictures are. I just wanted to squeeze him!!!!

And the next time I see Mark will be in 35 days December for our wedding. Romantic? Yes, kind of. LONG? YES. But that's ok. It is pretty romantic. Plus, holy catscans have I got a lot to do between now and December!!!!

Next: I got back from Texas, worked for 3 days and headed to *sigh* New England. Oh HAPPINESS. And now for a flying story: Whenever I fly home I usually fly Spirit because it's a direct flight to Boston and it's cheap. But you get what you pay for and about 87% of time I have flown with Spirit, my flight is delayed, which is annoying anyway but when your estimated arrival time is 12:30am, delays are A PAIN. Well, this time everything was a go. Flight was on time, good weather, boarded my flight, hooray! I was deep in my Nancy Drew book when I realized it had been a little longer than usual and finally the captain came on and said something about having to recount the bags. Annoying, but whatever. Then another 15-20 minutes went by and one of the flight attendants announced that due to "an unfavorable comment" by a passenger, we all had to de-board the plane so TSA could inspect the plane. I was NOT HAPPY. We were told we could leave our bags so I left my carry on in the overheard and took my personal bag. As soon as we were back in the terminal, we were instructed we had to go back onto the plane to get all of our bags so we had to RE-BOARD and DE-BOARD the plan again. Thirty minutes later after TSA searched the plane, we had to line up and have our boarding passes scanned. Not happy but at least they were being safe and I really did appreciate that. I felt terribly for my brother and sister-in-law who had to pick me up though...Finally we boarded and then not 15 minutes after we had boarded, another person was thrown off the plane. I was in the back so I didn't hear or see the commotion, I only heard clapping for the first half of the plane and thought I swear if another fool makes me deboard this plane...The rumor at the back of the plane (this is so dramatic) was this woman claimed to be from the Boston Globe and was allegedly snapping photos of people while we were waiting in the terminal. SKETCH. Get her outta here! She was escorted off the plane and then very shortly after that, the captain came on and announced we would be leaving. THANK GOODNESS. I made it home and was in bed around 5am. But it was absolutely delightful to see my sibs and Scotty!!!!

First thing the next morning (aka a few hours later) I headed to the ocean. The North Atlantic. Oh. my. gosh. The smell, the sounds, the sights...I was in heaven. My heart swelled up a bit with such happiness. There was even a few beach roses left in bloom. I inhaled them, literally. 

 

The colors. Oh the colors. I couldn't stop taking pictures and just taking it all in. New England in the fall is one of the most stunning mosaics of color ever to behold. I can't believe such beauty--sights, smells, sounds--exists. It's my absolute favorite scene. I even recorded a video crunching leaves just because I was so happy. I know, I'm silly. Oh well! It made me happy! The only thing missing, which would have made the trip prefect, was Mark. Maybe next year we can be there together! Mark my words, he will see a New England fall, he has to!

 I even got to see my beloved Boston. I drove, literally, through it (sadly only through, didn't have time for a day in Boston this trip!) on my way to meet our wedding photographer. I love this city!!! 

During my trip I had my usual twin lobster plate at Al's with my gramps, it's tradition after all! And then another day I had a very long overdue lunch with a very dear friend, whom I consider a mentor and a mother, Elaine, at Blue Moon Evolution in Exeter. I've never been here before but it is wonderful! They get all of their ingredients from farms within 100 miles and boy is their menu yummy! Then we walked through downtown Exeter to get ice cream and strolled along the river as we ate. I had apple pie ice cream...mmmm mmmm mmmm!!!! The whole afternoon was blissful. Just blissful!

After lunch I decided to just "pop" into one of my favorite stores, Serendipity, where I used to get most of my jewelry and I found the earrings I'm going to wear on my wedding day! Simple and elegant, just what I wanted.  

 SCOTTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you're not familiar, this is the LDS Boston Temple (where Mark and I will be getting married!!!). Beautiful. I got to spend an evening with Heath and Emma here. Afterward, we went to dinner. I LOVE spending time with these two. My stomach hurt from laughing so hard! 

Now, one of my assignments while I was home was to scan baby pictures for wedding stuff. It was a BLAST going through our old family albums. I have a few incriminating pictures of my brothers (muah! ah! ah!) and many more cute ones! 

Dane. Gosh he had the best curls when he was a baby!

Heath-totes presh!

 Baby Gabe

I LOVE this one of Heath!!!! 

One of my favorites of my darling grandmother Barbara, and grandfather Harry

Perhaps my favorite part was stumbling upon albums of my mom and her family when they were younger. My grandfather, Roger Christiance, passed away a few years ago and unfortunately I didn't get to know him very well because we lived so far away from each other and in more recent years, his health wasn't very good, but I have been thinking about him a lot lately and was delighted to find some pictures of him. He is SO handsome. One of the few memories I have from visiting him is eating rice crispie cereal and giggling about how they "snap! crackle! pop!" 

Being home was so wonderful and therapeutic and blissful. It was crazy busy; I was up early and home and in bed late but it was probably one of my favorite visits thus far. Oh New England! I can't wait for December!!!

Then. I got back and was invited to a Halloween party hosted my Dr. W and his wife. It was LEGIT. He told me I would know which house it was and as I was, according to my GPS, approaching I wasn't so sure...until I came around the bend in the road and there was a house with strobe lights flashing from the top floor, "Yeah" by Usher blaring and tons of cars. I couldn't help but laugh. It was really, really fun! My costume wasn't that cool or original, I just wore a masquerade mask, but I was crunched for time and so it worked.

Group shot of the people I work with on one of my floors

The man himself: Dr. W

Now you may be wondering about these miracles. Well, for starters I found out I got the dietitian job I was able to miraculously find in the town Mark and I are moving to after we get married!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HUGE miracle. The fact that it was available and that I got it and that they are willing to work around my schedule and let me start after the wedding is a huge miracle and relief.

Secondly. As you may recall, I took a board certification exam a month ago to become a Certified Nutrition Support Clinician (CNSC). This basically means that I now have the knowledge and skill to work with very acute populations (ICU, trauma, NICU). I was ABSOLUTELY certain I had failed. 100% positive. My colleague and friend Amy, who had also taken the test, called me while I was running on Monday to tell me the test results had arrived (they come ONLY via snail mail) and she had passed! I was sick to my stomach nervous as I drove home because I did, but mostly did not, want to know. I told myself it was ok that I didn't pass but deep down, I knew I would be very disappointed. I mean I had studied HARD for that test and had been waiting 2 years (because they recommend 2 years of experience before you take it) to get this credential. I had wanted it since my internship! I texted Mark and he talked to me as I drove home to distract my thoughts and I told him I would prefer to open the envelope on my own and then call him after I had read it because I would need a few minutes to digest the disappointing news. Well...I got to my mailbox and the letter was on top so I sat in my car as Mark continued to talk (he had no idea I had gotten my mail) and decided to open it right there in my car. I carefully tore it open and literally squinting I pulled out the first slip of paper with a numerical breakdown of the questions I got right for certain categories. Ok blah blah blah. Did I pass or fail? I hardly looked at it as I slowly pulled out the folded paper and prepared for the worst. 

And then I screamed, "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MARK I PASSED MY TEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" He thought I had gotten into an accident, and understandably so because I completely interrupted his sentence and started screaming, and then I repeated (aka screamed again) that I had passed!!!!!! I hung up, rushed to my apartment, awkwardly skipped/ran up my steps and called Mark immediately to read the letter, because all I cared about was the "congratulations" part and hadn't read the rest of it. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have to tell you, it was thrilling writing new orders on Tuesday and signing my name RD, LD, CNSC! YAH BUDDY!!!!

That same day I had another WONDERFUL piece of mail: a drawing from my niece. My heart pretty much melted!

And then, to top of this month, my beloved Red Sox WON THE WORLD SERIES IN BOSTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I stayed up to watch the entire game and could not have been happier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've even successfully converted Mark to a (secondary) Red Sox fan (his loyalty is to the Texas Rangers). Excellent! 

See? October was a superb month. AND! Tomorrow, weather permitting, I may be going for a spin in this...

Picture from here

...and then going horseback riding with some friends. A grand way to begin November. 

And!!!! Now I can now say I am getting married next month! 

King Pigeon

Once up on a time in a land called Myrtle Beach lived a spritely, red-headed, freckled girl named Gabe (but never Gab). 


One day, after doing three hours of yoga with some of her darling colleagues and loving it, she decided to take up her own personal practice of yoga. 


Gabe loved it, but would quickly learn that Shakira was right, you're hips do not lie: Gabe was not nearly as flexible as she had believed or perhaps once been.  Gabe needed to work on her flexibility. One warm, early spring evening Gabe got home from work and decided that she would attend a flow yoga class, her first of this nature. The guide (instructor) informed the class that the goal of the the evening's class was the King Pigeon pose. Gabe, being a beginner yogi secretly chuckled to herself and thought, There is NO WAY I will be able to do that," but decided to humor herself and the guide and to go along with it. After several down-ward facing dog poses, warrior 1 and warrior 2 poses, and many screams from her thighs and hips later....

...she nailed it. The only one in the class (of 4 but who cares? This is my story! Don't ruin it!) to do it. Shazam!!!!!!! 

I love yoga. No really. It's awesome. 

And.

My 1.37 seconds of fame. Please scroll to 8:30 and see me and my dear friend Caitlin rocking it at a conference we went to last May where I met....

(That's Grant Hill for those of you who do not know.

And yes my eyes are closed. I was capturing the moment, taking it all in...or...I blinked. The other picture where my eyes are open isn't a flattering one of Mr. Hill so you know, I'll take the hit for him to look good :) ...)

 Being a sports RD is my (realistic) dream job (that or a sports writer, children's book author, or anything to do with living in Italy or France).


Additionally, please pardon my lack of blogging. I've been currently working myself out of a funk. It sucked, wicked bad, but it's getting better. I have many blog posts (my first pedicure, the latest and greatest patient stories to share, etc) to catch up on. Get excited!

No More Miss Nice Dietitian

First of all can I just tell you about my unbelievable feat for the day? I saw 19 patients today. 19. NINETEEN!!! I was filling out my productivity and my jaw hit the desk. I couldn't believe it. It wasn't a horrible day by any means, just very, very busy. We only had 2 RDs on today instead of 3 so there was some serious cross covering plus some extra work from the weekend and we rocked it. I can do it! I can keep up with them! Happiness!!!


Normally I try to be very sweet and accommodating of my patients. Being in the hospital, let's face it, sucks and it's obnoxious having people poke and prod you, and come in and out all day and night long. Today was an exception. No-More-Miss-Nice-Dietitian. I have a patient--whom we'll call AB--who has diabetes and now renal problems. Shocker. That's what happens when you are non-compliant and morbidly obese...you're kidneys fail!!!! Oh and don't worry that AB just had to have an amputation, another "perk" of non-compliance. Take it from me, if you have type 2 diabetes, CONTROL IT or you will be sorry: possible amputations, possible blindness, possible kidney failure, and hey-the more research is done-the longer the list gets. PEOPLE. EAT SMALLER PORTIONS AND EXERCISE!!!!! This is not rocket science and it is NOT hard. Fun fact: Type 2 diabetes is almost completely preventable. WHAAAT?! Yes, true statement. Anyway, AB and AB's family asked for me to come in because they had...questions. Right. NOT. It was a whining session about how AB didn't like AB's diet and there weren't enough preferences and AB was getting sick of ordering the same thing and just wanted a burger and fries from Chick-Fil-A.
                          

Comic from here

Uh, OK. You want a what? Chil-Fil-A burger? French fries? With added salt? Really? Really? 


Well I want lower insurance rates, and an extra 10K added to my meager salary for having to put up with people like you, and lots of other things but for starters, it'd be nice if you and people like you would get off their lazy butts, exercise, eat right, take care of yourself, take responsibility for yourself and your health, and take preventable measures so our insurance rates and medical costs would quick going through the roof. Wow, never though it that way have you??? Nope, bet ya didn't. And NO you cannot have a burger and french fries. Your KIDNEYS ARE FAILING YOU. Bad news buster and no I will not ease up on your diet restrictions. This is not Burger King. You cannot have it your way. This is a hospital. You are clearly here for a reason (or several) and it's now my responsibility to care for you and make sure you have received the best care and education I can provide or it's my neck on the line. So no, you cannot have fries, fried chicken, salt galore, and whatever fluids you want. You might not care about the remainder of your limbs and functioning organs but I do. So too bad. 


Did I actually say all of that? No. Heavens no. I would like to keep my job thank you. But you BETTER believe I thought it. I did get frank with AB and AB's daughter and inform them that I would not change AB's diet and I cannot change the entire menu just to please AB because AB is getting tired of the food. I educated them, which helped, and walked out fuming inside. FOR THE LOVE!!!


And in other news, I downloaded Spotify, which is like some fancy, schmancy version of iTunes but connected to Facebook and allows you to add music to your library without downloading it BUT you can't load it onto your iPod. Well, silly me. I allowed Spotify to completely erase my iPod and then reload everything using its program. BAD NEWS. Stupid program. It messed up all my playlists and I was not happy. My running playlist was masterfully arranged in just the right way for my runs and it was ruined. Bugger. And THE WORST of it is, I had calibrated the Nike+ sensor to help me train (not that it's really that accurate but consistency people, consistency! It helped me gauge my progress!) and such and Spotify completely erased my calibration. I was SO ticked today when I was running because now I have no idea what my pace is and I had carefully and tediously calibrated it over the summer. I'm mad. 


But I found a new song to add to my "Guilty Pleasures" playlist by Chris Brown and The Biebs and I am a fan!!! The beat is tight and their voices are fantastic. Don't judge, I bet you'd secretly be tapping your toes and grooving along to the beat with me. And, Ladies Night Out tomorrow to see "This is War"! I'm very excited. You had me at Chris Pine. 
                               

Photo from here

White Lab Coat

Today was my first official day training as the newest dietitian on staff. Monday-Wednesday was a general hospital orientation and I eagerly waited to start the specific training. I was terribly excited to once again don my white lab coat only this time I wouldn't be an intern; I would be the real thing: Gabe S, RD, LD. I'm registered, I'm licensed, and I am so ready. 


Naturally, I was a little nervous and it didn't help that I didn't sleep well last night, but I am very fortunate to have completed my internship at UMC because I definitely am and feel over-prepared and ready to rock it!! I felt very comfortable as the dietitians were showing me how they do things and after a year of not practicing clinical, it's all starting to come back to me. Except...they asked me to do a patient's ideal body weight and adjusted body weight and I panicked because I couldn't remember exactly how to do it and I didn't have my cheat sheet/clinical pocket guide with me but I managed just fine. Whew. I certainly have some refreshing to do and, of course, hospital specific practices to learn but I'm feeling pretty good. 


Plus there are several New England transplants here and it was music to my ears to hear one of the nurse's Massachusetts accent. I informed her that if I ever felt a pang of homesickness I would find her and just listen to her talk for a minute. She laughed and agreed. 


I got to sit in rounds today with the head doctor of the rehab floors I'll be covering and I already like him. He's VERY sassy, sarcastic, and quick. Bring it on Doctor. He found out I did my undergrad at BYU and naturally Jimmer came up and we began a very lively conversation. I'm excited to work with him. And I was highly amused when each time someone or a new team came into the room the doctor would loudly announce my presence and introduce everyone. I certainly felt welcome, in the most obnoxious way possible. I think it'll be a lot of fun! 


What a good day. And a lovely sunset/view from my place. It's supposed to be in the 70s this weekend. I'll be strolling the Atlantic. Maybe I'll get some more freckles.

And I had Cheerios for dinner. But not regular Cheerios or Honey Nut but banana and chocolate. Oh yeah. Cereal for dinner? Yum. CHOCOLATE for dinner? Even bettah. 

And my song of the day is "Enchanted" by Taylor Swift. If you hang around here long enough you'll hear it on my playlist! 

I accept.

I HAVE A JOB!!!!

Yes, I am now an employed, contributing member of society as a clinical dietitian in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. *excited giggles* 

I have been dying to blog about this since my last post but decided to keep things to myself until I had some concrete information to share.

Here's the scoop.

Washington DC interview---horrid. I was terribly unimpressed. The manager who interviewed me practically discouraged me from the job from the get go. Either she hates her job or really doesn't want to hire someone because her attitude was terrible. I will choose not to work for someone like you. I am supposed to hear back from them...sometime??...but whatev.

But that's not what you want to read about is it?!

Friday I was up at 4am and to the Boston airport by 6:30am to hop on a plane to Myrtle Beach. Arrived at noon, stepped outside to a delicious 65 degrees and a view that blew me away. 65 degrees. In December. And there are TREES AND WATER nearby!??? Perfection. Like the environment-check! The clinical manager kindly offered to show me around the entire day including a tour of the 2 hospitals which make up the hospital system they work for. But first....

Myrtle Beach. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Ocean Boulevard.

My initial thought was, it looks like the Miami screen shots from "Burn Notice." I've never been to Myrtle Beach, and it being the off season and all, it wasn't exactly hopping but it was really, really cool. It reminded me of Hampton Beach, but on Barry Bonds-worthy steroids (ZING!). 

And a straight shot south brought us to Murrells Inlet. 

I toured the hospital I would be working at, which was impressive. Cute, cozy, small, but nice. Not too big but not too small. Nice hospital--check. I met the dietitians and immediately felt at ease with them. The dietitians are fairly young, most in their 20s like me so that was comforting. Many are transplants so I wouldn't be the odd ball and for most this is their first job. Awesome. So basically we're all in the same boat! Yay! Basically, I was sold. Good group of people who I instantly feel comfortable joking around with and working with--check.

Next stop, the second hospital in Georgetown. Quick visit to the second hospital where I would be cross-covering. Quick interview with the department head aaaaand we're off! The clinical manager took me to dinner with one of the other dietitians and it was a blast. Very comfortable. We laughed, we joked, I felt like I have known these women for years. After dinner, we headed back to the airport and on the way the manager said she unofficially wanted to offer me the position. Naturally, I was THRILLED but tried to keep my cool...aha...right. (I was beaming, and grinning from ear to ear and I'm sure my eyes were ready to pop out with excitement). She said she wanted me to think about it over the weekend and we'd be in touch next week. We arrived at the airport and she dropped me off, shook my hand and said 7 beautiful words, "I look forward to working with you." Don't worry that I almost danced a jig.

Now, today. I had a missed call from the manager and my heart rate doubled. I called her back, we chit chatted and then she said she would like to officially offer me the position and then, almost nervously, added unless I needed more time. Aha no...I've been thinking about it since I got there! My response, "No I don't need any more time. I accept!" And then she burst out, "OH GREAT!!!! I'm so excited! They all loved you. I can't wait to tell everyone!" Now if that doesn't make you feel good and excited, I don't know what does. I have my own office that I share with ICU dietitian. Convenient since I'm hoping to get my CNSC. Excellent, most excellent.

So, it's official. I have a job. In South Carolina. ON THE OCEAN. It's the perfect first job for me. I can't wait. Now to find an apartment and get packing.

Pinch me now because I can't believe this!!! 

*PS...None of these pictures were taken by me. I refer you to Google Images. 

You may now call me....

....Gabrielle Sargeant, RD* 

I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*RD=Registered Dietitian