San Francisco & The Pacific Coast Highway

Since I was interviewing in Santa Cruz, I decided to make a road trip of it and hit up San Francisco and drive back via the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).  My good friend, Sariah, joined me and we had the best time.  She'd never been to San Francisco before so it was fun to experience her excitement.  Our friend, John Cho (pictured below), joined us on some of our adventure and also found us a place to stay with some girls in the Palo Alto mid-singles ward.

Day 1 - Drive to Palo Alto via I-5
Road trips are my favorite!  Especially with Sariah.  We can laugh non-stop for dayssssss.  Met some friendly new people at FHE as it was conveniently located at our temporary place of residence.

Day 2 - Santa Cruz
Had my interview first thing in the morning and went out exploring in the afternoon.  Ok.  So EVERYONE talks up Santa Cruz like it's this ritzy glamorous little beach town, but do you wanna know the truth?  It's actually pretty run down and ghetto.  I don't know if I'd want to live here anyway.  The beach has it's perks, but a large homeless population doesn't.  Got a phone call while out exploring with a job offer!

Day 3 - San Francisco
Spent a few hours getting poured upon and drenched in the Muir Woods.  Those Redwood trees will never cease to amaze me.  They are ginormous.  I felt like I was back in Oregon with all the rain, ferns, and greenery everywhere.  Absolutely beautiful!

Took a few scenic shots of the Golden Gate Bridge on our way back into San Francisco, with our first stop being lunch... the most delicious fresh fish ever!

Spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around and exploring the city from Fisherman's Wharf to Ghirardelli Square to Chinatown to Painted Ladies (Full House anyone??) to Lombard Street (we may have gone down those curvy streets 2 or 3 times in a row...hey, there wasn't even a line!).  We tried to make it to Alcatraz Island, but all boat tours were sold out.  One of these days I'll make it there.

Day 4 - Drive to LA via the PCH
So the drive up took about 5 or so hours, but driving back via the Pacific Coast Highway extended our drive to almost 12 hours!!!  Granted we stopped a million times (breathtaking views) to check out Carmel-by-the-Sea, McWay Falls, the Bixby Bridge, some beached seals, and even spent a few hours at the Hearst Castle (highly recommended!).  I absolutely loved driving the PCH.  Windy roads are my favorite!

Side note: I was EXTREMELY bummed this amazing pool was under construction and was drained of water.  That drained the life right out of me.  Check it out here.

Job Interviews

With only a few months left of my fellowship, it was time to start the search for a real job!  In the ER, of course.  My job offers:

1) Arrowhead Regional Medical Center | Colton, CA

My program director offered me a job to stay at my current hospital, which was a huge compliment to me.  However, working at a county hospital, which is also the third busiest ER in the whole state of California, was not an easy feat for the last 14 months.  Spending time in 2 other community hospitals during my fellowship was like night and day.  If possible, I would like to move to a community hospital that was much less chaotic.  Don't get me wrong, it was a FANTASTIC place for learning as I will unlikely see again what I saw there.

2) Western Medical Center | Santa Ana, CA

This is a very small hospital close to Orange County, which is one place I've really wanted to live.  However, my company was just taking over the contract and lots of new changes were going to be implemented.  Not to mention, it's a very small ER seeing only 75 patients a day.  I would get to work with one my classmates there, though.  I just felt it would be challenging initially to start here.

3) Dominican Hospital | Santa Cruz, CA

I really like this ER!  This was probably my top choice.  Not to mention it's right on the beach!  However, I don't think I could afford to live in Santa Cruz, or even if I did it would be social death (no dating).  So the alternative would be to live in Palo Alto, which has a large mid-singles scene, but commute an hour each way.  I just had to decide if that's what I wanted to do...  Not to mention I would be much more isolated from friends and family.

4) Chandler Regional Medical Center | Gilbert Mercy Medical Center | AZ
What can I say?  This feels like home.  I grew up in AZ, but haven't lived there in 11 years.  Shocking, I know.  I have a good friend who works for this group (staffs 2 ER's) who recommended me for the job.  We took all of our pre-req's together at EAC back in the day.  He's had good things to say about the group and has been there 4-5 years.  Not to mention it's the highest paying job of them all AND the cheapest cost of living.  Oh, and did I mention it's home?  The only down side is that a doctor HAS to physically see every patient of mine AND I don't get to see any high acuity or do advanced procedures.  Say whaaaat?!  I get to do all that stuff now and the doctors in my fellowship don't even set eyes on every patient of mine.  So I would be losing some of my autonomy, but also decreasing my risk which is a good thing in Emergency Medicine.

5) University of Utah | Salt Lake City, UT
My dream location!  I have always wanted to live in SLC.  Although this was not technically a job offer, the lead PA basically told me he'd like to hire me if they had a position open but will keep me in mind for future openings.  This ER is similar to Arrowhead where I completed my fellowship in that I would continue to work with medical residents.  It would be an easy transition.  Granted I wouldn't see high acuity, traumas, or do advanced procedures but I would still have autonomy in the patients I do see.  Pay is lower (to be expected in Utah), but location is second to none and pension awaits you after putting in so many years.

6) Sanpete Valley Hospital | Mt. Pleasant, UT
24 hour shifts, one PA on duty at a time, no attending physician except by phone or present for traumas.  !5 minutes from my parent's house.  Perks: I get live in Utah where the great outdoors flourishes.  Downfall: no doctor available in house if I have a question.  Yes, I just completed a 14 month fellowship and am adequately trained, but I am still new and will always have questions.  I probably didn't feel comfortable enough until I have a few more years under my belt.

LOTS of options to weigh.... job announcement coming...

Introducing... Ephraim

So my parents moved from my hometown of Thatcher, Arizona and moved to Ephraim, Utah for a new job opportunity at Snow College beginning this last semester.  For my last week of vacation of my fellowship, I went to check out the new place and fortunately my two sisters came at the same time!  We had lots of fun including the BYU game, picnics, driving up the canyon, hiking the S, checking out all the good eats, and meeting all the very friendly people of the town.  Such a quaint cute place.  We're glad my parents left one small town only to arrive in another small town.  I also spent a day in Utah Valley with fall festivities at HeeHaws and hiking to Lake Blanche with friend.  So glad to see family again!

Hiking with Sariah

This girl who spent 6 weeks with me in Hawaii finally moved back from London to LA and we've had some fun much needed adventures recently.  Back in October we rode the Palm Springs tram part way up San Jacinto and then proceeded to hike to the peak, about 11 miles round trip, with an elevation of 10,834 feet.  I LOVE being in the mountains!  We made a few friends along the way and made record speed, getting back just as it got dark.

Then in early November, we hiked to the back of the Hollywood sign.  Shoot, this was a piece of cake compared to hiking San Jacinto!  Half of the trail was even paved, definitely not what I was expecting.  We worked up an appetite to eat the famous Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles in LA afterwards.

Single Again...

So much to say... And yet I don't know know where to start...  I just spent a wonderful 11 months of my life with an amazing man and while it was looking like things might progress to an engagement, we determined now was not the time.  President Gordon B. Hinckley once said, "Marry the right person in the right place at the right time."  And I believe that is exactly right, all 3 things must be in place.  Without going into too much detail, it was basically decided that our priorities just don't align the way they ought to at this point in time, but who's to say that can't change?  It's been 4 months now and all I can say, really, is how grateful I am we are still good friends.  I'm not going to lie, it's been the hardest few months of my life and I miss him every day, but I will continue to be optimistic and have hope.  In the mean time, any advice for a broken heart (for either of us)?