Venice, FL

If you read my last post, I talked at the end about a potential work assignment that I was hoping to get. That assignment was located in Venice, FL...which is where I am right now!! I obviously got the assignment, and even though it was another short one (three weeks), it's in a place that I knew I'd at least not mind being...which is an understatement. I had no idea that I'd like Venice as much as I do! I'm staying on the beach, my job at Venice Regional Medical Center is less than a mile from where I'm staying, and I actually almost like it! I've never worked in acute care before, but it's a lot different than the other travel jobs I've had. I don't know if that's because it's acute care, or if it's because this is a small hospital (only four floors), or if it's because the people I work with/for are of higher character than some I've come across in the past. I'm not really sure, and I really don't care. I just know that I don't mind going to work right now, even though it's hard work. I just finished working seven days in a row, and I'm exhausted but not frustrated. Well, not about working that much anyway.

I'm supposed to be leaving a week from Saturday, and I knew up front that this was (yet another) short term assignment. (For the record, I have now been living out of a suitcase for 7 straight weeks.) When I accepted the assignment, the people I work for were very clear that they only needed me for three weeks, and my recruiter tried in vain to get them to extend it any longer than that. However, almost since I started, they have been dropping hints that they MIGHT need me longer. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I'm really hoping I'm not wrong. It's why I agreed to work seven days in a row, in the hope that they might find me indispensable and decide to keep me around. I'm supposed to find out today...it figures that on my first day off I'd be sitting around just thinking about work. But I do like it here and I want to stay. I've been putting off doing much exploring, sticking mostly to my cute little condo on the beach, the beach itself, and Publix (even though it does close at 9PM). (The pictures you see are of the trail I walk to the beach and of the beach itself, the very one that I sit on almost every night after work.) I know there's A LOT to explore, and Sarasota is just up the road, with even way more stuff to do. But since I don't know if I'm staying, I'm trying not to like this place even more, in case I have to leave next week. If I do end up staying longer, I'm definitely going to fill up my days off with things to do. Or do nothing...either way, I'd love it.

The only thing I have planned besides work is going to dinner tonight...with my Camp Oasis co-counselor Stacey! She lives not too far from here, about 20 minutes I think, and I'm super excited to spend a little time with her for the first time since camp. She was such a sweet lady and I can't wait to find out what's been going on with her since camp, and share all my new experiences with her as well. It'll be fun (and relaxing) to spend time with her in a non-camp related way, without seven teenagers around. Not that I don't love all my campers, but it can be stressful at times. Anyway, we're going to dinner at Sharky's on the Pier, a famous Venice landmark, and definitely my kind of place. I know this because I've seen it during my beach runs, since the pier is less than an mile and a half from my little strip of beach. (By the way, barefoot beach running is HARD! My calves have never been this sore before.) Should be fun to get out for a little while, then it's back to work tomorrow. I'll let everyone know whether or not I'll be staying in Venice, just as soon as I know for sure. Another reason I want to stay here is because there are still very few jobs out there right now for traveling therapists, and I really don't want to be unemployed again. Here I go getting my hopes up again...