Princess playing at a park

Princess and Mary take time out after the quake to play at a park.

Seven Things I Like About Santa Monica

"Don't you miss being home?" asks a friend on the phone.

"Not really" I respond, "its so nice here in Santa Monica I can pass on Missouri easy."

"Well what's so great about it there?" my friend asks.

Ah, the beginning of another post. The seven things I like best about Santa Monica.

1. The ocean breeze. The cool breeze cleans the city in the morning as well as keeps the area
cool during the day. The mist on the beach is like air conditioning out in the open sunshine. Mary is relieved that warmer clothes have finally arrived from Missouri. Don't let the national weather map fool you into thinking how hot is here, Santa Monica is usually at least ten degrees cooler than L.A. .

2.The Santa Monica colors. The flowering blooms, the blue sky with the faded colors of the hills beyond. Santa Monica takes pride in their gardens and shows them off well. A walk down any residential street is like strolling in a botanical garden.

3.The coffee, of course! I admit I am a coffee junkie, but the thing I really like about the abundance of coffee shops on Montana Ave. (there is at least one on every block) is not the buzz from the caffeine but the idea that life is not so rushed that you can still take a few moments and sit with a friend enjoying conversation over a cup of coffee.

4.Biking. Santa Monica drivers are the most pedestrian and bike respectful I have seen in any town. Even most commercial streets offer a bike lane and the bike trail along the beach is just incredible. Mary and I rarely use the car while in town and love the benefits of the extra exercise.

5. The Santa Monica people. The people here have been so friendly. Not so much with the southern smile and hospitality, but in their genuineness. The night manager at a StarBucks that when learned I was new to town welcomed me with free pastries. The strolling couple who stop to introduce themselves to Princess our small dog, or even the small shop owners who leave a bowl of water outside their shop door for her and others to quench themselves.

6. The community. A weekday paper the Santa Monica Daily Press is published and available free of charge to the community. Free summer concerts are available at The Pier every week. Special events like The Glow was an all nighter provided by the city. Which by the way, I experienced first hand and looked like every resident in the city made their way to the pier for.

7. The diversity. While walking down a residential street, one front yard garden may be themed as an English garden and right next door is a dessert theme with cacti and succulents. Around the corner from where we live I can stroll past a sushi shop, French restaurant, an American diner, a Chinese dry cleaner, Korean pedicure shop and Indian restaurant. All within one block!

OK, so this isn't a complete list, and nor would I want to sound like an authority. I am just a new resident and a temporary one at that. But I so like this town!

Choosing a Travel Company

I recently received an email requesting a few tips on choosing a travel nurse company. This nurse is interested in moving from Boston to San Diego and has already applied with several companies. She no doubt is overwhelmed with the number of calls received and the vast array of choices at her disposal. Hopefully I can help.

I left a hospital which tried to make me feel lucky to have a job, even after my weekend-option schedule was canceled, (resulting in a 30% pay cut). So I immediately resigned and took a local temp agency job in a nearby town with the intention of leaving for long distance travel that summer.

There are several websites which allow you to fill out one generic application and this is forwarded to several and I do mean MANY companies. I remember the day I filled it out; I hit the “Enter” button and told Mary that we might be receiving phone calls from recruiters.

“Ring” went the phone, and it didn’t stop for the next couple of weeks. I must have received a response from at least 50 different companies. In fact, from that one application I am still receiving phone calls seven months past.

At first the process of determining the right company was frustrating, to say the least. I became more confused after wading through forum sights for nurses’ opinions and experiences. I guess what they say is true about opinions; everybody has one.

A travel nurse named Epstein LaRue has done a fantastic job of setting up multiple websites dedicated to travel nursing including an exhaustive compilation of travel companies and their benefits. Here is the link for that site; http://www.highwayhypodermics.com/travel_nursing_companies.htm

As I received calls from companies I checked them on the above linked website and determined how closely they aligned with what I was looking for.

I grouped the companies into a small list; three preferable companies, four or five possible companies and lastly, the remainder. After each conversation with a recruiter I entered it in a notebook including their name, number, and any highlights touched on during our conversation. Trust me; they do the same.

It’s difficult to discuss choosing a travel company without also touching on the recruiter. Criteria for the company are based on size, benefits, pay, and available assignments, but the recruiter adds the face, the personality, and conversation to your experience with the company.

So my experience with the recruiter was just as important as the company they represent. Were they compatible with me, and was he or she someone I would want to work with for the next 13 weeks, but most importantly, were they someone I wanted watching my back while I was halfway across the country?

I remember one recruiter who had absolutely no clue about the medical industry, she couldn’t even pronounce basic medical terminology, and so even though she got me an interview with a hospital, she wasn’t someone I wanted to rely on should something go wrong.

Now on the other hand let me also caution that a recruiter should not be your final authority either. Keep in mind that they are recruiters doing their job to recruit, so that answers to questions outside their scope of authority may be suspect.

When I was at the California license office there was a nurse who was told that the license verification she used was inadequate. “Oh, no that can’t be right.” She told the office worker. “I was told this verification would work,” she continued with authority.

“Well who told you that?” asked the office lady.

“My recruiter.” she exclaimed.

Needless to say several frantic calls ensued with the recruiter all to no avail. This nurse traveled over 900 miles to start a job on the following Monday based on the word of someone who had never themselves obtained a temporary license, and who had little authority to speak on the subject.

Final responsibility rests on yourself, check and double check your information. Keep in mind what someone’s opinion is worth, surround yourself with experienced people, and create a network of resources.

I keep a portfolio of all my travel nurse information, including separately marked folders for licenses, credentials, applications, even passport. It is kept nearby at all times.

So let me mention a few things that determined what I was looking for in a recruiter.

• · Most importantly; did they really listen to me? When I told them what I was looking for in an assignment did they pay attention?

• · Did they ask appropriate questions? At first I needed help, were they able to direct me without me feeling controlled?

• · Did they sound knowledgeable?

• · Were they able to perform? Some recruiters engaged in lots of courteous conversation but didn’t produce any interviews.

• · Did they allow me to feel in control? I mentioned this above, but the last thing I wanted to feel from a recruiter was a lack of control. I wanted to feel recruited not roped. One company in particular lost me even after an interview when they neglected this point.

What I personally was looking for in my first out of state assignment was a good, positive experience in a travel friendly hospital located in or near a large city, so that Mary and I could vacation with Molly during my days off.

Even though I told a recruiter this, it was amazing how often the subject of great pay would be the recruiter’s first topic of discussion. I am sure this is important to many, if not most travelers; yet at this particular time, not to me.

I t was also rare that I was given an interview in a large city, like I had asked for. In fact, I originally intended to move on the East Coast, but assignment start dates conflicted with the time required to get a license.

California is a walk-through license state, and the hospital I am working at is located in a small town just outside of L.A. called Thousand Oaks.

I asked Denise, the recruiter, “Is that where you expect us to live?”

“Oh no,” she answers in her southern accent, “Molly would hate it there.” she continued, “Were gonna find you housing in L.A. like she would want…...how does Santa Monica sound?”

Needless to say that kind of attention worked. Denise recruited a new travel nurse, and I am very satisfied with the company. The check was direct deposited without a hitch and right on time, the benefits were promptly in place and while the paperwork was exhaustive, everything went smoothly at the hospital upon my arrival.

Currently, I enjoy conversations with recruiters and share the general idea of my plans to remain at my current assignment through December. We will then be off to Hawaii for the winter, and the choosing process will begin all over again; with the understanding of course, that recruiters like Denise get my attention first.

Homes and Gardens in Santa Monica

Aromas of Santa Monica

“Why do you think it smells so good around here?” Molly asks.

“The ocean brings in a constant sea breeze” I start; as if I knew the answer.

“Maybe it’s all the restaurants cooking those wonderful foods” Molly wonders.

I begin to let my aromatic imagination to run. “Perhaps it’s the various coffee shops or flowers blooming.”

“What about the bakeries”, Molly continues, “Life in Santa Monica is just an abundance for the senses”, she proclaims.

We visited the Getty Museum yesterday. There are at least four huge buildings with two or more floors each, filled with art works including varying gardens and outdoor architecture. All for public viewing free of charge. We will be returning.

On a walk last night Mary asks about my schedule.

“I only have one week when I am working three days in a row”, I say. “The rest of the weeks it is broken up, like one day at work then two off and back to work.”

“Oh that’s good”, she says. “Molly and I have decided we need breaks.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“After a few days doing stuff with you, we’re wore out”, she replies; “when you go to work we get a rest”.

My birthday is next Monday. I’ll be turning the big 50. This has caused me to search for some kind of meaning. I recently read that 60 is the youth of old age. So what does that make 50; the old age of youth?

“When is a person over the hill?” I ask Mary. “Did I go over the hill at forty or is it at fifty?” I continue.

“Fifty is the new forty, Dear” she says, “but I don’t think you have anything to worry about, If you’re going downhill, it’s on a skateboard”.

“So what are you gonna do for your birthday?” asks a friend. “It’s a shame you don’t know anyone there yet to have a nifty fifty party”. “We are going Salsa dancing” I reply; “we found a group that sponsor lessons and have a dance afterward on Sundays so that is where we’ll be.”

I received my AARP card this week. “Oh you’ll love that.” says my Mum. “It gets you all kind of discounts at restaurants, movies, hotels; it’s a great thing to have.” So I send off my three year membership dues right away. I want to start enjoying my over the hill benefits as soon as possible.

“That’ll be a dollar sixty five” says the coffee barista.

I flash out my new AARP card.

No discount at Starbucks.

Mary and I are waiting for our trucking friend's return to L.A. but in the mean time there is one piece of luggage with summer clothes that will be sent to us via Hannah, who can use her husband's discount at FedEx.
Transporting extra luggage via different shipping rather than paying for the airline luggage is the latest trend and the beginning of several new business opportunities. Here is a sample of shipping charges.

Rates based on round-trip shipping	45 lb bag Hartford to Tampa	55 lb bag Philadelphia to Los Angeles	75 lb bag Salt Lake City to Washington	1 oversize bag (65 linear inches) at 75 lb Las Vegas to Fort Lauderdale
Delta	$0	$160	$300	$600
Southwest	$0	$50	$100	$100
UPS Ground	$83.50	$133.84	$165.76	$165.76
FedEx Ground	$71.06	$106.30	$132.84	$132.84
US Postal Service (Parcel Post)	$69.60	$92.08	N/A	N/A
Luggage Free 5-day	$228.50	$261.50	$327.50	$327.50
Luggage Concierge Ground	$200	$248.84	$280.76	$280.76

Molly arrives

I had received the call the first of last week. “Hey Gary, guess what? I’m driving to L.A. with a delivery; you need anything brought to you?” It was Aaron an over the road truck driver calling.

“Sure” I replied, “Mary has a few boxes and how ‘bout bringing Molly as well?”

“Oh yeah,” was his answer, “no problem”.

Molly wasn’t so sure, she is not one to complain, but neither did I give her opportunity. The plan was for her to come by train, which was her choice rather than fly. A trip half cross the country in a tractor trailer was reluctantly agreed to.

Turns out Mary had more than just a few boxes, and not all the luggage would fit in the driver compartment. The luggage left was what Mary had wanted here most; extra summer clothes. So FedEx is still in the plan.

Turns out Molly made an excellent side kick truck driver, both proficient in GPS navigation, and truck driver lingo on the CB. Both she and Aaron arrived safely late Thursday night.

Two other friends from Springfield had also sent messages that they were in California as well, though I was unable to hook up with either during the weekend, just not enough time.

Molly was amazed by Santa Monica from her first day. “This is crazy” she would keep saying. Our first day at the beach was a blast seeing her enjoy the ocean waves.

Molly hasn’t really been known as an outdoor type of girl. She is very fair skinned. Yet she was applying sun block lotion to avoid burning in order to not miss a day at the beach.

It is absolutely amazing to think that I have actually pulled this off. Moving to a place as beautiful as Santa Monica and living a life that I have dreamt of for years.

Times a changin'

I arrive home from the first “flying solo shift” at the hospital.

This capped off discarding bunches of stuff to downsize into a home several times smaller in Springfield, then moving into that home. Work my scheduled night-shift hours for three days, and catch a nap before driving to California.

Upon arrival to our California home I start three days of orientation, Thursday I flew to Sacramento to acquire my state license and fly back that afternoon, so I can start a 12 hour shift on Saturday and Sunday.

What an exhausting three weeks and I could not have accomplished nearly half of this without Mary working like crazy.

Being this busy would be bad enough, but what really bothers me is losing my routine. My routine at work, how I drive there, where I park, when to get up, well I could go on and on. Everything is so new now. Even simple things like where do I put my keys and wallet so I can find them easily is gone.

“You need a Man Box” says a friend.

“A what box?” I reply.

“You know, a masculine looking box that you can take wherever you go, for storing stuff in; a Man Box”, he says, “That way when you are in a new environment you at least have a good start knowing where your personal stuff is.”

He and I are having this conversation over the cell phone as I am walking to a local coffee shop. I have run out of my favorite coffee, the coffee that I’ve been drinking for years; the same coffee that I have spouted on about for over twenty years.

Since everything else in our life is new or at least changed, and nobody here has even heard of Bustelo Coffee, we decide it’s time to try a local brewer.

I suppose old habits and routines are birthed from new surroundings, and recent events. This is one lesson I was not prepared for, a method for keeping my True North no matter where I am or where I go. Hmm, perhaps one of these local flea markets stocks Man Boxes.

Driving in L.A.

Palisades Blvd. plant sculptures.
A Fourth of July Memorial to fallen soldiers in Iraq on the Beach, along side the Santa Monica Pier.

I left for the hospital in Thousand Oaks two hours early my first morning, having been warned about how horrible the drive would be. I was actually driving against the worst of the traffic coming into town and it only took fifty minutes for the commute, not much longer than the drive I was making from Springfield to Branson.

Here is an early observation regarding L.A. traffic. Before venturing out on the highways stop by one of the many coffee shops in the area and load up on caffeine. You too will then be in the proper mood to accelerate several miles per hour above the posted speed limit. You will also be more empathetic to those in dire need of getting to the nearest bathroom, even if it means crossing four lanes in front of you to get off at the next exit.

Radio traffic reports are so different than what I am used to. The occasional accident or road construction is what I’ve heard in the past. Now I hear about multiple jams on various highways, except coming home from LAX on July 3^rd when the announcer stated all highways are holiday jammed. I took a quick exit, and snaked my home on side streets.

Mary & Princess in front of Santa Monica Beach.


A home across the street from us.


We couldn't believe the size of this Bird of Paradise.

“Gary Cox”, the woman behind the glass counter calls out, “look over the information on the temporary license and sign if the information is correct. You will be receiving your permanent license in the next two to four months”.

I sign the paper and smile with a sigh of relief. The riskiest part of our new adventure is over. Moving out to California without already having the license to work as an R.N. was cutting it close. I had convinced the hospital to allow me to go through the orientation classes for three days and then spend Thursday and Friday getting the license.

Doh! Friday is the Fourth of July, state offices would be closed and I only had one day to get a license and be back from Sacramento and report for work on Saturday. A close call for sure, and one I hope to prevent repeating in the future.

Tomorrow will be our first full week in Santa Monica so I thought I might share a few first impressions. The weather is great! A cool breeze blows off the ocean making it feel like air-conditioning outside. It is actually quite cool in the shade; Mary is wishing she brought some sweaters.

Santa Monica is an old beach town; this is apparent closer to the beach. Further away the town is more “upscale” and yet most people are friendly especially if you have Princess on a leash beside you. In fact, many of the small shops place a bowl of water outside their doors for the dogs to drink.

This town loves caffeine, (my kind of place) there are more coffee shops on street corners than Springfield MO has churches. Some of the drivers have noticeably been drinking too much caffeine, yet pedestrians have the right of way and walking, as well as bike riding, is safe. There are two grocery stores within easy walking distance of our home, and several restaurants (we have found a few affordable ones), even a take-out sushi shop just around the corner. Only once have we used the car to shop and that was for household staples. In fact, after arriving from work, the car isn’t used at all.

The homes are well kept, many worth several million dollars. Gardens abound with a few plants I can name, red blooming geraniums and succulent jade plants both the size of shrubs. Tall hedges filled with blooming flowers line the sidewalks, azaleas that won’t quit, and countless tropical wonders I can’t name.

Not any downside I can think of to mention at this time. Loving it here!