I don't know what it is about working in this city...but it's difficult. The new staffing agency never returns my calls to tell me why they don't want to hire me? And the other staffing agency, I just want to be done with. There is an issue of me training on a hospital's computer system, but the staffing agency is unable to get me a shift. Therefore, they can't pay me for the time I put in for training? I don't get it either...and I need to get mad about it and demand it...but I'm not that kind of person. But I just want to be done with this agency. They're not so truthful and THEY AREN'T PAYING ME! Argh! But it's okay...there are promising things on the horizon if I can just be patient. I hate waiting though...and honestly, it scares me to not have any kind of plan. So yes, I'm trying to be all zen and meditative. Let's see if it works.

Last week was fantastic. Home was great! My oldest nephew along with my sister and dad were at the airport gate. When I got off the plane, I got the biggest hug and smiles from my Jake-man. I miss my family (and dog) so much. But it was good to spend time with them, and we had pseudo-Christmas with a full Christmas dinner! Awesome!

Pittsburgh was great also. My co-fax was a mid-westerner (yeah, midwest!) who was fairly new at the faculty advising gig. So it was nice to feel knowledgeable about something. We also had the same flight back...at least to Denver. And he's looking at law schools in Portland next week...so yay for making friends that I'll actually see again! Oh, and my kids were good...that's always a plus!

My parents are coming this weekend...and it's supposed to snow...grr. I think that the weather is pretty decent until someone comes to visit...then all hell breaks loose. I guess it was 80 degrees in MO today. PDX is cold, windy and super-rainy. Should be an...interesting trip.

One more month in Portland...and I can't believe it. I'm a little sad. I wanted it to work out, I really did.