Bon Voyage!

Well, we're off! For the next 8 days, I will be happily laying on the beach on Oahu! We're going to Hawaii and I could not be more thrilled! There are few places that are more beautiful and serene. My parents have included me on this wonderful trip for a fabulous graduation gift - I think I have the best parents in the entire world! :) I'm fully prepared for a week of relaxation: sundresses, sunscreen, snorkeling equipment, and some good books!

See you soon friends... Aloha!

Tales from the Recycling Center

Well, it was about that time... today I made the trek to the Recycling Center to cash in my cans and bottles. I present to you this issue of Tales from the Recycling Center. Now friends, I learned something today --- a little nugget that might make your trips to the Recycling Center more convenient and perhaps more fruitful... I present to you the SHOPPING CART. 

I chose to share this nugget of wisdom with you today, because the gentleman above in this photo was one of THREE people there utilizing this method. Who knew that this method of transportation could be so effective? Perhaps there is something to it. 

Now friends, this post is not only meant to educate, but to warn. I come to you with a contrite heart to share with you the dangers of this means of can and bottle transportation. I was standing in line, minding my own business, day dreaming of anywhere but here, and I suddenly must jump out of the way to avoid a catastrophe... a burst of wind had caught one of the shopping carts and was uncontrollable. Heading into traffic on the other side, I leave my bags (which is of course a huge theft risk at the Recycling Center) and proceed to chase down the cart. I catch it before it hits oncoming traffic and return it to the rightful owner - no, not Ralph's but the man who was borrowing it for the aforementioned means of transportation. We both have a laugh at the "runaway cart" and I did my good deed for the day. There is a true sense of camaraderie amongst those at the Recycling Center - the "Can Code" if you will. 

Well, friends, this concludes this issue of Tales from the Recycling Center. I came away enlightened and $10.15 richer. Recycle, Reduce, Reuse... and be truly entertained. 

Until next time! 

Such Joy...

Don't kids just bring you such joy???

I just get the biggest kick out of kids, and the things that they do and say...

Just this past weekend I was at Olive Garden with my mom and my Aunt Carla - ( I just love Olive Garden - you just can't beat the Pasta Fagioli soup and salad - yummy!!) So we were eating dinner, and we look over and this little boy who couldn't have been older than 4 was chomping away at his spaghetti and meatballs and trying every which way to eat it! It was so adorable because you could tell that he wasn't trying to make a mess, but he was genuinely trying to figure out the best possible way to manage his dinner... we just couldn't take our eyes off of him!

And every day, around 2:30 there are these two little boys that I see walking across the street on their way home from school. They look like brothers: they both have round glasses and belted jean shorts pulled up 6 inches too high. The older one (about 10) always has his arm around the younger one (about 6) in an effort to protect him and look both ways before they cross the street. They are always smiling, and look like they are having so much fun together. The other day they were laughing so hard and cracking themselves up on the way home from school... just another Thursday!!

So sweet... I think we forget sometimes that kids are not just miniature adults, but they are their own little individuals, and bring us such joy if we take the time to notice and invest in them.

Life as a Musical - At least in Central Station

Have you ever dreamt of your life as a musical? I sure have.

Ever since I was little I have had this dream that one day I would be walking down the street and everyone would burst out into song and dance, and I would of course join along in perfect harmony (I guess some things will always remain a dream.) For those of you who have always dreamt of your lives as a musical too - take a look at this!

I just couldn't stop watching this and had to share - over 200 dancers of all ages dressed in street clothes made this possible in Central Station in Antwerp, Belgium. It was a promotional piece for a new television show in Belgium to find the next Maria to star in a theatre production of the Sound of Music. With only two rehearsals they pulled this off and really caught Central Station by surprise! If you have had a rough day... these 4 minutes will pull you out of it and make you smile...

There's No Place Like Home

I'm home!!! It has been almost 6 months since I left for Nashville to pursue an internship at Vanderbilt - and now I'm back. It feels so good to be home, although I miss TN a lot! I really grew to love that city - I loved being near close family and friends that I had been away from for so long. I owe them all so much - they were so instrumental in getting me through. It was such a difficult time in so many ways, and I thank the Lord for the support I had from my friends and family from home and in TN. I miss Grace Chapel - my church for 5 months! What an absolute blessing that church was to me. It was such a great church that helped me grow in some difficult times, and I loved going with the TN Krikacs! And of course I miss the hospital where I lived, I mean, worked! :)  I had so many great experiences there and learned a TON! So many children and families are forever written on my heart. 

It is so great to be home! I missed so much about CA - the beach, the traffic, (just kidding), and most importantly my friends and family back home. I've seriously lived under a rock these past 6 months. It feels so good to be home and surrounded with family and friends that I have missed terribly. My internship required a lot of hours and emotion, and I have felt depleted in many ways. It feels so good to slowly start to feel fueled up again and recharged. I am so blessed with supportive people in my life no matter what geographic location I'm in...

So Toto, although we are not in Nashville anymore, we are back home! And in the words of dear Dorothy ~ 

"Toto, we're home. Home! And this is my room, and you're all here. And I'm not gonna leave here ever, ever again, because I love you all, and - oh, Auntie Em - there's no place like home!" 

My New Home

Hello Blog Buddies!!! It feels so good to be back after a much too long hiatus... First let me say how much I miss all of you back home! Life in Nashville is amazing, but it is just not the same without you. 

So this is my new home...Nashville TN. I still can't believe that I have been living here for about 3 1/2 weeks now. My little apartment is so cute, I will post pictures of it soon, so ya'll (yeah you like that?) can see it. I really like where I live, and it's not too far away from work. Which brings me to my second home...Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. One of my patients (4 years old) asked me the other day, "Do you live here?" And I said, "You know, sometimes it feels like I do!" 

The internship is going really well, although it is extremely challenging at times. I've never had to learn so much in such a short amount of time, and although the learning curve is pretty steep, it's been such a great experience so far. I'm working in Surgery right now which is my first rotation, and let me tell you... the hours have been the biggest adjustment! :) If you know me at all, early mornings are not typically my forte... but I've been adjusting. When my alarm goes off at 3:30 every morning, I now finally understand how my Aunt Karen feels when she gets up so early for work every day. 

More info, stories and pictures to come soon, but I really miss you all! Especially you Mom and Dad and miss you tons... big hugs coming your way. 

Merry Christmas from the Krikac Family

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