Chronicles of a Travel Nurse House-Boy: April Updates

The first week of April saw the completion of Lane's first contract here in Dallas. The hospital where she works asked her to extend for another 13 weeks and she agreed. People always love her everywhere she works, and this hospital is no different. I was not surprised they wanted her to extend, and certainly did not argue, since I really like it here and we are having a good time. And I wasn't ready to do the whole pack everything up ordeal just yet.

She arranged for a week off between contracts, and we planned a trip back to F-town to check on the house and visit with our family. Since we weren't pulling the trailer we made the return home trip in just two days (one night in a hotel). All was fine at the house and we were soooo glad to be back home. Our mountain home is so beautiful. It was great to sit on the porch and enjoy the weather and drink morning coffee. Our oldest daughter Jennifer and her husband Zac, and our youngest daughter Kathryn came up to F-town for the weekend. We had a great weekend visit.

While we were in NC we also got a new truck. I was a little concerned about depending on the Highlander to be the tow vehicle for the utility trailer on our travels, and we also decided it may be wise to have two vehicles with us on our travels in case the Highlander broke down. And having a pickup truck would also allow me to take one of my motorcycles back with me to have to ride around Dallas some. Nice how it worked out that way, I thought. (More about the motorcycle later)

We returned to Dallas with the both the Highlander and the new F150, a motorcycle, and a daughter. We brought Kath with us so she could visit with us here in Dallas for a week. So nice having her along on the return trip. The puppies said the more the merrier.

On the 12th we three went to spend the day at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time.

Lane and Kath

The crew

I have to admit that while the Fort Worth Botanic Garden was nice, I still preferred the Dallas Arboretum. Just personal taste I guess. On the way home we had a nice meal at Pappadeux Seafood Kitchen. It was really good food, but a little pricey.

The next day we three traveled to Palestine to ride the Texas State Railroad train to Rusk and back. It is a beautifully restored train that is now used for tourist rides.

Loads of beautiful scenery along the ride.

The House-Boy with his girls at the back of the train.

On the 17th (yes it was a busy few days since we had Kath with us) we three, along with Anna B,. who is one of Lane's fellow travel nurses who came to Dallas from NC as well, all headed down to Glen Rose, Texas, to spend the day at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center. It is a wildlife preserve where you drive through (slowly) in your own car and see all the great and varied wildlife. It took a while to get there, but it was well worth the drive.

Up close and personal.

View from the coffee shop at the top of a small hill.

This fellow owned the road for a while.

A horse in his pajamas?

He's telling Anna he wants another treat.

Then on the 18th we took Kath to downtown Dallas to see Dealey Plaza and the other sights there.

What a goober.

The House-Boy with his hero.

Trying on some boots. Not quite the House-Boy's style?

The next day we had to put Kath on a plane for her return trip to NC. We were sorry to see her go but really enjoyed her visit.

And on the 29th Lane and I, along with Anna B. and Chris P. went to a Texas Rangers baseball game. Chris is a nurse Lane and Anna both knew from when they all worked together at an ER in Raleigh, NC. Now Chris lives in Dallas and works at the same ER that Lane works at here.