Still in the South (Part I)

I’ve bitched and complained about this very topic multiple times on this blog, perhaps ad nauseam. I really want to write out the whole story, if for no reason other than my own self-indulgence. Read on if you like, if you don’t care to hear me piss and moan about the past year of my life, I beg you: Please skip this post.



After we were married in July of 2003, Lindsey and I packed our bags and moved from Lafayette, La (population 110,582) to New Orleans (population 484,674.) I was thrilled. For quite some time I wanted to move to a larger city, in order to experience a more metropolitan lifestyle.



Our initial plan was to live in New Orleans for about a year; gaining experience in our respective professions (she: Nursing, I: Accounting) and then to move on. Our hope was that with a year of experience Lindsey would qualify to get a job with a travel-nursing agency, which would move us around at no cost to us.



These agencies allow a nurse to pick a specific field of nursing and a geographic location, and they will find a three month job for you in that field and location. After three months, you can stay for another three months or move on to another city. The agency covers all travel and moving expenses, pays all of your rent and bills, and takes care of finding an apartment. Very cool opportunity.



In the first year that we lived in New Orleans, things did not go according to plan. Lindsey had a job lined up upon moving here, but I had a lot of trouble finding work. I was unemployed for three months. When I finally did land a job, it was only a temp position. As soon as I got my temp job, Lindsey realized that she hated her position and wanted something different. So, she made a change and found something new. Finally, by January of 2004 we both had full time permanent jobs that we seemed to like.



It wasn’t long before Lindsey’s new job began to go to hell. The hospital began to change it’s policies regarding scheduling, and Lindsey found herself working evening shifts from 4:00 p.m. until 12:00 a.m. five days a week. In addition, she had to work every other weekend rather than the one weekend a month she agreed to upon accepting the position.



With this new schedule, we were only able to see each other about four days a month. This carried on for a total of about nine months. This is not the way a newly married couple wants to spend the first year of their marriage.



Now, Lindsey has once again started a new job which allows for every evening, weekend and holiday off. We are once again able to see each other as much as we like.