Day 86: November 21, 2009

Quote of the Day: "So long as there is breath in me, that long will I persist. For now I know one of the greatest principles of success; If I persist long enough I will win." --Og mandino




Okay, NEW MOON WAS AWESOME!!! Right up until the end where they leave you hanging. If I had not already read the books and known what happens next I would have walked out of the theater angry as heck. But I do know, so it was all good. I could NOT believe how many people there were last night showing up for the show... the theater is inside the mall, and we went to the 10:10 show, and it was JAM-PACKED with people! The entire middle of the mall was three big lines. I didn't know there were that many people in the Wichita Falls area who were interested. And this wasn't the first showing... there had already been five at least! Yikes! Lots of people went to see it, and yes, there were a LOT of guys there! So definitely not a "chick flick", Ron! LOL I think you'd like it. I tried to take a picture of the lines to show how many people were there, but the stupid phone was acting up, so the photo got deleted during file transfer. Oh, well. Suffice it to say there were at least 500 people in the lines. That's a LOT for such a late show, I would think.



Yesterday, though, all the pressure that has been building up in my head finally let loose and my nose started to run a little bit. Didn't think much of it, but as the day progressed it got worse and worse, until now it is a full-blown head cold, and I feel really miserable. I'm going to go to the store here in a little bit and pick up something to see if I can get it to go away fast. I could barely sleep last night! I was back to looking ridiculous with toilet paper stuffed up against my nose to absorb the flow so that I could try and get just a little bit of sleep. No luck, though, I kept having to wake up and blow my nose. It was HORRIBLE! So now I'm all achy, stuffed up and runny nose at the same time, have a pressure headache, and just feel downright moody as hell. It's a good day for Ron not to be around... I hate being sick when there's things to do, and he ALWAYS has something going, which makes me want to get up and do something. I'm going to work out today, of course, but I'll probably spend most of the rest of the day either in bed or on the couch. So much for getting anything done today. Right now I just want to go lay down for a while. There is NOTHING worse than being sick. Unless it's being sick, trying to lose weight, and trying to quit smoking all at the same time. UGH!


Oh, and by the way.... CODY GOT A REAL HAIRCUT! No more "Mom" haircut.  Have the pictures to prove it, too! :)

Day 85: November 20, 2009

Quote of the Day: "No distance of place or lapse of time can lessen the friendship of those who are thoroughly persuaded of each other's worth." ~Robert Southey

I'm sorry! Another day without a blog! But this time I have a VERY good reason why... I was just about to start the blog last night, and Cody got out of the shower and came to me and said "Mom, I have lice." GRRR!!!!!  Why, why, WHY does he keep getting these nasty little things?????  So anyways, I was dealing with THAT whole mess until after 11pm, when I finally went and crawled into the shower feeling all "itchy" and praying that I didn't get them from him.  I think he may have gotten them from football, but I'm not sure. Either way, he got an impromptu haircut last night compliments of Mom, and about ten shampoos, and is now sleeping in my office floor because I wouldn't let him sleep in his bed. I have NO IDEA how I'm going to make sure that he doesn't get re-infected from his bed, the furniture, or whatever else. Groan.

And to make matters worse, I have GAINED weight the last three days! UGH! Of course, I'm pretty sure my weight is up this morning because I went and had Lite Pan for dinner because they have Thursday night buffet and I haven't gone since Ron left. Maggie asked about you, by the way, Ron. She says to tell you good luck and be safe.  The food was good, but this morning I'm really, really upset about the weight gain. Mostly just because the two days prior I was up too, so it makes it look even higher. Going to go kill myself with exercising today, though.

Tonight, Sherrie and I are going to the 10:10 showing of New Moon, and I can't wait! I really enjoyed the first movie, though the books are always so much better. But this one looks really good according to the previews, so we'll have to wait and see. Either way, it's a girls' night out. Right?  I'll let you know how it goes, though. That is, IF I can even hear the movie.... there will be a LOT of little teenage girls there, after all.

I guess I will have to cook a small Thanksgiving dinner after all. I wasn't going to, but Cody is guilting me into it. I doubt if Damien will even be home for it, so that stinks too. I am JUST NOT IN THE MOOD this year for the holidays. I don't see a reason to be. I'll do it next year, when the rest of me is home to enjoy it with me. THEN we will have a big, huge feast! And all the trimmings and decorations! THEN I will be in the mood for the holidays!  But now? Now, I'm just going to struggle through it and hope it's over quickly. VERY quickly.

Day 83: November 18th, 2009

Quote of the Day: "If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them." -Henry David Thoreau

Today has been a pretty good day. I took my last test for the semester, now the only one left to study for is the final exam.  Which, of course, is going to be MURDER!!!!! UGH!!!! But I'll make it through that one too. As long as I pass it that's all I can hope for. Right?  She hasn't posted the grades for this test yet, so I don't have a clue how I did, but I have a feeling I did really well. I think I did study a little bit more for this one than most of them so far, and there were fewer questions where I had them marked as "I'll look at these again in a minute, I'm not really sure." There were only seven questions this time which I had problems with. Usually there are more than that, so we'll see, right? I went into it hoping for a 96, but I think as long as it's in the 80s that's good enough.  High 80's would be preferable, but... you know how that goes. I'll take what I can get. Not like I can really do anything about it anyways, right?

After class I came home with the intention of highlighting my drug cards for clinicals tomorrow, but ended up lying down on the couch for a while to rest because we got so little sleep last night. And then Tiger jumped up there and stretched out on my belly, making me nice and toasty warm, and wouldn't you know... I ended up taking a 3 and a half hour nap! THAT IS SOOOOOO not like me!!!!!!! But I guess I needed it, or I wouldn't have been able to sleep for that long. Usually I can't nap for even an hour before I wake up.  So all this missing sleep in the last week or so has really made me worn down, or something. Who knows?  It's barely after ten and I'm already dead-tired, so I don't think it will have too much affect on my sleep tonight.  Maybe it will be good for me... you lose weight when you sleep, right?

Rick stopped by this afternoon to check on me and make sure that everything is going okay.  He looks really tired, like he hasn't been sleeping either. I guess Ted is running him pretty ragged with all the things he constantly wants to do.  He calls Rick every day and likes for Rick to come out to see him. Ted lost one of his mules recently, too... it got sick while Ted was down in Dallas, and Rick was going out there to feed the mules and give the sick one medicine, and he found it down on the ground. The coyotes had gotten it! Yuk! Poor Rick.  He said that the really sad thing was that the mule had been gaining strength, and had gained enough ability to drag him around while he was trying to give it the antibiotics, so I'm not sure how they got near enough to it.  Unless it had already passed BEFORE they got it. Either way, Ted's a big old softie when it comes to his critters, and I guess he was pretty torn up about it.

Other than all that, there's not been a lot going on today that's worth talking about.  I have a new project that I will be working on over the Christmas break, but since it's a surprise for Ron I really can't talk about it on here without giving it all away to him.  But I can say that I managed to get part one of my plan in motion, and am really excited about it.  Then, I spent the evening wasting time on EBay waiting to see if Ron came online or not. I saw a lot of really good Christmas present ideas for him! WOOHOOO! Oh, yea, that's right... I forgot. I boycotted Christmas at our house this year, because Ron isn't here with us.  LOL  Birthday, then?

Day 82: November 17th, 2009

Quote of the Day: "The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions - the little, soon forgotten charities of a kiss or a smile, a kind look or heartfelt compliment." -Samuel Taylor Coleridge

I have no idea what I did today!  I honestly and truly have no idea where the day went. I didn't do anything spectacular at all, really. I went to the post office and dropped off Ron's four packages to him, and picked up the two packages that were waiting for me there, and did two loads of laundry. And made my bed. But other than that, I have no idea what happened! I did not watch any tv, I didn't work on much studying other than making flash cards with normal lab values on it and a tiny bit of studying.  So... I guess those aliens finally came and abducted me and then erased my memory! (hahahahaha)

I DID sit around a lot of the time and wait for Ron to get online or call so that I could let him know that his four packages are on the way to him, but he did not come online or call. I guess their internet did not get fixed yesterday after all. I did get an email from him sometime that said he had been having a busy day, so I'm sure that may have something to do with it. Or they just aren't allowed any phone calls or internet for right now for some reason.  He's usually very prompt, so either way is not good. Either he's had a hell of a day, or he's had a hell of a day. Same old, same old- the work you to death kind of stuff.  So, Ron... I hope that you at least got  a chance to rest and breathe sometime!

Laurie got here around 5 and we spent the evening studying and preparing our Sims Lab drug cards. While we were in the office we were looking at my pictures on the computer while we were waiting for the drug cards to print and she asked about the pictures of the barns I have on my computer. So I had to show her the barn I made out of poster foam, for which I got the ideas for the styling from the pictures, and of course we had a really good laugh.  Then I showed her all the twigs that I had meticulously cut into little tiny "logs" for the woodpile, and I thought I'd have to scrape her off the floor and put oxygen on her. I think she thinks I'm a little bit OCD. And I think she may be right.... but now she says we should make it out of wood and turn it into a birdhouse! LOL

We're going to study for a little while longer, then it's off to sleep so that we can get up at 4 for our final cram session before the test. I heard from the prior class that has already taken their test that this module test is much easier than the test we just took, so I'm actually hoping for a higher grade on it.  If not, well, at least there's no doubt that I'm passing the class and moving on to the next semester.  PRAISE GOD FOR THAT!!!!  Only one more semester and the NCLEX test and I will officially be able to pin those two all-powerful, life changing letters to the end of my name... RN! Oh, wait... aren't those my hubby's initials?  Okay, so I'll be able to pin two MORE all-powerful, life changing letters to the end of my name... HAHAHA!

Seriously have to get back to studying now or else I'll fall asleep at the computer, so I'll talk to you all tomorrow for the next episode of silliness.  GOODNIGHT! :)

Day 81: November 16th, 2009

Quote of the Day: "The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." -Arthur C. Clarke

I almost did it again!  I was laying in bed and struggling to try and get to sleep with like a million and one thoughts in my head, when it hit me... I hadn't done tonight's blog!  At least I remembered, right?  So much is going on right now that I think if my brain was not attached I'd have lost it somewhere. I know that. I think I've even said that before on here?

Study group went well today. Only Laurie and I showed up, but we were able to go over every single thing in the module in 4 hours.  Not too shabby!   It helps that we've already gone over everything twice, I suppose, but the more you study the more you'll retain, so we just keep at it like workhorses, pounding it into our brains. (Hopefully.)  Interestingly, while we were there the guys were there working on the elevator! YAY!  They were either riding up and down on it between the floors to work out the kinks, or they were sitting inside the elevator working on it while it was stuck on the third floor. Either way, the doors kept opening and closing with them inside the whole time we were there studying. I kept waiting for them to take down the Closed sign, but they never did.  Maybe next time we go and study we'll be able to ride the elevator? Hard to tell, it's only been out of order for three months now!

After study group I did some driving around, and it was soooo chilly outside! I stopped by Lowe's and picked up some door hinges to make all our interior doors self-closing, in the hopes that I can keep that stupid cat from sneaking into the bathrooms and peeing on the rugs and dog beds. One more time I catch the little shit doing it and I am taking him to the county pound, whether I want to or not. There is nothing worse in my opinion than a cat or dog who forgets its potty training... once they do it, they won't quit! UGH! It's so gross!  But also while I was there I picked up some new weather covers for the outside hose bibs, since all the weatherstripping on the edges of our current ones has rotted. After that I hit up the post office on base for boxes to mail some things to Ron in.  I grabbed four, figuring that maybe I would have enough to last a little while, but it turns out that I actually needed all 4 boxes this time... It's going to cost me another $50-$60 to mail everything to him! UGH! I can't wait until he comes  home! 

HOWEVER... afterward... I decided that I am tired of my pants all falling off of me and went by the BX.  I walked around forever trying to find pants that I might like, and once I did I grabbed a pair of 9's and a pair of 7's off the shelf, not sure how much my weight loss has affected my sizes. And when I got to the fitting room I figured what the heck... why not try on the 7's first? Maybe hope upon hope would come true and I would fit into them again?  And wouldn't you know..... I FIT INTO A SIZE 7 JEAN!!!!!! And they weren't even tight! No wonder my clothes keep falling off me... that's 2 sizes smaller than I was two months ago!!! I am so proud of me!!!! I'm only buying the one pair, because I still have a lot of weight I can lose, and who knows? Maybe I'll end up buying even smaller sizes soon! WOOHOOO!  My mission may not be accomplished, but it is DEFINITELY underway!

Oh, and I'm kicking around some ideas for a surprise for Ron for when he gets back. If the money goes right. We'll see. If not, then I will post my ideas the last week or two of his tour so that you can all give feedback. It will take a lot of my time and every carpentry and remodeling skill I have ever learned (and some I haven't, as well) but it would be really great to see his face if it turns out as well as it looks in my head.  Maybe if we can't afford it now he'll like my idea enough to use it later, when we can. If not, well... there's always the trip to Reno to take my mind off it!

Day 80: November 15th, 2009

Quote of the Day: "Leadership is not a one-day thing. It is a constant commitment to excellence, a habit . . . a daily practice." -author unknown

I had to pay the car and truck payment today. It KILLS me to do that!!! They're so damn expensive, and it's such a ridiculous amount of money to shell out every month! It wouldn't be so bad I guess, except that the loans are so long and drawn out that they end up getting WAY more money than a vehicle is worth in interest alone.  I was looking at the loan info, and the date it should be paid off is estimated as 2012. RIDICULOUS!!!! These stupid vehicles probably won't even be running by them, with the way the auto makers are making the cars nowadays. They just aren't designed to last like they used to be.  It's a shame, too, but you're lucky to get two years out of a car.  And on my car the transmission is already acting up, so I don't know how much longer I even have with it.  I'm considering my options for trade-ins and what I would eventually like to drive, but I figure I have a while before I even need to worry about it, so I only look around every once in a while.  The hardest part for me is trying to figure out what I want a vehicle to do for me. Truck/Car/Van is a hard choice! LOL

I'm going to be doing some more studying today and cleaning house a little bit. It's really cloudy and dreary outside again for the second day in a row, so I don't see me having a problem with staying inside and getting things done.  Did you know that my bathroom has been staying clean lately?  Just food for thought! :) It and my bedroom are really the only rooms that haven't been getting out-of-control lately.  The living room is always a mess now compliments of Cody, and the kitchen... well, let's just say that I gave up on THAT room a long time ago. I have a feeling it won't be truly clean until I am out of school. Sigh. Only a few months left, so I'm definitely hanging in there! :)

Anyways, feeling kind of bad, so I'm going to go lay down on the couch for a while and get some extra rest, then hit the sack so that I can go to study group tomorrow.  See ya later! :)

Day 79: November 14th, 2009

Quote of the Day: "“I am tired, Beloved, of chafing my heart against the want of you;

of squeezing it into little inkdrops, And posting it.” ~Amy Lowell, The Letter

Had study group today, which of course means that nothing got done around the house. Again. I'm so excited that I might be able to get things back on track around here over Christmas break and actually have a clean house ALL the time!  And not to mention that my laundry might actually get done! That will be a big plus, because as of right now I've been managing to do it every couple of weeks instead of weekly like you're supposed to. And I can't even begin to tell you how much that bothers me!

But back to study group... we all got together and managed to go over most of the information from the module, which is saying a lot. We really kept at it, with a lot less talking about other parts of school, things that we did at clinicals, etc.  It was pretty effective. We took a lunch break and went to Cici's pizza to eat, and since my car was the only one that had room for everyone I ended up being the driver, which turned out to have a hilarious twist to it. As I was leaving the parking lot and getting onto the road to go back to the school to continue studying, there was this median... it was a small median, very low to the ground... I was turning out and there were cars coming from both directions so I had limited time to make the turn and get onto the road.   Well, needless to say my front tires cleared the median, but my back tires didn't.   But that's not the funny part - the funny part was that I scared Delia so badly that she burst into this giggling fit that got us all started in, and we giggled the whole way back to the school.  I guess she thought we got hit or something? Not sure.  But it sure made for a hilarious break from studying.

The evening was really quiet here at the house. I haven't been feeling too well lately, so I pretty much just sat around, read a book, and vegetated. I didn't even exercise. Again! I am doing really badly this week with the exercise. I have more days where I didn't exercise than days when I did. And you can probably tell by my weight, but oh, well. There's always next week. It's more important that I get better, right? So that I can enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas break. And clean my house. You know, the usual stuff.

Got to talk to Ron for a little while today, too. He says their latest thing is that they built a frisbee golf course there, and have been playing frisbee golf. It must be nice to constantly be building new and exciting toys and things while you're away at war, right? LOL They need to de-stress somehow, though. I suggested that I send him horseshoes, but he said they have them already. So I'm at a loss as far as things which I can send him.  Maybe I'll come up with some ideas when I have more time to sit and think about it.