Quote of the day: "Kissing is a means of getting two people so close together that they can’t see anything wrong with each other." – Rene Yasenek
Happy Valentine's Day, baby! You know, since it's already Valentine's Day where you are. So far away. I'd love to be able to reach out and hug you, but since I can't my saying it will have to do. Just know that I am thinking of you right at this very minute, and that I want more than anything to be able to hug you again. As I know I will soon be able to do!!!! And how thankful I will be when you are finally returned to me! Just like heaven!
I have been working on homework pretty much ALL DAY LONG! My brain is just about turning to mush. I am so very tired of it that I could just fall down and lay there in the fetal position sleeping for a week. But I have to get it done, so I'm at it again. Sigh. You'd think it'll help me learn or something. I really need to be studying for my test coming up on Wednesday, and have only had a very little amount of time to do it. This test is for my mental health class (psych), so it is going to be really tough compared to the mother/baby class test. I'll need to try extra hard, I think. I have some of it down, but I really need to study the meds a lot, because she said that there were a lot of medications you HAVE to know about. We'll see.... still have to get a little more homework done tomorrow.
Cody is out spending the night with his friend Caleb, and Damien is at his friend Drew's again, so I once again have a nice, quiet house all to myself. It's kind of nice for studying, but it really stinks the rest of the time when you want someone to talk to, or even just know that there is someone else there. Did I tell you I can't wait for Ron to come home? Oh, well... I'm telling you again! LOL That's one thing I can't stand... being alone ALL the time. I love it once in a while, but when it's repetitive it gets old. I can't imagine what being a hermit must be like. I'm sure some of them enjoy it, but if they aren't the self-imposed hermit, then it must be awful. It's like a fate worse than death! I am NOT that much fun for me to talk to. I talk back too much to myself for my tastes. I'd rather talk to someone else, so that I DON'T know what they are going to say! HA HA HA HA
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Day 169: February 12th, 2010
Quote of the Day: "Where love is concerned, too much is not ever enough." – Pierre-Augustin Caron De Beaumarchais
Well, gee, what a day. Where to begin???
First off, I made an 83 on my first test in my Mother/Baby class, so I am pretty happy with that. I guess that some of the studying really helped a LOT... now if I just had the critical thinking skills, I'd be all set. I DID follow through and go to the hospital website and apply for the new position they just posted. I'm not sure if I will get it, with my dates so far out that I would be able to start, but we'll see. At least I'm trying, right? And I really DO love it!
I went to the freezer today to take out one of my little brownie squares that I had frozen, intending to treat myself because I've lost so much weight and had such a rough day, only to find that Cody has been his usual insensitive self and eaten ALL BUT SIX of them... and they're all the flavors that I wasn't particularly fond of. All the good flavors - gone. And those were VERY expensive brownies, sent to ME by my BEST FRIEND. I am so angry with him that I don't even want to look at him. I don't know what makes him think he can just take whatever he wants, but he does it ALL THE TIME. And at thirteen he should know better. He is lazy, he is not doing his chores, he refuses to ride the bus home, he is not doing his homework.... what am I going to DO WITH HIM?????? Anyone know any good military schools?
Oh, and to make matters more interesting I braved all that wet, slushy snow to go out back and do the pool chemicals and vacuum it. Not in and of itself anything bad, until I got up onto the jacuzzi to vacuum in there, lost my balance, and fell in. I think I might have actually been in the water less than a millisecond, because once I realized I was falling I was backpedaling as fast as I could to get out of it. Boy, was I wishing the heater was fixed on the stupid thing! It was COLD!!! I don't know how those people in the Polar Bear Club do it! I came in the house as quick as I could trying to shed the cold, wet layers, and have been an icicle ever since. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, too... good thing no one was around to laugh at me!
I guess you could say it hasn't really been that great of a day. Nothing has been going right at all. And I sure wish it would! Maybe I should have waited to apply for that job. Hmm.
Well, gee, what a day. Where to begin???
First off, I made an 83 on my first test in my Mother/Baby class, so I am pretty happy with that. I guess that some of the studying really helped a LOT... now if I just had the critical thinking skills, I'd be all set. I DID follow through and go to the hospital website and apply for the new position they just posted. I'm not sure if I will get it, with my dates so far out that I would be able to start, but we'll see. At least I'm trying, right? And I really DO love it!
I went to the freezer today to take out one of my little brownie squares that I had frozen, intending to treat myself because I've lost so much weight and had such a rough day, only to find that Cody has been his usual insensitive self and eaten ALL BUT SIX of them... and they're all the flavors that I wasn't particularly fond of. All the good flavors - gone. And those were VERY expensive brownies, sent to ME by my BEST FRIEND. I am so angry with him that I don't even want to look at him. I don't know what makes him think he can just take whatever he wants, but he does it ALL THE TIME. And at thirteen he should know better. He is lazy, he is not doing his chores, he refuses to ride the bus home, he is not doing his homework.... what am I going to DO WITH HIM?????? Anyone know any good military schools?
Oh, and to make matters more interesting I braved all that wet, slushy snow to go out back and do the pool chemicals and vacuum it. Not in and of itself anything bad, until I got up onto the jacuzzi to vacuum in there, lost my balance, and fell in. I think I might have actually been in the water less than a millisecond, because once I realized I was falling I was backpedaling as fast as I could to get out of it. Boy, was I wishing the heater was fixed on the stupid thing! It was COLD!!! I don't know how those people in the Polar Bear Club do it! I came in the house as quick as I could trying to shed the cold, wet layers, and have been an icicle ever since. I'm sure I looked ridiculous, too... good thing no one was around to laugh at me!
I guess you could say it hasn't really been that great of a day. Nothing has been going right at all. And I sure wish it would! Maybe I should have waited to apply for that job. Hmm.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Day 168: February 11th, 2010
Quote of the Day: "True love doesn’t have a happy ending, true love doesn’t have an ending." -author unknown
NO, NO, NO MORE SNOW!!!! UGH!
I am so angry right now that I could just scream! Today was clinicals for our Mother/Baby portion of classes, and I was assigned to the postpartum floor. I was thoroughly enjoying it, and was really feeling like it was all "clicking together" today. I was at my top performance today. I professed a great amount of interest. And I liked it even more than the Labor and Delivery rotation. So what happens? That up to 2 inches of snow we were expected to get came in with a vengeance, and they made us leave early! I asked the instructor if we could elect to stay and finish out the day, but we couldn't. So I can't help but feeling cheated out of one of the best parts of clinicals.... something I actually enjoy! And I just KNOW that the roads are going to be horrible after all this is over, which is also not helping my mood any.
I had a really great nurse that I was assigned to today. She did everything she could to help teach us things while she was doing her patient care, and made it a point to show us things. I liked her a lot as well, and would love the chance to be one of her coworkers. When I asked if there were any jobs going to open up on the unit she introduced me to Ellen, the lady who would be in charge of the hiring. She said that they should be loading all the new positions tonight, so I'll go check first thing tomorrow morning and see what is on there. If there is a job on that unit I am going to apply for it. And then pray really hard! LOL
I'm loading up some snow pictures on here from today, since Ron has missed yet another snow. I really hate that. It makes me sad because it's not like this here every year, so it'll probably be a few years before we have something like this again. I wish he could have been here, because he really enjoys the snow so much. He likes it a lot more than I do, that's for sure!!! But I keep telling myself that climates are changing, and maybe next year will be like this too. One can only hope, right?
Tonight I worked on some homework for school, and here in a little bit I'm going to start studying for my mental health class. I have a feeling that the tests for that class are going to be especially gruelling, and I will need all the help that I can get to prepare for them. Which unfortunately is going to be a whole lot of studying. I just hope that I can learn enough (and have enough common sense) to do well enough on the tests to pass them. My biggest problem is going to be knowing what to say, when. I always tend to say the wrong things, which is really dangerous to do with a person suffering from a mental health issue. And I'm afraid that the tendency will come through on the test and make it impossible for me to pass it. But I'm going to read all the chapters in the book, and try to write down all the important things, and we'll see what happens with it. The test is on Wednesday, which makes it to where I should have just enough time left to finish studying and do well. But we'll see... that's the one thing I have learned about nursing school.... one test at a time.
Skip's forecast info from the texoma's homepage website.......
"2010-02-11 19:06:03 The upper wave responsible for the snow will slowly move east this evening. Other than remaining flurries, the back edge of the accumulating snows has been apparent for several hours this afternoon and is expected to continue its steady pace east. Warnings and advisories will likely remain unchanged until some cancellations may occur in western zones later this evening. Fog is likely tonight in the south and in the southeast tomorrow night. Maximum temperature forecasts for Friday were change to reflect snow coverage in south central and southeast Oklahoma. Saturday will likely be the warmest day in a while with sun and before the next cold front which comes early Sunday. Gusty north winds and temperatures dropping into the 30s during the day Sunday are likely, but precipitations is not with this clipper style system. Cool and dry weather is expected until mid-week when another system is forecast to move across the Pacific northwest and drop south with the long wave pattern. Moisture may be sufficient for rain/snow with this system by Thursday."
REALLY? AGAIN? HONESTLY!!! If another clinical gets messed up because of this I'm going to scream!
NO, NO, NO MORE SNOW!!!! UGH!
I am so angry right now that I could just scream! Today was clinicals for our Mother/Baby portion of classes, and I was assigned to the postpartum floor. I was thoroughly enjoying it, and was really feeling like it was all "clicking together" today. I was at my top performance today. I professed a great amount of interest. And I liked it even more than the Labor and Delivery rotation. So what happens? That up to 2 inches of snow we were expected to get came in with a vengeance, and they made us leave early! I asked the instructor if we could elect to stay and finish out the day, but we couldn't. So I can't help but feeling cheated out of one of the best parts of clinicals.... something I actually enjoy! And I just KNOW that the roads are going to be horrible after all this is over, which is also not helping my mood any.
I had a really great nurse that I was assigned to today. She did everything she could to help teach us things while she was doing her patient care, and made it a point to show us things. I liked her a lot as well, and would love the chance to be one of her coworkers. When I asked if there were any jobs going to open up on the unit she introduced me to Ellen, the lady who would be in charge of the hiring. She said that they should be loading all the new positions tonight, so I'll go check first thing tomorrow morning and see what is on there. If there is a job on that unit I am going to apply for it. And then pray really hard! LOL
I'm loading up some snow pictures on here from today, since Ron has missed yet another snow. I really hate that. It makes me sad because it's not like this here every year, so it'll probably be a few years before we have something like this again. I wish he could have been here, because he really enjoys the snow so much. He likes it a lot more than I do, that's for sure!!! But I keep telling myself that climates are changing, and maybe next year will be like this too. One can only hope, right?
Tonight I worked on some homework for school, and here in a little bit I'm going to start studying for my mental health class. I have a feeling that the tests for that class are going to be especially gruelling, and I will need all the help that I can get to prepare for them. Which unfortunately is going to be a whole lot of studying. I just hope that I can learn enough (and have enough common sense) to do well enough on the tests to pass them. My biggest problem is going to be knowing what to say, when. I always tend to say the wrong things, which is really dangerous to do with a person suffering from a mental health issue. And I'm afraid that the tendency will come through on the test and make it impossible for me to pass it. But I'm going to read all the chapters in the book, and try to write down all the important things, and we'll see what happens with it. The test is on Wednesday, which makes it to where I should have just enough time left to finish studying and do well. But we'll see... that's the one thing I have learned about nursing school.... one test at a time.
Today's Snow Pictures
"2010-02-11 19:06:03 The upper wave responsible for the snow will slowly move east this evening. Other than remaining flurries, the back edge of the accumulating snows has been apparent for several hours this afternoon and is expected to continue its steady pace east. Warnings and advisories will likely remain unchanged until some cancellations may occur in western zones later this evening. Fog is likely tonight in the south and in the southeast tomorrow night. Maximum temperature forecasts for Friday were change to reflect snow coverage in south central and southeast Oklahoma. Saturday will likely be the warmest day in a while with sun and before the next cold front which comes early Sunday. Gusty north winds and temperatures dropping into the 30s during the day Sunday are likely, but precipitations is not with this clipper style system. Cool and dry weather is expected until mid-week when another system is forecast to move across the Pacific northwest and drop south with the long wave pattern. Moisture may be sufficient for rain/snow with this system by Thursday."
REALLY? AGAIN? HONESTLY!!! If another clinical gets messed up because of this I'm going to scream!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Day 167: February 10, 2010
Quote of the day: "Love is the master key that opens the gate of happiness." – Oliver Wendell Holmes
Okay, I did it. I checked the windows. Only to find them completely stuck shut. But I have to lean real far over the counter to try and open them, without touching the counters, which is extremely difficult anyway. And they're usually real hard to open, so I'm going to wait and try to open them once the countertop has cured completely and try again. I figure maybe if I can get up ONTO the countertop then I'd be able to open it with leverage. If not, well... not going to hurt MY feelings anyways. I no longer feel a draft coming in under the windows! LOL
I did well on my test today, I think I only missed 8 or 9 questions. REAL good results compared to what I THOUGHT I was going to do on it, considering the fact that I hardly had any time to study. But I'm finding that the mother/baby part is easy for me to remember. I'm not sure about the mental health class, though... don't you have to be mentally healthy to understand mental health??? HAHAHA One of the first things I've noticed since entering the nursing program is that it makes me completely and totally insane. I'm out of my mind. Or my mind left me, you figure it out. I just know that I can't concentrate, can't remember things, and am constantly feeling completely wiped out, as if I haven't slept in weeks. And I'm tired of it. No pun intended, of course!
Oh, and one more thing...I am starting to HATE MY BODY! It is totally rebelling lately against the weight loss, making me hungry all the time and everything. All these long months I've been steadily losing weight, at less than the recommended rate. Then all of a sudden my weight went flat-line, staying at exactly the same weight for 7 out of 9 days, and now for the last two days it's gone up. I've gained so much that I now weigh what I did around the end of January, a little over two weeks ago. It's so frustrating! I got so close to my goal weight, within 1.2 pounds, and now I'm gaining again. I don't know if it's stress related or what, but I really wish that I could get it under control. Gotta stop with the hunger, already!! And drink more water, although I drank more than my 2 liters yesterday of water and it didn't help any. Giving it a week, and then I'm just going to give up. Life's grand, though.... I'm around 20 lbs less even if I don't lose back to my lowest.
Okay, I did it. I checked the windows. Only to find them completely stuck shut. But I have to lean real far over the counter to try and open them, without touching the counters, which is extremely difficult anyway. And they're usually real hard to open, so I'm going to wait and try to open them once the countertop has cured completely and try again. I figure maybe if I can get up ONTO the countertop then I'd be able to open it with leverage. If not, well... not going to hurt MY feelings anyways. I no longer feel a draft coming in under the windows! LOL
I did well on my test today, I think I only missed 8 or 9 questions. REAL good results compared to what I THOUGHT I was going to do on it, considering the fact that I hardly had any time to study. But I'm finding that the mother/baby part is easy for me to remember. I'm not sure about the mental health class, though... don't you have to be mentally healthy to understand mental health??? HAHAHA One of the first things I've noticed since entering the nursing program is that it makes me completely and totally insane. I'm out of my mind. Or my mind left me, you figure it out. I just know that I can't concentrate, can't remember things, and am constantly feeling completely wiped out, as if I haven't slept in weeks. And I'm tired of it. No pun intended, of course!
Oh, and one more thing...I am starting to HATE MY BODY! It is totally rebelling lately against the weight loss, making me hungry all the time and everything. All these long months I've been steadily losing weight, at less than the recommended rate. Then all of a sudden my weight went flat-line, staying at exactly the same weight for 7 out of 9 days, and now for the last two days it's gone up. I've gained so much that I now weigh what I did around the end of January, a little over two weeks ago. It's so frustrating! I got so close to my goal weight, within 1.2 pounds, and now I'm gaining again. I don't know if it's stress related or what, but I really wish that I could get it under control. Gotta stop with the hunger, already!! And drink more water, although I drank more than my 2 liters yesterday of water and it didn't help any. Giving it a week, and then I'm just going to give up. Life's grand, though.... I'm around 20 lbs less even if I don't lose back to my lowest.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Day 166: February 9, 2010
Quote of the Day: "Couples who love each other tell each other a thousand things without talking." – Chinese proverb
About that proverb... it's a good thing, because Ron and I haven't been able to talk hardly at all since he left, so I'm looking forward to being able to look at his face again. It's getting closer every day, and all I can say is that I am really, really grateful that we'll be together again soon. It's going to be so nice to have someone else who I can depend on besides me. And I'm sure that having someone who can change light bulbs in a high ceiling or grab things off the top shelf is going to be nice to have again, as well.
I got the countertops done today, finally. I still have one layer to add to the countertop with the sink on it, but I'm thinking that can wait until Ron comes home. It'd be easier, and plus... he'd get to see what a pain in the butt that stuff is to deal with. I've made a total mess of the floor in the kitchen with it, I'm sure. At least we plan on taking it out and putting in tile, right? LOL I'll take pictures of the countertops to put on here once they've had their three days of cure time and I can put things onto them again. I can't WAIT to see what the kitchen will look like once all that tape and plastic are down! The only thing that concerns me in any way are the windows that butt up next to the countertop. I taped them up really well, but I'm still worried that once the resin has dried it will have stuck to the tape and made the windows inoperable. Which is no big deal to me, because not only are they a pain to open, they leak air like crazy. So maybe having them sealed with resin would be a blessing in disguise! We're replacing those too, so no big deal. Right? LOL
Tonight Laurie is over and we are studying for our test tomorrow in class. I feel totally unprepared for it, which probably means I'll just barely squeak by with another 78. Or worse, fail it completely. But the subject matter isn't anything really new to me, so I'm hoping that all my knowledge gained through my pregnancies and child raising has stuck with me in my long term memory enough that I'll make it just fine. It seems like everything we've studied so far has been familiar to me. We'll see what tomorrow brings, that's for sure. But for now, I have to get going and get back to studying, because our break is almost over. Have a great day!
About that proverb... it's a good thing, because Ron and I haven't been able to talk hardly at all since he left, so I'm looking forward to being able to look at his face again. It's getting closer every day, and all I can say is that I am really, really grateful that we'll be together again soon. It's going to be so nice to have someone else who I can depend on besides me. And I'm sure that having someone who can change light bulbs in a high ceiling or grab things off the top shelf is going to be nice to have again, as well.
I got the countertops done today, finally. I still have one layer to add to the countertop with the sink on it, but I'm thinking that can wait until Ron comes home. It'd be easier, and plus... he'd get to see what a pain in the butt that stuff is to deal with. I've made a total mess of the floor in the kitchen with it, I'm sure. At least we plan on taking it out and putting in tile, right? LOL I'll take pictures of the countertops to put on here once they've had their three days of cure time and I can put things onto them again. I can't WAIT to see what the kitchen will look like once all that tape and plastic are down! The only thing that concerns me in any way are the windows that butt up next to the countertop. I taped them up really well, but I'm still worried that once the resin has dried it will have stuck to the tape and made the windows inoperable. Which is no big deal to me, because not only are they a pain to open, they leak air like crazy. So maybe having them sealed with resin would be a blessing in disguise! We're replacing those too, so no big deal. Right? LOL
Tonight Laurie is over and we are studying for our test tomorrow in class. I feel totally unprepared for it, which probably means I'll just barely squeak by with another 78. Or worse, fail it completely. But the subject matter isn't anything really new to me, so I'm hoping that all my knowledge gained through my pregnancies and child raising has stuck with me in my long term memory enough that I'll make it just fine. It seems like everything we've studied so far has been familiar to me. We'll see what tomorrow brings, that's for sure. But for now, I have to get going and get back to studying, because our break is almost over. Have a great day!
Monday, February 8, 2010
Day 165: February 8, 2010
Quote of the Day: "Leaders are not born. They are made. They are made just like anything else. . . through hard work. That's the price we have to pay to achieve that goal or any goal." - Vince Lombardi
Okay, I'm sorry, but THAT'S FUNNY!!!! Damien came home this morning, I saw him walking toward the house in the rain when I was driving Cody to school and picked him up. He had caught a ride to town with Drew when he drove in for school, and was walking from the high school. But really, that's not the funny part. The funny part is that I have to go to Lowe's this morning and pick up a propane torch for the countertops, and I just happened to glance up and noticed that Damien had a Hitler moustache. I asked him "You're going to shave that before I take you with me anywhere, right?" And he got this deer-in-the-headlights confused look on his face, and it was like time stood still in his mind for a few seconds. "What do you mean?" He asked me. Then you could see realization hit him right in the face, and he just gets this look. "Oh, you've GOT to be kidding!" he says. Evidently his friends thought it would be hilarious to give him a little shave while he slept.... and he hadn't looked in a mirror, so he had no clue!!!! And even funnier is that, with my habit of always looking at people's eyes, I'd been with him for an hour and a half, and even took him to Dollar General with me, and never noticed it!!!! Oh, you gotta love it!
Okay, I'm sorry, but THAT'S FUNNY!!!! Damien came home this morning, I saw him walking toward the house in the rain when I was driving Cody to school and picked him up. He had caught a ride to town with Drew when he drove in for school, and was walking from the high school. But really, that's not the funny part. The funny part is that I have to go to Lowe's this morning and pick up a propane torch for the countertops, and I just happened to glance up and noticed that Damien had a Hitler moustache. I asked him "You're going to shave that before I take you with me anywhere, right?" And he got this deer-in-the-headlights confused look on his face, and it was like time stood still in his mind for a few seconds. "What do you mean?" He asked me. Then you could see realization hit him right in the face, and he just gets this look. "Oh, you've GOT to be kidding!" he says. Evidently his friends thought it would be hilarious to give him a little shave while he slept.... and he hadn't looked in a mirror, so he had no clue!!!! And even funnier is that, with my habit of always looking at people's eyes, I'd been with him for an hour and a half, and even took him to Dollar General with me, and never noticed it!!!! Oh, you gotta love it!
Mocha in her Winter Coat... boy, does she love playing dress-up! (Or is it that she's tired of being cold?)
Been working on the countertops ALL DAY LONG, UGH!!! I've washed off so many layers of paint that I'm not sure I'll have much skin left at the end of it all. Tomorrow I have to get up and do the resin on it, with Damien's help. Looking forward to having them DONE, though I'll have to keep the cats locked up for three days straight to keep them off the countertops while they're curing. Well, mostly off the cat counter, but ya know how it goes... if something is "new" they have to investigate it. Repeatedly. They drive me crazy sometimes.
Not as much as the kids right now, though. I bought a bunch of balloons and blew a lot of them up with the intention of hanging them from the ceiling in front of the cabinets to keep the cats from jumping up, then decided it would be easier just to lock them up until the counters had cured. SOOOO, we have all these balloons blown up on the floor... which evidently was way too much temptation for Damien and Cody. They couldn't handle it, I guess. For the last hour I have been scared at least four times by them sneaking up behind me (or just ignoring me altogether) and popping balloons. Between their everyday boy noises and the sound of popping balloons it's like world war three in a dance club around here. NOT to mention the fact that Cody put a whole bunch of not-blown-up balloons inside one giant blown up balloon and made the equivalent of a giant baby rattle and is running around shaking it, driving me crazy. Good thing I'm not currently trying to study or I would have to box them in their ears. BIG time. I was going to study after I get the last layer of paint on the countertops, but I think now that they're all riled up like they are, I'll just do it in the morning when school is in session. Oh, man, you've gotta love school... a crazed parent's best friend! Is it 7am yet?
Day 164: February 7, 2010
Quote of the Day: "As the presence of those we love is as a double life, so absence, in its anxious longing and sense of vacancy, is as a foretaste of death." ~Anna Brownell Jameson
Good morning! I was toooo tired to blog last night! UGH!!! Yesterday I finally got the entire kitchen backsplash completed, and am pretty happy with the results. I think now that I may consider adding just a couple of blacks and browns to it because it looks kind of plain, but that's something I will have to mess around with later. It'll do for now, and that's what's important. No, let me restate that... what's really important is that I no longer have to look at that stupid fruit on the tile! I will no longer feel that urgent need to rip out the tile and completely redo it immediately. We'll have some time to plan out what we want to do in the kitchen, and by that I mean that now I can handle waiting a couple (or few) years before we open up that can of worms. Which is plenty of time to get these nasty floors done, as well as the doors and windows. Those are Ron's priority, so I've done what I can to make it to where I can deal with the low-priority kitchen! HAHAHA
Cody went over to a Super Bowl party one of the members of his church was throwing, and he evidently had a lot of fun. I spent most of the afternoon and all of the evening in the kitchen baking banana bread, for two reasons: One: I need the space in the freezer the frozen bananas are taking up because my garage freezer all of a sudden quit working. And, Two: Ron requested that I send him his cell phone so that when he finally arrives stateside he can use it at the airports during transit. So I needed something else to put in the box with it, and since he said that he and the guys loved getting the banana bread last time, I figured it would be the best way to fill the box. You know, since he'll be coming home soon and won't want anything else he'd have to pack up to send back. And I can't help but spoil my baby, after all!
Anyways, today I have a couple of things up my sleeve, so I'll get on them real quick and I'll write about them in tonights blogs. Have a great day!
Good morning! I was toooo tired to blog last night! UGH!!! Yesterday I finally got the entire kitchen backsplash completed, and am pretty happy with the results. I think now that I may consider adding just a couple of blacks and browns to it because it looks kind of plain, but that's something I will have to mess around with later. It'll do for now, and that's what's important. No, let me restate that... what's really important is that I no longer have to look at that stupid fruit on the tile! I will no longer feel that urgent need to rip out the tile and completely redo it immediately. We'll have some time to plan out what we want to do in the kitchen, and by that I mean that now I can handle waiting a couple (or few) years before we open up that can of worms. Which is plenty of time to get these nasty floors done, as well as the doors and windows. Those are Ron's priority, so I've done what I can to make it to where I can deal with the low-priority kitchen! HAHAHA
Cody went over to a Super Bowl party one of the members of his church was throwing, and he evidently had a lot of fun. I spent most of the afternoon and all of the evening in the kitchen baking banana bread, for two reasons: One: I need the space in the freezer the frozen bananas are taking up because my garage freezer all of a sudden quit working. And, Two: Ron requested that I send him his cell phone so that when he finally arrives stateside he can use it at the airports during transit. So I needed something else to put in the box with it, and since he said that he and the guys loved getting the banana bread last time, I figured it would be the best way to fill the box. You know, since he'll be coming home soon and won't want anything else he'd have to pack up to send back. And I can't help but spoil my baby, after all!
Anyways, today I have a couple of things up my sleeve, so I'll get on them real quick and I'll write about them in tonights blogs. Have a great day!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Day 163: February 6, 2010
Quote of the Day: "To love a person means to agree to grow old with him." –Albert Camus
Man, ain't that the truth!!! I'm feeling older every single day, no doubt about it. It's funny how it happens that RON doesn't seem to be getting any older, though!!! I thought the keyword was "WITH" him??? So unfair. I think I would probably write someone and complain if I knew who to write to. But I'm stuck with these stupid aching joints and baggy eyes, and there's not a thing I can do about it that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to fix. It's funny, how I always laughed it off when my mother used to tell me to enjoy my youth while I still could. I realize now (as she said I would, and I'm sure every mother out there has said to her young) that she was right. But I was so busy enjoying myself that I could never even begin to imagine being old, much less having adult children. Yet here I am, fully aware of how precious that youth was, and of how I could enjoy it, only to find that it's permanently gone. Ironic, I think, that you don't have a clue until you get there. It's like we're programmed to ignore all warning signs at any cost. Yet, even through my whole entire life I only have one regret... that I started smoking. How many people can truly say that they have only one regret? Not many, I'm sure.
I worked on the backsplash in the kitchen today, and should have them all completely finished by tomorrow night. And I think I've figured out a way to keep the cats off their food counter until it's done curing... I'm going to blow up a bunch of balloons and hang them from the ceiling to where they completely block off that countertop without touching it... Visual deterrent!!! Yay me! Now all I can do is hope that it works, or lock the cats up in a room for three whole days without ever letting them out. Which I can't stand to think of doing to them. But it's better than the alternative... a trip to the vet because the resin is toxic to them, and a ruined countertop. Hmm... tough choice... hope all you kitties like my office a whole lot!
Study group didn't go so hot today. I couldn't get there until after one because I was talking to Ron on the computer, and by the time I got there everyone had already been studying for so long that their brains were fried. So I only got to study for about an hour, which is an hour more than I would have by myself if I'm being HONEST with myself about it, but still... maybe next time I should just stay home and study here, by myself. Saves on gas that way. But there is a LOT to memorize for this test, and since it's on Wednesday, I've got to hop to it. I know I'll do better on it than some of the other tests I've taken, if I can just set my mind to it. And memorize all the things I need to, which means that I desperately need sleep. I haven't slept well in so long that I've forgotten what it even feels like to be rested. Can't wait until Ron comes home so that I can relax at night and actually get into a deep sleep!
Man, ain't that the truth!!! I'm feeling older every single day, no doubt about it. It's funny how it happens that RON doesn't seem to be getting any older, though!!! I thought the keyword was "WITH" him??? So unfair. I think I would probably write someone and complain if I knew who to write to. But I'm stuck with these stupid aching joints and baggy eyes, and there's not a thing I can do about it that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg to fix. It's funny, how I always laughed it off when my mother used to tell me to enjoy my youth while I still could. I realize now (as she said I would, and I'm sure every mother out there has said to her young) that she was right. But I was so busy enjoying myself that I could never even begin to imagine being old, much less having adult children. Yet here I am, fully aware of how precious that youth was, and of how I could enjoy it, only to find that it's permanently gone. Ironic, I think, that you don't have a clue until you get there. It's like we're programmed to ignore all warning signs at any cost. Yet, even through my whole entire life I only have one regret... that I started smoking. How many people can truly say that they have only one regret? Not many, I'm sure.
I worked on the backsplash in the kitchen today, and should have them all completely finished by tomorrow night. And I think I've figured out a way to keep the cats off their food counter until it's done curing... I'm going to blow up a bunch of balloons and hang them from the ceiling to where they completely block off that countertop without touching it... Visual deterrent!!! Yay me! Now all I can do is hope that it works, or lock the cats up in a room for three whole days without ever letting them out. Which I can't stand to think of doing to them. But it's better than the alternative... a trip to the vet because the resin is toxic to them, and a ruined countertop. Hmm... tough choice... hope all you kitties like my office a whole lot!
Study group didn't go so hot today. I couldn't get there until after one because I was talking to Ron on the computer, and by the time I got there everyone had already been studying for so long that their brains were fried. So I only got to study for about an hour, which is an hour more than I would have by myself if I'm being HONEST with myself about it, but still... maybe next time I should just stay home and study here, by myself. Saves on gas that way. But there is a LOT to memorize for this test, and since it's on Wednesday, I've got to hop to it. I know I'll do better on it than some of the other tests I've taken, if I can just set my mind to it. And memorize all the things I need to, which means that I desperately need sleep. I haven't slept well in so long that I've forgotten what it even feels like to be rested. Can't wait until Ron comes home so that I can relax at night and actually get into a deep sleep!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Day 162: February 5, 2010
Quote of the Day: "When we’re not together, I spend my time wishing that we were." -author unknown
I got pulled over today!! I had just picked Cody up from a friend's house and was driving down 369 when it happened. I saw the car about the same time I saw his lights go on. I didn't think I was speeding, but then again I NEVER drive 369, so I have no idea what the speed limit is on it. Well, I do now, he said it's sixty. Never did tell me my speed I'd been going, though, so I have no idea if I was really speeding or not. It's funny, he asked me how long I'd lived in Burk, and I was like "Well, forever, really, but I don't usually take this road because the highway's easier." I think I've driven on 369 like a total of three or four times. We take it all the time to the lake and stuff, but Ron's always driving. So I guess I'd better pay a little closer attention to the signs around here.
That wasn't the funny part, though... the funny part was my wonderful, crazy son sitting next to me. He looks at me as I'm pulling away with the warning paper tucked neatly into my purse, and says "Guess it's a good thing you lost all that weight, huh, Mom?" I couldn't believe he'd said that! I was like "Cody, you know they don't let you out of tickets just because you're skinny." And my wonderful son's reply? "Yeah, they do, and all the Burk cops think you're hot 'cause they talk about you to the coach during recess." Umm, what????? I was like, whoa!!! That's kind of scary... I asked him what they talk about, but he has no idea WHAT they're saying about me, so my mind is going through all the "what could they possibly be saying about me" scenarios. Talk about being totally floored! And creeped out! I mean, really.... am I known as the "crazy lady" around here, or the "lead foot", or what? And bless my son, I tried to tell him that no one could possibly think I'm hot or anything else, and he just rolled his eyes. At least he's a good ego boost, right? But now I'm all worried that I'm under the cops' radar for some reason and don't think I've done anything to cause it. I've only been pulled over a couple of times, for pete's sake, it's not like I've killed anybody or anything! LOL
I picked up the paint today to finish the countertops and backsplash, and plan to work on that in between my studying, homework, and all the other things I'll have going on. It's a good thing that it takes the paint a while to dry, it'll give me time to do the other things I need to do. I spent some time looking online this morning for RN jobs in the area, but it looks like it's going to be harder than I thought. There are only 29 jobs at the hospital right now, and there's like 90-something of us graduating in May. Granted, some are wanting to move to the Metroplex, some want to do home health, rehab, hospice, or something like that, but still... only 29 jobs. And only 4 of them are during the day shift. Two of those are in the ER. It's not looking good right now, that's for sure. Talk about having a HIGH competition rate! It's got me a little bit nervous, that's for sure.
Oh, and I almost forgot..... quite a few of those jobs are PRN jobs, which means you're pretty much only working if they call you in when someone calls in sick or there's a sudden increase of patients. I definitely don't want THAT. Maybe someone might, but I'd rather have full time. And I tried to look up the state hospital website here in Wichita Falls to see if they have any job openings, but they have nothing listed anywhere on their site that will tell you, so I'll have to ask next time I'm there for clinicals. I talked to one of the nurses while I was there and they have really great incentives for working there, but that'll do me no good if the one in Wichita has different ones, or if they aren't hiring. I've got a couple of months still to figure it out, so here's hoping that something great comes open for me. If not, then I'm going to have to get a job in Dallas... and Lord knows that's a REAL long drive!
I got pulled over today!! I had just picked Cody up from a friend's house and was driving down 369 when it happened. I saw the car about the same time I saw his lights go on. I didn't think I was speeding, but then again I NEVER drive 369, so I have no idea what the speed limit is on it. Well, I do now, he said it's sixty. Never did tell me my speed I'd been going, though, so I have no idea if I was really speeding or not. It's funny, he asked me how long I'd lived in Burk, and I was like "Well, forever, really, but I don't usually take this road because the highway's easier." I think I've driven on 369 like a total of three or four times. We take it all the time to the lake and stuff, but Ron's always driving. So I guess I'd better pay a little closer attention to the signs around here.
That wasn't the funny part, though... the funny part was my wonderful, crazy son sitting next to me. He looks at me as I'm pulling away with the warning paper tucked neatly into my purse, and says "Guess it's a good thing you lost all that weight, huh, Mom?" I couldn't believe he'd said that! I was like "Cody, you know they don't let you out of tickets just because you're skinny." And my wonderful son's reply? "Yeah, they do, and all the Burk cops think you're hot 'cause they talk about you to the coach during recess." Umm, what????? I was like, whoa!!! That's kind of scary... I asked him what they talk about, but he has no idea WHAT they're saying about me, so my mind is going through all the "what could they possibly be saying about me" scenarios. Talk about being totally floored! And creeped out! I mean, really.... am I known as the "crazy lady" around here, or the "lead foot", or what? And bless my son, I tried to tell him that no one could possibly think I'm hot or anything else, and he just rolled his eyes. At least he's a good ego boost, right? But now I'm all worried that I'm under the cops' radar for some reason and don't think I've done anything to cause it. I've only been pulled over a couple of times, for pete's sake, it's not like I've killed anybody or anything! LOL
I picked up the paint today to finish the countertops and backsplash, and plan to work on that in between my studying, homework, and all the other things I'll have going on. It's a good thing that it takes the paint a while to dry, it'll give me time to do the other things I need to do. I spent some time looking online this morning for RN jobs in the area, but it looks like it's going to be harder than I thought. There are only 29 jobs at the hospital right now, and there's like 90-something of us graduating in May. Granted, some are wanting to move to the Metroplex, some want to do home health, rehab, hospice, or something like that, but still... only 29 jobs. And only 4 of them are during the day shift. Two of those are in the ER. It's not looking good right now, that's for sure. Talk about having a HIGH competition rate! It's got me a little bit nervous, that's for sure.
Oh, and I almost forgot..... quite a few of those jobs are PRN jobs, which means you're pretty much only working if they call you in when someone calls in sick or there's a sudden increase of patients. I definitely don't want THAT. Maybe someone might, but I'd rather have full time. And I tried to look up the state hospital website here in Wichita Falls to see if they have any job openings, but they have nothing listed anywhere on their site that will tell you, so I'll have to ask next time I'm there for clinicals. I talked to one of the nurses while I was there and they have really great incentives for working there, but that'll do me no good if the one in Wichita has different ones, or if they aren't hiring. I've got a couple of months still to figure it out, so here's hoping that something great comes open for me. If not, then I'm going to have to get a job in Dallas... and Lord knows that's a REAL long drive!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Day 161: February 4, 2010
Quote of the Day: "To love is to place our happiness in the happiness of another." – G. W. Leibnitz
Today was a really AWESOME day at clinicals! It started out pretty badly, because even though I took the time to change the alarm clock to the time I needed to wake up I forgot to turn the dumb thing on. Okay, maybe I'M the dumb thing, but still... I sat straight up in bed at 5:45 this morning in a panic because I was supposed to be in the parking lot at the hospital between 6 and 6:10am. Needless to say I did the fastest job in history of getting dressed and out of the house, thanks to my having already gotten together all my materials for today ahead of time. It was a BIG help!
Once I got to clinicals I really lost track of time, and it was great. I had only one mother-to-be to care for, but spent a great deal of time watching the monitors when I wasn't doing paperwork or caring for her, just hoping that she would have her baby while I was there. WHICH SHE DID! I got to be in the room while the baby was born, and it's totally different from that perspective than it is from the Mom's perspective. It was great to see things that I missed the first two times around. Like, for instance, those babies are really slippery when they come out! I had no idea of that. I had heard stories, of course, but had never seen how hard the doctor has to try to catch the baby. I can imagine how easy they are to drop... what a nightmare that must be!!! But it was a really great day, and I even got told that I did a great job of cleaning up the mom after the birth was over. I know it doesn't SOUND like something to be proud of to most of you, but to me it was great. I really just spent the entire day being fascinated by this or that, and it was great. I was also impressed by how much I remember from when I had Cody and Damien. I think that is going to be very helpful during this semester, more than anything else. I'm very, very excited about the rest of the clinicals now... why couldn't we have done these FIRST??? I think school would have been a lot easier that way!
Cody is up to his usual trouble... he called me to ask me to bring him pants and shoes because he stepped in a puddle over at his friend Caleb's house and was cold. So I went into his room to grab his things for him and found that nearly every pair of pants the boy owns is dirty! He had exactly three pairs of jeans in his closet, and evidently they are only there because they don't fit him anymore!!! So I got really ticked and told him that he is going to stay at home this weekend and do his laundry OR ELSE. I'm sure that means that he may get one or two loads washed and then thrown into a pile to dig through when he wants clean clothes, but I'm not sure how to remedy that little problem, short of holding his hand every minute of every day. I just don't understand boys, they're so darn sloppy!!! Girls aren't like that! My clothes had to be all hung up nice and neat, and color-coded so that I could get up, get dressed, and get out of the house as quickly as possible to spend time with my friends! I'm sure that my mother would probably say something different, but that's how I remember it. Then again, if you had just cleaned the entire house but left a Coke can on the coffee table the house was a mess, in her opinion. She was a tough one to please, for sure! I wonder if she wasn't a little O.C.D.?
Tomorrow I have to get my laundry put away, get the house cleaned up, and get ready for study group this weekend. It's the only time that all four of us can get together, because Laurie works on Friday, and Carol Ann works on weekends. So it's a nightmare trying to coordinate study days and times. I think I'll be taking tomorrow to try and put together some note sheets for everyone that will help us all to study really well for the test. It's not until the 17th, so we have a little bit of time still to get ready for it. Thankfully, of course, because we have a lot of homework to do in addition to that study time! Just a little longer, May 15th is right around the corner... as long as we pass our tests then we'll be done with this part of our lives. Bring on the NCLEX, we'll be ready by then! (Please, God???) LOL
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Day 160: February 3, 2010
Quote of the Day: "…love from one being to another can only be that two solitudes come nearer, recognize and protect and comfort each other." – Han Suyin
Class went well today. I was having a little bit of difficulty because I haven't been feeling good still, but I'm taking allergy medicine everyday now, so I think it's helping. My throat didn't feel quite as sore today. Then again, it seems like it's always super sore in the mornings and then gets better throughout the day. UGH!
It has been cold all day, and this afternoon it started raining, and has been raining ever since. Not a heavy rain, or anything, just enough to make the roads a mess. And it's supposed to be above freezing tonight, but if it does manage to get below freezing then the roads will be even worse tomorrow morning on the way to clinicals. And since I have to leave the house at around 5:45 am, I won't know until I get to clinicals whether they were cancelled or not. At least if they're icy I'll know there's that chance, right? We aren't supposed to get ice, but the high for tomorrow is only 38 degrees, with rain.... BRR!!! And we can't wear our street jackets to clinicals, either. Only a thin labcoat. Can you say freezing? I'll probably end up sicker than I already am. Go figure.
Class went well today. I was having a little bit of difficulty because I haven't been feeling good still, but I'm taking allergy medicine everyday now, so I think it's helping. My throat didn't feel quite as sore today. Then again, it seems like it's always super sore in the mornings and then gets better throughout the day. UGH!
It has been cold all day, and this afternoon it started raining, and has been raining ever since. Not a heavy rain, or anything, just enough to make the roads a mess. And it's supposed to be above freezing tonight, but if it does manage to get below freezing then the roads will be even worse tomorrow morning on the way to clinicals. And since I have to leave the house at around 5:45 am, I won't know until I get to clinicals whether they were cancelled or not. At least if they're icy I'll know there's that chance, right? We aren't supposed to get ice, but the high for tomorrow is only 38 degrees, with rain.... BRR!!! And we can't wear our street jackets to clinicals, either. Only a thin labcoat. Can you say freezing? I'll probably end up sicker than I already am. Go figure.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Day 159: February 2, 2010
Quote of the Day: "Take time to have fun with your loved one – remember, you can’t cuddle up to money." –Jack McElyea
I'm still feeling really bad, but I figure that it'll go away eventually. My sinuses are all filled up and making me talk funny, and my throat has been really killing me. And the back of my neck feels all tense and achy. I took a three hour nap this afternoon, which was really nice but didn't help my head any, so I'm once again ready for bed. I have class tomorrow all day, so I will need to be really rested tonight. I should be able to relax a little bit because Tiny is now at the vet. He has gotten super skinny, and was refusing to eat, so was therefore so super weak that he could barely walk. It happened so quickly that I was convinced that he's deathly ill, but the vet said that her suring her preliminary assessment she found that his teeth were in really bad shape and were loose and really built up with tartar and plaque, his gums are swollen, abscessed and infected, and he may have other issues which have added to its fast progression since he is such a young cat- only four years old. She did mention the possibility of feline leukemia, among other things such as AIDS. I didn't even know that cats could GET AIDS, but evidently they can. I know, I came home and researched it online because I found it hard to believe. She's testing for all of it, so hopefully we'll know more soon. In the meantime he is staying at the vet's office where he can get real close attention. She says that at this point he's too weak for anesthesia to pull the teeth, that it would kill him, so pretty much all she can do is try to get him better first with antibiotics and then try to pull the teeth. He'd be eating canned cat food for the rest of his life, then. I have no idea how THAT is going to work, because both the other two still need the dry food to help THEIR teeth. But it's hard to tell at this point, because it's too soon to worry about. If he has feline leukemia or something like that, we may have to have him put down. Or find him a new home where there are no other cats which he can give it to. It's all up in the air at this point.
Had a lot of fun with the kids tonight! Cody brought home these red pieces of reflector from one of those roadside reflective stakes that has broken in half, and he tried to talk me into holding the pieces up in front of my eyes and trying to walk while looking through them, which was really, really difficult. At first it's really disorienting, not only because the red coloring messes with your eyes, but you can think you're looking at something and try walking to it, and end up several feet away from it. I can't tell you how many times we ran into walls, chairs, tables... you name it. We spent a great amount of time laughing at each other, like when Cody figured he was in front of the chair and turned around to sit down and promptly fell on the floor because he was actually three feet to the right of the chair. Damien, of course, did way better than Cody or I either one, and walked all the way through the house without bumping into anything, then added insult to injury by at least making it to the arm of the chair and sitting down. Didn't make it fully onto the chair, but that doesn't matter.... Cody and I were officially one-upped.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Day 158: February 1, 2010
Quote of the Day: "Not to understand a treasure's worth till time has stole away the slighted good, is cause of half the poverty we feel, and makes the world the wilderness it is." ~William Cowper
Clinicals went very, very well today. I'm still sick, and have a really sore throat, but I didn't really notice it too much while I was there. It was just so much to go over, and do! And the patients that we interacted with made it a very interesting day. You would not know that some of these patients were criminally ill just from speaking with them. A lot of them appear to be very rational and sane, and only after an amount of time do the discrepancies make themselves known. I talked to one patient for a good long while, and then when I went to read the chart I found out some really disturbing things he had done and was shocked. It wasn't that it wasn't believable, but it was that he came off as being mostly normal. We did nearly have an incident today, though, because one of the patients took a serious dislike to one of the girls in my group and became highly agitated. But we left that area and things went back to normal. Incidentally, that same patient told me that I am the "compassionate" one. Whatever that is worth! HaHaHa!!!
I wish that I could tell you more about the things I saw and did out there, but due to patient confidentiality I have to keep it to myself. But I can say that the facility was great. They have a section where the patients can go make T-shirts and other things, a part where they can deal with plants, and all sorts of other things. And they have this merit system where they earn points for doing certain things like brushing their teeth, showering, and making their beds that they can use to buy things such as snacks, hats and gloves, movie tickets to the on-site theater, and things like that. It seems to work really well, and the patients all really enjoy it. Heck, I would too! LOL The place really is like a self-contained unit. Actually, come to think of it.... it does kind of remind me of a "compound" like on my favorite show..... LOL
I'm really looking forward to the next clinical day out there, and it's really sad that we had to wait til the last semester for this rotation, and I'll only have 5 clinical days at the State Hospital, because I really do enjoy it. I think that maybe, from first impression, I would really enjoy being a Psych nurse. It sure would have its moments! The thing is, though, it's a 45 minute drive one-way, and even if I was working 8 hour shifts, that would mean that I'd be gone from home ten hours a day, five days a week. Not too bad if I get the 7-11 shift, but that's still a really long time. There is a hospital down in Wichita Falls as well, but I'm not sure if they would be hiring or even if it would be the same there. I can always research it, I guess. It would only be an additional ten-minute drive past the local hospital for me. I can't say whether it would be a good idea or not, though, because we still have the Mother/Baby portion of clinicals to go to. I may decide that I like that better. Or who knows, maybe I'll just end up wherever the first job offer comes from. Actually, that's a lot more likely, isn't it?
On Thursday I'll go to my first Labor & Delivery clinical, where I will get to see the miracle of life from the OTHER side. You know, the one where it isn't ME lying in the bed screaming, crying, and wanting to kill the person who "did this to me". THAT should be interesting. And I think I'll be giving the K shots to the newborns too. So I have already memorized it.... you need a 25 guage 1/2 inch needle to give innoculations to a newborn. Or, there's a better way to figure it out to exact, but I won't go into THAT much detail on here. I really do enjoy people actually READING my blog, after all.
Clinicals went very, very well today. I'm still sick, and have a really sore throat, but I didn't really notice it too much while I was there. It was just so much to go over, and do! And the patients that we interacted with made it a very interesting day. You would not know that some of these patients were criminally ill just from speaking with them. A lot of them appear to be very rational and sane, and only after an amount of time do the discrepancies make themselves known. I talked to one patient for a good long while, and then when I went to read the chart I found out some really disturbing things he had done and was shocked. It wasn't that it wasn't believable, but it was that he came off as being mostly normal. We did nearly have an incident today, though, because one of the patients took a serious dislike to one of the girls in my group and became highly agitated. But we left that area and things went back to normal. Incidentally, that same patient told me that I am the "compassionate" one. Whatever that is worth! HaHaHa!!!
I wish that I could tell you more about the things I saw and did out there, but due to patient confidentiality I have to keep it to myself. But I can say that the facility was great. They have a section where the patients can go make T-shirts and other things, a part where they can deal with plants, and all sorts of other things. And they have this merit system where they earn points for doing certain things like brushing their teeth, showering, and making their beds that they can use to buy things such as snacks, hats and gloves, movie tickets to the on-site theater, and things like that. It seems to work really well, and the patients all really enjoy it. Heck, I would too! LOL The place really is like a self-contained unit. Actually, come to think of it.... it does kind of remind me of a "compound" like on my favorite show..... LOL
I'm really looking forward to the next clinical day out there, and it's really sad that we had to wait til the last semester for this rotation, and I'll only have 5 clinical days at the State Hospital, because I really do enjoy it. I think that maybe, from first impression, I would really enjoy being a Psych nurse. It sure would have its moments! The thing is, though, it's a 45 minute drive one-way, and even if I was working 8 hour shifts, that would mean that I'd be gone from home ten hours a day, five days a week. Not too bad if I get the 7-11 shift, but that's still a really long time. There is a hospital down in Wichita Falls as well, but I'm not sure if they would be hiring or even if it would be the same there. I can always research it, I guess. It would only be an additional ten-minute drive past the local hospital for me. I can't say whether it would be a good idea or not, though, because we still have the Mother/Baby portion of clinicals to go to. I may decide that I like that better. Or who knows, maybe I'll just end up wherever the first job offer comes from. Actually, that's a lot more likely, isn't it?
On Thursday I'll go to my first Labor & Delivery clinical, where I will get to see the miracle of life from the OTHER side. You know, the one where it isn't ME lying in the bed screaming, crying, and wanting to kill the person who "did this to me". THAT should be interesting. And I think I'll be giving the K shots to the newborns too. So I have already memorized it.... you need a 25 guage 1/2 inch needle to give innoculations to a newborn. Or, there's a better way to figure it out to exact, but I won't go into THAT much detail on here. I really do enjoy people actually READING my blog, after all.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Day 157: January 31, 2010
Quote of the Day: "The more difficulties one has to encounter, within and without, the more significant and the higher in inspiration his life will be." --Horace Bushnell
Today I am not feeling all that great. For some reason that stupid head cold has come back around again to bite me in the butt, which is typical because I have clinicals tomorrow morning. In Vernon, which is 45 minutes away. And I'm in a really bad mood. So incidentally, tonight's blog has to be short because I have GOT to get some sleep, I haven't slept well for the last couple of nights. Hope all is well with all of you, and I'll try to write a better blog tomorrow. I'm sure I'll have something interesting I can talk about then.
Today I am not feeling all that great. For some reason that stupid head cold has come back around again to bite me in the butt, which is typical because I have clinicals tomorrow morning. In Vernon, which is 45 minutes away. And I'm in a really bad mood. So incidentally, tonight's blog has to be short because I have GOT to get some sleep, I haven't slept well for the last couple of nights. Hope all is well with all of you, and I'll try to write a better blog tomorrow. I'm sure I'll have something interesting I can talk about then.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Day 156: January 30, 2010
Quote of the Day: "A goodbye isn't painful unless you're never going to say hello again." ~Author Unknown
I had a really great day today! I was able to finish a lot of my homework and am now almost completely caught up for a while, and will be able to do some serious studying. And then I got a phone call from my sister-in-law to ask for my help with the family genealogy. My nephew was assigned a genealogy project for his class, and the really great thing is that she thought of ME first! And it made me feel so good to know that there is FINALLY something I can contribute to the family! I know, it's crazy to think that way, but that's the way it is. I really appreciate the fact that she thought of me. And I did have all the information, so I was more than willing to pass it along. EVERYONE should know their family history, right? I just wish that I had more to offer. Like the family stories, which seem to be lacking. But that's okay. I've been trying to make sure that future generations won't wonder what went on in OUR times. Somewhat. But that's a whole other story, right?
I still have some groceries left to put away. I was going to do it this morning, but I got up and started working on homework, and before I knew it I looked at the clock and found out that it's nearly 10pm. I'll try to put some of it away, but I'm not sure how much I can handle doing tonight, because I am literally drained from staring at the computer screen and books all day long. UGH! I think I need a new pair of eyes. Or the fountain of youth. But at least I did get to talk to Ron on messenger tonight, finally. The internet has been down on his end for nearly a week now, and it has been horrible not having that extra time to share with him! I can't wait until he comes home!
I also did a little research today on alternative power sources, thinking that it would be really great if we can come up with a way to save money on our electric bills. There HAS to be a way to do it. We have a lot of wind here, so I was thinking it would be nice to make a homemade wind turbine to generate some power, but Burk won't let you put them up if you live in city limits. Or, not the ones big enough to generate enough power. So I started looking into perpetual magnetic motors, and am thinking that when Ron gets home we really should try to build one, even if it's just to create enough power to run the pool pump. That would save us around $100 or more a month, and you can build them easily from parts you can find in any salvage or junkyard and items from the local hardware store. From what I've been able to find they are relatively cheap to build. HOWEVER, I can't seem to find the plans for one online, or testimonials from people who use them, or even the amount of power they can potentially generate. So I'll have to keep researching, I guess. If I can ever find the time again with all the studying I'll have to do. It sure would be nice to get rid of the $600 and up electric bills!
Friday, January 29, 2010
Day 155: January 29, 2010
Quote of the Day: "Never to suffer would never to have been blessed." Edgar Allan Poe (1809 - 1849)
My student loan money was finally, FINALLY in the bank today! So I did what I have needed to do since... well, since Ron left, really. I went grocery shopping. And not just grocery shopping, either, it was GROCERY. SHOPPING. LOL I was running so low on everything that I had to stock back up again. What was the bill, you ask? Only a measly little $643. Now I know, it sounds really really bad. But according to my receipt, I bought 275 items. And when you multiply the price by the number of items, I only spent an average of $2.34 per item. Not bad at all, right? But we were nearly completely out of everything: canned foods, meats, frozen veggies... so I bought some of everything. And Ron will be coming home soon, and is dying to BBQ steaks almost as much as I am to EAT his BBQ steaks. And I figured, well... the meat's on sale right now, why the heck not? So I bought rib eyes, and New York strips, and some others as well. Oh, and of course the top sirloin was on sale, so I got some of that too. He'll be plenty happy when he comes home. Right? I had to laugh, though. Cody was so impressed with the size of the receipt that he actually pilfered it and took it with him out to his friend Nathan's house, where we left for after carrying in all those groceries and leaving me standing with a ton of groceries to put away. SIGH. He even had to text his girlfriend and tell her that the receipt was as long as she is tall (she's shorter than me.) And I kid you not, I held the receipt up to the wall and then measured it... that thing is 4 foot 3 and a half inches long, so it's not too far off the mark!
I saw the strangest thing today. In my opinion it was strange, merely because I've never seen it before. It may happen, but I've never seen it. I was driving down the road, and right there on the side of the road was a flock about thirty cardinals!!! They were soooo pretty with the light dusting of snow in the grass! I've never seen more than two of them together at one time, so it really took me by surprise. But I was really, really wishing that I had my camera at that very moment, would have been one heck of a picture.
My student loan money was finally, FINALLY in the bank today! So I did what I have needed to do since... well, since Ron left, really. I went grocery shopping. And not just grocery shopping, either, it was GROCERY. SHOPPING. LOL I was running so low on everything that I had to stock back up again. What was the bill, you ask? Only a measly little $643. Now I know, it sounds really really bad. But according to my receipt, I bought 275 items. And when you multiply the price by the number of items, I only spent an average of $2.34 per item. Not bad at all, right? But we were nearly completely out of everything: canned foods, meats, frozen veggies... so I bought some of everything. And Ron will be coming home soon, and is dying to BBQ steaks almost as much as I am to EAT his BBQ steaks. And I figured, well... the meat's on sale right now, why the heck not? So I bought rib eyes, and New York strips, and some others as well. Oh, and of course the top sirloin was on sale, so I got some of that too. He'll be plenty happy when he comes home. Right? I had to laugh, though. Cody was so impressed with the size of the receipt that he actually pilfered it and took it with him out to his friend Nathan's house, where we left for after carrying in all those groceries and leaving me standing with a ton of groceries to put away. SIGH. He even had to text his girlfriend and tell her that the receipt was as long as she is tall (she's shorter than me.) And I kid you not, I held the receipt up to the wall and then measured it... that thing is 4 foot 3 and a half inches long, so it's not too far off the mark! I saw the strangest thing today. In my opinion it was strange, merely because I've never seen it before. It may happen, but I've never seen it. I was driving down the road, and right there on the side of the road was a flock about thirty cardinals!!! They were soooo pretty with the light dusting of snow in the grass! I've never seen more than two of them together at one time, so it really took me by surprise. But I was really, really wishing that I had my camera at that very moment, would have been one heck of a picture.
Day 154: January 28, 2010
Quote of the Day: "You are a part of me… a part that I could never live without. And I hope that I never have to." – author unknown
Okay, so I missed the midnight deadline... again! I was busily working along on my school stuff and did not realize how late it is. I'd better be careful or I'll get my night-owl syndrome back, and right at the beginning of a semester is NOT the time for that!
I realized today just how long it's going to take for this semester's homework. For just one class, one day's homework, I took four straight hours. And we have three classes with homework! Gimme a break, people! WHY do this to nursing students when they have so much riding on one single semester??? I almost can't wait to be done just to be done with homework. Am I going to go to school for my bachelor's degree right out of ADN school? Um, no. I think I'll take at least a year or so off to get a feel for my new job and to actually ENJOY LIFE for a little while before I start up again with the whole school mess. Or better yet, maybe I'll just be a happy little Associate Degree nurse the rest of my life! Who needs all that money anyways? With a higher degree comes a higher degree of accountability and of potential lawsuits. I'm not sure I'll be any better off with more education. Have to think about that one.
We had a good amount of rain today, and some ice. They say they're expecting more overnight, and the schools are on a 2hr late start schedule as of right now. Me, personally, I think everyone is totally paranoid after the blizzard and they are overreacting to every little storm that comes through. I KNOW it won't get bad overnight, things are going to be fine, and there are going to be a lot of really embarassed people tomorrow when they realize that they changed all the schools in the area to a late start for no reason. Okay, well maybe I don't KNOW, but I sure do suspect it. I just don't have that "worse weather is coming" feeling. Oh, well... I'm sick of cold anyways. I wasn't, but that week without heat really did me in. BRING ON SPRING!!!! (Not to mention my very own selfish reason to look forward to spring... that's when my love of my life is going to be coming home!)
Sadly, I did nothing but school work all day, so I don't have very much to say other than to gripe about how excessive that was. But to be honest with you my eyes are really red and itchy from staring at the computer and the books all day, and I really just don't have it in me to complain very much tonight. So I'm going to bed, and I'm sure that for tomorrow night's blog I can come up with something halfway intelligent... I'm going to try and get to blogging earlier before I'm totally worn out!
Okay, so I missed the midnight deadline... again! I was busily working along on my school stuff and did not realize how late it is. I'd better be careful or I'll get my night-owl syndrome back, and right at the beginning of a semester is NOT the time for that!
I realized today just how long it's going to take for this semester's homework. For just one class, one day's homework, I took four straight hours. And we have three classes with homework! Gimme a break, people! WHY do this to nursing students when they have so much riding on one single semester??? I almost can't wait to be done just to be done with homework. Am I going to go to school for my bachelor's degree right out of ADN school? Um, no. I think I'll take at least a year or so off to get a feel for my new job and to actually ENJOY LIFE for a little while before I start up again with the whole school mess. Or better yet, maybe I'll just be a happy little Associate Degree nurse the rest of my life! Who needs all that money anyways? With a higher degree comes a higher degree of accountability and of potential lawsuits. I'm not sure I'll be any better off with more education. Have to think about that one.
We had a good amount of rain today, and some ice. They say they're expecting more overnight, and the schools are on a 2hr late start schedule as of right now. Me, personally, I think everyone is totally paranoid after the blizzard and they are overreacting to every little storm that comes through. I KNOW it won't get bad overnight, things are going to be fine, and there are going to be a lot of really embarassed people tomorrow when they realize that they changed all the schools in the area to a late start for no reason. Okay, well maybe I don't KNOW, but I sure do suspect it. I just don't have that "worse weather is coming" feeling. Oh, well... I'm sick of cold anyways. I wasn't, but that week without heat really did me in. BRING ON SPRING!!!! (Not to mention my very own selfish reason to look forward to spring... that's when my love of my life is going to be coming home!)
Sadly, I did nothing but school work all day, so I don't have very much to say other than to gripe about how excessive that was. But to be honest with you my eyes are really red and itchy from staring at the computer and the books all day, and I really just don't have it in me to complain very much tonight. So I'm going to bed, and I'm sure that for tomorrow night's blog I can come up with something halfway intelligent... I'm going to try and get to blogging earlier before I'm totally worn out!
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Day 153: January 27, 2010
Quote of the Day: "A simple enough pleasure, surely, to have breakfast alone with one’s husband, but how seldom married people in the midst of life achieve it." –Anne Morrow Lindbergh
I am soooo unbelievably tired right now! I started out my day with a bang... went out to get into my car to drive to class, only to turn the key and hear "clickclickclickclickclick" instead of my engine starting. As it turns out, the truck battery dying wasn't enough, so my car decided that its battery wanted some attention as well. So for the first and ONLY time in the entire time my husband has been gone I was thankful that he was not home to have driven his truck to work, or I would have been up a creek. I had to literally run over and get into his truck and drive IT to class. I barely made it in there with like a minute or two to spare, thankfully. It was a very interesting lecture, a topic that I am always interested in... pregnancy and childbirth! I think that this part may come easy to me, because during both of my pregnancies I read every single thing in sight about what was going on with my body and the baby, and most of what she lectured on sounded familiar to me. My hope is that some of that information from soooo long ago stuck in my long-term memory and I will have an easier time. No guarantees, but I am sorely tempted to go buy that book that I used to live by. You know. "What To Expect When You're Expecting." That book was my bible during both pregnancies, and it really did lay everything out for you perfect, in a timeline fashion. I think that I must have spent hours each day reading it.
After class we had to drive out to Vernon to get our photos taken for our graduating class portraits. Mine turned out really crappy, but that's okay. At this point, I am just happy to have survived this far! And who cares if that crappy picture is going to grace the Vernon College wall in the nursing department hallway for years to come.... not me. I don't really care who sees it, because for right now there are so many more important things to worry about. Like the fact that I may have to buy TWO new batteries now instead of one. And the fact that I really need to get started on my homework but am so tired that my eyes want to take three times as long to blink than they normally do.
Cody ripped his shorts during church tonight, playing football. He did a great job of it, too... from waistband almost to the knee! HAHAHA Thankfully a friend of his had been thinking that the weather was going to turn cool tonight and had brought a pair of jeans with him. Gotta love that kid! LOL Wish mine would plan that far ahead. So now we are one pair of shorts, um... short. And have a heck of a story to tell his children when he has them. Everything else is pretty much at a standstill right now, because when I get up tomorrow I have some serious work to do on my school stuff. And I'm going to be starting my monster study sessions again, too, so I'll have even less time. Sigh. Only four more months of this, right? Easy as pie. Well, for me, anyways, because I always learn better when I have something interesting to learn.
I am soooo unbelievably tired right now! I started out my day with a bang... went out to get into my car to drive to class, only to turn the key and hear "clickclickclickclickclick" instead of my engine starting. As it turns out, the truck battery dying wasn't enough, so my car decided that its battery wanted some attention as well. So for the first and ONLY time in the entire time my husband has been gone I was thankful that he was not home to have driven his truck to work, or I would have been up a creek. I had to literally run over and get into his truck and drive IT to class. I barely made it in there with like a minute or two to spare, thankfully. It was a very interesting lecture, a topic that I am always interested in... pregnancy and childbirth! I think that this part may come easy to me, because during both of my pregnancies I read every single thing in sight about what was going on with my body and the baby, and most of what she lectured on sounded familiar to me. My hope is that some of that information from soooo long ago stuck in my long-term memory and I will have an easier time. No guarantees, but I am sorely tempted to go buy that book that I used to live by. You know. "What To Expect When You're Expecting." That book was my bible during both pregnancies, and it really did lay everything out for you perfect, in a timeline fashion. I think that I must have spent hours each day reading it.
After class we had to drive out to Vernon to get our photos taken for our graduating class portraits. Mine turned out really crappy, but that's okay. At this point, I am just happy to have survived this far! And who cares if that crappy picture is going to grace the Vernon College wall in the nursing department hallway for years to come.... not me. I don't really care who sees it, because for right now there are so many more important things to worry about. Like the fact that I may have to buy TWO new batteries now instead of one. And the fact that I really need to get started on my homework but am so tired that my eyes want to take three times as long to blink than they normally do.
Cody ripped his shorts during church tonight, playing football. He did a great job of it, too... from waistband almost to the knee! HAHAHA Thankfully a friend of his had been thinking that the weather was going to turn cool tonight and had brought a pair of jeans with him. Gotta love that kid! LOL Wish mine would plan that far ahead. So now we are one pair of shorts, um... short. And have a heck of a story to tell his children when he has them. Everything else is pretty much at a standstill right now, because when I get up tomorrow I have some serious work to do on my school stuff. And I'm going to be starting my monster study sessions again, too, so I'll have even less time. Sigh. Only four more months of this, right? Easy as pie. Well, for me, anyways, because I always learn better when I have something interesting to learn.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Day 152: January 26, 2010
Quote of the Day: "Is it fair that you occupy so many of my thoughts- and so much of my heart?" -Gayle Lapekas
YAY, it's been 152 days now since I've seen my favorite person in the whole world. Not quite half a year, but man, it sure feels like a lot longer than it has been. I can't wait to get him home and have our lives get back to normal again. I miss so many of the goofy things, and so many of the better ones. I really miss having someone to talk to and share things with. I miss arguing over whose turn it is to order pizzas becase "I ordered the last time, it's your turn." I miss laying in bed getting irritated because he HAS to have the water running to shave, and HAS to bang his razor on the side of the sink when he's shaving, right about the time I get used to the running water and am almost back to sleep again. I miss getting frustrated when he's in a bad mood and being grouchy. I miss so many things! Not all of them the bad things, though. I miss being able to jump up when I hear his truck enter the driveway and meet him at the door, I miss being able to reach out and hug him. Aw, hell, I just miss him. I can't sit here all night and list every little single thing or we'd be here for days. Probably until he lands in Dallas!
I worked on the backsplash today, and I think that it's really looking good, finally. I definitely know what color I DON'T want when we get around to redoing the backsplash, though... anything that looks white or cream, or even yellowish. Because that's what it is now... and I hate it. I need COLOR in my life, people! Lots and lots of color! The plain and boring does nothing but make me feel depressed, and I'm SO TIRED of feeling depressed. It's great to walk into the family room or my bedroom, because they're both just so colorful. Well, the bedroom is kind of a dark and dreary mix of turqouise and chocolate, but that's okay, they're not sad colors, just relaxing ones. But I tell you, the room that I can't stand now is the one room that I am working on... and I sure hope that we have the money to get the floors, windows, and doors done soon so that I can move on to redoing the stupid kitchen. UGH! Well, let me rephrase that... the backsplash and counters. The floor that I hate will be gone when we do the rest of the floors, so those are the only things I'll have left that I'm not happy with.
Damien had his friend Drew over today, and they sat in the living room for awhile and played Monopoly, so I took what was probably one of my last few opportunities while he's still living with us to take some pictures. It's going to be strange not having him living at home, but that's if he can ever find a job. We'll see how long that takes... in this economy it could be a LONG time!
Other than that, Cody is spending a lot of his time with his girlfriend, Mika has a little bit of a kitty cold and is walking around sneezing all the time, Tiger is feeling much better and has been playing with his kitty toys and leaving them all over the house, Tiny is also not feeling well and has relegated himself into the dogbed in my bathroom floor and has been hiding there the last two days, and Chloe and Mocha are being their normal, happy-go-lucky little doggy selves. Life's just one big picnic! Did I mention that I am now taking donations for the "Save Carmen from Boredom" foundation? hehehe
YAY, it's been 152 days now since I've seen my favorite person in the whole world. Not quite half a year, but man, it sure feels like a lot longer than it has been. I can't wait to get him home and have our lives get back to normal again. I miss so many of the goofy things, and so many of the better ones. I really miss having someone to talk to and share things with. I miss arguing over whose turn it is to order pizzas becase "I ordered the last time, it's your turn." I miss laying in bed getting irritated because he HAS to have the water running to shave, and HAS to bang his razor on the side of the sink when he's shaving, right about the time I get used to the running water and am almost back to sleep again. I miss getting frustrated when he's in a bad mood and being grouchy. I miss so many things! Not all of them the bad things, though. I miss being able to jump up when I hear his truck enter the driveway and meet him at the door, I miss being able to reach out and hug him. Aw, hell, I just miss him. I can't sit here all night and list every little single thing or we'd be here for days. Probably until he lands in Dallas!
Other than that, Cody is spending a lot of his time with his girlfriend, Mika has a little bit of a kitty cold and is walking around sneezing all the time, Tiger is feeling much better and has been playing with his kitty toys and leaving them all over the house, Tiny is also not feeling well and has relegated himself into the dogbed in my bathroom floor and has been hiding there the last two days, and Chloe and Mocha are being their normal, happy-go-lucky little doggy selves. Life's just one big picnic! Did I mention that I am now taking donations for the "Save Carmen from Boredom" foundation? hehehe
Monday, January 25, 2010
Day 151: January 25th, 2010
Quote of the Day: "Few delights can equal the mere presence of someone we utterly trust." - George MacDonald
I had my orientation for the mother/baby portion of my clinicals today. I will be assisting with births during this rotation. That's not the scary part. The scary part is that we are to give the newborns their Vitamin K shots.... and those shots have the potential of being fatal, as we have had pounded into our heads since day one! Still, I am really excited about it. Having never seen the "miracle of birth" from the end that doesn't involve pain, maybe I will be able to appreciate it more this time around? You would think, anyways. They went over all the things that we are expected to do, and it is a LOT. We have to assess the mother and the newborn, so anyone working on an L&D unit automatically has two patients per room. Wow... who would have guessed. And they will be soooo different, with different norms and everything. There isn't a lot of homework for this rotation, thankfully, but the homework we do have seems to be really different from any we have had so far. Still, I'm thankful that whether I pass or fail, at least I am getting there. Graduation is within 4 months, and if I can pass the HESI test (which is the Vernon College exit test) then I'm home free until the NCLEX exams. Which terrify me!
I can't wait to see what it will look like once I've got the almond paint on there... hopefully it'll look a lot less like I've been slaughtering chickens in the house. I'll put more pictures on here tomorrow once it's on there, and it'll be time to decide whether it's good enough, or whether to go to Lowe's and buy some wallpaper to put up on there. Right now, it's hard to tell what it's going to look like.
I had my orientation for the mother/baby portion of my clinicals today. I will be assisting with births during this rotation. That's not the scary part. The scary part is that we are to give the newborns their Vitamin K shots.... and those shots have the potential of being fatal, as we have had pounded into our heads since day one! Still, I am really excited about it. Having never seen the "miracle of birth" from the end that doesn't involve pain, maybe I will be able to appreciate it more this time around? You would think, anyways. They went over all the things that we are expected to do, and it is a LOT. We have to assess the mother and the newborn, so anyone working on an L&D unit automatically has two patients per room. Wow... who would have guessed. And they will be soooo different, with different norms and everything. There isn't a lot of homework for this rotation, thankfully, but the homework we do have seems to be really different from any we have had so far. Still, I'm thankful that whether I pass or fail, at least I am getting there. Graduation is within 4 months, and if I can pass the HESI test (which is the Vernon College exit test) then I'm home free until the NCLEX exams. Which terrify me!
I put the red onto the backsplash tonight after class so that it would dry before tomorrow. I want to do the almond when I get up in the morning so that I can get the epoxy onto the dang countertops before anything else happens to them. I really have to, because not having the kitchen sink is amazingly crippling in the kitchen. I can deal with the rest of the counters being out of commission, because the stove and microwave are still usable, but the sink is desperately needed to do dishes. AS IN DESPERATELY!!!!!!
I can't wait to see what it will look like once I've got the almond paint on there... hopefully it'll look a lot less like I've been slaughtering chickens in the house. I'll put more pictures on here tomorrow once it's on there, and it'll be time to decide whether it's good enough, or whether to go to Lowe's and buy some wallpaper to put up on there. Right now, it's hard to tell what it's going to look like.
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