Merry Christmas to all and to all a good morning.

I haven't posted in like forever--I know. This whole dial up internet thing has gotten WAY beyond old. Eventually, at some point in my life, I'll have something faster. But right now, I must be content with the slow monotony of creeping internet.
On a happier subject though--Merry Christmas!! I'm awake at almost 1:00am on Christmas morning because my days and nights are totally mixed up. Everyone else is asleep but apparently, my internal clock thinks I need to sit up and wait for Santa. The joys of working nights....
What a year this has been. Dave was diagnosed with cancer, went through chemo and two nights ago, we received a text message from his oncologist to say that his PET scan last week came back completely clean. Merry Christmas to us.
We're hanging with family for the next couple of days. With Dave's family right now and then off to see mine in North Alabama. I hope you're hanging with your family right now too.
I really hope you're all asleep right now, which is more than I can say for me.

Ladonna Roshto....wait for it....

RN!!

I got my results yesterday afternoon! I have a license! I'm finally an RN. All the hard work of nursing school has finally paid off in the form of two little letters--R.N.
I actually got to sign my name yesterday at the hospital "Ladonna Roshto, RN". It was a good feeling.

Work is going good. I start nights on Monday, so that'll be new. I'd rather stay on days a while, but don't really have much choice. I guess I'll sink or swim. My preceptor has been great (for the short time I've been with her). She's also offered help while I'm on nights too. Not that she's going to be there, but that if I collect my questions, she'll go through things with me at shift change.

I go back to work Friday for my last day of day-shift. I'll finally be able to do and sign everything!!!

It is such a load off to not have to worry about NCLEX anymore!

Stay tuned...

75 doesn't feel as positive as I once thought!

Sorry for not posting in a while. I have started my new job and am on the floor now. I have also been studying for NCLEX every night that I haven't had church. But yesterday, Lindsey, Kim and Leigh Ann (another girl from our nursing class) picked me up from work and we drove to Mobile. We ate a good supper and then went to find the testing center where we'd take the hardest test of our lives. We stayed in Mobile last night and got to sleep in (which was wonderful!). We went to bed fairly early (probably about 11:30 or so). I'd worked 12 hr shifts for the past two days so I was asleep before my head hit the pillow good. I set my alarm for 11am and just about sleep solid til then. Our exam was scheduled for 2pm, so we ate a good CrackerBarrel breakfast/lunch before we went to the testing center. We had been talking and laughing since we left Hattiesburg yesterday, but once we left lunch, our mood became much more somber. No more laughing or joking. Got the testing center and a couple of the girls were going to stay outside for a few more minutes (we got there about ten minutes early). I went on in. I was able to register immediately, and got started on my test by 1:30. I started the tutorial which tells you about the different question types. Then had to start the test.

Wow! What a test it was. There were a few that I absolutely knew the answer to--like 3 or 4. There were some that I could narrow down to 2 or even one that I could answer because I knew that 3 of the answers were wrong. But overall--that was the hardest test I've ever taken. I got to number 75 and answered it. I hesitated before hitting the "next" button because it would either shut off or I'd have to keep going. I got my guts up and hit "next". My test shut off. So now I know that I either passed it really well or failed it really badly! I used to say, "If I get 75 questions, I'll know I passed. I've studied and done the things I knew to do. I surely can't fail it that bad." But now that I've taken it, I'm not so sure about 75 questions. All four of us got 75 questions before the test shut off. Now we wait. I'll be checking the Board of Nursing website OFTEN!!! When I know--You'll know.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement! I feel a huge sense of relief! At least now I don't have to come home to study anymore. No more care plans for school. No more NCLEX practice tests. Now its the real world. I'll write another post about the job this weekend. I'm going to go chill for a while now.

Stay tuned...

And so begins the waiting...

Several things to tell you today. I'll start with the bland stuff.
1. Work was okay. Still in orientation, so lots of sitting. Lots of computer work. Tomorrow at least we get to demonstrate our IV skills. We're learning the computer charting system. So far, I really like it. I hope I can still say that after a couple of months. I should be on the floor by next Tuesday. Not the whole day, but it is a 12 hour day.
2. We got our ATT today!! What is an ATT you ask? Authorization to Test. That means I became eligible to schedule my state boards. We've been waiting for this email to come through--and it finally did.
3. I am scheduled to take NCLEX--next friday, June 5 at 8am. I called Emily from the hospital and had her get into my email to get all the stuff. So she's actually the one who registered me. I wanted a good date and time and didn't want to wait to get home and do it. She was all to eager to help me. So I told her what I wanted and she did it. So now I have this huge knot in my stomach!!! I'm about to take the biggest test of my life! Now I have to get off the computer and start studying!!

Stay tuned...

Quite the boring day.

Today was general orientation for my new job. I feel like I signed my name a million times. Do you want insurance plan A, B or C? Do you want short term disability? Long term disability? Additional life insurance? Which dental plan? Do you want vision? Who are your beneficiaries and what percentage do they each get? I didn't think it would ever end. I heard more on corporate compliance than I ever cared to (I know its an important topic, but wow, that was dry). Up side--I got paid just to sit there and listen. I can handle that!
So nothing exciting to report. I got my badge today, so I kind of feel official now. Tomorrow those of us in patient care areas begin training. Not on the floor, but in the education department. I'm excited about it!
Hopefully I'll have much more wonderful things to report tomorrow.

Stay tuned...

It feels like the first day of school

Tomorrow I start my job at the hospital. When I say "start", that means orientation. We're there from 7:45 to 4:30 and its general hospital orientation. After tomorrow, I don't know what happens. But I know I'm excited. It really does feel like the first day of school tomorrow. Kinda cool. All that nursing school is finally ending at this point--job! I'll let you know how it goes!

Stay tuned...

Love these kids!

One of my goals for my trip to Emily's was to get new pics of her kids. Now that I have my handy-dandy camera, I figured I should put it to good use. Emily agreed, so we picked out clothes for the kids and then let them in on the "plan". They were super tolerant of me and seemed to have a good time. Jacob wasn't too eager to have his picture taken barefooted, but he got over that pretty fast.

I wanted some candid pictures, but one of the kids, not naming any names (Anna), loves to pose for the camera. You'd better have a speedy shutter finger to catch her in a candid shot. Here are some of my favorites.

Do you know how hard it is to get 4 kids to smile and look at the camera at the same time?

I love this picture of Thomas. I must have gotten 50-60 shots of him and in most of them, he's making a funny face. This one is my favorite though.

Anna would let me take pictures all day. Bless her heart. She's such a ham! I love her for letting me practice my photography skills on her though.

This is kind of a weird shot, but for some reason, I like it.

And last, but not least. I think Jacob honed in on his Spidey-skills!

Hangin' with the kids

I'm at my sisters for the week hanging out with her and the kids before I start work next week. I flew in last night and we were up bright and early for a doctors appt and a trip to the zoo. The doctor's appt was for Thomas--his yearly neurosurgeon visit. He got a good report--hooray! Then off to the zoo. I love hanging with the kids for lots of reasons, but one of my newest reasons is because they are wonderful practice for me and the camera. Just want to share a few with you. My posts have been devoid of pictures lately, so maybe this'll make it up to you.

Ask and ye shall receive.

FREEEEEDOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!!!!!
I graduated from nursing school today! Did you ever think this day would arrive? I sure didn't. But here it is. The graduation ceremony was very nice. I now have a pin that says I graduated from nursing school. I can do nothing with that achievement until I pass boards though.
So, we were at graduation and I was waiting to line up when I saw the HR Nursing recruiter (from the hospital I interviewed with Tuesday) come in. I smiled and said hello and that I was glad to see her. She told me she needed to call me because she had good news for me!!!!! Translation: I got the job at Forrest General!!!! I have a job!!!!!!! I'm going to be a real nurse in a real hospital!!!!!!
So here's the facts:
- It is on a med surg floor but we get the pre and post heart cath patients (if you don't know what that is, you'd probably be bored with the details).
- It is a night job so 7p to 7a, here I come! (I wanted nights so I'm thrilled)
- I don't know when I start, she's supposed to call tomorrow and we'll set everything up.

More info to come, but I wanted to let you know that I've matriculated and have a job!

Stay tuned...

More job news (will this ever end?)

Got a call today from my second choice hospital (which is now my first choice hospital since my former first choice rejected me). The position is on a med-surg floor. I never dreamed I'd be excited about a med-surg position, but at this point, beggars can't be choosers. I've been starting to kind of panic. I'm very tired of graduating from school and not being able to get a job. God always provides and I'm still trusting Him to do so this time too.

I'll keep you informed about it.

Our friend Eddie, missionary in Africa, is here now. He's home for the summer and stopped by to see us (and the church). He's by far the easiest house guest ever. A little Nesquick and the Wii and he's happy. He's just so used to the Africa temperatures, that he likes it WARM in the house. Our back bedrooms have their own thermostat, so it's pretty nice. He can have it warm and we can keep the front cool.

1. My final is Monday. I can make a 27 on it and still pass this semester. I have to make better than a 90 to make an A in the class though. So, looks like I'm going to have to settle for a B. Who cares--I just want to pass N-CLEX.
2. Dave is now 30. The big 3-0. This means I'm not far behind--scary.
3. You can get cherry coke at Cracker Barrell.
4. We took an NCLEX predictor again today and I have a 99% chance of passing boards on my first write! That's really encouraging.
5. I desperately need to clean house--but don't want to.

Am. Idol Spoiler Alert

For those of you (Sam) who may not have watched American Idol yet, this post contains the name of the contestant being sent home.

I was so super excited! I was hoping for this top three. I think Allison deserved to go home. But that may just be because I'm not a Janice Joplin fan. Granted, Danny's song was really bad, but overall, he's awesome! I have no problem with any of them winning now! They're all great!

Okay, it's late and I'm beat.

Stay tuned...

Some job news...

Got home today and there was a letter from my first choice hospital--a rejection letter.
Bummer.

In all the excitement...

My post yesterday was geared toward all the drama of "not graduating". Now that things have calmed down...

I sent off my application to take NCLEX (state boards) on Thursday. It's finally real to me now. Until now, nursing school has only had that theoretical goal of passing boards. Now, we're getting to the nitty-gritty. For those of you who don't know the process, let me explain it to you. I have submitted an application to the state of Mississippi Board of Nursing. I also submitted an application to the National Board of Nursing. Once I graduate, the school sends my transcript to the state. When they receive it, they will process my application and submit my eligibility to test to the national board. The national board will then contact me and set up a date and location for me to test. Not exactly sure what the turn around time is once my transcripts have been submitted, but I think its pretty quick. So, now, I'm playing the waiting game.

Speaking of waiting. I called my first choice hospital the other day and let them know I got my background check letter back and asked what I should do now. I knew that I didn't need to do anything, but I wanted to get some information from them and that seemed like the perfect little cover story. They said calls for employment haven't been made yet, but should be soon. At my interview they said three weeks. My three weeks will be up next friday.

Next week at school, we have our NCLEX review class. It will be from 8-4ish Monday thru Thursday. I really enjoyed the review I did over Christmas break. This will be the same company, but a different instructor, so I'm hoping to reinforce the learning that I did over break. Then Friday we take another mock NCLEX predictor.
I'm trying to tie up my loose ends on assignments now. We received a print out of the topics we missed on the last mock NCLEX and have to do some work to remediate on those topics. Several people are groaning and complaining about it, but I think it's pretty smart. If I missed it once and don't fix it, Murphy's Law says: Those will be the topics on my NCLEX test. So, remediation, here I come. I have no intention whatsoever to take boards more than once.

Stay tuned...

Some sobering news...

So, today I went to the business office to submit my application and fee for graduation. The lady kindly asked me my student number to verify my records. I thought--no big deal, as many hours as I have, and all the classes I've taken--I should have no problem. So, you can imagine my surprise when she told me, "You're not eligible for graduation. You're missing a class."
You could have knocked me over with a feather. WHAT! One class--what class could it possibly be? I'm so glad you asked. I am missing a one hour credit in....wait for it...freshman orientation.
How big a joke is that! But she was serious. She denied my graduation application because I never took freshman orientation at this school. It doesn't matter that I have almost 150 undergraduate hours (and a degree) or that I have 31 more graduate school hours on top of that (plus another degree), it doesn't even matter that I made it to the end of the nursing program without having an orientation class.
So, the student records lady ever so sweetly sent me back to the dean of nursing, to whom I explained my predicament. After she picked herself up off the floor, she texted the dean of academics (who was in the middle of the school golf tournament fund raiser) to get him to okay the waiving of freshman 0rientation for me. And we waited....
And we waited....
And we waited....
Finally, I decided to go home. He did text back and told her that he'd talk to her monday.
I couldn't believe it! I was being denied graduation! Craziness!

Okay, so now the rest of the story (its very short).

The dean of nursing texted me once I got home and she had worked everything out with the academic dean--I will graduate after all! Hooray! Don't let me sound surprised. All day long, Ive been saying, "I WILL graduate". It was going to take wild horses to keep me from it. So my blood pressure is back down now. I'm geared up for a busy weekend.

We had our last test today in class. I did okay on it, but not superb. I could just about flunk it and still pass, so I'm not too worried. I do like to do well though.

Stay tuned...

Word of the Day: nonplussed

For those of you who don't know what that word means--www.dictionary.com.

How on earth did Adam end up in the bottom two? America, get it together! I mean really, you let Allison into the top 2 and Adam in the bottom two? I understand that someone has to go home, but really...Adam? I expect better next week--VOTE!

I'm super glad that Kris wasn't in the bottom two. I want Kris or Danny to win. Not sure whether they will or not, but I'll wait and see.

Today we had to give up our off day to go take a mock NCLEX at school. For those of you who have never taken it, NCLEX is the nursing state board test. BIG BIG deal. I was very nervous about it. At the end, it gives you a liklihood that you will pass boards on the first write. I got to the last question on the test and stopped. I wasn't sure if I wanted to hit the "Score my test" button or not. I had no choice since the instructors require us to take it and turn in our score.
They let us know that they wanted us to get at least a 72. That score indicates a good liklihood that we'll pass boards. So I hit the button. 81.3!!!! That gives me a 98% probability of passing on the first try. What a relief! I was much relieved--I guess I've learned a thing or two over the last 5 semesters after all. This doesn't mean that I won't study for boards after graduation. It just means....well....I don't exactly know what it means. If I figure it out, I'll let you know...

1. My eczema is killing me!!!!! I look like a stinkin' pin cushion from scratching all the time. I'm ready for some outside time. A nice sunburn should clear it up! Isn't that ironic--pain from a sunburn will clear up my eczema. Who cares!? I just want the itching to go away. There's an old song that I have twisted to fit my situation. It goes something like this--Ooo, ooo, itchy woman!
2. I graduate from nursing school 2 weeks from tomorrow! Time's fun when you're having flies.
3. Still haven't heard from any hospitals. Getting kinda impatient. Maybe tomorrow they'll call.
4. Lately, I've been severely sleep deprived. I've wanted to sleep going down the road or sitting at a redlight or standing in a line or talking to someone on the phone or even in person. Not sure what's up with that. I know I'm getting anxious about graduation and have not been getting a whole lot of sleep, but I shouldn't be this bad off. Yikes!
5. Test friday - Parkinson's and neuro-disorders, cirrhosis and HIV/AIDS.

Stay tuned...

My first photoshoot!

This is Allie. She my favorite three year old girl! Since I got my new camera, she's been my best model! These pics are from Easter and the week after Easter. We went out and I took pictures for an hour and a half. I got some really bad ones. But some really good ones too!

This is the first picture I took on our shoot and it turned out pretty good. Surprise, surprise!

This picture was on Easter sunday. It kinda looks like a painted back ground to me, but it is an area behind the church. Turned out pretty good.
Love these daisy pics!

She posed herself in this one--she's so good!

Home on a Tuesday.

Got a call early this morning that my clinical instructor (who I knew was sick yesterday) is actually in the hospital--bummer. Not sure what's up with her, but I hate to hear she's THAT sick. Now my mind starts racing about what it could be. I have some hunches, and a couple aren't very good.

But FREEDOMMMMM! I haven't had a Tuesday off in a really long time. I got to sleep in late (which I typically do one day a week now). I've decided that it doesn't matter how long I get to sleep if it is the wrong hours. Eight hours of sleep from 10pm to 6am is not as effective to me as eight hours from 2 am to 10am. Night nurse, here I come.

Yesterday's clinical was a 12 hour day. I love those days because I feel so much more in control. I ran my little legs off yesterday. I think it is amazing that I have gotten to my last semester of school and am just now having patients with diseases or equipment that I learned about in my second semester. I got to take out staples yesterday! The patient's family asked if it was my first time to do this (I think my instructor, the hospital RN and 3 other students standing around gave it away). I told her it wasn't, but didn't go on to explain that the only other time I'd taken A STAPLE out was in my first semester and the teacher had put enough stitches and staples into a doll to let each of us take out ONE! I don't think it would instill much confidence if I told her, nope, but just taken out one before--from something that can't feel a thing! Oh, good times.

Still no more word on the job front. Maybe later this week. You'll know when I know.

This weekend, my church ladies group is going to Pensacola to the Extraordinary Women conference, I'm really excited about it. I've heard its great! I'll bring back a report on it too!

Okay, really need a shower now. Bed head hit hard last night!

Stay tuned...

Update on jobs

I had my interview with my first choice hospital. It went really good. The position is not exactly what I was hoping for, but I have learned this week that nursing jobs (along with many other jobs in the nation right now) are slim pickings. I am grateful to have the potential for a job at all. They went ahead and finger printed me and started the background check. I think that's a good sign. I don't think they'd put money into doing that if they already knew they weren't going to hire me. The nurse recruiter told me that she'd be in touch within 3 weeks. That seems like so long from now...bummer.
I toured my second choice hospital and really like the facility, but they don't seem to have many employment opportunities. Their interview process is also much longer and more complex.

1. Okay, so I really like Matt on American Idol, but I don't think he has a chance to win this competition. Out of all the contestants, he's one of the few that I can actually see myself downloading his music when it's over. I think he'll be gone next week though (along with Lil).
2. Why do people name their kids such odd names? I have heard so many strange names recently. Granted some of them are movie stars, eg, Apple, Phineas and Hazel, Suri, etc. But some aren't. Are we just taking random words from the English language (and sometimes other languages) and turning them into our children's names? This has to stop somewhere or else we're going to be calling for little "Table" and "Chair" to come to Mommy.
3. I got to take pictures of a friend's daughter this week. She was not in the mood to have her picture taken, but I still got some great shots. I got 185 pictures in about 90 minutes. I am learning that for every 50 or so pictures, you get 1-2 really good ones.

On the job front...

I interviewed with one of my top 2 hospitals this last week. The interview was with HR only, which is fine. I have another interview (with my number one pick) on Wednesday at 8am! This interview is with nurse manager and the nurse recruiter. I'm super excited about this one.
A little about the interview I had this week. It was pretty standard. I got the strengths and weaknesses questions and then they wanted to know why I quit accounting to be a nurse. She said we should hear something back this next week about secondary interviews. Tuesday night they are hosting a bowling party for the May 2009 grads and I am planning on going. Even if I don't end up working at this hospital, I have nothing to lose but a little time. They are paying for supper, bowling and giving us all a gift. How cool is that! I'll be happy to spend Tuesday night bowling on somebody else's buck. I'm mostly looking forward to it because some of the nurse managers will be there. I can do a little shmoozing while I'm there.
I'll keep you posted (hopefully better than I've been doing) on how this week's interviews go.

And just a few more little tidbits.

1. OH MY GOSH! I am so glad that that blonde girl (Megan) finally got voted off American Idol! She so couldn't sing! And that little twisty dance she did made her look like she had to go to the little girls' room! I also wasn't suprised that Scott got sent home this last week. He was the weakest contestant left. My prediction is that Lil or Anoop will be gone this week.
2. I am loving the camera. Sorry I'm not sharing more pics. They are huge files and my little dial up internet can't handle it. I promise, it isn't just my laziness, everything times out before the pics upload. Sorry. I'll try to get some up from school or somewhere else that has high speed.
3. I've been sewing my little fingers off lately. I'd show you pictures of my little projects, but can't for 2 reasons. #1 - See above as to slow connection and #2 - I'm hiding them from one of my family members. (Now each of my family members is wondering if its them. Only one of you knows it it's not you.)
4. I finally got up the motivation to clean the front of my house. It had gotten bad. I still need to sweep, mop, vacuum, but that will have to wait until later tonight (or tomorrow, or the next day....)
5. Graduation is getting closer and closer!!!! May 14 - hooray!

The result of whining

The other night I was whining to Dave's mom about the fact that I hadn't heard from job stuff. My biggest fear in life is failure, so to not have a job by now (when I'm graduating in 5-6 weeks) is scary. Now, I realize that some of you just laughed at me and that's okay--you guys don't feel compelled to keep the same schedule as me--I understand.
Well, lo and behold, what happens the next day?! My first choice hospital calls me to set up an interview with a nurse manager. This is big! To have an interview with the nurse manager means I've actually gotten somewhere. Unfortunately, the manager only gave one possible day to have an interview--and I'm in clinical all day that day. I didn't feel it would be appropriate to miss clinical for an interview, so I asked for a different day. Since we have Easter break next week, I have Wed, Thurs & Fri off. I thought maybe we could work it out one of those days. Anyway, they are having to get back to me with some possibilities. In the meantime, my second choice hospital called to set up an interview with HR. This is not as big as the interview with the nurse manager, but at least the ball is rolling.
I'm super excited about this. I'll feel so much better when I know I have a job.

The Three Faces of Sam

Aside: I watched “The Three Faces of Eve” the other night on Turner Classic Movies. It was a great movie. We talked about it in my psychology class several years ago. It’s a true story accounted by two psychologists about a woman with dissociative identity disorder (FKA Multiple Personality Disorder). Check it out when you find it on TV.

This is my friend Sam. She's probably my only friend that understands what I mean when I say "like-kind exchange" and Section 351 (which incidently are two different topics). Sam is shorter than I am (I love being able to say that someone is!), but has more personality than her petite little self can hold. **Disclaimer: I am in no way insinuating or suggesting that Sam suffers from DID.

These are the 3 faces of Sam.

The first is her movie star pose! She was hamming it up that night!

Then comes this face that must speak for itself! I think there’s a line about “…only a mother could love”…

Finally, is the serious face. This is Sam trying to learn how to play Skip-Bo. What an awesome game! She finally picked it up and may or may not have liked it.

**All these pics were taken with my new handy-dandy camera!!!

The new blog

So I finally got the new blog started. It is at www.ladskitchen.blogspot.com. Go check it out. I have my favorite tried and true recipes there. I'm trying to organize them by category so that you will be able to search easily.

Give me your feedback and leave me your favs on the comments!!!

...because I don't want to be defriended...

Yes, I know it has been forever since you've seen a new post.
Yes, I know that most of you can quote the last post I put up because it has been so long.
Yes, I know that I'm busy and haven't had time to post.

Things are slowing down a little bit now, so hopefully I can keep you guys better informed of the goings on here in South Miss.

For starters, some exciting news--I finally saved up enough for my camera. I absolutely love it. It is WAY smarter than me, so I'm reading my manual for everything right now, but it takes beautiful pictures. Unfortunately, its been raining just about every day since I got it. Those days it wasn't raining, I was swamped with other stuff. Stay tuned for pictures.

School is busy. I'm in 12 hr clinicals now. I remember thinking that 12 hour clinicals must be nice, but they were so far away. But now here I am. We are only weeks from graduation. I'm getting very excited and very scared. I'm realizing just how much I DON'T know.

We just finished our Easter drama at church. It went well. I played the piano for it, so no acting for me. I enjoyed doing it, but it was a lot of work. I'm glad now I can sit at home and not feel guilty about not being at the church practicing.

Later this week is the state nursing convention in Vicksburg. I'm excited about it. It's always fun and I'm looking forward to getting away for a short little 2 day trip. There will be potential employers there as well, so that's ALWAYS a plus right now.

Still no word on the job front, but I don't think they are going to even start interviewing until April (which is day after tomorrow). I'll let you know when I know something. Until then....

I really will try and do better with this blog. I also have plans for a new blog. It has been much requested and will contain only recipes. Tried and true recipes, not just cool looking stuff. It's in the works. I'll let you know when it becomes more than just an idea.

So, please stick with me a little longer. Don't defriend me yet!

Stay tuned...

For those of you who have been on pins and needles!

I made an 88 on my test!! Hooray! Granted, I'd have loved an A, but get real... I'm just happy that I passed--and passed solidly. I was almost sick with dread over this test! Now I can go into the next one being more prepared!

So I've been trying to clean house all weekend, but MarioKart Wii has been calling my name. I've managed to get the laundry done and the kitchen good and clean--but that's about it. I did get outside today and play with the boys and clean up the backyard. They have trampled all the grass down and now its just a dust pile. They've also dug a million holes! I filled in the holes as best as possible (where did all that dirt go?) and spread pine straw down over where there is no more grass (to keep the dust down, hopefully). We'll see how this plan goes. I may look outside tonight and see that the pine straw is gone and the holes are back...but I tried.

I'm addicted now to Mamma Mia music and Norah Jones. (Could it get any more opposite than that?)

Looking forward to class this week. I'm in clinical in the hospital. From the tales I've heard, last week was pretty rough for those in the hospital doing their clinical. Yikes.

Okay, I have to go play MarioKart now.

Stay tuned...

A blog bum

Okay, so I know I've been a really big bum on the blogging. I can't help it though. I haven't sat down at my computer without very specific things (homework kind of things) to do for weeks. I know what you're saying--what about Christmas Break, you were off for two weeks. I know, and that sounds like a great argument, but over Christmas, besides seeing family who doesn't live in MS, I took the NCLEX-RN review (hurst review) and also got my ACLS certification (advanced cardiac life support). So fuss if you want about me not blogging, but if you go into cardiac arrest--I might just save your life. But enough of that rant.

The last semester of school is in full swing. Yep, you heard me--the LAST semester of the hardest thing I've ever done! I once thought RN school would be easy--how gullible I was! Seriously, I only know enough to be really dangerous, but I have learned so much. I can't say anything but positive things about the faculty. However, I'm scared to death of actually being a nurse. They are about to turn me loose on the general public--what are they thinking?!

I'm starting to apply places for internships. Hopefully internships will turn into jobs. I'll keep you informed.

We get our first test back tomorrow. I don't think I flunked it, but I didn't make an A either. I'm really shooting for a B. I still have enough stuff to do outside of nursing school to make an A. We started clinical this past week. Leslie and I were both in Outpatient Surgery. We only got to watch the procedures (obviously), but it was neat. I don't think I want to be a surgery nurse. I got really tired of standing in one spot.

Got lots of homework to do now. I'll try to do better with my blogging.

Stay tuned...