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Currently In September

I am shamelessly stealing this survey from Lauren, and not only that but I am taking it one step further. A commenter on her post stated that she posted this same survey every month as a kind of recap. I love that idea! Should be fun, yes? Oh, and feel free to steal the idea yourself too. I don’t mind. :)

Current Book(s): I’m down from reading three books at once to one, at least for a few more hours. But for now I’m still plugging through Shirley by Charlotte Bronte in the attempt to complete my goal of reading all the books that I own. I do like this book, it’s just long and kind of slow. But I’m reading it out of The Complete Works of the Bronte Sisters, which is too bulky to carry on the bus. So today I think I’ll start on The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox, which I’m borrowing from Margaret. It’s easy to carry around. :)

Current Playlist: This is really sad because I’m a singer, but I actually don’t listen to music all that much. Sometimes in the car, but I also like silence in the car so I can think or talk or pray. I do like it when walking the dogs, exercising, cooking, or cleaning. Tonight on my walk I was listening to Sandra McCracken’s “Live Under Lights and Wires” sampler available for free on NoiseTrade.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Being completely obsessed with the new season of Dancing With the Stars which starts September 21. As in, I follow many of the pros and celebrities on Twitter, and subscribe to a blog with tons of updates and information.

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You might say I have “Monday Night Fever”…or not.

Current Color: Caribbean blue. I wear it almost every single day of my life.

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I think I am going to adopt this pose for when I am standing around at work from now on.

Current Fetish: Let’s just skip this category and never bring it up again, okay?

Current Drink: Apparently nothing! Yesterday I didn’t have a single sip of anything until around 6:30 p.m. when I realized that I was a bit thirsty and my head hurt. I promptly poured myself a glass of ice water. I’d better get to work on my goal of drinking 64 ounces of water a day for a week straight. It might do my body good.

Current Food: I still hold to my obsession over Lean Cuisine’s chicken carbonara meal. I have it almost every day for lunch.

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Current Favorite Show: I guess DWTS doesn’t count because it’s not actually on yet. The only TV show that I am watching right now is Mad Men, from Netflix, and I am only 3 episodes in. Since it doesn’t have any competition, Mad Men wins.

My Mad Men avator. It actually doesn’t look a bit like me, but it’s the best I could do with what was available. Oh but here’s one I made for my husband:

I liked his so much that I tried to convince him to sign up for Twitter just so he could use it. He said no, and I pouted.

Current Wishlist: Are you ready for this? Because I haven’t allowed myself to shop in a long time. Here we go: A women’s specific bike seat, some more biking clothes, a flat tire kit, new running shoes and socks, some red flats, a griddle, sports headphones, multi-color pens for work, riding boots, a sweater dress, new scrubs, new pants and shirts in general, a rug for our living room, blinds or shades for our living room, etc.

Current Needs: To start getting up in time to do Bible study before I leave for work. To pray more.

Current Triumphs: Finishing my residency. Making it through my day on the orthopedic floor yesterday.

Current Bane(s) of my Existence: The handle to my car, which is broken. It’s still REALLY annoying to have to roll down my window to let myself out.

Current Celebrity Crush: Julianne Hough is my #1 girl crush. Oh, like you don’t have them too?

Current Indulgence: Waaaay too much Blue Bell dutch chocolate ice cream.

Current #1 Blessing: My husband, who sings me silly love songs and leaves me love notes to wake up to. :)

Current Slang or Saying: Trying to say “my pleasure” at work instead of “you’re welcome” like we are encouraged to do. Little things like that DO make a difference when you’re stuck in the hospital.

Current Outfit: See above entry on “current color”. Boring!

Current Excitement: In two weeks I’m changing my work schedule a bit so that I will have three days off per week instead of two. That means that two of the days I work will be 12-hour shifts. Here’s hoping it’s worth it!

Current Mood: Zombie. I’m not fully awake yet.

Current Link: I want to make another plug for NoiseTrade.com. It’s a great place to find new music, and all you have to do is either a) tell 5 friends or b) pay what you want. There are some established artists but also a lot of up-and-comers.

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Happy September!

September 1, 2009
That’s What You Call A Weekend

I really got some bang for my buck this weekend. Somehow I had almost all of my time scheduled with fun things to do, yet there was the perfect amount of transition time between each event so that I didn’t feel rushed.

After work on Friday David and I packed up, dropped the dogs off at his parents’ house, and hit the road for Austin. We planned to meet up with my two former roommates who also happen to be two of my very best friends. Here we are the first day we moved in together in 2004:

And here we are now:

Recreating the photo…

No more awkwardness!

Our husbands/boyfriends were all able to be there as well, but unfortunately I didn’t capture any pictures of that momentous fact. Friday night we just went out to eat and afterwards I was so tired I put myself to bed. Everyone else stayed up half the night talking and laughing, but I heard none of it. I had been awake for almost 20 hours at point, see.

On Saturday we slept in and then hit up this place called Chedd’s for lunch which served “gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches”. It was really good and really healthy, too (I wish). After that we had to say goodbye to Megan and Peter, who are moving to Scotland for a year in a couple of weeks. Sad! But also exciting because we might get to take a trip to Scotland! Then the remaining four of us hit up some putt putt golf, during which I surprised everyone (myself included) by winning. Only by a stroke, but I was still proud. And finally we visited this amazing place called The Yogurt Spot. You walk in and there is a wall of different flavors of frozen yogurt and so many different toppings. You fill up your cup with whatever you want, and they charge you by the ounce. I got chocolate with fresh strawberries, brownie bits, and chocolate chips. AMAZING. I have just researched it and there is one of these shops in Houston, but it is far away from me and not in a very nice area. Bummer. However, I am hoping to discover a similar one in my area.

So after that deliciousness we went back to Carmen’s house for a bit where she began teaching me how to solve the Rubik’s cube. IT IS SO MUCH FUN. I am bound and determined to learn it. The only problem is, do you know how hard it is to find a Rubik’s cube in the store today? Hard. David went to 7 different stores with no luck. I think I will have to make a special trip to a Toys ‘R’ Us soon, which is kind of pathetic but I can’t stop thinking about it.

Eventually we forced ourselves to pack up the car and headed home. Once back we stopped by the church gathering that was happening at my in-laws’ house and had a feast of Mexican food. I also had a big bowl of chocolate ice cream, because I didn’t get enough earlier in the day.

Today (Sunday) was church, then California Pizza Kitchen for book club. We discussed The Time Traveler’s Wife and then saw the movie together afterwards. (My review and book club discussion will be coming sometime this week, so if you’ve read it be ready to comment and if you’re reading it now, finish up so you can join in!) And then AFTER book club we headed to my parents’ house for my youngest brother’s family birthday dinner. Family gatherings are always a blast and this one was no different.

Now I’m at home, just finished an episode of Mad Men, and about to crawl into my glorious bed to gather my strength for another work week. So tell me, what did you do this weekend?

August 30, 2009
A Resident No More

One year, two months, and twenty-five days ago I started my work as a “graduate nurse” at the hospital and began the residency program. For the first two weeks I did nothing but attend orientation classes, take tests and surveys, and get checked off on skills. Then I spent an intensive two months in a one-on-one preceptor relationship, which is really where I learned to do my job. Along the way I took and passed the NCLEX, becoming an RN. I began to take care of patients on my own. First three, then four, then five and, during crazy times, six. For a year I attended monthly classes centered on different topics applicable to new nurses. I got certified to give chemotherapy and have become somewhat proficient in it. I learned how to be a charge nurse. I became a preceptor myself and trained a new nurse along with a few different students. In May I went through the yearly evaluation process which included putting together a portfolio, writing an essay, demonstrating skills competency, and countless online quizzes. I got promoted and got a raise. A partner and I put together a research presentation as our final project, gave an inservice to our unit, and proudly displayed our poster at a reception.

Today, I went to my last class. I took my final quizzes and evaluations and I was done. And this is what I have to show for it:

That, and a year’s worth of invaluable experience, stories, and relationships. Confidence as a true professional nurse. Memories of patients and families who I have affected for the better, and who have forever affected me. A real, honest-to-goodness mentor. A vocation, a passion, and a ministry that I’m proud of. The knowledge that I did this, that I’m doing it, and that I can keep going.

Here I go.

August 27, 2009
Good Things

You may or may not be wondering how my week is going. The answer is very well, thanks. Work has been surprisingly manageable lately and I am enjoying taking care of all the patients I have. Usually at any given time I have at least one “difficult” patient, but God has granted me a reprieve for the moment. I don’t know how long it will last, so I am savoring it.

Yesterday I got to spend an entire day with one of my best friends who I hardly ever see. That was good. I just finished watching the very first episode of Mad Men. It was good. I am nearing the end of The Time Traveler’s Wife, and it is good. My husband is sitting next to me reading, and our dogs are laid out on the floor at our feet. Life is good.

It is 9:41 p.m. as I type, and that may be early for some but it is quite late for me. Maybe tomorrow I can summon the inspiration to bring you something of more substance. This will do for now.

August 26, 2009
On Being A Wife

My husband and I have been married almost a year. Although I’m not planning on trading in my scrubs and stethoscope anytime soon, I have this crazy idea that I can be both a full-time, successful nurse and a fantastic, domestic wife. In my mind that means everything from keeping the house clean, doing chores, cooking frequent meals, budgeting and saving money, decorating the house, entertaining, and gardening to birthing babies and keeping my husband happy.

In some of those areas I am quite deficient, which bothers me if I’m honest with myself. So yesterday, my day off, I resolved to be the perfect housewife.

First there were the four piles of dog vomit that needed to be cleaned. Step One: pick up the bulk and throw it away. Step Two: vacuum the dry pieces left behind. Step Three: spray with pet stain remover and forget about it for hours on end. Step Four: drizzle with water and scrub. Step Five: blot dry. I’m sure you have all been dying to know that information your whole life.

Then there was dinner to prepare for. I found this recipe for spicy meatballs in creamy beef broth and was bound and determined to make it happen. I spent an hour or so on the prep and then they were in the Crockpot cooking away. Later on I cleaned the house, paid some bills, and was just settling down to read when David came home. After some last minute preparations we ate dinner together (success) and I asked him how his day at work was. Then he took a nap and I read.

But the crucial part of the day came when I went to see Julie & Julia with my mom. It was a great movie that we both loved, and it affected me on several levels. Most obviously, it encouraged me to cook more. It also made me want to continue to be devoted to my blog while adhering to personal boundaries. I could write an entire post about either of those subjects.

But one thing that especially stood out to me in the movie was how these two women had amazing husbands. I kept expecting something to go very wrong with their relationships like it usually does in movies, but it never did. This movie made me want to be a great wife, and I don’t mean by cooking elaborate meals.

I’ve been married for almost eleven months, and I am trying to learn how to cook, decorate my house, live on a budget, and hopefully even birth some babies along the way while balancing my vocation as a nurse. This blog is in large part a record of those things. But most importantly, I just want to love my husband. I want to love him better all the time. Lucky for me, he’s quite lovable.

August 22, 2009