37 hrs til take-off

two weeks of classroom orientation and a few hours in the transplant clinic down...time for another week off i guess.  leaving for puerto vallarta sunday morning and am super excited!  promise i will be a total work-horse again as soon as i get back.

back from the northwest...

I am back from Seattle and had a great time! I will post some of my pics soon but for now here is a little list of some of the things I did in the Northwest (not necessarily in order) and pics I stole from google images:

• drank a latte at Starbucks on Lake Washington
• walked up and down many "hills"
• watched recent episodes of the Colbert Report
• saw the space needle, sci-fi museum and music experiment (but did not go in any of them)
• walked on the boardwalk
• visited Volunteer Park and Conservatory
• looked at many mountains (Oympic and Cascade ranges, Mt. Baker & Mt. Rainier)
• took a ferry to Bainbridge Island

• wandered around Pike Place Market
• had a couple lattes at Amy's favorite cafes
• wore a lot of jeans and fleece with no make-up
• met Mary, Julie and Jason for a pitcher of microbrew at the Elysian
• baked cookies and lemon bars
• ate Phu soup in the college district (skipped bubble tea-too full)
• had a cranberry-apple piroshky for breakfast

• went to the aquarium- very cool fish, otters and octopus
• made ravioli bake for dinner
• drove to Bellingham with Amy and Cecilia
• ate ice cream at a sweet homemade ice cream shoppe
• attempted several crossword puzzles
• had a Midwest nostalgia dinner night- complete with iceburg lettuce salad (with crouons and ranch dressing), beer cheese soup, tater tot hotdish "totdish," lemon bars and miller high life (the champagne of beers of course)
• ran along Lake Washington in the rain
• hiked around Seward Park

• had cocktails at 22 Doors
• re-learned to crochet hats
• visited Snowqualmie Falls and Mt. Si (weather too bad to hike to summit)
• drove down to Olympia
• looked at starfish, mussels and lots of boats in the bay
• shared yummy seafood and had a glass of cabernet at Anthony's
• bought salmon steaks at Pike Place Fish to bring home
• had a Plymouth Hefeweizen and turkey sandwich while waiting for my flight at Sea-Tac
• arrived an hour late on a flight that left 15 mins early

Just Chillin'

Well, turns out when I no longer have anything to study for and I'm not working Monday through Thursday I get pretty bored. Don't get me wrong I'm not complaining I just don't know what to do with myself some days. I've done some reading for pleasure, gone to the YMCA, cleaned out old papers, shopped online a bit, slept a lot and tried a few new cooking endeavors. Good/Bad news is that this "boring" phase of my life is coming to an end this coming week.

Schedule for next few weeks:

February 16-22nd:

• work Mon, Thurs, Friday
• appt. Tuesday with employee health
• Molly's Bday party and Jenny's shower Saturday

February 23-March 1st:

• work Monday
• fly out from MSP to Seattle to see Amy Wednesday

March 2-8th:

• fly back from Seattle to Msp Thursday
• work Fri, Sat, Sunday

March 9th:

• start my RN orientation!

I passed the NCLEX!!!

wahoo!  I'm a real live Registered Nurse!

it's the final count down

Boards tomorrow morning at 0800!

bad news- good news

Bad News:

• I almost passed out twice when giving blood yesterday
• I was told earlier this week that I would not be able to start training as an RN until March 23rd (Day 2 of my trip to Mexico for Ryan's Bro's wedding)
• which translates to me being really disappointed because I'm going to be working at the desk and as an aide for a month and a half with a NURSING liscense
• and put off getting paid a nurses salary during that time
• I had a really huge zit on my chin

Good News:

• I take my boards on Tuesday
• which translates to NO MORE STUDYING for a while
• I am going to have a lot of free time so...
• I booked a flight to Seattle to go spend a week with my BF Amy!!!
• I was also informed today that I will actually start training March 9th (2 wks earlier than previously told)
• which will work much better because I will start earlier and will still get my scheduled vacation

job offer

I got a job offer today in Solid Organ Transplant at the University of Minnesota Medical Center.  This is the same place I've worked for 4.5 years and am really excited to work there as a RN!  The appointment is not what I had hoped for (it is the same number of hours I've been working while I was in school) but at least I will have my foot in the door and the pay is good.  I am not sure when exactly I will start orientation yet but I am excited none the less.

ice fishing extravaganza!

many miles were driven.

3+ hours were spent in sub-zer0 weather.

several cups of kamora coffee were consumed.

2 small baskets of cheese curds and a couple dozen wings were eaten.

3 fish were caught.

much fun was had.

Update!

Had my interview Tuesday. Went well but won't hear back for another 2 weeks or so. Scheduled my NCLEX date for the first week in February. If all goes well I would hopefully start orienting February 9th. Keep your fingers crossed!

stress-free weekend

love it!  this was one of the first weekends in some time that i didn't have any set plans, work or homework to do so... i slept in, ran a few errands, went to a movie, drank a few beers and just took some time to relax with carrie and ryan.

plans for this week include: NCLEX study sessions, an interview, work, working out at the Y and hopefully cleaning my room a bit.

a NeW YeaR!

hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe NeW YeaRs! kicked off the NeW YeaR with some cocktails and weenies, tippy cup and rockband. on this FiRST DaY of 2009 i dropped $305 on fees to take my NCLEX exam and recieve my minnesota state board of nursing liscensure. hopefully by this time next month i'll be done jumping through hoops and oFFiCiaLLY be a NuRSe! i shall keep everyone posted.

Interview!

just arrived after driving home for 3.5 hours without heat :( to a pleasant phone call from human resources at work to schedule an interview for a NURSING position on the transplant unit :)  wahoo!!  appt. set for january 13th @ 10:30am.  

Merry Christmas!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas!

I am so thankful for all my wonderful friends and family.

Thank You Everyone!

...for the well-wishes and support.  I am FINALLY done with school and so far loving it.  I have a busy holiday season ahead of me with work and travel and then it is on to studying for my boards.

So Excited!

Enough Said

MoTiVaTioNaL CRiSiS

Everyone has heard of seNIOriTIs (not to be confused with seNOriTAs) but it was not until recently that I have had first hand experience with it. I have never been one to jump on homework too early but this past couple quarters have been TeRRiBLe! I am currently working on my LaST PaPeR of my undergrad right now to be turned in ToMoRRoW complete with 10 minute PReSeNTaTioN on dengue fever. The end is so close it just doesn't seem like I should have to do anymore of this crap! Despite this, I am neck deep in World Health Organization articles on this resurgent disease and just hoping the words come easily.

On a more pleasant note...
Countdown [3rd edition]:

10 more hours of work on 6B
1 big paper to compose
1 10-20 minute presentation to write and give
8 thank you cards to write
1 card to send
3 gifts to buy (1 birthday, 2 xmas)
1 exit interview to attend
1 gown to pick up
4 nights to sleep
2 celebrations to partake in
1 big messy room to clean

...all in the next 103 hours until graduation!

tis the season...

for cards and singing and celebrating and spreading christmas cheer! therefore i shall make a quick list to share ways in which i have experience such seasonal fun this week:

1. wednesday i recieved my first graduation card from my uncle mark and cousin ann! woot woot!
2. i've been listening to christmas music every chance i get


3. i read an ancient print of Dickens' Christmas Carol (circa 1925) that i checked out from the downtown library with my new library card in preparation for...


4. the Christmas Carol at the Guthrie thursday night with ryan


5. made beef and ale stew over mashed potatoes, with Newcastle, rye bread and figgy newton pudding parfaits for dessert to get down with our English selves before the play


6. saw (not really but i know lots of people who did and was just one floor above) Will Smith yesterday when he came to visit the sick kids at the University Hospital and gave them autographed DVDs to spread some seasonal cheer

making a list for one of my final assignments...

um why didn't more of college consist of making lists and calendars for grades?  I (and I believe Nikki) would have graduated with SUPER honors if this was indeed the case.

For all of those interested (read NO ONE but I don't care) here is the aforementioned assignment:

Six Week NCLEX Prep Plan!

following Graduation and Celebrations

Week One: Dec 22-28th

• work: Thurs & Friday days
• Christmas shopping
• go to YMCA
• acquire study texts
• clean out old papers and organize notes
• CELEBRATE Christmas at lake Sat-next Tues

Week Two: Dec 29-Jan 4th

• work: Wed & Thurs eves, Fri-Sunday days
• yoga with Kelli Monday
• play with nieces at lake
• make normal value flashcards
• begin individual review

Week Three: Jan 5-11th

• work: Friday days
• group study: Mon 5-8p, Wed 11a-3p
• go to YMCA
• individual study: Tues, Thurs, Sunday
• play/relax Saturday

Week Four: Jan 12-18th

• work: Fri-Sunday days
• group study: Mon 10a-3p, Thurs 1130a-330p
• go to YMCA (Andover on Monday & Elk River cardio kickbox Thurs)
• individual study: Tues & Wed
• reassess areas of need/take predictor test
• Dad's birthday

Week Five: Jan 19-25th

• work: Friday days
• group study: Mon 11a-3p & Thurs 630p-?
• individual study: Tues & Wed
• go to lake Sat-Sunday for Ice Fishing EXTRAVAGANZA
• quiz time with family

Week Six: Jan 26-February

• practice drive to testing center
• hardcore/"last chance" workout
• final review
• relaxation and sleep
• NCLEX!!!

Note:

Kelli- I am hoping you want to do yoga with me and will let me play with your kids

Mom- I hope it is okay that Kelli and I can come up for ice fishing again with our fishing friends and family

Mom & Kelli- Will you please quiz me out of my NCLEX books fishing weekend?  We can make a game out of it.

Everyone- Nikki is now a blogger too!  see Nikkita RN on my blog list

I almost forgot...

ALMOST!

Since I didn't work or have class in which I needed to write the date on anything it wasn't until this morning that I realized that yesterday was December 7th AKA Pearl Harbor Day AKA the day that Grandpa passed away. Despite my forgetting until today I think I would have done gramps proud.

Sunday Dec 7, 2009

• Woke up (slightly hungover) and watched the sun rise on Sugar Lake
• Watched as 3 ice houses were put up in the following 3 hrs and snow began to steadily fall
• Helped make a hearty breakfast for 10 with my cousin
• Made 3 beds and cleaned all the surfaces in the garage/bar area
• Gave 8 hugs goodbye
• Drove home through the woods in the beautiful snow listening to the Vikings game on the radio
• Commented on numerous ice homes, fish statues and smoke houses
• Went home and changed into my snow stuff
• Drove out to a tree farm, helped pick out a decent 9-footer fir and watched Ryan chop it down and tie it to the roof of the car with his dad
• Had some meat and twice baked potatoes for dinner
• Watched the Albert Lea episode of Extreme Home Makeover
• Took a shower and went to bed early

A decent day to remember if you ask me!

countdown [2nd edition]

as of this moment...

2 days of class to attend

1 big paper to write

1 ten minute presentation to give

1 journal to submit

1 NCLEX prep plan to prepare

12 hours of clinical to experience

4 days of work to show up for

1 belated halloween party to attend

7 thank you cards to write

16 nights to sleep

...until graduation day