Four days and a wake up...

...and then I'll take my final! Been a great 1st year. Difficult at times, but always very interesting. On my surgery observation day I was able to observe a bilateral total knee replacement. Bone flying, tissue burning (cauterization), hammers, saws, drills...LOVED IT! Then I saw a ureter stent placement for a patient with a HUGE kidney stone in her ureter. Took like 5 minutes total...amazing. Really enjoyed surgery...just another route I may want to travel as an RN.
My super sweet mother-in-law, Mary, is coming to visit us next Friday and she's staying for 10 days! We can't wait!!! Last time we saw her was bittersweet (good to see her, but heartbreaking reason), but this time is all for fun. We are so looking forward to showing her our city and enjoying her company. And I'll be out of school so we can play every day! I do have to work one day while she's here, but I'm sure she and Lon will enjoy some mother-son time without me. :)
Liberty Shiraz has been opened! And it is tasty...mmmmmmm. It's a very light Shiraz with a little buttery taste and a slight dryness, but a clean finish. It's not the berry-heavy, big mouth feel we're used to with our favorite Australian Shiraz styles, but it's great for spring/summer. We didn't plan it that way, but we're glad it's not heavier. Perfect for a picnic...slightly chilled served with cheeses, crusty bread, olives and some fresh fruit. My mouth is watering already. Maybe we'll have to do that while Mary's here...Once we (finally) get the labels made and on the bottles, I'll post some pics.
Can't believe it's already almost May. Lon told me nursing school would fly by and it sort of is...I've heard horror stories about 3rd semester, so I'll be glad when I've completed and passed it in December. 1/5 of the previous class failed 3rd semester...so it's no picnic apparently. I'll enjoy my time away this summer, but will have to be vigilant in keeping up my skills/meds/studying prior to the fall. Just think...in only one short year I'll be graduating, getting ready to take the NCLEX and get my RN license. Wow. Exciting and intimidating...but I'm loving my classes and clinicals so I think I may have finally found my calling. It only took me 35 years. :)
Til next time, as my good friend Willy has said many times, 'If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it.'

It's my BIRTHDAY WEEK!

Lon introduced me to the 'Birthday Week' concept many years ago and I still think it's a great idea. You have a whole week to do a lot of fun stuff, a little fun stuff or fun stuff here and there. That way, if you have to work on your birthday or it rains or plans change, you have 6 more days to make up for it! We kicked off my birthday week last Thursday. I picked last Thursday because we have plans to finish it off this Thursday (even though my 'real' birthday is Wednesday). Technically, that's a week and one day, but well...I think I deserve it. I also work every Friday, so I couldn't start last Friday to finish this Thursday, well, you get the idea. After I got home from class Lon took me to one of our fave places downtown, The Mushroom (most of you probably know it as Mellow Mushroom, but we nickname most places we like). Split a yummy toasted hoagie, drank some seriously tasty beer and did our weekly crossword puzzle. (We're going to make a great retired couple, don't you think?) For some reason, we thought it would then be a good idea to head over to a not-so-great Mexican place only because they have a rooftop bar that overlooks the TN River. Of course, if you only order margaritas and queso, they can't screw it up too bad. They really should have people of some type of Hispanic heritage working there...they'd do much better! Just ask El Meson (THE best Mexican restaurant in Chatt!) Anyway, got a table on the rooftop, ordered a pitcher and basked in the sun. Fantastic start to a great week!
For Easter we had a super yummy breakfast (at home) and then went hiking on Moccasin Bend. Got a little muddy, but it was fun to explore a new trail. Afterwards, we went 'house hunting' (really just fantasizing). Watched 'Where the Wild Things Are'. Kind of disappointing. Cute enough, but not one we'll want to watch again. Been let down by several of our Netflix choices lately. The Hangover, Couples Retreat, Four Christmases...all let downs. They weren't bad enough to turn off, just none that we wholeheartedly recommend. Tonight we have Juno. We'll see...
The big finale for my birthday is....drum roll, please...another movie! But not just any movie, a Tim Burton movie...with Johnny Depp. Two of my faves! Yep, we're risking everything and venturing out to the theater (please wish us luck!) We have a new theater downtown (first LEED certified in the country...something to do with being 'green'). It has a VIP theater (with adult bevvies, real food and electric recliners) that comes with a VIP price tag. We will NOT be going to that theater (even though I think it would be cool...the tickets alone are $15-20!) Instead we're going to a matinee (hoping most people have already seen it) on a Thursday (hoping most people are at work/school) to HOPEFULLY enjoy the 3D Alice in Wonderland experience without cell phones, people talking and kicking the backs of our seats. I'll let you know how that goes.
Right now, the windows and doors are open, a nice cool breeze is blowing in, the sun is shining and it's getting up to a record-breaking 90 degrees today! Don't know where this summer weather gets off showing it's sweaty head in April, but we'll have our 60's back by this weekend. Silly summer...just can't wait for June. But it must, it really must. I NEED my Spring! And to think last year it SNOWED on my birthday! I remember...we were at The Dog (Hair of the Dog Pub, that is). This officially starts our 3rd year in Chattanooga...and we still love it! I don't know that Lon and I have lived anywhere (together) for more than two! Crazy...
Guess that's enough for today...hope it's beautiful where you are. :)

St. Patty's Day = Spring!

I love, love, LOVE Spring! It's peeking around the corner and teasing me right now, but I know it's coming. It'll be sunny and in the low 60's this weekend. Woo Hoo! Just an update as to what's been going on in my world...Exam 2 down. Two more and the final then 3 months off of school, but full time work. Made an A...yippee!

Currently doing my Pediatrics rotation in clinicals. I've worked with a 3-yr old and a 17-yr old. I was really hesitant because I had no idea how working with kids would be, but you know what? They are just patients with different problems and developmental levels. Just like there are differences in working with an 80-yr old client and a 20-yr old client. I am enjoying it...now there's another area I can consider. Good grief, I have no clue as to what discipline I'm going to want to focus on. Guess it's pretty cool that in Nursing you have tons of options! I can try something for a while, then try something else. And the travel option is available for most of those options, too.

My 2010 goal of dropping 50 lbs is going, but slowly. I'm on track, but would have liked to be ahead of the game by now. But now that Lon has exposed me to the world of tasty beers, that's going to be even harder! When I say tasty, I mean having taste. Not that yellow, fizzy, mass-produced stuff that the three mega companies put out. No, I mean REAL taste. Like when you pair a wine with a certain food to bring out nuances in each...did you know you can do that with good beer? It's not just for pizza and wings anymore. I'm currently really enjoying the more bitter beers (IPA's, Double IPA's, bold ales). The stouts and browns are good too, but they are a little too smooth and creamy for my current palate. Much better in the cold weather, like a hearty bowl of hot soup. I'm ready for spring and fresh flavors bursting in my mouth! Of course, the tastier the beer the more calories it tends to have. Oh well...we do what we must. Life is short and should be enjoyed and savored. I'll get the weight off, it just may take the full year. :)

Next week is my Spring Break...and I need it. I'll still have some school work to do and I work a few days, but the mental break will be so nice. Especially if the weather continues to warm up! That will do LOADS for my brain.
Guess that's enough for now. Back to my homework...
Until next time...try something new and different. I think keeping an open mind keeps you young!