The University of Montana Symphony.

This is a television spot for the University of Montana. There are six or so new ads done in this format, but for obvious reasons, this is my favorite.

Sicky.

For about three weeks now, I've felt like I was just below the threshold of a full blown cold. I haven't felt awful, just sort of 'not good,' with little transient waves of 'really icky' thrown in for good measure. Yesterday I started feeling worse, and so today I finally caved and saw a doctor at work. (That's one of the perks of my job. Our doctors are great, and they're always kind enough to check me out if I'm not feeling well.) Dr. W suspects a sinus infection, so now I've got antibiotics. Hope they work soon. I want to feel good.

Twice this week I've gotten to hang out with two guys I adore. Jeff and Andy are a pair of brothers I met through a mutual friend, and they're witty and sarcastic and lots of fun to spend time with. New friends are fun.

I spent most of the day working on the MSNA float for the UM homecoming parade. It was a lot of fun, and I came home just in time to scrub most of the paint splatters off myself before going to work. We got great weather today for assembling the float, but I'm hoping the weather forecast will be proven wrong for tomorrow - it's supposed to be 40° and rainy during the parade. Burr.

Ick, it's late. Off to bed...

No LOST until February.

Sigh.

I don't watch much television, but I love LOST. A friend was looking over my shoulder the other day as I thumbed through last semester's dayplanner, and she cracked up at the fact that I had "scheduled" LOST alongside my assignments, clinicals, and work schedule. Yep, it's that important. I watch it for the great story and plot twists, but also for the biceps. Gorgeous, sweaty, rugged men, with great biceps.

Hot.

Once again, not sleeping.

I ran in the River City Roots four mile run today. It was my third road race, and so far my shortest - and hardest. I signed up with my friend Kate, who is tall, lean, and seriously long legged. I should have known better. I pushed to keep pace with her for about three minutes, and then we hit this monster hill. I don't do hills when I run on my own - our side of town is completely flat. It absolutely killed me. I dropped back and tried to recuperate from setting out too fast, but I had a stitch in my side for nearly the whole race. But hey, I finished. And I got a nice running t-shirt out of the deal too.

I've had a lot of sleepless nights lately. I don't know if it's the school stress getting to me, or if perhaps it's just a genetic thing. I remember my mom always getting up in the night when she was about this age. Last night I slept, but tossed and turned with dreams about caring for postpartum women in the hospital (I went to bed after doing homework for my OB class...) Whatever this is, I hope it passes - I'm exhausted.

In the past five or six years, I've tried to better who I am as a person. I'm still working on it, but I try my best to be patient, and kind, and helpful. I want to be mindful of the thoughts and feelings of others, and try to see things from the other person's place before I jump to conclusions. I get frustrated with myself when I stray from this effort. But I suppose we all have our days. If I keep at it I'll get better.

My ten year high school reunion is in a couple of weeks. Strangely, I'm not going. Most of my close friends in school were not from my graduating class, but I still would have liked to see everyone. I always planned to go, but it falls during a difficult time in the semester for me to get away, and the plane tickets were a lot more money than I'd like to pay for a two day trip. Honestly, though, the main event is a barbecue (read: kegger) at the lake. Funny how some things never change. Somehow I get the sensation that I'm not the only class of '97 graduate who isn't going to make a big effort (=spend money to fly) to get to that. Oh, well. There's always our twentieth.

Bedtime post.

Hi there. I tried to go to bed, but my mind wasn't quite ready for sleeping. Perhaps a little writing will do the trick.

We're in the middle of the third week of school. It's busy. I've had two weeks of inpatient pediatric clinicals, and they've gone well so far. Best thing about peds rotation = one day a week. Worst thing about peds rotation = twelve hour shifts. I'm seriously not a five AM kind of gal. I have a coffee pot, and on rare occasions I actually use it. Tuesday mornings at 5:00 are definitely some of those occasions.

Our first Montana Student Nurses' Association meeting was this week. We had pretty good turnout, and I think we'll have fun this year. I'm always impressed by my fellow students - our Community Health Director suggested some events and things we could do to volunteer our time, and sent around a sign up sheet for anyone interested. Everyone signed up. Nursing students are insanely busy, yet they all still want to volunteer their time and energy. Amazing people.

Luis's guitar recital is this Friday at the University of Montana. If you're interested in coming, contact me for additional information. It'll be good, you should go.

I'm off work this weekend, and I'm thrilled. It's been a busy couple of weeks, and I am ready for a break. I have a few homework assignments due Sunday, but other than that I'm planning to relax. I want to get to the Farmers' Market Saturday morning - there's only a few left for the year! I'm also running in the River City Roots Festival 4 mile run on Sunday. My friend Kate was looking for someone to run the race with her, and it sounded like fun. Hopefully I'll be able to check out some of the festival too.

I have an appointment at a bridal shop to try on wedding gowns later this week. Luis's brother Emilio found what he was sure would be the perfect dress, but I think I'm going to keep looking. :) I went dress shopping once this summer, and mostly I felt awkward being laced into twenty pounds of satin, beads and poof. (I also forgot to wear my engagement ring when I went to the boutique. That might have had something to do with it.) Anyhow, I think now that we've got a date and a location, dress hunting will be more fun.
Makes me wish my mom wasn't so far away.

Okay, I think I'm sufficiently tired now. G'night...

Stupid internet stuff...

...that always makes me laugh.

OMGWTFBBQ!

Internet people!
(Funny references, mildly lame song...)

"There is such a thing as a tesseract."

Madeleine L'Engle died yesterday.

Her books were a huge part of my childhood. I spent countless hours reading and rereading A Wrinkle in Time, and the other books in the Time Quartet. She created a beautiful world, a fantastic alternate universe. I spent a lot of time in her world as a kid.

Griz Country