randomandi.

Tonight there are lots of Halloween parties. Sadly, I'm not going to any. I didn't realize until today that this weekend would be the weekend for going out in costume, because I've been super busy lately and I just completely spaced it. It's a bummer, because I love Halloween... I suppose I still could have gone out, but after working eleven hours today the thought of putting on anything besides my jammies was just too much.

Sometimes, when I'm feeling particularly indulgent, I'll sprinkle my pasta liberally with parmesan cheese, eat the cheesy top layer of noodles, coat the next level with more cheese, and eat that too. I continue the process clear down to the bottom of my bowl. Mmm.

I have two tests next week. Ick.

The Jane Austen Book Club. Becoming Jane. They think they've got us all figured out... and yeah, they probably do. Although personally, I'm inclined to wait for video, as neither has gotten great reviews. I'm rereading Sense and Sensibility right now, and once we get a break from school, I think we're going to do a girls' night and watch all six hours of Pride and Prejudice. Sigh.

Go Sox!

I cannot believe that this is the last week of October. I'm still confused about where September went, and now it's practically November. Holy hell.

My bangs are really long. I'd cut them myself, but then my hairdresser would yell at me. I'll have to remember to make an appointment for next week.

I don't know if I'll do a bouquet toss at my wedding. I only have a handful of unmarried girlfriends coming, and I always found the tradition highly embarrassing as a singleton.

Okay, time for more homework. If I can force another forty-five minutes of concentration out of myself tonight, tomorrow's cram session will be that much easier.

All things miscellany...

Due to the large number of projects I've taken on for this year, I figured that I might be a little more stressed than normal.
Yep.
There's this constant low-level stress humming in the background of my head almost all the time lately. I feel like I'm managing okay, and I think that I'll get everything done that needs to be done. Sadly, when I get busy, the first thing to go is my social life. The second thing to go is my skin. So basically, this fall I've become a recluse with acne.

Missoula is so beautiful in the fall - the neighborhood near campus is a riot of reds and oranges. I love the cool, crisp smell of the autumn leaves.

I'm a feminist and a cynic, so I have a tough time with some of the wedding crowd. For example, I like the idea of do-it-yourself wedding projects, but I have a hard time not poking fun at some of the women on the wedding websites. They all have screen names and graphics that say things like "257 days until I get MARRIED!!!" or "future Mrs. Peterson!" Seriously, gag me with a cake topper. I understand the excitement of getting married, and I understand being excited about having a wedding. I know that these girls are probably just giddy in love, and that I shouldn't be so judgemental. But, I hate the idea of a woman basing her sense of self worth solely on her marital status, and I sincerely hope that they realize how wonderful and important they are all by themselves, whether a Mrs. or not...

Last week was my first week of ob clinicals, and I got to watch a young woman give birth. It was the first birth I've ever been present for, and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. The joy in that room was so tangible it made my heart swell. It was human nature at its' best, its' most pure. It makes me excited about starting my own family someday...

I came to work this evening, and there was a huge jar of candy setting on the counter next to my computer. I, being the good girl, relocated it to the break room. However... I, also being the hormonal one, have been back to visit the break room three times since. :)

Tomorrow I'm running a 5k in the 2007 Pumpkin Run. I've never done a 5k before, and I'm hoping that I can push myself to go a little faster than my usual pace, since it's only 3.1 miles. Proceeds from the event go to the Missoula Food Bank. Should be a good time.

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...

Yeesh.

Thank god it's a three day weekend starting tomorrow.

I didn't know it was possible to be this far behind after only four days of school. Holy hell.

Another year, and other updates.

Yesterday was the first day of classes this semester. I'm impressed by my professors, as they all seem organized and highly competent. The organizational factor makes a difference in the student experience for any class, but particularly so in nursing classes. We divide our time between classroom lectures, lab simulations, and in- and outpatient clinical settings, so if the teacher or course isn't very organized it becomes a scheduling nightmare.
I'm excited for my clinicals this semester. This fall we're in obstetrics and pediatrics, so there's all sorts of settings we'll get to work in - hospital for deliveries, pediatrics and NICU, pediatrician's offices, school nurse offices, hearing and eye screenings for children. We might get to do some health teaching classes with kids. It will be a nice change from med/surg.

Around the 20th of August a damp, cool weather front moved through, which cleared the smoke and helped to calm the fires a bit. Sadly, between the cooler weather and the prior weeks of gray smoky skies, we ended summer early this year. My tan lines faded even before classes began. As I'm writing this, the temperature on my desktop weather reads 44°.

This Saturday is the first Griz football game of the season. I wasn't able to go any last year (I was scheduled to work during every home game!), so I'm excited to get to a couple this season. I may be an MSU student, but I'm still a Griz fan. :)

Feeling the crunch.

I'm in the throes of end-of-semester madness. This is without a doubt the most pressure I've felt ever at the end of a semester. I have several projects and papers that came due at the same time, and poor planning on my part has me scrambling to finish some independent clinical hours that I need for a class. Ick. Time management has never been my strong suit, but I'm working on it. Better luck next semester, I guess...

On a much more exciting note, tomorrow is my first ever road race! I'm running 10k in the Riverbank Run. I'm not fast, but I'm enthusiastic. The weather is supposed to be sunny and 75°. It's going to be a great day. :)

Last day.

last day of med/surg clinicals, originally uploaded by mandapanda191.

Today was my last day of medical/surgical clinicals for this semester.
It's amazing, how far we've come in just a few short months. We showed up on the first day with no idea how to care for patients in the hospital. Books and lectures and skills labs can only get you so far, and the rest you have to learn by doing. By today, we could all manage total care for two patients.
I have wonderful classmates (two-thirds of them are pictured here), and great clinical instructors as well. It's been an awesome experience. I can't wait for next semester.

Sick.

Tomorrow I have a test to take and a project to turn in. Today, unfortunately, I am sick. I was fighting a scratchy throat throughout the latter part of last week, but yesterday I woke up and it had clearly won the battle. My ears are fuzzy and my head is dizzy, and there are hundreds of fire ants performing a ritualistic dance in the back of my throat. I just doused them in DayQuil, and I have now dragged my sorry butt out of bed to finish typing up my Gordon's Functional Health Patterns project.

I did well on the first two exams in my health assessment class, but this third one covers, among other things, function and physical examination of the neurological system. I'm good with the exam part, but terrible with the anatomy. I have a complete mental block when it comes to memorizing the ascending and descending tracts of the nervous system. Every time I try to force this stuff into my head, my brain glazes over, and all of the information slides back out into a pile on my notes. I'll have another look at it later tonight, hopefully I can get it to stick at least long enough to sit the test...

Tomorrow is my only day of class this week - Wednesday begins the Thanksgiving break. I'm looking forward to Margaret's amazing cooking, making my grandma's green bean casserole recipe, and spending some quality time sleeping. Perhaps the mess in my apartment will get a little attention as well...

In addition to putting up my before and after haircut photos here, I also posted them to my Flickr account. Today I got a stalker-esque comment on one:

"geomai says: That was nice of you for donating your hair and you are still a hottie. In fact I think it looks better short on you."

Flattered? Sure. Creeped out? Little bit... I don't know this guy from Adam. Although, when you put stuff about yourself on the internet you have to expect it, and eventally you do start to get used to it. I've met some really neat people online (*nods to four of the fifteen or so people reading this blog*), and I'm all for making new friends. His only error, I think, was the lack of communique prior to the comment. Generally, before making a comment like this, it seems as though some introductory comment may be in order. (Very often, those comments begin with something along the lines of "Hi, I'm not a stalker...) I think I'll send him a flickr message introducing myself, and perhaps we'll be friends.