Grades Update

I know you've all been on the edge of your seats. Waiting. Biting your nails. Wondering. "What did Jackie end up getting on that horrible, terrible, no-good-at-all microbiology test?!" Well ladies and gents, wait no more. Grades are in.

So, you remember I said it was a terrible test. Horrible even. I'm not exagerating when I say I guessed through about half of it's 100 questions. So you can imagine my surprise when I scrolled through my grade book to find an 83% next to "Test #1." 83? EIGHTY-THREE?! I'm sure she meant 38...so I checked again...nope...still says 83. WOW. My guessing abilities are scary good!

Oh and how about my Anatomy & Physiology test? Well...that one wasn't as good. 76%. I'll take it. Let's be honest...I really didn't study at all..so I guess that's my own fault. Luckily, this A&P class is a science course and doesn't have the ridiculously hard grading scale my nursing classes have.

Tomorrow brings another Foundations (fundamentals) test. I'm not worried and that worries me. Maybe it's because I rocked the last one... I can't get too cocky though, these are the tests that really matter. But, really, it should be lots of common sense...and I have a little bit of that. I suppose I should study, too, just to be safe. I better go load up my 20lb+ backpack and head into work. Please Lord, do NOT give me a typical terrible Tuesday in the birthplace. AMEN!

Oh..and how about a little birthday shout out to a super special lady?! She's amazing. She deserves a super stellar birthday and I hope she gets to spend it with her beautiful family! Although, I'd be okay celebrating her double time with her at work too :] Happy Birthday, Ana...you're awesome!! XOXO

Miss me?!

I'm a busy gal. There's no two ways around that. I was talking with a good friend the other day. I was complaining about feeling old and tired all the time. She said, "Not surprising. You live like a super hero but never wear the cape. That stuff isn't safe!" She's right. To an extent. I'm no super hero. But, I do lack sleep. And fun. Oh how I miss sleep. And fun. But for real...man am I tired. All the time. Like now. Tired. Wait...it's 4:30am...of course I'm tired. I've been up since about 8am yesterday...duh. This may have been a bad idea. Terrible. But, I do what I gotta do to get stuff done. And bloggers...working a double for Wednesday off was something I had to do. Lucky for me I have great coworkers, brownies (brought by an amazing coworker, Gina), and coffee. That's a mighty fine combo for 4:30am sleepiness.

Anyways, I had a point to this when I started...it's long gone now. I guess I will share a few random thoughts...through random pictures, of course.

Random Thought #426:

This is my backpack. You may remember me going on and on about it a few posts back. (We are still very much in love, in case you were wondering) Notice the reading on the scale? 20 pounds, 12.4 ounces. TWENTY POUNDS?! And that's just for one class...ufda. Now maybe you understand my wheelie bag post...

Random Though #942:

So, I've been trying to be better about being active. Not even going to the gym...just getting up and out and doing something...anything. It's hard for me. I'm always so tired. There's never any time. But, when I make time...I feel so much better. I feel energized. I know it's cliche, but I feel alive.

When I go out, this is what I see:

This is a trail I go running on near my house. It's a great trail. How could I not want to get out every day? A beautiful sunset. A quiet path. My iPod. No one to entertain. Just me. Time to reflect on the circus that is my life. Time to think. Not about school or work or relationships, just me. I never realized that sometimes it's okay to make it about me. And if going on a run alone in the sunset is how I get to be with me...then I should do it. Everyday. I will try to be better. I will be better. I will be a better me.

This is something else I saw on my run. An old utility pole. A creeping vine. Out in the middle of nowhere. For some reason it made me stop. Something about the way the one lone vine wrapped its way to the top. The way it left its other vine friends on the ground. To see over the trees. To be above it all. I think it's amazing.

Random Though #295:

I had my first "nursing" test last week. I studied. A lot. I drank coffee and read and highlighted and read some more. I took practice tests and looked up terms. I freaked out a little. I panicked. I thought I wouldn't know my stuff.



This is my study set up
Notice my sweet coffee cup



Note to self: don't doubt yourself. You're awesome. You know your stuff.

I rocked that test. One wrong. One stupid, stupid question. But, I'm over it.

I also had my first nutrition test and my first microbiology test. I've always feared nutrition a little, but I did okay. Satisfactory. Enough to keep an 'A' in the class. I could have done better...but I could have done worse. Now, micro...oh micro. I believe a few posts back I may have mentioned that micro was fun...I take that back times 100! Playing with bacteria and fire may be fun...but micro tests are NOT! Grades aren't in yet on that...but I know it won't be good. It can't be too good if you guessed on over half the test, right? Thank God I don't want to be a microbiologist. I'd be in big, BIG trouble!

Now this week I have an Anatomy & Physiology test on blood and the heart and the respiratory system. I should be studying...but I'm tired. Surprise, surprise.

Congratulations if you're still awake! This post was very long and pointless. For those of you that made it through, thank you for pitying me enough to read about my ever exciting (but quite whinny) life.

I better find myself a cape...today (because it's now 5:00am) is filled with a days worth of class and no time to sleep for this super hero wannabe.

Happy Sunday!

What is this a picture of?
Coffee, you say?
Yes, it is coffee...but more specifically...
It's a little piece of heaven in a paper cup.
You see the 'PS' written so fine?
That's 'pumpkin spice' and it's delicious.
The 'NF' and no whip?
Well that just means I don't have to feel bad for loving it so much.
The giant 'L' on the bottom?
That makes this a latte.
And this pumpkin spice latte makes me very happy!
It's only around in the fall,
so I have to take advantage of its deliciousness now :]

Now, what is this a picture of?

Nasal spray?

Yep! Exactly.

Why do I care to mention nasal spray?

Because, without this little gem I would not be able to taste my delicious latte.

It would just be a cup of hot liquid,

rather than the cup of awesome that it is.
I carry it in my purse for emergencies such as these.

Thank you, nasal spray!

Take that, "common cold!"

Ahhh yes,

HAPPY Sunday indeed!

ohhh and to top it all off...I just realized something.

Tomorrow is Labor Day.

For me, that means NO work and NO school. HAPPY Monday!!

Two weeks down...

...only 14 more to go! I know you've all been dying to hear about how school is going...well let me give you the low down!

I have officially survived two weeks of my first semester of nursing school! YAH ME!! (*happy dance*) I still have all my hair which means I have managed to keep my sanity up to this point. I know, I know...drama queen...it's just school...but I was really freaking out about this! The work load seems tough, but I think I can do it. Correction: I know I can do it. I will do it. (I really have no choice now!) I'm really trying to stay on top of my six classes (yes SIX, 16 credits...ufda) and so far I think I have the hang of it. I suppose I should be studying instead of blogging, but hey, everyone needs a little break now and again. Between work and school I have no life, but I knew that would be the case so I'm putting on my big girl panties and dealing with it. Although, I do miss family night with my boy and roomies :(

So, what have I learned thus far?! I know you're all wondering. Well, let me teach you a thing or two about a thing or two.

   -- 120/80 is no longer the "normal" range for blood pressure. It is now known as pre-hypertensive. There goes the only "normal" thing I had going for me.
   -- Apical pulses are extremely hard to do on my big-busted classmates. It's times like these I wish there were more guys in my class.
   -- Gram stains are FUN! Yah, I know...I'm a loser...but they are! I literally squeaked in excitement when I saw my first slide on the microscope. You wanna see a picture? Yes, I took a picture of my first ever Gram stain and yes I'm going to make you look at it too! Here it is : staphylococcus epidermidis. Pretty huh?

  
   -- Apparently, being an NA makes you God's gift to nursing school and you know EVERYTHING! I beg to differ. Shut your mouth...you just sound stupid. Let the teacher do her job, please! And please don't wear your scrubs to class...you look like you're trying too hard. I don't care that you just came from work...if that's the case, then I don't want you anywhere near me anyways! Change your clothes, I do! Sorry...that's enough.
   -- Medical Ethics is actually pretty interesting. But, our instructor isn't very well put together and it's all online which makes it hard to "discuss" things. Ever had a debate via the internet? It just doesn't have the same feeling. He even told us we're not allowed to use "!" because he doesn't want any "yelling" on the discussion boards. I better hold back my excitement! Oops.

Well, I guess that's about it. I'm racking my brain for actual life changing things that I've taken in but the cursor just blinks and my mind is blank...money well spent I guess! Maybe I should get back to studying...or working...shh :]

Hope all your families have great first days back to school!!