An update, sorta

It's been over a month since my last post and really not a lot has happened since then. Probably why it's been a month, huh. Work has been kinda crazy....well work's the same it's the people I work with that are crazy. Monday we will have a new DON. Fun, fun...hopefully she doesn't change anything dramatically all at once. This place does better with baby steps, and she's gonna have a fight when she does try to change what needs changing. Not from me 'cause the place needs some changes, but some of the other employees will not like it.

Still waiting on acceptance letters (or reject letters, I really would like to know one way or the other). I got a letter in the mail from BCHS yesterday...was hoping for news, any news...but it's just a note saying that I meet admissions criteria and they are currently reviewing applications and will notify everyone the first week of April. Dammit. I'm waiting on Keiser to get of their hiney's and send my transcript over to Memphis so if I don't get in to BCHS I can begin working on plan B. Which is quickly becoming plan A, the more I think of it the more I want to do it. I'm thinking of going RN-Md though. That way I can work weekends or whatever and make more money to pay for school and bills so that Hubby doesn't have quite the burden.

Well gotta go kiddies are home and so I need to listen to how their day at school was. Hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful spring weather. 68 and sunny, gotta love it.

Hopes and Dreams and Food Challenge Update

I'm excited about this summer. I'm planning on attending University of Memphis(Go Tigers!) majoring in Chemistry with a concentration in BioChem and maybe a minor in Biology. This is all for my pre-med work. With luck, in 3-4 years I'll apply and be accepted into UT Memphis (Go Vols!) and be on my way to being a doctor. Then, if the fates smile upon me graciously, I'll get a residency in Memphis or near here. Or what the heck by then all the kids will be out of h.s. and maybe a change of pace will be due. Anyway hopefully, if all goes accordingly to plan(and Mice will tell you about the best laid plans of Men,right) I'll be Dr. Jackie in about 10-11 years.

I tell this to people I work with and they are like "Why? Just become a nurse and start working and earn money." Well I'm not in it for the money. I'm in it 'cause I love it. I love the bloody, messy, confusing, frantic, mundane, frustrating aspects of medicine. For years I've told people I wanted to be a nurse. But, the only reason I've wanted to be a nurse is 'cause I was scared of the time it took to be a doctor. Now, it doesn't really seem that long. So I'll be 41-42 when I start to practice. That's nothing when your used to seeing people ages ranging from 70-103. We also have a doctor who comes and sees pts at the nursing home who just turned 82. 82! That would be 40 years of practice if I started at 42. Most likely I'm looking at around 30 years of practice...that is a long time. A 30 year old car is an antique. I will be 47 when I reach my 30th wedding anniversary. 30 years is a good long time.

I'm not worried about the time or cost of school. Nothing I can do about either. It's more important to go into a career that I'm confident I'll love(at least 80% of the time) and not tire of(much). Nursing is a great career, but I never wanted to just be a RN I wanted to be a FNP(family nurse practitioner). That's 8 years of school...so whats as couple more years. I'm not old and as long as I have a will to continue learning I'll never be old.

Okay enough of that. Here's my Food Challenge update: Thrown away; leftover chicken wings, one slice of pizza, small baggie of cabbage. Not too bad. Not zero, but we've done worse and I'm glad I'm doing this challenge and making myself aware of what we waste.

Food Challenge Check-in

I've been doing the Food Waste Reduction Challenge from the Crunchy Chicken blog. So far so good...the only wasted thing was about a quarter gallon of milk(maybe not even that much) that has gone past its expiration date. Everything else has either been used the next day for my lunch at work or remade into a different meal a day or two later. For example, chili was turned into chili dogs then used later in a baked nachos dish that went over well. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes and gravy was partially used as my lunch and a cabbage roll casserole type dish(again that went over real well too). All in all I'm pleased with the results and hope to continue to do well in this challenge.

I'm going to try a challenge

I decided to try Crunch Chicken's Food Waste Reduction Challenge 2010. I think it'll be interesting to see how I can utilize leftovers (reuse or freeze for later use) and keep from throwing away spoiled food that has been forgotten in the fridge. You can read all the rules for the challenge at the link above or the link in the sidebar. I need to make myself a rule, if I freeze something I need to use it within two weeks...because if I don't I'm likely to end up with lots of mystery meals in the deep freezer.

Making Plans

Well, I've been making plans in case I don't get accepted into the nursing program for next fall. Yesterday I filled out an application for University of Memphis with a Major in Chemistry. I plan on doing a Major in Chemistry w/ a concentration in Biochemistry with possibly a minor in Biology. What does that all have to do with nursing? Not much. I've decided that if I don't get into the nursing program then I'll switch and go for medicine. The new requirements for a Nurse Practitioner (has to have a doctorate now) takes 7-8 years. To be a doctor in Family medicine takes 10-11 years. 3 years, to me, is not that big of difference. So I decided to reach for the brass ring and, all subject to me not being accepted into the nursing program, go for the MD. To be honest with myself, I would probably make a better doctor then a nurse. I have a tendency to strive for more autonomy then allowed. I will be in my 40s when all's said and done....but that still gives me at about 30 years or more to practice. 10 years...my youngest son and I will be graduating at the same time, him high school and me college. We'll have to through a heck of a graduation party.

Hubby has said he doesn't mind...he said if he hasn't minded about me going to school the past 10 years (on and off) why would he mind another 10. I have such a great hubby...now he better make sure to stay on top of the buildings he's working on from now out(yesterday he took a tumble..managed to catch himself, but the thought of him falling is terrifying and I don't like reminders of how dangerous his job is.)

I'll post more when I know more. Now I'm off to print out transcript requests to send to the 3 other colleges I've attended so that I'll be ready for U of M this summer (Go Tigers!).

Hello 2010!

It's been a year...not a great year, not a bad year just a year. I took some classes and tried to get into a nursing program but was rejected due to lack of space. My youngest son had surgery on his ear. I now have two children in middle school and two in elementary. My oldest son is now a teenager. That is about it for 2009. Nothing spectacular happened but nothing super traumatic either. I guess it's kinda nice in a way to have it that way. I hope that 2010 sees me going into a nursing program. Even if that doesn't happen I will go back to school in August if nothing else just to pursue another degree. I've came to the decision that if I do not get accepted in to Baptist College I'll try for Memphis' nursing program. If I'm not accepted into that one then I will pursue another career choice and will decide that perhaps nursing is not for me even though it is a dream...I guess sometimes our dreams can lead us down a wrong path. Don't know, not gonna dwell on that at the moment will think on it more IF I happen to get to that particular fork in the road.

As for new year resolutions, I wasn't going to make any. I since decided why not. It helps me to have a goal...even if I only stick with it a short time. So for 2010:

1. I want to continue to gain knowledge on how to be healthier and try harder to implement that knowledge in mine and my family's life. I'm looking for that Aha moment. That information that I believe I can use and stick with that my family will like.

2. I want to finish my projects. I have a number of knitting and woodburning projects started or at least in the planning stage that I have yet to finish. I want to start finishing what I start.

3. I want my garden to succeed this year. Past two years I ended up letting my garden go to weeds due to lack of attention from my part. This year I'm going to make myself tend to it on a regular basis.

4.Paint my house. I'm tired of white walls, it's my home I want it to reflect mine and my family's personalities.

5. I would like to put be more organized on here but I don't know if that has a chance of happening. I would like to start small though. Buying hanging files so that I can keep important papers where I can find them if needed. Getting an in and outbox for kiddies school papers that need to be signed or shown to me. Seeing the top of my desk would be nice as well. If I can do that then I think I can start on organizing the rest of my life, lol.

Well that's a good start I think. Some of my resolutions are repeats of prior years so I really outta add to actually finish my resolutions...but I think I've said that before. Anyway I hope everyone reading this has a blessed 2010 and may all your hopes and dreams for the year come true.

25 Things You Had No Desire to Know

Carmen from Mom to the Screaming Masses

had this and I thought I would do it too as I'm home from work about 8 hours early and will do about anything at the moment rather then the necessary housecleaning I ought to be doing.

1. Name someone with the same birthday as you. My coworker Solange.

2. Where was your first kiss? I think Skateland....most likely Skateland, at one of those all night skates.

3. Have you ever seriously vandalized someone else’s property? Nope I'm too afraid of getting in trouble to have even considered doing that

4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex? Yes but only in play.

5. Have you ever sung in front of a large number of people? Only in elementary school during Christmas programs in a group with other kids singing as well. I get stage fright too bad to do any solo.

6. What’s the first thing you notice about your preferred sex? The entire package...then their smile...ooo and arms, I love well defined biceps.

7. What really turns you off? rudeness, lack of empathy, lack of courtesy

8. What do you order at Starbucks? Well I don't go to Starbucks often...paying 5.00 for a cup of coffee throws me off. When I do go it's usually a Frappucino. I went last week with a friend and had a Caramel Brulee Latte that was mmm so good.

9. What is your biggest mistake? No real big mistakes come to mind...lots of smaller ones I wish I would of done differently.

10. Have you ever hurt yourself on purpose? Nope only accidentally.

11. Say something totally random about yourself. I can still do a backbend :)

12. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? Nope.

13. Do you still watch kiddie movies or TV shows? Only if the kiddies force me too. It's terrifying when they get out the duct tape and bungee cords (yes bungee cords so if I try to escape I'm slammed back where I was...I've bore demon spawn I swear). I try to run and hide but being so unfairly outnumbered they always find me (they may be demon spawn but they are very clever demon spawn).

14. Did you have braces? nope

15. Are you comfortable with your height? Now, yes. When I was a teenager I wanted to be shorter.

16. What is the most romantic thing someone of the preferred sex has done for you? Made dinner, cleaned house, let me go and take a nap when i'm tired or not feeling well( and I tell him to wake me up in 30 minutes and he lets me sleep for two hours), being my rock. My hubby tries with little things and it's the little things that count.

17. When do you know it’s love? When you can screw up royally, and there is still hugs and kisses and forgiveness. (Not my answer, but I like Headless Mom's!)<---I have to agree with this one

18. Do you speak any other languages? took 3 years of Spanish in High school. I can ask you what your name is, say hi/bye, count to thirty (after that it gets a bit rusty), and say the names of a very few objects. Other then that it's American English all the way.

19. Have you ever been to tanning salon? Nope and never plan on going. I've seen women who go and they seem to age so fast. I'd rather keep my face as wrinkle free as I can as long as possible. I have no want to have skin like leather.

20. Have you ever ridden in a limo? Yes, my uncle treated me to a limo ride one year.

21. What’s something that really annoys you? People who don't pick up after themselves

22. What’s something you really like? Reading

23. Can you dance? Nope but I pretend I can when no one is home, lol.

24. Have you ever been rushed by an ambulance into the emergency room?Nope

25. Tag 5 people! Everyone who wants it!