It's not just a color; it's a name, too.

While chit-chatting with an older female patient:

Pt: Where did you go to school?
Me: I went to high school over in Springfield*
Pt: Oh, Springfield! One of my best friends was from Springfield.
Me: Oh, that's nice!
Pt: Yeah, the black family.
Me: (moment of awkward silence) Hm, I only know of one black family - the Jetsons*?
Pt: No, dear, the Black family. Their name was Black.
Me: (another moment of awkward silence) Oooh, their name was Black. Well, there's not a lot of diversity in that town!


*Some names and locations have been changed

HIPAA

Left my camera at Mom's the other night so she and Josh could take pictures of "flood" damage. Hm. My reason for stating that was to explain why I'm not posting Florida pictures in this post, but I'm realizing now that my only Florida pictures from this year are of me in a kayak and of sunsets. Oh well, maybe the sunsets will make it on here some day soon.

Had a good time in Florida. I packed absolutely nothing related to school. Last year I brought a bunch of books and notes and thought I'd spend all this time studying, and I didn't crack a single book open. I wasn't about to make that mistake again.

I burned a mixed CD for Grammy, and she called a couple days later to tell me how much she likes it. I'm impressed with both of us for that!

Also burned a mixed CD for Mom because I got her addicted to a Kanye West song on the drive. I didn't know it was Kanye until I got back from Florida, in our defense. Anyway, is it not hilarious and awesome that my mom is obsessed with a Kanye song?



Was worried that I couldn't write about work due to HIPAA/privacy/etc. However, I'm pretty sure it's legally safe to tell you: last night an old man with dementia slapped my ass while we were changing his diaper. Yep. The male nurse who was helping me thought it was hilarious, mainly because of my reaction, which I don't even remember. One of the other nurses told me, "Oh yeah, it was only a matter of time." Hm. Good to know.

It's that time of year again...

Preparing for another trip to visit Grammy. I so desperately need a vacation after the last week. I had 3 fairly major projects due within 2 days. Ok, originally they weren't all due together like that - I was able to move 2 of them up a week so that I can skip town on Thursday instead of Friday. But all that school work in addition to working 3rd shift got exhausting.

So, Mom and I will be driving down again, and I hope to get another awesome photo of her screaming when the waves creep up her legs higher than she expects. I've made a country music playlist for the Kentucky and Tennessee portion of the ride. I generally hate country, but I've found a few things I like and a lot more that I can tolerate. I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy it in the moment. There's something about driving through Hicksville that makes me want to say Yeehaw, ya know?

In making this new playlist, I've also finally opened the new iPod I bought on Thanksgiving. I've been saving it. For what, exactly, I'm not sure, but I didn't want to corrupt it with my crappily labeled music files. I can't believe what I've been missing out on. This thing is so much nicer than the old iPod I was using (which I got for free). This new one has a camera (not that I'll ever use it), but what's most exciting is that it has a little speaker so that I can listen to music even if I don't have headphones on, AND it has this "genius" option that's kind of like Pandora and will pull songs from my computer that go well together. Maybe all this technology is old news, but it's new to me.

I'm thinking we'll be going through Atlanta sometime near the breakfast hour on the 2nd day, so I've found a cute little breakfast place that I want to try. Haven't told Mom about that yet, but I'm driving, so I suppose I have control over where we go, eh??

As far as new things in my life...I dated a guy for a few months, which is basically a record for me since like 2001. Guys very rarely get beyond a 2nd or 3rd date with me. For a while I thought maybe I had issues or something, but I have since concluded that most single men around my age are, for lack of a better term, psychotic losers. Anyway, this last guy was not a psychotic loser, but he does live in Ohio, about a 2 and a half hour drive away. He ended things, and I was pretty sad about it at first, but I've since realized that I'm fine. I mean, who honestly wants their future to be in OHIO? And, it's nice not to have to always be traveling.

So now that my future is not destined to be in the most boring state in this country, I've been brainstorming...and I've got a tentative plan. More details on that as April 2011 nears.

The Nursing Assistant job is pretty good. I hated it at first, but I'm getting used to it and although I don't love it, it's great experience. I miss my old coworkers. My new coworkers aren't bad, but I had a lot of fun with the people in the recovery room. It's definitely a different world on an inpatient unit, and I'm getting used to working 3rd shift and weekends...

Been talking about running a 5k in May. Have done very little to begin preparing for it as I'm not much of a runner. I'll probably start getting more diligent about it after Florida because I am determined to do this 5k thing, and I don't want be the last one to finish. I believe Mom and Sarah are doing it, too, and they better not back out!

A few more days of daily drudge and then I'll be hanging out with retirees watching the sunrise and kayaking for a week. Be jealous!

This is what my Friday nights have come to?

Well, Sarah is out of town for the weekend, so I have taken her two girls to ease the "kid load" at her home. First up was the Care Bears Movie, and now it's Charlotte's Web 2. Family Video has free kids movies (not the cool new releases) even if you don't rent adult movies. We got pizza for dinner, which was more of a treat for me than it was for the girls.

I did get a new job, but not the one I previously mentioned. I will be a Nursing Assistant, don't know when I start yet. Still with my same employer, just a different department and much better experience for nursing. I am excited, but I'm also sad to leave my current department because the people there are so awesome.

I tried to start a load of laundry during the Care Bears, but I forgot my roommate mentioned the washer was making a weird noise and smell earlier. Well, if I had any doubts in the truth of that statement, I no longer do. I ended up turning the washer off. So now I have a resting washer full of soap, water, and clothes. I guess I will call maintenance in the morning...I'm hoping it will get us a new washer, but figuring they'll take it all apart and replace a part or something.

Ok, cartoons and employment opportunities can only be exciting for a couple of paragraphs. Mostly just wanted to write something because Mom is addicted to the internet and needs new material to occupy her time.

Helloooo.

Well, Grammy and Aunt Linda came to visit a month or two ago, and one of them requested that I write more. I suppose they want to know what's going on in my life, but there really is not much going on in my life.

Typically, I'm exhausted because I have school all day and work all night. Little known secret: I'm waiting to hear back about an interview on a different unit at the hospital. I don't think the hours will be any better, but the experience will be better, and that's important. I'll be a little sad to leave the recovery room if I get the new job. I don't mind my job one bit, and I (generally) enjoy the people I work with.

I'm sure if you haven't heard this from me, you've heard from my mom that I moved out. One of my friends from nursing school and I got an apartment together. It's a lot of fun, and it's nice living closer to school and work. I do miss Mom's cooking, though (and Mom...). The nutritional value of my meals has plummeted since moving out. (Hint, hint - send a girl some sliced mangoes and pasta e fagioli, lady!)

See, I told you nothing exciting is going on...

Some people get 15 minutes; I get about a second and a half.

I'm at about 10 seconds in this one.





And about 17 or 18 seconds in this one. This was the shot where they wanted me to have my "Tyra Banks Moment" and be all serious for the camera. Like that's something I'm capable of. The commercial flies right through each shot, anyway, so I don't know why it was so important for them to take 15 million shots over and over of one thing.

HIV/AIDS Fundraiser

Hey, my friend Pat is riding his bike really effing far for an HIV/AIDS fundraiser, but he needs to raise $3000 in order to be able to ride in this thing. Maybe you can help him reach his goal...and aren't donations tax deductable??

Here's the direct link to his fundraising page:
www.tofighthiv.org/goto/pattyt

I think you have to copy and paste that into your address bar. (Mom, I can help you.)

Just click on the orange link that says "DONATE TO SUPPORT PATRICK"

Anyway, thought I'd help spread the word for him.