What a year this has been! When I look back over the past 12 months, many things come to mind. Firstly, where did the time go? At first glance it feels like I've been sleepwalking, or like I didn't savor enough, didn't stop to smell the roses, didn't take time to slow down.
Secondly, did I accomplish much this year? At first glance it sure doesn't seem like it, but as I think back I realize just how many wonderful things have manifested into my life. It helps to make lists of life experiences. It helps to recap so we never forget how blessed we are. So, here's to you, 2009. Thank you for testing and strengthening my marriage. Thank you for the ICU job and all the wonderful folks it has brought into my life. Thank you for the trips to the mountains and to Costa Rica, and for the drive up to Pennsylvania. Thank you for the classes and the exams and the transcripts, and the undergraduate degree. Thank you for Abraham, and for Linc. Thank you for making me smarter, stronger, and wiser. Thank you for SALSA. Thank you for new and renewed friendships. Thank you for family. Thank you for my father and my mother. Thank you for guiding my sister. Thank you for music. Thank you!
Tomorrow I work my last 12 hour shift as an ICU tech. It will be bittersweet. I love those people. I never expected that...what a pleasant surprise they have been. I have seen and done more than I could have ever imagined, and I have made lasting friendships that have truly changed my life forever! For this I am extremely appreciative. Next week, I start packing this place up, and the week after that I'm outta here. I am in awe of my life right now. I feel I am exactly where I need to be. All creative components have come together for me, and all that is left to do is be! Be me...be true to myself!
Goodbye, 2009. Hello, and welcome, 2010! It's gonna be fast, fun ride. Bring it on!!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Success!
After ten long years, I am finally a college graduate!!!! *HAPPY DANCE!!!!
I just got word from the dean of my department that I have satisfied the requirements for the B. Mus. degree I have been seeking for the last ten years of my life. It feels so, so good, and I'm proud that I went back and earned what was rightfully mine!
I am living proof that you can have/be/do/become whatever you want. Nothing is impossible!
My life just keeps getting better and better and better. I'm heading to the mall tomorrow for some much needed winter clothing. By this time next week I will be done with organic chemistry. I leave my job in two weeks (YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!). AND...I relocate to the snow covered hills in a month! Sweet! I'm sure gonna miss my family, especially my hubby and puppy. I wish I could take them with me, but I know they must stay behind. I really do want the cop to further his career and focus on his own goals. He's so smart and so loving. It's time he does some soul searching and figure out how to go about advancing to where he needs to be, and I am in total support of him and of his goals.
Well, one more night off then it's back to work. I love Sundays...I usually cook a nice meal, spend two hours or so doing my hair, go visit family, and lounge around the house. Maybe I'll finish off that bottle of Riesling!
I just got word from the dean of my department that I have satisfied the requirements for the B. Mus. degree I have been seeking for the last ten years of my life. It feels so, so good, and I'm proud that I went back and earned what was rightfully mine!
I am living proof that you can have/be/do/become whatever you want. Nothing is impossible!
My life just keeps getting better and better and better. I'm heading to the mall tomorrow for some much needed winter clothing. By this time next week I will be done with organic chemistry. I leave my job in two weeks (YEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSS!!!). AND...I relocate to the snow covered hills in a month! Sweet! I'm sure gonna miss my family, especially my hubby and puppy. I wish I could take them with me, but I know they must stay behind. I really do want the cop to further his career and focus on his own goals. He's so smart and so loving. It's time he does some soul searching and figure out how to go about advancing to where he needs to be, and I am in total support of him and of his goals.
Well, one more night off then it's back to work. I love Sundays...I usually cook a nice meal, spend two hours or so doing my hair, go visit family, and lounge around the house. Maybe I'll finish off that bottle of Riesling!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Too Damn Cold
The cop and I just returned from apartment shopping up north. It snowed the entire time. All I have to say is I hope I can acclimate quickly to a much colder climate.
Anyone who knows me knows I can't stand being cold. I guess I should have taken that into consideration before I applied to this one PA program. Common sense should have told me that if I plan to move north, I'm gonna be cold most of the time. Damn it. Oh well! I'm hoping I'll be on the move so much, I won't even notice how cold it is. I may even come to like it...maybe.
We had a great time up there. This was the cop's first time setting foot on my campus, and I hadn't been there since my interview over a year ago. And yes, we secured an apartment! It's absolutely perfect for me: spacious, clean, secure, affordable, and only 2 minutes away from campus. I'm looking forward to moving in.
My main focus now is making sure the cop is well taken care of while I'm away. He's a good cook, and a great housekeeper. I just hope he actually does these things while I'm gone. I don't think he'll have a choice! I sure will miss him and Linc, and my family. All of them have been so supportive. Well, it's getting down to the wire. Christmas is almost here. O-Chem is almost done. I'll begin my journey to competent medical practice sooner than I realize.
Anyone who knows me knows I can't stand being cold. I guess I should have taken that into consideration before I applied to this one PA program. Common sense should have told me that if I plan to move north, I'm gonna be cold most of the time. Damn it. Oh well! I'm hoping I'll be on the move so much, I won't even notice how cold it is. I may even come to like it...maybe.
We had a great time up there. This was the cop's first time setting foot on my campus, and I hadn't been there since my interview over a year ago. And yes, we secured an apartment! It's absolutely perfect for me: spacious, clean, secure, affordable, and only 2 minutes away from campus. I'm looking forward to moving in.
My main focus now is making sure the cop is well taken care of while I'm away. He's a good cook, and a great housekeeper. I just hope he actually does these things while I'm gone. I don't think he'll have a choice! I sure will miss him and Linc, and my family. All of them have been so supportive. Well, it's getting down to the wire. Christmas is almost here. O-Chem is almost done. I'll begin my journey to competent medical practice sooner than I realize.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A Year in Review
So, I've been blogging a little over a year now! How cool is that?
I love lists! I'm always writing them, revising them, and re-writing them to make them better than the last. Lists help you to stay organized, and they keep you on track. It's an easy way to outline your goals, and to be sure you are meeting them. I recall this time last year that I blogged about my goals for this year. Here is a list of those goals:
1. Finish my degree: I can do this one of two ways. Either transfer the credits or go back to my alma mater and spend a sememster there. I would prefer the former, but at this point, NOTHING is gonna stop me from getting that worthless, useless piece of paper.
2. Finish my last two prerequisite courses: both are chemistry courses. I think I will do just fine with this.
3. Gain meaningful healthcare experience: I have 500+ hours under my belt so far, but as you all know, my goal is to work in a hospital setting where I can utilize my critical thinking skills and learn simple procedures.
4. Learn as many simple procedures on my own in the meantime: Any courses I can take to learn skills will be a huge benefit to me (ie. phlebotomy next Friday!!!!!)
5. Learn to read simple Chest radiographs: I LOVE reading xrays. To me, this is a really important goal. I want to be able to look at a shadow and tell if it's abnormal or not...then go from there.
6. Learn how to read EKG's: Yes...this was something that was suggested to me. Once you have a really solid reference, EKG's make a whole lot of sense. Not too difficult. Once you know the basics, it's all about reading often so you don't loose the skill.
In retrospect, I can honestly say I have done all of the above! My undergraduate degree has been completed (thank you God), in two weeks I will complete my last prerequisite course, I have secured a great hospital-based job, and this job has exposed me to many procedures (central lines, A lines, ventriculostomies, phlebotomy, IV insertion, foley insertion), I know how to read and interpret simple chest radiographs, AND I'm pretty darn good at reading EKG's.
I'm impressed, if I do say so myself!
I love lists! I'm always writing them, revising them, and re-writing them to make them better than the last. Lists help you to stay organized, and they keep you on track. It's an easy way to outline your goals, and to be sure you are meeting them. I recall this time last year that I blogged about my goals for this year. Here is a list of those goals:
1. Finish my degree: I can do this one of two ways. Either transfer the credits or go back to my alma mater and spend a sememster there. I would prefer the former, but at this point, NOTHING is gonna stop me from getting that worthless, useless piece of paper.
2. Finish my last two prerequisite courses: both are chemistry courses. I think I will do just fine with this.
3. Gain meaningful healthcare experience: I have 500+ hours under my belt so far, but as you all know, my goal is to work in a hospital setting where I can utilize my critical thinking skills and learn simple procedures.
4. Learn as many simple procedures on my own in the meantime: Any courses I can take to learn skills will be a huge benefit to me (ie. phlebotomy next Friday!!!!!)
5. Learn to read simple Chest radiographs: I LOVE reading xrays. To me, this is a really important goal. I want to be able to look at a shadow and tell if it's abnormal or not...then go from there.
6. Learn how to read EKG's: Yes...this was something that was suggested to me. Once you have a really solid reference, EKG's make a whole lot of sense. Not too difficult. Once you know the basics, it's all about reading often so you don't loose the skill.
In retrospect, I can honestly say I have done all of the above! My undergraduate degree has been completed (thank you God), in two weeks I will complete my last prerequisite course, I have secured a great hospital-based job, and this job has exposed me to many procedures (central lines, A lines, ventriculostomies, phlebotomy, IV insertion, foley insertion), I know how to read and interpret simple chest radiographs, AND I'm pretty darn good at reading EKG's.
I'm impressed, if I do say so myself!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Not much out of the ordinary happened around here. The cop and I both worked Thanksgiving night, but were rewarded with a three day weekend! I went salsa dancing last night (yes!!!), and we both head back to work tomorrow night. There's still plenty of food around here, but I'm starting to get tired of turkey and dressing. There's only so much I can eat...
The start of PA school is looming. On Friday we travel north to go apartment shopping! I'm hoping to secure something while I'm there. That would be one less thing to worry about. So far, all is going according to plan. O-Chem is going extremely well, and I'm slowly crossing some bare necessities off of the shopping list. Next week, I submit my resignation at work. Only one more month to go and I'm outta here.
I can honestly say this is the best time of my life right now. I'm realizing dreams I've had for years. Everything is falling into place just as I intended. I couldn't be happier!
Not much out of the ordinary happened around here. The cop and I both worked Thanksgiving night, but were rewarded with a three day weekend! I went salsa dancing last night (yes!!!), and we both head back to work tomorrow night. There's still plenty of food around here, but I'm starting to get tired of turkey and dressing. There's only so much I can eat...
The start of PA school is looming. On Friday we travel north to go apartment shopping! I'm hoping to secure something while I'm there. That would be one less thing to worry about. So far, all is going according to plan. O-Chem is going extremely well, and I'm slowly crossing some bare necessities off of the shopping list. Next week, I submit my resignation at work. Only one more month to go and I'm outta here.
I can honestly say this is the best time of my life right now. I'm realizing dreams I've had for years. Everything is falling into place just as I intended. I couldn't be happier!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Orientation Packets are in!
I need a break from O-Chem...
So, the long awaited orientation packets are in. All I have to say is wow! I've been so focused on the studying, the classes, and volume of material I'll be learning that I forgot all the preliminary stuff that must be done before I can even set foot into my first class. Name tags, medical history forms, physical examinations, parking permits, medical equipment, background checks...I still have LOTS to do before I leave for PA school.
Not to mention I still have to secure an apartment. I think that is the least of my worries for right now. My main concerns are completing this chemistry course, getting all my undergrad stuff done, and packing. I have decided to submit my resignation at work on the first of December. That should give them plenty of time to find a replacement. I've also decided my departure date: January 14! I'm so ready to get this party started!!!
My goal for this blog once school begins is to take the readers along with me as I go through this process. Most pre-PA students live vicariously through those that are actually experiencing PA school. I know that's what I did. My favorite blogs were always the ones that made me feel like I was experiencing what the author was experiencing. I want this blog to serve the same purpose for my readers. I plan on debuting this blog in January once school starts.
So, the long awaited orientation packets are in. All I have to say is wow! I've been so focused on the studying, the classes, and volume of material I'll be learning that I forgot all the preliminary stuff that must be done before I can even set foot into my first class. Name tags, medical history forms, physical examinations, parking permits, medical equipment, background checks...I still have LOTS to do before I leave for PA school.
Not to mention I still have to secure an apartment. I think that is the least of my worries for right now. My main concerns are completing this chemistry course, getting all my undergrad stuff done, and packing. I have decided to submit my resignation at work on the first of December. That should give them plenty of time to find a replacement. I've also decided my departure date: January 14! I'm so ready to get this party started!!!
My goal for this blog once school begins is to take the readers along with me as I go through this process. Most pre-PA students live vicariously through those that are actually experiencing PA school. I know that's what I did. My favorite blogs were always the ones that made me feel like I was experiencing what the author was experiencing. I want this blog to serve the same purpose for my readers. I plan on debuting this blog in January once school starts.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Where has the time gone?
It's been a month since my last post! Goodness...where does the time go? Life has been busy, but not that busy. I've been having the time of my life, though!
Finally...FINALLY... we are working three twelve hour shifts at work. No more driving to work five days a week. No more 8-hour shifts. I finally have a life outside of work. The cop and I finally have time to go out and enjoy one another. And...I can go salsa dancing more often. Yesssss!! Most importantly, I have time to complete my Organic chemistry assignments. Speaking of which, I should be doing homework right now. Three weeks in, and I'm already on chapters 8 and 9. This Thursday I begin chapters 10 and 11, and I take my midterm this weekend! Talk about determination!
It seems everyday I'm receiving some sort of correspondence from PA school. I am looking to receive my orientation packet this week, and I have already registered for the first round of classes. 7 classes totaling 16 credits! Bring...it...on! Because of O-Chem, I've had to take a break from brushing up on Anatomy and Physiology, but I think I got a lot out of the little I did review. I mainly focused on Neuroanatomy and Physiology, which has always been a weak point for me. I feel like I have a better mental picture (no pun intended) of the brain, spinal cord, and PNS. I never thought I'd be interested in it, but I guess that was only because I didn't understand it. At this point, I don't see myself specializing in Neurology. It's interesting, no doubt, but not that interesting.
I am approximately 8-9 weeks away from leaving my entire family behind and moving to a strange, new section of the country. It's finally starting to sink in. I won't lie; the thought of PA school is starting to scare me, and I often ask myself what I've gotten into here. But I know that nothing worth having is easy, and I've worked so hard to get to where I am. I truly love medicine, I love people, and I love challenges. This career path has my name written all over it.
Well, time to hit the books again. I hope to write again very soon.
Finally...FINALLY... we are working three twelve hour shifts at work. No more driving to work five days a week. No more 8-hour shifts. I finally have a life outside of work. The cop and I finally have time to go out and enjoy one another. And...I can go salsa dancing more often. Yesssss!! Most importantly, I have time to complete my Organic chemistry assignments. Speaking of which, I should be doing homework right now. Three weeks in, and I'm already on chapters 8 and 9. This Thursday I begin chapters 10 and 11, and I take my midterm this weekend! Talk about determination!
It seems everyday I'm receiving some sort of correspondence from PA school. I am looking to receive my orientation packet this week, and I have already registered for the first round of classes. 7 classes totaling 16 credits! Bring...it...on! Because of O-Chem, I've had to take a break from brushing up on Anatomy and Physiology, but I think I got a lot out of the little I did review. I mainly focused on Neuroanatomy and Physiology, which has always been a weak point for me. I feel like I have a better mental picture (no pun intended) of the brain, spinal cord, and PNS. I never thought I'd be interested in it, but I guess that was only because I didn't understand it. At this point, I don't see myself specializing in Neurology. It's interesting, no doubt, but not that interesting.
I am approximately 8-9 weeks away from leaving my entire family behind and moving to a strange, new section of the country. It's finally starting to sink in. I won't lie; the thought of PA school is starting to scare me, and I often ask myself what I've gotten into here. But I know that nothing worth having is easy, and I've worked so hard to get to where I am. I truly love medicine, I love people, and I love challenges. This career path has my name written all over it.
Well, time to hit the books again. I hope to write again very soon.
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