Old Stuff

Hey guys! I know I haven't blogged in a while. Honestly, I've been spending all of my spare time sleeping or watching tv! Such a winner, I know.

But, today I was playing around on Facebook and I found some old "notes" I'd written, and a part of one I'd like to share.

I wrote this about 4 years ago and it's still true...every bit of it.

Eight ways to win my heart:

1. Be funny.

2. Be smart.

3. Have nice teeth.

4. Be tall.

5. Have dark, curly hair.

6. Be a good dancer.

7. Honestly laugh at my jokes.

8. Listen to what I have to say, and even if you don't agree, at least respect my opinion.

That is so important to me. I have very strong opinions on some things, and being from the South, my liberal views on things are not always well-received. I can't stand it when people look at my different just because I say I voted for Obama and agree with most of his values. Yep, you read that correctly.

I VOTED FOR OBAMA.

But that's not the point. The point is that it shouldn't matter. Just because we disagree on something does NOT give you the right to talk down to me, or to disrespect me in any way. We are a nation of differing opinions, and that's what makes our democracy work. So yeah, we may not see eye-to-eye, but instead of calling me names such as "baby-killer" or "muslim-lover", how about you take a step back and just keep your mouth shut. Because saying those things is not changing me, but instead reinforcing my beliefs.

And whomever I do end of marrying MUST understand these things about me. I can NOT live with someone who does not respect that I have a mind of my own and particular views on things.

It's just the way it is.

Wee Bit Wednesdays

{one} do you collect anything? if so, what and how long have you been collecting? 

I love having all of my favorite tv shows/movies on dvd. I buy books ALL the time. I have over 50 gigs of (just) music on my iPod. Do these things count? :)

{two} what is one cleaning tip that you swear by? 

I don't clean unless it's a necessity. That's what I swear by.

{three} who would you call for bail money? 
Oh man. If I were down here in the Jackson area, I'd have to call Rachel or my parents. But, if I were in the North MS area, I would definitely call Amanda or my Aunt Nancy.

{four} what is one thing you miss about being a kid? 
I took for granted all the time that I had to do what I wanted. No job, no bills-- just being a kid. Yeah, I had school and stuff, but I spent so much time just hanging out! I miss that. It's hard to make time for yourself when you have to prioritize sleep.

{five} name a few of your guilty pleasures. 
sweets of any kind. fanfiction. teen mom/16 & pregnant. diet coke (i always feel SO guilty when I have one!)

{six} how early do you start your holiday shopping? 
About two weeks before Christmas. :) Yep, I'm one of THOSE people.

{seven} what is a family tradition that you would like to pass on to your significant other/children?
Thanksgiving dinners at my grandmother's house with the whole family and yelling at the tv (football games). Always having at least one present that you DON'T know is coming at Christmastime. There are so many more. 

{eight} what do you consider your greatest achievement? 
Nursing school is the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. I consider it my greatest achievement just to get through it alive. Maybe I didn't make the best grades, but I passed boards on the first time, so I'm happy.

{nine} what do you do to pamper yourself? 
I buy books, movies, etc. when I have a little extra. If I'm feeling really tired I'll take an afternoon to just relax and watch tv/read/sleep.

{ten} if you were to start your own restaurant, what would it be called? 
hmmm... I don't really want a restaurant, but I'd love a music/book shop. So I think I'd call that Bounded Sounds. 

or Pages Bound and Sweet Sounds.

Ok, maybe neither of those. But that's the best I could come up with on such short notice!

Life, Love, and Music

Get ready, folks. This is gonna be one of those crazy, random, whatever-comes-to-my-mind posts.

My poor, poor Rebels. Ya'll, they're terrible. I want to have faith and believe that we've just had some bad breaks, but I know that's not the case. We're just not any good. It's depressing, really.

I love music. So much. And when I hear a good song played on great speakers, I get giddy. "Edge of Desire" by John Mayer just randomly came on my stereo (the good one in my room, not the crappy speakers in my car) and when I could hear the bass line clearly and his voice so smooth.... I sighed. I also love when I'm listening to my iPod on shuffle and a song I haven't heard in years comes on. You know what I'm talking about! That song that you love so much but kinda forgot about because you've been listening to other stuff. And you listen to it and you smile and sing and then you're re-obsessed with it for a little bit.

Whoever came up with Instant Watch on Netflix is my hero. I mean, how great is it? I can watch thousands of movies/tv shows at my leisure for no extra price. My favorite is to find whole series of television shows on there and watch them all. Especially ones that I have always wanted to watch but never got around to it (or ones Blockbuster didn't carry). So excited to be catching up on "Keeping Up With the Kardashians".

I am getting an iPhone for Christmas! YAY! I could scream I'm so excited about it. I have wanted one for so long now, and I've decided that now I'm going to be paying for my own phone/plan, then I might as well pay for what I really want. And that, my friends, is an iPhone 4. Mom and Dad are gonna buy it for me for Christmas, so those of you who have Words with Friends be expecting an invite from me in early January! :)

I had a mini-shopping day with my Mom and sister today. Since I got my very first "career" paycheck on Thursday, I decided to treat myself with a small spending spree at Victoria's Secret. Love.

I also got my birthday gift from my parents today...A new external hard drive. It's PINK! So excited about it.

I've been playing New Super Mario Bros on Wii like it's my job lately. Sister and her boyfriend have been playing it in my room and of course, I join in. It's addicting, though, and I need to detox, for reals.

I work every day except Wednesday next week. And then I'm going to Oxford for my birthday weekend celebrations! I'm so excited to see my Pie and other peeps. We have two Bridal Showers on Sunday to attend, so that should be fun as well.

Well, I guess that's enough randomness for now. I think I'm gonna go look up fun videos on YouTube.

Fridays :)

I didn't get a chance to do this one last week so I'm including last week's and today's in the same post!

1.   My Halloween plans this year included    hanging out at the house and watching all the trick-or-treaters!

2.  My most memorable Halloween costume was    last year's costume with Amanda and Drew. We were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  Aweome! 

3.  For Halloween this year I was    Elphaba! Got a black hat and some green makeup. Sadly, I didn't get a chance to wear these things, so I guess I wasn't actually anything.

4.  I've always wanted to dress up as     ehhh....there's nothing that I've longed to dress up as every year but don't. Actually I ALWAYS have a hard time coming up with costumes.

5.  Halloween free association!     orange, apples, candy.

6.  The worst thing about Halloween is     that I'm always trying to out-do someone else and I never succeed.

7.  The best thing about Halloween is     hanging out with friends and being somebody different for the night .

***

1.   My last haircut was      about 2 months ago. It needs a trim again, though. 

2.  My most daring hair moment was     when I dyed it bright red in 10th grade. I loved it, but hated how often I had to touch-up my roots. 

3.  A hairstyle I'd never be brave enough to try is    boy short hair. I have really, really poofy hair and I need length to weigh it down.

4.  I've always dreamt of being a     red-head. Like I said, I tried it once but I'd love to have it professionally done and kept looking nice.

5.  My go-to hair do is     a low side ponytail, maybe a braid on top.

6.  My biggest hair disaster was     when my mom made my chop off my hair in grade 4. It was very short layers with the longest layer being right under my ears. Remember me saying I had poofy hair? This haircut was when I knew for sure I could never have really short hair.

7.  A hairstyle I am dying to try is      harsh bangs. I highly doubt they'd look good, though.

8.  My best hair day was     *IS whenever my sister does my hair. She is so much better at it than I am.  

9.  The worst hairstyle I ever had was    *see question #6 

10.  My hair is     curly. Not uber-curly, but curly. I have to either straighten it or curl it every single day, though.

News! I'm thinking of doing a fabulous mark. giveaway soon! If I can double the amount of followers I have (right now I have exactly 25) to 50, then I'll post one! So tell your friends! :)

I just bought my tickets for the Spring Awakening musical in Memphis on my birthday (Nov. 13)! I'm so super excited!

Wee Bit of Me Wednesday :)

{one} do you still use a checkbook?yeah. i write checks occasionally for bills and to other people, but pretty much always use the debit card or cash. i definitely don't keep up with my transactions! lol

{two} what size shoe do you wear?8.5. i really hate when shoes come in whole sizes only! 8's are too small and 9's are to big.

{three} scary movies or happy endings?happy endings! i hate scary movies. especially the ones "based on true events".

{four} do you prefer spontaneity or stability?it depends on the situation. i like stability in my life but a but of surprise every now and then is good too.

{five} what is the most embarrassing cd that you own?i have it all. think of one "embarrassing" and i've probably listened to it. :)

{six} do you watch reality tv?yes! i love survivor, amazing race, teen mom, 16 and pregnant, keeping up with the kardashians, etc.

{seven} what is your favorite home-made meal?uuuhhhmmm. this is hard. i have so many good cooks in my family. probably my mimi's chicken rotel spaghetti. deeeelicious.

{eight} do you have any allergies?seasonal allergies, but nothing traumatic.

{nine} if you could open your own restaurant/store, what would it be?probably a music/bookstore. two of my very favorite things together!

{ten} would you ever go skydiving (or have you been)?yes, i think i would go. if i didn't chicken out. ;)

Work

Ya'll. I am SO sorry that I've been MIA recently. I just started my new job (yay!) and I'm so busy and completely worn out. I've been working since the 18th, but yesterday and today were my first days actually up on the floor (I've been in orientation the whole time). I was completely flabbergasted and nervous and worried, mainly because I haven't even been in a hospital in 6 mos and would I forget all of my skills? Good news: they're coming back to me!

The hardest part about all of this new stuff is the computer equipment! They have no paper charting (meds or nurse's notes), and I am NOT used to that. I am so used to descriptive charting and signing MAlderman, SN-UMC...all of this paperless stuff is freaking me out. Not that it's necessarily very difficult (I AM a child of the computer-age), it's just trying to get it all figured out that I can do it without thinking about it. Does that make sense?

Anywho, I feel like I might actually be getting the hang of it, though. Maybe. Eventually.

My VERY FIRST day on the floor, not 20 minutes after I clocked in for the first time up there... a patient coded.

CODE BLUE (or Code 99 as we call it at Baptist).

Oh my word. We were just walking down the hall and they called for A. (my preceptor) to come check...and called a code. They thought he'd had a seizure, but later determined he'd thrown a PE (Pulmonary Embolism= a blood clot, air bubble or piece of fat breaks off (most often from the legs) and travels to the lungs, where it blocks the main artery). He was completely fine one second, Post-Op Day 2, and then 5 seconds later wasn't breathing. The Rapid Response Team was unable to save him. Way to start off my very first job, right?

Thankfully, I was very busy all day, so I didn't get to dwell on the terrible start to the day.

Today was better. I'm starting to get the hang of the computers and such (knock on wood). 12 hour days are great (you only work 3-4 days a week!), but SUCK for your back, knees, feet, etc.

Also--get this: I JUST graduated from nursing school in May. I feel in NO WAY ready or able to answer questions of current nursing students. Yeah, I've passed the NCLEX (whoo!), but that doesn't make me a real nurse, right? I guess technically it does, but I certainly don't feel like I have the knowledge and expertise to help them!

Well, yesterday and today we had 10 nursing students (SN: that's a LOT of students running around! I would never be rude to them like some nurses were rude to me, but I can understand how having them all around throws off your whole groove) from Hinds County CC on our floor. And they ALL asked me questions. Bless their souls, they had no way of knowing I am brand new and don't hardly know any more than they do! I tried my best to answer the simple questions, though, and today I actually knew some answers (actual answers, not an "Oh, lemme go ask A.). Progress, right? I know. :)

Well, if you haven't gathered, or don't already know, I work on an Orthopedic floor. It's mainly Post-Op patients. 98% of them had either hip or knee surgery. Many have traction and crazy wound dressings. I'm certainly getting in my Med/Surg experience. I've had the sweetest little old people for patients, though, and they make my job enjoyable.

So, I'm gonna stop talking about work now. That's pretty much all I've done or thought about in 2 weeks, though. :)

Tomorrow's my day off and I'm gonna sleep SO late.

And then I'm gonna go hang with Rachel.

:)

G'night, everyone!

Music that I Love...

Step 1: Put your iTunes or equivalent on random.

Step 2: Post a line from the first 30 songs that play, no matter how embarrassing.

Step 3: You guess which songs they are or just comment on they lyrics in general. :)

1. If I gave you the truth, would it keep you alive?

2. Just like an angel, you're gonna make me fly...

3. What if I wanted to break, laugh it all off in your face.

4. You hold your head up to the sky, ya say what kind of blue are you?

5. Now listen I think you and me have come to the end of our time...

6. Don't be scared. I've done this before. Show me your teeth.

7. I see ya blowin' me a kiss, it doesn't take a scientist..

8. Jessie is a friend, yeah I know he's been a good friend of mine...

9. Oh shit, shake that ass.

10. I'm scared, so afraid to show I care.

11. Baby behave or make it work.

12. You've got your ball, you've got your chain...

13. Ya say ya want a revolution, well...

14. When your only friends are hotel rooms, hands are distant lullabies...

15. Shawty, where you at? It gets lonely in this business.

16. Today was gonna be the day they were gonna throw it back to you...

17. Your subtleties, they strangle me. I can't explain myself at all.

18. Oh, I've been traveling on this road too long.

19. No, I don't need a reason to be breathing, just here doing what I can.

20. Live in my house, I'll be your shelter. Just pay me back with 1,000 kisses.

21. You could be my unintended choice to live my life extended.

22. Open up your mind and let me step inside.

23. We'll lie in bed and ignore the TV.

24. Comparisons are easily done once you've had a taste of perfection.

25. Baby can't you see, I'm calling a guy like you.

26. Well there's something in the way she moves when she looks my way and calls my name.

27. I just don't understand why you're running from a good man, baby.

28. You don't understand what it is that makes me tick, but ya wish ya did.

29. You, my friend, you're a lot like them.

30. Kiss me too fiercely, hold me too tight. I need help believing you're with me tonight.

I have a crazy taste in music, right? :)

Wee Bit of Me {Halloween Edition}

{one} have you ever seen a ghost?Nah. Not unless you count that crap on "Ghost Adventures" or whatever. :)

{two} when was the last time you dressed up for halloween?last year. we had an awesome halloween party at my house!

{three} what’s your favorite candy?sour starbursts were my favorite candy in the whole world and they stopped making them :( some other favorites are skittles, laffy taffy, and zero bars

{four} did you have a favorite costume growing up?i had a sorceress costume for several years. the best one i ever had though was when my mom made me a "raggedy-ann" wig and outfit. i was adorable! we still have pics.

{five} did you carve pumpkins this year?nope. i'm not a huge fan of carving pumpkins. just don't have the patience, lol.

{six} what’s your favorite scary movie?i HATE scary movies. those are the only "type" of movie that i just refuse to watch.

{seven} haunted houses or corn mazes?um...neither?

{eight} are you superstitious?not really.

{nine} have you ever owned a black cat?yep. my favorite kitty is black... Charli Girl. :)

{ten} what are you plans for this coming halloween?i'm just gonna put on a little bit of a costume for the trick-or-treaters. i'm thinking a black pointy hat (you know black is this year's pink..we deserve each other, this hat and me, we're both so..smart!) and some green makeup (and since folks here to an absurd degree seem fixated on your verdigris...) and be ELPHABA. :)Pics to come. :)

Stuff/Miscellany Monday

So sorry I've been neglecting my blog the past week! I have been super busy with the new job and haven't felt much like writing. But, I promised you guys updates, so here I am! :)

--Wicked was last weekend. I can't even describe how much I loved the production. I knew that I loved the songs and the book and had even seen a bootleg version of the musical..but to see it LIVE was entirely different. Vicki Noon was playing Elphaba and I found out afterward that she's actually played her on Broadway before.

Vicki Noon

I loved her so much. Obviously nobody can beat Idina Menzel (especially in this girl's obsessed-with-idina opinion), but she was a wonderful Elphaba nonetheless. I was so inspired by her beautiful voice. Natalie Daradich was playing Glinda and she was truly hilarious. She worked the crowd like no other and I loved her.

Natalie Daradich

Vicki Noon and Natalie Daradich on the Wicked 2nd National Tour

All in all, it was a wonderful night that I will never forget. I want to see it again as soon as I can, and hopefully I'll be visiting NYC next year and I'll get to see it on Broadway! Here are some pictures of us after the show was over. We looked slightly disheveled because we actually had to SPRINT to the Orpheum to make the show on time. Typical.

Chels and I

My sister, Mal, and I

--Now for info on the new job. I started last Monday, and I'm still getting used to a 40+ hour work-week. I have been in orientation the entire time, which is boring and reminds me exactly of nursing school. I am really excited to go up on the floor Thursday and start actually doing my job, ya know? I feel like I've been trained and studied all I can, and now it's time to just DO it. What I'm MOST excited about it the upcoming paycheck on Nov. 4. I am a big fan of money, especially the kind of money I'll be making. It's not going to be an outrageous amount (I'm not getting paid THAT much)...the reason I'm so excited is because I've never had a real job before, let alone one that I'm working full time. SO. That means more money than I've ever had. Too bad it's gotta start going to student loans just as soon as it hits my hands. :( Oh well, that's Life.

--I found out the other day, that due to my work schedule, I will not be able to attend Idina Menzel's concert in Atlanta on my birthday weekend. I'm really bummed about it because I was SO. FREAKIN. EXCITED. to see Idina (did I mention I'm obsessed?). However, I'm a big girl now, and I have big girl responsibilities. Since I'm missing Idina, though, I can now attend the musical Spring Awakening at the Orpheum the night of my birthday. Amanda and I are gonna go together as a girls' thing. I am not as excited about SA as I was about Idina, but I am still excited to see it nonetheless. I've had the soundtrack for ages and am completely in love with it. Hopefully I'll love the LIVE musical just as much.

--Also, I've been listening to this song a lot recently.. "Happy Days are Here Again/Get Happy". A duet with two goddesses, Barbra Streisand and Judy Garland. Judy's voice is so rich and has such a unique quality to it that I just can't get over it. Barbra has better tone with her mouth closed while humming than most people have outright singing. Just listen to it and see if you don't love it. :) Also, the rapport at the beginning is just adorable.

Wee Bit of Me Wednesday

I know I haven't blogged much lately, but I have been SO busy with the new job! It's going pretty great, and I'm going to write a WHOLE blog post devoted to it and my Wicked weekend soon! :)

For now, enjoy some easy-peasy questions!

{one} have you ever crawled through a window?yeah, funny story-- I was at a friend's house during college. There was a huge party going on and we had been out in the lawn hanging out and goofing around. We wanted into the house but the front door was completely blocked. In our drunken stupor slightly inebriated minds, we thought we'd just climb through one of the windows. We all got in but I had a price to pay--my favorite jeans were ripped, never to be worn again!

{two} what’s one subject that you wish you knew more about?math. but honestly, i could study it for years and never really "get" it.

{three} who’s your favorite villain?cruella de vil, mr. smith (the matrix), lex luthor, if you've read/seen wicked, then you HATE the wizard like i do, and OF COURSE...Lord Voldemort. just sayinnn'.

{four} have you ever hit a jackpot on a slot machine?heck, no! i'm such a loser when it comes to gambling. that's why i don't do it much.

{five} what is your favorite disney movie?aladdin, hands down. that's the one i watched over and over and over as a child.

{six} if the whole world were listening, what would you say?I'd play the song "Imagine" by John Lennon. 

{seven} if you could choose one song to describe you or your life, what would it be?I can never choose these. I have so many that I relate to at any given moment. So let's just say that at this particular moment in my life, I'm really loving "Let The Rain" by Sara Bareilles.
I wish I were pretty
I wish I were brave
If I owned this city
Then I'd make it behave

And if I were fearless
Then I'd speak my truth
And the world would hear this
That's what I wish I'd do, yeah

If my hands could hold them you'd see
I'd take all these secrets in me
And I'd move and mold them to be
Something I'd set free

I want to darken in the skies
Open the floodgates up
I want to change my mind
I want to be enough
I want the water in my eyes
I want to cry until the end of time

I want to let the rain come down
Make a brand new ground
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Make a brand new ground
Let the rain come down tonight

{eight} your desk: messy or organized?a little bit of both! i know exactly what's on it and where it is, but it looks so unorganized.

{nine} have you ever had surgery?yep. i had both of my ACLs reconstructed in 2003. Tore the left one during softball...had the surgery, did my physical therapy...came back for volleyball and immediately tore the right one. Same process. All in all I was in physical therapy for a year and my insurance paid my doctor over $20,000.

{ten} if you could have any animal as a pet, what would you have?i love my kitty cats! it's hard to imagine anything else being as sweet as them.