ebony and ivory

I went out on a limb tonight and prepared a dessert for our ward Dessert Night. I looked all over the grocery store looking for a great idea..and finally decided to make oreo pudding pie (oreo crust, oreo pudding and cool whip)..and was now going to have to find a very creative name for it and to top it off..have to present it to my entire ward. By myself. So...I called in reinforcements, after encouragement from Katie..Ryann (I thought jokingly) told me to call it Ebony and Ivory and sing the song by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. I didn't even know that was a song..and I thought I knew a thing or two about MJ. Well..after talking with auntie and consulting the internet..heard the song (which is by Paul and Stevie Wonder..by the way). Well..at this point in time..I am pretty set on calling it Ebony and Ivory..and now about this song that I have just heard. It is pretty corny to be honest..but kinda funny. It is like 8:30 and dessert night is at 10. There is no way on this earth that I will be able to learn this song..much less learn it..but to sing it by myself in front of the ward. Not a chance. So..auntie informed me that there is a video on youtube. I consulted with a friend..and she said she would learn it and sing it with me..but she was busy till like 9:30. So I go up to the apartment where this glorious event is going to take place about 15 min before 10 and we look up the song on the internet..it won't play..but the video (which is totally 80s magic..in case you want to check it out) will..so I decide to scratch the singing and just give a little intro and play the video. Which is what I do. Everyone laughed..and said the dessert was really good. And..I met some really cool people who are in my ward..and we had a lot of fun. So it was a pretty great evening after all the build up and stress about the presentation. As a side note..I love the songs that are now on my blog..hope you enjoy.

do you know a good mechanic?

I had plans for today..I was going to go to the temple, clean my apartment (we have cleaning checks tomorrow), go to lunch with a friend, and maybe spend a little time at the pool. Other than the cleaning..which I have yet to do..I didn't do any of these things, because when I went outside and got in my car, it wouldn't start. Great. Here I am miles away from family, and while there are mechanics on every corner..where to go? And..I don't really have any guy friends yet who could help me..so there I was stranded without anyone or anywhere to turn to. So..I call up a friend that is from the area thinking that her or her father perhaps would know where to go..and sure enough she told me where to go. So instead of the day I had planned..I took my car..which finally started..to the shop and spent the 3 hours it took to get it fixed walking around the mall trying to NOT spend money. (It almost worked..I spent very little) So onward and upward..car is fixed..and I am no worse for the wear. So I now have a mechanic..although..I am most likely going to invest in AAA so I don't ever have to not know what to do again.

My Four

I was tagged..I think that means I am supposed to do one of these myself..so here goes.

Four Jobs I have had:
-Nurse
-Convenient store clerk (allsups)
-Winger's Hostess
-Target team member

Four Movies I would watch over and over:
-Roman Holiday
-Pride and Prejudice(the Keira Knightley version)
-Center Stage
-Memiors of a Geisha

Four Places I have lived:(there are more than 4..but here are four)
-Seymour, Texas
-Pinion Hills, CA
-Provo, UT
-Longmont, CO

Four TV shows I watch:
-Grey's Anatomy
-The Office
-Gilmore Girls (over and over)
-What I like About You

Four places I went yesterday:
-Work (UVRMC in Provo)
-Panda Express
-Dessert night at apt 307 (in my ward)
-To play Rock Band with boys (in my ward)

Four people who email me regularly: (I am counting Facebook and Myspace messages here)
-Joanie
-Tonya
-Krystal
-Janice

Four of my favorite foods:
-Orange chicken
-cafe rio burritos
-Chicken alfredo
-Ice Cream

Four places I would rather be right now:
-Asleep
-In Texas with my family
-At the pool (or other body of water)
-At lunch with Annie

Four things I am looking forward to this year:
-Passing state boards
-Going on a date (keep your fingers crossed on this one)
-Getting a job in a cool department in the hospital (ER..here I come)
-Going to family reunion!!

Four People I am tagging:
-Katie
-Ryann
-Joanie
-Cassie

survived

I managed to survive my first rotation in my RN residency program. It started out pretty rough, as previously mentioned, but turned out to be not that bad. Once I got the hang of the computer system for charting and giving meds, it all boiled down to basic nursing, which by the way, I do know how to do. So all in all, I had a pretty good two weeks, and met some cool people and got some really good experience to prepare me for the challenges that lay ahead: the ICU and the ER. There are days when all I want is to work in the ER and other days when the thought of it scares me to death. I think this is part of the reason I want it, to overcome that fear and apprehension and to be able to say "i CAN do that." Friends and people I know are passing their state boards right and left, and it is starting to add to the already enormous amount of pressure I have riding on me. I HAVE to pass that test. Obviously, I need to stop blogging and study more, to ensure that I have done everything in my power, but it still kinda wigs me out sometimes. I mean, what would I do if I failed? I can't even begin to think about it. On a side note, I was alone again for lunch, my lunch buddy was off today, and so..I saw a spot at a table where there was just one guy sitting, and asked if I could join him, and turns out it was his first day in the hospital as an intern in one of the departments, and just moved here (by the way..lives in my apartment complex) and didn't know anyone, and didn't know where to put his tray. I was glad that I could help someone from having to sit alone and feel dumb like I did on my first day!

love it

I have to say that today..I love the fact that I made this blog. It gives me an opportunity to let off some steam and to place my thoughts..where people who may care to read about the inner workings of my mind. My dearest mother disagrees with this particular forum, but at this point in my life, it is my decision. Life in Provo is turning out really well so far, and true..time has not been far spent thus far, but I feel positive about this whole situation. I don't mean to say..that marriage is fast approaching, it really has nothing to do with that. I feel like THAT will happen at some point in my life, and sure the prospect of a romance is enticing, but my life is becoming so interesting and full of new people and new opportunities for growth. I am hoping for new and exciting things. I also love that the LA Lakers lost the NBA finals. Makes me smile.

good day!

So..i had a pretty good day yesterday at work, and feel much better about things. And today I talked with my manager about the issues that I had on Sunday, and she told me that I wouldn't have to be with that clinical coach again, and that she appreciated me bringing my concerns to her. It feels so good to have a manager that is so approachable and easy to talk to. She just understood where I was coming from, and made me feel validated in my concerns. It is really nice to know that she is there for me. I got my schedule for next rotation, and am going to be working in the cardiac ICU next, so that should bring some new and exciting adventures for me. I am just having a really good day! It makes going to work so much easier to know that my manager is so darn cool!!

Old Friends and New Friends

I am so excited that coming here to provo has brought me back in touch with some old friends, and given me the opportunity to meet new ones. I had lunch today with Annie..and she is so awesome..I am so happy I got to see her. I also so Keriann and baby Johnny today, I love that I am here and get to see her being a mom. I also went to a movie with my roomate Rebecca, who is really cool. There is so many new adventures that are taking place and I am really looking forward to all that could occur. I am trying to be a better person all around, and to stay positive with work and with my not-so-social ward. I hope that there will be new things to learn every day, and meet new people, and become a little bit better each and every day.

I also just need to say that my nephew Isaac is so darn cute!!

growing up

I have NEVER wanted to grow up. I mean, I cried when I had to wear a bra for the first time. It meant I was not a kid anymore, and to me that was just about the worst thing that could possibly happen. I still try to hold on to the kid inside me because being an adult and having to face adult issues is SO not fun. Seeing people that I care about struggle through some of these adult things is not so great either. I feel helpless, because there really isn't anything I can do to stop the struggle, but I want to so bad. It breaks my heart, and I want to cry, but I know that realistically there is not a thing I can do, other than pray for them. And sometimes that feels like it is so not enough.

first day..and all that that implies

So I officially started my shifts at UVRMC here in Provo today, and there were so many things that I thought were going to be scary and there was a lot of apprehension going into this morning. So this post may end up being quite lengthy, but that is because there were a lot of emotions that came out of this experience.
To start off with I didn't get very much sleep, whether because of the anxiety and anticipation, or the fact that my complex was having movie night outside my apartment, or both. Regardless, I was so tired this morning. Thought I was going to have LOTS of time to get ready and everything, but I was dragging butt, and ended up almost being late. To top that off, I didn't know where to park, and forgot the breakfast and lunch I had planned to take with me. Needless to say, the day didn't start off so well. It kinda got worse before it got better. So I got there and was supposed to be working under this one clinical coach..and the charge nurse was like "oh, well he's not here today," and I wanted to say.."oh, well then should I just go home?" I felt real welcome. Anywho, they found some poor soul to take me on and show me the ropes. This nurse was having a worse day than me, because she spent all day fighting off falling asleep (she did actually sleep a few times), and being so disorganized and scatter-brained..that my anxiety level steadily increased. She did show me how to computer chart, which I was freaked out about at first, but it's all good now.
Then came lunch, the REAL low point. I went down to floor that the sign on the wall said contained the cafeteria ( I have NO idea where anything is in this place). So I get there, find something to eat, and sit at a table all by myself ( I also don't know a soul). So I am sitting there, nearing completion of my meal and I realize that I have no idea what to do with my tray once I am done. I don't see trash cans for my paper plate, and that is when I start to fall apart. I want to cry. Really. I felt so alone. I was praying that someone else would get finished so I would know what to do. So I make the mistake of calling my family, who is all together having a nice lunch together. And now I am miserable. I have to fight the tears and the "nose tingling." I finally find out how to leave the cafeteria properly and finish my shift with my sleepy but kind clinical coach.
So I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me. That was not the intent of this blog. I just wanted to share the feelings I had. I am really happy to be here in Provo, much as I miss my family. I am happy that the first day is over, and nothing too tragic happened. I can now face the next shift with more confidence in knowing that I CAN do this. It won't ever be that hard and uncomfortable again. I will never have to sit lonely in the cafeteria not knowing what's what. I am a stronger, more knowledgeable person having had the experience I did. I love being a nurse, and I love meeting new people and learning how to be the best for my patients. All in all, the experience and the lessons learned are invaluable to me. I love my life. I miss my family like crazy, but am so thankful I have the Lord to turn to when no one else is here.

More about me...

So at the request of a most beloved aunt..i am blogging for the second time today. More about my life, as a nurse I work 12 hour shifts, mostly days for now, but I have worked nights before and probably will again within the near future.

My family is one of my favorite things in life, and i have three brothers, one sister, and four siblings-in-law. I have 7 nieces and nephews..with another on the way. My parents are my heroes and I will love them forever for all the times they have been there to support me.

Something you may not know about me..I would one day love to write a novel about what I don't know..but it is in there in the back of my mind and will hopefully make an appearance at some point.

First ever blog

So i saw this website on my old roomates facebook site and decided to check it out (kudos to you sarah), and so I am going to give blogging a try. So...a little bit to catch up those of you that don't already know this about me. I graduated RN school in May and moved to Provo Utah about two weeks ago to start work at Intermountain Healthcare's UVRMC hospital in Provo. I am very excited about this new adventure..even though I once again have to go through the incredible torture of being brand new in a BYU student ward. My roomate moved in earlier this week..and she is a nurse too, so there is a great understanding between us, particularly regarding the need for sleep (she works nights). I am trying to play catch-up with some friends from "before"..meaning about 4 years ago when I lived here for two years. I am loving life right now..but missing my family in Texas quite alot!