plays and dancing

So..Thursday was pioneer day here in the beehive state..and to be completely honest I didn't celebrate it really. What I did, however, was a complete blast. It all started with us deciding that we wanted to go sing karaoke, now I know that sounds crazy but hey..that's me. So, the girls I am going with find a place in Salt Lake..and it is set..problem is they want to leave at like 9:30 at night..and I have to be up at 5 the next morning. I debate about this issue, but I really want to go, and with some encouragement from those around me, I decide to go despite the fact that I will basically be foregoing sleep. So I get ready, lookin smokin hot by the way, and meet at my guy friends apartment for the trek up there. We get there, and there is no karaoke really, just a bar. Great, in my mind I have a flashback to a terrible trip we took to SLC my freshman year, where we were going to go dancing, and ended up at the worst dive ever. I just couldn't go through that again. Not to fear, after a quick stop at the Mickey D's (the guys were hungry)..we went to a LDS run dance club, where we were able to get our groove on, AND sing karaoke. Also, one of the guys I was with tried to teach me some Latin dancing, and further reinforced in my mind that I want to take dance lessons. Just so we're clear, I did in fact sing karaoke, not solo by any means, but we all took turns, and there was no shame in it!! It was so much fun, and I greatly enjoyed myself. What I did not enjoy was getting up the next morning at 5:30 (yeah, I slept in) after getting home at 2:15. But it was well worth it, blistered feet, extreme fatigue and all. There may be more I want to say, but not in this particular venue, so I will have to leave it at that!!
Tonight, after work, I went to a collection of short plays that one of the guys in my ward was directing, some were alright, but there were some really good ones. Then the group I was with (not a big group, just 3 of us) went and got shakes. I then went to my guy friend's apartment, where I was introduced to The Flight of the Concords, and I must say that was an interesting experience. I am not sure this is quite the explanation/description any of y'all were lookin for, but I just have to say that it was fun, and I am not sure what else you want from me? =)

success??

So I had a very intense day today, and am thinking it was successful. I invited some friends who are going to be leaving for new adventures soon over for dinner, and maybe bit off more than I could chew on this one. I at first thought of making just some really good grilled chicken and then Melissa's vegetables, as we like to call them. Then after looking at some marinating recipes online and with the thoughtful input from dear Ry, I decided to instead make chicken/pineapple kabobs (which would be good without the pineapple, for those who are disgusted by the thought of them, as the recipe originally calls for red bell peppers instead). This is where the trouble started. Not to mention that my apartment was not really fit for people to see, which is my fault entirely, but still. So by the time I got back from the store (by the way I didn't get up at a reasonable hour, also my own fault) it was 3:30 and dinner was scheduled for 7:45. I TRIED to be organized and use this 15 min thing someone was telling me about, but I really was way too scatterbrained, and thought I had everything under control. By 5:30 my apartment was clean, minus the horrendous mess I was creating in the kitchen, and the chicken kabobs (not on the skewer) were marinating in the fridge. I thought I was on top of things. So I begin peeling and cutting vegetables, then I look up and it is 6:45 and the vegetables are not ready to go in the oven, and I haven't put the kabobs on the skewer, am not dressed, have not unloaded the dishwasher, the last batch of cookies is not out of the oven...PANIC. I call Ry to see if I can get it all done (and what would she have done if I couldn't..whatever..sometimes you need a voice of reason). She gives me a detailed list of instructions to carry out, and I start to do so. Put vegetables in the oven, but kabobs on skewers, clean out dishwasher, oh but don't forget to check on the veggies periodically and put the squash in close to the end to prevent a mushy mess. It is now 7:30..15 min to go..vegetables have been in for close to 40 min..and guess what..yeah that's right..potatoes and carrots are not even CLOSE to being cooked. You thought I panicked before..this is nothing..I am still not dressed..and the kabobs..while assembled are not going to get cooked..because the vegetables are still in the oven. I quickly load the dishwasher and clean off the counter, get dressed and check on the vegetables again (yeah they magically cooked in the last 10 min..NOT). So I call Ry in a near frenzy (thanks for the help and sanity by the way) and she tells me I will have to put them in the skillet I convieniently purchased today. I do so. I also put a pan of skewers in to broil, and begin grilling the rest as they won't all fit on my rather small cookie sheet. The time has come..it is 7:45..but not to fear..everyone was late. And by everyone I mean the 4 guys that showed up to eat this rather delicious meal I prepared. The first two showed up just as the first two kabobs were finished on the grill. They also got to sample cookies while we waited..and waited..the other two showed up..still waiting..and waiting..finally after depression and the resolve to never again cook potatoes set in..I pulled the vegetables out of the skillet and served them. Everything tasted really good, the guys said it was great...and a fun time was had by all. However..after the marathon cooking..it was like a sauna in my apartment..and kind of uncomfortable to be in. Oh well. Also..another girl did eventually show up..but not till after we ate..and me and 4 guys..not akward at all..thank goodness I can handle that kind of pressure.

you just don't understand

I saw Dark Knight last night..well really early this morning, but still. I have to say that it was wonderful, disturbing, amazing, and thoroughly creepy. I know that doesn't make sense, but you will just have to trust me on this one. Heath Ledger, may he rest in peace, made me want to cry but love him at the same time. And I can't even tell you how great Christian Bale is. That is all. You won't understand until you see it for yourself. That is really all I have for now. No news with work, so I decided to finish the residency and see what pans out. I am trying to be mature about this.

RN

So..I passed my test!! The relief and happiness..and feeling of being so incredibly blessed has not passed yet, and hope it won't. I cannot express how elated (that's right) I feel right now. I am DONE!! This journey is over, and I can start a new and exciting one. Skate, I will try my best to get a job, meet people, and maybe, just maybe go on a date (no offers, don't get excited). I feel like crying (oh geeze) but out of complete and utter joy. In the back of my mind, there was that small (very small) part of me that thought this day would never come. I am so thankful to the Lord for standing by me and guiding my path (also thankful to my family and friends who helped along this incredibly long road). I love this feeling.

its over

First I would just like to thank everyone who wished me luck, encouraged me, prayed for me, or just loved me through this whole ordeal. I finished my test in about an hour this morning (all that worry over an hour, right?!) and took 75 questions, which is supposed to be a good sign. I didn't feel like I knew the answers, but I felt (and still feel) calm. So whatever the outcome, I feel like it is the Lord's will. My home teacher brought me over some ice cream, my bishop's wife sent me some candy, and everyone generally buoyed up my spirits over the last couple of days. It was a draining day, but a good day. I am really happy to have that behind me. I have to work nights in the ER for the next week..not every night, but almost, and am slightly apprehensive, but after tonight I think I will be ok. Also, I went to IKEA for the first time EVER today..and I loved it. Didn't spend too much money, though. Anyway, I have to go to work, so I will cut the blog short, and just to clarify, I won't know how I did for a couple of days yet. Also, no word on any jobs. Till next time. Thanks again.

i did what?

I have had a pretty busy and might I add random weekend. First on thursday night, my complex put on Independence Day out in the grassy area on a huge projector..I don't even really like that movie..but what else was I going to do. So I had to tell you that to tell you this, I ran into some guys from my ward who invited me to go float the river the next day, and in my memory that was tons of fun so I readily accepted. So the 4th comes around, and I go to wal-mart to buy an inner tube (as all the tire stores where one would buy a proper tube, are closed it being a holiday and all)..so I buy a tube that seems to be sufficient (and was)..and get ready to have a rockin time. I also bought various items that might be present at a bbq, as it was mentioned previously that we might have one after floating. So on my way to the guys apartment, I meet up with some friends that are not doing anything, so I invite them along, they said they would come but didn't have any kind of floatation device. We decide that they can use the rafts that you lay out on in pools (just as a side note, the last time I floated the river was 4 years ago, and the river has changed alot). We begin to float down, the water is frigid, and shortly after we start there is a bridge that for some reason unbeknownest to us is rather treacherous. It throws both the girls on the rafts (yeah brillant idea, right??) off and one of them is stuck under the current in some kind of whirlpool or something and is not coming up, I try to help, but the current is too strong and continues to propel me down the river, so I start yelling at the guys (who were behind us for this very reason). The girl thankfully surfaced shortly thereafter, just as the boys reached the bridge, and also got pummeled a bit. So moving down the river the two girls who got thrown get out as they are quite shaken, and understandably so. At this point there are two people in front of my and four behind me, yet as the near frozen river continues to swiftly move, I lose sight of everyone in either direction. I want to cry ( again with the threatened tears, I know), and want to get out so badly, but what can you do, its a freaking river, you just have to ride it. So as I now am traversing the river all alone, I meet these random group of people who catch up with me, and I get them to promise that they will help me when it is time to get off. I make it to the end after a few more trials, and more near panic attacks, and no one I know is there. So I wait, for what seems like for-ev-er (really 20 min) and finally everyone (minus the 2 girls who abandoned the journey) get out, and we all meet up and compare stories, and bond over the fact that our feet were so cold that when getting out and being then dependent on walking, it didn't quite work out, and crawling for a bit seemed much easier. We made it back to Provo a short time later, and find a hot tub to invade as we are all frozen to the core, then have a fun bbq, and walk up to the stadium to see the fireworks (where we HEAR miley cyrus performing, exciting huh??)..much to my delight the fireworks were AWESOME, as we were so close they seemed to be falling on us, and though it was exceptionally loud, it was so fun. To round off the weekend, in short, I had another bbq, played sand volleyball for 3 hours, watched emperor's new groove with lots of people from my ward (only in provo), and presented myself and boys that I floated the river with in front of the ward in song form (to the tune of part of your world), went to a crepe party and played scene it with people (and was one of few that knew the answers as most of the movies asked about were rated the bad letter). Busy weekend. Fun though. Now I can look forward to a week of studying, and then working nights in the ER. Keep me in your thoughts (and possibly prayers).

this week in review

Now, I have to tell you to start with that there is really not going to be much to update, but here goes. First to my sister skate: there really is nothing to tell you, but I will call you at some point, this is not the forum for that kind of talk. Second, I went to the pool the other day, to wait while my laundry was washing/drying, and ended getting burnt, not fun, but at least I am not pasty white anymore! So, today I finished my rotation in the cardiac ICU, and have to say that I loved it, and felt like I actually can function as a nurse on my own, and have the knowledge and ability to be successful. I had a job interview yesterday (!!) with a group of managers that may offer me a position with the ICU (not cardiac but just regular run of the mill really sick people), and some other areas. They term it the Critical Care Cluster, but I know for a fact that other people in my program interviewed for the exact same position, so I have to first hope that my bright and sparkling personality will win me the job, and that the ER really doesn't want me. So, we will see on that one. I have more than a few days off, but before anyone gets excited, I have state boards next Friday, therefore I will most likely spend the majority of the time studying (blah). And now, just to vent some frustration at being relatively young and having GREY hairs, I really don't appreciate it, and now, instead of 2, I have at least 3 or 4 that I can find. It is quite distressing, so I may be finding someone to do my hair this weekend, because I am kind of freaking out about it. Also, just a side note, I signed a year contract with my apartment complex (after deciding that I really could afford it) and made them give me a full bed (as I was promised) and LOVE IT! I found some really pretty sheets (300 ct) and am so excited about it! FINALLY..not a twin bed!! I also need to mention..that even though the olympics have not started yet, the trials have, and I am slightly obsessed (especially with Michael Phelps). Enough rambling for now, hope this satisified whatever urge anyone had to get inside my head.