Sunday, January 27, 2008

ipod touch fun!


The other night I was taking care of a patient that had an iphone. He kept playing with it and I had asked him about the iphone and what he thought of it. He started showing me some of the features that it had. He was telling me how the ipod touch has the same features. I was intrigued! Since I had already upgraded my phone and it was past my 30 days, I was unable to upgrade to the iphone. I thought I needed to make a trip to Best Buy after getting some sleep on Saturday!!


I make it to Best Buy and was looking at the ipod touch. I see that it has the internet on it and has most of the features of the iphone. The one in the store wouldn't hook up to the internet but one of the employees had one. He hooked his up to one of the speaker systems so I could hear music and also showed me the internet and the itunes store. After playing around with it and I had to get one! I am now an owner of an ipod touch and I love it!!!


I have always been against itunes because of an incident a few years ago. I had about 40 songs downloaded onto my computer and also had some songs downloaded from Napster too. My computer crashed from excessive spyware and I lost all my songs. I didn't even know spyware existed until my computer was being taken over by them! Napster would reinstate all my songs for me without paying for them again but itunes wouldn't. I have had some bad computer things happen to me in the past but hopefully I have grown wiser from this! I am really liking itunes after since the last time I used it. You can download movies, TV shows, music, videos, and podcast. It is so much fun!!


While I was at the Mudhouse today, I had my ipod touch out getting on the internet and a guy came up to me and asked me how I liked my ipod touch. It even attracts the men! :-) He showed me his ipod touch and I noticed he had more applications than I did. He was sharing with me how he got them. To cool!


This has caused me not to get my homework done sooner! I finally completed my study guide for my American Government class this morning - with short breaks playing with itunes! I can spend the next two days reading my notes so I can be ready for class. All this government mumbo gumbo is confusing!!


One thing I did learn today was about the Boston Tea Party. I decided to google that to get more info and got to wikipedia. In the explanation it discussed how they destroyed many crates of tea bricks. I was curious what tea bricks were and looked that up. Tea bricks were also mixed with binding agents such as flour, blood, or manure in order to even better preserve their form. Hmmm . . . . . interesting. As I sit here drinking some ice tea, I wonder if it was from a tea brick and if they even do that anymore!


I really need to get to bed as I have to wake up early to go to class this afternoon and then go to work afterwards. I am sure by Tuesday morning, I will be wanting some sleep!!

Friday, January 25, 2008

Yup, it is school . . . .


I have realized that school is the reason for all my strange sleeping schedules. I had to get up early to go to class yesterday and had a bunch of errands after class. By the time I got home, I was tired!! I fell asleep and then woke up at 1 am. I have been up ever since. I am hoping to go back to bed soon. I do work tonight so it should actually help me with staying awake at work but I have all this homework to do and I can't stay awake!


My New Testament class was what I expected since I have the same instructor as last year. I get to class early and found out where my class was and the door was locked. There was 4 of us wondering what was going on and where everyone else was. We had decided to go ask. On the way I saw another list of where classes are and they had changed the room but it wasn't changed on the list at the door. I walk into class later than I was hoping and had to take whatever seat was available. I really wanted to sit where I was last semester so we will see if I might be able to get a different seat next week.


I have been a little frazzled tonight of my work schedule. I am glad that it is finally posted BUT they did to me what I didn't want. I work Mon, Tues, Fri for a few weeks. I have school on Wednesday and Thursday. That leaves me very little time to be awake during the day and get things done. I can't wait to graduate so these issues won't be an issue anymore. I say I need to work my every other weekend and then they take me off them. I have always dreamed of being just a student but that will never happen.


I really think I am going to sign up for the photography class. It isn't for credit and it would be a fun break for regular studying. I have lots to get accomplished this weekend for school. I have got to figure out a gameplan to get my history correspondence class done. I am off to work on some homework and then get some sleep!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

American Government

My first day of class wasn't too bad. I walked into class right at 4pm and the teacher had moved all the desk into a circle. There were only 12 of us. It is a small class which I like. I don't have a research paper to write BUT I have a bunch of small papers to write. I say yuck! I hate papers!! These papers only have to be 1-2 pages long answering and summarizing certain pages in the book. It doesn't sound very hard so I hope it won't be too bad. I really think I am going to like this teacher.


I was hoping to wake up somewhat early today and get some errands run before class and get my books. I ended up sleeping until 1pm!!! I couldn't believe it. I was sooo tired too and didn't feel like getting ready to go to class tonight. I finally got up the energy and got it done! I ended up walking into school just barely in time to buy my books and get to class. I was quite excited as I only need 3 books this semester and they are small books!!! I am excited that I can carry all my books with me and it won't break my back! :-)

After I got out of class today, I went to get me a sub sandwich. I got to the sub shop, ordered my sandwich and then realized I left my debit card at home. I also was out of checks and no cash. I had to pay for my sandwich with my credit card which I hate using. I was planning to have a sandwich and then run to Sam's to get much need items. Sooo, I had to go back home to get my debit card and got me a new book of checks then off to Sam's I was. I was glad to finally get this task done!


Tomorrow I have New Testament and I have the same teacher so I hope he hasn't changed much of the way he teaches. I am going to have a lot of studying to do in American Government to keep up with the class, quizzes and exams we are going to have. I have a more peaceful outlook on this semester since it is my last semester. I just know that this is going to be the last time I have to worry about school schedules and then the rest of the year I am planning to enjoy myself and rediscover some of my hobbies!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Back to school . . . .


Tomorrow is my first day back for the Spring semester. I am looking forward to this being my last semester!!!! I have American Government tomorrow. This teacher never posted on Blackboard so I have no idea what the class is going to be like. I am looking forward to finding out. Thursday, I have New Testament. I have the same teacher has I had for Old Testament so I am hoping he is going to teach like he did last semester.


Next Monday I have that dreaded Capstone class with all those crazy papers!!! I was on blackboard looking at the BSN community and found a list of assignments I was supposed to save into an online portfolio. I don't have an online portfolio and everytime I ask a faculty member about how to set one up, I get no where!!! A year ago when I learned about this one teacher told me she would email me the instructions. I even emailed her to remind her and still got no reply. Last summer I had found out that my advisor left the college and I was in limbo! When I finally did find out my advisor in the Fall, she had no idea what I should do. I still have no online portfolio. At least half of the assignments I was supposed to save wasn't being done in the classes when I took them. I am not sure what is going to happen about that.


This morning when I got off from work, it was icy!!! I was able to get home safely but my road was super slick!!! I made it without running into something. It has been super cold today and makes me wish for Spring! I am curled up in my warm bed with my cats staying warm. :-)

Friday, January 18, 2008

Friday, Friday . . .


I have been going to bed about 2am and waking up around 10am the last couple of days and I have been able to get more done in the evening. :-)



Today I thought that I would get a head start on getting my books for school. I almost called the school to find out the hours of the bookstore but didn't. I get to school and the bookstore is closed on Fridays! *sigh* I have one class that says there are a list of needed books but the other two I have no idea. I guess I will be getting books on the first day of my classes.



I also wanted to get my eyebrows done. I just started getting my eyebrows done a couple of months ago. I felt like it was time to have it done again. I had planned to go to the place I went the first time. Yesterday they told me it would be an hour wait so I opted to come back today. She told me to call ahead of time and gave me the number. I call and they told me they could see me in 4 hours! I had planned to be home in 4 hours so I decided to head to the mall and went to a salon that takes walk-ins and got in right away! I might be going to the place in the mall since they told me they prefer walk-ins. My eyebrows always sting and itch the first few days. I like the way it looks with them done now. I got something started!!!



I ran a few more errands and went back home to get ready to hang out at the Mudhouse. I spent this tranquil time returning emails. I had a hard time finding a parking spot today since it is Friday night and wondered if I was going to be stopped. They started this no cruising downtown but you have to cruise around sometimes just to find a parking spot! Nuts. I never thought cruising was a problem downtown. I enjoyed my time at the Mudhouse tonight. Next week, I will have sort of assignment or reading to do! I just have to keep in mind that this is my last semester!!! That will get me through.



I am going to work on creating a binder for my acrylic stamps and maybe creating something else! :-)

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Organization . . . .


I am slowly working on getting things organized. I have gotten me a couple of files. One is for just 2008 stuff and the other file is categorized by certain things you should file. I am looking forward to getting back on track with balancing my checkbook and making this a daily task. I spent the morning going through bills, setting up my bill pay and then filing them. :-) It may be odd but it felt good to get started with getting more organized.


I have also been working on getting my house more organized too. I was proud that I finally cleaned out a corner in my living room that I seem pile mail, magazines, etc. in. You can actually see the floor now and I love it!! I really wish I had this weekend off so I could accomplish more organization. I have lots of shredding to do!


I spent some time this evening making a binder that I got the instructions off of Donna Downey's blog early last year. I used to visit her blog every so often and in the last few months, I have to check it often! She is so creative and just love the videos she makes! Todays post is ultra cool with all the digi brushes! I am feeling the need to download some brushes! I also need to figure out how to load them and use them though! Here is a project I just found on her blog that she has been using the brushes on. I would love to meet her someday! :-)

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Another lazy day, maybe lazier!!!


I am enjoying being lazy and not really having anything to do on my days off!!! I finally got in the shower around 3pm today! I got up and had a little breakfast and listened to resurrection Sunday on my fave radio station. On Sunday mornings they always play the older alternative songs that I love soo!!! I found me another song this morning that I haven't heard in a long, long time! It is by the Eels - Novocaine for the soul.


I got started with listening to alternative music when a cousin of mine told me of this radio station that played off the wall music. I had to check it out! That became my fave radio station! The name of it was "The Planet". When I first started listening to The Planet, they were out of some guys garage and they would even go off the air at night from 10:30 pm to 6:00 am. They were going off the air all the time as they didn't have a strong signal. In the local newspaper they would say that the planet is out of orbit when they were off the air for longer than a day. Then the station got bought by a company so they were able to stay in orbit and for 24 hours a day! Actually that station changed it format and no longer plays the music I love. I am so happy that my current radio station has the radio program on Sunday that plays them!


Anyway, last night I got my tree down and everything put in the attic. I am glad that I got the energy to get that done! I am glad to have my fatboy bean bag out of the hallway back in its spot in the living room. I thought last night that I need to get a lamp so I can sit in my fatboy and read. I also worked on getting more magazines recycled too. I hope to work on my living room some more tonight and hopefully have it looking all neat and organized! Slowly I am getting this goal accomplished.


I am currently being lazy at the Mudhouse! When I arrived at the Mudhouse a guy was hanging outside asking for money. I have meet this guy before but it had been a long time. When he asked me for some change he stopped and said, "I remember you!!!" and then he gives me an update of how he is doing. He was homeless but he is working on trying to make it in this world. I remember when I took community health nursing last semester I even referenced him in my journal. There was something in the reading that triggered me meeting him before that related to what I was reading. I had not seen him in a long time and began wondering what happened to him. I was glad to hear that he is doing alright.


I got my desk cleared off today. I have a list of financial type stuff that I need to get done. I need to finish cleaning my bonus room so I can scrapbook! I might clear out a spot and get done. I was a member of an awesome kit club a long time ago that had lots of coordinating paper and embellishments that all went together. I still have most of those kits untouched!!! I would love to get one out and then use my scrap maps from the LSS.


I need to go over my to do list and figure out what I need to do first tonight!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Lazy day . . . .


I have been lounging today. I had orginally woke up around 7am and feed the cats. I went back to bed and decided I would sleep till 9am when my alarm was set. I ended up sleeping through my alarm for one hour and woke up at 10am. Not bad. I might be able to stay up later tonight but not sure. I have a hard time staying awake in the evening if I get up too early!


After I did get up the second time, I have been watching the last 3 weeks of Amazing Race. While I was watching that, I went through some magazines and recycled quite a few. I had made two different piles of magazines in my living room to sort through and was getting tired of stepping over them! I am glad that have that accomplished.


I finally got in the shower and slowly got ready to hang out at the Mudhouse. I was looking forward to Mushroom Bisque soup only to find that the website wasn't updated for today. I settled for a salad and 1/2 sandwich which was very good! It seems like the Mushroom Bisque soup runs out fast and I miss out on it. I hope to someday have it again! Yum!


I actually came to the Mudhouse to work on my history correspondence course but haven't gotten much accomplished. The table space was limited when I first came in and I needed a plug in for my laptop. I am now sitting somewhat in the dark till the battery power gets recharged. I am tired today and just don't feel like studying!!! Maybe tomorrow will be better.


Work was hectic the other day. I seemed to have a few to many confused patients and one detox patient keeping me hopping! I couldn't keep one of my confused patients in bed! I hate nights like that because I don't get anything done and charting is only an option. I finally got to leave 1 1/2 hours after my shift was over. I soo need a vacation but I won't get that till March. I will have to hang in there till then!!!!


It is getting close for my LAST semester to start!!! I can't wait for it to be over! :-) I am looking forward to seeing what the agenda is for my classes. I have a feeling my hardest class is going to be capstone. I have 3 big papers due in a 4 week class! I have heard that we actually get the assignments at the beginning of the semester and they aren't due till the end of the semester when the class actually starts. After figuring out how heavy my class load may be is when I will make a decision on taking a continuing ed class on photography! It fits in perfectly with my class and work schedule. I hope that it works out!!

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Wild night!


Last night when I thought it was safe to go do some of my errands, another tornado hit not too far from my house!! So, I never did leave and do the things I was going to get done last night. I didn't want to get blown away! The sirens were going on and off in the city till 0330 in the morning! I woke up at 3am with sirens going off again. I got up to watch the weather reports to find out where this tornado was. By 0330, the weather had calmed down and I went back to bed. The winds were about 60 mph according to the weather report. I hope to not have a repeat of this weather!!


I have been having a relaxing day. I actually was up and dressed by 10 am today which is unusual! I went outside and moved some limbs that fell during the storm. The ground was like mud it was so wet! I had a couple of appointments today which one was taking Chloe to get a booster shot for a new vaccine she got 3 weeks ago. Then I had a hair appointment later in the afternoon.


I went today and picked up my new kit from a LSS. Last year I was a member of the Remember me club so this year I am doing the Remember them club. I still need to sit down and do the first kit club I was in. I am looking forward to completing these kits! My LSS put together a book of sketches and I am also looking forward to scrapping from it! I have been working tonight on getting my bonus room clean so I can find my scrapbooking supplies. Hopefully by this weekend I can get some scrapping done!!


I also went to staples tonight to get my files for 2008. I haven't really kept very good track of my files for the last few years and hope to change that. I got a file for stuff that I can file by category and then a file for the month. I hope this helps me in keeping things all together!

Monday, January 07, 2008

Strange weather


Over the weekend, we had temps in the 60's. Today we are having tornados! I am sitting in my hallway waiting for the sirens to go off so I can leave. The storm has gotten out of my area and moved north but our sirens are still on. I am listening to the TV to weather updates while I sit in my fatboy in the hall with my laptop. I wish I was off work last weekend so I could enjoy the weather!


I have a little over two weeks before school starts and I am not looking forward to it! What I am looking forward to is graduating this semester! I have figured out that I will have 6 research papers to write. I hope that isn't true but I am afraid it might be. I have had the dean of the school email me already bugging about stuff. She is also the teacher for the capstone class that I have to take. It is only a four week class and 3 big papers! I thought capstone was supposed to be like a relaxed class. At least in my other degrees it has been!


I have slept most of the day and I am still sleepy! I should be able to sleep most of the night too. I have two appointments tomorrow so I will have to be up at fairly decent hour to get things done. I have made me a list of things I want to accomplish in the next few days. I hope that I will be able to get at least half of it taken care of by Wednesday.


I might venture out in this stormy world soon. I don't hear the sirens anymore and I might be able to get some things accomplished tonight!

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Goals for the New Year


I have been working on some goals for the last couple of months. Since it is the beginning of the year, I thought I would post my goals so I can look back on them.


1. Get back into shape. I have already but this plan into action by joining the wellness program at work. One problem I have found with the wellness program is that you have to pay to do any of the activities that will help motivate me. I scheduled an appointment with a wellness counselor so I can hopefully get more out of the program.


2. Improve my nutrition. I have been working on this for the last couple of months with trying to bring my own meals to work. Or if time gets away from me, I bring tuna and have a salad for dinner.


3. Get more organized. Since going back to school, my organization skills has been slacking. I want to work on getting back into these good habits I used to have. I would like to get my important papers filed in a place that I can find them and to get my house a little more organized.


4. Balance my checkbook on a regular basis. Two years ago, I stopped balancing my checkbook as I just got busy with work and school. I really want to get back into having a budget. I actually started this process in November and learning on how to download transactions into Quicken to make this task easier.


These are at least 4 things that I have been wanting to improve on. One major goal is graduating with my BSN in May!! I plan to be done with school FOREVER after this. I also want to pursue photography and have found me a class that is a continuing education that I might start taking in March.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Happy New Year!!!


After I had a little nap, my sister called me and asked if the girls and I had dinner yet. We hadn't so she said she was going to get pizza and bring it over to my house. Yesterday, she came over when lunch was ready so she got to have slow cooker pizza which is a pasta dish. It is so yummy and everyone liked it. I was excited about her bringing pizza and the girls were too!


We enjoyed eating pizza and watching a little TV before out adventure to the ice skating rink. I have never been ice skating before and was unsure about it but I love to roller skate/rollerblade. I got on the ice and was scared!! I was skating next to the fence like thing so I had something to hold onto! It felt like it took forever to get around that rink and my feet were killing me by the time I did get all the way around. I had to rest for a bit. This place has two skating rinks and my sister decided to go to the other one for a bit. I went another lap around it and was doing a little better but made sure I was able to grab ahold of something! I was going faster this time and my feet didn't hurt as bad when I did go faster. The other rink they had closed down for a short while to re-ice it. It was super slick after that! I waited awhile till it got roughed up a bit again! I went around again but then to many people were on it and I wasn't able to go that fast and my feet were killing me again from going slower. I wasn't brave enough to go around people that felt like they needed the ledge like I did! By this time it was almost time for the skating to be over.


Then we went to go wait for midnight to see the fireworks. It was way too cold outside so we waited inside the building. When it got closer to midnight, the girls and I went outside to see the fireworks. As soon as we opened the door, everyone that was outside was counting down and the fireworks sounded like gunshots!!! It scared us at first but then we stood outside for a bit and watched the fireworks then went back inside where it was warm to watch them but then after a few minutes left. It was way to cold to be standing outside! A lot of people were leaving and the fireworks were still going off and it sounded like a battle ground! It was a fun evening!!


I got back home and had bought wine to have for New Years Eve. I had a couple of glasses and then went to bed. I was planning to watch another Will & Grace episode and while it was loading, I feel asleep! I woke up this morning with my lights still on and my laptop on my bed waiting for me to select an episode. I was tired!


Today I have been napping so I can work all night. I am looking forward to my days off to do something fun! The artwalk is Friday but I am not sure how warm it will be!