I need to take of 26.32 hours off before 12/20. I am thinking of staying up really late tonight, only to call in tomorrow just because I could. There would be some "legit" reason.
I went to the Thanksgiving service today at church. Pretty awesome to hear people's stories of God's goodness and providence over the year. If I had the courage to stand up and talk, here's what I would have said:

1. Graduation: I made it...from nursing school none the less!
2. Licensing: I sat and passed the NCLEX-RN first time around!
3. Job: I had one before I graduated, didn't know I was interviewing at the time, they hired me, and they took a risk in getting a new grad.
4. Future job: Already I am looking towards getting a different job in a higher skilled floor. I know God will open up the right door for where I am supposed to go. Already he has opened up, or presented me an opportunity for 2 years in advance;

Here are my purchases yesterday at the scrub shop! I got another top, but I couldn't find the picture. Maybe I should take up modeling! I want to wear my Christmas tops now, but was told I have to wait until after Thanksgiving!! And yes I bought my white dork nurse shoes. Once upon a time I remember talking with a police man at the Super Bowl. He said nurses were sexy, except for the white clog shoes. For some reason that sticks in my mind as I put them on this morning. So, here goes to my sexy white shoes!

This week has been a little crazy as I prepared for my Pediatric Advanced Life Support class. I worked 4 days in a row, studying every night. I took the class all day yesterday and today, so I missed church and my usual weekend. But it was good, not as bad as I thought. I was stressed, as usual, for nothing!!

So now I work another 3 days in a row before I get a day off. On top of that I am receiving new training to do conscious sedation. We are going to take people getting dislocated joints put back together, as well as some facial/plastics type procedures such as stiches. So now I have to learn a whole new set of narcotics and sedatives for the procedures. Speaking of career advancement, I was asked about doing pediatric post anesthesia recovery in 2 years when our new children's hospital opens. They will have their own pediatric pre-op and post-op unit. Something to consider for future, but for now I'm looking towards critical care for a year.

In addition to that, I have picked up an extra job once a week. Housecleaning!! You ask, why would a full time RN be working part time jobs?? The only reason: reduce and get rid of my debt!! This is a girl who wants to live debt free. By January 2010, I plan on having zero debt. In addition to that I picked up overtime with my class this weekend, as well as babysitting. All towards debt, tho a little may go towards Christmas gifts (which is looking like a meager Christmas).

Another week to work. What will I do this week?

Happy Sunday, everyone! I veg in front of my tv and enjoy a glass of wine, while cheering on my Jaguars!! What a sad, little Sunday afternoon!

4 days off in a row this weekend! I hardly know what to do with myself. I have wandered around Target, cleaned the house, slept, watched some boob tube, hung out a bit, played with a cute baby boy, and twiddled my thumbs. At least today I had church and tonight Financial Peace. I was asked what the hardest thing about graduating is. My answer: lack of social life and loneliness, which can always be brought back to being single!! (Ok, well I bring it back to that, that is really not the cause...) You have to go out and be social, but I would rather sit at home on a Friday night and dye my hair then go out. Which is exactly what I did this past Friday! So now my hair is all one color, which is nice!

Christmas is in the air...sort of. We have not even come to Thanksgiving, but that is quickly coming upon us! Starbucks has their Christmas cups, Wal Mart is decked in holiday festiveness and plays only Christmas music (I do enjoy hearing Manheim and Charlie Brown Christmas from overhead while shopping!), the adds are filled with Christmas decorations, trees, lights, ect. I enjoyed walking around Target looking at the Christmas section, possibly one of my favorite things to do. It looks like it is time to pull out the Christmas albums....I love this season!!

Well, here we are, America. You got what you wanted and you successfully elected the most liberal senator for president, third most liberal as veep. Drink it down, strap yourself in, it will be quite a different ride for the next 4 years.
I am glad the election is over. Not happy with results, but will back Obama as leader of our country. I respect the office, I respect the job of leading the country. I choose not to be thrown into a group of idiots who bash their president just because they don't agree with his party/policies.

Victory!! Amendment 2 was passed in Florida. The state Constitution will now state marriage is one man and one woman.

Don't know what was up with this week, but it has been hell at work. We are short staffed, slammed with patients, pressured by OR/docs/anesthesiologists...etc. I had 4 patients yesterday who all had surgery within the same hour...that is a LOT of work to do! But, a lot of firsts for the weeks. One of them being hanging blood products on my own. Not too bad, but a little scary r/t all the wrongs that could happen! The other firsts probably not fit for the non-nurse crowd out there!! I'm at the bottom of the food chain at the hospital, but if I was paid any less I wouldn't do this job. If we go to socialized medicine: peace out, nursing!!

Thought my sister had some very intelligent, well thought out things to say. Please go read it!
I can only mirror her frustrations to mine as well with my generation, friends, ect, being swept up in the wave of liberalism in our country. It clearly is the sexy thing to do. I thought I would lean more liberal than my parents raised me, but I can't get away from the core conservative values they taught. Several years ago, I could have seen myself voting for a man like Obama. I even saw him as a harmless candidate in the beginning. I eat those words now.
Remember, vote yes on 2!

This week was one of the worst that I have had in awhile. It started out well with work on Monday. Tuesday, I found out my dear aunt had passed away from her battle with cancer. Christmas and family visits will never be the same without her bright, fun presence. I am comforted knowing she was sick and now she's with Jesus. I wish I could see a quick glimpse of her there and ask her how heaven is.

Tuesday and Wednesday were the worst work days so far. They were busy, crazy patients, patients needing pain medication but I was unable to get any doc authorization to give any....It was patient after patient after patient after patient. I got into a slight argument with a nurse (she was totally in the wrong) from the OR and that was a huge mess. And I felt pulled in a million different directions, I hardly sat down all those 2 days. But then we had yesterday, and I had 3 patients the entire day. What a nice day!!

To end the week, I voted! That was an adventure, it was a mad house. I felt as if people were looking over my shoulder the whole time as they bumped into me while I filled out my ballot. What if my hand slipped and I voted for the wrong person?? But, didn't happen.