Hit the Road, Jack

I had my community health ATI exam this morning. I scored a level 3. You can score a 0-3, with 2 being the benchmark. I was surprised. I felt that I was missing each question as I answered them.

I went over to Duke North to grab lunch at Subway. I caught a glimpse of the new Cancer Center. It opened it's doors on Monday. They have been working on this thing since I've been here. I hear the construction every day.

I came home, did laundry, and began to pack.

In our Honduras class, we learned about Mayan culture.

We had a guest lecturer from the Smithsonian. She is an archeologist and was very entertaining. 

After the lecture, we broke into our teaching groups. My group is teaching dental health once we are in Honduras. 

After class, I gave my first IM injection that wasn't on a baby. One of my fellow students needed a Hep A shot and I got to be the lucky one to give it to her.

I'm tucked in bed now, all packed and ready to take off tomorrow.

I'm coming home!

Gero is over!

I survived my first and last final of this semester! I feel as if I studied just the right amount. The hardest part was getting to sleep at a decent hour last night. When I have long weekends, I tend to reverse my sleep schedule. I woke up at 3 pm yesterday and forced myself to be in bed with the lights out at 10 pm. I woke up ready to go this morning. After my gero final, I met with my group to do our NPA paper edits. At 11:45 I had a meeting with my research group and the professor. We had some questions on what was expected of us on our next project. I came home and finished editing my paper, putting some last touches on my Well Elder assignment, and taking a research quiz. I have now completed everything that needs to be done before my Spring Break can begin! I have an ATI exam in Community Health tomorrow. This will be the last time that class will meet for the semester. That is 2 less classes to worry about (Gero is over too!).

I need to focus on doing laundry and packing. I figure I will do that between my 1 o'clock and 6 o'clock classes. I am worn out from today's events.

5 day weekend fully needed

Mr Monkey hanging around

Wednesday started my five day weekend.

Yes, another FIVE day weekend. This one wouldn't be spent in Texas relaxing. It would be spent writing a paper and studying for my final Gero Exam.

I got a run in Wednesday. It was hot and sunny. I tried to catch some rays.

Stesha came over and we worked side by side on our NPA papers. I mentioned this paper before. That BIG one that should take us 3-4 weeks to complete. I started it 6 days before it was due.

I finished 4 out of the 12 questions that day (this was in addition to the one I had already done 2 weeks ago). I had not finished 5 out of the 12.

Thursday was another warm day.

More vitamin D for me.

I pumped out another 3 questions before I went to see a movie with Stesha.

We both wanted to see The Vow. We had tried to go see it before Valentine's Day, but between out schedules it didn't work out.

We got around to seeing it and it wasn't as sappy as I thought it was going to be. It was more heartbreaking than anything.

During the previews, a new movie caught my eye.

It is titled Gone and it said it was coming out soon.

Turns out soon was the very next day.

I was supposed to meet with my peer editing group on Friday at 3 pm. 

I still had 2-3 questions I needed to finish up on my paper. I was going to get up to school around 2 to finish them up before meeting my group. I got a call from one of my group members informing me we were under a tornado watch and they didn't want to meet. It gave me more time to finish up my paper and I just emailed it to my editor. 

So yes, Gone.

We went to the movies 2 nights in a row.

I enjoy a suspenseful thriller, always.

After the movie, we went to Frankie's Fun Park. This was my first experience here.

It reminded me of a Putt Putt back in Texas.

They had mini-golf, batting cages, games, rides, go-karts, bumper boats, and laser tag.

I felt like I was 10 again and loved every minute of it.

When I got home, I finished up The Hunger Games.

Finally!

I think most people finish this book in one sitting and at the very least in under 24 hours. I dragged it out.

Don't get me wrong, I loved every second of it.

Now I need the second one.

I wasn't in the mood for a run this morning, but I figured I needed to get out of the house. I ran for a mile and then walked the rest. It was VERY windy. I thought I was going to blow sideways. 

I grabbed lunch at Panera and tried their new thai chicken salad. It was heaven in my mouth.

 I spent the rest of the day reading geriatric protocols in preparation for my Gero final. This is my first and last exam of the semester (other than online, open book exams). I haven't had an in-class exam in over 2 months...I forget how this works =/ haha

Stesha and I took a study break to bring sprite and soup to her sick boyfriend. Poor guy has a stomach bug or food poisoning. 

I have one more day of studying until my exam. Here goes.

Valentine's 2012

I still cannot believe it is 2012. Every time I write down the date, I get a little freaked out.

This is a big year. I'm going to graduate, get my first job (I hope I didn't jinx it), and make another big move.

Last Tuesday was Valentine's Day.

My professor didn't let us forget.

This girl didn't forget.

At 2 pm, I rushed to the car and drove to the airport.

The first stop was DFW. I purposely chose a flight with a 3 hour layover in my hometown. 

This my friends was a two-for-one special.

I had a car date with my parents and Miss Penny Lane.

My parents had brought me a sandwich and a Sonic drink...but of course Penny knocked it over the second I tried to get in the car. =(

I had a short 40 minute flight south to Houston.

Lance and I got to spend our second Valentine's day together.

I landed at 10 and we made it back to the apartment a little after 11. There was no chance for a fancy dinner (although I probably wouldn't want to go out on a crazy day like this anyways), but Lance cooked me a gourmet oven pizza =)

We shared a bottle of wine and watched the movie, Candy.

The movie is as close to a romance movie I can get with Lance. I did get him to watch When Harry Met Sally last year.

Candy is a movie that is right up my alley: Two people in love with each other and some drugs. It was one of Heath Ledger's final movies.

Lance gave me some tulips and they are so beautiful! 

Wednesday, we lounged around and watched some shows on the internet. Lance spent a large chunk of the day studying. I got to help him with one of his assignments.

On Thursday Lance had class all day. I had planned on working on my NPA paper, but I just could't make myself do it. I hung the shower curtain Lance and I bought over the winter break.

I love it.

We ordered in Chinese food and watched some comedies.

We attended a birthday party on Friday night.

It was at Post Rice Lofts (where JFK slept the night before his death).

There was even a fancy photographer. 

We are on the right

on the right again

We were caught by surprise, but we still managed to do our cheesy smiles

not a party without flip cup; our team won 3 games in a row

cheering Lance on

My Valentine's gift was a painting class.

It's called Painting with a Twist. Places like this are popping up all over the place. You bring your favorite drink or snacks and PAINT! We brought 2 bottles of wine.

It turns out you need the drinks just so you don't criticize yourself.

all smiles about to start

my colors

We finished 3 hours later. I think we chose one of the hardest ones. Ours look nothing like the original. I can dab poppies well and Lance can blend better.

We watched SNL on Hulu Sunday morning before I had to head to the airport.

Lance was trying to make a fort like Heath Ledger in Candy. I caught him.

Part of Lance's gift from me: a framed picture

It was hard to say goodbye. I always get a little crabby on the day I have to leave. It just makes me angry every time I have to say goodbye. I hate it. I mentioned in the car on the way to the airport that I only have to leave him like this 2 more times. One of those times he will be flying to Durham for my graduation a couple of days later, so I don't really count it.

The sunset was beautiful.

The forecast showed snow in the evening.

They were defrosting planes in Charlotte. It held us up and we didn't get to our gate until 30 minutes after we landed.

I ran to connect to my second flight (like always). The Charlotte airport is one big blur to me because I'm always running through it.

In the in-flight magazine I saw this:

The guy in the middle is what I envision Lance looking like in 15 years.

Why?

Just look:

The snow was coming down hard when I landed in Durham.

I froze my butt off waiting on the curb for the transport shuttle.

I made a path on the way to my car.

found my car

 The NC drivers were breaking some new idiot records on the road. 

I made it home safely and noticed that the snow wasn't coming down as hard.

I tried to write our names in a heart, but it wasn't thick enough.

Post is done!