Me and the ACT

It's been awhile since I've made the time to update my blog. Wow, has it really been since September?? Anatomy and Physiology I pretty much took over my life this past semester. But, I got a B, so I'm guessing it was worth it. My psychology class was pretty straightforward, so I got an A in it. Truthfully, I don't know how these working mothers go back to school anymore. Yes, it's true, I did this back in 1997 as a single-parent of two, but even that's a major blur. I remember being exhausted all the time. These days, it's not necessarily a problem working and going to school as much as it is the whole test anxiety thing. Apparently, I'm not the only one who suffers from this, but nonetheless, I'm fairly adept at beating myself up over it. Case in point: The ACT. In order to get into nursing school, (no matter which one), I knew I would have to retake the ACT. So, I ordered the study guide last January and started to go through it. Even that did not prepare me for the anxiety I felt as I walked in to take the test. I was grateful it was being held at my community college only 4.5 miles away, but it did disturb me that besides the proctor, (who was old as Methuselah....the oldest man recorded in the bible), I was the oldest person in the room. When I took the exam almost 37 years ago, I either didn't remember the long list of rules, or basically, we are in a whole new world. The old guy stood and read this verbatim from the test booklet:
"You will be dismissed and your answer document will not be scored if you are found:
* Filling in or altering ovals on a test or continuing to write the essay after time has been called on that test
* Looking back at a test on which time has already been called
* Looking ahead in the test booklet
* Looking at another examinee's test booklet or answer document
* Giving or receiving assistance
* Using a prohibited calculator
* Using a calculator on any test other than the Mathematics Test (Why would anyone do that?? What in the world could they use it for?)
* Sharing a calculator with another examinee
* Using any device to share or exchange information at any time during the tests or during breaks (all electronic devices, including cell phones, must be turned off from the time you are admitted to test until you are dismissed after testing concludes)(And if you were caught using your phone on the break, you would be dismissed!)
* Attempting to remove test materials, including test questions or answers, from the test room by any means
* Using highlight pens, colored pens or pencils, scratch paper, notes, dictionaries, or other aids
* Not following instructions or abiding by the rules of the test center
* Exhibiting confrontational, threatening, or unruly behavior
* Creating a disturbance or allowing an alarm or phone to sound in the test room"
(Ironically, it was the Proctor whose phone went off during the exam!) 
I forgot to bring a wrist watch, and after that laundry list of do's and don't's , I was terrified even to look at the wall clock! As a result, I kept running out of time. I will be retaking the test as I was 5 points shy of the minimum to get into one nursing school, and only 2 points lacking to get into the other one.

I think this world is too much like a drive through

This is just messed up to me. A vending machine for Proactiv? I'm not even going to provide you a link to it because it annoys me so much! I think society as a whole has become "convenient". This one is located in Chattanooga, Tennessee of all places.

We have drive through
chapels, restaurants, pharmacies. What the heck is next? I've even heard of a drive through

divorce court. Although I couldn't find a picture of same, I thought you might get a giggle or two out of this one.

I think I'm too old to go camping......

So, we try again with the camping. This time, no moody teen to tell us how boring it is, and why we shouldn't have come. We went south, way south. Away from the oil spill, cell phone coverage, and problems. We went to St. George Island State Park. However, it was not without problems, as most vacations can attest to.

First, there was the drive. From Kentucky to The Forgotten Coast was approximately 590 miles. This trip, while we did not have the moody teen, we did have a new puppy, "Snips".  We adopted him from a shelter that had a display at Petsmart. Knowing we were going to have to leave, we asked if we could pay his fees and pick him up after. Of course, they were terrified that the little guy wouldn't be picked up, so they said they couldn't do it. After a few pitiful attempts at names that would go along with Fiona, we settled on "Snips" because he was always 'snipping' at our heels.

Because the poor little guy had been locked up in the shelter, I just could shove him in a kennel for vacation. So, that's why we took him with us. He did very well on the trip. We arrived at St. George Island in the late afternoon and set up the tent. At 9:30 P.M. was 88 degrees! With the humidity, it felt like 95.  After we spent some time on the beach the next morning, by noon, it was already 92 degrees but the heat index made it feel like 106. I just couldn't take it. My knee had started to swell and I just wasn't fit to be around. We packed it up and headed for Grandma Hunnybunny's. I did get to visit with Hollywood on our way back through Tennessee. He seems to be doing well. Looks like he grew a foot. I don't think his voice was that deep when he left. Time does march on.

A Fork in the Road

Well, it appears I have reached a fork in the road with my schooling. Yesterday, after being in major pain with my right knee for weeks now, I finally went to a NEW provider. She was a Nurse Practitioner who worked at a facility that helped Hunnybunny with his back sciatica. Very no nonsense, she immediately took me back for x-rays to see if there was anything bone-wise that was contributing to this pain and swelling. They took alot of pictures, and before I had sat down really well back in the exam room, the x-ray guy had already read them! 

  For the record, this isn't said knee. This is one I got off the Internet with the same diagnoses as I received.
Basically, you are looking at Osteoarthritis and bone spurring. That would explain a great deal of my problem. I've been icing it, elevating it, taking anti-inflammatory meds, all to no avail. She gave me a new Rx for some stuff that was a little stronger to deal with the swelling. I'll keep on doing the icing and elevation and we will keep watching it before I have to break down for the MRI.
The "fork" I spoke of is regarding my nursing stuff. I know how nurses stand on their feet continually, and have to lift a certain amount of weight with everyday activities. Do I pursue this course? I'm wondering.... maybe God is trying to tell me something, like, "Do something else!".  And I've been thinking about my other considerations.  Pray for me. I need the right answer from God. 

The Times They Are A Changin'

The Times They Are A-Changin'

Come gather 'round people
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won't come again
And don't speak too soon
For the wheel's still in spin
And there's no tellin' who
That it's namin'.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come senators, congressmen
Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway
Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt
Will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside
And it is ragin'.
It'll soon shake your windows
And rattle your walls
For the times they are a-changin'.

Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don't criticize
What you can't understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin'.
Please get out of the new one
If you can't lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin'.

The line it is drawn
The curse it is cast
The slow one now
Will later be fast
As the present now
Will later be past
The order is
Rapidly fadin'.
And the first one now
Will later be last
For the times they are a-changin'.
Copyright ©1963; renewed 1991 Special Rider Music

How pathetic...my life has turned into a Bob Dylan song. These words hit home as I struggle with the changes in my life. What is it that I've always heard: "The most constant thing in life is change." First, the family dynamics are changing. Hollywood has taken his show on the road back to Tennessee to be with dear old dad. So, we are getting used to life without him.
School is done for the summer for me, and the jury is still out on whether I passed the skills on the state exam. I was definitely having trouble finding the radial pulse.I made an A in the class, however. Supposedly, I'll find out in two weeks. So, since I don't have any exams to study for, I will start making tracks on The Beatles quilt. It has been on my design wall to remind me to get over it and get going on it.

The Inferno

There are only a handful of people (that read this blog) who remember our days working at the college infirmary. We charted, made beds, cooked for patients, brought them ice water, etc. The place was lovingly dubbed the Inferno. We were basically nurse aides and it was a sweet gig....most of time. I do recall the great "virus" that swept through campus. Every bed we had was taken, and we resorted to checking them into their dorms. Our nurse was making rounds, giving shots, and checking on people in and out of the dorms.
Turns out, it was catfish that was donated by a wealthy do-gooder of the school. It was simply food poisoning.


Everybody had to check in when they were sick if they intended to get their classes excused. It was amazing that the Inferno was full the week of mid-terms and finals. Hmmmmmm......interesting. What I liked is the fact that we saw everybody at their worst, (Sick and in their underwear!) and then saw them out on campus. People are people, some are just a little further up the food chain. I was reminded of the Inferno as I went to class this week. I had decided to take the required nurse's assistant class for the program I was pursuing. Things have changed since I got into the class: now the program I intend to get into doesn't require it. But, none the less, I WILL finish it. The class is one of those mini-sessions, which means, they cram everything into 5 weeks. That means I go to work, come home, change my baby-puked-on shirt, and head to class from 4 pm to 9:00 pm, three nights a week. I'm required by the state to have 75 hours and with clinicals at the end, I will.
Our teacher is a nice lady, and she does go by the book, which I appreciate. Four tests out of the book, working in a workbook, and a whole bunch of skills. So far, I've mastered the blood pressure, aseptic hand washing, making a bed, giving dental care, and transferring a patient.

Mother's Day Movie Review

My mother's day present was to go see Iron Man 2 with some friends. Usually a sequel isn't much good, but I was pleasantly surprised. Mickey Rouke certainly made a good villain. What I liked is that he was a brilliant physicist with a bent for revenge. And the funny part was that he had no reason for revenge. Don't worry....no spoilers here. If you liked Robert Downey, Jr. in the first movie, you'll like him in this. This movie gives the first appearance of War Machine. I hated that they replaced Rhody,but Don Cheadle wasn't bad, either. Gweneth Paltrow played Pepper Pots, but I didn't find her as interesting as in the first movie. I'm still getting used to Scarlett Johansson as a grown-up actress. She played Black Widow from S.H.I.E.L.D. Samuel L. Jackson is good in just about anything he plays. The Nick Fury character is no exception.
It was so awesome to get to sleep in this morning and have Hunnybunny make me pancakes! I got card from the boys, and the Pickle made me the coolest card!

Right now, I feel like I'm on vacation as my classes are over for the semester. Tuesday, however, I'm doing a mini-session for a nurses aide class I have to take. It's 4 pm to 9:00 pm, 3 nights a week for 5 weeks. I think I'll be okay, but I'm probably going to slack off on blogging for awhile.

Now I understand the hype

It's a cryin' shame that it has taken me over 30 years to get this done professionally, but I got my first pedicure/manicure yesterday! It's not that we are made of money: I actually won a spa treatment from Mix 94 here in Lexington last Christmas. I also won floor seats to see The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Their Christmas show was wonderful, but I just never got around to the The Spa at Griffin Gate gift certificate. It had an expiration date of May 1st, so I figured I better get around to it this weekend. Absolutely beautiful, and peaceful, which I expect spas to be, as I've only seen on tv. This wonderful lady, Tameka, made me feel right at home. She absolutely pampered me. I'm going to have to go back for another one, like maybe for my birthday or something special. My tootsies never looked this good! She used hot towels, lotions....wow! I've just never been in that kind of heaven before.

And you know these two jokers....Hollywood wanted more pictures of himself, so he conned The Pickle into taking some outside.

If it wasn't this, it would be something else.

Well, about school, anyway. So, here we are about 4 weeks from the end of the first semester, and I find that my credits from my first school (back when dinosaurs roamed the earth!) did NOT transfer. The accreditation is the problem. My school was accredited, just not from the same organization as the community college I attend now. I actually have an A.A. from the same group of schools that my new school is a part of. But because of the credits, the jury is still out on if they will even consider them.
I've decided to go the LPN route as I'm pretty sure I would be put on a two-year wait list. There are several LPN to RN Bridge programs in my area so I will look into those.
Spring break came and went without a hitch. Now...this week, we have the nice weather! As far as quilting goes, I do miss it everyday. I've got to find time to "schedule it in" . I miss it too much. While I struggle with trying to be all things to all people, quilting is the one thing I don't have to be to anyone but myself. And truthfully, I miss blogging. I miss reading blogs. I've always felt like I could circle the globe virtually by reading your blogs. Priorities, priorities......

Spring Break!

Well, not for me, but Hollywood is down south in Tennessee this week. The Pickle is home with me for a few days, but I go back to work Thursday. So, three days isn't a bad start.
I have been trying to get around to everyone's blogs, but the algebra demon has been kicking my behind. Just five more sessions before FINALS! Psychology is going well....it helps to have had a crazy life. Everything is within the realm of possibility, psychologically speaking.
Every example I read about is the story of someone I know, or have known. Or me, a psychoses or two ago.
The Legal Adult has turned up a time or two and Hunnybunny took him do his taxes. Wow...he's getting more Legal Adultish all the time! No, I haven't finished his quilt, thanks for asking....I've just been covered up with school. Gonna try to work on it this week while I am off. His milestone birthday, Number 25 is coming up in May. I've told him not to be mad if it's not done. But I'm sure that has fallen on deaf ears. I thought he was going to make me a mother-in-law recently, but he talked himself out of it.

"What a Fool Believes" finally finished!

Only took me 10 years from start to finish on this quilt. I haven't been posting pictures lately because my memory stick on my Sony camera was missing. Hunnybunny found it under the huge (old) computer monitor, so I'm just getting around to posting this. Everything I learned about quilting, I took out on this quilt. Free motion, using homemade templates (that was before I learned you could buy them!); hand-piecing, which I had to do when I started as I had no machine. Now I have six. :) I did finish this with a machine as I learned that the back has to bigger than the front.
It most definitely was a learning experience. The reason it was named "What a Fool Believes" was because every time I went to the fabric store, that was the song on Muzak.

Death by Algebra

I'm finally up for air. This class is about to kill me. The computer logs the amount of time I spent working on homework, tests, and quizzes. So far, I'm up to 101 HOURS! I thought this was a good plan, taking a hybrid course, half lecture, all work done through a venue online. My family hasn't seen me in days, except to bring me lattes and call me to dinner. Hunnybunny has been cooking and cleaning...and even taking care of the kids. He is a real sweetheart!
I've been doing some thinking. Given my age, I don't think I can afford to have a big wait to get into the RN program. I'm thinking of going into the LPN program instead. Question is: will I have the same respect from the nursing community? Is there a a big difference between the LPN and RN in duties? I put the question to all who read this.

Update on College.

Okay, friends, (if anybody is really out there) I met with the very nice advisor this past Wednesday. We figured out that I didn't need to retake Intro to Pysch, (yea!) but I still have to take Developmental Pysch. There was a question of whether or not I'd be allowed to take the Algebra (that I totally made a D in) over. As it turned out, it was all good, and they're allowing me to better my grade. This will be kind of interesting as I had to buy some software, Math XL. My homework is accomplished (and graded) through that means. Pretty cool!
I now know I'm not in Kansas anymore as I made my way to the campus bookstore. Unbelieveable! 2 USED books + the software ran me $286! My head is still reeling from the sticker shock. Then, I find out today that the Math XL has to be accompanied by another piece of software called Course Compass. Going to my Algebra class at 9:30 AM on a Saturday, our class found we couldn't access the software. Upon contacting customer service via chat, I found out I have to purchase $72 worth of access codes. It's all a racket.
Oh, in case you are wondering, I'm still quilting. Just very slowly.....

Sherlock Holmes: A Movie Review

You're going to hear lots of bad reviews by the classic book lovers, and rightfully so. This spin is more, "if Sherlock were in our time" kind of thing. There are historical references and devices which were not in this period . You have to be forgiving of this if you intend to enjoy this film. The trick is to clear your mind of any preconceived notions of the grand gentleman of Sherlock Holmes in literature, and try to wrap your head around the flawed character of this version. The compairson has been made to Gregory House, (of House fame) and Sherlock's character. Well, since I love House, I find no fault. Highly intelligent, self-absorbed, yeah, I can see that. But as someone with absolutely no frame of reference to a Sherlock Holmes in my mind, I thought the movie was amazing! I hate to admit, I'm not now, nor have ever been, a reader of the classics. My high school never required them, and back then, you couldn't necessarily find them in paperback. So I missed the whole, "Elementary, my dear, Watson," thing. However, this new movie more than made up for the lack in my education. See it with an open mind. Below is the trailer.