Latest on the Gonzaga Adventure

I finished up my summer class back in July (I’m just a wee bit behind on the blog). This class revolved around the various roles that master’s prepared nurse take on both the specific duties related to the field the nurse focuses on as well as how the nurse incorporates the five roles of advanced practice nurses (clinician, manager, educator, consultant, and researcher/evaluator).  It involved lots of reading, as well as an interview with a nurse who worked in the area you wished to specialize in (in my case nurse educator). I interviewed my honors thesis advisor from my BYU days. It was very enlightening, and helped me make some decisions about my future. She encouraged me to do my teaching practicums at BYU, which I hopefully will get the opportunity to do. I’ve already started to determine what needs to make this happen. 

During this time I also made decisions that will affect the remainder of my time at Gonzaga. My student advisor had sent me an email advising me that I needed to condense my classes a bit because of the new curriculum. In my response email, I mentioned that I wish I would have had the opportunity to do the new curriculum. Through a series of back and forth emails, we ended up devising a schedule that would allow me to move to the new curriculum. As a result, I have the fall semester off, as well as the summer semester in 2015. I will graduate a semester later, but I feel really good about this new program. It involves a variety of practicum experiences, as well as an additional  test-writing workshop at Gonzaga. 

So right now I am going to try to enjoy my break and make the most of it. The rest of my life has kind of been ignored for the past eight months. I’ve also got to figure out my health too. While I’m far from deathly ill, I am not at my optimum health at this time. So I hope to figure that out or at least find some form of relief during these next few months when I should have more time. Hopefully I don’t just nap all day which has become a favorite past time as of late.

South Summit High Class of 2003

On July 6, Kevin and I attended my ten year class reunion at Jordanelle State Park. It wasn’t super well attended, but it was fun to see the people who did attend. Sadly none of my close friends from high school came, but after the fact, I did realize that I had been friends with most of the people there at some point during my thirteen years at South Summit. 

We had a very yummy steak dinner with various sides, and it was quite delicious. The steak was one of the best steaks I have had in a long time. Despite the rain and cold, I am really glad that we went. 

Sadly I did not take any pictures, but we were there. It was fun to see how people have progressed since we graduated and had our five year reunion. I’m kind of sad that I only keep up with my classmates on Facebook and through their blogs. I hear about some of my coworkers and other friends who still have lunch with friends from high school, and I’m kind of sad that I don’t have that, but I guess it is my own fault for preferring to be a hermit when I am not at work.

Kevin's New Toy

June was an expensive month for us. Not only did I get a new phone, but Kevin got a “new” motorcycle. It is a red, Honda Interceptor from the early 2000s.

It more or less looks like this one, although our saddle bags are black. Kevin has enjoyed commuting to work on it, and I have enjoyed the smaller gas bill. I have gone on a few rides to his parents’ house on it, but nothing major. Hopefully it become a toy that we can both enjoy. 

P.S. Sorry about the big white space, I can't remove it.

New Phone

I have such original titles. :)

Anyways, my phone contract expired in December of last year, so from that time on I was semi-in-the-market for a new phone. I liked my phone, but it wasn’t a “true” smart phone and I longed to be able to have the convenience of the apps for such things as grocery shopping, etc. As time progressed, my phone slowly started falling apart. First the back case broke enough that it wouldn’t stay on, then the front, then finally sometime in May the battery cover inexplicitly disappeared. I still haven’t found it. After going back and forth trying to decide if I wanted to commit to a smart phone and a data plan, I finally decided to bite the bullet (it really was kind of dramatic, but then dramatic is a good descriptor for me) and buy a new phone. I had originally wanted a Samsung Galaxy S3 because the S4 were coming out, so it seemed more economical to buy the older phone; however, Kevin talked me into the brand new S4, and I am glad he did.

Isn’t it a beaut? Mine has a pink and gray case, so it has a bit more spice to it. I absolutely love it. Probably a bit too much. It is nice to have Facebook and Feedly so close, although I do have to admit I spend way too much time on the Fan Fiction app. It is probably my guilty pleasure. I stumbled across this website after watching all of the Kyle XY episodes on Netflix (which I have that app too and love it) and wanting more Kyle XY. However, I read it more to receive my Harry Potter fix. Although I do try to find stories relating to other favorite books, movies, tv shows, etc., the majority of my stories are Harry Potter related. It really is kind of pathetic.

I also love the camera and the ease of texting. Plus, the ability to google instantaneously is amazing. Inquiring minds need to know. So far I haven’t been sucked too deeply into Wikipedia, although I am sure the time will come. Anyways, despite the fact that I now owe $30 more to Verizon each month, I am glad I made the switch, even if my productivity level has suffered an insult. :)