Hi There.

Just wanted to pop in for a little update, since I haven't been by in a while. I am still pursuing a nursing degree. Last night I completed a CPR training course. It was like a CPR course on steroids because it is for professionals in health care. They also teach you how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator). If you don't know what that is, it is basically like one of those things from the movies and TV shows that doctors use to shock a person's heart. Except with an AED it analyzes what is going on in the heart and delivers the shock itself, if necessary. It is portable so it can be brought to any scene and isn't on a big cart like a defibrillator would be at the hospital.

I really enjoyed my CPR class. I took one back in high school, but it has been so long that I am obviously not still certified. Not only did I not remember most of the rules/procedures, they have all changed so much since I last took the course. I really liked reading in the book about different diseases and how the heart works and all of that good stuff. Most of it was pretty basic, but I was happy to realize that I am super interested in this and excited to get started on my CNA training class.

My CNA training class starts on Oct.12 and I'm really excited. I know it is going to be a nasty job full of the nurses' bitch work, but I can't wait to get in the field and help patients and start learning and experiencing the environment.

I have also signed up to do some volunteering. I start volunteering for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society next week, and have a volunteer interview with my favorite local hospital in October. Hopefully I will also be able to volunteer for the Red Cross and other organizations. I want to be involved in everything I can possibly be involved in, but with school starting that leaves very little time.

As for my boy situation, I now know that talking about it on the blog isn't a curse, because this last guy didn't work out and I didn't even blog about him. Oh well. NEXT!

OH! This is exciting...a friend and I are planning on going to NYC for New Years Eve! I'm so excited. I haven't been to NYC in about 5 years and I can't wait to get back. It is my favorite city, by far. If anyone reading is going to NYC or knows someone who is going for NYE let me know! I've been doing some research, but I just don't know what to do about the actual New Years Eve. There are all access passes for an ass-ton of money, then single bar tickets, and me wanting to be in Times Square...so many things to think about! Any and all suggestions are more than welcome!

Hope all is well with any readers out there!

Major Life Change

Hey kiddos. Long time, no see. Since I’ve been so MIA from the blog world, I’ve made a huge life decision…I’m going back to school. To be a nurse.

First off, I’ve always had an interest in medicine. I’ve always known I don’t have the drive to become a full-fledged doctor, and I used to be an all or nothing kind of girl. So when deciding on a major in college, I ruled out any medical career and instead chose the safe route: telling myself that with a business degree I would have so many more options; surely there would be ONE I would be passionate about. WRONG.

After 2 years in the business world, and one bachelor’s in business administration later, I have finally decided I detest everything about the business world: the lies, having to be so professional you can’t crack actual jokes, the rigid structure. I stuck around in this field for so long because I was scared of change.

Now it is time for me to kick change in the ass. I’ve done a lot of growing as a person over the past two years, and it is time my professional life reflects my personal life. I want to be passionate about my career. That’s just it - I want a career, not a job. So I explored many possibilities in the medical field such as dental hygiene, etc. Nursing seems to fit my likes, abilities and expectations the best. I’ve talked with family and friends and I’m super excited about it, y’all.

Since I have a business degree, I need to take some more prereq courses before I can apply for nursing school. I have also sent in an application to volunteer at 2 local hospitals. I’ve been sending a cover letter of intent to become a nurse and my resume to doctors’ offices all over the area in need of a front desk person (allows me to use the skills I have while also learning more about the medical field). I’m researching like crazy and really digging my heels in deep. Tonight I have an information session on a CNA training class. I hear super gross things about being a CNA and I understand that they get all of the bitch work, but I need to start somewhere, and if that is the only paying job I can get for the next year or so while I work on my prereqs then that is what I will take. Being a CNA will give me first hand experience with patients and great exposure to the nursing scene.

There are more information sessions for various schools/programs coming up next month, so my goal is to have a set plan by the end of September as to when I expect to be able to apply to nursing school and which degree I will pursue.

Since my life is going in so many different directions right now, I probably will stick to my sporadic posting. As for reading blogs, I just don’t have time anymore and I am SO sorry for that. I truly love reading blogs and keeping in touch with people I have gotten to know, but it isn’t realistic for me right now. I hope you all understand!

If you have any suggestions for my new career path, please do not hesitate to share!

Hey from Oklahoma!

I've been to Arkansas and Oklahoma on this trip to visit my family.
And I must say it has been amazing. My moms side of the family is in
AR and we went there first. My moms sister remarried about 15 years
ago but I haven't connected with or accepted her new husband into the
family (in my eyes) until this trip. I'm so happy to say that I have
finally, 15 years later, I can call him "uncle". It feels great that I
have grown as a person and am now able to learn from him and love him
as a family member. It sounds cheesy-but true!

I am now in Tulsa and I feel like this is my second home. I love my
dads side of the family so much. They are honestly the nicest people I
know. I'm thinking of looking into moving here if my job search keeps
running dry back home...we'll see!

Just another tid bit - I learned how to shoot a gun on this trip. It's
fun. Haha. I'm def getting one if I ever live on my own. But I need
some practice!

Sent from my iPhone. - This explains the short, choppy message and any
spelling mistakes! I'll report more when I get back!

Blog Pimpin

Hi there! I don't have much to update from my personal life...but I do want to help out a dear friend who has started her first blog! She is witty and fun and has started her blog to sort of expand on Twitter.

Go over to http://nottwitterblog.wordpress.com to check her out! Her posts will be straight forward, raw thoughts. It is great dry humor to give you more than a 140 character break in your day!

Oh and PS - I am traveling to Oklahoma soon to visit family so I hope to have some posts about my travels!

This One Goes Out to My Runners

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm training for a 10k. I have always wanted to get my nutrition right but can't quite figure it out. Now that I'm training, I definitely want to make sure my body is getting what it needs. Does anyone out there know a good website (not mypyramid.gov) that can help me figure out the right nutrition for my body? Preferably without a fee...

Thanks!

Hello Loves

Yes, I do realize I'm a terrible blogger but at this point in my life I'm not really motivated to change that. So I've decided to just be a sporadic poster until I can get creative and really do this thing right. Until then, I will post updates on the major changes in my life.

Job hunt: The position with the IT company didn't work out. Too bad because I was really excited for it (the $ to be quite frank) but I totally understand because they need a sales person, and I'm not really into that. I'm not bummed out about it either because I know everyting happens for a reason. I'm still sending out resumes and still hunting. I sent out 7 today! Hopefully I will hear back from at least 1!

Home life: I moved back in with my parents this weekend. It's not going too bad. That may be because my mom has been out of town and she is the one that I butt heads with the most. I like how so many thing are free now - that's the best part!

Current job: I'm still not doing much. I have, however, talked to both of my bosses now and they both know where I stand and are willing to help me find something else, I think. There has been no talk of me leaving for certain yet, so I hope to ride this out until I find something permanent.

Boys: Talked to Navy Boy last week about me being OK with him seeing other girls. I was forced to bring it up by The Dentist since The Dentist knows I'm kind of hanging out with another guy. It's all good though and me and Navy Boy are still friends and still talk. I really like him but it just isn't realistic for us to be building a relationship when he is 600 miles away. As for the other boy, my lips are still sealed. You don't know how hard this is for me not to gush on and on about this guy and what's going on. I would love to get y'alls advice on the situation, but I'm still testing out the blog-boy-jinx thing. I hope to find some solid ground with this guy in a month so maybe I'll be able to report back with good news then.

Other: I signed up to run a 10k with my sister in September. I'm nervous but excited and have been pretty dedicated to progressing as a runner this week. Today I hope to do my longest outdoor run yet - 3.65 miles. I know it's not much, but I have super bad shin splints so I have to SLOWLY increase my distance.

Until next time...have a great day!

Changing Jobs is Fun...NOTTTTT

Ask and you shall receive - thanks for the feedback on that last post! I don't know what I'm doing with my life...but there has been some development since I updated last. I landed an interview with a great firm here in Raleigh. They do IT stuff, but I would be joining as a ‘marketing associate’. I met with the girl Friday who I would be working with and let me just say this: she kicks ass. Not only did she tell me she ‘works hard and plays hard’, but also dropped the F-bomb during the interview. She is only 2 years older than me and seems super fun and outgoing. We instantly clicked and she was relieved to have found someone similar to potentially work with. For this job, we would be going together to events, hosting lunches/dinners, and basically just networking and being the face of the company to drive in business.

So I had a follow up interview with the CEO and COO of the company yesterday. F-bomb girl was also there, which made me feel a little more comfortable. I stumbled over some of my words, and probably could have given better answers, but overall I feel pretty good about the interview. I felt really prepared going in, which also helped. Since F-bomb girl was so excited during our first meeting, I kind of expected to be hired right there on the spot, but I wasn’t, and that kind of disappointed me. They said they were considering a couple other people and they would be in touch (which doesn’t sound good to me). I’m not as confident about getting the job as I was before the interview, but still hopeful.

More on the job front…I had a discussion with one of my bosses yesterday about my ‘future’ and told him that I want to eventually go back to school so I need a job that would allow me to take care of myself financially while also saving up for school. We decided that there isn’t room for me to grow into a position that would allow that at my current company, so it is now known that I am looking for other jobs. My boss even mentioned some names to help me get started and, I think, is even planning on reaching out to some people himself to help me out. I didn’t expect him to do that, so I’m super grateful.

I’m in a weird place now though, because I need to talk to my other boss about it, which can be tough. It is also weird because when discussing with Boss #1, it was kind of implied that I document all of the processes I know then leave, I guess. I feel like that is what he wants because he asked how long he thought it would take for me to get everything documented. So I’m not really sure how long I’m supposed to stick around. I’ll bite the bullet today and talk to Boss #2 and hopefully get some more clarity.

For now, I guess I’ll just stick to looking for marketing jobs, and maybe take some classes at the community college to learn more about graphic design. I’ll keep y’all posted on whether I get offered the ‘marketing associate’ position at the IT firm – say a prayer for me, I REALLY want it!

In boy news, I’m still talking to Navy Boy a few times a week, but haven’t planned a trip down to visit him because of all this job stuff going on right now. There may be another potential boy in my life, but I don’t want to blog about him just yet. It seems like each time I blog about a boy it ends badly, so I’m going to try to wait this one out and see if it is some kind of blog curse. Ha.

Happy Hump Day!