Joy over Stupidity

Heyo,

I am feeling ironic. I don't particularly mean this very seriously. I keep so busy and yet whenever I stop I can't help but think that these are the parts of my life that would be skipped over in a biography. Or covered in one sentence "She strove toward earning her license as a Registered Nurse."
Nothing fancy, nothing dramatic, yet so much work is summed up in that one sentence. I am busy with nothing and yet I am tired by everything. There are little stories that happen all the time, but I can't keep them anywhere because patient confidentiality AKA HIPPA. This is good and yet where does it leave me?

It leaves me boring. Also if I could share those stories only a small portion of the world really wants to listen. Either it is interesting only to me, because only my unique perspective can enjoy it. Or it is something medical. And even though every human has a body, most people deny it, don't understand it, and act all bossy when they need help.

I enjoy this, nay I love it. Call me sadistic, but if you break your bone, you'll want me, not some person who hates the sight of blood. While I am learning this analogy may not work so well, because if you broke your bone I may flip out (due to lack of knowledge of course) anyway. Still I become overjoyed through overs and my own stupidity. It is all about finding the silver lining, right?

Just rambling per usual on here...mainly just trying to write more. I have found that I am completely out of the habit. Hopefully, for any of my readers at least, quality will follow the habit.

<3 Lissa

Back to New Opportunities AKA Panic It's School Time

Heyo,

Happy to say 'hi', but that is almost all I can do right now, because as the title states school is starting. If i barely blogged all summer I don't know who I am kidding to think that I will keep up any semblance of regularity with posts, but I will pop on every now and then. Tomorrow I have lab all day, which will be fun, but tiring. All about Intravenous catheterization...should be fun!

Haven't been writing too much. I started a new novel this summer when I was really into White Collar, but it tattered out at about 20,000 words (if I am being generous). So that is a big pause. Editing TAGD, but so. slowly. it. is. slowly. killing. it. Anyway looking forward to NANOWRIMO, because i just really need more things to do ;)

Hopefully I will 'see' you soon!

<3 Lissa

Pushing and Pulling

Heyo,

Recently I have been reading the Mistborn series (per recommendation from little sister). In the book some people are born with the gift to 'burn' metals, each metal has a different action. Anyway because it is science fiction it talks quite a bit about the mechanics of it all...leading me to thinking about pushing and pulling. Part of the power of certain metals is the ability to push off of coins and then opposing pull the coins toward them. Mistborns use this to fly and fight. However I begun to attach the concept somewhat more concretely to the reality we live.

All of  life we are pushing things away or pulling them towards us. What am I reaching for? What am I running from? It has a great deal to do with life purpose and the actions we take. Mistborns train and practice, taking a great deal of thought to their plans, but here, we push and pull not altogether thinking much at all. Certainly never practicing.

I want to be trained in the gifts I have. No matter the level of hardness involved.


Keep reading.

<3 Lissa

Problems with Lists

Heyo,

Been into creating lists and been pretty vocal about it on the blog, so I have been thinking a lot about their purpose lately. See if asked I often say I dislike them, but I continue to use them. Thus I am conflicted, are they good or are they bad?

Con                                                                                  Pro

Lack of flexibility                                                           Organization
Remember what you need to do                                     Remember what you need to do
Guilt                                                                                Motivation

This is all I could come up with, but I have the feeling there are more. See evaluation of a tool is essential in understanding it's importance. Are lists extremely valuable or only mildly helpful. One could say if you don't know what to do, how are you going to do it? Other would say you should do more and you wouldn't have to worry about remembering?

What pro's/con's can you think of?
                                                                                                                                                             

<3 Lissa




ps. as much as I dislike lists I have a terrible memory soooo until I find a substitute the list stays.

Out of Practice???

Heyo,

There are so many things I enjoy doing and many, many more things that I want to do. Time management is important, still no amount of planning allows me unlimited time. Inevitably there are things that get cut.

This is painful

For the last month I have been trying to take care of family and chill. I would like to say "rest" or "have fun" or better yet "figure life out", but it is just care and chill. That was all I could manage. I am trying branch back out now. School left me burnt and I having trouble knowing what to do and what to pause on for the summer. I have no slow speed; it is all stop and go in my book. I want to do things, but I am not always doing the right thing.  Because deciding the right things for me and the wrong things take time and thought and a lot of help. In other words it is hard.

Last week I started taking small steps, I took a few more today and I hope to take a few tomorrow. Although in my head 'tomorrow' is always the day I get all the things done. Writing this is making me think of all those things, guess I should go make a list.

Blogging is therapeutic and yet I paused for awhile, not something I planned and truly I would have liked to considered it more than I did.

Wow. There has been awhile between posts here. Hope you are doing well!

<3 Lissa

Song on the Screen

Heyo,

There is this thing that I love that is working hard all day and then crashing on the couch or my bed. I live for that crash, because it is beautiful to be that exhausted happy.

Tonight I watched a movie with singing in it and loved every minute of it. I love music and dance. I love the freedom and happiness that comes with it. Music directly relates to dreams. And promise. And hope. And beauty. And pretty much anything, but this was a movie, so good things this time. I love singing.

All the plans, not quite all the time. Tomorrow is a fun happy day. Anything could happen, but probably mostly cool things, like big cities, church, writing, reading, walking and possibly if I can get up early running.

I love summer. I certainly hope tomorrow is sunny.

<3 Lissa

PS the cake pops have to stop being their own post series, because the issues never end. I left some of the cake+icing mixture in the fridge for thirty-hours and it was almost rock hard. Why? Why? I just wanted cake pops and I still have none.

Melissa Makes Cake Pops---Part Two

Heyo,

Since I had all the ingredients today I got up and decided to finish what I started. Cake Pop time. Today I finally had all the ingredients. So I baked a cake, which made the house all birthday-ie. Meanwhile I did some cleaning. Then I blended the cake up. It was all gooey deliciousness. Next I added the icing, put the dough like consistency into molds, stuck them in the fridge and ran off to work.

I got home into and checked them. The dough was stuck to the mold...and thus the plot thickens.

On another note, I feel like my summer is both crawling and speeding by...and I don't know what to do about it. How is your summer?

<3 Lissa

Twenty-One Hours in Denver

Heyo,

So last week I took a trip and had a layover in Denver. It turned into something more. Airline kept delaying our flight. Once. Twice. Thrice. Four times. And then finally cancelled and rebooked...on a five-thirty am the next day. Yay. Not.

A List Of Activities 

1. Okay, okay, not too bad. Just spend the night in Denver, could be pretty fun, right?
2. Wait for airline personnel.
3. So wait for airline free food.
4. Wait for shuttle.
5. Realize that clouds look a lot closer in Colorado.
6. Sit on a bus for thirty minutes, almost fall asleep.
7. Turn on bad hotel TV, turn it off and read "Still Alice" (side note serious great book).
8.  Then walk to Wal-Mart, walk past the 'grass station', question humanity's path forward, find a Goodwill, faith in humanity restored.
9. Get up insanely early two-thirty in the morning and get ready...without luggage.
10. Walk downstairs to taxi, because it is too early for the shuttle, find policemen interviewing someone, quickly move on.
11. Arrive at airport, make it through security.
12. Then find an open airport store for nourishment.
13. Take food make to gate and then point every other passenger to nearest coffee shop.
14. Depart from Denver on time.
15. It wasn't tragic and it wasn't amazing; it just was. It happened. Kind of exciting to say that it happened, but nothing much happened.

<3 Lissa

Melissa Makes Cake Pops---PART ONE

Heyo,

Today I was at work, thinking about all things I wanted to do when I got home, when my brain highlighted one idea in particular.

CAKE POPS

See last week my wonderful mother gave me a Done-With-School gift bag and one of the fabulous things she thought to include were cake pop molds. And it seemed tonight was the night to begin. On my break I googled instructions, after I got off work I drove to the store and picked up cake mix and frosting. I got home preheated the oven softened the butter and then cut open the cake mix.

 

Only to realize that we had no eggs.

 

No problem, I google 'egg substitutes' First one to make sense was baking soda and vinegar. I run to the fridge, baking soda-check. Cupboard...no vinegar.

 

 

Usually the kitchen is much better stocked than this, but usually we have just gotten back from week long trips either. I guess a midnight arrival time, may screw-up the grocery list.

Really it is like me to be impulsive and then it is like the world to frown upon it. Oh, well. I need candy melts and lollypop sticks anyway. Maybe tomorrow?

 

 

Nice to be back.

 

<3 Lissa

Motivation/Editiing Slough

Heyo,

I have been working a lot on editing my novel and sometimes there is just nothing left.

I want to write for fun, but sometime editing is no fun.. It is, but for those time when it isn't, I turn to other relaxation things like watching Psych or other time wasting hobbies. Sometimes I pick up another book, but every time I do that I remember that somewhere an author didn't stop editing her book, didn't get lost in the problem, but pushed through. And then I avoid the book too.

I recently watched a really cool video on motivation and the point was made that inspiration is internal. That we do what we want to do. I agree that we needed to remember why we are doing things, but also sometimes I need a good kick start.

For me it was having others read my story and give honest feedback; it helped give life to something that had felt stale. Maybe it is taking a break and or writing out a plan, whatever works for you.

<3 Lissa

PS- The cool video I watched:

NERD

Heyo,

Today I was talking with a coworker, who asked me what I liked to do in my free time. I answered read, write, hang out with friends/family.

He replied, "You're kinda nerdy."

Now I know this, I like involving myself in nerdy things, but it hit me when he said it. I don't know how not to be a nerd. It is just part of who I am, but I don't like being confined to something, maybe I am not a nerd, what then? I have no idea. It doesn't really matter anyway, because I like what I do. I like to read, so why do I recoil from the label?

When my coworker said that, I smiled, because I was thinking through the things I like to do.

He asked, "Are you happy doing those thing?"

I said, "Yes of course."

He then went on to discuss his leisure activities and safe to assume, he won't be earning any literary awards anytime soon.

And while I am not much closer, at least I am trying.  Here's to first steps.

Here's to being nerdy.

<3 Lissa

Listen

 

Heyo all.

 

Now that I am done with school, I have been able to read more books and watch more movies. Also been writing quite a bit and listening to "Goodbye" from Catch Me If You Can. It is a great song, and the story intrigued me. YouTube then suggested I listen to the following. 

Yes it is thirty minutes, but believe me it is worth it.

 

 

 

The book, movie, and play all focus on what he seems to consider the "bad" part of his life, why does entertainment need the evil. The show always ends right with things turn out well. The journey I would like to see is how he changed his ways, how is wife helped him. The part of the story that could help others, not the part that could hurt.

Do you think Hollywood is obsessed with evil? Is that a bad thing? And what should we do about it?

<3 Lissa

Glimpses of the Future

Heyo,

The worst thing sometimes is feeling like life is going so fast and you are wasting your time. I know at the moment I am young and have plenty to waste, but I don't want to take it for granted. Today I helped out a graduation ceremony, the same one that next year I hope to be attending. It was nice getting a sneak peek, but then again, I feel like I don't need to repeat it. Like okay, kinda cool, great accomplishment, but the ceremony is pretty boring. Like yay, look at what you did, better do something better!

You are right I am probably jaded, just still tired and a bit sick.

I should look forward to things and stop trying to jump ahead, someday I may want this moment back. Heaven knows I want others to return.

Goodnight,

<3 Lissa

Three Things

Heyo,

I love reading and writing and I wish I did them more often. There is just one thing, I wish I didn't do as much, watching. Of tv, movies, people in general. See it is so passive, an observer doesn't end up as a participating in anything. I am not saying I should do it never. Just that I would consider doing it less.

I want to be a doer and a thinker, someone who is. 

This thought brought to you by a person recovering from a nasty cold, comforting herself by marathon watching Psych.

I might observe less, if it wasn't so much fun.

<3 Lissa

Would You Like To?

Heyo,

Decisions. To go or to stay. The mundane or the insane. I used to think I was very decisive and some would probably still call me that, but I don't feel it. See there are all these nuances and nothing is exactly wrong. Or right. You just have to decide.

If it isn't a right/wrong choice, than the next criteria is what do you WANT to do? I find this just as challenging. I am the sort that wants to do everything. So that doesn't help.

Next is time. There are a lot of minutes in a day. I pretty much use them all one way or another. I have contemplated never sleeping, but I have heard that makes you insane. That would certainly defeat the purpose.

And we are back to deciding, without any help. Sometimes it feels like eeny-meeny-miney-moe.

How do you decide?

<3 Lissa

The Little Long Things

Heyo

Ever noticed there are menial tasks that are just miserable? Like if you do them, they are awful and tedious and if you procrastinate, then you are constantly annoyed. Like you can do the laundry and be reminded of the pointlessness of it all. You wash clothes just so they can get dirty again. Or you can avoid it like the plague and then run out of clean clothes.

During this last semester, I have put off a lot of small tasks. I prioritized things at the bottom of my list and now, I have to go back and clean up my messes. Last night, I was doing laundry at midnight, so that I could have clean clothes for today. There is a layer of dust everywhere in my room. I have stacks of papers to sort through. I have several applications to submit. The list goes on and on. I guess I am specifically thinking about it, because I just spent the last two hours sorting through a thousand emails.

Cue Melissa losing her sanity.

And now being supper happy there are only five emails in her inbox :)

What things do you put off only to have it hurt then make you happy later?

<3 Lissa

Clear Glass....CRASH

Heyo,


The other night I was cleaning out the glass case, where we display food. Here's the thing, I tend to leave the doors to it wide open, and my supervisor is always telling me to close it. That night I was starting to remember to close it, but every time I went to put something back in, I would hit it on the glass. Think of a bird trying to fly through a widow...that was me with  food, smashed against glass .Somehow I kept forgetting that there was a barrier between the space in the case and the space where I was standing, because in my head there was no wall.

It was making me think how invisible walls aren't any less valid than ones we can see. Someone with a broken ankle, might struggle just as much to climb stairs as someone with a fear of heights. Yet one is more recognized, more understood than another.


In the meantime, I will keep up my happy oblivion. "I have no walls." SMACK. "There is nothing in my way." CRASH. "What an easy job." THWAK.

<3 Lissa

Saturday and Recovery

Heyo,

It's summer. It is summer. My brain can't seem to process that it is on break. I had a dream the other night that I still had to take finals. School may be over, but life never ends, and my brain doesn't understand the difference sometimes. That I don't have to go anywhere, but work. That I don't have to carry ten pounds of textbooks everywhere with me.

Don't get me wrong, it is nice. I love summer break, I just don't feel like it is summer yet. I think, it is because I haven't caught up. I spent so much time during school just doing the next thing, trying not to panic that now I need a moment to be here.

Summer Checklist:

The heat- check
Sun- check
No school- check no I don't count that NCLEX review
Loud music -check
Plans- Somewhat

Okay so for the most part the summer checklist is saying that we are here and happy about it. So is that it? What makes summer special to you?

<3 Lissa

FINALS

HEYO

There was this torture once created

Collective to every child in this country

Here I say this activity should be traded:

 Finals week.

 

Sure I am in college

 (and the highschoolers have it worse)

But why do we allow

#1 Stress, which is upon our health a curse

#2 Incomplete assessments of knowledge

All of this to say that I am done for now.

 

This moment I am happily in summer break.

As a reward I am going to eat some cake.

 

<3 Lissa

LAST DAY OF BEING EIGHTEEN

Heyo,

I am sitting here in my corner not really a corner, but it feels like it with the window next to me blinds closed sipping my iced tea not at this moment, I mean I am typing right now.

This is the last day I will be eighteen and I want to commemorate it somehow. Too much has happened in this last year to really quantify, so I am giving you a snapshot. I will tell you about my day today.

Got up at five-thirty, studied until seven, checked in with family (fun) and then studied more, wrote a paper, got bored. Then I ate lunch and began to panic about all the studying I had to do before test on Thursday. Went to study session at one-thirty. Got some great tutoring felt happy, had to leave far too soon, in order to get to work on time, three thirty. Worked this is too small a word for all that happened, but too much happened to give you all the details.  Came at ten pm and began prep for my twelve hour clinical tomorrow in labor and delivery, which starts at six-thirty.

When I came home, there was so pre-birthday pizzazz around and a SUPER sweet note from little sis she was already in bed when I got home and it made me REALLY happy.

My emotions range from stress test, happy-family, sad-busy, peaceful-productive, hope-Jesus.

That about sums it up as best I can this late at night.

Eighteen years is a pretty good run.

<3 Lissa

One Year Anniversary

Heyo!

Been studying a lot today, reading back through my PowerPoint, when I remember. I had been planning to skip blogging today and get some extra sleep, but now, nope. No rest for the weary.

News is:

I started blogging a year ago today! Yay! 

Really want to write more, but I need some sleep. So later this week I will make up for it. After this test...and work, and birthday stuff, and probably a lot of spring cleaning.

For now thanks and here's to another year!

(Picture of needle, because, why not? #nursingstudent )

<3 Lissa

Price Tags and Being Poor

Heyo,

I just reread yesterday's post and it started strong and ran a bit random, didn't it? That is what writing while sleep deprived gets you.

That isn't going to change quickly though, so unless I take another hiatus, random is here to stay.

Tonight it is story time.

I found my sister birthday present today. I can tell this to you because she doesn't read on a regular basis and also this post contains no spoilers. She knows I am poor.

I walk into a store and look at the jewelry. There was the pretty petite bracelet with little heart charms and I thought, perfect.

I asked to see it.

Still perfect.

The clerk said "132"

And I though. ONE dollar and THIRTY-TWO cents.

I said "I'll take it."

As she started to wrap it, she mentioned that it was a Tiffany's bracelet and that is when it hit me. She told me ONE hundred and THIRTY-TWO dollars.

Sense I had already said yes, I would have probably still bought it except, I didn't have that much money on me.

So I make some excuse about wanting to keep looking and I ditched the store.

Probably not going back there anytime soon.

<3 Lissa

Knowledge

Heyo,

The longer I go through college the more I understand why head knowledge while valuable isn't as vital as critical thinking. I can keep stuffing facts or scenarios into my head, but if I can't make a decision when the chips are down, then it doesn't matter.

There was a test yesterday (and still no grade) and there is another bigger test this coming week. So I feel pretty qualified at the moment to tell you  that while I want the knowledge I need the hands on.
 In nursing that is the clinical section. ( I am about to go on Newborn rotation, which is super exciting).

I can't believe the semester is more than half way over...and yet it still drags onward, longer, harder. Yaaaay. Not.

Anyway use critical thinking, and get good at it by doing non-school work activities. Like jobs, or volunteer work or simple real life situations. A textbook can't give you good judgment, you have to cultivate it yourself.

Also as I continue in my new job, I have learned everything goes a bit better with a smile. Good customer service never hurts and no, that doesn't mean the customer is always right.


<3 Lissa

PS MY BIRTHDAY IS IN LESS THAN A WEEK.

Twelve Days???

Heyo?

Empty echo.

Okay then. I HAVE MISSED YOU.

Hallow hall.

No excuses I know, but I am sorry.

Is forgiven, because I am the only person still here.

Seriously though. I have missed you.

I got my summer figured out. Or more figured out than before

Studied, but never enough

Took a spring break and read not even one book. I know I am pathetic.

But I painted pottery.

And I started editing. Like seriously editing. On a similiar note. Anyone want to read a stupid book started a sixteen? Because at points I think it might need to quitly die.
Work too, but work is pretty fun. I actually get to do something EASY

So that's me or some of me. I have to go, because test tomorrow. I think my life revolves around tests, but there is no time right now to analyze the patheticness of that statement right now. Later maybe. Or more likely it will just keep me up tonight as I stress about something that is mostly all stupid.

Hope you have been having a lovely life! Once again I have to say: I missed this.

<3 Lissa

PS Phrase in my head right now "God help me pass this test." Playing on repeat in a brain near you.

Good Friday Repeat

Heyo,

Happy Good Friday to everyone! It sounds a little strange to be saying 'happy' when it was the day Jesus died, but it good in the fact that he paid the price for our sins. If you are a usual blog reader chances are you have already heard that. A lot.

But is frequent bad?  It is an old story now, about two thousand years, give or take.  It is like a book you just can't put down the first time, and every time you reread it, draws you back in.

Its not magic, it is the power of God.

So if you are like me and know the Easter story, better than your life, think about it like a faithful friend.

<3 Lissa

PS Little sis informed me this morning that feet are not an okay topic to blog about, so my apologies. I was simply to tired to think of anything else. Besides those feet needed a pep talk.

My Feet

Heyo,

An Open Letter to my Feet

Dear Feet,

     Thank you for all the places you have taken me or will take me. I feel like I take you for granted until you are hot and achy like at this precise moment. I want you to know that while your polish may be chipping off of the toes, I still keep moving.

 

     This brings me to some constructive criticism. I know that you hate shoes, but everyday I have to stuff you into them. Complain and sweat all you want; take it up with current cultural and societal norms, maybe even basic hygiene. Into shoes you will continue to go.

 

     Why don't you like socks either? They are supposed to be warm and cuddly, basically a pillows on which to constant stand or walk upon, but for you they hypnotize your balance, you lose your grip, slipping and sliding everywhere, not mention just being generally grouchy.

 

     While we are on requests, could you also not follow genetics? I mean I would prefer to go my whole life without bunions or varicose veins. This isn't just for vanity, those are painful. No signs yet, but still I am keeping my eye on you.

 

     I know I put you through a lot I stand/walk for a living, not to mention for fun. I hate sitting, so you get quite the workout. I remember that time that the ankles acted up, please don't ever do that. That's all for now. Thanks. Keep up the good work.

 

 

<3 Lissa

 

 

PS I'm 'back'. Never left. HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY :P

 



The End

Heyo.

Today the blog is over. Too much going on sorry, but on this the FIRST of APRIL, it is over. I almost made it a year. Better luck next time.

There isn't any more. 

<3 Lissa 

Sunny Sky, Floating Clouds, Rippling Ocean

Heyo,

I don't often post pictures on this blog, but somedays just need to be sunny and should include the ocean. It is peaceful. It is happy. I am not technically there. I am not at the ocean, but I have a picture.

So no moral or joke today. Just ocean.

<3 Lissa

Streamline

Heyo One All,

We pause the normally ransoms blog post for Melissa to write a few paragraphs as a sermon to herself. BECAUSE AS MUCH AS SHE TRIES TO REMEMEBR THIS, SHE DOESN'T. 

Doing things right and just doing them. There is a difference. And a lot of times I miss the line that separates them. I don't always complete my task well, because my mind is so focused on the finishing, I don't care if the race I ran was complete. 

Too theoretical? Practically it looks like this. Folding laundry sloppily, just so I can get it in drawers and move on to the next activity, not caring that I may have to iron before work the next day.

Moral of the story, it I do things well. I may not have to do so many things. Being busy isn't the goal and being done isn't the goal, being diligent and content are. Let's do things once not twice, and let's learns this lesson.

<3 Lissa

Love In Action

Heyo,

Today our pastor taught on James One, the "be doers" passage. It was pretty convicting especially as I have been in church my whole life, and I know how to hear a sermon. As a Christian, I need to do more than listen; I need to do. Action is core, and love guides works. So as a bit of a test in how I am doing I took a Scripture passage and replace "Love" with "Melissa" and "it" with "she". I have to say creating it was super convicting; I still have a long way to go.

Melissa is patient, 

Melissa is kind. 

She does not envy, 

She does not boast, 

She is not proud. 

She does not dishonor others, 

She is not self-seeking, 

She is not easily angered, 

She keeps no record of wrongs. 

Melissa does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth. 

She always protects, 

always trusts, 

always hopes, 

always perseveres.

Melissa never fails.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-8a

 

Try it out and see how much your love is in action.

<3 Lissa

 

                   

Coat Closet

Heyo,

So tonight I did some volunteering for a fundraising banquet. My sister and I ran a coat closet. This involves after attendee's arrival, taking their coats from them and hanging them up. In order to avoid a mix-up, we tag their coat with a number and give them a chip with the same  number.

So Meg and I get there early and start setting up. Then we realized there was a tag situation. We had one through fifty. And that was it.

Brief aside to remind readers, how cold it is currently. Still REALLY cold. No thanks spring.

We decided to role with it. As you can image more than fifty people came and we ran out of tags. Even after running the normal precautions, of one tag per family and encouraging people to keep their coats with them, 'it may be cold during dinner' and other fine lines. No big deal it would just be chaos later, we continued accepting coats and hanging them up with no identifiers.

Then the unimaginable happened. We ran out of hangers. I was in the back, watching them dwindle until there were no more.

Still the coats kept coming. We began to pile them on desks and chairs. Pretty much anywhere, but the floor. The crowd was slowing, the event starting, we were almost in the clear. When one more party walked in. Some other volunteer greeting one of them with, "Senator."

We took their coats of course, but we were fresh out of tags, hangers, or any non-floor space. There was no more room, not without it getting put with other coats and forgotten. What to do?

We finally dragged in another chair just to keep the Senator's coat. I never thought a coat closet's job could be stressful, but it is a responsibility. Especially with government officials are involved.

All of that and we were only half way done for the night.

<3 Lissa

 

IT IS FRIDAY

Heyo,

Today. Today was that last day of school before spring break...YAY.

I KEEP FORGETTING THAT I DONT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SCHOOL NEXT WEEK. I FEEL OBLIVIOUS TO IT.

Sorry for the all caps, but time is ticking, and all I want to do is sleep.

I mean I want to do ALOT of other things, but I only feel like sleeping. Basically the list starts today. Yikes. I have only nine days with which to do FUN things.

And today I got myself a job. Literally I did. So there is that.

G'night and happy Friday, to one and all!

<3 Lissa

The Day Time Stopped

Heyo,

Today I sat through five hours of lecture and then time just stopped.  Our teacher keeping lecturing is on the different disorders of the kidney, and the second hand continued to move, but the minute would not  change.

I thought we were being very productive.

I thought I was tired, zombie, loopie, whatever.

The truth of what was happening didn't even occur to me.

After what felt like forever our teacher paused and told we could have a five minute break. Then she looked behind her at our clock and saw the time got super confused.

Asked the class what happened, apparently most of them were on the same page I was. Cell phones emerged and we solved the case of he conflicting clocks.

Apparently the clock at the front of the room had stopped working.

So no, I didn't find a pathway to Neverland, we just had a defective clock.

That started back up just before we left.

Not sure what to make of it all.

<3 Lissa

So We Know

Heyo,

No secret I love writing and nursing, and people. But sometimes I need to refuel and just hang out. Like read instead of writing. Aka Twitter. Ahem I mean other literay novels of highest quality, sometimes. Or talk with people normally instead of using "therapeutic communication" with them. There are all things to balance.

Like one day I came home from clinicals mentally and physically exhausted, but I needed a release so I made muffins.

Other times, today, I just need a nap.

And I sometimes feel guilty for needing these things.

But why? They aren't bad. I am simply taking care of mysel. So next time you see me running or singing at the tops of lungs or staying up late writing, and wonder why I am NOT doing school work. Well, now you know. And I know too.

<3 Lissa

Getting Ready For School...As A Nurse

Heyo,

Everyone has to get ready for the day ahead, but nursing students, me, get ready differently than most.

1. Start the night before
2. Like give yourself a healthy thirty minutes...maybe more
3. Get your gym bag out of the car
4. Empty all the dirty laundry out
5. Grab your workout clothes 
6. Put them in the bathroom
7. Grab your scrubs
8. Put them in your gym bag
9. Find a banana 
10. Put it also in the gym bag
11. Wonder if you will want a healthy lunch
12. Or a yummy one
13. Try to find a balance
14. End up with whatever is in the fridge
15. Forget fluids
16. Stick it all in the fridge 
17. Pray you don't forget it
18. Collect all the paperwork required
19. Panic, because, it is just what Student nurses do
20. Double check
21. Triple check
22. Check with other students
23. Panic with other students 
24. Pack two textbooks
25. Tell yourself you won't need them
26. Take them out
27. Put one back in
28. Put the other one in
29. Stick the backpack and the gym bag in the car
30. Ensure that garage door is NOT stuck
31. Get your pjs on
32. Get into bed
33. Set at least three alarms for about 0430 
34. Panic you won't wake up
35. Tell other family to walk you up, if you don't wake up
36. You are super tired
37. You are super worried if you fall asleep, you will be late
38. Fall asleep
39. Wake up every hour to make sure you don't have to leave
40. Jump out of bed at your alarm
41. You are finally ready to go.

<3 Lissa

Spring Break LIST

Heyo,

Monday. Wow the start of another week. Is here. Again.

I have my eyes on the prize...of spring break next week. Just five more days until I am done for a week. I thought in honor of free time unless you count all the homework I have I should make a list of all the things I plan to do during my free time.

School

• Simulation lab prep
• Prep for OB on campus lab
• Study Newborn
• Study GI/GU
• HIPPA test
• Comb Blackboard for things I may be missing
• Organize
• In print

Things

• Get outside the house, several times
• Babysit
• Clean room/clothes
• Write some letters

Creativity

• Read three at least books
• Write one chapter a day
• Revise two chapters a day

Social Media

• Figure out snapchat
• Tweet more
• Blog once a day
• Organize Pinterest boards better

Any other ideas? I swear I rarely make lists, it is just so much fun to blog about them.

On another vein of thought, I need to decide my summer plans and oh my pickles, that is hard. Because get this, there are so many AWESOME options. I just can't pick. Guess I am going to have to soon...

<3 Lissa

Whiteboards

Heyo,

I love whiteboards. They are inspiration and organization at the same time. It is almost an oxymoron. They are lovely for any kind of big idea.

They are  clean and dirty

Chaos and delineation 

Work and play

And that is about all there is to say.

At least about whiteboards. I have been using them recently to study for the tests, and now to plot things out for novel planning. It is really intriguing how one tool is so versatile. Okay I am really done now waxing poetic about my whiteboards. 

I have found it is pretty much always the little things in life that make me happy or mad. Like we could probably trace it back to the big stuff like, "she is probably happy about writing, but she is talking about whiteboards."

This is true, but really it is the whiteboards of life that bring te simple uncluttered joy. And that is what I am happy about tonight.

<3 Lissa

Setting and Songs

Heyo,

Today was wonderful. The snow melted and was out of the house for thirteen hours. Like not simply out of the house. I went places. Oh, the places I went were awesome.

At one point I found myself Ina lovely old townhouse living room with a grand piano. Now I have taken lessons, but I can't play. Been out of practice too long. Wich is why I was super happy I wasn't alone.

The scene went something like this:

Me and little sister sitting on a couch. Me writing, she writing too.

We interrupt this scene, to an incident that happened earlier that informs what is happening now...then...another time.

"Melissa, how would you feel about me asking you to write a song for my novel?"

"Honored."  My thoughts "SHE THINK I AM GOOD ENOUGH TO WRITE A SONG. I STILL HAVE A CHANCE IN THE MUSIC BIZ. SOMEBODY GET BROADWAY ON THE PHONE.   Oh yeah."

And we rushed away.

Back to previously scheduled story time.

Her. Me. Piano.

Song time.

Well, first it was me scratching out lyrics. Something about battle, hurt, discernment, and time. Mmh, it was that cool. And maybe generic. 

Then we hit the keys. And so what, it wasn't tuned? So what I sang off pitch? It was fun and we created something epic. Or at least something. 

We spent two hour composing and it was wonderful.

It is a collaboration song, for a novel that isn't finished...so it is innovated. Who writes a song for a book that isn't done yet? I do. We do.

 <3 Lissa 

Boring Me...zzzzz

Heyo,

What to do on a day off of school (or what I did):

Wake up at six

Stay in bed until seven-thirty

Find out it snowed 

Stay in bed a bit longer

Eat a full peaceful breakfast

Grab your four notebooks for two novels

Read an entire book

Forget lunch, because you never remember at school

Chores

Run

Free Rita's (no shame from the Italian ice, because you ran before coming...right?

CheckForGradesCheckForGradesCheckForGradesCheckForGradesCheckForGradesCheckForGrades

Go see a movie (or so you think)

End up watching your whole family sob through

Go to a buffet pizza place

Come home and CHECK FOR GRADES

Actually get some writing done

Feel guilty at not getting school done

Fall asleep anyway.

<3 Lissa

The Thursday

Heyo!

Much happier today. I took a test today, the last one before spring break. That equals so much happiness. Sunshine. Freedom. Sleep. Movies. People time. Free Ritas's tomorrow. Library books. Writing.  ALL HAPPY  THINGS.

Sorry my life has been pretty boring lately. So almost anything besides tests and hospitals makes me ecstatic. Or I was. Then I hear that there is snow predicted tomorrow and it kind cuts into my mood.

Oh, well. "THE COLD NEVER BOTHERED ME ANYWAY." Except that isn't true. It does. I just don't want it too. So, I am pretending it isn't coming.

Okay I was just reminded of a really good thing about snow: cancellations.

That is happy. I can be happy about the snow. Mostly.

One day until the weekend!

<3 Lissa

The Time To Do

Heyo,

I mentioned to a friend today that there just isn't enough time.

I want to be prepared for my test on Thursday.

I want to be there for the people I love

I want to make up brilliant blogs.

But at this moment I feel like I have no time.

So I need to prioritize and that takes purpose and planning I don't feel is in me right now.

So sorry.

<3 Lissa

People Aren't Sick?

Heyo,

So no excuses. Blog has been quiet, because of real life things. Good things, and alright things, and maybe, not-so-great things.

One of those things was a test, did well (thank you Lord!), and the good news is I have another big test this week :/ Oh, well.

After test last week, I drove down to the library to pick up a movie (Maze Runner...so excited to watch!). It was nice to go somewhere, other than my four favorites the gym, school, the hospital, or home. As I walked into the library I started seeing people walking all around me. It wasn't that crowded, there were maybe twenty, but it hit me. Just how many people were walking along the street, needing no help. How healthy everyone was.

And then I realized I spend way too much time in a hospital. :P I am an extrovert, so I find people everywhere; that didn't surprise me. It was how no one was sick. I think somewhere subconsciously I started to think that everyone is sick and dying well everyone is dying...you know what I mean. Like "People aren't sick? Why are they walking without IV's? Not so much as a cough from those kids?" *Sigh* I spend too much time around sick people. It is good, because I want to be a knowledgeable nurse, and bad, because well, I might be a tad warped.

Diffidently need to get out more. The library was a good start and then Friday evening I went to little sister's play, which was AMAZING. Regressed on Saturday when I stayed home all day and studied.

Hope the library story makes you feel better. That I haven't just been neglecting you.

Tomorrow more hospital time, and gym time hopefully, and maybe if I am really lucky I will get to study more...yay.

On an upside the weather has been getting warmer. It has been amazing outside.

<3 Lissa

The Daring Art of Dealing

Heyo,

There is the this phrase "How to deal". I think of this phrase as away of saying "how do you do it? Like I am coping, not awesome. Something happened and I don't know." Basically we all have to deal, but how do we do it?

So here are tips to deal:

1. Deep Breath
2. Take a nap
3. Go for a  walk
4. Eat chocolate, and Chex
5. Enjoy some sunshine
6. Talk to a pal
7. Try another walk, longer
8. If you still can't deal, run away
9. Pack a bag
10. Bring a banana for luck
11. And head somewhere with better weather
12. Because if you are going to be a quitter you might as well do it in California
13. Besides the basically pay you for living, right?

*note: I have never done this step, but I dream of doing it someday when it wouldn't be a disaster. The point of course is to avoid chaos not create it.

<3 Lissa

Just Ideas

Heyo,

Just ideas. Words. They can be trite lies. Simply stories.

Other times ideas are our reality. And it is hard to see them as such after all the degrading they get a majority of the time. Bottom line ideas are worthless unless you mix them with actions. We can tell they are true, real, our reality by how well they are backed up with actions.

And if they are real it is our job to treat them as such.

Anyway there is your deep thought for the day. Now for your inspiring one:

Somebody told me today that I was strong, not physically, but emotionally and spiritually. And it meant the world to me, because telling me I am strong, validates that I am doing hard things. Not perfectly, but I am doing it. Not alone either, God is a great leader and my family is a great support team. And I am learning.

It meant so much to me I want to pass that along to you.

 You are a strong person.

<3 Lissa

LIST, things I am tired of

Heyo,

So little sister thinks I have been doing too many lists. Or at least that I do a lot of them. I don't mind. They are fun and easy to do. So here is another lists

NOTE: I am not ungrateful, for things, I just get a bit tired...of things.

• Snow The stuff has over-stayed its limited visit

• Studying Love learning, just so much to know. And limited time

• Not enough sleep And too much awakeness required

• Busyness, without productivity, is frustrating. Like I am only checking pointless boxes

• Laziness In myself. I give up before I try

• Screens I love technology, I just wish I didn't have to spend my life sitting in front of computers.

• Cold It makes everything a little bit more miserable

• Distractions For me it is tantalizing book ideas when I should be preparing for next week's test

• Mistakes Both my own and others

<3 Lissa

Snow Day Studying

Heyo,

I am not from snowy weather, I grew-up where it rained during the winter and where the sun shined in the summer. Those were the days.

Here it snows. Snow equals snow days. I used to consider these days as free holiday days. They aren't. It tricky see, because they keep you at home, but your work still needs to get done. The world doesn't stop turning for snow and since the internet, classes don't stop either.

So pretty much snow days are normal days, with shoveling to do.

Yaaay.

I really don't give snow enough credit though, because if you do try and venture out, snow will get its revenge.

Sometimes it is by making you cold and miserable. Sometimes it is because it cancels your flight. Other times it blinds you with beauty and then reduces visibility to zero, causing a car wreck.

Pick your poison. Slow death of boredom and work or terrify you with unknown element of ice.

Either way, winter gets the last laugh.

<3 Lissa

Dual Lives

Heyo,

So as you all know, I am a nursing student, and am also a very creative person. 

I know, you all know that people are more than one label (popular and shy, athletic and brilliant). As a kid I knew that too, but I didn't always act like it. I thought if I wasn't smart right now, I never would be. And that's not true. Time passed, parents pushed, I kept reading, grew-up and realized my mistake.

And now I have gone to the other extreme. I think that to be smart, I can't be creative. Or I don't have time for it. I have started seeing a world of limited resources. This is not good.

The problem is how they compete. I can't do everything, but I hate acting like my time is somehow less limited or valuable than say, everyone else on this earth. It is driving me crazy to always be like, "Can't. I have school." Or "No, there is a test next week."

So last night, being all hyper from clinicals, nap, then making fun CP, I tweeted a question to one of my favorite authors:

You could say I knew the answer, but I still wanted to be told. And being told my someone older and more credible; and that was smart and creative? Well that was just awesome.

No. I am not a fan girl. I simply respect the skills it takes to get on the New York Times Best Seller List.

Back to the point I will make time for writing. I am allowed to have fun and work hard. I need to. It's all good.

<3 Lissa 

The Blight Is Back

Heyo,

NOTE: THIS POST IS ONLY DECIPHERABLE TO THOSE ASSOICAITED WITH COLLEGE PLUS.

Today is Tuesday and I know, I know that College Plus means nothing to most people, but to some, some unlucky few, it is everything. Not only was this the day I was posing my CP series on, but today they announced something.

THERE WAS A LIVESTREAM

In other words there is a new National Student Cabinet. Good news? Thank goodness, my sister is not a member.

Bad news? She is now a College Plus Student Life Employee. So while she didn't show her face on camera, she was there. In Texas. So she had us watch the live stream. Basically the choice was watch or study. So yeah, best of two evils.

Fun Quotes 

• They were described in comments as "slap happy". A direct result of too much caffeine. Who knew coffee loosens the tongue.
• "It is just a way to get a degree." Hannah 
• "It was the first time I knew a real community existed." Jonathan Now the question is do you real know the true depth of this 'community' quicksand. 
• "Treated me like a person." Dude on the far right. This of course was the wrong protocol; he should have been treated as a fish.
• "Better than building a snowman in the summer." The Olaf
• "Don't know it exists." Hannah
• "You are part of a firework." Amy
• Don't get me started on CPE3 apex. 
• " Bridget has been spunky." Aubry This of course a result of the Megan-Jordan-Aubry indoctrination program
• "Hardest tests?" - Aubry big surprise they all said actual tests. These are the same people choosing to TEST out of college.
• "POODLES?"
• "Don't prefer them..." Jonathan Then Jordan tosses a toss a dog and after that Aubrey is like "Jonathan really doesn't like poodles." Animal cruelty.
• "HI ENOCH" Everyone Hi too.
• Aubry: "What is your life purpose?"  Hannah: "What!?" Nice to know that CP Navigate is working well.
• "I want people to walk away like they are going somewhere." I couldn't agree more, Jordan. I advocate walking, away.
• "It's coming." Like an oncoming storm.
• "Will it be similar to next year?" Please, please, please...
• "Oh yeah." Nooooooo. Not the right thing to say.
• "Just sit there and stew." Currently stewing...Thanks.
• Olaf: "Finding the idea of what my skills are" Again, the success of navigate is overwhelming :P
• "I wish we could explain our excitement." Hannah  Well, you tried.

Megan (through text) That's our cabinet

Me The aftermath begins. They are just guppies...They need mama bear Meg and cool Aunt Aubry...such a nerdy family.

Okay, bye now.

<3 Lissa

P.S. I want to thank the new National Student Cabinet, for reminding me what it felt like to be human. Making fun of you, makes me too happy.

The Break-Down of Growing-Up

Heyo

Another week of clinicals. Still cold, still snow. The truth about growing up:

• It happens gradually
• It is busy, so busy
• And boring
• So much responsibility
• So much fun
• It is wisdom
• And stupidity
• Totally confusing
• It is nothing like you expected
• Over times it just happens
• And it is hard.

<3 Lissa

The Ceiling

Heyo,

The ceiling. We stare at it every night before going to sleep. It is either that or fix our eyes on the four walls that surround us. I always preferred looking up. In fact when I was little I used to say 'Aim for the sky, hit the ceiling.' And it was true then, that is exactly what I did. "Moving again? I can make more friends AND keep the old." "I can take ten credits at sixteen." "Nursing, so totally happening." 

Those are big things, but I push myself too, in little ways everyday. "I can watch this movie AND study. And work-out. And socialize." No worries. Until I never sleep and am stressed out. Lately I have been trying to take more purposeful breaks, so as to not wear thin, but, see, I am terrified of hitting the ceiling. Of finding the place where I can go no higher, burn-out. whatever you call it. When I start to give up on something, the thought of failing, plateauing, keeps me going. Keeps me pushing through.

I not the best at anything, compared to others and I know that. Nor am I always the wisest with my time *cough* Netflix *cough. Basically, not saying that I am perfect, or better, or worse than others; I am strictly talking about me here. I don't want to stop improving. I can't stand this being the best I can be. This can't be as good as it gets. Not yet.

<3 Lissa

Two Days

Heyo,

Funny how time keeps ticking. I really planned on blogging yesterday.

But first I decided to go swimming. At a public pool. Without goggles. I just tried to spell 'goggles', googles'

Lets just say that the chlorine and my eyes got into a fight and the chlorine won. It got ugly blurry. And red, with some puffiness.

They are now better...but now I have waited until the last minute and I am tired.

So goodnight and God bless us, everyone.

<3 Lissa

Gone Crazy

Heyo,

So lately I think I may have gone crazy. Hard to tell, because it has been sneaking up on me for so long. I just don't know anymore, but I think it is bad, because...

• I spend more time studying, than like, anything else
• I get up at four-thirty at least two days a week
• I haven't acted in a film in over seven months
• I have only read like five books this year. FIVE.

<MELISSA PAUSES TO REGROUP FROM THAT STATMENT>

• I don't really get outside anymore and I am beginning to doubt that that sun is real
• I enjoy sleeping, late, early, middle, doesn't matter
• Most of my thinking times is spent on the future
• Anytime, anything comes up, I start to analyze it like a nurse
• This means a lot of uselessfull facts come up
• I talk about health things, like all the time
• Building fires and baking muffins is my 'therapy'
• I will only be a teenager for another year and a few odd months...

So I'm busted right? I have gone crazy sometime when I wasn't looking and now, now I am boring.

Oh, well, there are people working on a cure, right?

<3 Lissa

Not Writing, Per Se, But The Act Of Writing About Writing

Heyo,

They week after tests, is nice. The schedule is still crazy, but the stress is less. I also had a bit of time this weekend to toy with a story idea. I have started quite a few novels, but none like this.

See I have started dramas and cotemporary things, but the one thing my stories all had in common? The hero(ine) was tortured. Oh, maybe not physically, but mentally, just someway to make their bad life worse.

No more. This story, while it still might run a bit deep, is NOT going to have people in tears at the end of it. HOPEFULLY, although I do not take credit for people who are overly emotional, because I do not understand them.

Why am I deciding to do this? Because the world is dark and twisty enough without, yanno, using creative energy to make it worse. I want to make it better. Don't get me wrong, this is NOT a Pollyanna story although that may have been a favorite of mine when I was little, it is realistic. Things aren't perfect, but "bad" side isn't serial killers, it is the sin that hides in all of us. Bad enough to get us to hell, but 'small' enough that we can lie ourselves into oblivion.

My main character also just makes a lot of wise cracks. Not like anyone else I know...

This is also NOT a romance. Because there are other, sometimes even tougher, relationships that don't get enough page time. I like reading romances, it is just that there are sooooooo many out there and that genre also tends to lack plot or any point sometimes.

I guess I want a different genre or a cross-genre, or just something different that I don't see on shelves.What kind of books do you like to read? Hunger Games style, where everyone dies?  Which in a sense is pretty realistic I mean seriously it is coming to us all someday. Romances? Classic or precocious?

And on that uplifting note question...bye.


<3 Lissa

Things That Are Confusing

Heyo,

Here's another list: THE THINGS THAT ARE CONFUSING

• Weather warm enough for a t-shirt, surrounded by twelve inches of snow
• Inconsistent sleep patterns. My body is all: "I need between five-twelve hours. Yeah, that is a good range." Awesome.
• Grown-up-ness aka being eighteen. You are an adult. Just kidding, kid. Be responsible, like a adult. PICK ONE
• Pandora. Sometimes I turn it on and it picks perfectly. Next day, I am like "Do you even know me? Where are all the good songs from yesterday? I can't skip anymore?!"
• My brain during six hour lecture. First hour: attentive Second hour:distracted. Third hour: this is cool. Fourth hour: is it almost lunch? Fifth: sleepy. Sixth Almost done, but this is fascinating, but please stop
•  School cancellations. Are they going to call it? Not yet...how about now? Yes, no, maybe so?
• Textbooks. They say  things like "Don't do this," or "These are SERIOUS side affects" and then, they don't tell you what to DO.
• Cameras. They love me. They hate me. I guess they mostly just hate...
• Phones. Never ring when I need them too and during a solemn moment or the middle of lecture RRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNGGGG.

Rights with Responisbilties

Heyo

Been thinking:

I have the right to protect people.
I have the right to say no.
I have the right to say yes.
I have the right to make educated choices.
I have the right to be responsible.
I have a right to ask the same of others.

And everyday I am thankful for my rights.


<3 Melissa

Test Taking

Heyo,

Today I took a test. So test taking is on my mind. Here are the steps that I took:

1. Start early, studying at a snail's pace, because you may be slightly distracted with creative pursuits
2. Realize your study buddy, is sooooo much faster, because she is focused
3. Try to emulate
4. End up making beautiful notes
5. Realize you still don't know anything
6. Procrastinate while taking numerous online quizzes
7. It is the week before the test THERE IS NO MORE TIME
8. You begin carrying around PowerPoints like a purse, everywhere, the gym, outside, just everywhere
9. Have clinicals and sneak peaks at notes when your patient is sleeping
10. Be exhausted
11. Try to feebly watch lectures online
12. Go to bed, mumbling normal ranges of electrolytes
13. Get up, frantic, reviewing notes over breakfast
14. Drive to class
15. Listen to the lecture before the test ha, just kidding
16. Panic
17. Take the Test
18. Feel confident
19. Talk to other students
20. Feel like you failed
21. Listen to post-test lecture ha, still kidding
22. Go home
23. Feel empty, confused and anxious
24. Should you study? Or party?
25. Have flashbacks to questions on the test
26. Diagnose your self as having PTSD (Post Test Stress Disorder)
27. Check for grades
28. Check for grades
29. Check for grades
30. Check for grades
31. Check for grades
32. Finally check YOUR grade

<3 Lissa

Locked-Out

Heyo,

Yesterday I was prepared. I was going to work out early and the YMCA, and head straight to the hospital. No stopping back by the house, I would be gone for good at five am.

I put everything in the car. And then I was in bed (early) when I realized that I didn't have my phone. Phone = alarm clock. I had to find my phone.

So I check places in the house. Nothing

I go to the garage.

And the door won't open. I unlock it, still nothing. I figure it is me being a weak girl or something. So I try again.

Then I call my dad.

He couldn't open it. The door to the garage was jammed shut.

No big deal right? We grabbed a screw driver, and started jimmying it around.

The hinges were stuck. The lock was stuck. Suddenly the sour side of my brain started thinking.

There is no way to get in the garage, my homework, my uniform, my badge, my transportation. Everything I need for the day is in that room. AND I CAN'T GET IN. OR GET IT OUT. Everything I thought I would need is in there.

Except my phone. See as dad toyed with the handle, I ran upstairs and found my phone.

I *thought* I had thought of everything. Obviously this had NEVER occurred to me

Finally using a meat hammer (because all of the normal tools like hammers are in the garage) it opened.

Melissa = saved.

And today went smoothly. In fact I forgot about it almost completely until I sat down to blog and thought you all might enjoy. I mean, seriously, have YOU ever got stuck out of your garage?


<3 Lissa

P.S. I have a BIG test tomorrow, and prayers are always appreciated. Thanks!

Things That Are Just Not Okay (To Say)

Heyo,

Today. Today I thought I was lucky, because I got a snow day. While this messes up my schedule royally, it did give me more time to study for that test this Thursday.

I also thought it would give me time to blog...haha, nope.


Still because last week Tuesday, pretty much blew; here is something sarcastic, just for you.

Funny thing happens when you are nursing student. Or so I have been told. This is something that I would have completely lost perspective on, except I have a wonderful family who tells me when I get weird.

Things That Are Just Not Okay

• Talking about bodily fluids at the dinner table
• Calling your probably dying patient 'cool'
• Describing the epic wound that was all the way down to the bone with necrotic tissue
• Using Medical terminology because no one understands, not even me
• Recount exactly how many bowel movements/outputs/vomit episodes your patient had today
• Or how many times you had to clean that up
• Coming home and telling little sis how many ways she could die
• Comforting by telling her that she has to go sometime Yes, I got a lecture by mom, but seriously anyone can die from a pulmonary embolism
• Explaining your excitement about injections aka NEEDLES, shots, pokey things
• Giving Nursing Diagnosis to EVERYONE
• Evaluating food by nutritional content
• Talking about anything nursing related around someone 'normal' they won't be after you are through with them
• Using your stethoscope and not understanding what you are hearing
• Keeping everybody else as stressed out as you feel
• Having people trust you with their lives when you are eighteen

<3 Lissa

Lost

Heyo,

So, woah. There is thing the human race does. We communicate. Or more realistically, we spend our lives trying.

Lets talk about reading. Because I love reading a good book and I haven't be able to do that a whole lot, for so many reasons. Recently however, I found an irony.

That I spend hours in another world, to learn or to escape, out of this life I have. This life I chose and I love, but for a bit of time, I want to live someone else's usually more tortured existence. I finally understand what it is like to be someone else, by forgetting about me.

It enthralls me every time. How through getting lost, I find myself, or others close to me. It is the a beautiful thing, this communication business.


<3 Lissa

The Next Step

Heyo,

So I am not a planner. I swear. I know I talk about it a lot on here. Productivity. Planning.

Maybe I have started planning more, but I haven't actually gotten more done...so is planning a waste of time?

<Cue crisis>

<Melissa leaves that train of thought, because that is so NOT the topic of this blog>

<Continues on with courage>

When planning. I get caught up in anxiety sometimes. How am I supposed to study, and prep paperwork, have Bible study, be a supportive family member, sleep, have fun (hah) and generally be a nice person? (Maybe this isn't a lot to do for most people, sorry. For me it is) Everything sounds good in theory, but getting it all done? How?

During clinicals this week I made one of my best friends and it was with the cleaning lady. I also had an insightful conversation. I commented how hard she was working and thanked her for being so diligent and she scoffed and said, "You students and the ones who are busy! I can't imagine studying and doing all this work in the hospital."

And I said, "You just have to do the next thing."

So plan. Tell yourself you are going to study for four hours. Break it down, open your book, close the internet tabs, whatever. Just do the next thing. Panic doesn't help.

You don't have to know the big picture, because you don't know what God will give you tomorrow. That is the beauty of life, surprises without stress.

And you simply need to know the next step. And do it.

<3Lissa

Title-To-Not-Be-Determined

Heyo,

So much to do. *sigh* I got a lot done today, but I am wondering if it was enough, if it was the right things, and am I prepared?

Not just for the next test, but for life.

Not just for real life right now, but for life eternal.

This moment the answer is no. I am not here yet, of course, it takes a lifetime.

But am I on my way?

Mark 12:30

"Love the Lord you God wih all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." 

It takes ALL my heart, ALL my soul, ALL my mind, and ALL my strength. ALL the time.

<3 Lissa

COLD rants

Heyo,

So it is COLD here. Not just cold, but COLD. 

I have taken to making fires because the sun here is so broken at four months out of a year. What's a Cali girl to do?
 

Things I Have Learned About Winter Weather

• Apparently bare feet are a bad idea in February
• Just because the sun is out, doesn't mean the temperature has increased at all
• Heat blankets are heaven
• Really anything warm is
• Hot chocolate
• School is cancelled at the drop of anything frozen
• The East Coast world is just wrapped around Elsa's thumb
• Inside anywhere is HOT, um.....confusing much?
• Coats-not just for fashion 
• Boots- ditto, who would a thought?
• Wind makes everything so. Much. COLDER.

What do you dislike about the COLD? Thoughts? Arguments?

<3 Lissa

The End Of the Beggining

Heyo,

So I did it. This week. For all practical  purposes it is over, done, through, complete.

There were highs like giving vaccine shots for the first time, and lows, like, my first test. And thus it went high, low, high, low. I improved on some leadership skills and stunk at studying.

And the world keep right on moving.

Sorry for the lack of quality posts recently. Trying to keep this up (mainly to remember who I am) while also not flunking out of school, or getting sick. Good ideas, right?

No promises for next week.

Right now I am a low. It is time for bed a rest. Because next week I do it all again.

And I need to be ready. I must be ready. I will be ready.

<3 Lissa

Test Tommorrow

Heyo,

First test in one on my classes tomorrow and this is the current state of affairs. Thought about tweeting this. And then I remembered this little blog and was like: "I don't have time for both and I think this is funny." So is this funny? I have no perspective after clinicals today.

1. Alternating between: I know nothing and I will fail. 
2. I KNOW NOTHING AND MUST STUDY LIKE SIN
3. I got this.
4. WHERE DO I EVEN START???!!!!
5. So easy.
6. OKAY SERIOUSLY THIS IS THE THIRD WEEK OF CLASS WHO GIVES STUDENTS A TEST AFTER TWO WEEKS. oh, yeah, the nursing department.
7. But its not that much information
8. IF YOU DON'T CONSIDER EIGHT CHAPTERS ALOT.
9. Could be worse.
10. DON'T SAY THAT. NOW IT WILL BE THE WORST TEST IN THE HISTORY-
11. Keep calm and carry on.
12. I. CAN'T.
13. There are more tests after this.
14. thismessegeisbroughttoyoubyabot,becauseMelissahasnomorefreetimetotype.Canonlystudy.Study.Study.

 

Basically if I get a good grade it will be all God, just like usual :)

 

<3Lissa