Waiting Game

The biggest test of my LIFE was this morning and it turns out I apparently do occassionally get test anxiety. I was so nervous that I started freaking out on my way to the testing center because I forgot a pencil! It took me a couple minutes before I could calm myself down enough to remember that the test is computerized. Geez. I'm so glad its over but now I wont find out whether or not I passed till Friday. Thats TWO days away! How do you expect me to sit and wait for that long?! I am not a patient person. Ugh. The test shut off after about 100 questions (I stopped keeping track after 80) so I hope I passed... Its making me super nervous just thinking about it. We'll find out in a couple days.

So until then, just keeping myself busy: dinner with the girls tonight, relaxing by the pool all day tomorrow, then the Red Sox/Nationals game tomorrow night! SO excited!! Alright, I'll keep you posted...

DC bar scene

Last night we decided to go to the Georgetown Waterfront b/c it was absolutely gorgeous outside. We got dressed up in cute little dresses and went to Nick's. Within about 15 minutes of us getting to the bar, a woman started talking to us and Laura and I both kinda got the feeling she may have been hitting on us, haha. But then there were 2 guys standing behind us who had the following conversation:

Guy #1: (referring to me) She's attractive. Let's go talk to them.
Guy #2: (looking me up and down) I dont know...
Guy #1: Well, I mean, she's pretty cute. We can at least talk to them.
Guy #2: Eh... we can do better.

...Awesome. Thank you. That makes me feel real good about myself. And why the hell you would have this conversation while standing right behind us where we can hear you is beyond me. Seriously? People are ridiculous.

Skydiving!!

This weekend Ally and I went skydiving in the Poconos! It was so incredible! I highly recommend it to everyone. I was really afraid I was going to freak out but the anticipation of it all was much worse than the actual experience. Our instructors/jumpers/people we were attached to were super cool. Rob, my instructor, was awesome, kinda hippie-ish and very sarcastic which was good b/c that helped calm my nerves. (Although I can imagine his sarcasm totally freaking out a scared jumper.) We flew up in this tiny little plane that had no seats. We were just crammed in there sitting on the floor - it was so cramped I was sitting on Rob's lap. Ally and Kyle (her very cute instructor) thought it'd be fun and get into the plane first thus forcing me to jump first. Thanks, guys. So they fly up to 10,000 feet and the door opens (btw, I was sitting right next to the door. I'm talking my arm was resting on the door!) and then there's a huge gust of wind. My photographer, Pooky (also very cool), went out first and hung off the plane while I got ready to jump. Once that door opens everything happens so fast that you dont even have time to be scared. The next thing I knew I was falling; it was amazing.


our plane


Getting situated in the plane. Yep. That is where I sat. I told you, RIGHT next to the door.



Free falling.


Making it safely to the ground.


Jump Certificate.

"He's Just Not That Into You"

Has anyone seen it? More importantly, did anyone like it? This was probably the most frustrating movie I have ever seen. Granted, I should've known what to expect since I'd read the book. (Well, I read half of the book b/c I found it to be a giant waste of time due to the sheer common sense of it all, but anyway.) The movie did somewhat save itself with the few happy endings but the intense frustration throughout the entire movie that came with knowing that people like its characters actually exist in real life was so overbearing that that's all I could focus on.

Oh, and as if I didnt already have a hatred for Scarlett Johansson, this movie just sealed the deal.

2nd Degree -- check!

...now, if only I could actually work on getting my license... :-p

Life as an "adult"

Well, its been a while but thats because not being a student makes life dull. I work 3 days/week, spend weekends with the fam, and the rest of the time at the pool or watching NCIS (best show ever :)). I thought with all this free time I'd be bored out of my mind (and some days I am) but it's actually quite nice to get to relax for a change. I definitely do not miss writing pointless papers or studying for tests -- although technically I should be studying for the nclex that is coming up THIS MONTH... It makes me nervous when I tell people I havent been studying and the various responses include: "Oh...well...thats ok...", "umm...", "Nikki!!", or nervous laughter - all of which are accompanied by a horrified look of uncertainty. Thanks for the vote of confidence, guys. :-p Whatev, I have time. Or so I tell myself. I'm not too worried about it yet (not sure if that's a good sign or bad). I have a feeling I will, as always, put it off till the last minute and then cram like crazy - a method that has worked through 20 years of schooling. Why mess with it? :)

Smile.

This is a card from one of our patients. J.M. is the cutest, sweetest, elderly man you will ever meet and just seeing him yesterday completely brightened my day. I posted this because:

a.) It brings an smile to my face and reminds me how unbelievably cute he is. He and his wife are adorable. I love seeing patients' spouses care for them and this couple is beyond precious. The two of them together just warms your heart. Their relationship is like one out of a fairy tale; it almost seems like its too perfect, too happy to be real.

b.) It reminds me of what kind of person he is and of the kind of person I want to be. He has the best attitude towards life. One morning I walked into his room and asked how he was doing (he had had a rough night). He said, "Well you know, I'm not feeling too great... But, the sun is shining and I'm alive, so I guess today isnt so bad!" He's so happy and always has a smile on his face, no matter what. And I want to be just like that.

c.) I remember exactly why I wanted to be a nurse in the first place. But you dont have to be saving lives to make a difference in one. This man brightened my day just by saying hi. A "kind word or a generous act, a tender touch or a friendly smile" can go a long way.

So if you're reading this and feeling down, or havent heard a 'thank you' or an 'I love you' yet today, consider this is mine -- Love you guys :)

poolside :)

I finished school on Saturday (note: less than a week ago) and have only had 2 days off since then and I'm already bored. I am seriously going to have to come up with a hobby... But! I've discovered that my new favorite thing to do is sit out on our balcony overlooking the pool with a drink in hand. And actually, at this very moment I am doing just that while writing this blog. :) My current view:


For those of you who have not seen my apartment (which is probably about 98% of the people reading this), you now have an idea of what it looks like - the outside of it anyway. If you look closely the pool apparently has some kind of grossness growing in it, so hopefully they clean it asap or else I'm shoving Laura in the pool first to test out the waters. (Sidenote: did you know that sunscreen is bad for the environment? Yes, DJ says that apparently sunscreen in the water turns male fishes into females. I found it hilarious. He did not. His response: "How?! How would you like to grow a penis just because of what's in the water??" haha touche, little bro. Touche.)

Anyway, love sitting out here with my computer, relaxing, drinking, people watching (aka judging), etc. :) I imagine I will spend many upcoming days doing practice nclex questions out here. Joy. :-p