It's all about balance

I think we all know that life is short.  Those sort of trite expressions are things we say all of the time, and these expressions would not be around if they weren't true.  However, keeping perspective and balance in this crazy, needy and always pressing world can be hard.  I'm a stereotypical extrovert, and not the best at balancing life with R&R sometimes.  As a student (and former worker bee) even when I'm not doing what I "need" to be doing, I'm thinking about it.  I've tried to strike works like need, should and ought from my vocabulary over the past few years, but I think they still lie dormant in my head and come alive at inopportune times -- like when I take time off.  That's why I need more weekends like the one I just had.

Melinda I took off last Thursday afternoon in the convertible with nothing but a road trip and visiting our friend, Tammy, in our heads.  Melinda arrived with a scarf wrapped around her head and sporting a look that only a 50's movie star could rival.  We drove, sang and immediately were relaxed.  Our weekend with Tammy was perfect.  There was an afternoon in Tammy's back yard where we listened to music, drank margaritas and slathered on sunscreen.  It will be forever known as the Isle of Tammy.  Saturday, although overcast, was delightful.  They shared Indochine with me.  This incredible Thai restaurant hosted a new hair style for Tammy -- the modern day Princess Lea -- a reunion with Britt Rabe, fantastic Thai food, and many, many cocktails.   After a nap and ordering pizza, Plan F was enacted.  We left our untouched Brooklyn Brothers pizza, rallied, and went to K38 for a Tower 7 and brew.  We met friends of Melinda's who were fabulous.  These wonderful folks hosted us on Sunday for boat day.  We met Rick, DeAnn and her friend, Yvonne, Sunday for the most fabulous day on the water.  Nothing is really more relaxing than that.  There we met new people and were serenaded by the band on the boat next to us.  We came back to the dock with a little sun, lots of fun, and, for me, a broken toe.  Hey, it's about the balance.


Today was sad.  I always want to cry when a vacation is over.  However, I know times like this may be rare, but shall not be forgotten.  My goal when I get home is always to try to fit in little weekends away whenever I can.  I'm hoping this is the start of weekend excursions.  Life is about shared memories.  Tammy, Melinda and I rang in New Year's together this year and managed to do it all this weekend.  We had fun, relaxed, napped, giggled and had many a cocktail.  Here's to trying to find some fun with your friends everyday, because life is short.

Summer Break -- Brief and Shining

 

Well, it's the close of a few short weeks off.  It's been wonderful -- filled with family and friends.  I started my respite from school with a fabulous dinner made by friend and fabulous cook, Lynn.  We toasted her new blog, Cackalackyfoodie, along with the close of my semester and Walt's birthday.  Fun and yummy food were had by all.  

The next few days were catch up and prep for my trip to Jacksonville for Mother's Day.  What a wonderful trip.  I read, walked by the St. Johns River, ate lots of tabbouleh from Whiteway, went to yoga and bought incredible new glasses.  They are fabulously French and Italian.  But the best times I had in Jax were drinks and meals with old friends.  The icing on the cake was a wonderful Mother's Day meal I made for my mom and Hila, one of my oldest and bestest friends.  We commenced with Mojito's, which were a crowd pleaser and really got the party started.  We feasted on fillet, roasted potatoes, salad, summer squash and homemade strawberry shortcake.  What more could we ask for?  The best part was that my mom had a wonderful time.  

Since coming back to Raleigh, I've run around and relaxed.  This seems to be a theme for my vacations -- getting stuff done and trying to do fun things.  Big things have happened in a few short days.  I've been out and about in downtown, bought some fabulous new art at Artsplosure and changed my name back to Charbonnet -- a bureaucratic nightmare.  Fortunately, I've balanced the crazy, well some of the crazy, with R&R.  My pool is always tonic for my soul.  Each day I floated and read my book, "Eat Pray Love", which I sadly finished yesterday after the sun went away.  After this vacation, I only hope that no one gives me the nickname of "Groceries."

So after two weeks, my hope is to incorporate parts of the last few weeks throughout my schooling.  Well, maybe I should lay off the food and start hitting the gym some.  It's been fast and furious -- but I wouldn't change a thing.

The end is in sight

Well, I can't believe it. My third class of nursing school ends in just a mere eight days. What a journey! I've done clinicals at a rehab center where there were tons of gnarly wounds, an OB floor, Dorothea Dix, and now a peds floor. I wish I could say that I were leaning in a certain direction. My vet said it perfectly when she said, "you like everything." Nursing is definitely my calling, and I can't believe I've been so lucky to get a shot at it. I often liken myself to the Phoenix rising from the ashes. Since 2007 it's been a wild ride, but going to Nursing School is really the silver lining. And, after next week, I can say that I have one more year to go. Whew. I'm most thankful to be able to say that.

Last night I got my groove back. After the longest winter of my life, I'm loving Spring. I met some great new folks when I was parking my car at Melinda's. It took me a minute to realize that this guy was talking to me, but when he said, "hey, Mercedes. I'm talking to you.", I eventually got it. Although all of the fun is hurting my study schedule, I'm hoping it was a sign that this Spring and Summer will be filled with impromptu fun and new friendships. One can only hope.

Scared Straight

Well, it's been an eventful few days. We finished up our week of school with our math pre-test. Whew! It's all medical calculations, and we'll all have to make a 90% on the real test. I came in with a solid 82%; sadly, I thought I'd done better. However there are many "rounding rules" that I was unsure of the application. We'll see tomorrow. I think we can review our tests then.

Since then, I've cooked and cleaned, had a date Friday, saw a concert in the rain Saturday with a friend and had an incredible dinner with my best friends on Sunday. I might add I'm still full from the dinner Lynn made, which incidentally was the best meal I've had anywhere all year long. So, the real funny part is that both Friday and Saturday were with 25 year-olds. Clearly I'm either regressing or finding my inner youth. It's certainly a new cohort for me. I've hung out with and dated older, smarter, cooler, funnier, etc. However, I've never tried the young-er. It's a new "-er" for me. Yes, I've heard all of the cougar jokes. Funny, haha.

However, the jig was up today. I realized last night how far behind I was in my reading. Since my workout this afternoon I've pretty much been non-stop. The good news is that it's a little after 11:00 and I've finished preparing for tomorrow. The bad news is that I have more reading to catch up on. I was IM'ing with my old college buddy and roomie, Gloria, tonight. She asked how school was going, and I told her it would be better if I'd used my weekend more wisely. Her response was something to the effect of, "isn't that always the way in school?". So this week I'll have to really knock it out. Our first big exam is next Monday. Maybe I just like the pressure?

1st Day of School: 17 August 2009

Day 3: Skills Test, AKA, "handwashing test"

Well, yesterday was a little bit more eventful than the first day of school. We actually had a lecture with power point and everything. The big excitement though was our Skills Test we had today and our Medical Calculations pre-test we have tomorrow, Thursday.

So, today we all suited up in our glorious royal blue -- yes, Duke blue -- scrubs for our inspection and test. I passed, which is the best part. However pulse has always been my weak spot. Robin and I compulsively practiced this morning. Every time I went to take her pulse, I could feel it so easily, but I'm sure you see where this is going. I got myself so worked up in the test, that I almost didn't pass. Fortunately, I know how I am. I asked if I could change sides and try again. My instructor allowed it, and I did it!!!! I just needed to switch it up a bit -- like the spot I was sitting in was jinxed. Change is good for me.

The funniest part of this is that I had to still go to the BP station. When Robin released the stopper somewhere between 160-180, I could feel my pulse. Now my BP is never high. Clearly the stress was taking effect. Our fabulous instructor just looked at Robin and said, "why don't you give Caroline's arm a rest and do that again." I'm sure she thought I was going to stroke out. I guess my 1 1/2 hour work out at the Y this morning could only put so much of a dent in my stress. Ms. Jones-Sutton told me to pull on my earlobes. My BP dropped to a more normal level immediately. Note to any of you who have BP issues, pull on your earlobes!

Tomorrow is math. I'm sure I'm not as prepared as I should be, but math has always been good to me. And, it's only a pre-test.

P.S. I'm still a little bitter about the color of our uniforms. Why not Carolina Blue? Counting the days until basketball season.

First Day

So this has really been quite a journey. For those of you who know me, you know it all started with a part-time gig at Gyland & Lanier pediatricians. I talked my way into the job after John Morgan got one there. I knew working at Wendy's was not for me. Just to date myself, I was there when we got our first computer where all of the diagnosis codes were loaded, and when we were preparing for the first HMO to come our way. I became Dr. Gyland's "blue-jean nurse" one summer when most of the ladies were on vacation. I grew to love medicine and the profession. After a "C" in freshman Chemistry, my dreams of being a physician quickly faded. I think when I couldn't complete the whole last page of the final, I gave up. So I quickly combined my love for languages and politics and slid over to being an International Studies major. However after a few years in Washington, DC, I had the idea that maybe I would go to medical school. Not getting in right away dashed my hopes. You might say I lack some patience. So, I accidentally fell into a career in sales. Cosmetics with all of its glitz, glam and cha cha shoes was for me -- at least for a while.

However, when my husband, Walt, died, my best friend, Jessica, gave me some sage advice. She said, "Make a list. Make a list of everything you've been wanting to do and haven't done. Find something on the list and do it. Go to the South of France or Nursing School, but just do it." Well, I'm a great rule follower. I made a list. Chose Nursing School. And here I am. Two years of pre-requisites later, I started Nursing School. I was a little offended when they told me I'd have to retake some classes, because some of them had, "expired". That was a nice way of calling me old. Many classes later and many friendships forged, I made it!

Today was Day 1 of Nursing School. It was just like any other college course. They spent four hours going over the syllabus and telling us what we needed to do to stay in the program. The excitement over my new backpack and school supplies quickly faded when my friend, Robin, pointed out that we have 15 modules to go over by our first test date -- which is two weeks from today. Funny how they left out the most important information.

I miss Walt all of the time. Days like today make it more obvious. I've lost one of my biggest cheerleaders, but my friends and family have always been my biggest fans. Today is certainly bittersweet, but it's been a great experience. Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me, to Jessica who guided through that horrible time, and to Jessica's mother who taught her twins to give me my latest and greatest nickname -- Nurse Bubbles.