A life during nursing school?

For the moment, I suppose, maybe. The start of last week wasn't bad anyway. I was able to take some promised engagement photos for Mikel and Chris over at the Disney Boardwalk.

Speaking of right-braininess, about a month prior to school starting, I got bit by the craft bug. Instead of cleaning out some embroidery stuff that had been sitting around for ages, I ended up using it again. I made plushies from socks, felties (i.e. plushies made from felt), a handkerchief, maternity figures, a paneled wall hanging, and even some coasters out of polymer clay. Some of those projects can be seen with mt older photography at: deviantART. Most of the stuff I made has been given away as gifts, but I have managed to sell a few pieces.

For example:

CATS FOR SALE! I only have about half of them left; the first 6 from the right are still around as are the magenta and lavender ones to the left of the black one. They are $5 a puss - proceeds from each purchase go to the Support Jenn's Education Fund =)

I still have loads of materials for more projects, but no time as of late. Perhaps when I can properly manage my schedule, I can fit in a project once a week or once every two weeks. Ah, the things to which I aspire...

But it already has been a trying second week. Within three days I had 2 quizzes over 6 chapters. I learned that while it is possible to over-read/study, you can't go wrong being over-prepared. We had our first skills check off - hand washing! Terribly simple, yet terribly underdone. We learned about personal protective equipment (PPE) which I am quite familiar with thanks to my employ at Rural/Metro and to the various parasites and pathogens out and about (curse you, Norwegian scabies!! - if you don't know about them, you are lucky). This coming week we get checked of on setting up a sterile field and sterile gloving. I'm not too worried about it, since I've been practicing with classmates. I'll save my stress and anxiety for other things.

Other things like continuing to work (even just part-time) while doing this school thing to pay for the financial sins of my past. Talk about not being able to live something down. Anyway, this week I also learned how much working is NOT conducive to my studying. I am one of those people who likes it as quite as possible while studying. While I have the benefit of a desk job, answering phone and such is terribly distracting. But we do what we have to do. I'll have to hurricane-like hunker down and do the social internetting less, stop fiddling with my new phone, and really start focusing while at work. I know that most people don't even have the opportunity to do anything at work other than work, so let me shut up, count my lucky stars, and make the most of my time and opportunity.

My friend Bri sent me a message regarding my impending absence from many up coming social events: "Short term sacrifice for long term gain". Almost a no brainer, but getting it from someone else really means a lot.

To wrap on a lighter note this week, I'm one of my class's student reps. It's funny because I'm one of the two people who volunteered for the position! Also, for my local compadres, there is an open house at school Thursday, February 3 from 6:30p-8p so you can see where I send a lot of my time while not at home or at work. Exciting stuff! Encouraging reminder to come next week.