Xanga-The Facebook of it's Time

With the way Facebook has exploded on the scene as the world's premier way to stay connected with friends and let them know how you're doing, I doubt that many would remember Xanga. In it's hey day, Xanga was like Facebook, without all the farming games. It was a blog, but was mostly used just to update everyone on what you did that day. All your friends were on Xanga too, because at the time the only thing available was MySpace, and it was still getting started. Facebook was only available to a few universities. I remember waiting patiently for Henderson State to finally be accepted as one of the elite schools allowed to use Facebook. Now all of a sudden, anybody can be on Facebook-age and education level unimportant.

I happened to come across my old xanga site (which is still there after 3 years!) the other day and read some of the entries. I had the best time laughing at the crazy things my roommates and I got into while we were in college. I'm so glad I have that. Gives me a glimpse back into what my life was like during my first few years of college. It's amazing how things have changed for me since then. Some changes have been for the better--others I'm still waiting to see if they're really better or not! Life was fun then. Staying up late and getting to hang out with friends every single day. Now life is all about work. Go to bed early-can't be a zombie at work! (even though I sometimes am...) My life revolves around surgery and I plan my life around those precious 3 days a week I am off! I am glad, however, to be working as a nurse now. I went to school for what seemed like an eternity to get this far. I still miss it sometimes, but I know I'm where I need to be. Who knows, I may find myself back in the classroom again in the next year or two...we shall see!

Anyway, I say all of that to say this...I miss Xanga!!!

That tasty Filet-O-Fish

Meet "hoki." Actually, this is a hoki fish, which is found in the pacific ocean (so deep the sun doesn't reach!). Just thought you'd like to meet the substance of your favorite McDonald's sandwich, the Filet-O-Fish. Also the main component of many of your favorite fish stick brands!

Note: I have never-nor do I have any plans to-consume a filet-o-fish sandwich or fish sticks. YUCK!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/10/science/10fish.html?no_interstitial

Football...and sickness...

For the first time in my life, I'm actually a little excited about football season starting. Not that I'm expecting an awesome season. I doubt the Razorbacks will be amazing this year, but it is kind of exciting. When football season starts, it means the start of fall. It means cooler weather and holidays are on the way. Yep, football season brings with it my favorite time of the year: FALL!!! The Razorbacks did do pretty well today...48-10 against Missouri State. Now if we can just keep that up in our conference games...

Something has really irritated me this year. Every time I've made plans to go somewhere out of town, something always keeps me from going. One of these times I stayed home because I wanted to and because it was the right thing for me to do, but the others were not my decision. Either the trip was cancelled, or plans changed with no one being kind enough to let me know, or someone got sick. This time I was supposed to go out of town and I got sick! I'm hoping it's not the flu, but whatever it is, I feel horrible! Only thing I know is, it is just not meant for me to go anywhere this year! My next *planned* trip is for the first weekend in October, I'm hoping this one actually HAPPENS!! Oh well...I'm focusing on the good stuff...3 more days off and 10 days until Ava comes!!!

5 Months??

I can't believe it's been 5 months since I've posted anything. It's not like I have anything all that exciting to write about...I've been so busy, but who hasn't?

Updates

• My best friend is expecting my God-daughter and the date is set! September 15 I will be an AUNT! Well, the closest I'll ever be to being an aunt anyway!
• I've officially been an RN for one year. Had my 1-year evaluation today. It went very well, no negative comments were made. The only bad thing is that I was put on a committee...but hey, why not? I got a 3.78% raise...I'm so blessed to be getting bonuses and raises during such stressful financial times.
• I get to go to Dallas October 3-6 for the Arkansas-Texas A&M game at the new Dallas Cowboys stadium. Should be a fun time, even if we are gonna get clobbered!

Last, but certainly not least, I'm going to talk about something very important to me. A new church has been planted in Maumelle. I decided, after 14 years, to leave my church and join this new one after a lot of prayer and sleepless nights. I am truly blessed to be a part of this new church. It's amazing! Anyone and everyone who would like to come, please do! Even if you just want to visit... Services are at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday morning! Hope to see you there!
http://www.churchatmaumelle.org

"For you have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah."
--Psalm 61:3-4

Gone so fast...

Why do the weekends fly by and the work week always goes so SLOW??? The same time every Sunday, about 6 or so, I start getting the back to work blues. I start dreading it with MAJOR intensity. I don't know why. It's no different from any weeknight as far as having to go to work the next day...I just dread going back to work on Monday the most. And Mondays aren't even the worst days at work. That would be Fridays generally. It is a little easier now that I only work 4 days a week. This week I will work 2 days and I'm off Wednesday, then I'll work Thursday and Friday. At least I'm not facing 5 straight days of work! It is wonderful having that one day off thrown in! And if I can just get through this week, I only have to work 3 days next week and I get a 4 day weekend! And I get another 4 day weekend the following week! I just have to keep telling myself it's not so bad. I don't know what it is about Sunday night!!! I wish the weekend lasted longer!

Stormy Night

I love a good thunderstorm. Except when they get dangerous, like they're doing tonight! There's been a tornado in Mena, apparently. I hope everyone is ok. I love to hear the thunder and the rain. I wonder why something that has the potential to be deadly stirs so much excitement in me (and many others). It isn't that exciting. Storms are not good. Yet I love it. I get nervous when they mention tornadoes, but there is still something exciting about it. I've never really thought about it that much, but now that I have, it seems insane!

I hear the thunder rumbling in the distance. It's getting closer. Must be moving fast!

I'm dreading tomorrow with a passion. I really don't want to go to work. I love Friday nights, but I hate Fridays at work. They are always TOO busy and understaffed. I'm not looking forward to not having a chance to catch my breath, as I'm sure will be the case. I'll just have to mark the hours until I'm able to get out of there! ONE MORE DAY then, praise the LORD, it'll finally be the weekend.

Good News for Allison! Not So Good for Scott...

I saw something on the Yahoo headline feed that caught my eye. For those of you who don't know, I'm kind of a sea turtle enthusiast. I don't study them or anything, I've just always found them fascinating and incredibly cute. Seeing sea turtles in the wild was one of the highlights of my trip to Hawaii last year. This particular sea turtle, Allison, lives in South Padre Island, Texas and is 5 years old (they can live to be 150!). She only has one flipper, which has caused her to only be able to swim in circles until she receieved a "flipper prosthesis." It's actually a black neoprene suit with a carbon-fiber dorsal fin. Apparently it works well, and she is able to swim normally with the other turtles. Good for Allison. What a neat idea. I'm glad someone took the time and effort to give Allison a better chance at a "normal life" for a turtle! If you want to read the full article, you can here:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/ninja_turtle;_ylt=AgIhiX2z17th7fcHG7ccEWJsaMYA

In other news, I was shown just how wimpy and weak I am today. This is my first week in burn surgery, and I prepped the patient's leg to be worked on. It's amazing how much just a leg can weigh. It took all my strength to lift it and then hold it while the surgeon and scrub tech draped the field. My arm is so sore already, and it will probably be worse tomorrow...I'm going to have to start some strength training or something. I have enough limitations as far as what I can do and can't do. I already know that I won't be able to continue this job forever, I just have too many issues. I just hope I can hang in there as long as I can and I don't get hurt again in the process...

Poor Scott MacIntyre got sent home on American Idol. He was one of my favorites as a person. He seems like a sweet guy, and on the piano he is incredibly talented. I do have to say, though, that his voice was not near the caliber of some of the others in the competition. I loved him and thought he was a cutie pie, but I think the judges were right not using the save on him. There was just no way he was going to beat the (in my opinion) top 3: Adam, Danny, and Allison. I'm not saying these are my favorites, I just feel like the winner will be one of these three. Adam and Allison seem to be in a league of their own if we're basing this solely on vocal skill.