republican national convention....more like republican national conFUCK YOU......

i'm so very not excited to go to work during the RNC. i have a general fear of conservatives (especially conservative veterans) due to the bumper stickers on my car; i definitely do not need conservative cops following me all over downtown. the city of saint paul has become much like a war zone! barbed wire fences surrounding the government buildings and along the freeway, and of course they have to block off every exit from 35 to downtown except mine, so i'll have to leave for work on tuesday before the ass crack of dawn. fantastic. i wish i were on vacation this coming week.....speaking of vacation, here is what sister and i did on vacation to bluefin bay.


we became the masters of the universe---not unlike the popular 80s cartoon. while up there i also talked to a man who assumed that, during the flooding of southeastern minnesota last year, we all rode our canoes in downtown winona. naturally, i said of course. i also took a plethora of sky pictures.

glorious wonderful beauteous lovely THINGS!

Things are really falling into place for me nowadays. Work is going great, I think I'm doing pretty well and my preceptors all think so too, so despite the stress and constant pressure and nonstop action every 7-3:30 or 3-11:30 shift, I'm having a great time. My preceptor today told me I'll "go far" so I feel pretty special. Only one more week left of med/surg/oncology and then it's off to the telemetry unit! My clinical director is also trying to find time for me to float to the Neuro ICU/tele unit. EXCITING!

Things are also falling into place as far as apartments go--I acquired a free futon from my aunt and uncle and silverware from grandma and grandpa (early birthday present), my parents are giving me the kitchen table sans the chairs and the big comfy green chair currently residing in our family room. All I will really need to buy is a new bed and a TV! I'm super stoked for October to arrive.

Furthermore, I rediscovered the wonder and beauty of Rubber Soul. That album changes lives.

I am now watching the democratic convention with my ultra-conservative-nearly-fascist father. We'll see how this goes.

I am NOT excited to go to work next week during the republican convention. Bless your hearts you protesters, go all the way. Just don't block my already limited route to the St. Joes parking ramp! Right on!

they really do play EVERYTHING on the current (including Run DMC's "It's Tricky")

Yesterday:
-I had 3 patients (woah)
-I gave 2mg of Dilaudid precisely every 2 hours
-I failed to begin charting at a decent hour
-I found my patient with PICC removed, lying in a pool of her own blood

Today:
-I had 3 patients (day 2. meh)
-I actually started my charting at a decent hour
-I gave 2mg of Dilaudid precisely every 2 hours (day 2)
-I inserted my first Foley cath.

My job is pretty neato so far.

PAUPER

That's me. PAUPER. I haven't been this poor in a long long time. Fortunately, I get my first nurse paycheck on Friday, just in time for me to visit Winona AGAIN! Good times were had this past weekend down there and more good times shall come, I'm sure. Today I had a little mishap with my checking account but it cleared up within the day, which I'm incredibly grateful for because this morning I was just a worried wreck and I totally didn't bring my A-game to work with me. Tomorrow shall be different. Also tomorrow, mommy and I are going to look at a 1-bedroom on Cathedral Hill. It's in a building full of yuppies and law school students around my age in a very wealthy [thus assumingly safe] neighborhood. AND it's approximately 5 minutes away from St. Joe's! AND it has hardwood floors! AND they allow kitties! I would likely move in at the end of September and soon after get a KITTY. KITTIES. KITTIES. Kitty.

5 days down, 13,995 to go.....

That is if I retire at the age of 65. Orientation this week can be described by a word that I have not used since the very first week of college: BORIENTATION. Nice to know all the policies and procedures, but when the room is cold and there is no candy, things get a little tough to handle and I become ADD. Yesterday I went scrub shopping with TLewer, RN and for the next four days I intend on being a big bum. I do really want to go to the art fair though, maybe tomorrow. On Wednesday I went to see Yeasayer at the Uptown Urban Outfitters with Lafans which was pretty much awesome and I would see them again in an instant---with some earplugs. On the way back to my car I found some pretty damn adorable apartments on Lagoon but was quickly disappointed when I later looked online and found they were around $850 a month. I don't need to spend that much on a 1 bedroom....
Convenient free concert located in one of my favorite shopping areas.





On Thursday (after work) I trekked it through afternoon rush hour to north Minneap for a political candidate screening for Take Action Minnesota. Very informative and the snacks were yummy. Oh yeah, Al Franken was there too.



In other news, I'm very excited not to work for the next three days, but also pumped to start being a real nurse! My first rotation is on the Oncology floor so we'll see how that goes. In my downtime, I will also be checking Craigslist every day for new apartment openings and periodically delving into the Twilight series, my new literary obsession.