Sunshine Award!

I was tagged in The Sunshine Award by Mrs. Y at Miles Behind Me :)

Favorite color: purple

Favorite animal: I love all animals! But I would have to say pandas. How Asian of me haha.

Favorite number: I don't really have a favorite number...but if I had to choose, I would say 8.

Favorite non-alcoholic drink: a soy hazelnut latte from Starbucks.

Facebook or Twitter: both! Come follow me on Twitter @wh0aitsmel :)

My passion: nursing

Getting or giving presents: definitely giving. 'Tis better to give than to receive. I actually sometimes feel awkward opening gifts in front of people!

Favorite pattern: paisley

Favorite day of the week: Saturday

Favorite flower: calla lilies.

I tag:

Nicole @ Flip Flops and Combat Boots

Lauren @ Killer Words From A Queen

Krista @ Life Is The Messy Bits

Kathryn @ My Life As A Reserve Army Wife

My brother is coming to visit me today! He'll be here for about 12 days and my manager gave me the entire time off which I was pleasantly surprised by! There isn't much to do around here, but I plan on taking him to San Antonio and Houston and maybe Dallas because I have never been there. Oh, and we'll probably eat out A LOT lol

peds nurse? maybe...

For those who do not know, I work on a progressive care unit. That's basically like an intensive care step down unit. These patients are not stable enough to go to a regular medical-surgical floor, but not critical enough to go to the ICU. Not everyone progresses through these "levels." Some go straight to ICU and are discharged (though most of the time they are transferred to my unit); some come straight to my unit and are discharged...sometimes a med-surg patient will go straight to the ICU. My floor deals with a lot of chest pain/heart attack patients in addition to congestive heart failure and patients with arrhythmias. We also get a lot of patients with respiratory distress, pneumonia, COPD, asthma exacerbation, renal failure, DKA, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances...you name it. The experience is invaluable.

Our crazy director (who no longer works with us) decided to start admitting pediatric patients to our unit. The unit isn't even meant for pediatric patients - it is not a locked unit and there is no play room for the kids to go to. The "designated" pediatric rooms have Wii's in them and we have things like coloring books and some toys, but that's about it. At first I thought a mixed pediatric/adult floor would be VERY unsafe, but it turns out those units are more common than I thought.

Nurses had the option to become a pedi nurse. We still have the option, but our manager made a point that they are making sure all new nurses that they hire now have at least some pediatric experience. As I think about my career, I think about how valuable this must be. What if I end up on another mixed unit in the future? What if I end up in an ER that takes kiddos in the future? I hated peds in nursing school - not because I hate kids. I like kids, I just feel so awkward around them. Peds was just boring in nursing school because we couldn't really do much. And after that I didn't really have an interest. I sort of through all of my peds knowledge out the window after I passed my NCLEX. Now I'm regretting it.

Anyway, I think I want to start taking peds patients. It would be a good resume builder and it would make me a better nurse, I think. I bought this book to review:



And so far I really like it! Schaum's has other guides for those interested. It isn't super in-depth; more like an outline, but still has a lot of valuable information. And I'm surprised at how much all of this stuff is coming back to me after a simple review!

One of the nurses I work with told me I won't ever have to worry about taking an unstable pediatric patient. There is a children's hospital about 25 minutes away where all of the unstable pediatric patients go. Most of the kids that come to my unit are admitted for dehydration, breathing problems (such as asthma exacerbation, bronchiolitis and RSV, especially now being RSV season), appys/tonsilectomies, cellulitis and for teenagers, UTIs and pyelonephritis. One thing I find really fascinating about peds are all of the congenital heart defects, but unfortunately we do not take those kinds of patients on my floor. Maybe some day.

5QF!

Be sure to link up at My Little Life!

Questions:

1. Do you swim in the winter? Absolutely not haha. I don't even really swim all that much in the summer, either.

2. Do you love or hate winter? Hate it...I love that "first snowfall" for a few days and afterwards I want to be done with it. I hate snow, I hate how bad the salt is for your car, I hate having salt stains on my jeans/boots, I hate scraping ice off of my car, you have to drive extra caution (and slower) when the roads are crappy which is most of the time...the list goes on and on haha.

3. Do you put makeup/actual clothes on when you know you're going to be home all day with just family? If I'm not going anywhere (literally staying in the house day), I will not put on makeup and I'll just stay in sweat pants/t-shirt. If I'm going somewhere then yes I will put on makeup, but I usually stick with eyeliner, mascara and spot conceal. If I'm going somewhere with hubby (or it hubby is coming along) then I will put forth more effort lol.

4. How old were you when you had your first alcoholic beverage? 16 or 17...and I think it was a Mike's Hard Lemonade or something like that lol.

5. How many ill calls in a 12-month period do you think are acceptable? Unless it is something that will cause you to be out for awhile (emergency/major surgery, job injury that requires rehab/etc [we had a nurse who was out for 3 months because she fell and injured her knee!], FMLA...) I would say maybe 7 days at most.

The Milspouse Quiz

The MilSpouse Quiz

1. How did you and your spouse meet? Through a mutual friend. This girl was in ROTC with hubby and one year we got a townhouse along with some other girls. My hubby (and his other ROTC buddies) just so happened to be our neighbors :)

2. How old were you when you two met? I was 19, going on 20. He was 19.

3. How long have you been together? 4 years.

4. Where are you and your spouse originally from? Ohio.

5. How did you feel about your spouse joining the military? I was so proud of him. I knew our relationship in college was serious, though, and all of the talks of deployment and things really scared the crap out of me.

6. Where did your spouse go to Basic Training? He didn't go to basic training...instead he went to BOLC, which stands for "basic officer's leadership course." Kind of like basic for officers, but very different from basic training.

7. Has your spouse ever been deployed? No, but he will be deploying very, very soon!

8. Ever been to his promotion ceremony? He hasn't been promoted yet. He should be making 1LT later this year. I went to his commissioning ceremony and his MPBOLC graduation ceremony, though :)

9. How long have you been a military wife? 8 months.

10. Did you marry him before or after he joined? After. The military has been a part of our entire relationship, even though in the beginning it was just ROTC stuff.

11. How did your husband propose? We first went for sushi at our favorite sushi joint in Fairlawn, OH, then we went for a walk along the towpath in his hometown because it was really nice outside that day. As we were walking for awhile and talking, he stopped, kissed me, and got on his knee :)

12. Where did you get married? Wadsworth, OH.

13. How old were you two when you got married? 23.

14. Did he wear his uniform on his wedding day? No he didn't. He wore a snazzy all-white tux, tho :)

15. Where are you and your spouse currently stationed? Fort Hood, Texas. So far I really like it.

16. Do you live on base? Nope. About 5 minutes from the main gate :)

17. How long were you married when you had to go through your first separation? For months lol

18. What is your favorite base so far? I have only been to Fort Leonard Wood (which I hated) and Fort Hood, so I'm going to go with Fort Hood.

19. Do you think your spouse looks good in his uniform? Oh absolutely ;)

20. Do you think military life is more advanced than civilian life? This question is dumb. So I'm ignoring it.

21. Do you like the benefits you receive as a military dependent? Indeed.

22. Do you have a lot of military wife friends? Not really. I wish I knew more spouses around here, but at the same time sometimes the spouses can be really nerve-wrecking, always all up in your business...oh, and those "rank-wearing wives." UGH!

23. What is the hardest part of the military life? Obviously the separation. Your SO going into dangerous territory. Military life definitely isn't for everyone.

24. Do you own military wife stuff? Of course :)

25. Do you support your spouse as a member of the military? 110%.

I can't believe it is 2012 already! It seems like 2011 flew by...

I'm anxious to see what 2012 will bring, even though my hubby will be gone for half of it. And speaking of that, D-day is quickly approaching but sadly, I don't know when! Hubby doesn't even know the exact date, but every time we talk about it the date becomes closer and closer.

I'm trying to maintain a sense of normalcy. Hubby said the hardest thing about this deployment will be me, because he knows I will miss him terribly and will be constantly worrying about him. How can I not, though? Especially with something he told me that happened recently. I guess that is something he cannot understand.

I made a vow to not complain to him about anything while he is deployed. Sure, I will miss him like crazy and wish he was here with me, but that's the extent of it. The last thing he needs to hear is how is how depressed his wife is, locking herself up in the apartment, lying around feeling sorry for herself. I'll probably do a lot of sitting and waiting because aside from work, it's not like I really have friends here and family is over a thousand miles away. If there is one thing I learned about military wife living, it's to never complain to your deployed spouse about anything. That will cloud his judgement, his thinking. He needs to focus on the mission at hand. So I guess I'll vent through blogging. And conversing with the other spouses at work. I swear like 90% of the nurses where I work are all military, whether prior service themselves or military dependents.

Hubs got his smallpox vaccination along with typhoid and anthrax and his TB test this past week. I have been freaking out over the smallpox lol...it's beginning to "look like" smallpox and the other night we saw a huge bubble underneath the dressing, which means it's probably starting to pus over. Can't wait to see it later today because I'm the one who redresses it...I don't trust him putting that bandage over it himself. This is a man who will touch raw meat without washing his hands and then touch other stuff, if you know what I mean (and then I freak out! I'm a germaphobe! But I work in a hospital, so that's okay!) At least I got disposable gloves I can wear hahaha.

The other night hubs and I saw The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. It's a mystery/thriller, basically about how this guy tries to solve a a mystery of a girl who disappeared 40 years ago and was thought to be murdered as well. The beginning was kind of slow but the movie had my attention the entire time. There was a pretty disturbing rape scene, too. If that stuff bothers you, I would reconsider seeing this movie. I could hear one girl sobbing behind me after that scene was over :(

When we walked out, we saw this little gem:

Last time I checked, I wasn't in Cleveland or Akron anymore haha.

resolutions and a year in review: 2011

Last year I did a new year's meme reviewing 2010 with 3 top goals for 2011. Here were my top 3 goals:

1. pass my NCLEX on the first try! - check! I was so scared I wouldn't pass the first time around. I kept my test date a secret from everyone I know - even from my immediate family and my husband. Everyone kept trying to get my test date out of me, but I wouldn't budge. I remember my roommate asking me, "are you at least taking your NCLEX sometime in April?" and I replied with "yes" but in reality, I was taking it that very next morning! Must have been playing a good poker face there.

2. land an awesome RN job in either the ICU or ER. - I didn't get a job in the ICU, but I got a job in an ICU stepdown/telemetry unit, and honestly, I couldn't be happier. Maybe I will try the full-fledged ICU once I gain more experience. And I'm really glad I didn't start out in the ER. Again, maybe some other time. I may stay in progressive care for my entire nursing career, or maybe I will switch around. Only time will tell.

3. continue to perfect my cooking skills. - check! I'm no Martha Stewart but I think I can cook pretty well. I still have a lot to learn, though. The next test will be Christmas Eve dinner and Christmas Day dinner!

So, I would say, 100% :D Which never happens. Kudos to me!

And now, 2011 in review:

2011 Accomplishment - passing my NCLEX and becoming an RN! That was a huge accomplishment, I think.

2011 Discovery - hmm, I honestly do not know about this one. Last year I mentioned taro bubble tea hahaha. This year? I'm drawing a blank.

Favorite 2011 vacation/holiday - The only "vacations" I took were the 3 trips I made to Fort Leonard Wood, MO to visit hubby during BOLC. We were going to make a last-minute trip to Vegas but decided not to go because it was too expensive. We decided on Vegas once our good friend (who was also the best man at our wedding) comes back from deployment. I was going to make a trip to Ohio with hubby but couldn't because of work commitments. And I think my favorite holiday this year was Thanksgiving. Even though we were away from our families, it was nice to spend our first Thanksgiving together. I made an awesome Thanksgiving spread. We were invited to hubs' 1SGT's house, which was fun - a lot of delicious food and us wives just sat around talking about random things, including our Pinterest addictions haha. There was no Bunco at this gathering, however. Apparently Bunco is very popular among military wives and I have yet to attend a Bunco gathering.

Best dining in 2011 - probably Landry's in San Antonio. They have other locations, too, but this place is right along The Riverwalk (which is gorgeous, btw!) and the seafood is so fresh. I took my in-laws there on Veteran's Day weekend and they really enjoyed it. Landry's has the best appetizers. If you ever have a chance to go, try their shrimp en brochette and their jalapeno poppers. You won't be disappointed.

2011 regret - honestly, I cannot think of a single regret I have regarding this year. That is amazing.

Magic moment in 2011 - our wedding :) I wish Pinterest existed at that time because I see SO MANY cute ideas regarding weddings, but I consider our love and marriage more beautiful than the wedding itself.

What states did you visit in 2011? - Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Texas.

2012 Goals:

1. Read more. - I feel like I didn't read much because I was too busy studying for my NCLEX, and then when I got a job I still found myself studying. I am currently studying for some certifications related to my field, but lately I have also found more time to actually read things I enjoy. I am currently reading Confessions of a Military Wife by Mollie Gross which is HILARIOUS, btw. If you haven't read that book yet, you really need to. I also started reading The Hunger Games, the first of three books. Although aimed at younger adults, this book is so captivating. I cannot wait to read the other two books in the series. I also have a long list of books that I am just dying to read!

2. Learn something new. - as a nurse, I learn something new every day. This "learn something new" goal applies to something not related to my job - it could even be picking up a new hobby or "craft." Things that would be interesting: scrapbooking, knitting/crocheting, or amateur photography (I really need to invest in a GOOD camera, though, and not just a point-and-shoot one).

3. Volunteer. - I would love to volunteer on post. And by doing so, maybe I can finally meet other Army wives that I can connect with, but of course that wouldn't be the sole purpose. I love helping others and doing good for others (after all, "Do Good" was my sorority's motto!)

4. Work out more. - This has been a constant resolution of mine and a constant battle of success and failure. I was on a yoga kick for awhile, then I stopped. Then I started again, attending the free classes on post, but then I stopped because of work...I end up working the days they have yoga classes. I really like yoga, but I really enjoy bike riding, too. BLORA (stands for Belton Lake Outdoor Recreation Area) has a fierce mountain biking trail that I would probably never attempt, but maybe I can find some more "relaxed" trails around here to bike on. When the weather gets warmer, of course.

5. Go on a missions trip. - Every year, my hospital plans a missions trip to some area of the world. In the past, they have gone to Haiti, Costa Rica and Honduras, among other places. This year they went to Guyana, South America. I really wanted to go on this year's trip, but couldn't because of finances. I would love to go this upcoming year if finances allow and also depending on hubby's military duties.

6. Become more spiritually connected through God. - Growing up, I didn't go to church or anything. The only time I go to church is on Christmas Eve or Easter or something. To be honest, religion just seems awkward to me. Maybe that is because I don't really know about it. I'm not very familiar with The Bible or anything. I believe in God, but that is pretty much it. I really want to see myself grow spiritually.

7. Learn a new language. - I know random words and phrases in different languages, mainly Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean & Polish. I took Spanish in high school but all of that went down the drain and now that I live in Texas, I regret not knowing it. I would love to learn any language, really. My husband keeps asking me about going to Germany or South Korea, which I wouldn't mind either and that would give me a good "excuse" to learn either German or more Korean :)

What are your resolutions for 2012?

boredom

If you’ve never been clubbing, do you think you’d enjoy it or not? Why? If you do go clubbing, what do you like about it?
I don't like clubbing. Too hot, stupid drunk girls are all over the place and the music is so loud you can't have a conversation. Plus I don't really like dancing and I couldn't bust a move to save my life haha

What are you planning on doing for New Year’s Eve this year?
Spending it with hubby :) No plans to go to a party or anything. Thankfully I am off, but I work New Year's Day.

When you’re upset do you tend to eat more or less than usual? Is there anything else you do differently when you’re upset?
I eat less. I also tend to get quiet, but being quiet could mean other things, too...like I'm tired or something.

Can you recommend a good movie you’ve seen recently?
It came out in 2006, but Apocalypto. Probably one of the best movies I have seen in very long time. It is entirely in Yucatan Mayan language. It had me hooked from the very beginning all the way to the end.

How many people do you give gifts to at Christmas? Do you receive more than you give?
Immediate family, including my in-laws. And close friends.

What would your dream kitchen look like?
I never really thought about it, as long as it's big. With an island.

Are you a very tactile person? Do you enjoy physical contact with your friends, family etc?
Only with my husband ;) I don't mind hugs from family, though.

Do you think you will gain weight over the Christmas period?
I always gain a few pounds, but then I lose them so it's not a big deal.

What name do you go by?:
Melissa. or Mel.

Look past your computer screen, what's in front of you?:
Coffee table, TV.

Who was the last music artist you listened to a song by?:
Helena Beat - Foster The People ♥

Have you driven anywhere today?:
Yep. Went to the post office, Old Navy, the PX and the K-mart (Korean mart).

What are your plans for the coming weekend?:
It's Christmas, so doing Christmas-y things :)

Who was the last person you spoke to in person?:
the cashier person at the K-mart.

Do you prefer wearing hoodies to coats?:
I like hoodies. Nothing wrong with being comfortable. I like coats, too, tho!

Is there anything written on the shirt you are wearing?:
Nope

Do you own a tie dyed shirt?:
Actually I do. It's pink tie-dye and the front says "Friends don't let friends miss clinicals" and the back says "Akron Nursing" haha.

Did you make it yourself?:
nope

Have you ever been to another continent?:
Nope. Maybe one day...

Have ever had more than $500 in cash on you at one time?:
yeah

Do you ever go out of your way to avoid someone?:
oh yes hahaha.

How much was gas the last time you looked?:
$3.21, I think? And that was for 93. I have to put premium in my car.

Is there someone who would support you no matter what?:
Absolutely.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:
Probably in Fort Leonard Wood lol...maybe still here. That would be nice. And probably with a kiddo.

Is there any actual chance you could be pregnant right now?:
Nope.

Do you still get carded when you try and buy things you're old enough to?:
Oh I get carded all of the time hahaha.

What was the last movie you saw in theaters?:
The Thing!

Is there someone you'd drop everything for if you could see them right now?:
Yes!

What is your birthstone?:
Pink Zircon, Opal.

Do you have any relatives who were born in another country?:
Yes, quite a few, actually. My grandparents (dad's side) are from Guangdong province, China (aka Canton)...my mom's parents, great grandma, my mom, my aunt and my mom's cousin and her husband are all from Poland. Eddie's grandma I think is from Czechoslovakia.

Would you rather visit Iceland for a week or Rome for a day?:
Rome..

Who was the last person you rode in a vehicle with?:
My husband.

What were you doing at this time yesterday?:
Probably also sitting on the couch on my computer.

What was the last thing you cooked?:
ravioli

When was the last time you slept in a bed with someone else?:
Saturday morning.

When was the last time you slept in a bed not your own?:
Not since May...

When was the last time you slept on something other than a bed?:
I don't know, probably a week ago?

What is in your pockets right now?:
Nothing. Don't have pockets.

What will you probably be doing at this time tomorrow?:
Getting ready for work.

Who do you look more like, your dad or your mom?:
My mom, I think.

Do you get along with your parents usually?:
Of course.

Where is your best friend at the moment?:
In OH-IO.

Are you an optimist?:
I try to be.

Books!

Hubby is back home in Ohio while I am stuck here in Texas. I tried so hard to get some time off so I could make a trip with him, but that didn't happen. Only one of my coworkers (so far) could take one of my shifts. I still let her, because honestly, the more time I get to spend with hubby the better since we are getting closer and closer to deployment time.

Hubs didn't want to leave me here by myself, but I told him I would be fine. Besides, I am a pretty independent person. I guess that's a good trait for a military wife to have. We'll see how that fares during deployment, however, seeing since I don't have any friends or family out here. But, I digress. I didn't want him to miss out on a trip home because I couldn't go. I forced him to go on his own for a week lol.

I really want to get a Kindle. I can't decide if I want the Kindle Keyboard of the Kindle Fire...the Kindle Fire is more fun but I also like the simplicity of the Kindle Keyboard.

I downloaded the Kindle app for my Macbook. The first book I downloaded happened to be this one:

I have been wanting to read this one for awhile now. I love this book! It's funny and so far everything is so true! Except my trips to the Commissary aren't nearly as horrifying haha. I started reading it earlier today after I came home from the airport and I am already halfway through. I highly recommend this one if you haven't read it already.

I have a whole list of other books on my list that I want to read, too:

* Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption - Laura Hillenbrand

* Left Neglected - Lisa Genova

* You Know When the Men Are Gone - Siobhan Fallon (I think I might read this one next...it's another military-themed novel, following the lives of several wives at Fort Hood, TX)

* The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

* Separated by Duty, United By Love - Shellie Vandevoorde

* I Love A Man in Uniform: A Memoir of Love, War and Other Battles - Lily Burana

* The Help - Kathryn Stockett

* The Making of a Nurse - Tilda Shalof

* A Dog's Purpose - W. Bruce Cannon

* Critical Care: A New Nurse Faces Death, Life & Everything in Between - Theresa Brown

Does anybody have any other suggestions?

Christmas survey

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate all the way! I cringe at the thought of egg nog...yuck!

Colored lights on tree/house or white? I love them both, actually, but I think I like white lights a little more. Our tree has white lights :)

Do you hang mistletoe? Nope. I can kiss my husband any time I want to ;)

When do you put your decorations up? Typically after Thanksgiving.

What is your favorite holiday dish? pierogi :) my aunt's tastes like the bomb dot com haha...she makes 3 different kinds - potato & cheese, saurkraut and plum. The plum ones are my favorite. She also makes this mushroom soup with these VERY expensive mushrooms from Poland - I'm talking $80/lb! I always feel bad because I never eat the mushrooms (never have been a big mushroom fan) but the flavor of the broth is fantastic. This is your "typical" slovak Christmas Eve meal.

Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Coming down the stairs and seeing the living room OVERFLOWING with gifts. I know, sounds a little materialistic, but I was young at that time haha.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I realized Santa's handwriting looked just like my mom's haha.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Growing up we did. Sometimes it would be after midnight so it was technically Christmas Day by then haha

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? with lights and ornaments :P

Snow! Love it or Dread it? Dread it. I only like it when I am inside cuddled up in a blanket and not out in it :P

Do you remember your favorite gift? the N64 we got was really cool. My brother & I didn't quite react like "The Nintendo Kid" tho lol, but we loved it!

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pumpkin pie! Mmmm :)

What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas Eve dinner that I talked about above. That is only when I go to Connecticut for Christmas, though.

Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? They're okay.

Favorite Christmas movie? Christmas Vacation haha.

Saddest Christmas Song? Oh, I dunno. I like Christmas music.

What is your favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night and Silent Night.

?

Happy birthday to me :) I hit up the PX to look for Coach purses. I love the PX, things are cheaper and you don't have to pay tax. This purse was already $60 cheaper compared to other retailers (like Dillard's, Macy's etc) and no tax :)

And btw, the Main PX at Fort Hood is huuuuuuge!

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Run for your lives.

This past weekend hubs and I saw The Thing, which is a prequel to The Thing (made in 1982) which was a remake of The Thing From Another World in the 50's lol. The Thing is one of my favorite horror movies. It's about an alien that crash lands in Antarctica, is founded by a group of humans and then the alien starts attacking them. The alien attacks them and then imitates it's victim, creating a perfect copy of the victim - this leads to mistrust amongst the group because who is really human and who is just an imitation? The Thing (2011 prequel) shows everything that happens and ends where The Thing (1982) starts.

Although the 2011 version had me jumping out of my seat several times, I still think the 1982 version is better. Highly recommend :)

The Walking Dead also premiered last night! I'm excited for this season :) And during the commercials I saw an ad for a 5k zombie-infested obstacle course race! There will be one in Austin on December 15th, 2012. I hate running and I don't think I could do a 5k, but this looks really fun. It's like Warrior Dash, only 10 times cooler in my opinion. I have over a year to train if I want to do it!

loneliness...

I was supposed to work tonight.
I came into work and the moment I got there, the unit received the on-call list.
It was between me and two other nurses. They said I could stay since I was the first one there.
Then the other nurses came. One refused to go home (she already dropped off her kids and other stuff) and the other volunteered, but she lives about 30min away whereas I only live about 8min away. I volunteered since I live the closest and I don't have kids to worry about.
It just sucks because I was already there, all ready to go!
We'll see if I get called in tonight.

It just sucks because I wasted my whole day sleeping and now I plan on staying up all night so I can stay on my sleeping schedule. I'm supposed to work the next 2 nights.

I really hate staying up all night, though. I get bored with sitting around on my computer and half of the time there isn't anything to watch on TV. Nothing interesting on Netflix, either. I could CLEAN, but hubby is now asleep and I need to be quiet.

It really sucks not having friends here. Sure, there are my work friends, but those are work friends. and I try to go to all of the monthly FRG meetings, but sometimes with my work schedule that is impossible. I feel like I have nothing in common with the other FRG members...they are all older, more established wives with kids. Don't get me wrong, everyone I met has been very nice, I just feel like we have nothing in common. Maybe once hubs & I have kiddos of our someday that will change. We will see...

In other news, I received a $0.50 raise, hooray! :D

Vegas! and travel-weary.

Hubs & I (along with our friends Bryant [who was our best man at our wedding] and Ryan) decided we're going to Vegas next month. We're staying for 3 nights/4 days. It will be nice to get out of Texas for a few days and to see some friends we haven't seen in awhile! Bryant will also be deploying later this year, so this is pretty much the last time we'll get to see him, for awhile, anyways.

We thought about driving, but it's like 24 hours. If we were staying longer I would consider it, but since I work Thursday night and we're leaving Friday morning, I figured we should fly instead.

But I hate flying. Actually, I'm terrified.

I used to love flying, but not anymore. The last time I was on a plane (which was nearly 5 years ago) I freaked because we ran into some turbulence and then the plane literally DROPPED what felt like several hundred feet. My anxiety was at an all-time high.

I'm not going to let my fear of flying stop me from going on this trip, though! Unless something else comes up. It's going to be expensive - we're looking at spending between $1100-$1200 just on round-trip plane tickets and a hotel alone, but I know it will be worth it. Plus I've never been to Vegas!

I thought about either bringing a carry-on duffel bag with me, or sharing a suitcase with hubs (which I feel would be cheaper, because either way we're bringing a suitcase). As I mentioned before, I haven't flown in nearly 5 years, and this was before the whole "3-1-1" rule was implemented (3 oz bottles or less in a 1 quart bag, 1 carry-on per passenger). Sooooo if I throw all of my stuff in a suitcase, do I have to abide by that 3-1 rule, or can my liquids/lotions/creams be of any size? Will my purse count as a carry-on? Do my liquids/lotions/creams have to be in those clear plastic bottles that they sell at Target/Walmart, or can I get away with "travel" products in their original packaging (such as the miniature lotions/shower gels/body sprays they sell at Bath & Body Works?)

And of course, what should we do when we get to Vegas? I'm not sure where we're staying at yet...Bryant is staying at The Luxor hotel on the strip, but at $168/night (and increasing rate on the weekend), we might stay elsewhere.

Pinning, anyone?

How many of you pin?

I just started pinning yesterday and I'm already up to 315 of them.

IT'S SO ADDICTING.

http://pinterest.com/wh0aitsmel/

For all of my new(er) followers, here is another "get to know me/my hubby" post :) For once I'm not going to blog about work.

Your name: Melissa
Husband's name: Eddie
Your age: 23...I will be 24 in October! I am 6 months older.
Husband's age: 23
Location: Fort Hood, TX!
Branch of military: Army MP.
How many years of marriage/how long have you been together?: We have been together for almost 4 years...married for 3 months!
Anniversary date?: 3 months!
How long has the military been apart of your life?: Not very long. It seems like awhile because Eddie did Army ROTC in college and there were ceremonies and military balls, etc. Not including ROTC (but if you include BOLC), it would be about 9 months.
Photo: Here is a random one from our wedding!


I want some more of that cake haha...for our 1 year anniversary!
How do you feel about the military in general?:
Have you gone through any deployments?: Not yet. I thought he was going to deploy shortly after moving to Texas, but that wasn't the case...*I* lucked out lol! He was actually going to deploy in July, but the Army was trying to decide between him and another LT that happened to be in his BOLC class, so I also know him personally. The other guy wasn't married, and since Eddie is, they decided to send the other guy overseas. I pray for his safety every day. And I feel bad, because 1) I know how badly Eddie wants to deploy and 2) It's practically my fault that he didn't get to deploy this time around, but I'm happy that he will be around for at least a little while. With the military you never know what can happen, though!
A really great memory?: Our wedding!
What are you most addicted to (forums/TV shows/musicals, etc)?: I will admit that I am heavily addicted to Facebook and Twitter and Allnurses.com. Favorite TV shows: Grey's Anatomy, Mercy, House (I love medical dramas!) and recently, Dance Moms hahaha. The new episode is on tonight and I'm very excited! I'm also addicted to Starbucks coffee and get it every night before going to work.
Are you in college/graduated/planning to go?: I graduated in December 2010 and Eddie graduated in May 2010. I thought about going back to school, but eh...I might just stick with my BSN, and add some more credentials to my name like PCCN or CCRN (that stands for "progressive care certified nurse" and "critical care registered nurse" respectively). Because I work in progressive care now, it is my goal to obtain my PCCN. If I transition fully to the ICU, I might go the CCRN route, too.
Any children?: Not yet.
Any pets?: Not yet. I really want a dog but unfortunately our apartment complex doesn't allow them.
If your husband wasn't in the military, what career would be he doing?: Lol he would probably be a professional race car driver, or a professional beer taste tester, if that even exists haha.
Is your spouse a lifer or contract?: Currently on contract...in October he will have 6 years remaining. At this point he is not sure if he wants to remain on contract or make a career out of it.
Favorite thing to do as a couple?: Cook, be lazy and cuddle on the couch and watch movies/Netflix :)
Dream job?: Food critic!
Dream vacation?: I don't know, somewhere exotic and beachy. I would love to go to Fiji, somewhere in The Caribbean Islands or the Bahamas. Eddie wants to go to Tunisia lol.
Do your in-laws drive you insane?: At times they do lol...but I still love them!
What is the worst experience you've had as a couple?: Eddie & I are pretty neutral and overall I think we handle things very well. We handled this move very well, but I would still say it was a tough experience...having to move 1,300+ miles away from all of our family & friends, getting settled, me trying to find work...I wouldn't say that was "the worst" experience we had, it was just very stressful. A lot of changes all at once.
What does your husband do to make you feel loved?: Everything! He always treats me so well and never belittles my feelings. He is caring and understanding and hates seeing me upset. If I am, he'll do whatever he can to fix it and make me happy.
Favorite/least favorite thing about being married?: Favorite: getting to spend practically every day with my husband. Least favorite: making all of those "big" decisions!
What weird/nasty habits does he have that just drive you nuts?: He is VERY messy...and he dips, eww!
Where do you see yourself and your family in 5 years?: Home is where the Army sends us...we probably won't be in Texas anymore, but who knows. I will have my PCCN/CCRN by then. We'll probably have a kiddo on board. Probably have a deployment or two under our belts.

I went to the yoga class on post today and OMG...I felt like I just about died. It was very tough, but I really enjoyed it. Very good workout! For those in the Fort Hood area, this class is offered Mondays & Wednesdays from 1145-1245 and 1730-1830 at Applied Fitness Center (33rd & Old Ironsides). There is also a beginner yoga class offered on Thursdays from 1000-1100 at Abrams Fitness Center (62nd Ave & Support Ave). Easiest way to get to both is by the main gate (TJ Mills Blvd)!

quick update.

Once again, sorry for the lack of updates.

Not that anyone really reads this blog anyway, at least it feels that way... :/

I just feel like I have nothing worth blogging about, because all I literally do is work, work, work and on my days off I enjoy being lazy with my husband :)

Work is still great. I had my performance evaluation yesterday. *toots horn* There is always room for improvement but my manager praised me for doing such a fabulous job. She told me she wants to hire more people like me! Yay :) I will be in the ICU this week and then starting next week I'm flying solo. Yikes!

And I'm getting my windows tinted today, finally!

And Texas is ridiculous hot. No more heat advisories, now we have heat warnings!

yummy meatballs!

I've had a nice, relaxing few days off :)

I'm off tomorrow, too!

Then I have to work Thursday, Friday & Saturday night :(

Monday I made spaghetti & meatballs. The spaghetti part was nothing fancy, but I actually made the meatballs from scratch this time. They turned out really well and flavorful, and hubby LOVED them. He said they were the best meatballs he has ever had :D

They reminded me a lot of my mom's meatballs, and her meatballs are the bomb dot com. Mine could have been a bit more moist, but that is probably because I used 96% lean (or whatever) beef. I need to use fattier meat next time.

Here's the recipe:

* 1 lb ground beef

* 1 egg

* 1/4 cup milk

* 1/2 cup of breadcrumbs It did not specify fresh, but I used fresh anyway...a couple of slices of whole wheat bread with the crusts cut off and toasted just a bit so that I could actually make them into breadcrumbs lol

* 1/2 tsp salt

* 1 tsp oregano

* 1 tbsp fresh parsley I forgot to buy parsley, so I omitted this

* 1/2 tsp garlic powder

* 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper

* 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese

Basically you mix everything together...I did it by hand, and tbh it was kind of gross messing with all of that meat haha...take pieces and roll into balls, and drop them right in the sauce. I kept it on medium-low for awhile then let it simmer, stirring occasionally. Recipe says to simmer for about 3 hours; I think mine cooked for about 2 1/2. They were fully cooked and delicious.

Today I was able to switch my birth control back to what I was taking before! Finally!

I have been on Microgestin 1/20 for about 6 months and have noticed a gradual decrease in libido :/

This month it has pretty much been nonexistent :( I never had that problem while on Sronyx!

Not to mention Microgestin also randomly made me skip my period one month, which freaked me out.

Tomorrow I'm going to make orzo pasta with shrimp, garlic, basil & grape tomatoes simmered in a white wine sauce.

Hope it comes out okay.

Unlike my father, who was an executive chef, I was not blessed with culinary talent haha.

Blogger is letting me post pictures again, yay! Here is what I wanted to post last time:

I got my pretty blue VW GTI :D

Hubs and I went to Seaworld, San Antonio!

Shamu show :D

We fed & pet dolphins...I want to swim with them! Unfortunately the only snorkeling trip where you can possibly swim with them is all the way in South Padre Island...that's like 7 hours away!

My friend Mandi came to Texas with a church group. Last Monday they had a free day to tour Austin, but of course she had to stay with her group. We went to the Texas history museum (which was really boring, btw, don't go! haha...she wasn't too interested and neither was the rest of her group!). The group wanted to pictures in front of the really big star outside, so of course I was their awesome photographer. I totally looked like some Asian tourist haha. Afterwards we all went to Hopdoddy on South Congress - really good burger joint! I decided to be different and get their ahi tuna burger. Deeeeelish!

oh hey, blogger.

It has been awhile since I have posted!

I forgot to mention that I finally got my car! And I love it :) And Blogger is being a tard and won't let me post any pictures.

Hubs & I went to San Antonio last weekend. We went to the Alamo and to the Riverwalk! We went to this seafood restaurant called Landry's and had a pretty expensive "snack" - shrimp en brochette (shrimp with a sliver of jalapeno inside, hushpuppy on the outside, bacon-wrapped and fried and then finished off on the grill placed on top of a bed of fried onion straws and topped with a cheese-like sauce and crab meat) and a cup of lobster bisque...all for $26, not including tip! Everything tasted EPIC, though! I've been wanting more :)

We originally planned on staying at Lackland AFB through military lodging (why pay $100+ for a hotel room when you can get a VOQ room for like $40?) but then we decided to head home that day and go to Freedom Fest at Fort Hood.

But we never really went to Freedom Fest.
We went kayaking at BLORA, a lake that puts Lake Erie to shame!! It was fun, but a lot of work haha. We went to Razoo's Cajun Cafe and had some fried gator tail (which was very tasty, btw!). Hub's had fish fry for his entree and I had shrimp creole. Everything was amazing!
We went back home and slept.
We went to Fort Hood for the fireworks display, which was really nice. Instead of fighting the crowd, we went to one of the school parking lots on post. Several others had the same idea.

Once again, I am LOVING work :) Still have a lot to learn and there are a lot of times where I feel pretty stupid, but I'm getting it. Slowly but surely :)

Tonight hubs & I are going out to dinner with his platoon sergeant and his wife and tomorrow we're going back to San Antonio to go to Seaworld haha. You have no idea how excited I am.

blog hop!

So even though I bought a car, it still isn't here yet. It was supposed to be here last Monday, but I guess it didn't get on the truck until the middle of the week. The car is coming from a port in Houston, but then VW told me there is no way to determine the route the truck will make. Even though Houston is only about 3 hours away, the truck could go to Dallas, then SA, to El Paso (which is like freaking' 7 hours away) and all of these other places until it comes to Killeen. Hubby called on Friday and was told the car would either be in on Saturday (which it wasn't) or today. I'm hoping today.

I had my nursing orientation last week, too! Some of the nurses have been in the profession for 15+ years, others have been in for a year or so, and then there was me, the new grad lol. Everyone was very nice and five of us (including myself) will be working together. Sort of. There are three of us on PGCU - one is on nights with me and the other girl (whom I love and is a fellow Army wife!) is working days. Another girl is on days in the ICU and a guy is on nights in the TCU. The TCU and PGCU are virtually the same thing and we are also cross-trained to work in the ICU, as well. My first night will be on the 29th - I'm excited but I'm also scared shitless lol. This will be my first time on the floor as an RN. I'm not quite sure what to expect that night. I just hope my preceptor is patient with me, because apparently real-world nursing is totally different from nursing school.

And it makes me feel good that my fellow night-shifters said they will help me out whenever I need it. They said I will be fine and I will get it eventually, it will just take time. No one will leave me to fend for myself lol!

Last night hubby and I were making chili. We wanted to throw a whole habanero in - seeds, vein and all! So I started to mince it, gently. And then of course, the knife some how flicks a seed that hits me straight in the eye! I screamed some profanities and stumbled around, and hubby rushed over to see what happened. I was about to rub my eyes when he stopped me, then he guided me over to the tub and instructed me to flush my eye out in the cool running water. I was there for about 20 minutes. It was agonizing. I have even more respect for soldiers/civilian police who have to get OC sprayed for training. Hubby's BOLC class all got OC'ed the second time I went to FLW. I felt really bad for them there. Mind you, habanero peppers range from 150,000 - 350,000 SHU, or Scoville Heat Units. OC spray is much more potent, starting out at 1,000,000+ SHUs. Although the burn from the habanero was agonizing, I can only imagine what the OC spray is like. I don't wish that feeling on anyone.

But now I have to just look back and laugh, because this would only happen to me haha.