a blank page before me...

one of my regular facebook stalkers once recommended that i should just start a blog.  she just didn't realize that i have no idea how to do that and that i have a natural ability to destroy computers simply by sitting next to one.  i've discovered that it usually happens on thursday evenings, too.  right now, i'm fighting with the auto-correct on this "OneNote" thing that came free on this latest computer.  for some files i don't particularly care if it decides to capitalize all the words that i am too lazy to do, but as long as this is me talking to myself and whoever else may invest time here, i think i/they may as well get over it.  i'm just hoping it doesn't carry over to the other documents where it actually does matter that i don't look like an idiot because i don't capitalize "thursday."

it's been 42 days since graduation, when we sweated like...really hot people in a mass wearing dark robes in the summer, hoping like mad we weren't the one who tripped walking across the stage.  and for the nursing majors, we had to do it TWICE.  may 21st was just full of celebratory ceremonies for us.  it almost cost me lunch, but i learned just how fast i can run in heels carrying chick-fil-a for two people and not spill on the new dress- it's pretty fast.  i think for me the Pinning Ceremony was better than actual graduation.  for one thing, there was air conditioning. but after spending so much time, effort, and the whole range of human emotions with these nursing majors over the past 2+ years, it was really cool to finish out college with them and our families in the chapel to get our UUSN pin, a pocket NT and a little lamp. then we had to juggle them all to our place on the stage and recite the Nightengale Oath, promising to never be mean to our patients even when they deserve it.  i don't think the Gideon's Bible representative ever figured out why we all as a class burst out laughing when she told us in her little speech how she was so happy they could coordinate the white NTs to match our clinical uniforms.  at least, i hope she didn't- she was too sweet to tell her we really really really did not like those uniforms.  but i really liked the ceremony as a whole and we got alot more out of it than the families. 

the actual graduation was hot, long, and totally during dinnertime. that may have been the worst part for me.  but i got that diploma, flipped that tassel, couldn't find any camera to smile at, and kept on walking.  someone in there got a pretty good shot i think.  i know we got some good ones afterwards, with the people i know and love the best- the ones who made college worth it.  forget the $150,000 piece of paper, i want those million dollar memories, some of which were photo-documented, others of which couldn't have been.  Cobo probably isn't anyone's favorite place on campus, but so many good things happened there.  the same could be said of our dorm- Grace 3, 527 or  barefoot's joe, or that little sidewalk that encircles campus where we walked so many miles.  that wooden bench in the PAC hallway.  Dodd 19- my first dorm, destroyed by The Tornado, beautifully remodeled...and then turned into a boys dorms.  Craig 1 and the Ant Invasion of '08.  the pictures just show faces, but if it were a cartoon, there'd be hundreds of those little thought bubbles everywhere. i can still see them, even if nobody else can.

those are why i miss Union.  but now i have this thing called "real life."  this means that i pay things called "bills" and have to do my own room checks and buy all my own groceries.  this leaves me wishing i weren't so addicted to Honey Bunches of Oats… (the one with the almonds).   the monies add up and march single file into Kroger's and never come out.  this wouldn't ordinarily be a problem, but "ordinary" doesn't come for a few weeks when i'll actually be getting a paycheck.  until then, i am living off the minimum-wage paychecks received through most of my college career.  thank you, hundley center!! 

as i just told my room-mate, i have just discovered this thing called "OneNote" from microsoft, which is the cause of all this typing.  basically, it is the union  of a physical notebook+ the internet+ your brain.  in a computer form. it's ridiculous and it came free on my computer. after that traumatic weekend, i feel like i totally deserve it.  so eventually this may even make it to "blog" format and i can share my life with the 3 people who may/not read it…

not going to lie- there are significant perks to being a graduate.  first and foremost.. we has a hamster.  he is amazing.  not too bright, but fluffy and adorable and ridiculously funny to watch him roll all over in his little plastic ball.  very much worth the $10. i waited to get him until after i'd taken the state nursing boards test so i wouldn't distract myself-smart choice.  although i have plenty of other distractions.  i'm finally able to read, eat, draw and sleep when/what i want to.  no more tests, lectures, clinicals or meetings at 8 am.  that is my least favorite time.  if it's so terribly important, let's meet NOW, or put it at 7 am.. or even 6.  this at least makes it looks absolutely vital that an issue is resolved at soonest opportunity. 

if it's not that important, I'LL SEE YOU AT 10.