Life list

Things I want to do in the next 5-10 years.  Some of these are silly, but it's what I like!

1. Go to New York City, preferably around Christmas season. It happened!  However it was not around Christmas time. 
2. Go ice skating. It's not easy to get someone to go with you.
3. Go bowling
4. Lose 30 lbs, 40 would be great. This should be my main goal because I really think it would make a happier me!
5. While in New York, see a show on Broadway.
6. Be in the audience of a talk show. Rachel Ray maybe?
7. Take a plane trip. Same deal, I've never been on a plane yet.
8. Go to Florida
9. Go on a cruise
10. Go to these beaches: (Outer Banks, Virginia, Myrtle, Hilton Head.. I've only been to Ocean City!)
11. Finish nursing school (I'm sure I'll be crossing this one off real soon!)
12. Sew some of my own scrubs. FAIL
13. Get my BSN.
14. Get my real estate license.. if I'm not a fan of nursing when I actually get into it.
15. Start going to church.. even if I have to go alone.
16.  Take a make up course 
17. Go on a hot air balloon ride.Most amazing thing ever.  Must go again!
18. Find a lighthouse that I can actually climb to the top.
19. Visit the Hershey Factory.
20. Go to Paris.. see everything.
21. California trip (Santa Barbara, LA, Santa Cruz, San Diego.. Price is Right audience maybe?  I'm moving to Los Angeles.  Stupid Price is Right taping was delayed.
22. Wonder around in Mexico.
23. Niagara Falls-Canada.
24. Walk the streets in Germany.
25. Audition for a play.  I've been in a play (The Women) and a musical (Catch Me if you Can.)
26. Learn "Echo" on the guitar and play it.
27. Meet Chris Taylor Brown from Trapt. Believe it or not, it happened.  I just wish he was nicer.
28. Train for a 5K

Our Town

I have been taking an acting class.  It is half way through.  It is only 8 weeks and tonight was week 4.  It has been by far the best class I have ever taken.  I realized I love to act.  I have a little trouble keeping a straight face and I have laughed too much by far tonight.  I want to make this my career.  I wonder how and hope that can happen.  I would love to perform 6 nights a week for a month straight the same play.

I went to see "Our Town" last week and while I haven't seen a lot of plays, I would have to say that one will probably remain my favorite for a long time.  I loved the last monologue by one of the main characters, Emily.  It is -

I can't.  I can't go on.  It goes so fast.  We don't have time to look at one another.
I didn't realize.  So all that was going on and we never noticed.  Take me back - up the hill - to my grave.  But first: Wait! - One more look
Good by, Good by world.  Good by Grover's Corner's.. Mama and Papa.  Good by to clocks ticking.. and Mama's sunflowers.  And food and coffee.  And new-ironed dresses and hot baths.. and sleeping and waking up.  Oh earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you.
Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it - every, every minute?

I think it is short yet so meaningful to how most people live life.  I can't wait to do it.  I have realized that I am anxious before going on "stage", but I love it while I am doing it.  I am years behind on acting, I only wish I had taken it up more in high school, maybe for my senior year.  I just keep telling myself I'm not too old to have this dream.

Surprise party!

On Saturday I was finally able to
letJohn know what I've been up to for the last month. I know there
werequite a few times some things may not have made sense to him that I
wasdoing. Certain things I was buying while out with him I know
didn'tmake sense to him either. I was planning his SURPRISE 30th
birthdayparty for 50 people! It turned out great and really couldn't
ask formore. My friend Nicole helped me out tremendously. I stayed over
her house the night before because we had a bad snowstorm around 10pm,
andthere was no way I could leave because we were making the cake. We
didn't get down until 2:30am! Here is the inspiration photo:

Here is what we came up with:

Pretty
close, yet different. I had a lot of fun. On the way there my hands
literally felt paralyzed. I was giggling to myself and had to tell John
I was thinking of something else. It was so nice to be able to do
something for him. Who knows if I would have waited til the next
milestone birthday if I could do this? I thought of it as, we will
probably have kids by then and will throw them parties and I may
overlook his birthday then. I'm really glad I did this. Everyone will
have great memories, and I got some great pictures. Some of people who
often say "I didn't do my makeup or hair, I can't be in a picture".
People couldn't turn me down then. I loved the time with everyone.
Needs to happen more often.

Fall Bucket List

I'm borrowing this idea from Katie over at Loves of Life and creating a bucket list for myself this fall/Halloween season. I'm happy fall is almost here, I'm ready to wear jeans, boots and hoodies. I am not thrilled winter will come up right after that.. here's to hoping I don't get stuck in the snow with my car this year.

Fall Bucket List:

1. Go on a hayride. It was a haunted hayride. It kind of stunk. Let down.
   
2. Pick a pumpkin at the pumpkin patch.
3. Carve at least one pumpkin, do this and maybe this to a pumpkin.
4. Make a delicious apple pie with fancy lattice crust!
   
5. Go to a haunted house.
6. Drink some apple cider and sit outside. Bleh. It was hot apple cider that I got at Cannon Coffee. It was like theraflu. I do not like hot apple cider. I should keep it cold.
   
7. Take another walk down memory lane. I took John down memory lane! I wish I would have taken photos though.
   
8. Take photos while doing all of the above.
9. Get a pretty fancy camera to do so.
10. Have a picnic in the park where John and I got married, and take photos this time! We did do this! Kind of got attacked by bees though!!
    
11. Try taffy/caramel apples from Schorr's Bakery and Kribel's bakery.
12. Have another pumpkin donut! Yum!
13. Make fall themed food and have a board game night with friends.

That might be all for now but I can't wait to cross things off!

Things that disappeared, Jen edition

Things that disappeared off store shelves that really shouldn't have, Jen edition.

Ever all of sudden think of a food you used to absolutely love and then realize that you haven't seen it in forever? Then you go out on a search for it only to find out it's being made anymore? That's this post in a nutshell.

1.

3D Doritos. For quite some time I could in no way eat "flat" Doritos and had to have these.


2.

Ragu Express. So so sad this is gone.

3.

Maybe this is still around and I haven't looked hard enough.

4. (This one is for John)

Barbeque Cheddar Goldfish. Not something I care about, but something that keeps John awake at night. Not really though.

5. Last but certainly not least. (I miss this the absolute most!)

These were the most delicious candy bars. There were brownie ones too that were ok too. If there's one thing that needs to come back off this list, it's Nestle Toll House candy bars.

So yeah, if see any other products out in the stores, you know who to call.

Life list..

Happenings

Hmm, so it's been a while since I've posted. What's new? Well.. not too much. John and I had some friends over on Saturday in which we had a little cookout. I love love love having people over for dinner, so I was so excited about this. After we got done eating, we all played Apples to Apples which is a very fun game. Today, well yesterday, I worked at night so I missed the fireworks and actually can't remember the last year I did see them. Maybe four years ago? Because it seems like every stinkin 4th of July I've been working around here!!

A week after completing my first year of nursing school (my last post) I had this five week Dimensions class. It covered nursing research, ethics and the like. The last week of that we had to give presentations within our 4-5 person groups. Oh did I despise this! I normally avoid public speaking at.all.costs. Talking in front of strangers is not something I fancy. Nonetheless, I did it.. and managed a B in that class! Would have liked an A.. since I haven't seen one of those in soo long, but hey, I'm not perfect. LOL!

Now I am just keeping busy this summer by doing my student nurse internship. I have about 5 weeks left with my preceptor. I have gained a small amount of confidence through this, nothing big at all. I am still scared shitless to do most things myself. I have gained more confidence doing vital signs (which you wouldn't think would be hard but every patient is different and some things are easier on some than they are on others.), baby feedings and other things. I can't imagine how I'm going to be a nurse in a year. I don't know if I'm going to be able to do it. There's just.so.much to learn and know.. let alone what I will have to know for nursing school.

Well.. I think I'm going to get back to work for now.. almost 4am, now only 3 more hours left to go!