Work and Waiting

Not much has happened since the last time I posted. I’m still waiting for the e-mail/packet from WSU telling me what the next steps are, what books to get and what equipment is needed.  I’m actually excited to see the book list – how big of a nerd am I?   

Brad finally went back to work and I have been filling in at the rehab house.  One of the aids there recently had knee surgery and they will need extra help for a few weeks, so I decided to pick up a few to help out.  I enjoy the extra money, but I was also looking forward to a little down time before school started.  I wanted to use the time to go through our totes in the basement and organize things a bit, as well as go through all my old school supplies and books and figure out what I need to restock. I know I have three months before school starts, but I also know that it will be here before I know it!  I think I only have a couple more weeks to fill in, so I better enjoy the extra cash while I can.  

I haven’t been working a set schedule, and I am finding that I really miss having a routine.  I’m the type of person that likes to plan and do certain things on a specific day – for example, I like to do laundry on Sunday that way I have clean clothes for the week.  With this “fill-in” type schedule, I never know what I’m working until a day or two beforehand and it makes it hard to plan ANYTHING. It feels so weird to do laundry during the middle of the week, or to clean the house on a Wednesday.  I know it sounds funny, but after seven years of working 8-5 with weekends off, aka being spoiled, it’s hard to get used to a fluctuating schedule.  Even with the crazy schedule, the perk of getting home at 3:00 in the afternoon is pretty hard to beat. 

Well, I think I’ve rambled on enough for now. :o)

It's Official!

 I'm going to be a PA!  The phone call wasn't a dream!

I received my official acceptance letter in the mail last week and I promptly signed and sent in my deposit before they could change their minds about me.  :o) I should be getting another packet in the mail that details what type laptop requirements we need, books, medical supplies, etc. in the next few weeks, plus the details on how to get the background check and immunizations done.  It all still feels surreal. I can't believe that all my hard work finally paid off.  I know I have a lot of hard work still ahead of me, but I know the net two years will fly by.  I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel!  

I know I still have a few months before classes start, but I I am already making lists of supplies I need/want to get and I have already ordered a new laptop.  The one I have now is going on 8 years old and we are required to have laptops - not ipads or tablets, so I thought it was time to upgrade.  I got a really good deal from Dell, and ordered the Inspiron 11. 

I was planning on getting a tablet before I found out they changed the requirements due to the exams we have to take not working well on the ipads or tablets. One reason I wanted a tablet was for the apps availalbe for note taking and drawing, and because they are small and easy to carry.  The Inspiron 11 is small and light, plus has a touch screen, so even if I can't some of the apps I wanted to try, I might be able to find something similar to use.  I'm not sure how well it will work for classes yet, but I have 30 days to try it out and see if I like it and if it will meet the requirements. I also have a stylus and case picked out for it, but I'm going to wait to make sure I don't have to send it back before I order them. 

It's been a month to the day since my interview and I can't believe how much my life has changed in that month. 

In With The New

I really meant to update this blog a couple of weeks ago, but once I tell you what has been going on you might understand why I didn't really feel like it until now. 

I'll start off by saying that we spent Christmas with the in-laws and had a very nice time.  We went up during the week and came back Friday, as I had to work my second job that weekend.  Brad's uncle was in town visiting from Montana, so we did a lot of visiting and catching up, and of course playing games.  When we go up to see Brad's family we usually end up playing Yahtzee, Boggle or some other game.

The following week was pretty uneventful and then January 6th was the big interview day.  I sort of knew one of the girls interviewing, I believe she was in my anatomy class for a few weeks before she had to drop it.  I felt more at ease and like I belonged there this time, compared to last year.  I spoke more with the other interviewees and everything just seemed to feel right.  I thought my interview went a lot smoother than last year, and I really like the two that interviewed me.  The new chair was there and some of the changes he is making sound so amazing!  I was feeling pretty good after I left, but you still never know what they think about you. 

Then, I went into work on Tuesday.  I was immediately called into my supervisor's office and given my pink slip.  I was shocked and speechless.  I had been there a month shy of seven years and they were firing me.  The reasons they gave me were for not meeting performance expectations.  In other words, nothing I did seemed to make them happy, and instead of communicating with me or explaining to me what they needed, they complained to our supervisor.  I don't know about you, but I am pretty sure we all make mistakes.  I can remember times when I fixed mistakes they made, but the problem I was having is my mistakes were being counted and tallied up. This past year I felt like I was being set up to fail, and that everything I did wasn't good enough.  I am almost positive part of it was because they knew I wouldn't be staying there much longer, either I was getting into PA school or finding a new job.  I had applied for a couple of jobs in Hutch almost a year ago, and ever since then, they started treating me different.  When I told one of my people that I needed January 6th off for my interview this year, the first thing she asked me was "oh, for a job in Hutch?"  I was surprised at her response and had to explain that it was for my PA interview.  When I was told I was being fired, I felt so betrayed.  If I was so bad, then why did they keep me around for almost seven years? Why did they keep telling me what a good job I was doing to my face, and then complain about me?  The very same people that were helping me get into PA school were also digging me a grave.  I heard that even they were surprised and unhappy about me being fired, but what did they expect?  A big part of me is glad I don't have to work there anymore because I won't have to deal with a certain somebody anymore, but I am sad because I considered many of the people there my family.  I know we will keep in touch, but I was really hoping to leave on a high note.  All of my friends and close co-workers were saying that maybe this means I will get into PA school.  Part of me was hoping that was true, and the other part was thinking, well, if it's not PA school, it's definitely a new career.

After I was fired, I decided that I was going to get back into IT, especially if I didn't get into PA school this year.  I really enjoyed it and sort of kicking myself for getting out of it.  I had about three weeks until I found out if I was accepted, so I bought an A+ certification book and started studying.  It helped to refresh my skills and kept me busy enough to where I wasn't watching the clock or stalking the mailman.  :o) I knew from the interview that on or about January, 24th we would hear something, so from that Wednesday on I nervously awaited the arrival of the mail.  On January 24th, at 11:32, I received a phone call.  From the director of the PA program congratulating me on my acceptance to the Wichita State University Physician Assistant's Program!  When he called, he told me that he went over to my office to tell me in person, but learned that I was no longer there.  In a way I was a little mad that the people that betrayed me got to find out before me that I was accepted, but I also thought that would have been a cool way to find out.  I was so surprised and shocked.  I thanked him a bunch and when I hung up the phone, I jumped up and down and shouted "I got accepted to the PA program!" and Brad picked me up and hugged me and then of course I cried. 

So, this year started out a little rough, but as my friends and co-workers said, it was all because I was getting into PA school. 

Out With The Old...

I thought I would catch up by posting year old pics of the concerts we attended.  :o)  Nothing like being a little late.  ha ha

As you may recall, last year for my birthday I won free tickets to see Chevelle in concert, along with Aranda. Considering I never win anything, I thought this was pretty cool.  The venue was rather small, so no matter where you sat it was a good seat.  The first two pictures are of Aranda, and boy are they entertaining!  They had some local talent open for them, and I really wish they would have just had Aranda open because I would have loved to have watched them longer.  They are a talented group of individuals and I would definitely go see them again. The last couple of pictures are Chevelle, and of course they were good.  :o) I also won a "Meet and Greet" which essentially is you go shake the bands hands, take a quick picture and then go sit down.  It was still a neat experience even though it wasn't what I expected. 

Then, for Brad and Bo's birthday, I bought tickets to 3 Days Grace and Shinedown.  This was such an awesome concert!  I was more excited to see 3 Days Grace, but Shinedown was pretty awesome too.  POD opened for them, and even though I didn't know much of their stuff, they still were fun to watch.  Here are some pics of us patiently waiting for the show to begin:

And here are a couple of pictures of 3 Days Grace:  

This was my first "big" rock concert with the whole pyrotechnics and the big stages.  It was a lot of fun!


When Shinedown opened, the lead singer and guitarist popped up in the middle of the audience and pretty much right in front of where we were sitting. We left a little early that night because the weather was absolutely horrible and the roads were icy and snow packed.  It took us almost two hours to get, something that normally takes us 45 min.  I think it's safe to say that we all had a great time.