Spring Break

Spring break was officially two weeks ago, but I have been so busy at work I haven't had much time to post! 

This year the office closed down for spring break - the first and hopefully only time.  (This was mandatory to help cut costs due to the economic times.)  It was really nice to have a week off of work, but really sucked to have to use up all my vacation time.  I wanted to take some time off to go to my, not so little, little sister's graduation in May, and also take some days off for the vow renewal when the family is here, but now that I don't have any I may not be able to do either.  I was also planning on taking a day off work to take my MCAT exam, but now I have to take it on a Saturday, so that definitely means I can't make my sisters graduation - they are on the same day!  Boo!  And did I mention that she won't be able to make the wedding because she is going to Washington D.C - super cool!  and I haven't seen her in years? Talk about suck!

Well, onto the week of my spring break.  I went out in the truck with Brad and studied my MCAT materials all week.  Well, most of the week until I caught a cold on Wednesday and pooped out by Thurs night.  I didn't think about it when I was out there, but I should have taken pictures for everyone.  Oh well.  I would get out to help strap the loads down and roll up the straps while Brad unloaded and then go back in the truck to study.  The weather wasn't too bad, a little windy, but not too cold.  It decided to rain then snow on Friday, so we decided to come home.  It was really nice to spend some time with Brad, even if he was working.  :o)

Renewal

Ok, well you may know from reading my blog that I am married to an amazingly wonderful (and if I do say so, sexy!) man. *pause for eye rolls and gagging sounds*

Our “ceremony” consisted of going down to the local courthouse and having a judge marry us. The passage the judge used was really neat and I wish that I could remember it, but you know how the mind works sometimes - you can remember all sorts of details but the ones you really want to remember. We were planning on having a ceremony with our friends and family, but decided to go the cheaper, faster route. A year or so later we got to talking and decided that we would like some memories of our plunge and wanted our family and friends to be a part of it and Brad really wanted me to have my dad walk me down the aisle. He feels that this is something every girl wants and dreams of and he wanted to give that to me. (I told you he was pretty amazing. He he ) So, after talking about it some more we are going to renew our vows this summer. It’s going to be a small ceremony with his parents, my parents, our siblings and a few close friends. We are going with a more informal wedding, comfortable but nice and the colors are black and a berry color – almost a purplish maroon. Brad will be in a black tux jacket and white shirt, with black wranglers and I will be wearing this gown.

The girls will be in a dress handmade by my mother in law, and the guys will be in wrangler shirts and black wranglers. (The dresses and the shirts will match).

Afterwards we are going Hillbillie and havin’ ourselves a good ol fashion bbq! :o) We will have the bbq at the park so the kids can run around and play on the equipment and we can all play some baseball. It should be a good time if the weather holds out – this is Kansas after all. I plan on getting a bunch of the little disposable cameras and letting everyone take pictures throughout the day (Brad’s dad will take the nicer photos).

I think it will be fun and we will definitely get our memories!

Schedule

Yeah I know, it's been too long since I've posted.  Life seems to be a little boring lately, or maybe it's because it seems to be going by too fast to make any interesting observations.  It's March people!  Spring break is next week - this means that we are half way done with this semester and oddly enough, I feel like I haven't done a thing.  Let me explain by telling you my schedule:

I still work full time Mon - Fri 7:45 - 5:00p and I volunteer on Mon and Thurs nights until 6 at a Hospice. 
I have biochemistry on Tues and Thurs from 11:00 - 12:15 which counts as my lunch at work.
I have a meditation class on Wed from 4:00 - 5:00p.  so I leave work at 3:45 to go to class. 
I have an online Theater class that I am also taking that has 1 or 2 quizzes a week. 
I am studying for the MCAT and fit that in whenever I possibly can, usually a couple hours each night and on the weekends when I am not studying biochem.  

Compared to last semester this is so relaxed!  The exams in biochem are so spaced out that I feel like I have plenty of time to study for them, but they are over 4-6 chapters at a time and the questions can get pretty detailed. I wasn't expecting so much detail on the first exam and didn't do as well as I thought I would  - but it's only the first exam and there are plenty of things to do to earn a couple extra points.  We have weekly quizzes that are taken out of the homework problems at the end of each chapter so they aren't too bad. 

At night I go home, workout, shower and then study for the rest of the night, usually two hours or so, but I am still behind on my MCAT studying.  I am hoping to catch up during spring break, but I guess as long as I do what I can and take as many practice passages as possible that will have to do.  I am hoping for a 32 but really need a 28 to apply for early decision.  If I am under a 28 I will have to apply regular decision, which will be ok, but I will have to wait till later to interview. 

I have a good feeling about KU and think that I will get in.  I don't know if it will be this year or not, but I know that I will get in, even if it takes me a few tries. 

Well, I have rambled on enough I guess.  The comments on the bottom of my posts should be working - if you have anything you want me to talk about or any questions for me, put em there! 

I know I know!

I'm sorry that I haven't been posting much.  I have to tell you, my schedule is a little crazy.  I am really wishing I had more hours in the day to fit in all the studying I have to do!  I'm getting behind in my MCAT studying and I have a biochem exam next week, so I'm sure I will be studying for that and falling farther behind.  *Sigh*

I have to say that so far biochem is going ok, but that is because I haven't had my first exam yet.... so I'll let you know how it is "really" going next Thurs!  ha ha ha

I really need to figure out a way to read my books so that I understand the material enough to answer questions and before I read it a second time for review.  I am stopping to take notes right now and that is slowing me down.  I have a lot to read in a short amount of time and I have to understand it all.  This is just small taste of what I will be going through in med school, so I kinda need to get it figured out.  Any suggestions?  :o) 

Oh, and I have to clarify my last post about the flowers.... Brad really picked them out.  He just asked my opinion after the fact.  :o)  He read my post and said that I have to change it to reflect what really happened.  What a sweetheart - he's the bestest husband ever.  (Shhhh!  don't tell anyone I said that!) 

Hi honey!

More Flowers

Just had to share my pretty flowers that Brad and I picked out at the store this weekend.

Slacking, but not really

I know I haven't been posting much lately, but that is in part because I have been busy working, then going home to study for the MCAT and a little bit of biochemistry.  I feel like life is pretty boring at the moment, but wow is it flying by!  I also started volunteering at a hospice in Wichita.  I go in once or twice a week after work and visit with one of the residents at a nursing home.  He is such a sweetheart and I really enjoy our visits, I know he does too.

I was talking with my friend T the other day and we were amazed that it is already February!  I know that the semesters go by pretty quick to begin with, but I think this year is going to go exceptionally fast as we will be studying for our application exams,  taking them, then staying awake all night wondering how we did on them and driving our friends and family crazy with our worry.  Those weeks might move at a snails pace now that I think about it.
Then once we recieve our test scores, we will be writing personal statements and  applying to schools and answering secondary application questions and anticipating interview invitations.  This will be another time of worry and anxiety, hoping to make the cut of interviewees.  Hopefully we will be chosen to interview and then afterwards we will be thinking about what we should have said differently and if it really did go as well as we try to convince ourselves it did.  Then of course there is the stalking of the mail box for The Letter - when will it hold the fateful acceptance/rejection/hold letter?  WHEN!? (This is when time will seem to go backwards instead of forwards.) Then there is the aftermath  - joy, sorrow or bewilderment. 

See - this year is going to fly by!

More Afghans

Here are a few more afghans

This one isn't finished, but it is going to be loud!

WSU Colors

Brad's Afghan