Abandoned blog?!?

Howdy.  So I think it's safe to say that life took over and this blog kind of dwindled.  I expect most of my limited followers have probably gone on to bigger and better things, but for the one or two of you that might be there, I thought I'd do a mega-update.

I graduated in May, passed my NCLEX (licensure exam for RNs) shortly thereafter, and started work in an ICU of a community-based inner-city hospital.  Because we're part of a much larger system our patient acuity is fairly low most of the time, but every once in a while we get really sick patients and we get to put all those ICU skills to their fullest use.  I work on night shift, which has been really tough to get back into, but I think I'm slowly coming around.  I would still take a day shift position in a heartbeat, but such is the case for newly graduated nurses.  Which is fine, because you need time to fine-tune your skills and night shift is a better environment for that because you have a generally slower pace.

Despite all the kicking and screaming I did about not returning to school right after graduating, I'm taking a single grad school course in research while completing my BSN residency (which is not at all like what doctors do for their residency, but it's a long story).  After much complaining and moaning, I found that I kind of actually like looking at research and finding how I can use it to give better care for my patients.

In other news...

You know how people say you end up like your parents no matter how much you say you won't?  Well it would appear that my father's dabbling (to put it modestly) in woodworking is starting to creep its way into my interests.  I build a super cheap, quick (4 hrs) bench for the mudroom/foyer of the townhouse I rent the other day, and while it ain't pretty, it sure is sturdy.  When it warms up the spring I plan to stain or paint it (because I'd rather not do it inside and breathe cancer fumes for a week or two).  Photo below.

Perfect for taking your shoes off before you track mud into my nice clean house!

Oh yeah, I got a dog.  Did I tell you that?  I adopted him from the Humane Society almost two years ago now and named him Kaylix because I'm cool like that.  He's a mix, most likely beagle and whippet.  I think it's safe to say that dogs truly are man's best friend, because it's hard to imagine not having him now.  Photo below.

Apparently Kaylix likes the bench.  Or maybe I just put him there.

Hmm.  Not sure why that photo is stretched.  Too lazy to fix, though.

Moving on...

After letting myself go slightly during my last year of school, I'm finally getting back into health and fitness.  Because I'm trying to expand this blog to more than just CK (gotta love him, but he kind of gets old after a while), I may do a blog or two about that in the future.

Lastly, MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Or whatever holiday you celebrate!  Being newly on night shift means I'm up at odd hours waiting for everyone else to wake up (at my parents' for the holiday), but I think they might be coming around so I think I'll go downstairs and be social.