Rants, Recipes, and Running

1. If you could travel back in time, would you? What decade would you visit? I would. I think I'd visit the 50's, just for a week - for it'd probably get really old. Sometimes... I just want to wear cute house dresses and aprons. And the only care in the world would be cooking and cleaning and being an all-star housewife. 2. What was your best Halloween costume? (fun to make? most creative?) Probably the clown costumes my Mom sewed when I was young. They were amazing. Also, an occasion in college when all the girls hit the frats dressed up as sexy nurses, naughty cops, and other profanities....I taped purple balloons all over my body and went as a "Bunch of Grapes". Classy. 3. Do you like your name? If you weren't called by your name, what would you want to be called? I would love my name. But everyone seems to think it's cool to name their dogs Abby these days too. I know so many people who are like "Your name is Abby? Oh cool! That'...

Another month is upon us, so it's time for the monthly recap. I can't believe how fast March flew by. Which is really funny I'm saying that -- b/c when I lived in North Dakota .... it felt like March went on forever! Amazing what a little warmth & sunshine can do for one's perspective! Current Book(s): "Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing" by Videbeck. Riviting piece. Actually, to be honest, this is the most diligently I have read a text book in nursing school yet. I have a keen interest - so kind of look forward to learning/reading this stuff! Current Music: Oh goodness, Regina Spektor & Ben Folds. Rediscovered these artists and can't get enough. Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Definitely ketchup-and-mustard. I have always been a lover of this. We all know my love for mustard (I put it on everrrything). The past week this love has become out-of-control. I put it on my salad, I put it on toast for a light lunch, Yum.    It's my ...

On Sunday I did the Oro Valley Arizona Distance Class Half Marathon. I registed for it 2 weeks ago, so jumping in to this was mildly nerve-wracking. Especially since a vacation was thrown in the middle of my 2 week-prep. (Just a little FYI...it's not like I just randomly signed up completely. I was up to running 9-10 miles comfortably, and decided "Hey, a race is coming up! What's 3 more miles?! I'll sign up!" So, I'm really not completely insane.) So here's a little run-down on Abby's ritualistic build up to the race and the big event! We returned from our vacation Sunday, so Monday I headed for an easy 10 mile run. I say easy , because I did not push myself . I like my joints and knees, so took a nice moderate pace on it! Then my week was spent doing some TLC to my muscles, lots of leg massaging, icing, and good nutrition and hydration! A few easy 3-4 mile runs and I was ready to race! Friday I took a light 4 mile jog, and drank so much water...

Happy Tuesday! I really should be studying for my test this afternoon, but feel compelled to take a break from reading about antipsychotic drugs and anxiety disorders!!! I had a great weekend -- tons of housework done, cooking, and a half-marathon completed! (Post to come soon on that....). Summer has officially arrived it AZ - it's supposed to be 90 today. Not sure if I'm quite ready for 90...but....it's here! :) 1. What television character do you identify with? To be honest, I don't want much television outside of the news and The Bachelor. And I don't want to identify myself with any of those characters! :-) 2. Describe your morning routine. Wake up, turn on news, grind coffee beans, brew coffee, pour cereal, cut up banana, make husbands breakfast and lunch, eat breakfast.  (Non clincal days I then usually work out, Clinical days I'm out the door at 5:30) 3. How do you do lunch? Bring from home or dine out? Same thing every day or mix it up? Always pa...

As many of you know, I am in my psychiatric-mental health rotaiton right now. And I L-O-V-E it!!! However, I do find it to be a little emotionally draining at times. While at the same time, I feel quite fortunate for my situation because..... I could take the worst, god-awful, horrible, miserable day of my life -- and there are patients in this unit that would DREAM to live that day (in comparison to the one their living). I'm not homeless. I have a great family. Stability exists in my life. I don't hear voices when I wake up in the morning, there are no trees in my house telling me to boil dog-feces on the stove (yes, I spoke with a patient who heard these voices), I dont have a substance-abuse addiction -- and overall I feel pretty darn good about life. However....I have to share two creepy experiences that have happened in just 3 weeks of this rotation. My first day on the unit; we were informed there is a woman in a "severe state of mania". We we...

1. When you were a senior in high school, what career did you think you’d choose? Did you? Why or why not? I thought I was going to be a Music Educator. I wanted to major in Music Education, and then go on to get my masters and be a professor for trombone specifically. Why did I change my mind? -- I do not know! I think when I really evaluated myself, I realized my biggest interest was in health/medicine/etc. 2. What one thing about the “real world” did you find most surprising once you were on your own? The last 5 words of the question spells it out: "You were on your own.". It first hit me about 2 weeks after I moved to Tucson, and it was rough! For the first time in my life....I had no one to solve my problems for me, no one to cry to. It was a good learning experience. 3. Name 3 things you think your closest friends DON’T like about you. -I am way to much of a hermit ! For example: my spring break week? -- I did not speak face-to-face with a single person other tha...

Sometimes we just need a weekend getaway. I can't think of the last full day that Ryan & I truly had "together". It's been crazy. When we do seem to have a day together, a large chunk of it is spent studying. But we took an escape this weekend..... It was supposed to be in Puerto Penasco, Mexico. But some information we received caused to re-group and find a new destination: San Diego ! (Details on the planning of our trip to come later....) If I could....I would pack up my life and move to San Diego tomorrow. It is the most pleasant city on earth, that I have experienced. So here I will break down our trip...... Thursday: We hit the road at 6:30 am and were in San Diego by noon! It was the most beautiful drive. Amazing how each our of the trip had a slight change in scenery! Our first stop was the Ferry Landing of Coronado Island (the island we stayed on) We walked the pier, admired the boats of the marina, and stopped for lunch at a great restaura...