First Day Jitters

I don't know about you, but first days make me quite nervous.

 I tend to find a quiet place where no one will talk to me or I bury myself in homework. 

 

I get so worked up about the first classes, first tests, first homework assignments, first rides on the bus, first new friends, first day alone anywhere. Out of these first days come better ones. Like meeting new friends on the bus (whom I actually like) 

 

or new classmates that will keep you company as you wait for classes to start. Those first couple of weeks will be tough, I need to look at the small light in the tunnel, because at the end of the tunnel my dream job awaits.

Happy studying to all my fellow classmates.

Alien Invasion

Do you remember the movie Signs? It was about a family that finds a crop circle on the farm? Earlier this week my family found this in our front yard.

 

It is a mushroom circle, and in two days it turned into this!

The majority were bigger than a human foot! 

Or bigger than a human hand.  

 

My dad and I cut these fungi out of the yard and the next day there was a circle of flowers that grew in there place.  (This is a really bad picture.)

 

I think the aliens are out to get the Butler house.

Lessons From Work: How to Stay Awake

Another lesson from work, learning how to stay awake on third shift. According to one of my coworkers, I never look tired. Well, I haven't gotten used to this shift and sleeping during the day isn't my cup of tea. So, here are my simple steps to trying to stay awake during the graveyard shift.

Step 1: Do your job. If a resident pulls the call light you better get that! Frankly, do all of your chores before getting bored. 

Step 2: Find friends to talk to on Facebook or text. Or write a funny story using the stickers on Facebook. Or write an encouraging message to someone, it can really make there day. :) 

Step 3: Drink caffeine! I tend to drink coffee, or the occasional coke.

Step 4: Ride a stationary bike. We are lucky enough to have one of these at work. Actually had time to ride it last week.

Step 5: Write a blog post. That is what I did.

Lessons From Work: Forgive and Forget

In my last post, (seen here) I told you that this summer I have learned patience. Well, I have also learned that in order to get the elderly to cooperate you must not get upset or frustrated. It doesn't do any good.

I have always had a temper. It just doesn't come out in public very often. It is a really bad habit that must change, but change takes time.

The other day, I had a resident tell me that I was a horrible nurse, and there was no way that she was going to cooperate with me that day. At first, I was quite angry and a little upset. I went home and complained to my family. I am not even in nursing school yet, and you tell me that I am a horrible nurse? That is a really mean thing to say about someone you don't even know.

After weeks of thinking about this comment (yes, weeks), I have come to the realization that she is kind of right. As hard as it is to admit, I don't know as much as I should. I am still learning the ropes here at work. I am not always sure what to tell the residents when they are upset or irritated. I guess the best thing about working at an assisted living center is that if your lucky, the residents won't remember you the next morning.

Lessons From Work : Patients is a Virtue

As most of you know, I work at an assisted living center. This summer I have the opportunity to work 11-7, three times or more a week! I love this job. My coworkers are nice and the majority of the residents are super sweet. 

I have learned a lot from these elderly people. The first thing I have learned is patience. My shift begins quite slow, I answer buzzers, and check on residents for the first 5 hours! But then the morning rush hits. This rush consists of passing pills, answering buzzers, waking residents up, doing blood sugars, weighing residents, answering questions, and trying to make the residents day a little bit brighter. As morning hits, the more work there is to do. 

(I don't really get that stressed)

 

Don't get me wrong, I like being busy, just ask my family, but I don't like waiting. As we get older we tend to do things a little slower and we learn to take time and smell the roses, think about days gone bye and old friends that have passed. 

As a young whipper snapper, I would like to walk into the room, do my job and move on to the next resident, but these men and women are teaching me patience. As I wake up the residents, they tend to move a little slower that I would like. I am learning that even though I have so much to do, the work will always be there. The residents will not get mad if you walk in a little late, and if you leave five minutes late. It's going to be okay.
Maybe taking a minute to think about how grateful we are for another day, month, or year, is good for us. 

Just thoughts from a college student.

A Weekend Without Parents

A weekend with parents - every teenage and twenty somethings dream! So what did I do? Here is just a glimpse.

I packed up all my stuff and drove to Traverse City with Star. I drove and she slept.

Nashville CMA Festival Vol. 2 - Concerts

The purpose of CMA Festival is to raise money for music programs in local schools in the Nashville area. It is also fan appreciation week! To celebrate this weekend in Nashville the big stars hold concerts at LP Field.  These concerts start on Thursday night and end on Sunday night. These concerts consist of 8 different performers with a special guest singer every night! We were blessed with free tickets so our seats were pretty high up, but we didn't care.
(This is where we sat)

 We were too happy to be in Nashville to care where we sat.

Some of the country stars we saw were:
Lady Antebellum

Taylor Swift

Hunter Hayes

Blake Shelton

Carrie Underwood

The Band Perry

Brad Paisley

Florida Georgia Line

Zac Brown Band

 
and Miranda Lambert

 

One night Stacy and I made it on the jumbotron!!! Words cannot express how excited we were.

 

You better believe we are already planning our trip to Nashville for next year!