more serious business, i suppose.

I suppose if this is going to be a life blog, I should catch those of you we haven't seen lately up on the latest and greatest.

Christian: Medical school is going great! Busy, busy, busy, but good. They're packing semesters worth of knowledge into one or two lectures and he says it's rough. He had his first exam a few weeks ago, thought he did poorly, and did great! Hopefully he knows better what to expect, as his next exam is this Friday. He can sign up to take them either Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays, but so far has chosen Fridays so he has the weekend to veg. He's met a few friends and has a little study group he likes to meet with. They seem like a bunch of smarty pants and, so far, the right kids to study with. He also started clinical anatomy last week, where he meets at the medical examiners office for some special time with his cadaver (George, I believe, is what they named him..?). He loves it (besides the fact that it's just more to memorize) and besides the occasional formaldehyde headache, he's had no problem digging into a dead guy in the name of science.  I'll let him chime in with a more specific (and probably more accurate) med school post soon.

Me: Unemployed. First and foremost. I'm constantly on the hunt, and constantly (try weekly) being rejected by hospitals throughout the valley. For what it's worth, the climate is affecting ALL new graduate RNs, regardless of degree, age, school, etc. With money being so tight for everyone, hospitals included, they can't afford the extra cash it takes to train a new nurse. Plus: when so many experienced nurses are coming out of retirement and moving from part time to full time, etc., hospitals don't even really need us anymore. If you were in charge, why would you hire a newbie over someone with years of experience?? It just isn't in the cards for us right now. I'm looking at lots of alternate options, I meet with the volunteer coordinator of a teenage pregnancy outreach program on Thursday, hoping I can find something to do during the days that helps someone out (and allows me to strap on my RN title). I will continue to diligently bother every nurse recruiter in this goshforsaken city and will delightfully inform you when I find success. It takes a toll, all of the rejections and applications, the entire process. So, if you know a new grad nurse in your life...BE NICE TO THEM. Chance is, they need a hug (and a job).

So, that's the skinny. For now. Hopefully, things will continue to get better (AHEM...economy...that was directed at you...) and the job market will turn around. Also, hopefully, Chris will continue to be successful in school. He's made of all the right stuff, and I'm sure he'll be fantastic. He usually is. :)

Sorry to all of you who know these things already, but this was to update those I haven't had the pleasure of speaking with lately (Grammy, Aunt Kerry, K.P.) So now you know.

Okay. Too much blogging for one day.
Love, love, love.
Ash