I did it!

Yesterday I passed my final exam for school!!! Tomorrow I go and do my mock state board test and find out when my test date will be. I can't wait to get my certification and get a job! This last month has been crazy busy with all the studying and practicing I got to do, but it was worth it to get this piece of paper. Now I just have to hurry up and wait for my actual board test, which means more practicing and studying. It's a good thing I like to do it.

Yay Me!

The second mod of school was harder than the first so it ate up all my free time. I had a lot of fun though and I may apply at the place I did my second round of clinicals. The staff there were great and I didn't see anything that was in violation there. It's a much better place than the first clinical site. 

It's funny, the first clinical site had a beautiful new building and lots of new gadgets, but the staff was horrible. I found so many violations both health and board that I told my teacher about, it was pathetic. 

The second clinical site could use a building redo and better lighting, but it was clean and not smelly. The staff were efficient and friendly. They worked as a team and even crossed units when it was needed. Even the nurses helped out when I asked them. 

They are both run by the same management group so I wonder why they are so different. The first is in a more affluent neighborhood and the second isn't. I wonder if placement is the key. 

Anyway, if I can't get the place I want I will definitely be applying to the second clinical site. I want to go back to the hospital, but it feels good to have an option 2 if I need it.

Wish me luck on getting scheduled soon for the board. The soonest test date is the 22nd and I really want to get this done! Until then I'll be studying and working on my next story.

Thanks for all your support! 

Have fun!!! 

Aquaponics and my new bag

My lettuce is starting to sprout and it's amazing how fast it's growing. In less than a week it's already over an inch tall. I can't wait to harvest! We're thinking of moving a strawberry plant in to see how it does. This is such a fun experiment! 

Tuesday

I can't believe how fast they are growing! They are almost doubling in size daily. Soon we will have fresh greens! Bwahahaha!

Wednesday

Last Wednesday I got a new bag that I hoped would work for carrying my camera on my bike. Yes I am one of those people who will return something if it doesn't meet my needs.
I'm pleased to say it works great, especially after a few modifications. The bag is the Lowepro Streamline 250. It has enough room for my camera, it's small accessories, my Nook, and a bunch of random personal items. It will even hold a file folder so I've been taking it to work, actually I've been taking it everywhere with me and I'm quite happy.
It has padded pockets and a nice roomy interior, although the camera does push into there. You can expand the main pocket, but I haven't needed to yet. I only have 3 complaints about it and I was able to fix 2. I added a grab strap so it's easier to grab ( I almost dropped it once when I didn't have a firm grip on it); I put a strap pad on the shoulder strap because the rough edge was literally tearing me up; and even though I like the slate gray it comes in, I added a bit of decoration you the front.
So far it's been a week and I'm still loving it; which is good because I'm sure the warranty is now voided. It's great to carry my camera everywhere again, I had really missed it!

Before Bettyfication.

After Bettyfication.

I Trued a Wheel!

I love working on my bike, but there was one skill I never acquired. In service to a project Husband and I have been working on I had to learn how. I had to true a wheel.My heart leapt and my stomach clenched at the thought, but there was no one else who could do it. Unforeseen issues had already made this far more expensive than budgeted for and I hate taking thing to the shop.
 After watching tons of YouTube videos and sweating about it for a couple of days I bit the bullet and did it. It only took a couple of hours to do both tires.
I used a marker to show me where it needed adjustment and had to be very careful so I didn't damage anything. There were no spare parts to fix any mistakes. At first my nerves were jangling and I could feel myself getting hotter. Then I remembered to breathe. It was slow going but I really enjoyed it. It was kind of meditative to sit there and gently turn the wrench and spin the wheel. Slowly it came into round and became usable again. When I was done there was barely any wobble and it spun great.
Now I'm going to have to true up Lucy's tires; the back one takes a bit of a beating and has a slight wobble.

Ginger and Princess got bored.