Vegetation Explosion

Springtime around here is serious business. I present to you with Exhibits A and B:

The streets have really erupted with flora. I guess this is what they mean when they say the east coast has seasons...

Unfortunately, I suspect that winter will be also busting onto the scene with this same kind of vigor.

I'm a spazz

Today, my lab partner discovered that I've got a touch of clonus in my right foot.



Here's to a year of interesting discoveries!

Orange is the New Beer

Just seven days into this intense little nursing program I've gotten myself into and I'm discovering that this school thing is really getting in the way of some of the activities I once enjoyed back in my carefree days of one week ago. One of those activities for which I no longer have time to participate in is drinking beer.

Ah, yes. I like this image because not only is it one beer but it's two beers ...and they're by the pool! Swimming is another activity I could get down with considering the beautiful warm weather we've been having here, but rather than sunbathe I spend most days in a large, dark lecture hall with no windows, or shut in my apartment with my nose to the books.

But with this decrease in beer consumption, I've simultaneously noticed a move into strange and unchartered pleasure seeking territories: oranges!

Over the past few days I've been averaging an intake of 2 - 3 oranges per day. This might seem normal for any other person, but I'm not a fruit eater. In fact, David is constantly chastising me for my lack of fruit consumption so this is highly unusual behavior for me!

I guess I've found a substitute -for now- for an old past time that I can no longer participate in. I just checked the fridge though and I only have 4 oranges left which is going to get me through about two more days under strict rationing. And since I don't have a car there is no way I'll be able to restock my produce in the near future. Maybe when Saturday rolls around I'll go back to beer!

1 week down... 51 more to go

I just finished my first week of nursing school! (*applause, cheers*) ...I already feel behind ...I mean, I am behind, I don't just feel like it :)

It seems like I'm part of a group of pretty good people. Tons of folks from California plus a variety of ages, backgrounds and experience. One thing I've noticed is how committed everyone seems. It's not like my pre-requisite classes back at City College where there were always a few slackers here and there. Everyone wants to be here and seems dedicated to doing well.

In our first lab class yesterday, we got a chance to practice taking vital signs on each other and I felt grateful for my experience volunteering at at a health clinic in SF for the past two years because at least taking a patients pulse, blood pressure and temperature thing was something I was familiar with.

Start your engines...

My parents left for California today so it's just me and Sochi on our own until David pulls into town. Tomorrow night some people from my program are getting together at the local sports bar. I'm getting kind of tired of eating veggie burgers and fries every time I eat out, but I'm not tired of beer so I'm sure I'll be fine.

School starts in just a couple more days. I wonder what it's going to be like... I'm getting nervous! Got my nursing shoes, got my books... I guess I'm ready!

Decorating Time

For what this city has been lacking in sunshine these days, it's been making up for in cheap cute furniture.

I think I'd give up a nice coffee table though if it meant getting my daily dose of vitamin D.

New Home

When we got here last Monday it was about 80 degrees. We walked around in the sun, checked out the lilacs blooming, ate at outdoor patios (even at night), and did all those other things that a person who has lived in year round 60 degree weather for five years does when they come in contact with a warm climate.

We also visited the home of very famous inventor from these parts and saw an interesting collection of old cameras including the actual one used to take this famous photo.

We had to say goodbye quickly to our heatwave because today it's snowing! Tonight it's supposed to be 37 degrees and I can't figure out how to turn the heater on. Last night the power went out and we were in the dark for twelve hours.