Getting Back on Track

I have been remiss in several things over the past however many months it has been since I last updated this blog. But I am trying to pull my life back together a little and decided to include this in the turn-around. I may have been absent in documenting the completed tasks on my 101 List, but thankfully I have actually managed to accomplish several things. So here it is a list of my new (but really some of them not so new) accomplishments:

11. Pass the HESI

I passed the HESI which is basically a practice test for the NCLEX (which in turn allows you to get your nursing license). At Riv, if you don't pass the HESI than you are not allowed to graduate so getting that out of the way last April was extremely exciting. Then I had to take the real thing...

10. Pass the NCLEX

I did it! I officially became a nurse in June of 2009 after passing my NCLEX on the first try. It was probably the hardest, most terrifying test I have ever taken and I thought that there was no way I passed, but thankfully I was wrong on that count. I found out I passed the morning I left for Camp Shawnee for the summer which was a huge relief off my shoulders. Speaking of Camp Shawnee...

33. Go back to the mountain for camp

I am so glad to be able to say that I spent a total of 7 weeks on the mountain this past summer. Words cannot express the experiences I had or the relationships I formed with campers and counselors alike. It was bittersweet, however, because we were told at the end of the summer that Camp Shawnee will not re-open next summer to allow time for repairs and renovations. For me, this means last summer may have been my last as I am graduating in May and am being forced into the real world. I will be getting a nursing job (hopefully!) in May and will not be able to take off 7 weeks during the summer to volunteer, but I am hoping by some miracle I will manage to find some way to get back there for one more summer. I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed!

23. Pay for 5 random people at the drive thru behind me on separate occasions.

I have spent a lot of time driving back and forth to Kentucky this year and was able to accomplish this one quite quickly. I'm hoping one day the favor will make itself back to me when I'm stuck with no cash at the darn tolls on the way to Manchester.

42. Be able to do ten ‘manly’ push-ups

I am so proud to say that I can officially pump out 10 manly push-ups. I owe it all to my field hockey coach!

80. Visit Grandpa’s grave

It wasn't under the circumstances I imagined, but because of another funeral at the same cemetary I was able to go and visit my grandfather's grave.

83. Send the girls a picture and a letter

I sent my sisters a picture of the two of them at the beach this past summer that I added some stuff to along with a lovely letter. This picture just makes my heart so happy.

86. Send Leia a care package before she comes back from AmeriCorps.

Well, I think this one is a toss-up as to whether it was actually completed because I sent it before she got back, but unfortunately it didn't quite make it to her in time. So it ended up back in my house. However, I was able to give it to Leia in person which honestly was the best case scenario possible!

89. Watch the original Disney Movie Robin Hood from start to finish

Done with my Biff this past May. "Ooo-da-la-lee, ooo-da-la-lee...fortune tellers, lucky charms!"

93. Print out pictures to fill the frame Shawna made for me

Done! And it looks lovely. Here's one of my most favorite pictures in the whole frame...



95. Write Courtney a letter

I have done so much better about keeping in touch with Courtney (one of my campers from the summer). In fact, I think we've exchanged 3 or 4 letters just this past semester. Maybe I should count that against some of the other things on my list I have failed miserably at.