I'm back. Again.

I have no excuse for not posting for, like, a billion years.  Well, I have some excuses.  For example, I've been busy doing the following:

Helping Adam say goodbye to our classroom following our last Nurse Anesthesia School lecture

Traveling to Boston for the AANA Annual Meeting where I:

Addressed other SRNAs

Dressed up like a Mad Scientist (along with my fellow members of the AANA Education Committee) for the College Bowl, where my classmate, Anne Marie Sommerville, was on the winning team!

Participated in a 5K with my classmates

Passed my Student Representative duties on to the very capable Emma Bachelder (a Baptist SRNA herself!)

and quenched my thirst alongside my grad school buddies:

I then...

Graduated from Nurse Anesthesia School:

Where I was honored to receive the Chal Maree Award

Passed the board exam (!!) and moved to great state of:

Got hitched to the love of my  life:

Moved back to the even GREATER state of:

Began work as a full-fledged CRNA complete with amazingly gorgeous staff photo

Tried out for the Carolina Roller Girls roller derby team

And enjoyed TWO Christmases: The first with Brian's family and the other with my family, who we hosted at our house in NC.  It was totes fun.

So that's where I've been.  Life is pretty crazy right now with work, travelling to see Brian, and roller derby practice (I'm not joking about that last one... it's pretty intense) but I'll do my best to blog more consistently.  Thanks for sticking with me, folks. 

Miss me?

Oops!  Sorry I've been M.I.A. At least I have a good excuse for my absence: I recently returned from a medical mission trip in the Dominican Republic where I spent a week healing the sick.  In other words, I've been Single White Female-ing Jesus.  Go me!

 My, what a ridiculously large uterus you have!

If you want to see pics and videos of my awesome time in the D.R., visit my anesthesia school blog by clicking here.

O'Fallon Township High School in da house!!

I loved high school.  Not so much that I'd ever want to relive it, mind you, but I have very fond memories that stem from that period of my life.  Blizzard.  Sneaking out after curfew.  Basketball tournaments.  Playing soccer under the lights.  Eating cinnamon rolls for lunch and not gaining weight.  Developing crushes on different boys every week.  Annoying my soccer teammates during practice by yelling the best cheer on the face of the earth:

"O!! O-F-A!! O-F-A-L-L-O-N O'Fallon all the wayyyyyyyy!!"

That one just never gets old.

Had we made a music video in the school while I was still a student, I'm sure that would be up there on the list of awesome memories too.  To all you current OTHS students out there: I am officially jealous.

OTHS Broadcast Club Lip Dub Music Video from OTHStoday.com on Vimeo.

Seattle in Pictures

As promised: a photo diary of sorts pertaining to our trip to Seattle for the AANA Annual Meeting.  I completely fell in love with the city while there and after viewing the following, I think you'll understand why.

Mount Rainier by air

Prepping for my campaign speech before the Student Session

Saturday night happy hour

Student Focus Session Reception

My classmates and I had the opportunity to meet and

talk with Jim Walker, 2009-2010 AANA President

Student Research Exhibit

College Bowl

Pike Place Market

Student Luncheon

Meeting with Chris Leger, 2009-2010 Student Representative,

following the announcement of the election results

Hiking the Base of Mount Rainier

Before

Our original view from the top

 View from the top after turning back to re-hike

the last half mile once the fog finally lifted

 

 

After

The Banquet Dinner at the conclusion of the Annual Meeting

 A handful of the class of 2011 with Richard and Sandra Ouellette

Dave and his former Senior Buddy, Heather

Class photo

Who knows?  But I love it.

Whale Watching and a Visit to the San Juan Islands

Pod of Orcas

An Orca Whale breaching, i.e. shaking what his mamma gave him.

 Friday Harbor

Shopping with Adam, who was on the

lookout for a shirt that "hugs his curves."

Returning to Seattle

... in other words/pictures, we had such a fun trip!  I'm already looking forward to next year's Annual Meeting.  Get ready for chaos, Boston!