Two more days, two more days!!!!!

I'm psyched because after today, I only have TWO more days left of the semester. Two two two two TWOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!! :)

I've got one final to email a professor, one I've already turned in, and two in-class finals to take - one on tomorrow and one on Tuesday.

And after that? I will have survived my first full year as a grad student!
You know, excepting the summer classes I'll be taking in a couple weeks, but no big deal.

On Thursday the husband and I are going to a scholarship dinner. I feel just a bit goofy about it because I know that I'm supposed to dress up. I took the opportunity to go shopping.

Perfect timing for that shopping trip, too. Apparently the post-prom season is the perfect time to go shopping for dressed. And even better?
I took my father-in-law and my younger brother-in-law with me to go shopping for said dress.

Yes, you read that correctly. My father-in-law and younger brother-in-law.
Believe it or not, we actually found a really nice dress.

I'd forgotten what it was like to be in the hordes of people looking at prom dresses. I tell you, DEB was so neon bright it was scary. And Younkers, where I found my dress, had PACKED dressing rooms.
With reason, apparently. The hubs and I went to Olive Garden last night and there were apparently still people going to prom. I figured at the end of April they'd be done, but I guess not.

I have to say... I'm pleased with the dress I bought. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't afraid of embarrassing my husband.

(Psst... My mentality was somewhere between "Look like the awesome wife that I am" and "OWN THE ROOM!!!" hahahahaha... I'm just a little on the arrogant side about looking good with my husband) ;)

Before I forget... To the hubs and I have been married for 11 months :) and just one more month until our first anniversary!

Forrest Gump is on right now, so in Forrest style I say...
"And that's all I have to say about that."

:)

Almost there!

I'm so close to being done with the semester that it's not even funny!
Actually, now that I think about it... I only have two weeks left!
And two take-home finals, a giant paper, two in-class finals to go.
It's more than a little overwhelming when I add the paper into the mix. I'm thinking of doing a thesis, and said thesis would be spun out of this paper. I know I can do it, but there are moments where I just feel like hitting my head on something.

I feel very accomplished today. Since I got up (and lazed around for the first half hour) I've: eaten breakfast, did some muscle stretches, did W4D3 of my 10K Runner app (basically C25K, but aiming for longer distances), put my gym clothes in the wash, showered, went to the doctor, put gas in my car, and now the gym clothes are in the dryer.
And that was all between about 9 and 2.

Now I'm just being a bum ;)

I started my PLADC hours, and had to terminate that relationship because my supervisor had a petition for disciplinary action on her license :-/ but I've got an interview on Monday for another place, so I've got high hopes!

And in just over a month, DH and I will be going to my cousin's wedding, and then celebrating our first anniversary!
You know, with the finals and the end of the semester and summer classes and work and what not all in there somewhere. Oh goodness.

One day at a time.

In the meantime, I'm enjoying running.
But let's be honest, I wasn't enjoying it this morning. I'm definitely a bit dire, but not as sore as I was immediately after I finished running.

When I ran on Sunday night (on the treadmill) I finished that particular night's program... And then went a few extra minutes that I needed to hit the 5k distance! It was pretty awesome.

The 5k for Fertility is in less than 2 weeks! DH and I are just walking it, but I'm so excited!
The Runway Run on base is 2 weeks after that. I would love beyond LOVE to do that, but I don't know if I'll be able to crank out 7 miles just yet - and if I can, what about the hills and everything? I do little to no incline on the treadmill. I'm just not to that point yet :-/

But I have high hopes. We'll see.

Forums

If anyone knows of any good running and photography forums, please let me know!
I'm really interested in finding some, I just don't know where to look. I checked on ProBoards, but pretty sure I've been left hanging - at least for running. I think I found a decent one for photography, but it's hard to tell, especially when you're using your phone to look.

Please and thank you :)

I am determined to reach my goals.

I did W4D1 last night, and I tried something a little different with it. I stayed around the same speed that I usually do, but instead of walking at 4.0 MPH (which I usually try to do) I decided to jog it!

I tell you, I now know the purpose did sweat bands.
They say that females glisten - or at least that's what they used to say?? I'm a real female, and I was sweating like you wouldn't believe.
But it felt good to have another accomplishment under my belt :)

And I really am excited at the possibility of being able to do a run on the base's runway. I just hope I can work my way up to it (for this year as opposed to next year, I mean).

When one of my friends graduates college next year, we're going to look at starting a photography business. I'm beyond psyched for it! We both love photography. And talk about perfect timing, because I'll have graduated (again) then, too!
We've already got ideas about setting up a website, promotional photographs to draw people in, getting models, backdrops, you name it. I think it would just be a matter of getting everything gathered and getting it ready to go - you know, in addition to working on our Photoshop skills, and working to hone the photography skills we have.
One way or another, I think it'll be amazing.

I started working on one of my provisional counseling licenses, and it turns out I may have to find a new place to go so that I can get my hours.
My supervisor doesn't have any disciplinary action on her license, but the petition for it is there. I'll have to call the DHHS on Monday to see if I should go ahead and find a new place to get my hours.
It's all a little frustrating, and rather daunting. I finally decided to do it, and then found a place to get my hours in (after calling many places). I just hope I can do it. I just may have to branch out a little as far as distance, because I was trying a little closer to home.

You know what? I know I can get it done. It may just take some time, that's all.

Running as a team

DH has said that he's willing to do races with me :)
There's one I want to do next month, but I'll REALLY have to step it up because it's a 7-mile one. But holy crap, it's on the base's runway and there's no way I would miss THAT for the world!
...
There's also the Doomsday 5k. Which just made me laugh when I discovered that. Although doing that in the Midwest... In *December*?? I dunno about that!

In the meantime, less than two weeks until the 5k for Fertility :) We may just walk it together, but I'm excited for it!

It certainly has been a while

There really isn't much exciting going on with me.

Let's see:
I survived my first semester in grad school.

I started my second semester in grad school (no duh! Haha).

One of my teachers grades ridiculously. How I can have 3 A's and one C despite studying my butt off is pretty ridiculous. And I'm not the only one in the class who feels that way. I think I may start making voice recordings of me going over my notes and then listening to them in my sleep.

Yes, I'm serious about that last bit.

The whole job thing has been on and off. I've started on my hours to get my provisional license for alcohol and drug counseling. It's been nerve-wracking and very intimidating...

And speaking of alcohol, I think I've discovered an allergy to vodka. Fortunately I'm a very VERY mild and infrequent drinker, so it's not like I'm actually coming into contact with it very often. Which is also unfortunate because if I don't encounter it very often then how can I be sure?? It's not like I have any allergies that I'm aware of, so I don't really know the signs. Of an allergy - or if what I'm feeling is normal for those new to drinking. But from what I can tell, it is unusual.

And I'm contemplating adding a thesis to my program at school for a Master of Arts.
That said, I'll still be out in May 2013 :)

Also, DH and I have been talking about buying a house next year. We'll see how that goes.

OH! And something else!
Well, for starters, I'm NOT pregnant!! ::happy dance::
I'm trying to get into running/working out more often. DH and I are going to look into doing the 5k for Fertility at the end of the month. He's looking forward to being able to walk it, but I definitely want to try running at least part of it. I'm excited at the prospect of actually being able to complete a 5k :)

That's all for now, I believe. :)

I have decided...

I want to go ahead and do the wedding planner course.

I've looked at a few websites, and the one I'll likely end up going with (due to price, as well as other things) is:
https://www.aa-wp.com/wedding-planning-course/order-wedding-planning-course/info/
The American Academy of Wedding Professionals.
$79/month for 6 months.
Sure beats the $137.50/month for 12 months that The Wedding Planning Institute was going to charge WITH books ($124.50/month for 12 months withOUT the books).

We'll see how it goes. I've thought about this for a while, and the idea of actually doing it is pretty cool.

I'm going to think it over a bit more. I mean, rent's been taken care of and all, but gotta make sure we're good on next month's rent as well (nothing like planning ahead!), and then there's the coming holiday season.

I do feel like everything will eventually work out fine. I just hope that my feeling isn't wrong, and that "eventually" isn't too far away over the horizon.

I think I can do this :)

And even better, being a wedding (or even an event) planner doesn't have to be a full-time job. It can be, but it doesn't have to be.
I'm thinking I like the idea of day-of coordination as well as assisting with details more than straight-up planning someone's wedding head-to-toe. But I think that either way I do it I'd be able to make it work :)

I have big dreams. Of lots of things. I just hope my dreams don't get too far ahead of me.

I admit to being a little confused

Who out there has a dream or a goal, something they wish they could do? Even if it's not something like "This is the job I want to do for the rest of my life," but still a dream of "I'd like to at least be able to say I've done this."

Is it weird that I'm feeling the need/desire to get all of these things done?
Like get my CNA, get ordained, become a certified life coach, renew my CPR cert... become a certified wedding planner...

I mean, to an extent I find all of these things useful - although the wedding planning bit might be excessive, but the idea stands that I might be able to use psychology as a wedding planner. Heck, they like us in sales, right??
And no time like the present to start doing things I've thought about doing, right? (within reason, of course. $500 CNA course? nooooo. gotta pick a time to do something I can *afford*)
And hey, who wouldn't want a Social Services or Activities Director in Assisted Living who can train to do a funeral? (... lol? ...)

But I feel like I'm bouncing all over the place. I don't want to use it all as "filler," just stuff to keep myself occupied... But I *do* think that some of these things will open doors for me.
The life coach bit, I'm not sure what that will really do for me, but it was recommended by a professor...
Also, I'm concerned that on a resume it'll look like I'm just "there."

I guess I'm worried that counseling may not be my "thing," although I know that this is actually quite silly, especially because I've been comparing myself (in my first semester) to people who are ready to graduate or have at least been in the program a couple years. And it'd be nice to have credentials to fall back on.
Or, at the very least, I'll be able to look at myself and go "I did something I wanted to do."

(Anyone ever read Bookends by Jane Green? Main character Cath quits her job to do what she's dreamed of doing and open a bookstore, and at her farewell party her former boss says s/he's jealous because Cath is taking the risk to do what she's dreamed of doing and the boss isn't)

I must say that I'm feeling perfectly inadequate right now.
I have a job that's willing to work around the hours I'm unavailable. Heck, just the fact that I have a job.
Not only that, but the people I work with/for are wonderful. They're really sweet, and I love popping by the office to see them. If possible, I would like to continue working there.

But the fact remains that I need a steadier full-time job. And nobody wants me. Or I look "good," but "good" is not the same thing as "good enough."

I really don't know what I'm trying to say.

I remember when the hubs and I got engaged, and I started planning our wedding... And planning with different budgets, working the breakdown of budgets, areas to skimp on, areas to not skimp on, looking at dresses, planning things, finding invitations... I really felt that at some point I wouldn't mind helping other people plan out their weddings. Even if it was just a friend (and who knows, maybe one friend's wedding can turn into a friend's friend's FRIEND'S wedding).

I guess I just have all these ideas or dreams or whatever, but no clue how to get to them and make them work.

Oh, and the CPR thing is just useful. Like if I get back into babysitting to make extra cash, lots of people want a babysitter who knows CPR. And even though my CPR cert recommends I renew it in July, I know well enough that a CPR cert really is only a year-long thing for constant training and brushing-up. The place I got it recommended redoing it at least every two years.

Heck, I still haven't forgotten about my idea of brushing up on my photography skills enough to take pictures for people - even amateur wedding/engagement/family ones, as long as they're nice. As well as maybe becoming a bartender.

I look at all these things... Bartending, photography, wedding planning, being a CNA... and I see how much more money I could make, how much MORE I could contribute to the life my husband and I live, without always being concerned about if I can make enough to get rent paid and pay for gasoline and groceries and bills and, well, LIFE... How I would be able to do things like work more reasonable hours (yes, I know brides are not always reasonable!) and actually have free time around the same time as my husband, as opposed to only being free whenever he's at work or has homework to do.

I'm frustrated.
And I'm thinking.

Oh, I also got ordained last night by Universal Life Church Monastery (ULC) as well as American Marriage Ministries (AMM). Although I ordered the certificate from ULC. It's cheaper, and I don't need to register in the state of Nebraska. LOL.
So at least there's one thing off my list that I don't have to complain that I never did.

That is all. For now :)

It seems my hard-earned degree isn't worth crap

I graduated with my BS in Psychology in May. Even before I graduated I was looking for jobs relating to my degree (or at least something I'd be vaguely interested in or can at least do and not want to choke myself).

I work in non-medical in-home senior care. My hours aren't guaranteed, but mire often than not I'm getting a bunch of hours - but my hours are really whenever and wherever.

I love my job, but I'm going nuts. I had a smoking client for 7 days of the last 13. A couple of those days when my shift ended I felt like I was going to be sick (I'm a non-smoker).
I want to tell the office I won't work with smoking clients, but the husband and I aren't financially in a position where I can pick and choose, since we both work and go to school, but I'm the only one who can really get full-time in around my classes and our health insurance takes $250 out of his paycheck every two weeks and the extra money he makes goes to paying off his car and groceries.

I KNOW what I want to do, but without my MS (in two years) I can't do it.

For months I've been looking for a job, but what they don't tell you in school is that unless you're good in sales then nobody wants someone with an undergrad psychology degree. They want social work.
I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say social work degrees can do more than psychology degrees. Even my sister says it (and sounds extremely pissed off when discussing it, and she's very level-headed).

So now I'm faced with finding a place to get my PLADC (provisional licensed alcohol and drug counselor) and potentially losing work hours, or find a way to beef up my credentials by taking classes (can't afford to just drop $500 on CNA classes, not at this moment, and keep in mind I'm already a full-time grad student), or find a second job - but most places I've looked want someone who can also do weekends, and I actually have a steady weekend client.

I find myself bouncing around. I had one teacher tell me a PLADC was basically worthless. He also told my class we should get life coach certified, to add to our resume, but that it's kind of silly (cynical much?).

I'm finding so many things I CAN do until I get my MS (in counseling), and that doing them might be beneficial in the long run but absurdly selfish in the immediate future. $500 for a CNA course? Rent's covered, but we like to make sure at least the next month's is good too.
Life coach, CNA, PLADC, hell I've even looked at wedding planning and getting ordained. Because maybe it would be SOMETHING that works.

I'm the main breadwinner in our household, the money isn't terrible, but I'm the one whose credentials don't mean anything to prospective employers, the one who barely makes above minimum wage, and I keep finding myself faced with "what ifs." Like "what if I can't afford car insurance when my car is signed over to me next month?" because then I CAN'T work (job requires proof of insurance, since I transport clients) AND it's kind of illegal.

I'm done with my vent now.

Even a minor impact is still an impact

I know it's been a while. Not too much has really been going on to talk about.

Even so, there are still small things that happen that manage to make an impact on life.
And one in particular is a literal impact.

On my way to my client Sunday morning I was sitting at a stoplight. And all I could do was watch as this moron behind me slowly bumped into me.
I can't even begin to express just how pissed off I was at this turn of events, and how freaked out.
I got out of the car, and the guy in the SUV asked if I was ok. I told him I was going to be late for work. Then as I started calling work and leaving them a message saying I would be late and why, do you know what he does?

He drives off.

Yeah, I called the cops and filed a report on a hit and run. He may have been going slowly, but there was definitely at least a little damage to the back bumper of my car.

And now, 5.5 days after... I'm still jumpy, watching people even more carefully than I did before.
I know it's only normal after a car accident to be wary of other people on the road, even more wary than usual. And I know it hasn't even been a week since then. I know you have to give things time.

But every time I'm on the road I keep thinking about what if someone hits me. I mean, this guy wasn't going more than about ten miles per hour while I was stopped. What if this happens when I'm going sixty or something? I don't think that my car OR I would get off that easily.

I have to wonder how much longer I'll be quite this jumpy.
I mean, it's not BAD or anything, but I'm definitely more jittery than usual.

I guess it'll just take some time... And no more accidents.

ETA: I just got off the phone with the police. They just called to let me know they had information on the person who hit me. Looks like we're finally making progress :)