Blogger Slacker

I have been a slacker blogger as of late, so I thought I should get myself together and write a blog entry.

School has been trucking along and I still cannot wait for this semester to be over! I love love love my Monday class, which is my Drug and Alcohol class, but my Wednesday class (Educational Research) is less then interesting and the teacher... blah! 

I am still on track to be graduating in May, but I am still fearful of the entire Comps exam thing. I hope it will go over and be done quickly and as painless as possible.

On the home front we have begun the difficult and daunting task of figuring out where we would like to move to for our next duty stations. At times we have differing opinions and others we have at least our top three in sync (though I may be giving more then I would like). I am hoping that we will be closer to family and friends especially since we will be starting our own family soon. 

We are looking forward to having some residents over to our house for Thanksgiving, going home for Christmas, and then having family come to visit the remainder of the year before we move. In the time in between we need to paint our entire house and see if there is anything we want to rid ourselves of anything before the move. 

Well, until I write again. Tootles!! (I will try really hard to not make it so infrequent!)

I am so NOT doing a Thesis

Well, after much debate, discussion, tears, and nights of tossing and turning, but I have come to the decision to not write a thesis. Now, before anyone jumps down my throat, please know that I am still planning on finishing my degree and graduating in May. There is another exit option for the Masters program and that is a Comprehensive Exam (usually called Comps.). This is comprised of a 6 hour written test and then a two hour oral test. The reasons I decided to change my path include:

• I will more then likely not be able to write a thesis in our time left in WA
• I was extremely stressed about my thesis already
• A thesis is more time consuming which is somewhat difficult when trying to prepare our house to be sold so we can move

It certainly took a lot to get to this decision, but I feel it is the best for me and my sanity. I still need to tell my adviser about my decision, but that should not be an issue. 

As for current classes. I began my MED 601 (Educational Research) class on Wednesday and although it seems as though it will be a lot of work, I really feel like the teacher will take the time to teach us what she wants and all we need to do is listen and work. My other class, MED 545 (Drug & Alcohol Prevention and Counseling) will begin September 12th as that is our first Monday that we have class in session. I am looking forward to begin that class and hope that it will be an interesting one. 

In other news, Brian and I are hoping to head toward Illinois for Brian's brother's wedding the first weekend in October and are looking forward to seeing lots of family. Unfortunately dear Delilah will have to be boarded, but to our delight she loves going to the pet brigade! :)

A-A-A

Well, summer classes are over, grades are in, and amazingly I was able to get straight A's this semester!! I am really proud of myself this term, because it was really tough continuing school into the summer and staying motivated to do all of the work. I now have a little over three weeks to rest and relax, which if my meeting with my adviser is any indicator, it will not be restful. 

Yesterday I had a how are you doing meeting with my adviser and we discussed what is coming up with me the rest of my time at St. Martin's. This upcoming semester I have a drug & alcohol class as well as a research class, then the following semester will be all thesis all the time. So, it was suggested to take these three weeks to research, get my team together, and look for resources. Well, that changes my summer plans to... taking this week to rest and reap my rewards. Then the next two weeks doing research and connecting resources at Fort Lewis and through St. Martin's. The last and third week I will be home and the only homework I will be doing will be getting a head start on my reading for the upcoming semester. It makes the summer a little more stressful, but I am still going to take some time to enjoy so I don't get burnt out. 

Now, back to movies, girly time (since hubby is at work), and snacks for dinner!! 

Let Summer Begin!

School is Almost Out for SUMMER!

Well, tomorrow is my last day of class for the summer and I am beyond excited. I have three and a half weeks of summer vacation to relax, enjoy, and not think about homework (though I will be trying to read ahead for my classes in the fall). This summer semester has certainly been tough, but all in all I made it and I am a stronger person because of it. 

In my Army life I am a busy bee doing all sorts of things and going to all sorts of meetings for the FRG. Coming up for us is Organizational Day (O-Day) which will be the 12th and is a huge carnival type activity outside of the hospital. I am super excited about helping with it and meeting all sorts of new people. 

Also exciting news in three weeks from today I get to go home and visit my family for about 5 days! I am really excited to see everyone and to spend some time with my parents! Other then that there is no news, which I suppose is good news.

Class Cancelled

Lucky me! My class got cancelled today and I was able to meet Brian for his oral surgery consultation. So, unfortunately I showed up for the appointment only to have a nurse tell me I am not allowed to sit in on the consultation due to some messed up policy they have. That was aggravating!! Oh well, all in all I sat in a waiting room and then got to spend some time with Brian at Madigan and grab a quick bite to eat. Tomorrow is Brian's oral surgery, but it isn't all it was supposed to be, just the removal of a cracked tooth. So, hopefully Brian will not be in too much pain for his birthday.

1.5 classes this part of Summer

Well, I am now in 1.5 classes. (The .5 because it will be ending in about a week.) School has been going okay, and I really think my class in the beginning of the summer went well and I cannot be more thrilled that it is over. The class I am in now provides many opportunities to get ahead, though it has a dreaded midterm test as well as a final exam (EWW!!) I am only attending class on Wednesday nights now and I am at the main campus which is nice and close to the house. 

On the home front, Brian is working ICU this month and thus works long shifts. We have been making new friends with the new interns coming into town, which is really nice. I am becoming more and more involved in military life and the FRG (Family Readiness Group). All in all things are coming together, it is a beautiful summer, and we still miss our family so much. 

Brian and I celebrated our one year anniversary about a week ago and enjoyed some time off together which was an amazing change of pace. Well, off to write a paper... always fun!

Summer 1/2 way done... school loans on the horizon

Well, I will soon be done with my first half of summer classes. Wednesday is my last class and I couldn't be happier! I am so excited to get moving with this whole summer classes and get closer to being done and being ready to have my three weeks off in August. I am planning on coming home in that time, but we will have to see how that works. 

The damper on all this would be my financial aid package came in the mail yesterday and again we have to decide on loans. Taking out loans makes me so sick to my stomach, it just makes me so uncomfortable. It will talk some talking, but I know Brian and I will figure it out eventually. I just cannot wait to be done in less then a year from now. 327 Days to be exact...

Yuck, well... I am going to try to get ahead in my other classes! Later Gaters!