I'm watching "Look Who's Talking" right now. Totally love this movie. Sorry I haven't been around lately. Sooo busy. I'm working like 50 hours every week if not more with salary pay, so no extra for me. Very stressful.

Tonya is sick today. Another sinus infection. One of the bad things about working at a health clinic is all the gerrrrms. You can try your damndest to wash wash wash your hands until they are so dry, and then that one little germy breaks through. My head is killing me.

We're going on a big cruise in 2 weeks! We're going on the Royal Carribean for 7 days. Stopping at Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Haiti, and Cozumel Mexico. Then we're staying an extra day in Orlando, FL and probably going to Universal Studios to Harry Potter land! So excited. We really need to get away. I'm going to go crazy leaving my pupples, but we really need this. Last time we left to go to the beach, I think I cried for the first 30 minutes leaving my baby. Wish we could take him with us.

Well that's all for now. Maybe be back again soon, but every time I say that, I disappear again FOREVERRRR.

Already started on goals. We canned some fresh green beans that we grew in our garden boxes (fat boy runners lol), and all 5 quarts were successful! It's exciting to grow and can something yourself and know that you have made food to feed your family. I've also read the first book of the 50. It's called Game of Thrones, and it's actually a whole series written by George R.R. Martin (also a new show on HBO that is awesome). The book is fantastic! It's a little longer that what I have been used to lately, but it definitely keeps your attention. The show actually comes right from the book, so it was interesting to read the book after watching the show to get some more insight into the characters. I've just started on the second book A Clash of Kings. Russell is on the third book. I think there are 5 books total so far, and he is still writing. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes to read. I have to warn you though, he is not afraid of killing off main characters which is a change from usual books. It's quite a shocker.

I've bought some more make-up (shocker), and I'm using a lash extending potion which I will do a review on after another week or two when I start seeing more results. I've been using it for a couple weeks now, and I think I'm starting to see a little bit of a change, although it says you will notice more of a change (40%) in 4 weeks. And I have stumbled upon a new AWESOME mascara that I bought a sample of at Sephora called Benefit BADgal lash mascara. It makes your eyelashes REALLY long looking, and it also separates them quite nicely and does not look clumpy. Kind of expensive, but apparently you get that if you want quality lol.

Almost forgot. We're headed out today, so I talked Rusty into taking me to the mall so I can go to the new Sephora in JC Penny's!! I'm really excited, and there are so many urban decay things I want to buy along with a few other things. I hope they have the things that I want...and that I don't go broke in there. If I get some extra time, I'll take some pictures of my treasures and post!

New 101 things to do in 1001 days

So here are the new goals! Hopefully, I can complete all 101 this time!! I'm excited to get started!! :)

1. Be approved for prescriptive authority

2. Get DEA license

3. Decorate my desk and office space at work

4. Get pregnant ;)

5. Get a tattoo

6. Plant a vegetable garden each summer

7. Swim in the ocean

8. Clean and package my wedding dress

9. Lose 10 lbs.

10. Lose another 10 lbs.

11. Take baked goodies to work for no reason

12. Make a blanket leaving the details up to me

13. Up-date blog at least once per month

14. Finish reading Game of Thrones series

15. Try two new Crockpot recipes

16. Make five new recipes

17. Learn to bake a pie or cobbler

18. Take new car through car wash three times

19. Go to an amusement park

20. Buy Christmas presents for a less fortunate kid

21. Clean out and organize the garage

22. Decorate our home for each Christmas during the 1001 days

23. Organize and file important documents again

24. Pack lunch for work every day for two weeks

25. Go to a drive-in movie

26. Get a massage

27. Take Russell on his first skiing trip

28. Get a manicure

29. Get a pedicure (even though I’m still a freak about people touching my toes)

30. Go to Comicon

31. Donate to goodwill

32. Create and notarize a medical power of attorney/living will for Russell and me

33. Write a regular will

34. Make Russell breakfast in bed

35. Pay off my student loans

36. Buy a handgun and safe

37. Learn how to shoot said handgun

38. Go fishing

39. Pack quilts not being used in space-saver bags

40. Organize all four closets

41. Clean out pantry thoroughly

42. Send my hair that’s been sitting in my cabinet forever to locks of love

43. Complete a 5k marathon

44. Rent a boat

45. Thoroughly clean the grill

46. Whiten teeth

47. Go to a concert

48. Buy a shelf and organize dvds

49. Buy a new king size bed

50. Take Dexter to the beach!

51. Buy new good pots and pans

52. Stain porch/deck

53. Stain picnic table

54. Hammer down nails in porch

55. Re-play all resident evil games

56. Clean out fire place

57. Get Lasik surgery

58. Establish care with a medical provider

59. Ride in a plane

60. Get a chemical peel or microderm abrasion

61. Get Dexter’s teeth cleaned

62. Get laser hair removal

63. Buy a new pair of glasses that I actually want to wear

64. Go on a cruise

65. Do something special with nieces/nephews (no parents allowed)

66. Read 50 books

67. Can something (meat or from our garden)

68. Send flowers to someone

69. Teach Dexter a new trick

70. Find a new hairstylist closer to home

71. Donate blood again

72. Take Russell on a surprise date

73. Take a picture every day for 30 days and document

74. Complete a coloring book

75. Go to Las Vegas

76. Identify 101 things that make me happy

77. Learn to knit

78. Go to Fright Farm

79. Buy a new car for Russell

80. Go camping twice

81. Attend high school reunion

82. Use treadmill x20

83. Protect and catalog loose photos

84. Finish a scrapbook

85. Give graduation photo to mom and grandma

86. Start my pig farm

87. Start a retirement plan

88. Answer the “50 questions that will free your mind”

89. Donate to a good cause that benefits animals

90. Take an online academic course (possibly anatomy or wound care)

91. Start a savings account

92. Go to church with mom for a special occasion

93. Dress up for Halloween (even if I have nowhere to go)

94. Lay out in the yard to get a suntan

95. Buy the puppies life jackets

96. Thoroughly clean and redesign the aquarium

97. Buy a new goldfish so Chi-Chi has a friend

98. Wash dishes every day for two weeks

99. Build a snowman

100. Fold and put away all laundry

101. Host family dinner party

Old 101 Things to Do in 1001 Days Project

Start date: November 3, 2008

End date: August 1, 2011

1. Wash dishes every day for 2 weeks. (0/14)
2. Wash or change the sheets every week (unless we are gone). (1/143)
3. Take my car through a car wash twice. (2/2)
4. Organize the shed and get rid of the stuff we don’t need. Completed 2/13/09.
   
5. Decorate our home inside and outside for every Christmas during the 1001 days. (3/3) 12/08, 12/09, 12/10
   
6. Fix and install light/fan in bedroom. moved in 11/09 and have one in new house
   
7. Organize and file important documents. Completed 10/2010
   
8. Re-gravel the walkway. Completed 6/2009
   
9. Get a teeth cleaning at the dentist. Completed 8/2009, 7/2010.
   
10. Lose 10 pounds. Completed 11/2010.
    
11. Lose another 10 pounds. Completed 12/2010.
    
12. Lose another 10 pounds.
13. Do 15 minutes Wii Fit every day for 2 weeks. (0/14)
14. Buy an incline for my side of the bed and sleep on it for 7 days straight. (0/7)
15. Pack lunch for work every day for 2 weeks. (0/6)
16. Take a daily vitamin with my other drugs for 1 month. (30/30) Completed 6/2010.
    
17. Go to my first WVU home football game.
18. Read all of the Southern Vampire stories. (9/9) Complete 12/08, 5/2009, and 5/2010.
    
19. Paint something at the wow factory. Complete 2/13/09.
    
20. Go to a drive-in movie.
21. Get a massage. From Rusty counts! Completed 12/2010
    
22. Get a tattoo.
23. Get a new piercing. Complete 11/4/08
    
24. Take Russell on his first skiing trip.
25. Go on a real date with Russell once a month. (0/33)
26. Host a slumber party. Completed May 2010
    
27. Visit a zoo. Completed March 2011
28. Get my first pedicure even though I’m a freak about people touching my toes.
29. Go to Blizzcon with Rusty. Completed 8/2009 and 10/2010
    
30. Swim in the ocean. Completed 8/2009 and 10/2010.
    
31. Visit friends in Texas.
32. Take a spontaneous, overnight trip with Russell. Completed 9/2010
    
33. Visit Dave and Buster’s. Completed 8/2009.
    
34. Replace all light bulbs in trailer with the more economic ones. Moved to a new home. All economic light bulbs.
    
35. Donate to goodwill twice. (2/2) Complete 2009.
    
36. Donate 50,000 grains of rice through www.freerice.com. (600/50,000)
37. Donate blood again (since I had a bad experience last time). Completed 7/2010.
    
38. Create and notarize a medical power of attorney/living will for Russell and me.
39. Get a professional family photo taken.
40. Move to a new home (new for us!). Complete 10/2009
    
41. Go camping with Rusty and Citi at least 3 times. (1/3) June 2011
42. Get all close family and friends’ birthdays, write in calendar, and send cards. Complete 1/09.
    
43. Make Russell an appointment to go to the dermatologist for a mole check. Complete 8/2009.
    
44. Make Russell breakfast in bed. Complete 5/2009
    
45. Put together a large picture frame with pictures of Russell and me.
46. Get pregnant. ;)
47. Buy a freezer. Complete 12/08.
    
48. Buy colored contacts.
49. Start buying a Christmas village. Complete 12/18/08. (thanks Andrea!)
    
50. Pay-off trailer loan. Complete 1/09.
    
51. Buy a hammock for home use.
52. Buy a pistol and a gun safe.
53. Graduate with my MSN. Completed May 14, 2011!!!! :)
54. Raise my hand and talk on Wimba without being called on. Complete 11/5/08
    
55. Get professionally fit for a bra. Completed 2/23/09.
    
56. Clean and package my wedding dress.
57. Use the bread maker. Complete 6/2009
    
58. Make a blanket (leaving the details up to me).
59. Use the sewing machine once.
60. Get a new job. Complete 5/2009 (moved from ICU to PACU)
    
61. Shoot a can with a real gun.
62. Make 20 of The 50 Best Cookie Recipes on the Internet. (0/20)
63. Make a new recipe once a month. (2/33)
64. Get my flute out and play it again.
65. Pack quilts not being used in space-saver bags. Complete 6/2009
    
66. Fill out a cookbook with extra recipes I like. (started)
    
67. Go fishing. Completed 3/2010.
    
68. Buy real silverware. Complete 11/08.
    
69. Get a 4.0. Completed Fall 2008.
    
70. Try a pomegranate. Completed 1/12/09.
    
71. Clean my car out completely. Completed 6/2010.
    
72. Visit an amusement park. (Disneyland) Completed 8/2009.
    
73. Wash all of extra laundry that I have collected. Completed 11/2009
    
74. Steam clean all carpet thoroughly. Completed 2009.
    
75. Spend one day at work without outwardly complaining about something. Completed 6/15/2011
76. Take 50 bubble baths. (30/50)
77. Take both of our cars to the Subaru dealership for complete check-ups. Complete 12/8/08.
    
78. Get O2 sensor replaced in my car. O2 sensor is fine; cannot complete.
    
79. Send my hair that’s been sitting in my cabinet forever to locks of love.
80. Completely clean each room in the house from ceiling to floor. Completed 11/2009
    
81. Organize kitchen cabinets (get rid of things I don’t use). Completed 11/2009.
    
82. Buy one piece of country decoration (have piece in mind – don’t know what it’s called). Completed 2009.
    
83. Can something. (deer meat) Completed 1/4/2010.
    
84. Give Russell a 15 minute back massage twice. (0/2)
85. Complete the Couch-to-5K running plan.
86. Buy a pair of flannel sheets because Russell likes them. Complete 11/4/08
    
87. Go to a family reunion in Ohio. Complete 6/2009
    
88. Update my laptop that I never use and actually use it. Complete.
    
89. Take a picture every day for 30 days. (0/30)
    
90. Set off fireworks. Complete 1/1/09.
    
91. Witness my first shooting star.
92. Swim in the Sutton Lake! Completed 8/2009.
    
93. Rent a boat.
94. Buy an awesome sticker for my laptop.
95. Fake Bake 5 times. (0/5)
96. Use the grill twice. (0/2)
97. Thoroughly clean the grill.
98. Tar the roof. Completed 7/2009.
    
99. Whiten teeth.
100. Buy a gas weed eater. Complete 5/2009
     
101. Make 5 new recipes in the crock-pot. (2/5) Mac and Cheese, Cornish Game Hens.

I totally just realized that my 101 things in 1001 days is over tomorrow! There are a lot of things that I have not done, but I am okay with that because there are many many of the things that I have accomplished, and I am proud of those things!! I guess I'll have to make another list! It was actually fun getting to mark off the things that I had completed. I finished 58/101 of the things on my list, and a lot of the ones that I did not finish, I completed partially. Here's to the next 1001 days....

Purple Nurples

Thought I would give everyone who even still reads this a quick update. I would say probably no one even looks at it anyway since I never post anymore. But, I have bunches of good news, so I thought I would share. I knew 2011 was going to be my good year! It started out rocky, but as I predicted, it has improved a ton.

I finally graduated with my Masters of Science in Nursing. I actually went to graduation, although I mostly did it just for my mom. Plus it was nice to kind of finalize my journey, I guess...get a little bit of closure. I have been working my ass off for years! I have been going to college straight for about 8.5 years minus a semester waiting to start another program. That is a long freaking time! Not to mention the fact that I have worked for most of that while taking classes and doing clinical hours. And taking care of my family. It's been a rough road. But now I have the diploma to show for it!

Not long after that I had an interview at a primary care facility, and they offered me the job! I could not believe I was chosen over all the other candidates! I really didn't think I was going to be offered a job anywhere since it seemed like no one was hiring, but they did! Even when most of my fellow students weren't being offered jobs. I was so excited! And then something even better happened....I WAS OFFERED A SECOND JOB! That is amazing to me that I get offered two jobs when most are being offered none. It's quite flattering actually. Of course, the second place is in Clay and is the facility where I completed most of my clinical hours, so they called me up and offered me the job without even interviewing me. I bet you could guess which job I accepted, lol. The first placed wanted me to run their school-based health program in Gilmer county and work at the clinic on days the school was closed. It was a nice offer (and where my teacher works actually), but it just didn't feel right. At Clay, I was offered to just work in the clinic seeing primary and urgent care patients of all ages. I was even able to talk them up an extra $10K of which I am very proud of myself. So, I started there on July 1st, and I have my own desk, and I've got to see my own patients (even though I can't write prescriptions for them, yet...so another provider has to write them for me for now). People show me lots of respect as a medical provider, and it's just so awesome. It's amazing how much more revered you are moving from a Registered Nurse to a Nurse Practitioner. I really like it there, and they were all really excited for me to be starting since they already knew me and everything. I share an office with two other providers which is nice so I can have their support and ask questions when I need to. I've already seen some interesting patients, and I'm really enjoying that aspect of it, although I still have so much more to learn.

The most exciting thing I have to report, though, is that I took my board certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) on July 13th....AND I PASSED! I really though I failed, but I didn't. I'm so excited I could crap my pants! This just makes it all worth it! So now my new credentials are Tonya R. Young, MSN, FNP-BC, and I am a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner! It feels so good to be done! Especially when so many of my classmates still haven't taken it, and I can help them prepare. Now I am working on all the paperwork that goes along with getting ready to practice. I just finished sending in all the paperwork to announce my practice with the board of nursing, and then I will have to apply for prescriptive authority, and then I will have to apply for a DEA license so I can prescribe controlled substances. And throughout all this we are also having to work on a shit ton of paperwork to get me credentialed with all the insurance companies so the company can bill for me. As of right now, I can only see patients that don't have insurance for that reason. There are not many people who come in without insurance that aren't already seeing another provider unless they come in through the urgent care, so I haven't gotten to see many by myself, yet. It gets boring sitting at a desk all day with nothing to do.

And the family is good as well. Russell and I are both losing some weight and have lost a good bit so far which is good. We're trying to get healthy. Our babies (Dexter, Citi, and Gunther) are all doing well. Dexter got a hair cut this summer so he could be cooler. It took a while to get used to, but he started sleeping with us more since he wasn't as hot, so that was a plus. It's all growing back so fast though. He just turned two on July 11th, so now we have to take him to get his hip x-rays so he can be rated for hip dysplasia. His hips should be good since both his parents were.

Anywho, so life is going well for the Young's. :) I get my first huge paycheck next Friday, and they are talking about giving me a lump sum of my annual salary to start out with so that will be freaking awesome. OH, and we bought a new car which I am still in love with. My 2011 Toyota Highlander Limited! :) And we built garden boxes this year, and we are currently growing tomatoes, kohlrabi, corn, green beans, honey dew, watermelon, banana and chili peppers, cucumbers, and potatoes. The garden is actually doing really well, and I've already dug up a few new potatoes which were quite yummy. And the tomatoes will be ripening soon! I'll take some pictures sometime and post so you can see what we did.

Hopefully I won't wait as long again before I post, but you know me. I've just been really busy lately. But good busy. :)

Love,
Tonya <3

Durka Durka

Wow! I fell off the face of the planet! Things have been so crazy this semester. I think this is the busiest I have ever been! Been doing at least 24 hours of clinicals every week, plus my Capstone project, plus paper writing, plus presentations, plus other homework, plus WORK work. I'm pooped. I napped for 3 hours last night, and then went to bed. Hmph. So what has been new with me?

I recently switched companies AGAIN with my job. I really thought about just not working until I graduated and got a job, but having some extra income is nice. We have a lot of money in the bank to live off, but it was just too scary to think what if that starts dropping, and I don't have a job. No one really wants to hire someone that will only be there for a few months. Especially a nursing job when there is training involved. So I figured out many mistakes I have made regarding the job stuff. I followed the wrong person from Mountain CAP, and I paid for it big time. It finally came to the point where they told me that I was losing the company money (which is their fault, but that is another story), and they were going to no longer pay me for travel time or nonbillable time, and they were going to cut my pay rate for the only billable time that they were going to pay me for. So by the time you calculated everything out and all the work I had to do for them without getting paid, I would only be getting minimum wage-ish....as a Registered Nurse. That is so completely ridiculous that it's not even funny. You would think that cutting my pay that drastically would be illegal, but alas they can apparently do anything they want to me and get away with it. So what did I do? I went to a company that valued my work, and they thought I did a good job....and I took my clients with me. HA! I hate to say it, but it felt nice to take things from them after what they did to me. Anywho...

School has been crazy busy like I said, but this is my last semester, and I graduate on May 14th. I've been a nervous wreck that it's my last semester, and I will be on my own soon, but it's a good thing because I should be making quite a bit of money soon. And I need a new car, so this is good. I've been told by various people that they were started out at anywhere between $65-$80K per year, so I'm uber excited about this. Not to mention the fact that if I work at a rural clinic, all of my student loans will be paid for with a big fat check as soon as I'm approved, so this is fabulous. Now we will only have to worry about Russell's loans.

Faith Mountain is covered in snow this morning. I can't wait until I can go lay in the yard with lots of sunshine while my babies play. Dexter, Citi, and Gunther are all doing well. Citi's getting her teeth cleaned in about a week and a half, so I'm a little worried that she has to have anesthesia for that, but her teeth need cleaned bad, and I think she will be fine. Dexter's a growing boy. He's up to 53 pounds last time I checked. I'm so lucky to have him in my life. Gunther is still a rotten boy. Russell's doing well, and he's been such a help to me. He's always finding something to help me out like making me dinner or doing some dishes or rubbing my back or running me a hot bath. I don't know how I would keep getting through all this crap without him being so sweet. He knows it has been hard for me.

So anywho, that is a quick update of my life. Maybe I will come back again soon!

*Automagically*

We have been talking about taking a vacation with our good friends for a while now, but before we were talking about going to Vegas. After that shitty California trip, we decided we did not want to go to Vegas, yet, where all you can do to have fun is spend money. I think we're going to plan a whole family beach trip...meaning us, our puppies, them, and their puppies. We're thinking maybe the Outer Banks in NC where they have lots of dog-friendly beaches and renting a house. It seems really expensive there, so we're also going to look at some closer places to see about prices and such. If we do this, it will probably be this summer before I take my boards. This is going to be awesome because I really don't want to leave Dexter again for a vacation, but this way he comes with me! And I know that he would absolutely looove the beach! And what better way to enjoy a vacation then to go lay out and relax on the beach (for free) with the love of your life and your best friend! This beach trip is a genius idea! And what better way to get ready for my boards then to go on a relaxing vacation!

Which reminds me that I found out that I can start working as a Nurse Practitioner right away as soon as I graduate! Apparently I can see patients and everything, but someone else has to write prescriptions for me until I pass my boards. This is so great because now I can take my time and study right to take my boards instead of rushing to take them right away so I can start working. $70 grand a year plus insurance plus getting all my student loans paid for, here I come! Can May get here sooner? I already know a few places I'm going to apply. I think I will definitely go for Clay where I am doing my clinical rotation if they have an opening because it is so laid back there, they have their own pharmacy, and I already know the people that work there! It's about a 45 minute drive from home, but where am I going to go to work that doesn't have a decent drive associated with it! Umm no where!

Did a crappy job on my test this evening, but I still have two more tests this semester to bring it up. And I have a paper due next week. Ick. But my best buddy Adrienne is coming to see me this weekend! Yummy foods and fun games! I can't wait!

But until then, I have to go back to work tomorrow. I really don't want to. I hate this job. No respect as a nurse. They can suck it. I'm quitting the second I am able.

Christmas is coming soon, and we are poor. Definitely going to have to cut out most of the people we usually buy presents for this year. Hmm, how about the people who don't buy us crap? Yes, that will work. And brothers and sisters that never get us anything in return. And how about their 12 kids, too since we buy them stuff every year and never get anything from their mommies and daddies. I hate to do that, but buying 12 nieces and nephews gifts really adds up. Especially when you can only get them something crappy for around $10 a piece anyway. Who knows. I guess we will see what the bank looks like when the time comes, but we've been spending a lot of money on different things lately, and I'm not working a ton...or getting paid much.

Maybe I'll skimp on Christmas cards this year, too.

Don't judge me.

Oh, and that 10 pounds I said I lost, apparently it was only around 6. Wii fit tells me differently though. But it's still poundage, and I'm expecting lots more to fall off on it's own...automagically. Schwang. Rusty lost 6 pounds, too.

Mr. and Mrs. Awesome Sauce


Ohh...and shows that you should be watching right now. Because I am, and they are awesome. They keep me going week by week....

1. Dexter
2. Boardwalk Empire
3. Weeds
4. The Big C
5. Jerseylicious
6. LA Ink (their real shop isn't the one on the show btw...rip off)
7. The Biggest Loser
8. The Walking Dead (new zombie show on AMC based on a comic...so awesome, probably my new favorite...other than True Blood of course)
9. Scrubs reruns. As always.

This winter Big Love comes on for their last season. And US of Tara which I heart a bunch.

If you don't watch these shows, then shame on you. You should be.