Awkward has 2 W's

Everyone goes through their "awkward stage", right? Some are more painful than others, but we've all been there. Glasses, braces, bad clothes choices, bad hair, acne, whatever...all awkward. Well I was fortunate to have it all. And even more lucky to be one of the chosen teenagers whose awkward stage lasted for years! Cool. And there are too many pictures to prove it.

I would show a picture, but now I won't. Why? Because I showed MA one just a minute ago, and she still hasn't stopped laughing. In fact, she's crying. Yes, she's laughing so hard she's crying. At a picture of me from Jr. High.

Her exact comment? "Jessica! It looks like your head got stuck in a three-speed blender!"

Gotta love honest friends? I guess. HA. And gotta love never having to be in jr. high again.
After all, I don't need the braces and blender hair, I'm doing just fine figuring out ways to be awkward enough without them.

Yah, Never Mind.

Everything in the last post is no longer true. Laura is not going to be our senator. Thanks UTMB. Seriously, you suck. In so many ways, you suck.

And I have yet another thing to add to my "WHY I HATE UTMB" list.

April 24=no more UTMB.

The Results are IN! And the WINNER is.....

LAURA WARREN!

Confused? That's understandable. While most of us have been engrossed in the presidential election over the past couple of months, it seems we have all but forgotten about an equally important election. What election could that be you ask? Why that would be the SGA elections for good ol' UTMB. More importantly the neck-to-neck race for the coveted position of Senator of the School of Nursing.

This is how it all went down. Just a couple days ago Mary Alice and I were sitting around "studying." When the all-important e-mail, the life changing e-mail finds its way into our school inbox. The title read something like this..."Just a reminder that TODAY is the deadline to vote for the UTMB SGA Elections." First of all, who knew UTMB even had a student government? I mean, I guess I assumed they did, but who knows, that could have gotten washed away with IKE along with the rest of the school. At this point, it wouldn't surprise me! Anyways, I digress.

Okay, so UTMB student government elections. Being the civic minded people that we are (or the perfecters of the art of procrastination?) we of course had to vote. But when we clicked on the link, much to our dismay, there wasn't a single person running for Senator of the School of Nursing. That's when we got our bright idea! We would nominate Laura. Why not? She wasn't there to stop us. It would be funny. After all, it could never actually happen. Right? And if she did win, she would actually be great at it. (*If you know Laura, you understand. If you don't know Laura, your loss.*)

So we nominated our "write-in candidate"...Laura Warren...and laughed as we did it. We figured we'd get Brittany in on the deal, just for good measure...and so began our role as CAMPAIGN MANAGERS. (Who knew it'd be so easy to be a campaign manager? All we did was send one little text message. And people think it's hard? Psssh.)

After we stopped laughing, we called our candidate to inform her that she in fact was running for student government. "LAAAAUUURRRRAAAA, we nominated you for student senator for the SON!" And in Laura fashion, she responded with a giggle, excited as ever. To be honest, we expected nothing less. That's Laura!

And then it came. Yesterday, Outlook Express had the information that made our dreams come true. And now I'd like to introduce you to UTMB's newest SON Senator...Miss Laura Warren!

And her two awesome campaign managers!

Scary, isn't it? And now, with our powers combined, we might have some say in this school! Or at least have the inside scoop before everyone else, lol.

But obviously, we are very serious nursing students. Very serious.

No, we're not really sure what the senator of the SON is really supposed to do. Not at all actually. But whatever, that's trivial details...LAURA WON! And we're excited! :)

So, this is proof that YOUR VOTE COUNTS! So in light of this inspirational tale, GO VOTE!

(I did, via mail, and I am beyond excited for tonight! In fact, we made red, white, and blue election cookies for the occassion. haha)

Light at the End of the Tunnel

Ever have days where you just feel yuck...like a "BLAH" day? The type of day when you don't want to do any of the things you have to do, and everything you want to do you can't do? Or you'd just as soon do nothing all day? Welcome to today. And it's not even 9am. Attitude adjustment needed? Check. I'll get right on that. ;)

[Disclaimer: It's Halloween...and it's Baylor Homecoming weekend. And I guess I might be just a little disappointed. I wish I could go and play with everyone this weekend. But, there's always next year! :) ]

THE GOOD NEWS IS...I'm a little over 1/2 way through with this program. HALLELUJAH! To be honest, I don't mind it here...and there are days when I love it! I'm just ready for this school craziness to be over. But right about the time I started feeling overwhelmed, I got this e-mail from my dad, and it made me smile :) ...

Best I can tell this is (roughly) the half way point of your program. CONGRATULATIONS. Mom & I are very proud of you. In six more months you can set aside the books and you get to pick your schedule. As challanging as the first six months have been, they sure seem to have passed qucikly (maybe not for you). I hope the next six pass without quite as much drama. I love you and miss you - Your Dad

There's light at the end of the tunnel. :)

Until then, off to study, and working in Houston this weekend.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN and SIC 'EM BEARS!

Falling into Fall

Yesterday we carved pumpkins, made Halloween cookies, and decorated cupcakes. Yesterday we did nothing school-related. Yesterday was great.

Today has been all school.

Friday = Laura, MA, and I are entering the UTMB pumpkin carving contest. Ridiculous? I know.

I love my "Refugee Fam."

Laura and Mary Alice and their cupcake creations.

THE carpool...carving pumpkins at the boathouse.

Me and Brittany...while they were waiting for me to be done.
(I was the last one to finish my pumpkin. Shocking, I know.) 

Look at those pumpkins!

And YES, we are in fact considering becoming professional pumpkin carvers. (Sure beats nursing school!)

This is what we do.

I laugh. A lot.

Quick Update

I've been told an update is needed...but life is moving ridiculously fast right now, so here's a quick update.

Last weekend was awesome. I got to see my family, and Baylie (who is now living with my parents in Waco until I graduate...and I really miss her). It was a much-needed break.

This week has been discouraging, to say the least. Tuesday might have been one of the roughest days thus far.

Today has been good. I got a bed. A twin bed. From a super shady place, because it is one of two places with mattresses on the island at this time. The people just delivered it. It is pretty much in the middle of my friend's living room/study. That's where I'll sleep. We laugh, it's funny.

I'm about to go eat lunch. Then go to "FREE POP DAY"...where they are giving us "FREE POP"...pop-tarts, soda pop, popcorn, corn pops, popsicles. YUM and yay for FREE. Then it's study time, again.

I promise I'll give a better update soon.

Picture This

the path leading to my front door

yes, we are that serious about mold clean-up.

apparently i missed the section in our nursing classes that said covering up wounds with duck tape was a good idea.

bedside table

example of how moldy things were...even when they never got wet by the flood water

my guest bed...you're welcome to come stay with me ;) haha

my "Fundamentals of Nursing" book...I'm sure somewhere in there it says something about how contact with mold and mold spores is dangerous for your health!

just the beginnings of the ever-expanding trash pile

my dad disinfecting my bear...yes, i'm 23 years old, and i still have the bear from when i was a baby. and yes, i brought him to college with me...even my second time around

the guitar

attempting to dry out some of the clothes

my parents after a long hot day of moldy fun...and their beverly hill billies truck. and thank you dolphin world for my amazing bright blue sunglasses.

thank you, FEMA.

my char-car

Murdoch's...a souvenier shop that used to be an L-shaped building out over the water

where the Balinese Room once was

Aunt Margie's...this was where we bought our bait for our fishing days.

the look of success...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Out with the old, now onto new things.