Now We Get To Play the Waiting Game

For the most part all of the PA schools that I applied too this past year have let me know whether I am accepted or not. I have interviewed at 5 schools and I thought I would give you all a little bit about each one and the town we would live in. Basically I wanted to give you an update on the whole process. I will list them in order of my choice of attending.
1. Marietta College - This was my last interview and it turned out to be the best. They have a great program and I loved the town. It reminds me of a little old restored town. They have a river that runs through the town and a awesome authentic downtown. Living is extremely cheap and when I went there it just felt right. Krista it is three hours away from Cedar Point which also is a plus. I find out TODAY if I get accepted. I really can't wait and the anticipation is out of this world.
2. Western Michigan University- Western is located in Kalamazoo Michigan. Just saying you lived in a town with that cool of a name is worth attending. It is one of the 12 original PA programs in the country and has alumni all over the country which is a great positive. I liked the atmosphere and organization of the program. Find out in February.
3. Central Michigan University - I already found out from them. I was placed on the alternate list (somebody that got accepted has to give up their seat). Great small town and I loved the interview a lot. Would be very fun and great to attend there.
4. Barry University Florida - My wife would really like the weather here that is positive. When I went for my interview it was 70 degrees and multiple students from Florida were saying how cold it is lately. I had to laugh at that. The program is decent and would provide me with a great education. Also Golf is year round and has some of the best in the world. Also great parks everywhere from Disney World, Universal, Knotts. You name it Florida has it. Find out in February.
5. Western University of Health Sciences - Don't get me wrong. If Western was the only school I got in I wouldn't hesitate at all from attending. It is in California and they do have a good program. Just wasn't as impressed as the four others. Hopefully I don't have to go here but I don't want to be too picky. Find out in March.
All in all this process has been extremely tiring and exciting. I think when we get accepted somewhere it will be the happiest days of both our lives. I will be sure to let you know the updated news when I do get accepted somewhere, hopefully.

AIRPORT MADNESS

Well I will later give my thoughts on the interviews I have this weekend, but right now you must know what I had to go through to have my butt arrive in Tampa, Florida. It all started when the announcer at gate A4 in SLC said that there were severe winds in Phoenix and there was a possibility of flight cancellations. Cancellation of a flight for an important PA school interview = NOT GOOD. There was nothing I could do at this time but get on the winged jet and head south to Arizona hoping and praying for the best. I had a 45 min layer over from the arriving Phoenix flight until the departure to Tampa so if all went well, I would be fine. First, most of the plane ride was rather bumpy. With about 20 minutes to go, air traffic control held us in the air because of winds of 50 MPH. Another not good sign for those still reading, cause who wants to land a massive jet in 50 MPH winds? To me that doesn't seem so safe so I was fine with holding out, assuming that all flights leaving Phoenix would also be delayed. After the pilot joked with us across the intercom, it was finally decided to land in Phoenix. The winds were down to 35 now and it was possible, but not ideal. The descent was like a roller coaster, which for a coaster lover like me with the true gospel of Christ and Plan of Salvation knowledge, I was rather calm. Needless to say I can’t say that for everyone aboard the aircraft. Palms were sweaty and the guy across the row from me was “hating life”. In all seriousness, it was little crazy looking out the window and seeing the wings move up and down as the plane tried to touch down on the runway. After we landed, the stewardess let out a “WHOOHHH”. Then the pilot came on saying that was better than a ride at Disneyland. I knew I probably had to hurry but that was the small of it. I walked out and after checking the screens, my flight was on time it said. We arrived in Phoenix at 4:20 and my flight was leaving at 4:10. I am freaking out cause remember, really important interview in Tampa tomorrow at 9AM. I started walking missionary pace to the door to see if by some chance it was still there. My gate was A30 and we exited A14 so I felt I was close. When you are thinking you just missed a flight your mind doesn’t work the way God intended it to. I saw the first sign directed to A30 so I followed but the ports lowered: A10, A7, A4. Thinking this was wrong I turned around and headed back to where I came from. Then the public announcement came across saying, “Flight 536 to Tampa is in final boarding, report ASAP to Gate A30 to Tampa”. This put me in panic mode. I had no idea where this stupid gate was. I switched directions probably 4 times before I realized gates A15-A30 are at a different part of the airport. A30 wasn’t close at all. I had an entirely full backpack and a carry-on suitcase. I didn’t and couldn't care so I started sprinting in the gate's direction weaving in and out of people (the airport was packed). I felt like a member of the Callister family during Christmas (HOME ALONE). The walking escalators helped as I was moving like a cheetah. In the midst of this craziness, it felt like my backpack was open. I turned around to find my backpack is wide open. I was probably 2 seconds from all the stuff dumping out including a new laptop computer. I would say tender mercy from God that I felt it. I sat my backpack down to zip it up just as the walking escalator ended. Of course, the waist straps on backpack got entirely stuck. I tried to get the thing out but had to use my Hercules strength to pull my backpack loose and break the straps free. They were really more of an accessory to the backpack than a necessity. By this time, my sprinting body was needing more oxygen than I could get to it. I can thank the fat cells for that. Sprinting down the last corridor I finally saw A30. The door was still open! Breathing like a 90 year old with asthma, I arrived at the gate and walked through a full plane to my seat. It was the craziest experience that I have had in quite some time and wish it upon no one. Anyway, the reason this entry is a book is 'cause wrote it on a flight going three quarters of the way across the country on a plane with no TV or movies. What else is a guy supposed to do? Ok, now off to the interviews...

Capstone. Finally!

The end is near. Very near. Wahoo! In just over three months I will have my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Words cannot explain how excited I am. Seriously, I've been waiting for April 23, 2010 to come for 5 years now. I love BYU and all, but man, being done will be the BEST!

I'm doing my Capstone (aka final semester) at Orem Community Hospital's Women's Center. This is wonderful for 4 reasons:

1. I've only heard great things about this hospital
2. It's a two minute drive from my house. Yay!
3. I don't have to wear my lame BYU uniform anymore. I can wear whatever scrubs I want. Trust me, this is an exciting thing for us students.
4. The unit includes Labor and Delivery, Postpartum, the nursery, and NICU (a very small NICU, but still...) all in one area so I get to be a part of it ALL!

I met my nurse preceptor today. She'll be with me for the 17 shifts I have to do throughout the semester. When we met she told me the last 5 students she's had in their Capstone were pregnant by the end of the semester. Hmmm...I'm planning on breaking that chain. Hopefully it's not some kind of funny curse.

Cutest Country Song

If you've read the previous post, you know Jeff's been gone since Wednesday night. Well I can only think of one good thing about not having Jeff around for a few days: I get to listen to country radio in the car. I used to be quite the country fan, but I must say being around Jeff has lessened the love. So I was driving home from work tonight and heard the absolute cutest country song on earth. Just listening to it made me love Jeff more :) I wouldn't be surprised if a bunch of you have heard this song already, but it was a wonderful first for me. It's called "Love Like Crazy" by Lee Brice. If I were a little bit more computer smart, I would somehow put the song in this post. But since it's past midnight and I don't have Jeff to help me, I'll just post the lyrics to the first verse and the chorus:

"They called them crazy when they started out
Said seventeen's too young to know what loves about
They've been together fifty-eight years now
That’s crazy"

"He brought home sixty-seven bucks a week
He bought a little 2 bedroom house on Maple Street
Where she blessed him with six more mouths to feed
Yea that’s crazy"

"Just ask him how he did it; he'll say pull up a seat
It'll only take a minute, to tell you everything
Be a best friend, tell the truth, and overuse I Love You
Go to work, do your best, don't outsmart your common sense
Never let your prayin' knees get lazy
And love like crazy"

Seriously, this is so cute to the music.

And while I'm on the topic of good country songs, another absolute favorite of mine is "Little Girl" by John Michael Montgomery and Alison Krauss. Oh my gosh, I get chills just thinking about that song. I remember my mom making me listen to it in the car a long, long time ago and it was the first time I ever cried about a movie, song, book, or anything like that. I was embarrassed back then, but the song still hits me pretty hard every time. If you haven't heard that song, you HAVE to. And you have to really LISTEN to the words. Gomusicnow.com has really cheap downloads, like for 7-20 cents per song.

Anyway, anyone heard these two before?

PA Schools Update

Well once again it has been awhile since I have treated my blogger followers with an update on my exciting life. As many of you know I have decided to pursue a Master's Degree in Physician Assitant Studies. To become a PA you must to attend graduate school and pass a certifying exam (PANCE). This past summer I spent hours and I mean hours applying to 35 schools. Updating you on the current situation of being accepted into those schools is as follows. I have been invited to 5 interviews so far. The schools are Central Michigan (Michigan), Western University (California), Western Michigan (Michigan), Marietta College (Ohio), and Barry University (Florida). I only have attended two of the interviews so far and have 3 in the next 2 weeks. Needless to say I will be spending a lot of time in the airports, renting cars, and nights in cheap hotel rooms. This past week I was placed on the alternate list for Central Michigan. It was a bummer since I really liked that school a lot when I went there but now it depends on those accepted in they decide to accept their seats or open up spots for us alternates. Most likely I have to move on but I am still holding hope for CMU. Western University will let me know in March if I am accepted and who knows when the next three I will. This whole process has been one exciting yet stressful time. Brianne says it might be the happiest day of her life when we receive my acceptance letter (crossing fingers). We love BYU and our apartment but we are ready to move on in our lives. I have been in my undergrad since WW2 I swear and am ready to go to graduate school by attending PA school. I bought a new suit for the interviews so I thought I would post some of my professional modeling pictures. I was actually offered thousands of dollars but turned it down. Its just not the life I want to live. Anyway, you can be 100% positive that I will blog about being accepted when I find out.