"About Me"

On the right to this blog..... there is an "about me" section.  And while I summed it up, I felt like doing an "about me" blog today.

My name is April.  I am 30, and FASTLY approaching 31.  YIKES!  I try to embrace the age.  They say you are only as old as you feel, but some days I feel 50... so, um, I don't like that saying.  How about you are only as old as you ACT?  :)  My birthday card from my boyfriend last year said "growing old is mandatory, growing up is optional". (Followed by a cute comment of growing old together ;) )   I like the optional thing though!

I am a registered nurse and am currently doing the travel nurse gig.  It's been a huge change for me, but I have loved it so far.  I've been a nurse for a little over 2 years and have been in the health care field since I graduated college the FIRST time in 1999.  I became a nurse because I love taking care of people, and I went to nursing school with the intention of being a Pediatric Nurse.  Somehow... I ended up in Cardiac????  WTH?  lol.  Regrets?? Not a single one.  Along the way, I did have regrets, and anger towards the various factors that caused me not to land my "dream" job in peds... be it budget, timing, or what have you. 

So, personally..who am I?  Well, part of me likes to think that all of the "quirks" about me are because I'm a nurse.  But perhaps they are the REASON I became a nurse?

For example.  I've been called a pessimist before by a certain person..... I call it a realist..... When I walk into a patient room at the beginning of a shift, the first thing I look at is "is the path to the bed clear in case they code?"  "where is the ambu bag in this room?"  "is the suction set up, or do I need to do that?"  "where is the oxygen"  Prepare for the worst, hope for the best is basically what every nurse LIVES by.  I guess part of that carries over into your personal life?  I think I've always been a little bit like this, but DEFIANTLY more after becoming a nurse.

Germs.. don't get me started.  I don't think I'm the cleanest clean freak in the world, but after seeing patients deathly ill after avoidable illnesses, you become a little more aware of things that perhaps the rest of the world doesn't see...because you see what the rest of the world doesn't see.  Funny how that works out eh?

So, back to "about me".  I'm a pessimist germ freak, and well, that's just me...lol. 

Carrying on.  :) 

If you read much on my blog, you will quickly see that I'm a quote and lyric gal.  Have been as long as I can remember.  I remember making mixed tapes (yes, TAPES) in middle school because of the lyrics of songs.  Perhaps it's I don't have the attention span to read novels, so lyrics and quotes take much less commitment??  ADHD perhaps?? haha.  I just find lyrics and quotes at certain times of my life, well, therapeutic.  And as I age, and go through bigger life experiences, I find that I turn to them even more than before.  Either this will continue and I'll be that Granny that the grandkids don't wanna visit, because instead of stories, she'll tell quotes... or... in the next year or so, I will run out of quotes to read and find another new obsession??  Eh.. I'm going with the first scenario?  lol.

My family story is complicated.  So complicated that even *I* don't understand it.  What I do understand is my immediate family.  My "dad" is my step dad (so, he's kinda like a hostage...lol) who has been my dad, well, as long as I can remember and has been the best dad a girl could EVER have hoped for.  Never once did he ever treat me like a stepchild.  And I don't remember ever feeling like he wasn't my actual dad.  I truly cherish him.  My mom and I have a close relationship.  We were really close when I was a kid, then when I was ages 17-23/24...nothing.  No relationship.  Here and there something, but that was it.  Luckily, everything lined back up and we are close.  Next is my niece, Erin.  I *love* that kid, almost as if she were my own.  She said her version of "April" well before she said "mama".  We've always been close.  Recently I posted some pictures on FB of her and I when she was young.  Wow.  It soooo feels like yesterday.  And there are times I still see that "little" girl in her, and I have to remind myself that she is no longer that little girl, but is an adult now, and 18 yrs old.  (WHAT??!?!!!??!!!)  I can see why parents always view their kids as children, no matter how old they get.  I TOTALLY get it now.  Totally.  In the past year or so, we've transitioned almost into a "sister" relationship.  And I'm quite happy with that. :)   Past that as far as family goes, it gets complicated... like I said, more complicated than I care to understand so I won't subject you readers to it!

I'm in a relationship for over 10 months now with someone who was before one of my best friends for several years prior.  Funny how life works out, eh?  Did I mention it's a long distance relationship?   Yeah.  Oh, and did I mention the distance is 11 THOUSAND miles?  No.  Well, I have now.  lol.  And if you've read my blog this isn't news..lol.  All began August 4th last year.  Took us both by surprise, to be honest.  And we've had our fair share of problems.  Perhaps more than normal, however I strongly feel that has a LOT to do with the miles and the hardships that being so far apart for such long periods brings about.  When I hear others gripe they only saw their significant other 3 times in the past week, part of me wants to laugh, part of me wants to punch them.  But, instead, I listen as a friend.  Because that's something I pride myself in, but we'll get to that.  Back to the relationship.  We've been through our really high high's...and our really low low's.  However, I feel confident that the worst is behind us and while no relationship is perfect or easy, we are really where we need to be and the future looks good.  I so look forward to the future...traveling, day to day life at home, raising a family.. I just can't wait.

Let's see... so you now know my job, family, relationship status.  Next.  Friendship.  I guess I will say now the best quote (see.. I love quotes!) related to this.... "friends are family that you chose".  I guess since my family wasn't very extended (though LARGE) or close,  friends have always been important to me.  And I have the most AMAZING group of friends.  I cannot put into words how much they mean to me.  I could write a BLOG about my friends.  Some are real close, some aren't as close.. but they are all still awesome in their own way.  A few of my friends I would consider family, for sure.  And like I've blogged about before, some of them are the type of friends that are...get this... HONEST.  "that color isn't a good color on you".  While this may be an  "ouch"... THIS is the type of friends I want.. and the kind I am BLESSED enough to have.  And they know, they can expect the same in return.  They are the type of friends I can sometimes go weeks without speaking to, but can pick up like not a day passed.  We are all busy and understand that.  I am just so so so so so so blessed with the friends I have made along this journey called life.  I certainly hope that one day, when I'm long gone, of all things that I'm remembered for, I hope "being a good friend" is one of them.

Dogs.  I love dogs.  I still view a lot of them as "puppies"....despite size and breed.  I'm a previous dog owner, and know how loyal, loving, and faithful dogs are.  This is why I've never understood why bitter women refer to loser men as "dogs".  They were obviously never dog owners.  No matter how bad of a day you have had, or if you scolded your dog right before you left...when you get home.. this little creature is SOOO excited to see you.... wagging it's tail.  Has totally forgiven you for leaving the alone while you were at work and telling them they were a "bad dog" right before you left (because they chased yet ANOTHER cat).  None of that matters.  You can not FEED a dog for a week (not that my dogs EVER were unfed...although their guts could have benefited?? lol) and they will still be just soooo excited to see you.  There is nothing like it.  No PERSON has the love for you that a dog has.  Period.  I have learned that dogs take a LOT of time, work, and patience... and money.  And while I LOVE dogs, I plan on never owning another one.  Plus, I don't think they could EVER compare to my girls, Bonnie and Bailey.  But, between my allergies and the price involved with vets, grooming, boarding, it's just not something I think I ever want to get back into.  At least with kids they eventually become potty trained??!!  lol

This is quickly turning into a novel... which I'm quite known for..right honey? lol.  Other things about me...

Paranoid about my body, no matter how skinny I've ever been.  I would do ANYTHING for a friend.  And please, don't cross my friends, because, well, you are crossing me.  And visa versa.  They've probably threatened Wayne with his life more times than he can count.  True story.  I can quickly get angry, but am usually the first to calm down and feel bad for being angry.  I feel sorry for people far too often.  I hate when I see someone getting bullied or picked on, esp over things they can't control.  I HATE UFC or any violence on TV (as a nurse, I can SEE the MRI and/or CT scans... ugly...). 

I am a planner, and can't imagine life without my pocket calander.  I would probably not be ANYWHERE I was suppose to be (including work) without it.  True story.  I hate gardening, and have no desire to do any of this as an "adult".  I love chick flicks, and could watch the same movies over and over and over again.. in fact, I do.  ;)  I love all music, but deep down, I'm a country girl.  I say I hate reality TV, but I think I make myself AVOID it because I could sooo be a couch reality tv potato! 

I love hard, laugh harder.  I work hard, and play harder.

I think this is enough for now.. I'm sure everyone stopped reading ages ago... lol

In closing a quote... "If they don't love you at your worst, they don't deserve you at your best.. "