my idea of heaven.

I am now officially getting my French minor. Reading French literature is difficult, especially when written in the Middle Ages (ou les Moyen Ages, pour les parlants de francais). Who knows what I was thinking. It still doesn't make sense to me, but I'm going for the minor, so I've just got to make it work.

Less than six months left of nursing school! Graduation day: May 3. Pinning ceremony: May 2. And after school, passing the NCLEX (the boards to pass in order to be a registered nurse). Then, going on an actual vacation, at least this is the plan: going to France for 3-4 weeks in May/June to get better at my conversation skills, celebrate being done with nursing school, have a break from life, etc. Basically have a break from everything before starting into the workforce. Blech. Hate that word. Before starting my life as a true adult. Not this semi-adult phase in college. This is not enjoyable. But being out in the world as a nurse, healing people, loving people, making their lives better...that is my idea of heaven.

Latest news: I am going to Haiti: March 5-15, 2009. I have agreed to it, but have no idea how I'll raise the money, what I'll have to do (health-wise) in order to get there, what I'll be allowed to do once I get there (just work in the clinic, or help rebuild houses?), etc. The group I'm planning on going with is Haiti Foundation of Hope. What is really terrible is that Haiti was hit incredibly hard by the latest hurricanes and, being the poorest country in the western hemisphere, is finding it near impossible to rebuild the country. And just today, I heard on the news that a school collapsed in Port-au-Prince, killing 30 of the children in the building. This was due to the poor rebuilding of the school after previous hurricanes. This sort of thing can be prevented, with some generosity from others. Eventually, I would like to organize a group of contractors and architects (or the necessary brainpower for this sort of project), and hire builders in Haiti to help rebuild the schools - work for the Haitians and a safe school. How wonderful would that be? Now that would be heaven.

What else? ah, yes, knitting. I've got so many projects on the needles, I'm tripping over them on the floor. Scarves, hats, sweaters... *sigh* And the worst part is that I'm dreaming up more patterns and I don't have the time or the yarn selection to complete them all! Aaaaargh! This Christmas (yes, I said it. Christmas. Brace yourselves.), I'm knitting all my presents since my bank funds are severely depleted. Mostly due to my need, no, my deepest desire for yarn. The stash of yarn is procreating, now migrating into backpacks, shoes, laundry room, so knitting them up is the only humane way to get rid of them. I can't bear to give them away. And the best ending to this story is that I'm applying for a job at a yarn store tomorrow. Yarn at work, yarn in my free time, and occasionally yarn when I'm studying. If that's not as close to heaven as possible.... Alright, now I'm of in la-la land, dreaming of a land of yarn and needles... Now that would be my heaven.

what was I thinking?

I just agreed to take another class to work toward my minor in French. This poses a problem since I will be taking 16 credits with this class. I'm going through this with another student and she and I share similar feelings about all this, but we're trying our best to graduate in May WITH a French minor. This makes our workload next semester less, though, so we're going to do our best this semester. I would appreciate prayer for stamina and strength for this semester while I attempt the nursing school equivalent of climbing Everest.

pictures

Matisyahu, Concert in the Zoo, Portland.


Kyler, scared as the T-Rex roars 10 feet from him, and Bion.

knitting and reggae

I am officially DONE with my junior year! And have started senior year with three nursing classes and ceramics. Just for a change of pace. And any excuse to get messy is alright in my book. So, now there are only 2 semesters left. That's right. In eight short months, I will be a graduate. Soon thereafter, I will pass the NCLEX (the nursing equivalent of the boards) and then, officially, will be a nurse. Saving lives one bedpan at a time. We really do more than that. Really.

Now that this semester is done, I've got time off before fall semester starts on Aug. 25th. I spent a week at home and came back to Portland with Gracie, one of my favorite people. We had a great weekend that consisted of a Matisyahu concert (a reggae artist who happens to be Jewish), the Saturday Market, and shopping. And while on this escapade, we passed a yarn store. Close Knit on NE Alberta. And that, my friends, is a dangerous store. A swirling vortex, you might say. I get lost in the walls full of yarn, dressers full of needles, bookshelves of knitting patterns. And in this vortex, I bought two balls of yarn. There is a happy ending though (meaning that usually I buy yarns because they're pretty and I have grand plans for these balls, but their fate is often to lie at the bottom of my box of yarn. Forgotten. I apologize to them, any of whom I have offended or hurt.). The happy ending for the Taos yarn is a pair of fingerless gloves I saw at Close Knit and modified to suit this yarn. I started them Aug. 7 and finished them the next day! And the Rowan Felted Tweed will be made into a hat. Eventually. After I finish the other UFO’s (unfinished objects), one sweater and a blanket.

As far as finished patterns go, I have made humongous, mind-blowing progress on multiple items: Marika with Silky Wool, Taos fingerless mittens (pattern will be posted soon), Guinan hat with Brown Sheep Top of the Lamb, a crocheted Totoro for neighbor Maggie, 14 months old, and finally a basic hat formulated with Ann Budd’s Handy Book of Patterns. I simply cannot begin to say how thrilled I am that I spent my month off knitting and knitting and knitting. All the while watching smut on TV and innumerable movies. Since I have finished these lovely objects, I of course have to start on some other patterns and I have them all lined up:

Urchin hat by Ysolde Teague, will be made with Himalayas Queensland Collection yarn in color 11, Bubble Pullover by Norah Gaughan in Knitting Nature

As for the lack of posts in the last month, my only excuse is that I was lazy. And a procrastinator. And busy with knitting. Can you tell where my priorities are?

Another update on my step-sister: she had surgery July 29 and was in the hospital for a week and a half for an infection. She was sent home (without antibiotics. if anyone can explain this, please do), got another infection, came to Portland again for a few more days, then went back home. She is doing well, per the last report. Her husband and son have been with her through it all, but my stepmom and I thought they needed a break and managed to steal them away for a few hours to go to the zoo. Since my nephew is only 2 1/2, he wanted to go to the dinosaur exhibit and see the T-Rex. We went and saw the T-Rex (life-size, of course. And robotic. And completely real to a 2 1/2 year old) and it made for a great photo op. I am trying to figure out the layout of these posts, so I will post another entry with all these pictures, knitting FO’s, Matisyahu, and Kyler and Bion (nephew and stepbrother).

jumping

The obligatory updates: Today was the last day of classes for this semester. Finally! Evidence-Based nursing: no problem. Advanced Medical Surgical nursing: probably bombed that one. But no matter. It is finished.

Update on the chickadees: we did see the family later on the next day, with the parents flitting in and out of the house. At one point, we think we saw the chicks learning how to fly. So, they've flown the coop and are now finding bugs on their own, building their own nests, and hopefully we'll have another family next spring.

And now for the real news: The first day of spring was a solstice to remember. Some neighbors invited me to go skydiving - yes, jumping from a perfectly good airplane. I, in a moment of 'what-the-heck-why-not' feeling, agreed. We head out early to get to Mollala and to Skydive Oregon early that day. Driving for an hour meant we resorted to talking about our impending loss of bladder control when faced with jumping out of a plane. This did not, in fact, happen. After mounds of paperwork (including clauses about personal responsibility for any consequences stating that everything has been done to ensure the chute opens, look this contract over with an attorney, have all your affairs in order in case something should happen, et cetera), we finally go to a brief class talking about what to do should there be an emergency in the plane and other information, but who remembers anything after there is a mention of an emergency? My group and I suit up and put on hats that would leave the Coneheads feeling inadequate.

We board the plane. Now, the adrenaline kicks in. We take off and climb up toward the clouds (it happened to be cloudy that day, but it was better with clouds), up to 12,000 feet. That's really high. That's Mt. Hood high. Imagine jumping straight down off the top of Mount Hood. That's what skydiving is like. Luckily, I'm strapped onto my instructor and he is the one in charge of actually throwing us out of the plane (I prefer 'throwing', since that's what it felt like. At that point, he had to make sure we made it out of the plane). At first, the air is blasting down your windpipe at breakneck speeds: nearing 130 mph. And the mist from the clouds stings your cheeks. About 10 seconds later, the air in not as thin, not as cold, and the mist fades into the most spectacular view I have ever beheld. It must be the same view God gets and I'm there, front-row.

I think we were free-falling for about 30 seconds, but it could have been a full minute. Anyway, it seemed like a long time to be falling toward a solid entity. My instructor opened the chute and we glided up into more of a sitting position. At that point, the view was even better, easier to see everything, slower (only 40 mph now), and quieter. I think we floated for about two or three minutes, the most beautiful, most hopeful view of Oregon. I could see Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens, and I think Mt. Jefferson. The only word I can think of to describe this view is supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. If you ever have the chance to go skydiving, do it. I am planning on getting certified and being an instructor. I'll think more about that after I've graduated and have a steady job. Wouldn't that be a great summer job? Nurse for three seasons, then a Jumper for summer. Heck yes.

chickadee

Damn cats. They have to ruin everything. And they like birds too much.

My aunt has birdhouses in the backyard, used just for decoration. Then we learned there was a family of chickadees living in one. Lots of chirping from both parents and babies. Just lovely. Then this evening, one of our dogs ran to the back door (usually a sign he has to go potty). We let him out and he chased a cat out of our yard. This horrid cat had knocked over the birdhouse and we heard no chirping from the babies, just a lot of yells from one of the parents. We put the birdhouse back up, brought the dog inside (kudos to you, Jock), and sat and listened for the parent to fly back into the house. No such luck. And no sounds from the babies. I went out a little later and heard something inside the house, but couldn't see it. Probably a baby getting hungry and trying to fly.

Okay, this is getting too sad. That's where I'm at right now. But, as my mom gently reminds me, "it's nature at work." So, we just hope you come back next year, chickadees, to raise a fresh batch of babies.

update

Here's an update on the next-door-ers:
All dogs have been found, all intact and doing quite well. No word on the dogs. They were (or still are) indoor cats and may have just ran away and are now trying to fend for themselves. The dogs are all doing fine, but one of them has made multiple trips to the vet. Probably due to breathing smoke or just being completely freaked out by the fire. Either way, they're still alive.

The home owner has very good insurance and the future looks promising in rebuilding the home. The fire seems to be have been mostly in the walls. Both she and her son are in remarkably high spirits and I am absolutely impressed by how they are handling this. Everything in their front lawn is being sifted through (charred, salvageable, not-worth-saving) and the last I saw, the family was having a party and were cracking jokes about the fire. I hope that I can act this way if something like this happens to me.

Today, I got a bike for my 21st birthday. Very nice. And the temperature was in the lower 90's, so needless to say, I didn't do much riding, sadly.

I am working on making another dress. Last week, I made a dress from an old pattern from the 80's. So awesome. And the fabric came from a bed sheet. The BEST use of old sheets. Lots of yardage for a few bucks. No store has those kinds of sales.

fire

This morning at 1:00, my family and I were woken up by our next-door neighbors house on fire. A mother, son, 3 dogs, and 2 cats were all presumed to be inside. We found out that the people were our of town, but the animals were still inside to our knowledge. While waiting on the sidewalk, one of the dogs got out and she was taken to a friend's house. We still don't know the status on the other two dogs and the cats, so please pray. It doesn't look good for them. It's been two hours and no sign of them. They could have gotten out and run away, since there was a dog door, so for now, I'm choosing to believe that.

blech

Being in nursing school, one begins to appreciate the little things. This type of rigorous curriculum makes it difficult to do anything except go to classes and study. However, since I am not able to study for hours without a clear end in sight, I have my minor outlet: knitting.
I have mentioned this before and I swear that it is the only thing that has kept me from being admitted to the mental health ward.
In previous posts, I have mentioned that I am working on various projects. I cannot get the camera to work, so pictures will be up later. I'm currently working on:

-Drop Stitch Lace Tank from Fitted Knits (60% done)
-Bubble Pullover from Knitting Nature (20% done)
-Marika from an Elsbeth Lavold knitting booklet (50% done)

I also just finished a dress from an old See & Sew pattern. What a break this has been from school!
Summer classes for me start up again on May 19th, which also happens to be my 21st birthday. ya-hoo. That will be 10 weeks of classes and clinicals (practicum at various hospitals on various floors) that will suck up all my time. I must get in as much of this fun stuff as the next two and a half months will allow zero time for dilly-dallying. oh well. For the rest of this week, I'll be living on a steady diet of yarn, fabric, Led Zeppelin and little rays of sun bending into my basement windows.

homeless and impoverished

Today, I helped out at Home PDX, a church/friendly community for the homeless. It was simply great. My church, Evergreen Community, made pounds and pounds of pasta, bowls of salad, nearly 15 loaves of bread, and dozens of cookies. This was all to feed about 150 people. We had plenty for everyone and got to spend some time chatting with everyone after serving them. I hope everyone can do this sometime. The people there were so happy to talk with new people and they had some funny, as well as heart-wrenching stories.

One woman had left her husband after he broke her leg. She had to leave her daughter behind and has been living on the streets for four years. Her daughter is very angry with her and refuses to talk with her. Needless to say, this is devastating to her. She does, however, have a partner who treats her very well and he looks out for her as best as he can. Pray that she can contact her daughter and they will grow to love and understand each other. Also that she will be able to leave the streets.

Another man was talking about his frustration with God: he prays constantly yet sees no results. He is growing increasingly frustrated that God knows his needs, but won't provide them. I don't know what God's planning any more than the next person, but I would so love to give him hope and a promise that God will protect him. Pray that he will be patient and continue to praise God even in the hardest of times.

These stories were just from two people so please pray for the rest of those whose lives are just as difficult.

At the church in my hometown, there are two men from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) who are building an orphanage for 80 children. They need continual funding and as much prayer as possible. Please pray for them, that the orphanage plans would continue without too many bumps in the road and the children would appreciate their love and dedication. I am planning on going there once I'm done with school and hopefully get all the children as healthy as possible. I'll be bringing toothbrushes, shoes, pots and pans hopefully, mosquito nets, and possibly medications for immunizations. This is still all in the planning phase, but I hope to get funds raised and supplies donated. Here is their website:

http://www.cityofrefugeinternational.org/about/about.htm

Please visit and see pictures and pray as much as possible for these children.

wow and rain

I love God. In case you didn't realize that. It always seems to be when I'm the most exhausted that He gives me the most strength. Self-pity starts taking hold, I start to become fed-up with being so over-worked, I become bitter with the world and what it is becoming, then He shows me something that completely changes how I think about the world at the moment.

Usually these moment-changing experiences are people who pop into and out of my life just to redirect me, to show that I am not alone, that I am loved and wanted. Sometimes it's all I can do to contain my excitement about being in love with God.

Today was another dreary April day in Oregon, complete with the expected rain/sun/showers rotating through the area every hour. As I was walking back from watching some school presentations, I began thinking about my life: friends, acquaintances, school, the future. Then it began to rain (not unexpected). It was one of those rains that you know is meant just for your enjoyment, water that sinks deep into your pores and reaches your innermost person and changes the entire day for you. One of those types of rains. When I got home, I was tired from thinking about everything in my life, but felt strong from that rain. The rest of the day was hard and tiresome, but the little things (like studying until delirium sets in, exchanging goofy emails) were so much better because of the rain.

It's hard to describe how I felt today (well, yesterday really). Relieved, stressed, blessed, peaceful, content, uneasy. But it was one of the feelings that lasts all day and you can't help but glow from the inside out. God is spectacular.

prayer request

I have a prayer request: my step-sister found out she has colon cancer and is now trying to decide if she should get chemo, radiation, surgery, or in what order. She and her husband are also trying to raise their three-year-old and can use any and all prayers you send their way. Also send some prayer for a different doctor since her doctor in her hometown treated her terribly and has harmed her in the past during childbirth, but the lack of physicians make it hard to leave this one.

My dad was remarried about three months ago and some more of the new family is having health troubles: thyroid cancer and atrial fibrillation (there are four heart chambers: two artia and two ventricles. Fibrillation is when some of the chambers start to quiver, cannot pump blood, and have no regular rhythm. This is when a 'defibrillator' is used.). My new stepmom also has some trouble with blood sugar and is pre-diabetic. Health problems all around.

Thank you all so very much. I will keep updating when new information comes up.

updated

This weekend was a great improvement from the terrible, etc. day last week. I did some house-/dog-sitting and had a grand time. I also went home and to a beautiful wedding, seeing many, many friends and family I hadn't seen in months or years. A wedding is the best way to end an icky week. It has also been raining/snowing/hailing for the last few days and will continue...I love days like that. I guess it's a must when you're born and raised in the Willamette Valley. The best part is when the sun breaks out of the clouds when it's still raining and the rain lights up...it's like Christmas.

I finished some homework, slept in, and have been feeding my knitting addiction with my fantasy yarn: elsbeth lavold silky wool. yummm. Alright, enough with the textiles. I'm also supposed to be having a dinner date with my aunties and my dearest cousin...so how could this week be as cruel as last week? And, to top it off, tonight is another Jane Austen story on Masterpiece Theatre. Oh, goody!

the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day

I will be relieved when tomorrow finally happens.

0900: Wake up from a deep slumber. Refreshing, you might say. I would too, if it hadn't been on a day when I was supposed to be at work at 0830. My boss said it's alright since there's nothing for me to do anyway. So, that wasn't terrible, but definitely a bad start to the day.

1500: I plan on walking to school only to look outside and see nothing but threatening grey clouds, plotting against me, just waiting until I get halfway between home and school to start their torrential rains. So, I decide to drive and, of course, the entire ride is sunny, not a drop of rain the whole rest of the day (so far).

1530: Going to a wedding this weekend and planning on taking the train or bus since I detest driving the I-5 corridor...a straight, flat drive with nothing but stinky Albany (truly a stinky city...with industrial buildings gushing fumes into the air so everything smells of old gym room with a hint of musty basement) and the occasional lovely field of sheep or other livestock. Anyway, no trains or bus leaves in the morning and none return that night, so I'm done planning a train ride with the four hours of extra time traveling to do homework. All the while, I am getting progressively more agitated and can feel my blood pressure rise and I begin glaring at innocent passers-by. Saturday, I'll be driving for four hours, all to go to a wedding. This better be one heck of a ceremony.

1730: After being in class and learning ALL about the brain and diseases that can affect it (not exactly a cheery, uplifting type of subject), I get a paper back I wrote last week and felt pretty good about. I got a 62%. Another punch in the gut. Thanks, God. I can tell you're there and testing me, but is this necessary? This is just cruel.

1800: Driving, driving, driving to the pharmacy. More sour faces in this store. Everyone, including myself, just wants to go home and would rather not be dealing with disgruntled employees before dinner. It's a great way to ruin your appetite, though. I get TWO prescriptions that total $320.00. My health insurance "flat-out refused to pay" for one of the medicines, so says the seemingly bored teller behind the counter. So, instead of getting that useful medication, I decide to leave it behind and only get the other necessary one. I am now fuming mad. I'm surprised I didn't explode at said teller for the newest addition to my ever-growing list of unfortunate events. I get in my car, am ready to leave this stupid parking lot, and just start the car in reverse when a crazed little girl runs behind my car. Close to hitting her. Parents not doing their job and seemed not to notice their daughter's brush with death...then again, neither did she. I then drive home with very little tolerance of future mishaps which may occur before bedtime.

So, there you have it. Today wasn't very good. It was actually one of the worst I've had.

I am, however, knitting a lovely sweater and it's coming along quite well. About 40% done already. And I have chocolate at home that is beckoning to me...so all is not lost.

and so it begins...

So, this is how it all starts. I get bored one day and, the next thing you know, there's a baby blog.

This weekend is the first after Spring Break and we have four days off due to Holy Week. I decided to use this time wisely. Yesterday I woke up earlier than any sane mammal ever should and hopped in a bus with a friend and 100 of my new best friends to trek up to Vancouver, Canada. All to yell and scream at the Chinese Embassy to free Tibet. After four hours on the bus, we stopped at the border to check passports and ID cards and, after a two hour wait, all 110 of us, Tibetans mostly, boarded the new bus and got to the Embassy a few hours late, but with more enthusiasm than most.

Being around 300-400 people fighting for their country was probably the most powerful I have ever felt. This protest was invigorating and spectacular. The people were awe-inspiring. I encourage everyone to attend a Free Tibet protest; just by being there, you are making a huge statement in support of their cause.