December

I am so pleased that 2017 is coming to a close. Despite making some progress this year, it has not been a fun process and the mental strain cannot be remedied by the 3 or 4 massages I was able to afford all year.

I have continued from September to plan for nursing school applications and to think about potential career options. Thus far I have successfully applied to OHSU (omg, i did actually finish something!) and I have pending applications to:

Emory U. (in georgia)
WSU (in Spokane)
Concordia U. (in Portland)


After considering so many programs, this is what I settled on. If I get in, great. If not, great, at least I can move on. 
I will take the TEAS entrance exam next week and that will wrap up the Emory application. If I continue with the last two, I must take Organic Chem this winter and the month long CNA training program.

To pay for these classes, I took a job at Powell's Books for the Christmas season which was an excellent idea anyway, since it is one of the few places I feel very happy and comfortable :D :D :D I love being around books and thinking about what books I could match up with the people who would enjoy them! Take that nursing school... how could you possibly compete with that kind of job satisfaction?? 

Naturally there was already a waiting list for O Chem by the time my slot was free to register, but I will likely get in. At this point my motivation to get into a program is just sheer will to finish, I don't even know if I want to or am emotionally stable enough to get through accelerated nursing school. And I really hope I'm not the only student feeling this way. Because I am getting old. And I want to progress toward a useful career. And this is taking a hella long time.

My mood improved quite a bit after my last post, since my husband and I were able to take a vacation in Europe (somehow we can afford that, but not massages...? yeah) and I am riding out the inspiration that gave as long as possible. 
(and yes, that IS a rooftop hot tub in Budapest! May have been the highlight of my year)