the debate

So...i will now attempt to be as nonpartisan as possible.

McCain: respectful of his opponent. Called him "Senator Obama" throughout the debate, whether when speaking directly to him or speaking of his policies. Offered, for the most part, what seemed to be good, solid explanations of his plans in mostly clear, simple language without a lot of rhetoric. Seems proud of the fact that he is a revolutionary and explains on several occasions what that has meant during his terms as a Congressman. He stayed true to what his plans were for his presidency throughout the debate; namely, spending freezes, tax cuts for the rich, and having a specific plan for how and when to pull out of Iraq and what we will leave behind.

Obama: randomly called Mr. McCain either "John" or "Senator McCain", seemingly depending on his feelings of his opponent's statements. When confronted on issues by Senator McCain, either ignorned them, changed the subject, or responded with "That's not true" and then changed the subject, still refusing to clearly explain his stance for the most part. Spoke eloquently on the issues, but never really seemed to say anything at all. Changed his position on many issues, especially the Middle East; first talking about a specific date to pull out our American troops, and then a few sentences later saying, "No, I think we need more troops in Afghanistan."

(Attempt to be nonpartisan over). Yes, both candidates openly laughed at statements made by the other. Yes, both candidates interrupted each other. Yes, Senator McCain has been accused of not making eye contact with his opponent. However, Senator Obama behaved as an inexperienced, disrespectful (to his opponent and the President of the United States), hot-headed, obnoxious, flip-flopping, cater-to-whoever-I-can-get-to-vote-for-me candidate. Senator McCain never raised his voice. He stated clear facts and invited the American people viewing the debate to "look it up" when referring to both his policies and Senator Obama's. He relied on his experience both as a soldier and a Senator to guide his response. Yes, his policies are extremely conservative. But he is honest and open, something Senator Obama most definitely was NOT.

i feel you, alice.

remember that part in alice in wonderland when she's just starting to think she might have a clue, and then she comes upon the post with signs tacked to it, pointing in all directions?

i am so there.

i graduate in December. no more school for the time being...perhaps a masters' degree in a few years.

my lease is up in June. although it's been nice and definitely convenient to have mom and dad close by, it's not a necessity. there's always road trips and cell phones.

now, this one is hard. i know work is supposed to be work, but it's so much easier when you have people around that you're comfortable with. two of my people have gone to days, one was always there, and i just found out last night (for sure) that one is leaving.

she's different though. she's kind of my muse. she never got sick of my crazy questions, was always infinitely patient (we're talking put Job to shame), and she was my venting buddy. now granted, she's only moving within the hospital, and i'm still in school with her (at least til december), but still...it's different. there's several great projects she started for the unit that someone should pick up. i have a feeling that might be me.

i had my evaluation a week ago, and got fabulous scores and a merit raise. however, before anything else, my manager dropped a bomb on me. i walked in the door and she looked at me and said, "so...you want to go to days?"

*grab a chair for support*

i asked her a few weeks earlier than this to put me on the list. i thought...something different. why not? everyone i know is leaving night shift anyway, some of them to go to days. i don't know hardly anyone on nights anymore (well, i'm exaggerating a little), and some of the ones i do know are pissed-off-rattler mean. except they'll be tolerable to your face and then stab you in the back. who'd miss that? plus, there's so much more experience on days, and i really like a lot of them after getting to know them through report the last year and a half. a lot of the bad seeds have left, and the dynamic is totally different than it was a year ago. i could learn SO MUCH, so much faster. I would get more experience with lines and intubations because everyone on the shift isn't fighting (not fighting, but that's the best i can come up with) for every one we do, since most of us aren't checked off for transports at night. i could have a normal social life, for once.

or, I could move to San Antonio, an idea i've been toying with for the last couple of months. something TOTALLY different and new. all on my own. new hospital. learn lots of new stuff. different (probably prettier) scenery. it sounds glamorous in my head, but there are so many logistics to be worked out. and what about cost of living? how much more is it there? but i have a great friend who is urging me to come. "you'll love it," she says. and hey...the worst that could happen is i could hate it (doubt it) and then move back to the LBK, which has grown on me a lot in the last year or so.

so many decisions...so frustrating. could someone please wave their magic wand and display my future across the sky? and, if it's not too much...could there maybe be a boy in there somewhere? i know, everyone says it's not what its cracked up to be...but maybe i'd like to find that out for myself!

the best locked-out-of-my-house story E.V.E.R.!

so, we all know that i am prone to locking myself out of places-especially important ones like the car and the house. so me and miranda were leaving my house tonight and i was going to take her back to her dad's down the street. so i lock the front door, walk out, fiddle with my keys for my clicker to unlock the car, and realize...

i am not holding my keys.

i am holding miranda's keys.

oh, expletive.

so after realizing our predicament, miranda's like, are you sure you locked the front door? i am positive, but we check just in case. it's locked.

so then she goes, well, you just put the dogs out-that door's not locked! and i'm like, well, you see...i sort of have two back doors. i have a door with a screen door from the kitchen into the garage, and then a regular door with just a doggy door in it from the garage to the outside. so we decide to make sure the door to outside is locked.

it's locked.

so then...brilliance strikes.

miranda, bless all 5'11" of her, squats down, sticks her arm through the doggy door and up to the lock on the other side of the door. she fiddles a minute, and...

gets it unlocked.

GENIUS. i never would have been able to do that.

it was absolutely the greatest thing ever. we laughed all the way back to her dad's, me giving her props the whole time and talking about what a great story...ah, good times with friends...

blast from the past!

so, i was hunting WAY back in the back of my sent folder on yahoo for a file, and i found this. i sent it to my aunt at the beginning of 2004. let's see how my answers have (or haven't) changed... :)

1. What time do you get up?

2004: Sunday--between 730 and 830, MWF--11, T/Th--10, Saturday--varies...but NOT BEFORE NOON!
2008: that depends on whether i'm working nights, going to school during the day, or actually have a day off for once. working? around 5:00 PM. school? around 7 am. day off? when i wake up.

2. If you could eat lunch with one person, who would it be?

2004: i didn't answer. wonder why?
2008: my grandaddy, since he's gone now. we'd ride his motorcycle out to some old haunt he's known about forever and just talk.

3. Gold or silver?

2004: silver...all the way
2008: hasn't changed.

4. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?

2004: Passion of the Christ
2008: i THINK it was 27 Dresses.

5. What is your favorite TV/Satellite show?

2004: Reba, when i actually watch TV. or Maternity Ward. Yeah...anything on Discovery Health.

2008: when i watch TV...Dr. Phil or Law and Order SVU.

6. What do you have for breakfast?

2004: are you kidding? i'm in college...sleep prevails over EVERYTHING! :)

2008: probably a PopTart or a breakfast hot pocket (sausage).

7. Who would you hate to be stuck in a room with?

2004: this guy Matt's dad or Jordan or this chick in my anatomy class or the secretary in the office i work in...except i AM stuck in a room with her sometimes...*shudders*
2008: one certain instructor. or a few of the ppl i work with (although, again, i occasionally have to be stuck with them). :)

8. What/who inspires you?

2004: Kristen, Jennifer, my mama
2008: Jesus, writing, Tiff

9. What is your middle name?

2004: Aline.
2008: obviously hasn't changed.

10. Beach, City or Country?

2004: i'm a city girl...but i can do the beach.
2008: City. then country.

11. Favorite ice cream?

2004: strawberry cheesecake or cookie dough
2008: Ben and Jerry's Creme Brulee. or strawberry.

12. Butter, plain or salted popcorn?

2004: Movie Theatre butter...y'know, the kind where you can pour it on...i know...heart attack waiting to happen...
2008: light butter.

13. Favorite color?

2004: Red/Hot pink
2008: red.

14. What kind of car do you drive?

2004: white '95 Buick...Catherine, can i have the Expedition if you get the Mini Cooper?
2008: white 2007 Hyundai Sonata. love my girl Lurch...

15. Favorite sandwich?

2004: Seafood 'n crab from Subway...with mayo and honey mustard...mmmmm...
2008: French dip from Quiznos.

16. What characteristics do you despise?

2004: LIARS. and stupid people.
2008: definitely still the same. and add people with woefully inadequate grammar skills.

17. Favorite flower?

2004: Fire-tipped tulips or roses (orange w/pink tips)
2008: stargazer lilies.

18. If you could go anywhere in the world on a vacation, where would you go?

2004: LONDON!!!
2008: London/Ireland. preferably with a ruggedly sexy man who happens to be head-over-heels in love with me and also happens to be from one of said countries (doesn't matter which) and so has accent from said country.

19. What color is your bathroom?

2004: uhh, since it's a community bathroom...bluish green wall tiles and school-tile floor...but next year in my SUPER CUTE apartment it's going to be decorated in rubber duckies...
2008: khaki. but i have a red shower curtain...

20. Favorite brand of clothing?

2004: Old Navy.
2008: same.

21. Where would you like to retire to?

2004: i haven't even graduated from college yet!
2008: incidentally, still haven't graduated from college (although i'm working on it and HAVE graduated from nursing school)...but maybe the outskirts of some big city? or San Antonio?

22. Favorite day of the week?

2004: Saturday
2008: the rare day that i don't have to work OR go to school.

23. What did you do for your last birthday?

2004: Went home, had cake.
2008: went to tiff's parents', had cherry ring instead of cake, and took tiff and chris's engagement pics.

24. Where were you born?

2004: Longview
2008: same.

25. Favorite sport to watch?

2004: gymnastics...or Texas Tech FOOTBALL!!!!!
2008: gymnastics.

26. What fabric detergent do you use?

2004: Tide...you gonna send me quarters to DO my laundry?
2008: lavender and vanilla Tide. and i have my own washer and dryer now, thank you!

27. Coke or Pepsi?

2004: Coke
2008: hasn't changed.

28. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

2004: night.

2008: same.

29. What is your shoe size?

2004: depending on the brand...anywhere from a 2 to a 5.
2008: unfortunately...still the same.

30. Do you have any pets?

2004: George Bush.
2008: two chihuahuas: Maggie and Bridget.

31. What is your favorite candy?

2004: orange tic tacs
2008: skittles...or orange tictacs

32. Do you use cable, satellite, or neither?

2004: Ethernet...basically cable on steroids...
2008: cable.

33. What is your favorite holiday?

2004: why, my birthday of course!
2008: um...the one that i don't have to work?

34. If you could swap jobs for one week what job would you want to do?

2004: my future job...labor and delivery nurse.
2008: well...i was close to the mark up there. don't think i'd switch jobs, though...like mine too much!

35. How tall are you?

2004: 4'11"...i am LEGALLY a midget!
2008: again...unfortunately, same.

36. What is your favorite snack?

2004: whatever i have a hang for at the moment...
2008: you know the packages of club crackers with the easy cheese in them and the little red stick to spread it with? those.

37. Who was your first love (first name only).

2004: Stephen
2008: obviously still the same.

38. If you could meet anyone famous who would it be?

2004: George Bush...or Michael Jackson so i could give him a good kick.
2008: Shawn Johnson so i could give her mad props for her skills...or Julia Roberts. because she's just fab.