Super Bowl Plans

Someone asked me today what I was doing for the Super Bowl. It was like being asked what I was doing for Christmas or new years eve. When did this become a national holiday? I understand that it is the most watched television program every year, but you don’t hear people asking, “What are you doing for the finale of American Idol?” Or, “Where will you be watching the season four premier of Lost?” I hate football. If I watch the Super Bowl at all, it’s only for the commercials, and they have been going downhill since that chick threw a hammer at the movie screen and the world was introduced to the Macintosh computer.

This is what I will be doing on Super Bowl Sunday.

That’s right, I’m heading down to Kemah to ride the Boardwalk Bullet.

Ever since I was a wee lad, I’ve been a huge fan of roller coasters. When they tore down Astroworld a few years ago, I was really sad. Sure, it was dirty, expensive, poorly run and filled with gang members, but it was my home park. How Houston, the fourth largest market in the United States, cannot seem to support a theme park is beyond me. But last year The Kemah Boardwalk opened The bullet. Now people such as myself don’t have to drive to San Antonio or Dallas to get our fix.

I have not ridden The Bullet yet, but I have heard on some of the roller coaster message boards that I frequent that it is quite an intense ride. I’m taking my camera and will have a ride review and pictures to post next week.

I will be spending the rest of the week studying complications of pregnancy.

I’m “Tomball” Famous

So about two years ago I was walking through the courtyard at school, when I was approached about appearing in a commercial for the college. Being rather modest, it took several seconds for me to agree, run to the bathroom, check my hair and sign the model release. After about fifteen seconds of filming, the whole experience was over, and I quickly forgot all about it.

Fast forward two months, I’m deep in thought, studying the liver or the pancreas, and I get a text message from a friend proclaiming that she has just seen me on the “big screen” at the Willow Brook movie theater. “How amazing,” I thought, “I’ve finally been immortalized in celluloid!”

My parents saw my commercial a few days later. They were so proud. I’m pretty sure my dad was more proud of that than the fact that I was a straight-A nursing student or that I had never been to rehab.

When I finally saw the commercial, I was crestfallen. I was on the screen for approx. 0.8 seconds. Oh well…

That summer, the college sent out a flier. I never realized that the college advertised by mail, but I had never really had a reason to pay attention. But I did this time. On the front of said flier, there I was, once more immortalized, only this time in print. It was a red-letter day!

(Thats me in the Orange; My nose is not really that big)

As you all have probably noticed, the college has changed names, and the commercial, which has been playing continuously for the past 2+ years at the movie theater had to come down. I was kind of sad…. I wouldn’t get any more random texts saying, ” I just saw you at the movies!” All good things must come to an end, right?

NO!

I just saw the new Lone Star College System commercial, and I’m still in it!

Thats right… I’m Tomball famous

BUSY!

My friends and family used to ask me, “How are you doing?” They don’t anymore because the answer is always the same, “BUSY!” Although the slow pace of the holiday break was a nice change, I was beginning to itch for some structure and something to challenge my brain. Asking, “Do you need room for cream in that?” 300 times a day just wasn’t cutting it.

Today was the first day back at school, and looking at my schedule for the next week, I’m beginning to wish it were the holiday break again, when all I had to do was stay up all night watching Iron Chef reruns. But, nobody ever saved the world sitting on the couch, so I’m ready to get this semester started. Here is what I’m doing for the next week.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I have class all morning and work all evening. Thursday I have hospital orientation all day, and on Friday I have my first clinical from 6:30a.m. to 6:30p.m. Clinical time is actual hands-on training. We give medications, start Iv’s, clean bedpans, all those glamorous things nurses do. Most Nurses work twelve hour shifts and these long hours are aimed at preparing us to work in the real world. I still haven’t ruled out torture. All I have to do on Saturday is smile and serve coffee for eight hours, so my brain will get a much-needed rest. Sunday is my day. I can do what ever I want after I clean the litter box, get caught up on the laundry and study.

 Monday it starts all over again. Is it May yet?

Now Let Me Introduce Myself…

My name is Ryan Gibbons and I am a student in the Nursing Program here at Tomball College. This is my first experience blogging, and I hope everyone will enjoy reading this as much as I hope to enjoy writing it. Who Knows? I may be the next Perez Hilton, only without the rainbow-tinted hair and horrible things to say about other people. I’ll keep those to myself. J

I have been attending Tomball College for three years, and will graduate in May with an associate’s degree in nursing. My experience here has been wonderful and I am thankful to all the amazing instructors who have made my academic career enjoyable and educational. I am the Vice-President of the Student Nursing Association, which has taught me a lot about leadership and politics. I also work part-time as a supervisor at a local coffee shop. I love/hate my job, but more on that later I’m sure.

I have a really full schedule this semester: Studying, class, clinicals, work, applying for internships, preparing for my licensure exam, and preparing for graduation. But, I felt this was an opportunity too good to pass up. I hope over the course of the semester I can give you guys some insight into the nursing program and into the graduation process. I also hope to enlighten and to entertain, but don’t hold me too that. J

Feel free to leave comments as I look forward to your feedback. I know this is going to be a great semester!