this is what school smells like by the way....

But as the summer went on, I got so  wrapped up in my new activities, that I nearly forgot about the old ones. But Tomball College, Lone Star College-Tomball has asked me to stick around and give my perspective on life after college. I think it will be similar to last semester, only with less homework. So the next few minutes of your life will be a brief synopsis of how I spent the last three months.

I graduated.

This is what it looks like when you graduate

I went to Disney World. It’s the happiest place on earth. I have proof.

Teacups.... yeah.

I Started my new job.

This is how I look at work

I took the state nursing boards and got my license.

This is what a nursing license looked like in 1977

I bought a new car.

Honda calls this color "Atomic Blue." I call it "sold out of Dark blue so I'll take this blue".

I got glasses.

Nursing school might have been easier wearing these.

I went to Lake Charles for a bachelor party.

Hi. I try desperately to be Las Vegas, but I fail.

I won a hundred dollars playing penny slots.

Cash is king

I worked fifty hours over four consecutive days last week. I was tired, but I felt good because no one died. I’ll let you know how next week goes.

I’ve just been very busy. But I promise, in the next few days I will write an epic blog that will bring you up to date on all of my zany adventures.

Here is a preview….

Pinning is Thursday, I’m sure it will be a night to remember. It will be the last time all 50+ graduating nursing students will be in the same room together.

Graduation is Saturday. I have lots of family and friends coming in to celebrate with me. So what does one do after he graduates from nursing school?

He goes to Disney World.

On Monday, three of my closest friends and I will head out for a week long stay at the happiest place on earth.  Some of you may have gathered that I”m a huge fan of roller coasters and theme parks, and no one does it better than Disney.

I have been planning this vacation for the better part of a year, and I really must admit I’m more excited about this trip than I am about graduating,  finally quitting Starbucks, or getting a new job.  I’m that big of a dork. To prove it, and because there is nothing I love more than talking about Disney World, Here is some Disney World trivia for your blog reading enjoyment.

The Magic Kingdom was the first of four theme parks to open in Orlando’s Disney World, and is very, very similar to Disneyland in Anaheim California.

The second park to open was Epcot.

EPCOT was originally an acronym for the Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow. Now its just a made up word.

Next is Disney’s Hollywood studios.

It was originally called The Disney-MGM studios.  Regardless of what it’s called, its home to my favorite ride ever, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

The Fourth Park is Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

The Animal Kingdom takes up over 500 acres and is home to more than one thousand animals.  Perhaps I’ll see a few as I am running frantically from ride to ride.

Lets Break it down.

Fourth Semester Nursing school Tuition: $ 687.00

This included a $200 dollar lab fee for our state board review class. No one could ever explain what the fee was for or how it was used.

Books. All of our nursing text books had to be purchased the first semester. They cost 1,100 dollars. If we break it down by semester….

Fourth Semester Books:                           $275.00

Then there is our nursing pin.

At the end of nursing school, each student is pinned in a ceremony that I have been describing to my friends and family as nursing graduation. I went cheap, so the pin only cost me my parents…

Nursing Pin                                              $ 40.00

It is tradition to wear all white at pinning. Since finding white slacks is impossible outside of Miami, we have decided to wear white scrubs. Classy. I went cheap again and that only cost me ( Yes! I paid for something myself!) ……

Classy White Scrubs                                 $15.00

Two weeks ago the process to apply for a state nursing license was explained to us. We have to pay to apply for a license, pay to have our photo and finger prints taken, and pay to take the exam.  The Texas board of nursing charges premium prices.

License application fee                            $139.00

License exam fee                                     $200.00

Fingerprinting                                          $ 10.00

I.D. photograph                                       $ 10.00

So we have finally made it to graduation. Gotta have a cap and gown!

Cap and Gown                                          $ 47.00

Being a member of Phi Theata Kappa honor society has its rewards. One of those rewards is the honor of paying for your graduation regalia.

Honors Regalia                                        $ 50.00

So for the fourth semester of nursing school, I my parents have paid…….

Grand Total                                              $1473.00

Thanks Mom and Dad!  I could have never done this with out your check book you!

So back in February, like hundreds of other nursing students graduating in May, I wrote a resume, filled out on-line applications, collected letters of recommendation, and sent off transcripts. I was worried that I would have a hard time choosing which job to take. So I sat by the phone, waiting for the phone to start ringing off the hook.

It never did.

Apparently, unlike cats and bird poop, you cannot expect job opportunities to just fall into your lap.

So with some help from a friend and a little hustle, I got myself an interview. They offered, and I accepted the job the next day. On June second I will officially be a surgical intensive care unit nurse intern.

It’s exciting, terrifying, and amazing. The work I’ve done over the last three and a half years is finally paying off.

This is the test we must pass, not only as a requirement for graduation, but also to be eligible to sit for the state boards and get a nursing license. The anxiety leading up to this test has been HUGE. I feel like I’ve been put through the wringer.

I am so glad its over, and that I passed.

I am going to enjoy the weekend, but its back to the grind on Monday, we still have two more tests before we graduate.

when a young lady walked in and said, “Are you Ryan?”

I said, “Uh… Yeah?”

“Do you have a blog on the Tomball College website?”

“Uh… Yeah?”

Her eyes narrowed as she said, “I’m upset with you!”

“Really? Why?”

“Because you said you don’t like babies or pregnant women!!!”

I was relieved, for a second I thought she was going to roll up her pant leg and have me diagnose a boil.

“Actually, I wrote that I was glad I didn’t have to study obstetrics anymore, because they are not my favorite subjects. The funny pictures were just to emphasize my point. “

The moral of this story is to read carefully, be it instructions, the newspaper, a blog, or your horoscope. You may end up wasting a lot of time and energy for nothing.

I will be there. I’m not a fan of livestock or country music, but I sure do love a good carnival.

Carnivals are usually in former grocery store parking lots. The carnies and the questionable construction standards are terrifying, buy you avoid all this at the rodeo carnival. It’s clean(ish), the carnies have all their teeth, and you know if you die, your family can sue a company with deep pockets.

I usually don’t go out on school nights, but free tickets to the rodeo with awesome friends is too good to pass up.

It was mid cycle with a very large load of my undergarments in it.

If its not fixed by Tuesday I’ll be making a trip to Target to restock.

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I will not be watching. No, I’m not protesting Hollywood’s obsession with giving themselves awards, or the fact that some bubble headed starlet will undoubtedly be wearing fur. I have to study for a test tomorrow. BOOO…

I’m really not that broken up about it. I have only seen one of the five films nominated for best picture.

It’s not going to win.