Armed and Dangerous...

Watch out. I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. My graduate studies are coming to an end quickly. Albeit not quickly enough, but the end is certainly with in reach. You can imagine that I get asked this question quite frequently: "What will you do after graduation?" At the beginning of this semester we went around the class room and stated what our post graduation plans were. Bright new careers, exciting promotions, of course there was the one student who was spending a year with Doctors Without Borders before jumping into the advanced practice nursing world. Me? What was my answer? No more classes. Of course I got a few chuckles, but trust me. I need some serious time off. So now that we've established what I won't do, what will I do?

When I started my graduate studies, it was August 2004. I was engaged to my college sweetheart. We had two new adorable puppies. We were building our house that was surrounded by open lots. My first class was pharmacology at U of R. I took the class with one of my best friends, Jessica. We were friends throughout college and helped each other through the ups and downs of nursing school.

Since then: Matt and I were married. In a month the 'puppies' will be considered 'seniors' in dog years. Our house has become most definitely a home and has been surrounded by the most amazing neighbors anyone could ever ask for. We've filled this home with memories and love. We've created a family that is blessed with two adorable children. Jessica graduated years ago with her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degree and continues to work in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, her dream job. I transferred, at the insistence of a past professor, to St. John Fisher to complete my degree in the fall of 2006. I have seen far to many fellow students graduate around me and it's finally going to be my turn. That's what this tangent was about if you've forgotten. It's been quite a long road. What did I want when I started? I don't know. It's free. You've gotta do it, right?

Now! I've always loved photography, photos, capturing moments, preserving them... hello scrapbooking! In nursing, we've always been told "If it's not documented, it's like it never happened." Isn't that kind of true with parenting... and life? I feel that I put a lot into parenting... and life... and if I don't capture and preserve these memories then why am I busting my bum?! I am not looking to become a professional photographer but I would like to be able to take really nice pictures. Now my mother in law always says she thinks that the pictures I've taken thus far are really nice, but whether she's being really nice or is just biased to my subjects, I still wanted to take my pictures to the next level. Explore some manual features. Well, yesterday I headed to Best Buy with Matt's reluctant blessing and purchased a DSLR camera. I am bursting with excitement and cannot wait to learn how to work this crazy machine with all it's fancy buttons and options... Yep, I took this fancy pic with my new camera, a Canon Rebel XS!

Another aspiration of mine? Reading and writing. Back in December I started reading again, and I haven't been able to stop. Life is crazy busy and it is extremely difficult to find time to read at times, but I read a page or two every night and it feels oh so good! Another indulgence of mine? Reading other mother's blogs. Some of these women are so talented and eloquent. Others are down right hilarious. In any event I find these women inspiring and entertaining. One of the women subscribes to (yet another) blogging woman who provides followers with topics each week to blog about. A sort of cure to 'bloggers' cramp.' Seems interesting enough. And Mama Kat, I am up to the challenge!

So there you have it. Aside from being able to focus on my husband, my two favorite little people, and the senior pups, I will take awesome pictures, read (leisure) books, and express myself bloggerifically once I am free from school!