Life is just a long continuum of change..AK update

Whether people are just being nice, if if they actually care is irrelevant to me because it offers a perfect blog post.

I am graduating in one week and to prepare for all that comes with that, I quit my full-time job. My "going out" party was provided by the staff in the Mercy ER and was a peanut butter theme...perfect! The spread consisted of scotch-a-roos, NUTTY BARS, peanut butter and bagels, puppy chow, peanut brittle, and a lot more! It was great and at the end of the shift most everyone indicated that they wanted to have some sort of update so here it is people...2 weeks out.

Technical Stuff

1) jobless

2) homeless (effective 5/31)

3) I have a very strategic plan in regards to spacing out the remaining nutty bars that I received at my "leaving" party at work...the plan is they will last at least until 5/1 because my grocery budget for april is expired.

Less Technical Stuff

1) I sleep 9+ hours a night now!

2) I eat three, somewhat balanced, meals at the appropriate time of day and feel amazing!

3) I have ridden over 120 miles on my bike

4) Visited the Amana Colonies! This has been on my "to do" list since December and it was great.

5) Went to Bandanas, a bar-b-que joint, with my parents and was able to enjoy lunch pricing on a SATURDAY (A big deal because I used to only work weekends)

6) Bought a pogo stick and make it a point to get in 50 continuous jumps everyday.

7) Went golfing...kind of.

8) Harassed my dad for some clubs and bought an old big bertha Callaway driver at an auction....380CC....if that means anything to anyone...460CC is the max. allowed legally.

9)Went to Jordan Creek mall for the first time since Christmas...nothing to miss there besides the apparent birth control problem in WDM...geeze, there were a lot of babies and toddlers in that place.

10) Deep cleaned my apartment..I mean deep cleaned. Washed the walls, floors, dusted, moved all the furniture to sweep underneath it, ect. This initiated the next big step I took....bought light bulbs and hangers for the first time. My apartment now has light, but I still utilize my headlamp whenever possible.

Well thats an AK update...

Future plans/travels

May 1-4: NC

objectives:

Find an apartment and sign a lease beginning 6/1

Find a job of any kind (outdoors preferably!) I applied to be a seasonal/part-time grounds crew at Duke University.

Come home and take boards

Learn I pass boards.

Pack my jeep.

Snag some snacks at Dahls and find I-80 E..........

20 hours later, find that same apartment that I signed the lease on and enter and park.

10 guilty pleasures

I assume vulnerability when I discuss my ten guilty pleasures but they serve a very real purpose in my life. The last month has been hectic, working full time, going to school full time, and having to serve 100 hours of preceptorship. Because I am notorious for being a procrastinator the last six weeks, preparing for graduation, have been a challenge and, I believe, permit the utilization of "guilty pleasures." I will list my top ten guilty pleasures in no particular order. If you have not read my first blog, please refer to the ground rules----don't judge me...

1) $5 worth of scratch tickets--I don't really care to ever be rich and I would be embarrassed if I won but they provide me with a sense of excitement and thrill.

2) Taco Johns- 6 pack and a pound....long 12 hour study days get my appetite as good as it ever is and I crave Taco Johns 6 pack and pound. This is almost ALWAYS two meals but I have been known to knock it out in one setting.

3) 2-Liter of Pepsi Max. I rarely buy soda because it is expensive and non-purposeful but in tiring times, knowing that I have a 2-liter of pepsi Max at home waiting for me always gets me pumped up and I find it encouraging.

4) Take 5 candy bar--No real explanation needed, they are just the bomb.

5) Sugar free red bull--I think this was mostly a work thing because I never crave it or want it when I am not at work but I do, fork over the $2.62 for a sugar free red bull every shift...which is bad for the budget but when we are talking about "guilty pleasures," budgets are ultimately ignored.

6) Dahls cafe breakfast, more specifically a giant waffle from Dahls cafe. I used to be a loyal Saturday customer at Dahls because I always had a coupon for $2 off any regular price item...courtesy of of the value books. I loved the nice elderly people and always learned something by sitting and eating breakfast with them...very refreshing.

7) Buying wii games....I love buying, or just getting, new wii games or any games really but sometimes, my conscious breaks down and I choose not to wait for a birthday or Christmas and go buy it STAT.

8) Tan..I know this will surprise some of you but yes, I do spend 12 minutes in a tanning bed twice a month between Nov-April. I believe in "winter blues" and I am certainly not immune. I am an outdoor junkie and I HATE being cold. Tanning helps me during the winter.

9) McDonalds 2 for $1 apple pies. Nothing fancy but I just do love them!

10) backpacks....I am getting better but I am a sucker for, what I think, are "sweet backpacks" and I have several! I do try to rotate them all but I am partial to a few of my favorites...

There you go...ak's guilty pleasures...what are yours?

favorite time of year

Any morning that I can go outside and not be in pain related to the weather is a good day and definitely permits spending extra time outside.

Few thoughts about the awesome weather...

If all winter you swore you'd take a trip to get out of iowa because of the weather...still take it despite the nice weather.

Grilling...

Unless you a seasoned grill master, start the season with hot dogs and polish sausage..don't get a fancy Guy Firrar recipe and set yourself up for a grilling disaster.

If you are "grilling out,"...entertain out. Have outside activities for your guest or your family to do

while the food is being cooked..this adds to the experience and some examples include Bags,

frisbee, playing catch, side walk chalk, ect, ect...

First grill session, go all out...buy the party dip even though it will be gone in 30 minutes and if you

know your guests like certain condiments, buy them.

Spring/Summer vacation...

1Determine your budget.

2Plan a date.

3Only include people that you want to vacation with...don't feel obligated to invite "extras" if you know they will ruin your trip.

4Save a X amount of money each week until that planned date and GO...get out of here...go on a vacation whether your budget allows for a camping trip to Jester Park, a road trip to KC, or a cruise through the Bahamas...set a date and go..and love it..don't be embarrassed because you think your vacation isn't good enough...Remember, mind over mater.

i'm out,

the grill master, AK.......hotdogs and polish tonight.