Thriller

Tomorrow is Halloween.  Definitely not one of my favorite holidays, but it's a fun day none the less.  I remember being little and being so excited to run around with all of my neighborhood friends amassing as much candy as we could carry.


This year, while I won't be trick-or-treating or even handing out candy (how do kids trick-or-treat in the city?), I was able to make a costume and go out with some friends down in Springfield.  We had some fun arts-and-crafts time making our costumes and once at the bar we were told by many people that our costumes were their favorites!  Yay!  My roommate was the ABCs while my other friends and I were a game of beer pong.  Here's a picture - 

In honor of tomorrow being October 31st, the song of the day is 'Thriller' by Michael Jackson.  It's the perfect creepy, great song for Halloween!

Sleepwell Chicago

A few years ago I heard a Christmas song by an artist named Trent Dabbs.  Other than that one song, I had never heard any of his other songs until just recently.

I was watching tv a few weeks ago and heard a song that I immediately thought "wow, that sounds like that guy who sings my favorite Christmas song."  I googled the lyrics and low and behold, it was a Trent Dabbs song!  I have now you-tubed him and listened to a number of his songs and am itching to go to the library and see if they have any of his CDs.

One of his songs, "Sleepwell Chicago," is the song of my day.  The tone of his voice is so simple and just because he sings about Chicago, I automatically like the song :-).

I highly suggest finding some of his songs online!

I Love College

It's been two and a half years since I graduated college and this weekend is homecoming at my alma mater.  While I cannot go this year, I am reminded of all of my incredible friends and memories from my four years of college.

One song that my friends and I repeatedly sang our senior year was called "I Love College" by Asher Roth.  We heard it on our spring break trip and for the rest of the year we played it constantly.

I love the life that I've been living since college and am so grateful for all of the opportunities that I have been given, but I still miss the feeling of being on a college campus walking across the quad in my jeans and jacket marveling at the changing leaves and saying hello to so many people on a daily basis.  I miss having such a big part of my group just a few steps from me and always available for a chat or hangout.

I suppose a better song would be "I Miss College."  However, then I would be wanting a song about loving my post-college life :-).  Can't have the best of both worlds!

Days Go By

The first Keith Urban song I remember hearing was "Days Go By."  From that day on I knew that I would be a fan of his.


Last night I went to the second to last concert of Keith Urban's Get Closer World Tour with my good friend from high school.  We got a head start and had dinner at a little whole-in-the-wall Italian restaurant in Des Plaines and then headed over to Allstate Arena for the show.  I was pleasantly surprised by the opening act, Jake Wilson, and look forward to hearing more of him because I think he has a lot of potential.  

Me and V before the show! 

Jake Owen 

Smiling and playing

The main attraction, Keith Urban, was fantastic!  He seemed so genuinely happy to be playing for us and was very personable and funny with the crowd.  His banter came naturally as did his smile which made him seem just like a normal person who happens to have an amazing talent and 'day job.'  Overall he put on a great show and the whole crowd had a ton of fun!  

I've Got a Crush

Yes... I have a crush on someone.  I'm not going to go into any details like who.  Don't you think it's fun to have crush on someone?  Someone who you hope to see or run into, someone who can make your heart skip a beat?  


Song of the day is "I've Got a Crush," performed by the one and only Ella Fitzgerald.


How glad the many millions of Timothys and Williams
Would be to capture me
But you had such persistence,
you wore down my resistance
I fell, and it was swell

You're my big and brave and handsome Romeo
How I won you, I shall never, never know

It's not that you're attractive
but, oh, my heart grew active
When you came into view

I've got a crush on you, sweetie pie
All the day and night-time,
hear me sigh
I never had the least notion
That I could fall with so much emotion

Could you coo?
Could you care
For a cunning cottage we could share?
The world will pardon my mush
'Cause I've got a crush, my baby, on you

(instrumental break)

Could you coo?
Could you care
For a cunning cottage we could share?
The world will pardon my mush
'Cause I've got a crush, my baby, on you

Yes, I've got a crush, my baby, on you


Whatever happens, it's just fun to have the anticipation of seeing someone :-).

Somebody Else's Song

I've been a floor nurse for almost 2 and a half years now and I am ready to move on.  Do I want to move to the ICU?  Do I want to get my masters?  If I get my masters I think that I would go the management & leadership route.  The only part of going that way is that it would take me out of patient care.  I love patient care, that is why I am a nurse, but of all of the graduate programs/routes for nurses, I feel like I could do this.  I've been thinking about this for a long time, but something is holding me back, something is keeping me from making the leap into something new.


The song of my day is "Somebody Else's Song" by Lifehouse.


Here are some of the lyrics 


"I've got somebody else's thoughts
In my head, I want some of my own
I want some of my own, I want some of my own

Well, am I hiding behind my doubts?
Are they hiding behind me
And closer to finding out?
It doesn't mean anything"


Historically, I have been a doubter of myself and of my abilities.  This intensified when I was in nursing school and had a professor question me and my desire to be a nurse and who questioned my ability to succeed.  This professor's comments shook my to my core and I don't know that all of my psyche has ever fully recovered.  


When I think about moving to an ICU I question my knowledge base and my ability to handle the intensive care.  When I think about grad school and becoming a manager of a unit, I question my leadership and ability to play out that role successfully in a hospital.  Part of me hears my professors words in my head, knocking me down.  Part of me hears my own words in my head knocking me down even more.


I don't like having negative thoughts in my head, and they are thoughts that I have to remind myself are untrue.  I know that I am good at what I do.  I know that I am knowledgeable.  But why is it so hard for me to make the leap into the unknown?

It Is Well With My Soul

It's a beautiful day outside and all is 'well with my soul.'  The song of the day is the Jars of Clay version of "It Is Well With My Soul."




When peace like a river attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
What ever my lot you have taught me to say
It is well, it is well with my soul

Though the devil will ruin, though trials may come
Let this blessed assurance control
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate
And He shed His own blood for my soul

It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought
My sin not in part but the whole
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh my soul

It is well, with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

And Lord haste the day when my faith shall be sight
And the clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul

It is well with my soul
It is well, it is well with my soul