Pan: Untold Story

     A few posts ago, I introduced you all to the trifecta of my fascinating people and/or historical events. I cannot stress enough just how much I love that list. I think I have done pretty well these past few weeks...read 11/22/63 (gave me my Kennedy fix), watched Titanic on Saturday and then again on Tuesday (I lose it at the same part every single time. This time it was worse because I cried in anticipation of said part. That was new for me), and finished Untold Story, a fiction novel about my favorite princess, Princess Diana.

     I first read about Monica Ali's new book in a People magazine what seems like forever ago. As soon as I read the review, I knew I just had to have it. Hell, as soon as I saw the cover picture (this is me, judging books by covers) I knew I just had to have it. Unmistakeable silhouette of Princess Diana? Go ahead and take my money already. I really enjoy the 'historical fiction' kind of concept that is seen in Philippa Gregory novels circa Queen Elizabeth and the Tudors, so I was happy to see a modern member of the royal family get her story told as well. This book proved to be pretty tough to find, and after many trips to Half-Priced and Sam's and Target and Wal-Mart, I ended up getting lucky at a Barnes & Noble back home. I did a double-take past the New Arrivals and snagged me one. Great success.

     The story revolves around Lydia, a middle-aged woman living in small town Kensington, America. The reader quickly becomes privvy to an elaborate plan thought up by the former Princess Di and her faithful adviser, Lawrence, that involves Diana faking her death in order to escape the wrath of scrutiny from in-laws and paparazzi alike. The novel is set at the 10-year anniversary of Diana's "death" and we are introduced to her new life as she continuously copes with her decision to flee. Lydia's perpetual guilt for leaving her boys behind subtly adds to the melancholy undertones of the novel as a whole.

     Lydia's world is turned upside down when a former royal family paparazzo and admirer rolls in to Kensington, looking for a place to stay overnight. Grabber is simply passing through town on his way to Los Angeles, but has stumbled upon the biggest story of his life. It's the touch of green in her bright blue eyes.

     Monica Ali really surprised me with this story. I was very excited to get going on this, and I can say that I wasn't disappointed. There is romance, mystery, and action, all in just the right amounts. I'm a sucker for the -isms (parallel, symbol, and all the others) and the character development comes together just right. The ending is so perfect and so unexpected and I wouldn't have it any other way.
       

Pin: Refinished Dresser

     After living with a 30-year old dresser for the past 15 years of my own life, I decided it was about time to  fix it up. The wood is pretty, but the glossy polyurethane coating and 1980s hardware just make it look a little outdated. These observations, combined with some Pinterest inspiration, led me to the local Home Depot. Now don't get me wrong, I love Home Depot. The crafting possibilities seem endless and I really like the tool shed-y smell (is that weird?). At the same time, this place is so intimidating to me. I know absolutely nothing about building or painting things and I bless the man who had to help me that day. I admit that I am a terrible decision maker, so you can imagine my struggles with flat vs. eggshell vs. satin vs. semi-gloss vs. gloss finish paints. It's stressful thinking about it now. BUT! about an hour and $40 later, I had a primer, two quart-sized paint colors, and a couple of free paint sticks in my hands and was headed home.

     This is my biggest project to date.

Goal!

Snazzy, eh?

This whole adventure really didn't require too many supplies. Primer, two 1-quart cans of different colored paint, brushes, and a paint stick. I suggest investing in halfway-decent paint brushes. This is the one thing I would have changed if I were to go back and do it all again. A $3 brush set from Habit for Humanity's Renovation Station left me with some imperfections, but nothing terrible.

     My original plan was to completely sand off the polyurethane coating in order to get rid of that glossy look. However, my paint man at Home Depot sold me on the idea of using a primer that will adhere to the polyurethane and thus eliminate the need to sand it down. The Zanssir 1-2-3 Primer worked great. I painted this piece in two different colors--a white for the drawer fronts and a deep brown for the actual dresser. For this, I used satin finish Behr in Gallery White and Bear Rug. My dresser is relatively small, so I was able to pull off quart-sized paints with no problems.

     I used our apartment balcony as a workspace. Oklahoma is experiencing some incredible 108+ degree weather right now, so working outside was a challenge in and of itself. I did not purchase a protective tarp, instead I actually used an old shower curtain liner I had lying around. This worked just as well. Side note, every time I am reading a craft blog in which the writer claims they just happened to have "______ lying around," I am always so jealous. Some people have the handiest things lying around. So it was cool for me to be able to have said thing as well...the priming took about an hour in order to complete a single coat for all four drawers. I went with two coats to be on the safe side.

After two coats of the Gallery White

     Once I primed and painted my drawers, I moved on to the body of the dresser. Spending just 20 minutes under the Oklahoma City sun had me feeling like I underestimated the size of this thing. I was able to complete two coats of the Bear Rug in a few days, however. My work schedule is off the wall and sometimes it was just too hot to feel like doing much of anything, so it probably took longer than need be. However, I was totally satisfied with my pace. 

Bear Rug sans drawers

     The last part of my project was the most frustrating of all. I wanted new hardware and I was bound and determined to purchase pretty drawer pulls. The top two drawers of my dresser have single pulls (easy!) and the bottom two have longer handles (NOT easy). Long story short, I spray painted the bottom two pulls and reused them. For the life of me I could not find an exactly 4'' long handle and I wasn't about to get wood filler, repaint, and use a power drill for new holes. Nope.

9 years later

The belfry in Ghent, Belgium overlooks this piece of handywork. As does Paris' Sacre'-Coeur

     Your turn!

Pan: 11/22/63

     Let me preface this post by saying that there are three specific historical events and/or people that fascinate me. Absolutely fascinate me. I wish I could more eloquently describe how I feel about each of these things, but I get so worked up I can hardly wrap my mind around it all in order to write something remotely sensible. My trifecta is in no way, shape, or form in any kind of preferential order, as I simply cannot choose which one means the most to me. Nonetheless, here they are:

1. Titanic- the ship, the sinking of, passengers, underwater wreckage, etc. 

2. The life and death of Princess Diana

3. The assassination of President John F. Kennedy

     With that being said, you can only imagine my feelings of excitement over hearing about this new fiction writing, 11/22/63, which relates to the shooting of JFK at Dealy Plaza. I was a little wary with it being a Stephen King novel, as I've got these preconceived notions about horror and gore and just general creepy weirdness associated with his books (Carrie...It...Kujo...Rose Red?!). But alas, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is in my fascination trifecta, so I just couldn't say no. 11/22/63 made for a great present under the Christmas tree in 2011. Thanks brother and sister-in-law!

I love a good conspiracy theory. Apparently, so does Jerry. The Seinfeld of Zapruder films

      With the 50 Shades trilogy behind me, I was ready to start something a little more intellectually stimulating. And grammatically correct. And good. So this was a very nice change. The novel is 842 pages of serious action. Now that may seem like a daunting number, but it is broken up in to shorter sections within chapters within 6 different parts. This makes it not so intimidating and definitely doable. The book follows the adventures of our main character Jake Epping, a high school English teacher from Maine. Recently divorced with no children, he appears to be the perfect candidate for a 5-year stint in time travel, or so Al the Diner Owner believes.

     Jake is a regular at Al's Diner, a place known for cheap burgers made with questionable beef. Al explains to Jake his discovery of a wormhole-like time warp concealed within the back end of his diner's pantry. Jake tests out its validity and spends an afternoon in 1958 ("always starts in 1958," he learns from Al) drinking a root beer float and chatting with the locals. He returns to 2011 a mere two minutes after he stepped out of the diner pantry and in to the sunlight of the late 1950s ("always back in two minutes," he learns from Al). Al divulges his plans for time traveling to Jake, plans that involve stopping Lee Harvey Oswald from shooting President John F. Kennedy in Dallas 1963. Al admits that he himself cannot accomplish the task, as his health is declining rapidly from end-stage lung cancer. Jake, reluctant at first, agrees to travel in time and fight to change the past.  

     Reminiscent of Ray Bradbury, 11/22/63 will appeal to those of you who are fans of the science fiction/doomsday/what if kind of novel. In true Stephen King style, there is plenty of gore to go around. However, there is plenty of action and adventure as well. There is even a little bit of love, which I am a total sucker for. In true Stephen King style, it gave me the chills. 

Pin: Burlap Canvas with Wooden Letter Initial

     Since joining Pinterest about a year ago, I really believe I have unleashed my inner crafter. I have spent more time in a Home Depot in the past 6 months than ever before. I buy yards of fabric at Hobby Lobby. I nailed an outline of the state of Oklahoma to a 2'x2' piece of wood. I have a pallet hiding out in my garage, waiting for the perfect function. I am poised to refinish a dresser. It's fun and sort of addicting.

     While prepping for the NCLEX, my pinning and crafting ventures were put on hold. Now that all of that is done and over with (received my license in the mail today!), I decided to get back to it and have a little fun on this rainy day in Houston.

     Jamie and I have been in our new apartment for a little over a month now. We have tons of great wall space and I have been looking for something simple to fill some of it up. With a little Pinterest inspiration, I ended up with this:

I actually made two, one 'S' and one 'J'

     The canvases turned out really cute! I think the hardest part will be figuring out where they will go! This was super easy and only took about 30 minutes to complete. In reality you could probably move even faster than that, I just get to be super picky with gluing and things being even...

Supplies: 1 yard of burlap fabric, 1 small canvas, 1 white wooden letter, hot glue gun (or a staple gun, whichever works best for you), and 2 packages of the Paper Studio brand adhesive gemstones

     I actually substituted the gemstones for the nailheads that were originally suggested for the project. You can really use myriad materials for the border!

Wrap the burlap around the canvas. Like a present! Make sure the material is taut. 

Add the adhesive gemstones for a border. The gemstone strips are actually much longer than the length and width of the canvas, but they cut really easily in order to fit for size. Note: the rogue gem on the left side of the canvas did not stray for long. That baby saw the scissors. 

     Finish up your border, hot glue the wooden letter, and you've got yourself a finished product! Easy peasy.

Pan: The Lost Symbol

     Being the avid reader that I am (or think I am, rather), I have established a couple of rules for myself when it comes to tackling a book. 1) If I start a book, I must finish said book and 2) the decision to reread a book can be made only after determining that said book is declared above and beyond in worthiness. Admittedly, I have broken Rule #1 on two occasions: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson and Committed (ironic?) by Elizabeth Gilbert. Just couldn't get into them. Rule #2 is highly selective and reserved only for the elite of the elite. Namely Harry Potter (three times thinking about a fourth) and Wuthering Heights. Classic!

     As it is so out of character for me to reread a novel, I was surprised to find myself wanting to pick up The Lost Symbol for a second time. A few months ago, I purchased this gem at the local Half-Priced Books in the clearance section for $1. I've read all of Dan Brown's novels and have yet to be disappointed in any of his stories. However, for some reason I just couldn't remember the plot to this one at all. I could tell you where I was when I first read it--sophomore in college living in an apartment complex on campus--but that's about as far as it goes.

     The Lost Symbol is the third novel in which Harvard professor Robert Langdon involuntarily plays the role of detective. This guy must be a magnet for mysteries and madmen, as indicated by his previous adventures in The DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons. In Symbol, Langdon is summoned by an old friend of his, Peter Solomon. More specifically, Peter Solomon's assistant (this is important, I promise). The assistant asks if it is possible for the professor to come to Washington, D.C. to deliver a keynote address for a charity function, as the initial speaker has unexpectedly cancelled. Langdon flies to D.C., only to discover that there is no charity function and that he is now in the midst of a hostage/solve the puzzle/wild goose chase kind of a situation. He realizes fast that the "assistant" to Peter Solomon is in fact the criminal in all that is going on. The novel is written from multiple point of views, three of which are most prominent: Robert Langdon, Mal'akh the kidnapper, and Peter Solomon's sister Katherine Solomon. The Lost Symbol focuses on the Freemason society and highlights important symbolism within the unique community as well as various rituals that are required for each degree of membership.

     Brown's writing is so fun and so exciting to read, his books are just too difficult to put down. I love how he incorporates American history with modern-day science into this particular novel and as I finish this, I can't help but think I learned something new with a fiction thriller. As the CIA becomes involved in Langdon's quest to solve the multi-faceted puzzles of the Freemasons, the reader is able to experience Washington, D.C. landmarks like never before. It is easy to see that Dan Brown's 1.5+ years of historical research regarding the city monuments, Noetic science, and the Smithsonian Institute was not in vain and makes for great read. I am so excited for his next novel, believed to be released in the next year.

Pan: Kaplan NCLEX-RN Review

     Despite having taken a three-day Hurst Review course at the college, I was looking to get more practice in with NCLEX-style questions. I decided to attack the exam from both angles: combine content-based Hurst and strategy-based Kaplan.

     The Kaplan Review book is about 300 pages and contains 335 questions, a part of which being a full-length exam. Inside the book is a CD with an additional 265-question practice exam. The first section of the book breaks down different aspects of the NCLEX exam itself, including approximate percentages of each type of question, such as Management and Delegation, Safety, and Disease Pathophysiology. The second section covers different Kaplan strategies that promise success on test day if utilized correctly. These strategies, such as breaking down the stem of the question, looking at "select alls" as true and false, and going with safety first really do help to narrow down answer choices. The end of each chapter features 30 practice questions that cover the previous content. Each question includes rationales for both the right and wrong answers, which I believe to be very helpful. I bought this package at a local Barnes & Noble for $30.

     In all honesty, I did not complete this workbook. I did not finish each chapter's review questions and only made it through the first 90 of the practice exam. I probably answered maybe 200/600 questions total. It isn't that the book wasn't helpful, I simply believe that I became so burnt out with studying I could not look at any more review material. I wanted more questions because I was worried, but in hindsight I know the Hurst book was all I really needed. I am thankful that this was no more than $30.

I became a Registered Nurse on June 28th, 2012!

Pan: 50 Shades Freed

     50 Shades Freed--the third and final novel in the infamous 50 Shades trilogy by rookie author EL James. It's about time...my subconscious is rejoicing that we are finally done.

     With each of these three books, I have complained and complained and complained about the writing, storyline, and lack of character development James gives (or doesn't give) the reader. I can't help but laugh however, as I stuck by the series and made it a point to follow through. I'll admit, I was ready to throw in the towel 12 pages in to this last one, but I have a tiny issue with starting a book and not finishing it.

     Freed picks up with Mr. and Mrs. Christian Grey honeymooning via private yacht through the south of France. I legitimately snorted, closed the book, and shook my head in disbelief for a solid couple of minutes at Christian's shocking, "marking his territory" move with Ana after a wardrobe malfunction on the beach. To this day, I simply do not understand why hundreds of thousands of women swear up and down that Christian Grey is the type of man every girl should want. His controlling nature is beyond frustrating and in no way attractive. To a point it is almost shocking. I never had any respect for Ana, as she is hopelessly in love with a man so demeaning. As I read through the Christian and Ana Honeymoon chapters, I found myself consulting a political map of France one too many times. Something just wasn't adding up--how can they be yachting in the clear blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, yet take a day trip on land to Versailles? James's paralleling Ana's inner struggle with her marriage to the Hall of Mirrors made for a silly geographical error. In the author's defense, I am a little overly-sensitive with anything relating to that part of Europe, as I left my heart overseas following a recent vacation to England, Belgium, France, and Switzerland. Regardless, issues like that are 9th grade World Geography.

     The real "story" unfolds when Christian learns of a break-in-arson attempt to his home in Seattle, affecting information technology of Grey Interprises Holdings, Inc. The Greys' are faced with another stalker, and it's another 500 pages of the same ol' stuff. Breathing hitches, faces flush and blush, mouths turn in to hard lines, and brows furrow. My favorite is a furrowed brow with widened eyes. Practice that one a few times and let me know if it is physiologically possible. New language not previously seen in the earlier books: Mr. and Mrs. Grey. It was cute the first few times and I can see why, what with them being newlyweds. However, by the end of the book you could swear they forgot their own first names. Man, it was irritating. Following the happily-ever-after epilogue, the reader is treated with a rare glimpse into the mind of Christian Grey. He recounts various events from his childhood as well as the interview in which he first met Anastasia Steele. Stephanie Meyer's Midnight Sun, anyone?

     The author concludes the book with a "that's all...for now" line that made me roll my eyes while my subconscious is shaking her head. Know when to stop James, just know when to stop.

Pan: Hurst NCLEX-RN Review

     This past Tuesday, June 26th 2012, was the biggest day of my life. I realize it is bold to place such a label on a single day, and as I have lived 22 years' worth of days, that has pretty substantial meaning. On June 26th, I took the NCLEX.

     The National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses is a computer-based, adaptive, scary, potentially-265-questions test nursing school students are required to take following graduation. The NCLEX is designed to illustrate for your respective state's Board of Nursing committee that as a new graduate nurse, you know enough to provide safe and competent care in your setting of practice. The test is a combination of multiple choice, dosage calculation, audito/visual, and "place in order" questions reflective of two years' worth of Bachelor of Science in Nursing course curriculum. Testers may receive a minimum of 75 questions (15 of which are prototypes and do not count for or against you) and must achieve a score of 75% or greater for the exam to shut off. If by question 75 you have not made the benchmark, the computer will continue to generate questions up to 265. This test was beyond intimidating, as both my own self esteem and spot in the graduate nurse residency program at my hospital were on the line.

     In the off chance that I have a reader who is prepping for the NCLEX, currently enrolled in nursing school, or even just thinking about nursing school, I thought it would be a good idea to review my Bible Hurst book to 1) mix things up when it comes to my choice of book reviews and 2) give an honest opinion about what it was like to study for the exam. The Hurst Review, hosted by the one and only Aunt Marlene Hurst, is a three-day live review crash course of a lecture I signed up to take at the end of May. Such review courses are completely optional and by no means as a graduated student do you have to take one, it was just a decision that I felt was best for me. Hurst study material focuses on nursing school content such as pathophysiology and pharmacology rather than test-taking strategies such as "recognize the stem of the question" or "think Maslow." I have friends from my graduating class who chose to take a strategy-based Kaplan review course who had nothing but good things to say. When it comes to choosing between the two, it really just depends on your learning style and what you think you need--do you struggle with understanding what the question is really asking, or do you want to brush up on the specifics of cirrhosis and pancreatitis?

     It is a little tough to agree with the asking price, but I am so glad I chose to invest $350 in to a Hurst Review. The live lectures are 8 hours each day for three days straight and you are provided with "4th and 5th Day" material via the Hurst website. The student workbook is a 250 page fill-in-the-blank lecture complete with diagrams, lab values, medications, and practice questions organized by body systems. Each section (i.e. Cardiac or Renal) incorporates each particular disease process with signs and symptoms, diagnostics, and treatment options. According to the course director, your success on the NCLEX is reflective of your ability to talk through the workbook; recall and understand the information provided. In the 4 weeks at 4 hours a day of studying, I made it through the workbook twice and was able to consistently lecture myself on the material. In addition to live lectures, Hurst provides you with "Q Reviews," six 125-question practice exams that contain rationales for all answer choices. In my opinion, much more than worth it.

     It was so difficult to stay so dedicated to my study regimen, but it definitely paid off in the end. My NCLEX shut off after 56 minutes at 75 questions. My palms were sweaty and my heart was beating out of my chest it was so stressful. To have two years of a college program summed up in 75 questions is so hard to believe! My official score is not expected to be posted until 48 hours following my exam time, so I have one more day of waiting. However, according to "the trick," the registration website did not let me finalize another scheduled exam with a credit card payment. The ladies at the testing center swear up and down it is legit.
   

Pan: 50 Shades Darker

     "I gasp then flush crimson while my inner goddess scoffs at my subconscious as my 50 Shades looks at me with his grey eyes blazing fire..." EL James's writing in a nutshell. This is not an actual sentence from either of her two books I have read, but I swear these are the only words she uses.

     In the second installment of Jame's 50 Shades trilogy, the reader is pulled further in to the twisted relationship of the protagonists Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey. Unlike the first novel in the series however, 50 Shades Darker has an added element of mystery that for me, makes this one just a little bit more interesting.

     James left us hanging in 50 Shades of Grey as Ana breaks up with Christian, as Ana believes that she is not capable of being the type of woman he needs to keep him both physically and emotionally satisfied. 50 Shades Darker picks up not but a few days after the Red Room of Pain walkout and it takes less than a chapter for the couple to resolve their deep-seated issues and get back together. Ana remains as needy and timid as ever, with Grey no less controlling. He vows to try his [twitching] hand at a normal, monogamous no-dom-no-sub relationship with Ana this time around and she is just as eager to please. James spends too much time trying to gain the reader's sympathy by revealing bits and pieces of Grey's troubled past in an attempt to explain why he is the way he is. She is not afraid to describe every single "pained expression" with every single touch of Ana's hand. I am rolling my eyes every single time.

     Ana acquires a stalker in this one; a Christian ex-submissive. She also gets a sleazy publisher boss. Ever the problem-solver, Grey hides the troubled girl away in a rehabilitation facility and buys out Ana's employer. Christian goes missing for a few hours after a helicopter ride goes awry and gives Ana an engagement ring. Aside from these, the book is pretty non-eventful. And even then, the events are actually pretty non-eventful. It ends with Christian and Ana being watched and plotted against by an unknown adversary who seems to be out for revenge for some kind of wrongdoing. I literally laughed out loud. I am now officially 2/3 of the way through the series, and I figure after my nursing boards are complete I will read the last book. I want this time to come and go, as I have a few real-life, critically acclaimed novels ready and waiting in my arsenal. I need to get away from the 50 Shades/Twilight neediness who make up such annoying and boring characters. This series is just wearing me out!

Pan: 50 Shades of Grey

       For as long as I have wanted to do this, I am really not too proud of the fact that 50 Shades of Grey is the feature novel in my very first post. However, everyone has to start somewhere, and as 50 Shades is EL James's first novel, it works out pretty well. Common bond established.

     I first heard the buzz on 50 Shades early one morning at work. One of the nursing ladies was reading it on her iPhone and stealing nervous glances around the room while doing so. There are a lot of male nurses in our ICU, and she didn't want to run the risk of the boys on our unit nagging her. Unfortunately, she never stood a chance. Through the adversity she stayed strong, and I'm pretty sure by the end of that 12-hour shift she had finished the book. On her iPhone. That in and of itself amazes me. She filled me in on the plot line--I use that term loosely here--during our lunch break, and I ultimately decided that I really and truly wasn't all that interested in the story. Shortly thereafter, the book made all kinds of headlines, and I finally caved at a Target late one night. Naturally, I was shoe shopping and wandered in to the book section. I thought it was about time that I should try and give Christian Grey a chance.

Yep. Ana's inner goddess has to love this song

     For those of you who do not know the history of 50 Shades of Grey, the novel is actually a professionally-edited fanfiction based on the Twilight saga. The main characters, Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, are modified versions of Stephanie Meyer's Bella Swan and Edward Cullen. Ana meets Christian while subbing in as an interviewer for her university's student newspaper. From the very start of her clumsy entrance in to his office, the two are attracted to each other in a way that they themselves cannot explain. Ana is floored that the billionaire entrepreneur is even remotely interested in her, and she stumbles her way through their first few dates completely bewildered. Flash forward to Christian revealing he wants to continue seeing Ana with a BDSM twist, pending she signs his contract agreement. Eight hours of sleep a night, a personal trainer, three meals a day, weekends dedicated solely to him, and mutually agreed-upon "hard and soft limits" are just a few of his conditions. It is difficult not to sympathize with Ana as she physically and emotionally struggles with Christian's lifestyle. The book gets pretty steamy as the two explore their relationship, and you'll find yourself wanting to take a cold shower after reading a select few chapters.

     At the end of the day, I am still really and truly not interested in the story. James's overuse of "hitches" and "flush" and "oh my!" get annoying fast, and I had enough after 500 pages of the same cliche' language. I think this book could be a great recommendation to a certain type of person (this can be said about any book), but that person just isn't me. However, I can't help but laugh when I found myself interested enough to start 50 Shades Darker. The author conveniently leaves us hanging, wondering what happens with Ana and Christian. Before I knew it, I was at Target once again.