This week was the best week I had all year. My birthday was on Thursday and all I wanted was to have dinner with my family. Not only did they travel down to St. Louis but all my friends joined as well. Thursday night was the most fun I have had in a long time. So thank you to all those who came out to celebrate with me and my friend NickiJ, whose birthday was also on Thursday. I cant believe it has come and gone already. The biggest surprise I had was two of my team mates got a poster and had people around campus sign their names and write some birthday wishes on it. It was nice to see what people wrote. Best gift of the night.

If anyone is looking for something to do Friday night I have the perfect idea. There is this band called Jake’s Leg that has been playing in St. Louis bars for more then ten years. They are playing at the Shack Pubgrub at nine. The last time I attended it was a blast. It is something different to do around here. So come grab a bite to eat and listen to some good tunes.

Spring break I decided to hit a few golf balls. I never really took interest in the game because my life has always been about basketball, but now that it is over I said heck why not. My boyfriend and I went to South Carolina to this island called Daufuskie. The place is random but well known in the golf community. It is a private golf island that I have been going to for two decades now. Golf is the thing to do when you are older right? Well, my first instinct was to try to hit the ball as hard as I could but then I learned that isn’t necessary at all. After a dozen swings and whiffs I was taught to have a slow back swing and a faster follow through and what do you know I hit the ball every single time. (It may not have been a straight shot everytime but I did hit that small white thing) I am pretty proud of myself considering I never had the patience to play the sport, but I am looking forward to playing nine holes once I get a little better at my drive.

This summer I plan on jumping into my nursing career fast. Before I start my clinical hours in the fall I decided to enroll in a CNA program. While I am getting educated to be a nurse assistant I will be in the hospital environment observing and helping patients. I feel like this will help out while I continue my studies. CNA’s also get paid better than any job I have ever had so it is a win win for me. I have heard from so many of my friends that are currently in Nursing school that it is very hard to do anything else while in training. So I plan on traveling and visiting my boyfriend as much as I can before I start in the fall. I am really excited about it all, but I can wait for summer to arrive.

Spring break is just around the corner and it is my first spring break I don’t go home to work. I will be going to Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. My family and boyfriend, Andrew, will be spending the week there. This island is something special. It is mainly a golf island with three golf courses. You have to be a private member to stay and play. My grandfather found this place over twenty years ago and has been a member ever since. Since we are family and he has a house there, we get to go a couple times a year. The island is seven miles long and four miles wide. The week we are going there will be 23 other vacationers when we are there. Talk about a remote get away. I cannot wait for this break. I hope everyone else is excited as I am. I have already started to pack my bags.

My degree I am working for is nursing. I have aspired to be a nurse ever since I could remember. There were two situations that occurred when I was ten and thirteen that solidified my decision. My first one was in my house. My little brother and sister and I were racing to the swimming pool. As we turned the corner into the kitchen my brother slipped right into the wall corner. He was about five years old at the time and cut a pretty good sized boo boo on his forehead. Immediately, I grabbed the nearest fresh towel and applied pressure to his cut. I picked him up and carried him to the car yelling for my mom and dad and off we went to the hospital.

The second incident was in South Carolina on an island called Daufuskie. My cousins were racing their bikes and crashed into each other. I get a phone call to come over and take a look at their injuries because their mothers were about to be sick from all the blood. I cleaned them up and told them everything was going to be “ok” and off they were back on their bikes. I love caring for other people when they need help. I can make rational decisions while everyone is in panic mode. I feel like a nursing position is a good choice for me.

My last forty minutes of basketball is tonight. I have always had basketball in my life since I have been in 5th grade. I have used up all my athletic eligibility and I’m not sure how I feel about today being my last day playing ball. I am somewhat happy because I am slightly burnt out but I become saddened to know how much I am going to miss these girls. My teammates have become sisters to me and I have never had that happen to me on all of my teams I have played on. I know I will miss it by the end of the week for sure. It is time to grow up and put my big girl panties on. So please come out tonight and encourage our three seniors at 6PM when we battle Greenville for one more victory.

My older sister Danielle is getting married in June, and lucky me I am the maid of honor. Thank god for Pinterest otherwise I would be a lost soul. I am proud to say I have made myself a pro out of wedding research and ideas. So if there is anyone out there that is in need of wedding ideas I have a book load of them. Also, I would like to say congratulations to one of my closet friends who got proposed to last Thursday and I also have the honor of being a bridesmaid in her wedding. I have known her since sixth grade and have always kept in touch. I can’t believe I am getting to the age of wedding. I guess this is the next chapter in my life when all of my friends and siblings get married. It is such a fun experience.

It has been six weeks since I have been home, and I made my way back to Springfield, IL ,Sunday for the Super Bowl. I am not the type to get homesick because I am always so busy and I can admit that I was a week before Sunday. My brother and sisters had so much to tell me I barely got to watch some blacked out football game. My boyfriend, Andrew, came home with me to join the Hogan chaos. The first half of the football game we were all eating bowls and bowls of the delicious homemade chili. We had the option of white chicken chili or regular old fashion heartwarming chili. I couldn’t get enough of both. We were cheering and laughing all the way through Beyonce’s spectacular performance. Then by second half we were all quiet, almost sleeping because of all the food we indulged in. I’m glad I was able to spend some time with my family. It was well needed.

There is this market called “In and Out” located behind St. Mary’s hospital on Clayton road that my friend and I found at the beginning of the school. It has all kind of drinks, a coffee bar, and more. This week I have been fighting for time to get all my homework and projects completed. One morning after 6AM practice I ventured over there for come caffeine to keep me going for the day. The owner, named Jason, told me to take a seat and he would make me the best coffee ever; Twice Baked. It is a mixture of vanilla, caramel, and pumpkin spice. I have been getting one every day now. I highly suggest you stop in and try one over your finals week!!