2008 in Review!

January: I had a very nice start to the year 2008. Before returning to UConn for the spring semester, I went down to my first/only nursing school interview. I knew then that I would love it here, were I to be accepted. I had a fabulous interview experience, and really appreciated how the people were not at all pretentious. Later in the month, we had a superbowl party at the Lilypad, and I rekindled a friendship with an old friend. : )
February: In February, I got my acceptances to my two top schools...yay! But, that meant a lot of thought about my decision. The rest of the month consisted of lists of pros and cons, and seeking advice from friends, family, and professors. For my first Valentine's Day stateside with N., I got flowers delivered to me, along with a lovely visit for the weekend following. Late in the month, I had my senior violin recital! I prepared intensely and I was so happy that it went well (and that it was over!). I STILL have not listened to the recording.
March: Before spring break, I visited my other top school in NYC. Being in New York, especially as a potential inhabitant, gave me this incredible feeling. I was (and still am) thirsty for a life in New York. However, I let that feeling be associated with the school itsself, which wasn't right. At the end of the day, I wouldn't be able to attend unless I completed two courses online before May, which is when their program started. They would not let me defer my acceptance to the following year. I did NOT want to go to a school that didn't want me enough to accomodate me. This is when I made my final decision! I totally made the right one....New York will have to wait another few years! After that redicilous decision was over with, N. and I left on our spring break cruise to the Bahamas! We had SUCH an amazing time! We stopped in Nassau, Key West, and a private Bahamian island. We met some really neat people at our dinner table and at the trivia games that we took by storm. It was so nice to get away after a stressful beginning to the year! April: April is very foggy. I think it was probably a transition month. This was the final full month of school, which meant I was probably writing papers and "studying" and getting ready to graduate. This is the month when things started to become stressful in my house among my roommates.
May: In May, I had my final Symphony concert, followed soon by graduation. Shortly after that, my parents took me to Italy as my graduation gift. We visited a few places, seeing friends and family along the way. When we came back, I saw the Sex and the City movie, which was a very important milestone this year!
June: I started working in June for the same company I had worked for the two previous summers. I'm sure I ate a lot of ice cream this month, too.
July: More working this month. I did my initial move-in to my current apartment and did a lot of shopping and decorating preparation.
August: I had my 22nd birthday in August, which was lovely. I had a skin cancer, which was not fun, and I moved into my apartment for good. I had a lot of gigs this month, and made some cash-money.
September: The first month of school! I met all my amazing friends this month! I also started clinical and put on a set of scrubs for the first time...eek!
October: Very stressful month of school. I took lots of exams and studied a lot. At the end of the month, I went home for Halloween and worked at a haunted house.
November: November was more of the same, except I switched to an AWESOME clinical rotation. I was able to go home for mom's birthday and Thanksgiving, which gave me nice tastes of home during stressful times at school.
December: I survived! I passed my first semester and I'm looking forward to the next one! I started babysitting for a few families to make money, and I also got hired on for a part time job in a violin shop downtown. I went home for Christmas after the crazy snow storm and I've been having a wonderful few weeks here.

Tonight is New Year's Eve, and it's started snowing already. We are supposed to get a pretty heavy storm. N. and I had plans to go out and party and dance at a nice restaurant, but my new party dress will have to stay on the hanger one more night. He will most likely be out sanding and plowing most of the day and night. My job is to buy a bottle of our favorite champagne. Maybe I will surprise him by making a nice dinner! Either way, we will ring in the New Year in a casual manner...hopefully accompanied by a sappy romantic comedy.

A Happy & Healthy 2009 to All!