the little orange panda in the corner

Meme thingie from sam

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 09:22:23 GMT

1. Go to http://www.careercruising.com/.
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark.
3. Take their "Career Matchmaker" questions.
4. Post the top ten results

And like Sam and everyone else I'm putting all 40. Everything I have considered being or would like to be is in bold. Whee! This thing is quite accurate. Nifty.

1.Nurse Practitioner (!)
2.Kinesiologist
3.Massage Therapist
4.Neurologist
5.Postal Clerk (??)
6.Anesthesiologist
7.Physician Assistant (!!)
8.Researcher
9.Doctor (!)
10.Obstetrician-Gynecologist
11.Health Records Professional
12.Naturopath
13.Professor
14.Forestry Technician
15.Mental Health Nurse
16.Print Journalist
17.Curator
18.Historian
19.Political Aide
20.Correctional Officer (?)
21.Library Technician
22.Librarian
23.Gardener
24.Anthropologist (!)
25.Foreign Language Instructor
26.ESL Teacher
27.Receptionist / Information Clerk
28.Medical Transcriptionist
29.Animal Trainer
30.Paramedic (!)
31.Security Guard
32.Horse Trainer
33.Driving Instructor
34.Physical Therapist
35.Chiropractor
36.Physical Therapy Assistant
37.Nurse
38.Environmental Consultant
39.Dermatologist
40.Genetic Counselor

behold!

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 05:10:59 GMT

Baby
Originally uploaded by misskcombs

My new car. Damn it rocks. Yay!

car car car

Wed, 30 May 2007 06:46:26 GMT

I got a car!!! Yay!!!!! And I love it. The suckfest seems to be winding down.

Also, my birthday is coming up next week. Still not sure what to do for it. But I think it will be rad nonetheless.

Thu, 17 May 2007 19:16:31 GMT

Dear God,

As you know, April and May have just been one giant suckfest for me, and I have to say I am really not sure what you're getting at here.

So....WTF?

Please be more clear about what sort of life changes you want me to make. Or, just remedy the suckfest situation and just have June and the rest of the summer be really cool.

Thanks.

Katarina

hate hate hate

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 05:40:05 GMT

For those of you who I haven't talked to in a while: I was in a car accident like three weeks ago and my car was TOTALED. That's right. Stitch is dead. He's gone to car heaven. AKA the salvage yard.

I have since been searching for a new car.

I have since decided that shopping for new cars trumps all the other things I hate shopping for.
I hate Christmas shopping.
I hate bathing suit shopping.
I hate shoe shopping.

Car shopping is worse than all these things COMBINED.

It does not help that I cannot afford a car payment and therefore must purchase a car outright.
It also does not help that all cars in the SoCal area under $5000 are POS-es. (POSs? POS's? Whatever.)

And I am now officially convinced that all car salesmen are the devil. They are not helpful at all and never want to sell me anything that I can reasonably pay for. Bastards!!!

AND!!! The guy that was supposed to sell me the car that I actually was really excited about and was planning to buy TOMORROW MORNING SOLD MY CAR TO SOMEONE ELSE ONE HOUR AGO BECAUSE I, like any NORMAL PERSON, do not drive around with $4000 in cash on my person.
Apparently some asshole from Pomona does do this.
And now the car is gone.
I plan to assassinate both of these jerks later.

I.
HATE.
CAR.
SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GODDAMNIT!!!

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 03:39:09 GMT

I heart Mickey Avalon and you all should too.

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 07:00:14 GMT

Even pandas have to shape up to get some tail!

To Do '007

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 07:59:19 GMT

1. Figure out a way to attend school without digging a financial hole to China
2. Save money to do stuff that I really want to do, like go to Quo Vadis/Burning Man/volunteer for NBTSC
3. Start working out again
4. Eat healthier and more organically
5. Write thank-you notes
6. Be a better girlfriend and continue honing those communication and relating skillz
7. Meditate
8. Bake more often
9. Keep in touch with people
10. Seriously try to get better at mathematics
11. Remember to take vitamins
12. Spend more time at the beach
13. Pay off car
14. Take a random fun class just for the heck of it
15. Save Darfur
16. Donate to my favorite charities more often
17. Avoid getting robbed blind by library late fees
18. Keep house so well I will be able to give Ryan's mom a run for her money someday
19. Read even more books than this year
20. Buy a bicycle and ride it
21. Go to the San Diego Zoo again (and again and again and again)
22. Visit Disneyland
23. Get better at paying bills on time
24. Create a peaceful haven in the house (candles/incense lit, fountain running, plants in water)
25. Keep a day to day snippet journal

new year

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 09:00:17 GMT

1. What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?
Saw a panda for the FIRST TIME EVER IN REAL LIFE at the San Diego Zoo, moved to Newport Beach, started school for nursing, got my CNA/CHHA licenses, turned 22, went to Vegas, smoked from a hookah, babysat a schizophrenic person, held/fed/changed an infant, trick-or-treated with my patients at the children's hospital at Halloween, worked at Abercrombie, as a private duty nurse assistant, and as an assistant at a physical therapy office.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Pretty much...I kind of tapered off on the going to the gym part, but that's one of my resolutions for this year...

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Christa and Daniel.....Sada Alejandra Mariano and she is a cutie!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My great great aunt was the only person related to me who passed away, but I did lose a few of my patients, and I can say it affected me just as much as if I had known them for years.

5. What countries did you visit?
Nada......maybe this year....

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Money, affordable rent, a way to see my family more often, less stress, better communication, health insurance, the usual...

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Christmas cause I got to see my family for the first time in a year and a half, San Diego because I got to see pandas for my birthday (summer), Vegas for being fun and extravagant and way over the top in exactly the way I wanted it to be (spring), Ryan's and my anniversary at the Orange Hill restaurant (fall), and all the times I got to go to Hollywood and Santa Barbara because they were so rad. I'll probably always remember walking over the Hollywood Walk of Fame stars on Spike's 21st birthday and having a great time even though I'll never remember what in the hell we were talking about.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting up the courage to go to school, doing really well at school and getting my CNA/CHHA, staying strong throughout the hard parts of my internship.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Losing control of my debt, not being able to make enough money despite working multiple jobs, allowing negative energy to affect me and the way I behaved.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
The flu, achy knees. Nothing serious.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
True Religions (I heart Buffalo Exchange), a DVR, my new schoolbag.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Ryan, Nina, Barry, Beth, Heather, Zen, Huck, Ms. Schrader, Maria, Millie.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mrs. Hill, some of the people from A&F, Ranae.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, car payment/insurance, food, school, gas, phone.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going home for Christmas, seeing pandas, discovering tea, shopping.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
California - Rufus Wainwright
Afterglow - INXS
Sexyback - JT

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder....I was less freaked about money and everything was just more stable in general.
ii. thinner or fatter? About the same, maybe a little fatter from the holidays, but my new years' resolution to work out should take care of that!
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer.......way poorer.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Laughing, going out, trying new restaurants, keeping in touch with people.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying, being frustrated, eating unhealthy food.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with Ryan's and my family and it was one of the best I ever had.

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
I stayed in love with Ryan.

22. How many one-night stands?
Zero.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Survivor, Top Chef.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
I don't hate anyone, but there are a couple of people that I really don't like.

25. What was the best book you read?
Garlic and Sapphires - Ruth Reichl. So super fun, it's a memoir of a food critic who wore different disguises every time she ate out so the chefs/owners wouldn't recognize her.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Damien Rice's new album. I heart him.

27. What did you want and get?
Good grades, a second job, to pass state exams, sexay jeans, a new phone, a cute apartment, and almost everything on my Christmas list.

28. What did you want and not get?
A cute -affordable- apartment, spare time, a winning lottery ticket.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Because Of Winn-Dixie.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to work, and then that weekend we went to San Diego!

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
If I was super rich and could afford to not work and go to school at the same time and could buy plane tickets out to Texas whenever I felt like it.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Classically simple.

33. What kept you sane?
Ryan & Wakazashi.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Natalie Portman.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Darfur.

36. Who did you miss?
My family.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Nina!!

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006:
Just suck it up, face things head-on, and try.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

If I had a million dollars - if I had a million dollars
Well, I'd buy you a house - I would buy you a house
And if I had a million dollars - if I had a million dollars
I'd buy you furniture for your house - maybe a nice chesterfield or an ottoman
And if I had a million dollars - if I had a million dollars
Well, I'd buy you a K-Car - a nice Reliant automobile
And if I had a million dollars I'd buy your love

-Barenaked Ladies

pandas love bandwagons...

Wed, 20 Dec 2006 03:34:47 GMT

On the twelfth day of Christmas, orangepanda sent to me...

Twelve phones talking

Eleven rivers writing

Ten computers a-camping

Nine boys arguing

Eight smiles a-laughing

Seven cities a-squeaking

Six movies a-hiking

Five bi-i-i-ig pants

Four sugar highs

Three cupcake kisses

Two road trips

...and an independence in a bisexuality.

Things That Probably Made My Day Different From Yours

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 04:14:28 GMT

1. Discovering what Rectal Tubing means. (Poor guy.)

2. Hooker hooked to EKGs.

3. The biggest gaping infected cavernous wound I have ever seen.

Sun, 26 Nov 2006 02:36:56 GMT

When I have a crappy day, stuff like this always cheers me up. And you should all subscribe because they donate the cost of your subscription to the organization of your choice!

newport news flash

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 22:34:05 GMT

I love my apartment so much. Even though it is a studio and therefore pretty short on space, it is super cozy and our stuff fits nicely together instead of being all spread out with lots of empty wall space. Empty wall space sucks. And the area is pretty kickass too, with the exception of some certain neighbors. Like the girls next door keep allowing their vicious mini-mutt to crap on our patio. I am sick of picking up little evil yappy-dog turds from MY side of the patio. I blocked off the squeeze-space between the fences and that seems to work well though.

Also the sorority girls in the building across from us frequently indulge in loud chick-fights with other random girls (one night there was a three hour screaming match/throwdown about Newport Beach girls being so much better than Laguna Beach girls, who are SO obviously the bottom of the barrel) which are pretty funny unless they are going on at 3 am on a Tuesday.

And the best news of all is that Ryan and I get to go back to Texas for Christmas for a whole week which we are super excited about! Yay family and friends for the holidays! Joy!

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 22:19:50 GMT

Today was my first day on the oncology floor in the children's hospital.

I tried to brace myself before, told myself it would be fine because I would be able to see it all from safely behind the glass wall of the medical perspective.

But then I was there and I was caring for these kids who are so tiny and frail and bald from chemo, some with these giant tumors, these alien growths taking over their little bodies, and I am seeing DNRs all over their charts and I am seeing the time limit stamped on each short life and it is reflected in some of their eyes, this hopelessness that breaks my heart.

I didn't cry until I got home though.

The other nurses say you get used to it, that it doesn't bother you after enough time goes by.

I don't want to get used to it.

I want it to bother me, and then I want to deal with it.

Everything feels very real right now.

Tue, 07 Nov 2006 20:36:59 GMT

Things that happened today:

1. I held an infant (less than 1 month old) for the first time ever.

2. I fed and burped an infant for the first time ever.

3. I changed my first baby diaper ever.

Things that did not happen today:

1. I did not drop the infant.

2. The infant did not start screaming the minute I picked her up. (Apparently she could not sense my nervousness and lack of infant experience)

3. The infant did not cry at all actually. She just gurgled a bit.

Things I have learned today:

1. Babies are pretty darn cute.

Change of address

Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:23:09 GMT

I have moved! I now reside in Pretentiousville, CA. Please direct all correspondence to this address.
Thank you.

pandas and car thieves

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 19:54:51 GMT

Endless thanks and gratitude go out to my sister for finding me the best icon of all time. Yay!!

So, last night someone broke into my car to steal my DVD of Grey's Anatomy (season one).
That's all.
Just Grey's Anatomy.
They did not take my cash. They did not take my CDs. They did not take my radio/CD player. They did not take my spare purse. They did not take anything else of ANY value WHATSOEVER.
Only Grey's Anatomy.
I would probably be a lot more bummed about having my car broken into if I didn't find this whole thing really funny and ironic. So, Grey's Anatomy thief, if you are truly that big a fan, kudos to you! Enjoy! Be sure to watch the second season!
Now I must search for a new window.

Thu, 07 Sep 2006 19:16:47 GMT

Finally made a Santa Barbara slideshow! It's up on la Myspace.

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 07:54:37 GMT

Watched Grizzly Man last night.
That movie is so f***ed up.
No, seriously.
DIS. TUR. BING.

I don't want to talk about it anymore!

state x-am

Sat, 26 Aug 2006 19:37:26 GMT

I PASSED!

Wed, 23 Aug 2006 04:11:00 GMT

hey hey!

So, as much as I desperately wish I had the time to call/write/IM/telepathically connect with all of you guys, I unfortunately......do not. Sucky! Enter blogs to save the day yet again. Sort of.

Really I just wanted to update those that care about recent events and changes in the saga of Katarina.
As most of you know I'm currently attending school to qualify for my CNA (certified nurse aide) license, the first step of many towards my RN. I will be graduating class on the 24th, as in Thursday, as in the day after tomorrow. Wow! And then I sit for the state exam the next day (eek!), Friday. So wish me luck on that front, cause I will probably be in desperate need of it! After that fall semester starts, during which I will be taking Acute Care, step 2 in the nursing staircase. I'm hoping to get into the LVN program next spring/summerish.

I can't believe I only have one more day left of my clinical internship, which is exciting and really sad at the same time cause I adore so many of my patients and they're all amazing people in their own way, and dealing with so many people and personalities has caused my emotions to run through every feeling humanly possible. I've been confused, frustrated, stressed, and sad, but most of the time I just feel like my heart is absolutely full of happiness right up to the top. I've sat and prayed with people, fought back tears with them, held their hand, listened to their life stories, laughed with them, sang along to songs with them, cheered them on through their physical therapy, wept as they passed from this world, and hugged as many of them as I possibly could.
When I first signed up for this class I wasn't really sure what to expect, particularly since it was going to be my first experience with institutionalized learning, but I was also super apprehensive about clinical. I had no idea how I'd handle a lot of the situations I knew I'd be put in out there. I didn't have a lot of real life experience with blood and gore, not to mention all those other wonderful bodily secretions. I'd never fed someone, never supported an adult's full weight, never seen an uncovered amputation in real life. I could barely sleep the night before our first day at the facility.
But once I got out there, it was like jumping off a ledge and falling into a net of interlocked hands. I was fine. I didn't even flinch the first time I saw a gaping wound, pus and all. Nothing has really grossed me out (well maybe denture cleaning a little, but after the first time, it was all groovy). It all just flowed. And I loved it. I didn't expect to, but I do. It's been the most meaningful experience of my life.
I'm really glad I decided to go the route of CNA/LVN/RN instead of just 4 straight years of studying for RN, because this way I can be working in the field the whole way up the ladder.
I know I'll cry buckets tomorrow. I almost did today when my most difficult patient ended up telling me how much she would miss me and how she really did appreciate all I did for her and my patience throughout her rougher moments, and that she was proud of me for making it to the end. Even if I didn't have everything else, that alone would have made it all worthwhile.
Nina and I went shopping today and picked out a bunch of little trinkets for all of our patients and also for our mentor nurses, who have been the best teachers and rockin babes in their own right.
So, in summary, I am in the best place I could be right now. Life in general is pretty damn rad.
Great friends?
Check.
Great boyfriend?
Check.
Great career in progress?
Check.
Personal goals met?
Check.

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 06:17:32 GMT

Ryan: Wait, he tells me "Get out", and he tells you "You forgot the pepperoni"??

Me: Yup.

Ryan: What a dick.

How To Be A Nurse Pt. 1

Fri, 30 Jun 2006 03:39:08 GMT

So, my first attempt at conventional schooling is going pretty well so far.....I got a 100%/A on one of the three tests we had today. Go me! I await the results of the other two.
Also, three more tests tomorrow. Ack! I should study.
And! Clinical begins in two weeks.
eek.

I miss the Hollywood/Santa Barbara peeps.
Come back guys!

Tue, 30 May 2006 02:55:52 GMT

You Are 72% Girly

You're a pretty girly chick, and you're not ashamed to admit it (or wear pink).
But you're also practical. You can hang with the guys, as long as they're not too gross!

How Girly Are You?

He's a Keeper!

Your guy is a rare find: sweet, kind, and loyal.
And as long as he doesn't have three nippples,
You should seriously consider keeping him a long time

Sometimes a girl can't see a good thing when she's got one
So let me tell you: your guy is a gold medal boyfriend
Just make sure you treat him right in return!

Is He a Keeper?

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 04:46:20 GMT

Today Matt made me touch a sea urchin and it tried to digest my finger!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!

P.S. Sea urchins feel uber gross and are now high up on my list of Things I Hate To Touch.