Today I'm ticked off about my student loans.

Well, for the past 4 years I've been ticked off about my student loans.

When I joined my nursing program in 2002 I had little help from grants. The 2 years before I decided to go to school I worked my tail off. I had 2 jobs and my average work week was between 80-90 hours a week.

What does this mean?

They figured I didn't need any financial help because my income was well above the poverty line. What they failed to realize that going to school would cut into my work week. I kept 2 jobs for a while and went to school full time. I was exhausted. I had to let the part time job go and dropped to a 40 hour work week.

I was poor, buying groceries with Mr. Visa.

In my nursing class about 1/3 of the girls were on government programs. In order to get out of the system they offered these girls a free education which also included free daycare, uniform vouchers, rides to and from class. Excellent idea, but not one of them took the program seriously, not one of them passed their boards, not one of them are currently working as a nurse.

Wasted money.

Two-thirds (65.7%) of 4-year undergraduate students graduate with some debt, and the average student loan debt among graduating seniors is $19,237.

Medical school graduates carry an average of $130,571 in debt.

The average law school student graduates with nearly $80,000 of debt just from law school.

Student loans give everyone the opportunity to follow their dreams. I still can't help but wonder if there is a better way award the hard working people who have proven their dedication to their careers. I will pay off my student loans about the time I retire.

(I'm exaggerating.)

 But the excitement I will feel when they are finally payed off will warrant a huge celebration.

 ~Nursey~

In the past week or so I've listened to the news, mostly on the radio back and forth to work. Two things have really rubbed me the wrong way.

I must rant.

Nebraska is trying to make a law where if you are smoking in the car with children under 16 you will be pulled over and ticketed for $40-$150. There are other states with similar laws.

 I am not suggesting I approve of smoking with children present. Studies show children of smokers have increased ear infections, repiratory infections, colds etc.

Let's ticket the parent on the cell phone while the children are passengers...this seems just as dangerous to me.

You know if these people are smoking with their children in the car they are doing it in their homes, police raids on smokers in their homes?

With the drugs, gangs, and the violent crimes in our cities this seems like a huge waste of police hours. They did say the ticketed parents will be offered a smoking cessation program with their first offensive. That's the key, education. Making educated choices, not laws!!

 One more.... soft drink taxes.

Yep, have a coke and a smile and a tax.

The American Medical Association will consider a recommendation that the nation's largest physicians' group lobby Congress for a tax on soda and other soft drinks to fund anti-fat programs.

Come on now!!

This just gets me. What about the skinny people drinking sugary beverages.

What next?

Did I wake up in the wrong country?

So when you're out today going through the drive thru with your children you best be putting that cigarette out and please order a diet coke with your Big Mac!!

~Nursey~

Young, wild, and free. When I hear these old Fleetwood Mac tunes I'm taken to a place in my life where things were much easier. Carefree and enthusiastic, it makes me smile.

Fleetwood Mac was formed in England in 1967.

(Can you believe that!)

The band has had 15 different personnel lineups and has weathered the romances and subsequent breakups of Buckingham and Nicks, and the McVies.

The band has released a total of 42 albums, including studio, live, and compilation albums. Of the 45 singles that came from those albums, 34 charted in both the US and UK.

Rumours was released in 1977. It topped the Billboard chart for 31 weeks, and won the Album of the Year GRAMMY in 1978.

In 1998 it became the third highest selling album in history, with more than 18-million copies sold.

Fleetwood Mac was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.

Go ahead, sing along. I know you wanna!!

~Nursey~

Whew...how time flies!

I can't believe I haven't posted in 2 weeks.

All is well. Exciting stuff, my niece Megan Joy (yep, the Joy is because of ME!!) Stopped in last week on her way through going from Michigan to Utah.

Megan is beautiful. I hadn't seen her in about 7 years. She is such a free spirit. Unlike my sister (her mom) and I who live life by schedules, rules, and lists, Megan is like a sweet little gypsy. Her friend Nick was her driver, they spent the afternoon and she was off again. I was so happy to see her.

I made Hook a hat.

Ok, not too many people know this about me but I'm like a "Martha Stewart" really.

I've suppressed these urges to crochet doilies and hats for a long while. I can't fight it anymore. I must do grandma things....I must create knitted apparel and frilly lace things.

This is what Hook thinks about it.....

And... he rufuses to wear the hat because of the cute pom-pom I put in the top.

How ungrateful is that?

Wait 'til he sees his mittens on a string.

 ~Nursey~