I received my Conference card in the mail Friday. I can officially apply for internship. All I have to do is get my birth certificate straightened out and I can really start getting going.

I passed!

Now, to find an internship.

Good news: I received a scholarship to take my NBE.
Bad news: I'm scheduled to sit it at 8 AM on 11/11. I have to be there at 7:30 AM. I plan on scoping the place out the day before.

Why is it bad? I don't do well in tests. Fact. Shaking in my shoes.

Though there is a silver lining, even if I fail: I will be considered a graduate at that point.

Crossed fingers, prayers, positive thoughts and all that.

I apologize for not updating this journal as I would have liked. I may fill-in some gaps with backdated entries, depending on time. Mortuary school took up more time than I thought it would (just as much time as my graduate school course in theology). Nonetheless, I thought I would mark this milestone in my life here.

Pending four grades (of which one is a final exam) and sitting (though I do hope I pass) the National Board Examination, I will have graduated magna cum laude from my program.

As of yet, I have no internship lined up, but once I pass the NBE, I will be more employable, as I will be certified to take said internship.

Where one door closes, a window opens. Pray it's a ground storey window.

Even though I did not quite fit in socially, I will miss the place and the people. However, I will not miss the 95 minute (one way)commute one bit.

Yours thanatologically,
Jamie-Sue

I am still trying to balance everything. We just downsized our house, so that adds more coal to the fire.

I passed last semester, and I have yet another site now. I hope to get my necessary embalmings in, but I may have to double-up sites to do it.

I am taking
Pathology
Board Review
Practicum II

The Board Review course is tough as nails. We have 13 pretests to take. Once we pass those, we have two writtens to take. Only one shot to pass those two. Fail one, and you fail the course. No retake until next summer! Tough love. High stakes and I do not do well together. I asked for this, so I guess it is time to pay the piper. I am confident in myself, but at the same time know that the dragon has teeth and bites.

Sorry for the delay--life happened.

I have been busy and dealing with illness--lack of energy, lethargy, etc. Come to find out I have Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). It is a condition of the pancreas, adrenals, and reproductive organs. I will have to go on an absolute strict diet of whole grains and fresh produce while avoiding soy in all forms and processed sweeteners. Hormone therapy will be included as well. Wasn't planning on procreating anyway.

Going further back in time, the funeral home I was assigned to released me. Apparently there was some conflict I was not aware of and not told about through the agreed to channels. Nonetheless, I have been reassigned to a removal company in Indianapolis. It has added a day to my commute, but I am actually getting my learn on. My midterm progression was better than expected by me or anticipated by the program in general from any students in it. I am not meaning to brag. This is merely to illustrate that better suited environments, like good soil, are more conducive to growth. I genuinely have teachers and I am genuinely learning. The funeral home I was placed at would be a good site for someone who is not me. I am still concerned I will not finish my requirements for this semester, but I am going to do my best to knock out my loose ends.

If any of you are detective mystery fans, I recommend the Leaphorn/Chee series by Tony Hillerman. I am 2/5 of the way through my 4th audiobook version of his series. Really sound writing.

A few posts ago I mentioned seeing deer in the State park near campus. Last week, out on a pizza run near campus, a doe and her two fawns crossed our path just past the school. We nearly hit one fawn, as the mother had already crossed. The fawns were huge and already had lost their spots. Nonetheless, the herd was thinned just last week. I hope these three made it out alive. They were so beautiful. The circle of life must move on. Numbers need to be controlled to protect the wildlife and the meat does not go to waste.

The course load for this program was ramped up after midterms. Fifteen credit hours in undergraduate religion was not this difficult to handle. Then again, I am older.

Anyway, I just was told that my preceptor location (clinical site) is indeed in my hometown. This will potentially kink my commuting schedule, but the worth of an education is priceless. I'm glad to have this knowledge.

I'm getting ready for finals the week of 14 December. I am rather concerned about Chemistry and Law, but I am fairly comfortable with the other three subjects.

On deck for next semester:
Funeral Service Management
Embalming Theory II
Embalming Practicum I
Restorative Art

After next week, I have three weeks left of the term. I'm not sure my retention is up to snuff. Time to dust off the flashcard skills and asking my spouse to help me with it.

I'll find out by Christmas where I do my practical work. I'm hoping for a certain facility, but I doubt I will get it. I tend to bat zeroes.

Embalming Theory--> The goal is to finish homework and improve prior knowledge retention.
Embalming Chemistry-->Same
Orientation to Funeral Service-->Learning what the book wants/board wants me to know and on my own learn the right information. Brush up on prior text.
Mortuary Law-->Try to keep up with the reading load and catch up what was missed. Brush up on prior text.
Grief Psychology-->Crank out projects and read.

It seems I cannot find that obituary document, but I did a traditional American obituary, having my death during my education. I thought I was needing to have heart surgery (per EKG), but I just have an abnormally placed heart.

The projects in psychology include 24 hrs. of volunteering with groups that are involved with death (that are not funeral homes) a group bereavement care project and a self-assessment of personal grief coping and psychology.

Sorry for the delay of game. The semester is really swinging now.

I'm still doing well academically, but as usual, the social side is not really all that green these days.

I was attending ill and as a result of that (and my penchant for participating in class because it's encouraged [I don't understand shuttle busers], and my understanding that rules are not guidelines [though no one agrees with me]), things are nightmarish.

Tell me when you have a problem with me, don't be all passive aggressive.

They have now resorted to spit wads at me. First, only enforcing rules on me and no one else. Any more escalation, I will have to talk to the chair of the program because I can tell even talking to the class now would be pointless.

need excedrin. and a nap.