It's been awhile.....

Oh my blog, how I've missed you.  Finally, I have some time where I can do fun writing on my own terms versus an assigned project with a deadline. 
It's official:  I've completed my first year of my Master's program and am proud to say, I kicked ass!  I enjoy being back in school and learning so many new things.  I love my classes, I love Drexel University, and I love working towards something.  Besides all of the things I learned in school, I learned a great deal about myself during my first year back in academia.  These are the best lessons of all.....

1.  I have an amazing family.  I mean amazing.  My parents make a point to check on me daily to see how things are going, how work is, how my class is going, what I'm doing to de-stress and have fun, and if I have any car or house questions (you know how dad's are!!!)  My brother, who already has his Master's Degree has also proven to be very helpful to me, even if I annoy him with my demands for immediate gratification.  Our calls sometime go like this:  Me:  Hey, Matt--I need you to proof read this assignment and tell me what you think.  Matt:  Can I do it later?  I'm at the market and my hands are full.  Me:  No, please do it now.  I want to submit it.  Matt:  But I'm not home.  Me:  You are talking to me on a smartphone.  It has email.  I emailed you.  Please check it.  Matt:  Ugh--ok...I'll call you back in a few.  Enough said.  You all rock.  I mean ROCK!

2.  I have fabulous friends.  Whether it's my seeeeesters out here in CA who are always here for me (and me for them), or catching up with my childhood friends, Casey, Brent, and Mike during election season, friends always make my day better.

3.  My week is incomplete without going to mass at least once during the week, and my day is better if I listen to the rosary while driving to work.

4.  I love to eat.  I associate food with happiness.  I have so much to be happy about, therefore I eat.  My love for food is the reason I am on an 11 day cleansing and detoxifying diet.  Today is day 6 and I'm going strong!!

5.  Politics interest me immensely.  Boy, did I have to juggle my time wisely during this political season.  I could watch politics all day!  If I had to abruptly change careers, I would love to (at least) attempt to become more involved in politics.  Maybe I could be Rachel Maddow's co-host---we do share the same name, afterall!

6.  Everything is better with some wine.  This actually is no new revelation to me, but was re-confirmed when my parents and I roadtripped it to Sonoma and Napa in October.

7.  There is such a stigma surrounding mental illness, psychiatrists, and psych nurses.  I see this every year when I ask for donations for the yearly NAMI walk that I participate.  I see it at work.  I see it with school.  I hate stigma.  It is so ugly.

8.  I have phenomenal will power.  When I set out to accomplish something, I will not stop until I achieve it.

9.  I have (sometimes too) high standards.

10.  No one is ever going to tell me that I have the patience of Job.

That's probably enough of my secrets.  What have you learned about yourself recently?