March Madness

Quote of the day

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~Mark Twain

Alma Mater #2

I like to think I had a very small part in this. By the way, for those who didn't already know, I'm officially a PNP!

Duke University School of Nursing Rises to 7th in US News and World Report Rankings of Graduate Schools of Nursing

Duke University School of Nursing (DUSON) rose to seventh place in the 2012 US News and World Report rankings of graduate schools of nursing in the United States. In the previous ranking, released in 2007, DUSON was rated 15th.

U.S News and World Report also ranked specialized programs within the master of science in nursing degree. DUSON’s pediatric nursing program ranked fifth nationally; the adult nurse practitioner program, tenth; gerontology, tenth; the anesthesiology program ranked eleventh.

“Our US News and World Report rankings reflect the esteem our peer institutions have for the high quality of our work here at Duke University School of Nursing,” said Dean Catherine L. Gilliss, DNSc, RN, FAAN, Helene Fuld Health Trust Professor of Nursing and Vice Chancellor for Nursing Affairs.

“Over the last decade, the Duke University School of Nursing has assumed a national and international leadership position in the field of nursing. The accomplishments of our faculty and students are distinctive and bring recognition to the School,” Gilliss said.

Quote of the day

"You are a smart, beautiful, talented, passionate, loving and slightly granola woman."

Thanks JB, I needed that.

flashback friday

2005 Edition: I was a freshman, Carolina basketball was finally back on top, WE were national champions.

Looking forward to selection Sunday.

Celebrating Eve

"Think about this moment. This day and this moment, this is the best day of our lives right now." -Eve Carson

This is an excerpt from an email I wrote on March 18, 2008 to one of my best friends as I was remembering Eve:

"Which brings me to this: Life is an adventure. I hope to live with fervor each and every day, to tell the people I care about most that they are special and loved, to make a difference even if it's just to one person. I hope that my impact will leave an impression and that my voice will be heard. Adventure does not entail climbing mountains or escaping to foreign lands, but living courageously and without inhibition to the fears that lay inside you. Adventure is following the whims of your heart and listening when the world tells you where you belong."

Eve makes me proud to be a Carson. Love.

I got busy at The Bee

This post is for my wonderful friend, Taylor, who reads my blog every day. He is one of the masterminds behind the ever-successful and budding Busy Bee Cafe in Raleigh.

I'm always proud of myself when I broaden my horizons and extend my social network beyond the bubble of Chapel Hill. So I was exceptionally excited when a Saturday night landed me at the Busy Bee with a group of locals and a couple of guests, sampling the most recent Belgian ale on tap. Taylor was a proud papa showing off the new renovations and extended bar space that's sure to up their quota of hip, young socialites looking to score a beverage at the hottest bar in downtown Raleigh.

The Busy Bee is a part of local history and a destination for happy hour until last call. Not to mention their delicious food, the Bee has a plethora of delicious beverages. It's even a great place to meet up with friends or strangers... (I found a Craigslist "missed connection" for one of the BB bartenders. A distraught customer was hoping to make a love connection. I was hoping to be entertained so I passed it along. Long story short, she didn't call him.)

The night obviously led to dancing so we made our way upstairs to The Hive, the BB's crazy younger sister. After my pouched-out lips and swinging hair had entertained enough of the socialites, I bid adieu to my friends and promised that the Bee would make it to local townie.

Their 2 year anniversary is April 6... now that's cause for celebration! Love.

Happy 100th birthday Carrboro!

The big centennial birthday for Carrboro happens tomorrow! March 3, 1911 was the day that a new town, located just across the railroad tracks from the University town of Chapel Hill, was being incorporated.

Since the scholars of UNC declared that it was not classy to have a railroad in a university town, the tracks were laid a mile down the road in a town then called West of (as in West of Chapel Hill). The "of" was later dropped and the town was called West Chapel Hill, but the scholars were still not pleased about associating themselves with the blue collar society. It was later called Lloydville, followed by Venable, in honor of UNC president Francis P. Venable.

When Mr. Carr bought the mill and expanded the community, the town adopted the name Carrboro. 100 years later, the mill is home to Carr Mill Mall some of the most classically Carrboro businesses including Elmo's, Weaver Street Market, and Townsend Bertram & Co.

I have been a part of one quarter of Carrboro's life and have seen it change quite a bit. Likewise, it has changed with every phase of my life. Just as I have grown up, Carrboro has grown with me. As I child I loved the Christmas parade and Carrboro Day, in high school I started attending shows at The Cat's Cradle, as a college student I would escape to study at Weaver Street and Open Eye, and now as a post-grad I love hanging with my townies at The Station or Johnny's.

Let's face it, Carrboro really is The Paris of the Piedmont. Love.

Mardi Gras N'Awlins style

I learned a great moto from the Johanson's this weekend:

If you're traveling and don't want to hang like they do in Rome,

You might as well just stay at home.

A weekend in New Orleans in review:

Incredible food eaten at:

-beignets at Cafe du Monde. Now that's a breakfast of champions!

-Po Boys at Johnny's.

-my first hurricane, turtle soup, gumbo, and banana's Foster at The Court of Two Sisters.

-brunch (including my first Bloody Mary and second banana's Foster) at Brenan's. My family's coat of arms is on their giant map of Ireland.

- lunch at Cafe Grenada and a trolly ride back to Canal St.

Lots and lots and lots of beads from:

-The Carolina alumni reunion at the Garden District parade. Richard and I met up with fellow grads Meg, Kemper, Whitney, & Sam to watch the floats. Little did we know that Dook would lose in basketball later that night-- now that's a celebration!

-The St Barkus parade

-Bourbon St. For those of you who have not witnessed the mayhem that is Bourbon St. during Mardi Gras, it's a perfect combination of Franklin St. on Halloween mixed with the NC State fair, minus the rides, add public intoxication, throw in a tranny directing traffic.