the best gift EVER...really!!!

Merry Christmas everyone...a day late! Today it is raining, so I thought I'd update this a little bit. We've been keeping ourselves busy with snorkeling and eating and relaxing. I've introduced Jeff to malasadas, which are Portuguese donuts covered in sugar. And of course we've made time for shave ice! And then there's all the other goodies that the island brings. I feel like we've been eating our way through this trip, but at least the swimming and walking down the beach will help burn off some of those delicious calories! :)


And now for the main reason to update this...Most of you have already heard by now, but....


JEFF AND I ARE ENGAGED!!!

He popped the question when we went out for a walk on the beach at sunset on the 23rd, and of course I said yes. I kind of had a feeling something was up by the way he was acting so weird and wouldn't let me set my stuff down or turn around to head back toward the condos. And yes, I cried...I was crying before he even got a word out. Don't worry, the wedding won't be until after I'm finished with school. There's no way I could even fathom trying to plan a wedding with the amount of spare time I have. So, keep spring/summer of 2011 open because that's when it'll be!


Well, there's not much I could say that could top that news. We're just enjoying our time here being lazy bums. I'll probably try to get a fair amount of studying in today with the less than perfect weather, although it looks like it might be clearing up in a little bit. Hope Santa treated you well, and you had a happy holiday. Until next time, ALOHA!

We made it!

Aloha from Hawaii!!! We made it in late (11:30ish) on Saturday night and left the gloomy, cold weather in California behind. Current conditions in Maui: 79º with a slight breeze. Current conditions back home: 52º and raining. Yeah...not missing that!

Yesterday we didn't do a whole heck of a lot. After sleeping in, we had breakfast on the Lanai and watched the waves crash on the beach. Then Jeff and I had a walk on the beach and went for a swim in the ocean and some sun time. We had fish tacos for lunch and then ran a bunch of errands, picking up odds and ends that we forgot on the mainland and buying groceries. Jeff has come down with a cold and spent all yesterday late afternoon/evening/night in bed, but is feeling better today. He's taking it easy so that we can go snorkeling tomorrow and go see the turtles that are hanging out in the reefs by our place. Here is our first sunset of the trip...

Hopefully there will be many many more of these to come.

I've gotten some homework done, grudgingly. I read a chapter on the plane and have finished my take-home test. There's still plenty to do, but I'm just trying to get a little bit down every day so it's not so overwhelming. And heck, if I have to study, at least this is what I get to look at the whole time...

I am in charge of dinner tonight. On the menu: baked ziti, salad, and french bread, with ice cream for dessert. I'll be glad to be done with my turn so early on in the trip. Then I can just relax and not deal with the stress of feeding 13 people on time. Anyway, I should get back to the studying. FUN FUN! Oh well. Whenever I start to get sick of studying I'll just look up and think...look where we are!!!

The best gift EVER!!!

If only this were true...One can dream, can't they?!

Anyway, I came down some sort of flu bug yesterday at Jeff's family Christmas and spent the day upstairs in bed. I stayed home from school today too, and will hopefully make it tomorrow, especially because there's a patient day, quiz, and the test I missed today to make up. At least this is happening now instead of in Hawaii. 5 more days!!!

less than 2 weeks...

...and I'll be feeling the sand between my toes in Hawaii!!! :) Let me tell you how excited I am! Pretty darn, that's for sure! I can almost smell the sunscreen and plumeria, see the pretty sunsets and colorful fish, and taste the wonderful mai-tais and lava flows...*sigh* But, before I get to enjoy the warmth and sunshine, I have 1 horrible week and 1 normal week to get through. This next week we have 2 tests and a practical on Tuesday, a practical on Wed and Thurs, a patient day on Thursday, and a guest lecturer on Wednesday and Friday (meaning we have to get dressed up for the occasion). Then Jeff will come down here on Friday and we'll head to his parents' house for the weekend for their family Christmas gathering. I'll still have studying to do, since there's a test on that following Monday and Friday, along with some projects and quizzes. Basically it's non-stop action and studying!

I'm bummed I missed out on Jeff's family's annual bake day. It was yesterday, and even though I really wanted to go, it probably would have been the dumbest idea on my part. Someone needs to figure out how to stop time or extend the day b/c there never seems to be enough time to fit everything in. There truly isn't a day that's more made for me. A whole day of baking and eating...who could ask for anything better than that?!

Anyway, looking forward to the holiday. The house is somewhat decorated. We don't have time to go get a tree like we wanted to, but I put up lights and some decorations and candles. Can't go wrong with a seasonal candlescape! Maybe I'll get some baking in next weekend. For now, it's back to the books.

sniff...

Well...it was bound to happen sooner or later. I've gotten my first cold of grad school. And let me tell you, a 13.5 hour day of class when your head feels like it's going to explode is pretty miserable. Fortunately, this week is fairly light in terms of tests, as opposed to next week, which is jam packed! I'm pleasantly surprised it has taken this long for me to get sick considering how many other people have been sick since February. Oh well...I will survive somehow. I'll talk about turkey day later. Right now I have to go blow my nose...

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tomorrow I'll be heading off to Kernville to spend Thanksgiving with Jeff and his family. It was very hard for me to decide whether to spend the holiday with my family or his, and I still wish I could spend it with both. Sometimes life just isn't fair. It'll be my first Thanksgiving without my family, which is normal for a lot people, but a first for me. I know I'll enjoy the time away from here, but I wish I could be in two places at once! :) Anyway, I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing holiday. Enjoy your time with your friends and family, and remember to give thanks for all that you have in your life, good or bad. Love you all!

I miss break...

Yes, I miss being on break already. We had a 13 and a half hour day yesterday, and I think that's enough to kill anyone. Anyway, I forgot to post a few pictures from over break, so here ya go...

There was a double rainbow outside our house on the morning of our last final. We took it as a good sign...


While Jeff's parents were in SLO, we went down to the beach. Who wouldn't miss this?!

This one makes me laugh because of Jeff's hair. Needless to say, it was windy!

And this one just makes me happy... :)

A new term...

So it's a new term...the last term as a first year to be exact! And yet, it's the hardest one we'll have here. Our schedule is basically insane. There's really no other way to describe it. Here it is...brace yourself:

Neuroscience: Mon/Thurs 8-12
Pathophysiology: Mon/Wed 6-9:30 (yes, pm)
Neuro Rehab: Tues 9-12, Wed 8-12, Fri 8-11
Orthopedics I: Tues/Wed/Thurs 1-5:30
TBA (which is basically extra class time for any instructor): Mon 1-3 or later

Sadly we lost 2 more classmates after last term. Just another reminder of how fragile our spot is in this program, and how thankful I am to still be here. Hopefully we don't lose any more.

Anyway, I don't have much time, but here's a little something that a few classmates came up with in anticipation of becoming second years. It is probably funnier to me, but thought I'd share anyway.

Top 20 ways to realize that being a 2nd year is right around the corner...

20. You are easily bribed by food
19. You’ve honestly thought, “ I should just spend the night here… I’ll be back soon enough.”
18. You have an undisclosed competition amongst your classmates as to who has the most colored pencils.
17. Phone calls are limited to 5 minutes, no matter who you are talking to.
16. 1 pack of pens + 1000 note cards = 1 term
15. After every term you have to get your eye prescription updated.
14. You start to get pressure sores on your ischial tuberosities.
13. You have a constant headache that meds don’t effect
12. 4 cups of coffee + 2 shots of espresso still doesn’t pick you up.
11. You got to school and there were no other cars in the parking lot… you left school and there were no other cars in the parking lot.
10. Crying happens… its OK… you did fine.
9. Your binder is full… therefore, so is your brain.
8. You only find out about natural disasters, etc. through the professors prayers
7. When you find yourself praying that the professors will pray for you before the tests.
6. The plinths in the back of room 130 look really comfortable.
5. You decide to take a study break… so you switch subjects.
4. You are legitimately excited for the weekend… so that you can get caught up on studying.
3. You make a PLAN “B” list… and consider it.
2. The girl/guy at Starbucks knows your name, order, and asks how the test went.
1. You get 5 hours of sleep and are quite happy about it!

Alive and kickin'

Hi all! So I survived finals, and hopefully passed them all. I think I passed them all, but you never know in this program. I have yet to receive a phone call telling me to come back down because I didn't. Fingers crossed, I don't get one this whole week.

I'm currently up in SLO trying to recuperate from last week. Sunday we celebrated Jeff's birthday. I made him his favorite cookies and a cake without frosting and got him Lego Star Wars for the Wii. I must admit, it's actually a pretty fun game, and the best part is that you can't die! That alone earns it major points.

Anyway, not much to say. Just letting you all know I'm still alive. Don't forget to go out and vote today! And don't use the excuse that you don't know who to vote for...that's just lame...

Finals Schedule

Here's my finals schedule for those of you who asked or are wondering...

Monday: Neuroanatomy written and lab written

Tuesday: Therapeutic Exercise written and lab practical

Thursday: Cardiopulm written and lab practical

Friday: Pathophysiology (which only 6 people passed last year before they added a major curve)

There you have it...wish me luck!

Halloween tips...

I read this article on Yahoo today about the 10 most disappointing treats to give out on Halloween. Some of them I agree with, but others I do not. In fact, I quite enjoy laffy taffy and smarties. Anyway, here are the 10 things they say you should avoid giving out on Halloween in order to ensure you have happy trick-or-treaters:

1. Toothbrushes
2. Raisins
3. Candy corn
4. Smarties and Necco Wafers
5. Dum Dum Lollipops
6. Apples
7. Tootsie Rolls
8. Wrapped Hard Candies
9. Laffy Taffy
10. Anything fun-sized

Anyway, I don't really have much else to say so that's why I'm writing about poor Halloween hand-outs. School is crazily hectic. Finals are next week, but we have 1 more test to get through on Friday before we even get to think about finals. And it's a MAJOR doozy! So if you don't hear from me for a while, that's why. Can't believe it's almost November! Eek!

my weekend escape...

I made a little weekend getaway up to my parents' house this weekend. Jeff came down from SLO and we had a little rendezvous for 2 days. It was nice to get away from here for a little while. I didn't get much studying done, but that's ok. I think my brain needed a break. I also got the chance to visit Jocelyn and Miss Abby.



She's such a sweet little angel, and I got to hold her while she took her 3 hour nap. How relaxing! I think I could have sat there for hours and hours more just watching her sleep, but for the sake of Jeff's sanity, I eventually gave her back. She makes a wide variety of facial expressions, even at less than 2 weeks old. Without planning it, Jocelyn put her in one of the onesies that I had given her for her shower. I can't wait to be a part of Abby's life as she grows up and share the love of Disneyland with her that her mother and I have shared together for many years. Oh how I love babies! :)



Well, I'm back at school now, and it's back to work. My last load of laundry is drying and I've been to the grocery store. Not much left to allow me to procrastinate. :) Hope everyone had a good weekend!

mystery solved!

These past 2 weeks we've been learning about musculoskeletal pathologies that we'll be dealing with in ortho settings. I was kind of excited to learn all this stuff because ortho is probably what I'll end up in. But, I was also hoping to finally figure out what the heck is wrong with my hip.

And the answer is...I have torn the labrum in my hip and have early signs of osteoarthritis. While I'm not exactly all too thrilled about the OA starting, I'm at least satisfied to know what the heck is wrong with me. Answers, no matter what they are, are always good things to have. The funny thing was that when I told our professor (good 'ol Dr. Wong) what I had figured out, the first thing he said was..."You were a dancer...am I right?" Man that guy is smart!

So for a little show and tell of the knowledge I've recently gained...

The labrum is some cartilage that lines the joint, providing stability and cushioning while increasing the contact surface area. Labrum tears are common with activities involving repetitive pivoting movements or repetitive hip flexion...can you say Irish dancing??? They also are usually not picked up on MRI's, no matter how grueling and painful they are when you get the dye injected, depending on the location of where they occur. Especially where mine probably is (in the front of my hip), there are too many structures to go through, and you need the hip moving in order to expose it...not an option when performing an MRI. Instead, diagnostic ultrasound is needed, a machine many clinicians do not know how to use well enough to find the tear. It is also common with these patients to have seen multiple health care providers without any success...this is starting to sound all too familiar! Finally, there is clicking/clunking in the hip and pain comes on with any activity. If the tear is bad enough, they will perform surgery and remove/repair the damaged tissue, and option that I am not all that interested in at the moment. Anyway, if you want to know more you can google it. I don't want to bore you all.

Now for the OA. OA in the hip is often related to a previous injury or trauma (see above). It also is tied in with the weather, which if you have been around me, you know that I can tell you when the weather is changing b/c my hip hurts like crazy and is swollen. There are lots of other signs, which most of which I don't have...yet. Hence the early stages of OA thing.

So while this was kind of a yay-boo situation, I'm glad to know what's wrong with me. This has been the mysterious problem since my senior year of HS, and it's been driving me nuts that no one could figure out what's wrong with me. Without an official diagnostic ultrasound, I can't say 100% sure that I have a torn labrum, but with the amount of symptoms that are a perfect match, I'm saying that's what it is. And of course, I don't know how to fix this yet...that comes later. :) So stay tuned for how I'm going to fix myself!

Congrats Jocelyn & Shaun!

I just got word that my good friend Jocelyn had her baby on Wednesday. I'm so happy and excited for her and I can't wait to meet Miss Abigail Denise. Auntie Kenzi will have to make a visit sometime soon! Congratulations Jocelyn...I'm so happy that she's here safe and sound. You're a mommy now! :)

changes

It's October now and I feel like October, moreso than September, is the official beginning of fall. The season has changed, the weather is changing (or should be anyway...somehow it's still 100º), football has returned, and Christmas decorations are already on sale. So, with all the changes going on around me, I've decided to make some changes with my life and myself.

First off, I decided to change the layout of my blog. A waste of time some of you may think, but when I picked the layout originally I felt like I was settling for one that I thought was OK from the selections provided instead of one I actually liked. So after a long week of tests (I took my practical today), I needed a little no-brain-effort-required downtime and started searching through the endless sea of templates you can download on various websites. I think this one suits me more. It looks like a binder or notebook, which I have way too many overflowing ones scattered around my room, it's more my personality and colors (although I do like turquoise/teal), and when I saw this one it kind of reminded me of me. Anyway, I hope you like the new look. I might try changing it more often because it's very refreshing...like cleaning out your closet...another thing I should get around to, but probably won't for quite some time.

Second, I've decided to try to not allow negativity consume my life. Difficult, yes, especially with the constant stress that I am under and never-ending lack of sleep. But I think it is a change that I need to make in order to keep my motivation up. The other day I was overworked, under-slept, and frustrated. To be honest, I was on the verge of a complete breakdown. However, Dr. Wong (our therex professor) reminded us that this is a learning process, that many classes have gone before us and taken this same test, and last year's class had a 100% first-time pass rate on the board exams. The problem I had with that test was that I could get many questions down to 2 choices, both legitimate answers, but could not pick the better answer of the two. They are trying to get us to think about what is the best choice in a large pool of excellent choices. Dr. Wong informed us, sadly, that the rest of our careers are going to be exactly like that...having to pick which treatment option will be better for that patient and having to figure out which one is the best choice. We are learning, and they are shaping us into wonderful clinicians who constantly amaze other therapists out in the field. It's a painful road that we have to go down, and unfortunately, there is no detour. However, it is the end result that we need to focus on, instead of the little mistakes we make along the way.

Along those lines, I am going to try to believe more in myself and my capabilities. No, I'm not the top student in the class, but I'm in this program, I'm earning my doctorate at 23 years old, and I've earned the right to be here. It's ok to not be perfect (a lesson many people in my class need to learn), it's what I take from my mistakes that will make a better and bigger person. Everyone has different strengths. So I can't regurgitate every piece of information. What I can do, is build an amazing relationship with each and every one of my patients, and provide them with the best care that I am able to give them. And it's about time that I start having a little faith in my knowledge and skills!

Finally, I've decided to try to make more time for me. How I'm going to do this, I'm not really sure. Whether it involves going for a walk, no matter how hot it is outside and how tired I am, or simply watching an episode of Ellen with a Diet Coke in hand. This program is taking over my life, and while it is important to constantly be keeping up with my work, I need to remember to take care of myself. I can't afford to be so burnt out that I can't function. So I'm moving myself up in the priority list, at least one notch anyway.

These are little changes that I am going to start implementing immediately. Really only three things, although they are going to be big challenges for me. Besides, too much change would be more than I could handle. Oh wait, I'm believing in my strengths. So I just want to really focus on these things. Besides, too much change would eat into my "me time". :)

Anyway, I hope you like the new look of my blog. I hope that you still find this interesting. If nothing else, it gives me a place to vent. Maybe this will inspire some of you to make some changes in your life as well. Our lives and our bodies are well-oiled machines, but even the finest craftsmanship requires a good tune-up every now and then. And with that, it is time to start preparing for next weeks' multiple tests...possibly with a Diet Coke within reach.

tired and frustrated

I just took 2 tests today...1 in cardiopulm and 1 in therapeutic exercise. Cardiopulm went fairly well, of course you never know until you get it back. Therex on the other hand was horrible. It may be because I'm completely exhausted, but I don't think I've been this frustrated in a really long time. What am I supposed to do when I've tried my hardest and my best isn't good enough? I'm really going to be ecstatic if I just passed that test, but I'm not really sure at this point in time. I'm not sure how much more I could have studied mentally. Anyway, enough moping...we've got a Neuroanatomy test tomorrow and a practical on Thursday and Friday. Then repeat again next week...oh mylanta!

Also, there's a conference in February they're giving us a week off for because they want us to attend. It's in Vegas this year, which is exciting, but now they've added the stress of planning a trip to Vegas on a grad student's budget. HA! And if we don't go, they're going to notice, and I plan on not giving them anything to hold against me in case my butt is on the line. Course, I have to manage to stay in the program until then. Sigh. And I remind you yet again, I'm paying for this torture and I want to do this...Mom, did you drop me on the head when I was a baby? It's okay, you can tell me. I can handle it....

I should have known it was going to be a crummy day. This morning at 5:30 am while I was studying I lit a candle to try to calm myself down. Being sleep deprived and all, I went to blow it out, not realizing it was next to my laptop and got wax all over my desk and laptop. Don't worry, I got it all off and nothing is damaged. Then throw in the bad test. Then I almost got in an accident as this guy in a truck only looked to see if the other direction was clear, and started making a left turn as I was all of 30 feet away from him. Hooray for good brakes and power steering. And now my light in my room burned out when I went to turn it on. Bad day all around. Alright, I'm done venting...Hopefully tomorrow is better.

M.I.A. for too long...

No, I'm not dead...yet. I couldn't even tell you what I've really been doing these past few weeks. I've been at school...A LOT! I've done a lot of studying and reading and notecard-making and study guide-answering. I thought I didn't have a life in high school, and then I went to Cal Poly, where I longed for the free time that I had in HS. Now I'm longing for the free time I had in undergrad. Funny how things seem so hard when you're in the moment, but once you get past them you realize it really wasn't so bad. I'm hoping that will be the case now, but somehow I doubt it. This is pretty bad.

This week is a "light week" because we only have 1 quiz and 1 test (b/c 1 test was postponed). The next two weeks will be pretty awful. Basically something every day, if not 2 tests in one day. Remember, I'm paying for this torture, and a big chunk of money at that! The good news is that it's already week 4, so only 4 more weeks of class after this and then finals. It goes so fast, yet at the same time seems to drag on and on. Is it possible to have a callused butt? I think I have one from sitting for hours and hours on end.

Anyway, we have a test tomorrow that I should get back to studying for. Sorry that it's been so long since I've posted, but I really don't have much free time except for a little on the weekend, but then I'm braindead and don't remember to write anything. Oh well. I think you'll all survive. If you're really worried, you can call the school...they can direct you to the 1 classroom we're in for 8+ hours a day. I'll be in the last row on the aisle seat in the right row. Back to the wonders of neuroanatomy...

back to school...

Classes started back up today. I can already tell that this is going to be a busy term and I won't be getting as much sleep as I would like. They have taken the training wheels off and now it's time to show the faculty what we're really made of.

For the last two weeks of August I was up in SLO doing my practicum in a clinic in Atascadero. It ended up being a really great experience, but I think it helped that I was just so happy to be back in the area. Whenever I go up there I feel like I can breathe again. That area just runs at a different pace, and it's nice not having to keep up the hustle and bustle (and see blue sky!). My supervisor while I was in the clinic was a recent graduate from APU. He helped calm my nerves and told me that I just need to be more confident in my skills, because really, I know my stuff even though I don't think I do. I got to do some hands-on work and put what I had learned in class into practice. The patients were sad to go, as was I. It was so nice having a life again and being able to plop on the couch when I got home and not rush through dinner to get to studying. I already miss that.

While I was up there I got to see quite a few people. Jeff's roommate, Ed, who is gone for the summer came down and we hung out with him and his girlfriend, Erin. Jeff's old roommate of 5 years, David, and his girlfriend, Jeanette, came down for a weekend as well, and ended up getting engaged. So then I spent an entire evening starting the initial planning with Jeanette and shared my resources with her, since she has no idea what she wants or even how things work. I can hear Jeff sighing and the sound of his eyes hitting the back of his head as he rolls his eyes as he is reading this, but I had fun. Just because I've already investigated these things doesn't make me crazy...it makes me a girl! Love you Jeff! I also got to see my sister who is now living up there and my mom came up to visit the two of us for a day.

Anyway, now I'm back down south and we have a break between classes so I decided I should update this since it's been a while. Hope everyone had a terrific summer! I know I sure did, and I am definitely looking forward to having a life outside of school again! Every day brings me a little bit closer, and I cannot wait!

We're baaaack...

So I know I've been home for a few days now, but I've been here and there and busy with research and recovering from the trip. I finally uploaded the pictures tonight, and even though I'm tired and hot, I will update this thing. I will limit the amount of pictures I put on here, and I have sent them to several of you, but if you did not receive them and would like to, let me know. Hang on to your hats and glasses, 'cuz this here's the wildest ride in the wilderness!!! Ok, not really, but it was very fun!

Our trip started out by Jeff and I flying into Denver, CO where we were picked up at the airport by his parents. We then drove 2 1/2 hours to Beaver Creek, CO, where we attended the wedding of Jeff's cousin Sarah. It was absolutely beautiful, and I can now say that I have eaten buffalo. (surprisingly, it was quite tasty) The condos we stayed in were AH-mazing. Mom, you would have killed for the kitchen and bathrooms! I wish we had had more time there, because we didn't really get to explore the area. I'm sure the area is just as beautiful, if not moreso in the winter, but after 2 nights, we were off...


From this point on we were riding in Jeff's parents' (Mike and Becky) truck following behind Jeff's aunt and uncle (Susie and Tom), and his cousins (Bobby and Betty) and their kids (Jordan, Andrew, and Sofia) in their rented RV. I can't tell you how many times we thought about passing that slow RV we were behind until we'd realize that we were following them on purpose! :)


So after sitting in traffic FOREVER (I thought we left CA), we made it to Rocky Mountain National Park. The RV-ers stayed in a campground inside the park, while we stayed in Estes Park, CO which is just outside the park. After studying the map of the park, Jeff and I picked out the trail we wanted to hike the next day which would allow us to see several waterfalls and lakes. Bobby and Betty decided to join us on the seemingly "moderate" trail. The hike ended up being 9.5 miles, and in the first 3 miles, we hiked up from around 8,000 feet to right below the tree line. CRAZY! We thought we were going to die, but then the remaining 6.5 miles were flat or downhill, so we kept hiking along. We saw some pretty amazing sights, hiked across snow in August, got rained on, drank a million bottles of water, looked like the least in-shape hikers in the world (note to self: invest in hiking poles so as to look more professional), and learned just how much we love our oxygen. Do we regret it? No. Although that's easier to say now that our muscles aren't as sore. The next day we drove through the rest of the park, saw elk, moose (and squirrel), and deer. And it just wouldn't be right if we didn't get hailed on or drive through a lightening storm. RMNP was absolutely beautiful, regardless of the weather. The sad part was knowing that it will never look the same as it did then, as the bark beetle is quickly destroying the trees. There were some hillsides that were already completely brown with dead trees. Who knew such a little bug could be so devastating?! I would have loved to spend more time there (not sure my muscles would agree), but we were off and running... Goodbye RMNP!
Our next stop: Glenwood Springs, CO. Apparently there are some caverns there, but we didn't really have much time there. Then why did we stop there you ask? Because we had dinner with Jordan's teacher from this past year who just moved out there. We couldn't get too comfy, because then we were off again in the morning!

After stopping to get the RV's fridge fixed, we made it to Arches National Park in Utah. The sun was quickly setting, so we only made short hikes around a couple arches. We climbed on a couple of them, which I'm surprised they still allow, and avoided stepping on the black mold plant thing on the trail. We didn't spot any bighorn sheep, but lots of lizards and few jackrabbits. I really do wish we had more time there because I feel like just driving past most the arches didn't really allow us to take it all in. Again, the RV stayed in a campground inside the park and we stayed in Moab, UT which is right outside the park. The Wall Arch had just fallen 2 days before we had gotten there. Glad we weren't hiking under it at the time! The next morning Jeff, his parents, Bobby, Jordan, and Andrew went on a quad ride while Betty, Sofia, and I went on a Hummer ride. Basically we rode in a Hummer over the big giant rocks. You know whenever there's a boulder in the way of your car and you have to drive around it? Not us! We went over it! Very bumpy but lots of fun. Made me miss the Trooper a little bit too...but not that much! :) Sofia helped me study while we waited for them to get back from the quad ride. Then after a quick lunch, we were on the road again...

Next stop on the trip...Bryce National Park. I don't even know how to describe the hoodoos, except for that it looked like we had landed on a different planet. We went on a short hike (1.5 miles) down into one the canyons and ate lunch down in there. It was so surreal hiking down in there as we were surrounded by the rocks. It's so weird how this world was made, but so beautiful at the same time. It was pretty warm and sunny at first, and then when we were at the very bottom of it all, the weather quickly changed, and we found ourselves caught in the middle of a thunder and lightening storm. I don't think I have ever heard thunder that loud, and I hope I don't again. We ended up finding shelter under a giant boulder, along with families from Belgium, Italy, and Germany, and sat there for about half an hour. Then the steep trail we had to climb back up, quickly turned into a river and thick mud. FUN! Somehow, Sofia managed to fall asleep during all the commotion. We were wet, and covered in mud, but had survived quite the adventure. The kids were pretty freaked out, but now they'll have a good story to tell their friends! After changing into dry clothes, we parted ways from the RV. They stayed in Bryce for a few more nights and then moved on to Zion, Vegas, and home, and got home today I think.

We drove through Zion National Park later that day on our way to Mesquite, NV, which is just inside the border. Zion was pretty cool, but I think I liked Bryce better. Big rocks are cool, but nothing compares to the hoodoos!
At this point I was completely exhausted. After losing $5 to the slots in the casino, we called it a night, and zonked out at around 10:30. We slept in too, and gaining an hour from switching time zones helped in the sleep department. Still, I took 4 naps on the drive home the next day. It was really nice to finally be back in my own bed. It was a really fun trip and I'm glad it all worked out and we kept it on despite the gas prices. I think I might be caught up on sleep now, but I don't think I'll ever have too much sleep! Thanks Mike and Becky for this amazing trip. Melissa and Derek, we missed you guys a lot and wish you could have been on the trip with us! Lots of great memories from this trip, and I'm glad I got to see some national parks that I hadn't been to. And with all that, I think it's time to call it a night!

Colorado or BUST!

Jeff and I leave tomorrow for the wedding in Colorado and the roadtrip back. Looking forward to getting away for a while, even though it's not going to be any cooler. Hopefully I'll get some sleep along the way as well, but somehow I don't think this is going to be too relaxing of a trip. I'll have lots of pictures and stories to post afterwards. My goal is to get SOME reviewing in before I head to the clinics, but mostly just to de-stress a little. All for now. Be back on the 9th!

Shake, rattle and roll

Yesterday we had a 5.4 earthquake at 11:42 am. Funnily, I was home with some sort of stomach bug and had been passed out until roughly 5 minutes beforehand. Both my roommates were home too, which was nice having them here. At first we just thought it was the train since we're right next to the tracks, but after the initial boom, we realized it was an earthquake and ran outside. We're fine, there's no damage, and now if my cell phone would go back to normal, we could move on. The sad thing is that earthquakes don't really phase me. Maybe because I knew this one wasn't as strong as the Northridge quake back in '94. Maybe I should be more scared by earthquakes because they can cause serious damage. But for some reason, it seemed more fascinating that the earth was going through it's own movements and we were along for the ride. Does that make me a science dork? Even the specialist on the news said that it takes a stronger earthquake in CA to do serious damage than it would in other parts of the world. Maybe I have a sense of confidence because our homes are built differently because we're in earthquake country, and I therefore think I'm safe. Anyway, hope everyone's ok. Welcome back to CA Jocelyn!

On another note, I think it's sad that I was excited that I found gas yesterday for $4.16 a gallon. There's something wrong with that...

I think I'll try defying gravity...

I've been listening to the Wicked soundtrack for the last couple days pretty much non-stop. And having the knack for picking up lyrics at the drop of a hat, I now have a back-up plan and can audition next weekend if I so desire. :) It also makes me want to go see it again to pick up on the finer details of the amazing musical. Thanks Mom and Dad for that wonderful b-day present! I feel very lucky to have seen it while it's still here in LA. (It leaves in September for anyone who wants to see it before it's too late.)

A prospective student came in for his interview today and I was talking to him beforehand and answering his questions. He asked how I liked the program and I told him that it is so rewarding to be in a program that allows you to fulfill your life's passion. No, I was not paid for that answer, but I should at least get a couple thousand off my loans for every person I recruit! I truly meant what I said. In my own way, I'm defying gravity. We all know I've never been one who loves to study and keep her nose in the books until dawn, but I feel a sense of completion learning everything that I am. I feel like this is the place that I am supposed to be right now, and whenever I doubt my capabilities I remind myself that I'm here for a reason and somehow manage to find peace with knowing just that. Anyway, hope that guy gets in!

It's the last week of class...HOORAY!!!! I could get used to only 5 weeks of class. :) It's hard adjusting to not having a summer though. I think that's why I really can't wait for August...a whole month without classes! Today I literally spent all day at school, and the longer I was there, the more I wanted to have a break. This term hasn't been challenging in the academic sense. I wouldn't say the classes are easy, because they're not. I don't think an easy class exists in grad school. But with the ease of having only 2 major classes comes the restlessness and longing to do something outside in the sunshine or anything besides a mental workout for that matter.

I came home the other day to this...

And inside was this...

That was a box I had made for my cousin when she was younger and I used to babysit her over the summer. I had completely forgotten about it until I opened it up and then I just started laughing. Thanks Judy and Megan (and Mom) for this special treat! It indeed was a surprise! :) And Judy...I will post a picture of my bangs someday...you will just have to wait!

Lots to do this next week and a half. Projects to finish, research to do, finals to study for, laundry, packing for the wedding/roadtrip, reviewing for the practicum...the list goes on. I can't remember if I mentioned that I'm no longer in Morro Bay. Due to staffing changes, I am now at the Atascadero office, but I'm just happy that I can still go up to SLO for two weeks! Alright, I'm sure there is something better I could be doing with my time. Although, keeping everyone updated with my incredibly fascinating life IS pretty important! :)

summer time...

...and the livin' isn't so easy! Sorry it's been so long...life's been a bit hectic. HA! When is my life ever not hectic anymore?! Anyway, lots to catch up, and little time to do it in. Here goes...

4th of July was spent up in Kernville. I hitched a ride with Bobby and Betty and the kids. Always an adventure in that car! Two little monkeys jumping on the bed.... :) Jeff's sister and brother-in-law were there as well as his cousin from AZ and her boyfriend. Betty's brother and his family followed us up there as well. Lots of people and lots of fun. The weekend was filled with not too terribly hot weather...well, I can't really say how hot it was exactly for a large part of it since I spent a good part of my time inside with AC. They went white water rafting and quad riding while I studied and made notecards. I joined in on the sea-dooing action on the lake, 1) because I deemed it would be harder for me to get hurt doing that than the other activities and 2) because I needed to get out for at least a little bit. We watched the fireworks over the lake. It was very very WINDY, but we still managed to make s'mores and the show went on...more than I could say if we had been at Disneyland! A very tiring weekend, but good to get away!


Jeff and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary on the 9th. I can't believe it's been 3 years already, but I'm looking forward to many more years to come. It was hard to celebrate it apart, but once I go up to SLO in August we'll celebrate together instead of over the phone. I consider myself very lucky to have found someone who is so supportive of me and my ambitions and dreams. Distance is never easy, but I think it could be a lot worse. We see each other often enough to make it bearable, and knowing that he's willing to wait for me to follow my dreams gives me peace of mind. I love you sweetie, and I am so lucky to have found someone as wonderful as you!

Moving on...Research is up and running! We started this past Tuesday, and I spent Tuesday and Thursday at school from 7:30 am to 5:30 pm. FUN! I'm really good at taking blood pressure now too...60 people later! We had some trouble getting enough people to make the company producing the sleep video happy, but between the 60 we got and the 30 at Loma Linda, we figure 90 is close enough to 100! I'll be happy when it's over because it's a lot of time taken away from studying. Fortunately it's not every week, but pretty darn close!

Only 2 more weeks of class and then it's already time for finals! I kind of like that the term is so short, but at the same time, it's a little too fast! I'm looking forward to being in the clinics in August. Hope I make a good impression because then I might get to do one of my 2-month clinicals next year up there as well...fingers crossed! :)

Ok, that pretty much catches you up to speed. Basically, I have at least 1 test a week, and research up the wazoo. It's hot outside, it's almost the end of the term, and I'm tired. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! I'll try to keep on top of this a little better, but no promises! :)

catching up...

My break was nice. Too short as always, but nice. The first weekend was spent moving the rest of my things, and unpacking things at my new place. Then I went home for Father's Day and spent the night at home. Then I headed up to SLO for the rest of the week. I got a massage and haircut (I have bangs now), which was a lot of fun spending 3 hours at the spa. Course, it took me a while to relax during the massage because I kept thinking about which muscles she was working on and what type of massage she was doing. It's sick! It's like my brain doesn't know how to shut off anymore!

We also went to a BBQ at Jeff's new place (starting this weekend), and I met the new interns at his work. I spent some time packing up things for him while he was at work, slept in, watched TV, wasted time on the computer, and basically enjoyed having time to do nothing. Unfortunately, it was over 100º the entire time I was there, peaking out at 114º! This is SLO, it's not supposed to go over 90! I even watched one of Jeff's soccer games in the insane heat in Paso...that's love! The day I left, it cooled back down to 75º...figures!

Again, LOPT folks, I apologize for not making it out there. You guys need to move the office closer! I miss you all, and when I'm back up in August, I'll try to make it out.

The first week of class is going well so far. We really only have two major classes, which is nice. That being said, it's only 5 weeks of classes, so it's at a faster pace. Our major classes are Exercise Physiology and Clinical Skills III. I don't know yet what the emphasis of this class is (Clinical Skills), but I'll find out today. Then we are continuing to work on our research projects, or in my case, actually starting the research. We start July 8th and will finish in August. Kind of exciting that it'll be over so quickly, but there goes my free time! We have Tuesdays off from class, with a few exceptions, but mine will be spent collecting data...FUN! Then in August we'll have our Practicum in the clinics for 2 weeks. I'll be at a clinic in Morro Bay, so hopefully I'll escape the heat down here for a little bit!

Sadly, we lost one person from our class, so we are now at 36 people. It kind of was a wake-up call, because most of us had no idea she was struggling. Even though my grade in Anatomy wasn't what I wanted, I'm so thankful just to have passed everything and to still be in the program. I know this is an extremely challenging program that I've entered, and I'm taking it one term at a time. With that, only 2 years and 2 months to go! :)

2nd term...CHECK!!!

Finals are over...HOORAY!!! Man am I exhausted! Overall, I think they went pretty well. I already know how I did on most of them. Clinical Skills IB I got a 93% on the written final and 100% on the practical. Modalities I got an 85% on the final and 100% on the practical. Anatomy I don't know yet, but the written was taken off of our quizzes, and you never know with the lab.

The cadavers go back now...GOOD-BYE! I will not miss them, especially after staying in there til midnight last night. I am throwing out those scrubs ASAP! We finished our pathology report, and Bubba we determined died of a heart attack. That wasn't exactly surprising considering his significant obesity and presence of a pacemaker.

I'm really happy that I did so well on the practicals. It's harder for me to just regurgitate the information for the written tests, but at least my high scores on the practical are a good indication of my hands-on skills that I will utilize in the clinic.

I just had lunch with my mom and sister, and now I'm tired and am thinking about taking a nap. Jeff is coming down tonight and we're moving the rest of my things from the apartment tomorrow. I think we might be meeting his parents for dinner tomorrow too, but that hasn't been confirmed with me yet. Right now, that is the least of my worries! I am looking forward to having a relaxing, stress-free break. I think I've earned it! :) This is all my poor brain can handle right now...

FINALS!

It's finals week! Here's my schedule:

Monday: Clinical Skills written and lab practical
Tuesday: Modalities written
Wednesday: Modalities lab practical
Thursday: Anatomy written
Friday: Anatomy practical

It's going to be a very difficult week, and I am trying as hard as possible to avoid getting sick and to keep my head above water. So much to do, so little time to do it! Wish me luck!

If only it were this easy!

A watered down, yet more entertaining version of what I am studying right now...ENJOY!

wait...it's june?!

Holy cow it's the last week of class! I honestly cannot tell you where the time has gone. I'm excited because that means I'm almost one term closer to being finished, yet terrified because I don't feel ready for finals at all! This weekend I've been trying to get study guides ready and starting to crank it into gear. Hopefully my efforts will be sufficient.

I also spent some time moving stuff over to my new place, which as of today I am a resident. I was amazed at how much my little green bean of a car could hold when the seats were folded down. Can't say it was the best gas mileage, but it did the job! I got a good chunk over there, but still seem to have plenty more to go. My project this "summer" (in quotes b/c I don't really get a summer, I just mean the season) will be to get rid of some of this junk that I'm holding onto. I can't keep moving all this!

I am also pleased to write that my good friend Jocelyn is pregnant and just found out that she's having a baby girl! Auntie Kenzi is VERY excited! AND they're moving back from Seattle this month which makes me even happier! :) She's due in the fall and I cannot wait for the little one to join us! Congrats again Jocelyn and Shaun!!!

On that happy note, I should return to studying. I'm already pooped from all the moving and stair-climbing (2nd story at both places) and still have much to do!

Memorial Day weekend

I just got back from a weekend in Kernville (well, Wofford Heights really) with Jeff and his family. I hitched a ride with the Mitas family (Jeff's cousins and their adorable children) on Friday night after class. I even got to watch one of Andrew's tee-ball games before we left town...TOO cute! The weather this week had been crazy, and I should have packed for crummy weather, but my mind was determined that it was going to be in the 70's and sunny and packed accordingly. WRONG! It was raining and windy and overcast the entire time. There was even snow on the Grapevine on the way up. Luckily I had time before we left town to stop at Target to buy cheap shoes so at least I had something other than flip flops to wear. I also found it difficult to sleep up there because it was so quiet. Sad that I need the sounds of sirens, helicopters or street racing to fall asleep!

The weekend was filled with white water rafting and quad riding, while I stayed behind and studied. Of course, I didn't get as much done as I had planned (there's a shocker). We did see Indiana Jones, and made funnel cakes for breakfast though...I thought of you, Mom! :) We got back late last night so I was the Mitas' first house guest and spent the night on the couch. I can't remember the last time I've woken up to the sounds of tip-toeing and soft little whispers of..."I think she's moving!" :) Wish I had taken pictures, but in my usual fashion, I didn't. Oh well. Even though I wasn't as productive as I would have liked, it was still good to get away from here for a while and of course, to see Jeff. He'll be down here in a few weeks to help me move (more on this some other time when I have more free time to spare), but it's still always difficult to say good-bye. Just what is left now...2 years and almost only 3 months!

Thursday was our DPT Sports Day. We came out doing the dance/song/chant from the movie "Remember the Titans." I'll try to get a copy of the video to post. We're not sure who won...each of the classes won one of the 3 events. I guess I should mention that the event we did win, we won by default when the other two classes were disqualified for cheating. But if they had also been disqualified for the cheating they did in one of the other events, we would have won that one also. There was a Taco Man cooking the most AMAZING tacos I have ever eaten. I think we should hire him for our next party! Best carne asada I've ever had! The whole day was cut short due to the weird weather I mentioned before. Heavy downpours of rain, hail, lightening/thunder storms nearby (within 2 miles), and 2 tornadoes. Yes, tornadoes. I thought I didn't live in Kansas!

Anyway, there's more studying to do. Hope everyone enjoyed their day off, and maybe had a BBQ despite the lack of sunny weather. I can't believe I only have 2 more weeks of classes before finals. Scary how the time flies! Man I can't wait for that week-long break though! Later all!

long time, no blog...

Sorry it's been so long since I've written anything. I think I am finally recovering from that crazy crazy week and have figured out which way is up again. So, what has happened...

My birthday was spent attempting to study all morning (wasn't all that successful...it was my b-day after all!), and then I went out to dinner with a few of my friends from class. I got all dolled up for the occasion since all I seem to wear now are scrubs and athletic clothes. Here's a picture of us at BJ's for dinner...I'm waaay down at the end.


Thanks for all the birthday calls and wishes!

More tests and quizzes the next week. My mom came down here for the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend. We went out to lunch and went shopping together. It was nice to catch up and spend time not studying. :) Oh yes, that was the weekend of the attack of the bees. I'm not sure how they were getting in...through cracks in the walls, around the edges of windows/doors, the gap around the AC unit...who knows! All I know is that 36 bees managed to make their way into the apartment (mostly the living room and my bathroom) in one day...with the windows and doors shut all day. I found the source...a hole in the wall outside between the two levels...and alerted the office as to the issue, and the next day only 6 got in. They seem to be a thing of the past now, but I have yet to open my bathroom window again since their "hive" was right below it.

What else...it's been hot. Really hot. We finally started using the AC because we were literally getting sick from the heat. It would be more tolerable if it actually cooled off at night, but when it's 11 pm and still 82º outside, you're not really going to need blankets!

Classes are going well, I suppose. There's a lack of communication between our Anatomy lecture and lab instructors, resulting in major confusion and no connection whatsoever between the lecture and lab and clinical skills. It's actually quite frustrating. It's making this term a lot harder than I feel it should be, because now instead of being all connected, you have 3x the amount of information to learn. And my grades are not as high as they were last term as a result, which is also frustrating. I'm just trying to make do and pass and try to learn everything as best as I can, which is all I can really ask of myself in this situation.

Modalities is going well...I got a 98% on the practical! :) We just learned about traction in lab...look at how long we made my neck! (Do not try this at home!)



We also did lumbar (low back) traction, which while you can't really breathe while you're hooked up, it produces glorious results. I am now a believer in traction...with the correct symptoms and qualifications, of course. :) We found out that our research project (the effectiveness of a relaxation video on sleep) will be in full swing starting July 1st, an will be finished 5 weeks after that. It's going to come up quick and be over fast too, which will stink while we're doing it, but will be wonderful when it's finished. Basically we'll have all our research finished in 5 weeks, and have until we graduate to write the paper...pretty sweet if you ask me!

This Thursday we're having the DPT Annual Sports Day, where we will compete against the other classes in "physical therapy" sports. (Crutch races, 3-legged races with gait belts, exercise/technique obstacle courses, etc.) I hope it cools off by then so that it will truly be a nice break from class.

I hope everyone is surviving the heat wave (those of you in So Cal)! Hope to see some of you soon, and enjoy Memorial Day (I think everyone gets it off)!

end of april, already?!

April is coming to an end, which is hard to believe. Exciting because that means my birthday is almost here, but kind of sad in a way too. No more cool weather (until November according to Jeff), no more blooming spring flowers (they're all dying now). To me, April is one of the last spring months, even though May technically is part of spring. Now with all the global warming going on (yes, I did use the global warming card) and moving into the IE (Inland Empire), I feel like summer has already hit. It's scary that another month has come and gone, and I really couldn't tell you a whole lot about what happened in that time. Maybe it's because my life is consumed by school all the time and every day seems to fade into the next. I wish time would slow down a little so I could tell one day apart from the next, yet at the same time I want it to fly by so that I am out of grad school faster. Don't get me wrong, I like the challenge of grad school, and the information I'm learning is extremely fascinating, but I can't wait to have downtime and be with people other than fellow students. My birthday is going to be spent studying for the 4 tests I'll have the next week, and I'm kind of sad that I won't have time to celebrate me.

Jeff came down this last weekend so I got a mini celebration. We went to see Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which was light/fluffy/funny. It was also nice to be in some air conditioning. :) We also went out to dinner at Black Angus, which was nice to eat something other than instant oatmeal, mashed potatoes or stuffing. I didn't get as much studying in as I probably should have, but I think it was some well-spent time that we both needed with each other. All I can say is distance relationships are awful, and I admire anyone who has ever had to endure one. I cannot wait until Jeff and I can be together again! Ok, enough before I start crying...

This past week just felt long for some reason. Maybe it's the heat. Our schedules keep getting changed around because the professors are fighting over our time and can't seem to agree on a schedule that works. So flexibility and patience were our words of the week. I had a quiz on Tuesday on modalities and on Thursday in Anatomy. We were conducting a research project on Friday on dry vs. moist heat. I'll let you know once we get the results back. We picked our research projects and Marilee and I are conducting research for an infomercial regarding the effectiveness of a relaxation video that supposedly helps people sleep. Should be kind of interesting.

I had a test today in Clinical Skills, which was harder than any of the ones she gave us last term. Maybe she expects more out of us...who knows. I'll be better prepared for next time. Anyway, I have a presentation tomorrow on ultrasound that I need to prepare for. Hope everyone is surviving the heat! If you need an escape from the heat, Wednesday is 31 cent scoop night (5-10 pm) at Baskin Robbin's. :)

big update

Sorry, I guess a lot happened this past week without my even knowing it! This first week back was killer. I think I got a little too comfortable being on break. I'm really struggling to get back into the fast pace, and the easing into grad school is definitely over. The professors are starting off with a bang, and there's no looking back! My classes are as follows:

-Clinical Skills IB (which is a continuation of the clinical skills class I had last term, but now we're working on the back, lower body, and gait)
-Clinical Skills II (we're learning all the modalities--ultrasound, electrical stimulation, etc--that we'll use throughout our career)
-Anatomy II (continuation of last term's anatomy, but now focusing on the lower half of the body and the organs)
-Research (starting our thesis)

They made us switch which cadavers that we're working on in Anatomy lab. Yep, no more Harley. You're probably thinking that we'd be happy about this, since Harley wasn't the greatest example for structures. Normally, yes...but we got switched to the 2nd worst body...BUBBA! This dude is HUGE!!! He easily weighs 250 pounds, if not closer to 300, which when it is quite literally dead weight, is a lot heavier than you might think. Not to mention everywhere you look is more fat to cut through. Ok, I'll stop before I get too detailed. Basically, we traded down, and we're not happy about it. I've already gotten sprayed all over my face with his juices (darn lungs) as he seems to be extra juicy for us. Yay.

We pick our research projects this week, and Marilee and I are aiming for doing research for infomercials for Proctor and Gamble...I'll keep you posted.

My grades from last term finally posted and I passed everything...HOORAY! Grades were as follows:
Clinical Skills IA: B+
Anatomy I: B
Seminar: A
Professional Relationships: A

For a GPA of 3.40. Not too shabby for my first term of grad school!

This past Friday they gave us the day off from class so we could all go to the BodyWorlds exhibit at the CA Science Center (at USC by the Coliseum). It was pretty cool, and the dissections were very impressive and inspiring. For those of you who don't know what it is, BodyWorlds is the plastinated cadavers that are dissected out and placed in different positions. Very neat if you're into that kind of thing...they don't even look real! Afterwards, I was showing Marilee around the Coliseum and we stumbled upon the American Gladiators set. They had just finished filming the new season that starts in May at the LA Sports Arena which is right next to the Coliseum. Being the huge fan that I am of AG, I was freaking out. We wanted to swipe some stuff, but it might look a little suspicious driving down the freeway with a giant piece of blue foam padding with white stars all over it. Oh well...it was still cool.

Yesterday was the spring time b-day celebration with Jeff's family, and they were nice enough to include me in the celebration. As always, good food and good company, even if I show up a day early! :) Thanks for the gifts Brocketts, Mitas', Fillipps, Stephens', and Dakes! Anyway, sorry this is so long. I should probably get back to studying. We have a quiz tomorrow and Thursday. The fun never stops!!!

Break's over :(

As hard as it is to say, the break is over, and tomorrow I head back to school. I had a lot of fun and caught up on sleep (sort of), and relaxed (definitely), and enjoyed spending time with Jeff, his family, and my family. I didn't do much in SLO, yet at the same time, I felt like those days flew by faster than the rest. By the time I would wake up, eat breakfast and shower, it was already time to meet Jeff for lunch. Then I would run errands for him or explore downtown, and then he was already home for dinner. Then we would watch a movie or play video games, and before you knew it, it was Thursday and it was time to go to T.O. Best part about SLO: being able to spend time with Jeff...DUH! Worst part about SLO: the gas prices! By the time I left, it was $3.96, and Jeff informs me it is now $3.99. OUCH! I had to take a picture to prove it. And sorry LOPT-er's for not coming by OR calling. I really was in quite the time-warp and couldn't tell you what day it was. Next time I'm up there I will at least call to let you all know I'm in the area! :)

Now for T.O. happenings... Thursday night my mom's BUNCO group met at our house, and I was a sub for one of the members. I didn't win anything, despite have 14 mini's and 16 losses. At least I got good laughs and good food out of it! Friday I ran some errands with my mom and that evening my mom and dad took my sister and I to go see Wicked for our birthdays (hers was in March and mine is coming up in May).


Before the show we went on the "Behind the Emerald Curtain" tour, where 2 of the cast members gave us insider secrets about the show. There were also original costumes, masks, wigs, set designs, and pictures out for us to see. Here is Glinda's "Bubble Dress."
All the beads and sequins are hand-sewn onto it, and the original dress took 30 days to sew with I think they said 4 people working on it. Now they can crank one out in 15 days, but it's still a ton of work! Then we got to go inside the theater to watch part of the sound-check going on. It was really neat, and the play was AMAZING! I loved it, and can understand how such a cult following has developed around it. I've been listening to some of the original Broadway recordings of the songs, and I actually prefer the actresses we had to those. Anyway, it's a terrific play and if you ever get the chance, you should see it!


Jeff and his roommate, Ed, and his girlfriend, Erin, came down Friday night and we all went to Disneyland on Saturday. It was really hot (at least 90º) and crowded, but we still had a lot of fun and had very wise fast pass useage. Still haven't been on Nemo because the line was long even at 10 pm...parents shouldn't let their kids stay up so late!

My legs are sore today since I don't do that much moving around anymore. I'm pretty exhausted from being in the heat and all the walking, and fell asleep on the couch I think 3 times this afternoon.

Then we all said our good-bye's and now I'm back at my apartment. When I first walked in, it was 97º inside the place, and I think now it is about 80º. Slowly, but surely it's cooling off, but I think I might die when the heat of the summer really comes around.

All in all, it was a terrific break, and I'm sad that it is over. I am excited to go back to class, but at the same time, I'll miss the downtime that I won't have for another 9 weeks. I think next break (June) I won't schedule so much, and take more time to just sit around and enjoy having time to do nothing. :) Thanks everyone for making my break so special, and know that I am missing you all already!

coming back up for air...

I love being on break!!! :) As if anyone thought I wouldn't enjoy having a week off. I forgot how nice it is to sit around and do nothing. Jeff and I got back to SLO yesterday afternoon from a few days in Kernville with his parents. We didn't do a whole lot, which was right up my alley. We did go on a quad ride though, and there was still snow on the ground! I only got stuck a few times, but I now am suffering the consequences via soreness. How out of shape you can get sitting around all day in class for 9 weeks! We also watched 3:10 to Yuma, which actually was a pretty good movie. I'm usually not a huge western fan, but this one had a decent plot line to it. Plus, listening to Becky's reaction anytime someone got shot was hilarious! I need to watch more movies with her! :) I wish I brought my camera cord so I could upload some pictures of the wildflowers on the drive up there. Beautiful yellows, oranges, purples, and pinks...and of course, cows. I will have to post them when I get back home. Jeff ended up taking yesterday off so we could spend an extra day up there and spend more time together. Wish you Mitas' and Stephens' could have been there with us!

Right now Jeff is at work, so I am catching up on missed TV episodes, and soon will be starting to prepare for next term by making flashcards and study guides ahead of time...hopefully it helps! Note that I am delaying this for as long as possible...

As for finals, all in all I think they went well. *fingers crossed* Seminar I got 100% on the final due to the combined brilliance of my class (we cheered with every right answer we got). I will be shocked if I don't pull off an A in Professional Relationships. I got an 87% on the Clinical Skills written exam and a 98% on the practical exam. I'm both happy and mad/frustrated with that class, because although I did well and got a 92%, I missed getting an A- by 1%, and no, she did not round up. If this were undergrad I would have an A-...I miss those days! Grr! That grade is going to be mine next term! Anatomy has yet to reveal itself grade-wise, but I think I did well on the written, and hopefully passed the practical. We are all unsure how we did on the practical b/c it was much more difficult than the first one. Anyway, enough school talk...I'm on break! :)

Just enjoying some downtime in my old stomping grounds before I head down to T.O. on Thursday. Will write more later...now back to relaxing!

term #1...over?!?!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Things have been quite hectic. Friday marked the last day of class, and the day that we finished all 3 pages of our check-offs. Our finals start with a bang on Monday. We have our Clinical Skills written final and practical, combined worth half our grade. I'm not as worried about the written portion, but the practical scares me. We will be given, at random, with a random partner, 5-6 skills to demonstrate and explain as we are video-taped. If you don't pass the practical with an 80%, you don't pass the class...no pressure! Tuesday is our Seminar final that we're taking as a group (I love this class!). Wednesday is our Anatomy lab practical, and Thursday is our Anatomy lecture final. And then I'm out of here!

I got my titers back, and apparently am not immune to Hepatitis B and Rubella, despite getting all the required shots. More support for the theory that vaccinations aren't as effective as you age. So I have to get those shots before I head out town. Goody!

Plans for the break:
Thursday drive up to SLO
Friday-Monday Jeff and I will join his parents in Kernville
Monday-Thursday I'll relax in SLO
Thursday-Friday I'll be at home (Friday we're going to Wicked)
Saturday Jeff and I are going to La Landa del Raton Miguel (Disneyland) :)
Sunday I'll head back to West Covina :(

Meanwhile, I'll be catching up on all the sleep I didn't get the past 9 weeks, making notecards for the next 9 weeks, and hopefully letting my brain get a break. I'm really looking forward to doing nothing!

Hope everyone is doing well, and maybe I'll be able to return phone calls and emails for once! :) Wish me luck this coming week!

Week 6

Only two more weeks of classes followed by a week of finals, and my first term of grad school is already over! I cannot believe it. I ended up doing fairly well on all the tests I had last week. I got 100% in seminar, but that doesn't really count because we took it as a class. :) I got a 98% in Professional Relationships, not sure how I did on the quiz in Anatomy because he was out of town this past week, and passed the stinkin' anatomy practical with an 80%. I know there are people in our class who did not even pass the practical, so I will stay satisfied knowing that I passed and aim for higher next time.

I finally got my blood drawn, and I have HUGE veins according to the second nurse. I'm never going back to the health center again for lab work! My mom stopped by yesterday on her way to Arizona. We got a shopping trip in to Target and had a nice catch-up chat over lunch. I know she stayed longer than she had intended, but it was nice having her around. Last night I went over to Jeff's Aunt Suzie's and met up with his parents, and the Mitas family. We planned out our trip back from the wedding in Colorado in August, and I'm really excited to be going to a bunch of National Parks that I've never been to. I also helped make decisions on the bridal shower. It was nice to get out of the apartment, and spend time with people who are not in the program.

I've got a Clinical Skills test tomorrow, so I'm meeting up with people to study later today. I've got CPR training early Wednesday morning, and then we're going to a hospital in Pomona to interview patients. We're practicing our initial evaluation skills, and I think it'll be a nice change from sitting inside a classroom. I can't wait to go home this weekend, even if it is for only a day and a half. Things are moving quickly, and I really can't wait for the break. May the luck of the Irish be with you tomorrow!

Week 5

What a week! I think this was the most tiring week of my life, at least mentally. The bags under my eyes are proof of the little sleep I got last week. I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to make it, but my coffee cup says it all!


It started off with a test in Clinical Skills on Monday, which I am VERY proud to say I got 100% on. As exciting as that score is, it's even more impressive when there are people in the class who didn't even pass the test...boo-yah! Our presentations on Tuesday for Seminar ended up being postponed to "sometime before the end of the term"...nice to know the director does have a heart after all! Wednesday I turned in my take-home midterm for Professional Relationships. Thursday marked another gruesome Anatomy quiz, which I hope I did well on. Friday was the ever-important Anatomy practical, which I thought I did decent on, but then as people started talking about it, I'm less sure of my success on it. I guess I'll find out this Friday. Friday I also got my physical done and my tetanus, diptheria, and pertussis (TDAP) shot. I am almost able to move my arm again. They also attempted to draw my 3 vials of blood for my titers, but the nurse claimed I was too dehydrated b/c no blood came out. More like she missed the vein. So I pumped fluids all weekend and today, I went back to get it done again, waited an hour and a half (gotta love college health centers), only to be told that my veins are "too small". So now they're sending me to some outside lab to get it done, so that'll be my fun Wednesday morning. Yippee! As much as I hate needles, I just keep reminding myself that I am lucky enough to be allowed to go to San Luis Obispo for my two-week clinical in August, and that I have to do this in order to go. Hopefully the motivation doesn't wear off!

On a lighter note, the Target Super Center opened right by our apartment, which is oh-so-dangerous. The red bullseye shines bright like a beacon on the hill! :) When we were driving home late Tuesday night, smelling lovely from Anatomy lab, I noticed a giant balloon arch outside the doors and tons of cars. So we turned around and went to see what was going on. Turns out they had a sneak-peek opening that night and there was cake and veggie/fruit/cheese platters at every corner of the store. They were also giving out Archer Farms samples and they had balloon animals and storytime for the kids. The Target dog was there too to take pictures with, but alas, I didn't have my camera. I must say, it was so exciting going in there with EVERY shelf fully stocked, everything smelling brand new, the carpet still squishy, shiny new carts complete with Starbucks cup holders, and a team member ready to help at every aisle. It was like an early Christmas! We also went back on Sunday for the official opening, but there wasn't anything special going on. The Wendy's also opened and we got celebratory Frosty's (which are no longer 99 cents), and today we found out that El Pollo Loco is going in that shopping center too. And on our way to Kohl's Easter sale yesterday, there was this lovely building that was so kind to put my name up in lights. So thoughtful!


I can't believe it's March already. Bigger yet, I can't believe that I'm already over half-way through the first term! I knew this would go by fast, but it's kind of scary. I'm excited for Easter and spring, and I've been spoiling myself with some flowers for in my bathroom, especially while my favorite flowers, tulips, are available. So here's a picture of my pretty flowers that make me smile every time I see them. The color in the picture doesn't do them justice...they're a beautiful shade of deep, rich magenta. Love them!