Monday, May 26, 2008

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!

Sunday, May 18, 2008

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 82ยบ 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)!