almost there...

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth. Although, it sure feels like I have. I must say that it is pretty rude to make us come back in at week 7...in other words, hit the ground running. It's been crazy. That's really all I can say. Well, and that it's really hard to come back from 2 weeks of vacation and snap back into hard core study mode right from day 1. We've had 3 patient days, 1 basically at a mental institute, a community outreach/service/interaction day, skills check-offs galore, 3 lab write-ups, a research paper, quizzes...you get the idea. I've been busy. BUT...the end is in sight! We've had our practicals for Ortho this week, and the rest of the written finals and practicals are next week. Then, so long as I pass everything...I WILL BE A SECOND YEAR!!! I don't want to get too excited yet, but it is so close I can taste it. They've already moved us to the middle (2nd year) bulletin board in the hallway, and we really can't wait to pass the torch. Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that I'm fine, just insanely busy (and totally bummed that the Chargers are out of the playoffs), and really wishing I was back in Hawaii lying on the beach. Looking forward to the break and missing you all. Hope you're not as busy as me!

we're back...

...and we're not happy about it! Sadly, we are now back in CA. BOO! And I'm officially freezing my butt off right now. We got home late (1 am) last night after two absolutely amazing and incredible weeks. Sorry I didn't post more while we were there, but I was having too much fun enjoying my time there. So here's a recap of all that happened since The BIG Question...


We did a whole lot of lounging around and doing nothing. To some, including Jeff, this is quite boring, but he grudgingly allowed me to get some sun time (not that you can tell) and non-textbook reading in. Thank you Jeff! This trip was all about relaxing for me, and I must say that I feel quite rested.

A bunch of us also went zip-lining, which I strongly suggest to anyone if you get the opportunity. It was so much fun and we had perfect weather for it too. I hope to be able to do it again someday, and I would probably even do it again at the same place the next time we're back in Hawaii. We got to go on 8 different lines, did some hiking, and ate a delicious lunch. The views were amazing and it was really cool to go on private land and see a new part of the island. The company is part of EcoAdventures, meaning they give you information about the area and history of the island as you go along. So it was also an educational experience. PLUS, some of our money gets donated to conservation efforts on Maui...I mean, really, does it get any better than this?!

I got sick starting Christmas Eve, and was sick for almost a week. Thanks for the germs Jeff! Even though it stunk being sick, I made the most of it, because heck...we were in Hawaii! We went on a kayaking trip, which you got to go snorkeling at one point. Of course, I was not completely better at this point and due to my excessive head congestion, got sea-sick after snorkeling for a while. So Jeff and I swam back to the kayaks and I got in and tried not to feed the fish and he quickly paddled us back into shore. I collapsed on the beach and didn't move for an hour and when we got home, passed out on the bed and didn't move for over 2 hours. I woke up looking a little less green, but didn't go snorkeling any more after that...just to be safe.

Once I was feeling better, we went golfing with my uncle and cousin. When we first got there and were ready to go, it started pouring right as we sat down in our carts. So then we fiddled around in the near-by town of Makawao, where my friend from Cal Poly, Hailey, lives. She is also going to PT school in San Francisco and was home for the holidays. So I called her up and she met us in town for a little bit while we waited for the rain to let up. We didn't have much to talk about besides how awful our lives are in school, but it was good to see her again. Then we decided to try golfing again, and were successful. The course was amazing! A little country club that mostly only locals know about/go to. From some of the holes you can see all the way down to the ocean. Pretty cool, and on one of the holes I got a hole in 2! :) I wish I had more time to golf, but it's one of those things that requires both time and money...two things I don't have.

We did lots of eating, and I mean lots! It was nice to eat things besides mashed potatoes and oatmeal. My grandparents took us all out to a fabulous dinner at Roy's, which has the most amazing hot chocolate lava cake that I could seriously just live off of. We ate more malasadas, lots of fish tacos, guri-guri (Japanese ice cream), and Jeff even tried poi...and swallowed it!


My mom took lots of photos of Jeff and me, which we might even use as our engagement photos. I haven't looked too closely at all of them, but some of them are really good. Way to go Mom! And thank you Jeff for bearing with us as we took all the pictures.

Anyway, lots of beautiful sunsets, swimming in the water, colorful fish, relaxing in the sun, walking on the beach, and all around fun. I think about sums everything up without going into every little detail of the trip. Except, that my mom and I went to the scrapbooking store and spent an hour and a half there while Jeff and my cousin waited very patiently for us to go through all the Hawaiian papers, stickers, die-cuts, borders, etc. Betty...you would have been in heaven!


Alright, I really should get to bed. Tomorrow is a 13.5 hour day and while it feels still pretty early to me, it's really not. Just wanted to update everything. Not looking forward to tomorrow, but hopefully it won't be too bad. Right... Thanks Gam and Papa for an amazing trip that was truly special. I wish it had gone by slower, but not everything can go our way! I will send out pictures once I get a chance to upload them all online. Let me know if you want them. Until next time, ALOHA!

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...