Wanted: Large (Secluded) Estate...

I survived finals...HOORAY! It was rough, and I know I could have done better on all of them, but with the time constraints we were put under for studying, I did what I could. After a good night's rest I was off to SLO, along with 8 binders full of notes and my comps study book. (Look back a couple posts for a reminder on that one.) I don't think I got the best gas mileage in the world with all that added weight, but it was a necessary evil.

I studied while Jeff was at work on Thursday and Friday. Thursday I also went out to Arroyo Grande to check out a wedding location (The Cypress Ridge Pavilion) I had found online that looked promising. I'm not going to say that this place is completely off the list, but I'm quickly learning that what you see online is not necessarily what you get. It was as beautiful in person as it was online, only smaller and a lot closer to houses than I thought. See...


It's not being completely scratched off because of this, I would just have to make sure that none of the pictures would have these multi-million dollar homes in the background. But, it's in our price range (something that is not easy to come by) and near the beach, which would make it a lot cooler in July than a lot of other places. Anyway, we'll see on this one.

Friday my best friend Ashley drove down from the Bay area. We lived together in the dorms and during our sophomore year at Cal Poly. Then she studied abroad our junior year and lived in the sorority house our senior year. We call ourselves "sisters separated in the womb" because since the first minute of knowing each other, we had an instant and inseparable connection. We haven't been able to see each other since we graduated 2 years ago, so this was a long overdue visit.

On Saturday she went out with me and Jeff to check out another wedding location (Fleur de Lis Estate) in Atascadero. Another possibility that's not completely off the list, but has some faults. 1) the next door neighbor is pretty close and had has a fairly run-down house with some run-down cars to decorate the yard. Some may call it art, but I don't think it's what I had in mind for the theme and feel of my wedding. 2) the train runs close by and honked it's lovely horn several times during our tour. Jeff and Ashley had to point this out to me because I never even heard it. Maybe living right next to the tracks has made me immune to it. We could have the train whistle instead of church bells...maybe not. The cool thing was you could rent out the place for the entire weekend if you wanted. Oh yea, and it had a barn! Again, we'll see.

Sunday I convinced Jeff to drive us out to Arroyo Grande so they could check out Cypress Ridge while Fleur de Lis was still fresh in their minds. We also drove up See Canyon to look for apple orchards and grand estates to rent out. No such luck. So we decided to have lunch in downtown SLO and Ashley and I hit up one of our most favorite places...Cowboy Cookies! I can remember going there as a kid with my parents and eating warm melting cookies by the mission. Yum! Potential favor idea???


Well, Ashley and I were very content with this stop! Sadly, Ashley had to go. But we found out that we're both going to be up there in 2 weeks. Go figure! 2 years without seeing each other and then we get to see each other twice in the span of 2 weeks.

Monday I had to pack my things up and head back down here to school. Now it's back to studying for comps and trying to not think about wedding stuff. Easier said than done. Sorry for all the wedding talk. Just thought I would update on all that for those of you are interested so I don't have to repeat myself a million times. The quest for the perfect location is still on, and if you know of anyone with a huge estate that wouldn't mind renting it out to a poor grad student for her wedding, send them my way! :) Hope everyone's enjoying summer. Maybe this June Gloom will go away soon...

June already?!

Sorry I haven't updated this in a while. I guess time has just been slipping away amidst the sea of papers and clinic days. The weekend up in Kernville was fun. We went whitewater rafting and quad riding. Jeff and I also accidentally tipped a 2-seater quad over while making a 3-point turn on what looked like a level surface. Apparently it was still on an incline, but fortunately since we weren't exactly moving quickly, we are both fine! And that, my friends, is why you wear all the claustrophobia-inducing (in my opinion) protective gear! The boys also went to the shooting range, and we saw Night at the Museum. The weather wasn't too hot either, which was nice. A relatively relaxing weekend, and a nice getaway. Thanks Mike and Becky for the ride!

This past week seemed to take forever to get through, even though it was technically only 3 days of actual class. Tuesday I went out to a peds clinic and helped during a treatment session. I'm figuring out more and more that I don't really think that peds is what I'm going to end up in. Yes, I know my insanely huge love for children would make you think otherwise, but there is a lot more work and energy that goes into moving some of these kids. I'm just thinking about my poor back and body and trying to keep myself income-producing for as long as possible. We'll see...you never know where life may take me. But as of right now, I'm sticking with ortho. More guest lecturers (read: more dressing up), and on Friday we had a really awesome patient day. We had some patients with prostheses come in and we split up into small groups and rotated through them, asking them questions, assessing their mobility, and checking out their awesome equipment. Some of their stories were pretty amazing. One of the patients was a Paralympic athlete who even ran outside for us. She is also an actress/singer and has been on My Name is Earl. You can check out her website here. You should check out the video under the running section on her website...she's a world record holder, which is pretty amazing! I found her, as well as all the other patients who came in, to be incredibly amazing and inspirational.

This weekend was spent studying. Yesterday we had a midterm in Pharmacology, which who knows how it went. I really am not a fan of that class. I understand its importance, but I don't like it. We have our final practical for Gen Med on Thursday and a few minor quizzes and papers due. I'll also go out to another peds clinic on Friday. Other than that, it's just gearing up for taking 4 finals in 2 days next week. YIKES! Peds and Pharm are on Monday and Gen Med and Prosthetics/Orthotics is on Tuesday.

Hope all is well. I can't believe it's June already! I'm not sure where May went. Sorry if I disappear for a little bit. I can't guarantee what kind of time I'll have to update this during this week. If you need me, come find me buried under all my books!

San Diego, studying, and more...

Last weekend I escaped down to San Diego to get in a quick visit with Melissa, Derek, and Grady. I got to be a huge Grady hog, and it was wonderful! I love that little guy! And I can't believe how big he's already gotten...Melissa retired 2 outfits while I was down there. He moves around a lot more (his arms and legs that is), and likes just staring at you taking it all in. He was a smiling, cooing, hiccuping snuggle bug. I can't wait to watch him grow up. I can already tell he's going to be a lot of fun! I didn't take that many pictures...it's a little hard when your hands are full with him! :) It was kind of spontaneous and last-minute, so thanks Melissa & Derek for letting me come on such short notice!



On a school note...only 2 months and 20 days until I start my first rotation! I couldn't be more excited. You can tell the whole class is getting the itch to get out of the classroom and into the clinic. We're getting a little stir-crazy, finding it hard to focus, and all-around are tired and burnt-out. We've been having guest speakers almost every day, which means lots of getting dressed up to sit in class. Fun. We're spending some time out in Peds clinics on various days, and I don't have any today...meaning, I get the day off! Of course there's studying to do, but that means I get to fulfill my urge to bake, and that sounds just wonderful. And meet my new friend...


This is my study book for comps, and I will be spending a lot of quality time with it. And the reason it looks so huge...because it is! Close to 1000 pages of review material, study guides, and practice tests. Woohoo! Hopefully it will be my ticket to success in passing these stinking tests. Only time will tell.

Alright, back to work. I'll be heading up to Kernville with Jeff and his family this weekend. Enjoy your BBQ's, beach trips, pool parties, etc. this Memorial Day! Have fun and be safe!

Our welcome home committee...

These are our neighbors' kids Brian (left) and Anthony (right) who are some of the cutest, sweetest, yet wild and craziest kids I've ever met. They yell goodbye to us out the window every morning when we leave for school and come running outside whenever we come home. Anthony even does a happy dance when he sees me and comes running up to give me a hug. They always want to know what we're doing and where we're going. It's like having a mini set of parents!

We try to play with them as much as we can, usually soccer in our shared driveway or just being goof balls and running around like different animals or power rangers (I'm always pink), but they also know what "we need to study" means. We can always count on them for a few laughs when we're getting stressed out or need a study break.

Brian asked me today if he could spend the night at our house. Too cute! They like to come inside and check out what we're doing. I sometimes humor them and turn on music and let them have a dance party, but they usually get a little wild, so that doesn't last too long. They are also really fascinated by my trunk for some reason. Anthony tries to climb into it and Brian likes to take stuff out of it for me...not always the things I want to take out, but at least he's trying to help.

Anyway, thought I'd share our little smiling greeters from next door. If you come and visit, you'll probably get to meet them...or at least hear them! :)

My Weekend Escape...

This week, for some reason, seemed longer than the past few. We had a Pharmacology test on Monday, which was nearly impossible. Fortunately, not just for me, but for the entire class. This professor just dropped to the bottom of our list. We also had 2 tests on Thursday (Gen Med and Prosthetics/Orthotics). Although neither one of them were too terrible, the amount of energy that goes into preparing for 2 tests on the same day is 10x more than if there's only 1. I don't know how this math of 10 times the amount of energy for twice the amount of work adds up, but Thursday night I was exhausted! Friday I had to get my titers drawn, but this lady was amazing. She got my seal of approval...no tears or passing out (on my part), and she only poked me once! Then I headed home to T.O. for the weekend.

Jeff came down for the weekend too, since we didn't get to be together on my birthday. Saturday was my mom's birthday, so we kind of did a joint birthday celebration...something we're both used to. Good thing we are sharing kind of people! We went to go check out a wedding location on Saturday that I had found online, but didn't really care for it in person (amazing what they can do to pictures online!) and it would have been too small for our wedding anyway. Thank you Jeff for going with us...that meant a lot! Jeff and I went to the movies and saw the new X-men movie. Then we checked out the mall since its recent remodel. Well, more like we walked in, went in to get my birthday freebie from Sephora, and walked back out. I didn't want to push my luck with Jeff! :) That night we went out to dinner to Wood Ranch, and went home for cake, ice cream, and presents. Who doesn't like presents?! (or cake and ice cream for that matter!)

For Mother's Day today, we picked up my grandma and went out to lunch at a deli in Ventura. It's always good to see her. Wish I could schedule in more family time, but that will have to wait until grad school is over...a common theme that I'm noticing. Then Jeff took off and headed back up to SLO. And I'm back at school, doing laundry, running errands, and trying to get back into study mode. A weekend is too much of a tease as far as spending time with Jeff. Just when I'm getting used to having him again, we have to go our separate ways. I much prefer when I get him for a whole week! Oh well...a weekend is better than nothing!

Well, I should get some groceries so I'm not really a starving student. Thanks Mom, Dad, and Jeff for a terrific belated birthday celebration! Happy birthday and Mother's Day again Mom! And everyone remember that the price of stamps goes up tomorrow by 2 cents...lame!

24 Candles...

Wow...I'm 24! How did this happen?! I'm not really sure where this last year went. Oh wait, yes I do...it went to APU! But I must have had some fun in between! Here's a little timeline from the year of 23...

May 2008:
-Lots of time spent at school, in the smelly cadaver lab, and studying in various locations.
-Memorial Day in Kernville...I studied while everyone else partook in activities I deemed "not worth the risk of getting hurt" (i.e. white water rafting, quadding, etc.)

June 2008:
-Learned that it's ok to have a little fun while we're in this program
-Successfully passed my second round of finals...YAY!
-Began summer term, our easiest term of the entire program.

July 2008:
-4th of July up in Kernville with lots of Jeff's family. Late night games, s'mores, sea-doo riding, and watching the fireworks out in the wind.
-Started (and finished) conducting our research project. Now all that's left to do is process all the data and write the paper!


August 2008:
-Sarah and Steve's wedding in Colorado
-ROADTRIP! Lots of fun memories on this one...10 mile hike, hummer ride, getting caught in a lightning storm, s'mores around the campfire, beautiful scenery...the list goes on!
-We find out Melissa is pregnant! Yay! I'm going to be an Aunt! :)
-2 week internship up in SLO (and they liked me!)

September 2008:
-Started Fall I...one of the hardest terms of the program
-5 year high school reunion, which I did not attend due to school consuming my life

October 2008:
-Ummm, my life was consumed by school.
-My friend Jocelyn had her baby girl, Abby...yay, I'm an Auntie!
-Managed to pass all my finals. Hooray!

November 2008:
-Got to be with Jeff on his birthday
-Tried to relax during my week off, but did do a little studying to get ahead for the next term. This is starting to get sick!
-Started Fall II...the other hardest term of the entire program
-Thanksgiving up in Kernville with Jeff's family


December 2008:
-2 weeks in Hawaii...a much needed vacation! Lots of fun zip-lining, golfing, kayaking, walks on the beach, watching the sunsets, snorkeling, oh yea, and plenty of study time too! Grad school doesn't really give you vacations!
-I'M ENGAGED! The happiest day of my life! I love you Jeff!

January 2009:
-HAPPY NEW YEAR!
-Got thrown back into school with 2 weeks before finals. Not fun! BUT, I passed them all and now have the feeling that I can conquer the world. At least the grad school world!


February 2009:
-Melissa's baby shower...Grady is almost here!
-Viva Las Vegas! APTA conference in Vegas for 4 days where I got LOTS of freebies!
-I am deathly ill. 2 trips to Urgent Care (which I just got the bill for...OUCH!), lots of drugs and antibiotics later, I'm FINALLY healthy again
-Crate & Barrel Wedding Party...fun and more freebies!

March 2009:
-Celebrated Tori's birthday. She turned 25, time for a quarter-life crisis! :)
-Jeff came down and we went to Disneyland to make up for Valentine's day, which I missed out on due to being sick
-Grady was born! Jeff and I are SO excited to be his loving Uncle and Aunt!

April 2009:
-Went wedding dress shopping for the first time with my mom, sister, and Jocelyn...found a possibility
-Bon Voyage party for my sister
-Easter with the family
-Tori left on the 16th for Botswana :(
-Got to meet Grady for the first time...LOVE him!
-Volunteered at a triathlon to raise money for people with disabilities

May 2009 (all 2 days before my birthday):
-Took a test big enough to be a final
-Went out to lunch with some of my study friends
-Went wedding dress shopping again with my mom...found another possibility
-Went out to dinner with my mom at CPK...YUM!
-Went to sleep for the last time as 23 years old

So there you have it. That was how I spent my year being 23. I may have been busy with school, but I managed to get in a fair number of terrific memories! Thanks for all who were a part of this last year. It was a fun ride! Now, off to study on my birthday, and eat my leftovers and birthday cake!

Happy May Day!

For those of you who don't know what May Day is...shame on you! You should google it, but here are some hints...think maypole, dancing, flowers, end of winter...the day my mom wanted me to be born on. :) For us Americans, here's our tradition (compliments of Wikipedia):

May Day was also celebrated by some early European settlers of the American continent. In some parts of the United States, May Baskets are made. These baskets are small and usually filled with flowers or treats and left at someone's doorstep. The basket giver would ring the bell and run away. The person receiving the basket would try to catch the fleeing giver. If they caught the person, a kiss was to be exchanged.

Isn't that sweet?! On my budget, the best I could do was draw a basket of flowers on our whiteboard on the fridge. It's the thought that counts!

We had our physicals this week before we go out in the clinics in August, and I got a clean bill of health. Yay! But I still have to get some titers drawn that I put off for a year...darn! We had a major Peds test today, and I'm running on 4 hours of sleep. I think it went fairly well, considering the humongous amount of information that was on it. I took a nap, but still feel exhausted. Oh, but I have the weekend to recover, right? Wrong! We have 3 tests and 3 papers due next week. But my mom is still going to come out tomorrow so we can spend some time together so my weekend won't be completely ruined. And heck, it's May, so that just makes everything better anyway! Hope you got some flowers on your doorstep today, and a kiss if you were lucky enough! :)