I'm almost officially moved into my mom's house... geez how bad does that sound... but my lease is up at the end of the month in my apartment in STL and instead of paying for one month's rent I just moved back home. The good thing is that it will give me plenty of time to study for the boards. The bad thing is that it will give me plenty of time to study for the boards... At least I don't have to cook every meal myself? Nah, it will be a good time to spend with family before I leave them all for the mountains.
I'm already homesick for the city though. I never thought I would be a city girl, and I even took a job in a small town (granted, a lot different than Litchfield, but a small town all the same). And now I'm starting to think that the city is where I want to be. I'm still very excited about moving to Whitefish, and I know it's going to be a fantastic adventure for myself and I'm going to learn a lot and do a lot, but I think my future involves moving again, maybe to Seattle, Portland, or Denver. We'll just have to see where life takes me.
Still looking for a place to live in Whitefish. And still looking for a car. I just need to DO IT, not toil over it every day. But decisions are not my strong suit... I think I decided though that I'm going to get something pretty cheap that is decent and that I can pay off in a year or less and then work toward getting a nice, newer car to last me for a long time. We shall see.
Lots more changes to come! Just trying to take it one day at a time....
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
I'm Gradumacated!
7 years in the making.... well, 21 if you count all of 'em. And now I'm finally done! Done with school for the rest of my life! At least, I'll go ahead and think that for now. It's pretty inescapable. Continuing education is in my future, but we'll just put that aside for the time being. Let me bask in the glory of being done with PT school.
You can now call me Dr. Smith. Well, not really. Only in some states.
Gee, it's sounding less and less exciting the more I write about it! But regardless, I've been officially hooded!
Pretty sweet outfit, ey? Not hot and uncomfortable at all! Polyester at it's finest! The whole fam came down for the ceremony, including Nana and Grandpa Hap and Uncle Kevin.
It was a really nice event and I managed to tear up only twice. Okay, I bawled as soon as I got out the door and hugged my family. What can I say, it was an emotional day!
The rest of the weekend was filled with more graduation festivities, including Mike's graduation from high school and his party where he played with his band, Wojtek's graduation from UMSL and entertaining his friends who came down from Champaign, and some all around wholesome family time. We even hosted Wojtek's mom and brother from Poland, which was an adventure in and of itself. Very busy weekend!
And now it's just a waiting game before I move back to Litchfield on Sunday. I won't be leaving for Montana until July, so I'll have time to study for the board exam and save up some $$ for when I get there. I helped Wojtek get all packed up on Monday and he took off that afternoon for Denver. It was pretty sad saying goodbye, but there's always cell phones and ichat to keep in touch. I'm sure he's going to fit right in and feel at home there, and I'm happy for him!
I have to say, though, that I'm really going to miss the city. I've really grown to love parts of it in the past year. Wojtek and I had been venturing out to new places and really had gotten to know a lot of good things about St. Louis. For a while I couldn't wait to get out of the miserable weather and horrific drivers, but after finding my niche and my favorite spots, I'm finding it hard to leave. The good thing is that I know I'll be able to make the most of anyplace I go. I just never thought I'd be wanting to stay longer in this city!
But enough ramblings. I'm starting to get quite uncomfortable sitting on the only peice of furniture I have left in the apartment -- my air mattress on the floor. Okay, so it won't be that hard to leave.... ;-)
You can now call me Dr. Smith. Well, not really. Only in some states.
Gee, it's sounding less and less exciting the more I write about it! But regardless, I've been officially hooded!
Pretty sweet outfit, ey? Not hot and uncomfortable at all! Polyester at it's finest! The whole fam came down for the ceremony, including Nana and Grandpa Hap and Uncle Kevin.
The rest of the weekend was filled with more graduation festivities, including Mike's graduation from high school and his party where he played with his band, Wojtek's graduation from UMSL and entertaining his friends who came down from Champaign, and some all around wholesome family time. We even hosted Wojtek's mom and brother from Poland, which was an adventure in and of itself. Very busy weekend!
And now it's just a waiting game before I move back to Litchfield on Sunday. I won't be leaving for Montana until July, so I'll have time to study for the board exam and save up some $$ for when I get there. I helped Wojtek get all packed up on Monday and he took off that afternoon for Denver. It was pretty sad saying goodbye, but there's always cell phones and ichat to keep in touch. I'm sure he's going to fit right in and feel at home there, and I'm happy for him!
I have to say, though, that I'm really going to miss the city. I've really grown to love parts of it in the past year. Wojtek and I had been venturing out to new places and really had gotten to know a lot of good things about St. Louis. For a while I couldn't wait to get out of the miserable weather and horrific drivers, but after finding my niche and my favorite spots, I'm finding it hard to leave. The good thing is that I know I'll be able to make the most of anyplace I go. I just never thought I'd be wanting to stay longer in this city!
But enough ramblings. I'm starting to get quite uncomfortable sitting on the only peice of furniture I have left in the apartment -- my air mattress on the floor. Okay, so it won't be that hard to leave.... ;-)
Thursday, May 7, 2009
If only my knees could talk...
...oh the stories they would tell.
Or maybe they would just moan in agony.
Finally got some photos from mountain biking! Wojtek and I went to Castlewood State Park and hit the Chubb trail - 1st time for me. It was really easy for the first half. Mostly gently rolling next to the river and then through fields.
But after a short stop off at the top to rehydrate and rest the ol' legs, the fun part was coming back down! Probably for the first time, I was able to just let go and let the bike do it's thing, whipping around corners and jumping off the rocks. I actually had a smile on my face instead of a full-on grimace. Of course, the way back down took maybe 1/10th the time it took to get up, but it was fun!
I managed to only fall twice, which is great because it was pretty muddy and I'm known to slide around when it's been wet. I slid twice on the same section - once going out and once coming back. It was a little stream but one side of it was super steep and pure mud. You would think I learned my lesson going down but noooo, I thought I'd try going back up... That's how I got the lovely bruises on my knees this time around. So I decided that I probably shouldn't go mountain biking between now and graduation so that I can wear a dress and not have people stare at my black and blue legs!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Poor kitty :(
Zoje is sooo mad at me right now. We just got back from the second vet visit in the last week. I took her into the ED last week because she was having some issues (I'll spare you the details) and thy sent her home with some antibiotics and some anti-inflammatories for what was supposedly a UTI. Well, she was getting much better...until yesterday when she finished the antibiotics. Now she's back to where she was last week before we took her in. So we went back to the cat clinic and now she's back on another antibiotic and different anti-inflammatory, and the doc said I should feed her more canned food (Zoje liked that part)... the good news is that it doesn't seem to be serious, more like an anxiety problem leading to physical problems. Maybe she's picking up on the fact that changes are coming in the next couple of weeks. I don't know, but I just want her to feel like she doesn't have to go to the litter box every couple of minutes.
Okay, now that's off my chest. Up next -- SKIT NIGHT TONIGHT!! I cannot freakin' wait. It's going to be so much fun! And basically that means the semester is pretty much over.
Yay!! So just send some good vibes Zoje's way so that she can feel better!
Okay, now that's off my chest. Up next -- SKIT NIGHT TONIGHT!! I cannot freakin' wait. It's going to be so much fun! And basically that means the semester is pretty much over.
Yay!! So just send some good vibes Zoje's way so that she can feel better!
Sunday, April 26, 2009
FINALLY
After weeks and weeks of getting shot down due to inclement weather, I finally went mountain biking today.
Wojtek and I traversed west of the city to a trail we had done last year called Lost Valley. It's a nice trail that's pretty tame but enough ups and downs and rocks and streams to make it interesting and challenging enough for a first time out this season.
Basically, we both realized how out of shape we are for trail riding. I've been biking back and forth from school and we've taken a couple of rides here and there but I tell you what, there's nothing that prepares you for a nice long climb up the side of a hill. Boy did my lungs scream at me a few times. But I managed not to get any bumps, bruises, or scrapes this time! I don't think that's ever happened before. I was pretty proud.
I was a little leery of going because of what I did on Friday. I was throwing the frisbee around in Tower Grove Park and it was really windy, so I was having to whip the thing really hard to get it to go anywhere. Well, on one of the last throws I released and felt my shoulder pop out and back in. Not cool! It didn't really do much else, and it didn't really hurt - mostly just freaked me out - so we just finished up and went home. But when I woke up yesterday morning it was pretty sore. I wasn't sure it was going to be able to take all the jarring that my arms get on the mountain bike. But after some icing and resting it, it didn't give me any problems on the bike. I'm just going to have to watch out that I don't stress it too much in the next week and then, being the almost-PT that I am, I should probably start working it out to keep it from happening again... in due time.
But nonetheless, it felt really good to get out there and get dirty. Definitely going to have to start getting in shape for the rest of the season. I didn't get any pictures this time since Wojtek's camera is out on loan, but next time we will!
Wojtek and I traversed west of the city to a trail we had done last year called Lost Valley. It's a nice trail that's pretty tame but enough ups and downs and rocks and streams to make it interesting and challenging enough for a first time out this season.
Basically, we both realized how out of shape we are for trail riding. I've been biking back and forth from school and we've taken a couple of rides here and there but I tell you what, there's nothing that prepares you for a nice long climb up the side of a hill. Boy did my lungs scream at me a few times. But I managed not to get any bumps, bruises, or scrapes this time! I don't think that's ever happened before. I was pretty proud.
I was a little leery of going because of what I did on Friday. I was throwing the frisbee around in Tower Grove Park and it was really windy, so I was having to whip the thing really hard to get it to go anywhere. Well, on one of the last throws I released and felt my shoulder pop out and back in. Not cool! It didn't really do much else, and it didn't really hurt - mostly just freaked me out - so we just finished up and went home. But when I woke up yesterday morning it was pretty sore. I wasn't sure it was going to be able to take all the jarring that my arms get on the mountain bike. But after some icing and resting it, it didn't give me any problems on the bike. I'm just going to have to watch out that I don't stress it too much in the next week and then, being the almost-PT that I am, I should probably start working it out to keep it from happening again... in due time.
But nonetheless, it felt really good to get out there and get dirty. Definitely going to have to start getting in shape for the rest of the season. I didn't get any pictures this time since Wojtek's camera is out on loan, but next time we will!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Long time coming...
Alright, so I know it's been a couple of weeks since I last posted. But hey, I've been busy.
We're down to the last couple of weeks of classes, and it's just crazy how quickly it has come to this point. This semester has flown by, even though I was sure it was going to take forever for graduation to get here. Now all that stands in the way of me finishing is a couple of presentations and two exams. Completely do-able!
The other thing that my class is working on are skits for skit night. Every year the 3rd years put on a skit night and the ones that I've gone to the last 2 years have been hysterical. I was crying last year it was so freakin funny. The class has been taping all week and then editing will happen all weekend to get it all ready to go next Wednesday. Oh man, I cannot wait! The ones I've seen so far have been downright ridiculous, and that's before any editing!
I'm hoping it's finally going to be dry this Sunday to go mountain biking. I've been waiting forever for a good day to go and every weekend it's been crappy and wet. I don't feel like pushing through huge mud pits my first time out this year. Give me a warm up, at least!
Okay, back to skits. Maybe I can get a copy of one of the videos to post on here, though it won't really make sense to anyone outside of the PT program......
We're down to the last couple of weeks of classes, and it's just crazy how quickly it has come to this point. This semester has flown by, even though I was sure it was going to take forever for graduation to get here. Now all that stands in the way of me finishing is a couple of presentations and two exams. Completely do-able!
The other thing that my class is working on are skits for skit night. Every year the 3rd years put on a skit night and the ones that I've gone to the last 2 years have been hysterical. I was crying last year it was so freakin funny. The class has been taping all week and then editing will happen all weekend to get it all ready to go next Wednesday. Oh man, I cannot wait! The ones I've seen so far have been downright ridiculous, and that's before any editing!
I'm hoping it's finally going to be dry this Sunday to go mountain biking. I've been waiting forever for a good day to go and every weekend it's been crappy and wet. I don't feel like pushing through huge mud pits my first time out this year. Give me a warm up, at least!
Okay, back to skits. Maybe I can get a copy of one of the videos to post on here, though it won't really make sense to anyone outside of the PT program......
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Procrastination at it's best.
Sigh...senioritis. It's back.
I am at the coffee shop, attempting to write the synthesis for my literature review, and not having entirely to much luck at accomplishing the task. I'm on page 3 of, oh, 8 that I will eventually end up with. So dry, so boring....
So let's take this time to talk about more fun things before I have to get back to it. (On a side, note, I am actually working on this assignment even though it's not due until Friday. Progress? I think so!)
I went to the Alpine Shop last week and drooled over all of the things I want but can't afford on my lowly student salary (being none). But I think I've decided that I'm going to invest in a backpack before I go to Montana. It's something I've been wanting for a long time, and definitely something I know that I'll use when I'm out there. Plus, with my discount I can get it at 20% off which makes it slightly more affordable. I'm starting to make a list of the things that I really should get while I still have my discount, and the backpack is going on it. Done.
On another note, the weather has turned around again and it's beautiful out today! A little windy, sure, but the sun is out and I can wear my sandals and still feel my toes. Was even able to ride the bike to school yesterday and today. So that makes me happy :) but increases my senioritis even more...... I think we're going to go mountain biking this weekend at Lost Valley which will be super fun and something I've been looking forward to for quite a while now. I'll definitely post pictures of that.
Okay, back to the grind... Only one more month of class!!
I am at the coffee shop, attempting to write the synthesis for my literature review, and not having entirely to much luck at accomplishing the task. I'm on page 3 of, oh, 8 that I will eventually end up with. So dry, so boring....
So let's take this time to talk about more fun things before I have to get back to it. (On a side, note, I am actually working on this assignment even though it's not due until Friday. Progress? I think so!)
I went to the Alpine Shop last week and drooled over all of the things I want but can't afford on my lowly student salary (being none). But I think I've decided that I'm going to invest in a backpack before I go to Montana. It's something I've been wanting for a long time, and definitely something I know that I'll use when I'm out there. Plus, with my discount I can get it at 20% off which makes it slightly more affordable. I'm starting to make a list of the things that I really should get while I still have my discount, and the backpack is going on it. Done.
On another note, the weather has turned around again and it's beautiful out today! A little windy, sure, but the sun is out and I can wear my sandals and still feel my toes. Was even able to ride the bike to school yesterday and today. So that makes me happy :) but increases my senioritis even more...... I think we're going to go mountain biking this weekend at Lost Valley which will be super fun and something I've been looking forward to for quite a while now. I'll definitely post pictures of that.
Okay, back to the grind... Only one more month of class!!
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