My life and random thoughts

I feel like I write the same things over and over. It's sad how my life is so routine, well maybe that's a good thing. It's good for me.

School is still going great! A couple more weeks left of the semester. The end of the semester is always crazy. I have lots of projects and tests to study for. Today I have tried to study for a test I have tomorrow but I find my mind wandering. I'm not thinking of anything in particular, just not able to focus on the material for the test. I will try again in a little while but my mind just isn't there.

I'm working at the gym again and loving it! I work a couple nights a week. I don't know who is more tired at the end of the night: me or them. When we play tag, all the kids go after me. They tackle me to the ground. We rough house. It's so much fun! I love being there and the kids, and parents, can tell.

Thursday night I went to Spartanburg to hang out with a friend. She is a friend that I have met through school. She is such an awesome person. I know I have made a friend for life. Friday night I went out with a different friend and had a blast. I love friendships that you know you have each others back and that either of you would do anything for each other. That is the kind of friend that he is. His friendship is one of those rare friendships. I was thinking the other day how sad it is that you can't find people that are loyal and truthful as much. It seems someone always has a lie to tell or "stabs" you in the back. I feel fortunate of the friends I have and the friends I have made. Friendship is such an important part of who we are. I treasure my friends.

It's hard to believe how fast 2008 has gone by. It has been an eventful year, to say the least. My mom started to decorate for Christmas yesterday. I looked at her and said "Already. It can't possibly be time to decorate." Those of you that know me well know how crazy I am with decorating. I don't know what it is this year, but I don't feel like going all out and decorating. It doesn't seem as important to me to have the garland and lights all over the house. I would rather be spending my time with family and friends. I don't know. Maybe in a few weeks I'll feel differently.

I've pretty much been the same. Just going to school, working, going to the gym, and trying to find time to spend with family and friends.

I hope everyone is doing well.

First Day of Clinicals

Today we started our level 1 fieldwork. I'm going to Pickens Middle School with ten other classmates. There is not an OT there so we get to come up with different activities for the children. There are 11 children in the classroom. They are all very sweet! They loved having us there and were sad to see us leave.

We brought the kids to the computer lab and they each were able to play educational games on the computer. We then went back to the classroom and did an activity with them. We had them make mailboxes out of styrofoam plates. They were to punch holes around the edge, string yarn, peel stickers off paper, put the stickers on the paper, and write their name. It was a great activity. After the activity we went outside for PE. The children are required to walk two laps around the track before they can play. I was working with a girl in a wheelchair. She propelled herself around the track twice independently. I was so proud of her! It took the whole time, but she did it by herself. She was proud of herself. We then brought the children in to eat lunch. After lunch we left.

Being in a public school setting was very different for me. I enjoyed it. There definately was different from what I am used to. It is going to be a fun and challenging week, but I'm very excited about it!

I hope everyone is doing well.

Update

Wow! I can't believe it's already November, 2nd! Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday it was New Year's Day.

School is going GREAT! I love it. It's a lot of work. I had a Kinesiology test last week that I truely thought that I had failed. It was extremely hard. I signed into school yesterday and saw that grades were posted. I was scared. I opened up the file, looking for the grade of an F. To my surprise I didn't see an F, I saw a 94/A! I was so excited I nearly jumped out of my chair. That made my day. I had been so worried about that test.

On November 10th we start level 1 fieldwork. It will be the whole week. I'm not sure where I will be going, but I'm very excited. I know I won't be at the Meyer Center because you are not able to go to a place where you have been previously employed.

I went back to work at the gym. I am working a couple nights a week until school gets out, then I will work M-F nights. Parents and kids are excited that I'm back. I love it! I get to run around and play around for 5 hours a night. It feels great to be back with the kids.

Last night I went to a halloween party at my friends house. We all dressed up. I was an arabian princess. It was a lot of fun. There was lots of good food. We had a great time and can't wait to get together again soon.

That is what has been going on in my life, pretty much the same. It is hard to believe that I only have 5 weeks left of school!

I hope everyone is doing well!

An innocent life lost

On Monday night a man was tragically taken from his family. He was cooking dinner for his two children, ages 4 and 2. I'm sure he was making jokes with his kids, he had quite the sense of humor. His brother came into his home. From my understanding they must of had an argument. His brother pulled out a gun, waved it around and began to shoot him. He shot him multiple times, one of the bullets bounced and hit his two year old son in the foot. These two innocent children watched as their father was being murdered. I can only imagine what was running through the father's mind; the fear of not being able to protect his children, probably not his safety but the safety of his children. While he was laying on the kitchen floor dying, there was nothing he could do for his children. The pain of not being able to protect your children had to be worse than the pain of the multiple gunshots. He just laid there helpless, his life slowly being taken from him.

This man had a name. His name was Rusty Staples. He and I were friends. We used to hang out everyday. We drifted apart over the years. I saw him around two years ago, after his son was born. I'm in shock right now. I can't comprehend the fact that he is no longer here. I think of those children. They watched their father die. The fear they felt. The fear all three of them felt. I don't understand. How can somebody, especially a family member, come into your home infront of your children, and murder you? What is the thought process? I know that he had to have been on something or have something mentally going on, but still. These two young children are now going to grow up without their father.

My heart goes out to his family. I pray that God gives them the strength to get through this tragedy. That those two little angels will be able to go to bed knowing their father thought the world of them and would have done anything for them. That he will never be forgotten and those children will grow up knowing what a wonderful father they had.

Please pray for this family and for the healing process.

Weekend with Friends

I had a great weekend! Friday night I went to Chiefs for a surprise party for Lynn. We had so much fun. It was great to see everyone! We had fun catching up, playing trivia, and dancing the night away, although we couldn't get Nancy to dance. We will get her to dance next time! We enjoyed great food and music. I tried the chicken fajita salad. It was so good. I will be ordering that from now on. We had a great time and I look forward to the next time we get together.

Saturday night we had Kathi's surprise party at Gattitown. Only Kathi would have her party there. We had a lot of fun. I played air hockey with Dave. He beat me, only because I gave him 2 points. There will be a rematch and I will be sure to win! I finally got to meet Greyson, Kim and Kevin's son. He is adorable! I can't believe that he will be 9 months soon! I also saw my little man, JP. I can't believe how much he has grown. He doesn't have that baby face anymore. We had a wonderful time catching up.

After Kathi's party I went to my friend Anna's house. Emmy came too. The three of us had such a great time getting to know each other better. I know that Anna and Emmy will be friends for life. It's so neat how we met through school and our personalities just clicked.

I had an awesome weekend catching up with friends! It was a much needed weekend. I completely relaxed and let the stress of everyday life go. It was nice.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

Sorry there are no pictures, once again I forgot my camera. Kathi and Lynn got a lot of great pictures. I'll try to get some from them and post them.

Update

School is still going great! I've been very busy studying. This week is test week. I had a test over the weekend in one of my online classes, a test today, a test tomorrow, and a lab practical tomorrow. Everyone in my class is overwhelmed, but we are getting through this week. My test today was harder than I thought it would be. There was a lot of information and on some of the questions I wasn't exactly sure if I gave the answer she was looking for. Tomorrow my test is in Kinesiology. I'm not as worried about that test. We have had three pop quizzes and I study for that class all the time.

For my Therapeutic Media class I have to do a playground assessment. Today, after my test, I went to the Recreation District Park on Beverly Drive. It's not far from the Meyer Center. I've been there before with JP. It was beautiful out there today. There were a couple of mothers there with their daughters. The girls were all running around playing. I sat there and did my assessment and took pictures different equipment. I was watching the girls play and I noticed that I was observing them thinking of OT and of different activities to do. Six weeks ago I would have never thought that my brain would be thinking this way, I know it sounds weird. OTA school has become my life and it's showing in things I do everyday.

That is pretty much what has been going on in my life. I still continue to go to the gym five days a week, that is my outlet. Last week I slacked and only made it one day! It felt great to get in there today. Other than school and the gym I don't have much time. Friday I am going to go out with some friends and relax, definately needed after this busy week.

I hope everyone is doing well.

OTA School

Well, I have made it through the first two weeks of OTA school and ABSOLUTELY love it! The people are great and so are the classes. I have a great schedule. I couldn't have asked for a better one. I do get confused as to what class I am in sometimes. Our classes are between two classrooms and you see the same teachers everyday. I have brought the wrong book to class, opps.

My hard class will be Kinesiology. It is a lot like Anatomy and Physiology, but more in depth. This class is not my favorite, but I will get through it. I love all my other classes. So far my favorite class is Therapeutic Media. We are going to do sand art next week. How cool is that?!

I am so pumped about my classes. Any doubt I had before about making the right decision is gone. The head of the department has said that our class is so enthusiastic and that we have raised the standards for classes to come. Wow! That's all I can say. She said that she can tell each of us are dedicated. It is such a neat environment. How often do you look forward to going to classes? I do each day, maybe not as much for Kinesiology.

The next 15 months are going to be challenging but very exciting. I have started the preparation for the rest of my life. This is not school, but my career. I am truely excited.