SNOW DAY!

Two words that create such a distraction from class, work, and even sleep: snow day. Kids pray for them, parents despise them, and teachers hope for them. Yesterday we were sitting in our tutorial class on campus. One second the clouds were gray, but the ground was empty. The next thing we knew, there was a whiteout. You couldn't even see the ground. And it snowed like that non-stop from about 1:00 - 9:30 PM. It was crazy! After the snow started we lost all sense of concentration. We barely just finished class when we heard the rest of the day's classes had been canceled. I even got out of my research class (which is the most boring class of the week).

I decided not to drive my little dodge stratus through the storm but I got a ride from Whitney since she has an SUV. The rest of the day was spent mindlessly on tv (mostly tennis). I did manage to organize myself and get a few assignments done.

Then today my field work site was closed so I had the whole day off! Laura gave me a ride to campus where I was expecting to dig my car out from a pile of snow, but it really wasn't that bad. I cleared my car off and since I had left it on campus, the snowplows had already cleared all of the surrounding snow away. I went and grabbed groceries, headed to the gym, cleaned my apartment and did even more work.

All in all it was a productive day. I love snow days where you can actually get around and do things. And it couldn't have come at a better time. It was amazing.

Never underestimate the power of procrastination

I mean, that's why I have a blog right?

And today, like any other, I do not feel like doing work. I put in work all weekend long. And I still feel like I haven't gotten anything done. So naturally, I don't feel like putting any effort into my homework tonight. Oh, did I mention I got up at 3 and watched Nadal play and then went back to bed at 5:30 to get up at 7:30?? Yea. I am exhausted.

And after sitting in class all.day.long. I don't feel like doing anything. I did go to the gym and do a 30 minute cardio program followed by some weights. And here I am, sitting at my computer letting dinner cook and procrastinating.

I guess after dinner I'll actually do some work, watch some tennis, and go to bed early.

Maybe I'll get around to it. Who knows.

Timing is Everything

Despite being bogged down with a lot of reading and busy work, I definitely took advantage of this three day weekend. While I was watching the Steelers game on Saturday night (they won thank goodness!) Kim and I were texting about how bored we were. My suggestion: How about I drive down? It was only 8PM so I packed a bag, grabbed my books (wishful thinking), and hit the road. We spent Saturday night talking and giggling. We went to this really great church on Sunday. We hit up David's Bridal and even looked at some apartments that we'd like to move into.

Kim made a really awesome dinner (which I'm cooking Thursday night for some of my OT friends) and then we went and saw Country Song. I have to say, I was surprised at just how good the movie was. The storyline was good and kept you guessing, the music was phenomenal! Gweneth Paltrow and Leighton Meester totally surprised me with their abilities to sing. I have to say though the biggest surprise came from Garret Hedlund. He was AWESOME. If you don't know who that is, think Friday Night Lights or Georgia Rule. His voice is so rustic and soothing, but very strong.

My favorite song from the movie is called Timing is Everything. I'm posting the lyrics here because it's just that good. Enjoy!

when the stars line up
and you catch a good break
and people think your lucky
but you know it’s grace
it can happen so fast
or a little bit late
timing is everything

you know i’ve had close calls
when it could have been me
i was young when i learned just
how fragile life could be
i lost friends of mine
i guess it wasn’t my time
time is everythnig

and i could have been a child that got took home
and i would have been one more unfinished song
and when it seems a rhyme is hard to find
that’s when one comes along
just in time

when i remember that day
when our eyes first meet
you ran into the building to get out of the rain
cuz’ you were soaking wet
and as i held the door
you wanted to know my name
timing is everything

and i could have been another minute late
and you never would have crossed my path that day
and when it seems true love is hard to find
that’s when love comes along
just in time

well you can call it fate
or destiny
sometimes it really
seems like
it’s a mystery
cause you can be hurt by love
or healed by the same
timing is everything
and it can happen so fast
or a little bit late
timing is everything

Day 3...

Grad school is in full swing now. Only the 3rd day back and I am swamped and overwhelmed with work. Writing on here gives me a short, but sweet break. I was really productive today so I'm giving myself the rest of the night off. Sadly, all I wanna do is get in bed, read my book, watch Jersey Shore, and go to sleep . Sounds like a good night to me. :)

Favorite quote of the week:

"There's always gonna be that one thing you wish for but never get. That one mistake you can never take back. And most of all, that one memory you would do anything for, just to have it again."

People First Language

Today was the first day of the new semester. My third official semester as a grad student in the Occupational Therapy program. I only had two of my three classes - occupational dysfunction and research. The dysfunction class is actually really interesting. We're doing half the class on pediatric dysfunction and the other half on adult dysfunction. Just some examples of the things we're going to be studying this semester include Down Syndrome, Autism, Muscular Dystrophy, MS, CP, etc. The research class is going to be intense since we already have an assignment due on Wednesday. But it seems to be a lot more busy work than anything else. As long as I don't have to sit through a neuro or anatomy intensive class again, I'm okay with that.

The other class that we were supposed to have today is a once a month seminar on our fieldwork sites. We have that class on Thursday since our clincals don't start until next week.

Tomorrow I have a LONG sensorimotor class but I think I'll enjoy that one a lot today. Thursdays are reserved for our fieldwork sites/clinicals and then Friday we have a long psychosocial class (mental health). If nothing else, the semeste will be interesting and we'll have lots to do.

Anyways today in my class we were talking about the importance of talking to and about a person like they're an actual person and not just about the condition they have. For instance, you shouldn't say "he's handicapped" you should instead say "he has a disability"; or "she's autistic" but "she has autism". Get the idea? It was kind of an easy first day but one quote that the professor gave us stuck with me.

"The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug" - Mark Twain

Just some food for thought.

Happy New Year

Well I guess it's been a while since I posted, but the three week hiatus I've had has been amazing. It started by going up to Northern Virginia and picking out the bridesmaid dress that I'll wear in Amanda's wedding. It's so pretty! Then I spent some much needed time at home with my sisters and parents.

Christmas was awesome too. I was shocked when I got a new laptop from my mom! And I also got Ugg boots from my dad! I got to see a lot of family and friends. It was great. Then a few days later I flew up to Maine to see some of my favorite people on earth. We went skiing, celebrated New Years, camped out with books by the fireplace; it was so nice and relaxing...I did get kind of sore from skiing, but it was so much fun. The first day we went, there wasn't a bunny slope so I practiced on the little hill out front for a while. Eventually everyone made me go down the easiest slope that was open - which didn't really seem that easy. I fell a lot. I practiced some more turns and stops and then Kim convinced me to go again. The last time I went I had an awesome run. I still fell a few times, but I had improved so much in just the few hours. It was awesome. The second day was better, they had a bunny slope and it was actually really boring. So I did some green (easy) trails. It was a blast. I was so sore and then I flew home that night.

I ended up getting food poisoning but I recovered. I took my car into the shop and got some new tires. Saw my grandparents and then I drove to Hampton to visit Becky. It was to say the least a very busy three weeks, but it was awesome. Now I'm back in my apartment at school watching Beverly Hills 90210. I'm not ready for classes to start but I am ready to be back!