Day 06
I was lucky enough, unlike my mother & brother, to be out of school on Good Friday. I wasn't lucky enough to go home, like 99% of my classmates, sadly. I at least got to sleep until I woke up--no alarm baby!! Something I hadn't done in 12 days. Heavenly!
To my excitement, Paige and Kennedy were stuck in Harrogate, too! [Im not completely alone, hooray] I schemed with Paige to take Kennedy to the park for #lunch and nail painting. The first was a great success once we got out of the icy shade. The latter, not so much. Between polish bottles falling over from the gusty wind and the brushes drying out, we gave up and trekked towards the swingsets. We climbed up slides, got sand in our shoes, and almost threw up from the merry-go-round........... to somehow end up at the movies for the Hunger Games.
At Paige's, we discovered all the glorious essentials for dying eggs: no spill containers, stickers, dye-filled Q-tips, egg stands, bunny scissors, and Easter memory. 18 eggs later, with hands covered in dye, we had some beautiful creations!!
xoxokc
Day 04
Today was the first time I ever realized Sonic has been lying to all America since 2009. Not a trivial white lie. I'm talking Clinton/Lewinsky, Trojan Horse kinda lie. Ok, maybe not that intense, but I sure do feel scammed.
Nothing makes me #happier than to get out class during the 2-4pm hours of the day to make it to Sonic for Happy Hour. I mean seriously, who can beat a cherry limade filled with the best ice on this side of the Milky Way at half price? That's right, no one!!
Today in particular, I inched my way into the drive-in, being very careful to leave the perfect amount of distance for my arm to stretch out to press the tiny red button. I glance at the menu and there it was....THE LIE!! Sticking out like eyes on a Graves patient.
"1/2 Price Drinks + Slushes. Happy Hour. Every day 2-4pm"
Now I wasnt a mathematics major nor do I like to calculate anything in which I cant use a calculator, but last time I checked, 2-4pm IS 2 HOURS!!!! PLURAL!!!!
How could they do this to thirsty America? Phrase our ability to get drink happy for 1 hour, when it's really 2? Shame on Sonic and their marketing department. Actually, more like shame on me that I just now realized this. In all my trips to Happy Hour, you would think I would have picked up on it before now. Either way, go get happy on a 1/2 priced drink at Sonic tomorrow....during Happy HourSSSSSS.
xoxokc
March Days 24-27
To end my spring break, I went to the great state area of Washington D.C. I attended AAPA's annual Capitol Connection with a group from LMU. Our goal was to lobby to congressmen from our home states to pass bills pertaining to the scope of practice of PA's.
Considering D.C. is 8+ hours away from Harrogate and no one in the group wanted to drive that far after returning from spring break, we decided to take the 'Megabus'. To say the ride was uneventful is ludacris. From rude bus drivers, to uncomfortable seating, it was an experience that will never be forgotten. *more details, if you ask, that might possibly include dramatic hand movements, ghetto talking, and a contorsionist act or 2*
Arriving in D.C. included heaps of walking around, looking like ridiculous tourists trying to find the best Metro route to our hotel. Once we got checked in, with the help of the frontdeskman Roland, we showered and headed out to explore the historic city. We stopped by the Washington and WWII monument, the Capitol, and cherry blossom lane. And of course, we also had to get a picture in front of our LMU homeboy, Lincoln!!!
After a full day of Lobbying 101, we spent an entire day meeting with congressmen and their staff. I was very intimidated but got the hang of it as I went on. I even saw one of my childhood dance friends working in Congressman Hall's office. Small World!
We were even able to snag tickets to a Wizard game [with a complimentary John Wall tshirt, yeah buddy!!], sneak into a lower section of the arena, and enjoy dinner at a local pub in a quaint Virginian downtown strip illuminated with christmas lights.
We megabused it home Tuesday night to spend Wednesday regrouping and realizing how little we had studied for our upcoming Endocrine exam.
Overall the trip was a great success!! I even developed a newfound passion for PA legislation.
xoxokc
P.S. After few days back in Harrogate, I recieved an email from the coordinator of the conference telling me a congressman I lobbyed to officially co-sponsored one of the bills I and another PA proposed to him. HOW COOL!!! If you dont understand the magnitude, imgaine Casey Anthony's lawyer after winning her case. Minus all the killing, psychotic people, and media attention. I guess I really did make a difference on Capitol Hill!
Day 29
Yesterday the schedules for the clinical year were handed out. I was nauseous all day just thinking about it. I requested to be in TX the entire time and was very nervous to see if I got placed in the spots I wanted. *You should see my fingernails* I was so ready to know where my little #feet would be during the year to fancy my planning tendencies and get my housing situation tackled. [as if I dont already have a bajillion other things to be doing with my time right now]
3pm rolled around. Our clinical director was perched up on a tall chair awaiting to give us information we may or may not want to hear. All the girls around me were telling each other 'may the odds be ever in your favor' in attempt to mask our nervousness LOL [we are slightly obsessed with Hunger Games] Apparently, since 60-80 manpower hours had been put into making these, changes will not be taken very easily. When my name was called, I walked up to the front for a first look at where I would be for the next year of my life.
I grabbed the paper. *sigh* I had Houston first {which I had STRONGLY asked for}. I quickly skimmed over the rest of the assignments to make sure they were all in TX. *sighagain* They were! I didnt receive the exact order I wanted, but hey- they are all in Texas. PTL! I will be between Houston, Dallas, Sherman, and Dension during the year! It will be alot of moving, but so worth it. Of that, I'm positive.
Whew! What an adventure I have coming up! If it's even possible to be 1)scared to death and 2)extremely excited/ready all at the same time, that's my feelings right now.
Bring it on, rotations!
xoxokc
P.S. dont think you need to schedule an appt with your optometrist STAT ;)...the pic is blurred out for privacy reasons
Day 28
I returned from DC this morning. I predict the crick in my neck from the overnight bus ride will linger for a couple more days, unfortunately. I'm so glad my program cancelled classes today so we could rest, regroup, and reload for the next 18 days of class. YES, we only have 18 days of school left this semester. Glorious!
After unpacking my musty, metro-smelling luggage, I had the sudden urge to clean. I dusted and mopped most of my room, took out the #trash, separated laundry into darks and lights, showered, and laid down for the most restful sleep I have gotten in the past 4 days. I was definitely ready to be done with living out of a suitcase. After I woke, I was slapped in the face with PA school reality: taking a week and a half off means work piles up. And did I take the evening to get organized to tackle the massive study load that piled up: of course NO. Here's to a few more sleepless nights.
I hope you had a semi-productive Wednesday like myself.
Enjoy evidence of my cleaning spree: an empty trashcan. haha.
xoxokc
Day 18 & 19
As you know, I'm at Julie and Brandon's this week outside of St. Louis!
Below is a shot of a corner of their #home. I think their Boatner sign is adorable! Oh, and dont forget to look at the very top middle of the picture--that's Julie's WORLD SERIES game ticket when she went to a game IN St. Louis to root on the Rangers! How awesome is that!
Sunday was full of church, lunch at Qdoba, guided tours of the town, napping, kite flying, and relaxing. My mind feels out of place not having to think about school 24/7.
Today (3/19) was our first real day of sightseeing/experiencing the town. We headed towards downtown about 11am after brunch. Our first stop was the famous Arch [aka, The Gateway to the West]. We were able to snag some tickets to the top for a crazy view of the city. To get to the top, 5 people are shuttled up the side of the arch, smushed like raisins into a tiny egg shaped contraption for 4 whole minutes. At first I thought it was a #funny joke, but soon realized I was mistaken. Below was an attempt to snap a picture of it. {We were actually told NOT to take pictures of the eggmachine. Im a rebel, what can I say}
After the arch experience we toured a museum, drove around in Illinois for about 5 minutes, dined at Imo's Pizza, and blew purple and pink bubbles. The night ended over alfredo pasta and the 4 of us enjoying each other's company :) Of course, laughing at everything the boys say.
You should go up to the top of the arch sometime before you die. Great experience, unless you are clostrophobic or afraid of heights.
xoxokc
