Weather

According to weather websites, it is in the 80s in Clayton and 50s in Boston. In the 80s at home?!?! It's like summer never ended, but school began. Though I'm thankful it isn't freezing here quite yet, the 30 degree difference makes me miss the CA weather. However, I suppose the foliage here in New England makes up for it. :) I suppose winter is upon us, but I'm not ready to admit that quite yet. Thank you Jesus for the crisp, cool air and the warm blankets I can cuddle up in. Now, to continue studying for my midterm tomorrow morning! Last midterm of this 2-week long testing time! Then, I can really cuddle up and get warm and relax a bit before I continue to study the new material. Thank you Jesus for this opportunity to learn and further my academic education!

10-10-10

Yes, that is today's date. October 10, 2010....10-10-10. Could we say today is "10 cubed"? Just felt the need to bring attention to today's date since it will only happen TODAY, once next year and once the year after and then we will have to wait 91 years or something like that until it happens again, which will likely not be in any of our lifetimes. So, enjoy it while we can!!! :)

Poll

Well, the story behind the September poll is that I moved into a new apartment at the beginning of September and I think it took about 2 weeks before we could get our internet set up and running in our apartment due to the previous tenants failing to cancel their internet service. We contacted the internet company and they said that we couldn't start service because there was already another account open for this address. Therefore, we had to mail our lease in and then they could cancel the previous account and start service for us. However, the town I live in has an hour of free internet for computer users while in this town. It is an hour free everyday, but once you begin using the internet, the hour countdown begins. It doesn't keep track of how long you are actually using the internet. It doesn't matter if you close your browser or even disconnect from the internet. Once you start, you can't stop or pause or anything. Therefore, we had one hour of internet at home for the first two or two and a half weeks we lived here. It was manageable, especially once school started and we were able to use the internet at school while we were there. We had to plan our hour of internet use; I ended up writing a list of what I needed to get done using the internet and after I had a list of a few things, I would begin my hour and get the most out of that one hour I had. Now, I have unlimited use the internet. Oh, how I rely so much on technology....

July

So, my summer in Maine was quite the unforgettable experience. I had always dreamed of, or wished, to have the opportunity to live in Maine while I was growing up just because Maine was so far away and nobody ever really talked about it. It was like one of the "forgotten states" (kinda like some of the states in the middle of the country). However, I think I want to at least visit those as well. Anyhow, my dream/wish came true and after moving to Maine, I was not prepared at all for how rural it is. At the beginning of July, I was able to take a small little break from Waterboro, ME and spend the weekend of the 4th of July with my parents in Boston, which was fabulous! On the fourth, we went to church in the morning and then met my friends on the esplanade to take part in those fun Boston festivities. Then, we made our way back to Maine on Monday, spending some time in northern Mass and New Hampshire. Having my parents in Maine that week was helpful with my adjustment to Maine because they gave me something very familiar to come home to after work and people I could interact with that didn't have anything to do except to spend time with me. :) (It also helped that they took me out to dinner and spoiled me rotten while they were here.) Then, before they left, they came by the clinic and met the people I was working with this summer, which was also good. It makes it so much easier for me to talk to someone about where I am and what I've been doing when that person has seen where I am and have met the people I interact with on a daily basis. Then, they left and I continued living and working in Maine, adjusting more and more everyday and gaining more of an appreciation and liking for that state that was once oh so far away and "forgotten".

The next weekend, the family I was living with took me to Fort Williams park to see the Portland Headlight on Cape Elizabeth. It was a pretty area with a lighthouse and a view of other light houses. The kids had a fun time showing me all the cool places to explore and hide out in and rocks to climb and all the different paths to take. And, I had a fun time being introduced to such a fun area too. The next day, they took me to Kancamagus highway in New Hampshire where there are a lot of pull outs on the side of the highway with a bunch of different short hikes to take and waterfalls and lakes to see and water to play in and all kinds of fun exploring and nature to see. It was such a nice day (it reminded me of a CA summer day) and it was the perfect day to be in the warm sun and near water. Needless to say, I enjoyed that weekend and it ended up being one of many good weekends. :)

The next week, I had the wonderful (scary) opportunity to experience my first real life tornadoes! I suppose they weren't the real big tornadoes, but they were classified as touch-down tornadoes. I don't know much about this natural disaster, but I did know that I wasn't about to drive in the heavy rain and wind that I met after leaving the clinic that night. Therefore, I ran back inside, soaking wet, to wait it out with the girl who was closing that night. After about an hour, the wind and the rain let up a bit and I was able to safely drive home. It is a storm I will never forget and am so thankful that everyone I knew was okay. I didn't hear of anyone getting hurt in it, but I did hear (and see) trees uprooted and blocking the roads all over. One of the physical therapists at the clinic I was working at was unable to come to work the next day because the trees were blocking his road so much. His pigs had gotten out, other people's outdoor furniture was destroyed and taken to other people's yards (and these people have acres of land...the neighbor's yard isn't necessarily right next door). That was an eventful evening and I'm so thankful it wasn't too bad.

That weekend, I went into Portland, ME and spent the afternoon with my fellow student at the clinic, and friend, in "the city" exploring a little bit and walking around the quaint downtown area. Portland is a cute little city with small shops and cobblestone roads and water and an enjoyable atmosphere. The next day, we went for a little hike to overlook a town nearby and go to see a pretty view of the treetops and some lakes in the distance. It was a nice hike and a good way to spend the afternoon. Let me tell you...the tops of trees can be very different. They are not all the same. If someone can explain to me the majesty and excitement in these differences, I would be more than happy to listen because I can't tell you. :) Honestly, though, it was a good way to get outside and do something and enjoy the nature that one can't enjoy everywhere because there are people and houses and businesses that have cut down the forests and open space. There is a lot of beauty (and trees) in the state of Maine.

That last week in July, my CI (Clinical Instructor) and I went to do an ergonomic assessment for some business one afternoon. It was a good experience to see another aspect of what a physical therapist can do. It's not something I would want to do full time, but it's necessary to do from time to time from the business perspective, but also what needs to be considered with my future patients who will be working at a computer with a desk job for 8 hours a day. So, that was a good one-time experience to have and be a part of. I also received my first gift from a patient that week, which was exciting. I was given a can of those Pirouline cookies...oh, they are so yummy! The hazelnut flavored ones are my favorite, but the chocolate ones were tasty too. :)

I saw The Sorcerer's Apprentice with my CI and his family. I usually don't enjoy movies with Nicholas Cage, but this one wasn't too bad. I usually don't go to see movies in general, but I suppose I'll go every once in a great while and this was one of those great whiles. It was fun to meet his family too. Family time is something that I generally enjoy, whether or not it is my own family. (Although, I will say that family time with my family is by far the best family time. I am a little biased though.)

To finish July off, my friends came to visit me in Maine! Shirin, Hannah, and Trisha took a bus from Boston to Portland for the day. I picked them up and we went to eat at DiMillo's (a floating restaurant) for lunch. By floating restaurant, it was more just a restaurant on a boat that was docked and it didn't feel like we were even on the water because it was such a large boat that it didn't move. It was still fun though and we were outside on a nice day, eating lobster club sandwiches--YUM!!! :) After lunch, we took a ferry over to Peak's Island. There are so many islands off the coast of Maine and people can visit, or live on, many of them! When we got to Peak's Island, we got ice cream from a place that gave gigantic scoops and it was oh so good! Some were rather messy as it melted and got all over our hands (Shirin's was extra melty), but it was a tasty treat! We walked around the island for a short while and then took the ferry back to Old Port (Portland) and walked around downtown and in the shops too. We finished up their time visiting by going to the Popcorn store where they have all kinds of crazy flavored popcorn. There are so many unique flavors and then they mix and match their flavors to make new flavors. The sky is the limit with this popcorn company! Go look at their website to browse some of their creative creations!

If you thought July was busy, just wait until you read about what I did in August! Some crazy things and some true "Maine experiences". The best is yet to come! :)

I'm Famous

Yeah, right! I am hardly famous. However, I just found out recently that my face is featured on two different websites, one of which has probably been there for almost a year, completely unbeknownst to me. It is on my church's website when we took pictures with our community group last fall (October or November). I have no idea how long it's been there, but probably since soon after it was taken and will be replaced with another picture from community groups this year, which begin in October. Check it out and see if you can find me here!

Secondly, while I was in Maine this summer, the clinic I was working at had someone redesign/revamp their website. They took more updated pictures during this process and a picture was taken of me and used on the home page. Can you find me?

Also, in case you didn't realize, there is a new poll question and is only there until the end of the month! I'll write about the story behind the question and why it is relevant to my life after the voting has ended. :)

Blog Poll!

So, to make this a little bit more interactive, I have decided to put in a little poll to see what people think. Right now, I plan on having a new poll every month, but it could change to more often, depending on how many people are voting/if you all want to give your opinion on things more often. Just let me know! And, if nobody votes...well, then, I suppose nobody reads my blog then, which is completely fine too! :) Happy voting!

The second half of June

I returned to Boston later than I had expected due to airplane issues...surprise, surprise, right? I was supposed to leave SFO Tuesday night sometime, maybe 11 pm? Well, the plane I had boarded was overbooked and they asked for volunteers to come off and leave on a later plane. Well, that later plane was 6 am Wednesday morning. So, I (so kindly) volunteered to get off the plane and the airline put me up in some hotel for the night...well, it was really only 4 hours maybe, considering I had to be back at the airport at 5 or so the next morning and I think I finally got to the hotel at 12 or 1 am? Anyhow....I got a free (or almost free) flight out of it...as long as I know where I put my voucher. Hmmm......I hope I find it when I move! :) So, I returned to Boston Wednesday night and had a little bit of roommate time. Then, Thursday night, I had the opportunity to go to the Foundation of Physical Therapy dinner. It was quite the event and a bit extravagant for my taste. It was a very nice evening. However, I did feel like nobody was really paying attention to what was going on when the MC was going through all they had planned out for the night. Also, it was the same night as the NBA Championship finals, which people were all caught up in. After all, Boston was playing the Lakers. I left the dinner a bit earlier than most people and came home to watch Boston lose....sorry Boston fans!

Then, that weekend, we had some fun roommate tennis attempts, which worked out not too bad! We were all equally as terrible, so it was a perfect match! :) I also had a whole car fiasco weekend, which continues today, BUT I have a car for which I am thankful for and trusting the Lord as the pieces continue to unfold. I eventually made it up to Maine and began my clinical experience Tuesday, June 22. I spent one week in the clinic and then my parents came to Boston that second week. While my parents went frolicking and flittering around Boston seeing all that there is to see and experiencing the fun sights of Boston, I was (stuck) in Maine, unable to see them after work/clinic. But, alas, thankfully I have Fridays off this summer and Thursday night came when I drove down to Boston after clinic. I was once again reunited with my parents this summer. Except, this time, we were on the east coast. Well, that Thursday was July 1, so I suppose this post is now complete.

Stay tuned for the fun adventures and happenings of my life in July! :) And, maybe I'll post some pictures one of these days too....