Sometimes...

.....We just need more of these in our day.

weheartit.com

Support System.

I got to school a bit early, and a group of my classmates were hanging out waiting for class to start.  We shared a few laughs and then headed into the classroom.  As we received our syllabi and read through the course requirements, I couldn't help but be a bit daunted by what I read.  But as we left the class together, again, laughing, I realized what an incredible class I am a part of.  With just a few days in, it feels like we are already a pretty tight group.  As the year gets tougher, I already know we've got each others' backs.  It's a heartening feeling.

As support/friend groups go, it seems there are some key players:

-The Butt-Kicker:  This person tells it to ya straight, no matter how much it's gonna hurt.  They bring you back to reality.

-The Cheerleader:  pretty straight forward...This person always has an encouraging word or two

-The Human Google.com:  This is your go-to person for any knowledge/information/advice

-The Spontaneous Fun-Maker:  This person is up for ANYTHING and does EVERYTHING, a little bit crazy, but always a good time!

-The Comic:  I do not know anyone who doesn't like laughing.  Comic=indispensable 

-The Guilty Pleasure Sharer:  How much fun would watching reality shows & eating peanut butter covered oreos be without this person in your life?

I'm sure as you are reading this, you've already pegged some in your support system. Am I missing any other key players?

One of my favorite pictures of a pretty rad support group,
not current classmates, but these girls know a thing or two about rockin the support system!

Reflection

As a student, it's so easy to get caught up in assignments and deadlines.  This summer, Dr. Wil urged me to take some time in reflection of how my courses and clinics are affecting in me, and what changes are happening in my way of thinking.  

Today, I was reminded of that when a professor asked us to write down what the greatest thing we learned today was or what is still unclear for us.  She said a lot of the same things Dr. Wil said this summer, "We learn information and we study information, but rarely do we think deeply about information."

As I'm reflecting even more, I realize how easy it is even in regular life to miss out on reflection.  I just finished a book yesterday and have already moved on to another.  I know I enjoyed the book while it lasted, but I didn't really stop to think about what I really liked about the book, what I didn't like about the book, if the book has changed any ways of my thinking, etc...And that's just one example!

Dr. Wil is the wisest person I know and I think this is because he spends time reflecting.  Wisdom comes from experience, but if one doesn't think about his experiences, how will he grow?

love the balloon reflection!
wehearit.com

Great First Day of Grad School!

Ok, maybe it wasn't a true first day, but still... I think this year is going to be a blast!

Our first class was canceled because of the school-wide "Welcome Back Bash"/Orientation Day...I was not complaining!

After the "Bash", a couple of my classmates & I headed over to a local coffee shop with free Swing dancing on Monday nights.  I had never been before and had a blast!  We decided after class on Mondays, we are going to come.

I'm a bit nervous, I've got orientation for clinic at a rehab hospital tomorrow.  I've never worked with adults before.  To be honest, the whole setting is completely intimidating to me.  This clinic is the one I'm the least confident/don't feel prepared for, but I'm glad I've got it first quarter - I'm going to jump right in without checking the water!  I'm also kind of excited because it is something completely new for me ~ who knows ~ I could love it!

Just what I needed.

Yesterday, I did get to go to the ocean! I had such a great day.  The weather was beautiful and the water was so warm!  For me, it was one of the most relaxing days I've had at the beach all summer.  We weren't in a rush to get out there and once we were, there was no agenda or any time constraints.  We didn't roast marshmallows, but we stayed until the sun set. We got back relatively early which meant an early bedtime for me!  I got up this morning and went to yoga and had a great workout.

Kait, Jenn, & I

The beach was such a great way to end the week & yoga was such a great way to begin this coming week!  I am feeling pumped & ready to start grad. school classes!

Weekend.

wehearit.com

I am hoping to get back down to the ocean tomorrow afternoon.  We had such a great time last weekend and the day was absolutely beautiful.  As I was packing up to head to the concert, I almost wished we could have stayed at the beach a little longer.  The concert was great.  Donavon is so laid back and he drew a really chill crowd, a lot of hippies and scruffy surfers.  I've gone to reggae/surf culture-type concerts before and have always been surprised at the hipsters that were there, but not with Donavon's crowd...everyone was fantastic.  (Not that hipsters are bad people, just a bit intimidating to me) 


Anyways, I'm hoping to spend the afternoon & evening down there, maybe with a fire & some marshmallows...we shall see!

Donavon Wanna-be's!

Today...

...I cut a rug!

 I was feelin it all day and had a blast!  I rocked out in my car, danced in the office, and grooved at home.  What a fun day!

Do you ever have days like these?

A question...

...to ask yourself:  Why is today going to be an amazing day?

weheartit.com

A little thought for your new week.

"Look, I really don't want to wax 
philosophic, but I will say that if you're 

alive, you got to flap your arms and legs, you got to jump around a lot, you got to make a lot of noise, because life is the very opposite of death.  And therefore, as I see it, if you're quiet, you're not living.  You've got to be noisy, or at least your thoughts should be noisy and colorful and lively."                - Mel Brooks

Weekend.

Tomorrow I'm heading to the beach with friends for some surf.  In the evening, we will be catching Donavon Frankenreiter, one of my faves, for a free concert at the Orange Co. Great Park.  I'm looking forward to sand between my toes, paddlin' out, and a picnic & great tunes on the runway!

The San Francisco Giants.

I am not entirely sure how to put into words what baseball is to me.  I love to play it, I love to watch it, I love to read about it, and I love to study it.  When times are good, my heart soars.  When times are bad, don't even mention it.  I feel the exhilaration of a much-needed win and the depression of an untimely loss.  

Right now - I am more than excited about the sport, and especially my favorite team, the San Francisco Giants.  As the season is winding down, they are neck & neck with the Padres for first place, as well as the Braves for the Wild Card.  The Giants are on fire and I can only hope that they make it to the first round of play-offs.

my fellow lover of all things giants

P.S. Buster, if you are reading this and wondering, the answer is Yes, Yes I would love to go out with you!

Parenthood.

Last night was the season premiere of Parenthood.  I started watching it this summer. My mom had a few recorded, and when there was nothing else going on, I watched them.  I quickly became a fan for 3 reasons:

1) Max, a 10 year old, has aspberger's.  He does an excellent job of portraying autism.  I love how realistic it is from the actual goals & interactions between him & his ABA therapist, to how the rest of the family is coping.

2) The houses in this show are fantastic.  I love how each one is decorated differently.  My favorites are Craig T. Nelson's house and Dax's houseboat.  Nelson's house has a fantastic garden and I just love the kitchen.  I've always wanted to live on a boat, and if I could, I would pick Dax's -  lots of bright colors.

3) The show is set in the Bay Area. Enough said.

Sadly, I could not find any pictures

Something New

Tonight, my cousin took me for Pakistani food.  

I was stoked!  I was planning on trying out a kickboxing class at my gym for my "something new", but messed up on the class time, so I missed it.  

This afternoon I racked my brain for a new experience.  The best I could come up with was to try out a new coffee shop...but in all honesty, that's not really a "new" experience.  

When my cousin suggested we meet up for Pakistani grub, it solved my conundrum!  I quickly learned Pakistani cuisine is pretty much the same as Indian cuisine, so it may not have been entirely new - but I went to a new restaurant and learned something new! 

The food was really tasty and I'm excited about my leftovers for lunch tomorrow!

Adventure

I am seriously craving some right now... So, tomorrow, I'm going to do something completely new...

In the meantime, how neat would this be...talk about adventure.



Advertisement from Levi

A bit of a rant and maybe some rambling...

I called Wil yesterday to find out when we could meet again.  During the quick conversation, he told me he had a funeral to attend on Sunday.  It wasn't his words or his language, but the pathos in his voice that alerted me to it being a sad one.  His voice was solemn and matter of fact, yet filled with love.

After the phone call, I pondered how our culture is an "extreme" culture...That sandwich was the best, most delicious sandwich I've ever had in my life; That was the worst experience of my life;  It was the prettiest, most luxurious rug ever, this cup of coffee is amazing (it seems everyone says amazing for EVERYTHING, it's a pet peeve of mine).

Those simple sentences are filled with so much drama!  It seems we are always at competition with one another for having the best or worst - everything is described in extremes.  I'm guilty of it too.

Maybe the key is love.  Maybe if my interactions with others came from a place of love, I wouldn't feel the need to compete.  Others would understand from the love and genuineness in my voice.

from weheartit.com

Weekend.

A few years ago, I remember planning my weekends on Monday.  I made sure I had plans for at LEAST Saturday night, if not both Friday & Saturday evenings.  I remember feeling pressure to plan SOMETHING, ANYTHING...It was like social like suicide or something to be home during the weekend.  

As I sit here relishing in not having any set plans this weekend, I feel completely content.  Aside from work tomorrow, I have the whole weekend to spend as I choose.  I like to think this shift in perspective is due to sophistication ;)

Wishes of Weekend Contentment to you!

A fantastic, younger picture of my favorite sophisticated lady, Diane Keaton
image via clydeandbonnie.com

Fall is here, Summer is officially over.

This past week I have been mourning the end of summer.  Four things this week have alerted me to the fact that indeed, fall is here.

1) At our work meeting, we have officially begun planning programming based on the school calendar.

2) The weather has cooled down immensely.  Sun dresses have been quickly traded for sweaters and leggings.  Yesterday, it drizzled all morning.

3) My brother left for college.

4) I had clinic orientation on Tuesday, and began screening clinic today. 

So long summer, thanks for all the fun!

San Onofre, Camp Peddleton July '10

Because I'm broke as a joke...

I have been brainstorming things I can do for cheap fun for the next few months and here are 15 very cheap ideas:

- Game nights
- Sunday morning pancakes
- Play in a park (when it finally cools below 100+ degrees!)
-Swim
-Volunteer
-Garden
-Movie nights  (Netflix is rather inexpensive)
-Farmer's Market/Street Fair perusing
-New classes at the gym
-Hike
-Peruse Barnes & Noble
-Potluck meals with friends
-Beach  (if only it wasn't so far away...)
-Take pictures
-Call a friend

photo from weheartit.com

What do you do for cheap fun?

Muscles!

Today I helped a friend move into her first apartment by herself.  After lugging box after box in 108 degrees, she can now start unpacking & decorating.  I am so excited for her to take this big step and going out on her own!

Thursday night is Yoga night and I had a BLAST! I LOVE power yoga...it's a vinyasa yoga with weights and it's done to super up-beat music.  I try to go every Thursday night, and for the past month or so, it's been ok, but not as invigorating as it used to be for me.  But tonight, the instructor pushed us hard & she had an incredible mix with new songs, and I fell in love all over again.

Maybe 1 day I will be able to do this
Photo from contestqueen.com

Happiness

 A fresh TED talk proposed that these are the 5 keys to living a fulfilled life.


1) Connect with others


2) Be Active


3) Take Notice


4) Keep Learning


5) Give




Check this talk out, it's not really about happiness at all, but sustainability of our planet.

from englishbaby.com