Camping... and Poison Oak

Last weekend I decided to take a quick break from my hectic schedule and go to Lake Mendocino and spend a night camping with my friends.  At first I was going to go, and then I wasn't, and then at the last minute I changed my mind again and decided to go for one night.  Well, on my way up to the lake I had a very daunting feeling deep in my bones.  I had a feeling that I shouldn't go because something negative was going to happen.  I didn't know what that thing might be, but whenever I have "a feeling" I try to listen to them.  Because they always turn out to be true.  Always.  It's like a 6th sense.  Ask K.

Anyway, I decided to ignore this feeling and pretend I was just feeling bad about going camping when I should have been doing homework.  As it turns out, my feeling of something ominous about to happen came true, when shortly after returning from camping I came down with the world's worst case of poison oak... ever... in the history of the world.  (Ok, I'm sure there have been worse cases, but when it's on MY face, I get to say it's the worst ever.)

After a visit to the doctor, some shots and a lot of pills, I am slowly on the mend, but still very uncomfortable.  But on the opposite end of this story, is the fact that I had an amazing time with my friends.  Here are some pictures:

Playing games.

Tennis baseball... apparently I'm the worst player ever.

The tennis/baseball outfield... which was other people's campsite.

9:30 am beers.

Tubing.

And for anyone who wants to see it... my terrible poison oak.  This picture really doesn't do it justice, and this is only a small portion of my problem, but there it is.

Despite the terrible aftermath, it was a great trip and I'm so glad I am actually home to enjoy these moments with my friends.  When I wasn't living here, I was always sad that I didn't get to partake in most of the festivities that they planned, but I'm trying to enjoy every minute of my time with them while I can.  Thanks for a great trip guys!

What did you do at school today?

I have officially finished my first week of classes for the semester!  And I have A's in all of my classes so far!  (Hey, it's a very demanding schedule, I think I'm allowed to brag a little!)

I mentioned in a previous post that I am taking three classes this semester:  Intro to Pharmacy Technician, Medical Terminology, and Medication Administration.  My goal is to enter the Pharmacy Technician program so I can become a certified Pharmacy Technician.  My long-term goal was to go to pharmacy school to earn my Doctor of Pharmacy degree, but the fact that K will be getting out of the military about a year after he gets back, has led me down this path so that I can be finished/almost finished with school when he gets out, because who knows where we'll end up.

When I was little, whenever my parent's asked me what I did in school that day, my reply was always "Nothing..."  Typical, right?  Well, now I have an answer!  So to celebrate the end of my first week (and gearing up for the many more to come), here are 3 things I've learned so far:

1.  The meaning of anesthesiology:  "an-" is a prefix meaning "without"; "esthesi" means "sensation"; "-ology" is a suffix meaning "the study of".  So you put them all together it literally means "the study of not having sensation"!  (Also, if you weren't sure, an anesthesiologist is the person that knocks you out during surgery.)

2.  Diet supplements do not have to be evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  They do not have to be proven safe or effective before being sold.  So think about that before buying some fad diet pills.  (Although if they turn out to be harmful, the FDA can pull them.)

3.  I have started learning how to read prescriptions.  For example, if your doctor writes something like "i tsp po q8h" on your prescription, your pharmacist will read it as "Take one teaspoon by mouth every 8 hours."  It's like another language!  Whenever I looked at my prescriptions, I swore the doctor wasn't writing in English... apparently they're not!

Anyway, my classes have been very fast-paced and exciting and I am learning a LOT.  I don't know about all of you, but when I see a doctor or am getting a test done, or any sort of medical thing, there are always seems to be so much stuff that just flies right over my head.  But now I'm learning what some of that stuff means!  (I feel like a genius with secret knowledge that us "regular people" aren't supposed to know!)

I'll Pencil You In...

For the first month or so after moving back to California, I was really bored.  I didn't have much to do, so my days were mostly creating errands for myself, zoning out at my computer, and watching TV.  Of course I did other stuff, but my days were never really full.

But all that changed this week when I started school AND my job in the same week.

Now I'm really busy.  I should be doing a million other things right now that don't include blogging, but I needed a break from homework.

My classes at the junior college started.  I am taking Intro to Pharmacy Technician, Medical Terminology, and Medication Administration for a grand total of 8 units.  And yes, it is the summer semester so I have all of that crammed into 6-8 weeks of class.  Instead of easing my way back into school I'm doing a cannonball right into the deep end.  A few people have told me I'm crazy, but I like to think of it as ambitious.

I also got a job at an awesome little coffee shop right across from the school.  But this is no ordinary coffee shop.  It is owned by an organization that runs rehab programs for teens, which means the coffee shop is their vocational training center.  I do have to know how to make all the drinks/prepare food/run the register and all the other typical coffee-shop duties, but 90% of the job is mentoring the teens that come in throughout the day as part of their treatment.  We teach them job skills and how to work in the coffee shop so they will have some useful skills after treatment.  I've only been there a couple of days and I'm still adjusting to the VERY early mornings (I have to be there at 5:30 am), but I'm really excited about it and I just hope that aside from being a good employee, I can be a positive role-model for the kids.

I'm finding the only way to stay on top of this hectic schedule is to stay very organized and tracking everything in my planner.  I'm not available to video-chat with K whenever he is available, so even he has to be scheduled in to my days.  The great part about being so busy is that my days are flying by.  I catch myself wishing the time would slow down a bit so I could get my homework done, which I never would have done a few weeks ago.

If you don't hear from me much over the next month or two, you know where I'll be... with my head in a textbook, or making coffee with some kids, or sleeping.

Birthday Parties

May is a month for birthdays in my family because my niece and both nephews were all born in the same month (two of them within about 12 hours of each other!).  This year we had a big birthday carnival for my niece who turned 1 and nephew who turned 5 at my parent's house.  It was crazy.

party favors

the biggest jump-house ever

birthday boy and birthday girl with mom and dad

having fun with his present

The weekend after the first party, my mom and I flew to Atlanta to celebrate my other nephew's first birthday.  My sister and brother-in-law didn't know I was coming to visit, so it was a great surprise to show up as a "bonus" present.  The party was a relaxed lunch at the park with a "construction" theme.  Aside from the humidity of Atlanta (I thought I was going to melt) it was a great trip!  We enjoyed some really good food, toured the CNN Center, and took my nephew to get his first haircut!

decorations

cake!

"digging" in his cake... he didn't really eat it, more like played with it
(and notice his hair had to pulled back in a pony-tail... it was so long!)

birthday boy after his first haircut with mom and dad

I have never really been able to enjoy spending time with my nieces and nephews because (a) I haven't spent much time at home since they were born or (b) they live on the other side of the country, so the fact that I got to be at birthday parties for all 3 of them was really special.  They are all so precious and I can't wait for more birthday madness next May!

A Little Encouragement

Before K left for his deployment, I asked a bunch of our friends and family to write him little messages of love, support, encouragement, etc.  I put the messages, along with photos from each friend/family, into a book so that he could take it with him while he was gone.  I waited until the absolute LAST minute before I ordered the book through Shutterfly (which is an awesome site, by the way) and I guess I waited just a few minutes too long because it arrived after I took K to the airport. (Actually, exactly 1 hour after I dropped him off.)  Anyway, I shipped the book to him and being that he has now seen it, I can share it with all of you.

K's "Vacation" - 2011

"For K - this book was made especially for you by your family and friends.  It is filled with words of encouragement and prayers for you.  Whenever you get a little homesick, or just want to see some familiar faces, look in this book and know that every person here loves you, supports you, and is praying for your safe return.  We are proud of you for serving your country and we are with you in your heart no matter how far from home you are.  We love you so much, Your Family and Friends"

These are a few examples of what was in the book...

K just received the book and had a chance to read through it and he said he was amazed by how much love and support he felt through everyone's words.  I'm glad I had a chance to make this for him and thank you to everyone that participated!