Bridal Showers, Blacksmithing, Bachelorette Parties, Oh My

I always feel like there's so much to do, despite how far ahead of most assignments I am. I can't stop studying or working on things. One and a half more weeks and only four more finals (until summer semester begins...)

Apparently Polio was such a big deal that they make plushes as souvenirs. 

The sport of the week was volleyball. I convinced our PT classmates to come play with us on Tuesday night and we had a blast. We were terrible, but had the most energy and most of the other players wished they were on our team. (We even ended up winning a couple games by the end of the night.) It was also our last week (and the tournament) for city league volleyball. Which was also awful, but much better volleyball. It's fun to play with people that kind of know what they're doing.

One day I will have a sliding ladder like this. 

We had a guest speaker come this week to talk about electromyography and even did a demonstration on John Robert, which included shocking and stabbing him with needles. 10/10 would watch again.

My man went ham on those clouds and I could not keep up. 

The weekly activity was a Bob Ross paint night - which was underattended compared to last semester (but finals are looming, so it's expected). We half-speeded him and all the adults were making jokes about how he sounded high. Can't take those children anywhere.

The kids. 

Brandi and I had a full day planned on Saturday that began with a delicious brunch for Maddie's Bridal Shower. We ate all the quiche, yogurt/granola, and cinnamon rolls that were there and I snagged lots of pictures of Terri's good side.

Check out that technique tho. 

Our blacksmithing class was us and three old men. We loved it. We even got to check out the Pioneer Museum while we were waiting to start. We learned all about the different tools and some history and got to practice lots of different techniques and it was so fun. Even if the blacksmith's 10y o son kept making fun of me for being a perfectionist.

Our instructor and masterpieces.
(And Dawn thought we would only make a NAIL...)

The day ended with us rushing to Sam's bachelorette party. We did a pole dancing class (and were the best bachelorette group she'd ever seen because we were all athletes and didn't complain too loudly about pain). It was also way more fun than expected. Then we played some fun games, including True American, and had a surprise stripper show, and ate delicious food. And I was home by 9, so I was happy.

"I have so much more respect for strippers now"

Taco Time

I know this is the birthday month of fun, but I spent a lot of this week catching up from too much of it. I had a few quizzes, a huge test, and some projects - which made it so I had to dress up almost every day this week. (Well...my version of dressing up.)

An old man came into our PT cohort as a patient presented grand rounds-style. He said that every time the Diamondbacks score 5 runs, Taco Bell does 3 free crunchy tacos with a drink purchase and that's what he uses as his social hour. So this week, we made a point to run into him and he made a point to tell us that after the season is over, they still meet up every Tuesday for tacos. Love it.

Our volleyball team did surprisingly well this week, but I still don't think we're going to make it super far in the tournament on Tuesday. Lindsey came swimming with me (also Brandi, 26min later...) and we got tacos after and they were delicious. We swapped ridiculous dating stories that validate every Disney movie drama.

Our boi Jim. 

I also participated in a voter study (that got me free dinner and $100), but I learned about a government committee in AZ that tries to help present unbiased views of both parties in preparation for elections.

Brandi and I watched two movies this week that I would highly recommend (and might even buy): The Upside, with Kevin Hart, and Overboard. Both were feel-good movies with lots of laughs and cute endings.

Saturday was my nothing day. I planned in nothing weeks in advance and stuck with it. I just need some time on occasion to do all the things that I never have time to do. I fixed my car and cleaned my room and did laundry and called some old friends and ate brownies (because 4/20) and generally got my life in order. It feels good. I need more days like this.

Birthday Month of Fun

It's a busy week that started with a presentation at the AT/PT Journal Club on the sole article investigating the anatomical use for the champagne toast test over empty can for isolating the supraspinatus. As usual, more research needs to be done. But no donuts remained to be eaten, you're welcome.

All my spare time was allotted into studying for the upcoming bulldozer of a neuroscience exam. It's going to wreck all of us, but we gotta try.

Best burrito I've had in a while.

Wednesday I had my last dentist appointment ever and it was not good. Despite arriving 20m early, we started 40m late. Then I they found a cavity for the first time in living memory. So they fixed it and cleaned my teeth and overcharged me by a RIDICULOUS amount and wondered why my blood pressure was so high.

Lizzy came to volleyball this week and did wonderfully. They put such an emphasis on getting people who "know how to play" but sometimes we just need effort and an ability to get it over the net. You don't need to know the fancy ins and outs of positioning as long as you can consistently serve. Bless up, Lizzy.

My man Tim, aka "Doc". 

Early Thursday morning, I braved the terrible PHX traffic (fraught with construction and minor accidents) to make it to RMATA out past Scottsdale. And it was wonderful. It's great to see old friends, make new connections, and work together as ATs. The classes mean so much more as a practicing clinician and some were even a great addendum to my neuroscience studies.

The neural tension and taping labs were also a good break to normal classes and I got to see the BIGs at work during the business meeting as we approach our Sunrise/Sunset of licensure and get the opportunity to alter our practice laws. I was also amazed at how smart everyone was. Now that I understand a little bit more, it was fascinating to see how in-depth their research and knowledge are.

Friday night, I got the most delicious burrito from Señor Taco and took a nap on Joe Bale's couch. Then we met up at the church for a super intense game of spoons. Marissa and I caught up a little bit and Brodie told me about his favorite memory with me: he was eating a piece of cheese, I walked up and bit the end off straight out of his mouth, and walked away. Meanwhile Bishop watched the entire thing in shock.

Classic. 

Becca and I had a little sleepover on the mountain before Hannah's wedding Saturday morning. It was nice and small and simple and there were so many nugs and cupcakes that were all very delicious. What a boss. She deserves to be so freaking happy.

I went back to the conference after grabbing a few plates of food and made it through the last couple classes before the big Hall of Fame banquet. This was my first year in attendance, but it was well worth it. The food was gourmet fancy and had plenty of red meat. I questioned some of the bigwigs who were dual certified about why they were not involved in PT's sister organization, the APTA. The consensus was that it's hard to support an organization that historically has lobbied very actively against the NATA. That's a fair response.

Sunday night, we had a little shindig at Brandi's house with peanut butter frosted chocolate cake and brownies, but no ice cream. We played Psych, which I hadn't played since the last time I was at RMATA with the kids from BYU and we were stuck in a very boring presentation. It was a lovely time with lovely folk.

Couldn't quite measure up to my best birthday ever with this kid. 

Opening Weekend

The graduating high school seniors visited the welcome center for a "fireside" where we told them about different activities, ate food, and played a classic Don't Eat Pete. Group 2 was significantly better than Group 1, but we also had our shiz together a little more.

Mason dresses in his mom's clothes all
the time, so this isn't weird.

Every month, I have several goals that I work on, but specifically a spiritual one and a physical one that are unique to each month. This month's physically-themed goal is sleep. Not sure if it was divine providence that inspired me to make this or just good planning, but I need it. Allergy season + new glasses + a ridiculous workload at school has me D-E-D dead.

This is me on a good day.

Luckily, I've been preparing in advance for our assignments and exams and so I was about as ready as I could be by the time I took the Neuroscience exam this week. Petra and I spent some time in VR cases together so I got to ask her a few questions, and then I interrupted her gait training session to finish up. It was hard.

Gait training crew in the pro bono PT clinic.

After that mess was over, I took a little break and went swimming and watched Aquaman (with free refreshments and entrance). And talked to MGH. What an absolute delight.

MGH as an old woman.

Friday's activity was "Around the World: Costco-style". Meaning everyone with some connection to another country brought in their souvenirs and told stories and gave out small samples of food. It was awesome. Since someone else had planned to take France, I decided to do Ghana. I made some spicy fried plantains that were so typically African, but not at all American. Hit or miss.

This is the kind of shiz I have to deal with at school.
Take one plate out and the whole stack crumbles.
(This is meant to stop our desk from wobbling.)

Early Saturday, I headed down to PHX where my old bishop was preparing a GC feast. I crashed, helped myself to the food and best spot on the couch and planned out some shenanigans with mis amigas.

Las amigas. 

Jacob let slip that his sister was back in town early for her wedding next weekend, so I spent the rest of Saturday conference at their house. Where they snapped pictures of my face when the Chin was *almost* and actually given a new church calling. After specifically lying to us multiple times.

Ok, ok, so there was a small mispronunciation that
made it much less dramatic for everyone. 

Couldn't dwell on that too much bc the Sox were in town and I made sure to be there. (It's definitely not Fenway.) It was fun to catch up with my squad and now Marissa is in the area for her traveling nurse job, so we got to hang out as well. Favorite part of the whole evening: the announcers were tryna get a chant going for the home team and the Sox fans banded together to completely take over all cheering. We didn't win, but at least we have more community than any other team. 

Do Damage.