Coming to the end of a very long road

It has been such a long time since I last posted.  Last time I decided to blog, I was preparing for the last weekend of classes.  It was such a busy week and I still feel as though I worked right down to the very last minute, trying to get my assignments completed.  Well, we finally finished our academic portion of the OT program and now I just finished week 5 of my clinicals.  I will have to complete two 12-week clinical assignments.  Unpaid of course, so I am picking up what hours I can at the Nursing home.  I decided that it would work best if I resigned as a full-time COTA at my current place of employment and change to a per-diem status.  It’s been ok!! I’ve been getting some hours here and there.  It’s nice to go into work, do what I need to do and leave.  I no longer have to worry about the day-to-day BS that happens.  I do miss the camaraderie of the girls though.

Currently, my first placement for clinicals is with our local Captial District BOCES and I am really enjoying my time with the little kiddos.  They are so much fun, they can be challenging, but fun.  So much different than when I did clinicals in Peds to complete my OTA degree requirements.  I am thinking about going into Peds, however with all the recent talks of upcoming budget cuts, it might not be a secure position.  My 2nd 12-week placement will be at St. Elizabeth’s in Utica.  I am excited and nervous about this one.  I know that I will get a lot of experience here and who knows, maybe, I will enjoy this placement and type of setting even more.  What I am sure of, is no matter what, I will be able to find a job as a OT. 

            In May I will participate in commencement, a day on campus for our culminating experience and 2 days of an Exam prep course.  In June, I begin my 2^nd placement that will take me through the end of August.  I will then begin the painstaking task of studying 3-4 hours daily for the National Boards.  I probably will take them by the end of October or Early November.  I can’t believe how fast this is going; it seemed like forever to get here.

            I do miss the weekends in Utica with the girls.  We had a lot of good times and memories that I will cherish forever.  I am glad that I decided to further my education and chose Utica.  I’ve met some great people and friends that will last a lifetime.  

Another Chapter almost done!!!!

There is Light at the End

So, it’s been a very long time since I last posted.  Life has been extremely busy.  For those of you who are unaware, I have been going to school to get my Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy.  I have been a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant since October 2005.  I knew while I was finishing up my associate’s degree that I wanted to go back, however I needed a break.  With the advice of my professors at Maria College, I began working in the field for a few years.  By the fall of 2008, I was at it again and started taking the prerequisite classes required to enter into the Master’s program.  By the fall of 2009, I was working full-time as a COTA and going to school full-time.  Yes!! That’s right, I was going to school on the weekends (well every other weekend). My personal life basically came to a halt.  Also, besides becoming a full-student, remaining a full-time employee I also became a full-time care giver for my mom, who was diagnosed with cancer, just a few short weeks before I began the 2009 fall semester (I'll save her updated status for another day).

In May 2011 I graduated with my BS in Health Sciences from Utica College.  Oh!! Yeah!! I didn’t tell you that not only was I going to Weekend College, but I was traveling just over an hour west every other weekend.  Yes, I have been staying in Utica on college weekends.  Anyway, this has been a long road.  School does not and has never come easy for me.  I have to really work hard at it.  I’ve spent many long days and nights hitting the books, writing reports/research projects, posting discussions online.  I’ve missed out on many social gatherings/events.  If I did go, I really did not enjoy myself because in the back of my mind I was always thinking about the looming deadline and about what assignment I could be working on.

On Friday 2/17/12, I punched the time clock at work for the last time as a full-time COTA.  Like, the kids I have this week off, however I am working on all those last minute assignments.  I have a lot of loose ends to tie up.  On Monday 2/27, I will begin one of my two 3 months fieldwork internships.  My first one is close to home here in a nice school district working with BOCES.  My second one will be in Utica at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center.  I am both excited but nervous at the same time for both.  I officially will graduate in August, however I will be able to walk with the rest of my class in May during commencement.  This has been a long time coming.  I can actually say that I am beginning to feel normal again and I am getting my life back.

 I am finally beginning to see a light at the end of this long tunnel.

For Lauren Belius

Child Killer and Enough

 There is no relationship that lasts longer in this world than the relationship of siblings. God's gift of best friends to us in life. MeetLauren Belius and her twin sister Erica. Beautiful baby girls, aren't they?

 The girls were inseparable, Lauren being the brave 'older' sister, and Erica being the shy little sister.

Older brother Nolan didn't just have to share the spotlight with one cute little sister, but two! These three joined our Taekwondo studio last spring. Busy little kids that we all got a kick out of watching as they learned their counters, kicks and kata's.

 Lauren and Erica- blessings beyond words, beautiful memories made of first birthdays, milestones, holiday mornings and their sweet personalities.

 Until one horrific morning in July of 2011.

 David Trebilcock stabbed Lauren to death in her own bed as her twin sat inches from her in the very same bed, horrified and screaming for help. David had been plotting her murder, going as far as to lock the family dog in the garage and barricade the bedroom door with a dresser before approaching these amazing girls, naked- to fulfill his plan of killing a child.

 By God's grace, Lauren and Erica's mom was able to break into the room and attacked David, incapacitating him so she could get her girls out of his evil clutches. Lauren succumbed to her injuries, tragically the little girl with the big grin left her family that day and went to Heaven where she would feel no pain, have no fear, and never be harmed again.

 Now a little sister who was shy and dependent on her older, brave sister would be left to navigate the world alone. Her twin, her other half, torn from her right in front of her, torn from us all.

David Trebilcock admitted to murdering Lauren Belius. He did not take the stand in his own defense, instead pleaded not guilty by defense of insanity. He then requested a bench trial instead of a jury of his peers and last week was found NOT GUILTY of killing Lauren.

Our community has been devastated by the murder of this sweet girl, a family broken forever, and a mom has been left to look over her shoulder the rest of her life for a man who made statements that make us all concerned that her other children may be in grave danger when he is released. This man had the foresight to lock a family dog away from the girls it would have fought to protect. He shoved a dresser in front of a door that would have allowed these girls to escape. This man is not an insane man, he's a cold, calculating murderer who just worked our system and has been freed of all charges by Judge Dwyer of Oneida County.

Our laws need to be changed!

There should be NO plea of insanity if you murder a child, and there certainly should be no bench trial demanded by the murderer!

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David Trebilcock can be out in the world amongst you and me in 12 months!! A man who admitted he had intercourse with a 12 year old child. A man who admitted to having drug problems in the past. A man who hid his past from others and left other states when he knew he was in trouble. The very same man who murdered Lauren in cold blood.

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Allison, Lauren's Mom is asking for help in spreading the word of this injustice. PLEASE, I am asking all of my readers to help me spread the word! Repost this on your own blog. Make every community aware of what our laws really do. Help us gain national exposure to get the ball rolling and make it so David Trebilcock and other child killers can not get away with this!

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Please do not just link to this blog...too many readers ignore links. Please cut and paste! Right click to copy the photos.

I thank you for your help.

Lauren's Mommy thanks you for your help!

Photos posted of Lauren, Nolan and Erica Belius are with written permission of their Mom. Photos of sadistic liar, admitted child raping, and confessed child killer David Trebilcock are copied from the Internet.

For my bloggy friends~ If you repost, please leave a comment for me so that I know you did so and I will plug your blog with one of your own original posts later this week. Thank you!

Mammogram, Family History and a Scare

It’s been a crazy couple of weeks.  First, classes have been so demanding that the workload can be  and is at times very overwhelming.  It’s been difficult since the beginning to work full-time all day and then come home and try to complete any assignments.  Sometimes I really don’t even know where to begin.  Assignments that I think will take be minutes to an hour, end up taking me 3-4 hours.  Full-time work and Full-time school; not really recommended unless you like to torture yourself and love the stress.  Me not so much, but it’s almost over.

 Since I started furthering my education, it’s been a difficult road.  My mom was pretty sick the first two years.  She spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital with surgery after surgery and infection after infection.  Things with her have settled down since about mid-summer. That has been one less thing on my mind and has given me the opportunity to put more effort and concentration into my coursework. 

Anyway, that was until recently.  On November 1 I had my annual mammogram.  I get them early because of my family history.  I had my first at 30 years old, the second at 35 and two since.  I am very cautious when it comes to my health, especially my breast health.  A week later I went for my annual OBGYN visit, so far so good.  Yeah!! That always makes me happy.  I hate those visits and am always scared of what they might find/say.  He (my OB) said all looks good and if the results are abnormal he would call, other wise it’s see you next year.  I love to hear those words (as much as I hate these appointments).  I got home and the in the mail was the usual letter from the same office regarding my mammogram, which I had just a week before.  It read: Abnormal – Further tests (digital mammogram and/or ultrasound) are required.  Please call the office to set up your next appointment.   Ok!! Now, I am scared and worried.  Should I tell my parents, especially my mom? I know how worried she gets.  I felt a lump in my throat and sick to my stomach.  The first thought – OMG!! I might have Breast Cancer at 37 years old.  It took a few days to set up another appointment, however I did it.   I have to wait almost another week, before I find out more information.  So for,  6 days I had time to think, cry, and do nothing but worry.  Oh!! And Yes!! My breast (the one they found a suspicious spot) became really tender.  Ok now is this really something to worry about or am I having psychosomatic symptoms?  I don’t know, but all I did was worry.  I did not want to tell my parents how scared I was.  I began thinking about the worst possible case scenario.  How should I prepare?  What do I need to do?  and many more horrific thoughts.  I kept thinking this can’t be happening, I am too young to have breast cancer. I am too young to die.

After all, I am almost done getting my degree.!!! It is completely insane at all the thoughts that go through one’s mind when they get such news.  I had such a difficult time keeping focus on my schoolwork the past two weeks.  Well I went to the Breast Health Center and had another mammogram and ultrasound.  Both very uncomfortable, the pinching, squeezing and the rubbing were so uncomfortable.  The ultrasound felt like it took and eternity, I am sure it was only 5-10 minutes.  When the tech, finished, she brought the doctor in and I thought, oh no!!! This can’t be good news.  Anyway, she was just there to review the films right away.  Because I have very “dense” breast tissue, she needed to make sure there was nothing that went unnoticed.  

So I was cleared and asked to come back next year.  It was recommended that I use their facility in the future: 1). Due to family history 2) the machines are more hi-tech.  

So I am relieved to say I am healthy as are my girls.   

Remember you don’t have to have a family history.  Do your self breast exams on a regular basis

Stay Healthy!!!!

Never Forgotten

As today marks the 10^th anniversary of 9/11, the day our country was attacked, it reminds me of how fortunate I am to have my family.  Ironically I sit here at 9:11 pm beginning to type this, and it’s not intentional.  I was sitting here watching a TV special (again not intentional, but I could not stop watching) on the events of that day, anyway I felt compelled to write this. 

Silly, I don’t need to be reminded because I clearly remember what I was doing that day, where I was and the fear I felt.   How could this be happening to our country?  Total sadness fills my heart and soul as I watch the images on my TV.  The feelings that I felt that day come rushing back.  I was watching the TV thinking to myself as One World Trade Center was on fire, is this a promotion for a movie?  It was all so surreal.  Then it happened a plane hit Two World Trade Center.  I almost fell to my knees. I can’t remember the exact words that came out of my mouth, but I knew we were in trouble and it was going to be a long day.  

This morning, I was at college (I had classes today). We took our morning break at 9:30 am and I took a walk outside. It was a beautifully clear September morning, the same as 9/11/01 started out to be.  I cried silently to myself and thought about those who did not survive that day, the ones’ who had no idea what happened & the ones’ who never had a fighting chance.  Although I was unable to watch or participate in any of the dedications or memorial services on campus or TV, it was not far from my mind.

           

It's hard to believe that it is now 10 years later, and yet the wounds seem so fresh, as the media keeps showing these images.  This is a day, these are the images I will never forget, ever. I am proud of the men and women that did all that they could to save the citizens of our country. People that they did not even know.  I am proud to be an American. I just hope that our country and our future generations will never have to experience what we did on that horrific day. 

May all those who lost their lives that day & the days following Rest In Peace.
God Bless!!!!!

Laura

Some much needed R & R

            What a wonderful and relaxing vacation I had this week and I truly needed it.  Sunday 7/31 after a great visit with my nephew, his wife to be and Liam (their 5 month old son); my mom and I headed west to Cazenovia, NY.  First, we made a stop at Turning Stone Casino.  We had to get our $10 free play before it expired later that night. We then continued to my grandmother’s house.  We arrived a little after 9 pm and had to unload the car.  We made our sleeping arrangements, visited for a bit and then went to bed a little after 11pm. 

            Monday was my birthday, so my mom, aunt *B* and cousin *J* went on a girls day out trip.  It was a day filled with shopping, lunch, pedicures/manicures and more shopping.  The rest of the week was full of relaxation and visiting other family members.  There was a very beautiful sunset just over the hills of Shady Knolls Farm.  What a peaceful way to end the day. !!!!

Tuesday was quiet and we spent most of the day just hanging around the house.  Later in the afternoon we did some grocery shopping.  On Wednesday we had a surprise visit from moms cousin *J*, her husband, daughter and two granddaughters. They pulled in to grandmas driveway just before 11am and we all visited for about an hour.  We had a late lunch with my aunt *A* at her house.  It was a very nice visit and lunch; homemade gourmet pizzas. 

We made our way home on Thursday afternoon.  Our first stop was at my mom’s cousins house on Oneida Lake in Verona.  Can you guess our next stop?  Yes, we had to use our free $10 free play for the week.  Oh!! My mom I think is addicted to gambling?  Hahahaaha.

Since we were not in a rush to get home, we did a little back tracking and took Rte. 20 home.  What a beautiful ride, and wow how Rte 20 has changed over the years.  It’s been a very long time, since I took this route to Cazenovia.  Mom and I were reminiscing about all the different landmarks that once stood along route 20.  Some of the little towns now look like ghost towns.  Sad really!!!!!

Now it's time to head back to work tomorrow!! I am not looking forward to it. I already got a call today from our Per Diem in distress. No Schedule, No Charts, No Information on any Patients. Ughh!!!. What the heck happened!!

Raw Emotions

So it finally happened!!!! I am not sure if I overreacted or I was right in what I said and did.  I just couldn’t take it anymore.  As many know my mom has been battling long-standing complications from a surgical procedure to remove a cancerous tumor from her jaw a few years ago.  This has left her with many scars and disfigurements on her face and neck.  I still believe that she is a beautiful woman, no matter what she looks like.  I know that she is a beautiful, strong woman and I hope I have half her courage.  Anyway, for a long time, every time we go out shopping, gambling or whatever, there are many people that stare at her.  I am usually on the defensive waiting for a sly remark or something.  Maybe I should just chill out?! 

Others just glance and smile as if to say “I’m sorry, I hope all is well”. But last night, the stares were unrelenting; the girl on the escalator and then this guy in the café at the casino.  He made no effort to control his glares.  When mom was standing up in front of him, he was looking (staring), tilting his head to get a better look at her scars and all of the surgical features.  She and dad did not see this happening.  They began to walk away and as I grabbed my things from the café table, I walked up to him and said “Take a Picture, it Lasts Longer”.  Now maybe he really did not mean anything by his actions, however, he was making it too obvious with his rude stares.  When I told my mom and dad what happened I think they were a little mad at me.  My mom in her typical fashion said “Don’t’ let it bother you, it doesn’t bother me”. 

I can’ t help it though, I love her and want to protect her.  Maybe it’s because I have been teased, picked on and bullied in school.  I know how it feels to have others stare and make rude comments.  If others only knew what she has been through and has endured over the last few years than maybe they would understand and not stare.  It’s RUDE!!!!!!!!

Beauty in a Big City

 It’s been a very long time since I last made an entry on this blog.  Mostly, because I have been very busy with school, work, and home stuff.  Actually, as you can see my whole life has been busy.  When I have some free time, which is not very often, I find myself playing games on Facebook.  I am so addicted to bejeweled blitz.  It’s this fantastic game of jewel matching.  Each round is only 1 minute, however it can turn into hours.  I usually tell myself “just one more time, just once more”.  Yes!! You see addicting.  I really need to stop playing on that stupid thing so much.  Maybe it’s just a great distraction from all of the worrisome, stressful events that are happening in my life.

Mom had yet another surgery this week to debulk some more of the tissue from previous reconstructive surgeries. Although it went well, I never take for granted that things will go along smoothly.  Her past history and track record speaks for itself.  She is just prone to infections and every time they do any surgery on her mouth her risk is quite high.  So now I get to worry some more until she has a follow-up visit on 7/8/11 and Dr. Urken say’s “it looks good, I think we are making progress”.  I hate this long delay and playing the waiting game.  I will just be keeping a very close eye on the area until then.

While in NYC, after mom’s surgery and the chance to make sure she was ok.  Dad & I went for a walk.  Who knew all of these beautiful flowers blossomed in NYC?  I took some pictures, because 1^st they were beautiful and 2^nd I couldn’t believe NYC had such wonderful flowers.   Most of our days were spent sitting in either the room we rented or in the hospital room.  So during the evenings we would walk and since it does not get dark until after 9pm, we had some nice evenings to enjoy the city.  We made our way home today and I have to say, “It’s good to be home”.  I don’t’ mind going down to the city, but I love being home.

While down in the city, I’ve decided to try my photography skills, not only at taking pictures of flowers but also the buildings.  There was a building that was right outside our windows.  Yeah! Instead of seeing loving green grass, trees and fields, you get brick after brick and rod iron fencing.   

                         
                             

 So I tried to see the beauty in the architecture. 
 Do you see the same beauty? I especially love 
 the one with the bike. 
                    

That’s all for now, I have a phone call to make and I have to finish unpacking.

Emotions

Well my mom underwent her 3^rd “free-flap” surgery yesterday.  A year ago in November & December she underwent her 1^st & 2^nd “fibular free-flap” surgery.  Yesterday, she underwent a similar procedure however this time bone, skin and tissue was taken from her left hip.  They were not able to do the implants for the dental posts at this time.  It was a long surgical procedure 10-12 hours.  She did not get out of recovery until around 9pm.  Today she is in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (S.I.C.U.).  I have to say out of all the times I’ve been in/on this unit it did not bother me.  Today, however, I am overcome with emotions.  I am scared, sad, worried, and nervous among the many feelings.  There are so many bells, whistles and lights.  You would think that this is suppose to be a quiet place, but it’s chaotic and noisy.  There was a gentleman in there this morning almost directly across from her bed, and he was playing some soft music on his acoustic guitar, which was somewhat comforting.

I don’t want to say that she (my mom) looks good, because how can anyone in the SICU look good?  She looks horrible.  Her face is swollen, she has all kinds of tubes coming out of everywhere.  Every time they poke inside her mouth I get really nervous.  I know that they are looking for it to bleed.  At one point they (the residents) were poking around in her mouth and began to walk away.  When dad & I asked “how’s it look?”, they replied “that’s why were calling Dr. Urken”.  To me that sends up a red flag, to me that says it’s not doing bleeding.  Oh!! How I am beginning to hate this routine.  The new flap is purple in color.  On two different occasions they used leeches on the “purple” skin.  Within minutes of using the leeches the skin began to turn pink in color.  How amazing that a small little creature that we seem to fear can be used in such a medically amazing way.  I found it to be fascinating to watch.  Once they (the leech) has had his/her fill of blood, they become sleepy and fall off.  It reminds me of “tryptophan” for humans.  We left her around 8:30 so she can get some rest, she needs all that she can get. 

It’s really snowing hard here in NYC and there has also been some thunder and lighting.   Something I’ve never witnessed or at least can’t remember seeing in the middle of a snow storm.  Crazy how nature works.  Crazy how anything works.

Another Day of Waiting

I can’t believe that the first month of the New Year is already almost over.  Where does the time go?  I had planned on writing on the blog almost daily as a New Years Resolution.  However, as you can see that I have not done so.  Why do I bother making such resolutions anyway?  I can almost never keep them; actually I can NEVER keep them.  I do well for the first few weeks, and then I fall off the so-called bandwagon.  It just seems that life gets busy and I don’t have time.  Before you know it I will be back in school and my time will again be very limited for leisurely activity.

On 1/14/11 I finished the first of 4 Clinicals for the Occupational Therapy program.  I completed two weeks for my level I Fieldwork at an outpatient hand therapy clinic.  I absolutely loved it and think that I am going to pursue Hand Therapy.  I have kind of been thinking about it for a few years, but after spending two weeks in a Hand Therapy Clinic, I’ve made up my mind.  I am kicking myself in the ASS though, because I should’ve chosen this setting for my 12 week affiliate.  Oh!! Well, You live and learn I guess.

Just a few short days ago, I returned to the UC campus to get another semester underway.  I am excited, but again very anxious.  I don’t look forward to all the long hours of homework and studying.  I know it will all be well worth it in the end, but I hate all those long hours.  I guess you can’t have your cake and eat it too right.  It looks like we’ll have a lot of assignments to do, but for some reason I don’t think it will be as overwhelming as last semester. Maybe, that is because my one class last semester was a lot of busy work.  I hate busy work.

I got some great news in the mail on Friday 1/14/11, I made the Dean’s Honor List at UC.  I’ve never been on the Dean’s List before, so this is quite and accomplishment for me.  I admit I worked really hard for this.  I hope that I can maintain it and possibly graduate with high honors.  That would be great!!  It will also show all of those teachers who long ago told me that I was not college material.  As Toby Keith says in his song “How do you like me now?”  Hehehe!!!

On this snowy morning in NYC, as I sit here writing this blog, my mom is in pre-admissions getting ready to undergo yet another 10-12 hour surgery.  If I could have taken her place I would have done so in a heartbeat.  She as endured so much pain, heartache and disappointments over many years.  She is such a wonderful woman and deserves the BEST of everything.  I’ve come to accept that Beth Israel Medical Center and Gillman Hall are our home away from home.  We’ve spent so many days/nights here over the 14 months.  Even the doorman “Jimmy” at Gillman Hall considers us family.  He would do anything for us and always goes out of his way to help us out.  What a great guy.

I must prepare for a long day of waiting…….

'Tis The Season

What a wonderful holiday season this is going to be. This is by far my favorite time of year.  No, not because there are presents involved, but because I get to spend it with my family who I love very dearly. This year we are home to celebrate the holidays.  

I got the house all decorated and ready for the season, however it is not fully decked out as past years.  It just seams as though the holiday sneaked up on us really quickly. I did not put up any outside lights at all.  Oh!! Well.  My mom helped me out this year quite a bit. After I put the tree together (yes it's fake) she decorated 90% of the tree.  I put the final touches on -the garland & beads.  I have to admit it looks so pretty.  Even the cats love it.  They sit under it all the time.  I think they are eating some of the garland too!!! I keep finding small pieces on the floor.

We have so many decorations for the tree, not your ordinary bulbs!!! Most have a special meaning.  There are characters, snowmen, angles, and little critters.  Ornaments that we have collected over the years.  Thanks to Hallmark!! Hee hee!

Today, mom and I did some Christmas Shopping!!! I can finally say that I am just about done.  I have only one or two more items to purchase.  It was fun shopping with mom, we haven't done that in so long.  She still got very tired but we did as much as we could.  She was on a mission to find some nice stationary, however I guess nobody writes letters as they once did.  This just goes to show you how technological our times have become.  It's all email, facebook or texting.  So needless to say, we came home without the stationary.

When we got home I did some wrapping.  I am by far done, but at least I have a good start.  I put on my annual tradition "A Chipmunk Christmas", poured some wine and did my wrapping.

I am so excited for everyone to see what I got them!!! This is why I love Christmas.  I love making my family happy and I think I did pretty good this year with the selection of gifts. 

 It's the countdown to Christmas!!! 

A Truly Blessed Day!

Today we celebrate a wonderful Thanksgiving.  It was a really nice day, quite in-fact.  It was just myself, mom and dad.  There were many phone calls received and made today -as there is every year.  I set my alarm clock for 8am, however the alarm went off,  and I dozed back off to sleep.  I finally got out of bed around 9am.  


Jo called shortly after I got up to tell us that she is a grandmother again.  Little Mario arrived yesterday evening. : } .  Mom and baby are doing well. I miss seeing Danny, Jo and their family.  They are my second family and we used to see them quite often. 


 I talked to my brother Mikey as I do on every major Holiday and Birthday. He sounds like he is doing well for himself.  He said that he might be losing is job, as the owner of the restaurant is having some difficulty with the landlord.  I hope that she will be able to stay open, especially through the holiday season.   there's nothing worse than losing your job during the holidays.


I made my usual staples -corn casserole and broccoli casserole.  They both got a little overdone, but that's ok.  The turkey took a little longer than usual this year.  It just did not want to cook I guess. I had the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on while I began to prepare the feast.  I love at least listening to the parade.  I know now that the official start of the Holiday Season has begun. 


This afternoon, even though it's a holiday I still had to address the homework issue.  I did all my online discussion posts, finished my self-assessment assignment and began the activity analysis.  Now I am having trouble getting back into the groove.  I am just tired, but I know that I need to do a little bit more. We just have so many assignments due before next Friday night 12/3.


We finally ate dinner around 5:30pm, not our traditional time of 3:00pm, but the fact that we were together and not down in NYC or even on our way home, is a blessing in it self.  We are home for the holidays and have each other. That's what it means to be truly Thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

My First Blog Entry

So, I've never done this before, and I thought that I would give it a try. I have a lot to say. However I won't spill all my secrets here, but at least I can give you an idea of who I am and what I am thinking.


Well today, we had our first snow fall.  I thought they said rain all day with scattered snow showers in the higher elevations and mountains.  I don't live in the mountains and we still got about an 1" of snow.  It was very pretty to look at through the window of our therapy gym today. However, I was not prepared for the snow.  I did not even put the snow brush in the car yet.  Good thing it was not more than an inch.


The trees looked so pretty with a fresh coat of snow on the branches.  As I was driving home, at the 5 O'Clock hour all the headlights and tail lights helped to make the trees glisten with snow.  It really got me in the mood for the holidays.  I became excited with joy, thinking it will be time soon to begin my Christmas shopping.  Heck, why not, they all ready started playing Christmas music on some of the radio stations 24/7 as of Nov. 1.


It's funny, because normally I hate the snow.  But, for some reason today it made me feel warm inside and excited about the upcoming season.  I do worry though because we still have many, many leave on all the trees around here.  I don't ever remember the trees having so many leaves at this time of year.  


Well I have to get back to the old school work.  I am in the home stretch for the semester and have to facilitate a discussion group this week.  Ughh!!! So, first I must find an interesting article, read it and then I can begin the discussion. 


Let the search begin.............