A Brand New Year!!

Well, here it is the end of the 1st day of 2017. It's been almost 3 years since I've last posted here. I got myself in a bad habit of playing games on the computer for hours on end on a daily basis. That is not a good thing and I feel I've lost some important communication skills. I get so engrossed in the iPad or Cellphone playing games for hours on end. I then feel horrible, because I've wasted so much precious and valuable time.  I've made a commitment this year to put the computer games down and limit my time on them when I do play. I don't think I can give them up totally, as they are a bit of a de-stresser for me too! This will give me time to dedicate to more important things.  Like, organizing the millions of photos I have; both printed and on the computer, study about photography and finally finish the two courses I've signed up for just over 2 years ago, complete more self-studying for my profession and just get my life organized overall.
In late 2015, I took over the weekly church service bulletins, so that takes up some of my time during the week. At first I was spending a lot of time on it with out interim pastor. In late July of 2016, we got a full-time pastor, so although I still work on the bulletins, I don't have to put so much effort into putting it together. Pastor Schultz, puts together most of the bulletins and I look them over, get them copied and printed for services. In early 2016, I left my job as an Occupational Therapist at the SNF / LTC setting and moved to Home Care, I do enjoy it so much. It's not without it's own stresses though and it's a learning curve everyday.  I plan to do more self-studying and become more confident in my skills as a therapist. I do continue work per-diem for my previous employer, so I dedicate one Saturday a month, sometimes 2 for some extra cash. I had a few photography jobs this past year for some friends to help me build on my photography skills.
Also, in late 2016 my family and I were seriously thinking about moving across the country to the west coast, but have decided it was not the right decision for us at this time.
I feel like I am on a good start to 2017, as I've got a lot done so far. Most of my printed photos are now sorted and in albums, I started putting together my monthly budget for 2017, and started throwing things away. I am excited to see what 2017 brings and I'm ready for a fresh start. I hope to post here more often in the new year.
Here is to a wonderful 2017!!!

Just another day!!

      This have been pretty quiet around here. I don’t really live a very exciting life, therefore, I don’t have a lot to share. I have been working hard everyday and by the time I get home I am pretty tired. This is when I want to just come home and “veg”. I’ve tried to get myself to the gym after work and I think I’ve been back 1 time since the new year began. I don’t have a good excuse, but I’ve contributed it to a few things: It’s been way to cold outside to leave my house once I got home from work, My left shoulder / neck have been too sore, or I just have been too tired and did not have enough energy to give to a workout.

      Today I took a “ME” day from work. It felt nice to have a day off. I was able to wake up on my own terms without an alarm clock and I must say that I was up by 8:00 am, which is early for me when I don’t’ have to work. I spent the day with my parents and we took dad’s friend to the airport. We then headed over to a locally owned electronics store to look for a specific item for dad. While there we stayed and experienced some of their surround sound entertainment systems. Then we met our financial planner and Jr. Partner and went to lunch. The three of us had a Wood Fired Mac and Cheese with Lobster and a Crumb Topping. It was so delicious. After our lunch appointment, we came home and took a little nap. Now I’m just sitting here sipping coffee trying to get rid of my migraine. Going to try to get a few things done around here tonight and be somewhat productive. But, the gym will have to wait yet another day!! 

Can’t Wait for Spring!!! Let’s See What that Rodent says on Sunday!!!!

Happy New Year - 2014

Happy New Year & Welcome 2014.  I can’t believe that another year has quickly come and gone.  My plans to post to this blog more often last year, definitely did not happen.  I can make a hundred excuses as to why, but really it all just comes down to plan laziness and being preoccupied with these computer games.  I think part of this is because I have spent so much time over the past few years committed to college and course work, I just needed some down time, however I think I took it to the extreme. I am not really proud of myself for doing this, so I am going to truly make an effort to limit my computer time. I plan in the New Year to devote more time to more productive activities.  I enjoy crafts and stamping and since I recently purchased more supplies for my stamping / card making, I am really excited to spend more time with making cards.  Although, I really do not enjoy leisurely reading, I do want to try to spend more time reading.  Maybe, if I read more, I can learn to enjoy it more, especially since it will be of my own choosing and interests. I have a few books that are true-life stories and I am interested in reading both.  Most importantly I would like to devote more time to serving my church. 

            Although, I always love the New Year, because it feels like a new beginning and it’s refreshing. I do not really like to commit to any New’s Years resolutions, because for one I usually never keep them.  Secondly, I make too many.  I also think that you really shouldn’t have to wait for the New Year to make changes in your life.  If you are that unhappy with the way you live your life or the way that things are going in your life; it’s a good idea to make changes right away. 

            I am excited to see what 2014 brings and hope that it is filled with health and happiness.  In the past few years my family has seen it’s share of illness. It will be nice to see not one but many years ahead of health.

            Happy New Year to all my family and friends!! 

May you see a year full of health and happiness.  Remember only you have control of your happiness. 

New Beginnings

It has been such a long time since I’ve written or posted anything, mostly because I really haven’t had anything to say and partly because I’ve been too lazy to actually sit and write. Sometimes, I think I should be back in school, it appeared that I had more discipline and wrote more then, than I do now.

Well a lot has happened since I last wrote. If you don’t know by now, I am officially an OTR/L. I was awarded this title in November 2012. In February I went back to my previous place of employment and got a job as an OTR/L fulltime. It was quickly realized that I no longer fit in there. I just felt that over a one year time period, things had changed and I did not feel like this was the place for me anymore. I don’t’ know how to explain it. I loved being with the girls, but at the same time I felt like my being gone for a year, we all grew apart and I some how did not feel like a member of the team anymore. I felt like I was a new employee trying to find my place and fit into a very familiar setting. Also, I did not feel as though I was getting the respect that I worked hard for. When I started working there I was a COTA. Over the past several years I worked hard to achieve my degree and change my status from COTA to OTR. This was not the case where I work; others did not accept my change in status. I was not given the full responsibilities that an OTR should be given (ok you might be thinking, are you crazy? You want more responsibility?). With the exception of now officially doing the evaluations legally, it felt like my judgment, clinical decisions and new leadership was not accepted. Anyway, after a few short months, 4 ½ to be exact I left the only place I’ve worked for the past 8 years. I will truly miss working with my wonderful co-workers everyday.

So on 6/24 I began a new adventure and started a new job. So far it’s been a nice transition. The facility is a lot closer to home. Instead of taking 1-2 hours getting to / from work, I spend a total of 20-30 mins getting to / from work.  What a nice change!! I also got a raise, so that helps. It sucks to start at the bottom again and be the NEW person, but everyone is making me feel very welcome. Everyone is very friendly, and I imagine that within a few months I will have some firm relationships established and I will be respected for the OTR/L that I have become. I am also feeling a bit more confident in this new position. I will find my NEW COMFORT ZONE. I don’t’ know why and it’s hard to explain, but I feel refreshed and have some great ideas for treatments. Yesterday, I got what I thought was a nice compliment from my boss. She said, “you are doing a nice job, it’s like you have always worked here.” I thought that was a very nice compliment and it made me feel good.  I am slowly getting myself organized and learning about my new “home” away from home. 

Well, I am going to go and enjoy the rest of the evening. It’s hot and sticky outside, but I enjoy sitting on the front porch in the early evening watching the traffic and listening to the birds.   

Happy 4^th of July!!!!!

Much Needed Time Away

I am finally getting around to posting this blog, it's a journal of our road trip. The past 2 weeks since returning home from our 24 day road trip has been crazy. There has been lots of cleaning, unpacking, shopping, preparing for the upcoming holiday and lets not forget getting ready for another vacation. On Friday we head to Las Vegas and San Diego to visit family for Christmas. Anyway, grab a cup of tea, coffee or wine and enjoy the read.

Tuesday November 6, 2012

After voting in this years election we made a trip to the post office to pick up the mail and then gassed up the car.  We then headed west toward western NY. In PA we stopped at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, ate lunch at Johnny Rockets and then gambled for a little bit. I won $53. on a $10. free play. Yay!!! On our way to the casino we got detoured because of a tractor-trailer mishap. The weight of the trailer must have shifted as the driver exited the highway and tipped over blocking all lanes headed in the direction we were going. We finally stopped in Hagerstown, MD for the night.

Wednesday November 7, 2012

We got up early and had a nice breakfast and then headed south. We drove through the rest of MD, passed through Virginia, making a pit stop to go to the bathroom, get gas, coffee and a little gift at a outlet store. Our stop was in Gum Springs, Virginia. People were very nice here. We just missed a tractor-trailer mishap; yes again. When we got back into our car there was a thick black cloud of smoke coming from the highway we had just exited. We continued on into West Virginia, North Carolina and finally into SC to make our next stop at Myrtle Beach.

Thursday November 8, 2012

This morning after breakfast we decided to head down to the beach. We walked the boardwalk for a little while then sat on the pier for $1 per person. However, it was unlimited access for the entire day. We only spent about 40 minutes on the pier and watched as a lot of the locals fished. The sun was nice and bright, but the air was a little cool. We went back to our room for a few hours before meeting up with one of dad’s friends. He and his wife showed us their home and then we went to dinner at Outback. Apparently, what I had for dinner did not agree with me and I was sick the rest of the evening.

Friday November 9, 2012

After breakfast we packed the car and headed south. We drove down to Savannah, GA. We got to the hotel around 2pm in the Historic district. We quickly unpacked the car and caught the next trolley to the Old Town Savannah tours. We got to see a lot of beautiful homes, buildings, park areas or as they call them “squares” and got a huge history lesson. So much overload that I really can’t remember everything we were told.  We got off at stop 6 and dropped into the Pirates House, an old pirates house from the 1800’s that has been converted into a restaurant. It is said to be haunted and although we did not get any vibes, staff confirmed that things can get pretty creepy, especially late at night with only staff present. After a late lunch we walked to the nearest park and waited for the next trolley, so that we could finish the on-off tour. Because it was so late in the afternoon, we decided we would do the tour again in the morning and get on-off in a few different spots. The second trolley driver was hysterical and kept us laughing for the rest of the tour. His enthusiasm and love for the history made it a worthwhile tour.

Saturday November 10, 2012

We began day 2 of the Old Town Savannah tour only to find out that because of the local Veterans Day parade a lot of streets normally on the tour were blocked off and that none of the trolley runs were going to allow on-off tours. If you did get off at any of the stops, you would not be picked up again until after 1 pm. We did not want to wait that long to get back on the road, so we just took the tour again. It was interesting to see how “Pocahontas” narrated the tour. We even got to see Forrest Gump on this trip, he was looking for lieutenant Dan and boarded our trolley. It was pretty funny. We left Savannah this morning around 11 am and headed to St. Augustine, Fl. We first stopped in Jacksonville, Fl to visit my nephew Mike, his wife Natalie and their son Liam. They just moved there about a week ago, so Mike can attend school for underwater diving. We stayed for about an hour and went to dinner. After an early dinner we headed further south, making our final stop in St. Augustine. After finding our hotel, we took a ride to get a look around. Nightlife appears to be very busy down here.

Sunday November 11, 2012

We purchased tickets after breakfast to do the St. Augustine downtown tour. We had perfect timing because the shuttle was on it’s way to the hotel to pick up another couple, who we kept running into during the trolley tours. We began the tour and got off about ¼ of the way through, so we could catch the first shuttle bus to the beach. While at the beach we got off at the lighthouse stop. All of us climbed the 219 steps to the top of the lighthouse and got a spectacular view of the surrounding area. Mom did a great job climbing the stairs, we took our time and took rest breaks at the designated landings on the way up. When we were done with that part of the tour we headed back to finish the trolley tour. We got off another stop and walked to the chocolate and wine store. During our tour, who did we run into but my nephew Mike. He was running around the streets of St. Augustine with one of his friends. How weird!! He is suppose to be in Jacksonville. Because we were getting crunched for time we decided to get back on the trolley and head over and see the old fort. It was amazing, we even got to see the men fire the cannon. This fort in all of it’s battles was never overtaken. This by far was our longest day and we were all tired after the tour. We caught one of the last buses back to the hotel. We went to dinner at a local hot spot, a little diner with great food.

Monday November 12, 2012

We left St. Augustine this morning and headed toward southern Fl. On our way we stopped at the Daytona International speedway and took the all access tour. So we were able to see the track and behind all the scenes of Daytona. It was truly an awesome experience. If you are a NASCAR fan, you don’t realize how much of an incline the turns on the track have.  Amazing!!! We also got to go up into one of the press boxes. At a cost of $90,000 a season you can have a seat up in this box. It has an awesome view of the entire track and is fully catered. Right next to this particular box was the Fox Sports Broadcast booth. Very cool!!! A “must do” tour for any NASCAR fan. We got to our hotel around 4pm and checked in. Once we got our bags to the room, we called my brother Mike and went to see him for a few hours and took him to dinner. It was great to see him. It’s been 6 years at least.

Tuesday November 13, 2012

Mike had to work this morning, so we did our thing and waited for him to call us after getting out of work. He called around 2:30, but we were still busy. We finally met up with him around 3:30-4:00pm and headed down to the broadwalk. It was overcast and pretty cool. We stayed for about an hour. It’s hard to believe how much the area has been built up since I visited there in my teen years. Since it’s Fl’s winter, there is not much going on and many of the businesses were closed. After spending about an hour or two with Mike we drove him home and we headed back to the hotel.

Wednesday November 14, 2012

Today we picked up Mike and headed to the Science Museum where he wanted to go. It was a little boring and there were a ton of children on a school fieldtrip. The simplest things make him happy and he does not get to do things like this often, so it was worth going. It only took about 2 hours to go through the museum and then we headed over to our hotel for lunch and to spend time in the pool. After lunch mom laid down for a nap while Mike, dad and myself headed to the pool/hot tub. After about and hour of going from hot tub/pool and back to the hot tub we were asked to get out of the hot tub because of a chemical imbalance. Dad and I played a few games of corn hole. He kicked my butt, but I should know better because he is good at most  games he plays. As we headed back up to the room, mom woke up from her nap and headed down to the pool. We informed her that the hot tub was closed and she was a bit upset, so while dad laid down for a nap, Mike, myself and mom just sat down by the pool for a little bit. It was already late in the afternoon, so the time to enjoy the sun was not long. After dinner we brought Mike home and the three of us relaxed for the rest of the evening.

Thursday November 15, 2012

We picked up Mike late in the morning, around 11am and headed to the Hard Rock Seminole Casino and Hotel. We spent a few hours here and I taught my brother how to gamble using the cards, much like they use everywhere now. We all had a good time. I lost what money I won at Mohegan Sun at Pocono and then some. One of the machines I was going to play was a $.05 machine and since I was already down a bit of money, I decided I would play a machine on the opposite side. Well I got on the other machine, which was a $.01 machine.  I heard the machine I was going to play making a lot of noise (winning bells/whistles) I walked over to find out it was my mom, winning. She hit the bonus for a good amount of money. I was very happy for her and mad at myself for not just playing that machine. After we grabbed a quick bite to eat we headed down to the beach and walked around, before we had to bring Mike back so he could get ready for work. It was a nice warm and sunny day and the beach was busy with many people catching up on their vitamin D. We all got some ice cream at one of the local stands on the broadwalk; it was awful. I love soft ice cream but this was too soft, almost soupy and it didn’t have much flavor either. After spending about 2 hours on the beach we brought Mike home and we returned to our hotel. Mom, dad and myself, decided to get into the pool/hot tub for a bit. My mom kept asking me “don’t you have a phone call to make”? I kept pushing this off. It wasn’t a phone call I had to make, yet I had to log onto the internet and check to see if NBCOT (national board for certification in occupational therapy) had posted the grades for the national exam. I was so nervous, that I really didn’t want to look. It was while my mom began preparing dinner and I tried to help her and she refused my assist, I decided to logon to my NBCOT account and look. I closed my eyes after typing in my password, hitting enter and the screen began to load. After I opened my eyes, my heart stopped and I began to cry. I couldn’t speak and I brought my laptop over to where my mom was standing and showed her the phrase “passed”. I was very much relieved. Both my parents and I gave a group hug and we all cried a little. I am now officially a Registered Occupational Therapist. Now, I am just awaiting my NYS licensure to be finalized. We cleaned up the kitchen/dishes after dinner and sat out on the patio and played rummy for a little while. I feel normal again, I can have my life back and feel so relaxed.

Friday November 16, 2012

Today was a very lazy day. Although it was overcast much of the day and cooler than previous days, we spent the day at the pool. We met a nice group of individuals who live in NJ. The one guy and his wife own a restaurant in Monroe called Marino’s. When we go down to Westchester for mom’s Dr.’s appointment in December we might stop there to see what they have to offer. It was nice that we didn’t have to drive anywhere or do anything today. After dinner dad and I took the car to gas up and stopped to get some soft ice cream. There was a little ice cream shop I found by browsing the hotel booklet. Well we both got a small cone; cookies –n – cream soft ice cream. The total came to $8.18. I nearly choked, holy-cow and it wasn’t that good. The picture looked better than it tasted. Well we’re on vacation so what the heck.

Saturday November 17, 2012

We headed to Ft. Myers today. For some reason we were all thinking it was going to take 4-5 hours to go from Weston, Fl to Ft. Myers, Fl. Well it only took 2 ½. So once we checked into our hotel we headed to Ft. Myers beach where there was a display of sand castles and other creations. The whether was awesome and the sun was shinning. I went barefoot on the beach. The sand was so soft and cool, even though the sun was beating down on it. I took many pictures and listened to a demonstration about how these sand creations are built. Who knew it took a certain type of sand? Did you know that not all sand is the same? We spent a few hours at the beach and then headed back to the hotel. This place was one of the worst I’ve ever stayed in. The room smelled really bad, I couldn’t determine if it was moldy or stale cigarette smoke. The curtains had holes in them, the pool areas was dirty with broken furniture. Dad used the skimmer to skim the pool of all the leaves and pollen. It was suppose to be a heated pool, however it was not. The room was so bad we had to ask to be relocated. The 24-hour coffee station, either provided no coffee or cold coffee and the breakfast selection was not much to talk about either. The accommodations were just awful, however the staff was very friendly and accommodating. The facility itself really needs some major TLC.

Sunday November 18, 2012

This morning we went to the local Manatee Sanctuary park. We got a glimpse of several of these magnificent creatures. In a few more weeks they will be more active in this particular park. We then took a drive up SR-80 for several miles, just to see the surrounding areas. After coming back too our room, dad laid down and mom and I headed to the pool area, which is much to be desired. It was cold and full of leaves again. About an hour or two later we received a phone call from very good friends of ours (Steve and Marianne) that have moved to this areas a few years ago from NY, so we headed over to their house and spent a few hours catching up. It was such a great visit and made me really miss our past gatherings. We got to see Michelle and Tina, too. Tomorrow we are going to visit more friends for a few hours and head North towards Nashville. We most likely will get to mid-state (Gainesville, Fl) area by tomorrow evening.

Monday November 19, 2012

We checked out of the hotel around 10:00am and then headed to another dear friend of ours, Danny and Jo. They moved to Fl in 2006 and we haven’t seen them much since. We used to get together all of the time (birthdays, holidays, etc). They are more than friends to us; they are family. We had a wonderful visit and Jo made such a delicious brunch. It was great to get a home cooked meal. Jo is an awesome cook. We then sat and visited for a few more hours. We got a chance to meet their second grandson who will be two on Saturday, November 24. He is such a cutie. We got on the road a little later than we planned, but it was great to visit and try to catch up. We arrived in Alachua, Fl just north of Gainesville around 6:30pm.

Tuesday November 20, 2012

This morning we got back on the road early and headed north to Chattanooga, TN. We are trying to plan our trip so that we are not on the roads during the busy Holiday travel times. Most of today was spent on the road traveling. We grazed by Atlanta, GA on the highway cutting right through the heart of the capital. We got into Chattanooga, TN and checked into the Hotel. We then asked the clerk at the Hotel, about the best places to eat. He suggested a place called The Chop House; it’s a local establishment where all the locals go to eat. So, that’s where we headed. I have to say, it was pretty good. We made it an early night. Mom and I decided to take a quick dip in the heated indoor pool. The only downside was we had to access our room from outside. Yes, that means we had to exit the pool area and go down the courtyard to our room at the other end of the facility and it was pretty cold outside. We called it a day and were in bed before 9pm.

Wednesday November 21, 2012

Toady we spent time getting to see Chattanooga. Their downtown scene didn’t really look like there was much going on. It was not well laid out and it was hard to figure out where we were going, even with the GPS. So we took a ride up the Mountain, known as lookout Mountain. We stopped to see the sights from Ruby Falls. We did not go on the tour though, because it was too much money to see something that is close to a similar venue at home (Howe Caverns). We continued to make our way up the mountainside and drove through “Fairland”. An actual little town that has fairytale named roads. We then stopped at the Incline Railway and took the roundtrip ride from the very top of this mountain to the bottom and back up again. It is the highest/steepest incline railway in North America, and is pretty neat. Our whole vacation is like a history lesson. Every time we stop somewhere and take a little tour, we get a mini history lesson. We made our way back to The Chop House for dinner and I got the Homemade Blue Crab Cakes, Yummy!!!!. They were so delicious. After dinner we walked around the Largest Mall in Tennessee. We didn’t have to go very far, because it was literally behind the Chop House and our Hotel. We took a wander around two stores that we don’t have at home; “Dillard’s and Belk”. Since these stores are so big they have two, which are two stories each, and the stores are separated into Men’s & Children’s in one store and Women’s & Housewares in the other. We only walked around for about 45 minutes and then headed back to the hotel and settled in for the night. We will get on the road tomorrow and hopefully make our way to Nashville without incident. I sure hope the traffic is not too bad.

Thursday November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving!!!! We ate breakfast, packed our things and watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for about 1 ½ hours . It was close to 10:30 am when we finally got in the car and headed northwest to Nashville. The ride was not too bad and traffic was fair. We drove through some beautiful mountains and countryside. I didn’t like how windy the roads were though it makes me nervous. We finally arrived in Nashville close to the noon hour. Once we got settled into our room, we headed out to get some dinner. We thought we’d have a nice early Thanksgiving Dinner around 2-3 at the Cracker Barrel. Well it seems everyone had the same idea. Although, it was packed our wait time was only about 40 mins. The three of us had the Thanksgiving special; Turkey, Ham, Green Beans, Sweet Potato Casserole, Cranberry Jelly and Cornbread and Biscuits. Even though the portions were a little on the light side, it was enough for me. I was surprised at how tasty it was too!! Most of the shops and things were closed in Downtown Nashville because of the holiday, so we decided to return to our hotel and relaxed the rest of the night.

Friday November 23, 2012

After breakfast we purchased tickets for the Discover Nashville tour for the afternoon run. In the morning we drove into downtown, parked the car and took a walk around for about ½ hour. It was like a ghost town; there were not many shops open and the people on the streets were far and few. I will admit it was only 10:30 am and most of the establishments did not even open until 11:00. We then stopped off for lunch and got ready to go on our Discover Nashville tour scheduled for 1:30. Well the tour was not worth the money because the tour guide talked too fast or too soft, so we couldn’t understand him. He also would talk about a particular building or sight before we got near it or even after we passed it, so we had no idea what he was talking about. The best part of this tour was the admission into the Ryman Auditorium and The Country Music Hall of Fame Museum. Both were self-guided tours. We got to spend 45 minutes at the Ryman and 1 ½ hours in The Country Music Hall of Fame. I loved the Ryman because I got to see the alternate Grand Ol’ Opry Stage. I remember watching programs when I was younger that were performed on that stage. The Country Music Hall of Fame Museum was like walking down memory lane. It was very cool to see all of the memorabilia and pieces of history. The best part was that Craig Morgan was performing a free concert and although he was just getting started as our bus was getting ready to re-board. I did get a chance to hear him sing two or three songs. I got a glimpse of him but was not able to get too close because of the huge crowd. I guess when tickets are “free” it will draw such large crowds. The tour ended around 4:30pm and after getting back to the hotel we took a walk up the street to an Irish pub and had dinner.  We turned in early again and got a good nights rest. I don’t think any of us have been to bed this early ever. Lol!! I guess vacations will do that to you.

Saturday November 24, 2012

We slept in a little bit today, it’s the latest we’ve slept during our entire vacation. After breakfast we took a ride to the other side of town to see The Antique Archeology store, from the program American Pickers. We had to wait in line for about 30 minutes to get in because they were only letting 8-10 people into the store at one time due to it’s small size. Although Mike Wolf was not there, it was kind of cool to see all of the old antiques and items that he has collected over the years. I’ll admit I am not a regular watcher of the program but it was a point of interest. We then headed back over to the Bicentennial Capital Mall State Park. It was one of the points of interest on the tour and since the tour guide went by this really fast I wanted to come back and just stroll through leisurely.  There is a WWII memorial, which features an 18,000 lb. granite globe floating on 1/8 inch of water. The countries on the globe are as they were during the war. There is a small map of Tennessee with lines showing the mileage to different theatres of war also in the park is The Court of 3 stars and Bell Carillon. The Court of 3 Stars is a focal point of the park located at the northern end near Jefferson Street. Made of red, white and blue granite, this area represents the three Grand Divisions of the state - East, Middle and West Tennessee. This is also the site of a 95-bell carillon representing Tennessee's musical heritage. The 95 bells represent the citizens of Tennessee's 95 counties. A 96th bell, known as the answer bell, is located on the grounds of the State Capitol and rings in answer to the 95 bells, symbolizing government answering to the people. The carillons are some of the largest in the world. They play Tennessee-themed songs at the top of the hour, every hour. It was all very interesting. I also was able to get a nice picture of the Capital building. After spending about 30 minutes in the park, we headed to downtown for lunch. Before we got to downtown we made a quick stop into the Union Station Hotel, restored 19^th century railroad station. This place was absolutely magnificent inside and the architecture was beautiful. We ate at Jacks BBQ, which is also a famous landmark. Although it was a pretty cold day downtown was very busy with a lot of activity. Most of the bars were open and many had live entertainment. We decided to make one of our stops into Honky Tonk Central a three-story bar (every floor has a different band). We made our way to the 3^rd floor and we each had a beer while listening to the music. We went back to the hotel to rest for a bit, then headed over to Opryland Hotel to check out the Country Christmas at Gaylord Opryland Hotel. There were several lobbies in this magnificent hotel and each was decorated with holiday lights a little bit differently. The only negative side was that is was extremely crowded.

* Italicized texted Courtesy of: http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/Bicentennial/historical/#wwii

Sunday November 25, 2012

This morning for breakfast we went to the Cracker Barrel over in Opryland and then headed over to the new Grand Ol’ Opry. We were a bit disappointed that it was closed for the season, so there were no tours. We shopped around in the adjacent store for a little bit and then headed across the parking lot to the Opry Mills Mall. Dad really wanted to check out the Bass Pro Shop since we’ve never been in this store before and it was quite fascinating. I know!!, it doesn’t take much to make me happy or really amuse me. We headed back to our hotel around 2pm so we could do some laundry and pack our bags. We are headed toward Virginia tomorrow. I think we are going to go all the way to Palmyra, VA so that we can visit some family. It’s a 9-hour drive, so we might stop, it will all depend on how dad feels. For dinner we went back to the Irish pub and Mom and I both got soup in a bread bowl. Mom got beer and cheese soup, which was delicious, and I got potato/bacon soup.

Monday November 26, 2012

Today was full of driving, with a quick stop at Bristol Motor Speedway. It was closed for tours today, which I didn’t mind. How can you beat Daytona Motor Speedway? We got stuck in traffic for 45 minutes on I-81N because of a tractor-trailer fire. We finally got to Palmyra around 7:30pm after a long day of driving. We walked across the parking lot of the hotel, to IHop and had a late dinner. We then headed for bed, but not before getting a call from our family members, so we could set up tomorrows schedule.

Tuesday November 27, 2012

Today was a very dreary day, it was cool with a light drizzle of rain all day. Joyce and Bill picked us up at our hotel around 10:30 am and the five of us headed into Charlottesville to see the area. They gave us a tour of the area in which they live. It’s a nice area and rich with history. After lunch we drove around a little bit more, stopped at the grocery store to pick up needed items for dinner and then headed to see where Joyce, Bill, Melanie and Rob live. We got a chance to see Melanie’s horses that she talks about at every family reunion. They are beautiful and big. Around 3pm the three of us went back to our hotel room, to get some rest. Dad and I headed into the hot tub, while mom laid down for a nap. A little after 6pm, we headed back over to Joyce and Bills for dinner. Melanie and Rob met us over there shortly after they got home from work and Rob cooked an amazing dinner for all of us.  We all visited until well after 10pm, talking about a multitude of things. It was a great visit and I wish we could do this more often.

Wednesday November 28, 2012

Today we went to Monticello – Thomas Jefferson’s house. It was the most amazing thing I have seen in a long time. It was very interesting and made me wish I paid more attention to history in high school. We had a light lunch in the café there before heading back to Joyce and Bills, so we could feed the horses some apples that we brought. While we were feeding the horses, they got a little competitive for the apples, which made me a little nervous. I am not used to being around such large animals and I know they can be a little unpredictable. I did not want to get kicked or bit. By 4pm mom, dad and myself headed back to our hotel to get some rest before we went to dinner at 6:30. This time all three of us headed for the hot tub, except it was barely lukewarm. The staff said that the breaker to the hot tub and pool had tripped and it was not known how long it had been like. They said that it could take more than 30 minutes for the hot tub to heat up, so we headed to our room and got ready for dinner. Rob, Joyce and Bill picked us up around 6:30 pm and we headed into Charlottesville. Melanie met us at a restaurant called Bizou. It was one of the best meals I’ve had in a long time & I was completely impressed. I am not very good at trying new menu items, but this meal was fabulous. The best I’ve had on the entire vacation. Mom and I accompanied Melanie back to our hotel, while dad rode with Rob, Joyce and Bill. It was very nice to see everyone and visit. We don’t get to spend this kind of time with each other at the annual reunions, because there are some many others to see and talk too! We exchanged addresses and will be keeping in touch. I almost forgot to mention this; Melanie works for UVA Health and the oncologist that did mom’s cell stem rescue back in ‘98 works with this same company. Anyway, Melanie emailed him early today and told him about her. He responded and said he was very surprised to hear from her. He would love for mom to contact him, so we are going to send him an email in the next few days. It’s too bad that we didn’t have more time to spend in the Charlottesville area, because we could have tried to set up some time and seen Dr. Cirenza. Well we said our goodbyes and headed to the hot tub again. This time it was perfect and we spent some time relaxing and reminiscing about our trip thus far. We decided that we were going to head home tomorrow and if I know my dad we will drive the 9 hours straight and get home. No more stops for this family, it’s time to get home.

Thursday November 29, 2012

After breakfast we packed up our things, checked out, gassed up the car and hit the interstate at 10:20 am. We only made two stops on the way home. Once around 1:30 for a light lunch and the other around 4:00pm to gamble at the Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs. Yes, we decided to stop here on the way home. Unfortunately, my luck was not the same as it was more than 20 days ago. We left the casino around 5:00pm and once we got back into town dad wanted to stop at the Elks Lodge in Rotterdam for a drink. We finally got home at 9:30 pm. I decided to unpack the car so we would not have to do it in the morning. It is so good to be home. I missed my 2 cats and my bed. The next few days will be unpacking, cleaning and getting some much needed rest. Funny how one needs to rest from vacation, you are supposed to get rest while on vacation. Anyway, this has been a fabulous experience and I would not trade it for the world. I am very fortunate that I was able to take this opportunity and travel.

Links:

http://www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com/?homepage=true

http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/Bicentennial/

http://www.unionstationhotelnashville.com/

http://www.opry.com/

http://www.rubyfalls.com/

http://lookoutmountaintn.org/

http://www.monticello.org/

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/108/853048/restaurant/Bizou-Charlottesville

Time to Relax

Yesterday, I took my NBCOT Exam. It was the second most stressful thing I’ve done in all of my adult life. I am not sure how I did on the exam. I’d like to say I think I passed, but another part of me is not so sure. It was just a very difficult exam. Some of the questions had answers that were so obvious and then others it was like “where did this question come from?” I will know in a few weeks if I passed and will become an official OTR. Until then I am going to relax for a bit and not look at any information regarding diagnosis, treatment plans, etc… My brain just can’t function anymore. It needs a total decompression. I was going to go to Atlantic City for a few days, however, I don’t think I will be doing that anytime soon.

I can’t believe the devastation that Hurricane Sandy has caused. Apparently, this is our new normal. Hard to believe that in NYS we now need to worry and prepare for Hurricanes. Who would’ve ever thought? I used to say that although NYS has horrible taxes, at least we have nice weather for the most part. We get to have the change of the seasons; we don’t have to worry about tornados, earthquakes or hurricane. Well, ok we did have an occasional earthquake, but they were very mild compared to other parts of the US. Now it appears that no matter where you go in the US, there is devastation some how; whether it be from wildfires, drought, hurricanes, tornados, earthquake or whatever Mother Nature can stir up.

I pray for all of the families that have lost loved ones or their homes. May brighter days lie ahead.

Getting Closer

Well, it's getting to be that time. I have just a few short days until I take the National Certification Exam in Occupational Therapy.

 I am both scared and confident. How crazy is that?  Part of me is saying to myself that I'll be just fine and pass this exam. The other part of me is extremely scared that I will not pass, and have to 1st spend another huge chunk of time studying and reviewing again and 2nd that I will have to pay again to sit for the exam.

I have many sleepless nights lately. 

I am extremely tired when I go to bed, I fall asleep for maybe 30 minutes, wake up and will be awake for hours. Mostly, because my mind is racing on all the information I've been reviewing and the possible questions that could arise on this exam. I want to make sure that I am thoroughly prepared. 

Last night was the best sleep I've gotten in a long time and it felt good to get 8-9 hours of sleep. 

Anyway, I will let everyone know after I've taken the exam. I am contemplating on waiting until after

 I get the results. Anyway, if you could just send positive thoughts and prayer until then, it will be greatly appreciated. Have a great week!!

Exam Prep and Exciting News!!!

This studying stuff appears to be a never-ending battle. I continue to prepare for the NBCOT (National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy) exam. I finally have a date scheduled; however I am not disclosing it. I don’t want to have the extra and/or added stress of everyone knowing when I will be at the testing center.  I will tell you now that it will be in the next few weeks and I will let everyone know when I get the results. I have been spending 2 or more hours a day studying. Some days are more productive than others, but I continue to plug away at it.

Other good news I got today. As part of my graduation requirements I had to put together a research project. I did this with three other girls. It was a long grueling process and took hours of work to put together. Our project: Accessible School Based Playgrounds in Rural Communities for Children in Wheelchairs, was very interesting and I am glad to have been a part of it. Well on our behalf our research chair submitted an application to the AOTA committee for the National AOTA (American Occupational Therapy Association) Conference in San Diego, CA in April 2013. The research project I was apart of has been accepted as part of a presentation series at the conference. Now, the two playground research groups have the opportunity to go to the AOTA conference and present our project.

How Exciting!!!!!

But for now it’s back to the books to get some more studying done. This exam prep is very time consuming.

Clinical Experiences in OT

      It has been a very long time since I’ve last blogged. As you know I’ve been busy trying to finish up the academic course work to achieve my MSOT degree, therefore I did not have much extra time to blog. I also had to complete 24 weeks of clinicals, 12 weeks in the Pediatric Setting & 12 weeks in the Adult setting.

      For the pediatric setting I chose to complete the placement with our local BOCES program & I absolutely loved it. I had a lot of anxieties & hesitations regarding this placement before starting because when I had to complete in the pediatric setting for my associates degree it was the worst experience ever. I vowed that I would never work with the kids again. However, this most recent pediatric placement changed my mind. The supervisor I had made this a wonderful experience. She allowed me to explore, be creative and experiment with different treatment ideas; all of which were frowned upon during my last placement. Here’s the thing, if a child is having difficulty with handwriting, don’t you need to find the source? It’s not about having the child practice writing; you have to figure out why they are having trouble. Is it muscle weakness, a sensory processing issue, or something else?. Once you figure out the problem areas, then you work on those areas before you address the handwriting.  At my last setting, my supervisor only focused on handwriting. He hated when I tried to incorporate sensory based activities and at this last setting, I was able to incorporate different activites to address the child's deficits. It was hard saying goodbye to all of the kids 4 months ago. It’s hard to believe that it was 4 months ago & the kids are already back to school. I really miss those kids.

      My adult placement was not as pleasant. It started out really great, but by the halfway point, I was so stressed on a daily basis that it affected my performance. I was afraid that I was not going to pass. It is so stressful when you have someone watching your every move and listening to your every word. I was told that my documentation was not up to par, which I agree, it needs work, but it takes years to perfect your documentation skills in the healthcare field. Every company does their documentation differently, so it was hard at times. I was also told that my “safety” & “judgment” skills were lacking. I am not able to “anticipate and cope with complications during treatment sessions, identify and adhere to precautions, properly set-up equipment, and providing the proper amount of assistance clients require to perform mobility”. This was like a punch in the gut. I feel that I am able to do the above in safe and confident manner. I do agree that at times I was a little nervous or unsure, because it was a situation that I was not familiar with. At times I feel that I was not given a chance to demonstrate my abilities, as my supervisor would always jump right in. Anyway, I passed this placement and I am thankful I do not have to go through that again. It was a very stressful time for me.

      I am now in the process of preparing for the certification exam. It is a four-hour exam. I will have to go to a prometric testing center in order to access this exam. I have been trying to get in about 2-3 hours of studying a day since 9/3 & some days it’s very difficult. I plan on taking the exam during the month of October. I will be spending more time hitting the books, reviewing information & taking practice exams. I really want to and need to pass this exam. So here’s to studying……..

Graduation and Near Completion

It’s early evening here in Scoita on a Mid-May Saturday night.  It’s a beautiful evening, as I sit on the front porch and hear the birds chirping, dogs barking in the far background and the sound of the cars whizzing by.  I love the cool evening air, the sun is setting behind the trees.  I thought about turning on the radio to listen to some music, but I rather listen to nature’s music instead.  It’s so peaceful. 

I’ve spent the majority of the day sick on the couch.  I really hate being sick.  I’ve felt it coming on days in advance, with my sinuses aching and the sore throat yesterday.  What a way to spend one of the first most beautiful weekends in a long time.  I had nothing planned for the day, no golf tournaments to work, no graduation ceremony to attend.  And I had to get this darn cold. 

On Mother’s Day May 13, 2012 I received my Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy.  It is so surreal; I still can’t believe it’s finally over.  All the long hard work, it’s been a very long road and I have to say it’s bittersweet.  I can’t believe, that I will not be spending the weekends in Utica anymore.  I am both excited and sad at the same time.  Utica has become my second home and I will surely miss it.  I’ve made some great friends and bonds with some wonderful people.

I still have one week left of my Pediatric Clinical and then I will have 12 weeks of my adult clinical to finish.  I will officially complete the program on August 24, 2012.  Just a long or short 13 weeks away.  It all depends on how one looks at it.   Then it will be the grueling task of studying for the National Exam.  I plan to take it in October or November.  I don’t want to wait too long, so that I don’t forget the material.  I am dreading it though, I hate taking tests.  I am not a good test taker at all.  I think the anxiety and stress of it all makes me forget what I am doing. 

Until then, I am just going to enjoy having part of my life back.!!!

So on Thursday 4/19/12 I went to a concert in Glens Falls, NY.  It's about a 50 min drive north from my house.  It was a wonderful concert and was glad that I had the chance to "ENJOY MYSELF". Well, not all by myself, my good friend Megan went with me.  We went to see Billy Currington.  What a wonderful show he put on. We had Pit tickets and were one of the first to arrive, so we got up really close. In-fact we were in the front row.  Wow!!!! I've tried for years to get this close for Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney and others, without any luck.  So, how did I get so lucky this time?  Not really sure, but I had fun anyway.  


I got some really great pictures, which I've posted on my facebook page.  After the concert, we decided to stalk the tour buses and wait for him to appear (Hehehe). With some patience we finally got a chance to meet him.  However, NO PICTURES were allowed.  We could not take any of him or with him.  Not really sure why, but he did this before in 2008 at Countryfest.  That's ok!! Because, I got plenty of him during the show. I was able to get him to sign my ticket and the CD cover of his latest album "Enjoy Yourself". I also thanked him for his great music and the show. I lightly touched his biceps!!! Not only once but a few times, as I thanked him.  What a wonderful soul!!  So sweet, charming and damn good looking.  

This concert was a well deserved break from all that I've been dealing with over the last few years. I was able to go without a guilty conscious about the piles of schoolwork that await me, or the nursing care I've provided, or the housework that needs to get done. I was able to just go and have a great time.






Until Next Time!!!!!

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!