So my birthday was Thursday. Good times. Ivan put a lot of thought into the gifts this year, although he's actually a very good gift giver most of the time anyway. So, he got me a camo colored hat and had the continent of Africa embroidered on the front in red and the South African flag embroidered on the back, some Armani Exchange sunglasses for the "African sun," a Leona Lewis CD because I like her, Michael Jackson's 25th Anniversary Thriller CD because "Africans love Michael Jackson," and a silver AIDS awareness bracelet where all the proceeds go to fighting AIDS, and then also sent me flowers. I was really happy. Definitely got things I can use and have to do with things that are important to me. Plus he put this all in a teal & lime colored bag, which are the colors I decorated the spare room in, and the card had a martini on it, which is my favorite drink! So that was cool. That night we had some Olive Garden, of course :) Friday night me, Ivan & Jeff went to the comedy club and saw Bob Marley, who was hysterical. It was a really good time.
Oh, and my coworker Nan gave me the absolute sweetest card. I have to tell you what the card said because it was just amazing! So, on the outside it said:
"Some people will always be special. Some people don't wait to be asked to help out, to listen, to be there, to care...Some people just know how to give from the heart--yet somehow, aren't even aware how selfless, how thoughtful, how needed they are--how many lives that they touch. Those people will always be special--and will always mean so very much."
So then inside the card says:
"For all the ways you're special, for the joys you share and the love you give, may your day be filled with all that's special to you."
And then Nan wrote some really nice things too, but anyway, I just thought it wast the sweetest card ever.
What else...this weekend has been really lazy. I did a lot of cleaning and Ivan was in a golf tournament. I'm kinda just hanging out and soaking up time with the puppies and Ivan. I leave in just under 3 weeks now...wow! What I'm more excited about than anything at the moment is that there's only 4 days of school left!! They will be a busy 4 days, but there's only 4 of them. And then Megan will be here too, so that's pretty dang exciting as well.
Well I guess that's all for now.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
No news
First, new countdowns:
3 days until my 26th birthday
8 days of work left this school year
12 days until Megan comes to visit
20 days until the bike ride at Lake Tahoe
21 days until my penpal Cathy comes to visit
26 days until I leave for South Africa
My dad always says, "Don't wish your life away," I swear I'm not! I know there's a lot of countdowns....I just have a lot to be excited about right now. I actually told someone just yesterday that if I could pause at age 26 I would. Life is just really good right now and I'd hang here for awhile. But maybe I'd pause it in about 9 days, when work is done for the school year!
Not much has been going on really. I was sick a lot last week. Sore throat, hacking cough, stuffy head! Sucked. But I feel a million times better this morning than I even felt on Saturday. Let's back up. The weekend before last we went out for Jeff's birthday. It was a GREAT time. And then I spent the entire day in bed throwing up, paying for that awesome time I had. This past weekend I spent a lot of time laying around since I wasn't feeling great. We celebrated Bailey's birthday down at the pool, but I didn't get in since I wasn't feeling good. Ooh ooh ooh, we also got a new game for the Wii which has now consumed most of my free time, Mario Kart. I have loved Mario Kart on ever gaming system Nintendo has come out with, but they have outdone themselves. You can go online and race people from all over the world. If your friends have it, you can race them too, which is fun. So my family needs to get it so we can all "hang out." I love this game! So like I said, that has been a big hit in our house.
We also watched some movies this weekend, "Untraceable" and "The Great Debaters." Both very good movies. The first about an internet killer (it's a thriller/mystery not a scary movie) and the other about the first black debate team to debate whites, with Forest Whitaker & Denzel. It was really good. I teared up a few times...
This Thursday is my birthday. Friday night we're going to the Improv (comedy club). We used to go a lot when we lived in Rancho because it was a block away from our apt. but we haven't been much and I want to go so we are! Saturday a co-worker of mine is having a housewarming cookout so we'll be doing that. And I think Ivan has a golf tournament that day too. Next week is the last week of work. So I won't be seeing any kids, just finishing up paperwork, cleaning, and packing everything away for the summer. YAY! Then Megan comes, then Ivan's friend Devone is coming. Although most of the time he will be here I will be in Tahoe. Time is flying.
I started getting nervous about my trip for the first time the other day. I was falling asleep and just started thinking about everything I would need to pack and it's the first time I felt nervous. Partly because I was like "Oh my God, when am I going to pack!" Because my penpal Cathy will be visiting up until the day before I leave (which really is still PLENTY of time!!) and I also was thinking about the other volunteers...what if I don't like them, what if they don't like me. Sounds so juvenile, but it's how I was feeling. I was talking to Celeeste about it and the conclusion is really: who cares! My priorities are the work I'll be doing, and then the list of things I want to do/see while I'm there. Relationships are icing on the cake. Not to mention, I'm sure it won't be an issue. It's so easy to make friends when everyone is in the same situation. And if you're open to it, which I am, then it's all good. I'd love to have that connection and feeling that I had when I was in Key Largo with my roommates, that would be the ideal, ultimate situation. But I'm older and different than I was then, not better or worse, but I am very different I think. So we'll see! The other realization I had was when I was thinking about the traveling I'll be doing that day. I realized that while I'm still in the U.S. in the Phoenix airport and then in Atlanta I will probably be on the phone NONSTOP! It will be the last time I'll be able to call people for free and talk as long as I want, and be in same timezones. I'm sure I will take full advanatge of that. So don't plan on sleeping in folks! I fly out of PHX at like 6:45, so at about 4:45 a.m. I will be making some phone calls! haha Ok ok, maybe I'll hold off until I'm in Atlanta. The organization I'm going with, AVIVA, has done some major updates to their website. You should check it out. They have a lot of new pictures up and tons of new information. I guess they have 2 volunteer houses now and they book like very nice! I feel kinda bad! But that is partly why I picked them. For my first major trip, and being alone, I at least wanted to be comfortable and feel safe. Anyway, the website is off to the right if you want to look.
Gotta go!
3 days until my 26th birthday
8 days of work left this school year
12 days until Megan comes to visit
20 days until the bike ride at Lake Tahoe
21 days until my penpal Cathy comes to visit
26 days until I leave for South Africa
My dad always says, "Don't wish your life away," I swear I'm not! I know there's a lot of countdowns....I just have a lot to be excited about right now. I actually told someone just yesterday that if I could pause at age 26 I would. Life is just really good right now and I'd hang here for awhile. But maybe I'd pause it in about 9 days, when work is done for the school year!
Not much has been going on really. I was sick a lot last week. Sore throat, hacking cough, stuffy head! Sucked. But I feel a million times better this morning than I even felt on Saturday. Let's back up. The weekend before last we went out for Jeff's birthday. It was a GREAT time. And then I spent the entire day in bed throwing up, paying for that awesome time I had. This past weekend I spent a lot of time laying around since I wasn't feeling great. We celebrated Bailey's birthday down at the pool, but I didn't get in since I wasn't feeling good. Ooh ooh ooh, we also got a new game for the Wii which has now consumed most of my free time, Mario Kart. I have loved Mario Kart on ever gaming system Nintendo has come out with, but they have outdone themselves. You can go online and race people from all over the world. If your friends have it, you can race them too, which is fun. So my family needs to get it so we can all "hang out." I love this game! So like I said, that has been a big hit in our house.
We also watched some movies this weekend, "Untraceable" and "The Great Debaters." Both very good movies. The first about an internet killer (it's a thriller/mystery not a scary movie) and the other about the first black debate team to debate whites, with Forest Whitaker & Denzel. It was really good. I teared up a few times...
This Thursday is my birthday. Friday night we're going to the Improv (comedy club). We used to go a lot when we lived in Rancho because it was a block away from our apt. but we haven't been much and I want to go so we are! Saturday a co-worker of mine is having a housewarming cookout so we'll be doing that. And I think Ivan has a golf tournament that day too. Next week is the last week of work. So I won't be seeing any kids, just finishing up paperwork, cleaning, and packing everything away for the summer. YAY! Then Megan comes, then Ivan's friend Devone is coming. Although most of the time he will be here I will be in Tahoe. Time is flying.
I started getting nervous about my trip for the first time the other day. I was falling asleep and just started thinking about everything I would need to pack and it's the first time I felt nervous. Partly because I was like "Oh my God, when am I going to pack!" Because my penpal Cathy will be visiting up until the day before I leave (which really is still PLENTY of time!!) and I also was thinking about the other volunteers...what if I don't like them, what if they don't like me. Sounds so juvenile, but it's how I was feeling. I was talking to Celeeste about it and the conclusion is really: who cares! My priorities are the work I'll be doing, and then the list of things I want to do/see while I'm there. Relationships are icing on the cake. Not to mention, I'm sure it won't be an issue. It's so easy to make friends when everyone is in the same situation. And if you're open to it, which I am, then it's all good. I'd love to have that connection and feeling that I had when I was in Key Largo with my roommates, that would be the ideal, ultimate situation. But I'm older and different than I was then, not better or worse, but I am very different I think. So we'll see! The other realization I had was when I was thinking about the traveling I'll be doing that day. I realized that while I'm still in the U.S. in the Phoenix airport and then in Atlanta I will probably be on the phone NONSTOP! It will be the last time I'll be able to call people for free and talk as long as I want, and be in same timezones. I'm sure I will take full advanatge of that. So don't plan on sleeping in folks! I fly out of PHX at like 6:45, so at about 4:45 a.m. I will be making some phone calls! haha Ok ok, maybe I'll hold off until I'm in Atlanta. The organization I'm going with, AVIVA, has done some major updates to their website. You should check it out. They have a lot of new pictures up and tons of new information. I guess they have 2 volunteer houses now and they book like very nice! I feel kinda bad! But that is partly why I picked them. For my first major trip, and being alone, I at least wanted to be comfortable and feel safe. Anyway, the website is off to the right if you want to look.
Gotta go!
Thursday, May 01, 2008
A lot to discuss..
First, new countdowns:
15 days until my 26th birthday
15 days of work left this school year
23 days until Megan comes to visit
32 days until the bike ride at Lake Tahoe
33 days until my penpal Cathy comes to visit
37 days until I leave for South Africa
Next, what should I do when I grow up? Here's where my thoughts are on this subject. I have plenty of time and my mind will change a million times before and after making a decision but it can't hurt to think about it.
Thought 1: What I've thought the last couple of years is that after I finish my bachelors in Human Service (next summer) I would like to continue into a masters program in Public Service or International Development. I love the idea of working globally on issues I care about, with the opportunity to make a difference, and hopefully, travel a lot with that job. So the traveling I want to do would already be incorporated into my career.
Downsides: This career seems SO hard to get into. Any positions I see are always WAY up the ladder, which means I would have to spend years working towards it, while possibly doing jobs I don't love just to get to where I THINK I'll love. Not to mention, I still have to get a masters. So before this climb to the top I have 3 years of school ahead of me. Also, what if I have kids? A career like that isn't the best for raising kids I don't think...as far as traveling goes.
Thought 2: Find another career within the school environment so that I can have summers off to continue traveling and doing whatever I want to do. My thoughts were either counselor or social worker. Both of which have opportunities outside of the schools if I ended up wanting that.
Downsides: What if I don't love it? And I continue to sit there working in the schools and loving the summers & breaks, but wishing I was working internationally. Also, if I don't like it I'm left with a very specific degree that can't just be used for anything.
Thought 3: This just occurred to me this morning actually, and that is continue doing occupational therapy. Now hear me out :) I don't dislike what I do. Sometimes I just want something different. But I also know that you get what you give. What if I tried harder at what I currently do? What if I worked really hard to improve in certain areas and figure out what would make me enjoy my job more. I've heard some crazy stories about people loving their jobs again just after changing their mindset.
At the least I will be with OT for 3 more years. I can't deny the great benefits of working in the schools and the perks of being a contract therapist. That's what I will miss more than anything I think. So anyway, that's what consumes my mind a lot of the time.
I figure if I'm doing something I love (working internationally) then I won't miss the school schedule, however, I feel so lucky to be able to just know that I have 3 months a year to do whatever I want. I wouldn't be able to call up Megan and say, "Hey, let's go to Europe next summer!" Just wouldn't be able to do that...but I also go back to, would I miss it? Also, I fly home so much throughout the year and if I had a typical work schedule I wouldn't be able to do that. I dunno.
If it was up to me completely and there was no such thing as student loans...I would just keep going to school forever. Get one degree, start working in that field, and start working on another one just to plan that I'll want a career change soon!
15 days until my 26th birthday
15 days of work left this school year
23 days until Megan comes to visit
32 days until the bike ride at Lake Tahoe
33 days until my penpal Cathy comes to visit
37 days until I leave for South Africa
Next, what should I do when I grow up? Here's where my thoughts are on this subject. I have plenty of time and my mind will change a million times before and after making a decision but it can't hurt to think about it.
Thought 1: What I've thought the last couple of years is that after I finish my bachelors in Human Service (next summer) I would like to continue into a masters program in Public Service or International Development. I love the idea of working globally on issues I care about, with the opportunity to make a difference, and hopefully, travel a lot with that job. So the traveling I want to do would already be incorporated into my career.
Downsides: This career seems SO hard to get into. Any positions I see are always WAY up the ladder, which means I would have to spend years working towards it, while possibly doing jobs I don't love just to get to where I THINK I'll love. Not to mention, I still have to get a masters. So before this climb to the top I have 3 years of school ahead of me. Also, what if I have kids? A career like that isn't the best for raising kids I don't think...as far as traveling goes.
Thought 2: Find another career within the school environment so that I can have summers off to continue traveling and doing whatever I want to do. My thoughts were either counselor or social worker. Both of which have opportunities outside of the schools if I ended up wanting that.
Downsides: What if I don't love it? And I continue to sit there working in the schools and loving the summers & breaks, but wishing I was working internationally. Also, if I don't like it I'm left with a very specific degree that can't just be used for anything.
Thought 3: This just occurred to me this morning actually, and that is continue doing occupational therapy. Now hear me out :) I don't dislike what I do. Sometimes I just want something different. But I also know that you get what you give. What if I tried harder at what I currently do? What if I worked really hard to improve in certain areas and figure out what would make me enjoy my job more. I've heard some crazy stories about people loving their jobs again just after changing their mindset.
At the least I will be with OT for 3 more years. I can't deny the great benefits of working in the schools and the perks of being a contract therapist. That's what I will miss more than anything I think. So anyway, that's what consumes my mind a lot of the time.
I figure if I'm doing something I love (working internationally) then I won't miss the school schedule, however, I feel so lucky to be able to just know that I have 3 months a year to do whatever I want. I wouldn't be able to call up Megan and say, "Hey, let's go to Europe next summer!" Just wouldn't be able to do that...but I also go back to, would I miss it? Also, I fly home so much throughout the year and if I had a typical work schedule I wouldn't be able to do that. I dunno.
If it was up to me completely and there was no such thing as student loans...I would just keep going to school forever. Get one degree, start working in that field, and start working on another one just to plan that I'll want a career change soon!
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