Uh..Wow.

I meant to start writing in this blog again when I started my practicums. I am now 6 weeks down, with only 2 more weeks to go. Oops.

I can't believe I'm almost done. I would laugh when people used to tell me that time goes faster as you get older. Now I'm standing here wondering what happened to the last two years of my life! So much has happened since that first day in Kelowna: 16 months of school, 16 weeks of practicum (almost) in 3 different cities, 3 different houses/sets of roommates, gained some new friends, lost touch with some old ones, numerous friends have gotten married and/or had babies, I finally found myself a new boyfriend (and I could go on). It amazes me to think of what might happen or where I may be two years from now!

I have a phone interview for a job in Penticton this week. I've never had a phone interview, and it's also my first interview as a new (almost) graduate. Nervous as heck! But it's in the middle of my work day so I won't have time to stress about it (much) prior, which is probably for the best.

I'm loving my last practicum placement. I've done one in long term care, an acute hospital, private practice and now in full on rehabilitation. There is so much for me to learn and take part of. It's super rewarding to help patients work towards maximizing their independence, versus teaching them how to compensate in order to get by. Time here moves quickly and my day is over before I know it. I feel lucky to have gotten the opportunity to go to this facility, and plan on taking away as much as I can!

Graduation in T-minus 24 days. Wow.

Year In Review (2011)

A little late getting around to posting this, but here it is. Thinking I may need to get back into blogging. It's been awhile!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

Travel alone to the Island.

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

No. I vowed to go to the gym at least twice a week and that only lasted until Reading Break. This year my resolutions are to go to Yoga and to keep up with my flashcards!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes! I had two different friends each give birth to a beautiful boy

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, thank goodness.

5. What places did you visit?

Edmonton, Vancouver, Vancouver Island, Kamloops

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

I would like to feel comfortable in my own apartment. So far so good!

7. What day from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

The days my friends had their babies, the day I found out one of my besties is pregnant and was getting married, and also the day two of my highschool friends got married.

8. What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year?

Passing practicum and moving on to my final year in school

9. What was your biggest failure?

Failing to hold on to certain friendships. It’s always sad to lose certain people in your life even if it is probably for the best.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing major

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Some used furniture for my new place. Couches, coffee tables, etc.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

My good friends. They’re always there when I need them.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

My old room mate. I also lost a good friend this year due to “time constraints”. Note the quotes.

14. Where did most of your money go?

School, living expenses, and my trip to the Island

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Moving to my new place in December, my friends having babies, finding out one of my best friends is pregnant and finally got married

16. What songs will always remind you of 2011?

Adele – Rolling in the Deep

Lady Gaga – Born This Way

Katy Perry – Last Friday Night

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? About the same. Trying not to get fatter haha
c) richer or poorer? Still broke.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Camping, catching up with people I’ve sort of lost touch with

20. How did you spend Christmas in 2011?

My family (minus Adam again) went down to Vancouver to spend it with my cousins. We put the fireplace channel on the 70” TV (on loan) in the living room and spent the morning exchanging gifts and eating a big breakfast. After Christmas dinner we had our traditional Walnut Boat Race while we ate Christmas pudding and I won.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?

Once again I was single the whole year, but two wonderful little boys stole pieces of my heart

22. What are your three favourite photos of 2011?


Melanie and Steve
(November 12, 2011)

Gabriel & Amanda
(September 2011)

William & Sarah
(October 2011)

23. What was your favourite TV program?

This year I was back into reality TV big time! I watched Survivor, Big Brother, Jersey Shore, and Teen Mom.

24. What did you do for your birthday in 2011?

I went out with a couple friends to the bar on the Saturday before. On my actual birthday I drove back to Kamloops with my friend so I could get my eyes checked and then we had dinner with my family at the Mongolian Grill.

25. What was the best book you read?

Once again I was slacking in the book department this year. I re-read the Harry Potter series which I always enjoy.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Adele was a favourite of mine this year, as well as Lady Antebellum. Neither of them are new artists but I didn’t listen to them before this year.

27. What did you want and get?

I wanted to do both of my practicum placements in Kamloops, and I did.

28. What did you want and not get?

A free trip to some beach destination!

29. What were your favourite three films this year?

Crazy Stupid Love, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, The Help

30. Did you make some new friends this year?

Yes, through school and also through some people I met last fall.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Better living situation. I moved so hopefully that will make this year more enjoyable!

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Mostly jeans and sweaters. Comfy and warm.

33. What kept you sane?

Caffeine. My friends in the program who understand my stress levels.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

The occupy movement was a big thing this year. I can’t say that I paid much attention, but it was definitely a topic of conversation everywhere.

35. Who did you miss?

I miss my friends who live in different cities then I do. I don’t get to see them enough!

36. Who was the best new person you met?

I met a boy in December who is both ridiculously good looking and incredibly nice.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.

Happiness isn’t something to search for or strive towards. It’s all around us if we choose to accept it. Stop looking for it and realize that the things and people we take for granted are usually the things and people that make us happy. We just need to stop being miserable long enough to recognize it.

Allow me to introduce...

So I've been at school for about a month and a half now. Maybe it's time to start writing about it?

First topic of conversation: roommates.

I live in the dorms and share a pod with 4 other girls. We're the "older" bunch with ages ranging from 23-27. First up we have the Austrian. I don't see a lot of her, but she's very nice when I do catch a glimpse of her. She makes me hate her by cycling for about an hour and a half every day. Yes, you read that correctly. Every. Single. Day. I can barely drag my butt to the gym once a week. And by once a week I mean I've been twice this semester. She's only here until December so we will most likely be getting a new roommate for next semester.

Next up we have our youngest coming in at the ripe age of 23. She has more piercings than I have teeth. She's into gaming, addicted to coffee, and likes the same music I do. Everything in her room is pink, which she claims makes her look more like a girl then she actually is. She'd be my drinking buddy if she were ever here. She goes back home to see her bf and to help her parents with their business pretty much every weekend.

Third up is my little country bumpkin. She looks so sweet and innocent, but your impression changes after you listen to some of her stories from her "wilder" days. She's my go to girl for normal conversation and outings. She's a health food nut, but will cave into ice cream every. single. time. She always has a smile on her face, and I'm glad she shares this end of the pod with me.

And finally my last room mate. It would take more words then I have to describe her in one paragraph to you. To sum it up, she irritates the crap out of me. I feel bad because I know she has good intentions and it's not her fault she's severely lacking in the social skills department. Her entire night last night revolved around debating whether or not the expired cake mix powder gave her food poisoning. And today it is if the no name brand cheese sauce tastes the same as KD. She just discovered the other day that we have double decker buses here. I will take this time to inform you all we have lived here for a month and a half. On a bus route! If she's not attempting to burn down the place with my two slice toaster or butting into other peoples business, she's adding multiple bookshelves in the living room for all of her stuff. Because she has stuff. Lots of it. How many jumbo bags of uncooked noodles does one really need? And do we really need every cooking utensil and contraption on the market? I'm just sayin'...

Anyways, time for me to go study some biology. Tune in next time where we will (most likely) discuss my program!

T-minus 4 days

I've been horribly neglectful of this blog. I promise to try and do better when I'm back in school.

Speaking of which, I am moving on Monday. 4 more sleeps. That's insane to me! When did it suddenly become September and time for me to move/start school?! I've been trying to get most of my packing done before the weekend because I'm planning to barely be at home over the next 3 days (as well as tonight). Things to do, people to see! Tonight I have dinner plans, and then I'm off to poker night with some of my old coworkers. I've never been very good at poker but none of these people really play either so we'll be evenly matched! Should be fun.

I'm starting to get really nervous about leaving. I know I'll be fine once I get there and get settled but the in between part kind of scares me. What are my room mates gonna be like? What are my classes going to be like? Am I going to like Kelowna? And of course the big one, how am I going to afford this? I know it'll all work out and things will fall into place. But until then I'll continue to have freak out moments about how I'm going to do this!

Stressball

I haven't been sleeping well the past few nights. I toss and turn, lie awake for hours, and wake up way too early. This tends to happen when I'm stressed out. This morning after a strange dream involving vampires and wizards who could transform into werewolves (yes I'm reading H.P. and yes T.lite is still at the theater), I decided to give up on trying to sleep and laid in my bed thinking/stressing. Today's topic: moving. I have never lived on my own. I haven't lived in a different house since I was 10. I only know one person in Kelowna. Everybody says you adjust really fast and because I'm at school making friends will be easy. And I know they're all right. But it doesn't stop me from freaking out.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited. I'm glad I'm doing it. I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around actually doing it. I'm not really the type to venture out on my own and explore new worlds (yes I just recently watch S.trek). It amazes me that I planned this at all. In some ways I'm very independent, but in others I'm very much a follower. I like having someone else make the plans and to be there with me to carry them out.

This makes me think of something my mom has always said. Be happy with yourself first because you're the one you're stuck with for the rest of your life. She means this in terms of relationships but it works for this too. Nobody else can do this for me. I'm stuck doing it myself. With myself. By myself. For myself.

Time to throw on my big girl panties.

17

Today is my 17th straight day of working. Between my jobs I haven't had a day off since the last time I posted about it. But somehow the stars aligned and I have the next two days off! Tomorrow I booked off because I need to go to Kelowna, but Tuesday was handed to me by somebody who loves me!

I have an orientation for my program tomorrow where I will meet the profs and hopefully some of the other students starting in the fall. Instead of driving down by myself I invited some people from work to go down with me for the day. We'll do some shopping, I'll leave them to do my thing, and then we'll probably eat and head home.

Time is flying now that I'm so busy. Only 3 and a half months until I move!

5 peas in a pod

Got a letter in the mail today and I have a place to live in the fall. Living in residence will be convenient and well, if I hate it I can move somewhere else in the winter. The residence at OC is a bit different then most residences I've heard of because it has a pod where 5 people live. They also have a single studio option but that's way more expensive and this girl is trying to save money! So living with 4 strangers, I'm sure I'll have a lot more to write about in the fall! Hopefully none of them are psycho. That's all I ask for. But still, 5 girls in a room together... there's bound to be some dramarama!

In other news I have the entire day off tomorrow. Yes that's right, I said the whole day off! I don't even know what to do with myself! I'm suuuuper excited. I might go get my haircut. I might go visit with some friends. I might do some shopping. I'll probably sleep in and lie on the couch all day. Oooooh glorious my day off will be!

Getting out of the house

I am so tired. For the last two weeks I've basically done nothing but work. Yesterday I finally got out of the house for something else and it felt great!

First stop was the health unit to get my test for TB for school. I have to go back tomorrow before I leave for my trip to get it checked. Then I must remember to put my results in the mail because they're due next week and I'm gone for the rest of this week! I think this is the last thing I have to submit to school before my conditional acceptance turns into just an acceptance. Woot!

While I was getting injected, I got a message from my buddy G who was in town for the day and wanted to hang out. We ended up going for some food and then to a movie. By the way the little boy in Valen.tine's Day is THE CUTEST THING EVER. I just want to squish him. After that I went with my friend S to the pool for some swimming and some hot tubbing. I didn't get home until almost 10. I then proceeded to geek out and watch some I.max movies on space that my parents got us for Christmas. I've always thought it would be wicked awesome to be an astronaut. Oh and I finished knitting another square! I swear I'm going to be 30 by the time I get this blanket done.

Today I have to pack for my trip, make sure my car has everything it needs (oil, washerfluid, air in the tires), go to work (uggh.), come home and watch the bachelor with my mom (we taped it last night) and get some sleep! Tomorrow I leave for the Kootneys for 4 days! Yay roadtrip!

Moving right along

I was thinking that I would like to have a board game night. I just bought a new one today, which I played at a friends house the other night and enjoyed (it's called sequence). Then I started thinking, hey I enjoyed going to my friends house and playing games, why wouldn't other people like that as well? So it's still in the planning stages, but that's what I'm going to do.

I was about to tell you about sending off my school stuff when I realized, whoa I don't think I've even posted about that yet! What is wrong with me?!

I GOT ACCEPTED TO MY PROGRAM!

I got my letter on Thursday offering me a spot in the TA program at OC! Yay!

*moment for happy dance*

So back to what I was saying. I sent them my acceptance letter & deposit, as well as my updated transcript with my biology mark included. I've also applied to live in residence. I was speaking with my mom and I could rent a place and live by myself in a city where I know no one, or I could live in a place with other students on campus and not become a hermit. So thats the plan for the first semester anyways. Now hopefully I get into that. I also hope that everybody isn't under the age of 20. No better way to feel ancient at 23 than to hang out with 18 year olds! It's like your from a whole other era.

In other news, Adam passed his flight test and now has his private pilots licence! I'm so proud of him! He still has another 6 months (or something) before he's done school because he still needs to get his commerical licence. Then I hope he moves somewhere tropical and flies me around for free.

Just throwing that out there.

A = Awesome

This weekend I went and did my first aid course so I could finish my application for school. I really liked my instructor. She was fun and had lots of stories. Of course I rocked the test, and walked out with my certificate. Go me!

Then tonight I came home and checked to see if my marks were up yet. I am happy to say I somehow managed to pull off an A in my biology course! I'm beginning to think it's more of an A for Awesome, rather than an A for my knowledge of biology, but hey, I'll take what I can get! I'm happy about it, whatever the case may be. Go me x2!

Tomorrow I'll be sending part 2 of my application stuff off to OC so they can pass more judgment and decide whether or not to let me in. After that it's wait and see.

It's going to be weird this week with no obligations (other than work). I've been running around like a crazy person for the last month or so. I'm not going to know what to do with myself! Start my Christmas shopping perhaps...

100th post!

According to my post counter, this is number 100! That's crazy to me. Do I really talk that much?

I finished my last bio class this morning, and perhaps my last class at TRU. My exam is next Thursday, and then I'm done done done! Lots of studying to do in the meantime. I want to vomit every time I look at my list of things to study. It's long.

Yesterday I got a letter from OC saying I had completed step 1 of the application process (the acedemic requirements). Step 2 involves proof of first aid (which I do next weekend), and getting my doctor to fill out a form about my health. That's all due on the 18th of this month, and then I guess I'll hear if I'm being accepted into the program.

Tonight work, tomorrow work, tomorrow night Christmas party, then study study study til Thursday. Then I'm freeeeeeeeeeeee!

Beginning of the end of the year

How the heck is it December already?

Needless to say, this year has flown by! I can't say that the year has been full of crazy events, but day to day I've been pretty busy between work and school.

It's the last week of classes. I have quiz tomorrow, and then my final exam next Thursday. I'm not looking forward to this final AT ALL. The midterm did me in as far as acing this course, but I can still walk away with a decent mark if I study study study. So final exam, and then what? Well, I'm still waiting to hear from OC about getting into the TA program. If that happens I'll find a second job and hope to earn the moola to pay for this endeavor. If that doesn't happen, well, we'll cross that bridge if it comes. I don't really have a backup plan!

I've been doing a lot of thinking lately. Some thoughts about what's going to happen in the future, but mostly about what's happening right now. There's some family stuff happening right now that's really got me thinking about relationships and ties. Bear with me, as I haven't really thought this out on paper (err...screen) yet! Basically what I've come up with is that family and blood ties basically mean nothing if you're not willing to put in the effort. I think that just because you are "family" doesn't mean you can treat people like crap just because they're "required" to love you. I don't think you're required to love anybody. It's not love if you despise a person. It's not love if you don't respect a person. It's not love if you do hurtful things towards a person. Why not just call it what it is? It sure isn't love.

I think more often it is your friends that become your "family" as you get older. These are the people you choose to make an effort to hang out with. Even then, your "family" will change through the years as people's priorities change, people move, or you just loose touch. What should be important is enjoying the time you have together, and making a conscious effort not to make each others lives miserable! I don't want to be surrounded by negative people anymore. I'm tired of it. It's not worth it. I need to learn to let some of my relationships go. Life is short and I want mine to be happy!

Fall in a nutshell

Holy smokes I'm horrible at updating:

School is going okay. I didn't do as well on my midterm as I would have liked so I am trying to make up for it with my assignments and quizzes.

Today I applied for the TA program and signed up for my first aid course. Tomorrow's a holiday so on Thursday I think I will be calling about getting my TB test done as well as my criminal record check. Busy busy busy.

I've started going to the gym. A week in and I already feel better. Except today where I did something to my lower back. I didn't notice anything was wrong until later after my muscles had cooled down. I hurt my back there last year, so I probably just pulled it the wrong way. It's just a little stiff so hopefully with some stretching it will be all good!

Extended-family life is stressful. Not really something I can discuss here, but let me just say I can't wait for it to be over!!!

The sw.ine flu has finally hit here at the McVicar household. It looks like Adam has it. He's home for a week from school (fall reading break?) and picked it up his first day back. I'm staying away from him. I don't even have a cold! *knock on wood* My cousins in Vancouver have it pretty bad. One had to go to the hospital because she couldn't breathe, but she seems to be doing better. Thank goodness.

That's about all I have time for. Off to work I go. No rest for the weary!

Back to school, back to work

School has once again begun. So far it's off to a good start (except for the part where my crazy lab partner from chemistry walked through the doors of my classroom). I have someone to sit with (that isn't crazy), and I really like my prof. I've decided I can really get on board with this one class a semester thing. It might take me 80 years to get through school though so I might have to go back to a full course load at some point! ;)

On Wednesday I got a phone call from a lady who worked at my old job at Ford. She needs somebody to work the front desk for 3-5 weeks while the regular girl is getting surgery done. So starting the last week of September I will be working Tuesday to Saturday there. Some days are going to be very long because I still have my other job but it will only be 2 nights a week that conflict. I still have most nights off during the week for any studying I need to do. And like I said, it's only a couple weeks.

Flight School

I am so excited for my brother! We just found out Adam got accepted into flight school! So in about a week he is moving to Penticton! I'm really happy for him since he's always been interested in flying. It will be weird not having him around anymore, but I'm glad he's finally getting out and doing what he wants.

Summing up August

Whoa long time, no update! I'm just gonna make this a bullet post and go from there!

• went hiking last week to Margaret Falls by Salmon Arm. It was a pretty easy hike, but there was a pretty waterfall at the end! We stopped to get pizza on the way home and it was delicious. I need to go out and do stuff like that more often.
• went camping this past weekend out at St.Ives. I really like camping and minus the drunken drama, I'd like to do it again! I don't think I'll be able to before school starts, but maybe if the weather holds I can go out one weekend in September.
• School is starting back up in a couple of weeks. I'm only taking one course so it won't be too bad. 2 hours of biology every morning, except for Tuesdays which I get off. Hopefully I can rock it like I rocked chemistry this summer!
  
• I still need to get my butt in gear and do the following so I can apply to school for next year: first aid course, TB shot & health checkup, and get a criminal record check.

That about sums it up! I have today off, but made plans for lunch and getting out in the sunshine so I should get to it! I'll try and be better about updating, because I've forgotten most of what I've done this month.

And they're in...

I just got my marks back for my chemistry course.

*drum roll please*

I GOT AN A+! Yes that's right, in chemistry.

If I keep this up maybe I'll become an astronaut or something ;)

My summer has been pretty uneventful so far. I've been working weekends, and cleaning out my room during the day. I'm trying to get rid of everything I don't need. I never realized how much crap I had/have in my room. It's unreal how much I have accumulated over the past 10 years. I found a diary from when I was in elementary school. I was crying I was laughing so hard. Oh the trials of a 7 year old. I just wanted to go back in time and give that girl a hug and tell her it'll all be fine. Gillian will end up inviting you to her birthday, you'll get a puppy you'll love even more than Rachel's, and you can still like peanut butter even if your best friend doesn't.

No more chemistry!

Yesterday was my last day of chemistry! I am really glad it's over. I'll have to wait for my marks to come in to know for sure, but I think I pulled off an A in that class!

After class a couple of friends and I drove to Vernon to go to the water slides. It was my first time there and I had a lot of fun! The weather was great and I'm really glad we went. We'll probably go a couple more times this summer for sure.

It's now the weekend which of course means work, work, and more work. Hopefully it goes by fast! Oh how I miss the days when I wasn't wishing away my weekends!

Love Story meets Viva La Vida - Piano Cello - by Jon Schmidt

I stumbled upon this and thought I would share. I wish I could play the piano like that!

Nothing really going on today. I don't have school on Fridays but I do have to work later. I have a couple labs to finish up, and some laundry to do. I'm almost done my summer course. Two more weeks!

Summer School Begins

My quick break has ended and I am back in school.

Bad points:

- class is at 830 every morning
- my lab partner appears useless

Good points:
- I have the afternoons off to enjoy the sun (if it ever comes back out)
- I love my prof

My prof is hilarious. This is one class I will not be bored in, which is good since I'm in it 3 hours a day, 4 days a week.

Two things he said we have an open invitation for:
1) if we have the desire, we can go up and teach the class
2) if we have done something good, we can share with the class and receive a standing ovation. For example if we manage to bake something without burning it to a crisp, he says that is an achievement that one should receive recognition for.