for a few quick announcements:
Luis is giving a recital tomorrow night, 7:30 at the Music Recital Hall, U of M campus. It'll be good, you should be there.
Today in my health assessment class we learned how to give proper eye and ear exams. Turns out I have lovely, easily viewable tympanic membranes. I guess we all have special gifts.
If you happen to live next door to me, I should apologize for the singing. I downloaded a bunch of cheesy 80's hair metal a few days ago, and I've been screaming along to this as I clean the kitchen...
Lastly, I'd like to call your attention to the right side of your screen. If you'll scroll down a little, you'll see the parade of photos marching down the sidebar. It's always been there, yes, but today on a whim I changed it to show a random selection of photos from my flickr account, instead of just the most recent ones. So refresh a few times, see what shows up! Could be fun...
Now I must return to my regularly scheduled homework assignment...
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Breaking up is hard to do.
Two friends of mine who have been dating for a while broke it off yesterday. The event got me to thinking about the dynamics of a breakup, and how utterly strange it is. I can't think of any other interpersonal relationships that include this peculiar ritual. Other relationships end, sure, but usually without the bang. Friendships wax and wane, but rarely do they end with a sudden declaration of, "I don't want to be involved with you anymore." More often they just fade subtly, being quietly replaced with different ones. And with family, even if you choose to end an association with one of them, there's still that business of being related - tough to escape.
I don't suppose there is any way of ending a partnership other than just calling it off, but it's amazing how drastically it can change your life overnight. The sudden change of living situation, the keeping of different company - it's a surreal experience. It's difficult to pick apart the threads that have been twined together for so long.
My mom always said she didn't understand why young people leaped straight into big heavy relationships in their late teens and early twenties. She thought they should be dating and having fun, not tying themselves down. I get it now. Stop trying to grow up so fast, and actually spend some time growing. I finally know what she means, but of course, hindsight is always 20/20. Yet I don't think I'd trade my past, because it's shaped who I am now, and I like who I am. Strong, independent, confident - everything I wasn't at twenty.
I've been through two big breakups along with heaping handfuls of little ones, and from that a couple things have become important to me. The first is that I can handle it. None of them have killed me yet, so if I ever have to go through it again, I know I can. The second is an idea that may sound terrible at first, but hear me out - I don't 'need someone'. I know that we all need people to lean on, and I certainly need my family and friends as much as anyone else. I just like the idea of being okay sans relationship, and I know I could be. That's empowering. I know too many people who need a relationship, and I think that too often that keeps them in the wrong relationship, out of fear of not having one at all. They stay with 'someone', even if it's not the right one, because it seems better than no one.
I prefer the idea of wanting to be with someone, rather than needing. The two words' definitions are intertwined in the dictionary, but to me it's about attitude. It's a lot like the difference between having to do something and getting to do something. Now that I can bring to a relationship a whole, self-sufficient person, I can give so much more. And over time, in a committed relationship, I may grow to need that individual, but it's because of who he is and what we have, rather than just because he is 'someone'. And if I can keep a little want in there too, I think maybe that's the trick.
**Disclaimer: This is a reflection on past experiences, not some sort of foreshadowing of things to come. Luis and I are quite well. :) I don't want any freaked out phone calls... We're great, no worries.**
I don't suppose there is any way of ending a partnership other than just calling it off, but it's amazing how drastically it can change your life overnight. The sudden change of living situation, the keeping of different company - it's a surreal experience. It's difficult to pick apart the threads that have been twined together for so long.
My mom always said she didn't understand why young people leaped straight into big heavy relationships in their late teens and early twenties. She thought they should be dating and having fun, not tying themselves down. I get it now. Stop trying to grow up so fast, and actually spend some time growing. I finally know what she means, but of course, hindsight is always 20/20. Yet I don't think I'd trade my past, because it's shaped who I am now, and I like who I am. Strong, independent, confident - everything I wasn't at twenty.
I've been through two big breakups along with heaping handfuls of little ones, and from that a couple things have become important to me. The first is that I can handle it. None of them have killed me yet, so if I ever have to go through it again, I know I can. The second is an idea that may sound terrible at first, but hear me out - I don't 'need someone'. I know that we all need people to lean on, and I certainly need my family and friends as much as anyone else. I just like the idea of being okay sans relationship, and I know I could be. That's empowering. I know too many people who need a relationship, and I think that too often that keeps them in the wrong relationship, out of fear of not having one at all. They stay with 'someone', even if it's not the right one, because it seems better than no one.
I prefer the idea of wanting to be with someone, rather than needing. The two words' definitions are intertwined in the dictionary, but to me it's about attitude. It's a lot like the difference between having to do something and getting to do something. Now that I can bring to a relationship a whole, self-sufficient person, I can give so much more. And over time, in a committed relationship, I may grow to need that individual, but it's because of who he is and what we have, rather than just because he is 'someone'. And if I can keep a little want in there too, I think maybe that's the trick.
**Disclaimer: This is a reflection on past experiences, not some sort of foreshadowing of things to come. Luis and I are quite well. :) I don't want any freaked out phone calls... We're great, no worries.**
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Lists.
(Nicked the idea from Mer and Neena's blogs...)
Things to do while I'm alive:
• learn a foreign language
• visit Italy, England, and Spain... and maybe Africa
• graduate from college
• live in a big city
• take martial arts
• read the other 91 books on my "top 100 books you should have already read" list
• never settle
• take a drawing class
• learn a new instrument
• live more
• regret less
• get good at the tango
• stop trying to fix people
• learn to ski
• buy a pair of Jimmy Choos (or other ridiculously extravagant shoes)
• tell my family more often how much I love them
More things I love: (I did this one recently - fortunately, lots of things make me happy...)
• shoes
• the fact that I have friends who know everything about me and like me anyway
• cheese
• Luis (who is reading over my shoulder, and is sad that he came after both cheese and shoes... rest assured, these are not in any type of order)
• sleeping bags
• pulling out splinters
• people who are willing to go out of their way to help someone else, especially when the someone is a stranger
• sassy old ladies
• bare feet in cool grass
• writing
• sangria
Things which irk me:
• rude people
• hangnails
• drivers who don't know the rules at a four-way stop
• "reality" television
• misspelled signs, flyers or any type of published text
• people who make everything about them
• wasps
• people who don't think for themselves
Things to do while I'm alive:
• learn a foreign language
• visit Italy, England, and Spain... and maybe Africa
• graduate from college
• live in a big city
• take martial arts
• read the other 91 books on my "top 100 books you should have already read" list
• never settle
• take a drawing class
• learn a new instrument
• live more
• regret less
• get good at the tango
• stop trying to fix people
• learn to ski
• buy a pair of Jimmy Choos (or other ridiculously extravagant shoes)
• tell my family more often how much I love them
More things I love: (I did this one recently - fortunately, lots of things make me happy...)
• shoes
• the fact that I have friends who know everything about me and like me anyway
• cheese
• Luis (who is reading over my shoulder, and is sad that he came after both cheese and shoes... rest assured, these are not in any type of order)
• sleeping bags
• pulling out splinters
• people who are willing to go out of their way to help someone else, especially when the someone is a stranger
• sassy old ladies
• bare feet in cool grass
• writing
• sangria
Things which irk me:
• rude people
• hangnails
• drivers who don't know the rules at a four-way stop
• "reality" television
• misspelled signs, flyers or any type of published text
• people who make everything about them
• wasps
• people who don't think for themselves
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Holy holiday weekend, Batman!
First of all, let me encourage you to see a concert at the Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington, if ever you have the opportunity. Beautiful scenery, perfect climate, and not a bad seat in the house.
The Gorge has an adjoining campground, which can house close to half of the concert goers. It's like an after party with 10,000 of your friends.
I won't recount my weekend in detail, partly because I don't want to bore you with a long narrative, and partly because I'm lazy. I will tell you that it was awesome. We camped two nights and saw two concerts. If I can swing it next year, I will happily go all three nights. I've seen something like eight of their shows, and as long as they keep touring, I'm there.
As cheesy as it sounds, the Dave Matthews Band has been a huge part of the soundtrack of my life for nearly a decade. I love their music. It makes me happy.
The Gorge has an adjoining campground, which can house close to half of the concert goers. It's like an after party with 10,000 of your friends.
I won't recount my weekend in detail, partly because I don't want to bore you with a long narrative, and partly because I'm lazy. I will tell you that it was awesome. We camped two nights and saw two concerts. If I can swing it next year, I will happily go all three nights. I've seen something like eight of their shows, and as long as they keep touring, I'm there.
As cheesy as it sounds, the Dave Matthews Band has been a huge part of the soundtrack of my life for nearly a decade. I love their music. It makes me happy.
Come and relax now
Put your troubles down
No need to bear the weight of your worries
You let them all fall away...
Saturday, September 02, 2006
This weekend:
Friends. Drinks. Sunshine.
(Photo bummed from the official Gorge website.)The perfect end to a great summer.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Finally!
Today was my first day of classes for the fall semester. We finally get to do some hands-on work - with real people! We are only doing about 25 hours of clinical time this fall, and it will all be at a nursing facility, but we'll spend a lot of time in the skills lab learning assessment skills and procedural techniques on the dummies (and often on each other). Today we started with bedmaking. I thought that sounded silly, since I make my bed every day. But it turns out we were learning how to make the bed with someone still in it. I'd never thought about it, but it makes sense to know how - some clients won't be able to get up, but the bedding has to be changed to maintain a clean environment. After making the beds we learned range of motion exercises to help maintain flexibility for immobile clients, how to reposition people in beds, and how to prevent decubitus (pressure) ulcers from forming. I'm glad they broke us in with easy stuff, but I can't wait to learn dressing changes and catheter placement. Yay!
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
You call yourself a Liberal?
Why yes, I do. The dictionary defines liberal as:
Sounds good to me. Tolerance is a good thing. Bigotry is not.
I'll be the first one to admit that when it comes to politics, I'm pretty ignorant. I like it that way. The more attention I pay to the current dysfunction in our country, the angrier I get.
I've got my eyes scrunched shut for now - perhaps I'll peek out again in two and a half years.
"Not limited to or by established, traditional, orthodox, or authoritarian attitudes, views, or dogmas; free from bigotry.
Favoring proposals for reform, open to new ideas for progress, and tolerant of the ideas and behavior of others; broad-minded."
Sounds good to me. Tolerance is a good thing. Bigotry is not.
I'll be the first one to admit that when it comes to politics, I'm pretty ignorant. I like it that way. The more attention I pay to the current dysfunction in our country, the angrier I get.
I've got my eyes scrunched shut for now - perhaps I'll peek out again in two and a half years.
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Montana Mandi
It's been a very Montana weekend for me so far...
Luis and I are now the proud owners of a pair of 25° mummy sleeping bags and a three person tent. On Friday evening we stopped at a sporting goods store so Luis could pick up some ping-pong balls to use for fingernail repair. (Classical guitarists have to have longer nails on their right hand for picking individual strings, and when they break one a synthetic has to be used. Apparently a sliver of ping-pong ball works better than artificial fingernails...) Anyhow, we wandered around through the camping stuff and found some great deals on gear. I'll get the chance to break them in at the Dave Matthews concert in a couple of weeks!
On Saturday I met Layne for a morning hike at Kootenai creek. About half an hour in we started talking about floating, and on a whim we decided to turn back and head to the river instead. We gathered tubes and beer and our friend Misty, and had a ladies' float on the Blackfoot. After getting off the river we went back to Layne's for a little soak in her hot tub. A perfect ending to a lazy summer day.
Luis and I are now the proud owners of a pair of 25° mummy sleeping bags and a three person tent. On Friday evening we stopped at a sporting goods store so Luis could pick up some ping-pong balls to use for fingernail repair. (Classical guitarists have to have longer nails on their right hand for picking individual strings, and when they break one a synthetic has to be used. Apparently a sliver of ping-pong ball works better than artificial fingernails...) Anyhow, we wandered around through the camping stuff and found some great deals on gear. I'll get the chance to break them in at the Dave Matthews concert in a couple of weeks!
On Saturday I met Layne for a morning hike at Kootenai creek. About half an hour in we started talking about floating, and on a whim we decided to turn back and head to the river instead. We gathered tubes and beer and our friend Misty, and had a ladies' float on the Blackfoot. After getting off the river we went back to Layne's for a little soak in her hot tub. A perfect ending to a lazy summer day.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Big contented sigh
My family was in town last week. We went to Glacier National Park. Had Big Dipper ice cream. Saw bears. Hiked the M (or at least Luis and Ricky and I did). Slept in cabins. Went to Rockin' Rudy's. Had a great time.
Maybe it sounds silly, but having people out to visit helps to bridge the distance gap. After they've been a part of my world here, it feels like they're not so far away. It makes the 1400 miles seem insignificant.
It smells like autumn outside. The temperatures are back into the 80's and 90's again, but we had a bit of cooler weather a couple of weeks ago, and since then it feels different. Fall is on the way. I love autumn - new schoolbooks, crisp breezes, football games, sweaters and crunchy leaves.
Luis and I went to the Symphony in the Park concert on Sunday. (Another reason I love Missoula? Several thousand people showing up for a free classical concert in the park.) We stayed through the first half, chatted with some friends at intermission, then decided to head home. As we climbed the stairs on the Higgins street bridge, they began the Lord of the Rings symphonic suite, so we stopped to listen. It was one of those perfect moments - standing on the bridge as sunset bathed everything in a warm orange glow, a cool breeze dancing in my hair, with a heroic fanfare ringing from below. Perfect.
Maybe it sounds silly, but having people out to visit helps to bridge the distance gap. After they've been a part of my world here, it feels like they're not so far away. It makes the 1400 miles seem insignificant.
It smells like autumn outside. The temperatures are back into the 80's and 90's again, but we had a bit of cooler weather a couple of weeks ago, and since then it feels different. Fall is on the way. I love autumn - new schoolbooks, crisp breezes, football games, sweaters and crunchy leaves.
Luis and I went to the Symphony in the Park concert on Sunday. (Another reason I love Missoula? Several thousand people showing up for a free classical concert in the park.) We stayed through the first half, chatted with some friends at intermission, then decided to head home. As we climbed the stairs on the Higgins street bridge, they began the Lord of the Rings symphonic suite, so we stopped to listen. It was one of those perfect moments - standing on the bridge as sunset bathed everything in a warm orange glow, a cool breeze dancing in my hair, with a heroic fanfare ringing from below. Perfect.
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