Camping

I promised pictures Sunday and it's Monday night. Here are a few from our trip to Joshua Tree with a few friends. This is Curt and Jody. I talked about them in the last blog.

This is a few more people. There were a few more people that came and went throughout the weekend so this wasn't everyone. The guy in the red is a physical therapist at Kaiser, a huge medical center in the area. The girl holding the dog is a year ahead of me in P.T school. The asian girl in the back is a die hard Ohio State Buckeye fan. It is hilarious talking with her. She knows more about the team than I do. You can't help but laugh listening to a little asian lady with broken English stumping you on Buckeye trivia.
While Eric climbed I made sure the big boulder rock in the back didn't fall down on anyone. Look closely.
The best part of car camping... the food!

The beauty of desert camping...no bugs, no rainfly on your tent and billions of bright stars to fall asleep to.

School is going well. I have had plenty of success so far on my midterms. Tomorrow I have a written test and a lab practical. Friday I have a rather difficult pass/fail lab practical. It's on zapping people with electricity. Fun!

Still in the Upper 80's to low 90's. Next week we are going to a King's game. A buddy had free tickets. It's L.A.s hockey team. Friday is a Halloween thing at church. It's a safe option for kids in the area. Katie and I are helping out. Kate is going to be little red riding hood and im the lumberjack that guts the wolf and gets granny out.

Crying

If you want to see a grown man cry come to my house. Today I was brought to tears twice. First, I found out that soldier David was on his way to Kuwait and then to Germany. OUT OF IRAQ!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dad called me this afternoon to tell me everyone is getting together tonight to celebrate. I'll just stay here and shed a few more tears of joy.
Secondly, I was touched by a handicapped girl struggling in a device that is going to help her walk for the first time. All we had to do was go to this convention and get some signatures for school and there she was, arms free, stumbling around and trying like crazy to make her body listen to her brain. I've cried like three times in the last month. Maybe there is such thing as male PMS.
I'm taking Loma Linda by storm. Yesterday I got my employee badge. I'll start with my first trainee in the near future. And on Wednesday, I will be nominated for class president. Yes, that's just as surprising to me as it is to you. That doesn't mean I will be president that just means that a large chunk of the class thinks I should do it. That's enough for me. The fact that people believe that I have the ability to steer the class of 2011 in the right direction. I think Wednesday we will elect all offices from fundraising team to sports coordinator to president.
Katie and I are going to Joshua Tree tomorrow. We are going with some new friends that have shown interest in us. They, Curt and Jodi, are in their late 20's and early 30's. He is a doc in the area and she is a nurse practioner. With us will be about 10 other people (their friends) that we have also met. All are linked either through the medical community or cycling. I'll update pictures on Sunday sometime.

Video of our House and Larry the Lizard

Ok, here is a video of our home in Loma Linda. It is 8 minutes long. So get the popcorn and hit play. Sorry it's so long.

Busy and Loving It

We went to this resort up on Big Bear Mountain. It was for a marriage retreat. The area was disappointing. Not much of a retreat but a small city with chain restaurants and grocery stores. The actual conference was good. We were the youngest couple by at least 10 years.

We were given these awesome gift baskets.Not much foliage. Lots of sage brush and pine trees. This was just outside the resort.
Last weekend a buddy and I were driving in San Bernardino.(Ghetto) You never want to go there. It is a rough area. He is Phillipino so I figured we were better off than being two white guys. We stopped at the first ever McDonald's. It was not longer in operation but now stands as a museum.
Any one remember the hamburger cage thing? That's me in the car. I got in trouble.
We have been riding bikes every Thursday after school. We have a solid 5-8 riders every week.
Catherine and Melanie. Two students. We, as a class, try to play softball every Friday after labs. These girls have never played softball before but have played a huge roll on our intramural softball team thus far. Melanie (glasses) plays second base. Catherine is our catcher. We tell her to "just stand under it!" on foul balls and she's yet to drop one. Haha! Yes we are all still wearing shorts everyday.
Katie continues to blow me away with her ability to put together amazing meals. Two Fridays ago we got a movie ("leatherheads"), some food, and enjoyed an evening in.
I volunteered at a Disablilities sports festival two Saturday's ago. Chick Filet and In n' Out Burger fed us. I was labeled "First Aid" cause I go to Loma Linda. I put a few bandaids on and treated a bee sting. The main reason they wanted Loma Linda students as first aid volunteers was to carry out proper proceedure in case of an epileptic seizure. Katie laughed when I called home to "google" epileptic seizure to find out how to treat one. It's really not a big deal, just let them have it and call 911 if it lasts longer than 3 minutes.
It's amazing how people put you in the "smart" catagory when you tell them you are in Physical Therapy school. I just got off the phone with a guy from church who I had to convince I couldn't do anything for him cause I am a 1st year student and he needs to go see his doctor then go see the practicing P.T. I met a guy who tells people he is a gardener so they won't tell him their problems. "Oh, your a gardener. I like flowers too." I like gardening. I am a foot taller than anyone in my class. JK.
These two in the center of the photo below played tennis in the olympics. The girl was a gem and it was interesting to watch all the guys, handicapped or not, surround her.
Oh, I rebounded so far this week. Way above average on all quizes and ready to tackle my midterms this week and next.

Overall, a good day today.

So today we found out that there was a spot on this marriage counseling retreat up at Big Bear Lake. We decided not to go months ago cause it was expensive. Someone asked us to go and it would be paid for. So tomorrow evening we are going to Big Bear for half the weekend.

I failed today at something. I don't like to fail. And the hatred I have towards it makes me obsessive about succeeding at the things I do. I have always been above the average in my class. I got a 70% on a quiz. That's failing. I can handle that. I can make that up. But the average was 83%. That's what bothers me. I was missing something that everyone else got. I have to remind myself that I worked harder than most when preparing for the quiz but some students are excellent crammers and with a little luck, passed the quiz. I'm not speaking with pride or conceit but just being honest about something that will make me work harder next time.

Ok, "The Office" is on.

Mid week blog

Well, I got a job today. I vowed I wouldn't while in school. But I don't know, school isn't so bad. I mean it isn't easy by any means but I can handle a few hours. And a few hours in the Personal Training world is decent money. I have complete freedom. I get to use the whole facility-outside, stairs, pool, tennis courts, and equipment of course. I'm sure i'll sign papers this week and start within a week or two.

I just got in a bad mood and it wrecked my desire to keep writing. I'm going to go brush my teeth and go to bed.

Oh, today I got a shot and the lady made my shoulder muscles twitch. She said, "Well, your deltoid knows there's a needle in there." I said sarcastically, "that's cause you're moving it around." I felt only a little bad. Learn how to give a shot lady.

Updates

Yeah, it's hot here. The good news is relief is in sight. I'm enjoying it. Yesterday it was 100, today 90, tomorrow 80 and Saturday they are saying 70's. Then it will warm up again. It will be nice to have the windows open instead of the A/C on all the time.

Some updates... School is going slower than the other two quarters. Lots to do but lots of time to accomplish everything. I've had a few quizes and done well on them. My labs are fun. I have my electrotherapy lab tomorrow. ZAP!! Saturday I am volunteering at the Special Olympics at Cal State. Handicap kids are a blast when it comes to sports. They take it super serious but want everyone to succeed. At least that's my experience. Sunday Kate and I are going to the museaum of tolerance in L.A. I have to for school. I don't know anything about it.
The two pictures are of the Drayson Center. It is the athletic center here at Loma Linda. Tuesday at noon I have an appointment with the director about personal training. We have had three conversations about training since we moved here and I think I'm just going to do it. He told me "the door was always open" and that's a great opportunity. I feel privleged.

School is difficult but i'm finding that stressing for A's without work isn't as enjoyable as B's and some money in my pocket. Heck if it doesn't work out then I can quit.

That's it. Tomorrow is Katie's birthday so we will probably eat food and i'll try to think of something creative. I'll have more pics to add hopefully by Sunday.