Time after Time

It seems my life is an ongoing countdown these days... who knows if this is good or bad:)

• 1 more hour until I have to go to Office Hours
• 5 more hours of class today
  
• 3 hours of studying tonight
• 9 hours until I can go to sleep again
• 9 more exams
  
• 1 more week until finals
• 2 weeks until I go to NYC to visit Heather (canNOT wait to get out of dodge!)
  
• 1 quarter until I get to go home again!!! :)
  
• 11 months until Megan gets married in HAWAII... I love her for this:)
  

Don't get me wrong, life is fabulous, it just seems so scheduled. I guess that's what happens when your life is consumed by cadavers, books, people you love, school, eating, and Gossip Girl...I'm such a nerd, I know!

p.s. just to show you that they weren't lying when they spoke of humidity in the south...check out the hair! YIKES! even paper products get damp in the south.

I Heart Third Quarter!

We just finished up our first round of midterms... and what a relief this quarter has been! I still feel like I'm studying all the time,  but at least the information is so much more interesting (for the most part).  I swear I went crossed on Thursday after all of my tests where over, my brain was Fried! ... of course it didn't help that I tried to get a jump start on the next round...

I am learning to read x-rays, which is extremely cool! Dr. Paul gave me my old x-rays  which are totally awesome to see and practice drawing on! We have the best instructor by far for this course, I hope to encounter her or those like her again and again! She is so  passionate about the profession and really cares about who we are and our vision for the future of chiropractic. EXTREMELY refreshing!

Other than that, life is pretty uneventful... that's what happens when you spend 85% of your time in class or at a coffee shop. Speaking of coffee shops, one of my favorite nearby spots to study is closing (gasp it's a Starbucks)...and for those of you know who know my passion for coffee houses know this is usually a place I go out of desperation, not common place! I am deeply saddened, almost to the point of protesting the corporation. Starbucks originally set ou to represent your third place (home, work, third place) and should be somewhere you visit to not only to get a cup of coffee, but to have a good chat with a friend, to read a nice book, to STUDY, or to play a game of chess with a pal. This particular coffee shop represents all of those! and they arer closing what has become one of my favorite third place's!

I began studying there upon the recommendation of a friend who had worked there. I was a doubter at first, but fell in love upon my first visit! It is no ordinary Starbucks, it is the Vinings Starbucks, which reminds me of Capitola, a place near home. It is was built into what seems to be a renovated old home. It has a large patio with trees and tables surrounded by a white picket fence. It has countertop tables, comfy couches, and a train that passes by while you sit out on the front porch. I know, I couldn't believe it myself! The people that frequent it and work there are the BEST! One day I locked my keys out of my car and a Regular offered to call AAA for me! What upsets me most is that they are opening a drive-thru less than a mile away !!! and closing this one because it cannot be converted into a drive-thru despite the fact that it is ALWAYS busy and full of energy, life and such vigor!

Here is the customer service website if you feel as passionate about this closing as I do!

www.starbucks.com/customer

This is why I think drive-thru's are ruining America! Slow down and enjoy your coffee, America!

I am going to miss this study  spot and must now waste gas to travel 14 miles on Sunday's to my favorite far away study locale:(

The Heat is On

This week has been a prelude to what I suspect people refer to as August in HOTlanta! It's humid at 6am, its humid right now at 9:39 pm, its humid in my 64 degree classroom. My hair is wavy despite the straight iron I take to it AT LEAST 3 times a day. But who am I to complain, I grew up in the dry 100 degree Fresno heat. It is really not that terrible, but I'll confirm/deny that statement within the next month. 

Other than the weather, school is much MUCH better this quarter! I am in cadaver lab again, this time looking at visceral structures. I must say, it is pretty darn stinkin cool to hold a human heart or lung in your hand! I have seen cases of melanoma, tumors, emphysema, and goiters amongst other things. It is pretty fascinating, but I must admit it is sometimes a little weird still. 

I have begun going to clubs and getting my hands on more and more people. I feel like the meat and potatoes are just around the quarter. It is crazy for me to think that in three years I will be done with this program, mostly because I can't believe I've been here for seven months!

I miss the west, but I love the south. I learn something new everyday about it's history and culture. It is pretty cool!

 

Summer Break

I finished finals, once again unscathed. Somehow finals week seems so calm compared to the rest of the quarter, even though it contains the most stress. It has been a great three week break, lots of good times & great changes!!!

I'll catch ya'll up on my life: 

• Friday Night of Finals week: A group of us went to a Braves v. Mariners game (Mariners won!!!) of course I not so secretly cheered for Ichiro with my cute new Braves hat!
  

Me & Tate

• Saturday thru Monday: Moved into my new AWESOME apt (bug free!!!)
  

Living room & kitchen

Tate in the Kitchen

My room

• Wednesday: Game night with friends

• Sunday: Went on a hike (a.k.a. walk) around Lake Allatoona 
• Tuesday: Left for Florida with Erica
• Wednesday: Lazy Day on the couch with Erica & Sam in Orlando

• Friday: Worked my first official Chiro Screening... totally AWESOME experience
• Saturday: Beach day with Erica, Sam & Amanda at Coco beach...I love the sun!

Sam & Erica

Erica & Me

• Sunday: Beach day with Erica & Brittany in St. Augustine, Florida...Nation's Oldest Town
• Monday: Drove back to Marietta

Since then running errands & preparing for 3rd Qtr (bring it!)

New definition of Heat (southern edition)

I know, it has been a long time since I last blogged! What can I say, things have been very busy and exciting around here. We've had tornados hit (not fun!!!), midterm after midterm and lots of good times together. This quarter has been tough! ... much more so than the last. But I'm almost done with it and that is all that matters:) ...Flooorrridddaaa here I come!

My parents have been to visit twice and we had a great time, even though they basically watched me study. It was nice to see them! I make a new friend every day;) you know me. I still am lovin' Marietta, even though things are heatin' up (temperature-wise) around here! I am told this is nothin'...but a gal from Fresno can handle a little bit of humidity (naivete...isn't it beautiful)!

I miss the home state... not sure when I'll be back to visit. The breaks are so short, it feels like they are all booked for the next 3.5 yrs with conferences and exploration of the east coast & south. But don't worry, I'll be back to visit... we all know I can't stay away for long!

I promise to get some pictures up of some social outings or hikes I take. Both occur infrequently these days, but I'll be sure to give ya'll a lil bit to chew on.

xoxo

Energy Flows Where Focus Goes (Wk 4, Qtr 2)

...or so I tell myself these days! Trying so hard with the beautiful weather to focus this quarter. I know what ya'll are thinking, I've got 3 more years left... too early to fizzle out! I agree that's why I repeat this mantra every time I sit down to study;) Other than great weather and classes we enjoy ourselves by exploring a little more of Atlanta each day! Can't wait for summer break...7 more weeks:) I know they'll fly by and I can't wait! Heading to Florida with Erica for a bit and hopefully camp/hike in North Carolina & North GA a bit (weather permitting!) 

Gettin' Back in the Flow and rearin' to go...

 ...is oh so hard to do! 

FINALLY, back in the swing of things! 

Had a great visit with the fam this past weekend! My Dad, Aunt and Uncle came to visit (...exchanged the Suz for the 4Runner).  I introduced them to Brazilian Buffet and Slope's Southern BBQ. We explored the beautiful old homes of Buckhead and ventured into Atlanta's Historic Center. Another great thing we did was visit my cousin and her beautiful family. It was so great to catch up and see how her children have grown!

I attended my first technique club tonight and LOVED it! ...probably misaligned because of it, but totally okay with that, because I learned so much! 

Being a Chiropractor is going to be AWESOME... I already knew that, but tonight I realized that I really am going to be one some day... rather soon it seems! Days like today make all the challenges we endure oh so worth the while! 

Nothing too spectacular planned for the coming weeks, but excited to be back & be pumped for the 2nd quarter challenge!

As Erica would say:  "Let's get our learn on"

Allisonism:  "I've got two of these (referring to the ears) and one of these (referring to the heart)"

Context:  Consoling a friend in all sincerity... at least it made her laugh;) even if it was "the corniest thing" she's heard thus far... 4/14/08