Yoga!

Yesterday was the last yoga class at the library. I'm so grateful for it, it was free, it was effective, it was great! I really like to do fitness classes but I don't have the budget to pay for the classes. A one hour Zumba class within walking distance is $10! That's too much for me, and paying for the one or two classes I could afford wont be effective. The yoga class was relaxing, strengthening. We did the mountains pose, the breath of fire, the chair, the cobra, the child's pose and the happy baby among others. The instructor used a french lavender oil in previous class that smelled like a mini vacation. It really made me think of becoming an instructor. I used to participate in these classes in college as well, so even breathing and stretching classes interest me. It would be a great addition to a healthcare career, especially a holistic one. I also want to try Pilates. But until I find a free program or can afford it, I just have to follow the library schedule. Next up, wire sculpting and jewelry making!!

Girl just like magic your love keeps pulling me in... Jamaica

With the team captivating the Olympics, the 50th anniversary, and my birthday coming up next week, I'm missing Jamaica bad...

Right now the DJ next door is putting the right music to the minutes, the oldies but goodies, the ones that you know by heart and that bring up special memories.

And now he's playing the national anthem! Makes me cry...

"Eternal Father bless our land,
Guard us with Thy Mighty Hand,
Keep us free from evil powers,
Be our light through countless hours.
To our Leaders, Great Defender,
Grant true wisdom from above.
Justice, Truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, Land we love.
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love.

Teach us true respect for all,
Stir response to duty’s call, strengthen us the weak to cherish,
Give us vision lest we perish.
Knowledge send us Heavenly Father,
Grant true wisdom from above.
Justice, Truth be ours forever,
Jamaica, land we love.
Jamaica, Jamaica, Jamaica land we love."

Love you Jamdown!

PT internship 08/10

Today was the 3rd day of my internship at ---- Physical Therapy. I got a glimpse of their system PTOS and the health informatics in me really wanted to get my hands on it and learn it. Already I was thinking of ways to make it better.The appointment schedule looks a bit like MS Project but vertical. The colors are so varied and the blocks so huge that I would rather look at the black ink highlighted in neon yellow on printer paper. I got more done today. After two days of not knowing what to do and --frankly-- being stop-scared of helping the patients for fear of causing harm... I actually felt useful. The number one reason I felt scared to help the patients is because the population is mostly geriatric. Some seem frail, others just seem to be in so much pain. And I'm empathetic before I can compartmentalize. But I realize that although they have a sense of independence because they agree taught their workout routine and need little assistance, they still need a trainer. They need someone to at "do it!", "yes it hurts but do it", "yes you're leg is trembling but do it", "You CAN do it." They're tired, in pain, in a bad mood, and some just want attention.
{Side note: it reminds me of when I was introducing tens and ones in math to my kindergarten students. One of them felt so bad that she wasn't catching on as quickly that I could see her shrink into herself. She would start to distract herself, take off and put on her shoe under the table, suck her thumb, and then stop looking at the board altogether. I had to stop the lesson to give her a pep talk. I told her " I am here to help you, your classmates want you to understand too, nobody gets it right all the time. You are smart." afterwards she hugged me, and within minutes she was offering up the answers, and they were correct!}
I'm hoping I get to volunteer in the pediatric or women's department for acute care. I'd love to help pregnant / post-pregnant women or kids who want to PLAY.

Is there anything enlightening about this experience so far?

Yes. "Old people" are extremely resilient.

Oh and my "homework" is to find out what PT school is the cheapest in America.

Aug 5 - Fastest Man and Woman

Jamaica's Usain Bolt repeats and sets a new Olympic world record in the men's 100M dash... 9.63 seconds!!

Jamaica's Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce repeats her win in the women's 100M dash!
Extra special shout out to Shelly! We were schoolmates as teens!
And to Bolt! I met you (en masse of school girls lol) at our school as a teen!

Aug 3 - Poem

I happened upon this poem today.... It was from the book The Time Traveler's Wife. I watched the movie and loved it. It makes me think of love, and the sacrifices love makes. And how human we are...
(bu human i mean prone to seeking an escape from the regular).

Oh, and Rachel McAdams is a great actress.

Aug 2 - Something I've never seen before

I saw this beautiful caterpillar! I've never seen one that shade of green... And green is my favorite color!

Aug 1- my shoes

They make me feel like I'm walking in a garden