Late Nite Study Break

Because I (once agian) fell asleep reading pathophysiology earlier this evening, I am up late studying for my video practical in clinical anatomy. Today in my clinical communications class, we talked about assertiveness vs. agression. In today's agressive and violent society, it is often too easy to forget what true assertiveness means.

Assertiveness means being able to state one's feelings about a situation or event in a respectful way. This way, neither of the parties involved in the situation feel hurt or belittled. Assertiveness is definitely a difficult task for me, and our assignment for this week is to be assertive in at least one situation, no matter how small. Is anyone thinking "School for Scoundrels?"

On a completely different track, I am recalling the original reason I began this blog - to highlight the simple things in life, and their importance in keeping our sanity in today's bustling world. I realize that my life right now is nothing short of complex... here's a list of simple things I enjoy vs. complex stuff that's not so hot.

Simple:

1. Riding my new cruiser bike to school every day.
2. Knitting
3. Studying in small amounts every day (no cramming).
4. Reading the weekly NAU paper
5. Coffee at Late for the Train with Bryan, Rachel, and Steve

Complex:

1. Cramming for school exams
2. Group presentations (although my group's presentation this morning turned out stellar)
3. Deciding whom to stay with when visiting Prescott/Prescott Valley
4. Balancing school, work, and family
5. Laundry (if it weren't for the Flagstaff cold, clothes should definitely be optional)

Recently at NAU

Being in the PT program at NAU is like being a passenger on a bullet train. Everything is moving so fast, too fast to jump off but too fast to keep up with everything. Ok so there was my metaphor for the week. Seriously, I've never had to juggle so many things at once. I am beginning to realize that all I can do is study as hard as I can (while still being able to focus) and stay optimistic and energized in the meantime.

What's great about the program, is all the students seem to really be on the same page. Classes are definitely interactive and not boring (although my bad habit of falling asleep in class after lunch would suggest otherwise).

This past weekend, Bryan and I went to Phoenix so I could attend the state meeting of the American Physical Therapy Association, and to see Steve and Rachel. The meeting was a lot of fun, and I definitely felt that I was in the right place. My favorite seminar was on pilates as a method of strengthening, and my least favorite seminar was on vocational rehabilitation and worker's compensation (yuk). The most exciting part about the conference was being involved in the general meeting where the AzAPTA officially endorsed prop 201 (smoking ban). We had a lot of fun with Steve and Rachel too....

Thumbs up to: Bryan for being able to study at Barnes and Nobles for 8 hours on Friday during my conference and staying sane.

Thumbs down to: Rising prices of organic foods - remember, the more people support organic, the less expensive it is for everyone! (Yes, that was random, but so was the exorbitant price of groceries this week.)

Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!! I hope your day is going great!

The Buck Stops Here (Apparently)

1. One book that changed your life? Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight by Thom Hartmann

2. One book you have read more than once? Skull Mantra (can't remember the author).

3. One book you would want on a desert island? Worst Case Survival Handbook: Desert Island. Although I also like Rachel's answer - sort of a la Captain Jack Sparrow roping together a couple of sea turtles to escape being marooned on a desert island.

4. One book that made you laugh? I can't remember what books have made me laugh, but I'm sure if there was a book version of "Little Miss Sunshine," I would have fallen off my seat laughing.

5. One book that made you cry? Redemption by Leon Uris (and also my Pathophysiology text).

6. One book you wish had been written? This is a tough one. "How to survive pathophysiology."

7. One book you wish had never been written? My pathopysiology text.

8. One book you are currently reading? Since I don't have any free time to read books I'd like to read (vs assigned reading), the book I just began to re-read before school started was 1984.

9. One book you have been meaning to read? Pathophysiology (is my procrastination obvious here?)

10. Now tag five people: I think I'm so late at answering this that everyone else is all tagged out.

Raven Rant Part II

After being flown at the third time by ravens (and two of them at that) today, I started realizing something. As a species on earth (Homo sapiens) we are governed by our tend toward natural selection. That is, just like any other species, we will protect our territory, fend for our young, and do just about anything to increase the numbers of our species. This is what natural selection is all about: survival of the fittest so that the fit can reproduce for the ultimate survival of the species.

As humans, however, we have super-species capabilities. We have the ability to reason about the state of our species in concert with the state of all other species and our biosphere: Earth. Whether you believe in some interpretations of the Bible that we are "stewards of the Earth," or in natural selection and evolution, at some point, we have to consider the consequences of our wasteful actions as a species. Such actions mean both that we are bad stewards and that we are not acting in the best interests of our species.

Say we go the natural selection route. If we acted in the best interests of our species, we would understand that the small things we do today that harm the environment are not worth the ultimate consequences we will reap in the future. We would realize that sustainable living is the only solution to the survival of our species.

Something to ponder: What is “sustainability?” Living in balance and interacting with our communities and our planet in ways that will sustain all forms of life now and in the future. (from Yes! magazine's FAQ page on their website, www.yesmagazine.org)

In other related musings, how ironic is it to create 1,000 (disposable) stickers for the Kids for Conservation program at the Coconino Community Fair coming up this September? Ah, the clash of the office place and personal beliefs.

"Quoth the Raven, Nevermore"

Walking to school this morning I came up to the Forestry building through the closed down fire lane between the old business building and the city bus barn, like I do every day I come to work. Suddenly I felt a slight brush on my head and a second later I saw a large black raven fly upward and land on a nearby pine bough. The raven hunched over, bristling its feathers at me, silently inquiring about my presence.

A few weeks earlier I had a similar encounter with a much noisier relative of today's raven. The raven a few weeks earlier flew at me several times, squawking in protest of my invasion of its territory, but never touched me like today's raven.

My first thoughts about these ravens were ones of protest. Crazy birds... what's their problem? Then I realized, their problem is plainly me. So often I think we take an anthropocentric approach to living. We'll say "when's it going to rain? We really need it by now," instead of "the earth could really do with some fresh moisture right about now."

Bryan and I watched a show on the National Geographic channel a few days ago, "Mega Structures." The show chronicled the story of the Chinese struggle in building bridges to "span the rivers that divide the country." This is clearly not a chicken and the egg scenario. The rivers came first and then the Chinese. It is people who have settled themselves along the banks of life-giving rivers and then turn their backs on the continually giving Earth and state that it is "dividing the people."

Even though the School of Forestry building at NAU is one of the most remote buildings, set more within the pines than any other building on campus, it is still intruding on the earth and the life processes of many species. Until the end of the ravens' nesting season at least, I will keep my distance from the footpaths that wind through the forest to my work.

Challenge Your Thinking

I believe that on a more frequent basis, we need to challenge our current paradigms of thinking. This concept is also heralded by authors Neale Donald Walsh (Conversations With God) and Thom Hartmann (Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight, and others). Living our lives according to old and stagnant ways of thinking is one of the larger reasons for the poor state of current human affairs. For an example of fresh thinking, check out this link to one of Thom's articles on commondreams.org: http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0619-22.htm.

Office Space

So now that the majority of my mornings will be spent at my new office assistant job in the School of Forestry, I might have a little more time (than during the school year) to blog. Not to complain or anything, but this job has given me visions of long days of work stretched out before me for the rest of my life. But since the aim of this site is to see the good in the bad, I am realizing that all I need to do is find the balance between work and play. Plus, there are other advantages to an office job. For example, I am learning to appreciate and be entertained by the very small things in life. Like walking to the staff room for a cup of coffee. Or reorganizing the storage room. You know, stopping to smell the roses and all that.

Ok, sarcasm aside, these past few weeks have been rather enjoyable. It was so exciting traveling to Las Vegas with Bryan for Steve and Rachel's wedding. Despite one minor setback trying to find I-95 South to return to Flagstaff, we did awesome for our first time driving in a big city. The wedding was the most beautiful wedding I have ever seen. Everything seemed to go perfectly, and I am so excited for Steve and Rachel to finally be married.

Thumbs up to: the perfect match of Steve and Rachel.

Thumbs down to: nothing. The sun is warm and the grass is green. (Karate Kid)

Nice Hippie, Bad Hippie

So maybe those of you who read this will know the specific people I'm talking about. I mentioned in one of my earlier posts that there seem to be two classes of people who love Mama Earth and believe in sustainable living: nice hippies and bad hippies. I think that every little thing someone does to lessen their negative impact on the environment is a positive thing. Why are some people so bent on criticizing those who don't "do enough" in their eyes? These "bad hippies" seem to look down their noses at the rest of us who happen to use a credit card every once in a while, or drink at a Starbucks here and there. Granted, getting your perk at a local coffee shop may have some more positive impacts on the local economy and fair trade practices, but Starbucks is doing some pretty interesting things too (fair trade coffee, promoting compositng), for such a business giant.

Bad hippies seem to forget the hippie golden rule, the golden rule that should govern everyone: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Or in non biblical diction: treat everyone how you would like to be treated. Being nasty to someone because they may have different values is forgetting the hippie golden rule. We all have different values (and life would be pretty boring if we didn't), but we also all have something in common. Each of us is a human being at our root. By this I mean that each of us is vulnerable at times. We all value appreciation of who we are; no one likes to be degraded.

If we want to affect change for the good of the environment, the best way to do so is through caring and compassion. SUV drivers who get the bird during an NAU mass of bikes event are even less likely than before to consider checking out an awesome Prius or Civic hybrid. We all make many choices everyday that affect how much longer Mama Earth will let us stay, so let's choose to be nice hippies and maybe she'll let us stay a little longer.

Give the ax to: bad hippies (obviously).

Thumbs up to: strip-aerobics classes being offered at the NAU rec center, which promote women's love for their own bodies, no matter what shape, size, or level of coordination.

Cooling Down In Flagstaff

Yes, I know the title is redundant, but that's basically how it is in Flagstaff. Right now, as I sit in the south LAC I'm watching the weather out of the glass doors and every five minutes or so it is completely white outside, furiously snowing, followed by no snow at all for another five minutes. It seems as if to make up for a lack of moisture this winter Mother Nature decided to let all hell loose this weekend. The snow is amazing and beautiful, but sometimes frightening at times. Everyone seems to be in a great agreeance that finally having a good winter snowstorm is awesome for Flag.

Today I had my interviews for the physical therapy program at NAU. I have to say, they were MUCH less stressful than I thought they would be. Before going to the interviews, I saw my classmates that had also been accepted as potential threats to getting into PT school (as ashamed as I am to say this, entering such an altruistic profession). But in retrospect, once we went into the interviews together, we were all in the same boat. Everyone was so encouraging and positive, and I hope that I will always remember that. Medical oriented schools are so competetive already, and I don't need to add to the stress of the whole process.

Thumbs up to: long-needed moisture in Flag.

Give the ax to: The Lumberjack for still not posting any thumbs up to/give the ax to columns. (And on a more entertainment oriented note, to American Idol voters for voting off Gideon last night.)

Warming Up in Flagstaff

So one great thing about Flagstaff this winter is that it doesn't seem like Flagstaff at all. With the exception of yesterday, the days have been mild with hardly any wind at all. Enough to get me to start watering the outdoor flower beds again. Although it is always hard to place the events of one year in the broader context of global weather patterns, a part of me can't help but wonder about global warming. Is this just a singular event this year or part of a much larger trend?

Great movie must see: The Skeleton Key. Maybe I liked it because I only screamed a few times (much less than normal for a scary movie), but it also had a really cool plot. The movie's all about Hoodoo in the New Orleans Bayou district and has a great twist near the end.

There is a type of person I usually like to identify myself as, but yesterday I realized some aspects of this type of person that I would rather not be. For example, it is one thing to love Mother Earth and live your life in a way that has the least negative impact on the natural environment. It is another thing to treat other human beings negatively because they could have a potentially negative impact on the environment. All humans have sprung from the earth too. I believe that all people should be treated fairly and equally, because just as all people have the potential to harm Mother Earth, all people also have a fairly large potential of protecting her and living life in the most sustainable way possible. The only way to show people this potential is through openness and love, not by showing distain for their way of life because they don't eat enought tofu... for example, some of the most "hippie" people I see around town are also the meanest to others.

Thumbs up to: Bryan for being awesome.

Give the ax to: mean "hippies."

Random

So it is true. Senioritis. I swore it wouldn't happen to me, and I swore that I would be on top of all my work this semester. Ha ha. I've realized that the only way to stay sane is to simply not worry about it all. I just have to realize that with a little work (but not by overworking), everything that needs to get done this semester will get done without so many worries.

A few days ago in my history class (Medicine and Society), we were discussing AIDS. I've always understood that it is a huge problem faced by millions of people, a great majority of whom have never understood how the HIV virus is transmitted, and who've never had access to life-saving drugs. Commercials on TV urge us to "help join the fight against AIDS." But I've never understood quite what it is that I as an individual could do to help fight such a huge pandemic. Then at class last Thursday, a student guest came in - she's only my age, but has had a ton of experience volunteering with AIDS prevention programs in South America and Africa - she's even been to the US Capitol to help introduce legislation! This student has motivated and inspired me. I've realized there are things I can do to help. There are groups all over the country that help increase awareness about how HIV is transmitted and help introduce legislation to help those in countries hit hardest by AIDS (legislation that doesn't only give money to "faith-based" groups teaching abstinence only).

In other news, check out "Incite," a blog by Rachel's dad. It's always interesting to read and provides unique views on topics we rarely think about but are important parts of our lives, such as how each of us is a living, breathing miracle.

Since the Lumberjack is no longer posting it's "Give the Ax to..." section, I've decided to create my own:

Thumbs up: For those who are fighting to end inequalities against women in poorer countries, since in these countries women have some of the highest rates of being infected with HIV.

Give the ax to: President Bush for being "addicted to oil."

Day at Home From School

Day one post surgery: I'm feeling much better today after having arthroscopic surgery on my wrist yesterday. The worst part is over and now I just have to concentrate on feeling better and staying positive.

As for other news, way to go, Mom and Dad! I think it's awesome that you flew all the way out to Boston to suprise Evan at his swim meet. I can't even imagine how surprised Evan must have been!

My very first quilt is all finished, 6 months after its beginning. I would definitely recommend the Quilting I class at Pine Country Quilts near the Campus Coffee Bean. The class is pretty fun, but expect a big time commitment and to shell out a pretty penny for all the start up supplies. But hey, at least you're all set up for your next fabulous quilting project! When I have time to quilt again and maybe a little more room to quilt in, I'd love to try some neat vintage designs. As soon as I can, I will post up a picture of my finished quilt.

Well, I guess winter has finally arrived in Flag this year. True to Flagstaff style, the days have been cold, windy, and very icy. The best weather for which to stay inside, curled up with a hot mug of tea and a good book.

Da da da dum, da da da dum, dum da da dum dum da da da da dum. That was the tune of the wedding march, In case you didn't know. I'm so excited to be planning my wedding in addition to being a part of Steve and Rachel's wedding. Who knew there were so many options for invitation cards?

That's all for now, assayez hereuses et etre simple! (Bad French, I'm sure, but at least I tried!)