catch up post

Hey there!  Did you miss me yet?

You really shouldn't be surprised that it has been a few weeks since my last post.  By now, you should all know that my blog usually doesn't get updated very often when the quarter ends...or when I go on break...or when the quarter starts.  And then I usually realize how long it has been and decide to write a post.  But then I discover that I have the strangest mishmosh of things to write about that I never end up writing about anything because I am too overwhelmed.

This is my attempt to not do that this time.

So break was good.  The first morning I was home, my mom came into my room and opened the windows to wake me up.  The first thought that came through the haze of sleep was, "Is she crazy?!?  It's 100 degrees outside and the AC is on!".  Then I realized that it really was a pleasant 72 degrees and there was a thunderstorm rolling through.  The sound of the rain falling outside and the gentle breeze blowing through the window was just heaven.  You just don't get that in Arizona.  I really missed it.  Later that day. the weather cleared up in time for my cousin's wedding, which was beautiful.  Isn't my family so cute?

Then we took a little mini getaway to Door County, WI.  It was relaxing and beautiful and everything I needed after a blistering summer in AZ.  We stayed at the cabin that belongs to one of the customers of our family business.  My sister and I slept in the "bunk room", which did indeed have bunk beds.  She got the bottom bunk and I was on the top bunk.  It reminded me of camp as a kid (especially since the camp I went to was about 10 minutes down the street).  We spent the time touring around the little towns and admiring the views.  It was so freaking scenic.  (Seriously, go check out all the pictures I posted on facebook.)

One of the more interesting things we did was driving through the Peninsula State Park and climbing the tower they have there.

The last time I tried to climb the tower (many years ago, back in high school probably), I never reached the top.  The thing is approaching 100 years old, doesn't appear very sturdy, and sways like the dickens every time the slightest breeze blows.  I made it about 20 feet off the ground and decided it wasn't for me.  I don't mind heights so much, but I need to feel like my world is sturdy and safe.  That didn't happen on Eagle Tower.  I don't know why, but I decided to give it another go this year, hoping that my 26-year old self was braver than my high school self.  I made it to the first landing and decided I didn't need to go much further.  But then my mother decided she didn't feel like being a chicken and headed for the second landing.  I was not about the be the first to chicken out, so I followed her.

After pausing for a minute to build up some gumption, I decided that I was so close to the top of the tower that I couldn't possibly back out.  So I climbed to the top and the view was amazing (totally worth it).  Here is some proof I made it to the top.

After returning to IL, the rest of the week passed by without much excitement.  I went to the movies with my Aunt Colleen to go see "The Help".  A girl's night out was really enjoyable and the movie did not disappoint.  In many instances, I will read a book and then go see the movie, which can leave me somewhat disappointed.  The movie is never as good as the book.  In this case though, the movie was pretty good.  There were things I liked about the book much better, but the movie was incredibly well cast and portrayed some very powerful moments that I kind skimmed through in the book.  Go see it if you have the chance.  I also got to visit with my extended family, which is always nice.  We had a pizza night and I spent a fair amount of time jumping on a trampoline with my cousins and documenting the ensuing hilarity.

And as always, I got to do a little motorcycle riding with my dad.  Can't spend some time in IL without doing that.

The break has provided me with the opportunity to get lots of reading in.  I've finished the following books and would probably recommend most of them to anyone looking for a new book to devour.
The Help by Kathryn Sockett
The Calligrapher's Daughter by Eugenia Kim
Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Stay tuned for further updates.  I went to Boston for Labor Day.  And of course I have some clinic stories I should probably share.  Future posts are hopefully coming down the pipeline!