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02.13.02 | 12.12.01
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| 11.12.01 |10.22.01 March 5, 2002 - The test is over! I took it on Saturday and boy do I feel relieved! Let me tell you, February wasn't a very fun month...too much stress for Nina. Well, now it's all out of my hands and I'll just have to wait for the results in early April. Cross your fingers!! On the work front, things are getting better. Kids are being seen, reports are being written, and I have 4 IEPs to attend this month so far! I'm thinking of creating a version 2.0 to this site but I'm not sure if it's more trouble than it's worth. Jes just got his Linux server up and running so we'll be building PITA 6.0 off of it soon. I just wish I had more time to play on my computer. As much as I would like to, I just can't leave work at work. February 13, 2002 - It's been a long time since I last wrote an entry. A lot has happened and a lot is still happening. I've started my very first full-time position as an occupational therapist and it's been so much fun! I'm also excited about getting a real paycheck twice per month! On top of the new job, I've been planning our wedding and it has been a whirlwind...so many things to think of. In addition, I'm supposed to be studying for the big OT exam!! It's kinda scary to think that all the money and time spent will all come down to this one exam. I can't wait to finally have my "R". December 12, 2001 - Well, this is it. My last day as a student is this Friday. What am I feeling? I'm excited about having a job that pays! I'm anxious about taking the boards. I'm sad to still be apart from Jes indefinitely. I'm thankful for getting my new job so easily. I'm happy to have found a job that I will enjoy. This is a another big milestone that I'm trying to grasp and savor while I can. Times like these don't come very often and it's a good time to reflect on what you've accomplished and where you are headed next. Gosh, to think that I'll have health insurance and my first 401(k)! I feel so grown up even though I'll still be living with the parents. *sigh* I've got a wedding to plan! It hasn't been easy so far and I've barely gotten started! The girls took me dress shopping on Saturday and it was so much fun! There dresses are so pretty but very expensive. Although, I did find a couple that were reasonably priced. The consultant was a real b*tch but it just made the day even more memorable. So far, the best part about planning a wedding is that it's a good excuse to hang out with all your girlfriends and be kinda "girly" for once. That's fun. It's officially snowing season and I'm soooo ready to hit the slopes! We're going on a 5-day trip to Tahoe this season and it's going to be lots of fun!! Can't wait can't wait!!! Christmas is also very soon. There's going to be another party/gift exchange and it's at Dayantha's this year. That should be nice. I love Christmas... November 25, 2001 - It's Thanksgiving weekend and everyone's home for the holiday. That's the best part, besides the food. Holly, Dayantha, Victor, Jes, Jimmy, and Yoon came home and I got to see them all. Tonight will be another reunion with my friends from UCLA. It'll be fun to have the whole gang together again...Hans, Jesse, Mich, Mary, Linda, and of course Sandy - the birthday girl. On Thursday morning, I woke up to the sounds of KOST playing Christmas songs while my mom was ironing and it was really cold in my room. For a second there, I actually thought it was Christmas already. The DJ was even wishing everyone a "Merry Christmas". Anyway, Thanksgiving dinner was at Jes' house with his family. We had lots of turkey, ham, and everything else you'd expect. This year, my parents went to my auntie's house and my brother baked a pot pie for himself at home. Thanksgiving is always a strange holiday for my family. Last year, we had a ghetto Thanksgiving with KFC and all the trimmings. That was fun. Another time when I was about 10, we went to Yosemite and were waiting to eat dinner at this nice restaurant but decided not to because the wait was too long. So, we ended up spending Thanskgiving dinner in our hotel room eating leftover pizza from lunch that was warmed over the heater. That was fun too. My family can be so non-traditional and ghetto sometimes but it makes it even more memorable and special for us. To this day, my mom and dad still have fond memories of that trip to Yosemite and get a nostalgic chuckle everytime we talk about it. November 12, 2001 - It's raining today!! It's also snowing in Tahoe finally! This is a sign that winter is almost here, which also means that I'm almost done with my internship! I can't wait to be making some real money! Speaking of...I started applying for jobs. On Friday, I had my first interview. It was actually with CHLA, where I'm working now as an intern. If I get this job I'll have such a great opportunity to train, learn, and grow as a therapist! There are so many brains to pick and so many resources to refer to. I spent my day off calling, writing letters, reviewing my resume, and faxing everything to each potential employer. What a hectic day...kinda stressful too. The other thing that I have to consider is where I'm going to be and where Jes will be. I was looking forward to being with him again after 6 months at home but this plan may have to be postponed once more. You'd think that we were used to being apart but it seems to get harder and harder. Anyway, wedding plans are sort of coming along. The wedding date has been set for October 12, 2002. The ceremony will take place at Jes' dad's church in Cerritos and the reception should be in a Chinese restaurant that can accommodate a lot of people. I've been looking at dresses online and in magazines but haven't tried any on yet. Nothing else has been set yet. I have a lot of work to do! It's hard planning a wedding when you have no money.
October 22, 2001 - I just finished week 4 at CHLA and things are going well. I think I'm on track with everything I need to accomplish so far. My clinical instructor will be out all this coming week so that will be interesting. I've got 3 kids that i'm following independently now and i'm going to be picking up another one this week. He's in the ICU though so I'll have some supervision just to be safe. Wedding plans are coming along slowly. Last weekend, Jes and i decided on a tentative October date for next year but haven't really announce anything since we don't know how the date will work out with the church and other vendors. I still can't get over how much this will cost us. I'm just itching to get a job that pays so i can start saving money for it. It's almost ski/boarding season!! I'm so excited and can't wait for it to start snowing in Tahoe!! We've got a trip planned for the end of the year already. It should be lots of fun, especially if it dumps and dumps! We're going to stay in a cabin from Dec. 28 - Jan. 2nd. I've been waiting for it to snow again ever since it stopped...pray for powder!!
October 1, 2001 - I just had a really nice bday weekend. On Thursday I got to hang out with Patty and Patti. Patty and I met up after work and took a nice walk up to a park. Then we met up with Patti at Asakuma in West LA. We sat and talked while dining on blackened cod and sashimi until they kicked us out. It was really nice to catch up. It's been a long time since my brother and I got a chance to celebrate together. For the past couple of years, my mom has been sending me flowers and a balloon on my birthday. That was pretty much the extent of it. This year we actually got to see each other and have dinner. This year, I got a delivery of flowers from Holly though! I was very surprised and it was very sweet of her to remember and go through all that trouble. Actually, I got a bunch of phone calls on Friday as well as the day after. It's so nice to be loved. On Friday night, Jes flew down to hang out with me. On Saturday we went to the San Diego Zoo to visit the animals. I got to see the pandas, polar bears, and elephants. :) That evening we had dinner at "Top O' the Cove" in La Jolla. We had a nice outdoor table overlooking the ocean at sunset. Too bad there was too much fog to actually see the sunset. It was fun anyways. However, there was a very snooty party of 4 that was sitting next to us...made me roll my eyes several times that evening. This week will be my second week at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. The commute is horrible!! Luckily I've been assigned to the acute wards with an OT who works 4 10-hour days. That means I have Mondays off!! Yippee! My clinical instructor works primarily with infants both in the NICU and on the regular floors. It's a really high paced environment where there aren't any schedules and you pretty much have to play it by ear every day. The babies are so small and fragile. A lot of people wonder "what in do OTs do with babies so young?" Actually there are a lot of things that we can assess and treat. First of all, we are the ones who determine when a baby is ready to be fed by mouth. We look at oral-motor skills and whether the baby can manage formula in their mouths without choking. We also check if they have all their reflexes and whether or not they are developing appropriately. Pediatrics is pretty interesting. There's so much I don't know but it's so fun to learn!
September 12, 2001 - The World Trade Center Twin Towers in New York were attacked yesterday morning. Very scary. Every time I see the coverage on the news it makes me want to cry. The images are so surreal. I don't know what I'd do if I was one of the passengers or one of the people stuck on the 100th floor. Do you stay in and burn to death or jump and risk being paralyzed from the neck up for the rest of your life? What do you say to a loved one who has just called you from a cell phone in a hijacked plane? So many questions...no real answers. Times like these really make you appreciate the life you have and the people around you. Make the most of everyday. Family and friends should never be taken for granted. On a lighter note...I'm finishing my last week at Rancho Los Amigos. I really can't believe how quickly 12 weeks have gone by. I'm also very amazed at the amount of knowledge and experience I've gained. I feel like I've really grown as a person and as a therapist. My fellow interns have also been great. I don't think I would have survived without them...especially Alicia, my collaborative partner. My clinical instructor and interdisciplinary team have been fun to work with. I will never forget the patients and the people I've met. I've got lots of inspiring stories to tell to students too. OT is so much more than knowing how to take range of motion measurements and grading activities. It's all about making sure that you find out what's meaningful to people and bringing it back to them somehow. I've got a cool job...
August 24, 2001 - I got engaged! It happened in front of my school the afternoon of my graduation in Oakland. Jes had planned the event and purchased the ring a week in advance while telling everyone and their mother what he was planning to do on Saturday, August 18, 2001. Graduation was really nice. It was good to see old friends and to finally feel officially done with school. I got hooded on stage in front of my family, friends, and classmates. Photos were taken and leis were given out to each other. Once the family was finished taking photos at the theatre, Jes suggested that we go back to my school to take more photos. I thought, "huh? why would HE, of all people, suggest to take MORE photos?" Maybe he was just in a really good mood that day. So I went with the plan. Three cars caravanned back to my school and we took our pictures. Dahlia's family and friends were also there. Once I thought we were done, Yoon pulled me and Jes together and suggested that we take a picture together. Well, little did I know that I was being set-up! Jes grabbed my hand and said, "I have something for you". My first thought was "uh oh...what's going on?" Then he reached into his suit pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. Then I thought, "oh my gosh, this is the day!" I was in such shock! I couldn't stop laughing. I was shaking. I kept saying, "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh!" Jes got down on one knee and quietly asked, "Will you marry me?" It was so neat because he said it so that only I could hear it. Everyone was asking, "Did he ask her yet??! What's going on?" Despite that my whole family was there, a bunch of my friends were there, and I was in my cap and gown, for a brief moment...we were alone. It was perfect. Well, of course I said "yes". Actually, it was more like, "YES YES YES!" after everyone asked, "what did she say?" I was so happy. Jes was on cloud 9. My family was really happy. The ring is so sparkly! Now I have lots of witnesses to recount the moment to me, lots of pictures for me to remember what happened, and actually, Keni (Dahlia's boyfriend) got it on video too! I'll have to see that before anyone else does...I must have looked like such a dork! So we're engaged now. It just sunk in on Wednesday and I'm actually excited to begin the planning...well, sorta. I'm still really clueless. The big question nowadays is "when is the big day?" Hm...Spring 2003? Other than that, I don't really have anything really thought out yet. We'll have to keep you posted. For photos of the
proposal, go to: proposal.
August 10, 2001 - I love Fridays. I didn't quite understand the concept of "living for weekends" until now. Working 40 hours per week for no money sucks. I'm just itching to finish my internship. But don't get me wrong, I'm working in one of the best places to learn...I'm just feeling really poor and overworked. Slowly I am compiling in my head a pre-morbid list of things that I would like done if I was ever hurt and admitted to a hospital... 1. Someone needs to bring in my own clothes and toiletries - those hospital gowns are no good and hospital soap and toothpaste sucks. 2. I would like someone to visit me at least once per day to make sure that nurses are addressing my needs. 3. Someone needs to bring in something for me to take my mind off any pain, loneliness, or boredom that I may have to endure in the hospital room. 4. Please please communicate with the therapists and doctors. Next week I'm actually going to get a day off! Since I have to work on a Saturday in September I decided to take the day before my graduation off. I can't wait for next weekend when I can go back up to the Bay Area to see some old friends. It'll also be nice to get away from Southern California for a while. Perhaps talking to old classmates and being away will renew my motivation to work.
August 3, 2001 - Last weekend was Patti's bridal shower and bachelorette party. I drove up to SF with Patty Shih on Friday and it was so much fun! All the festivities were on Saturday. It was so nice to see all the girls together again and to get caught up with everyone. Holly, Jane, and Timmie (the bridesmaids) did such a great job too! Patti was such a good sport...*sniff* made me proud. I still can't believe that one of us is actually getting married!
July
19, 2001 - Week 4 at Rancho is going great. I'm on top of my
paperwork, patients are getting better, and I'm getting off work
at a decent time. Today one of the patients I have been seeing this
week hasn't been able to talk because of her stroke. on top of that,
she only understands Chinese and Spanish. Now this is when being
a former-disney character came in handy!! Anyway, today Iwalked
into her room to start our therapy session and she started speaking
to me in Chinese!!! I was so happy I thought I was going to cry!!
I was so excited that i got an interpreter right away so i could
find out more about what she liked to do at home so that we can
start doing more of those activities during therapy. |
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