365 days.....and counting

Today marks a wonderful accomplishment in my life. I am so very proud of myself. And so so very thankful for those of you who have helped me get to this point. That really includes all of you who may read this - most of you probably just don't know it. But I hope you know that I couldn't have got here without you. I'm also realizing that because I'm so goofy/weird sometimes, this may read as sarcasm. It's not. Today is HUGE.

Today I had clinical, which went really well. I felt kind of stupid at times because I had to keep asking everybody questions - this was technically only my second clinical on the floor, and the first one was a solid five weeks ago. Oof. But it went well, I don't usually get to embarrassed about looking dumb. My patient was young and really interactive - which was awesome. It's kind of a bummer when you get a patient that either can't talk or won't. Oh man, Morgan, one of the girls in my class, had a horrid patient today - cursed her up and down, told her to get out of her room, said that she could wipe her own, ahem, "arse." I think I would've cried. But Morgan's tough and just said all the things she wanted to say to her patient to us later. Which was pretty amusing. But anyway, my patient - it was good. And her husband was in there with her most of the time and he was cracking me up.

After clinical I came home and collapsed for awhile - I swear 6 hours of clinical feels like 15. But then I caught my second wind and decided to go out exploring to kind of celebrate the day. I knew that there were a couple of state parks around here, so I went in their direction. I was really just going to ask the cost and hours and such at the gate and then decide what to do - but there was no gate. I guess that Illinois doesn't charge an entrance fee for their state parks. How cool is that? So I drove through Kickapoo (that cool of a name makes it awesome, the added perk of being free just pushes it over the whooaaaa awesome edge) and got out for a bit. It was really good to just be outside and in the woods - I'm not made for this whole "city" living thing. There were like 50 million deer, no joke, I lost count after about 30. I took some pics, total tourist I know. But I was having a blast. After I left Kickapoo, I headed towards the other one that's only a few minutes away - Kennekuk, it's a county park. But by the time I left and got there it was five, and they had a gate up that said it closed at 4:30. So that's for next time. I headed back towards the Danville-ish direction, took a random road that I knew was the right-ish direction. Yeah, that's right, I knew which direction was right. The sun was setting...and I knew I was west from my apartment...and that the sun set in the west...so I headed the other way. Yeah buddy! Anyway, it was weird on the drive, I kept being reminded of all these places I'd been. I have what I call "picture memories", like flashes of places I've been, like a photograph, randomly. Well they were going off like crazy the whole time: the drive in CO with Jonas, driving through the Grand Canyon park with my CO (round 1) summer roadtrip friends, roadtripping to TN to see Laren and go to Kristina and Caleb's wedding with JC, times at HUT, an AR trip where we decided to take the 'scenic route', driving to West Baden with my grandma, and on and on. Made me a bit reminiscent, but really thankful for the things I've been able to do. It was still weird though, because none of them look the same, just a little similar I guess, and some of them I haven't thought about in forever, feel like I nearly forgot about some. Here's some pictures from today:

 Yeah, I took a picture while I was driving. Oops. But the sun was gorgeous and I couldn't resist.

This was the first big group of deer I saw. I really wasn't expecting it, ergo much of the excitement. (I mean really, it's not like I hadn't seen a deer before.)

Even so, I had to get out and get a picture :)

There was water all through the park - lots of ponds, and a river too. There were signs and stuff for canoe rentals and fishing stuff...I can't wait for the weather to get warm.

  The river.

I just thought this was really pretty. There was a whole section along the road that was like this - it made me think of Sugarloaf.

Again, driving, my bad. But for real, imagine this times about ten, all across the skyline: it was like freaking Hitchcock's The Birds!! 

So that was more or less my day. It was a keeper, for sure. Now the realization that I really haven't done much homework is catching up to me though...but it's not really putting a damper on my mood. I'm happy :)

Oh, and I felt the need to include these. They're lyrics to a song I really like: The Art Of Falling by Greg Holden. (I also direct you to the video. Very symbolic and neat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tWzkC563Rs)


Lost, confused, unseen and used
Dangerously fighting for nothing to lose
My progress is calling, it's noticed I'm falling
It's time for a change, It's time for a move,
And I know that it's frightening but it's also exciting
I'm taking a risk that I know is worth fighting
Its better
To make your mistakes than to live with out knowing
Its better to fall on your face then to stay on your feet
As long long long as you tried your best
Sometimes its hard to think my time here is ending
It troubles me to think about who I've offended
But I can't live my life
In the interest of those,
Holding me back when I'm stood on my toes
But too many times I've been risking my life
Making decisions whilst trying to be nice its
Better to make your mistakes than to live without knowing its
Better to fall on your face than to stay on your feet
As long long long, as long long long
As long long long ohh
It's better to mistakes than to live with out knowing
Its better to fall on your face then to stay on your feet
It's better to mistakes than to live with out knowing
Its better to fall on your face then to stay on your feet
As long long long....