Zion - The Narrows

This weekend Jason and I went to Zion National Park. We went on a 2 day, 16 mile backpack trip through the Narrows. It was probably the most beautiful hike either of us has ever been on, and we've seen some pretty amazing places. The hike is through a slot canyon following the Virgin River. Over 50% of the hike is in the river. We rented special canyoneering shoes that have great traction and neoprene socks so that we weren't slipping all over the place and our toes didn't freeze off (although they looked like bulky ugly moon shoes but were well worth the fashion faux pas)! Along with the shoes came very handy wooden hiking poles that helped keep us on our feet (we were going to take our own hiking poles but were so glad that we didn't - we really beat the wooden ones up!) There were the most amazing red cliffs on either side of the river for as far as you could see! We hiked about 8 miles the first day, camped along the river and then hiked another 8 miles out the next day. There were a lot more obstacles than we expected the second day....lots of log jams and boulders to climb over...it was a bit of a challenge with a pack on. Luckily we lined our bags with plastic bags so that out stuff was protected from any mishaps. I was up to my waist in water many times and needless to say we had a few close calls, and near submersions! :) All in all it was one incredible weekend full of a much needed dose of serenity, wildlife and smog free air! This was one truly spectacular adventure!!!

Are you Kidding Me?

Sometimes I really feel like I am living in a foreign country here in SoCal. Things that I take for granted and see as an every day occurrence at home just don't happen here. One example is cooking....people here just don't cook. There are grown women that I've worked with at various hospitals that have families and children at home and they go out to eat or order in food every single day of the week - I guess it's just passed down or should I say not passed down. They think it's something special and wonderful when they bring in something pre-made from Costco...sure makes me appreciate the love of good food and cooking that was instilled in us growing up! Last fall Jason and I went to an apple festival in the mountains near us and they had a petting zoo...well all the ladies in thier heels, perfect hair and make-up and Gucci bags are walking around (this is normal to do at an apple orchard right?) and we saw a lady stop at the petting zoo point to a goat and say to her kids...oh look at the cute deer!!! And the perpetual cycle of ignorance continues! I once heard the receptionist of a clinic I was at calling different day spa's and asking them if they did eye lash perms!!! I didn't even know there was such a thing! Apparently it's quite common here, but who in thier right mind would want that caustic perm junk by thier eyes?

Today I was at my clinicals and one of the sonographers said "It was so cool I saw a squirrel running on the power line yesterday - I've never seen that before!" and everyone else was like "oh that's so cool!" ARE YOU KIDDING?! I really thought it was a joke that they were making such a big deal out of seeing a squirrel...but kidding they were not. It just made me think of the group at UO that wanted to make squirrel fishing a club sport...not that I condone such a thing but talk about contrast to go from never seeing one on a power line to having such an abundance of them that you can reel them in with a fishing pole! Oh how I miss the great Northwest!

Last Mock Board!!!!

I can hardly believe it - I took my 4th and final mock board exam today! What does that mean...well it means that I am officially done with tests, quizzes, papers, presentations and all the associated busy work that goes along with being a student!!! I just have to survive 8 hours of clinicals each day until September 12th and then I will be finished!!!!! 27 days to go! I have a countdown chain to keep track of the days left (as if I could forget!) I am ready to be done working for free every day!

On a second happy note - my lucky pencil has again survived the torment of class notes and test taking over the last 2 years....there is a bit of history here - When I was in high school I found a bright yellow mechanical pencil in the locker room, claimed it as lost and now mine, and proceeded to use the pencil in all of my classes my senior year. Well the pencil came with me to college at U of O and I kid you not, I took every single quiz, and test, did every lab and project with that pencil. My dear friend Stacey knew just how important it was to me (maybe a security blanket of sorts) and would share in my agony if I couldn't find it to take notes with in class. Well when we finished our B.S. at U of O I bequeathed it to Stacey to use during physical therapy school in Utah. When I started school at Loma Linda Stacey sent me a new lucky pencil - and so it began again. I used my new sleek black pencil during every study session and lecture and although our tests are all computerized I used my lucky pencil to write notes and such during every exam during ultrasound school. Yet again my favorite lucky pencil has held strong this time surviving the wrath of Loma Linda! :) (Can't take it into my boards with me, they have to give you the yucky #2 yellow kind!) Thanks Roo for the trusty lucky pencil - it's worked wonders!!!