If you have the time and are interested, two well-written articles...

http://www.newsweek.com/id/160080

http://www.newsweek.com/id/158893?tid=relatedcl

Everything in my life that's been interesting in the past year has to do with roller derby.  Practices, partying with the girls, fundraisers, crazy bouts, even snagging an awesome referee for a boyfriend (or vice versa)...School, on the other hand, has frequently failed to become a priority in that time.  Lately I've had to cut back on skating in order to complete my academic requirements, and that has made me really depressed.  Intense workouts and strategic drills and fun scrimmages continue, but I'm stuck in front of my laptop with books and papers spread in a chaos around me.  Well now I just want to say a few words about my graduate school career as its conclusion draws near.  I delivered my thesis on Monday, I present it next Friday, then one more week of my internship, and I cruise down the aisle to pick up my diploma.  I imagine somewhere along the line, relief will come and I won't feel so stressed.

My studies have driven me crazy on many occasion.  I can't hardly type this blog without automatically checking for correct punctuation and editing passive voice sentences.  On a few random days I actually broke down in tears and could not be consoled, thinking myself a failure because I couldn't perfect transitions between paragraphs, or wrap my head around intervention principles, procedures, and outcome measures.  Feedback from my professor always made me want to quit and only encouragement from the people I care about the most kept me going.  The homework sucks for sure.  As for therapy itself, I enjoy that a lot more.  I get burnt out treating kids sometimes; I love them but they're exhausting, and sessions remain homogenous for the most part.  I like working with adults who have had strokes or brain injuries or other acquired communication disorders because helping them improves their quality of life, and sessions can always change.  I appreciate the flexibility and creativity that treating adults allows.  And the elderly population in general is thrilled to have someone take an active interest in their well-being, at least 99% of the time.  During my internship this winter I felt particularly proud and fulfilled treating patients in this demographic because everything I said and did had a positive impact and made a difference in thier lives.  I also cried when I thought that wasn't the case, when I thought I couldn't help, or when I had clients pass away.

I'm excited to begin a new job at two skilled nursing facilities, beginning only two days after I graduate.  They are ideal environments for my Clinical Fellowship Year--and the benefits/compensation will support my extracurricular endeavors!  I can't wait to fully devote myself to derby once more.  In the meantime, I extend an invitation to everyone to attend the commencement ceremony taking place 5 pm on Friday, June 13th at McArthur Court.  And of course, you can count on some kind of crazy celebration to follow  :)

1. Do you wear a name tag at work?
Yep, I have one for the elementary school and a different one for the nursing home.

2. What kind of car do you drive?
96 Ford Escort (ah, but the worst part is, it's pink!)

3. Are you in a relationship?
Yep

4. Have you ever been to a garage sale?
Yep

5. What are your favorite pair of shoes?
In the summer it's my brown flip flops, now it's my maroon mary janes.

6. Are any of your Great-Grandparents still alive?
I don't think so.  I'm not sure I've even met them.

7. Do you suck the helium out of balloons?
I have before.

8. What size is your bed?
Some people call it a "crib" but it's a twin.  Shut up.

9. Have you ever had pneumonia?
Don't think so.

10. Do you always use your blinkers?
Always except when I forget.

11. Do you have a ceiling fan in your room?
Nope

12. Have you ever been to Nebraska?
Nope

13. Have you ever been to a full service gas station?
I think so.

14. what color is your ipod?
I haven't got an ipod, I'm not cool like that.  Shut up.

15. What kind of dog do you have?
Don't have one, wish I did.  I'd get a big boy, like a husky or akita.

16. What is your ring tone?
It's one I picked out of the generic list available from verizon.

17. What is your favorite key chain on your keys?
My sister gave me two really cute ones, but my favorite is the one with tiny dried oranges from Jejudo.  It glows in the dark too.  Oooh.

18. What did you get for graduation?
A day at a spa, a beautiful bracelet, a scrapbook, some other stuff...

19. What's the best thing that happened to you today?
I finished all my final paperwork for a site placement.

20. Who introduced you to Dane Cook?
I've never met him.

21. Has someone ever made you a Build a Bear?
A what?

23. What CD is in your CD player?
A mix is in my laptop.

24. What's something fun you did yesterday?
Played cards.

25. Do you have any tan lines?
I never have tan lines, but I can get some nasty burn lines in the summer.

26. Has your house ever been TP'd?
Nope

27. What do you think of when you hear the word "meow"?
Cats

28. What are you listening to right now?
Neela is watching Wallace & Gromit.

29. What is your favorite kind of juice?
Cranberry.

30. What is your favorite aisle at Wal-Mart?
I don't really have one

31. When is your moms birthday month?
July

32. When is your birthday month?
October

33. What's the area code for your phone?
541

34. What do you want for your birthday?
My birthday just happened; next year I want a new car.

35. What is your favorite kind of gum?
Sugarfree.

36. Where did you buy the shirt you are wearing right now?.
Um, I think Kohl's?

37. Anything hanging from your rear view mirror?
A lei from Netherlands.

38. Do you like pickles?
Mmmhmm.

39. How many states have you been to in the US?
Like maybe 7 or 8?

40. Canada?
I've been to one province.

41. What kind of milk do you drink?
Soy (Vanilla is my fav but I'll drink plain or chocolate too).

42. What are you going to do after this?
Tuck Neela in.

43. Who was the last person you went shopping with?
My mom helped me get groceries for Thanksgiving, thank goodness!

44. What is your favorite fruit?
Bananas

45. What about your favorite dessert?
Fresh baked cookies.

46. What is something you need to go shopping for?
New jeans.

47. Do you have the same name as one of your relatives?
Nope

48. How about olives?
How about them?

49. Do you like anyone right now?
Yes, lots of people, very much!

50. Do they know how you feel?
Most do, yes.

51. Last person to sleep in your bed?
Me

52. What did you do today?
Performed an oral motor examination, watched some old people eat (technically "meal monitoring" but whatever), talked to my dad, sent some emails, finished the last of some important client paperwork (hurrah!), gave Neela a bath, blah blah blah...

53. Job?
I'm a nanny, a literacy teacher, and a graduate student clinician in Speech Pathology

54. Play any sports?
Roller Derby!

55. Love or money?
Both please!

56. Last tv show you watched?
The Office is on now, it's pretty funny.

57. Have you ever been cheated on?
Probably.

58. Would you date your last ex again?
NO.

59. If you could have one wish what would it be?
Enough money to pay off all my loans, then buy myself a trip around the world.

60. Did you do anything fun last weekend?
I hosted good friends for Thanksgiving dinner, and hung out with Chris and Des and Toaster, and sewed with my mom, and played cards...that was all fun stuff!

The weather outside matches my mood.  In an effort to avoid homework and wallow for awhile, here are some old poems I found and typed up.  Because misery does so love company...

Untitled
She's on the floor and crying hard,
she thinks of all she has to lose.
Her three children are certainly worth
the price of some cuts and a bruise.
At times she thinks he truly loves her
when he kisses her and says good night,
but she remembers how he's said it before
to someone else, and held her tight.
"Just keep on ignoring, that's what I'll do.
God understands, knows what I've been through."
Then she won't defend him,
won't care where God sends him,
her triumph is finally due.

Awakening
Thank you so much for the enlightenment
you fucking asshole
you dick
You've opened my eyes with your sincerity and truth
you piece of shit
you bastard
I am a better person for the knowledge you've imparted
may the heavens bless you
you poor excuse for a man
because I am now wise

A Riddle
It comes slowly, never at once
falling...falling...falling...
Sometimes we leave it alone and watch it melt out of our lives after is has
fallen...fallen...fallen...
Soemtimes we trample over it, crushing its existence the minute it's seen so we don't have to
fall...fall...fall...
Sometimes we pack it up.
It's securely condensed to save for later,
to treasure for always,
when we realize we already
fell...fell...fell...

Check out more pictures/news on ECRG!!!  Soon to come, info on how you can get a copy of the bout on DVD...

http://www.klcc.org/Feature.asp?FeatureID=205

http://s222.photobucket.com/albums/dd12/Daking138/1st%20bout/

By the way, in case anyone is wondering, I'm doing fine.  I don't really feel the need to talk about school or work or anything, derby has just kind of taken over.  If you have specific questions, please feel free to ask.  Otherwise, I'll just assume that skating--the most exciting aspect of my life--is all anyone really wants to hear about  :)