Summer Time

So, I've continued to be absent. Sorry about that.  Life has been eventful and busy.  Post graduation I finished my internship, went to the Virgin Islands and returned home to finish preparing for and taking my physical therapy boards. It was a long haul. Unfortunately for me, DC makes it extremely complicated to apply for a get a license. I spent weeks fighting with the DC Department of Health to get them to process and clear all my paperwork in order to take my licensing exam by the end of June. If I didn't get to take it in June, I wouldn't be able to take it until Sept. due to a change in the testing process. It was a nightmare. But, all was cleared, I took the exam (which was an awful experience), I passed, I had a week off and I started working.  Taking the exam was one of the most stressful things in the whole world, but passing was probably the best feeling ever. Ok...at least to this point in life. I had my whole career riding on the 5 hour exam and the first half of it was so hard I thought I was going to cry right there in the testing center.  The second half was more reasonable and I only had to wait a few days to find out that I passed.  Relief. I was literally jumping around my room.

The more exciting part of my very brief and very last summer break included a trip to Myrtle Beach, concerts and shows in DC, baseball game, Fourth of July festivities etc. It has been an excellent few months.  It is so incredibly nice to be finished with school and not to have projects, papers and readings hanging around just waiting for me to do.  I've love having free time and feeling like I can go out to do fun things in the evenings and on the weekends.

I started working two weeks ago.  For those of you who don't know, I'm working at the same children's hospital where I completed my last internship.  It's definitely been a challenge to get going.  We are painfully understaffed and we had a handful of new admissions to the unit I am working on this week, so I've worked some very long days and been on the rather stressed out side, but as I get more acquainted with the patients and get used to not being supervised and being able to make decisions, things are going more smoothly. I honestly can't believe that I am a physical therapist.  I'm done with school, I'm Dr. Schoonmaker, I'm legit. People actually look to me for answers and for help.  So weird. I still feel like a kid some days and most days I feel quite under qualified. I suppose like the rest of life, I will eventually grow into it.

 Mom and I on the beach

 

There were people in the markets who braided hair, so I had mine done.

 

And this is what it looked like!  I loved it cause it was so easy to do my hair for the next week. 

 Loving lounging on the beach

 There were all kinds of random animals just walking around all over the island. It always made me laugh. This beach had ducks just wandering around.

 I really loved the architecture and feel of the "city" on St. Thomas. I thought it was quaint and lovely. It was really interesting to see the neighborhoods and people's lifestyles.  Very different than the mainland U.S.  Much slower paced and simpler.

 There were iguanas everywhere! I decided that they are the squirrels of St. Thomas. This one is actually quite big though it's hard to tell from the picture. It's body was at least two feet long.

 This is Ft. Christian, named for the king of Denmark way back when.  We went to go inside and see it, but alas, it is under construction. 

 More random animals on a different beach.  Today it was chickens and iguanas. You can see both in the picture. Baby chickens none the less.  I'm surprised they don't get devoured by the lizards. 

 Stray cats all over the place, especially at our resort.  I think there are whole programs to try and control their cat problem. 

 This lovely iguana lived outside of our room at the resort. He just hung out on this tree branch, sometimes for a whole day or more.

 

 The water in the Virgin Islands is definitely the best part. It is perfectly crystal clear and so warm.  It was delightful to go swimming and snorkeling. You could see the bottom of the ocean as far out as you could see and the blue colors were nothing short of stunning.  The water is also very calm compared to many beaches which means you don't get to play in the waves, but it's better for actual swimming and such. 

Last day at the beach. Loving the water. 

 Myrtle beach, day 1. Unfortunately I got burned like a lobster on this day. It made for a bit of a rough trip cause it hurt like crazy to move. 

 We went to watch the sunrise one morning, but it was unfortunately stormy so we didn't really see the sun.  Matt took a nap and we enjoyed watching the waves and listening to the ocean. 

 He refused to look at the camera so I took a picture of his back instead.

 It was surprisingly cold in SC. Not really cold, but cool. I didn't bring anything warm because it was so hot last year while I was there, but I guess the beginning of the summer isn't so hot as the end.

 The Lagoon adventure. Putt putt golf. You gotta love it. MB is the putt putt capitol of the nation.  If you don't believe me go there and drive around for...10 minutes or so on Hwy 17 (the main road) and you will no longer doubt me.  It's true.

 The Jungle Adventure; isn't the tiger terrifying?

 Ah Myrtle Beach, how I love thee.

 Renae (my friend who we stayed with), Matt and Me

 Renae and me

 The three of us again

Matt and I headed home. 

 Rascal Flatts came to the Nisson Pavilion and much to my delight, I got to go.  This is my wicked cool fake tattoo.

 Rich and Me at the concert

 I went to my first Nats game. I've gotten stuck on the metro many times with Nats fans on their way home from the game, but I finally got to go.  Much to my surprise, and delight, they were playing the Rockies. Don't worry, I cheered for the Rockies.  I know where my loyalties lie. And they won (just barely, I was totally holding my breath the last inning).

Rich and me at the game. This is the part of the game where I acted like I like him.  He was cheering for the Nats and we had a hard time getting a long for a minute there.  I straightened him out though! :)