A day of refreshment

I felt worn down and tired most of the week. For various reasons I didn't get to bed on time all week. By Thursday evening I was tired enough to be asleep shortly after 7:30 despite hearing the conversations of over 20 people eating together downstairs. My cohort has a Facebook page and several people commented on their low level of motivation on Friday. The only thing that helped me push through on Friday was the promise of a Saturday with nothing I HAD to do. One of my housemates was gone and the other would be at work most of the day so I could look forward to plenty of time and space to myself.

Once I got home from work about 7:30, the whole day stretched before me. I got out my guitar and played for awhile. I talked on Skype with a couple of friends. Around noon I decided it wouldn't be getting any warmer and went for a short run. My housemates often comment on how much time I spend at my desk. They leave the house, returning four hours later and are concerned to see me in the same position as when they left. While I have gone downstairs a time or two, I do feel the need to move. This week I decided that I must have time to at least go for a run three times a week. During the afternoon I watched some football, did a load of laundry, napped for an hour and talked to Mom. I did have to finish up a diagram for one of my classes but did that while watching TV. By the time evening rolled around, I felt refreshed and once again ready to face the world. As an added bonus I don't have to face my desk until Monday morning.

Birthday

After spending a week at my desk I was delighted to get out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather we had this weekend. My parents came on Saturday along with my niece, Elizabeth and my sister-in-law. While the others went shopping, Dad and I went to see Bethel's football game where one of my cousins plays. It was too close of a game for him to get in but it was a fun game to watch from our vantage point of ground level on about the 10 yard line. Bethel managed to pull out a one point win to remain undefeated. Afterwards we drove to Hudson, WI where we strolled along the St Croix River and ate at Pier 500, a restaurant with some really good food. It was declared to be a special event since we actually got dessert.

As I was planning the weekend, I did not at all expect for us to spend Sunday afternoon visiting an uncle in the hospital. Uncle Paul, one of my dad's brothers, was in a combine fire last week. Besides the burns on his back and arms, he has a broken leg from jumping out of the combine. It's quite a story about how he was able to roll away from the combine before it exploded and his trip on the hood of a car to get to where an ambulance could pick him up. He is being treated at a hospital in St Paul. For those of you who know him or want more info you can follow his journey at his caring bridge site. Recovering from burns is a long process but right now it is his leg that is hurting him the most. He was sleeping when we visited but we were glad to visit with his family members and meet his newest little granddaughter.

I ended my birthday celebrations Sunday evening by eating at an Indian restaurant with a good friend. Now it's back to my desk and my assignments for the week.

Birthday Bash

Awhile back my housemate, Jan, proposed that we have a joint birthday open house since we both have a somewhat significant birthday this year a week apart. I wasn't really sure how two students on a limited budget and with limited time could pull it off but thanks to the help of friends who brought food and helped with logistics, our back yard was full of people this afternoon. The weather was a bit chilly but it was pleasant in the sun. The menu was hors d'ouvres and cake and I was sure we wouldn't have enough food but it turned out about right. My caramel sauce was a big hit and we ran out of apples before we ran out of caramel.

Yesterday I was telling Jan that I'd be ready to find my bed when the party was over. She said that as an extrovert she'd be wondering why everyone was leaving so soon. That is pretty much how it turned out. A friend offered to take her to a movie so she continues to party. I declined the offer to join them being happy to have a bit of time to myself. The introvert part of me prefers smaller gatherings where I have time to talk with everyone more in depth. Two years ago I was still new in town and didn't know anyone to celebrate with. I invited myself over to a cousin's just to have something to do. I'm glad that I now have some friends to invite over and who gladly come. And the party will continue next weekend when my family comes to visit.

So what does an OT do anyway?

Over the past two years as I've told people that I'm going to school to become an occupational therapist, I've often been asked, "so what does an OT do anyway?" The question didn't surprise me. After all when I first thought of being involved in some type of therapy I thought of physical therapy and had to do some research to figure out what OT was. Most people haven't heard about it unless they have been on the receiving end of their help. One reason why it is hard to describe what an OT does is because they work in such a variety of situations: in schools, mental health, hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers and in the community.

It also doesn't help that most people think of an occupation as a job. In my reading it seems that even OTs can't agree on what "occupation" means. After all, a publication put out by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) includes 6 definitions. Despite all that, there are commonalities. Basically an occupation is anything we do that gives meaning and structure to our days. It follows than that an OT helps people do what they feel is important to do. It's the patient or client who sets the agenda and occupation is not only the goal of therapy but also the means. Sometimes exercises and stretching are needed but for the most part an OT session is spent actually engaged in doing something, whether that is bathing and getting dressed or making something to eat in the kitchen. Besides those basic activities of life, occupation also includes rest and sleep, education, work, play, leisure and social interaction. That pretty much covers everything we do. No wonder one of the things most OTs love about their job is the constant variety.

First week of class

This morning at church a friend asked me what classes I was taking. My eyes immediately glazed over as I said, "I don't know. I have six classes and they all have something to do with occupational therapy," as my stack of books can attest. Evidently we will be using those thick ones for several semesters.

It's been an intense week. I got started on the online portion of my classes on Tuesday. Wednesday and Thursday I was in class and orientation all day. Friday I studied until almost 11 pm and was up at 5:30 to work security at the Gopher football game. By the time I got home at 3:30 I was beyond tired but I still managed to work on one of my classes until I had to write something of substance. At that point I quit and headed for bed.

The students who are a year ahead of us informed us that this was a writing intensive semester. I don't even want to count how many essays or papers I've written this week but I did finish them all before the Sunday midnight deadline. I don't usually do homework on Sunday but I had no choice this time around. I was elated to find that the last list of things to do isn't actually due until Wednesday. In that case, it can wait for tomorrow. I hope to get all of next week's work done by Friday evening now that I have a better idea for how it all works. As the semester goes on I'll fill you in on my classes as I get a better handle on them myself. But since there is no word count on this blog post and nobody is going to comment on my critical thinking I can end here and head for bed.

Vacation week

I had to decide before the beginning of March when I would take my paid vacation from UPS. I looked at the school calendar and decided that the week before classes start would be as good as any. So this past week my vacation destination was NW Iowa where my family lives. Besides not having to get up at a little after 4 each morning, my week of rest included reading two books just for fun, doing the daily crossword puzzle, taking a nap the first several days and catching up with family and friends. As always I enjoyed riding my bike on the quiet country roads. I find it refreshing to spend a few hours among the corn and bean fields under blue sky with the only sound being that of the birds and the wind and the tires on the pavement. I don't even mind the country smells as I pedal past a hog or cattle farm. I do find it interesting that it really doesn't matter which route one takes, there is always at least one farm place that looks like it is trying really hard to be the local junk yard.

The main outing for the week was to a piano concert at Glenn's house in Spirit Lake. Mom had heard about Glenn, a farmer from the area who gives an intimate concert each Tues and Wed evening on a donation basis. Each guest is served a glass of wine or lemonade as they come in and during intermission friends serve some type of dessert or small sandwich. He began the evening with some classical works and apologized for having to use the music since life had been a bit busy so he hadn't been able to get it all memorized. He ended the first segment with several ragtime songs. After intermission he played a few of the popular songs from 1922, 1942 and 1962. Then he sat down with a list of requests and played them most of them from memory or by ear. There were two he declined to play because they needed a whole band to do them justice. If you live in the area and like piano music it is worth checking out. http://www.pianoglenn.com

This week my classes begin. After spending two years working on prerequisites, I am looking forward to starting the actual Occupational Therapy program. I have a stack of books and syllabi and it's looking like I have my work cut out for me. Wednesday and Thursday I will meet my cohort and professors. More on that next week. 

Last minute details

After two years of working on prerequisites I will officially begin the occupational therapy program on the Tuesday after Labor Day. I'm looking forward to getting started. This week my major goal was to finish all the-beginning-of-the-semester-at-a-new-school details. I managed to figure out what books I will need and used a great website http://www5.bigwords.com/ to find the best deals and ordered those. By Friday most of them had been delivered.

I also made two trips to the U of Minn campus. It is only about 20 minutes away by bike from where I live which is convenient. I managed to find my way around the corner of campus where I will be spending most of my time despite the major street through campus being completely torn up due to light rail construction. I was thankful that most new students have not yet arrived so I didn't have to endure any long lines (though I had taken a book along just in case.) I delivered my final prerequisite transcript and my immunizations record, obtained my student ID card, bought the one textbook that was actually cheaper at the campus bookstore than online and went through steps 1 and 2 of a TB test. Along the way I was given a Minnesota Gopher sweatshirt. I accepted it but I'm not sure I can bring myself to actually wear it. I wouldn't have an issue with any other school in the state but as an Iowa Hawkeye, I just can't imagine wearing Gopher colors.

I'm spending the last week of summer with my family in Iowa. Besides not having to get up at 4:15 for a week, I'm looking forward to riding my bike on the quiet country roads in the area.