Great day to be a PA

Greetings!  Last week we had "PA Day".  PA Day is actually the day the first PA class in history graduated (first class was from Duke).  We took the day to go out in the community and help out.  The vice mayor of Roanoke came and spoke to us and we ate breakfast with him actually haha.  Then we went to Huff Lane and Rocky Mountain Elementary schools to teach kids about being heart healthy.  We read "Magic School Bus Has a Heart", played some games, and let them listen to their hearts with our stethoscopes.  I had such a good time!  It was strange to be looked at as a role model, I feel like I was sitting in those chairs just yesterday!

Later that night, our program coordinator sponsored an event he called "Liquid Rounds" (get it?) At Fork in the Alley Pub for PA students and all the local PA's practicing in the area for drink specials all night.  It was nice because it's about the only night we've all been able to get out and relax.  Also, it was nice to talk with practicing PAs about the ups and downs of the job (mostly ups!)  We had such a great time!  

Meanwhile, it's getting really cold over here in Virginia!  I'm about 1 day away from turning the heat on.  The leaves are starting to change, something I missed in Charleston.  Also, the dogs are starting to act hyper and crazy which only means one thing, it's cold outside.  Things are going well on the homefront and school is pushing along.  Biggest challenge i've had to face so far in my life, we've already lost a couple of people in the class due to the struggles and rigorous schedule of the program.  I'm hanging in there though!  Time to crack the whip though because I'm coming over the second half of the semester hill.  We all know that I work best under pressure though.  Garrett, I received your email about you starting a blog and i'm so excited to see it when it's done!  I miss you all, talk soon.  I hope everyone remembered to call dad on his birthday, we have dinner plans tomorrow night!!

A Breath of fresh air.....

This weekend, me, Mandy, and the "kids" decided to go on a little hike to Dragon's Tooth.  It was such a beautiful day and I just couldn't spend it inside the whole time.  The leaves are just beginning to turn which is a nice change from the Charleston climate.  I don't think I ever saw an orange or red leaf there!  

We took the pups and they had a blast.  They were just fine off leash and definitely put us to shame with their athletic abilities.  I was a little worried about how they would do in the rockier parts, but turns out I was more worried about us than them!  They certainly put us to shame to say the least.   We haven't gotten a really good rain so all the streams were dried out. 

Anyway, I completely forgot how out of shape I am and was pretty much done after the second mile, but we made it to the top after many breaks!  We hung out up there and took a few pictures with the dogs (when they'd sit still long enough).  I was able to get a few good ones of me and Bryer.  ALEX, Bryer is so much like Murphy it's crazy.  He blends RIGHT into that scenery and almost every picture is like a "Where's Waldo" search hahahahahaha.  

Well, I hope that everyone is reading and enjoying this and considering making one themselves (I want to hear about you as well you know!).  I have three tests this week so I should stay pretty busy.  I feel good about them though so finger's crossed for some A's :)  Until next time.....

Happy Birthday Grandma!

I was lucky enough to celebrate Grandma's day of birth with her. I went over to her house and made her dinner (heart healthy of course!) Mom informed me that she liked Smirnoff Green Apple but was too embarrassed to buy it at the store for fear she'd run into someone she knew! I gladly bought her a six pack of that as well.

Grandma is doing well. Ruth is staying over tonight to cut her drive in half and will move to Buchanan County tomorrow. Also, she and Lewis are on the "ins" again. She said he showed up at her door yesterday with a dozen roses and a bag of candy, hahahaha isn't that sweet? Well, I hope everyone remembered to call Grandma in their busy schedules. We all love her so much and this world was blessed the day she was born.

Now, I'm caught up with the major events that have been taking place since I moved back to Virginia so there probably won't be another blog for a little while. Time for you to catch up!  Love you all!




OH! I forgot to mention that on the way home from grandmas, I saw an entire rainbow!  Of course, the camera wasn't able to get the whole thing from where I was standing but it was really neat.  I saw it as I passed the field at Roanoke College.  Alex, you'll appreciate this picture!  Lacrosse practice was going on in the background.

Law School Formal

So, I just got back from Tripp's Law School Fall Formal.  Tripp is in his first year of law school at Appalachian School of Law.  Despite it being in Grundy, we actually had a BLAST!  His friends are all really nice and there are lots of outdoorsy things to do in the area which we took full advantage of.

Despite being a little under the weather with a sinus infection, I packed Bryer up and we drove to Grundy this past weekend.  We layed low on friday night and studied the majority of the day on Saturday.  We did get to take Bryer "creeking" and "fishing" though later in the day.  He was a ball.  Everytime he'd see a fish he'd try and stomp on it and was unfortunately extremely unsuccessful.  It made for excellent entertainment though!  

That night Tripp had about 10 of his friends over and we had a little cocktail party before the Ball.  I made these delicious jalepeno poppers!  No, not the frozen kind from Kroger, I made them the good old fashioned way with ground sausage and goat cheese.  Bryer was, naturally, the center of attention.  


At the "Ball" there was an open bar, a dj, and about 200 people (more than likely outnumbering the population of the town itself).  Surprisingly, I ran into some old high school friends that are attending Appalachian (does Molly Burke ring a bell?)




 

On Sunday, we went to the "Breaks" and did a little hiking and scoped out the scenery before I had to leave.  It is really beautiful at the Breaks.  Next time I'm going to have to remember to pack some good shoes though!  We took some pictures at the "State Line" where you can see the border of Virginia and Kentucky, pretty neat.  They call the river down there the Grand Canyon of the South.  A lot of people gather to go kayaking and white water rafting.  Enjoy the pictures!  I had a great time with Tripp.  He is such an amazing guy and you all can rest assured that he treats me like gold and I've never been happier in my life.  We've been together now for 5 years (well there were I think 2 little breakups in college) and I'm lucky enough to have him as my best friend as well.  Enough sappy, but I will see him again in two weeks!  

Rebecca and Dusty get MARRIED!!

So she had her "big day" in Duck, NC (better known as the OBX).  It was gorgeous!  Tripp was able to come with me.  I only had class till 10 am that friday so we bolted up to the OBX and got there about 30 minutes before "I Do".  That's love, folks!

It was a short trip, but I was able to get some decent pictures.  During the ceremony, it was so windy that her vail blew away and a family member had to go chasing it down the beach! Hahaha.  It was a small, but very formal affair with a complete full course sit-down dinner.  You all will be surprised to know that Scott and his lovely wife had baby #2, Sophia Avery.  So now they have two kids:  Alex (3) and Sophia (newborn)...ironic, huh?!  

Rebecca's Bachelorette Party

As most of you know, Rebecca Thews is now Rebecca Sanders!  I had some funny pictures from her Bachelorette party so I thought I'd share since you all know her from childhood!

Her party was in Atlanta.  I flew down just for the night.  We stayed in the W Hotel in Midtown (compliments of Dr. Marv) and had an absolute blast!  It was mostly her friends from college and Nashville, but I was proud to be the soldier from childhood that has stuck around all these years.  

We ate at this really nice restaurant called Shout and her friend Amy decorated it all nice.  We then went downtown and did the normal Bachelorotte party shenanigans.  Wasn't really my scene though, wayyyy too crowded.  Needless to say, we were back at the hotel pretty early taking care of the little one.  The next day we got massages at the Bliss Spa.  HEAVEN.  That is only the second time I have received a massage since Alex's high school graduation present to me.  It was amazing and a nice treat for me before classes began that next week.

So I had this idea......

Greetings everyone!

So, I thought it might be a good idea to create a "blog" for us to keep up with each others lives.  It's really really easy.  Just go to blogspot.com and it is just a point and click process. I know everyone is busy, SO AM I, but this seriously takes about 10 minutes and is kind of therapeutic, actually.  First things first, keep my blog address to yourselves because I'm not interested in anyone else reading this.....creepy internet people.

So, I've only been back in Virginia for about 2 months and I've already had many adventures! I'll start with PA school.  I've been in school now for a little over a month and it's pretty torturous, not gonna lie.  I knew this going into it though so I try not to complain....too much.  We had a cookout during orientation so check out the pics.  Everyone in my class is really nice, but super smart and intimidating.  I didn't think anyone was as uptight as me when it came to school, but I was wrong!  I'm learning a LOT and have already started doing some clinicals, that's right....REAL patients!  And I'm not just taking their temps anymore :)  That's all for now.