who knew tying a shoe lace could be so tough

after spending at least 15 minutes trying to re-tie the lace on my slippers, i could finally update my blog.

this past week was really fun! I am working at about 75% case load in the clinic and am LOVING it! next week marks my half way point for this last internship and i am only 7 weeks away from graduating.

i have been living on an extreme(ly small) budget so i have to be creative when it comes to cooking and meals. i have been scavenging the buy one get one deals at the grocery stores here and have done quite well if i do say so myself. i have made apple chips, pita chips and homemade hummus, tex mex quinoa, lentil soup, bean salad, green salads and protein shakes. it has been fun to explore in the kitchen and i am really enjoying cooking. i can't wait until i have some money to buy better ingredients.

i am also super pumped about going on vacation in the beginning of july! i will be joining the altman's on a caribbean cruise. i have never been on a cruise before and can't wait to go.

i went home last weekend (thanks to elena for getting me a cheap flight) to help my friend clare celebrate her bachelorette party. it was soooo much fun. i have never seen her so happy. it was a short trip but no value can be placed on the experience. i probably wont make it home anymore until june 8th when i will begin my trek back home to graduate.

i have really enjoyed getting to know missy (my clinical instructor) more. she is a lot of fun and we get a long well. we have hung out every weekend i have been here. this past saturday we drove down to nashville because she wanted to go to the mall down there. we ate a her favorite lunch spot which was a little hole in the wall cafe called cafe coco. it was delicious. then she wanted to get her wedding rings cleaned at Tiffany and Co. i have never been in there before and felt very luxurious haha. they gave out free chocolate. so that was my first thing from Tiffany's. i also got to freak kyle out by telling him i was there... hahaha it was awesome. then i helped missy pick out an outfit for her maternity pictures. it was a lot of fun.

the weather down here is great. 80 and sunny almost every day. it is supposed to rain a little this week but the highs are still 75 or more! i love the south!

My New Favorite Place In Clarksville

Dunbar Cave

Why do I like it so much?

1. It's 5 minutes away from where I live

2. It has 3 different trails to walk through

3. It's beautiful

4. I just like it ok!

My run today was awesome! There is tons of wildlife in the woods... squirrels, cardinals, rabbits, ducks, waterfowl etc. It was fun to hike through the hilly terrain, attempting to jog up most hills but man were my legs burning.

There are tons of military guys running through the trails with weighted vests on, preparing for fitness tests or training for different units. Everyone here is so nice and friendly. I definitely believe in Minnesota nice, but there is a huge difference between MN nice and Southern nice. Minnesota nice to me is a little passive aggressive and forced at times. Southern nice is... let's have an hour long conversation about dog parks at the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon because we can.

I plan on spending more time at this cave and many other State Parks in TN! Oh! The cave itself has been closed for the past 3 or so years because they found bats with some gross disease... ick.

Clarksville

Since returning from Africa, my life has not slowed down at all. Less than 24 hours after I got back, my mom and I packed up the car and started our 13 hour road trip to Clarskville, Tennessee where I will reside for 11 weeks. Upon arriving, I was greeted by Sonda and Keith, who graciously have opened their home to me during my stay here. We ate dinner and then they showed me around the city. Their home is beautiful and I am excited that they live 4 miles away from the clinic!

My Room

Clarksville is actually Tennessee's fifth largest city and home of Fort Cambell which makes Clarskville very diverse, so being Minnesotan isn't so bad here! It is a very large Military community, which has actually been really fun for me to experience. I have learned a lot about the military, the lingo, the support, the traveling etc. People here are wonderful. I have fallen in love with the southern accent and their little things they say like "I'm fixin to finish my garden today" or "I reckon that's true" or "The pain ran plum up the back of my leg" 


The clinic I am at is called High Pointe Rehab and it has been my favorite internship thus far. My clinical instructors name is Missy and she graduated from the University of Minnesota as well in 2007. She is awesome. Her husband is in the Military and is currently gone so her and I have hung out a few times. We went to see Hunger Games, went hiking and gone out to eat. It's been nice to have a buddy to hang out with. She has also been an awesome CI! She does a great job of teaching a letting me learn through experience. High Pointe creates a great learning environment and I am excited about my last 8 weeks here. Oh! Missy also has an adorable GIANT puppy. He is an American Mastiff and at 11 months he weighs 135lbs. He is so cute! I offered to babysit him when Missy goes to visit her husband!

At the Macy's display in Downtown, MPLS

I got to go home for Easter and see my family (minus Ashley) and Kyle and his parents and brother Kelly who was also in town. Kyle had their first game of the season with the MN Stars FC. It was at the Metrodome so that was fun! Then we had his family over for Easter dinner on Sunday. I had to leave on Sunday night back to Tennessee. It was a short but really fun trip!

The tucan is made completely of flowers!! 

This week, I will be applying for jobs! AHHHHH I can't believe I graduate in 9 weeks. It's just so crazy. I'm really ready to be a grown up and start being more independent.