My apartment is becoming more "homey" with each new day :) Currently in search for a light fixture that resembles a chandelier for my bedroom. I am adamant about having eco-friendly lighting in my new apartment; however, these spiral bulbs are a tad large for the current fixtures I have and stick out like a sore thumb at the moment. BUT, no need to give up hope!
So, what have I decided? I'm ditching the light cover that came with the place with hopes to find a chandelier-like cover that will accommodate energy saving light bulbs! My idea: using beads to make my own light fixture that will hide my eco-friendly bulb while giving off a nice shimmer to my room. Attention: Lindsey Howd Rohling! Any ideas, in addition to the latter? Would love your input :)
That said, here are some pictures of the new place. Talk about location, friends! Walking distance to the best of downtown! Do come visit!
313 East Bay St. Apt F - Charleston, SC
Looking into the Living Room
Yard-Sale Find After a Run :)
My Bedroom (envision future chandelier directly above)
Bedroom View from Kitchen Area
My Kitchen - Just Cooked A Dinner For My Friends Last Night :)
The Washer & Dryer OR Storage Space
(Note old light cover on washer)
The Table Andres Found on The Street For Me!
Table Decorations Compliments of KSR :)
Closet Space & View to Bathroom
Living Room Area & Front Entrance
Dad: There are 4 Locks on that Door!
Old Couch Couldn't Fit...New Addition, Thanks to K. Whitlock!
My "Audrey Hepburn" Bathroom
Look At That Tile!
Hope you enjoyed the virtual tour! It's on the second floor and backs up to a 1930's upright house downtown. There are 6 of us that live in the "carriage house," each with our own quarters :) Private parking in the back and Pineapple fixtures to welcome you home every night. Dog park across the way and walking distance to all my favorite places. Perfection.
Heard this song today and found it fitting for my apartment's life and history. Kudos to those of you who can identify the original band & song that The Section Quartet is covering. No cheating, studs. Listen closely :) John-Mark, you should know this!
Come visit me! On a side note, half way through the Lenten season & still chocolate free. It's been tough. Hope you've enjoyed "40 Days of Blessings" so far. Love you all!
Spent yesterday doing errands around East Bay, stopping in the local hardware store to purchase some energy-friendly light bulbs and later meeting one of the owners of The Vegetable Bin where I picked up a few things for Wednesday night's dinner. It was a fun day that ended in cooking dinner for my friends in my snug apartment kitchen.
Dinner menu? "Stop & Go" stuffed bell peppers with my mom's "yellow rice" and a glass of wine to top it off (compliments of Amy & Ankur). Loved having everyone over. Blessed with wonderful friends wherever I go.
Closed the night hand-washing the dishes & eating Macroons with Andres. Thought Ingrid Michaelson was fitting for such an easy evening with such cool individuals. Hope everyone had a great Wednesday.
Enjoying my new apartment in Charleston. I've managed to already become quite the clutter bug...using my washer and dryers for storage at the moment due to limited storage space! HOWEVER, I really do love it in its entirety...maybe not the "palmetto bugs" that make the occasional visit every now and then, but this place is definitely growing on me. Hope to update pictures soon :)
Watching Nelson nap on my pillows, feeling stuffed after a good dinner and listening to Kings of Leon while I continue to unpack my suitcases. Happy and enjoying "Pickup Truck" as the night unfolds. Good night.
For those of you who keep up with Elephants Gerald, I apologize for my absence and for seeming as if I had given up on my Lenten promise. This past week was a crazy blur as I was wrapping up my first rotation at Siskin. The week was comprised of caring for patients, completing discharges, planning my CI's birthday celebration, preparing for my final evaluation and getting ready for my job interview with Siskin on Friday. Busy, busy week, but I will say that I was sad to leave work that last afternoon. I made such wonderful friendships during my stay at Siskin...Most definitely would consider working there in the future. Great experience & great memories.
In closing my "Chattanooga Chapter," I cancelled my Comcast contract (internet + cable) in preparation for my move back to Charleston this past weekend; hence, my disconnect from the worldwide web and my lack of blog "updates." In wishing to still share my "small" blessings with all of you, I have listed them below for your reading. I hope to return to blogging on a daily basis starting tomorrow. I miss you all and wish you well. For those moving to their second FW location, safe travels and good rest the next 2 weeks!
40 Days of Blessings
Day 14: Chattanooga Cupcakes + Good Friends
Blessed with sweet desserts and time with new friends Thursday afternoon following a busy day at work. In completing my rotation at Siskin, I had the privilege of meeting two other OT students who were the root of my sanity when things got rough. Spent the afternoon eating pizza at Lupis while diving into some much needed "girl talk." Ended our outing grabbing the best cupcakes in town. The yummiest of flavors? Strawberry! If you're ever in Chattanooga, check out Chattanooga Cupcakes on Broad :)
Day 15: "Hope" and Becky Coode
My CI, Becky Coode, presented me with the Willow Tree Angel of Hope on my last day of fieldwork. She told me to never stop believing in miracles and to always instill hope in others no matter what life obstacle they may be facing. I learned a lot from her during my 12 weeks at Siskin and hope that I absorbed some of her strength & knowledge while I was there. Having a CI who cares as much as she does for her students' growth makes a world of difference; it was truly encouraging to work by her.
Day 16: "Partyfinder"
Around 10:00 PM on Friday, I finally realized that no matter how many times I rearranged my car, there would be no fitting even half of my belongings in the Eclipse to make the trip back to Charleston that next morning. Long story short, the "partyfinder" made its way from Florida all the way to Chattanooga to help me with my pack rat ways and move me back to the city I love most. Back in Charleston, unpacking little-by-little and enjoying dinners in my snug kitchen for two. Thank you, Phil!
Day 17: Rain in Charleston
Not the sunny weather I was hoping for upon my return to Charleston, but not minding the rain that has showered the entire East coast this Monday. Definitely made my errands interesting, but happy to put my rain boots to good use! Finally home! Let the rain bring on a fresh start :)
Got some help for today's song: "Carolina" by Matt Wertz. Back in Charleston, my sweet Carolina! Enjoy, my friends!
I have an incredible patient that I have been working with for the last two weeks who I now consider a dear friend. His admitting diagnosis was a "T3-T7 laminectomy," but there was much more to his story than I knew of before that initial evaluation.
This man is a husband, a father and a grandfather to 2 kids he adores. He is 64YO, retired and loves caring for his 2 pups back home. He has a strong spirit, is always smiling and never gives you below 110% during any treatment session. He is motivated, always ready to learn and can make you laugh at a drop of a hat.
It gives me energy and hope to be a part of his treatment team and I am so thankful that I met him when I did. He is an absolute blessing and an angel in my eyes. It was an honor to get to know him and it breaks my heart to know that he will not be with us much longer.
It took me a while to understand that; the words, "not be with us much longer." The fact that there was an "end" to someone so great, so kind, so driven was beyond me. Something I did not process when I completed my first chart review a few weeks ago. His admitting diagnosis was trivial when I finally discovered that his cancer had come back and that he was not going to get any better.
The last few days have been hard. We have cried several times together this week but somehow always part in laughter. I hate that I am leaving tomorrow; that I will not be there to send him off when he heads back home next week, but I know God is watching over him and his family.
I can't seem to get his face out of my mind this evening; he makes this experience and this profession worth pursuing, no matter how much it will hurt when I learn of his departure. He has been a blessing as he has taught me so much during the last few weeks: not to sweat the small stuff, to laugh and laugh often, to relax and enjoy life and tell those you care for that you love them every chance you get.
Today was hard as he was extremely fatigued and not able to participate in his therapy sessions; that was not like him, because he never wanted you to see him or view him as weak. However, having seen him this way, it became clear that it was time for him to go home. We discussed his discharge plan this afternoon and decided that getting him home as soon as possible would be best for him and his family.
He will always be a part of me, that is for sure. I will never forget how it felt after he was able to transfer from his wheelchair to his bed (uphill) using a slide board with min assist. He was diagnosed with spinal mets & presented similarly to a SCI patient; paralysis in his legs and minimal strength in his arms. Transferring him that first day took 2 people with all the gusto we had. The look on his face when he realized we had accomplished that same transfer with just me and him was beyond exciting. He said, "Hot dog! That was just you and me on that one!" We were inseparable after that.
Tonight, I dedicate "You and Me" to this wonderful man and the family that continues to support him. I pray that his family will be without worry, fear or pain over the next few days; I do not worry so much for him, because I know of his strength and his positive spirit. He will be making those around him laugh continuously until he is ready to go...
If you feel that you love someone, don't hold back. Tell them the first chance you get and never stop reminding them from that point forward.
Heart be still! Who is this wild woman known as Santigold?! Her music is edgy, raw and sickly-crafted. Heard her by chance on Pandora while I was packing the other night and have been fixated ever since. Her lyrics are cryptically beautiful and layered with rock-hard beats and undertones like nothing I have ever experienced.
"Shove It" is the song that caught my attention the other night, but you have to go and listen to all the others. Her music gives me chills. Check this temptress out ASAP. Her acidic rhymes will fill my empty apartment the rest of the week without a doubt.
Santi White, you are all woman! Thankful for this chance-discovery! Grrrr! :)
Thankful for all the help I received in starting to move out this past weekend. Still sporting my "Green Machine," meaning space is limited when it comes to hauling an apartment's worth of furniture and a pup all the way back to Charleston, South Carolina. Living with the basics for the next week and not minding it one bit.
Eleven days into Lent and I am talking Passion Pit again. I have been hooked on their CD since January and can't seem to loosen my grip! If you have yet to listen to them, please do! And mind you that I say this with urgency (note exclamation point). Check out previous posts for more information on this rococo precision! Hmmm! Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!
