Coming soon-Pictures of my new apartment

Summer's Gone

Welp, the summer is officially over as Fall 2010 courses resume on Monday. I could really use just one more week before classes start though, since really, I didn't have a summer! I've come to learn that even when a graduate student is on vacation, it doesn't mean he/she is free of work. Apparently, I signed on for a  4 year commitment to be at my professors beck and call 24/7. As long as it gets me where I need to be, then I will continue to manage.
Over the summer, I had clinic, classes, and other obligations. First, I helped complete the Healthy Athlete Hearing Screenings for Special Olympics, which I LOVED. Even though we worked 1:30-8:30 M-F and worked the weekend prior, the athletes made it all worth while. It is amazing how they always maintain a positive attitude. I only hope that I took away some of the enthusiasm they exhibit on a daily basis. When the week was over, we screened nearly 1,000 athletes and fit 170 hearing aids-for free! It was definitely a successful week! There is a possibility for a trip to Greece this summer for the International Special Olympic Games. This is something I would absolutely LOVE to be a part of and hope I am one of the two picked.
Once summer break arrived (3 weeks), I was soon haunted by school again. One of my professors approached me regarding an "opportunity for professional growth"-well if you put it that way, can I really say no? I had 3 weeks (my entire summer break) to edit a manuscript that was research based and soon submitted to a professional journal. It took me the entire 3 weeks to complete this project, but I am happy I accepted it as I did learn from it; plus I can add this to my CV.
Many of you know by now that I was asked by a professor in the Fall of 2009 to present one of my class powerpoints to a professional convention in October (so soon!) Unfortunately, I haven't had time to work on that project because I had a summer class project in which I will be presenting on an additional topic! So, I wrapped that up and now I am making my final edits on a newsletter that will be distributed to the patients at the Barkley Center. Whooa! I am exhausted just writing all of that out!
Now, my summer wasn't all work, I did go on a float trip on the Niangua River and then went to California! Stephanie and I were able to celebrate our birthdays with Jymme-Lyn and the boys and have a couple of fun days with Scott. Most of all, we were thrilled to be able to help out Scott and Jymme-Lyn during a difficult week. Scott was out of town and JL was starting a new job. Hopefully the boys are doing great with the new babysitter!

We went to the farm and picked some fruit from the vine and fed some animals

We went to the park and played on the slide

Stephanie and Will playing at the pool

This is where Harrison sat most of the day at the pool-he sure looked good though!

We went to the beach too!