Take the good with the bad...

Let's start with the good. This week was eye opening for me. On our second to last PT session we were told we were going for a long run. It was a test of endurance, a test of a strong mind to push through the pain that would make us want to quit, and a test of our heart that makes us finish what we have started. Mr. K can surely give a speech, but in my heart I know it was directed to me, the weakest runner of the bunch! We started the session with the usual warm up of push ups, crunches, and such. Next we ran through the obstacle course twice and at the end Mr. K looks at me with his stern face and says, "Ma'am, I hope you know, as I do, that this obstacle course isn't an issue for you." With a quick "yes sir" I ran back into my place in line. After that was the run. I was miserable for about a mile until my legs loosened up and my breathing relaxed. It was smooth sailing from then on. Once we got back to the track outside of the gym Mr. K turns and asks the class which of us had never run 4 miles and of course I raised my hand. Then he asks who has never run more than 6 miles and my hand stayed in the air. He then says, "Congratulations, you just ran 6 and a half miles." I couldn't have wiped the smile off of my face if I tried. That was a huge accomplishment for me and I didn't hate it!

Good news number two. One of my very best friends had her first baby! I seem to be missing all of the good stuff back home. I'm going to need to see lots of pictures to play catch up on my own life!

Good news number three. We all passed our last law exam. I stressed out a bit on this one because I didn't think I understood the material very well. I guess I was wrong because I scored a 90% on it. So that makes one more written test, a fitness test, and a practical exam to go. We are almost done!!

Now for the sad news. I found out tonight a friend that I met on my first day out in the field as an EMT died yesterday. He was a close friend who was there through all of my tears when my grandparents died and made me feel a little less lonely when my sister moved. To make a long story short he was one person who smeared the lines of blood and water. Although some would argue that blood is thicker than water and he was just water, he always made me feel like he was my blood. Today was a sad day.

I hope everyone is doing well.

xoxo

Freeze alert!

Can we all say cccccold!? There nothing like going to PT in 27 degree weather. It was almost unbearable this week with all of the frozen temperatures and the wind that came with it. I have just about hit the point where I am getting irritable from being cold all day long. By the time my body would have a chance to warm up, we are switching classes and freezing again.

The week was good with my class passing our third and final exam for the training center. We still have another couple to pass for the agency though. They will be tough, but I'm confident that we will not lose anyone to failure. At this point we know we all can pull through the academics. Plus we only have 2 more PT sessions before we have to take our final fitness test. The running still is miserable for me, but I know my time on the mile and a half has improved. After February 2nd it will be smooth sailing and will not have to do much except show up to class. On that day I will relax a bit!

Other than the test, not a lot happened this week. The boys in my class found out about the Texan and all hell didn't break loose like I thought it would. It surprised me actually. We did have our official first date tonight and no we did not eat at the Target food court! We went to a steakhouse in town which was quite delicious. We had great conversations as always and tried to learn something new about each other which we did. Then we went to Target! I wish I could transplant him to California simply because I'm not ready to say good bye just yet.

Well folks, I'm sorry this blog wasn't more exciting for you. In the next couple of weeks I have some interesting classes which might provide for a more interesting blog. Until then, keep me in your prayers...I'm going to need it. Blog at you soon.

xoxo

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xoxo

My favorite Texan

Tonight I spent the usual couple of hours with my favorite Texan studying and laughing and the subject of a real date came up. Of course as all of you figured, I was the one who brought up the subject. My argument was simply that if we were out in the real world and not on this campus we would have already gone out on a real first date and why should the situation we are in stop us from doing just that! A cute restaurant over the water was my suggestion and his suggestion is the whole reason for this mid week blog! He then looks at me with his adorable redneck smile and says Target has a great food court with a variety of food and the campus shuttle goes there. He also suggested Walmart, but their food court was shut down. After he was done laughing and could speak again he said after our food court dinner we could walk around Target, hold hands, and shop. Such a romantic guy! All I could picture was a pair of my shoes on the shuttle going on my Target first date. I then asked him what would come after the slurpie and popcorn and without hesitation and uncontrollable laughter he happily said, "A hot dog and maybe some nachos! Plus we can get free refills on our drinks!" Lucky day! He had me at nachos! It's hard not to like this guy! Then I said we can have a cup of after dinner coffee at the Starbucks located right next to the food court and in his rumbling deep voice he replies, "Oh no, that too high class!" I almost died laughing.

If you can figure out how to post a comment, do it! I'm sure he would love to hear what you all think about his idea. If you can't, feel free to text me with your thoughts. I'm off to bed. Sleep tight everyone.

xoxo

It's a boy!

Another week down and only a few more tests to go. The guys and I talk every day about how quick it all went and how close we are to graduating. We are all still very close to each other and just like 14 brothers and one sister would do, we squabble from time to time. About 4 weeks ago you all read about how frustrated I was with the guys in my class and although I love them to pieces, they were on my last nerve. In the midst of all of that, I met someone who has been amazing to get to know. He is the true definition of a gentleman and he very much treats me like a lady. He is a country boy from Texas and with that comes an adorable twang to his words. Most sentences end with a ma'am or sir and his favorite nickname for me is City Girl. Gotta love it! He was my New Year's Eve date and pretty much every other night as well. The only downfall to all of this is his class closes out a week before mine and he leaves for the second half of his training in Maryland until June. If that isn't bad enough, he will be stationed in Brooklyn when he is finished with his program. Until then we are more than happy to spend most of our free time together. The only reason I'm putting all of this out there for you is because I told my mother I would (hi mom).

This week in PT we took a little run. We were split into three groups to do exercises at the end of each mile. The first mile group one had to carry a 14 pound medicine ball while running. After the first minute or so the ball gets pretty heavy and awkward to carry. Once we stopped group one had to do squat presses with the medicine ball, group two flipped a tracter tire, and group three did squat exercises with a kettle bell. Then it was group two's turn to carry the medicine ball and so on and so forth. We ran a total of about 4 miles and I'm not going to lie, it was horrible, but I finished strong. After the run we ran through the obstacle course once which was just enough to leave fresh bruises everywhere! Good times. Along with that valuable exercise came a piece of my training that I was not looking forward to. I can't really mention what I did, but it was the single most unladylike thing I have done. There were involuntary tears coming from my eyes that were running into the snot coming from my nose which was running into the drool from my mouth. Again, good times had by all! The moral of the story is I lived through to tell you all! Oh, and to carry tissues!

Other than that not much else is going on here. The weather has gotten really cold for my standards and we are all preparing for a test on Tuesday. As a matter of fact, once I'm done writing this I will go back to reviewing my notes. I hope everyone is doing well and I hope I get to see you all soon after my return.

xoxo

P.S. Happy thoughts and prayers for my sister Lily who is currently in labor with her first baby. It's a boy!

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone enjoyed their New Year's Eve as much as I did. I spent the evening with a new friend watching movies and pretty much laughing the whole night. I know it's not the high excitement that one would expect, but my evening was truly perfect and wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else but here. At midnight you could hear all of the rednecks firing their guns so much that it sounded like a fireworks show! Gotta love it!

This week was full of things we had to qualify for. I'm happy to report that I passed each practical exam with flying colors. We only had one day of PT and Mr. K wanted to do something fun so he had us do a triathlon. I think we all had a good time. We did a 10 minute swim, 30 minute bike, and then a 5k run. Of course the running was horrible for me, but as always, I finished what I started. The next day a few of us felt extremely old with our knees aching and realizing that what seemed fairly easy at the time, wiped us out. I might actually be motivated to do one when I get home and that's all that Mr. K wants us to get from the experience with him. He wants us to enjoy working out to the point where we will continue when we are home. He wants fitness to matter. We were able to see a different side of him this week as well. He gave us a speech of always remembering where you came from and to respect everyone. He reminds me of a lemonhead...hard and sour on the outside, but very sweet on the inside. I have the utmost respect for him.

There are only 6 more Mondays, 6 more PT sessions, and a few more exams until graduation. Sometimes I wonder how I made it this far, but then I think that it was just meant to be. Somethings in life just work out that way I guess. Besides, they wouldn't sell puzzles with pieces that didn't fit together! :-)

I hope everyone has a great new year full of surprises and smiles.

xoxo

Merry Christmas!

I have to be honest, it doesn't really feel like Christmas. I'm sitting at my desk in my room staring at a stuffed Grinch doll my mother had sent me. On the other side of the room are all of the nick knacks I received in my care packages. A small tree and stockings from the Shaushkin's, singing chipmunks and a diorama from my dad, delicious Harry and David stuff from my Aunt, and a few cards that came in my mail back home. I loved all of the gifts and shared a lot of the edible items with my class so that I wouldn't reverse my progress.

This week was a mental challenge not to be a man hater. As you read last week I had hit my limit of man talk. Well, this week I became vocal about it. I told the boys about my issues and even walked out of breakfast one morning. Of course, according to them, it was all hormonal. Typical men! Things got better once I explained myself and they actually listened. Even so, I still cannot wait to get back to my life back home.

I have counted the days and I have 7 more Mondays and 7 more PT sessions left. This coming week should be fairly easy and shortened by a day! We do know that in PT we will be doing our version of a triathlon. We will swim in the pool for however long Mr. K decided then change out and head to the gym to ride a spin bike and then hit the pavement for a run. Not too hard right?? Hahaha. Regardless, it will be one more session completed and one less week to count! Mr. K and I now have a love hate relationship. He gets frustrated that I don't push myself as hard as he wants me to and I in turn get frustrated that he doesn't see that I am pushing myself. It's an endless cycle! At the end of the day I still have loads of respect for him and welcome the extra push.

I'm off to take a nice run. The temperature is mild and the sun is out. I hope everyone has had a wonderful Christmas and I will be blogging at you soon. Mele Kalikimaka!

xoxo

P.S. The picture is compliments of Miya and Mariko (cousins) who are spending the holidays in Hawaii!