Temporary Shower

I have been volunteering for 4 years with the Sharing Place(  http://www.thesharingplace.org/ ) and each year I am amazing by the stories I hear. For those who don't know, this is a grief counseling program for kids who have lost one or both their parents. The particular group I work with is a suicide group where kids have lost a family member to suicide. Today was my first day of my 5th year with the program and it was difficult. On the one hand, a lot of the kids we worked with before have graduated but we now have a lot of incoming new families and each story is tragic in it's own way. We hear stories of fathers that shot themselves, mothers that hung themselves, and good or bad, it often leaves a sour note in the minds of those left behind. For kids, this is especially difficult because they often can't comprehend the reasons behind such senseless death. The kids don't process grief like the adults so we implement a form of play therapy where we provide the space

This week I: Loafed a lot with the bf Bought a Longchamp bag...eek Found out I will have a lot more money this year Got my first computer >$500...a macbook air that I am loving Went to the planetarium....watched a movie about dragons Saw the first play of the year at pioneer theatre...something's afoot Celebrated baby's 6th birthday....made her a cake and got her a cash register toy Decided to go to Morocco in December

This weekend was GREAT! On friday, I gave department RIP (Research In Progress but much like Rest In Peace). It went ok. It think I was more nervous this year then last year because SO many people showed up. Granted, I brought good beer but still! There wasn't even enough chairs for everyone! At least it is over and I think I only have one more of these left before I can graduate. Speaking of graduating...I talked to one of my PIs about my timeline and yes! the end is in sight! I think I will be aiming for December of next year so that I can get done half a year early. This way, I can bum around, travel a bit, and refresh my medical knowledge before going back to third year of med school. After RIP, I was able to hike up to the living room with some friends and the bf. It was fun. We got lost along the way but eventually made it to our destination. The living room is cool because it is a hike right behind the university. It also features rock formation built to look like loung

Today I feel lucky....for getting past this flu, for having the time to crochet, for finishing another research presentation, for moving forward on my presentation, for the Indian food at lunch and the cupcake at dinner, and finally for love.

I have having a wonderful labor day weekend and I hope you guys are too! With the exception of needing to go in for work tomorrow, I have enjoyed having the time to just relax, read, and hang out with the people I love. Friday was pretty eventful. I picked up Felicia from her new school (I can't believe she is in first grade already). We went to McDonalds for ice cream sundaes and then to Liberty park where D joined us. Felicia is so cute and SO imaginative these days. She is really into princesses and vampires...weird combo but I blame twilight and teen interest for that influence. Towards the end of our playtime, Felicia went down a big tube slide just as a little boy was trying to climb up and he accidently bumped her nose. She was a trouper though. No tears...just a bloody nose but she didn't want to play on the playground anymore after that. lol. D and I joined my parents for dinner at red lobster. It was good and I think they liked him but I can't tell. We had