Summer Sunsets

So...what's on my list for summer of 2011. I'm sure you are dying to know [so am I]. Here's what I have so far:

1. Volunteer:  I plan on devoting much of my time this summer volunteering at NeuroInstitute. This place specializes in rehabilitation for spinal cord injuries and brain injuries. The experience here has been eye opening. Not only is it something that interests me, it is something I can see myself doing in the future. The interactions and friendships with patients are extremely rewarding. It's hard for me to complain about a hard days work or a boring day after physically watching these patients maneuver their body into painful exercises and stretches in hopes of one day being able to walk again. And it is even more rewarding being there, holding their hand, while they take their first steps towards a better future.

2. Eat healthy, live healthy, be alive: After taking one of those grueling trips to the doctors where they simply prescribe to you [or make it blantently obvious] that they want you eating healthy and exercising often, I have finally taken those words into serious comtemplation. Sure, I've been healthy and active...for the most part. [Besides the occasional DQ Blizzard ;)] But now, I'm putting the pressure on myself to workout everyday. Yeh, it sounds a little crazy, but i'm not talking about an Olympic training program. I'm talking about a run around the neighborhood, a quick visit to the gym, or swimming a few laps. One thing that has definitely motivated me to keep up this lifestyle is seeing the multitude of patients I work with at the NeuroInsititue. It is challenging watching patients give up while trying to walk a few steps or become lost in conversation as they have lost the ability to comprehend. Some health related issues can be genetic, but most of your future is in your control. Therefore, I am committed to respecting my body now and for the future.


3. Textbooks: Yes. It's that time of year...again. My goal is to spend the least amount of money I can on textbooks for next semester. This will be a struggle considering the textbooks on my list add up to a total of $855.35. Nope, not happenin'. Goal price: under $200. Screw you UA Bookstore :)

4. Learn how to play the piano...again: After reading the book The Last Song, I've realized how much I enjoyed listening to and playing the piano. So, i'm taking the task up again and teaching myself. So far, the songs on my queue include: Dream by Priscilla Ahn, Gravity by Sara Bareilles, Jar of Hearts by Christina Perri and a Taylor Swift song.

5. Tackle some fears: Starting with getting my blood taken [happening tomorrow... andi'mfreakingoutontheinside!?!] For those of you that know me [or anything about me at all] you would know that I hate [absolutely hate] getting shots or getting my blood taken. There isn't any significant reason why...besides the fact that someone is sticking and poking into your skin and stabbing you with something that shouldn't be there! And I've had a bad experience dealing with the wrath of Ruth [a nurse who was not very gentle probing around my veins]. See, I'm getting worked up just writing about it. Calm down. I've talked about this subject with a friend of mine. She, as well, has a queasiness around blood and needles [see i'm not the only one!]. However, she decided to conquer her fears and donate her blood. This courageous act is on my summer to do list...just a little further down. And if it doesn't get accomplished this summer, I do have many more summers to come.

6. Tubing down the salt river: This is a must every summer. What's not to love about a 5 hour river rapid trip.

7. Tucson bound: Also on the agenda this summer is multiple trips down to Tucson to visit friends [and escape Phoenix]. Hopefully, one will be soon. One that incorporates taking down dressers x2, a nightstand, a TV stand, and moving it all into my room. Not so much fun, but something that has to be done to take one more step into actually living there!

8. Become a little more technological savvy: My goal for tonight after I post this blog. Figure out the whole damn twitter business and get tweetin'...twitten'...forget it. It might take me a little longer than just tonight. But that's why this list is entitled Summer 2011. 

Honey I'm Home...Bring me a box of brownies and a job please :)

Now that I have been home, blogging hasn't become a particular priority of mine [however not much has become a priority now that I'm home and its summer time] That is, besides the first few weeks in which I spent searching for a job and cleaning my room [wonderful summer plans].


One of the joys of being home is the discovery of an old list I made the summer of my freshman year entitled 100 Summer Lovin'. For anyone who actually reads this blog, the picture attached is for you to enjoy [and laugh at] my childhood.

A few of my favorites...


#2: Have friends over and sleep on the tramp- Impossible now because our trampoline has jumped the fence into the neighbors yard for their enjoyment and I never did get to have my prized sleep over. :(

#4: Cook dinner once a week- This task has started to become accomplished as my mom feels it is necessary that I learn how to cook now that I'll be living in a place with a functioning kitchen [I mean, I do too I just didn't want to say it...Opps. I said it]. So, what's on the menu when Caitlin's cookin'?! 1. Hamburgers 2. Chicken Fried Rice 3. Chicken Penne Pasta  4. Chicken Tacos.  5. Cereal  6. Cereal  7. Cereal [It's a specialty of mine] Appears to be a well rounded menu.

#16: Mow the lawn once a week- Pssh. Never happened EVER. And NEVER will.

#25: Find a way to make some money- Oh money money money. This leads to my persistent, depressing, frustrating, annoying, unpleasant and somewhat unsuccessful search for a job. The job searching...

Target  

Michaels  

Bed Bath and Beyond 

Tutor Time  

YMCA  

Lifetime  

Kohls  

Picazzos  

Paradise Bakery  

Starbucks  

Sports Authority  

Caregiver

Benihana

Macy's

California Pizza Kitchen

Bath and Body Works

Gap

Menchies

Orange Leaf

Old Navy

And the list goes on

And on

And on...

Until I get a call back from a program called Sciensational Workshops for kids. And become employed as an assistant teacher for a workshop that helps kids build robots! One minor dilemma... this workshop only runs for two weeks of the summer...therefore its safe to say its not really a job but its working for money which equals job [in my brain anyway]. And maybe another minor dilemma...I'm honestly not sure I can actually build a functional robot, let alone teach a six year old how! 

#44: Stop slouching- self-explanatory.

#50: Get up at 5AM and cook breakfast for the fam- Who was I when I was a freshman?! Needless to say, this didn't happen.

#5: Get an awesome TAN- I'm working on it. My skin just doesn't bronze well.

#23: Be creative...do something crafty- I plan to spend this ENTIRE summer doing DIY arts&crafts :) Our condo is in need of some art masterpieces. A few on the agenda to be tackled very soon include:
-inspirational quote canvas
-cupcake ruffled styrofoam ball
-picture frames

#33: Hike South Mountain- Did this. However, the plan wasn't exactly executed correctly. Andrew and I went to meet up with 40+ others through a group invite online, but we got there and no one else was there. We ended up still hiking only to find out the scheduled hike was for the next day. Oh well- you can never enjoy too much nature [only when its 100+ degrees outside and your sweating] [Or when you lose your phone in the desert and double the distance and time on your hike to go retrieve it and for it NOT to be there-shout out to Amy if your reading this :)]

And my personal favorite:
#39: Attempt to keep my room clean- I didn't want my room to be clean, I just wanted to attempt :)