I'm on Fire

Alrighty 10 weeks left!

Not too much went on this week, The COTA is back so work was a little more tame. I finished my summer class that I was taking and enjoyed the two weeks off before starting the next class. It was completely needed as this last class was very demanding. Yesterday I booked a flight home for Labor Day weekend which I am stoked for because this means I will still be able to go to the State Fair!

I also came up with the next tattoo that I want thanks to the signs around town for the Tattoo expo that they were having in Sacramento. Something to symbolize this chapter and to provide a reminder for the things that come. I am waiting until I get home to get it because I have to convince Christine to go with me!

So its official I have two months left. The other day I pulled out the map to find a route home for me and Dad. I didn't want to go back the way that Jamie and I came as beautiful as it was there wasn't much to look at. Also because Dad had to take vacation time to come out and drive with me I wanted to make sure it was wort his while. So with the route that I picked we will drive by the redwood national forest and be able to see Mt. Rushmore. I am very excited about that.
This is a cool sunflower that I found in the grocery store. Hint this is part of the tattoo!

These pics I took when I walked outside to get my laundry. I hope it is not my beloved Target that is on fire!

Well hopefully I will run into some of you when I'm in town next weekend!
Love you Miss You!
Kasey

Week 2

So at the end of week 2 I came to a decision. It is a very big decision to make but it had been nagging at me. I have also wanted to try traveling therapy and I have been extremely thankful to have this opportunity but come to find out everything that I want in a job and a career is back in Syracuse.

This semester in classes we had to think about an area where we wanted to specialize in, at that point of time I did not want to feel boxed in, but after going through this experience thus far I know where I was to specialize in. I loved the mix of the population I worked with at Enable, the environment, the people everything that made me love my job! So I have decided that after this placement I will returning to Syracuse because everything I want and love is in there.

And just to emphasis how wonderful my former/soon to be again co-workers are. I mailed my friend Bud to ask for the bosses email or extension and with in 5 minutes he had called Joe the director spoke with him and emailed me back all the info saying to call Joe. I did and thankfully for me they hadn't hired anyone yet and Joe asked me "how soon can you come back" I love those people!

The rest of the weekend was spent with my friend from college Ang. She too is a traveling therapist who is living in Sacramento. This weekend she invited me down to go rafting/floating on the Great American River. (Pictures to follow as I couldn't bring the camera) It was so cool. It was Ang, me, her aunt and uncle , two cousins, and her aunts friend and daughter. We got this giant raft and four paddles and the essential super soaker!. So you just float on down the river and when you get close to other boats you have a water fight. It was so much fun!

Sunday was Napa valley day. We went to the wineries and ate some yummy food. Napa was very pretty enjoy the pictures.


Ang and Me
This was the name of the first winery we went to. What a cool name.

How cool is this tree!
Napa Grapes

You read right. It is a chocolate bar with bacon in it. It was actually really good.
My wine coaster slash flip flop!

I had a fan-tab-u-lous weekend and look forward to exploring on my own! Look forward to seeing you all in November!

Love Kasey

Week 1!

So week one is complete! Thankfully the work week did get better.

It is still such a huge change and for a while I think I forgot that it takes time. It continues to be a jumble of emotions but I am learning to be thankful as this experience is going to help me narrow down where I would like my career to go and where I would like to settle.

So as the week continued the company that I currently am working for in CA found out that they lost their main contract and had been bought by a new company. Now to give you a little break down there is only one physical therapist assistant that has been with this company for 3 to 4 years. He has seen the director of therapy change 4 times. The current director of therapy has only been there a year and a half. The other physical therapist assistant was hired less then a month ago and the occupational therapy assistant is a traveler. So after the Monday that I had I could only laugh.

With the potential of another company coming in and making changes there was the looming danger that my contract would be ended. Luckily the occupational therapist assistant that I work with has been doing this for 2 years and told me that they would have to give us a 30 day notice before they could end the contract. I got right on the phone with my recruiter who within 15 minutes got back to me letting me know that her people would check everything out and for me not to worry. In going through this first week with the ups and downs it has been reassuring that I picked the right company to complete this journey. My recruiter Debbie has been extremely helpful and reliable. Thank You!

This weekend I went exploring. My friend Ang from college currently lives in Sacramento and told me about the Galleria in Roseville. So I took a trip down there, got my hair done and treatment myself to some bear mineral make-up. Then I headed over to the movie therater and saw the movie Proposal which was hysterical. After a long day I came home and vegged out.


Random view of the "backyard"

This was the giant bug I found out on the patio, hopefully they stay out there.
Two new books I bought, Tori and Dean Home sweet Hollywood is a guilty pleasure of mine.



Sunday is a day of odds n ends and gearing up for week 2. I am finishing up the applications for the license for the next stop on the trip. Other then that things are progressing alone. I thank everyone for the wonderful cards as they help keep me going! Just knowing what a great set of people I have around me has definetly made this big change a little easier. Hoping the phone bill isn't too bad!
All the love

Love you and Miss you
Kasey

First and Seconday

I truly am thankful to all of you who sent me well wishes for my first day....as I needed it.
Me on the first day

Unfortunately my first day was not all I had hoped it would be. I had called the facility last Friday to see what time to arrive at first the Director told me anytime between 8 and 9 then he restated and said 8-8:30. He followed this up by saying that he may or may not be there when I arrive. So my initial reaction is "Oh goodie".

When I arrived on Monday at 8 it was as expected the Director was not there, but the Physical therapy assistant and the Certified Occupational therapy assistant were there. They were extremely helpful in getting me settled in. I found out that I am the only full time OT at this facility, they do have another OT that is part time between two facilities. When the director arrived an hour later he did not introduce himself to me, nor did he say hello. It was not until 3 hours later at 12 when I went over to him and introduced myself that he finally acknowledge me. Unfortunately this was not the only flub that the director and I had on Monday. I was scheduled to complete an evaluation which is not a big deal but no one had walked me through the paperwork. When I went over to ask the director about it I wasn't even able to get my questions out when he said quite flat and frankly " I know you have questions but after today your on your own" I was so angry I was about to break down but held it together long enough to respond to him" I will have questions as this is my first evaluation and no one has walked me through your paperwork" and then I walked away... Last but not least I was scheduled to leave at 4:30 and at 10 to I was still finishing my paperwork, He came over and instead of assisting me he says " You got a late start to that your not going to finish in time" he then proceeded to take the papers from me an fill in the areas verses sitting with me and making sure I was learning the paperwork.

Needless to say I went home and broke down a couple of times. But luckily I have such supportive friends and family and which has been so helpful these past few days. My mom sent me flowers for my first day which were beautiful and again almost made me cry in front of my new co-workers.


Debbie who is my recruiter at Cross Country the company that I am working for as also been a God send. After Monday I sent here an email to let her know what happen, not only did she call me the next day she also emailed . It is very refreshing to know that she is there if I need her.

The second day went much better as I had a game plan and knew what to expect. This rehab is like in the stone ages, very limited resources and the minutes we have to see people are crazy. Again it makes me so grateful for the companies that I have worked for I was truly bless to have the things that I did. This is going to be a very trying experience but one that will make me better for it.

That's it for now, I am still acclimating myself to Auburn and hopefully soon be out and about to wineries and what not. Again thank you all for your support and keep it coming!

Love You and Miss you Tons!
Kasey