Here's to the new school year!

Yay for new friends and new experiences!!! I have had a blast so far here up in good ol' Flagstaff! Of course I still have my ups and downs, but the downs are fewer and farther apart! I got moved to Football which is good and got to work camp and such had a blast! I moved into my permanent dorm last Sunday and my roommates moved in on Thursday.  They are awesome and I think it will be a fun year! Here are some pictures of my room!

 Here is our bedroom, my bed is the one with the blanket. This was before my roommates moved in.  We also have our own bathroom off the bedroom.

 This our common room.  We moved the fridge next to my desk and the table to where the fridge was and it opened it up a lot!

Here is our little kitchenette. I can put my arms out and touch each side of the wall with my hands haha.  But its cute and we like it!

So funny story! So on Wednesday the Cardinals were cleaning things out on their side of the stadium so there were people in and out of the training room over on that side (our training room is on the west side theirs was on the east side).  Well Larry Fitzgerald came in on his Segway ( all the Cardinals have one). If you don't know what that is well all the mall cops have them too and Paul Blart had one in Paul Blart Mall Cop haha.  Anyways so me and Dre, she is a graduate assistant, decided to go on that side of the field to be closer to Larry. We were hoping to catch him when he was leaving so we could maybe talk to him.  Well we didn't get to talk to him but I got a picture of his Segway!

Well classes start tomorrow so I am going to bed! I am excited for this year and can't wait for everything that's in store for me!

Flagstaff and all its glory :)

Hey blogging world!!!!! I've missed you! I know it's been awhile, but really I have had no time to sit down and tell the world of my adventures!  Get ready for some pictures!!!! So last Sunday, July 31st, I packed up my stuff and moved up to the cooler country, to begin the next phase of my college career.

We loaded up the truck and off we went!!!!! Goodbye familiar territory and hello life on my own!

So we got to Flagstaff and went to check into my dorm, well the room I was suppose to be in was a total mess.  My soon-to-be roommate did not know she was suppose to have a roomie, so I got another room and luckily the other bed was broken so I got it all to myself.  My suite mate just left so I have the bathroom all to myself also!

My room! It's a little messier now haha.


I have been super busy with the training program and have met some awesome people!!!!! I think it will be a great year, with great friends and awesome experiences.  We found out what sport we are assigned to and I got volleyball.  The team is great and I think I will have a good experience with them.  I will get to work some football also, which is good.  I will get to work 4 home football games including homecoming so that will be tons of fun!

Last Saturday I went to Clear Creek with a girl from the program.  We went with some of her friends who are also in the program.  The Creek is just outside of Winslow and is usually clear, hence Clear Creek.  But that day... it was not.  I couldn't see my hands under the water.  Here is a picture of it!

Gross I know! But I did swim in it, but only for like 5 minutes just to cool off!

So that is all about what has been going on! School starts in about 2 weeks on the 29th, and I move into my permanent dorm next weekend.  I will meet my roomies later that week when they move in! I'm loving it here in the cooler weather, I definitely do not miss the 100 degrees at all!  Look out for another post in a few weeks!!! I will try to be better at this I promise!

Can I go to Never Never Land?!?!

So I will start out by saying this has been an awesome summer so far and I am so ready for a vacation!!!!! Unfortunately, though, no vacay for this girl!! In 2 weeks I will be leaving for NAU, I am so excited and cannot wait for this new adventure.  On the other hand I am so nervous to be living on my own.  Okay so some of you may be saying "but Shelli this will be the most exciting time of your life!"  While I know it will be, you have to understand that Shelli has not been away from her parents for more than a week.  And even at that she didn't have to do her own laundry!!!!!!! This may sound silly but I am so afraid of messing up my laundry and having nothing to wear haha.  I know I will get over this fear!

I have finally found out where I will be living for the first few weeks of my new life! I will be in a dorm while I get use to everything! The thing I am most grateful about is being able to get use to everything without the stress of school and homework! This way I can just get use to being on my own, then start school, rather than being up there and getting use to with having to deal with classes!

Back to the vacation problem!!!!! I will get no vacation time until December... because of this I have made my parents promise that we will take a family vacation somewhere over winter break!!!! The only thing keeping me sane is knowing that it is not as hot in Flagstaff as it is down in the valley!!

So this is all that has been going on so far! I promise when I get up to school I will be much better at blogging and I will have plenty of stories to tell :)

Man it's been awhile!

So it has been WAY too long since I've been on here and a lot has happened haha!!!!! So first things first, I finally know where I will be living for the school year! I got into a dorm, the only thing is I don't know which one, and I don't where I am living for the first few weeks I am up there because dorms aren't open that early! So if anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them! :)

Next, we got a puppy!!!!! She is adorable and her name is Macie! She is a typical puppy so she'll play then she will crash and be so cute and cuddly!!!!!! Here are a few pictures of her!

 This is the night we brought her home! She looks so innocent!!!

Cute little Macie! :)

Then I got a surprise visit from my bestest friend ever!!!!!! Miss Becca Free AKA Debbi Fry! I wish we got to hang out a little longer, but we went out to breakfast and had an awesome time! I miss you Debbi, you can come home anytime now, k thanks! :)

We be crazy!

That's what has been going on in my awesome life!!!! Oh and by the way in a few hours I will no longer be a teenager :) Heading into the next phase of my life! Hello 20's :-P

Cha cha cha changes!!!!!!!!!

I know it has been a super long time since I've posted so here is an update on my busy, yet awesome life!

Yesterday I finished my last two classes at MCC!!!!!!!! Holy cow I never thought that this day would come.  The day that I will never have to take classes at Mesa Community College again!!!  I had my physics final in the morning, then had a nice break, just enough time to study more, and went to my anatomy final! In June (that's when they will send it to me) I will have my first degree!!! Although I can't do much with an associates, I'm glad to have accomplished this!!

Now the fun begins! I can't wait for summer, I will be working with the best staff ever!!!!! I think summer is my favorite time because I get lots of money, and I get to hang out with the coolest people ever! I hate that it is only like 3 months though!

So then in three months, I will be off to Northern Arizona University, and living totally on my own!!!! This is kind of a scary thought, but I think I can do it! I can't wait to get started in the program at NAU, and I especially can't wait for the new people I will meet!!!!!

Cute Poem!

So I have been searching for this poem for years!!!! It is kind of sad, but its so cute at the same time.  I found it on Facebook, go figure that I would find it there haha!  This poem came out after 911, I don't know who wrote it.  Maybe you have already seen it, or got it in an email. But it makes you appreciate all that you have!!!! Hope you enjoy it!

her hair was up in a ponytail
her favorite dress tied with a bow
today was daddy's day at school
and she couldn't wait to go
but her mommy tried to tell her
that she probably should stay home
why the kids might not understand
if she went to school alone
but she was not afraid
she knew just what to say
what to tell her classmates
of why he wasnt there today
but still her mother worried
for her to face this day alone
and that is why once again
she tried to keep her daughter home
but the little girl went to school
eager to tell them all
about a dad she never sees
a dad who never calls
there were daddies along the wall in the back for everyone to meet
childeren squirming impatiently
anxious in their seats
one by one the teacher called
a student from the class
to introduce their daddy,
as seconds slowly passed
at last the teacher called her name
every child turned to stare
each of them was searching a man who wasn't there
she went to the front of the class
as she smiled up at her mom
and looked back at her teacher, who told her to go on
and with hands behind her back
she slowly began to speak
and from out the mouth of a child came words incredibly unique
'my daddy couldnt be here
because he lives so far away
but i know he wishes he could be
since this is such a special day
and though you cannot meet him
i wanted you to know
all about my daddy and how much he loves me so
he loved to tell me stories
he taught me to ride my bike
he surprised me with pink roses
and taught me to fly a kite
we used to share fudge sundaes
and ice cream in a cone
and though you cannot see him
im not standing here alone
cause my daddy is always with me
even though we are apart
i know because he told me he'll forever be in my heart"
with that her little hand reached up
and lay across her chest
feeling her own heart beat
beneath her favorite dress
and from somewhere in the crowd of dads
her mother stood in tears
proudly watched her daughter
who was wise beyond her years
she finished with a voice so soft
but its message clear and loud...
'i love my daddy very much
hes my shining star
and if he could, he'd be here
..but heavens just too far'

I'm in, I'm in, I'm in!!!!!!!!!!

Ok so I know it's been a really long time since I have updated my blog!!!!!! But I was waiting for the good news to come in so I could share!  As you know, I had my interview for the Athletic Training Program at NAU on Saturday! So we loaded up and drove up to Flagstaff on Saturday morning! We got there around 10:45, so we went to target to kill some time then went to my interview!!!!!!!

I was so nervous for the interview that I broke out in hives on my neck and chest!!!!! They were running about 15 minutes late! So I had to wait another 15 minutes it was almost unbearable! They finally called me in and it was so scary!!!! They had two tables with 5 people behind them then one chair in the center of the room all by itself! So I had 5 people staring at me hanging on my every word.  Then the question part was done and it was time for my practical.  I had to tape an ankle, fit crutches, and provide wound care.  Pretty simple stuff and less scary since it was run by the students.  So I felt pretty good about the interview, if I were to do it again I would say the same exact stuff! 

The student who brought me to the practical said I would hear by Monday! So I got my hopes up to hear on Monday! Let me tell ya, I was way disappointed! I checked my email like every 5 minutes on Monday and nothing came in! I could not concentrate on anything! And I had to take a final too!!! I was a mess! So by 8:00 pm, I had to give it up for the day.  I just wasn't going to find out on Monday... then I got paranoid and thought maybe they got my email wrong! So then there was today, I went to work still checking my email every five minutes until I finally had to work, then I checked it every hour haha.  So finally right before lunch, the relief washed over and I got the email saying they would like to offer me a spot in the program!!!!!!!!!!! OOOOOOOHHHHHHH MMMMMMMMYYYYYYYY GGGGGOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSHHHHHH!!!!! I got in!!!! The email said to think about it and reply if I would like to accept.  Well I had thought about it for 2 years, so I replied to the email as soon as I could haha!!!

So that is my story! I look forward to keeping everyone up to date on my experiences on my blog! Hopefully I'll have time!

Save the date!!!!!!

So I just got a call that on Saturday March 5th I have my interview for the Athletic Training Education Program!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my gosh I just can't wait. I hope it goes well! I will find out the Monday after if I am accepted! OMG I can't believe this is almost here!!!!!!!!!!! I have waited so long for this and I it's the only thing in my life that I will seriously die for! Ok I wouldn't literally die, but I have no plan B so I better get this! So keep your fingers crossed and send me lots of good vibes on Saturday March 5th at 11:30!!!!!!!!!!!

And the race is on!

So last week I sent off my application to the Athletic Training Education Program at NAU.  So the wait begins, I will hopefully have an interview at the end of the month/beginning of March.  It will probably be on a Friday or Saturday and I should know by the Monday after my interview if I have been accepted or not! So keep your fingers crossed, they only accept 15 people into the program! I don't think that I have ever wanted anything more in my life, if I don't get in then I might just die!!! Ok well maybe not die, but I will be devastated! So pray with me and send me positive vibes for the whole process.  At least the wait isn't long, right?!?  I'll let you know what happens next!!!!!!!!!!

Yay for big sisters!!!!!!!

Now I know some of you are saying wait I thought Shelli was an only child! Well I am but 10 years ago I met my long time friend Ali who took me under her wing as her little sister! So this past weekend Ali and I went up to Flagstaff with her friend Tarah and Tarah's friend Genaro! Ali and Tarah graduated from NAU so they showed me around campus and town.  I learned all the cool spots to party at hang out at haha! We also went to the Grand Canyon!!! It was so pretty all covered in snow! Here are some pictures from the weekend!

 From right to left: Me, Genaro, Ali, and Tarah.  At the Grand Canyon! It was free this weekend too! So if you want to go to the Grand Canyon and get in for free I suggest on MLK weekend haha and you'll see some snow!  Actually it's probably most holidays!

 Work it girl!!!!!!

 Me and Ali, big sis and lil sis!

 We saw two deer and took like 100 pictures just of them, I'll only put one though!

 Me and Tarah with the infamous french fries at South Campus!

 Me, Tarah, Ali, and Genaro at Old Main on north campus

I had so much fun, I was jumping for joy haha! It was such a fun weekend! I am glad I got to spend it with three wonderful people, I couldn't have had a better time!  Flagstaff is such a beautiful part of our state and I can't wait to live there in 8 months! Oh and here is kind of a hint hint nudge nudge, I think I would love to have visitors!!!!!! It's only 2 1/2 hours away and Flagstaff has some good restaurants that would make your stay there quite enjoyable!  :) I hope you had a great 3 day weekend also!

Banner Simulation Center (Coolest place on earth)!

So last Saturday, I went with a group that I volunteer with for the Cardon Children's Medical Center, to the Banner Simulation Center at the old Banner Mesa Hospital at Country Club and Brown.  I volunteer for the hospital ( Cardons) with a program called the Cardon Compass Program.  We help with events for the hospital and in return for volunteering we get to shadow people who work in the hospital and go on cool field trips like the one this past weekend.  Our wonderful leader, Lindsay, arranged for the group to take a tour of the Simulation Center.  It was the coolest thing ever!

In the Simulation Center, Registered Nurses who are certified to run simulation mannequins, teach new nurses who are just hired by Banner hospitals how to do procedures how Banner specifically wants them done and also make sure the experienced nurses are on top of their game!  These Mannequins are both high-fidelity and low-fidelity.  High-fidelity means that the mannequins have a chest that rise and falls when they breath, and pulses that you can feel, they also blink (which is really freaky!).  Low-fidelity means that they still have breath sounds and a heart beat, but the chest does not rise and fall.  Both of them can talk (Which is also really freaky!)

So what did we learn while on this tour?   First we learned how to change a dressing for IV's and central lines.  I think putting on the sterile gloves were the hardest part of that part!

Then we got to take a tour of the center! Since the center was a hospital they have every part of the hospital exactly the way it was, like the intensive care unit, the emergency room, the operating rooms, and regular patient rooms.  Our first stop was the intensive care unit, or ICU, where each of our groups went through a scenario.  In my scenario my guy went into cardiac arrest, so we had to perform CPR.  Of course me being the only CPR certified person I started it off.  Then we took turns! Now I know that if I really had to do it, I could.  I knew it was ingrained in my head, but there was still doubt that I wouldn't be able to remember when my adrenaline was pumping.  Now I know that I can haha.

I know I shouldn't be smiling, but I was kinda freaking out and then Lindsay took the picture!

This is the computer they were running everything off of.

So all in all this was probably one of the coolest things I have ever done!!!!!!!!

Yay for 2011!

So a lot is planned for this year!!!!! In two weeks my friend Ali and I are going up to Flagstaff with her friend Tarah!!! They are both NAU Alumni so they are going to show me all the hip places to hang out at! Then on February 15th my application to the Athletic Training program is due, hopefully I will get an interview then a couple days after my interview I will hopefully hear if I made it into the program! Keep your fingers crossed!!!! I am also applying for a promotion for my job.  I want to go into management at the pools, so I will be filling out my application in a few days! Then in the fall I will be moving out! Ok well moving into a dorm at NAU, but still I will be living on me own!!!! So this year looks like it is going to make up for 2010, and boy do I hope it does!  I hope everyone had an awesome and safe new years celebration!  Make the most of the year, after all life is short! 

2011 can't come any faster!

Well 2010 will be a year I will never forget, unfortunately this is not a good thing! At the beginning of the year my grandma (my mom's mom)  had meningitis and had to have brain surgery, so we spent 6 months trying to get her better.  She is on her way to being better so that is a good thing.  Then in July my other grandmother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.  She passed away in October.  As you would think things could only go up from here right! WRONG!!!!!!! Just early this morning and I mean early like 2:00 AM, our precious and beloved chihuahua Minnie went to doggy heaven.  We all knew that when she went it would be hard, we just didn't think she would would be the icing on the cake to end a horrible year! She was 12 years old, and up to 2 days ago she was doing just fine! She ate a lot of almonds and was throwing them up. We took her to the vet and they wanted to keep her for the day to do an enema (clean out her colon) and hydrate her.  Well we got to take her home, but I guess her 4 pound body just couldn't take it anymore.  So here's to a way better 2011!!!!!!!!!  Happy New Year Everyone!

I'M A LUMBERJACK!!!!!!!!!!

So last night I got an awesome phone call! So as everyone knows I applied to NAU a couple weeks ago.  My friend had told me when I get accepted they will personally call you.  Well I thought how could they personally call every student they accept? I thought it would just be a recorded phone call saying congrats on being accepted.  Well, last night out of the blue, the phone rings and the caller ID said Northern Arizona University! So of course I answered it and it was a REAL person!!! He told me that I have been ACCEPTED! Woohoo I have one step down! Now all I have to do is apply to the athletic training program and hopefully be accepted into that!

Sunny Side Up Challenge! Can you do it?

So after this weekend I have a new philosophy on life! And I would like to thank the wonderful country artist Martina McBride.  Have you heard her song Sunny Side Up?  Well if not, here are the lyrics...

I still get that feeling I felt when I fell in love with my baby

Everytime he makes me smile

I still see the beautiful in your favorite song on the radio

Turn it up and here we go

Look at everything we have

Baby, it ain't so bad

Today everything is sunny side up
I'm hangin' on to happy and pushin' my luck
You're lookin' at a girl whose lookin' at the world
And no matter what
Sunny side up
Sunny side up
Yeah, yeah

It seems like everybody's way too sad
Come on let's lift each other up
Look at all we have
Baby it ain't so bad

Oh, today everything is sunny side up
I'm hangin' on to happy and pushin' my luck
You're lookin' at a girl whose lookin' at the world
And no matter what
Hey, today everything is sunny side up
I'm hangin' on to happy and pushin' my luck
You're lookin' at a girl whose lookin' at the world
And no matter what
Sunny side up
Sunny side up
Yeah, yeah
Yeah, sunny side up

I still get that feeling I felt when I fell in love with my baby
Everytime he makes me smile

On my way home from school today this song came on my ipod. I think it was a sign! With finals coming up and my last semester in the valley starting in January, I am feeling a little stressed. Ok a little is an understatement! Now after hearing this song, I decided I am going to always look on the sunny side of things.  Yes times may be stressful, but you know what?!?!?!?! They will soon be over!!! So I encourage and challenge everyone to look on the positive side of life and forget all the gloom.  I know its easier said than done, but don't you think the world would be a better place if everyone did this.  So pass this idea along and maybe we can change the world.  And just remember when times are stressful, just think it could always be worse.  Let's all look on the sunny side of life and give smiles to everyone around us.  After all isn't the best gift to give someone, a smile?!?!

Also a little update on my trip to NAU! It was AMAZING!!!!!!!! I can't wait to go to school up there next fall! I did find out that the AT program only accepts 15 people a year! So think happy thoughts with me on getting into the program!
Have a great day everyone! And give your best in everything you do! :)

STRESS you don't really know what it is till college!!!!!

Well the fall semester is coming to an end with only two weeks left. And let me tell you it will be a VERY stressful 2 weeks.  I have a 10 page paper due along with 3 finals! I keep saying only 2 more weeks then I don't have to deal with Chemistry ANYMORE, or my horrible anatomy teacher! But to be honest I could really use two more weeks added on or more hours in a day to get everything done!!!!! Last week there was only 3 days of school thanks to Thanksgiving break! And man did I need a break, but I couldn't have been more busy for those 3 days.  2 tests and 1 speech kept me on my toes! Then of course on Tuesday night I come down with a 100 degree fever! So the 4 day weekend finally came and I had a great time with family and just relaxing! Now for this week, I have to finish my 10 page paper (that I just started today, I know I was a big huge procrastinator on that) and study for anatomy! All along my parents and I are heading up to NAU this weekend to talk to someone from the Athletic Training program and take a tour of the campus!!!!!!! I just can't wait for that, it will be a nice break.  So that is kind of a quick update, there will be a more extensive post after this weekend and I will get some cool pictures put up!  All you college students good luck on finals!!!!!!!

Keep your fingers crossed!

   
   So the first of October I "accidentally" applied to NAU haha.  Some of you may be thinking "Wait accidentally, but I thought she wanted to go there?" Well I do! It's just that the application process for transfer students was sooooooo easy!  All I had to do was put in my information then hit send, and send them my MCC and High school transcripts. Oh and start paying them before I am even accepted, let the expensive education begin!  So I did all of this and sent my transcripts online.  My high school transcripts were sent through Docufide. Well I got an email saying they were sent, then another saying NAU had received them.  A couple weeks later I got a letter from NAU, I was so excited I thought it was an acceptance letter.  Uhm... actually it was a letter saying they had not received my high school transcripts.  So I called the number on the letter, and the guy said they would get someone on it.  I guess they are still looking for someone to help... haha.  It's ok though I went to Mountain View today and got my transcripts and they are now heading up to NAU via snail mail.  So hopefully I will hear soon! 

     Another reason to keep your fingers crossed with me! I am starting my application process for the Athletic Training Education Program! I have started asking for many "GOOD" letters of recommendation (Thank you Matt Blackburn for that piece of advise :) ).   I have emailed some of the professors that are in charge of the program to see if I can come and talk to them before I finalize my decision to go up there.  Don't worry I've pretty much had this decided since like 8th grade.  So please keep your fingers crossed that I get into NAU, get to talk with someone from the program, and get into the program! If I don't get in for some odd reason, I have decided to apply for the Disney PAID Internship!  I shall keep you updated! :)

CRAZY WEEKEND!

    As many of you may know I work for the City of Mesa as a lifeguard, swim instructor, and a head coach.  This past weekend though, I got to add yet another job title to my list... janitor!  This weekend was the high school state swim meet! It started on Thursday and lasted until Saturday.  So this is how the weekend went!  On Thursday I got to work just to help clean up after the day, luckily we had a few kids from one high school that had to help us clean because they decided to pull a prank on their freshman and vandalize their home pool.  Smart I know, why would you vandalize your own pool!? Needless to say, we got done pretty fast! Then came Friday, I headed right over to Kino when I got done with school.  We put up a rotation (which was the easiest rotation ever because everyone knows how to swim!) and on our breaks we had to go check trashes and put toilet paper in the bathrooms.  So Thursday night again was not as bad, the kids came back to help, but since Thursday was the smaller schools there was not as much trash.  

   Then there was Saturday, yesterday, I don't think I have ever seen so many people in my life! I got there and had to park in the baseball fields behind the school!  This was after I had to deal with children who had sugar for breakfast and didn't want to listen to me in lessons! So the day followed the same time-line as the day before, rotate, trash, toilet paper.  Then came after the meet!!!!!!!!!!!! OH MY GOSH!!!! I have never seen so much trash in my life.  Our hoodlums came during the meet and helped get some trash cans emptied, then left because it was homecoming! Which is fine because what could take us 20 minutes took them 45 minutes.  So after the meet we started picking up trash around the bleachers and in the team areas! Luckily for some reason we had a shopping cart, and we used a big red cart provided by maintenance to put trash bags on and take them to the dumpster.  Well by the time we were done the dumpster was full and there were about 50-75 trash bags that could not fit in the dumpster.  So by that time it was like 7:45, and we still had to do the bathrooms! So we did the bathrooms and got out of there by 9:00 pm! 

     Needless to say, I am kind of sore today! But I had an awesome weekend with some awesome people!!!!!! I would do it all again in a heartbeat! Plus it helps that I got paid for it all :)

My First Blog!

So this is my very first blog post! Well technically like my third... I had to have a blog for a computer class but it was with a different site and I only put one sentence each time.  So really this is my first non-forced blog post haha.  I decided I would start one because I have seen some of my friends' blogs and it seems like a great way to let everyone know what is going on in your life!  I have really enjoyed reading some of them, so I thought "hmm... why don't I start one, it looks like fun."  So here it is my blog.  I will try to keep up with it as my life goes on through college and hopefully throughout my career.  I hope everyone enjoys my blog :)