Major Change #2

I told you I was having major life changes. I am in my quarter life crisis. That's right, I didn't have to wait until I was 50 for a mid life crisis. I've been having some car issues for the past year. Here and there. Nothing too major...some brakes here, some rotors there. Last Saturday I was supposed to take my car in to have the rotors looked at...again. Well, that didn't happen because on Friday afternoon, I was sitting, idle, in the middle of I-170 on my way to a clinic I was supposed to be observing at in the afternoon for one of my class assignments. I started up the ramp off of forest park to get onto 170 south and didn't quite make it off the ramp or onto the road...and therefore blocked both. Thank god for Triple A. They had a tow truck to me in 15 minutes, so I only pissed off about 100 cars that were zoooooming by in what seemed like 3 hours. Thanks to a copy with her flashing lights and cones, I was able to remain alive and safe inside my car. Oh yeah, forgot to mention the kid who pushed me on his own out of the middle of the road becuase 1. he felt sorry for me or 2. more likely, he was pissed off I was in his way. The end result of this hassle (besides the tears and frustration):

2009 Honda CR-V
Urban Titanium Metallic

This picture does not do it justice. It is a dark espresso brown. Gorgeous! I love driving it! I have always wanted an SUV! I decided that being in Chicago in the winter would probably be good reason for me to justify getting an SUV ;)

The Job Hunt ENDS!

So I have neglected my blogging duties for about 2 months...but for good reason! Lots of many major changes have been happening in my life. First, I have a JOB! What?! My FIRST REAL job! After 20 years of education, I finally am smart enough to enter the real world. However, I am a professional student and am a little overwhelmed (frightened, actually) of the Real World. So...where is this job?

CHICAGO! After interviewing, more interviewing, and then mulling over multiple job offers, I finally made a decision. I will be working for Accelerated Rehab at Riverside Medical Clinic (http://www.riversidemedicalsc.com/location.php) in Arlington Heights, a northwest suburb.

http://www.acceleratedrehab.com/

Look right on I-90 (geen highway) in the top and middle of the map. I wanted to add text on the map but have no idea how to do this!

This is a small clinic with two physical therapists (me + one). I will have lots of mentoring and one on one time with my co-worker and boss. I will be able to develop programs and become an integral part of a large company through a small and intimate environment. This was a very tough decision for me because it is not pediatrics. As most of you know, I was set on being a pediatric physical therapist. Well, let me tell you, pediatrics is the worst paying niche in the profession of physical therapy. If I was not paying six figures back in loans, I could afford to do that! However, I must be realistic. I will still try to work PRN on some weekends at a children's hospital to get my fix and make some extra $$. I may decide to take a peds route at some point, but for now I am going to explore outpatient physical therapy in my favorite city ever!

WANTED:

ANYONE who is living in the Chicagoland area and needs a roommate....

LET ME KNOW PLEASE!!!

Or if you know someone who knows someone, let me know!

The Job Hunt Begins....Barely!

References. Check. Outfit for Job Fair ironed and ready. Check. Resume Paper. Check. Resume. Check. Print 10 copies. Che... Today was a mad dash for finalizing my resume. My professors who had critiqued it had a turn around time of less than 24 hours (AMAZING), and the job fair was tonight. So I spent the day reading and re-reading my resume at least 10 times. I printed about 8 copies when I realized, as I was reading it again (it looked so nice and professional!), that my phone number was 217-556-8576! NOT 8567! This night was about to be disasterous and I may have been bald the next time you see me from pulling my hair out! This was the last thing I needed after my project that I worked on Tuesday night vanished from my computer and I had to spend all day yesterday redoing it. So, catastropohe avoided, I changed my phone number before handing it out to the many, many vendors that wanted it (yay!) and I don't feel like a failure before I've even started. Hopefully this is a sign that the job hunt will begin on a good note! One thing is for sure, I will always check my contact info at least 100 times before I ever hand out another resume.

Pomp and Circumstance

I have ten minutes before I have to take brownies out of the oven and deliver them to one stressed out law student pulling an all nighter. Ten minutes is not enough time to start reading another article for my case report :) Ten minutes is not enough time to shower and dry my hair before I have to go outside in the cold. Ten minutes IS;however, enough time to BLOG.

I just finished filling out the "Washington University In St. Louis School of Medicine Commencement 2009 Sutdent Regalia Rental" order form. In three simple words: CAP AND GOWN! I had to measure the circumference of my head exactly 1 inch above my ears. This is difficult when your right ear is lower than your left. So, I took my physical therpist tape measure and wraped it around my head...and...21 inches! I was surprised! Do I have a big head? I was curious to call friends and see what their head size was because I was starting to feel insecure. Anyway, I decided that I would just rent this lovely "very distinctive", as described by the university advertisement (you would agree when you hear this next part), POLYESTER, gown. See picture below.

Now you can understand why I am renting this piece of work! Or it could be because to purchase the gown costs $510.50 versus renting it for $91.73. Either way, I am EXCITED and PROUD to wear this sucker no matter how much you may laugh at me becuase guess what...I'll be called DOCTOR and wearing the green gown is the easiest thing I've had to do to get this title thus far!

And The Winner Is...

Here are a few pictures from the Barrister's Ball (aka law school prom). Unfortunately, due to the time of year, I was unable to see any animals at the zoo! Steve and I came up with the idea that one of the only places to have an indoor event at the zoo and still feel like you were at the zoo would be to use the reptile house as a venue. Well, for those of you who really know me, this would have been catastophic. Steve would have been flying solo for this event. Me + reptiles (SNAKES UGH!) = me passed out on the floor becuase I would be hyperventilating the entire time. So, no animals this weekend--but no reptiles either = no complaints and a fun night of dinner and dancing!

Commentary on The Title of My Blog

"Now, Chanel. You're in desperate need of Chanel. Darling, shall we? We have to get to the beauty department, and God knows how long that's going to take" --Devil Wears Prada

There seems to be some confusion about the title of my blog. So I will quickly explain my choice of wording. "The Devil Wears...Sweatpants" was adapted from a book and movie (2006) called "The Devil Wears Prada." When you are in medical school there is no time or money for Prada. For two and a half years (soon to be 3), I sat in the basement of a medical building with no windows---no need for Prada people. And, when you have a goal of paying off your tuition and loans in 10 years minimum--there is no money for Prada either.

So I wear sweatpants since I'm in the basement with no windows and no one looks at me funny becuase everyone else does the same thing. It is actually kind of amusing when I do decide to 'dress up' (usually just jeans, or occasionally nicer pants and a sweater). I get the stares and puzzled facial expressions with comments such as "What is going on today? Do we have to be dressed up? Why are you dressed up?" HAHAHA. Actually, I will admit, I have been guilty of having moments of panic and have given puzzled looks to other classmates--it's an aquired thing when you are a Type A PT student (which MANY of us are). So I've learned a lot in PT school--even that wearing jeans is considered 'dressed up' and wearing sweatpants is no longer 'dressing down' but the norm.

Cinderella v. Sweatpants

This weekend I will be doffing the sweatpants and donning a party dress! Saturday is the Barrister's Ball, a "law school prom" if you will. Steve and I will be pulling ourselves away from work and having a nice dinner and fun time at the St. Louis Zoo (the venue for the ball)! Last weekend I decided I needed a fancy party dress because not only will sweatpants not cut it when going to class in law school--but definitely are not appropriate for the Barrister's Ball. It's been a while since I've tried on dresses (even though I love them). I was by myself at Macy's and Express and of course, couldn't make up my mind which one I liked the best. Therefore, I did the only reasonable thing to do...and bought all 4 of them. I know that sounds like a lot and a lot of money; but, I didn't spend more than $17 per dress! Now the dilemma...which one to wear and which 3 to take back?! Here are the 4 dresses:

Dress #1 Dress #2
Dress #3 (only $13!)

Dress #4

I'm still undecided as to which one to choose, so if you want to take a vote, let me know what you think! I will let everyone know the winner by posting a picture from Saturday. But fear not...I haven't given up sweatpants completely. In fact, today I supported the 2nd year DPT class by making a donation/purchase....

WASH U PT SWEATPANTS!!!!