Corpus Christi and Padre Island

Girls Weekend Getaway!
Adrianna (Del Rio PT tech), Nancy (Del Rio PTA), and ME (Eagle Pass and Del Rio PT) all embarked to Corpus Christi, TX for the long weekend for some beach time and R&R. We stayed at a nice hotel on the bay and found lots to do from eating fresh seafood to swimming, and sailing!

Cousin Jacob and I. We haven't hung out since New Years and it was great to see him again!

Loading up in Jacob's Jeep Wagoneer to pick up the sailboat and go sailing! Getting my first sailing lesson! Jacob said I did a great job for my first time and even said I could come back and do it again! I only have 3 bruises and a nice sunburn regardless of multiple sunscreen applications... I'm the "Gueda" as they call me here... (white girl)

The sailboat- small, but fast!

My First Tarantula!

So, I am noticing a trend in my blogs- crazy weird creatures and island trips. One I like. One I do not. Can you guess which is which? So, this was waiting ON the door of the clinic last week for us! My hero/secretary elicited the help of the FedEx man next door and together they battled it to it's demise. They would have saved it and released it, but it was too close to the patients and decided we don't want to scare them away, and it was WAY too big to pick up....

South Padre Island

Ready for the island!

Hi! Sorry it has been awhile! I was away this past weekend on South Padre Island. My boss owns a condo there, about 45 minutes from his clinic in Harlingen, TX. He was going on this big fishing trip and needed me to cover his clinic on Monday. The perk was, I got his condo for the weekend before- right on the Gulf. Well, needless to say, he twisted my arm... Had a blast. Swam in the ocean. Ate seafood. Gobs of seafood. Ate sushi. (I know that's seafood too, but it deserves its own category). Drank island drinks. Met cool island people who, btw, are SO "chill". Layed on the beach. Listened to the waves. Read magazines for the first time in a year. DIDN'T watch any TV. Watched old people dance to a live band at an ocean side dive. Laughed at them and decided I wanted to be just like that at age 70. Got sunburned bad! (SPF 50 doesn't help if you forget to put it on the back of your legs and lay on your stomach all day on the beach!) Went skinny dipping in the middle of the night. (Do not try that at home- it's an Island thing). Woke up on a pillow full of sand and smiled about it. Chilled with my boss' wife at Wahoos and watched the sun go down. Got a job offer to move there next year, but we won't expound on that as of yet. Is expound a word??? I think it is. Anyway, trip a HUGE success and a much needed break.
I got a wake-up call at work on Tues and had one of the craziest work weeks yet. TGIF! More later!








Sandy toes and flip-flops. It doesn't get much better than this!
The beach. On the Gulf of Mexico, South Padre Island
The sign says it all... :) Ignore the smeared eye make-up. This is a self-portrait of absolute relaxation. I LOVE the beach!

The light house at Port Isabel, entering SPI.

My first rattlesnake experience!

I know, it's just a baby, but the cop said it had 4 rattles! (The cop that "got rid" of it)

So, I was at work yesterday when one of my patients walked into the clinic and said, "Hey, do you know there is a rattlesnake outside the clinic?" I practicly ran over a poor old blind patient with her walker trying to get outside to see my very first rattlesnake up close and personal. So, it turned out to be a baby, and by the time I got there, it was partially hidden behind a rock, but I still got pics- and here they are! Oh, the exciting things that show up at my clinic door. (At least this time it wasn't feces or vomit! - Long story...)

It's so funny, everyone else posts new pics of their kids, and I post pics of rattlesnakes... I'll try to get one of a giant tumbleweed next. :)

I'm BACK!!!

Doing NMES with a 12 year old patient with Foot Drop after surgery to remove bony tumors that grow on his bones, a condition called osteochondroses.
Stretching a patient after surgery following a wrist fracture.

HI AGAIN!

Well, sorry to all 2 of you who read/comment on my blog. I have not written since getting back from visiting home in NY. All is A-OK. I have been swamped at work, which is good cause the day goes by fast and bad cause I feel like I have no down time. I also joined the gym when I got back and haven't missed a week day yet. (Pat myself on back). I have enjoyed discovering spin classes (Andie, I know how you feel!) and am also power-walking 2 miles around our Eagle Pass "lake". So, by the time I get home, feed the kitties, and drink my cactus, celery, pineapple smoothie, and shower, I pretty much am ready to crash. I have managed to revive my social life though- well, not that it died, but I see lots of people I know at the gym, friends, former/current patients, MDs, ect.

One sad note- I "lost" my phone. Actually, I do believe it was "swiped", but I will probably never know. After a dramatic weekend without it, and a day long frantic search of the entire property, I did get a new phone on Monday with my same number, but I lost everyone else's numbers... So, now I am sad... so, if anyone reads this call me and give me your # and any numbers I may need! Thanks! Well, That's about all for now. I am posting some pics of me working away. Some of these pictures may be used in an article my PT School is writing about me and my work on the border (so the pts have given permission for these photos to "go public") In case anyone was worried. Ok! Bye for now!

Going Home!!!!

I am going home on Saturday for a week and I am so excited!!! I leave tomorrow after work, am driving 3 and 1/2 hours to Austin, staying the night in Austin, and flying out Saturday at 6am. I'll be in Roch-cha-cha by nooner!!! I am SOOOOOO thrilled to see the fam!!! And Andie! If you read my blog- I will call as soon as I get in so we can see each other before you leave! So excited you're kinda gonna be my neighbor! Well, my state's neighbor at least. lol ;0
Must go change cat litter, pack (ughh), do laundry, and get some Zzzz's. See you all soon NY'ers!

Piedras Negras, Mexico

A map of Mexico...
Eagle Pass in relation to Mexico

I went to Mexico a couple of weeks ago to take pictures in this park just across the border. It is a beautiful park filled with sculptures, statues, and huge paintings depicting ancient legends and stories. So, I thought I would post them to share. I love exploring Mexico, and have gotten a little braver as time goes by. I still don't go alone, but I've mastered driving, shopping, and am even able to order off the menu in Spanish now!