sunday shoes

Warm weather and the Volunteer's appearance in the NCAA tournament call for a great pair of shoes! Thank you warm weather for bringing out the sandals. And thank you to the University of Tennessee Volunteer's for making bright orange a wonderful color to wear anytime anywhere. I have a feeling bold colors are going to be great this spring...so here are some lovely sandals to add to the collection!

Lil Playa

There is a gray cat that lives in my apartment complex called Lil Playa. He is only called this by me (unless someone else around here has given him the same name). Lil Playa does not have a home, but he chooses to call my apartment building his home because of all the perks it comes with. A few of the perks being lady cats, free meals, and even a free bed. Yes, people (more than one!) in my building not only leave food and water out for this cat, but a bed too! Naturally Lil Playa sticks around for these things.

Aside from playing all the neighbors, Lil Playa got his name because he also knocked up a lady cat who lives in another building in my apartment complex. {good work Lil Playa} So this cat is ridiculous. Anytime he is out when I come and go from my apartment, he dances around my feet like most cats do probably wanting me to jump on the bandwagon of fools he's tricked into taking care of him. But I will give Lil Playa credit, for a stray...he does quite well.

The reason why I tell you about Lil Playa is that he's really not as bright as he seems and the people who are taking care of him for no apparent reason are maybe less bright than he.

Yesterday when I got home a group of people where surrounding a tree next to my apartment building. Yes, Lil Playa's caretakers. And yes...Lil Playa got himself stuck in a tree. And....yes I immediately started laughing.

I thought it couldn't get better, but this morning {6:45 am} two of my neighbors were actually still at the tree trying to convince this stray cat to come down. Really people??

But wait! It got sooo much better!!

I came home today to find this....
A very large stick or possibly a small tree propped up against the tree Lil Playa has been hanging out in. That little gray bump right where the tree splits is the crazy cat.

But still more...Someone actually bought this stray cat that decided to get stuck in a tree canned cat food and put next to the tree. As of now, Lil Playa has not taken the bait.

Heyo People!!! I apologize for the extreme lack of opinions, humor, and love for shoes that has taken over the blog. Do know that I have not forgotten about handful of you that read my random thoughts. I very much appreciate each of you and the comments you've given me. It made my entire week to know that my thoughts about Idol, random facts about my life, and of course...Sunday Shoes were missed. I have missed sharing all of these with you!

So the latest in my life...I had my first day of level 1 pediatric fieldwork, and I LOVED it! So I'm getting to spend the week in K-town playing with kids and catching up with friends that I so dearly miss. Here are some of my favorite things about Knoxvegas...

1. The Sunsphere

2. ridiculous amount of Power Ts on cars

3. seeing the color orange everywhere

4. Aubreys

5. McKays

6. Steamboat

7. the new Hobby Lobby in Turkey Creek

8. hanging out with the fam

9. rockband at Emily's

10. watching Idol and The Office with really great people

11. (last but definitely NOT least) The House Neyland Built

{Sunday Shoes}

Spring is in the air. I can feel it. The weather here is B-E-A-U-TIFUL!! And I'm loving the color yellow these days. The sunshine, the shoes, love it all. From left to right, here is where you may find these Pierre Dumas flats, Joan and David pumps, Apepazza Tormalina flats, and Seychelles pumps.

this... is not American Idol.

this is steph sharing her thoughts about American Idol! So I might have missed the best girls performance tonight. I hear from numerous sources that Crystal Bowersox did really well. So kudos to her, I won't miss your performance next week.

To the boys last night, let's step it up a notch. I think we are all ready to see a little more performance and not so much hiding behind a mic and singing comfortable songs. Tell us how you really feel and bust out something great. Thanks.

Hey judges...you were slightly harsh. I know this is your job, but my goodness, these people were working with kids and bringing customers refills just a few months ago. Let's tell them to do better and cut them a little slack for now. But I do applaud you for keeping a smile on your face when the entire audience boos you.

Here are my favorites from this week...

the fellas:
Big Daddy Mike (thank you not holding back, you're a rockstar)
Alex 'mullet' Lambert (really like your voice, way to be)
Tim Urban (think you played it safe, but kudos for the song, it's a personal fav)

and the ladies:
Katelyn Epperly (girl, you are good and you picked a great song. fabulous job!)
Didi Benami (the song was a smidge cliche, but really liked the way you sang it)
Lacey Brown (big fan of your style and voice)
*Crystal Bowersox...pretty sure from what I heard you belong on this list

Alright people, tomorrow dear friends of mine are having their first child. Yes, if you do not know who I am referring to, those friends would be Pam and Jim Halpert. Baby Halpert will be joining the world tomorrow!!!!!! Get pumped. I am.

it's for real people!!!!

MAY 15, 2010. I will venture over to MASINDI, UGANDA as part of a medical mission team with Palmetto Medical Initiative and Medical Campus Outreach. The purpose of this trip is to go and love on the people of Uganda as well as provide them with medical treatment they would otherwise not have access to. As an OT student my role will be to provide rehab treatment to people in the form of splinting when needed, wound management, and teaching correct body positioning, ergonomics, and exercises (people in Uganda do lots of manual labor working in fields all day and carrying large amounts of weight on their heads, therefore they have lots of lower back pain).

I cannot begin to explain HOW excited I am about this trip. All I can say is that God has put a huge passion in my heart to GO and SERVE the people of Uganda. I anticipate this to be an incredible learning experience, mostly in humility. From the little I know of the people we will be going to serve, I can tell they are extremely grateful for all they have (even though it is hardly anything compared to the way we live) and they know how to love in a way I've never imagined.

Lately we have been going through Acts in church. A few weeks ago, we talked about being compelled to Go. My pastor said something that I have not been able to forget. He said we need to set our heart default to "yes." With this he talked about people in the Bible who answered Yes to God before they were asked a question. This really hit home to me, because in a lot of ways, if I knew what the question was, I might not want to say yes. Therefore I need to say Yes first and be obedient as to where I am sent. God has given me the passion to be an OT and through that I have learned the skills needed to serve others in need. I know He has great plans in Uganda, and I am so thankful to be a part of them. Please join me in praying for the people of Uganda, the doctors, therapists, students, and myself on this team. Your prayers are much needed and very much appreciated!!

Here are a few pictures from last May's trip...

This is the local church turned into the clinic during the week.

Here are some OT students making splints for a little girl to help her walk.

Here are some kiddos playing outside the clinic.

If you would like more information about my trip, please email me at sad33@musc.edu