When September Ends

There were too many things that happened in September to really recount. Life up in the PacNor is good, and I look forward to all the things that it will bring me in the future. But, I do miss my friends and family - something that I proved to myself while visiting California over this last weekend. It was so great to see everyone that I know and love, and who loves and knows me as well. I had a blast visiting the old spots with my old friends. Places like the MoLo and The Duke, will always be remembered with fondness and excitement.

But, I had to return.

Work is finally kicking up a notch! This last week we've finally redecorated our lobbies with cool health information, including healthy recipes and advertisements for our upcoming Pfizer Tobacco Cessation class, our Wednesday Walking Group (eeep, it's growing!). This week we had an extra person come to our walking group, the two year old talked to me, AND we walked a whole bunch faster! Way to go, group!

My OCTOBER bulletin board. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month! Also available, delicious Spanish Cauliflower recipe!

I've also gotten to do some short patient interventions because I'm finally trained on the EMR system at the clinic. I even have to write in patient navigator chart notes, which makes me feel totally important, and like I'm actually doing something with my life. I talked to an older woman about getting her some free mammograms and paps, free eye exam AND reminded her about the importance of testing her blood sugar. Seem like minuscule and silly things, but she walked away smiling and happy, which is all I can really expect from an uninsured and unemployed woman in her late 50s after she had to wait for 45 minutes to see a provider. I hope she shows up at our walking group like she said she would!

Also these past few weeks I've been going to Seattle every weekend and then some. I've come to be pretty familiar with the city, more so than Portland! There's Capitol Hill and the Gayborhood, there's Fremont - The Center of The Universe, with it's Lenin statue and dog-friendly restaurants, a chocolate factory and a BLOND GUINESS. Yes, I know.... I couldn't believe it either. There's Mt. Rainier with it's snow covered peaks too! There's much to love about Seattle, and I hope that soon enough I will get to know Portland as well :)

Out in Capitol Hill with some Seattle friends.

But, what I like the most about Seattle is getting to hang out with the AmeriCorps crew. They are a team of really amazing individuals that continue to inspire me everyday. There's Bryan who started an ltUimate Frisbee team while studying abroad in India. There's Anna who biked accross the entire US. There's Kirsten who worked in South America on building a sustainable safe birth program... many many other incredible things were done by our Health Corps members, and many many more amazing things to come. I just thought that I'd finally officially introduce them to my blog.

The 2010-2011 AmeriCorps SeaMar team.

Until next time!