And so it begins....

So I have been going back and forth about writing a blog for some time now. I am not one to Tweet (originally I wrote that I was not one to Twitter... as you can see I am a bit out of my element) or even Facebook, but I like staying connected.... so here I am being moderately self-indulgent but hopefully a bit entertaining. I moved to Tampa, Florida (Wesley Chapel to be exact) a little over a week ago and it has definitely been an adjustment. Justin, Nala and I have begun to set-up shop in our home. 

 Excuse the dreary weather, we are experiencing the typical afternoon shower. I'm glad you also spotted our tinted Camry in the driveway.

I am not sure if Nala is having a hard time adjusting to the new house/space or if we are having a hard time adjusting to the way Nala is adjusting to the new house/space.
Now our exchanges look like this:
Nala sits at our sliding glass door, gazing out at the lanai, (yes a lanai). After about 1-3 minutes she starts to cry so I let her out (her crying ranges from endearing whimpers to blood curtaining screeches). About 3 minutes later she is sitting on the other side of the door crying to be let in. And the vicious cycle continues. Yesterday marked an unprecedented 30 second turn over, from crying to be let out to crying to be let in. We have since adopted a bit of the Ferber method and keep her outside crying until she realizes that she has a huge fenced-in-yard filled with unsuspecting critters. This has helped a bit.

This is the calmest I have seen her thus far, had to capture the serenity.

Speaking of critters, our backyard backs up to a nature preserve of some sort, filled with birds and what I can only describe to be pterodactyls. The baby frogs and geckos are pretty cute as well, Nala keeps trying to eat them, I just hope I never have to see her catch one...

The view from the Master Bathroom of the backyard and Jurassic Park. Note the few crane looking white birds

I am about the start my Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of South Florida and I am in the process of applying for a Master's in Public Health. The Dual-Degree will be completed in 3 years, so until then, I will be a student again. I am very excited about being able to contribute to an intellectual environment again. I was chosen to be a Graduate Assistant and I have already started working with two professors. For one, I am researching the development of Diabetes in people taking anti-psychotic medications. Something I would never think to do on my own, but highlights some interesting intersections.

My Social Work field placement will be at The Centre in the Project Recovery program, working with women with substance abuse/mental health issues. http://www.thecentre.org/services/substance-abuse-treatment
It's an outpatient program and I will be there for 2 years. I am excited to jump into more clinical work and see a variety of Social Work practices play out in the day-to-day, particularly individual and group therapies.

In the future, this blog won't be a summary of my life, more up to date stuff thats going on, videos I find to be inspiring and topics I have on my mind, think social commentary meets tv/movies analysis meets life updates- something for everyone. Feel free to comment, or view when you can.

More to come!

Melanie