Firstly, blogger is currently missing the "bullet" option in its toolbar. I wanted this to be a bulleted post, but I can't do it. Wendi? Kristen? Are you experiencing this problem?
Friday Fondue: Tia, Nicole, Natasha, Summer, and I congregated on Friday night at Erin's place to try out the new fondue set she got as a gift at the bridal shower/bachelorette party last weekend. It was a success! We had cheese fondue made with apple juice, cheddar and swiss cheeses, flour (substituted for corn starch), and pepper, with veggies, yummy Great Harvest cheddar garlic bread, apples, and baby wieners to dip. We also made a chocolate one with semisweet dark and white chocolate chips, cream, vanilla, and marshmallow creme, with fruit, marshmallows, angel food cake, and pretzels to dip. Too bad I couldn't partake in the chocolate one because I gave up desserts for Lent, but everyone said it was awesome! The cheese one surely was.
Far run: Saturday morning, Lisa and I joined a pack of runners in the marathon training class at the RAC (Rochester Athletic Club) to go for a long run. She's going to be running in a half-marathon in New York in a couple weeks and is working up the mileage. I just like running with people :) It was a beautiful morning to run-- fairly warm (i.e. 30) and sunny. However, it was super icy. I wiped out twice and we had to switch to streets for most of the run, which got us a few dirty looks from drivers. But it was successful-- we did about 9.5 miles, which is the longest I've ever done! We are planning to go again Friday for around 10 miles.
Forties: This weekend's weather (starting Friday) has been FANTASTIC!!!! It has gotten up into the forties each day, which is unbelievable. I have been able to go around with just a fleece (no coat!) and not dying without gloves. I hope it stays warm for the remainder of the time I'm here!
Fortunately: I remembered Daylight Savings Time last night! Although it is a bit shocking to have to "spring forward" so early in the spring, I didn't forget this time! At bible study this morning, someone walked in at 10:00 on the dot (it starts at 9), which I'm sure was a result of his forgetting, but he played it cool :)
File cabinet: This is the LAST PART of my apartment I plan to "go through" to get rid of stuff. I have been steadily working my way through my place, cleaning out corners at a time so that I don't have to do massive dumping sessions when it is actually time to move. Erin has basically cleaned out her place, selling her bed and planning to mail most of her stuff to Cali this week! I'm not there yet, but I feel like I've done a decent job so far. We'll see how going through all my bank statements and junk goes this afternoon.
(Wishing I could) Fast Forward time: Match Day is Thursday. I have a feeling this week is going to go by SLOWLY. I really wish I could speed these hours up. I have been having a lot of anxiety and trouble sleeping (nightmares too), which I hope will go away soon, once my next home city is decided. It's hard to believe that after so much planning and worrying, in 4 days, we will FINALLY KNOW!
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Friday, March 9, 2007
Don't get drunk and fall asleep in the jungle...
...was the title of an e-mail I just got from Patty, my friend and director of the Amazon Promise group I spent time with in 2005. Considering we spent time in the jungle of northeastern Peru, these photos are very scary to me. I am quite terrified by large spiders such as the tarantulas we saw there, but I have to say that BIG SNAKES are much scarier! Check out these horrendous photos she forwarded to me:
Anaconda
Up close
Snake killed but with villagers peering at it... big belly, eh? What did it eat?
Can you see it?
A suffocated villager. 
YIKES!!!! How's that for helping you sleep at night (in the jungle) :) Did I make any more insomniacs out there? Glad there aren't any of those in southern Minnesota! There may be some drinking going on tonight at EVB's house for fondue, but no falling asleep where snakes can get us :)
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Class/life update
My Dad's age today: 59 (Happy Birthday, Dad!)
Time (a.m.) after which I was awake, for good, today: 2
Days till match: 7
Hours per day in class: 6
It is hard being in class again! After nearly two years working almost exclusively in the hospital/clinic setting, it is really difficult to sit for so many consecutive hours per day. Our school feels the need to, before we graduate, educate us on a variety of topics "not covered elsewhere" in our four-year curriculum so, peri-match, we have this 3-week didactic block. This week, we have been having lectures and small groups in preventative/public health, clinical pharmacology (they figure we need a refresher on what we learned 2nd year!), and medical jurisprudence. Entering a primary care field, I am naturally very interested in preventative medicine; however, until today (when we had a great lecture on childhood injury prevention), these lectures have been a little "fluffy." I do like the clinical pharm, which is case-based-- yesterday, I had to lead the discussion on management of meningitis. But the post-lunch 2 hour block of legal talk is really hard to sit through. We do cover important topics, such as the distinctions between advance directives and living wills, HIPAA and privacy, as well as malpractice reporting, but the pace is at times painfully slow and by that time in the afternoon, we just want to go home and sleep (some people, ahem Nicole and Ajit, just leave and sleep!). I still find it hard to believe that I willingly and faithfully endured 8-5 class for first year and part of second year! My attention span has noticeable shrunken since that time!
On a positive note (Wendi tells me I am too negative!), it is nice to be reunited with our close-knit class of 40. While we are on clinic and hospital rotations, it is easy to go months without seeing some of the people we spent so much time with first and second years unless you specifically make a point to hang out. And, since I really like all of them, it has been great to reconnect and find out where everyone wants to/thinks they might be headed next year. Another great thing is that we get to wear normal clothes!!! While, as sad as it is, we do get used to the Mayo suit-wear, I am (and I would venture to say all of my classmates are) much more comfortable in jeans. It is actually weird to have to actually pick out an actual outfit every day again, instead of just throwing on a suit or scrubs!
In another quick news update, MATCH DAY IS ONE WEEK AWAY. In exactly seven days from now (in fact, around 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 15), my classmates and I will find out where we are all going for residency (or, as people have said, we will all have our entire future paths determined! Yikes!). As much as I can't wait to just "know," this is very scary to me. The other night (despite the free, great food!), I avoided a "Residency Dinner" geared towards informing underclassmen about this whole process because I just can't and don't really want to talk about residency anymore. It is starting to make me sad and I think next Thursday will be a hard, emotional day for me as the reality will set in that I will be leaving everyone and this place that I have called "home" for four years.
Thirdly, is insomnia contagious??!?!? Never in my whole life have I had trouble with insomnia, unlike my good friend Wendi. I am usually asleep within 2 minutes of my head hitting the pillow, and I rarely ever wake up during the night. I even slept through a 7.4 earthquake in San Diego one year. But I have had major sleep issues lately. I think some of it is anxiety-related due to personal issues and the upcoming match, move, etc. But I have also been sleeping a lot on my living room couch recently. Some of it is aversion because it's a lot colder in my bedroom than it is in the living area, which makes it harder to get up in the morning, particularly when I try to go work out. But mostly it's because I've been often falling asleep on the couch, watching TV or reading, and waking up periodically with the lights on, knowing I should move to my bed. But I just can't make myself do it. Last night, I again slept on my couch. I woke up at 2 a.m. and could not get back to sleep. I lay there for about 45 minutes hoping I would doze off again. I listened to soothing classical music. I read some. When 4:30 rolled around and I was still awake, I decided I would just stick it out and go to the gym at 5, when it opened, and then just stay up. I do not know what the deal was. But the good news (I'm being positive!) is that, undoubtedly, I will sleep solidly tonight because I'm so sleep-deprived. I somehow made it through class today, but a little nap may be in store for me...
Time (a.m.) after which I was awake, for good, today: 2
Days till match: 7
Hours per day in class: 6
It is hard being in class again! After nearly two years working almost exclusively in the hospital/clinic setting, it is really difficult to sit for so many consecutive hours per day. Our school feels the need to, before we graduate, educate us on a variety of topics "not covered elsewhere" in our four-year curriculum so, peri-match, we have this 3-week didactic block. This week, we have been having lectures and small groups in preventative/public health, clinical pharmacology (they figure we need a refresher on what we learned 2nd year!), and medical jurisprudence. Entering a primary care field, I am naturally very interested in preventative medicine; however, until today (when we had a great lecture on childhood injury prevention), these lectures have been a little "fluffy." I do like the clinical pharm, which is case-based-- yesterday, I had to lead the discussion on management of meningitis. But the post-lunch 2 hour block of legal talk is really hard to sit through. We do cover important topics, such as the distinctions between advance directives and living wills, HIPAA and privacy, as well as malpractice reporting, but the pace is at times painfully slow and by that time in the afternoon, we just want to go home and sleep (some people, ahem Nicole and Ajit, just leave and sleep!). I still find it hard to believe that I willingly and faithfully endured 8-5 class for first year and part of second year! My attention span has noticeable shrunken since that time!
On a positive note (Wendi tells me I am too negative!), it is nice to be reunited with our close-knit class of 40. While we are on clinic and hospital rotations, it is easy to go months without seeing some of the people we spent so much time with first and second years unless you specifically make a point to hang out. And, since I really like all of them, it has been great to reconnect and find out where everyone wants to/thinks they might be headed next year. Another great thing is that we get to wear normal clothes!!! While, as sad as it is, we do get used to the Mayo suit-wear, I am (and I would venture to say all of my classmates are) much more comfortable in jeans. It is actually weird to have to actually pick out an actual outfit every day again, instead of just throwing on a suit or scrubs!
In another quick news update, MATCH DAY IS ONE WEEK AWAY. In exactly seven days from now (in fact, around 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 15), my classmates and I will find out where we are all going for residency (or, as people have said, we will all have our entire future paths determined! Yikes!). As much as I can't wait to just "know," this is very scary to me. The other night (despite the free, great food!), I avoided a "Residency Dinner" geared towards informing underclassmen about this whole process because I just can't and don't really want to talk about residency anymore. It is starting to make me sad and I think next Thursday will be a hard, emotional day for me as the reality will set in that I will be leaving everyone and this place that I have called "home" for four years.
Thirdly, is insomnia contagious??!?!? Never in my whole life have I had trouble with insomnia, unlike my good friend Wendi. I am usually asleep within 2 minutes of my head hitting the pillow, and I rarely ever wake up during the night. I even slept through a 7.4 earthquake in San Diego one year. But I have had major sleep issues lately. I think some of it is anxiety-related due to personal issues and the upcoming match, move, etc. But I have also been sleeping a lot on my living room couch recently. Some of it is aversion because it's a lot colder in my bedroom than it is in the living area, which makes it harder to get up in the morning, particularly when I try to go work out. But mostly it's because I've been often falling asleep on the couch, watching TV or reading, and waking up periodically with the lights on, knowing I should move to my bed. But I just can't make myself do it. Last night, I again slept on my couch. I woke up at 2 a.m. and could not get back to sleep. I lay there for about 45 minutes hoping I would doze off again. I listened to soothing classical music. I read some. When 4:30 rolled around and I was still awake, I decided I would just stick it out and go to the gym at 5, when it opened, and then just stay up. I do not know what the deal was. But the good news (I'm being positive!) is that, undoubtedly, I will sleep solidly tonight because I'm so sleep-deprived. I somehow made it through class today, but a little nap may be in store for me...
Travel Buddy
Alex gave me the link to this Travel Buddy site where you can click on the states/countries you've visited and it maps it out for you! I should have used this before! And it allowed me to remember that I have been to the country of Monaco! I've visited 18% of the world's countries as of today :). Thanks, Alex!
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Counting countries
It has finally hit me that our Africa trip is quickly approaching! While John and Wendi are really on the ball, I've been dragging my feet a bit. We leave on Sunday, March 25, which is less than 3 weeks away. While I was a bit exhausted from traveling so much for interviews over December and January, I am rejuvenated and ready to again escape the Minnesota winter. But I am a bit behind in the planning. I have just started thinking of "things I need to pack" and doing the things I need to get done before the trip, as graduation is imminent upon our return.
The fact that, in several weeks, I will be hitting a new country reminds me of something I've been meaning to "get down" for a while. Various people have asked me, at different times in the recent past, how many countries I have been to. So the other day I sat down and counted. I also counted U.S. states and have actually been to one fewer state than I have countries! While I did a lot of traveling this past year, there are lots of the parts of the U.S. I haven't seen! Maybe I can use this summer break to see some more of them. I am wondering how I compare, number-wise, to my parents and sister (count, please!). I am not even close in number to my godparents, the world's traveling experts!
In any case, here are the 35 countries I have visited. I don't think I forgot any, but I'm not 100% certain. I hope I didn't make up any countries. The criteria are that you have to set foot in the place (airports don't count):
United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Portugal, Spain,
Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, Vatican City, Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt.
I hope to add four (Nigeria, South Africa, Lesotho, and maybe Swaziland) to this list by May of this year!
I have only been to 34 states. Here are the ones I still need to hit:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah.
I'm open to suggestions of how to visit these (i.e. anyone living here..... ?).
:)
The fact that, in several weeks, I will be hitting a new country reminds me of something I've been meaning to "get down" for a while. Various people have asked me, at different times in the recent past, how many countries I have been to. So the other day I sat down and counted. I also counted U.S. states and have actually been to one fewer state than I have countries! While I did a lot of traveling this past year, there are lots of the parts of the U.S. I haven't seen! Maybe I can use this summer break to see some more of them. I am wondering how I compare, number-wise, to my parents and sister (count, please!). I am not even close in number to my godparents, the world's traveling experts!
In any case, here are the 35 countries I have visited. I don't think I forgot any, but I'm not 100% certain. I hope I didn't make up any countries. The criteria are that you have to set foot in the place (airports don't count):
United States, Canada, Mexico, Peru, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Portugal, Spain,
Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Italy, Vatican City, Czech Republic, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, Turkey, Thailand, Nepal, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt.
I hope to add four (Nigeria, South Africa, Lesotho, and maybe Swaziland) to this list by May of this year!
I have only been to 34 states. Here are the ones I still need to hit:
Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah.
I'm open to suggestions of how to visit these (i.e. anyone living here..... ?).
:)
Monday, March 5, 2007
Cross-country skiing!
It was a beautiful sunny day yesterday and, blessed (!) with having gotten over two feet of snow in the preceeding week, it was perfect for a group of us to go snowshoeing/cross-country skiing. I'd been cross-country skiing one time before, a couple of years ago when I went up to the shores of Lake Superior. However, this was my first time going to Quarry Hill Nature Park here in Rochester. Enjoy the photos of a fun-filled afternoon (some I stole from Wendi and Lesley's blogs)!
Wendi and JB- newbies but goodies
The Joneses-- all stars!
Action photo of Lesley and me (thanks, David!)
There was a lot of falling going on. Here is Nicole trying to jump off a ledge in snowshoes :)
John, who claims he would fall when he'd start "looking at stuff" (i.e. nice scenery and birds, etc.), down.
Ajit wins for most falls (photo courtesy of David and Lesley). 
But before you start thinking I'm exempt from falling... (this was a steep hill!). David had fun while he stayed up and took pics of us falling.
Nope. Not a fall. Annaka (Martin and Dorothy's daughter) is on the ground intentionally, making a snow-angel.
Al fin. Anni wanted to surprise the photo-taker!
This was definitely some good exercise! I'm a bit sore today. Not sure if it's from the skiing or the falling...
Les, Nicole, and me preparing to go out into the cold (courtesy of Wendi)
Wendi and JB- newbies but goodies
The Joneses-- all stars!
Action photo of Lesley and me (thanks, David!)There was a lot of falling going on. Here is Nicole trying to jump off a ledge in snowshoes :)
John, who claims he would fall when he'd start "looking at stuff" (i.e. nice scenery and birds, etc.), down.
Ajit wins for most falls (photo courtesy of David and Lesley). But before you start thinking I'm exempt from falling... (this was a steep hill!). David had fun while he stayed up and took pics of us falling.Nope. Not a fall. Annaka (Martin and Dorothy's daughter) is on the ground intentionally, making a snow-angel.
Al fin. Anni wanted to surprise the photo-taker! This was definitely some good exercise! I'm a bit sore today. Not sure if it's from the skiing or the falling...
Sunday, March 4, 2007
Girls' night out!!!!
Yesterday, we had a Bridal Shower/Bachelorette party at Whistle Binkie's for three amazing girls in my class, Katie, Tia, and Erin. Summer organized most of it, particularly the decorations and food, and it was a fantastic success! I think the girls had a great time, catching up with our classmates and other friends made through our years here. We had a fun time hearing stories and input that their fiancees, Ryan, Rob, and TJ, had e-mailed me and celebrating (in advance) their upcoming weddings (Katie starts it off on April 20, followed by Tia on April 21 and Erin on May 26). We had cake, they opened some gifts, and then we went onto some late-night bar craziness (see below). Here are some photos from the night!
The lovely brides-to-be (from left: Katie, Tia, and Erin [please tell Erin she looks hot. She'll appreciate it.])
Ellie blowing up a "pecker whacker" balloon. This was really difficult. I blacked out trying to do it when we were setting up!
Posters that Amanda put together for each of the girls. Erin was mad that she didn't win with the most number of photos:) 
Sexy girls in black: Ellie, Natasha, and Molly
Does EVB look flushed to anyone else? I think it was a combination of a little sunburn from an afternoon of cross-country skiing, a couple of her 'chocolatey' drinks, and lots of excitement!
Opening gifts. Erin says "I can barely read this I'm so drunk." Katie: "Wow! A salad spinner!" (the gifts were off their registries). Tia: "You guys have to feel these towels!!" 
Tia, me, Nicole (why am I the only one still wearing a nametag?)
The "Dare" Game. Summer brought this deck of cards with bachelorette dares, which was extremely entertaining. Here are Katie and Tia getting piggyback rides from random guys in the bar.
Erin had to get a blonde guy to buy her a shot. This is her talking to "Greg."
This is Katie going in for a smooch. Erin was just jealous she didn't pull this card.
We met a big group of IBMers. Tia asked this guy if she could write her name in lipstick on him. "My name is short," she said with a smile. It didn't take too much for him to consent:)
And here was perhaps the most amusing part of all. Erin was instructed to "swap an item of clothing" with someone. So here is her (and her maid-of-honor, Liz, looking incredulous that Erin was, in fact, going to do this) holding the shirt of Jeff (who, she kept remarking for the rest of the night, was "HOT"!!!)
The swap in the works... If you're worried that Erin would not want this picture on the internet, think again. She loves this stuff. She'd want you to say her stomach looked hot. Jeff was looking the other way, to be polite:) 
Helping to dress him because, obviously, he couldn't put her Victoria's Secret top on by himself.
More...
Ellie blowing up a "pecker whacker" balloon. This was really difficult. I blacked out trying to do it when we were setting up!Posters that Amanda put together for each of the girls. Erin was mad that she didn't win with the most number of photos:) 
Sexy girls in black: Ellie, Natasha, and Molly
Does EVB look flushed to anyone else? I think it was a combination of a little sunburn from an afternoon of cross-country skiing, a couple of her 'chocolatey' drinks, and lots of excitement!Opening gifts. Erin says "I can barely read this I'm so drunk." Katie: "Wow! A salad spinner!" (the gifts were off their registries). Tia: "You guys have to feel these towels!!" Tia, me, Nicole (why am I the only one still wearing a nametag?)The "Dare" Game. Summer brought this deck of cards with bachelorette dares, which was extremely entertaining. Here are Katie and Tia getting piggyback rides from random guys in the bar.Erin had to get a blonde guy to buy her a shot. This is her talking to "Greg."This is Katie going in for a smooch. Erin was just jealous she didn't pull this card.
We met a big group of IBMers. Tia asked this guy if she could write her name in lipstick on him. "My name is short," she said with a smile. It didn't take too much for him to consent:)And here was perhaps the most amusing part of all. Erin was instructed to "swap an item of clothing" with someone. So here is her (and her maid-of-honor, Liz, looking incredulous that Erin was, in fact, going to do this) holding the shirt of Jeff (who, she kept remarking for the rest of the night, was "HOT"!!!)The swap in the works... If you're worried that Erin would not want this picture on the internet, think again. She loves this stuff. She'd want you to say her stomach looked hot. Jeff was looking the other way, to be polite:) Helping to dress him because, obviously, he couldn't put her Victoria's Secret top on by himself.
More...
And the night ended with a few of us left, sitting around the fire and just chatting. I have not had this much fun in a loooooooooooong time. I wish someone else was getting married soon so we'd have an excuse for another party! Oh, and Erin does have Jeff's e-mail address in case any single ladies want it...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)