Thursday, May 22, 2003

 

Warning - drunken blog ahead...


Ok, maybe not drunken. It's 1:40 AM CST and I've downgraded to tipsy. But today was a beautiful day. Finished my Pharmacology exam (KICKED ITS ASS!!!! ONLY GOT 2 WRONG!!!!!) with 40 minutes to spare - therefore completing my first year of medical school, had a tasty apple fritter courtesy of the student government, did a little cleaning, went to a bbq down at Raccoon River Park (it has a beach, go figure, nice park, really), went shopping (realized I really need nice professional-looking clothes, especially once I start clinical rotations next year) and bought pants (which naturally will need to be hemmed) and a knit shirt, then headed to Vik and Balaji's around 10:00 to party the night (and early morning) away. Those two know how to throw a party. The cops showed up around 12:15, which actually surprised me because I would've thought that the neighbors would have called the cops way earlier. And so after a few minutes of packing ourselves into the apartment (a bunch of us had been in the driveway/garage area - they have a townhouse), the decision was made to move to Wellman's, the local bar down the street. It was a fabulous night, got to see people who don't normally come out to play. Very cool. It was awesome to just see everyone and hug them and realize that we are in fact actually done with our first year. We've all been told that the first year is the most hellish, and darned it if they weren't right. But we have survived, and tonight was a celebration for getting out of it alive. And so now I shall end my evening with many glasses of water, and a warm, cozy bed. Good night, all.

Claud 11:50 PM 

 

WOO HOO!!! I'M DONE!!!


Barring any catastrophic injustices in DMU's grading system, I am now an MII!!! Otherwise known as a second year medical student. Thank goodness. I'll be a little more philisophical and write more once I get back home and out of Des Moines (after Dave's graduation on Saturday). But suffice it to say, I'M FREEEEEE!!! For 8 weeks. Then it begins again. But at least I've got this first year under my belt. So I'm going to celebrate by napping, having a bite to eat, shopping, then partying down at Vik and Balaji's. So very excited I am! Packing can wait till tomorrow...


HAPPY DAY AFTER YOUR BIRTHDAY FATABIRD!


Happy birthday to my little Fata! Don't worry, all, I did call her on her birthday yesterday.


And Happy Almost Graduation Day!


To Dave! Yay! On Saturday he officially becomes Dr. Dave. He's graduating from the same medical school that I'm currently attending (he's a big part of why I'm here). So very proud of him I am!

Claud 10:33 AM 

Wednesday, May 21, 2003

 

One more to go, one more to go...

Radiology's done. Now I just have to get through Pharmacology. Oy. But I continue to hold on to the fact that in 25 hours, I will have completed my very first year of medical school. I'll get more philisophical about that part once 10 AM tomorrow arrives. Just wish me luck for Pharm. And don't take Demerol with an MAOI.

Claud 6:53 AM 

Monday, May 19, 2003

 

Phew...

Physiology is done. Last exam this morning. I do believe I passed. Thank you, God, thank you. Now there's only 2 more to go...

Claud 5:33 PM 

Sunday, May 18, 2003

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO MY LITTLE FATA!!!

Ok, so she's bigger than me, but whatever. On this day, my little sister Fatima is going to graduate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Normally I'd be there to cheer her on and be loud and obnoxious with Christine when they call Fatima's name, but her ceremony isn't until 4 PM this evening and I have a 7:30 AM exam tomorrow morning (and one on Wednesday and one on Thursday). So the family cut me some slack. So my little Fatabird, in honor of this tremendous occasion, I shall hoot and holler "YAY FATABIRD!" around 4 PM tonight in my apartment in your honor. Congratulations sisterfriend!

Claud 12:05 PM 

Saturday, May 17, 2003

 

Did you know...

Rats can't puke.

Claud 7:29 PM 

 

I have the bestest boyfriend in the world...

It's been a really tough couple of weeks/months, and next week is going to be hell (3 exams in 4 days). I'm so ready to go home, to leave Des Moines and school behind if even for 7 weeks (I start my second year July 28th). I've been really stressed, and I'm just tired all the time. My mind is tired, my soul is tired, my body is tired. So on Thursday night I vented to Dan. So last night, I'm sitting at my computer, studying Physiology for my exam on Monday. It's around 10:30, so I figure, oh, I'll finish up this lecture and call Dan and get ready for bed. Then comes a knock at the door. I look out my window, but it's dark out, I can't tell who it is. Then I see a familiar black duffle bag slung over a shoulder. Could it be? So I open the door... and it's Dan! He came out to surprise me because he wanted to cheer me up and make sure I was okay. He just left a little less than a half hour ago to make sure I had time to study (don't worry, Dan, I AM STUDYING.). He drove 5 hours yesterday evening (and is currently driving 5 hours back) to spend less than a day with me. Just to cheer me up. And I do feel better now. Just what I needed. Isn't he great? I'm ever so lucky.

Claud 12:15 PM 

Friday, May 16, 2003

 

This Or That Tuesday... the Friday Edition...


1. Packrat or minimalist?
Packrat, definitely

2. Computer: desktop or laptop?
I've never owned a laptop. So I'll say desktop. But I'm debating about buying a laptop for when I go out on clinical rotations... but I'm so poor... =(

3. Seashore or mountains?
Uh, both please.

4. Carpeting or bare floors?
Once again, both please! Depends on the room.

5. Drinking water: bottled or tap?
Filtered tap.

6. Shopping websites: eBay or Amazon?
Amazon

7. Cute little kitties or big scary tigers?
I don't think any cats like me.

8. Front door or back door?
Front door unless there's a bat hanging out on the porch.

9. Lots of jewelry, or little/none?
Just a little (necklace, watch, maybe a ring), unless it's a special occasion.

10. Thought-provoking question of the week: At the last minute, you obtain tickets to an event you're dying to attend. However, you have to work that day! Do you ask the boss for the time off, or just call in sick?
Tough call. I have a very large guilt complex... I guess it would depend on the job. When I was working in the lab, I don't think they'd mind me asking for the time off provided I didn't have any experiments that would be held up. Or I'd just come in over the weekend.


The Friday Five...


1. What drinking water do you prefer -- tap, bottle, purifier, etc.?
Purifier. Iowa water tastes funny to me.

2. What are your favourite flavor of chips?
Depends on my mood, though I'm happy as a clam with plain chips.

3. Of all the things you can cook, what dish do you like the most?
I rather enjoy my lasagna. Or if we're talking about baking, I love my chocolate chip cookies. Nice and chewy.

4. How do you have your eggs?
Scrambled. I can put lots of stuff in them if i feel like it.

5. Who was the last person who cooked you a meal? How did it turn out?
Unless you count the family potluck easter party, which is always super tasty, I think it was Liz. Or wait, maybe it was Dad's Kare-Kare... I can't remember which was more recent. Liz's German-style or something lasagna noodle dish was quite tasty, and of course Dad's Kare-Kare (Filipino food) rocked. But I'll always be proud of Dan for the pasta with shrimp and basil that he made for our anniversary.


Woo Hoo...

By this time next week, I'll be packing for home... =) Soooo chomping at the bit...


Hmmm...

June 1st 5K run at Lincoln Park Zoo... Run it with Janki, or just go and cheer her on?

Claud 2:25 PM 

Tuesday, May 13, 2003

 

I know I'm a big dork...


No matter how many times I've seen "Armageddon," I still cry like a baby for the last 15 minutes.

Claud 8:48 PM 

Saturday, May 10, 2003

 

Hello...


Just letting you know, I'm still alive. I just have a crapload of exams before we get out on the 23rd. 5 exams to go... and then I'm OUTTA HERE!!! For a month and a half.


The Friday Five... the Saturday Edition...

ok, so I'm late. so sue me. =P
1. Would you consider yourself an organized person? Why or why not?
Not particularly. I do okay for the most part. I think med school is kinda helping/forcing me to be more organized. At least one hopes it is. =P

2. Do you keep some type of planner, organizer, calendar, etc. with you, and do you use it regularly?
I have the Franklin Planner that Christine gave me. Based on her blog, apparently she doesn't remember. But I also have a little planner that I carry around with me (because I couldn't find refills for the Franklin at Walmart). And then there's my block schedule from school, which for all intents and purposes rules my life. I refer to it all the time - I am inept and lost without it. Literally. I wouldn't know which class I'm supposed to be at.

3. Would you say that your desk is organized right now?
Actually, it's not bad. I'm a piler. Piles of papers. Notes. Books. Notebooks.

4. Do you alphabetize CDs, books, and DVDs, or does it not matter?
No. It gets messed up anyway.

5. What's the hardest thing you've ever had to organize?
My research binder at the lab. I had to organize 18 months of research on like 7 different projects - tests, experiments, results, background info, protocols for experiments - I had to document EVERYTHING. And I was working on a bunch of those projects at once. And the bulk of the organization was done in the weeks before I left... I couldn't half-ass it, because all that stuff will likely be used (actually has been already) for future research projects and published papers, and if they can't find something, or if the wrong picture is in the wrong place, that's my ass on the line.


Well, whaddaya know...


Anyone remember Sean from MTV's the Real World Boston? The one that married Rachel from Real World San Francisco? Well go figure, he's now the youngest District Attorney in Wisconsin. I'm sure he's perfectly competent and all, but I could never take him seriously. I'd be sitting there the whole time going, "But it's the guy from the Real World..."

Dude, I'm FULL.

Yesterday, the first year med students threw a bash at Saylorville Lake for the second years. They're about to go off on clinical rotations (do stuff at hospitals and clinics off campus, all over the country) after the Board exams this June, so we gave them a little send-off, complete with a bunch of kegs and a dj with karaoke capabilities. It was fun. I was tipsy by 9. 4 beers in less than an hour (the last two were within 10 minutes - I thought we were leaving...) with only a cupcake in my tummy. So we went to Panchero, a Mexican restaurant - seems similar to Chipotle. I got a burrito. It was as big as my head. And whaddaya know, I actually finished the whole thing in one sitting. For those of you that don't know me and my eating habits, I never finish my food when I eat out. I get full too easily for some reason. And I'm a slow eater. But I definitely paid for it later. We went out to the Loft for Jenn's birthday and by the time we left (2 drinks later), I wasn't so much drunk as I was incredibly full. Dude, I had to sleep sitting up, propped up on pillows because lying down was just so darned uncomfortable. How sad is that? But I felt just fine this morning. Which is more than I can say for Jenn... heh, heh...

Claud 5:50 PM 

Monday, May 05, 2003

 

Must vent, don't mind me...


Just venting, mostly in my head. But 1) I'm here to go to medical school, I'm not paying $25,000+ a year to join clubs. And 2) Sometimes, the way you say stuff, it just comes out almost condescending. And I'm not fond of that. Ok, I'm better now.


My mantra for the next 3 weeks...


I don't wanna go to summer school. I don't wanna go to summer school.

Claud 7:01 PM 

Friday, May 02, 2003

 

The Friday Five...


1. Name one song you hate to admit you like.
"Copacabana" - Barry Manilow. Even though I only know a few words here and there...

2. Name two songs that always make you cry.
"That's What Friends Are For" - Dionne Warwick, etc.
"I Will Remember You" - Sarah MacLachlan

3. Name three songs that turn you on.
"Your Body Is A Wonderland" - John Mayer
"Anywhere" - 112
"Wicked Game" - Chris Isaak

4. Name four songs that always make you feel good.
"Pour Some Sugar On Me" - Def Leppard
"Beautiful Day" - U2
"I Will Survive" - Gloria Gaynor
"Jump Around" - House of Pain - Christine, you know why... =)

5. Name five songs you couldn't ever do without.
"September" - Earth Wind and Fire
"Wide Open Spaces" - Dixie Chicks
"Superman" - Five For Fighting
"Nessum Dorma" - especially Luciano Pavarotti's version
"The Way You Look Tonight" - Tony Bennett

There's a lot more songs that I could list for all these categories, though...

Claud 2:48 PM