Saturday, February 28, 2004

 

I'm still here...


Just thought I'd let you all know I'm still alive. Had a Neurology test on Monday (or was it Tuesday? I can't remember now) - it went okay. Much better than the Endocrine test the other week, though I do have issues with some of the questions. I hate it when really ambiguous questions are asked - you know, like when the question can be taken so many different ways, and whether you are right or not depended on whether or not you thought the question was asking what the question writer thought he/she was asking. Argh.

As for my previous promise to talk about my Valentine's day, here goes. Really, in all practicality it wasn't a big deal other than Dan surprising me (which was a big big deal to me). We didn't do anything hugely special, we just made dinner (steak burritos with all the works, in homage to his beloved Chipotle Grill) and rented "The Sting". And being me, of course I fell asleep during the movie - actually, I was in and out of consciousness during the movie - but in my defense, I had been in my Boards review class studying Anatomy from 8 AM to 3 PM AND been sleep deprived all week. There was one point though, where Dan asked me if I understood what was going on, and I answered him. And according to him, I was asleep again within seconds of answering his question. I wouldn't be surprised - I fell asleep midsentence once in college. So yep, I spent Valentine's Day full and sleepy. But I did watch the movie in its entirety a few days later, and it's a damn good movie. And while Robert Redford and Paul Newman still look pretty good after all this time, they were quite good-looking back then...

OK, off to study for a little bit before hitting the sack. Goodnight!

Claud 8:08 PM 

Sunday, February 15, 2004

 

Last week sucked.


For the most part. Suffice it to say, I was ever so not happy, especially on Thursday and Friday. By Friday morning, I was becoming incredibly bitter that I was going to be spending the weekend at school for Boards review classes. School drama, extracurricular drama, just plain bad mood.

Monday's exam went fine, stellar in fact when compared to the rest of the week. Wednesday I slipped on ice while walking home, and I think I may have hurt my shoulder, though I think it feels okay now. We'll see how it feels tomorrow, because I worked out today and did some shoulder stuff.

The Endocrine exam went horribly. I went in knowing that yes, I could have studied more (because one can always study more for an exam), but I thought I had a pretty good grasp of the information. I mean, I could talk about the hypothalamic-pituitary axis for hours. And I walked out thinking that, eh, it was okay. Then I got my grade back. I HATE feeling like I know stuff, and then BAM! A class average of 74% (70% is passing). I mean, ugh. I know I should be comforted knowing the class as a whole did sucky, but I can't help but feel stupid. I know I can always study more, but I usually feel like I understand stuff. Ugh.

The SPAL went okay, too, but as usual I forgot to do a bunch of exams. I should be fine there, though, plenty of points to be had in that class.

So then Thursday night, I had to study for my Surgery exam. Without going into gruesome details, a friend who has created her own drama, is continuing to perpetuate it, and to be quite honest, is really wearing thin on my nerves, managed to stress me out, make me feel even worse about my Endocrine grade (reasons why I very rarely tell anyone my grades) albeit inadvertently, and nearly belittle my relationship with Dan. I was already stressed out, upset, and irritated in general, and she made it worse. That situation got worse on Friday night, but I'm already sick of talking about it, and completely frustrated. Suffice it to say, she did a really stupid thing that could have not only hurt her, but she could have put other people in harm's way (which is why she is wearing on my nerves). All I know is she needs to get her head out of her ass and look at what she's doing to herself (most importantly) and her friends, who are trying to help her.

I'm going to assume I passed Friday's Surgery exam - I know I passed the practical portion. So Friday, me and Liz headed out to bowl with a bunch of school folk. Jenn and Nate joined us later, and bowling and drinking commenced. I suck at bowling, but I had a good time. It was nice to hang out with the school folk, since we've all been so busy lately. Once we were done, I bent over to untie my bowling shoes....

which leads me to...

I have the bestest boyfriend ever. Ever.


Next thing I know, I'm being picked up and spun around. So I'm thinking, Nate and Swanny wouldn't just pick me up and throw me around, Scott's already left... wha? So I get put down, I turn around, and all I see is red hair and a blue jacket. And I hear my friends cheering. YAY! Dan came out to visit me! And he brought me signed hockey pucks from the Wolves... yay! I damn near cried, I was so happy to see him. Between my schedule and his trip, we weren't going to be able to see each other until my Spring Break. He was worried about me (the Thursday night phone call was not good), so he figured he'd come out and make sure I was ok. And he took very good care of me. We got to spend Valentine's day together after all, even if I had to spend most of the day in class. More on that tomorrow, because I have much studying left to do. Suffice it to say, the week ended very nicely. I'm sooooo glad he came out, otherwise honestly, I would have just been crying from all the stress of the week. Well, that or drinking a lot. So thanks sweetie, I really needed it...

Now back to the rat race.

Claud 8:22 PM 

Saturday, February 07, 2004

 

Hell week hasn't even started yet, and I'm already tired.


OK, so next week is gonna suck. 4 exams - Geriatrics on Monday, Endocrine and a Renal SPAL (the fake patient panic-inducing thing) on Thursday, and Surgery on Friday. Oh, and how am I spending Valentine's Day? With Dan? Something romantic and relaxing? NO. I'm spending it in class studying 6 HOURS OF ANATOMY for Boards. Perhaps something Valentine's-related on Sunday? NOPE. 6 MORE HOURS OF ANATOMY for Boards. 7 days of hell. All of you who are hoping I'm going to study all weekend - I'm warning you now, there will be one night of drinking and no studying. Me and Jenn made a deal - if we survive next week, we're having drinks. And I am catching up on Blogging. All those nifty lists and such, I've been wanting to answer them, but I never have time to sit and do it. I've decided that my brain needs that kind of break or I swear, I'll go crazy. Perhaps this isn't the right attitude for medical school, but I'm not gunning for A's here. I'll work towards it, but in the end, I want to graduate with my sanity as intact as possible. I refuse to pull all-nighters, I refuse to spend my every waking minute with my nose in my books/notes. I want to come out of this knowing what's going on around me. I'm not going to miss out on a life because I decided to become a doctor. So there.

Okay. With all that said, back to the books.

Claud 8:38 PM 

Friday, February 06, 2004

 

Friday Five

I know it's been a darn long time since I've done one of these. So here it is...
This week's Friday Five:

1. What's the most daring thing you've ever done?
I'm really boring. Can't say I can think of anything right now. Although perhaps moving to Des Moines by myself (the family helped me move here, but I was on my own after they left) for school, not knowing anyone before I moved here, was slightly daring.

2. What one thing would you like to try that your mother/friend/significant other would never approve of?
I honestly can't think of anything that I would want to try that Dan would never approve of - he's the daring one. Usually I'm the one who's scared of something he wants to do. I damn near crapped my pants when he went bungee-jumping.

3. On a scale of 1-10, what's your risk factor? (1=never take risks, 10=it's a lifestyle)
5. I'm not a risky kind of gal. My idea of taking a risk is only going over my notes once before an exam. Or better yet, waiting until the morning of the exam to go over a lecture.

4. What's the best thing that's ever happened to you as a result of being bold/risky?
Dan. I was really terrified that I was going to get hurt like I usually did, but I figured, I needed to at least try.

5. ... and what's the worst?
Swearing under my breath (or so I thought) in the general direction of and in reference to my English teacher in high school during a particularly unpleasant test, not knowing she was behind me. Suffice it to say, I got pulled out of the classroom in the middle of the test and got scolded (to put it mildly) big-time. I don't think I was being bold, though, since I was swearing under my breath. Oh well. This is why I shudder every time I see a copy of "The Scarlet Letter."


eeeek.


OK, I'm watching Oprah. Celine Dion sang to her at her birthday party. I don't know what's going through her mind, or her stylist's, but dude, her hair is not in a happy place. The platinum blond thing is so not flattering to her. First there was the funky-arse haircut she got when she first started the show at Caesar's, and now this.

Oh yeah, Nate Berkus was on Oprah yesterday. You can make over my bedroom any day, gorgeous. Yum.

And dude, if I was loaded, Colin Cowie would SO be planning my wedding someday.

Claud 2:49 PM