Vegas, Baby!

I spent last night in Sin City...Las Vegas. Even though I was by myself, I still enjoyed my time there and did quite a bit of exploring. My mom found me a room for $40 at Harrah's on the strip. After checking in and hanging up my suit, I decided a walk on the strip would be nice and I could find a place for dinner. First, I had to ask for directions out of my hotel, because these places are soooooooooo big it's very easy to get lost - especially for someone who has a horrible sense of direction. Anyway, I started at The Venetian, which has the romantic little boats people can sit in and be paddled around. I found a great store inside called David and Goliath which has some awesome t-shirts, key chains, magnets, etc. I had a tough time not buying up half the store, just because it's some funny stuff!

Next, I continued down the strip - past the Bellagio where from across the street, I watched part of the dancing waters. I also caught some of the volcano outside of The Mirage. Paris was a stop I made, because I know they have a cute store in there that I like. No luck on this trip. I continued down to New York, New York. Let me tell you - it may not sound like a long walk, but it was. Things in Vegas seem closer, because everything is so HUGE. It's sort of like car mirror warning...objects in mirror are closer than they appear - except the opposite. Objects are truly much much farther than you would think, because they are so extravagantly ENORMOUS.

I've decided that Vegas is similar to Disneyland for adults, because everything is over the top and completely overdone. Attention is given to every last detail. After walking across the mini-Brooklyn bridge I made my way across the street to MGM. At this point my feet were tired and I was hungry. I thought about going back to Paris for crepes. I made the decision to ride the monorail, which runs along the strip behind some of the hotels. Well, had I known that walking all the way to the back of MGM was just as far as walking to Paris - i would have just walked to Paris. Needless to say, I made it to the back of MGM, paid my $5 to ride the monorail and since Paris was the first stop, continued on down to Harrah's. I was going to get my $5 worth, because it's a one shot deal and I wasn't paying another $5 or walking from Paris back to my hotel. Crepes would have to wait.

Oh and I almost forgot - I got to see the lions that are inside MGM. I walked underneath them in a glass tunnel, while they laid down up above my head. Apparently the lions live at a ranch or somewhere about 20 miles from the strip and they only stay at MGM for 5-6 hrs at a time. Everyday they have 2 different sets of lions come into the casino and if you were there for a week, you may see the same lion twice.

After getting off at Harrah's I walked across the street to The Forum Shops at Ceasar's Palace and had dinner in the super duper nice shopping mall there. I ate Spago, which is a Wolfgang Puck restaurant. I had a Spago Cosmo (which had raspberry puree) - super yummy and a margarhita pizza. Afterwards, I had some super expensive gelato and ended up getting lost in the mall. I thought I was going the right direction, until I saw this GIGANTIC troy horse that led into FAO Schwartz. I did not see said horse on the way in, which meant I was walking the wrong way out.

Eventually, I made it back to my hotel around 8:30 and was ready to crash. I ended up reading about my program that I interviewed at today & then passed out, before having to get up super early to head to my interview.

I feel there are more things to tell, but I can't remember them all now! Sorry, no pictures - I was being lazy and didn't want to look too much like a tourist - if that's possible while walking down the strip. Not that anyone would notice anyways...

Happy Late Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving - a couple days late! I am thankful that this year I was able to spend the holiday with my family. Honestly, I cannot remember the last Thanksgiving I spent at home. I know it was before medical school, possibly my senior year at Trinity, but I truly cannot recall.
This year it was great to spend it with my mom's side of the family. We had all the usual fixings, including some gambling. For quarters only! But I'm happy to say that for once my mom and I came out ahead. Good times :)

Prior to coming home for Thanksgiving, I had an interview in Chicago. Again the program is located in the suburbs. I was pretty proud of myself for taking the "L" from the airport to my hotel and back again. I survived. And what would a night in Chicago be without pizza? Here's a picture of my delicious pizza. I have to admit that it was not a deep dish stuffed pizza. I did that when I interviewed in Chicago for medical school and I swear that the small pizza I had weighed over 5lbs. This time I just went for a simple pepperoni and olive pizza. YUM! I have to talk to Melanie but if I remember correctly, this is her favorite pizza place.



I also got to spend a few days with Ryann on my trip home. We enjoyed a couple of relaxing days together, catching up on each others lives over a glass of wine or two. As usual, it was wonderful to see her again, but it does always make me miss my Trinity girls. Hopefully, soon we'll have a reunion. It's nearly time for our 5 year reunion. I can't believe it's been that long since I've been at Trinity.

While in Boulder with Ry, I had a day to roam around Pearl Street and do a little shopping. I bought a new book and stopped in a tea/coffee shop for an afternoon snack and a little reading.


What do you think of the title of my new book? It's about this girl who makes a green change everyday for an entire year. Some of the changes are small like changing her shampoo, while others are much larger - such as unplugging her refrigerator. Anyway, spending time with Ryann (who works for an eco-minded company), my concern for the environment, and this book - I'm starting to think of plans. But those plans will be shared with you at a later date, when they have solidified more completely.



After getting home, I helped my parents put up our LED Christmas lights. We had some fun hanging out in the front yard and semi-torturing our dogs and making our neighbors believe that we are totally crazy. So our little dog, Sally, can't hear anymore. This is a problem when she's out in the front yard and you call her to come, which naturally she doesn't, because she can't hear you. Well our other dog, Lady, is great at listening and very very obedient. To solve the Sally not listening problem, we hooked her leash to Lady's. That way wherever Lady went, Sally would have to follow. We weren't really serious in doing this - it was more for fun and it was hilarious to see Sally following Lady around. Lady was completely oblivious to the fact that Sally was attached to her! It was great :)

Crazy Busy & MIA for a little bit longer

Ok, so last time I wrote was Nov. 12, so almost a week ago. I can't even blame interviews or traveling on reasons why I have not written. But it has been hectic around my house. I did rest and catch up on some sleep this past weekend and I intended to blog on Sunday, but somehow that didn't happen.
Quick recap:

- I have come down with a slight cold: a headache for a day, and congested nose for the past couple of days, but I found that 24 hr Claritin D takes pretty good care of my nose for nearly 24 hrs! so it actually works

- Went to see The Men Who Stare at Goats - was better than I expected, also less goat staring than I expected

- Sief went and picked up his 2 suits we bought for the interview season, then we had a session with a bunch of us making Sief try on his suit with different shirt and tie combos

- Went to the outlets to buy Sief new dress shoes - got 2 pairs at ~$40 each = AWESOME!!!!

- My dad turned 60!!

- Work this week has been AMAZING! Today I had the best moment of my medical career. My attending (who is awesome & has become a friend of mine over the past year, we worked together last year as well) let me do a c-section 90% on my own! It totally rocked.
I got to do the first incision, then cut down through the subcutaneous tissue to the fascia, cut the fascia, some pulling and tugging, then split the tissue that holds the abdominal muscles together, next the serosa covering the uterus & bladder, and finally I cut through the uterus, broke the water and delivered baby! He tried to let the 3rd year medical student deliver the placenta, which was cool for me to see, because I was in that 3rd year medical student's shoes last year and remember Dr. N letting me do the same thing & how it was soooooo cool to have my hand & forarm inside someone's body. The med student was having some trouble so Dr. N looked at me and I took over! Next stitch up the uterus, close the fascia, and work your way to skin. Seriously AWESOME!!! It ws great!!!! So so amazing.

- Now I'm packing to leave Hershey tomorrow for 3 months away! It's crazy packing for 3 months in 2 carry on bags. I am leaving one here for Sief's brother to bring back with him to Cali in December. Starting tomorrow I'm on vacation until Janurary (well you could call it an interview rotation, since I'll mainly be on the road). Then Janurary I'm at UC Davis for an inpatient family medicine month, and February Costa Rica baby!!! woo woo!!!

- But before all of that I leave tomorrow for Chicago, interview there on Friday --> then flying to Denver Colorado to see Ry Ry (my old college roomate)!!!

So when I don't write for the next couple of days...you'll know why!!!

And I finally get to be home for Thanksgiving - the first time in years!!!

ok have to run - time to finish packing...
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Still Here!

I'm still around...I didn't drop off the face of the earth. I have been a busy little bee.
I spent Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri. I was there early and went to a farmer's market and two malls! It was great. You might be surprised, but it is a very cool city that I like very much. I interviewed there on Monday and I was impressed with the program too.
Monday afternoon I flew to St. Louis for another interview on Tuesday.
Then back to Hershey and work. Yesterday was extremely busy. I was on Labor and Delivery and was the first assist on 7 c-sections!

Ok, 30 rock is on now and it's time for a little tv relaxation. Just wanted to drop a quick line - saying I'm still here. I'll update more this weekend! :)