I'm breaking a promise, because the weatherman was wrong. It did not snow as much as was predicted, so I have no pretty pictures to post for you. The snow has covered the ground, but the dirt and grass still peak through - the clean pure beauty is not there.
In the meantime, I have been working on trying to figure out my 4th year schedule. The golden year of medical school. The year I have been waiting for, since my acceptance to medical school. The reason why this year is so wonderful is due to the fact that are very few tests, 4 months worth of electives, and 2 months of vacation! And the best part is that I might be able to do away rotations in California!
I had more to write and somehow it has slipped my mind. So I'm going to run and will write more when it returns to my mind. ta ta for now!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
MIA
I'm back. Not that I really went anywhere. I spend the last week sitting in a lecture hall for nearly 9 hours a day in what must have been close to pure boredom. This coming Monday I will be starting my rotation in Internal Medicine. But for now - I get to relax, try to stay warm, figure out what I am doing 4th yr, clean, do laundry, and...enjoy the snow!!!!!!! Last night it snowed and there is supposed to be more coming later today/tonight. I can't wait! Snow makes everything appear clean and prisitine, truly a little winter wonderland. Pictures to be posted later, after I have changed out of my P.J.'s and make it outside of my warm room.
Monday, January 5, 2009
A reader
Have you ever noticed how people seem to either be readers or not. It's one of those dichotomies where not too many people fall in the middle. You either seem to love reading and see books out to read just for fun or ... you're not a reader and you've maybe read a handful of books because of school, but you're not making a trip to the bookstore anytime soon.
Personally, I'm a reader. I love books. I love the smell of old paper. The smell that seems to permeate the air in quiet corners of a library or a book that has yellowing of the pages on the edges due to time spent on a shelf. This personal characteristic or quality was instilled in me as a child. I grew up reading every night before bed. That was part of my parents routine and easily became a part of mine. Also, my parents would always buy me books. The rule was that as long as I read them, my parents would never refuse to buy me books. Sadly, I no longer have as much time to read for fun. I try my best during breaks and time off to squeeze in a novel or two. I'm looking forward to eventually being able to reinstate the habit of reading every night.
Traveling to far away lands, back in time, or to made up worlds - all due to my imagination and the words on a page. Books are probably the one reason I don't mind flying alone. Saturday I returned to Hershey and per my usual routine. I read and slept on the plane and would wake to read some more and then sleep some more. At the airports I wander a bit and then read. Reading is my portal to another time and place - rather than sitting in an airport ... just waiting.
Sat I read an amazing book, "Water for Elephants." It was the perfect book for my long 15.5 hr trek back to Hershey. This was the type of book where I kept turning the pages, excited to find out what came next. It was one of those books where you reach a certain point and you know you have to finish it before you fall asleep that night. I love that!
All you readers out there know what I'm talking about. And for those non-readers, maybe you just haven't found the right book.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had an enjoyable New Year!
It's that time of year when we are supposed to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future year and what it may hold.
In the past year, I've learned a lot - about both medicine and life. I guess it's part of growing up. And even though I tend to look ahead and try to make plans for my future - there is really no way to know what the future holds.
So here's to another year that I'm sure will be full of surprises and to me trying to enjoy just being where I'm at (even if it is at the bottom of the medical world hierarchy).
And of course you can't bring up the subject of the New Year without mentioning New Year's Resolutions!
Here are a few of mine - a little silly perhaps, but at least a place to start.
1. Not to use a plastic or paper bag at the grocery store all year.
2. Floss at least 3 times a week. I know, I know I could be more ambitious and go for everyday, but hey I'm trying to be realistic here and 3x's per week is a lot better than I'm doing now!
3. Eat less sweets and more vegetables.
It's that time of year when we are supposed to reflect on the past year and look ahead to the future year and what it may hold.
In the past year, I've learned a lot - about both medicine and life. I guess it's part of growing up. And even though I tend to look ahead and try to make plans for my future - there is really no way to know what the future holds.
So here's to another year that I'm sure will be full of surprises and to me trying to enjoy just being where I'm at (even if it is at the bottom of the medical world hierarchy).
And of course you can't bring up the subject of the New Year without mentioning New Year's Resolutions!
Here are a few of mine - a little silly perhaps, but at least a place to start.
1. Not to use a plastic or paper bag at the grocery store all year.
2. Floss at least 3 times a week. I know, I know I could be more ambitious and go for everyday, but hey I'm trying to be realistic here and 3x's per week is a lot better than I'm doing now!
3. Eat less sweets and more vegetables.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Turning the big 21!
My 21st has already come and gone - a few years ago. My 21st was spent in San Antonio studying for the MCAT (the SAT of med school). I went out to dinner with a few friends. My first drink was an apple martini. After that we headed to a comedy club (BYOB) and I drank vanilla vodka and diet pepsi out of my nalgene bottle.
Aunt Ed remembers going to a bar in Willows with Grandma Ann and ordering a martini (she doesn't remember what kind, but what she does remember was that it was disgusting).
How did you spend your 21st?
My cousin Taylor just turned 21 in the middle of December. This of course calls for some celebrating. She went out with her friends on her 21st. I was still in Hershey. The Aunties and cousins went out a few nights ago to help Tay celebrate.
Here are some of the highlights of the evening.
All the girls - out to dinner, before the young one's had to head home.
After dinner we headed to Panama's for good cheap drinks (the best is still the Orange Julius which tastes like a 50/50 ice cream bar!). Played some dice and lost some money.
Then we headed to The Crazy Horse - where...they actually ID'd my Mom, A. Tina, A. Sara, and A. Ed. Can you believe it!
And you can't go to the horse without riding the bull!
Here's a description of what went down, before the video below.
Taylor walks up to the bull and is ready to mount it. She places her hands on its back and jumps...she pulls with her arms...and slides off. Ok, we'll try this again. The pretend rodeo clown gives her a tip and tells her to toss her leg over. Alright...arms on the bull's back, jump, leg up, and...she slides off. Third times a charm, right? Not for Tay. Repeat previous scenario for a 4th and maybe a 5th time. I lost count, because I was laughing so hard.
Finally, the rodeo clown told her to step on a different part of the mat that was harder. He could have given her a boost or at least just grabbed her by the belt loops and thrown her up there. Oh well...we enjoyed watching Tay try and get on the bull.
Once on, well you can decide for yourself how you think she did.
Photo op. This time they had some help getting up on the bull.
You can't end a night of drinking without a DD! Thanks Colby!
Aunt Ed remembers going to a bar in Willows with Grandma Ann and ordering a martini (she doesn't remember what kind, but what she does remember was that it was disgusting).
How did you spend your 21st?
My cousin Taylor just turned 21 in the middle of December. This of course calls for some celebrating. She went out with her friends on her 21st. I was still in Hershey. The Aunties and cousins went out a few nights ago to help Tay celebrate.
Here are some of the highlights of the evening.
All the girls - out to dinner, before the young one's had to head home.
After dinner we headed to Panama's for good cheap drinks (the best is still the Orange Julius which tastes like a 50/50 ice cream bar!). Played some dice and lost some money.
Then we headed to The Crazy Horse - where...they actually ID'd my Mom, A. Tina, A. Sara, and A. Ed. Can you believe it!
And you can't go to the horse without riding the bull!
Here's a description of what went down, before the video below.
Taylor walks up to the bull and is ready to mount it. She places her hands on its back and jumps...she pulls with her arms...and slides off. Ok, we'll try this again. The pretend rodeo clown gives her a tip and tells her to toss her leg over. Alright...arms on the bull's back, jump, leg up, and...she slides off. Third times a charm, right? Not for Tay. Repeat previous scenario for a 4th and maybe a 5th time. I lost count, because I was laughing so hard.
Finally, the rodeo clown told her to step on a different part of the mat that was harder. He could have given her a boost or at least just grabbed her by the belt loops and thrown her up there. Oh well...we enjoyed watching Tay try and get on the bull.
Once on, well you can decide for yourself how you think she did.
Photo op. This time they had some help getting up on the bull.
You can't end a night of drinking without a DD! Thanks Colby!
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Christmas Pictures
They say a picture is worth 1,000 words - so here are a few pictures from Christmas this year.
In San Fran - Union Square tree
Cousin Colby proudly holding up her lovely white elephant gift!
A. Sara as Nacho Libre?
The newest member of the family - Taylor's baby Calvin
The Chun Family
Grandpa, Grandma and the grandchildren!
In San Fran - Union Square tree
Cousin Colby proudly holding up her lovely white elephant gift!
A. Sara as Nacho Libre?
The newest member of the family - Taylor's baby Calvin
The Chun Family
Grandpa, Grandma and the grandchildren!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
finally home
My journey home started at 4:15 am on Sunday morning. My good friend Rich picked me up to take me to the airport, so I would make my flight at 6 am. It was an icy morning. It had been raining the day before - so a nice thin layer of ice covered the ground everywhere. Rich warned me - "it's really slippery." Out I walk to his car. I slip a little here, slid a little there... and then of course my right foot flies out from under me and down I went. I land smack on my ass and catch myself on my right hand. Thankfully, I have some junk in my trunk which helped protect my fall (which is still a little sore, but no bruising). A little scrap on my palm and I was good to go. Completely relieved that my laptop was not in my backpack or else it would have been history. Also, very grateful that I am not a little old lady with osteopenia / osteoporosis - otherwise I would by laid up in a hospital somewhere with a shattered pelvis and a broken wrist. I am somewhat proud that I've been in Pennsylvania for 3.5 years and this is my first spill on ice.
Made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. 20 minute flight to Washington DC. I slept. Then a direct flight to San Francisco. This was delayed for 2 hours due to mechanical issues, which wouldn't have been so bad, except we were stuck on the plane for that extra 2 hours. Thankfully I wasn't catching a connecting flight in San Fran.
One of the greatest traits I inherited from my father was the ability to fall asleep quickly and to be able to fall asleep anywhere. Airplanes are the perfect napping place. Sit me up beside a window and I will nap on and off all day. I have fallen asleep while sitting on the runway, only to wake up as we are taking off. There was even a time I slept through take off and woke up to find out that we were in the air!
My parents and I enjoyed a few wonderful days in San Fran - shopping, eating, walking, etc. Walking around Union Square and San Francisco Center you would not guess that there is a recession! People were everywhere! I'll be posting pictures later.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare. 20 minute flight to Washington DC. I slept. Then a direct flight to San Francisco. This was delayed for 2 hours due to mechanical issues, which wouldn't have been so bad, except we were stuck on the plane for that extra 2 hours. Thankfully I wasn't catching a connecting flight in San Fran.
One of the greatest traits I inherited from my father was the ability to fall asleep quickly and to be able to fall asleep anywhere. Airplanes are the perfect napping place. Sit me up beside a window and I will nap on and off all day. I have fallen asleep while sitting on the runway, only to wake up as we are taking off. There was even a time I slept through take off and woke up to find out that we were in the air!
My parents and I enjoyed a few wonderful days in San Fran - shopping, eating, walking, etc. Walking around Union Square and San Francisco Center you would not guess that there is a recession! People were everywhere! I'll be posting pictures later.
Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)