New Beginnings

I have officially survived my first week of residency.  Mom has left, but she did drop me off on my first day, just like elementary school.  It was such a weird feeling to start.  Things were so crazy with the move there was hardly anytime to think.

The night before residency started, Sief and I both expressed the sentiment, "I hope we're happy here."  Hershey wasn't our favorite place, but we had some good times there and I made some great friends.
It is such an odd feeling to know that tomorrow is the first day.  It's the beginning of what will be the hardest year of our life, we are about to meet our co-workers, who we will spend more time with than each other and our families.  The people who will see us at our worst and the people we will spend the next 3 years of our lives with.  That's a pretty big commitment.  It is a lot like the first day of school.  I hope I make the right first impression, I hope I get along with them, etc.  It is not like I haven't done this before, I've done it many times throughout my life, but it never is a comfortable feeling.

Laying there the night before, knowing Sief was in the same boat and by my side made it that much easier. We both know we are taking a chance, because both of our residency programs are brand new.  That means we are the first class of residents - there is no one above us.  I didn't meet anyone from this program "to fit in with."  That's what they tell you - when you are on the interview trail, look for a place where you can see yourself fitting in with the residents, because they will become your family.  This program doesn't have that.  We're the pioneers - we are the ones that will make or break this residency program.  I'm hanging my hat that my program director can make good on all the things he wants this residency to offer - urban and rural sites, university & community hospital, an extremely diverse patient population, the opportunity for procedures and hopefully the ability to do c-sections.  The list goes on.

So....week one down - all orientation, just a lot of listening to people talk at us, computer training, etc - nothing exciting.  Does the program live up to what I thought it would so far?  YES!  My co-residents are great.  We are an extremely diverse group of people, but everyone is very laid back and extremely nice.  Sief's co-residents are just as great.  Will we all best friends?  No probably not, but at least I get along with everyone right now and can see myself working with them and learning from them over the next 3 years.  There's an excitement in the air here.  We have had combined orientation on many of the days this week and the new programs have a different vibe.  There is an energy that runs through us as a group that doesn't exist in the other programs.  Maybe it's because I'm biased, or maybe because we are the first residents.  We know we are the ones to make this program into what we want it to be - to form the culture and the traditions that will live on in the years to come - it's up to us.  The faculty is here to listen and they are here to help us have the most amazing experience that we can.

I'm excited and also scared.  I know the long hours will wear on me.  I know it will be extremely difficult when I am on other services and not with my family medicine co-residents, but I also know that there are a ton of resources out there for me to reach out to if needed.  So here's to new beginnings and here's to hopefully one of the best and pretty definitely one of the toughest years of my life.

whirlwind

I've officially moved.  I'm in Tucson now - Mom and I made it out here last Tuesday and moved into the new place right away.  We set to work emptying another full load of my car, plus the mini storage.  LOTS of things to do around the place.  And lets just say it hasn't all been easy.  We have hit many bumps in the road and its a very very very good thing that Home Depot is literally just a few blocks away from my place.

I am so lucky to have my mom here to help me move in and get settled.  There are only a few boxes left that have yet to find homes.  Lots more decorations to hang, because of some mishaps other projects took longer than expected, but we're getting there.  Don't know what I would have done without her - probably would still be sleeping on the air mattress.

I must post pictures and will later once I get a chance, but I'm tired - it's been a long week with all the moving and getting used to the heat here.  That's a story for another day.  My first day of orientation tomorrow.  LONG day 7:30am-6:30pm.

Ok, gotta run - going to relax a bit before the big first day.  Just wanted to check in and let you know that I've survived the heat so far and am getting my bearings slowly.

more crafting

Do you remember those ugly brass lamps I posted a time or two ago?  Well, here you go - after a few coats of paint - they look brand new.  Now I just need to buy lamp shades, which I'm sure will likely cost more than the lamps did.  Again disregard the messy garage.

 

Next craft project - my mother found on a blog.  Hurricane thingy-bobs.  We went to the dollar store and bought 3 candlesticks and 2 hurricane vases and another little candle holder.  Glue the vases to the candlesticks using Gorilla glue and done!  We bought some pretty glass pieces and sand at the dollar store, too!  We had to make a trip to Michael's to get the sea shells.  The completed ones below are my mom's, we have another set that will go in my master bathroom in Arizona.

 

In order to be fair and be th nice girlfriend that I am - I have decided to give Sief his own little man space in the extra bedroom.  It will actually be the office/craft/sewing room.  At least some of the decorations will be manly.  In previous posts, I've mentioned Sief's dream car of a 1969 GTO.  Well, we decided to give a little GTO love to the new office space, since he and his brother (no way am I contributing to the GTO buying) cannot afford a GTO yet.  So - he can dream.

I bought an old advertisement off of ebay and framed it in a frame we had around the house.  Then my mom stole a piece of wood from my grandpa and we painted it checkered.  Don't worry we didn't paint it by hand.  We taped it off and used spray paint to get the job done faster.  Then we bought letters at Michael's and attched them again using Gorilla glue!  I think the sign turned out pretty cool!

Mom and I hit the road tomorrow.  Heading to Tucson!  I'll post once we get there!

Growing up

So...what have I been up to, since I haven't been blogging.  Well, I have been working on becoming a grown up.  You would think that since I'm already 26 years old and a doctor that I should already be a grown up.  I mean in the very near future, patient's lives will be resting in my hands and yet I still consider myself more of a kid than an adult.    When you stay in school as long as I have been in school - it makes it a little harder to feel like an adult.  Granted 3rd year of medical school felt like a real job, without many days off or summer vacation.  The difference I guess was that in the 3rd year of medical school you know it's only for a year.  You just have to survive the year of a hard job that has tests that you must pass, after that 4th year rolls around and well....4th year is cake.

But one year that is sort of like a real job doesn't really count.  It's a year where I still had to study after work, still had to take tests, and didn't get paid.  The real world hits when suddenly I realized how much money I owe for my schooling and I have to somehow find a way to make payments on my loans while in residency.  It also came crashing down that maybe I'm an adult, because I tried to get a mortgage for the condo in Arizona.  Yes I know, I'm already in debt over my head and I'm about to double it by taking out a mortgage?  My first real investment, perhaps?  Let's hope it pans out.  So there was a lot of financial learning on my part recently.  Some new vocab that goes along with buying real estate.  Talking with my Dad about saving and trying to stay within my budget on my new salary.  I'll finally be on my own for once, standing on my own 2 feet.  There's been so much busy work over the past couple of weeks just trying to get everything in order, in terms of the condo, getting insurance quotes, trying to figure out the logistics of moving, where to buy furniture, etc.  Some of it fun stuff, some of it not.

I know there are many people my age who are married and have kids and are much more like a real grown up compared to me.  Trust me I know that.  Look at some of my good high school friends.  Most are married and many are expecting.  Let me tell you that makes me feel like I've been standing still.  While in med school, it seems like everyone else's lives kept moving.  I mean seriously - my friends are about to start their own little families - the next generation.  Not I.  Nope I'm working on getting my first job.  It's hard at times to feel that my wheels are turning, but I'm not going anywhere!  I will admit that finally though I do feel like I've finally made some progress with graduation, getting Penny, and buying a place.  It's something.  I really haven't been standing completely still for the past 4 years.  Everyone says it'll be worth it and in all honesty right now I'm happy with where I'm at.  I can't say that has always been true, but right now it is (it probably won't be so true, come Christmas time, which I will likely be spending in the hospital this year).  I'll make it there eventually - just not yet.  If you ask me I have a lot of living left to do.  I've missed out on some good years while studying away in medical school in a small town with nothing to do.

Let's just say I have some high hopes for Tucson and even though I am about to embark on what will most certainly be the hardest year of my life - I sure hope it's also one of the most fun!

Thrifting, Yard Selling, and Crafting!!!

I've been a busy girl, along with the help of my mother.  What's the first thing a woman thinks of when moving into a new place?
How to decorate it, of course!!!!  So we've been doing a little planning and shopping.

Want to see what we've found?

Well, first things first.

Green Challenge #19:  Buy used furniture/goods/trinkets whenever possible.
 This saves in more ways than one.  It saves me $money$ and it saves the environment, by not purchasing new furniture which must be manufactured, shipped, etc.

I'll be showing you some of the treasures my mother and I have recently found.  Later, once I'm back in Tucson and moved in, I'll post a pic of a dining room table and 4 chairs the neighbors gave me, since they got a new set.

So...we recently went thrift store shopping and found this wooden box.

Pretty, huh?  Ok, no not really.  Also please don't mind the mess that is the garage table work station.
A little cleaning, sanding and a couple of coats of paint and ta da...

There is a layer of blue paint underneath the light ivory that covers the outside of the box.  We took a candle and smeared wax along the edges of the box and the handle, so when sanded lightly the ivory paint peels off showing the blue highlights underneath.  See below:

Then the word "laundry" cut out of black vinyl on my mom's cricut machine and wa la...the finished product that will sit on a shelf in my new laundry room.

Next up...we went yard sale shopping this weekend, hoping to find more treasures.  The buy of the day was these glass medicine bottles.  A quarter a piece!!!  We thought that was a steal.  They will likely sit atop a $0.75 shelf we also bought at the yard sales.

Last big find of our yard sale extravaganza was 2 lamps.  The tall one ($4) will likely go in my new living room and the smaller one ($1) (which is in the background) will go probably on a bed side table.

Again, don't mind the messy garage.  I know, I know those don't look like lamps I would pick out to decorate my new place.  Well, after you see the finished product (to be posted later) you may disagree.  My pocket book feels a little heavier and the planet a little greener!

Road Trip Part 4!

After 3 days on the road, we made it to ARIZONA!!!!  Finally!! 

                                      

Once in Arizona the hunt for a home for the next 3 years began.  We also explored Tucson.  I was able to see much more than during my time spent there during my interview.  I literally spent less than 24 hrs in Tucson when I went out for my interview.  I'm happy to say that Tucson has a lot to offer.  Great restaurants, tons of hiking, and tons of great grocery stores (Whole Foods, Sunflower Market, Trader Joes).  I'm super excited!

Would it be a post about Arizona, if I didn't post a picture of a cactus.  And...purple, my favorite color!

Also, I knew I was in love when I found Bookmans!  Bookmans is a used books, magazines, movies, video games, trinkets, etc store.  What's exciting about a used bookstore you ask?  Aside from cheap books - well...as you can see from the picture it's pet friendly!  That's right Pennypoo can go with me to Bookmans. 

When I first walked into Bookman's with Penny one of the clerks looked at me and said, "Just so you know there is also a bulldog in the store."  I thought, ok - good to know.  While browsing with Penny, I look up and around the corner appears a man holding a bulldog under his arm.  The funny part - the bulldog was wearing a green tank top and a tutu!  haha...it was awesome!  I should have asked the man for a picture.

Did you know that Tucson has a Riverwalk?!  Now, if you are like me you instantly picture the San Antonio Riverwalk.  Well...it's nothing like that!  First off, there is no water in the "river."  It's essentially big empty riverbed, that occasionally has water during monsoon season.  The Tucson Riverwalk has a running/walking/biking path on both sides that is bustling with people in the morning and evening.

                            

Above is the Peddler on the Path, a one man shop that serves coffee, juice, water, etc for those on the riverwalk.  It's a tricked out old mail truck!  One more reason to look forward to living in Tucson.

The Tucson trip was a success and we found what will possibly be my new home for the next 3 years.  Right now I am working on financing, so we'll see if that all pans out.

Last 2 days of the roadtrip!  California here we come!

We spent the night about in Barstow, which is slightly under halfway from Tucson to Chico.  On our way we were able to stop at a few Roadside America attractions!  Below are some chain-saw carved trees in a couple of random yards in Tehachapi, California.  We stopped at a local thrift store, bought a couple of frames and got directions to find these treasures.

The last day on the road, we ate airplane food on a roadtrip.  Wasn't exactly planning for that one, but....when an old airplane is turned hotdog stand it's hard not to stop.  Next time we'll just stop to take pictures rather than eat there.  (this and an in-n-out burger were my breaking no red meat green challenge for the trip)

 

The inside was super cute.  We sat and ate off of fake crates.

 

There were even clouds outside the windows!!!

Mom and I made it back to Chico, in one piece!  We had a lot of fun on the trip and also were bored crazy when passing through Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona.  In total we were in 10 states!  As with any roadtrip we played the license plate game and were able to find 44 states.  Surprisingly we actually saw a Hawaii plate while in Arizona!

Penny survived and was extremely happy to be set free in the backyard once we made it to Chico!  She ran around like a crazed animal when we let her loose.  I guess sleeping nearly all day for a week will do that to you!

And of course - I must end with a Penny picture.

Road Trip Part 3!

Are you tired of driving yet?  We were.  We had a change of route on the second day of our road trip.  Instead of going through Oklahoma and the pan handle of Texas, we diverted and went South earlier taking us through some of the states in the previous post.  The tornado warnings and golf ball sized hail scared us off.

Pictures of the road trip continued:

Of course a Penny pic.  This is her sleeping across the arm rest in the car.

Next state Texas.  There was no Welcome to Texas sign, because there was construction going on where we entered the state.  This is an appropriate Texas flag in the state on our way out.  Also, our hotel in Fort Worth had a Texas shaped waffle maker for breakfast.

Who wouldn't want to stop for a picture next to a statue of a pig on wheels?

Another statue on the same road as the pig.  Telephone pole in the drive-by pic a hazard of the road.

Driving, driving, driving.  Riding, riding, riding.

Almost there!

Penny in the backseat.  On this stretch of the road in her perch on the arm rest she contorted her body to be in the shade, so we stuck her in the back.  As you can see she didn't like being in the back seat. ;)