Happy Halloween Part 2

I found something else that might scare you. This one makes my stomach churn. I can look at blood and see water gush out of a woman's uterus/vagina (bed I surprised you there! - I saw some births over the past few days, which I will write about soon). In the mean time below is a picture of something that if I stare at it long enough makes my tummy feel funny. And yet I keep looking because I have a certain fascination with it.
My Aunt Edwina sent this to me in an email today. She works at a wildlife refuge outside of Willows.
This was outside our back door at work this morning. Someone saw this outside their backdoor at work on the wall.

Here's here e-mail:
It is about 2 inches from front legs to the back legs. It is covered with babies. Rachel (co-worker) saw on the morning news if you were to see a spider on Halloween it meant that your deceased loved ones are watching over you. Happy Halloween. Ed

I guess all the babies are there to make sure everyone at work is being watched over today!

I highly suggest clicking on the picture - this way it will make it larger so you can get the full effect and really appreciate the 100s of babies on the spider's back! ewww...

Happy Halloween!

Creepy, crawly, it's that spooky time of year!

Below are some pictures of various decorations that are scattered about my house.

Here's a link to a scary story to spook your imagination.
The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allan Poe.
Tell me that a dismembered heart doesn't scare you!

Happy Birthday G-ma!

Here's a little Happy Birthday post for my Grandma Ann!
I Love You!





And a couple of fall pictures from this year that I promised.
Lots to tell - I've been busy these past few days, but it's nearing my bedtime so I will have to post about the excitement later in the week!

Giving Back

I don't know why, but recently I have been thinking about Trinity a lot. Partially I guess in reference to my last post. The subject of college came up again in a conversation this past weekend, which of course always takes me back. I wouldn't give up those 4 years for anything. Trinity prepared me well for medical school and life. The dorm experience and being part of the Trinity bubble for 4 years was a wonderful experience. I enjoyed watching the campus change over my 4 years there & I look forward to the day that I get to travel back to SA town to eat at those familar resturants and wander around a campus that is sure to have changed since I left.

Last night my phone rang with a 210-999-xxxx number, which signifies an on-campus number. I didn't answer because I was busy and later put together that it's Phone-a-thon season. Soon students will be calling to ask for donations for scholarships. Well tonight they tricked me. Anonymous came up on my phone tonight & the curiosity got to me - I answered it. A little while later I had donated $20.06 to Trinity in recognition of my graduation year. And you know what - it made me feel good. To give back if even just a little to a place that has given me so much.

Thank you TU and thanks to all of the amazing people I met there who shaped my experience and me.

Round 3

Deja vu - that's the feeling I have about this year. It's taken me 3 times, but I now recognize the pattern. Here I am in my 3rd year on the brink of rest of my life. I've stood here 2 other times - as a junior in highschool and in college. Again I am realizing that after this year I have one year left, before I move onto the rest of my life. In high school that meant applying for college, anxiously awaiting with my fingers crossed for acceptance letters.



Flash forward 4 years - there I was as a junior at Trinity, compulsively checking my email for med school interview opportunities and daily checking my mailbox hoping for the infamous thick envelope deciding where I would spend my next 4 yrs.



Flash forward 4 years again realizing that hopefully I have 1 year left on the east coast before I once again move onto the rest of my life. Yes - I've changed, I've grown, and I've learned. The funny thing is that the emotions are still the same. Excited yet scared. Wanting to explore my surroundings that much more, because I only have 1 year left. Knowing that I will be leaving my friends here for another one of life's great adventures. We will always be connected by medical school. As I am connected to my childhood friends from Willows and my Trinity friends.
I look ahead at the year and now realize these feelilngs I've felt before. It's odd. In less than a year I will repeat what I did 4 years ago - apply for residency and then compulsively check my email for the opportunity to interview. Then cross my fingers and hope I match on that infamous day in March.



In a way after next year I will repeat this cycle one more time. Residency for 3-5 years or more depending on the specialty I choose. Then interviewing for a job.
Cyclic just like the seasons...

an escape

Quick post tonight, because I just got done working a 16 hr shift. The last few hours I've just been studying, but we were pretty this afternoon/early evening visiting kids in the ED and deciding who to admit and who to send home. It was a good, but tiring day. So now it's shower time and then bedtime - repeat tomorrow (only 11 hr day!)

Today I thought I would share with you one of my daily pleasures - reading my mom's cousin Corey's blog. (not that I don't enjoy reading Ashley, Nava's, and now Sammy's blog) Corey is pretty faithful about posting everyday and takes beautiful photos. Her latest entries have been of pictures from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris (where I visited 7 years ago!). Her blog is often times my little break from reality - transporting me to France, to antique markets, and famous museums even if only for a few minutes.
Here's a link: http://willows95988.typepad.com/

It's Here, It's Here!!!!

Fall has finally arrived. The cool crisp air that hits your face and fills your lungs making you feel completely alive.

The leaves are starting to turn, the breeze is picking up.



Warm sweatshirts, hot cocoa, and the outdoors calling my name.

This weekend there will be a picnic - outside amongst the leaves!

Ahh... the changing of the seasons to remind one of the cyclic nature of the year and our lives. A reminder to enjoy each moment, for fall will be fleeting and soon winter will set in with snowflakes and the holidays!

So get out there and enjoy the weather. Go for a walk, take a deep breath and breathe in the beauty of fall.

P.S. These pictures are from prior years! I haven't had time to take pictures this year, but will this weekend. Pics from this year to follow. and don't think I've forgotten I owe you all pics of my dorm here in York. I will eventually get to them I promise! :)