My month of vacation has now officially started. Now, now....it's not all fun and games. I have been keeping myself super busy and I don't even get to sleep in. Boyfriend needs a ride to work everyday at 7:30am, because he and brother share a car. So, even though it's vacation - I'm busy. Busy doing what you ask?
Well, I have a list about a mile long of things to keep me busy. Topping the list is figuring out the best way to pay back my loans, try to find a place to live in Tucson (or at least a handful of places to look at once I get down there), sell most of my school books, have a moving sale and get rid of things I don't need, read for fun, try to learn more Spanish, cook a ton, and sell most of my furniture --- enter Craigslist.
I was thinking that once I put my furniture up on Craigslist it would take a few weeks for it to sale. Well, let me tell you I was waaaayyyy wrong. Within 2 hours of posting my furniture, I had over twenty responses. It was crazy! I obviously did not charge enough. So within a matter of hours nearly all of my furniture was possibly sold.
Couch, loveseat, bed, bookcase, dresser, kitchen table and chairs, coffee table, TV stand. The only things I will be left with were my desk, because I hadn't posted that yet and the TV, because that's not mine to sell. Oh and my patio furniture that I'm hoping to possibly squeeze in the back of my car for the drive across the country.
I posted all of my furniture yesterday, made a separate label for craigslist in my gmail account and...that file has 74 emails from people interested in the stuff!!!!
So there you go, if you have furniture to sell craigslist may be the way to go.
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Also, I have not forgotten:
Green Challenge #13: Only using real silverware. (No disposable utensils)
This means when eating out or eating at the hospital cafeteria (which I will likely be doing a lot next year), I have to bring my own utensils.
I have no facts for you on how this, but you can figure it out!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
Yummy Granola!!!!
Since I will be moving in less than 2 months, it's time to slowly start to clean out my cabniets of food, etc. So, since I had some granola and a bunch of nuts and a big tub of yogurt sitting in my fridge I decided to try to make my own granola. Well...I loved it and have been back to the store to buy a big tube of oats to make another batch. I reason it that I am still cleaning out my cupboard by using up the nuts and well because it's so yummy and much much cheaper than buying granola at the store.
Here's the recipe (and as any good chef, I changed a thing or two):
I got the recipe from allrecipes.com
Granola
Ingredients:
4 cups rolled oats
3/4 cups wheat germ (i didn't use this)
3/4 cup oat bran (also didn't use this)
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup of each: chopped almonds, pecans and walnuts
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoos maple syrup
1/4 cup + 2 tbls honey
1/2 c vegetable oil
1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries (i used both yellow raisins & cranberries - 1/2 c each)
- I suggest buying these from the bulk the bin, because it is way way way cheaper than buying the brand name stuff on the shelf and you can pic how much you want
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325F, line 1-2 baking sheets with foil or parchment paper
2. Combine oats, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans & walnuts in large bowl
3. Stir together salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat
4. Pour sauce over dry mixture and stir to coat
5. spread mixture over baking sheets and bake 20 minutes, stir halfway through.
6. Cool, then stir in raisins and cranberries
7. Store in airtight container or empty oats container
I add flaxseed to the top of my granola (to add to the health benefits), serve with fruit, milk, or yogurt.
Super yummy in the morning and because of the protein in the nuts it keeps me full until lunch time!
Yum Yum!
Here's the recipe (and as any good chef, I changed a thing or two):
I got the recipe from allrecipes.com
Granola
Ingredients:
4 cups rolled oats
3/4 cups wheat germ (i didn't use this)
3/4 cup oat bran (also didn't use this)
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup of each: chopped almonds, pecans and walnuts
3/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoos maple syrup
1/4 cup + 2 tbls honey
1/2 c vegetable oil
1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup raisins or dried cranberries (i used both yellow raisins & cranberries - 1/2 c each)
- I suggest buying these from the bulk the bin, because it is way way way cheaper than buying the brand name stuff on the shelf and you can pic how much you want
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325F, line 1-2 baking sheets with foil or parchment paper
2. Combine oats, oat bran, sunflower seeds, almonds, pecans & walnuts in large bowl
3. Stir together salt, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, oil, cinnamon, and vanilla in saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat
4. Pour sauce over dry mixture and stir to coat
5. spread mixture over baking sheets and bake 20 minutes, stir halfway through.
6. Cool, then stir in raisins and cranberries
7. Store in airtight container or empty oats container
I add flaxseed to the top of my granola (to add to the health benefits), serve with fruit, milk, or yogurt.
Super yummy in the morning and because of the protein in the nuts it keeps me full until lunch time!
Yum Yum!
Monday, March 22, 2010
World Water Day and Green Challenge #12
Green Challenge #12: No more red meat.
Wait?! What does that have to do with the environment? How will not eating red meat help the environment?
Well...because according to the Livestock's Long Shadow - Environmental issues and options and a 2007 article from the LA times: Pollution on the hoof (this is an easy to read interesting article)
----------------
Moving on today is World Water Day!
If you have 8 mins then watch the video below and rejoice that if you made the eco-friendly change with me, you are no longer drinking bottled water and contributing to the process! Go You!
Wait?! What does that have to do with the environment? How will not eating red meat help the environment?
Well...because according to the Livestock's Long Shadow - Environmental issues and options and a 2007 article from the LA times: Pollution on the hoof (this is an easy to read interesting article)
- 18% of greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock (this is greater than the world transportation sector - that's all planes, trains, and automobiles!)
- this comes in the form of methane and nitrous oxide, which are more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide
- interesting tid bit: a cow can burp from 25-130 gallons of methane a day
- 64% of anthropogenic ammonia emissions, which contribute significantly to the acidification of ecosystems and acid rain come from cattle
- the world's largest source of water pollution is believed to be the livestock sector
- In the US, livestock are responsible for 1/3 of the nitrogen and phosphorous loads into freshwater (which ultimately leads to overgrowth of algeae, decreased oxygen in the water, and eventually fewer organisms such as fish in the fresh water)
- Destruction of once forested land occurs for cattle pastures
----------------
Moving on today is World Water Day!
If you have 8 mins then watch the video below and rejoice that if you made the eco-friendly change with me, you are no longer drinking bottled water and contributing to the process! Go You!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Family Medicine Rocks!
So after the dust settled from the exciting news and day of yesterday, more exciting news filtered in to my radar.
2010 Fill Rate for Family Medicine Highest Ever
The fill rate (which is the number of spots filled in the match) was 91.4% for family medicine. Those spots that are not filled in the match are filled in the scramble by people who did not match. This percentage is the highest for family medicine ever. There was also a 9% increase in the number of US grads entering family medicine! I guess we are doing something right and people are figuring out the necessity and value of primary care physicians.
The reason it is exciting that more US grads are entering family medicine is because oftentimes family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics (the primary care specialties) will fill in the remaining spots with foreign medical grads, because these are the least competitive specialties. Even though in my eyes they are the most important specialties. Just some very exciting news for the future of family medicine.
Here are some pictures from yesterday! Enjoy.
2010 Fill Rate for Family Medicine Highest Ever
The fill rate (which is the number of spots filled in the match) was 91.4% for family medicine. Those spots that are not filled in the match are filled in the scramble by people who did not match. This percentage is the highest for family medicine ever. There was also a 9% increase in the number of US grads entering family medicine! I guess we are doing something right and people are figuring out the necessity and value of primary care physicians.
The reason it is exciting that more US grads are entering family medicine is because oftentimes family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics (the primary care specialties) will fill in the remaining spots with foreign medical grads, because these are the least competitive specialties. Even though in my eyes they are the most important specialties. Just some very exciting news for the future of family medicine.
Here are some pictures from yesterday! Enjoy.
Pre-envelope receiving or opening.
Mel and I with our 12-year-old-sitting-at-the-kiddie-table-at Thanksgiving-sparkling-non-champagne-apple-cider. yum :(
It's in my hands...now just have to wait until noon!
ahhhh....
The Letter!
3 new family docs enter the world!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
We have jobs!
It's over. We survived and are extremely extremely happy with where we ended up.
Here's the video of the moment! You probably only need to watch the first minute, after that things get a little shaky. Our cameraman stood up. We are not screaming and jumping up and down, because it's not home, but....it is the program that we liked the most. I can easily say if this program was in Sacramento it would have been ranked first. We are headed to the University of Arizona in Tucson Arizona! Where there are 360 days of sun!
Here's the video of the moment! You probably only need to watch the first minute, after that things get a little shaky. Our cameraman stood up. We are not screaming and jumping up and down, because it's not home, but....it is the program that we liked the most. I can easily say if this program was in Sacramento it would have been ranked first. We are headed to the University of Arizona in Tucson Arizona! Where there are 360 days of sun!
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tomorrow we can say tomorrow!
"Tomorrow we can say tomorrow," was the phrase of the day yesterday. This is in reference to the countdown to match day, which has been going on for about 2 weeks or so now. Yesterday was 2 days away. Today I have repeatedly shaken Sief's leg and said "Tomorrow" with wide eyes and a big smile!
It's finally here. I cannot believe it. We have been waiting our entire medical education for tomorrow moment at noon eastern time. The moment we open our envelopes and find out where we will be spending the next 3-4 years of our lives. Thankfully we passed the test on Monday which notified us that we had matched into our preferred specialty. And thankfully, we will only spend 3-4 years at our location of residency. For some of my classmates going into surgery or other long specialties will find out where they will be spending the next 7 years of their lives. That's crazy.
I cannot describe the emotions I have been feeling over the last couple of days. It's a mixture of excitment, nervousness, and fear. This is by far one of the biggest moments of my life up until this point. Likely it will be the most memorable day of my medical school career. I do not expect to feel this anxiousness and anticipation for something again until I may someday get married or have a child. That's the weight this carries. I know that may sound ridicuolous to some, but for us and the medical community that is the way it is.
I have played out the moment in my head of when we open our envelopes to find out where we matched over in my head more than 100 times. It's crazy and may be nothing like what I imagine. I'm afraid I'll get a paper cut from running my finger under the envelope flap to open it. I probably have obsessed over this moment a little too much. I hope I have a few glasses of champagne in me before the actual opening. We'll see.....
Here's a brief overview of what tomorrow will be like. When I get a chance I will post a video of Sief and I opening our envelopes. We have to arrive at 10:30 am. We each pay $1 into a pot (I'll explain where this comes in later). We have a few speeches - from our classmate, alumni, etc. More talking not sure about what and I guess somewhere around 11am they will start calling our names and handing out our envelopes, which we cannot open until noon. The last person to get their envelope gets the pot of $$$. Then at noon we open our envelopes and eat a yummy lunch. That's my understanding.
Here are some pictures from first year. I've come a long way. Wish us luck!
Much love,
Jen
It's finally here. I cannot believe it. We have been waiting our entire medical education for tomorrow moment at noon eastern time. The moment we open our envelopes and find out where we will be spending the next 3-4 years of our lives. Thankfully we passed the test on Monday which notified us that we had matched into our preferred specialty. And thankfully, we will only spend 3-4 years at our location of residency. For some of my classmates going into surgery or other long specialties will find out where they will be spending the next 7 years of their lives. That's crazy.
I cannot describe the emotions I have been feeling over the last couple of days. It's a mixture of excitment, nervousness, and fear. This is by far one of the biggest moments of my life up until this point. Likely it will be the most memorable day of my medical school career. I do not expect to feel this anxiousness and anticipation for something again until I may someday get married or have a child. That's the weight this carries. I know that may sound ridicuolous to some, but for us and the medical community that is the way it is.
I have played out the moment in my head of when we open our envelopes to find out where we matched over in my head more than 100 times. It's crazy and may be nothing like what I imagine. I'm afraid I'll get a paper cut from running my finger under the envelope flap to open it. I probably have obsessed over this moment a little too much. I hope I have a few glasses of champagne in me before the actual opening. We'll see.....
Here's a brief overview of what tomorrow will be like. When I get a chance I will post a video of Sief and I opening our envelopes. We have to arrive at 10:30 am. We each pay $1 into a pot (I'll explain where this comes in later). We have a few speeches - from our classmate, alumni, etc. More talking not sure about what and I guess somewhere around 11am they will start calling our names and handing out our envelopes, which we cannot open until noon. The last person to get their envelope gets the pot of $$$. Then at noon we open our envelopes and eat a yummy lunch. That's my understanding.
Here are some pictures from first year. I've come a long way. Wish us luck!
Much love,
Jen
Monday, March 15, 2010
One hurdle down and THE day is almost here!
The most important day of my medical school career will happen this week. Some may say that day was today, because without today you don't make it to Thursday.
Here's my post on it from last year.
I don't know if you recall or not the system that we follow to find out where we will train for residency. Briefly - you apply to x number of programs, interview at the programs that offer you interviews, rank those programs in the order of personal preference. The programs then rank all the applicants they interviewed and....a big computer system matches them up.
Well....today we found out if we matched or not. And we did match, both Sief and I.
Thursday noon Eastern time is when we find out where.
Here's my post on it from last year.
I don't know if you recall or not the system that we follow to find out where we will train for residency. Briefly - you apply to x number of programs, interview at the programs that offer you interviews, rank those programs in the order of personal preference. The programs then rank all the applicants they interviewed and....a big computer system matches them up.
Well....today we found out if we matched or not. And we did match, both Sief and I.
Thursday noon Eastern time is when we find out where.
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