Just breathe

I had a lot of fun taking some shots this past week. My husband even had fun and asked me lots of times "Is that for macro Wednesday?" I hope to post more about my patient advocacy project once the exam is over.

Macro Shot Wednesday

In thinking about wanting to be more consistent about my blogging I'm going to post macro shots every Wednesday. In part because I got some new flashes specifically for my macro lens that I have yet to use. Something about the upcoming exam is keeping me from doing that. In the meantime, since it is rainy season and I like to take water shots here's a few I took last year.

Party in the Hall

Sometimes I'm surprised by the kind of parties you get in the hallways of hotels. Apparently I missed the memo that we needed to be up and shouting HELLO down the hall at 5am this morning. Really, if you're going to be up that early and shouting outside my room you could at least bring me a cup of coffee. Just saying...

Bumps Ahead

The last thing you want to hear from the pilot is that there are wind gusts of 20-30mph and the ride is about to be pretty uncomfortable for the next 3 hours. I am really glad I bought that bagel before we left. I decided I should probably eat that before the amusement ride began. Just as I was preparing the bagel the ride began sooner than expected. I wish I could draw a picture of my bagel slices sliding all over the table as I attempted to spread cream cheese on them and not on me,the table or my iPad. It was almost a success. You can draw your own conclusions about what I looked like.

I think my conversation with my husband sums up how I feel about this trip back to Kansas. "I like my job but I don't necessarily like dealing with some of the companies." This is how I feel about medical school. I know this is what I want. Getting through Boards is a part of the job I really dislike. So my job is to get really excited about it. It's the only way I know how to ensure success in the next few months. Besides the constant review and practice questions that is...

Dear Stinkbug

To the large leaf legged stinkbug that decided to show up as we descended into SFO a big thank you for terrorizing me and the elderly woman I was sitting next to. As I watched you first fly around both our heads and then land on her shirt so that I had to deal with you I wished I could bring myself to squash you so I could focus on my breathing. Alas, you finally settled on the middle seat as we hit the ground. I was so happy to exit the plane and enjoy the unusual 94 degree weather in the city. I hope you found a plant somewhere in California.

Pretty things in Kansas

I have no idea what this is but I saw one once before when we were driving across the US.

Ahhh Dogs

I love dogs. Most of the time. But for some reason I have been stationed next to the hotel rooms that allow dogs. Yappy dogs. That seem to keep barking for large amounts of time. In other news my husband reports that the dogs I left at home have consumed another plastic hanger and a soy milk carton. I don't know how they got to the milk carton but I have stepped on enough sharp plastic pieces of hanger to be thankful I didn't find that one. I'm just hoping I didn't leave anything else out that they might decide to chew in frustration. Like my Nike Shox tennis shoes. I still miss those...

And then there was hope

That pretty much sums up my first day at this course. I'd have more to say but I'm still working on the homework.

A sign of things to come

The night before my fist medical school interview, my hotel caught on fire. I often wonder if that was a sign of things to come. Between the high attrition rate in my first semester, the confusion about how our curriculum was being delivered to us and the lack of resources, I wonder if I didn’t ignore something in the Universe telling me to alter the path. Certainly at this point while I study for my third attempt at Boards it gives me pause. So, when I signed up for a Board Review Course back in the midwest I wasn’t too excited but I was determined. While driving into the airport there was no sign for the airline I was flying so we had to circle around again to find it. After dropping me at the door I arrived to find the electronic kiosks weren’t working so I joined the mile long line of passengers. Passenger X behind me felt the need to complain loudly and bitterly. Although he tried to engage me in this complaining game, I didn’t bite and eventually he gave up. He did make two more calls to tell everyone how this airline had really gone downhill since the merger and he was thinking of making it his last time flying with them. I was tempted to offer to pay for another ticket for him on another airline just so he would pipe down but I kept myself in check. Instead I amused myself as I watched the ONE agent continually explain to each person that interrupted our check in process to inform him that they were on the 12:00 flight. Yes, just like the rest of us in line. It was made all the more amusing because the airline had actually posted signs at all the electronic kiosks and on the standing signs that this line was for the 12:00 flight. Midway through waiting in line we found out our flight was delayed. Perfect. I’m starting to wonder if Kansas was the right choice. At the gate everything seems lovely. The gate attendant continually updates us on the arrival of our airplane and boarding goes smoothly. I’m seated across from a live cowboy, complete with hat (toothpicks in the rim), boots, cut off plaid shirt and saddle bags as his carry on. I truly wonder if there will be a horse at the airport when we arrive. As we prepare for take-off the pilot engages the thrusters and we start to accelerate and then, hard brakes. Woopsy!! Air traffic control landed a plane kinda close to us so we’re just going to do a little U-Turn and try that again. Should I be going to Kansas? I think about standing up and demanding to be let off the plane because I’m starting to panic when we restart the take-off process and I’m out of time to protest. I’m just starting to think it will be alright when they announce this is a Pepsi airline. It’s not like I drink soda all the time but my nerves require a coke. Oh well.

Update: So, these reclining seats are interesting. My laptop is nearly in my lap literally because the guy in front of me has reclined as far back as he can and is continually rocking in his seat. I can’t read my notes to type anything more up. Also, smelly hand sanitizer should be banned on airplanes and there should be a hefty fine if you open and use them not once, but twice. And you should have to pay my $50.00 copay for my migraine medication. Just saying.....

Finding balance

Sometimes you have to take a step back and reassess your life. I recently decided to take a break from my rotations in my third year of medical school. I did this for lots of reasons. The first two years were challenging and draining. Although I've loved being out on rotations, there was a project I started a year ago to improve patient care and I knew it wasn't going to come to fruition unless I could put more time towards it. Also, friends of ours had a baby with Fragile X last year and it has become clear that we need more educational resources in this area. So, we decided that we should form a non-profit and work on getting a school opened in the area. It should be an interesting and busy year.