I had a great weekend with Jenny and Nancy. We saw the Marshall Fields Cinderella display, had a good lunch, and saw the much-hyped movie Broeback Mountain. Heath Ledger did an excellent job, but I just don't see how this movie has earned so much acclaim. I think it is the novelty of the love story within it that makes it so special. Funny story about our attendence at this film. We got to Uptown an hour and a half before the show. We purchased our tickets, then walked down the street to Zeno Cafe. Jenny, Nancy, and I enjoyed some excellent coffee and a piece of cake, then walked back to the theater to claim some seats. We were still a half hour early for the movie, so we thought we would get great seats. Boy were we wrong! We had to sit in the front row! I already had a bit of a headache going, so straining my neck to see the screen did not help. In addition, Jenny had the misfortune of having the smelliest person ever sit next to her. As there were not other seats left in the house, she was trapped. She breathed through her mouth for the first hour of the film, but them gave that up because her mouth was dry! This may be why I am not singing the high praises of this movie.....
Today is Matt's last day of teaching. We are going to celebrate by finally seeing Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. We may also got for a drive around Lake Harriet, as Mary our concert master in the HSO says there are a lot of nice lights around the lake. Our concert yesterday was good. I really need to work on the Dvorak some more though, as being the only bass makes it critical that I get ALL the licks (including the impossible speed up in the second movement!)
Well, I have a Doctor appointment today to find out what's wrong with my knee (ok, so I already know what is wrong with it, I just need drugs!) I will not have computer access while in Fargo, and my parent's computer is pretty slow, so don't expect any updates until New Year's.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a safe New Year!

NORTH DAKOTA TRIP SCHEDULE (TENATIVE AS WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF MOTHER NATURE!)

Thursday 12/22: Fargo
Friday 12/23: Fargo
Saturday 12/24: Fargo
Sunday 12/25: Jamestown
Monday 12/26: Jamestown
Tuesday 12/27: Jamestown
Wednesday 12/28: Joan in Jamestown, Matt in Fargo
Thursday 12/29: Joan in Jamestown, Matt in Fargo
Friday 12/30: Head back to Minneapolis

We still have the same phone # and we will have our phones with us. Please give us a call if you are in town.

Happy Holidays!

Tom_Cruise_Kills_Oprah.mov (video/quicktime Object)

Watch this link. It is hilarious!

Notice how I write more when I have exams.....I wonder why?
Today was the pharmacology and pathophysiology exam for dematology and bones. I did well, so I have treated myself to some time off before starting in real heavy with the pathology. BONE TUMORS SUCK!
We are getting a lot of snow here in Minneapolis. I am a bit concern about having my car out on the street, as people drive crazy down our narrow little street without snow. Luckily tomorrow I have to head to the garage to get some stuff fixed, so the car will be off the street for a few hours. I just have to figure out what I am going to do with myself while I wait for it to get fixed.
Stuff is coming together nicely for the rest of the year. I just have a few more presents to get, and then wrapping. I am going to attempt getting Christmas cards out this year. My guess is that it is the first and last time I will be able to. The next three years I will be working my ass off trying to get the PhD done.
They FINALLY posted out period 4 schedule today. I don't know where I am going to find the free time to make up my family practice clinic day. It must be nice to not have to work on Mondays........oh well, family practice is definately NOT for me.....little kids scare me (too bad I still have pediatrics ahead of me!)
Well, I need to get going on some wonderful bone tumor slides.

Well, my birthday has come and gone, and I am another year older and perhaps a bit wiser. I started celebrating with Matt on December 8th with my birthday present of Barenaked Ladies concert tickets. I had never seen them live before, and they did not disappoint. The warm up act sucked, but with the Ladies came out there were only a few pauses in the action.
On Friday I got to eat at Sally's with Matt and Matt S. I wanted the med school girls to come out, but Dr. Brown annouced out orthopedics exam was going to be fill in the blank instead of multiple choice, so my girls bailed on me to breathe into paper bags and hyperventilate (just kidding, most just studied). Matt S. is going to look in on Fernando the super beta over Christmas while Matt and I are in North Dakota.
Ah Saturday, my birthday (aka the day of 100 phone calls). I got to enjoy a few well appreciated calls from friends and family, a massage, and a wonderful dinner from the Signature Cafe (you HAVE to go here if you live near Minneapolis, also, notice how close it is to my house!).
Now, in all good holiday spirit I am cramming for tests, round tres! Yup, I have MORE EXAMS after only TWO WEEKS OF CLASS! I guess there is enough material, given that we have had over 10 days of 8 hours of lecture........grrr! All I can say is that you can count dermatology out as one of my future career choices. RASHES SUCK! I am also not an ape (or half ape), so orthopedics is probably out too (though I enjoy the subject). Well, I better get back to studying. I will probably write more this week, as I have nothing to do except study.

Another round of finals, Thanksgiving, and a weekend of snow have come and gone since I last posted. I survived the finals (barely), but luckily Thanksgiving and the Schulz family reunion cheered me up. I HATE NEUROLOGY! That is all I have to say.
Yesterday Matt and I went to a really good movie about Johnny Cash,Walk the Line. His music always reminds me of my Grandparent's old band for some reason, so it was fun to see the story of Johnny Cash played out on screen. I think both the lead actors in this film did a great job, and I hope to see them nominateed for Oscars.
We have one more week of classes, followed by more tests the next week. I get to go to the Barenaked Ladies Holiday Concert for my Birthday with Matt. We are also celebrating my birthday by going out to eat at a restaurant in our neighborhood here. I hope to get together with some medical school friends as well, but that is always something that occurs at the spur of the moment. I also hope that Jenny and Nancy can come into Minneapolis around the 17th to do a girly day of fun (Marshal Field's Christmas display, Holidazzle parade, Chick Flick?). I really miss having Karen and Jenny around to do stuff with. Matt is fun, but he often doesn't want to see the same films as me (example, The Family Stone), and going to movies by myself if fine sometimes, but not all of the time.
I am looking forward to getting my paperwork with Dr. Hebbel all finalized. I hate being in limbo!
Well, I am making homemade Chex mix for the second time this week. Matt managed to eat over half of the last batch in two days! I might have to hide it this time.
Happy Holidays Everyone!

I had a good weekend with my parents last week. Unfortunately, my string of correctly diagnosing the need for stiches was continued with my mom. We were walking on Malcolm Ave. a few blocks from my house (about two), when she tripped on a very uneven sidewalk and fell on her face. After getting her home to look at it closely, I convinced my Dad and Matt that we needed to get her to the ER for stiches. My mom, even after the triage nurse admitted her, refused to believe I was right about her needing stiches. Gosh, I am only in medical school, and fortitously just had my facial trauma lecture a few weeks ago! She calmed down, and once it was time for me to numb her up with the lidocaine (the Dr. let me do it so he could deal with the guy next to us) she stopped doubting me. The stiches came out yesterday, and it looks like she will heal up fine.

I had yet another exam today. It was Pharmacology. I did well, so now I am trying to motivate myself to study Pathology. Matt is off chaperoning another dance a DeLaSalle. I just hope they don't put him near the women's bathroom like they did last time.

I am doing some light Christmas shopping of the internet. I am going to try and break my disturbing trend of leaking details to people. Hopefully, Jenny, Karen, and Matt will have NO CLUE about what I am getting them this year.

Well, I need to get back to wonderful photos of what happens to your brain in car accidents!

Procrastination is a wonderful thing!
I am just avoiding the mountain of pharmacology that I have to study tonight. I spent my last afternoon at the VA today. It was productive, but sort of sad. I have learned a lot, but I think Dr. J could have taught me tons more with just a few more sessions. My exam is next week. I have to get 80% or higher to move on in the course. The next phase is a whole day in clinic. It is sort of scary to think that less than a year ago I couldn't do any type of physical exam, and that starting next week, my exam could be used as someone's pre-op admission physical! SCARY!
Today the classroom is a new low. I didn't take off my scarf or coat the entire morning. I spent the entire class on Subtance Abuse curled up in a little ball praying for some signs of heat. During the 15 minutes class break I attempted to get coffee from Espresso Expose, but the line was too long. However, Matt S. was studying there, so I got to heat up my hand off his coffee. He has volunteered to be a pre-test guinea pig for me. Now I have my Matt, Matt S., and my parents lined up for practice tests........hehehe.
My mentor choice is coming around. I will have a sit down meeting next week to nail down the final details. It is good to get that monkey off my back!
I heard a cool song today on the Current (The Current )It was a song called "Karen" by a local band Friends Like These. It made me think of my little sister. Oh, she just called me, so I better go!

Happy Halloween! Last year at this time I was studying histology and handing candy out to trick or treaters with Kirk. This year I was working on histology exams explained and handing out candy to our six trick or treaters by myself. I was handing out candy by myself because Matt went the gym. I was writing a histology exam thingy because I can't say to no to reasonably insane requests (only sane ones get said no too).
This week is one of realtively little to do. There is party of some sorts on Saturday, but I doubt I will go as my friends are all heading out of town (SD, ND, other cooler places in MN). I think Matt and I will continue or Friday night hot dates consisting of dinner out (neither of us has energy to cook by Friday) at a bar (happy hour specials rock!) and grocery shopping. Sounds like fun huh! Oh, and then we come home, make popcorn, and watch a movie, followed by me reading a book and Matt playing video games. Yup, we are officially "that old boring married couple". Not that we were extremely exciting before we were married (I spiced things up by watching TWO movies in a night).
I sent an email out to my first mentor choice. We will see if he is willing to say yes. Picking an MD/PhD mentor is a lot like dating. You find someone you like, you "rotate" with their group for a while, then as to "take a break" so you can have "some space" and see other options. Repeat three times (or more!) and then have the great "bachelor rose ceremony" where you pick one and leave two high and dry. I didn't like this process to much.......
Shout out to Derik R. as he celebrates All Saints Day. I wish I was in Columbus with you man (just not in seminary, since I am a girl, married, AND Lutheran....)
Well, I am going to hit the hay. I just started The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. It is a fitting book for this time of year.

Still sleep deprived!
I am still sleep deprived from my massive studying last week. I was glad to have Jenny and Nancy as company while driving home on Friday. Unfortunately, the traffic was heavy, so I didn't get to Jamestown until after midnight! Karen's adorable cat then chose to wake me up at 6AM with her meowing. I had a great time at home. I got to see Aunt Donna, Debbie, Libbie, and Aunt Sherry, all without leaving the house. Enamine spent Saturday night with me, so I was woken up at 4:30am with kitty kisses. Karen was on the road with Brian at 7am, so Mom, Dad, and I headed to early church. The new interium at Trinity is not very good....I hope they find someone new soon. We went to Perkins after church, then headed home to sort through wedding proofs. As soon as I finished that, I went and picked up the Dalsteds and headed home.
The LA Angels completed their year losing to the Chicago White Sox in the ALCS. I had hoped they Angels would make it to the World Series this year, but they just didn't have the offense to get ahead of the White Sox early. I hope they learn from this year, and come back stronger next year. Matt and I are already making plans for when they come play the Twins....
Tonight we are going out with the girls for Thai food. Matt is coming so he can put a better face to the people I spend my whole day with. With him having parent-teacher conferences tomorrow and Thursday, and me having classes all day Friday, tonight is pretty much the most time we will see each other until Sunday night! Oh well, our lives will get back to boring after that......
I am on lunch break right now. I have one pathology class left, then I am heading to the gym. My stupid back and neck complained about my lack of activity last week (apparently for me, studying is good for the brain, bad for the neck and back), so I am working back into it. With Matt gone this weekend, I might call up Matt S. to find out if he is doing spin classes this weekend and check one out (Matt S. will probably try to kill me on the bike...maybe this isn't a good idea.....). I am also planning on hitting a chick flick, which one is the now the question. Well, I am going to go outside and get some fresh air. It is still so nice outside that I better enjoy it while I can!

Pharmacology is done. I could have done better, but the effort would have hindered my studying for my other exams. It really sucks that everything we are learning now has direct applications to patient care, but that we hardly have time to absorb it before moving onto something else. I am studying pathology slides right now (on my computer), while occassionaly peeking on ESPN to see the score of the Angels/White Sox game. It is going to be a long night.
Today I had class in the morning, followed by a quick work out and studying. My highlight of the day was going to the band to cash some check! Whooooo! Tomorrow I have my pathology exam in the morning, followed by the VA clinic in the afternoon. It will be a rough afternoon at the VA, as I read the assigned reading three weeks ago, and my mind is on anything BUT the nose and throat. The good news is that Hans and I get the standardized patient instead of a real one. It is hard to fake a clinic visit with the complex VA patients (they never have only one thing wrong with them....they are very ill men). Hopefully Dr. Bal will take it easy on us. WISH ME LUCK!

Tonight is the last Yankee/Angels game. I really hope the Angels win. I think that deep inside, Matt does too....he just can't admit it yet.
I passed the Pharmacology Exam, barely. I really need to work on reading carefully when I take exams. I seem to make the same mistakes over and over again, which is really really frustrating.
This week is studying, studying, or and I did mention studying! I have pathology on Wednesday and Pathophysiology on Friday. That means I don't get much time to totally change how I think about a disease process (pathology....what killed this person. Pathophys: what process is killing this person. NOT the same thing).
I am excited about my upcoming weekend trip to ND to see Karen and Enamine. I also will have the pleasure of Jenny's (and Nancy's?) company on the ride from the cities. This should help me stay awake.......
Well, I need to look at more slides of what TB does to the body....

A HOUSE DIVIDED!

Matt and I will probably be pretty mean to each other this week, as my LA Angels are playing his NY Yankees this week in the playoffs. I am of course cheering for Darin. I hope they beat the pants off the Yankees!

We had a great weekend with my parents. Our new bedroom set looks awesome, plus we finally got a decent sized TV. We were fed up with squinting at the writing whenever we watched a movie, news, or anything else that involved text.

This is the last week before exams. I feel so far behind! Oh well, panic breeds productivity!

Have a great everyone!
ANGELS

The Band Curse is alive.

Matt and I have come to the conclusion that whenever the NDSU Goldstar Band travels with the football team for a regular season game, they lose. We have witnessed this for over six years now. This year, we didn't get to go to Montana with our friends, but we saw them for a nano second on the TV at Joe Senser's NDSU Alumni Bash. I just wish they would have showed less of the Montana State Band and more of the Goldstar Band.....
Here is a picture from the wedding. Mike decided he wanted to dance with Matt as well. Too bad the band had just started to play "You Look Wonderful Tonight"!
Matt and I had a good weekend. Matt chaperoned the DeLaSalle Homecoming dance and I baby sat for Conner Klocke. Matt has to deal with "jucking", a sort of modified dry hump set to the never ending hip hop music (his eyeballs were vibrating!) while staked out witnessing the drama of the girls' bathroom. I just had to watch Sesame Street and change a diaper or two. I think I got off easy.
This week isn't too exciting. I have to do some serious soul searching as I continue to select a PhD mentor. Matt just has to write some quizes. My parents are coming to town on Friday, and we will all be busy putting together some furniture and going to a play. We are going to Triple Espresso, which I went to on my "quasi-date" with Matt S. I enjoyed it, so I am taking Matt and my parents.
Well, I have to get to class this morning. This week is heart failure and interstital lung disease week....whooo!

I just got back from a fun and relaxing weekend visiting Karen in Lawrence. It was nice to have a "girls" weekend with my little sister. My flights were both good, which was a relief since Northwest has a strike and announced bankruptcy the other day.
Lawrence is a nice city. I can see why Karen chose it. It fits her perfectly right now. I just wish she was a little closer! I really enjoyed the downtown parts of town. I did some major shopping, which was good because I need clothes to wear to clinic now that I go once a week. I also got a taste of how everyone in Lawrence is seemingly obsessed with the Jayhawk. Almost every house or car had some sort of Jayhawk on it! It would be quite scary if people in Minneapolis or Fargo did that with their mascots.
Enamine is a joy to play with. She is not a cuddly cat (yet), but that may change. She is a good companion to Karen. I really liked Karen's apartment as well. I think it is the perfect size for her. Plus, everything is mini.....
Karen and I went to the movie Just Like Heaven in Lawrence. It was really good. I knew Karen liked it, as my arm had several red marks on it leaving the show. Afterwards we went home and watched some Nip/Tuck on TV. I had never seen this show before. Boy it is confusing! Not to mention a little creepy with the whole carver character attacking people. We watched several episodes, then turned it to TLC to decompress. Karen still had to sleep with the lights on.
Well, this week I hope to get a good start on my studying. I don't have too much going on, which is a good change. I do have a meeting with a new mentor prospect. My decision, which seemed so easy a month ago, it turning out to be full of complication. I am lucky that I still have time to figure it all out.
Wish me luck!

Binge Drinking Entrenched In College Culture

I find this article to be too true. Unfortunately, for people in North Dakota and other areas, the binge drinking starts as early as Middle School. I find that even some of my medical school collegues are up for a binge or two, and brag about it to this day. In fact, despite going to Gold Star Band parties for four years, I never had someone vomit while passed out until I got to medical school (way to go Hemant!) I don't know how many people I can think of who exhibit "learned helplessness" i.e. can't socialize with others without a little liquid lubricant. In addition, I know of several people who have had serious legal issues from drinking. As a survivor of a drunk driving accident (I was hit by one over a year ago), what are people thinking when they drink and drive? How can someone put "getting hammered" ahead of getting ahead by finishing a college degree? I recommend reading Smashed: A Story of a Drunken Girlhood by Koren Zailckas. It is a eye-opener to the binge drinking college culture.
I am glad that I learned to have fun WITHOUT alcohol before adding it into the equation. I just hope others will start to do the same.

Today we started Year 2 of medical school. So far, so good. I have a lot on my plate out of the gate already. The next three days are going to be a real test, as I have class from 8AM to 5 PM with virtually no breaks. I also have the bonus orchestra starting on Thursday nights. I was going to add medical Spanish class, but I think I will need Tuesday nights to get ahead for Wednesdays and Thursdays. Matt is continuing to struggle with his eighth hour class. I think if it wasn't for them he would really really like this teaching gig. Oh well, there has to be something to make a job a job....Otherwise it would be fun that you get paid for, and hardly anyone gets to do that for living.
My fantasy baseball team, the Aardvarks, finished 7th out of 8 teams in the Medical School league, just missing the Championship round. Too many injuries......
Matt and I made the decision to not get season hockey tickets this year, as the cost is too high. We are going to enjoy DeLaSalle athletics, and maybe just catch the occasional Gopher game. Both of us are looking forward to dusting off our old Anti-UND cheers when the come in January. Hopefully a gang of our friends came also come from Fargo.
We got our wedding photos back from the photographer last weekend. Everyone of them is nice, so it was hard choosing which ones to get. We also got another load of cards and such, so my scrapbooking and thank you writing days are not quite over. Everyone was so generous with us, I can't help but feel grateful for all our nice friends and family.
Well, I need to get sleep.

Matt and I are settling in here. Tonight we ate dinner, did some chores, and took a nice walk around Prospect Park. I love my neighborhood.....it is surrounded by a big, dangerous city, but is still safe to walk around at night.

This weekend I will get to go to my first state fair. It is a huge deal here in Minnesota, so I am a bit curious. I think we are going to try and meet up with Dan, Catie, and Connor. It should be fun to take the little guy around to name the animals.

I am getting closer to a lab decision. Tomorrow I have a sit down meeting with Dr. Hebbel to talk about "the future". I will post it here when I make a decision.

Fantasy baseball ends next week. I didn't do as well as I had hoped, but at least I am not in last place. I had a good time doing it, and will probably try it again next year. In the meantime I will just keep my LA Angels obsession going. Darin is having a decent year, even if the ESPN guys don't think so.

I watched the TV show Tommy Lee Goes to College tonight. It was fun to see him work so hard to get into the marching band. I used to get so mad at the people who sat in the audience, thinking the band was so easy. I worked my ass off for ten years in marching bands, and it is HARD WORK! I am glad that Tommy Lee was respectful (at least a little bit) of that. My one question about this whole show is this: How much was the University of Nebraska paid?

Well, Matt starts teaching later this week. He is getting really busy. He accidently signed up to chaperone a dance on September 2, but then I reminded him that we need to head back to ND to reclaim the rest of our wedding presents and to get our proofs so we can pick our shots. Now he has to back out and sign up for another day.....oh well.

I also got my schedule for the next year. Second year of medical school looks really really busy. I hope that Matt and I will have time for each other! I did find time to go visit Karen this fall. I am very excited to be heading to Lawrence, KS, on September 16-18. Matt is going to stay home alone....so it will just be a girls' weekend. Plus, will get to meet my "niece" Enamine.Her photo is at the top of this post. Isn't she cute!


Well, I need to hit the hay.

Hanson and Beseler Online 2004-2005

Here are some pictures from Christopher Hanson's website from our wedding dance. Between work, getting Matt settled, and writing thank you notes I have not had time to update. I promise a long one before September!

I GOT A DISHWASHER!!!

My landlords got a new dishwasher downstairs, so now I am in full possession of their old one. I really missed my dishwasher from 1525, so it will be nice to have one again.

I survived the weekend with the girls. Actually, since Jenny and Nancy had been up reading Harry Potter the night before, they were really tired and decided NOT to torture me with a hangover on Sunday morning. This was good, since it was almost 100+ degrees in my apartment BEFORE 9AM. My curse of watching Darin play live continues, as his team won every game in Minneapolis EXCEPT for the game I went to. The plus side was that I got to sit in the sky box for two innings with Cheryl Steinborn, a nice friend of my mother's. The view was amazing, a person could get VERY used to that.

Things I discovered over the weekend:
1. Karen is even more afraid of snakes than I am.
2. My sister with red hair looks just like Miranda from Sex in the City
3. The Mall of America on a hot Sunday afternoon is NOT a good place to go
3.5 Downtown on a Friday night during Aquatennial and a Twins game is also not a good place to go.
4. The best chinese food in Minneapolis is the Village Wok on Washington Ave.
5. A fun weekend with your good friends is priceless!

June went by so fast, I can't believe it! I am playing hooky from my lab this afternoon. Actually, I went in early today so I could do my second wedding dress fitting this afternoon. It just happened that my wedding dress fits perfectly, so I get the rest of the afternoon to pick up around my apartment and stuff. I went to Kowalski's Market and bought groceries for my upcoming houseguests. Matt starts off the week by coming on Monday. Technically he isn't a house guest, since he is helping to pay for the rent, but I live here all the time and he is just spending the night before his first interview (wish him luck). Matt leaves on Tuesday, and I have another day or so to get stuff together before Karen and Tanya come on Thursday night. I am excited to see both of them. I still work on Friday, so I will leave the two of them alone (it is like survivor....which one will kill the other....my bets are on Karen, she is a sneaky little kitty.....) I think we might go out on Friday night with my old neighbor Matt and with Kirk my old roomate, as they like to dance.....
Jenny and Nancy join the fun on Saturday. We have tickets to see Darin play at the Metrodome, although I didn't get 1st base like I had hoped. Afterwards we will come back to my place for food, drinks, movies, and fun! I bought LOTS of cereal and stuff, so we can eat plenty of breakfast.
Lab is going well. I am at a real impasse as to what I should do for my PhD. The easy choice is Dr. Hebbel, as he is established, has solid research, and would like to work with me. Dr. Kaufman is a little less established, but is really really motivated to get stuff done. He actually still comes into the lab more than once a day! I am going to lose a lot of sleep over this decision in the next few weeks. I guess that might be good, as I need something to take my mind off the wedding!
Well, this got a little longer than I anticipated when I started to write. I will try to update during the week if anything big happens.

ABC News: Team Working on Birth Control for Men

This is the project that my little sister Karen is working on. I am really blown away by this, and I hope she is successful.

What a month! I am busy completing the six week short course in Pathology, Pharmacology, Human Sexuality, and Human Behavior. I have also moved into my new apartment, mailed out wedding invitations, entertained Matt and his Mom, and visited home to celebrate my parent's 34th Wedding Anniversary! I am sort of sad right now, because Karen is in the process of moving to Kansas. I wish her luck, but I do wish she was closer. Who am I going to fight with now? Who is going to be my fashion consultant? The good news is that Jenny (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!) is moving to Sauk Rapids, which is much closer than Rugby! Well, I have finals to study for (last ones until September....whoooooo!)

I survived finals and a trip back to ND. Karen and Matt are now offically NDSU alumni.
This week we started another block of classes. They are interesting so far. I also started work in Dr. Kaufman's lab. I am just observing his current workers right now, as our summer class schedule is quite demanding. I should have my own work to do starting in July.
I saw two decent movies this weekend. The first was the third Star Wars movie. Not being a huge Star Wars fan, I still managed to enjoy the action and watching the story unfold. The second movie I saw was Kicking and Screaming with Will Ferrall. I enjoyed some of this movie, but sort of regretting paying $6 to see it, when it would have been a decent rental.
Today Jon left for England, so it will be just Kirk and I in the apartment this week. Both Kirk and I went on a cleaning spree, as we know that Jon won't be around to mess it up!
I am yet another person short moving, as my downstairs neighbor Matt is going to be in Austin, TX the day I move. I SERIOUSLY NEED SOME HELP! If anyone is going to be around Minneapolis the weekend of June 4th let me know!
My fantasy team has had an unfortunate string of injuries. Currently I have four players on the DL, and at least three players who are listed as day-to-day. Not looking good for the Aardvarks this season....
Well, I need to start reading some pathology.

ESPN.com: Page 2 : How to fix the Yankees

My fantasy baseball team is now fifth in the league after tying the last three games. I can lose, I can tie, but can I win? Hopefully this week......

In other baseball news, Matt's Yankee's are not having a great year so far. I really feel bad for him (sort of).....but I have to admit, this web page is hilarious.

One final to go. It is my my brutal class, so wish me luck.
I can't wait to get back to ND next weekend.........just to relax!

Happy May Day!

I had a so-so weekend. I had a wonderful time at the Twins game with Jenny, Virginia, and Sherri. Too bad Darin and company didn't win, then I would of had some more fun!
The rest of the weekend has been fun of studying my ass off. I am so sick of neuroscience and physiology right now. Tomorrow is my microbiology final. It is my easiest exam, and I wish it was last instead of first. After the final I have MD/PhD seminar. I have to bring lunch, so that adds some stress to the day. I am also in desparate need of groceries, so sometime tomorrow night I will have to head to Rainbow foods to get my yogurt supply for the week.
I am looking forward to next weekend, as my Mom will be in town to help me inspect my wedding dress. I was reading the Star Tribune yesterday, and some girls here in the Cities spend more on the Prom dress than I have on my wedding gown and bridesmaids gowns combined! WOW! I hate to see what will happen when those girls get married. I guess buying your dress for $80 at Marshall Fields (like I did), just isn't hip.
Well, I need to get back to my microbiology slides. Bacteria, virus, fungi, and worms....oh my!
Wish me luck!

Donate Blood: It Does EVERYONE Good!

I donated blood today after doing the pointless PAP written history final thingy this morning. I passed the Neuroscience Lab final, so now I can focus on the big three next week. I enjoy donating blood, as it only takes 1 hour to make such a huge impact on someone's life. I hope to become one of those old people who donates 55 gallons, but that might be hard given my schedule. Now I am studying physiology. With three finals coming up, the only highlight of my weekend is the LAA v. Twins game that I get to attend tomorrow night with Jenny. Karen was a huge sweetheart and sent me a Barnes and Noble gift card, so tomorrow morning I will head there to avoid waking up Jon and Kirk. Jon is on call tonight, so I am sure he would not appreciate me being up and making nose at 8 A.M. As for Kirk, who knows what he is doing tonight, but I am sure he wouldn't apprecate being woken up early either.
I had an enjoyable dinner with my neighbor Matt tonight. He was my ride home from the blood place, so I wouldn't have to walk a mile in the cold, wet weather after losing a pint. We ate at Sally's, which is always good.
CONGRATS TO MY SWEETIE for finishing student teaching!!!!!
Well, I better get going here. Wish me luck on my finals!

Today was a good day. I studied some, ran some errands, and made BBQ in the freezing cold. Right now I am enjoying my new purchases on iTunes. I recommend Keane's "Somewhere Only We Know" from their album Hopes and Fears. I also have been rocking out to Beck's "E-Pro" on his new album Guero, and Ben Lee's breezy tune "Catch My Disease" from his Morning Become Ecletic album.
I am going to be insanely busy the new two weeks, as finals madness begins. I hope to survive until the huge Seis De Mayo Fiesta en la Casa De River Terrace (I have a final in the morning, so the Cinco De Mayo bash was moved). The three of us upstairs, and Matt and Brad from downstairs are already plotting the mayhem. Matt may purchase a hot tube before that, so it could get pretty wild. If any of my friends from the F-M area are reading this, contact me if you want to come. I would love to see you! My mom will be in town that night, as I have an appointment to try my wedding gown on the next day. However, my mom is very cool, and will probably have a good time as well (as a precaution I may get her a hotel room as she might want to sleep).
Well, I need to get to bed some. I have to study more tomorrow.

Joan's web page

Here is a flashback to my life in 1998. Check out the link to Mitch's site, he is still awesome and has his site current. I, on the other hand, have completed shoved any knowledge of html coding out of my brain in favor of infomation about viruses (I now know the different between chickenpox and smallpox.....VERY IMPORTANT!)

Medical School Talent Show
I attended the tradition known as the First Year Medical School Talent Show (The Bored Review) last night. I was surprised by the quality of some of the acts (way to go Muscles of Mastication!) and disappointed by a few (WIM is a great organization, don't call them vapid).
Today is rainy in Minneapolis. If I hadn't set an alarm I probably would not be awake right now. I have to study for my microbiology quiz on Monday, and work on the stupid PAS II final take home exam. I should also fire up the washing machine to do some laundry. If I am feeling ambitious I might run to Blockbuster and rent a DVD, but that will probably be much later tonight.
I dropped Elizabeth off at her new place last night. She is less than three blocks away from the place I will be moving to in June. That will be nice, as we might be able to walk to class together.
I finished my first foray into iPod books on tape yesterday. I enjoyed it, and will probably make another purchase soon (if I have some spare cash this month!)
I bought Twins tickets to go see Darin play on the 30th. Jenny is coming, and I will be looking forward to a much needed study break. I hope that Darin and his boys destroy the Twins (even if Santana is playing).
Well, I need to get showered here and call Matt. He called me last night after I went to bed. That is never a good thing, as I am far from coherant when I have been woken up from sleep.

Wow! I can't believe a month has passed since I last contributed to this blog. I have been busy, but that isn't not out of the normal for me. The biggest news thus far is that I have found a new apartment in Prospect Park to live in next year. This takes a big hassle off Matt and I. Now Matt just has to find a job. I have my lab rotation set up for the summer, and will occupied with wedding details for most of July.
Karen picked the University of Kansas Medicinal Chemistry program. I am happy and excited for her as she leaves Fargo to settle in Lawerance. I hope she gets some basketball tickets when I come and visit her.
Well, I am busy burning a CD or two for Jenny. It is of a book on tape that I bought. I am going to give it to her as a driving to and from Rugby gift as she prepares to move soon.

So far my fantasy baseball team is 6th in the league after going 4-9-1 last week. This week, so far, I am 1-1. I hope the Los Angeles Angels do well, as I am very heavy on Angels players (they are the only team I follow, so they were the only players I knew in the draft.)

I have a micro quiz to study for. I will attempt to update more often.

Teachers.Net - STUDENT TEACHER CHATBOARD - Student Teacher teachers, join your fellow teachers on the Student Teacher teacher chatboard. The Teachers.Net Student Teacher website offers Student Teacher teachers a Student Teacher teachers mailring (Stud

This website is mainly for my poor fiance Matt. He is student teaching right now and it not liking it. In fact, he feels like teaching high school is not the career for him, and that now, the last semester in college, is too late to do anything else. I keep trying to point out the endless opportunities he has ahead of him, because he will have degrees in History (B.A.), Spanish (B.A.), AND Education (B.A.). I think his fear is that he will be the guys with a degree selling shoes. I him, and that IS not in his future.

Don't you hate seeing the ones you love struggle? Karen and Jenny are also going through similar uncertain situations right now. Jenny is taking the GRE and trying to get into graduate school, and Karen is trying to decide which graduate school is right for her. I was in all their shoes a year ago, and though I would like to tell them it will all get better soon, the struggles continue. I think it is what makes our lives interesting.

Peter's Guide to Movies, Shopping, Restaurants, etc

Here is my good friend Peter's website. This site is so much like him that I feel like he is talking to me while I read it.

MyCatHatesYou dot com

I love this web site! It makes me laugh....no matter what. Plus I am getting some pretty good kitty names from it.

MID-TERMS ARE OVER! I really really hate weeks when there is NOTHING EXCEPT TESTS! It seems like Medical School is obsessed with tests and quizes! I sucessfully completed all my mid-terms. It looks like I haven't dug myself into a terrible hole, which is really good. I kicked some microbe butt on Wednesday, almost getting 100% on the test. Of course, I had to put off any celebrations because of the physiology mid-term of death. Neuroscience wasn't as bad as I thought. I actually got over half the lab questions right, which is amazing since the snow storm on Sunday kept me away from the lab to study.

Matt should be on his way to Minneapolis right now. I haven't seen him since Martin Luther King weekend, which is quite a while for us. With him student teaching and me up to my eyeballs in reading, our phone conversations have been suffering. It will be nice to look him in the eye while talking. We are doing our pre-marriage education at the University of St. Thomas this weekend. We also have plans to go out for drink in Uptown with Kirk, and possibly meeting the hockey bunch at William's Peanut Bar. The hockey bunch doesn't believe Matt exists.......On Saturday we are celebrating a belated Valentine's by trying some Greek food at Christos Greek restaurant. Hopefully on Sunday we will meet up with Dan, Catie, and Conner Klocke for our Sunday Chipolte lunch before Matt heads back to Fargo.

Karen is interviewing at the University of Kansas this weekend. It sounds like it may be her top choice (next to the U of M, which is still dragging its feet!)

Well, I am going to take a nap here, as I haven't slept to well (for some reason I kept thinking to cardiac function curves last night while trying to fall asleep).

CNN.com - Study: Binge drinking highest in Midwest - Feb 14, 2005

My "beloved" home state is the binge drinking capitol of the nation. Honestly, I am not surprised by this, it seems that every Monday since junior high I have heard stories of "man I was soooo smashed this weekend..." I honestly think that there is a whole age group in ND that is incapable of entertaining themselves WITHOUT alcohol. I find this sad, and one of the main reason I left, and will NEVER go back. Give the youth something to do, instead of just hunting them down, slapping their wrists, and fining them. Alcoholism starts at home.....

I hate to admit it, but I did have fun at the Medical School Prom. In fact, it wasn't really like a prom too much, more like a wedding dance where everyone was dressed up, no bride or groom, and card tables set up. I ended up giving Elizabeth O. a ride, alond with Esther K. and Cory V. (and date). I barely know Esther and Cory (let alone his date), but they were all really cool. I met up with Addie L. and Christ B. at the dance. Both of them are married and/or engaged like me, but were also missing their significant other. We hung out for a while (they drank some....I had Diet Coke to fight off the effects of the giant painkillers I am on). Then we played blackjack. It was a lot of fun, as Addie was able to teach me some more about how to play. Toward the end of the night, all of us handed in out chips and danced some. I got to see a number of my classmates drunk as well. Josh L. asked me where my husband was....I tried to remind him I didn't have one (yet)....but he was beyond that at that point. I dance with Andy W., Aimee A., Sam P., and others for a while. Oh, and I won a $15 Blockbuster gift card. Alex L. was very jealous. After the dance ended everyone was heading across the street to Sally's for more relvery, but Esther wanted to go home. The pain was starting to cut through the painkillers (I wore stupid shoes.....why....because I LOVE SHOES!), so I dropped her off and headed home. I got home the same time as Jon!
Today I baked my Bailey's Chocolate Chip cheesecake and made up my lasanga for dinner tomorrow night. Now I am debating if I want to study some more before heading to a hockey game. After the game I might go out with Som and Andrea, as it is Som's birthday. I guess I am starting to make some friends........
Kirk is ice fishing, and Jon is probably going to be celebrating his 1 year anniversary with Abby, which means that tomorrow morning I am getting my butt out of bed to let the happy couple have a few hours alone. I will probably go to the lab, to the gym, and the library to study. The Mudpuds are coming over around 6 for dinner.

Well, I am just sitting here waiting to go to the Medical School Prom. Yes folks....Medical School Prom. In many ways, Medical school is like revisiting high school, with legal drinking and more free time. I am in a regular orchestra, I play broomball and volleyball, and I see the same 165 people everyday. Oh.....and we have lockers! Today I was conned into spending $14 bucks for a ticket so I can go stag with a bunch of my girlfriends (Matt couldn't make it....lucky him). The ticket cost include food, two drinks, some gambling, and some dancing. The sucky thing is that because of my freakish inflammed tibialis anterior muscle, I am unable to drink due to the horse-tranquilzer pills I am on (the good news....I feel no pain...physically that is....I might be scarred for life for going to prom....again!)

Matt is in the full swing of student teaching. This means that he is stressed and cranky (like me most days actually). That also means that I will only get to see him twice this spring, once for a Catholic pre-marriage retreat (yuck!), and maybe once over my Spring break if I decide to come to Fargo. I have taken to calling him my phantom fiancee here at school, because very few people have seen him (and probably think I made him up). Going stag tonight will only help to fan the flames.

I found the PERFECT house to rent for next year. Unfortunately, it is available NOW, and will probably be taken before I can move in May....the story of my life.

Well, I sound probably head out to my car and go pick up my companion Elizabeth at the frat house (up, a frat house......who have I become?!?)

I have a weekend full of mindless chores, so I will probably update again......

Congrats to Karen!!!!!
Karen was accepted into Purdue University's Medicinal Chemistry PhD program yesterday. I can't be more excited for her, but I am still holding out hope that she will pick the U of M.

I am at work this chilly, but still beautiful Sunday morning. I am performing and immunoprecipitation (4 hours) and running a gel (5 hours). The good news is that these tasks will keep me on track to study for my Physiology quiz tomorrow, as there is not too much else to do. Unfortunately, it will keep me from buying groceries, doing laundry, and cleaning the kitchen (which needs to be done soon!).
Last night I went to the restaurant Blue Nile with the Ethnic Cuiseine Group of medical students. I invited Kirk to tag along because he wasn't doing anything else. The food was Ethiopian. It was good, but I hate to admit that something about it just isn't sitting right with me. I think it is because there was a lot of onion that I couldn't see to pick out. I haven't thrown up, yet, but I still feel nauseous and have a killer headache (which is NOT related to the wine I had with dinner, because I can drink wine and remain fine, unlike my father). Needless to say, not feeling so great this morning was NOT what I needed when having to study and work today. I could barely work up the effort to eat breakfast, knowing that my blood sugar levels demand that I eat in the morning. Oh well, today I will play it safe with food.
I had a good chat with Jenny on Friday. I am very excited for her, as she is planning on moving to St. Cloud and starting graduate school. Having never live further than 9 miles from Jenny, it will be nice to have her closer so we can have more chick flick nights and Sunday brunches.
Matt gets to go to the annual Mel and Boeser Welfare Super Bowl Party tonight. I am a tad jealous, as I will still be here AT SCHOOL during the game, and even IF I wanted to watch this year (I don't), I don't have anywhere to do so. Oh well, I will be filled in on everything I miss in the paper and on Good Morning America tomorrow morning.
Well, I need to crack my physiology book and learn even more about cardiac physiology.

The Old Man of East River Road
Today, on my solitary walk to school, I noticed a man leaving his home. I have seen him everyday since I moved to Minneapolis, and yet I don't know anything about him. Everday he leaves his house and walks two blocks to the school. His old, weathered coat, orange hat, and stooped back are visible daily near the Java City in Moos Tower. He sits at a table and reads the paper. Sometimes I see him carrying a large plastic sack, full of something myserious. It must be important to him, as he is NEVER without the sack. I often want to ask him his name, and a little about himself. His house is the only one on its block with an immaculate yard, and nice clean sidewalk. I alway wonder, as I pass it, who is he? Does he live alone? What does he do all day?
Does he wonder the same about me?

Missing Fargo?
Believe it or not, but I am actually missing the frozen tundra that is Fargo, ND. I don't think it is the weather, or even the city that I missing, but the friendships that I made while there. I miss going to pep band on Friday and Saturday night. I miss late nights playing trivia at Wild Wings. I really miss (and crave) Juano's on Sundays. But what I am really missing is my friends. As much as I like my new friends here at medical school, NOTHING can ever replace my buddies from back home (Fargo and Jamestown). If any of you are cruising by this site, drop me a line to say hello, for I am NEVER too busy for friend.

The semester is in full swing here. Because of scheduling torture (and lab work) I have been getting home after 6 most nights, leaving me four short hours to make supper, eat, clean up, study, talk to Matt, and do any of the other billion things that come up. Hence, my blog postings have been suffering.
Lab work is really bothering me right now. I am very unhappy working in Dr. Yee's lab because I don't feel like I am doing my two main objectives 1. Learning something, and 2. Getting know what working WITH Dr. Yee is like. All I am learning is that post-docs are inherantly evil and controlling. I know that if this is what I can expect as far as mentoring goes from Dr. Yee, then this lab IS NOT FOR ME! However, being the stubborn ND gal that I am, I am sticking it out until March......
The good news is that I have my next rotation lined up with Dr. Dan Kaufman. He is an MD/PhD who works on stem cells. I will be back doing vascular biology, looking at how ESC differentiate into endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. This research is valuable, because it could determine a way to revascularize hearts after damage.
Today is one of those days where the "plan" never goes as intended. I was going to work out today, but my stupid heel is bothering me again. I seen to be on this two year cycle of extreme foot pain. Too many years of marching band I guess. Tomorrow, pain or not, I am going to the gym, because I am starting to go nuts here with nervous energy (I literally tapped my foot for two hours straight today while studying....poor people next to me!)
Tomorrow is another night of Gopher Hockey! I am really happy that I got season tickets, even if the team isn't doing so hot. It makes me feel like I am part of the University. That is really nice. The school is so large, and sometimes I feel a bit disconnected from my Medical School classmates because of the whole MD/PhD thing. Part of it is for my own personal protection, because I know that they will be moving on in three years, and the rest is because sometimes I feel like no one really wants to get to know ME. Hence, opportunities like hockey games, where I get to associate with people OUTSIDE of the classroom, are cherished. I guess I need to work up the guts to get on the phone and ask people to do stuff.
I am a littleupset with my friends and family back in ND. It seems like no one can come and see me. My friends here at Medical School get to see their significant others and friends at least once a month. I, on the other hand, don't get to see anyone until the END of February. I understand that the weather is unpredictable, but there is just something depressing about the fact that no one wants to come and see me. Instead I will be expected to spend every moment of my break travelling around the state of ND visiting with people.
I am in serious need of groceries tonight. I have no yogurt or anything that resembles a vegetable or fruit. I also need a new light bulb for my room, as now I have "mood lighting" in my room. That is NOT condusive to studying neuroscience.
Well, I need to think about eating some food (most likely toast) and heading out to the grocery store and Target.

I survived the Histology final (barely) and was able to spend the last few weeks back home with friends and family. I had a great holiday season, and I want to thank everyone who made it special.

Matt came to Minneapolis for New Year's. We had a good time, and we even got some stuff done on the wedding. We are now registered at Target and Herbergers. Hopefully now we can get the bigger stuff (menu, invites) out of the way.

Classes started on Monday. So far, so good. I found out that since I am an MD/PhD student, I am exempt from the Microbiology lab. I am going to skip it in favor of my lab rotation. I am really going to enjoy micro though. The verdict is still out on neuroscience.

Well, I need to get some productive stuff done tonight. Derek might come to town tomorrow for lunch, which would be awesome since I haven't seen him since July!