It's almost over!
I did not believe the elder MD/PhD students when they indicated they did not enjoy the first two years of medical school. The last two months are why I now understand. Between courses and the ever impending boards, scheduling, and lab work I feel like I am being pulled a million directions at once. Tomorrow is our last final, a COMPREHESIVE pharmacology final. I have not had to take a comprehesive final (ie for a whole year) since HIGH SCHOOL! One could argue that since all my exams in college and medical school assumed you having taken previous courses, that they are comprehesive, but believe me, they are not like this one. How am I to remember 800+ drugs with multiple methods of actions, side effects, interactions, and names! ARRRRRR!
Needless to say, I am taking the rest of tomorrow off. What do I start on Saturday....more studying!

Good luck to my cousin Doug. He is having his second operation tomorrow. My study breaks will be seeing him in the hospital. Hopefully this one will as well as the last one and he will only be here until Sunday or Monday.

Well, I need to get back to pharmacology. Wish me luck!

It was a beautiful day here. I enjoyed it on the screened in porch studying pathology. We have finals on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday this week. I just got a phone call from my parent who informed me that my cousin Doug is having a surgery on Friday as well. This is going to be a full week! I made up my boards study schedule. Time is going to fly in May!
Karen spent the weeknd in Chicago. She isn't home yet, so I don't know how the trip went. I hope that Jenny, Karen, Nancy, and I can make a trip to Chicago sometime for a trip to Oparah's show (just to get free stuff or see someone jump on the sofa).
Well, I need to get back to work. I hope everyone had a good day today.

One of the most humbling things about medical school is the realization of how little you actually can do for some patients. You can learn everything about rare condition X, but when faced with a patient you can sometimes be left with option A, which will mostly likely not work, and option B, which is to enjoy the time you have left. Having a parent who faced these types of odds and survived I can often forget what this really means to a person.
Another humbling thing about medical school is how little you know. I have sat through almost every lecture, study for up to 14 hours a day, and I still do not have a fraction of the knowledge I need to be a competent doctor. This is a lifelong path of learning, for each encounter with every patient is a teaching experience. I am happy to be a part of people's lives, even if it is for just a fleeting moment.

Ok, enough deep thoughts. I am frantically trying to study here. I went to the Twins v. LA Angels last night. Darin did not have a stellar night, but he did get on base with a single and scored a run. I am hoping that tonight the Angels win and that I get to see one of these three things 1. Guerrero hit a homer 2. KRod pitch an inning and get the save or 3. Darin hit a homer or get a double RBI hit of some sort
I will admit that going to the Angels games with Matt is not half as fun as it was last year going with Jenny. I hope that next year the games fall at a better time for both of us so we can ditch Matt and have fun!

Boards are creeping up in the horizon. I am really starting to feel behind in my studying, which is exactly what I need to get going. This test really sucks, but it is just another right of passage on the way to my goal.....

Is it reasonable for me to rail at Matt for being a forgetful buffoon when that is one of his endearing qualities? Right now it is driving me nuts because I don't have the time to fix his messes (such as missing the bus when I have to be at the VA in the morning because he can't find his softball jersey). Sometimes I swear I am married to a ten year old instead of a twenty-four year old. Oh well, from talking to my other married friends in medical school this is not a uncommon feeling.

Good luck to Dan and Catie as they go to Beloit to look for a new house. Oh, and Happy 24th B-day to big Daddy Dan. I can hardly imagine having a kid right now, but you and Catie make it look easy... I hope you come up with an outstanding LarBeck Lager that we can all enjoy when we visit.

Ok, I MUST get back to studying leukemias......

Happy Easter everyone (a little early)
Tomorrow I will finally be done with lab medicine. I officially finished PAS today and PAP will be decided next week. It is good to have those out of the way so I can focus on my finals and on the big one ahead.
Things are progressing nicely with our condo purchase. I can't believe how much paperwork is involved!

My parents and Joan L. are coming for Easter on Saturday. We are going to a Twins game on Saturday night and making a big dinner on Sunday. It will be an interesting weekend to see how the group dynamics work.....since I suspect we will have a repeat in June when it is moving time.

Matt has been offered a contract at De La Salle next year, which is a huge relief. I am so happy he is at that school... I think he is as well.

It's official, Karen is not moving until at least January. This is sort of disappointing, as I would like to have her here NOW. Also, I pray January is full of warm, not stormy weather as we move her form Kansas to Minnesota. On a sadder note, Brian is most likely NOT coming to Minnesota, choosing to become a Cornhusker instead. I forsee a road trip to Nebraska sometime in the future.

Dan and Catie are moving as well...to Wisconsin. Matt and I are very excited for them, but will miss being able to spoil their son rotten.

Tanya was in town on Monday. It was great getting to hang out with her and Aaron. It was also nice to see Chris Hanson, Frank Clemens, Erin Ott, and the rest of the jazz band crew. It is amazing how much Matt and I miss the band crowd sometimes (usually on Saturday nights when we end up staying home and studying or playing board games....)

Well, I have to get to orchestra rehearsal and then study for the lab medicine final. Wish me luck!

I love lazy Saturdays. I was supposed to go into the lab today, but someone was using our equipment, so I got the day off. I am currently trying to finish off all my pesky busywork so I can focus on my other task of studying for blood, id, lab med, pathology, pharmacology, and oh yeah, THE Boards! Matt and I toyed with the idea of going to a movie tonight, but neither of us it real motivated to leave the apartment tonight. I was at school from 7AM until 10PM yesterday, by far my longest day so far. I didn't have to go to the BBQ and Talent Show, but I felt like I needed to enjoy one of the last medical school traditions that will be relavent. In the future I will be an outsider to the humor that occurs......this is probably for the better as a lot of the humor at the Talent Show was childish and crude. Oh well, I wasn't expecting much more anyway.
Karen has a bad migrane right now. She woke me up on Thursday night complaining of seeing spots (classic for migranes). I got to give her the wonderful news that it would probably last a few days.....
Tanya is coming to town on Monday and Tuesday with the NDSU Jazz Band. I hope we can go see her. The concerts will probably be at bad times for both Matt and I since both of us are busy at night with softball and lab work respectively.

I finally finished seasons 4 and 5 of Gilmore Girls. Thank you Jenny for lending them to me! Now I will have to wait for season 6 so I can rewatch the beginning of the season with a better perspective of what went on previously....

Hematology calls....I better answer while I still have motivation.

Just a quick note. I am sooo busy this week. It is so unfair that I have four days of 7:30am or earlier days when Matt gets to sleep in. I was barely conscious for most of my classes today (I'm sorry Jimmy, but I don't know what polycythemia is because I feel asleep during that class.....) Why isn't there 28 hours in a day? Them I could possibly get the 4 hours of sleep a day I need to not commit homicide (or a long painful suicide).

My dad is healing well. I am glad. I hope to be half as hearty as he is.....

Need to sleep....not time.....need to sleep........arrrrrrrr, I WANT to be a doctor....right?