update

Four more days till spring break! Granted I have two exams (BIPC and E Med) till then, but at this point I really don't care... the only reason I'm still going is because of Jen and Luke's encouragement. I don't think I've been more ready for a break, or sleep for that matter. I haven't even started my clinical year yet, but I've been averaging 5-6 hours of sleep a night. And I can't totally blame it on school. Last week was the first week out of my entire semester that I haven't traveled. And though I love to visit new places, and I see it as only living here once, I was glad to stay in. In fact, I think that for the break Jen, Marcie and I will postpone the cruise and instead have a mini spa day with mani-pedis and massages. And perhaps a day trip to NY or DC. Oh, and have I told you I'm in a Spades Tournament? It's gonna be awesome.

So it dawned on me that I have less than two months before I have my white coat ceremony and I start my clinical year. That's right, I'm a stone's throw away from performing a SOAP note on anything that walks in the door (SOAP= Subjective (taking a history), Objective (performing a physical), Assessment (making a differential diagnosis), and Plan (treatment plan)). If we're completely honest, that scares the hell out of me.

Disney World

Kristina: So what are you doing for your spring break?

me: I'm going to the place where dreams come true.

Kristina: Iowa?

you may be crazy

This semester I've been taking a class called Biopsychosocial Issues in Patient Care (BIPC) a.k.a. let's see how far you're off your rocker. Notice I didn't say "if" but "how far" because it's a stone cold fact that everyone's a little lunatic. It's just some people don't mind showing it. in the middle of the street. naked.

The DSM-IV, otherwise known as the holy bible of psychology, lists criteria for all the diagnosable disorders out there. To help you embrace your inner nut, here's a few points to ponder on the way to the grocery/book/gun store.

Are you prone to persistently bear grudges?

Do you choose solitary activities?

Are you impulsive or fail to plan ahead?

Are you suggestible (aka easily influenced by others or circumstances)?

Are you envious of others or believe that others are envious of you?

Are you concerned with being criticized or rejected in social situations?

Do you passively resist fulfilling routine social and occupational tasks?

Does your self-concept center around beliefs of inadequacy, worthlessness, and low self-esteem?

Are you preoccupied with details, rules, lists etc...

I should note that all of the questions come from one section, the personality disorders section (I haven't even mentioned mood disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, somatoform and pain disorders, dissociative disorders, sleep disorders, learning disorders, attention-deficit disorders, sex disorders, tic disorders, adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders etc... plus all the disorders that don't have the word "disorder" in the title).

So I'm sitting in class as they go through the list of all these and I'm thinking to my self, yep, have that, and that too, and that. By the time class is done I'm debating whether to check myself into some sort of facility.

I've come to the conclusion that, yes, sometimes you'll answer yes to these questions. Honestly, I hope you do. I feel it makes you far more relate-able than those who've never been through things like loss, embarrassment, pain, desire (god forbid!), envy, true moments of happiness... I'm not trying to sum up life in four lines, just letting you know what's been on my mind.

ps: If you like to suffer through a barrage of questioning along these lines simply click the title of this post. Warning: there's a disorder for that too.

baby, it's cold outside

weekend trip: Niagara Falls
accomplices: Kristina, Angie, and Dhardielle
hours in car: 17
movies watched: 3
frost nipped fingers: 5
getting out of the country: priceless


Horseshoe Falls is better seen on the Canadian side. As a girl, I went with my mother during the summer time and we rode on a boat that took us to the outer rim of these falls. It was surprising to see that same water covered in ice.


Horseshoe Falls. Taking this shot got my heart beating a bit faster. Though there was this huge gate with stone preventing anyone from falling in, if you slightly leaned over the ledge you were mere feet away from the rushing water. It was entertaining watching the chunks of ice plunge over the edge.

The mist rising from Horseshoe falls landed on the nearby trees and froze on only one side of the bark.

Hiya Angie! You can see that most of the river has frozen over

This is the base of the American Falls. It was amazing to see this massive amount of water dump over the ledge and disappear under the top ice. I particularly loved the icicles... reminded me of stalactites.

Thus concludes el tripo de Niagara. side note: This is the last time I travel North for the winter. what was I thinking...

john.he.is

Yes We Can Obama Song by will.i.am

say hello to my little friend

Soren, Mandy, Stanley and I drove up to Punxsutawney for Groundhog's Day and received in person the bad news of winter's unwelcome stay for another six weeks. We were one of the few that walked up to Gobbler's knob and arrived just minutes before the prediction was read (we chose not to stay the night in the cold). most entertaining moment: As soon as Phil saw his shadow an enormous "BOOOOOOOO!" erupted from the crowd, and then in one mass movement, the crowd bolted for the shuttle buses.

After being rejected by the relentless mob, Phil huffed off to his cage to drown his sorrows in Jack Dandelions.

One of Phil's handlers snuck up behind us and joined in our photo. I turned around to find him waving away and Phil balled up in his cage.

hat time:
and from the back:

and finally...

This is the hat that I crocheted to keep my tiny head warm.