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Entry tags:
- africa trip,
- baby animals,
- chris,
- family,
- flist,
- friends,
- house,
- life,
- liz,
- med school,
- pictures,
- plethora,
- residency,
- sam,
- susan,
- travel,
- vienna teng
Year end, year begins... reflections
The year of 2006 is now dead, settled into his grave, as the New Year now takes over reign. But, as is my nature, I could hardly let him go without a eulogy.
January
* I travel to Africa for 4 weeks of work in a hospital in Eldoret, Kenya
* I kiss a giraffe
*It's love at first sight
* I submit my matchlist for residency... it gets lost in San Fransisco
* Luckily, I am able to fax a copy to them just in time to meet the deadline
* Liz gets married
* I miss it
* I match in my number one program for Medicine/Neurology in Milwaukee
February
* I continue to work at the hospital in Eldoret
* Many, many patients die
* I spend my weekends on African safaris
* Melissa breaks off the engagement with Chris
* I am heartbroken.
* I fly down to South Africa and meet![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
claidheamhmor and melancthe - we hit it off right away
* We drive up through picturesque South Africa where we meet up with the lovely, wonderfulshirerain
* I spent the weekend and next several days with her, her family and her many adorable dogs
* We spend the weekend in Krueger National Park. I don't see one lion. Or cheetah. Or tiger.
* But I do see elephants and hyenas and giraffes instead
* Back in J'burg, Graeme and Michaela take pity on my lionless trip and take me to the lion park.
* I am nigh to consumed by a lion
* Oops. Wrong lion.
* Wrong one again.
* Luckily, I bite back
(More lion cuteness)
*I end my journeys visiting Amsterdam and avoiding all districts of fiery colors.
*I am bored the rest of February
March
* My classmate, Gael, is paralyzed from a snowboarding accident
* I finish my last hospital rotation ever for medical school
* It's a rather drab month, and I'm glad it's over.
April
* Chris and I spend every day together working on papers... It's just like second year!
* And just like second year, it's way too much time together and we start grating on each others nerves.
* But it doesn't last long
* I have surgery on my left shoulder
* It goes well.
* I get flowers for the first time
* My room is a suite
* I love my doctor
May
* I finish all of the papers and crap ever for medical school
* The wedding that wasn't passes.
* Melissa's now completely crazy
* We're all glad that the wedding ... wasn't
* I graduate from medical school
(Image is not cooperating. To see, go here: http://pics.livejournal.com/jcd1013/pic/000c32af)
* I'm a real doctor now and have the diploma to prove it
* Chris leaves for 3 months in Southeast Asia.
* I'm a blubbery mess.
* I finish up physical therapy and can raise my arm above my head (*yay*)
June
* I fly out to Milwaukee with my dad
* I buy a house
* Let's say this again. I buy a house. A very pretty house
* With raspberries
* And a rabbit
* I spend all of June packing up my mess
* I have a lot of stuff
* It's hard to say goodbye
* I move to Milwaukee, WI
July
* I become a real doctor
* And am responsible to real patients
* I start work at the VA hospital
* I love it
* Except when I have to draw blood
* My patients don't like me much then either
* Allison comes and visits
* I forget to take pictures
August
* I rotate in the Neuro ICU
* I think I've found my calling
* I hero worship my attending
* I finally start to hang out with people and get to know the neuro crowd
* Last part of the month, I do general neurology
* I'm not so fond of my resident
* I realize that I don't exactly like neurology
* Partially because I'm a even bigger ignoramus than usual
* And I hate neurology clinic
* It freaks me out
* Because I'm doing this for 5 more years
* And I never expected to doubt my decision about neurology
September
* I'm back in the Neuro ICU
* And I still love it
* Susan visits me
* Jelly Belly factories in Wisconsin are highly overrated
* But Jelly Flops are worth it!
* I see Vienna Teng in concert
* Sam gets married to Tim
* I am bridesmaid
* I am pretty
* I wish I was the bride
* Hanging out with Sam, Liz, Laura, and Brooke was awesome
October
* I start working in the ER
* I realize how glad I am that I didn't go into emergency medicine
* I go to Utah for vacation
* 8 days is far too short
* I paint my kitchen blue
November
* General medicine wards at Froedtert
* I'm awake all night on call
* I usually admit 5 patients and discharge 6 the next day
* I discover my medical student goes to my church
* And that he's cute
* And extremely humorous
* And laughs at my jokes
* I'm quite smitten
* I still am
* I'm unbelievably stressed out
* But I'm making friends
* And they're calling me Julio
* And I'm starting to feel at home
* I spend weekends peeling/stripping paint of walls
* I can't think that watching paint dry would be any more tedious or boring
December
* Back in neurology, stroke service
* My resident is my resident from August
* It's even worse than it was before
* I give up on the stripping the walls of paint
* I paint my office apricot/peach
* It looks pretty
* Chris comes to visit
* We have a wonderful time
* Chicago is a beautiful city
* We visit the aquarium
* I love sea urchins
* I realize afterwards that there were dolphins there too. Oh well, next time.
* Resident and I have big blow out
* But time with him is short
* Back to the NICU for the rest of the month
* I still love it
* In fact, I love it so much that I think that it might become the future career
* Even though it'll take another 2 years more of training
* And the lifestyle will be hard and long
* But I'm happy there
* Until my cointern returns from vacation
* I realize what an idiot she is
* And I have to pick up all of the slack
* I realize, for the first time, that I am not a student anymore
* I really am a DOCTOR
* I've learned a lot these past six months
* Still have much to learn
* But I'll get there
* And I only have 4 1/2 more years before I do
The New Year started much as the last one faded away... with going to working and being at the hospital. Cardiology wards--promises to be even more fun and stress.
A Happy New Year to all of my friends. I am so eternally grateful that you have decided to share your lives with me. With your friendship, your love and support, I am enriched and blessed.
*hugs*
ETA: Don't ask me why some of the pictures are different sizes. I didn't do it! And if you're reading this and are one of the featured, and don't want to be, let me know. I'm sure I can dig up lots of monkeys and baboons to use instead. (j/k).
January
* I travel to Africa for 4 weeks of work in a hospital in Eldoret, Kenya
* I kiss a giraffe
*It's love at first sight
* I submit my matchlist for residency... it gets lost in San Fransisco
* Luckily, I am able to fax a copy to them just in time to meet the deadline
* Liz gets married
* I miss it
* I match in my number one program for Medicine/Neurology in Milwaukee
February
* I continue to work at the hospital in Eldoret
* Many, many patients die
* I spend my weekends on African safaris
* Melissa breaks off the engagement with Chris
* I am heartbroken.
* I fly down to South Africa and meet
claidheamhmor and melancthe - we hit it off right away* We drive up through picturesque South Africa where we meet up with the lovely, wonderful
shirerain* I spent the weekend and next several days with her, her family and her many adorable dogs
* We spend the weekend in Krueger National Park. I don't see one lion. Or cheetah. Or tiger.
* But I do see elephants and hyenas and giraffes instead
* Back in J'burg, Graeme and Michaela take pity on my lionless trip and take me to the lion park.
* I am nigh to consumed by a lion
* Oops. Wrong lion.
* Wrong one again.
* Luckily, I bite back
(More lion cuteness)
*I end my journeys visiting Amsterdam and avoiding all districts of fiery colors.
*I am bored the rest of February
March
* My classmate, Gael, is paralyzed from a snowboarding accident
* I finish my last hospital rotation ever for medical school
* It's a rather drab month, and I'm glad it's over.
April
* Chris and I spend every day together working on papers... It's just like second year!
* And just like second year, it's way too much time together and we start grating on each others nerves.
* But it doesn't last long
* I have surgery on my left shoulder
* It goes well.
* I get flowers for the first time
* My room is a suite
* I love my doctor
May
* I finish all of the papers and crap ever for medical school
* The wedding that wasn't passes.
* Melissa's now completely crazy
* We're all glad that the wedding ... wasn't
* I graduate from medical school
(Image is not cooperating. To see, go here: http://pics.livejournal.com/jcd1013/pic/000c32af)
* I'm a real doctor now and have the diploma to prove it
* Chris leaves for 3 months in Southeast Asia.
* I'm a blubbery mess.
* I finish up physical therapy and can raise my arm above my head (*yay*)
June
* I fly out to Milwaukee with my dad
* I buy a house
* Let's say this again. I buy a house. A very pretty house
* With raspberries
* And a rabbit
* I spend all of June packing up my mess
* I have a lot of stuff
* It's hard to say goodbye
* I move to Milwaukee, WI
July
* I become a real doctor
* And am responsible to real patients
* I start work at the VA hospital
* I love it
* Except when I have to draw blood
* My patients don't like me much then either
* Allison comes and visits
* I forget to take pictures
August
* I rotate in the Neuro ICU
* I think I've found my calling
* I hero worship my attending
* I finally start to hang out with people and get to know the neuro crowd
* Last part of the month, I do general neurology
* I'm not so fond of my resident
* I realize that I don't exactly like neurology
* Partially because I'm a even bigger ignoramus than usual
* And I hate neurology clinic
* It freaks me out
* Because I'm doing this for 5 more years
* And I never expected to doubt my decision about neurology
September
* I'm back in the Neuro ICU
* And I still love it
* Susan visits me
* Jelly Belly factories in Wisconsin are highly overrated
* But Jelly Flops are worth it!
* I see Vienna Teng in concert
* Sam gets married to Tim
* I am bridesmaid
* I am pretty
* I wish I was the bride
* Hanging out with Sam, Liz, Laura, and Brooke was awesome
October
* I start working in the ER
* I realize how glad I am that I didn't go into emergency medicine
* I go to Utah for vacation
* 8 days is far too short
* I paint my kitchen blue
November
* General medicine wards at Froedtert
* I'm awake all night on call
* I usually admit 5 patients and discharge 6 the next day
* I discover my medical student goes to my church
* And that he's cute
* And extremely humorous
* And laughs at my jokes
* I'm quite smitten
* I still am
* I'm unbelievably stressed out
* But I'm making friends
* And they're calling me Julio
* And I'm starting to feel at home
* I spend weekends peeling/stripping paint of walls
* I can't think that watching paint dry would be any more tedious or boring
December
* Back in neurology, stroke service
* My resident is my resident from August
* It's even worse than it was before
* I give up on the stripping the walls of paint
* I paint my office apricot/peach
* It looks pretty
* Chris comes to visit
* We have a wonderful time
* Chicago is a beautiful city
* We visit the aquarium
* I love sea urchins
* I realize afterwards that there were dolphins there too. Oh well, next time.
* Resident and I have big blow out
* But time with him is short
* Back to the NICU for the rest of the month
* I still love it
* In fact, I love it so much that I think that it might become the future career
* Even though it'll take another 2 years more of training
* And the lifestyle will be hard and long
* But I'm happy there
* Until my cointern returns from vacation
* I realize what an idiot she is
* And I have to pick up all of the slack
* I realize, for the first time, that I am not a student anymore
* I really am a DOCTOR
* I've learned a lot these past six months
* Still have much to learn
* But I'll get there
* And I only have 4 1/2 more years before I do
The New Year started much as the last one faded away... with going to working and being at the hospital. Cardiology wards--promises to be even more fun and stress.
A Happy New Year to all of my friends. I am so eternally grateful that you have decided to share your lives with me. With your friendship, your love and support, I am enriched and blessed.
*hugs*
ETA: Don't ask me why some of the pictures are different sizes. I didn't do it! And if you're reading this and are one of the featured, and don't want to be, let me know. I'm sure I can dig up lots of monkeys and baboons to use instead. (j/k).