How do I know life is going well? I’m throwing a party, which means:
Or, in short:
“Yay!! cocktails, cocktail dresses, heels & martini glasses!!!”
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Before coming to El Paso, I thought chihuahuas were only for very large women who never left their living room, and Paris Hilton, but everyone has one here. I’ve seen people walking at least half a dozen different varieties on my block alone. It’s a nice little neighborhood, and the weather’s pleasant after work.
I’m doing really well in my clerkship. My director actually told a patient today, “She’d make a excellent psychiatrist, but I’m sure she’ll be excellent at whatever she does.” Yay!
I’m pretty sure one of my residents (yes, the one half my class thinks is incompetent) was flirting with me today, awkwardly and out of the blue. Looking like a complete idiot, I was prepared for. Unsolicited compliments and Grey’s Anatomy landmine navigation, not so much.
Bocas y cocktails on Friday in the new apartment. Am I stressed or excited about it? Excited! Who’d guess?
Gas Stove +
Tequila Lime chicken (with onions, garlic, red bell pepper & cilantro) +
Tequila hand-carried from Jose Cuervo distillery in Tequila, Mexico +
Miles D. on the stereo +
lovely everlasting summer twilight.
I think I could get used to this. 
I don’t know the author for sure, but it’s not mine. Couldn’t we all do with less guilt, less pain? Things have actually been much better now that I’m out of Lubbock. Been wondering lately, is not achieving one’s full potential a sin? Or worse, is this it (i.e. the best I can do)? I’ve been feeling weak (character-wise) and lonely, tired and lazy. Like I should be studying harder, like my performance would be more impressive if I was, but I just can motivate myself to do the work. Oh well. I’m a pretty high-class slacker. Guess I should learn to quit whining and suck it up.
Most of my classmates and I will be taking the biggest test of our lives in June. Not the biggest test so far–pretty much the biggest test ever. Performance on the USMLE 1 pretty much is the last time you take a national test for the grade instead of a pass/fail certification. Now officially, your score isn’t supposed to matter, but lots of residency programs use your score compared to other 2nd year medical students to decide whether or not to even interview you for their program. I’ve been working like whoa the last month or so to start picking up all this knowledge I’ll need for the test.
Last week, this pretty much fell apart. How can I stay focused for 3 and a half more months, if I can’t even hack it the 7 full weeks leading up to our Comprehensive Basic Sciences Exam, which is basically a benchmark test for the school to see how prepared we are? I’ve been blaming my poor study habits lately on the windy weather (even my doctor said that I’m “allergic to Lubbock” and the best medicine for me would be to move away–believe me, I’m working on it) but I’m beginning to think that a big part of all this is just general burn-out.
I tend to keep to myself when I’m trying to be focused (I know, group study, blah, blah, better, blah –but this works for me–my grades have been improving!) and so I pretty much assume, constantly, that everyone else is always more focused, always working harder than I am, always handling things better than I do. Not so. Even holed up in my cave of an apartment the past few days, I’ve heard some stories about stress tantrums of other students. All night drinking/partying, fights with significant others, general non-productiveness and lots of focus on other projects (my email box has been filling up). So while I wouldn’t wish these kinds of problems on anyone, it is reassuring to know I’m not the only one who is dealing with burn-out.
Just chilling completely is not in my MO–I’m coming from lack-luster 1st year grades, trying to score in the 230 range for the residencies I want. If I had been doing my thing from the start of med school, this score wouldn’t be a problem, but it took me a while to find my groove, so I’ve got a lot of information to pick up before the 6 week cramming period.
My big fear is–should I just expect this every 4-6 weeks until Step? Should I expect it to get worse? Do I need to back off so I don’t freak out completely, or dig in to maximize my study gains and hope the knowledge that I’m doing all I can will help my confidence level? What do you do to handle all the stress?
With over 3 months to go, I’d love any advice I can get from the voices of experience…
The U.S. is not a ‘Christian nation’ – International Herald Tribune
An editorial written by respected historian Jon Meacham, this is worthwhile reading for all Americans. He cites interesting quotes from our founding fathers that clearly support the idea of tolerance for Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Pantheic Greeks, and Christians in concrete (not abstract) terms.
To hear the man speak about his recent book and our newest president, see here:
more about "Jon Meacham | January 22nd | ColbertN…", posted with vodpod
1) “There’s a lot of cool people in your class.”–KD
“Really? I thought our class was mostly made-up of the wrong kind of white people.”–MA
2) “Wait–who said that? Was it JG? Was it RB? Oh man, it wasn’t me when I was drunk was it?”–CW
~~
3) “What do you want to bet my phone doesn’t know how to spell that?”–KD
“What? It’s a common text: ‘Chronic Idiopathic Myelofibrosis, lol!’”–PW
4) “First with water, second without water, third like water.”–RC, on how to drink whiskey
5) “See? It’s an awkward palm tree!”–VR
6)”Paul Farmer sucks and he hates your blouse.”–NV
And your West Texas bonehead-elementary school principal program-naming bonus:
5) “Yeah, the kids who failed their six-week tests have to take special [remedial] classes, and for the last two weeks, we keep hearing lists of names read over the PA system, and then the message, ‘These students should report to ‘Concentration Camp‘ immediately.”–MR, my lovely Jewish school teacher friend.
For those seeking art and beauty, Chicago is full of richness in sights, textures, and sounds. The Art Institute of Chicago and a boat or walking tour of downtown to experience the epoc of early twentieth century architecture are highly recommended. And or course, there is good blues music almost everywhere.
And once you’ve taken that in…well, there’s the Old Town Ale House, where Bruce Elliot intends to hang the second portrait in his Nude Governor Series, “The Cavity Search” (featuring Rod Blogojavich) as soon as he finishes it. He’s already completed a full length Sarah Palin, complete with red heels and an automatic rifle as attributes. In the article by the Chicago Trib, he compares himself to some of the artists featured now in the AIC: “I guess I fit right in with van Gogh and those guys…who were not appreciated in their lifetime. I can live with that. I never sell pictures.” Elliot is supported by his wife, who owns the bar where his artwork hangs, and they do sell poster prints of some of his paintings. You can see the photos included in the Chicago Tribune articles below, or click on the links for the complete stories with video interview.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-sarah-palin-nude-0930,0,273867.story
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/arts/chi-talk-ale-artdec19,
0,5136319.story
For other things to do while you’re in Chicago, see THIS LIST. It’s a pretty good starting point if you don’t have any ideas of your own.
Because apparently Palin needs to be defended even when no one is attacking her. Or, maybe she’s just a convenient counterpoint, the way every bigot has that “one” gay/black friend they are always talking about. In the article linked below,
If Caroline’s Last Name Was Palin « FOX Forum « FOXNews.com
Andrea Tantaros points out that Democrats are huge hypocrits because they are okay with a Kennedy senate appointment when they disliked Palin for Vice-President of the US. Her main argument is that the two are equally plagued by scandal and unqualified for the positions for which they were(are) being considered.
It is ridiculous to watch the media all fall over Kennedy. I’ll give you that, but come on! Lack of experience when being considered for a senate seat is a little different from lack of experience when running for Vice President of the United States behind the man who would have been the oldest president ever elected. [Ahem, never mind that in her previous post, she talks about how having a "thick resume chock-full of political gravitas" isn't important.]
Also, it’s not like Kennedy is an unknown entity the way Palin was in early August. Most Americans knows who she is. Certainly most New Yorkers. It’s clear where she stands politically. She’s co-authored two books that showcase her political viewpoints–she’s ON THE RECORD.
And why, Tantaros, would you expect Couric or Gibson to interview a senate candidate? I’ve never seen them even interview someone who was running in a gubernatorial race. The fate of the country does not hang in the balance of who fills Clinton’s senate seat. I mean, I’m not sure she’d be my favorite choice, if I had any stake at all in the New York Senate Seat appointment, but like most Americans, I DON’T. I know New Yorkers get confused sometimes and think NYC=United States of America, and of course it does, but not all of it. Get over it, Andrea.
“God is dead.” –Friedrich Nietzsche
“Everything unconditional belongs in pathology.”–Nietzche again.
“Don’t be a Debbie Downer!“–Corinne Ulrich
Although Fred certainly is thought provoking from a philosophical and social perspective, Corinne’s practicality wins me over every time.
May the tidings and trappings of the Season bring you warmth.
(and Merry Christmas, C)
