Relaxxxxx...

I am sitting here in the Coeur d'Alene library. I have been looking out the same windows for the last week wishing for freedom. As I have been studying by myself I get annoyed with every little sound: the man who felt the need to talk on his cell phone every 10 minutes for the last 4 hours and then end the conversation by saying, "I am in the library...I better go", the man a few days ago who decided to bring in a small radio to the library and preceded to turn it on and prop it on his desk for all to listen to while he worked on some project... even the woman who jiggles her keys as she walks is driving me crazy. Then, all of a sudden, I realize, yes, there are definitely some characters in the library, but I really need to just RELAX! Yes, studying for the majority of every day for the next month may be frustrating at times, but it will all be worth it! Besides, if I don't study hard enough this time, I will have to retake boards and then I am stuck studying in the library with the cell phone guy, the radio guy and the key jiggler even longer! :-)

Illegal 'Idol' Activity

Recently, while riding Trax up to school, I glanced down at the wall next to my seat and noticed the following words scratched into the paint, "American Idol. David Archuleta is gay. He's fake." As I read it, I laughed out loud wondering who felt so strongly about the American Idol results and David Archuleta that they were willing to defile a public place. I know American Idol is fun to follow, but do we really need to scratch our feelings about a TV star it into a wall for all posterity? So, I am curious, if you were to defile a public place with graffiti about a TV/movie star, what would it be?

Wanted: Creepy Doctor acting as a Clown

The picture you see if of the real Patch Adams. Today, I had the opportunity to dress up as a clown and go around the hospital with the real Patch Adams. I have to admit, Robin Williams portrays a calm Patch Adams. The real guy is quite a character. Today, his outfit consisted of huge pants that he pulled up to look like a big diaper, mismatched tie and shoes, a crazy colored shirt, clown shoes, and a chicken on his head. His hair went down to his butt, dyed half blue with the other half being white, and pulled back with rubber bands. He had a fake chicken sitting on his head as a hat, and he carried around this nasty looking rubber fish. When he goes into character, he talks with a very nasal voice. One of his first comments was regarding our current "Nazi" president. Then, he preceded to state his mind on other political issues. In regards to his clowning, all I got from it is that if you wear goofy clothes, you can be gross and get away with it. Most of his humor had to do with farting and kissing men. He tried to sit on someone's lap and told the person he wanted to fart on her lap, but that she could wipe it back on him. Needless to say, I wasn't very impressed with him, and I can't believe that someone really gets paid to act like a dirty old man.

Buff grandparents?

This is my last week of school! We had a test yesterday on pediatrics, and we have a test this Friday on geriatrics. On a side note, this is the end of my life being mostly filled up with lectures! Hooray! Anyway, in regards to geriatrics, the statistics about life expectancy are incredible! We are living longer and longer. One of the interesting things I was reading about yesterday was that more than half of all people who have lived past the age of 65 in the history of the earth are alive today (I am not sure if this includes people like Moses and Abraham...I am not sure if they have their exact ages)! I want to live a long time because I have a lot I NEED to get done. Anyway, the other thing that was really hit on was the fact that if we exercise, eat right, and don't smoke we will have a lot more enjoyable experience being old...less illness, less osteoporosis, etc. So, be healthy so you won't be a cranky old person!

On a different subject, after this week, I have approximately one week and ten days to study for boards. This is a test that tests our knowledge on the last two years. It is pretty important because if a person wants to get into a competitive residency, she needs to have a good boards score. I am heading up to Coeur d'Alene June 7th and staying up there for almost a month. I do better studying in places where there aren't a whole bunch of people stressed out about the same thing. So, if you are around the beautiful new Coeur d'Alene library between June 9th and June 27th, you will be sure to see me!

Wimpy?

I was a bit enlightened today about how people perceive me. We are getting placed into our different rotations for next year, and my classmate that assigned me my surgery rotations told me that he didn't place me anywhere "too hardcore." Also, he said he put me at Primary Children's for Pediatric Surgery because I would probably get along with the doctors there better. I don't know that I ever realized that being nice in med school is equated with not being able to take doctors who dish out criticism. I know that this guy was trying to be nice, but it just made me realize that some people view me as being a wimpy pushover! My first thoughts were, "I will prove him wrong! I will become like some of these other women who shove over everyone in their way to get to the top!" However, that intensity lasted for about 10 seconds, and then I realized that I don't really care how people perceive me. I know that I am not wimpy, and I know that I can handle people dishing criticism out to me. So, I guess the moral of this story is that it really doesn't matter what people think about you, and...it's sure fun when you prove them all wrong! :-)

BUSY!

So, I know I haven't blogged much lately, and it is due to the fact that things have been a bit crazy. So, if you are curious about why I haven't blogged, the following note will explain it all.

Dear Mr. French Pediatrician/Course Director:

You honestly think we can learn 400 pages of information in a week while studying for boards? Yeah, right! However, I will, as I have done for the last 8 months, learn just enough to pass your course and continue on the path to becoming a doctor. Thank you for trying to challenge me.

Sincerely yours,
A med student