Weekend Fun

Time

somehow goes by slowly when you're studying all day.

Sometimes I feel like I'm just staring at the same page over and over and never really getting anywhere. This is the life of a med student...

But, sometimes, I end up spending time with a few people. This weekend I've been hanging out with two different Catherines. My roomie from last year, Cat (above) and 'The Great' (below).

The Great is wearing my coat and trying to fix my phone because it doesn't ring when people call me nor do I get messages.

This is Jeane. The Great's friend she's wearing the hat that The Great gave me :) They came to visit me and while I attempted to make breakfast. Yeah, I know I need help with my cooking skills and my phone.

"S.O.S please someone help me

It's not healthy...for me to feel this way."

S.O.S ~Rihanna

APAMSA National Conference

Last weekend, I went to APAMSA's National Conference held at Washington D.C. This is the second time this year that I went to D.C. I think it's the midwest / eastern thing to do since it's so close by.

Me trying to cram some studying in the plane

The conference was at the Uniformed Services of Health Sciences campus

We rode a bus and they checked our IDs so that we can get into their campus. Oh, the politics of setting foot in a naval base.

We thought we should take a picture with someone in uniform. This is Art we got free t-shirts with his school logo from him.

This is Eric. He's from Wash. U.

Then, we found another person in uniform. This is Sameer. He was checking our IDs in the bus.

Playing Doctor

I found this picture of Neepa and I double teaming Payal during ICM lab last year. Hehe. Don't I look like I'm hearing something?

What The Doctor Said

He said it doesn't look good

he said it looks bad in fact real bad

he said I counted thirty-two of them on one lung

before I quit counting them I said I'm glad

I wouldn't want to know about any more being there than that

he said are you a religious man do you kneel down

in forest groves and let yourself ask for help

when you come to a waterfall

mist blowing against your face and arms do you stop and ask for understanding at those moments

I said not yet but I intend to start today

he said I'm real sorry he said I wish I had some other kind of news to give you

I said Amen and he said something else I didn't catch and not knowing what else to do

and not wanting him to have to repeat it

and me to have to fully digest it

I just looked at him

for a minute and he looked back it was then

I jumped up and shook hands with this man who'd just given me

something no one else on earth had ever given me

I may have even thanked him habit being so strong

- Raymond Carver

My Brain Hurts

Physio exam 3 is finally over and I'm FREE to do whatever!!! Well, at least for today. Things in my mind after a physio exam:

1. Should I go and buy shoes?
2. I'm kinda sleepy, but I slept early last night. Should I take a nap?
3. I'm kinda hungry.
4. It's Holy Thursday. Hrm..how to be holy?
5. I don't know what to do now!
6. My blog needs better entries...really.

Disoriented

I woke up this morning thinking it's Friday and I missed my 7:30 am exam. I really hate it when that happens. First I gasp, then my heart starts pounding, then I have to think what the hell is today?! How can I turn off my alarm without hearing it?! Then, I have to think what yesterday was to figure out what today is and then I just give up and check a calendar. Whew! Thank goodness today is Thursday.

Frump Day

Okay I am so stealing this idea from the Cheese. Sorry Cheese. Illinois has sucked all the creativity and sarcasm outta me.

Highlights of the day:

1. I got Dr. Kappler for the OMM practical this morning. (He's like a grandpa and I don't think he fails anyone)

2. I worked out! 4 miles today. That's almost one whole hand. For some ppl that's 2 minus the number of toes they have on one foot. And, it's not me.

3. I'm gonna see mah girls tonight. Girls-night-in and we could go frumpy YAY.

4. It's almost summer break! 6 weeks left.

5. I'm actually posting in my pitiful and ignored blog.

Lowlights of the day:

1. I took a 2 hour nap. Okay, it's more like sleep, but I call it a nap.

2. I'm gonna see mah girls tonight and I have a test Friday, Monday and next Thursday. Boo.

3. I ate a Potbelly sandwich for lunch and I said I wasn't gonna go out and buy food anymore, but I ran out of food in my place.

4. I am purposely not reading physio right now.

5. I am purposely not reading any ICM (Intro to Clinical Med) right now.

6. I am stuck in med school. Why? Why? WHY?

Geese Who

The geese in my school are nesting, again. My friend Samer and I almost got attacked yesterday while walking to class. The male goose was squaking, flapping its wings and charging right at us and what do I do? Freakin' stand there and cover my ears. Great. If I ever get attacked by someone I'll just stand there and cover my ears. It was a good thing that the goose was closer to Samer than me.

Crudders!

All this time I thought my anatomy practical was going to be at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, but it's actually at 4:20 p.m. Not a good thing because that means that I'd have to take the anatomy exam at 8:00 a.m, then wait all afternoon and hope that I retain everything that I crammed in my brain until freakin' 4:20 p.m. And, then after that I'd have to study for OMM. Bleh!

A More Mature Way to Break-Up with Neeps

Okay, so I talked to a friend and this is what I should say to Neeps:


I have realized that we both have a different way of studying and approaching certain situations. And, I know that we've been studying together for the past quarter, however, I think we are at a point where our learning styles are diverging from each other. And, I'm not saying that my approach or yours is the right way, but I'm saying that they are different. I think that from now on, we should go our separate ways and study with the people that we benefit from and learn most out of the short period of time that we're given.

I also want to let you know that I don't appreciate the snide comments and tone of voice you use when you get stressed. I feel like you are taking it out on the people that don't shouldn't have to be treated in that way. And, perhaps you don't interpret the things you say when you are stressed to be mean, but I translate it in that way. I'm a quiet person and I try to be patient, and a lot of the times, I let the things you say go, but I just want to let you know that I am a person who gets really offended when someone yells right at my face or says comments with rude undertones. Just don't do it again and the world will be a happier place.

My point is I think that we would be better off if we study with other people from now on and it's nothing against you. We're just different.

(Amen. Hallelujah!)

Drama Mia Once Again

Ok so venting time. Peas four gimme again for the lack of posts, but really I had nothing to talk about for the past few weeks. Sadness. Today, though is venting time: Some friends (and I'm not naming any names) are just waaaay too demanding for me and waaay too drama over things that shouldn't be a big deal. Let's call this friend 'Neeps.' So, Neeps and I study together with a couple other people and I happen to laugh with one of the other people I was studying with and Neeps very rudely claps her hands in front of my face and yells something like, "I have had enough of this! Focus people!!!!" Normally, I would let that go, but seeing that I was on task and I just happen to laugh & have fun while studying, that totally pissed me off. And, to the people who know me well, you know that for the most part I'm chill, but when someone yells at me like that they are totally asking for it. I really hate it when people mistake my kindness for weakness. So, I swear I was gonna push Neeps' fat ass down the ground and attack her with my fist because no one yells at me like that. So, I yell back shaking with my bloodshot eyes, "f-you" finger ('cause her face ain't worth the hand) and then said, "I f-ing don't need you," and walked away. And, I swear to you that took a lot of control not to bitch slap her across the face on my part because this is not the first time that she has actually done this to me and other people. So, I have now yelled at exactly two of my so called demanding friends in my lifetime.

So, it ended pretty quickly 'cause she apologized right when I was walking away. But, two-faced me can forgive you, but I will never forget it and I told myself that I'm cutting down on Neeps time from now on.

But, then Neeps sends me this valentine stuff animal bear, balloon thing with candy. So, I'm like okay she's trying to get on my good side and maybe she is sorry. But, really, I'm thinking to be really sorry I don't need freaking gifts, I need to see a tear roll down your cheek. Plus, anyone who knows me well knows that I think stuffed animals are generally a waste of space and I need truffles not candy. Dammit. Anyway, for a good half a day I thought okay I'll put up with Neeps. Be nice, be nice. And then the next day happened.

So, I'm in anatomy lab again and I'm studying with another friend because Neeps is following a professor like a lost dog. It so happens that Neeps and I were suppose to go down the anatomy checklist together. But, I'm like whatever she's busy and if I really had to study with someone I'll study with a drama free person instead and if Neeps wants to join she can come and get me. So, after my friend and I found all the structures we were looking for, Neeps comes over and says "Oh you're going down the checklist. You know, I was waiting for you." She was totally trying to give me a guilt trip. Bullshit she was trying to wait for me. I saw her going down the checklist with someone else. So, how dare she accuse me! And, why the hell is this a big deal?!!!! I told her I was leaving because I need to study for physio and told her which bodies had the structures she was looking for. So, my friend and I walk away and then we were looking at Netter's the anatomy book to answer one last question before we left and Neeps comes up to us and rudely says, "Rose, I thought you were leaving," and walks away. Beotch. I was. I so bitch slapped her in my mind.

So, to Neeps. I'll be nice as your acquaintance and professionally, but really, I'm cutting you off my life. I don't need the drama.

Lesson learned: I should've known about the Neeps.

Sweat Drips, Blue Lips

So, last week was my first week back since winter break. If you want to really know what happened during Christmas, you should either call me or read Cheese's blog. Anyways, so last week was the first week I was back in school. I think I had a cold from the babies I visited last Christmas or real bad allergies or something. My first day back was Wednesday and my anatomy groupies and I were dissecting Minnie (our cadaver) and then Gerald says, "Wow. You must not be feeling so good." And, I'm like, "Why?" He's like, "You're sweating profusely." And I touch my forehead and my neck and I was sweating like Ballzee would on a normal day. That's a lot if you don't know. I just remember being really, really HOT. (In more ways than one, of course) I kept telling myself no blue lips, no blue lips. So what'd I get? Sweaty. At least I didn't faint this time. This story has no point whatsoever.

But, before I forget, I'd like to make a shout out to The Duddy: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :) YAY.

Science is Golden

I took this physiology exam today and I went to the classroom all early and no one was there. So, I started freakin' out 'cause people are always there early. I was thinking: maybe the test was at 7:30 in the morning and I missed it 'cause I thought it was at 1:10 in the afternoon...maybe I'm at the wrong building. Ah! Maybe it was yesterday! What the hell is today anyways??! So, I started calling random people to ask them where's the exam gonna be and no one was picking up! And, I'm like, they must be taking the test NOW and I'm totally missing it! That is until waaay later I found out people were in this mandatory core class (that I'm not in obviously) and that's why they weren't picking up their phone. *sigh* Oh drama mia!

So, I took the physio test and came out of that classroom thinking it was brutal. Hekka BRUTAL and bitch slapped me too. That is until I checked my grade and TEEEEE-DEEEE (pronounce like a tah-dah, but a tee-dee) I so bitch slapped that exam! Hehe. Science is truly golden.

Eat Two Chocolate Bars & Call Me in the Morning

Somehow I became the school counselor. Heh. What I mean is that people stop by my room or call me and tell me about their problems and then, they ask me what I think. This happens everyday. Don't get me wrong, I love it when people visit me and call me and when they think I can listen to them or give them worthwhile advice..But, hrm really, how much more knowledgeable am I than them? Friends, thanks for thinking I can give you answers. If only you knew....

Crunch Time

I won't be posting anything for a few days because finals is next week :( I have to study, but I can't concentrate because my inferior alveolar nerve is bugging the crap out of me. If only I had someone to study with---I mean just someone studying in front of me. Anyways, I'll be back home in California on November 18th for a week! YAY! Friends, Family, I'll see you guys then! And, we can watch Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire :) Happiness!

Not Procrastination

I have an anatomy exam at 7:30 am tomorrow, but I figured I have time to blog. Even though I have nothing to say really...

This is what it's like in Illinois these days: Cold 30 degree weather. Rainy. Full of geese (at least in my school).

This is what I did today: Study in the morning in my pajamas. Ate lunch. Around three I worked out for about an hour. Then I took a shower, ate dinner for about 2 hours. Yes, it takes two hours to eat dinner! Talked to Cat (my first actual human contact and conversation) for about 10 minutes. Study. And, now I'm here. Soon I'm going to sleep because I'm not a morning person and to be up & ready at 7:30 am is a big effort for me. Yesss. Welcome to my life. You people should call me one day...but call my cell phone instead of my room first 'cause I'm screening my calls for reasons you would know if you called me. Hehe.

Pancit Pow Wow Part II

Today my lil' Filipino friends decided to cook instead of going to another Filipino food place. Hazel and I cooked adobo. Yes. We cooked adobo and it was goooood. I promise. Patrick fried some bangus. (Note to non-filipino friends...it's not bang-us, but "ba" and then "knus"). Milk-fish. Good stuff. Karen made bico. Rose made halo-halo. Terrence made leche flan. Steph bought the healthy veggies. They were good and we ate them while cooking. And, of course, we had rice. But, man did we stink that whole place up! Rose and I walked to the front door of the apartment building, which was about four floors up from where our lil' Filipino soiree was..and we were going back down and we smelled the food from all the way upstairs! It smelled hekka fish-saucy, fried-things going on somewhere. Dogs started barking and stuff. It was funny. Sorry Patrick and Joe your apartment is gonna smell for awhile.

After dinner, Joe who's really into alternative medicine and harmony & relaxation stuff, showed us some Tibetan bowls used to relax people. The bowls are alloyed and are made of 8 different metals. You put them on top or around a person who's lying down and then hit the bowls and they vibrate and they're suppose to relax you. Kinda cool. I didn't volunteer to try them 'cause I was experiencing food coma, but Karen did. And, she was all limp noodly after the treatment.

All in all, it was a good night. Pancit Pow Wows have been a success. On our third Pancit Pow Wow though, I think we need to actually have some pancit.

Sadness :(

Sadness. We're not going to medWAR anymore because Hazel hurt herself. Maybe God is trying to send me a sign saying, "Do you really want to cross a lake holding your backpack over your head?"

APAMSA National Conference

Rose & I went to Northwestern University to attend the APAMSA National Conference today. Pretty interesting stuff.

What my little A.D.D. mind got (in a nutshell) from this whole experience is that Asians are more prone to acquire the Hepatitis B Virus and they are more likely to get liver & stomach cancer. Yay me for paying attention and learning two lil' tidbits!

Rose made these cute little business cards so that we could pass it to cute boys that we see. But, sadness there weren't any.

Check out our website!

Be Nice to Cholito Part Deux

I don't know about this be nice to Cholito idea..So, last week I my friends and I decided to order pizza for dinner and we met up at Katie's apartment. Cholito wanted to ride with Rachna, Hazel, & me. I was driving, so I told him, "Yeah sure, you can ride with us." Yikes! I was at the brink of not being nice anymore by the end of the night. I think it was because I already saw him earlier this week. And, I can only handle a Cholito dose once a week.

Anyways, we were driving there and I had Wicked playing. And, he's like, "This musical isn't so good." Big mistake. I'm like, "Why?!" At the same time thinking...really? Who made you the guru of musicals? Do you even know how to read music?! Do you play any musical instruments?! Have you ever seen musicals before???! He's like, "Just listen to the drums..it doesn't go." I'm thinking, man you're trying so hard to be a music expert. The drums totally go. It's an upbeat song. They're keeping the tempo. Duh. They need the drums there. And then he says, "And the people aren't singing well." As if!!!! Then I said, "They're totally in tune!" Stupid boy doesn't know what that means. Like he could sing. Then I just smiled 'cause I'm trying sooo hard to be nice to Cholito.

During the pizza dinner, I totally had a Cholito break and just talked to other people. But, then I had to take him home too. *sigh* That's what happens when you drive. So, Cholito asked if he could look around my car. (He's sitting in the passenger seat at this time 'cause he called shotgun and rather have the girls sit at the back). I said, "Yeah go ahead." By the time he almost finished looking around the car and opening every compartment there is, it was time to drop him off. I thought, thank God! Please go. But, then he was having this conversation with Rachna about what her family nickname was. We had this conversation at dinner and he missed it or forgot it, so he wants to know. And, Rachna obviously doesn't wanna tell him. I'm thinking she doesn't wanna tell you! Leave her alone. And just go. Then he starts opening and closing that compartment between the seats compulsively. Open, close, open, close. Then I say, "Oh my god! You're ruining my car! It's new. Stop it. Stop it!" To which I added, "Jon-jon," (who is my old blind dog's name & Cholito's family nickname), "you're like my dog. I have to tell him to stop it." Then Rachna, to free Hazel and me from our misery, told Cholito her nickname. It was then that Cholito finally got off the car. But, he just had to hover over the window and make a pouty face. Totally not cute. I just drove away as fast as I can. This be nice to Cholito is harder than I thought.

Be Nice to Cholito

Last December 3, 2004 I wrote this about Cholito:

Cholito Where is Your Pride?
I know this person from school whom my roomie & I have secretly nicknamed "Cholito." Cholito was cool in the beginning of the school year & now he turned touchy-feely on us. Like giving us awkward hugs when we don't need one. And, I'm sorry to say, kisses on the cheek to say goodbye. Yuckiness! Do I look like a girl who needs to be kissed on the freakin' cheek? How do I know he doesn't have herpes? Don't get me wrong though, I love kisses on the cheek from cute guys that I like, but NOT Cholito.
Cholito is about as tall as my roomie Cat & even shorter than her when she wears heels 'cause she says she can see the top of his head when she does. He got his nickname 'cause he's this short guy who used to have these two lines above his lips he called a mustache as if he wanted to be a cholo, but it really didn't work. He wears this real unfashionable fleece pull over jacket with a big white stripe across his pseudo-pectorals with a random hat and dress shoes aaallll the time. And, when he talks he tah-aacks loike thiis..........and......pauses like he's talking to a moron. Then, when you start to talk he talks over your sentences like he has something more important to say.
Anyways, Cat & I have decided that Cholito is not straight & may be gay, but his non-existent fashion sense even puts the gay guys to shame. He just recently moved into campus & he called me & Cat to help him move in. Okay, there's something truly wrong with this picture...first, guys do NOT ask two girls to help them move in. Guys offer their help when girls are moving in, but never ask. This is the first time this has happened to me. Second, Cholito has asked two girls..ahem..TWO GIRLS to basically carry boxes for him. I mean c'mon, where's his pride???! Third, he calls us up not in the afternoon, not early at night, not at a convenient time, but a 11:00 p.m. and then asks "When are you guys going to sleep?" To which we responded at 11:30 p.m. So, being the smart & very considerate person Cholito is, he calls us up at 11:30 p.m. to help him move in. And, of course it was the perfect time to ask us to help him because it was hella cold and snowing outside and we were already in our pajamas. (By the way, I'm not stupid I didn't roll out of bed to help)
But, it doesn't just end there. Yesterday, Cholito calls me at 10:00 p.m. & says "When are you going to sleep?" To which I again responded, "11:30" Then he says that he needs help to bring some food up his room. So, to get him off my back I'm like, "Sure, I'll help you out as long as I'm not sleeping." And, Cholito is sooooo smart that he again calls me at 11:30 asking for help. But, he doesn't call me once, nope, not twice, but three times and all three times leaving messages saying he has bags of groceries that'll take him a couple of trips to unload and he's outside...and can I help him...and then he attempts to put this guilt trip on me and says.."ooooh, but your probably sleeping already." Okay. wtf?! Being the smart medical student Cholito is, he calls me three times at 11:30 after I said I'm going to sleep at 11:30. And, because he didn't want to make a couple of trips to his room in the middle of the night he would rather wake me up and carry the grocery bags for him. Really. That's just inconsiderate to say the least.

Okay, I have to admit that's a bit harsh even for a guy who can't carry his own groceries. So, this year, I've decided that I will be nice to Cholito. Not just two-faced nice, but genuinely nice. No fake smiles and shallow flattery. But, that doesn't mean we have to be BFF! It simply means that I won't complain about him so much. I won't even try to change the way he is. I figured at 28 years old he should be able to figure that out for himself. And, when he says something I don't like I can just make eye contact and walk away. Let's hope he doesn't take that as a signal to "hey follow me!"