The Beginning of the End

And really...thank god for that. Last night was the first class of the last semester with clinical starting this Friday. Luckily, I'm in the same clinical location so that's one less thing I have to adapt to this semester. But...the big adaptation is pretending to know what I'm doing in the pediatric role.

This semester started off as most do, the room we were told the class would be in was not actually where the class was held. Luckily, I was with a large group of people and we somehow just ended up in the right location, there was no email sent with a room change which is pretty much how they do it.

The instructor for this course is not my advisor, but she did sit in for the entire class and tried to direct the class even though she wasn't teaching it. I could feel the actual instructor getting a little tired of this routine. Also, it seemed the syllabus was written by my advisor who is not teaching (once again) and the instructor had nothign to do with it and that the syllabus was not reviewed between the two of them prior to class. There were things the instructor didn't understand, the usual typos listing differing due dates in multiple locations for things, one assignment said that 8 sources were required for an annotated bib while somewhere else in the paragraph it said 6 (6 is the correct answer). You know, the usual. And because my advisor was there, we did not leave until 945p even though we had all heard rumors that the instructor was trying to get us out by 9. I have no idea if my instructor is planning on coming every week, but I think we're all hoping that's not the case.

Assignments that are due:
2 SOAP notes with audits and then presented in class
1 case presentation of a symptom with a lit review and annotated bib, presented in class
Finish Capstone project
Present case from text book and lead discussion

The only silver lining here is that no power points are required this semester. She felt it would be distracting during the talks and it creates too much busy work.

The other class is online, I have about 400 pages to read for the first week and I'm not exaggerating. There are 6 exams for that class but no other assignments.

Pet Peeve Within a Pet Peeve

One of my coworkers insists on cramming our tiny dorm size refrigerator full of 20 oz bottles of soda, even though this barely leaves enough room for other people's food. Does the coworker drink one and then replace that one with a warm soda that will be chilled the following day when he/she desires it? No! That would make too much sense. Instead, the sodas are crammed in the fridge each Monday, lining the doors (this coworker actually tapes them into the side of the door so that they don't spill).

I'm guessing this taping mechansim has gone awry, since yesterday there has been a sticky spilled soda mess by the fridge. Again, I will state that only one person up here stores soda in the fridge. Do you think said person has bothered to clean up the goo? Of course not...I am wondering how long we are all going to have to look at it before someone does something, I'm not going to be that someone.

+1

I've had a secret for a long time and now it's time to share......

M and I are expecting our first little Y! I'm officially 13 weeks along and things are going swimmingly besides a few minor annoyances, but nothing that someone with my hardy constitution can't handle!

The official due date is currently July 19 although this can change based on what is seen at the week 18 ultrasound.

I'm sure your next question is what have you knit for tiny Y? Well, I have started on a blanket I found on ravlery. It's a great idea....you get a chance to use up all of your remaining sock yarn and the bonus is that this makes the blanket unisex! I have about 4 different types of multicolor sock yarn, a light purple, a pale yellow, and a maroon tweed. So far so good, I'm actually thinking of making an adult size one for M and I to get rid of my excess worsted weight yarn. I'll post a pic of mine when I get a chance, but this is someone else's pic from raverlry...

Spring Semester....AKA 5 Months of Hell

Well folks, it seemed like a lifetime away when school and I parted ways just before Christmas and this time off has truly been a dream, but the time is nigh.

I've already purchased my books and started reviewing a few things...classmates and advisors have started emailing. There's no denying it, in 14 short days I'll be back into school full swing. This time (AND THE LAST TIME) around, I'll be taking Primary Care of the Childbearing Family. Like last semester, there is a 225 hour clinical requirement (60 of which are required to be in OB) as well as a Tuesday night class from 7-945p and an online lecture component.

The difference is..this semester when I do my countdowns they are for good! Not just until the end of the semester, but the end of my graduate academic career as a whole! There will be so many countdowns this time around, the countdowns make it manageble. Without having started classes yet, it feels like things will be more manageable just knowing that it's the last time I have to do this! I have already received the graduation paperwork (and bill if you can believe it, $150 graduation fee) in the mail. The proof is in the pudding. It's almost official, I'm almost a former grad student.

Sales!

Here are some things at Jcrew I would consider buying. They are having a final sale so this means I stick to only sweaters since I know the fit is pretty uniforma cross styles. These aren't the colors I would choose though...

$24



Ok, that's apparently the only thing! There are a few other things but even with 20% off the sale price, it's still not worth the price. I also question why they are selling something for $24...it's unheard of at Jcrew...

Edit: bought this sweater, got it for $20.99 in the final sale.

No Resolution Zone

M and I are really not the resolution types....maybe because we know we lack the willpower to make it till January 15 crossed with the fact that we both like to think of ourselves as noncomformists so if everyone else is doing it then we don't want to!

I tend to think of fitness especially as a top resolution goal for many people, so even though this wasn't particularly a resolution for us we are considering getting a treadmill. I have a super sweet deal at the Planet Fitness I go to, it was no enrollment fee and $99 for the entire year paid all at once when I joined. If you do a cost benefit analysis on joining Planet Fitness vs. owning your own treadmill, PF is going to come out on top. However, the sheer convenience of having it in my house is something I've always dreamed of.

We are looking at a few different models, I'm enamoured with this one lately:

It's a reasonable price, I never thought I would get half of these features for under 1k. It has programs, allows you to do an incline, the belt is 20 X 55 and it has a 2.5 something or other motor which is recommended if you want to run on it. It has a lifetime warranty on the motor and 1 year parts warranty where Nordic Track sends a technician to your house for any repairs rather than having to ship it somewhere. Sounds good so far....

Stress Free Start to the New Year

I know this will be short lived, but I'm trying to enjoy each of these school free, juggle free days while I have them even though my pessimistic self can't help but also count the dwindling days of freedom.

I didn't feel like this semester was officially over until I saw my grades posted, A's for both. I filed for my last reimbursement from my employer. Last semester was over $3k and I only get $1200 in reimbursement now that I cut my hours. That's per year, folks, so my fall classes have eaten up all the funding for the entire year. Luckily, I will get some scholarship money this last semester which will pay for one of my classes.

Classes don't start until January 26th and I will most likely start my clinical again that week. I think I'm cutting back to 30 hours again the week before, I want to ease into the semester and really enjoy my last week of freedom, run all of the errands that will be put off forever in favor of studying, clean my house one last time etc.

This semester's classes are focused on pediatrics and women's health (GYN, OB). I have to do 225 clinical hours again, but 60 of them have to be in an OB setting. I've heard this setting is kind of a joke, there is so much liability that goes along with OB that students are left to shadow and aren't allowed to really do much more. So far, my advisor hasn't found me a placement but I'm sure she'll come through. Now I can say this confidently, I didn't really feel that way until last semester.

23 days and counting, but you didn't hear it from me!