Birthday? Birthmonth! (part 1)

Some people celebrate their birthday with a few friends.  Some have a giant party with the police involved.  But you know what all those people are doing incorrectly?  Only celebrating for one day!

Thesis lab decision

Now that it's been a few months since my second rotation, I can say that I have made my decision.

California water shortage

I have learned how to file an insurance claim, and California is now closer to running out of water.

Come to LA!!!

Thanks to Darienne, I can finally make a promo post for why people should come visit me.

Comic Con 2012

I attended Comic Con for the first time ever this year.  As I was warned, there were a LOT of lines.  However, getting to catch up with your best friend from college, Mi-chan, made the time fly by.  I only bought tickets for Saturday and Sunday, so my tales will be from the crazy weekenders.

Summer Update

Best way to spend a lazy Saturday morning is to refresh my room (for nearly free!).

Something more summery with a hint of fall.

Now I feel like a M2

It hadn't sunk in that I am on to my second year till having dinner with the new MSTP M1s.  There are so few of them next year.  I can only hope that they make friends with each other...

Boston in Summer

The best part of visiting Boston was getting to snuggle with my mom, of which there is no photographic proof (but we both can just close our eyes and see it).  Still, lots of other exciting things also happened.

Farm life is good life

Because of some wonderful friends, I had the opportunity to spend two days on a Vermont farm.  Really, there was so much great company, conversation, and food that I can't even describe the experience properly.  But do enjoy some of the highlights via photos.

Bluer and greener than LA

New Apartment!

The apartment is not quite decorated, but the key places are beginning to take place.  The kitchen and dining area is super important because both my new roommate and myself love to eat good food.

How long will this plant survive?

The end of Doctoring I

Today was the last session of Doctoring I, which marks the end of my official time with an amazing group.  I wanted to take this moment to be thankful for the incredible people that I have met in the past year.

This great experience would not be possible without my Doctoring tutors, Dr. Hess and Dr. Fischer, who were an outstanding team.  They facilitated our discussions and our group dynamic and always gave detailed feedback.  My peers in the Doctoring group, through their interviews, the group feedback, and discussions, give me great hopes and expectations for the physicians of the future.  They are thoughtful, respectful but willing to give critic, and greatly focused on improving the lives of patients.

My preceptor's patience with my questions and interest in teaching me has further cemented my desire to make sure that clinical contact remains part of my career.

My study group is a great cluster of intelligence and good work-ethic.  With them, I know that no material is too hard to get through (and that whining is great therapy).

I love the fact that as I continue in my career path, I never stop meeting people who inspire me to be better than I am.

Spring Break: San Francisco

After finding out that I passed my Block 3 exams, I was able to throw myself whole-heartedly into spring break, which was my first visit to San Francisco.  I also finally got to see Darienne for the first time since we both left the Alt lab.

Very envious of Darienne's sunny afternoon nap spot.

DineLA II part II

I was still going strong at the end of week 1 of Jan 2012 DineLA with only 3 restaurants under my belt, literally.  I started off the second week on a bright note with Sunday dinner at Spago with 2 fellow first year MSTPers.  We got there early enough to start things off on a good note.

The cocktail menu apparently changes once per month.

DineLA II part I

Be prepared for pictures and ranting...and no excuses for how long this took to post (nearly two months!).  And yes, this DineLA round is long enough to warrant two posts.  This is week 1.

CNS innervation of proximal and peripheral muscles

So, we recently had our winter formal.  It was a night of classy and not-so-classy dancing and socializing.  To make my night more fun, I decided that I should mix a little pain with my pleasure.  Cooking and heels are clearly dangerous enough on their own, so I promise to never never mix them.  Good news is that I remembered to test my finger for response to touch, pain, and temperature: No permanent damage noted.  As for my leg, damage did not extend deeper than the upper subepithelium, so yay!

Apparently, chestnuts wiggle when you try to cut them.

Third time is the charm: two harmless episodes of tripping down the stairs while running off to the formal, one not-so-harmless.

Recent kitchen improvements

Did some improvement of my own kitchen skills in preparation for DineLA.

Baked salmon with tomatoes and onions.

Blueberry flan: came out perfectly unbroken!