I am back in Boston and back in the normal routine. I was welcomed by COLD weather and ice everywhere, which makes walking not too fun. I have realized the truth behind the popular line that "Boston is a walking city." Things are very walkable which makes tourists happy, but when you live here and don't have a car, the public transportation requires much walking, whether you like it or not. I actually enjoy the walking after a long day of sitting in class, but I also am sometimes extremely scared of the combination of the ice and the instability of my knee.
My knee is doing well! I have to keep reminding myself that I got surgery 3 weeks ago and that even though I have my range of motion back, I still don't have the muscle strength or the ligament stability to do everything that I want to. I attempted to do some skills practicing that required a minimal amount of pivoting in a lab class on Monday, and I definitely felt it afterwards. My knee is very good at telling me when I have done too much.
I am excited to be able to get back into a routine! The cold weather does have one positive - it motivates one to get going from one place to another and not be idle/slow in transportation. It also limits the amount of social activities going on and makes one want to curl up on a blanket in front of a fireplace. There is a fireplace at a Marriott lobby close to my school, so hopefully I can turn the desire to curl up by/in warmth into some quality studying time.
The snow is also absolutely beautiful, in some places. The contrast between the snow and the gray water that I see out the window of my school every day is breath-taking. Boston is beautiful. I love the east coast!
This weekend I am going to Chicago, where it is supposed to be in the single digits and 10s. Guess I can't complain much about Boston (yet)...
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
FINALS FINALLY FINISHED!!
I'M DONE!!!!!!!!!!!
My best friends over the last couple of days:
3 1/2 weeks until I have to sit in class again!
My best friends over the last couple of days:
3 1/2 weeks until I have to sit in class again!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Christmas! Random thoughts...
I am beginning to realize how close Christmas is! Not only does this mean family, presents, and Daniel, but it means ACL surgery! I am very excited for all of these. It also brings so many parties and celebrations! Enough to make decisions about what to attend and when to say no difficult. Here are some pictures of great memories and parties of past Christmas and New Year's celebrations.
Ugly Sweater Party Christmas 2007
Hot Chocolate Party Christmas 2006
New Years 2006
Here is a picture of me after my last ACL surgery in October of 2005... Drugs do wonders...:
I still have much school work to do that keeps me busy and discourages looking forward to my break too prematurely. Today is the last day of classes, Wednesday and Thursday are reading days (tomorrow and the day after), and then Friday is my first final!
The weather is finally beginning to hint at winter. It snowed for the first time this week. Yesterday morning, I waited for the train in 13 degrees weather! Boston Commons statue of Paul Revere in winter shown below:
What do you all want for Christmas?
Ugly Sweater Party Christmas 2007
Hot Chocolate Party Christmas 2006
New Years 2006Here is a picture of me after my last ACL surgery in October of 2005... Drugs do wonders...:
I still have much school work to do that keeps me busy and discourages looking forward to my break too prematurely. Today is the last day of classes, Wednesday and Thursday are reading days (tomorrow and the day after), and then Friday is my first final!
The weather is finally beginning to hint at winter. It snowed for the first time this week. Yesterday morning, I waited for the train in 13 degrees weather! Boston Commons statue of Paul Revere in winter shown below:
What do you all want for Christmas?
Sudi Comes to Town!
My good friend Sudi came to Boston the weekend before Thanksgiving, and we had such a blast! She is my doctor, my former boss, and most importantly, one of my greatest friends in the whole world!
Here is a picture of us at an Au Bon Pain late at night:
Here is a picture of us at an Au Bon Pain late at night:
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
9 to go...
So, the break is over and finals begin today. I have a final practical today for one of my classes. I have another take home final due tomorrow.
I have two main types of tests in my program. One is a "practical" testing situation where I am expected to perform the required skills and I am graded on my overall interaction with a fake patient. I am asked all sorts of crazy questions on the spot to make sure I know the rationale behind what I am doing. These types of tests always cause way more stress than is healthy.
The other type is your typical test where I am required to sit down and answer the questions in front of me in a certain amount of time (most of these tests are timed). Most of my classes have less than 50% of the test as multiple choice, and the rest of the questions are free response/short answer style. They require a lot of application and problem solving. I am also expected to write in pen, which is quite stressful because crossing out a lot looks very unprofessional. Both of the test styles are very difficult to prepare for because they are so much different than any test I ever got in undergraduate classes.
I have a final in every class. 9 finals total (2 finals in 2 of my classes). Here goes nothing.
However, I am feeling like it will be doable somehow. I have so much more momentum because I was able to have a nice break for Thanksgiving. I had so much fun in San Diego. I loved spending time with Mom and Dad and some of my other friends that were home for the break too. The Child family came down and vacationed in San Diego for the week and weekend, which was great because Dan and I got to spend time with each other without having to be away from our families. I also got to enjoy some fun with the rest of the members of his family. They are all so great. The weather was annoying the first few days, but got better as the week went on. I would rather have San Diego with the rain than Boston with the extreme cold, though. And I'd take any weather with Dan around than without.
So, I will basically lock myself away for the next 2 weeks. To study and to stay warm! I am open to any suggestions for how to survive finals. At the very least, please hope and pray for me that I will survive.
After my last final practical on December 18 (15 days left...), I have a couple of days to catch up on sleep and tie up loose ends before I fly home December 20 (17 more days). Guinevere, Clark, Ben, Evan, Hannah, Lena, and Oliver will all be coming home for Christmas! I am so excited! On December 23, I am getting ACL surgery, so I am looking forward to being at home after surgery during my initial recovery and spending some time together as a family again. The road is long for my knee recovery, but I am strangely excited to be able to begin it. I will be that much closer to being able to run, train for triathlons, and play outside again comfortably!
I have two main types of tests in my program. One is a "practical" testing situation where I am expected to perform the required skills and I am graded on my overall interaction with a fake patient. I am asked all sorts of crazy questions on the spot to make sure I know the rationale behind what I am doing. These types of tests always cause way more stress than is healthy.
The other type is your typical test where I am required to sit down and answer the questions in front of me in a certain amount of time (most of these tests are timed). Most of my classes have less than 50% of the test as multiple choice, and the rest of the questions are free response/short answer style. They require a lot of application and problem solving. I am also expected to write in pen, which is quite stressful because crossing out a lot looks very unprofessional. Both of the test styles are very difficult to prepare for because they are so much different than any test I ever got in undergraduate classes.
I have a final in every class. 9 finals total (2 finals in 2 of my classes). Here goes nothing.
However, I am feeling like it will be doable somehow. I have so much more momentum because I was able to have a nice break for Thanksgiving. I had so much fun in San Diego. I loved spending time with Mom and Dad and some of my other friends that were home for the break too. The Child family came down and vacationed in San Diego for the week and weekend, which was great because Dan and I got to spend time with each other without having to be away from our families. I also got to enjoy some fun with the rest of the members of his family. They are all so great. The weather was annoying the first few days, but got better as the week went on. I would rather have San Diego with the rain than Boston with the extreme cold, though. And I'd take any weather with Dan around than without.
So, I will basically lock myself away for the next 2 weeks. To study and to stay warm! I am open to any suggestions for how to survive finals. At the very least, please hope and pray for me that I will survive.
After my last final practical on December 18 (15 days left...), I have a couple of days to catch up on sleep and tie up loose ends before I fly home December 20 (17 more days). Guinevere, Clark, Ben, Evan, Hannah, Lena, and Oliver will all be coming home for Christmas! I am so excited! On December 23, I am getting ACL surgery, so I am looking forward to being at home after surgery during my initial recovery and spending some time together as a family again. The road is long for my knee recovery, but I am strangely excited to be able to begin it. I will be that much closer to being able to run, train for triathlons, and play outside again comfortably!
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