Adventure, or Lack Thereof

So I've had several days of whirlwind since my step2 ck.

Thurs: Step 2 CK. Long, long, long test (9 hours!) that wasn't as bad as I was thinking but not as easy as I was hoping. NBME has some type of psychic powers to put what you don't know ALL.OVER. the test. For me? about 10-15 acid/base disturbances and various questions that involved a baseline interpretation. Ugh. I suck at acid/base. When ph, CO2, O2 and Bicarb are all wonky and nothing makes sense (low ph, low CO2, low Bicarb I have NO IDEA what is going on) I just shut down. Hopefully I have improved my score (my goal is unrealistic like always and I'll be very happy to be at least 20 points higher than my step 1)

Friday: Relax/rehearsal dinner for my friend's wedding. Everything went swimmingly except my dad's best friend died. He was cherished by our family and we all felt as if he was part of the family.

Sat: Friend's wedding with an awesome reception! I think I spent about 2 hours on the dance floor, and sweat about 30% of my total body fluids. Fabulous time! I woke up sore on sun morning (and thirsty!)

Sun and Mon: wake and funeral for Papa. He will be greatly missed. I don't think my dad knows quite to do with himself which makes me sad. He was a wonderful person and I know that I will miss him (he was the best 80 year old smart ass on the planet :) )

Tues: hang out with cupcake queen who is back from Honduras! Just chillin and got some groceries

Wed: yet to be decided

Thurs: I START MY PATHOLOGY ROTATION! sooooooooo excited!!!! Kinda nervous knowing I need to make a good impression and work to get some letters. But finally so happy to be doing what I want.

So, unfortunately, I never did go on an adventure. I didn't want to miss saying goodbye to Papa. I have August off, so there will be plenty of time for adventures then and later in the year. I plan on going to St. Louis and Boston for some fun times. Or wherever I will float.

It's going to be a great year!

Seasoned

So far it's been a wonderful few post-board days. I was adventurous this morning and decided to go to one of the local parks to stretch my legs. Mainly because the school gym doesn't open until 1, but I also wanted to start getting outside more. I do love me some outdoors! Unfortunately I couldn't get my stupid Ipod-nike sensor working so I had to do without. Special kid over here had to come home and figure out how to get it into un-sleep mode ( I put it in sleep mode before boards knowing I wouldn't be using it for a few weeks and tried to save some battery power). I did get a good 3 miles of mostly walk. My run ended quickly with a massive side stitch that still refuses to go away. I guess the boards inflict more than just mental anguish. alas.

Tomorrow begins STEP 2 lockdown. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I once again trudge up to campus and lock myself away in one of those classrooms to toil away at NBME practice tests, First Aid facts, and USMLE world questions until my eyeballs fall out. However, I am going to try and preserve my sanity by getting out most days to go for a walk or something. It really does help with those natural endorphins and happy neurotransmitters. I also have to get my bridesmaid dress on my body (oops) and then down to a seamstress for tailoring (double oops) so I can  be ready to go the day after my step for my friend's wedding (triple ooops!) So that can offer a good break NEXT.WEEK so I can get that done.

I hope all of my fellow classmates are enjoying some well deserved time off. I'm pretty sad knowing that I won't be seeing some of my old groupmates anymore. As we all depart our separate ways, I know that for those who are closest we'll have to make some real effort to still get together. It's also crazy to think that this time, last year, we were new, fresh, and still had some spunk. Now wise in our post M3-ness, I see how we all have turned into the M4's that we once looked up to in awe thinking "omg how do they know to do that? how do they know so much? omg they are SO.SMART". That is now us, folks. It's amazing what we all have learned and endured in the past year. Cheers to US! I can also tell that I'm not as freaked out about STEP 2 as I was about STEP 1. Some of that I believe comes from the experience of living through (and surviving) STEP 1. Now I'm just approaching this test as a pesky hurdle standing between me and my Pathology rotation in july. Again, amazing what a year does.

With that, I'm going to lay down and rot my brain with some online cable TV. I'll see everyone on the flip side, or at least with the "I can't take it anymore" sanity posts that I'm sure will be making an appearance later.

Good luck to all taking STEP 2, STEP 1, and anything in between.

...between is a funny looking word if you really look at it....