Time flies when you're having fun (and not studying Anatomy)

My weekend was amazing. No other words to describe it. Some of my best and favorite friends made it up for the weekend. It never ceases to amaze me just how much we cram in, in our short time together. I mean, we only had two days or so together but we really do make the most of it! We didn't get our music video done as planned, but did go to the football game (which was great). We played a lot of board games and card games (including Dutch Blitz). We watched movies and spent time doing random things. It was so much fun. No matter what we do, we always end up having a ton of fun and just being crazy.

The downside? My only two complaints. One, I didn't get as near as much studying done as I needed to. And of course the leaving part. It's so hard to say good-bye to my friends, especially when they feel like family. I actually started to tear up. But only three more weeks until I get to see them all again. And celebrate mine and Les's birthday! Yay for fun, but boo for getting older. I definitely thought I would have accomplished so much more in my life by the time I turned 22. Ugh. Anyways, it's bed time for. I'm heading to the library super early to make up for some of the studying that didn't get done. Until next time, adios!

Oh Anatomy

This week has been ridiculously crazy. After starting new material for Anatomy, I am once again completely and totally overwhelmed. The information isn't too bad. It's just remembering all of the structures in every specific order (artery, nerve, vein etc.). So far I have a pretty good grasp on what goes where and how everything is working together. I already feel so more prepared for this test than I did on the last one. I even went to office hours today and talked to my professor about my grade. He said that I didn't get off to a great start, but can definitely improve within the next three weeks. So that was really encouraging. Of course, we went through the test and he was showing mistakes I had made that could have easily given me higher points. I started to get emotional. The stress, pressure, and straight up embarrassment really hit me hard. I kept everything together until he asked, "Are you okay?" and that's when I lost it. Tears started streaming down my face and I could myself turn red. I explained myself to him - the stress, all of the information, and just trying to balance it all and he was so understanding. He even told me some stories from his graduate days which was kind of reassuring. So I finally have a better game plan and a new way to approach this test on Thursday. So yay for finally feeling on top of things for once.

Maybe not the most professional days of my OTS career, but definitely a step in the right direction. I guess this means going into the lab on Saturday and Sunday this weekend and pretty much giving up any sign of a life that I had. Ugh. Looks like the only time I'll ever be able to enjoy the weekends, is when I have a job. Ironic isn't it?

I get by with a little help from my friends

Who am I kidding? I get by with a lot of help from my friends. And even more help from God. Just thinking about this week (and so far it's only Tuesday) I can't really imagine where I'd be if I didn't have good friends and great faith. The first few weeks of the fall semester have been really hard and I find myself struggling to stay on top of all of the material. There's so much information about the human body. It's so detailed and intricate. And everything I see in my lab/lecture class just confirms the beauty of creation in my mind. It's also really overwhelming.

Our class is only 7 weeks along. We had our first lecture and lab test last Thursday which was extremely difficult. It covered all of the muscles in the back, abdomen, thigh, and leg. On top of that, we had to learn the arteries, veins, nerves, cutaneous nerves, etc. I don't know if you've ever had to distinguish a nerve from an artery or vein on a human body, but let me tell you, it is no piece of cake. Our test only covered 3 weeks of information but man was it brutal. I studied more for this class in three weeks, than I ever have for any other class. And I usually study for tests a lot. It's ridiculous. Though complaining about it makes me feel a little bit better, it's not going to change my grade. So I'm moving on. I'm focusing on the material for the next test instead of dwelling on what I can't change.

Back to the God thing. Seeing my life in such a whirlwind right now, I'm learning firsthand the importance (and comfort) of relying on God. There's such a sense of security knowing that my life is in His hands! Even though I'm making the decisions, I know God has my long-term plan taken care of. While Anatomy is the task of the present, there's just something wonderful knowing that one day, beyond all this, something better is waiting for me.

I'm only me when I'm with you

After another stressful week of classes and anatomy tests, the weekend finally rolled around! I had made plans to drive to Richmond and see Kim, but I had to dog sit and I wouldn't have gotten there until 8PM on Saturday night. So she came down to see me instead. Friday night we went out to dinner and then watched Crossroads (yes the Britney Spears movie!) and just crashed pretty early. We both woke up at 7:30 on Saturday (which is the worst feeling ever on your day off). It ended up being really productive. I spent the morning cleaning and getting things ready for next week, Kim did some "studying" and I took care of the dogs. Then we decided we were going to make a music video. So we went to Ross and grabbed some Vegas-themed clothes and met up with Emily. Once we got back, we did the whole thing! We dressed up in Vegas appropriate dresses, poofed our hair, did outrageous make-up, and then found appropriate jewelry. It was awesome. For the very end scene, I had the brilliant idea of jumping into the pool (after hours). So we all jumped in with make up and hair (however just pajamas). We haven't edited yet. Hopefully it'll get done some time this week.

Next week we're making a music video to "I'm only me when I'm with you" which is a very appropriate best friends song. If you haven't heard it, check out the link to the music video or just read the lyrics. It's one of my favorite Taylor songs right now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlTfYj7q5gQ

US Open

The US Open Final was supposed to be on tonight, but it got rained out so it'll be on again tomorrow. Just in time so that I don't study for Anatomy...

Hopefully Nadal wins.

Long Days = Longer Nights

I have to say, I am absolutely exhausted. I had Anatomy lecture all morning and Cadaver lab all afternoon. Afterwards, our lab group met to work on our case study, which is due tomorrow morning. Being on my feet all afternoon is so tiring. I just want to come home and lay in my bed for an hour or so. Right now, I'm trying to relax and watch the US Open, but the match I want isn't on until 8 tonight. I'm missing CSU (Christian Student Union) because we had our group meeting. I should probably clean my room, but I have no energy left.

Tonight around 7:30/8:00 we're having a class bonfire for all of the September birthdays. It should be fun. It's actually funny because a lot of the undergrad students are older than I am. I don't plan on staying too long because I plan on coming back to study (since I have lab again tomorrow at 8:30AM) and also to watch Nadal's match. I'd love to go to bed early tonight but there's really no chance of that with Anatomy and the US Open going on at the same time.

I'm so exhausted by the end of Tuesdays and Thursdays. I've been listening to a lot of music to help cheer me up. Right now one of my favorites is Mine by Taylor Swift. The music video is so cute. I'm also enjoying You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC, Teenage Dream by Katy Perry, and Soul Sister by Train. Hopefully these will help get me ready for socializing tonight. Then this weekend I'm going to Emily's. We're going to watch the VT/JMU game and maybe go out on the jetski. Could be fun. Super excited to get away from the lab, though I know I need to be in there studying. Oh the joys of grad school.

I've been in a weird kind of mood over the past few days. Being back in the swing of school is very overwhelming and leaves me physically and mentally drained at the end of each day. I'm studying Anatomy all the time (or so it seems) and still trying to get my reading/busy work down for the other class that we're taking right now. I've only gone to the gym twice and usually I'm able to make it six days out of the week. My social life is barely existent at this point. Obviously school comes first, but any socialization or "me" time seems is precious and rare at this point. I've been in school a week but I feel like I've already been here a month. On top of the school work, I got a physical, TB test, and drug screen all in the past week. And I still have to get a back ground check and sign up for a CPR class. There's so much going on that I am just exhausted. Grad school has turned me into an old lady! I've been going to bed between 9:30 and 10:30 every night so far (except for the weekend and that was because I was babysitting).

On top of all of this, I'm really homesick. I miss my family a lot, but especially Riley. I got to talk to her on Tuesday and then again today. Sometimes I feel like it's easier not to call home, just because I won't have to deal with the homesickness later. I also really miss my friends. Even though summer was so incredibly busy, my friends and I managed to spend as much time together as possible. And now, I just feel out of place without them here or me there. It's just been a long, exhausting week. I'm hoping that next week will be busy and take my mind of things.

On another note, Nadal moves into the 3rd round of the US Open. Hopefully he can win this one to achieve his grand slam dream.