Weekly Update June 12 - 18

The Week in Review 

Hard to believe that by this time tomorrow I will have already been at work for 10 hours and will still have about 20 hours left in the shift. How in the world am I going to get through that first day?? I have every intention to keep some notes (if I have a chance to breathe in  between the bouts of craziness) to write up something about my first ever day as a real doctor. I think that would be something that would be interesting to read at the end of this.

As part of our orientation to residency, we got the chance to watch the graduation of the finishing chiefs. It was strange to watch someone at the end when I'm still here at the beginning. It's easy to forget about the finish line when you're still trying to lace up your shoes at the start of the marathon.

There are a lot of miles ahead of me -- good ones and bad ones. I don't know what all those miles will hold or how things will be different this time next year or this time in seven years. But I'm excited for the race ahead.

The Week in Snapshots 

meal prep / last day of slow mornings / sunset on chief's dinner / the last time I look fancy for a bit / the ducks of summer

Reading
I realized that Carry On is the pseudo-sequel to Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl, and so I put Carry On aside for a second to read them in the right order. I'm kind of neurotic about reading books that are connected in ORDER

Listening 
So I came across this cute little podcast called Sawbones that every week talks about a medical history. It's really funny and not hyper-technical so they explain all the medical words. But I definitely think some of the history included in it about how we used to treat diseases is really cool!

3 Things

• I went to target like three times this week. I kept forgetting one or another thing I needed -- but now I have lots of snacks all stocked in my locker. 
• I have new supposedly long lasting foundation/eyeliner/etc. We'll see if it lasts through an all night call shift. 
• My new long white coats don't have inside pockets. That's unacceptable. I'm going to have to sow some pockets in there. 

Loving from Around the Internet 

MASON JAR SALADS -- I made a whole bunch of these to get me through the weeks lunches at work. Hopefully they're yummy because if they suck I have like 5 of them to eat.... 

Weekly Update June 5 - 11

The Week in Review 

One week into residency and already a day late getting this written -- at least you guys know what to expect.

Before I delve into talking about my week this week, I wanted to take a second to talk about the incredible tragedy that happened in Orlando a few days ago. I've spent a long time trying to get together the words to talk about how I feel -- but I just don't have them. There are no words for the incredible loss each and every one of those 50 families must be feeling right now. There are no words for the loss of a friend, child, spouse.

I cannot find the words because they do not exist.

I cannot find the words to say to my friends and loved ones who are members of the LGBTQ community. There are no words for the fear that someone could take your life out of hatred. There are no words to realize that for every step forward there are still steps back.

My heart breaks for the families and friends who will never get to hold the person they love again. I have watched people die in the ER from gunshot wounds. I have seen young people bleed out as doctors and nurses fought to save their lives. I have seen families fall to the floor as the news is given to them of life cut short too soon.

I have no words for the loss any family must feel for a loved one lost to violence.

I do not have words to say to those families. And one day, it may be me, in the ER giving the news to a family who will bury a loved one lost to violence -- I hope on that day I do have something to say. But even more than that -- I hope I never have to have something to say -- I hope the violence stops.

~~

This was my first week as an official resident physician. I have a long white coat and a badge hanging next to my door. But none of it feels real. I know that I am less than 7 days away from my first shift and that thought terrifies me.

I've met so many new people in the last week that it will take me weeks to sort out all the names and faces. For someone who's not particularly good at meeting new people and not adept at social interaction, the endless social events and small talk has been tiring! I'm trying really hard to be more outgoing and social, but it's always a relief at the end of the day to come home and be relieved of the need to be extraverted for hours!! I am much better at talking to people in professional situations -- social situations are much harder for me. Is there a secret I could learn? No. Just practice. Fine.

We're two weeks away from Sweetheart being here for his away rotation! I am already planning a couple of fun things for us to do on days off, but mostly we're looking at just being excited to share five minutes together at the end of the day when we're both exhausted from work. Being a two doctor household means that "couple time" has a whole different meaning!! Haha.

The Week in Photos 

flower delivery from Sweetheart / long white coat / brunch with new lady interns / hair bow / reading about vascular surgery 

Reading 

Mostly I'm reading about ATLS right now.... but I'm still reading a couple pages of Carry On by Rainbow Rowell every night. It's an excellent fun book very reminiscent of Harry Potter. 

Listening 

I've been listening to a lot of spotify playlists that are for "focus". I haven't identified anything particular that I can recommend because mostly it's just playing in the background! 

3 Things

• Programable coffee makers are a MUST for anyone starting residency. Nothing like hearing the coffee brewing when you're waking up. 
• There was an incredible rain and lightning storm for the last couple hours, but now it's clearing and the clouds are perfect purple and pink. I tried to take a picture... but the colors just aren't turning out right, so you'll have to take my word for it. 
• I found kale pesto hummus at whole foods yesterday and have eaten almost the whole container in 24 hours... this is dangerous

Loving from Around the Internet 

Since I've been so obsessed with make ahead meals the last two weeks, I've been thinking about trying this Blueberry Coconut Baked Oatmeal for a quick breakfast! Anyone tried baked oatmeal before? 

Weekly Update May 1 - 7

The Week in Review 

Blah, blah, blah -- packing. Blah, blah, blah -- errands. Blah, blah, blah -- never ending to do lists. I won't bore you by telling you about any of that. Instead I'll tell you about the incredible things. This is the last weekly update I will be writing as ALMOST MD. That's right, by the time I come to you next week I will be writing this as ACTUALLY MD. It's been an incredibly long four years, but it was over in the blink of an eye.

But getting to MD is only one of the most important things that happened to me in the last four years. In those four years, I also made some of the best friends a girl could ask for and found the most amazing man I ever could have dreamed of. I had some incredible proof of how amazing my girlfriends and Sweetheart are this week. After realizing that there was no way I was ever going to have a bridal shower right before our actual wedding (being a surgery intern and all), Sweetheart and my best friend planned a whole surprise, scavenger hunt bridal party for me. It involved all my favorite things from a whole tea themed brunch to a winery dinner and dozens of adventures in between. Still, a day later, I'm in shock that people would spend so much time and thought on me. I wish I could give them all a thousand hugs to repay them for such incredible generosity. It will never be enough. Love is the most powerful force in the entire world. I hope to keep spreading it around.

The Week in Photos

the galaxy in the bathtub / the edge of a perfect fried egg / wine on rustic tables / pedicure party / date night makeup / taco tuesday

Listening
All music from now until my trip to London is going to be from British bands -- thus the Vaccines

Reading 
My friend just informed me of the magic that is Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality (an incredibly long HP fanfic). Then I stayed up reading it on my phone until it was much too late!

3 Things

• I'm running out of things I can pack and not have for the next two weeks. 
• I finally got my new bike to take with me to new residency city -- and riding a bike really does come back to you after a long time away from it. 
• As I write this, there are 4 days and 13 hours until I am actually a doctor. 

Loving from Around the Internet 

This amazing copper vitamix, I may or may not have put it on our wedding registry -- not that anyone will buy it for us because it is RIDICULOUSLY expensive. But I want it so bad... so pretty... so pretty....

We learned this week that no one should ever let me register for a wedding at Williams Sonoma because I want all the really expensive stuff...