June 1, 2009
Couldn’t keep up with all the excitement!
First, Nelson and I moved into our new condo just a couple short weeks ago! Getting settled ….still waiting on some furniture…but for the most part we have all the big things we need. It is SO nice to not be long distance, we are finally Nelson and Amanda without the stress of buying a place, all this pressured time that comes along w/ long distance…etc. Couldn’t be happier! The area is great, takes us each about 20 minutes to get to work, we are 5 min from Nashua NH which has everything we’d need.
Second, our friends Kristy and Matt Perkowski just got married last weekend. Seriously, the MOST fun we’ve had in so long. It was a wonderful wedding all around, we had a blast (I’ll put a picture below of the beautiful bride and groom). The weekend consisted of Nelson and Matt driving us girls all around Syracuse, Nelson doing back flips, people asking me “how do you know Nelson?” meanwhile I’m in a bridesmaid dress and OBVIOUSLY there for Kristy hahaha, because I know HER. It was pretty funny…he got wedding MVP along with Walter and we have the greatest memories that can just crack us up at any moment. Best part is that the Bride and Groom had a great time and things went very smoothly. We were even lucky enough to have the bride and groom at my parents house along with us on Sunday which we were very excited about- we just couldn’t get enough!
THIRDLY, Nelson and I are engaged! He proposed Sat am 5/30/09 while out on a run…caught me totally off gaurd — he said I reacted in the first moments as if I were being punked haha. First I looked around, stood speechless….then got what was going on became teary eyed and that was that. It was funny, I was all ready to have a hard core run of at least 6 miles and after probably about 2 mi while on a thin trail Nels says, “wait, I have a rock in my shoe” …so I turn around to help him and he was down on one knee. He knew I wouldn’t be able to run after such excitement!! So, he said he was out of breath and proposing was the only way he could get me to stop. Haha. So, yesterday we went on a REAL run in the same park and he was like “damn, I don’t have a good excuse today I guess it will be a real workout ….” haha. I always love to run, which is why he proposed while running, but now I have the best memories in this beautiful park, I will probably run more than I ever have just because it makes me so happy to be there. He and I went to Top of the Hub in Boston for a 7course chef tasting Sat night which was wonderful watching the sunset along the Boston skyline. We got the 7courses so we could sit there a long time and enjoy the view.
Some pics: Kristy and Matt’s wedding, Nelson and I in the park 5 minutes after getting engaged, then Nels and I at dinner Sat night…
Now, Graduation is on Saturday and I’m heading to Maine tomorrow!! I am sooooo excited to have my friends and family (Nelson’s and Mine) all together in one place at one time. How perfect! I am more excited about that than actually graduating I think..or, I guess it just doesn’t seem real that we are done w/ medical school. I’m sure it will hit me Saturday! I cannot believe its FINALLY here, felt that it would never, ever come.
April 27, 2009
Oooo what good 2 weeks can do!
2 weeks into my last rotation of medical school I realize just how therapeutic it is to know that there is not another rotation to rush to, new people to meet, and a new system to get to know yet again for the hundreth time. To be able to say “10 days left” – I am a new person. Then you put on top of that a fun weekend last weekend raising $ for CF in the form of a pub crawl with two great friends. Wonderful. AND THEN after spending a weekend camping on the western coast next to the waves and then exploring the mountains and the lakes with the clearest, bluest glacier water I have ever seen…with the fabulous company of Ross…I have gotten to a place where I realize just how vacant the past 4 yrs have made me at times. Most times, who am I kidding. After finally having time to reflect about medical school, I realize how much of a good thing it has been in my life. There were painful times, yes, and up until about a month ago I would hear the words medical school and want to gag. Now that I’ve had some time to reflect – I feel much differently. I can see what a great thing it has been in my life, not just career-wise but for the person it has made me want to become and the insight it has given me. Mostly — for the eagerness to keep being curious.
Some pics below. The first few — Shannon, Ross, the CF Pub Crawl….the majority, from this past weekend exploring the Olympic Peninsula of WA. Pure Beauty.
April 16, 2009
:: Seattle ::
I landed in Seattle late Saturday night, before Easter. Shannon and Ty picked me up, I’m staying with Shannon and her roomates in a perfect location, the neighborhood of Queen Anne. They have a beautiful townhouse atop a hill that looks down on the city with a view of the mountains from the kitchen. Granted, often the clouds and dreary weather blunt the view, but luckily since my arrival it has been quite clear. Easter was spent eating, first a brunch w/ Shannon and her friends…then dinner w/ Ross and his crew our near Tacoma. It was a wonderful welcome. Since then I’ve just been working…its about a 2 mile ride to downtown Seattle, I take the bus, about 20 min to work each day. I’m working in an outpatient clinic and the office is a very laid-back environment, thankfully, I don’t know what I’d do otherwise. It’s right downtown by the water and the famous market…how lucky I was to find this. Everything is green. Everything, the trees and bushes even, are blooming with reds and pinks and whites. The color makes me smile every time I take notice.
Last night Shannon, Lex and I went to watch stand up comedy. Tomorrow Ross is meeting me downtown after work for a happy hour late lunch, and Saturday is a big Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser that is in the form of a Pub Crawl, (yeahhh…wish me luck I’m definitely the light weight of the crew!) Next weekend we might rough-it and drive/camp along the coast to see the views that I just keep hearing about. The following weekend I’m hoping to get to Portland, OR to catch my cousin and his family. The last weekend — celebrating my last day of medical school before flying back East.
Medical school felt somewhat unproductive, test to test, rotation to rotation….it felt like it was never going to end. Moving into new condo, multiple exciting weddings, graduation, time w/ friends and family before starting residency has now got me revived. I feel lighter – and actually, can finally take a step back and realize how heavy medical school actually was for me, and likely everyone else too. Every day I am thankful for the all-of-a-sudden non rushed, non stressed life I am living. Of course, buying the condo was not easy but there is good stress and bad stress…it has been good stress for us – knowing that it will mark the end of the life-together from far-apart that Nels and I have been living for too long. He is doing well, recently went on a golf trip with the guys which he really enjoyed. We are tearful with the thought that next time we get to hug hello, there won’t be a sad goodbye just 48 short hours later.
No pictures yet, there will be very soon. It is almost the weekend and I’ll have some fun pictures from the CF event and the following week hopefully the weather holds up so I can practice my photography during the trip along the coast. I will keep you updated with tales of the adventures.
Peace and Love from the Pacific
March 17, 2009
Caribbean Days
Caribbean sunshine, best times with friends and family for many days, straight. Absolutely wonderful. To have my Mom and her best friend/cousin, Karen, along with Meagen and I was like a dream come true. Through the years I’ve seen my Mom’s beautiful friendship with Karen from afar; it was so nice to see it, live it, and be with it. It was equally as nice to share Meagen with the both of them. The traveling was a bit rough – not one flight on time, cutting things very close – but aside from that, it was a beautiful week in every way one could imagine.
Full doses of Vitamin D and laughter. Dancing and good music. Great food (too much!), I definitely got my fill for awhile haha. Dips in the ocean and beautiful scenery. These things were with us every day. The special times of our trip are as follows. In Aruba, Meagen and I crashed a resort for “guests only,” the trick was to not use our cruise towels and just fit in. By the end of the afternoon we were playing catch with a football with the guests. Come to find out, haha, my Mom and Karen were doing the same – being Resort Crashers – on the other side of Aruba. In Curacao my Mom and Karen swam with the dolphins and had a great time. After watching the video I do not think that I have ever seen such genuine happiness and pure joy on my Mom’s face. Karen too. It was mucho $ so Meag and I stayed back and enjoyed the scenery. It is now on my list of things to do in my lifetime. In St. Marteen we visited Orient (nude) beach and it was a brand new day in our lives. Refreshing is all that I will say…and not only because of the endless rum punch! St. Thomas was gorgeous – I think my favorite of them all. I want to go back. Very green and alive. So much to look forward to. The days cruising from one place to another were spent with good work outs in the morning and hours of hanging poolside. Meag and I met lots of great people between the pool, the club, and the nighttime activities such as Karyoke, shows and games. There are so many good, good people out there…this trip was a reminder of that. Our waiters and people on our floor were so very nice. Meag and I smuggled lobster dinners to our favorite workers. That was one of my favorite adventures, just because we made him so, so happy.
The trip ended in the Puerto Rico airport on the floor for many hours. I gave Meag a big hug goodbye (her flight was on time), and sat with my Mom and Karen and two other of Karen’s friends. We were packed in like sardines, hot and sweaty – but it was fine, I was just elated to be with the company I was with after so much of my recent time, especially this past fall, being spent so entirely alone.
It is match week right now. I matched, I just do not know where. Believe it or not, all last week I hardly thought of it. That is how relaxed I was, I did not think that would ever happen! Thursday is THE day!! I am anxious, but waiting patiently. If it is as I hope – an offer will be out on the condo soon!! Woohoo!
Here are some pictures
One last thing. On the flight from Puerto Rico to Atlanta the pilot says “If you are on the right side of the plane, look out, you will see a space shuttle that just launched.” My mom and I were on the right side, by the window of the jumbo jet – not only could we see it (not too far!) we saw it change from bright light to having a streak of colors trailing, to then having the booster jets break off from the main shuttle. Talk about a once in a lifetime experience. Something that requires such perfect timing that we were flying near just at the perfect time to catch such an amazing event. As Meagen would say – “it was a God-incidence.”
Love.
March 6, 2009
Quick adventure-update
Just back to NY last night from my month long ENT rotation in VA. I lived with Jillian for the month, visited Sarah for a weekend, and met up with Allo, an old college friend and teammate for dinner near DC. A productive and fun month, I even won $600 playing poker in Atlantic City as a first-time gambler! I am now on a two week vacation before my last two rotations. I spent the past couple of days in NH with Nelson, it was a lovely visit full of condo shopping, birthday celebrations and having lazy days where I got out of my PJs at 5pm after waking up to movie-days. I feel so fortunate that the end of medschool has taken a turn, and, is actually giving some time to ‘live’ and not stress. Of course, the Match for residency occurs on March 19, and is coming up soon — cant come fast enough. This is one of the MOST stressful experiences of my life to date — I am just trying to pretend its not there …because it is at a point where I have stressed a ton, and now…its out of my hands, so I figure I might as well just let it go as best as possible…
Now, heading to Puerto Rico tomorrow, where I will meet my dearest Meagen — and head on a cruise to Aruba, St. Martin, etc.. with my Mom and her best friend!! Margaritas and sunshine will help ease the residency match-day stress better than anything else I can think of!!
Take care! Much Love!
xox
February 4, 2009
Do you think I can market Sunshine as medicine?
Sunshine should be marketed as medicine. I tell you, you don’t realize how much you miss it until you have it again! I am in Virginia doing an ENT rotation and living with Jillian. It looks as though the rotation will be pretty chill, and the only bad part is that I have to drive toward DC so the traffic is rough. But, I will just use the time in the car to work on my espanol 
Trying to be fluent by residency but language doesnt come as easy to me as science does…
Can you believe in VA there was less than 1 inch and Jillian’s school had a 2 hour delay?!! Actually, to be perfectly honest, there was less than an inch on the GRASS and nearly NOTHING on the road!! Striking difference than Rochester, haha, its entertaining. I go out to the gym in shorts people must think I’m nuts but, truly, the air feels so nice and non-bitter
Friends are good medicine, too. So nice to be here with Jillian and see some of what her life is here. I will get to do the same this weekend, going to see Sarah! Then AGAIN when I go to Seattle to see Shannon and Ross. It makes me so happy to experience places where good friends are…and, I feel so lucky to have the opportunity at the end of medical school to travel and do so! Traveling to ARUBA with my Mom and Meagen very soon on a cruise….lots to look forward to….it will be just lovely.
It has been awhile since I have written because the main purpose of this was for family. I was home for 6 whole weeks with them! It was lovely, I did ER in Rochester which was quite exciting. I will try to write more the next few weeks as there is so much going on, lots of traveling, I’ll post some good pics as I go and keep updates regarding the MATCH! March 19th I’ll know for sure where I’ll be for residency, though I have a pretty solid feeling, I remain nervous, of course.
Nelson and I are looking at condos. I have a real estate agent and in contact with a mortgage company for doctors, etc. All this stuff that I know nothing about, but am trying to educate myself. Thank goodness I have more time nowadays to actually think outside the small box of medicine and Nels is being a tremendous help. Its exciting, we are both looking forward to not having to drive 6 hours for a hug or to have a laugh thats not over the phone separated by miles and miles. You know when in your gut you know the potential of something, yet, its hard and not quite there yet for so long? Well, I thank God for my patience, and his, because our priorities and hearts are finally, without strain, on the same path. It is as I always knew it could be. How I got so lucky I do not know…
Graduation is June 6 – we have rented a house on the rocky coast of Maine. Beautiful view. Time with a lot of my closest people, all together in one place. It is like a dream come true to me. Doesn’t ever happen, everyone I know and love is spread across the States which is fun but I miss them so much. I am psyched at the thought of having so many people in one place! Looking forward to seeing my classmates and the new additions (Piedra). Cant wait to go on my old Maine runs with my running buddies. Cant wait to be proud of my classmates when we can finally, finally call each other Doctor.
Will post some good pics soon…
Xo!
December 11, 2008
Just a few more days…
I have never, ever in my life been so ready to be “done”. Not necessarily medical school (though there are only 178 days left!) — but this rotation!! Its not a bad rotation, I think its the holidays coming up, etc…that just makes me want a break. Not only want a break – I think I really need a break after the first rotations I did this fall that nearly killed me w/ their intensity. The motivation has been sucked out of me. A good few weeks off at the holidays will do me good.
I am currently in Springfield, MA (old stomping grounds) doing anesthesiology. Its really cool, the people are great — but it became clear to me that I’m just not meant to be an anesthesiologist. The procedures are cool, along with the fact that you are intensly taking care of just one patient before you — but you hardly know the patient! You hardly know what went on to get them there or what lies ahead. I keep finding myself reading not only the history and physical but daily notes just out of pure boredom. I really like it in the moment when there is stuff going on – but, much of the time I’m finding good cases, or finding people who enjoy having students with them, I feel almost like a lost puppy haha. My medicine rotations leading up to this I have been so accountable, people would expect me to be someplace at a certain time knowing a certain amount about my patients. In this field, I work with whoever I run into that day…its not bad…its just so different that its bizarre. I have gotten to intubate and things like that, which, was my goal for this rotation, so that’s been productive.
I have had lots of extra time (don’t know about lots, but, definately more than usual). I have been going to Yoga and taking some much needed time to myself. I have started teaching myself Spanish with Rosetta Stone (highly recommend this program for language learning), and reading for enjoyment again. This weekend Nelson and I are spending the weekend in Boston – going to see the Nutcracker at the Boston Ballet, and next weekend we have a Christmas party to attend so there’s lots to look forward to.
Below are some pictures from Jess’ surprise bday party just a couple of weeks ago:
Hope all is well with everyone, for everyone that I’ll see back in NY —- I can’t wait!! xox
November 17, 2008
A beautiful fall, except the fall of a beautiful little girl…
It has been a lovely fall with beautiful foilage and relatively nice, dry weather. I have been enjoying medical school more than I ever have, as I said in my last post. On October 28th a beautiful little girl – Fahris passed. Her favorite things were lady bugs and dandelions, and her 5 years were filled with doctors appointments and open heart surgeries but you’d hardly know it from the outside with her big smile. I haven’t been around her much but I would always anxiously await the stories passed through my mom. She really wanted only the simplest of things, to be able to participate in gym class, etc. Truly, the greatest inspiration you would ever meet. I used to think of her and ask about her often…at least a couple of times a week I’d say to my mom, “did you hear anything about Fahris?” Now, not a day goes by that I don’t think about her – “how the heck did she have such a good attitude?” I ask myself. She was just a kid, a kid who never knew what it meant to really feel good. I heard stories upon stories of her positive attitude, and let me tell you I cannot get her off of my mind. Her positive attitude has inspired so many like me, from a distance even.
I like to think she is now running free, finally free of the body that held her back. Free to do all of the things little kids should be able to do…
There was another family friend in 7/2007 who had a three year old pass from congenital heart disease as well. They set up “The Clairebear Foundation” at that time. For Fahris, the family had requested that instead of anything else, all that they had wanted was donations to this wonderful foundation for research into congenital heart disease. This Christmas I will be donating something; I know that many of my friends like to give when they can, and I guess I’m just throwing it out there that if you usually do a donation of sort over the holidays, please consider even just the smallest amount to the foundation below. Even if just $100 extra from me making this post, in addition to what I’m sending, will be wonderful.
In honor of the beautiful Fahris.
The Clairebear Foundation
46 Barchan Dune Rise
Victor, NY 14564
——————————————————————————————-
I am generally very well. I love Lahey Clinic, I have one more week there. This also means just ONE more week of doing subinternships in Internal Medicine, soon I’ll be off galvanting in elective-land not being so stressed. I am very excited about the upcoming months, I have some cool rotations planned along with some even cooler trips and a good amount of time off. I am still a little freaked out by the thought of “Dr.” in front of my name come June – but, feeling a bit more ready. I know the three years of residency ahead will be grueling but I am very excited to just get on with it already. I only have about 7 more months of being a student. I have been a student now for 20 years total, straight, and I am ready to be something different
Of course I’ll always be learning but there’s something about feeling like you are tied to a University versus just being off having a job, and, I am excited for the later. In a week I’ll be in Springfield MA for four weeks doing anesthesiology. My main goal is to learn how to intubate and do lumbar punctures well…I am hoping that is what I get out of it. I have many, many interviews coming up which is exciting. I’ll keep you posted.
I get to go home soon and spend some much needed time with my family…even more exciting. And, my beautiful Gretchen will be delivering her baby sooner than later, something I am anxiously awaiting as the days pass.
Much love and many prayers out to you all.
October 27, 2008
Enjoying Boston
Already I am finished at Mt Auburn, and on to the next, can you believe how fast time flies? I begin my month at Lahey Clinic tomorrow. I am essentially doing the same type of rotation I did this past month – granted new systems, new place, new people…but it helps having just had a medicine subI under my belt to go ahead to do another one. Its been an exhausting fall but the more relaxed part of fourth year is just around the corner and I’m psyched!! I am actually enjoying medical school now, I don’t know if I thought I’d ever say that with a smile on my face haha. I’ve enjoyed parts of it before, but there were always other parts making the experience so incredibly difficult that it was hard to really see through the clouds and enjoy the rainbow. I’ve kept myself busy, always doing something new…and despite my strong desire to soon feel settled – I want to remember this fun experience of constantly exploring so I never forget how fun it is to be on the go, traveling, finding new nooks and crannys that I might not otherwise ever find.
My parents came to Boston last weekend to visit. We had a fabulous time – nice dinners, walking the city, Blue Man Group, Duck Tour, etc. Below are a couple of photos, there are three of my parents and I in Boston. The last one is of my fellow “non-Harvard” visiting student and I this past month, with the medical student coordinator. He may as well have been from Harvard, he’s getting his Law and Medicine degree this June (together)…holy crap. Then there’s me, haha…so not ever going to be a lawyer or anything like that…
What else. This weekend I’ve been totally and entirely spoiled with friend time, which has been just wonderful. I get it in when I can. Meagen met me at a Halloween party late friday night. Yesterday I had some time with Nelson and today I met Jess in Boston. I had time today to do some normal things I have not done in a long time, like make homemade apple sauce … sleep … work out … this all left me very happy and refreshed.
Lots of love.
October 4, 2008
October Already?
UMass University Hospital was wonderful. As I left I knew I could return, knowing that, gave me a huge sense of relief. That lasted a short while as I suddenly found myself packing up, saying goodbye to my roomates I had just gotten to know, and driving to Newton MA — where the hell is Newton MA? (I thought as I plugged it into my GPS). I laughed at myself. I lugged myself with my stuff into where I’m staying and just a few hours after Meagen met me. It was an adventure, driving into Cambridge where I’d be working, pulling up to Mt Auburn Hospital realizing parking would break my bank – $20/day or something stupid like that. Hell no! So, we then navigated the subway and just puttered around in the pouring rain – wet and lost all weekend. 
The week at Mt. Auburn began – It’s a good rotation, I’m working my tail off and in fact because it’s a “subinternship” they are treating me like I’m getting paid or some craziness like that. The experience at UMass got me relaxed, despite all of the unknown, 4th year of medical school seems much less anxiety-provoking than the third. I think its because now, I expect people to be asses sometimes and it doesn’t really strike me off gaurd. I’m not surprised. I also expect to meet amazing people — which leaves me much less intimidated when I do.
I leave early in the AM. By 5am I’m out the door catching the train. I end up in Harvard Square to either walk or ride the bus to Mt Auburn Hospital….depending on the weather and my ambition. Its a nice area in a sense…but gosh – everywhere I go aspects of the area seem great, while other parts of the places seem that they could be exhausting if I had to endure the experience for greater than a month.
I’ve gotten some interviews – Lahey Clinic, UConn, Geisinger, and Maine Medical Center to name a few. It will be a busy fall – but luckily I love the fall and the colors so driving will seem like more of a blessing than a burden.
Where do I want to go?
