Insane Inflatable

This morning I woke up and drove to Lansing to do the Insane Inflatable 5k. It is a 5k course with 11 inflatable obstacles that you climb, slide, and bounce across. It was pretty fun! I walked most of the course and had a nice time being outside and having some fun on the obstacles. Other than that I've mostly been preparing everything for LA, and by that I been making sure I have everything I need for the rats while I am gone. I'm almost done with that and then I can start packing for myself. Always the last minute with me! 

Chicago

This weekend I spent Saturday night and most of Sunday in Chicago. I came in to do another trapeze class, and I wish I'd left more time to explore. After many difficulties and stupid unnecessary stress I finally got my Lou Malnati's deep dish pizza around 11pm. Very delicious and worth it, but I think I prefer eating dinner at a reasonable hour! I stayed in a hostel and was very comfortable. I sometimes actually prefer hostels to hotels. Sometimes. Last night felt like one of those times. This morning I woke up and had my free breakfast (continental) and then set out. I started walking up Michigan Ave and tried to rent a bike but had some troubles so I just hoped on the bus and went to my trapeze class. The class was awesome as it had been the last time. Met some cool people too, one who moves to LA on Friday so we may meet up to trapeze in LA next month. After class I walked around a bit and finally rented a bike successfully and rode down to the zoo area. I found out later the zoo is free, so I wish I'd gone! I ended up meeting the girl from trapeze with her brother for brunch and had delicious fruit stuff French toast. Yum! After that I Ubered back to the hostel because my phone was dying. I tried to go get a hot dog from this place I read about, but it was closed so I just went to the train station. Now I'm on the train home (sitting next to a fairly obnoxious seat age). Hopefully there are no delays!!

Art Fair

Yesterday was the last day of Ann Arbor Art Fair, which is a HUGE art fair all throughout downtown Ann Arbor. My friend Chantel from undergrad just moved to Detroit and came out to visit for the day to walk around. We walked downtown and I showed her around Ann Arbor a bit on our way to Sava's for brunch. I had AMAZING shrimp and grit and a grapefruit mimosa that was delicious. After brunch we walked around the art fair for hours and hours, seeing downtown A2 and all the cool art people were selling. It was a great time. I got a couple cool hanging bottles to put in the hallway, though one fell, so I think I need stronger hooks than the ornament ones that were up.

When I got home from the store later that night I was on the phone with my mom and I heard a knock at the door. I looked through the peephole and could only see hair and it looked somewhat familiar so I opened the door only to discover a random girl I had never seen before who, without saying any words, starting to take a step into the apartment. I slammed the door in her face really quickly because it was pretty terrifying and creepy and I think she went away, but I definitely didn't open that door again the rest of the night. Yikes! Not my favorite experience! All is well though. 

Tomorrow's the Day

Tomorrow is Step 2 CK day, which means I'll be sitting in a testing center for NINE hours doing hundreds of multiple choice questions. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? Keep your fingers crossed for me tomorrow!

In other news I've completed my first week of my anesthesia rotation. It's been awesome so far and I'm really enjoying it a lot. I had three days in the main ORs and one day in the cardiothoracic ORs last week, and this week I have a day of pre-op, two days of peds, and a day of OB. Should be totally different! I'm just excited to be done with Step 2!!

Studying Continues

Life is not too exciting these days. Studying for Step 2 CK and eating is about all I am doing. The weather was crappy yesterday, but it's quite lovely out today. I am holed up in the Law Library right now, but likely will take a break for lunch and to run an errand in a few. Not much else to report. One more week of my vacation month and then it's off on two months of anesthesia rotations, a month of maternal fetal medicine, and a month of ER before the interview season begins!

Away Rotation

So as most of you know by now I am doing an away rotation in LA in August. Today I got everything set up and I now have a place to live AND a plane flight to the beach for the first weekend I'm out there! I am so excited to get to go to the beach this year, even if only for a short time.

In other news, I met with one of my letter writers today and I think the letter is going to be a really good one, so I'm pretty happy about that. I also turned in the paperwork to do an outside rotation and get credit for it. In addition to all that I'm still on the study train, and still upset when  I wake up and there are no palm trees and no ocean! Where did Hawaii go?

First Full Day

This morning I woke up pretty early, grabbed a glass of POG and started studying on the lanai. Lindsey joined me a bit later and we made eggs and English muffins with guava jelly and listened to the song as we ate. It was glorious.

After breakfast we went to the concierge to get the schedule of happenings this week and I was given an owners bag and some number of points which was cool. Lindsey then went on a run while I studied a bit more. 

After she got back and took a dip in the ocean we made some lunch. I had an apple and a Manapua which made my life. I can't wait to eat more! We then got suits on and went out to the pool.

It is VERY hot here right now. Sitting outside I think my sunscreen dropped off despite the water resistantness of it. I read some First Aid for CK and took a quick dip in the pool to cool off after a it. At one point some random girl standing at the foot of my lounge chair puked a ton and it splatter all over my new bag and my shoes. Luckily I was able to clean it up ok, but it wasn't the best part of the day. They cleaned it up, but we eventually moved cause we desperately needed shade. 

After lying in the shade a bit we took a walk and decided to "snorkel" with the goges I brought. The reef is in pretty decent shape and the water was super clear. We swam around for a while and then showered and left for Kihei. 

In Kihei we watched the sunset and had a delicious dinner with Shea, Marcus, and Shea's family. We all hung out for a bit and then drove to the airport to get Stephanie and went home to sleep! 

Lindsey and I at sunset at the Mana Kai

Sunset over Maui and Lanai

Tira and Shea blowing the conch at sunset

View from Shea and Marcus's room at the Mana Kai

On the balcony of Shea and Marcus's room

Arrival in Maui

I arrived in Maui yesterday and it has been wonderful thus far. Upon arrival we went to Paia to return a dress Lindsey bought the day before and then headed back to the airport to return her car and pick up mine since we had some time until Shea and Marcus arrived. After the cars were sorted out we headed back to Paia and went to the fish market for lunch. I had charbroiled Ono with the Cajun rice and it was super yummy.

After lunch we did a quick Costco run (mostly for Manapua and POG juice), and then headed for Kaanapali. We checked in and went up to our room, which has a lovely view of the ocean. I studied a bit and then Lindsey and I walked around the timeshare property. After our quick tour we went into Lahaina to eat at Star Noodle for dinner. The Vietnamese crepe was amazing! We also had Udon soup and pork buns. Very yummy. 

After dinner we went to the grocery store for smaller quantity items like English muffins, bread, butter, and of course Guava Jelly! We ten headed home to shower and study a bit more and then I went to bed super early cause I was beat!

Our little rental

View from the lanai

ICU, check!

Officially done with my month in the ICU, which means normal hours and sleep! Woo hoo! Now I'm getting my condo in order and packing because tomorrow begins vacation month (aka I get to study and take exams, but I also get to go home and to Hawaii!). Looking forward to some sleep, after Tuesday at least when I finish Step 2CS!

Call

This month I have been on call every 4th day, which means that I stay at the hospital working for 27 hours straight roughly. I usually get a little sleep, but I definitely have to go home and sleep post-call and spend that whole day feeling exhausted. This last call was been the most busy by far, because there were multiple transplants coming in. Very exciting for the recipients. I got to see the process of preparing a patient for heart transplant from patient arrival all the way through induction of anesthesia and prepping for incision. Very interesting. Only one more cycle of wedge day (about 6am-4pm) and call to go and then my month in the ICU will have come to an end!