Unit 2 Completed!!

Hello friends!!

It's been a while, but I've got good news. I've successfully completed Unit 2 of phase I of PA school! What a relief. Only 3 more units in phase I. It feels like forever, but it's really just 8 more months on campus in Carbondale. Thank the good lord!

Testing ended on Wednesday afternoon (3 long days of testing). We celebrated a birthday and the end of finals that night, and then partook of some retail therapy all day Thursday, before heading home for a week off. I am currently reading a book that has NOTHING to do with school and also watching all kinds of movies. Life is wonderful again. :) Here are some pics of Wednesday night's fun.

Fujiyama Japanese Steak House in Carbondale. Our grill guy rocked. He threw chicken at me and I caught it in my mouth (on the second try!)

Can you see the Mickey in my rice? I'm corny. I know. It must be really obvious, cause the cook definitely noticed!

Pretty PA ladies :)

Drunken roomies. This was at the Blue Martin - a really cute martini bar in Carbondale. Loved this place. Really tasty drinks.

After this we went next door to the gay bar named Traz (I think this is the name) and danced like crazy people until after 1am. It was pretty fantastic. There was even karaoke!

I finally have a minute to update!

Hello everyone! It's been forever. Sorry about that. I moved down to Carbondale for PA school on June 1st and life has been BANANAS since then. Barely any time to eat or sleep, much less run or write blog posts. Oh, and I'm hardly ever on facebook anymore, so I feel a little out of touch. I do want to say CONGRATS to my friend Tanya and Rey on their newest addition - little Jasper. And also, CONGRATS to Zuri and Bobby on their very recent engagement! I can't wait to see you all dressed up and married. I love you guys!

I just finished my 2nd week of classes and I'm already learning soooo much. It's completely overwhelming. Every time I think of all the information being covered I spaz a bit. Anyway, that's how most of us in the program feel. My roommate is a rockstar, so that makes things a lot better. We're both overachievers, so it works out nicely. We've got a group that stay on campus late (till like midnight and sometimes later) on most night working on our research and stuff. Our program is based on a self-directed learning module, so there's lots of research to be done. Lectures are going pretty well too. We've got our first simulated patient this Monday and I'm pretty freaking nervous about it. It'll be done as a group, so that's nice. I can't believe we already have midterms in 9 days. Aaaahhhhhhh!

Anyways, things are good. So glad I'm part of this program, cause I'm pretty sure I would just be miserable in a didactic program. Sitting through lecture for 8 hours a day would be HORRIBLE! Anyway, this is my first weekend home and it's been awesome seeing my boys. I was pretty wound up on Friday and I just feel much better after getting home to Mattoon last night. I'll be heading back south on the train tomorrow, but that's okay. I can do this. I'll be back home for July 4th weekend. That's only 2 weeks away.

Here are some pics that I've taken since I got to Carbondale. Enjoy and I hope everyone is loving life!! :)

Me getting coated by Dr. Smith

SIUC PA class of 2012!

Me & my awesome roomie, Arielle!

Me & my Mr. :)

Blue Sky winery in Carbondale. This was the weekend before classes started.

Walker's Bluff winery just north of Carbondale. Those are fake sheep... I totally felt cheated when I realized they weren't moving at all.

Carbondale fun!

So, I finally uploaded my pictures from this past weekend o' fun with the girls! Here they are for your viewing pleasure :) Enjoy.

Thank you Mr. Cuervo for getting the party started. Yay for pomegranate margaritas.

At the "surprise" party. Teehee. My pen had a mini penis on it!

Hurricanes and fried pickles. Sounded nasty, but damn they were good!

Jen being a goober. :)

Amanda, Katie, Me, Caryn, Jen, & Natalie in front of Busch Stadium

4/16/10

Me and the girls after a Cardinal WIN!!

Some of my future PA classmates c/o 2012!!

There is exactly 6 weeks (42 days) until class orientation. These people will be the my family for the next two years! It's pretty much gonna be awesome. Oh! My stethoscope shipped yesterday and should be here soon! And more good news - Justin told me to order my new Mac laptop!