I’m finished! For now….

Well, it’s been a long, but quick, semester.  I finished my classes on the 9^th, graduated on the 12^th and took my last final on the 14^th.  I didn’t do too shabby – B in genetics and an A- in English.  I’ll take it.  :o)  I was starting to really sweat a little bit there in the end of my genetics class.  I was pulling up my exam scores, but was afraid that I would end up with a C praying for a B-, so to get a B pretty much makes me want to do a little happy dance.  Ok, so I really did do a happy dance, when no one was looking of course.

As I said above, I graduated on the 12^th and I walked.  I will post pics when I get them in.  My honey, his parents and Bo were all there to cheer me on.  I have to say it was quite the feeling to know that I was done.  It didn’t really sink in until the 14^th when I put the period on the last sentence of the last final (it was an essay final) as an undergraduate student. I had a huge smile on my face as I handed in my paper.  It was amazing.  I then when home and watched a movie!  How great is that!  I am also excited to start up my P90X workout regimen this week.  This is probably really bad timing since I won’t be home this weekend and will be pigging out on good food and desserts.  I am going to force myself to wake up at 6am to do cardio before work, come home at night and do the P90X workout of the day, then workout with the hubby on the weekends at the gym.  I need to do more cardio to help burn off the fat and this is the only way I can think of adding more in. I really wish I was a morning person, it would make getting up earlier much easier! I figure I should be used to waking up at 6am for school and shouldn’t be too big of a problem, so I need to keep telling myself that I can do it.

Here are the flowers that my honey got me at graduation… they smelled so good!  He does a good job picking out flowers, or maybe I’m biased.  :o)

Dirty Words!

Dirty words - I didn’t do as well as I thought I did on my genetics exam.  I’m kinda bummed about it - dirty words!  I made an appointment to talk with my professor to look over my exam and talk to her about strategies.  I understand the material, so I think I am just having a problem understanding what the question is asking.  I remember having to reread one of the questions a few times before I understood what it was saying.  Guess I’ll find out for sure in a couple of days.   I only have two more tests to do well on and then I’m done!  I’m still clinging to a B right now – and I’ll take it! But I need to kick it up a bit. 

I know it’s so boring that this is my life right now, but I will be done in a month and then it will be about working out, video games and crocheting.  :o) I’m not going to know what to do with all the free time I’ll have.  I feel like that guy on the Twilight Zone episode where all he wants to do is read books, but never has time.  Then there is a nuclear war and he is the only survivor and has all the time in the world to read, and as he is celebrating his newly found free time, his glasses break.  The show ends with him crying “It’s not fair. There was time.”   But for me, I really will have time! So much time! :o)

This weekend was pretty good.  We didn’t do much really, but we got a few things done around the house. 

-          Friday we had family pictures taken.  Yay!  We’ve been meaning to do this for awhile now, but never follow through with it.  The bank was doing a free family photo and we decided we couldn’t pass up the opportunity.

-          I spent most of Saturday trying to get a virus off my laptop, did some running around/errands, Brad made some kick-ass chili and we went to the gym.  

-          We have a Sunday ritual where we cook breakfast in the morning.  Brad makes hash browns, scrambled eggs and bacon or sausage and I make pancakes or French toast. It is a fun little thing we do.  I finally put away my summer clothes and dug out my winter clothes.  It’s kinda like shopping without spending money.  We went through and reorganized all of our movies and put a TV stand in Bo’s room because we got rid of the big one that was in there.  His room is no longer a disaster zone.  Brad and I finished the weekend out by watching “The Green Mile” and I, of course, cried like a little baby.  Such a great movie but so sad. 

The only bad thing is I didn’t do any reading or studying.  It was a nice little break, but that means I’ll have extra to do this week and weekend, as I have a test next Monday.  It’s possible that it may get pushed back to Wednesday, but I’m not sure how likely that will be.  I also have a paper due next Thursday and I’m not looking forward to writing it, but it will be my last paper ever - as an undergrad.  :o)  Yay!

And in case you are wondering where "dirty words" came from, my sister runs a daycare and since she can't curse in front of the kids, she says "dirty words."  I thought it was funny when I heard her say it that I thought I'd steal it for the title of my post.  Thanks Mule!

Ramblings

I just had to put up a few pics of the really pretty flowers my honey bought me this weekend.  He had the florist put them together for me while we did some shopping. What a sweetheart.  Did I mention that my husband is awesome?  :o)

I had my fourth test in genetics today, and I think I did ok.  It wasn't as hard as what the other test seemed, so I hope my feelings about the exam aren't way off.  I probably won't know anything till Friday or Monday though.  I think the strategy of reading the chapter first, then going back and taking notes is really working well.  It also helps a bunch that the professor follows the book and explains things really well.  When I read I follow the power point slides, which are really pictures from the book, and take note of the things she talks about in class.  I wish all classes were like this!

I got my mid-term back for my English class last night and I got a B.  Not bad, but it's kinda hard to figure out what to do to get a better grade when the grade is mostly on how the professor feels like grading it.  He can be pretty picky about things, but I am not going to complain too much as I'm doing better than 95% of the class.   

I can't believe that I only have a month left of school.  I am going to be so happy to be done, but I'm going to feel like I forgot to do something.  ha ha  I have been thinking that I would like to talk about the app cycle and MCAT studying and all there is to the process of applying to medical school, but I kinda want to see how this year's app cycle goes first.  I do welcome any questions, though.  :o)

Ignoring my readers....

I know, I know... I deserve a good butt chewing.  It has been quite awhile since I last posted and I apologize.  I have been pretty busy with this semester's schedule and when I do think about posting I am at work and get busy.  So,  I apologize.

I have been doing ok in genetics.  I think I finally figured out how to prepare for the tests - read each question and each answer thoroughly.  Yes this seems like a common sense idea, but there are trick questions/answers on these tests, not to mention the
"the answer to this question is"
A) Blah blah blah
B) blah bleh blah
C) Blah blah bleh
D)A and B
E) A and C  type of questions.

These suck, because if you are unclear on one of the answer choices, then it makes it harder to eliminate the wrong answers. I am hoping I do as well, if not better than, my last test on Monday. I've been reading the chapters once without taking notes, then re-read the chapters taking notes.  I've found that this has helped prevent me from copying the text word for word and summarize the material in a more concise explanation.  I even find that I really like the material I am studying, which helps, but still frustrates me that I am not doing as well as I feel that I should.


English has been going well.  I've had to write two papers and did well on both of them.  I have a mini-midterm tonight and I am hoping I will do well on that too.  We select three questions to answer in a short essay format.  Not exactly fun, but shouldn't be too bad.

I started visiting a new patient with the Hospice I volunteer for.  The other two patients passed away the end of September.  I know they are in a better place and  I am happy for them both.  My new patient is very talkative and has so many interesting stories.  He even lived in Havre, MT for a short time so it's nice to talk about Montana with him.

I have submitted my application to KU and now I am patiently waiting for an interview invite.  They start handing them out the beginning of November through to February, so I may have a long wait ahead of me.  I wouldn't be surprised if I get an invite in January or so.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed! One of my friends I took organic chemistry with applied early decision and he found out last month that he was accepted.  I am so happy and excited for him!  It would be great if I get in this year too, then I would know at least one other person in my class.  He is super smart - the kind that doesn't have to study real hard to remember or get things.  I so wish I had that ability!  I have another friend who applied ED but didn't get in.  They will have another interview in November which will give them a chance to revise their application to be a stronger candidate.  I am hopeful for them - another really smart person right there. 

This year they are opening up 9 seats here in Wichita for the full 4 years.  I am pretty excited about this, and am hoping that when I get in I will be a good fit for this campus so I don't have to commute three hours to get home every weekend.  I think I fit their idea of a doctor - someone who wants to practice in a rural setting, has had other opportunities outside of school/medicine - I've had other careers, and know what I am getting myself into.  I know there is more to it than that, but this is a good start.

Classes

Well, classes start up in two days and I'm not sure I am ready yet!  This summer has been like a whirlwind and I don't feel very rested.  That or I have a case of senioritis since I am finally graduating in December.  Yay!

My class schedule is as follows - try to keep up.

Work schedule - 7:30 - 5:00

MWF - Genetics class during lunch
Tues - Genetics lab in the morning, won't get to work till 10 or so, depending on how long the lab lasts.
Tues & Thurs - Nature of Fiction (English Class) after work5:35 - 6:50
Thurs - Yoga class at 4:00, right before Eng class

This load shouldn't be too bad.  I'm sure I will have a lot of reading to do and I am hoping I won't have a lot of writing assignments, but I am not holding my breath.  I really enjoy creative writing, even though you wouldn't know it with my infrequent blog posts, I just don't want it to keep me from my genetics studying. I hear that course requires a lot of extra work, and I really want to get an A in it. Yes, I would be more than thrilled with a B+, or a B, but I could really use an A.

I am looking forward to seeing what this semester will bring - hopefully a medical school acceptance and two A's.  ;o)

Is this too much to ask for? 

Long Overdue Wedding Pics

Update

Ok, ok, I know that I have been neglecting you all again.

Well, since my last update I have learned my MCAT score and attended a 3 day rock festival. The end. :o)

MCAT
- Um let’s not talk about this ok? Really, I did about as well as I thought I would do and how my practice tests said I would do. It boiled down to not enough study time and lack of stamina. I forgot to grab my snack for the afternoon and I could feel myself dragging from the writing sample on to the biology section. It also reflects in that part of my scores as they were the lowest parts. I decided to take a gamble and apply anyway. The worst thing that could happen is they reject me and I have to retake in April and reapply next summer. I feel that this will tell me what to expect for next year and what other parts of my application are weak, giving me a year to strengthen it. I didn’t think I had much to lose at this point so I went for it.

Midwest Rockfest
- Brad, our friend M and I went to the three day rock festival held at Lake Afton a couple weeks ago. This was a total blast! There were quite a few local/no name bands, but some of the known bands included: Winger, Kix, Fuel, Drowning Pool, Buckcherry, Styx, and Twisted Sister. They all put on some kickass shows and sounded great. The last evening when Twisted Sister played it rained, so they had to cut down their playing time to avoid electrocution. Go figure. The first night we were there we met up with some pretty fun people and hung out with them for the rest of the weekend. There was lots of beer, sun and fun! We went to one last year, it was the first year they did it, and it was fun but not quite as fun as this years. I can’t even remember who played last year…. Maybe it was a better time than I think?
Here’s the lineup of last years rockfest– I had to look it up: Sweet Pauli Pain, Dirty Penny, Keel, Slaughter, KIX, Great White and Dokken.