*bounces in*

*trips* *stumbles to the floor*

Oh, shut up.

I know it's been a while. Only a few months.

 Or five.

I'VE BEEN BUSY OKAY.

But really, I am sorry I am neglecting this blog and not keeping any of you (who might actually care enough to read this) completely updated. August got away from me with the vacation, trying to pull myself out of my lazy slump, my White Coat Ceremony, orientation, and school starting. Then everything went nonstop after that.

*insert photo of me looking all happy in a white coat to give you a false impression of how delightful my life has been in the past five months*

I'll do a quick PFAQ (Possible Frequently Asked Questions) to update you all on my life:

1. How's medical school?
Challenging. But it does seem to be something I can handle.  I successfully made it through two 8-week modules (1. Gross Anatomy and Radiology; 2. Molecules, Cells, and Tissues) and half of my Practice of Medicine (POM) course (runs all year long along with the modules). I have learned more than I care to think about, but I still have a lot to learn (obvs. I have 3.5 years left). My mentors are all fantastic, and my small groups have been absolutely phenomenal to work with (in fact, my POM group has become like family). The faculty truly cares about my and my classmate's education and I am up to my eyeballs in resources from those faculty and the upperclassmen. The schedule is also really nice. Having all afternoon reserved for self-study has definitely been helpful. I've even had clinical experience, both with my mentors for POM and at St. Vincent's Student Clinic. I can't say it hasn't been difficult, lonely, and frustrating at times, but I really feel like I'm doing what I'm meant to be doing. Sometimes before really stressful exams I remind myself that I'm on a REAL medical campus doing what I REALLY dreamed of. That helps. Stress-eating a pizza also helps.

2. Are you adjusting to adulthood?
If you can call what I do "adulthood", yupp. No problems here. That $10,000 direct deposit from the federal government in late August sure helped. (YAY DEBT)

3. How's the cat?
Either spoiled or tortured. He's at least well-fed. And ready for Christmas.

4. How's your social life?

5. So you haven't made any friends then?
Nah, I have friends. I've made a couple of closer friends here, and I occasionally take a break from studying and introversion to go to game nights or parties. My classmates are really awesome and I enjoy being surrounded by them. Going to the parties at the medical fraternities is fun because I get greeted by like 3 or 4 classmates at once (most of us don't go to lecture and so we don't really see each other very often). I also keep up with a few of my friends in Fayetteville and Skype them regularly. And some even come visit me for a Fall Out Boy/Panic! at the Disco concert:

I am definitely surrounded by plenty of love.

6. BOYFRIEND?

7. How do you handle stress?
Tea.

(And sometimes, in extreme situations, Dominos.)
I mostly try to make sure that I am taking care of myself. I keep the apartment clean, make sure I get sleep and take naps if I need to, try to eat healthy, etc. I love keeping Lush bath products around so that I can take a quick shower in the middle of studying with my favorite citrus-y Happy Hippy shower gel or end the week by taking a long bath and catching up on Grey's Anatomy. A good bath is an easy thing to fit into my weekend and I really enjoy pampering myself, doing my nails, taking care of my skin, etc. I also have really liked buying new makeup products and trying things out. I just find joy in trying to improve myself a little bit every day. It's definitely been a boost on my confidence.

P.S. There may be a "Christmastime Beauty Favorites" blog coming up sometime this weekend.

8. Can you cook yet or do you still only eat pizza rolls?
I can cook at a very basic level. I have a few dishes that I rotate throughout the week and I'm pretty satisfied with them. I continue learning new quick, easy, and delicious meals to add to my rotation. I no longer eat a lot of unhealthy frozen food. I've done well in calling it quits on a lot of processed foods and replacing my weekly essentials with healthier options. I also eat a ton of fruits and pair them with every meal. That partnered with calorie-watching (and one meal off/week) has made me a lot healthier and happier, and I can certainly tell that I've lost weight in a good way.  I'm trying not to hop on a scale though because I am trying to be body positive regardless of my weight and make adjustments to my diet based on how I can be healthier and more energized (not on what my scale says that week).

9. Currently watching/listening to?
Watching: Merlin, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary for the 80th time
Listening to: One Direction's new album "Midnight Memories" because it is amazing no matter what you say

10. HOW ABOUT THAT DOCTOR WHO 50TH??!?!
aldfhs;kaghsfd;bldkhsgafgl;dsbjgasd;lvckhgfsa;dlkhbfgafbdsl;kafgsdjkld (still spazzing out about it)

11. Are you looking forward to the Doctor Who Christmas special?
SHUT UP. WE DON'T SPEAK OF EVIL ON THIS BLOG.

12. Current favorite Outfit of the Day?
Underwear and an over-sized t-shirt because it's Christmas break and no one is expecting me anywhere.

13. What did you ask for for Christmas?
Tea and high-end makeup. I don't know what you expected.

14. What are you doing for Christmas?
I'll be heading up to Dallas with the cat on Saturday. My sister has a Dallas Symphony Orchestra concert on Sunday, and then my family will be celebrating my parents' anniversary, Christmas, and my mom's birthday in a variety of ways over the following week and a half. I'm looking forward to it and I should be blogging about it a bit, in case you're interested.

15. Can I ask you for advice about *insert vague health problem here*?

 

I promise I'll update with the Christmastime "Favorites" blog sometime this weekend. Thanks for sticking with me, friends.

HERE'S THE BEST CHRISTMAS VIDEO EVER CREATED OKAY: