Santa Brought the Goods

I hope everyone had a great Christmas!! I had a spectacular one myself, as always, and have lots of (hopefully) interesting stories to tell! As you can see above, my sibs and I must've been good boys and girls, because Santa brought some serious loot to our place this year. I received many awesome gifts, including eight My Little Ponies (**evidence**), 12 shirts/dress tops, two decorative Chinese dragon pillows, a music box, a scrap-booking box full of wedding materials, make-up, movies, and the list goes on and on!

Christmas Eve is when Mike comes to visit my family at home to exchange gifts, and I was so excited to give him his presents!! This year I bought him the best neck tie I have ever seen. With this tie, his wardrobe is truly complete! I also got him this neat-O frame to put his Bachelor's degree in, which has a big "W" cut into the matting with photos from Western's campus filling it. I'll have to post a picture of it later, because it's pretty badass. When you work that hard for your degree, it deserves a special place on the wall, and it's about time Mike's got its own. Lord knows that the day after I graduate, I'm making an F-ing shrine for mine, so it only seems fair. ;) In return, Mike gave me a new stick of RAM for my desktop, O. M. G. Seriously, I'm so happy, because I'm ready to throw that machine out the window. He also got me lots of nice make-up, and my own boomerang necklace (**piccy**)!! He's had a boomerang necklace since I met him, which he always wears and I've always loved. He had a replica of it made in white gold, which I adore! :)

Christmas day was pretty awesome, with the parents waking us up early to open gifts. We spent the morning giving and receiving presents from one another while listening to music and taking pictures. Afterwards, we all piled in the car to head south for more family time! We picked up my Aunt Diane and headed to Grandma J's for Christmas dinner and more gift-giving! I spent several hours enjoying my extended relatives before Christmas day finally drew to a close.

This year my older sister Kristen and I got to spend a long weekend together right after Christmas! This was great fun because with her living downstate and me in school, I only get to see her a few rare times a year, and usually during holidays while surrounded by other family members. She took me to her apartment where we proceeded to relax until Sunday! We went out to her favorite bar and grill, saw Marley and Me in the theaters, met with some of her friends for lunch, and got to go shopping. We also watched some movies, some Knight Rider, and played lots of Mariokart (by far our favorite family video game). We also busted out the Super Nintendo to play all our old school games! Of these, I personally revisited Mariokart, StarFox, MarioPaint (and the fly-swatting game), Mighty Max, and the Road Runner game. It was superb! I had a great time at her place and I was sad to leave today. It isn't very often I literally have a break from everything to simply relax and enjoy old hobbies.

I'm home now until New Year's Eve, which I'll be spending with Nick, Colleen and Mike in Grand Rapids!! My break is already half over, and I can't believe all I've done so far. I look forward to another two weeks of no homework and spending time with family. :)

Party Down, Santa-style

I finally made it home for the holidays! Christmas is always an insanely busy time of the year for me, as I wrap up last-minute gift shopping and struggle to be everywhere seeing everyone at the right time. Mike's family Christmas parties were right after my semester ended on Saturday (Dent), Sunday (Gibbard), and Monday (McDonald). Whew! By the time today rolled around, I was just about partied out, and I've still got the Jobin party on Christmas day! The parties were a lot of fun, and it's always good to see Mike's families. Sandy and Debbie gave me several wonderful gifts, including a new winter coat and boots! :D Last night after the last party finished I drove from Lansing back home to be here with my family for Christmas. :)

The semester end was stressful but successful this time around. I ended up with my best semester GPA since beginning pharmacy school! Sometimes the hard work does pay off, and it feels so awesome when it finally does. My last day of class my old roommate and great friend Beth went to class with me in Kalamazoo, so we got to make snide comments about our professors to one another just like old times! :D I took her out to my favorite pub afterwards, and later to the Portage mall. It was a lot of fun to see her again!

One of my bridesmaids, Colleen, and Mike's best man, Nick, just got engaged on Friday! Congrats to them! :D Mike and Nick have been best friends just about forever, and it seems so ironic that both of their wives will be pharmacists. :)

In case I'm not back to my blogging beforehand, I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!! Eat lots of cookies and throw balled up wrapping paper at your unsuspecting family members--I know I will. ;)

Another One Bites the Dust

Oh my goodness, I took my last final exam today. !!!!!

As usual, I find myself basking in the indescribable happiness that is associated with coming home from school and NOT studying, but instead, going to the mall to buy myself things! Or even watching TV, or calling loved ones that have been trying to get a hold of me, or the thought of more than 2-3 hours of sleep tonight!! There's really little I can do to explain just what a relief it is to be at the finish line, as always.

Since Monday I've taken 6 final exams and slept about 8 hours. Tonight, as giddy as I am, I'm feeling myself start to crash and burn.

Tomorrow I have to go to class to watch some of my classmates give presentations, but then my semester officially ends at 11 am! :D YAY!! I leave for Lansing tomorrow night to see Mike and get all our presents wrapped for Christmas, and then Saturday, Sunday, and Monday are his family Christmas parties! I'll get to go home to see my family after that, and then it'll practically be Christmas! o_O

My grades came back very good--there's a good chance this could be my best semester yet. :D

*whimper*

I've taken five final exams in 24 hours. My last is tomorrow and it's going to be a doosey, but at least by this time tomorrow I'll be basking in the sweet nothingness of post-pharmacy school. :D

FINALS

.... are currently eating my soul. :( A thousand apologies to anyone (Kristen/Beth/Shruti) who has tried to get a hold of me and has been unsuccessful--I promise I will get back to all of you as soon as my exams are finished. Right now, I'm trying to balance my time between studying everything I've learned in the last four months and just enough to sleep to prevent me from going insane.

And just in case I don't tell my friends/family enough, you guys are AWESOME for always understanding. I love you all very, very much, and I look forward to giving you all a big hug in the sweet, sweet aftermath of another semester behind me. :)

Sneaky Spinach

Well, it's the week before finals, and all through the house, Amanda is stressed out. But a week from now and I'll be done. FREE.

Tonight I made this pasta dish which the package claimed had "carrots and broccoli," which sounded awesome to me. So I'm cooking it up and I start to notice that it has these green, leafy things inside, which don't look at all like broccoli to me. So I read the back of the package and there, in fine print, I read "in addition to broccoli and carrots, this dish also contains spinach!" WHAT?? Why didn't they warn me on the front? Spinach isn't even in the picture on the front!! I felt deceived, like I had been tricked into eating spinach!! Oh my goodness, nothing is sacred.

Tomorrow is the last day of my internship at Sindecuse, and I'm feeling pretty sad about that. :(

But... maybe someone will bring cake. :D

WHY DO I LIVE IN MICHIGAN WITH IT'S FUCKING COLD, BLOWING, 16 DEGREES-FEELS-LIKE 3??

WHY?

TG break!

Well, it's that time of year in Kalamazoo again. That time of year when I start to wonder: What the fuck is up with all the CROWS?

Also, it's not even Christmas, and I already can't even stand the SNOW, THE BLOWING, AND THE FREEZING COLD OMG.

Me: I wonder what we're doing in Clinical Communications tomorrow...
My conscience: You're giving a presentation.
Me: Oh yeah! ..... Fuck.

Haha, I love the dumb faces the best. ;)

Well it was Thanksgiving!! And now it's gone. :( I finished up with school last Tuesday and drove my butt to GR to get my brother Chris and take him home with me. I hadn't seen my family since I moved to school in August!! I was SO SO happy to see Mom and Dad. Oh man.

Chris (while pulling into the driveway): Mom-gasm in 5... 4... 3... 2... 1...

Colby peed ALL OVER ME. Dad made horrible sound effects and really bad jokes. Chris dropped more F-bombs than I have EVER heard in my life. Kristen sucked bad at Mariokart (haha, but I still love her). And Mom made delicious cookies, gave me mittens she knitted which were supposed to be for someone else, and cried when she hugged me. Good, wholesome family stuff. Unfortunately I had a mountain of homework to work on, so it wasn't as relaxing a holiday break as I would have liked, but only two and a half weeks to go until hell is over!! After that, only one and a half years to go!! I round down, so I'll just start saying one year. That sounds better.

We played lots of mariokart, ate a ton of food and Christmas cookies we weren't supposed to touch (no Kristen, I did NOT eat that buckeye >_<), and engaged in lots of mindless shopping! :D On Friday night Mike came over for opening night at Crossroads, and we got to see the giant tree lit and fireworks! We also rode the train with Mom and Kristen and got a picture taken with a real reindeer! We rode on my beloved carousel and I got to see all my old co-workers! :D It was so fun. The sibs and I also got to eat at our favorite Chinese place (where the owner knows exactly what I want without asking), and I took Mike to Bronner's in Frankenmuth for the first time ever! Oh man! So many Christmas trees. :) I also got to show off my engagement ring to my parents for the very first time!! It was so awesome, and I felt all warm and glowy inside. With all the stress of school and being away from Mike, sometimes I forget we're getting married. :D

So... yeah I've got a lot of schoolwork to do now, but that was my splendid Thanksgiving break. Hopefully I can hold my breath long enough to make it through finals. O_o

Mr. Teacher

Oh man have I been busy!! Lots of crap to finish up with P school before Thanksgiving, and bonus! Mike started his new job today!! OMG EXCITING! He moved from Benzonia back down to Lansing on Friday, where he'll stay until we can find him a good place to live in Ionia. I helped him move all his schoolish things to his new classroom, so I got to see his new school for the first time! :D It's awesome!

It's ultra big, with two levels, a courtyard, and carpet in every classroom! I was very impressed. I took a ton of pictures and a really long video, but the video was too large to upload to Flickr. :( I had a blast helping him put together his classroom to get it ready for today, which was his first day.

I couldn't fit the whole thing in one picture! I think Benzonia could fit inside it.

Oh man, tomorrow is Tuesday, and I get to GO HOME AND SEE MY FAMILY OMG *FAMILY-GASM* I can't wait! I haven't seen them since before I moved back in August! I'm going to eat SO MUCH food, play hours of Mariokart, and snuggle with my puppy as much as I possibly can in four days. :D :D :D

Eye-ballin'

I guess winter is here. *humbug*

Next week is Thanksgiving, which means two awesome things!! 1) I get to see my family! and 2) Only a few more weeks left in this semester! WOOO!

Friday I got to see Mike's best man and best friend, Nick, and his girlfriend Colleen (who is one of my lovely bridesmaids! :D). Colleen is about to begin her third year of pharm school in January, and Nick just purchased their first house in Grand Rapids! Mike and I got to tour it and hang out with them for a while, and then we went to go see the new James Bond movie! I'm not an enormous James Bond fan, but it was great times to hang out with them again. :) Afterwards we had dinner at a Japanese restaurant where they grilled the food up right at our table!! The chef was awesome and it was quite entertaining. I had never been to one of those before. :)

Saturday I had an eye appointment, and apparently there are all kinds of things wrong with me! My eyes have been very dry and red lately, but I was mostly blaming it on my contact lenses. After careful examination by the doctor, however, it was discovered that I have:

• Chronic dry eye
• Insufficient tear production (and hence the dry eye)
• Protein buildup (which makes my contact lenses dirty)

Because of these things, I now have to use artificial tears every day, and soak my contacts in this cage-contraption in hydrogen peroxide for six hours every night. Yikes! I've been doing this for two days now and already my eyes feel better though, so I'm glad I'm finally doing something to help fix them. They've been a cause of worry over the last several months, and I'm just happy that I don't have some crazy infection that will make me go blind.

Mike moves to Ionia this weekend. *EEEE* :D

What A Week(end)

First of all, it snowed on my way home from up north today A WHOLE LOT, and I am not ready for the fluffy white shit. Not ready at all.

Secondly, I have great news!! Mike just took a new teaching job!!! *SQUEE* It's an English position at the high school in Ionia, Michigan, which I guess is about 30 miles east of Grand Rapids. He just gave his two weeks notice to Benzie last Friday, so he'll be starting his new job before Thanksgiving. As you have probably already guessed, this makes me incredibly happy, because he will be less than half the distance away from me! OMG!! Still about an hour and twenty minutes or so, but pfft, that's nothing!!

He actually interviewed for a position at this school in late August, but they went with a different teacher for the job. However, when another teacher left Ionia partway through the semester, they contacted him themselves, before he even knew of the vacancy! They liked him so much that they didn't even interview anyone else! My man is so damn good that great opportunities like this just line up for him. ;) I know it will be challenging for him to switch schools right now, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it's a change for the better. Hopefully he will be really happy in Ionia, and he can make the difference he hopes to make for the students there. If he does end up liking the position and the location, there's a good chance this will be my home too after we get married. Only time will tell, but I'm optimistic. :) Yay for Mike! You're just stupendous!

Of course, leaving Benzie will mean leaving behind the awesome ski lodge/house that he and his roommate Blake live in, and also leaving behind Blake, who has been a great friend (along with his girlfriend Sonya). The four of us went wine-tasting on Saturday all afternoon, and it was great fun! It will be the last weekend Mike has up there that he won't be moving, so we thought we should do something special. :) Afterwards we came home and made some hot apple/cherry wine and made a great fire. I studied periodically during all this of course, but at least it was more fun than studying alone in my apartment. >_<

In other news, I had a near-death experience on my way home tonight!! After driving for three hours in the first snowfall of the year without a hitch, I'm less than a mile from my exit when I come within feet of hitting a guy head-on! OMG! I've never been so scared ever. A truck had turned sideways in the right-hand lane on US 131, so his headlights were facing the median and his taillights were facing the woods. In other words, I pretty much couldn't see him at all, until my own headlights lit him up. I was so close to him I had to slam on the brakes and swerve into the other lane! I had no time to check and see if I had room, I just had to do it. My tires squealed and my rear fish-tailed and everything, but I got passed him without getting hurt of crunching up my car. I seriously almost burst into tears immediately afterwards, I was so freaked out, and I hyperventilated the rest of the way home (luckily, I had less than two miles to go before I got to my apartment). *whew* That was the scariest moment I've ever had in my car.

Tonight when I count my lucky starts, I'll remember to count that one twice. o_O

"Studying" with Shruti

Shruti: :D Amanda, I am incredibly grateful that you hear me....I've said this a million times, but LITERALLY NO WORDS can describe how incredibly amazing it is to have ONE human being on this fucked up earth who hears you! I wouldn't trade it for the Universe.
Me: Universe: "......pwn'd."

____________________

Shruti: hahaaa Because you're the all knowing truth attractor...OBVIOUSLY, you attracted teh Cosmic Sound of Truth (and holy noise)
Me: and don't forget God
Shruti: OF COURSE
Me: I'm like a supreme being MAGNET
Shruti: but that just makes you..mortal *giggle*
Me: pfft
Shruti: mortal with a lightsaber

______________________

Shruti: sidenote: capillaries are the FUCKING BOMB

_______________________

Shruti: xo...xo. Xanthine oxidase
Me: furfur
Shruti: *jizz*

Vivid Dreams

While watching a Chantix commercial...

Me: Watch, I betcha they'll say it causes nausea and vivid dreams.
Mike: I take it you've seen this commercial before?
Me: ........
Mike: What?
Me: Well, that, or I'm in pharmacy school.


Gotta put $25,000 a year to good use ;)

Only In America

Well, the election is over, and I know I'm not the only person in the world glad to see the political posters leave everyone's front yard. As we all know by now, Obama won America's votes. I voted for him, so of course I was really happy that my candidate came through the victor, but I was even happier for what happened after that.

My brother Chris turned 18 last year, so consequently, he was able to vote for President for the very first time yesterday. I've been incredibly proud of how well he's done his research, the depth to which he knew the candidates and their stances, and the maturity he took in making his decision. He called me at midnight, and for over an hour I listened to him talk about the election. I can only describe his mood as elated, and his excitement was simply contagious. He was happy of course that Obama won, because that was his vote as well, but there was something else there. Something bigger, and far more important than winning.

I heard in his voice what I can only feel inside myself, but never really explain well to others. It was a feeling that he had contributed to history. It was the knowledge that no matter what the outcome, his ballot was part of a decision that changed the future of this nation. He made a difference. It was the reminder that in America the people do decide, and their voices speak louder than the campaign microphones, the money, and the media. It was the sense of pride I feel everyday to be a part of this--to be a part of this freedom. No matter who earned your vote yesterday, you have to appreciate the outcome for what it is: a surge forward. A page turned in history (and it's certainly one for the books!).

For me, knowing that at least one other person shared that same passion was a greater victory than hearing Obama give his acceptance speech. Because it's not about the wars we start, the politicians we elect, or how insufficient our health care system is. It's about going to the polls and realizing it's a gift. It's about knowing that America is many things, but a pioneer she has always been, and will continue to be. It's about believing that hope isn't lost, and that we can still contribute to a better world.

This is what I love about America, the land of opportunity. And only in America, can you dream as big as you want to.

Today

Do something that matters.

*****VOTE*****

Halloweenie!

Bill: Where'd that come from?
Me: Oh, I've had that my whole life. My mom used to say that if I had a mole on my left hand, it meant I was artistic.
Bill: Yeah. That, or you have cancer.
________________________

The other day I burned incense while studying, and even though I've never smoked pot (or anything else for that matter), all I could think to myself was, "People will think I'm trying to cover up the pot smell." O_o

So, yesterday was Halloween, and as usual, it was just a great excuse for every girl in the world to go out looking like a hoe. We even had a girl literally in her underwear flash her boobs at us while we were driving, and I wanted to beg Mike to run her over. It would've been awesome, and without her, the world would've been a better place. :D No, no, I'm only kidding. But the world would be less slutty anyway. And women might be a little be closer to NOT being seen as sex objects. >_<

I actually got to go out and do something fun last night! Our friends Katie and Chuck called us up to go to the Roadhouse with them, and Mike and Mandi came too! I hadn't seen them all in over a year OMG!! It was awesome. I missed them so much, and I had a blast just catching up and laughing like old times. It felt like pre-pharmacy school, when I lived in Kalamazoo and got to hang out with people because I had spare time! Oh man. Those were the days.

I also finished my first Therapeutics class yesterday, and Monday I start my second one. Only six more weeks left of school (I think) before Christmas. I can't wait. :D

High Roller

I pimped out my Geo. Oh hell yes.

Happily Ever After

Sorry, I know it's been a while and you're all dying to know what's going on in my exciting life. School has really been crazy lately and the month of November only means it's going to get worse. There are times when I just don't handle the stress of all this crap as well as usual. Times when I get homesick, or I long for an evening of knitting, or going out to the bar with good friends, or watching movies with Mike's arm around me. As close as the end of this seems, there are these stupid little moments when all I can see is how many more days lay ahead of me. How many more days separate me from the rest of my life--from my first house, from my own garden, from my doctorate in a frame on the wall, from Mike to come home to every night. Each night I come home from class and cross off another day on the calendar and I think...

I'm one more day closer to Happily Ever After.

Welcome to Reality

You know, reality TV is just getting beyond bad. I'll even admit here that I've been sucked in for a season or two of something. I can't help it that that chick New York or Tiffany or whatever got a massive boob job and looks even more ridiculous than before. I'm only human, and train wrecks are difficult to look away from. But this fall, unlike other falls of reality TV which have come before it, I noticed a shift in the reality of reality TV. Apparently these people think they are celebrities (not that I think THAT is a respectable profession by any means...). Apparently I missed the memo, but being a "reality TV star" is like a job or something. People who have been in one reality show before are now in another, or two, or three, or more! WTF?? And they say things like, "I could never give up reality TV!" ......... Seriously. People like that make me realize how far up the social/economic/respectable food chain I am, even as a college student eating ramen (and LIKING it!).

I got my absentee ballot yesterday in the mail, which means I get to vote for president OMG YAY! I hate politics to be honest, but sometimes even I have to step in and exercise my American right to do some damage control. You know, before someone destroys the world.

There are several oak trees outside my apartment here, and all day long I hear the acorns falling against my walls and window. ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT. *ping!*

I'm halfway through the semester, and I'm SO looking forward to the end of it. Uggghs. I've been working on a lot of projects, studying all the time, and in general just crossing off the days of my calender and gazing longingly at December. Longingly.

Dr. Jameson: You counted the molecules? Who does that??
Student: We're pharmacists. Remember?
Dr. Jameson: I bet you even counted them by fives, didn't you?

Wine of a different kind :)

**Peektures**

I've been slowly trying to "acquire" a taste for wine over the past year or so, and last weekend I was offered an opportunity to expand my wine-tasting horizon! Mike's parents were up in Traverse City to visit, and invited us to spend a weekend in the Leelanau peninsula perusing the vineyards! :) We had beautiful weather and lots of lovely fall colors to enjoy, and wine-country is the best this time of year. You can actually taste the grapes right off the vine, which is a pretty cool experience. We visited a small handful of vineyards and ate a great steak dinner. Sunday morning I had the best waffle ever, right before Sandy and Debbie had to go back to Lansing.

My weekend wasn't all fun and games, despite the wine-tasting and family time. My car starter died on me (or, was on its deathbed per se), so I also had to work on getting that replaced this weekend. I bought a new starter at Autozone, and Mike's roommate Blake, who is a mechanical engineer for the US Coast Guard, was going to put it in for me. After much trial and error, he was able to remove it, only to discover that the new starter I purchased was broken. (head/desk) I was so frustrated I wanted to cry. Mike and I had to drive to Traverse City to buy a second starter, and then return on Sunday to have Blake try again. Yesterday I ended up returning the busted starter, and getting a rebate on my old one. Yep, Autozone made a -$208 on me. :D

School's crappy as usual, but so far my grades are good. And that's enough about that!

WHINEY WHINE WHINE

I gotta get off this "update once a week" nonsense. People are going to start to think I don't have anything interesting to say! *cough*

As you probably know by now, my life is saturated with p school again. Everyone said that third year was "a piece of cake" compared to the first two, and that "I'd love it." So far, I would have to say that everybody LIED!! Studying hasn't been as horrible sure, and Chemo is definitely over (thanks God), but now my time is pretty much spent studying for my weekly Therapeutics exam, and working on a seemingly endless pile of group assignments. I've discussed my burning hatred for group assignments before, so I won't indulge again now, but let me just say that I spend as much time working with a group on something as I do studying, and it sucks. I would almost prefer studying over it, because at least that doesn't require me to play well with others. >_<

In general, I feel like my third year of grad school has been like jumping through a series of flaming hoops at a circus. Just when you get through one without catching fire, they make you jump through another. And another. And another...

In other news, things just aren't turning on in my little world. For instance, my blow dryer. I have to push that damn "reset" button about a zillion times before it works. And my car! That one's a doosey. The other day I went to start it and when I turned the key... nothing happened at all. I turned it again, nothing. A third time, nothing. Fourth time is a charm! Started right up. Hasn't done it again yet, but I'm going to have my starter and ignition looked at before something truly terrible happens. Oh! And my computer with 1/2 of it's usual ram evokes MUCH forehead smacking!! NO, computer, I do NOT want you to close ALL of my browsers at once, especially if I only want to close the Word document! NO, I DON'T want to sit here for a half an hour while you open a puny PDF file! You lazy bastard!!

Oh man, so much complaining. It's a coping mechanism, I swear. Other things are going well! I get to go wine-tasting up north with Mike and his parents this weekend! :D Yay! I'll also get to enjoy a hot tub, and delicious, non-microwavable food which his parents will generously provide! :D OMG!

I think this is the first night in over three weeks that I've finished my homework before midnight. *takes a bow*

"The sum of all existence is the magic of being needed by just one other person."
--Fortune Cookie

Footballz

I'm still alive! P school has been keeping me distracted with the usual cramp-inducing crap along with my inability to turn off 7th Heaven while studying. I managed to escape the school grind long enough to spend a nice, relaxing weekend with Mike!! It was his turn to visit me, so we got to indulge in lots of episodes of House, many piles of laundry, and an authentic cheap pizza, which you cannot find up north at all. We also go to visit my brother up at GVSU!! His school was stomping the crap out of FSU in football on Saturday night, so I used this as a great excuse to see how Chris's college life is panning out for him so far. We had a great time, despite the terrible seats, and I got to enjoy lots of my usual laughs when I'm around him. :)

This Friday is Pharmacy Day! Which means a day off school (which we will regret horribly later) and nine long hours of .... stuff.... up in Big Rapids starting at 9 am. That will suck, but because this weekend is my weekend to visit Mike, I'll already be halfway to his place! :D I'll also get to see some of my younger pharmacy buddies, and more of my friends from the Grand Rapids campus. My friend Colleen has ordered some College of Pharmacy hoodies for me, which I've been craving since I started over two years ago, and I can't wait until they come in!!

EDIT: Mike and I sort of settled on a date for getting hitched: June 19th or 20th, 2010, which will be the 6th year anniversary of our very first date. This is the day we were planning on, but now it's all official or whatever. :) I'd love to have all my much-loved blog readers joining us! I actually bought my first bridal magazine this weekend, and I was so giddy to read it I nearly melted all over my couch in anticipation. :D

Never Forget

Freedom isn't free.
September 11th, 2001

Seriously?

This would be what my man does when faced with the tough decisions. It's a good thing he's got me to make sure his shoes match in the morning.

Me: Mike, seriously, there was a coaster right next to it!
Mike: Yeah, I saw that. I thought.... "Eh."

_________________________________________

So far, there's been lots of negativity in the third year of pharmacy school. Lots of "you will fail the exam," and lots of "If we catch you cheating we will do everything we can to remove you from the program." Geez. New professors can be such a drag. My class load is delightful:

• Sociopharmacy
• Integrated Lab V
• Clinical Communications
• Pharmacotherapeutics--toxicology/nutrition/nervous system
• Pharmacotherapeutics--cardiovascular/renal
• Drug Literature Evaluation/Study Design
• Community Early Pharmacy Practice Experience

... for 18 credit hours. You can imagine my excitement. Pharmacotherapeutics (PhTP) is my big one, divided into two parts. There's an exam in that class every Friday, which means 14 ridiculous exams to study for in one class. Uuuuuuughs. But it gets better! Now we are required to get a 70% or better on each exam. If we don't, we FAIL, and have one more chance to take a harder, longer, completely essay/short answer "remedial" exam. If we fail that, we fail third year. We fail third year. Just like that. I'm starting to think they don't like us very much.

I'm taking the bus to school this year. That's right! I'm going green. And saving myself from having to buy a $300 parking pass. It takes me an additional 40 to get to campus, but hey, it's free.

Mike fixed my desktop!! Yeah, I came home from Labor Day and it just... didn't turn on. Apparently a stick of ram was bad, so I have to get another one sometime, but for now it runs. Just... really... really... slowly. Eh. I'm so glad Mike knows computer things, otherwise I would've just assumed it was never going to work again.

I swear, nothing can bring me down. :D

The Best Day Ever

Me: What would you have done had I said no?
Mike: Left you on the Island to swim home.
_____________________

Well, needless to say, Labor Day weekend went down in history for me as one of the Best Times Ever. A relaxing siesta before school got going again surprisingly turned in to much more.

We've gone to Mackinac Island every summer we've been together, and this year we were lucky enough to visit twice! We got to see several things we had yet to enjoy, including a butterfly house (where a butterfly even landed right on Mike's shirt!) and a beautiful stretch of road alongside the Grand Hotel. We did lots of walking and sight seeing (during which I complained over my lack of a hair tie), and even got lost a few times! Mike eventually insisted we find one of our favorite spots from a few years ago--West Bluff.

After much confused searching, we finally found the beautiful view we were looking for! With the Straits of Mackinac stretched out in front of us, Round Island Point Light to the left, and the Mackinac Bridge to the right, I admitted then that it was one of the best views I'd seen in person. A touristy couple came over on bikes then, and Mike asked them to take our picture. The woman was just about to hand my camera back when Mike asked her to take one more special picture for him, at which point he dropped to one knee and proposed to me. I instantly started crying of course, because... well... it just seemed like the right thing to do. ;)

Mike is certainly a Romeo of sorts, which I'm a very lucky girl to have, but this moment with him was simply the most romantic we'd ever shared. It had been meticulously planned out by him, over weeks, months, possibly even years, and it finally arrived in a package that just couldn't be beat. Even though there were stretches along the way when I felt it would never get here, I can honestly say now that it was worth every second that I had to wait. It was simply perfect. I was reminded of something he said over a year ago to comfort me while we waited--"No one remembers how long it took Michaelangelo to paint the Sixteenth Chapel. The only thing people really remember about it is how wonderful it is."

Afterwards Mike told me all about the ring he gave to me--about how he had researched it, shopped for it, and eventually came to settle on it. He hand-picked the diamond and had it mounted on a very special band, which has an inset ruby. Ruby is my birthstone, and he also told me that during his research he discovered that a ruby touching your skin is supposed to bring good luck. :) I can hardly stop looking at it on my finger :D

We had a delicious and very romantic dinner outside a restaurant next to the Grand Hotel, near the golf course. I had poor reception on my phone (although it's better on the island then it is at Mike's family cabin), but I called my Mom to tell her the news. Just about everybody knew of course, but this week I've slowly made the rounds of calls so that I could speak to my family each in person. ;)

Mike and I talked about our wedding for the very first time. We haven't decided anything for certain just yet, but we want to get married soon after I graduate in 2010--perhaps in late June. :) Lots of time perhaps, but we waited a long time to make our engagement right, and I would be pleased to wait a little longer to make my wedding right too. I will have graduated forever from school, and after returning from our honeymoon, I can actually stay with Mike permanently--forever--without having to worry about returning to school in the fall.

I took pictures of the whole weekend, which of course you can find on my Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fanelia/
And for you gushy romantics out there, here's a special one of just proposal/ring pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/fanelia/sets/72157607100478216/

*whew!*

_________________________________________

And, believe it or not, pharmacy school has started up in the center of all this. It came back to grace my life with a not-so-surprising sense of "OMG I'm so overwhelmed already." But whatever. Not even the thought of studying for the next eight months could knock me off my Cloud 9. ;)

I'll have lots of time to bore you all with thoughts of P school later, but something of major importance did occur today--I counseled patients for the first time!!! I started my first "official" internship through Ferris, and unlike my internship with Kroger, I'm not simply a glorified technician. I'm working at Sindecuse Pharmacy on Thursdays, and this morning after meeting with the pharmacist Bill for a half an hour to go over the course expectations, he marched me right out and put me in front of patients for the rest of the day!! Every patient that picked up a prescription got counseled by yours truly today. I was ridiculously nervous to do this. I don't feel confident enough in my drug knowledge to be responsible for a patient yet, but with Bill's help, I successfully counseled scores of unsuspecting guinea pigs. After I was finished for the day, I felt a small transformation in my professional self. I've conquered a barrier--I've made another step closer to the final product. :)

He Got Down On One Knee....

And I said 'Yes!'

*Sheer Bliss*
:D :D :D

Kalamazoo

Since my last update I moved not only myself to school, but also Mike back to Benzonia for another year of teaching. I also got to attend Shruti's fabulous White Coat Ceremony, and see my brother in his very first apartment on his own. I spent a marvelous day shopping with the Mom without a care in the world, and a few more precious nights asleep in my own bed, before my life transitioned back to school again.

I've moved into my newest apartment in Kalamazoo, the very city where I began my college journey six years ago. I'm living in the same complex that Mike and I lived in together before I went away to Ferris, only this time in a studio instead of a two-bedroom. It feels strange to be back here again, but I'm glad for it too. I missed this city a lot, and I know that soon I will be enjoying it once again. I love my new apartment--it's very cozy and very me. I think I will enjoy this year much more because of it, and because of the ideal location of it. I'm mostly unpacked now, and school won't start until September 2nd, so I've got some time to wind my brain up.

As always, I didn't want t leave home. It's so difficult to hug Mom and Dad goodbye, knowing it will be several weeks, maybe even a couple months, before I'll see them again. I so enjoyed being at home this summer, which made it all the more difficult to leave. I'm happy I got to spend one great day of shopping with Mom before the summer officially ended. I blinked back tears as I drove away, and waved until the house was out of sight.

*sigh* Another year at school.

I'm somewhat anxious for class to begin. This year will be different than the previous two--this year, the training wheels will start to come off. I'm nervous to be in a new campus, to meet new professors, and to begin a new internship. I'm worried that I haven't progressed as far as I should have in the two years I've been gone. I'm worried I won't live up to my own high expectations.

I'm going up north tomorrow with Mike to visit his parents' cabin for Labor Day weekend. I'm very excited! I'm also happy I won't be stuck here alone for a long holiday weekend, with lots of time to worry over school and even more time to miss my family and feel sad. By the time I get back class will start, and the chaos associated with it will take over.

Mostly, I'm sad. I miss my parents and my dog. I miss home.

Here We Go Again

Today Chris moved out of the house for the very first time, to begin his college career. This is strange for me, because growing up my brother and I were always out in the backyard, playing with dinosaurs and transformers all summer. He's five years younger than me. Always so little and so far behind... but now he's gone too. I wonder how Mom and Dad will do without their children. I wonder if things will change for the better... or worse? Hopefully they will come to enjoy their togetherness thoroughly, though I'm sure it will be difficult to live in this quiet house at times.

I miss him. Even though I'll be moving myself on Saturday, and I won't even be in the house to realize that he's gone, I'll still know that he's not home, where he's always been. I feel like an enormous presence has been removed from here. It's so quiet. Some of the vibrant life has been evaporated.

For me, things begin to spin more quickly. Tomorrow I'm getting several maintenance things taken care of with my car, then I have to go to the Secretary of State to figure out how I'm going to vote in Kalamazoo in November (because my vote counts damn it), and a bunch of other random finish-packing sort of things. I work Friday, and Saturday morning I move. We move Mike on Sunday, and we're also going to Shruti's White Coat Ceremony Sunday afternoon. Monday it's unpacking, Tuesday it's back here to spend the day with Mom and Dad, and Wednesday I'll be finishing up unpacking in Kzoo. Labor Day weekend I'll be up north again, and then school.

Here we go again.

On the Edge of My Seat

........ as I watched Michael Phelps make history.

Serious kudos.

Yet Again

It occurred to me in the middle of recent chaos that I move next Saturday, the 23rd of August. I move back to pharmacy school, and away from the summer life I'm always wary to begin, but always tremendously sad to leave behind. Soon I'll be alone in my apartment, with homework to do at night instead of knitting and watching a movie with Mom. I'll be making my dinner for one, instead of eating at the table with my family. When I go to sleep at night it will be dark and quiet, without the warmth of my puppy at my feet and without the morning noises of my parents getting ready for work. There won't be spontaneous trips to Walmart with Mom, or pilates with a partner, or sunset bike rides. There will be less conversation, more concentration, as I make the transition back to school for the sixth year in a row.

I've mentioned this transition before. My double life--my school life, my summer life. It's always as one comes to a close that I realize I love them both very much for very different reasons. When I sit alone, like I am now, and think about moving away from my family again for another grueling nine months of grad school, I get scared. Not because I can't do it, but because I got used to being with them again. I got used to having them around every day, every night. I grew accustomed to hearing Dad tell me to drive safe to work. It doesn't seem like it's coming, but in just about two weeks I'll be without it all. Back to being an adult, being independent, taking care of myself. I'm sure in a few weeks I'll be enjoying that tremendously.

But right now, in my parents house with Colby asleep next to me, thinking about leaving it just makes me want to cry.

Missing You

My Grandma passed away this evening. It wasn't unexpected, but it was tremendously sad. Something is empty now that wasn't yesterday.

Today, someone who has always been there will be gone for the first time. For me, the world got smaller today.

Missing you Grandma. I love you 8/11/08

Wickedness

Well, looks like I've gone another full week without updating. I don't know why. I don't know why!

This weekend I was in East Lansing, and Mike took me to the Wharton Center to see the awesome musical Wicked!! It was honestly an amazing show, and I had lots of spectacular fun watching it! The actors/actresses were all so talented, and their voices were so beautiful, and the props and costumes blew me away!! Not to mention, it was something fun and romantic to do with Mike, and we got to dress up! :D Yay!!

I also got to see Shruti this weekend! I haven't seen her since my first week of summer vacation, when I helped her scout out a place to live in Lansing for med school. We cooked her our favorite salmon dish, then we went out and played on a playground for a while. :D

It's August btw, which only means one thing. Pharmacy School. Fuck.


On a very worrisome note, my 92 year old grandmother is in very bad shape in the hospital right now. :( She's contracted pneumonia, and has recently suffered her second heart attack. If praying is what you do, please send one up for her. :'-(

Cabin Weekend, 2008

Mike and I have returned from our annual vacation to his family's cabin in the great Up North! We left right after work on Thursday, and made it home late today. With a weekend full of nothing but beautiful weather and lots of relaxing, it was very, very hard to come back to reality. Tomorrow it will be back to work, but what a fantastic break we had!

***More Pictures!***

Friday was our first full day at the cabin, so we slept in and spent a lazy day sunning on the beach. Sandy arrived late in the afternoon, just in time for dinner, and later we went to Rogers City for a live show and some ice cream! We finished the day up with some margaritas and our favorite game of all time--Blokus!

Saturday was a picture-perfect day, so Mike and I chose it to be the day we visited Mackinac Island! We first did some shopping in the city, then took a mid-afternoon ferry over to the Island. We met up with our good friends Nick and Colleen, who were also in northern Michigan for the weekend, and went biking around the whole island! Mike and I rented a tandem bike for the very first time, and we discovered it was not as easy to ride as it looks! I had a blast though, and after an eight mile round trip, we were hungry for dinner! We ate at our favorite restaurant, the Irish Pub, and then spent the next few hours shopping main street. Finally we bought fudge and ice cream, and took the last ferry back to the mainland at 10 pm. It was already dark outside, so we got to see the Mackinac Bridge lit up! There were also some fireworks being shot off near the Upper Peninsula end, which made the view all the more beautiful.

Sunday was a beach day! Sandy, Debbie, Mike and I got our beach chairs out and took in some sun all day. Their cabin sits on Lake Huron, and they get to enjoy a beautiful shallow, sandy stretch of beach. I went swimming several times, and then we decided to try our hands at sailing! Sandy got out a cute two-person sailboat for us to try. None of us knew how to sail (or how to put the boat together!), but after much trial and error, we finally got our vessel in the water! Mike took her out for almost two hours, and did an awesome job! I took many pictures/videos of his adventure.

Today (Monday) was our last day, and we had to leave about mid-afternoon to make it home at a decent time. We got up in the morning and drove to Ocqueoc Falls near the cabin, where we enjoyed several beautiful waterfalls and some swimming! Afterwards I took a dip in Lake Huron, before finally coming back to shower and pack up to leave. Hours later, I was back home with a little sunburn, a little fudge, and a ton of great stories!

As usual, I was super sad to leave it all behind to come back to work, but even so, I had a great time. We're hoping to go back Labor Day weekend, and maybe even go into the Upper Peninsula a little bit! That would be a fun way to kick off my third year of grad school. :) *whew!* For now though, it's back to work!

Marble-sized Hail?

Nothing too exciting has been happening lately, but I've been pretty busy. Mom and I are remodeling again (master bedroom), I worked last weekend, and I've been juggled between three different pharmacies for the past two weeks. Life is good, but it's settled into a lazy sort of routine I find refreshing. It's mid-July, which means Cabin Weekend is right around the corner, and just beyond that is school.

Part of me is excited for school--the pharmacist I work with, Nadia, recently graduated from Ferris, and says that I'll enjoy my last two years quite a bit. But another part of me dreads going back; wary that this year will be no less stressful than the last two, despite what I've heard to the contrary. It's hard for anyone else to understand how much I look forward to being done, not just because it has been a long road, but because I've put a hold on so many other parts of life to finish this one. I'm ready to live in one place, work a steady job and receive steady pay, and finally be with Mike everyday. So I suppose in a way, going back to school is one step closer to the finish line. It's thinking about that which makes me eager to go back.

The rest of me, on the other hand, would very much like the rest of the summer to crawl by slowly, as if it will never end. I love my bed. I love the sound of rain in my yard. I love kisses from my dog. I love working out with Mom, and joking around with Dad and Chris. There's no place like home (ha, and without homework).

The aforementioned Cabin Weekend is coming up next weekend, and I'm SO excited! It's one of my favorite summertime events, and I've yet to wear my bathing suite this year, so I'm overdue for a hot tan. I also got a Henna tattoo last weekend! :D I'd never had one done before, so that was pretty sweet. I'm considering getting a (real) tattoo after pharmacy school is over, and I mentioned it to Mom this weekend.

Me: So, I'm thinking I'm going to get a tattoo when I graduate. Sort of a gift to myself for making it happen, I guess.
Mom: If you still want to in two years, I guess it's something you could do. But just remember, do it and then tell your dad.
Me: Huh?
Mom: It's better to ask forgiveness than permission.

Lols. I love you Mom.

The Weekend of Awesomeness

Well, I'm another year older, and according to various sources, going from 22 to 23 somehow crosses the threshold of young to old. But as I'd like to say, you're only as old as you feel, so you can't bring me down with you! :P I seriously have awesome birthdays every year, especially with it being the day after Independence Day, and this year was no exception!

My newlywed friends Beth and Matt were out of town for the week, so they asked me to house/kitty sit for them. I got to stay at their house in Grand Blanc with Mike (once he got here) for Thursday and Friday nights, and it was great to just lounge around and finish season 4 of LOST. Now that we've done that, we're caught up with the rest of the world, and have been reduced to waiting impatiently for the new season to arrive and (gasp!) at a pace of one episode per week (instead of my usual 6 episode marathons). Oh what a world!

Aside from house-sitting, I got to see two rounds of fireworks! The first was on the 4th of July in Clio. Mike and I went to Clio Cinema parking lot, which was a zoo, to watch the display. It was an okay show, but getting out of the parking lot and back home was nearly as entertaining. On Saturday, which was my birthday (yay!), we finished LOST and exchanged gifts, because it is also our anniversary!! WOO!

This time around we celebrated FOUR great years together! We sure have grown and matured a lot in those four years, but I still love him more every single day. We've gone through over half of our relationship living apart, a year of living together, two brutal years of me in grad school, and his first year of teaching. Life has thrown us a whole lot of curves, but each has been a test to strengthen us. There's been a whole lot of memories, a whole lot of pictures to capture it all, good and bad, laughter and tears, and I'd do it all again. Being with Mike, having that love, is what makes all the other parts of my life so worth it. It has become that which fuels my motivation. With four years behind us, I look forward to many, many more ahead. :)

I received many wonderful gifts from Mike and my family, and I love all of them so much! Either I'm very spoiled or very lucky (or both!)! After cleaning up at Beth and Matt's place, we headed back to my parents' for my birthday dinner of BBQ hot dogs, hamburgers, and pasta salad! After that it was gifting with the family, and followed by a spectacular fireworks show in Bay City! I had never been to Bay City's fireworks, but it was well worth the drive. :)

Today was a lazier day, spent lunching in Frankenmuth and browsing around, and then eating sloppy joes with the family. After watching Mike kill some hookers in Grand Theft Auto, he had to go back to Lansing for work tomorrow. :( I was sad to see him go, but very happy to have spent the long holiday weekend with him. I also bought myself a new jewelry box with the birthday money my grandparents sent me! It's so huge, OMG. My little box was overflowing, but now I have so much space to fill up! :D

*Whew!* What an awesome weekend, awesome birthday, and awesome anniversary. Thanks to everyone who made it special!! <3

July

Well, it's July, which is by far my favorite month of the year. Here are some reasons why:

• My birthday!! :D
• My anniversary with Mike :-*
• Summer blockbusters
• Cabin weekend
  
• 4th of July (and fireworks!)

These are a few of my favorite things! However, July also makes me realize that summer is slipping by quickly, which means pharm school year #3 is fast approaching, and I've saved less than a quarter of the moolah I'd like to by September. Oooooooh boy. That's okay though. There's still more than half of summer left, and lots more to enjoy! :D

Mom and I did the 30-minute pilates video tonight, and I thought my legs would burn off. I like work-out pain though, because it must be by far the most productive pain there is. I mean, aside from like... childbirth or something. >_<

Also, I'm house-sitting for Beth and Matt this week/weekend, and they have kitties! OMG YAY.

Updater

Me: Mike.
Mike: What?
Me: I can't sleep this close to mold.
Mike: Believe it or not, I almost ate that last night.


Nothing too significant to report, other than a few really nice weekends with Mike, and normal-ness at work and on the home front. Mom and I started doing pilates! I really, really enjoy it so far, but I haven't moved past the feeling-ridiculous phase yet. Dad and Chris still aren't allowed in the room while we do it, and my workout mat kind of smells like salmon. Colby thinks that we want to play with him whenever we do it, and my arms always hit the ceiling fan. Despite it all, I think it's a great workout as well as relaxing, and it's something fun Mom and I can do together. :)

My phone went crazy. One afternoon it just started freezing randomly every 45 seconds or so, to the point that Verizon had to just replace the damn thing. They said that it "wouldn't stay un-frozen long enough to figure out what was going wrong." So now I own a new phone. Yays!

Next weekend is my freakin' birthday!! O holy crap! It's almost July. o.O

Standup?

Chris (while playing Oblivion): Oh gee, I guess you're fucked, sorry about that. I'm going to take your pants now.

______________

Chris (Oblivion): I'm going to take this horse someplace safe. And then I'm going to kill it.

______________

Guy: I've never pushed Jesus on anyone!
Chris: You just gave me a pamphlet, you bastard.

The Open House

Well, the Open House for my brother is over, and the graduation process is complete. It felt sort of like Christmas afterwards--so much buildup and prep work, and then it's over so fast. The party was on Saturday and it was great fun, and we were all happy to relax a bit at the end of the day. I took a bunch of pics, and some of Chris's facial expressions while opening his gifts are a riot, so I recommend checking them out. Btw, does anyone not know how to get to my photogallery? I would think it was obvious but... you know what they say about assumptions. >_<

We were very lucky and had awesome weather the whole day, so our guests could enjoy the back yard. One unfortunate event however was the realization (or was it a reminder?) that our neighbors are complete assholes. Now, for those of you that might not know my immediate family, we're friendly, non-rowdy, rule-following folk. In other words, living next to us must be really easy, if you know we're even there at all. But we happen to be the youngest people on our street, and the only family with children. Consequently, our neighbors have it in for us for reasons logic cannot explain.

Our lovely neighbor to the left has a small gravel driveway on her lawn, separate from the main driveway, which she has never used in all the years I've lived in this house. On the day of the open house, she taped large signs reading "NO PARKING" to trash cans and put them in that driveway, so that no one would be tempted to park there. Even though my family wouldn't dream of using it without her permission. Also, our other lovely neighbor across the street, who hasn't spoken a word to my parents since my sister became a teenager, parked his truck at the end of his driveway at an angle, so that no other car could even turn around in his driveway. I still feel baffled over what harm it could've done. Baffled, I say. What a collection of senile old coots.

Aside from that, the party went off without a hitch and Chris enjoyed opening up gifts after it was over with the family. Mike and I pitched in together to get him all his school supplies, a 100 piece tool set, some dishes, and a trashcan for school. He also got a travel bag and towels from Kristen, a GVSU t-shirt from Mike's parents, some more towels from a friend, and a whole bunch of money.

I was pretty wiped out that night, and went to bed early. Sunday was Father's Day so I spent the first half of the day at home, and then went on a dinner date with Mike to celebrate him being done with school. Yesterday I finally got to see my friend Beth for the first time since she got married, and it felt so weird yet good to listen to her talk about Matt like a husband. She gave me a box of wedding stuff for when I get married someday, and it was fun to look through it all with her. :)

Things have been alright otherwise, with work and whatnot. I'm having a hard time saving money, because there have just been so many things to spend money on lately, from car insurance to open house gifts to gas. Hopefully this week's paycheck won't fly out the window like the rest.

*exhausted sleep*

Long Time No Blog?

Does anyone else remember these bird whistle toys? I was at Crossroads the other day with Mike, and I saw them for sale in a gift shop. OMG. I used to love these things! Now I go around the house chirping on them, and annoying the crap out of my family. :D

This is one of my newest most awesome things. I stumbled across the gallery of a young artist on Deviant Art the last week of school this year, and I found a dragon pendant like this one there. I loved it so much that I asked her if she would consider making one for me, and she did!! :D She even shipped it to me all the way from Finland, and now it's mine and I love it so. Check out her work here: http://obiskus.deviantart.com/. Another kick-ass dragon for my collection. :D

Sorry for my long absence from my blog--I've been very busy! Between work, helping Mike move back to Lansing, and getting ready for Chris's open house, there's been little time for relaxing. Work has been pretty good! I've done a ton of new stuff, and I finally feel like I'm earning my wage. I can take doctor phone calls, authorize refills from doctors, transfer scripts in and out, and compound prescriptions. I actually feel like I'm taking quite a load off of the pharmacists I work with, and it makes me feel good. :) We even busted a fake Vicodin script last week, so that was pretty awesome.

Mike finished his first school year as a teacher!! He worked really, really hard and I'm so proud of him for coming so far. I was also happy to help him move back to Lansing last weekend, so now he's barely an hour away!! :D :D This makes me so happy, as gas is killing me right now. I'm ready for the lazy days of summer, spent watching movies in his basement, hanging out in Lansing, and not having to share my time with him with homework.

Aside from the move and work, Mom and I have been working hard to get ready for Chris's open house this Saturday! Cleaning, grooming the yard, shopping, and general chaos has ensued, and though I'm sure Saturday will be a blast, it sure will be nice to relax afterwards! ;) I'll post pictures of the festivities in the aftermath.

<3>

Colby is his own boss

This is my dog Colby, thwarting authority as usual. This is actually a game we used to play with him as a puppy, and now it's just a riot. He's not actually biting, by the way. ;)

Three in a Row

Chris's graduation ceremony was Thursday night at the Whiting Auditorium. It had been five years since I'd walked the stage, and I felt just as anxious for my brother as I did for myself. With a GPA of 4.0, he had the highest in his class, and graduated as Valedictorian.

With that honor, he's given the opportunity to give a speech in front of his classmates and all the guests. Although I knew he was very nervous (he didn't eat all day), when he was introduced and stepped in front of 1800+ people, he never faltered once. His speech was fabulous. Every word was strong, and hearing it sent chills down my spine, and brought tears to the corners of my eyes. Four years of very hard work lead up to that five minutes of his life which he will never forget. I clapped so hard my hands hurt.

Afterwards, he and his classmates walked the stage and received their diplomas, and a chapter of his life was closed forever. We spent a lot of time afterwards hugging teachers, friends, and family, and I took a ton of photos to capture it all. This year, when I go back to pharmacy school, he'll be going off in his own new direction, staring off from that beginning I began years ago. I'm so incredibly proud of him.

At the school board meeting this past Tuesday, he said that the person he most admires is me. That he strives in his endeavors to be more like me; to make me proud. But he is like me, and more importantly, he is himself. There is nothing greater than that. He's watched me chase my dream, and now I'm delighted to say it's his turn. I'm ready to tell him not to give up, to pick him up when he falls, and to cheer him on. I'll be waiting to celebrate at each sweet finish line.

I love him so much; my brother, my friend.

Shoot for the stars

The End of an Era

Chris graduated from high school last night as Valedictorian! It was a beautiful ceremony, and a great night in general. I'll write a ton more about it when I have a little more time. :)

Tourists

I don't think I've bitched about gas prices yet. I just want to say that I want to kill whoever is responsible. KILL. Driving is SO EXPENSIVE, OMG.

Even so, I still drove the 3+ hours to visit Mike up north over Memorial Day weekend. It seems that no matter where I am, or what time of year it is, there is always someone I care about that I need to drive long distances to get to (and for over half our relationship, Mike has fallen into that category). I like to think that this makes me a stronger person and all, but it sure as hell doesn't make me any richer. >_<

Mike's itty-bitty nothing-to-do town of Beulah is suddenly swarming with tourists. O_o A few are even staying downstairs in his house, and this morning I almost got nailed with a squirt gun wielding six year old whose father seemed unconcerned that she was harassing the natives. And they park in my spot.

It's been a lovely weekend otherwise. Yesterday was gorgeous weather, so we drove up the Leelanau Peninsula to visit some of the vineyards and go wine-tasting. I even tasted some of the wine! I'm trying to "acquire" a taste for it, as Mike says, but at this point the relationship between wine and myself is more of a tolerance. But I still had a great time, and the drive was beautiful.

Today the seniors at Mike's high school graduated, so I got to attend his first graduation as a teacher!! :D He had his own gown and teacher hood, which looked very handsome on him. The ceremony took place outside, but I forgot my camera so I couldn't get any pictures. :( I was very proud though, to witness him having nearly completed his first year of teaching. Just over a year ago he was not unlike the students who graduated today--ending one chapter to begin another. Things have come full circle. :)

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, and after that utter chaos until after Chris's open house. At least none of it will be homework! :D

My Time

Today I started up my internship again, and after a 9-month siesta, it only took me about an hour to remember all that time had made fuzzy in my mind. It felt really good, whether it was only because it was my first day back, or whether it was because I missed the pharmacy so much, I can't really say. But it's knowing this contentment exists within me that gets me through the mental stress that school brings on every year. If I didn't know I would love it in the end, there would be no salary large enough to drive me through.

Dan is giving me a $2 raise for completing my second year of P school, and he says I can even wear my white coat now! :D

Summer has kicked off, and I'm not sure where the last two weeks went. Perhaps they were lost in moving, driving across the state with my life packed in the backseat and with gallons of gas worth $4 in my tank. Or maybe it slipped away while I gave a toast at one of my best friend's wedding, and danced the night away. Now the internship has started, and Chris's last day of high school is tomorrow. Next week he graduates, the following week Mike moves back to Lansing, and the week after that is Chris's open house. June will be half over.

I've been with Mike for almost four years. By this time next year, it will nearly be five, and I will finally be able to say, "I only have one year left at school." I will have waited six long ones to say that. Though I am very young, and though I know I will want many, many things throughout my life, right now there is nothing I want more than these two things: to be with Mike, not just when I can, but wherever I am, and to be a pharmacist. I am now so close to having both. There are silly, indescribable moments when it becomes nearly impossible to wait another second. What great reward it will be. My time will come. It's coming.

Beth and Matt's Wedding <3

While trying to catch the "tossed" bouquet:

Relative: "Don't even try, I've got like 70 pounds on you."
Me: "Okay, I guess we'll see."
Relative: "What's your name?"
Me: "I'm not telling you!"
Relative: "I'm serious. What the heck is your name?"
Me: "My name's Maid of Honor."

____________________________

Well, I've moved my sorry ass back to Mt. Morris, so I'm glad that's over. I re-start my internship this upcoming Wednesday, so I'm anxious/nervous about that, but it'll be nice to be in a pharmacy again and to put some money in the bank.

In other none-me sort of news, my wonderful and very dear friend, Beth, married her high school sweetie Matt yesterday. I've been friends with Beth forever and she asked me to be her Maid of Honor! :D I had so many duties, including giving a toast at the reception and "fluffing" her train many times during the ceremony. I helped her into and out of her beautiful dress, and held it up whenever she had to pee. ;) I got to take many lovely pictures with her, and hang out with her awesome bridal party all day! We had a limo ride to the reception, and our own head table for dinner. I even caught the bouquet when she tossed it! I had to go toe-to-toe with a girl, but in the end it was mine. ;)

I had a blast. Of all the weddings I've been too, I think I enjoyed myself most yesterday. I knew so many people, danced the night away, and got to hang out with friends I've known since I was a little kid. And watching Beth start her life with Matt, after five long years of working hard to make it, was truly magical. I admire them; I love them. I wish them the very best, and I told them so in my Toast. :)


<3

Chris: "Hello? You Googled 'Anal Beads.' "

Back Home: Day 1

The last few days have been hectic since school has ended. For a day or two I simply basked in the sheer pleasure of not being constantly stressed out, before I had to begin the transition back home. I'll be moving tomorrow and Tuesday, but getting all my crap from school to home is only one part of the process. It's back to a whole new life of living with the family, having no privacy and no space, and hanging out with friends much different than those I go to school with. Sometimes it feels as though I lead two separate lives--one during the school year and one at home--and for a few days in between it always feels slightly awkward as I switch one off, and the other on. I can't say which I like better, for there are benefits and drawbacks to each, but the honest truth is I'm looking forward to what comes after. When I'll become a woman who is a blend of both, and yet something different altogether. I'm getting close. For the first time, the end is drawing near.

Yesterday I came home for about five minutes before I had to leave for Beth's bachelorette party in Grand Blanc. She and Matt have been dating for five years, and after being engaged for two and a half of those years, they are finally getting married next weekend! :D I'm very happy for them, and I get to be Beth's Maid of Honor!!! :D :D We had fun and played lots of embarrassing games, and then went to see "What Happens In Vegas." After that I came home and talked to Chris until 3:30 am. O.o

This morning I had to try to squeeze the first third of my crap back into my bedroom. Oy.

Tomorrow I have to call my Kroger pharmacist Dan to set up my summer internship schedule. I'm going to beg and plead for something earlier than 11-7. Wish me luck. I also have to set up my hair appointment for the wedding, and then drive back to Big Rapids to get the second third of my crap.

I've only been back in Genesee County for about 24 hours, and I'm already tired of the potholes. O.O

Lols

"Pharmacy school is where fun goes to die."

---P1 Class

At Last, the End

I'M HALFWAY THROUGH PHARMACY SCHOOL!!!
FIVE YEARS DOWN, TWO TO GO!!


I took my last final exam today, and left the pharmacy building for good. Never have I been so exhilarated to see a semester in my rear view mirror. The ending of this year is different than all those which have come before it, because I know now that it will never be this bad again. The worst is behind me now, and from here on out it's the downhill slide. I've come so far since WMU... I am truly proud to return to it next year as a third year pharmacy student. More importantly, as a whole new person.

My final grade in Chemo was posted about an hour ago. Not only did I pass, I got a B-!! :D That's like, super-human or something. And you know what? All the stress, all the bitching, all the feelings of helplessness and the tears were worth it. All the suffering that terrible course put me through was worth it to feel the way I do right now. Relieved, exhilarated, proud. I'm normally an A student, but I tell you what, that B- is the finest work I've ever done.

I'm pretty much the happiest person in the world right now.

:D

FINALS

I'm locking it down for finals folks. I probably won't answer my phone, Gtalk, or AIM at all until Wednesday evening, unless you're family and/or it's an emergency. I swear I'm not trying to be mean or anything, but this time of year simply requires 110% of my attention, and unfortunately I'm not able to stretch myself to meet other needs like I usually can. I hope you all understand. :-/

Thanks so much, and I'll be back when it's all over! :D :D

Congrats!!

OMG EVERYONE, SHRUTI HAS BEEN ACCEPTED INTO MSU'S MED SCHOOL!
THIS MAKES HER REALLY, REALLY AMAZING!!
YAAAAAAY!
*INDESCRIBABLY PROUD*

Sometimes...

I write messages to myself in the dust on my TV screen. O.O

HAHAHAHA

The Beginning of a New Era?

My generation of pharmacists is truly made up of pioneers in the profession, as our responsibility shifts from dispensing prescriptions at face value, to becoming yet another branch of the clinical health care tree. I recently read an article which summarizes this enormous change quite nicely:

"These new 'clinical pharmacists' began to share the patient-centered value system of American medicine, abandoning subservience for collegiality while seeking--and to a certain degree achieving--professional parity with physicians. For their part, pharmacy educators responded by producing a new generation of scientifically sophisticated, clinically oriented practitioners through specialized 'Doctor of Pharmacy' programs. Thus, just as pharmacists shifted the focus of their relationships with patients away from product-centered values, they also shifted the focus of their interprofessional relationships towards a patient-centered value system."

----Ethical Responsibility; Chapter 1: Professional Values in Pharmacy Practice

The Doctor of Pharmacy program mentioned is my current program of study, which has only been around for less than ten years (I'd say more like seven-ish). The change will happen slowly, and probably only those as involved as myself will notice its progress for a long time to come. But I am happy to be at the forefront of this transformation--to be set with the challenge of changing it for the better. By the end of my career it will have happened completely, and I look forward to admiring the distance we have crossed. :)

(Oh geez, I've talked about pharmacy a lot lately... sorries. School is almost over though, and then you'll get a three month break! :D )

Give Me a Cookie!

Today there were some camera men in the pharmacy building shooting a video for the pharmacy program, so that hopeful pre-pharmacy students could have a look at what we're all about. Dr. Bates asked if I would be in the video! :D I was sort of nervous, but said yes. There was no sound, but they taped me reconstituting an IV bag with some antibiotic, using a fume hood and the proper sterile technique. So now I get to be watched on a video for future P school generations to enjoy! Yay! It's like my fifteen minutes of fame or... something. O.o

I have less than two weeks before the first day of the REST OF MY LIFE WOOOOooOOO!

Turn Signal, Damn You!

There's lots of just... general chaos going on. I pretty much have every hour of my life planned out until May 7th, but I'm surprisingly calm about it. So... not me. So... emotionally stable! Hark!

Today I presented my first patient in front of some of my classmates and my professor. It was actually pretty stressful to prepare for, because she had ten different medications and a bunch of contraindications, as if no one had ever even looked at her chart. But my partner and I made decent sense out of it, and I feel like we presented well. Dr. Bates says that during our rotations 4th year, we'll give these sort of presentations in front of panels of doctors and residents, and that our "recommendations" will eventually become orders in the patient chart (and the presentations will be about an hour long, rather than 15 minutes). I find this information both overwhelming and exhilarating. :D

With the wild fluctuations in temperature from day to night these days, the suction cup of my Tom Tom GPS has been failing to stick to my windshield overnight some nights. Last night it fell off again onto my turn signal, so that when I started my car, the turn signal was on. For reasons that can not be explained by science or theory, my right hand turn signal now blinks twice as fast as my left hand signal.

Right signal: * Clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky-clicky! *
Left signal: * Click.............. click.........click...... *

OMG, IT'S KILLING ME. You have NO idea how many times I twitched violently listening to that while driving to school this morning.

Also? Gas jumped 20 cents while I was at school today. In fact, I distinctly recall doing my routine check of the gas price on my way at 7:30 am, and thinking to myself, "Damnit, it's still $3.49." Because, damnit, I'm STILL not okay with $3.49! Then I get out and it's almost $3.70, and I suddenly want to KILL MYSELF OMGG!!!

I mean, SHIT!

Sindecuse

I just found out today that my IPPE internship placement for the fall is Sindecuse, WMU's health center pharmacy, where I was able to work before being accepted into pharm school! I'm so happy!! I just love the head pharmacist there, Bill Green, and I know he will challenge me and give me a great experience while I'm there. I'll be working there one day a week as an intern during the Fall semester, the other four days a week I'll be back in the classroom.

:D

Fabulous Weekend :)

I just finished enjoying one last great weekend before the chaos of the semester ending begins. Saturday was Mike's 25th birthday!!! I love birthdays, and we sure had a great time. Instead of going out for dinner and drinks, we invited Nick, Colleen and Branden over for a cook out and bonfire! Mike and I gathered a ridiculous amount of wood in preparation for the fire, so that we could make a bigger flame than the neighbors! :D We grilled kabobs, corn on the cob, and pineapple, and ate it all on the balcony overlooking the water. After that it was down to the bonfire to roast marsh mellows, and later apple pie and ice cream. :) It was a fun day with friends and no homework, and I hope Mike had an awesome birthday! :D

Today was my induction into the clinical and latter half of pharmacy school--the White Coat Ceremony! I received my white coat which I'll wear throughout my clinical rotations. Lots of people came to see me! I was so happy :D We went to the ceremony, out to dinner, and then came back to my house for photos. I was sad when everyone had to go back home and I was alone again in the house... I can't wait for school to be over. Despite the loneliness, it was great to have one last weekend without constant stressing before the end of the school year. I was glad to be able to help throw a birthday party for Mike, and to be able to spend an entire Sunday with our families. :) I miss everyone already.