Always wear sunscreen

Those of you who know me know that I am a HUGE advocate of sunscreen.  I wear spf 75 on a daily basis on my face and neck.  I do sometimes neglect other exposed skin on a daily basis unfortunately.  (Let's face it, sunscreen isn't so great smelling and weather lotion or spray leaves an unwanted coating on your skin)  However every run, bikeride, swim, long walk, extended period of time outside I always make an effort to cover my epidermis.  I check for moles regularly and freak out about the smallest change.  I had a mole removed at one point leaving me with an attractive keloid scar secondary to an allergy to cat gut stitches.  Its improved since the lesion was excised but still... unsightly.  What's sad is I still get the occasional stranger to believe I was shot and many foreigners are convinced I was born somewhere where the polio vaccine is still used.  My old derm and I were tight.  I'm still working on a new one I like.  I miss Dr. Wise despite him potentially thinking I was neurotic.  

I thought I'd abided to my normal sunscreen application protocols this past Sunday when I chose to spend some time at the beach instead of the Pride Parade.  While I was successful in finding pleasantly empty near north side beaches my sunscreen application was not up to par.  I am still burnt; my booty is bright red, no joke.  My long ride yesterday could have been a good bit more comfortable.   Padded shorts only do so much.  I'd post pics but I'm not entirely certain they are appropriate.

To sum up, and oldie but goody.  Some good advice starts this song off, I couldn't agree more

Philippians 4:19

Today while more stressed than I've been yet throughout this whole board review process I decided I needed a break and some time for myself simply relax.  I had no idea what this should entail.  I thought through the vast list of things most people do to relax (television, movies, happy hour, massages, manicures/pedicures, shopping) and then to my usuals (a workout, grocery shopping, going to bed a little early, looking up airfare, reading a magazine, cooking something nice.)  Yes, I actually had to think about how to go about relaxing.  Well my usuals have all be used up the past numerous weeks and while I'm up for a run I'd already put in an early spin session.  As far as most others that came to mind, they were negated as either I don't have to money for them, I didn't think I'd be able to find anyone else to take a break with me, I didn't have various resources, or they simply aren't things I like to do... drinking to a stupor, no thanks

So what did I do, of course I called my mother with a mini-melt down.  She confirmed my thoughts that I needed a break and said informed me that another 8 mile run would not qualify as taking time for myself.  So she suggested a yoga class or something.  This is something that had come to my mind earlier but the average going rates of  $14 - 20 a class just wasn't going to cut it. 

I ended up trying to settle with some fresh watermelon from the farmers market and an iced (decaf) coffee.  Wasn't so effective.  Tried convincing one friend into making plans for gelato later and another into going to the puppy store with me.  No go.  So I again contemplate the yoga idea and I go to my handy Corepower yoga app on my phone to see if they even have a class I'm interested in at a nearby studio.  Lo and behold a FREE!!!!! 75 minute hot flow class in honor of the Oak Park studio reaching its one year birthday.  Step 2:  recruit a friend and a sister!   Step 3: a triple surprise!  Following class fresh fruit, sangria, and free massages :)  The Lord does provide.  

I'm now home studying away yet another Saturday night (6 in a row, but who's counting) I'm not particularly pleased about it but I have come to accept it knowing that in 3 days I'll be done with this phase.  And next Saturday night I will not be sprawled on my couch reviewing practice questions or browsing powerpoints

Fare Forward

“Not farewell, but fare forward, travelers”

 –T.S. Eliot The Dry Salvages

Farewell USMLE step1.  It will be 8 weeks before I know your outcome but ‘til then, out of sight, out of mind. 

Pre exam... what to expect?  Do I know enough? EEEEK!  A bit nervous.  Here goes nothing!
2 years of work for an 8 hour exam to evaluate it.  So it goes.
Yeah, I'm that lame girl who messed with her macbook camera to pass time in the morning before exam start

Farewell to the past two years.  It has been whirlwind, crazy how much life has changed, how much I’ve changed (just compare the prices at j. crew now and two yeara go… I don’t want to talk about it), and yet how much I’ve grown, especially in knowledge.  I have no disappointment saying farewell to this stack of books.  Two  year worth of classes, three trimesters each year, and each trimester with more credit hours than even my overload semesters throughout college.  I remember hating finals week at Rhodes and thinking I always had so much work.  Well, I created most of that work for myself, but I now know I had no idea the amount of time one can spend studying and still have all sorts of other things they need to do.  On the other hand, while I was recently home I looked at my father’s bookshelf and noticed many books he has solely on the kidney.  That which that stuck out most was a two volume compilation from about 12 years ago on this essential organ.  Each of these books in and of itself was probably twice as thick as any textbook I’ve purchased for medical school.  It’s humbling to realize how much I still have to learn and how much I know I’ll never actually know.  (as an aside, I would not be surprised if my father has actually read those books cover to cover and actually knows everything in them, he could probably have written.  It’s disgusting how smart he is.  For that matters, he’s probably read similar books on just about every organ)

Farwell to second year breakfast!  (and more importantly, Happy Birthday Kate!)  The past two years would have been empty without all you lovely ladies.  I can’t believe how far we’ve all come together.  When I look back I think you all will be the ones who really define this short time period; not the exams, or lectures, or the labs, or the stress

I'd say we all look pretty good for a week and a day of final,
and just finishing a cumulative pharm exams :)

Fairly representative of how we actually felt

 Farewell to a faithful friend.  As I was taking Step 1 to move on to the next chapter in my life he was on a plane heading to Poland to start the next phase of his.  A two year master program overseas.   I know your love for Poland and while it’s never been on my must visit places, it recently moved up the list.  From meeting you at the age of what., 16? 17?  Blowing whistles in jumping into a cold pool followed by “Hi, I’m a lifeguard, I’m here to help? To various shenanigans I don’t want to include here.  Let’s just say I don’t think I’ll visit Ichuro for two years (good thing Ponzu is across the street from my new abode).  However, I can’t guarantee I won’t be climbing fences.  I also know you wouldn’t want your absence to keep me from trespassing at any decent and semi-reasonable opportunity.  Best wishes to you.  When you’re back in the States for brief visits, you know my number.  In the meantime, I’ll work on remember my Skype password.

Para siempre una favorita :)

Goodbye to one of my favorite doctors.  Two nights ago I learned that Dr. Wise, a family friend and my dermatologist and a teacher passed away a couple months ago.   I knew he’d been sick and actually took leave from his practice but I guess my dad forget to mention his passing earlier.  Dr. Wise was brilliant, he knew EVERYTHING about dermatology and something about just about everything else from silk worms to water quality in random countries.  It was always fun to see his name pop up in various women’s health magazines regarding skin conditions and preventative measures.  I was fortunate to have him as my Dermatologist.  He hated expensive soaps, all makeup, and scoffed at sunscreen over spf 45.  To this day I use generic baby shampoo to wash my face, wear natural makeup, and use sunscreen… spf 75… His prescription of Acutane saved my life (slight exaggeration) even if it does turn out to fry ovaries.  Note: this has not been proven.  Even so, I don’t want children so really no loss to me.  Perhaps a benefit of the drug?   I was also fortunate enough to have some clinical experience with him.  He was one of the physicians on a service trip to Blackfeet country in Montana two years ago.  The relief he was able to provide to these people with all sorts of rashes, skin disorders, and autoimmune manifestations in just one week was inspiring.  These people had gone to derms elsewhere with no success.  I really understood at this point there is a huge difference in the skill levels of physicians.  He also taught me two general practices to keep in mind while on any service.  1.  NEVER keep your hands in the pockets of your white coat.  2.  NEVER lean on anything in a patients room, hallway, or otherwise public place.  He also recommended to look up origins of words as a means of learning because it will both help you remember what that term means and you will learn a myriad of other information (ie silk worms).  I know he was planning to write a book when he “recovered”.  That would have been quite the book I imagine. 

Blackfeet child at the Pow Wow we were specially invited to on the service trip
Coco took this pic, and I love it!

Farewell Lombard and DG!  It’s been fun, really, but I was never meant to live here.  Onto a neighborhood with a 99 walk score, bike lanes, a short jaunt from the beach / zoo, lakefront path, favorite restaurants, shopping, museums, theater, indie coffee shops, the second largest Whole Foods Market in the country, and a 24-hr fro yo stand.  I can’t ask for much for (except lower rent).  Adventures ahead!

2233 S Highland (and Ikea), you've served me well.
I'll not miss you
Though never say never

"'Fare forward, you who think that you are voyaging;

You are not those who saw the harbour

Receding, or those who will disembark.

Here between the hither and the farther shore

While time is withdrawn, consider the future

And the past with an equal mind."

In Honor of National Running Day

New kicks!!!!
After a handful of almonds to a trail I went

I can still hardly believe the running store talked me into Nikes.  My whole running life I've worn Asics (with the exception of one mistake of a pair from Saucony), and now Nikes, a shoe company I've been against ever since they put out their "shocks".   :)  But they are pretty and work with my Nike+!


Get out and move!!!!!!  Today and everyday!