Mothers' Day 2012

I hope Mom had a great Mother's Day because I sure did! We started out at 8:30 Mass. There were tons of little ones sitting around us and they were all so well behaved! I was so impressed!

Next we met up with Aunt Molly and Uncle Albert for brunch.  I was given the job of getting reservations, but we didn't decide to go to brunch until about 3:00 pm on Saturday.  Obviously, trying to get reservations for Mother's Day Brunch for 5 the afternoon before wasn't the easiest way to go about this.  I called all over town and finally decided to call Clinkerdagger: they had one table for five available at 9:45am.  I was so excited because the time I was hoping for was 9:45am!  It was meant to be!!  They only do breakfast on special occasions at Clinkerdagger so we were super excited to try the menu.  I had the Breakfast Wellington, which was scrambled eggs, smoked ham and swiss cheese in a puff pastry with a smoked gouda sauce and brunch potatoes.  It was the best breakfast that I have ever had!  I wish I would have taken a picture of it because it was presented beautifully.  I can't say enough good things about it.  I think Clinkerdagger is one of my favorite resturants...anywhere I have lived!

Mom and I waiting for our yummy coffee!!

After our super awesome lunch, we headed to the park to take a walk.  I took a few pictures of  Riverfront Park and the river.  I think they turned out well!!

Mom and Dad on one of the bridges.  I am going to have to get this picture printed and framed for my apartment!

We were tentatively planning on going to the Spokane Wine Association Mother's Day tasting; however, we ended up just going home and hanging out in the back yard because the weather as just so perfect.  I barbecued teriyaki turkey burgers for dinner with a fruit salad.  I hope Mom had a great day...I sure did!

Walk in the park

Mom and I had some time to spare so we decided to stop by Manito Park yesterday. It was such a beautiful day and we took a quick walk around the park. It's a little early in the season so not all of the flowers were flowering yet, but it still was beautiful yesterday. The Japanese gardens are looking better. I guess a couple years ago almost all the Koi fish died, because someone put their pet fish into the pond and it gave the Koi a fish disease. The large Koi are about as big as they were before the fish started dying off, but we couldn't really see any babies. I don't know if it was just too early in the season and they had not hatched yet. The lilac gardens were starting to bloom, but not fully in bloom yet. The rest of the park was filled with children and families. It was nice to see everyone out on such a beautiful day. Here are a few pictures of our quick walk:

A view of the wall near near the rose garden

Another picture of the wall near the rose garden

A close up of a blooming tree

In the beautiful Japanese Garden's

In the lilac gardens

BBQ

There is a reason why I am not in charge of lighting the barbecue. I'm a great cook and baker, but I'm not great at lighting the barbecue! See the picture below:

Sunday Funnies

Something happened a few weeks ago in church.  I am not sure if I can fully express how funny this was, but I'll try.  First, I have to go back a few more weeks in history and give you some background...

Mom and I attended a Novena (a nine day prayer service).  There was a feisty little old lady, who could barely walk using her walker, also attended the Novena with her daughter.  This feisty lady didn't like where her daughter chose to sit in church and she would glare at her daughter and move midway through the service.  She was rather mean to those around her and especially to her Daughter, who appears to have some health problems.  Every day, this feisty lady did something funny.  Mom and I have a history of getting a case of the giggles in Mass, so we tried our best to keep our cool.  However, one day we just couldn't.  She was sitting two rows in front of us and a very solemn  part of the mass she had a bout of flatulence--a very loud bout.  That was the kicker.  Mom and I were like junior-high-aged-girls!  We told Dad about this lady and how we felt badly for her because it must have been so embarrassing!

Well, a few weeks later, Mass was packed and I saw the usher coming up the aisle with an older lady with a walker:  it was the feisty old lady and her daughter.  Obviously, they sat right in front of us.  Before they even sat down, I whispered in Dad's ear, "That is the old lady from the Novena."  We both tried to keep straight faces.  We quickly noticed that this old lady is really  mean to her daughter--she is very elderly and frail and needs help from her daughter, but fights her all the way.  Anyway, Mass was moving along then Mom decided to pull the envelope for the collection out of her purse to pass it down the pew (she was in the center, then me, and Dad was on the end) and trouble ensued.

First, she pulled that envelope out of her purse like a fencer pulls a sword in a dual.  That alone was enough to make me start laughing, but that isn't everything.  A blue post-it note with Mom's grocery list flew in the air and spun down landing quietly and softly on the feisty old lady's shoulder.  My jaw was dropped.  By this point, Mom was hitting me with the envelope saying "What is the matter with you?  Will you take this?"  I decided it was best to act fast.  I was directly behind the feisty lady.  I tried to slowly move my hand, directly behind her so that I would be out of her peripheral vision, and grab the blue post-it note.  I don't know how she saw me because I didn't touch her (it was like playing the game operation as a child); but, she saw me.  She whipped her head around like a snake--I don't know how she moved so quickly!  I am almost certain that she tried to bite my hand as I moved it away from her.  I whispered an apology, but I doubt that she heard me.  By now, Mom finally figured out what was going on.  She was silent laughing out of control.  Her whole face was red.  I think Dad knew what was going on the whole time and he started silent laughing long before Mom did.  Both of them were laughing so hard that they almost fell out of the pew.  As usual, I was embarrassed and desperately trying to get them to stop laughing which made them laugh even harder.  I think Mom would have left, but she couldn't get out of the pew without making even more of a scene.

Finally, we got it together.  Then the family in front of us started laughing.  Thank Goodness it was someone else....for once.

More Paperwork

I received a package from the state medical licensing office and I have a couple more forms to fill out.  It isn't hard paperwork to fill out, but there is a lot to do and I just want to make sure that I do it correctly so that I get my license on schedule.  I can't figure out how people pretend to be doctor's and get a license.    There is so much that you need to provide from your medical school, board exams and etc. that I have no idea how these people fraudulently get a medical license.  It seems to me that they must spend hours making up fake documents and I think it would be easier to just go to medical school!  Anyway, back to the paperwork--I am almost done!!

Graduation

I received two packages in the mail in the last week: my graduation announcements and my doctoral gown, hood, tassel and tam (the doctoral hat, which looks like a beret).  I think people look a bit silly in graduation attire and the people who look the silliest are those with a doctorate.  Nonetheless, I am so proud to have my silly outfit!  Watch out, you might be getting a graduation announcement in the mail soon.  It is hard to believe my commencement ceremony is only about a month away!  I am so excited and I'll be sure to post lots of pictures!

Oh, and I got my graduation shoes a couple weeks ago (actually, they arrived while I was on the phone with the management team at my new apartment confirming that I got the apartment!).  I know that you usually don't get graduation shoes, but I was loving these from afar for months and I just decided to get them because I am not buying anything else.  Besides, who doesn't need to be 4.5-5 inches taller at graduation?  I had to wear them around the house for a week or so to practice walking before I could wear them out to dinner.  I wore them three times last week for just a couple hours each time and I can now walk in them without looking like a raptor from Jurassic Park.  The last time I wore them out a family friend said, "You are walking the streets like a pro...wait I didn't mean it that way!"  It sure made me laugh!!

Seattle 2012

It has been a busy weekend!  Dad's birthday was this weekend, so Mom and I had to make a super birthday dinner.  We barbecued steaks, baked potatoes, and made salad for dinner.  We had a vanilla cake with pineapple, cool whip and coconut for dessert.  I think he had a great day.  It's hard to believe he is 29...again! 

We headed over to the Seattle area on Saturday.  Mom had a hair show to attend and Dad and I decided to tag along to see some of the family that I haven't seen in years.  Dad and I were also the official baby sitters for Mom's friend's child.  This kido is super cute and well behaved.  We dropped the ladies off at the hair show and we went to the mall to walk around and find the little guy a toy.  He is the most polite little two-and-a-half year old that I have met.  He was great and we had a fun time babysitting him.  It reminded me why I went into pediatrics...I LOVE CHILDREN!

After Mom finished with the hair show, we met up with my long-lost cousin Kayla.  We have not seen each other in 22 years!  We had the most fun hanging out with her for a little bit on Sunday and the whole day Monday.  She is so sweet and wonderful and we can't go another 22 years without seeing each other again. Here is a picture from Saturday:

Sunday night we went to my dad's cousin's house.  She made us a great meal and I got to see her "boys" (they are both married, so I guess they are not really boys anymore).  Their whole family is so funny and fun to be around.  We laughed the whole time we were there.  I can't believe that I haven't seen them in almost 5 years!  I missed both of their weddings so I am very happy that I finally got to see them again.

On Monday, we spent the day with Kayla.  I haven't been to Seattle in almost five years, so I thought it would be fun to do the tourist things and hit Pike Place Market.  We started out at the waterfront and headed up to the market.  Everything was just as I remembered--even my favorite mini-doughnut stand hadn't moved and was just as yummy as before!  I picked up a beautiful tiny canvas picture of the market and a spoon rest.  I don't think there is a person in the world more excited about a spoon rest than me.  Here are some pictures from the Market, but unfortunately for you, I don't have a picture of the spoon rest... yet:

It was a super windy day so our hair was a mess.  The wind was chilly, so my cute cardigan had to be buttoned and I look like I am a missing extra from "Little House on the Prairie," haha!

In front of the "Gum Wall"

Blue Trees (I think we were on 4th)

 Mom and Dad wanted to hit  up Buca de Beppo for dinner, so we headed to the Seattle location.  We had an early dinner; in fact, we were the first customers in the place!  We had a great dinner.

The Space Needle was pained orange to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Space Needle. 

After dinner, we headed back to our hotel in Bellevue to say our goodbyes.  We had a great time in the Seattle area seeing our relatives.  We didn't get to see everyone, but we had a great time seeing those who we had time to see.  I wish we could have stayed longer to see more people and have more fun!  The drive home went by relatively quickly; but as a general rule, if I am driving through the pass it will be poor visibility.  If anyone else is driving, it will be clear.  This rule stayed true for this trip as well.  I guess we knows who isn't driving though the pass(es) down to Vegas!

New beginning

Starting residency, I'm back to being single.  It has been a few months, so I have had time to get used to the idea of being a single gal again and I am excited about my future.  I have found an apartment in Las Vegas and have started coming up with my plans for moving.  We (Mom, Dad and I) decided that it is best to just buy furniture once I move rather than taking the few pieces that I have and renting a truck or trailer and driving it down.  I am not excited about having to buy all of this stuff, but I am excited about setting up my little home exactly how I want it.

One of the other great things is that being in Las Vegas, I will have lots of visitors.  Even if they don't stay with me, having friends who come down to the strip means that I will be (hopefully) be able to see them, even if it is only for a meal.  I loved living on the east coast, but it will be great to be closer to home and to be able to see family more than once per year.  I am also excited for the warm weather, but I doubt that I will be saying that in July or August!  I already know my schedule for the year (well the basic: which blocks do I have each month and when is my vacation).  I have so much to be grateful for, even if the year hasn't worked out the way that I had planned.  I am nervous to be moving to a new city without knowing a soul, but I know that everything will work out well because I've done it before.

I have really enjoyed being home with my family.  I love sleeping in, reading books for fun, cooking, knitting and spending time with family and friends. I tired to get a job for the spring, but between my limited time in town and the economy, I wasn't able to find anything.  I think that probably is for the best because I have had time to study and relax.

My residency is really going to be a new beginning for me.

Where to start...

I moved home from New York City in mid-December and I've been running ever since.  There were so many relatives that I have not seen (some since before I started medical school) and I still had to go to more residency interviews in January.  I have learned that I hate traveling but I like vacationing---I don't like taking driving trip, flying or basically any means of transportation that lasts more than a few hours, but I do like exploring a new corner of the world once I get there!

Well, lets just jump to the exciting parts.  At the end of the interviewing process, I had to make a "rank list" of all of the programs that I interviewed at--from my top choice down.  At the same time, the programs were making a rank list of their applicants.  Then a computer does some magic and "matches" me with the highest ranked program on my list that ranked me highly enough on their list so that I match into their program.  I submitted my rank list in early February and had to wait until March 12th to find out if I had matched.  An email was sent at 12:00pm EST on Monday, March 12th, but it only told you if you matched or if you did not.  Here is a copy of mine:

"Congratulations, you have matched!"


 I had no idea where I was going, but I knew I would be a pediatrician.  It was such a relief to know that I had a job.  I had been offered a position outside of the match (meaning that I would have signed the contract and cancelled my other interviews), which I turned down so I was anxious that I made the wrong decision until I found out that I got a job in the match.  The first couple days I was so excited that I got a job and I was dreaming of where it could be.  By Thursday, I was ready to know where I would be living for the next three years, but I wouldn't find out until Friday at 1:00 EST.  I was almost certain that I would be headed back to the Northeast, most likely New York City, so I was surprised to find out that I matched in the west: Viva Las Vegas!

I believe that applicants (and programs) do not find out where they matched until Friday because they do the SOAP (supplemental offers and acceptance program, which was formally the 'scramble').  The SOAP is like a mini application season--resubmit applications, offer of phone interview, rank list and offers--that occurs every few hours from Tuesday until Wednesday (or Thursday) afternoon.  It sounded like a horrible process and I am so grateful that I didn't have to go through it.  I believe the information of where people matched is withheld until Friday because many medical schools have "match day" parties and they want to give everyone a chance to go through the SOAP before the party.  I might not be right about that, but it makes sense to me.

As you can probably tell, this process is extremely stressful and you can be a great applicant, but still not match.  Since this is a once a year job application process, if you don't get hired, you wait until next year and do the whole process again.  They say that every year further from graduation you are, the harder it gets to match.  I cannot find the statistics from the 2012 match yet, but in 2011 30,589 applicants vied for 23,421  available first year and 2,737 second-year residency position  (some residencies have you do one year in a general specialty like internal medicine or surgery then you move into your very specialized field like radiology or ophthalmology).  From the information I can find, there were even more applicants this year and I don't think that the total number of residency positions changed much.  I am so lucky and grateful to have a residency spot for next year.

After learning that I matched, I had paperwork to get started.  I had to sign an agreement saying that I would be going to Nevada (part of going into the match is signing legally binding documents that state you will go wherever you match, if you don't you are in huge trouble--there are a few rare situations where you can apply for an exception, like if you get extremely ill and cannot start residency). Next, I had to start filling out my medical license application information.  It was so strange to fill in the line that says "physician's name" with mine. It was surreal.  Also, much of the information sent to me was addressed to Dr. Nicole or Nicole, M.D., which still makes me smile to see.  I have dreamed of being a doctor since I was five years old and I have been working for years, but it still doesn't seem real yet.  I expect that after the first few months or year of residency, I'll be more comfortable being called doctor.  I have been advised by several nurse friends and other doctors that I must start residency by being called "Doctor" to make sure that I set myself up as a physician (rather than just someone else in the hospital) and then continue my hard work to earn my co-workers and patient's respect.  I have worked hard to earn my doctorate and now I need to live up to the title of doctor!