it is finished.

I'm laying in bed, snug as a bug in a rug- no thoughts of guilt, no places to be. I just can hang out all day. Clean up. Pack. Reorganize. A great day ahead.

Our tests were pretty gross this semester. On the whole, the classes weren't difficult. The teachers threw curveballs on the final exams... without giving us a curve. There were a few moments of rage/tears/sadness and many moments of defeat and stress. It'll turn out okay. I think.

Yesterday we had our last final at 8 am. We had a double whammy on Tuesday, so studying Tuesday night was nearly impossible. My roommates and I made the terrible mistake of flipping the tv on and discovering that the Madonna and Brittney Spears episodes of Glee were on.   Even after the shows were over, I could not look at printed words.  I decided to go to bed and get up early. I've been setting early alarms and running through the material before going to take the test- which works pretty ok as long as I have hot fresh coffee in my hands.  I get to the test, and  thankfully I brought reading glasses to help becuase it was crazy long. It was for our Evidence Based Medicine course. She handed out a 12-page 75 question test with a separate reading packet- equally as long. It reminded me of taking the ACT. One of my favorite Peds docs was walking through the lobby outside the test as we were finishing, "I haven't seen you guys this happy in a LONG time!!" No ma'am. You have not.

After the test, I ran out and grabbed a few gifts for roommates. Jessie has been "feezin cold" all week "I don't know how people live like this!" (low of 25 degrees). I got a cute hat (with ear flaps and braids) at Target and then found a (sort of) matching scarf/glove/hat combo at NY&C. She loved it. I got Kaila some jewelry. She liked hers a lot as well.

Last night we had some friends over for a potluck. I prepared a sangria that had time to yummify over night. SUPER yummy. Here's the "recipe" that I, of course tweaked: Citrus Rum instead of the brandy and apples instead of grapes-- things I had on hand. I also whipped up some mashed 'taters (from Dad's garden) and some deviled eggs-- that I forgot in the fridge- so if anyone wants one (or two) come on down!! OH Almost forgot. I made Chicken Dip. Mom used to make it when my friends would come over in HS. A nice gooey chicken/chiles/cheese/ and various forms of cream (sour, cheese, celery soup). So many other wonderful dishes!! We also did a Grab Back/Dirty Santa gift exchange. I ended up with a nice tin of ghirardelli squares. holla! Sam brought Apple Pie- the drink-- we celebrated the end of the year with a few shots of that sweeet sweeeeeeeeeeeet business.

Tomorrow we three girls are traveling a far... OK not really. We're  going to NASHVILLE! We're hoping to do a little sight seeing and then go to see GARTH BROOKS in CONCERT!! I don't even know what else to write. IT'S GONNA BE AWESOME. I'd better find my battery charger for my camera. Then Kaila and I will drive back to MEM to fly out Saturday morning. I found cheap (ish) tickets non-stop into Omaha by lunch! Whirlwind of awesome. Hopefully the weather cooperates.

ok. probably better do laundry. i think i've had a load in the dryer (dry) since saturday...

december.

dr. newman reminded my roommates and i that "it's the MOST WONDERFUL time of the year." in real life, i agree. however in school life? not so much.

real life = a group of friends got together saturday night and decorated cookies, drank cider, and i watched the husker game as well. we had fun... decorating anyway. i think they got a kick out of me yelling and kicking and grumbling under my breath... ah well.

school life: = finals.

gross.

needless to say, i was not very productive over thanksgiving break. last week, i had my final theory lab practical, so i was dilated every day which makes studying (and frankly, doing anything) nearly impossible. so this week, is cramtime. we had a test this afternoon which went ok, i guess. personally there were some pretty dumb questions, but whatever. i'm sitting in an ok spot in all my classes. i wish i was sitting a little better so that i didn't have to worry as much about a grade- ok fine. i will pass all of my classes with flying colors-- it's just i'd really like to pad the ol' gpa a little as next semester will be a bear.

all this to say, prayers are greatly appreciated.

back to learning about stereopsis and the joys of binocular vision...

election day... guatemala.... other thoughts...

so today was election day. my roommate voted when she was home for the weekend. i did not vote, for the first time since i was able to. i did not request an absentee ballot. i was thinking about it as i was brushing my teeth a little bit ago. some of the reasons: 1. i do not watch the news. 2. i read the sports section/big red today section only on omaha.com. 3. what tv i do watch, tends not to have political campaigns (tlc,foodnetwork, tlc) 4. the little tv i do watch that has political commercials are tuned out as i don't care about tn politics AND commercial time is prime study time. :) my roommates and i were discussing politics briefly- and we determined that 'kids' our age tend to vote fairly liberally as we are in college and have little 'at stake' with taxes/property/responsiblitiy etc- which i think i had heard/talked about before. it'll be interesting to see if my generation will continue to vote liberally (the ones that do, anyway)...

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new topic.

mission work.

our chapter of 'fellowship of christian optometrists' is going to guatemala in may to give eyecare to people down there. i am very interested in going, but haven't felt the strong nudge to go/not go yet. so i would appreciate prayers for guidance. the part(s) that are making me apprehensive are - cost and going to a different country-- and, i'd be missing luke's graduation. (though, he said he couldn't be upset with me if i wanted to "help poor kids see." the deposit is due on friday... go figure, i'm waiting until the last minute to make my decision...

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do you ever feel like you just need a break from certain people? ugh. some of my classmates are getting on my nerves, to put it nicely. it's time to get away from them for a while. thank goodness the holidays are coming up!

i turn to the kitchen to spice up my life...

school? blah.
creating and experimenting in the kitchen? awesome.
try these for a wonderful twist on a beloved fav--- PORK CHOPS-- no, no applesauce here!!

I'm eating one leftover on a salad: spinach, gala apples, baby portabella mushrooms, pecans, chunked leftover chop, and a drizzle of strawberry balsamic ---

great day

the day started, waking up, feeling rested (what?) and my hair was looking good. i went to bed with it wet and so i had some wave to it. i added some more waves with the help of my 3/4" curling iron. i was to school by 8:15 and then went to a study room to prepare for the test this afternoon. i checked my email and gchated with a dear friend, natalie. school was long and blah, but then, after my test had a missed call from another dear friend, tia. we chatted. and i prepared dinner: a sun-dried tomato herbed pork tenderloin, baked potatoes (from dad's garden to the oven), and california blend veggies. i called grandma mary to see how her back injections went and ask her advice on how long to bake the potatoes. it was so great talking with her. now, i'm full, finishing my glass of white merlot and getting ready to enjoy reeses's ice cream and a movie with my roommates- new and old. :)

love you all.
oh, and the test went okay. i think. :)

baking...

I'd love to bake. and bake. and bake.
I discovered baking blogs this summer while I was at home.

The Pioneer Woman Blog is great. I made this blueberry crumb cake for a breakfast with my bible study gals. Delish.

PW introduced me Joy the Baker. Holy Cow. This pancake is perfect in every way. And I just pulled these out of the oven.

Since moving back, I've baked every Sunday. It might become a tradition.

second year

i'm nearly 2 full weeks into my second year.

i know how to use a Binocular Indirect Ophthalmoscope-- this model is currently my fav---

Heine Omega 500 UNPLUGGED baby--

(cue Tim the Tool Man grunt)

i'm drinking my coffee black. i'm telling people where they can find things. i'm experienced. i know things. it's so weird. a year ago, i was lost. i didn't understand people- 'you di'nt bring none of dis widja didja'- i was weirded out by memphis. now, i just say "oh memphis".

we are building on the knowledge we acquired last year- which, yes, is the goal. i'm taking more pathology and pharmacology (grosssss) but also taking Binocular Vision, Pediatric Optometry and Vision Development, another Theory and Methods course, Ophthalmic Optics and Environmental Vision, and an Evidnece Based Medicine course.

i'm super excited that we have a different instructor for Bino this year, as the man who used to teach it got relieved of his teaching duties. Dr. Cisarik is soo cool. she knows her stuff and can teach it - Steinman knew his stuff but couldn't bring it down to our level.

Peds is good so far. i'm a little worried about when we switch professors. currently, we have "young, hip, dr. smith" teaching us... soon we'll have an older faculty member teaching- who, is a brilliant man, but i struggle seeing how he works well with children. it'll be interesting.

the other courses are ok- nothing too exciting. BUT our evidence based medicine is a bunch of hooey. ba-lo-ny. the textbook is entitled: "Studying a Study Testing a Test". ok whatever.

i love my new apartmet. my roommates are great. i purchased curtains and throw pillows and made my room feel more home-y. it's good to be back. except that i have to study again.