Chills

Getting to ZERO - World AIDS Day Detroit 2011 from WORLD AIDS DAY DETROIT on Vimeo.

I get chills (the good kind) when I watch this. The video is made by a classmate of mine and it's featuring many other classmates. Even more impressive is the fact that this event was founded and organized singlehandedly up until recently by a 2nd year student. Such inspiring, impassioned, and motivated people! Here they are in the news: Detroit Worlds Aids Day.

Quotability

"I just love individuals who never stay still. With all the potential that everyone has and our limited time in this world, we owe ourselves nothing less."

C. Sy

On the home stretch of the completion of my first block of medical school. I already passed my first class. Anatomy ends Friday. See you on the other side.

(space view of night and day - photo source unknown)

Beethoven's Emporer Concerto

I was in my school orchestra's rehearsal this past Sunday feeling worn out and tired after an entire day of studying. Of course I hadn't practiced and we were running through this concerto with our soloist for the first time. I was completely unprepared for the tears that sprang to my eyes when he played the opening arpeggios... (I'm not kidding).

I have to include the 2nd movement because it is perhaps even more gorgeous than the first.

Wedding State of Mind

I've had three friends get engaged within the last couple weeks. One was just yesterday! I'm back to having weddings on my mind, dabbling in reading wedding blogs and perusing wedding photos. I'm such a fan of not only the dresses, flowers, and food, but all of the people. It's actually a little intimidating how attractive they are. Of course I know my own friends will far surpass any of these photos in beauty as they get married, but in the meantime, I play this game with myself sometimes where I try to guess if the couples are models or real people. Play with me:

Continue on for the answers.

Hippos and Crates

A daily-updated blog detailing my current life. Written in the style of a true romantic and eternal optimist, I think Chris' account will be far more meaningful than most, if not any other attempts. Even as I experience the same classes, labs, and exams, it's encouraging and comforting see them through the eyes of someone who is looking past the daily minutia - one who sees so clearly the so-faint-you-swear-it-can't-really-be-there light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. Plus, who doesn't love a little wordplay in a title? Thank you, Mr. VP!

Indian Summer

I always love the last of summer. To me, it's always the most magical time: sunny and warming days, leaves just beginning their fall tinge, crisp mornings melting into lingering twilights. I think the promise of summer is not yet gone and I'm still invigorated (and not jaded) by the unexplored horizons of a new school year and all the possibilities that it carries.

I was also lucky enough to see a bunch of old friends last weekend: Smurf and R pictured above at Eastern Market. Yes, I'm in shorts! And the next day, I went apple picking by Ann Arbor with A and a friend doing a Rad-Onc rotation who I haven't seen since high school. I might have to conjecture that October in Michigan is unbeatable...

Catching Up

So after a rather brutal month, I've survived the head and neck unit of Anatomy and a great deal of Embryology. I acquired (and am still recovering) a bout of self-diagnosed bronchitis and about 2 weeks straight of 5-hour nights of sleep. It is true that handling stress has never been a strong suit of mine and I'm certainly working on this. I must acknowledge and admit that a great deal of my motivation to work and study comes from sheer fear, thus making much of my stress self-induced. It keeps me honest. However, there must be a more healthy and balanced way of keeping oneself on task.

Anyway here are a few peeks into the latter half of my September.

Vitamin C for bronchitis, cramming in a jam jar of oatmeal and the boundaries of the middle ear cavity before my exam, and Korean Ohyes chococakes. Contrary to photographic evidence, my month was sadly not all food-centric. Please note the upgrade in the intensity of nerdiness compared to the last unit.

And alas, no rest for the weary. Here I go before my 8am class for Unit 3!