One More Week!

By this time next Monday I should be back home from having taken Step 1 of the USMLE! There's nothing more to say than I am in panic mode and feel totally under-prepared. I just have to keep reminding myself that everyone probably feels like this, I've been studying for weeks, and I am in fact adequately prepared. I've talked to a bunch of people that have already taken the test and almost everyone said they felt like they had failed the test after they took it. That's great! So here we have an 8 hour test, that you study and worry about for weeks, and helps determine what kind of residency program you will be able to get into, which after you take you feel like you've failed it. Can't wait! I am really looking forward to getting this behind me. I am also really excited about starting my third year clerkships. Orientation is on the 30th and then I start my psychiatry rotation the following week. My schedule next year will be psych->family->internal->peds->ob/gyn->surgery. Almost a perfect escalation from "easiest" to most intense rotation.

On another, non-med school, note: I'd like to congratulate my Dad (or you could say I'd like to give props to my pops) for getting one of his paintings admitted to a gallery in the Washington, D.C. area. He is part of an art league that holds classes and has their own gallery space in the Torpedo Factory in Old Town, Alexandria. Each month their members can submit artwork to be placed in their gallery. A panel of judges pick from hundreds of pieces submitted each month. So he will have one of his paintings displayed thru June. Here's a really bad camera phone picture of his watercolor:

Here are also two pictures (in charcoal) he has done of my Mom. He plans on doing a third to submit for the Torpedo Gallery.


And on a final note: after I take the boards on Monday the 27th I will be going back to Northern VA to visit my Dad, celebrate a belated Father's Day, see his painting up in the gallery, and pick up my dog. Oh, and also to eat in the GREATEST Thai resaurant ever. I've overheard people at this place tell the chef/waiter/owner that they have lived in Thailand and this is the best Thai food they've ever had. Randall has expressed interest in driving up to eat dinner there and my Dad has given the green light for people to crash at our house. So I was thinking maybe Tuesday the 28th? I'll see if we can get a few people up there b/c the more people at the table the greater variety of dishes we can share! Just let me know.

Wilson, I hope you're settling back in ok. Post some pics when you get a chance to let us know what it's like out there!