Dog Days

Yes...it is a fabulous month. I am on "vacation," which means for the entire month of January I am not working. So I have had plenty of time to spend with my little guy, Stanley, who is a 2 year old rat terrier. He is full of energy and love. But he also reminds me about some of the good things in life.

Like sleeping.

Stanley sleeps the majority of the day. We get up early to go out. We go back to bed. We get up and take a walk. I do whatever I want...email, computer, etc...and he sleeps. I go to the gym and when I come back, Stanley is asleep on the couch. We play tug for five minutes and then he goes back to sleep. He sleeps a lot. And honestly I am enjoying doing a lot of the same. Doggie days rock. Oh and he's super funny. His silly antics make me smile when I am down. He helps me forget when work is hard or my personal life hits the rocks. That little tail never stops wagging. He really is this (wo)man's best friend!

I hope that once I start the busy life of an OB/GYN intern I still have time to spend with my little man. I hope that we still have time for our daily walks and to cuddle on the couch while I watch TV. Because for all he does for me, he certainly deserves 30 minutes of my time each day :-)

I've definitely been slacking...

Well I decided tonight that I had to get back into this blogging thing. Just because I am not in Kenya anymore doesn't mean I should stop writing, right? haha. Guess we shall find out...

I have been doing the whole "4th year thing"...you know, like spending exorbitant amounts of money and flying or driving all over the country trying to find that ultimate residency spot while barely working or doing "electives". Ha. Its whoa expensive. But whoa cool. I've seen a bunch of new cities that I've never been to before and rekindled some of the love for more familiar ones. The final interview happens this Saturday for me...11 total will be accomplished (which I might say, is like so reasonable comparatively)...but anyway, I digress...and now I get to make a rank list. I am dreading this enormously. Anyone who knows me very well at all knows how much I hate to make decisions. Even small ones. So making this rather HUGE one is scary.

But maybe that is a good thing. Actually...I think its a really good thing. Can you imagine life without a little fear? I've started to think about Match Day (3/16/12) and the butterflies I am sure we'll all have (and of course the Monday before it waiting for the email saying if we matched or not). Like, lets open an envelope and there's your future 3-? years on a piece of paper. Talk about adrenaline rush. But back to fear...a little fear is good. It keeps us on our toes I think...and that surely can't always be a bad thing. It isn't just scary to make this rank list, though; its also like...way, totally, 100% exciting and rewarding. Its a sign we've almost made it to graduation.  Yay!

July 1st will be here before we know it...maybe its sorta looming and scary...hell ya its scary...and in a way turning in that final rank list takes us one step closer to that 1st day on the job. But just like this whole interview and rank process, its also really really exciting. From performing my first c-section to my trip to Kenya to this whole interview trail...If there is one thing I've learned from this entire year (thus far) its that we have to face the fear head on and look at it as an opportunity to succeed...

...and when it doesn't work out just as you planned, find a friend and head to the mall for some retail therapy. :D