De Nile. It's not just a river in Egypt, it's a freakin' ocean

Sometimes reality has a way of sneaking up and biting us in the ass. And when the dam bursts, all you can do is swim. The world of pretend is a cage, not a cocoon. We can only lie to ourselves for so long. We are tired, we are scared, denying it doesn't change the truth. Sooner or later we have to put aside our denial and face the world. Head on, guns blazing. De Nile. It's not just a river in Egypt, it's a freakin' ocean. So how do you keep from drowning in it? - Meredith

So it's been two weeks already, eh? The title of this post about sums it up. Finally got to a "non-denial" place about this test block, just in time thank goodness. I had too much fun (is that even possible?) being normal and just had no desire to return to the mundane world of M2 year.

Highlights from the last couple of weeks:
NICU day last Monday - lots of cool cases around right now, also super cool to see some of my last on-call deliveries from the summer "all grown up". A few long-term kiddos have even gone home. It was so nice to be back, but one day is just a tease.

Starry Starry Night - very cool. I'm getting the hang of the Easely Amused experience.. and getting addicted.

FAIR!!! It was my first trip to the fair, and it was lots of fun. Ate a huge turkey leg, a funnel cake (complete with strawberries), and rode 'til I almost (literally) threw up. Thanks M for a fun time, and not laughing at me toooo much when we had to stop that one ride...

"Life As We Know It" - Very very cute, very much a chick flick, very much recommended.

Church- as much as possible. Having a home place of worship is great!

There was, of course, lots of studying in between that and this past week and I'm finally beginning to feel caught up. I'm no where near ready and it's going to be an insane 10 days or so before the next block starts. But I'm totally looking forward to week-after again. This M2 thing? It's pretty cool.

"....To stop thinking like a doctor, and remember what it means to think like a human being."

"They say that practice makes perfect. Theory is– the more you think like a doctor, the more you become like one, the better you get at remaining neutral, clinical, cut, suture, close - the harder it becomes to turn it off. To stop thinking like a doctor, and remember what it means to think like a human being."

It's been a lovely two weeks. Renaissance was AMAZING. I don't know why I waited so long to play that game - I'll definitely be doing some Christmas shopping there. That was Tuesday... after that I guess I went to school for a couple days, it's been a very "non school" type of couple weeks. I needed the break, but I suppose it's time to get back on the horse. I didn't realize how much break I'd need after the test block - the M3's warned, but since I didn't spend 20 hr days studying the week of tests I honestly figured I'd be alright. Guess the exhaustion kicks in no matter what.

This week has been very sluggish. Today we did ENT exams on each other, that was kinda fun. My partner played "kid" since I was the only self-proclaimed pediatrician to be in the room. She whined, moaned , and pulled her ears away from me. Fun times in M2 land. We also had our second PIG meeting today - I think it went great!

Also, M and I have secured a preceptor for ICM, even though the ICM people haven't told us a thing about when this is all going down - which is funny, seeing how it's supposed to happen in less than two weeks. As is med school - we never REALLY know what's going on.

Studying still hasn't come back full force.. but it will tomorrow. I've got a long weekend due to a lucky break on the path/ICM schedules, and I plan on catching up and getting ahead (if possible). Monday I'm playing in the NICU. Can. Not. Wait. It's been a long nine weeks not in there. We have one mandatory at two oclock, but I'll be in baby land until then :). Easely Amused after - where I'm painting "Starry, Starry Night" . I'm sure it'll be WAY better than VanGogh. Hahahaha.