Fun Times!

So I’ve been over at UCI in the department of dermatology for the past week and I’ve got to admit, they do some really cool stuff there!  It’s all about lasers, lasers, and wait…did I mention lasers?

In San Francisco, while I rotated through the dermatology department, I saw only the clinic aspects of dermatology.  However, after coming to UCI, I’ve seen so much more of what dermatology has to offer.  I think it’s because I’m now on a “sub-I” instead of a 2-week introductory course.  In any case, I wanted to do my rotation at UCI to:

1.  be close to my family

2.  check out the UCI program

I’d ideally like to be home in southern California for residency and so far I’ve really enjoyed the UCI program.  The residents all seem really cool and relaxed.  All of them were really great about getting me in on procedures.  I got to do some face tightening with lasers this week, treated my first skin cancers with the burn and scrape technique, and also got to do a lot of biopsies.  I love learning new things!

I thought rotating through another derm rotation would just burn me out, but at this point, it’s only reaffirmed my decision!  Dermatology….here I come!  Just gotta wait for those interviews!!!

Come up to meet ya, tell you I’m sorry
You don’t know how lovely you are
I had to find you, tell you I need ya
And tell you I set you apart
Tell me your secrets, and ask me your questions
Oh lets go back to the start
Running in circles, coming in tails
Heads on a science apart
Nobody said it was easy
It’s such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be this hard
Oh take me back to the start

I was just guessing at numbers and figures
Pulling the puzzles apart
Questions of science, science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart
And tell me you love me, come back and haunt me
Oh and I rush to the start
Running in circles, chasing tails
Coming back as we are

Nobody said it was easy
Oh it’s such a shame for us to part
Nobody said it was easy
No one ever said it would be so hard
I’m going back to the start

Coldplay – The Scientist

So I’ve never really written a blog before, but seeing as how I’ve been so busy with life recently, I just wanted to share some updates with everyone. Here goes:

1.  So my sister just had twin baby girls!! It’s actually really exciting.  She’s got two boys already running around and causing trouble, but now they’ve got two babies on top of that. It’s actually kinda scary in my opinion, but I guess there’s balance now that there are two girls.  Now she’s got 2 boys and 2 girls and she feels less lonely now that the numbers stack up more evenly.  Twice the feedings, sleepless nights, dirty diapers, barfing, pooing, and complaints…but I guess it’s always twice as fun!

2.  Just finished applying for residencies and am anxiously awaiting to hear from programs for interviews.  Haven’t been really in a position where I needed to prove myself in a really long time, but I feel like everytime I interview, I have to impress the interviewers so they’ll accept me.  Pretty much what I’ll be doing is tricking people into thinking I’m worthy (even though I’m a complete mess).  Hopefully it’ll work and I’ll get into residency somewhere in LA!  If not, see you in Alabama.

3.  I’ll be doing a dermatology externship at UCI (awesome to be back in SoCal).  I’m super excited to find out about the program while also taking the opportunity to spend time with my family.  Should be fun!

4.  Lots of thinking/contemplating/life-planning to do.  Really important things have happened in my life recently; things I realize now that I can’t change no matter how hard I try.  It’s tough because I’m so used to being in control of situations…and to not be able to control/fix/remedy this situation is really affecting me.

PS – Meet the new twin nieces…Katie and Alyssa.

And a bonus:

Ethan and Aaron