What month is it?

The last time I checked, it was August. Now it's nearly the end of September. And while I now know a substantial amount of information about the nervous system and head/neck anatomy, I seem to have lost a month.

I can't even begin to say what sort of fun things I'm going to do once the exam is over tomorrow. Sleep! Sit! Read anything I don't have to memorize! Leave school before sunset!

Seriously, let's get this over with. 16 hours and counting...

A Reputable Influencer

I'm swamped with neuroanatomy, but I felt the need to post an email I received a few moments ago. Apparently I'm more popular, or at least more reputable (and more influential) than I expected.

Hi,I was just browsing the 'net and found your Hans Zimmer-related blog entry: http://amateurchef.blogspot.com/2006/09/digging-in.html and I think you may be of some help to me. I'm reaching out to you on behalfof M80 & Image Entertainment regarding the release of 'Yanni Live! The ConcertEvent' on DVD and CD. Since you blogged about Hans Zimmer, I thought that youmight be interested in posting the press release or a review of the DVD or CDon your blog? You seem like a reputable influencer, so I think you'd be a bighelp to us. For your help or review, I would be happy to send you a copy of YanniLive! on DVD or CD.Please let me know if you're interested!

Thanks!
Nico, M80
(email and website removed)

Two comments:
1. Who puts an apostrophe on 'net?
2. Anyone want a Yanni Live DVD?

Sincerely,

Your Reputable Influencer

Deadlines

When I get stressed, it's usually about deadlines. I have something to do, I have a limited time in which to do it, and I'm concerned that I won't be able to finish it in time. But if I finish the task or if there is a long time left before the deadline, I don't worry too much.

My next real deadline isn't for two weeks, yet I'm already stressed as if it were tomorrow. And I think I know why: I can't truly finish studying neuro. Not even close. I had this feeling last year at times, but it didn't usually last very long because each committee ("class" as most people say) was only a few weeks long. Now, though, I've been studying and studying and studying for a few weeks...and there are still two weeks to go until the exam.

This committee has completely transformed my daily life. Part of me thinks that I'm actually more stressed because of the changes in my daily routine, but I know deep down that I would be even more panicked if I weren't working so hard.

Everyone around me is similarly stressed, or so it seems, and that certainly doens't help things.

Grrrrrr. I've been trying to limit my caffeine intake so I can avoid the jitters and get to sleep at night, but that's not going so well. And I'm getting sick.

I should go running. That would help. But it has been raining and raining, and I haven't been getting home until relatively late recently. Maybe tomorrow.

Time to eat dinner. While I study at a cafe.

Mood: discouraged
Song: Live, "The Beauty of Gray" and Rusted Root, "Ecstasy"

Digging In

My last post was right -- the next two weeks will be insane. And my entire class knows it. We're not exactly the most cheerful group of people right now.

I'll take a break tonight to catch the primary election results from Rhode Island and Maryland, but otherwise I will be working on neuroanatomy and head/neck anatomy all night. Oh, and yes, my house is still a freaking nightmare.

But otherwise life is wonderful. Woohoo.

Song: Bon Jovi, "Livin' On a Prayer" (acoustic). And Hans Zimmer movie soundtracks. Plus some Mitch Hedberg comedy to lighen it up.
Mood: frustrated/exhausted

Clouds on the Horizon

Neuro is getting hard - and we still have three weeks left. I'm getting worn down already (!), and it seems like everyone around me is anxious most of the time.

Hmmm. We only have classes for 4 days this week, and the first one of those was pretty short, so this week shouldn't be that hard. Let's see how I feel on Friday afternoon...

Mood: anxious
Song: Metallica, "No Leaf Clover" and something else cathartic

Labor Day

While med school can certainly give you an altered perception of reality, one thing it certainly makes you more aware of is holidays. Even those for just 24 hours. To say I'm thankful for this day off doesn't truly capture how important this day has been. Last week was pretty brutal, so having an extra day to sleep and sleep is obviously helpful. Perhaps more importantly, though, is the fact that we don't have to add new material to our To Do lists today. One of the hardest things about this committee so far has been the fact that we're covering new material at an astounding rate. If you're not running at full speed on school days, you'll find yourself getting farther and farther behind.

Friday night was a little bit unpleasant as I realized late in the evening that I needed to do some extra work before meeting with my research advisor on Saturday morning. (I thought my analysis had been finished earlier in the week, but I'd missed an important step.) Anyway, I made my way through the analysis (successfull, mostly) and got to bed sometime in the middle of the night...maybe 4am or so. I had intended to get to bed by 11 that night, so I started the weekend with an unfortunate sleep deficit. Fortuntely, the two subsequent nights of 11-12 hours of sleep helped return me to a mostly-human state. And hopefully this week will be a little bit lighter on the extracurriculars than last week was.

On this labor day, I am simultaneously laboring away and recognizing the labor of those around me. Good enough.

Mood: not really sure. a little bored, a little distracted.
Song: Snow Patrol, "Chocolate" and the King's Singers, "Spem in Alium"

PS. No, I don't think anyone else has ever listened to those two songs back-to-back before. I know, I listen to strange combinations of musical genres...