"A Toshiba. . . Niiice."

I read through my last few blog posts, and I realized how depressing they are. So, today, I am going to prove that I do occasionally get up on the right side of the bed. This morning, I'm not so sure it was right or left, so much as the fact that I crawled out of bed at 10am. I got a glorious 8 hours of sleep. (You did that math right. I didn't go to bed until 2 last night.)

After a terrible weekend of hematology studying (and me being a crabby witch all day Saturday), I took my final exam yesterday. And although I may not have passed with flying colors, I probably passed. At this point, my only concern is doing well enough to make sure I never have to take that class again. And since then, life has gone swimmingly. (Isn't swimmingly a great word?) I have a lot to write about, since I actually did something other than study.

I woke up yesterday at 6am after about 4 hours of sleep to cram in a little more hematology before my exam, and my friend calls me (he's awake studying too), so we can study together at that ridiculous hour. On my way out the door at 6:15, I can't find my cell phone, even though I was just talking on it. No big deal, I won't need it until later anyway. So, I come after my exam, and I still can't fine my phone anywhere. I'm starting to panic a little, when I decide to make myself lunch and look later. Then, Lo and Behold, there is my cell phone. . . in the silverware drawer. Nope, I can't explain it either.

At that point I tried taking a nap, but I was in a state where I was too tired to sleep. So, instead I went grocery shopping and baked a cake. I have now decided that I should never try to bake while comatose. There should be a warning on the Betty Crocker box-- "Do not operate heavy machinery or a hand mixer during extreme fatigue". I was planning on making a Coffee-Toffee Cake with Caramel Frosting (recipe from the Betty Crocker website) to use up some extra milk-chocolate toffee bits I had in the cupboard.

The actual cake-baking portion went fine, but it was the frosting that ended up being too much of a challenge for my sleep-deprived brain. In my tiredness, I had forgotten to get the caramel topping at the grocery store, but I think, "No problem, I'll make a cinnamon frosting instead". I should have just left well enough alone. In my zeal, I also decided to add a little extra vanilla flavoring to the tub of pre-made vanilla frosting I'd bought. Only, I grabbed the wrong little red-capped bottle. When I'd added my teaspoon, I noticed it was clear instead of brown, and definitely did not smell like vanilla. It was almond extract. Not too bad a mistake, except for that I don't like almond extract. Adding the cinnamon flavor was bad enough, and the almond just tipped the whole precarious flavor balance over the edge of reason. After sprinkling the toffee bits (the point of this entire endeavor), I ended up with a coffee-flavored cake (yum), and vanilla/cinnamon/almond/toffee/chocolate frosting.

It isn't terrible. It tastes like the decorations at Cleo's (a bar on the Ave) look-- too much tinsel, too many lights, gaudacious, but surely not boring. I had plans to eat dinner with some of my guy friends, and luckily, they aren't too picky.

After I finished combining that confetti of flavors, I finally took a much-needed nap. I even had good dreams :).

Then (and Kyle will yell at me for not telling this first, since it is obviously the most important thing I did yesterday), I bought a new TV. It is a thing of beauty. . . at least compared to our old TV. Now, our old TV is truly old, formerly belonging to my grandma. And no wonder she was so willing to give it up. It's a white, 20" monster with a built in VCR. The cable connection in the back of the TV is bad, so we could only watch for about a minute and a half without having to get up and wiggle the cable cord around to fix the fuzziness/static/blue screen. Last week, the connection to the DVD player started to get temperamental as well. . . That was the last straw. So, still in my pajamas after my nap, I drove out to Best Buy. Now, $300 later, I am the proud owner of a shiny, new 27" flat screen (still a tube TV, but wonderful all the same). The guy who helped me load it into my car even commented, "A Toshiba. . . niiiice." Gotta love the nerdy employees at Best Buy. I got everything hooked up this morning and happily watched Martha Stewart in all her 27" glory.

I then ended my evening eating pesto bow-tie noodles and crazy cake with the guys, drinking beer, and watching clips from Jackass.

What a great day.

And it just continues. I took a personal day today. Skipped all my classes, slept in, and now I'm drinking wonderful coffee from Panera, while pointedly avoiding starting the reading for the classes I skipped this morning. I haven't felt so good in a long time.

Screw hematology

I have my hematology final on Monday. And THANK THE LORD because then my misery will end (or at least lessen). I think I actually would enjoy hematology if I didn't have to learn all of it in a month. Three four-hour sessions a week is just plain too much in too little time. Twelve hours per week in a 3 credit class. I have spent so much time on hematology that just looking at my binder triggers my gag reflex.

I was thinking last night as I was studying for my weekly Friday quiz how much I hated my life. Now, a person should only hate their life one night in a row. Which means, despite the fact that I have a final on Monday, that I am going to spend my Friday night like an undergrad. Hallelujah.

However, I still have to study until dinner.

My advice to all of you contemplating med school-- Think hard about it. Really hard.

No positive twist at the end today. I don't have the energy for positivity. Just pass me a beer. (No wonder a large percentage of physicians are also substance abusers. We are driven to it by our education. Don't you think that says something about the system??)