A Trip Down Memory Lane

My last day of clinical rotations EVER is tomorrow and it is hard to believe that 8 years of higher education are almost complete. The last 4 years of pharmacy school feel like a dream in a way. All of the lectures, exams, late nights, and early mornings are a blur...I wonder if that is a coping mechanism of some sort. Ten years from now I might not remember that if you add a halogen to the ring structure of a TCA it increases serotonin selectivity, but I will remember the good memories (in spite of the stress there were some good times), and the people that I met along the way. Here is a glimpse of the good times:

Disclaimer: This post will likely be painfully boring for everyone in the world except me. I won't fault you if you decide not read further.

My first semester of pharmacy started with the white coat ceremony. Here is me, Carl, and Grandma Darylene afterwards.
The summer following first year I attended a weeklong seminar hosted by the U on alcoholism and drug abuse. I received elective credit for attending and overall it was a great experience. This is me and a few of my classmates on the last day.

Later that same summer I volunteered as a counselor at a summer camp for kids with diabetes (I received elective credit for this as well). This is me at dinner with the girls in my cabin.

The camp was held near Tooele and one day during the week they bussed us into town to the waterpark. This is me with my classmates Andrea and JulieAnn. Julie is one of my best friends in pharmacy school...without her I would likely be in a straight jacket in a padded room somewhere.

During third year I was in charge of organizing the 4th Annual University of Utah College of Pharmacy Easter Egg Hunt for Children with Diabetes (try saying that 5 times fast). Walgreens sponsored the event and the kids and their siblings received lots of sugar-free candy and toys. We had a good turnout, great weather, and lots of volunteer support. This may have been the most stressful endeavor I undertook in pharmacy school, but also the most rewarding.

This is a picture of the kids crowding around the toy table. They received little tickets in their eggs and were able to redeem them here. We also had clowns, magicians, face-paintings, and pictures with the Easter Bunny.

Carl and I attended a random assortment of get-togethers and holiday parties with my classmates. It was always nice to spend time outside of class with my friends from school and their significant others. There were only 45 of us in the program, so after 4 years you get to know each other pretty well. This picture was taken at a Christmas party (I don't recall if it was 1st or 2nd year). We had a gingerbread house contest....

...and a white elephant gift exchange. The box in the middle of this picture contains a live rooster. I don't remember laughing so hard in my life at the expression on the face of the person who opened this box.

We finished all of our classwork last April before beginning clinical rotations. Pharmacy school would not be complete without burning three years worth of lecture notes over a bonfire and then roasting marshmallows over it.

Last but not least, pharmacy school would definitely not be complete without getting together and hitting a pinata representing our least favorite professors (wow! this post makes us all look so violent. I promise it was all done in fun and that we are not a group of malicious future pharmacists! I guess everybody needs to burn off steam once in a while). Phung, the girl in my class who brought the pinata, couldn't find one with a white coat on so an Elvis in a white suit holding a counting spatula had to suffice. This is Jake, my friend who hosted the event (which actually took place last Saturday), holding the pinata. If you ever read this Jake I apologize in advance for posting your picture on my blog but your face says it all.

A group picture taken after the pinata bashing...

Now that pharmacy school is over it is fun to remember the good times. Thanks for the memories!

Graduation...Part One

Carl graduated from UVSC yesterday with his BS degree in Computer Science! What a trooper! He already has lots of plans for his spare time including training for a marathon, building model airplanes, working on his 1954 Army jeep, and becoming a PC (pilot-in-command) with his Guard Unit. It turned out to be a lovely day and we enjoyed spending time with Carl's parents, his brother and sister-in-law Andrew and Jessica, my dad and Cheryl, and my mom. We are all very proud of him.

My Shopping Trip at DI

I am the first person to admit that I am cheap. Nothing gives me an endorphin rush like finding a great deal on something I really want or like. My new favorite place to find great deals is DI. Sure, it takes a little digging around through lots of racks, but if you are persistent there are some great finds. I recently found a nice pair of Gap khaki slacks in my size, a cute new spring hoodie, a pair of black dress shoes to wear to graduation, and new capris. Here is a sampling of some of my finds. Even though I love to save money, I have learned through the years there are things worth splurging on. These include, but are not limited to, jeans and shoes. I have long legs so it is difficult to find jeans that fit right, and I stand on my feet all day at work so good shoes are essential. My favorite shoes to wear at work are Danskos, which can be pricey, but are worth every penny to save my feet. Happily, I found an almost new pair of Danskos at the DI in Vernal (in my size thankfully) for $3. You never know what you might find with a little diligence!