TMI to totally nothing . . .

Yes, just focusing on MCAT prep, living at my cousin Hope's, and not being required to constantly check assignments online has moved me from telling everyone, everything, all the time to nothing, rarely and never. Its not all entire intentional. I have been puttering around with few terribly exciting developments. I started taking practice MCATs. My first today went entirely well and I have 5 more practice ones to go, so its all only going up! I hoping that my amazing, fantastic unbelievable score will carry me easily through admissions, although I am not holding my breath for that. I start seriously ear marking my AAMC book which lists schools and with various pertinent information. I am excited beyond belief but prayerful. In an admissions environment which keeps saying that they are not relying as heavily on MCATs, I am hoping for a more in that direction, even! Oy.

That's pretty much my life right now, along with applying for jobs. I am interviewing on Monday, but the position is entirely non-medical, which is an obvious drawback. Pray and hope that something wonderful will come along here soon. I have a little bit of breathing room for studying thanks to my parents (wonderful parents!) gently encouraging me and backing me up for it.

Family life around the Benitez-Murphy-Everheart "clan" has had some ups and downs recently. My cousin's son graduated from high school today, the first of the younger generation. Payton and Hailey (another part of my "cousin's-children" generation, and my generous house sharers at the moment) have just about finished the regular soccer season. Though Hope has the joy tomorrow of sharing her wedding anniversary with Father's day and one last soccer tournament day. Hailey has been off and on sick, however, for the last two weeks and capped off today's long but successfully rainy day by a round of stomach upset. All five who live in this house pray that this bug remains quarantined and short.

Ok, now that is pretty much my life. Although I do have the joy of extending congratulations next Saturday to a long time friend getting married. And perhaps more importantly (just kidding) she is moving in the DC area. That makes two new DC additions. Hurrah for recruiting people to the crazy weather, pretty but weird DC.

Dramatic irony adn other definitions. . .

I was discussing the definition of irony in the context of the current Democratic fight. If dramatic irony is the audience knowing something that the characters don't, is Hillary Clinton continuing in the face of almost impossible odds a sign of a sort of irony: does she know something we (the audience/voting public) don't know?

In my own irony question: does somebody already know how my story ends and be willing to clue me in? It looks that for the summer duration I will be enjoying DC hospitality. Cross your fingers and pray!

Ok, so I haven't written in a while. . . .

A friend told me today that I am being "elusive." Well I promise I am not trying to be mysterious, just noncommittal. I had a brilliant plan which included being employed by now. So far that really has not happened. So I guess I just need to focus on MCAT without employment in the short term. Ugh!

In all fairness to me, I have been sorta busy. After all I finished my program at Georgetown. I am considering retaking one class, but overall feel a sense of accomplishment for the last year. This week has been filled with getting one of my best friends married off in style and some sanity (face it Robin, neither of us have been able to claim that one in a long time!) I did some of the ritual maid-of-honor duties which I shared with Christie, Robin's sister. I welcomed Joshua very nicely to the family and then threatened his life if he ever hurt Robin. All in a days work. The flowers were immensely lovely as usual from my mother and Merissa. While I have little desire to join the family business, it is always fun to see a project that large come to completion.

In lew of writing, any other events over the last two weeks can be told in the following pictures as well as the videos. Enjoy.

You'd think

You would think that I would want to talk about my biochem final today. Which I most certainly did not ace (Malate has only a "6 degrees of separation" kind of relationship with Pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), but the confusion came because oxaloacetate can be pulled out for conversion by PEP carboxylase to become phosphenol pyruvate then gluconeogenesis. No where close to PPP. Yeah, ridiculously obvious mistake. Actually, it is, that is what is so depressing). But I am hopeful (and distinctly prayerfully pleading) that I could still pull out a pretty good grade.

Ok, so I did want to talk about it. But moving on. Today I wandered over to the Cathedral for a lookie-loo at fair going on. It was the May Flower Fair, or something like that. The Cathedral has this nursery on site, which I must admit to never having been to until today. So the lawn was covered in booths, selling handy crafts, fair trade clothing and carvings from India and Africa,cinnamon almonds. The further I wandered in, the larger it all became. There were teriyaki chicken places, a funnel cake booth (still bummed I didn't have any cash for that) and even a small Ferris wheel (really, REALLY small). So here is small snapshot of my day.
This is the Bishops's garden, actually the last stop on my tour. I feel really silly for not having explored this part of my neighborhood further earlier.
This was the accompaniment for the first part of the booths. The sound of the rides provided the soundtrack for the backside.
Because no acre of D.C. would be complete without the Civil War horse statue (This particular one actually needs greater research to confirm that it is indeed, commemorating the Civil War.)
The longest line to any attraction at the fair was to the ice cream truck.
This was actually the nursery that is an everyday business on the Cathedral grounds. Thought these blown glass globes looked like the old glass buoys my Nana collected. Plus, they were just beautiful.
For some reason Teddy Bear Vine just didn't seem to be an appropriate moniker for this plant.
So starts are joking tour of "What every Cathedral needs." Every good cathedral needs many monks praying. These are the back up guys, ready to rush out when the other guys get sent off to different homes. Unfortunately for them, the birds have found a permanent home for themselves near as well.Every good cathedral needs gargoyles. In this case, these grimacing bad guys seem closer to a kiss than warding off evil.
This Cathedral has a reminder that there was a fallen angel, one with feet of clay.
Ok, this seems a little more Hogwarts than Hunchback to me, but hey, whatever.
All the following (except the last) are in the Bishop's garden. This was particularly touching to me. It is plaque dedicating a bench to a deceased woman, from her parents.
The alum were are at their peak. It was lovely. I found this an emotive piece, a portrayal of the Prodigal Son. I love attempting to make cool shots of pathways. I just keep trying to get them right and make them interesting, to actually show some of what I see. Didn't happen this time . . . but not bad.
I could see that I had just missed the peak of the garden's blossoms. Despite that and the people everywhere, I truly enjoyed it. I would love to spend some more peaceful time there.

And because I always seem to end adventures on the sublime. . . I noticed this truck as I was leaving
Ever wanted to rob an ATM but didn't know how to arrange transportation from the caper . . . here you are. I am assuming this is likely the most ridiculously security modified van, and bears no actual resemblance to its other assembly line fellows in its resistance to theft, however it still seems rather disconcerting. Maybe its just me.

Once again, a decision required. Can't I just choose chicken?

I have been trying rather unsuccessfully for months to sort out my future. Well that's all nonsense. I know one thing for certain in my future. I will go to medical school. I don't know which one, or where, but I will go. Do I really have to deal with everything else? I mean, really?

Today I got my last request for Georgetown recommendations done. I am hoping the review process will go adequately well. Frankly I am peeing my pants scared but still. One more thing needs to be ironed out really soon. Cross your fingers, pray, whatever you do, I will take the support in any form.

As for my future, it appears that I will be heading back to Seattle for the immediate future. While I love D.C. and am going to really miss my apartment, the lower cost of living will definitely increase my ability to pay for . . . well, anything! I am up for other adventures for sure and certain, but I needed to a place to chill for a little while. No, there is still no word on jobs. And that really freaks me out. But I will try and hit the ground running, all the same.

By Wednesday of next week, I will be done with Georgetown, at least the PBPM part.

Do you ever. . .

Find yourself actually finishing a multitude of tasks, feel accomplished for a moment, the realize you have been avoiding the actual thing that needs to be done?

Tummy woes . . .

I think the butterflies in my stomach have started eating their way out. Do you think that could be a problem?

One thing at a time . . . finish line in sight!

I just finished my last physics problem set. Ever! This morning I checked out of organic chemistry lab. In just a few minutes I will finish my last ever organic lab report. I still have a biochem test, final and project, a physics test and final, an organic lab quiz, and an organic chemistry final. I am not done. But to only have a final left in organic really takes a weight off my mind. I think I did not do so well on the test last night. Frankly I did not talk to a single person who walked out feeling like they had solidly done well on that test. UGH! But to put it behind me! Hurrah!


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Now playing: Jack Johnson - Belle
via FoxyTunes

Zantac is great!

I just discovered the longer term acid blockers. I actually don't know which one is which just yet. (I got a free sample of something) and decided to try it in desperation last night after Tums galore and even some fizzies. This actually makes it really bearable.

Oh and I thought my physic homework I started last night was the right one. But oops, nope, that is next weeks. I figured it out about an hour and half ago and just punched that sucker out. I am done!! Hurrah. I even played some computer games, did some organic chemistry problems and ate lunch rather early. Malia's on her game today! Gosh do I wish I could manage this everyday. The ironic thing is that I spent most of my night last night fight for any small scrap of sleep I could get and I am exhausted!

Thank you Lord for adreniline keeping us going.

For those of you counting down until I come back to Seattle, yes it is getting obscenely close. For those that are counting until the wedding (nominally the reason I am coming home) stop it Robin! You are not allowed to count anymore! Yes, you will beat me out of singlehood. But not yet, my friend. Not yet (insert evil laugh). For those counting down until I am done with Georgetown (my mother and father), my last final is May 7. After that, its good bye.

Happy and sad times. It will be happier when I have a certain job!

Plastic for heat conduction or how Malia's accident prone

I made potatoes and I made a large blister at the same time. People will tell you plastic kitchen impliments are better since they don't conduct heat as quickly as metal. That is true. However is they are accidently left exposed to flame from the gas stove they conduct heat quite well, let me tell you! The big blister now on my right hand testifies to that. Ooops.

Biochem test tomorrow. Pray, ok? On the good new front I got an excellent (near the top of the class) grade on my Physics test. Pretty cool, huh?

She is the onion queen, young and sweet

So I must admit. In another month I will have lived in DC for a total of 1 year and this is the first time I visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. It was amazing. (All the pictures from this particular outing are on the slideshow that is the currently on the right side of your screen.) I had planned on going down to the Mall, almost hitting a couple of tourists and then heading for a longer, harder bike ride on the Mount Vernon trail or up the C and O Canal. However I wimped out at the same time as my camera battery died and I realized despite the fact it was really warm outside (55 degree) and the fact that all the tourists around seemed dressed as though they were in Siberia (I mean, really, yelling at your kid 'cuz he took his gloves off because it was so so cold is excessive). However the wind was blowing and I was riding with thin running shorts on at "high speeds" against the wind. So took lots of pictures and then went grocery shopping. Which was good. I love cereal.

As for the onion queen, I saw them on sale and thought, "Mmmm, sauted onions, good idea." Then I got home and realized I had apparently had a similar thought recently while shopping. Twice. So anyone need two of my three bags of Trader Joe's onions, give me a call. Anyone of the 9 actually onions I own would be pleased to go home with some who will actually be able to use all of them!
Well, on to homework, then taxes. Good times, what can I say. The video is a quick (emphasis on quick) snapshot of the crowds around the Mall for the Cherry Blossom Festival, which started today and brought thousands to town. It really is spectacular to see Capital so adorned.

Pray. . . I need the A

I just finished with an early (obscenely early!) morning test in physics. Unlike last time were I walked out frustrated and then figured out my solution was right the whole time and my calculator had serious user error, this time I found answers for everything on the multiple choice test. I was right on target. I do have to say that the angles of refraction and prisms and that whole shindig, are nightmares of trigonometry. I could not figure out my whole deal on one problem (ok, two!). Finally, after drawing successively bigger pictures and finally ending with one that was half the size of the page with every line and possible complementary angle labeled, did I figure out I was trying to find the wrong thing. I was try to find the angle of the light from the prism and the question asked for the angle of light between the two outside light rays (as they meet in the middle). Thank the Lord for multiple choice tests. I wouldn't have even realized the difference between the two if I had been able to find the right answer the first time! There were two problems back to back with similar wording but different pictures. And who trusts the pictures anyway! I will next time!

I feel . . . better than I have in a little while. I think my Dad was right (yes, I can admit it). Even though I had been giving myself what I thought of as appropriate time for rest, I was still heading for burnout. Hopefully that is staved off for a little while longer. I think the problem has not been lack of "down time." I believe the problem has been identifying activities that are actually quality rest time. I think if I spent more time doing things like really cool bike rides around, and less time vegged out in front of the computer with the Tv on in the background, I would feel better overall. And most likely be a better student. It is hard to get out and about without someone to do it with. As I have become more settled in, I have become less proactive about where I search for relationship. I have been relying on school friends to my everyday interactions. I am looking forward to having work interactions again too, which tend to communicate different ways.

Its funny how you can be lonely and stressed out and anxious, and still be happy and enjoying the quirks of people and the sun and the cherry blossoms. I can't figure out life, or the Lord. That is for sure!

Malia cutter it too close . . . and still survived!

I was working on one last problem, due at 6pm. Just now, in fact! And I was frantically trying to fix my mistake. Still can't figure out the "help" which is normally incredibly helpful. But in this case, It was totally weird and wrong. I am still not sure how they figured the whole things out. But I solved it!! Hurrah! And even thought I am convinced that it was after the time to turn it in, it still accepted the right answer. Hurrah!

Spring break, break no more

Yes, I am bad. I haven't posted anything for a few days and I do have pictures to share. But I have been keeping tired, really, and today is the first day I feel even marginally awake and not brain dead since Spring break ended. I do promise to post my New York weekend pictures today (ok, maybe tomorrow at the latest). Mostly I have been doing good. My mom offered to come out for my birthday the weekend after next (also Easter weekend) but I already had plans for a trip south to visit Missa and Matt's new pad. I am so excited to see their new home. And have Easter with friends in a completely different place but still feel home in spirit. They have promised to put me to work again though. Last time I visited, I arrived to help toss soda tabs into huge recycling bins. This time I may get to help direct church traffic. At least this time I get some warning. Although I don't think that I get the option (or even want to given the weather) of going to the beach afterward. Bummer.

Back to the physics grind. It is good and bad that school is already winding up. A month and a half and then finals . . . (queue scary music).

Well, it been awfully quiet here

Since I last spoke with y'all, I finished a biochem test which I thought(hope/am desperately praying) went well. I probably won't know about either test until at least school starts again on Monday. Maybe even later. But I do feel fairly confident and pleased than none of the topics tested were completely unknown. And even the one I messed up on in physics I had the concept and set up right. For once partial credit would be completely in my favor. Ugh! It was not available on this test.

Today has followed similar lazy days since Friday. Friday night Hope and I trucked it out of the city to 'burbs via mass transit, enjoying a chance to chat in person and exchange odds and ends of family life. I have to say the day was ended well with a little Shiraz wine which we stopped to pick up as well as some triple cream cheese and fresh bread (which I insisted upon). Saturday I slept in until literally 2pm. I think if Hope hadn't sent the girls down to wake me I might have continued sleeping. The girls and I watched Freaky Friday (the new one with Lindsey Lohan) and made caramel popcorn while Hope and Terry went grocery shopping. It was really fun.

I went to bed early again that night and slept fairly late, but Sunday we did try for some exercise. Ok, only in the direct of the nearest Starbucks, but it was a 2 mile roundtrip walk! The sun was warm and I think all of us were happy to see Spring around the corner.

Monday the girls were back into school, and Hope and Terry were at work, so I headed home to enjoy a bike ride in the "unseasonably" warm weather. I was still tired, so yesterday's foray was perfunctory at best. Today I decided to best myself, and ignoring the gray clouds and possible thunderstorms, I set off through Georgetown to the Mount Vernon Trail, a paved 18 mile trip that starts in Arlington near the Rosslyn metro station and ends (not surprisingly) at the home of the first president. I didn't quite make it that far today. But I did finally make it to Roosevelt Island, which is undeveloped except for a walking bridge to it and a car bridge on the southern tip. It had become a bit of a goal of mine to visit and walk around. I must say it was rather anticlimactic. Hopefully further into Spring the island will take on some color and life.

The trail itself is very flat. However the wind had added alot of work, even coming down the "big" Wisconsin hill. So by mile marker 15, I was ready to turn tail and go home. I called Mom and Dad to check in and "share" lunch, turkey and provolone sandwich. Trying to keep the momentum up until home and not take the bus, I wound my way through Foxhall. I never got completely lost, but I was definitely momentarily "misplaced". It added at least a mile to trek home, all of it up hill!


The picture of me and the bike has Roosevelt Island as the background. The bright orange pants are my biking pants and worn in honor of Mom, who I know worries about me being visible to crazy drivers. The wave/bird statue is an often overlooked "Navy and Marine Memorial" which practically inaccessible (totally inaccessible during current construction) just south of Ladybird Johnson Park and Arlington Cemetery. The last picture is the classic looking over the Potomac at the Lincoln Monument to the Washington Monument. I was going to take more pictures of the estates around Foxhall, but it always makes me a bit nervous. They seem rather serious about security. I think I will those pictures for a day when I am with someone else, okay?

Microsoft Office Suite owns my soul

I am currently in classes, running four Office suite programs. Danielle, I know you love it! My calendar is open in Outlook, I am taking notes in Powerpoint for biochemistry, I am finishing a lab in Excel, and writing a prelab in Word. Google is almost equally represented (see gmail and blogger as well as google desktop) but I do love and hate Office suite. It makes all the yucky tasks (like homework) alot easier. Though I do have some function ideas for expanding Excel!

Sleep, blessed sleep

After a few days in a row of extremely late nights (last night was 4:30am), I finally have a night of sleep ahead. I am very excited. All my school things end up due Tuesday morning and Wednesday, which, being a procrastinator, lends itself to some sleepless nights. Ah well, still good. I love learning interesting things. Biochemistry is definitely worth the work. I am really enjoying.

Samantha is coming this weekend. We're not sure how many days she is staying but it should be really a fun time. I am really looking forward to it all.

By the way, got my organic chemistry test back today. It wasn't wonderful, but I didn't fail. Which is great!! Plus I got one question completely right. How awesome is that? I mean, cool. I figured out the molecule based on experimental data. Perfectly! Next time I will do even better!

Despite

Despite possibly failing a test just now, I feel relieved and excited. I had a fairly good day overall. It was amazingly cold. The high was 32 degrees. Freezing. With windchill added in, it was cold enough to delay school in some Western areas of Virginia and Maryland. I got to school half iced over and just in time to miss the first physics question. But I got there in time! Biochem has started to speed up unnervingly but it buildings on foundations. This was smoothed over by the 'cup-o-joe' from Saxby's that went down smooth. Organic chemistry consisted of a question answer period that unnerved me more than anything. But Jonah, Andrew, Dave and I all went to Chipotle after, the Monday tradition, and enjoyed good food and random conversation.

I studied tout seule until our organic lab recitation (where the prof explains the upcoming). Then Lei-ann, Dorothy and I went to dinner (Subway for me). Later Greg joined us. It was fun. We talked about life and crap and everything. It got a lot more stuck in my head than would have otherwise. Lei-ann and I are planning to get together once a week to try this learning technique a little more often. Maybe others will even join us.

The test can be classified as nothing but difficult. However they seem more doable this semester. Somehow there seems to be more rhyme and reason to it all. Hurrah! Lei-ann drove me home (which was wonderful considering the walk to the car solidified my extremities to icicles) and I even got to flirt a little with a nice looking fellow in the elevator.

It should be noted at this point that my father, who has been going through trial by fire in his first teaching job, starting directly into the classroom as the lead teacher in two subjects, has decided to momentarily retrench in responsibility. What form that will take, everyone involved is unsure. Like everything else in my life away from DC and school, it leaves much . . . unsettled. However, I feel sanguine about the change. I know that all three people involved in these decisions are capable: my father, my mother, and God.

Single bus rider direct to stop

I spent part of this weekend studying organic chemistry and then yesterday I bussed it out to spend the night with Hope and Family. We went out to dinner, hit Target and Wegman's (the wonder grocery store) and then went home to watch a movie and eat brownies. Hope and I went shopping today for a bridesmaids dress for a friend of Hope's wedding. It was fun and topped off by Starbuck's coffee.

Hope dropped me off to run home via bus. When we got to the "kiss and drop" the bus sat there waiting, door open. I hopped on the bus and was quickly followed by the bus driver. And we set off all alone toward West Falls Church Metro. He told me about his house in Arkansas that he just recently bought, where he fell in love the area. He hopes to move there someday soon. So individually chauffeured to the Metro stop, he exhorted me to get home quickly. It was too cold for me to be out and about.

While this take the "mass" out of transit, it was nice to be taken care of so quickly.

To all the undervalued teachers

You never know the struggle unless you have to witness it up close. So this is a large, overwhelming thanks to the teachers who helped shape who I am now, and spent the time to help me along when I did not get it right away.

In another side note, I am done with my physics homework before 2 Am. How cool is that! Now off to bed!!! Hurrah!!