You Can Quit. We Can Help.

Did anyone notice that that was Nicorette gum's slogan, and then Home Depot stole it? (Or bought it, I dunno.) They changed it to: "You Can Do It. We Can Help." All in all, a pretty great slogan, I think.

But I digress. Megan is talking about how difficult she finds it to quit stuff she's not enjoying anymore. I totally sympathize. I am always a huge rule-follower. Over the past few years, in med school, my time has become infinitely more precious to me, so I've gotten better about quitting, or even better, not even committing in the first place. Life is short, so it's best just to have fun.

On the other hand, some stuff you just have to power through in order to get the desired effect. For example, if you want to have the fun of running a long race, you have to go through the daily training beforehand, even if you consider it utter drudgery. So sometimes it's tough to tell what's a loser and what will ultimately pay off if you show some stick-to-it-iveness.

So Much to Do

I found out yesterday that I got an interview at Jefferson! Huzzah. I scheduled it for October 15th, which is pretty early in the interview season. It's a Monday, so even though I'm doing an away rotation at Yale, it'll be easy enough to just come home for the weekend and stay for the interview. As a bonus, I can make my usual Monday shrinky dink appointment. But scheduling my interview so early means I need to buy a suit, soon. Gah. Maybe I'll try tomorrow afternoon to see if Banana Republic or J. Crew have anything. Or Ann Taylor. Or any of the yuppie strongholds.

My Latest Desktop Background

Oh Man

I just had one of those laughing episodes where I shake and cry and feel a little out of control. I won't tell you what it was at, because it'll be manifest in a present to one of my readers soon. But it felt great to just be swept away into maniacal laughter. Mwahahaha.

I took my clinical skills exam today, part of Step 2 for Boards licensure blahdy blahdy blah. It was actually pretty fun. Thank goodness I had cool people in front of and behind me in line (they line you up and you go into exam rooms to interview actor patients in sequence). Now, though, I'm really exhausted and ready for a break. I'm happy I get to go down to DC tomorrow and hang out with one of my good friends from college, and we have a long history of just relaxing when we visit each other. Suh-weet.

Gorgeous Weather?!

Just as it's starting to turn from summer into the first inklings of fall, and it's cool and sunny and beautiful, I have to start studying for Step 2 CS and CK ("clinical skills" and "clinical knowledge" tests). Not too much studying -- I'll leave off for something fun -- but it'll be my default state for the next few weeks. :(

A Different Sort of Match

So on Tuesday I signed up for Match.com, after agonizing over whether I should or not for a week or so. My agonizing went something like this:

-I want to go out and date.
-But wait! What if I meet someone and fall in love?
-That'd be cool, right?
-Yes, it'd be great for awhile, but then what happens if/when I match to a residency in a different city?
-We could have a long-distance relationship.
-Oh great, that would be no problem, after only nine months at most of dating, entering a busy intern year. Recipe for heartbreak. Wasn't it hard enough the last time this happened, with Stephen?
-Well, if this hypothetical relationship turns out to be so great, I could always rank Philly residencies highest. I'd hate to leave here anyway.
-Yeah, but what if I "fall in love" with another residency? I want to be free enough to go to the residency I feel the best fit with. Argh!

I eventually decided there's no harm in starting to just date people for fun, and certainly not to put my profile online. People have "winked" at me, but I haven't winked back. I'm being pretty picky, but that's fine by me. No reason to agonize.

My Chosen Profession

From one of my favorite blogs:

And maybe that'll be ME with the Columbia diploma someday... teehee. It's possibly the best psych residency out there. Although, of course, I don't plan on choosing based on prestige; instead, wherever I get interviews, I'll just look for where I feel the best fit.

Today was one of those fantastic days I'm enjoying a lot this month, in which my hours leave me with plenty of free time, which I can be productive with or squander as I see fit. Today I was productive: I picked up my dry cleaning, scheduled a doctor's appointment, bought a gift for a friend, and all before going to class. Sweet.

Would you hire me?

This is the photo I gave to the registrar to upload as part of my application. Apparently, programs can't see your photo until they decide to interview you. It's not the best photo of me that's ever been taken, but it's fine for its purpose, which is to help interviewers remember me after the interview. I think I look professional enough and eager/pleasant enough.

Four out of the twelve programs I applied to have downloaded my application off the "post office" of the online application service. Eeeeee! Actually, one of my friends found out she got an INTERVIEW. So exciting! I can't believe it's all starting. I need to buy some black pants that will match my blazer. The blazer is a little long, I think, but I sort of like that. I feel like it's different, and formal.

Eeee! Now that the drudgery of applications is largely over, this whole process is starting to get really exciting.

Us Striped-Shirt Types Stick Together

I had a great day, although it started out with a moderate hangover. (Ibuprofen, sleep and a toasted bagel with cream cheese took care of it.) But it was beautiful weather, and I went with my mother, sister-in-law, and nephews to a random nature center in New Jersey. (The above picture is from Maine, though.)