One package down.....

......only 2 and 1/2 left.  Right now I am regretting not buying more.  The best tortillas EVER. From Safford, AZ.

Splinting & Casting

We got slammed this last week at school, but at least we learned how to put on some arm splints and casts.  SO MUCH FUN.  Probably my most favorite day of PA school so far.  We each put on 2 splints - an ulnar gutteral & a thumb spica - and then a cast.  This is definitely an art.  It's gotta look good and be molded appropriately so there are no bumps or divets, which will be annoying/painful to the patient in 3 weeks.  We also got to cut the casts off with the cast saw.  Scary??  Not really.  It's not a rotating blade (vibrating) so it can't really cut you.  Unless of course you absolutely have no idea what you're doing.  AWESOMENESS!!

Check out my work - Looks pretty good if I do say so myself.

This is MY year!

For my first post of the year I guess it's appropriate to talk about some of my goals for the upcoming year.  I think 2011 came and went w/out even having time to think about it.  That's not gonna happen this time!  Here goes......

get a 6-pack

Boom baby.  I've never had one.  I've always wanted one.  So I'll get one.  Ever heard of P90X?  They have a killer ab workout.  Hopefully doing that 3 times per week will allow my 6-pack to be seen.  It will also help me exercise more and eat better.

become smart by getting a smart phone

I think I'm the last person I know w/out one.  Even my family has passed me up.  I'll actually need one once I start doing rotations in May to have quick access to info via medical apps.  The plan is to get one in the next few months to have time to figure it out.  I will NOT be addicted either.  Hmmmmm......iphone or droid?

go on a cruise

I would be ok with any cruise really.  BUT I prefer the 7-day Caribbean cruise that stops at like 5 different islands.  Off the charts compared to the Mexican cruise.  But I've NEVER been on a cruise so I'd be happy with something simple to start with.  My UT roomies Allison, Amy and I are working on figuring it out.  Booyah!

read more of the classics

Let's be honest.....I have zero time for reading anything that's not medically related.  But I am in the car for 45 minutes a day so audio books it is!  Genius.  I've already "read" 4 books via audio: Pride & Prejudice (SO much better than any of the movies), Fahrenheit 451, Animal Farm and one about Nelson Mandela.  I was very disappointed w/ the endings of the middle two.  Let's hope more of the classics don't disappoint.  Next on the list: Born to Run (started reading it over Christmas break and got hooked) and Great Expectations.

be a more focused/dedicated student

Procrastination + distractions is a deadly combo.  I've found this out you see.  The plan was to study ALL weekend and how much have I done so far?  Um, probably about less than 4 hours total.  Fail.  I only have 4 months left (4 MONTHS!) in the classroom.  So I will make the most of it!

blow my preceptors out of the water w/ my knowledge

This can only be done if the prior one happens.  During rotations, which start in May, I work w/ a preceptor/doctor/PA for 6 weeks and they show me the ropes.  Well, the more I know, they more they will trust me and the more I can do.  I want to get as much out of those rotations as possible.

reach out more to others

Sometimes I get caught up in my own world and worry just about myself.  What about others though?  Often times I usually wait for the other person to initiate a conversation, but that's about to change!  I want to engage more w/ others.  Relationships are one of the most important things we have, even if they are just basic acquaintances.  So....I will be reaching out more, even if it's just saying hello to a complete stranger.

set mini goals each day

The big lofty goals are always grand and good to think about.  But what about the small things?  EVERY day we should be improving and getting better at something.  Otherwise it's wasted time.  I'd like to at least THINK about what I want out of the day and then reflect back and see how I did at the end of the day.

continue to go to the temple every week

Let me tell you, it's not easy being in school.  Sometimes I don't even have time to cook dinner.  But going to the temple often is extremely important and helps to keep things in perspective for me.

So, here's my problem.  As you can see, I usually set way too many goals and then complete none of them.  I think I would be very happy, though, with even partial completion of the above goals.  At least I know I'd still be moving forward.  Here's to 2012!

Thatcher, Arizona......

....one place where you can have one hick of a time!  Haha, thanks to my bro-in-law for coining that unforgettable phrase.  There's no place like home.  I love coming back to Thatcher to visit and all the memories it brings back.  I hadn't been back since last Christmas!  That's the longest it's ever been.....

We had a grand 'ol time.  Not to mention the weather was FAB...... sunny & fairly warm.  Our adventures included the following....

Delicious breadsticks at R&R Pizza, shredded beef tacos at Casa Manana, burros at La Casita

Drive through back country dirt roads.  Who knew there would still be cotton in December??

Frozen hot chocolates at DQ..... one of the few locations left that have them

Mom's famous tacos for Christmas Eve dinner

Christmas Day church

Trying out our new quillows (handmade by Mom) on Christmas morning

Hike to the top of one of the mesas

Beautiful view of Mt. Graham

Wouldn't be a trip to the Gila Valley w/out some excitement at Safford Bowl

And of course, stockpiling my supply of tortillas for the next few months

Drive up Mt. Graham

Hershey

This last week I had to say goodbye to my pup Hershey.  Apparently she decided to wait to see all of us kids one last time before she took her turn for the worst.  The day after we all got home, she couldn't even get up and down on her own.  She was in so much pain.  I'm actually surprised she's lived this long - 16 yrs.  I thought she was going to go last Christmas.....

She was such a good dog and I will miss her mucho.  This is what she looked like when we first got her.....so cute!

Hershey absolutely LOVED her walks.  You could just say the word "walk" and she would get so excited and jump up and down and run to the gate to be let out.  She made for a good hiking companion too and accompanied my dad on many rigorous hikes.  She had a bit of "hunting" in her genes and would often kill birds who lingered just a little too long in our backyard, as well as bark her head off at any intruders or even visitors, especially men.  I always felt safe with Hershey!

Despite her fierce exterior, Hershey was really just a big chicken.  Every time she got a thorn stuck in her paw she would limp along until one of us came to pull it out.  Often times, there wouldn't even be a thorn...maybe she just wanted out attention.  Smart dog.  Hershey was absolutely terrified of loud noises - thunder & fireworks being the worst.  Often times we would find Hershey in the front yard during a thunderstorm.  She thought she could escape it by climbing the 5 ft. fence I guess.  She also hated water with a passion.  Every time we turned on the hose to give her a bath, she would run to the far corner of the yard and not budge an inch.  We'd have to pick her up and carry her over for her bath.  But afterwards, she LOVED it.  She would run around the whole backyard doing figure eights and roll around in the grass.

Hershey always got to go with us up to Grandma's house in Utah every summer and to Las Vegas every winter.  She didn't always appreciate her one foot of space in the car but loved to see her cousins - Scooter, Daisy and Tiara (my aunt's dogs).

Hershey was the cutest thing and I especially loved the way she used to twitch her eyebrows when you would look her in the eyes.  The best pup ever!