Uninspired

I know it's be quite a long time since my last post, but I have been feeling somewhat uninspired lately. I think it's the whole end-of-semester slump thing coming back to haunt me...again.

What have I done since March 1? Well, I went to LA to visit my friend Katie (pictures to follow when I work up the motivation to load them onto my computer). I had a great time. It was nice to have some time in the sunshine (not the kind we get here in the winter...that doesn't count) and replenish my bodily supply of vitamin D (something I have been diligently supplementing all winter long). It was also great to see Katie and get an idea of what life is like in LA. I also got to see a college friend who lives in Portland on my way home. I had a 4 hour layover, so she came and picked me up from the airport and we had dinner.

As for school, things are wrapping up for the semester...thank goodness. Clinicals are still going well. Last week I got to do my first blood draw. My instructor was really impressed with me...apparently my patient's veins were not all that good...but they were MUCH better than the "veins" in a dummy arm!

I also recently got a part-time job. I'm going to work at Kaladi (a local coffee chain) two or three days a week.

As far as things to look forward to (other than the end of the semester), I will hopefully be going on a cruise with my friend Margaret (the one from Portland) once school gets out. I am awaiting confirmation as it is space available (employee deal from my job last summer). I'm keeping my fingers crossed, seven days of sunshine is just what I need after 15 long weeks of academics!

Week in pictures (and some words too)

Here I am at clinical last week showing off my really ugly white shoes. Don't I look official in my scrubs?
This week we learned how to draw blood and start IVs. This is the dummy arm we practice on with it's "blood supply."
First you have to put on a tourniquet.

And then you have to hope you hit the dummy vein! The worst part is due to the lack of pressure in the dummy arm's circulatory system...you don't really get anything out.