Below are the 14 most recent journal entries recorded in amandalorelei's LiveJournal:

Monday, December 11th, 2006
7:44 pm	so cute! my boyfriend: a random cat on the internet: Current Mood: amused (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, July 11th, 2006
4:47 pm	One of the bloggers I read regularly posts a poem every Thursday. They're often very moving. I particularly liked last Thursday's poem, which I'm going to copy here. ( read the poem ) (Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 21st, 2006
11:59 pm	Haiku on a Recently-Purchased Bra lingerie letdown -- perfect band now stretched too big, straps slip off shoulders. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, April 26th, 2006
7:03 pm	My parents are cute A few weeks ago my parents sent me a postcard from the Grand Canyon, which I stuck in my bulletin board. Today, I was studying, which involves a lot of staring at the wall, so I looked more closely at it and noticed the handwriting for the first time. My conclusion is that Dad wrote the following: Dear Amanda: We watched the sunset from this spot. Today we hike 6 miles round trip and over 2000' down into the Canyon. A little out of shape, but we did it. love, Dad Mom addressed the card and wrote in the date. She also edited the message: sunset(rise)(6:00AM) (The parts in parentheses were squeezed between lines with a proofreading insert mark.) I'm giggling imagining their postcard-writing session: Dad writes messages with slightly-inaccurate stories, Mom does the addresses, dates, fact-checking, and commentary. Also note that while she fixed sunset she didn't fix Dad's tense error. (Judging from context, hike ought to have been hiked.) I love my parents. UPDATE: OK, this is even funnier than I thought. I just IM'd Ellen to tell her to read this post, and she got out her postcard to compare. Hers is also written by Dad and dated/addressed by Mom, but Dad wrote sunrise (6:00AM). He must have done hers after mine. And the best part: Ellen also remarked that it was cute of Dad to write dear and love, which is not his usual style. So I looked back at mine, and Mom totally added in the love. Dad just signed it. He did write the dear, however. Current Mood: amused (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2006
7:18 pm	I posted a my-life update on my blog today. Since I think there are a few people who read my LJ but don't bother with my blog, I'm cross-posting it here. School continues to be fun. I think I’ve mentioned before that I haven’t been able to evaluate whether the career switch was definitely the right life choice yet, but it definitely appears to have been a good choice in the short term - on a day-to-day basis, I’m far happier than I was at my last job. This may be primarily due to the much smaller requirement for working with others, but I’ll take it for now. I’m still not studying nearly as much as I thought I’d have to, nor even as much as I should (the latter being considerably less than the former), but I’m learning a lot, and classes are very interesting. Immunology is really neat, I always like physiology, and genetics is quite interesting. Microbiology, somehow not as much, but a lot of it is clearly useful. Since coming to the conclusions that (1) I have more than sufficient free time and (2) I don’t have sufficient money, I started working again. I’m back teaching MCAT test prep, and tutoring physics as well. I work once or twice a week, which is great. Having a more structured schedule seems to help me stay on top of things, I like the variety, and I’m able to earn enough to significantly increase my spare cash. I’m not sure if I’ve ever posted about my migraines - I’ve dealt with them since grade school and had gotten used to spending several evenings per month unable to do anything involving light, sound, smells, or being vertical. A few years ago I discovered that there are actually drugs that work, and that helped a lot - I still got the headaches, but I could almost always make them go away. Then last fall, the Student Health doctor told me that having 5-6 migraines per month was really too much, and I should consider a daily prophylactic. I decided it was worth a try, and it’s seriously amazing. I’ve started keeping a headache diary, mostly for the thrill of looking at a whole month and only seeing two headaches. In December I didn’t have any. And I haven’t had to miss any social events in months. I take a yoga class once a week and try to work out a couple times as well; it feels good. The gym at school is very convenient; I can take advantage of it during unexpected free time between lectures, and I can keep my workout clothes in my study carrel. School extra-curriculars have not been quite what I was hoping for; most of the groups seem to concentrate on bringing in lunchtime lecturers, which is great (though often they don’t convey as much information as I’d like) but I was hoping for a little more interaction with my classmates. Nevertheless, I’ve gotten involved in a couple of things: there’s a group that teaches science to middle- and high-schoolers; we’re starting a physics teaching team, and that’s fun. Several other groups do teaching as well (reproductive health, prenatal health, AIDS, etc) and I’ve participated in some of those. And there are a bunch of other things that come up sporadically. (Tonight I’m making truffles for tomorrow’s talent show.) Currently I’m working on lining up a summer research position. I don’t have very much to say about that yet, except that I’m looking forward to it. (Except the part where I’ll have to sometimes go outside in the St. Louis summer humidity.) Last weekend my mom came to visit and we had a good time, checking out several good restaurants, the Soulard farmer’s market, and the Missouri history museum. She also cleaned my apartment while I was at work (particularly amusing given my recent posting topics) and helped me rearrange and decorate my bedroom. It looks very nice, and now I only have one box left to unpack. I like my apartment a lot (especially now that my noisy neighbor has left) and so I expect to stay here for at least another year; I’ll probably only move if I feel like I need to be closer to the hospital for third year. Putting down roots is really nice; I’ve started hanging things on the walls, and it’s amazing how much homier the place feels. Current Mood: happy (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Sunday, October 9th, 2005
12:10 am	Happy Anniversary to me! Today, Tim and I have been dating for one year. It's been the best year of my life. (And the fact that I can say that despite the fact that I'm posting in the wee hours because I'm up studying for med school midterms says something about just how wonderful it's been.) I love you, babe. Current Mood: happy (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, July 21st, 2005
9:56 am	how to tick me off Coworker: Can you help me out with something? Me: Of course! Coworker: I need to change this setting and I don't know how. Me: OK, you need to -- Coworker: Here, why don't you drive? Me: Sure, it'll be easier that way. [sits down, accesses files, gets to where you can change the settings] Me: [looks for coworker] Coworker: [has wandered away without telling me] My inner monologue: What does he need to change the setting TO? Me: [waits for him to come back] My blood pressure: [rises] [five minutes later] Coworker: Sorry about that! [I forcibly extract the new information from Coworker and change the setting] Me: OK, you're all set! Coworker: Great. Now, how did you do that? Current Mood: annoyed (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, July 18th, 2005
11:37 am	Countdown People at work have started greeting me with "Hey there short-timer!" I'm not amused, but it is true. This is my last week at work. I was hoping to get a fair amount done, but there's so much administrative stuff that goes along with resignation that I might not make my goals. My parents are coming on Friday to pick up the bedroom furniture they've been kindly lending me for the past two years. (Meaning I have to get all my clothes out of it before then.) Tim and I are having a going-away party on Saturday, my sisters are coming on Sunday, and we're taking off on a sisters beach vacation next Monday-Friday. (Sisters, I've already packed my beach shovels and buckets that Mom got us for Easter!) Then back to DC to finish packing up the last few things, load up the truck on Saturday, and drive to St. Louis on Sunday. It's getting close! I'm really excited. I'm supposed to fill out a form for Wash U's student directory. I have to write about my "special interests, talents, hobbies and unusual characteristics," what I see myself doing 20 years from now, and what specialty I'd pick if I had to choose now. Also, describe myself in one word. I thought once I got into med school those questions would be done with! What should I write? (I'm looking at the LJ mood options, hoping for one-word descriptors. Chipper? Giggly? Nerdy? Indescribable? (ha!) Recumbent? Actually, I think "lucky" might be it.) Current Mood: bouncy (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, July 14th, 2005
11:06 pm	Yay for Wash U! I keep meaning to write something about how excited I am to be moving, and how much I've loved my time in DC, but I never feel like typing that much. One of my internet acquaintances is currently applying to med schools and experiencing some paperwork difficulties with Wash U. (She has to get her degrees certified, and she has 3 degrees from 3 schools, one of which is being nonresponsive.) This was part of my response to her: They've been pretty laid-back about paperwork and stuff. I've had a lot of phone conversations with them: (spring 05) Me: I've been thinking about deferring. What's the deadline? Secretary: June 15, but let me transfer you to the dean. Dean: [fatherly lecture on how they allow deferrals but if I'm sure about medicine I should start right away] Anything else I can help with? (late June) Me: Um, hi. I lost my parking paperwork. Can you tell me how much a parking pass costs? Parking person: Oh, you don't have to pay NOW! Don't worry about it! It's $15 though. (two days ago) Me: Um, hi. I know my medical paperwork was supposed to be in last week, but my physician left his practice and I haven't had a physical in over a year. Can I get a physical once I move to St. Louis? Health services person: Sure, no problem! Just send in what you have, and call this number to make an appointment. So I'd say if you have trouble, call them up and they'll be helpful. Also, if I ever call you up and start with "Um, hi" you know I'm about to admit to having done something flakey. Current Mood: ditzy (Comment on this)
Thursday, June 23rd, 2005
5:19 pm	Cat Haiku I ran across these today and laughed so hard my stomach hurts. You never feed me. Perhaps I’ll sleep on your face. That will sure show you. You must scratch me there! Yes, above my tail! Behold, elevator butt. The rule for today Touch my tail, I shred your hand. New rule tomorrow. In deep sleep hear sound cat vomit hairball somewhere will find in morning. Grace personified. I leap into the window. I meant to do that. Blur of motion, then- silence, me, a paper bag. What is so funny? You’re always typing. Well, let’s see you ignore my sitting on your hands. My small cardboard box. You cannot see me if I can just hide my head. Terrible battle. I fought for hours. Come and see! What’s a ’term paper’? Small brave carnivores Kill pine cones and mosquitoes Fear vacuum cleaner I want to be close to you. Can I fit my head inside your armpit? Wanna go outside. Oh, crap! Help! I got outside! Let me back inside! Oh no! Big One has been trapped by newspaper! Cat to the rescue! Humans are so strange. Mine lies still in bed, then screams My claws are not that sharp. Cats meow out of angst ”Thumbs! If only we had thumbs! We could break so much!” The Big Ones snore now Every room is dark and cold Time for ”Cup Hockey” We’re almost equals I purr to show I love you Want to smell my butt? Current Mood: giggly (5 Comments |Comment on this)
Thursday, June 16th, 2005
10:52 am	the internet is serious business This is one of the funniest things I've ever read on the internet. You have to read it; no description could suffice. (Just the first page or two.) My favorite part: Fuck you cowardly son of a whore. You people are the abusive ones and I AM RESPONDING APPROPRIATELY. FUCK YOU. Man... there is just nothing to add to that. Current Mood: giggly (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, June 15th, 2005
10:43 am	eek So I have less than two months left before I start med school. And honestly, I'm terrified. I've had the following conversation several times recently: Q: So - engineering to med school. Big leap! What made you decide to do it? A: Well, I liked being a computer engineering student, but once I did a couple of co-ops, I realized that I hated it and had to do something else. Q: So have you gotten a bunch of medical experience? A: Well, not as much as I would've liked. I volunteer at the hospital but it's just candy-striping. Q: So how do you know that you're going to like medicine once you really do it? A: Um, I don't know. [Oh crap! I really don't! What if I hate it? What if I suck?] I'm not extremely scared of school; I'm pretty good at academics so I should be able to do that. But I keep second-guessing my choice. Do I really know that medicine is the career for me? Looking for information about residencies today, I ran across this thread in which a bunch of students and residents say they wouldn't do it over again if they could. That's pretty scary. A lot of them say that in order to get through, you have to really really want it. Do I "really really want it"? I don't know. I mean, I've gotten this far, but stubbornness is pretty powerful. I'm not one of those people who have always wanted to be a doctor, and in general I don't think I'm the super-dedicated type. On the other hand, I read several blogs by people like Michelle who's a resident and seems happy and has a life. And she seems cool, like someone I'd want to be friends with. I don't know the random people from the link above; maybe they're whiners all the time. I'm pretty sure I will like it, and there are so many career paths in medicine - I could do research or even (gag) be an administrator if I wanted a more 8-5 type lifestyle. It's not as though I'm going to be locked into general surgery or something that I wouldn't like. And, too, this is really the only career path that I have been excited about pursuing. I can't think of anything else I'd want to do. I could keep doing what I do now, but I don't think that the cushy government job is really something to aspire to. Honestly, I feel like I'm wasting my talents here; I should be trying to reach my potential. So in general I try to think positive and surround myself with stuff that excites me rather than complaints that scare me, but I worry that really what I'm doing is sticking my head in the sand. Current Mood: anxious (10 Comments |Comment on this)
Monday, June 13th, 2005
3:58 pm	More Journaly I think I want to start using my LJ as an actual journal. Two reasons: I have a lot of things that I'm thinking about, and I think writing them down might clarify my thinking. Also, I think this might be a more fun way to read back and see what I was doing than paging through old emails. Now that I announced this plan, I have to actually do it! (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, May 7th, 2005
12:07 pm	Hi I don't expect to post here much, but I got tired of seeing the temporary page. Go see my blog if you want to read something. (4 Comments |Comment on this)