3rd Progress Post - A Punishment

As I update my blog for the first time in WEEKS, I'd like to point out that I'm punishing myself for falling behind on this. I didn't even want to look at my blog as the time between my last post and this current one continued to increase day by day, and then week by week. As each weekend hit, it got worse. But then I finally opened my blog this morning and saw...a comment!! Someone actually read my blog and commented on it!! It was also an inspiring and extremely thoughtful comment, which I really appreciate. Thanks, SeaSpray!

So now, I think I'll have to do a major update on the goings on so far.

RESEARCH - My first project went quite well and I got an abstract submitted to a national meeting! It felt like it was never gonna happen. My head just wasn't wrapping around all the stuff I needed to learn. Finally, things started clicking and it started to go much faster. My computer programming skills started to find their stride and with significant help and pushing from my research mentor, I got things done and an abstract submitted!! I used that momentum to work on another project (on acute pancreatitis) and just today, completed the abstract. There's a deadline for another national meeting coming up this weekend and I will hopefully finish all the editing and refining this week and we'll get that out too! So, all in all, in two months of work, two abstracts that will hopefully turn into two posters at national meetings, that will hopefully turn into two talks at those national meetings, that will hopefully turn into two manuscripts and then finally two publications!!! For two months, that's huge. I'm really happy and excited about this, and my research mentor seems pleased as well. So all in all, this is going great.

STAY ORGANIZED - Actually, this is going quite well too! My to-do list is strong and working well. My calendar is constantly updated. My things are getting done. I do however need to follow my finances as I am spending way too much money. My credit card bill recently was huge and my withdrawals from my checking account have been consistently increasing. So I've decided to follow my spending by using buxfer. I'll see how this goes.

BALLROOM DANCE - Swing dancing is obviously well under way! It's going well, but I happen to be the only person in my class under the age of 50. Plus, I feel like I'm learning "old people" swing instead of the swing I see in youtube videos. I'm learning ballroom swing, or what I like to call "snooty" swing. I realized afterwards that the dance I really want to learn is called jive. No matter, I'll need East Coast Swing anyways before I learn jive. Salsa dancing continues to go well. This week I'm also learning a little bit of Bachata, which is something I've always wanted to learn, ever since I actually saw that at a salsa club. Such a beatiful, sensual, yet classy dance and the music is gorgeous.

COOKING - I'll have to blog about this is in its own post at the end of the month. I will say that I have taken one class with Helen Rennie now and it was on meats. I feel much more comfortable cooking meats and I have even successfully roasted a chicken and cooked rib-eye steaks for my friends, all of whom were quite impressed. I will be learning knife skills coming up and am quite excited about that. I think my comfort level is growing, and I will continue to cook this year. I do need to make simple dishes at home though to get better at the basics. Will work on that...

EXERCISE - Okay, I haven't really been able to get on the wagon here. I think I just have too much other stuff going on to get in formal gym time. That said, I am continuing to play indoor soccer and will actually be playing in two leagues this upcoming Fall session! So that's twice per week. I will continue to take group classes at the gym whenever I have time. I bike a little bit now. And I have also started playing ultimate frisbee!! There's a local pickup game every Sunday, and I got into it. So it's not like I've been NOT exercising. I just haven't been following a regimented program. My weight remains stable and I'm comfortable with my BMI as it is, but I would certainly love to actually look good too. But I am healthy, and that counts for a lot. Oh, and rowing. That kind of has fizzled out a little bit. I went once, it was fun. Before I give up on it, I'll go again this weekend. Maybe I'll be able to get into it.

THINGS TO BLOG ABOUT - I just went Cape Cod over labor day weekend and had a phenomenal time. I rented a house with a bunch of friends from college and it ended up being an excellent weekend. One of my friends is an excellent photographer and is very into DSLR cameras (he recently got the Nikon D80 kit). There are 257 pictures that were taken, and I'll write about the cape and post those pictures as soon as they come out. Also, I need to blog about cooking class, and I need to blog about salsa dancing.

Okay, things are laid out. It looks like I'm making progress everywhere. But my schedule is a little overwhelming right now. I still haven't explored specialty options for my future career as a doctor (that's kind of important), haven't really started studying for Step 2 of my boards, and there are a few things that I am currently stagnating on. To all of that, there are a few things that I would like to start doing, one of which is photography. My friend with the awesome camera inspired me to get into it a little bit, so I'm now in the market for a starter level DSLR camera. That means my wallet will take another hit. Great....

Until next time!!