Hiking!

I have fallen in love with hiking in the desert!

On New Years Day we went hiking by Lake Pleasant, about a half hour from Phoenix. I loved this picture of the Cholla cactus! The sun was hitting them just right to make it look like they were glowing halos around them. But watch out, these cactus are not angels. Of all the cacti this is the species you really have to watch out for. Their arms easily break off and their needles go right through shoes and cling to skin like velcro! You have to use a rock or something to get it off cause otherwise it just sticks to you, no matter how you grab it and it hurts!

I think the ribs of the dead saguaro are very unique!

The puppies always have to be in front :)

Alot of people were on boats out on the lake. I thought the sail boats looked like fun.

A view of the lake. I liked the shadow on the saguaro

Gretta got a Cholla on her paw and was limping. I carried her the rest the time.

These last three photos were taken just before christmas. This area is called Dreamy Draw and is right in the heart of Phoenix. I can reach three trail heads in 5 minutes from my house. I have gotten in the habit of going hiking after classes when ever I get out of class early so I actually do most my hiking in this area. I absolutely love it!

San Diego

On Thanksgiving day we did a quick trip to San Diego, a 5 hour drive. We had dinner at the Sheraton hotel on the harbor and it was fantastic! Everything you could ever want for a Thanksgiving dinner.

On the pier at Ocean Beach

I love the tide pools at La Jolla!

And driving back over the mountains of Southern California on I-8 I got my first snow of the season! Was not expecting to see snow between San Diego and Phoenix.

Botanical Gardens

Over Thanksgiving break I went and toured the Botanical Gardens here in downtown Phoenix. It was awesome with a wide array of plants and history of the natives and how they utilized these plants. I was excited to move to Phoenix to learn more about the plants that grow here, but I have been absolutely amazed at the diversity of life in this desert! I never thought I could fall in love with cactus so much! I can't even express my fascination. I'm hooked, for life.

Some barrel cactus and a saguaro

I can't remember the name but I loved this one!

Monarchs :)

Mistletoe growing in a palo verde tree! I was amazed mistletoe grew here, as I always pictured it as a plant that grew in cool moist climates like ireland. Since then I have noticed it everywhere!

Organ pipe cactus, a desert staple

I liked the look

I loved this snakey one on the ground. Watch your step!

Pretty sure it's from another planet. I didn't get a picture of an adult one, but they get super tall! Some are at least 50 feet tall.

Merry Christmas!

I put up the christmas tree and some lights 2 weeks ago. I've been loving sitting on the couch next to the tree to study. The lights outside have been great and I think I'm just going to use them all year!

Bird is the Word

There is a canal that is just a block from my house that I like to go running on or use to walk the dogs. The cooler weather has brought an influx of birds that I'm assuming spend winter here and summer in colder locations. (My backyard has seen a number of hummingbirds which have also been fun to watch) I got a kick out of these ones today. 2 types of duck (mallard and I believe a gadwall), a lone goose with what looked like an injured leg, and what appears to be, after some research, some kind of cormorant, also by himself. It was like a big adopted family of misfits just hangin out together enjoying the beautiful weather. It made me pause and think, wouldn't it be nice if humans could look past our far more subtle differences and just hang out, relax, and enjoy the weather! What we could learn from birds :)

1st quarter done!!

Yay! My first quarter of medical school is done and I managed to get 4 A's and 2 A-'s. It's amazing to look back and see how much hard work I put into my studies and how much I learned and then to think... this is only the beginning! I used to think I knew a lot already about the human body and medicine, only to have my eyes opened to a whole new level of understanding and realization that I have so much more to learn. I've enjoyed the journey so far and I can't imagine doing anything else with my life right now.

Mom and Dad came to visit me the day after finals week ended, just this past weekend. It was alot of fun to have them here and show them my home and school, the two places I spend 95% of my time. We spent every evening playing pinocle... I know, Tyson playing pinocle! Hold on to your hats!! Mom and Dad were excellent teachers, adding onto what Adam taught me this summer, making the game more fun than frustrating. Dad took alot of pictures with his camera so I didn't take many and I really only have two picture to post. We went to the Cardinals vs Seahawks NFL game on Sunday and I actually had a better time than I thought I would. The Cardinals came back to win in the second half and we were seated next to Seahawk fans that were highly entertaining. The stadium was awesome. The entire field rolls outside so that the grass can get sun, and then they roll the whole thing back in. Quite the system! I think Dad enjoyed the game and I think mom endured ha. Dad treated us to dinner on monday night at the Cheesecake Factory. He also noticed road noise from my rear wheels that I had not noticed. I spent the last two days getting it fixed and I am amazed at how quite my car is! I had no idea it could be so quiet. I love it! Thanks Dad! I was sad to see them go.

After I dropped mom and dad off at the airport Tuesday, I went and hiked Camelback. I love that I can get outside and get some exercise so close to home, and that it's 78 degrees in the middle of November. I knew there was a reason I moved to Phoenix!

Last Friday evening my friends and I had a get together to celebrate finishing our first quarter. We did it at my friend Jills house which was beautiful! I want her back yard. Her mom made us tacos and my friend Travis brought an ice cream maker and made raspberry ice cream. It was delicious and it reminded me of sitting on the back porch with raspberry shakes at mom and dad's house. It was a perfect relaxing evening!

Before the quarter ended we found time to go rock climbing on Camelback (we skipped out on a biochem test review, we just couldn't handle it anymore!) Dan had the ropes and gear so it was good cheap fun!

And this little guy was sitting on my laundry. Not sure what had brought him in there. I have truly enjoyed the experiences of living in Arizona, right down to the little things like wild reptiles in the house!

White Coat Ceremony

Just a few pictures from my White Coat Ceremony

The auditorium full of family, friends, and 800 students waiting to get their white coats. They did the medical, podiatry, optometry, dental, physician's assistants, and psychology students all in the same ceremony.

On the stage to the right

After receiving my coat from my dean, Dean Kemper on the left, and Dr. Schalscha, my internal clinical medicine professor.

The auditorium was much brighter after everyone had on their coat ha. They amazingly got through everyone in about a 45 minutes with each class having their own "coaters." This auditorium divides into 5 smaller auditoriums, in one of those 5 (auditorium 2) I have class every single day.

With two of my friends, Carly Sorenson on the left and Shannon MacRitchie in the middle. Carly is one of my cadaver lab partners and is from Salt Lake so we love to reminisce :) Shannon and I have been pretty much inseparable since the beginning of classes and we both get asked where the other is if we are ever alone. She lives on campus and is kind enough to feed me at lunch (yes I buy her food so I'm not a complete mooch).

More of my friends, Dan Brereton, Travis Boud, Sreyah Indupalli, Roger Stimpson, and Shannon, in front of Saguaro Hall where the library and cadaver labs are. Dan is in my biochem workshop group which can get long so we keep each other entertained.

And one more friend, Lisa Speiser, also in my cadaver group. I really lucked out on my group, they are fun and smart, so we learn alot and have alot of fun! I love Anatomy! Lisa is from Phoenix so it has been nice to get tips on things to see and places to go and it has really helped me feel more comfortable and at home in this metropolis. Where would we be without our friends?!