Death

Death seem to be everywhere, especially recently. People that I know of from home church, my friends' friends' relatives, relatives of people that I just met at the new church. Has it always been that many or has I just become aware it more as I get older and going through med school?
I don't remember death as something as prominent when I was younger. My grandmother's death in '93 and my grandfather's death in '96 didn't make me to be more aware of it. Yes, my grandmother's death eventually led to church and to Christ. My grandfather's death was the first one where I was actually present for. But neither one brought me the awareness that I have now.

I really do wonder whether it's age or is it my career choice in medicine? I'm sure for others it's the age thing but for me, I think both played heavily in my life. I have to deal with death and the possibility of death with patients in my daily life as a physician and I have to figure out early on about what my perception of death is.

One thing I am very glad is the love, hope, grace, mercy and trust that I have in Christ. I have the comfort in knowing that I will be taken cared of whether it be on earth or after death. Death is not really the end of all because I have hope in Christ. It's just a time for a long nap before joining God in His kingdom where I can praise Him and everything is so perfect that earth pales in comparison. Wonders will never end.

Week of Little Things

Oh Boy! This week was not busy but just lots of things to take care of. The first grocery of the apartment and the little things that my apartment needed, ie nite lites, flashlight, butcher knife. I spent too much time looking for a decent and cheap pitcher for making iced tea. That shouldn't be hard but it was. It seems like people here don't use it or they buy ones that are overpriced.

Then I have to take care of car insurance, registration and losing my CA driver's License. Really didn't want to do that but if I want my car to be legal here in Jersey, I gotta lose it. ::sigh:: Totally not happy about it. So I went to transfer my insurance from MO to NJ within State Farm. I find out I have to pay arms and legs for insurance, tripling what I was paying in MO. Totally not cool. So I spent a couple of hours shopping for insurance and now I'm with Geico. They only double what I was paying in MO and I get Roadside Assistance. How awesome is that. It's the one thing that has gone my way. :)

Then I went to get a library card. The library around my place still uses the catalog index cards system and not computerized. So I have to wait another 30 days before I could check books out from another local library. Ugh.

Then I find out I can't order checks from WaMu because I have changed my address and I have wait for 30 days. And on top of that, the branches here can't do any maintenance stuff because the CA system is different than the Jersey ones. They are suppose to be a nationwide banks. I'm ready to pull my hair out.

Nothing is going my way and the errands are taking too long to get done. So I'm catching up on the TV show, The Closer as a comfort. On a side note, I found those caffeine mints that I've bought in Walmart in Kirksville. I found them in CVS. Yippee.

Week in Weston, Florida

Back from a week in Florida during a hurricane season with a girlfriend. The week was muggy, warm / hot and wet. It literally rain for a couple of hours 3 days out of the 7 days we were there. The place we stayed, Mizner Place in Vacation Village. The place was gorgeous. We mostly sat around the pool and got sun and read random fiction. very chilled. We gone a yummy Italian restaurant not once but twice. The first time we got their appetizer caprese and it was yummy. The second time we got dessert instead, Italian canoli and Tiramisu. oh boy were they yummy beyond description.

We also went to one of the sports cafe and the bad for you fried seafood. Tried conch fritters which I'm sure I've had before but it was in Chinese soup that my mom made. We also tried one of the one of the more upscale restaurant for their yummy fresh fish. I had the seared halibut. It was done to perfection. We went to one very popular Asian buffet. It was only $11 and they've got sushi and hot foods and green tea ice cream. We have definitely had our share of unbelievable yummy food.

We spent half a day in the famous Everglades. We took the tour of the Everglades via an airboat, like the ones on CSI Miami. Saw bunch of crazy native birds ie vultures. Saw 2 alligators in the swamp. Then we got the alligator show and took pictures of me holding a baby alligator (Liana).


The Airboat Ride in the Everglades


The Gator in the Swamp; Vultures waiting for meat


The Gator Show


Me and Baby Liana; Lovely sign :)


Last nite out

More pics of the resort to come.

First week in New Jersey

The drive to Jersey from Missouri took forever. With all the breaks, it took me 15 hrs or so to get to Harrisburg then another 2.5 hrs to my apartment. It just felt like forever. I don't think I would ever want to do it again. It was cramp driving and not much leg room. Ugh.

Then we sort of unpack a bit then me and my parents took a tour of East Coast for 5 days. It is my second time but their first. It was still fun but my favorite this time is Niagara Falls and the Bostonian atmosphere. Perhaps I might spend some time in my fourth year there. Who knows.


The Brooklyn Bridge

Fake or Real? Wax Museum, NYC


Capitol Hill, White House, Washington D.C.


Hershey's Chocolate World


Niagara Falls


Bostonian Lobster (yummy)


Boston Harbor Boat Ride

Will be going to Florida to enjoy the sun next week. Be a fun boring bum.