Recently

Hello out there Blog world.  I though I should update this thing since I haven't in a while.  I would love to have time to every day.  I'm not the kind of person to always jump on the band wagon, but I can see why so many people do this.  It is very therapeutic.  
So I finished my first year of medical school!  I have never been so happy to finish anything maybe!  Not just because it had become a real struggle and I needed a break but also because I have that assurance that I passed.  That I did it (with God's help of course) and I don't have to look back upon the year with regret.  And you know what, even though I didn't do as well as I would have hoped...I'm not going to look back with regret on this year at all!
It is so nice to have a break.  I won't lie...I feel like that there are maybe only 60 days or so a year that I can live a normal life, and summer is one of them.  I know that someday the kind of pace that I keep up the rest of the 305 days will become normal because it is what I will be used to, but until then...these breaks are definitely what keeps me going.   Even though this past year has taken its toll on me and there are things that I'm dealing with from it....kind of a left-over stress if you will...I'm feeling rested and a little more ready to face the coming days and it has only been 2 weeks since my break began. 
My days have been going a little something like this:  wake up and around 7 or 7:30.  Go downtown to do my research til around 5.  Come home.  Veg out on the couch for another 5 hours or so and then pass out.  :)  I NEVER get to do this during the year.  Don't get me wrong...I plan on adding things into that schedule such as working out and working on some personal projects of mine.  However...I'm in no hurry right now.  There are a lot of things I need to consider right now...and I'm taking my time. 
About Research...I'm REALLY enjoying it.  I'm enjoying it a lot more than I ever thought I would.  I had less than optimal experiences with research in the past so I tried not to get my hopes up in that area.  However, the research that I'm doing now is fascinating.  Here is the really short version of what it's about.  T cells are immune cells in our bodies that help fight off infection.  The HIV virus affects your T-cells causing them to attack your own body  (autoimmune disease).  There are a subset of these T-cells that are supposed to keep your body from attacking itself that are affected by HIV called Tregs (or T-regulatory cells).  I am doing research on the part of the Tregs that are potentially changed by HIV leading to disease. 
I'm sure that most of you will skip right over that last part.  I see most peoples eyes glaze over when I start to talk about anything scientific these days.  It's okay though.  I truly do understand.  This is in part why I have begun watching T.V. because I want to have something else to talk about other than medical school.  Other than Science. 
In other news, I am just having fun hanging out with Michael and doing things with him and my family and my friends.  I look forward to more of that this summer.  This past Sunday, Michael and I went to a Jazz Festival here in Hoover.  We both enjoyed it but need to be more prepared next time because it was SO hot outside.  I enjoyed being with him mostly especially since I always feel that our times together are too brief. 
Lately, my times with Michael have been very educational.  What I mean by this is that I am learning a lot about myself.  I am learning a lot about my imperfections.  What is it about a relationship that brings out the best and worst parts of us?  For instance, my love for Michael prompted me to buy tickets to this Jazz festival because I know he is a huge fan; however, when things didn't go exactly like I thought they would this weekend, I got upset.  Best part:  I love deeply.  Worst part:  I am a perfectionist and am used to getting things my way. 
I have so much to learn.  But, there's no one I would rather learn it with...
I haven't blogged much about Michael, but I would just like to go on record as saying that he is pretty amazing.  In all ways.  And, not just because he puts up with me  but just because he is.  I know that God has big plans for him. 
Anywho, I don't have very much time to continue writing, but I am excited to see the types of things this summer will hold.  More information to come...