Here's a picture from the pre-orientation D1 picnic about a week ago. This is the first time I officially met people from my class and it's been a non-stop party ever since. Can you find me and Josh?

Class of 2009 (some of us, at least)

Here's a pic from last night's adventures on the town with AJ, Julia, and friends. L to R: Dana, AJ, me, Julia, Neha

Rush Street Beauties

Dental school is weird. I spent close to 4 hours in the lab today perfecting and sculpting my plaster mounting of a model of both arches of teeth onto this crazy contraption called an articulator. Don't get me wrong -- I'm loving it so far. It's just bizarre to have a normal, didactic component of school mixed in with...well...learning about teeth. I can now name all 32 teeth and their various surfaces -- cool! I also got a few awesome models that I'm going to use to scare my sister next time we're both back home (think Godfather and waking up with a horse's head in the bed).

I'm really enjoying being back in school and even though I'm still getting used to meticulously planning my non-class time again, this past week has been a blast. I can't believe I've only known my D1 class for 9 days--we're all having so much fun with each other that it seems like it's been years since we met. We call ourselves D.D.s.'s -- not quite Doctors of Dental Surgery yet but rather Dental Dork(s). Got it? Case in point: the big annual dental school kick-off party, lamely titled The Meltdown, was this past Friday and was held at the one of the professional dental frats' house. They keep two old dental chairs in their living room and 4 of the frat members wore their white coats and were administering shots...of alcohol...to intrepid party-goers through syringes. I complained that it was malpractice but gave it the ol' college try anyway. Sooooo science geeky but soooo hilarious. It's been fun.

Well, I guess it's time to start greasing up those squeaky studying joints. I have my first quiz on Wednesday and will be doing some fun stuff in the simulation lab this week. I've got a lot of preparing to do. Yesterday my mom asked if I was getting a doctoral degree in dentistry or in partying. I told her it's a dual-degree program.

Have a wonderful week.

xoxox

Whew! It's been an exhausting couple of days here. What with hanging out every day since Friday with the D1 class and starting orientation yesterday, I'm definitely going to have to hit the hay a tad early tonight...and treat myself to a big latte tomorrow morning.

So orientation started yesterday with a bang. It was so nice to go in recognizing a few faces already and feeling only thismuch nervous. From what I can tell, my class is very social and cool and I can't wait to get to know my classmates better. I guess I have four entire years to do that but why not get a head start before I'm jaded with school and totally burnt out, eh? We did a couple of fun things yesterday (instrument purchase! sending clinic coats away for embroidery! professional headshot!) and a few not-so-fun things (DPS officer lecturing on Ann Arbor safety! the "Library Matters" talk!). All in all, it was an exciting start to my illustrious career in dentistry. I'm a little anxious for classes to start tomorrow since my big-time-studying student hinges are a little rusty but I'm confident I'll do just fine :)

At any rate, this little tease of fall weather has subconcsiously manifested itself in my mind already. I definitely bought two new pairs of Halloween socks today in anticipation of my favorite holiday...which is an eternity of 9 weeks away. One pair is dancing skeletons and the other is witches hats and black cats. Yikes, that reminds me that I don't have a costume idea yet! Any suggestions are welcome even though I'm still sort of toying with the flamingo idea. That might just be wishful thinking, though--where am I going to find a hot pink body suit?

I'm out of things to say for now. It's time for sloppy joes and then maybe a little troubleshooting for my new wireless internet. In a few days, I'll post a special entry just to let you know that I'm blogging from my comfy bed. Have a wonderful Tuesday evening.

xoxox

Stop the press, bring out the noisemakers, wake the children: I'm back!

And not only is my brief blog hiatus at its end, I also have internet back at my place! Hip hip hooray! A LOT has been going on since I posted last and I could fill an e-book with all of my tales. I'll try to bring ya'll up to speed in the most concise way possible--my favorite, list form!

1.) My last day at work was wonderful. Everyone made me feel so special and appreciated. Brad made me a marble cheesecake and my P.I. took the lab out for lunch. I truly plan on staying in touch so I was surprisingly successful at fighting off the tears as I left. I did, however, cry in the car when Josh picked me up from work. I'll miss seeing my pals everyday.

2.) The cruise was...well,...interesting. There were a few freakish incidents that took their toll on my vacation as a whole. There were so many delays and poorly organized responses to the delays that just getting on the ship was a nightmare...and the worst was yet to come. Two words: man overboard. Well, in this case, a young woman, but we basically spent 8 hours stopped at sea while the Coast Guard looked for her and had to miss our call in Jamaica all together. Craziness. Thank goodness she was found alive even though I was beyond bummed that I didn't get to talk like a Rastafarian all day the one time it'd be applicable (I never said appropriate).

3.) I spent the last week or so in Worcester (pronounced "Woostah") Massachusetts helping my sister get settled into her new place. She'll be starting in an awesome Master's program in International Development at Clark ("Claaaahk") University on Monday. What my sister studies still sort of eludes me but I definitely got endless antagonizing mileage out of her program brochure that came in the mail the other day. Apparently her class will be spending lots of time getting to know each other over hiking trips, pot lucks, and musical jam sessions. What is this, Hippie U? Just let me know when the Advanced Hemp Jewelry Making class is and I'm there. Besides Woostah, TKP and I spent a few days hanging out in Boston with Tony. We had a great time and even though I had to look up the correct spelling of regatta, I think I could see myself living there.

4.) Some kids from my entering D1 class organized a potluck on the river yesterday and I had a blast. I was quite nervous actually and felt as though I was walking into an arranged marriage, vegetarian enchiladas in hand. I'll be spending the next 4 years with these 100 people and I was nervous that they'd be totally square. Fortunately, the 50 or so people that made it were fabulous and funny and all had fantastic teeth! I feel so relieved that my classmates are social and interesting and can't wait to start with this crew. We headed out to Charley's (blek!) and then Rick's at night for a few drinks and had a great time. Cheers to the Class of 2009!

Well, not very concise I guess but a solid update was in order. It's been a great and busy summer. Right now I'm looking forward to my new roommate, Shveta, moving in this afternoon and takin' er easy for the rest of the weekend. Ciao for now.

xoxox

Holy smokes, it's THE summer picture palooza I promised! Starting with the trip to Ikea in May, then to camping, D.C., and Cincinnati in July, and on to the cruise. My Boston pics are in Boston with my camera right now (doh!) so those are on their way soon. Enjoy!

An Ikea adventure in Schaumberg, IL. Imagine square footage about the size of your local Meijer. Now triple it and stack them on top of one another. Ikea Canton, about 15 minutes from Ann Arbor, is opening next summer. I should probably start saving now.

My favorite section: closet organization!

The special "cart escalator" adjacent to the people escalator for easy mobility of your purchases throughout the levels of the store. Those Swedes think of EVERYTHING!

I actually had a minor panic attack when I thought I couldn't shop it all in one day. Needless to say, I did.

Josh has tent envy

Campfire fun with Bob, Christin, Josh, and friends

Dinner n' drinks with my cuz, Shoma, in Baltimore

Josh and some shameless product placement

Julia and I are too hot for you

Fine ladies at The Reef in Adams Morgan

DuPont Circle with Sara, Julia, and Josh

The International Spy Museum in D.C. Cameras weren't allowed inside, much to my delight. I could tell you all about it, but then I'd have to kill you.

Soooo grown up! (Chris, Adrienne, Michelle)

Christin, me, and Michelle out on the town

Christin and Melody: Sultry in Cincinnati

Me and the 7 year-olds agreed: that slide was wicked awesome!

Josh (red shorts in back) hooping it up on Lido Deck of the ship. Is it a delay of game if the ball bounces into the ocean?

All I need for the rest of my life: a deck chair, sun, and a good book. Oh, and Josh too :)

At the Captain's Cocktail party

Our home for 5 days: the m/s Imagination

A ssssssuper towel animal made by our cabin steward!

Grand Cayman, BVI. Can we say too commercialized?

Snorkeling with Stingrays in Grand Cayman!

The females can have up to a 6' wingspan!

Well apparently my weblog has been on vacay with me this past week! Since leaving the lab last Friday, I've had no inclination whatsoever to do anything that remotely resembles work. I've sewn, read Harry Potter, mourned for a day over the terrible ending of Harry Potter, watched bootleg DVD's my sister brought back for me from B-desh, and eaten as if food was going out of style. It's been nice. Now I'm briefly back in Ann Arbor to pack for my cruise. We'll be embarking from the Port of Miami tomorrow afternoon so wish me great weather and a bon voyage!

In a big bonehead move however, I totally forgot to take my camera with me back to GR and was obviously unable to post any pictures from all of my fun July trips. Rest assured that when I get my land legs and my internet back, it'll be a picture palooza on my blog.

I'll see you land-lubbers on the flip side! ;)

xoxox