Day 3290: Door County

Danny and I took a trip to Door County, Wisconsin with his aunt and her two children. We have always wanted to go (think Carmel for Midwesterners) and we finally got our chance! Going with Aunt Mandy (whose sister lives up there) made it much more cost-efficient!

Here are some pictures of our trip:

Driving along the lake up to Door County

On the tour trolley!

The lighthouse at Eagle Bluff

The trolley tour included wine tastings at 2 wineries and a delicious
lunch. This is Danny after eating the leftover cherry pies.

Day 2324: Banff

This is essentially a continuation of my previous post.

After Disney World, I returned to Milwaukee on a Sunday, only to leave on Wednesday (at 5:20am) for Calgary, Alberta, Canada! If any of you followed the news in the past two weeks, you will know that Alberta had floods and there were states of emergencies called throughout the province. My family and I arrived safely in Calgary (and then drove to Banff National Park) on Wednesday June 19, only to have flooding begin that night. We were then stuck in Banff for the duration of our trip. This was our itinerary. See our new itinerary in red.

• Wednesday: Arrive in Calgary. Drive to Banff. We successfully completed this.
• Thursday: Explore Banff, head to Lake Louise. Stay in Lake Louise. We had already checked out of our hotel when we were told all the highways out of Banff were closed. So, like many other visitors, we scrambled to find a hotel to sleep that night. We found one, luckily. We explored Banff more thoroughly. It has a small, cute, shop-filled downtown that spans about six blocks. As you can imagine, my sister and I were done with downtown by that evening, haha.
• Friday: Drive on to Jasper and explore the Ice Fields. Sleep in Jasper. Another day in Banff. Our hotel has a fitness center, complete with an indoor track, so, what else was I going to do? I ran 50 laps on that tiny little track, which amounted to 5km or 3.2ish miles. Not bad, since I hadn't run in at least a week. The sun came out at 5pm and you better believe the family and I booked it to Lake Louise. It was truly a sight to see. Apparently, when you actually have sun, it doesn't set until 9:45pm! Crazy!
• Saturday: Explore whatever we wanted (Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff). Return to the Calgary area. We found out that a bus was leaving Banff for Calgary. It was taking the long route (aka the only highways that were open and available to us), making a normally 75-mile journey in to a 475-mile journey. It was a 10+ hour bus ride, but we made it to Calgary!
• Sunday: Hang out in Calgary until our late-afternoon/evening flights to the states. Downtown Calgary was closed indefinitely due to flooding. A lot of the city and the surrounding cities/towns were closed due to flooding and/or states of emergencies. So, we ended up staying in our hotel until it was time to check-in. Then, we all parted rather abruptly since we were all on separate flights (in separate terminals).

All in all, it was great to see my sister and have some bonding time with her. As you can imagine, the trip was an adventure to say the least. If anything, it reminded my mother and I what a bearer of disaster I am. Don't believe me? 1994: earthquake in Northridge, CA. 1998: typhoon in Taiwan. 2003: blackout while visiting colleges in New York/the East Coast. 2013: flooding in Alberta. I am just missing a hurricane and tornado. Don't worry, I have a lot more life to live to get those babies on my list. (No tsunamis for me, thank you.)

Pictures below:

Our first day in Banff. Should have foreseen the impending doom.

Met this chum at a yummy Canadian restaurant called Earl's.

A Canadian sheriff informing us that all highways out of Banff are closed.

The view from our new/second hotel in Banff.

Blue skies! Honestly. I can't imagine how even more beautiful
Banff would have been if it had been sunny on our trip.

The Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise

Lake Louise

A black bear seen on our 10+ hour drive to Banff.

Followed by a family of mountain goats! So adorable!

The rain and flooding was so bad that mudslides, rockslides,
and rising rivers caused part of this bridge to collapse.

Can you see how high the water is?

Day 2323: I'm back!

Hello everyone!

Firstly, thank you all for being so patient, supportive and wonderful about this time away from the blog. I'm sure you were all itching for a post, and here it is. In all it's glory.

What I'm sure you are all wondering, if we haven't already spoken/texted/communicated, is that the exam was fine. It felt a lot like the question bank I had been doing, and in that regard, that was nice. There was familiarity. Otherwise, it sounds like whether you barely scrape by with a pass or get a rockstar-score, everyone feels like the exam was a complete sh!t-show, pardon my French. So. My exam score comes back in the next few weeks and I will let you know how it pans out for me. (Depending on the score I get, if it's competitive enough, I will still pursue urology. If it isn't very strong, I will enter family medicine and be 100% happy and confident in that decision.)

Anyway, enough snoozefest boards stuff. I am positive you are all bored out of your mind of my "I'm so stressed" "boo hoo Jess" blah blah blah. Me too.

Disney World was a ton of fun! Danny had come to the conclusion after Day 1 (of 4) that this was going to be a very different trip to Disney. Normally, he puts the pedal to the metal and wears himself out from a 12+ hour day, every day. With his parents getting older, and me having an "oh yeah sure, whatever you want" attitude, I think he realized that he wasn't going to hit everything he wanted and he was okay with that. We still had an awesome, fun, hot-and-humid time! Danny's parents were unbelievably generous on this trip. Not only did they pay for my flight and lodging, they paid for my food and even bought me some stuff (a rash guard and new swimsuit, both on sale!) just because they wanted to. I was incredibly humbled by their kindness.

Don't think I forgot how lame text blog posts are. Here are some pictorial manifestations of Disney!

I painted these Donald Duck nails the day of our flight.

The iconic Disney castle.

I painted these shirts for us!

I couldn't leave Danny's parents in the customized-shirts cold!

Our first Splash Mountain picture.

The rebel spy!

Our second Splash Mountain picture. The photo attendant
actually laughed when he saw it. Probably because my face of
sheer terror (all acted, by the way) was amusing as hell.

Day 2279: The end. Wow.

Hey there team.

I am proud to tell you all I have completed my second year of medical school. Can you believe it?! It doesn't have nearly all the fanfare that last year's completion did, but that's probably because this year wasn't as much of a struggle as last year. I learned a lot about myself, personally and academically, in my first year of medical school and I think I was able to use that to my benefit this year. Pathology and microbiology and pharmacology have all come and gone and I'm still standing. Way to go, me.

With that, I leave you with some pictures from my last day of relaxation before it's boardsboardsboardsboardsboardsboardsboardsboards.

Danny treated me to a yummy Sobelman's burger
and "bloody masterpiece" for my M2 year coming to an end!

A butterfly in the Puelicher Butterfly Wing at the
Milwaukee Public Museum (free on Mondays for residents!)

An awesome wall of African art/woodwork at the MPM.

Having crazy beetle adventures with Danny at MPM

I have a lot of great things planned post-boards -- Danny and his family are so kind and wonderful and they are taking me to Disney World! I feel like after taking the most important exam of my life, it really will feel like the Super Bowl so you better believe I will walk out of that testing center saying "I'm going to Disney World!"

After Disney, my family and I will be going to Canada! Banff National Park to be exact. My Mom has always wanted to go and I think it'll be a great time to bond with my mother and sister.

And then I come back for orientation in late June and rotations begin July 1st! This is really happening people. I'm finally going to be in the clinic, where I belong! I can't wait!

I'll talk to you all in June or July!

All my x's and o's!

Day 1912: One more exam, then family vacation!

Jessica is done with 8 out of 9 of her first year medical courses!

Today's neuro exam went well...I think. All I know is I did the best that I could and we'll see how that worked out for me. Check back tonight for exam results! Results are in! 88%! That's more than what I needed to make sure I passed the class. Apparently, hard work is all it takes to do well on exams, haha. Yippee!

What I really want to tell you about is my upcoming family vacation. You've met them, yes?

We're a crazy, hysterical bunch of little Asian people and I love my family to death. Anyhoo, since it is my last summer ever, we are going on a vacation! In one week! To Italy and Greece!

Cinque Terre/Manarola, Italy
Since I was the one who planned the itinerary (while in school, no less)
I made sure to include this beautiful city on our trip!

Santorini, Greece
My sister has wanted to go here since high school so this is
going to be a huge treat for her! And hello! Gorgeous!

I know, I know, I am incredibly lucky. I probably should have posted about this sooner so that you could all give me your recommendations, but alas, I've just been so reticent about talking about this vacation because then I seem so spoiled to be vacationing in Europe, blah blah blah. You know what people. This is my last summer. My parents work absurdly hard for every penny they have. My sister actually has time to go. Lots of things came together for this vacation and I cannot be more excited. Well, I could be, but that's because I have one more pesky final exam. Physiology. Four hours. 137 questions. Oh joy.

Day 1126: Baby Sister's Graduation!

For those of you who read my blog, I assume you know me. I have this amazing younger sister who is just the bee's knees. She is, by far, cooler and better than me in every regard. Except maybe fashion but even now I try to dress like a 64 year old white man so maybe she does have me beat ;)

Anyway! Baby sister graduated! From college! Keep your applause until the end, please. She graduated with a degree in public relations and a minor in international business. She's just the best thing you have ever seen. I don't know how she keeps her awesome under wraps, but it always peeks out so we know that it's there. The graduation itself was pretty boring, as all graduations tend to be, but I screamed pretty darn loud when they called her name!

So, that was that. She goes to school near LA, so on Sunday, I went to the Rose Bowl Flea Market (pictured below) with my sister and my friend and saw this person (the second picture):

I love her more than anything. She looked super normal (not thinner in real life) and did normal things like eat overpriced pretzels and mull about the stalls. My sister mocked my friend and I for being so amazed at her normalcy, but honestly, when you're famous, after a certain amount of time, you forget what normal is like. You expect things. Like umbrella holders (people, not objects). Or free stuff. Stuff normal people don't have. So.

Dear the actress from "The Notebook" and "Mean Girls" (that's who that is in case you can't tell), I love you. Thank you for being normal and relatable. I apologize for stalking you for half an hour, but I tried to be covert. I did not sell this photo to TMZ and if they try to take it, I will sue them for not asking my permission (note how I haven't written your name in an attempt to save you from internet psychotism and TMZ stalking me). I respect you and your privacy (despite taking this paparazzi photo). Love, Me

Day 1125: Boston, not quite a town, not quite a city. A towity.

My good friend Smash (from college who currently resides in Boston) calls it a cown (pronounced like "sound" with no "d"). I think it's a towity. In all honesty, I wasn't wow-ed by Boston. It was there. I entered with no expectations of the city, which is the best way to go through new experiences in life I've found.  I knew it wouldn't be New York. And believe you me, it was not. It has a lot of history and a lot of interesting architecture. It's a walk-able towity. It's pretty. Its subway system is fine. It sure as ain't no New York Metro, but it gets you from A to B. There are lots of colleges. Lots of students. Lots of white people. Lots of Asians (predominantly around MIT, shocker much?). All I can tell you is, Boston is not for me. If I had to live there, temporarily (like when I was in North Carolina), I would, of course. But I would never choose to live there. It's fun enough to visit though. Next time, I'll do more of the free things.

I lost my Boston pictures when I synced up my new phone to my computer. I was bummed about losing some fun pictures of Boston Common and the Public Garden (pretty parks in the heart of Boston), the George Washington statue wearing a customized Bruins jersey, the State House (pretty gold roof), and churches (pretty architecture), but such is life. I only have pictures from my camera, which have people in them. And for those of you who don't know, I have this weird idea about publicizing myself so even though I have a blog, have you noticed there are no pictures of me? Even my new teeth ones have my eyes barred out. I don't know why I'm so weird about it. When I read fashion blogs, etc, I like seeing the blogger's pictures. To post pictures of myself or not? That is the question. (Comment if you feel so inclined, I'm here for the masses of course)

Day 1124: New York, my one true love.

I was in New York for eight days. It had been two years since I had been. I need you to understand how at home I feel in New York. It feels like I'm whole. And if you've met/hung out with me in the last six months, I am very, very whole. I'm a little intense in my wholeness. Imagine how complete I feel in New York. It's just a very comfortable feeling. Walking the streets. Finding new things around every corner. Eating and gaining back all the weight I lost doing yoga. Seeing friends. It's all just a wonderful feeling that I have decided I have to find my way back post-med school. Have to. Must. Absolutely necessary.

I had to get a new phone while I was there so I lost my pictures when I synced my old info onto my new phone. Luckily I saved these to my email. The rest were just photos from the Met and the "Celebrating 100 Years" at the New York Public Library. It was sad at first, but these were my keepers anyway.

Day 1123: Wisconsin

Wisconsin was...fine. I hung out with my good friend's Dad. I hung out with said good friend's ex-boyfriends. One of whom is my new roommate. I found an apartment. For the price of a pair of shoes, haha not even kidding. It's so cheap out there. It's beyond laughable. It's actually a crime to think how cheap it is in comparison to California or New York or other expensive places I like to frequent.

Anyhoo, I went to the Miller Brewery with one of my new friends Bruce (like Wayne! He likes comics). It's a fun little tour and you get free beer at the end. So. Even though I have deemed there to be nothing in the midwest (actually, my mother said that and I came to concur after spending a little more than two weeks there), I am there. Therefore. Visit. And drink free beer. The end.

Day 1123: Indianapolis

After Columbus, I went to visit my best friend in Indiana! Let me tell you a little something about her. If any human being on earth could follow a plan as perfectly as she did, I can promise you, this person does not exist. Only one person has her act together and her name is Jessica's Best Friend (we shall here on out call her JBF).

So, JBF graduated law school, passed her bar exam while in law school (which is practically unheard of!), got sworn in to the bar, and is now saving the world from law-breakers! Did I mention she married her middle-school sweetheart last year and owns a home? Not some closet in the back room of a bar. A house! A home!

Why can't my life come together like this?

Alas, our time together was so taken up with celebrating her (which was absolutely wonderful), that we didn't get too much one-on-one time (which was absolutely dismal). It was fantastic to see her and reconnect since it had been awhile. I was just reminded how great she is and how lucky I am to have her in my life. Good thing I'm moving to the midwest so we can be closer, both geographically and metaphorically.

To keep this from being the most boring entry of praise ever, here are some pictures from my trip:

The rest are actually of her and her family and that's just Facebook on crack (posting things without her consent/breaching her privacy by posting pictures of her). So. You have a highway sign and building. Suck it up and enjoy it.

Day 1122: Ohio, the end.

Ohio was pretty tame. My friend was busier than balls so I just hung out in her apartment and watched Sportscenter and my new semi-obsession, "Khloe and Lamar." I just want to tell you all. In six weeks, I have never seen SO much reality television in my life. "Real Housewives" of any city imagineable, "Khloe and Lamar," "So You Think You Can Dance," "The Voice," there are more. My brain just can't remember them all.

M and I did end up playing trampoline dodgeball (what a workout!) and eating at a restaurant featured on "Man versus Food." Here's a picture of the Thurmanator (comprised of: Bottom bun, mayo, lettuce, tomato, pickle, banana peppers, 12 ounce burger, bacon, cheddar, another 12 oz burger, sautéed mushrooms & onions, ham, mozzarella & American cheese, top bun served with fries) that an acquaintance ordered. I was feeling fat that day and couldn't stomach all that food so I got another burger, haha.

The best part? My friend couldn't finish it and he got a to-go box. ...only to forget his to-go box! Oh man. Life is so cruel sometimes.

Day 1122: I suck.

I know this. I was on vacation and didn't really have much going on except vacating my mind of any real thoughts so I didn't end up blogging. I'm going to split up all these posts so it looks like a) I'm a regular blogger (lies!) and b) so you aren't bored out of your mind from reading a post that should have ended four sentences ago.

Summary: In six weeks, I was in six different cities, in six different states. I'll break up the posts accordingly. I arrived home Sunday night and have been up to things also! I think I'll update you on that since it's most recent and more relevant since vacation is over and done with.

I'm home. I'm hanging out with the 'rents. I've seen friends. I've done errands. I am volunteering at my yoga studio for FREE YOGA (pure bliss). I'm reading books. I'm enjoying the nice weather. I'm getting back into daily NPR listening sessions. It's a good life.

Day 219: Updates and registration

Updates, I rocked my Organic Chemistry class. Rocked it. I hope you're all deathly afraid of my newfound (possibly latent) intelligence.

Registration, I just registered for the MCAT (the standardized test that all pre-medical students have to take -- think of it as the SAT for med school). This is all really happening. Holy freaking cow.

That is all. Vacation has been good to me but I could be studying/working out more. Meh. What's the point of vacation if you can't enjoy yourself a little?

Day 150: So close to New York

I took my biology exam yesterday and it was fine. I didn't feel as sure of the exam as my friends did but I did fine.

New York is turning into a bigger hassle than I thought because as of 1:58pm, I have to idea who will be taking me to the airport and the parking fees are going to be annoying for five days (about thirty bucks). It's fine if I have to drive myself (it might actually be better) but it sucks nonetheless.

I need this break. However, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to escape from school work. I'm quite positive my handy dandy Organic textbook is coming with me to NYC. Along with some extraneous biology and physics notes. Whatever. It's time for vacation people.