Looking forward to hearing "I hate the dentist" 93874398 times..

10 reasons why your dentist probably hates you too.

A classmate sent this blog post to our class.. just a humorous rant about what this former dentist wishes she could have said to her patients sometimes.

What struck me most about reading this was that the author mentioned that she left her career as a dentist and is now doing something else. Out of curiosity, I tried to learn more about why she decided not to continue practicing. I found another post where she states, "It’s been 10 years of thinking, 'it will get better,' or, 'I just need more experience,' or, 'maybe it’s the job and not the career.' It’s been filled with ups and downs of trying to make it work while simply wanting to give up. There were moments of clarity when I knew it wasn’t my match. There were other moments of clarity brought on by the few precious experiences that made me smile at the end of a day– only resulting in utter confusion. And ultimately I was left feeling defeated because I almost always felt like I was not myself."

In my undergrad days of praying, "soul-searching", and figuring out what I wanted to do with my life, my biggest concern about going into dentistry was that I would grow to resent this field, or fall out of love with it, or realize that it's not for me at all. Even at age 20 I knew that I was young and clueless, and picking a career path could very well be the equivalent of drawing it out of a hat.

I don't know. I guess I keep searching for personal confirmation that I'm in the right place. Perhaps it's pure naivety, but I'm looking forward to being a dentist. The thought of seeing my first patient excites me. In other words, I don't identify with this writer at all, which I'm taking as a good sign.

And if I'm wrong, it's comforting to know that it's possible to get out of the business. :) Just saying..

Back to reality

Went into serious hibernation mode when I went home for break... I think I'm tired.

Realizing once again what I should have already known. I can't do things on my own..

Drama with my mama

Nothing like coming home and watching K-dramas with my mommy! About once a year I get a huge craving for a drama to get sucked into, so I guess this one is 2011's. Afterward, I'm so emotionally drained that I can't even think about watching another one for a few months.. but it seems like there are at least a few other good ones currently out right now. We'll see how I feel after this.

Home

Of Monsters and Men-Little Talks. Just a little ditty I heard on my way to home sweet home. Happy day before Thanksgiving!

Makeup remover product review

I recently noticed I've been running low on my current make-up remover:

L'Oreal Clean Artiste make-up remover

and my reaction was of relief.. because I can FINALLY move on to another brand. Honestly, this is the worst MUR ever! I used to use its sister, the non-"Clean Artiste" regular L'Oreal MUR which worked ok, and thought that this would be an upgrade, but no. No no no. All it does is dissolve eye make-up into oil, and when I try to wipe it off, smears it all over my face. At night, I just want to take off my make-up, wash my face, and go to bed asap. Instead, I have to deal with an oily, eyeliner/mascara-induced mess! And even when I allegedly wipe it all off (after way too many cotton balls), and wash/dry my face, I still get make-up residue on my towel. Not cool, man.

So I switched. To this:

Neutrogena make-up remover

I've only used it once so far, but I will say it's better than the former (though the bar is set pretty low). It still has a smearing effect, but clean-up is a lot easier. It picked up almost all of the residue from my eyeliner, but I still didn't feel completely clean. All in all, it just seems like a slightly better version of the L'Oreal. Not completely satisfied.. maybe it'll change my mind in time.

I had the chance to use my friend's Clinique MUR once, and that seems to be the gold standard for me.. at least I know that quality ones exist! One swipe on the eye with a cotton pad, and it picked up every little bit of make-up. No fuss, no muss. However, it costs a pretty penny (look it up, M! :P).. I might invest in it anyway though if my frustrations keep up.

My quest for good, cheap make-up remover continues!

Perfect weather

I planned to stay indoors today, but it so happened that it was 70 degrees in the afternoon! I couldn't let that go to waste, so I ended up going for a run. The weather was gorgeous. I regretted having to go back inside.

When I run, I stop thinking. I just go. When my mind goes a mile a minute, running helps to shut that voice up for a while.

But it's afterward, as I walk to cool down, that I do my best thinking. A moment of clarity and peace. I haven't had one of those sessions in a while, so it was nice. Especially with the warm, spring-like air.

The art of losing myself.

Kashi pizzas

I love pizza. I'll eat any kind any time, but I do have a taste for good, quality ones. This started in college when my eyes were opened to pizza beyond chain restaurants. I believe that the pizza in Charlottesville is severely underrated.. Christian's, Vita Nova (SO UNDERRATED), Mellow Mushroom. I crave them all on a regular basis. I'm more of a crunchy, thin-crust eater, with only a couple toppings, so Christian's/Vita Nova steal my heart. There are a few places I've tried in Richmond, and they're ok, but they just do not compare to these two.

So I'm a bit of a pizza foodie. And at the bottom of the ranks is frozen pizza. However, my mom randomly bought a Kashi pie one day a few weeks ago, and so I had the chance to try it. And let me tell you, this is quality frozen pizza. If you bake it directly on the oven rack, the crust becomes a crispy that slightly resembles my favorite places' ones. Plus it's (kinda) healthy! So I've been obsessed with these lately.. my favorite is roasted vegetable.

I seriously should get paid for this advertising... but it's so good! Quick, cheap (well cheaper than going out to eat, but more expensive than other frozen pizzas), has some sort of nutritional value.. dental student's best friend. At least this dental student.

Daunting week

I think this upcoming week will be the most challenging for me so far. I honestly cannot wait until Thursday evening.. as far as I'm concerned, it'll be the start of Thanksgiving break. School next week? What ever do you mean?

GET PUMPED! M83/Kanye West-Midnight City/Good Life mashup

Just a crazy post from a crazy girl.

Weird place

I had a few opportunities from friends to go out and about this weekend, but I turned down every single one in the name of studying. Yet I'm still procrastinating.. I hate this. I'd rather work really hard and then be free to go hang out, but I'm stuck in this limbo of neither work nor play. Bah.

Part of my day was spent re-reading Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. I found, and consequently bought, a copy at a thrift store last weekend for 50 cents, so I've been sporadically picking it up to read this week. I'm identifying with it in ways that I didn't when I first went through it, and it's just reminding me of God's great love for me. Like his desperate love for me.

Closing the door on cadavers

Today I went to the interment ceremony for the cadavers we dissected in Gross Anatomy earlier this year (seems like AGES ago). For some reason I felt compelled to go, even though it was an optional event. I debated with myself for a while, since I'm usually reluctant to go out of my way for functions outside of school, but I'm glad I went. Very thankful to those that gave up their bodies so that we could learn.

In other news, I lost my phone at the ceremony but a good Samaritan picked it up. The last person I happened to call was a classmate, so Samaritan called my classmate, who went back and got my phone for me. Thankful!

And I think those are the highlights of the day. Oh I went to spinning class today.. went 16 miles.. coulda done more but I had to go pick up my phone.

It is written.

I'm behind in some of my classes, so I took work home. Watched Slumdog Millionaire while carving, which I haven't seen in a couple of years... I forgot how GOOD it is!!!!!! Such an epic movie with a sweet ending. Makes me smile.

I feel like a booger

This is exactly me today. I feel gross, and mucus-y. Dizzy and lightheaded. I'm cranky and want to be left alone. Just generally unpleasant, thanks to this cold I've been harboring.

But thank you, chocolate covered pretzels, for being on sale today and being a wonderful complement to the copious amounts of tea I've been drowning myself in.

I'm just going to go ahead and say it

I don't like dancing! It's not even like I secretly like it but I'm insecure about my moves (believe me, I know it's not pretty), I really just don't enjoy it. Even when I'm by myself I rarely, if ever, have any urge to get up and bust a move. Of course, I can't live life avoiding all dancing (maybe I should have lived in the Footloose town), so I can comfortably do an awkward sway/wave my hands jig, but that's about it.

I just came back from salsa dancing.. someone tried to teach me but no dice. The steps are logically not that hard, but for someone with absolutely no coordination, I was a mess. It wouldn't matter, just as long as it was fun, but nope. No fun was had. HAHA.

PS I think I have a cold but body aches are gone! So no bedrest needed.

Sick?

My throat is sore and my body feels like it got hit by a truck. I don't have a thermometer but my face is subjectively warm.

It all started yesterday in my afternoon class. I kept falling asleep during lecture (normal; no reason for concern) and afterward, when I was in the lab, my fatigue did not go away. I felt so spacey and lethargic even though I slept enough the night before and had my daily coffee fix. Halfway through, I just got up and started wandering slowly to the bathroom and around the classroom even though I'm usually good about focusing on my work during class time.. my bench table neighbors were like "um are you ok?".. "rough week huh?"

Yesterday I just figured I was having an off day, but judging by the way I feel right now, the clues point to infection infesting my poor body. Eek. Come ON immune system, do your thang!

I have a test tomorrow, so the show must go on tonight, but come tomorrow afternoon, it's bedrest for me. Unless I miraculously feel better.