Booking up

Now that I know my temporary license is good enough to practice with I'm good to go. My professional liability insurance kicks in tomorrow. (goooo malpractice!) I organized all the days for September and have locked in almost all of my days. It'll feel so good to finally put my name on an exam form and not have to get someone elses signature on it. I can finally call and refer my own patients (like today's patient i had with a retinal hole).

Look out world.. new OD on the loose! (and she's legal this time!!) Hee

Board Certified Optometric Physician

That's ME !! Yes, ladies and gentlemen I squeaked in under the wire and passed the bitch that is the Florida Board exam. I can now make a living. (as soon as my piece of paper comes in the mail)

I'm SO relieved you don't even know !!!

Tiger hates me!

Tiger officially hates me. I put booties on him to keep him from scratching himself raw. His poor tummy is all red and sore. So, I went to Petco and picked out some doggie booties. He's prancing around the house like a show horse with them on! It's so funny I just had to get the camera. I just wish I had digital video.

Tiger with his sexy booties! 

Cute Hair and Cleanliness

I could no longer take the clutter in my place, so today was cleaning day! I mopped floors, got doggie nose prints off my windows,scrubbed the bathrooms, washed sheets and bathmats, etc. I feel so much better being in my place now. Now if I could just get G to pick up his laundry! :p

I also wondered over to the salon across the street to make an appointment. They took me right then. It was great ! So, now my hair is chin length and layered and i really like it. G also thinks it's cute which is a plus.

We're finally starting to get some rain bands from Hurricane Katrina, but nothing like they were predicting earlier in the week for us. It looks like New Orleans is going to get the brunt of it now. I don't mind the rain.. i actually kind of like it.

Off to the gym!

People Suck Sometimes

There are two reasons people suck today:

Reason one:

My boss today told me he found out there was cheating on the board exam. SO, this is why the scores are being held up. Apparently people who took the exam Saturday morning called friends who were taking the exam Saturday afternoon and told them the answers to the visual field question. On the exam, they gave us a right and left field and told us to interpret it. They they gave us two questions about the field. There were two or three fields they were using throughout the day. They caught the afternoon people when the started giving the EXACT right answers.... to the WRONG FIELD! You would think people would be smart enough to go.. hey! That answer my friend gave me doesn't match this field.. maybe I should really think about this and give a "real" answer. But no.. they didn't. so, the results are screwed up. I have no idea when I'm going to get my score now.

Reason two why people suck:

I had the RUDEST patient!!
Now, I know guys like this shouldn't get to me. I know there are men out there that hate female doctors. But, why can't he just tell me that ahead of time instead of trying to make me look stupid. He only made the whole office hate him! All girls at the front desk had my back, he was SO RUDE to our opticians, and treated the front desk girls like peons. So, next time y'all go to the doctor be nice to the front desk.. they make things go and they're usually very nice people. They truly can make your break your office.

I'm not drowning my bad day in Thai food. yum!

G and myself on the boat (post diving, hence the mask hair) 

the spiny lobster my uncle caught (known in Florida as "bugs") 

Diving in Jupiter

To start off the post.. No, I STILL don't have my scores. That's all I have to say about that. I'm SO sick of waiting. They're killing me slowly and loving every minute of it.

Saturday night after a long day of lounging around the house being complete slugs, G and I packed up to head to the east coast of Florida. We were invited to go diving with my cousin Allison and her mom and dad. (obvsiouly my aunt and uncle) With doggie in town we braved the three hour drive to Port St. Lucie. I was a little concerned my doggie wouldn't get along with my cousin's doggies, but they got along great! Tiger had a great day while we were diving playing in my cousin's back yard with her two dogs. It was his first day as an "outside" doggie.He also took SEVERAL flying leaps into Alli's pool. (he must have missed my parent's pool more than I thought) He slept the whole way home on Sunday... ahhh heaven! (hey, jessica can tell her baby stories.. I tell mine) Heh.

The diving was GREAT! I was a little nervous since it's was my first dive since certification and also my first open water ocean free-dive. Most of our training dives had been with a dive line, in freezing cold water, with huge wet suits, and limited visability. These two dives were CAKE compared to my training dives. G was the best dive buddy. He never left my side and kept me calm.

The very first dive was on a reef off the coast of Jupiter with a max ledge of 82 ft. I think I only dropped that low once and G caught it and yanked me back up. (when the visbility is as clear as it was down there, you really don't realize how far down you are unless you're staring at your gage). The first reef really didn't have much on it. There were fish and they were pretty... about half the boat saw a huge sea turtle (which I missed). The reason we were behind everyone else is that dropping in for my first day I discovered I was not wearing enough weight to get down. Small problem since you kinda need to be UNDER the water to dive. So, we had to flag the dive boat down to add weight to my BCD. Then, I got down, but we were a good 6 minutes behind all the other divers.

The second dive was in shallower reef at 65 feet. We dropped right onto the reef and I had no problems getting down this time. We dove close to my cousin and her roomie so we were a little foursome. Many of the other divers were diving for lobster, but we weren't. The fish and reef were so much prettier on the second reef. I really wish I could have gotten pictures. Disposable dive camera don't work lower than 50 feet. BUMMER! I did get a few pics on the boat which i'll share. It's really hard to describe reef diving. it's very tranquil and it's nice not having noise, talking, cell phones, music, anything. Just peace. You, fish, water, and your significant other. The water was so clear and warm it was like a bath tub with pretty fishies in it. I'll DEFINITELY be going back. I definitely want to go somewhere tropical with bigger badder better reef now.

Taunting

They're taunting me.. the posted my groups pass/fail rate, but not the individual scores. Twenty people failed. let's hope I'm not one of them !!!!

Score Update?

I tried to check the Optometry Board website when I got home this evening. My profession was no longer on the drop down menu. It disappears like that when they're "updating the system". AHHHHHHH !!! Does this mean I could know by the end of the night? Could they torture me like this for days?! (probably,yes) Can I handle the stress anymore?? (probably, no)

I spent most of today at work helping Dr J look up answers for her TQ quizzes for her CE from FOA a few weekends ago. I could answer most of the questions without looking them up (or even attending the lectures) which is why they give new grads in Florida a two year waver on CE. I'll stating taking classes for continuing education in 2007. (which really isn't that far away when I stop and think about it)

G found out his next project is going to be at Chevron in... (wait for it )... HOUSTON!! So, now that I no longer live there he gets a project there. Damn you work staffing gods.. DAMN YOU!! He leaves tomorrow to work out there for two days and then he'll fly back. (and leave again Monday morning)

I'm trying to figure out plans to go scuba dive with my uncle and cousin Sunday. We're talking about diving in Boynton Beach. They have both reef and lobster diving which would be a lot of fun since I've never done either. G would have to sit out since he's flying on Monday (you can't fly within 24 hours of diving). But, he still wants to go with us and be in the boat and take pics, etc. Hopefully they'll let him since hopefully the boat won't be too full. I'd love him to go but I'd feel really bad that he's not diving. We'll see how all the details work out.

Slow weekends are good

Sometimes you just need a weekend where you just don't do much.

My Friday at work was pretty uneventful. Since Dr J was in sugery starting at 11am I was only busy from 8 to 10. Then, I helped the front desk organize for monday and answer phones (which where eerily quiet). By 3pm I had nothing to do.. so I left. I didn't want them to pay me to sit around and keep the other front desk girl company (although, she did appreciate the company)

Yesterday we really didn't do much. After sleeping in (always a plus) we headed to Champps for lunch. mmmm food. Then, G and I took the plunge and committed ourselves to the gym. Classes, weights, cardio, spinning and boxing for 34 a month. (not to terrible). This gym is MUCH cheaper than the gym in CA (they wanted 80 a month) !!

The funnest part of my day yesterday was playing treadmill war with the guy running next to me. he was one of those mead-head looking guys who was all upper body with the little chicken legs... who decided to run next to me. In typical guy fashion he kept looking over to see how fast I was running on my treadmill (for the record at the time I was going at about a 8:30 mile) .. so he ups his speed to run just slightly faster than me. Since two can play that game I upped it to an 8 minute mile. He upped his speed again. Heh. So, I upped to a 7:30 minute mile... and ran ... and ran.... and ran some more. He upped this time only equal to my speed (not over) and hung with me for only 2 minutes before he had to start walking. Victory was MINE !! It was a sweet victory.. since I'm generally not a fast runner.. I'm just in better shape cardiovascularly than meat-head.

Last night G and I attempted to go bowling. they build a new alley here that has only 14 lanes, but it's REALLY nice... bars, fancy restaurant, almost more night club than bolwing alley. they also have pool tables. they're trying to make an up-scale bowling alley and were quite successful. we went to check it out Friday night to see what it was like and were very impressed. So, saturday I call to see if I can reserve a lane to play. They girl answering the phone almost laughed at me. So, we tried two other (not as nice) alleys in town with no success. Both had 2 hour plus waits for lanes. When did bowling get so popular? G and I used to go about once a month in CA and it was alwyays deserted. I guess we'll have to go some other time (maybe in the afternoon)

Worker Bee

Since Dr K is out of town, I've been helping Dr J the last three days. We had enough work to keep us busy. It was actually really nice to get to spend more time with her (I normally only get to see her once a week). We found out we have more in common than we thought. We have similar opinions on many things and like many of the same things (including running).

This is my night off from the gym. I'm exhausted after yesterday. I was stuck behind a wreck last night on the way home and it took an hour and a half to get back to Tampa. By the time I got home from the gym after work it was almost 9pm. So, it was a quick and easy pizza take-out night. which, defeats the purpose of trying to eat more healthy and going to the gym in the first place.. but at least i went to the gym. ;)

Today I firmed up plans for employment to get myself up to 5 days a week once I'm fully licensed. I'll have Wednesdays and Sundays off (and it looks like I'll get off one Saturday a month). Now, I just have to wait for my damn score yet again (or rather still). It's only been a week and a half since the practical, but it's so hard not to dwell on it. The rest of this year (and most of next) rides on this score. I hate that it's worth so much !! Everyone keeps trying to assure me that I'll be fine and that i'm a great doctor, but the board doesn't know that.. and definitely didn't see that from me on the day of the test. They also have no idea based on my transcripts how well i did in clinic at UH. They only know that I completed them (our clinics were pass/fail).

Hopefully I'll only have to wait one more week !!! The only day I broke down with the stress of it all and cried was last Monday ... but, with all the stress I've been under the last two weeks or so i think I almost needed the release. Fortunately G was home and he made it all better. (like always)

The new gym

G and I scouted out a new gym on saturday. It's only 3 blocks from our house and we run by it all the time. Once we realized we were both gaining some weight due to our eating habits and only working out sporatically... it was time to find a gym!!

The gym might not be the shinest or the newest, but they have everything (spinning, classes, ab and stretching room, weights, tons of treadmills and eplipticals and of course all the nautilus stuff)

Today was my first spinning class. not my first ever, but the first one since probably 1999. The UH gym didn't have spinning. It was just as brutal as I remembered. But, at least my ass isn't sore from the eat and I feel like I got a very good workout. I'll definitely go back. I also want to check out the body pump class (aerobics with weights) and the hip hop dance class. (back to my roots.. somewhat)

At the end of my week free trial.. I'll most likely sign up for a gym membership.

Mike gets married 

Yet another wedding

Friday morning I dropped my four legged fur-kid off at doggie daycare so I could fly to Texas. My best guy friend Mike from college got married this weekend. So, G and I flew Southwest into Houston and rented a car. I only saw my mother for about two hours before I had to leave for the wedding. (much to my mother's chagrin)

The wedding was in Montgomery, Texas which is not close to much of anything. The wedding was at a Yacht Club on the lake in an area called Bentwater. Now, why is it called a yacht club when there were clearly no yachts there. There were some speed boats and the occasional beautiful sailboat, but definitely not a big enough lake for a yacht. Also, are yachts even supposed to be on lakes? when I think yacht I think sea-going vessel. Anyway, that's where the wedding was.

The wedding ceremony itself was fortunately very short since it was OUTSIDE in Houston in August. They gave us fans and fortunately there was a nice breeze. There were only 50 people in attendance which is a great size. I now have an idea that that's the right amount of people to have.. not too big and not too terribly small.

G and I were at a table for dinner with my friend janalyn from LHB and two of the groomsman (Mike's best friend Joey and guy friend Ryan who is also from LHB)

I didn't really like the brides dress.. it was an off-white almost antique yellow color made to look older I guess. It did suit her, but wasn't something I would have ever picked out... but, it's her day and if she loved it... that's all that really matters. she did look very pretty.

We actually had a really nice time. They kicked us out of the reception hall at 11pm, which gave us enough time to dance. The bride and groom drove off in a rented silver mustang convertible. The bride even cornered me to ask me how my exams went (which was really sweet of her) and commented that with all the cameras she felt like she was on display. I think she was very ready to get out of there by the time they actually did.

I flew back to Florida early Saturday morning. We had to spring the four legged child from doggie daycare. I attempted to pick him up at 1pm for their first pick-up time, but no one was there.. so G and I dejectedly had to head back home and wait until 7pm to spring the pooch from doggie jail. (and he was VERY glad to see us)

The Secret

I've discovered the best way to not think about waiting for my scores.... killing myself with work. I know I can't be at work all the time, but the fact that I can work five days a week now is really helping me. It's also nice that G is home at night right now so i have someone to watch movies with and talk to... and not talk about the exam.

I'm still very very nervous... but I'm going to take the doggie for a nice walk and then read in bed. Yeah, that'll work... I hope.

Lack of Sleep

I can't get any sleep. I keep going over and over the exam from Sunday morning in my head. How much partial credit did I get for BIO? How bad did they nit-pick me on station two? Is there ANY way I passed this damn test? How am I going to tell the three people waiting for me to begin work that I didn't pass? Do I tell them I'm concerned about it? If I do tell them I'm concerned are they going to go hire someone else? AHHH! There's no way I'm going to make it through three weeks of waiting! I'm going to get an ulcer.

I couldn't sleep last night so I got up at 715 this morning to go running. Now, I'm ready for work and really don't feel like going. I feel like a complete basket case and loser of a doctor.

Clinical Practical

Well, it's over. That's about all I can say about it. If you could have harnessed the stress in the hallways of that building you could have powered the state of Florida for a year.

When I checked in they put me in my group of 6. I was given a name badge with my candidate ID and passport photo (no name). They took my mom (my patient) into another room. One of the girls in the group was 7.5 months pregnant and she was so nervous her baby was doing backflips. I felt so bad for her. But, she seemed okay. Our whole group was protective of her by the end of the exam.

My first station (out of two) was pupils, fields, ret, refraction and BIO. I thought I did great on everything but BIO. They made me do BIO reclined (completely) which I NEVER do and haven't for about three years. I practiced it the day before the exam on my mother and did fine. But, they didn't let me do this station on my mother. So, I had someone elses patient. She did just fine, but my views were not good. I spent so long trying to make sure they were perfect I didnt get to 1/3 of the views they wanted to see. Since there were two examiners I had to do everything twice.

I came out of there in a sheet of cold sweat since I knew the last part with BIO didn't go well. I went into station two knowing I pretty much had to ace it to pass this exam. (the cut off for passing is 80, not 75 like the nationals) One of the girls in my group gave me a hug and helped me calm down. I had to focus on what I had ahead of me and leave what happened in station one behind.

Station two went great, I thought. I few minor things, but no major point deductions that I could see.

If I pass it's going to be VERY close. For right now, I'm kinda assuming I failed. (BIO was 18 points and I could only lose 20) They would have had to have been REALLY generous and not nit-picky on every other station for me to pass.

One of the docs I know was an examiner and was going to try to find out whether I passed or not for me. I never heard from him.. which means either he didn't find out.. or I failed and he couldn't bring it to call me.

The worst part is now I have to wait three weeks for my score and I have three jobs riding on my results. I dread calling them to tell them they'll have to find someone else.. cuz I'm a giant loser who can't do BIO.

I felt really bad when I got home and Greg had made me a HUGE "congratulations" banner and put it across the condo and bought me an ice cream cake. I didn't feel like celebrating. I spent most of the 4 hour ride back in silence. My parents didn't even know what to say. mom said the examiners told her I was really personable.. although, unfortunately they don't give points for that. :(

now I just play the waiting game. If I get an 80 I will be the happiest person in Florida.