So graduation came and went, like a summer thunderstorm.  Some of my faimly came to watch me graduate and my best friend and his wife hooded me.  When I was up on stage, as soon as I was hooded, the wind blew really hard and knocked part of the stage down.  If anyone has video of that happening while I was up there, please send it to me!  I will pay to have the video shipped. :)  It’d be great Youtube video fodder!

I have sent out thank you cards to everyone who has given me a gift for the wedding and for graduation.  I’d like to take a moment and thank all of you publicly for your gifts as they have made moving to Roanoke and buying our first home possible.  :)  Thank you all so much!

It is June 26th, 2008 today.  I’ve been in orientation for what seems a week and a half now.   I have re-certified in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support this week.  In addition, I’ve been to orientation for the Salem Veterans Hospital, the new EMR for Carilion (EPIC) and a short blurb on Carilion Clinic.  Tonight, we have the picnic where I can hang out with the new residents and meet their families.  It’s a pool party, looking forward to that

The Ebay stores are doing well.  I also am getting ready to crank up the seperate “Real Deal Medicine” project shortly, which will be blog posts based on what I learn during my rotations thru residency.  This is to serve a dual purpose:  1) To keep me honest on reading while solidifying knowledge by recording what I learn and 2) Provide somewhat of a knowledge base for med students and residents in layman’s terms.    There’s alot of information out there like emedicine and Harrison’s, but not really anything that breaks information down into layman’s terms.  You will find the project at realdealmedicine.com

All in all, things are going well.  I’ve got some other things coming down the pipe but looking forward to starting residency soon.   I am tired of being nervous about it and just want to sink my teeth into it and get this show on the road.

Yep, the dream *is* real!  Here’s the degree to prove it