delays

Sorry for the lack of updates, but with Board exams (yes plural) tomorrow much time has been spent away from the computer. Today at work the computer system has been down for a better portion of the day, leaving time for last minute review and making travel/shopping plans.

But for today I thought I would leave you with this gem as heard on the local radio station id:

Cuter than a spotted seal before it becomes your dinner


And that is an only in Alaska moment prouldy brought to you from Bethel.

Why is the weather always clear at 2am?

I met up with my buddies on the LifeMed team just the other night. They are some good guys and always provide a good laugh. They invited me along again for a short puddle jump flight to Tuluksak for a sick baby- par for the course for me after all my travels during RSV season. It was literally a 15 minute flight but poor weather made us go into a holding pattern. Can you believe it?! I couldn't believe having a holding pattern to land at a delta village runway but it made sense. Despite the poor weather it was still one of the best flights I'd ever been on thanks to trusty
Eric the pilot. So a 15 minute flight turned into 33, those guys have great stories to tell. And an extra bonus is adding another village to my list of visited villages. This trip also provided some photos of tundra during the summer time. These will be added to facebook after this weekend when I go out berry picking for the first time in the tundra!

Really?

There is currently a student on site who had the great opportunity for village travel (as if Bethel wasn't remote enough). Now granted this student could generate a whole soap opera in what I've overheard so far, but thats too much for this space. Let's sum it in that she is in her final year at a very recently accredited school and on her first practical pharmacy experiece rotation. And she really wants to come back and work up here. Overall she's very pleasant to work with but I feel there are some delusions still left behind in her mind despite being in the bush country of Alaska for awhile now. As she was getting prepped for said village travel she was informed that it was a nice coastal village of ~500 people. She was then informed to pack a lunch to which she responded- "Oh what about a restaurant, I'd really like to eat at a restaurant". Needless to say there is no restaurant in said village and if you're lucky the store in town might have some spam and lard on the shelves but that is as exciting as it gets. Welcome to the real bush country of Alaska.

Counter the counter

Well we had a whole week of offer vs counter offer vs counter of counter offer (if I hear the word counter again...) enought to make your head spin; it sums into there is an accepted offer on the table pending the inspection. Whew!

Also spent time studying for the NAPLEX; need to overcome the overwhelming feeling of where do I start reviewing 4 years worth of education?

Payday came, payday went with an early overexcitation of getting paid more than expected...then distracted by a brutally high paced work day. A nice relaxation night of going out for dinner and paying for the first time in a long time and grocery shopping for the week. This culminated in a nice evening watching old Northern Exposure DVDs. It really is a great series.

Another relaxing Saturday sleeping in, getting our first booze run of the year, catching up with some people, online shopping- minimal purchases and creation of wish list should the new home come to fruition, and more Northern Exposure. Today however was a crackdown on the studying. I feel like I found some great resources for practice questions and then felt like there is no way I will ever pass this massive exam. Plunged into a law review instead. I also rationalized taking a topic a night for review and practicalizing the study by maximizing my test taking efficiency. All my friends did it so I can too!

Additionally I spent a lot of time compiling a law review not only for my benefit but also as a presentation to the current students here at YKHC. I'll also be nice and share with my new found frined and colleague who has yet to take the Alaska MPJE. As Alaska's pharmacy regulations are quite minimal, there should be a whole lot of information on federal laws to remember.

And now back to the books before bed.

Much ado about a lot of things!

In the past few days I have placed an offer on a house and FINALLY gotten my ATT and thus signed up for my Board exams. These are huge things in my otherwise uneventful life.

First off is the Boards: got the ATT and did a little happy dance right here at the pharmacy, people giggled. It was totally unexpected too; there wasn't any follow up to my daily calls or email, just a random letter in my box with my authorization code. And my other question isn't answered yet either, but we can address it another day. I had my choice from taking it in 4 days or taking it in 2 weeks. And yes I have been reviewing and studying, but that was a large weight to schedule the test that can determine the foundation of my career in under a week. So I went with the 2 week slot. This also gave me time to align my travel to Anchorage which is a pretty exciting thing. I am starting a LONG list in my head of things that I'll want to get and stuff into my 50lb alloted suitcases (hence I'm only giving myself one extra day of personal time in Anchorage to not get too crazy). I am dreading the almost 5 hours of testing and have opted at this time to not do the third law test all in one day. I have a year to do that test and will do it soon but just don't think my brain could handle 7.5 hours of constant strain. And I don't want to know how defeated that could make me feel.

Second now is the house: offer in, counter offer received, counter to counter in place. Hopefully final word by Friday. I am trying not to get too excited about it, but the inner girl in me is really enjoying playing house. I have to admit i started looking at paint colors already. Best comment ever was when Jake was asked his opinion he said that besides decorating being entirely up to me, it's not like he could really help pick colors anyway. Having the hosue within grasp is whole nother shopping list of items of itself too. But alas those will be put on hold until more paychecks start coming in.

And on that note, 2 more days til my first big payday!!!!! ...too bad I have a lot of it streamlined already into bills :(

A little pharmacy humor

Pharmacy can I help you ?

...yeah can you refill my cholesterol. I take it daily and Im out....

I believe you mean your cholesterol medication. Taking cholesterol daily is probably how you wound up with heart problems in the first place...

Fish!

We went on our first ever fishing trip upriver yesterday. We didnt catch anything, but at least someone on the boat did, Stephanie caught a King salmon. It was a fun afternoon though and despite being bundled in my sweatshirt still managed a sunburn. This also prompted us to have a serious conversation about jet boats versus prop boats and which one we might want to invest in come next spring.

On the home front, we have an offer down and now are waiting on the seller (happens to be the mortgage bank, ironically) on whether they will accept/counter/reject. We'll be working on getting an inspector in in the next few days too. An update from the moving company says our stuff is due to arrive in Anchorage on Wednesday after a brief steamship trip from Seattle. Then it's a waiting game, likely 2 weeks, at the airport as the cargo company is backed up with shipments. So there's a light at the end of all this.

More exciting news is the first paycheck is coming on Friday! and I can't wait. I've already come up with multiple ways of spending money but realize that wont likely happen until the 4th/5th paycheck has come in. But the new house will need a couch, some paint, some stools, a table and chairs, a desk and eventually get rid of the stained carpet in the first floor. Also more urgent will be getting a fridge and a working dishwasher, fridge higher priority than the dishwasher!