a very boring busy

I hate to be one of those people who says, "I can't believe it's already ..." but really, I can't believe it's already October!

Time surely flies when you're having fun.  (Or when you're in dental school.)

Here's a recap of the last 3 or 4 weeks:

Lots of studying.  I know this picture is soooo interesting.  Who doesn't love cardiovascular drugs?  We've had 1-2 tests a week for the past month and a half, and now it's 2 or 3 until the end of the semester.  ick.  Oh, well, after that we are finished!!

And this is why we have had so many tests/why I am studying so much:

NBDE Part II.  double-ick.

December 16 and 17.  Write dates down on a post-it and start saying some prayers for me, please!

Of course, there has been a little bit of fun thrown in.  Being the Arkansas girl that I am, I haven't been able to resist going to see my Hogs play!  We had a heartbreaker last weekend against Alabama, but it has been a fun season so far and I'm looking forward to seeing them back in action next week.

Guess who doesn't look so fresh and pretty after several hours tailgating and jumping up and down yelling WOO PIG?  Oh, my, how I envy those people and their not-so-frizzy hair!

I had to get a picture with my favorite guy (my dad), though!

I LOVE when the team comes onto the field!

Of course, no tailgate is complete without Rick's.  Mom thought that our friend, John Phelps, would appreciate this gigantic Razorback cookie.  Did I mention that he is a diehard 'Bama fan?  Oh, the fun.  (Until we lost, anyway.)  Mr. Phelps did love his cookie, though!  If only it had brought us just a teeny-tiny bit more luck.

Then it was back to school, back to clinic, and back to studying.  [sigh]  Which catches you up on this very busy, somewhat boring, life that I love!

Happy Sunday!

new 'do

No more long locks for me!

We're on fall break this week which means half days only.  (yay!)  After working this morning I drove to Jonesboro to visit the uber-talented Courtney at Private Edition Salon.  (If you need someone to make your hair look fabulous, call her.)  We went to school together in Jonesboro, and she did my hair in Fayetteville.  I was beyond thrilled when she moved close to me again!

I was in desperate need; my hair had not been cut in over a year.  Fifteen months to be exact.  Yikes.

Today Courtney cut off just over 8 inches for me to send to the Pantene Beautiful Lengths program.  By the time she gave me my first real style in years, she had cut anywhere between 10-14 inches, depending on the layer.

It's still strange not feeling my long ponytail, but I think she did a great job!  Knowing my hair will be put to great use has made the "loss" no loss at all - so different than everyone said it would be!

What do you think?

Blogger is determined to put this upside down.  I am just too tired to argue.  You'll have to stand on your head...sorry.


Tomorrow it's back to Arkansas for the third weekend in a row.  I could get used to this!  I'm very ready for more football and fun with lots of friends!  WOO PIG!

Flip Cup Tourney 2010

Ah, the flip cup tournament!  

It's the traditional end to ZIPS rush: Friday night, the Train Station downtown, and head-to-head flipping competition.

Teams "recruit" members and start practicing, well, that night.  But it's serious competition.

ZIPS Officers filling in the bracket

"Dr. Wicks's Flippers" team members Nishel and Candice practiced hard before the competition started.  The team is Nishel, Candice, Ashley, and Michelle.  They won our D2 year, were topped last year in the finals and were looking to take back the trophy this year.  Sadly, they lost to the same team in the semis.  

Peru Reunion!

Me, RJ, Leslie, and Candice

D4 girls

Michelle, Leslie, Candice, Nishel, Megan, and me

D4 class picture

Not a great picture, but a great group of people!

At the end of the night, a group of D2s won the tournament.  No D4s even made the finals, but we had a great time anyway.  It was a great end to our Rush week! 

AAWD Wine & Cheese

AAWD is an organization that has become near and dear to my heart over the past two years.  I've written about it before when we had our Senior Appreciation Tea.  AAWD is a national organization that was formed by a group of women dentists who saw the need to support each other not only in everyday work, but also in education, product development, and home life, and that remains the core of the organization today.  


This year I have the pleasure of serving as President of Tennessee's student chapter.  We have an amazing group here at UT, not only students, but also faculty and administration who have helped us build from the ground up over the last 5 years or so.  


Our big kick-off event every year is our Wine & Cheese Party.  Need I say more?  


The foundation that manages the Woodruff-Fontaine Home, a beautiful Victorian in Memphis's Victorian Village, is very gracious every year and allows us to use the Lee Fontaine Carriage House for the party.  It is an amazing place!  They have been renovating over the past 3 years and recently finished the Bridal Suite upstairs.  Mrs. Lovell, the foundation President, showed Dr. Harrison and me around before we set up, and it was beautiful.  Amazing to think they used to keep horses there.

Lauren, Nicole, me, and Katie

The calm before the storm!  We were in the kitchen waiting on the girls to arrive with the food.  Just after this you would have thought a hurricane had come through.

Enjoying the party in white - as Katie put it, "it's almost Labor Day!"

Sweet Jessi, another UA Chi Omega!  It has been so much fun having her here in Memphis. I had to twist her arm to get her to come because the D1 class had a quiz the next day in their morphology class.  Her stress brought back a lot of memories about starting dental school and having to learn the ropes ... when it's necessary to freak out, when it's not ... mostly just falling back on verses like Matthew 6:27, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?".  Forgetting that, dental school could involve a LOT of worry.  

My Clinic Coordinator, Dr. Blen.  He is AWESOME.  I could not have asked for a better dentist to have as a coordinator.  He is to-the-point, funny, helpful, full of applicable advice, and he lets us make our own mistakes and learn from them.  Talking on an iPhone?   Not his strong suit.  HA.  He was a good sport about it, though, and let me take his picture!

Our Clinical Director, Dr. Seeburg, and his wife, Marcia

Dr. Seeburg has been an excellent addition to UT; it is great to see him walking around the 4th floor every day.  

Whew!  Finally sitting down and enjoying a minute with friends.

D4 Class Picture with Dr. Harrison, our faculty advisor

back row, from left: Valerie, Denise, Rebecca, Angie, Ashley, Michelle, Clair, Lauren, Nicole, Candyce, Joi, Dr. Harrison

Friday it was back to ZIPS events, so watch for another post soon!

Flight

Isn't that a great name for a restaurant?

Okay, I must admit that I have never actually eaten there, but I've heard it's fabulous.  I used to go to the former restaurant, Stella, quite frequently so I don't know why I always forget about it!  hmmm...anyway, the topic at hand... 

Fraternity Rush!

This is not your typical "Greek Life" from college, although I do miss those days.  (Chi Omega just got 104 new members Saturday.  104! Oh, I miss my days at the Chi-O house!)  The dental school fraternities are laid-back, co-ed organizations that basically operate just to provide a social outlet for students outside of the stresses of our two little blocks in the medical district.  We encourage the D1s to get involved, whichever organization they choose.

I missed our first 'Rush' event last Monday due to another meeting, so I was ready to go on Wednesday.  We had our annual cocktail party at the aforementioned Flight, which is one of my favorite events all year!  After wearing scrubs 5 days a week it is nice to remember what it's like to look nice.  And wear heels.

Michelle and me

happy to be out of clinic and out on the town!

We survived both Dr. Beaupre AND Dr. Durdik together at the UA.  Steve and I can conquer anything.  

It was so great to catch up with Jessica!  She just had a baby.  I know, you wouldn't have known, would you?  Baby E was at Anna's playing for the night so Mrs. Gambill could come celebrate the beginning of her back-to-school, too!  

Beautiful Ashley, my fellow football fan, birthday twin, and basically just a-mazing girl!  I'm so glad we had that conversation a year ago where I said, "um, why aren't you applying to dental school?!?" and Ashley just looked at me and smiled.  Now here she is in Memphis with me!

Jessica (D1), Ashley (D1), me, Sarah (D3), Megan (D3), and Stefania (an Italian exchange student)

I'm slowly but surely meeting the D1s and learning their names.  Emphasis on slowly.

And a few D1s whose names I didn't need to learn:

Some of my faves from the UA!  

Lance, who worked for Dr. Hays, and Jessi and Nicole, both Chi-Os a few pledge classes behind me.  The Chi-O hootie-hoos are taking over UT!

It was nice to get out and enjoy time with friends away from school.  This was just the first celebration of many last week, so there will be many more posts and pictures to come in the next few days!

Happy Monday!