Feelin' Hot Hot Hot......

Just a quick blog to say: We are having a GREAT TIME in Grand Cayman!!! We got in on Monday afternoon and have been on-the-go ever since! We have made 3 dives...and have seen 3 spotted drums (our favorite fish), 1 nurse shark, and TONS of other fish. We have not seen any turtles yet....which is surprising....but I am sure we will before the end of the week.

Tomorrow we are planning on going to Stingray City and we are really looking forward to that!!!

Everyone is getting tan...and the weather has been BEAUTIFUL!!! We hope everyone is doing well back in the States! I don't think any of us want to come back yet!

We're Outta Here!!!

It is spring break time again....and that means: no more school, no more books, and no more teacher's dirty looks!

My family and I - along with my boyfriend, Brandon, my sister's boyfriend, Ryan, and my other sister's friend, Emily - are heading to Grand Cayman for a week! We are really excited to be heading back there...it is our favorite island!

Our plans are: Scuba diving, "beaching it", tanning, snorkeling, scuba diving, scuba diving, and scuba diving. That's right - we LOVE diving!

Brandon, Ryan, and Emily have never been to Grand Cayman before, so we are really looking forward to showing them around. We're hoping to take them cliff diving at Pedro's castle, snorkeling at Eden Rock, and all over the island - including Hell!!! Everyone is VERY excited!

I will try to keep this updated while we are gone - but no guarantees!!! Who really wants to be blogging while staying on an island??? Not me!!!!

You all have a GREAT week!!!

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood...

And guess who is STUCK INSIDE ALL DAY LONG?????

Last night...a FRIDAY NIGHT, after a LONG WEEK of school, with 2 tests and 8 required events......I should have been sitting on my couch relaxing. INSTEAD, I had to be at school from 5-9pm studying Physiology for the Boards.

Today....a BEAUTIFUL Saturday with the sun shining, birds chirping, and snow melting....I should be enjoying the weather (or TV and Panera).....and instead, I am STUCK INSIDE ALL DAY LONG (from 8am-5pm) studying Physiology for the Boards. Man oh man.....what a rotten deal this is! As physicians, aren't we supposed to understand the benefits of getting our daily dose of Vitamin D? (For you non-doctors.....Vitamin D comes mainly from the sun.)

Anyways.....please feel sorry for me. I have to do this all over again tomorrow....... And, now, instead of being able to enjoy my evenings, I am going to have to study for my NORMAL classes. Oh well...............I guess the Board exam is pretty important!!!

Life is Precious!!!

Take one look at this picture......you can see this driver crashed through the guardrail....as he or she was driving from the right side of the picture towards the left.....

Now.....you can see just how lucky this driver was!!!! Life is PRECIOUS!!!

D.O. vs M.D.

I have had some inquiries as to what the difference between an M.D. and a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) is....so I thought I would write a little blog about it. There was a recent "letter to the editor" excerpt written in TIME magazine where an M.D. made some derogatory comments about about D.O.'s. The President of the American Osteopathic Association responded to this letter with some good thoughts:

"Hands Off the Osteopaths
I am deeply disappointed that Scott Haig, M.D., referred to osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) as "osteopathic manipulators" and lumped osteopathy in with what he calls "nothing-really-works-anyway-therapies" [Feb. 12]. D.O.s are physicians who receive extra training to examine and treat patients using a technique called osteopathic manipulative treatment. They also deliver babies, perform brain surgery and serve as family physicians to the underserved. D.O.s have been advocating solutions to issues such as Medicare physician-reimbursement cuts and medical-liability-insurance increases. Haig has done a disservice to 59,000 D.O.s in the U.S., including the former physician to President George H.W. Bush, the former U.S. Army surgeon general and physicians for professional sports teams.
JOHN A. STROSNIDER, D.O., PRESIDENT
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION"

Here is how I explain the difference to people:

I think it is crazy, and stupid, to say that one profession is better than the other. I have come across so many doctors in my life....some are awesome, have great bedside manner, and care very much for their patients. Some doctors are in it for the money. Regardless of whether you are a D.O. or M.D., you can find doctors - both good and bad.

When looking at medical schools, it came down to two for me: The University of Iowa (M.D.) and Des Moines University (D.O.). As I researched the schools further, DMU had more of the qualities I was looking for. I wanted to go to a small school....I wanted teachers who had open-door policies and were always available.....and I wanted to learn with a hands-on approach. DMU fit that mold for me....and I have been VERY happy with my decision to go there.

A D.O. has all the same training as an M.D. We take the same curriculum.....have similar schedules......have to pass the state licensing boards......and can practice in any area of medicine. D.O.'s, however, are ALSO trained for 2 years in a modality of treatment called Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. The philosophy of osteopathic medicine is that the body has the inherent capacity to heal itself...and by aiding the body's own mechanisms, we can help heal the patient. We strive to treat the patient as opposed to just the symptom. It is with this training that I feel I have something different to offer patients. I can treat them the same as any M.D. would - but I can utilize this treatment as well.

I feel proud to be a student of an Osteopathic medical school...and I will be proud to carry the letters D.O. after my name.

Joke of the Day

REAL NEWSPAPER ADS

FREE YORKSHIRE TERRIER.

8 years old. Hateful little dog. Bites.

FREE PUPPIES:

1/2 Cocker Spaniel, 1/2 sneaky neighbor's dog.

FREE PUPPIES...

Mother, AKC German Shepherd.

Father, Super Dog...able to leap tall fences in a single bound.

FOUND DIRTY WHITE DOG.

Looks like a rat .. been out a while.

Better be a reward.

COWS, CALVES: NEVER BRED.

Also 1 gay bull for sale.

NORDIC TRACK

$300 Hardly used, call Chubby.

GEORGIA PEACHES

California grown - 89 cents lb.

JOINING NUDIST COLONY!

Must sell washer and dryer $300.

WEDDING DRESS FOR SALE .

WORN ONCE BY MISTAKE.

Call Stephanie.

FOR SALE BY OWNER:

Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica, 45 volumes

Excellent condition.

$1,000 or best offer.

No longer needed, got married last month.

Husband knows everything