Congratulations to YET ANOTHER happy couple!

Josh Shultz and his fiance Annie Lewis have made the best engagement announcement I have ever seen. For those not hip to the Marysville scene, this is NOT the Annie I often talk about but another Annie.

A Very Watkin's Christmas

I took these pictures of the doors of the pharmacy. There was a competition within the health center for best door decoration and the pharmacy got second place. Represent! The supplies they used were mostly cardboard from medicine boxes, condoms, empty birth control containers, and drug company paraphernalia. How appropriate.

White People are Mutants/Skin is Great

This is a story from the Washington Post although I originally heard about it on MSNBC about a week ago.

I. I find this story interesting because of the way it was presented on the news, although I must admit that I couldn’t resist the urge to write a post with this title. The news people were making a case for the end of racism based on the discovery that white skin color originally came from a single base mutation in the genetic code. Silly newscasters. Racism comes from irrational emotion, not from rational thought or science. Picture a redneck sitting in his Confederate flag covered living room drinking a beer and flipping through the channels while the Dukes of Hazard are on commercial. He comes across this story on MSNBC and changes his mind about black people. Not likely. Anyhow, there’s that.


II. As I was working at the hospital the other day and thinking of the news story (I find genetics interesting), I slammed my knuckle accidentally on the counter top as I was swinging my arm. It happens all the time; I’m a klutz. It hurt, but thanks to my hand’s protective covering of skin all I got from it was a little scratch after a couple minutes of seething pain. Skin is great. Our body’s largest organ keeps our temperature regulated and protects us from bacteria, viruses and mechanical stress. Skin also keeps our body water from evaporating, not to mention the sense of touch. Then there are the aesthetic qualities of skin. Beauty is skin deep, you know. Here’s to you, skin!

Ms. Patti Yager

Every year around Christmas time and on birthdays I am delighted to receive a card from my wonderful grandparents in Florida. Last week, I was particularly grumpy with all the junk mail and bills I was receiving when I noticed the aforementioned card in my mailbox. My frown turned to a smile until I noticed that it was addressed to "Ms. Patti Yager" rather than the usual "Miss Patti Lee Yager." How am I supposed to take this? My Grandmother sees me as an old spinster now? What gives?
Becky- Are you still "Miss Rebecca Ann Yager" or have you turned into "Ms. Rebecca Yager"? I simply must know. I'm letting this bother me more than it should.

Finals Again

It's that time of year...
One down, three to go. Man I'm so burnt out.

Leaving Las Vegas

I got back into Lawrence late Tuesday night. The trip was a blast, but I was soo ready to come home. I had 5 blisters on my feet, was totally exhausted, and had a rash from some bad lotion. As you can see, I've posted some pictures from the trip. I also have a video clip I'd like to put on here, but I can't figure out how. Holla if you can help me.

I was able to accomplish my primary goal: figure out which residency programs I'm interested in. I decided that my dream residency would be a general pharmacy practice with an emphasis on geriatrics. I was only able to find one such program and it's in Baltimore. The other one I'm interested in is at the VA in Minneapolis, but it is a two year program. I would spend one year doing general pharmacy things and the second year specializing in geriatrics. I think there is a board certification attached. Blah blah blah. Sorry to bore you, but I wanted to make it clear that the trip was productive. That said, it was also a lot of fun.

The first night we went to a club, Studio 54 inside the MGM Grand which I hear is the largest hotel in the world. It was completely insane. Every so often, scantilly clad people would be lowered from the ceiling. There were also go-go dancers and a few tons of confetti. I would cycle through asking myself, "Am I really seeing this? It's really happening?" then looking for Ro, finding her staring at the go-go dancers, and continuing to dance again. Very interesting.

The other nights were much more mild and more my style. We spent a lot of time on the strip checking out casinos. The last night we went to Fremont Street in the downtown area. I liked it there. The street is covered and every hour or so there is a sort of laser show overhead. We also caught the cheeziest Christmas show I've ever seen. It had a cowboy theme. Which reminds me...

The National something Rodeo was in town at the same time we were and the "Cowboy Christmas" expo was in the convention center along with ASHP. So, we saw a plethora of cowboys and cowgirls.

I liked Vegas more than I thought I would, and I would even consider going back some day. But I would never NEVER ever go with children.

Welcome home! :( 

With "Jennifer" the best cocktail waitress EVER. Yes, Ro has the most beads. From left: me, Jariat, Greg (Manchild), "Jennifer," Ro, Beth, Karen, and Danielle. 

More goofiness. (Jariat and Beth) 

No, I did NOT drink all of those. Check out the sweet t-shirt I bought at Walgreens for $3.33. Isn't it beautiful? 

Me, Ro, Jariat, and Beth doing the Can Can. 

A neon cowboy on Fremont Street. 

This is a funny sign I saw and had to snap a picture of. I think it was a tatoo parlor. Enjoy! 

At the student social. Yes, we took care of some business too. It wasn't all fun and games. (But it mostly was.) 

Paris behind the Bellagio's famous fountain show. 

The Stratosphere as seen from our room on the 27th floor of Circus Circus. 

Gondola rides at the Venetian. 

Viva Las Vegas!

Please excuse my continued absence. I am going to Las Vegas tomorrow morning until late Tuesday night for the American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists Midyear Clinical Meeting. Phew. Basically I'm going to try to figure out which residency programs to apply for next year. Ro, Beth, and Jariat are also going, so you can expect some pictures on here when I get back. Wish me well!!