After finals, I went back home to Illinois to see my sister graduate from college. It was an enjoyable weekend trip to the Quad Cities. In addition to celebrating Lauren's accomplishment, I also got to eat at one of my favorite restaurants TWICE (Arthur's Deli...YUM) and see my friend Stephanie. We also took a riverboat tour down the Mississippi River (at the request of my grandpa) and that was pretty cool.
I also got a chance to visit some friends in the city when I was in Illinois. I spent one night with my friend Kathleen at her new apartment in Bucktown. Since she just moved in, she was super eager to try some of the new restaurants in the area, so we wandered around the neighborhood until we came across this cute little Cuban place. Our friend Diana met up with us, and the three of us had a really enjoyable night trying all different kinds of Cuban food. The next day, I met my roommate, Allison (yes the one from AZ), and a dental school friend, Kat, for burgers. Kat had been telling Allison and I that the next time we were in Chicago, we needed to eat at Kuma's Korner. It was kind of neat that the three of us were actually able to do it together, and also a bit weird to see the two of them in Chicago. We spend so much time together in AZ that it felt strange to see them out of the context of school.
And finally, I got to see my family at a graduation party for my cousin Michael. They're a crazy bunch, but I love 'em. I thought this picture was cute...my dad was giving Beth a ride on his new motorcycle and Brian was going for a ride on his new bike. Not ones to be left out, Cathy and Michael also got on their "bikes". Not quite the same thing guys!
Now that I am back in Arizona, I am wishing I was still in Illinois. Summer in Illinois is so pretty. Everything is green. There are trees and grass. It smells good. In Arizona, it is brown and dusty. It has not rained in months. You can't go outside and take in a deep breath because you will just inhale a big mouthful of dirt. AND IT IS SO HOT HERE! Seriously, it is still 105 degrees right now, and it is 9PM and dark outside.
I am supposed to be studying for the boards this month...an all out, all day, month-long study extravaganza. In order to prevent myself from going insane, I am trying to mix up the studying and not staying in my apartment all day. Studying outside and enjoying the sunshine usually helps get me out of a study funk. EXCEPT I CAN'T! It is so freaking hot out, that you can't be outside for more than 2 minutes before you feel like you are going to die. So instead, I sit in my apartment like a hermit, looking outside at the gloriously sunny day. The sunny weather is so deceptive. You look outside at the beautiful sunshine and think "boy it would be nice to be outside". Then you go outside and count down the seconds until you are back in the air conditioning. I guess in order to fight off the study funk, I will have to find different air conditioned places to bounce around to. Right now I am thinking about trying the school library, the clubhouse, the cafeteria, and the public library down the street (normally in walking distance...I will probably not walk there in this heat). I've also discovered that the pool is a good place to study. My friend Mindi and I studied there the other day. It's so hot you literally have to study IN the pool. You put your towel on the edge of the pool (because otherwise the deck is too hot and your study materials will most likely burst into flame), stand in the pool, and read over flash cards. It works pretty well, until a breeze comes along and blows you cards into the pool. That happened to me yesterday. Good news is that they dry in about 2 minutes (no lie) because it is so hot out. Have I mentioned that it is hot out? I think I am going to melt. If I never come back from Arizona, this is most likely what happened:
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