Happy Halloween!

So last year I went crazy with a whole Halloween week: the history of the holiday, costume ideas, some crazy pumpkins and of course Halloween inspired treats.  

This year I thought I would leave you with this JIF

May your house not be egged and pumpkins smashed!

First Over Night (Transitions) Shift

For my final rotation, I am on a floor with a super fancy title: Center for Neonatal Transitional Care.  Apparently, I will be working with children under the age of one who are transitioning between an acute hospital floor and going home (hopefully for good).  Many are vented, premature or going through drug withdrawal.  For our last 156 clinical hours (sooo crazy) which breaks down into 13 twelve hour shifts, we are paired with a nurse AKA our preceptor.  As a result, we work their schedule which means my first three shifts are 1900 - 0700.  While I used to volunteer at night as a cuddler for infants going through drug withdrawal, I usually stayed until 0300 and then would head home.  

So wish me luck ... the beginning of the end starts in under an hour!!

Monday Gosling Meme

Vacation Day 7: All Good Things Must Come to an End

This week as been one of R&R (and lots of West Wing thanks to Netflix).  Feeling inspired to do some cooking, I headed out to the store (there was a serious lack of cashola in my wallet) and this is what I came up with ... steamed mussels and some linguine.

One beer for the muscles and one beer for me :)

And now off to find out how to register for the boards!

Vacation Day 5: Baltimore Conservatory

With lots of time to kill I have continued to knock things off my Baltimore Bucket list.  As the weather was gorgeous, I decided to walk a little over two miles to the Baltimore Conservatory.  The walk takes you through Druid Hill Park and around the reservoir.

The Howard Peters Rawlings Conservatory, established in 1888, is the second-oldest steel framed-and-glass building still in use in the United States.  While it was much smaller than some of the other conservatories, it was a nice break from the wind outside.

There were mums on mums on mums

Vacation Day 1: Hike Patapsco Valley State Park

While we are not having an indian summer, the day time temps have been in the low 70s.  My first business of our fall break was to head over to Patapsco Valley State Park to get in some hiking.  After two hours I had only started to explore the grounds.  

While it was great to be outside, hiking just is not the same when your last few trips have had views like this one and this one and of course this one.  I will have to come back to do the day long, 12 mile hike which takes you through the majority of the park among waterfalls and ruins. 

Monday Gosling Meme

Snallygaster 2013

Almost a year later I, along with several GW and SUS friends, headed over to the Snallygaster 2013.  This large beer festival, featuring over 200 local craft brews, was named for a toothy mythical beast which apparently terrorized the MidAtlantic at the turn of the century.  This beast was such a concern that the Smithsonian offered a reward for its capture; Teddy Roosevelt even discussed his own expedition.

This year things were held at Union Market.  The weather was cloudy, but the rain thankfully held off.

Lunch was a BOMB lobster roll with what else ... a beer.

This year we also got mugs.

The lovely SUS ladies

Last Day of Class (kind of)

 So today marks the last day of "class" class.  The week after next we start our practicums (I have been placed on an infant floor) and only have to report to school for a once a week seminar class.

64 days until our graduation/pinning ceremony!

Grand Flower Mystery of 2013

When I came home this afternoon from my last final and quiz of the semester, I was greeted with a bouquet of flowers with no note.  Who was the secret admirer?

Turns out Alex dropped them off on his way through town!  

Man that man is good.

Public Health Wrap Up

The beginning of week seven can only mean one thing ... the end of our public health class and rotation.  In honor of this momentum occasion, I present to you Your Unhealthy Love For Public Health In 14 Images (or at least the link so you can check the whole thing out on Upworthy). 

11. You're a disease-outbreak hipster.  

All Good Things Must Come to an End

After 1400 miles, tons of pictures and five great days with my nearest and dearest it is finally time to head back to Baltimore to conquer my last week at school (HOW CRAZY IS THAT?!?!)

Before heading home I made a few quick stops including the world's largest basket.  This seven story building serves as the corporate headquarters of Longaberger Baskets.  

I stopped for a quick lunch with Janice, my Pittsburgh Mom, and then decided to take a quick swing through Bedford, PA.  After many trips to and from the 'burgh I finally pulled off the Turnpike  Despite being an absolutely adorable historic town, it is also home to the world's largest coffee pot.  It first served as a lunch stand, and then a bar until it closed.

Monday Gosling Meme

Mer and Thomas Tie the Knot

One more early morning, but for another good cause because today Meredith and Thomas ARE GETTING MARRIED!!!  After a quick six hour drive I finally ended in Columbus where I met with the rest of the GW crew to get ready and head over to the church.  It is hard to believe that we all met freshman year living on the same floor in HOVA and here eight years later we are at the first wedding.

Post Ceremony Pictures

We headed back to the hotel to drop our stuff and head out to the reception

All the GW ladies pose for a picture

I snagged Mer for a quick picture

The adorable couple

After dinner it was time to get our dance on!!

After a fantastic night and one last picture of the sky line a bunch of us hit the town 

(as much as one does on a Sunday in Columbus)

Let's Ride Bikes: Michigan Style

Up bright and early for the century Colorburst ride.  Nate and I packed up our bikes and headed off to pick up Bryan, Nate's friend, who would be joining us on the ride.  First stop after checking in - PANCAKES!!  No good century ride can start without the proper carbo load and there were tons of volunteers there making pancakes for hungry bikers.

As it is Michigan, the first few miles were chilly, but thankfully the ride started to warm up as we covered some ground.  Once we got on the road it was FALL, FALL EVERYWHERE!!!

Me and Bernard back in action.  The country roads were much appreciated 

after the craziness of New York City and Washington, DC 

Getting aero at mile 80.  

While there was a lot of hill climbing, there was also a good bit of downhills which was AMAZING!!!

Final scenic point, the last covered bridge in the area

After 102 miles we survived to tell the tale and could honestly say we were not the last ones to arrive (there was one other car in the parking lot when we got back)

Off to Michigan

Last night I drove through the pouring rain to Pittsburgh and was fortunate enough to sleep on the one and only Jessie's futon (after a few hours of catch up).  One can never leave a fellow SUS'er without taking the required FOMO shot.  Here we have two: one is normal and one was entitled Damn These Short Arms by Captin' Jack.

Then I headed back into the old 'hood to see how the neighborhood had changed (it has not) and the giant rubber duck which is now housed at Point State Park.

With coffee from my favorite coffee shop (it was a sad day as the owner no longer remembered me or my drink of choice) it was on to the open road!  Many of my directions looked like this

But eventually I was greeted by this!

And a few miles later I arrived in Grand Rapids where I found Nate outside his house cleaning up his bike.  I can assure you people there is in fact a rive which runs through the middle of the town, and while there are no rapids, it is a lovely river.

Monday Gosling Meme

Live Gosh Darnit

Happy October!!