"You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em"

WELCOME TO THE FABULOUS LAS VEGAS!!! Last week, Thomas and I, along with a bunch of our classmates, went to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists' Mid-year Clinical Meeting in Las Vegas. We were there from Sunday through Wednesday, although many of our friends went early to get a head start.

The conference was held at the Venetian, which was magnificent! (Here we are in St. Mark's Square) The convention/expo center had HUGE ballrooms and many floors of them, yet there were still too many people to go to every event. Even the student programming had "such an overwhelming turnout" that we were turned away (by the fire marshall, folks). Anywho, we spent Sunday going to different talks and lectures, learned once again that you shouldn't by a brand new BMW on graduation day, and that this continuing education thing is not going to be interesting in some cases.

Monday morning we heard from Dennis Quaid about the medical error that almost killed his twins. He's planning a documentary for next year, could be interesting, although I didn't find hime to be the best public speaker (and his analogies to plane crashes really made the flights home enjoyable). Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning we went to the Residency Showcase (think GIANORMOUS college/job fair) where we went to talk to the residency programs we're thinking of applying to. Pharmacy residencies are similar to medical residencies -- another year or two of training -- but they aren't required (yet) and aren't as long.

Tuesday afternoon we had some free time. We grabbed lunch at Paris, walked around Caesar's Palace, and played a little black jack at Bill's Gamblin' Saloon. We were up $65 when we walked away, but we went back later that night and lost $15 of that back. My father and stepmother bought us tickets to Cirque du Soleil's KA for Christmas so we made our way down The Strip to the MGM. We went up the Eiffel Tower and watched the Bellagio's water show and then went browsing around NYNY before the show.

I'm not a huge Vegas fan, but I can say I've been, and I walked away a winner. Now if only I had the money to eat at the big name restaurants while I was there! All in all, a good trip.

Rabbit Rabbit

My college roommate told me if you say "rabbit rabbit" as your first words on the first day of a new month, it would bring you good luck for the month. I never remember to do it first thing, but I usually remember later. It doesn't seem to do much for me then.

So its December and I'm back home in Charlotte. I have the month off from clerkships which is a nice break, but by no means "empty" or "free time." I've already gone back to work at Presbyterian Hospital as a technician where I've worked throughout pharmacy school. My big project for the month of December is residency applications. Pharmacists can do residencies just like doctors, only its shorter and not required by everyone (yet). Next week I'm going to Las Vegas for a few days for a HUGE national residency showcase (think monstrous college fair) and pharmacy convention. After which, I get to assemble packets of transcripts, letters of intent, and letters of reference to send in to apply for a one year ambulatory care residency. Interviews will be in late January - February and then the Match is in March (its all very much like sorority recruitment -- just on a national level).

Anywho, the last weekend in Asheville was nice and calm. Only one of the roommates and I were there. I went downtown on Saturday to watch the Holiday Parade. It was a fun, small town parade with marching bands, horses, candy for the kiddies, and floats! Oh, and Santa came at the end of course.

I got back to Charlotte just in time for Thanksgiving: complete with our own turkey and pilgrim!