Taking time during this quarantine to reflect on everything that happened since I last posted here.
End of 1st Semester
Wow where to begin, lets start of by talking about our schools Casino Night! Our student government association out did themselves with a splendid morale raising event. Who doesn’t love a good casino night am I right? Early November last year we all dressed up in our James Bond best and hit The Grand on Foster here in Dothan. Was nice to see everyone in their “casino” wear having a good time. Took some awesome photos that tell just a little bit about the night you can check out here! Check it out especially if you want to see me in my fancy smancy tux!
The following weekend The National Peanut Festival ( https://www.nationalpeanutfestival.com ), the nation's largest peanut festival, held in Dothan, Alabama each fall to honor local peanut farmers and to celebrate the harvest season was going on so we decided to check it out! Ate a BUNCH of fried food, because that what you do at the fair and walked around checking out all the colorful rides. Have to put a shout out to a local fav, The Corndog Man ( https://www.facebook.com/thecorndogmandothan/ ) had what I think is the best corndog of my life at the fair! Can’t forget about riding the Ferris wheel! Also snuck a quick peak at the demolition derby and some steer because it is a harvest fest. Check out some of my pics from the fair here!
Thanksgiving gave my girlfriend and I some time to relax here in Dothan while classes calmed down and gave us some time to study for semester finals. Took some time to check out Beaver Creek for a quaint Thanksgiving nature walk. Super great time. Check out the landscape here!
A buddy of mind out here right before the end of the semester had a BRILLIANT idea for a photo shoot near the end of the semester that turned out AMAZING! He came to me, showed me a picture of an indian guy looking really tough in a leather jacket sitting on a motor cycle and said “can we do this? I got a friend who is going to let me borrow his trike.” Totally assumed he meant motorcycle, but he meant his friend let him borrow his child’s pink tricycle, think like a really small teeny tiny bright pink bike for a kid. Had a good laugh about that, but went with the shoot anyway. Let me tell you, the pictures look INCREDIBLE! The composition of everything really came together and turned out super cool. You have to check them out here!
First Patient Anatomy Presentation
With Thanksgiving behind us we made our last push towards the end of the semester and put our Anatomy, Molecular Medicine, Osteopathic Principals and Practice and Foundations course exams behind us. We wrapped up the semester with a first patient presentation on the cadaver we had spent the semester dissecting. Our group ended up discussing a presentation of Alzheimer disease in an elderly female which was quite enlightening. Really took some time to reflect on how much wonderful knowledge the cadaver opportunity really gave us and just how special of an opportunity that was. Really can’t thank the donors enough for giving me the opportunity to learn. Take a look at some pictures of us in our white coats from the presentations here!
Winter Break
During winter break I really got some time to relax and do some travelling.
First I went back to AZ to spend time with my family and see some friends. My girlfriend ended up coming on out so I had to take her up to see the grand canyon! Always a breathtaking sight let me tell you. We stayed the night in Flagstaff, AZ at the Weatherford Hotel a restored property dating to 1900 in the center of Downtown! Wonderful place at the center of the action totally worth checking out! ( http://weatherfordhotel.com/ ). Also we had AMAZING tacos at Bandera Craft Tacos just walking distance from the hotel, an vegan friendly for my girlfriend which was a plus! The next day we drove the GORGEOUS scenic 89A highway from Flag on down to Sedona, AZ and the drive was so filled with nature and beauty! If you are in the area I must recommend stopping on by! ( https://visitsedona.com/ ). Made it home to Phoenix, AZ just in time for a wild white elephant party with friends that was just as crazy as it sounds… haha
After our time in AZ, I met my girlfriend in Chicago, IL right around new years to meet her best friend since she is in the peace corps in Albania and only had time for a quick holiday visit. From the moment we landed it was filled with beautiful sights, attractions, energy and excitement! Such a wonderful time. First few nights we hung out with my girlfriends best friend and some other friends of hers as well as her husband in an Airbnb. Had a great coupe of nights and did another white elephant! Lol Had some great food and did some walking all around Chicago! After they left, my girlfriend and I moved to a hotel caddy corner to Millennium park and continued our adventure. Beautiful dinners, vegan restraint excursions, the BEAN, deep dish pizza all amazing! Cap stoned it off with a wonderful gala at Navy Pier for the New Years celebration and had a blast! Chicago is really a wonderful place that you must visit!
Links to Winter Break Pictures Below!
With that it was time to head home, pack up and travel back to Dothan for the start of the semester.
Typing this all out and reflecting it makes me realize that I did have a very relaxing break that has me recharged for this next semester! Wish me luck and stay tuned in as the odyssey continues!
Thank you!
“DESO”