9.08.2009
9.07.2009
Per your request
Sorry for the lack of updates. I sat here for a few minutes trying to think of some sort of excuse (we were abducted by aliens...uh we went on worldwide cruise...uh Ly finally got a pet panda) that would adequately explain the significant lack of posts. Needless to say I couldn't think of anything so sorry will have to suffice.
Anyway. Here are some highlights of the past days (weeks? months?) since we've last posted.
1. Ly and Alan moved to an awesome new place that is across the street from the bookstore. It is also bigger, nicer, and cheaper. Ly loves the new place - and the fact that in the month or so of living here she has recently acquired at least a dozen new books and 3 new bookshelves.
2. Most of Ly's books are now safely out of their boxes and in the above mentioned new bookshelves leaving no room for any new books - a thought that encouraged the purchase of the shelves in the hopes that the amount of book purchases would significantly decline. However, Alan discovers new books on a weekly basis anyway. (Hello, hasn't the girl ever heard of a library?)
3. Ly and Alan recently discovered the awesomeness that is goodwill. We go on a weekly basis in search of old furniture to restore (a new hobby of Alan's), yet more often than not come home with 3 books - and no furniture.
4. Ly recently learned the wonders of spray paint and now likes to find various items to spray paint - picture frames, pedestals, candlestick holders, people, etc. This proves to be quite the messy adventure.
5. Alan has completed a million (maybe not a million but at least over a dozen) secondary applications for medical school. Now that we have paid all the schools even more money, we get to wait for them to ask us to fly across the country to interview...well that or reject Alan. But I'm sure it will be the former rather than the latter. Can someone invent a time machine and let it be May already?
6. We celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary in July with a surprise trip to NYC. Does that mean we're no longer newlyweds?
7. Alan has managed to convince Ly that camping can be enjoyable, especially when you have a tent that keeps rain, bugs, and sand outside where they belong. The air mattress probably helps too.
8. Ly has spent a lot of time on her photography recently, and she would love to take some pictures of people for her portfolio. Any takers?
9. Alan and Ly attended numerous back to school sales (did we mention that the new place is also close to Target?) and only purchased 1 box of crayola crayons for a quarter. While she wanted to buy more than one box (obviously) she resisted. Alan danced for joy.
10. And of course, the most important news in our family is that the panda at the San Diego Zoo gave birth to a baby boy about a month ago. Ly (and Alan too) watches the live 24-hour video feed of the panda for hours at a time. He is adorable. Go see for yourself.
Anyway. Here are some highlights of the past days (weeks? months?) since we've last posted.
1. Ly and Alan moved to an awesome new place that is across the street from the bookstore. It is also bigger, nicer, and cheaper. Ly loves the new place - and the fact that in the month or so of living here she has recently acquired at least a dozen new books and 3 new bookshelves.
2. Most of Ly's books are now safely out of their boxes and in the above mentioned new bookshelves leaving no room for any new books - a thought that encouraged the purchase of the shelves in the hopes that the amount of book purchases would significantly decline. However, Alan discovers new books on a weekly basis anyway. (Hello, hasn't the girl ever heard of a library?)
3. Ly and Alan recently discovered the awesomeness that is goodwill. We go on a weekly basis in search of old furniture to restore (a new hobby of Alan's), yet more often than not come home with 3 books - and no furniture.
4. Ly recently learned the wonders of spray paint and now likes to find various items to spray paint - picture frames, pedestals, candlestick holders, people, etc. This proves to be quite the messy adventure.
5. Alan has completed a million (maybe not a million but at least over a dozen) secondary applications for medical school. Now that we have paid all the schools even more money, we get to wait for them to ask us to fly across the country to interview...well that or reject Alan. But I'm sure it will be the former rather than the latter. Can someone invent a time machine and let it be May already?
6. We celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary in July with a surprise trip to NYC. Does that mean we're no longer newlyweds?
7. Alan has managed to convince Ly that camping can be enjoyable, especially when you have a tent that keeps rain, bugs, and sand outside where they belong. The air mattress probably helps too.
8. Ly has spent a lot of time on her photography recently, and she would love to take some pictures of people for her portfolio. Any takers?
9. Alan and Ly attended numerous back to school sales (did we mention that the new place is also close to Target?) and only purchased 1 box of crayola crayons for a quarter. While she wanted to buy more than one box (obviously) she resisted. Alan danced for joy.
10. And of course, the most important news in our family is that the panda at the San Diego Zoo gave birth to a baby boy about a month ago. Ly (and Alan too) watches the live 24-hour video feed of the panda for hours at a time. He is adorable. Go see for yourself.
7.21.2009
Medical School Applications
Applying for medical school is a necessary pain. Alan has been busy with this since May and the process won't finish until June next year. First Alan filled out primary AMCAS applications, a complete history of his academic record, grades, test scores, research activities, personal statement, letters of recommendation, (breathe) degrees, projects, awards, service, clinical experiences, work experience, etc.
That application was sent to each school Alan wanted to apply to with the required $31 fee for each school on top of the $165 processing fee.
Allright, step 1 - check - onto step 2.
Now secondary applications (and you thought Alan was done).
Some schools send secondary applications to everyone who submits a primary application, other schools evaluate your primary application then send you a secondary application. These applications want to know things such as, "Why do you want to attend ______ school of medicine? (250 words)" or "How will you handle the pressures of medical school?" After answering these questions and "checking one of the following boxes" to assure admissions committees that Alan has never been convicted for a felony Alan signs submits the secondary application with a check written for the non-refundable amount of $60-$125.
Whew! Still not done.
Interviews: Sometime in the future.
After scrutinizing the primary and secondary applications admissions committees may decide that they want to meet Alan. If so, they will extend an invitation (at his expense, of course) to interview him with around 600 other applicants. Then Alan may be kept in the dark until sometime between May and August to know if he is one of the 1%-10% of applicants accepted to enter the medical class of 2010. And then the 4 year medical school, followed by residency, fellowships, and finally, Alan's first real job.
Lyanna really loves Alan to put up with all of this (and he promised her a puppy when they finally get a house)
That application was sent to each school Alan wanted to apply to with the required $31 fee for each school on top of the $165 processing fee.
Allright, step 1 - check - onto step 2.
Now secondary applications (and you thought Alan was done).
Some schools send secondary applications to everyone who submits a primary application, other schools evaluate your primary application then send you a secondary application. These applications want to know things such as, "Why do you want to attend ______ school of medicine? (250 words)" or "How will you handle the pressures of medical school?" After answering these questions and "checking one of the following boxes" to assure admissions committees that Alan has never been convicted for a felony Alan signs submits the secondary application with a check written for the non-refundable amount of $60-$125.
Whew! Still not done.
Interviews: Sometime in the future.
After scrutinizing the primary and secondary applications admissions committees may decide that they want to meet Alan. If so, they will extend an invitation (at his expense, of course) to interview him with around 600 other applicants. Then Alan may be kept in the dark until sometime between May and August to know if he is one of the 1%-10% of applicants accepted to enter the medical class of 2010. And then the 4 year medical school, followed by residency, fellowships, and finally, Alan's first real job.
Lyanna really loves Alan to put up with all of this (and he promised her a puppy when they finally get a house)
5.22.2009
Scenic Shenandoah
Here are some photographs from Turtle's inaugural camping adventure last weekend in Shenandoah National Park.
5.20.2009
Turtle the Tent
A few weeks ago Ly and Alan bought a new tent due to their previous camping experience.
Alan loves Turtle the Tent. There are numerous reasons for this love - durability, ease of assembly, size, etc. Ly, however, likes Turtle because he kept her very dry during a massive thunder & lightening storm this past weekend. While nearby campers scrambled to pack up their tents and sleep in their cars, Ly comfortably hung out in the tent reading her book.
So it looks like Turtle is a keeper...and there is more camping in the Lee's future.
Alan loves Turtle the Tent. There are numerous reasons for this love - durability, ease of assembly, size, etc. Ly, however, likes Turtle because he kept her very dry during a massive thunder & lightening storm this past weekend. While nearby campers scrambled to pack up their tents and sleep in their cars, Ly comfortably hung out in the tent reading her book.
So it looks like Turtle is a keeper...and there is more camping in the Lee's future.
5.15.2009
Hop E. Lee
Recently Ly has become rather obsessed with Canadian Geese. Alan thinks it is because they live close. About a week or so ago while Ly was driving to work she stumbled upon a nesting area of the Canadian geese. Ly was excited because there were a bunch of baby geese walking around. There were 2 families. One with little geese and one with slightly larger geese. Ly and Alan spent awhile watching the geese and then Ly discovered Hop.
It was love at first sight. Hop is a baby goose who has a messed up leg. It seems as if it is a birth defect and he always hangs back from his family and then hops to catch up to them. Luckily he is a good eater and isn't the smallest of the bunch. Ly consulted with her resident animal guru and he told her that Hop should be okay and be able to fly one day.
Ly desperately wants to keep Hop, but she doesn't want to deprive him of being with his family and she really does not have a place for him to live. So Ly has settled with visiting Hop once a day to check up on him...and so far he's doing splendidly. =)
It was love at first sight. Hop is a baby goose who has a messed up leg. It seems as if it is a birth defect and he always hangs back from his family and then hops to catch up to them. Luckily he is a good eater and isn't the smallest of the bunch. Ly consulted with her resident animal guru and he told her that Hop should be okay and be able to fly one day.
Ly desperately wants to keep Hop, but she doesn't want to deprive him of being with his family and she really does not have a place for him to live. So Ly has settled with visiting Hop once a day to check up on him...and so far he's doing splendidly. =)
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