I know, I know – it’s kind of blurry and not the greatest picture but it will do (and remember – camera phone in outstretched hand… this is not bad under those conditions!)  This is me and Arielle – my best friend from high school.  I had dinner at her house tonight and then we sat around and chatted till the wee hours… clarification, what we now consider the wee hours, so, like, 10pm or so.  🙂  I had such a great time, and like I said before the conversations just flow, which is nice.

We talked all about work (hers and mine) and especially about how we’re both in the midst of getting started in our careers – not just continuing on as students anymore.  We shared about how we both have found ourselves shaping what we let others see of us in our role as students – how we conform to what we think our supervisors (professors, attendings, teachers) would like us to be like so that we are well accepted.  Never going so far as to lose ourselves, of course, more just the little things – the order of activities, the phrasing of statements, how much of our "social" selves are divulged to those around us – things like that.  I am still painfully conscious of the fact that I am a student and that I am working hard to leave a good impression on those around me so that when the time comes for residency programs to decide who they want, I will be near the top of the list for Children’s…plus I’m trying to learn and make sure my patients are faring well.  I have learned that socializing is so very important since just being intelligent isn’t enough – and in fact is a negative if all you have is intelligence and no personality – so I have to make sure I take the time to shoot the proverbial… breeze… with the residents and attendings so they will see me as a person, and hopefully remember me.  It’s funny to talk about socializing as a chore like that, but getting conversations started often feels that way.  They usually end up flowing with ease, but I have been learning to take that initial step of introducing myself and asking questions in order to meet the people around me.

Hmm.. so yes, we chatted about those kind of things, but also about other things… like Battlestar Galactica!!!  I never would have guessed that Arielle would watch that show – but when she said she had been taping it, I just about burst to find out if she was up to date on the episodes… something like "Did you see last week’s?!?  With the reporter chick!?!  At the end?!? " and then us together "She’s a cylon!!!!"  It was a great moment.   And if that was a spoiler for you I am so so sorry… I only know of a few people (mainly my relatives) who read this blog and I don’t think any of you watch BSG… and Brasten, I know you already knew that tidbit – so I should be all fine there. 🙂

Anyway – I have a busy, busy week ahead – my last bit of Seattle time before heading back east-ish.  It is totally packed with engagements of the work and social variety – hopefully I’ll find time to pack before I have to leave on Saturday morning!!