1) Obviously, I am out of Ohio but shall return tomorrow.  This quick trip is exactly what I needed before everything starts up again.  It’s so metaphorical, I love it.

2) I move in a week from now.  In fact, in a week from now I will be living in a new place, new city with all new people.  It’s a good mix of exciting and being scared.  95% Excited, 5% scared. I love it.

3) I have come to terms with a lot in my life lately.  Which is good considering I am starting anew.  Sometimes you have to break to become whole again.  It’s another reoccurring theme in my life.

4) I love puzzles.

5) I know where my Zen is, if only I could take it with me.

I can’t wait to start med school.  I really am starting to feel it is actually real and not this surreal event in my life.  Being here in Colorado has allowed me to tie some loose ends together in my head, which is something I’ve needed for awhile now.  Funny how a new location and a new place quickly changes your through process.  I think this is why I am excited to move and start Med school.  I am sure it will be rough, but I definitely feel much more ready for it now.  Again, the metaphors (moutains, rain, nature in general) are abound.  I Love it.

By the way, I am in between moving between places.  Too bad it will happen again in about a month.  I will living out of a duffel bag for a month to save time on packing.  Gotta love transitions.

Until next time, enjoy the hot hot weather!

I must say it was probably some of the best thinking I’ve done in a long time, probably since last Fall before things got crazy (relatively speaking).  I could see the gears in my head churning and the path my thinking was supposed to go down.  I believe this was all set off by my first thinking task that was done at work.  I managed some how to begin with a strong feeling, remove myself from it, and logically work it out to find that my initial feeling was one that I struggled with for many years and finally found a good way of handling it.  Again, I saw the all the parts moving as I dissected every thought and feeling until I reached a point that seemed very peaceful.  I am not quite sure what got me there, but its funny the way it is when doing mindless work (sweeping…outside), how well the mind can work.

1) I have 2 jobs.  One is engineering related and one is related to wearing a red polo and moving large bags of dirt or mulch.  Neither pay more than $8, but that’s okay because it’s very low stress and I have a lot of fun.  I love people and playing in the lab with proteins.  Work life is good.

2) I have an apartment set up and 2 roommates for next year.  I am really excited about medical school and getting started.  I miss class and can’t wait to get back to learning new stuff!  Wright State stuff is good.

3) As I may quote a wonderful person, “Just because things aren’t going the way they were planned doesn’t mean they won’t end up well.”  This is a great piece of advice and something we all need to keep in mind as we move along with our lives.  It’s easy for me to say now, but I am sure once my life gets going full steam ahead at the end of July/beginning of August, I’ll need to keep that in mind.  Current advice is good.

Overall, life is going well.  It’s nice not having to worry about much except waking up on time and making it to work on time (one of them, at least).  After that, it’s all up to me.  While things aren’t going as exactly as I planned, I am still finding time to relax and do the things I enjoy, such as read, play guitar, and sleep.  I still need to catch up on biking and running, but that will come in time. Plus, I need to get into Frisbee.

Finally, I am thinking about how I want to approach my blog the rest of this summer and when I start medical school.  I think I did a good job of explaining my last year as engineering student, but want to mix it up a bit and expand my writing style.  We’ll see what I come with as I have plenty of time to think at both of my jobs!

1) I am a University of Toledo College of Engineering Graduate.

2) I am part of the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine Class of 2013!

3) I haven’t showered since Sunday.

4) I need a haircut.

5) I have slept 10 hours  each night for the last two nights. Thats more in one night than two nights this past semester.

Since graduating I haven’t had a structured life.  I’ve been doing what I want, when I want.  It is quite liberating to be in this position.  I’ve been hanging out with roommates, visiting different places from my past, riding my bike around, and as you can see, sleeping without an alarm.  Granted, I still wake up after 6 hours of sleeping, I have no problem falling back asleep and trying to sleep another 6. The glorious life of being a college graduate during half time.  Well worth the struggles of the last 5 years.

I can’t finish this entry without a few thanks and comments

1) NR – You’ve always been there for me through it all.  Even if we’ve been apart, the moment we’re back together it’s like we just hung out yesterday. Words can’t explain how much this means to me, except this one: bromance. Thanks for the past 17 years.  I look forward to the next 17!  Btw, JK, you’re pretty sweet and awesome for NR.  You both make me smile, and yes, I get teary eyed (happy ones!) thinking about your future with NR.

2) ZY – Thanks for getting me involved with a bunch of stuff I’ve always wanted to do but never had the chance.  You’ve provided many great laughs and great memories.  College wouldn’t have been as exciting without you.

3) NW – Silent, but deadly.  You’re a great friend and were always up for listening to me rant about whatever my crazy mind had going on.  I can’t wait to be a groomsman for you   PS – SS you’re such a sweetheart and I’m glad you’re with NW.

4) JJ – You silly kid.  Your like a second little brother.  I was glad to be your “older” brother to teach you the ways of Warsaw.  Whether you see it or not, you’ve come along way and have a promising future.  Keep it up kiddo.  Thanks for being so silly. JF, sorry you’re mom met me with only my boxers on and you frequently see me in mine.  You and JJ are great together and yes, I approve.

5) BM – For all the shit I’ve given you over the years, I can’t believe you still talk to me.  Luckily, we’ve been through a lot together from living in the ghetto that one summer to living in corn fields of Indiana, to the good old 104-G in Toledo.  While we pissed each other off sometimes, I miss having you around.

6) KM – You know too much about me and I know too much about you. We may not always see eye to eye and be stubborn as possible with each other, but you’ve held a special place in my life. Keep a close eye on your future.

7) JD – You were there for a lot (A LOT!) and if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have such a good relationship with God.  You’ve brought me out of some rough times and for this, I thank you. You’re going to go far.

8 ) My parents -  You may not know what I do in college or understand the names of my classes, but you’ve supported me in everything I’ve ever done this past 5 years.  You’ve let my travel to countries where I don’t know the language, fixed my car whenever it went bad (hole in the gas tank, no heat, too much heat, bent axle…the list goes on), provided words of encouragement, chocolate chip cookies that got me through finals week and best of all, Loved me unconditionally.

9) My siblings – I’ve watched you grow up all my life and I am proud to call myself your old brother.  I love telling other people what you do.  Yes, I brag about noth of you.  M – you’re going to be rich and spoil the shit out of my kids because I’ll be a poor doctor.  S – you’re smarter than me, but you need to work harder to see it’s full potential.  You could do whatever you want if you just focus you mind.  But hell kid, your on your way to greatness, too.

10) CSA – I’ve learned the sense of community beyond all measures. The people have been awesome, DP, CP, KP, RJ, DU, JK, SR, DR, DRM, JC, SW,  just to name a few (sorry if I left you out!).  I’ve been on some great retreats and had an awesome spring break experience (minus the gnats!). It’s really hard to leave all of you as you all irreplaceable.  But no worries, you’ll all be in prayers and of course, I’ll come visit for some football games and some Ultimate.

11) The city of Toledo – I’ve found so many interesting things about you in the past 5 years that you went from some obscure thing down Dorr St to something that I hold near and dear to my heart.  Who knows, maybe I’ll be back someday?

12) BioE Prof’s:  Scottie too Hottie = guardian angel.  Patty = first class and last class I had.  PG = Because of you I Love Electronics and teaching others about it.  Dr. Vague = I heart bones. Drf = you’re an amazing professor and man.  Thanks for all the great conversations. WP = you’ve listened to me and questioned my line of thinking and challenged me to go deeper.  Thanks!

13) Palmer Computer lab: I’ve spent more time with you than anyone else in college.  I couldn’t even begin to count the number of hours of sleep I forgone to spend with you. However, without you, I’d still be with you.  Ironic, I know.

14) DePuy: Without my experiences there, I would not be on my way to being a doctor. I’ve learned a lot not only about engineering but about life while I was there.  As I always say, I could write a book about you.

15) LC:  Yes. Friday the 13th. One of the best Valentine’s day ever. Optimism. Talking until 6:30 am. Sunsets vs Sunrises. Knock first. Oreos. Flowers on Semiformal. Semiformal. Late night and early morning walks. Definition of dating. Finally official. That’s what she said. My meatloaf. One last all nighter. If we still know each other, this list will just get longer and longer.  You brought my smile back and now my passion for serving others burns hotter than ever.  Thanks

If I left anyone out, please do not take offense.  Everyone who I’ve met over the past 5 years has influenced me in some shape or form and for this I am greatful.  All I can say is this: We live in a beautiful world and beyond any doubt, it’s because of the people who Love us.

My plan is to get all of my homeworks and DHF done today.  I am actually about to head up to engineering to begin the end.  Crazy to think, eh?

On a side-note…I don’t really feel like this is the end.  I’ve done a lot of driving over the past week, which equates to a ton of thinking.  I know this is the end of the my undergraduate career, but it doesn’t feel like it.  It all hasn’t quite settled in.  Even if I am done with everything, I’ll still feel like there is something else to do.  I am not quite sure if it will change once all my work is done today, but I will definitely repost.  I am in the mindset that I really finished everything last Fall semester and that I’ve been going through the motions this semester (with respect to school) to make it this far.  Further analysis to come!

“Now for the Wii…a guy or a girl could like that.”  – Me, last night describing who is more likely to be found playing a video game.  Say it out loud for full effect.

This is the last week of undergrad classes and it is going to be quite the week! I am looking forward to it all!

I am running a 5k in 6 days back home in Willoughby.  It also nice because I have to be back home for my cousin’s confirmation run through.  And then I will be back in Toledo as soon as I can.

Finally, if anyone in Toledo needs some type of work done, I am willing to do mostly anything.  Being able to go grocery shopping will be nice!

It’s okay to be broken, it’s never too late to be fixed.

Plenty to work out over the next few weeks.  Rome was not built in a day.

Something I learned this Lent: Patience.  I don’t think I’ll ever stop working on it, but I finally see the power it holds.

Happy Easter!

“At least I’m legal!” – LC