19th Grade

So actually I'm not sure how to qualify what "grade" I'm in. Do I count M1 year as one grade, even though I did it twice (effectively)? And because I'm not staying in medical school, I'm not even sure if that counts at all....?

Well anyway, today was the first day of my 19th year of schooling. HOLY BUCKETS! I must really love school or something! (I'll let you in on a little secret, I love school).

This semester I only have one class that actually meets in person. It's "Introduction to Maternal and Child Health". I had it this afternoon for just shy of 3 hours. I like it, but it's very different from medical school. It's much slower paced and I have to admit that I was a little bored. I'm very used to needing to process more information, more quickly in class, but I'm sure it will pick up pace once we don't have to do syllabus sorts of things.

My other two courses are online: Epidemiology and Health Behavior. I've already had to take a few quizzes, even before classes officially started! Yuck. We shall see how I like online classes...I'm sure they will be quite different from the two online classes I took at CCC after my freshman year at Hastings College (I just have this sneaking suspicion that graduate level online classes are harder than Composition 101).

It's also going to be a transition to not have every minute of my day scheduled with class or studying. The program I'm in is designed for working professionals, so most people are employed in some manner. I'm trying to figure out exactly what I will do, but I'm sure it will be something because I'm kind of already going stir crazy with the lack of things penciled in to my beautiful new planner. So if anyone is looking for an employee in the Omaha area, let me know! :)

It was a good day and now I must figure out when things are due for my online classes!

Yay books! 

CSA

green onions, tomato, radishes, rhubarb, asparagus,
popcorn, quark cheese and red, white and blue bread

This summer I signed up for a CSA--community supported agriculture--and I have absolutely fallen in love with it! The idea is that you buy "shares" of local farmer's crops and get a bag of vegetables/fruit in return every week. You get to eat locally and you also support local farmers. It's a win-win for everyone involved!

kale (so much kale!!!), tomatoes, broccoli, radishes, eggs, zucchini and strawberries

I loved it so much that I've signed up for a fall one too! Yesterday, I found out that the company I'm going through (the farmer's market that organizes all of the produce from the farmers and gets it distributed to all of the vegetable-loving peoples) is doing a winter CSA too! I'm actually a little bit bummed that I won't be able to do that one. But it's only because it features meat every week and that's pretty much pointless for me, but if you're in the Omaha area and you're interested, please let me know!

onions, beets, walnuts, potatoes, zucchini and a baguette

Not only do I get veggies each week, but I also get a fresh loaf of bread from a local bakery as well as a dozen farm fresh eggs/local cheese on alternating weeks. It's been really wonderful to expand my vegetable and cheese horizons and also work on cooking different things! The bags were designed for families of 4, so I even have a nice stash frozen for the winter! Sometimes they throw in other stuff like local honey, granola, popcorn from a local farm, a basil plant and lots of other stuff!

It's been a wonderful adventure and I look forward to the new types of squash I'm sure I'll get to try in the coming weeks with my fall veggie bags! I have been eating VERY well this summer!

the cutest little strawberries! they make my hand look like a giant hand! :)

bruschetta from the tomatoes, onions, basil and bread from my bags!

green beans, peaches, corn, pickling cucumbers, broccoli,
squash, nettle cheese, and Popeye bread

I pickled the cucs, squash and onions. Yum!

Squash, green bean and zucchini crepes from the bags.
Chives from my herb pot! :)

potatoes, zucchini, green peppers, green beans, basil,
peaches, corn, eggs, and Indian bread

onions, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, squash, kale,
garlic pepper cheddar cheese, kale, and a baguette