12:28 a.m.

t minus 6 hours till med school.

well, kind of. orientation doesn't really count since there is no homework assigned. at least i hope not.

today was just another sunday. church at Our Lady of Hope this morning, dishes, breakfast, fighting with my computer, a movie, and some damn good gelato for a night cap.

philadelphia seems to be devoted to everything upscale---little stores selling just bathtubs or just pots or whatever you want. a trillion hip cafes, clubs, and bistros too. and while that's endearing, it's also exhausting. i shouldn't expect to fit into philly in just a day. nor should i expect it to be pittsburgh. or scotland. it's like trying to shove a square peg in a round hole. maybe this is what it's all about. becoming more round.

now seems like a good time for the prologue. most of you reading this already know that i'm 23, graduated from duquesne with a b.s. in biochemistry with a minor in bio. why do i want to be a doctor? love of science + an inane desire to change the world = medicine. what kind of doctor do i want to be? something that doesn't involve feet or the lower GI tract. thinking pediatrics or endo, but what's the point in picking? it's like choosing a favorite flavor of ice cream when you've never had it. are my parents doctors? no, they're both teachers. did i work in africa or cure cancer? no. i assure you that i'm quite average. as one of my friends would say, i bleed red just like you do.

other mundane details about me:
4'11''/~90 lbs/green eyes/brown hair/built like a beanpole
italian/german/polish/english
snow patrol/norah jones/dave matthews/ben harper/the be good tanyas
high fidelity/hook/braveheart/shawshank/life is beautiful
i run marathons.
boys make me nuts, but my life would be far less interesting if they weren't around.
i firmly believe that nothing i say is original.

i left pittsburgh for philadelphia. if you are from pittsburgh, then you understand why this is sacrilege. i love my city--it really is the biggest small town ever. leaving was hard. lots there that i love. mum still cries when i hang up the phone. they're truly 'empty nest' now--being at duquesne was just sort of pseudo-gone.

am i excited for tomorrow? i think i'm comfortably numb at the moment. at least there's no panic. yet. i'm excited to meet more people--those i have met so far are quality.

anyways, my mind's a beehive right now. time to stare at the clock a little more.