Loco Locums

Three exams left. Counting my boards, which I plan to take either in late May or early June. Two finals and then that really big one. I have some study materials lined up, and I can purchase some computerized study aids too. It feels close, picked up my cap and gown, tassel and hood yesterday. Yes, hood, when you are bestowed with a masters, you wear a hood. The get-up is even stranger for the doctoral graduates.

Job quest rolls on. My plan to work for the specialized facility fell through. They said although I was the best person for the job, the locums tenen doctor (the term means "temp" for a practitioner) backed out at the last minute. This was to fill the gap until I was fully credentialed in late June. So their home office required them to fill the position now with an NP already licensed. I was disappointed, they were very nice about it, but what a time sink that was. I met with them three times, did research on their business and population, interview prep, etc. But the nice part is I'm actually feeling pretty happy about my other option now - it's working in a private practice with a local psychiatrist in central Austin. The only disadvantage is the initial lack of income - this is not a salaried position as the other one was. It will take time to build my clientele. But the team there (the doc and two other NPs) is a great bunch and it will be a great place to learn. The variety of patients will be good too - all ages, all different diagnoses. And I can walk to Kerbey Lane Cafe for lunch every day. Yes, the best revenge is happiness (I actually said that to a client today, when he was talking about recovering from a bad breakup). That's a bit of overstatement for me - no revenge intended here. It's all OK. Really.

Kitten season is coming at the Austin Animal Center. If you're thinking about adding to your family, please come by in the next month or so. We will be overrun soon.

I ran across an article at school that completely articulates my philosophy about mental health. Here's a link to it if you're interested. The cool thing is that this practice that I hope to join is completely on board with this. It's so much more than a pill pushing place. I really think I'll be able to put this into action.
Lifestyle and Mental Health

Ken and I go pick up Dani in NYC in late May. We are only staying 3 days, just lots to do and Nile is here, still in school. When Dani gets back, we will be going to yoga together. She's turned into this total flaming yogini freak, which I'm totally jazzed about. You know, it had to happen, I mean she does have half my genetic material. I got this terrific Groupon for us to take classes at a Lakeway studio together all summer long. Then, here's the cool part: in the Fall, she moves into an apartment that is quite close to where I hope to work and there's a yoga place within walking distance. Hopefully we can meet there after work while I wait for the traffic to die down. Mother/daughter bonding experience and get-healthy time, all wrapped up.

OK, so guess where I'm headed? Yep. Yoga. Aaaaahhhhhhh.