It only took a week...

...for the all-out, mind-crazing, adrenaline-producing, ulcer-aggravating panic and stress to set in. I was doing pretty well all week, all things considered, and had a lot of fun this weekend. Then, all of a sudden, at about 7:30 tonight, I FREAKED out. Majorly.

Objectively, I'm not really sure why I freaked out. Nothing about my situation has changed since Friday, when I felt fine. I'm behind in immunology, have been all week. That's not saying much, because everyone was behind the moment lecture began last Monday morning, and I did a pretty good job last week at keeping up. I'm behind in path, but not too worried about that yet. And ICM is, of course, very manageable -- more reading and prep compared to last year, but that's my favorite class anyway, so it's no big deal. But I still need to figure out what kind of specialist to shadow this semester and get it scheduled; still need to finish my research poster (that's really going to bite me in the ass, I can just tell); still need to get many, many things accomplished to make sure our silent auction is going to happen; still need to figure out where I can get my hair cut in this town -- and find time for an appointment -- before I end up sporting a mullet. I think it was all that other, non-path and non-immuno, stuff that made me panic. (Crap. I just remembered that I need to start exercising again, too. How am I going to fit that in? More panic.)

I tackled it by organizing, which is my usual plan of attack. Gather the lecture notes I need for the week. Clean up the pile of trash that is my desk and my office. Clean the bathroom. Make a to-do list -- one of my favorite activities in the world. (Basically, when I freak out about being behind in school, I do everything to get my life back in order except study.) Came to a very conscious conclusion about what it's going to be possible for me to accomplish this semester outside of the school realm: I need to take my roommate up on his offers to go to the grocery store, run errands, and take care of the apartment. I was able to do those things last year, and was very able to do those things this summer and got used to it, but I don't think it's going to happen as much anymore. And hey, that's one of the reasons I have a non-med school roomie, isn't it? :) It's tough, though, realizing that I can't take care of everything in my life that I want/need to. I'm trying to learn to delegate my leadership responsibilities more this year, and I guess I have to learn to let go of some things in my personal life, too.

I also think I have to try a new studying strategy this week. I usually try to be very thorough and read everything, but that's why I'm behind. Time to take the focused approach: only read the parts of the book the professors reference, focus on mastering the learning objectives, and get through everything.

If all else fails, I'll focus on going to sleep early so I'll at least be awake for lecture, taking my ulcer meds so my stomach doesn't hurt, and wearing my new knee brace so my knee doesn't hurt any more (wrenched it playing softball the past few weeks). Then I'll be OK physically, at least.

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Ate at La Rosita again last night, and it was just as good as the last time. They have these amazing corn tortillas that are sooooo good -- so much better than plain flour ones. (Of course it's the carbs I'm attracted to!) Had sopapillas for dinner -- yum, yum, yum!

Then we saw Little Miss Sunshine, which was pretty much the funniest movie I've ever seen. I'm totally in love with Abigail Breslin, who played the little girl Bo in Signs. I didn't stop laughing the entire movie. Steve Carrell was great. Alan Arkin was great. Greg Kinnear was great, and I don't usually like him -- same with Toni Collette (I know they're good actors, and I'm not criticizing their talent; I just usually don't like them). I can't wait until I get to see that movie again -- and that doesn't happen very often!