"Life is like a ten-speed bicycle.

Most of us have gears we never use."

-Charles Schulz

My newest goal is to not be most people. I want to learn to use all the gears life gives me. I don't want to take the easy way out all the time by flipping the gear or avoiding the hill. I want to take challenges head on with a positive attitude. Sometimes, it is SO easy to get caught up in negativity and complaining about what is thrown at you, especially when everyone around you is doing just that. My new focus is to NOT get caught up in the negativity. I want to find the bright side, even when the test, or task, or project ahead of me feels impossible or pointless or like busy work. I want to take something positive away from it.

For instance, we were assigned a perio project using ANCIENT hand written charts (OMG heaven forbid things not be on a computer!). Rather than complain that I can't read it or there is no point to it because the chart is 10 years old and the patient is long gone, I am going to appreciate the fact that we no longer have to use hand written charts on a regular basis at school and I am going to learn as much as I can about how to handle a case from the one in front of me. I could complain about our chart for 20 minutes, or I could spend 20 minutes productively analyzing it. I am going to choose to be productive.

In other news, Pico has surgery tomorrow. Apparently I am more attached than I thought because he has to stay overnight after the surgery and I am pretty much FREAKING OUT about it. He won't have his blanket. He won't have his mom and dad to cuddle with all night. He might be traumatized and out of it from the anesthesia. And he will have stitches- what if they aren't watching him and he scratches them?!? I know he is better off there than here (heck I don't know what to do with a drugged, stitched up, totally out of it kitten- I barely know what to do with a kitten on a normal day..) but I am still going to be totally nervous all day tomorrow. And what do I tell him when he is whining and hungry in the morning (because I have to take away his food and water tonight)- "oh sorry Pico, you have to go and have your claws and boy parts taken out today so no food for you...?!?!" And to make matters worse I can't even take him to the vet in the morning- Matthew has to be the bad guy. Pico is going to think I don't love him but really I just have class! I realize this is dramatic I just never thought I would be so nervous about a little surgery! So please, for my sake and Pico's, keep him in your thoughts tomorrow!

This week is the ADA Midwinter Meeting in Chicago- lots of dentists, dental products and FREE STUFF!! And some of it I might ACTUALLY know what it is and what it is used for! Casey, Lisa and I are going down for that Friday (I will be calling Matthew and checking in on Pico pretty much every hour..) and I am pumped!

Andddd Erin is coming this weekend!!! I absolutely can't wait! I miss her SO much and am so glad this weekend worked out when initially we thought it wouldn't! So i am very much looking forward to Saturday as well.

The rest of my life is pretty much working out and studying this week. Only one quiz, but I am making myself stay on top of other things and prep for the MONSTER test week before spring break. I already get a stomach ache just thinking about that week... but I am so ready for spring break and SUNSHINE! It is snowing as we speak. Again.

Back to being positive and productive! Happy hump day!