Classes Done

End of the semester!  Always a busy time, so apologies for the lack of a posting.  Some recapping:

Radiation and Treatments
Continues to go well.  The system is mostly efficient and so far I've been free on any side effects.  Perhaps the recommended skin care routine is working...

 

I got my second anti-hormone shot on Thursday.  Last month, there was some small concern that it wasn't working as it should be and I had to do some follow-up tests, but everything looked fine.  So we'll continue to monitor and see how this month goes.

 

Work
Busy, busy, busy!  It's the end of the semester and I choose to do oral exams in my physiology classes where students come in and talk about a few topics for ~10-15 minutes.  I really think it is great for them and a good way to gauge learning.  But, with 60 students, it's a bit of a time suck!

My research class did a lovely little poster session for their semester long projects...

 

They are a great group of kids.  Most (all but 4) are graduating seniors, some of whom I had for 2 classes.  It'll be different at graduation next Saturday to give hugs to kids I actually know! (Dayton is nice in that the ceremony says all names, and faculty are welcome to come down from their seats to congratulate the graduates after they've gotten their diploma).  But looking at their baby faces does make me feel like I'm getting old!

Other good work things though...had a good interim tenure review and officially received word that I'll spend 3 weeks in Chile in Summer 2016!  It's part of Dayton's Global Education Seminar that engages a faculty cohort in a year-long seminar building up to a 3 week in-country experience in an effort to broaden the international opportunities for students and faculty. I'm in a great cohort and a department colleague is going this year, so hopefully can build upon what she is getting set up.  Should be pretty great!

Working Out
I decided to try to get back in a bit of shape, so decided to restart Insanity

 

It's a great program.  But it's hard!  And I have nearly no core and upper body strength right now...but as I've been trying to tell myself, lots of room for improvement!  The good news is that in the last two weeks, between Insanity and the trips to radiation each day (and taking the stairs on the way up when I come back!) my activity levels are staying higher!

 

 

Life in General

Despite keeping busy, life otherwise has been pretty good as of late. Friday was a particularly exciting day as after having received the good work news, while waiting for my last oral exam of the day, I decided to sign up for a First Descents adventure!  FD is this really cool organization that supports outdoor adventures for young cancer survivors/fighters.  So for my 30th birthday in September, I'll be spending it on a week long adult-camp adventure rock climbing in the Adirondacks!

 

 

I'm really excited!  At first, I wasn't sure if I should make the plan over Labor Day/birthday weekend, in hopes that other celebrations might come together...but then I decided that it really should be about me!  So, I expressed my interest, they got back to me, and I confirmed a spot!  And, as the small world would have it, one of the full-time staffers is a UD grad that I've met in Denver at an alumni event!  And there's another Flyer on staff also.  I think it's going to be great.

 

Friday night was fun checking out the new Dayton Beer Company taproom with some friends.  It was a little Ft. Collins-10-years-ago but fun to see so many younger, normal looking folk having a good time out in Dayton!  I also feel like despite the extra weight and still short hair that I'm getting a little bit of my confidence back (in that I could feel ok wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt and not really give a shit).  Having such a good day at the office on Friday probably helped with that as well!