Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Thanksgiving

Wow, December already. It is amazing how fast 20 weeks can go.

It does seem a little surreal that the semester has come and gone so quickly. I am happy that the initial jitters are over and that I have been able to settle in so nicely in such a short amount of time. This semester has been one of the most challenging and most rewarding in my scholastic career. There have been many ups and downs and highs and lows, but in the end, it is the high points that I remember. All in all, I will say the semester is ending on a high. 

Thanksgiving was a little bittersweet this year. Bitter in that finals began within the next week. Sweet in that it was still Thanksgiving and still a very happy time. 

The day started with a healthy game of flag football, which is more commonly known as a turkey bowl. A great game, I played a little quarter back and caught a few passes. The downer of the game was that I injured both of my big toes. I jammed my toenails into the ends of my shoes, very painful, but resulted in a podiatric procedure and a peek into what my life will be like as a clinician. I do find it quite ironic that a podiatry student would, of all injuries, injure his feet during a football game.

Thanksgiving dinner was a phenomenal meal. We joined with a few other couples, and did small group dinner. Followed by pie and my favorite, whipped cream!  After the food coma wore off, it was back to studying. 

Studying ensued, and a week later it hasn't stopped. The finals are hard, but now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I know there is hope. I knew it would be hard, and I think I've settled in and can see where I'm headed. It won't be too long and I'll be writing my goodbye letter. Haha, I think I'll focus on next semester first. 

Sunday, November 20, 2011

West Side Market

My first visit to Cleveland was last March, I was here to interview at OCPM, and as well I got to see some pretty cool stuff. I was unfortunately not able to bring my wife on the trip. I knew that somehow I would have to return home with some explanation of what the city is like. I had one day following my interview to get out and see the city. I wanted to know what I should see before I left. Upon google-ing the city of Cleveland the first website mentioned a place called the West Side Market. 

From the website The West Side Market looked intriguing so I looked into it a little more, and review after review raved of the market and just how awesome it was. I made a note, got the address in my GPS, and headed to Cleveland's west side to see what it was all about. 


Now that I have been back on many occasions I decided it was time to share the wealth to all my friends and readers. This place is a must see here in Cleveland and is a great place to go when I need a break from studying. 

The market is divided into two buildings one smallish and the other ginormous. The smaller of the two is the produce section. The produce building is basically a long hall that is packed wall to wall with fruits and vegetables. You can find almost any fruit or vegetable item you could imagine, from wild variations on the most common, purple coli-flower, to exotic fruits from around the globe. All the produce is fresh and tasted delicious. We made fresh tacos the next day with the produce we got...fantastic. 

The larger of the two buildings is the main hall. It looks like an old mill, but according to the website it is the original building designed for the market as an upgrade from a tract of land. Within the main hall are vendors of every food you could imagine, meats, cheese, coffee, popcorn, desserts, and I could go on for a long time. Suffice it to say, it is absolutely packed and you could spend all day just looking at everything.

The West Side Market has also had some press within the last couple years. First, a small Gyro kiosk named Steve's Gyros (gyros being consumed in the above picture) was featured on Man vs Food. Adam Corolla stopped by to eat some of their kebabs, and I will say from personal experience there is a reason they were on TV. 

The most recent exposure was a meat kiosk by the name of Czuchraj Meats. Don't ask me how to say the  name, I have no idea. But I do know that Iron Chef Micheal Symon says that they have the best beef jerky he's ever had. They were featured on the Food Network's episode "Salty Goodness" of "Best Thing I Ever Ate" 

This last time I went I had to make one of the hardest decisions of my life, creme brulee or pistachio cannoli. First of all, I have a huge sweet tooth, so I have to say it's a good thing I'm going to become a podiatrist and not a dentist. Second, the dessert kiosks at the West Side Market are something else, you cannot even imagine the selection. I wish I had a picture of the desserts, I felt a little bit like Charley and the Chocolate Factory, so many amazing things to eat and my wife said I could only choose one. While she was looking away I bought both. :-)  

I guess there's nothing like eating your feelings when the stress of school gets a little hard to handle. To all my classmates and future classmates, you have to visit the West Side Market. School or not, this is right now my favorite place in Cleveland. 

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Halloween...Fall...Thanksgiving?

It feels fall has finally come to the greater Cleveland area. And with it, fall colors, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the last stretch before finals.

Halloween was a great time, and we got to spend it with another 1st year couple. It was my first Halloween since living with my parents that I got to hand out candy, and it was fun to see the kids all dressed up and on a sugar high. Not to mention I love candy, so I had a little bit of a sugar high myself. It was nice to sit back and enjoy an evening. Having just finished our second round of tests I felt like I could relax for at least one night before getting back to studying hard for the next round of tests.

With Halloween behind me, it is back to the grindstone with more studying followed by Christmas and the opportunity to go back home and see my family. I just have to take it one day at a time try my best and hope it all comes out OK in the end.

It seems that this semester has just flown by. August 1st seems like yesterday, but somehow a distant memory. Now as I look at the three weeks of class time ahead of me before we begin our finals, I think about what a great time it has been. Albeit hard, it has been an experience I would not trade. I have learned and grown in ways I could not have imagined prior to my time here at OCPM. I have been stretched, tested, and grown stronger and more prepared with every step along the way. I know that this is just the beginning, but I feel like I am mentally prepared to face any challenge that is ahead of me.

Also, with the passing of Halloween, I wanted to share this video that I found really funny. I hope you enjoy it. Happy Halloween!







Monday, October 31, 2011

Amish Country




This last weekend, my wife and I wanted to get out and see some of the countryside before the leaves fell off. We decided to get some cultural exposure while we were at it. So, we packed up our car and headed out to see rural Ohio and Amish Country.

Upon the recommendation of a few of my older classmates, we decided on an Amish farm, Hershberger Farm and Bakery. A very cool place with quite a bit to see and do.

We started with the farm store. The Amish are amazing craftsmen with skills in leather, textiles, and they are known for their woodworking skills. This is a picture of the chairs that are very common among the Amish. The chairs are made from willow and are harvested only once a year during the spring when the wood is soft and able to be molded.


We then decided to take a ride on the wagon to go to the pumpkin patch.
They estimate that they grew 12,000 pumpkins this year. That wagon ride was fun with a quick tour to see the Amish horses and some of the livestock. The Amish are renowned for their horsemanship, and had some of the biggest horses I have ever seen.

We found the perfect pumpkin, but didn't want to call it a day just yet. We headed back to finish up our day with the bakery and produce. The bakery was busy, and understandably so. All the baked goods are made from scratch, such as the cinnamon rolls that were hot out of the oven. They also had apple cider, fry pies (a traditional Amish pastry), pies of all varieties, and a huge selection jams, jellies, and pickles. Outside they had an open fire with a kettle on it making fresh kettle corn (AMAZING!). And to finish it off the produce from Hershberger and surrounding farms.


I learned a little bit about the Amish, and had a great time while doing it

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The Semester is Under Way!

As soon as the sun started going down before 8:00 I realized that the semester is quickly passing, and so is my time here in school.

We are quickly approaching exam week 2. It will be happening the week before Halloween. So, needless to say I am a little scared. I'm scared for tests not for Halloween. I have heard that there are some pretty awesome haunted houses around, I will definitely be checking those out soon.

As far as tests go, I think I am ready. Although I will say it doesn't seem possible that we could have tests so soon after the last test, but it has been a month and tests are still a week and a half away. Anatomy and Biochemistry will indubitably be my hardest exams, and I am a little stressed. But, so to compensate I've been studying a little harder everyday to make sure that I cover the material adequately. Shortly following my first round of exams I thought that I was studying a lot longer everyday, but it turns out that the sun was just going down faster. A week later, I realized that I was studying longer regardless of the waxing and waning of the moon. I hope that the extra effort will pay off.


It's just a matter of keeping up, keeping my mind straight, and getting enough sleep.  The professors help as well by presenting good lectures, they keep it interesting and they make it a pleasure to learn the material rather than a chore. No mental breakdowns yet (the second years say that happens just for for exam 2 next semester), and I tend to keep it that way.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Cleveland Food...

The other night, I went out with some friends to a downtown restaurant. This isn't the first time I had gone out to eat in Cleveland, but of all the places I have eaten here, I haven't had a bad experience yet. I wanted to talk a little bit about some of the restaurants we have had the pleasure of visiting, and talk about some of the ones that I hope to visit, sooner rather than later.

The Melt Bar and Grilled
This is easily one of the most talked about restaurants in the Cleveland area and with two restaurants and one on the way, they are becoming more and more popular. Their specialty is gourmet grilled cheese and if you get a chance to check out the menu on the website, you will notice the amazing selection and variety they have. Pictured below is their Monte Cristo. They also carry a root beer list like I have never seen. Everyone I have talked to about this restaurant loves it, and I know why, the food is amazing and fresh. The food is always made to order and served with fresh cut fries and their house cole slaw, not too sweet not too sour, and with just the right amount of spice.



Sittoos
This restaurant is really close to my house and since it has 100% likes on UrbanSpoon, I knew I had to try it. They specialize in Lebanese food, which I wasn't too familiar with, but I have never tasted Mediterranean cuisine quite like this. They offer freshly made hummus, with warm pita, and a variety of wraps among other things. I had a lamb wrap in a pita, similar to a gyro, but way better quality meat and vegetables. I don't think a day has gone by since I ate there that I haven't wanted to go back. It is a must try!

Main Street Cafe- Medina, OH
One night my wife and I ended up off the beaten path in a small town called Medina. When I say small, I mean it's small, and off the beaten path, I was thinking we were headed to the back woods, and then out of nowhere this amazingly kept beautiful little town pops up. I felt like we were back in the 50's, there was a jazz concert going on on the town center park in the band stand. The downtown area is fully preserved and absolutely gorgeous. We walked around the town just to find the most amazing little cafe. It is a very nice restaurant with a small town feel, and gourmet food. Traditional American cuisine with a modern and epicurean twist. The restaurant is designed to look like an old saloon, and it feels authentic. I got a Reuben and my wife got a steak. I have tried Reuben sandwiches from coast to coast and by far this was the best one I have ever had. Perfection on bread, and my wife's steak was equally amazing. The short trip to Medina is well worth  the time.

These are just a few of the many amazing places in Cleveland to eat. No matter the budget or food that you want you will find it. As far as other places to go, here is a short list of other places we plan on eating at in the future...

1. One of the three, or all three, Micheal Simon Restaurants (Lola's, Lolita's, and The B-Spot)
2. Little Italy (I am sure there will be a blog post about little Italy in the future)
3. Sokolowski's- Eastern European Food
4. Somewhere in Amish Country

There are always new restaurants being recommended, so I am sure there will be many more food posts in the future.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Northcoast 24 Hour Endurance Race

I got an email a couple of weeks ago about volunteering to treat people during a 24 Hour endurance race. I was intrigued and so I submitted my name thinking that as a first year I might not be chosen because of my lack of experience and knowledge. I was pleasantly surprised when I got an email back saying that I was chosen. I was really excited to get in and really get to practice and interact with patients. 

There was a pre-race meeting held the day before to go over Low Dye taping and blister and hot spot bandaging. Most of the people at the meeting were 3rd and 4th year students, so i was a little intimidated. But, when they found out that I was a first year they were more than eager to help and make sure that I was comfortable and ready. At the race, I was so appreciative for all their help. They were very supportive and helped me to feel comfortable in a new situation and environment. They were there every step of the way and eager to help me improve and gain new skills. 

With the help of the older students I was able to actually get in and make a difference for some of the racers. One lady came in with 5 blisters on her feet. We were able to treat all the blisters and she was able to continue. Another woman cam in with blisters the size of silver dollars and when we were done she got back up and continued on with the race. For some I was helping to make personal records and goals, and for others I was helping to fulfill a dream. I know it probably doesn't seem like a lot but for me it was such a positive experience. From being welcomed and befriended with such respect and support by my peers, to being able to help someone accomplish what they came to do, it was an amazing day. 


Overall, after a long week of testing it was nice to be able to do what I am here to do, and that is to help people. This event really put things into perspective. It really helped me to be reassured and know that I am here for the right reason. Again, I am not really able to express how grateful I am to the older students that helped me so much yesterday. It is so nice to go to a school where they are willing to give freely of themselves for the benefit of others. 


Sunday, September 11, 2011

First Exams

Spoiler alert, OCPM has the best test schedule of any school I have ever been to, hands down. 

I'm pretty close with my family and as such we spend a lot of time on the phone talking about things that are going on in each other's lives. Coming in to this week I knew my family was getting worried seeing how this week sparked the beginning of my first grad school exams. As families often do they call when big things are going on and if they want to know how you are doing and so on and so forth. 

Just to be clear I do love their phone calls and all their well wishing, it has done me good so far and I'm sure will continue to benefit me for many years to come. 

When they call and ask how tests are going I say,"Great," and they ask, "So, what tests do you have this week?" Then, when I say I have 5 tests this week there is a long silence on the phone...followed by, "How are you handling it all?"

Truthfully, it's a pretty great system. For the exams, you have one class's exams per day, and then a day's rest in between tests to really focus on the next exam. It's fantastic! In undergrad I had what seemed like exam after exam, and most classes gave a test every other week, so I was swamped. So to only have one week every month and a half and only one class's exams per day it really gives me a chance to get a good grip on my class, internalize the information and commit it to permanent memory. 

I'm not going to lie, the exams and classes are hard, but OCPM has really found a way to ease the pressure a little bit and really help the students get a grip on the material and be able to do the best they can. 


Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Baseball and So Much More

10 minutes for school there are 3 stadiums! What?????? Indians, Cavaliers, and the Browns. I'm not sure when then last time I went to a baseball game was, but I think I was about 14, and I forgot how awesome they are. Not to mention it was Elvis night. Also, every Friday there is a fireworks show set to music by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame which is just a few minutes from the stadium.  So baseball games are so fun, if I didn't mention it earlier.

OCPM is a very social school, and there are tons of events. There are a lot of clubs on campus, and as such lots of opportunities to get involved and take a break from school for one reason or another. OPMSA or the Ohio Podiatric Medicine Student Association hosted a student night at the Cleveland Indians. It just so happened to be one of the first of many events of the year and since my wife had never been to a major league baseball game it seemed like a really good opportunity to get out and see the town. It was a really popular event, and lots of students came, it was super fun to hang out with friends and get to know some people outside of class.


All of the stadiums are really close to downtown Cleveland and the stadiums surround an awesome atmosphere for pre and post-game activities. I think that I will reserve  a restaurant review for a later post. But, suffice it to say, a night out to the ball game can be so much more than just a baseball game. Needless to say, we had an absolute blast, and can't wait to go again. 
Oh yeah, did I mention THEY WON!!!!!!

Monday, August 15, 2011

White Coat Ceremony

One of the things I notice that distinguishes a doctor is his white coat. I never knew exactly why they wore them. I think now that I have my first white coat it makes more sense.

The white coat isn't just a uniform worn by medical professionals. It is symbol of who they are. A coat historically has been worn in the form of a mantle or a tunic showing power and authority even dating back to biblical times worn by priests and kings. Today it is rare to see people of power giving an address without a coat in one form or another. Secondly, coats or gowns are worn at graduations symbolizing knowledge. When Issac Newton was the head of Trinity College, Cambdridge, he wore a coat symbolizing the knowledge he had gained. The third point is the color, white. White is the color of purity. All doctors are held to the highest standard of purity. They must be pure and ethical in all they do. Doctors must be honest and fair to their patients, regardless of the outcome.

A couple weeks ago I was given the opportunity to receive my first white coat. I must admit that while I stood there receiving my coat, I was caught up so much in the excitement of receiving the coat that I forgot to take a moment and really realize what I was taking on. Not just a coat, but power, authority, knowledge, and most of all purity. After receiving the white coat, we stood as a class ready to embark, and we took an oath, an oath that I must remember every time I wear my coat. It reads:

     We the Class of 2015/2016, are committed to the following,

     To treat patients in a professional manner with intergrity and empathy
     To practice compassion and humility towards all patients in an unbiased manner
     To respect the humanity of all patients
     To guide patients through the most appropriate course of care
     To practice in a manner that augments selflessness and commitment
     To demand excellence of ourselves in practice of poditatry through lifelong learning in order to provide the highest standard of patient care
     To promote and support educational institutions and colleagues through awareness of podiatric medicine
     To dedicate ourselves to being accountable and ethical leaders in our communities and to uphold these commitments with solidarity and confidence as Doctors of Podiatric medicine.

In the oath that I took, I promised to my self and to all others these things. I know that this is a huge task, and a huge obligation, but I know that I can do it.

Thursday, August 4, 2011

The Introduction

My name is Trevor Tippets, I am a first year podiatry student at the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine. I can say that it feels like I am coming to an end of a very long road. And yes, it feels great! This is the beginning of the end.

As far as background goes, I don't think you need my whole life story so I'll start at the middle somewhere. I grew up in Colorado and attended Cherry Creek High School. I attended BYU-Idaho and finished my degree in Exercise and Sport Science with a minor in chemistry. During college I took two years off to serve a mission in Birmingham, England. Following college I got married to my wife Amy. We moved to Oregon following the wedding and that is where this story really begins.

I began thinking about podiatry in the beginning of my junior year in college. Podiatry was a way for me to meet my personal goals while still allowing me time to spend with my family. It could not have been more perfect for me and what I wanted out of life. So, making the decision to apply to podiatry school was done. Now I just needed to apply and pick my top choices for school. My top choice from the beginning was OCPM. I wanted to go here because of the great experiences of a few of my friends, not only at the school but the area. Now, I know what you are thinking, Cleveland? And yes, Cleveland is awesome. Cleveland is a very diverse city with a wide variety of cultures around the globe. It doesn't just stop at culture either, there is a ton of stuff to do here. Cleveland has some of the best restaurants I have eaten at hands down, as well as some of the most awesome parks I have ever seen. The city has major league sports teams in almost every professional league. Not to mention some of the best broadway shows and concerts in the nation. Also, compared to almost all the other podiatry schools the cost of living in Cleveland is significantly less.

So when decision time came it really was a no brainer for myself and my wife. We are both very happy here with the location, friends, and prospect of raising our family in a great place. I am glad to say, Ohio is my home.