Monsters!

Not the scary variety, just the hockey kind.

In a previous post I mentioned all the professional sports teams that we have here in Cleveland, and I wanted to give a little bit of an update.

When I got back to school this semester I got a text from a friend asking if I wanted to go to a Monsters game. I didn't know exactly what that meant. Was it a euphemism or some inside joke that I didn't get. He wrote a second time and explained that they are a local hockey team.

Not only are there several major league teams in the area, there are several minor league teams that I didn't even know about. The cool thing is that minor league games are often a cheap night out in the middle of winter. Also, a great way to take a break from school without breaking the bank (or limited funds that accompany medical school life).

We have the Monsters, who are a hockey farm team for the Colorado Avalanche and actually a really fun game to watch. In fact the school is planning an outing for two days from now on Thursday. If I wasn't going to be celebrating my wife's birthday that night I would totally be there.

We also have the Canton Charge who are an NBA D-League team. Their season is the same as the NBA so if miss a Cavaliers game you can see them instead. The D stands for Development, so players on their way up to the NBA.

The big announcement for this year though is the addition of an AFL team, the Cleveland Gladiators. The Arena Football League has been around for several years and is actually super fun to watch! I went to a couple arena football games in Denver while I lived there and had a blast every time!

Anyway you look at it, even on the coldest nights in Cleveland there is something to get fired up about.
   

The Break

Breaks are amazing! Now, don't get me wrong I love school, but it was a long semester and a break was indeed called for.

The first week was busy. To get started, I built a guitar.

Next, I built a stand for it and my other instruments to go on. 

Needless to say I was having a blast, and it was nice to not have my head buried in a book for a bit. 

But, the most important part of my vacation came after my projects, I got to go home and see my own and my wife's family. 

We flew to Denver a week after school ended for the semester where we were greeted by my family and 8in. of snow! I took advantage of the weather and went snowboarding. I needed to get up to the slopes at least once because I knew this semester was going to leave no time to go. 

We spent a little over a week in Colorado and left Christmas Day to Salem, OR. We arrived in Salem greeted by my wife's family and lots of rain. 

We took a trip to the Oregon coast where I got some time to take some pictures and practice my HDR. 

During my time in Oregon I had the opportunity to shadow a podiatrist from the Portland area, and was able to get some experience in the Operating Room. I was able to see some typical and some advanced podiatric surgeries. While I played I also was able to get some valuable podiatric experience. 

  

We spent the rest of our vacation there and headed home just in time for the Oregon Ducks to win the Rose Bowl and the semester to start. 

The semester will be a busy one, and surely will try my academic stamina. But after a fantastic vacation, I feel well rested and ready to take on the world, or lower anatomy whichever comes first.