Attending a medical conference proved to be one of the most amazing and eye opening experiences I’ve gone through.  Getting to have fun with fellow MD’s and DO’s….who wouldn’t want to partake in that adventure?

Most importantly though, I met some pretty amazing friends, from all over the country actually.  I still keep in contact with about 90% of my group from this summer, which is astounding because this conference was nearly 7 years ago.

I’m pretty sure the camera found me just about wherever I was.  Thank goodness for digital back then.

On the way to the Mall of America via public transit.  Major fun in the twin cities y’all.  Had a blast meeting and making new friends.

On a “night off” from workshops and lectures, a huge group of us decided to go on the town.  At the time it was a bar called the Wild Onion.  Crazy, huh?

…still the Wild Onion.  Let’s just say I had a blast and had nothing to drink that night.  I think I was a newly minted 21 year old, too.  Pure Craziness.

Last group shot with the girls that evening, we all had fun getting to know each other during our trip.

Found a pair of goggles on our boat that night, so in true Erin fashion I had to put them on.  Talk about goofy all while having fun with my friends. : )

Getting ready to dock, head to the hotel and head out to the bar.  Last night in MN, you’ve gotta do it up big, right?!

Another partial group shot.  We took so many of these that week, seriously was one of the best times in my life being Pre-Med, but I made an even better decision career wise and can’t wait to see what journey it takes me on.

Our hotel was somewhere in the background.  We stayed at one of the fanciest hotels I had ever stayed in and we all had a blast.  Pretty sure I called home just so I could say I was staying in a Trump Hotel.

Our conference director.  He set up all the yet to be in med school applicants and directed my group on which lectures to sit in on and who to rub elbows with.

What our lovely paddle boat looked like sort of.    How many of y’all can say you’ve traveled a portion of the Great Mississippi?  I have.

Relaxing on the boat and taking in the scenery.  I had never been that far north, so this was a completely different experience especially since it was my first ever plane trip.  Talk about an exciting time in my life.

Me & Ash.  We’re still just as close as we were here.  We’ve moved.  Traveled across the US.  But always kept in contact (thank you Facebook!!) through the years.

St. Paul in the background and us looking completely silly.  I sure miss those days…

Now you can’t leave a medical conference without going to the Mall of America at least once while you’re “in town”, that would just be horrible.  If I remember correctly, I made at least half a dozen trips and even left my digital camera in a dressing room (that I later recovered thank goodness).

First…I decided it would be best to try something new with my hair.  Twas a windy night in Oklahoma, why not play around with the wind and do something sexy with my hair this time around?  Yeahhhhh….didn’t think you’d buy into that, but it was worth a shot!

Only in Oklahoma can you ring in the New Year and watch Bull Riding at the same time.  I had a blast doing something different, although, I wasn’t a fan of dancing on that packed dance floor.  There’s no telling how many times I twirled into everyone on the dance floor.

A better shot of the bull pens without all the glitzy lights going.  Yes, I was inside a club with a bull pen.

Taking time out from dancing to catch our breath and DRINK.  You have no idea how dehydrated you can get when you’re out on the dance floor with everyone else having fun.  Funny thing is, I love that you can’t tell just how lovely I actually look.  You see, when the ball dropped the place got just a tad bit wild.  As in, beer was shook & spewed as well as our champagne.  Oh yes y’all.  We’re talking about an Oklahoma girl who rarely drinks being covered in alcohol from head to toe.  Talk about a hot mess.  I’m just thankful that y’all can’t see how sticky or how matted down my hair really is.  Good thing is….I took a shower, even if it was at 3am…

What happens after a night of drinking water?  You stop at IHOP because you’re starving.  That’s what!  No pancakes for me, though.  …although waking up the next morning wasn’t fun at all.

• Roomie graduated from the University of Oklahoma.
• Caught my first Saugeye, sadly it wasn’t a keeper and I had to throw the poor fella back.
• I learned how to two-step.  I love to go dancing now, wonder why?
• Sent a few packages overseas to the land of Afghanistan.
• Baked a ton of muffins one evening just because I was bored.  This happens often.
• Thanks to Pinterest, I burnt my eyebrows, eyelashes & pieces of my hair off.  Yeah, that was an interesting night.
• Dressed up my fur kiddos in matching sweaters for Thanksgiving.
• I saw Justin Moore in concert.  This was my biggest happy moment of the year…I’m quite sure of it!
• Made the conversion to a HD TV & even sprung for Apple TV 2.  It’s by far been the coolest creation Apple has come up with yet.
• Attended my first OU Basketball game & actually bought season tickets.  Kinda crazy.
• I pulled a Geeky moment and dressed up as Darth Vader for Halloween — except I wore a tutu.  Talk about one crazy idea.
• Hopped on a 4-wheeler a mere 4wks after I did something crazy.
• As Papaw would put it, I took full custody of Zoe.  Best decision I ever made….mostly because she’s the best snuggle buddy.

2012 looks to be promising.  I’ll be trekking east in a month which I’m sure will spark into weekend trips to Texas starting in July.  Just a few semesters left and I will have my bachelors degree.  Can’t wait to accomplish that, it’s been a hard road to accomplish, but I’m determined to get it done.

We’ve got a shot of this wacky green mascot for the MLB team of which town I’m heading to….

….we’ve got a Bell of some type…..

….and we’ve got a logo of a pretty great team.  A kind of team we just don’t have in Okie Land.

So,  have y’all figured it out yet?

The opening act to Justin Moore, Dustin Lynch.  He’s a great artist and I’m really looking forward to acquiring his CD when it comes out AND seeing him in concert more.  Hopefully by the time that rolls around I’ll be dating a country fella who loves to go to these types of concerts.  Fingers are tightly crossed!

It sure felt like he was singing in my direction the entire night.  Pretty sure I’m right….

One of my many new favorite songs by him.  Take a listen and you’ll see what I’m taking about, he’s beyond awesome!!

I’m not going to stick captions with all the photos…just take a look for yourself.  He was all over the stage and put on one of the greatest shows I’d ever seen.

Just a short video…wish he would’ve come closer….but then again….there’s always next time.

Can’t touch or wash my hand now!  HE TOUCHED MY FREAKIN’ HAND.  Excuse me while I get a little wound up over this….I was 9 kinds of happy and felt like a wee little kid on Christmas.

Would you just look at him.  All kinds of yummyness….and the best part is….he touched and held my hand.  Sure, there are a lot of girls who fawn over this guy…but I’m extremely happy I got to see someone new in concert.  Made my week!

Great show, Dustin!  Can’t wait for you to come back to Okie Land again.  Majorly excited for his new CD release in a few months….although I’m gonna have a tough time waiting on the release.  His music is just THAT good.

How could one girl be THIS excited for a concert.  Beats me.  Although, I’m almost positive it has to do with the fact that I’ve never done this sorta thing in my life.  Sure, I’d been to concerts growing up.  Sure,  I’ve been front and center before.  I’ve done it all, but getting to live it up and be me…this is what I love!

The coveted Set List for Justin Moore…..get ready y’all the next few posts are sure to be CrAzY.  You just might get a feel for my *love* for country music then……

Sound checking everything…making sure everything is perfect for the concert.  To say I was a little on edge and overly excited was a tad bit of an understatement.  Ha!

Lights go down and the stage is being set up.  Wasn’t really happy with where I was at…I’m 4 ’10 everyone, I can’t see over everyone.  You’ll see just where I wound up later on.  I’m quite confident it’ll blow you away as to how close I got to see both boys who played that night.

I was a little more than excited.  :)  Thankfully, Roomie didn’t go as I’m sure she would’ve been embarrassed by my hoopin’ and hollarin’ all night long.  I’m not a wild girl by any means, but I do like to have fun sans alcohol.  I’m very grateful for the friends that like country music just as much as I do.  If I didn’t, well I wouldn’t be going to any concerts — ever.

Bobbie Sue & Trevs.  They know how to put up with my little left of center goofy side and do well at poking fun of me too.  Pretty sure they had just as much fun at the concert as I did.  Love you guys!

We picked up a stray on the way to the concert.  Trevs works on the way to the concert and because we had a little bit of a drive and ate before the concert meant that we had to leave a little early —- we had to have good seats you know.