Meet Patti!

Full Circle

2008-06-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

Friday will be my last day of residency. This fact blows my mind. Just one year ago I was sitting through boring hours of orientation and making excuses for not studying for the boards. This week, the new class of residents has begun orientation. I spent most of my day today preparing them for the upcoming year and filling them in on all the office gossip. It is eye-opening to look back and see how far I've come. Yet I'm still nervous about working independently. Maybe I'll take along the diabetes guidelines with me to read on the plane. One more time.

India Blog

2008-06-21T21:46:00.000-07:00

I wanted to let everyone know that George and I will be consolidating our blogging efforts while we are in India. So, if you are interested in reading our postings from India, check out this blog. I have added it to my blogroll.

Stuff & Things

2008-06-15T15:00:00.000-07:00

Hello. Since my last post, a lot has been going on. I spent the first week of June in Chicago learning about Parkinson's Disease. It was awesome except for getting stuck there an extra night after my flight got cancelled. I ended up missing my friends Val & Hughby's wedding, paying $6 for a stick of deodorant, and splitting a hamburger with a stranger. However, I did use my Midwestern charm to score a free night in the O'hare Hilton. King size bed, flat screen HDTV, mini-bar, etc. It could've been worse.

Of course I have been a little stressed out with the end of my residency (last day June 27), that trip to India, and move back to KS impending. My passport (and hopefully visa) are in the mail set to arrive tomorrow. I'm packing up my apartment to move everything into storage for now. India will happen July 3-August 8. When I get back I plan to relax and settle into Wichita until I start my new job on September 2. Phew.

There's your update. Oh, and Happy Father's Day.

Bollywood Party/Fundraiser

2008-05-12T18:52:00.000-07:00

The party was Friday night, and by all accounts it was a success. I'm bad at estimating numbers of people, but someone guessed there were 40-50 people there. I had a lot of fun and it seemed like other people did too. Plus, I got some very nice compliments on my cooking. Here are some pictures:

2008-05-05T14:46:00.001-07:00

Laura and Kate on the roller coaster for what I think was their 4th or 5th ride. Laura subsequently got a headache and her hypochondria convinced her that she had a subdural hematoma. To humor her (and because I'm nerdy) we did a full neurological exam which was negative. Phew.

Quality time in the car. I called shotgun.

2008-05-05T08:56:00.001-07:00

The Sweetest Place On Earth

2008-05-04T05:37:00.000-07:00

Allow me to start by saying that my recent lack of posts in no way indicates that things have been mellow or that nothing is going on. Quite the opposite is true. Last weekend I flew home for Missy & Nate's wedding. It was a beautiful ceremony; Missy looked like a princess (in a good way). I really enjoyed seeing so many of my KS friends and meeting Molly's and Stephen's new daughter, Ainsley. She's a cutie. The weekend made me look forward to moving despite the fact that I love Philly.

Then this week from Wednesday to Friday I went to Hershey, PA for the Eastern States Conference with the other residents and our director. The primary purpose of the conference was for all of the pharmacy residents to present their research. That part went well enough. I was very nervous and it showed in my trembling voice and on my flushed neck and chest. But, none of the questions were too difficult and no one made me feel stupid. So it was a success. The other girls did very well on their presentations, too. It's done!

On Thursday night they opened up part of Hershey Park just for the convention. It was a child's (or immature adult's) dream. Imagine it: a theme park with no lines. So awesome. There were times that we rode the roller coaster and no one was waiting in line at the end. So they let us ride again without going back through the line! I kept thinking about that episode of South Park when Cartman got his own amusement park. I will post some pictures as soon as I get around to buying batteries for my sweet new camera.

Jayhawk Pride

2008-04-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to the KU Men's basketball team for winning the national championship! I am proud to be a Jayhawk and am surprised that I have any fingernails left after that game. I watched it at Melody's. Girls only; lots of fun. It turns out that Melody is a walking encyclopedia of basketball. This is not surprising considering that her brother plays college ball, her dad coached him in HS, and she and her mom kept stats. She was marinaded in b-ball for several years. I was impressed many times. She should be a basketball coach if she changes her mind about the whole sociology thing. Also, every time I got pessimistic, she would explain a strategy that could bring us back. Almost without fail, that is what they would then do. Amazing.

Special congratulations to Mario Chalmers on his 3-seconds-left down-by-3 pts high pressure basket bringing us to overtime and eventually a win.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!!

Oldie But A Goodie

2008-03-28T19:08:00.000-07:00

I can't believe my blog is almost 3 years old. Crazy. With the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament upon us again, I was reminded of this post from February 2006:

This tripped me up for a long time. I would hear people talk about Sasha Kaun and in my mind's eye picture an ice princess. (Un?)fortunately that's not a problem anymore.

Sasha Kaun

Sasha Cohen

This one's for Mittens...

Chaka Khan

Tasty, Young Jackfruit

2008-03-25T18:15:00.001-07:00

Yesterday evening I enjoyed an interesting and exotic meal with some friends from MeetIn. A group of 9 of us met at the cleverly named "Indonesia Restaurant". Despite the fact that I only recognized one thing on the menu (satay), it was delicious. I ordered the "tasty, young jackfruit" and I suppose it lived up to its name. I enjoy a bizarre meal every so often.

Best quote of the night:
"What did you say about my grass jelly?"
"I'm not really into it."

P.S. My favorite of the desserts involved green beans, tapioca, and coconut milk.

India Update

2008-03-12T06:59:00.000-07:00

I got a phone call from India the other night. The village (5000 people) is called Vellatur. As a side note, it was early morning there. There is a 9.5 hour time difference. I had no idea that there were time zones on this planet with a 0.5 hour difference. Very strange. Anyway, they had gotten up extra early to speak with me. I mostly talked with Rachel, a volunteer from Britain (I'm guessing from her accent). She had a lot of helpful information, including the recommendation that I buy saris and wear those while I'm in India. That could be fun, but I might feel like a complete tool. We'll see. I also spoke briefly with the pastor, who has a huge vision and a lot going on. The kids screamed hello to me, and some other stuff I couldn't quite understand. This is going to be awesome.

India

2008-03-05T20:21:00.000-08:00

I have always been drawn to India for various reasons. This summer I'm getting a chance to go! My friend, George, has been planning a trip to an orphanage to teach English and I'm planning to go too. I will also be teaching English and hopefully helping out with medical issues. The details haven't entirely been worked out, but I think we'll go for 6 weeks or so. Things have really been working out. My new job has agreed to let me start Sept. 2. I'm super excited/a little scared. I have a recurring nightmare about public bathrooms, and I had an Indian version of the dream the other night. This will be interesting.

Oh yeah! In other news I have a new job lined up in Wichita. I think I'm really gonna like it and I get to work with one of my good friend from pharmacy school, Corey AKA CMac. The VA in Wichita is hiring a bunch of new pharmacists; I think 6 or 8. They are starting up a new pharmacist-run metabolic disease state management clinic. We will mostly see patients for diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure. I get to prescribe! (little nervous about that). Plus, since it's for the federal government the benefits are hard to beat. So, in the almost month since I last posted, there's been a lot going on.

Currency Exchange

2008-02-12T14:58:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I had an interview in Connecticut. On Sunday I took the Chinatown bus to Penn Station in New York. Then, I walked to Times Square and took the subway to Grand Central Station. From there I took a train to New Haven. It was a fun little adventure.

After the interview I felt how I always feel after a day of interviewing: exhausted. I was on the platform waiting for the train when I decided to quench my thirst with a bottle of water. I had only a $20 bill and some change. Water was $1.25. Then I noticed that the machine takes credit cards. "Sweet!" I thought to myself, "What are the odds of that?" But for whatever reason it wouldn't read my credit card. Or my debit card either. That's when a stranger who had been watching me struggle came and offered to give me a dollar. I looked in my wallet and asked her, "Do you ever go to Philadelphia? I have a subway token I can give you." She graciously accepted it in exchange for the dollar and said, "Now I will have to go to Philadelphia!" She seemed tickled. It was a lovely moment.

Discussions And Art

2008-02-07T18:55:00.000-08:00

This is how I spend my Thursday nights. There is a group of about 10 of us that meets for dinner, discussion, and art. It is glorious.

Pink Beans

2008-01-30T18:40:00.001-08:00

Didn't realize until today that "pink" is a variety of bean. Hmm.

2008-01-23T09:14:00.001-08:00

If I were a clown, my name would be Jitters.

2008-01-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

Props to H-less for pointing me towards New Zealand's Flight of the Conchord.

Another Reason I Love Philadelphia

2008-01-10T15:34:00.000-08:00

Our new mayor, Michael Nutter (who I've always thought looks and sounds like a Muppet), was inaugurated this week. I hope he is less corrupt than the last guy. Here is a clip from his inaugural ball:

Love it.

New Year's Day Mummers Parade: Philadelphia's Mardi Gras

2008-01-01T20:59:00.000-08:00

Wikipedia article
Official site

I have heard the word "Mummers" tossed around from time to time, but had never really considered it until today. There is still a lot I don't understand. What I do know is that Philadelphia has a traditional, and unusual, parade each year on New Year's Day. Various clubs from around the city compete in different categories such as "Fancies". I had the pleasure of attending today. It was unlike any other parade I have ever seen, either in person or on TV. Example: There was a guy in the parade dressed as a wedge of cheese and smoking a cigarette. Why? Why not! Also, there were groups of characters that did not seem to go together in any way. We saw Mr. Potato Head next to a lighthouse and a furry-costumed guy with a big clock on his chest. Trippy. There were a lot of men in dresses, pirates, and the occasional political statement. Many of the people in the parade were drinking beer as they walked along. In fact, almost all of they guys in dresses had matching purses loaded with Miller. It was highly entertaining.

2008-01-01T18:42:00.000-08:00

Becca and I were both compelled to wear silver sequins to Mike & Marya's New Year's Eve Party.

Festivus For The Rest Of Us

2007-12-16T17:22:00.001-08:00

Last night, Laura and I hosted a Festivus Party. Seinfeld fans are probably familiar with the "holiday" that Frank Costanza supposedly invented after an ugly incident when buying a Christmas gift (a doll) for George.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQFLqMyo0fo

I was worried that we wouldn't have a good turnout because of forcasted snow. It only rained, and we had about 15 or 20 people. It was a lot of fun. There was a lot of food. Grievances were aired. Now I want to 1) Be better about getting my camera out, 2) Get a camera that takes better pictures, and 3) Have friends over more often.

Dave and Kate posing with the baby beers I purchased on accident. No wonder they were so cheap!

Monique talking while George is distracted by troll hair. Hmmm. Also pictured is the Festivus Pole. It is made of aluminum and has a high strength to weight ratio.

An unflattering shot of two pretty girls in person, Kate and Laura. Joe hides behind Laura as usual.

Me, Joe, Laura, Monique, Scott, Becca.

Brad, Melody, Shawn, Stephanie, Festivus Pole.

Monique and Becca chatting in the kitchen.

Dave. Monique, Shelby scavenging, Joe, Becca, Kate.

Dan, Melody, Shawn, Stephanie.

Monique, Laura, Joe.

Viva Las Vegas

2007-12-11T17:48:00.001-08:00

Most of the better photos are on Kate's camera. I look forward to her finding the cable that connects it to her computer.

This top will be recycled next Halloween.

In front of my decidedly purple poster.

Sometimes I feel like Brian is our babysitter.

Stylish Alternative Whites

2007-12-06T17:50:00.000-08:00

Last week in Las Vegas my co-residents and I enjoyed a nice meal at a steak house in the Paris casino. On of the sections of the wine menu was entitled Stylish Alternative Whites. "I like to think of myself as a stylish alternative white," I mused. Dinner was as delicious as it was expensive. Unfortunately for Laura, she got food poisoned from it. Overall, I enjoyed spending time with new "colleagues" (Kate has made it clear that we are not friends ;) ) and catching up with old friends. It was wonderfully exhausting.

Self Defense Class

2007-11-25T12:01:00.000-08:00

Just what I needed: more awkwardness in my life. Some time ago I signed up to the list-serv of a Jiu-Jitsu studio which sometimes has self-defense classes. Living by myself in Philadelphia, I thought attending such a class would be a good idea. Earlier this week I received an email offering a free "basic street self defense" class on Saturday. I forwarded the email to everyone I thought might be interested, but no one was able to make it because of the holiday. I decided to go by myself anyway. Because it was a self defense class, I was expecting to meet with a room full of women. I was wrong. In fact, I was the ONLY woman there. Everything was going well enough until the instructor decided to teach us how to get up from being pinned on the ground. He asked for a volunteer. I pretended not to hear. One of the guys offered. Phew. He asked the volunteer to lay on the mat, then proceeded to straddle him and pretend to punch him in the face. Then, he asked the volunteer to try to break free. It was really pathetic. The guy squirmed and squirmed but never got anywhere. Point proven, right? It's really hard to break loose from a grown man sitting on you and beating you senselessly. If only that were the end of the story.

One by one he went down the line repeating this exercise. I was the last one when he said to me, "Don't think you're getting out of this because you're a girl. Get over here." He then slapped the mat. I reluctantly surrendered. No, I could not break free. After this, he showed us a move that would get a person out of this situation. It involves a pelvic thrust. He then asked us to practice the technique with a partner for about 10 minutes. Luckily (?) my partner spoke little English. Awkward indeed.

P.S. Ryan- Beware. I learned some other moves to try out on you.

South Carolina

2007-11-14T15:14:00.000-08:00

This Veterans' Day weekend, I had the pleasure of joining Laura, Kate, and Kate's BF Dave for a roadtrip to Laura's hometown, Colombia, SC. Kate's Florida Gators played (and beat) Laura's Carolina Gamecocks. (Go Cocks!) We went tailgating then watched the game at a bar. The tailgating was a lot of fun as was hanging out with Laura's entertaining family. (Example: Laura's little bro's nickname is Rectum.) Now I can't stop talking with a fake Southern accent that sounds something like Mr. Garrison.

Two Things

2007-11-05T14:28:00.000-08:00

1. If I were asked to name a band today, I would go with "Ears For Years". It occurred to me this morning and I just really like it.

2. Knee-highs are inherently unsexy. I was accused of wearing slutty stockings at work today. I argue that that isn't possible because: a) They are oatmeal colored and b) NOT stockings, knee highs. Fishnet or no. Also, the rest of my outfit was frumpy. It is one of my favorites.

Halloween In NYC

2007-10-28T16:59:00.001-07:00

Laura, her boyfriend Joe, and I spent Saturday night in Greenwich Village. It was good times. I'n not really sure what my costume is, but I got to recycle my graduation dress and sport a pink wig.

Laura's awesome costume: box of wine complete with REAL Franzia! It was a big hit.

Official Resident Photo

2007-10-25T07:54:00.000-07:00

From left: Laura from South Carolina, Kate from Philly but schooled in Florida, me, and KatIE from Philly.

OMG, You Guys!

2007-10-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

What a strange 12 hours I've had.

Last night, long story short, I lost on an important piece of paper. The consequences of losing this piece of paper would mean forfeiting $185 for a Pennsylvania law exam that I wouldn't be able to take. Eventually, I called work to see if anyone had a key to let me into my office. (Silly, I know) Fortunately someone did, but he was leaving in 15 minutes. I live 10 minutes away and made it. The paper was in my desk. Crisis averted. But it was after midnight by the time I got to sleep.

Fast forward to this morning. I took the exam, but don't have a feeling about whether I passed or not. We'll see. After I was done I decided to check out a flea market not far from the testing center. I was looking at a table of fabric when someone turned to me and said, "Get your paws off that!" Who was it? None other than Jay from Project Runway! He was the Season 1 winner, and my favorite contestant from any season.

Me: You're Jay, huh.
Jay: Yeah. That's pretty exciting, isn't it?
Me: Yeah, it actually kind of is.

Then I said some sort of obligatory fan thing.

Me: So, is your line out yet?
Jay: Not quite, but I will have some things on QVC soon.
Me: Cool. I like QVC.
Jay: Me too. I love QVC!
Me: I got this ring on QVC. (Almost true; I got it off Jewelry TV)
Jay: It's not Heidi Klum is it?
Me: No, unfortunately not.
Jay: Good, cause she kinda sucks. (Laughs. I smile)
Me: It was nice meeting you.
Jay: Nice meeting you too.

Then he turns to the woman selling the fabrics. He asks, "Do you know where this is from?" He holds up the quilt he was looking at. She saids, "Umm, a thrift store?" I wander onward.

Cheers

2007-10-15T14:04:00.000-07:00

Here's to my first research proposal submission!

Kate, I, and Katie pose in front of our enormous stack of paperwork which my giant head is obscuring.

2007-10-11T14:38:00.001-07:00

Kansas Vacation

2007-10-09T18:19:00.000-07:00

I forgot to get out my camera in KC and Lawrence. So I took all of these in Marysville. Mostly at the American Legion. It was soo much fun.

:(

2007-10-02T14:53:00.001-07:00

Surgery

2007-09-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

I will have the honor of scrubbing in for a surgery tomorrow. It will be an aortofemoral bypass. Very bloody; hope I can stomach it. Part of the reason I chose pharmacy is because of its relative bloodlessness. Obviously I will just be observing. My only jobs are to 1)stay out of the way, and 2)do NOT vomit. Should be fun! I'm excited.

Homecoming

2007-09-05T18:21:00.000-07:00

I'm coming home in a month! I am flying into KC on October 5 in the morning, and departing Monday the 8th in the afternoon. It will be a quick trip, but I plan to pack in as much as I can. Wanna hang out? I expect to spend some time at the T-bird and the Legion. I would like to catch a movie at Liberty Hall as well, but that might be too ambitious.

Robot Culinaire

2007-09-03T10:56:00.000-07:00

"Robot culinaire" is the French translation for "food processor". So says the box of my new KitchenAid. I am trying it out on this leisurely Labor Day. Here are two fantastic recipes I have discovered thus far:

Pesto (from Epicurious)

Makes about 1 1/3 cups.

Ingredients:
3 large garlic cloves
1/2 cup pine nuts
2 oz Parmigiano-Reggiano, coarsely grated (2/3 cup)
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 cups loosely packed fresh basil
2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

With food processor running, drop in garlic and finely chop. Stop motor and add nuts, cheese, salt, pepper, and basil, then process until finely chopped. With motor running, add oil, blending until incorporated.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Kalamata Olive Tapenade (from Food Network)

2 cups pitted Kalamata olives
2 tablespoons capers
3 anchovy fillets (I left these out)
Juice of one lemon
2 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon fresh thyme
1 tablespoon fresh oregano
1/2 cup of olive oil
Freshly ground black pepper

In a food processor, combine all the ingredients except the cherry tomatoes. Pulse until all ingredients are well combined. Season with freshly ground black pepper.

This is yummy on crusty bread.

Carnage

2007-08-26T17:04:00.000-07:00

Cosby Couch

2007-08-20T07:52:00.001-07:00

The sofa equivalent of a Cosby sweater propped against a dumpster

Present State of Apartment

2007-08-19T15:31:00.001-07:00

Niagara Falls - Canadian Side

2007-08-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

Afternoon/Evening Spent at the DMV

2007-08-14T18:08:00.000-07:00

I think a 4 hour, 18 minute wait is inhumane.

New, Sweet Ride

2007-08-12T15:48:00.001-07:00

I bought this 2006 Yamaha Vino 125 from a guy in Buffalo, NY on ebay. This weekend my truck and I will pick it up. Anyone care to join us? I could really use the company. It is about a 7 hr drive each way.

Before I found this auction, I went to a Yamaha shop and priced various scooters. I really liked this model, but decided that I didn't want to spend the money on a new one. I ended up paying about $600 out of pocket for the used one, and the insurance company paid the rest. I think I got a good deal especially considering that the book value is about $500 more that I paid.

This Vino is an upgrade from my Zuma. I like its European look. The Zuma is 50cc, so the Vino's top speed is 15-20mph faster. I will need to get a motorcycle license, so that should be fun. While I plan to avoid highways (duh), it will be nice to keep up easily on 45mph streets.

2007-08-05T15:26:00.001-07:00

Cool website I just discovered:

www.etsy.com

Sharkdog

2007-07-31T18:10:00.001-07:00

Meet Shelby!

2007-07-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

I adopted Shelby today from Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue. She is a 7 year old mix, and probably has some Sheltie or Collie in her. Now that she's home and settled in she is very, very mellow. However, we got off to a rough start today. She didn't want to get into my truck to leave the shelter. She was shaky and just laid on the ground on her back. I had to get help.

After leaving the kennel, I took her to Petsmart to buy some essentials. About 15 feet inside the store she took a huge dump on the floor. How embarrassing. Then on the way back to my apartment she got a lot carsick in my truck. Lastly, she wiped out on the steps up to my door. Her stubby little legs and 55 lb. body add up to "not so good with stairs." I'm hoping that she's just nervous and this isn't predictive of the future.

By the way SHE picked out that toy, not me. Seriously. It squeaks.

The Little Scooter That Could

2007-07-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Short version: stolen Monday, recovered today thanks to a maintenance guy and a teenage neighbor that cares.

I suppose that caring part is the silver lining. A neighbor that often sits on the corner noticed a couple kids with my scooter and let the maintenance man know. Mad props to "Garry"! Those kids did quite a bit of damage, as you can see, but I don't know yet what the bottom line is. I just hope it isn't totalled. The steering column is really jacked up and wiring cut. I worry that the ignition will need to be replaced. We'll see...

First Gray Eyebrow

2007-07-25T04:33:00.000-07:00

Pessimism says it won't be long until I'm pencilling them in.

Deja Vu?

2007-07-23T17:50:00.000-07:00

No. My scooter really did get stolen again. :(. It was raining this morning, so I drove to work. I left my scooter chained as usual to a tree in front of my apartment. When I got home it was gone. THE NERVE! My beloved scooter was stolen from my home in broad daylight.

Something is different this time, though. I have insurance. I plan to use the money to buy a nice bike and keep in inside my apartment. About five minutes after sharing this plan with Dad, I witnessed a girl on a bike getting creamed by a minivan. She flew several feet before landing hard and awkwardly. I immediately called an ambulance, but she didn't seem to be badly injured. Madness!

As if all of that weren't enough for one day, there is more news...Missy is engaged! Nate proposed over the weekend. Congratulations!

Decemberists Tonight

2007-07-15T14:23:00.001-07:00

I am excited to be seeing a fantastic concert tonight at the Mann Center. I have been wanting to see The Decemberists for some time. They are playing this tour with an orchestra, which is a huge bonus. I will be going with my new friend, Val, whom met her at church. I'm super psyched!!

2007-07-12T05:08:00.000-07:00

The fruitflies were coming from the bag of old Mexican candy.

I'm Bringing Blogging Back

2007-07-10T18:02:00.000-07:00

Hooray! Hooray? Yes, hooray for I now have internet access at home. And I'm paying for it like an adult. This means of course that I will be increasing my blogging frequency. As for other news... I am officially a pharmacist now! I passed the boards. So, that's exciting. I've got some time to settle into it. We'll be training for another couple of weeks. It's been a little boring so far, but will get better.

Philly has been treating me well but for the heat. They opened some hydrants today for the kids, and it was fun to see them playing. One kid sprayed me as I drove by. Brat.

Schedule

2007-06-28T09:16:00.001-07:00

Just a quickie update; I don't have internet yet in my apartment.

I do not start actually working until Monday, but I had orientation (YAWWWWNN!) a couple of days this week. Our residency director told us a little bit about our holiday/weekend schedules. It turns out that I will be getting ALL holidays off. This includes minor holidays like Columbus Day and Presidents' Day. In addition to that, I will never have to work the weekend before a Monday holiday. Yippee!! This means that I'll have plenty of 3-day weekends to show visitors around Philadelphia. I have already discovered a few weird and fun things to show you.

2007-06-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

I have arrived safely in Philadelphia. Moving in has been a bit of an ordeal, but not as bad as it could've been. I promise to update more when I get internet at my apartment. It turns out that I'm gonna have to pay for it. :(

Headed To Mexico!

2007-06-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

It has been awhile since I posted. I thought that no one read my blog anymore, but I stand corrected. There are still a couple of people out there who check it and whom I have disappointed with my lack of updates. Please accept my apologies.

There has been quite a bit going on with me lately. Yesterday I took my Kansas pharmacy law exam and tomorrow I will fly to Puerto Vallarta with Megan, Ro, and Marcie. We booked an all inclusive package and I for one plan on doing a lot of lounging on the beach. We rented a car and will do some exploring too. I'll be sure to post some pictures when we get back.

Next weekend I will go to Milford Lake with the fam and then pack up and move after that. Thems my plans.

I Finally Graduated!

2007-05-25T10:03:00.000-07:00

It was a fantastic whirlwind weekend. My favorite part was being around so many friends and family. Of course it was also nice to have that enormous feeling of accomplishment. The fru-its of my labor so to speak. Thirdly, I received many lovely notes and gifts. Of special interest here is a gift from Meghan:

I don't think you can read it, but it is engraved "Cakes, Pharm.D" and I love it. Thanks to everyone who made the weekend special.

Super Fantastic!

2007-05-10T06:24:00.000-07:00

Mom and I went to Philadelphia on Monday and got back last night. Our primary objective was to find an apartment. I found one I like and put an application in on it! It is being renovated right now, so everything will be completely new by move-in. New carpet, tile, appliances. Plus there are a couple of places to chain my beloved scooter. Mad props to Dad for being a mechanical genius and fixing my scooter. It is as good as it ever was. I went on a long joyride last night.

Besides apartment hunting, we had a little time for fun (not enough). The King Tut exhibition is in Philadelphia; its last stop before heading to Europe. It wasn't exactly what we expected (not much from King Tut himself) but we enjoyed it. We got to see enough to know what we want to do next time in Philadelphia. The Reading Terminal Market is very cool. Next time we will have to spend more time there.

Most interesting meal: Afghani. Mom has the best ideas. We got carry-out from "Kabul" and ate it in the park. Delicious! It tastes something like a cross between Middle Eastern and Indian. Highly recommended.

Reunion

2007-04-25T13:42:00.000-07:00

My stolen scooter has been returned to me!!

But as you can see from the picture it has taken quite a bit of abuse, the poor thing.

Basically, the Wyandotte police found the scooter 2 days after I reported it stolen (April 5). They didn't tell us they had found it until the 21st. It had been towed and was being stored to the tune of $20/day bringing my total bill to $422 for towing and storage. $422 I was responsible for paying, which I think it BS. THANKFULLY, the scooter was with towing company is owned by my good buddy Megan's family, not the towing company listed in the letter. Silly police. Shout outs are in order, as Megan's family cut me a deal. You rock, H-less!! Let me know if you ever need a favor.

As for the scooter, it needs a new ignition primary (it was ripped out and hot wired). Also: a new brake lever, mirrors, battery cover, and some bolts. The rest of the damage is cosmetic as far as I can tell. I have ordered parts and Dad will work on it next week. The real test will be to see if it starts or not after he puts the new ignition in. I'm am worried that the thieves might have blown up the engine.

I called the detective handling my case to ask if they had a suspect and if there are any legal avenues I could pursue. He did not know that the scooter had been found. Wow. Shouldn't he be the first to know? This experience has been really enlightening.

I will scoot again...

Sean Lennon Tonight

2007-04-20T14:25:00.001-07:00

Meghan and I are psyched to see Sean Lennon at the Grand Emporium tonight. Yes, he is the son of John and Yoko. But more importantly (as far as I'm concerned, MEGHAN) he is a great musician in his own right. His latest album, Friendly Fire, is fantastic. I have often said that a mark of an excellent album is that my favorite songs change frequently. Friendly Fire has that quality. Today I like "Spectacle" and "Dead Meat" best. My biggest hope for the concert is that all the instruments on the album are also touring. A pet peave of mine is when bands strip the tour down to basic instruments like guitar, drums, and bass. Often the more unusual instruments are what draw me in.

Bummer, Dude

2007-04-06T14:43:00.000-07:00

I came home last night to discover that my scooter had been stolen. That which I had long feared came to be. At least my scooter and I had three wonderful years together. Sniff, sniff. On the upside, the police think they know who stole it. They have surveillance footage of someone stealing a truck with a scooter (possibly my scooter?) in the back. The irony is that I've been looking at apartments in Philadelphia and wondering in which neighborhoods I would be the least likely to get my scooter stolen.

Moving to Philadelphia!

2007-03-21T06:23:00.000-07:00

For those who've not yet heard, I got matched to a residency program at the VA in Philly! I am totally excited. This is the first year they will have a pharmacy resident in ambulatory care (outpatient clinics), so I'm hoping that means I can do whatever I want. I will start around the first of July and will love to have visitors as soon as I'm settled in!

2007-03-19T18:48:00.000-07:00

Imagine my surprise when a ridiculously tall guy accidentally bumped me in the head with his elbow.

2007-03-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

Ethiopian dinner with Mike and Malcolm. I can honestly say it was the strangest dining experience EVER, and not because of the food. The food was fantastic. The couple at the table next to us was...interesting.

2007-03-14T15:06:00.000-07:00

The Vietnam Memorial

2007-03-14T15:04:00.000-07:00

I've got the Washington Monument in my hand.

2007-03-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

Saw a snowman; wanted it dead.

2007-03-14T15:00:00.000-07:00

I showed that snowman who's boss.

2007-03-14T14:58:00.000-07:00

Baltimore's bustling Lexington Market. I would have liked it more if it smelt less like fish. However, at a restaurant next door I ate the best crabcake EVER.

For Missy:

2007-03-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

What is a narwhal? See above. A poster of Narwhals at the Dental Museum in Baltimore. It was interesting museum and I was just nerdy enough to enjoy it.

2007-03-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

In front of Baltimore's Inner Harbor, a very nice area.

A Couple Pics

2007-02-26T22:03:00.000-08:00

Awesomely bad t-shirt from DC. I think it's just as bad (er, fantastic) as the one I got in Las Vegas. What it lacks in glitter it makes up for with its message and bad clip art. Good eye Mike!

Speaking of bad art...I went to the Museum of Bad Art near Boston. Here is my favorite piece:
Actually I just realized that I deleted it and many of my other pictures by accident. I'm gonna go cry now. I will post more pictures tomorrow.

David Hasselhoff Has Done It Again

2007-02-19T17:36:00.000-08:00


I submit for your review "Jump in my Car," a cheesetastic new music video from The Hoff. I wonder how serious he is.

Another Roadtrip With Missy

2007-02-11T09:15:00.000-08:00

'Twas good times. I'm been putting off writing this post for whatever reason, but yes, the trip was a success. From Nostalgiaville USA to Ozarkland, to the art museum to the interview itself the trip went well. The only glitch was when I shot myself in the foot by being late to the interview. In my defence, I was on time to the location I understood I was to be according to the directions. Alas it was not the right place and I was 15-20 min. late. Ouch. It is especially frustrating because I am generally puntual.

I HIGHLY recommend that anyone going to St. Louis to visit the City Museum. It isn't really a museum in the traditional sense. I call it a "dream factory". There must be something to that because the night after we went there Missy dreamt that she was inside a dinosaur. What's not to love?!?

I have posted many pictures of our adventures on Flickr. You can look at my photos without signing up, but it's kind of tricky. My name on there is "thatweirdgrrl" if you want to find them by doing a member search. Here's a teaser:

Bad ass Missy smoking a candy cigarette style outside Nostalgiaville USA.

Outside The Circus At City Museum

2007-02-09T09:12:00.000-08:00

What I've Been Up To

2007-02-02T17:14:00.000-08:00

I apologize for lately being even more self-absorbed than usual. I have been obsessing about residencies, travel, and other related obsessions and have subjected many of you to long "conversations" about it all. Many thanks for putting up with it. Particularly Mom. Thanks.

So after the big meeting in December I decided to apply to 5 residency programs all of which are at VA (Veteran's Affairs) hospitals. I was offered, and I accepted, interviews at all of them. Two weeks ago I flew to Cleveland for my first interview. It was an excellent program and all of the people were very nice. They seem like a good group to work with. I was impressed with the facility, too. The interview went well; very well considering that it was my first one. However, I don't really see myself moving to Cleveland. I'd really like to go further east.

Tomorrow Mimi and I are road-tripping to St. Louis and I am very excited about it. I have never been there but Missy has. We will go to the Arch and do whatever else we want to do this weekend and I will interview on Monday. I will try to post some pictures when I get back.

Then later in the month I have a big trip planned. I will interview at Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore and be gone for almost 2 weeks. Very exciting. Mad props to Mike for letting me crash with him for part of it. Mad, mad props indeed. Making it even more fun, Missy will be flying in to DC too! Can't wait.

After all of that, each student and each program will make a list of where they'd be willing to go (or who they'd be willing to accept) in rank order. That will be plugged into a computer and on March 21 at approx. 10 am I will find out if I matched anywhere. Be sure I am anxious to know.

Travel Tip

2007-02-02T10:13:00.000-08:00

I received and used some wise advice yesterday. Booking hotels through Priceline.com can really save you money. My example: booked a 2 1/2 star hotel in downtown Baltimore for $60/night. The usual price is $162. I thought my offer was insulting, but they accepted it!

The Compact Disc

2007-01-25T14:23:00.000-08:00

Is it too early to be nostalgic for CDs? I feel a twinge of shame as I pull out my portable CD player in a crowed airport; shunned by those with IPods. To me, there is something more substantial about playing a CD; like it is more real. I get the same feeling when I put on a vinyl record. Sure it’s bulkier, but I love that those tracks are fixed on that disc. Fixed in time. They will not be deleted. SillyP Style lives on.

Sweet Melissa

2007-01-14T19:19:00.000-08:00

Hey Mimi! You are in fact sweet, but this post is about an herb: Melissa officinalis AKA lemon balm. The Slovenians at the pharmacy I worked in this summer sent me home with a few herbal teas, one of which was lemon balm. I had not yet tried it until last night. It was cold and icy outiside, so I decided to settle in for the evening with a good book. (More on that later, I plan to finish it tonight.)

So I was reading and sipping my yummy cup of tea. A little bit later I came to a good stopping point. I sat up, put the empty cup down, and noticed a strange feeling. I felt the nicest kind of sleepiness and a general sense of well-being. It was a nice little mellow. Lemon balm is my new favorite tea.

Some research taught me that lemon balm is used for all sorts of things including anxiety (big surprise!), insomnia, Alzheimer's, ADHD, and as an antiviral.

For the pharmacy geeks: compounds in lemon balm agonize both muscarinic and nicotinic acetycholine receptors in the CNS. That explains its use in Alzheimer's and its side effect of runny nose, but not its use as an anxiolytic. Maybe it hits the benzodiazepine receptor too.

Perfume Shopping

2006-12-28T15:02:00.000-08:00

Yesterday to celebrate the rare occasion of coinciding days off Ro, Mimi, and I went after-Christmas shopping at Oak Park Mall. On my shopping list was a certain perfume I originally discovered this summer: Hugo Boss Pure Purple. (Yes, it's for women.) Our first stop was Macy's where I was accosted by a saleswoman. She told me that Pure Purple had been discontinued, then recommended another fragrance based on what types of scents I told her I liked. She did well. I loved the smell of the one she directed me to, but I could NEVER buy it. It was "original Paris". That's right, I like the smell of Paris Hilton's perfume.

Does it make me shallow of that I won't buy a fragrance based on its celebrity "designer"?
No, it make me anti-shallow.

P.S. I found Pure Purple at another store and it smells just as wonderfully as I remember.

Wiggle Room

2006-12-18T10:35:00.000-08:00

I returned to work at the hospital on Friday for the first time in about a month. I had missed one of my scheduled weekends when I went to California. I work in the IV room with a pharmacist that comes and goes. It can be boring so I invested in a cheap little boom box to keep me entertained. Problem is, sometimes I get TOO entertained. I tend to break out in dance, and when I do my daily mopping the mop becomes a microphone. "Solo dance party" I call it. It's not really a problem because I get my work done and no one's ever really noticed. Except Jae, a 60ish Korean pharmacist; he once caught me busting a move. But then I once overheard him singing along to Cindi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." I figure we're even.

Back to Friday. I put on Jamiroquai and jumped right back into work as usual despite have been gone for so long. I failed to notice that there were four new cameras strategically placed throughout the pharmacy and that one was in the IV room. There was a new monitor at the front of the pharmacy where everyone else works. You can piece the rest together. Eventually the snickering got loud enough that I could hear it. They still tease me and I'm sure will continue to for some time.

2006-12-17T06:58:00.000-08:00

I very nearly hit a kid in the Walmart parking lot yesterday. He was literally wearing camouflage.

Mad TV

2006-12-16T09:05:00.000-08:00

For those interested, I'm pretty sure that tonight's Christmas special will have most of what we saw at the taping. My favorite is the awkward stand-up comedy performed by Krista. Again: tonight, Fox, 10pm central.

California Pics

2006-12-09T11:14:00.000-08:00

We did A LOT of fun things in the Los Angeles area. We went to Hollywood, saw the walk of fame, went to the Chinese Theater, ate gelato, saw the Universal Studios City Walk, saw a transvestite dressed as Paris Hilton, went to a Swap Meet, walked around Long Beach, and lounged by the hotel pool.

Also, we were on Mad TV in the audience. We even got to be extras on a sketch about the Tyra Show!! It is all about being in the right place at the right time. Maybe some of what we saw taping will be on tonight. Keep your eyes peeled. New episodes air on Fox at 10pm Central on Saturdays. If you see a shot of the whole audience, we are almost exactly in the center and I am wearing a green t-shirt.

Ro with our rented HHR.

2006-12-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

Movie premier at the Chinese Theater

2006-12-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

2006-12-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Paola at the Swap Meet

2006-12-09T11:09:00.001-08:00

Outside Taqueria Guadalajara. Mmmm.

2006-12-09T11:09:00.000-08:00

Embarassing picture of Matt

2006-12-09T11:07:00.000-08:00

Congratulations Jariat!

2006-12-09T11:06:00.000-08:00

She too won a national award. The KU class of 2007 is solid.

Congrats to Paola and Jill!

2006-12-09T11:04:00.000-08:00

They placed in the top 10 NATIONALLY at the Clinical Skills Competition. Way to represent! (Also makes me feel better about them kicking my & Corey's butts)

Jill, Ro, and PP at Long Beach

2006-12-09T11:02:00.000-08:00

The strangest dining experience EVER

2006-12-09T11:01:00.000-08:00

Jill lounging poolside

2006-12-09T11:00:00.000-08:00

With Chuck Norris at the Wax Museum

2006-12-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

The Bee Gees!

2006-12-09T10:58:00.000-08:00

Christopher Walken!

2006-12-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

In front of the Chinese Theater

2006-12-09T10:55:00.000-08:00

Sleepy Ro

2006-12-09T10:53:00.000-08:00

Guess Who's Back?

2006-12-08T15:17:00.000-08:00

Is that the right who's/whose? I'm never sure. Anyway, I have safely arrived back in KC. California was a great time. Perhaps I will post some pictures. EVERYTHING went swimmingly. I shared a hotel room with Ro, Paola, and Jill, and we got along exceptionally well. Great, even. It almost makes me with I had roommates.

The meeting was a bit overwhelming, but not as much as it could've been. Going last year was good preparation. I got to wear my suits and talk to a bunch of residency programs. This residency thing is a long process,but it is going smoothly so far. Also, I got a job offer from my old boss in Nebraska. It is nice to have a plan B if I don't match with one of my choice residencies.

Next post: fun stuff from Cali

I'm Off To Sunny California

2006-11-30T19:41:00.001-08:00

Conveniently just after the winter's first snow. I got to watch it fall, and now I get to leave it behind. For a week anyway. Tomorrow morning, before the buttcrack of dawn, I am flying to Anaheim with Ro, Paola, and Jill. We will go to the big Midyear Meeting (the same one I went to last year in Vegas), we will share one hotel room, and we will hopefully watch a taping of The Price Is Right. Good times guaranteed. My goal is to talk with people from each of the residency programs I am interested in and get a feel for where I would best fit. Wish me well!