Life of a Med School Wife

Ridiculously Simple? I think not

2010-08-20T18:13:00.000-07:00

What do you think of when you see this picture:

A. Children's Book (1)
B. Cartoon from a newspaper
C. Mr. MedSchool's latest art work

Answer:

None of the above.

It's Mr. MedSchool's Microbiology book. Seriously (2). Although it has a whimsical and charming cover, it also makes false claims. Even after skimming intensely studying this book, Microbology is still not ridiculously easy. It's not even remotely easy. In fact, it's still hard.

Cute pictures do not make up for false claims.

1. Don't worry I haven't let the Sam's ad go to my head
2. Come on. Mr. MedSchool's artwork is much better than this...

Sam's Club is Conspiring Against Me

2010-08-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

So it's school time again, which means back-to-school shopping. Unfortunately no new school clothes for me, just school supplies. So I begin to scour the newspaper ads for sales on paper, pens, binders and the usual.

Unfortunately, in my search, I received this wonderful ad sent to me in the mail:

So what worried me was not that I forgot to pick up cereal or paper towels but that top headline: "Mom's back-to-school stock-up."

I understand how this marketing works. They purchase lists of people in certain areas of certain ages. Apparently, I now fall into the "mom" age, and not just 'I had a baby last month' age but 'my child is old enough to be in school' age. Great! Not only is my mother continually pushing for a grandchild but apparently Sam's Club is too. Super .. Here's to another school year.

Peanut Butter Amazingness

2010-08-17T17:27:00.000-07:00

I think that peanut butter and chocolate are perhaps the best combination ever created and will eat anything constructed of this concoction. Every summer my mother makes a peanut butter pie, which is to die for. Unfortunately this summer, we didn't get to see my parents, and I missed out on the pie experience. Due to this misfortune, I decided to try my hand at this pie with a few twists of my own.

The result was glorious, an amazingly peanut butter and chocolate explosion.

Reeses peanut butter cups, chocolate and peanuts mmmm...

Yum .. Here's the secret to the deliciousness:

Peanut Butter Amazingness

2 cups chocolate graham cracker crumbs
1 stick of butter, melted
8 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tbsp sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 large Reeses Peanut Butter Cups
1 12 oz bag of miniature Reeses (chopped)
1/4 cup chopped peanuts
Chocolate sauce

Mix graham cracker crumbs and melted butter until moist. Press into bottom of 8" spring form pan (lined with parchment) to form a crust. Stick 8 whole Reeses Cups facing outward onto the sides of the spring form plan.

Mix cream cheese, powdered sugar and peanut butter until combined. Whip cream with 2 tbsp of sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into peanut butter mixture, until smooth. Fold in half of the bag of chopped miniature Reeses. Pour mixture on top of graham crust. Top with remaining chopped Reeses and peanuts. Then drizzle chocolate sauce on top.

But don't enjoy yet.. you need to freeze it for at least 2 hours. It can be hard but you can resist. I have faith in you.

Adventures in Hammering

2010-08-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

So it has been just under 4 weeks of Project Bathroom and have now a a floor, walls, paint and a sink. To advance our project, Mr. MedSchool enlisted my help the other evening. However, that's not how the evening began.

After a particularly long day at work, I arrived home around 7pm to find Mr. MedSchool had already begun dinner (salmon with grilled asparagus (1)). After a wonderful dinner and a few glasses of wine, I sit in my big, comfy chair to relax for the evening. However, my relaxation was abruptly interrupted when Mr. MedSchool asked if I could help him for a few minutes on the bathroom. Being the loving (but definitely not handy) wife, I agreed.

So I walk into the bathroom and Mr. MedSchool hands me a hammer and asks me to tack up some wall covering. Sure, I can do this. I mean I have hammered things before ... at some point in my life .. I guess.

Turns out that hammering heavy duty nails into studs is a little different than hammering a nail into a wall for a picture .. particularly after you've had 2 glasses of wine (2). I take the first swing and nail (3) my thumb.

Hammer: 1
Mrs. MedSchool: 0

After a dramatic pause, I continue with the hammering. Unfortunately, I am finding it difficult to hit the nails straight into the studs (4). Mr. MedSchool tries to help me by holding the nails but that was a bad idea (5).

Hammer: 2
Mr. MedSchool: 0

After 2 hours of fighting with the hammer, about 20 bent nails and 2 sore thumbs, we finally got all of the wall covering up and were off to bed. However, I did learn a valuable lesson from this little adventure. Anytime I believe that Mr. MedSchool wants me to help with a task, I should start drinking and then he'll think twice about how helpful I'll actually be.

1. Handy man, doctor and a good cook, what more could a girl ask for?
2. Good choice on food Mr. MedSchool but bad call on the wine
3. No pun intended
4. Or hit the nail at all for that matter
5. That's what he gets for intoxicating me and then asking me to work ...

Renovation Continuation

2010-08-05T17:38:00.000-07:00

Good News: No mold!

Bad News: The cost of the new floor was an extra $400 (for two hours of work) (1)

Worse News: It's been two weeks (2) and my bathroom still looks like this:

To make matters worse, I loose my ~~workhorse~~ husband to school starting next week. So we have approximately 3 workdays to get tile up and toilet in (3). This plan has one fatal flaw. In order to get everything done ... I have to help.

We'll see how that goes.

1. After hearing this information, Mr. MedSchool thought for a hot minute that he might try another career. After a swift kick in the pants, this decision was changed.
2. On a one week project, mind you
3. Yeah there's actually a lot more to it than that but I'm a sucker for alliterations

Baby Jeans

2010-07-29T18:35:00.000-07:00

So I am sure that many of you have seen the new Huggies commercial for the designer diapers. At first, I thought that these were a joke but then I found this at the store.

Although many people have berated this product because seriously, why do you need denim diapers? I think that it is awesome! I mean parents are so busy now a days that, skipping a step of putting on clothes just makes things easier and they look so darn cute!

Beating the Heat

2010-07-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

Living in the South, I have had my share of steamy summers. It is normal for the highs to be in the 90s. However, this summer has been particularly brutal. After 4 days of 100+ heat, it was time to make ice cream! Fortunately we have an ice cream maker (1).

Mr. MedSchool and I aren't happy with just plain vanilla. We like to give our ice cream a little something extra. One of our favorite ice cream shops in Big City South use to make all sorts of crazy ice cream flavors like animal cracker, candy corn and (our favorite) red velvet cake! One day we decided, we can make that. So we made vanilla ice cream in our ice cream maker and crumbled red velvet cake in it. Then we swirled cream cheese frosting in it (2) and voila!

Perfection! The recipe is below so buy yourself an ice cream maker, buy some premade red velvet cake (3) and frosting and get started!

Ice Cream
Mix 1/2 Gallon of Half and Half
   1 pt of heavy cream
   1 1/2 cups of sugar
   1 tsp of salt
   1 tbsp vanilla
in ice cream maker canister and begin to make ice cream (4). When the ice cream begins to get solid (15 to 20 minutes), mix in 2 to 3 slices of red velvet cake (roughly chopped). Then continue to let the ice cream maker do its thing. One the ice cream maker stops, put half of ice cream in a tuber ware dish. Then spoon dollops of cream cheese icing onto ice cream. Cover with the remaining ice cream. Then spoon more cream cheese icing onto the ice cream. Swirl with knife and either freeze or eat!

Enjoy!

1. Standard wedding gift for Southerners
2. Clutch
3. Or make it, if you are adventurous
4. You will also need ice cream salt and ice to do this. Note if you have never made ice cream ... look it up online first.

Restroom Renovation

2010-07-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

One Week... that was all it was suppose to take. Now that Mr. MedSchool has been out of the classroom for a significant amount of time, he is getting antsy to start a new project. Thus he came up with the brilliant idea to destroy renovate our bathroom. He guestimated estimated that everything would take 1 week (1).

This started out innocently with a few trips to Home Depot to look at tile and toilets (2). Then words like "sledge hammer" and "demolition" started to be thrown around. Finally D Day (3) came around, and I went to work, leaving Mr. MedSchool to work. By the time I came home our bathroom looked like this:

So as you can see the demolition was going well. ... I mean we have no walls ... literally. It took Mr. MedSchool another few days to tear down all of the tile (4), leaving a lovely thin layer of dust throughout the house that won't go away no matter how many times I dust. However, the greatest surprise came with Mr. MedSchool pulled up our shower floor. It seemed that the floor underneath was somewhat non existent. The wood underneath the tile had basically rotted, meaning it too has to be replaced. On another awesome note, rotted wood means a good chance of mold (5). So basically we cannot do anything until the plumber comes on Tuesday, making this short one week project turn into an involved three week project.

Check back next week for Adventures in Mold!

1. Yeah I didn't buy that for a minute
2. Who knew there were so many toilet options
3. Demolition Day
4. That's three days out of the week, only 4 more to go
5. It just keeps getting better!

Adventures in Flying

2010-07-14T18:34:00.000-07:00

I had a travel adventure yesterday. After being in meetings for work over the last two days (1), I was headed back to Small Town South. My travel began as I arrived at the airport early and was able to snag a spot on the flight out before mine. Success! (2) Then we find out that this flight is delayed 1 hour due to bad weather in a connecting city … Okay not a huge deal, we are still taking off before my original flight.

So I board, happy that I am travel savvy enough to successfully catch an early flight out and win the race to get my luggage on before all of the overhead bins are full (3). Success #2! Once about 1/3 of the plane boards, we notice that no one else is getting on … great. Then the voice on the overhead informs us that we will again be delayed for 2 hours. We have the choice to stay on the aircraft, or get off. Seeing as that I have my dinner, computer, magazines and sky mall (4), I sprawl out on my row of seats and began to take a quick cat nap.

After about an hour and a half, they begin to reboard the plane. Everyone gets on fairly quickly but the flight door remains open … After 20 minutes everyone in their seats, we are alerted by the pilot that the flight is again delayed. 45 minutes pass. We are ready to push back from the gate … finally. We slowly … slowly make our way down the tarmac. We are going at a snail’s pass, barely moving. Actually wait, we aren’t moving at all. Just as I begin to think that the pilot is stalling for the inevitable, he comes over the speakers, “We’re sorry to inform you that they have stopped all flights in and out of the airport (again), and frankly we don’t know when we will get in the air.” (5)

After an hour or so, the people around me begin to plot mutiny. “What’s the new law on how long you can hold passengers on a plane?" "It's like they've got us as prisoners in here." "Seriously they aren't going to even give us water and snacks?" (6) Finally we get the go ahead to take off at 11:30 - 4.5 hours after our scheduled takeoff and 40 minutes after the last connecting flight to Small Town South left the big city airport.

We wearily arrive at 1:30am. Noting that there are in fact no flights out for the rest of the night (7), I blow past passengers bedding down for the night and the Delta counter, where there are 2 Delta employees and about 100 tired, angry customers. I am only a few hours drive away from Small Town South so I head towards the rental car area. After visiting every rental car counter, I find there are no cars left (8). With no flight, no car, and no bed - desperation sets in. It's 2am and I begin to call people I know in the city. Call one -answer. Call two - no answer (9), etc. I begin to come to terms with the fact that I will be up all night guarding my belongings from the creepy airport people who are wandering around, eying everyone's luggage. Then I get a text back from Call # 1 "Did you mean to call me?" I immediately call back and beg my new heroine to pick me up at the airport and let me sleep on her on her futon for a few hours.

By the grace of God, she agreed and by 3 am, I was snuggled in her futon. 3.5 hours later, I was up again. Ready to catch my rescheduled flight at 8:30am. The most wonderful friend ever's husband dropped me off at the train station on the way to his work that I could get to the airport (T - 1 hour 25 minutes to flight). Unfortunately, I greatly underestimated the time. What I thought would take 30 minutes was more like 50 minutes (T - 35 minutes). Once I got to the airport, I realized that everyone that didn't get out last night was trying to get through security that morning, at one time (T - 30 minutes). (10) I get through security with no issues and knock over a poor older lady getting on the train to the terminal (11) (T - 10 minutes). I hop off at the terminal and began to run. Only 30 gates stand between me and my flight (12). I run up to the counter to find that my flight is again delayed (13).

To wrap things up after a minor mechanical issue, which turned into major mechanical issue (14), we switched planes. It's now 2 hours after we were suppose to take off, and we have a new gate, a new plane but not a new take off time. In fact we don't have a take off time at all. Apparently the flight attendant is injured and they are having trouble finding another. Now, I know I don't work in this industry but don't you think that you could find an extra flight attendant in say .. an airport?

After another hour, they find a flight attendant and board the team. A short hour long flight and I am home, exactly 12 hours after I was suppose to be. On this flight adventure, I did learn a few things though:

Know people in every major city that are liable to be awake or answer their phones at odd hours
Be prepared to buy that person a large, expensive bottle of wine
Don't be afraid to knock over old people to make your flight
Heels are a horrible idea for an airport, always pack sandals
Get a good nights sleep before you fly anywhere because you never know when you may have to stay up all night to guard your luggage from creepers in an airport

1. Which went well, thank you for asking

2. Foreshadowing

3. Mr. MedSchool does not understand the importance of being on the plane first but after having my carry on checked on too many times b/c of too much luggage in the overhead bins , I am ruthless..

4. Cubicle missile launcher pg 86 … awesome!

5. Yeah, I’m not kidding, he said that. Great now we have a pissed pilot too

6. PS Lady, if you ask the flight attendants nicely, they will give you water, just not booze - they aren't allowed to give that out if the plane is stopped on the tarmac - major bummer

7. Unless I had a ticket to Seoul, Korea

8. Except for the 100 that I can clearly see in the parking lot across from the counter

9. Not that this is surprising because it is 2am and we aren't as young as we use to be

10. Printed boarding pass the night before I left the airport to skip the ticket counter - Did I say savvy traveler?

11. Take no prisoners ... make the flight

12. Yeah, may not seem like a lot but when you are dodging 7 and 70 year olds, it takes its toll

13. Not happening again .. no more delays ... argh....

14. Big oops by the Delta Mechanics team

It's A MedSchool Summer

2010-07-05T18:30:00.000-07:00

So Summer is in full swing around here and the soon to be second years (and significant others) are celebrating their last summer of freedom. As I discovered from my third year wife friend, it's all down hill from here. At this time next year Mr. MedSchool will be held up in our ~~guest bedroom~~ "office" studying for The Boards (1). Then after the boards ... rotations start. Mr. MedSchool could end up anywhere in the state for rotations and where terms like "on call" become a realty. Awesome.

However, this summer is different. With the no studying, all nighters or anatomy labs, the soon to be second years are taking advantage of the free time. Although several of our friends are taking this time to travel the world (2), lots of us are left in Small Town South to enjoy the summer which is not at all short of events. In fact their is an event every night of the week. Here's our normal week:

Monday: Mexican Night
Tuesday: Bowling (All you can bowl for $5) (3)
Wednesday: Trivia (4)
Thursday: Minor League Baseball - $1 beers
Friday: "Going Out" (5)
Saturday: Cooking out
Sunday: Church and Rest

We only have one more month of glory left before we are back to the grind.

1. Ba Bu Bummmmm (ominous chimes)
2. Just a tad jealous
3. We basically have the place to our selves if it weren't for the hormoned crazed teens ... seriously go to your 1998 Civic if you want to make out ... no one at the bowling alley wants to see that ...except for the creepy child molester guy in the corner
4. Unfortunately, we are not good, seeing as that none of the questions are on Anatomy of the Human Body, pharmacology, biochem or fashion (yeah the last one is me)
5. If you can call our 2 decent bars that

Getting Handy

2010-07-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

So on our day off from the 4th, we decided to get a little crafty. We recently bought a beautiful new dining room set (1). The wood was in good condition. However the flowered cushions (2), looked ~~horrible~~ a tad bit dated. Mr. MedSchool, the Handyman himself, decided, we could fix these ourselves (3).

So we trek to Hobby Lobby to pick out new cushion fabric, sans flowers. Once we arrive home Mr. Medschool pulls out the tool kit and begins to take the chair apart (4).

First we unscrewed the base from the seats

Then we took the old fabric off of the cushion and bottom board and wrapped them in the new fabric. Then we took our handy dandy staple gun (5), and stapled the fabric to the bottom board.

Soon Voila, a beautiful new chair (6).

Now only 5 more to do.

1. Thank God for Craig's List
2. What great style we had in 1995
3. And I begin looking on Craig's List for more chairs b/c the chances of us having chairs with cushions after this event is over is slim
4. It's okay, I found a set of 4 on Craig's List already ...
5. Because it wouldn't be a project, if we didn't have to buy a new tool
6. And 0 broken chair legs

I'm A Real Doctor Now

2010-02-15T18:19:00.000-08:00

So I got a text message the other day that read, “I just got my medical kit. It is awesome. I feel like a real doctor now.”

This all started about a month ago when Mr. MedSchool came home and told me that he had to unexpectedly drop $800. Great, what could have broken (1)? Did we have to fix all the pipes under the house or something? Nope. Mr. MedSchool had to purchase his medical kit. This kit was full of toys medical tools like an othalmoscope (2), tuning forks (3), reflex hammer (4) and stethoscope (5).

Well last week the kit came in and when I arrive home Mr. MedSchool had already given himself a full exam. He then proceeded to sit on the couch and listen to his heart, his stomach, his head, the TV and me through his stethoscope. Then hit himself repeatedly with his reflex hammer and laugh after each time. However he couldn’t look into his own ear or eye (6). Because of this inability, I became the subject. Don’t fear, my heart sounds find and my reflexes work. However, I apparently have very black eardrums, and I we’re not sure about my eyes as I cannot keep them open when a bright light is shined in it – particularly when the “doctor” can’t see so he gets as close as he can and takes way too long to look.

1. And how did you do it?

2. Thing Doctor uses to look in your ears and eyes

3. Tests hearing and stuff like that

4. Like the one that the doctor uses to hit your knee with

5. Yeah, you should totally know that one

6. Although I wouldn’t put it past him to have tried in the mirror.

You Have to Sign a Waiver for What?

2010-02-13T18:38:00.000-08:00

Birthday excitement! We received my nephew's birthday party invitation yesterday. There was a waiver included. Like for our safety... we have to sign a waiver ... for the 5 year old's birthday party. This should be fun.

Disclaimer: We are going rock climbing, hence the waiver.

Yeah you read that right. 5 year old. Rock Climbing.

Hot and Steamy Cards From the Dog

2010-02-12T18:24:00.000-08:00

So Valentines is around the corner and Mr. MedSchool and I have our usual tradition planned, nice, quite dinner at home (1). After just buying a house, doing multiple renovations and purchasing a dining room set (2), Mr. MedSchool and I decided not to get each other anything this year (3). However, we do have a long standing Card war. We buy each other cards for every holiday and not mushy, lovey-dovey cards but funny, make-you-laugh-so-hard-you-want-to-cry cards.

Being the procrastinator that I sometimes am (4), I finally went today to get Mr. MedSchool’s Valentine’s Day card. After wading my way through the wall of people in the greeting card aisle (5). I looked through the sparse selection left a card with the perfect mix of funny and sweet but keeping with my personality (6).

While looking through cards, I realized how big the greeting card industry had become. Where I usually remember there being categories like: Romantic, Funny, For Husband, For Wife, etc., now there are categories like Hot & Steamy, Cards with Sound, For Step Grand Daughter, From the Dog (7). There were even specific cards for people whose birthday is n valentines, three different versions! Seriously … just buy two cards. I mean it has to suck to have your birthday on another holiday. How much worse would it be if the one you loved bought you a combo card?

So after picking up my card (and some hair gel), I went to the check out thinking about how commercialized that we had become as a nation. So, I made sure to grab a bag of Easter candy to console myself on the way home (8).

1. because we don’t want deal with other people and waiters trying to turn our table on one of the busiest nights of the year.

2. Craig’s List is the best!

3. Self-administered spending freeze .. perhaps the government could learn something from us

4. Not all the time … just most of it

5. Mostly Men… shocking.

6. Impossible you say? ... oh I found it, I’m good at this game

7. At least there were no Hot & Steamy cards from the dog

8. Seriously, who doesn’t love those Reese’s eggs?

Brownies That Move Mountains

2010-02-03T14:57:00.000-08:00

I have found that one of the best ways to thank people is food (1). Whether it’s thanking some guys for helping you move, a friend for inviting you to a dinner party or a relative whose house you stayed at, food is always to say thank you.

I recently ran across a recipe for brownies from the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook (2). The recipe sounded great but a little intense. I mean there’s a double boiler involved (3) and multiple types of chocolate (semisweet melted, semisweet chips [4], unsweetened). However, it is completely worth it. I add frosting to mine as well a ganache or cream cheese frosting make these even better

Outrageous Brownies

Note: These are baked in a 12 x 18 baking sheet. You can also use two 12 x 9 baking sheets.

Ingredients:

1 pound unsalted butter

1 pound plus 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

6 ounces unsweetened chocolate

6 extra-large eggs

3 tablespoons instant coffee granules

2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups sugar

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3 cups chopped walnuts (didn’t use these, still good)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Butter and flour a 12 x 18 x 1-inch baking sheet.

Melt together the butter, 1 pound of chocolate chips, and the unsweetened chocolate in a medium bowl over simmering water. Allow to cool slightly. In a large bowl, stir (do not beat) together the eggs, coffee granules, vanilla, and sugar. Stir the warm chocolate mixture into the egg mixture and allow to cool to room temperature.

In a medium bowl, sift together 1 cup of flour, the baking powder, and salt. Add to the cooled chocolate mixture. Toss the walnuts and 12 ounces of chocolate chips in a medium bowl with 1/4 cup of flour, then add them to the chocolate batter. Pour into the baking sheet.

Bake for 20 minutes, then rap the baking sheet against the oven shelf to force the air to escape from between the pan and the brownie dough. Bake for about 15 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Do not overbake!

1. Or beer

2. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/outrageous-brownies-recipe3/index.html

3. Problem, since my method of melting chocolate involved a microwave.

4. Please use good chocolate! Like one of the ones that has a percentage of Cacao in it. Even Kroger has a generic brand, come on

More Adventures in Homeownership Part 2

2010-01-31T16:55:00.000-08:00

Sunday 4:52pm .. final closet doors up!

Next up: paint the back porch … awesome

More Adventures in Homeownership

2010-01-30T14:49:00.000-08:00

So we continue our home improvement adventure by putting up more doors in our house (1). After the last the weekend of the More Tools, More Work Treaty, Mr. MedSchool continued to hold up his end of the deal (more work). However, the work became very sporadic. Now I understand that he is in Med School and is not my handiwork houseboy (2), and I don’t want Mr. MedSchool to sacrifice his studies because things need to get done around the house. However, when our hallway bathroom goes without a door for 2 weeks … I feel like the intense (3) studying habits weren’t prohibiting the door installation.

On Sunday, Mr. MedSchool took several doors down with the intention of putting them back up that day. However, the door needed to be cut and it was raining (4). Mr. MedSchool informed me that he would have them up by Tuesday. Tuesday passed. Wednesday Passed. The weekend passed (5).

It is Saturday and the door is up. Only 2 more to go… who knows when they will make an appearance in our house.

Reader’s Note: All this being said, my husband is wonderful and does balance Med School and real life extremely well. He also does tons around the house to help me in addition to all of the handiwork (6).

1. Yeah ..that’s right we’re still doing that.

2. We’re not into role playing anyways.

3. More like erratic

4. And as we have learned from past experience, Power tools and rain do not mix

5. I will give this one to Mr. Medschool because we actually weren’t home for most of the weekend.

6. And he cooks and cleans

Party Time

2010-01-26T18:12:00.000-08:00

Nieces and Nephews are a special gift. They give you just enough “kid time” to remind you why you are not ready to have children while also satiating your parents’ need for grandchildren so they are not consistently bug you about having kids. We have a few nieces and nephews in the family and get together for holidays, family vacations and birthdays.

Little kid birthdays are the best. You get to do things like bounce in a bouncy house, go to a petting zoo, swing, fight over presents, play with water guns, (1) etc. I was especially excited about my 5 year old niece’s birthday party this past weekend. We were meeting then in Big City, South to go Snow Tubing at a local amusement park. I was pumped! (2)

Unfortunately we got a call shortly before the party was to start telling us that because of the incoming rain, the outdoor Snow Tubing was closed. Scrambling to find another place, our brother and sister-in-law settled upon one of the most popular spots for children’s birthdays: Chuck E Cheese.

Now I have been at a Chuck E Cheese in the past. In fact, we had a college sisterhood event there for my sorority. Unfortunately a Chuck E Cheese full of 100 20-something girls gossiping and a Chuck E Cheese full of 100 children screaming and running around (3) is not the same. Not even close.

Mr. MedSchool and I ventured to the party location and sat outside in our car for 15 minutes. Even though we were on time, we did not want to be the first ones there. We entered the Chuck E Cheese and made a beeline for the back “Party” area where the family sat (4). I quickly learned I could stand the “Party” area with the creepy animatronic mouse and incessant playing of children’s songs was easier to handle than the arcade area. The arcade area was filled with kids running at top speed and screaming. I was amazed at how parents just let kids run wild throughout the area. Aren’t they afraid that, I don’t know, that someone will take their kids (5).

So after two hours of screaming, kicking, greasy pizza, creepy animatronics, and a loop of “She’ll be Comin’ ‘round the Mountain,” we realized that our life was still better than the person that has to dress up like Chuck E Cheese and dance and sing everyday. So onward to our next birthday party. Our nephew turns 5 next month and his party is rock climbing (6).

1. Sadly, Mr. MedSchool and his friends do 3 out of 4 of these without being around any children

2. Come on, it doesn’t snow here much

3. It was like a swarm of flies, only with very high decibel level

4. And my father-in-law was complaining about how there were so many TVs and none of them were playing the game.

5. Note they do have a “stamp system,” and no child is suppose to leave without the adult with the same ink stamp on his or her arm. However, there is this thing called water … which washes off stamps

6. Yeah cause that’s not dangerous for adults … much less 5 year olds.

Sweaty, Smelly and Grunty

2010-01-13T18:46:00.000-08:00

So I go to the gym every day, when I feel like it a few times a week, and I have noticed the normal influx of New Year Resolutions gym goers (1). As the crowd at the gym grows, you start to notice things about people more and more. You can tell the faithful from the firstimers (2). There are a few people that have stood out to me most though.

Really Sweaty Guy: The other day on a guy hopped onto the elliptical next to me. After 20 minutes, I noticed that he was really working on up a sweat to the point that it was pouring (3) off of him. After 45 minutes on the elliptical, Mr. Sweaty McSweaterson was finally done. There was literally a pool of sweat around the elliptical. Thankfully Really Sweaty Guy did take his towel and mop up the lake of liquid around the machine (4).
Barbie: Barbie comes every Tuesday and Thursday and walks on the treadmill. You can also smell Barbie before you see her. After hopping on the treadmill next to me last week, I almost hacked up a lung because of her perfume. Not only does Barbie smell like a Perfumania, but she wears more makeup than any person I have ever seen at 6am (5).
Grunty Muscle Man: Every gym has a Mr. Grunty as a regular. He is the ripped guy (6) that makes awkward and uncomfortable noises that would suggest he is having a hernia. Mr. Muscle Man is also notoriously bad about dropping weights on the ground after he is finished with them to emphasize how much he was lifting.

Although these individuals can be distracting, if it weren't for Sweaty, Smelly and Grunty (7), what else would keep me entertained on the stationary bike?

1. It's okay they only have 2 more weeks until they give up and the ellipticals are all mine again.
2. Mostly from the extreme panting while walking on the treadmill
3. No literally pouring in streams
4. Note to self do not use Elliptical #4
5. Except for in Vegas...lots of makeup and for that matter lots of perfume too.
6. Or sometimes a guy that wishes he was ripped
7. Like my own little dwarfs of the gym

But It was On Sale

2010-01-11T19:15:00.000-08:00

But It was On Sale: A term that women often use to justify the purchase of an item that will come in handy but is not completely necessary. Men rarely use this term unless it is pertaining to a grill, TV or in my case, power tools.

Over the past few months, I have found that with new homeownership comes with do-it-yourself projects of all shapes and sizes (1). Our latest project is hanging doors. We have approximately 10 doors in our house, and Mr. MedSchool decided that we would paint and hang all of them this weekend in between shopping, hosting friends for dinner, church, studying, and work (2).

Our door adventure began on Friday afternoon when Mr. MedSchool proudly arrived from an excursion to the Home Depot. He had in hand a new router, finishing blade, and new drill bits. He explained to me that even though he had spent a good chunk of change, these were all things that he absolutely needed these things to hang the doors (3). After spending a few hours setting up a huge mess “workshop,” we began to spend our Friday night painting doors (4).

We worked until about midnight (5), when it was time to hang the first door. We got the hinges in place on our newly painted door and drilled everything in place. Then we closed the door and it stopped. Over time the house kind of sagged (6), and it seemed that the doorframe was the issue. There was only one way to fix this issue, buy a new tool for Mr. MedSchool to play work with.

So the next day we arose early to make another trek to the Home Depot to buy a chisel set. After routing and painting, I got ready to meet my friend Amy for lunch and a bit of shopping. After a few hours, I returned to find Mr. MedSchool still working (7). “I had to spend more money,” Mr. MedSchool informed me. You see apparently Mr. MedSchool ran out of screws and had to go again to the Home Depot. While there, an electric sander caught his eye. “I had to buy it you see, it will make my work much faster, and it was on sale.”(8)

So after hanging approximately 6 doors (9), we wrapped up the weekend about 6 tools richer and a few hundred dollars poorer. Due to this “investment,” Mr. MedSchool and I have instituted the More Tools, More Work treaty. This new legislation of our household entails that Mr. MedSchool start a new project for each tool that he buys and that tools must be used in at least 3 times. Now we just have to see if I can work up a More Clothes, More Cleaning treaty.

1. And spending money, do your know how much a door costs?

2. Yeah … we’re pretty popular

3. Just like I absolutely needed the new curtains and rug that I bought which Mr. MedSchool didn’t understand why I would spend money on.

4. Yeah painting doors on Friday night … we’re really popular

5. Like I said … popular

6. Yeah apparently lots of things sag with age

7. Let the record show that the only thing I bought on this shopping excursion was a $35 hall runner and a $7 belt (thank you TJ Maxx)

8. It was “On Sale” how many times have I used that line on shoes and it hasn’t worked.

9. Shocking! Something took longer than Mr. MedSchool expected.

Deceiving Your Children: Chapter 1

2010-01-05T19:02:00.000-08:00

As you may have figured out (1), I like to cook, and although, I do get most of my recipes off the internet, I love cookbooks. There's just something about setting open a cookbook and whipping up a delicious meal to make you feel all warm and domesticky.

This past Christmas I received a different kind of cookbook. It's called Deceptively Delicious by Jennifer Seinfeld (2).

The main theme of the book is tricking your husband (3) children (4) into eating vegetables by pureeing them into goo and then putting them into everything from from pasta to mac and cheese to brownies.

In short, I have decided that this book is pure genius (5). If you simply lie don't tell your children that you are hiding things that they find disgusting in their food, they will eat it. Plus, there are great chapter titles like "Changing Habits Through Loving Deception."

Apparently, it is hard work to be deceptive and not get caught. First most veggies must be steamed or roasted. Then they are pureed in a food processor. Then you take 1/2 cup portions of each of the purees and put them in ziplock bags to freeze. Now Mrs. Seinfield assures us that you won't notice the extra 2 -5 minutes it takes to puree and it takes her maid her only about an hour a week to prepare all of these purees. Dear Mrs. Seinfeld, have your maids you ever roasted a squash (6), then waited for it to cool (7), then scooped out the still steaming flesh into a food processor (8), then processed (9), then portioned into individual bags (10) ?

As I read further about pureeing spinach and cauliflower and beets, the book also suggests that you can puree turkey and chicken for extra protein (11), and there are also fun "Tip" pages on topics such as "How to Say No" (12) or tips for "Dining Out" (13).

In conclusion, this is a great book and a good idea. So anytime now that I want to get my folic acid from my lasagna or beta carotene from my sloppy joes, I will turn to Deceptively Delicious.

1. If you have actually been paying attention to my posts
2. Yes, like Jerry's wife
3. Well Now you know my motive
4. and now you know my mom's motive for giving me the book
5. and Jennifer is thinking "Who's the more clever Seinfeld now Jerry..huh?"
6. 30 to 40 minutes
7. 5 to 10 minutes
8. 3 minutes
9. 2 to 5 minutes (oh look she got one right)
10. 5 minutes
11.mmm ... liquid dinner
12. Really? You're pureeing vegetables and hiding them in other foods... you are way too late on this tip page to start now
13. Because that will make your kids eat healthier?

Welcome to 2010

2010-01-04T18:30:00.000-08:00

It's been so long, and I have missed you all. So to explain my long blogging absence, the only explanation that I have is that things have been slightly South of crazy. So just to give you a run down: in the last month and a half we have bought a house, fixed it up, moved in, gone on a 15 hour road trip, been in 5 states, celebrated 2 holidays, and managed not to loose my mind.

So I have learned a few things with our ventures of the past few weeks:

I was never meant to be a painter or a carpenter or handiman or any job that requires skill or handiness
If the weather says Heavy Snow, even though you live in the South, they might be telling the truth
Man CAN live on peanut butter, poptarts and cereal alone
If you tell my mother you want cute scarves for Christmas, she will by you a few, 15 to be exact
Swedes can pack, have you ever been to Ikea?
DVR WILL change your life
Attics = Storage Unit for Husband's Junk

I will expound up these in the coming weeks as well as our great adventures of home ownership. As for now, I leave you with this thought: No matter how crazy and busy your last year was... always be ready for the next to be a bigger whirl wind. Happy 2010.

Leavin' on a Jet Plane?

2009-11-22T19:03:00.000-08:00

So I must apologize for my recent absence. I have been traveling the US this past week and not by choice. Our company has just acquired a new client in Seattle. I was chosen as one of the staff to go to Seattle for our kick off meeting. I was very excited not only to be chosen to go to this meeting but also to visit Seattle, a city I had never been to.

Because the meeting began on a Monday, we decided to go up early on Sunday to see the sites. Good idea in theory… however, it was not to be. Our journey began early on Sunday with a 6:30am flight from our regional airport to connect in Atlanta and fly to Seattle. However, fog delayed our flight until 8:20 (1). By the time that we finally arrived in Atlanta, all non-stop flights to Seattle were booked, making our day into a nationwide tour of airports. From Atlanta, we went Cincinnati for a 4 hour layover and then would arrive in Seattle at 7pm (2).

After our airport excursion, I made a few observations:

Regional airports = Airport Amateur Day. I'm not just talking about 1/2 of the passengers who had never flown in their lives. It seemed that no one knew what was going on: desk agents, security and gate agents had no idea what they were suppose to be doing.
Just because a restaurant has Wolfgang Puck in the title does not mean that it will be classy ... or even good
Paying $5 for Tetris on your iPhone never seemed worth it .. until you are stuck in an enclosed area with nothing to watch but the Cincinnati/Steelers game.
People in Cincinnati are serious about football
It is completely acceptable to lay on the floor and go to sleep in an airport
If you do decide to fall asleep, make sure that you have a buddy … otherwise people may draw things on you (3)
Apparently people think that it is fine to bring infants and toddlers on a red eye flight (4)
A neck pillow can be the best purchase that you have made in a month
If a gate agent gives you a first class ticket, take it and run
You may think that first class isn’t as great as people say it is, but after sitting in airports for 7 hours … a couple of glasses of wine and being able to stretch your legs is amazing (5)

1. Coincidentally the same time that our connecting flight left Atlanta’s airport

2. Only 8 hours after our original landing time

3. Yeah and you thought that just happened in college

4. Yeah … its not, not cool at all

5. Apparently Delta felt bad for us and bumped us to first class,

Awesome. The only word to describe it.

2009-11-12T18:40:00.000-08:00

So you ever have one of those overwhelming cravings? Well I often get a hankering (1) for peanut butter and chocolate (2) and this time decided to make something satiate the craving. I decided a chocolate cake with peanut butter filling and dark chocolate Reeses would do the trick. I looked up a chocolate cake recipe that I hadn't tried before (3). To complete the Peanut Butteriness of the cake, I mixed in 1 1/2 cups of chopped dark Reeses (4) into the cake batter and 1 cup of peanut butter into the frosting. Then I spread a layer of peanut butter (it's easiest if you melt it) on each cake layer. After frosting the cake, I put another cup and a half of chopped Reeses on the outside of the frosted cake as decoration (5).

Normally I feel like my baking is pretty good but this time I out did myself. This cake was awesome. It was rich and dense, just like my grandmother use to make. Just as proof, I took this cake (6) to work and 2 people asked me for the recipe (7).

Here it is again. It can be a bit scary, if you don't make a lot of cakes from scratch but it would be a special holiday treat! Just try it.

4 Pictures.. yeah it really was 4 pictures good.

Sorry for the big chunk taken out of it... It was calling my name.

1. Southern for a Strong and relentless desire
2. The best combination that God invented after cheese and wine
3. http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/dark-chocolate-cake-with-ganache-frosting
4. Feel free to mix in more for a little more pb kick
5. on second thought, it's probably better just to get 2 bags of Reeses .. That way you can eat lots some of them as you bake.
6. Actually just 1/3 of the cake b/c Mr. MedSchool and I ate the other 2/3rds over the weekend
7. Which seems small but it's like 15% of our office

Frosted Ice Lipstick ... As if

2009-11-10T16:53:00.000-08:00

So remember the 90s? The fashion: high waisted pants, long flowery sheath dresses and oversized everything. Remember the makeup? I first started wearing makeup in the 90s and learned to apply my lipstick like this:

Ahhh. frosted ice lipstick with a cappuccino liner. So 1998.

Well the makeup of the 90s lends itself to the Word of the Week. The word is:

Vermillion Border

Mr. MedSchool's Definition: The line that separates your lip from your face

Medical Definiton: The normally sharp demarkation between the red of the lip and the adjacent normal skin

Used in a sentence: In order to look smokin' and draw attention to her mouth, Claire applied extra thick lip liner to her Vermillion Border. Whatever ...

Sorry ... just added the Whatever in there because I was reminded of Clueless while searching for 90s catch phrases. As if

Swine Flu Solutions

2009-11-08T16:51:00.000-08:00

So being in the "Medical Community," we hear a lot about the H1N1 virus (1). Several of Mr. MedSchool's friends have had the virus so far (2). The med school students are being told that 40% of the students and faculty will have the swine flu sometime over the flu season. This in turn equals a 40% chance that I will have the swine flu sometime this season. Great...

Mr. MedSchool did send me a solution of how other institutions are handling the swine flu problem.

Perhaps it's something that we should take into consideration.

1. And not just as the 5 people who dressed up as Swine Flu at the Halloween Party we went to
2. It's okay, they've all pulled through okay

Let Me See that Tootsie Roll

2009-11-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

For Halloween, we had planned to go to a few parties but wouldn't be leaving our home until 9pm or so. Just in case a trick-or-treater or 2 came by, I went out an bought a couple of bags of candy. Of course, as fate would have it, no trick-or-treaters made it by equaling tons of

Now I specifically got these 2 candies because I am not particularly fond of them (1). So now we have the dilemma of what to do with all of this candy (2). After an afternoon of recipe searching on the Web, I decided to do what I do with all of my leftover Christmas candy and stick the leftover Tootsie rolls into a batch of blondies (3). With the addition of some peanuts in the batter and left over ganache frosting from a cake. They turned out really well except for the Tootsie rolls that melted on the bottom of the pan (4).

Now if I could just figure out what to do with the Smarties.

1. But Mr. MedSchool will eat anything

2. I mean...besides eat it all

3. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tori-ritchie/monster-macadamia-nut-blondies-recipe/index.html

4. Parchment paper...next time

You Really Expect Me to Put That on the Internet?

2009-11-03T16:56:00.000-08:00

So Mr. Medschool has really gotten into the Medical Word of the Week. He sends me words to my email or excitedly tells me about a new word while I am on my computer. Sometimes I think that he gets a little too into it though. Like with this week's word:

Pudendal Nerve

Now it sounds like an innocent little nerve. Nothing Special. However, this was Mr. MedSchool's evil trick to make me put something inappropriate on the blog... So when I asked what it meant this is what I got:

Mr. MedSchool's Definition: Nerve that gives sensation to your junk

Medical Definition: Somatic nerve in the pelvic region that innervates the external genitalia of both sexes.

After hearing this definition our conversation went like this:

Me: (shooting an are you serious glance) "Really, you actually think I'm going to put that?" (1)
Mr. MedSchool: "This is Med school, you can't be shy..."

Gotcha... okay ... so in the spirit of med school(2), I give you Pudendal Nerve, the word of the week

1. Yeah he's seen that one before
2. and not being shy

It's a Family Affair

2009-11-01T17:58:00.000-08:00

So Mr. MedSchool and I were invited to a Couples Pumpkin Carving party put on by members of the Wives Club. We enjoy holiday festivities like pumpkin carving, dying Easter eggs, and other fun stuff (1).

So we toted our pumpkins and potluck dish over to a fellow Wife's house so that Mr. Medschool could use his new dissection skills on the pumpkin. We showed up on time (2) and as the other couples began to arrive, I noticed that they both had kids with them. Then another couple came with their baby. Awesome. I know that the invite said families were invited but I still don't think about people our age having kids. In Big City, South, we had lots of single friends and some married friends but none of them had kids. After moving to Small Town, South, everyone we know is married and most of them are starting families or have little ones (3). So having kids at every event that we go to is new to us.

Don't get me wrong, I like kids and I want to have kids some day (4). However, Mr. MedSchool and I are smart enough to know that if we were to raise a child at this juncture in our lives... we would screw it up (5). Not that we aren't responsible, caring people (6), we're just not ready to raise another human being.

So as we helped 4 year olds carve jackolanterns (7), we continued to adjust to our newfound friends and their families (8). Maybe it will be good practice for some day done the road (9).

Most importantly we did find time to actually carve our own pumpkins.

1. Yeah I know we can be lame sometimes but this didn't just start when we got married.. apparently, we have always been lame.
2. I have a thing with being prompt
3. Little ones with big voices
4. Probably... maybe ... I think
5. Yeah, I just referred to a child as "it"
6. Not that we are, either
7. 4 year olds with knives... even I know that's a bad idea
8. and holding newborn babies without freaking out
9. Like miles and miles and miles down the road

Anatomically Correct Halloween Sweets

2009-10-29T18:21:00.000-07:00

It’s almost Halloween! Due to that and the fact I was in a baking mood. I put together these lovely beauties.

They are both Martha Stewart creations (1) and were surprising simple to make. Note: the brain ones call for some kind of difficult Martha-ifed icing. I decided that regular butter cream was good enough and just made that instead (2).

I did these not only because of the obvious proximity to Halloween but also as a tribute to my flag football boys. As Team Mom, I am obliged to bring a snack and felt like these cupcakes were not only seasonally appropriate but also added an additional educational anatomical element (3).

Well they must have been a good luck charm because the kids guys actually won. However, Mr. MedSchool finally did himself in and hurt his hamstring. He has been limping around the house and turned into a pitiful mess. He has declared that he won’t be able to play next week (4) and has been downing Advil like they were tic tacs. Ohh… the pains and pressures of professional (school) Athletics. Next thing you know they’ll be asking for a raise (and by that I mean an upgrade to Capri Suns and twice the baked goods).

1. http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/brain-cupcakes , http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/skull-madeleines

2. Butter and Powdered Sugar Martha…not everything has to be difficult

3. And a constant reminder to the guys that they really needed to be studying…not pushing each other around and throwing a ball.

4. Yeah, we’ll see if pride plays out on that one.

Holiday Season Happiness

2009-10-27T17:37:00.000-07:00

It's official, the holiday season has started. I know that Christmas is 2 months away but it seems like Halloween starts a two and a half month long stretch of events (1). I love this time of the year but have you noticed that the other parts of the year don't have nearly as many holidays? I mean Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Years all in about a two month span? This time even gets 8 Charlie Brown TV Specials, starting with:

It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown
A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
A Charlie Brown Christmas
The Making of "A Charlie Brown Christmas"
It's Christmastime again, Charlie Brown
Charlie Brown's Christmas Tales
I Want a Dog for Christmas Charlie Brown
Happy New Year Charlie Brown!

(No these are all real and you can look them up (2). Too bad it's too late for "It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown." (3))

Although I do feel bad for the doldrums in between President's Day and Memorial Day (4). I guess that if we didn't have the dry holiday spells, then we wouldn't appreciate this fun time of dressing up, visiting friends and eating food.

1. and increased caloric intake
2. Ahhh... wikipedia. So many uses http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Peanuts_media#TV_Specials
3. Not kidding about that one either, aired March 1976
4. Really, whoever thought working people didn't need a holiday for 4 months...was crazy

Pricing Paint and Mad Negotiating Skillz

2009-10-25T18:17:00.000-07:00

So this has been my weekend:

Paint colors, trim, crown molding… We have had a whirl wind housing adventure this past week. As you may have read, I recently got a job. Because I am now gainfully employed, Mr. MedSchool and I decided to see if we could get preapproved for a loan to purchase a home. Due to the first time home buyer’s tax credit, if we were to buy, we would get $8000 in cash money (1). However, this means that we would have to close on the house by November 30^th. After getting preapproved and speaking to our loan agent, she informed us that we would need to have a contract on the house by October 30^th in order to ensure we close by November 30^th. Normally this would have been fine. However, we are told this on October 15^th, giving us 2 weeks to find a house.

After a bad Realtor experience before we moved to Small Town, South, we decided to do this “on our own” and purchase a home for sale by owner. Things that we did not take into account:

1. We only had two weeks find houses ourselves, set up appointments and then go and view the house and fit it in to our busy schedule.

2. We know nothing (2) about purchasing a home.

3. We don’t have the greatest negotiating skills (3).

So we went and saw a few houses on our own over the weekend. Then on Monday, Mr. MedSchool informed me that he didn’t think he could do this on his own (4). I had somewhat gotten the gist that he might say this after I overheard him speaking to his dad, who had just sold his house, on the phone. “What you need an attorney? Why? Closing costs are how much?” Needless to say, our loan officer had suggested a Realtor who could “work fast,” and Mr. MedSchool had already called her.

Our new Realtor, Amy, was perky and upbeat. She was young but knew her stuff. We set up to meet with her on Thursday to look at houses. We were lined up to view 6 houses. We trudged through several houses that we would be happy with but weren’t overjoyed with any, until house #4. We walked into the 3 bed room/2 Bath, brick ranch style home and we found love. First off, finding 2 bathrooms in a town full of older homes was pretty much impossible (5). Secondly..a newly renovated kitchen was the stuff that dreams were made of. We did go and see a couple of other houses that day but knew that #4 was our number one (6). We went back at the end of our tour of homes to look again, just to be sure. We put in an offer and signed the next afternoon. We did feel a little risky because our offer was $2000 under the list price, which had already been dropped $8000, and we asked them to pay closing costs. We waited about 3 hours, planning out our next counter offer but then we got an exited call from Amy. They had accepted our first offer! (7)

We cracked open a bottle of wine (8) and celebrated our victory (and our Realtor’s mad negotiating skillz). So barring any horrible issues that the home inspector may find, we will be bonafide homeowners on November 25^th.

So back to our weekend, after looking at the house again…we came to the realization that it may need some minor tweaks. Paint…garbage disposal…new front door. So Mr. MedSchool and I made a quick trip to Home Depot to price items. Do you realize home much doors cost…seriously? $500? Mr. MedSchool, pointed out that it is the first impression that someone gets of your home. To which I countered that a $300 door would make a good impression, and I could blind company with my new $200 Marc Jacobs dress which I could also take away from the home, making good impressions throughout the neighborhood (9).

We also priced paint. Now I LOVE color and bright décor. Mr. Medschool, however, is a beige kind of guy. However, he bestowed free range of painting upon me because I had never been able to paint a home that we have lived in (10).

Anywho, we have 4 weeks to come up with paint colors and Google “How to install crown molding.” I am sure that may interesting “do it yourself” posts will come in good time. So look out.

1. Thank you Uncle Sam!

2. And I mean nothing

3. Somebody call William Shatner .. Priceline Negotiator (musical theme…)

4. I wish I had recorded it too. He admitted he couldn’t do it on his own .. this may never happen again. Oh well.

5. And one thing we have learned over the last few years is that our marriage doesn’t work without 2 bathrooms…it just doesn’t

6. Oh I kill myself…hahahaha

7. Yeah for desperate home sellers!

8. Who cares it was only 3pm. It’s 5 o’ clock somewhere.

9. How’s that for negotiating?

10. He’s gonna be sorry for that one when he sees the lime green guest bedroom

Team Mom

2009-10-21T18:24:00.000-07:00

So as fall has come and the weather gets cooler, it is time for the time-honored tradition of football. Sure we have our passionate Saturdays of college football and lazy Sunday afternoons watching pro games. However, it seems that the most exciting football time of all comes on Tuesday evenings, when my husband's flag football team plays.

Mr. Medschool has always been a violent intense player. He puts his heart and soul (1) into his game. Let's just say the morning after the first game, Mr. Medschool had "unexplained" bruises all over his ribs (2) and a hurt knew.

Now of course I begrudgingly dutifully go to every game, not only to cheer on my man but also as my position as "Team Mom." Each week I bring my baked goods and Capri Suns to the game for the kids Med School guys to enjoy.

Here's a manly (3) picture of the team.

Identities have been disguised to protect the innocent (4) ... and I think they kinda look like the blind guy from Star Trek.

1. and body
2. Most likely from the times that he flew through the air and spearheaded another player in order to get the ball...no that is not legal in Flag Football
3. Aww they grow up so fast
4. Ha...like any of them are innocent!

How'd You Fit so Many Y's in that Word?

2009-10-19T18:37:00.000-07:00

So this week's medical word of the week has 3 Y's (1), and is also the most unique (2) vocabulary word so far.

Brachydactyly

Mr. MedSchool's Definition: Abnormaly short finger(s)

Real Medical Definition: an inherited, usually dominant trait which literally means "shortness of the fingers and toes" (digits)

And as a special bonus, Mr. MedSchool sent me a picture as well!

1. and as Mr. MedSchool put it, 3 Y's how can you beat that?

2. Nice word for weird

Orange Suburst in a Can

2009-10-12T19:24:00.000-07:00

Being on a diet is never fun (1). However, the hardest part of the Thrive diet is you cannot drink dark colored sodas aka Diet Coke. After living off of diet coke for most of my adult life, I needed to find a caffeine substitute, stat (2). Then I remembered a little drink that some of my friends reintroduced me to this summer (3).

Diet Sunkist. It is like a burst of sunshine! A burst of sunshine that happens to be one of the 10 most caffeinated sodas on the market. I would suggest that you pick some up. It reminds you of your childhood ... a carefree, happier, more hyper time of being.

1. Unless you get to go on awesome grocery store tours.
2. Been around doctors too long...using medical terms
3. Thank you Roddas

Fat Bus to the Grocery Store

2009-10-11T18:55:00.000-07:00

So Mr. Med School has a test coming up on Monday… meaning he would be splitting his time between the library and the anatomy lab this weekend. Because I would be a Med School Widow this weekend, I decided it would be a good time to go and visit my parents in Hometown, South. My mother has been bugging me for the past few months to come and visit(1) and because I wouldn’t actually have contact with my husband this weekend, why not go for a visit?

So after work on Friday I hopped in my car and drove up to Hometown, South. Friday night consisted of family dinner and Friday Night Football (2). However, for Saturday my mother had something special planned for us. As you may recall from an earlier post, my mother has been on the Thrive Diet, and as a part of the Thrive plan, you can go on a Grocery Store Tour! On this tour the “Guide” will point out some of the best vegetables and other items to eat (3). Now being from a more rural area (4), I assume that people don’t tend to read fitness magazines or check out Health.com (5) as much as I did in Big City, South. So it is not surprising that they would need someone to walk them through the grocery store to show them what veggies had a lot of fiber and which of the meats were leaner.

However, what was the most entertaining to me was the “Guide,” Ellen, who was much too happy to be up so early on a Saturday (6), told us antidotal stories about her struggles and would quiz us by holding up a broccoli and asking “Now what do we call this?” “Exercise on a stalk!” says a very eager follower. “Wow that is right!” says the perky guide, who goes on to tell us about the time that she ate an entire bag of broccoli instead of exercising (7). As we made our way through the grocery store learning about foods that would put us on the “Fat Bus” and foods that would help us to burn fat calories, I noticed that the other store patrons were watching us. And why wouldn’t they, with about 10 people in our group and a leader speaking like a tour guide? However, the craziest part was that this tour took 2 hours. Two hours? I mean I love to grocery shop and take my time going down each aisle, but I never spend that much time in the grocery store (8).

My weekend did wind up well, and it was good to see my family. I came home to Mr. Med School, who wished me well, took our coffee maker and headed back to the library. Continuing the Med School Widow theme, I just got a text message wishing me sweet dreams. I guess I’ll see him tomorrow when this is all over.

1. And when we’re going to have kids but that’s a totally different story

2. The best thing about that game was that I could leave whenever I wanted. Unlike when my high school boyfriend played football, and I had to stay at the game from beginning to end, rain or shine.

3. And she cruelly pointed out everything that you couldn’t eat as well

4. Think PeopleofWalmart.com

5. Plug.

6. Yeah it was 8:00am but still, it was Saturday

7. Just in case you were wondering … asparagus is an Elliptical on a Stalk. Wow how clever…

8. Except for Sam’s one time when I got lost in there…

Just Bob Yo Head

2009-10-06T18:29:00.000-07:00

So I have been in a dancey (1) mood this week so the Medical Word of the Week has to do with keeping the beat.

Sternocleidomastoid Muscle

Mr. Med School's Definition: Muscle in your next that lets you turn your head to the side. If you put your head on your chest…its that big muscle that sticks out.

Medical Definition: A paired muscle in the superficial layers of the anterior portion of the neck. It acts to flex and rotate the head.

In short it's the "bob yo head" muscle. (2)

1. No it's not a real adjective but it should be
2. You laugh but Mr. Med School will never forget that muscle

You Put Brandy in These?

2009-10-05T18:00:00.000-07:00

As stated before, I love to bake. However, with the current diet du jour, I don't need to eat the things that I bake so work, Mr. Med School's friends or tailgating buddies are often the beneficiaries of my food. For this past weekend's game, Mr. Med School and I went up to tailgate at our Alma Mater. I decided to make a tasty treat that I had seen recently on the Martha Stewart Show (1), Martha's Perfect Sugar Cookies (2). Martha's recipe called for all of the normal ingredients .. butter, sugar, flour, brandy, baking powder...wait Brandy? Since when do you use that in cookies (3) ?

Anywho, they came out really well if I do say so myself. Especially after I figured out that my cookie cutters were still in storage (4) but that just made me get creative.

They ended up good although I did have an interesting time trying to write the players names on the Jersey cookies (5) but for a first try they looked pretty good, and I'm told tasted great!

1. Yeah when I was unemployed and worshipped daytime television
2. Ahh but isn't everything she does "perfect" http://www.marthastewart.com/article/cooking-school-perfect-sugar-cookies-and-royal-icing?
3. Seriously Martha's done time... I have the feeling she's adding liquor to a lot of her recipes since that span of her life
4. Yes, I do own cookie cutters, about 50 to be exact. Just in case anyone needs a cookie shaped like a pumpkin, school house, train, dog, sail boat, I can arrange that for you.
5. Thank God all of the recognizable players have short last names!

Who are These People and What I am Doing Here?

2009-10-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

So I must apologize for my absence. This week has been slightly crazy to say the least as I try to slide back into the world of the working. So I started my new job last Monday, not sure at all what to expect. My first day went well. I was very productive and got to know everyone in the office pretty well (1). However, for the first three days, I wasn't exactly clear on what was going on. You see I was told I was "helping with marketing (2)," which is pretty vague. However after long talks with the designers and account managers, I finally figured it out.

I also discovered quite a few other perks to working in a small agency. First we have a kitchen full of food (M & M's, granola, goldfish, pretzels, mini candy bars, and other brain food) and a fridge of sodas (3). I get the feeling that this will be a fun office because not only do we have a foosball table and an air hockey table but while rummaging around in the kitchen the other day, I discover a half of a handle of tequila underneath the sink (4). Finally we have an office pet. It's a cat, that lives in our office. Apparently it's our owner's cat who lives in the office because the cat and their other pet, a dog, don't get along (5).

Overall I think that it will turn out okay (6). I am finally getting my feet on the ground and ready to start running.

As for Mr. Med School, he is doing well, just adjusting to me not being around all the time. I think that Santiago (7), his Cadaver, is taking my place (8).The Cadaver Count for this week was 9 hours, which was less than the 12 that he spent last week. We'll see what this week hold but an upcoming test tells me that he, and Santiago will be very close this week too.

1. There are only 12 of us in the office, it's not that hard to remember
2. Seeing that we are a marketing company...doesn't everyone "help with marketing"
3. So how's that diet working?
4. Must mean people are working late nights...
5. And apparently she doesn't get along with anyone else because I'm told she bites
6. Seriously, let's face it, I'm just glad to have a job at this point
7. Yes, literary allusion to Old Man and the Sea...don't ask, Mr. Med School has already been informed that he is a nerd
8. But he'll never be as good of a cook ... hahahaha

First Days

2009-09-28T19:13:00.000-07:00

Pencils, paper and new book smells. That was my day today. Do you remember your first day of school at a new school? You were kind of nervous that you wouldn’t fit in or that the teacher would way over anticipate the load that you could take or that you wouldn’t know how to use your brand new T-83 Calculator. That was me today…except it wasn’t school, it was a new job and it wasn’t a teacher, it was boss and it wasn’t a calculator, it was a new Mac Book (1).

So since Mr. Med school and I moved, I have been searching for a new job in Small Town, South. Finally last week, the heavens opened up, and I received an email that said “Please Call me, 555 – 9820.” This email was from the head of a small marketing agency that I interviewed at several weeks ago. When I called back, they offered me a job starting on Monday.

Sweet, so now I have a job. However, this is when the nerves started. What if they pile the work on me on the first day, and I am overwhelmed (2)? What if all of my coworkers resent the new girl (3)? What if I sit there bored all day because they don’t give me anything to do (4)?

It all turned out to be okay though (5). Everyone was friendly, and although they did throw me into work, I wasn’t completely overwhelmed. I did get a new Mac Book as my computer, and the work environment is nice (6). I think that things are gonna be okay. Wish me luck!

1. I realize, welcome me to the 21^st century
2. I can totally act like I understand everything, and then just take it all home and study it
3. I can win them over with my bitter sarcasm charming personality
4. That’s why BlackBerry puts Brick Breaker on their phones
5. Except for the Mac part. It took me 5 minutes to figure out how to turn it off because I was too proud to ask anyone
6. 2 word: Foosball Table

Medical Word of the Week

2009-09-22T19:15:00.000-07:00

So it has been another busy school week for Mr. Med School. However, we have managed to fit in some fun vocabulary words this week as well. This weeks Medical Word of the Week is:

Pachymeninx

Mr. Med School's Definition: an old timey (1) term for the stuff surrounding the brain

Medical Definition: The tough fibrous membrane covering the brain and the spinal cord and lining the inner surface of the skull

1. He's from a rural area and uses phrases like "old timey" and "Yonder" as much as he possibly can

Food, Football and Fun

2009-09-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

So I am a huge College football fan, mostly thanks to Mr. Med School's obsession with all things BCS. Although I am not as passionate (1) as Mr. Med School about the Game, I do love the watching the game. I should also mention that I love gamewatching parties and tailgating almost just as much.

This past weekend, we were unable to go to our alma mater's game so we invited some fellow alumni over to watch the game. Just to show everyone a good time, we made a few snacks (2). However, I think that my favorite new find were Nutter Butter and Oreo footballs (3). The lovely little delights are super easy to make too. Just take a package or either Nutter Butters or Oreos and throw them in a food processor. Then add a block of cream cheese and mix. Shape into footballs and put in fridge. Then melt some almond bark and dip the football shaped goodness into the chocolate. ...and Wah lah

Nutter Butter Filled Deliciousness

Yum, and yes those are chocolate covered pretzels in the background (4).

Not only were these super easy to make but they were a big hit. And no, due to the current diet, I didn't eat any (5). I would definitely recommend these and tons of other stuff on Bakerella's site. Never fear, there will be many more game watching parties and tailgates. I will be sure to report back with other yummy recipes.

1. At least if passionate counts as yelling, throwing things at the television or people in his vicinity and coaching the players throughout the game. I honestly believe he thinks that they can hear him.
2. Elaborate meal of heavy hors d'oeuvres
3. Courtesy of Bakerella on http://www.bakerella.com/super-bowl-funday/
4. I had extra chocolate, did you not expect me to use it?
5. Yay Will power!

Words to Lull You to Sleep

2009-09-20T18:29:00.000-07:00

We have a strict don't talk about work / school over dinner rule. This is coming in especially handy now that Mr. Med School has begun Anatomy Lab (1). As I have posted before, I have a very squeamish stomach and talking about dead people...well that just doesn't go along well with white meat and green veggies dinner.

So Mr. Med School has taken to telling me about things that happened in his day as we lay in bed. The other night just as I was about to fall asleep, I hear "I wish he was more moist." "What?" I ask groggily. "Our cadaver, he's kind of dry and sometimes he falls apart." Awesome that's exactly what I want to dream about tonight: some old, dead guy falling apart. I guess that will remind me to use moisturizer.

On another note, I have noticed since Anatomy Lab began that Mr. Med School is spending quite a few hours "studying" in the lab. So I am starting a new segment called Cadaver Count, the amount of hours that Mr. Med School spends with dead people over spending time with me. This last week, he spent 9 hours with the Cadavers, more time than any other student he boasts (2).

1. Cutting open dead people lab
2. What an accomplishment.. I'm such a proud wife

Medical Word of the Week

2009-09-15T19:48:00.000-07:00

Mr. Med School is always using big medical words to try and show his overwhelming amounts of knowledge. In an attempt to learn this new medical language that he speaks all the time, I am going to institute the Medical Word of the week. This way we can all learn a really difficult new word that we will probably never use.

Let's start with the Medical Word of the week (1).

Bilateral Salpingo-Oopherectomy

Mr. Med School's definition: What you get when you need to have your ovaries and tubes taken out. (2)

Medical Definition: the surgical removal of both fallopian tubes and an ovaries

1. And why not do a hard one?
2. So sensitive, he's gonna be a great doctor

I Smell Dead People

2009-09-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

So today was the first day of Anatomy Lab (1). Mr. Med School has been so excited about this moment since he started classes. Me, well I couldn’t be more grossed out. So the festivities started when Mr. Med School brought home his first pair of scrubs. He was like a cute little kindergartener with his first book bag and lunch box (2). He even hemmed the pants himself (3).

You know what’s fun? Getting a text message from your significant other that reads, “I smell like formaldehyde :-( “ Awesome.. I don’t think that Tide gets that out. Well when Mr. Med School got home this evening, he was as excited as a kid on his first day of school. He proceeded to tell me all about Cutting Open Dead People Lab (4). On the flip side, apparently, Mr. Med School is really good at cutting things (5). The cadaver that he dissected (6) was flagged as one of the best. Well at least we know he’s good at something.

1. Cutting open dead people lab

2. Only with scrubs and dissection tools

3. And by hemmed, I mean with hem tape and an iron

4. Not a good dinner topic, just an FYI

5. Also not unlike a school child

6. Wow, that sounds disgusting

What Do You Mean No Diet Coke?

2009-09-13T17:17:00.000-07:00

Size 4, 120 pounds and really tan. That was my description when I got married, and frankly, it was awesome. I could wear whatever I wanted, and I looked great in a bikini. Well 2 years and a high intensity job changes things (1). I have tried many different diets but I have this one weakness: I like LOVE food. I love to cook, bake and just play with food. I usually start out good on these diets but inevitably around day 5 ... I start to slip a little. I have one chip and then I have another and before I know it, I have eaten half of a bag.

This time, however, it will be different (2). My mother has started a new diet called Thrive, and after hearing me complain about weight, she has decided that I am going on said diet as well (3). So it seems easy enough. You are allowed to eat certain things (4) like green veggies and white meat and then you phase in other foods like red meat, fruit, carbs.

So our first shopping trip was a little difficult. If you eat bread, it must be Double Fiber Wheat Bread. That's too expensive says Mr. Med School, who usually eats 2 sandwiches each day for lunch on $.99 a loaf bread. Then we move to cheese. On Thrive, you can't eat Yellow Cheese (5) because of the food dye. However, non yellow cheese is again too expensive. After buying all of the "expensive food," I told Mr. Med School that he couldn't drink beer more than twice a week. He decided he didn't need to loose weight after all.

So I have started now! No red meat, no potatoes or pasta, no wine and possibly the worst...no diet coke (6). I will be sure to update you on my failures progress. Wish me luck.

1. By about 25 pounds and 4 sizes to be exact
2. Hopefully
3. Ergo Mr. Med School is starting a new diet
4. Wow Shocking, I know
5. A staple of Mr. Med School's sandwiches
6. Caramel Coloring, get's you every time

Wives Club

2009-09-07T19:27:00.000-07:00

So after the first week of parties and orientation, I find myself a little on the bored side. I left my great job in Big City, South, and I am finding it difficult to find a marketing job in Small Town, South. There aren’t many industries or even large companies for that matter which means there aren’t many positions in the marketing world which means I am often sitting at home during the day. For a past workaholic, doing basically nothing all day is a tough challenge. So I decided to get involved and go to a Wives Club meeting.

I didn’t really know what to expect from Wives Club the first time I went. There were about 13 wives of first years there, and everyone was instructed to bring a finger food (1). I knew a few of the wives but hadn’t met many of them. We had a good time meeting and greeting and eating. However, the thing that struck me was that all of the conversations centered on our husbands: their test schedules, their study habits, and what specialty they were interested in. Soon, the conversation switched from our husband’s schooling to how we “take care” of our husbands (2). I mean our husbands were our common thread but we have lives too, and after sitting through a 15 minute conversation about what The Wives pack in their husband’s lunch box, I was done. I know that it is nice to do something special for your significant other, and I often do make cookies or give back rubs when Mr. Med School is having a bad day. However, when you make the comment “I feel guilty for coming to these Wives Club Meetings because Aaron (3) won’t know what to eat,” I feel that you are underestimating your husband’s ability to… well… live without your assistance. I mean..he did get into Medical School, how helpless could he be.

After wrapping up the night and heading back to our place, I find Mr. Med School wallowing on the couch. First words out of his mouth: "What's for dinner?" Ugh...whatever's in the fridge.

1 Cake Balls, big hit http://bakerella.blogspot.com/2007/12/red-velvet-cake-balls.html

2. Because it's 1952 ?

3. Helpless Med School Husband

Orientating Ourselves

2009-08-28T19:24:00.000-07:00

Well we made it through our first hot(1) nights and finally got air conditioning on Monday afternoon. This made it bearable to begin unpacking our lives and putting things in their places. By Wednesday we have up for the most part which is good because Mr. Med School starts orientation on Thursday.

What’s good for me is that with Orientation begins First Week Parties! This is the week that the first years have events to introduce them to Small Town, South, the Med School and each other. Spouses are also invited which means that I can find other Med School Wife friends and people to hang out with when Mr. Med School has locked himself in the library. So through the first few days of dinners and drinks and donut breakfasts, we met lots of people(2), and I am sure that we will all be great friends(3).

1. Excruciating

2. None of whom's names I recall

3. If I can remember their names that is

Moving In

2009-08-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

So it’s move in day. We are about to downgrade from our spacious 3 bedroom townhouse to a small one bedroom condo. Mr. Med School’s parents came in to town to help us pack up yesterday and move today. I went ahead of the truck and family to open our storage unit (Which we ended up having to upgrade to a larger space (1)) and the condo.

So our issues began when I called our landlord who informed me that there was some confusion and the electricity had been turned off. Unfortunately the Power Company doesn’t work on the weekends. No power means no air conditioning and

No Air Conditioning + August in the South = Bad Time to Move Heavy Things

We made it through, sweaty and sore as we were. Unfortunately, we now have a dark apartment full of packed boxes and no air conditioning but on the bright side, we have an air mattress with a battery powered pump.

1. it is amazing how much stuff you realize you have to put it all in boxes

The Decision

2009-08-15T19:22:00.000-07:00

So we have done it. We have been accepted! My husband, Mr. Med School, and I have decided to pick up all of our belongings and moved into a 900 square foot apartment in Small Town, South so that Mr. Med School can reach his dream of having an M.D.

Wish us well on this new life adventure. Besides Med School the stresses of Med school, we are now looking for a house to purchase, looking for me a new job and looking for new friends. If you see any of these, please feel free to email me.