Something to think on for me

"Maybe it would be good if med school could marry someone else?"
"Well fortunately or unfortunately for me, med school is polygamous so the hope keeps going."

Not sure what this moment of decision means for me. I am not done with the "healing business." Since it looks increasingly less likely this year will mean med school (still praying hard though), I am looking at fulfilling alternatives to improve my application and make me happier then my current job, even if they pay less monetarily. Unfortunately, I cannot do this without an eye to the checkbook, so any job has to offer enough money for me to eat. And I love eating. I am a poor candidate for the "ramen diet". Now "pancake and crepe diet," I may be able to get behind something along those lines.

Kitchen knives in purses and other stupidities

I have been having a wonderful birthday. I appreciating being 28, a transition between years which is relatively easy, not a completely major adjustment. I am still young (despite the comments of a few irritating co-workers) and have a lot of time ahead to explore.

Mom flew in on Tuesday afternoon just in time for a birthday dinner. I had jokingly told Merissa and Mari I wanted Popeyes for dinner and they went overboard and took me to Nora. I admit a small group fried chicken dinner isn't exactly out of the ordinary, but Restaurant Nora maybe overboard!

For those of you familiar with Merissa's goings-ons, I will say her recent troubles make me realize what brilliant lawyer I could be if I just had the patience and the desire to sacrifice my life to argument. Doing research on a subject quickly (1-2 day period) and doing it every day is another story.

Alright, down to the headline story. Yes, I commited a complete betise and put a kitchen knife in my purse. Merissa gave it to me for my birthday Tuesday night. So when I decided to make this fabulous wild rice salad I wanted to use the new Santoku knife. Mom and I went grocery shopping nuts. Food for the century except focused on perishables (yeah fruit and veggies!). But in line to pay I reach into my purse for my Safeway card, totally forgetting the knife.

I tried to downplay how deep I thought it might be. After all, I was in a Safeway in DC. I didn't exactly want to admit I carried a big kitchen knife in my purse because I am a complete idiot. Nobody freaked out, but I did get tons of free bandaids from the store manager, who now knows who I am and thinks I am a dufus but NOT potentially homicidal (which is good, because that is the best grocery store in DC!). I kept asking the manager, really pleasantly and jokingly, for gauze or something. He kept offering bandaids or alcohol wipes. Finally we managed paper towels.

Another adventure with Malia. Good times.

Update on the move to a more healthy Malia

So I am not sure there has been any substantive weight change since I started last Tuesday night. I have until Wednesday morning before I start demanding a refund. But I have noticed that the focus on portion controls, and not really having much option but to eat less food as well as just having a more defined meal (its all there, I don't need to/get to add anything) have helped me a lot. I am still adding a few extras (double-bubble anyone?) mostly drinks. This weekend I ate a 2nd "dinner" of a salad (blue cheese and dressing and apples, mmm good). Saturday I ate well until I substituted dinner I didn't want for a large piece of pizza. And Sunday I ate brunch with Merissa and Samantha and had pancakes for lunch and then steak dinner with Rebecca and Steve.
So I am not totally with the Diet-To-Go program . . . But I added plenty of exercise yesterday when Merissa's dog, Clyde, decided "off-lead" meant "totally gone." Roughly an hour and a half later (my phone was dying and I was too stressed to pay attention to the time) a lovely couple who had grabbed the triumphant hunter/hound dog who was barking and circling a dead deer carcass. Clearly it was the biggest animal Clyde had ever seen. I think he was rather proud of himself for finding it. He was not at all repentant for the stress. My cute little black flats will never be the same. Kelly and I circled the nature reserve several times trying to find Clyde. Ironically the dog who really needed the long walk was Clyde, but Kelly and I sure were the ones to get it!

The Big Easy didn't go down so well towards the end

Thursday night after some fantastic food, and enjoyable company, I found myself hugging the toilet instead of enjoying NOLA flavor. I got a 24 hour/food poisoning bug. I don't want to blame the food because it was fantastic. But man did I feel like crap. And I missed out on beignets. I had saved them for an all out hog fest on Friday because our other mornings were too early. Guess it just means I need to return soon. I did enjoy it!

Busy work and busywork

Work has kept me busy. Emotionally contemplative and evaluating to office interplay and politics, but not mentally on my toes. I am looking forward to a learning curve in future jobs that has less to do with learning personalities and more with learning. Despite this, I am enjoying getting paid and being occupied. And just like everything else, this is a good learning work experience. It will be good experience anywhere that has office politics (which is any job, really).

On a more fun note, I love my kitty. Mischief is wonderful, with many lovable and hilarious quirks that make her real and not just a furry lump. When I got her she a little extra weight. I have been trying asiduously to help shave her down the a sleeker size. Apparently cat dieting is not my forte. I am seriuosly thinking she has gotten larger and not smaller. I had been feeding her the store brand cat food she came with until she ran out. Then I tried a natural IAMS chicken and rice blend. It worried me when she didn't seem interested in eating it consistently for the first few days. So I went and bought Purina ONE weight control. I had intended to buy the super natural kind from the pet store, but Metro had a hiccup the same day so I just headed to Safeway rather than possibly getting stuck somewhere away from home by the fire between Metro Stations. The long and short is that Mischief doesn't consistently love this one either AND she still seems chubbier. What is a kitty-mama to do?

Considering I have sick old dog at home with my parents, I am just hoping both my beloved animals can continue comfortably and healthily forever, though I know that is not realistic. My funny Oscar dog has been the best friend a growing girl could have. Unfortunately he hasn't felt up to causing trouble lately. I am praying he will feel better soon, that by the time Thanksigiving comes around Oscar will be up to enjoying some turkey and gravy.

Wednesdays possible

There is a distinct possibility that I will get to follow around a pediatric gastro-enterology doctor at Georgetown Hospital. I am super excited since that is the exact field that I am thinking of entering (at least this month). Cross your fingers and pray that this will work out long term with my job. Which has not materialized yet. Still waiting for the department of Homeland Security (hereafter known as "the man" or DHS) to get on the ball and determine that I am not : A) dead, B) a major felon, C) linked to the international network of unsavory people. Needless to say, this is a tremendous undertaking considering my super sketchy past (haha). Pray that this moves a little more swiftly. I would like to pay next months rent.

On a distinctly fabulous note, today I bought the America's Test Kitchen Family Baking Cookbook. I am very excited, even though some of the recipes are repeats of the ones in my other complete family cookbook. I can thoroughly recommend the original (its red). It is the best replacement to Betty Crocker's or Better Homes and Garden's ever found. Every recipe is a guaranteed hit and even has pictures and complete explanations that go from simple to extensive, great for the experienced or the never initiated cook. I can't recommend this enough.

I love cheddar

I love even pretty normal cheddar. Obviously fantastic is better (ex. Tillamook) but I will settle. What I do not love is low fat cheddar. I made the mistake of buying the low fat cheddar cheese sticks from Trader Joe's and have been cursing the $.40 I "saved" ever since. Seriously folks, cheddar is not supposed to taste like plastic. I suppose if I wasn't used to such fine quality cheeses it would be fine. Alas, maybe I am a cheese snob.

No, I didn't fall into a hole

I just have spent the last few days moving alot of stuff and keeping up with my MCAT class. Needless to say, not having internet at Samantha and I's apartment really bites. I miss being available and online most all the time. Especially to get distracted and play silly games. Though moving in to a new apartment is just as distracting, I must admit. Today I sorted out a huge chunk of the kitchen, trying to find room for Sam and my stuff. Which shouldn't be a problem . . . .but apparently not only do we both like to cook (and have the stuff to prove it), I love to buy food, even when I take a while to go through it. Luckily for me it doesn't have to be the eating (although I love to eat!). I just really like grocery shopping too. Urg. Canned goods have not yet found a home in the kitchen. Its getting a bit squeezy for sure!

As soon as I actually remember my own address (its new, ok) I will send out an email with that so you can send lovely housewarming cards or just consent to look at the pictures online, which I will be so excited to share soon.

On a happy note, I end. MCAT prep is going really, really well. My practice test on Saturday went swimmingly and I am really pleased with the strides I have been making for sure. Now if I can continue and completely blow them out of the water!

I wish I had forgotten longer. . .

After a day yesterday of stomach revolt, today I played it close, trying to rest and sleep and eat nothing. I still don't know what set off a truly uncomfortable episode, and while the nausea seemed gone today I still didn't feel up to par stomach wise. Even just drinking full glasses of liquid was beyond me. But I did make it out of the house for a brief period and managed to eat a bowl of soup, which is 1 meal more than yesterday. The knots in my muscles are less than appreciated and lend weight to the theory that the whole thing can be laid at a virus's door. Thank the Lord that the body is capable of healing, even when its not as fast as one would like.

Which leads me tomorrow, which I was hoping to take to lay low in preparation for Sunday in New York, moving Samantha and her ridiculous multitude of books down to DC. Fortunately (/unfortunately) I just realized I am taking another practice MCAT tomorrow. Great news for later. Sucks right now. Pray for recuperative sleep and a stomach that doesn't feel completely unglued tomorrow.

There's something about the Blommer

The science library at GU, that is. It just makes me want to write! Most obviously about myself and anything else I can think of. However today I actually have news and fun stories to tell!

Starting with yesterday. I went on an interview with my cousin Hope's company. It went really well. I enjoyed meeting the different company recruiters and dressing up to look the part. Office attire is so fun. The interview process lasted two and a half hours, though it was fairly free form, so its not like I was being grilled under lamps for that long. Although there was brief mention of finding salt and pepper.

By that time, I needed to catch a bus into town (it was in Mclean) and make the switch so Hope could have a car to come home in. I arrived barely ontime to my first MCAT prep course (ExamKrackers) and found out no the class or teacher. I hung out talking to another kid waiting, a 5th year senior from University of Missouri named Osa. After the interview, I was primed to make friends and connections with strangers.

The class, unfortunately, which was to have started at 2pm had been moved to 6pm. This was something I had been trying to avoid because it made commuting out to Dulles area of northern Virginia impossible. But I stuck around the District, shopped Marshall's and Target at Columbia Heights and ended up with a really cute pair of shoes, which placed different blisters on my feet than the ones I was wearing. It thundered and lightening royally and had started to spit rain about the time I moved from eating a sub for lunch to drinking Starbucks coffee (grande skinny vanilla, as always).

The torrents of sheeting rain had tapered to a soaking pour by the time I left to catch the Metro back to campus. But the walk to the Howard campus was several blocks. Even though I had time, I decided not to wait for the bus. I was going to enjoy the rain. Even though my glasses were impenetrable from rain drops and my nice ironed shirt (lets face it, it had already been had!) was completely soaked. I was very thankful I had worn a small cami underneath, since I would a been showing more than I am normally comfortable with! I had no hope of arriving anything less than looking like a drowned rat, when a Prius stopped at the curb and the man inside rolled down the window. I was a little sketched out until an umbrella was outstretched. I laughed and said, "you feel that bad for me? Thank you so much." I think I heard a "your welcome" from the car as it immediately pulled away from the curb, the window not even beginning to roll up yet. It was a wonderful thing to do and made my day. Probably even my week.

The class turns out to have been a sponsored one for Howard University students, so there were only three of us who did "belong." It also meant we were the three who had paid the most for the course! But though I think pretty much everything I learn in the class will be redundant, the repetition is exactly what I need to totally kick the MCAT out of the park, which I feel is a real possibility.

Class ran long. I ended leaving before it was done. I am guessing it continued for at least 20 more minutes. I had a bus to catch that left L'Enfant Plaza at 10:38, which I hadn't anticipated being problematic. Well, it was. Trains take longer at night. And guess what? The exit to the correct corner (D and 7th) was completely closed. When I left the Metro station the clock said 10:35pm. I started running up the escalator. And thought I had had gotten lost in a mall or something. Luckily I chucked my pride and asked for directions from a security guard right there because even after running down the block (in heels with blisters no less) I just barely made the bus. They were about to pull out. Since it was the last bus of the night, and it already arrived at 11:30 pm, I was completely sunk for public transportation if I missed it. Praise the Lord, I made it. It made for a long day, pretty rough. And I can't express my thanks to Hope enough for staying awake and about long enough to come get me at the bus stop, especially since she had to be up early this morning to leave for another round of work.

Thank you, Hope. For the many helps.

Lastly, a funny story from my best friend, who suffers through the trials and tribulations of being a middle school teacher in the Bronx for only 11 more days of school. Two years over with. Maybe they were well spent. I know you sure feel spent. So during the course of staff meeting with all the teachers, her principal notes that "she helps out with all the children on all 8 continents." For those of you not perfectly remembering your fifth grade geography and counting slowly in your mind (as I did) making certain that what just sounds wrong actually is wrong. There are 7 continents, and she is probably only involved with helping children on the 6 inhabited ones. Apparently now the teachers at the school talk about the outreach to penguin children.

You'd think

You would think that I would want to talk about my biochem final today. Which I most certainly did not ace (Malate has only a "6 degrees of separation" kind of relationship with Pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), but the confusion came because oxaloacetate can be pulled out for conversion by PEP carboxylase to become phosphenol pyruvate then gluconeogenesis. No where close to PPP. Yeah, ridiculously obvious mistake. Actually, it is, that is what is so depressing). But I am hopeful (and distinctly prayerfully pleading) that I could still pull out a pretty good grade.

Ok, so I did want to talk about it. But moving on. Today I wandered over to the Cathedral for a lookie-loo at fair going on. It was the May Flower Fair, or something like that. The Cathedral has this nursery on site, which I must admit to never having been to until today. So the lawn was covered in booths, selling handy crafts, fair trade clothing and carvings from India and Africa,cinnamon almonds. The further I wandered in, the larger it all became. There were teriyaki chicken places, a funnel cake booth (still bummed I didn't have any cash for that) and even a small Ferris wheel (really, REALLY small). So here is small snapshot of my day.
This is the Bishops's garden, actually the last stop on my tour. I feel really silly for not having explored this part of my neighborhood further earlier.
This was the accompaniment for the first part of the booths. The sound of the rides provided the soundtrack for the backside.
Because no acre of D.C. would be complete without the Civil War horse statue (This particular one actually needs greater research to confirm that it is indeed, commemorating the Civil War.)
The longest line to any attraction at the fair was to the ice cream truck.
This was actually the nursery that is an everyday business on the Cathedral grounds. Thought these blown glass globes looked like the old glass buoys my Nana collected. Plus, they were just beautiful.
For some reason Teddy Bear Vine just didn't seem to be an appropriate moniker for this plant.
So starts are joking tour of "What every Cathedral needs." Every good cathedral needs many monks praying. These are the back up guys, ready to rush out when the other guys get sent off to different homes. Unfortunately for them, the birds have found a permanent home for themselves near as well.Every good cathedral needs gargoyles. In this case, these grimacing bad guys seem closer to a kiss than warding off evil.
This Cathedral has a reminder that there was a fallen angel, one with feet of clay.
Ok, this seems a little more Hogwarts than Hunchback to me, but hey, whatever.
All the following (except the last) are in the Bishop's garden. This was particularly touching to me. It is plaque dedicating a bench to a deceased woman, from her parents.
The alum were are at their peak. It was lovely. I found this an emotive piece, a portrayal of the Prodigal Son. I love attempting to make cool shots of pathways. I just keep trying to get them right and make them interesting, to actually show some of what I see. Didn't happen this time . . . but not bad.
I could see that I had just missed the peak of the garden's blossoms. Despite that and the people everywhere, I truly enjoyed it. I would love to spend some more peaceful time there.

And because I always seem to end adventures on the sublime. . . I noticed this truck as I was leaving
Ever wanted to rob an ATM but didn't know how to arrange transportation from the caper . . . here you are. I am assuming this is likely the most ridiculously security modified van, and bears no actual resemblance to its other assembly line fellows in its resistance to theft, however it still seems rather disconcerting. Maybe its just me.

She is the onion queen, young and sweet

So I must admit. In another month I will have lived in DC for a total of 1 year and this is the first time I visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. It was amazing. (All the pictures from this particular outing are on the slideshow that is the currently on the right side of your screen.) I had planned on going down to the Mall, almost hitting a couple of tourists and then heading for a longer, harder bike ride on the Mount Vernon trail or up the C and O Canal. However I wimped out at the same time as my camera battery died and I realized despite the fact it was really warm outside (55 degree) and the fact that all the tourists around seemed dressed as though they were in Siberia (I mean, really, yelling at your kid 'cuz he took his gloves off because it was so so cold is excessive). However the wind was blowing and I was riding with thin running shorts on at "high speeds" against the wind. So took lots of pictures and then went grocery shopping. Which was good. I love cereal.

As for the onion queen, I saw them on sale and thought, "Mmmm, sauted onions, good idea." Then I got home and realized I had apparently had a similar thought recently while shopping. Twice. So anyone need two of my three bags of Trader Joe's onions, give me a call. Anyone of the 9 actually onions I own would be pleased to go home with some who will actually be able to use all of them!
Well, on to homework, then taxes. Good times, what can I say. The video is a quick (emphasis on quick) snapshot of the crowds around the Mall for the Cherry Blossom Festival, which started today and brought thousands to town. It really is spectacular to see Capital so adorned.

Despite

Despite possibly failing a test just now, I feel relieved and excited. I had a fairly good day overall. It was amazingly cold. The high was 32 degrees. Freezing. With windchill added in, it was cold enough to delay school in some Western areas of Virginia and Maryland. I got to school half iced over and just in time to miss the first physics question. But I got there in time! Biochem has started to speed up unnervingly but it buildings on foundations. This was smoothed over by the 'cup-o-joe' from Saxby's that went down smooth. Organic chemistry consisted of a question answer period that unnerved me more than anything. But Jonah, Andrew, Dave and I all went to Chipotle after, the Monday tradition, and enjoyed good food and random conversation.

I studied tout seule until our organic lab recitation (where the prof explains the upcoming). Then Lei-ann, Dorothy and I went to dinner (Subway for me). Later Greg joined us. It was fun. We talked about life and crap and everything. It got a lot more stuck in my head than would have otherwise. Lei-ann and I are planning to get together once a week to try this learning technique a little more often. Maybe others will even join us.

The test can be classified as nothing but difficult. However they seem more doable this semester. Somehow there seems to be more rhyme and reason to it all. Hurrah! Lei-ann drove me home (which was wonderful considering the walk to the car solidified my extremities to icicles) and I even got to flirt a little with a nice looking fellow in the elevator.

It should be noted at this point that my father, who has been going through trial by fire in his first teaching job, starting directly into the classroom as the lead teacher in two subjects, has decided to momentarily retrench in responsibility. What form that will take, everyone involved is unsure. Like everything else in my life away from DC and school, it leaves much . . . unsettled. However, I feel sanguine about the change. I know that all three people involved in these decisions are capable: my father, my mother, and God.

When 26 degrees seems warm

I got home just now from spending the long weekend in New York with my best friend, Samantha. Getting off the Chinatown bus in DC the temperature seemed balmy and warm in comparison to the wind chill and freezing weather of NYC. I had wonderful weekend, attending a party celebrating Samantha's roommate's birthday and meeting some of her friends. Saturday we went out to eat at an "Irish" pub just north of Columbus Circle on the upper West Side. We lunched on shepherd's pie and chicken pot pie. It was fun, but I definitely feel the need to make my own shepherd's pie that is better! I know that I can do it! That night we mellowed a little, watching that wonderful film "Joe vs. the Volcano," a Tom Hanks classic. Then we went out to meet with friends on the upper West Side, enjoying some bad NYC service.

Yesterday (for those of you who know and care?) football playoff happened. We watched all day. Or rather, Samantha and later her friend Emily watched. I read and occasionally paid attention. Though I have to say I was disappointed when the Packer's lost, because then Emily felt forced to make disappointed faces and take pictures of them. Actually, that was kinda fun.

After the weekend with wind chills taking the temps under 0 degrees Fahrenheit, DC at 26 (heading into the teens tonight) seems balmy with out the wind.

"O'Tasty"

Menu slipped under my door this afternoon.
"O'Tasty-We serve delicious Chinese food, subs, seafood, chicken, Szechuan, Hunan." Now that is a confused restaurant. My kinda folks, though. Chinese-Irish.

Sitting, studying, enjoying

I am sitting and studying. I just made myself a concoction from trader joe's mint hot cocoa, milk and espresso. Very close to a mint mocha but with less overwhelming chocolate flavor. I must say I did well. I set to start studying organic chemistry again after stopping to go out to dinner with my friend Colleen. And studying biology briefly with my mother on the phone as she drove to a dinner engagement (dad was driving, I promise that the first question I asked when she told me where she was!).

Today I saw an amazing feat (and feet). As I looked out my window at my desk cum dining table, I saw something fly toward the window of one the apartments in the building next door. From an extremely precarious branch, a squirrel had jumped to the sill. Slowly back and forth he moved, carefully inspecting for cracks, peering intently in as though he asking to be let in. He stayed in front of those windows for several minutes appearing confused why he couldn't get in. Then he scrambled on the sheer brick face of the building to the next set of windows over, repeat the routine, back and forth, searching, examining intently, confused why this wasn't working. He backtracked reluctantly, finally jumping from the perch of the window air conditioner to the spindly little branch. I held my breath as he made the jump, so precarious was the situation. However he made the leap successfully only to mournfully (at least to me) turn around to stare at the windows again, as though hoping he had been wrong before. My eyes finally left him and returned to my neglected work. Many minutes later I saw a squirrel sitting in the lee of a branch and the trunk of the tree staring at the same window.

The whole thing was so daring I applauded the intrepid little interloper-wannabe. But it did make me think twice about ever leaving my "safe" windows open again.

I would love to have taken more pictures today . .

But I always am leaving the library late and . . . no pictures. Sorry Merissa! But one great point of news (for me, anyway). I finished my last physics assignment of the semester. Now just a Organic chemistry paper and 3 finals to go and I am home free!!! Hurrah!

Oh, that lovely snow from last night left a not so lovely driving situation this morning. The temp today never got above freezing and this morning the roads were sheets of ice. I could hear them scraping Wisconsin Ave in front of my apartment at 2 Am last night. It was really good they did! As I walked to school, I thought about how incredibly likely I was to fall. But I didn't, thank the Lord. But as I was eating my luscious peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the science building today, I saw a friend with a wrist wrap. He had been walking his bike and fallen hard. Luckily nothing broken, but he did say that ER was filled with falls. The guy who sat next to him had a spiral fracture and had to be drugged up on morphine for the pain.

I promise to try not fall on the way home. D'accord?

In New York with Samantha

And it is really starting to get East Coast cold. I decided that since I had never been in to FAO Schwartz, we would try there. But  . . .  a long line started around the block and that idea fell by the wayside. I wasn't going to buy anything . . .  all of New York is starting to get all hopped up for Christmas. It is a very different change from Thanksgiving with Hope and the girls which was very laid back. And nice. I am feeling excited to get home and finish out my year strong in school. Really make a serious showing in my classes.

The trip up yesterday was very quick. I can't laugh enough about the great deal that are the Chinatown bus lines. 35 dollar round trips just seems insane. How can you make money at that? 

I will post pictures from up here tomorrow when I get home. Right now I am typing from Apple store which is really a cool structure. I am impressed. Then I think a quick walk through Central Park to walk off the Olive Garden lunch. And the enjoy the crisp air. I think I will definitely have opportunity to use my new "cashmere" scarf I bought to interchange with the wool one  I have been wearing so frequently already. I am impressed the wool one has done so well, since Mom and I bought them with Dad in DC my sophomore year in high school. That is a really long time ago!

Sorry for the scattered thoughts. I will talk more coherently again soon! 

Part Deux

Didn't have time last night to upload part two! This is the backside of the apartment.

Today it has returned to sunny. Orgo lab over and biology lab to come. I love performing experiments, but I am not really fantastic at writing them up. Ah well, what you gonna do?

On another note, I think Starbucks has now turned to adding crack to the coffee. Cuz gosh darn it I felt good after that morning cuppa! I felt intoxicated. Now after several hours the effect has worn off. But man, was that fun! Caffeine, the legal addictive stimulant. So I am drinking another cup. I really don't expect it to be as good this time. It's from the coffee stand at school.

Pray (or cross your fingers). My organic test monday night is looming large. I am pretty far behind in understanding and I need to catch up today. I feel like I have been taking vacation from reality but still showing up to school, which means I haven't gottten school work done or feel like I have truly taken a vacation. The ultimate in time waster!

I will publish part 3 of last night's video in the next post. I suppose that if I am going to try doing this video thing I should use a webcam and not my real camera, which takes such huge video file that I can even post a full minute at a time. But it sorta works!

(PS. No, even I am not sure what is up with my extensive use of exclamation points. I can't seem to stop it.)

Tests again . . .

It doesn't seem possible, but its again time for another round of test, a Thursday to Thursday week of academic recall goodness. I do love bio and that is first. So I trying to relax and study for all three tests with a laid back attitude that will allow all the information to go in the and the stomach to rest. We'll see. I think before I am too terribly old I will be buying anti-acids left and right. I think like most people, I put my stress in my stomach: sometimes by not eating, sometimes by over eating. Which in the end, really levels everything out anyway, doesn't it? For those of you worried about these things (namely my mother) no I am not losing more weight. Right now the stress eating is way out "weighing" (harhar, aren't I funny!) the stress not being able to eat. Which is ok. I can live with that.

For this day, anyway, things have settled a bit. My cousin Hope is on day 2 of the job she is not sure if she will like or survive through. I am praying that she will be able to see the whole thing as this cool challenge she just can't resist surmounting. She is so amazingly capable with everything that I just can't see her not doing pretty well. But what I know and what she thinks are different things. That is always the case.

Well, I should be off. You know, studying and learning and getting ahead and the like. We'll see, won't we!? Tonight I am excited because I have things ready to make chicken Parmesan. But what do you do as the side dish for that? I am going broccoli with everything because it tastes good and I can buy a pound frozen at Trader Joe's for something like $1.09. Its fantastic. But otherwise? Potatoes? Bread? what? I am just not sure. Have to think about it for a while.

And wonderful other news for me (not so good for Dad!). Mom is coming to visit. I am so excited. It will be really fun to have her around. And she is coming right after the round of tests so hopefully I will have some down time to hang out and relax with her. I am so excited! Another visitor!