Beware the extra credit opportunity...
Because sometimes you sign on for extra credit projects and find out from the professor that your group has to make a music video. And the professor picks the song. And we can't back out. Oh, god, what have we done?
11.10.2009
10.26.2009
Trying to take some time to smell the roses...
I'm a planner. I like to plan things. In advance. Like, way in advance sometimes. And I don't often take the time to enjoy what I'm doing, when I'm doing it where ever it is that I'm at (noooooooooo, don't end a sentence with a prepositional phrase!!!!). And when I'm overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I need to do and feel stressed, I plan even more and enjoy the moment a lot less.
But today I tried to stop and enjoy what beautiful NorCal weather we're having and the wind sweeping the fallen leaves through the streets and the smell of clean laundry and coffee crunch bar cookies baking in the oven. Oh, and perhaps most importantly, the tickle-y feeling of my husband lightly rubbing my feet. Love that. My house is tidied up and the dog is asleep in the "doggie doughnut" position and Michael and I are yuppy-ing it up on our laptops. He's checking out ESPN and I'm cruising the 10 or so cooking blogs that I've bookmarked. Right now I'm in the moment and it feels good.
I'm a planner. I like to plan things. In advance. Like, way in advance sometimes. And I don't often take the time to enjoy what I'm doing, when I'm doing it where ever it is that I'm at (noooooooooo, don't end a sentence with a prepositional phrase!!!!). And when I'm overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I need to do and feel stressed, I plan even more and enjoy the moment a lot less.
But today I tried to stop and enjoy what beautiful NorCal weather we're having and the wind sweeping the fallen leaves through the streets and the smell of clean laundry and coffee crunch bar cookies baking in the oven. Oh, and perhaps most importantly, the tickle-y feeling of my husband lightly rubbing my feet. Love that. My house is tidied up and the dog is asleep in the "doggie doughnut" position and Michael and I are yuppy-ing it up on our laptops. He's checking out ESPN and I'm cruising the 10 or so cooking blogs that I've bookmarked. Right now I'm in the moment and it feels good.
10.08.2009
Nothing but backwash in my can of care...
For those of you familiar with the origin of the "can of care" thing, my apologies. I do, however, I feel that it's apropos of the way I'm feeling right now. I am really struggling with staying on top of schoolwork what with the insane workload, prep for my exit exam, 2 out-of-town trips scheduled 2 weeks apart and home/life maintenance that has got to be done. You can only outsource and/or ignore so much stuff, you know?
This apathy is hard on me. I got B's on exams for two separate classes and, folks, I am NOT a B student. But apparently I am now. It wasn't for lack of studying, I just didn't retain the information. Also, I committed the cardinal sin of changing my answer after I had selected an appropriate response to the question. And I did it more than once. What the hell is wrong with me? I stopped myself from doing that back in March. Blarg. Before you say anything about grades not being that important, grades do matter when you know you're going to be one of 1,000 applicants for 15 slots at the only hospital in the Bay Area that is continuing its new grad hiring program. Boo. Also, taking ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) classes help but that's a whole weekend of studying and doing of homework down the tubes b/c now I'll be in this class. Plus it cost $225 (a discounted rate at that). Like I'm made of money or something. Or Michael since he's the one with the job. (Thanks, honey!) I better get a job, that's all I'm saying.
I keep telling myself that I will adjust my attitude and try to work harder/longer/sleep less/whatever the hell it takes to get through this but, man, am I tired. All I want to do is sleep. And you know, I haven't even been doing that much cooking. I cook, but I'm not trying out new recipes and I'm doing the cooking out of necessity rather than enjoyment. And that makes me sad because cooking is one of my favorite things to do. Especially since I got some seriously awesome birthday gifts in the form of cookbooks, ice cream makers and an immersion blender. We're talking about some serious kitchen loot and I've hardly touched it because I haven't had time. But as with all other things and the use of laxatives, this, too, shall pass. Not that I'm taking laxatives. Or that anyone needs to be. In fact, there are no laxatives here. Just forget I mentioned that part. Anyway, the light is at the end of the tunnel and there will be suntanning and fruity umbrella drinks when I get there. I am counting down the days.
For those of you familiar with the origin of the "can of care" thing, my apologies. I do, however, I feel that it's apropos of the way I'm feeling right now. I am really struggling with staying on top of schoolwork what with the insane workload, prep for my exit exam, 2 out-of-town trips scheduled 2 weeks apart and home/life maintenance that has got to be done. You can only outsource and/or ignore so much stuff, you know?
This apathy is hard on me. I got B's on exams for two separate classes and, folks, I am NOT a B student. But apparently I am now. It wasn't for lack of studying, I just didn't retain the information. Also, I committed the cardinal sin of changing my answer after I had selected an appropriate response to the question. And I did it more than once. What the hell is wrong with me? I stopped myself from doing that back in March. Blarg. Before you say anything about grades not being that important, grades do matter when you know you're going to be one of 1,000 applicants for 15 slots at the only hospital in the Bay Area that is continuing its new grad hiring program. Boo. Also, taking ACLS (advanced cardiac life support) classes help but that's a whole weekend of studying and doing of homework down the tubes b/c now I'll be in this class. Plus it cost $225 (a discounted rate at that). Like I'm made of money or something. Or Michael since he's the one with the job. (Thanks, honey!) I better get a job, that's all I'm saying.
I keep telling myself that I will adjust my attitude and try to work harder/longer/sleep less/whatever the hell it takes to get through this but, man, am I tired. All I want to do is sleep. And you know, I haven't even been doing that much cooking. I cook, but I'm not trying out new recipes and I'm doing the cooking out of necessity rather than enjoyment. And that makes me sad because cooking is one of my favorite things to do. Especially since I got some seriously awesome birthday gifts in the form of cookbooks, ice cream makers and an immersion blender. We're talking about some serious kitchen loot and I've hardly touched it because I haven't had time. But as with all other things and the use of laxatives, this, too, shall pass. Not that I'm taking laxatives. Or that anyone needs to be. In fact, there are no laxatives here. Just forget I mentioned that part. Anyway, the light is at the end of the tunnel and there will be suntanning and fruity umbrella drinks when I get there. I am counting down the days.
9.14.2009
There are times...
When I'm so frustrated with the administration at school and feel so utterly disenfranchised that I think I just can't bring myself to go back to campus or pick up a textbook. And I still feel that way for the most part. One of the faculty recently said that all students feel this way once they get over the hump and are just a few months from graduation. I remember feeling like I couldn't wait to be done with school that last time and I just kept saying "...finally, I'm finally going to be done" and I said it so often my mom had it piped onto my graduation cake. Thankfully, the person at the bakery was able to spell it correctly (I'm alluding to the cake my MIL brought to our rehearsal dinner that said simply "Tomorrow!" but the girl at the bakery could NOT, for the life of her, spell "tomorrow" without misspelling it. Repeatedly.)
But, today, I find myself feeling excited for the curriculum and for having had some really interesting experiences as a student. Right now we're doing simultaneous mental health and community health rotations and I'm really enjoying the mental health clinical portion. I'm sure I'll enjoy community health (home health and hospice rotation) but I don't start until tomorrow. Anyway, we have a lot of assignments for extra-curricular projects one of which is observing 2 self-help groups. We're supposed to do AA for one and then anything we want for the second one.
And I have to tell you, dear internets, that attending an AA meeting has to be one of the most interesting things I have ever done. It was absolutely fascinating. And the member were so friendly and welcoming. And they really do introduce themselves by saying "I'm Bob and I'm an alcoholic." And they celebrate anniversaries of sobriety. One member has been sober for 50 years, another 18 years and one 7 months. But everybody applauded these efforts no matter the length of time spent sober. They spent the meeting reading from the Big Book and everyone took turns reading a paragraph and then talking about what that paragraph meant to them. Or to make any other comment and it was humbling. The desperation, the struggle, the rock bottom-ness of it all was sad, inspirational, fascinating and surreal all at the same time. I'm glad I went. Thank you, SMU faculty, for assigning this project. I can't promise to try but I'll try to try to keep this in mind the next time I feel like I can't bring myself to go to campus.
When I'm so frustrated with the administration at school and feel so utterly disenfranchised that I think I just can't bring myself to go back to campus or pick up a textbook. And I still feel that way for the most part. One of the faculty recently said that all students feel this way once they get over the hump and are just a few months from graduation. I remember feeling like I couldn't wait to be done with school that last time and I just kept saying "...finally, I'm finally going to be done" and I said it so often my mom had it piped onto my graduation cake. Thankfully, the person at the bakery was able to spell it correctly (I'm alluding to the cake my MIL brought to our rehearsal dinner that said simply "Tomorrow!" but the girl at the bakery could NOT, for the life of her, spell "tomorrow" without misspelling it. Repeatedly.)
But, today, I find myself feeling excited for the curriculum and for having had some really interesting experiences as a student. Right now we're doing simultaneous mental health and community health rotations and I'm really enjoying the mental health clinical portion. I'm sure I'll enjoy community health (home health and hospice rotation) but I don't start until tomorrow. Anyway, we have a lot of assignments for extra-curricular projects one of which is observing 2 self-help groups. We're supposed to do AA for one and then anything we want for the second one.
And I have to tell you, dear internets, that attending an AA meeting has to be one of the most interesting things I have ever done. It was absolutely fascinating. And the member were so friendly and welcoming. And they really do introduce themselves by saying "I'm Bob and I'm an alcoholic." And they celebrate anniversaries of sobriety. One member has been sober for 50 years, another 18 years and one 7 months. But everybody applauded these efforts no matter the length of time spent sober. They spent the meeting reading from the Big Book and everyone took turns reading a paragraph and then talking about what that paragraph meant to them. Or to make any other comment and it was humbling. The desperation, the struggle, the rock bottom-ness of it all was sad, inspirational, fascinating and surreal all at the same time. I'm glad I went. Thank you, SMU faculty, for assigning this project. I can't promise to try but I'll try to try to keep this in mind the next time I feel like I can't bring myself to go to campus.
9.01.2009
Resolution update...
Remember these?
1. Make bread from scratch (no cheating with a bread machine)
2. Donate blood at least 4 times this year (can't do more it more than every 8 wks)
3. Try 3 new recipes every month
4. Do some container gardening...maybe some tomatoes, a pepper plant and some herbs?
5. Meet more of our neighbors besides just the couple next door
6. Do some sort of exercise (besides walking the dog) a minimum of 3 times a week
7. Try at least 3 new restaurants on Murphy Street (there's at least 12 and we eat at the same one every time)
8. Work on being more consistent with my tennis game
9. Hang pictures on the walls that do not feature any member of our families
10. Spend Christmas in Hawaii
11. Make this blog more aesthetically appealing (gotta have a stretch goal)
Well, since I'm so boring a lame and hardly ever post these days, I'm going to pinch hit here and give you a little update on my progress. I still haven't done #1 but then, it's been hot and we don't have air conditioning. I've spied Ina's recipe for Irish soda bread which is not, by the way, the same as the Irish bread we make every year during the holidays and whose recipe I cannot ever share with anyone (Great-Nana Breen's family secret) but I don't think that counts anyway. I'm thinking more like a really good honey whole wheat. Anyway, I'll get there.
Re: #2. Oh, hell, that's a funny story. So, I have given blood 2x so far this year and I just realized I'm due to go back but that's not the funny part. The funny part is how on June 24th, the last time I donated blood, I got pulled over for an incomplete stop at a stop sign because I got lost while trying to find the donation place. And the officer asked me where I was going and I told him "I'm going to give blood." Yeah, I'm sure he believed that one. And he goes off to write my ticket because CA is in a massive budget crunch in case you hadn't heard and do you know how much it was? $212. $212!!!!! For an incomplete stop! Fck. Anyway, it's time to give blood again and I have made damned sure that I have stopped for a full 3 seconds at every stop sign since and you can bet I'll be extra careful when I drive to my next appointment.
Re: #3, I'm right on track. You can head over here to see some of the tasty things I've made as well as the other fabulous recipes we've tried.
Re: #4, I'm only moderately successful here. My herbs are fine although the basils are going south for some unknown reason and the cilantro died before I could transplant it. My cherry tomatoes are starting to come in but I've only seen a handful of the green zebras. The heirlooms, well, that plant hasn't produced a thing. Durr. As for the pepper plant, it said bell pepper on the marker but they sure look like little banana peppers or something besides bell pepper. Better luck next year, I suppose.
Re: #5, we met 2 more neighbors and continue to introduce ourselves to other neighbors while out for walks. Regrettably, we weren't able to participate in the national "Night Out" this summer so we missed an opportunity to meet more neighbors.
Re: #6, well, I have that one in spades. I work out 5 times a week and sometimes as many as 7 times a week depending on my schedule. I'm a big fan of the "Biggest Loser" DVDs and I have 3 Jillian DVDs. Love them. I don't love that I pulled my triceps muscles this weekend when I upped the handweights to 8lbs but I do love that I recently purchased pants and a skirt with a single-digit size tag. I haven't seen that number in years. Years, people. So long ago, in fact, that I can't even remember the last time I bought something in that size. 9th grade or 10th grade, maybe?
Re: #7, we recently tried the 3rd new restaurant and it was pretty tasty.
Re: #8, as always, my tennis game is a work in progress. I've developed a strategy for beating Michael but with his enormous wingspan and my remaining placement inconsistencies, I'm successful only about half the time. I'm also working on my serve and am constantly struggling against the bad habit of backing up while following through with my swing. That's never a good strategy.
As for the rest, well, you can see I haven't touched #11. #10 won't happen until December and I really have no excuse for #9. We just need to spend some time framing a few photos and putting them up. How hard is that, anyway? And yet, it's still not done. It's all a work in progress, right?
Remember these?
1. Make bread from scratch (no cheating with a bread machine)
2. Donate blood at least 4 times this year (can't do more it more than every 8 wks)
3. Try 3 new recipes every month
4. Do some container gardening...maybe some tomatoes, a pepper plant and some herbs?
5. Meet more of our neighbors besides just the couple next door
6. Do some sort of exercise (besides walking the dog) a minimum of 3 times a week
7. Try at least 3 new restaurants on Murphy Street (there's at least 12 and we eat at the same one every time)
8. Work on being more consistent with my tennis game
9. Hang pictures on the walls that do not feature any member of our families
10. Spend Christmas in Hawaii
11. Make this blog more aesthetically appealing (gotta have a stretch goal)
Well, since I'm so boring a lame and hardly ever post these days, I'm going to pinch hit here and give you a little update on my progress. I still haven't done #1 but then, it's been hot and we don't have air conditioning. I've spied Ina's recipe for Irish soda bread which is not, by the way, the same as the Irish bread we make every year during the holidays and whose recipe I cannot ever share with anyone (Great-Nana Breen's family secret) but I don't think that counts anyway. I'm thinking more like a really good honey whole wheat. Anyway, I'll get there.
Re: #2. Oh, hell, that's a funny story. So, I have given blood 2x so far this year and I just realized I'm due to go back but that's not the funny part. The funny part is how on June 24th, the last time I donated blood, I got pulled over for an incomplete stop at a stop sign because I got lost while trying to find the donation place. And the officer asked me where I was going and I told him "I'm going to give blood." Yeah, I'm sure he believed that one. And he goes off to write my ticket because CA is in a massive budget crunch in case you hadn't heard and do you know how much it was? $212. $212!!!!! For an incomplete stop! Fck. Anyway, it's time to give blood again and I have made damned sure that I have stopped for a full 3 seconds at every stop sign since and you can bet I'll be extra careful when I drive to my next appointment.
Re: #3, I'm right on track. You can head over here to see some of the tasty things I've made as well as the other fabulous recipes we've tried.
Re: #4, I'm only moderately successful here. My herbs are fine although the basils are going south for some unknown reason and the cilantro died before I could transplant it. My cherry tomatoes are starting to come in but I've only seen a handful of the green zebras. The heirlooms, well, that plant hasn't produced a thing. Durr. As for the pepper plant, it said bell pepper on the marker but they sure look like little banana peppers or something besides bell pepper. Better luck next year, I suppose.
Re: #5, we met 2 more neighbors and continue to introduce ourselves to other neighbors while out for walks. Regrettably, we weren't able to participate in the national "Night Out" this summer so we missed an opportunity to meet more neighbors.
Re: #6, well, I have that one in spades. I work out 5 times a week and sometimes as many as 7 times a week depending on my schedule. I'm a big fan of the "Biggest Loser" DVDs and I have 3 Jillian DVDs. Love them. I don't love that I pulled my triceps muscles this weekend when I upped the handweights to 8lbs but I do love that I recently purchased pants and a skirt with a single-digit size tag. I haven't seen that number in years. Years, people. So long ago, in fact, that I can't even remember the last time I bought something in that size. 9th grade or 10th grade, maybe?
Re: #7, we recently tried the 3rd new restaurant and it was pretty tasty.
Re: #8, as always, my tennis game is a work in progress. I've developed a strategy for beating Michael but with his enormous wingspan and my remaining placement inconsistencies, I'm successful only about half the time. I'm also working on my serve and am constantly struggling against the bad habit of backing up while following through with my swing. That's never a good strategy.
As for the rest, well, you can see I haven't touched #11. #10 won't happen until December and I really have no excuse for #9. We just need to spend some time framing a few photos and putting them up. How hard is that, anyway? And yet, it's still not done. It's all a work in progress, right?
8.18.2009
That sucked...
I just took my critical care comprehensive final and it was, by far, the worst exam I've ever taken. I know I've said that before but, seriously, this one was the worst. So, to cheer myself up, I'm embarking upon some baking therapy and then I'm going to work out and then I'm sitting down to a nice mixed drink of vodka and blood orange soda over ice. I'm going to sit in my backyard and read the NYT and relax. Can't wait.
I just took my critical care comprehensive final and it was, by far, the worst exam I've ever taken. I know I've said that before but, seriously, this one was the worst. So, to cheer myself up, I'm embarking upon some baking therapy and then I'm going to work out and then I'm sitting down to a nice mixed drink of vodka and blood orange soda over ice. I'm going to sit in my backyard and read the NYT and relax. Can't wait.
7.29.2009
A visit with an old friend...
A book friend, that is. So, like a lot people I know, I read in bed before falling asleep. And before Michael can make a comment about how I fall asleep before reading 3 pages of anything, I'll just out myself right now. Since I can't stay awake long enough to read more than 3 pages, I usually read books that I've read before like Harry Potter or Calvin & Hobbes. But this time as I was perusing the book shelf, my eyes fell upon "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret." What fun to reread that book, a book I have read a hundred times since 4th grade. It's the original book I purchased from the Little Professor bookstore that used to be next to Giant but then became the pizza place which then got bought out by Giant when they expanded in the late 80's. Not that you care about the bookstore or Giant.
Anyway, the book has a huge cherry KoolAid stain on it and is a bit dog eared from being so loved. It was fun and silly and I'm so glad I picked it up. I just love rereading some books; it truly is like visiting with an old friend. I'm also rereading "Island of the Blue Dolphins" which Mr. Paone read to us in 6th grade. Scott will probably remember that. Before that it was HP and the Half-Blood Prince. I'm not sure which book will be next (I can guarantee it won't be a new book until the end of August when I'm on break)...maybe some Little House books. I just looooooove the Little House books. Like, love so much that when I commented to a boyfriend that I wished I had a new set and was bummed that my parents didn't get it for me for X-mas he bought me a set. And then I kept it when he tore out my heart and squished it flat. Normally, I would have burned and/or thrown away such a gift but not the Little House books. That would be sacrilege. Just thinking about it makes me want to wander over to the bookshelf and pick up a book. I think I'll start from the beginning. Do you have favorite books that you like to reread?
A book friend, that is. So, like a lot people I know, I read in bed before falling asleep. And before Michael can make a comment about how I fall asleep before reading 3 pages of anything, I'll just out myself right now. Since I can't stay awake long enough to read more than 3 pages, I usually read books that I've read before like Harry Potter or Calvin & Hobbes. But this time as I was perusing the book shelf, my eyes fell upon "Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret." What fun to reread that book, a book I have read a hundred times since 4th grade. It's the original book I purchased from the Little Professor bookstore that used to be next to Giant but then became the pizza place which then got bought out by Giant when they expanded in the late 80's. Not that you care about the bookstore or Giant.
Anyway, the book has a huge cherry KoolAid stain on it and is a bit dog eared from being so loved. It was fun and silly and I'm so glad I picked it up. I just love rereading some books; it truly is like visiting with an old friend. I'm also rereading "Island of the Blue Dolphins" which Mr. Paone read to us in 6th grade. Scott will probably remember that. Before that it was HP and the Half-Blood Prince. I'm not sure which book will be next (I can guarantee it won't be a new book until the end of August when I'm on break)...maybe some Little House books. I just looooooove the Little House books. Like, love so much that when I commented to a boyfriend that I wished I had a new set and was bummed that my parents didn't get it for me for X-mas he bought me a set. And then I kept it when he tore out my heart and squished it flat. Normally, I would have burned and/or thrown away such a gift but not the Little House books. That would be sacrilege. Just thinking about it makes me want to wander over to the bookshelf and pick up a book. I think I'll start from the beginning. Do you have favorite books that you like to reread?
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