I need it.

It's been way too long.
I have to go to a concert.
I need live music.....I NEED live music.

Snow for Spring Break

Ah....spring break. Historically, a week to escape the monotony of studies and prematurely induce spring fever in school kids of all ages. Today is the start of my spring break. I woke up this morning rather early for a "vacation" and looked out the window to see.....snow. Nope, I'm not in a tropical locale. Nor am I vacationing at a place where snow would be exciting and welcome--say Colorado or Canada--for skiing purposes. I'm in Ann Arbor where snow is neither exciting nor welcome, but rather dull and disappointing. This week is just like any other week for me except for not having to go to the whopping three classes I have per week. I'm still going into work and my concentration will be directed towards my thesis. Blech. I am so unmotivated! Spring fever has hit me and I'm in a town where spring is nowhere in sight. For example, I still have to finish my thesis and yet I'm daydreaming about a road trip I'd like to take this summer. Mapping out the route in my mind, where I'd like to stop, what I'd like to see, etc. but I have so much work still to do.

OK, enough bitching. I'm a big girl. I can handle the isolation. And the snow. :)

Elmo is tall in person

Elmo and his gang on Sesame Street

Jess and Josh made their first visit to Detroit today and for good reason: Sesame Street Live's "Elmo's Coloring Book". The beautiful Fox Theatre provided the magical setting for all of the little people's favorite Sesame Street Characters to come to life. Even as an adult, I was entertained with songs, colors, flashing lights, fake snow, dancing, etc. Josh was mesmerized. I was incredibly impressed with Detroit's Fox Theatre--Atlanta has a Fox Theatre as well and I thought Detroit's version was going to pale in comparison. No way!! IT WAS BEAUTIFUL! What a gem. After the show we stopped by the med school to visit Kyle while on a brief study break and he gave us a quick tour. Now I have a mental image of where he spends his time. A lot of his time. But I guess that's the life of a med student! Here's a *hug* for you for all of the hard work you're doing!

Do you have a certain song --or several--that no matter how bad or outdated it may seem to other people, to you it is still the song that you could listen to again and again? I came across "Love My Way" by the Psychedelic Furs when I was looking at potential ring tones for my new phone. I haven't downloaded it (yet), but I just found it on itunes :) I love this song! I heard it on the radio in the 80's and then there it was in the (bad) 80's movie "Valley Girl" starring Nicholas Cage. When I was a hostess at Ruby Tuesday's in high school it was on the house cd that played over and over and over again. This song was probably the only one that I didn't get sick of. Wait, "Don't Dream it's Over" by Crowded House definitely had staying power, too. Oh and for those of you who are younger and weren't necessarily exposed to early 80's music "Love My Way" was also in "The Wedding Singer".

I now own "Love My Way". I'm actually listening to it as I blog and I just can't help but dance a little bit. Why? I don't know.

Other 80's songs that have the same effect: "Hold Me Now" by The Thompson Twins (there is a funny story involving a late night party thrown by my parents and me waking up in the middle of it and dancing around my room in a stupor, half-asleep), a song or two by The Alan Parsons Project, "Overkill" by Men at Work (Colin Hay--lead singer--also has a great song on the "Garden State" soundtrack). And there are many, many more. These are just the ones that came right to mind.

Regarding current music, I'm lovin' the "Emblems" cd by matt pond PA. Thanks go to Kara for the introduction to their song "Lily Two" and Mark's enthusiastic review of the entire album. And thanks should go to Kyle for showing me that there IS some country music out there that doesn't involve a dog, a truck, or anything else I consider to be "country". But that doesn't mean I'm completely OK with country music set as the alarm clock....... ;)

I'm no spring chicken.....

Me at the Bar Crawl!

I'm not sure what I was thinking here.....but I think it had something to do with either:
a) another drink
b) the special "find the baby" cake
c) nothing in particular

What a weekend! Friday night was the SPH bar crawl fundraiser for Charity Hospital in New Orleans and we raised over $1200! The bars were packed-full and everyone had a great time. The only downfall: lots of very cold weather and snow. Oh well, the bars were cozy and warm. I was going to try and keep it from being a late night, but I ended up getting home around 2:30 am and then waking up at 7:45 to go judge the local middle school science fair. Boy am I glad they had coffee and breakfast waiting for us! I really loved walking around looking at all of the science fair projects--there were some smart cookies! Some of the judges were a little too rough on the kids--at least with their verbal comments made to each other. I tried to be as supportive and positive as possible with my comments, while providing constructive criticism when appropriate--they were 6th graders not grad students!! It did take more time than I thought it would.....I got home around 1:45 pm and proceeded to take a long and quite peaceful nap. I love naps.

The best news of the day? Kyle was putting aside the books for the evening and coming into town to see me and go to Steph's birthday party. Steph's parties are the best! Her boyfriend Matt is one amazing chef and good food is always a given. The menu: pulled pork aripas, chicken quesadillas, sweet cornbread with green peppers, and mini tamales---ALL homemade and delicious. Kyle and I mingled and ate and had a great time :)

Sunday turned into a movie-fest and Jess and I took Joshie out for a nature walk. The weather was beautiful, but the temp was still around 19 degrees. Snotty noses all around! Oh, and for those Grey's Anatomy watchers out there: what the hell is Meredith thinking?? If she goes through with what I think she's about to go through with, then I'm definitely less of a Meredith fan. Poor George....she's gonna break his heart.

Catherine, Ly and Me at Scorekeepers (yes, that's right, Scorekeepers)

Beth, Julia, Erin, AJ, Monsine, and Me at Oz

Matt and Steph the Birthday girl

Reprising my role as "Social Butterfly"

....Not really. But I have been out TWICE already this week and the week is still young, my friend. Last night Julia and I grabbed a beer and some food at BW3 after our late class. It was nice to get out and catch up. Today is Kara's birthday (Happy Birthday!!) and she had a few of us girls over for chocolate fondue and some girl time. I miss my friends! We don't have any core classes this semester so we really don't see each other on a regular basis. At least I haven't been able to make it out to get-togethers on a regular basis :-)

Friday night is the First Annual SPH Canal Street Bar Crawl. There are over 100 people signed up to run around Ann Arbor as part of a Mardi Gras themed fundraiser. Ugh. It will be crazy. Very crazy. But A LOT of fun.

It may be hard to believe, but Saturday night may even be crazier. Good friend Steph is having her Second Annual Birthday Bash. And no, she isn't turning two. Last year's bash was full of amazing food (courtesy of chef extraordinaire Matt), TONS of alcohol, and TONS of people. I think that 50 people have already RSVPd--and there are another 45 people who still haven't responded. Wow. I remember, um.......about the first 2/3 of last year's party. Hee. That was definitely the most "fun" I've had since undergrad and haven't had as much "fun" since.

I'm thinking there will be a lot of pics to post by Sunday night.

Who's sleepy?

I find it astonishing how fast a mess can accumulate. I've been on the go since last Wednesday night and have let things lie where they drop. So now I'm doing laundry and trying to straighten out all the crap lying around my room! Call me weird, but I honestly love picking up. I feel so much more at peace when things aren't cluttering up my space. I wish I felt the same way about studying.....you know, love studying. I did make a great effort yesterday and this morning to prepare for today's test. I started studying last week, actually, so I wasn't that much of a procrastinator. I think I did really well on it. Ask me anything about the childhood immunization schedule or public health surveillance systems and I'll give you an answer. Hopefully the right answer. Now I'm in desperate need of a nap.

On to more exciting stuff. Kyle and I went to the med school gala Saturday night and had a crazy time! Kyle looked very handsome all dressed up and I think I pulled myself together rather well ;-). We went out for Valentine's Day dinner at Andiamo's in the Renaissance Center beforehand and ate LOTS of great food. We were going to ride the elevators up to the top of the Renaissance Center to view the city, but were running short of time and I probably would have glued myself to the elevator floor for the trip: the elevators run up the outside of the building and we would have been heading up to the 72 floor. I haven't been the same since those freaky elevator dreams, but that's a story for another time.

The gala itself was full of dancing, watching a few med students drink a lot and get crazy (they work hard so they deserve a break), and the old and new dean get down with some students on the dance floor. We had a nice time :-)
Here's a pic of us at the Gala:

Woo-hoo!

This week is turning out all right. First, I found out that I'm not anemic and my thyroid is A-OK.....and I'm feeling much better, thank you. Next, I bought a very grown-up, very sexy little black dress for the med school Gala tomorrow night. Finally, I made an appointment to get my hair cut and highlights retouched (it's been since early November....) at the Aveda Institute here in town where advanced students perform the services (some people are afraid to go and receive bad hair care). Students = reduced price and no tipping! I'm all for that. I can get a hair cut for $15 and highlights for $47!! This afternoon, 2 hours before my appointment time I received a phone call informing me that my student called in sick and while I was silently panicking the receptionist informed me that I now have an appointment at the Aveda Exchange and I'll be receiving the same services, performed by a professional, FOR THE STUDENT PRICE! You guys out there are probably wondering what the big deal is. Well, I'm getting a professional color and cut (~ $250) for ~ $62. AND I'm not allowed to tip the pros either. Woo-hoo! I'm such a girl.

Now I'm off to buy a new pair of shoes, finalize Kyle's Valentine's Day present, and get my hair done. I love it!

Lotsa stuff...and the Superbowl!

I guess that the absence of a new post during the past week makes it look like nothing much has been going on in my life. I have no excuse besides the lack of a drive to post. I can hardly remember much of last week (so it can't be that exciting) but I DO know that I finally got my new phone in (congrats to those of you who made "the list"--just a joke....no, really, I'm not that popular or full of myself).
The phone is pretty fun and I spent several hours:
a) downloading real-tone ring tones to represent key friends and family
b) playing with the applications and personalizing fun stuff

I also remembering studying a bit, working on thesis stuff, and going to Pizza House. Oh, and I also gave up coffee. It was kinda a spur of the moment decision, but it felt right and so far I've stuck to it. I was never a coffee drinker (and rarely a caffeine drinker) until I started grad school and then I started having a cup a day to stay awake during the 2-3 hour long classes. Next thing I knew I was drinking a cup a day, every day, and got a nasty headache when I went without the stuff. THAT's the part I didn't like.....dependence. And the gradual loss of teeth-whiteness. I had great sparkling teeth. I was worried about the no-caffeine headaches so I went with a glass of Diet Mountain Dew in the morning to help wean myself off and I think it has worked! Ah, coffee. I'll miss you. Not to say that we'll never meet again--it'll just be a long distance relationship from now on, OK?

Speaking of long distance relationships, I spent a great weekend with Kyle. He had a few friends over to his place Friday night to go check out the Superbowl happenings in "the D". We went down to the Renaissance Center and then walked around Winterfest. It was packed and great to see so many people out enjoying the festivities. Way to go Detroit! Saturday we did some studying, made dinner, and then watched the documentary on the "Grizzly Man".......the unconventional bear-guy who was eaten by a bear out in the Alaskan wilderness. Interesting. Sunday: more studying, then the Superbowl. Kyle's roommate and one of his friends were in the half-time show as part of the Rollingstones' audience. We were watching the superbowl primarily to see if we could spot them in the show, but it was impossible. Too many brightly-colored people jumping around waiving their arms like crazy to spot anyone. Oh well.

I've started formulating a back up plan to put into place if I don't get into the PhD program. Everyone keeps saying that I'll get in, but I'm not so sure. So, so far my back up plan consists of: finding an epi job somewhere in the area, or Nursing school. I know....more school? In March I'm going to an informational session on a "second degree accelerated" nursing program. It would only take 15 months to complete and I'd be an RN. I'm considering being a pediatric RN...eventually a pediatric NP. I do have an innate interest in medicine and I've always excelled in the related subjects: biochem, anatomy/physiology, etc. But they haven't been courses as part of a medical program, so I may just fall flat on my face. I was a veterinary technician for several years, so I know I can handle the practical application (at least where animals are concerned). And I volunteered at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Hospital for 2 years and loved it. All of that info was to prove that this isn't as out of the blue as it may have seemed initially.

Now, my last item to do is to figure out why I'm sleeping 10-12 hours a night (coupled with the tendency to nap after dinner), why I have no energy, why my mood is all over the place, and why my ass is getting bigger. You're thinking that this all points to no exercising, right? Possibly, but I'm worried that my thyroid is acting up again. No good.

OK, I think that's enough personal info for this post!

Here is a pic or two from the weekend:

Matt and Kyle waiting for the People Mover

Tom Brady on the side of a building