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  Last night was poker night.  I swear, even though I'm in a job where learning new things every day is a huge component and I love it, a new game is so much different.  Maybe because there is no such thing as a game.  Unless you call a fight to the death (or at the very least, the precipice of pride) a game.  But then I will slay you with my fearsome skills.  Such as revealing my awesome-o poker hand right before the final bet because I thought we were done with the round.   Argh!  Opportunity lost.

But when life gives you lemons make lemonade.  Or at least find a video on Youtube that is so hilarious, it makes tears stream down your face.

Manners!

On a scale of 1 to appalling, how bad is it to lick your thumb, press it in the crumbs from a delicious breakfast pastry and lick it, in full view of the general public at the local bakery. Yeah, I thought so. That's why I didn't do it although I really wanted to!

This past weekend, Mechen was out for a visit. It was awesome! I miss him so much and when he's here, I can't even believe that I get through my days without his (physical) presence. We do well with the phone and email, but I cannot wait until the long-distance days are behind us. Although it's still a long ways off!

So, Mechen came in late on Friday. I saw the baseball game, had a hot dog (yay!) and cotton candy (YAY!) and saw a great fireworks show after the game. It was pretty awesome, although there's no way you'd be able to tell by my iPhone photo. Damn shaky hands and smoky haze!

Saturday, Mechen and I went to the Mission for brunch. He ordered Papas Locos, an amazing mix of beans, crispy potatoes, avocado, egg, cheese, salsa. It ends up looking like a mess but it is so good! I got the French Toast, which is way more boring but we were splitting stuff and figured it was good to have a sweet carb-y dish and it was tasty!

We went to Coronado beach that day then went out to Bianco Rosso, a wine bar up the street in Hillcrest. Our waiter had the most RIDICULOUS Italian accent, to the point where we wondered if, really, was he just completely faking the funk. I had made reservations and when we arrived, we asked if we could wait for one of the two outdoor tables. The waiter promptly went outside and Mechen and I shot each other looks saying, "No, there's no way he's..."

He was. He kicked the people out from their table, "They have reeeeessserrrvations!" Granted, the girl had nothing in front of her and the guy had a bone-dry glass but oh.my. We did not see that one coming, except maybe with a sense of vague impending doom.

But it was delicious. And well-priced! We only meant to get appetizers but the portions were huge! The mixed bruschetta was amazing- four large pieces including tomato/pesto, tomato, lightly marinated mozzarella/pesto and fontina/mushroom. The meat and cheese platter was a little less impressive only b/c I wasn't a huge fan of the meats which were all sausage/salami variety, no prosciutto.

The next day, we had the best caramel soaked French Toast that was a combined effort. We made it the night before and Mechen dipped both sides of the bread in the caramel sauce. It totally elevated the dish. The bottom was a deliciously soft syrupy mouthful while the top had a crispy caramel glaze. Amazing! Later that day, we went to South Beach for some awesome-o fish tacos and delicious margaritas. Then we laid out on the beach for a little bit. Tons of SPF, never fear!

Monday, Mechen left in the afternoon...boo! We went to Bread and Cie for some pastries, which prompted the moral dilemma listed above. He made his flight and is now back in Norfolk safely. Happily, I get to see him in 1 and a half short weeks. Hooray for a business trip to DC!

Sport!

Every time I play softball, I always hum the "Put me in coach, I'm ready to play" song. And I just googled it and, in case you cared, the song is song by John Foggarty (really? unfortunately, I don't care enough to verify past the first Google hit).

Fortunately, I play softball rarely enough that I am saved from major nerd alert status. I played this Spring (terribly) and then the time before that was 7th grade. When I was probably getting major nerd alert status for other reasons.

This Friday, I'm going to a Padres game. Hooray! I love baseball games! Especially when I'm sitting in $14 seats for $12 AND I get a free hot dog and soda. Nosebleed seats hooray! Hot dogs, HOORAY!!! I don't normally eat hot dogs. Ever. Except at baseball games when I magically will away gross thoughts along the lines of, "What IS in a hot dog anyway. Especially a really cheap one?"

I haven't been to an American baseball game since the Colorado Rockies game about 2 years ago. The most memorable thing about that game was seeing the mile high demarcation line painted on the appropriate row of nosebleed seats. Seeing this was actually a disheartening experience b/c I thought Denver was the mile-high city, not just the tippy top portion of its stadium. Boo!

Book!

I re-read the most beautiful testament to love last night: On Alice by Calvin Trillin. It's a thin book that almost overflows with all the stories not told but what does shine through is his absolute, complete and beautiful love that he had for his wife Alice.

I love the shared experience of love. Whether it's the love I'm lucky enough to have in my own life or in some way share in another's life, I think it's a pretty awesome, amazing and lucky thing!

Usually love is a pretty positive thing. Assuming it's the real thing unlike, say, listening to Alanis Morisette and willing the phone to ring which may or may not have happened in my life circa 1996.

But positivity! Yes, that! It's a nice mindset and one I'd like to be in when I write in this blog. I feel like the first blog posts are always a little meta, but I hope to celebrate beautiful things, even if that joy encompasses everything from the deepest emotion to the superficiality of enjoying a truly brain-drain magazine like People. Although if you must know, I'm more of an US woman myself. Stars...they're just like US!

Tra-la-la!!!

So, April's come and almost gone. I'm now the oldest! I've! ever! been! after having a lovely birthday. I think it's pretty freaky to have my 20s almost behind me. Yikes! Although I like to think of myself as an adult, I've still retained the little kid notion of, "What? I could never be that old. That stuff is for other people."

But, I'm glad I'm here. I'm having the best time and completely loving life so if getting older comes along with that (and in fact, deepens my appreciation for how awesome life is) well, then, so be it.

I had an amazing time on vacation and then came back to...work. And it stunk. I barely operated this month since I was the juniorest junior on the blue team. There were four residents. Insanity. So I got to do a lot of scut work and got to watch others operate which is a little old since I've been doing that since I was a med student.

I also had a fair number of visitors this month. An awesome friend of mine from internship is coming to the hospital in July to start her cardiology fellowship. I hung out with her and her fiance one night and had the best time. I can't wait for her to come to San Diego, hooray!

Then the ship's surgeon came in last weekend for a conference. I saw her and her boyfriend. And their little dog, too! Pumpkin was very sweet and tres cute.

Three more days until I start my research months. Hooray!!!

Fall back, Spring forward!

Spring, Spring, I love Spring. I'm out on a deck in Suffolk, VA wearing a tee-shirt (and pants! never fear!) and it is the most perfect, beautiful temperature ever. Did you know a temperature could be beautiful? Me neither but once I'm in it, I remember.

Having a week off is such a tonic. I love having nothing to do, especially when I know it's a temporary thing. I do not think I could live the life of a lady of leisure, but it is quite nice to mimic it for a week.


I'm staying at this amazing home in Suffolk, which is owned by two people who are completely redoing it. And it looks like such a huge project. Originally, they wanted to open a B&B in the future, but I think that plan is shelved. But it's amazing to see a huge-scale project and all the effort and talent that goes into making it a success. The kitchen is absolutely beautiful (and done!)- amazing tilework, stone floor, granite counter tops (and not in a cheesy, "let me sell you a condo" type of way, just high quality, beautiful "Food and Wine" type of kitchen.


Tonight, I'm going to go to the Chrysler Museum of Art for Wine and Jazz, as long as Mechen gets off work in time. Well, I'm going to go early and check it out. Then, maybe, if they finish clutching in the port shaft (ha, ha, like I know what that means!), we'll go together.

Hi!

Where have I been? Ooooo, I know, I know! I've been busy with a whole lot of boring!

Yes, shockingly, the life of a junior resident is rather boring, at least on paper. I work a lot, woo-hoo! But things have been going really well and there are interesting stories but a medical blog- eh, that's the whole reason why I write a little bit now and then. To get away from the all-consuming medical-ness of my life.

But, after an insane-o start to the week, things are mellowing out and this weekend, I might even go for a hike. And finish all the little "to-do's" on my list so that my apartment is 100% ready-for-occupancy (read: host a dinner party without being embarrassed by my slob-o-ness). It's hard to get an apartment looking great when the bed is in the living room, but I think this week will be the week.

I'm also going on leave next week! Hooray! It's been a little while so it'll be great to get away. And then I have one more month before research which I can't WAIT for. Finally, I'll get some time to work on papers and still get to leave at an early time.