I'm heading to bed because tomorrow morning we're going to try to get up at 7am (that's when we got up to take the boards!!) and go out to the beach and cut-throat for the good shells. We've collected some really great ones so far (I have an awesome picture of them all on our window sill but it's on my big camera and I haven't loaded the pictures yet) but they're all small-ish. It would be cool to just find one medium-large shell. I keep finding pieces of ones that must have been huge so I know they're out there.
This evening when we came back in from the beach to get ready for dinner, we were emptying out our shell bags and Glen found a quarter-size crab in one of his, so he walked back to the beach to return it to its home. He was back sooner than I expected and he gestured that I should come out -- he told me there was a water tornado off the shore! Some lightning and thunder had started to come from those classic huge Florida clouds while we were still on the beach, but this was a whole different level of storm. I got to see the end -- a huge white twister, S-shaped, kicking up a huge mess of water where it touched down on the Gulf. This was framed by lightning and, to the left, a rainbow. And the whole time it was sunny where we were.
Oh, and before we had come in, there was a dolphin right where we had been playing frisbee in the water 10 minutes earlier.
It's so awesome down here. Have I said that before?
Monday, June 25, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Saturday, June 23, 2007
AAHHHH!
I had to pluck out my first white eyebrow hair this morning. It's all downhill from here.
I've been noticing a lot more white hairs lately too. I used to always have one or two from when I was young, but now there are a dozen. A few are just about six inches long, meaning they started growing out white during the first year of med school. I noticed Glen get his first bunch of white hairs while we were applying for med school. The stress literally made us go white!
Other than that, it was nice to finally have a chance to do some primping this morning. My eyebrows were the last thing on my mind for the past few weeks. I cut all my nails all the way down because the beach has a way of destroying them. It was slightly heartbreaking because before that they were the longest they had ever been. That's what 5 weeks of doing nothing but turning pages will do for you. (I'm pretty girly about my nails.)
I think we're going to head out for a late brunch now at this diner we found last time we were on Sanibel. I'm afraid to head down to the tiki bar right at lunch time -- the hotel is so much more crowded than it was when we were hear this past August! I think there are two reasons.
Oh maybe I didn't explain the tiki bar -- it's an open air bar next to the pool, on the way to the beach that also serves snacks, hamburgers/hot dogs, and sandwiches including an awesome chicken salad on a croissant. We found out that it's actually one of only two open air bars on the whole island so we're so lucky it's at our hotel. It only seats like ten people so it's not like a huge loud scene, just someplace you can have lunch while you enjoy the breeze. And you can bring your food/drinks out to the beach which is just the awesomest.
Good luck to everyone studying -- you'll be done soon and being done really is amazing.
I had to pluck out my first white eyebrow hair this morning. It's all downhill from here.
I've been noticing a lot more white hairs lately too. I used to always have one or two from when I was young, but now there are a dozen. A few are just about six inches long, meaning they started growing out white during the first year of med school. I noticed Glen get his first bunch of white hairs while we were applying for med school. The stress literally made us go white!
Other than that, it was nice to finally have a chance to do some primping this morning. My eyebrows were the last thing on my mind for the past few weeks. I cut all my nails all the way down because the beach has a way of destroying them. It was slightly heartbreaking because before that they were the longest they had ever been. That's what 5 weeks of doing nothing but turning pages will do for you. (I'm pretty girly about my nails.)
I think we're going to head out for a late brunch now at this diner we found last time we were on Sanibel. I'm afraid to head down to the tiki bar right at lunch time -- the hotel is so much more crowded than it was when we were hear this past August! I think there are two reasons.
- Last time we were hear, we checked in Sunday night and left early Saturday morning. We hardly saw the weekend crowd at all, which is what we're experiencing now.
- My neighbor on the plane mentioned that August and September are the real off months (i.e. when we were hear last time). I thought that June's heat would keep people away just as much as in August, but I guess there's a lower chance of hurricanes earlier in the summer.
Oh maybe I didn't explain the tiki bar -- it's an open air bar next to the pool, on the way to the beach that also serves snacks, hamburgers/hot dogs, and sandwiches including an awesome chicken salad on a croissant. We found out that it's actually one of only two open air bars on the whole island so we're so lucky it's at our hotel. It only seats like ten people so it's not like a huge loud scene, just someplace you can have lunch while you enjoy the breeze. And you can bring your food/drinks out to the beach which is just the awesomest.
Good luck to everyone studying -- you'll be done soon and being done really is amazing.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
WOAH that last post was my 100th post!!!!! I think it was a pretty good one.
Here's a link worth checking out:
100 Greatest Movies
Here's a link worth checking out:
100 Greatest Movies
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
I feel so exhausted. Hopefully that means I will be able to fall asleep tonight. Glen and I quizzed each other on the 'rapid review' section of First Aid and after that I just felt DONE. There was of course another dozen things I would have like to have time to look over, but I don't think I can study any more. We made a simple dinner of pasta with just olive oil and cheese and a salad to try to minimize the heartburn factor tonight for me. Now we're going to watch the tutorial on how to take the test to save that 15 minutes tomorrow morning (and add it to our lunch break), make our lunches, and get everything else we can think of together. Then to bed as early as possible so that the two hours it takes me to fall asleep doesn't go too late tonight.
We walked over to the testing center today to time the walk and see if we could find the place. The Curtis Center is beautiful, and the testing room seems nice enough. My hiccups are coming more and more frequently so I know that I am going to be the annoying disruptive one in the room -- I just can't seem to catch them and swallow them before they pop out of my mouth.
I don't feel particularly stressed, but I don't actually feel ready either. I think I sort of know everything, but know very little well. Microbiology and antibiotics are going to kill me. And anatomy. But at least it will be over, and we won't have to think about it until our scores come out in the middle of July. I think I'll pass so that's fine; I don't want to do anything particularly competitive. But I think Glen might want to, so I hope that he can kick the test's butt tomorrow.
T minus 12 hours.
Goodnight!
We walked over to the testing center today to time the walk and see if we could find the place. The Curtis Center is beautiful, and the testing room seems nice enough. My hiccups are coming more and more frequently so I know that I am going to be the annoying disruptive one in the room -- I just can't seem to catch them and swallow them before they pop out of my mouth.
I don't feel particularly stressed, but I don't actually feel ready either. I think I sort of know everything, but know very little well. Microbiology and antibiotics are going to kill me. And anatomy. But at least it will be over, and we won't have to think about it until our scores come out in the middle of July. I think I'll pass so that's fine; I don't want to do anything particularly competitive. But I think Glen might want to, so I hope that he can kick the test's butt tomorrow.
T minus 12 hours.
Goodnight!
I just wanted to give everyone a heads up -- I know from my upstairs neighbor who teaches elementary school that today is the last day of classes in Philadelphia (well, at least for elementary schools I guess).
Prepare for a ruckus on the streets at about 2:30 and then hoards of scantily clad pre-teens wandering around (especially near South Street) for the rest of the summer.
Today is kind of my last day of classes too... well last day of learning. I'm not pushing it too hard today, just a section on the kidneys, review some biochem pathways, and look up a few things that are bugging me because I can't remember them fully. Glen had a nightmare a few nights ago that he just couldn't remember something / figure it out for the whole dream; it was like a mental torture. I'm trying to avoid that both in my dreams and when I'm actually taking the test.
Prepare for a ruckus on the streets at about 2:30 and then hoards of scantily clad pre-teens wandering around (especially near South Street) for the rest of the summer.
Today is kind of my last day of classes too... well last day of learning. I'm not pushing it too hard today, just a section on the kidneys, review some biochem pathways, and look up a few things that are bugging me because I can't remember them fully. Glen had a nightmare a few nights ago that he just couldn't remember something / figure it out for the whole dream; it was like a mental torture. I'm trying to avoid that both in my dreams and when I'm actually taking the test.
I was just checking out this slide show of a wedding on theknot.com:
http://weddings.theknot.com/
The couple had their reception at the Down Town Club where we are, and from the one photo and short description of the church, I think they got married at Old St. Joseph's, one block from Old St. Mary's. It looks like they took pictures in the historic parks where I want to also.
What struck me as funny is the one picture of a place card reading "10th and Locust Streets" -- I know a lot of couples try to think of interesting names for their reception tables instead of just simple numbers, often naming them after places important to them. Unless one of them is a Jefferson student, the only other thing at 10th and Locust is Locust Bar, and I don't think you want to bring up any memories you made there at your wedding...
http://weddings.theknot.com/
The couple had their reception at the Down Town Club where we are, and from the one photo and short description of the church, I think they got married at Old St. Joseph's, one block from Old St. Mary's. It looks like they took pictures in the historic parks where I want to also.
What struck me as funny is the one picture of a place card reading "10th and Locust Streets" -- I know a lot of couples try to think of interesting names for their reception tables instead of just simple numbers, often naming them after places important to them. Unless one of them is a Jefferson student, the only other thing at 10th and Locust is Locust Bar, and I don't think you want to bring up any memories you made there at your wedding...
Monday, June 18, 2007
After 5 Years In U.S., Terrorist Cell Too Complacent To Carry Out Attack
"We remain wholly committed to the destruction of America, the Great Satan," al-Sharif said. "But now is not a good time for us. The season finale of Lost was such a cliff- hanger that we have to at least catch the first episode of the new season. After that, though, death to the infidels."
So if you've ever met me, you probably know that I hiccup all the time. Mostly they're just single hiccups, but they come more and more frequently until I finally get an attack of the hiccups that can last 5 minutes or come and go for two days. (It's not so bad -- when I was a junior in high school and we were all Big Sibs for 7th and 8th grade classes, someone's little sib had to be hospitalized because she hadn't stopped hiccuping for a week. Mindy, was she yours?)
Over the past year, I've realized that the hiccups must be stress-related in some way because I usually get one of these attacks the day before, of, or after an exam. And so as you would expect, the days up to the exam I get a hiccup increasingly often.
Now I've got the exam of all exams coming up in just two days. I hiccup about every hour, and really loud. I got a mini attack a few days ago, but they didn't go away after that. I'm not super worried about getting an attack during the exam, but I know I will at least hiccup a few times. Usually I don't try to hold them in because that's kind of painful and it usually doesn't matter. I promise I will try during the exam, but sometimes they catch me by surprise. Anyway, I just wanted to apologize in advance to anyone who is in the same room as I am on Wednesday.
Over the past year, I've realized that the hiccups must be stress-related in some way because I usually get one of these attacks the day before, of, or after an exam. And so as you would expect, the days up to the exam I get a hiccup increasingly often.
Now I've got the exam of all exams coming up in just two days. I hiccup about every hour, and really loud. I got a mini attack a few days ago, but they didn't go away after that. I'm not super worried about getting an attack during the exam, but I know I will at least hiccup a few times. Usually I don't try to hold them in because that's kind of painful and it usually doesn't matter. I promise I will try during the exam, but sometimes they catch me by surprise. Anyway, I just wanted to apologize in advance to anyone who is in the same room as I am on Wednesday.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
OK only a few more days of this, I promise. The 21st is now set to be sunny with a high of 84 degrees, so it's actually getting nicer. Although it's so late now that that might be tomorrow's forecast for Thursday. I hope this is how it turns out next year :)
I'm not sure why I'm so obsessed with the weather. This 21st thing is a little different, but I generally open up weather.com several times per day. Maybe because it's a good procrastination tool -- it's always changing but only a little so it doesn't distract you very much. Also, I'm always planning several days ahead and I like to know the weather so I have a complete idea of what that day is going to be like.
I'm also a little obsessed with checking the headlines throughout the day and especially when I get up in the morning, but I know why that is. The morning of September 11th it was my first week at college and I was just barely getting into my schedule so I woke up at around 10am for an 11am class and never heard anything until I was starting to walk across (a very weirdly empty) campus. By the time I found out, it was completely over. So now 6 years later I still check the news as soon as I get up to see if anything happened while I was sleeping, and then again throughout the day because just sitting and studying I am so cut off from the real world.
I did get out into the real world a little bit today -- went back to study on the front steps. Had to come in the first time right after lunch because it was actually too hot in the sun (and I was worried I was going to burn) but at around 5pm it was perfect out in the shade. I have an hour long mp3 of the sounds of waves crashing, so I listened to that on my iPod for some white noise and to up the relaxation if at all possible. What would also make it more relaxing is if the city could hang a One Way arrow at the intersection of 9th and Lombard... I guess the fact that the north-south street alternate directions isn't enough for people because every day I see someone turn left from Lombard into the oncoming traffic on 9th street. Usually there is a lot of honking and then the person has to back into the intersection. I'm amazed that I haven't actually witnessed a crash from this problem yet, but if I do enough more studying out there I'm sure I will eventually.
Oh that reminds me that last week I also watched a 10-wheeler trunk back up 9th street. He was technically going the right way, but he was facing backwards. I don't remember what I was doing at the time that I couldn't watch to see how this issue was resolved, but I really can't imagine where or how he got himself turned back around. I guess if he backed past an intersection he could then turn onto that intersection, hopefully in the right direction this time? But there was a cop kind of directing him so he didn't side swipe any cars (read: my car) and he had been backing up since about South Street and had already crossed Rodman and Lombard, headed towards Pine so I don't know what the plan was. He was breaking all of the branches of the trees that line my block because nothing that huge ever drives up our street forward, let alone backwards!!
Lastly, today opened a fifth week in the little 'archive' list to the left, so that means this is my fifth Sunday of studying, as well as blogging. That's a little too much studying if you ask me. Almost there.
I'm not sure why I'm so obsessed with the weather. This 21st thing is a little different, but I generally open up weather.com several times per day. Maybe because it's a good procrastination tool -- it's always changing but only a little so it doesn't distract you very much. Also, I'm always planning several days ahead and I like to know the weather so I have a complete idea of what that day is going to be like.
I'm also a little obsessed with checking the headlines throughout the day and especially when I get up in the morning, but I know why that is. The morning of September 11th it was my first week at college and I was just barely getting into my schedule so I woke up at around 10am for an 11am class and never heard anything until I was starting to walk across (a very weirdly empty) campus. By the time I found out, it was completely over. So now 6 years later I still check the news as soon as I get up to see if anything happened while I was sleeping, and then again throughout the day because just sitting and studying I am so cut off from the real world.
I did get out into the real world a little bit today -- went back to study on the front steps. Had to come in the first time right after lunch because it was actually too hot in the sun (and I was worried I was going to burn) but at around 5pm it was perfect out in the shade. I have an hour long mp3 of the sounds of waves crashing, so I listened to that on my iPod for some white noise and to up the relaxation if at all possible. What would also make it more relaxing is if the city could hang a One Way arrow at the intersection of 9th and Lombard... I guess the fact that the north-south street alternate directions isn't enough for people because every day I see someone turn left from Lombard into the oncoming traffic on 9th street. Usually there is a lot of honking and then the person has to back into the intersection. I'm amazed that I haven't actually witnessed a crash from this problem yet, but if I do enough more studying out there I'm sure I will eventually.
Oh that reminds me that last week I also watched a 10-wheeler trunk back up 9th street. He was technically going the right way, but he was facing backwards. I don't remember what I was doing at the time that I couldn't watch to see how this issue was resolved, but I really can't imagine where or how he got himself turned back around. I guess if he backed past an intersection he could then turn onto that intersection, hopefully in the right direction this time? But there was a cop kind of directing him so he didn't side swipe any cars (read: my car) and he had been backing up since about South Street and had already crossed Rodman and Lombard, headed towards Pine so I don't know what the plan was. He was breaking all of the branches of the trees that line my block because nothing that huge ever drives up our street forward, let alone backwards!!
Lastly, today opened a fifth week in the little 'archive' list to the left, so that means this is my fifth Sunday of studying, as well as blogging. That's a little too much studying if you ask me. Almost there.
I just called my grandparents to wish them a happy Father's Day and my grandpa put my grandma on the phone. When she asks about Glen she always tries to use a cute name for him, like, "How's your sweetheart doing?"
Lately, she's been having trouble grabbing the words she wants to use. This time she asked, "How's your.. friend.. that's you're.. sleeping with?"
I had to hold my breath to not laugh out loud.
First I thought she was joking because, before we got engaged, she used to ask me how "living in sin" was going, kiddingly. But she just continued with, "How's his studying going?" like there was no joke going on. So I guess she meant 'living with?'
But as I've mentioned several times on this blog, Glen and I do indeed sleep in the same bed. So she was accurate. And that is that.
Lately, she's been having trouble grabbing the words she wants to use. This time she asked, "How's your.. friend.. that's you're.. sleeping with?"
I had to hold my breath to not laugh out loud.
First I thought she was joking because, before we got engaged, she used to ask me how "living in sin" was going, kiddingly. But she just continued with, "How's his studying going?" like there was no joke going on. So I guess she meant 'living with?'
But as I've mentioned several times on this blog, Glen and I do indeed sleep in the same bed. So she was accurate. And that is that.
Man! My name has been retired from the Hurricane Names list :(
Apparently their list gets recycled every six years unless a country requests a name be retired, and then it's replaced in the loop.
Mine got retired in 2001 for 'devastating' southern Texas. Also hit hard were Louisiana and South East Pennsylvania! Sorry, Philly.
I remember 6 years before that I rained on my Aunt Lesley and Uncle Joe's honeymoon. I mean, if they were going to get rain, at least it had a slightly humorous twist.
(...They got married in fall 1994 though... maybe they delayed their honeymoon until the next spring. I'll have to ask)
So if I hadn't retired in 2001 I would have been first up again this year! Now I'll never be a hurricane again :(
Glen is a back-up name for Fiji tropical cyclones. Are you a hurricane?
(So this is probably when I should get off wikipedia and go back to my flash cards...)
Apparently their list gets recycled every six years unless a country requests a name be retired, and then it's replaced in the loop.
Mine got retired in 2001 for 'devastating' southern Texas. Also hit hard were Louisiana and South East Pennsylvania! Sorry, Philly.
I remember 6 years before that I rained on my Aunt Lesley and Uncle Joe's honeymoon. I mean, if they were going to get rain, at least it had a slightly humorous twist.
(...They got married in fall 1994 though... maybe they delayed their honeymoon until the next spring. I'll have to ask)
So if I hadn't retired in 2001 I would have been first up again this year! Now I'll never be a hurricane again :(
Glen is a back-up name for Fiji tropical cyclones. Are you a hurricane?
(So this is probably when I should get off wikipedia and go back to my flash cards...)
Saturday, June 16, 2007
5 days away: high of 86 degrees, partly cloudy, 10% chance of rain.
So so far the forecast has been pretty stable. Does that mean I'll really have 10 days notice of the weather on my wedding day? This year there are thunderstorms the day before so I bet last minute they get switched on to the 21st. Well, no, I guess since I'm not actually getting married this year, that bad luck will wait for next year.
I was really confused for the earlier part of the day why no one was online and why the emails I sent last night hadn't been responded to. At some point I realized it was Saturday and normal people relax on Saturdays. That's OK. Next Saturday I will be lying on the beach with a frozen pina colada from the tiki bar.
I'm afraid I will be so sick of reading that I won't know what to do with myself on the beach. I mean, swimming will take up 50% of the time, but what about when I'm on dry land? I can only "work on my tan" for so long (about 5 minutes before I'm crispy). Any ideas?
So so far the forecast has been pretty stable. Does that mean I'll really have 10 days notice of the weather on my wedding day? This year there are thunderstorms the day before so I bet last minute they get switched on to the 21st. Well, no, I guess since I'm not actually getting married this year, that bad luck will wait for next year.
I was really confused for the earlier part of the day why no one was online and why the emails I sent last night hadn't been responded to. At some point I realized it was Saturday and normal people relax on Saturdays. That's OK. Next Saturday I will be lying on the beach with a frozen pina colada from the tiki bar.
I'm afraid I will be so sick of reading that I won't know what to do with myself on the beach. I mean, swimming will take up 50% of the time, but what about when I'm on dry land? I can only "work on my tan" for so long (about 5 minutes before I'm crispy). Any ideas?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Stool_Scale
Courtesy of a friend who will remain nameless. She did not find it via the random article button... but it was something along those lines ;)
Courtesy of a friend who will remain nameless. She did not find it via the random article button... but it was something along those lines ;)
Friday, June 15, 2007
Water From Air, Low-Tech Style
Tracy Staedter, Discovery News
June 15, 2007 — Leaves and spiderwebs beaded with dew have inspired a low-tech solution for collecting fresh water.
WatAir, an inverted pyramid made from elastic canvas, recycled polycarbonate, metal or glass, can reap dozens of liters of water a day from the air. The inexpensive solution could help bring clean drinking water to people in remote or polluted areas. Read more...
(I can't get the title font a normal size. And the spacing is weird. Oh well.)
Now the forecast is a high of 90 and mostly sunny. As I think our families are coming into town that day for some post-boards fun, I'm starting to get more concerned about this year's weather than about next year's -- that's hot!
I took a practice half-test this morning from the boards people and it came out OK. It's so frustrating that you can't even see which questions you got wrong let along explanations for the answers. I'm afraid I may have reinforced some wrong things in my brain. Glen and I spent lunch brainstorming some of the harder questions that we wanted to look up the answers to (we took the same practice test).
I switched the blog motif to get ready for our trip to Sanibel in 7 days!!!
Also, I like the fun sidebar on Monica's blog and I might start adding some pictures to mine -- a little mini gallery. I miss my camera during all this studying :(
I took a practice half-test this morning from the boards people and it came out OK. It's so frustrating that you can't even see which questions you got wrong let along explanations for the answers. I'm afraid I may have reinforced some wrong things in my brain. Glen and I spent lunch brainstorming some of the harder questions that we wanted to look up the answers to (we took the same practice test).
I switched the blog motif to get ready for our trip to Sanibel in 7 days!!!
Also, I like the fun sidebar on Monica's blog and I might start adding some pictures to mine -- a little mini gallery. I miss my camera during all this studying :(
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Today's forecast for June 21st is 87 degrees and mostly sunny. And although two days ago they wanted me to battle the rainy day blues, now for the 21st they suggest "Plan a Beach Trip." That change is over just two days!
It kind of stinks that now that we're headed into our review period we're pretty much tied to our laptops for practice questions. That means definitely no more study days in Washington Square. We haven't been there in a while because of the weather. I guess we're almost kind of sort of taking our test there though because the testing center overlooks the park!
It kind of stinks that now that we're headed into our review period we're pretty much tied to our laptops for practice questions. That means definitely no more study days in Washington Square. We haven't been there in a while because of the weather. I guess we're almost kind of sort of taking our test there though because the testing center overlooks the park!
We just toasted hamburger buns in our toaster oven!!!
This is very exciting because two months ago our toaster oven caught on fire. I called up Black&Decker and it turns out they have a great warranty policy and they offered to send a replacement and a shipping label so we could send the old one back for free.
The new toaster oven came within a week but when we went to our package store (I'll get to them later) they brought out this box that looked like it had been thrown down several flights of stairs. Black&Decker had shipped it in the display box with no cardboard shipping box; it looked so bad that the people who signed for it made the delivery man write on the box that this was how it arrived and sign his name. It didn't look like there was any way that it would work. But when we got it home we didn't even care about that -- it was a totally different toaster oven and it was tiny! So I called back and the guy said that apparently I didn't understand the warranty and they could send me any model of equal or greater value than my old one. It took quite a bit of convincing to get him to believe that they were not of equal value because the two toasters were both "four slice toasters"... but I had price comparisons from online stores and the calculated percent difference in toaster rack size and so on. So he put me on hold. He comes back several minutes later (I didn't hang up! HA!) and says that my original model is out of stock until the middle of May, but if I didn't mind waiting until then they could send out the exact model. And, he would send me another return shipping label so we could mail this second toaster back.
So several weeks later our third toaster oven comes. Of course, it's not our original model. Also, they shipped in the display box again and although it wasn't destroyed, the pictures on it were so faded that only the blue and black ink were left -- mmm blue lasagne. It looked like it had been sitting in a window for 15 years. So we opened this one, and although it wasn't the same it was just as big and we really couldn't call and complain if the warranty only guaranteed equal value (although the guy said... nevermind).
So now we've got three toaster ovens and one shipping label so I make a third call to request the second shipping label that never came. We'd started using the third toaster over and it was working but there was this odd smell of burning plastic that we were sure would burn off. After using it for a week, the smell was just getting worse and was burning Glen's lungs. Of course, we'd started studying for the boards by then so we just unplugged it and went on with our lives... although they were lives without a functional toaster oven.
So on our first boards studying break day I made my fourth phone call. This lady was super nice and explained that although they couldn't guarantee any particular model (I had gotten that point by then) that she would make note of which model we had started with. We were running out of room to store broken toaster ovens in our apartment, so we went to the package store and shipped back the first two for which we had shipping labels. I think they had fun covering that very broken box in many layers of packing tape in some hope of it getting back in one piece.
Apparently our fourth toaster oven came in just a few days -- usually our package store sends us a text message when we get a box but we hadn't heard anything and with all the studying we hadn't had time to walk over and see. A few days ago though we made a big purchase of snorkling equipment for our upcoming vacation in Sanibel, practically the sea shell capital of Florida. We have AmazonPrime (which is awesome) so to get stuff to us faster, they packed every item (two pairs of flippers, two snorkles, two pairs of water shoes) each in its own huge box. So I think just our packages were taking up half the store room at this little package store and they actually called us yesterday to ask us to come get our stuff. Along with all of our snorkling equipment was our new toaster oven! In an intact brown shipping box! With the model number of our original toaster oven on the outside!!!
We opened it up at home and it was packed in official new styrofoam and everything. It's gorgeous! And it works and doesn't smell like burning carcinogens!
I got my first toaster oven sophomore year of college because my suite had a range but no oven. After you get one you can never live without one again! It's the best for reheating things and baking when you don't want your apartment to be 400 degrees and toasting big things like frozen hamburger buns. As I've said before, it's obvious that my threshold for excitement had declined over the past few weeks, but still it's very exciting to have a functional toaster oven again. Four toaster ovens I can live without, however; and, we still have one broken one in the corner waiting for a shipping label, but that's on them.
Also I want to give a shout out to our package store -- South Street Mailbox Plus. It's this little store on South between 8th and 9th run by a family. They sign for all of our packages and can ship stuff through the post office, UPS, FedEx, or DHL. On top of all sorts of packaging stuff, they also have gift wrap and bags and cards and they do copying and faxing and stuff. They're super nice and the store is super clean. We buy almost everything online now but we would always miss our deliveries to our apartment and then have to drive down to the 19147 post office which is like 25 blocks away and that only worked if the box was shipped through USPS. So then we got a PO Box up at the post office on Chestnut but half of the stores won't ship to PO boxes! And when we went we'd have to wait on a 20 minute line to claim one package and they lost several items! So when we found this little store a block and half from our house, it was perfect. We just renewed our yearly membership. If you have any issues with package deliveries, get a mailbox there.
Finally you might notice in the photo that we finally got Cranium! Several of my 20-something friends have been amazed that we've never played and yelled at us to get it. So now it's first on the To Do list when we're finally done in 6 days!! We'll try to fit it in the suitcase for Florida :)
OK that definitely exhausted all my chattiness for the day. Hopefully I can focus on my books for my LAST DAY of studying new material. I take a long practice test and start reviewing tomorrow!
This is very exciting because two months ago our toaster oven caught on fire. I called up Black&Decker and it turns out they have a great warranty policy and they offered to send a replacement and a shipping label so we could send the old one back for free.
The new toaster oven came within a week but when we went to our package store (I'll get to them later) they brought out this box that looked like it had been thrown down several flights of stairs. Black&Decker had shipped it in the display box with no cardboard shipping box; it looked so bad that the people who signed for it made the delivery man write on the box that this was how it arrived and sign his name. It didn't look like there was any way that it would work. But when we got it home we didn't even care about that -- it was a totally different toaster oven and it was tiny! So I called back and the guy said that apparently I didn't understand the warranty and they could send me any model of equal or greater value than my old one. It took quite a bit of convincing to get him to believe that they were not of equal value because the two toasters were both "four slice toasters"... but I had price comparisons from online stores and the calculated percent difference in toaster rack size and so on. So he put me on hold. He comes back several minutes later (I didn't hang up! HA!) and says that my original model is out of stock until the middle of May, but if I didn't mind waiting until then they could send out the exact model. And, he would send me another return shipping label so we could mail this second toaster back.
So several weeks later our third toaster oven comes. Of course, it's not our original model. Also, they shipped in the display box again and although it wasn't destroyed, the pictures on it were so faded that only the blue and black ink were left -- mmm blue lasagne. It looked like it had been sitting in a window for 15 years. So we opened this one, and although it wasn't the same it was just as big and we really couldn't call and complain if the warranty only guaranteed equal value (although the guy said... nevermind).
So now we've got three toaster ovens and one shipping label so I make a third call to request the second shipping label that never came. We'd started using the third toaster over and it was working but there was this odd smell of burning plastic that we were sure would burn off. After using it for a week, the smell was just getting worse and was burning Glen's lungs. Of course, we'd started studying for the boards by then so we just unplugged it and went on with our lives... although they were lives without a functional toaster oven.
So on our first boards studying break day I made my fourth phone call. This lady was super nice and explained that although they couldn't guarantee any particular model (I had gotten that point by then) that she would make note of which model we had started with. We were running out of room to store broken toaster ovens in our apartment, so we went to the package store and shipped back the first two for which we had shipping labels. I think they had fun covering that very broken box in many layers of packing tape in some hope of it getting back in one piece.
Apparently our fourth toaster oven came in just a few days -- usually our package store sends us a text message when we get a box but we hadn't heard anything and with all the studying we hadn't had time to walk over and see. A few days ago though we made a big purchase of snorkling equipment for our upcoming vacation in Sanibel, practically the sea shell capital of Florida. We have AmazonPrime (which is awesome) so to get stuff to us faster, they packed every item (two pairs of flippers, two snorkles, two pairs of water shoes) each in its own huge box. So I think just our packages were taking up half the store room at this little package store and they actually called us yesterday to ask us to come get our stuff. Along with all of our snorkling equipment was our new toaster oven! In an intact brown shipping box! With the model number of our original toaster oven on the outside!!!
We opened it up at home and it was packed in official new styrofoam and everything. It's gorgeous! And it works and doesn't smell like burning carcinogens!
I got my first toaster oven sophomore year of college because my suite had a range but no oven. After you get one you can never live without one again! It's the best for reheating things and baking when you don't want your apartment to be 400 degrees and toasting big things like frozen hamburger buns. As I've said before, it's obvious that my threshold for excitement had declined over the past few weeks, but still it's very exciting to have a functional toaster oven again. Four toaster ovens I can live without, however; and, we still have one broken one in the corner waiting for a shipping label, but that's on them.Also I want to give a shout out to our package store -- South Street Mailbox Plus. It's this little store on South between 8th and 9th run by a family. They sign for all of our packages and can ship stuff through the post office, UPS, FedEx, or DHL. On top of all sorts of packaging stuff, they also have gift wrap and bags and cards and they do copying and faxing and stuff. They're super nice and the store is super clean. We buy almost everything online now but we would always miss our deliveries to our apartment and then have to drive down to the 19147 post office which is like 25 blocks away and that only worked if the box was shipped through USPS. So then we got a PO Box up at the post office on Chestnut but half of the stores won't ship to PO boxes! And when we went we'd have to wait on a 20 minute line to claim one package and they lost several items! So when we found this little store a block and half from our house, it was perfect. We just renewed our yearly membership. If you have any issues with package deliveries, get a mailbox there.
Finally you might notice in the photo that we finally got Cranium! Several of my 20-something friends have been amazed that we've never played and yelled at us to get it. So now it's first on the To Do list when we're finally done in 6 days!! We'll try to fit it in the suitcase for Florida :)
OK that definitely exhausted all my chattiness for the day. Hopefully I can focus on my books for my LAST DAY of studying new material. I take a long practice test and start reviewing tomorrow!
A helpful pneumonic from First Aid for the USMLE Step 1:
If you zap your Posterior hypothalamus, you become a Poikilotherm.
Great, thanks.
They add in parentheses that a poikilotherm is a cold-blood snake, i.e you lose your ability to temperature regulate. But pneumonics are supposed to make information easier to remember. They don't usually require me to also memorize technical Greek words for reptiles.
What does help is blogging about annoying pneumonics. I will always remember to treat Leprosy with Dapsone, Rifampin, and Clofazimine.
If you zap your Posterior hypothalamus, you become a Poikilotherm.
Great, thanks.
They add in parentheses that a poikilotherm is a cold-blood snake, i.e you lose your ability to temperature regulate. But pneumonics are supposed to make information easier to remember. They don't usually require me to also memorize technical Greek words for reptiles.
What does help is blogging about annoying pneumonics. I will always remember to treat Leprosy with Dapsone, Rifampin, and Clofazimine.
I meant to write last night but I forgot to open up the editing window before midnight, so then the entry would have been put under 'Thursday' and that would have just been confusing. So instead I focused on my studying and then went to bed -- crazy, I know.
Um I need to get to work so here's a quick article I was just reading:
NYT - Sleek, Fast and Focused: The Cells That Make Dad Dad
Um I need to get to work so here's a quick article I was just reading:
NYT - Sleek, Fast and Focused: The Cells That Make Dad Dad"...Sperm are also fast and as cute as tadpoles. They have chubby teardrop heads and stylish, tapering tails, and they glide, slither, bumble and do figure-eights. So while a father may not be entitled to take the same pride in his sperm as he does in his kids, it’s fair to celebrate the single-minded cellular commas that helped give those children their start."
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
TV's 'Mr. Wizard' Don Herbert DiesJune 13, 2007 — Don Herbert, who as television's "Mr. Wizard" introduced generations of young viewers to the joys of science, died Tuesday. He was 89. Herbert, who had bone cancer, died at his suburban Bell Canyon home, said his son-in-law, Tom Nikosey.
10 Day forecast - June 21st: high of 85 and Sunny. We just went from 'rainy day blues' to sunny in 24 hours. This should be an interesting week.
I only sort of care what the weather is going to be like this year -- I'm just trying to prepare myself for next year's roller coaster ride.
One week left until we take our boards, and I don't feel prepared at all. So what do I do? Sleep all morning. I just couldn't fall asleep last night and I was so exhausted when I got up. I would hit snooze and when I woke up again, it was an hour later instead of 5 minutes later. (Glen didn't hear the alarm at all). Oh, well time to go read while I eat my lunch (that's possible as long as you're not reading about helminths[click at your own risk]).
Oh, also, you can lose your sense of smell (anosmia) due to injury, brain tumor, or Cadmium poisoning. Those first two causes were from reading my Neuroanatomy book. The last was from watching House. :-)
I only sort of care what the weather is going to be like this year -- I'm just trying to prepare myself for next year's roller coaster ride.
One week left until we take our boards, and I don't feel prepared at all. So what do I do? Sleep all morning. I just couldn't fall asleep last night and I was so exhausted when I got up. I would hit snooze and when I woke up again, it was an hour later instead of 5 minutes later. (Glen didn't hear the alarm at all). Oh, well time to go read while I eat my lunch (that's possible as long as you're not reading about helminths[click at your own risk]).
Oh, also, you can lose your sense of smell (anosmia) due to injury, brain tumor, or Cadmium poisoning. Those first two causes were from reading my Neuroanatomy book. The last was from watching House. :-)
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
We're #1? http://celebrate10000.com
from:
The Philadelphia Phillies have lost more games than any professional franchise in any sport and are fast approaching their 10,000th loss.
I hope those crazy thunderstorms washed away that terrible smell outside. It was worse today! There's a manhole cover across the street with some new spray paint symbols around it -- maybe they're going to do some work on the sewer or something. I couldn't even go out there and sit on the steps!
Also, I don't think I mentioned that on my last day off, I stopped in at the mini-police station down on South Street and asked them what I should do about the bike that's been chained to the street sign in front of my house for two years. They told me I could definitely get rid of it; it has technically been abandoned. So I tried to be subtle and asked if I should just get a hacksaw and cut it off... trying to make it a little more clear that if it were as easy as just getting rid of it, some one would have done it long ago. So eventually one of the officers remembered he had something called a pipe cutter and that there was another abandoned bike chained in front of Whole Foods and that he would go out later and cut both of them off!
Of course, 5 days later, the bike is still in front of my house and I've now exhausted that resource. But at least we know we're not breaking any laws by getting rid of it, however and whenever that eventually happens.
I'll have to hope this posts because lately we've been losing our internet whenever it starts thundering, not even raining. It goes in and out -- so annoying. Sometimes I'm actually trying to do productive study-related things online! Sometimes.
Also, I don't think I mentioned that on my last day off, I stopped in at the mini-police station down on South Street and asked them what I should do about the bike that's been chained to the street sign in front of my house for two years. They told me I could definitely get rid of it; it has technically been abandoned. So I tried to be subtle and asked if I should just get a hacksaw and cut it off... trying to make it a little more clear that if it were as easy as just getting rid of it, some one would have done it long ago. So eventually one of the officers remembered he had something called a pipe cutter and that there was another abandoned bike chained in front of Whole Foods and that he would go out later and cut both of them off!
Of course, 5 days later, the bike is still in front of my house and I've now exhausted that resource. But at least we know we're not breaking any laws by getting rid of it, however and whenever that eventually happens.
I'll have to hope this posts because lately we've been losing our internet whenever it starts thundering, not even raining. It goes in and out -- so annoying. Sometimes I'm actually trying to do productive study-related things online! Sometimes.
from Amazon.com:
it has some really great reviews...
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it has some really great reviews...
Today is the date next year when I am going to start freaking out.
June 21st is now in the 10-day weather forecast.
This year, it's supposed to be 86 degrees with scattered showers. I can imagine my hair in that weather.
And next to it, the weather channel has a little link: Beat the Rainy Day Blues! Like they needed to rub it in.
Well, we'll see how the forecast changes over the next ten days. But I guess I shouldn't have expected much else getting married on the first day of summer.
June 21st is now in the 10-day weather forecast.
This year, it's supposed to be 86 degrees with scattered showers. I can imagine my hair in that weather.
And next to it, the weather channel has a little link: Beat the Rainy Day Blues! Like they needed to rub it in.
Well, we'll see how the forecast changes over the next ten days. But I guess I shouldn't have expected much else getting married on the first day of summer.
Monday, June 11, 2007
My posting has been kind of slow because it's really coming down to crunch time. I should be finished studying on Friday and then I can review Saturday - Monday, try not to panic on Tuesday, and take the damn thing next Wednesday. I took a few days off from doing practice questions because they were depressing me so much, and I don't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
I studied out on the front steps today; I did the same thing on Saturday I guess. They keep threatening afternoon thunderstorms so we can't pack up and head out to study in the park, so it's an OK way to get some fresh air and some sunshine. Today was the first day that those afternoon storms actually came through, so I was glad that I was two feet from my front door.
One thing that I just couldn't get over -- it really smells strongly of homeless person outside. I didn't see a homeless person. After much pondering, my conclusion is that some one's apartment smells really really bad and they are leaving their windows open during the warm weather. I'm worried for this person. I makes sense to smell like a homeless person if you are homeless; it's sad, but it makes sense. If your home smells like a homeless person, you really don't have an excuse. Maybe their nose is broken. I should be able to come up with some disease that gives you that symptom, but I am drawing a blank.
I called up the Jury people today and found out that as a full time student, even living in Philly, I am exempt from jury duty :) Although I know how horrible it is supposed to be, some part of me is curious about what being on the jury would be like, and I think this coming fall when I'm working a simple 9-5 would be the most convenient time for me to serve until I'm retired. If I take the exemption until I graduate, they're just going to summon me again within six months of not being exempt anymore -- I'll be starting my internship and I'm pretty sure you don't have a lot of flexibility with what days you work then. So maybe I shouldn't take the exemption and just get it out of the way now so I'm in the clear for the next how ever many years?
Also, how could you resist this convincing blurb on the back of the summons?
That didn't appear to your sense of ethics? How about this?
No, I didn't believe that either. What about this part?
That just reminds me of all the things I could be doing if I didn't have jury duty.
So I'm not sure what to do. If I don't take the exemption and just postpone it until October, I am sure I will be kicking myself once October rolls around.
Unless my job really really sucks, and even jury duty sounds like a better way to spend a day. But let's cross our fingers that I'm not headed down that path.
I studied out on the front steps today; I did the same thing on Saturday I guess. They keep threatening afternoon thunderstorms so we can't pack up and head out to study in the park, so it's an OK way to get some fresh air and some sunshine. Today was the first day that those afternoon storms actually came through, so I was glad that I was two feet from my front door.
One thing that I just couldn't get over -- it really smells strongly of homeless person outside. I didn't see a homeless person. After much pondering, my conclusion is that some one's apartment smells really really bad and they are leaving their windows open during the warm weather. I'm worried for this person. I makes sense to smell like a homeless person if you are homeless; it's sad, but it makes sense. If your home smells like a homeless person, you really don't have an excuse. Maybe their nose is broken. I should be able to come up with some disease that gives you that symptom, but I am drawing a blank.
I called up the Jury people today and found out that as a full time student, even living in Philly, I am exempt from jury duty :) Although I know how horrible it is supposed to be, some part of me is curious about what being on the jury would be like, and I think this coming fall when I'm working a simple 9-5 would be the most convenient time for me to serve until I'm retired. If I take the exemption until I graduate, they're just going to summon me again within six months of not being exempt anymore -- I'll be starting my internship and I'm pretty sure you don't have a lot of flexibility with what days you work then. So maybe I shouldn't take the exemption and just get it out of the way now so I'm in the clear for the next how ever many years?
Also, how could you resist this convincing blurb on the back of the summons?
Now, you have the opportunity to experience our judicial system first hand. Jury service is an honor and a privilege, and ensures the fairness of our judicial system.
That didn't appear to your sense of ethics? How about this?
Our Criminal Justice Center jury assembly room has been designed for your comfort and convenience.
No, I didn't believe that either. What about this part?
REDISCOVER CENTER CITY! While in Center City, why not visit some of our nearby attractions? Take a tour of City Hall and its remarkable architecture. Visit Reading Terminal and sample fabulous foods. Stroll the Avenue of the Arts and see the new Kimmel Center and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Arts. Or shop 'til you drop at the Gallery at Market East and on Rittenhouse Row. Enjoy your City!
That just reminds me of all the things I could be doing if I didn't have jury duty.
So I'm not sure what to do. If I don't take the exemption and just postpone it until October, I am sure I will be kicking myself once October rolls around.
Unless my job really really sucks, and even jury duty sounds like a better way to spend a day. But let's cross our fingers that I'm not headed down that path.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
I wanted to remind every body that Friday is Bob Barker's last day as host of The Price is Right (I have my calendar marked).
Then I saw this article: Bob Barker Offers to Fill In as Host of 'Price Is Right'
I didn't realize they took the summers off so now I guess we have to wait until the fall to see who will be hosting. Super exciting stuff!!! (you can see my standards for exciting have kind of fallen off).
Glen has a subscription to Wired magazine and they had this little mini article in the catagory "Japanese Schoolgirl Watch" about a gadget that curls and then kind of hairsprays your eyelashes. I thought the catagory just referred to the fact that this sounds like something that Japanese schoolgirls would use, but the product is indeed super Japanese. Check out its webpage.
The company's other products are on the left and they are even funnier.
And finally, I saw on the wikipedia "Current Events" section that a new strain of Bartonella has been discovered. Normally, who would really care? But a couple of days ago I got a QBank practice question that described the symptoms of what turned out to be Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella henselae) and then asked me which of given choices was caused by the same pathogen -- and every single answer choice was a disease caused by a different strain of Bartonella. So I take particular offense that scientists have decided to burden me with learning a sixth strain of this microbe.
Then I saw this article: Bob Barker Offers to Fill In as Host of 'Price Is Right'
I didn't realize they took the summers off so now I guess we have to wait until the fall to see who will be hosting. Super exciting stuff!!! (you can see my standards for exciting have kind of fallen off).
Glen has a subscription to Wired magazine and they had this little mini article in the catagory "Japanese Schoolgirl Watch" about a gadget that curls and then kind of hairsprays your eyelashes. I thought the catagory just referred to the fact that this sounds like something that Japanese schoolgirls would use, but the product is indeed super Japanese. Check out its webpage.
The company's other products are on the left and they are even funnier.And finally, I saw on the wikipedia "Current Events" section that a new strain of Bartonella has been discovered. Normally, who would really care? But a couple of days ago I got a QBank practice question that described the symptoms of what turned out to be Cat Scratch Fever (Bartonella henselae) and then asked me which of given choices was caused by the same pathogen -- and every single answer choice was a disease caused by a different strain of Bartonella. So I take particular offense that scientists have decided to burden me with learning a sixth strain of this microbe.
My horoscope for today:
It might take conscious effort on your part today to prevent wasting a lot of time and energy. If you don't pay attention to what you are doing, you could exhaust yourself and have very little to show for it at the end of the day.
Ain't it the truth?
Week #4 begins! I should go and get back to 'paying attention to what I am doing.'
It might take conscious effort on your part today to prevent wasting a lot of time and energy. If you don't pay attention to what you are doing, you could exhaust yourself and have very little to show for it at the end of the day.Ain't it the truth?
Week #4 begins! I should go and get back to 'paying attention to what I am doing.'
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Wow. In response to the 'boycott' suggested by our illustrious Staten Island borough president of the 5 Boroughs ice cream company, the company is selling Anti-Boycott Tee Shirts and other 'gear'.
In response to that, I'm boycotting all things Queens, starting with Mindy. I can sense her thinking up several Staten Island jokes as she reads this.
I just got summoned to serve in the jury.
Tuesday, July 10th -- orientation day for my pediatrics rotation.
I can request a postponement for 4 or 5 months, which actually works for me because I'll just be working and taking classes at night then, not rotating through the hospital. But, do I technically have to do this at all while I'm a full time student?
Tuesday, July 10th -- orientation day for my pediatrics rotation.
I can request a postponement for 4 or 5 months, which actually works for me because I'll just be working and taking classes at night then, not rotating through the hospital. But, do I technically have to do this at all while I'm a full time student?
Friday, June 8, 2007
I've realized that I've been complaining about studying a lot lately. I don't mind sharing annoying, silly, or ridiculous things from my studying, but every one knows studying sucks so I will try to stay away from that side of it -- it makes for boring reading, kind of like studying itself!
Yesterday I went for my first jog in quite a long time, and boy am I aching today! I thought I had sort of conditioned myself on our exercise bike, but I guess running is a whole different story. My quads!!! But having an achy muscle does open your eyes to all the times you use that muscle that you never would have thought of. Your quads are at the front of your thigh and straighten your leg by pulling on the front of your shin via your knee cap. But one of the things that hurts me the most today is sitting down into a chair -- gradually bending my knee. It's the gradual part that is the issue. Sitting down really shouldn't take any muscles -- if you just went limp, you could just fall into the chair. So your quads tense up as your start to sit down and then gradually relax so that the flexing of your knee is a controlled process. Every muscle's role is really dependent on which way gravity is pulling at that moment. OK, yeah, the fact that I think that this is cool is probably why I'm in med school.
Also, I realize that gravity technically always pulls down towards the ground.
I wanted to sleep in today (break day!) but amazingly I have apparently acheived a regular person's sleep schedule. I woke up at around 8:30am without an alarm! I made myself sleep in anyway and just slept lightly until a little after noon. I have the weirdest dreams when I do that. I had this really long one featuring House MD (we've been watching a lot of House during dinner lately -- it's funny and great to help you remember all those really obscure diseases that QBank loves to test on) that really came out like a really creepy nightmare even though I don't think I was particularly scared during the dream. I'll spare you my trying to describe it. I'm always in a daze for like a half hour when I wake up from a nightmare. I'm glad it happened today when I had the time to be dazed!
A new copy of Brides just arrived in the mail and this is the cover:
Doesn't that make you want a puppy in your wedding?
How about this cutie?
Well, the cutie on the left is already in the wedding, but what about the one on the right? That's Glen's mom's puppy, Griffey.
Sounds like a good idea unless you've ever actually met a puppy.
This is Griffey at one of his calmer moments, trying to eat my face:
With so many people with fingers to chew in the pews, he'd never make it down the aisle.
Yesterday I went for my first jog in quite a long time, and boy am I aching today! I thought I had sort of conditioned myself on our exercise bike, but I guess running is a whole different story. My quads!!! But having an achy muscle does open your eyes to all the times you use that muscle that you never would have thought of. Your quads are at the front of your thigh and straighten your leg by pulling on the front of your shin via your knee cap. But one of the things that hurts me the most today is sitting down into a chair -- gradually bending my knee. It's the gradual part that is the issue. Sitting down really shouldn't take any muscles -- if you just went limp, you could just fall into the chair. So your quads tense up as your start to sit down and then gradually relax so that the flexing of your knee is a controlled process. Every muscle's role is really dependent on which way gravity is pulling at that moment. OK, yeah, the fact that I think that this is cool is probably why I'm in med school.
Also, I realize that gravity technically always pulls down towards the ground.
I wanted to sleep in today (break day!) but amazingly I have apparently acheived a regular person's sleep schedule. I woke up at around 8:30am without an alarm! I made myself sleep in anyway and just slept lightly until a little after noon. I have the weirdest dreams when I do that. I had this really long one featuring House MD (we've been watching a lot of House during dinner lately -- it's funny and great to help you remember all those really obscure diseases that QBank loves to test on) that really came out like a really creepy nightmare even though I don't think I was particularly scared during the dream. I'll spare you my trying to describe it. I'm always in a daze for like a half hour when I wake up from a nightmare. I'm glad it happened today when I had the time to be dazed!
A new copy of Brides just arrived in the mail and this is the cover:
Doesn't that make you want a puppy in your wedding?
How about this cutie?
Well, the cutie on the left is already in the wedding, but what about the one on the right? That's Glen's mom's puppy, Griffey.Sounds like a good idea unless you've ever actually met a puppy.
This is Griffey at one of his calmer moments, trying to eat my face:
With so many people with fingers to chew in the pews, he'd never make it down the aisle.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
This is so cool!
I saw this construction going on at Independence Mall the last time we were at the Down Town Club (where we're having our wedding reception) and we were wondering what they were building. It turns out they're not building anything -- they're unearthing George Washington's Presidential Home. This article came out because they were going to bury it again and just have an informational thing on the site, but now they're thinking about figuring out a way to keep the ruins uncovered so people can see them.
Two weeks and a year to go! I wonder what the archeology site will look like then :)
I saw this construction going on at Independence Mall the last time we were at the Down Town Club (where we're having our wedding reception) and we were wondering what they were building. It turns out they're not building anything -- they're unearthing George Washington's Presidential Home. This article came out because they were going to bury it again and just have an informational thing on the site, but now they're thinking about figuring out a way to keep the ruins uncovered so people can see them.
Slave Passage Found at Washington HomeHere's a picture of me with those same two buildings in the background, sitting in one of the windows in the Down Town Club ballroom:June 7, 2007 —Archaeologists unearthing the remains of George Washington's presidential home have discovered a hidden passageway used by his nine slaves, raising questions about whether the ruins should be incorporated into a new exhibit at the site.
The underground passageway is just steps from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. It was designed so Washington's guests would not see slaves as they slipped in and out of the main house.
Two weeks and a year to go! I wonder what the archeology site will look like then :)
So tomorrow is actually another break day for me and Glen. I guess it hasn't quite hit me because I haven't been working really hard for the past couple of days, so I don't feel like I deserve a break. I probably could have used one on Tuesday when I kind of mentally crashed, but I'm sort of back on top of things now and the fact that we have tomorrow off feels like a surprise.
Separate from the studying aspect, I am really excited about it because Mindy takes her last final of first year tomorrow morning and that means tomorrow afternoon we will both actually be free to PAR-TAY. Also, it's supposed to be really really hot tomorrow and I think one day of sticky hot is fun because it makes it feel like summer.
Yesterday was two weeks until we take our test. I'm not panicked because I know I'm going to get through everything -- that's the benefit of the ridiculously detailed schedule I took two days to plan out before we began. But I am a little sick to my stomach over it because my practice test scores aren't making me happy. I spent a little while analyzing them with a spreadsheet (which does make me happy) and I can see that I have improved a little bit from the beginning... slightly higher scores, slightly more consistent, slightly closer to the Kaplan user average. But it's so subtle that it took fricking data analysis to show. Sigh.
So I'll end on something dumb just to try to balance out all of that whining. Yesterday I went to Starbucks down the street for a snack, and on the chalk board by the door they advertised a raspberry-citrus-caramel-mango-melon green tea... maybe I just added in one extra ingredient or so, but that was seriously the gist of it. So I can't resist trying new flavors, so I ordered one (and the girl put me down for a large even though I think I forgot to specify the size). She yells it back to the other girl who is like, "what??" She didn't know what this drink was that they were offering; apparently it wasn't an official Starbucks seasonal drink, just something that somebody thought up. So they have syrups not only for their coffee drinks, but I guess fruit flavors for these tea drinks. So she had to come out to the front and look at the chalk board, and then she went back and squirted random amounts of those random flavors into a cup and filled the rest with iced green tea. She was really apologetic and made me try it before I left saying she would make me something else if it had come out too weird (it was bright pink). But surprisingly, it was really good -- not too much of any one flavor and not too sweet (by my standards anyway). And as I drank it, a new flavor would stand out among the rest so it was interesting to drink too.
So in conclusion, my advice is to go to Starbucks and have them put a squirt of every single flavor they have into a cup with some iced tea and you will have come up with the new summer sensation.
Separate from the studying aspect, I am really excited about it because Mindy takes her last final of first year tomorrow morning and that means tomorrow afternoon we will both actually be free to PAR-TAY. Also, it's supposed to be really really hot tomorrow and I think one day of sticky hot is fun because it makes it feel like summer.
Yesterday was two weeks until we take our test. I'm not panicked because I know I'm going to get through everything -- that's the benefit of the ridiculously detailed schedule I took two days to plan out before we began. But I am a little sick to my stomach over it because my practice test scores aren't making me happy. I spent a little while analyzing them with a spreadsheet (which does make me happy) and I can see that I have improved a little bit from the beginning... slightly higher scores, slightly more consistent, slightly closer to the Kaplan user average. But it's so subtle that it took fricking data analysis to show. Sigh.
So I'll end on something dumb just to try to balance out all of that whining. Yesterday I went to Starbucks down the street for a snack, and on the chalk board by the door they advertised a raspberry-citrus-caramel-mango-melon green tea... maybe I just added in one extra ingredient or so, but that was seriously the gist of it. So I can't resist trying new flavors, so I ordered one (and the girl put me down for a large even though I think I forgot to specify the size). She yells it back to the other girl who is like, "what??" She didn't know what this drink was that they were offering; apparently it wasn't an official Starbucks seasonal drink, just something that somebody thought up. So they have syrups not only for their coffee drinks, but I guess fruit flavors for these tea drinks. So she had to come out to the front and look at the chalk board, and then she went back and squirted random amounts of those random flavors into a cup and filled the rest with iced green tea. She was really apologetic and made me try it before I left saying she would make me something else if it had come out too weird (it was bright pink). But surprisingly, it was really good -- not too much of any one flavor and not too sweet (by my standards anyway). And as I drank it, a new flavor would stand out among the rest so it was interesting to drink too.
So in conclusion, my advice is to go to Starbucks and have them put a squirt of every single flavor they have into a cup with some iced tea and you will have come up with the new summer sensation.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
I just wanted to share that QBank thinks my name is Alyson Murphy and Glen is Glen Quitley, and requesting a name change doesn't do anything.
...and it's always so excited about it. Welcome, Alyson Murphy!
I feel like I'm quizzing in cognito.
(which is probably a good idea considering the test scores I've been getting)
...and it's always so excited about it. Welcome, Alyson Murphy!
I feel like I'm quizzing in cognito.
(which is probably a good idea considering the test scores I've been getting)
I'm amused that medically speaking, kissing is a 'casual contact.'
I think that to be able to claim you did something 'singlehandedly' should have to have used only one hand (more impressive if it was your nondominant hand).
And, we're going camping!! Only two nights, but I just booked the sites at French Creek State Park, where Glen and I went hiking over spring break. It's going to be me and Glen and my mom and hopefully my sister (unless my Grandpa's second cataract surgery is scheduled for then; he had his first eye done this morning and reportedly everything went well).
I've been terribly unproductive over the past two days - half because Qbank totally depresses me and half because I've been oddly tired. I guess the weeks are just catching up with me. I think I'm going to cut my losses on Clinical Microbiology right now and move on to Biochem which was scheduled for this afternoon anyway... if I can get ahead on that, I'll go back and finish Micro.
I think that to be able to claim you did something 'singlehandedly' should have to have used only one hand (more impressive if it was your nondominant hand).
And, we're going camping!! Only two nights, but I just booked the sites at French Creek State Park, where Glen and I went hiking over spring break. It's going to be me and Glen and my mom and hopefully my sister (unless my Grandpa's second cataract surgery is scheduled for then; he had his first eye done this morning and reportedly everything went well).
I've been terribly unproductive over the past two days - half because Qbank totally depresses me and half because I've been oddly tired. I guess the weeks are just catching up with me. I think I'm going to cut my losses on Clinical Microbiology right now and move on to Biochem which was scheduled for this afternoon anyway... if I can get ahead on that, I'll go back and finish Micro.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
I'm having trouble coming up with anything that's not simple complaining, so here's some stuff I read today that wasn't in a review book (probably while I should have been reading a review book):
New York Times - Cheated of Future, Iraqi Graduates Want to Flee
I don't want to get sappy, but would you risk your life to finish your degree? I was thinking my answer would have to be no, but if you're risking your life just hanging out on your front steps, I guess there's not much difference either way.
CNN.com - Coast Guard: No survivors likely in transplant jet crash
that's just sad
A lighter side of medicine-related news
And I thought this was cool:
Discovery Channel - Dry Fla. Lake Yields Artifacts
There's a drought in Florida and I had heard that their big lake was at it's lowest recorded levels, but this makes it even more interesting.
Also, the article implies that the whole huge lake never gets deeper than 12 feet. Is that true?
OK, that fills my blogging quota for the evening ;)
New York Times - Cheated of Future, Iraqi Graduates Want to Flee
I don't want to get sappy, but would you risk your life to finish your degree? I was thinking my answer would have to be no, but if you're risking your life just hanging out on your front steps, I guess there's not much difference either way.
CNN.com - Coast Guard: No survivors likely in transplant jet crash
that's just sad
A lighter side of medicine-related news
And I thought this was cool:
Discovery Channel - Dry Fla. Lake Yields Artifacts
There's a drought in Florida and I had heard that their big lake was at it's lowest recorded levels, but this makes it even more interesting.
Also, the article implies that the whole huge lake never gets deeper than 12 feet. Is that true?
OK, that fills my blogging quota for the evening ;)
That damn stabbing stomach pain is back. I went to the doctor for it maybe two months ago and she diagnosed me with acid reflux. Since then, the pain had evolved into general stomach discomfort, which I guess was kind of helped by taking omeprazole once and now twice a day. But this stabbing pain is just started again and it's so much more annoying. It hurts when I inhale, especially deeply, but it comes and goes. But when it does come back, it does so suddenly and surprises me so that I yell out. So I'm sitting here across the room from Glen and every five minutes or so I'm spontaneously yelling -- great for his concentration, I'm sure.
It seems like these "stress"-related issues hit me when I'm not at all stressed, when I'm eating or taking a break. And my lunch today was a turkey and brie sandwich with a tiny bit of spicy mustard, not what I would expect to exacerbate my acid reflux.
Ugh, I don't have time to go to the doctor and have her tell me I'm stressed again. Maybe some tylenol will deal with the pain and I can get back to work.
It seems like these "stress"-related issues hit me when I'm not at all stressed, when I'm eating or taking a break. And my lunch today was a turkey and brie sandwich with a tiny bit of spicy mustard, not what I would expect to exacerbate my acid reflux.
Ugh, I don't have time to go to the doctor and have her tell me I'm stressed again. Maybe some tylenol will deal with the pain and I can get back to work.
Well I went to bed and hung out, but I can't fall asleep until Glen comes down stairs :-/ And he was doing another whole set of Qbank. I don't need him to come to bed to be able to fall asleep, just literally come down stairs -- then I was out like a light. I guess it's the knowledge that he's on his way to bed.
Then this morning I couldn't get up again! My body is insisting on 8 hours a night and I just don't have that kind of time. And some mornings I think Glen's brain says, I'll get up when Aly gets up, and my brain says the same thing, and it's amazing we ever get out of bed!
As long as we wake up the morning of the USMLE, that's all that matters.
It looks so beautiful outside today after a couple of cloudy and rainy days. Maybe we can make it to the park later, after lunch and all the phone and email errands that have to get done.
Lastly, one of the wedding details that I've been trying to figure out lately is my hair. Here's a sampling from theknot.com. I'm thinking about half-up-half-down? maybe? Give me some feedback.
Then this morning I couldn't get up again! My body is insisting on 8 hours a night and I just don't have that kind of time. And some mornings I think Glen's brain says, I'll get up when Aly gets up, and my brain says the same thing, and it's amazing we ever get out of bed!
As long as we wake up the morning of the USMLE, that's all that matters.
It looks so beautiful outside today after a couple of cloudy and rainy days. Maybe we can make it to the park later, after lunch and all the phone and email errands that have to get done.
Lastly, one of the wedding details that I've been trying to figure out lately is my hair. Here's a sampling from theknot.com. I'm thinking about half-up-half-down? maybe? Give me some feedback.
Monday, June 4, 2007
I did get the pedicure, in the most obnoxiously bright color I could find -- I wanted to bring a little light into my life. It actually came out cuter than I expected. So I knew going in that the manicure+pedicure was $25, pretty normal for around here. But I just wanted the pedicure, so I was guessing maybe $15? No -- $22. They kept saying, don't you want the manicure, it's only $3? And I did... but I didn't have the time to not be able to use my hands for another 30 minutes... at least when I was getting the pedicure I could pretend to be studying.
I think I going to bed now, a little early. I just feel so tired today; no knowledge is really sticking right now. And I just took the most frustrating set of practice questions. Why won't my score go up after 2 weeks of studying?
My dream is to some day beat the average Kaplan user. It's a beautiful dream... a beautiful, but seemingly unlikely dream.
I think I going to bed now, a little early. I just feel so tired today; no knowledge is really sticking right now. And I just took the most frustrating set of practice questions. Why won't my score go up after 2 weeks of studying?
My dream is to some day beat the average Kaplan user. It's a beautiful dream... a beautiful, but seemingly unlikely dream.
Courtesy of "Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple"...
Treatment of LEPROSY
Three drugs are used in the treatment of leprosy: dapsone, rifampin, and clofazimine.
The Rap Zone of Dapsone
Where's your ears?
There on the floor.
Where's your hand?
I left it on the door.
Come on, Doc, look and see,
these rappin' clowns got leprosy.
Hey, you clown!
You left your nose in the car,
Hey, you clown!
You left your toes in a bar,
Call the doc, to the Rap Zone,
Your first-line drug remains dapsone.
And if you dance to this stupid rappin',
watch your feet as they start a stampin',
There's only one thing to help your dancin,
Time to reach for the drug, rifampin.
Their peelin' clown faces look really lean.
They're healing faster than can be seen,
As long as they stay close to clofazimine.
I hit my third week! Although my posting seems to be falling off a little. I feel like I don't have much creativity left after all this sitting and reading. Oh, and this means I am entering my third week of studying. I'm still alive, but as I said, life is feeling more and more bland. If I'm productive this afternoon, I'm going to finally go get that pedicure, so that shoulf offer a little change of pace.
Also, all this hot and rainy weather has reminded me that Glen and I are entering our third summer living in this apartment. We have to sign a new lease at the end of this month. We've now been here as long as I lived in my apartment in Baltimore; as long as I've lived any place outside my house in New York.
We still love our apartment and it's still perfect for what we need right now. I wish we could just buy it and never have to move again (after our nightmare of a move two years ago). I think there are three things I would change if I could:
That damn broken ass bike has been double locked to the parking sign in front of our house since before we moved into this apartment! I'm not sure who to contact to get it removed... civic association? police? my mom with her hacksaw? It's ugly, I've tripped on it, and if you park there you bump your car door on it when you're trying to get out of the car (otherwise, that's my favorite parking spot).
I was talking to our upstairs neighbors in our little foyer a couple of months ago and all of a sudden one of them yelled, "Wait!," pulled open the front door and said, "Damn. I guess it was a dream." He had actually dreampt that someone had finally gotten rid of the bike.
On the other hand, Glen's cousin said it's how she knows which apartment is ours!
OK back to reading if I want to get that pedicure later.
Also, all this hot and rainy weather has reminded me that Glen and I are entering our third summer living in this apartment. We have to sign a new lease at the end of this month. We've now been here as long as I lived in my apartment in Baltimore; as long as I've lived any place outside my house in New York.
We still love our apartment and it's still perfect for what we need right now. I wish we could just buy it and never have to move again (after our nightmare of a move two years ago). I think there are three things I would change if I could:
- lack of an ice maker in the freezer. I make my own ice just fine, but it's annoying.
- difficulty hanging things on the walls. These walls are about 150 years old; in some spots you can't get a nail through, in others the wall starts to crumble as soon as you start hammering (we're not supposed to put any nail holes in the walls anyway... I would change that too).
- and only one bathroom! Most days it's not a problem, but I have spent lots of time dancing up and down on one foot waiting for my turn.
That damn broken ass bike has been double locked to the parking sign in front of our house since before we moved into this apartment! I'm not sure who to contact to get it removed... civic association? police? my mom with her hacksaw? It's ugly, I've tripped on it, and if you park there you bump your car door on it when you're trying to get out of the car (otherwise, that's my favorite parking spot).
I was talking to our upstairs neighbors in our little foyer a couple of months ago and all of a sudden one of them yelled, "Wait!," pulled open the front door and said, "Damn. I guess it was a dream." He had actually dreampt that someone had finally gotten rid of the bike.
On the other hand, Glen's cousin said it's how she knows which apartment is ours!
OK back to reading if I want to get that pedicure later.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
OK I'll start with the disclaimer. My engagement ring came from an online-only jewelry store, Blue Nile. The benefits are those typical of an eCompany -- the lack of overhead and ability to buy in bulk makes their products the most affordable. The only downside I've found so far is that it's hard to find a jewelry store that is willing to clean my ring -- they don't want to take responsibility for a product that they can't personally replace.
So even though my own ring was bought over the internet, I found this new service from Amazon a little strange:
It does take a leap of faith to buy something like this online (you can ask Glen), but Blue Nile is solely a jewelry store. Amazon is a UsedTextbook-CheapCDs-Groceries-HalloweenCostume store. I was trying to see if they were powered by another jewelry store (their format looks a lot like Blue Nile's) but it doesn't say so anywhere.
So I guess I don't see any real reason to doubt their service, but doesn't it just seem odd?
So even though my own ring was bought over the internet, I found this new service from Amazon a little strange:
It does take a leap of faith to buy something like this online (you can ask Glen), but Blue Nile is solely a jewelry store. Amazon is a UsedTextbook-CheapCDs-Groceries-HalloweenCostume store. I was trying to see if they were powered by another jewelry store (their format looks a lot like Blue Nile's) but it doesn't say so anywhere.
So I guess I don't see any real reason to doubt their service, but doesn't it just seem odd?
This morning I woke up thinking about whether DiGeorge Syndrome is accompanied by lack of the parathyroid glands or the C cells of the thyroid. I remembered First Aid saying it was accompanied by tetany because of the calcium imbalance, but I couldn't remember which way that should swing.
It's lack of the parathyroid glands and hypocalcemia.
This kind of contrasts yesterday morning when I woke up dreaming that the Pope had given my sister a secret mission, but we had figured out that the mission was part of some huge conspiracy and we were going to use our 'in' to take it down. So in the meanwhile we had a reception for the Queen of England at our house. The Queen Mother was being so rude and itching her butt with this disgusting handkerchief which she proceeded to throw on our lawn. (Did you know she died in 2002 at age 101? Impressive. Apparently she was well loved by the British people so I don't know why I'm having dreams about her picking her butt.)
Anyway, waking up thinking about schoolwork got me up pretty much on time, so maybe I'll be on schedule enough today to actually go get that pedicure :)
It's lack of the parathyroid glands and hypocalcemia.
This kind of contrasts yesterday morning when I woke up dreaming that the Pope had given my sister a secret mission, but we had figured out that the mission was part of some huge conspiracy and we were going to use our 'in' to take it down. So in the meanwhile we had a reception for the Queen of England at our house. The Queen Mother was being so rude and itching her butt with this disgusting handkerchief which she proceeded to throw on our lawn. (Did you know she died in 2002 at age 101? Impressive. Apparently she was well loved by the British people so I don't know why I'm having dreams about her picking her butt.)
Anyway, waking up thinking about schoolwork got me up pretty much on time, so maybe I'll be on schedule enough today to actually go get that pedicure :)
Saturday, June 2, 2007
I thought this Names of the Moons article was cool.
It was at the top of my GMail, so maybe you've seen it.
It was at the top of my GMail, so maybe you've seen it.
Here's a classy wedding favor -- personalized shot glasses.
And they're frosted for that romantic touch.
AHHHH I didn't post for over 24 hours! it's been almost 29 hours! What happened? Am I alive???
I hope so, because it's too hot for Heaven.
I hadn't been sleeping well the previous few nights so last night I finally slept like a rock and hit the snooze button until the alarm stopped going off two hours later. So I've been playing catch up all day.
I did take a break and walk up to the Old Navy on Market Street... oh Market Street in the summertime, a sight to be seen! I finally got a few pairs of study pants that aren't quite pajamas so I can feel like I'm actually getting dressed in the morning. I really hate when they intersperse sale items with regularly priced items. I really thought these pants were $10.. or 25% off or something, because every thing around them was. I found out at the register that they weren't but I had already spent so much of my precious time picking them out of the post-Memorial-Day-Sale rubble and trying them on that I just paid the full price.
I also got some 0.3mm point rollerball pens at Staples! I'm so excited. I love superfine pens. And 4 different colors! I'm going to be taking the most microscopic notes ever!
My other complaint for the day is paperback books... especially thin ones. It's impossible to keep them open to the page you want. I know hardcover is expensive and spiral bound gets caught on everything but there must be another option... maybe this is where I can make my millions!
Cool find of the day: Loch Ness monster video.
On Reuters and on Discovery Channel
Everybody knows it's really a kelpie ;)
Oh and I had to turn off my google talk because it was way too distracting. If anyone is still making it to this blog I'll be surprised.
I hope so, because it's too hot for Heaven.
I hadn't been sleeping well the previous few nights so last night I finally slept like a rock and hit the snooze button until the alarm stopped going off two hours later. So I've been playing catch up all day.
I did take a break and walk up to the Old Navy on Market Street... oh Market Street in the summertime, a sight to be seen! I finally got a few pairs of study pants that aren't quite pajamas so I can feel like I'm actually getting dressed in the morning. I really hate when they intersperse sale items with regularly priced items. I really thought these pants were $10.. or 25% off or something, because every thing around them was. I found out at the register that they weren't but I had already spent so much of my precious time picking them out of the post-Memorial-Day-Sale rubble and trying them on that I just paid the full price.
I also got some 0.3mm point rollerball pens at Staples! I'm so excited. I love superfine pens. And 4 different colors! I'm going to be taking the most microscopic notes ever!
My other complaint for the day is paperback books... especially thin ones. It's impossible to keep them open to the page you want. I know hardcover is expensive and spiral bound gets caught on everything but there must be another option... maybe this is where I can make my millions!
Cool find of the day: Loch Ness monster video.
On Reuters and on Discovery Channel
Everybody knows it's really a kelpie ;)
Oh and I had to turn off my google talk because it was way too distracting. If anyone is still making it to this blog I'll be surprised.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Ye olde procrastinations
Sometimes my procrastination tangents lead to interesting places.
"How The Immune System Works" was talking about how memory B cells confer life-long immunity to infection, and used the Swedish travels to the Faroe Islands as a case study.
I had never heard of the Faroe Islands so I looked them up on wikipedia.
It turns out they have a language called Faroese that's still spoken by about 60,000 people (I have an interest in obscure northern European languages -- I took a semester of Irish Gaelic one summer). That article mentions that when you use a Faroese keyboard, you can type Latin, English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, etc. except the Icelandic letter þ is missing! Oh no!
I had seen this character before in the character map; I had occasionally used it for a tongue-sticking-out smiley (:-þ), so I was surprised to see there was a whole wiki article on it. It's called thorn. Not only is it used in modern Icelandic, it was used in early, middle, and early modern English. It's a "th" sound, so up to when the first bibles were being printed, the word "that" might be abbreviated with a thorn with a superscript t or even a crossed thorn. "The" was written thorn with a superscript e. Over the years, the written version of thorn in English had decayed to a character almost resembling a Y, so when the first printing presses were made, they just used the Y press for thorn. Thus, Ye, as in "Ye olde...." actually means "The olde..."
I love wikipedia.
"How The Immune System Works" was talking about how memory B cells confer life-long immunity to infection, and used the Swedish travels to the Faroe Islands as a case study.
I had never heard of the Faroe Islands so I looked them up on wikipedia.
It turns out they have a language called Faroese that's still spoken by about 60,000 people (I have an interest in obscure northern European languages -- I took a semester of Irish Gaelic one summer). That article mentions that when you use a Faroese keyboard, you can type Latin, English, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, etc. except the Icelandic letter þ is missing! Oh no!
I had seen this character before in the character map; I had occasionally used it for a tongue-sticking-out smiley (:-þ), so I was surprised to see there was a whole wiki article on it. It's called thorn. Not only is it used in modern Icelandic, it was used in early, middle, and early modern English. It's a "th" sound, so up to when the first bibles were being printed, the word "that" might be abbreviated with a thorn with a superscript t or even a crossed thorn. "The" was written thorn with a superscript e. Over the years, the written version of thorn in English had decayed to a character almost resembling a Y, so when the first printing presses were made, they just used the Y press for thorn. Thus, Ye, as in "Ye olde...." actually means "The olde..."
I love wikipedia.
It's JUNE!!!
Now when I say we're getting married "next June" I don't have to go on to explain what year I'm talking about.
I guess that kind of started last month, in May, because who would say next June if they meant the following month but nonetheless...
It's June and we're getting married next June!!
Now when I say we're getting married "next June" I don't have to go on to explain what year I'm talking about.
I guess that kind of started last month, in May, because who would say next June if they meant the following month but nonetheless...
It's June and we're getting married next June!!
The Attack of the Chicken Fingers!
-NYT article
They don't yet have a nice way to post to a blog automatically like a lot of other news sites. They do offer you a 'permalink' so it's still accessible after the article is archived, but you might still have to sign into the site. What they have added is a feature where if you double click on any word in the text, a dictionary pops up with the definition. That's extra cool because it's pretty intuitive -- I'm already always double-clicking, then right-clicking and choosing search web to find the definitions of words.
A shout out to Monica, one of my few friends not in medical school, who offered the only explanation for my numb toe (see her comment on that post). Your prize will be available for pick-up as of this afternoon. Just kidding (Monica lives in Alabama). I'll figure something out ;)
-NYT article
They don't yet have a nice way to post to a blog automatically like a lot of other news sites. They do offer you a 'permalink' so it's still accessible after the article is archived, but you might still have to sign into the site. What they have added is a feature where if you double click on any word in the text, a dictionary pops up with the definition. That's extra cool because it's pretty intuitive -- I'm already always double-clicking, then right-clicking and choosing search web to find the definitions of words.
A shout out to Monica, one of my few friends not in medical school, who offered the only explanation for my numb toe (see her comment on that post). Your prize will be available for pick-up as of this afternoon. Just kidding (Monica lives in Alabama). I'll figure something out ;)
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