March Madness

As many of you know, I am a HUGE fan of college basketball.  March is one of my most favorite months of the year...I've followed college basketball since I was in high school and have filled out brackets since I was in college.  I'm a die-hard fan of the sport, and I love my K-states even more.  So this year, when Kansas was given the overall number 1 spot and then Kentucky also received a number 1 spot, I was ecstatic! But then KU lost last weekend, and today, UK lost.  Devastation.  My bracket is a complete bust (first time in 3 years--I've picked the winning team for the past 2 years), but I'll continue watching since it's the most awesome sport and tournament in the world!

Yesterday, I headed to Chinatown with a couple of friends.  I'd only been once previously but wasn't too impressed since it's only about a block long.  But I've been craving some chow mein for the past week since Ally had some for lunch the other day.  I've never been a huge fan of chinese food, and I very rarely eat it, but there's something about not eating chinese food for a long while that makes me crave it.  So I went grocery shopping for some soy sauce, sugar, and Hokkian noodles yesterday, and here's what I made (vegetarian chow mein since I gave up meat for Lent). 

Not too bad, huh?  It tastes just like Chinese take-out, so I'm happy with the way it turned out!  Now I have enough chow mein for the rest of the week. Whoo!

Hope you all have a great, awesome rest of the weekend! 

Elective in the UK!

So it looks like I might be doing my elective at the end of the year in London!  Obviously, I have a lot to sort out, but the most important thing I first need to do is find a doctor who's willing to take me on.  Hopefully it won't be too difficult because I've already starting planning my month in Europe! 

I've debated for a long time where I should go for this elective, and it came down to either home (San Francisco), a developing country, or London.  Home would be the easiest and most convenient.  A developing country because it's really why I got into medicine in the first place.  London because I love Europe and want to live there some day.  The UK has won out simply because I potentially have free housing there, and from what I hear, the elective will be my last hoo-rah before what I currently know as my life disappears with second year studies, USMLE prep, clerkships, internship, residency, etc. I do have to say, however, that I'm finding first year pretty difficult anyhow since I don't have any of that life sciences background.  But it's cool.  At least I'm having fun, right?

But yes, planning for Europe (again)...oh what joys!  Places I really want to go to again include Angelina's in Paris.  They have the best hot chocolate ever (thanks Connie)! I also want to go back to Rue Mouffetard and visit all of their crepe stands.  YUM.  I also need to ride the London Eye since Cax and I ran out of time in November.  And the West End!  I plan on watching all the musicals and plays that I can!  Exciting. 

Nothing much otherwise.  Just studying planned for this weekend though Darren, Jeff, and I might head to Chinatown for some grocery shopping today since I'm not going to the West End Farmer's Market.  Perhaps some chow mein?  Until next time...

Bumming

So it's been quite a while since my last post (over 2 years, I believe), but I'm back! Before I start and update you on my current life, I have to credit a childhood friend for inspiring me to blog again. As coincidence would have it, before my MCAT class a couple of months ago, I went to pick my mom up from work. One of her customers just happened to be the mom of a friend from elementary school! Courtney and I lost touch after Alamo, but with Facebook, we made contact again! Anyhow, Courtney has this AMAZING blog, filled with pictures and wonderful stories, so I decided that I should start up again. Thanks, Courtney!

For those of you who don't know, I moved back to San Francisco from Houston at the beginning of August. I need to thank Hiu and Kent once again for making the road trip with me, but I will NEVER again travel halfway across the country in a U-Haul. I'm not even sure if I will ever road trip that distance again...but we had some fun times, especially on all of our eating adventures. Mario Batali's Pizzeria Mozza is my favorite pizzeria now. I heart their speck, bufala mozzarella, olive tampanade, and oregano pizza! Enough on my road trip...

Currently, I'm simply just bumming around and hanging out with friends whenever they're free. I know TNT's day-time schedule by heart (sad, I know), but I'm also trying to stay busy. I can't wait to work again, but in the meantime, I'm spending time with my aunt who has cancer, working on a new crochet project (more on that later), baking occasionally, and planning my trip to Europe! Yes, I'm finally going! YAY! So excited! Cax and I are hitting Paris and London, so if you have any good restaurant suggestions, please let us know. Will keep you guys updated as I get closer to the departure date!

Now, I can't end my first blog in 2+ years without mentioning anything about my stay in Houston. Let's start with the things that I miss:
1. My friends and office-mates in the PI department. Truly, you guys were the hardest part of my leaving Houston. Loud music in the afternoons with square dancing demos (Sue C., what's that John Denver song about grandma's something?), potlucks, bitching sessions, random conversations, etc. I could go on forever.
2. Texts, emails, phone calls from Jen M., Bobbiejean, and other IPMA peeps.
3. EOC Rounds with the "Team" on Tuesdays at 1pm!!! Bedboard every morning!
4. Being on-call 24/7.
5. Weekends at Viv and Quanelle's house. I'm going to miss their fried turkey this year at Thanksgiving! And all of their crawfish boils!!
6. All the kids - Sarah, Trip, Hailey, Sydney, Marissa, Hannah, Olivia, Riley, Hunter, Carson
7. Ampy showing me how to make a crochet stitch that I've never done before (I rely on YouTube now).
8. Whataburger Ketchup. I still have 9 packs left!!
9. Goode Co BBQ, Chuy's, Nico Nico's

This list is to be continued because as I said, I can go on forever if possible! =) I miss you guys, Houstonians!