Friends and Fruit

My weekend has been amazing. I can't say I have done anything extremely exciting (and I am a little behind on studying), but I am just so elated right now and I think I know why.

On Friday I started school at 11:00am, which is a great improvement from my 8am classes. When I walked into my neuro lab we were doing arts n' craft projects...Making a thalamus (the executive assistant of the brain) out of a potato. Loves it.

My personal thalamic potato

My lab class and our thalamic potatoes.

It was just a really great way to start the day.

That afternoon I trekked up (it only took 1hr and 45mins to go 40 miles) to the expansive city of LA to visit close friends from elementary school. I made one of my New Years resolutions to be a better communicator with friends and so far and I am doing much better than before. I think it is ridiculous that many of my best friends live so close to me and I rarely see them. And every time I see them I am so happy for the next few days. So obviously I need to make visiting them a more regular thing.

The night in LA started out in Silverlake at my friend Em's house. We drank wine and caught up on life. It was perfect. Later we met up with some more peps from Mercer Island High School (mini high school reunion) at a restaurant in Santa Monica, Areal. I had so much fun chatting and drinking wine that we left at 1am and I didn't even realize that it was so late.

My wonderful high school friends!

The next morning a few of us headed to breakfast at LaMill in Silverlake. The food, coffee and company was wonderful, but it was possible to buy a cup of coffee for $18. Ridiculous! 

I had an omelet with goat cheese and asparagus. It was delicious. And my cup of coffee only cost $6.

I headed home around 1pm and studied frantically (not really) until about 6pm when I put down my book and met up with some school friends for Laotian food. This restaurant is literally a whole in the wall, but the prices were right and the food was awesome. I might have eaten an extremely hot chili which caused my mouth to burn for about 10 mins (and my tummy still hurts), but it was worth it.

After dinner, we went to an Asian market across the street where they had some interesting fruit.

Lauren holding a really big fruit

Heart shaped fruit

It looks like a weapon and apparently smells horrible, but is suppose to taste great

The weekend was just a perfect combination of friends and eats. Although it is Saturday night and I am about to study instead of going out, I still would consider this a successfully fun weekend.

I hope your weekend was fabulous!

My Little Brother Graduates

Last weekend I was in hot hot hot Tucson Arizona for my little brother's graduation from the University of Arizona. I felt like I was in Planes, Trains and Automobiles. Since I waited till the last minute to book my flight, the only reasonably priced flight was from LAX to Phoenix. So I had to drive to Los Angeles (which is about an hour from where I live), sit on a plane for an hour and a half, then a 2 hour shuttle ride from Phoenix to Tucson. It was a long day of traveling, but completely worth it to see my boo and family.

Glass of wine to start my vacation off right

Getting into Tucson after 10 hours of traveling, I checked into my hotel (with Chris) and fell asleep.

The next morning was the Big Day

The beautiful cacti in Az

The family at McKale Center

There he is. All ready to graduate

It official. Ben's name is in the pamphlet

The podium

The family after graduation

After graduation, my family and Chris and I parted ways. Chris and I studied in our hotel room (how fun) while everyone else had fun at a graduation pool party.

We all met up for dinner at Old Pueblo Grille around 8pm to finish celebrating Ben's graduation.

Celebration shots

After dinner, some of us made it out to the infamous Dirt Bags. A bar that all the U of A kids go to. I had to see this bar for my self. Ben and Shelly have talked it up so much and in the 5 years that one of my siblings have been living in Tucson, I never got to experience Dirt Bags. I knew this might be my last opportunity for a while.

Chris and Ben at the famous Dirt Bags

The trip to Tucson was too fast. It was really great to see my family and I was so excited to see Ben graduate.

Now it is back to real life. I had a neuroanatomy midterm (which we will just have to wait and see how I did) and then 1,000,000 (okay just a slight exaggeration) of exams and projects in the next three weeks. Of course I am being really productive right now by writing this blog and watching House concurrently (but watching House is just like studying).

One more thing before I start being productive again (ha ha that is kind of a joke).

I have my first 2 week clinical experience starting June 16th. I am nervous and excited. And... I get to do it up in Seattle. So friends up there, watch out, cause I am filling up your time with hanging out with ME :)

My name tag for the clinic. So fancy

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My

This weekend was definitely a busy and interesting one. It really started Thursday night when I couldn't stop sneezing. I thought my allergies were just flared up, but it turns out I have bronchitis. Now this wouldn't have been such a big deal but I had the San Diego Safari Half Marathon on Sunday. On top of that Rebecca (one of my best friends) came into town on Friday night and my sister joined us for dinner. Friday was not very fun (although I thoroughly enjoyed the company), I felt horrible and was questioning my ability to sit up straight let alone run 13.1 miles. I knew I was going to go down to San Diego no matter what, so Saturday morning, Rebecca and I picked up Kathryn and headed down to classy San Diego to meet up with Kelsey to pick up our race packets. Once my race packet was in my hand I knew I was participating in the event. I titrated cold medications all day and drank lots of water to try and make myself feel a little better.

After picking up our bibs and race t-shirts we headed to our hotel when I realized that I had left my entire toiletry bag at home. Again, it would seem to not be such a big deal (I can buy a toothbrush at the store), except I need contacts or glasses to see and my contacts are one day disposables. It was too late to buy new contacts, so I problem solved and got contact solution, soaked my contacts in the solution over night and prayed that they didn'r rip. Luckily the contact disaster was averted. It was an early night, but I think we all needed that.

The Start of the race

We woke up at 4:55am, ate our bagels and headed to the starting line around 5:30am. My voice was almost completely gone and I didn't feel 100%, but at least I wasn't tired.

Crossing the finish line

We did it, at the end of the race

There were some big hills and I definitely was not at full capacity, but I felt pretty good (as good as one can feel running 13.1 miles while having bronchitis) but there is no other feeling than crossing the finish line knowing that you just accomplished something all on your own. When I got my race packet the day before, as crappy as I felt, as soon as I saw my t-shirt, bib and race chip a sudden rush of energy ran through my body and I knew I was not backing down from this race.

Checking out the wildlife 

These kids just met. First love? I think so.

You know, just some rhinos and giraffes

Cute Meer cats

Our celebration Margaritas

They were buy 1 get 1 free

The whole weekend was amazing. It definitely was not smooth sailing, but I had a great time. I am a little (and by a little, I mean a lot) sore, but hey, that is what you get for running a half marathon with only 5 weeks to train. But the bling makes it all worth it.

So here is to my 23rd half marathon but the first race I have done sick. Next up: Tucson for my little brother's graduation from college.

1 week down 14 to Go

And I already cannot keep my eyes open past 10pm. I think I need to up my caffeine intake. I have been trying to not drink as much diet coke, but apparently I need it.

Since spring break wasn't long enough, I decided that I should make the first week of summer session my second week of break.

Here is a little re-cap:
Monday through Thursday I enjoyed 40 hours of class with very little studying. Although our classes now involve actually putting our hands on each other, which if this was any other profession, our touching would be totally inappropriate, but since we are in PT school, it is totally cool for us to touch each others ischial tuberosities (Butts).

 Okay, the picture above is from my actual spring break, but Dick's is one of my favorite burger places!

View from Hermosa Beach

This picture is of the coast of LA. On Monday, Shelly offered to cook me dinner (as previously stated in my last post), so I headed up to Hermosa Beach and this is a picture I took from my cellphone.

What is a fake spring break without a little bit of delicious beer?

Friday was sleep day. Which meant that after class at 2:30pm I fell asleep until 7:00pm and then went back to bed around 11pm. I think my body needed it.

The next morning after getting a good 12 hours of sleep, I took a quick 4 mile run and then headed to Newport Beach to hang out with my friend Melissa. Her boyfriend owns a Duffy which apparently is synonymous with cruising and drinking. I invited Lauren and Jenny to join along in the boating festivities.

The boat

Delicious Spanish wine

Only in Newport, Venice Italy and Vegas do you see a gondola

The ladies of the boat

The sunset

The captain Josh and his first mate Melissa

The crew

Next weekend Rebecca (one of my best friends) is coming into town and we are heading down to San Diego to run the San Diego Safari Half Marathon. The following weekend I go to Tucson for the last time EVER to see my little brother graduate from University of Arizona. This summer is going to be busy but fun. I will try and keep you updated with all of my adventures.

Do you have any fun trips or adventures planned for this summer?

Round 3

Spring break is over :(  That was the quickest week of my life. I seriously could have used a month of nothing and I might be motivated to come back to school. But I guess I don't have a choice and I started at 8am this glorious Monday morning.

Today was definitely not the best day. 1st of all school started and at 8am, it was raining (I just left a beautiful, sunny Seattle for crappy So Cal weather), I hit my head on the desk (and it really hurt) and I realized that all my books that I ordered off amazon.com were delivered last Friday yet they are not in my possession and it is Monday. I asked all my neighbors and they said that they saw a package sitting at my door all weekend, but they don't know where it is now. So I am guessing that someone stole my books. I hope whoever stole my books enjoys reading riveting stories about neuroanatomy that I barely understand!

Okay, now for the redeeming part of my day. I texted my sister that I was having a crappy day so she invited me up to her place in Hermosa Beach and offered to cook me dinner. As I have stated in previous posts, I am not one to pass up on free food (plus I haven't seen my sister in a while), so right after class (which was at 6pm) I headed up to Hermosa. Here is where my day got better.
1.) There was absolutely NO traffic at 6pm on the 405. Whoa! That is unheard of. I went over the speed limit the entire time.
2.) Shelly made me a delicious dinner of pulled beef tacos (I made a salad)
3.) We walked down to the pier after dinner (because she lives in walking distance to the beach) and just as the sun was setting we saw a family of dolphins swimming right underneath us. How awesome is that?

View from Hermosa Beach Pier. Photo credit: Shelly Short

4.) I bought froyo. I love frozen yogurt and I jump at any opportunity to buy it.

Now all I have to decide is whether to go to bed or finish reading the second book of The Hunger Games. Tough decision! I think I will choose Hunger Games.

Good Night!

Intermission

I am half way through my spring break and let me tell you, this week is going WAY TOO FAST. Time, please slow down.

So far I have enjoyed a long run, sleep and time with friends. But there is so much more time with friends and sleeping that I have to do before school starts again on Monday.

On Saturday I took a flight from Orange County to Seattle at 8:00am and I got a great wake up call by getting a a full pat down. Oh yeah, I look suspicious.

After arriving in Seattle, my family took Chris and I to Dim Sum (Chris's first time to Dim Sum) and then a walk around Green Lake. After the exhausting pat down, all that eating and a a 2.8 mile walk around a Seattle classic man made lake, I took a much need nap for the next 5 hours. I literally could have slept for the rest of the night, but I had a party to attend. A birthday party for Victoria and Maggie's 28th birthday! It was awesome to see everyone.

On Tuesday, Ben (my bro) and I headed to downtown Seatown to meet our mother for lunch. It was tax day, so Occupy Seattle was protesting at the Wellsfargo building.

Spice World (a store, not the band) had some fun spices

Spicy chile

Restaurant that we ate at.

View from Lunch

Beautiful Pike Place

While at the market, I posted the above picture on facebook. My sister saw that I posted this and that a friend from elementary school in LA that I haven't seen in 20 years also posted a picture of pike place. We were able to meet up. I think that is social media at its best. My mom, brother and I had a wonderful lunch at Lowell's where I had clam chowder and then we headed to a spice market and found some interesting yet delicious spices (see photos above).

Honestly nothing has been too exciting this break, but it has been wonderful. My mission is to finish at least the 2nd book in Hunger Games, do yoga, run, sleep and see my friends, which I have been pretty successful at all.