Today

I subbed for an elementary PE teacher.

I locked myself in the PE office.

I had to buzz the office to send someone to unlock it.

It's ok. You can laugh. I did, anyway. It was pretty funny.

A Diagnosis

I edited this photo to make the difference in Michael's hands more apparent. What's wrong? He has a not so rare case of golf glove hand. Oh the woes of a fourth year med student.

From the Kitchen

I've started eating oatmeal for breakfast during the week. On the weekends I like to take breakfast up a notch. Here's a few recipes we've enjoyed lately.

Egg in a Hole has become a breakfast staple. Fancy whole grain bread is good but white bread is sinfully delicious. Today I got fancy and used my star shaped cookie cutter. You might like to use the cut out piece to soak up the yolk. I prefer putting a bit of Steen's Cane syrup on mine. (Steen's Cane syrup = one more reason to be excited about moving home)

 I made this Strawberry Stuffed French Toast from Annie's Eats when Michael's parents were here with us for the Match Day festivities. I used challah (found at Whole Food's) because I couldn't find soft Italian bread. I'm not so sure about the taste of challah but it didn't interfere with the overall yumminess of this french toast. This is evidenced by the fact that all of us had taken at least one bite when I remembered I needed to take a picture.

These Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Blackberry Sauce are my new favorites. They require a bit more work than banana pancakes but it's so worth it. The combination of lemon and blackberry is delightful. We've made ricotta pancakes before and I really enjoyed them so I was looking forward to this recipe. Yum. There's a lemon poppy seed pancake (and waffle) with blackberry sauce recipe out there, too.

Friday Coloring Book Page

I wanted to show you this page because I like The Shins. I searched for "The Shins" on YouTube and I got completely distracted by videos for "Shin Kicking" and "Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling" (which both take place in England) and are equally insane.

Anyway, back to The Shins. The following are really great songs: The Past and Pending, Caring is Creepy, New Slang, and Know Your Onion. You can also go to their website and go to Media to watch the official music videos.

Thanks to my little bro for introducing me to Broken Bells which is a fabulous side project of the singer from The Shins.

The Waiting is Over

After bananas foster waffles for breakfast we headed to the old medical school auditorium for the Match Day ceremony. The envelopes were in a pillowcase. Students were called up one by one to get their envelope and a glass of champagne and to put a dollar in a bucket for the last person to have their name called. Michael was called like 15 people from the end. So close. Anyway Dean Pearson gave a toast and then everyone opened their letters at the same time. 

 

 

 

 

We matched at Ochsner in New Orleans (our number 2 choice if you were wondering) and we honestly couldn't be happier. It feels really great to be going home. 

The Match Process

A couple of my faithful reader friends asked about how this match thing works.

Michael will graduate in May. He will officially be a doctor and I'll have to change the title of the blog. However, he has just finished with the basics and now he will start his training to become an interventional radiologist. He will have an intern year in surgery, four years in radiology, and another year for a fellowship where he will specialize in the interventional part. That's six years, but he'll actually be working so that's good news for Theo's ever growing toy collection.

Last year he applied to radiology residency programs. He then heard back from some of them for interviews. He went on the interviews which were basically like sorority rush, as I like to explain it. There was usually a dinner the night before a day of interviewing. They know you're smart but they want to see if you fit in.

In February he had to rank the programs where he interviewed. In his case, radiology is a competitive field so he interviewed with and ranked 9 or 10 programs. The programs also make lists. They rank the applicants. Then some computer does the matching.

Black Monday

Today is known as Black Monday to fourth year medical students. Today you find out whether or not you have matched. If you haven't matched then you do what is known as "scrambling." You basically have to get on the phone and find a program to take you. Around noon anyone who didn't match got an e-mail saying so. Today we did not get that odious e-mail.

Black Monday, you are not so black and grim. You are more like sunshine and rainbows and unicorns and cartwheels and cupcakes. You are this note I received from a Kindergartener today.

I would also like to add that this little boy drew a similar picture earlier in the day but it was on the back of his worksheet so he decided to draw another one later to give to me. While he was drawing the first one another boy across from him was drawing zombies with lots of blood. I guess that's what Black Monday could have looked like in other circumstances.

On Thursday every fourth year med student in the country finds out where they matched. So stay tuned for that very important announcement.

Oh Deer!

I have a habit of saving things I think are sentimental like cards, ticket stubs, pamphlets from trips, etc. etc. etc. (The King and I reference, anyone?) So I made a goal that I would downsize as much of this as possible before we move.

I had a lot of Delta Zeta pictures that needed to be printed from my computer so that I could make a scrapbook. Now, when I scrapbook I put lots of pictures on one page. It's mostly to organize my photos and scraps. Nothing fancy about it. I finally printed the last of the photos and I finished it yesterday! I started going through pictures on my computer from my trip to France. I have lots of pamphlets for all the places I visited and I really want to put it all together. This might have to wait to get started.

Another goal is that I don't want to move with any unfinished projects. In order to qualify for this category a project must already be started, so the France scrapbook doesn't count. We'll see how this goal goes.


While scrapbooking I looked out the front window to see this:

I literally dropped everything and went up to the window. They didn't notice me. I made a quick choice between getting Theo and getting my camera. You can see that I got my camera. They didn't notice me earlier but they saw me when I started snapping pics.

I have a few more projects that I'm going to attempt to finish today. This post is super random and I can't even think of what to name it. I tricked you into reading it by putting pictures of deer in my front yard! Gotcha!  Just playing. I'm hoping that by putting my goals out there I'll hold myself accountable. So that was the point.

Spaghata Nadle

During the holidays my brother showed me Allie Brosh's Spaghata Nadle comics. I already mentioned that in my Hyperbole and a Half post. Well, I decided that I could easily make a Spaghata Nadle for my brother's birthday.

Yesterday was his birthday, and thanks to USPS for getting his present to him on time. When I spoke to my bro he was on his way to New Orleans and I told him not to have too much fun and get a tattoo of Spaghata Nadle. We immediately began thinking of things the Spaghata Nadle could say (and this won't make too much sense if you haven't seen the comics) like "Ah'm a tahttah!" or "Ah'm gahnnah rahgrat thas ahn thah mahrnahng!"

Anyway if you feel yourself in need of a poseable Spaghata Nadle (not to sell of course) here's how you do it.

You will need:

Yellow yarn (I used Vanna's Choice Mustard)

Size 2 dpns

1 yellow pipe cleaner (I didn't have yellow so I used green and cut off the fuzz which may work better anyway)

Instructions:

• Cast on 3 stitches
• Work I cord for 3 rows
• Insert pipe cleaner into the middle of the I cord
• Work the I cord around the pipe cleaner until it is completely covered

In case you are confused when working the I cord around the pipe cleaner you will bring the yarn behind the pipe cleaner to knit the first stitch then knit the next two stitches in front of the pipe cleaner. Then bring the yarn behind it again for the first stitch.

• Bind off
• Weave in ends
• Use black embroidery thread to make two french knots for eyes
• Cut a small semi circle for the mouth and sew it on with a couple stitches

Friday Coloring Book Page

I won't lie. I got tired of coloring. And I feel that if you're doing something for funsies and all of a sudden it feels like a chore maybe you should take a break. So I did. Today I bring you King Creosote from the UK. I tried looking for a song but there wasn't much on YouTube and I wasn't into what I heard. So today just enjoy my coloring skillz.

One Week From Today

We'll know where our next chapter starts. We'll be able to start looking for somewhere to live. I'll be able to look for a job and into going back to school.

This waiting for Match Day has been pretty stressful. It's a lot you want to think about but you can't. You don't want to get too attached to the idea of living in one place to end up somewhere else. Thoughts about beginning our "real" real life as opposed to the "fake" real life we say we've been living.

Like I said it's the next chapter and the only thing to do is to welcome it. Now you can wait along with us if you weren't already. On Monday we'll know if we matched and on Thursday we'll know where.

Notes From Junior High

In junior high we had notebooks for passing notes. I still have mine as well as most of the notes passed on sheets of paper. When I was home recently a friend of mine came over and we read through our notebooks. It was ridiculous. So much drama.

I found a few really special ones. The first two are from Jonathan. I have no recollection of who this Jonathan is. Please pardon his French.

Yeah, I have no idea, either.

This other masterpiece is from a friend in junior high.

It reads " Uh oh your booty stank." Again, I have no idea.

The notes are still at my parents' and I guess one day I will have to get rid of them. They just keep getting funnier every time I read them. Maybe it will be a good reference for what I was like as a teenager when I have kids of my own. Or perhaps I could start a new "day" on the blog like "Notes from Junior High Wednesday."

This next one isn't a note, but I found it when cleaning out an old wallet. I'm going through all my belongings and attempting to downsize since we'll be moving in a few months.

I'm pretty sure my Fit Crafty English Teacher friend will appreciate that one.

Richmond

On Sunday we went to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts to see the Picasso exhibit on loan from the Musee National Picasso in Paris (which I actually went to when I was in Paris). It's housed in a 17th century mansion that's being renovated. You can read more about it at the link above.

I think I appreciated it more this time around. I think I was kind of grumpy when I went to the museum in Paris because my foot was messed up. I also liked having Michael with me to talk about some of it. I really liked Portrait of Olga in the Armchair and Portrait of Dora Maar as well as the faces I think he practiced before painting the full portrait.

It's a pretty extensive exhibit and if you're in the area you should definitely check it out. There were a lot of people so go early like we did.

After we saw the Picasso exhibit we took a quick look around a couple other parts of the museum. We happened upon works by Jackson Pollock, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, and Mary Cassatt. Pretty cool.

Triple Elvis by Andy Warhol

Also, who knew Richmond was so pretty? I'm told that it is the largest community of Victorian architecture or something. I definitely want to go back in the Spring when it's greener and not raining. We traveled a few blocks from the museum to Carytown for lunch at the New York Deli. I completely forgot that I had looked on this photo booth website for booths in Virginia and that this place is on the list. There is a vintage photo booth machine! I was so pumped. I started planning our poses right away. The first three are posed and the last one is evidence of our lack of spontaneity. hehe. I guess it turned out kind of funny anyway.

So you might be thinking, man, Marie, this would have been a great time to pull out that finger mustache in your purse. And you would be correct. I did have it. I even put it in my purse when I switched purses for the outing thinking, well, you never really know when you're going to need it. When I was reminded about the photo booth being in the restaurant I actually thought to myself, I wish I had a funny prop with me. Well, next time I will be prepared. I've already located a few in Houston. The only one listed on the site in Lousiana is at F&M Patio Bar in New Orleans. I think the only ones on the site are the old black and white kind.

Carytown is kind of like Charlottesville's Downtown Mall with local shops and restaurants. It's a shame it was raining cats and dogs and we didn't really have time to explore. Like I said, there will have to be a next time.

From The Kitchen

My man planned out our meals last week. He's on his last rotation which is actually a lecture three days a week for three hours. So his help was much appreciated. He cooked pan seared fish (not Tilapia) with Emeril's Spring Corn and Tomato risotto (yum) on Monday.

On Tuesday he made pulled pork barbecue in the crock pot. He found a recipe that cooks the pork in root beer. Then you drain it and add whatever barbecue sauce. He used some Kentucky sauce that Dr. Bec and family gave us for Christmas. It was awesome. We put the pork on ciabatta rolls from Whole Foods. I actually found the roll to be too much and I preferred the pork on its own. The side is one half the recipe of Martha Stewart's Macaroni and Cheese from Smitten Kitchen. I'm not a mac and cheese kind of person but I have seen the light. This mac and cheese uses fancy pants cheeses- Gruyere and White Cheddar. Holla back. I had this for lunch all week and I was sad to see the mac and cheese go.

Next my culinarily gifted husband cooked chicken enchiladas on Wednesday while I was at Zumba. We usually have trouble keeping the chicken tender, but Michael succeeded in making some really fabulous enchiladas.

Now let's talk about how far our culinary adventures have come. We don't cook much red meat. I tend to overcook everything and I feel like our stove isn't good enough for really good meat. In perusing our Emeril's cookbook I saw this recipe for Rack of Lamb with Creole Mustard Crust and Rosemary Creamed Potatoes and Rosemary Jus. I thought it sounded tasty and without a doubt in my mind I told Michael we should have our friends over on Saturday.

I admit when it came down to it I was a little nervous. Emeril suggests cooking it medium rare. We have a digital thermometer so we can get the right temperature but I've never cooked anything like lamb. I got the meat from the Organic Butcher. (This is definitely a special occasion kind of meal). The butcher was surprised to learn that I was the one who would be cooking it. Seriously, I get no respect. I guess I don't look like I'm an experienced 58 year old to him.

First you have to sear the meat in a skillet. This means that our apartment will fill with smoke because the "vent" just blows the smoke back into the kitchen and the fire alarm will go off. Meanwhile Theo will cry "OMG THE HOUSE IS GOING TO BURN DOWN AND WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE. WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE NOW! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU WHY AREN'T YOU HEEDING MY WARNING?" in this really alarming high pitched whine. I guess it's good to know that if the house ever really is on fire we're know before the alarm goes off. So I preemptively opened a window. I should have opened all of them because I was choking on smoke while I was searing the racks. The good news is that they turned out perfectly. That's right. I cooked rack of lamb.

We served it up on the fine china and drank 14 Hands' Hot to Trot Red Blend. I don't know much about pairing wine with food but I think this wine really complemented this meal. I really haven't been much into red wine lately but this wine has such a smooth finish.

I didn't have the mental capacity to make dessert as well so I bought ice cream. Ben and Jerry's Phish Food, and Haagen-Dazs Bananas Foster and Amaretto Almond Crunch ice creams. The Bananas Foster ice cream is spot on. Seriously if you like Bananas Foster, go to the store. Right now. I'm looking at their website and I see there is another limited edition flavor- Blueberry Crumble. I didn't see that one but now I'm thinking I need to locate it.

After dessert our bottle of wine was empty and we decided to have vodka gimlets and play Scrabble and Bananagrams. Michael managed to completely dominate. I want a sober rematch.

Happy I Love You Friday 2011

I have been substituting in 5th and 6th grade classrooms a lot lately. This is good because I'm getting paid more for subbing for teachers instead of aids but I think it might be wearing me down quite a bit more than subbing in the lower grades. Plus it's so much harder when this is what you have to leave in the morning.

Snugglesaurus Rex

Well I guess I really couldn't crawl back in bed because he's taken over my side. I digress. On Thursday I caught a much needed break by subbing for an aid in a 1st grade class. The kids were great and I had a really good day. One little girl asked me how old I was. Then she said she would guess. Her first guess was 58. I like that the younger kids think I'm way older than I am and the older kids think I am like 19.

Anyway, on Friday I was back with the 5th and 6th graders, but they were much better behaved and I ended my week without the headache it began with. Then I came home to this:

In case you can't read the future doctor's handwriting, it reads: "Happy I love you Friday 2011! Chicky stew for dinner. Went play golf be back around 5:30 or 6."

These were also waiting for me. I love these tulips. What are they called? French tulips? Parrot tulips? Awesome tulips.

Michael made his grandfather's chicken stew, remembering him in the most suitable way possible since Michael says he loved to cook. I think Michael definitely would have made him proud with this stew because it's by far the best he's made yet.

I made the garlic parmesan butter for the bread. I looked for a recipe and I found one but I wasn't completely happy with it. So I started looking for another one when I realized that I didn't need to. I got all fancy and winged it. I used a couple softened tablespoons of unsalted butter, salt, garlic powder, dried basil and thyme, grated parmesan and maybe some freshly ground black pepper. I mixed it all together with a fork then spread it on a leftover ciabatta bun. I toasted the halves in our toaster oven for 3-4 minutes. Delizioso!

Oh Yeah, the Oscars

My attempt to see all the Best Picture nominees was deterred by the price of seeing movies here. Also when do you ever feel like seeing a movie like Black Swan? The movies I did see were Toy Story 3, The King's Speech, Inception, Winter's Bone, The Social Network, and The Kid's Are All Right. Wait that's a lot. I think I only didn't see 4 movies. Not as bad as I thought.

This year I did try to see movies that weren't up for Best Picture but had actors or actresses nominated as well as any that looked interesting. We saw Animal Kingdom (Jacki Weaver nominated for Best Supporting Actress). That was really intense and it was a good film. We also saw The Town (Jeremy Renner for Best Supporting Actor. I thought it was ok. Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) is CRAZY.

While I didn't see Black Swan I am very happy that Natalie Portman won Best Actress. She really is a fantastic actress and I like her in every movie I see. I'm sure once I finally see Black Swan my feelings will not change.

COLIN FIRTH! Yay! I didn't see Crazy Heart last year so I don't know what Jeff Bridges' performance was like, but Colin Firth in A Single Man (for which he was nominated for Best Actor) last year was ah-mazing. Seriously it was the performance of his career. I guess the film wasn't big enough? He was, of course, incredible in The King's Speech and I totally concur with the Academy awarding him Best Actor.

That being said, I was very happy to see The King's Speech win best picture and Tom Hooper win for Best Director. The film was very well done all around.

All in all I think the competition was tough for the movies this year. All the ones that I saw I fully enjoyed and I expect I will also like the ones I haven't seen. It's just too bad Anne Hathaway and James Franco were such terrible hosts. Why was Anne Hathaway hooting and hollering after announcing presenters? Why do the writers think that good jokes are the ones they make about other actors? The only good part of the hosting part of the show was when Billy Crystal was on stage for like 30 seconds. I will say that they weren't as terrible as Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin were last year.

I wasn't blown away by any acceptance speeches. Melissa Leo (Best Supporting Actress for The Fighter) said the F word. She looked like she felt pretty bad about it. I did like Colin Firth's speech. And Tom Hooper's. He said his mom went to see the play The King's Speech and called him to tell him she found his next movie. And he won an Oscar for it. How sweet.

There weren't any horrible dresses that I remember. My two favorites were Cate Blanchett's and Michelle Williams' dresses.

I watched the awards online through some website that streams video. The station that I watched was Sky TV a British channel and I have to say the host and critics covering the awards were entertaining.

So it was a good year for movies. I don't know about all that other junk that comes out but the movies nominated (that I saw) were good and I'd recommend seeing them.