Ok, I'll bite.
I think I often just go through life with blinders on, not always thinking and absorbing as much as I should- both of the good and the bad that happens to me.
So, this is probably a good exercise- though I think I'll do it by the decade, not just the year.
Where were you when 2000/2009 began?
2000: with my boyfriend at the time, and about 20 of his fraternity buddies, in New Orleans- wondering where our jetpacks were, and also 'calling' which stores we would get when the looting began. ;)
2009: Went to a delicious dinner at O, and then to the 'Ice Ball'- which was a total waste. They missed midnight, b/c a fight broke out, and a guy LOST HIS EYE. I also fell on the ice on my way there, and spent the rest of the night with a bloody knee. (pulling my pantyhose out of that scab at the end of the night was NOT fun.) All in all, kind of a disappointing new year- but then again, it often is, because I hope for too much.
Who were you with?
2000: med school peeps in NOLA
2009: some buffalo girlfriends. (had hoped to swing by the 24, but dinner ran WAY over.)
Where will you be when 2009 ends?
TBD- but somewhere in hartford
Whom will you be with when 2009 ends?
My lovely BF, and his brother and her girlfriend. May meet my co-worker and his fiancee.
Was 2000-2009 a good year/decade for you?
decade: Yes. Lots of changes.... I lived in New Orleans, Chicago, Buffalo, and now CT. Had pretty much all the serious relationships of my life. Grew into myself.
2009: a little bittersweet to leave buffalo and my friends there, but CT has been good too- esp meeting the BF. :)
What was your favorite moment of the decade/year?
All in 2009: finishing residency, matching to my fellowship, and reuniting with a buddy from 12 years ago and realizing he is a really amazing guy.
What was your least favorite moment of the year/decade?
Eh, nothing worth dwelling on. Had some disappointments at work, and some bad boy drama, but it's over now.
Did you keep your New Year resolutions of 2009?
Sort of- I didn't make formal resolutions, but I decided to try to be healthier. I lost 30 lb, but have gained about 7 back. booo!
Do you have any New Year resolutions for 2010?
Just to get back on track with my diet. Would love to lose 20 more lb.
Actually, I also want to make a concerted effort to be more of an ACTIVE learner at work. Read more when I'm at home at night, etc.
Did you fall in love this year/decade?
Yes. A couple times I thought I had- but this time I know it. :)
What was your favorite month of 2009?
Probably August.
Did you travel outside of the US in 2009?
Canada (doesn't really count), and Belgium and France. Went to the BVI, Turks and Caicos, Mexico, and St. Thomas (still technically the US) in the 00's.
How many different states did you travel to in 2009?
Hmm. NY, CT, RI, MA, OR, VA, KY... maybe some others for interviews. Also went to KS, LA, IL, OH, TX during the 00's.
Did you lose anybody close to you in 2009?
My grandfather. Also lost my aunt in '07.
What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2009?
Oh man I have to pick one?
What was your favorite song in 2009?
Discovered the National this decade, and they're still at the top of the heap.
What was your favorite album in 2009?
Mixes from friends :)
What was your most exciting moment of 2009/the decade?
Hmm... a few graduations, a few wedding toasts, and a few heart-skipping first dates.
What was your proudest moment of 2009?
Finishing residency.
What was your most embarrassing moment of 2009?
Nothing too terrible...
If you could go back in time to any moment of 2009/the decade and change something, what would it be?
I would not have tolerated cheating as long as I did.
What are your plans for 2010?
Finish fellowship
Get a job
See where life takes me and my boy. :)
Jenks's Journal
My Podcast Link
12/31/2009 10:31 #50700
reflections12/29/2009 13:53 #50688
checking inSo... Christmas is over.
Always kind of a letdown.
So much buildup, and then.... back to winter.
But, I had a lovely lovely christmas, and I hope you all did too.
And, am going to start planning a vacation for Feb, so I have something to look forward to.
Here's a xmas picture dump, and some more adorable baby pix.
Love this guy. :)
(taken when we went to Foxwoods to see the Bodies Revealed exhibit).
Cloves stuck in oranges make delicious decorations/air fresheners.
Christmas Eve bedtime story. (not pictured, ridiculously cute baby bathrobe).
Present #1 - her own little chair
It was a big hit.
Trying to sit in the big girl chair.
So, my brother wrangled this present for her in a rare display of tough-guy. He had taken his car in, only to have it break down again half an hour after picking it up. When he took it back in, they said they wanted to make it right. So he pointed at the toy MINI in the showroom and said "how about one of those for my niece?". And it worked.
She's a natural.
LOVE!
Always kind of a letdown.
So much buildup, and then.... back to winter.
But, I had a lovely lovely christmas, and I hope you all did too.
And, am going to start planning a vacation for Feb, so I have something to look forward to.
Here's a xmas picture dump, and some more adorable baby pix.
Love this guy. :)
(taken when we went to Foxwoods to see the Bodies Revealed exhibit).
Cloves stuck in oranges make delicious decorations/air fresheners.
Christmas Eve bedtime story. (not pictured, ridiculously cute baby bathrobe).
Present #1 - her own little chair
It was a big hit.
Trying to sit in the big girl chair.
So, my brother wrangled this present for her in a rare display of tough-guy. He had taken his car in, only to have it break down again half an hour after picking it up. When he took it back in, they said they wanted to make it right. So he pointed at the toy MINI in the showroom and said "how about one of those for my niece?". And it worked.
She's a natural.
LOVE!
12/18/2009 16:15 #50596
yayyy!This is probably the earliest I have ever been ready for christmas. Feels so great to not have to rush around like crazy.
My last present should arrive today, then I can wrap it.
Only thing left to do is bake some cookies this weekend.
And, bonus for the fact that I didn't set foot in a mall.
My last present should arrive today, then I can wrap it.
Only thing left to do is bake some cookies this weekend.
And, bonus for the fact that I didn't set foot in a mall.
lilho - 12/19/09 20:59
Your tree and presents look lovely! Nicely done!
Your tree and presents look lovely! Nicely done!
libertad - 12/19/09 09:53
I ordered everything online this year. Most of the stuff I couldn't have found in the mall anyways. If I seriously thought I would have found something in the mall I would have went there but I'm sure I would have came out empty handed and angry so I just skipped it all together.
I did look at all the local stores for gifts but didn't find anything I thought anyone would like in my price range.
I ordered everything online this year. Most of the stuff I couldn't have found in the mall anyways. If I seriously thought I would have found something in the mall I would have went there but I'm sure I would have came out empty handed and angry so I just skipped it all together.
I did look at all the local stores for gifts but didn't find anything I thought anyone would like in my price range.
metalpeter - 12/18/09 19:40
Nice Tree. On Sat. I work for like 4 hours then go to target to get some stuff then go home and hopefully have time to relax before I head out to the sabres game and figure out where I want to eat. Do I have wrapping paper and I need tape, so I'm way behind.
Nice Tree. On Sat. I work for like 4 hours then go to target to get some stuff then go home and hopefully have time to relax before I head out to the sabres game and figure out where I want to eat. Do I have wrapping paper and I need tape, so I'm way behind.
mrmike - 12/18/09 19:11
Very nice
Very nice
12/20/2009 12:47 #50610
lace cookiesI just stumbled across this recipe, and OMG it is SOOOO GOOD!
AND, soooo super easy.
And, not very bad for you.
Sorry i don't have a pic, but they spread out super thin and crispy.
Go make some! Right now!
Lace Cookies
4 Tbsp light butter, melted
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup uncooked quick oats
1/4 cup almonds, toasted and chopped
1 Tbsp orange zest
Instructions
Heat oven to 350°F. Cover three baking sheets with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. *don't skip this step. They WILL STICK to a cookie sheet, even if you grease it. use parchment, or even better, a "Sil-Pat" baking sheet.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Drop 1/2 teaspoons [seriously. just a tiny little bit.] of dough 2 inches apart on prepared sheets. Bake until flattened and golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Cool completely on wire racks; carefully remove cookies from paper. Yields 1 cookie per serving.
AND, soooo super easy.
And, not very bad for you.
Sorry i don't have a pic, but they spread out super thin and crispy.
Go make some! Right now!
Lace Cookies
4 Tbsp light butter, melted
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup uncooked quick oats
1/4 cup almonds, toasted and chopped
1 Tbsp orange zest
Instructions
Heat oven to 350°F. Cover three baking sheets with parchment paper and coat with cooking spray. *don't skip this step. They WILL STICK to a cookie sheet, even if you grease it. use parchment, or even better, a "Sil-Pat" baking sheet.
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Drop 1/2 teaspoons [seriously. just a tiny little bit.] of dough 2 inches apart on prepared sheets. Bake until flattened and golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Cool completely on wire racks; carefully remove cookies from paper. Yields 1 cookie per serving.
ladycroft - 12/22/09 03:59
Hmmm...I do happen to have some almond slivers that need to be used up soon - and no current plans to use them. Think I'll give these a try, got plenty of basic ingredients stocked in my pantry!
Hmmm...I do happen to have some almond slivers that need to be used up soon - and no current plans to use them. Think I'll give these a try, got plenty of basic ingredients stocked in my pantry!
jbeatty - 12/20/09 15:47
Have you ever used a Sil-pat with breads? I really need to get one.
Have you ever used a Sil-pat with breads? I really need to get one.
tinypliny - 12/20/09 14:18
I need to try this - especially since its flourless and I never have flour. But then I don't have butter or sugar either.
And Ooops, I just got through my last packet of oats last week.
Oh well.
I need to try this - especially since its flourless and I never have flour. But then I don't have butter or sugar either.
And Ooops, I just got through my last packet of oats last week.
Oh well.
12/16/2009 14:46 #50574
ghet-toOk, WTF.
I have a question.
Do people in shitty neighborhoods not drink skim milk or something?
I work at a hospital.
Hospitals are very often in a shitty part of town.
I also live "downtown".
Most people shudder when I say that.
However, I live in 'the nice part' of downtown, where there are nice shops and restaurants and stuff.
However, there is no decent grocery store.
So, grocery shopping has become a big event.
So, if I only need a couple things, I don't feel like fighting traffic on the highway to go to the suburbs.
So, I sometimes stop at the gas station/mini-mart on the corner right by the hospital on the way home.
I did this a while ago. I got gas, and I ran in to get milk.
And they didn't have any skim milk. Not like they are out of it- like they don't even CARRY it.
Not only that, but all the milk they DID have had an expiration date in about 3 days. And, was super-expensive.
Today I went back b/c I needed gas, and was going to buy some cereal if they had cheerios.
First of all, the gas was super expensive. And 10c more per gallon to use a credit card. And, premium was 50c more per gallon. I thought the gas grades were usually 10c apart? like 2.79/2.89/2.99. Nope, not at the ghetto-mart. it was 2.76/3.09/3.19. plus 10 if you don't pay cash.
But second of all, I realized there were no price tags on ANYTHING.
So, I didn't buy anything.
But I asked the guy at the register "Um... is there any way to know how much things cost? I don't see price tags anywhere."
And he responded, I think seriously:
"It doesn't matter. This is Hartford. People can't [maybe he said don't] read."
SERIOUSLY?
I'm a little dumbfounded.
I have a question.
Do people in shitty neighborhoods not drink skim milk or something?
I work at a hospital.
Hospitals are very often in a shitty part of town.
I also live "downtown".
Most people shudder when I say that.
However, I live in 'the nice part' of downtown, where there are nice shops and restaurants and stuff.
However, there is no decent grocery store.
So, grocery shopping has become a big event.
So, if I only need a couple things, I don't feel like fighting traffic on the highway to go to the suburbs.
So, I sometimes stop at the gas station/mini-mart on the corner right by the hospital on the way home.
I did this a while ago. I got gas, and I ran in to get milk.
And they didn't have any skim milk. Not like they are out of it- like they don't even CARRY it.
Not only that, but all the milk they DID have had an expiration date in about 3 days. And, was super-expensive.
Today I went back b/c I needed gas, and was going to buy some cereal if they had cheerios.
First of all, the gas was super expensive. And 10c more per gallon to use a credit card. And, premium was 50c more per gallon. I thought the gas grades were usually 10c apart? like 2.79/2.89/2.99. Nope, not at the ghetto-mart. it was 2.76/3.09/3.19. plus 10 if you don't pay cash.
But second of all, I realized there were no price tags on ANYTHING.
So, I didn't buy anything.
But I asked the guy at the register "Um... is there any way to know how much things cost? I don't see price tags anywhere."
And he responded, I think seriously:
"It doesn't matter. This is Hartford. People can't [maybe he said don't] read."
SERIOUSLY?
I'm a little dumbfounded.
lilho - 12/17/09 23:32
people can't read???? do they know what they are buying from the package shape and the colors on the box??? i can stand ghetto marts, or crap ghetto grocery stores... i hope they create something better for you in the near future.
people can't read???? do they know what they are buying from the package shape and the colors on the box??? i can stand ghetto marts, or crap ghetto grocery stores... i hope they create something better for you in the near future.
metalpeter - 12/17/09 19:08
I have another theory to add to the question. If memory serves and this could be wrong. WIC is only for kids or babies up to a certain age. If I remember correctly around that age kids are still supposed to drink whole milk. I wonder if with WIC you can even get skim milk. But there is another factor and that is cooking. If you use milk to cook think Mac N' Chesse you don't want to use skim milk or 2%. I also think that there are some cultural things going on about having whole milk, not that I would know what they are. But what I can say is that what ever kind of milk you where raised on is what you will drink as an adult this goes for other things like Juice and Pop and that could factor in as well. One thing I didn't mention is that Yes I like Milk but it has to be very cold other wise it doesn't taste right, and I mean make you teath cold but I grew up on 2% and won't go near skip and whole milk not sure what kind they use for Chocolate but it sure tastes good. But if I was using milk for multiple things, like coffee, drinking, breakfast and cooking I'm not going to buy 4 kinds of milk, I'm getting what ever works the best and getting the biggest size they sell.
In Terms of the No Price tags that is common in non chain places. This is often true of a place that is maybe run by a family. Hey if the guy behind the counter has to put prices on things or pay someone to do it and it is cheaper not to why put on prices? What I think happens really is that when you go into one of those types of stores most people who go in are going to buy what ever they are going to buy regardless of price. Hey if the other store is 30 cents cheaper you aren't go to go there to save that. You need a drink or what ever that is what you need and you will buy it. This goes for people with lots of money not only poor people. I'm also guessing since they sell gas they get a lot of people who come it and get snacks and gas and they aren't going to get gas and then go buy snacks someplace else. That is my idea anyways.
I have another theory to add to the question. If memory serves and this could be wrong. WIC is only for kids or babies up to a certain age. If I remember correctly around that age kids are still supposed to drink whole milk. I wonder if with WIC you can even get skim milk. But there is another factor and that is cooking. If you use milk to cook think Mac N' Chesse you don't want to use skim milk or 2%. I also think that there are some cultural things going on about having whole milk, not that I would know what they are. But what I can say is that what ever kind of milk you where raised on is what you will drink as an adult this goes for other things like Juice and Pop and that could factor in as well. One thing I didn't mention is that Yes I like Milk but it has to be very cold other wise it doesn't taste right, and I mean make you teath cold but I grew up on 2% and won't go near skip and whole milk not sure what kind they use for Chocolate but it sure tastes good. But if I was using milk for multiple things, like coffee, drinking, breakfast and cooking I'm not going to buy 4 kinds of milk, I'm getting what ever works the best and getting the biggest size they sell.
In Terms of the No Price tags that is common in non chain places. This is often true of a place that is maybe run by a family. Hey if the guy behind the counter has to put prices on things or pay someone to do it and it is cheaper not to why put on prices? What I think happens really is that when you go into one of those types of stores most people who go in are going to buy what ever they are going to buy regardless of price. Hey if the other store is 30 cents cheaper you aren't go to go there to save that. You need a drink or what ever that is what you need and you will buy it. This goes for people with lots of money not only poor people. I'm also guessing since they sell gas they get a lot of people who come it and get snacks and gas and they aren't going to get gas and then go buy snacks someplace else. That is my idea anyways.
jenks - 12/17/09 16:15
yeah, I kind of understand the milk thing, I guess.
What upsets me possibly more is the "no reason to put prices on things b/c people can't/won't read them" comment.
yeah, I kind of understand the milk thing, I guess.
What upsets me possibly more is the "no reason to put prices on things b/c people can't/won't read them" comment.
uncutsaniflush - 12/16/09 23:10
Short Answer: the locals aren't buying milk there for some reason. The reasons could be: 1. the mart doesn't accept food stamps. 2. the mart doesn't accept WIC/ADC/Whatever it is called in your state. 3. There is a cheaper mart around the corner from yours that isn't a gas station.
Long Answer: Culturally in Hispanic culture what we Western Europeans call "whole milk" doesn't have enough butterfat content. Apparently, our "whole milk" isn't really whole. If there is a large Hispanic or Portuguese population in the 'hood you are talking about, I would not expect skim milk to be popular. Adults don't usually drink milk. And if they do, they usually go for maximum butterfat.
Short Answer: the locals aren't buying milk there for some reason. The reasons could be: 1. the mart doesn't accept food stamps. 2. the mart doesn't accept WIC/ADC/Whatever it is called in your state. 3. There is a cheaper mart around the corner from yours that isn't a gas station.
Long Answer: Culturally in Hispanic culture what we Western Europeans call "whole milk" doesn't have enough butterfat content. Apparently, our "whole milk" isn't really whole. If there is a large Hispanic or Portuguese population in the 'hood you are talking about, I would not expect skim milk to be popular. Adults don't usually drink milk. And if they do, they usually go for maximum butterfat.
tinypliny - 12/16/09 19:28
The Thai store on Niagara St. doesn't have any prices either. Sounds like a common thread, huh?
The Thai store on Niagara St. doesn't have any prices either. Sounds like a common thread, huh?
jbeatty - 12/16/09 15:32
Ghetto marts usually have more of a selection of grape drink than milk.
Ghetto marts usually have more of a selection of grape drink than milk.
zobar - 12/16/09 15:30
I lived for a little while in Greenville, Jersey City :::link:::[Gentrification?! Really??] and judging by the prices in the bodega [and not by the quarter-inch of grime on the floor] you'd think you were in a rich neighborhood. In my case, large retailers wouldn't go anywhere near my neighborhood and small independent shops couldn't move enough product to keep it fresh or get competitive wholesale pricing.
- Z
I lived for a little while in Greenville, Jersey City :::link:::[Gentrification?! Really??] and judging by the prices in the bodega [and not by the quarter-inch of grime on the floor] you'd think you were in a rich neighborhood. In my case, large retailers wouldn't go anywhere near my neighborhood and small independent shops couldn't move enough product to keep it fresh or get competitive wholesale pricing.
- Z
That baby is completely adorable!
Great pictures -- love the "Conversation" with her grandpa
Oh I love that photo with the bathrobe and the car!
And you two make a very cute couple! :)
Where did you find that baby robe!? I've been looking for one for ages... and a baby apron. And that baby's awfully cute.