Sunday in "Study-Mode"

So, normally the weekend before an exam is absolutely insane. Typically, Saturday starts around 8:30 in a room on campus (hopefully one with windows), coffee and breakfast sandwich in hand, notes and flaschards at the ready. A friend and I then proceed to spend the rest of the day rehashing lectures from the past three weeks and trying to actually learn something. Meager yet adequate breaks are taken (almost 100% of the time centered around eating), and by around 11:30 pm we call it a night. I head home, do some late-night review, and pass out. The next morning it is the same story but the hard core studying tends to peter out by 1. Usually by then, two waves have hit. The first is "I can't do this anymore"--exhaustion, sleep deprivation, boredom. The second is more along the "I just don't care" lines. Similar causes but fueled by the fact that in a mere 24 hours it will all be over. The panic point was days ago and now there's the realization that there is not much left that can be done to avoid potential disaster. The evening tends to wind down with some lazy studying, football watching, a final stare at a bazillion drug names, and a prayer that something sticks. Monday morning: exam time. 3 hours later: click "submit" and: FREEDOM (for almost a full 24 hours).

This weekend was a bit different. The same kind of panic, exhaustion, boredom. But the test isn't tomorrow. I have to learn new info this week and wait til Wednesday to take the exam. Needless to say, the next two days are going to be hell. But having that thought in the back of my mind: "I still have two more days to study" allowed me to take it a bit easier today. And to cook a delicious fall meal: pork with apples, onion, and bacon. Plus roasted sweet potatoes and spinach.

Absolutely No Promises

It is entirely possible that this is the first and very last post on this (very nearly deceased) blog. But who knows. Maybe the hardest step is just the first post!

I'll be brief with the intro--but suffice it to say that a combination of (a) spending more time recently on friends' blogs, and (b) spending some time this weekend walking across Baltimore and wishing I had a camera and place to show-off pics got the idea floating around my head that maybe I do have some time for this. Mix that with some welcome pestering from a good friend and a higher than usual desire to procrastinate. And here I am.

My life is decidedly un-interesting. With upwards of 10 hours a day spent in class or studying, there is not that much time for blog-worth events. However, I do (very occasionally) get out. And who knows, maybe someone out there is interested in what I'm doing ( a potentially narcissistic thought... but I'm going with it...).

So, with absolutely no attempts to catch anyone up with my life since my last post (from a very different life), here are some things that have been keeping me from studying recently:

CLIMBING. On indoor "rocks." A somewhat expensive hobby to decide to take up, I have enough friends interested in this that I figured I'd give it a try. I'm absolutely loving it and just bought myself my own climbing shoes! Next step is getting belay certified... and then actually developing some kind of upper body strength so I can move past 5.6s and onto 5.7/8s!

BAKING. is such a wonderful form of procrastination. Not only does it waste plenty of time, it leaves you with an excellent end product. Made these banana coconut muffins tonight. Nothing too fancy--just a simple banana bread recipe with added coconut. Yumm.

And now back to studying Anemia--possibly the most boring disease modality we've studied yet. Plus it's confusing. For those of you interested in what I should be doing right now--it is studying this:

City Streets

I saw this for the first time on the Daily Dish and thought it was great. Then I lost the link to it and couldn't find it again. Then a friend sent it to me. And now since I don't want to lose it again and because I think it's worth sharing, here it is. It's a really cool photo project. Check it out.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

In an attempt to add more food to my blog (since it is a big part of my life), I'm beginning with a new chocolate chip cookie recipe. I found it when I was home for Easter and baking 10 dozen cookies with Molly. We were flipping through Cooks Illustrated and found this one. It's really great and definitely made fantastic cookies. Also, because it calls for melting rather than creaming butter, it works well for those of us struggling to survive without a kitchen-aid.

Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

1¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
14 tablespoons unsalted butter
½ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon table salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1¼ cups semisweet chocolate chips or chunks
¾ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted (optional)

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk flour and baking soda together in medium bowl; set aside.

2. Heat 10 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until melted, about 2 minutes. Continue cooking, swirling pan constantly until butter is dark golden brown and has nutty aroma, 1 to 3 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and, using heatproof spatula, transfer browned butter to large heatproof bowl. Stir remaining 4 tablespoons butter into hot butter until completely melted.

3. Add both sugars, salt and vanilla to bowl with butter and whisk until fully incorporated. Add egg and yolk and whisk until mixture is smooth with no sugar lumps remaining, about 30 seconds. Let mixture stand for 3 minutes, then whisk for 30 seconds. Repeat process of resting and whisking 2 more times until mixture is thick, smooth and shiny. Using rubber spatula or wooden spoon, stir in flour mixture until just combined, about 1 minute. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts (if using), giving dough final stir to ensure no flour pockets remain.

4. Divide dough into 16 portions, each about 3 tablespoons (or use a #24 cookie scoop). Arrange 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.

5. Bake cookies 1 tray at a time until cookies are golden brown and still puffy, and edges have begun to set but centers are still soft, 10-14 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking. Transfer baking sheet to wire rack; cool cookies completely before serving.

My Bipolar Reaction to Rain

So I hated my trek to work this morning. It was pouring and windy. Walking to the train was a disaster--my umbrella was pretty much useless and all the water that my rain jacket prevented from soaking my upper body pretty much just ended up drenching my legs as it dripped (read: cascaded) off of it. The train was hot, slippery and humid. And the walk from the train to work was during even more of a downpour. Not good. But at least I was wearing shoes that kept my feet relatively dry.

However, getting off the train a few minutes ago and walking in the rain back to my apartment was amazing. I had my ipod set to a very upbeat Jukebox the Ghost playlist and I didn't even bother with the umbrella. I got drenched but totally loved it. I was practically singing out loud along with my tunes and honestly, really felt like having a good, exhilarated shout. Like an exciting sporting event shout, not a pent up rage shout. I stompped in quite a few puddles and now my hair is dripping and my clothes are soaked. But I feel great. YES!!