Festivity

Man have I been into Christmas these past 2 days.  Maybe it was all of the snow and ice that got me stuck in Knoxville on the way back to MS?  Maybe.  Or maybe because this is my favorite holiday.  Period.  Since I got back, I've wrapped a gabillion presents.  I can't wait to give them.  I'm such a kid about that.  I feel like right when I buy it I have to wrap it, and when I wrap it I have to give it, so buy = give right away, right?

I watched Christmas Vacation last night for the first time this year.  I also decided that I'm going to be Aunt Bethany for Halloween next year.  Group costume, anyone?

I also made some cupcakes by request from my mom for the work Christmas party.  There were some snowman pans on sale at Target, and we couldn't resist.

Enjoy the best time of the year :)

Taste of Baltimore

I have definitely indulged in the local flavor during my time in Maryland.  So, here are some of my favorites.

1.  Riptide by the Bay:  Awesome seafood with the best crabcakes...ever.  I also hear they have great fish tacos as well.

2.  Canton Dockside:  Remember a few blogs ago when I experienced eating crabs for the first time?  This is the place.  Yummy shrimp, too!

3. Du Claw:  So many good things on the menu, but the crab dip pretzel takes it for me.  They also have a branch in the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, so if you're ever have a layover make sure you eat there.

4.  Vaccaro's Italian Pastries:  You know me, I have a major sweet tooth.  Cannoli dip, creampuffs, and peppermint mocha coffe?  Yes please.  I ate so much I though I would be sick.  I'm sad I didn't discover this until my last night out in Baltimore, but that's probably a good thing so that I didn't gain 20lbs eating there. 

5. Broom's Bloom Dairy:  This reminded me of home.  So many different types of ice cream to choose from, my personal favorite being the apple pie and cake batter.  Their red pepper gouda bisque?  To die for.  meatball subs were pretty darn good too.

Thanks goodness for gym memberships in Mississippi :)  Oh, and I ate all of this over 9 weeks, so don't worry!

Home Stretch

I went to the AAEP conference today, and I WON something!  I NEVER win ANYTHING!! I was so excited.  I won an Anavac cleaning system that cleans horses, dogs, floors, and carpets (yes, I said horses).  Only those who show will understand my excitement about that.  They're shipping it to me, and I can't wait to try it out.  My house will be so spic and span!

I'm almost done with my externship.  It's gone by really fast.  I've really enjoyed it, but I'm ready to come back to Mississippi.  This well is going to be really busy though.  See for yourself.

• Monday:  finish experiments, update presentation, supper with a friend
• Tuesday:  finish experiments, update presentation, supper with a friend
• Wednesday:  shadowing a surgeon in  Annapolis; $10 steak night and Irish dancing (yea, you read me right).  It'll be a scene right out of Leap Year.
• Thursday:  prep for presentation
• Friday:  give presentation; PACK!!!
• Saturday:  Christmas party
• Sunday:  begin trek home

T-minus 8 days until Im back to Mississippi to stay :)

Maryland Crabs

Last night I experienced eating crabs for the first time.  Man was I naive to think eating crab legs and Red Lobster had prepared me for such an event.  Since a picture says 1000 words...

Let me tell you, these little babies were a lot of work.  They were very yummy with plenty of Old Bay to go around.  Part of the aftermath...

In the meantime, apparently Davis has been taking my dog hunting.  I'm not so sure she likes it.

Grand Rounds

Today I woke up super early to get downtown to John's Hopkins Medical Campus for grand rounds at 7am.  It was a little bit different type of rounds since this doctor spoke about scoliosis.

It was....different.  Before the speech, another guy told the doctors they needed to "play nice" in the OR.  I thought it was quite funny that grown students and doctors can't even get along during surgery.  Afterward, the questions were mostly just to show others how smart they were.  It was definitely a very competitive, different breed of people

Well, only 9 more days in Maryland before its HOME to Mississippi!!!!  I'm not excited or anything.

It's the Little Things...

I am the type of person to get ridiculously excited over the small things.  I LOVE the Christmas season for multiple reasons, but there are 2 things that I am particularly pumped about right now.

1. Pepperming Mocha Creamer.  If you haven't tried this yumminess in a bottle, please do.  It's amazing.  I even put more creamer in my coffee than usual just to get that taste.  I have seen other holiday flavors, but I don't see how it could get much better than this.

2.  Candy Cane Oreos.  This is a new discovery as my previously favorite oreo was the mint ones (from the freezer, of course).  Pour up a glass of milk for dunking, and you've got a winner.


Please try these and let me know what you think! 

You Tube Addict

I have a confession.  Every once in a while, I become addicted to hilarious You Tube videos.  I even like watching the same ones over and over...I just can't help it.  So, I've decided to share my giggles. 

1. My absolute favorite ever.  I can't get over her.  She also has a good one about WWII (or III)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtX8nswnUKU

2.  This video has been the start of MANY jokes at school.  It's a little less ghetto.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtkU2ch0sRI

3.  This lady reminds me of my Nana.  I'm pretty sure she used to have the same glasses, too.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGRKTkS7pW8

4.  I can't hear this song or even see anything about Miley Cyrus without thinking about this video.  Thanks Danielle :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ezfk7s1NyY

5.  I don't care if the Baaa-studs are part or completely fake.  They're still cool.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2FX9rviEhw

Well, there you have it - a variety of my favorites.  Enjoy these while eating some pecan pie :)

Hello Mississippi

I made it back to Mississippi, even if it is just for a week.  My sweet fiance' came to Memphis to pick me up, and then we went to the State vs. Arkansas game.  It was rather chilly up top in the stands, but it was fun even if we did lose. 

This afternoon, my roomie and I put up our Christmas decorations.  I know, it's not even Thanksgiving yet.  BUT I will be headed back to Southaven on Thursday so there wouldn't be time.  Here is our pretty tree.  Sorry about the lack or ornaments toward the bottom.  Little dog + big dog tail + cat = asking for trouble

And our wall of stockings....

I'm SO SO glad to be back and getting to spend some time with Davis.  After Thanksgiving, 2 more weeks in Maryland before I come home for good.  Then it's full wedding mode : )

PS - 4 more shopping Saturdays until Christmas!

New York, New York

This past weekend I high-tailed it out of the office and went to New York City with my parents.  My, it was an experience.  I'm not sure what I expected, but it definitely wasn't all of that racket...or the people!  So here are the highlights of the trip:

1. We rode the train up there.  I wasn't sure why we weren't driving until we got there.  And when I saw a sign for the Lincoln Tunnel, I had to chuckle to myself because all I could think about was...."I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel. "

2. The first night, we went to the Empire State Building.  Very pretty.
3. We saw Wicked.  I know I'm biased because I've never seen another musical, but I can't imagine anything even comparing to it.  It was amazing.

4. Ironically, Elf is now a musical, too!  We didn't get to see that.
5. We saw Bon Jovi on the Today show.  They were promoting his Greatest Hits album...how many of those can you have? :)

6. We went on a tour bus and saw lots of famous things including 2 movie filming sights, one with Ben Stiller and another with the Bat Mobile.

7. Shopping, of course!  Mostly for shoes since the 8 floor department stores were slightly overwhelming.  Where do you even begin???

Even though I had an awesome weekend, NYC is definitely only a visiting place for me.  T minus 4.5 days until I'm in Mississippi!

Who would have thought?

Well, I did it.  Yes, I have a blog.  Who knows if I will be diligent enough to update regularly, but I do see it as a good form of procrastination.  In fact, that's why I created it, because I don't want to finish doing the ever growing stack of reading that I need to be doing.  I'll go do that now and then update on life in the North.