nom nom

On Sunday I found this recipe for cheddar-jalapeno scones, and yesterday I went to the store and today I made them.

They are so good.


Look at the flaky insides! Nom nom nom. The top was really crunchy, too, because of the egg brushed on the top. So good. They probably could have been taken out of the oven a wee bit earlier, but I was watching lectures and not checking on them.

Look! I used a dinosaur sandwich cutter for two of them!

So, on the blog I got the recipe from, hers look way classier. Part of it is that mine are probably overbaked, and I used yellow sharp cheddar instead of white, but I'm also convinced that she has perfected the fine art of food imaging. Even if food is friggin' delicious, it rarely looks as good in the pictures I take. Case in point, because these "scones" are awesome.

Anyway, if you want some delicious biscuit-type items, they'd be perfect for breakfast or as a side to a southwest or cajun meal. Or to eat throughout the day, as I have been doing. Soooo tasty.

the last good weekend

I don't think there is a similar concept in the South, where it never really gets cold. But today in Princeton was likely the "last good day," ie, the last time the sun would be shining strongly enough to lend appreciable warmth, so everybody took that one last venture outside that didn't require full winter gear. Brandon and I went to Princeton Battlefield and crunched around in the leaves, where he took a really flattering photo of me. To quote him, "it's like a Bigfoot sighting."

It's funny cause it's true. Anyway, I also ate a pumpkin donut today, so overall an overwhelmingly sucessful "last good day." And now I'm back in Bmore, dreading the work week. School week? Same same.

Have I mentioned I love that part of fall? The let's-flavor-everything-pumpkin part? I love pumpkin bread and pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin ale and pumpkin spice lattes.

Crazily enough, not that fond of pumpkin pie. I feel that other pies tend to put pumpkin pie to shame.

I don't know if we've had our last good day in Baltimore yet, but at least I'm prepared this time with a warm coat. No more hiding out in the tunnels this year - I will have to go outside every day. Oh, the horror.

maybe i should get a bike

because my Baltimore road rage increases with every day. An eighteen wheeler cut me off today on my way to school by RUNNING A RED LIGHT. Red lights stop no man, or car, or extremely large truck in this city. I could have died?

But bikes are so cold to ride about on in the winter, and I am no Tim Ford, all braving ice sheets of death. We all know that my favorite feature of my car is the seat warmer. Sorry, sunroof.

The fact that I am still typing about this over 12 hours later shows you - my blood pressure has only been on the rise since moving here. I must find some sort of outlet.

Today I went to a happy hour that reminded me of the Driskill's in Austin. No, it wasn't that good, but it was in a fancyish hotel and I could close my eyes and pretend that I have a job that ends at 5 and I have nothing to do when I get home. I do miss the fancy drinks, though. And the baked brie? I shall never get over it.

Sometimes I think I should have been some sort of career counselor. There are so many jobs that get me really, really excited. Not that I necessarily want to do them, but I think "oh my god! that is so cool. that has got to be somebody's dream job." and then I want to find that person and introduce them to the job. It would be like matchmaking, but instead of dates, jobs. God, I cannot escape my innate nerdiness.

(Today I found out one of my friends is training to be a genetic counselor and I nearly fell over myself in some sort of COOL THAT IS AWESOME fit. I need help)

QUESTION: Have I ever played matchmaker with real people? I do not think so.

but i don't have to make this mistake.

i always listen to this song repeatedly when it gets cold outside. it makes me sad.



sadness is good sometimes.

happy diwali!

Yesterday we had a dinner party to celebrate Diwali. Diwali was described to me as "Indian New Year's," and also as a festival of lights. Unfortunately I did not learn much about Diwali besides the part about lights and how we are not supposed to have wine glasses in that picture. Ignore those.

Also, Kamna let me borrow her clothes so you'll get to see me in full Diwali regalia. But first!

Last Friday Tom and Bryan came into town. The next time we're all in the same city, I have to dress up in a bear outfit when we go out. I lost a bet.

For some reason, I look extremely pleased that I will soon be a bear, and Bryan looks constipated. Poor Bryan. Maybe you should consult Dr. Trashcan.

For the record, I will in fact be a better doctor than a trashcan. SOMEDAY.

On Monday we took our horrendous Micro/ID exam and now it is finally finally over. There has been much celebrating this week as a result. Monday was the post-exam party, Wednesday was Paul's birthday, and yesterday was Diwali.




It was so cold in the last photo. We were outside for no more than the two minutes the sparklers took to burn down. But for those two minutes we were dancing around like crazy people. The boys (men?) stayed indoors and may or may not have been mocking us.

The weather is awful. Honestly, I love fall. Weather in the 50-70 degree range can be nice, especially with the sun out, and the leaves are all crunchy underneath your feet. Unfortunately, this week has been the equivalent of winter in Texas - already in the 40s. The worst part is the rain, though. The once-crunchy leaves become mushy and your pants never stay dry. I just want to stay indoors and drink hot tea and sleep.

I'm off to catch a plane to North Carolina to see Tami. I haven't seen her in forever. She's probably forgotten what I look like. How will she know who I am at the airport???

when the first cup of coffee tastes like washing up

I have hit a new low: I am dreaming about doing laundry. Even my dreams are trying to help me be more efficient with my time.

To thwart them, I spent a while today making a coffee cake. I have yet to taste it, but based on smell alone, it will be delicious. Pictures and review to come.

One of the most thought-provoking things in my pathophysiology notes is this:
On average, chemotherapy's per-person survival gain is 10 months.
Coronary bypass's is 20 months.
And highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV gives a whopping 43 year gain per person.

I find this to be staggeringly amazing. Intelligent drug design at its finest. And even more amazing - this accomplishment after, at the very beginning of the HIV epidemic, the US government tried to sweep the whole thing under the rug and give as little research money as possible to those on the front line looking for the virus. Quite the turn around.

Bryan and Tom are randomly, separately, both in town this weekend. I have the biggest test of the year on Monday. The timing is incredible, but somehow no less than I expect from them. Antics to follow?