Yummy and Relevant

Andrew came to visit this past weekend.  Leading up the weekend, I was perpetually in test-time mode, so I wasn't the happiest camper.  To help me celebrate ending neurology, he brought me a surprise: Snickerdoodle cookies that were decorated in doctor-theme.  Here are some pictures!

Key: Stethoscope, Band-aid, Brain (it's upside-down), Syringe 

BRAIN!  Andrew already ate this one.  Any semblance of neuro is now out of my life.

Andrew also warned that if I posted these pics online, he became so sought after by the ladies that I could end up with some competition.  So ladies, if you're reading this, let me make it clear that he is off the market :-)

Less than two weeks until summer!
Brittany

Pittsburgh, you are SO backwards sometimes

Today, I decided that someone broke into my car.  There were a couple of things that led me to this conclusion:

1. The glove compartment was open.
2. Items that are usually in the glove compartment were strewn about the floor.
3. I can't remember the last time that I opened the glove compartment or the last time anyone who has been in my car has opened it.

I think that whoever did this got away with the screeny-portion of my Garmin.  It's really hard to say though, because I have a habit of taking it out of my car (for this exact reason) and carrying it around in one of the bazillions of purses/totes that I use.  No luck locating it so far though.  Additionally, both the cord and clip were left behind.  Meaning, that whoever committed this heinous (yes, heinous) crime probably got a few blocks with the damn thing propped up against the front window before it died, fell off the dash, and was rendered completely useless.

Initially, I wasn't going to do anything about it.  Even if my Garmin is gone, calling the police and filing a report is surely not going to bring it back.  How do know this?  Because in the span of my relationship with Andrew, he has had a car broken into and a Blackberry and laptop taken and another ENTIRE car stolen, and yet even with a very thorough report taken in each case, none of those items have been seen since.

I had a change of heart though, when my friend Carly told me that she overheard a girl at Crazy Mocha talking about a car break-in.  Things you should know:

1. Crazy Mocha is amazing and is easily the best place to study within walking distance of my apartment.
2. Crazy Mocha is on my street so...
3. ....if that her had her car broken into, MAYBE IT WAS THE SAME PERSON.

Clearly, Shadyside has fallen victim to a repeat offender.

I am the daughter of  (1) a police officer and (2) a woman who has what some may call "an unhealthy interest in cop shows."  I was raised to know when justice needs to be served, so I decided to inform the authorities.  After consulting with my dad, I learn that I should probably be able to file a report on line and avoid having to deal with an actual cop showing up at my apartment.  This worked for me, as at this point, I had already put on pajamas and definitely was not going outside in pink polka dot boxer shorts.

After perusing the Pittsburgh Police Department website for any info on filing a report and encountering no success, I decide to call my local zone.  A seemingly noncooperative officer answered.  Here's what followed:

Officer: How can I help you?
Me: I would like to file a report.  I think my car was broken into.
Officer: What does that mean, you think?
Me: I'm sorry. I know my car was broken into.  The glove box was open, and items were strewn about.   
Officer: Well, you're going to have to call 911.
Me: I'm sorry, I'm probably not being clear.  This did not just happen, and no one is in any danger, I just want to file a report so that the police are aware that the incident occurred in case similar case arise in my area.
Officer: I do understand, and you have to call 911.  That's the only way to file a report.
Me: *dumb-founded shock*

So, I give in and call 911.  Here's what followed:

Operator: 911 what's the location of your emergency.
Me: Um, it's really not an emergency, but 5*** Ellsworth Ave.
Operator: What do you mean its not an emergency?
Me: My car was broken into hours ago, I just want to report it and was told that this is how I was to go about it.
Operator: We can send someone out right away to take care of that report.
Me (uncomfortably shifting in my pink polka dot boxers): I was told that I can do this over the phone, so I would much prefer that.
Operator: Oh, well the person who takes phone reports is gone for the day.  You can call back tomorrow.
Me: Call back tomorrow?
Operator: Yes, dial 911 during business hours tomorrow.

OK, Pittsburgh, I put up with a lot of your nonsense.  The Pittsburgh Left.  The extreme lack of length that your on-ramps allow for getting up to speed.  The absence of an Express on Walnut.  But really?  911 IS FOR EMERGENCIES.  NOT SILLY CAR BREAK-INS THAT DO NOT MATTER.  I just really hope that no one was in trouble and struggling to get through to the police while I was wasting everyone's time by speaking to a 911 operator about my mysteriously open glove box.  And really, if a small suburb of Columbus, OH can have online report-taking, why in the world can't you?

Pittsburgh, just know we're not on the best of terms right now.  If you keep up the nice weather and somehow I get my hands on a few pierogies in the next few days, we can probably kiss and make-up.

In other news, Andrew visited and brought me amazinggg cookies.  I wanted to post pictures but they're on his cell phone and he's not awake anymore so I guess it's not going to happen tonight.

I do, however, have this lovely gem to share (note its sideways, and I'm way too tired to figure out how to change that at this point):



Someone who lives in apartment building threw away a Christmas tree today.  Possible explanations?  I've got none.

Until tomorrow!
Brittany

It's a good thing I'm in medical school now...

....because a 6-hour long MCAT surely would have done me in.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/05/a-better-medical-school-admissions-test/

My opinion?  Medical schools should DEFINITELY consider an applicant's perspective on ethics and society when making their admissions decisions.  However, those qualities seem difficult to elucidate in a standardized exam format.  I vouch, instead, for the inclusion of ethics-based questions on written applications and interviews (a large majority of the schools that I apply to already did this, so including it on the MCAT also seems a bit redundant).  And really, medical school admissions universe, don't you put pre-med kids through enough already?

Hot Off the Press

So the world news has been quite a buzz recently.  Between the Royal Wedding, death of the world's most notorious American-hater, and the release of Obama's long form birth certificate (sense the sarcasm here), my life has seemed relatively chill lately.

I will admit that I woke up a little earlier than normal to catch the tail of the wedding.  I was a little leery of making a big deal out of it because I was hosting a prospective med student for Pitt's Second Look Weekend (Some of you may remember me going last year.  It's the medical school's last effort to recruit anyone who may be undecided.  It's also a great way for students to see the city and school again and try to find roommates).  I was worried that the girl staying with me would totally judge my alarm clock going off and extra hour and half early, but luckily she was into the whole thing too.  Kate looked amazing (as if there was any doubt!) - I loved both of her dresses.  If you've only seen pictures of the first one, google image search the second immediately.

Actual Second Look Events consumed most of my Friday.  I'm the Student Admissions Team Coordinator here, which essentially means I provided a supporting role for the Second Look planning process.  As a result, I got to attend breakfast, lunch, AND dinner (whoo hoo free food!), and got to interact with tons of the potential newbies.

In between all of that madness, the first year medical students did have another very important event: the Remembrance Ceremony for all those who donate their bodies to better our education.  Members of our class spoke, read poetry, played instruments, and sang (PalPITTations sang a beautiful version of "Old Irish Blessing" that I was super proud of!).  Family members of donors were invited to attend, and it seems like many people were very moved by our class's efforts.  I got a little teary during a performance of "For Good" from Wicked, but I attribute largely to the fact that it was sung at my high school graduation and has made me weepy ever since.  

Following the end of the Second Look festivities, I engaged in some retail therapy with Carly and celebrated her birthday with a large group of her friends.  Nights out like that remind me that I'm a real person and not just a med student.  Here's a fantastic picture from the celebration:

We have another exam this week (already!), so I'm grinding away.  Andrew's coming to town this weekend though, so I definitely have something to look forward to!

Until next time,

Brittany

The Best Easter Hunter EVER

I definitely have the best dad ever.  And here's why:

As a little girl, every Easter, my mom set up a trail of clues that led to our baskets and presents.  The first clue would say something like "Clue #2 is making a call," and the second clue would be hidden behind the phone.  Over the years, the clues did get harder, and the hunt was eventually was taken over by my dad.  With that change, the clues became a serious of puzzles, requiring code-cracking, application of trivial knowledge, and somewhat confusing puns.  I like to think of it as my own personal version of National Treasure.  Here were some highlights from this year's hunt:

  

The first clue was hidden inside and egg that was covered in tape.  LOTS of tape.  Not necessarily a mental challenge, but a challenge nonetheless.  It included the formula for the volume of a cone and eventually led to a basket of pine cones that sits in our family room.

For a later clue, Andrew and I had to look up the periodic table on his cell phone to change a series of numbers into words.  (Example: 1 = H for Hydrogen).  This code eventually spelled out a hint that lead to a statuette from my days in dance class.

I found the statuette...

...And the clue!  I believe that one led to a mounted fish in our study - it was a play on WALL-E sounding similar to Walleye.  Not even kidding.

Eventually, I (with some definite help from Andrew) made it all the way through.  My prize?  An adorable new Vera tote.  Oh, and like a gajillion peanut butter eggs.  YUM :-)

Next year, I'll have to save all of the clues so I can see how many you all could have cracked!  

Happy (week after) Easter!

Brittany

Dance All of Your Academically-Related Stress Away

Awhile ago (like back in February), Pitt Med let lose for the Black Bag Ball, essentially prom for 20 and 30-somethings.  The best part?  The dance was held at the Pittsburgh Aquarium, and I got to touch a stingray!  (Note - it felt like jello)  I also got some great pictures that evening, so I thought I'd share them (even if I am 2 months late).

My friends Beth, Carly, Laura, and I

Lots of med school girls!

Emily, Carly, and I

Andrew and I :-)

My good friend Carly and her boyfriend Matt with Andrew and I

Hope everyone's enjoying Easter weekend :-)

Britt

So as it turns out...

....it's really hard to balance attempting to buy a house, planning a wedding, and studying microbiology or neuroscience.  When a person is forced to do all of those things, writing in a blog really takes a back seat.  That being said, I have realllllly missed writing and keeping track of my daily med school life, so I'm back in a big way!  Hopefully my plans to update regularly for the rest of the school year are more easily followed.

Let me begin my return to the blogosphere by detailing the outcome of my epic search for a place to live next year.  It all starts back in January and February, when Andrew and I decided that the rent is too damn high (I couldn't resist!) in Shadyside and buying a place would make a lot of long term financial sense.  I looked at property listings on line, contacted a realtor, and started seeing things in person.  When I say that I started seeing things, I really mean that I saw SEVENTEEN places - condos, row houses, actual houses.  After scouring the city, I finally came across something that I thought would be perfect.  It was an actual stand-alone house with four bedrooms, a gorgeous remodeled kitchen, and a new back deck.  Andrew wasn't able to get to Pittsburgh in a timely manner, so we proceeded without him actually having seen it.  Along with our realtor, we drew up an offer, and it was accepted!

Shortly after we had a home inspection, things started turning south.  The selling homeowner was actually also an agent, so she was her own realtor.  That, I was totally fine with.  What I was not totally fine with were continued unprofessional, devious actions that followed.  She called our realtor to complain about the signing date that had been based on Andrew's schedule and included in a signed contract.  She misrepresented where her house was actually located (claiming that it's in the desirable Squirrel Hill area, when it's really in Greenfield) to have the house appraised more than it was actually worth.  When the appraisal came in below asking price, she refused to accept it or pay the difference.  And so, as I'm sure you can gather based on that laundry list of integrity, we walked.

Walking away from one place did hurt.  I felt like so much time had been invested in finding it and proceeding with all of the contractual details.  Determined not to let it get us too down, we decided to adjust our plan and refocus on condos in the Shadyside area.  Andrew was able to fly out for a long weekend, and we saw eight more places.  One of them was perfect.  Absolutely perfect.  Both of us were significantly more excited about it than we had been about the first place.  It really seemed like it was fateful that the first place hadn't worked out, and this place had come up in its place.  Again, we drew up and offer and had it accepted.

Sadly, things took a turn for the worst even earlier than they had the last time.  The condo building itself had recently installed central heating and air conditioning.  To pay for the addition, each tenant was assessed an additional fee of $130ish per month for 8 years.  Apparently, lenders really really didn't like that.  So much so that the condo association was deemed fiscally irresponsible, and we couldn't get a loan to pay for anything in that building.  At this point, I was beginning to think that maybe in a previously life I was a slumlord and karma wasn't going to allow me any good fortune where housing was concerned.

That was the nail in coffin of the housing search.  Rather than start the process AGAIN, I started looking for a new apartment.  Fingers crossed that I don't jinx myself, but I did actually find something great and signed a lease this Monday!  It's a row house in Shadyside with three bedrooms and two baths.  My favorite parts?  Tenants are free to HAVE DOGS!!! And free to PAINT!!!  So, even though rent the is still pretty high (though comparatively better than my current apartment!), I think it will work out really, really well.

Time to get ready for class :-)  Oh, and I'm shadowing a dermatologist this afternoon!
Britt