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

Going to the Conservatory and we're gonna get maaaaarried...

It took two weekends, three separate days of appointments, and seven reception venues, but we found it!  On June 23rd, 2012, Andrew and I will get married at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Grandview/Marble Cliff and then party with our friends and family at Franklin Park Conservatory.

I thought it was a really fun process.  Andrew and my mother probably don't fully share the sentiment.  To be fair, they were both major troopers.  Mom was sick, and well, Andrew is a guy, so the appeal of actually looking a venues only got them so far.  By place number 7, I think we were all dragging our feet a bit.  Here in chronological order are the places we checked out:

1. Smith Brothers - cool vibe, but seemed a bit small
2. Columbus Athenaeum - AMAZING room, but they wouldn't let us pick our potatoes (not kidding, I really don't like anything but mashed potatoes, and they couldn't guarantee what our side dishes would be in advance.  They would just be "chef's choice."  Andrew told me about four hours later that I needed to stop talking about the potatoes.  He was definitely right.)
3. Statehouse - almost too big
4. Franklin Park - THE ONE!
5. The Vault - interesting...the guy showing us the place opened with "I know it doesn't look great now, but that's because it's fraternity/sorority formal time.  At least there's no puke in the bathroom...I think."  It didn't exactly inspire romance.
6. The Columbus Museum of Art - definitely too small.  We would have had to ditch some tables after dinner to create a dance floor.
7. Greek Orthodox Church downtown - very pretty, but just didn't seem quite right

To be honest, I think we knew we wanted Franklin Park as soon as we saw it.  Here are a few pics!  We'll have both and indoor and outdoor space.


Sorry this didn't go up as early as promised.  Blogger hated me again for some reason :-\

Look for house updates soon!
Britt

Yummy Yummy

As promised, here is the first of a three part series that covers my eating habits, wedding planning, and house hunting.

Let me begin by saying that Yum-Yum sauce from Genji's Japanese Steakhouse is the tastiest thing any girl could ever want.  If you've not heard of Genji's, then you're probably not from Columbus.  If you've not heard of Genji's and you're from Columbus, then shame on you.  Their food is incredible, and they have this sauce that might as well turn your food to gold.  As it turns out, you can actually buy Yum-Yum sauce by the bottle.  Thus, I have purchased some and have been recreating hibachi experiences in my own apartment.  Here's the photo evidence:

Step one:  Heat oil, add zucchini and onions, sprinkle on some salt/pepper/soy sauce

Step two: cook Shrimp in a small amount of butter, add lemon juice and soy sauce

Step 3: Serve with rice and large side of the Yum-Yum :-)  Eat until you just can't eat anymore.

Note: I did in fact eat my meal on a Little Mermaid plate.  It only added to the experience.

So friends, it looks like I'm a hibachi grill short of quitting medical school for an alternate career.  There's no shame in keeping my options open.

Until tomorrow,

Brittany

Dear Med School...

....you are significantly cramping my blogging abilities.  Go away.  And don't come back.

I took another exam yesterday, which means yet another class is over.  I feel like it was just last week that I was complaining to you all about cell path taking over my life, yet some how I've been through 4 weeks of immunology and lived to tell the tale.

I'm going to take the next few days to update you on various things in my life.  Subjects will include:

1.  The amazing shrimp dinner I made myself (including pictures).
2.  Wedding venue hunting (including a detailed analysis of each venue).
3.  House hunting (which I can pretty summarize now: we haven't found it).

Get excited people - three straight days of Britt Goes to Pitt updates.  Guaranteed.

Look for the first one tonight!
Britt

Pre-approved!

Things that have happened since my last post:

1. Andrew, my mom, and I looked at three wedding venues for the reception.  None of them were quite right, so we're trying again this weekend.  Downside: 2 weekends in a row of long drives for Brittany.

2. Andrew and I have been pre-approved for a mortage!  Updates on home-buying will definitely be coming in the next few weeks as we look at houses.

3. Pittsburgh got cold.  Really, really cold.  It actually has been so cold that I have been sleeping on my couch because it closest to my radiator.  Can summer come back?

I will write a longer post tomorrow, but I thought these points were worth sharing tonight!

Britt