gray or blue

-jaymay

such a cute song.

...as I sit in Starbucks overlooking Madison Avenue's river that has formed as a result of the current downpour, I feel so at peace.

Last night, I greeted Rachel at Penn Plaza as she finished taking her GREs. We sat and talked for over an hour before walking around the city streets. Then we parted ways as I met up with Anjali, Meera, Karen, Liz and Emily at May's Sushi on 2nd Avenue and 7th Street. I had the color roll and avocado roll over lots of laughs and good conversation. Then around 9:30, Liz and I headed out to our respective upper sides of Manhattan. I got to Rachel's apartment and we watched Timers. We had the best time talking about life and love, especially when we were joined by Kathryn and Christina! It is amazing how things are so simple with some.

I woke up at 10:30 and had some Fiber One (caramel delight) with soy milk and some of the prunes I had in my bag. Then I headed downtown to meet up with Alexa for lunch at Momofuku's Ma Peche in midtown. It was DELICIOUS - we split the tofu summer rolls and I had the shrimp po boy on a French baguette with a light creamy sauce, topped with basil and cilantro. Then we had Starbuck's tiramisu cake pops for dessert. I have never been so satisfied with the quality of food - so fresh and tasty. Next stop, the Momofuku Ssam Bar when we are reunited in August (so close to checking them all off the list)!

I may stop by my old job and hang out with my old co-workers over a beer before going to potluck at my old apartment. I cannot wait to hang out with Emily, Meera, Liz, Karen, and my cousin Judy with special guests Derek and Joe from DMS haha. Then, maybe even have a throwback as we reminisce at Phebe's where we had gone during our old NYU days.

The rain stopped! It is time to go back out and take in the city...

It is hard to believe I have just finished my first year of medical school. It was so grueling but I am sure when I look back, I will not recall the long days and nights at the Dana Biomedical Library, but the wonderful times with friends as we had potlucks, watched movies, roasted marshmellows, played games, hung out in cabins, toppled over during yoga, and bonded over bonfires. I am grateful for this fact. I am so grateful I did not simply lock myself up in an academic bubble to have nothing to look back on but a flawless transcript. There are more important things to me.

Yesterday, after the last final, I played tennis with Reid before packing and cleaning. I had some people over for dinner and it was wonderful. I made a coconut curry corn soup with Chris's tofu, Menaka's nutella that we made into a soupy nutella peanut butter brownie ("UCLA had brownie goop - you guys didn't have this at your dining halls?" - I still think they were just serving you underbaked brownies, love), Christine's salad, Lily's baguette, Jyothi's asparagus, Kai's cous cous dish and Wes's red wine. Then I finished cleaning and packing to prepare my room for my subletter. At 10, Menaka and I went to Ken and David's for their end of the year party. So wonderful to see everyone one last time. I ended my night on top of Gilman at the greenhouse while watching stars and engaged in philosophical conversation. What a lovely way to remember my year in Hanover.

This morning, David picked me up and with Cindy, we went to New York. AH. Leaving was the right decision, I was frustrated at the traffic and crazy pedestrians and detours and lack of public spaces to just sit so I could read. But all in all, the memories and people here will forever have my heart.

I want to finish House of God by the end of the weekend while on the beach the ENTIRE time and then Poisonwood Bible by the end of my lengthy flight to Tanzania. Wow. It is all happening so fast.

septal rage

thunderstorms are scary at night when you are the only person as far as you can see. and as you peddle down a large empty road, the whole sky lights up by the lightening that threatens to strike you (like a lesion to the septal nucleus). jumping into bed last night was perfectly timed as i heard the roar of downpour and the rumble of thunder from the safety of my own home.

medical school has been wearing down on me as rote memorization is hardly my forte. i have to remind myself that this is not what matters 5 years from now. that these little molecules and specific pathways are not as important as building relationships (as well as asking what kinds of allergies patients have). joe says i have good people skills; i'll take his word for it.
---
side note, ashley, just think ____-ing. i know it's hard, but you deserve to get what you want even if it is in a different form.

You know you're not over it when...

You keep talking about it
You say that you're over it
Your heart skips a beat at the sight or mention of it...

It's better not to waste time wondering "why not me?" and to live a happy life so that the next time, it will be.

SCAMS.

I posted my room on the graduate housing site for a subletter, and this is what I received after I confirmed the room is available:

Hello, 
Good to read back from you...Am glad that the place is available, am currently in Galway , Ireland, i will be coming there to further my education, so i will be coming there for my move in as soon as the space is ready for move in...But i will not be coming there to look at the room due to distance, and i would love to call you but my phone just got disconnected and i dont want to reconnect it cuz i will be relocating soon, but my step dad will call you asap, however if you have the pics of the room you can send it to me so that i can see the place and send it to my step dad to see it as well, Meanwhile let me tell you a little about myself. Am Belinda Martins and am 23years old i lost my dad some years back when i was young so my mom had to remarry, so she got married to Mr Richard Harly who is my step dad now he is a very busy business man. He has been the one who has been taking care of me all this while i believe he is a God sent to me cux i have never regretted a moment with him. I lobe reading,swimming and chatting with people around me and also make them happy. I have always been thinking of how i will affect peoples life positively by making donations to the less privileges cus when i looked at my pass when i lost my dad from the story my mom told me. I noticed it is not easy for people that has no parent. Presently i donate to (W.H.O) for the support of the motherless home. Although i donate little amount, but no amount is too small to help..Well i hope when we meet in person you will know more about me. Meanwhile my step dad will need the followings information to make payment to you ASAP 
1....Your name in full 
2...your Address in full with the zip code 
3.....Your phone number.
I wait to have this information from you so that my step dad can make payment for the rental fee and security deposit in advance.

Thanks
Belinda

belinda.martins1@att.net

It is a scam because no one posts their entire life story, a sad one nevertheless, to a perfect stranger! BEWARE!