May I have some of your time?

I think it is a lot of effort to make time for something (or sadly, someone) if you don't necessarily think they are high up on the totem pole of priorities. I say that knowing I am probably on the bottom of someone else's list. However, when you really want to make something work - you will. You will shuffle around your schedule, like colorful tetris blocks on your calendar of choice, and make it work. I know I try to.

A part of me wants to make time for everything and everyone. I know, now, that it is simply impossible. I can't say that I don't care when someone doesn't invite me to something, but realistically, I haven't invested the time to make that relationship into where he or she would invite me to that thing. Even at home, I'm never there. Right before my one housemate left for Taiwan, I organized a house dinner for all of us to sit down together for the first time. We moved in together in August - this dinner was in December.

There are some people who, I swear, ask me how I am doing so that they can talk about how they are doing. It gets old... I worry that one day I will walk away in mid-sentence. A conversation takes QUESTIONS and listening to what the other person is saying. Plus, it gets a little trickier, because to make the other person feel connected to you - you have to be interested and engaged (with appropriate responses). So if you ask me how my day was and I tell you that it was good, I studied and blah blah blah - it would be nice to hear something else besides, "Oh man, I studied so much, I don't know if you can tell if I'm just out of it or not..." You aren't listening. If you want some of my time, you need to invest some of yours.

Anyway, after a delicious dinner of butternut squash lasagna, I went to the gym with Ryan. I was rowing next to Michael, of Dartmouth Aires fame! Ken pointed him out, I had no idea.

fyi: http://dartmouthaires.com/

Medical school in a small town

Once in awhile, I wonder why I am here.

Last weekend I went to Houston and visited my brother. We cooked every day and had a different Belgian beer every night. It was so great to watch TV or go on drives with the top down while we talked about our lives, hopes, and aspirations. How cheesy, but it was nice to catch up because it really has been too long. Thursday night, I got in late so we went to the supermarket to buy snacks and Gulden Draak and Delirium Tremens Belgian beers. Friday night after the gym and dinner, we went to Spec's, probably the largest liquor store in the continental US. There were cheap $10 wines up to $5000 bottles of Remy Martin (with a diamond included). We picked up La Trappe Belgian beer and a handle of Jameson. Saturday, we studied before going the Water Wall and the Galleria. We walked around Discovery Green and Minute Maid park disappointingly because there were no areas to people watch. Next time, we'll have to go to the Montrose area. We went to Rudy's BBQ where we got the lean brisket (shoulda gotten the moist) and prime rib with cole slaw and beer. (BTW I started eating meat over Thanksgiving because I thought I was becoming anemic - and haven't switched over again...) We watched the last four minutes of the 49ers and Saints game - SO GOOD. At his place, we watched Boardwalk Empire which is slow but addicting at the same time. Sunday, we went to the gym and grilled pork ribs with asparagus by the pool. It was so good! We had La Trappe, which was great. I think I am a fan of the dark beers. In order of preference, Gulden Draak = La Trappe > Delirium Tremens.

We watched TV and youtube videos - especially Coldplay's Paradise, which prompted us to look through my African pictures. The most fabulous part, besides seeing my brother, was the weather. It was over 60 everyday. I was amazed that in New Hampshire and the mid-Atlantic, it was 20-40 F. Sigh. Coming back was hard, especially since my US Airways flight was delayed 30 minutes which resulted in me missing the last bus to Dartmouth. Miraculously, my housemate Zach offers to drive from Hanover to pick me up in Boston to go back to Hanover.

Thus, I am reminded why I am here. The people make a place, and I am thrilled by every person I have met so far.

Last night after going to the gym and going over the HAE review, Quynh, Bijan, Dan, Kristie and I went to Jesse's for dinner. "I don't have a table for 5 under that person, but I have a Chu." hahah Bless you. Quynh and I shared the New England chicken sandwich (chicken, apples, cheese, spinach and bacon - easily recreated methinks, and superbly delicious) and French onion soup! The conversation was hilarious; I realized how well our anatomy group from last year meshed even though we don't see each other that often. I came home to enjoy conversation with Zach, and later, a glass of wine while watching Gossip Girl. I am so content and believe in my fortune cookie fortune wholeheartedly: You are exactly where you are meant to be.

Happy 2012!

What a perfect New Year's to celebrate with friends who have become family. I saw Futty briefly before she kindly drove me to the bus stop. Then I met up with Savita and Aarati before we got ready in S's apt. Manan came up and we met up with Jun and his friends on the train to NYC. We went to Karen's where we were reunited with Meera, Karen and Steph! The Three Olives cake batter vodka was phenomenal. Then we went to Florine's and caught up with so many familiar faces. At 11:30, we hopped in cab to Stuy Town to meet up with Jason. It was really awkward to be surrounded by people we didn't know... but it was fun meeting people like Joe and Dominique. New year kisses were kissed and we found ourselves at Artichoke before going back to sleep. I woke up in a fetal position next to Savita, and I'm not sure if I moved at all the entire night. The next day, we woke up at 1 pm and ate at Tops diner. Savita and I met up with Kenny and Rob for seafood and steak with cakebread wine. Delicious. Then we met up with Joe, Aarati, and Rohini at the Standard biergarten before heading to Gaslight.

I had an amazing night dancing and talking to everyone. Coming back to Hanover was difficult to do.

Today, as I lamented the appearance of my hypertrophic scars, Joe O'Donnell told me that they were beautiful, that they were a part of who I am. What a wonderful sentiment.