1. Even better than a Folgers Commercial. Happy Mother’s Day to all of the #1 fans!

  2. NY Mets v. AZ Diamondbacks 

  3. The Week Our Household Became 4…and I really like her

    This past week, we added a fourth member to our three member household and her name is Honey. And no, I didn’t decided to do something crazy like elope in Atlantic City…instead my roommate and his girlfriend decided to adopt a 2 year old, 70lb pitbull…and she already has a special place in my heart…

    For those of you who know me well, you know that pets in general have never had a special place in my heart or really any place in my heart…I have been known to say that if my future wife wants a pet that I would say to her “babe, let’s just have a kid instead;” however, for some reason, those puppy dog eyes get me all the time. I still don’t foresee me ever deciding to get a pet of my own; however, the memory of angry dogs, specifically from my mission, has  been replaced with one that lives up to the nick name of “Man’s Best Friend.”

    As always, here are the things that I learned this past week:

    1. Dogs menstruate: This is the time in Honey’s cycle when that happens…I had no idea…when I first saw a picture of Honey and my roommate, when he went to pick her up, I was puzzled because it definitely looked like she had some type of scrotum…then at home I saw the spotting…and wiped up the spotting. 

    2. Apparently, there are different colors of fish meat: One day this past week, on my bus ride to the gym, I overheard a conversation between a mother and her 8 year old son about what was for dinner:

    Mother: What do you want on it (I was assuming she was talking about bread from the choices she gave him)? Olive Oil (I honestly had no idea what Olive Oil was when I was 8 years old…I love hipster parents)? Butter?

    Son: Cheese!

    Mother: That is going to be a side okay…I’ll ask daddy how you like it.

    They then moved on to talking about the “main course” and after trying to decipher some mumbling… 

    Mother: All whitefish tastes the same.

    Son: I want flounder!

    Mother: All white fish tastes the same.

    Son: But we have cod. I want flounder!

    Overhearing this conversation was definitely a stark contrast to the conversations I overhear at clinic in Sunset Park, just a few miles away:

    Father to his infant son who was there for a well child check and about to get vaccinated: Boy, you gon’ get shot 

    I love the patient population…they keep things real. 

    3. The sweetest Shake Shack location in the city is Citi Field:

    4. My palate is still unrefined…after almost 2 years in NYC…PG and Rakhsita will be so disappointed…and I still crave Panda Express: On Saturday, Yushiu and I decided to get some waffle’s from a waffle truck…and I have to say, I still much prefer Ego Waffles…

    5. Lastly, Katy Perry must have been on my mind lately:When Yushiu got her waffle Saturday night…”The Jam Session”

    all I could think of was this…

  4. The Week I Saw Ehlers-Danlos

    A couple weeks ago, the missionaries serving in my branch told me about an Elder serving in the area that had really stretchable skin…I immediately got excited…and diagnosed him with ehlers-danlos…I definitely pulled that trigger really fast. Since then, it has been my goal to meet this missionary…and this was the week. Many people living in NYC have a list of celebrity sightings, I, on the other hand, have a list of medical sightings…

    I’m pretty sure this Elder was just a little weird-ed out by how excited I was to meet him…then I asked to take a picture with him.

    I can now add ehlers-danlos to acromegally and a myriad of psych disorders…nyc is definitely an exciting place for a medical student to live. 

    As always, here are the things that I learned this week:

    1. One of the most entertaining things about reality tv is the judges’ awkward commentary…

    Last week went to Steven Tyler; however, this week, goes to Len Goodman…

    Len Goodman to Katherine Jenkins: “I’m going to call you the midwife, you keep delivering week after week.” Really? 

    On a related note, I do say some pretty awkward things too…probably one of my recent favorites was to a new girl, who is a hair dresser that specializes in men’s hair, that moved into our branch. During the coarse of our conversation I asked, “So how long have you liked men?” Did that come out totally wrong. With that said, I can’t hate on reality tv show judges comments too much. 

    2. You can still get a parking ticket while you are sitting in the car: On my way back from the gym this past week, I watched parking patrol, slip a ticket under the front windshield wiper of a delivery truck…as soon as the windshield wiper hit the windshield with the orange envelope beneath it, the driver quickly perked up…looked over at me and shook his head right to left. In response, I looked at the driver and said with my face “dude, that sucks.”

    You would think that parking patrol would ask you to move your vehicle before writing you a ticket…then again, it is the end of the month.

    3. When you are on a date, don’t get too excited to check your blood pressure: On Friday, I went to the Bodies Exhibit and got really excited when I saw blood pressure machines at the end of the exhibit…to my date, I enthusiastically said with widened eyes, “Let’s check our blood pressure!” I’m pretty sure that was the first time that she ever checked her blood pressure on a date…but don’t worry, I didn’t make her tell me what her blood pressure was.

    4. I don’t chew nearly enough…I’m pretty sure my normal chew rate is 5-8 chews per bite: According to our virtual tour guide at the Bodies Exhibit, it is healthier to chew your food 25 times per bite…apparently, with 25 chews, you will eat less because you will get full faster and you will absorb more nutrients from the food you are eating. With that said, on Saturday, I started what I like to call the 25 chew diet…let’s see if my virtual tour guide was right and my meal size and gut size decrease. 

    5. Lastly, apparently, it isn’t a good idea to tell a girl that she looks tired: I guess I’ll just have to add that to my list of things never to tell/ask a girl…also on my list are…

    You look fine.

    Are you expecting?

    …I’ve definitely been a repeat offender.

  5. The Week that I Survived by having Things to Look Forward to…

    Sometimes you just have one of those weeks…this past week was mine; however,  thanks to reality tv, a concert, and a broadway show…I survived. And I did manage to learn some things along the way…

    1. This season is the best season of American Idol ever: just check out some of my favorite quotes from last week’s episode…

    J.Lo to Joshua Ledet: “Your eyes are teary and your neck is buldging…” Sounds like Joshua needs his thyroid checked.

    Steven Tyler to Holly Cavanaugh: “I close my eyes and picture you doing all sorts of stuff…” Mr. Tyler, I’m pretty sure young Holly is only a 17 yo female.

    Steven Tyler to Joshua Ledet: “And that’s what made it so big when you popped…” Ha. Enough said. 

    2. I need to start watching Jersey Shore again…my fist pump is no longer up to par: On Thursday, I went with Jonathan to a NeedtoBreathe concert and when I started fist pumping the girl who also came with us asked me “are you pumping a trombone?” FAIL. I immediately stopped. 

    3. The best part of War Horse was the chick behind me balling: On Friday, I saw War Horse on Broadway with KC and company and during the scene where Coco dies, one of the horses in the play…you would think they would have chosen a more era appropriate name, was dramatized by the chick balling behind me. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to sob with her or laugh?

    4. The best way to raise money is to use a teen heartthrob: tis the season of Broadway Cares…after the show, a prop from that night’s performance signed by the cast was up for grabs for $100 to raise money for Broadway Cares. With that said, I wonder how much it could have sold for if they included a back stage tour, a picture with a cast member, and Nick Jonas’ sweat…I would think about $1900 more.

    I’m sure they could find a place for him somewhere…

    5. Baking something for Rakhsita is the best…it is always according to Rak, “beautiful.”

    6. Lastly, my new favorite elevator is at BKLN Gold: Who would have ever thought that I would have favorite elevator? I guess living in the concrete jungle calls for my fair share of elevator rides. And some of those rides are horribly slow..58th Street Elevator-Slowest elevator ever. Anyway, for the past year, I would have to say that my favorite elevator has been the elevator at KC’s building…it just was always right there when I needed it…even when I think “this is going to be the first time I will ever have to wait”, I would walk up to the elevator doors and it would magically open. This past week, while I was in the elevator at 275 Gold Street, a lady in the elevator with me said to me: “Those shoes are cool. My friend who is a designer for limited would like them.” I was flattered, best elevator ride small talk ever. Hopefully KC’s elevator will be able to redeem itself the next time I make a trek to the Upper East Side. On a side note, I’m sure her designer friend has seen my 3 year old Vans. 

     

  6. The Week I Went to the Bronx Zoo (Take 2)

    On Saturday, I got to hang out with the real life Katniss…

    bark with the seals…

    and ride an insect?

    …just another Saturday at the Bronx Zoo and I did it all without losing a cobra. 

    As always here are the things that I learned this week:

    1. The language of the jungle is Spanish: Oh the things you learn riding the MTA.

    2. Taking a suggestive self portrait of yourself in a Brooklyn store window after hours isn’t as sly as you think: Dude you got caught. And don’t act like you weren’t taking a picture of yourself with your phone. You really can’t predict what you’ll see while walking the streets of Brooklyn. 

    3. I think I may have a thing for a girl with a country twang: On Saturday, Clara invited me to a Broadway show that one of her friends produced…

    Two things: 1) Some of the best singers on Broadway 2) There was something about that sheriff…

    4. Lastly, in Prospect Heights, the fire department recruits at Target, but in Bed-Stuy, they do it like this…

  7. The Two Weeks of Birthdays

    The past two weeks have been birthday filled…

    It began with P.G.’s bday two weeks ago…

    then ended this past weekend with my cousin’s 1st time in NYC bday…

     

    A midst the two weeks of celebrating, I did take some time to learn some things…

    1. I am not a creative thinker: Two weeks ago, I went to a friend’s graduate student art show at Pratt Institute…and I was quickly reminded that I am not a creative thinker at all…

    The following frames are from a short titled Beechick?…

    …during the short, all I thought was is she going to do interrupted or running sutures? 

    Then as I watched another short, all I could think of during this frame was…

    That’s what she said…Rakhsita, I blame you…Ha. 

    I do have to say, Jess’s show was my favorite…

    Although, I’m embarrassed to admit, my first thought was topographic map?

    To completely honest, I’m pretty sure that the closest thing that I’ll ever get to being a creative thinker is this Pratt Institute Visitor Pass…

    …even my name is misspelled creatively…it’s like Israel with a “M.”

    2. Fosomax looks a lot like Flomax…just in case you are ever confused why a 40 year old woman who is taking Fosomax, a medication for osteoporosis, is taking medication for an enlarged prostate, Flomax…I sure am glad that I didn’t ask the doctor I was with why a women was taking prostate medication.

    3. I am getting old: For the first time, my mom asked me this past week if I was dating anyone…I must be getting old. On a related note, during lunch also this past week, I learned that I need to find me a snake or a cock…

    Now, if only finding love were as easy as it is at Coney Island…

    4. Radcliffe may be a better actor, but Nick Jonas brings in the crying teenage girls: For PG’s birthday, I took her to see How to Succeed in Business without really trying and we witnessed first hand the power of a teenage heartthrob…the kid raised four thousand dollars for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids…and all he had to do was donate two sweaty bow ties that he used during the show and pose for two pictures. 

    5. Lastly, the Occupy Wall Street movement finally made some movement…all the way to Union Square. 

  8. The Week My Two Week Break Ended

    As much as I love a break, I do love having a chunk of my daily schedule being taken up by school…so I’m pretty excited for this much needed break to come to a much needed end. But before I end this much needed break, I think it would be only appropriate for me to write out a couple thank you notes…J. Fallon style.

    Thank you, lady walking in front of me with the funky nylons…

    for making me feel like a nerd, when I did a double take and thought to myself, check out the psoriasis on those legs. 

    Thank you, anatomy class…

    for making me think of this, every time I hear the word isthmus…

    when I could be thinking of this…

    isthmus: a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side

    Thank you, man sitting next to me at Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy…

    for saying the best line of the night, “I’m Jewish, but I really enjoyed the show.”

    Thank you, survey I took at Sister Act: A Divine Musical Comedy…

    for reminding me of my lack of income, but giving me hope that one day I’ll be able to shade in another bubble.

    Thank you magical lanyard…

    for letting us get a back stage tour of the intrepid air museum…

     

    And actually stand under the world’s most expensive umbrella…the Lockheed A-12 Blackbird

    Special thanks to Ms. Bingham and her dad for funding the magical lanyards. 

    As always, here are the things that I learned this week:

    1. Park Slope just got a little cooler: Apparently Park Slope is also known as “the slope.” If you ask me, living in “the slope” sounds a lot cooler than “the city” and about $400 cheaper…so I’ll be seeing you all in “the slope.” Plus, we have Hipster Johnny Appleseed…

    and a trombone playing unicyclists w/ Harry Potter glasses…

    …how much cooler could the “the slope” get?

    2. KC loves those balls: In my past two dinning experiences with KC she has ordered nothing but balls…

    meatballs…

    matzo balls…

    “big ones, small ones, some as big as your head…”

    3. Shake Shack still has my vote for favorite burger: this past week has been a week of burgers…had a burger from Joy Burger and Goodburger…I made my burger joint rounds and I have to stay I still love me some Shake Shack…there’s just something about that soft bun. 

    4. You could get have your wedding reception at the Temple of Dendur…

    or the flight deck of the intrepid…

    …and it will only cost you an arm and a leg…so all the more reason to wait till you are part of the 1% to get married: This week I had the chance to the take an Egyptian art tour at the MET and a tour of the intrepid and both of my tour guides mentioned renting out a space for private events…I guess funds need to come from somewhere. 

    5. Lastly, KC still know how to throw a party: Check out the cake she made…H.B. Megan!

  9. the intrepid: H.B. Ms. Bingham

  10. The Week I Treated Myself

    Rakhsita’s birthday…

    Jersey Boys with KC…

    the Lorax with Clara and Yushiu…

    Elders’ Quorum BBQ featuring President Butler’s home grilled ribs…

    meatballs in the lower east side…

        

    rainbow cupcakes by April O. for St. Patrick’s day… 

    lots of TV and a book; the theme of this past week was definitely…

    Amidst the “treating myself,” I did have time to learn a couple of things:

    1. Nip slips don’t only happen during the super bowl half time show: On Tuesday, I was walking down 5th Ave in Park Slope and got a glimpse of cleave, then oh? some areola?…I did wonder what was up with the two toned bosom…it was a nip. 

    2. Although I’m on a physical break from school, I’m not quite on a mental break…mom would be so proud:

    • While I was watching American Idol, I couldn’t help but think that one of contestants names looked like “testosterone” and another’s looked a lot like “migraine.” Check it: Elise Testone = Elise Testosterone, and Shannon Magrane = Shannon Migraine
    • While I was people watching/vein watching on the subway, I couldn’t help but think to myself, “check out the valves on that lady.”

    3. “Likes” on facebook can reach triple digits: All I can say is, I’m impressed…one day I’ll be that popular. 

    4. Hamsters can poop their intestine out…it’s called wet-tail…and it looks like “she who will not be named’s” hamster’s did just that. 

    …not really, but it sure does look like some hamster intestines to me. 

    5. Lastly, move aside Jersey Shore…Downton Abby is good tv: When I was supposed to be watching March Madness, I watched 2 seasons of Downton Abby…and there went my man card, but everyone already knows that I want to be JB’s friend, so what the heck: 

    • Best Quote of the two seasons: “If you’re turning American on me, I’ll go downstairs,” sounds like something that my mom would tell me. 
    • My most hated character: Jane the Housemaid…you temptress you.  
    • Hottest Crawley Sister: Sybil Crawley…and she goes for the chauffeur