I'm an Olympic junkie and sad to report that aside from Friday evening, I've barely been out of the house this weekend since the Olympics started. I've been glued to the TV despite all the things that I need to do. BTW, the men's relay 4X100m relay was amazing. Even the team coming in fifth beat the previous world record! It is a good thing that my week routine starts tomorrow, otherwise my muscles would probably start to atrophy.
We're doing intense Radiology review beginning tomorrow. Last week, we ended up killing Stan (the mechanical simulator patient) a couple times during these simulated patient scenarios. Wow! That makes people out there feel so secure, huh? The good thing is that we became better and better at approaching situations by the end.
Time for bed...zzzzz
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Saturday, August 9, 2008
888888888888
The Olympics began yesterday (8.8.08 at 8) with a breathtaking opening ceremony. Leave it to the Chinese to bid to host the Olympics in a year that they were able to start the ceremony on a date with all 8's, a lucky number for Chinese people. Fitting.
I have to say - thank goodness for Tivo! It makes Olympic watching so much more enjoyable and allows me much more sleep than my Olympic-obsessed mind would otherwise allow me. I'm not sure which part of the opening ceremony I liked most. The opening drumming performance with 2008 drummers was quite impressive with the incredibly well-timed count down. Then it just got better and better. They estimate that there were about 15,000 performers involved in the ceremony - none of them repeating.
The march of nations that paraded all of the athletes is always entertaining. Here's where Tivo is great - you can always fast forward or rewind back to your favorite countries if you miss them. Rather than being lined up in alphabetic order, it was done by brush strokes, a nice touch. I did find it funny as they announced each country in the three languages - French, English, then Chinese. Okay, I agree some of the countries have very different names between the three languages, but generally this isn't the case. Example
French announcer: Mali
English announcer: Mali
Chinese announcer: Ma- Leeeeeeeeeee!!!
Well, I must run now. More later..
I have to say - thank goodness for Tivo! It makes Olympic watching so much more enjoyable and allows me much more sleep than my Olympic-obsessed mind would otherwise allow me. I'm not sure which part of the opening ceremony I liked most. The opening drumming performance with 2008 drummers was quite impressive with the incredibly well-timed count down. Then it just got better and better. They estimate that there were about 15,000 performers involved in the ceremony - none of them repeating.
The march of nations that paraded all of the athletes is always entertaining. Here's where Tivo is great - you can always fast forward or rewind back to your favorite countries if you miss them. Rather than being lined up in alphabetic order, it was done by brush strokes, a nice touch. I did find it funny as they announced each country in the three languages - French, English, then Chinese. Okay, I agree some of the countries have very different names between the three languages, but generally this isn't the case. Example
French announcer: Mali
English announcer: Mali
Chinese announcer: Ma- Leeeeeeeeeee!!!
Well, I must run now. More later..
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Unplugged In the Park
I've come to terms with the fact that I'm not so great about updating. Here are a few photos from Unplugged in the Park from a couple weeks back. (one of the many things I haven't updated about) The place was pretty crowded, but we ended up running into some friends there before settling down on the grass. It was a nice way to spend a Sunday evening in Atlanta.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Cupcake Hunting Part II
Since our cupcake hunting episode a few weeks ago, I think I've driven everyone nuts with cupcakes. We've now upped our cupcake samples to 10 locations (at least) and still counting. The funny thing, as I've said, is that I didn't even like cupcakes before. Now we've been bringing them to friend's houses, making them on our own, etc. It has become a sick obsession. Here are my thoughts on the new places we've tried: (and now maybe I'll get it out of my system - though I have four more places on my list of places to try)
Star Provisions:
I've tried two different cupcakes here: the S'Mores cupcake and the Vanilla cake with blueberries. These weren't bad but also not my favorites. I'm also a bit disappointed with the icing on the blueberry one. It was whipped cream (and pretty good whipped cream at that) - kinda cheating if you ask me. The cake was light, moist, and not too sweet. However, it was border-line muffin-ish with the blueberries inside. The s'mores was an interesting one. It was a bit on the drier side, but I liked the bottom that had a crispy cookie or crust of some sort. Again, not my favorite cupcakes, but I do love star provisions for everything else!!! (esp their shrimp po 'boys)
Sugar Mama's - Ding ding ding! I think we have a winner!!! I really have a fellow Yelper to thank for this suggestion. He swore me to secrecy about it until they had their wedding contract with them finalized, which it has. This place was my favorite of the bunch. They don't have a store, but you can find the cupcakes at Aurora coffee. Nice light smooth icing, moist cake, mmm... interesting flavors. There is an Aurora coffee in Virginia Highlands and another in Little Five. I think partnering up with Sugar Mama's is the smartest thing Aurora Coffee has ever done because I'm honestly not crazy about their coffee. I've been twice for cupcakes (I've tried three different flavors) now and haven't been disappointed! I'm wary sharing this information because I'd be incredibly sad if I make the trip to Aurora and they have no cupcakes.
Dr. Bombay's - don't bother, though the store itself is cool. It was like tasting freezer-burn cardboard. I'd still go to Dr. Bombay's to chill and get a coffee. It is a cute store with many imported items from the UK.
Belly - Dry and not anything I care to try again. Belly itself is cute. I'll probably make another visit if I'm in the area, but honestly, you can get better food in the area for the same price range.
Table 1280 - mini cupcakes - it probably doesn't count. I usually looooove their pastry chef but the mini cupcakes were really dry.
Whole Foods - These looked questionable and tasting them didn't change my mind. Super gritty icing, more expensive than any of the other cupcakes, dry cake. What's to like? Sorry Whole Foods! I love you but you have awful cupcakes.
Little Cake Bakery - These looked very promising but were on the sweeter side for me, so I prefer Sugar Mama's Cupcakery. The icing is also a bit on the grittier side that I prefer. Below are the Mary Antoinette and the Creamsicle. I thought the Mary Antoinette was definitely unique but again it was too sweet. The creamsicle ended up not tasting creamsicle-like at all. Go to ACF for that. I can see why this place is a favorite for many, but it just isn't my personal favorite.
A second look at:
Atlanta Cupcake Factory: Not as good the second and third time around. These were on the doughy side sometimes and at other times a bit dry side. I do find the flavors very interesting so I'll probably be back at some point to try what I haven't yet.
Matty Cakes: This just isn't my style of dessert. I went back as promised and tried their suggestion - a double chocolate cupcake. Too rich and dense for a cupcake. I can see why some people may like it but I'm not a fan.
Cupcake Hunting Part I detailed here
Star Provisions:
I've tried two different cupcakes here: the S'Mores cupcake and the Vanilla cake with blueberries. These weren't bad but also not my favorites. I'm also a bit disappointed with the icing on the blueberry one. It was whipped cream (and pretty good whipped cream at that) - kinda cheating if you ask me. The cake was light, moist, and not too sweet. However, it was border-line muffin-ish with the blueberries inside. The s'mores was an interesting one. It was a bit on the drier side, but I liked the bottom that had a crispy cookie or crust of some sort. Again, not my favorite cupcakes, but I do love star provisions for everything else!!! (esp their shrimp po 'boys)
Sugar Mama's - Ding ding ding! I think we have a winner!!! I really have a fellow Yelper to thank for this suggestion. He swore me to secrecy about it until they had their wedding contract with them finalized, which it has. This place was my favorite of the bunch. They don't have a store, but you can find the cupcakes at Aurora coffee. Nice light smooth icing, moist cake, mmm... interesting flavors. There is an Aurora coffee in Virginia Highlands and another in Little Five. I think partnering up with Sugar Mama's is the smartest thing Aurora Coffee has ever done because I'm honestly not crazy about their coffee. I've been twice for cupcakes (I've tried three different flavors) now and haven't been disappointed! I'm wary sharing this information because I'd be incredibly sad if I make the trip to Aurora and they have no cupcakes.
Dr. Bombay's - don't bother, though the store itself is cool. It was like tasting freezer-burn cardboard. I'd still go to Dr. Bombay's to chill and get a coffee. It is a cute store with many imported items from the UK.
Belly - Dry and not anything I care to try again. Belly itself is cute. I'll probably make another visit if I'm in the area, but honestly, you can get better food in the area for the same price range.
Table 1280 - mini cupcakes - it probably doesn't count. I usually looooove their pastry chef but the mini cupcakes were really dry.
Whole Foods - These looked questionable and tasting them didn't change my mind. Super gritty icing, more expensive than any of the other cupcakes, dry cake. What's to like? Sorry Whole Foods! I love you but you have awful cupcakes.
Little Cake Bakery - These looked very promising but were on the sweeter side for me, so I prefer Sugar Mama's Cupcakery. The icing is also a bit on the grittier side that I prefer. Below are the Mary Antoinette and the Creamsicle. I thought the Mary Antoinette was definitely unique but again it was too sweet. The creamsicle ended up not tasting creamsicle-like at all. Go to ACF for that. I can see why this place is a favorite for many, but it just isn't my personal favorite.
A second look at:
Atlanta Cupcake Factory: Not as good the second and third time around. These were on the doughy side sometimes and at other times a bit dry side. I do find the flavors very interesting so I'll probably be back at some point to try what I haven't yet.
Matty Cakes: This just isn't my style of dessert. I went back as promised and tried their suggestion - a double chocolate cupcake. Too rich and dense for a cupcake. I can see why some people may like it but I'm not a fan.
Cupcake Hunting Part I detailed here
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Lesson #189 - Be careful of your choice of words
I tried to get one of the patients to work with one of the nurses this week. My patient doesn't trust many people and was a bit reluctant to do so. Finally, I was able to convince Mr. X that the nurse was pretty nice. As I left to go find the nurse, I made the rookie mistake.
Let's give this a shot, okay?
GAME OVER. I should have said: Let's give this a chance, but my patient had already curled up in a ball repeating over and over - I don't want a shot! I don't want a shot! Fortunately, the patient calmed down pretty quickly, but I felt like such an idiot.
***
This blog was never intended to just be about food...I don't know how that ended up happening. I mainly wanted to keep writing without freaking out my parents. (I heard that one of my cousin introduced my mom to my old blog of many years. This apparently this upset my mom, who ended up lecturing me about not sharing details about my life online) I figure writing things about the city I live in is pretty benign. Besides, with what I do, it's not really prudent for me to talk about my every day life anyway.
I haven't really haven't found much time to update this week. Things have been hectic between my rotation, a paper, and studying for a test. My rotations have been going pretty well so far. I just finished my second one full of adventures and life lessons. There are so many times I wish I could detail a story from my day, but it would be difficult to do so without mentioning something about a patient. So many stories teeming in my head, only I can't tell anyone in the world for ethical reasons. Sigh. That's one of the drawbacks of medicine.
***
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
