URGH

The neighbors across from me must have burned some plastic or something gross because my apartment - and the whole floor - smells disgusting. Like "this is going to for sure give you cancer" disgusting.

Thanks 402. You finally moved your shoes from the hallway only to replace them with a smell.

..joining the masses..

I have a youtube channel now! Crazy!!! Feel weirdly connected and "hip"!!

Right now I am posting videos from the Inauguration Weekend...as I watch, edit, and upload them...therefore it's going to take awhile.

http://www.youtube.com/user/avantoai

the "fat" list...

well i can only claim one city on the healthy fit list (washington dc)... there are more of my cities on the fat list- boooooooo

Top Fattest Cities

1. Miami, FL
2. Oklahoma City, OK
3. San Antonio, TX
4. Las Vegas, NV
5. New York, NY
6. Houston, TX
7. El Paso, TX
8. Jacksonville, FL
9. Charlotte, NC
10. Louisville-Jefferson, KY
11. Memphis, TN
12. Detroit, MI
13. Chicago, IL
14. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
15. San Jose, CA
16. Tulsa, OK
17. Baltimore, MD
18. Columbus, OH
19. Raleigh, NC
20. Philadelphia, PA
21. L.A.-Long Beach, CA
22. Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
23. Indianapolis, IN
24. San Diego, CA
25. Kansas City, MO

to be fair, these cities all have great unhealthy food options. last night, for example, we gorged on diner food in the wee hours of the morning. good luck trying to find a 24hour diner in washington dc!!

"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute...."

I have spent 2 days waking up in the darkness, bundling up to travel downtown and stand outside in 20 degree weather for hours. The cold weather was doable, dust from the ground we could handle, it was the standing around that makes every bone and muscle in your body ache...

But it was a fantastic event and I am so glad and so grateful that I was able to witness these inaugural events with my friends, family, and people from all over this great country. Truly an incredible moment in my life! I have lots more video and photos to go though, so for now, just this one shot of the inaugural speech by our 44th President of the United States of America, BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!!!!!!!!!

OBAMANIA!!!!

Just a few minutes before 7 am and we are ready to head downtown for the Sunday Inaugural Kickoff!! Right now it's only 30 degrees, feels like 22, so not too bad - we've layered up, packed some hand warmers, food, and two decks of cards...Hooray for Inauguration Weekend!!!

a quarter century

I suppose now I am a year older, a bit wiser. I don't feel that much different that last year - physically I am in the same school, same apartment; mentally and emotionally, I'm probably a bit more drained.

But I guess looking back, I have learned a few things...that great friends are everywhere even when you cannot see them all of the time..I've learned not to settle, to make excuses for people, to respect myself and my opinions....I've learned some biochem, microanatomy, and a smidge of physiology...it's been a fun year but now I am really looking forward to 2009!!

a present to myself

I have scheduled a payment for my American Express card for this Friday. So on my birthday, #25, I will have no debt! And it was quite a chunk of change because of all those secondaries and expenses for medical school (okay okay and a few bar nights too), but now I am free of it! No debt for the New Year, Hurrah!

I have also received two gift cards for my birthday: Macy's and Lord and Taylor.
Either they know I love to shop or they think I need new clothes...

resolutions

I spent NYE in NYC, which was awesome/crazy but not completely terrifying and yes, I would do it again. Didn't see the ball drop but saw fireworks in Central Park and rang in the new year with a couple thousand other people on the streets. But it was only doable because I was with someone who completely knew how to get around, what subways and busses the take - that's the key to a successful NYE in NYC!

That night, though, I drank too much and ran around like crazy. Which means getting sick in the morning (x2), and feeling like crap and having body aches all day. Yesterday I had stomach pains all day and I think it has to do with stress. It was the first time I seriously started thinking about the library/classes/New College Building. Boo, I have to find a better way to deal with stress.

Resolutions for 2009:
1. Be productive, not reproductive (thanks jchoi): focus on schoolwork, priorities
2. Make healthy decision: gym, food, alcohol intake
3. Destress. Get out of NCB.
4. Med school: work hard, play hard....resolution #1

Happy New Year!

No set resolutions right now - I'm a procrastinator! - but have a few things in mind that I should work on for the new year. School work, keeping in touch with people, prioritizing, managing money, healthy lifestyle - all those fun things. Just want to be happy, healthy, and ready to take advantage of all the things happening to me in 2009!

Though I feel a quarter-life crises looming.....haha!