The Musings of Brie & Momo-Mom

Momo's Christmas Gift

2012-01-10T15:21:00.000-08:00

I have noticed over the past 6 months being down in southern california, that Momo seemed to be doing better health-wise (less coughing, regurgitation). I thought..hmm...maybe it's the weather :). But truthfully, I had a suspicion that his megaesophagus possibly self-resolved, so over the Christmas holiday I took him to the vet to get updated x-rays. As suspected, his esophagus is better!

This of course means I feel much less concerned about giving him treats because I don't have to worry about elevating him when he eats (he's not complainin' either). Such a nice Christmas present for my little monster!

Experimenting with Molecular Gastronomy

2011-12-27T01:17:00.001-08:00

Chris and I recently watched some videos about El Bulli, Ferran Adria, and the avant garde food movement. Chris got pretty excited and wanted to try making some dishes, despite never having any interest in cooking before. I think it's the chemistry-like appeal that got to him.

So, for Christmas I bought him a molecular gastronomy kit. We decided to give it a whirl today!

Molecular egg (Mango puree yolk, milk and vanilla yogurt egg-white):

Arugula Pasta and Balsamic Vinegar Spheres with a Caprese Salad:

In the end, it all looked better than it tasted, but it was a valiant first effort. We came to the conclusion that the recipes that came with the kit were simply for technique, and we'll have to work on flavor on our own. We'll definitely be trying some new dishes soon!

Adventures in Amigurumi

2011-12-03T17:07:00.001-08:00

My first attempt at amigurumi crochet! The pattern is free online and really simple, and I think it came out really cute. I've missed knitting and crochet :)

Free Pattern Here

Unprocessed 1 month mark

2011-10-26T16:38:00.000-07:00

Well, the month has gone by, and though it was not a walk in the park, I feel I'm better off for sticking to it. I guess the challenge from here on out is to limit all those nasty foods as frequently as reasonably possible.

Time to go make my celebratory dinner! :)

Unprocessed Day 25

2011-10-19T13:19:00.000-07:00

This past week I traveled to Boston for an annual optometry meeting, and thought to myself that being in a situation where I am unable to cook my own food would make sticking to my unprocessed challenge nearly impossible.

So, I put my challenge on hiatius and decided to resume once I was back home. In lieu of totally avoiding unprocessed foods, I simply attempted to make mindful choices about what I ate as much as possible. Tried to pick healthy items off the menu, though admittedly I did splurge on a cup of homemade butterscotch swirl ice cream (holy crap was it delicious!)

Anyhow, back home now, and back on track. Only about 1.5 weeks to go!

Unprocessed Day 15

2011-10-09T11:58:00.001-07:00

For the love of steaming...

Tier 1: Homemade chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg) - one of my favorite things to eat!

Tier 2: Green onion buns

Tier 3: Lid!

My mom used to make this for me at home, so I'm really glad I got the recipe from her. The trick is to strain the eggs, which makes them silky smooth!

Unprocessed Day 14

2011-10-08T19:16:00.000-07:00

Today is the 2 week mark of my Unprocessed Challenge.

So, I don't know if I follow the exact definition of "unprocessed" as the Food Rules web site, but I've been trying very hard to avoid the obviously bad processed stuff in the grocery store :)

For tonight I decided to make a cold soba noodle dish with water chestnuts, toasted sesame seeds, and scallions. It is topped with a spicy ponzu sauce.

I'm a fan of soba noodles. One bundle is more than enough for a meal. They cook in a matter of minutes, so this is a quick and easy meal.

After they're done cooking (~3 minutes) drain immediately and rinse with cold water.

While the noodles are cooling, slice up your scallions and water chestnuts (canned is fine).

I also usually put in shitake mushrooms, but for some reason it slipped my mind this time

In Get a small frying pan toast some sesame seeds on medium-high heat

Be careful not to burn them!

Use 2-3 tbsps of ponzu sauce, some red pepper flakes, and a sprinkle of sugar to top it all off!

Eat well :)

Unprocessed Day 12

2011-10-06T12:10:00.000-07:00

So, I'm pretty realistic. Eating salad all the time is not reasonable for a carnivore like myself :)

This time around, I had some leftover surf & turf from a dinner out, avocados, tomatoes, and bell peppers and topped off my mixed greens.

Sure, it's not the most calorie-friendly salad, but it hit the spot, and at least it didn't involve any processed foods!

Unprocessed Challenge

2011-10-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

I was perusing Facebook, and saw this link:

http://www.eatingrules.com/2011/09/october-unprocessed-2011/

Basically it's a challenge to not eat processed foods for the month of October. They must have read my mind!

Here is the site's rough definition defining "Unprocessed" which I feel I've stuck to pretty well these last couple of weeks:

With just a few days to go before we start our month of no processed foods whatsoever, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about the definition of “unprocessed” — and whether specific foods are or are not okay during this challenge.

Before I go any further, let me reiterate that you need to do what’s right for you. No one is watching over your shoulder, and just as all food is intensely personal, so too is this challenge.

Likewise, if you feel you need to make any exceptions, by all means feel free to do so. Just make sure it’s a deliberate choice whenever possible.

My definition may not match your definition — and that’s okay. In fact, I encourage disagreement and discussion, since that’s the best way for us to learn together.

I also recognize that my definition isn’t perfect. My goal here isn’t “perfection” — it’s more to help spark a dialogue, increasing awareness about how our food is made, what we’re putting into our bodies, and how we relate to our food. (I’m also hoping to shed that last bit of pudge and finally get my six-pack abs, but that’s another story.)

Having said all that, here’s my working definition of unprocessed. I call it The Kitchen Test:

Unprocessed food is any food that could be made by a person with reasonable skill in a home kitchen with readily available, whole-food ingredients.

It doesn’t mean that you have to be able to make the food — but that the food could be made in a home kitchen by someone who knows what they’re doing. If it needs high-powered, industrial equipment, or could only be made in a laboratory, then it’s out.

Glad I'm not the only one out there trying this, and I encourage others to give it a shot. Things that have helped - replacing refined sugar with honey, sticking to produce and protein from the butcher rather than the package, and making the time to cook! It is a little difficult to find the time to spend in the kitchen, but it's worth it :)

Unprocessed Day 8

2011-10-02T12:18:00.001-07:00

I made a modified version of Giada de Laurentis's Orzo Salad Recipe today. Followed most of the same ingredients and directions, except I didn't have fresh mint and added scallions. Also, the dressing is a little much - I only made half the amount and that was plenty (many of the reviews suggested doing that very same thing).

It's been fun finding recipes using what core ingredients I have on hand. The bonus is I'm saving money from not eating out for lunch multiple times a week.

I think this recipe would be a crowd pleaser - may have to bring it to my next event :)

Unprocessed Day 6

2011-09-30T14:30:00.000-07:00

Less processed food means I'm spending a lot more time in the produce section. The challenge with this, I've always found, especially when you're cooking for one, is your fresh produce becoming less-than-fresh over the week. However, the pressure of finishing my fruits and veggies before they go bad actually means I eat less junk, so it has worked out for what I'm trying to accomplish.

So, being thrifty, I bought some of my produce from Costco:

1 box of mixed greens

1 bag of mini hot-house peppers

1 box of grape tomatoes

1 bag (5 count) of Haas Avocados

Total cost was less than $20 and will last many a meal.

I swear, Costco has the best avocados. There's nothing worse than cutting into an avocado and it being brown or bruised. The ones I get from Costco are almost always green and gorgeous!

Keeping salads interesting by changing up the ingredients makes it a lot more manageable to eat for multiple meals. I like adding fruits, nuts, and cheese for variety.

Still trekking on!

Unprocessed Day 2

2011-09-26T22:41:00.000-07:00

Cooking has always been a stress reliever for me (unfortunately so has eating). I'll be posting pictures of my next month's endeavors cook for myself more frequently, and avoid fast/processed food. I'll be sharing recipes - some found online, or some I made up myself.

Mayo-free Tuna Salad:

-2 cans of 7 oz low-fat tuna

-4 celery hearts, chopped

-1/2 red onion, chopped

-2 cloves garlic, minced

-2 tbsp capers

-1/2 lemon, juiced

-4 tbsp sweet relish

-salt, pepper, paprika to taste

I just picked ingredients I liked and/or had on hand. The recipe is totally customizable to your preferences. Mix everything together and eat up!

Magic Cookie Bars (Eagle Brand)

-1/2 cup butter, melted

-1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 12 crackers)

-One 14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk (I only used half the can)

-2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

-1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

-1 cup chopped nuts

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Coat 13x9 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray

3. Place crackers in large ziplock bag and use rolling pin to crush into fine crumbs

4. Combine crumbs and melted butter - press into bottom of pan

5. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture, then layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut, and nuts - press firmly down with fork

6. Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool, then cut into bars. Store covered at room temperature

Cook, eat, and be merry :)

Cornea & Contact Lens Residency

2011-08-10T14:01:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been a while hasn't it?

I'm a month into my residency program, things are going smoothly, and I'm knee-deep in contact lenses (not literally...that would be kinda gross).

Orange County is an interesting place to live, though I suppose

anywhere is interesting if you've only lived in one place your entire life. I do miss my beloved Bay Area, though. While it's fun finding new places to eat (om nom nom!) I often find myself thinking fondly of my favorite food stops up north. Also, socal traffic is no joke. Whenever I visit my aunt in LA, I can count on sitting in traffic for 1.5 hrs when she only lives 35 miles away. The most frustrating thing is...there's no reason for the traffic to be there other than the sheer number of cars on the road. No accident, no construction, no bad weather...just PEOPLE. The OC traffic is not nearly as bad, and I'm really glad I don't have much a commute to work!

The dogs also like that I don't have a commute, because I can get home and feed them faster.

Exhibit A: Momo and his feeding stool for his megaesophagus

Exhibit B: Brie and the best sad puppy dog eyes she can muster

I've got some of my favorite people lined up to visit me. The boyfriend is coming this weekend - yay! We'll be going to the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna, which is supposed to be pretty fantastic. Later that weekend we'll be at Disneyland - the happiest place on earth! Next month some of my best girls will be here and we'll be going to CA Adventures. Yes, folks, that means I'll be getting an annual pass. So, if you feel the desire to come to socal and go to any of the Disney Parks, let me know and I can likely join you :)

You can call me Dr. S :)

2011-05-22T23:04:00.000-07:00

After eight long years at Cal (4 undergrad/4 grad)...I am happy to say I am finally a bonafide eye doctor! I'll be moving to the OC this summer to start my residency training in contact lenses and cornea. Look for posts from the sunny south!

Partners in Crime

2011-05-02T15:47:00.000-07:00

Normally Momo and Brie enjoy playing keep-away with each other with their toys. This time, however, they joined forces to destroy the toy and each took an end to chew on. I guess I should be happy, because after all, sharing is caring right? :p

Momo is 3 years old

2011-04-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday, short stuff :)

Brie @ Jack London Square Farmer's Market

2011-04-05T20:56:00.000-07:00

Beautiful weather calls for a trip to the farmer's market

Cream Puffs

2011-03-27T08:10:00.001-07:00

Revisiting my Japanese pastry class from 2007...

My little army of puffs

Filling is a custard topped with freshly whipped cream and powdered sugar

I'd forgotten that this recipe is rather labor intensive, but the outcome is de-lish!

Residency Match

2011-03-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

It's been forever since my last post. February and March did a number on my nerves as I went on multiple residency interviews and afterward had to (semi) patiently wait for the results. I'm happy to say that I matched at my first choice, and I'll be the new Contact Lens & Cornea resident at Southern California College of Optometry in Fullerton.

That means the pups and I will be packing up and moving down to the sunny south! The idea of moving AGAIN is not too appealing, especially since I've made myself quite at home in Oakland. But, it's only one year, and it's going to be a great one :)

So, my posts are likely going to be a bit less frequent as I finish up my last rotation, prepare for graduation in May, and move down to Fullerton. Hopefully I'll find a place there with a nice yard for the dogs!

Crazy Corgi

2011-02-15T18:56:00.000-08:00

Momo is nuts. He's an absolute sweetheart at home, but on our walks, whenever he sees another dog, he just flips out. Don't get me wrong....I realize this is a problem and he's gone through more trainers than I'd care to admit, but now with the megaesophagus it makes it much more challenging to train him because I can't give him a ton of treats like I did before.

I guess I'm just really frustrated. I don't know how to make progress from here on out. Maybe he's destined to be a stay-at-home dog and just play with his sister. That's fine with me, but I'd love to make our daily walks more pleasant and less stressful. I'm going to get back in touch with our dog behaviorist and see if she has any ideas. Sigh.

What's Been Cookin'

2010-12-31T20:21:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone! Here's what's been cooking in my kitchen:

Christmas dinner at the parents - my homemade garlic prime rib!

(...and Chris my happy little kitchen helper chopping carrots)

*Ta-da!*

Medium-rare perfection

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On the lighter side - zesty lemon shrimp and avocado salad

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Spicy chicken and rice stuffed bell peppers

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In other news, Momo has been doing a lot better health-wise. A lot more active, but also a lot moodier than he used to be. We're hoping with time (and a new year) things will start to go back to normal for him.

From all of us - Happy New Year!

Momo Update

2010-11-24T19:06:00.001-08:00

Well, all the test results are back....and....all were negative. That sounds good at first, but in reality it isn't because without a definitive diagnosis there is no way to effectively treat him. He's been put in the idiopathic megaesophagus category :( We may consider getting another opinion because so many of his symptoms point to myasthenia gravis (change in bark pitch, inability to blink, megaesophagus), which is treatable, and it's possible the test was a false negative.

Exhibit A: unable to close lids - only his nictitating membrane goes over his corneas :(

Anyhow, the doc told us all we could do now is manage and try to prevent aspiration pneumonia. She gave him some GI tract motility meds but warned us they could make him nauseous and vomit. Well, 2 days on the meds and I woke up last night to the sound of Momo retching. Came down and he had thrown up all over the bathroom :(. After he threw up he was making a weird noise and seemed to have difficulty breathing.

We ended up deciding to take him back into the ER, and an x-ray didn't show aspirations, but the vet said it's possible he did and it hadn't shown up yet. They kept him the whole day for observation and said he was oxygenating his blood just fine. I've just come home from picking him up, and he is still making the same noises and is walking incredibly slowly, and won't eat food. We're discontinuing the medication. All I can hope is he is better in the morning

I feel super bad for him....hoping I have my perky puppy back soon :\

Sad news about Momo

2010-11-07T16:49:00.000-08:00

Momo has been feeling sick over the last 3 weeks - coughing frequently and regurgitating his food. After an initial vet visit with a tentative diagnosis of kennel cough, he was put on antibiotics, but without resolution of his symptoms. We came back and had an x-ray done when he wasn't getting better.

Our vet now thinks he has a condition called megaesophagus which basically means he does not have proper muscle tone in his esophagus (poor peristalsis) and his food does not reach his stomach. As a result he coughs up his food and water. This can happen at birth, or occasionally as an adult. There can be an underlying systemic cause (like myasthenia gravis or hypothyroidism), or it can just be idiopathic.

While not a death sentence, if this is the correct diagnosis it puts him at a much higher risk for aspiration pneumonia and he will have to have special care when he eats/drinks for the rest of his life. We were referred to an internist which we'll take him to tomorrow. Hopefully we'll find out good news...I'll be back with updates.

WORLD CHAMPIONS

2010-11-01T19:50:00.001-07:00

Proud to be a San Francisco native! GO GIANTS!

Momo & Brie Halloween!

2010-10-31T20:20:00.000-07:00

Wishing you a happy howl-o-ween!

Momo as a banana (i wanna) split

Brie as (sour) grapes haha

Spoiled Rotten

2010-10-26T18:28:00.001-07:00

Doesn't this look delicious?

You may be thinking about how you'd like to take a bite...

But beware...

These are dog cakes!! I got them from Le Marcel Bakery in SF...only $5.50 for both!

Brie wants it....bad.

Intense, intense staring

*nom nom nom nom*

Lip-smacking good!

Momo's crazy eyes

More tongue action

Messy, messy. That's my boy :)

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta

2010-10-11T17:10:00.000-07:00

Recently took a trip to Albuquerque NM to check out the world-famous Balloon Fiesta!

Started out with the "Morning Glow" where all the balloons lit up beautifully!

Then as the day went on more balloons filled the sky!

There are approximately 750 balloons that travel here each year!

The balloons stay in approximately the same area due to a phenomenon called "The Box" that occurs in Albuquerque. Basically, the wind blows in one direction at a certain altitude, and in the other direction at another altitude. All the balloons have to do to change direction is change altitude!

Here are a few interesting characters:

This poor balloon never made it off the ground :(

Tourist penguin?

Pepe Le Pew

Darth Vader

Fun fact - this is the most photographed event in the world!

There were a ton more neat ones - too many to post, too little time :)

Me and my friends :)

Corgi Butts Giveaway!

2010-09-28T19:47:00.000-07:00

Click click click to enter to win a martingale dog collar :)

http://corgibutts.blogspot.com/2010/09/fall-clothes-giveaway.html

Fruit Pancakes & Mushroom Asparagus Risotto

2010-09-28T19:34:00.000-07:00

Been going a bit cooking-crazy. More foodie pics!

Strawberry-Banana Pancakes

I love, love, love breakfast foods, and fresh pancakes topped with fruit is such an easy

delicious go-to food. A little powdered sugar or whipped cream never hurt either ;)

Mushroom & Asparagus Risotto

Tried this meal again, but with a healthy twist. Instead of all the butter, ended up just using a little bit of olive oil and let the natural starch from the arborio rice give the meal all the thickness and richness needed. Honestly - still tasted good - didn't even miss the butter!

Keep on fooding! :)

Chicken Piccata with Capers, Roasted Brussel Sprouts, and Salted Caramel Gelato

2010-09-25T17:18:00.000-07:00

I took these two recipes from the Food Network web site - one from Giada de Laurentis and one from Ina Garten. For the chicken piccata, I used much less of butter and oil--and it was still plenty buttery in the end...in the future I might even use less than that! Both were a big hit with the boyfriend. I've adjusted the recipe to what I used. Serve with fresh veggies or a salad :)

CHICKEN PICCATA WITH CAPERS
Ingredients
2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half
Sea salt and freshly aground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
6 tablespoons unsalted butter (I used 4)
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (I used 3)
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (I used 1/4 cup)
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed
1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Directions
Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.
In large skillet over medium high heat melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons of olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate.
Remove pan from heat and add the lemon juice, stock, and capers. Return to stove and bring to a boil, scraping up brown bits from pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter.
Add remaining tablespoon of butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley

ROASTED BRUSSEL SPROUTS

Ingredients
1 pound brussel sprouts
2-3 tablespoons good olive oil
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Cut off the brown ends of the sprouts and pull off any yellow outer leaves.
Mix them in a bowl with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Pour them onto a sheet pan and roast for 35-40 minutes until crisp on the outside and tender on the inside.
Shake the pan from time to time to brown the sprouts evenly.
Sprinkle with more kosher salt and serve immediately.

SALTED CARAMEL GELATO

Brie & Sky Reunited

2010-09-19T19:23:00.001-07:00

Sky came to visit today for brunch @ Chop Bar and playtime! Very fun to watch these crazy dogs chasing each other around the place.

They had a great time! Afterward we had a training session with Sky & Momo since he wasn't the friendliest to her last time she came when she was just a puppy. He did better today, but we still have lots of work to do.

FYI, corgis make pretty nice pillows :)

Revisiting Sushi Dinner

2010-09-13T15:31:00.000-07:00

Japanese food, especially sushi/sashimi, has to be one of my all-time favorite things to eat. However, as many of you may know, it is not always friendly on the pocketbook. What I've found is with just a little work (very little in fact), you can make a super yummy, fun, and economical make-your-own-sushi-roll dinner.

I had some friends over this past weekend to partake in the tasties, and everything was about $10/person...WAY less than you'd pay in a restaurant. I bought pretty much everything at Ranch 99 (an asian market for those of you not from around here). Here's the breakdown:

Salmon: $15

Tuna: $15

Hamachi: $10

Tobiko (salmon roe): $6

Seaweed Salad: $8

Avocados: $3

Cucumber: $1

Green Onion: $1

Seaweed Wraps: $3

Grand Total: $62 for six people!

There is no cooking involved! Just slice up the fish, cut up the avocados/cucumbers/green onion, make rice and season. Keep in mind, if you don't already have sushi rice and sushi seasoning you'll have to buy that too, but it will last you multiple dinners. I also had soy sauce and wasabi handy.

Bon appetit!

Dancing Dog!!!

2010-09-09T16:49:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine shared this on Facebook...if you haven't seen it before, this is a must-watch for a dog owner. Absolutely insane!!

The length of time that dog was on its hind legs is both impressive and alarming! o_O

Labor Day Weekend

2010-09-06T22:11:00.001-07:00

The Labor Day weekend was busy, but I had a fantastic time.

Saturday was the first Cal game versus UC Davis at home. Hard to believe that next year we won't be having games at Memorial Stadium anymore. I'll have to enjoy this season since it's the last time I'll officially be a student at Cal. 8 years later...undergraduate and graduate school...I think I'm ready to be done :)

GO BEARS!

Final score: Cal 52, Davis 3

The following day we had a huge construction project going on at the condo. New recessed lighting, chandeliers, dimmers, fixtures installed. It was a ton of work (and clean-up), but came out really nicely!

Our new chandelier

Shinyyyy!

We got it done just in time to have Chris' parents over for dinner! I wish I had taken pictures of the food....tri-tip, corn, spicy italian stuffed portobello mushrooms, and brussel sprouts. So good!

And just for giggles:

I couldn't get Brie to smile for the camera the other day...and this is the result:

Don't forget to smile today :D

Vote for Momo!

2010-09-02T19:58:00.001-07:00

Momo is a finalist in two photos for the Corgi Butts Calendar!

Vote for him HERE!!

He's #24 and #25!

There are so many amazing photos, so he needs as many votes as he can get! :)

Puppy Exercise (Insanity)!

2010-08-23T16:05:00.000-07:00

My dogs putting our long hallway to good use!

Homemade espresso gelato

2010-08-16T11:30:00.000-07:00

Since Chris's parents bought us an espresso machine, I decided to dust off my ice cream maker that hasn't gotten much use in a while and try my hand at some espresso gelato. It turned out pretty nicely if I do say so myself :)

Recipe: http://www.chocolategourmand.com/recipes/ice_creams/espresso_gelato.cfm

My new table setting - love it!

I have a whole list of people I want to have over for dinner now...who's next?!

Playing & Sleeping...ah the life of dogs

2010-08-09T19:37:00.002-07:00

The life of a dog...oh so hard :)

We play all day...

*nom nom nom nom*

Tug-o-war!

Momo, you got a little something on your face right there...

Always knew he was a little butt-munch :P

And we sleep all night...

Momo sleeping peacefully...

Then an intruder gets up on the bed!

Momo is not amused.

Brie getting the royal treatment

Momo reclaiming his spot with Chris...MINE!

Zzzzzzz

Funny how they're the same length but one has much stubbier legs!

Sweet dreams from Brie & Momo!

Lastly - some pics from my latest dinner endeavor...

Sauteed scallops in lemon herb butter sauce
Garlic roasted asparagus
Artichoke ravioli from the farmer's market

Sheena's homemade apple pie
Tasty with vino!

4th year, Optometry's Meeting, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

2010-06-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

Sheesh this summer has been busy! I've recently finished moving for the 6th time out of 7 years -_-. I'm hoping this is the last time in a while. Also, I haven't worked 40+hrs/week in a very long time. My first external rotation is at La Clinica de la Raza Optometry Clinic in Oakland, CA. It is super close to my apartment which is pretty sweet :) I'm the only student so it's a very nice attending:student ratio. That didn't stop me from taking time off to attend Optometry's Meeting in Orlando though! Here are some highlights:

Awesome 4th years from UC Berkeley Optometry

(with jealous students from another school in the back =p)

Cheering our girl Anna on in the Optometry Student Bowl!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in Island of Adventure

Livin' it up with our butterbeer and pumpkin juice in Hogsmead!

The main ride exceeded my expectations. It was uber fun! Want to go again...

It's true.

As Sheena describes it, "We look like those bars from the cellphone commercials!"

*Cheers!*

These margaritas were SO salty. We look so happy in the 'before' picture. If only we had known...

We decided in our "future" we'd live under the sea!

Thanks for stopping by :p

Smoked bones!!!

2010-05-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

Momo & Brie had a special treat today - smoked bones from Fort Bragg courtesy of their Auntie Joyce and Uncle Ohsung :) They each devoured them super fast!

Brie's time: less than 5 mins!

Momo sitting pretty for his bone

*NOM NOM NOM*

Momo's time: less than 3 minutes!!

This picture cracks me up. It screams "do not like share!!"

I'm such a nerd dog mom. The above picture is the image on my new credit card :D

This gorgeous spring weather brings...

2010-04-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

...ALLERGIES.

What the heck. I've never been one to get seasonal allergies, but the combination of pollen, dust, and dog hair is reaping havoc on my nose. Everytime I clean the house of dust and hair...the next day a whole new layer is deposited. Sigh. Crazy dogs...can't help but love them.

Anyway...today is Momo's 2nd birthday! My boy is all grown up! He went to agility class this morning and performed like a little rockstar *sniff* so proud. I'm on the fence as to whether or not I'm going to enroll him in intermediate agility class. I'll have to see how my schedule looks. If I do though, expect lots of new pictures and stunts!

We were supposed to take both dogs on a hike in Tilden today, but of course, with all the beautiful sunshiney days...today was gloomy and raining. Postponed :(

THEN....

AND NOW...

They grow up way too fast ^_~

Momo's Recreational Agility

2010-03-29T16:00:00.001-07:00

Momo @ his recreational agility class in Albany:

Momo is ready to go! :D

Checking in w/ fluffy corgi friend, Blue

Waiting our turn...

OBSTACLE 1: The Tunnel

"Where is the treat??"

"There it is!!"

OBSTACLE 2: The Dog Walk

OBSTACLE 3: The A-Frame

OBSTACLE 4: The Jumps

OBSTACLE 5: The Teeter-Totter

OBSTACLE 6: The Wing Jump

Happy, tired dog :)

National Boards are OVER!

2010-03-20T17:11:00.001-07:00

Yessssss!!!

14 hours of testing for national boards - done!!!!!

I finally have a life again! I took Momo to agility class this morning and he did so well! He's gotten over his initial fear of the teeter-totter and does really well on the dog walk, jumps, and chute :) It's so fun watching him and his other corgi friend - they look like little rodents running on pipes with their short little legs.

I also took Brie to the off leash dog park and tried to work on her recall and basic training. Stay tuned for pictures!

Over all of spring break I'll be in Las Vegas, then in Orlando for a contact lens program. Be back in a week!!

Play with meeeee!

2010-03-03T20:32:00.000-08:00

After a walk and a game of fetch today, the dogs were pretty tired...well one of them anyway. Brie pestered Momo for about 15 minutes to play with her by poking him repeatedly. Grumpy ol' Momo took a great big *streeetchhhh* and *yawnnnn* and finally gave in.

This is what they looked like after:

On another note, I was inspired by Linus over @ http://danceswithcorgis.com who recently took a ride on BART in a tote bag...

Thus, I give you Mo in a bag! Stylish, no?

I'm not really going to haul my huge corgi around on the train, but the idea of him in a bag highly amused me :)

Busy day in Contact Lens Clinic

2010-02-24T14:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was mad tiring...

The nice thing about CL clinic is that we are assigned columns so we can review our patients beforehand, rather than just taking them and going on the fly. Well, my routine is to review patients during down time in eyewear the day before. This week in eyewear, I open up my schedule to find this:

1st pt: new CRT eval/fitting

2nd pt: CL Check/DFE - sister (age 29) diagnosed w/ glaucoma

3rd pt: Multifocal GP

4th pt: Monovision SCLs (history of radial keratotomy giving him night vision issues and fluctuation in vision)

5th pt: CRT CL exam

I have to say, though it was rough, I feel really fortunate to have had the opportunity to see some of these things which are not super common during our time in school. It made me even more interested in pursuing CL/Cornea for residency.

Anyhow...3 more weeks until boards. Can't wait until that is over...as long as I pass hehe.

More Momo & Brie - just for funsies

2010-02-17T21:50:00.000-08:00

The most snuggly Momo and Brie have gotten so far. Brie was on the pillow first, then Momo came and sat down behind her. She gave him a big smooch, but I think he just wanted to mess with her!

But that's ok, because Brie totally messes with Momo also when he's sleeping and she wants to play with him...

Exhibit A:

*nose smack!*

Sorry for the crappy iphone quality pictures - sometimes that's just the easiest thing to grab in the spur of the moment!

Brie & Momo Play Inside - Success!!

2010-02-06T20:15:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I was a little skeptical that Momo would ever be able to play nice with Brie, but today they seemed to get along just fine! In fact...I'm shocked at how much Brie held her own against Momo the rambunctious! She is one feisty girl!! I'm pretty sure she could out-alpha him if she wanted to.

In my head, it went a little something like this...

Momo: *Wink*

Brie: ....*Wink back*

Momo: Wanna play??

Brie: Let me check you out first...

Readyyyyy.....GO!

30 minutes later....

K.O.

2 tired dogs = 1 happy pam :)

Haha ok...so maybe it didn't go exactly like that - but the pictures just cracked me up I had to be nerdy and narrate!

Sweet Doggy Mommy :)

2010-02-03T15:30:00.000-08:00

Took Brie to the vet today to make sure she is healthy. As I had suspected, she's had multiple litters of puppies. She really is just the sweetest dog you'll ever meet. Her and Momo had a romp around the off leash Alameda Dog Park today. He's still not totally ok with her, but they did play together a bit, so we have hope!

***

**smooshie!**

I'm already falling in love with her :)

ANNIVERSARY PRESENT HAS ARRIVED!

2010-02-01T19:42:00.001-08:00

Introducing......BRIE!!!

Brie is a rescue dog from Taiwan. She is a 3 year old Formosan Mountain Dog mix. We are fostering her for a 2 week trial period (to see if my spoiled corgi can welcome a sibling dog in his life...keep your fingers crossed for me). Momo was definitely territorial at first, but we are working to gradually ease them into being together.

Brie is just adorable! Sweet natured, greets everyone with a crazy wagging tail...but definitely an undomesticated girl! There is lots of training to be done, but that's the fun part :)

*note the blurry tail---that's because it's wagging so fast!

I hope that we can keep her and make her a part of our family!

Happy 4 Years :D

2010-01-28T13:49:00.000-08:00

Today is my and Chris's 4 year anniversary, so we're going to go to House of Prime Rib! Mmmm....can't wait!

Thanks for all the love and laughter :)

Annnnnnd my present is hopefully going to come soon. Stay tuned...it's a good one!!!

New Year, New Resolutions, New Corneas!!

2010-01-22T15:16:00.001-08:00

I realize I haven't posted since 2009, and a new year deserves a new post. I had Lasik surgery earlier this month, so I haven't had a chance to update this blog!

I did it! I zapped my corneas! Now I'm seeing 20/15 (better than 20/20) in both eyes. It has been two weeks and I'm not experiencing any adverse effects. Being an optometry student I got a pretty sweet discount, and I am contact and glasses free!! Anyway, my classmate took a video of it - only watch if you're not eyeball squeamish!

2 days after my surgery, my classmate Mel got married at an adorable venue in Mill Valley. She looked gorgeous, and is now Mrs. Melanie Mason!

This semester of school is pretty light in terms of official classwork. However, boards are coming up in March, so a lot of my time will be devoted to working on that. I've signed up Momo for an agility class that we'll be taking with his other corgi friend Blue and her mom. VERY excited for that - poor buddy has cabin fever with all this rain preventing us from going to the park!

Once the weather improves, it's back to the beach!!

Corgilove Halloween Contest Winner!

2009-12-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

Momo won a Halloween costume contest and his prize has arrived at last! :)

A whole lotta awesomeness for Momo (and Momo's mom)

Corgi calendar, lots of balls and biscuits, chew toys galore!!

Posing next to his prizes :)

Checking out the merchandise...

Promptly chose squeaky holiday penguin as his favorite - preparing to de-squeak and destroy!

He's already chewed a hole into that penguin -_-

The homestretch...

2009-12-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

Only ~1 week until my fall semester of 3rd year is over. Mannnn I can't wait for that sweet, sweet freedom (and I'm sure Momo can't either because that means more time for trips to the park). The poor pup is languishing right now on the couch next to me.

Here are a few pictures from our trip to Tomales Bay Oyster Company a couple weeks ago:

The results of a puppy rolling around the beach - seaweed necklace =p

Badass oyster shucking

Soooooo goood :D

Momo says, "Mom, I'll take that chip from you now!" * nom nom nom*

I'm hoping that since I no longer have clinic on Saturdays that I'll get to go to more corgi-meets in the area. I don't know if other corgi owners have noticed this, but my dog plays best with other corgis. He seems to get along best with them whenever we hit the dog park. Interesting :) They must feel a connection to other shorties.

Recent adventures in cooking...

2009-11-02T23:30:00.000-08:00

It is a luxury when I have time to cook my own food, and when I have the time, I love to try new recipes. Here are my most recent edible experiments:

Chinese-style pork & water chestnuts, homemade chawanmushi, mustard greens, and white rice

Zinfandel-glazed meatballs, roasted red potatoes, and a green salad

Nobu miso glazed grilled black cod, baked potato, and a green salad

Make-your-own sushi roll feast!

Cream of broccoli and asparagus soup

More to come!

Happy Halloween from Momo!

2009-10-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I've ever used a sewing machine, and I'm proud of my handiwork :D This is the costume I made for Momo - he is a piece of salmon nigiri sushi, and a darn handsome one if I do say so myself :) We're going to try a do a family theme again...stay tuned!

Happy Halloween!

Fail.

2009-09-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

Why Cal Football?

Booo...summer's over :(

2009-09-02T20:59:00.000-07:00

Here are snippets of my summer in pictures...

First...Stephanie and Patrick's Wedding <3

Sonoma Wine Tasting with Chris, Joyce, and Oh Sung

Week in NYC w/ Sheena!

Dogopolis!

2009-08-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

Hi all! Please support our four-legged furry friends and attend Dogopolis, an effort put forth by a friend of mine! See the award-winning documentary, Mine, WITH your dog on 8/14/09 in Oakland! Buy your tickets at http://www.dogopolis.com/. If you cannot attend, please donate to this great cause - every dollar counts!

All proceeds will benefit local organizations listed on the web site.

Bridal Shower 8-2-09

2009-08-03T13:34:00.000-07:00

I spent this past Sunday at Stephanie's Bridal Shower. Our theme was Pink & White, of course!

Dorie, Antonia, and I worked on decorations and food, but Mrs. Choi (Stephanie's mom) is just a regular Martha Stewart! She did some AMAZING table settings, flower arrangements, and backyard gazebo!

Strawberries n' sushi

Mini cupcakes!

Fresh roses <3

Beautiful gazebo!

Photo garland: Stephanie ages 1-18!

Stephanie arrives!

I think she looks pretty impressed!

Mom & daughter!

Yong & Me

Lunching outside under the gazebo

We took a "How Well Do You Know The Bride" quiz and had her fiancee Patrick answer the questions on a video. It was super cute =) Everyone also wrote advice cards for the bride.

And the best part...? Presents!

I got her a tote with the quotation "Love is Friendship Set on Fire" - Jeremy Miller, pink Mrs. Lam flip flops and shorts, a bottle of Nuvo (a very very pink liquor), and an egg omelet pan :)

Steph and some of the bridal party

Steph & Me

Steph & Antonia

Only a few more days before the wedding!!! Congrats to the future Mrs. Lam :)

Momo hikes by day, parties by night :)

2009-07-26T19:09:00.001-07:00

Momo has begun his hikes with Doggy Lama Pet Care. Here is his first trip out to Strawberry Canyon in Berkeley. He looks like he had a blast! :)

Short...legs...must...jump...over...log!!

Freeeee!!!!

Something must smell pretty good over there...

Long tree trunk for a long dog

Later on we had friends over at our place to celebrate my good friend Helen's joining of the quarter century club!

Happy Birthday Helen! Btw, if you're looking for a good cake, the Mango Mousse cake from Sheng Kee Bakery (pictured above) is sooooooo gooooood!

Cake and alcohol were had by all....and we're wondering if Momo got his little paws in any of that liquor...see evidence below!

Drunkity dog face!

He then went around to say hi to all my friends...Hi Amy!

Sniffing Oh Sung

He's quite the ladies dog!

Kisses from mommy & daddy!

And here is an awesome picture taken by my photographer friend Ryan right in my kitchen! Doesn't it look all professional-like? Hehe :)

Berkeley Bowl West???

2009-07-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

How...HOW did I not know they opened up a new Berkeley Bowl near the freeway no less??

I was driving down the freeway after Momo and Blue had a play date, and see this billboard flashing that a new one opened (apparently since June). I'm so happpyyyyyy =D

That is all.

What happens in Vegas...

2009-06-30T22:44:00.001-07:00

What an AWESOME weekend! Having a bachelorette party in Vegas is like nothing else :) Our bride, Steph, was drunkity drunk allll weekend...it was grand! I needed a break so badly, and it was so much fun to hang out with the girls.

On our way out!

@ LAVO in the Palazzo

Pool party @ Tao Beach!

The whole group @ Tao later that night

*SMOOCHES* for my Stephie. Congrats girl, <3

Oh, AND the Sunday I got back from Vegas, I had a reunion with my K-8 elementary school class. I can't believe it has been 11 years since we graduated. I can't believe my good friends I've known since Kindergarten have been in my life for TWENTY years. Geez we're getting old!!! It was really fun to catch up with people I haven't seen in a long time though :)

Today I worked with Momo in the morning. He's so much better behaved lately...I guess the training works! I'm hoping desensitizing him to loud noises and such will make him less skittish. Here are pictures of him at my class's end of the year picnic!

I can never say no to this face

Who knew a ball on a string could be so entertaining?? :)

Summer fun, something's begun :)

2009-06-10T13:36:00.000-07:00

My first couple weeks of summer clinic have been so fantastic. I feel like I'm finally doing what I came to optometry school to do. I'm pushing myself to do better and to be a better doctor, and I think the doctors at my Minor and Tang rotations are really helping me to do that. It has been a challenge, but I was really proud of myself when in my last session I finished 4 exams, two of them in about an hour. One of those exams was a wheelchair patient who was 40 minutes late to his appointment, and I managed to get through the entire thing before closing. My next goal is to do more fluid posterior pole and peripheral retina exams, rather than static views. I may even try reclined when I have more time.

In my free time I've just been painting, reading, basically doing all the things I had zero time to do during the school year.

Here is my latest painting, a recreation of an Alphonse Mucha (one of my favorite artists) work

In the early stages...

The finished product!

I can't wait to paint more. I'm waiting for this big sale that will be happening at Blick Art Supply next weekend

The next few weeks are going to be really busy! Chris and I will be moving into and furnishing a new gorgeous apartment, then I'll be off to Vegas for my friend Stephanie's bachelorette party, and hopefully making it to my elementary school class reunion on the way back. It'll be tiring but lots of fun...I can hardly wait :)

Me, Yong, Steph, Sung (NDB girls)

I've been perpetually looking at online furniture sites and craigslist and catalogs for ways to make our new apartment pretty. I also have HGTV on all the live long day, wishing I had the income and a home to make beautiful. I can't wait to have my own house...sigh. One day, someday. It is days like these I wish I had a giant truck and large burly friend for transportation and moving :p

Anyway, these are long overdue, but I finally managed to upload these pictures from our school formal, the Eyeball...yes it is called the eyeball.

Me, Sheena, and Allison

Class of 2011 - the only 8 representatives of our class at this formal!

LoL...

Drunk.

Chris, Me, Helen, Rob

I'll end with Helen and her freakishly flexible self...she won our limbo contest!

White Coat Ceremony

2009-05-22T22:12:00.000-07:00

Today was the White Coat Ceremony for my class, which marks our transition from the classroom to the clinic. I thought this day would never come. Congrats c/o 2011!!! We made it!

~0~0~0~0~

Getting my coat put on!

I was actually quite proud that I didn't get tangled up trying to get my arms through

Me and my dearest Sheena

Me and Mel

Me and Sheryl

The super awesome student affairs office - Heather & Sharon!

Christine, Sophia, Esther, Christine, Me, James

My girlllssss: Mel, Sheryl, Anna, Britta, Me

Same as above, but finally got Sheena to come over for a pic haha

Me and Chris :)

The best parents ever :)

Giant group picture + Dr. Greer!

YAY!!

Done with 2nd year!!!

2009-05-18T14:26:00.001-07:00

*AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH* I'm so happy :)

2nd year of optometry school is officially over. This Friday I'll be celebrating with my classmates at our white coat ceremony - signalling our transition into clinic and---- dun dun DUN---- seeing patients on our own!

UCOSA Retreat - Opto student government

It has been an incredibly, incredibly busy semester. Looking back I'm not quite sure how I juggled it all. Between our psycho courseload, early eye wear rotations, philanthropy/suitcase clinic/vision screenings, and still managing to have some sort of life (not really) I guess it all turned out alright.

Optos @ Grace Urban Ministries Vision Screening

I'm looking forward to summer. Spending more time with the boyfriend, the doggy, the friends, and the family :) Thanks for all your support these hectic past months.

Me stressed out, and poor Momo getting mommy's stress-huggies :p

*Kisses* from Momo!

Reminiscing...

2009-04-27T00:02:00.000-07:00

I was browsing photos, and saw pictures of my baby when he was super, duper teeny weeny!! I also found a picture of his mom and dad...Momo looks just like his daddy doesn't he??

Momo is the one on the left. The only red boy out of a litter of TEN! Poor corgi momma!

When he was small enough to fit in the palm of your hand!!

Cutie patootie!

Momo's sable mommy on the left, and his red daddy on the right. He looks just like his dad now!

This past Saturday we had the first East Bay Corgis meet up at Cesar Chavez Park! It was my first time to Cesar Chavez, and it is fantastic! I will definitely be taking Momo back there more often. It was so super fun to see tons of shortie butts. I have never seen such a pack of impressive beggers :) I'll get pics up as soon as possible!

----if you have a weak stomach, stop reading HERE! Haha..-----

My little buddy had a visit to the vet today to get him checked out. A couple nights ago, he completed what my boyfriend called a "double trifecta" of excrement. He basically barfed/peed/pooped each TWICE within a few hours. I was really, really worried but within the next couple days he seems to have gotten better. He probably just ate something nasty off the floor. Sigh, one of these days I hope he stops with the eating on bad stuff. Hopefully all his tests come back fine....keep ya posted.

Momo's 1st Birthday!

2009-04-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

My baby turned ONE on 4/10/2009. Time flies!!!! I made a cake (yes, I baked it myself) for him and his girly friend Blue. It was made from flour, peanut butter, honey, carrots, and "frosted" with cottage cheese. Here are pictures of the pups enjoying their treats!!

*CRAZY CORGI EYES!!*

I finished up the peanut butter for this cake, and even though it is not so good for him, I couldn't resist letting Momo lick the jar clean as a special birthday present. Actually, I really just wanted to take the funny pictures of his LONNNNG tongue!!

Just look at that tongue!!! O_O

Momo the Escape Artist!!

2009-04-01T21:09:00.000-07:00

Over spring break Chris and I went to visit his family in Pleasanton. We went to downtown Livermore for lunch then did a little wine tasting. Unfortunately, this meant that Momo was to be left alone at home for a couple hours and was not able to join in on the fun (which he protested to...LOUDLY....as we left). We gated him off in the bathroom with chew toys, water, etc. I was a little afraid he would get upset, bash against the gate and knock it down, but we figured he would start chewing his hoof and chill out. We come home from lunch only to be greeted by Momo at the door *EEEEEP*!! I was terrified he had chewed/peed/pooped in the newly renovated house....but surprisingly, there was absolutely NO damage....except.....

The damage...

Busy beaming with pride...

*squeeze*

*squish*

"Mommy, look what I did!!"

They're doing renovations downstairs and there was dust everywhere -- evidence of the escape!

Sigh, yet another thing that bites the dust due to my dog's slightly scary strength >_<

Corgi Butts Giveaway!!

2009-03-26T17:50:00.000-07:00

http://corgibutts.blogspot.com/2009/03/did-someone-say-giveaway.html

There's some cute cute corgi stuff up for grabs :)

SPRING BREAK!

2009-03-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

Holy moly, I thought this day would never come. The hellish exam period is over, and I celebrated last night with my classmates in the best way possible--bar hopping! Now, if I could go back in time I'm quite sure I would have eaten dinner, but I actually remember everything that happened last night so I couldn't have been THAT out of it :P I'm lucky that my knight in shining armor Chris (a.k.a my designated driver) came to pick me and my car up hehe.

This month went by in a whirlwind. It started off wonderfully. On March 2nd some classmates and I went to the new California Academy of Sciences. I kinda missed the kitschy older version, but the new one, I must admit, is very nice. And so is their food court!! Here are some of my favorite pictures - my sad attempt at artsy fartsy photography:

There's the DeYoung Museum in the background - on my list of 'to-go' places

Cute lil' chameleon - I used to have two of them :) Their eyes are psycho and go against all the rules I've learned about what human eyes can do. No yoking - they can move independently and have voluntary cyclorotations!!

These frogs looked fake - I thought they looked like they were made of wax

Sheena just thought they looked evil...

That's one warty back!

Down the clear elevator to the aquarium!

Pink wonderful starfish and sea anemone tank

The colors of nature are amazing, no?

*poke poke*

Chubby jellyfish!

Cool fishy - could totally see through his eye!

Optos!

Scott & Cheyenne very interested in the crocodile and turtle pit. Sheena was being all sneaky sneaky paparazzi on them

She's been spotted!!

Snake demo - freaky, she looked right at me when I took this!

On the way home. Sheena, your hair is awesome haha ;D

In 6 short weeks I'll be seeing patients on my own in clinic. Eep! Unfortunately my summer schedule is Thursday, Friday, Saturday :( Oh well sigh. Here it is...my 3rd year clinic schedule in all its glory (not including lecture classes):

	SUN	MON	TUE	WED	THU	FRI	SAT
Summer May 24, 2009 - Aug 8, 2009					EWC	LH-2	A
Fall I Aug 16, 2009 - Oct 17, 2009			EWC		TANG	B	BV
Fall II Oct 18, 2009 - Dec 19, 2009			IT-1	HL-2	C		BV
Spring I Jan 10, 10 - Mar 6, 10	A	EWC	E	VF-2
Spring II Mar 7, 10 - ?			B		TANG

Spring II is awesome :D

Also I just found out that on Cal Football game days, Saturday clinic closes early!! WOooOhoo! I was really sad that I had Saturdays for Fall I and Fall II because I thought I wouldn't be able to buy season tickets, but it looks like I'll be able to go now!

I'll update you on my spring break antics soon :)

Friends :)

2009-03-07T17:38:00.000-08:00

Procrastinating - thinking about fun times instead of pharmacology!

Sometime's I'm Just An Angry Little Girl :)

2009-02-23T22:57:00.000-08:00

Heeheehee...

This is a little reminder to myself to be more patient :)

The Bigger Picture

2009-02-20T13:15:00.000-08:00

So, after a couple years being sick on and off, my grandma was hospitalized these last two weeks and passed away early this morning. It made me think about when my grandpa passed many years ago, and when I wrote about him for my college entrance essay. In that essay I talked about opportunity costs -- how being the only grandchild who grew up and was educated in America was such a blessing, but the cost was I never got to know my grandparents very well. A trip to Thailand every other year wasn't enough to develop a real strong relationship with them. Anyway I got that sort of dull feeling when my parents called me this morning. Less sad about her actual passing, but that I never got to know her as well as I would have liked. Regardless, rest in peace Ama. Each time I visited you, you had a smile on your face.

I recently found out Brenda, a good friend of mine, is being deployed to Iraq. She leaves tomorrow, and I just pray she stays safe. It reminds me that there are such bigger and greater things going on in the world than those that are encompassed in the little bubble that is my life.

I miss these girls dearly :(

On a happier note, today is Chris's 24th birthday! Finally. We're getting so old :P

Tonight we're going to Fringale in SF, which is a French restaurant Chris loves. I hope it lives up to his hype :)

Valentine's Day Duo

2009-02-14T16:53:00.000-08:00

This Valentine's Day I am puppy sitting for a neighbor :) Momo has his first V-day date, Blue!

Last night we had a suprise birthday for Joyce @ the Crab House at Pier 39. Always fun to have the gang together again!

MmMmMm CRAAAABBBB!!!

Oh Sung is super, SUPER happy!

Awwww, heart for V-day!

Coraline 3D

2009-02-08T13:32:00.000-08:00

My treat to myself this weekend before buckling down with the books was watching Coraline 3D with Chris. I can't remember the last time I watched a 3D movie!

I found the movie to be entertaining :) It was just dark enough not to be a completely cheesy kid's film, and at some points I even questioned whether the content was kid-friendly. If you watch it, you'll know what I mean, and then we can compare notes haha.

After it was over, Chris, of course, was asking me about the optics of the 3D glasses they gave us, in which one lens is polarized in one direction, and the second lens polarized in another direction. For some reason he has the desire to know how EVERYTHING works. He was asking why at times during the movie the 3D was not perfect looking - and just seemed kind of off. He asked if it was because of people's differing PDs (the fact that he even knows the term PD means I must talk about school too much) or what not. I thought maybe it had to do with binocular vision of different people. Honestly, I'm not sure why, but I told him I'd ask my BV professor next week haha :p If any of you optos are reading out there...any ideas?

Alright, that's enough of a diversion for now, but I leave you with a picture I took that I find very, very amusing. Run, Chris! RUNNN!

I haven't woken up past 7 AM in over 7 days :(

2009-02-02T19:10:00.000-08:00

SOOOOOOO....

Yet again, this was an incredibly busy week. In addition to the school week being insanely packed, the weekend was also very, very busy.

Saturday:

-8 AM: CL lens lab

-10 AM: Practice pulling retinal views

-12 PM: Momo shows off his tricks!!

**Just in case the sound isn't great, his tricks in order are: speak, whisper, wave hi, hi-five, shake, play dead *bang*, down, roll over, sit, do the wave, and his newest one as a tribute to his Thai side- sawasdee kap - how we greet people in Thai**

-1 PM: Momo, Chris, and I go to Point Isabel

-3 PM: Lunch

-4 PM: Momo gets a bath!

-5 PM: I think I pass out from exhaustion...

Sunday:

8 AM - 2 PM - Partnership's Conference (Gender/Women in Optometry)

3 PM - 9 PM - Superbowllll!

Monday:

7 AM - 5 PM - Vision Service Plan (VSP) Tour

Right now - So sleepy :(

This week will be no better. The worst will be Thursday where I am in class/clinic/lab from 8 AM to 6 PM straight with no break.

Ok, enough wallowing in self-pity.

I forgot to mention a very Happy 3 Year Anniversary to my boyfriend Chris. I know I'm a few days late :p It has been a crazy ride so far, and with all the ups and downs and round and rounds, I'm very happy that we're together <3