Turkey Day

This Thanksgiving holiday was GREAT.

Besides the fact that I had TWO major tests to study for, I simply ignored school and had fun with Eric and Ella and my family.

Thanksgiving day was spent watching the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade and the Purina dog show, while I cooked up a storm: morning rolls, dinner rolls, mashed potatoes, and a pumpkin pie. We headed over to my folks house for the best Thanksgiving meal I've ever had. It was so delicious... and so not traditional.

My dad made the best spare ribs I have EVER had. I'm still drooling over them. My mom made some delicious pot roast, and all of their food combined with mine = Thanksgiving feast.

The funniest part of Thanksgiving was when I was getting up from the table to get something and I noticed that Ella had something in her mouth. I told her to "drop it" and she spat out one of the rolls my dad had given her. So basically the rolls I made were crap (everyone politely agreed) and my dad was trying to slip Ella the rest of his roll, but Ella doesn't eat fast or discretely, and so he chastised her for that. We were all laughing so hard. I guess you kinda had to be there.

Black Friday meant that Eric and I were standing in line at Walmart (much to my chagrin), to buy a TV we've been wanting for awhile. We woke up at 3am and finally left the store at 6am. It was so busy! Eric of course had to set the TV up at 6am, and then we decided it would be a fun idea to watch a movie on it at 6:30am. After the movie we fell asleep and didn't wake up until 2pm.

That Friday we also set up our Christmas tree. This was a monumental occasion, as I have wanted a Christmas tree since we've been married (3 years this December!) but we've always been too poor or too lazy. We put up our tree, and put up lights outside on our porch, and decorated the house while listening to Christmas music. I don't know your definition of fun, but I was having a blast!

I was supposed to cook a turkey for Thanksgiving but my turkey was still frozen and my parents had already made so much food, so I left the turkey making until today. It was so hard! Eric and I didn't know what holes had what in them and we were pulling out bags and things, not knowing what the heck we were doing. I just pulled the turkey out of the oven and I have to say it looks gorgeous. Ella was pretty excited.

And I guess I have to include my gratitude list, or else I would be frowned upon by the Thanksgiving gods.
1- I am grateful for my husband who does so much for me and our family and his friends. He is the definition of charity and I am so lucky to have him in my life- for eternity! He makes me laugh and smile and makes me a better person.
2- I am grateful for my dog Ella. She truly brings so much happiness to my life and I love coming home and seeing her wag her entire body in happiness.
3- I am so grateful for my family. They are so wonderful to Eric and me and they are so fun to hang out with. They take such good care of us, bringing us food and meals when we are so busy and don't have time to cook.
4- I am grateful that Eric and I are so blessed to be in the programs of our choice- medicine and pharmacy. We've been blessed to get into schools in the same state and we are so happy to be learning some crazy cool things.
5- I'm grateful for my in-laws. They are so nice to use to come to CO to fix our condo/computers and to visit and to send us gifts and fun emails. I have the best in-laws and I'm so lucky to have them as family.
6- I'm grateful for friends. I have the best of friends and they are so special to me.

I know I've been blessed with so much and I am so grateful for all that I have. Happy Thanksgiving!

Dr. Bain

Dear Dr. Bain,

I passed your test! Woot woot! And I did much better than I initially thought. I might even celebrate a little.

Your non-failing student,
Andrea

Dear Dr. Bain

Dear Dr. Bain,

Your test on metabolism smashed me to the ground and stomped on my head, repeatedly. I thought I knew oxidative phosphorylation, the citric acid cycle, glycolysis, gluconeogenesis, glycogenesis, beta oxidation, the cori cycle, the urea cycle and how they all intertwine, but apparently you know more than I do, especially at creating monster tests. Thank you for smashing my rapidly fading dreams of Rho Chi.

Your student,
Andrea

Cultural potluck

 At school we have a lot of cultural diversity. And so we decided to have a cultural potluck. We had Korean, Philipino, Russian, Chinese, and Dutch food. It was delish! And we had it at Jenny's apartment, which is quite bare, but we had great floor seating with wall support :)
All in all it was a memorable experience.

Kimche, pickled tomatoes and pickles, mondue, bulgogi, duplings, etc.

Dutch dessert

P1 Year

Jessica, Kris, Jenny, Professor Knutsen, Dean

Rashelle the geriatric patient, Kris and Dean the pharmacist

School is great. It keeps me pretty busy, I don't get much sleep, but I am learning so much and I've made some great friendships.

So far in school (8 weeks in) we have completed 2 classes, Science Foundations 1 and Drug Information. We are going out into the community, at different pharmacies, and through our clubs (I am in SNPhA and CSSHP). We are doing health fairs and Halloween activities at the Children's Hospital on campus this month.

We also have elementary schools that we're assigned to. We teach the 3rd-5th graders (I have 4th graders) about nutrition. I am in a group of 5 other people and every Thursday we go over to the school for a one hour lesson. It is so much fun. We teach the kids who are in poor schools, and it's sad because some of them do not speak English well or can understand it but can't write or read. Some of the kids haven't even tried some of the foods we bring into the classroom like celery or raisins or yogurt. Our class isn't too bad (underprivileged) compared to some of my other friends schools. It's definitely an eye opener and makes you appreciate your blessings and upbringing.

The pictures above are from my Skills group. We meet every Monday for 3 hours and learn the skills we need to be pharmacists. This activity was the geriatric activity. We put in ear plugs, glasses that we could barely see out of, and bulky, hindering gloves to represent arthritis. This was a great lesson because we got to experience what our patients will experience. The pharmacist gives the patient a ton of meds and expects them to remember how and when to take them. And this is all on top of them barely being able to hear/see us and having trouble opening their bottles and taking their pills (due to arthritis). This is what we have to look forward to in getting old!

Ella v. Biker

The other morning Ella and I were on a bike ride at 5:30am, so needless to say it was dark outside. I moved over to the very right side of the path to let these two joggers go by, and as we are passing each other one of the guys tells me I need to be wearing a light.

First of all I have to state that I hate most people on the Cherry Creek Trail. They are hypocrites and morons and self-centered.

Second I have to say that I am FED UP with people yelling at me on the trail. I've put my dog on a leash and they still yell. Whatever, F them.

So, this hypocrite runner who was not wearing a light and telling me to wear a light pissed the heck out of me. And so I yelled back (which I proudly can say I am getting REALLY good at), "well then so do you... IDIOT."

I might need therapy. 

The next Cherry Creek Trail fiasco happened at 10:30pm, also when it was really dark. We like to take Ella at extreme times of the day on the trail because people aren't on the trail, and as you can tell we hate the people on this trail. So Eric was biking Ella and she had her shock collar on (no string leash, just the invisible shock collar leash). Two bikers were heading Erics way and so he made sure Ella was close to him on his right side.

The first biker whizzes by. No problem. Ella thought she was in the clear. The second biker whizzes by and BAM! Ella and the front bike tire collide, sending the 60yo biker flying and Ella running away barking for half a mile.

Sighhhh. This is not what we need. Why would Ella dart in front of this biker?! They had lights on. She never does this.

The biker who fell landed on her shoulder and was shaken up. She said she was fine and told Eric to go help Ella. So he went and got Ella who was pretty hurt. She couldn't walk well and had a major limp. She also got hit so hard that it expressed her anal glands and boy does that STINK!

 Ella couldn't walk for a couple days. I had to carry her outside for her to go to the bathroom. She couldn't go on a walk/bike ride for a week. She suffered only soft tissue damage, thank goodness, and no fracture.

Dear Ella, please, no more injuries!

Gelatinous Capsules

I learned something disgusting in my Science Foundations class today:

Gelatinous capsules are made from animal bones and skin....so all you vegans out there beware!

Grandma's 85th!

We surprised my grandma for her 85th birthday (Sept. 8, 1925) by having all her kids and most of her grand kids reunite for a birthday bash. It was a great time and my grandma was so surprised to see Janet and Billy who flew in without her knowing. Happy birthday grandma!

Auntie and Unkie

We flew to Utah this past Labor Day weekend to see our first niece. 

**She is super cute**

Mr. President, I do hate you

Ironic how there's so much outrage over burning the Koran**, but such little outrage when the Bible is burned.

Ironic how we have to protect Muslim sensitivities, but not even care about American sensitivities IN AMERICA, where nearly 3,000 people died on 9/11/01.

I could go on and on about how I feel with this whole "burning of the Koran on 9/11" situation, but I won't for now. It gets me too riled up. Maybe if I get really ticked off about it all I will, but until then just know that I have a strong disdain for Obama.


** Note: I do NOT endorse the burning of the Koran, I think it's a terrible idea.

Happy 27th!

Yesterday was Eric's birthday. I got up early to make him french toast, eggs and bacon before school. Then for lunch I delivered a plate of Garbanzo (Mediterranean food) to him at school. Then after school we went out to eat at a Mexican restaurant near Park Meadows. So it was pretty much a day of special eating. Happy Birthday babe! You're awesome!!

The sopapilla in the above picture was pure deliciousness

Eric's bday presents:

White polo from Banana Rep that I've been wanting to get him for for.ev.er

New wallet to replace his high school wallet

Beach towel -so he doesn't have to share with Ella anymore

New Car

This past Friday Eric and I bought our FIRST new car together. It was a looooong process from 3-7pm, but we drove away with a 2010 Toyota Corolla. My grandma's friend, Yousef, is a car dealer and has sold my family ~10 cars, so he was able to get us a great deal. We love it! It's so fun to drive and it has a moon roof!

Grandma and I were talking about Les and laughing about something so funny

Me, Eric, Yousef

8 stitches later

I was taking Ella on her morning walk yesterday when she spotted a bunny in the neighbors yard. I unhooked her leash so she could go chase it -one of the funnest joys in her life. She stealthily crawled under the fence and then WHAM, booked it after that bunny like a greyhound on a race course track. She rounded a corner chasing her prey, after which I couldn't see her anymore. Minutes later she came bounding back, searching in the initial spot for the bunny.

We continued on our walk. Crap, Ella had cut her back paw. I kept staring at it, sort of in disbelief, sort of hoping it wasn't that bad. It looked pretty bad, a nice clean slice. I was hoping that after she got out of the water, at her favorite spot in the river, that it would be better. Ummm, no, it was worse. Good idea Andrea.

I was in a mild state of panic. Ella on the other hand couldn't care less. Her paw was gushing blood but hey, there were still birdies to chase and other dogs to play with!
I turned around and started running home. By this time I'm trying really hard not to look at her wound for fear of fainting. So I do the next logical thing- I knock on our neighbors door and have Emily look at her paw. How sad is that. I can't even look at my dogs hurt paw to decipher whether or not to take her to the vet.

Ella hates the vet. Especially the big black man who scares her so bad. And of course with our luck he was there to take care of her. So after four hours at the vet, sedation, IV's and 8 stitches, Ella is home and in good spirits. I just had to get her that duck to kill so she wouldn't hate me for taking her to that (in her opinion) big, scary man again.

Day Off

I'm still on vacation from work... which means that today I woke up at 10 am, showered, ate breakfast and fell back asleep... it's now 1:30pm and I'm still in my pj's...

Vail Weekend Getaway

Eric and I took a much needed vacation to Vail, CO this past weekend. I cannot even tell you how nice it was to get away with our dog and have a worry-free trip. We've been going through a lot of trials and trying to plan a vacation to Cali during the midst of it all. Unfortunately, or fortunately in hindsight, the trip didn't pan out and we made an impromptu decision to head up to Colorado's mountains. We did a 4 night, 4 day activity-packed trip that reminded us of our honeymoon... two and a half years ago!

Before our Trip

(Two weeks before)

(Eve of our trip)

Ella is a good dog... but this is the SECOND pair of my flip flops she has torn up like one of her chew toys. The first pair she tore up weeks before. I thought we had scolded and scared her up enough that she wouldn't do it again... But lo and behold Eric and I came home from a fun concert night to see my brand new replacement flip flops demolished.

My theory is that she gets mad at me when I'm gone for too long (all day). Scoff and ridicule that theory as you will, but I'm the one who knows and lives with her and that's what I truly believe.

Any-who, Ella was pretty depressed from us yelling at her that we just had to do something fun right?! So we took her to Vail with us. We're so good to her :)

Day 1

Eric and I started out the funnest day we've had since our honeymoon by renting mountain bikes and taking Ella on a long run down the Vail River. First of all, the people in Vail are MUCH nicer and dog friendly than they are in Parker. I don't know what it is but people love dogs in Vail so much more than they do in Denver. Ergo, having Ella off leash but with her shock collar on was less stressful because people didn't mind! She was so obedient and loved running along the bike path. We took numerous stops in the river for a quick swim and cool off. The 6 miles we rode with Ella were the 6 funnest miles of our lives with her.

Us trying to get Ella to pose- by the end of the trip we had

passersby commenting on how well our dog poses.

We then took Ella home and let her onto the hotel bed. The hotel we stayed in was one of the few to allow dogs. It wasn't a fancy hotel but it served its purpose and we loved it. So did Ella. She was hesitant and awkward about being on the bed because she isn't allowed on our bed at home, but on this vacation she was treated like a queen.

After some delicious homemade sandwiches, Eric and I hopped on the gondola with our bikes. This was the first time we have ever been mountain biking. I was a nervous wreck inside. Eric was just so happy to try this new challenge. After braking all the way down the first 1/2 mile of the 7 mile descent I said "screw-this" and ripped it down the mountain, of course to follow Eric's suit. Mountain biking is the bomb! It rivals skiing it's that much fun. We were going so fast and the bumpy mountain was shaking our arms so hard that the underside of our elbows were indescribably itchy. But an itchy body and bruised palms were well worth the fun and exhilaration.

After our mountain biking we returned the bikes and got back on the gondola. We were headed to a BLUEGRASS CONCERT! For those of you who don't know me well, bluegrass is one of my FAVORITE music genres and I was in heaven hearing the music. There were hotdogs and hamburgers for $3 too- what more can you want in life, cheap food and good music. This was the perfect ending to a perfect day.

Eric showing his disdain for pickles

The bluegrass band is under the yellow striped tent

Day 2

Nothing could beat our Day 1, probably not for years to come either, but our day 2 was pretty fun as well. We started off with walking Ella, and then drove up to Wolcott to do some horseback riding!

We had a good tour guide, but the terrain was pretty much as you see it in the pictures below... not that interesting and unbelievably hot- with no shade whatsoever. We did however see where the shoreline used to be in the mountains and where a pack of mountain lions live (just the location, not the actual mountain lions).

My neck got pretty burnt- the only place I didn't

put sunscreen :(

For lunch we ate at the Blue Moose Pizzeria. I didn't care for the pizza but Eric loved it. We ordered half and half of a BBQ and meatless lasagna pizza.

Ella sitting outside the restaurant with Eric picking her

eye-burgers and Ella wanting to eat them (like usual)

After lunch we went strolling around town, walking through the different villages and just taking it easy.

Now comes the best part of the day: dinner. I had been craving steaks for awhile, and so we took a recommendation to eat at the restaurant below our hotel: Montauk.

Oh my heavens sake, this is the best restaurant. Our first course was of muscles cooked in white wine. I can still taste them now. They were by far the most delicious muscles I've had in my life- Eric totally agrees too.

We gobbled down our main course so fast I didn't even think to take a picture of it. I ordered the top sirloin and Eric ordered a yummy prawn/scallop/noodle dish. Loved, loved, loved every bite of these two dishes. This is definitely my new favorite restaurant.

Before we ordered our meals, out of the corner of my eye I see one of Eric's schoolmates- Nabila and her family! What are the odds. They are a great family and we enjoyed talking with them. It was Nabila's birthday and they were celebrating at Montauk as well.

After dinner we ran upstairs, changed and ran down to show Nabila's son, Ella. The last time he saw Ella she could fit into his lap!