Blanket Surgery

For those of you who don't know, I am the owner of a very old blanket.  My mom made it for me for when I was born, and at the time probably never thought it would still be around.  I don't know how or why I decided to keep it, but this 23-year-old blanket has been with me through everything:  it's traveled to competitions with me, been on school camping trips, and experienced Thailand and Australia.  Needless to say, it's been through a lot and is definitely showing it's age.  I decided last night that it was time to clean it up a little bit; I got the scissors and trimmed off the strings.  Let me tell you, each time I made a cut I felt like I was tearing away part of my soul.  However, I have to say, now it looks better and seems like it has new life (as new as it can get at this point).  I know that others who look at it won't see it, but I do.  I don't know how long it will last, but it's the material item I cherish most in this world so I'll do what I can to give it as long of a life as possible.  Crazy or not, that's just how it's going to be.

Just to preface the pictures, when it was new, the middle of the blanket was a vibrant red with a stripe of balloon fabric around it and blue trim.  The back side was just the balloons.  Unfortunately now it's so worn that you can see the "stuffing" in between the layers (or at least what's left of it).

Busy Bee

Wow, I don't think I've been this bad at posting since I got here.  This past week has been CRAZY and just full of work and a little bit of fun on the side.  After dinner last Tuesday, I came home to find that the peer review assessments for the first tissue engineering paper had been passed back.  I read through them quickly before deciding I was too full and sleepy to really get any work done.  The comments were positive for the most part, and the criticism was about things I already knew/intended to fix, so I was content.  The rest of the week was dedicated to fixing it up and getting it ready for submission on Friday.  I had some help from my favorite editors and I really feel like I submitted a winner.  I guess now all I can do is wait and see what the professor thinks.  After all, it really is only her opinion that matters.

I turned in an electronic copy of my paper on Thursday night, and quickly changed into my pajamas and was getting ready for a good night sleep when I got a call from someone I met in Canberra.  He was supposed to come down to Melbourne over the weekend for his birthday, but somehow ended up here early and tricked me into coming out to meet him.  Because I thought he was only going to be here for the night, I reluctantly got out of my pajamas and trudged downtown to meet him and another one of my friends.  I later learned that he will in fact be here until the end of the year...I should have known he was just yanking my chain.  Anyway, it was an adventure filled night to say the least, with a $500 bottle of champagne, a trip to an executive suite of the Hilton downtown, and some really good room service delivered at 1:00am.  Let's just say this kid has a rich brother-in-law who treated the three of us to some luxury.  I found myself walking home really early Friday morning because I didn't want to crash at the hotel; I decided to leave that to the two boys.

On Saturday the outings continued.  My recently arrived friend had a birthday so we got a group of people together and went around town.  It was fun and definitely more laid-back than the previous venture (good for me).  I discovered parts of Melbourne I hadn't seen before, which was really nice.  Overall it was a successful evening and I enjoyed the people I was with.

Yesterday I got up early and went for a run before getting to class to take my last mid-semester test EVER.  It's hard to believe, but I'm really glad it's over and done.  I had to write an essay on the electrical modelling of hemodynamics (say that five times fast) and it was a bit of a struggle.  Clinical engineering isn't really my favorite class, mostly because I despise the professor.  Only six more weeks with him, however, so I think I'll manage (though it might be just slightly painful).

Woohoo, what an update.  I'm going to get started on my second tissue engineering paper (another 4,000-word monster, but this time on cell migration) and try to get a leg up on my biomaterials term assessment as well.  Two and a half weeks left until break.  My brain is desperately in need, even though part of me feels like we just got going again.  Time flies when you're having...fun  :)

Oh yes, one last thing.  I wanted to add a few items to the list I was creating before regarding things I'm looking forward to/want when I get home:
6.  Ike's Place Sandwiches:  Located in the new engineering buildings (of course, the engineers should get the best food), Ike's has the most creative and palette pleasing sandwiches.  A little expensive, but definitely worth both the money and the wait (the line is typically out the door).
7.  Rojo's Wraps:  A SWG favorite.  Used to be located across the street from campus but was forced to move across town.  Still worth the drive...mmmmm, I can taste a Chinese Chicken Salad wrap right now  :)
8.  Cheese House/JJ&F's:  Back to the sandwiches.  Both of these places make large, yummy sandwiches to order.  JJ&F's is kind of a weekend/pre-meet tradition for me and Alex.  Turkey, cheese, avocado, Dutch Crunch bread...ahhhh.
9.  Pluto's:  I can't believe I forgot this in the initial list.  Though I hear that Sprouts (competitor, located just down the road) may be the new fan favorite, I LOVE Pluto's and could eat their salads for lunch and dinner every day of the week.
10.  Driving:  Pretty sure this is the first non-food related item on the list, but I miss driving so much.  I have to say that walking everywhere has been great as well, but I am a sucker for the car.  Since I've had my license I've hardly gone two days without getting behind the wheel, and at this point it's been seven months!!  I feel like whoever is the lucky one who gets to be the first to drive with me is going to have to be really patient because I'm a) probably going to get in on the wrong side of the car at first, and b) definitely going to be nervous.

Colmao Flamenco

Another food adventure!!  Despite the fun, this is really not good for my figure.  And with the nicer weather coming (one can only hope) this is something to watch out for.

Awhile back Bahar and I decided that we were going to take advantage of a coupon deal for a Spanish restaurant called Colmao Flamenco.  We purchased the voucher but with the semester break we went our separate ways and didn't get around to going.  We finally called in and made a booking (reservation) over the weekend.  Tonight after class we ran home to get changed and then met at the closest tram stop.  The tram connections were a little complicated but we found our way to the town of Fitzroy right outside of downtown Melbourne.  We decided that this was the Spanish district because there were a number of restaurants around providing this type of cuisine.  We found our place and went inside. 

Mmmm, Paella!!

The voucher we had gave us each a choice of entreé (at home we'd consider that an appetizer), a paella dish to share, and a pitcher of Sangria.  We paid an extra $2 for a basket of bread, but otherwise the voucher worked perfectly.  We finished everything, though in all honesty we probably could have stopped halfway through.  But it was just so good and it was sitting right in front of us so we kept going back for more.  

Now I'm back in my room with a full tummy and don't feel like doing anything.  I'm ready for bed and I think I might just succumb to the feeling and start over again tomorrow.  Sometimes it's nice to take a step away from the routine and enjoy everything we've got around us.  Hopefully we can head out and do something similar again soon.

Championship Success

After yet another week in school (four down, eight to go!!), I sat down today to watch the conclusion of the men's competition at the VISA Championships.  This competition where USA's best gymnasts gather to compete, where national champions are crowned, and where national teams are named.  Being 2011, making the national team at this stage opens many doors because then you can be selected to represent the country in major competitions around the world, allowing you to gain valuable experience heading into the olympic year.

There were three former Stanford gymnasts at the meet this year:  Sho (2009), Alex (2011), and Ryan (2011).  After two days of competition, Sho and Alex were named to the national team.  Sho has been climbing back up after tearing his ACL in a competition a couple of years ago and Alex was coming off a team NCAA championship and an individual high bar title.  Both are very successful gymnasts and this is a really exciting step in their journey to 2012.  Here's an interview with Alex after the competition was over:  Alex makes National Team!  He talks about the mental game and how he's been able to really focus in and refine his skills in that area.  Obviously it's paying off and I couldn't be more excited for the opportunities he has in front of him (Sho as well).  It just goes to show what hard work, dedication, and never letting go of your dreams can do for you.

In other news, this weekend is busy with schoolwork and the time will continue to fly by quickly.  I got some much needed rest last night so I'm feeling a little rejuvenated and ready to tackle everything that's in front of me.  It was a hard week with some frustrations, but it wouldn't be fun if it was all easy...right?

Roommate Dinner at DOC

The end of the third week is finally here, and the beginning of the fourth is quickly approaching.  To round out the week my Biomaterials professor decided to give us a "fun" lecture rather than talk to us about metals.  He presented his research and there are some amazing things going on in the field.  It's really fun (in a nerdy kind of way, I'll admit) to get so excited about these things.  I was entranced the entire lecture and just wanted to hear more.  After class I went to the grocery store and then just found myself at home, embracing the weekend.

Yesterday was spent working after lazing around all morning and getting in a run.  I actually woke up at one point early on, got breakfast, and then found myself back in bed.  Three hours later I woke up again, still not ready to embrace the day.  Unfortunately I really had to use the restroom so I was forced to get up and moving.  Once I did I became very productive, writing the bulk of my paper for tissue engineering.  My plans for the evening were cancelled which was kind of disappointing, but in the end it was probably better because it allowed me some time to get that extra bit of work done.  This morning I got an earlier start and finished the rough draft of the paper (due Friday).  I was so happy, proud, and relieved that I really didn't do much else in the work department for the rest of the day.  Instead I went out to get some buttons sewn on to one of my coats, got my hair cut, and talked to my family.  Finally it was time for dinner and my roommates and I went out together.  It was really nice to have all of us there and we ended up at DOC Pizza bar.  I'd never been before but it was AMAZING.

We each ordered our own pizza and then mix-and-matched once they were placed on the table.  Mine had lemon and Gorgonzola cheese, another had pumpkin, leek, and caramelized onions, and a third had chili and tiger prawns.  It was quite a spread but it didn't stop there.  We splurged and had dessert...one Nutella filled pizza and one strawberry shortcake type dessert pizza.   I definitely feel like I have a food baby in my stomach right now, but it was all worth it.  Great way to end the weekend and I think we are going to try and go out as a group every couple of weeks or so.

roommates

Week 3 of 12

It's been awhile, but school has taken over and there just hasn't been enough time to sit down to share my experiences.  Since last week, I've been busy trying to write essays and solve electrical circuits.  The essay is on tissue engineering of the ACL, which is completely intriguing and I would spend all my time on it if I could.  Unfortunately, that's not the case; I also have lectures to attend and review (the review takes so much longer...a two-hour lecture requires about four or five hours of review), labs to get through (fake it till you make it), and readings to complete.  Not to mention the other papers that I've been assigned that are due in the weeks to come.  On the plus side, besides the electrical circuits I'm enjoying my studies and I'm almost through week three, which means a quarter of the way done with the semester already!

In other news, I received a birthday card from my grandparents and another package from my parents.  It's always so exciting to get these things!!  I can't tell you how much I love seeing something with my name on it that's not a bill.  So thank you so much for making my day  :)  My parents sent along some new sheets for my bed (since I moved I got a bigger bed and had to make something up as I went along, but now I'm fully equipped...awesome!), a sweater, and a dress.  I have yet to try everything on but I will in the morning and will report sometime after that.

I've also decided to start keeping a list of things that I'm excited to get when I get home (you'll see that there is a theme to the list...food).  For some reason many things have been popping into my head lately and I feel that it's time to start writing them down, otherwise I'm likely to forget.  In no particular order:

1.  La Placita - Mexican restaurant...they are seriously lacking in that cuisine over here.  All I want is a good burrito!  I'll even settle for Chipotle (for the record, I love Chipotle, but it doesn't hold a candle to the hole-in-the-wall La Placita).
2.  Verde Tea Cafe - BOBA
3.  Bananas - With the floods to Queensland came a wipeout of the country's banana stock, so needless to say there aren't many bananas in the store and what they have is really, really expensive.
4.  Fro-yo
5.  Mom's Lasagne

There will be more as the days go on.  I think that's a pretty good start for right now.  Tonight I'll dream about my burrito and know that soon enough my dreams will become a reality.  I'm so excited because I received email confirmation that my parents have booked their flights to come out here at the end of the year.  The countdown to December 15th starts now!!

August Birthday?!

Who doesn't love having a birthday?  I mean, what's better than having a day to celebrate you and your presence here on Earth?  I would say nothing, but I have discovered that there is just one thing...and that's extending your birthday for as long as possible.

Today I went to the post office to pick up a birthday package from my parents.  Because I was traveling when my actual birthday came around at the end of June, I wasn't able to receive it then.  But you know what, it's really fun to have something to open a month later.  And boy did I make out well this year  :)

shoes, shorts, top, socks, laces, headbands, and a scarf  :D

Somehow my parents always know what I want/need, even when I don't.  There was a definite theme to the gift this year, and I couldn't be happier.  New running apparel...which I'm really looking forward to testing out (I tried everything on, but tomorrow I'll hit the gym).  I've been looking for new running shoes because the awesome ones I have now have just been run into the ground and need to be retired.  These new ones are perfect, and I have to say that I also love the color scheme  :D

With all of these new clothes, I could run a marathon.  Thanks mom and dad for sending the package all this way.  It's always fun to get mail, and this was a real treat.  I love you so much and again, all I can say is thank you, thank you, thank you!!  You guys are the best!