There's been a lot going on these past few weeks and I've got the pictures to show it! Go ahead, give 'em a look see:

A few weeks ago, we spent a Friday night in a very heated beer pong tournament at the Delt Sig house. Even though I'd watched a million times, I'd never really played myself. Much to my surprise, I'm a dead ringer at beer pong! My depth perception is pretty darn good if I do say so myself. Holly was my partner and we were definitely the dark horse team of the night.







Although Josh and I don't usually do much for Valentine's Day, I received a special treat on my bathroom mirror from my honey and some gourmet chocolates. We also made our favorite pasta dinner together complete with sauteed portabellas, sundried tomatoes, asparagus, and fresh garlic. Did you notice the heart-shaped noodles? :)





Last week I presented my poster at the Dental School's annual Research Day. I spent last summer researching oral cancer cell signaling with a small research grant from the NIH and presented at Research Day as a requirement for the program. I've never presented a poster before and even though the preparations were exhausting, I think it went well and I'm happy with the results. My Daddy even managed to stop by for a few minutes to support me by listening to my experiment details and bringing me a Starbucks gift card!





Josh's 5-on-5 intramural basketball team went all the way to the finals for their division this weekend and got to play the championship game at Crisler Arena, the stadium for the U of M basketball team. I was there in a vain attempt to relive my cheerleading heydays and to snap some pics. Naturally, Josh's team claimed the game and the division title! (Josh is #45 at the far left of the action shot)





There's the short and sweet update! I'm 3 days away from spring break and couldn't be more ready for a vacay. I really wish I'd stop finding such wicked deals on tropical trips because it'd just be a shame to turn them down! This year, I'm heading back to Mexico to an all-inclusive resort highly recommended by my friend Christin in Puerto Vallarta (the resort is in Puerta Vallarta, not my friend Christin). I haven't thought about it much until very recently and now all I can think about is fun in the sun!

I think that's the dinner bell I hear ringing. I'm hoping to catch a free concert by the University Symphony Orchestra tonight at Hill Auditorium. I love that the School of Music has at least a dozen free performances every week...and that now I have the time to enjoy them!

xoxox

Hugs and kisses to all of you this day of love!

Happy Valentine's Day!

xoxox

Just the facts, ma'am.

I need a brief diversion from the tedium of group work, cancer research, and oral surgery. Here's a quick post as a stand-in for my "weekend in pictures" post I'd planned to write last night:

- Blogger just coerced me into switching to "New Blogger", whatever that is. I'd hoped that Blogger knew by now that I don't do well with change and that I need some time to do a cost-benefit analysis of switching. I am a Libra, after all.

- I'm on the biggest pineapple kick ever right now. Anyone who doesn't think this succulent fruit is Nature's candy is out of their gourd. I purchased 2 full cored pineapples last night and am already half-way through container number one despite serious protest from the large canker sore (or aphthous ulcer) I have on the inside of my lip (or labial mucosa).

- Tomorrow is my long-dreaded research poster presentation at the Dental School annual Research Day. Trying to get my poster put together last week was nothing short of a nightmare. I'm hoping tomorrow turns out a little better. My daddy might stop by so I can force at least one person to listen to my schpiel (sp?).

- Last Wednesday I bowled a 129 and a 119. Sure, my pin count from the first game was unmentionably horrible but I think I'm improving overall. Hopefully I'll post a pic soon with our kooky costume idea from last week that went awry.

- It's almost Valentine's Day. Naturally, I'll be spending the day of love cramming for my 2 exams, quiz, homework assignment, and presentation all on Thursday instead of spending time with my sweetie. It's almost as if I'm having an affair with dental school.

Ah, l'amour!

xoxox

Which do you want first?

Bad news
Today was the coldest day of the winter so far (the wind chill reached minus 18!). Shifting gears in my car this morning was like lifting weights and my nose hairs froze when I walked outside almost instantly. The next two days are supposed to get even colder...if that's possible. Brrr!

Good news
Everyone's favorite groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, did not see his shadow this past Friday thus predicting an early spring (only the 15th time in the past 112 predictions)! Sure, I think that yanking this poor creature out of a human-made stump and frightening him half to death in front of thousands of people at 7 am is a little exploitative. That's actually why I turned down the opportunity to see a real, live groundhog at the Ann Arbor District Library on Groundhog's Day and to join the Ann Arbor Chapter of the Punxsutawney Phil fanclub. Well, that and because I had class.

Bad news
I have two finals and a practical this week in addition to wrapping up my poster for Research Day. I'm not feeling so great about the practical and I opted to watch the Superbowl and eat junk food instead of starting studying for Biomaterials.

Good news
This week at bowling we face off against Dragonforce, a team of four of our buddies that should make for a fun match-up. There's been a whole lotta trash talkin' this past week so I'm getting pumped for Wednesday night. Also, I bowled a 132 last week, beating my previous personal best by one pin. I'm going for 140 this week...I just have to pace myself on the pitcher of cheap beer!

Bad news
I'm suddenly realizing that I don't really get a summer vacation any more. Sure, I have four weeks off scattered throughout the months of May, June, July, and August. But had I known that last summer was it, I would've worked less and pooled more.

Good news
It's gonna be a Harry Potter summer this year! Not only does the fifth Harry Potter movie (Order of the Phoenix) come out July 13th, the release date for the seventh and final book in the series (Deathly Hallows) was announced as being a week later on July 21st! Honestly, I'm so excited I literally squeal when I watch the movie trailer. I'm definitely going to one of the midnight book release parties and am serious about dressing up this year. I'm thinking Rita Skeeter. Any thoughts?

Bad news
Eating carb-smart when you're a vegetarian is hard. It's already taken an enormous amount of will power on my part to eat (and maybe enjoy...a little) whole wheat bread for my sandwiches but whole wheat tortillas?! Honestly, what do you expect from me, people?

Good news
I happened to stumble across a glorious vegan mock tuna salad sold by-the-pound in the deli case of Whole Foods last weekend. Many of you already know about my unusual and insatiable craving for tuna salad since becoming vegetarian and I must say that I got my fix. I had at least 5 "tuna salad" sandwiches this past week and plan on going back for more. I don't know how those miracle workers at Whole Foods made garbanzo beans and vegan mayo taste like tuna but rock on, Whole Foods chefs, rock on.

Mmmm, now I'm hungry. A tuna salad sandwich would be the perfect pre-bedtime snack but alas, I'm all out. Perhaps a banana will suffice. Have a great week!

xoxox

Superbowl Sunday Friday Fiver

1. American football: good times or couldn't care less?
I like watching college football but don't care much for the NFL. Perhaps being an obligatory Lions fan has made me jaded.

2. Do you have a favorite sports team?
Deeeeeeeetroit Baaaaaaasketbaaaaaall.

3. What's your favorite junk food?
Nachos, french fries, and mini bagel pizzas. Wow, I didn't even have to pause to cook up an answer to that question.

4. Are football players paid too much?
All professional sports players are paid too much. I think it's even more ridiculous how few professional American athletes donate any of their money (or time, for that matter!). For being some of the highest paid people in the country (let alone the world), the percentage pro athletes give to needy and important causes is small.

5. Who do you think will win this year's Superbowl?
Da Bears

Notable Quota-bowl

Can't chat -- I must get to bed very soon or else I won't be coherent for my 8 am Oral Surgery class tomorrow. I just wanted to post this exasperated, post-bowling quote from the usually-very-athletic Josh tonight:

" I don't mean to sound conceited or anything, but I'm not usually this bad at a sport. I mean, I'm really good at skee ball. And that's just like mini bowling. But up a mini hill."

Will post soon. Please send coffee. Preferably a new Starbucks cinnamon dulce latte (sugar free, of course!). Yum!

xoxox