The Rationalization of My Consumption of the Best Chicago Deep Dish Pizza

I love Lou Malnati's pizza. In a very sensual and unhealthy way. Deep dish cheese, well done. Introduced to me by a pretty swell guy I used to kick it with. Back in the day there were times that I would eat it at least once a week. Real good for the ass and thigh area.

It's been months since I've had it as I've been trying to eat better. Although I miss it and often dream about it, I'm surviving. Problem is, I'm PMSing and my friend has a gift certificate for Lou's. And I'm invited. As if the temptation of the free Lou's wasn't enough, I can further rationalize Lou's at the onslaught of my monthly visitor. I figure, if I have to feel this bloated and crappy I should at least get pizza for my troubles. It's this thing that god owes me so he secretly erases the calories and extra cellulite dimple on my thigh that the pizza would have caused. I didn't go to years of catholic school for nothing.

Just Add Liquor and Jamiroquai's "Canned Heat"

In case you want to know how I'll be occupying my time for the next, oh I don't know, say, month:

http://albinoblacksheep.com/flash/napoleon

No dance floor is safe.

traveling as fast in one direction as she can go before she has second thoughts & goes back to doing the same old stuff

I made an executive decision to stop entertaining the 8734 different ideas regarding what I want to do with my life and just take the next step for the love of god already. It came down to deciding between seeing where my current career in clinical research (which I do love) takes me, or go to Pharmacy School.

Two weeks ago they finally hired some people to join me, the Lone Ranger of the Cardiovascular Clinical Trials Unit. Fab. All the work I've done the past few months will actually come to fruition. Amanda is totally psyched. Now I'd have the missing pieces of the puzzle to get this bitch up and running smoothly. Last Monday morning I meet the new hires. 3 new shining faces. They were personable. Funny, even. It went swimmingly until I was told who would be assuming what roles. I'll spare you the details, but bottom line, I'd basically be the bottom rung on the clinical trials unit ladder. The measly coordinator. After all the work that I've done for these people--establishing, COMPLETELY ON MY OWN, an actual semblance of a clinical research unit from the mess they had here when I arrived, they go and hire in a web of people over me. Managers, administrators, etc. Even after I assumed roles and responsibilities completely out of the scope of the position I was hired for. How naïve to think all that I was doing would get me anywhere. Ugh. It became glaringly obvious that there won't be much opportunity for vertical movement in this place anytime soon, so school it is. In the 4 years it will take me to get through school, lord knows where I'd be in this career anyway and I certainly won't be making close to 6 digits like I will as a PharmD. Show me the money. And fabulous career.

So, for the past week I have been diligently slaving away on applications, transcript requests, signing up for exams and prerequisite classes. I've been a busy busy girl. And I'm pumped. I'm applying to 2 places here in Chicago, one in Michigan and one in Ohio. The exam (PCAT) is in October. Basically, I'll own it.

Come August of next year, I'll be onto something completely new. sweetness. And get a reprieve from the 8-5 grind for 4 whole delicious years, complete with summers off. double, triple, and even quadruple sweetness. The icing on the cake? I'll be a glorified drug dealer for the rest of my life. Hood dreams can come true.

laughing out loud at work.

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whoa.

I was in Louisville this past weekend and spent some quality time with my best friend from high school, Gretchen. She and her husband recently moved into their first home, and let me tell you, this girl has the best interior decorating taste that side of the mason dixon. wow. I took notes.

G and I spent the evening drinking frozen margaritas on her all-too-cute front porch and laughing our asses off for hours. And good lord I needed it. During the course of the evening she tells me that they are trying to have a baby. Hmph. Let's see...she's been married for 2 years, just bought a home and is trying to have a baby. A baby?!?! I cannot relate one iota. I have trouble remembering to water the one plant I own for god's sake.

Next Stop: Betty Ford

Kids, I'm pretty certain that I am starting to develop a little bit of what some people might call a "drinking problem." Now, everybody who's anybody that knows me, knows that I love me some jager bombs. And by "some" I mean at least 4 to 5 per night out at the bars. I love them. Love. Last night, I was out with some friends for a leisurely Thursday grub and drink session at the Schoolyard Tavern. Keep in mind that on the way to the bar, I announced that I wasn't going to have a crazy night and would probably call it an early evening. Mistake #1. Whilst enjoying game 7 of the NBA finals, we dined on some tasty apps and had a few beers. Innocent enough. Come 11ish, we are finished and the check comes. For the normal person, this would signal the end of a perfectly enjoyable evening. No. I suddenly had one of my world famous "No Filter Between Brain and Mouth" utterances. And I, for no good reason whatsoever, announce that we all need to do a jager bomb. Why? Just because. So, 3 jager bombs and 3 beers post initial check delivery, we all headed home around 2. I am a drinking force to be reckoned with. Check me in, baby.

Tongue-Tied

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8317484/

He dropped the sharp weapon used to kill things in order to rip out the animal's tongue with his bare hands. What?!?! And now he's a hero? Sounds like a total dumbass to me.

ugh.

I just ate (correction: inhaled) an asiago jalepeno bagel from Au Bon Pain so fast I don't think I actually ever saw it in my hand.

Successfully Dodging Maturity

My mother has always said that I was born an "old soul" in that I've always acted much older than my biological age. I was the girl in high school who never really drank so that I could be in control enough to take care of my ridiculously annoying drunk teenie-bopper friends (including the ones pretending to be really drunk in a desperate attempt to look cool). I've never "dated around" or dated multiple guys at one time or had a bunch of random hook-ups...it's been one seemingly steady relationship after another. I'm an exhaustive planner and want to have not only this weekend, but my entire life nicely laid out before me. wow, I sound like a barrel of fun. But there is one area that the maturity has yet to reach: my twisted and perverted mind. I can turn essentially anything anyone says into something dirty. It's a gift, really.

Today I am attending, along with my other colleagues, a conference for the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group. If you've never been blessed enough to attend such things, they are basically 3 days of doctors, scientists, nurses, and research coordinators sitting around and talking about the mundane intricacies of clinical trials. In this morning's session, as I am sitting next to the head of the Thoracic Surgery department, the speaker began discussing the different dosages of medicine given to subjects on a particular trial. Apparently, when you are giving someone the maximum dose of a medicine by mouth, it is referred to as the "oral load." The first time the guy said it, my eyes grew to the size of baseballs. I scanned the room to see if anyone else was, like me, uncomfortable with this term and attempting to hold in a huge guffaw. No one twitched. No one even noticed. Then he proceeded to say it an innumerable amount of times in the next 15 minutes. By "oral load" #27, I was pursing my lips together and squirming in my chair. People in the audience started asking questions about the "oral load" and bringing up pertinent points related to the "oral load." I was dying. Apparently I am not ready for the professional world. And I hope I never will be.

For Chipotle Fans Only

Please click the link to the right for my Lost-obsessed friend's blog. Check out his post from June 14th. A man after my own heart (well, stomach).

Just One More Reason to Dislike the State of Indiana

If it's any indication of the richly bizarre bachelorette party weekend that I just had, at one point I was hit on by former IU basketball player, Tom Coverdale. I can still taste the puke in my mouth a little. More to come...

Jagged Little Pill

Does it freak anyone else that it's been 10 YEARS since Alanis Morissette's "Jagged Little Pill" came out?!?!?! It's making me feel old. Anyway, she released an acoustic version of the album to commemorate the 10 year anniversary and it's awesome. Go get it. Now.

Kids, don't try multiple beers, sangria, bottles of wine, bread, salad, meat, potatoes, and flan at home. This is what happens.

Can't. Talk. Baby. Too. Cute.

This is my roommate's nephew, Gavin. While Jen has sent me hundreds of pictures of the little man, this one literally caused a physical reaction to his cuteness. I mean, I can't take it.



(please note his perfectly yummy hands tucked under his little face. sweet jesus.)

Oh, Weddings...

I've been at work since 6:30 this morning. I'm thisclose to losing my mind, so I decided to take my lunch hour and post. Lucky, lucky you.

As many of you know, I have 5 weddings this summer. 5. Two down and three to go. The first was last month.


This is one of my best friends in this world, Katie, who married a nice young chap, Brian. They met at Starbucks while she was living out her dream in San Diego, CA. Girls, this guy is the real deal. He's just the nicest, funniest, most considerate person that has walked this earth. I couldn't ask for a better person for my best friend to spend the rest of her life with (awwww. barf.). Fate brought Katie and I together on the 5th floor of Marycrest sophomore year when the friend I was supposed to room with (who, inconsequently, is getting married next month, for whose wedding my bridesmaids dress was stolen) decided at the last moment to transfer. Katie had been planning on transferring, but at the last minute decided to stay. Bam. There we were. The wedding was in San Jose, CA, and was glorious. I went out there with 3 of her friends from high school and had a blast. The reception just happened to be held at a movie-esque multi-million dollar home. Basically, we all spent the entire reception crying over the life that we will never have.


This is my old college roomie from senior year, Meghan, who got married last weekend to Jeremy (another one of The World's Best Men Ever) in the beauty and majesty that is Evansville, IN. Meghan and I were the same major and knew each other all throughout college. With the world being as small as it is, Meg and Katie are both from Evansville (it's breathtaking, really) and have known each other since kindergarten. They share the same good friends from high school so I was able to spend 2 full weekends in less than one month with the same ridiculously crazy and fun girls. I realized while looking through the pictures that we took the same photo combos at each reception. Behold:

Nat and Katie M. (my partners in crime):


Katie's Wedding


Meghan's Wedding

Me and Nat:


Katie's Wedding


Meghan's Wedding

Me and Katie:


Katie's Wedding


Meghan's Wedding


There are MANY other examples, but I will spare you our ridiculousness. Here are some random pics just for fun:


It's the Party People. We were already about 3 drinks in at this point and the wedding party was yet to arrive. Just an FYI, Meghan's wedding featured an open bar complete with top shelf liquor from 8pm-2:30am. Holy crap, I'm not kidding. That must be what the "richies" do.


Brian, trying desperately to be cool, and Natalie clearly not caring.


This is a couple we were blessed to have seated at our table. They are from Chicago and getting married in Texas in September. Luckily they blended in with us perfectly in that they were hilarious and drank like fish. The guy, Joe, and I did Napoleon Dynamite's dance together. In front of everyone. Twice.


This would be Katie M. dancing with the other person seated at our table. His name is Mike (aka The White Jamie Foxx). She called him Matt all night and he finally corrected her as we were all leaving. I've never laughed so hard in my life. Apparently Meghan and Jeremy purposely sat him at our table in the hopes that he and I would hook up (obviously because he was hilarious and witty and from Chicago). People really do that?!?! I wasn't interested (I'm such a snob) so I let Katie have him. I don't do short blondes anyway...

A Letter to the Park Personnel of West Lakeview

To Whom It May Concern,

I'm writing on behalf of something quite disturbing my friend, Melissa, and I ran across last week in your area. I'll admit, at first we laughed hysterically. Then we just stood there in complete disbelief. The longer we stood and pondered, the more frightened we became. There were no signs offering any explanation. Nothing. Is it art? Is it a belated easter construction site? I have included photos of the scene in question:





If someone in your office would be so kind as to provide the reasoning that these demonic things exist, I will be able to sleep soundly once again.


Sincerely,

Completely Creeped Out

Let It Rain...

I'm going to sound shallow and uncultured, but things like this make me even happier to reside in the great ol' U S of A:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8113753/

They actually put red wedding clothes on the damn things and chanted and blew conches. I know it's tradition/religion/whatnot and I hope to god (or whomever or whatever) that it rains for these people pronto, but come on.

Pondering...

I've developed a borderline severe intolerance to lactose. To the point that I can only handle small amounts of cold skim milk, so I made the logical switch to soy milk. Soy milk is made, naturally, from soy beans, contains no dairy, thus in and of itself is lactose free. Now, last night while picking up my carton of soy milk, I notice that there is such thing as "Lactose Free" milk. Hold up. Isn't milk and all dairy sort of defined by the fact that it contains lactose? If you get lactose free milk, is it still "milk"? Yes, these are things that I think about. Frightening, isn't it?

Addict.

Yesterday I accidentally left my ipod at home. I was miserable. The walk to work, sitting at work, the walk home, everything. Horrible. So this morning I make sure to grab it. 2 houses down the street I have the earphones in and press play. Coming in midway through Gavin DeGraw's "FollowThrough," my eyes rolled back in my head and the lids half-closed with pleasure. I am completely addicted to music playing at all times possible. I mean, I had a mini-O for god's sake.

Sidenote, I get to work this morning and the internet is not working. I was in a complete panic. Double clicking that damn Internet Explorer icon at least 7564 times in the span of 45 minutes. Alas, the world wide web finally returned to me so all is right with the world.

Blog Vent Session #1 (Real Life Vent Session #9,834,999)

Ok, I'm freaking out. I've done this every few months for the past 6 or so years, so you'd think I'd be over it or at least used to it by now. Um, no. I get to this point where I feel like I have to have my life figured out right now. Right this instant. I don't know if it's the spring/summer weather gently coaxing ALL of the couples out onto the streets, holding hands and staring longingly at one another or the 47 weddings that are occurring this summer or the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing with my life or the fact that I'm just bored at work.

It starts out with me merely thinking of things I'd like to do with my life. That gets the wheels in my brain turning, I start thinking more, I start over-analyzing, and soon I'm whipped up into a complete frenzy of uncertainty and impending doom. Am I happy "enough" in my current job to continue on this career path? Do I finally buckle down and go back to school? If I stop working and go back to school full time, will I regret it? If I stay in the job and don't go back to school, will I regret it? Can I give up the free evenings filled with doing whatever the hell I want for nights of hitting the books? One second I'm elated that I'm not dealing with relationship crap and free to do whatever with whomever (not like that ever happens anyway), and the next I'm in a complete emotional upheaval over finding that one stupid true love I'm supposed to have that a handful of my friends have so easily found. And are now marrying. Just like that.

Then I get on the train and I am bombarded with girls, all my age, with ginormous engagement rings. Naturally, I assume that with that giant rock comes this perfect life and perfect love and I'm left hanging my head in failure, staring at the toe ring my mom bought me and thinking that it'll just have to do. Things only get worse as I'm walking around my hood where I'm surrounded by cute young couples holding hands walking out of their recently purchased brand new condos and the chick has, along with ring finger bling blinding me from across the street, a perfect little basketball belly declaring the upcoming birth of yet more perfectness. Wow. Stopping brain.

After all of this ranting, I feel it is important to note that I'm ridiculously happy with my life right now. My apartment is my new best friend, all of my friends are amazing, and I'm honestly having the best time of my life in the greatest city. I'm at peace with the fact that I'm in the right place doing the right thing at the right time, and all of that crap. Every once in a while I just need to freak out a little and maybe even get a touch overdramatic.