Caffeine and Running, NYC here I come!

I drank my first cup of coffee in 2 months yesterday around 3pm.  I didn't fall asleep until after 3:30am this morning.  I am profoundly affected by caffeine- always have been, and I know this... but I was SO wired yesterday.  It got me wondering about the half life of caffeine (how long it takes for half of the substance to be metabolized in the body).   The only information I have in my books relates to cats and dogs, so I referred to the almighty WebMD.  Apparently, plasma levels of caffeine can be detected as little as 5 minutes after ingestion (via gut absorption), with an average half life of 5-8 hours in an adult.  Of course there is significant variation from person to person, but  I must be one of those who is very sensitive to the effects of caffeine with an inability to clear it quickly so it affects me longer... this might explain why I was still hyped up 12 hours after I drank my iced vanilla coffee.  geez.  

I love the running application on my phone that tells me  how far I've gone, how fast I've run, how long I've run etc.   It also lets me view my route on Google Earth.  This is a normal route for me... out around the hospital... but of course my route doesn't get any longer.  So you can see that I have to weave in and out of the neighborhoods and parking lots in order to add distance to my run.   :)  I tried to spell my name by running in circles of letters in the parking lot (hoping it would show up on the satellite), but unfortunately it didn't work. So I looked like a doof in the parking lot for no good reason!

On Saturday, I will be heading to The Animal Medical Center in New York City,  and I'm very excited about it.  I'll be externing on a soft tissue surgery rotation for two weeks.  This is a very large hospital and I'm excited about all that I will see - common or rare.  About this time of year, when the air is starting to feel nice outside all the New Yorkers begin to open up their windows.  This is not so good for some of the kitty cats up there, because they end up falling out of the window!  This happens so much, there is actually a name for it "high rise syndrome"!  The cats present with a separated mandibular symphasis and pneumothorax.  This is one of the reasons I chose May as my month to extern.  Those poor kittys.  There was actually a study done a number of years ago to determine what floor the feline fell from based upon it's injury.  Apparently it became very predictable.  One cat was an exception however.  The cat came in without a single injury, not even a broken bone. A lady found the cat on the sidewalk and rushed it in.  "This cat most likely fell from the 2nd floor," every veterinarian said.  So the doctors scanned the cat for a microchip to retreive the contact information for the owner and gave her a call.  She had seen the cat fall from the window, but just hadn't made it down from her apartment on the 63rd (!) floor before the other woman picked the cat up!  Oh my goodness!!  I will pray for all the cats of the city!!

and now. Just since we're talking about cats.  Here is my chit chat kit cat when she was just a few months old hanging out in Suzanne's lap as well as a current picture.  

she's sticking her tongue out at me!!!

Harmon Harmony

That is the new nickname that I have applied to Julie and Adam's marriage. It goes right in sync with all the last name alliteration we've got going on... Medlock Madness/ O'Neal Oasis... haha!

So Julie and Adam have been married for two years as of April 14, 2009. It was a warmer day in '09 than it was in '07! It sure was cold, but it sure was beautiful. They got married and held the reception at Marlsgate Plantation in Scott, Arkansas. That little man who runs it all is so funny, but he did such a good job. What's his name, Julie? Dave? Julie's hometown preacher came down to do the honors which was very special. I was happy to stand by her side as a bridesmaid along with Shelly, Christina, and Mary Katherine. Now if only Sue Anne could fit in there somewhere.... :) haha!! Below are some (I use the word "some" loosely...) of my favorite shots from her bridals! Let me refer you to facebook for the ginormous library of pictures from her actual wedding day.

Photojournalism by Bell Art Photo

A wonderful Homecoming

Josh and I made a trip back to Arkansas this past weekend. It was our first trip since Christmas. The trips seem to be getting farther and farther apart, but I suppose school is to thank for that. We were headed back for a few reasons, the main one being the wedding of Josh's good friend Joe Emmanuel to a sweet gal named Beth. It was a very nice outdoor ceremony at St. Catherine's Bell Gable. Luckily the rain stopped just in time for the ceremony but picked back up when the reception began. Joe is a huge Dallas Mavs fan and was able to get the announcer of the basketball starting line ups to record an announcement to introduce "the starting line up for the Emmanuel Wedding Partyyyyyyy" as if we were at a game. It was very neat... I know Josh was thinking we should have done something like that!!

Josh and I pre-wedding

the whole crew in a row


I tried to sneak a pic of us. oh... I got straight bangs...

the beautiful church. It's the same place Amanda had her bridals made.

Josh with Joe (groom) and Zach (groomsman)

dancing in the lobby, waiting for the rain to die down so we can head to Dickson. The reception was at UARK bowl so we were in a prime spot for Dickson fun. Too bad the rain didn't stop. I had to use Josh's suit coat to cover up with, and trekked through inches deep puddles in my inches high heels. :) smiling all the way

no, he didn't catch the bouquet! but he did find the flowers sitting on a bench on our walk back to the car (check out Josh's rain-spotted shirt). We scooped em right up, and I put them in water and they smelled delicous all the next day!!

The night before the wedding I spent some time with my girlfriends down in Fayetteville. It's so nice to be back with them... I miss them so much down here in Louisiana. Of course, I have a good set of friends down here, but its just a whole different kind of fun when I get back with my ZTA sistas :) If anyone has pictures from that night, PLEASE email me!! I didn't take ANY with my camera cause I thought I'd just snag yours. Please share!!

I got to see Matt while I was out.

Also, Good news in the Harmon House!!! Julie and Adam are having a GIRL!!! They have decided on the name Mollie Anne. I think that is such a cute name and I can't wait to meet her. Everyone please cross your fingers that I will be able to come back to AR when Mollie is born. I'm really worried that I'll be stuck on Equine and won't be able to get away. It was only 2 years ago that Julie and Adam got married!! Now they are going to have a little Harmon! I can't believe it. Since they just celebrated their anniversary I think I will do a Harmon Harmony post soon.... I'm such a wedding nerd!!

Weekend Trips

The past few weekends have been so busy, but they have also been SO fun! I can't begin to describe how amazing life has become now that I am in clinics. I still have to study (some) in order to be prepared for rounds and also not to look like an idiot in front of the clinicians, but for the most part...the nights are mine and the weekends are mine! (as long as I don't have a patient in the hostpital or I'm not on call or working an emergency shift). So the last 4 weekends have been jam packed with fun things and fun people.

Saturday, March 7th: Baton Rouge Race for the Cure

The Race for the Cure has always been special to me since my Granny was diagnosed with breast cancer. I've run this race every year since 1997 (excluding 2008.... 2nd year got in the way)

about to cross the finish line, my sweet hubby was there at the end to cheer me on!

a few of the 3rd year vet students after the race

Josh found me a pink pom pom! He knew it would make me happy! I wore my pink razorback hat... gotta represent :)

Friday, March 13: Paige comes to BR!!

My sister in law came to visit us and we had a fun weekend. She flew in Friday afternoon in time to make it for the vet school kickball tournament. I gave her a tour of the vet school which ended in a tour of the anatomy lab where the super strong formaldehyde made our eyes burn so bad that we cried! We left there to have dinner at Walk-Ons. We shopped a bit Saturday morning and headed to NO on Sunday afternoon.

Paige and I at Tsunami on Saturday night, a yummy sushi restaurant!

We ate at Landry's in New Orleans.

and of course we had some beignets!

Saturday, March 21: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas

My Uncle Mike has been battling a rare blood disease called myelofibrosis for the last couple of years. In just the last few months he has also developed acute myloid leukemia. He has been at MDA for the last 60 days, on and off isolation and ICU and is really working hard to fight these diseases. He has been through a few rounds of chemo and is resting up before he starts the next round. We are all cheering him on, and we're praying for a full recovery. Any prayers you might toss up to God are greatly appreciated.

Josh and I stopped for a photo-op in by the pretty MDA fountains.

Since Mike is in isolation we have to suit up before we can enter his room.

Julie and Adam were our motivation to pick this weekend to visit mike. Julie is 15 weeks pregnant, and I had not gotten to hug her in person yet. It was a wonderful weekend catching up- we just hate that we had to do it at MDA :( Thank you Lynda for a wonderful dinner.

Saturday, March 28: Drago's Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar in New Orleans

My sorority sister and good friend, Sarah Eldridge, was headed to NO this weekend for a fundraising convention, so Josh and I made the trip to NO to have dinner with her. While waiting for our table we sat at the bar talking over a glass of wine. The place was packed but Sarah and I were lucky to have seats at the bar. When a seat opened up next to me, a man came up and asked if he could sit there. I smiled at him and said "let me see if my husband wants it" so I asked Josh and Josh said "no" so I told the man to go ahead and sit down. At this point Josh was thinking that this was Tony Parker (which is why Josh wanted him to sit!), but he was not 100% certain... so Josh began to ask where he was from and the guy said "San Antonio" then Josh asked his name and he said "Tony." This is def Tony Parker. I almost didn't let him sit next to me!! haha :) oops! We talked for a while. I asked if if Edie dies... he wouldn't tell me. I asked his fave wine... he said anything noir. I asked where Eva was... working/filming. He says they film about one month ahead. I asked how Eva stays wrinkle free... she has a bunch of creams. I almost asked if he would call her so I could say hello, but I thought that might be crossing the line....I asked the best pre-game meal... he eats whatever he wants. He ordered a virgin mojito. Then we had to leave because our table was ready. That was the quickest 45 min wait ever!

me and Tony Parker. I sympathized with him... I just hate going out and people asking to take pictures with me... haha

After dinner we went to Harrah's casino to try our hand at the penny slots. Sarah was pumped!

Me and Josh getting ready to lose 10 bucks. Had we known this we wouldn't be smiling...