A limerick for a tooth

There once was a tooth that was broken
That required fixing worth more than a token (expensive!)
Trouble it keeps giving
Painful too for living
Darn tooth keeps me stoking (frustrated!)

Okay so a bad limerick but at least I can be humorous about it? Stupid tooth that I injured a few years ago just doesn't quit giving me trouble. I've had it repaired three times! And it's a front tooth so it's not as easy as slapping a crown on it. Sigh.

Crash Hot Potatoes

Made this as a quick Thanksgiving side dish. It looks simple (and it is) but you can't stop eating it.

Modified from the Pioneer Woman's recipe.

Crash Hot Potatoes

Ingredients:
- several boiling potatoes (I used the kind with red skin about the size of my fist and cut them in half)
- salt and pepper
- chives, rosemary, or herbs of your choice
- olive oil

1. Boil potatoes in salted water until fork tender
2. Place potatoes on baking dish and using potato mashed or bottom of glass, smash potato
3. Drizzle or paint with olive oil
4. Sprinkle with salt, pepper and herbs to taste
5. Pop onto top rack of oven set at 400 F
6. Bake about 10-15 minutes or until tops of potatoes look crispy and slightly browned
7. Serve hot

Handwritten letters - old fashioned?

Am I the only one who likes to write and receive an old-fashioned letter? This time of year, I sit down and write out holiday cards. I treat it like a business, spreadsheet and all, so I don't miss anyone. It takes a good 5-6 hours. I'll admit, I don't always love it 100% of the time, but I feel it's important to thank and remember those who have been important to me.  A hand-written notes takes time, effort, and thought, I hope that it sends a message that I care and value those people who receive my letters. Typed letters, or god forbid, e-cards are just not the same. But maybe I'm old-fashioned.

In this vein, I'm sad that USPS is in financial straights. They need to redefine their mission somehow and adapt to this world of electronic communication. I've got no good ideas, for what does the postal service do except ensure that we receive paper communication?

Memories past

I am home for the holidays. Yesterday, I visited my high school, after several years of not setting foot inside.  What a walk down memory lane.

A few things struck me:
1. Why do all my teachers look exactly the same? High school must be some sort of time warp where the youth and vigor from all its perky (or surly) teens infuses into its older inhabitants.
2. High schoolers? They look like babies. How did I even feed myself at age?
3. My English teacher, Mrs. G, still has an uncanny ability to stare straight into your soul. And she has those large batwing classes too. She is a living Sybill Trewlawny (from Harry Potter).

I am very lucky to have spent my formative teenage years at this place, where the teachers are dedicated, encouraging, and invested in what they do. So thanks Mr. and Mrs. B, Mrs. C, Mrs. G! You were and are amazing!

Medical poetry

One of the prize winning poems Yale's medical student poetry competition.  I am so glad they are promoting the medical humanities.

Aphasia

By Noah Capurso

We are taught that the brain
Is a set of highways;
Corpus callosum,
Spinothalamic,
Optic radiation.

But there are other roads, as well.
Scenic neural backroads
That are hidden from view;
Dusty and seldom used.

Sometimes we can see them
When the highways are down;
From cancer,
Surgery,
Or a stroke.

Our patient had a brain tumor.
We tested her highways
With a feather drawing;
“What is this?” we asked her.

And the answer she gave
Came by the scenic route;
“A leaf
That fell
From a bird.”

Salty Chocolate Nutella Thumbprints

Salty Nutella Thumbprint Cookies

I made these in our kitchen last week. In the course of wielding the hand mixer, forming the balls, and spooning the Nutella, I involved (unintentionally) no fewer than half a dozen hallmates. Everyone loves cookie-making, apparently!  Thus, I have no pretty picture of these cookies arranged on a plate, because they were gone before I could get to it.

These cookies, from this year's Washington Post Holiday Guide, are definitely a crowd pleaser. Who doesn't like soft, chewy, chocolate cookies with Nutella? The only change I made to the recipe was reducing the salt to 1 teaspoon and reducing the sugar to about 1 cup.  They were plenty sweet enough and you could definitely appreciate the salty undertones.

From the Washington Post: 

Salty Nutella Thumbprint Cookies

These salty, sweet cookies are a go-to party recipe for Jenna Huntsberger and Stephanie Willis of Whisked! Guests find the Nutella centers irresistible. To get the butter to the right consistency, Huntsberger leaves it on the counter the night before she makes these cookies.

MAKE AHEAD: Unbaked, scooped cookies stored in an airtight container will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator or 1 month in the freezer. Baked and filled cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Makes 30 to 35 cookies

Ingredients:

• 2 cups (10 ounces) flour
• 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon (3.2 ounces) natural unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt (reduced to 1 teaspoon)
• 16 tablespoons (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at a very soft room temperature (see headnote)
• 1 1/3 cups (9.3 ounces) sugar (reduced to 1 cup), plus 1 cup for finishing the cookies (you need less than 1 cup)
• 2 large egg yolks, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup Nutella (chocolate hazelnut spread)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or a silicone liner.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder and salt in a small bowl.

Combine the butter and 1 1/3 cups of sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer or hand-held electric mixer. Beat for about 2 minutes on low speed, until fluffy, then add the egg yolks, cream and vanilla extract; beat on low speed until combined. Add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated.

Place the remaining cup of sugar in a shallow bowl.

Scoop 30 to 35 heaping tablespoons of dough onto the baking sheets. Shape each mound of dough into a ball, then roll it in the remaining sugar to coat evenly. Space the balls 2 inches apart on the baking sheets, then use your thumb to make an indentation in the top of each cookie, gently flattening the cookies a bit as you work.

Bake one sheet at a time for 10 minutes or until the edges are just set; the tops of the cookies will be soft. (If the indentations have lost definition, press the centers again immediately after you remove the cookies from the oven.) Transfer the baking sheet to a wire rack to cool. 

Pipe or spoon the Nutella into the center of each cookie while the cookies are still slightly warm. 

Serve or store once the Nutella centers have slightly set.

Christmas flowers

My favorite this time of year.

Beautiful music

You know the kind of music that gives you chills?

I said I was really getting into the holiday spirit this year. Last week, I attended holiday parties 3 days in a row - yikes - and participated in a Messiah sing-along. This piece is one of my favorite songs from the Messiah. Something about the way the notes travel down in the "unto us a son given" part just sends chills down my spine. Plus, the Mormon Tabernacle is just a gorgeous choir.  Regardless of religion or faith, as a musician, I can appreciate the beauty in this music.

The daily 3

Happy/grateful about:

- my beautiful Poinsetta plant

- Trader Joe's - delicious mushroom risotto

- voucher service

Flash mob

I'm so getting into the holiday spirit this year.  Check out the video above.  This type of thing always makes me smile.

I ran into the Dean of Student Affairs at a holiday event the other day and somehow, the conversation turned to flash mobs. I suggested that the medical school needed its own flash mob and without a moment's hesitation, she agreed with enthusiasm.  A few seconds later, she grinned and said, "But don't tell anyone I encouraged it." Someday... :)

The Daily 3

3 things that made me happy/grateful today:

- attending a Messiah sing along. Hallelujah...hallelujah!

- meeting new and interesting people

- holiday dinner party

The daily 3

3 things that made me happy/grateful today:

- getting along with the technician I work with. Heck, having a technician to help with my experiments

- having a supportive RF that emails me out of the blue with a kind note

- appreciating the taste of coffee. Didn't used to pre third year. Now I do. It's so good.

How are you so wise?

From: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/06/4101603/carolyn-hax-mom-fears-her-high.html#mi_rss=Carolyn%20Hax

See below.  So wise.  I love Carolyn Hax.

DEAR CAROLYN: My daughter is 21 and finishing her senior year in college. She's been dating a man she met in school for nearly two years. They are talking about getting engaged soon. My daughter has shared a lot of thoughts and feelings with me, and I have been supportive of this relationship … until a couple of weeks ago. We visited them for three days and I began to not feel so good about it. It seems he is waiting to get serious about a job search until he knows where she will go to graduate school. It also seems she is putting more effort into applying to graduate schools in the geographic area he can most easily get a job rather than schools with better programs to help her career. I am concerned that "love goggles" are causing her to sell herself short. Also, she is athletic and active; he is slow and sluggish. He was with us for every meal, every activity, every day … and seemed too comfortable allowing us to pay his way for all of it.
Perhaps I'm too picky, but I think that's a character indicator. I wish they would postpone engagement until they are started on their postgraduate lives. She can discern if this is the man she wants to marry after she gets a glimpse of how he does in the real world. It is easier to break up a dating relationship than an engagement – and she may be more apt to choose the best graduate program for herself rather than one that will best serve the relationship. My dilemma is what (if anything) to say.

– Worried Mom
DEAR MOM: Nothing. The less you say, the more credibility you have when you say something – and you'll want that credibility when you have bigger things to say than, "He's sluggish" and, "He might cost you a chance at a more impressive graduate school."

As for letting you pay, don't judge: Broke college guys meeting their girlfriend's parents can be very compliant.

I'll scooch out on a limb and venture that you raised your daughter with great care and take pride in what both you and she have achieved. And, accordingly, you have the odd misfortune of having ambitious dreams for your child that hover within reach.

That's a setup that makes a perfectly decent guy, as this one appears to be, seem like a crisis. But unless he has a major untreated illness or addiction, or is cruel to your daughter, or reckless with her safety, money or feelings – or prompts her to behave badly – your daughter can manage it.

And that means getting involved would be a no-confidence vote in this accomplished young adult you raised. You have far more to lose from that than you do from having a possibly complacent man in your daughter's life … one she may well have chosen as relief from high expectations.

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/06/4101603/carolyn-hax-mom-fears-her-high.html#ixzz1fosWuRcS

Ethiopian food, music concert

Lots of new experiences last night.  For one, I had Ethiopian food for the first time.   We ordered a beef stew-like dish and a vegetable sampler that contained spinach, collard greens, and red lentils.  Perhaps not my favorite cuisine but the food was definitely very flavorful. The injeera (sp?)...well, let's just say I like naan better.  Nonetheless we all had a fun time and appreciated the experience.

The night was followed by a wonderful concert - selections from Bach and Brahms.  I am incredibly lucky to live in a city so rich in the performing arts - and all for free/discounted prices for students.  I cannot wait to attend the next one.  And if I am able to get tickets, then I may participate in a Messiah sing-along concert in a few weeks. The holiday season is off to a good start this year. 

Squirrel!

Is this little guy (gal?) cute or what? Actually, he was kind of aggressive and approached me as I bent down with my camera. Nevertheless it makes for a happy photographer when her subject so willingly poses for the camera.

Oops!

Labmate (out of the blue): tomorrow we are having the ultrasound

Me (absentmindedly): oh great. You mean you are ultrasounding the mouse tumors

Labmate: no! My wife is getting her ultrasound of the baby!

Me (with sudden realization and turning red): right...she's pregnant! This is your prenatal ultrasound!

Labmate (teasingly): yeah not everything is about mice