Don’t call it a comeback.

Med school undeniably consumes 90% of my awake time (& also cuts into my sleep time at times but let’s stay positive!). With that leftover 10% I try to incorporate into my life plenty of mind-relaxing, enjoyable activity in hopes of staying sane. One activity that has accomplished this effect in the past is writing, specifically blogging.  I put it on the back-burner since starting medical school last August, but now that I’m more organized with my time, LET BRING IT BACK!

More on my “return” on a later post… right now I just want to dive right in!

Found this fun little ABC’s survey via Peanut Butter Fingers (pretty much my all-time fave blog).  Let’s get crackin’…

Janette’s ABCs

A.   Age: 23 (24 in 8 days!!! Old status reached.)

B.    Bed: Full.  Missing my queen bed back home – more room to sprawl out!

C.   Chore you hate: Cleaning. All kinds.  Period.

D.   Dogs: When I’m done w/ the whole becoming a doctor thang, I want a Giant German Shepherd, a Siberian Husky & Miniature Schnauzer! Love dogs!

Puppies = cutest things evah!

E.    Essential start to your day: Coffee. Or I’ll get headaches. And bite.

F.  Favorite color: Pink and blue.

G.  Gold or silver: Both… especially when combined!

Blame it on my indecisive nature.

H.  Height: 5’5 3/4 but I say 5’6.  Shhh, lets keep that our little secret!

I.   Instruments you play: Saxophone (back in the day, now it’s just collecting dust. )

J.   Job title: Student.  Overworked student.

Hands-on learner.

K.  Kids: None! But I’d like a boy & a girl.  And I want them to come out at the same time. I’m pleading praying for fraternal twins.

L.  Live: Hattiesburg, MS by way of Miami, FL.  (odd, right?)

M. Mom’s name: Clara

N.  Nicknames: J, Jan, JanJan, and uhh….Big Dawg. (love ya half pint!)

Big dawg & half pint! Aww memories!

O.  Overnight hospital stays: No, thank goodness.

P.  Pet peeve: Gossipy people, mean people and nosy people.

Q.  Quote from a movie: What do you want to be married to me for, anyhow?  So I can kiss you anytime I want.  ~ Young Melanie & Jake, Sweet Home Alabama.  Cutest line everrrr!

R.  Righty or Lefty: Righty but born a lefty.

S.   Siblings: None.

T.   Time you wake up: 6 am usually. I’m working on becoming a morning person.  I’m weird, I know.

U.   Underwear: None-ya business!

V.    Vegetables you dislike: I like ‘em all!

W.   What makes you run late: I suck at proportioning my time.  In my head I say it’s going to take me an hour 1 but really it will take me 30 mins to blow dry my hair, 10 minutes to pick out an outfit, 20 minutes to put on my make up and 15 minutes dilly-dallying around my apartment.

X.    X-rays you’ve had: Ankles for sure.  Not sure what else.

Y.    Yummy food you make: Any baked goods…especially if it’s loaded with chocolate chips!

Z.     Zoo animal favorite: Tiger. Definitely tiger.

Who can tell us about Gordon vs. Steele?

I am a week and a half into medical school.  I love it. It is SO much more interesting than undergrad!  However, this is how I’m feeling right about now…

(minus the mean professor & classmates – mine are great!)

BUT if Elle can do it, so can I!

*Yes, I just used Legally Blonde as a source for motivation. I love the character’s outlook on life, her can-do spirit & the fact that she’s a professional who values having sense of style. Don’t judge!*

White Coat Ceremony...post coating!

The parentals & me.

That's the dean - he's awesome!

Now back to business….

Whiskey for my men…

“…Beer for my horses.” ~ Toby Keith. Can’t say I agree with this song, but it was the first one that popped into my head while writing this post.  I personally prefer my men drinking beer…& my horses drinking whiskey? (A drunk horse, now THAT would be a great YouTube video!)

Drunk, me? Pshhh

Point of this post? Recently I came across a calorie list for popular beers, so I thought I’d share.  If you rather not know, stop reading now…

Amstel Light®: 95
Michelob Ultra®: 95
Natural Light®: 95
Miller Lite®: 96
Heineken Light®: 99
Coors Light®: 102
Corona Light®: 109
Bud Light®: 110
Sam Adams Light®: 119
Michelob Light®: 123
Stella Artois®: 135
Miller High Life®: 143
Budweiser®: 145
Corona Extra®: 148
Heineken®: 166
Samuel Adams Boston Lager®: 170
Blue Moon®: 171
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale®: 175
**per 12-ounce serving**

I’d drink any of these, calorie-wise (taste-wise, that’s another story).   I would make my decision according to what the beer was accompanied with.  Nothing? I’d probably go for the Blue Moon.  A salmon salad? A Stella.  Chicken wings? Michelob Ultra, or a comparable low-cal beer.  I personally wouldn’t add insult to injury with this last one, but sometimes you just gotta have a beer. That’s understandable!

Drinking beer isn’t a faux-pas in the I want to live a healthy life world. You just gotta be aware of what you’re eating & be cautious not to go overboard.  Unless, you’re have a poopy day, then by all means, jump the ship!

Away Message

Remember the good ol’ days of AIM? My favorite part was the Away Message.  Whether you simple had to go eat dinner or were out of the country, it let the world know that you wouldn’t be responding any time soon.  Why don’t we have these for cell phones?? (those that know me, know why)

Considering this bringing the Away Message back, blog style…

Janette: On a cruise with Emilie! Five days of fun & tanning! Helloooo summer color! Leave a message. Beep.

I figured I’d give ya a heads up that I won’t be posting for several days.  Hate to leave ya’ll hanging! (like I’ve done before) Anywho, I am beyond excited.  It’s my first cruise! As I mentioned, I’ll be traveling with Emilie, a friend from college who is a boat ship-load of fun!

Last month's outing.

Senior year at UM.

& we will be sportin’ matching toes, in this color…

A pink's pink!

Isn’t that cute? I come up with the corniest ideas don’t I? haha Alright, cruise is tomorrow morning so I’m off to do some packing! Talk to ya next weekend!

A Sticky Situation

When I’m having problems, I bake.  Lately I’ve been having to deal w/ some minor issues/nuances so my oven & I have become BFFs.

And for those of you wondering…

No, cooking does not provide the same effect.  It’s similar but not as soothing. What’d ya think I was gonna say?

Break & bake cookies revised!

I don’t know what it is about baking.  I guess having to concentrate on following the recipe to a T (’cause I’m Type A like that) helps my mind escape its problems.  That brief escape (or 4 hr. escape in the case of cinnamon rolls) helps me forget my worries.  I feel calmer & the world is a bright and happy place once again! I guess baking is a pacified form a venting?

Now why baking & not so much cooking? Who knows.  Maybe because it is more involved, & I have a mild sweet tooth?

My last baking endeavor was Cinnamon Sticky Buns from The Baker’s Bible.  It was very involved (with the bread machine making a guest appearance) and time-consuming (4 hours! to be exact).  However, this made it the perfect forget-my-woes recipe.

Just take a look for yourself…

I take my baking seriously!

2 pecans per roll. More or less.

Flipped, Risen (barely) & Syrup-ed!

Finished Product!

I think undergrad would have been a lot less emotionally-tolling at times had I had an oven.  ::shrugs shoulders::

What your non-screaming/non-crying/non-throwing things way to vent?

Hattiesburg

A Steinmart AND a restaurant dedicated to hot wings…!? It’s official, Hattiesburg, MS is perfect!

I like 'em hot! (ups your RMR!)

Buffalo Wild Wings. (Logo reminds me of J.Simp!)

I’m a simple girl to please.  Any town that satisfies my comfort food and shopping needs is A-OKAY in my book.  Hattiesburg however, has gone above and beyond meeting criteria I never even imagined could be criteria!  To share these, a Picture Post for you enjoyment…

• The downtown is caa-ute! I adore cutesy downtowns (if ya didn’t already figure from my Miracle Mile obsession) that look like they belong in a movie.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get to walk around downtown Hattiesburg, but I did manage to get some car pics…

Check out that architecture!

Front Street.

• The Pine Belt Farmer’s Market. I’m also big on farmer’s markets since the products they sell are local, I.E. comes from a neighboring town or state.  The produce is usually fresher/riper since shipping is less troublesome.  That means fruits & veggies that are more nutrient dense and tastier! Plus, you are supporting the local economy!

PS...it's blueberry season in MS!

Brownie points to whoever can spot my mom!

During my medical school interview, we were informed that Mississippi is THE fattest state in the US.  That’s right, #1 most obese state. I wasn’t sure I heard them right, but good ol’ Google confirmed it.  In spite of this, Hattiesburg has some redeeming “let’s not be number one anymore” qualities. Like the farmer’s market and….

• The Long Leaf Trace. It is, as quoted from their website:

South Mississippi’s premier running, biking, hiking, equestrian trail. It is a beautiful linear park,  41 miles long and fairly flat (a rails-to-trails conversion), extending  from Hattiesburg (elevation 220′) through Sumrall (290′), Bassfield (460′), and Carson to Prentiss (336′). It has recently been extended to the USM campus, and negotiations are underway to acquire the right of way to downtown Hattiesburg.

Sorry no pics, but what a great workout opportunity right? Let’s just say my road bike is definitely moving up to MS with me.

• Hatttiesburg is a “hub city.” It is less that two hours away from Jackson & Biloxi, MS, New Orleans, LA, Mobile AL…etc. Perfect for my love of the South & mild case of wander-lust!

Roads that lead to other roads!

• It’s only 5 hrs away from my fave spot in Tennessee. (& ya know I don’t mean Memphis!)

Farm at Sunset.

• Lots & lots of flowers ALL over town! Wait a minute, so is this what spring looks like??

Crepe Myrtle!

These look like purple fireworks!

Crummy car pic...those are lilies!

I love lilies, roses, sunflowers, daisies…etc, but my all-time fave has to be hydrangeas! Lucky for me these abound in the South!

• Last but certainly NOT least, my new apartment!

A sneak peek!

More pics on the way! My apartment is perfect so it deserves a post all to itself! stay tuned!

In Other News…

Luna Protein Bars are AH-mazing! They have a whopping 12 grams of protein and less that 200 calories.  In my opinion (& in accordance with my several small meals a day routine) they are the perfect mid-day snack! I’ve had the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor – it tastes like a something from the candy aisle! Next on my list to try is the Cookie Dough flavor. Although, I’m sure it won’t disappoint! I think these will be perfect for my soon-to-be hectic medical school life as I can eat one quickly between classes.  Once I decide on a flavor, I may get myself a couple of boxes!

Thoughts? Opinions? Concerns?

The Rhetorical Question Post

Dear Man-bag Boy,

What. ARE. you. doing? Why are you toting around a giant Coach handbag?  You do realize those were not made with men in mind? Are you straight, gay or is it still TBA?

Exhibit A

What do you have in your giant Man-bag? Most guys stick their daily necessities in their pockets and have room to spare.  Your pockets are apparently just to keep your hand warm or maybe look cool? So I ask again, what do you have in there?

Exhibit B

Let’s not try to play it off like its your girlfriend (or is it girl-friend’s?) purse.  A girl would never let a guy tote around her bag like that unless she just had shoulder surgery, on both shoulders.  Or was a cruel & evil beach.

So Man with Bag, what’s the deal? What’s going on in that head of yours?  Is it for function, fashion or both? More importantly, have Man-purses all of a sudden become a common household item? Are they a newfound male necessity? Will someone please bring me up to speed? :/

All the best in your future fashion endeavors Man-bag boy,

Janette

LASIK

I make a lot of lists.  I am a forgetful person.  I make lists for the silliest things.  It’s kind of pathetic sometimes.

1. Floss
2. Listerine
3. Wash face
4. Remove contacts
5. Brush teeth
6. Retainers
7. Moisturize face

This is my Night-time Ritual To-Do list. How dorky is #6?? I know. Problem is my teeth shift within a matter of weeks if I don’t use ‘em! UGH. I digress…

Last week, I knocked off a line: Remove contacts.  No, I didn’t succumb to laziness and decide to lets the suckers have a permanent residence in my eyes. I underwent Custom LASIK surgery last week.  At the Laser Eye Center (TLC), to be exact.

I SEE you!

*Dino, the Pastoriza family’s giant black lab!*

I wasn’t too enthusiastic about the procedure at first.  See, I’ve never been crazy about the idea of surgery.  Scratch that, I’ve never been crazy about being operated on. (’cause God know I love being in an OR otherwise!) However, LASIK is nothing like the surgeries I’ve seen in the OR.  It’s simple, it’s quick & it’s very exact (half the work is done by a machine, the laser portion).

I was awake during the procedure, which you’d think is nerve-wracking, but it’s not.  You don’t feel a thing.  Plus, they give you Valium to sedate ya a bit.  The surgeon talked me through the whole procedure and assured me that everything was proceeding well.  A scrub nurse counted down the seconds left for the laser to finish.  That helped a lot too.  Thank you nurse-lady!

Eye color, when my pupils are itty-bitty.

Did I mention it was quick? The laser correction portion of the procedure took less that a minute for each eye.  I believe in my case it was 45 & 36 seconds.  For some people it can even be a quick 15-20 seconds! I’m jealous of those people.

I highly recommend LASIK eye surgery for the vision impaired.  If you have any questions, please please please do not hesitate to ask me.  Don’t believe any negative rumors swirling around about LASIK and don’t be afraid of it.  It’s really no big deal.

But yeah, that’s what has been going on with my life lately.  It’s the reason I haven’t blogged in a bit.

Subconscious mind: Yeah, sure.  Blame it on the eyes.  It’s by no means your last of discipline with writing.

Quote It!

Check my Twitter, and you’ll see that (practically) every other tweet is a quote.  Check my Facebook, and you’ll see that half of my About Me is the Quotation section.  Check my room’s whiteboard and again, you’ll see quotes, quotes, quotes.

Marilyn Monroe by James Gill

I am not a writer.  I do not enjoy it, and I do not excel at it.  Creating meaningful groupings of words is not my creative outlet of choice.  However, I seem drawn to powerful/inspirational lines, phrases and excerpts.  If we all had to study writing as a life requirement (indulge me for a sec), my concentration would be in Quotations.

Yogi Tea Wisdom

Picture courtesy of Fieldy

I love interpreting them, sharing them & even occasionally, creating them.  They share varied ideas that have stood the test of time.  They give advice backed by the experience of others. They can lift your spirits, make you stronger, let you know that someone else has been in your shoes.  And personally, they help me give better advice.

They are a big part of my life and why I’ve dedicated a blog category to them: Quotable Quote.

The Bible, a great source!

Okay, I’ll stop my I love Quotes rant now before I start to droning on.  Below you will find a list of quotes that have inspired me these the past few years.  They are my constants and you will find them on my Twitter, Facebook, whiteboard…etc.

It’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. – Abraham Lincoln

Worry about nothing, pray about everything. ~ variation of Philippians 4:6

We wouldn’t judge each other if we really knew each other. ~ Marianne Williamson

I am not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful. -Marilyn Monroe

God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow,sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. ~ Unknown

But meanwhile time flies, flies irreparably, while we, charmed with love (of our theme), linger around each single detail. – Virgil

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7

If you haven’t got all the things you want, be grateful for the things you don’t have that you don’t want – Unknown

When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. -Franklin D. Roosevelt

The rest of your life starts right now. – Haley, One Tree Hill

Bliss cannot be disturbed by gain or loss. – Yogi Tea Bag

I share these in hopes that at least one will inspire you as they have inspired me! ::corny alert siren goes off::

My first kiss…

“…went a little like this. Muah. And twist. And twist. Well my first kiss went a little like this. Muah. And twist. And twist.”

~My First Kiss ~ 3Oh!3 feat. Ke$ha

No, this post isn’t about my first kiss. Thank goodness. Bad memories.  ::shudders:: ANYWHO. Today was my first 5K and this was the song playing while I ran across the finish line!

I’ve gotta say, 5Ks are LOTS of fun! Running through the scenic streets of downtown Fort Lauderdale is a gagillion times better than running on a treadmill.  To top it off, I had a good friend running with me (Steph!) and some great tunes!  It was a very light and breezy run (minus the hot & humid South Florida weather), and I am very satisfied with how it went.  :)

At one point during the race, probably during one of our inspirational mini-convos, Steph notes that I am quite peppy.  I laughed  ’cause it’s true.  Throughout the run I was cheesin’ and had a strong urge to break-out in song and dance.  Needless to say, I was a very happy runner.  However, it wasn’t because of the Runner’s High.

It was my amaaazing playlist (and Steph, of course)! Approaching the last mile, I look over at her & bust out with: “My chick bad, my chick hood, my chick do stuff that your chick wish she would.“ Luda is my homeboy and YES, I made sure no one was around beforehand.  ;)

Music motivates me & makes me happy.  It is a vital component whenever I workout. It quite literally moves me. Not everyone is the same but if you’re like this crazy gal, here’s my playlist (custom-made for today’s 5K!)

My First 5K Playlist

• Thunderstruck ~ ACDC
• OMG ~ Usher feat. Will.i.am
• 3 ~ Britney Spears
• Burn in My Light ~ Mercy Drive
• Shut It Down ~ Pitbull feat. Akon
• Eye of the Tiger ~ Journey
• My Chick Bad ~ Ludacris feat. Nicki Minaj
• I’m Shipping Off to Boston ~ Dropkick Murphys
• Move Shake Drop Remix ~ DJ Laz, Flo Rida & Casely
• My First Kiss ~ 3Oh!3 feat. Ke$ha

Another 5K bonus is the healthy goodies you get!  I nabbed a few Larabars to sample & a couple bottles of It Tastes Raaw juice.  Stay tuned for reviews & pictures…