I'm in the Library!

Hehehe...I am finally immortalized in the library! My thesis was finally published and I am now available by special request (because only the cool people can touch my work! More like, only the nerds want my work. Britta: that now reads you.)! To check it out: Go to lib.utah.edu and search by Kristen Ameel or the title (which I hate!), "Paraquat and Rotenone Induced Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in Drosophila melanogaster." I wanted to name my thesis "Feed flies pesticides, watch them die, and then look at their brains." I guess that title just didn't have the same ring to it as the formal one in my thesis advisor's opinion.

Side note: I am reading the best book I have read in a while, "The Omnivore's Dilemma." Makes me not want to eat anything that I haven't picked off of a tree or out of the ground myself. Anyways, Michael Pollan writes in the book that rotenone is an accepted organic pesticide. That shit is what gave my poor flies Parkinsonian-like tremors, neuronal loss, decreased motility and vitality. Think about that the next time you feel smug buying your organic cereal (which I still feel smug about buying even knowing that the organic agricultural rules are crap)!

Changes

There have been many changes in the past week. First, my dear, beloved Grandma Boughn passed away last Monday. I was fortunate enough to visit her and say goodbye. We had a lovely service for her and I know she would have loved it.
My grandma was the most beautiful woman that I have ever met. People constantly told her that she looked like Grace Kelley and I would have to agree with that sentiment. More importantly though she was an elegant, smart, funny, strong woman and she taught me a lot (always wear lipstick, have your clothes ironed, and always have a smile on your face).

Second, I had my first car accident. An old lady ran into me doing a left-hand turn. Sucky! I am hoping that everything will be all right with my car and that insurance will be kind to me (and the poor lady that hit me).

Third, I start med school in less than a week! Crazy!

Changes, changes, changes. I feel even more a-comin'!

EUROPE! (and swine flu)

I have been home from Europe for 2.5 days now and am still in that depressed/where did the time go mood. Also, I am still dealing with monsieur swine flu....pretty sucky. I don't have the energy to put up anything entertaining at the moment (J, this post is all for you!) but it will be coming soon. This one photo was taken at the start of our seven hour, hotter-than-hell, sweat-out-all-my-body-weight hike in the Cinque Terre. This was also taken two days before evil swine flu virus struck me:(

Question for my doctor: does vodka count as a fluid? You said to drink as many clear fluids as possible..just wondering if I can follow those directions with a little vodka chaser after my cough medicine. Hmmm...

And here are three cheers to dad for being offered department chair. You would probably kill me if you knew I was putting this online, but dude, I am so proud of you that I can't keep it to myself!

Seven Days!

My grand tour of Europe starts in 7 days. What? I have been waiting for this for months and can't believe that the countdown is below the double digit mark. Damn!

Also, I am missing some of my BFFs: A and E already took off for Europe, B is at a wedding in Cape Cod, and J is about to leave for Africa (and I still owe you that glass of wine and housewarming gift!). Oh sadness, where does the time go?

Today also marks the two month mark for the start of med school. Watch out kids, only 60 days until my doctor-ness aka awesomeness is set loose! (Actually, I am terrified to start.)

A Bet

So about a year ago when I was going through the hell that is known as "med school applications", I made a bet with my parents. If a med school accepted me they had to take me out to dinner to the bestest place ever...Log Haven. Well I was accepted to two med schools so they had to shell out some extra dough..hehe! And since I am obsessed with food I of course have to give a description: I started out with a yummy sweet wine-rose cocktail, then we had grilled calamari (totally out of this world), and quinoa encrusted crab cakes. Britta and I shared a half bottle of champagne for the appetizer/salad course. My salad was heirloom lettuce, egg, truffle vinaigrette, and mushroom. We ordered my favorite wine, a Gruner, for our entrees. I had a bison ribeye with parmesan pomme fritte. Britta had grilled scallops atop creamy risotto with a carrot coulis. For dessert, coffee, creme brulee, and a triple chocolate cake thing that was blow-you-away fantastic.
Thanks so much to the folks for holding up their end of the bargain (and for the med schools accepting me so that I had another chance to eat at Log Haven!).

Dr. Kristen

Yes I am going to be vain and post about the coolest thing that has ever happened to me:
My dream came true!!! I am going to be a doctor! I was accepted to Chicago Medical School and am on the alternate list at the U, so one way or another, yours truly will someday be Dr. Kristen. Mind-blowing, humbling, incredible. Trying to soak the moment in.

Studying equations (sort of)

Studying + allergies= :(

Studying + allergies + wine= :/

Studying + allergies + wine + pizza= :|

Studying + allergies + wine + pizza + double chocolate gelato= :)