The med school application process is going well. I was kind of forced to finish up my secondaries before leaving on my trip, since waiting until I got back would have left them pretty late. This meant I didn't end up submitting secondaries for a few schools, which worries me a little bit (what if I don't get in anywhere?) but honestly, those ones weren't very high on my list, and money is too tight at the moment to want to spend hundreds of dollars just for a few more chances at the admissions lottery.

I do have one secondary left (Harvard) since it arrived while I was gone. I'm debating whether to apply only to the standard program (problem-based learning) or also to the science/tech-heavy program (more lectures, differential equations required). I think I'd like the latter program, being an engineer, but the application requires an essay. Man, I'm lazy.

During the month of October, I have an interview every week. Luckily I was able to get one on Columbus day, so I "only" have to take three days off work. (I can't complain, though - I know how lucky I am to have interviews!) Acceptances start coming out on October 15 (OSU has promised to notify us then), so if I'm really lucky, I may be able to accept interview invitations more selectively in the future. I think my boss would appreciate that.

My first Kaplan class is next weekend, then I'm teaching about three times per month after that. So my fall will be pretty busy, but I like this kind of busy (as opposed to the kind where I have a dozen secondaries sitting on my desk, watching me reproachingly).

# : 11:54 AM : :

Baby Got Back - in Latin (with helpful literal English translation).

My cover is broken; I laughed so hard at this that I couldn't pretend to be working anymore.

# : 9:21 AM : :

Because I know everyone wants to know all about the kittens.

Right before I left, I wrote this but didn't get to post it:

*****

Tess got stuck behind the water heater. It's up against the corner, and I think they used to be able to squeeze by it when they were babies, but they definitely can't now. She climbed up on top of it, then fell down into the corner. Since the heater is circular, there was just enough room for one kitten down there. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough room for her to get a running start; she couldn't jump high enough to get out.

My roommate heard strange noises coming from the laundry room, and finally found Tess behind the water heater. She was mewing sadly and occasionally trying to scratch her way out. We couldn't figure out how to get her out, since we certainly don't fit down there, and our arms weren't long enough to grab her!

We tried putting a piece of carpet down there for her to climb up, but either she couldn't or wouldn't do it. So I crammed myself on top of the water heater (difficult with all the pipes coming out!) and squashed my arm down as far as it would go. When I called her she would stand up and try to get out, and I could touch her ears. I debated pulling on them, but figured it wouldn't work. So I scratched them instead and she found a little more length in her legs with the prospect of neck-scratching. At that point I could grasp her head. I was terrified I'd break her neck, but figured she's still really light, and anyway she had to get out! So I grabbed on and pulled her up until I could grab her body with my other hand, and she made it out.

She's fine now, albeit dusty, and she purred and cuddled me for quite awhile. I think she knows I saved her furry little butt.

*****

I missed the kitties while I was gone. And they missed me too, because my cat-sitting arrangements didn't work out so well! My roommate was supposed to be gone Friday-Sunday so I had a coworker come over those days to feed them. But roomie didn't get back until Tuesday night, so the poor kittens were starving. They tore into a bag of hamburger buns to get something to eat.

Also, I don't think either of the cat-sitters cleaned the litter box. It was pretty gross and stinky. But my kittens were really good; they kept using it and didn't go anywhere else. (As soon as I emptied and refilled the box, they jumped right in. I guess they'd been trying to hold it.)

So once I got them all clean and fed, they were really happy. We took a nap and played, and they slept on me all night. It was so cute.

# : 9:36 AM : :

My trip was awesome. I went to Thailand and spend a day in Japan on the way back. Excellent food, lots of shopping, everything was cheap. It was very cool.

# : 9:31 AM : :

I'm leaving tomorrow morning on a business trip to Asia. I'll be back the middle of next week.

If you want a postcard, email me your address.

Don't miss me too much!

# : 7:35 PM : :

The interview went well! The day was gorgeous, I looked good, the process was very laid-back, and everyone there seemed really happy about the school. So I was favorably impressed, and came out of it feeling pretty good. They say they'll give notifications starting Oct. 15, so I have awhile to wait.

When I got home (at 11pm) Maxwell escaped! He jumped over my luggage and bolted down the hall. I closed the door so Tess couldn't get out and ran after him, but he was already halfway down the hallway by that time. I chased him the whole way to the end (he seemed surprised that there was an end) and thought I had him cornered, then he bolted the other way. Luckily, my roommate had heard me squawk when he escaped, so she came out and stood in the hallway. When he got almost to her, he turned around again, and I tried to block his way, but he squeezed between my feet and went the whole way to the end again! So I ran down there and chased him back, and this time he realized that he was caught in between us, and started to skulk instead of run. He tried to hide in a doorway, which luckily meant that it was easier for me to corner him, and I scooped him up and brought him back in. Very bad kitty!

# : 3:09 PM : :

more naughty kitten cuteness

# : 10:50 PM : :

Tomorrow I fly out for my first med school interview on Wednesday. I finally finished buying my outfit - I have a bright pink shell, pink and purple scarf, and cute pointy shoes with a little bow. I have to pick up the suit from the cleaners tonight so I can pack it, since I'm leaving straight from work tomorrow. Which is difficult, since they close at 7 and I volunteer until 8... maybe I'll go right after work and be late to the hospital.

I'm just a little bit nervous.

UPDATE: Here you go - a picture of the final outfit. I'm happy with it.

# : 1:31 PM : :

I played with the kittens tonight and took lots of pictures.

For some reason Tess loves newspapers. She tunnels underneath and hides out there, and if she sees your fingers she'll pounce on them. It's really cute, although she's technically not allowed on the table, which is where I always read the paper. She looks like such a badass in this picture, too.



Then we played with a bouncy ball for awhile, and I got Tess to do her thing where she carries it in her mouth. She did this the first day we met them, when she could barely grab anything in her mouth.



Here's an action shot. Max is actually in the air. And note Tess flying off the coffee table behind him.



Tess leaps for the green catnip mouse:



Max gets air again:



And I finally got a shot of Max trying to drag the mouse off to gnaw on it privately (he does this every time we play with it):



Sorry to post so many pictures. I tried to only show the best ones, but there are a bunch more (the ones from today have the play time).

# : 9:43 PM : :

Oh man, kittens are hilarious. And I'm so mean!

I'm sitting here surfing, with my cup of tea. The kittens, as always, are VERY interested in anything that seems like it might be edible, so they're sniffing around trying to stick their snouts in my mug, and I'm constantly moving it away from them.

Then it occurs to me... the tea is hot. Not hot enough to burn (I'm drinking it after all) but definitely hot enough to surprise. So when Tess comes up to try again, I let her do it. She jerks back in surprise - then tries again! (I wonder what the walnut-brain was thinking - probably that nothing they've stolen from me so far has been hot, so this must not be either.) The second try, I think she actually tries to drink some, because she shakes her head and splatters tea on me. Then stalks off to lick her paws. Poor funny kitty!

The best part is, Max gave up too after seeing what happened to his sister. Maybe they'll remember not to steal my tea now!

I just realized that I've basically confessed to letting my cats lick food that I then eat. This is not usually true (I'm vigilant about keeping them off my plate, and if they do eat some I throw away the part they had) but in this case I figured the payoff would be worth it. Plus, considering I caught them gnawing on my water bottle, and they like to sleep on my head and rub their wet little noses on my face, I think I already have all their cooties.

# : 10:15 AM : :

This one's for you, Brian.

I took the kittens to the vet today for shots. They were really good - they didn't even cry. They did seem to hate the car ride, though, which is unusual. On second thought, I was driving faster than I usually do with them in the car, because I had to get back to work after the appointment. Probably they were getting all tossed around in their carrier, poor babies.

Last night Maxwell set a new record for "highest place to perch" except he wasn't exactly perched. He jumped up on a stack of boxes, and from there, for some reason, decided to jump onto the hinges of the closet door. The door was closed. So I heard this big noise and looked over to see a kitten hanging by his front paws from a hinge six feet off the floor. Unfortunately, there was no time to run for the camera, because it was the funniest thing ever. He only hung there for a few moments before dropping down (and almost squashing Tess, who was like WTF?) so I didn't get to rescue him either.

I think Tess does go by the light in deciding when to wake me up - it used to be 6:30, and now it's about 6:50, which is actually a pretty good time for me. Cutest alarm clock ever.

# : 1:26 PM : :

Last night I made another shopping expedition, in an attempt to finish my interview outfit. I need shoes, and I want to wear a shell and scarf with the suit. I found several cute scarves, but none of them seemed like they'd match. Or they were far too expensive (beautiful Pucci scarf, I want you!) or too bright. Today I checked online and found a few promising ones on the Banana Republic web site, so I might call around and go get one tonight.

Banana scarf I like:


I am still dejected about the shoe situation, though. First, I went to several stores that had nothing appropriate (I don't think I want to wear backless shoes with my suit) then some that had nothing attractive. Then Hecht's, which had at least half a dozen shoes I really liked. Not a single one came in my size. So then I went to Nine West, which ALSO didn't have much available in my size. I wear a 6, which is admittedly smaller than average but really not unusual. I don't recall having trouble finding a 5 or 5.5 when I was 13 and started wearing grownup shoes. It's only in the last year or two that the small shoes have been MIA. I don't understand. They presumably just got in the fall shoes; how can they have sold out of half the sizes already? It's not like I'm complaining that the shoes on the clearance rack only come in an 11; these are full-price, current-season shoes. And I kept getting offered size 8 or 10. One salesperson even offered to help me stuff the toes of a size 10 pair with paper! I think he was joking though.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do next; maybe check out other shoe stores while I'm Banana-searching tonight, then hit up DSW on Saturday. At least at DSW I can tell right away if they have my size, without having to wait forever to be helped, then wait again for the guy to go poke around in the back. That's my other gripe about shoe shopping - I never get helped, for some reason. Maybe they look at my feet and realize they're going to be running around looking for sizes they don't have, and decide to help someone else with normal-sized feet.

# : 9:30 AM : :

PawSense - it detects when a cat is walking on the keyboard, plays a sound to scare the cat off, and prevents the keystrokes from messing up the computer. As my kittens hack with more enthusiasm than skill, this sounds like a great idea.

You have to read the FAQ; it's hilarious.

(Thanks to Pharyngula for the link.)

# : 4:35 PM : :

Apparently summer is over. I'm not sure where it went. I mean, I did go on vacation, and to the beach, but I never once went to the pool, and I didn't get to wear my pretty pink sundress at all. That last is the part I'm most sad about - it's a really cute dress. It will just have to hang sadly in my closet until next year.

I guess being a working stiff makes you notice the seasons less; it's not like being a student where your summer is completely different from the rest of the year. That's kind of sad.

My end-of-summer barbecue went well. I restrained myself to preparing only sangria*; everything else was bought pre-made (potato salad) or prepped right at the grill (burgers). It was all delicious. Then we baked a cookie log (slice-and-bake cookies, except not sliced) and played cards and succumbed to a bit of Case geekiness. It was a fun night.

So now I'm about ready for fall. I've already started smelling fallen leaves, which is one of my favorite smells in the world. And the fashion magazines have fall clothes, which I always love and actually wear. That might make up for the ignored summer dress. Things I want to do this fall: pick apples, make jack-o-lanterns, watch vampire movies, go hiking, visit wineries, go to a haunted house, visit home.

*Sangria recipe:

• bottle of champagne (cheap is great - Asti Spumante works well)
• bottle of dry white wine (vinho verde preferred)
• can of mango juice
• can of peach juice
• one each: mango, peach, orange, lemon, cut in slices or chunks
• pint of strawberries, sliced

Combine everything except for the champagne. Soak overnight. Strain out fruit. If you want, blend up some of the fruit with some of the liquid, for a thicker and fruitier sangria. Add the champagne right before serving.

# : 1:25 PM : :

I tried to take my kittens for a walk today. They didn't mind the harnesses, and thought the leashes were fun toys. But they were so scared to leave the apartment! Poor Tess kept trying to get back in the door, and Max sniffed around but didn't want to go far. I gave up after a few minutes. Tess rushed in as soon as I opened the door, and Max wasn't far behind. I think they're happy to be home. I hope they won't be scared to do it again, because I really want to take them outside - it would be so cute! But I won't torture them by taking them out if they don't like it. Maybe I should have carried them outside in their carrier; the backyard is much more interesting than the hallway.

# : 1:58 PM : :

My kittens are very naughty. They all of a sudden learned to get up on the kitchen counter, and the other day I came home to find a roll of paper towels and a sponge all shredded.



They are also budding hackers. I feel kind of bad for getting them addicted to the computer.



And a gratuitous shot of cuteness:

# : 1:32 PM : :

I love when absolute nutjobs run for public office.

Keyes takes jabs at his own party

The nuttiness:

After the candidate told the hosts that homosexuality is "selfish hedonism," he was asked whether Mary Cheney is a "selfish hedonist."

"Of course she is," Keyes replied. "That goes by definition. Of course she is."

On Tuesday, Keyes defended his remarks, adding that if his daughter were a lesbian, he would tell her she was committing a sin and should pray.

The response:

Informed about Keyes' comments from the radio program, McCain said, "I don't think that's appropriate, but it's not the first inappropriate remark Mr. Keyes has made. He made a remark the other day that people who perform abortions are the same as terrorists. That's a very unique take on that issue and one that's very seldom espoused." [Ed.: Here, John McCain looks composed and diplomatic.]

Rick Garcia, director of Equality Illinois, a non-partisan gay-rights group, said Keyes' views are not representative of the state's Republicans nor Democrats.

"Selfish hedonism? Has anyone seen Dr. Keyes look at a microphone or a television camera? That's hedonism," Garcia said.

I don't know why this guy is running for office - weren't there any other Republicans in Illinois? - but I'm really glad he is, because I can read hilarious stories like the one above.

# : 1:50 PM : :

Things are going well here. Training is done for my teaching job, and I'm working on getting set up to start teaching, probably in October when MCAT classes start. I have two interviews set up for September. I might get to travel for work soon. My kittens snuggle me every morning. Life is good.

I decided to apply to a few more schools. Last weekend I was thinking about how much I love my life here, and being sad that my time in DC is over halfway finished (if I go to med school on schedule next fall). I know I'll be happy wherever I end up, but I'm not ready to leave here yet. So I decided to apply to Georgetown, so I'll have another possibility of staying in the area. Then while I was adding, I added Columbia because it seems like a really good place to be, and it would be cool to go to NYC. Possibly I went overboard with the schools; I shouldn't have applied to so many Ohio state schools I think. Oh well.

Last night I was craving polenta with tomato sauce and onions, peppers, and sausage. Of those, I had tomato sauce and onions, so I walked over to Whole Foods. In my old apartment, I would have walked to Trader Joe's, but now WF is closer, so once I get there I don't want to keep going and cross the street to TJ's. I rarely go to WF because it's expensive, but when I do go I am always impressed by the produce department. They have so many kinds! and it all looks so good! I restricted myself to getting a green pepper and a few plums, but I know I'm going to be back this weekend. Then I wandered the rest of the store and was reminded, as always, of the nickname "Whole Paycheck" - everything is so tempting, and expensive. Who ever heard of paying $8 for a jar of pasta sauce? Or $4 for hummus? It all looked really good though.

My dinner was just as delicious as I expected, and now I have many leftovers, which I am looking forward to eating tonight.

The fruit at Whole Foods also reminded me that I really want to try making sangria like the kind I had at Gua-Rapo. I found a recipe that looks like it can be tweaked to have the right kinds of fruit (peaches are key), and I have a bottle of champagne languishing in the fridge. So I'm going to have people over this weekend to grill and drink. I have never used the grills at my apartment complex, so I hope it works out. The food is secondary, anyway.

# : 11:17 AM : :