A first for everything

Seven weeks ago I did a biopsy of an irregular mole on my left leg.  It never looked right and Clark often likened it to a smear of poop on my leg.  The mole turned out to be a moderately dysplastic a-hole and I needed to schedule surgery to ensure that all the bad tissue would be completely removed. 

Luckily, I'm currently doing my surgical rotation with the lead MOHS physician and had him perform the surgery. (I wasn't about to use a precious vacation day for a simple surgery!)  I prepped myself but chose not to perform my surgery so I could record the whole thing on my phone.  Yes, a little weird.  But hey, this was my FIRST surgery ever!

Prepping the site...I numbed the hell out of my leg!

Last stitch.  I shaved over one in the shower already and it came out. Whoops.

So if you want to see a 5 minute video of my surgery, I'll gladly email it to you. 

Great Dates

Well, our "Museum Saturday" idea is already bust.  It was far too ambitious of an idea anyway.  Different museum/sight of interest every weekend?  Ummmmm, that's highly unlikely.  We've now agreed upon the Monthly Museum Saturday.  Ah yes, this sounds much more attainable!

The past few weekends we've focused our efforts on eating straight up amazing foods rather spend $$ to get into museums around the city.  Last weekend we went out to eat at El Rey, an authentic Mexican food establishment downtown.  We both really wanted Mexican food that wasn't Chipotle, and we hemmed and hawed over the idea of patronizing yet another Steven Starr restaurant for like an hour before we finally decided to just give it a try.  It was actually a winner.  We requested a booth, which is probably what made our dining experience so positive.

They even had nachos that rivaled AZ's Pita Jungle blue corn nachos!  Though I must admit, Pita Jungle's blue corn nachos will forever be a personal favorite. I know this photo isn't the best of quality and maybe the nachos don't even look that appetizing, but trust me, they were GOOD.

Clark got beef brisket tacos. Only he didn't realize they would be miniature dollhouse sized.

I had some amazing green chile enchiladas.  

Upon leaving we saw a Ghost busters car!  I'm still wondering if they were able to trap Slimer in a super fancy restaurant that night.

We drove a mile and then decided we were hungry for something sweet.  So we stopped at a cookie food truck!  

They were absolutely scrumptious. And worth the purchase because there is no way I can bake cookies this good myself.  Also, the sensor in our oven is off and that is a good excuse to buy cookies rather than make them.

On our way home we saw students (??) playing with light sabers at a near by park.  I bet it would seem more fun and exciting if I've actually seen the Star Wars movies.  But I haven't. 

This weekend I made a home cooked meal on Friday night (oh how I've missed those! I live off canned soup and frozen burritos during the week) and yesterday we decided to get really crazy and drive out to Costco.  And to an Italian bakery for some tomato pie. 

A life-size nutcracker!?!!???

YES, PLEASE!

The Italian bakery that was recommended to us by a coworker of Clark's.

It did not disappoint.  If you've never had an authentic tomato pie, I suggest you find your local Italian market and give it a try!

Our goal for October: Eastern State Penitentiary.  Just in case any one would like to accompany us in visiting a retired penitentiary where Al Capone spent some of his days.  

You know you wish you had one

It's a 2014 Miss America pageant magnet, just in case you can't tell.  

Yeah, Clark and I are confused about the 2014, too.  Isn't it 2013?  Were they all out of the 2013 magnets that were being passed out on the board walk and they just decided, hey, let's pass out some for next year's competition, no one will ever notice!!

This is a gift from my landlords.  I think it was payment for watching their two little girls while they attended a preliminary round of the pageant on Thursday night.  It was a long four hours, which involved some intense tears at the beginning, biting, and watching Cinderella in Spanish.  

And, now I don't think I want kids for another three years.  

Just kidding. Kind of....

Never a Dull Moment

I'm not kidding. There is never a dull moment when we visit Baltimore.  Whether it's just visiting in the kitchen or living room, attempting a day out somewhere in the Baltimore vicinity, we always have a blast with the Baltimore Toblers!

Clark actually had to work on Labor Day, but the Saturday and Sunday leading up to the holiday we decided to drive down to Maryland for some family fun.  We spent Saturday in Antietam, Maryland, where thousands of lives were lost during the Civil War, and on Sunday we visited the Baltimore Museum of Art.  

I got to sit at the children's table, aka the back of the van, sandwiched between between Charlie and Greta on the way to Antietam.  Thus, I was excluded from the adult conversation occurring at front of the vehicle.  So, I did what I could to keep the kids entertained.  I just love how Greta is clinging to my arm in this one. 

And then Greta decided that she wanted me to be as uncomfortable as possible.

Sweet little Georgie wanted in on some fun, too.

Antietam has a Junior Ranger system set up so that kids can complete a package and receive a Junior Ranger badge.  Greta had to complete a Junior Junior Ranger packet and Charlie had to complete a Junior Ranger packet.  Yes, they actually did differ in content and difficulty.  Greta had no difficulty in completing her packet while Charlie on the other hand took a bit longer and there may have been some pouting involved as well. Kim is helping a very attentive Greta finish her packet.

Close up. I just love my little BFF!

The gang.  Clark loves posing for photos, just ask him.

Look who received her Junior Ranger badge!  She's so pleased and excited!

Proud mom Kim, the growing baby bump, and Georgie were so proud of Greta's accomplishment.

Once upon a time, this was a blood stained battlefield. Just hard to visualize, isn't it?

Charlie did it! Antietam's two newest Junior Rangers!

Burnside Bridge, where thousands of Confederate and Union soldiers needlessly lost their lives.

The next day we visited the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Rodin's The Thinker.  The real one is right here in Philly and we still haven't seen it.  Maybe on an upcoming Saturday???

Clark looking sophisticated in the English sporting art room.

A Degas statue. 

Van Gogh.

Now this is ART.

Look at that good looking, ever growing family!

We are sure looking forward to the Baltimore Tobler's visit at the end of the month!  More good times to be had, for sure!

PS, this is my 400th post! Congratulations to me!

The past 6 weeks

Where the hell have they gone!? Time really does fly when you are working the good old 40 hour work weeks.  It's almost September, which means that fall weather and autumn foliage are just around the corner and I couldn't be more excited. I can't wait for the a-holes who use the pool behind our apartment building to stop taking up all of the street parking!  It also means that I have been gainfully employed since mid-July and my mind is reeling with all the new information I have learned and have yet to learn.  Just in case ya'll don't know what I'm doing, I'm working as a NP for a dermatology practice based out of NJ.  I LOVE it so far, though training is near the coast which has led me to rent out a room from an incredibly nice family three nights a week just so I don't have to spend 3 hours driving every day.  It's working out well, so far.

The past six weeks have been full of firsts.  First time seeing a true melanoma.  First time my car driver's side window has ever been smashed.  (Not a fun experience, btw).  First time my phone has ever died on me, leaving me without any form of communication for two days (another very un-fun experience.  PS, Verizon has the worst policy on replacing phones under warranty). First time performing a biopsy.  First time performing a punch biopsy and placing sutures.  First drug rep dinner at a very swanky restaurant.  Some good firsts, some not so good. Many more firsts to come.

Since Clark and I have limited time together during the week, we try to enjoy our weekends as much as possible.  The first three weeks were filled with finishing the first 8 episodes of Season 5 of Breaking Bad, ordering Allergro's pizza every Friday, getting Clark a computer, and snuggling/pillow talk.  Then we decided we should try and make an effort to see sights in the city on Saturdays.  So, we have decided that Saturday will be our official Museum Saturday (permitting that we are actually in Philly) and our goal is to visit all the museums/places of interest that sound enjoyable to us (I'm ashamed to admit that we've lived here nearly two years and have just recently been to only ONE museum): The Franklin Institute's Spy exibit, the Penn Museum of Archeology and Anthropology, the Mutter Museum, the Eastern State Penitentiary, the Magic Gardens, and the Art Museum.  So far, we've only made it to Penn's Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.  It was FREE for us (Penn alumni and Penn hospital staff), so we were stoked on that.  Philly ain't equivalent to D.C. Museums ain't free here.

Here's Clark with his new computer.  He's so excited!

A couple of weekends later we ventured out for a full-on date day.  Brunch at Sabrina's Cafe and then the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.  It was a blast! I am by no means a history buff, but seeing ancient Egyptian relics was so fascinating!  

  

Sugar overload. I'm always left longing for something savory.  When will I ever learn that a savory brunch will be much more satisfying than a sugary brunch? It was good, nevertheless. Oh, and my pancakes had bacon cooked INTO them.  

Our first museum outing in Philly!

This feller has a tail. I'm not sure how to feel about it.

SPHINX!!!

We're excited to go back and explore more of the exhibits.  The museum was way bigger than I anticipated.  Hooray for getting out and doing things!

************************

Last Friday Clark rode the train into NJ and we stayed overnight at the "landlord's" house.  They were so generous to allow us to stay; they had been asking for weeks when he was going to come over and stay the weekend. 

Clark had worked the night before so he was a bit of a pill.  But he powered through and we 

had a pretty good date night in Atlantic City.  Clark even got to cross something off of his bucket list...photo booth photos!

Waiting for dinner outside of the Buddakan restaurant, and watching the sun disappear over the horizon.   Let me tell you why we weren't thrilled with our dinner (and Steven Starr restaurants in general). The food is good but not great.  The music is always blaring and loud...Clark wouldn't talk to me while we waited for our meal because he said he couldn't hear anything and he didn't want to lean over the table the whole time.  I told him he needed to make a little effort and then he started to argue with me on a subject of no importance. And then we became that awkward couple to sit next to. You know, that couple that is arguing but trying to play it cool.  I'm still embarrassed. Which brings me to my next issue.  We were literally right next to strangers.  Really? The tables couldn't be spaced one extra foot apart?  It would definitely keep people from hearing our ridiculous arguments.  El Vez is similar in atmosphere.  I feel strongly about not wanting to sit next to strangers on a date, Mr. Steven Starr!!  

Yep, sitting in beach chairs on sand, inside.

Not quite the Bellagio in Las Vegas, but hey, AC is at least trying.

This was the best part of the night! Clark was so excited about these photos, like a little boy in a toy store. 

The next day we got to play on the beach a little.  The weather was just right and the beach wasn't as crowded as I expected it to be.  Next year I think we may get beach tags for the Ocean City beach, which is about 10 miles south.

Hey Clark, just try to look like you're not having any fun.

(In spite of the above photo, we still had fun.)

This weekend Clark is working, which means we're both doing non-fun activities: working and studying.  We're looking forward to next weekend though, when we can go visit the Baltimore Toblers!

I'll probably let you all know that we're still alive in another six weeks.