Around Baltimore

With a little more time on my hands, I've had the chance to explore Bawlmer. Even though most of the "art" was totally over my head, I really enjoyed BMA, especially since it's FREE. I'm hoping to replicate this piece in my apartment. Artsy, fartsy.
I've also become pretty obsessed with afternoon walks to Hampden. Cruising the thrift stores for old, non-collector comic books for a project in the apartment. Only luck so far has been coming upon some interesting graffiti on the Jones Fall Trail.
I have come upon The Book Thing though. Probably the coolest thing in Bmore yet. FREE books. As many as you want! FREE, FREE, FREE. Picked up:

• The Citadel by A.J. Cronin
• And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts
• The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton
• The Youngest Science by Lewis Thomas
• Microbe Hunters by Paul de Kruif
• A Beautiful Mind by Sylvia Nasar

...and some Organic Chemistry study guides. That should keep me occupied for the next couple of weeks.

ArtScape Baltimore.

A taste of what Baltimore can really be. Artscape: huge (apparently, America's largest) arts festival. My favorite exhibit, the cars covered with cameras, brass, paint. As N would say, "hippy dippy."
Finally a chance to pull out the camera and get out of Einstein (Johnny Hop's underground, and I might add, un-airconditioned undergraduate library).

Of course, no festival would be complete without the food. I dropped seven bucks on a blooming union, which was certainly not as good as I remember.
Up for tomorrow: afternoon with Mom, crab-cakes, kinetics of Cr-EDTA Complex Formation, and quantum mechanics.

Could I be more sporadic with my posts? Looking at places in Baltimore this weekend, hopefully finding the SATC movie Carrie Bradshaw post-Big equivalent. I've been collecting cute glasses, chandeliers, and scouring thrift stores and estate sales on an almost weekly basis now. Like the cute little elephant shaped salt and pepper shakers, adorable. It would nice to actually have an equally adorable place, instead of just bags of things to move. Safety first, of course. Mostly excited about the night in DC. I can finally be there comfortably--at least when I'm far from Columbia Heights.

In the car last night, I was talking about Natasha Richardson with Dad and the Boph. "What movies has she been in?" asks the pop culture deficient in the group. "The Parent Trap and Maid in Manhattan." "Who does she play in Maid in Manhattan?" "The alter ego," replies the Boph. WOW! Wasn't expecting that answer. Maybe I really don't give her enough credit. Since when is my baby sister a Freudian analyst? Am I old enough for this to be happening? Guess so.

After seeing Duplicity last night, I'm wondering how much of life is scripted. Like when the mailman comes into the studio to pick up the mail, we have the same "conversation" every week.
SRK: "Hi. How are you?"
MM: "Good, how are you?"
SRK: "Fine, thanks."
(Mail is exchanged)
MM: "Have a good weekend."
SRK: "You too."
I guess I only realize how similar all my conversations with strangers are when I mess up and respond with "you too" to something like "thanks so much!"

Seeing Stars

Started volunteering at the Orthopaedics office with quite the excitement. After a brief introduction to the rest of the practice staff, I shadowed the doctor as he saw patients. Not bad for the first day. First a casting, nothing too intense...just some fiberglass around a broken wrist. I probably looked like a fidgety mess; where should I stand? I'm definitely in the way. the doc thinks I'm an idiot? Am I smiling too much? Definitely, stop smiling. Don't make the patient nervous. Geeze, being someone's shadow is much more difficult than I thought. Several patients later and I've got the smile level down--I think.

Several patients later. Why do I feel as all the blood is rushing away from my head? Wow, when did it get so hot in here? Whatever you do, don't pass out IN the exam room. Visions of forever being "that Volunteer that passed out--more trouble than she was worth really" flew through my head. But how to leave? Phew, I made it into the bathroom. Let's just say I did mail the rest of the shift. Can you say embarrassing?

I have no problem with blood. The surgery scenes on Nip/Tuck are my favs--I enjoy them more than any other Christian Troy scene. So, of course, the incident sent my spiraling in a "what-am-i-doing-I'm-never-going-to-survive-Med-School" haze. Thanks JC for the much needed, "You're going to be a great doctor." Gosh knows I needed the encouragement!

A few from DC.

Terminally Single.

People watching in Dupont Circle. Despite the amazing weather--I can't believe I know consider anything above 50 to be good weather--I decided to judge through the glass of the corner Starbucks. I can't be seen and this isn't my part of town, that ends after Lucky Bar. Before I can think too much about it, crazy takes a human form and sits down next to me, ranting about her poor decisions of the night before. Histronic in demeanor, she continues to talk to herself even when her friend excuses herself to use the restroom. "I want to throw myself in front of a train. I can't believe I slept with her. I'm making a new rule for myself, I'm not going to sleep with anyone unless I'm in love with them." It's not my problem but I certainly don't mind being in a better place about my relationships than the person next to me.

Recession Proofing.

My most recent job interview.

MOM: "When are you going to get a job?"

SRK: "Why do I need to get a job? I already have an internship."

MOM gives puzzled, surprise, even jubilated look in SRK's direction.

SRK: "Well, I'm a mommy-tern. I'm learning how to become a domestic goddess, Mom. Like you. I mean, I pick up my sisters from school, go grocery shopping, run errands, decorate the house...It's not a paid internship or anything but I think it will really help me enhance important life skills. It's never too early to learn how to mother."

MOM: "In that case, can you drive SPK to riding?"