all that's changed

You will NEVER EVER guess the name of the last Archbishop of Manila.

Go ahead, Google it. I'll wait.

Too lazy? Well, I'll tell you then.

It's Jaime Sin. That's right -- he was known as

Wait for it...


Cardinal Sin.

Posted by em at 12:43 PM | Permalink | Comments

I've finally trained the dogs how to share a bed properly. As you can see from today's photo, taken a year ago, we've come a long way. Lula used to need to bear hug whatever body part of mine was available, and Maisie liked laying right on my bits and pieces.

Comfortable pet co-sleeping is all in the initial positioning. I get in under the covers first and mark off a generous half of the queen size with my leg. Then Lula is invited up. She attempts a foray into my territory on her initial circle but constant pressure on her backside is employed. When she makes a move to drop anchor, I ensure that her back is positioned to mine, legs facing out over the side of the bed. That way when she's dreaming I don't get tap-danced on. She's essentially a log except for her tootsies. Maisie's easy; I just plop her on the pillow next to mine. Her head touching Lula's is her only requirement.

We only need matching PJ's to be the ultimate in adorable.

Posted by em at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments

They frequently portray physicians, even surgeons, as responding to patient cries. That's funny stuff!

And you know what sucks about taking biochemistry online? There's seriously nobody to ask when you can't figure out what happens to the cells'abilities to oxidize acetyl CoA when intermediates of the citric acid cycle are drained off for amino acid biosynthesis, even when you've looked at the text for the last 2 hours.

Posted by em at 9:21 PM | Permalink | Comments

Exciting phone call today - I got an interview at my first-choice graduate school!

I'm chuffed I got this far -- while my GPA is strong, my clinical experience is next to nada compared to most of the other candidates, who are practicing nurses, PT's, and the like.

Interviews are an all-day affair on the 20th, before which I need to:

* brush up on the latest medical ethics issues
* become familiar with Arnold's new universal healthcare coverage
* find the perfect outfit. Not too much black, I think.

Got me some celebratin' to do before I start any of that!

Posted by em at 12:46 PM | Permalink | Comments

It was like...like trying to force a turkey baster down the throat of a wet, angry terrier!

Yet it happened for reals. In an unprecedented show of gluttony, Maisie licked about 2 ounces worth of chocolate. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, so I called the vet, who ran the numbers (body weight, amount ate, type of chocolate) and said she'd probably be okay, but it'd be best if I could induce vomiting.

For some reason (probably my mother) I knew 1 part water, 1 part hydrogen peroxide gets you upchucking right quick. But after I'd hung up the phone, I realized I had no syringe to get it down her throat. So I innovated the turkey baster, and it worked like a dream. That is, after I figured out how to secure Maisie between my knees, force open her jaw with one oven-mitted hand, wield the baster with the other, shielding myself through the resulting foam spray as she wired her neck around like a hatching dragon. The bathroom was quite a scene.

We got about half cup of the mix down her and within 5 minutes, up it all came. Poor little thing had never puked before, she was pretty distressed. But forgot all about it after a long nap. She's back in fighting form today. Death to squirrels!

This page has a good breakdown on the chocolate-dogs phenomena.

Happy '07!

Posted by em at 10:14 AM | Permalink | Comments