Saturday in the Music City

Good Saturday Morning everyone!

I had a fun night last night – Moe’s and Dave and Buster’s. Ended up winning in pacman and air hockey… still working on my race car driving skills. haha. But lots of fun. And I won a pack of Titans playing cards, so pretty good, right? :)

This morning was up early to hit GoodWill for their 50% off the entire store. It was so weird… maybe it’s because this month’s sale was postponed (due to 4th of July last Saturday), but it wasn’t crowded at all! I got a whole handful of summer tank tops and shirts, and some toys for the dogs, all for under $20. Can’t beat that! I tried to bring The Boy, but he decided he needed more sleep. I understand. We are a special breed who get up early to bargain hunt on Saturdays :)

My eyes are still killing me with allergies from my cool Purex complete 3-in-1 laundry sheets. I’ve washed everything with them – my clothes, my sheets, towels, etc. Oh it’s a mess. I guess I’m going to have to start re-washing everything with my old faithful – “All Free & Clear” detergent, for us freaks who can’t handle anything on our skin. haha.

Not sure what all is on the schedule for today. I need to review my infant and child nutrition, after not doing so hot on the quiz I took yesterday. And maybe I’ll pack a few more boxes of random junk I’m not going to need anytime soon. So hard to believe that in 3 weeks I’ll be out of this apartment! I wonder where I’ll be moving to? hmm.

Do you think the dogs will like their new play friends? haha We’ll find out in a week when I go home to see them!

Today’s Studying

After yesterday’s high level of productivity, I decided to return to the library today. I was up, showered, dressed, fed and out the door by 10am with all my goodies. As I drive into the parking lot, I’m wondering… “where are all the cars?”. Oh but of course, the library is closed on Fridays. Ugh I hate that! I feel like I have run into this wall at least a half dozen times, and yet I still forget. If it were a Sunday, that I could remember, but why is it closed on Friday?

So anyway, I headed to downtown Nashville and my favorite library in the world. I would come here for my usual studying, except that you have to pay to park in the underground garage. 3 hours and $5 later… I felt like I studied well. Probably could’ve stayed a few more hours, but I was getting dehydrated, cold, and a litle freaked out. So, of course being downtown, the clientele at this library is significantly different from the suburban library I usually frequent. Many more homeless and low-income patrons. Which is fine, of course, the library is for us all :) But when this guy comes and sits at your table, right across from you, (when there are clearly other empty tables!) and stares at you for a good 45 minutes…. it’s weird. I don’t understand what was going on with him. He picked up a book, came and sat down, but I don’t think ever opened the book. He mostly rotated between: looking at the ceiling, looking at me, or sitting back in his chair and sighing. I google chatted with the boyfriend about my concern. He didn’t seem worried. Said that it would “be hard to kill someone in a public library”. Thanks for the support. Eventually I packed up and left, and was able to find a private study room, which was great aside from the fact that it was 30 degrees colder in there.

So studying went well. Then it was off to Germantown’s Cupcake Collection for my reward :) They had just been wiped out by a bunch of Green Hills moms, but luckily had a whole tray of my favorite – the Blackout cupcake. I can’t even describe how good those things are. Chocolate cupcakes, with chocolate ganache filling, chocolate buttercream frosting, and dipped in some type of chocolate crumbs. With a glass of milk, it’s pretty much heaven. Thank you Cupcake Collection.

Maybe I could be a dietitian for Cupcake Collection? mmm, I could offer my services and calculate nutrition information for them? Do cupcake customers really want to know the fat and calories in their ltitle treats? Yeah, probably not. Oh well. It’s such an adorable little establishment, completely run by the family (teenage kids man the cash register). Love it.

OK, better get back to studying. One of my fellow graduates/interns introduced me to online pacman, which may or may not cause problems in the future. I’m just saying…..

Today’s Lessons Learned

1. Writing cover letters is worse than interviewing for the jobs themselves
2. Buying a bag of Trader Joes Sweet Potato Chips, thinking you can really make it last more than 48 hours, does not work. Even if you do it multiple times. It still doesn’t work.
3. Studying works much better when you leave your apartment and go to the library.
4. Nashville just added another cupcake bakery… and it wants to have me visit.

Oh the fun of allergies…

Still trying to figure out what’s bothering my eyes so much – the skin around them is really getting dark and irritated, and my left eye is pretty much continually crying. Like a leaky faucet. I have a suspicion maybe it’s my new favorite laundry sheets (the all in one Purex sheets you just throw in – no more bottles of detergent, fabric softender, etc). :( That would be sad. But I’m not surprised. I haven’t used anything scented in years. And I never use fabric softener. Now I throw all these things into my clothes and what do we get? Elizabeth the crying racoon. I’ll look great for this interview. ha.

Oh, and I just got a second call from this weight loss clinic in Naples, Florida. They must really like me. I still don’t know if I’d want to relocate to the bottom of the country. The weather would be nice. But then there are hurricanes. And no young people. And it’s a million hour drive from anywhere. Except Disney I suppose. But I probably couldn’t afford Disney. Although I haven’t asked about salary yet. Probably shouldn’t. Don’t want to get their hopes up that I’m coming. haha. I’m in such high demand, right?

OK, better get into my suit and ready for this interview. Wish me luck!

Chasing the International Space Station

So I got pretty excited when I saw on the news today that the International Space Station (ISS) would be passing over Nashville tonight at 8:30pm. So after dinner, I started roaming the neighborhood streets behind me, in search of the ISS. First up, figuring out which direction to look in. I found the South direction without too much difficulty, after retrieving and viewing  a “google maps” image of Nashville in my head. Next up, what does the ISS look like? A saw an airplane and thought that was it, but I think it was an airplane afterall. After that point, every plane, bird, lightning bug even, sparked my attention. But finally I think I saw it. It had a light on it, kinda like an airplane, but seemed to be moving in more of an arc than the straight line you see with airplanes. So anyway, I think I saw the ISS tonight, and that makes me happy :)

Today’s been a fairly boring day. Spent a good chunk of it studying for the RD exam. Trying to memorize lab values, RDAs for micronutrients, cofactors for aerobic metabolism… oh so much fun. And then I got a call out of the blue from a job I applied for in Florida – working for some celebrity doctor in a weight loss clinic. Sounds intriguing, yes, but I don’t think it would be for me. First of all, it’s in a town/city in south florida that I’m pretty sure is 99% retirees from the north. No fun stuff for a youngster like myself. Second of all, the weight loss “program” that the patients follow is all written by the doctor – so the dietitians don’t seem to have a lot of flexibility in what they teach/counsel/recommend. I couldn’t work a job in which I was told what to say, especially if I didn’t agree! So anyway, they’re going to call me back towards the end of the week with more questions – we’ll see what happens.

But the big news is my interview tomorrow for a job here in Nashville doing Diabetes education (outpatient). I want it so badly. Fingers crossed the interview goes well. Hopefully my extreme enthusiasm and passion for diabetes can shine and they won’t want to pass me up. hahaha. My suit pants are out being altered (the legs were too short, what do you know? haha joke) and I am picking them up tomorrow. My power suit. haha.

Not much else exciting to report. I’ll keep you updated on the job search!

Breakfast at Wimbledon

Yup, today is the Men’s Singles final at Wimbledon. Probably one of my favorite mornings every year. What better way than to wake up, turn on the TV, and see your husband smiling at you? Well … let me take that back. He won’t be smiling until he wins. He always plays with his mean “don’t-mess-with-me” face … I wish he’d smile more!

So anyway, it’s Roddick vs Federer. I still can’t believe Roddick made it this far. I don’t think he can, either. Unforuntately, he has a tendency to completely psych himself out and fold anytime he’s up against Roger, so we’ll see how this thing turns out. So far, they’re both playing well, holding serve, but I think Rog is about to break.

Our 4th of July ended up different as planned, but fun. The food was delicious, and the boy now knows how to marinate and cook chicken, and was introduced into the world of sweet potato fries :)

After lunch, he caught on to backgammon rather quickly and actually beat me in our best-of-3 tournament. How dare he!? haha. After taking a nap (while he watched Star Wars and listened to classic rock … although not simultaneously) we went out to Sonic, for our favorite drinks (me = Mocha Java Chiller… him = strawberry cream slush…. both delish) and downtown for the fireworks. We drove downtown to see how crazy things were (very) and realized we weren’t really prepared – no cash for parking, no umbrella or lawn chairs. So we headed back – and BAM, fireworks start – one hour early!! He was totally miffed that he was missing them, while I turned around and watched out the back of the car. By the time we made it back to my place, it was storming really hard – wind blowing everywhere and possible hail in the mix. So… instead we snuggled to watch the fireworks and concerts from New York and Boston. haha. Not bad.

Woah woah – Roddick now has set point!? Come on Rog!! Do something! Dang it, he won. Oh well, he needs that to keep his confidence up. Now at least he’ll continue to play well. If Federer crushed him in the first, I’m afraid Andy would just cave.

So anyway, I’ll keep you posted. I’ll be sitting here, studying some food science for the RD exam. By the way – did I tell you that I have made it through all the paperwork and am able to take the registration exam whenever I want now!? Scary… now i just have to get through all this studying. :)

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July everyone!!

I hope you’re all doing something fun today, enjoying the summer weather, friends/family, good food (my favorite) and appreciating the freedoms and liberties we have here in America.

I’m in the process of cooking up a nice meal for the boy and I. Here’s what we have going on:

• Grilled chicken with a soy/lime/garlic marinade (for him)
• Veggie burger (for me)
• Sweet potato fries
• Corn on the cob
• Watermelon
• Fresh fruit tarts… served with a scoop of Blue Bell vanilla of course! (bringing Texas with me)

Should be a good meal! On plan for the rest of the day: I’m teaching him how to play backgammon (one of my favorite games!) and eventually heading downtown for Nashville’s festivities for the 4th. I believe Wynonna Judd will be singing, as well as others. And the Nashville Symphony performing with the fireworks! I just hope it’s not too crowded and we can find a spot on the grass.

Today’s Random Conversation

Today’s random conversation took place in my building’s elevator with the doorman. He had seen me several times today already, doing some laundry.

Doorman: “Don’t you have to work during the day?”

Me: “Actually, I just finished my program at Vanderbilt. So, right now I’m in the job-hunting phase.”

Doorman: “Oh, sorry.”

<awkward silence>

Doorman: “What are you trying to be?”

Me: “A dietitian. That’s the plan.”

Doorman: “Sorry you’re having to do this. Good luck!”

I’m assuming his apologies were for me being unemployed, not being a future dietitian. haha. Things aren’t completely bleak though – I have an interview here in Nashville next week to be an outpatient diabetes counselor (pretty much my dream job) and hopefully will have an interview up in Louisville, Kentucky, sometime in the future with a new child weight management clinic through the U. of Louisville School of Med. I would love either of them!! So, fingers crossed :)

In the mean time, I have started studying for the RD exam today. I printed a July calendar, and filled in what I plan to study each day. The hope is I can get all my studying done this month, and then take the exam by the beginning of August. I have no idea where I’lll be living August 1st, so things could be fun :). hahaha

Greetings from South Carolina!

Good morning from Anderson, South Carolina! I came up here on a 2 day road trip with some of my RD2B friends (no longer interns! yay). Elena has an interview with a nursing home here, and so we tagged along… mainly to enjoy our last time together before we all move apart and start work. And maybe… because we stopped at Ikea in Atlanta :) haha

I know it’s been a very very long time since I’ve last blogged. Let’s just say that in the past 2 months things have been crazy. Just to sum it up –> I successfully finished the internship and graduated 2 weeks ago, have had several interviews but no offers yet, and have actually got me a boyfriend. haha yes I know. You’ll probably be learning more about him as the blogging continues. Yes, I promise the blog will continue. Being unemployed, I definitely have some time on my hands now. Although… I realize I’m going to have to change the name of the blog – I can’t really be RD2B anymore, can I?! I’m hoping to be RD in just a month or so. Which reminds me of how much studying lies ahead of me… oh lord. I brought my hundreds of flashcards in the car yesterday and starting testing the three of us. Let’s just say we have a lot to study :)

Thanks to you, my readers, if you’re still reading. I know my mother is. haha. I’ll do my best to be a more regular blogger and fill you in on all my summer adventures. :)

I made it!!!

I finished!! Yay! My second half-marathon, completed. A quick recap:

• 6:15am: arrive at Centennial Park (likely just 3/4 mile down the road from my apartment) to find thousands upon thousands of people all over the place. Checked my gear bag at UPS truck #18 and set out to find my friends. Not an easy task
• 7am: race is starting… and guess who’s still in the line for the portapotties? 
• 7:50something: finally cross the starting line. Worked our way through downtown, actually ran a good chunk. Loved having my name on the jersey so I could hear things like “Yeah Elizabeth!” and “Look at Elizabeth… there ain’t nothing stopping her!”. How lovely
• Miles 1-5: having lots of fun. My 2 friends ditched me around mile 3 to go run (I still love them though). The heat was already out in full force, and I was not enjoying that part. But overall, everything was going great. My 5K time was 40mins, which is the fastest I’ve ever done it, so I was pumped. Already thinking about my next half marathon!
• Mile 6: noticed that my face was caked in salt, and started to wonder if I was adequately replenishing it (since I refused to take salt packets). Started drinking cytomax instead of water at the stops. Took a pack of sports beans. Also noticed that my inner thighs and hips were really feeling it.
• Mile 9: saw one of the interns on the side of the road and got psyched to have my supporters out there! Thanks Krystle! Also realized by this point that it would be possible for me to get under 3 hours if I kept my pace up!
• Mile 10: I don’t know what it is about hitting the double digit mark, but at this point I’m thinking “I hate this. I’m hot, my hips and thighs hurt, and I want to be finished”. Not doing much running anymore – my arches hurt if I do. I kept thinking – it’s hot, I’m sweating and de-salting astronomically… maybe I should slow down a bit.  But no, I was determined to beat 3 hours. So I kept powering through.
• Mile 11-12: Really in pain now. My left leg hurting with every step. But I kept walking as fast as I could. Of course this is when all the “Go Team!” “Come on Elizabeth!” comments from the side of the road really helped. 
• Mile 13: Now, with only 170 yards to go (thanks to a TNT coach who walked with me towards the end), I thought I could job to the finish line. You know, make a big ta-da. I was pumped because I knew I could finish under 3 hours. So I start jogging…. well my calves said no. They started cramping (a totally new and unwelcome experience for me) which caused me to misstep, and I was afraid I was going to fall flat on my face just short of finishing. So I took it back down to a power walk and made it to the finish line at 2:59:09!!
• Got my medal from an older man who had done TNT back in 2002 and loved it
• Proceeded through the finisher’s area. Lots of free food and drink. I downed a bottle of water in no time. But food didn’t really appeal. I picked up the banana and pretzels… but when I saw oreos in the distance, my eyes lit up. But just one… my stomach was still trying to regain consciousness. 
• Found my friends, who had all done amazing jobs. A few photos together, picked up my race bag from UPS Truck $18 and some PBJs from the TNT tent (thanks guys, GO TEAM!) and then hobbled over to the grass to stretch.
• Made it home safely, thanks to a helpful roommate who came and picked us up. Prepared a 20 minute ice bath (which wasn’t as icy as it should’ve been, but my fridge’s ice maker is sad) and then showered.

So now I’m home and pooped. I don’t understand why my left leg is in such bad shape – I can’t put hardly any weight on it at all. So sad. But at least my feet are fine. Last year they were the poor victims with blisters and all sorts of issues. So now it’s on to picnic-preparation back at Centennial Park to listen to the Dave Matthews concert. I hope the smell of all those portapotties hasn’t permeated the whole area…..