The 5-second rule

When did I first learn about the 5-second rule? Elementary school, at lunch time? Middle school? Preschool, even? It had to have been during those formative years, when such a golden rule could have had an enormous impact on my life.

Drop a tasty morsel.
FIVE SECOND RULE, I shout out, whether in my head or out loud (around others) to justify what I'm about to do.
Eat the tasty morsel.

Why waste food? Especially for something that's delicious (that's all I ever eat, duh), there's no reason to shun yumminess that was sullied by one's carelessness.

It is still something I follow to this day... after all, even biology has taught me that a little dirt can't hurt anyone or anything. In fact, it's more beneficial to one's immune system to be exposed to a wide variety of things that won't kill you!

To be fair, I added some amendments to this rule: carpet's pretty much a no-go. Something that sticks to the surface upon which it falls: also not to be eaten.

But. (there's always a but)

Thanks, New York Times, for changing my life. For the better? I'm not sure yet.

The 5-Second Rule, which really should be named the zero-second rule.

Sadness. I'm going to eat a cookie to mourn the loss of my childhood.

Impromptu yum

Impromptu dinner parties are the best.

On the menu from last night:

Brie bowl, linguine with beef ragu (tomato based, with mushrooms and bell peppers... see the artsy picture above), arugula salad, and chocolate chip cookies.

What a girl.

I'm not one to think about what kind of dress, color palette, or flowers I want to have at my future wedding.

But, when Anthropologie comes out with a wedding line called BHLDN, a girl can only dream. This girl, especially.

This dress has pockets. Anthro, you slay me.

This one is just... pretty. No pockets, however.

Oh, and take their quiz... what kind of bride are you? Hah, I'm also a sucker for online quizzes.

Reasons 72 and 2

Reason number 72 why I love where I am: Ike's sandwich.

Reason number 2 why I love where I am: Tiger spice chai with soy from Coupa.

Smile and mean it (not just smiling like you mean it)

Reason 143

Reason number 143 why I love where I am.

My heart just melted.

Best of Breed - Westminster Dog Show 2011 slideshow

Be prepared to laugh and cry (from cuteness).

+1 for Chicago

Next by Grant Achatz

"whole lobes of foie gras baked in brioche"

"first, custard infused with black truffle stock; then lightly salted cod mixed with potatoes and thyme- and garlic-scented cream; then a thick, lemony sauce crème, all topped with a pinch of black truffle shavings."

Yum and fun

A celebration of pasta:

Roasted butternut squash with sauteed mushrooms, shallots and garlic, on a bed of arugula with shaved pecorino romano.

Oh, butternut squash. How delicious you are, and how easy you are to prepare. I'm dreading the day that Trader Joe's will stop carrying the pre-sliced, pre-peeled chunks of goodness. In any case, this is one of my new favorite pastas: sweet butternut squash and bitter arugula... Mmmm.

Roasted roma tomato with garlic, thyme and oregano on linguine.

Crush the hot tomato on hot pasta, and you get fresh pasta sauce. I think that's all I need to say on that topic.

A celebration of dessert:

Happy Valentine's Day, done Sprinkles style. Chocolate chip cupcake with raspberry frosting.

Sad that I've discovered my favorite cupcake, and they only have them once a year... Another reason for why Valentine's Day should really be every day. No one really needs an excuse to share their love or to eat delicious cupcakes.

And now, Corte de Madera:

Beautiful day, beautiful hike...

Oh, Northern California, why would anyone want to be anywhere else?

I love my job.

Heather: anything else destroys my hemidesmosomes

Happy (almost) Valentine's Day!

NPR just made my day.

More where that came from!

Current practices in medicine?

I read this article last night, from the NY Times Sunday Magazine: Shaken-Baby Syndrome Faces New Questions in Court. It reminded me of a case I had breezed by when I spent my time shadowing at a children's hospital. The resident mentioned retinal hemmorhaging, and I asked what that meant; he responded once out of earshot of the that it was most likely caused by someone who had shaken the baby violently enough to cause blood vessels to burst in the retinas. I didn't get to follow the case after that conversation; there were other patients to see. But, this article made me wonder-- was there a guilty family member? friend? or was it really just caused by some sort of infection? I've wondered about what sort of protocols are currently in place in the medical field that may be based upon incomplete findings-- in essence, we're not seeing the whole picture.

Happy Monday

Going in to work late is a wonderful feeling. How wonderful? Croissant and tea for breakfast wonderful.

Make it rain

Good to know that you can make it rain, and the worst that could happen is a misdemeanor. Oh, football players and the money they're paid.

Oof, and sorry, Pittsburgh... it loses a Renoir to Wisconsin.

And... speaking of making it rain... Dean Schaffer.

Inspiration

Dear world,

At long last, hello!

I apologize for such a delay in updates... I've been looking for the appropriate inspiration, but haven't found much of anything, aside from Joseph Gordon-Levitt and iPhones, apparently.

I still love food and drink, don't get me wrong... I have had quite a few inspiring meals, have seen a lot of cute animal videos, but I haven't felt the need to blog about it as I have in the past. Maybe this will serve as a turning point for what "Oh, but why not?" will represent. After all, I'm growing up in the world...

I will be Dr. Wood in four to five years from now.

I will be welcoming new lives and seeing others depart. Lives will change in the matter of days or even minutes, and I'll be there to witness that. I don't mean to sound glib in any respect, but what the future holds and what I have accomplished up to this point in the last few months simply astonish me... how much things can change in the matter of an instant.

Just have to remember to hold on to those moments and enjoy the ride.

And now to do that, celebrating my last interview with a glass of wine, Cedric(moo), and (500) Days of Summer.