Wednesdays

After a week without a computer because of power cord troubles, I am back!  All I can say is, thank goodness for Amazon.com and overnight shipping (and iPhones that let you order on the Internet!)

Wednesday nights are usually my favorite weeknight.  Every Wednesday I have Bible study with a group of girls in East Memphis.  It's not just going to Bible study, which is always a great lesson and great fellowship with women I don't see otherwise, but the drive to Jamie's is one of the few times I just sit and relax, so to speak, even if I am driving.  (Road rage, on the other hand, is a different story, but I try to avoid it on Wednesday nights so that I won't be in a tizz when I get to Bible study ...)

I love putting my iPod on shuffle.  This usually makes me one of those obnoxious people that sings and dances when she should be paying more attention to driving, but since the rush hour traffic has usually died down by that point I don't really feel guilty. 

For example, tonight this is what shuffle played for me on the way (please don't judge too harsly...)
1. "Terrified by Katherine McPhee" - okay, so I picked for it to start on this one, but it's a good sing-your-lungs-out-when-no-one's-with-you song
2.  "Hey, Soul Sister" by Train
3. "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon - I'll admit I skipped this one; I'm still not over hearing it over, and over, and over, and over on the radio this fall.  (They used to play a lot in Fayetteville, so it felt a little like deja vu when they became very popular on the radio earlier this year.)
4.  "'Reet Petite" by Jackie Wilson - you know this one "...she's so sweet, the finest girl you ever wanna meet..." I think it was on the Corinna, Corinna soundtrack.  Definitely will make you smile.
5.  Don't know what it's called, but some little 30-sec clip of music that always makes me do some ridiculous, inappropriate dancing in the car (which I am no good at, FYI).  I'll refrain from naming the person who gave me the CD to protect their identity.
6.  "Once in a Lifetime Love" by Keith Urban - he's got a ridiculously sexy voice.  I think I need to hunt down a concert. 

And then I was at Jamie's, just on time. 



To backtrack a little since I took a week-long hiatus, this weekend my sweet and funny friend Kelsie was in town!  We got to spend time together when I got out of clinic on Friday and went to eat at Memphis Pizza Cafe.  Kelsie and I have a thing about going to certain restaurants, I'm not sure how it has happened, but when we are in Memphis it's pizza at MPC (Midtown location only), and when we're in Fayetteville it's Loafin' Joe's.  We're so in a rut (or maybe just love those two places so much) that we don't even pretend to think about choosing a different place anymore, just decide on a time, and we both inevitably show up at "our" restaurant.  I guess that's what good friends are for!

Me and Kelsie at dinner

I also got to see Kelsie's new bling - her beautiful engagement ring!  Hooray for Kelsie and Jared, who are getting married in October. 

Saturday night I went to dinner with two of my UA Chi Omega pledge sisters, Kathryn (a D2) and Grace, who was my bunkmate when I lived in the 16-girl attic.  Grace now lives in Little Rock, and I hadn't seen her since football season.  We went to Happy Mexican and had a couple of killer margaritas.  (literally killer...no further explanation needed)  Unfortunately I got my camera out and it sat on the table all night; alas, no pictures. 

Monday we had another [surprise!] snow day!  I woke up early to go running and it was snowing.  Not the wintry-mix stuff we usually get in Memphis, but big, beautiful, chunky snowflakes!  I called the infamous school weather line; it told me to get ready for class (not really, but it said the University was open.)  I ran.  By the time I finished running there was a lot of snow on the ground.  Called 4UT-ICE (see, even they believe in ice, not snow) again, it said, "GET MOVING, BETH!" so I drank a cup of coffee.  More snow.  As in, inches accumulating.  Called the weather line again (I admit, I was desperate.  I really wanted to stay home.)  NO SCHOOL! 

Okay, so not ideal with having to reschedule my patients and everything, but by the end of the day there were about 4 inches on the ground.  It was beautiful!!  Also not ideal that I had 3 miles and 2 cups of coffee already under my belt by the time they shut everything down, but getting to stay in my workout clothes all day made it worth it.  (And, they're predicting snow again for this weekend, so maybe another 3-day weekend is in order...just maybe.)

a Peruvian Adventure

It's [almost] official -

I'm going on a mission trip to Peru! 

It's been a crazy few days in Memphis after the bad weather; we had to make up a path test and get caught up with our patients (I got to see my favorite one today - my mom!), but we finally got all of our registration forms sent in today, so as soon as we have plane tickets it will be 100% official.

A little about our trip:

A group of about 10 - 12 UT students (including me!) will be going to Peru June 8-18 to provide dental care in a village outside of Lima (the capital of Peru).  Our trip is through the organization Coprodeli.  You can see their website here.  The first day we'll have an orientation, then go to different sites to provide dental treatment Thursday and Friday. According to our contact at Coprodeli, we should have time for a little sightseeing Saturday and Sunday before working the next week.  Some of our group is going to stay and travel around the country when we're done working, but I'll be headed back on the 18th so that I can make it to Little Rock in time to celebrate the wedding of one of my best friends in dental school, Jeni Hall! 

Jeni and me at our White Coat Ceremony

July 2009

I can already tell June is going to be one of those crazy months "off", but I'm looking forward to it!  I can't wait to get more details about our Peru trip, and I'll keep everyone updated as I get the info.


To completely change the topic, tonight I ordered one of my favorite children's books for my favorite little guy, Reid!  If you know a child who loves books, you HAVE to get them Charlie the Caterpillar by Dom deLuise. 

It's the perfect amount of adorable drawings, funniness, and a little bit of sarcasm/sass to teach a really great lesson (especially if you do good voices like my parents always did).  Maybe I'm just being nostalgic, but I really do think it's great.  So there's my plug for an almost 20-yr-old book.  I don't think they sell it in bookstores (at least they don't in Memphis that I could find), but it's incredibly cheap on Amazon.com. 

So as Charlie says, "I gotta giddadda here!"  and take my puppy dog out. 

Snow Day

We're snowed in!  Not just snowed in, but against all odds, UT closed the school yesterday, so for the first time in years, I got a "snow day" - postponed test, cancelled patient, the whole ordeal.  In Memphis we have more ice/sleet/frozen stuff under a teensy little bit of snow, but it's all the same to me!  Here's a picture of what the street beside my building looked like this morning. 

Union Ave

(this is a pretty busy street in Memphis -

much clearer than most others according to my brave friends who have actually gotten out!)

Yesterday I attempted to study a little for the pathology test that has been pushed back (didn't really happen), and then when that failed miserably spent most of the day cuddling with Sooie on the couch watching all of my shows that were on the TiVo from this week.  We also spent quite a bit of time outside; it turns out my little prissy dog who HATES rain is a snow bunny! 

Here are some pictures from Sooie's adventures outside:

too cute

she's not the best model - obviously something caught her attention so now her head is blurry.  oh well

Today I really have tried to study, but I haven't been very successful because Sooie has begged to go out about every twenty minutes.  We tried to play ball a little -

- which usually keeps her happy while I'm sitting at the table reading, but today this girl just wanted to be outside! 

One reason (other than the sub-freezing temperatures) I didn't want to take Sooie out so many times is that I have been living it up on this snow day ... as in I have been a complete grunge ever since I found out that I was going to be snowed in!  I'm not sure who decided it was a good idea to order those sweatpants with the elastic in the waist AND at the ankle a few years ago at the Chi-O house, but I have a pair, and they are my absolute favorite cozy pants.  Oh, and yes, there is a matching sweatshirt.  Sweet!  Every time I walked by a mirror yesterday all I thought was "retard" - and did my best Alan impression. 

So aside from the fact that I would have been #1 on Stacy and Clinton's list, it was an all-around wonderful snow day.  Topped off with yummy whole-wheat banana bread.

Hopefully all of this laziness isn't going to come back to bite me on Monday morning.  I have studied some today ...

Here goes nothing!

Lately I've been reading several blogs.  Let me tell you, I do not think my life is interesting enough for many people to want to read about it daily or even weekly, but I've discovered that blogs really are a great way to stay caught up with the lives of a few of the many people that I don't see or talk to nearly as much as I wish I could!  (and my mom loves me - I know that she will read this, especially after Facebook was just a little too much for her!) 


A few of my favorite blogs (and regular reads) are the blogs of Rita Degges, Kendall Jones, and Jennifer Grady. Maybe one day I'll read more, but right now I barely keep up with these 3! Ms. Rita's is about her amazing project to make 5000 pairs of shorts in one year for the children of Haiti. Kendall is a friend from college and is married to another dental student, and she is constantly putting easy, great recipes on her blog (complete with pictures).  Jen's is about their precious baby ... need I say more?  Anyway, check them out!


When I was having that debate about whether or not I should do this there were lots of thoughts running through my head. (is my life interesting enough?  absolutely not.  will people read it?  probably not.  how long will I stick with it?  we'll just leave that open-ended for now ...)  In the end, though, I know I miss my regular phone calls to that small but precious group of people who mean the world to me, most of whom would probably not appreciate it if I started calling them when I wake up at 4:15am or am up studying at 11:00pm.  This way, I can write as if I'm telling them, which means too many details will be involved.  Always. 


Another question I thought about was what I would write about.  Remember, I already know my life is not that interesting.  That said, it is fairly busy and is crazy on most days, and my dog Sooie is always up for providing entertainment.  There will probably be a little dental talk thrown in ... but those of you who know me well know that I really love my [almost] job and can't resist talking about teeth.


As for the name, I didn't want anything so cliche as "Walkin in Memphis", but I had to go a little cliche, so here's homage to my favorite, James Taylor, and one of my favorite songs.  (oh, who am I kidding?  all of his songs are my favorite!)  The lyrics, if you aren't familiar with the song, are

Shed a little light, oh Lord

So that we can see

Just a little light, oh Lord

Wanna stand it on up

Stand it on up, oh Lord

Wanna walk it on down

Shed a little light, oh Lord

Can't get no light from the dollar bill

Don't give me no light from a TV screen

When I open my eyes

I wanna drink my fill

From the well on the hill

Always seems to bring me back to reality, no matter what kind of day I've had!  (sidenote:  I'm going to see James Taylor & Carole King in Nashville May 22.  eeek! a little girl-y squeal because this thought makes me feel like I'm a tween getting to see the Jonas Brothers. More on that concert later ...)

Since this blog has been all over the place, I'll end with a picture (albeit an old one) of Sooie.  (Yes, that's right, WOO PIG SOOIE!) She is always doing something story-worthy, so I'm sure many posts will revolve around her.  Best to give you a mental picture:

-Beth