Choices

I refuse to blog about the weather, but, the single digit temps in KC have activated my survival instinct. More than ever, I have become more aware of the implications of weather good or bad on my life. Yesterday the National Residency Matching Program opened up the website for medical students to rank the places they were interviewed at in order of preference. The first couple of programs on my list are in places that get cold, but not arctic cold. The middle of the list melts with the Florida (3 places), Los Angeles (2), and a little bit of Texas (1). Even places I truly enjoyed in the Summer and Fall (NY, MN), that offerred a great experience, plummeted to the bottom of the list. A friend told me, you cannot overestimate the positive effect 80 degree winters can have on your life. And I said, yes I know, I'm from California. More on this later, I'm getting on a plane for Miami.

The Best New Hobby

Everyone loves good piano rock. I have to put my foot down. But if you don't like good piano rock, the problem is with you. Every girl I know who sees a guy rock out the room's favorite song on the piano is impressed. Any one can appreciate a true pianist that can pound out piano concertos and Mozart, Beethoven, and Mozart. But if you can play crunchy tunes off the radio like Ben Folds, Elton John, Billy Joel, Journey, or John Legend you are a mac.
Now that we agree that chicks dig piano skills, dancing skills, and knunchuck skills it is therefore desirable to acquire them. Unfortunately, most of us are not like my friend Ben who can play almost any song you request off the by ear with hysterical fidelity. Although a few more people went through the trouble to actually learn piano, I know individuals that went through a decade of piano and could not play a single entertaining tune today. In January 2008 I went with my friends to the brand dueling piano bar, Ernie Biggs, in Westport. That night I went on YouTube and searched, "How to Play Don't Stop Believing Journey Piano," and watched this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF_QrJgJGaA. Obviously it can't be as hard as it looks, so the next day I went to Best Buy and bought my Yamaha YPT-210 Electronic Keyboard. Within an hour I was playing something that resesmbled Don't Stop Believing.
It's almost been a year since I started this hobby. I had to take a couple of months off when I went to out of town this summer to MN and OH. Really it's just mimicking. But it's fun and I've accomplished the ultimate goal of learning piano, to play cool songs, without actually learning piano.
These are the songs I've learned since 1/07

Don't Stop Beliving by Journey
The Scientist by Coldplay
Clocks by Coldplay
Let It Be by The Beatles
Layla by Derek and the Dominoes
Love Lockdown by Kayne West
Hey There Delilah by Plain White T's
Careless Whisper by Wham
Mad World by Gary Jules
Karma Police by Radiohead
Beautiful Life by Ace of Base

There are bits and pieces of other songs I learned or tried to learn. But otherwise, this was a rewarding experiment, well worth the 100 bucks I spent on the keyboard. There are so many more songs left me to learn from YouTube. The only problem now is that at one of my upcoming interviews, they make anyone who lists piano as an interest play in their office. Yeesh.

Falling Off the Wagon

So on the 9th day of my no meat challenge I was at an interview in Florida. I was going strong, I had fish the night before, which was allowed under the rules of my pescatarian diet. However, at the next days lunch, there was a tray of sandwiches, all of which had a ton of meat on them. Rather than look like a sissy, I ate the sandwiches. Amazingly, I became more enthusiastic with each bite, and by the afternoon I felt more healthy. This brings me to the conclusion that a little lean meat might be good for me. In my quest for longevity, perhaps if I just exercise more, drink less, and keep my body out of harms way, I'll be a winner. As aside, I was given the Office Season 4 on DVD for Christmas. This is excellent because I was unable to see most of the episodes that season with school etc. The Office is the kind of show that you either love or haven't seen yet. If you've seen the Office and still don't like it, I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say that you are just not funny. Sometimes I lay awake at night pondering the eternal question, Karen or Pam?

Fitness

So in an effort to gain muscle lose fat I purchased the Iron Gym approximately 1 month ago. I must say that I was skeptical at first, but, if done right, this product is definitely a success. First, I know it looks funny, but it really does hold up in a normal doorway without using any sort of screws or torque into the doorway. I started out barely being able to do 1 or 2 pull ups. Now, on a good day I can do 10 pull ups + 10 chin ups. I doubt that I will be able to replicate this 500-1000% gain next month, but I hope to keep improving. The best part is that, I can crank out a few pull ups during each commercial break. Before I was going to the gym to use the pull up bar which meant getting into my car, driving, parking, getting a towel, lock, then go home. If only working out the abs were as fun as the Iron Gym.

I'm a Pescatarian

It sounds like an astrological sign, but, I broke down and ordered salmon at the applicant dinner tonight. I suppose that ordering the fish instead of steak in an attempt to mitigate the sissy factor of a guy ordering a vegetarian entree when the food is free was futile. I was going to order the filet though, it was the most expensive thing on the menu. The waitress, was cute faced but very, very overweight. I asked her what her favorite was, and she said the salmon. In all honesty the salmon was delicious and I wanted to order it but was afraid it might smell too fishy. Anyways, this whole diet was to lose weight and live a longer life and I think that fish minus red meat is healthier than strict vegetarian [rationalizing]. But seriously, why is it not a compliment to say, "that girl has such a pretty face, she should be a plus size model!" Goes over like the Hindenburg. On a lighter note, I learned that the one of my other dinners is going to be at Geisha House.