BYU Flashback: Bocelli and the JFSB

My brother begins his college career and freshman year tomorrow at

 BYU (Brigham Young University), my alma mater!

Photo

I'm ecstatic. I'm sad I'm not there to help him get settled in but I'll pass on that role to our mom and our brother (who will be a senior this year!!!) and his wife. I have, however, gotten to take part in it from afar answering frantic phone calls about where the WILK is, where he gets his ID, where the ASB is, where the best grocery story is, etc. I've given my bro a list of places he has to eat, things to look forward to, and a few tips of things not to do, you know, trying to pass on some sage wisdom from an alum. 

I know he'll love it. 

Anyway.

I was listening to some classical music today. Yes, I like--nay, love--classical music. Right now it's Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker soundtrack. Love it. Anyway. Occasionally a Bocelli track or a Josh Groban will play and since I've been doing a lot of reminiscing this weekend about my days at BYU, I thought I'd share one with you all. Don't act surprised when you get to the end.

I did not like studying in the library. I went there often, but I was not my favorite place to study. The building LOOKS pretty...and it is. But don't let that fool you.

Photo

First of all it was always cold. Second of all, I was always hungry when I was studying but unless I was in the snack zone (aka the talk zone), I had to stealthily sneak food and that was just annoying. I know, I know, I could have left and ate somewhere but hello!, I didn't have time for that. Third of all I had to find a new study spot/floor every semester. Weird, I know, but it had to be done. Until...I found a great spot my junior year on the 5th floor (the top floor). It had the most windows and therefore the most light, which makes for a very happy Gabe. Plus I felt like it was the most removed from constant traffic and so it was (theoretically) quieter and more pleasant than the other floors. Well. It was until all of the sudden all the "cool" accounting kids and their friends turned my beloved floor  into flirting central/social hour every hour. 

FOR THE LOVE. 

Yeah. Not happy about that. AT ALL.

So I moved. I tried the Eyring Science Center (my major building), but it was too noisy and busy in there. It just didn't feel right. I tried my apartment but that's a baaaaaaaaaaad idea. Too distracting and plus, when I came home I wanted to be done (mostly, let's face it, in college you are never done) with the day. 

And then.

I don't know how I discovered this but one day I was in the JFSB (Joseph F. Smith Building) on the 4th floor and I found my spot. Let's back up for a sec. This building is probably one of, if not my absolute, favorite. It's beautiful. 

Photo

It has a courtyard. WITH a fountain.
AND a spiral staircase!!!

Photo

Now. Get this.

In the above picture, see where it looks like there is a light colored rectangle in the middle? Those are sitting areas. With comfy couches, plush chairs, and table and chairs. THIS is where I delighted in studying. 

Photo

It was so quiet, cozy, and bright. There was artwork on the walls, lamps on side tables, a thick, ornate rug on the floor, and my favorite thing, a HUGE floor to ceiling window facing the courtyard for me to constantly look out of. Peaceful. Blissful. I loved it. When I was in 6th grade my mom told me that students who listened to classical music study better and retain more...or something like that. So ever since, I have always listened to classical music when I study. So. I would sit on the 4th floor of the JFSB at a table with my books and notes spread out (truthfully, so no one else would sit with me. Rude I know but a)I needed a lot of space and b) I was protective of my study area!) facing the huge window listening to Bocelli, Josoh Groban, Bach, etc. and study. I loved it. Especially when the sun was setting.

Photo

I also had my humanities classes in this building and it was here that I discovered my love for art and fed my fascination for the humanities. I remember curling up on the couches in this building during my classes and reading "The Odyssey" or studying famous artists and memorizing their works. I distinctly remember several (dozen) times when I would be listening to Bocelli tracks, pausing to allow myself to daydream of watching the sun set in Italy.
I told you that was coming. Don't act surprised!
But it's true. It didn't matter what subject I was studying (chemistry, humanities, nutrient biochem); Bocelli would come on and after a few songs, I'd set my pen down and daydream of Italy, especially if the sun was setting. Now, fun fact. Get this. I just learned this today as I was Googling pictures of the JFSB. This information is taken from here.

"In 1536, the famous Renaissance painter and sculptor, Michelangelo Buonarroti, was given a commission to renovate the Piazza del Campidoglio on the famous Capitoline Hill in Rome. This hill is adjacent to the ancient Roman Forum, the seat of government for one of the most influential western empires. The piazza renovation went through a few different designs, and lasted ten years. In the end, the piazza included an overlapping petal pattern surrounding a twelve pointed star at its center."

So now you ask. Who cares? What's the point? Read on.

"Although seen from two different vantage points, the similarity between the two locations emerges. In fact, the two are almost identical." Yup now go look at the picture of the JFSB above again. Identical.

Unbeknownst to us all, I was merely channeling the Italian connect between the JSFB and Rome. This is also means that I am meant to go to Italy. Clearly. So, now I will go indulge in Bocelli, dream of Italy, and start planning a trip. 

On a side note. Remember my post about the pen thief? Well yesterday when I was in Fresh Market, I passed by a gentleman who looked familiar. I figured he might have been a patient of mine in which case I usually try to avoid eye contact because sometimes it's really awkward running into a patient at the store. I don't think they realize sometimes how much I know about them (stooling patterns, how often and what color they pee, I mean really, I know a lot about them). Today as I was sitting in church I almost exclaimed, "AHA!!!!" The gentleman was none other than the attempted pen thief!!!! What are the chances?

Now I'm off to make my asparagus wrapped in prosciutto and stuffed with goat cheese. And dream of Italy. Again. And of the JFSB. Good times. 

J'adore du fromage

Non, vraiment. (No, really).

 I love cheese.

I went grocery shopping today because I have next to nothing in my apartment to eat except cereal and the brownies my mom sent me that arrived today. I mean, that stuff is delicious but not sustaining. Well I got a little of this, a little of that, and as I headed to the check out line I started to laugh because I realized I had a ton of cheese in my cart.

Cottage cheese (one of my all-time favorite snacks, and yes it's the 4% milk fat; the low/no-cal ones taste disgusting to me), cream cheese (for cucumber sandwiches; absolutely delightful in hot weather and dedicated to my darling friend Jess who introduced me to this delicious sandwich our freshman year at BYU); mozzarella (my favorite, and not the sliced stuff!), Swiss (a staple in my diet), sharp cheddar (for grilled cheese sandwiches; which I could easily live off of), and the newest member of my favorite cheeses: goat cheese (for spinach, strawberry, vinaigrette salads inspired by my trip to Rathbun's in Atlanta). All that's missing is sharp Havarti. *sigh* It was no where to be found. Not that I really shopped around for it but I do know for a fact it's difficult to find, and difficult to find reasonably priced. 

Oh well, I'm confident this "stash" of fromage will satisfy. 

Today was my day off. I had great plans of getting up at a reasonable time, like 7:30am, as I'm trying to go to bed and get up at the same time every day. It's not really working but I'm getting better. Baby steps. I woke up at 8am, rolled over and fell asleep until....10:30. Ok, ok, holdonasec! In my defense, the night before I had gotten a whoppin' 4 hours of sleep and no Sunday nap so I needed the extra shut-eye. It felt divine. 


Then I went to the library because the book I have been eagerly waiting for finally arrived: "The Shoemaker's Wife" by Adriana Trigiani!!!!!!!! I've talked about her before but she is my absolutely favorite author right now (and has held that spot for years). Her books are brilliantly written, vivid, real, indulgent, and mesmerizing. I get lost in her books and feel a little empty when I finish them. And they take place in Italy, which of course I'm smitten with. I've been to Tuscany, Roma, and all over NYC both in the present time, and the 19th and 20th centuries with her delightful characters. I love her books. I'm delighted that this one takes me to a few Italian villages near the Swiss Alps and then to NYC. I immediately started reading this book but I have to pace myself. I don't want to gorge myself on it because then...it will be over. 

I was surprised when the librarian brought me two books because I had forgotten I requested "Sarah's Key," which I also started today to see if it was worth the read. Obviously the summary got me and I'm intrigued and excited about this book too. It takes place in Paris (*enamored sigh*) both in the 1940s during the WW2 era and in the present day. Of note here, I am fascinated with the WW2/Holocaust era. This book is about the Velodrome d'Hiver (literally, Operation Spring Breeze), abbreviated as Vel' d'Hiv', which I've never heard of before, but apparently it's not something the French like to speak of. I can understand why. The Vel d'Hiv' was a collaboration of the French with the Nazis where the Gestapo asked the French police to deliver a certain number (roughly estimated to be about 80,000) of Jews between 16-50 years of age. From my understanding, a brunt of those delivered were 2-12 year old children sent to death camps, and only a couple thousand survived, few of them children. Anyway, the book tells the story of Sarah, a 10-year old girl during the Vel' d'Hiv' in 1942 and then Julia, a journalist in Paris in 2002 who is assigned to cover the anniversary. I've made it page 59 and I don't want to put it down!! I have in my possession 2 books I can't put down??? This is excellent!!!! 

I was going to make homemade gnocchi tonight but I woke up with a horrid headache that will not go away, so I'm not up to it. I forwent yoga and running today because I feel so lousy. Bummer. So I suspect I'll make it tomorrow, or most definitely this week so stay tuned!!!! 

Pic from here

Make Way For Ducklings

I was on my way to yoga tonight, I stopped at a red light and looked over across the intersection and saw two ducks looking to make sure no traffic was coming before they waddled across the street.

It was the cutest thing. 

As the light turned green I looked in my side mirror and kept thinking, Come on little ones! Hurry up!!! Good news, they made it safely and after that all I could think of was the book "Make Way for Ducklings." 

Yoga kicked my butt tonight...and my thighs...and everything else...and I loved it.

And now, another Dr. W story for your reading pleasure:

I have a patient with diabetes (I KNOW, shocker. I hope you were sitting when you read that). As I was doing my assessment I was asking her if she checks her blood sugars at home, what her numbers are, if she's had a hemoglobin A1c checked, etc. Well her numbers weren't good and she told me she had her A1c checked and it was high. Never good. So I wanted to check one because...I wanted to see because...it's helpful with education, which she said she'd like more of. Wonderful. So, at staffing in between patients I turned to the delightful Dr. W:

"Dr. W, may I ask you a question?"

"You just did."

"May I ask you another one."

"You just did." 

"May I ask you a few questions???"

"Yes, go ahead." (At this point he's smirking at his wit and sass and I'm smirking because I'm throwing it right back at him and I'm prepared...you'll see. Read on).

"Well the patient in room [whatever] has diabetes and I know it's not her primary diagnosis but she told me her blood sugars are high and her A1c the last time it was checked was high and I'd like to check it here because I believe it will be a helpful education tool to use when I give her more education, which SHE requested." (Please note, in true Gabe fashion, this was spoken as fast yet as clearly as possible (which means probably nearly incomprehensible) without any breaths in between. Thank you New England for teaching me to walk, talk, and be fast. Thank you Mom for cursing/blessing me with the ability to speak fast (which means I speak even faster than your average New Englander). 

I paused and let him process this...for about 4 seconds and continued:

"I mean, you don't have to but I think it would help."

"'I don't have to?' Oh thank you for telling me what I can and cannot do." Dr. W smirked (getting his pen out) and was getting a little sassy. And I started to giggle.

"NO! That's not what I meant! I just meant that, you know, if you don't think it's really beneficial and would be a waste, especially since it's not her primary diagnosis, I am prepared to accept your decline. BUT. I'm just saying that it would be helpful. Unless you want her back in here for renal failure secondary to uncontrolled diabetes which may have been prevented had I struck home after getting that A1c number and using that as I educated her."

He cocked his head, listening to my not-so-subtle-plea but well thought out and urgently delivered argument. 

"Fine."

Score 1 for the dietitian!!! *victory dance*

 I am always prepared to bring my A game for my patients.

Random thought.

I am, at any given moment, quite seriously tempted to throw responsibility and caution to the wind, quit my job and move to Europe. I am SO SICK of watching other people get to live my dreams. I'm sick of it. I'll just move to Italy, find some random job working as the hired help in some quaint little shop or restaurant, be adopted and taken in by the elderly and adorable shop owner and his wife. They'll teach me to cook, I'll be blissfully happy, and then her handsome, gentlemanly Italian son will come for a visit, we'll fall madly in love and I will have an Italian mother-in-law whom I will love, adore, and cherish, live in a foreign country, and be an awesome cook. And travel throughout all of Europe with the love of my life.

Don't. Dash. My. Dream.

*sigh*

Since I will not throw caution to the wind tonight (but don't tempt me, I'm nearing my breaking point people),  I will make a french baguette tomorrow (since I have yet to find a place to buy a decent blasted baguette in this bread-forsaken place) while dreaming of buying an authentic baguette at une boulangerie et du fromage and munching on them while sitting on the grass in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Picture from here

Picture Perfect

I like art. A lot. I don't know a ton about it but I'd like to. I do know that when I had to take humanities classes in college I fell in love with art, especially Impressionistic art. And I did enjoy critiquing and analyzing certain pieces. Doesn't hurt that my grandfather is a art history major and fuels my fire. I make it a point to visit the Boston Museum of Fine Arts every time I'm home and have big plans for NYC and Europe some day too. I wish I had the talent to draw and paint.

My roommate Kendi--who is a gem and an angel--has this painting in our bedroom. I'm in love with it.
I stare at it all the time in my room and find myself often getting lost in it dreaming and fantasizing of Italy (we won't even go there. Except I'm just saying, today is one of those days where I want to go there and to France so badly it hurts. I ache to go!!!). And then one day, Kendi told me I could have it. I think I just stared for a few seconds, awestruck that she would give me something so beautiful. I am SO excited!!!! What a generous thing to do and I don't think she knows just how much I love it. Thank you my dear friend!

Kendi's brother is quite the artist. I've seen some of his work in the bits and pieces Kendi brings back from home. One time she came home with this and I couldn't stop staring.

He has an incredible talent don't you think?? I'm trying to get him to paint something with the ocean in it but we'll see. Between the other picture and this one, I do a lot of staring and daydreaming. It's fun and quite relaxing.

These are a few of my favorite things....

...my new longboard, named Nigel (note: picture is NOT of my actual board but pretty close)

...UPS/Fed Ex tracking online. Now I know that my fixed camera will be here...TODAY!

...dreaming of someday (soon) living and spending my entire summer (and fall and winter and spring) in New England. At the beach.
...peanut butter cookies because my friend Lillian made them while I was gone for the weekend so I would have a full cookie jar when I got back.
....since we're talking about peanut butter--everyday for lunch I have a delicious PB and banana sandwich. I LOVE THEM!
...garden fountains. One of my favorite sounds is running water. I know. Weird? Maybe? It's a wonderful sound to hear when I walk out on my way to work. Just trust me.

...sitting on the porch eating dinner, after dinner, reading, in the morning, anytime really, and sitting on the porch swing
...dreaming and planning and dreaming and yearning and dreaming of my trip to Italy someday

Also, today I learned how to work a forklift. Huh. I'll stick to dietetics.