Vegas, baby

Tomorrow I head to Las Vegas for Kelly's bachelorette weekend, and a mini-Duke Bassett girls weekend.  I've got my fancy dresses, my dancing shoes, and some fun bachelorette games rolled up my sleeve.  Is it Friday yet?

Vegas 2006

Go to Hell Carolina, Go to Hell!

Today marks one of two days out of the entire year that I truly care about sports - the Duke vs. Carolina basketball rivalry.  Clearly, I didn't grow up in North Carolina, but four years there will indoctrinate you into a rich tradition of basketball and teach you to love one shade of blue over another.  Years after graduating, I still wake up in anticipation and excitement for the game.  I miss the energy on campus leading up to these  games (no one at work cares what tonight is!).

But, for being our longest and biggest rivals, I don't hate Carolina.  UNC is a terrific school, and their basketball program is always classy.  Two of my best friends from law school, Alison and Shannon, went to Carolina.  But in honor of today's big game, GO TO HELL CAROLINA GO TO HELL!

National Championship Game, April 2010

Partying in K-ville the night before the 2005 Carolina game.

Giving the Blue Devil some love.

Post-win bonfire on the quad.

With Kel and Stacers.

2003 post-win bonfire with Kristen an Court.

Finally, in the name of good sportsmanship, and despite the fact that Ali has been know to wear a "Duke girls are ugly" t-shirt, aren't my Carolina girlfriends beautiful?

Shannon, Alison, and Spencer (who didn't go to Carolina, but is from SC so I guess that counts).
I think they were singing along to James Taylor's Gone to Carolina. 

Careers - Part I

Peter and I have been discussing his impending residency choice a lot lately.  As a third year medical student, he's already completed rotations in internal medicine, obstetrics, pediatrics, and is currently on surgery.  The debate is currently between surgery (general or something specialized) and emergency medicine.  The two offer very different types of patient care and also have very different lifestyles, so the debate not only involves what type of medicine he wants to practice, but also the balance of family and work that we want to have. 

Peter on his first day of 3rd year rotations.

In a lot of ways, I love these discussions; there's the excitement about the endless possibilities of  where we could end up for his residency, what our lives would look like on a day to day basis.  I love that we now get to tackle these decisions together, and the intimacy that comes from talks about our future, our future family, our careers.  On the other hand, it is difficult and anxiety-inducing for me because I like to PLAN and all of these exciting possibilities are just hypotheticals at this point.  Luckily, our experience last year with the uncertainty of my job offer has helped me to relax, and appreciate the present instead of constantly planning for the future.  And while I am supportive of Peter's choice choice of specialty, I am apprehensive of what life might be like for us and our future family if he chooses surgery.  What does life with a husband who is always on call look like?  Will we still be able to have a balanced, quality family-time lifestyle we want?  Will I resent the long hours he spends at the hospital?  Can I still have a legal career, or will two stressful jobs be too much?  Will we ever take a vacation? In my mind, an emergency medicine doctor's life seems much more manageable - 14 twelve hour days within a 28 day cycle.  It's basically shift work, so you're never on call. Or maybe it's because I can picture what that life would be like, and that's what makes it more manageable.

I know Peter considers all this, too, and I'm confident he will ultimately make the best decision based on his passions and our goals for our work-life balance.  So far he loves his surgery rotation and comes home with a smile on his face and excitedly recounts everything he did that day.  I haven't seen him this energized, excited, and happy in a very long time.  In March, he will do a two week rotation in emergency medicine, and shortly after he will need to decide to what specialty he wants to apply for residency.

Until then, I'm enjoying this exciting, and very uncertain, time in our lives.

The Most Amazing Chocolate Cookies

Just ask Caitlin.  Surprise, I found this recipe on Dana Treat's blog, and she wasn't kidding, these things are like chocolate pillows.  I will be making these again and again. 

Deluxe Double Chocolate Cookies
Tartine
Makes about 24 large or 36 small cookies

8 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
1 cup + 1 tbsp. flour
½ cup + 2 tbsp. cocoa powder
2 tsp. baking powder
½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup + 2 tbsp. sugar
2 large eggs
¼ tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole milk
Sea salt, for sprinkling (optional)
Preheat the oven to 350ºF.  Butter a baking sheet or line with parchment paper.

Pour water to a depth of about 2 inches into a saucepan, place over medium heat, and bring to a simmer.  Put the chocolate into a stainless-steel bowl that will rest securely in the rim of the pan and place it over, not touching, the water.  Make sure the pan is completely dry before you add the chocolate and that no moisture gets into the chocolate.  Moisture will cause the chocolate to seize, or develop lumps.  Heat, stirring occasionally, just until the chocolate melts and is smooth.  Remove from the heat and let cool.

Stir together the flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder in a bowl.  Set aside.  Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium-high speed until creamy.  Slowly add the sugar and mix until the mixture is completely smooth and soft.  Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula as needed.  Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition until incorporated before adding the next egg.  Beat in the salt and vanilla, and then add the melted chocolate and beat until incorporated.  Add the milk and beat until combined.  Finally, add the flour mixture and beat on low speed until incorporated.

Drop the dough by heaping tablespoonfuls onto the prepared sheet, spacing them about 1 inch apart.  Bake the cookies until they are just barely firm on top when lightly touched but are still very soft underneath, about 7 minutes.  They wil get firmer as they cool.  Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and let cool.  They will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for several days.