Fried Green Beans

I have discovered something that is terribly addictive - I like to refer to them as the new "crack" - what am I talking about? I am talking about fried green beans at TGI Fridays. It's a relatively new appetizer on their menu, they are served up with a side of Wasabi ranch dipping sauce, and they are simply 'to die for'. You've gotta try them!

Dizzy Dizzy Dizzy

So we have a test in Audiology called Electronystagmography (ENG for short). The purpose of the test is to evaluate the vestibular system. People who complain of being dizzy are typically referred for ENG testing. The last part of the evaluation is a subtest called calorics. The name comes from the fact that you are presenting either warm or cold stimulus to the ear to stimulate the horizontal semicircular canal. It will cause a person to feel dizzy and as a clinician we instruct our patients that feeling of unsteadiness or dizziness is not uncommon...

I have given many of these tests, though never sat through the entire battery as a patient. We got new ENG/VNG equipment in our clinic and in order to help train some students, I served as guinea pig. Typically there are four caloric conditions, cold in each ear and warm in each ear. I got through cold in the right ear and just would not go on. I got REALLY dizzy and nauseous. In fact about an hour and a half later and I still feel a little uneasy. WHEW! I really feel for a person going through an ENG battery now.

In other news, after I leave this afternoon I will officially be on Spring Break. No big plans, but just glad to have a more relaxing week ahead of me. I am going to need it to recover from my ENG today.

The BIG News. . .

It's been a while since I blogged, I guess life has been pretty busy lately. The big news is that Cullen proposed on Valentine's Day, so we are now engaged to be married =)

Most people want to know... how did he do it? Well he made reservations at the same place we went to on our first date, Old Chicago's. It's kinda a family restaurant/sports bar place.. nothing fancy but I thought it was sentimental that he decided to take me there for Valentine's Day. When we got there I noticed that he had reserved the SAME table we had sat at during that first date. I was pretty impressed that he remembered those details. We sat down and I told him I thought it was really cute that he did that, and then silly me I go ahead and say "you know I always thought you might do something like this when you decided to propose" - he didn't give away anything but that comment must have about killed him.

We got through dinner and then he decided he wanted to have dessert. I was stuffed, and tried to get him to opt out of dessert, but he was kinda insistent. The waiter asked him if he wanted to see a menu and he said "yeah, and I spoke to JD about this" -- immediately that was a red flag --- "who is JD?" I asked. I KNEW something was up, but I still didn't think he was going to propose. I thought he just had some quirky V-day trick up his sleeve.

Our server comes out with another server and stands at the end of the table. They say Thanks for choosing Old Chicago's and that they have something to read. So they begin reading this scripted poem back and forth that Cullen had written. At the end of the poem Cullen came over got on a knee and said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me and asked if I would marry him. I said "of course I will marry you!" We clumsily embrace (as we are in the middle of this crowded restaurant with many onlookers). Everyone claps. He goes and sits back down and slips the ring on my finger. Then the manager comes to our table to tell us one of the patrons picked up our bill. One day we'll be out to dinner and see a different couple get engaged and we'll have to do the same =)

My family already all knew. I made my phone calls because they were all waiting for the news, but I couldn't surprise them with it. Oh well. We are both very happy... the wedding date is set for June 2008.

Other news? Well I had another promotional testing at Karate last night. I am now an advanced Orange belt - one step down from Purple belt. When I get my Purple belt I will be considered an 'intermediate' student. It will take another full year of training to make it to Red belt which is the first belt for 'advanced' student status. I'm really enjoying it - moving up the ranks with my friends Ann and Andy. Cullen has said he will give it a whirl this summer, so that will be really fun.

Nothing more to say except, TGIF!