ivy

part of my pseudo-busy social life is the endless stream of house parties. despite being old enough to be their mother (ok, so i exaggerate) it's always such an ego boost when the undergrads deem me cool enough for an invite. then again i could've been asked along to make up numbers (under no illusions there!) and more often than not end up politely declining because i've weekend plans. while the grad medics would be the first to admit that we do sort of clique together, being with the undergrads (especially in clinical years!) has undoubtedly expanded my social circle. last year was a little funny - as the only girl in a small clinical group of 10, and one of five in a larger group of 20 that was split up for the most part, there were moments that had be questioning what in the world i was doing with nine little boys.

that said, have had the pleasure of getting to know a couple of them younglings better in clinics and they happen to live in two houses side by side (girl house / boy house) a short walk away. so my modus operandi (shh!) is to decline the boozy party but go by with a card and gift for the birthday person, and a gift for the party. apparently it's all very quaint and old-fashioned in this world of fb invites that no one takes seriously and is merely accepting of until something better comes along! my mama taught me well? ;) this way i also get some nice sober chat with said birthday person, and being nosey i love having a poke around other people's digs. it was on one such occasion that i snapped this photo of the ivy on the wall. i like ivy. it's my grandmother's name. and strangely hadn't turned red yet (does it always do that?)