36-Day Reunion

Got out of the 'burbs last night for dinner with some of my favorite girlies.  Loving that I'm only 30 minutes away, not loving that I couldn't finish my pomegranate margarita because I had to drive. 

36-Day Columbia Reunion

Oh Gnomes!

It was a wonderful weekend, starting with the Guide Dog Foundation volunteer party.  It was really fun and I enjoyed getting an opportunity to visit with all the employees, puppy walkers, friends, and pups.  I was sad and moved saying goodbye to everybody since I won't be allowed to volunteer with the Guide Dog Foundation any longer.  My new job is with a "competing" organization, so my parents will continue raising for GDF but I have backed off from my responsibilities with them.  It was lovely hearing how appreciative everybody was of my time and efforts and getting to say goodbye to the wonderful people I have worked with. 

At volunteer day, I met Olivia P who is an area coordinator in Georgia for the GDF.  She was visiting to receive an award and didn't know anybody in NY, so I brought her home to hang out with me and my friends coming out from NYC for a beach weekend.  Olivia P was awesome and it was a pleasure having her and talking puppies with her (and I think she had fun, too). Nupur and Olivia, friends from Columbia, came out and we had a delicious BBQ, margaritas, daiquiris, ice cream, and girl talk.  It was an awesome evening.

Well, the flowers are in focus (Nups, Oli, and Olivia P)

This morning, Nups and Oli and I spent the morning at the beach.  We got a tasty lunch, shopped, and got more ice cream.  It was such a fun weekend!

Congratulations Class of 2011

Health is a human right.  The public health community exists to safeguard that right.  I believe it is a defining element of a civil society.  Public health represents the collective actions necessary to protect the health of all people.  Through prevention science and practice we can accomplish this goal.  As a public health professional, guided by these principles, I declare the following:

I will work to ensure that people have the chance to live full and productive lives, free from avoidable disease and disability and supported in their pursuit of physical, mental, and social well-being. I will hold myself to the highest ethics, standards, values, and responsibilities as I move forward the science and practice of public health. I will respect the rights, values, beliefs, and cultures of those individuals and communities with whom I work. I will rely on evidence to support my decisions and actions, and translate that evidence into policies and programs that improve health for all. I will add to the body of research and knowledge and share my discoveries freely. I will continuously seek new information and be open to ideas that can better protect and promote the health of populations. I will advance health literacy for all and seek equity and justice for vulnerable populations.   With this oath, I commit to the ideals and mission of public health.  THIS IS PUBLIC HEALTH: Thank you to the brilliant, wonderful, talented, beautiful colleagues I have had the privilege of learning with for the past two years.  We will be friends forever.  Congratulations! xoxo Lia T Schwartz, MPH

Is there such a thing as...

a dessert hangover?



Cause I think I've got one.  Happy Birthday, Oli! 

Why I Love My Dogs Today

Why I Love Pauly:
Even though he isn't with me, he made me laugh today.  My brother, Jake, is taking care of Pauly for the week because he is on Spring Break and Pauly loves staying at my parents' house.  Jake doesn't know much about dogs and doesn't much like them, except for Pauly.  Pauly, like any child with a substitute teacher, took the opportunity to be stubborn and push his limits.  As soon as they turned towards home from their afternoon walk, Pauly protested by rolling onto his back in the middle of the street.  Jake, not knowing how to deal with this situation, attempted to coax him to get up and eventually resorted to carrying all 75+ pounds of Pauly all the way home. 

Why I Love Sophie:
I had class all day, so my wonderful friend Nupur, who usually walks Pauly on Wednesdays, agreed to watch Sophie.  Nupur's apartment has floor to ceiling glass windows and recently Sophie has developed a fear of heights.  She is especially sensitive when she's near glass windows in tall buildings.  Nupur didn't know Sophie was working through this fear, but when I got there to pick Sophie up, Nupur told me that it took her a really long time to venture over to the window side of the apartment.  After 2 hours of being at Nupur's, Sophie went all the way over to the windows, conquering her fear all by herself, in a strange place, with somebody she doesn't know very well.

Aren't dogs amazing?

"Stop blogging!  My dinner is 12 minutes late and I'm STARVING!"