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!

My Week in (Crappy Cell Phone) Photos

Enjoying my last days in my neighborhood

"No Dogs Aloud" Ok, I'll make sure he pees silently

A couple taking wedding photos at the cathedral

P-wiggle and I enjoying coffee and Newsweek

The awesome/crazy sculpture at the cathedral

Goodbye cathedral

Girls weekend in DC, driving all the way down with Olivia with windows wide open, hair blowing, and Taylor Swift blasting, getting manicures, shopping, eating, reading, relaxing, catching up with my wonderful aunt and cousin

My "baby" cousin relaxing at Red Door Spa

The difference between a quality manicure and a hole-in-the-wall cheap-o manicure

Moving Day

2 years of my life

Making sure nobody steals or tickets the UHaul

Saying goodbye to their friend, Winston

After loading the truck, a dog and his bed remained

Loaded up and driving home

There was a lot of traffic

Tight squeeze on the front floorwell

There was just so much traffic, I had to entertain myself by taking pictures

Who did it better?

This is one of my favorite songs.  Ever.  I can't get it out of my head since I heard Adele's version on the season finale of Bones (yes, I just admitted that).  I'm also totally disturbed that I could not find the Dylan original version anywhere on youtube. 

Road tripping with Olivia to DC this weekend to see my lovely aunt and cousin, then moving out of my apartment.  And let's not forget Pauly's third birthday on Saturday (which I will miss, cause I'm a bad mommy).  Big and busy week ahead!

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