San Francisco...

Day #2:

Our first full day was spent walking around the downtown and wharf area. It was convenient timing that we happened to be at the end of our training for the 1/2 marathon and are in pretty good shape. SF is full of hills walking around the city will give you quite the work out...

Pier 39

Seals at Pier 39

We had incredible weather...

Ghirardelli Square

View of the Bay from the top of a giant hill...

Lombard Street

Dinner at a local sports bar before the Giants game...

AT&T Stadium

At the Giants game...

Aaannndd, we're back!!

Many apologies for the lack of consistency in posting over the last month (or absence, to be more accurate). From the last post until April 14, there was little exciting news to report in our lives. Since it was tax busy season, Walker was swamped with work, and I was busy studying for the USMLE (US Medical Licensing Exam) Step 1, a gigantic and very scary test that every medical student must take and pass in order to legally practice medicine. There are three Steps, and the first one is by far the most difficult and time-consuming. 10+ hours a day (including weekends) were spent working (Walker) and studying (me). However, hard work payed off, and by the evening of April 14th, Walker had successfully finished another busy season, I was officially a third year medical student, and it was time to pack for our long-awaited vacation to California!! Over the next week or so we will make up for our lack of blogging with several posts regarding our wonderful trip. Be looking forward to one Walker will post regarding a particularly entertaining day... the title will likely be "Blazing Saddles". Curious? Stay tuned...

Day 1:

We arrived in San Francisco around 4 p.m., checked into our hotel, and walked around the city until dinnertime. 

A beautiful church in Little Italy...

Trolley...

SF is very hilly... 

Krisan and Casey had suggested a fabulous restaurant in Little Italy that made for a wonderful culinary start to our trip. Following dinner we had gelato and coffee for dessert at one of the many Italian Bistro's in the area. After a long day of travel that started much to early, we retired for the evening so we would be rested and refreshed for the rest of the trip. (Although who are we kidding, we love our 10 p.m. bedtime)

(picture courtesy of Krisan)

A Random Smattering...

Due to an intense and semi-miserable week of work (Walk) and studying (me), we have little exciting news to report. We do however, have a few random things to share:

1. For those of you who do not know, we are currently in the process of training for a 1/2 marathon. Although we have both always been active people, long-distance running has never come easy for either of us. We thought this would be a good (and rewarding) challenge, and also give us much-needed exercise breaks during this busy season in our lives. Yesterday we went on a 5 mile run through our beautiful neighborhood, and with the fantastic spring weather, it could not have been more enjoyable. (It was rewarded, of course, with a visit to Sol Azteca).

2. This past week my sweet (and brilliant) friend Krisan found out that she matched at the Pharmacy residency program she applied to. While I think all who know her were not the least bit surprised, we are so excited for her and all the things she has accomplished in her 4 years of Pharmacy School. I remember the day during our Sophomore year that she found out she was accepted, and it is hard to believe in just one month she will be Dr. Anderson! Krisan is one of the most loyal friends I have ever known, and was the very first friend I made after arriving at Auburn almost 6 years ago. Since I love photos in posts, below is a picture taken of us on the first day we met, as we headed to our Pledge Retreat shortly after Bid Day.  

3. And lastly, I would like you to meet our neighbor... a young, budding saxophone player. And by budding, I mean beginning (for all you Friends fanatics, picture Ross learning to play for Monica and Chandler's wedding). He practices his talent on his front porch, which is conveniently located directly across the street from our house. The noise of a saxophone travels quite a distance, and provides us with immense entertainment. One day I decided to photograph him (from inside our house so I didn't look creepy). Enjoy (and be jealous that you too don't get to experience this on a regular basis)...

Happy Sunday!!

Lately...

Last weekend my parents came up to B'ham and stayed with us for the Davis Cup. We took them to our favorite restaurant (Sol Azteca) and on Sunday Walker and I used their tickets to watch the USA seal the win over Switzerland. 

Mom and I on the first day...

Now it's time to introduce you to a little tool that saves our budget approximately $50 every 2 months... the Flowbee. Originally intended to cut human hair,

we have adopted the Flowbee to cut Bella's. We can't take credit for this brilliant plan (props to Craig, who uses it to cut Tanner), but it has nonetheless been quite the budget saver. The blade portion (with adjustable guards) connects to the vacuum so there is no mess to clean up. Walker has become quite proficient, so please contact him if you want pet grooming lessons. The results...

Snow!!

I felt like a kid again when I woke up and saw several inches of snow in the ground. Walker (begrudgingly at first) awoke very early to join Bella and me in the excitement. Here are some pictures of our morning...

Backyard...

She loves snow!!

We had to come inside for a little bit (she pouted)...

Back out again...

Our house...

Our street...

Happy Winter!!

My Inaugural Post

This past weekend provided a much-needed reunion of my best friends from Auburn. The city of Chattanooga and Lilley played fantastic hosts, and our time together (as usual) passed much too quickly. The history of our friendships spans back to shortly after our arrival in Auburn, and these girls have loved and supported me through some of my life's happiest and most difficult times. They are consistent, loving, and fiercely loyal. I remember them crowding onto my twin bed in the dorm to comfort me in the loss of my childhood dog, Holly. They celebrated with me when I was accepted to med school. They grieved with me in the loss of my grandfather, Pop. They shrieked with excitement when I got engaged (Lilley cried).  They oo-ed and ah-ed when I brought home my puppy Bella (Lilley cried again). They stood next to me when I married my best friend. They prayed for my family when Nonnie got sick, and supported me with phone calls and letters when she passed away. Since graduation, our little group of 5 has quickly become 9, adding 3 husbands and 1 adorable baby... 

Their friendships are truly a gift, and are never for a moment taken for granted.

Last night, my med school friends and I decided to put school aside for an evening and explore our artistic sides at Sips & Strokes. For those of you not familiar, it is a business that hosts a painting class several nights a week, and groups of girls (and a few brave boys) gather together for fellowship and painting instruction. While it is difficult for us Type A personalities to give up straight lines and smooth edges, we were quite pleased with how things turned out. 

Regardless of the final resting place for our paintings, we had a fantastic time and plan on returning regularly.

Fain Family Adventures

So times are getting quite busy for the Fain household these days.  I'm going through the accounting "busy season" while Em is trying to finish up these last two weeks of actual school.  After that, she will be begin studying for the all important Board Exam which she will take on April 14th.  Right around that time, my busy season should be coming to a close.  And then we will take a nice vacation out to San Francisco.  Very much looking forward to that!  I've never been out to San Fran.  Em has only been once, but it was about 10 years ago and she does not remember too much about it other than how awesome it was to look out on the Pacific Ocean while driving on what seemed like the edge of a cliff.  We're hoping to get a glance of wine country along with checking out the Redwood Forest while we're there.  

On another family note, our dog, Bella, suffered a minor casualty this week.  So to catch you up on the story, last Saturday afternoon we went out to Oak Mountain state park and went hiking on a nice long trail.  Bella was loving life because she was let off the leash to run freely.  Well...a few days later, Em discovered some bites on her underbelly which we figured must have come from running wild out in the woods.  I don't believe Shih-Tzus are made to run free out in the woods, being that they are loaded with lots of hair and are built very low to the ground.  However, that is not where the story ends.  So, we're getting ready for bed on Thursday night and Em discovers a nasty scab on Bella and so we examine the scab.  Em, being the medical professional that she is, decides to peel off the scab because it looks very unhealthy.  After peeling off the old scab, we take my electric razor out and shave her hair around that area in order to keep it clean and maybe try to put a band-aid on that spot.  If you've ever tried to put a band-aid on a dog, you know that it does not work.  So before bed, we have to figure out some way to keep Bella from scratching at the spot with her hind leg and making it worse.  So, in my infinite fashion wisdom, I decide that it might work if we cut one of Emily's sleeves off of one of her old t-shirts and pull it over Bella's neck.  So, to answer your question that popped into your head when you first looked at this blog....that is why Bella has what looks like a t-shirt over her neck.  We like to think of it as doggie Under Armour. Here are some other photos from our day at the park...

So that's it for now.  Hopefully you Fain blog followers enjoyed tonight's blog.  Check back soon for more updates on the Fain family.