1001 Days Later

1001 days ago (approximately 2.75 years), I set out on a 101 in 1001 journey – 101 goals I wanted to accomplish in the next 1001 days.  I started on January 1, 2009, which brought me all the way to September 29, 2011 – a date that seemed quite far away.  Even though I didn’t purposely set it up in this fashion, I loved the symmetry – starting on the new year according to the Gregorian calendar, and ending on  Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.  There were tasks I was positive I’d accomplish, some which I hoped to, and others which I thought might be a long shot, but I was confident I’d tackle my way through most of the list.

Fail.

Big, fat, monstrous, depressing, huge fail.

Every single one of the goals I was most interested in accomplishing related to my professional career and life with Husband, and I didn’t meet a single one.  Zero.  Zip.  Zilch.  Nada.  1001 days ago, I could not possibly wrap my head around the idea that I would still be in graduate school.  There was no way I would still be one of those terrifying seventh year  graduate students.  I figured I’d certainly have killed myself before getting to this point.

My program requires the acceptance of a first author paper prior to obtaining permission to write.  Because I have not yet accomplished this,  I haven’t even been able to attempt the following off my 101 in 1001 list:

1.    Learn to love science again.
6.    Submit a paper as first author and have paper accepted.
8.    Successfully defend thesis – become Disgruntled Julie, Ph.D.
9.    Regardless of when I defend, return to D.C. for graduation ceremonies.
10. Figure out what I want to do post graduate school.
12. Find a job in desired field in Philadelphia area.
20. Move to Philadelphia to live with Husband.
21. Buy a house or condo.
22. Buy/lease/inherit (from Husband) a car if we are not living in a public transportation friendly neighborhood.
23. Find a synagogue we like and become members.
24. Actually drag Husband to services at said synagogue.
25. Establish long-term primary care physician in Philadelphia.
26. Make new friends in Philadelphia.
27. Host major holiday dinner at our new abode in Philadelphia.
101. Be happy with whom I am and the direction my life is taken.

Sure, there are many other things on the list that I did accomplish… but they were the cherry on top of the goals that really mattered.  These aforementioned list of un-accomplishable tasks – that’s the entire rest of the sundae.  The cherry may be lovely, but it’s merely an accoutrement.  A sundae without a cherry is still delicious.  A sundae without the ice cream, caramel sauce, hot fudge, whipped cream, and sprinkles is… well… just plain depressing.  If I order a sundae and get only a cherry, you better believe I’m going to ask for a refund.  That pretty much sums up how I’ve felt about the past 2.75 years of my life – this isn’t what I ordered, so I’d like a refund, please.

Cookies & Cream Mini-Cheesecakes

Earlier tonight, Always a Northerner asked for suggestions for a bake sale to raise money for the flood victims of Binghamton.   I feel like typical cupcakes and cookies are a dime a dozen at bake sales, so I suggested these mini-cheesecakes as a fun alternative.   My favorite part is the oreo cookie as a crust, which makes them relatively neat and tidy to hold in your hand without requiring a fork.  They’re so quick to make, super tasty (if you like cheesecake), hold up well throughout the day even without refrigeration (I’ve brought them to many an outdoor summer potluck), and you can make them days ahead of time and pop them in the refrigerator until you need them.

Cookies and Cream Cheesecakes 
adapted from Martha Stewart’s Cupcakes
Ingredients:

• 1 package Oreo cookies; 30 left whole, 12 coarsely chopped
• 2 pound cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 cup sour cream
• pinch salt

Ingredients:

1. Preheat oven to 275F.  Line muffin tins with paper liners.  Place one cookie in the bottom of each muffin liner.
2. Beat cream cheese until smooth.  Gradually add in sugar and beat until combined.  Beat in vanilla.
3. Slowly add in eggs, sour cream, and salt, beating until combined.  Stir in chopped cookies by hand.
4. Divide batter among the 30 muffin liners with cookies, filling each to almost the top.  Bake until filling is set, about 22 minutes.  Transfer to wire racks to cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours.  Remove from liners just before serving.

Pretty enough in muffin liners to serve at a bake sale…

… and super tasty when popped out of the liners!