Mimi with Cherry Chocolate ice cream
Friday, May 13, 2005
While
It's been a while. Some weeks just don't come together well. Now posted are pictures from Mother's Day cookout at our house. Click on "My photo albums" on the right, then find "Mom's 05." We had a great time with family and friends. And what an honor to get to have it at our house! I'll upload some individual pics, too.
That morning, we had brunch with Mom, Linda, and the girls. It was also a huge treat. Church was good as usual, and it was special to get to do the lunch for our moms.
I've had 2 softball games and 2 more hard losses this week. Last night I caught a ball on my arm - a high fly that somehow missed my glove. OUCH. Erica thinks it's broken, but it's not. I have tough bones. I cannot get on base to save my life. The batting cages are calling my name. SHAME! But the fielding is coming along, minus above-mentioned fly.
I got another Square Books Signed Firsts shipment this week. This one is "Drama City" by George Pelecanos. It came with a letter - "we don't usually send crime novels, but this one is really good..." Now I'm behind 2 books and want to catch up.
I'm about to go to an AIDS conference at lunch, then to the Cunningham's where we're babysitting overnight. On call again tomorrow, so I'll miss out on spending more time with the kids tomorrow. Dad is in Philadelphia. I talked to him this morning, and it sounds like he's having fun. Off to the shower.
That morning, we had brunch with Mom, Linda, and the girls. It was also a huge treat. Church was good as usual, and it was special to get to do the lunch for our moms.
I've had 2 softball games and 2 more hard losses this week. Last night I caught a ball on my arm - a high fly that somehow missed my glove. OUCH. Erica thinks it's broken, but it's not. I have tough bones. I cannot get on base to save my life. The batting cages are calling my name. SHAME! But the fielding is coming along, minus above-mentioned fly.
I got another Square Books Signed Firsts shipment this week. This one is "Drama City" by George Pelecanos. It came with a letter - "we don't usually send crime novels, but this one is really good..." Now I'm behind 2 books and want to catch up.
I'm about to go to an AIDS conference at lunch, then to the Cunningham's where we're babysitting overnight. On call again tomorrow, so I'll miss out on spending more time with the kids tomorrow. Dad is in Philadelphia. I talked to him this morning, and it sounds like he's having fun. Off to the shower.
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Morning
I have had a typical Sunday NY Times morning. All the way across the bottom of my screen are open articles that I have enjoyed reading and want to forward along to people via e-mail. But I think I'll just post the links.
The first is proof of karma, "just desserts," what goes around comes around, yin-yang, feng shui, etc. I realize I am misusing these terms. Every culture has a term for it. The mayor of Spokane, WA, who has been historically anti-gay in his policy-making, was caught in an on-line affair with a 17-yr-old boy.
Next: I can't help it. I think Laura Bush is a joke. She is just so... She reminds me of tissue paper. That's about all I can say for her. Anyway, this editorial is about a press event/party that the White House threw for the Washington press-in-the-know crowd. I LOVE the word "sycophant" and specifically remember the day Mrs. Blackburn introduced it to our 10-grade English class. Priceless.
[Yes, Mrs. Bush was funny, but the mere sight of her "interrupting" her husband in an obviously scripted routine prompted a ballroom full of reporters to leap to their feet and erupt in a roar of sycophancy like partisan hacks at a political convention. The same throng's morning-after rave reviews acknowledged that the entire exercise was at some level P.R. but nonetheless bought into the artifice. We were seeing the real Laura Bush, we kept being told. Maybe. While some acknowledged that her script was written by a speechwriter (the genuinely gifted Landon Parvin), very few noted that the routine's most humanizing populist riff, Mrs. Bush's proclaimed affection for the hit TV show "Desperate Housewives," was fiction; her press secretary told The New York Times's Elisabeth Bumiller that the first lady had yet to watch it.]
Lastly, this one should come as no surprise. Guess what? The Catholic Church thinks YOU shouldn't be having sex. (Unless you're conceiving little Catholic soldiers for them.) Condoms to prevent AIDS? No way! Then the millions of Africans might have non-Catholic sex! That would be a tragedy...
[Fortunately, the Vatican's policies are routinely breached by those charged with carrying them out. In rural Guatemala, I've met Maryknoll sisters who counsel prostitutes to use condoms. In El Salvador, I talked to doctors in a Catholic clinic who explain to patients how condoms can protect against AIDS. In Zimbabwe, I visited a Catholic charity that gave out condoms - until the bishop found out.
"What would Jesus do?" said Didier Francisco Pelaez, a seminarian in São Paulo. "He would save lives. If condoms will save lives, then he would encourage their use."]
On that note, got to get ready for Sunday School.
The first is proof of karma, "just desserts," what goes around comes around, yin-yang, feng shui, etc. I realize I am misusing these terms. Every culture has a term for it. The mayor of Spokane, WA, who has been historically anti-gay in his policy-making, was caught in an on-line affair with a 17-yr-old boy.
Next: I can't help it. I think Laura Bush is a joke. She is just so... She reminds me of tissue paper. That's about all I can say for her. Anyway, this editorial is about a press event/party that the White House threw for the Washington press-in-the-know crowd. I LOVE the word "sycophant" and specifically remember the day Mrs. Blackburn introduced it to our 10-grade English class. Priceless.
[Yes, Mrs. Bush was funny, but the mere sight of her "interrupting" her husband in an obviously scripted routine prompted a ballroom full of reporters to leap to their feet and erupt in a roar of sycophancy like partisan hacks at a political convention. The same throng's morning-after rave reviews acknowledged that the entire exercise was at some level P.R. but nonetheless bought into the artifice. We were seeing the real Laura Bush, we kept being told. Maybe. While some acknowledged that her script was written by a speechwriter (the genuinely gifted Landon Parvin), very few noted that the routine's most humanizing populist riff, Mrs. Bush's proclaimed affection for the hit TV show "Desperate Housewives," was fiction; her press secretary told The New York Times's Elisabeth Bumiller that the first lady had yet to watch it.]
Lastly, this one should come as no surprise. Guess what? The Catholic Church thinks YOU shouldn't be having sex. (Unless you're conceiving little Catholic soldiers for them.) Condoms to prevent AIDS? No way! Then the millions of Africans might have non-Catholic sex! That would be a tragedy...
[Fortunately, the Vatican's policies are routinely breached by those charged with carrying them out. In rural Guatemala, I've met Maryknoll sisters who counsel prostitutes to use condoms. In El Salvador, I talked to doctors in a Catholic clinic who explain to patients how condoms can protect against AIDS. In Zimbabwe, I visited a Catholic charity that gave out condoms - until the bishop found out.
"What would Jesus do?" said Didier Francisco Pelaez, a seminarian in São Paulo. "He would save lives. If condoms will save lives, then he would encourage their use."]
On that note, got to get ready for Sunday School.
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Snot
So I've finished my first week with Dr. Beck. He is a hematologist/oncologist in private practice. I make rounds with him and hang out in clinic. He is one of the most incredible people I've ever met. I'll write more later, but this is a person with character. He is right out of the pages of a Sewanee yearbook. Well-read, well-spoken... you get the point.
Friday, Erica and I BOTH had a day off. It was great. I got home from call at 7AM, and we pretty much hit the ground running from there. Dory got a bath and nails trimmed at the vet's office, and we got to have lunch at Carrino's which is new in town. We mulched the flower beds and dug up a lot of azaleas that were crowding everything else out. There is no telling how much I have lifted in the past 24 hours: bags of mulch, plants, edger, weed-eater... now I'm mowing. I'll post some pics from the front yard. It was WORTH it. Looks great.
Went to Conway today to see my cousin Will's new apartment. My family was there painting and getting the place cleaned up. It's an old house on Locust split into 4 apartments. I think it's going to work out really well. Then I came home to finish in the yard.
Melissa and Shawn are on their way over. We miss Shawn so much! But he is having a blast in Dallas.
Oh yeah, snot: my nose is hating me and refuses to unclog. It is allergy central. Erin, I don't have your phone number! Call me or my mom and let me know the number to your pharmacy. Love you!
Friday, Erica and I BOTH had a day off. It was great. I got home from call at 7AM, and we pretty much hit the ground running from there. Dory got a bath and nails trimmed at the vet's office, and we got to have lunch at Carrino's which is new in town. We mulched the flower beds and dug up a lot of azaleas that were crowding everything else out. There is no telling how much I have lifted in the past 24 hours: bags of mulch, plants, edger, weed-eater... now I'm mowing. I'll post some pics from the front yard. It was WORTH it. Looks great.
Went to Conway today to see my cousin Will's new apartment. My family was there painting and getting the place cleaned up. It's an old house on Locust split into 4 apartments. I think it's going to work out really well. Then I came home to finish in the yard.
Melissa and Shawn are on their way over. We miss Shawn so much! But he is having a blast in Dallas.
Oh yeah, snot: my nose is hating me and refuses to unclog. It is allergy central. Erin, I don't have your phone number! Call me or my mom and let me know the number to your pharmacy. Love you!
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Sunday, May 01, 2005
Restasis
I'm on call at St. Vincent's today; 7A-7A the next day. It's totally boring some days. But the doctor's lounge has a stocked ice cream freezer, and I get $10 per meal in the cafeteria. Major snack city. Today is pretty typical; only a few calls during the day, but you always get slammed around 10PM. I watched the Cards game this afternoon. E came to eat lunch. Read the paper. Took a nap. Hey, I warned you - boring!
Now "Maggie O'Connell" from Northern Exposure is trying to sell me prescription eye drops for chronic dry eyes. Gimme a break! John Stossell needs to hear about this one. First of all, QUIT SELLING PRESCRIPTION MEDS ON TV! It's killing me. Second of all, tell these people to go see their ophtho and use SALINE until then. Do not put cyclosporine in your eyes. Please. This advertising drugs has gotten out of control. Third of all, you're wasting some pretty awesome talent here. Janine Turner will always be O'Connell to me - what a show.
My car is in the shop. Less than 2,000 miles, and it's been there 3 times. Not that I can leave the confines of this hospital today, anyway. Hopefully they'll find the rattle (I think they left a screwdriver in there) and I can get it back tomorrow.
We saw The Interpreter last night. It's a solid flick. It's one of those that grabs you from the beginnning. I was TENSE and shoveling popcorn. I love going to the movies. I used to save all my movie ticket stubs and recently pasted hundreds of them (it seemed) into a book. In high school, that must have been a significant part of our entertainment. Isn't that funny - I remember playing ball and hanging out with everybody more than going to the movie. But we went all the time.
OK, I can't think of anything else that might even be mildly interesting to the world. Enjoy the weather and have a good week! And do something nice for your mom for next Sunday.
Now "Maggie O'Connell" from Northern Exposure is trying to sell me prescription eye drops for chronic dry eyes. Gimme a break! John Stossell needs to hear about this one. First of all, QUIT SELLING PRESCRIPTION MEDS ON TV! It's killing me. Second of all, tell these people to go see their ophtho and use SALINE until then. Do not put cyclosporine in your eyes. Please. This advertising drugs has gotten out of control. Third of all, you're wasting some pretty awesome talent here. Janine Turner will always be O'Connell to me - what a show.
My car is in the shop. Less than 2,000 miles, and it's been there 3 times. Not that I can leave the confines of this hospital today, anyway. Hopefully they'll find the rattle (I think they left a screwdriver in there) and I can get it back tomorrow.
We saw The Interpreter last night. It's a solid flick. It's one of those that grabs you from the beginnning. I was TENSE and shoveling popcorn. I love going to the movies. I used to save all my movie ticket stubs and recently pasted hundreds of them (it seemed) into a book. In high school, that must have been a significant part of our entertainment. Isn't that funny - I remember playing ball and hanging out with everybody more than going to the movie. But we went all the time.
OK, I can't think of anything else that might even be mildly interesting to the world. Enjoy the weather and have a good week! And do something nice for your mom for next Sunday.
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Ball
I'm on a softball team now. It's a city league, and we play Tues and Thurs nights. Tuesday was our first game, and I only know a couple of the girls (graduating med students). But it was of course a lot of fun. I am sore today, and we play again at 8:30 tonight if it's not raining.
Erica took me to Academy Sports to re-outfit me. I got batting gloves, shorts (can't wear khakis forever, Katy), and new cleats. I haven't worn cleats since high school. This is soooo exciting! I think I'll eventually need a new glove, but I'm holding off for now. I'm finally back in my sports element!
I've played on losing teams my whole life. We lost Tuesday. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I were on some awesome team, because that almost always means people start getting serious and competitive about it. Yuck. I'd rather just get out there and have a blast. We were good my senior year, and it was still fun. Maybe I'm overgeneralizing. Anyway, I have no problem sleeping at night after a loss.
Erica and I have a TON of calls coming up for the month of May. If you don't hear from me, don't despair. For several days, one of us is on every other night. It's never as bad as that sounds, though, because when you're busy you're glad to be busy and time flies. May will go so fast, then to THE BEACH in early June.
Erica took me to Academy Sports to re-outfit me. I got batting gloves, shorts (can't wear khakis forever, Katy), and new cleats. I haven't worn cleats since high school. This is soooo exciting! I think I'll eventually need a new glove, but I'm holding off for now. I'm finally back in my sports element!
I've played on losing teams my whole life. We lost Tuesday. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if I were on some awesome team, because that almost always means people start getting serious and competitive about it. Yuck. I'd rather just get out there and have a blast. We were good my senior year, and it was still fun. Maybe I'm overgeneralizing. Anyway, I have no problem sleeping at night after a loss.
Erica and I have a TON of calls coming up for the month of May. If you don't hear from me, don't despair. For several days, one of us is on every other night. It's never as bad as that sounds, though, because when you're busy you're glad to be busy and time flies. May will go so fast, then to THE BEACH in early June.
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Whine
I'm learning not to whine. Again. In high school, I had a button on my backpack that said WHINING with a big red slash through it. I should have kept it around. I can't stand to hear people whine, and then I find myself doing it! "Too busy," "too tired," the list goes on forever. And I'm a very productive individual - it just goes to show you that little excuses can keep any of us from meeting our potential. We all need to be getting out and LIVING more. I love the Alanis Morissette song "Excuses":
Why no one will help me
I am too dumb I am too smart
They'll not understand me
I am lonely
They'll hate me
And there is not enough time
It's too hard to help me
And god wants me to work
No resting no lazy
These excuses how they served me so well
They've kept me safe
They've kept me stoic
They've kept me locked in my own cell
I'm too far from home
It takes far too much energy
And I cannot afford to
No one will ever see me
These excuses how they served me so well
They've kept me safe
They've kept me stoic
They've kept me locked inside my cell
These excuses how they're so familiar
They've kept me small
They've kept me blocked
They've kept me safe inside my shell
Bringing this into the light
Shakes their foundation
And it clears my side
Now my imagination
Is the only thing that limits
The bar that is raised to the heights
No one can have it all see
I have to they want me to
And I can't let them down
I'll never be happy ----
This song made me realize a while back that we are constantly rationalizing our thoughts away and making excuses for our behaviors. It's also made me mindful of the risks I am sometimes too afraid to take. I only get one shot at life (at least this time around), and mediocrity is not something I strive for. Even my high school college entrance essay proclaimed: "Go places. Do things." All of this to say - enjoy the here and now, and do something with it. Hurry up!
Why no one will help me
I am too dumb I am too smart
They'll not understand me
I am lonely
They'll hate me
And there is not enough time
It's too hard to help me
And god wants me to work
No resting no lazy
These excuses how they served me so well
They've kept me safe
They've kept me stoic
They've kept me locked in my own cell
I'm too far from home
It takes far too much energy
And I cannot afford to
No one will ever see me
These excuses how they served me so well
They've kept me safe
They've kept me stoic
They've kept me locked inside my cell
These excuses how they're so familiar
They've kept me small
They've kept me blocked
They've kept me safe inside my shell
Bringing this into the light
Shakes their foundation
And it clears my side
Now my imagination
Is the only thing that limits
The bar that is raised to the heights
No one can have it all see
I have to they want me to
And I can't let them down
I'll never be happy ----
This song made me realize a while back that we are constantly rationalizing our thoughts away and making excuses for our behaviors. It's also made me mindful of the risks I am sometimes too afraid to take. I only get one shot at life (at least this time around), and mediocrity is not something I strive for. Even my high school college entrance essay proclaimed: "Go places. Do things." All of this to say - enjoy the here and now, and do something with it. Hurry up!
Monday, April 25, 2005
K.T.
Let me just say one more thing about the awesome geography of the Natural State. You have NOT lived until you've been through a town called Oppelo and laughed your head off saying that word over and over again. I have so many "world's best" memories from my oldest bestest friend and sister Katy Bartlett, and that is a top ten. Oppelo rocks!!
Upload
Pics are posted on my Yahoo! Photos - permanent link is on the right, if you're ever looking. We had a great time at Petit Jean, but it was FREEZING cold on Friday night. Dory had a blast and taught me that she's totally fine with being off the leash while hiking. They grow up so fast.... Church and potluck yesterday. My mom cooked dinner for us and her friends. It was a great meal and wonderful time. I'll have to remember that menu for an entertaining occasion. Thanks, Mom!!
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