Shhh...

Don't tell Jim... but here's his Xmas present. It's actually kind of for me too (if you catch my drift).

Doctor, heal thyself

Well, I finally took my own advice and looked towards modern medicine for help. I know it sounds weird, but I just can't stand taking medication but, after a month plus of not breathing, I decided it was time to bite the bullet. Yesterday, I saw my doctor and 24 hours later am feeling great. Oxygen is definitely not overrated!

Running out of steam...

I've been thinking of so many things to blog about lately but I'm still sick and am having some motivational issues. The one quick thing I could think of were two funny non-words Jack has now added to his vocabulary.
They were learning about their senses this week in school and the teachers put on a "blindfolder" so they could paint without using their sense of sight.
Jim and the kids have been reading Greek mythology at bedtime. Jack frequently asks if they can read the "smyths" tonight.

We had Em's parent-teacher conference last night. Em wrote these 2 great stories.
One started off and I'm paraphrasing a little... "Is your room messy? Let me give you a few tips to help you clean it. First you take your pet out of the room (if you have one). Second, you pick up everything from the floor." This is made funnier only by the fact that Emma takes after my lack of neatness.
For the topic of how I can help at Thanksgiving... "First, I can keep my brother entertained (or at least I can try). Second, I can help Auntie and Uncle Dave decorate (if they'll let me)."

Best get back to work...

Meme... seriously?

Well, here goes my first meme brought to you by Jim

5 Things I Was Doing 10 Years Ago:
Wondering if I wanted to become a surgeon
Thinking I didn't want to hear about that darn blue dress with the stain any more
Finishing up thank you notes for the wedding
Playing MarioCart
Taking a pottery class

5 Things On My To-Do List Today:
Get through my pile o' paper at work
Parent teacher conference with Em's teacher
Sleep
Feel better
Coming up with more things for my to-do list


5 Snacks I Love:
I love cheese
Chocolate
Honey roasted peanuts
Trail mix
More cheese

5 Things I’d do if I was a Millionaire:
Go to the Galapagos again
Help cure the world's woes
Give everyone at the office serious raises and then
Quit my job
Buy that property near my house and start an organic farm/CSA

5 Places I've Lived:
Attleboro, MA
Polacca, AZ
South Yarmouth, MA
Cranston, RI
Iowa City, IA

5 Jobs I've Had:
snack bar worker at the community pool
Hebrew school teacher
babysitter
teaching assistant for a nuclear magnetic resonance class
director of development for feminist health clinic

And now I tag no one... any one who reads this who wants to consider themselves tagged, feel free to do so.

For those who follow...

It was cold yesterday for the race- very cold. But, I went, finished, and finished without walking. I finished around 31:30 which, given the cold and the hills, I'm pretty OK with. I think I'm finally OK with the fact that I am no longer a fast runner or even a slow runner- just a kind of fast jogger.

Setting goals...

So, I'm actually making it public. I'm trying to get running again. My goal is to be out there 3 days a week. Haven't quite made it there yet but I'm getting there.
I'm running my first 5K in awhile on Sunday. In fact, I think it's the first race since the half marathon a few years ago.
So here are my goals for Sunday in order of achievability:
1) Showing up (it's supposed to be 30 degrees and windy so I could very well convince myself not to go)
2) Get to the finish line
3) Finish without walking (I've been running 3+ miles lately so it shouldn't be too big of an issue, barring major hills)
4) Finishing in less than 30 minutes (probably THE goal of the weekend and the one that is most within my reach but I'm not sure I'm there yet)
5) Finishing in less than 27 minutes (this one will most likely have to wait for the spring)
Well, here goes nothing...

No longer head of the household...

Jack and I went skating at the public skate today at Taunton. To make a long story short, I got completely schooled today by a 4 year old. He out-skated me, out-turned me, out-stopped me.
Tonight at dinner, Jack informed the family that he was now the boss of me since his skating skills are better. He also let Jim know that once he gets him on the ice, Jack will be the boss of the entire family.
Ah, the world according to Jack, the hockey-archy.

One of these days...

One of these days I'll figure out how to actually manipulate the folders in Picasa but, for now, you'll have to weed through the good and bad pictures in the new folder Fall 08 in the Picasa link. There are Em bball, Jack hockey, and Halloween. Jack is Jason Varitek (catcher from the Red Sox) and Em is Demi Lovato (the actress/singer from Camp Rock).

Quite possibly...

This is quite possibly going to be the least politically correct blog post ever but I just had to do it. I was looking through the Oriental Trading Post catalog yesterday and saw this. For those of you not familiar with the catalog, it is home of extraordinarly cheap, made in China, theme based party supplies (aka crap that I never want to enter my house). As I was browsing, I came across supplies for an entire party based on the "Happy Birthday Jesus" theme. Not just plates and napkins mind you, but cups, yoyos, frisbees, beachballs, keychains, bouncing balls, sliding puzzles, tote bags, pens on a rope, metallic banner, ornaments, coloring mats, balloons, friendship bracelets, bubbles, kaleidoscopes, pencils, fun/game books, stampers, slap bracelets, coloring sets, tattoos, slide flutes, party hats (and that's not even everything). Seriously?? I get that many of us forget that Christmas celebrates the birthday of Christ. As a non-Christian, I don't forget that that often but sometimes I can get lost in the commercialism of the whole thing. But, I think if I really wanted everybody to remember that Christmas was in celebration of something so much more, I would be really offended by this stuff. But since Christmas for me is just a fun time to spend with Jim's family, eat good food, and get and give presents, I just find this whole line of products absolutely hysterical.

Oh, and while you're at it, check out these too.













You miss some of the humor of the last two without actually seeing it in the catalog with the name next to it. Seeing the words "Smile! Jesus Loves You" Punch balls and "Smile! Jesus Loves You" kick balls all together made me giggle.

She's won the role of Queen of Nascar...

I heard this quote this morning on the way in to work talking about Sarah Palin. What seems to be flying under the radar these days, is that she might actually become a US Senator in the upcoming months. Don't get me wrong... the woman deserves a little respect- she just went through a grueling campaign, travelling all across the country, where she was getting made fun of on every level on a national stage for 10 straight weeks. But here's the thing. When I go to pick a doctor, I don't want them to be like me or dress like me or talk like me, I want them to be smarter medically than me and make the right decisions about my healthcare. Same with a lawyer- I want them to be able to represent me better, write a will without loopholes- I don't care what hobbies they have or what gender they are. So, with an elected official, I want them to know more about civics then I do, be able to name some Supreme Court cases, a few newspapers, maybe the countries in North America. Now, I'm not sure what percentage of senators can't do these things (probably higher than I would like to know) but you would be darn sure (just like if I went on Amazing Race, I would start running 10 miles a day and know how to say drive faster in 50 different languages), if I ever run for nationwide office, I would at least open up my kid's civics and geography books and learn a little something before Katie Couric interviews me. I think if I were a Republican or an Alaskan, I would be offended that the Republic party couldn't find a better candidate that was "like me".
Sorry, just had to get this off my chest before the day began.

Quote o' the week...

Actually, it's from Em this time.
Emma was very inspired by this week's election and was hoping that Obama would win (I'm sure it had nothing to do with Jim and my brainwashing skills, working on her infinitely caring heart, telling her that Obama cares about education and the Earth and McCain only cares about money). She was a little upset that Jack would get to go to the polls with me and she wouldn't, so I decided to go with both of them before school started.
As we were going in, one of our neighbors was leaving...
Emma: "I'm so glad that he came here to vote for Obama too"
Me: "Actually, Em, I'm not so sure that he voted for Obama"
Em: "Why would someone not vote for Obama?"
Exactly...

Overall, I'm excited and inspired by the events of the past week. I only hope that this inspiration and excitement continues and that Obama stays safe.

The most inspirational part of the whole week was seeing the quote that 78% of Americans feel that it's time for change and they don't like the direction that the country is going in. Now, I'm sure that most of the 78% don't feel that way for the same reasons that I do, but it's nice to know that I'm not alone thinking that it's time for change.

Few things make a weekend call worthwhile...

There aren't many things that make a weekend of call worthwhile. Sometimes I get so much accomplished that it feels like a big weight is lifted off my shoulders. Sometimes, I help someone or someone's family through a very difficult time. Sometimes, I make some crazy diagnosis that no one else had come up with in the weeks that they were in the hospital. But, honestly, those are few and far between. This weekend a new experience made it all OK- it was a conversation overheard.

Young guy on the phone in the hallway as I walked by: "Dude, you gotta hold on a second"... pause... "Damn, how come my doctor doesn't look like that? If she did, I would be at the doctor every day."

I looked around, made sure none of the cute Grey's Anatomy like interns were around, and smiled to myself.

You pucked with the wrong ice president...

Will this be the last time that I make fun of Sarah Palin?? Only time will tell. It's one of those laugh or else I'll cry things. Anyways, a friend of mine from high school posted this and I think it's hysterical- maybe even better than the prior hockey moms post.

Would you like some cheese with that whine...

Sorry, bear with me... I need to whine for a bit.

For those reading that actually follow this blog on a regular basis, you know two things. One, I have started Tuesdays as the Jack quote of the week. Two, I am actively looking for a new job/profession. In honor of those two things, I am going to do a quote today but not one involving Jack. One involving the absolute idiocy of my job lately.

Phone message: Please call Dr X at insurance company

So I call, get placed on hold for 7 minutes as they have to find Dr X since he has stepped away from his desk.

Dr X: Patient Y is under your care in the hospital?
Me: Yes
Dr X: Why are they still in the hospital?
Me: Well, she was admitted for emphysema worsening and isn't getting better. There's no air moving through her lungs and her oxygen levels are dangerously low off oxygen.
Dr X: Well, are you giving her antibiotics by IV or her steroid by IV?
Me: No, I switched them to by mouth since the studies recently have shown that it's the same efficacy by mouth and I thought I would save the insurance company money since the oral medicines are cheaper.
Dr X: Well, since there are no IV antibiotics or IV steroids, she no longer meets qualifications for inpatient stay. Don't get me wrong (and the following is a direct quote), I wouldn't discharge her either but we can't pay for her stay since she doesn't meet criteria. You can always go appeal our denial.
Me: Honestly, I have appealed a few denials and the decision has never been reversed.
Dr X: Yeah, we don't commonly reverse our decisions.
Me: Well, have a good day.

In an ideal world, this conversation wouldn't happen. I could just say that a patient needs to be admitted to the hospital and isn't ready for discharge and then can paid to help make them better. But this isn't an ideal world. So what I'm asking for is a realistic world. Just save me the 15 minute conversation, don't call me and just deny the admission, and don't even offer an appeal process.

What's up doc??

At last count, I think I have over 2000 people that call me their doctor. When you add in their family members that accompany them to the office or their hospital stays, that's a lot of faces and names to remember and, to be quite honest, I often don't remember them. Sometimes, I walk in to the room and people don't even look familiar to me. So, one of my biggest fears is to be face to face to someone out in public and not to remember that they're a patient or what their name is.

Well, yesterday I was at a farm festival in Weston with Emma and a young couple with their kid was walking towards me. The dad looked at me and smiled and said, "Hey, what's up doc?". I looked at him and smiled and gave him the "Oh, hey are you doing?" as I walked by. After a few steps and trying to think why none of the members of this family looked familiar to me and what in the world my patients were doing all the way up in Weston, it came to me... I was carrying two bunches of carrots and he was just trying to make a joke. Good thing I didn't ask him how his asthma was doing.

Autograph session...

This weekend Em and I went to the Rhode Island Childrens Book Festival. She got to meet the author of one of her favorite books (the Just Grace series) and got her to sign one of her new books (Fashion Kitty). She also got to meet Laurie Keller and see her speak about being an author and illustrator. She is a new one to us but did a great lecture and her books are very funny- I would highly recommend them to kids and grownups alike.

Jackism of the day...

Jack: "Do you know what my favorite foods are?"
Me: "Alphabet soup and chocolate chip cookies?" (What I made today... I thought he was buttering me up)
J: "Yeah, that and what else"
Me: "Apples, yogurt, bananas, peaches"
J: "Yup, and what else?"
Me: "Challah, matzah balls, spaghetti"
J: "Yup, and what else?"
Me: "Pineapple, pita chips, cheese"
J: "Yup, and what else?"
Me: "I don't know what else?"
J: "One more thing and it starts with an O"
Me: "Oranges"
J: "OK, and one more thing that starts with an O"
Me: "Onions"
J: "OK, and one more thing that starts with an O"
Me: "Oatmeal"
J: "OK, and one more thing that starts with an O"
Me: "Orangutans?"
J: "Nope, not that. One more thing."
Me: "Not sure"
J: "Well, you know I love olives. Oh, and grapes too"

A little bit comical...

But mostly not... But most likely a boon to public health.
www.inspot.org

Is it June yet??

I love the fall and the winter in New England but the lack of sunlight and me are not the best combination. I can't believe we're still 2 months away from the shortest day. The absolute inability to want to get anything done after 6:30 PM and we haven't even hit daylight savings time yet is ridiculous. I think we should rethink the Iceland thing and maybe move somewhere closer to the Equator at least for these months of the year.

The political blog resurfaces...

Does anybody else think this is a really bad idea??

Who knew...

Who knew that I needed a degree in philosophy and/or evolutionary biology to be a parent??

Jack: Mommy?? Tell me about the first people.
Me: What?
Jack: Tell me about the first people.
Me: What do you mean?
Jack: I was thinking... how did the first people get here? Whose belly were they in if they were the first?
Me: Do you wanna play hockey?

The rough life of Jacklet...

Well, I was originally thinking of taking the idea from other bloggers that I know of having each day of the weekend being a specific theme. I figured that since I spend Tuesdays with Jack and since there is always a great quote/ thought process by him that Tuesday's blog entries should be dedicated to some Jack conversation. But there were so many other blog-able moments today that I will have to share his quote with other things.

First off, Jack's comment of the day:
"Mom, is an elephant's trunk full of boogers?"

Second, I'm completely bummed that our alternate country of choice, Iceland, where we were going to move pending outcomes of next month's elections is going bankrupt.

Third, Jack and I went to Bruins training camp today. I was surprised that we were pretty much the only non-media there except for a few diehards and/or guys who make their living selling signed memorabilia on ebay. Luckily, those diehards were there to point out to me which guys were which because I would have no idea who was who. All of the guys came out one by one after practice to get in to their cars and Jack got all their autographs (and even a Bauer representative and a trainer's too- he didn't care). He did care the most about meeting Tim Thomas. He got to shake his hand, get his autograph, and get a photo with him. It made his day.

Wanna be like Sarah...

Silverman that is...
Just to take away from the sappiness of my previous post and go back to by political blog.

For anybody that needs proof...

From Wedding pictures

The wedding weekend was WONDERFUL!! Ellen was a beautiful bride and David was a handsome groom. The smiles on both of their faces were unforgettable! Unfortunately, the smile pictures are still being developed but honestly I think this was the only time I didn't see them with an ear to ear grin the entire weekend (they were being serious for their vows).

I continue to apologize profusely and perseverate about the matron of honor toast and not saying everything or anything that I wanted to say. Somehow, I completely lost my brain this weekend. Almost losing and/or losing my wallet, keys, and multiple other things multiple other times including my speech notes twice.

Let me summarize the real speech-
1) I wanted Krista (the photographer) to take pictures of everyone except for me... like the Oscars when they photograph everyone else responding to what could or might or will be said. Since I'm sure everyone was anxiously awaiting what embarrassing stories I was going to bring up about our childhood and how obnoxiously mean I was to my sister on a regular basis while growing up.
2) I wanted to thank all of David and Ellen's family and friends who had come from near and far to celebrate such an important day and how much that meant to be and how much I knew that meant to them.
3) After all of the ribbing that Ellen got for her wedding binder... it was a wonderful weekend with so many amazing details including the shawls that all the bridesmaids and Emma are wearing that my mom and Ellen made. And that I hope that it was everything that she and David had wanted it to be.
4) How while writing the speech I couldn't remember anything of what Ellen said at my wedding. And that I figured out that it really wasn't important what she said or what I said. What was the most important was that I know that she has been and will always there for me and how I will do exactly the same.
5) How I knew from day one that David was the one for her and then every day forward confirming it. From talking to Ellen on the phone about him after meeting him, to talking on the phone with David, to talking to Ellen about deferring NYU to move to Mississippi for some guy, to meeting him at the same time as all of the rest of our family and that he fit in right away (making fun of all of the right people in all of the right way), to visiting them in Mississippi, to watching David play with the kids, to seeing the engagement ring pre-engagement, and on and on and on.
6) How I had such an amazing time getting to know their friends this weekend. It is still hard to think of Ellen as a grownup and a professional since she is my "baby" sister but I really enjoyed getting to know this other side of her through others' eyes. You can really judge a person through the people that hang out with them and I was completely in awe of the friend base that they both have accumulated over the years.
7) Most importantly, I wanted to toast to a lifetime of happiness and love. To a lifetime of being there for each other through thick and thin. And to looking forward to a lifetime filled with wonderful memories. And to looking forward to Mom now bugging Ellen about making her a grandmother again instead of me.
TO DAVID AND ELLEN!!!
So there it is... maybe I can stop obsessing and get some sleep tonight.

The Grinch is coming...

I heard my first "Happy Holidays" today. I just can't deal with another "holiday" season. It's not even Halloween yet, people. Please just enjoy the season that you're in. OK, soapbox stepped off of...
In happier news, the bride and groom are coming today! Yippee!

Really... we do talk about things other than death in our house...

Jack: "Mommy, who will be my mommy if you die?"
Me: "Well, I will still be your mommy. I just won't be alive any more."
Jack: "And if Daddy dies?"
Me: "Same thing"
Jack: "Emma?"
Me: "Same"
Jack: "What if I die?"
Me: "Well, we hope you and the rest of us don't die for a very long time. But same thing"
Jack: "Well, if we're all dead and buried underneath the ground together, can we play hockey under ground?"

And so it stands... it all comes back to hockey.

Continuing to be in utter disbelief...

And I was feeling in the mood to get Jim just as angry as I am.
Check this one out.

Once again...

I am posting politically oriented stuff. Sorry, my life's just been boring lately and this is too funny to pass up.

Getting political again...

Watching Sarah Palin with Katie Couric brought this to mind...

Please someone take the hint...

Since no one bought me my "Jew's on first" tshirt after my subtlety. I'm hoping maybe someone will pick up on this if I'm a little less than subtle. I WANT TO GO!!

Not to get too political...

OK, everybody knows where I stand anyways... but this is hysterical.




And... I figured out how to post a youtube video. The kids' videos are going to take a lot of manipulating. I think I figured how to load them fine on my own- they were just enormous files.

In disbelief...

That 9 days from now, El and Dave's wedding day will be on the 10 day forecast! Here's hoping for a bright sun shiny day and week!

Conversation overheard (and then butted in to)...

Jack: Emma, is outer space real?
Em: Yes
J: Are shooting stars real?
E: Yes
J: Are meteors shooting stars?
E: Yes
J: Are meteors dangerous to us?
E: No
J: Well, didn't meteors kill all the dinosaurs and make them go extinct (he doesn't say distinct any more)?
E: No, that's just a made up story.
Me: Actually, they do think that's how the dinosaurs went extinct.
E: Well, they don't know that for sure and they never will.
Me: You're right
E: I think it just got really, really hot one day and they all just died.
J: Can we play hockey we can get home?

No success...

Well, maybe I'm not 21st century ready. I couldn't figure out the video. Guess I'll just put my tail between my legs and ask my husband for help. (I hate when I have to do that)

Trying to enter the 21st century...

I'm always so jealous of those who have tons of pictures and videos on their blogs. I'm not sure if I just haven't figured out the super-efficient way to load them on or if I'm just super-lazy but it always seems like a pain to do. Well, here's my attempt to load up a video. Jack seems super-fidgety in this one. If it works, I'll try and do one of Emma doing Camp Rock. (Sorry about all the supers).


(Didn't end up working)

So far, it was easier than I thought but taking a long time to upload.

While I'm waiting for upload, I'm going to really tax the computer and try and upload other pics while I'm waiting for the video.

Pictures include
Em's first day of 2nd grade with and without Jack (who started his first day of the big kid room). My first batch of homemade mozzarella- much easier to make than the yogurt.
Pictures of mozzarella with tomatoes from the garden.

Wow, this is taking forever... maybe because it's a long video or because I'm not doing it right... will try again...

OK... well, I can't get it to work. I'm going to make one last valiant attempt to have a posting only of the video and then I must do some quick things for work before the weekend really starts.

Feeling like a dinosaur right as the meteor was coming...

This article, the Collapse of Primary Care, is one just like the many others I have seen. Mainstream media writes about this a few times a year. Not sure if it's supposed to make me run for another job or proud to be where I am or what... what it does make me wonder is where is the average family doctor working 60-70 hours/week and making $180K. Not only are they making that, but they're complaining about it. Not in New England. Whatever... best get back to work.

angry at the Red Sox...

Not just because they lost 2 in a row but because I'm exhausted (and they lost 2 in a row). I'm too old to stay up for these games. From now on, I'll find out what the score is in the morning.

Yet another philosophical musing...

As the black rainstorm clouds are coming nearer...
Jack: "Mommy, let's hope and hope a lot so the rain doesn't come until after we get home."
Me: "OK"
Jack: "You know, mom, I don't really think hoping has anything to do with it. I think the weather has to do with the science of weather and hoping can't really change that."
Me: "You're probably right, Jackie".
Jack: "Actually, mommy, I pretty sure I am right"

That's my girl...

Well, I found another addiction... boggle online. Emma was watching me play today and she said, "Does excuse count?" Why yes, it does. That's my 7 year old coming up with the 6 letter word on the 4x4 grid. Nice job, Em!

Right back at ya...

Yup... 10 years...
I'm not as technically savvy and have no time to figure out how to link up those videos. So here you are...

Clean, shmean...

See, I am a good mom. Always with my kids' best interest in mind.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25968435/

Overly clean homes may up bowel disease risk

Disease more common among kids with spick-and-span upbringings

Just like the good ole days...

Schlitz returns, drums up nostalgic drinkers

After decades of dormancy, Milwaukee's iconic beer is back on the shelves

Visitor du jour...

Alternate career found...

I've done it... I've finally done it. The resignation letter is written, printed, and signed. New job found!

Poor Emma...

She was all bummed that Jack and I went to see this guy yesterday. She really wanted to try crickets again. Jack was upset that he didn't serve his favorite- Japanese water beetle
(or whatever it was called)- the one that needs to be fileted open- but he did quite enjoy the crickets this time around. I must say I did too this time. I took the legs and wings off which made it a lot more palatable. I am a little concerned that I had symptoms similar to my shrimp allergy after eating it (please tell me I'm not allergic to all arthropods).

Boring...

Not that anybody reads this anyways... but my blog layout is so boring. Any suggestions?

So where should I get my information...

Please just make it go away.

The corporate sponsorship of everything on TV makes me nuts. If I had to hear the "Glad line of products" or "TresEmme hair salon" one more time on Top Chef or Project Runway, I was going to scream. Although this 30 rock clip is pretty funny.

Things sponsored in the medical world drive me nuts too which is why I stay away from drug reps and all dinners/education things sponsored by them. But since the cost of things is so expensive even the AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) CME (continued medical education) is all sponsored now.

I received a postcard in the mail today with the topic "Foods that foster healthy hearts: help your patients reduce their risk of coronary hearty disease" from the AAFP. Seems great from the description on the other side. Then you read the small print on the bottom. Here is the link to the webcast. Let me know what you think. I wonder what the miracle food is??

Different strokes...

The Learning Collection is a local program that offers tons of great classes- basic education stuff, languages, cooking, exercise, and then various "alternative options".

Jim's favorite class option:

Divine Intervention: How to Pray and Get Results [730097]

Do you ever feel like you are having a one-way conversation with God? Are you hearing a lot about prayer in the media? Join this discussion and learn the 10 tips to getting your prayers answered. Talking and listening to God takes time, patience and faith; but the exchange is life-changing. Thursday, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM; 1 session on September 11, 2008
Non-member Cost $39, Member Cost $29, Materials Fee $5

My favorite class option:
The Great RI Accent Reduction Program [540006]

Do you know English, but have a very strong RI accent? Would you like to reduce your accent and open the door to clearer communication? Join this unique program which uses a tape recorder so you can hear your voice improve. This immersion class puts you on track to a new, professional-sounding voice. Wednesday, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM; 1 session on September 17, 2008
Non-member Cost $45, Member Cost $35, Materials Fee $5

Always seems intriguing (yeah, right):
Exotic and Provocative Pole Dancing [140032]

Experience your sensual self through exotic dancing. Express yourself, increase self-confidence, enhance your senses, and improve flexibility and fitness. Unleash your wild side! Monday, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM; 4 sessions starting August 4, 2008, ending August 25, 2008
Non-member Cost $79, Member Cost $69,

Flower boy's in the house...

Don't feel so bad no more...

Well, all season long I have been looking forward to my tomato bounty. Most specifically, this one heirloom that I have finally gotten to grow (OK, I lie I finally found to buy and still have not been able to successfully sow from seed). Matt's Wild Cherry. It's supposed to be awesome but only yields a few fruits. Looks like we had about 20 green tomatoes on the plant. Dad ate the first one (or maybe it was mom, or maybe both) and it hadn't even hit the ripe red yet. Then Jim was in the garden the other day and Jack was on the patio (for those of you haven't read previous posts, my tomato addiction has caused us to expand our garden to our patio in pots and another side garden of only tomatoes).
And here goes the conversation or so I'm told...
Jack: "Hey, dad, do you hear that crunching sound?"
Jim: "No, Jack, what crunching sound?"
Jack: "The one of me eating the tomatoes"
There goes another 2.
We've been hanging in my parent's air conditioning for the past few days for Jack's breathings sake. Escaping the poor air quality caused by the air conditioning that we're sitting in... but at least Jack is breathing.
Hopefully when we return tomorrow those tomatoes will be nice and red... and I'll get to them before Jack.

And another thing...

Did anybody notice I'm not on Sarah's "bloggers worse than me" list??

Billy Idol gets it...

OK, so maybe only Jim will get the reference and it's probably in poor form to put Billy Idol and Nelson Mandela in the same reference point but it's my blog so I'm going to do what I want.

I've been finding it hard to try and find the balance between being a good doctor and being a good mom/wife/person. I'm not sure the balance will ever be able to be found. I look around and see all of these important people, doing all of these important things which are great but always wonder what the effects are on their families and whether or not these important people care or recognize the effects that them traveling so much has on their loved ones.

I don't know much about Nelson Mandela but I did see this article today. And I thought, you know, Nelson Mandela gets it.

It's official....

I'm stressed out... As I say to my patients on a daily basis, stress manifests itself in mysterious ways. For me, it's always intense dreams- not necessarily nightmares, just intense dreams.

It started Tuesday night with this weird visit for me back to Hopi and I was going back only to have a baby (no, I'm not pregnant)- I don't remember all of the details but it was definitely weird.

Last night's takes the cake though... It was Ellen's wedding and I had forgotten to arrange for the hair person to come and I couldn't find my dress and then I went to walk down the aisle and I didn't have shoes on. And then, and then, and then. It was just this major comedy of errors although it wasn't so funny at the time.

When is my vacation again??

Hmmmm....

Do you think Emma would think I was more fashionable if I wore something like this to the bus stop in the morning? How did I miss this when it first came out, I wonder??

Poor Jacklet...

I was out weeding and watering the garden yesterday and found our first red tomato. All the others around were green, green, green so this came as a major surprise. So I ate it... Unfortunately, Jack usually gets the first red tomato of the season but he's on the Cape and won't be back until the weekend and I didn't think the tomato would last. So I said to myself that I would eat it and wouldn't tell him. As many of you know, my secret keeping is not stupendous. I told him this morning about the red tomato that I ate. He was a little bummed but is very excited to know that there are hundreds of green tomatoes waiting for him to come home so that they can turn red.

Casi cielo...

Courtesy of my future brother in law, the black apron kick-butt barista that he is, I get to enjoy gourmet Starbucks coffee by the pound. As I'm brewing some Casi Cielo, which is definitely my all time favorite, I am wondering how susceptible to branding and marketing am I actually. I like to think that I'm not but I still don't let drug reps talk to me because I know that, even if I think that I'm not susceptible to their schmoozing, the studies show that I still am. So is Casi Cielo my favorite because it comes in a fancy bag and, after all, it's name Casi Cielo (almost heaven in Spanish) says it all? Or because it actually tastes better? I would like to think I could differentiate it from instant Maxwell House but could I? I say that Budweiser tastes like water but could I really tell a Sam Adams from a Budweiser blindfolded- I would sure like to think so. All interesting thoughts... but must get back to work.

Still going...

To the right, there's a link to Picasa. I added pictures of the garden- tomatoes, my biggest addiction. One of Jack's jobs (per Jim) is to try and prevent me from buying any more tomato plants or tomato seeds.
Also pictures of Jack's first trip to Fenway.
Our backyard turkey on the swingset (yes, you did read this right).
Em at softball.
My little architects (Jim let them loose with cardboard and tape).
I'm sure there was other stuff too.
Off to bed.

Got it...

There must be a way to add the whole album... I'll get there some day but here's the link to the album.

Some day...

I'll get there but not today... back to work. It was a very cute tree frog that I couldn't get a good picture of because it kept moving and I was afraid Max was going to pounce it.

My protector...

Well, Jim and the kids are away. Luckily, Max is here to protect me. Then, when I brought the invader out back, I found this guy.
Hmmm... not sure how to do this. More later when I get it figured out.

Seven years ago today...

Em was born. In celebration, Emma and I went to go treat our adrenaline deficiency at Water Country. "No-Fear Girl" wanted to go down the biggest water slide in all of New England, the Double Geronimo- basically, it's a 58 foot vertical freefall waterslide. So we went... I couldn't quite find a picture to do it justice but there were big muscle-y 20 year old guys behind us in line practically peeing in their pants in fear while they were waiting. Em went down without batting an eyelash and then went to the next ride... We had fun, came home and did Friendly's with the grandparents. Now she's spending the night at my mom's to go have fun tomorrow- I need a birthday week next year (Jim, are you reading this?).
Jack enjoyed his new hockey net that Jim put outside for him.
Fun was had by all...
Most go try and conquer Emily Windsnap...

Just in case...

Just in case any one actually reads this blog AND the good reads piece to the side of it AND is wondering about my recent book selection... Emma is devouring books and, when I say devouring books, I mean devouring books. It's pretty fun to watch but pretty hard to keep up with. All of the local children's librarians know Jack, Em, and me by our first names. They know which books we like (and which we don't). And they know that I never seem to weight lift enough to carry the pile of books for Emma that will only fulfill her for the week. Emma was reading the third in a series of books intended for 8-12 year olds and it seems that the whole mermaid needing to choose between life in the sea vs life on land decision needed to be made, but it entails a choice between living with mom on land or dad in the sea. The thought of choosing between two parents pretty much left Em distraught so she wanted to finish up the books with me instead and she wanted me to read the other two first. Little did she know, that I'm nowhere close to as fast a reader as she is and now I'm still only plugging away on book 2. I'll get there eventually... Anyways, I'm off to go read the Monster in the deep with Emily Windsnap (or something like that). Two days in a row... Now if I could only exercise 2 days in a row, we would be golden!

Good intentions...

I keep thinking I'm going to update more often. Funny pictures and stories of the kids, what's going on in our lives, our garden progress (or lack thereof). But it seems that I just never get to it. Thanks for sticking with me- whoever you might be.
We had quite the busy weekend.
Saturday Em shopped with Jim's mom. I'm thankful that there is someone out there that will go with Em to the mall so she can have fun (and that it's not me). Jack went to the RedSox with Jim and his dad and brother. Unfortunately, it was a Red Sox loss but he thoroughly enjoyed his first trip to Fenway.
Today was Em's birthday party. We had it at Oak Knoll, our local Audubon sanctuary where we spend a lot of time (and where Jim is on the board). Unfortunately, as we went to go on our walk, it started pouring but we had tons of fun dissecting owl pellets inside instead- lots of bones found by all- and it cleared up for a walk afterwards.
Not sure how I got it in my head, but home made birthday cakes for the kids' birthdays are very important to me. The past few years I had slacked off and either bought them or used mixes. Em specifically requested a return to the home made cake. As many of you know, I am always looking for a new day job- I don't think cake decorating will be it- but it did taste yummy.
My sister and future brother in law were in town this weekend and we all had fun hanging out with them. We went to Waterfire last night and to the Pride parade. Fun was had by all.
The week ahead looks to be a busy one.
Tomorrow night is a Paw Sox game to celebrate Em's birthday and her last day of school.
Tuesday is fun with the kids... not sure what we'll do. Maybe some strawberry picking?
Wednesday is Em's birthday. I took the day off and I think Em and I might have girl power day at Water Country.
Well, there's the catch up.
I'll try to be better (although I wouldn't hold your breath).

And the saga continues...

Read yesterday's post first...

This morning's conversation
Emma: "You know, I could take you shopping to help you get clothes that are more fashionable..."
Me: "Where would you take me?"
Emma: "Well, we could go to Target."
Me: "What would you help me pick out?"
Emma: "Well, you definitely need skirts and dresses. And probably some shirts and pants too"
Emma: "And purses too"
Me: "Purses? (with an emphasis on the plurality of the word)"
Emma: "Well, of course, you need a purse to match each outfit."
Me: "Oh"

Well, at least she's being frugal and shopping at Target. I'm sure that won't last long.

And the fun begins...

Well, we all have known for some time that Em some day would be making fun of my fashion sense (or lack thereof). I just didn't think it would be so soon.
I put on my new pajamas- courtesy of my inlaws for my birthday. In case you ever see me wearing anything nice, it's usually from them. My mother-in-law has much better taste than I do (again, not that it's that hard).
Emma: "Wow, nice pajamas, where did you get them?"
Me: "Why, do they not look like something that I would pick out myself?"
Emma: "No, they're way too fashionable"

My birthday...

Another year... but as Jack said "You'll always be younger than daddy, right?" Right you are, Jacklet.
Lazed in bed a little extra this morning then went to Jaec's this morning for coffee and croissant.
Swimming lessons with Jacklet.
Off to gardening store where we smelled tomato plants- what a great smell.
Off to Oak Knoll for a nice stroll. Boy, does that Jack have a lot to say.
Lunch with Sarah.
Visited Fine Farm- couldn't resist buying a 9 pack of tomato plants.
Home for some baseball.
Quick spaghetti dinner.
A lot of work.
Carvel ice cream cake with my parents.
Bedtime routine with kids.
More work.
Now an early bedtime.
What could be bad?

What better way...

To start blogging again then to remind everyone that my birthday is coming up.
And for all of you who don't have a present picked out for me.
Check this out.

Well...

I have been abysmal about updating this so I'm sure the few readers that I had are now long gone. I've been working over-overtime lately but am continuing to press on. I'm leaving with the kids for Florida on the weekend so I'm sure I won't update until after I get back but I will try to update on a regular basis after I get back- hopefully with pictures too.
I did want to share a story about someone that I ran with at Bowdoin and went to Ecuador with, Emily Levan. Nightly News ran a story about her and her daughter who has leukemia. Jim and I went to college with both Brad and Emily. We have been touched by childhood cancer way too much this year- anything any of you can do to help support children and families with this illness and to prevent others from having to go through this would we wonderful.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032619/#24188588
www.twotrials.org

Life before the internet...

I am constantly thankful that I am practicing medicine in the year 2008. I don't know what I would do without being able to look up studies, medication doses, etc on a very frequent basis. I use it for so much else too- patient handouts, images to show patients what an ear infection looks like, etc. Today, I used it for something else. In igoogle, I added a translation link where I saw someone today in Arabic via typing in my question in English and it spitting it out in Arabic. Honestly, I couldn't get through my day without it. Thanks, Al Gore- too bad he's not running for president.

My reading habits...

Emma has been devouring books lately. It's crazy how many books she is reading and how much she is enjoying them. The other day she completed one that I was told that I absolutely must read. Mostly Em has been reading some pretty great literature so I'm not sure how she decided this was the book that was best for me. But, I put down this really great work of fiction (The Girls) even though I should be reading the book for book club (Jewel by Bret Lott) to read this




Surprisingly, it's not as bad as it looks. I might need to read the rest of the series.

Calling all readers...

OK... so our family has some major dental issues. Em has had 2 crowns and 1 extraction and isn't even done first grade. She was born with minimal enamel on her teeth and it looks like will be visiting the dentist regularly for the rest of her life. And poor Jack had to have a cavity filled the other day in his front teeth- he was a super trooper and handled it great. Now, I know it's the dentist's job to encourage good oral hygiene but she always seems so surprised that we don't floss our kids daily. We brush the kids' teeth at least daily- maybe we don't do it long enough but definitely a daily tooth brushing family. Try to do twice a day. And now are trying to be a daily flossing family. Do you all (whoever you all might be) really floss your kids' teeth every day?

Not to rub it in or anything....

But 9 more days!

Why didn't I think of this...

There are so many of you that would love to have these, I had to let you all know about them. "So many" meaning, my sister and my dad, and since that's at least 50% (if not higher) of the population reading this blog, that can be translated as "so many". Who wouldn't love to be carrying these around in your wallet and put them on various morons' windshields?

Happy, happy....

Happy year of the frog!
"The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is highlighting 2008 as the Year of the Frog to mark a major conservation effort to address the amphibian extinction crisis. The Year of the Frog is also meant to engage the public in amphibian conservation and to raise funds for AZA amphibian conservation efforts into the future."

I really mean it....

I need to go to bed. But how can you stop when you come across stuff like this?

Which led me to...

This one's for you, dad

Cursing the GibbonJockey...

I have definitely cursed the GibbonJockey about many things over the years- the primary one would be abandoning my husband in Hopiland a few months before we made our exodus. But now, one more reason, he introduced me to another time sucker. Thanks for nothing, GibbonJockey. The website kind of reminds me of Uncle Matt's trips in Fraggle Rock. And I'm a little embarrassed that #74-76 have all applied to my life this week. I am a new owner of a decreased carbon footprint, decreased plastic leeching water bottle. Must go to bed... Oh, and how great is it that there's a muppet wiki website?

Another time waster...

Just what I need, another website to suck up my time. Check out www.goodreads.com. It's like a facebook for book readers. Completely addictive.

For my birthday...

Since I know you all like to buy my birthday present months in advance, kudos to the person who trumps this present. For further giggles on the same subject...

Deep Thoughts...

Jacklet came up with a couple of doozies today.
1) You know, days do keep coming even after you die. We know people who have died and the days still keep coming. So after we die, the days will keep coming.
2) I'm glad we have ears. You know, if we didn't have ears, we couldn't hear. I'm glad we have ears.
3) What happened to dinosaurs? What does distinct mean? Will people become distinct? If a meteor comes, let's move somewhere else so we don't become distinct? (I tried to correct the distinct to extinct... just didn't happen).

Hmmmm....

What should this blog be? I continue to ask myself this. Just fun stuff about the kids, rants about this or that, me trying to get everybody to giggle once a day? I still haven't quite figured it out. I was trying to think of something to blog about today. There were a couple of cute things the kids said or I could write about happy things that happened to friends today. And then I came across this. Probably the #1 (or maybe #2) reason I turned down the Peace Corps. Finally, a little more proof coming out that I made the right decision. And that it would probably be the daily (or not so daily) update from L blog instead of L/J/E/J.

You go, girl...

Well, I did it. I've been threatening it for years and I finally tried downhill skiing. No one wanted to go with me- Jim didn't want to go and all others I asked made up some injury (you know who you both are). I bought myself a first-timer Learn to Turn package at Wa-Wa-Wa-Wachusett. I did much more and much better than I thought I would on my first day. Went down all the green trails they have to offer and even managed to not fall getting off the lift. And I don't even feel all that sore (yet). If only I had my ipod loaded with New Kid tunes, it would have been a perfect day.

Saving face...

Just to make myself clear. I never really liked New Kids, nor do I like them now, nor do I want tickets to go see them in concert (nonetheless for Valentine's Day). Although some how I do know all of the words to all of their songs.
And I never liked the Spice Girls either. And I hate Victoria Beckham's hair.

Is everybody just in disbelief??

Or does nobody care? Or does nobody read this? Really? Not a single comment on what is bound to be the 2008 concert event to end all events? No one has bought be a surprise pair of tickets yet?

Like we needed any more proof...

Like we needed any more proof that the United States has nowhere to go but up, I have proof that our society has hit an all time bottom. It has nothing to do with the abysmal state of the costliest health care in the world, our lacking educational system, that more people know the status of Britney Spear's custody debate than about who is running for president. No, my friends, this takes the cake.
PS. 3 times in one day- don't expect that ever to happen again (I just couldn't let this one sit).
PPS. I have horrible recollections of waking up before a cross country meet in high school after sleeping over at a friend's house to a room covered in their posters- not a square centimeter of wall space spared. I think there were even pillowcases involved. I think that was my worst time all season.

Because I know...

Because I know all of you (however few that might be) are all anxiously awaiting the update... So far, Em, Jack, and I are all still alive after eating the yogurt. Definitely tart without extras. We added canned peaches with some of the juice (OK, so that's cheating a little on the homegrown edibles but we're still learning). If I don't post in a few days, know that one or all of us might have gotten super sick from it though (or I just have nothing to say).

Slowly but surely...

Slowly but surely, Jim and I (mostly Jim) are moving towards a healthier eating. We already ate pretty healthy at our house but, inspired by Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and The Omnivore's Dilemma, we are trying to eat more locally and with a smaller footprint. We (aka Jim) are baking our own sandwich bread, anxiously awaiting growing our vegetables again this spring/summer/fall (maybe even starting asparagus), and joined a meat CSA through Chestnut Farms where we get locally raised, grass fed, antibiotic and hormone free beef, chicken, pork, and lamb. I have my first batch of yogurt brewing (although I think the best question of the day is, who will be the first to try it and how sick will they get?) and am anxiously awaiting finding the time to start making my own cheese. Well, off to make lamb chili...

Happily ever after...

We have been doing a lot of alternative fairy tales in our house lately. Not quite sure how it started but we're all having fun with it. First, it was Leaping Beauty (by the guy who wrote Wicked) then it was New Fangled Fairy Tales .
Emma and I had girls night out at the movies tonight and saw Enchanted which was actually pretty good.
Boys night out was at the hockey team's Winter Carnival.
Fun was had by all.

My neck hurts...

From looking up so high for hours on end. We went climbing at the Rhode Island Rock Gym yesterday. I belayed Em who has been about 3 other times. She is a climbing fiend. Her excellent muscle to body weight ratio in combination with superb flexibility makes her amazing. Jack tried a little- he was pretty good but a little hesitant as a first timer. Here's a link to my new Picasa web site for some pictures from the day. We'll see if I can update with that with a little more pictures than this website has space for. 2008- the year of "no", blog, and photojournal.

Crisis avoided x 2...

1) Call coverage obtained for my sister's wedding. Just noticed last week that I was actually on call the weekend of my sister's wedding. Luckily, coverage obtained.
2) E-mail from US government that my renewed passport (horrific photo and all) is in the mail. Jim's not going to the DR alone.
Phew....

The challenge...

Our most recent installment of "dinner games" was a competition. Surprisingly, our family is big in to winning. This evening's challenge was to put two people against each other and whoever makes the most convincing face portraying a specific action or feeling (picked by one of the other players/judges) wins. Here are some pictures. Oh, and posting more than once in a week, take that Sarah (AKA the only person reading this blog)
Em does tasting something yukky

Jack does tasting something yukky

Jack doing someone takes your hockey stick away from you (he doesn't look too angry about it because the angry was too quick to catch with a camera and then he snatched it right back from he who taketh away)

Emma scoring a basket

Who knows what this was?? Just Jack in his usual perpetual state of motion.

Rare moment...

Jack is not well known for his snuggling on the couch. Basically, if he has low enough energy to not be running around playing hockey, he won't sit on the couch because he's afraid that he will fall asleep (tonight, he actually fell asleep while watching Planet Earth after running around multiple times playing hockey and doing puzzles and finally giving up and watching TV). Anyways, this was Em and Jack snuggling the other morning watching TV- rare moments caught on film.

Hmmm....

What can I post about to meet Sarah's challenge of a post a week? I got nothing. Oh, I know, we went to the zoo today. We saw the gorillas at Franklin Park which are always fun. One guy asked the docent if the adult gorilla breastfeeding the baby gorilla was the mom or the dad. Sometimes, it's just hard to keep a straight face.

I work too much...

But now I get to smile at work. Emma is absolutely the best gift giver ever. Any time I'm in a store with her, she always mentions how so-and-so would like this or that. She actually more often sees stuff that she thinks would be good for someone else then for her. That being said, she got me this pen as a present for Chanukkah/Xmas. And now I'm at work, using this pen, and every time I look at it I think of her. I mean what says Linda more than a lipstick pen? And how ridiculous is it that I type "lipstick pen red rhinestone" and get the exact pen that I have being sold on ebay as one of the first google searches?

Jack makes me giggle...

As he tried to get me to carry him off the plane the other night, Jack says "I'll pay you 50 dollars to pick me up." When I told him no, he said, "OK, I'll pay you 90 dollars." Hmmm, no.
Well on my way to my goal of posting more times in 2008 than 2007. Not too hard a goal since I never said that I would post anything of substance.