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.