A bone

Oh my gosh, what a hypocrite, RIGHT? I know, I know, I get so mad at myself for letting all of the school stuff be so consuming. It's just that there is always something to be reading, some technique or theory to be studying, or just something else to know that I don't just yet. I have even been horrible at checking blogs. Apparently one person still checks, thanks Tiff.

I am heading into the last leg of my training. I have 14 weeks left. My last day of class is June 5 and graduation is June 13. I have already reserved my hotel rooms. I have to go down once more before then, in April, to do what they call a standardized patient exam. A videotaped exam of me and an actor that is the patient. I do the physical exam and come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan after the interview. It is pass/fail and could mean big trouble if I fail.

I have recently hit the wall as they say. I have never run a marathon, but I am very familiar with the feeling that I just. can. not. go. on. It has gotten a little bit better, but I was so (SO) ready to bag this whole thing. I am not even sure I am ready to go back to work and leave my little ones. (I know, they are not so little, but.....) So I contemplated taking some time off, maybe finishing next summer. My husband in his infinite wisdom, didn't think this such a swell idea. I am so tired, so sick of having no life outside of whipping up crappy dinners, having a dirty, messy house, and this frigging computer and about a dozen books that are open all the time. Ugh.

So there's all that. On a positive note, I am doing clinical locally, at the Packer and hope to be able to stay there until graduation. The Docs are willing to have me and I have been informed that they have considered hiring an NP for a long time. One Doc told me that he would see if I work out based on my performance during clinical. Yikes! (no pressure!) So it seems as though if I don't come off as a total moron during the next couple of months, I might have a pretty good job when I am done. It has been really a wonderful learning experience there so far, I am getting more stuff in than I have all year, and the docs are really good to me. So, this is exciting. It is a really nice unit and I like the pace and the structure. Driving out to the big parking lot and catching the shuttle every morning and afternoon, not so much. But hey.....

So, just a simple update for the few who still poke around these parts :)

Where are you Guys?!

Remember the days not so long ago that we were all dedicated posters and checkers? I will be the first to admit that the novelty wore off after a bit, but I still relied on the blogs to keep me updated on what some of my favorite people were doing, feeling, contemplating, sharing, etc.... And I honestly did try to post. regularly. albeit with widening spaces in between.

Has Facebook replaced this forum?

Well, I am still a dedicated checker, and try to find some things of interest to share now and then.

So c'mon, dust off your blogging caps and throw me a bone once in a while! (I'm lookin' at you Jen!)

Science and Culture at the White House

I was never a big Obama supporter. Heck, I thought Ron Paul was the guy for the job. But I was never, EVER a McCain supporter. I don't even consider myself all that political, but I am a huge fan of common sense, and sentencing our country to another 4 years of Republican nonsense, well.....that just didn't make sense to me. So I guess by default I slid to the left. Although I didn't have far to go, it seems I like it just left of center. So all you Righties out there, take a peek at this quip:


Science and Culture at the White House

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Home comforts

Applause needed

at least it feels that way. My word has this ever been a thorn in my *ahem* paw. I have written papers before, bigger and I am sure better, but this was a bugger! Well, here she is in all her glory, only 18 pages in all (yes, including tables and references. But still!) but not so bad and it will have to do at this point. I am D.O.N.E






and this is what my house looks like.






and this





Now for all my snarky friends out there thinking 'what is so different?', well, it is. But that is about to change for when my lovely family gets home from church, we will listen to Christmas carols, make cookies, sip hot chocolate, and transform our home.

I hope.

another one down

Another term is about to end. I am done with clinical next week and just have a paper and a final to take then I am half way through this grueling year. I am done June 13. Actually before that since that is graduation. This has been the hardest term yet. Clinical was....well.......an experience. Let's say I have high hopes for the next term.

I swear I am on another planet most of the time. I have no idea what the goings on are at my house. It will be nice to be in the loop again. One thing I do know about is the GINORMOUS screw job we have gotten from our house painter/contractor. I never thought this would actually happen in a small town, let alone to us. Our super nice contractor who promised us the world and brought my kids McDonalds every morning while they were here took our money and ran. That's right. Thousands of it. He was such a slippery little shit, talking up a storm about what he can do, what he will do, when it will get done, how great their work is, etc......... We thought "Is he too good to be true?"

YES

I know, I know, 'why did you pay him up front Teresa?!' B/C we were foolish. So if you want to hire a fantabulous painter who is going to take care of you, do not hire Joe Tripp aka Creative Coatings out of Wyalusing. Now we have gotten estimates from someone else to finish the work and we have to go to court. What a pain.

Thanks Kat

This was the funniest thing I have read in a while. I would love to frame it and put it in my office for all my clients to read.

Our home away from home at the moment




Me and my "old" man

Bonjour

We are here. It is a bit cold today, and blustery. I have pumped myself full of sudafed and advil and am making out quite well. We rolled into town about 7:30 last night, walked around a bit and found a lovely bistro in which to have a curbside dinner.


I am working on my French, but everyone is bilingual.


Today we are looking for the farmers market, trying to get our bearings, and are planning our big sightseeing trek for tomorrow when it will hopefully be about 10 degrees warmer. Jeff is napping now, then we will head back out.





The photo below is of the front of our hotel. The red awning and flower boxes (and the silver mini-van, but note the horse-drawn carriage in the foreground instead). We stayed here last night and will stay tonight. Then on to Le Chateau Frontenac Friday and Saturday.







Below is the view of our street coming out of the hotel. It is very lovely, and the town is unlike any in the US. Unfortunately, it isn't as big of a secret as I thought it was. The main industry here is tourism. :( But if you just block out all of the ginormous coaches that bus people in by the thousands, it is really rather European.



More later after I get some more photos. We are off again to the wine shop, and to try again to find the farmers market as Jeff is now up and ready to GO.

Soccer time

I wish I could say that Will loves kicking that ball around more than he likes getting all decked out in his 'uniform' but I can't honestly do that just yet. He does like playing quite a bit though.



He was the goalie for a bit during practice on Saturday and he thought that was the best!

Love and Marriage

My sister up and flew to Vegas and got married in May.
They had a small ceremony and a nice reception a couple of weeks ago. It was a gorgeous day, and it was so relaxed and well, just real nice. I compiled the pics in a book for her and you can see it here.

Kate & Howard

August 23, 2008

By

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Hello Stranger

I am refreshing my page. I really like all the neat new stuff you can add, however, it just serves to clutter I'm afraid. So after about half an hour of adding stuff, I decided to delete it all. Almost all, I made a few minor changes.

As this term draws to a close and I sit at my desk *ahem* studying, I am already fantasizing about what the next two and a half weeks of freedom and bliss will bring. How will I fill my days? Let me see....

I am vowing to update my blogs more reliably. (Also to keep up with yours as well!)
I am going to organize my 'want to reads' in order of greatest desire.
I am going to scan photos, negatives, and organize prints.
I will scrapbook.
I am going to get back together with Flylady. (I mean it this time)
I am going to change my children's attitude, behavior, and character by Friday. (with the help of Kevin Lehman)
I am going to have brunch with my girlfriends.
I am going to have a Sex and The City night with my girlfriends.
I am going to clean my house from top to bottom.
I will organize everyone's sock drawer.
I am going to have a 6th birthday party for my son.
I am going to Quebec for a week to celebrate my husband turning 40.
And maybe spend a little time prepping for the next term.



All in all, I am looking forward to a relaxing time.