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

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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.

eye opener

First day of clinical today. I was so nervous I slept nearly a wink last night. Staff was wonderful and the facility is very nice. Its not Promises in Malibu, but its really nice. Preceptor was nice, I will spending more time than I thought with our class instructor which is actually a good thing. So incredibly knowledgeable. We saw a few patients together today, tomorrow I will be on my own with review after the fact.

The big drug down here is heroin. Heroin is to Bucks/Philadelphia counties as methamphetamine is to Bradford county. Addicts are plentiful and guess what they look like? They look like your nephew, your daughter, your sons, your lawyer, your banker. Mostly your sons, daughters, nieces,and nephews. They are bright, attractive, ridiculously young, and healthy. It breaks your heart into a million little pieces to see them. And I have only been there one day.

Drug use/abuse/addiction is not sexy. It's not cool or trendy. It's not provocative. It's pathetic, ugly, disgusting, destructive, and tragic.

I know we all "know" that. But sometimes we don't (can't) really grasp it. To know that the struggle is now life long after an addiction, relapse can be forever right around the corner. Seeing these beautiful people with their lives essentially taken from them is sobering. no pun intended. Never again will they be without this huge albatross. For those who can't get clean, mental and physical health will deteriorate and a slow and uncomfortable death follows for someone with drug abuse as their lifestyle. That is if you make it that far and don't get a bad bag, or unknowingly mix it with other bad junk like xanax or alcohol and just not wake up the next morning.

I know this is sensitive, those of you who might be or are dealing with it in your lives, I don't want to open up a sore, but please please please....talk to your kids, your family. Do what ever you have to do to keep them away from this stuff.