Tuesday, December 30, 2008

now what?

So. I finally succumbed to the peer pressure (Eli!) and joined facebook. I just have no idea what I'm supposed to do with it. Oh, and Belize highlights are coming. Promise.

Monday, December 22, 2008

why me?

Last night, GUG at my favorite neighborhood pizza place. Tonight, Dallas Boy at the local watering hole. Uggghh. Did I ever mention they're both named Jon?

All I need now is a Mr Carwash sighting and my world will be complete.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

brrrrrhhhh. it's cold out there!

Back from Belize: Had an amazing time and look forward to sharing the highlights! But that'll have to wait until after the holidays - so much to do! For now I'll leave you with the teaser pic below. We wanted to bring a little seasonal spirit to the island and I think we succeeded quite nicely:) Merry, merry!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

rosy mistle-toesies

Brand new snorkel mask (I can see!), check. Over-packed bag, check. Fresh pedicure, check. Passport, check. Belize, here I come!

Friday, December 12, 2008

SPF: RED or GREEN

Haven't played in a while . . .

My most intimate inanimate object relationship? My big, green, comfy couch. Minds out of the gutter people. Minds out of the gutter.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

still a black cloud

Shortly after I posted my last blog, the world went to hell. Or at least my small Baylor corner of it did. Jinxed myself, I did. Wow. Wasn't planning on sounding like Yoda just then. But, *shrug*, whatevs. Anyway. Goes to show: once a beatdown magnet, always a beatdown magnet.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

wonderwall

(really early) am blogging soundtrack: some random easy listening music on the office radio, I can't get any other station to tune in!

(really early) am blogging sustenance: my fifth caffeinated beverage of the night and a sort of stale granola bar - I'm so freakin' hungry . . .

Ok, so, obviously I'm on nights again. Sitting here in my office. Bored out of my mind. Was steadily busy until midnight and then nothing. Nada. Thought briefly about heading home but I know for a fact that I'll get paged with another admission as soon as I unlock my front door. Plus, we actually got some weather here in the big D and I don't relish interacting with all those Texas drivers who have mental breakdowns the second the sun stops shining. As a result, here I sit. Bored out of my mind.

Something fun? Last night we had our final kickball game of the fall season. It was the playoffs (don't get excited - everybody makes the playoffs!) and I made a special effort to participate despite being on call. Let me tell you, it took some work coordinating the increased paraphernalia. Usually it's just me and sometimes (ok, often) a beer that I have to keep track of. But this time I had my latte, my phone, and my pager (thanks for the assistance Autumn!). And I was wearing a pretty ridiculous pair of over sized mittens. Because it was COLD. Not just chilly. Cold. And there was precipitation. Icy, wet, cold precipitation. And it was also the very best time I've ever had on a kickball field. Seriously. I felt like a little kid outside playing in the snow! We should have gotten massacred by the opposing team since we entered the playoffs as the last seed. But we didn't. We held our own. We didn't pull out a win, but we held our own. Have now committed myself to the winter league because have determined that we play better when affected by the elements! Hoping the winter league comes with a hoodie instead of a t-shirt. And ear warmers. Maybe a down coat. A scarf would be nice:)

Trying to get ready for the big Belize trip next week. Had to buy a new swimming suit that would be more appropriate for our snorkeling trip. That, was not a good time. Why didn't anybody tell me that my ass had doubled in size since my Mexico trip last spring? Really guys. A little warning a few months back would have been helpful. Well. Except then I guess I would have actually felt obligated to do something about it. When now, I can just say c'est la vie and buy yet another super cute cover-up. Yep. Changed my mind. Definitely better this way:)

Oh! Just got a page! Maybe it'll be something interesting!




Yeah. Not so much.

Let's see, what else? Sister Sarah is moving to Florida in January. I am very, very sad. I have loved having her just a few hours away these last few years. Julie, you are so going to have to pick up some slack in the family department. As if I don't already take crazy advantage of your proximity! Which reminds me: where's my turkey tetrazzini? :)

I've given lots of thought lately about adopting a dog. Been wanting one for so long and having Josie over Thanksgiving made it even worse. But I've been hesitant because of the whole apartment living thing. I went to Best Buy the other day with Gigi - I swear this is relevant - and spent some serious time in the TV aisle starring at the pretty flat screen HDTVs. I thought, I should totally buy a house so I could have an excuse to buy this TV. And then, If I had a house I could probably have a dog. Sometime on the ride home I realized that perhaps my priorities were a little skewed. Maybe not quite ready for that dog after all . . .

Saturday, December 6, 2008

jingle bells on bishop




go mizzou!

How can they possibly lose?
*addendum: easily, as it turns out*

Friday, December 5, 2008

the nieces

I just can't get enough of 'em!

Sunday, November 30, 2008

"long live 'forever friends'"

With my recent trip home to Missouri a few weeks back and the start of December - which brings along with it a few important birthdays! - just hours away I've been doing a little reminiscing. Add in the Mizzou game yesterday and the current holiday season and I've got Family Burrell on the mind!

Polly is my oldest college/med school friend. We were assigned the same freshman docent group back in the fall of 1996 (!) and she's been one of the most important people in my life since then. When I think of that first year, I think of going down to the 3rd floor of our dorm to her room most afternoons to watch Rosie O'Donnell. I think of going skiing with her in Weston. I think about cramming for anatomy tests and our first Snow Ball. And mostly I think about how lucky I was to find another person so much like me in a sea of fellow students that were so, so different.

Subsequent years brought CSM and academic trials. Lots of trips (Chicago and Boston top out my favorites!) and some really great parties/celebrations! Our circle of friends changed a bit from the beginning to the end. But she was the one constant through my time in Kansas City.

It didn't take long after we first became friends to become more. To become family. She shared her Eli (I still remember the first time we met!), her parents, her sister. She shared her family. And I shared mine. She and Eli were amongst the first to come visit me when I moved down to Texas. And they're one of the reasons I came really, really close to moving back to Missouri this past year. I don't get to see them nearly as much as I want to - life just seems to get in the way. But just like the constant, the rock, she was to me during med school I know she - along with her family - will always be an integral part of my life.

It just seemed like a good time to say, thanks guys.


Grace, Eli, Polly, and Lilly

Saturday, November 29, 2008

yep. bitter's back.

Despite a valiant rally effort in the third quarter by Josie-the-super-dog, the Tigers fell to the Jayhawks 40-37. We've still got the Big 12 Championship game next weekend. But. Wow. This one hurt. Just wait. Somehow KU will end up invited to the National Championship after their win. Punks.

Friday, November 28, 2008

belize it or not

The aforementioned update, in reverse chrono - for kicks!

Turkey Day.
My all time fav holiday. This year I spent it cheering on the Boys in Texas Stadium. A bittersweet moment because, while the Cowboys actually looked like the Cowboys and came up with a blowout, it's most likely my last game at TS. But, *shrug*, still a good time:) Post game: Autumn, Gigi, and I convened back at my house for a little grub fest. Sigh. So, so good. And as you can plainly see in the post below, oh-so-many leftovers! Added holiday bonus? I'm dog sitting Sarah's Josie while she's back home in the 'Burg. Loving it!

Kickball.
Back to the field after a prolonged absence. Seems like the world, or the faiths, or something has been against me as of late and kept me from participating. Or maybe it was just my work schedule:) Regardless, back to the field. And it was fun. Seriously. Everybody (read:boys) had mellowed out a bit while I was gone and we just all had a good time. And kicked a little kickball ass while we were at it! Ok, ok. So VERY, VERY little ass but still . . . :)

Ethical Dilemma.
Had to make a call about a patient. Go one way and make the right legal decision. Another way and the right moral decision was made. Or, at least, that's how I saw it. Morality won out. And I'm pretty much at peace about it now. I know that I made the right decision for the patient. Doesn't mean I didn't feel like I was gonna vomit for about an hour and a half!

Missouri.
Spent my week off after nights in the Show Me State. Met up with Nathan in KC. Remember the drunken purchase of Celine Dion concert tickets last summer? Well the moment had finally arrived! She exclaimed with wonder and just a hint of sarcasm. Unfortunately Celine had a head cold and cancelled on us. Which reminds me. If any one is in the market for a few seats to see Miss Dion in the new year I can hook you up! Nate and I still managed to have a good time and thankfully no additional drunken purchases were made in the making of the evening:) Spent the rest of my time at home in the company of my delightful nieces. Had a day with each of 'em and loved every minute of it. Jackie, Polly, and Leticia: I'm so, so sorry I didn't get a chance to come see any of you. There just never seems to be enough time when I'm home to do everything I want or need to do:(

Passport Stamps.
Made final plans - and final payment! - for upcoming trip to Belize. You will so be hearing more about that:)

Well. That about takes care of it I think. Your turn!

changing my stripes

a full, and thus happy, refrigerator:)

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

i sang to an ipod because I am AWESOME!

Another mondo update is forthcoming. But for now - can I just say? - I freaking LOVE this time of year. Thanksgiving. Beautiful fall weather. Pumpkins that give birth to pumpkin pies. Really, really good stuff.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

a watched clock and all that

It's been a long night on-call. All I want is a cold piece of pizza and my bed. Too much to ask? Come on 7am. Come the hell on.

Friday, November 7, 2008

racing the rat

It's been a super weird week at work. The honeymoon period is most definitely over.

I've been doing "float" this week. Basically, I show up at 1pm and man the pre-op clinic for a few hours and then take ER call until 8pm. Historically, calls for our group have been a complete beat-down. So just prior to my start date they started the concept of a float person to ease the on-call responsibilities. The floater takes all calls from the ER and the on-call person does cross-cover and consults. This is my first time as the float but I've been on-call many a time and the division of responsibilities seems to work pretty well.

Some back ground: I have only asked my float person for assistance one time when I was on-call. And I only did so because my secretary texted me and told me that the float wasn't doing anything and that I should ask for help. It WAS a busy afternoon. I got 14 consults in 5 hours on-call. My float saw one of them. But I could have seen that patient and still gotten done at a reasonable hour. Without leaving any leftovers for the night person. I've NEVER left anybody for the oncoming doc. Never. And my float person has never once asked me if I've needed help while on-call. Background complete.

So, Monday started out benignly. I was busy pretty much from the start. Saw, and admitted, 6 patients in succession from the ER and left the hospital around 9pm. Not leaving anybody for my night person to see. The on-call person left them one. Tuesday: I did nothing. Nada. Got out of clinic a little later than normal. The on-call person and I spent the evening shooting-the-shit in the office. He did see a consult and one direct admission over the course of several hours but didn't need me to help him because they came one at a time. No one left for our night guy. Wednesday. Yeah. This is where most of the weirdness came in. Got a text from the on-call person about 430 asking if I could give her a hand. I had just gotten done with clinic and already had 2 in the ER waiting for me. Told her I'd give her a hand when I got caught up. I did. She asked me to see a consult. I did. And then asked if there was someone else she wanted me to see. There was. I saw that person as well. Asked her again if she needed anything. She said no. I, once again, left nothing for the night person and the on-call person left one. Yesterday, I saw 2 peops in the ER early in the afternoon and then another for my on-call person. Then tackled 2 consults for him as well. At 745 I got another hit from the ED and saw it (as opposed to leaving it for the oncoming night person), leaving the hospital at around 845.

Where's the drama? Well the Wednesday call person let me know that she didn't appreciate my attitude to her on the phone. Apparently I was being rude and she had never had that kind of interaction before with a "colleague." She cried in the office while talking to me about this. That's right, folks. Cried. To be fair, I probably WAS short with her on the phone. I was just trying to get the work done, just trying to help her as quickly as possible so I would be ready if something new came from the ER. And, FYI? This was the same person who was float the day I had the record-breaking consult call. The same one who never offered to help me. The same person who, when I asked her, only saw one patient for me and then didn't talk to me again for the rest of the night. So, yeah. Fun.

There's more. Little comments from the Thursday call person to me about "sharing" the load when on float. That kind of thing. Really? Wasn't that what I was doing? And let me remind you once again: When I've been on call I have NEVER been offered help by the float person. This week on float, I've ALWAYS offered assistance to the call person. Am I the only person who finds this twilight-zone weird?

Yep. The honeymoon is over. And I don't even have a tan to show for it.

Monday, November 3, 2008

a bonus share

yep. they really are that cute.

you asked for it

So, an update?

the bird
I was going to tell all of you this great story about how Geege and I rescued a bird from the Texas State Fair. I was going to tell you that because that little bird was so pretty I named her Miles Austin after the perfect specimen of male beauty that is the Cowboys wide receiver who I happened to meet just prior. I was going to tell you how I was planning on transferring a lot of energy previously reserved for life drama (boy and other) into my new companion. I was going to tell you all of that and I was going to tell it with at least some degree of humor. Unfortunately, little Miles Austin passed away after less than a week under my care. And it sucked. Big time.

NOLA
Remember the weekend celebration I mentioned was forthcoming in New Orleans? Well, it's since passed and lived up to all expectations. What I didn't tell you was that the highlight of the weekend was supposed to be the NKOTB concert. Yeah, not joking. That's what Nat wanted for her 30th and what Nat wants Nat gets. As it should be on one's birthday, yes? It. Was. Hilarious. Seriously! There were probably about 15 guys total in the audience and they either had all done something very, very bad and were repenting or else they should be sainted. Everyone else was a drunk/giddy woman in her early 30s. Listen, I'll admit it. I was a big New Kids fan back in the 6th grade. I *hearted* Donnie:) But I thought I was going to have to pump myself up for this show. I thought I was going to have to drink some serious beer and then put on a little show of my own to make this fun for Natalie. Not the case. Oh, I drank serious beer. But I didn't have to fake my enthusiasm one bit. I still can't believe how much fun it was, how into it we got. And I got GREAT video. Yes, it's true. Donnie Wahlberg is still in as much love with me as he was back in '90. The footage proves it and I will definitely share once I get it uploaded to youtube:)

grown-up guy
It turns out that grown-up guys come with grown-up problems. And when those problems get really hard they revert a little bit back to boys. I really wanted to be there for him. I tried really hard to be there for him. But he just wasn't ready for me or for that. Or something. He's not completely gone. Still there in the periphery. The thing is, I don't have the greatest of peripheral vision. Ya know? I'm more of a straight ahead kind of girl . . .

my birthday
Honestly? Not the best one. Not by a long shot.

work
Still going well. Really well, actually. I can't tell you how happy it makes me that I actually enjoy what I do again. And the feeling I get when I'm driving home from a long day, knowing that I made a difference? Yeah. It's good. Really good.

kickball
So, it turns out, coed sports aren't that much fun. There is this superiority thing that guys get in competitive sports that's infuriating. Allow me a little vent? Just because I am not the most athletic person in the world does not mean that I don't know what's going on. Just because I believe in having fun on the field doesn't mean that I'm retarded. Just because I'm a girl does not mean that I'm ignorant about sports. So, back the hell off boys. And, no. Buying me a beer afterwards doesn't make up for the condescending attitude during the game. It just doesn't. Thanks. I feel better.

halloween
Sister Sarah and I went as extreme flag football players. That just about says it all doesn't it?

Thursday, October 30, 2008

help me out here

Been a little while since my last blog. Owe some people some serious catch-up. Not gonna happen tonight though. This weekend maybe? I'm really only here to ask one random question:

What is it about me, Mavericks games, and long-lost boys? I mean, seriously.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

looking for a good trade

Lots of trading going on lately. Decided to make a few comments re: same.

Roy Williams (ex-Longhorn RW, not to be confused with ex-Sooner RW) will be joining the Cowboys mid-season in exchange for some serious draft pick spots that will go to the Lions. Not sure how I'm feeling about this. I'll let you know in a few weeks.

Rumors abound about the possibility of Tony Gonzalez finally leaving the Chiefs. But Tony G not going anywhere it turns out. Which is really good because I wouldn't know what to do with my #88 jersey if he left us:)

Exchanged the boy (previously known as "grown-up guy") for a bird. A parakeet actually. Story to follow.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

it's just too much

It's football season. College. NFL. Football, people.

Also can't overlook the NBA starting their preseason this week.

NA NHL opens tonight.

And the MLB playoffs are underway.

So, my question is this: Who the hell is Kimbo and why are they wasting so much precious ESPN time on him?

Anyone? Anyone?

Sunday, October 5, 2008

the latest

Myla, Ripley, and Jacelynn

bring on the candles

I've been 30 for almost a whole year now. And it's been one hell of a year. Didn't get off to the greatest start. In fact, that first week was maybe the worst I've lived thus far. But starting in January and increasing exponentially month by month, it's turned out pretty freakin' amazing. That doesn't mean, however, that I still don't occasionally feel the sting of being in my 30s. And as 31 gets closer, the sting seems to come a little more frequently. I just got off the phone with BFF Natalie and she told me a few things that made me feel completely comfortable with where I am in my life.
  1. A few early twenty somethings I met a year ago on a visit to Asheville still remember me and speak of me with fondness. Apparently I'm "the cutest girl ever." So keen is their appreciation for me that on Friday night while looking at a framed pic of me and Nat they begged her to call me. It was 3 am.
  2. Natalie blocked their effort, gave them the big veto, stating "we don't do the drunk dial anymore." While we acknowledged that isn't completely true, I pointed out that it does happen much less often and usually a bit earlier in the evening. And we're both totally ok with that!

In two weeks Buggie and I are planning a rendezvous in New Orleans to celebrate her 30th. And I'm thinking that it's gonna be good. Very, very good:)

Saturday, October 4, 2008

happy birthday pops

With the newest addition to our family - Ripley - on her birth day!

Friday, October 3, 2008

good one amy

Sometimes I just wanna kick myself in the ass. Since I haven't - as of yet - figured out a feasible way to do that I'll just make do with an internal verbal lashing. Trust me, it'll be good.

Thursday, October 2, 2008

KICKBALL!

Tuesday night we had our first kickball game of the fall season. We lost. Kinda of horribly, actually. But free beer at our sponsoring pub post-game made the loss a little easier! I'm thinking next week is our week:) Come out and show your support if you're in the area - at the very least you can have a good laugh over our sweatbands! Frequent updates to follow . . .

Monday, September 29, 2008

just a little shout out

Way to go LJ and the Chiefs! Oh, how it makes my heart happy to see the Bronchos lose:)

Saturday, September 27, 2008

what are you waiting for?

Yesterday I was having a bad day. A truly spectacular bad day. It started off on the wrong foot - extreme fatigue from too little sleep, a miscommunication problem that seems to be approaching habit, no milk for my morning coffee. And then it progressed, as bad days tend to do, into more and more of the same. Demanding families, patients that just don't seem to get better. Encounters with other people that were so obviously not having their best day. Lots of little things that wouldn't impress you if I detailed them. Just trust me, it was not a good day. Shortly after I got home I received a text:

GUG: What's up? Have a good day?
me: I would label it as so-so. You?
GUG: Why is that?
me: Just a lot of things that didn't go the way I wanted them to or thought they should.

This interaction quickly followed by a phone call:

GUG: What's going on?
me: Just not having a good day.
GUG: Sorry, I probably kept you up too late.
me: Would've been a bad day regardless I'm sure.
silence
GUG: Wow. Not used to this from you.
me: Used to what?
GUG: Well. You're usually happy, smiley, shiny Amy.
me: Yeah, well that's definitely the most predominate version. She's just not in residence today.
silence
GUG: Ok. Well. Have a good night?
me: Yeah. Thanks. You too.

Great, huh? Exactly the pep talk I needed to turn my day around, right? Well ok, actually it may have been. I was so annoyed that I put on my cutest shirt with my most comfy jeans and took myself out for a girls night. And my girls came through for me. Bad day averted. But, the story doesn't end there. An hour or so into girls night, another phone call:

GUG: Are you in a good mood yet?
me: Uh, actually I am.
GUG: Great! I felt bad that you weren't happy . . .
(heart starting to forgive)
GUG: . . . I mean, I count on YOU to cheer ME up.
(anger returning to heart)
me: Uh-huh.
GUG: Ok, well, have a great night!
me: Yeah. Thanks. You too.

Listen up people. Shiny, happy Amy is exhausted. Ok? Exhausted. And sometimes a different walled-up version of Amy steps in to take care of her. Just for a few hours. Then the new protecter version finds the tired original version a latte. Or maybe some really good tequila. Eventually the smiles come back. So, just relax. Wait it out. Or better yet - listening GUG? - do something about it.

Monday, September 22, 2008

if it's not a word, it should be

I've been thinking about relationships a lot lately. For some super obvious reasons! I've always been sort of good at the interpersonal relationship thing. I'm a good friend, I know that. Most of the time I can sense what someone needs from me: comfort, an ear, some tough-love:) Sometimes it's a little harder. But, I've never been afraid to come straight out and ask a loved one what they're looking for from me. And I'm also not afraid to let 'em know if I can't deliver. Being generous with my heart, with my time, is a joy to me. I love doing small things for people that make them feel special in big ways. So little effort really for such a big reward. Starting to realize however, that no single relationship or friendship philosophy works for every encounter every time.

Which leads me to the following confession: I have no idea what I'm doing!

The grown-up guy is testing my intuition, testing my relationship sense. It seems like every action, every small gesture, can be interupted any number of ways. I repeat: I have no idea what I'm doing!

uugg.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

well hello ripley!

8 lbs, 9 oz and 2o inches long

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

i need a patio

These last 3 days in Dallas have been amongst the most beautiful I can remember in Texas. Blue skies. A temp high of 80. Amazingly, not humid. A nice breeze that couldn't be further from a hurricane speed wind. And once nightfall strikes, it is a most excellent backdrop for a truly spectacular moon.

It would be absolutely perfect if someone hadn't been slipping all I come into contact with an excess of crazy pills.

Seriously peeps. There are some completely looney individuals taking up space in DFW as of late. I've asked it before and I'll ask it again now: How do these people find me? Is it sort of like a pheromone? Or a beacon of some kind? The crazies freakin' love me.

On the up side . . . Work is going well. Really well. The grown-up guy is still around and still acting very grown-up. The Cowboys are looking good for a Super Bowl run. And tomorrow my sister is giving me a new little niece or nephew.

So, on second thought, bring it on crazies. I can take it:)

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

update

Another date with the guy . . . that makes four in the last week.

Oh boy, am I in trouble.

Saturday, September 6, 2008

the best of what's around

am blogging soundtrack: Dave Matthews Band, Under The Table And Dreaming
am blogging sustenance: Organic Italian Roast coffee and a couple (ok, 4) ibuprofen

Whoa buddy. It's been one hell of a week . . .

Last weekend I opted to celebrate my last few days of unemployed freedom with yet another trip out of town. Went down to Florida to join 2 of my favorite Dallas defectors at a conference/board review they were attending. At Disney World. Go ahead, laugh. I did. A lot:) The craziest thing is that until I stood in the Orlando airport waiting to claim my bag, I didn't really get that I was going to DW. I kept thinking I was going to Orlando to meet up with some old friends for a little fun. And that was true. I just didn't think about all the other old friends I'd be reuniting with - Mickey, Donald, Goofy, a few Dwarfs . . . :)

Erica joined me for a trip to the Magic Kingdom as soon as I got there. Initially I wasn't feeling the Disney love. Lots of people, lots of humidity. But then came Space Mountain. The spinning tea cups. Pirates of the Caribbean. By the time we found a place to watch the Main Street Parade I felt like I was 10. No one in that crowd was more excited than me to see Donald Duck float by!

Exhausted, we headed back to our hotel - officially known as the Dolphin but dubbed The Big Ass Sea Bass by us. If you've been there, you know why:) We parked ourselves at the bar in the lobby, harassed friend Brad to join us, and ordered a few too many rounds of cosmos. It was a throw-back happy hour of sorts and the Cosmopolitan was the perfect drink for our reunion!

The next night the three of us hit up Downtown Disney for a great dinner at Fulton's Crab House followed by a trip to Paradise Island. Cheesy, I know. Our waitress at dinner told us that the group of clubs on PI were closing down this fall to make room for yet more shopping. We felt obligated, after several drinks, to be a part of the farewell tour. We made a pact with each other to have at least 1 drink and 2 dances at each of the four establishments. So we moonwalked and hustled our way through the 70s/80s themed 8TRAX. We encouraged people onto the dance floor at the BET bar by showing off our (embarrassing) white kid hip hop moves. We went painfully Lo at contemporary Motion. And we got steamy and dizzy with endless techno music on a revolving dance floor at a place called Mannequins. Went home to the BASB feeling 20 and woke the next morning feeling several decades older. Good times:)

The rest of the weekend was a little more low key - lots of good Amy/Erica time, a little Cuban food, buckets of rain, and several really excellent naps. Got back sooner than expected Sunday afternoon thanks to the threat of a few tropical storms and a super nice American Airlines employee who hooked me up with a first class seat on an earlier plane.

Greeted by friends back in Dallas who presented me with a brand spanking new lab coat, complete with name embroidered on the pocket, in honor of my upcoming return to work. Thanks girls:)

Speaking of work, allow me to repeat myself: whoa buddy. I must have walked several miles around the hospital each day this week. Even as I sit here, my calves are cramping because of all the stair climbing and descending I did over the last few days. At this rate, I'll shed my current sabbatical/hibernation body in no time:) Aside from that extra little benefit, or mostly because of that benefit, it was one exhausting week. And I loved it. Along with my pretty new white coat, I slapped on my doctor hat and got back to work. Back where I belong.

Two days ago my friend, mentor, and new Baylor partner enlarged her family by one. Tara and Grady welcomed a beautiful baby boy into the world and named him Graham. One of the many things on my to do list for today is to track down a little miniature Cowboys jersey for him so he'll be ready for our season opener tomorrow against Cleveland:) Congrats guys!

And, more:

There's a boy. Scratch that. There's a guy. An actual grown-up guy. It's very early but also, I think, very promising. Most importantly, I'm having fun again. Yesterday, pre-date, I actually shaved my legs. And you know what? I didn't mind it one little bit . . . :)

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

random

There is something so incredibly soothing about rain. It sort of shelters you from the outside world. Whatever your mood - happy, sad, happily sad - you get to keep it. The rain can act as a buffer, a cocoon. I really love that about rain.

another brick

So, recently it has been made known to me that I possess some kind of wall. I'm sure this can be defined any number of different ways and I can't be too sure how it was meant by those who expressed this opinion. Ordinarily I might be able to shrug it off, content in my own skin. Well, ok. Who am I kidding? Most likely it would bother me intensely for about 15 minutes after which I would then throw out a mental whatever and go about my day. The trouble with this particular situation is that they do not appear to be lone statements. I have heard isolated murmurs before - see previously mentioned mental whatever. But this seemed almost to be a coordinated scrutiny. On a single day I was labeled similarly with this affliction by multiple people, at different levels of acquaintance. At no time did I feel attacked or was I under the impression that there was any sense of malevolence. I'm actually not sure of the true intent to be honest. The commentary very much came across as not-quite-casual observations. And my resulting pondering can fit into the same not-quite-casual category.

What does that mean exactly? Is it true? If present, is it intentional? Conscious? Is it something I should feel compelled to knock down? Why is it there to begin with?

Nope. Definitely not feeling casual.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Ramone's Bar and Grill

I have, on occasion while out and about, had someone buy me a drink. I have never, however, had anyone offer me homemade salsa or beanie weenies (that's essentially what that was, right Geege?) for the pleasure of my company. Until last night. God. I love the Cliff.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Saturday, August 16, 2008

pretty pink pyrex

Feeling very suzie-homemaker today. Decided to go with it and have spent the afternoon baking some really incredible (if I do say so myself) bran muffins. Stole a recipe from a fellow Missouri girl and then made it my own. 100% whole grains and organic - because I'm into that lately - to boot. Currently trying to convince myself that the fact that they are super nutritious does not justify un-checked consumption. Am obviously now using blogging as a means of distraction. I don't think it's working.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Good job, you.

There is a house in my neighborhood that I can see from my kitchen window. It sits on the corner lot across the street from my building and is painted a cheerful and friendly yellow. I don't know much about it's occupants; I think there may be a child and I know they use to have frequent parties. The house was an obvious fixer-uper when I first moved here. However, for many years, what - if anything - the owners may have fixed was less than obvious. But over the last few months, changes have abounded. There is now some kind of garage apartment. Simple, yet sweet, landscaping. Yellow paint. These people can stand in their front yard and have visual confirmation of the fruitfulness of their labors. They can pat themselves on their backs for an obvious job well-done. No one happening by would be inclined to doubt that they had, in fact, been very busy little bees.

Over the same period of time, I too have been busy. The first half of 2008 has been monumental for me. I have healed. I have learned. I have explored and I have enjoyed. I am renewed. But these things cannot be seen by the fly-by naked eye. My accomplishments are not so easily verified. Or validated.

Perhaps it's not too late for me to commission a commemorative t-shirt.

In hot pink.

definitely decaf

The strangest thing just happened to me. I stopped by the Starbucks on Gaston and Haskell after completing a 45 minute pre-employment physical at Baylor that mostly consisted of peeing into a cup and wearing various TB masks/respirators. Not exactly the most exciting, or most comfortable, morning of my life so I decided to treat myself to a latte. I ordered, I payed. I received a grande paper cup. Too hot initially for more than just a testing sip, I waited patiently for most of my drive home. When I turned onto my street I gave it another go and decided that something was a little off. I couldn't confirm my suspicions until safely out from behind the wheel and into my apartment. But this is what I discovered: they forgot the espresso. All I made it home with was a medium-sized steamed milk. Lovely.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

weird, right?

While getting ready to leave my house for the day I dressed carelessly and quickly, without a lot of conscious thought. Only when I was ready to go did I glance in the mirror.

My hair is in a sloppier-that-usual ponytail. I'm wearing my favorite comfy jeans that are now baggy from excess wear and wrinkled from a night on the floor. I have on my orange Missouri loves company t-shirt which clashes quite nicely with my chick flick cherry toenail polish. Feet further adorned with my newest (yet, not at all new) Reef flip-flops in a bronzy color. And I'm wearing my opal necklace that matches the one I gave my sister for our 25th birthday. I added a heart charm with Amy inscribed on it - a gift from my Uncle Dave when I was in the 4th grade - to the opal and somehow they work perfectly together.

I feel freakin' invincible.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

to: royal flush blush and senorita rosalita

Yesterday I had some female bonding time with little sister Sarah and little cousin Samantha. I picked up Sam and we went to our Mecca - Starbucks - before heading to DFW to gather Sarah. Sam and I had fun making up people's life stories while waiting in the baggage claim area. Such a Julie thing to do! With Sarah Jo in tow we eventually made it to our girly-girl destination for the afternoon and succumbed to the heady power of the pedicure.

We chatted about boys, books, and beyond. We entertained the other customers with talk about our individual super-spy and superhuman gifts. We weaved a story around our family and our combined influence on the world around us. And we had ourselves one heck of a good time.

Thanks girls:)

Thursday, August 7, 2008

sweet valley twins and the haunted house

It was brought to my attention just yesterday that I have recently been on somewhat of an obsessive reading binge.

Let's be clear: I've always been a voracious reader. I remember being so freakin' excited in the first grade when I was granted extra library privileges and actually allowed to take some of our classroom books home. And I'll never forget the very first chapter book my mom let me buy at our local TG&Y (see blog title). In fact, it's still in the basement of my parent's house. Guess the book hoarding thing I've got going on now isn't exactly a new phenomenon, huh? I also have a very clear memory of being questioned pretty suspiciously by my seventh grade reading teacher when I showed up after one fall weekend with 5 extra credit book reports to hand in. We'd just gotten a new bookstore in a nearby town and I'd gone a little nuts with my allowance money. Yet another sign of things to come:)

But back to the binging. It has been a touch ridiculous as of late. When this observation was made, it came with a challenge to come up with some kind of book total. We initially, briefly, considered a sort of sabbatical tally but gave that up as impossible. A list of summer reads was also considered. This might, with significant effort, be accomplished. But eventually it was decided to simply count up the books I've gone through so far this month.

So, Jul and Sammy Kay here goes. My August total to date is 11 and I'm gonna settle down with number 12 here in another 15 minutes or so. The longest book was the 754 page conclusion to the Twilight series and the shortest was a super quick 239 pager. 4 of the books are part of a set that I've read before and unearthed from under my bed recently. Two were on loan from sister Sarah. Three were brand new additions to my library and another 2 I borrowed from yours Julie. All could be considered fluff as I'm on an anti-highbrow kick currently and loving it. I'll be sure to keep you girls updated as the month progresses . . .

God. I'm such a dork:)

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

gale force

I accidentally got a little too hopped up on caffeine and as a result have been unable to sleep. So I finished another book, thought about cleaning my apartment, and did a little Internet exploring. While reading some random author blog, I clicked on a link to find out what kind of "music" I am. Although I'm not sure I bought the result - classical - I kinda got hooked for a minute on the site. This is a sample of what else I learned about myself:
  • In my past life I was a Lazy Viking who lived in Ireland and was killed in battle.
  • My fashion style is classic and I will be a modern bride.
  • I am both a cherry flavored Popsicle and cherry kiss lip gloss.
  • My Hawaiian name is Lanikai Ululani.
  • The best day for me to date is Tuesday.
  • I am very sexy and I mostly fight fair.

Actually, the quiz that probably was the most accurate was "what your feet say about you." Not exactly sure what to make of that. And while we're on the subject of things I don't understand, what the hell was I - as a lazy Viking - doing fighting a losing battle in Ireland?

Walked by my living room mirror a little while ago and realized that I was having a really good hair day. Great. Except it's not day, it's night. And there's no one around to witness it. Just seems like a little bit of a waste . . . :)

Saturday, August 2, 2008

well, that was stupid

So, I've been kinda hampered by an annoying virus as of late. You know the type - coughing fits just as you're drifting off to sleep, a subtle decrease in energy that worsens the longer you're up and about. Not really feeling sick enough during the day to warrant sympathy from others but definitely not on top of your game. Ya know?

Yesterday I finally decided that I could no longer use it as an excuse to skip out on the whole daily exercise thing. Wasn't really feeling it so brought along a work-out buddy for further motivation. Because it had been a while and I was still a little weaker than normal, I made sure to start out with a good lunch rich in protein and accompanied it with plenty of water for hydration purposes.

Got off to a good but cautious start and gradually picked up the pace to my fast walk - the one I save for exercise and maneuvering the halls of the hospital. For the first mile I did just fine. Even managed to keep up with the flow of conversation. Then I noticed that I was I little more short of breath than normal. Decided it was probably a combo of my residual chest cold and the fact that I usually do this work-out solo and thus without talking. Another half mile or so and I noticed that I wasn't pumping my arms at all and that my pace had slowed. Weird. My muscles felt particularly weak and seemingly all of a sudden I noticed how oppressively hot it was outside.

The nausea hit at mile 2.

A quarter mile from home I was faced with the realization that if I didn't sit down in the next 3 seconds that I was going to either puke or pass out. Or both. I sat.

I sat there on a street corner for a long time waiting for my overheated body to settle itself. And while I sat I did some thinking - mostly of the good job, you variety. 'Cause if you can't be sarcastic with yourself, then who? The thought that perhaps this wasn't exactly the best way to return to my previous level of activity also crossed my mind. I eventually was able to make it back home unassisted, thanks to my superstar exercise partner who had run ahead to get me some cold water. Once safely ensconced in air conditioning, I collapsed (seriously) on my hard wood floor and there I stayed for the next 20 minutes. Mute.

Later - much later - when relating this story with self-deprecating humor to cousin Julie over the phone, I learned a fun tidbit that may have proved helpful before my little delve into heat stroke. Dallas temp: 106. That's degrees, folks. Fahrenheit.

Nice. Very, very nice.

Friday, August 1, 2008

poets and pirates

When I was visiting family in Washington last month I spent some time with my Great Uncle Dee in Spokane. Uncle Dee has a thing for books. He used to own a great little used bookstore but has since retired. I remember whenever he came to Missouri for a visit he would always spend time roaming through our area antique stores and flea markets looking for just one more must have book. He has a wonderful collection of rare and old books - some of which are breathtakingly beautiful. I'm a bit of a hoarder of books myself. But my collection has no real monetary worth, it is instead my own personal (well-used) library. In addition to Uncle Dee's personal collection, he also has an amazing stockpile of used books that he works on cataloguing daily. Because, while he may be officially retired, my Great Uncle Dee is still very much in the book business. His basement showcases row after row after row of bookcases filled with his finds. And for every organized bookcase he has, there is a pile of boxes left to sort through. He uses the Internet to help match books with buyers and seems to enjoy the process.

During my stay he gave me a book he'd found in one of his stacks titled Amy. It was a biography about the early 1900's poet Amy Lowell and he warned me that it would likely be a "bad read." I thought the gesture was really, really sweet and for that reason only opened the book to check out "the world of Amy Lowell and the Imagist Movement." It came as a surprise to both of us that I actually became interested in both poet and movement and decided to continue the book to its completion. It was written a good 30 plus years ago and it's author has since passed away. This fact known to me because I went as far as to Google her with the thought that it might be nice to send a note on how much I enjoyed her work. The book itself is an old hardback (of which I'm not usually a fan) with a faded cover. And has now become a permanent part of my book collection.

Yesterday I went to the big Half Price Books here in Dallas in search of a specific book I'd found mention of in my Internet wanderings. I was unsuccessful in that particular pursuit but prevented a wasted trip by spending a good hour just browsing through the store. Just before I left, another old hardback book with faded cover caught my attention. Amy's Eyes. Curiosity caused me to pull it from the shelf and read the inside cover. It's a children's book about a little girl who becomes a doll and her adventures with her sea captain doll who had become a man. I have no idea if this new Amy will be able to hold my interest but as I flipped through the pages I found something else that did. An old photograph, that had obviously been used as a bookmark by the book's previous owner, showed a picture of a little boy sitting on top of a zebra. The zebra was of the inanimate object variety and seemed to be standing guard at some sort of carnival or fair. The boy had a shy, but still toothy, smile for the camera and I was instantly charmed. So, my book collection has grown by yet one more and I am now in fairly desperate need of my own basement library. Which, logically, puts me in even more desperate need of an actual basement:)

Thursday, July 31, 2008

envy

am blogging soundtrack: Green Day
am blogging sustenance: Green Tea

For some reason I woke up this morning (after some pretty whacked-out dreams) wondering how today was going to ultimately compare to July 31 of last year. It's not as if today's date holds any particular importance. It's not my birthday. Not any kind of special anniversary that I'm aware of. Just another day in a long line of days. I don't even have any concrete plans for the next 24 hours. Nada. But because I have no way of predicting how 7/31/08 might turn out in the long run, I decided to look back a year and see what I was up against. Luckily, I am a fiendish document-er (in both my personal and professional lives) and had a plethora of sources from which to gleam a picture of amy:one year ago today. This is what I put together . . .

Exactly 1 year ago today I was sitting on a beautiful beach in Florida with the fam. Through blog accounts, an abundance of photos, and some actual honest-to-goodness (although likely margarita-influenced) memories I've concluded that it was a very good day in the life. Through the use of the same photos and also a sort of health journal I was keeping at the time I've come to the additional conclusion that I was a much more svelte version of the current me. I further recall being pretty darn excited about a new boy that I'd left back in Dallas. And, if memory serves, during that week somebody made me coffee each morning and tasty drinks every night. Not bad, not bad at all.

At first glance 2008 seemed to be in trouble.

This morning I had to make do with tea, that I fixed myself, because I forgot to buy coffee when grocery shopping yesterday. It's hot and steamy outside, with no ocean breeze for relief. And I'm gonna have to force myself to go out there for a work-out thanks to these extra pounds I've got hanging around. As far as I know, no one is planning on plying me with any tequila later this evening. And no new-boy giddiness. For quite some time, actually.

But, here's the thing. Last night I slept in my own bed, instead of the bottom bunk in the kids room of our beach house. And those pounds? They were hard earned. I went all the way to Ireland to drink way to much Guinness. All the way to Paris for those croissants and that daily overindulgence in goat cheese. And it was hard, hard work putting away that many margaritas in Mexico. Not to mention all the home cooked Mom meals I've had to deal with. Like I said, hard earned. Plus, last summer's Dallas boy? He didn't really turn out to be all that exciting. And let's not forget that in 6 days I do not, repeat: DO NOT, have to go back to work in the big M. There's more, too. I didn't gain a single ounce on my last travel adventure despite spending a significant amount of time at various dinner tables. I've got the makings of a great spinach salad in my kitchen. I've got a stack of books to read with no one to distract me from reading them. And it's still early yet.

So, while 7/31/07 was one hell of a good day, I think I'll take a risk and put my money on today.

Monday, July 28, 2008

sleeping in

There is little that makes me happier than waking up in my island of a bed with sunlight streaming through the windows and being able to turn over and cuddle my way back to sleep. Unless it's the same scenario sans bright sunshine with the patter of raindrops as a background lullaby. Sleeping in has to be one of the world's greatest pleasures. It used to be something looked forward to each and every Saturday as I was growing up. No school or church service to get ready for. No pressing need to get started with my day. Eventually, weekends were no longer sacred. Work - and life - butted in. Even "free" days had to begin early in order to cram in the ubiquitous to do list. But whenever I happened to be blessed with such a morning, it was cherished and savored to the extent of it's worth. I had wondered, when faced with months of time to do only exactly as I pleased, if that feeling of satisfaction would be diminished. The answer: not one little bit.

Sunday, July 27, 2008

happy thoughts

When I was a little girl I used to have horrible nightmares. Blood-curdling-scream-inducing nightmares. I don't remember the screams so much and I definitely don't recall what kind of terrible things my childhood mind came up with to warrant them. But of course stories were told about my middle of the night adventures and those descriptions have stuck with me into adulthood. What I do remember very distinctly is my dad sitting on my bed next to me trying valiantly to chase my demons away. Just think of something happy, he'd say. We'd sit there whispering about Fourth of July parties and happy faces, trying not to wake up my sister on the other side of the room. And it always worked. We cleared all the evil away together through the strength of our combined will. A lesson of survival when I was young, later applied without conscious thought to life's obstacles as I grew up. I wonder if he remembers that as clearly as I do.

Friday, July 25, 2008

the accidental hermit

When I got back home to Dallas on Monday night I sat on my couch for a minute thinking, This is it. Time to get on with my life. This thought was prompted by my belief that 2 weeks from that date I would once again be a part of the working world.

I'm not gonna lie and tell y'all that I wasn't just a little scared about the prospect. But more than fear, I felt a readiness. It really was time to just get on with it, ya know? Sometimes I look back on these past 7 (!) months and think - what a ride! And other times I give myself a hard time about how much more I could have done, how much more I could have accomplished.

Well today I find out that all of the above thinking is just a bit moot. Turns out that, because of the tedious administrative/political crap that is required for credentialing, I won't be rejoining the rat race until September. Another whole month of freedom.

For the life of me, I can't decide whether to label it gift or curse.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

crazy hot, crazy cool

blogging soundtrack: random music from Last.fm
blogging sustenance: aqua, of the ice cold variety

Well, it has been a weird and sorta wonderful 24 hours here in my apartment fortress. I do recall speaking to both of my sisters yesterday as well as my oldest niece. But those calls could have been easily screened if so desired. And today thus far? Not a single conversation. I've heard my own voice only because I woke up late this morning and felt like singing myself a little song. So I did just that on my way to the bathroom for my abbreviated morning routine - relieving of bladder, brushing of teeth, washing of face. Then I went straight back to my bedroom and my much beloved, much missed island of a bed. I curled up to read and stayed until about 40 minutes ago when I realized that I needed a beverage of some kind. Then, of course, I was distracted by the beauty of my laptop and a likely fleeting desire for a connection to the outside world.

I've been on a kick lately of looking up words in the dictionary. Some unfamiliar, new. Some can nearly be described as everyday. Dictionary.com (try it, love it) defines a fortress as a large fortified place. Perhaps my home doesn't quite meet "large" criteria but to fortify means to make strong, to impart strength or vigor. To strengthen mentally or morally. And that I can see. I'm feeling pretty strong here, pretty darn vigorous. My mental health is definitely benefiting from this self-imposed seclusion. So I think I'll keep it up for a while. Just grab another book, a cup of coffee and keep right on fortifying.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

"I've been everywhere, man."

Since I last blogged much has happened.

I drove from to Dallas, TX to Warrensburg, MO all by my lonesome. Never before attempted and quite the accomplishment as those closest to me well know. And it was all done sans cruise control and, even more amazingly, sans speeding ticket.

Shortly after arrival in the big MO, I left for the corn fields of Nebraska. Observed the ceremonial beginning of wedded bliss for an old friend of the family in Lincoln and caught up with a med school buddy doing a fellowship in Omaha. Apparently at some point while I was (obviously) under the influence I made an Internet purchase of Celine Dion concert tickets. I did have a vague recollection of this but had thought it might have just been a really strange (bad?) dream. But, no. I was greeted with a Ticketmaster package (complete with bill) when I finally made it home to Texas. Damn you Nathan . . . :)

Spent a few days relaxing with the fam back in Warrensburg before getting in the car again for a quick visit to the Show Me state capital for some Burrell family time. Short but very, very sweet!

And then to the KC airport for a trek cross country with Gma. Oregon. Washington. A small detour to Idaho. There was lots of coffee (God bless the Northwest!), lots of family (had to take notes to keep all the cousins straight), and lots upon lots of driving. Overall, good times. But realized that while I might be considered a fairly chatty/social person to most in my acquaintance, I think I may be the wallflower (a, comparatively, super quiet wallflower) of the family. My family can talk. I mean they can really, really talk. That's it. That's all I'm saying:)

Once safely back from that trip I did a quick turn around in the Burg and headed back to Texas. This time I wasn't alone. Carrie and the nieces came along for the ride. We stretched it out to two days with a "layover" in OK. Then had a brief stay in Dallas to see the Flower Mound cousins and check out the aquarium (note: Friday mornings in the summer = day camp day at the DWA = definitely NOT the best time for a visit). Back on the road for a weekend spent in College Station to check on Sarah "sickie" Jo. Met up with Mom who has been taking care of her since the tonsillectomy-from-hell 10 days ago. If there was ever any doubt, I am now very pleased with my early loss of tonsils at age 6.

Mom et al headed out of CS early Sunday morning and I followed late yesterday afternoon. Now they are back in MO (drove it all in one day - impressive!) and I am finally back home in Dallas. Last night I slept in my bed and I woke this morning a happy girl.

Over a month on the road. At least 2000 miles on my Jeep. Four different planes. 7 books. Nine states. Two ferry rides. Hundreds of dollars in gas. 217 pictures. 3 time zones. And 1 very tired Amy . . .

Saturday, June 14, 2008

happy birthday cousin . . .

Me and Julie when we were little back in Missouri:)

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Stop leaving me people!

This weekend I have to say goodbye to yet another friend. Or actually, family. Erica and I were residents together and she and her husband Travis adopted me into their family after I moved to Dallas. Erica is the best happy hour buddy EVER and Travis has cooked a million meals for me and handed out free legal advice like it was going out of style. We've celebrated Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter holidays together. We've spent many an hour camped out in their living room watching football (Travis) and meaningless fluff TV (Erica). We may have even shared a few drinks:) 8 months ago their family grew by one little Zoe and she does a great job of giving me quick fixes for my chronic niece withdrawal! But, in a couple of days the family Williams will move to their new home. They'll only be 3 hours away but unfortunately much too far for a Sunday afternoon drop-by. I'll miss you guys so, so much! Thanks for being my Texas family when I was fresh out of the Show-Me state. I'm counting on that trip to Belize next winter so don't even think for a second about skipping out . . . :)

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

wincing the night away

Over the last few days it seems like I've been asked the following question (with few variations) an improportionate number of times:

So, what have you been up to?

It's been asked over the phone by a friend I haven't connected with in close to a year. Asked by family members who get fairly frequent unsolicited updates on my day-to-day life. Asked by new, or barely known, acquaintances as a part of their somewhat lame efforts at small-talk. And even asked by people that I've been seeing on a nearly daily basis as of late.

I can't quite figure out why I'm so bothered by this question.

Is it because I'm not convinced the person who poses the question really cares about the answer? Is it because, in the case of my long-lost friend, I don't have a clue where to start?

Most likely it's because some days the answer truly is, not much.

Maybe I should work on that.

Monday, June 9, 2008

just another manic monday

am blogging soundtrack: Levine Mix (The Wackness)
am blogging sustenance: coffee and cold (yum) pizza

Haven't randomed-up in a while so blogging will commence this morning without plan or agenda. We'll just have to see what comes of it . . .

Yesterday I cleaned my kitchen. Not my usual superficial swiping of the counters and rinsing out of the sink but a hard-core, down on my knees scrub. Makes me wanna cook. Except I don't want to make a mess of all the gleam. Makes me wanna keep the clean going into the living room, the bathroom, my bedroom. Except I'm still kind of exhausted. Not sure what to do with this level of tidy. I'm almost uncomfortable. Probably won't do it again.

Last week I got subpoenaed to testify in a case against a former patient of mine. I sat on the witness stand for an hour and a half while being questioned by 5 (FIVE!) separate attorneys. It was nerve-wracking. Tedious. Frustrating. Exhausting. It was nothing like TV. Well, except the ex-patient's lawyer did say "Isn't it true?" a lot . . . :)

This weekend I watched Dirty Dancing for possibly the 47th time. Then I put in Girls Just Want to Have Fun. Tried to round it off with Footloose but it wouldn't play right. It just kept going over and over the same John Lithgow sermon scene: "He's testing us!"

Last night I stayed up until 3 am to finish a book I was reading. Not really out of the ordinary for me. Except I'd read this book before. Twice. Is that weird?

Friday, June 6, 2008

Myla Jade, age 2


Happy birthday kiddo! And congrats on the whole potty-training thing:) Love, Aunt Mamey

Thursday, June 5, 2008

That Benjamin Linus sure is creepy.

One week ago the season 4 finale of Lost aired on ABC. Right around this same time, after hearing all the hoopla, I decided to check it out.

My ass is numb. My eyes are burning. I feel like I haven't slept properly in days. But I got it done. I'm all caught up. And I want more. Now. Please?

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Jack Shephard, you are my hero.

I have a new addiction and it is called Lost. Despite knowing many that have the same obsession, I somehow completely missed the boat. Until now. Discovered that ABC has the whole series in streaming HD on their website. Out of boredom the other day I decided to see what all the fuss is about. Oh boy, am I in trouble now. I can't seem to make myself stop. I kept thinking that if I just got through the first season that I could quit for awhile. I thought I could step away, that I still was in control. I was wrong. Very, very wrong. Gotta go now, season 2 is waiting . . . :)

Friday, May 30, 2008

SPF: TRIBUTE

By far, my favorite musician is James Taylor. I like his old stuff, his new stuff, and everything in between. He's the first singer I remember having a true passion for. I really can't imagine anyone ever creating something that will knock Fire and Rain off the very top of my list of all-time favorite songs. So, in honor of that and of him, what follows is my tribute to JT. Been really diggin' the photo montage thing as of late . . .

FIRE . . .

. . . AND RAIN


MEXICO

SOMETHING IN THE WAY SHE MOVES

LINE 'EM UP

RAISED UP FAMILY

CARRY ME ON MY WAY

CAROLINA IN MY MIND

YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND





Wednesday, May 28, 2008

on/in my mind . . .

So, there's a song on the Juno soundtrack that goes "I am a vampire, I am a vampire." You know it? I have no idea what the rest of the lyrics are but that one line keeps ringing through my head. It's annoying enough to get a song stuck in your head. But when only a four word phrase from that song is involved in the replay, it's almost intolerable. My biggest fear of today? I'm worried that I'm going to start singing it under my breath, but OUT LOUD, when in public. Can you picture it? There I am relaxing during a facial (scheduled for later this am) when, unbidden, the song starts playing again in my subconscious. Do you know how up close and personal you and your facialist can get during that process? I'll be off guard, relaxed. She'll be focused, comfortable. And then a little murmur . . . I am a vampire, I am a vampire, I am a vampire.

Dammit. I knew this whole protect-your-skin paleness was going to backfire on me eventually.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

"I'm gonna be forty!"

blogging soundtrack: Eli Young Band's Level
blogging sustenance: Starbuck's Latin America House Blend
blogging location: the big MO
blogging topic: not yet decided . . .
blogging mood: lonely?

Sitting in my childhood bedroom that now functions as an office of sorts for my mom. Braving the dial-up . . . :)

I drove up to Missouri with little sister Sarah last Friday for a week in the Burg. A wedding and Mother's Day behind me, I'm getting ready for my oldest niece's birthday in a few days. Yesterday I spent a beautiful day out of doors. It was a perfect 70 degrees and could not have been more stereotypically spring. Have spent quality time with my parents, my grandma, and my sister's family. And have plans to visit friends in the area later this week. I've never understood when people say "you can't go home again." Why not? It's so easy, so familiar. No matter where I get my mail delivered or where I keep most of my books, this house and this town will always be a home to me.

That's why this feeling of subtle loneliness is so unsettling. It's not something I've experienced very often and I don't like it. At all. I could be alone for days at a time and not feel lonely. But, here I am surrounded by my family and that's exactly what I feel.

Normally, I can talk to my family about anything. Anything. And at least one of them - dad, mom, or sisters - will understand exactly what I need, exactly where I'm coming from. Maybe that's where the loneliness is coming from this week. I am not understood. Things are happening and I don't feel as if anyone is seeing what I'm seeing, feeling what I'm feeling. Or maybe it's because for some reason no one wants me to express those feelings.

Yuck, yuck, yuck.

I'm just depressing myself. Not exactly going to improve the situation . . . wanna move on?

Baylor. I promised some Baylor details. Here goes: I have a job. Decided to accept the Baylor Dallas offer and I'm actually really excited. Probably won't be ready to start until August - the hospital credentialing process is so tedious! It's a really good deal with great benefits and an obscene amount of time off:)

Thinking about doing a little more travelling before my sabbatical is over. Domestic. Gonna give my passport a much needed breather:) Planning a trip with my grandma to visit family and friends in the Northwest. Haven't been to that part of the country since cousin Julie tied the knot! And I also would like to head off somewhere on my own. I think that may be just what the doctor (who, me?) ordered . . .

Oops. Eli Young is done. And I think I am too.

Friday, May 9, 2008

SPF: iPOD

Keeping with the May musical theme for SPF, today's photo assignment was your MP3 player. So, here's my little guy above with all kinds of associated paraphernalia. Been giving them all a work out over the last month or so with all my traveling. Well, all of 'em except the arm band. Haven't been doing that kind of work out . . . :)

Monday, May 5, 2008

straight from my Paris travel journal . . .

Day 2

8 am
Still not on schedule in terms of wake/sleep after arriving in Paris yesterday morning. Tried without success to fight the "lag" when we got to our hotel but unable to prevent myself from taking a nap. Barely woke in time for a quick dinner before tucking in for an early night. K and I were both awake at 5 am this morning. I was able to go back to sleep for a bit before starting our day for real at 7 am with individual pots of French coffee from room service. The coffee came with a little pitcher of warm milk and chocolate - could definitely get used to beginning my day this way! Watching BBC World News while finishing my coffee . . . overwhelmingly the predominant topic is the sucky (my word) US economy. Yuck.

230 pm
For breakfast had a perfect croissant at a stereotypically perfect Parisian cafe - yea! Then decided to start off kind of slow with a boat tour of the River Seine. We figured it would be a good way to get our bearings in terms of the Paris skyline. It was very,very pretty . . . and very,very cold!
Warmed up by taking a walk to the Arc de Triomphe. On the way we passed by the George V Four Seasons Hotel . . . couldn't stop myself from throwing out every quote I could remember from "French Kiss." This was largely under appreciated and misunderstood by my traveling companions:)
Grabbed lunch at an Italian sidewalk cafe - fromage, fromage, fromage! Now back at the hotel and in fairly desperate need of a nap . . .

230 am
Went to dinner at Altitude 95 - the restaurant at the Eiffel Tower. Kind of a strange atmosphere but definitely a pretty view:) Had a yummy, yummy dinner - creamy split pea soup, herb roasted veal, and an apple/almond tart. I'm still full!

Next, we hit the late show at Moulin Rouge. What an experience. Lots of cheesy dance routines with both male and female performers. Everyone started out fully clothed but that's not how it ended! Odd, really. And nothing remotely sexual about it. Just "hey, what happened to their shirts?" My favorite part was the comic relief by way of a ventriloquist. He used puppets. Puppies. People! Whatever he could get his hands on:) It's been a long, exhausting (not cheap) night but overall worth it. Not sure what tomorrow holds but there is so much I want to see!

Day 3
1230 pm
Slept in secondary to yesterday's late night. Had breakfast with the whole group - cheese omelet, croissant,and coffee. Yeah. Could definitely get used to this:) The rest of the gang decided to take a train out to Versailles. I would love to see it and it has been recommended to me many, many times. But. There is just so much I want to see in Paris. And, honestly, I need some "amy" time. So: I am sitting on a park bench by the Hotel des Invalides where the tomb of Napoleon lies under the dome of the St Louis Cathedral.

Took a wonderful walk along Rue Royale to the Seine. Did the tourist thing with my camera at Place de la Concorde and the Alexander III Bridge - so ornate!

Have a lot of things on my "list" but overall plan is NO PLAN:)

4 pm
Taking a break after walking the Paris streets all afternoon . . . sitting on a bench on the Solferino Pass over the River. Can see the Grand Palais to the west and Notre-Dame in the distance to the east. The sun is shining and I AM EXHAUSTED. But in a deliciously pleasant way. Attempted to visit both the Rodin and d'Orsay museums but long lines thwarted my efforts. Too much to see to wait in line!
I was successful in finding the English language bookstore I was looking for - Village Voice. Just can't resist a good bookstore! Also got up the courage to brave the post office for postcard stamps. So far almost everyone I'd encountered in the city spoke good English. But I was a little concerned that away from the tourism centers that it might be a different story. I practiced "le timbre" under my breath while waiting in line. I think the worker appreciated my effort:) He was super helpful, friendly,and spoke perfect English. He asked me where I was from in the states. When I said Texas he asked me if I kept a gun in my purse. No joke! Now I need to find a bathroom and a latte - in that order! - and then I'll be back in business:)

11 pm
Had the most amazing dinner at a restaurant recommended by K's boss - Au Petit Sud Ouest. Oh. My. God. So, so good! The atmosphere was perfect, everything you want a small French restaurant to be. And the people, so sweet and helpful. It turned out to be almost exclusively a duck restaurant. So French, right? I was reminded of that scene in "Better Off Dead" (with John Cusack) when they have the French-themed dinner in honor of a foreign exchange student- french fries, french toast,etc. Made me smile:) Some of us were doubters initially but we all ended up with very satisfied bellies! I had a marinated duck breast with some kind of fried potatoes after starting with a warm goat cheese salad. Yum. And then yet another apple tart for desert. Double yum. Viva la France! Overall, a perfectly wonderful day and my favorite so far in Paris. . .

Day 4

11 pm
Busy,busy day. No time for periodic journaling through the day so hopefully I can remember all the details now . . . Got an early start in an effort to beat the crowds at the Louvre. We were sort of successful. The line wasn't too bad but it seemed like we were swarmed the second we entered under the pyramid. The nastiest, bitchiest people in Paris work at the Louvre. Just so you know. In the same room as Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" is Veronese's "The Wedding Feast at Cana." Lucky for me, everyone was crowded around little Mona so I had a clear and prolonged viewing of the masterpiece. It is a depiction of Christ's first miracle and is apparently the largest painting in the Louvre. I believe it - that sucker was BIG:) Seriously, it was stunning and by far my favorite thing at the museum. But overall? Not impressed by the big "L" - it was too big, too crowded, and just too damn proud of itself.

After a quick lunch we jumped on an open air tour bus as our transportation choice of the day. The afternoon was so beautiful that we ended up riding all over Paris. I revisited Place de la Concorde and Champs-Elyses. We did little circles around Arc de Triomphe and our old friend the Eiffel Tower.
I even got a "butt-side" view of Rodin's "Thinker" from the back of his museum as our bus drove by:) Finally got to spend a little quality time on Ile de la Cite and Ile St-Louis. Still didn't get as up close and personal with Notre-Dame as I would have liked . . . next time.

Had the BEST ice cream/sorbet at Berthillion's on the little island! Discovered that K is a French-guy magnet. We had to stop for a coffee pick-me-up in the late afternoon and chose a great people watching locale. These French boys (18, 19?) hard core hit on her and begged us to take their picture. Of course, we did:)
Less than an hour later she had met 2 new Frenchies - Radman and Amso. I finally got to say "Enchante" to someone! When I greeted Amso with a "bonjour/enchante" to accompany his 2 cheek European greeting kiss he said "Oh! Parlez voo francais?" Uh, no. Sorry buddy. Guess my accent was getting pretty good on the approximately 10 French words I know! They labeled themselves our Paris "boyfriends" and took us out for coffee. We found each other endlessly amusing and they were supremely disappointed when we wouldn't change our evening "program" to go to dinner and then a disco with them:) Dinner with the whole gang was another grand event with a superb restaurant recommendation by K's boss. The atmosphere was beautiful, although a little more formal than the evening before. But, if possible, the food was even better. Perfectly cooked pepper steak with an amazing zucchini casserole. Happy, happy belly. And so ends another exhausting but wonderful day in Paris. My last. Well, for this trip anyway . . . :)