pass the thin mints

I got asked twice - that's TWO times - today if I was preggers. Apparently I'm walking like I'm supporting a baby bump and my Wednesday clothing choice of tunic over jeans led people to assume that I was also trying to hide one. Just feeling a little fat and tired people, but thanks for playing.

Here's the real kicker: made me sad to set them straight.

I think Amy's got a little baby fever.

thanks giving

I saw my first patient of the day at about 20 minutes after 6 this morning. He was still pretty sleepy and our conversation was reflective of that. As I was leaving the room he made a comment about a medicine I'd given him the day before for a specific complaint. He thanked me. Told me that he was feeling much better.

These words stopped me just feet from the door. And they moved me. Simple words of thanks for what I considered a minor assist when compared to the issues keeping this man in the hospital. And then, "God bless you, Doctor."

Um. What? Had I inadvertently taken a slide (I did it, Clayton! A Sliders reference in my blog!) into another dimension? A place where people not only acknowledged and appreciated acts, but also verbalized their appreciation? What a wonderful place! Of course, I quickly slid back to my old world. A place of anger, frustration, and entitlement. But I'm keeping my early morning memory of another, more wonderful, world and carrying it with me throughout the rest of today.

So thanks, Mr N. And may God bless you as well.

the trickiest man in the world

Life has been busy. But not ridiculously busy. I try to remember the last 6 weeks and how I spent them and I just can't quite get there. Kind of like when you wake up hazy from a dream and try so hard to put all the details into focus.

I think my priorities are out of wack. I need to reexamine all the takers-up of my time and figure out where they need to be in my proverbial to do list.

Work. Haven't yet won the Power Ball (and that probably has very little to do with the fact that I haven't yet played the Power Ball) so this has to stay on the list. But maybe my time should be spent differently? Do I really need to get to the hospital every day at 6 am? I seem to have a lot of down time later in the day where I'm just waiting for the clock to strike 2 so I can make my exit. I'm definitely a morning person and so maybe this is really the best use of my time. The free hours in the late morning and early afternoon could be spent helping my partners or catching up on odds and ends, bills and blogs. Maybe I'll have to trial this one out . . .

Home. I enjoy cooking, enjoy preparing meals. Currently I try to plan out the week in food by Monday at the latest and hit up the grocery store. I like to try new things. And really love coming up with a menu, creating a presentation. And because I love it, I'll continue to do it. But maybe I'll only do it once a week. Maybe I'll let the rest of the week be covered by leftovers and the multitude of social engagements available to us. The ribbons and bows - flowers and place settings - aren't really desired (and thus not truly appreciated) by any one other than me. And even if I enjoy it, it's probably a cumulative drain that I need to consider cutting loose.

I need to read a book. I need to curl up in a big, comfy chair with a cup of tea and read a book.

I need to go for a walk. Ride a bike. I need to lace up my sneakers and explore my not quite new neighborhood while the air is crisp and the leaves are still valiantly clinging to their trees.

I need to call my Grandma. And my sisters. My nieces and my parents. I need to chat with them about the details of their lives and share with them the small moments of mine.

And I need to blog. I definitely need to blog.

playing catch up

Um, where did September go?

So, the final outcome to our interrupted Championship game? Yeah. We're some winners. Again. And yours truly made a fine showing. Fall season, under way . . .

Work has been super crazy. That's all for now on that particular topic.

Had our happy, happy housewarming. It made it all seem more real, somehow. And it reminded me that I truly love having people in our home. So, locals come on out! And not so locals, come on out in a planned ahead/organized kind of way:) The guest room is officially open and ready for business!

Niece Ripley turned 2! Way to go little, bitty one! And she's rocking out her mid-toddler years with the most disgustingly cute pink and white checkered Vans thanks to her Aunt A and Uncle C:)

Made our way to SoCal for a wedding and did a few little side trips along the way. Beautiful weather and a beautiful bride. Not to mention, hot mineral springs and massages. Clayton and Casablanca. It was a great trip;)

Autumn (the season not the friend!) arrives in Dallas! The city weeps in gratitude!

And, here we are. The most wonderful month of the year.

OCTOBER WANTS:
1. pumpkins. lot's of pumpkins.
2. a stereotypically beautiful fall weekend in MO in a few days.
3. good family and friend time.
4. a "new" desk chair for the study.
5. nice 18 month mensiversary with Clayton.
6. fantastic costume idea that minimizes my booty.
7. one kick ass birthday.

a vision in green

So. We had summer season kickball playoffs last night. The Go Go Gadget Balls of course rocked their way on through to the championship game. We were in the top of the 9th (second inning of "overtime") with 2 outs. No runners on. We'd just scored a run to put us ahead 3-2. And yours truly was up to kick. My adrenaline was pumping. Seriously pumping. I had a sudden vision of the most beautiful kick ever kicked. Well. By me anyway:) It would shoot just over the freakishly tall first base man's outstretched arms and land on that oh-so-happy side of the foul line. I'd run my over-excited little heart out. Straight down the chalk to the beautiful safety of the first base bag. I'd round the corner looking for an excuse to turn my super solid single into an ambitious double but would then ultimately decide to play it safe. My teammates would be so inspired that they in turn would offer up a few super solid singles. And then one of our big booted boys would bring us all in with an extremely well placed homer that had so far eluded us that night. We'd cushion up our advantage and when that final out came, we'd remind the other team that they were dealing with the defending champs and 3 up/3 down 'em. Perfection.

Instead, the lights went out.

Literally.

Look out Big Leballski. When we meet again next week to finish our game, look out.

;)

loving my wireless network

Hello Tuesday morning!

I'm on float this week which translates into sleeping in and some good amy time before the drudgery of work creeps up on me in the afternoon. Yesterday morning was spent entirely in my pajamas. I wasn't feeling so great so I gave myself a few hours sans any degree of productivity. Today so far has only been slightly more lively. I got up when Clayton left for work. But only to make a pot of coffee and grab my lap top. Then it was back to bed to catch up on my email and get my daily fix of HGTV. Still in my pjs but feeling hopeful that this morning will have a little more weight to it.

Saturday is our next Supper Club. This month's theme is Italian (did I ever share pics from Moroccan night?) and I'm getting super excited. Clayton and I are in charge of the appetizer course and we're going all out. We've decided to do a bruschetta tasting. I think I mentioned in a recent post that I wanted to teach myself to bake Italian bread. Never got around to it on my week off but going to just wing it tomorrow or Thursday morning. Then we'll use the bread to make crostinis on Saturday for our bruschetta! We're also going to tackle homemade olive tapenade and possibly a fig jam. Woohoo! Our supper clubs are always very social and very fun. But I think my favorite part is the challenge I set for myself to try new things. To push the envelope a little. Makes me feel like I can attempt anything at least once:)

Whoa. Feeling a little energetic here as my 3rd cup of coffee is kicking in. I think I might put on real clothes. Maybe even leave the house. Or, something really crazy. I think I may go get a pedicure. And a manicure. Look out world!

goat cheese is good

One of my very favorite things about cohabing with Clayton is making us dinner most nights. I love planning out our week. Trying out new recipes. Setting a casual but super comforting table. Even when it's ridiculously easy - as it often is - I feel accomplished. I feel settled. I feel love and I feel loved. I'm nesting, ya'll. And I am so diggin' it.