Scrubs, Season 2 Premiere starts July 1

Hey there Nebraska contingent:

I'm sad I didn't get a chance to visit with you guys this summer when the rest of the family rolled through the state, but I figured I would try to remedy the situation by posting on this blog, which is long overdue.

My intern year of residency is now over. This would bring me more relief but for the fact that R2 year begins in two days. I'll be starting out on the cardiology ward/coronary care unit. I have done 2 similar rotations in the past, but now I'll be the senior resident on call every fourth night, admitting all the heart attack and heart failure patients, not to mention all the patients whose pacemakers and defibrillators are going haywire. Plus, I, along with the ICU resident, will be running all the codes in the University Hospital on people who are trying to die on us. Can I get a "holy crap"? We can always call the fellow or attending, but they will be taking call from home and are not physically on the premises. Also as my new role as resident, I will have to be supervising my brand new intern on procedures like central lines.

Tomorrow is my last day of "intern week." It has been awesome. Julie and I drove out to Moab, Utah June 23-24 to celebrate my birthday and her graduation. We hiked at the Arches National Park (and saw the Delicate Arch, which is on Utah's license plate). Then we flew to Dallas, Texas to go to our cousin Brett's wedding. It was 105 degrees during their outside wedding, but fortunately this only lasted about 10 minutes. Most of our other free time we spent at the pool. I also actually got to read a novel, "Unaccustomed Earth" by Jhumpa Lahiri, which is actually a compilation of short stories. Tomorrow I am going with some of my co-residents to Water World...I am excited because it has been a long time since I've been to a water park.

Well, I hope your summers are going great and that everything is going well with the pregnancy!

Tech Nerd Inquiry

So Denver branch, what kind of laptops do you have? If I remember right, Julie, did I see you totally whip out an apple when you came through town? If it's one with a camera, anywhere you've got web access, we can do a video chat with the lovely Nebraska branch.

Just let me kwno the details and I can get you ladies all set up for a regular thingy.

When Do I Get to See Your Loveliness?

Hey Jules! When do I get to see your beautiful face??? You are coming through in a couple weeks right? I can't wait to see you and catch up!!

Sunday in the garden

WARNING: Hayley and Lindsey, you will find this boring and should probably skip this post. ;)

I say this every year, but I was a bit behind on my spring gardening adventures so I spent a lovely Sunday catching up. I planted:
- 3 tomato plants - Early Girl (supposed to be ready in just 50 days!), an heirloom variety, and yellow cherry
- Basil - one established plant, plus seeds in a deck container
- Flowers - 12 marigolds, 6 wave petunias, 4 lantana, plus seeds of morning glory, zinnias, and alyssum.

Then I mulched four of the small beds, which required a trip to Menard's first. I'm still not done, though. The rosebushes in front need pruning, and the "big garden" in back is a weed pit right now. Plus, I'd like to add a few more deck containers. I'm hoping I can finish those projects during some weeknight.

I am TIRED! As much as I enjoy gardening, I think I have more beds than I can realistically handle -- especially since we spend so many weekends at the lake. I enjoy tending my small beds because they're filled with good dirt and are easy to fill and maintain. The big bed is a gardener's nightmare, though, because it's filled with this awful, heavy clay soil that covers the outlying areas of Lincoln. It's a gift (ha) from the previous owner, and it's still a semi-disaster after six years of mulching, composting, and adding topsoil. My rookie mistake was trying to make the best of it. In hindsight, I should've paid for dirt removal and started from scratch.

Oh well. I'm hoping it's not my problem next year. I've threatened to take a soil sample test kit to open houses so we don't buy another home that's plagued with crappy clay soil. ;)

An opportunity for growth ... or something

The nice thing about our pregnancy being mostly a secret is that we haven't been bombarded with well-intended (yet annoying) unsolicited advice yet.

This ignorance-is-bliss period is soon coming to an end, however. That became oh-so-clear today when I told my great-aunt Nancy that I was pregnant. One of the first questions out of her mouth was whether I would continue working. I said that I planned to, and her response was, "Oh, these days nobody wants to take care of their kids!" [Insert uncomfortable laugh.]

W.T.F. If I considered the source and took this at face value, I could roll my eyes and move on with my day. Aunt Nancy is not known for having great tact. To say that she's fairly ignorant about the world in general is a gross understatement. (Just ask Hayley about what happened when she told Aunt Nancy about her Costa Rica trip.)

It wouldn't bother me much, except that I know there are other people in my life (whose opinions I actually care about) who feel the same way. At least two of my friends are fully on the stay-at-home-mom track, which I think is great. They've always wanted to be SAHMs and will probably do a fabulous job. However, both of them make remarks to justify their choices, like, "Well, I just don’t want anybody else raising my kids." The great irony is that one is a teacher, and the other was a nanny until she gave birth 5 days ago. Do they really think they're "raising" other people's kids?

If you operate under the whole "it takes a village to raise a child" mentality, yes, nannies, teachers, babysitters, and nice little church ladies definitely play a role in raising children. But surely we can all agree that parents have the greatest influence on their children, regardless of their employment status. Right?

I know really need to get over feeling slighted by those comments because Lord knows I'll hear plenty more for the next 20 years of my life. I guess I'm a little sensitive because it makes me feel like the people closest to me already think I'm unfit to be a mother. Does leaving Baby Washburn in someone else's care make me a little nervous, and even a little bit sad? Yes, it does. But I still believe that having two breadwinners is a better situation for our family, and you better believe that anyone caring for Baby W. will be carefully evaluated.

Venting makes me feel better already. I need to either a) grow a thicker skin, or b) become very comfortable telling people to STFU. ;)

Enjoy this

This is what I imagine Hayley or Julie were like as kids. The kid in red cracks me up.

- Andy

Beauty Treats: What to buy that is cheap, but doesn't look it!

I've decided in this time of poor economy it is important to budget. Most people think budgeting equals skimping, but here are some beauty buys that are cheap and get the job done! These products are essential for a beautifully toned and polished look inside and out. And the best part...they are all under $10!

From the left:

Coconut Milk Serum- adds gloss to your hair after styling. Found at Walmart and Walgreens for under $6.

Coconut Milk mousse- perfect for wavy or curly hair. Light weight and smells amazing! A perfect match with the serum listed above.

St. Ives Moisturizing Body Scrub/Polish in Oatmeal and Shea Butter. This product is perfect to use in the shower after scrubbing. It has a sugary texture that doesn't leave your skin feeling scratched and soar. The sugar base leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Aveeno Moisturizing Lotion for Medium Skin Tones- This lotion is a great moisturizer and built-in sunless tanner. It doesn't have the gross after smell that most tanners leave on the skin. It goes on thin so it never leaves a streaky mess or dyes your fingers. A glow will develop by the third day of use.

Suave Smoothers Shampoo/Conditioner in Cowabunga Coconut- This two-in product is perfect to use after a workout at the gym or in between washes. It doesn't strip the hair of it's natural oils or leave your hair feeling greasy. The coconut scent allows for daydreaming of beaches too!

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Leave-in Condition- This leave in conditioner helps freshen hair and add softness without adding grease or oils. It goes on light and has a great scent. This can be used after hair has been washed or while dry.

Crest Whitening Rinse- This mouthwash leaves teeth feeling fresh and clean. The taste isn't weird and doesn't leave an aftertaste. It also helps give your teeth more shine without messing with other teeth whiteners.

Bath & Body Works Lavender and Vanilla body wash- The travel size of this body wash is great for traveling. I bought mine on a super sale for only $0.50! The spearmint flavor is great too.

Bath & Body Works Peppermint lip balm- Adds shine and moisture with a great peppermint flavor. This product helps to add pink to the lips, although it goes on clear. It isn't sticky and doesn't leave an awkward lip gloss line on the lips 30 minutes later.

OPI Nail Polishes- As far as polishes go, OPI is number one! The colors are vibrant and the quality is top notch. Chipping with this polish doesn't occur until at least a week later. The colors shown below are: Don't Sacra-Tease Me, Heart Throb, and Need Sunglasses? The first and the last are great for spring and summer, and the middle is versatile. Every girl needs a neutral pink shade to add class and sheen to the nails!

I hope you enjoy your shopping and experimentation with these products, ladies!

JOB!!!!!

I haven't seen the official offer yet, but the compounding pharmacy I liked best has chosen me! As long as the paper work looks ok, I plan to sign stuff next week and plan my move. The current time line would have us driving there June 14-15 (Sun-Mon) with a stop in Nebraska that night. Yay!!

An announcement

The Anderson-Washburn family is growing!

Two days before our Mexican getaway, we found out that I'm pregnant! I'm due Nov. 27.

We told the parents and siblings tonight after Easter dinner. Lindsey didn't believe it at first, and it took awhile for Dad to register the news, too. By the end of the evening, though, he was babbling about how wonderful it was. LOL. Mom was about as emotional as I expected (not very, ha!), but was showing her excitement in other ways. I think Cole is hoping that Baby Washburn's debut will wait until the 29th so they can share a birthday.

I was really nervous to tell everyone since we've been deflecting all baby-related inquiries for years. However, Hayley was picking up on my nervousness and I decided that I better come out with the news before she busted us!

For the next 32 weeks or so, expect lots of updates about the latest addition to our family. We're very excited and also a bit nervous. I've decided that I have at least two or three irrational fears per week, some of which are rather entertaining.

So, what's new with all of you? :)

My Summer Plans!

Hello all! I apologize for my absence from the blog other than random comments to the posts being done by everyone else. I've been working hard to get my ducks in a row for this summer. This all rested on my internship status. I was offered a position in OR in Scottsbluff and a position at the Nebraska Medical Center in the Organ Transplant Unit. Hmmm, which one should I take?

Ha! That's easy, I accepted the position in Omaha. At my interview I was very impressed with the unit's mentality and staff. The staff were all passionate about their work and enjoyed being there. After sharing personal patient stories I was hooked. I feel very honored to be joining their team for my summer internship! It begins on June 8 and I believe goes to the beginning of August.

I plan on living in Lincoln with my grandpa most of the time this summer. This will hopefully bring more bonding, Food Network, and grilling; however, he does have about as active of a social life as I do! This will also mean that I will be able to hang out at the lake with Ashley and Andy, swim and lay out at Aunt Nancy's pool, and be near enough to home to frequent Oscar, mom, and dad.

Other highlights of the summer are: I get registered in Health Fitness through the YMCA which will allow me to teach spinning and yoga wherever life my take me, and my old best friend, Steph, gets married. Sadly, I'm more excited about my dress than the actual event but that is a whole other story.

I look forward to having more free time this summer which will also allow me to get to Denver. Next semester will be even more amazing because I will be close and will have a little more free time since it's my last semester!!! My plans for post-graduation are in the making, but I can't disclose yet where I may be.

The expiriment begins

Alright doctors, nurses and teachers -- I'm doing the old fish oil and Omega-3 experiment.

Family has had heart trouble all my life. My grandfather was the first successful heart bypass surgery in Nebraska in 1967 and has had 4 heart surgeries, my dad has had quintuple bypass and a pair of angioplasties, lost another grandparent to heart attack.

I'm at 237 now (57 HDL, 164 LDL, 80 Try) and already eat as healthy as possible. Wanted to put off fish oil at least until I was 30 as per doctors recommendation.

I can get a full blood work test done once a month on campus for $15. I plan to go every other month and see how I do with 1,000 mg of fish oil twice daily. Don't plan to change much else. Already exercise a couple times a week, eat damn healthy and am in the normal weight for my height.

I'll keep you posted.

Quilt

Andy, I'm not close to starting your quilt (too many trips to Denver and no sewing machine where I am now), but I have visions.

Do you have any design guidelines?

--> size
--> style
--> color schemes
--> quilt lines/pattern (the sewing that connects the front and back)
--> other thematic elements

If you give me full design rights (I only glanced at the shirts when I was home briefly a few weeks ago), I would go full-size quilt, improvisational/modern style, lots of red and incorporated with a few small patterned areas, subtle "N"s and music elements quilted in. Oh, and it'll be manly.

Give it a think. As I said, it won't be until June or so that I officially take out the cutting mat. But once I get started, it'll be full-swing excitement until it's done... and more fun if I'm not checking in all the time for preferences later on.

Job Potentials

It's been awhile since we've blogged... bad us!

Anyhow, I was in Denver over spring break to pharmacy job hunt. I had one casual interview scheduled, and it went fantastic! It's a compounding pharmacy that is looking for a new grad to train and mold and such. So they're flying me back in a week to spend three days in the pharmacy. I'm hoping day #3 ends with a good offer!

Meanwhile, yesterday I got an email back from another pharmacy that I sent my resume to a couple weeks ago. They would like to interview me as well, though it's not for sure it'll work while I'm already in town next week - may have to be a phone interview.

Needless to say, I'm pretty excited. I really want to get a job secured so I can go apartment shopping and find a fantastic new car and officially move out of rural Wisconsin. (I'm going to miss the cheese.)

Yep - that's it. All good so far. =)

My life update

Looking through the last few months' posts, I realized that I haven't shared much personal stuff aside from my adventures in running.

We're house-hunting again. It's exciting and nerve-wracking, of course. This time, we understand the real estate game and aren't intimidated by the process. There's a downside, however. When we bought our current house, we knew we'd live there five to seven years and move on. This time, the decision feels a lot more permanent. It'll be our house for 10, 15, maybe 20 years. It's where little Washburns will puke, play, experience the magic of Christmas morning, and eventually throw their first kegger while we're on some romantic vacation to get away from them.

That's pressure, folks.

We're also facing a philosophical decision that we didn't consider the first time around: old house, or new house? Lincoln has some wonderful older neighborhoods that were established between 1920 and 1945. I have this romantic notion of living in a tree-filled, friendly neighborhood in a cute house that's oozing with charm and character. Unfortunately, we're also rather fond of sidewalks, attached two-stall garages and closet space, all of which are hard to come by in the historic areas. We also have to consider that once kidlets come along, we won't have as much (okay, any) free time for remodeling.

With those factors in mind, it seems like buying a newer house would be the more prudent choice. But I swear to God, I feel sick when I think of moving anywhere that's similar to our current neighborhood, which is very 1990s cookie-cutter and suburban. I hope we can find a happy medium.

I would love to tell you folks that home buying is a rational process, but it's not. I am a pragmatist above all else, but I catch myself slipping into emotional reasoning when houses are involved. Thankfully Andy isn't as susceptible to these whims. :)

I'll keep you posted on what happens. We've looked at only 10 or 15 houses, so I expect this process to drag out awhile. I'll post pictures if we find a really excellent prospect.

*Note about the picture: We looked at this house last fall and it's still on the market. It was in immaculate condition, had the cutest living room you've ever seen and a kick-ass covered patio/entertaining area in the backyard. Unfortunately, it had a few too many other deal-breakers. I'm still broken-hearted. :(

Life Update

Let's start with what I just did: registered for my first 5k!! It's in just 24 days in Madison. I'll be driving to my final clinic block that day, so my race will merely be a stop halfway there. Ashley, what kind of training program did you follow? I have some thoughts what I want to do, but am up for more advice. This one is coming up super quick so I don't anticipate to do REALLY awesome (plus it includes running up Bascom hill by the union). But 7 weeks after that I intend to run another, in La Crosse (which is close to where I'll be living early May). So yeah - I'm very excited!

The job search has been going ok. A few weeks ago I started making a list of independent community pharmacies in the Denver area, focusing on ones that do a large amount of compounding. Since then I've been calling them when I have time (and when they're open during my free time). A couple managers have requested my resumes, discussing the possibility of a phone interview soon and then a in-person interview after. I made it clear I can fly out any time that's convenient for them to interview. It's obviously unfortunate I can't "stop by" like they first suggest on the phone (before I say I'm from Wisconsin) but that's ok. Wisconsin's awesome reputation appears to impress them. And when they talk about their compounding advances, they seem excited to have a new grad to "mentor." Needless to say, I've had some exciting moments post-call this past week, and will be sure to keep everyone updated with official interviews and offers.

Mary and I have also discussed the possibility of living together next year. Her current roommate is probably switching programs and thus not staying in town. So if my pharmacy is located close enough to Denver for convenience of us both, it's lookin very possible. Hayley, do you know any more about your summer plans? Are you still considering Denver?

Well, I need to wrap up a few things before going to bed tonight. I'm incredibly pokey, so it'll be after 10 before sleeping I'm sure. =)

Finally...My Top 10 Experiences from Greece and Turkey

This post is doubling as a homework assignment for my writer's notebook, so sorry if some of the language is kind of formal. Also, it is really long, but hopefully not boring. So, finally here are the highlights of my amaaazing trip!

Greece and Turkey Trip:
My Top 10

Nafplio – Our third day in Greece was spent on the road. After a long day of touring and traveling, we ended the day in Nafplio, a smaller town by the sea. The minute we arrived I fell in love. We had been in Athens the past two days, which is a city of between 5 and 6 million people in a country of 11 million people. The city was bustling with bodies and cars with crazy drivers. I sense of calm washed over me in Nafplio, with the lapping of the waves nearby and the quaint buildings lining narrow streets. A group of me and four other people decided to explore the town after visiting the little shops and making a couple small purchases. We climbed stairway after stairway off the path where there was a gorgeous view of the ancient castle by the town. Peering down, a hidden beach came into view that we decided we had to go see. Making our way down, we climbed over boulders to the pebble covered beach. This was my first time at the beach, but unfortunately the water was too cold to swim in. I made due with wiggling my fingertips in the water and running away laughing every time the waves got too close. As we made our way down the beach, we found a couple of crabs hiding in puddles of dark water. When we tried to catch them, they would scuttle away, but eventually, one of the boys was successful in capturing one of the little rascals for us to touch. Further down the beach, the waves crashed into the rocks, spraying water like a geyser high into the air after which it came raining back down. To end our little adventure, we scrambled up the hill and followed the path back around to the harbor. Along the way we saw multiple night time hangouts used during the summer months. They looked pretty dead, since it was winter, but I am sure during the summer, music can be heard from all around as people swarm to eat, drink, and dance.
Architecture and Artwork – Both Greece and Turkey were rich with ancient architecture and artwork. The sculptures of Greek gods were imposing in their marble glory. Much of the jewelry and decorations were made of elaborately carved gold. The buildings were massive structures, which made it hard for my mind to fathom how they were constructed in such primitive times. I was much more impressed with the architecture found in Greece. I am not sure if it was because it was more impressive or because by the time we got to Turkey, we were tired of seeing ruins after ruins after ruins.
Olympia – Seeing where the ancient Olympics took place was incredible. My favorite location within the grounds was the stadium. The entrance arched above us like a tunnel and opened up into a vast expanse of dirt. This was not just any dirt, though. This was the dirt where ancient Olympians ran. J.L. (my professor who was one of the sponsors and who I babysit for) insisted we reenact a competition complete with a high priestess, judges, and runners. The boys were volunteered as the runners, which made for a comical sight. The only runner who crossed the finish line without huffing and puffing was Chris, who is a soccer player. After we left the stadium, we walked across to where the crowning took place in ancient times. As we listened to our tour guide, we noticed two security guards huddled together conspiring. Soon, they began walking over, a crown in hand made of olive branches from an olive tree. We were then able to have a mock crowning ceremony of our champion.
Delphi – Delphi was a smaller town located high in the mountains, so we were not sure what kind of entertainment we would find for the night. Tyler (a guy on the trip who I kind of hit it off with and now we are kind of seeing each other) had read in his book about a club called The Downtown and he suggested a group of us should check it out. Before we left we had a few beers at the hotel where we were staying. There was also a group of college students from California staying there, but from the looks of their old, prestigious professor we did not think they would be able to have much fun, so we didn’t think much of it. When we arrived at The Downtown, the music immediately began thumping our eardrums. Much to our surprise, the Californians were there…but they were about the only people who were. We weren’t ready to dance yet, so we ordered some drinks and chilled in the corner. After a couple of drinks, we decided it was time to test out our dance moves and show those California people what was up! Not more than a few minutes after we got on the dance floor, a California boy came up to us with this watermelon fishbowl. He tells us it’s for his U.S. friends to share with him. We agree and begin slurping away. Immediately after taking the fishbowl, I say, “That was amaaazing!” We continue dancing, and pretty soon Tammi and I are really getting into it. We’re getting so low that a couple of Greek guys begin whooping and clapping and telling us to dance by them. We ignore them and continue doing our thang with the help of another watermelon fishbowl. The next morning, as we are climbing up the ruins of Delphi, my knee really begins to bother me and I can’t figure out why. When I mention this, Tyler immediately replies, “Well, I can tell you why. It’s from you and Tammi dancing last night.” Oops! I spent the rest of the trip with knee pain, which is finally starting to feel better.
2004 Olympic Stadium – After touring the Peloponnese region of Greece, we returned to Athens to stay two more nights. Our first night back we were free to do whatever we pleased, so a group of us decided to venture to the 2004 Olympic Stadium. We took the metro the whole way there, and when we arrived there was a basketball game going on between Athens and a rival team. We were able to catch the end of the fourth quarter, which ended up being a close game. While we were there, a section of the stands began rushing out of the complex. Right away, J.L. starts freaking out and telling us to stick together and move down. I did not understand what was going on. I just thought people were getting up to go to their cars so they would not get stuck in the parking lot. It turns out, though, that these people were rushing out to go fight because the people there are so into their sports teams. We were fine because our section did not rush out, but J.L. thought that was for sure what would happen and he did not want us to get separated. After the game, we walked around the different complexes outside. It was sunset and everything looked beautiful with the sun glowing off the white structures.
Greek Island Cruise – On our last day in Greece, we went on a cruise to three islands: Hydra, Poros, and Aegina. On each island we had time to explore and shop, but some of the most memorable moments came from time spent on the boat. I spent the whole way to the first island on the top deck, taking the experience all in from the sun trying to peek through the clouds and glint off the dark blue sea to the dozens of islands poking out of the wavy water. The first island was by far the best. The buildings were exactly what you think of when you think of Greece, light colored with bright colored doors and shutters. Donkeys to rent lined the street, and boats sat in a row on the water by the dock. Highlights on the boat included the Greek piano player who served as live entertainment during lunch. He sang and played the whole time with a smarmy smirk plastered on his face. Behind him was a Japanese lady translating for the Japanese tourists who sounded like a man and continued keeping beat by singing, “Shh. Shh-shh. Shh. Shh-shh,” much to the singer’s chagrin. To top off the experience, none of the Japanese tourists could keep their balance on the boat, so they kept hopping from pole to pole while attempting to walk to the back of the boat. Upstairs, one lady bounced off the tables like a ping-pong ball, never once keeping her balance. This resulted in uncontrollable giggles from Tyler and I. By the time we got to the last island, we had seen all we needed to see, so we went to a café to get a drink. I had been drinking beer all day and wanted to try something new, so I asked Tyler if I would like a Kamikaze. He said I would definitely enjoy one, so I ordered one. The first sip made my eyes pop wide open as the alcohol hit my tongue. After that, it went down nice and smooth. Well, with five minutes left to get back to the boat, I still had 2/3 of my drink left, so I had to chug it. The multiple beers I had previously topped off with the kamikaze caused me to play Pitch horribly on the boat ride back, which turns out didn’t matter since I didn’t remember any of the boat ride back. Yikes!
Pamukale – Pamukale was a calcium deposit formation in Turkey. The calcium deposits have been left from the hot springs that run through it. The formation is huge, stretching on for yards and dropping down a great distance. Pamukale translates to “Cotton Castle,” which is exactly what it looks like. The deposits look like puffy clouds rolling down the hill. The hot spring water runs across the top, eventually falling down the side in a waterfall. The water was hot and steamy over my feet as I felt my way across the slippery rocks. I would love to go back in the summer sometime when the air temperature is hot like the water.
Turkish Hotels – The first three hotels we stayed at in Turkey before we got to Istanbul were all located in remote areas. Since it was the off-season, we were able to get our hotels cheap, which meant we were staying in four and five star hotels. These were the nicest hotels we stayed in the whole entire trip. The first one had a spa, pool, and sauna, which was the first we had seen in any of the hotels we had stayed in until that point. The next hotel was located near Pamukale. Since it was so close to the hot springs, it had a thermal pool fed by the nearby hot springs. The thermal pool started out inside. Toward the outer wall was a bridge. Going underneath the bridge led you outside. The combination of the steaming hot water and cool, crisp air was perfect. The third five-star hotel was located near a beach. Later that night, Tyler and I went to check out the beach. We even took off our shoes and socks, so we could wade our feet in the cool water.
Food – The food in both Greece and Turkey was phenomenal. Every night at our hotels in Greece, we were served five course meals. Each meal was served with bread and started out with a bowl of hot soup followed by an appetizer. Next we were served a salad along with our huge portioned entrée. To top the meal off was a scrumptious dessert. There was always waaay too much food to eat, but I tried everything in front of me and enjoyed experiencing new tastes. In Turkey, we were served a lot of shish kabobs, which were delicious. All three nights in Istanbul, a group of us walked down to a street vendor selling what they called kabobs, which were like a huge pita filled with meat, your choice of veggies, and sprinkled with a seasoning salt. They were jumbo, cheap, and yummy!
Taxim – Taxim was an area of Istanbul that J.L. compared to Times Square. This was not necessarily my favorite place, but the experience of getting there and being there was wild. A group of nine was going to go to Taxim the second to last night we were in Turkey, so we had to take a taxi. So that we could all ride together, we took a taxi van. The ride was crazy! Our taxi driver drove like a maniac and was constantly yelling out the window at people he knew and laying on the horn when he got angry at other drivers. We wove in and out of cars, never staying in our lane. Once, we slammed on the brakes and came within a hair of the car in front of us. Our bodies jerked back in forth into each other as if we were on a roller coaster ride. By the time we arrived in the Taxim area, we were all ready to get out of the van, away from our insane driver. After stepping out of the vehicle, we were immediately surrounded by people moving in every direction. So we wouldn’t lose each other, we had to keep walking, keeping up with the flow of traffic. Along the main drag were stores lined up on both sides. Name brand stores like Billabong, Nike, Puma, etc. Every now and then there would be a club. Smaller side streets trailed off the main street where bars and cafes could be found. The first club we went into had been built into an old alley, so it had an edgy atmosphere, but they couldn’t make a cocktail to save their lives. After they bombed my first two orders and I ended up with a nasty margarita, we left to find a new local. We ended the night in an Irish Pub called the James Joyce, which had a tavern feel with alternative rock music. This was the perfect place to chill out and end the night.

There you have it. There is so much more I could tell you about and explain in a much funnier way, but this is already a ginormous post, so I won't go into any more detail!

Culture Shock

I write this post to you all while wearing a tank top and shorts. You ask, is it because you are enjoying the fabulous 68 degree weather in Denver? Is it because Mary has chosen to vacation in the Caribbean this week? No to all the above. I decided to use my February vacation to return to the frigid ice box known euphemistically as Wisconsin. Mom, of course, has the woodstove burning full blast in the basement, while I sit at the computer in the sunroom baking in the heat. Fortunately, I anticipated all this and packed a mixture of long underwear, sweaters, and skimpy summer clothing.

Here are some thoughts on my first visit home in 9 months:

-It was good to see the entire family. Hard to believe that we had not all sat down at the same dinner table since May 2008.

-I realized that even though I live 1000 miles away, I have been pretty lucky in how often I get to see them...the Hawaii vacation in October (plus the Nebraska cousin's visit), Julie's visit in January and possibly later this spring for apartment shopping...

-I rock at football toss. Paul got this game from Menards for Christmas, which consists of throwing 2 miniature footballs attached with a string down the hallway, onto goalposts (3 points if you land on the top rung, 2 points for the middle rung, etc.). Of course, Paul calls it "testicle toss," both for the alliteration and because it involves balls.

-I have gotten caught up on a lot of reading (both medical articles that attendings have given me and fun magazine reading) as well as movie watching. We went to see
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in the theaters.

-Though the slower pace is nice for a week, I am grateful that I moved to Colorado. The state of Wisconsin shuts down during the winter, which always struck me as a waste of 6 months. The weather here is not very amenable to outdoor sports. Meanwhile, I've gone snow-shoeing in Rocky Mountain National Park and even downhill skiing twice at Breckenridge. Here, it's been a struggle to come up with definite activities to do. Julie has declined to go bowling with me. There is no ice skating rink open within two hours. This week, I've gone to Dubuque 3 times, Platteville once, Clinton once to visit Grandpa and Grandma, and Madison once. Today we're going to go to a museum in Platteville and then to the Potosi Brewery to eat lunch.

-We had to go back to Madison to drop Paul off at the dorms. The UW campus has undergone a lot of changes even in the few months I've been away. I even saw my old apartment building. Though I often get nostalgic about Madison, my time spent there is definitely from another era in my life, and I'm happy I've moved on.

-I am also very anxious for spring to arrive. I really want to starting running outside again. Julie started me on circuits yesterday to improve my muscle tone.

P.S. I admired that tote as well at Gap the other day, Ashley!

Hurry up, spring

It's that time of year again, kittens. Old Man Winter decides to give us a break for a few days, and I get tricked into thinking spring is just around the corner. I'm sure we're due for a huge snowstorm any day now but I'm going to enjoy the sunlight while it lasts.

Ladies, I present to you some spring-inspired eye candy.

1) Isn't this living room fabulous? That is a very brave shade of coral, but I think the white woodwork and dark furniture balance everything out nicely. I think this would be a fabulous color for a small powder room or a screened-in porch.




2) This is Sally Hansen's spring 2009 nail polish collection, which is supposed to arrive at CVS sometime in March. Very garden-inspired, I think. This has motivated me to paint my nails this weekend.




3) I splurged on this Gap tote bag last weekend. I did not get this color, though. (I know, it's shocking that I passed on anything purple.) Mine is red and pink.

Been Awhile

Sorry it has been so long since my last post -- just been slammed lately with all the turmoil in the Asian markets. A few Saturday musings:

• I enjoy drinking coffee once a week or so with Ashley on the weekends, but holy crap, when you body isn't used to coffee you immediately need to -- well -- holy crap.
• I've given up on having hair. I'm now down to a 1-guard and will consider the move of shaving it all together sometime this summer so my nugget doesn't have tan lines all winter from the little hair remaining.
• I don't care what your politics are, but the inauguration was way cool. Inspiring, monumental, and having a guy that is not a certified idiot in the White House. And if there was any doubt, Dick Cheney has completed his transformation to the dark side and is now the Dark Emperor Palpatine.
• We're going to Mexico in March. Yippie.
  
• Guitar is coming along nicely.
• Last year, my goal was to get in shape and be able to bike 100 miles in a month. I topped out July with 130 miles. I got down to my best weight since my freshman year of college and have been able to keep most of it off this summer. Now onto strength....
• I decided to try the 100 push-up challenge and train to do 100 consecutive push-ups. Kind of like training for a 5K, but with strength. http://hundredpushups.com/complete.html
  
• So far, the 100 push-up challenge has appeared to be a dumb idea. My boobs are killing me. :)
• I have a severely ailing grandfather. He's on borrowed time anyway since they told him he had 4 years to live over three decades ago, but this is not how I want to remember him. It is very difficult for me to be around him -- and that is my problem not his -- and very sad for me. In a way, I feel like I have already mourned him, because the man who was my grandfather was gone long ago. In some ways, when the phone rings and tells me he is finally gone, I have a hunch I may actually feel relieved instead of sad. I don't know.
  
• I still type very poorly.
• We went out to dinner with Lindzo last night, and she's rocking at life right now. Give her mad props. 17 months from graduation, jet setting across Europe, acting all mature, having almost as full of a social dating calender as her own grandfather. She needs to get on her and get her brag on. Happiest I've ever seen her.
• I am not rocking at life. Got a speeding ticket last week, and no excuses. Totally got nailed, like a drunk, trashy sophomore on prom night.
• I am still offering Andy's basic financial management class as you all finish up your schooling and start to have to look into insurance, benefits and 401Ks and the like.
• I am in love with my father-in-law's GPS. If he's never going to use it, I may try to buy it off of him on the cheap so everybody wins.
• I think I want to teach a class -- but I doubt I'll get the opportunity any time soon with budget cuts happening at the university

That's it. It's 55 degrees out, so I'm goign to go play.

How to make a cold GLAMOROUS!!!

Hello all! Last weekend I had the pleasure of meeting up with Cole, Ashley, and my parents at Cole's house. Unfortunately I took something home with me...Cole's cold. I can't blame the poor kid because I knew going in that he was sick, but all of our bonding took a turn for the worse. But I will turn my lemons into lemonade by giving you all the "How to" guide on making your cold not suck so much!

1. Put on your pjs and jump into your bed full of blankets and watch Sex and the City for hours. If you can't go out and be glamorous you may as well watch someone else do it!

2. To clear out your stuffy, throbbing head take a long steamy shower. You must use ~H2o+ Spa Ice Water cooling mint body mud. Not only will you breath in the aroma of peppermint, you will get exfoliated and come out shiny and fresh. Another lovely addition to the cooling body mud is Philosophy's Cookies & Milk shower gel/shampoo/bubble bath. This delightful combination will leave you smelling like a Girl Scout Thin Mint Cookie! Delicious and calorie free!

3. Turn out all the lights and light a Bath and Body Works candle in Cinnamon & Clove Buds while listening to Jack Johnson and enter into a restful sleep.

I am happy to say that I've used these alternative methods more frequently than OTC cold medicines and the results are much more preferred than the usual cold coma/hangover effect I get from certain medications. I hope everyone is having a healthy and successful semester/winter!