A FEW THOUGHTS FROM TODAY...

I'm coming down with an upper respiratory bug, but I could not let this deter me from getting in a run tonight. After all, I did pay for the over-priced membership. So I managed to get in three miles and a Facebook status:

Dear Guy on the Treadmill Next to Me Who Decided to Bathe in Cologne : Those Axe commercials lie, and I have a difficult enough time breathing when I'm running. Okay? Thanks.

In other news, I've found a great Halloween costume: The 'Eight Is Too Much' Wig.


: )

PAINTING AND MARRIAGE....

Yesterday, Jerm and I made an impromptu decision to paint an accent wall in our living room.

Our decision was based on the criterion that we wanted to do something productive without having to address hygiene issues or change out of our pajamas. After all, it was 3pm and we figured that we could totally pull off the I-look-like-crap-because-I-am-doing-productive-housework-as-evidenced-by-the-painting-supplies-in-my-cart look at Lowe’s. (At least that’s what I told myself as I darted around every aisle trying to avoid eye contact with any passerby.)

As is turns out, “Hey, let’s paint!” is about as good of a suggestion as, “Hey, let's insult each other all day!“ or “Hey, let’s kill each other!". At least things would have been more straightforward with the latter two.

And it all started with this.

"Edge Like a Pro" and "Eliminates taping!" were all my subconscious needed before my hand involuntarily reached for this and placed it in the cart.

However, things didn't go quite as planned. Let me just summarize my experience for you: Edge like a pro, my ass!

But that's not all....

After you’ve been dating/married for a combination of 9 years, “Did you read the directions?” translates into “You're an idiot!” And it’s not so much the literal translation but the tone with which it is conveyed that results in a reciprocated look that asks, “Do you value your life?”

And this is the point when a malfunctioning edger plays a minor role in the completion of a seemingly innocent paint project. Because, after all, a painting project takes a little bit longer when there is only one person painting.

Eventually,however, the realization that things will drastically improve with the completion of the project prompt reunification.

And once things are finished, you both take a step back to admire your work, smile, hug, high-five, apologize profusely...



...and then swear that you will never do that again.

RANDOM TIDBITS

I get to head home for the weekend tomorrow afternoon, and I absolutely cannot wait. I am missing a few important things in my life:

My Jeremy.

My Maisie.

My Lucy.

See how possessive I am?


This week has been pretty uneventful. However, I did manage to discover a few gems while out-and-about.

While at Wal-Mart looking for an iPod charger (which proved futile since my iPod decided to kick the bucket), I ran into these hanging on the sale rack for $1.00 each. I tried them on and, though a little big, the length was perfect as they hit midway above the knee. Not sure if any of you have noticed, but these days it is difficult to find shorts that don't threaten cheek exposure. I don't have much of a fashion sense, but deals like this warrant seizing.I mean, c'mon, the were ONE-DOLLAR. You don't see deals like this. EVER.

I wanted a real-fruit smoothie the other day for lunch and my mission to find one failed, but I did manage to discover this cute little bakery called the Sugar Shack and just had to purchase some goodies for the office staff that day. My favorite was the pumpkin petit fours. So much for a healthy smoothie...


On a different note, the physician I am working with assisted in C-section in the middle of a workday this week. He forgot to mention it, and I ended up having to attend the surgery in these.

Don't worry, I had on some disposable shoe covers. Now I can add "attended a C-section in heels" to my resume.

Ha.

OPTIONS

Sometimes there are things in life that are beyond your control. (Duh.) And when these things occur, you should know your options.

Option #1: Unleash a big storm of attitudinal fury on everything and everyone around you. After all, your problem should be the problem of your spouse, pets, and any inanimate object around you.

Option #2: Deal with it.

This past Sunday, as I was finishing up my laundry to prepare for the week, the dryer flippin' ate one of the only four black dress socks that I own. After searching for a considerable amount of time, I was examining my options.



Option #1:
Dryer before.


Dryer after.


Option #2: Look further, and prepare to deal with it if I couldn't find the bloody sock.

I chose Option #2, and eventually discovered this.

My sock had decided to hook up with one of my dress shirts. (I guess the attraction was electric.)

It's a good thing I don't own a machine gun.

YOU KNOW YOU ARE A MEDICAL STUDENT WHEN...

Your bra comes unsnapped in the middle of your first vaginal delivery. Apparently, there are uses for sports bras other than physical activity.

Then again, I think I'd qualify giving birth as a sport.
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You get to clip the gnarly toenails of a severely obese patient who is unable to do it. And you don’t use “normal” nail clippers but instead something that resembles these:

You manually lift the patient's legs on your lap and, as you think that maybe a small piece found its way into your mouth, you can't help but reflect on this glorious moment: “This is totally why I went to med school...”
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You realize that you are probably destined to one day be desensitized to the following:

Smells. Olfaction may very well be over-rated.

The colorful nouns and adjectives that patients use to describe anatomical parts and such. Let me just say that "junk" and "package" are some of the milder terms I've heard. I somehow think that this may always both shock and humor me.

Screaming babies. Little do these guys know that my looking into their ears is a minimal offense compared to the immunizations that are waiting for them at the end of their visit.

Smells. Smells. Smells.
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The physician you are rotating with says, “Okay, I sometimes get ECG and EKG confused. Are those the same thing?” You reassure him with a hearty nod. And then he continues, “Now, how does an EKG differ from an EEG?” Eager to help him sort out such a quandary, you dutifully explain. Yet he keeps on. “Okay, now what is an EGG?” As a third year medical student, there are things in the vast medical realm that have yet to be learned. This EGG is new to you, and so you reply, “I don’t know.” The physician then quickly recalls and explains to his enthusiastic student, “An egg!” He makes sure to cackle after enlightening you.

And then you think, “Wow, he pretty much just called me a jackass without actually saying it.”

AD-LIB

Ever wonder if there is a universal gift out there to keep on stock just in case you happen upon an 'I-totally-forgot-about-that-special-occasion!' moment?

Well, I have the perfect gift in mind: a "colorfully embroidered" adjustable cap with a subtle message.


"DON'T FORGET MY SENIOR DISCOUNT!"

If you act now, you can get free shipping with a purchase of two. Perfect for the graduating high school senior in your family and that special senior in your life.

Senior pride!

A WINDOW TOUR OF ELK CITY

I've not gotten a chance to roam around this ol' town yet, but I thought I would do a drive-by photo shoot to give you a personable and thorough tour through my eyes as I have seen it: from the windows of my car.

This sign is a little bit on the outskirts of the town, and it is blurry because I felt that I could go no slower than thirty miles under the speed limit. It reads, "Welcome to Elk City".


If you are like me, you wonder, "How the heck did this town get its name?" Well, thanks to Wikipedia, I discovered that its namesake is due to its location when the town was founded. Apparently, the town originally existed at the head of a creek called Elk Creek, coined due to a sighting of elk tracks back in the early twentieth century. Over time, no elk were seen but the name stuck and, appropriately, the town boasts a statue of what I assume is an elk.

Heck, someone could tell me this was a moose, and I wouldn't know the difference.

Now, I probably should "get my kick" from the "Historic Route 66"...

But, honestly, I am more interested in two establishments here in town:

One -- this Wal-mart is not a supercenter yet. I didn't think these existed anymore. Word on the street is that there are plans for one to be built in the upcoming year.

Figures.


Two -- check out this Braum's. Apparently, this is the company's newest model. I guess they are trying to separate their dining section from their grocery store, but, to me, it looks like fast-food-meets-Golden Corral.


The town hosts several museums, and I think that they are all located in this one section of town. Per the town's website,I have my choice between the National Route 66 Museum, Old Town Museum, Transportation Museum, Farm and Ranch Museum, and the Blacksmith Museum. This actually looks like it would be a neat place to visit,and -- if the online prices are current -- one can visit all for $5.00. That's a steal!




Most of my evenings here are spent at this gym. (The sign was the best representation I could get; the actual building is hidden behind some trees and shrubbery...) I was reluctant to join for a month because the price was too expensive, but I caved in because I hate running in the rain and cold and my goal this month was to get back into the habit of running. This has turned out to be a good decision because it gives me something to do, and I am feeling really great afterward.


Anyone want to come visit?

After all, I have a couch in my hospital room. : )

BABIES AND ANNIVERSARIES

I apologize for the gap in between blogs. I encountered technical difficulties last week when my computer charger decided that it no longer wanted to do its job. This issue superimposed itself on a battery life of thirty minutes without a charger, which did not leave me very much computer time.

Not that I would have had time to blog, anyhow.

I participated in my first C-section last Tuesday morning and then my second and third on Wednesday morning and evening,respectively. Wednesday unexpectedly turned into a fourteen-hour day, and, thankfully, tiredness quickly helped me become indifferent to the uncomfortable hospital bed that kept me awake the two nights previous.

I have a few internal observations/reflections about my experiences that I would like to share, but I am going to save them for another post.

Wednesday was also a big day for another reason: Jerm and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary. I am usually not a flower type-of girl, but Jerm surprised me with these at the office where I am working. Being three hours away from home makes me vulnerable and overly-sentimental, and receiving these evoked warm feelings and scenes of us frolicking hand-in-hand in some ambiguously desolate field somewhere. In short, he made me feel special, and I loved them.


This weekend was also the celebration of another very special occasion. My grandparents celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary today, and our family orchestrated a party that has been months in the making. I was so busy running around that I ended up with very few pictures. In fact, the only picture I managed to take of them together is this one of them cutting their cake.


It has been a long and enjoyable day, and I am off to bed. Goodnight!

WELCOME TO ELK CITY

I arrived in Elk City this evening and managed to miss the hospital on my initial drive through town. It is called Great Plains Regional Medical Center, and I am very impressed by the facilities. The hospital is brand new and truly beautiful, from the wood floors to the earth tone color schemes.

When I arrived, a couple of nice nurses helped get me to my room.

One even gave me this lovely sign to put on the outside of my door...


...since there are no locks on the doors.


Wait a minute. Just what kind of room is this?

Folks, step into the luxurious, five-start accomodations of Great Plains Regional Medical Center. Complete with a complimentary feeling of, "I know this hospital is new and all, but has someone stayed (if you know what I mean) in this room before?".


But things are looking up!

The bathroom looks pretty nice. Anyone need your car washed?

I have my own personal nurse button in the restroom in case I need more toilet paper.(I need one of these at home!)

I also have my own abs machine. I believe it is one of those robotics machines where you have to lower and raise the head of the bed to get optimal results.

I have my own personal laptop desk.

And my own hospital-bed remote with a nurses button in case I need any popcorn or refreshments. The built-in dial-controlled volume is pretty awesome, too.


I could get used to this!

HAPPY FALL!

For me, fall signals the end of the warm temperatures of summer and serves as a short-lived reminder that winter will soon be around the corner. Since owning a home, a new element has been introduced: the warm smell of pumpkin spice candles and fall decorations.











Friday, Kristen came over for the first annual Evans' household pumpkin carving. We searched for carving patterns online; she went with a Scooby-Doo face (on the left) while I opted for a scene with two trees -- one with an owl perched on a branch -- and a full moon. I drew my pattern on with a fine-tip sharpie, though it looks blank.


Pumpkin guts!


Lucy sun-bathed and watched us from a distance.


Maisie thought she would sample a taste of the pumpkin in between her annoying, incessant attempts to remind us that the true reason we were outside was to play fetch.


Kristen working diligently at carving. I think we both have calluses on our hands to prove that the $1.00 pumpkin carving kit wasn't quite the steal we thought we were getting.

As I slaved away at carving, I started to realize that maybe my picture was overly-ambitious. I began to question the integrity of a hollowed-out pumpkin when my perched owl began to sag on his lonesome branch.

After my owl and branch fell, the tree on the right decided it too wanted to leave the pumpkin forest.

And so I had to perform a pumpkinectomy.

Then, as I smugly tried to carve a leaf "free style", this is what I got. Ha!

Scooby was the lone survivor. Kristen graciously offered to let him stay at our house and so he has a new home on the front porch.

FLYING HIGH

My pediatrics rotation has come to an end, and I have to say that I am quite relieved. These last few days seemed to have more screaming toddlers than the preceding month combined, and it was wearing me out. I definitely think the screaming patient-to-physician ratio just might play a role in my considering a specialty.

Jerm and I decided to take advantage of one-dollar admission to the fair last night. (Notice the title of the blog from the annoying jingle on the radio?) I took my camera but remembered half-way through our experience to take pictures. By the time these were taken, Jerm had already consumed an extra long corn dog and a turkey leg, and I was in the process of enjoying a delicious margarita.

Blooming onion with jalapeno-ranch dip. That dip was awesome, and I wished afterwards that we had ordered the jalapeno blooming onion instead.


This man here is my hunka-hunka burnin' love. I can only hope that our children inherit his blue eyes.



This ice cream is made from a process that uses liquid nitrogen, but all I really cared about was the thick and smooth consistency. So yummy!


This is Jerm's Rodney Dangerfield promotion of the funnel cake. "Hey, Moitha!(That's Martha in Dangerfield speak) Can I get a drink or what?"


I am leaving for Elk City on Sunday for a family practice /OBGYN rotation. Why the heck did I schedule an elective rotation three hours away from my husband, doggies, warm bed, and ever-present comfort zone? Ah, yes …because I felt that a rural elective would offer more opportunities for me to immerse myself in the practice of medicine and gain some hands-on experience. And also because I’ve heard great things about the physician with whom I am rotating.

I am sure the southwest quadrant of Oklahoma is going to be very interesting, to say the least. I will take plenty of pictures and keep you posted.