Happy New Year!

I can't believe another year is gone. The older I get, the faster they come. This is the year I finally graduate; that I'm really looking forward to. Taking the bar exam, not so much. Well, Nissa and I wish you all the best in 2009.

Quote of the Post:
Here's something off the request line from Liberty Island. We're gonna squeeze some New Year's juice from ya, Big Apple!
- Ghostbusters

Recipes

It's that time of year when we all start thinking of resolutions for the new year. One I'm hoping to keep is to do a lot more cooking now that clinics are winding down so I'm looking for recipes! I know you all have some favorites and if you could email me a few I'd love it becuase I want to try new things. Jenan, I know you are a magic wonder in the kitchen; see if you can't write a recipe for one of your masterpieces for me. ;-) Anyway, I hope you are all still enjoying some time off and I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Quote of the Post:
I enjoy cooking with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food I'm cooking.
- Julia Child

Happy Holidays

Nissa and I want to wish everyone the best this season and a great New Year!



Quote of the Post:
Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice.
- Dave Barry

Good Food, Good Movie, Good Friends

With Ithaca closing up for the holidays, three of us were still left in the winter wonderland. So we headed down to Wegman's for pasta, got the ingredients for an amazing guacamole and settled in to watch Mamma Mia! while we dined. Laura and Kaitlin made some of the best guacamole I've had (see for recipe). Yum.



Well, I think I've caught up. Nothing like a last minute push to pull it all together for the holidays. I wish you all the best during this season.

Quote of the Post:
Donna: [about the possible dads] I have brought this all on myself because I was a stupid, reckless little slut!
Tanya: Don't you sound like your mother!
- Mamma Mia!

Ice Storm

So in the last week and half the northeast has been repeatedly slammed with storms. Leading it off was a snow and ice storm that lasted about 24 hours. I got to drive in it and a 3 hour drive turned into an almost 6 hour drive. However, the results were beautiful. The next morning, while I walked Nissa & Rip, I heard more then a dozen trees come crashing down in a thunderous roar. Mother nature is on a rampage, hopefully we'll learn to listen.




















Quote of the Post:
You know what the good thing is about this weather? You can see your breath; that way you know your still breathing.
- Alex Debogorski, Ice Road Truckers

NAVLE

Evil test. I took it on 12/8 and will be repeating it in the spring since I couldn't study this semester. Ugh, 7 hour exams should be outlawed. Guess it was good prep for the bar I have to take this summer which will be 3 days of joyous test taking. Thanks to Holly for being such a great travel buddy for the exam; at least the ride was fun.

Quote of the Post:
For any exam in history, here is the answer: all human history is the struggle between systems that attempt to shackle the human personality in the name of some intangible good on the one hand and systems that enable and expand the scope of human personality in the pursuit of extremely tangible aims. The American system is the most successful in the world because it harmonizes best with the aims and longings of human personality while allowing the best protection to other personalities.
- Benjamin Jeremy Stein

Bond & Friends

Right before Thanksgiving I headed to Albany, just in time for the new James Bond movie. Love the new bond. Yes, he's darker and more brooding, but when you kill that often brooding might be more realistic. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention, he's HOT. But what fun is enjoying that view without girlfriends, so too of my high school buddies waited to see the movie until I got home. We grabbed dinner before to catch up. It's always great to see those who know you when you were young and foolish, anything goes. Here they are looking beautiful:





The next night Liz came over with her pup for dinner with my family. I love having extra puppies running around. It was great to hang out with Liz. I got spoiled seeing her all the time before her wedding and have been having Liz withdrawal since then. Of course I had to take pictures of the puppies; Liz has been fully converted to a dog lover.







Quote of the Post:
A friend is a person with whom I may be sincere. Before him, I may think aloud.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Alive Too

So I read Jen's Alive post and understood exactly. It's the reason I haven't been posting so I've decided to do catchup on some fun things that occurred over the past few weeks of my life and skip the rest. Look for pictures and stories over the next week of visits with high school buddies, James Bond moments, survival of a seven hour exam, and a Thanksgiving with 14 people and 7 dogs (I think it might need more dogs). Hopefully I'll get all caught up before Christmas.

Finally, I just want to say that I really appreciate all the great people in my life - friends and family - and I wish I kept in better contact with all of you. None of you are ever far from my thoughts though and I love having you in my life. Thank you.

Quote of the Post:
The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
- Eden Ahbez

Let's Celebrate

The two weeks are up; I'm now off the rotation that tried to kill me. Not without a parting gift from a client through. Yesterday, I told my client during their evening visit that since everything medical had been discussed I would call them in the am to let them know how the pup did overnight. I got a page a little after midnight. Thinking my patient was crashing I hopped up and started dressing while I called ICU. False alarm, the owners had called and decided they needed a midnight briefing on their pup. Seriously???? You had just seen the pup a few hours ago. Not only that, but a fellow student on overnights tried to tell them the dog was doing great and that I'd call in the am but they had to hear it from me. He's looking at the pup and I'm at home, so that makes complete sense. Wow, am I ever glad to be done. Not my cup of tea.

Today I'm headed to Albany to get my tooth chip fixed. I chipped it passing a nasogastric tube on a horse; not too many people get to say that. I'm also going to try to see the new Bond movie with a couple old friends. Should be good, too bad I'm exhausted. (Oh, Nissa started vomiting after the midnight call, not sure why but I have to keep a close eye on her for a few days).

Yesterday I got a visit from a law buddy who happened to be driving by Ithaca. What are the chances of that? It was great to see him and meet his new girlfriend. I still can't believe he just swung by, but I really enjoyed getting to see someone not at all related to clinics. And on Friday the alumni magazine for my other grad program interviewed me. Guess I'm going to be one of the students that they highlight in the spring edition. It was fun to talk law but weird to talk just about myself for over an hour. Think that is all the gossip on me for the last week. Hmm, guess I managed to fit in more then I thought.

Quote of the Post:
There's a party goin' on right here
A celebration to last throughout the years
So bring your good times, and your laughter too
We gonna celebrate your party with you
- Cool And The Gang, Celebrate Good Times

Sleep and Wine

It turns out sleep and wine make things better. I'm still exhausted, but at least I can see that I haven't lost any patients and I've even managed to send a few home better then how they arrived. It's been a long weekend with much more time spent at the hospital then at home but I've gotten to see Nissa some and even watched a movie. Can't seen to concentrate on my law reading though; I'll have to get better at that ASAP. Well, I'm off to design a holiday card for 2008.

Quote of the Post:
Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
- English proverb

Worst Week Ever

I'm not in the best of moods so I probably shouldn't be blogging but I have to say something or I might curl up with my wine bottle and disappear. Ugh, I am miserable on my current rotation. I am working 16 hrs a day and paying to do it. The clients are driving me crazy - they arrive hours late and then demand hours of my life and schedule visits in the middle of what little free time I have. For instance during a two hour visit today the clients asked when to come tomorrow. I suggested 7-9 am or 6-8 pm, times I have to be there on Saturday, they then say "How about 3pm?" Of course, that would perfectly divide the time I have to catch up on life and cook for the week. Love it, can't wait to see you at 3 tomorrow. I have just over a week of this left, a whole f#$*ing week. Kill me now. Wow, I actually feel a bit better, though that might be the wine talking. Well, I'll wait for later to say more when I'm in a better mood and able to share a good vibe.

Quote of the Post:
Living with depression is like trying to keep your balance while you dance with a goat - it is perfectly sane to prefer a partner with a better sense of balance.
- Andrew Solomon, in The Noonday Demon

Woo-Hoo!

Finally, no more Republicans in the White House; I might get my country back. I can sleep better tonight for the first time in 8 years.

Quote of the Post:
I don’t oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other armchair, weekend warriors in this administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne. What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income, to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression. That’s what I’m opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.
- Illinois State Sen. Barack Obama, October 2002

Way too long

Wow, I can't believe how long its been since I posted last. The wedding was amazing and I survived my toast duties as MOH. Liz says she loved it so I guess I got it right. The wedding was amazing, perfect even. The steak at the reception might be the best I've ever had, literally melted in the mouth. i couldn't believe how quickly it went. I love fall themed weddings and so the whole event was just like a great dream.

Enough gushing. Since then I've been back at the School working my butt off. My pup has been sick again. This time it's Lyme disease from a tick, ugh. I hate ticks. She doing ok but the medications are now making her ill so we are working on how to go about treatment.

I've also had to start thinking about selling my place. I've lived here for over 5 years!!! I can't believe I'm actually going to graduate and leave town. I'm still trying to make the decision between NYC and Boston, but right now I'm leaning towards the former. My debt will be paid off slower, but I love the office and people there and I think a new town might be good for me and the pup. I'll write soon and have some pics but here are a few for now:

The Bride & Groom



The Bachelorette Party





Quote of the Post:
Being born is not a crime, so why must it carry a sentence of death?
-Robert Ettinger

A Dog's Life

Looking back on the postings, I'm beginning to think this blog needs to renamed since more often then not it is about dogs. Well, Nissa and Rip are tearing it up at my parent's house but I'm in the ADK visiting with my maternal grandparents, who have a new puppy, Holly. Holly is a very cute black, wavy PWD who is always trying to entice Daisy (their older brown, curly PWD) to play. I have to say that Daisy is putting up with a young'un better then Nissa is. Puppies are so damn cute!








As for the interview, this one went much better but, once again, the judge has many more interviews to complete before he is done. I should be hearing from him in just over a week so keep your fingers crossed. It was a great city to visit and I got to have a long lunch with Jill at a place called Jones. It was high-end diner food (if that makes any sense). Jill and I managed to meet and walk there on a beautiful day. I didn't realize how close I was to her, so, now that I know, Nissa and I will be heading there for a weekend to visit with her and Zoe.

BTW, Moos, your ADK home is looking amazing with the renovations. I took some pictures so remind me and I'll send them.

Quote of the Post:
On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.
-Peter Steiner

Another Interview

Well, I was supposed to hear from the judge today and, since I haven't, I'm moving on. Lucky for me, another judge wants to interview me. He called today, so of course I scheduled the interview for tomorrow. Another long day, I'll have a 4 1/2 hour drive each direction with an interview sandwiched in the middle. There is one more judge, who two of my friends worked for, that I am still hoping will call for an interview. I hope one of them works out, but I'm already wishing the whole thing was over.

Quote of the Post:
Fragile as reason is and limited as law is as the institutionalized medium of reason, that's all we have standing between us and the tyranny of mere will and the cruelty of unbridled, undisciplined feeling.
-Justice Felix Frankfurter

Finished Another Book

I just finished my book/album of my trip to Arizona. It's 198 pages long with over 350 pictures. Yep, that is down from the 1000 pictures that I took. Here's the cover:

I also met Rip!!! I haven't been blogging because I was procrastinating on upload pictures, but that seems a bit silly. Nissa wasn't sure what to make of this new Airedale; she liked Ella a lot. But the two of them figured it out after Nissa kicked his butt a few times, despite him being twice her weight already.




I'm actually on my way out of town to Liz's bachelorette party, which is tonight!!! Now that is going to be a great time. I'll be out of regular internet access though for two weeks so I'll post when I can.

Quote of the Post:
Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True.
And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona.
Not all holes, or games, are created equal.
- George Will

Long Day

I survived. Actually the judge was really nice and I enjoyed meeting his staff. Sadly, I couldn't think of the three most influential Supreme Court cases of the last 15 yrs, well, actually I drew a complete blank on any case, so I doubt I'll get the position, but Nissa and I had an adventure.

So 2.5 hrs into our trip to the interview I realized that I had forgotten my cell phone; yep, long road trip and no cell phone. So the dog walker I hired for Nissa while I was in the long interview I thus couldn't call. Luckily, the people in the town were extremely nice so one lent me their cell phone to call her and she, of course, loved Nissa and spoiled her rotten while I was away. Then one of the federal security guards lent me his phone so I could pick her up and let my dad know I was hitting the road (I had to go meet Rip). They also filled me in on town history and people while I was waiting for the interview to start. Very nice town with friendly people.

All in all, it was about 12 hrs of driving yesterday with 2 hrs of interviewing and a 1 hour of interview prep and Nissa travel time. Bit of a long day but worth it to meet Rip. He is adorable. Nissa isn't sure what to make of him. He's about her size now, but his feet are 4 times the size of hers and he is all muscle and puppy joy. He is squirming and playing and running all the time. Very entertaining. Nissa is more an observer type and really doesn't know what to do about all his energy yet. However, they are figuring it out. No worries, pictures will be posted soon. I have to get on my own computer first.

Quote of the Post:
A puppy is but a dog, plus high spirits, and minus common sense.
-Agnes Repplier

Interviews, Ugh

I hate interviews and I have one tomorrow. I have an interview with a Federal Judge, which I realize is a big honor to just get the interview, but ugh. And I'm completely unprepared. Yep, I spent the week on my senior seminar so I'm not up to date on laws, changes in them, nor have I read any opinions. I don't think I even remember my own writing sample; well at least that I can read tonight. C'est la vie (Moos, I hope I got that right).

Quote of the Post:
Chance favors the prepared mind. -Louis Pasteur

Whoo-Hoo!

First off, congrats to Jen for getting those blinds up. I especially liked the action shots of Josh.

I gave my presentation today. It even went ok! I ran over a bit but it had very few umms, some eye contact and best of all it is over! I celebrated with good pasta and wine. Three of us gave our presentations today, so here we are happy to have it over:


Quote of the Post:
It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.
-Mark Twain

Someone Else's Funny Story

A fellow student sent me this and, since it made me laugh, I thought that I would share:

Yesterday I was buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for Athena the wonder dog at Wal-mart and was about to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had an elephant? So since I'm retired, with little to do, on impulse, I told her that no, I didn't have a dog, and that I was starting the Purina Diet again. Although I probably shouldn't, because I had ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms.

I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry and that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again (I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now
enthralled with my story.)

Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no; I stepped off a curb to sniff an Irish Setter's ass and a car hit us both.

I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack, he was laughing so hard! WAL-MART won't let me shop there anymore.

Another Weekend Gone

So I managed to finish the rough draft of both my ppt and my paper for my senior seminar this weekend. I have a headache just thinking about it. I did much of it in the law school library (went there to feel smarter ;-)), so I got to watch all the new 1Ls run around and act like it was sooo difficult. Geez, I remember those days, but did I look that young?

Sadly, all I did this weekend was work, so I don't have much to report. The judges get to contact students today for clerkship interviews so wish me luck. I'd really like to have at least one interview after all the work of putting together applications. I'll let you know.

Oh, I do have exciting news. This is my first week off clinics since January!!!! Yep, I have a whole day to myself, mainly to catch up on life, but still.

This is a thanks to Weatherjen for reading and commenting on all posts. Moos, I really think you need a new post, just in case you are reading this. ;-) Have a great week everyone!

Quote of the Post: (borrowed from the NYTimes)
"Today’s necessary but likely very expensive action for taxpayers is the consequence of regulatory neglect and of a broader political system’s reluctance to take on what should have been clearly seen as festering problems."
-Lawrence H. Summers, a former Treasury secretary, on the bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

A Picture and a Name

So here is the pic my family sent me. You can be sure there will be more once I get home. Two names appear to be in the running now Rip Van Winkle, Rip for short, and Marley. I'm rooting for Rip personally.

Quote of the Post:
Dogs make us believe we can actually be as they see us, and it's often only when they're gone that we realize their role in what we've become. - The Monks of New Skete

Dogs

So I'll start with the bad news: Nissa is sick again. One ultrasound later, we have no idea why, but she seems to have her normal attitude and energy, just no appetite and an upset GI. Makes sense she has no appetite since she's been sick for a week. We've got her on a cocktail of drugs and so I hope to have her healthy and happy again soon.

In better news, my family has found a new Airedale Terrier to add to the family!!!! As yet unnamed, this time we got a male pup. He was just picked up tonight and is apparently a great snuggler. His sire is 120 lbs plus, so he promises to be a large boy. Although we all still miss Ella greatly, it is exciting to have a new family member. As soon as we have a name and I've got a picture, you can be sure you'll be hearing about it. I'll hopefully be meeting the beast this week depending on potential interviews. My parents claim he's already bigger then Nissa. I bet she can still kick his butt at tug-of-war; she's beaten a 40+ lb PWD using her smarts and every last ounce of body weight she had. ;-)

Quote of the Post:
If you don't own a dog, at least one, there is not necessarily anything wrong with you, but there may be something wrong with your life. -Roger Caras

Quotes & Palin

With my ppt draft completed for my senior seminar, I decided to catch up on the Daily Show. Despite being in an academic bubble, I managed to catch that McCain picked a running mate, Palin. Yep, not too much to add except, SERIOUSLY??????? So, without further ado, I expand the quote section for today:

Quotes of the Post:
[Palin] does know about international relations because she is right up there in Alaska, right next door to Russia. –Fox News

In many ways Palin is Hillary’s ideological opposite, but she is her gynecological twin.... John McCain chose a woman who is almost completely unprepared for the job and who disagrees with me on every core value I believe in, but I will be voting McCain in November because he understands women don’t vote with the big head, they vote with the little hood. –The Daily Show

Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less –Newt Gingrich’s new book’s title

Remember, Alaska’s the closest part of our continent to Russia.... -Cindy McCain
Yes, not only is Alaska America’s closest part to Russia, Alaska has Mt. McKinley, which makes it America’s closest point to space, so that means she has space policy experience. –The Colbert Report

Senior Seminar Blues

So one of the many graduation requirements of my program is a senior seminar that I have to present to the school (students, faculty, staff, whoever decides to show up) and then write up a supposedly publishable paper to go with it. Well, mine is being presented 9/10 which means I have procrastinated myself into a hole. And of course that means the place above me sold this weekend so they are moving in furniture, pulling up carpet and hammering an ungodly amount so my productively level has drastically dropped. Even Niss is all worked up, barking at the noise and adding to the drama. Yep, this is going to be a close call, but it will get done since there is no way I'm not graduating after wasting a number of years on this program. The good news is that I am catching up on bill paying and other fun activities to further procrastinate on "Bilateral Carpal Valgus and Elbow Dysplasia in a Four Month Old Newfoundland." Yep, school is fun. ;-)

Quote of the Post:
"I think that the glass is half-full, just that it's full of poison." - Woody Allen

Blogging

Well, Jen (of Weatherjen) convinced me it was time to start a blog since my friends are all around the world. I initially tried to do one on my website but this will make it much simpler to update. Haven't touched that one since '06. Right now Nissa and I are stuck with long hours at vet clinics, but there is hope for fun and stories. I've got a vacation coming up soon and my good friend's wedding, so many trips and adventures should ensue. Until then ....

Quote of the post:
"In Anesthesia we just say yes to drugs." - Dr. L