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