Fall and football

Oooh football and fall time, how I've missed thee.....

Now if the weather would just cool off, I'd be on cloud nine. I guess I should mention though, Saturday was only in the low 80's, the coolest temps since early May. And now we're back into the 90's for the unforeseeable future. Great.

I did order the game Saturday night. $40 was a bit pricey, especially since I was the only one home to watch it. I had to keep myself entertained somehow. Dave was on call, a lot of our friends were out of town for the weekend. So it was just me and the dog, and some good ol' Chinese take-out.

I wore my Nebraska shirt to clinic on Friday (It's been approved for the fall time b/c these people are obsessed with football down here.) Needless to say, I got a lot of comments. Especially by one of my teenage patients, (he reminds me of Alex, actually....a smart *$$) This is what I hear when I open the door. "Well looky there....nothing good comes from Nebraska, except maybe corn....and Ndamukong Suh" I responded to sit down in his seat and get comfortable, because he just bought himself a free ticket to spend the rest of the afternoon with us. I was going to keep him in clinic for as long as I could. That shut him up. (It was all in fun, don't want y'all to think I was being for serious.)

On to other things, I think we've beat the fleas. I have switched Oscar to Confortis, one of the strongest flea fighting medications out there. He's done very well with it. And we've been flea free for over 2 weeks! Hooray, Hooray!!

We really haven't been up to too much recently. Dave is now on Pulmonary wards, so he's back into the crappy hours. Puppy is growing. And I'm still working. The 3 day weekend this past weekend was wonderful! I wish I could have those every week! Oh, we started a financial bible study this week. It went really well, it's a 10 week course, and really just puts everything into perspective. It makes me think before my impulse buys, so that is good. Dave is appreciating it too. :)

Well, that's all I know for now. Hope all my Nebraska friends are enjoying the cool weather that I've been hearing about! Sounds lovely. I'm coming home in October for my friend Erin's bridal shower, and am soooo excited for the weather! And the football. (Happens to be the Texas game) Okay, talk to y'all soon!!

Unrelenting heat!

Seriously, I can't take this heat anymore. The weather man announced that we are 60 some straight days with 90 plus degree highs. (And that was about 10 days ago.) I'm sooooo OVER it! Tops of some trees are fried and have turned brown and the leaves fell off. It's very sad. And is it bad that temps like 91 or 92 don't feel that bad anymore? If only the humidity would let up a little bit we'd be in great shape! I'm just so ready for fall..... and football!

Dave's on GI consults this month, so he's working 8-5ish with weekends off. Last weekend we laid around ALL weekend. It was raining too, so we never got off the couch. We were laughing because we thought it was just the best weekend and thought, this is what normal married couples feel like. They get to see each other most weekends. It was glorious!

I thought this weekend was glorious too, I don't think Dave did so much. We were up bright at early Saturday, and had went through the basement and had it organized by 9:30am. It felt great to get that done, and we went through all of our drawers and closets to take things to Goodwill. Let me just tell you that Dave has about 5 boxes full of CD's and a few DVD's, and 10 boxes of books!! I told him to not even worry about going through all that until we move somewhere more permanent. We've already decided that we're paying someone to move us to the next place. Well, more like my dad TOLD me that we were going to pay someone to move us, because he's never doing that again.

Oh, I don't think I ever mentioned that we found 2 fleas on Oscar about a week or two ago. I freaked. I mean, most of you know that I'm already pretty anal about things, and my whole deal with having an indoor dog is that when you walk into my home, I want there to be no indication that an animal lives here. And fleas.....wellllll, that's an indication.

I called the vet, got a special pill on top of the monthly treatments he gets to kill the fleas. I bathed him in Dawn dish soap while Dave went to Walmart to buy a yard treatment spray and Bo-rax (I'm not sure if I'm saying it right, is that a southern pronunciation? These new words, I don't even know anymore if it's the first time I've ever heard of it.) Well anyway, you put the bo-rax on the carpets and sprinkle it on the floors to kill any flea larva that has fallen off. The good thing is I don't have any carpet, only area rugs, so it's easier to get all the flea larva. I may have went a little overboard, Dave told me if someone were to walk into our house, they'd think that we were crack heads with a ton of cocaine all over the floors. (Because bo-rax is white and powdery for those of you who were unaware of it's existence, as I was.)

Anyway, we are still seeing a few fleas on him, so we did the whole thing over again yesterday. I also gave him some benadryl for the itching, and the poor thing, Dave was pulling him to come over, and he just went and fell right on over! Not graceful, straight legged and all, on his side. He was a drunk puppy. Poor baby.

As many of you have probably heard, my cousin Preston was very sick this past week up in Omaha. It really has been a very looong week. I can only imagine how long it has been for him, and my aunt Pam and uncle Steve. He's doing better though, thank the Lord for that!! Again, it puts things in to perspective and reminds me that I really want to get closer to home. There's nothing we can do about that now, but just praying that for fellowships we will be able to be closer. I mean, ultimately we want to be in Omaha, but I can't get my hopes up. If you'd like to visit his carepage the link is below.

Read the update now: http://www.carepages.com/carepages/PrestonVikingFan/updates/2758709?client_code=chsomaha&ipc=mur

Hope all is well with everyone up north! I'm sooo ready for Husker football! Unfortunately, we won't be getting many of their games until next year when we're officially part of the Big 10! Okay, talk to y'all soon!

Love,

sarah

Holy cow! It's been over a month!

So I just got back from home and had some requests to post more often. Which I will try to do, but last month.... Well....let's just say I was living by the motto, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."

Last month Dave was on his first rotation of his 2nd year, it was GI (gastroenterology) which he wants to do, so he enjoyed it. I, however, didn't. He was regularly working 80-90 hrs a week. One weekend I saw him for 4 hours. The combination of never seeing your husband and wanting to go home makes me into an emotional wreck. More of an emotional wreck than what I normally am; which, I know is VERY hard to believe. I did however get flowers at work, which was very nice and thoughtful, but still doesn't replace having him home. It was hard because I was under the impression that 2nd year was going to get better and I was very disappointed.

This month should be much better though, he's on consults which means he works no weekends! One of my friend's down here, (another wife) and I were talking about how great it is to just have them home for a whole weekend, it feels so surreal. Like we live a normal life with normal hours. Her baby turned 1 in the middle of July. And it was funny, because I went over to help her set up for the party and her husband made it home and was able to feed their baby, Kate, dinner for the first time all month. It's the little things in life....

We've started going to another church here in town, well, it's in Homewood. A lot of residents go there, and one of our couple friends go there. So that's nice. Funny story though, the week before I left to go home, so about 2 weeks ago, the pastor stopped by one evening to drop off some information and to chat. Well, Oscar was in the back yard, and that the very same time I let him in, Dave had the front door open and Oscar bolted! I was out there in my bare feet running into our neighbors yard, and Oscar's running from us like it was a game. I was just worried he'd get into the road. I was yelling at Dave, and yelling at Oscar....the whole time not realizing that the nice old man standing at the door was the pastor of the new church we'd been going to. I was a sweaty mess by the time we got him corralled, and by we I mean Dave, I, AND the pastor. The secret trick: Doggie treats with peanut butter. Peanut butter will stop him in his tracks anytime---anywhere.

So anyway, back to my time at home. I was there for a week, and it was sooooo great! Michelle and Alex were there, and it was very relaxing. It FLEW by, which is very unfortunate, but I expected that. We had a weenie roast one night (my little cousin Will referred to it as the wee-wee roast. He's 2, and he was terrified, of the "wee-wee roast") I could hear the concern in voice one afternoon on the way home from the pool when he was questioning it. I did frequent the pool with my little cousins. Will doesn't like me to touch him or play with him much. At one point I tried to play with him, and he told me to go sit back down on the steps. He went back to jumping around, turning in circles, and singing "Mary had a Little Lamb." I'm sure I looked like a very negligent baby-sitter. Sitting on my butt while the child is singing to himself. His brother Henry, who's going into the 1st grade, was practicing his dives one day. And as I'm sitting on the edge of the pool I look across and see writing on the other side. I then proceed to lift my butt cheek and I see that right by the "NO" on my left, says "DIVING" under my a**. Oops.

All in all, leaving home was hard. I'm never one to wish my life away, but I cannot WAIT until we're back in Nebraska. Hopefully this month will be MUCH better, so then I'll post more because I'll have nice things to say. I'm sorry if you get tired of hearing me complain, I'm really not totally miserable. OH! Oscar got a hair cut....a SHAVE! It's not like a buzz cut, but it's verrrry short, which is good for this heat. It's been 90-100 + for the last few weeks, months for that matter. He now looks like an anorexic giraffe. We really do feed him, he's just lean like his parents. Hah! Hope all is well....can't wait for fall time and football, and more importantly cool weather.

Can you imagine wearing sweats and a good ol' pot of chili?! MmmmmMmmm...can't wait!

Southern Culture that I've embraced:

I'm going to write mainly on things in the south that is second nature to them, but to a northerner, rather odd. And as I am writing this Oscar is running the complete length of the house and top speeds, running into the walls (because we have no carpet and he can't stop) then turning around and going the other direction. All of this because it's too hot for him outside. He goes out, pees, and sits back at the door giving us one bark to tell us that he's through. Yesterday we tried to go to the farmer's market, and were only there for 45 minutes. We pick out our fresh veggies and left because it was 9:30 and 88 degrees. Yesterday we had a couple over and at 10:00 pm it was 82....but felt like 87. Needless to say, we ate inside in the air conditioning. Hot and humid, and I really wish it'd rain because I'm sick of watering my flowers.

Anyway, back to the subject. These are the things I've absolutely fallen in love with in the south. First, let's start out with the way they dress. For the men: polos, shorts, and loafers. A lot of boys and men have the comb over swoop, which I think is funny. One patient's mom told me, "I can't wait til his hair get's longer and I can part it." I giggled. (Dave hasn't conformed to the loafers, his feet get too hot) The women I've noticed always wear dresses, and now I understand why: it's cool. I have went on a shopping spree when it comes to dresses. I no long buy shorts/ jeans, just dresses. If I go out, more than likely I'll have a dress on. They're so easy, you don't really have to put an outfit together, just pick out shoes and jewelry. And speaking of jewelry: Pearls. Here's the thing with pearls, they can be worn casually, but are also classic. Love it. That was Dave's best purchase for me. Oh~ Also, the smocked dresses on little girls, with bows in their hair. My girls will wear this attire, even if we are back in Nebraska!

On to the next thing, and that would be ferns. I have 7 hanging fern baskets. They line the carport and it ultimately incloses it. This is one thing I DON'T like, there are a TON of carports! But back to ferns, they make me feel happy inside, and I'm not sure what it is about them. I also love the tree's down here! Well, there's TONs of trees, but my two favorites are the Magnolia and Crepe Myrtle's. I wish we could have them up north, because they're beautiful!! However, the climate doesn't allow it. Darn winters!

People down here obviously speak a little differently from us. I don't think I've picked up the accent yet, (I do say y'all quite a bit) but another thing is Miss, Mrs., and Mr. For example, one of the nurses I work with is named, Miss Ruth. I don't think I've ever called her just Ruth, it just sounds wrong. I'm trying to get in the habit of doing this all the time, like saying "Yes ma'am, no sir" etc. I don't want people to think I'm being rude.

Anyway, that's really it for now, or all that I can think of. Hope everyone's doing great!

Dave's on Cardiology....enough said.

Well, followed by the great weekend Dave started one of the worst rotations. There are however, only 3 more weeks left of intern year! Hooray for that! He gets a week off so one of his friends is coming down and they are going to spend the weekend in Atlanta. They'll go to some breweries and hit up some Brave's games. I can't get any time off because two people are out on maternity leave at work and it's just hard to get time away. But anyway, when he's on these rotations with time intensive call, I find myself getting very emotional and cranky. Let's hope that since this is the last month, it'll be a smoother for both of us!

This week I went to see Sex and the City 2 with a few girl friends, all of whom husbands are also interns. It was nice to go out and to share our complaints. One girl, bless her heart, just took the bar in February, passed, but cannot find a job to save her life. She was a lawyer and had a great job back in N'Orleans, but was uprooted to come here for her husband's surgery residency. I feel terrible for her, because I know that feeling of not being able to find a job. We decided we needed to get together often, just for our sanity.

Oscar is doing well, we got him this bark collar that when he barks he gets sprayed with citronella. It's kind of funny because it scares him.

Oh, sad news. Thursday when us girls went to the movie, another girl that will usually hang out with us was at the beach with her kids and family and said that started to smell the oil. She was at the same beach, Orange Beach, that Dave and I were just at last weekend. I guess they're also seeing tar balls. It makes me sick to my stomach, those beaches are so beautiful, not to mention those poor people who's lives and income depend on the ocean. Sickening. Anyway, I suppose that is all for now.

Random note: Sometimes I wish I was a teacher so that I'd have summers off....just saying.

Memorial Day Weekend Extravaganza!

This was the first year that I've ever missed the Pawnee City Fireman's Pancake feed. It's usually my birthday weekend so I'm home, but this has been a year of changes and firsts. Not that I can complain about my weekend. It was full of friends, food, beach and beverages.

Dave and I left for the long weekend Friday after I was done with work and drove down to the beach. He had a conference down there that he had to present a poster on one of his patients. It was titled "An Uncommon Heachache" (or something to that extent.) I really can't tell you what it was completely about because I, of course, was on the beach at 8:30 am and stayed all day. No worries, I wasn't being a terrible wife, because all the other wives and children were right there claiming their lounge chairs and umbrella's with me. Dave did his 30 minute presentation, we ran to Publix (the local grocery store) to grab some food and beverages, then returned to the beach for a day long drink/lounge fest. There weren't really any wives down there that I knew, but as long as I have my iPod and celebrity magazines, I'm totally entertained. (I somehow forgot a good book.)

Although Dave was under the umbrella 95% of the day, he still managed to get burned....with sunscreen! Our poor children have no chance to be good tanners, unless some recessive gene presents itself. It was a good time though, we came home Sunday because Dave had to go in on Memorial day, but good thing we did. My friend who was also down there said it took her 9 hours to get home because of beach traffic all heading back north on Monday. Usually it takes 4 1/2. Did I also mention that we didn't have to pay for it? Since Dave was presenting UAB paid for it. That made it even nicer!

Monday we went out to on of our friends parent's house. They had a pool and we BBQ'd and it was wonderful. Oscar gets to go to, because Harper's mom has 4 dogs, one of which is Oscar's half sister, Anna Belle. So, needless to say, Oscar got to try the whole pool thing. He was terrified, and wouldn't go back in. The water was a little chilly, so I'm hoping he'll warm up to the idea. Harper and Matt's little daughter, Hannah Kate LOVES her "Ostar" She call's him her Ostar buddy. You can her here in the video too, saying, "poor baby, poor baby" My mom loved this video, so hope y'all get some enjoyment out of is as well.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day! Our little town put's flags in the island on the main highway, it is really beautiful. It makes me smile.

Alabama Life

Yesterday Dave asks, "Are you doing laundry this weekend?"

I respond, "Yes, honey, I do laundry every weekend. Otherwise we would not have clean clothes during the week..."

He replies, "Oooh yes, that's why our water bill has tripled since you moved down. I only did laundry once a month." ----Lets pray that was a joke-----

He continues to make me laugh. Okay, side note, as I'm writing this, Oscar is barking obnoxiously outside....I need a shock collar. So I don't have to move, I can just push a button and, wham...disipline. That would truly be lovely. Does anyone have one that I can borrow?!?

Both of our works are going well. We're both busy....clinic has a been nightmare-ishly busy lately. Just crazy busy! And Dave's at the county hospital, and that's....well.....always interesting. Entertaining, rather.

He's working on a poster that he's going to present and some conference at the beach, which is great..I love being within hours of the beach. It's great for weekend get aways.

Today I went out to watch a friend of mine's 3 week old baby. Her, her husband, 2 year old, and family went out to Talladega and her husband got to drive a Nascar car. That sounds really red-neck, but they're really not. What guy wouldn't want to drive a car at 170 mph around a track? I thought that it sounded like fun, until I learned that the car is not air conditioned and there's not radio. Totally not down with that. How do those people drive for 2 hours in those races? I'd be board out of my flippin mind! Back to the baby though, she's suuuuch a doll. And I held her from 9-2. I gave her to Dave when I took "bathroom breaks"...just love those little darling babies!

It's been a little warm down here, today it was 95 and the humidity makes it hazy. You go outside and feel sticky. I've been wearing dresses. A year ago I would have never imagined running around in a dress, but it's really the coolest thing you can wear. Now it's pretty much the only thing I'll buy.

Well, I need to get going, Dave's brewing beer, the house reeks, and Oscar is trying to help. My job now is to keep Oscar away so he doesn't "contaminate" it, is what Dave tells me. We'll see how this goes...