just a little something...

the year 2009 - let's wrap it up

This has been quite the year for us, and, for the most part, the good parts have outweighed the bad. Our jobs keep us busy during the day - and sometimes at night or on weekends - but we’ve had lots of time for fun, and we’ve made the most of it. If I was creative, I’d have a video highlight reel of the events of 2009. Instead, I’ll give you a list. Because I like lists.

1. We started the year in Miami for the BCS National Championship game where we watched Florida beat Oklahoma.

2. Somewhere during the year, Oliver gave up Froggy and More Froggy, and he adopted Baby as his lovey du jour.

3. Sam and I escaped to Las Vegas for a long Valentine’s Day weekend. Dinner at Michael Mina left us with a large bill and something to talk about (tuna tartare with raw quail egg on top, anyone?). Sam fell in love with Tom Colicchio after eating at Craftsteak.

4. Madeline continued her swim lessons and became an amazing little swimmer. Oliver started swim lessons later in the year, and he’s still trying to warm up to the idea that he has no choice but to swim.

5. We made two beach trips - Crescent Beach for a cold, rainy spring break, and Rosemary Beach for a last fling before summer’s end.

6. The mountains of Dillard, Georgia, were the site of our big family reunion in the middle of the summer. It was great to catch up with everyone and to watch Maddie and Oliver meet and play with their second cousins.

7. Madeline started kindergarten in public school after months of agonizing over the decision between public versus private school. Needless to say, we’re VERY happy with our decision.

8. Oliver turned three in October, and Madeline turned six in December.

9. Sam and I escaped again in October, but this time to New York City for our first real trip there. The 24 hours we spent in New York back when we won a trip to the Dave Letterman Show in the late 1990s hardly counted for much, so we knew we had to go back. We walked a lot, mastered the subway [that may be a bit of an exaggeration], saw our first Broadway show [Wicked], were treated like VIPs at a very hip bar [Little Branch - way too hip for us], and ate our way through the city. My favorite restaurant experience was our dinner at Le Bernardin - the most perfect meal I’ve ever had.

10. Fritz, our fifteen year old Maine Coon, was diagnosed with gastric lymphoblastic lymphoma in the fall. It was the first time we had to face the fact that we’re going to lose our cats eventually. That they will die. He’s done great on chemotherapy, and he’s hanging in there, but we know that the inevitable is right around the corner. And, while we’re enjoying each day we have with Fritz and Mitzi, we’re getting prepared.

11. Because of a promise I made Madeline when she turned five, we made our first family trip to Disney World to celebrate her sixth birthday. We had so much fun that we bought our first set of annual passes. Disney takes your money, but they do it so well that you almost don’t mind. Besides, watching Madeline meet her beloved princesses was worth every cent.

12. And if I may brag a bit, I’m proud of the new foods (or foods I once hated) that I’ve tried and enjoyed over the past year -- rabbit, duck, fois gras, pate, brussels sprouts, and tuna tartare. Okay, I didn’t like the last one very much, but I tried. And I’ll try it again, just to be sure.

13. Somehow I almost forgot! We made our first trip to Napa in 2009. We had an amazing experience with our travel partners - a couple of real wine pros - and made new friends along the way. As a real bonus, Sam caught the wine bug in a really big way.

five things i'm grateful for today

1. Fritz is gaining weight! He's eating all the time and he's back to his old self - which means he's cuddly with us and fights with his sister. The lymphoma is "in remission" according to the latest ultrasound. We are not so delusional that we believe it will last, but we are very, very grateful for the unexpected gift of these good days with Fritz.

2. Swim lessons are over until the spring semester. My parents are probably just as happy since they share in the swim lesson duty. 

3. My mom wrote the most amazing little children's story featuring Madeline and Oliver. You can find it here , and if you like the preview, buy it! You won't be disappointed.

4. I'm counting down to another vacation. A real one. In a far away place. I'm ignoring the fact that part of it involves a work conference. It's still going to be a great trip.

5. We're off on our first family trip to Disney in a few weekends, and Madeline is so excited. Heck, I'm excited. 

monday's good things

1. Leftover black beans and rice made with chorizo. 

2. My new pressure cooker, with which I made the black beans and rice.

3. LOVE my new clinic schedule on Mondays.

4. Planning a party menu.

5. Oliver's first swim lessons today.*

*Unfortunately, I didn't go to swim lessons. Oliver has become so clingy and attached to me lately that Sam and I thought that if I went and Oliver saw me, he would scream bloody murder and refuse to get in the pool. Turns out, he did great! No crying at all. I still think it's best that I didn't go, but I SO want to see my baby boy at swim lessons. I'm going to have Sam video it for me, I think.

counting down

In exactly one week, I'll be getting packed for the annual oncology conference in Orlando. For the past two years, the conference has been in Chicago, and I had the opportunity to visit with my sister both times. It was wonderful to catch up with her in her own territory. This year I get Orlando. Hooray. 

In exactly four weeks, I'll be sitting at some winery in some small town in the Napa or Sonoma valley sipping on a glass of cabernet and eating cheese and crackers. This is all I can think about lately.

In almost two months, Oliver gets to start swim lessons. We're excited about this because the rules at our swim lesson facility state that he must be three to start. Luckily, we've recently gotten a little pull with the swim coach and he gets to start a few months early. It will be so nice to be able to take both kids at one time. 

In almost three months, Sam and I will be headed up to the mountains of northern Georgia with the kids for the George family reunion. Madeline should be a breeze to travel with since she's happy to watch hours and hours of movies on the DVD player. Riding with Oliver is another story, however. I'm just hoping he gets sucked into the world of Disney before we leave to head north.

In just over eight months, we're off to Maui - the first time either of us have been to Hawaii. It's for a conference, so I'll be tied up in meetings for a couple of days, but the rest of the time we get to play. I love crossing off travel destinations off my master to-do list. 

And, tomorrow I need to actually be productive at work. Hard to do when there's all this counting down going on.

an hour with the butterflies

One day over Madeline's spring break, we made a quick trip to the Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History. I took her about a year ago, or maybe more, but this was the first time she was really into it. In fact, she actually wanted to stay longer than I did, and I had to bribe her with lunch to get her moving.

We saw lots of gorgeous butterflies, and we sat for a good 20 minutes on one of the benches waiting for butterflies to land on us. Madeline was so patient - it was amazing. 

Finally the waiting paid off and a butterfly or two or three landed on both of us. 

There were butterflies of all colors, but lots of blue and green ones in particular. It's really an incredible place. 

these make me happy today

1. Flowers are blooming! On my way home today, I saw flowering azaleas, redbud trees, and a beautiful japanese magnolia.

2. Listening to Oliver point to Elmo on his diaper and say, "Melmo!"

3. Reading stories with the kids before bed. I love sitting on the sofa (or Oliver's bedroom floor), with one child on each side of me mesmerized by the latest Dora adventure. Simply wonderful.

4. The dinner-table talks with Madeline. Yesterday she proudly showed off her cut-out pictures of body parts while wearing a cut-out picture of a brain as a hat. Today she read to me a book that she had made with hand-drawn pictures of healthy snacks, with the name of the snack written in English (by Maddie) and Spanish (by her teacher). She was so proud.

5. Thinking about the five-course winemaker's dinner we'll be attending on Saturday, followed by a charity wine tasting event on Sunday in support of the local public radio station. I should probably start fasting now.

love this

I found this artist on Etsy, and I think I'm in love.

Mincing Mockingbird is one of my new favorite sellers on Etsy. His blog is here.  His Etsy store is here.  Go visit.

five great things in san francisco, mostly food-related

1. Dinner at Slanted Door in the Ferry Building. Wonderful Vietnamese cuisine.

2. The coconut cupcake from Kara's Cupcakes. The cream cheese icing on that thing is the best icing I have ever had. Ever.

3. The sea lions at Pier 39. So adorable and so loud.

4. The goodies I tried at the Ferry Plaza farmer's market -- Bariani balsamic vinegar, the flavored olive oils (especially the persian lime) from Stonehouse Olive Oil, the Mt. Tam cheese from Cowgirl Creamery, the chocolate from Recchiuti, just to name a few.

5. Having the most wonderful lunch with a friend from long-ago. It never would have happened if not for Facebook. 

thanksgiving

Thanksgiving might just be my favorite holiday. I love it even more now that I have an interest in cooking. While I'm typing this, two pumpkin pies are baking in the oven, the dressing has been prepared and is waiting for its turn to cook, and I have a refrigerator full of apples ready to be chopped for the Waldorf salad. Sam is outside with the kids letting them run off some energy before we get ready for the dinnertime-bathtime-bedtime sprint. The house is filled with the smells of sage, pumpkin pie, pear from the candle burning in the living room, and a faint scent of cleanness (the maids came today). Just perfect.

So, since I may not be posting tomorrow - or maybe I will, who knows? - I'm thankful for a lot of things this year. I am so thankful that Sam and I have good jobs that we enjoy going to, health insurance and retirement benefits, a solid roof over our heads, two sweet children, and the best husband in the world. I'm thankful that we're all healthy. I'm thankful that we have wonderful family to spend Thanksgiving with. I'm thankful for good friends.

Have a peaceful and warm Thanksgiving. We sure will.

some good things this week

1. Madeline has wrapped up another semester of swimming lessons. We love that SHE loves to swim, but after four months in a row, it gets rather exhausting (for us, not for her). Plus, the weather seems to have gotten colder than usual or colder earlier than usual. Regardless, she's done really well, but I'm happy to be on a swim break.

2. My Magic Eraser removed crayon from the dining room table. Love that thing.

3.  We attended a fabulous wine tasting this week. We tasted eight wines from Bordeaux, and then as a bonus, we were given tastes of two great Spanish wines. We met a winemaker from California who, at the end of the evening, insisted on sharing a couple of bottles of his not-yet-released 2006 Prodigal pinot noir. It was absolutely delicious. As soon as the '06 is released, I may be ordering some of his wines. We left the bottle with an eight-bottle purchase, including two of my favorites from the evening - the 2005 Domaine de Courteillac and the 2005 Chateau Beau-Site.

4. Our shutters were finally installed, and they look beautiful. 

5. We've had a fire in the fireplace every night this week, and it's been the most relaxing and cozy experience. On the downside, we've had it on mostly because the heat is not working in our downstairs living area. Hopefully the guys will be able to repair it today. It was 60 in the house yesterday morning. 

the best thing ever

...the feeling of Oliver's weight draped across my body as we sit together in the rocking chair, his head nuzzled into my neck, just before bedtime.

...the smell of his apricot-scented, baby soft hair as I kiss the top of his head. Repeatedly.

...having children.

things i'm grateful for today

1. Sudafed.

2. Oliver's hugs.

3. Being able to work out at the gym and come home to kids who have been bathed and fed.

4. My new hazelnut-scented soy candle from Target.

5. Being done with boards.

6. Top Chef starts next week.

7. Domino magazine.

8. The elections are over.

and, last but not least...

9. Change.

at home

My photographer friend, Amy Barry, came over one day earlier this month to take our annual family photos. We usually do our pictures in February, mostly because it's tough to coordinate with our crazy schedules. We got lucky (or smart) this year and planned it in advance. This might be the first year we have a professional photo in our Christmas cards. 

Amazingly, the kids wore exactly what I picked out for them, and we actually had our act together when Amy showed up. Madeline got tired by the end of the session, and Oliver acted like a typical two-year old boy, but Amy managed to take some photos of us smiling and looking pretty.

This pboto is being framed and going in a place of honor in our new dining room. 

I may have mentioned this before, but I am IN LOVE with our new house. I feel completely at home in it, like our family is complete, and the house was the missing piece.

for the birds

I have this infatuation with birds. Growing up, for as long as I can remember, my dad always pointed out birds to me. At our old house, back in 2002 when I was home for a couple of weeks with a newly broken knee, I watched a cardinal pair raise their babies in my back yard. It made a huge impact on me, for some strange reason. Seeing a bird just cheers me up.

Perhaps I was a bird in a former life?

Anyway, here are a few of the birds I keep in my house. I don't really collect them, but I may start. They make me happy.

some favorite things this week

1. The Showtime series, Weeds. We rented a DVD of the series when we were without our cable for a week. I'm now addicted to this show.

2. Peterbrooke chocolate-covered oreos

3. Flipping Out on Bravo.

4. My new porch rocking chairs that I bought at Cracker Barrel. I just need a couple more of them.

5. Having a clean dining room table. For the first time ever, there is not crap stacked on top of it in various places.

six good things

1. The smell of apricots in Oliver's hair after his bath, courtesy of Burt's Bees. 

2. Afternoon thunderstorms.

3. Remembering to bring my umbrella to work.

4. Sam finishing up his graduate program this week. Finally.

5. Take out Mexican for dinner.

6. Sleeping children.

thursday's good things list

1. I had a great workout at the gym.

2. I finally found a bathing suit that fits...and that I like.

3. Last night's call is over, and there is just one more call night left of my fellowship.

4. Oliver gave his first real kisses today. He kissed a toy first, and then he kissed my mom. It made my day, but I think it made Nana's day even more.

5. Oliver is no longer sick (although, he is covered in hives again thanks to a robust penicillin allergy).

6. Madeline feels so much better now that her ear infection is treated.

7. I had a very good day at work. I did some networking, and I got a couple of research protocols passed by a committee -- the first hurdle I had to overcome to get them up and running.

8. I saw two cardinals, a male and female, sitting on a branch outside our back door. They kissed.

9. Our gardenia bush is in full bloom, and the bloom that I picked and put in a bud vase in our bathroom smells just heavenly.

10. Tomorrow is Friday.

five good things

Good things so far this week:

1. Seeing Blue Man Group at UF's O'Connell Center last night with a couple of good friends.

2. Having drinks after Blue Man Group with a different group of good friends.

3. Top Chef is back on, and this season's episodes take place in Chicago. This is my favorite show, I think.

4. Oliver blew his first kiss tonight - to my mom.

5. Getting Madeline to stay in bed is much, much easier since we started letting her take a small flashlight to bed with her. (Thanks for the idea, Susan B.!)

some thoughts on the upcoming year

Here it is, 2008. This is going to be a big year for Sam and me. We have a lot of changes coming, life-altering changes. Good ones.

Sam finishes his endodontics residency in June and he'll start practicing as a full-time endodontist. While that may sound incredibly boring to you (and to me, as well, I have to admit), it's been his dream for several years now. Since the mid-90s, I think. I can't even convey in writing how excited Sam is about this.

I'm finishing my hematology-oncology fellowship in June. It's been a long road, and one that I've been headed down for over ten years. In July, I'll begin practicing, and I'm absolutely thrilled.

And to clarify, NO, I have not been in school this whole time. I've actually been out of school since 2001. I don't hold it against you if you've thought this...this medical training stuff is pretty complicated and the titles don't always make sense to people (intern? resident? fellow?).

We're taking a family trip to Seaside again this summer, and this time we're showing the place off to my good friend Julia and her family. With this cold weather we're having, I'm already picturing my walks on the beach with the sand in my toes...

A new house is in the works for us. We're moving up in size. We have to, simply to accomodate all the plastic, made-in-China, toys around here. I can't walk from room to room without encountering a stray Leggo or a plastic Dora or a toy truck. I'm so excited to have a guest room again, and maybe even an office. We'll begin looking later in the spring. It's my goal to move in by October. It's Sam's goal to move in by October 2010.

Oliver will be two (TWO!), and Madeline will be five this year. I'll be 29 again, and Sam is getting older and older. Just kidding, of course. Perhaps I'll be 28.

I think I'm going to enjoy 2008. It's got a lot of potential. 

good things

- My last call weekend of my fellowship is over!

- Maddie told me she was going to suck her thumb, "just on the weekends."

- Weather that finally feels like winter.

- Knowing that my mother- and father-in-law had a great time with Maddie and Oliver this past weekend.

- Sam will be done with his oral exams tomorrow, and he'll finally be able to focus on something other than endodontics literature.

- Christmas shopping that's almost done.

- A job search that is ending soon, very soon.

- Enjoying a glass of expensive champagne, for no good reason at all.

orchid survivors

When Sam and I lived in Miami, I developed an obsession with orchids. I'm not sure how it all started, but I think the instigating event was the purchase of a phalaenopsis orchid at the Home Depot. We lived in a small two bedroom apartment in Coral Gables. I soon filled all of the windows and the front steps and walkway with orchids. I devised a hanging system (which involved the use of a shower rod) over the front steps so that I could hang even more orchids, orchids on top of orchids. On weekends, we would travel south to Homestead to tour some of the local orchid nurseries. One of my favorite places to shop for orchids, after orchid shows, was RF Orchids. When I wasn't actively buying new plants, I spent hours watering and fertilizing the ones I had.

One of the most surprising things I learned was that orchids are really not that difficult to grow. There are certain species that don't grow well or require more work to get them to bloom. I tried not to buy those kind. The ones I bought tended to bloom regardless of the care they received. The reality was that we lived in warm, humid South Florida, and most orchids can grow well in those conditions.

When we moved to Gainesville, we packed up all the orchids -- maybe fifty plants? more? -- and moved them with us. For the first few months, we tried to keep with our orchid care routine. Unfortunately, being an intern -- and later a resident, a chief resident, and a fellow -- did not lend itself to being a good gardener. Many of the plants died of neglect. Many were killed during the occasional weeks of freezing cold weather in past winters.

We have some survivors. These remaining orchids continue to amaze me with their blooms of vivid colors. Even when I expect them to finally give up and move on to orchid heaven, they decide to stick with us another season.

Here's what we're living with lately:

About the only thing we actively do in caring for these poor plants now is bring them in when the temperature drops below 45 degrees or so. Here is proof:

I was in the local plant nursery this afternoon, picking up a couple of hanging baskets of pansies to hang near the front door. I saw a table of beautiful pink and white phalenopsis orchids near the checkout counter. And, you know, I had the familiar urge to add to my collection. I resisted. For now.   

what a load of garbage

Before Christmas, when I told my husband that I wanted a new kitchen garbage can for Christmas, he didn't believe me. When I insisted that I did want one, he thought I was crazy. He still thinks I'm crazy, but probably other reasons as well.

I hate our garbage can. It is a round, step-on can that sits in the corner of our kitchen. I probably paid around $30 for it, which, at the time, I thought was a lot to spend on a place in which to throw away my used coffee grounds. Within a couple of weeks of owning it, the foot pedal broke off and the mechanism that keeps the lid shut correctly also broke. Now, whenever I step on the broken piece of metal that functions as the foot pedal, the lid slams open into the wall. Nothing quite disturbs the quiet peacefulness that is our house (yeah, right...) like the loud BAM! of the garbage can lid hitting the wall.

So, when I told Sam I wanted a fancy garbage can, he didn't believe me.

Yesterday, after much inner debate, I bought the next love of my life...a simplehuman trash can. I've been using it for less than 24 hours, and I can't believe I waited this long to buy this can. It is amazing! Yes, it cost entirely too much money, but it is totally worth it for the happiness I now experience when I step on that little foot pedal and hear SILENCE. Besides, I used a coupon and saved 20%. It was practically free.  

Aaahh...the simple things that make me happy.