An Announcement

History has proven that groups of five are very cool. For this reason, we have decided to expand our numbers. This June, the Ringgers will be 5!
Your very predictable next question: "Will Chad be growing out his rat's tail so that the fivesome will be even sexier?" The obvious answer: "Oh yes, and Caleb too."

Snowpeople in white trash costumes

Imagine my surprise when I came home to this scene after a primary meeting. The house being a mess was not too big a surprise, it was my children dressed in all sorts of junk and calling themselves snowpeople that really got me. Don't overlook the girl's camp apron that Caleb is using to cover his front half and the ratty old undershirt he has tucked into the back of his pants to create the white bum effect. Maryn's costume is pretty self-explanatory except for the black tights on her head, perhaps that's supposed to be a silk top hat?

Thanksgiving=On call

Just in case anyone was wondering if I was still around anymore, I am. I even regularly look at the Blog to see what everyone is up to. You may ask why I haven't posted any thing. The answer is simple: while Chad has the energy to actually do fun things, and Rob goes home and still is awake remodeling, I on the other hand come home and go into a catatonic state where I can only eat/sleep/watch TV/ and stare at a computer screen. So in light of that, to keep you all up dated on my life, here is a picture of me "doing my thing". The nice thing is, that now that I am a zombie I don't have any emotions and I am not even frustrated with my life anymore. I hope every one is well and brainstorming our q3year vaction coming up in 2 1/2 years. (I'm thinking Miami). I hope life continues to go well for everyone, and if I ever actually do something worth noting, I'll try and make a record of it.

Thanksgiving = remodeling

Once again, a post to make you all glad you don't live in a fixer upper. It sounds like you all had fun over the weekend! We had our own kind of fun, well, at least I thought so. Rob might say it was more like a weekend at Gitmo. We should have a whole new kitchen in 2 or 3 weeks, ha ha. Because I have been mudding joints into the wee hours (drywall joints... not the other kind), I'll keep this brief.
The most exciting part of the weekend had to be at 12:30 a.m. the day after thanksgiving, when I had gone out to the garage to cut a board, while Rob re-routed one last wire. Suddenly, the lights went out, and I had visions of Rob lying dead on the kitchen floor, but I couldn't find the doorknob to get in and find out. Anyway, he wasn't, thank goodness, but he had cut into a live wire. So, at 2:00 in the morning we're still sitting there with flashlights (having no power in the house at all) fixing this stupid wire and reminding ourselves that someday we will look back on this and laugh. It was downhill from there Saturday, but we survived the weekend and hopefully now we are to the easier part.

Drowning our Sorrows

We are certainly looking forward to a Med School Buddies reunion over Thanksgiving holiday next year, but we sure did our best to have a good time in '06. We flew to Las Vegas last Sunday and met up with lots of family there. On Monday we drove to Anaheim, CA - it was 90 degrees! I had packed mostly long sleeved shirts so we actually had to buy t-shirts to keep from roasting! Awesome. The next two days we spent at California Adventure and Disneyland with my parents, my brother and sister, and my nephew. It was so fun!
We drove back to Vegas on Wednesday night so that we could attend my family's annual Thanksgiving reunion. There were about 120 of my closest relatives in attendance. My family is so diverse, it is actually funny to see so many different kinds of people in one room, but that's why I love it so much. Everyone is welcome. What? You're a drug addict, come on in! Lesbians? Sure, table #12. Illegitimate children? The more the merrier.
This is something that embarrassed me at one point. Now I am so proud to be part of a family where everyone feels accepted. Of course I wish more of my relatives had testimonies of the gospel and weren't making bad choices, but I was almost moved to tears while looking around at people from all walks of life hugging and having a great time. Too bad I was so busy talking that I didn't take any pictures. All of the attached pics are from Disneyland.
Hope you all had a great holiday. I'd better hear from you soon :)

Thanksgiving anyone?

So what did everyone do for Thanksgiving? Brandon was on call today/tonight so we went and had Thanksgiving Lunch with him at the hospital with another family - the Med Center puts on a free Thanksgiving dinner for anyone who walks in the door, so we took advantage of the oppurtunity of free food and actually, it wasn't as bad as we were expecting and that says a lot coming from the Food Divas. The highlights were when I managed to spill not one, but TWO glasses of apple cider (two separate times) in the buffet line. The cafeteria lady asked if I needed a sippy cup, which Ruby found hilarious.

Tomorrow: (Friday after Thanksgiving) I was given a free 20+ pound turkey from the grocery store (No, it's not EBT, guys. Gone are those days. Weep, weep, sob, sob) so I figured I'd go ahead and throw a party so it would actually get eaten. What started off as getting a few families from the ward together at our house has turned into a full blown ordeal with over 15 families coming over tomorrow. I'm making the turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, 2 pies and drinks and everyone else is bringing a bunch of stuff. It should be a good old crazy time. Brandon is post call that day, so around 5:00 p.m., he'll stumble down the stairs (hopefully remember to put something on besides a G-Ranger-top and scrub bottoms) and literally introdouce himself. I've noticed that people from the ward have started doing air quotes when speaking of him. He's the Hershey Ward's best kept secret. Anyway, snaps for me for attempting to be social. I'd rather be eating and gabbing with all you guys, of course. Oh well. I'll just have to wait approximately 365 days. Boooo.

Marketing Genius

One of my hobbies is to always be on the lookout for the PERFECT commercial. I am happy to report that thanks to an Australian advertising agency, my search is over.

Can this be seen at your homes too?

A man in green being attacked by small children?

In Rob's case, the scrub bottoms would of course be shorter and tapered.

Now Alisa's the one in luck!

How 'bout a turkey? They sell them on Ebay...FAN-tastic!

Rob, you're in luck

Tapered jeans are back, my friends. Back with a vengeance.

Tapered Scrubs, The Lost Lost Writer and Other thoughts

I think I"m going to hold the line among the male blog contingent and refrain from delving into the depths of my dorkiness, mostly because there's just so much, I wouldn't know where to start--the time I was slow dancing with a girl in high school and somehow managed to get my gum stuck in her hair (really no way to get out of that smoothly, though I still think it was her fault), the time in elementary school swimming lessons when they threw us in the water with pants and shirts on over our swim suits and we were supposed to take them off and then swim to the side and my suit came off with my pants and the rest of the class was full of girls , and--oh did I mention I used to use a blow dryer and hair spray to do my hair--anyway, I should just stop, now. Pictures aren't even necessary........

Speaking of dorkiness--the scrubs here are tapered, not just slightly taped but like 80's peg- your-jeans tapered. They are also really short for their respective sizes. This is especially a problem if you are wearing Dansko clogs which have really thick soles........the only way for me to avoid spending somewhere upwards of 80 hours a week looking like I'm wearing man capris is to wear XL or XXL scrubs, which means I'm constantly one added belt accessory away from my pants falling off, if I ever have to carry two pagers, I'm going to need a set of suspenders.

In respose to Chad's post.

1) All I've heard from Sam's town is the While You Were Young. Which is great tune. Although I do have to say that for some reason it sounds A LOT like Springsteen's Born to Run. My first thought when I heard it, actually my second after, "cool the new Killers' track" was that it sounds like someone put the Cure and Springsteen in a blender and hit frappe. I don't hear the comparison to U2 (and I listen to a lot of U2), but then I haven't heard the other tracks on the album yet. My only other qualm is that on some level even thought they aren't using it in a take-the-Lord's-name-in-vain kind of context, any time I hear the Savior's name in a pop song that many times, it starts to feel a bit uncomfortable. Anyway, I'm exited to hear the rest of the album.

2) Lost: I have developed my own Lost theory based on the first episode of this season. There were some odd parllels to the first episode of last season. You end the previous season with something really suspenseful, like "what's down the hatch," or "where are the Others taking them," and then you start the next season with something totally unrelated and weirdly domestic like a guy making smoothies and working out on an excercise bike or a woman making muffins and having a book club, and you have to have a 70s singer-songer writer soundtrack to the scene. The soundtrack is important enough you have to acutally show the person putting the music on to emphasize the fact that it's part of the scene. From there you just go in some totally mind blowing new direction, and the rest of the season is set up. Anyway, here's my theory. These first episodes are so weird, so out there, so totally not what you expect that I think they have a special writer just for these episodes. He's probably so busy dropping acid or eating shrooms the rest of the year that he's too busy to contribute much, but they sober him up, and bring him in for the first 10 minutes of the first episode of the year. The more I think about this writer, the more his necessary charteristics become clear. He's got to be really really weird, he's got to have a time for decaying 70's and 80's decor, he's got to have a knowledge of island life and some experience with the cognitive disconnect of running around shirtless in the jungle with a big beard and then being thrown back into real life where people do things like cook and have book clubs. He's also got to be a very creative writer. I put all this together and come to one conclusion............ Frank, our Frank, is writing for JJ. Not much, just the first episode of the year when they can sober him up, chase the cats out of the house and make him focus. Maybe he met JJ when JJ went to Hawaii on a trip, maybe JJ stayed at the Na Pulani' O'hana. I don't know. But I really think that Frank, beard, plumber crack and all, is the man who put Desmond on that excerise bike and decided that the Others are members of the book of the month club............

I married up

Sorry, no "dorky" post, just a dorky post

I have a few random thoughts that for some odd reason, I feel like sharing.

1. Lost: The first episode of Season 3 was everything I was hoping for. Loved it. This is the best show to ever be on television. To those getting frustrated with "waaaaah, they never give us enough answers," um, yes they do. We learned more about the Others from this one episode than we did the previous last 2 seasons combined. We finally got closure about Jack's past with his ex, Sarah. We learned where the polar bears and sharks on the island came from. I could go on. Anyway, yes - there are dozens of new questions raised, but that's what's so great about the Lost mystery.

2. The Killers: I will always feel a connection to this band, not only because they are good, but thanks to my Reynolds connection. Hearing their demos, seeing them with 30 other people (including Dave's parents) at Gabe's. I mean, "oh my gosh, I totally met and talked with Brandon Flowers, he was SOOO hot. I almost DIED! And so sweeeeeeeet." Yes, I'm a little uncomfortable with how popular they have become with the teenie boppers, but what do you do? Anyway, what do you guys think of Sam's Town? It has received a lot of "strong" opinions, which was inevitable with a second release from a band that blew up with their first. And Brandon F. didn't help things with all the talk about it being on the best releases of the past 20 years. Here's a nickel's worth of free advice to musicians. Don't ever say that kind of crap. Stick with "it's the best we have ever done," but don't go beyond that to compare it with other artists or past history. It just puts a huge target on you and people want to see you fail.
Anway, about Sam's Town. So definitely a bigger sound. But not really buying the whole, "they are completely ripping off Springsteen and U2." A couple of cringe worthy lyrics here and there. But overall I really like it. I would say it's Hot Fuss 2. Not that they haven't evolved their sound, but just in the fact that it's an album, like Hot Fuss, that has 4-5 great songs, with the rest ranging from OK to good, but, impressively, none that are bad. In the "great" catagory, I would put the title track, While You Were Young, Read My Mind, Bones, and Why do I Keep Counting? The rest are pretty good. The coolest thing of all: Tim Burton is doing the video for the next single, Bones!

3. For me to post a "Dorky" post, I would have to undergo hypnosis regression therapy to bring those memories back, as they have been buried quite deeply now for some time.

I was dorkier

The year is 1991. Annie Garlock attempts to play soccer. She is awful.

You have to be wearing something very special to be able to pull off a successful dramatic reading of a Linda Ronstadt song.

Good old Linda

Somewhere out there beneath the pale TV light
Someone's watching the LOST premiere and loving it tonight

Somewhere out there someone's saying a prayer
That the VCR worked and post-call he can watch without a care

And even though we know how very far apart we are
It helps to think we might be watching that same TV star

And when the show is over and it's time to go to bed
It helps to think we're mulling the same show 'round in our head

Somewhere out there if LOST can see us through
Then we'll be together sometime next year
During Thanksgiving, it's true

yummy yummy

Newbies and Nudity

My awful mistake hit me as I pulled into the turn lane for the hospital. I had made an appointment to have a mole removed at the University hospital. HELLO!!! I am guaranteed to have a freshly-minted doctor! Ironically, Rob had said to me when I made the appointment "I could do that for you." And of course I would NEVER let him do that because he is basically still a medical student! (No offense Rob, or any other 1st year residents...) So, fast forward to me sitting in a little sterile room wearing a "gown" (a lovely pink chiffon ball gown with a rhinestone tiara and white satin gloves... ) and NOTHING else because the nurse said the doctor would want to do a check for other moles. In walks this Greek god with long dark hair, etc. etc. (almost as good looking as Rob) trailed by his medical student, and I am immediately aware of how totally naked I am. (Grace started screaming bloody murder and would NOT be consoled, but that's not really part of this story.) So he looks at the offending mole, says he thinks it's fine, yadda yadda. So anyway, he's kind of hemming and hawing around and I have to pretty much ask him to check for other moles (I did get pretty burned in Hawaii, and am like practically an albino.) So he starts kind of peeking around, pulling the gown up just a little and glancing under it from arm's length away. Basically he looked at my arms and my shoulders, and about an inch above my knee. OK, awkward. Maybe I was just transmitting nervous don't-look-at-me vibes into the room. Maybe he went to medical school in Iran and has never seen anything but a woman's eyes. Maybe I should have let Rob do it...
Anyway, I hope the title of my post doesn't get our blog banned!
Things are going well, other than that weird encounter. And the fact that I am subbing as the Primary music person for the next 2 weeks (sweet revenge to YOU, Alisa... how is that going, anyway?) Grace is into pulling everything out of drawers and off of tables and counters, so our house looks like a perpetual hurricane. And I am going to start watching a 10-mo. old a couple of days a week, so it will be kind of like hanging out with May-May! I can't believe she is talking! And by the way, Annie, what is this I hear about you showing art in a local gallery? Do tell all, and put up some pictures! You ROCK!
I miss you guys! All I can say is, thank goodness for a new season of the Office and Dancing with the Stars.

Grocery Grammar

I found myself in quite a pickle while grocery shopping at Fred Meyer last night. This was only my second time shopping at this store, so I am still trying to learn the lay of the land. I'd done all of my shopping, but I still had a couple of stray items on my list that I hadn't been able to locate - cottage cheese and frozen dinner rolls. I headed over to the dairy section to have a second look, but was stopped dead in my tracks. Straight ahead, due north, was a rather large woman stocking the yogurt. She was bent way over, exposing me to a plethora of butt dimples visible through her tight black polyester uniform pants. I was aghast. How could I possibly ask this woman to point me to the cottage cheese?? Uh, excuse me ma'am, where do you keep the cottage cheese? (Obvious retort: on my thighs you skinny skank!) Please note that I refer to myself as "skinny" in only the most relative of terms. Okay, I decide, I CANNOT ask this woman about cottage cheese. The only other item left on my list? Rolls.... I was completely on my own.

wah.

Does anyone else want to cry? Anyone?

Dr. Jack Shephard

This is just a little shout out to my "lost" friends. Hence the title of the post, which, by the way, I insist on people calling me at work. I also tell everyone what to do and pretend like I keep seeing the ghost of my father in the hospital. (Yes, I'm excited about season 3. And yes, they got hugely snubbed by the Emmy people).

Well, I guess you guys aren't lost, just really friggin' far away. I really hope the boys are adjusting to things in your programs and that overall things are getting better. Brandon, we need an update about what happened when the Residency Review committee came to your program and what they found out about work hours, etc. And I of course hope the girls are having fun getting to know your now homes better.

I'm on surgery right now, which is sweet. The guy I'm working with is totally nice. And he's older, so he has slowed down and doesn't even work Fridays. We took a nice trip out to Glacier National Park last weekend. But, all good things must end, and OB is next, so don't get too jealous. But overall, it doesn't feel so crazy to call myself "doctor" anymore, so I guess that's good.

So how long until next Thanksgiving? Hopefully we can all still make that work. And Rob, are you going to have the chance to go to any football games this year?

Social Faux Pas and other musings

It is best when speaking with a nice blind lady who brings you dinner NOT to talk about how excited you are for autumn to come. She might feel a little left out when you exclaim how you can't wait to see all the beautiful colors that the East Coast has to offer during that time of year. When she responds with "Yes, well, I wouldn't know about that.", trying to smooth it over by saying you REALLY just want autumn to come for the more mild weather will most likely come across as a weak way to remove your foot from your mouth.

When being called to the position of second councelor in the Primary, it is best not to burst out laughing and say " Wow! I've never had a REAL calling before! Holy Crap!" Ok, so I say "Holy Crap" but I sure felt like it. And the Bishop was quick to tactifully tell me that there is no such thing a "real calling", every member a missionary and all that jazz. Hm. Apparently, he's never been in a ward where they set apart kids for bogus positions such as "Head Hymn Book Passer-Outer" and "Ward 'Happy Birthday' Wisher."

You might be wondering why a blind woman brought us dinner. Well, the ward brought us dinner when we first moved in a couple of weeks ago because our house was trashed and it was just a bad situation. The people who had lived there before left behind tiolet bowls that were brown and hadn't been cleaned in months, a refrigerator that hadn't been cleaned out in years, it looked like, along with dirty counters, filthy sinks, grimey floors, etc. Since we closed back in June and let them live there until their house was finished getting built (without demanding any kind of security deposit, etc), they knew we were eager to move in, Brandon had a tight schedule, and we didn't have any where else to go, so they had us and took advantage of our situation and if I were back in high school, I would probably find out where their new house was and then TP it.

Anyway, some wonderful girls from the RS came and helped clean, people brought us dinner, which was totally unecessary, especially getting dinner from a blind woman. It took us a lot longer to move in since we were cleaning like mad and the carpet cleaners still have to come and redo everything, so things aren't up against the baseboards like they normally would be, since the carpet along the baseboards are filthy. ANYWAY, other than the carpets, everything is clean now and moved in. We've done a lot of work. I will post just a couple of pictures, but keep in mind that these were not meant to be the official "Here's Our New House!" pictures, so I didn't clean or set anything up and there's still a lot left to do, like put up curtains and little stuff like that, so here is just a couple of pictures to tie you over until then. Ok just kidding - the photo thingee isn't working. I'll post some later. Try to get some sleep until then...

A Birthday Wish and More Self-Deprecation

I have many weaknesses. A list of them ranges everywhere from my addiction to dark European chocolate to an affinity towards hairy chested men (numbers #1 and #2 respectively). Wedged right between a preoccupation with everyone else's business (#7) and an insatiable craving for day-old circus peanuts (#9), is my inability to remember birthdays.
Annie, HAPPY 25TH (or is it 26th?)! It depresses me to think of how old (or young) you really are :)
I so hope you had a fun day and know that even though it slipped my mind in July, I am thinking of you on August 13th.
And for everyone else, happy birthday from me in advance.

They walked and walked and walked - Part Deux

We have been taking our kids on all sorts of hikes this summer. Poor things! They get dirty and sweaty and tired and convinced that the trail might never end. Their whining was almost enough to make us give up trying to turn them into good hikers, when we were inspired to buy a camel pack for them to take turns with while hiking. Now they love going out just so they can suck on that silly hose the whole way. If only all of life's situations were that easy to solve. Needless to say, we've experienced a paradigm shift about the phrase, "Go suck on it."

And they walked, and walked, and walked, aaand walked

Yep, this photo definitely captures the essense of my demenor. Rob, I'm glad to hear that things are getting better and that you have been staying under 80 hours a week. I look forward to the week that will be under 100 hours. I have high hopes for this as I am on a new service, Transplant. My favorite. I get to stay out of the OR all day and only do paper work, round, and fiddle with medications for 15 hours a day. OK the dry sarcasm is getting old. My program stinks and everyone in it knows it. They work us way to much and have almost no teaching time. We do have hope though, as the RRC is coming to review our program this month and there is no way that we will pass on the 80 work week as I don't think the faculty do anything to help us say even remotely close to this.

I am actually enjoying myself even with all of the scut and sleepless nights. I have adjusted to sleeping less, and spending my free time in zombie mode hanging out with the fam. We are finally moving this weekend into our home. I think we all are ready for furniture, a kitchen table, and cooking utensils. I look forward to thanksgiving next year. I'll have to give you all a call sometime to commiserate and share the small simple joys in life.

Tough women with tools.

More wall pics:
These are the ones I really wanted to put up last night, but I was having a tough time--and then it was time to go to bed, so I thought I'd give it another try today:

Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone."

Med School Buddies
I hope as you read the title you have the Counting Crows version of the song running through your head and not say, the Amy Grant version...By saying that I'm also probably exposing myself as the only person on this blog who knows there is an Amy Grant version of that song...but I digress. Chad's last post hit at something that I've been thinking a lot about lately--that there really were some great things about Iowa and about UIHC. I do miss the Avagard, the stuff here doesn't leave your hands as sliky smooth. And I miss the lighting. Everything at Iowa was well lighted. Here's it's like they are trying to save money on light bulbs or something and there aren't many windows, sometime when I do see the sun, it's a complete suprise, like "oh wow, it is sunny outside, it is still daytime." I'm afriad the last vestiges of my Hawaii tan are fading away.

To other matters, Alisa thanks for the David Hasselhoff clips--I can't believe he's still working the Knight rider thing. For some reason watching those vidoes, I started wondering if there was anyone else in American Pop culture that holds a similar position to Mr. Hasselhoff. Then it hit me--William Shattner--someone famous from a weird sci-fi TV show, who should be washed up by now, but is kept alive by a strangely devoted fan base (although it's trekkies, not germans like it is for DH) and by the weird fascination he generates with the rest of the public. Strange music videos seem to help too. Check these out as evidence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yerCiByca4 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yerCiByca4 Other than that, I really don't think there is anyone like those two. Any other nominations?

Brandon, thanks for your post, you pretty much said exactly what I was feeling after my first couple of weeks as a surgery intern--it sucked. It still sucks, but it's getting better. The most hours I've logged in a week so far was 98, and I've been under 80 for the last two. I'm also getting more used to being on call and I think we are all adapting to our new scheduled--Gracie still seems to remember my name. The one nice thing here is that they are good getting me out the door early when I'm post call, so my compensation for another sleepless night as a scut monkey is that I get to spend the day with Julie and Gracie--after I pass out for a couple of hours. The residents I've been working with have gotten better since the first couple weeks too. My favorite quote from my first week is "yeah, I know I"m suppossed to be your back-up call tonight, but don't call me, I'm going to be drinking so you better just call the cheif." which is what one of the upper level residents on my first team at the VA told me. Since then I've been working with better senior residents and that's helped too. Anyway, it's tough, but it's getting better--I think I may actually be starting to enjoy myself a bit. As you saw, the house is coming along too, the wall is now offically gone and I think it's going to look good. I do have to say that beating the crap out it with a sledge hammer was fun though.

"Son, she said, have I got a little story for you..."

What's up everyone? I started my internal medicine month, and yeah, it blows. But it amazes me that my 75 hour week seemed so painful, and Rob and Brandon are over 80 (100!!??) regularly. The other weird thing is how much I miss certain things about the University Hospital (Changing Medicine, Changing Lives...), like enough computers on all the floors, typing all notes on the system and using templates (as opposed to indecipherable notes written in the paper chart by consultants or whatever, Avagard outside every rooom, etc. I never knew the UI hospital was so nice.
Anyway, before Medicine started, Alisa and I had the chance to celebrate by seeing Pearl Jam at the Gorge Ampitheatre. It was crazy delicious. The end of their U.S. tour, 30th row fan club seats, dead center, one of the most beautiful venues to see a concert. They played for almost 3 hours and it was amazing. The only bad part was the heat - it was 105-110 degrees out in the middle of the Central Washington desert. Alisa really, really, loved being crammed in a row of sweaty, shirtless, pot-smoking Pearl Jam fanatics. Here are a few pics I took.

Beastly Progress

Today, in lieu of wit, I present a photo journal of...... THE BEAST!

Well, it doesn't seem to want me to upload a bunch of pictures. So, go to http://www.geocities.com/graciespage05/beast/beast.htm

May it make you glad to live in a condo!

Lost

First, a confession. I plagarized my last entry (head hung in shame) from Rob. He wrote it, I just posted it... without crediting him. HE is the one with the wit, not me.
Second, THANK YOU girls for your willingness to write letters for us again! I hope you still have the old letters so you can cut and paste a lot! We will keep you posted, of course.
Now, on to the dry, boring stuff: Life in Ann Arbor. What? you were bored already? Sorry.
Ann Arbor has been frustrating because I feel perpetually lost. As someone said the other day (I don't remember who, but I didn't want to PLAGARIZE again), it's like someone designed it while they were drunk. I know how to find about 4 streets here. Luckily, we live between Target and Walmart and have 2 grocery stores, a Lowe's and a Home Depot around the corner. So we are not starving. BUT I can't find anything in the poorly laid-out grocery stores, and I can't find anything in my mess of a house. Other than a tub of spackle that Grace is always toting around.
But there are plusses. We love our backyard, and spend many evenings there. Grace loves to collect rocks and pile them on the steps. There are nice people in the ward, but amazingly no other residents with kids. I have been getting to know some of the other residents' wives, there is a second year Uro resident whose wife has taken me under her wing, and they have a little boy a couple weeks older than Grace. We're going to their house this afternoon, in fact! We were going to swim, but it's raining. Again. No one told us that the weather here is like the Northwest, but with extremely cold winters. Gray, raining every few days. YAY. Oh yeah, I'm talking about plusses now. Umm, Rob has a golden weekend this weekend. We're going to spend it knocking the wall down, YAY!!!!! Rob would put that on his list of minuses, but this isn't his post... We really don't have before and after pictures of anything yet, since the only project we've really completed is buying new appliances. But once we do, we'll post them. Don't hold your breath or anything.
Ummm, I guess that's about it for now. I better go put up child locks (finally) so that Grace will stop throwing hairspray down the laundry chute.
Take care,
Julie

Nursing my Insecurities

As if I don't have enough emotional instability in my life (what with the pressures of trying to stay afloat on this blog), I have been called to be the Primary Chorister (try to hold back the smiles of sweet revenge, Julie). In the midst of trying to convince myself that I won't be doused with gasoline and burned alive for trying to sing in public, I came across a music video that made me feel infinitely more confident in my slightly tone-deaf, rhythmically challenged abilities. Special thanks to the "Hoff"...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3382491587979249836&q=jump+in+my+car

What?? Need more David? Try this on for size...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-720650682163363570&q=label%3Ada

Treading Water

I have to admit I approach the responsibility of posting on this blog with trepidation. I don’t know if I can deliver the wit/intellect combination supplied by all contributors thus far. On my family blog, respect is earned by merely being literate. I hope I have what it takes to be a valued member of the “frank4president” community. Bear with my feeble attempts at humor…

After a surprisingly peaceful 1700 mile drive to Spokane, our adventure began. We arrived at our new home, cozily nestled between a bowling alley and a payday advance loan center. We were welcomed to the block by a well-meaning neighbor who counseled us to leave our doors unlocked so that the local hoodlums could loot our car without burdening us with the added expense of replacing broken windows.

Now, you may remember me saying that I grew up being the only white kid on my school bus, and that most of my friends’ parents wouldn’t let them visit my neighborhood. I will admit the situation afforded me unique experiences that I now appreciate, but I’m not planning on giving my kids those same opportunities for social growth. We lasted ONE NIGHT at this place before ripping up our lease (so to speak) and moving out. It all ended well and we are now settled into a quiet, though less exciting, neighborhood in the ‘burbs.

Since then we’ve been busy establishing new haunts around Spokane. So far it strikes me as a nice sized city with plenty to do with the fam. We’re all happy and doing fine. In other words - Doing the bulldance, Feeling the flow.

I am alive... I think

I never liked being tired, and in the past have always prioritized sleep over most things in life. Although, now I am starting to realize that I am always tired no mater what, so in the few hours a week I am home, I often find myself cutting into my sleep to do less important things like: go to the bathroom, eat food, peek in at my sleeping children, remind my wife that my name is Brandon and yes I am married to her. Once in a while I even have the audacity to sit down and write a long overdue email rather than sleep after yet another 30 hour sleepless shift, after which I actually was able to go home because I gave up my meal times and any sitting the past 30 hours so that I actually finished answering my 100 pages, 10th trauma response for the night, and 8th post op visit on another services paitents. No, that isn't bitterness you detect, it is sheer love of the fact that I know people respect the honest hard worker job I provide as a intern. They always appreciate that I am working my absolute best and understand when I occasionally make a mistake. And as merciful as my senior residents are, they only blame me for their own mistakes and just plain bad luck 95% of the time. The 5% they actually only lear at me rather than telling me I suck as an intern. Man does it feel good to be loved. I hope everyone else is forming this special relationship with their colleges in medicine. Maybe next time I am delerious enough to forget that there is something called sleep and the 130 hour week rule I will drop another line and give you all great tips on how to let your senior residents understand how incompetant you are and know how to delegate off all of your responsibilities.
Thrilled to ge a "General Surgery Resident",
Brandon

Colony Inn Breakfast

Sorry, the title of this post has nothing to do with anything I'm about to say, it's just 3 words I like to occasionally ruminate over.

I'm glad to hear everyone is beginning to get settled. I guess it may take the rest of the summer for things to really get there, huh?. With the Reynolds moving to their real home and all the Jacksons remodeling. It was great to hear from you all recently, I already miss you guys huge. We need to talk sometime soon. Couple of thoughts: Europe sounds like it was . . . fun. We'll keep those tips in mind should we need them someday! Brandon sounds like he is working like mad (I'm sure Rob is, too). Just remind yourselves guys, how many people would give anything to be in your spots.

Anyway, I don't have anything too profound to say today. Things are great in Spokane. Alisa is now officially over her dreading the 2 moves, skeptical of living somewhere only 1 year, etc., and is loving it here. My program is great (private hospitals rule). I kind of feel like a 4th yr student still. My year consists of 13 different 4 week rotations. They gave me radiology to start, follwed by general ward medicine (but only 1 month of it all year!), and a bunch of stuff after that. They treat us well, we have tons of nice benefits (food, PDA's, etc), and so I don't think I could have ended up in a better program for me for my first year. Spokane and Coeur d'Alene and the area around here are awesome. I feel all this pressure to explore everything since we have such a short time, so we are working on it.

Hawaii update: I STILL can't quite wrap my mind around how fun that vacation was. I noticed a list of top 10 summer beaches on Yahoo this morning and Kaanapali was #1. I clicked on it and one user comment communicated simply but accurately exactly how I feel. "If you are going to travel to one place during your life time, maui is the place to visit. after visiting maui you'll see the world entirely different. make sure to go for five or six days so you can see the entire island. can't wait to go back." Amen to that. The more I think about future vacations with you guys, the more I think that Maui may not be topped. Maybe we should go back (I'm not talking about istead of our Meditteranean cruise, I mean future trips after that). Speaking of Hawaii - we need pictures! Remember, we would love copies of ALL the pics you all took (OK, I guess you can exclude any of yourselves that you hate, but that's all!)

That's about it. Have fun! Let's talk on the phone sometime.

One month ago...

This post was written a while a go on our laptop, which then ran out of batteries, yadda, yadda, so I'm finally posting it now. Enjoy.

Hey everyone,

Reynolds we hope you’re getting into your new routine and that the transition hasn’t been made a lot tougher by the move to Penn State and your having to find an interim place to live. Ringgers, we hope you’re firmly entrenched in the great Pacific Northwest.

You may have noticed based on the rather unintelligible title of Rob's last post, that it was a little bit hurried—that’s because we didn’t actually get the internet here at our house until Friday, so to check our email we’ve been sneaking up the road and sitting in the parking lot of the Marriott to take advantage of their wireless. It works fine, but there are always employees walking by giving you crusties…..

Things are going pretty well. Other than Rob taking the mirror off of a semi-truck with the back of our moving van at 2:30 in the morning in heavy traffic in Chicago, the move went pretty smoothly and we’re now elbow deep in old wallpaper and new paint. (Good news, the wall can officially come down) Anyway, we’re back on line here so we can now post at our leisure, which means we can finally present to you:

Roving Redheads Top Ten Tips for European Travel with Toddlers (also known as A Tale of Three Sickies—they were the best of loos, they were the worst of loos…)

1. Bring lots of Benedryl—philosophical reservations about drugging your toddler tend to fade at 2:30 in the morning when she is still insisting on either screaming at the top of her lungs or kicking the chair of the nice British man in front of you.
2. If your toddler refuses to eat anything--even string cheese--without throwing a fit, consider the possibility that she is getting her first molars.
3. If your toddler is going to throw up in her stroller tilt her to the side so she doesn’t throw up into the stroller itself.
4. Tip 2 isn’t well received on the London Subway, even if you brought along plenty of plastic bags.
5. Stomach flu can put a real damper on sight-seeing, so in addition to Benedryl bring lots of Phenergen and Lomotil.
6. No matter how fascinating your find museums, your toddler will either a) think they are really boring or b) try and do something that may get you all arrested like trying to swing from the ropes that surround very expensive pieces of art. If she is going to throw up in the museum cafeteria, try not to gross out the other patrons too much.
7. If your toddler is going to pass her case of stomach flu on to other members of the traveling party, try not to be the one that gets it the day you are going to be doing a lot of air travel.
8. If tip 6 doesn’t work remember 2 things, First, European flight attendants have keys to open the bathrooms on the plane from the outside and no matter what you are doing in there, they will open the door and insist you return to your seat if the fasten seatbelt sign is lit. Second, enjoy the time you do get to spend in the bathroom by reminding yourself that at least there is more leg room in there than in your assigned seat.
9. If you are going to go sightseeing on a Saturday in Austria and your toddler is on her second to last diaper remember that all stores in Austria close early on Saturday and don’t reopen again until Monday, so make sure you buy diapers before you head out the see the sights. This is especially important if you are going to be getting on a plane Sunday morning and could end up flying with a diaper less toddler. This is of supreme importance if one of you is making the same flight with a second round of stomach flu.


10. If you forget tip 8, keep in mind that while a swim diaper lined with a large maxi-pad sounds like it should keep your toddler dry overnight, it won’t.
11. If you find yourself in the situation described by tips 8 and 9, do two things: pray that the nice couple in front of you in line at the airport will also be traveling with a toddler and will have a couple spare “nappies” to give you and look for a German GI medication called NormalGut. (there may not be any active ingredients on the box that your recognize, but the stuff is magic—you’ll be eating fish and chips and strolling through Hyde Park in London in no time).
12. Bonus tip: There’s lots of amusing stuff in Europe to take your mind off things like diarrhea, vomiting and torrential rains so note things like the following: Austrian men love man capris, There is a German Iron Maiden cover band who is currently touring with an opening act call Sepsis. One of the major Austrian grocery store chains is named Schenker (say it out loud).
    
    So we did spend about half the trip in our hotel room with one of the three of us sick and terrible weather also kind of put a damper on the Austrian portion of things. However, the days we did get out were great and just felt lucky to be in such cool places and to have time to spend with family.
    
    

Oh So Chocolatey

Hey guys! How is everyone doing? Are we getting settled in?
Jacksons, we dying to hear how the renovations went/are still going. And pictures. You must post before and after pictures. Ringgers, how was your time in Bothel? The girls and I were in Seattle and up at the ocean in the last weekend of June for my Grandpa's 75th Birthday Bash. Wild times. I was sending mental vibes your way. I hope the kids are getting used to all the changes and you're liking where you are living.
We are doing good, just chillin in our rental house for a month and then we can move into our house like August 6th, I think. I'll take a couple of days to paint and then we'll move in. The house we are in right now is way farther away from the Med Center (along with everything else) then we expected. It takes about 40 minutes for Brandon to get to the hospital every (very early) morning. It's been raining here like mad. I feel like I'm in Washington! :) Lots of fun storms. But someone in th area has wireless internet, so we're mooching off that for the time being!
Brandon has been working like a mad man. Q4, I believe and has to get up at 4 each morning. Man, we better make a lot of money some day, that's all I have to say.
Our ward is very nice and very different than our last ward, which is both positive and negative but I think we're really going to like it. Brandon is going to pretend he's awake the Sundays he can actually attend, so he'll like it in his own way...hopefully with his eyes open, but I'm not holding my breath...
Ruby's doing good. We meet her Peds Endo doc tomorrow and we'll she what she says but we're not expecting anything earth shattering, just "Yep, she still has diabetes. Keep up the injections and blood glucose checking (or "gloo-close" as Ruby would say"). I'm hoping she'll let us stop checking her at midnight and 3am - it's like having a new born again. Yikes.
Ok, that's about it. Nothing major to report, I just wanted to see how everyone was doing.
Miss you all,
Annie and the rest of us

Good Friends

Thank you so much you guys. We have literally felt your prayers. Ruby is doing GREAT. This morning was the first meltdown we've had regarding not wanting to get her injection. Other than that, she's been such a trooper and very brave. I read your post to her, Alisa and she goes "It worked! My shots don't hurt anymore!"
We had some good times at the hospital, though. Like when a masculine looking female nurse walked past us and Ruby pointed and shout "Look, Mom! That lady looks like a boy but she's really a girl!" (I smiled at the idea that perhaps the woman had once marched in Frank's parade.) And then there was one of the residents who had quite a large mole on her face. When she walked in, I just knew there'd be trouble. She begins to talk to Ruby and Ruby stands up on her hospital bed, leans in, interupts her and says "What's that big thing on your face? Is it a mole?" I was just glad she didn't say anything about the hairs that were protruding out of it. Anyway, so we spent 3 long days in the hospital. A three year old connected to an IV for 3 days straight is not a party. We were so glad to get out of there, though I was a little nervous to be on our own, with the strict diet, the regimented eating time table, drawing up the percise amount of insulin, checking her blood glucose 6 times a day (included once at midnight and once at 3 in the morning) and then giving her the actual injection - all without "supervision." Brandon, of course, would scoff if he were to be reading over my shoulder right now. Yes, I know - he's a doctor now but I still enjoyed the comfort of experienced nurses and diabetic teachers looking over us while we did everything.
Anyway, we're home now, we're getting used to everything and really, it's not as big of a change as I thought it would be. What's wrong with a little more structure and more healthy eating? And our family's diet was pretty much a diabetic's diet already so it really isn't this life shifting ordeal that I was told it was going to be. But maybe I'm just naive.
Anyway, thanks for your sweet words and prayers. We appreciate them so much and love you.
Oh, so after a couple of days we won't have internet until mid-August, unless I go use a library's or something, so if we're like AWOL until then, that's why.
And here is our cell phones if you ever want to chat: (free nights and weekends!)
Brandon's: (717)557-6750
Mine: (702)328-3317 - this # will change to a 717 area code but I'll let you know
Ok, hugs all around.

Your in your thoughts and prayers

Hi,

We just got the email about Ruby. We'll be thinking of you guys and praying that things go well as Ruby transitions to her new diet and all the shots. Ruby's lucky she's got great parents to take care of her--I can't think of anyone better.
All our best,
Rob, Julie and Gracie

PS here's my parents address:
Robert and Susan Jackson
4515 Brookshire Dr.
Provo, UT 84604

Thinking of Ruby

We want you Reynolds to know that we are thinking of you. Caleb and Maryn have been praying that Ruby's shots won't hurt very much. Hope to hear from you when things settle down.

Ma & Pa Jackson

Can you post your parents' address, Rob? I meant to get it from you before we all parted ways but forgot. Thanks.

The Smoking Gun: Frank Crouse Revealed

In a stunning blow to his recently launched presidential campaign, Frank Crouse now faces the tough questions - questions he must have known would be coming.

For days, "Frank for President" signs have been perplexing ignorant voters. "Frank who?," they cried. Our source, who shall remain nameless, has gone deep undercover to unearth the following startling clues into the life of this man/beast.

1. "Frank" is officially Frank Crouse of Hana, Maui - owner, manager, and custodian of Na Pualani O Hana, also known as Frank's Flower Farm.

2. Although internationally known as a wonderful place to lay one's head on a soft, inviting pile of cat dander after a long day of hiking on the road to Hana, the Na Pualani O Hana has actually received some controversial reviews.
http://www.discoveringhawaii.com/Is_Maui/MAHotelHanaMaui.html
http://travelsense.igougo.com/planning/journalEntryAccommodation.asp?JournalID=40037&EntryID=16906

3. In 1999, Frank served honorably as Grand Marshall of the Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade and Rally during Pride Month in Hawaii. Frank's own sexuality is unknown at this time, and we assume most people prefer it that way.

4. Unfortunately, Frank has yet to be captured by photograph. Even a poor quality shot of Frank is in higher demand than pictures of the Jolie/Pitt baby. On the other hand, anyone who has seen Frank in person has had his image indelibly burned into their minds, thus, for them, photographs would be meaningless.

(For those wondering, the key facts listed above are all true, yes, even the part about the Grand Marshall)

The Frank & Snowball Campaign

To answer your question, Rob, I have heard rumors that Frank has chosen his cat Snowball as his VP running mate. (I suspect that the legalization of marijuana is on the forefront of his political platform: "Legalize Marijuana!!! Heck, Let's Legalize 'Em All!!!") Snowball has turned out to be a huge asset to the campaign. Suprisingly, Frank has self-esteem and body image issues, but Snowball is always quick to give an encouraging word, such as "Frank, your body odor isn't offensive, per say. I'd call it...commanding."

"How could Frank ever have the money to run for president?", one might ask upon meeting our un-laundered friend. Over the past 30 years, Frank has scrimped and saved all the money he's swindled out of poor unassuming Hana-hiking tourists. Some have been brave enough to look him straight in the bloodshot eyes and challenge him but most tend to either cower in fear or become hypnotized by his soothing monotone voice, hence he has collected quite a large sum to launch his campaign.

If you haven't had the chance to meet Frank, I suggest you take a quick jaunt to Hana and swing by the Napolaniohana. Upon arrival, "honk horn for service" and wait for Frank to stumble out of the bamboo forest. Snowball will probably be perched upon a vintage 1991 Ford Aerostar Van handing out campaign buttons: "VOTE FOR FRANK! HE DON'T STANK! well, actually, he does, but...VOTE FOR FRANK!" Let Frank be your guide as you tour the grounds. He will calmly point out all of your options for your night's slumber and proceed to overcharge you. Choose your own adventure: will you choose to defend the price you were previously quoted or become enraptured by his charm and contribute hords of money to his cause? All this can be discussed with Frank on the couch that is covered by a bedsheet, located in the kitchen. Be sure to enjoy the evening's entertainment of music and dancing by your upstairs neighbor. J-Lo is a favorite. And if you have some extra time on your hands, I've heard the Hana General Store sells fabulous muffler tape. Just turn left at the red cabbage.

Farewell to Soybeans

I want you all to know how excited I am about our med school buddies blog. I'm almost as excited about the blog as I am about the benefits of having Frank for president... I feel the need to testify of my excitement because I have not/will not be posting for a while, until things are settled in Spokane (assuming we ever arrive).
As I stuff all our junk in boxes for the big move, I am growing surprisingly sentimental about the Iowa Years. Hence, them American Gothic print. Truth be told, I tried to cut and past my and Chad's heads into the print, but my Photo Shop skills are pathetically less developed than Julie's. Que lastima!
Jacksons, have a blast in Europe! Reynolds, continue working on those tans in Cali/LVNV. We'll talk again when we're Pacific Northwesterners.

Just not the same....

Hey All,

We're killing time at the airport and they have wireless, so I thought I'd try out this blog thing...a big shout out to Annie for putting it together--twice.

One question if Frank is running for President, whose his VP candidate. My nomination is Gaylord the guy from the pool who wanted to arm wrestle Brandon, but I think the hang gliding guy would also be good....

Anyway, we missed you guys during the last Alias episode, it's crazy to think there won't be any more group Alias parties--and i don't think JJ really answered too much in the end.

Put your orders in now for German or English candy/baked goods and we'll mail them when we get home.

Rob

New and improved!

The old blog kicked my can to the curb as blog administrator for some reason (was I not living up to my blog administrator potential?) so I could no longer send invites or change names (Alisa) so I made this new one. Hope it works. I'm sending out new invites. Hope everyone is doing good and nursing their post-Hawaii blues.
More to come...