We're BaaaAaack! Prepare thyself, Texas.

ZOMG, i can feel my toes! And my skin is not dry or cold or clammy or cracked or chapped... And i saw the SUN today, and it was WARM! *swoon*
Alright, enough caps and exclaimation marks for a bit. They don't really do the feeling justice anyway.

Vacation is awesome, and one where it's warm is the best. (Especially after surviving "The Great Blizzard of 2011!") Ooh, and you know what else? You know what i'm thinking right now?! Nothing. Nothing at all. I'm not joking. It's like ________________ up there. White Noise. (but without that awful freaky crap that happened in the horrifically bad movie of the same name. Egads that was a terrible movie.) 

So, yeah, after the longest drive ever, we're back warm, sunny Texas for two full weeks of soaking up the sun ....while we find a place to live in Houston during my internship. Ok, so yes, there is an agenda, and yes, it does involve some actual footwork while were here, but mostly it involves seeing family and friends and thawing a bit from the brutal Chicago cold. (and some time at the shooting range, maybe, just for shits and giggles. We never get to actually practice in Illinois, just threaten scary people with it when they come to the door at 3am.)

But tonight, we start the festivities with dinner with the in-laws... we'll see what happens from there.

Snowmageddon and the Aftermath

We survived Blizzardfest 2011. A day to tell tall tales about for many years to come. Too bad i don't plan to have children... I'd wow them with "well, back when i was your age i had to shovel out of 12ft high snowdrifts just to cross the hall and get to the bathroom" and whatnot.

I've decided: I'm going to make T-shirts. "I survived the Great Chicago Snizzard 2011" Oh yeah!

Come to think of it...maybe they should be sweatshirts. Or parkas. Eeh. ...either way, you can pick the "awful storm name" of your choice. Think of it! It would be a wearable memento of the global warming phenomenon. You'd have instant friends just by wearing it.

The real storm wasn't all that it was hyped up to be. We Texans survived with ease, calling on our common sense to dictate our actions. Once we were shoveled out of the driveway and front door, we spent the day rescuing poor Yankees out of ditches.  It was rather fun, i have to admit.







Success!

  
    

Holy crap that was a lot of work.

We both are sore now, but it's hard to complain when you see your 80yr old neighbors out dealing with the same thing as if it were completely natural. Ugh. They constantly show us up! I think Bob was actually elated about the whole thing. Days worth of snowblowing? Yes, please. Lorainne was not as excited, but she dealt with it like a pro, and even fussed at me to "go do your own sidewalk if you're bored, i don't need any help!" when we went over to offer assistance. Ugh.Crotchety old lady. I hope i'm just like her when i'm old.  :) 

 

  





Bob, in his element.





Either way, i know i don't want to deal with this year in and year out. I'll give the people that do a big kudos for what they do, but no thanks. And i'm not staying even one more year unless i get one of THESE babies:

MOVING TO HOUSTON!

We're moving! Well... that's just slightly premature. We know where my internship is, as of yesterday at 4:19pm, and we couldn't be happier.

For Richard, it's getting back to Texas, but for me, it's that PLUS the added bonus of getting the BEST internship site out there: Methodist Hospital in Houston. I'm so excited! My number one pick for internship site, AND no more -7 (or colder) temps... and a happy husband?! God is good, and i'm glad the wait is over. Now to just finish the house, and put it on the market, and find a new house, and pack, and move (including the kitties), and get it all done in the next few months. Oh, the excitement of my life. LOL.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

Just look at that Tx flag flying! ;)

Sick

Well, it was bound to happen eventually... especially given that the only health insurance we have is the craptastic plan from the school... So, now i'm sick. Oh, joy!

I tried despirately not to believe it at first. I even blamed it on the sawdust Rich had stirred up in the garage, cutting beadboard and whatnot for the bathroom remodel project.  *cough*  ...oh, that was just some dust particulate matter, obviously, dear. I couldn't get sick...i don't have time.

24 hrs later, and I'm in bed, full-on sick mode. Fever and everything. Ick.

With the amount of snot in my head that's making everything sound like it's underwater, and the pain in my throat/lungs that feels like sandpaper with each cough, all i want to do is sleep. Unfortunately, that's an issue. Why, when the only remedy is "rest" is that so hard to get?!  Lying down is unbearable (i sense i'm about to drown), and sitting up is not condusive to a good night's slumber, so i've been forced into a half-sitting, half-supine sort of arrangement--pillows strategically placed--on the couch.  Which the kitties find to be quite agreeable. ("Oh, a fuzzy blanket and a warm human?! Don't mind if i do...")

Now if only i could get one of the fuzzy space heaters to pass me the remote...

1st Chistmas

Total success. Enjoyed each other's company, visited the neighbors (and started our day with a bloody mary and some of the best biscuts and susage gravy i've ever had. Yeah, i know. They're Yankees!), hung out with a friend from school, and spent the majority of the day in PJ's. I count this as a win.

Even started some new traditions for Christmas Eve, thanks to the brillance of Peggy and John Steele. Fondue smorgasboard food + lots of board games. (fueled with a little wine and lots of good cheer.)

Now if only the Cowboys would pull off a win so we can all get our Christmas wishes fulfilled.

First Christmas

Less than a week before Christmas! And two weeks of play ahead of me. :) I'm still running around trying to get everything done and packed and sent off to everyone before Christmas Day. (I feel we may need to take out a small loan to send out all the gifts! LOL!!) I had such fun making ornaments, that i wanted to send one to EVERYONE. Plus, gifts to parents, grandparents, brother/sis-in-law, and friends gets pricy when you're sending more than just a card. Totally worth it, though. I loooove gift giving more than gift getting....
As for myself, i'd rather have an adventure day and a picture to remember it by more than anything else in the world, which is why the time off is going to be so special. A lot of the cool touristy things Rich and i have wanted to do together since moving have been postponed either because of time or finances or both, but hopefully we will get to check some things off our our "wish list" soon. But really, i'm looking forward to Christmas day... just church with Ricard, being generally lazy, and relaxing together. Coffee, and breakfast with just Toak and Mini, and maybe a walk in the snow... if the weather cooperates and the wind isn't so cold. And only one rule: no projects or home improvement tasks for a whole day. whoo hoo!
We're so close to having many of our home projects done.. it feels like i'm forever saying that, though. Some days i just have to pretend the insanity doesn't exist, because it's impossible to clean up when you're living in a make-shift construction site.
Ah, well. Life is good.

Updates...

Can't sleep...time for updates:
We're going to have a "white christmas"! which doesn't excite anyone here in Chicago except maybe me... but it's pretty awesome.
We got our first snow on December 2nd, which is pretty late in the year for around here. I've been so swamped with the last weeks of school that i haven't really had time to enjoy it, but we did take some pictures of the house, and a test drive around the neighborhood...and a few days later i went to downtown Lake Forest to take pictures of the square to send to Grandma.
No snowman yet... soon, hopefully. :)

The house is looking so good... i'm so grateful and impressed with all the hard work Richard is (somehow) finding the time and energy to do. The new kitchen tile is IN and just needs to be grouted, and the new pendant lights are up over the sink. I know it's sad to say, but i'll be sad to see this house go after how amazing the kitchen (and the rest of the house) turned out. But Rich promises me that we can do it to any house we want to, and he'll be glad to do it to another one--in Texas--again. ;)

We've decorated for Christmas, and hopefully, this weekend i'll get my gifts finished up and sent off to people. I think we are going to be doing a "Christmas video DVD" instead of a letter, if Rich has his way. Fine by me, as long as i don't have to do the editing. I think it sounds like a fun idea.
School is going well... got to do a lot of awesome stuff lately. This semester is really picking up speed. Today we did a heart dissection. It was AMAZING. I can't wait to begin work. Or even just the clinicals...
*sigh*
Clinicals. That's on my heart lately. God will provide all the answers. "He can make a way where there seems to be no way." ...theme of my life. So...i'm trying to just not rush it and let it all fall into place. Still, i wish someone would respond soon so i don't look like i'm dragging my feet, when really i just have nothing to report and am trying to delay until i know what the plan is... So far, no one in Tx has jumped for joy at the idea of starting a new clinical site, so i might be duking it out with the rest of the crew for the available ones. We'll see.
Can't sleep tonight... too much on my mind. Including tomorrow's presentation that i'm nervous about. Not about speaking. I love public speaking  (unlike most people, i know), but the professor that is really, really into the details about the biochemistry and physiology of the disease i'll be speaking on has told me he plans to make an appearance for my presentation because he "loves the kidneys and their associated Pathologies"... so, lucky me, i'll be sure to have to answer questions at the end. Hopefully i am prepared for him...
Ok. enough procrastinating. I'm going to try to sleep.  Maybe.