Clambake

Before Jared began his residency in Ohio, I had never heard of a Clambake. I have grown to LOVE this Midwest tradition! Every fall the hospital hosts one at a country club where we eat too much chowder, lobster!!, sweet potatoes, corn, fried chicken, fillet, dessert, open bar with yummy drinks and of course, clams. And since I do not eat clams, I make up for it with some extra lobster. :)

This year in addition to the cornucopia of food, they had karaoke. Now I do not sing. I can dance, but singing... oh no. When I am belting out a song while driving and the satellite looses signal for a minute and I hear myself I wince, it is not a good sound. Yet, somehow I ended up singing MULTIPLE times last night.... and now it is up on YouTube.

And yes, I was apparently using my Bud Light as a microphone. Could have been the lobster, or the many, many hot apple cider and Captain Morgan... who knows....

Enjoy!

Extreme Makeover

I think everything happens for a reason. Apparently I needed a smack in the head from my "Midweek Blues" feeling sorry for myself day. I know I am a little dramatic, so sometimes I need signs... like flashing neon signs... to get a message.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition is in Cleveland to help a deserving family in need. So today Jared and I volunteered and spent half the day helping out on site... and I left wishing I could do more. Feeling lucky, for everything I have.

Here is info on the family, and the big reveal is Tuesday.

Sometimes you just need some perspective.

Midweek Blues

I am mostly a happy person. Yes the tears can start flowing at the drop of a hat but mostly, I have a good outlook on life. I am blessed with a great husband, family, friends, health, and a job that I love. But some days you just have a case of the blues.

Wednesday was blue, dark blue. It was an ordinary day, getting up, going to work, etc. and an appointment with a new hair stylist. This sounds silly, but it was a challenge for me. The same lady has been doing my hair forever and I love how she makes it look. But I live in Ohio now and I really should start taking care of things here... where I live.

The salon people were very nice. I just didn't feel like I fit. Some days I am a fish out of water here. So different than everyone else. I look different than the people here. I act different than the people here. I am sooo different than the people here. And then the hairdresser tells me I should be doing my hair differently and it is the wrong color. (Did I mention that her hair looks like she was from an 80's hair band? And this salon is the highest rated in the area.)

I ended up letting her do some of what she wanted. After all, it is only hair and it will grow back. But I now have long layers... layers people and I am not in love with the color. I just felt like an alien the rest of the day. It stinks that something so small can make you think you don't fit in. It is tough being here without friends, and making new ones hasn't been successful for me yet.

I wanted to post this because even though I am mostly happy, I know days like today happen to everyone. At least, that is what I tell myself. And this is a journey. Making a new place your home is tough, and I guess it is taking longer than I expected. So what did Jared think of my hair? Well, he couldn't even tell I had anything done. Just told me I looked pretty when I got home. 

View from my balcony, watching the sunset



Whirlyball

Surgery residents need some time off now and then. Last Friday we went to the Whirlyball bar to have some much needed fun for these overworked and underpaid residents. Luckily, I am married to a surgery resident so I got to go too. :)

What is whirlyball you say? I had no idea either, thinking it is Midwest speak for something I am familiar with like "pop" when they are referring to soda. But I was wrong. This is no play on words, no invented regional sport. Whirlyball is a combination of bumper cars, jai a'lai, lacrosse, and basketball. 

Now, I am not the most coordinated (shocking since I am such a great dancer, hehehe) so I was worried. Worried, I would be injured....   

But as you can see the night was just a ton of fun. Our faces hurt from smiling and laughing the whole time. Acting like you are 8 years old is so much fun. It could have been the ramming into each other, the competition between teams, or the beer, but whatever it was it was hilarious fun. I even scored 4 points and didn't get hurt.

Harvest Moon

Today is the first official day of fall 2010. During each season, I feel like it is my favorite. With the leaves beginning to change color, I am getting ready for sweaters, jeans, boots, and that cool breeze that makes your face look just a little flushed.

Yet, when I was out shopping this week I noticed Christmas decorations out already! What the heck?!? It is only THE FIRST DAY OF FALL!!! I realize we need to have time to prepare for each new holiday, season, or style of clothing but come on. It also makes it difficult to envision those shortened days, long nights, and chilly months ahead with the record heatwave we are having. 92 degrees today... and I am looking at a snowman in Target. Weird.

Today is also the wedding anniversary of my best friend, Natalie and her husband Brian. Four years ago they were married at a historic plantation on a beautiful fall day in Virginia!

I was proud to stand by them when they were married with my soon-to-be husband and special friends from high school that I know will be in my life forever.

A month ago, Natalie and Brian moved across the globe for a few years.  And even thought I am missing them like crazy, I am so excited about the adventure they are on. Happy Anniversary!! Hope you are having a wonderful "fall" day on the island. (And that you don't mind making my blog!)

In the meantime, I am going to enjoy this fall season. I think I will go apple or pumpkin picking this weekend.  

Case of the Mondays

I am lucky. SOOO lucky because... I LOVE my job. Every day I get to design and build experiments, play with new technologies, and train astronauts that go into space. I work on science that will be performed on the International Space Station. 

Model of the ISS at Johnson Space Center


And yes, most of my co-workers are socially impaired and can barely communicate with other humans. But hey, that isn't so bad. ;)

Because a case of the Monday's for me includes this...

Me training astronauts on the Light Microscopy Module for the CVB & PACE Experiments. While we are right next to this...

Space Shuttle Trainer & full scale mockup!!

Happy Monday!

Midweek Surprise

I worked late last night. And when I came home, my husband had made this for dinner...

Yummo! Two points for him!