Today Was a Good Day

Today was a good day. I had work super early with the astronauts on the ISS, solved a problem, and was congratulated for a job well done by Mission Control. :) Jared got his badge... his attending physician badge!

And then while on the phone with my sister, my niece requested to Face Time with me.

That little girl just makes me smile. I love her to the Moon and back. I am tired, have one million things to do... but today was a good day.

Winter Break - Part 1:Make It Count

We headed out of town for a little winter break last week. We started off with another ski day at Wisp. Again, I was cranky. I didn't want to go, felt like I had checked skiing off the list of things to do this winter and there we were, at the ski resort AGAIN. After our 4 hour drive of me being cranky, I finally put my big girl panties on and stopped complaining. Jared and Steve headed out for a few runs while I rented my skis and boots. This time I upgraded to an Intermediate skier and even got some longer skis. They had fresh powder from the night before so it would be a better day.

I text Jared to let him know I was waiting at the bottom of the run to meet up with them and got this reply...

The next thing I know there is an ambulance, ski patrol, and a few moments later a sled with someone performing CPR on a guy while they are being towed down the slope on a sled. They skied right by me... kids and adults all around were crying at what we were seeing. Directly after them came Jared and Steve. Apparently this man had fallen out of the ski lift just before they headed down the slope. While they were coming down they saw people shouting for help. The man's daughter, a doctor as well, was performing CPR. Someone took her aside and the two of them took over CPR until the ski patrol arrived. They knew he was gone as soon as they saw him.

It was awful. Surreal. It took me awhile to realize what happened... like midway through my second run I just started crying. I wasn't ok. J stopped and talked with me for a while. They see this all the time and I don't know how they deal with it. Part of me wanted to just quit for the day. The same part of me that had been grumpy all morning. But the other part of me felt different. Like I had to choose to enjoy this day. My grandparents haven't been doing well lately... two of them in home hospice care. And I am just feeling more and more the need to make it count, every day, everything you do. Because you really never know what will happen next.

I did awesome skiing each blue trail that day and didn’t quit on myself once. 

I had so much fun. We found out later that the man had died... he was only 68. He had had a heart attack on the lift before he fell. And although so very tragic, he was with his family doing something they loved. And because Jared loves skiing so much, I'm going to keep trying to do better. Making it count for us both, everyday.

 

 

Restaurant Week

Tonight we are heading out to Cleveland Restaurant Week with our friends Mary and Steve! Our favorite restaurant in the area is Red.

J has been there a couple times for pharmacy rep dinners and we went for his cousin's birthday dinner once. It really isn't a place we can afford to go so when you see a deal for a three course dinner at $33 you make a reservation ASAP!!

I plan on skipping lunch to fully enjoy my delicious dinner. I had oysters Rockefeller here for the first time and fell in LOVE... hope they are on the menu tonight!! Pics to come since of course, I take photos of my food. I can't help it, it's genetic!

Change Is Coming

We can feel it, the both of us. The uncertainty that is all around us that we are just starting to vocalize. Finally J's training is coming to an end and in 4 short months he will be done. Finished. Officially a Plastic/Reconstructive Surgeon and we are so super excited. I am beyond proud of this man. But with this comes change, possibly some big change. It will mean a new job for J, finally able to be out on his own as a doctor. But it may also mean moving, new places, and who knows what else. 

The search is on for what will situation will be best for both of us and the unknown is hard to deal with sometimes. Especially for the Type A person I am that wants to plan everything. It seems as if we have just gotten comfortable in our lives. Perhaps, as crazy as it sounds, we were meant to live here in Cleveland... but this just might not be an option. So who knows? It is kind of scary. Balancing the good and bad for each of us. What this will mean for my job is really hard to think about. I honestly find it hard to imagine finding a better job than the one I have now. But I am trying not to worry, to remember that I do believe everything happens for a reason.
This is an image of Cleveland taken last week taken from the International Space Station... our home for now. So we wait and try and get comfortable with this feeling. The excitement, anticipation, nervousness, sadness, all of it. Hoping that this next step will also be as great as the one we are currently in, a situation that we never knew we always wanted.

The Magic of an Ordinary Day

We are usually pretty busy here at ECGML doing this, that or the other thing. Traveling, celebrating, baking, or heading out on the town with friends. But this weekend we kept it low key. We spent Friday night in, Saturday we met J's Aunt for lunch, worked out and then watched movies. And today was just lovely... just an ordinary day. The forecast was for a day filled with snow showers so we hit the road for our Sunday drive. We went through our favorite little town, Chagrin Falls and looked at the new home construction of places we could imagine living someday... right next to this barn with Clydesdale horses.

We hunted for pizza by the slice... realizing that we might as well drive the 7 hours to NYC for it. Then headed home to a crock pot dinner, some crocheting, a nap, and watching our little baby kitty play with her latest toy. Just one of those ordinary days that we love.

Warning

As I am getting ready to leave work today I receive this text from my darling husband...

Hilarious! And so super cute.

Zoom Zoom

We have been looking for cars lately. By we I mean Jared. Our 2007 BMW is needing 2 new snow tires, 2 all season tires, brakes and possibly rotors. So, as we love to do... we are upgrading to a new car. Now it might not be the Porsche 911 that we dreamt of owning when J completed his fellowship, but it is a pretty snazzy car. See the before and after below...

Actually it is the same model as our trade-in... just in blue and new! Is that boy lucky I love cars or what?

ITALY!

The last 5 days have been spent confirming our Italy trip details. Contacting airlines to figure out international seats, getting new suitcases since European carry-ons can only be 21" high including wheels and US luggage is usually 22"!!, washing clothes, packing, packing, packing, weighing suitcases, copying travel documents, squeezing in time to get my nails done, oh yeah and working all week, setting up international phone plans, and then a phone call... J's grandmother has broken her leg!

We rushed over to the hospital  last night to visit her before we left. She is doing ok, heading for surgery tomorrow and then a long road to recovery. We are sending our prayers to her for a successful surgery and for a safe trip for us over the next week!! Everything always seems to happen at the same time. And now, we are off!

CHI Town

Every year J has a conference to attend for his medical education and board exams and I get to tag along. Our first trip to Chicago was back in 2009 where we celebrated J's 30th birthday back in my pre-blogging days. This is one of my favorites of us.

Then the conference moved to San Francisco in 2010, Atlanta in 2011, and we are back to CHI town again this year. I invited one of my besties from college, to join us and as always, we had a blast.**

On Friday we walked around the city and enjoyed the amazing weather, no jacket needed! No one had eaten from being stuck in traffic traveling so we stopped for a late lunch/early dinner at Ditka's with Steve. The boys turned in early to rest for their oral board exams the next day and I met up with Courtney once she arrived later that night for cocktails and snacks.  

Saturday was exam day and once that was over, we could have some fun. We spent the afternoon at a sports bar celebrating the (hopeful) end of the general surgery exam stresses. Our friends Matt, Mary, and her boyfriend Steve joined us as well. There was a mimosa bar, yummy appetizers, and college football for all! Even some silliness in trying on the waitress Oktoberfest outfit (which seemed like a completely normal idea at the time), Courtney's phone dropping into the toilet, and learning that yes, immersing your iPhone in a bag of sealed rice immediately after complete water submersion may possibly save it!

That night we ended up at a BBQ restaurant that we think was also a gay bar and even though J was tired he rallied and came up with the idea of going to the top of the John Hancock building for drinks. The line was a mile long but somehow I got tapped on the shoulder and we were seated immediately... right at the window! Chocolate martini's for everyone!!

Our last day was filled with shopping and sight seeing, for me and Court anyway. We headed over to Millennium Park, saw the bean, the building we thought was from "Adventures in Babysitting," and then back to the hotel with the boys who had been in meetings for the conference.

While at happy hour in the hotel, Courtney and I searched the web for the best place for oysters Rockefeller in the city and were able to make reservations for that night! We hit up Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House, even tried fish legs, and then too Lux Bar for music and dancing. It was a great time... can't wait for Vegas next year!

**J and I had been trying to match up his friend Steve with my friend Courtney since our wedding over 4 years ago. And this weekend they totally hit it off. Fingers crossed that this pair works out... they both deserve a lifetime of happiness and if it is together that would be even better!

Just Because

Recenly I've had an eye twitch.
My jaw is hurting from grinding my teeth.
I'm stressed and apparently I'm internalizing it.
Worried about him, work, and one million other things.
And I haven't been running.

So when he went out to run an errand I didn't expect anything. When he came home, he had these...

Two dozen long stem roses. Just because. :)

Date Night

After a long week... somehow we ended up here...

At our favorite restaurant, eating our most favorite appetizer...

With my most favorite cocktail...

Just us, together on a random Saturday date night! Happy Weekend!

A 6 Hour Tour

Today Jared went sailing with the Classen men. I was invited as well, and although J wanted me to go it was a boys trip and we decided it was best if he went solo. Wow, were we ever right about that! They were sailing from Mentor to Cleveland which would be a 5 mph trip depending on the winds. But when we woke up today, there were boating advisories... water spouts were possible out on the lake and large waves... I wasn't sure this was a good idea.

It was so overcast, windy, and really dreary.

But he went anyway. We packed him up with as much waterproof gear as we had. While he was gone I did some shopping, watched a chick flick at home, and worried about him. When Dr. Classen called to let me know they were about an hour away from harbor I asked how Jared was doing... not so well. When I picked him up I knew it was bad. I could read it all over his face.

He said it was horrible. Terrible. The worst 6 hours of his life. At one point he wasn't sure they were going to make it. WHAT?!? He thought for sure the boat was going to split in two several times. OH NO!! He was so glad I hadn't gone. I know I would've made Dr. Classen turn the boat around. I didn't know why he hadn't made them turn back. Travis and Will looked exhausted. Dr. Classen looked a mess.

And somehow he took photos on the trip. I had wanted to see the sailing regatta they would be heading through. He said he had to hold onto the boat at all times otherwise you were going to lose your balance. Both the captain and J lost their lunch on the journey. It was bad... really, really bad. The guys were comparing their trip to the boating scenes in Forest Gump, The Truman Show, or worst yet, The Perfect Storm. They were all more than relieved to be back on dry land.

So we went to dinner at Brentwood Tavern right up the hill... and all was back to normal. 

Champagne Sunday - Finally!

Jared had his first day off in 39 days today. What better way to celebrate than with a much overdue Champagne Sunday!

Now off to the pool and relaxing all day long!

Just because...

I mentioned it was National Ice Cream day yesterday... he bought these on his way home from work.

Just love that guy! Delicious!

Appliances (Our 4th Anniversary!)

Four years ago I was here...

with him...

getting married!

I loved that day!

Your 4th wedding anniversary gift traditionally is flowers or fruit. A more modern version is apparently linen or silk. And as an alternative... appliances. If you know me, appliances would be a bad idea for a gift. I do like gadgets though, and for some reason want every kitchen item you could own but not as a gift. I know, I am picky but I feel like that is for the house, not me.

To celebrate our 4 years of marriage, (Wow! How has it possibly been that long already?) we tried some alternatives to an appliance, or a personal appliance. For Jared this would be the mountain bike he has been wanting to get for years. 

I got some fancy new shades from Ray Ban. Lets hope this time I don't go all "Incredible Hulk" and rip them in half like a two of pairs I recently broke.  Oops! There were also flowers, cards, calls and gifts from family. So very nice of them, especially the gift from my sister and her family. Chocolate covered strawberries, which were to die for!

To celebrate we went out to our place for dinner. Where we got engaged, where we have gone for each anniversary, where we love to just be together. Fillet with crab, my favorite summer cocktail - the white cosmo, and cheesecake. Delicious!


































Of course when we got home we watched our wedding video. And even though he complains a little about watching it every year, I know he loves it as much as I do. Happy Anniversary to us! We are the luckiest.

His Last Year

July 1st begins J's last year of training... his 7th year... and we are excited! I was able to snap a photo of him in his office recently. Just too cute! I am so proud of this man.

We met all the new interns last night at a local bar called the Winking Lizard. It is so surreal to think back... 6 years ago when his training started. Back then, we weren't even engaged yet. Still doing the long distance relationship thing, trying to make it work being so far away from each other. His surgery residency seemed like it would be forever. Then 2 years more for plastics? Yikes! But it has been good. So good. So we celebrated. To the beginning of the end and then a new beginning. We treated some of the newbies and just had a great night.

It really has been a fast 6 years looking back. Not sure what Jared would say about that. I know this has all been a bit more challenging for him. :) Cheers to whatever comes next!

Summer Vacation 2012 - Blacksburg

The drive from Florida all the way back to Cleveland is long... too long! So we listened to a book on CD, "Killing Lincoln" about the assassination of Abraham Lincoln instead of just music. It was great! Can't wait for the "Killing Kennedy" book to come out this year. After a 12 hour drive we broke up our trip with a last night stop over at our favorite place...



We had a lovely Virginia last-day-of-our-vacation day with some shopping, walking around campus, and a lovely lunch outside at The Cellar. Oh, how I love vacation!

My husband, The Professor

I've mentioned before that Jared has a new title... Professor. This week he gave his first lecture down at VCOM, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he is now also a professor. So we made a quick trip down to our most favorite place. I wasn't able to see his lecture and even missed getting a photo of him all dressed up at the medical school unfortunately. But we had a great time, like we always do at our favorite place walking around campus and staying out late downtown.

And when we came home we found evidence of our most recent visitors in the most random places... oh how I miss them already!

Just Because

Just because, he got me these today...

Because he knows I love the soft centers.

Just because we went out to dinner at our favorite place...

Because he knows how much I LOVE truffle chips, the view by the window and how I hate cooking the day after traveling.

Also a Happy Birthday to my sister!! Wish I was visiting you to celebrate today.

Just Because

He does things like this... 

and this...

with lobster ravioli, bread, and wine... just because!

Because he knows his work schedule is tough on me too.
Because he knows I am picking up the slack at home... and I hate cleaning.
Bbut mostly, just because he loves me.