Enough Already

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Dear Utah Winter,

You suck. The groundhog saw his shadow. We did our obligatory six more weeks of winter. Enough already. The first of day of spring has come and gone. Just as you should.



In case you're a little out of touch, April starts tomorrow. What better reason do you need to cut it out already? Most of the country has its act together. Now shape up.

Bitterly,

Someone who has been stuck inside a tiny apartment with two rowdy boys and is completely out of indoor activity ideas and hates being cold in general

*****

Dear International Astronomical Union (or who ever is in "charge" of the planets),

I just finished a project with my son about the solar system, and we decided to leave Pluto in. Yes, that's right. We decided to go against new thinking that Pluto is not a planet, but a micro-planet. Have you stopped to consider the implications (gasp!)? Are dwarves, and other "micro" people no longer people?

Honestly, I think your time would be better spent renaming Uranus.

Sincerely,

A mom who hasn't told her kids that there are only 8 planets

*****

Dear, dear box of Dove Tiramisu Dark Chocolate Promises,

First, I would just like to thank you for being indescribably delicious.

I think it's very cute that your wrappers have little sayings in them. "Be fearless." "Send a love letter this week."

But I think it would be more appropriate if I unwrapped a piece only to find, "If you don't stop eating this chocolate NOW, you'll hate yourself tomorrow."

Wistfully,

A girl who needs a push in the right direction

The Kite Runner

Sunday, March 29, 2009

The book was better than the movie. That's what we always hear.

Well, I don't think I'll ever know. Because after reading the book, I'm not sure I ever want to see the movie.

Which was the original reason I read The Kite Runner. I saw the movie at the rental store. Read the back. Saw "based on the novel." Decided to read the book first.



Don't get me wrong. I'm glad I read The Kite Runner. I think.

It is "about" Afghanistan. And really, how much do we know about that country, its people and culture? Even with all the current events and our history with this country, we know so little about it. Most of us know more about Japan, China, Russia, and Australia than we do about any Middle East country.

The Kite Runner tells the tale of the friendship between two young boys, told in a style that spoke to me like fact. Woven through the story are themes of loyalty, betrayal, and guilt.

We are used to thinking of main characters as heroes. And heroes always do the right thing. But not Khaled Hosseini's hero.

Living with the guilt of betrayal, Amir, the book's main character, spends most of his life thinking about how things could have been different had he had done the right thing.

An amazing look at Afghan culture, The Kite Runner makes us wonder if there is ever a way to make up for past wrongs. Given the chance, can you really change things? Can you make amends for the sins of your past?

I've said before that a good book is one that you want to read over and over again. And the book loses nothing with repeat readings. This of course, is a working definition. The Kite Runner was an amazing book. But one full of graphic, heart-wrenching stories and details. It is too painful and emotional for me to want to read again.

And I don't think I'll ever choose to find out if the book was better than the movie.

Sustainability

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

So, another Wednesday.

I didn't write about my diet last Wendesday. I had other thoughts on my mind and felt more like writing about those.

But, like always, I usually have two reasons (or more) for everything I do.

The other (and possibly real) reason I didn't write about my "diet" was, well, things weren't going well. I hadn't lost another measly pound. I was getting frustrated. The first 5 came off relatively easy, and then things just stopped.

I know that this can be completely normal during dieting. To reach plateaus where you don't loose weight for a while. And when this has happened in the past, I just give up. What's the point of giving up donuts, ice cream, and beef if you aren't loosing any weight. But I decided not to give up. After all, even if I'm not thinner, I'll still be healthier.

Hopefully, things are moving in the right direction.

I've lost 3 pounds so far this month. That's 8 altogether!

Okay, I know that's nothing to make commercials about, but still, I'm trying to be sensible about my dieting.

Everyone has seen the commercials: Jenny Craig, Nutrisystem, etc. Where people loose 10 pounds their first month. I'm obviously not doing anything like that. But I know that one of those would never work for me. I like to eat with my family. Make food we all like and then eat it together. I like restaurants, family dinners with my parents, lunch with friends. If I can't find a way to have that in my life, I'm going to fail at any diet I try.

What I'm trying to do is make changes that are sustainable. Like giving up red meat. That I can do. Living off pre-packaged pasta for 6 months. Nope. Exercising 5 days a week. That I can do. Eating nothing but vegetables for 14 days. That I can't do.

I have to make changes that will help me loose weight now. But they also have to be things I can continue in the future.

Life of Pi

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Have you ever had the experience of reading a book, and then wondering why you haven't heard about the book before?

That's how I felt when I read Life of Pi.



I had never heard of the book. No one I know had ever mentioned it casually in conversation. To be completely honest, the reason I read it was because it was on a list of books I found on Facebook.

I'm glad I did. This book approaches the quality of books like Death Comes for the Archbishop or The Chosen. Books that have become required high school reading. (Maybe it is somewhere and my school just missed it.)

The back cover of the book said "A story to make you believe in God."

What more compelling reason do you need to pick up the book.

Life of Pi tells the story of Pi Patel, a young boy moving with his family from India to Canada. During the trip, the boat sinks, and he becomes stranded on a lifeboat. His only company: a full grown Bengal tiger.

Through exquisite story telling and heart-wrenching detail, Yann Martel examines what it means to be human. In austere surroundings, what is it that separates us from animals? During survival, what parts of humanity are you willing to give up and which do you hang on to until your last breath?

Pi's story is incredible. But as I read, I didn't ask questions. I just believed every word. Every event. Every detail.

At the end, he is questioned about your story. It is only when Pi is met by doubt and disbelief by others that a little doubt and disbelief enter your head. Is that what makes us doubt in the first place? Other people's doubt and not our own disbelief of things?

I'm not sure that the story did what the cover said. As in, I didn't have a spiritual epiphany. I'm not even sure I felt with an overwhelming sense of awe.

Many of the reviews of the book described it as a "study of religion" or "a reflection on the many meanings of religion." I didn't take that away from the book. Arguably the first part of the book is about the main characters own religious discoveries, but that is not a continued theme.

For me, it was more a discussion on belief and doubt. Humanity versus animal nature.

But I guess that is what makes books like this so great. Every reader is free to interpret as they will.

Another Year Older

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Today is my birthday.

And I'm 27.



At least I think I am. Okay, I did that math again. Yep. I'm 27.

The thing is, I've been lying about my age for the last several years. I've been 27 since I was probably 24 or 25.

And you might ask yourself, why would any woman lie about her age and make herself older?!

Well, for a couple reasons.

I work in a field where age is definitely an asset. People want their doctor to be older than they are. They don't want someone 10, 20, 30 years younger than they are telling them to quit smoking, eat healthier, exercise more, prescribe them medication.

Isn't that the image we all have of physicians? That they are the "older and wiser" one? Not the "wow, you look like you are in high school" person that looks like they might have wandered into the exam room by accident? I had lots of patients ask me throughout medical school how old I was. I used to tell my real age. And I got a lot of "wow, you're so young." Or "you're just a baby."

So, pretty early on, I added a couple years. Just to build rapport with my patients.

But the real reason I did it was, well, more cowardly than that.

See, I got married when I was young. Nineteen years old to be exact. I took a lot of flack for it at the time, and occasionally I still do. And looking back, maybe we should have waited. But we didn't.

And we had our first child a year and a half later. When I was 20.

When people would ask about kids, a question would always follow, "So how old are your kids?" After that, they would look at me strange and say, "And how old are you? How long have you been married?"

I could always seeing them doing the math in their head, just a little too quickly. "So you were only 19 when you got married?" Yep, there it is.

I got tired of seeing people doing that math in their head. I got tired of feeling that the person I was talking to was judgmental about my getting married young.

And so I got around it by adding a couple years to my age.

And after a while, I had a hard time remembering my real age.

But I'm done with lying about my age.

So I got married when I was 19. I have the most amazing marriage. More successful than most of my friends. We are one of the happiest couples we know. We don't fight. Even approaching 8 years of marriage, we still love to be together, are supportive, and have not run out of things to talk about.

So I had kids when I was 20. My children are happy, healthy, well adjusted boys. We do things as a family. They love being home.

So I did these things younger than most. I have an amazing profession. I finished both undergraduate and medical school married and with children.

I don't think I have anything to be embarrassed about.

So, everyone out there...I'm 27.

Aw, you noticed

Friday, March 20, 2009

I got my first award! Yeah!!



'Cus let's be completely honest here. Most of us start blogging because we have so many ideas and thoughts running through our head that we need a healthy outlet for them. Otherwise we start talking to ourselves on public transportation or unloading them onto significant others. I was already doing the second and was rapidly headed the direction of the first.

But the reason we keep blogging is because we think that someone is listening. That what we write is not only worth writing, but worth reading.

So, thanks, Karen, both for noticing and for the award. (And stop by Karen. She's a hoot.)

Anyways, I'm not getting off with just a very nice Oscar-esque thank-you speech. After, the "no such things as a free lunch" thing and all.

The description that came with the award was this:

“When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to said person so everyone knows he or she is real.

Choose a minimum of seven (7) blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are becauseyou don’t have seven (7) friends. Show the seven (7) random victims’ names and links and leave a comment informing them that they were prized with “Honest Weblog.” Well, there’s no prize, really, but they can keep the nifty icon.

Next, in your blog, list at least ten honest things about yourself. Then, pass it on!”

So here's a list of seven. A combination of random victims and friends (you know which one you are.) But all blogs that I enjoy and, well, tell it like it is.

Lori
6YearMed
Gemma
Jess
LFar
Salem
Layla

Okay, now 10 honest things about myself. I've always wondered how honest I should be in on my blog. I guess now's as good as any to find out.

Because confessing is what this blog is all about.

1. I would rather stay home with my husband and kids, watch movies and read books, than go out with friends. Any day of the week.

2. I have a slight case of road rage. I can't stand it when people drive 5 miles under the speed limit. Or forget to use their blinker. Or don't start going when the light turns green because they're on their cell phones.

3. I could eat an entire bag of marshmallows in one sitting. Like when I'm watching "When Harry Met Sally..." But I don't do that anymore. Well, because the scale told me not to.

4. I have an opinion about everything. Just ask. I'll have an opinion about it. And if I've never heard about it. Just give me a few minutes.

5. I always thought I would have girls. It never even crossed my mind that I might have boys until I was actually pregnant with my first.

6. My dream is to buy a very old farmhouse (or something similar) and "restore" it. I would love to live in an old home (where everything works.) Please don't tell Hubster about this one.

7. Before I went to medical school, my dream job would have been a wedding planner or a florist. Something where I would get to create beautiful things everyday. Sometimes when I'm going to work, I still think that those would have been better choices. Until I think about crazy brides.

8. I feel a little guilty about not going into primary care. Just a little. Not enough to change my mind.

9. I don't like tea. I feel like I'm a coffee drinker surrounded by tea drinkers. I don't care it is is chai, herbal, or sweet. I just don't really like it. I keep expecting it to taste, well, not like tea.

10. My favorite place in the world is the West Coast. The ocean, the beach, the sound of the waves. And I'm moving to Iowa. Go figure.

It's a Match!

Thursday, March 19, 2009

After all the anticipation, the hype, Match Day almost felt anti-climatic.

I was feeling remarkably calm. I even slept reasonably well. I was doing great. Clear up until I was right about to open my envelope. I was shaking. Apparently enough to get a couple of comment.

And it's over.

But actually, it's just the beginning.

Making my mark on the map

We're going to Iowa.

I know, that's actually a state. People kept saying "Ohio" or "That's in the Midwest, right?"

I'm leaving the mountains I have taken for granted for my entire life. I'm leaving my parents and siblings. I'm leaving the roads and cities and canyons that I know so well I can check out while I drive.

It's for the best. Iowa was everything we never knew we were looking for. Living in a state where winter can last up to 9 months, our thought was "warm. We need somewhere WARM." But throughout the interview process, other, real, things became so much more important. Schools, safety, housing market, future job market. Iowa has it all. Minus the ocean. And the warm.

But we're excited.

And scared.

We're going to pack up our little family and move half way across the United States. To a place only I've been (and I was only there for one day.) Hubster is leaving a great job. I'm leaving my family. We're leaving everything that is familiar and safe.

And for what? For great training. A better quality of life for our family. You know, the American dream.

So let the planning begin.