Tuesday, November 30, 2010

A CPE Prayer Candle

Oh the weather outside is frightful ...



We are under a tornado watch!  Craziness.  I am very happily tucked away on the couch and thankful I am not floating through spaghetti junction with a group of (undoubtably) unhappy commuters.

I had a wonderful 2.5 mile walk into work this morning!  It started sprinkling about a mile in and I was worried I was going to get poured on, but it never got worse than a heavy sprinkle while I was walking.  I'm not really sure what I would have done if it had started to pour?  I hadn't thought to grab my rain coat ...

In the spirit of cleaning out our cabinets, lunch was tomato soup (Progresso Tomato and Basil) and leftover thanksgiving rolls.


Super classy in a pampered chef soup microwaveable bowl :) - gotta love working in an office!


I wasn't overly impressed with the rolls we got.  They tasted ... crayony?  I don't know how to describe it.  I'm not sure what brand they are, but I think when we get up to Connecticut, I'd really like to make our own breads and rolls.


Wear a Dress Tuesday was hoppin' in our office today!  Kristin told me that she had her first legitimate "this-day-is-starting-out-terrible-so-I-needed-a-dress-to-make-it-better" WADT experience today!  I mean - I'm not happy her day started off badly, but I'm glad WADT helped.

Side Note - You can't tell from the photo, but she was wearing sparkly tights.  Now I want sparkly tights.

Side Note II - Kristin and Sherida (who took the picture) taught me how to do a "Runway Pose" with my leg pointed out.  I feel like they've opened up a whole new world for me.

Back at home and back in the spirit of cleaning out our cabinets, I prepared a gourmet feast of chicken strips and french fries.


Ha!  Real gourmet.


I also realized tonight that there is no way we're going to eat through our condiments and dressings in a week.  Anybody in Atlanta want some ketchup?


Bruce is totally thinking, "WOW my wife is quite the cook!"

(Yes, I was sitting on the floor photography my food when I took this picture.  Why do you ask?)

***

Okay, onto something a little bit more serious ...

I was doing a little bit of packing after I got home from work and I came across something that I literally haven't moved since June.


Let me back up.  About three weeks into CPE, I experienced probably the most traumatic on-call I had throughout the entire summer.  I really can't get into details on here, but for many reasons this hit home and I basically prayed my way through the sleepless night, counting down the hours until the other chaplains would check in the next morning.

I'm not sure how I drove home after that shift.  One second I was getting in my car and leaving the parking garage and the next minute I was walking into my apartment.  I laid down to take a quick nap before meeting a friend for lunch and ended up falling into a deep, but restless sleep, full of flashbacks of my night.  I was so tired, but every time I closed my eyes, I would literally see myself back in the SICU, watching my patient, sitting with her family and listening to the sound of machines beeping.

My supervisor told me PTSD-like-symptoms are normal after traumatic on-calls.  Normal or not - it was scary.  My heart and prayers go out to chaplains doing this as their lifetime careers.

When I finally woke up around 6 p.m. that day (yeah, I missed lunch), I opened my eyes and saw this ...


When Bruce got home, I asked him what it was ...


"It was my prayer candle for you last night.  I didn't know what else to do.  It stayed lit all night."


If I haven't said enough to convince you that I married the most amazing man in the entire world, I hope this pushed you over the top.


When I got the page that this patient was being flown in, I knew I wouldn't be getting any sleep that night.  I called Bruce sobbing in anticipation of what I was going to experience, but all he could do was assure me that I was competent and that I would be okay.


We texted a couple of times throughout the night as I was running back and forth between the Surgical Floor, SICU and ECC (Emergency Room).  Eventually Bruce went to sleep, telling me he wished he could do more for me.


That night was one of the longest nights of my life.  I don't really know what happened between the time Bruce went to sleep and the time I left the family for morning report.  It's all kind of a blur at this point.  A few weeks later, the patient's dad sent me an email thanking me for all I had done for them.  He called me their angel of mercy.


I don't think it was me.  I think whatever strength I was emitting that night came from the candle.

When I picked this up this afternoon, some of the wax started to peel off and I knew that it wouldn't make the move.  So I grabbed my camera, took these photographs and decided to preserve this memory on my blog.

It's hard to get rid of stuff like this.  But I know the memory will always be there.  The memory of that family, of their precious daughter, of all of my patients from the summer and of the support I had from my friends, family and colleagues, even when I was walking the walls of the hospital alone.

Goodnight all.  Thanks for reading.

Surrounded By Boxes And Drew Brees

Good morning!  Happy Wear a Dress Tuesday!

We are completely surrounded by boxes around here.


We didn't need a living room floor, right?




The problem with packing up an apartment is that there really is no place to go with the boxes!  I'm trying to keep everything contained so that we're not tripping over boxes all the time, but it's starting to get complicated.


I woke up craving something sweet and filling this morning.  I really wanted waffles, but, alas, my waffle maker is packed.  Besides - the only cooking we're doing is heating up leftovers and cleaning out the fridge right now.


I decided to make my typical PB bagel, but added some strawberry jam.  It was so delicious!  The jam melted into the peanut butter  and mmmmmm - it was delicious.


Coffee times two.  Or maybe three.


It's another rainy day in Atlanta.  Apparently we are under a tornado watch?  Be careful out there everyone!

***

So I'm watching the 4th hour of the Today Show and they were just interviewing Drew Brees, the quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.  Sports Illustrated recently named him Sportsman of the Year.  Remember this picture?


Tick tock tick tock ... 

He just seems like a genuinely good guy.  It is really nice to see a phenomenal athlete show such a good sense of sportsmanship and family values.  Agreed?  It's rare these days.

Alright, I'm off - have a great day!

Monday, November 29, 2010

My Atlanta Bucket List (Food Edition Part 2)

You have no idea how nice it is to be writing this post to be read by actual PEOPLE!  After I hit publish on my morning post, I spent the next three hours with this view ...


I was on my gmail phone trying to get internet set up at the Connecticut house.  Who knew it would be so complicated?  I spent the first hour either talking to an automated person or on hold.

Side note - yelling at the automated phone person doesn't help.  It confuses them and makes the process take longer.

Automated Person:  Please tell me your 10 digit account number.
Me:  I don't have one.
Automated Person:  I am sorry.  Can you repeat that?
Me:  I Don't Have One!
Automated Person:  I am sorry.  I am having a hard time understanding you.
Me:  I WANT TO TALK TO A REAL PERSON!
Automated Person:  Let's start over.

Three hours later, I think we have internet set up at the house!  My order is being processed, whatever that means.

By the time the internet debacle was over, it was time for lunch!  We had one more serving of Thanksgiving leftovers left, so I washed some romaine and made another Thanksgiving Day Leftover Salad.


Mmmmmmmmm.  These are so good, I'm actually kind of sad all of the leftovers are gone.  I think I'm going to force my parents to host a big Christmas dinner so I can bring home the leftovers next month.


I love salads.  Like - literally love them.  As I was getting this ready this afternoon, I was thinking that one day I want to write a salad cookbook - 150 ways to dress up romaine lettuce or something like that.  Salads are just such a simple and delicious way to eat a hearty meal and still get fresh veggies in.  And I love it when the toppings are warm and the fresh veggies are cold and crispy.  The juxtaposition of flavors and textures are incredible.

I wasn't scheduled to work today, so after lunch I buckled down and packed.  We had a bunch of half-packed boxes that were driving me crazy, so I finished those off and filled up the rest of the empty ones we had on hand.


Sadly, it was time to pack up all of my earrings so I could pack the frames and spackle the holes (remember when Bruce and I DIY'd Goodwill frames into earring storage?).


I'm temporarily storing all of my earrings in a lined box.  I anticipate it being something of a puzzle to untangle them.


I couldn't help myself.  I put my finisher's medal from the Atlanta Half Marathon in the box.  I don't want it to get lost in the move!

Bruce came home and we decided to go to Maddio's for dinner.  We normally don't eat out this much, but it is our last week in Atlanta and we're trying to treat ourselves to some local places that we won't get to eat at soon.  Plus, Maddio's does an awesome "Maddio's Monday" special and it was our last chance to have it together.


I love the atmosphere at Maddio's.  You custom order your pizza at a toppings bar and then sit while it goes through the oven.  They bring it right to you!  It's also a great study or hangout spot - they've got TVs and wifi!


Date night!


That's amore!  Totally date-night friendly, because you can get individual sized pizzas and don't have to agree on toppings.

Individual pizza toppings.  The secret to a happy marriage.


We both got whole wheat crust, regular tomato sauce and mozzarella.

Cheddar cheese, onion and bacon for him ...


... and ham, pineapple and chicken for her.  I ate a little over half and took the rest home with me.  Tomorrow's lunch!


I didn't let myself drink diet coke for the last two weeks before the half marathon and I am totally making up for it now!  I keep telling myself I need to cut the diet coke from my life, but it is not going to happen in the midst of the move.

We are home now curled up in front of this ...


Pretty!


Isn't this a cool picture?  I was using a slow shutter speed to capture the movement in the flame and happened to snap the photo when something popped and sent sparks flying.  The slow shutter speed captured the trail of the sparks.  I'm pretty sure I couldn't do that again if I tried.

I hope your night is as cozy!  Goodnight all!

A Dreary Atlanta Morning

Good morning!  Dreary day in Atlanta.


(Are you all tired of seeing the view from my balcony yet?  I think my neighbors are starting to wonder why I'm always taking pictures out there.)


So dreary that Chesley McNeil, the Atlanta NBC-affiliate Weatherman, gave today a 4 (out of 11) on the wizometer.  Boo.


Coffee and bagels this morning.


I'm trying to finish up the bagels and bread we managed to stockpile over the past week or so - I don't want to move it!

Speaking of moving ...


The cabinets are starting to empty out.

What, exactly, can you make out of rice, tomato soup, tuna and ramen noodle?  Oh my.


Most of the mugs and glasses are packed.  I'll probably leave one or two out for the week and pack the rest today.


Bruce left me another note this morning.

I love him.

A lot.

Have a great day everyone.  xoxo

Sunday, November 28, 2010

My Atlanta Bucket List (Food Edition)

Mission:  Eat at Everybody's (in Emory Village) one more time before we pack up.


SUCCESS!


I know this is a pizza place, but I absolutely love Everybody's salads.  I always order a small and they are huge!


Yes, that's a SMALL.


I ordered the organic mixed greens with roma tomatoes, chicken, bacon and cheddar cheese.


Drizzled with some ranch dressing.  And my favorite part?


Everybody's serves crackers with their salads!  I love crumbling them up and putting them on the top.

I'm starting to feel really anxious about the move.  I haven't gotten the internet set up at the house yet (luckily the other utilities are already set up because it had been on the market) and I need to call and cancel our services down here.  I also need to go to the bank and get a check for our apartment complex to pay our final month's rent and figure out when we can do the final walk through.  Bruce leaves (with all of our stuff) a week from yesterday, so time is really starting to tick.  Honestly, I think I'm just ready for this week to be over so we can start implementing all of the things we've been thinking about for three months.  The goodbyes have started and the anticipation is driving me crazy.  Time to take some deep breaths.

Say a prayer?

xoxo
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