Moving On

“Oh my goodness, WHOSE hair is this?!” I screeched, holding up a considerable chunk of hair.

Six pairs of wide-eyes immediately look in my direction. No one says a word; they’re all frozen in place.

“It’s not too hard to figure out who this belongs to, I’m just giving that person a chance to be honest, like a good kindergartener.”

Still nothing.

“Ok, I—“

“It’s mine.”

Yeah, I know it is hers because every other girl in the class has different textured hair.

“Why did you cut your hair?!”

She looks around at the other five now-relieved pairs of eyes. “Acuz I couldn’t see what I was cutting.”

I stifled a laugh, thinking of the irony. Not knowing what exactly to say, I stated the obvious, “You shouldn’t be cutting your hair, you’re not a hairdresser. What should you only be cutting with these scissors?”

“Paper.”

“Exactly!”

“And strings that hang off shirts and jeans.”

“Um, no. Only adults can do that! What is the ONE thing you should be cutting with scissors???”

“Paper.”

“Exactly!” Fearing what other answers I may get, I quickly said, “Ok, line up to go outside everyone.”

My month-long separation from David ended a week ago tonight, at 9:23pm to be exact, when he picked me up from the airport. My flight was a bit delayed and I was waiting on the runway for a bit, but that's okay because that was when I decided that I'm never going to fly again. My ever-thoughtful husband had a package of my favorite candy, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, waiting for me as I got in the car. Guess he was happy to see me :).

The four-day weekend went by nice and slow, I'm glad to report. We did a lot, as usual, but also had some down time to relax, which was wonderful. Let's see if I can remember all I/we did:

• Dentist appointment: I like our dentist, he's quite chatty and makes the visit go by fast. He was my dentist, actually my entire family's dentist, before we got married and now he's D's dentist, too. D went for a visit on Monday. Nice thing to check off the To Do list.
• Driver's license renewal: I actually didn't wait in the DMV line for long at all. A government-run office that actually ran quite smoothly? Yes, I guess there IS such a thing!
• Girls' Night at Yana and Rita's: We can't ever have a true girls' night at Mom's house because of all the guys lurking around, so we go to Rita's now :). Mom and I made chicken soup, cut up some Italian bread, whipped up some spice cake with cream cheese frosting and there you have a very yummy meal for five starving ladies. Of course we couldn't help but talk of weddings and guys and when we remembered, we watched Miss Potter (A++) with Renee Zellweger.


• Shopping: It can't be helped with mom and I are together. Neither of us mind too much at all, but I can't say that our husbands feel the same...
• Manicure: Another one of those mom-and-I-together things. Another thing at which our husbands nod and [force a] smile. We do the same with all their computer gadgetry, so there you have "men are from Mars and women are from Venus" proof.
• Sears: Not something D and I did, but Mom and Dad went on the hunt for a new washing machine because theirs broke mid-cycle. I'm not blaming it--Mom said they got it when I was 3 months old. Well they didn't stop at just a washing machine. Oh no. They got that, a fridge, a stove, and a microwave. I guess they've been meaning to replace these items, but haven't gotten around to it. And of course they got an excellent deal because Dad wheels and deals like no other.
• Another movie: D and I picked up some grinder ingredients and that's what everyone had for dinner on Saturday. But the boys, as in Ryan and Nick, didn't feel like sticking around for the movie entitled The Holiday (A), a through-and-through chick flick, for some reason. So Mom, Dad, David, and I watched it and loved it. Their loss.
• Sunday lunch and a house walk-through: Mom invited the extended family over for a big lunch on Sunday for the obvious reasons of eating and visiting, but also for the reason of getting everyone at the same place. Nick and Kristina recently purchased a house nearby and everyone wanted to see it. It took three cars, but we all managed to get there and tour their cute home. It fits them perfectly and was a great bargain, so it was an all-around great experience for their first purchase.
• Volvo: Throughout our time there, I had the opportunity to frequently use Mom and Dad's car when D had his car and I needed a mode of transportation. Well this is the same car that they kept saying they would sell to us next year, but for some reason I was never too impressed with it. Boy was I mistaken!! I love it and now am urging Dad to hurry up and find a new car for himself so they can sell the Volvo to us. It even has a sun roof!! Dad thinks Volvos are the best and wants us all to have one because an ER nurse client of his says they are life-savers in accidents. He will not be hearing any complaints from me!
• Ari-girl: On Monday, we went to visit D's mom, Peter, and Ari! She's lots of fun and has taken a recent liking to her Uncle David. She even went to him over me :( which she never did before. She made up for it by cuddling on my lap for a minute before something else caught her attention. I'll take what I can get, that kid can move!
• Back home: It took us exactly 4 hours to get back to PA, which was awesome. We got in around 11pm, so we went right to bed. I automatically went to sleep on D's side because that's where I slept while he was away. He immediately rolled me over and now we are back to our usual routines.

The same ol' grind promptly resumed on Tuesday and I can't say that I mind. We'll be back up in CT in exactly three weeks for another four-day weekend in which D'll cram in two interviews. By the way, he got an interview invitation to UCONN this afternoon. He only hasn't heard from two programs in CT. There's still time. Lots of time, actually.

Overheard conversations throughout the past few weeks:

“Everything in my house is free.” Not sure the exact context in which this was said, but it can be a dangerous statement some years down the road…if said to the wrong person.

“When I choke, my eyes get wet.” The one and only boy in my class told this to me upon waking up from his nap. These kids say and do the weirdest things when they are just waking up. I always ask them what they were dreaming about, but rarely do they remember. Now that would make for a good book!

“Eww, look at that bumpy pumpkin! It got ringworm!” Can you guess who had caught a case of ringworm just a few months ago? Yep, she did. I’m not sure if the other kids knew what ringworm was, but the way she said it sent them running in all directions. Needless to say we did not purchase that pumpkin on our field trip.

“I’m proud tomorrow’s my birthday.” Okay, I think she meant happy/excited/ecstatic/can’t wait instead of “proud,” but “proud” is what came out and others nodded in agreement, so that’s what she stuck with. Even when I mentioned, “I think you meant to say [those other feelings].” So in that case, I’m proud that my birthday is in a week and a half :)!

D has plenty of free time this month. He has the next four weeks off in order to study for Step 2 of the USMLE (aka "big test"). So, I came home to this today:



What, you ask, is that? (I asked, too). It's a book holder, duh (D answered). He assured me it only took him 5 minutes to create and he created it so he isn't always hunched over reading. I am forever telling him to sit up so he won't have a hunched back and, well, this was his solution. It's made out of an eBay/USPS mailer box, with a bent paper clip on the stand part so the stand doesn't spread apart. He is so cute. It's so good to have him back home!

Oh and um, by the way, HE GOT INVITED TO INTERVIEW AT HARTFORD HOSPITAL!! The last day of his rotation was Friday and by Monday morning he had received an email inviting him to interview for the program he had just worked in for a month. So we are extending our Christmas vacation to accommodate yet another interview. I've lost track, but I know we are past 10. Go David!

The four of us had a thoroughly enjoyable weekend together. It was another impressive weekend weather-wise: bright sun, cool, crisp air, and no clouds in the sky. They got here mid-morning on Saturday and we went straight to breakfast at a local diner. I was so happy to see my David again, even though he was a little scruffy from waking up so early to come see me :). Of course, I was happy to see G&G, too, and they had never seen this apartment before so we gave them the 60-second tour.

After breakfast, we drove into the city and happened upon the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. We snapped some keepsake photos and then headed towards the Art Museum. Better known as "The Rocky Steps." D pulled the car up next to them, Grandpa snapped a picture and we were on our way. Now that's my kind of city tour. We passed a few other city sites on our way back to the highway, so G&G got the express version. Oh yeah, D drove us by the Academy of Music, too, which is where his graduation ceremony will be held in [see countdown on right]. G&G probably won't make it down here for it, but at least now they can picture it.

Back at our apartment, we relaxed/napped/read before going to dinner at Ruby Tuesday where D randomly saw a girl he knew from PCC. I saw the PCC sweatshirt she was wearing and elbowed D to see if he knew her. After finally figuring out what I was saying and trying not to stare at the poor girl, D realized he did know her. He ended up saying hi and chatting for a minute. Fun reminder of how small our world really is.

Today we took a ride over to a local farm and orchard to walk around. They have Pumpkinland up and running again this year, but we didn't get one. We're waiting until closer to Halloween, but I can practically taste those pumpkin seeds now. Our kindergarten class pumpkin (formally named Taz on Friday) will probably be carved sooner rather than later, but I am holding them off as long as I can. Anyway, I love fall and it's finally starting to feel like it!

So now I have til Thursday to get my to-do-while-D-is-gone list done. I checked one thing off tonight: clean the hall closet. This weekend D was looking for something in there and I told him that I'd look for it when I cleaned this week. He, a little too quickly, pointed out that he didn't think that I had cleaned the closet because it still looked messy. I took the hint.

I'm looking forward to Thursday night, which means it will never come, because it starts my four-day weekend! D'll pick me up at the airport and we'll spend the weekend in CT (not all fun, I've scheduled a few appointments and D said something about a corn maze) and then drive back here together Monday night. Until then, though, it's All About Pumpkins! this week in kindergarten. Let the fun begin...

Finally, a day to myself. Don't get me wrong, I'm thoroughly grateful to everyone who has kept me entertained while soon-to-be doctor husband is off doing his thing, but I was actually looking forward to tonight because nothing was written on the calendar.

Nick, Kristina, and D arrived very late Friday night, but that sure didn't damper my excitement over seeing my husband who I have been missing for two weeks. He looked cuter than I remembered, although I did end up giving him a haircut before he left. Saturday morning we woke up and went to the earliest showing of The Kingdom (A++) with Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Garner. Loved the movie! We saw previews for it when we were at the movies back in January and I've had it on my Must See list ever since. The next movie I want to see is O Jerusalem. It's about the formation of the Israeli state back in 1948, a topic covered in The Lemon Tree, which I just got through reading. Anyway, slight tangent. The movie was great and I would highly recommend it. The four of us hung out the rest of afternoon, except for the hour that Kristina and I went to the mall in search of bridesmaid dress ideas. We had so much fun trying on all the different dresses we liked and even left with a few good ideas. The boys, meanwhile, were in the middle of an intense game of Scrabble. For dinner, we ordered pizza and salad and ate in. It was so nice to see D this weekend, just what I needed to make it through the next week and half without him. Although that's not entirely true-he's coming down again this weekend with G&G (Grammy and Grampa). I talked to Grammy last night and she said that Grampa is excited about doing all the touristy things around Philly, how cute!

Monday night my friend Sara invited me over for dinner and I brought apple oat muffins for dessert. Best part though: I got to see my little man!! He was hungry when I got there, so I fed him and then got to play with him until dinner was ready. He has the best personality and is always ready with a smile and now a hug (the head on the shoulder thing)! He really is the best. Sara said she can tell that he especially likes me because he smiles more and talks more around me than any other non-family member. Being the non-family member that feeds him and plays with him and watches him most might explain that, but whatever the reason I am going to miss him terribly.

Last night, the couple that heads our Sunday School class came by and picked me up and brought me out for a Chinese dinner. We actually went to the restuarant and sat down, which is different because I can't remember the last time that I ate Chinese food at a restuarant. It was delish. This couple, Steve and Dana, remind me of my own parents. We always talk in groups at church or at get-togethers, but it was neat to talk to just them. The night ended with a torrential downpour, so they didn't come in. But they would have found a very, very clean apartment if they had. Don't tell D, but that's a great way to get me to clean: Tell me that someone might be coming over, whether it's true or not. Anyway, all I have to do now is maintain til G&G and D get here, shouldn't be too hard...

Well, I'm off to walk around the mall or visit AC Moore or do some Christmas shopping. Or maybe I'll just lounge around here and enjoy my very nice, very clean apartment.

Just a quick update about the Residency application process. D sent his application in on Saturday, September 1st and as of this writing, he has received 7 interview invitations!!! Hence the reason my man is good. Obviously interviews do not promise a placement anywhere, but when he has gotten this much feedback in such a short amount of time...he is a very competitive applicant. Like this is news to anybody. One program even went so far as to say, "Congratulations! We are impressed with the academic record you have achieved as a medical student, and look forward to having you visit." God has been so good to us throughout our years here and He continues to be as we approach the end of this journey and begin the next.

Day ten without David and I am still alive and well. And the dishes are even managing to get done. Of course that was due in large part to my parents' arrival (didn't want a messy kitchen greeting them) and my mother's insistence on doing them while she was here.

Mom and Dad's visit came just in time...I was just starting to miss D on Thursday. M&D arrived right as I got off of work on Friday, so I met them across the street at the food store. Draw what conclusions you may from my dad's first stop being a food store. We got some ingredients for a yummy dinner, which Dad so graciously made. We tried watching a movie, but Dad and I fell asleep...poor Mom.

The next morning, Dad and I were up early and went for a walk. I really miss D and my walks, so it felt great to exercise again. After getting ready, the three of us headed into the city -- one of Mom's favorite places. Coincidentally, we ended up near Reading Terminal Market and, well, it was lunchtime, so well, we ate! Dad had an ingenious idea: buy one of a lot of things and split everything three ways. We started with an Amish pretzel (wonder whose idea that was...), proceeded to a chocolate-covered chocolate chip cookie, followed by a roast beef sandwich from Carmen's. It was all washed down with homemade strawberry lemonade from an Amish stand. Dad also bought us broccoli and cheese soup that we ate when we got home.

Since we still had quite a bit of time on the meter, we wandered the streets and ended up at Macy's. Which was formally Strawbridge's, which was formally Wanamaker's...back in my grandma's day. The building is huge and old, which means that my mother couldn't stop raving about it. No sooner had we exited this huge, old building than we run into a co-worker of Dad's! What are the odds, both M&D pointed out, that we met at that time and that place. Think about all we both had to do, they kept saying, all we both had to do to get to that same spot. Anyway, it was nice to meet them and really, what were the odds of that happening?

Later in the day, Mom and I went to David's Bridal to try on some bridesmaid dresses for Nick and Kristina's wedding. I forgot to mention that while I was in CT a few weeks ago, I got the bridesmaid dress I'll be wearing in Ryan and Yana's wedding. It was so much fun shopping with the girls:

The rest of their visit was enjoyable and I was so thankful for their company!!

I fear a generation gap is beginning to form between my 25-year-old self and my 5-year-old kindergartners. One girl was at the Listening Center wanting to hear Dr. Seuss' ABC on tape, but was having trouble getting the tape in. I was on my way to help, but was diverted as usual, and didn't get to her right away. No worries, though, she called out to me, "I got the CD in all by myself!!" It was all I could do not to laugh. She knew the tape did the same things as a CD, but didn't know exactly what a tape was called, so to her it was a CD. Cute.

Later that day, as we were eating lunch, the one and only boy in the class decided to give the girls a...little talking to:

"You have to put all the food on your plate, girls. It doesn't matter if you like it. That's the rule. If you like it [looking at each girl in turn] eat it, if you don't like it, don't eat it, okay?"

At this point, he caught my eye and saw me smiling.

"At least that's my philosophy," he told me.

Didn't know 5-year-olds knew the word philosophy, let alone had one. But you learn something new everyday.

"Completing an improbable late-season surge, the Phillies clinched the NL East for the first time since 1993, beating the Nat[ional]s, 6-1, on Sunday as the Mets lost to the Marlins."
-phillies.com

I admit it...I was one of the many people who wrote the Phillies off early in the season. And for good reason, they were AWFUL! But somehow, someway they pulled it off and managed to be named the National League East Champions today. They were tied with the New York Mets for first place, until the Mets lost their game today and the Phillies won theirs. So, go Phillies! Not sure how far they will go, but I wanted to give credit where credit is due!

I've been meaning to blog since I got back, that night actually, but apparently I have been too busy! Friends, family, and my David have been keeping me occupied, for which I am very touched and very grateful :) I'm watching my little guy tomorrow while his parents are at a Phillies game and then Mom and Dad will be here the next day. Wow time is flying!

So about this past weekend...

D and I left here around 4:45pm and managed to get to CT by the very reasonable hour of 9:00pm. I love those kind of rides. We got another book on tape, called Book of Fate about the Freemasons (they are prominent in the Philly area). It's fiction, but closely aligned with fact, which confuses me more because I never know what part is true and what part is made up. Anyway, we got through some of it and it's really good. It felt weird getting to CT so early, usually we get there with enough time to say hi before everyone disappears to his/her room for the night. Nick, however, forgot the "going to sleep" memo and came plowing into our with his dog, Cody. Cody thought the party was just starting and didn't manage to calm down until Nick took him out of the room. Lucky he's cute.

The highlight of this trip, besides seeing family, of course, was going to the BIG E!!! I love the fair-type atmosphere and, surprisingly, PA doesn't have anything like the Big E nearby. So, early Saturday morning, Dad, Mom, D, and I piled into the car and headed towards the fair. We met up with Sara, Tony, Ari, and Pete for a bit, too.

So that was our very fun weekend. Now I get to look forward to this weekend when Mom and Dad will be here. D mentioned that he might be going to Boston for some conference that they said he didn't have to go to, but was really interested in going to. How's that for my nerdy med school husband? Cool and nerdy, yeah, that's what I meant :).

We found out some exciting news late this afternoon... which I have to make quick because I am dead tired, but I am also way proud of my awesomely smart husband.

Drumroll please.

Thank you.

David got his first interview invitation today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He only sent in his application two and a half weeks ago and already he has gotten a response :). "They" say that residency programs usually start sending out invites mid-October through December, which is also interview season. But this hospital couldn't pass up my husband's stellar application and just had to invite him this early. So early, in fact, that they said they need to get back to him with some interview dates because the interviewer has yet to even set up the interviewing schedule!! He was so happy, well as far as I could tell because he doesn't show much emotion. Actually I could tell because he wanted to call our parents. This is such an encouragement to him and I am so happy that we are seeing the results of years of hard work and lots of prayer. This is only the beginning of this part of the process, but it's a good beginning, a great beginning even :) :) :).

So there you have it, major bragging now over...at least for a little while.