Spring forward

I never mind the first day of daylight saving time, even though I miss that precious hour of sleep. The light at 7pm is so appealing and novel. It's waking up the 2nd day, in the dark again, that is painful.

The Story

Four and a half years ago, on 8.6.04, in the little town of Greenfield MA, Katherine and I were married by a justice of the peace. Massachusetts had recently legalized gay marriage, and although we had talked about our future, we had planned on getting married down the road. But, with Mitt Romney rearing his ugly head (and our fear that this opportunity would be denied to us) and my planned vacation to visit Katherine, we decided to take the plunge after a spur of the moment decision. (Well, as "spur of the moment" as can occur with the syphilis testing that Massachusetts requires.)

Our plan was that, when I finished and we moved to the area for residency, we would have a celebration/wedding with family and friends.

And, that time has come. 5 years later. Katherine announced to me on Valentine's Day, over our candlelit dinner, that we had better start planning for our coming wedding this fall on Cape Cod.

We're getting married, again. With a minister this time. And witnesses. (Apparently, Massachusetts doesn't require those based on past experience.)

So today I'm practicing for that most essential component of any wedding. The Cake. But not cake. Cupcakes. Pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting. Our grocery store clerk apparently is willing to be the taste tester. Which is excellent because my plans for testing cupcake recipes may interfere with my weight loss plans.

Oh well. You only get married once. Or twice.

Who needs sleep?

One week into Anesthesia, and one week away from finishing this rotation. Katherine and I will both be happy when it's over. Me, because I'll have time to drink my morning coffee again. Katherine, because she won't have to drive me in to the hospital at 6 am EVER AGAIN! (I hate the rotations that start before the buses run.) My last few rotations have better hours.

I am happy that I do not have to rotate on Urology and Orthopedics. Rounds for those services occur around 4:30 am or so. Also, I always wonder how accurate patient assessments are when I'm talking to them at 5:30 am. I'm never fully cognitively intact at that hour, so why do we expect patients to be?

Hit the road, Jack.

I refused to admit that it was not Spring weather today and did not wear a jacket while waiting for the bus. Consequently, I was quite chilly by the time it finally arrived, but my morning coffee and a "Cinn-ful" blueberry muffin warmed me up when I got to the hospital.

Kath and I are heading out of town tonight - to the (hopefully balmy) city of Philadelphia. At least it's the City of Brotherly (and sisterly) Love, and love is a warming feeling. We are looking forward to (warm) cheesesteaks and a wonderful weekend with Laura, Kath's sister. I suppose, if it's cold, it would be more appropriate for the "Rocky run up the stairs" that I've been envisioning in my head.

I hope that every last vestige of winter is gone by the time we return on Sunday. Begone, winter. I have moved on and am flirting with Spring.

What is it about February?

February is not my favorite month. I try to enjoy it every year. It does have Valentine's Day in it, after all... But once again, I am anxiously awaiting for this month to pass. We had several lovely days with warm temperatures that ultimately were just meant to taunt me. Now, I am back in the depths of the winter funk. It is cold out. I'm cold inside. And my skin is dry and itchy. Ugh.

I can see why people take tropical vacations in February. Someday, when I'm not in school, and we are fabulously wealthy, we will go on vacation every year at this time to a lovely warm destination.

I think that I had better start playing the lottery.

Happy Valentine's Day to my Better Half

Seven years ago today
was very romantic,
but in a different way.

Roses, chocolate, and out to dinner...
I felt so lucky,
as you are such a winner.

Now our lives are much more typical.
And although the love is still there,
it's just not as mystical.

But to me our love is even more true,
as you know all of my flaws,
and you see me when I'm blue.

You know me better than ever before.
That's why I wouldn't choose to go back
to the years of yore.

You're cuter than Gerard Butler with your eyes of "toffee" (sorry, it rhymed :),
and you buy me pastries in the morning
to go with my coffee.

So Happy V-Day to my love and hon bun.
I'm in love with you even more,
and you're still the one.

No one wants to be left out

Ty is Katherine's cat. Even though Kath and I were together when she got Ty, our little black kitty gravitated towards Katherine. Ty used to sleep curled up around Katherine's head, and she would clean Kath's face and ears every morning.

Ty bonded with Katherine even more when the two of them moved back to Massachusetts for two years. Ty slept on one side of the bed, and Kath had the other. Every morning, Ty would wake up Katherine 30 minutes before the alarm was scheduled to go off by dropping a toy mousie on Kath's face.

Our little girl has had a rough transition since moving back to Iowa. She's had to find a place for herself in a home with two other kitties, neither of whom were thrilled about her presence. It's been a long road for her.

Each night, at bedtime, we call out to the kitties... "Puck, Ty, Dory... time for sleepies." Puck comes running, bounds onto the bed, and tries to snuggle with both of us at the same time. Dory will come trotting in after a few minutes, leap onto the bed, and settle down. Ty, in the past, has taken advantage of the empty house to run around and play for a bit.

But lately, just when we're dozing off, we hear this plaintive cry from the living room. It's Ty's "I'm here" meow. So one of us gets up, picks her up, and carries her to her bed, gives Ty her catnip banana, and gives her a kiss. Then she settles down and goes to sleep.

It's a good reminder to me that everyone wants to feel loved and "belong." Even kitties.