Relationships take work even when they're good

Growing up, Kath and I both had great role models for relationships in our respective parents. Even so, when I was younger, I never understood how anyone could want to live with someone else for the rest of their life. I couldn't imagine loving someone that much, until I met Katherine. Then my parents' relationship made sense - because I enjoyed doing everything with Katherine and would rather spend time with her than anyone else. We have a great relationship, the two of us. Neither of us likes to argue, so we don't have many difficulties. Our friend Joe says that we have the perfect relationship, and we're not allowed to break up because it would crush him. (Don't worry, Joe. We won't.)

Nobody has the "perfect" relationship, though. Both Kath and I have noticed, how, when our lives get busier, it's easy to take the other person for granted. We can start drifting along, caught up in our own individual problems, and forget to check in on the other. Like lately, for example. Kath's busy with the first couple of weeks of school, and I'm busy getting my residency application ready and taking care of and thinking about "my own" patients on my Med-Psych subinternship. So, I was all caught up in my own business and planning on giving up my day off today to go in this morning and check in on my patients. (I should remember this next year, as an intern. NEVER give up your day off.) Kath was very understanding and told me it would be ok if I went in. But then, thankfully, I came to my senses and realized that I wouldn't get another day to sleep in until next weekend, potentially. And, it also gave me the opportunity to have a relaxing morning with Kath. That is, if cleaning and cooking and killing fruit flies counts as relaxing. :) But, it did give us the opportunity to spend some time together just doing our normal things. It was nice.

My definition of a good relationship is that it feels easy. I just need to remember that just because it's easy doesn't mean I can just coast along. Nothing good comes too easy. :)

Happy happy birthday...

Today, for one week, Kath and I are the same age. Then I turn a year older again. She likes to rub in the fact that she's a year younger than me and has done so since we met. Funny story about her first birthday when we were dating, though.... she had told me about her crucifix necklace that she lost, so I decided to get her a new one for her birthday. Apparently, she saw me walking out of the jewelry store downtown when I was getting the new one, saw me carrying the little box, and was petrified that it contained... oh, I don't know.... a ring or something. Needless to say, she was quite worried when I gave her the little black box with her necklace. Honestly, I guess I don't understand why... I mean, we had been dating for at least a month already... that wouldn't have been rushing into anything. :)

What happened to not watching the Olympics?

I wasn't planning on watching the Olympics. I love the winter Olympics much more than the summer games. Yet, here I sit, night after night, enthralled by beach volleyball or hurdles or gymnastics... Also, after watching the 41-year old US swimmer, I told Katherine that I was going to strive to achieve my dream of swimming in the Olympics. She said she would support me in this quest. I think I could make it... if they had a floating event in the Olympics.

Thoughts brought to you by a "Saints" mocha

1. Sometimes, even when you have accepted certain life situations, it's ok to get a little teary-eyed when you get an email out of the blue.

2. It's better, however, to get teary-eyed in the privacy of one's own home rather than at the local coffeeshop while a 5-piece string folk band is having a Wednesday night concert. :)

3. Tears are cathartic, though. This is something that Kath has picked up from me. I'm a crier. She's not. She has learned that crying can be good for one's mental health, though, so we moderate each other.

4. Yummy. They just took some scones out of the oven.

5. Hmmmm... it's not hard to see why dieting is difficult for me. Hee hee.

Our State Fair is the best state fair in the state.

Kath and I went to the Iowa State Fair yesterday. It was terrific. We:

1) watched llama judging. I could be a llama judge. I picked the winner in the group we saw.

2) saw the Big Boar. He was close to 1300 lbs. He's a good incentive to start dieting.

3) walked down the Avenue of the Breeds. I particularly loved the baby miniature donkey. In fact, I loved all of the baby animals.

4) ate deep-fried pineapple. Quite yummy. Warm and juicy and covered in fried dough. What a way to make fruit unhealthy!

5) watched the championship round of the Talent Search. My favorite tap dancer from last year was back. I don't think he won, but he won my heart.

All in all, it was a great day. Sunny and lovely. And, Katherine didn't have to decide between a 1/2 lb pork tenderloin sandwich and a cup of chocolate chip cookies. She ate both. A terrific day!

Why I couldn't deliver babies for a career.

I took part in my first delivery this week. I was the lucky person sitting at the foot of the bed responsible for guiding the baby's delivery and making sure she didn't make her entrance too quickly (of course, with a lot of much-needed guidance and assistance from my attending doc). It was an amazing experience and I didn't drop her. (Babies are slippery when they're born, fyi.)

I understand why people love delivering babies in their practice. It's a thrilling part of medicine, especially when it goes well. However, I can see why I wouldn't be as successful at it. As soon as the baby was born, I just wanted to remain with the nurses who were cleaning her off and making sure everything was ok. I love newborn babies. I think they're so tiny and cute and wrinkly and they have this cute way of crying that just makes your heart melt. But, as the doc, once the baby is born, it's not as though your task is done.... there is still the other important patient - the mom - and you need to make sure the placenta is delivered completely and all bleeding is controlled.

My problem is that once I see a newborn baby, all rational, logical thoughts leave my head and I just want to marvel at how cute the baby is. That's not so effective when you're the doctor.

An ode to my hun bun

In 2001, when we first met,
if you knew the future,
you'd have started to sweat.

You had plans to mingle
before we went out.
But then you weren't single
without a doubt.

I'm like a leech
in a pond of muck.
I can't be shaken off
but that was my good luck!

You ask if I'm choking
when I cough so hard that I cry.
On soda or pickles,
I'll no longer die.

You turned me into
a crazy cat lady.
And I no longer think
that serial killers are shady.

You are so cute and nice
and dark and mysterious. ;)
Good thing you know me,
that I'm not being serious.

When you try to annoy me,
you end up making me laugh.
I'm proud to have you
as my better half.