That is Linda in the picture. Her mother was using her new Christmas present to convert slides into digital images and sent along the picture to remind Linda of just how cute she was.
Not only was she cute, but I think it’s important to note that she enjoyed camping at one time.
So school was called off pretty quickly yesterday evening as the snow began to accumulate and cause lots of problems on the roads. After several snow days last week, it seems the girls are hardly back to school. However, it did give all the ladies of the house to catch up on “Cupcake Wars” and “Top Chef”. Staying up much later than usual, Emily and Sally used part of their snow day to catch up on sleep.
As predicted, I shoveled the driveway and sidewalk a total of six times before I went to bed at 2:30. Don’t think I was up all night shoveling – no, I was over at a friends house playing darts and enjoying a toasty warm garage. However, when I got home a little after 1:00, the snow had stopped. Cranking up the ipod, I shoveled several driveways (ours and some neighbors). I may not have been on the bike, but I definitely got my exercise in for the day.
Linda’s piano studio has been hit with cancellations due to snow and sickness, so the lessons have been fewer over the past few days. Make-up lessons loom on the horizon.
Wherever you are – stay warm and safe. Spring is just a few months away!
Here’s a view from our garage early on in the evening; only half of the snow had fallen by this time.
The Girl Scout cookies have arrived – and most of them are actually delivered. The past 5 years I’ve had to haul the cookies in the back of my car back and forth to work because only a few people would be there each shift. Now that I have a usable office at the hospital, I am able to leave all the cookies there.
So proud of the girls for getting out in the neighborhood – selling and delivering cookies to our neighbors. I know that they’re a welcome sight each January (even if these darn cookies destroy most New Years resolutions).
So, it’s 2:30 in the morning as I write this and I’m about to complete a long stretch of shifts in the ER. This was supposed to be my day off, but some scheduling problems led to me needing to fill in one more night shift. Too bad because I was supposed to go with the family to Manhattan to see the KSU Women’s basketball team play. Everyone went and the team won – I’m glad they got to go.
I’ve got a 24 hour reprieve before I’ll be back at it again. As the view out the front of my ER doors shown in the picture above, it looks as though I’ll be spending some of that time shoveling driveways and sidewalks when I get home.
Wow, has it really been 2 weeks since I last posted? The holidays came and went so quickly. Fortunately, it was filled with lots of family. Elaine, Ed, Connor, and Helen arrived on the 22nd and was here until the 28th. My parents, Lynette, Lee, Ashleigh, and Hollee arrived on the 28th (literally passing the others in the driveway) and stayed until the 30th.
We had an absolutely great time with all of them, celebrating Christmas and enjoying the fellowship of family.
Each time I considered sitting down and updating the blog, I found myself much more interested in something else – usually something with the kids, Linda, or other family members. Oh – and there were all the days I had to work shifts in the ER.
A quick recap on some of the events during these past two weeks (in addition to all of the activities we did with the numerous family members):
Christmas Day found the four of us serving in Mass at our church with the Archbishop presiding over the service. Linda played, I sang, and both girls served as alter servers. It was quite an honor to do so.
Our beloved Wildcats played in the inaugural Pinstripe Bowl in New York City on the 30th. It was a great game to watch – but don’t get me started on the “excessive celebration” penalty at the end of the game. Here’s hoping we are able to continue on this winning season and maybe win the bowl game next year.
New Years Eve was a quiet one for us. I worked all day and had to get up and work again the next morning – so no big plans were even considered. I arrived home the evening of the 31st to find the three ladies watching TV and looking for a good movie to watch. We settled on the 1984 classic, “The Karate Kid”. The girls loved it. The movie ended shortly before 11:00pm (make that 12:00am Eastern Time). So we watched the ball drop in NYC and headed off to bed.
Happy New Year, friends and family!
Each December, the girls dance with their dance class at the annual lighting of the Christmas Tree in Lenexa. Several years ago the dancing and choirs were moved inside – yup, they used to do it outside on a portable stage in Old Town Lenexa. I was frozen, so I don’t know how the girls could do it dressed in tights and tutus.
Enjoy the video from this year – one tap and two ballet numbers (including one on pointe).
http://youtu.be/JmqKcUpTl44
I know it’s been a full week since the last post. Several events occurred that were worth talking about, but I was either busy at those events or I was working.
Last Thursday night was the annual Christmas Dinner for the Kansas City Cigar Aficionado Club – of which I’m a founding member. The picture above is me with my best friend, Krishna, and his wife, Amanda. It was a wonderful meal followed by a cigar that was given to us by a fellow club member that had died the previous month. One of his dying wishes was to have his favorite cigar distributed to the members at the dinner. What a great way to remember Bob.
Saturday night found us at The National Golf Club of Kansas City in Parkeville, MO. What a stunningly beautiful place. This was the annual Christmas party for my two hospitals. Linda and I had so much fun spending time with my colleagues in a non-medical environment. The food was even better and the free wine tasting was fabulous.
Sunday night found us across the street at our neighbors house for the annual block Christmas party. Catching up with neighbors is nice – but getting to know new neighbors is even better.
The next few nights found me at work and not really around to see what was going on around the house. Most importantly, no photos of things happening here. I hope to do a better job of this over the next couple weeks before Christmas arrives. The girls only have a few more days of school and Linda is already done teaching for the semester. Seems to me next week shouldn’t be near as busy.
A very dear friend died today. Gayle was one of the unit clerks in my ER upon my arriving straight out of residency. ‘Mama Gayle’ was dearly loved by all. Health issues forced an early retirement, but she stayed in touch with us in the ER.
Back in July, the ER staff gathered together to have a proper retirement party for her. Everyone created a square for a quilt that was presented to her. The picture above is just after she was given the quilt.
She will be missed, but we are all smiling knowing that she’s no longer in pain. Ya’ know – she’s smiling now too!
Goodbye, Gayle. We love you.
After finishing the Insanity program back in October, I’ve taken a break from the rigorous daily exercise that I’d begun in February. I considered obtaining another program from the makers of P90X and Insanity; I’d even considered restarting P90X again. However, I’ve been enjoying riding bikes with Linda and have promised to join her on the longer biking events.
So, I’m back in the saddle – cranking out miles on the indoor trainer. We both enjoy riding outdoors much, much more. However, 23-degrees is just a bit too cold to enjoy the ride outside. Plus, no matter how far I ride, I’m already home when I finish!
Linda enjoys watching TV while riding on the trainer. I enjoy listening to my biking podcasts and catching up on my magazines. Great way to get some exercise and complete other enjoyable tasks.
We are now in the 2nd week of Advent and the spirit of Christmas has arrived. Linda has had a rule for as long as I’ve known her – no Christmas tree until after her birthday. We fudged on the rule a bit and put the tree up on Sunday. Availability and scheduling trumps birthday rules!
What’s great is that Anna and Emily are able to help a lot now. They did a great job helping me place ornaments on the tree while Linda put the rest of the decorations up around the house.
Merry Advent to all of you – prepare ye the way for the coming of our Lord!