Day 367: Taking a Load Off

Aha:
In celebration of Clinton's completion of 3rd year, I took the rest of the week off from work.  Tuesday afternoon we struck up the grill and had some friends over for a BBQ.  The weather was wonderful, the food was great, time with friends is always enjoyable...but knowing I wasn't at work was the best of it all!!

Ha ha:
A memory from my youth.
Before I knew I was lactose-intolerant I dealt with a lot of discomfort and embarrassing situations.  One time, I was at a church dance and mid-cutting-a-rug, I felt like there was something else that needed cutting.  So, I told my friend I was going to run to the bathroom real quick.
"Oh, let me come with you." she said.
Oh dear.  How the heck am I gonna cover this up?  "Uh, ok."
So, off to the bathroom we went.  I went into the stall and did my best to "keep things quiet" however trying to keep diarrhea quiet is like telling a toddler to sit still...it ain't gonna happen.  My friend was jabbering away (just outside my stall) and I "coughed" and "cleared my throat" to mask the sounds like my dignity depended on it.  But try as I might, there's a certain frequency that diarrhea "runs" on and one explosion rang louder than I could cover.
My friend (whose laugh is reminiscent of a machine gun) started busting up laughing.  Eureka!  I started laughing just as loud I could and let nature "take it's course".
I think we probably laughed for a good 5-minutes that evening, and I never felt better.

Day 366: Bragging and Gagging

Aha:
If you'll indulge me, I'd like to take a moment to BRAG ABOUT and CONGRATULATE my sweetheart, Clinton. Monday was his LAST EXAM and LAST DAY of 3rd year medical school!!! That boy has worked so hard, he's studied and worked a crazy amount of hours and has stayed so happy through it all. He has made good on his promise to make me laugh everyday and I love him all the more for keeping his promise even when times were tough. Congratulations Clinton! You amaze me! One more year, baby!!

 Ha ha:
The other night I was sitting in the living room folding laundry at about 1030pm. It was nice and cool out, so I decided to open up the window. After a little while, I heard this low "huh huh huh" sound outside my window. Right as I turned my head to see what the sound was coming from, I saw a white face right up against my window.
"AHHHHH!!!! Holy crap, Jenn! You scared the hell outta me!"
She: (laughing) I've never heard you swear before. (laughing) I'm sorry, I couldn't help myself. We were just driving by and I thought I'd say hello."
Me: Oh, man. You really scared me.
She: Girl, your face was so funny. It was perfect. It was like this (reenacts my completely frightened face).
Me and She: (laughing)
Though I was super scared, it seriously was one of the funniest things I've experienced in a while. Fair warning, Jenn, I will be coming for you.

Day 360: Six Weeks of Labor

Aha:
Clinton finished his LAST OVERNIGHT CALL (during med school, that is) on Tuesday!!!!  These last six weeks of OB/Gyn have sure taken their toll on his sleep pattern and free time.  He's been studying during what little "free time" he has and can't wait to be done.  On more than one occasion he's come up to me and said something along the lines of, "Ugh.  You women are a bacteria-ridden time bomb just waiting to blow up.  I don't know how you function."  Ha!
He's just got his written exam left on Monday and he'll be DONE with 3rd year!

Ha ha:
Here's a picture of Clinton enjoying his last OB/Gyn lecture (the one he only attended so he wouldn't have to work at the hospital that day, plus there was a free lunch).

(pic snapped by one of his classmates)

Day 321: New Flavors

Aha:
Clinton finished his neuro/psych rotation/exam on Friday!!!  He said the exam wasn't too bad and he even brought me a Speedway drink at work to celebrate his freedom.
Congrats, H.B.!  Only OB/Gyn left and then you're a 4th year med student!!!

Ha ha:
Clinton and I went to Noodles & Co for dinner on Friday.  We almost always share a drink to save a few bucks and typically agree on Diet Coke/Pepsi, however Noodles has a new soda machine that has about 30 different flavors.  I was feeling adventurous; Clinton wasn't.
Me:  I know you don't like Cherry Coke, so I got Raspberry Coke to try instead!
He:  (takes a sip)  Nah, I don't like it.
Me:  Well, I don't like you...so I guess that makes us even!
He:  (laughing)  I don't really think that's "even".
Both:  (laughing)

Day 319: Visiting Husband, Visiting Professor

Aha:
I got a surprise visit from my favorite H.B. today at work!  I was busy trying to wrap things up for tomorrow and heard the door open behind me.  I turned around and there he was!  He just came by to say "hello".  I snuck out for a second and visited for a minute before kissing him goodbye for the night (he's got exams on Friday and has been staying at the school to study).  What a pleasant surprise!  Thanks H.B.!!

Ha ha:
I've been working for about a month or so on arrangements to bring a visiting professor to the college.  It's been a lot of work and he's finally coming tomorrow and the stress of this visit will be over on Friday!  Anyway, Dr. Forgetful is hosting the visitor and asked me to compile a list of the fancy-pants restaurants nearby from which they could choose to take the visiting professor for a fancy-schmancy dinner.  Anyway, the list I emailed him went a little something like this...
Eddie Martini's (Steak/Seafood)
Ristorante Bartolatta (Italian)
Le Reve (French)
Cocina DeLeon (Mexican)
Firefly Urban Bar & Grill (Modern American)
Or my personal favorite...Subway (cheap)
I could tell when he'd opened my email from the short burst of laughter I heard from his office.  Let's just say he thought I was funny too.

Day 285: To Cone and Condone

Aha:
I had a voice student scheduled for a lesson Thursday evening.  When they didn't show, I sent them a text and said, "Haven't seen you.  Hope you're ok.  But since you're not here Clinton and I are going for ice cream cones."  Clinton and I took off and drove to McDonald's to enjoy some iced cream.  It was wonderful impromptu date!

Ha ha:
Clinton told me that he "had" to swear the other day while dictating a session with one of his psych patients.  I asked if he couldn't just spell it out or say, "the B-word" and he said no.  He said he had also had to clearly pronounce them, loudly, to his attending physician.  By the end of telling me, we were both laughing picturing him swearing so boldly.  As much as he loves to use "hell" and "damn", anything beyond that would never come out of his mouth!

Day 235: It's About Time!

Aha:
I received a phone call from Clinton today while I was work and I knew right away it was something serious....because he almost never calls me at work. :)  Anyway, he said he got his scores from his boards and not only did he pass but he scored way above his expectations!!  He was so happy and I was ecstatic!  His score opens the door for great residency programs for him and more options for our future!  Congratulations you smart man you!  You deserve this!

Ha ha:
I make a terrible slip of the tongue at work today.  Here goes...
I went downstairs to the mailroom and noticed that the little mailbox they have usually filled with candy had a little clock in it too.
Me:  What's this clock for?
Mail Lady (ML):  Oh, it's a clock I don't want anymore.  You want it?
Me:  Oh, no.  I'm all clocked up.  Clocked up, not knocked up!
(Awkward laugh by all parties)
(I'd love to say that that was the worst of it, but I just had to open my mouth again.)
Me:  No, we have plenty of cocks...clocks in our office.  Um...(laughing)...I think that's what they call a Freudian slip!
I just started laughing and walked away.  I don't think they heard it, but I know what I said and had to get out of there.

Day 212: Is This A Test?

Aha:
Seeing the smile on my husband's face as he walked out from his boards exam was THE BEST part of my day!  What a huge relief that he's done (this exam was seven months in the making) and even better, that he feels good about it!  Oh, what a wonderful blessing!!!  Congratulations, H.B.!!!  I am so proud of you!  LOVE YOU!

Ha ha:
Today at work, Dr. Simpatico came up to me and asked if I could help him with something.  He pointed to a box I had on my desk that had an image of three arrows in a circle, like the Recycle symbol, and while running his finger over the circular shape asked, "If I wanted to do something like this (circle, circle)...?"
"Recycle?", I asked.
He started laughing, "No.  Make this symbol on the computer, could you help me with that?"
Me:  (laughing), "Oh, of course!"
He:  (laughing), "Recycle.  You are very funny!"
He passed by my desk a couple minutes later, shook his head side-to-side and started laughing again.  Then he saw my supervisor, pointed to me and told her I was "the funny lady".
I totally thought he wanted to recycle.  Ha ha!

Day 210: I Just Called to Say, "I'm REALLY Stressed!!!"

Aha:
My sister made a New Year's resolution to keep in better touch with her family that live out of state and we now Skype every Sunday evening.  I look forward to it every week!  Anyway, this got me thinking about the other members of my family that live far away (every one) and especially Clinton's family who I'm lucky if I get to see them once a year!  I decided that I'm going to use my sister's idea and contact them on a much more regular basis.
I called my mother-in-law and we visited for about 2 hours before my father-in-law came on the line and we visited for a while too!  It was wonderful and I felt so much more connected with them.  I felt like I wasn't a bad daughter-in-law anymore cause I was able to take some initiative and visit with two people who mean so much to me and who have given me one of their best gifts--Clinton.  I went to bed with a big smile on my face and am really looking forward to next week's visit!!

Ha ha:
Clinton takes his boards tomorrow.  He's been stressed and I've been stressed enough for the both of us!  I didn't quite realize how stressed I was until yesterday morning when our neighbors started their 4th at-least-an-hour-but-usually-much-longer band practice this week.  Don't get me wrong, they are actually quite good, but when your walls start shaking and you can't have a moment of quiet in your own home--it can really grate on a person.  Well, anyway I was upstairs talking with Clinton about maybe creating a practice schedule with our neighbors so we could have some more quiet.  I could feel a wave of emotion building up and the next thing I knew I was crying.  I finished with a weak, "I just...(sob)...want...(sob)...them to...shut up" before leaving the room embarrassed and going into the bathroom to cry it out for another 10 minutes.
Yikes, I can't wait till his boards are OVER!!!

Day 180: You Deserve a Great Day

Aha:
Clinton completed his last exam of the "Big Three" rotations today!!  He said it went well and was the "easiest" thus far!  Pediatrics, Medicine and Surgery are OVER!!!!!  This is a day for celebration!  I am so thankful that the second half of 3rd year will be much less time consuming and enjoyable for him (and me)!  Yippee!  Hooray!  Hallelujah!

Ha ha:
Ya know how I mentioned celebration above?  What was Clinton's idea of celebrating?--a trip to McDonalds!...well, it was cheap, I guess that sums up my feelings about the place.  I do love their ice cream cones though!  Perhaps we'll do some more exciting celebrating during this Christmas break...we'll see. :)