Like most of the rest of the world, December is a busy month for our family. It started off with Raymond and me being sick. Let's start with me since I was easy. I finally went to my PCP and got some good medication to knock out whatever was ailing me before. Raymond was on antibiotics, which cleared his ear infection. Well a week later he gets another one (with fevers as high as 103.6). Then we were put on the same antibiotic he finished the week prior (Omnicef). Why? I don't know. I fought for a different antibiotic, but was shut down. Then we end up at an urgent care place in Atlanta because he still has fevers and his ear hurts. We get a new antibiotic (Bactrim) and he actually starts to feel better. Then this morning Jen notices what she thinks is a rash, but isn't sure. I pick him up from day care and sure enough he has a rash all over his trunk. He's not itchy or having trouble with it. I call the pediatrician and get the nurse on call. Why I don't get a doctor I don't know. I have no problem with nurses answering questions, but she wasn't much help. All she says is that we need to bring Raymond into the office to see if it's really a rash (seriously? I am a health care professional). Would I be able to get a new medicine for his ear infection called in since he still has that? No, not until he's seen by the pediatrician. I bring him into the office the next day and yep, he is allergic to sulfa drugs and still has an ear infection. Finally we get put on Zithromax and this seems to be working. Our doctor actually commented that she didn't know why the fill in doctor we saw last week put him on the same antibiotic he just finished. I obviously agreed with her. At least now he is feeling better.
We actually also got an ENT referral by our pediatrician (finally!). I had already made an appointment with one recommended by a coworker who just had her son's tubes put in, but the gesture was nice. The appointment went well and Raymond will be getting tubes next week. Hopefully this will help him not get as many ear infections. It's kind of ridiculous that it's taken this long.
On top of all the sicknesses, we had some holiday parties to go to. The first was my work party which was held at a colleague's house in Fairhope. We got a baby sitter for the kids, even though they were invited to the party because it was going to be too late for them anyway. And I knew I wouldn't have had as much fun if I had to be constantly saying, "Beka, don't touch that. Raymond, put that down." etc. We had a good time chatting and eating with some of my coworkers. It was nice to see people outside of the work environment. We also had a holiday party for Jen's work. They did a dirty Santa gift exchange. I spent almost the entire time hanging out with the host's husband in his bonus room watching football. Seeings as we were the only 2 guys at the party, there wasn't much of a choice, but I genuinely liked him and I hope we can find some time to get together again.
We also went to my in-laws house in Atlanta to have an early Christmas with the family. Jen's brother and sister-in-law came down from Rochester to visit. It was nice to have everyone together, especially because it's such a rare occurrence. However, there was some drama before we left home. Well, I get home from work and let the dogs out like I always do. They make a bee-line for the fence, where they had been apparently digging a hole for a while. Biding their time until they could make their escape. Well, they get out, I run outside after them, calling their names the whole time. Of course they don't come immediately back. I go out in the car to look for them with 2 starving children in tow and I can't find them anywhere. Oh, I think I forgot to mention that they were supposed to go to the doggy hotel for boarding that evening after they went outside because we were leaving early the next morning for ATL. Yeah, seriously messed up. So they don't come back until 5 hours later, which is much too late to take them to the doggy hotel. I seriously didn't think they were going to come back, but when I went to take out the trash, they were in the garage waiting for me. So we ended up having to bring them in the morning and leaving much later than we wanted to for the family Christmas. Which sucked. But all in all, it was a good weekend. I got some really nice gifts, including an awesome new watch. All the kids got together to buy one big gift this year for Jen's parents. We decided on a new flat screen HD TV. We needed to bring them into the 21st century. When I walked in carrying the TV, the look on Debbie and Corny's face was priceless. It was surprise, disbelief, and joy all at once. Seeing that is what Christmas is all about. Of course, Beka and Raymond made out like bandits, and that's even before Christmas morning!
We also went to Bellingrath Gardens which is a local attraction that, during Christmas, transforms the gardens into a light show. So we took the kids, with some of our friends and their 3 year old, to see all the Christmas lights. We went last year, but I thought it would be different. It wasn't, but it was still fun to go and see the kids' reaction to all the lights. Also, there is going to be a surprise visit on Christmas eve from Gramma and Grampa for the kids. The kids don't know that they'll be coming, so it'll be nice to see how they react.
Work for me is going well. I have submitted a paper for publication, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be accepted. I am also working on submitting a couple abstracts for the CPNP annual meeting that discusses some research I am working on. I always look forward to that meeting every year, not only because I get to see friends I only really see at the meeting, but because I actually get a chance to learn something.
Anyway, that'll be it for me. Have a great new year!
Saturday, December 24, 2011
December is a busy month
Like most of the rest of the world, December is a busy month for our family. It started off with Raymond and me being sick. Let's start with me since I was easy. I finally went to my PCP and got some good medication to knock out whatever was ailing me before. Raymond was on antibiotics, which cleared his ear infection. Well a week later he gets another one
Friday, December 2, 2011
It's definitely not seasonal allergies
I feel like some updates are in order. I have been working and enjoying my new job. I thought I would miss teaching, and I do, but not as much as I thought. I have a lot more time for doing research, writing papers, and focusing on my rotation students. I like to think I have become a better preceptor than before because 1. I have more time in clinic for the students to become more comfortable in psych and 2. I have more time to devote to teaching them. I can't say any of this with absolute certainty of course. I have to wait until next summer to see my evaluations from this year and compare them with last year's. I hope it comes out that the rotation is better.
In the past month we have had some real health issues. Raymond got an ear infection, which we thankfully caught early. Well, after over a week on the antibiotic, it turns out he is allergic to it. How do I know this, you ask? He broke out into hives all over his body. Now, it wasn't as bad as when Beka had the same reaction to the same antibiotic. She couldn't even walk because her joints were so swollen. Raymond's didn't get that bad, but it did get serious enough to treat with steroids and benadryl. When we brought him into the pediatrician they saw his ears were clear, so we didn't get another antibiotic. Of course, a week later, he has to go back (this time to the urgent care place on a Saturday) to the doctor for, you guessed it, another ear infection. And then they give him another antibiotic, which he isn't allergic to yet, but I am. See, cephalosporins make me break out in hives just like Raymond did with penicillins and they gave him an antibiotic in that class. So I have to be super careful when I am administering it to him not to get any on me or breathe it in. Turns out, I don't actually have to ingest any of the medicine for it to cause me to have a rash. After administering just one dose, I got a drop of it on the back of my hand. I washed it off with soap and water. Within 30 minutes, I had a rash there, which didn't go away for a full day. So now I try to have Jen give him the medicine whenever we can. He seems to be getting better now thankfully. I think it might be time to look into tubes from an ENT.
I have been sick recently as well. I got "the crud" a few weeks back. I went to the urgent care place and was given steroids (since "the crud" was making me have fairly severe coughing fits and my asthma got a lot worse) and an antibiotic. After about 5 days, I was breathing much better, but I still had stuffed up ears, nose, and a sore throat. At Jen's insistence, I went back to the urgent care and got prescribed a different antibiotic, but no more steroids since my lungs were clear. Well, here I am 2 weeks later and I still have a cough, stuffiness, and ear pain. And I know what you are thinking, yes, I did take all my antibiotic and finished it out. Jen seems to think I need to go to my primary doctor to have him check me out and that my asthma is getting worse. She's probably right, but I don't really have time to go to the regular doctor during the week. I will probably make an appointment next week if I am still having issues.
We had a good Thanksgiving, especially since this was the first time she didn't have to work since we moved to Alabama. In the morning, I played in our church's "Turkey bowl" held at the local high school stadium. There was a great showing, which kinda sucked since there were so many people it was difficult to play. I really would like to get involved with an adult kickball or dodgeball league so I can be more active. Unfortunately, there are a lot of barriers to this, including who will watch the kids so I can do this on the nights Jen's working. OK, that was completely random and off topic. I guess it's late enough that my ADHD meds are wearing off. Back to Thanksgiving. Jen made a turkey breast and all the trimmings. It turned out amazing! Not that I am surprised; she's a good cook. Jen did have to work the rest of the long weekend, but it was nice to have that time together.
Jen and I went to our last Auburn game using my faculty tickets. It was the Samford game and while we had a good time, the football team didn't play very well, until the second half. This didn't bode well for the following week for the Iron Bowl. Speaking of the Iron Bowl, I got to go with a friend who is an Alabama fan. He's not obnoxious or anything, so it was a lot of fun. Auburn kept it fairly close until the 4th quarter, when Alabama decided to crack open that gallon jug of whoop-ass. As I said though, it was fun. The 3 1/2 hour drive, each way, didn't seem that long and we had some good conversation. I need to give a shout out to my mother-in-law for coming down from Georgia and watching the kids since Jen had to work.
We are getting ready for Christmas around here. The tree isn't up yet and we don't have decorations up, but we have done a large portion of our gift buying. I have to say ordering online with free shipping is probably one of my keys to a less stressful (notice I didn't say stress free) holiday season. We will be doing Christmas early with Jen's family since she has to work Christmas weekend. Her brother and sister-in-law will be coming down from NY and we'll meet them all in Georgia. We'll still have a traditional Christmas at home, but it won't be the same.
Well, I'll try to blog again about all our holiday season festivities. We are planning on going to Bellingrath Gardens, a company holiday party, and other various activities. Have a great Christmas or Chanukah or Saturnalia or Festivus or whatever you celebrate!
In the past month we have had some real health issues. Raymond got an ear infection, which we thankfully caught early. Well, after over a week on the antibiotic, it turns out he is allergic to it. How do I know this, you ask? He broke out into hives all over his body. Now, it wasn't as bad as when Beka had the same reaction to the same antibiotic. She couldn't even walk because her joints were so swollen. Raymond's didn't get that bad, but it did get serious enough to treat with steroids and benadryl. When we brought him into the pediatrician they saw his ears were clear, so we didn't get another antibiotic. Of course, a week later, he has to go back (this time to the urgent care place on a Saturday) to the doctor for, you guessed it, another ear infection. And then they give him another antibiotic, which he isn't allergic to yet, but I am. See, cephalosporins make me break out in hives just like Raymond did with penicillins and they gave him an antibiotic in that class. So I have to be super careful when I am administering it to him not to get any on me or breathe it in. Turns out, I don't actually have to ingest any of the medicine for it to cause me to have a rash. After administering just one dose, I got a drop of it on the back of my hand. I washed it off with soap and water. Within 30 minutes, I had a rash there, which didn't go away for a full day. So now I try to have Jen give him the medicine whenever we can. He seems to be getting better now thankfully. I think it might be time to look into tubes from an ENT.
I have been sick recently as well. I got "the crud" a few weeks back. I went to the urgent care place and was given steroids (since "the crud" was making me have fairly severe coughing fits and my asthma got a lot worse) and an antibiotic. After about 5 days, I was breathing much better, but I still had stuffed up ears, nose, and a sore throat. At Jen's insistence, I went back to the urgent care and got prescribed a different antibiotic, but no more steroids since my lungs were clear. Well, here I am 2 weeks later and I still have a cough, stuffiness, and ear pain. And I know what you are thinking, yes, I did take all my antibiotic and finished it out. Jen seems to think I need to go to my primary doctor to have him check me out and that my asthma is getting worse. She's probably right, but I don't really have time to go to the regular doctor during the week. I will probably make an appointment next week if I am still having issues.
We had a good Thanksgiving, especially since this was the first time she didn't have to work since we moved to Alabama. In the morning, I played in our church's "Turkey bowl" held at the local high school stadium. There was a great showing, which kinda sucked since there were so many people it was difficult to play. I really would like to get involved with an adult kickball or dodgeball league so I can be more active. Unfortunately, there are a lot of barriers to this, including who will watch the kids so I can do this on the nights Jen's working. OK, that was completely random and off topic. I guess it's late enough that my ADHD meds are wearing off. Back to Thanksgiving. Jen made a turkey breast and all the trimmings. It turned out amazing! Not that I am surprised; she's a good cook. Jen did have to work the rest of the long weekend, but it was nice to have that time together.
Jen and I went to our last Auburn game using my faculty tickets. It was the Samford game and while we had a good time, the football team didn't play very well, until the second half. This didn't bode well for the following week for the Iron Bowl. Speaking of the Iron Bowl, I got to go with a friend who is an Alabama fan. He's not obnoxious or anything, so it was a lot of fun. Auburn kept it fairly close until the 4th quarter, when Alabama decided to crack open that gallon jug of whoop-ass. As I said though, it was fun. The 3 1/2 hour drive, each way, didn't seem that long and we had some good conversation. I need to give a shout out to my mother-in-law for coming down from Georgia and watching the kids since Jen had to work.
We are getting ready for Christmas around here. The tree isn't up yet and we don't have decorations up, but we have done a large portion of our gift buying. I have to say ordering online with free shipping is probably one of my keys to a less stressful (notice I didn't say stress free) holiday season. We will be doing Christmas early with Jen's family since she has to work Christmas weekend. Her brother and sister-in-law will be coming down from NY and we'll meet them all in Georgia. We'll still have a traditional Christmas at home, but it won't be the same.
Well, I'll try to blog again about all our holiday season festivities. We are planning on going to Bellingrath Gardens, a company holiday party, and other various activities. Have a great Christmas or Chanukah or Saturnalia or Festivus or whatever you celebrate!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
TV, Books, and Music
I figured since I am bored tonight, I would give a general overview of TV shows I am watching, books I'm reading, and music I'm listening to.
As far as TV is concerned, I'm still watching some long time favorites like The Office, but it doesn't seem as funny as it used to. I don't think it's because Michael Scott left; it started to go downhill before that. I still make sure to watch it every week, but the funny factor went from every episode being comedy gold to only one in four being that good. Breaking Bad finished its season a few weeks ago, but I am still completely engrossed in it and can't wait for it to come back next year. Glee has been off the air for the past few weeks, but the first couple episodes of the season were good. I am still waiting for some more songs I know. I think this makes me sound old, since most of the songs recently have been newer pop songs. At least, Jen seems to think I'm old. Modern Family is as funny as ever. Great show and every week I can't wait to watch it. Same with the Big Bang Theory. When they had both Wil Wheaton and Brent Spiner on, I completely geeked out and it was great to see them on TV.
A couple new-ish shows I am still enjoying:
Raising Hope: I'm glad it got renewed for this season since we got into it pretty late last year. The writing on the show is good and the actors are great for their parts.
Happy Endings: A mid-season replacement from last year that also got renewed for this season. I think it's a funny show, the characters have a lot of chemistry, and it seems that they are going for a more "edgy" Friends kind of show.
The Sing Off: Liked this show the past 2 years when it was on for a few weeks around Christmas time. I like the addition of a new judge and the singing is first class. The judges aren't snarky or mean like on other shows and when they have a criticism it is always given in a constructive manner. I seem to have the same problem that I have with Glee though: I seem to be too old for some of the songs.
New shows from this season
Last Man Standing: I am glad to see Tim Allen back on TV. It's basically the same show as Home Improvement, but now he works at a sporting goods store, has 3 daughters (not sons), and the story lines are more modern and less preachy. I didn't think Jen would like this one, but she actually does.
Once Upon a Time: Fairy-tale story updated. I think it's a rip off of the Fables comic book series by Bill Willingham, but the details are different. I guess maybe you could say it was "inspired by" Fables. I'm enjoying the show so far (only 2 episodes in) and I am interested to see where they go with it.
Up All Night: Baby comedy with Christina Applegate and Will Arnett. It's funny and I like it, but I don't know how long the writers can keep it fresh.
Pan Am: I haven't actually watched it yet, but I record it to my DVR every week. I figure when I don't have anything else to watch, I can catch up. I don't know if it's getting favorable reviews, but I'll still watch it because of Christina Ricci.
Jen likes to watch a bunch of TLC shows (Little Couple, Sister Wives, etc.) and The Biggest Loser, which I don't usually watch with her, but I do on occasion. I can't understand the fascination with Sister Wives, but once in a while I enjoy watching The Biggest Loser. Until someone starts crying because they only lost 9 lbs and not 10 or they are having an "emotional breakthrough". I get enough of that at work. Oh, and the ridiculous music that supposedly "builds tension" during the weigh-in is over the top and completely unneeded.
OK, onto some books. Of course I read A Dance with Dragons, which was awesome. I don't want to have to wait another 4 years for the next book though. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is a great book for anyone who likes fast paced science fiction set in the near dystopian future and has a healthy love for everything 1980's: video games, movies, pop culture, etc. Even if you don't love the 80's its still a great read. I also recently read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card which I did enjoy and think I'll pick something else up by him next time I am lacking something to read. I am currently reading the conclusion to the Acacia Trilogy called The Sacred Band by David Anthony Durham and I am enjoying it thus far. If you haven't checked out this series, I think it's worth a read. The first book reads more like a historical fiction, but it is still good. On my reading list for the next few months (in order of getting read): The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson, 11/22/63 by Stephen King, The Kingdom of Gods (book 3 of a trilogy) by N.K. Jemisin, Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence, and only last because it won't be out until Spring is A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. I do have a Goodreads account if you want to see more of the books I like.
As far as music, it won't surprise those of you who know my taste in music who I've been listening to recently. The new Evanescence album came out a few weeks ago and I have to say, I am impressed. I am really enjoying it and it's much heavier than their previous albums. Amy Lee's voice is still the best female voice in rock right now in my opinion. Her voice is full of emotion and the lyrics seem to fit the songs very well. The drum parts are also more complex than the previous two albums, but I am probably the only one who noticed. I'm also digging the new 3 Doors Down album and the new StainD album. 3DD don't change the formula, but it's still good music. StainD's new album is their heaviest since Dysfunction which was their first album. Enjoying it for sure.
Well, that's all for now. If you've got a suggestion for tv, book, or music leave it in the comments. I think I've wasted enough time talking about watching tv, reading, and listening to music. Time to go do one of those three!
As far as TV is concerned, I'm still watching some long time favorites like The Office, but it doesn't seem as funny as it used to. I don't think it's because Michael Scott left; it started to go downhill before that. I still make sure to watch it every week, but the funny factor went from every episode being comedy gold to only one in four being that good. Breaking Bad finished its season a few weeks ago, but I am still completely engrossed in it and can't wait for it to come back next year. Glee has been off the air for the past few weeks, but the first couple episodes of the season were good. I am still waiting for some more songs I know. I think this makes me sound old, since most of the songs recently have been newer pop songs. At least, Jen seems to think I'm old. Modern Family is as funny as ever. Great show and every week I can't wait to watch it. Same with the Big Bang Theory. When they had both Wil Wheaton and Brent Spiner on, I completely geeked out and it was great to see them on TV.
A couple new-ish shows I am still enjoying:
Raising Hope: I'm glad it got renewed for this season since we got into it pretty late last year. The writing on the show is good and the actors are great for their parts.
Happy Endings: A mid-season replacement from last year that also got renewed for this season. I think it's a funny show, the characters have a lot of chemistry, and it seems that they are going for a more "edgy" Friends kind of show.
The Sing Off: Liked this show the past 2 years when it was on for a few weeks around Christmas time. I like the addition of a new judge and the singing is first class. The judges aren't snarky or mean like on other shows and when they have a criticism it is always given in a constructive manner. I seem to have the same problem that I have with Glee though: I seem to be too old for some of the songs.
New shows from this season
Last Man Standing: I am glad to see Tim Allen back on TV. It's basically the same show as Home Improvement, but now he works at a sporting goods store, has 3 daughters (not sons), and the story lines are more modern and less preachy. I didn't think Jen would like this one, but she actually does.
Once Upon a Time: Fairy-tale story updated. I think it's a rip off of the Fables comic book series by Bill Willingham, but the details are different. I guess maybe you could say it was "inspired by" Fables. I'm enjoying the show so far (only 2 episodes in) and I am interested to see where they go with it.
Up All Night: Baby comedy with Christina Applegate and Will Arnett. It's funny and I like it, but I don't know how long the writers can keep it fresh.
Pan Am: I haven't actually watched it yet, but I record it to my DVR every week. I figure when I don't have anything else to watch, I can catch up. I don't know if it's getting favorable reviews, but I'll still watch it because of Christina Ricci.
Jen likes to watch a bunch of TLC shows (Little Couple, Sister Wives, etc.) and The Biggest Loser, which I don't usually watch with her, but I do on occasion. I can't understand the fascination with Sister Wives, but once in a while I enjoy watching The Biggest Loser. Until someone starts crying because they only lost 9 lbs and not 10 or they are having an "emotional breakthrough". I get enough of that at work. Oh, and the ridiculous music that supposedly "builds tension" during the weigh-in is over the top and completely unneeded.
OK, onto some books. Of course I read A Dance with Dragons, which was awesome. I don't want to have to wait another 4 years for the next book though. Ready Player One by Ernest Cline is a great book for anyone who likes fast paced science fiction set in the near dystopian future and has a healthy love for everything 1980's: video games, movies, pop culture, etc. Even if you don't love the 80's its still a great read. I also recently read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card which I did enjoy and think I'll pick something else up by him next time I am lacking something to read. I am currently reading the conclusion to the Acacia Trilogy called The Sacred Band by David Anthony Durham and I am enjoying it thus far. If you haven't checked out this series, I think it's worth a read. The first book reads more like a historical fiction, but it is still good. On my reading list for the next few months (in order of getting read): The Alloy of Law by Brandon Sanderson, 11/22/63 by Stephen King, The Kingdom of Gods (book 3 of a trilogy) by N.K. Jemisin, Prince of Thorns by Mark Lawrence, and only last because it won't be out until Spring is A Memory of Light by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. I do have a Goodreads account if you want to see more of the books I like.
As far as music, it won't surprise those of you who know my taste in music who I've been listening to recently. The new Evanescence album came out a few weeks ago and I have to say, I am impressed. I am really enjoying it and it's much heavier than their previous albums. Amy Lee's voice is still the best female voice in rock right now in my opinion. Her voice is full of emotion and the lyrics seem to fit the songs very well. The drum parts are also more complex than the previous two albums, but I am probably the only one who noticed. I'm also digging the new 3 Doors Down album and the new StainD album. 3DD don't change the formula, but it's still good music. StainD's new album is their heaviest since Dysfunction which was their first album. Enjoying it for sure.
Well, that's all for now. If you've got a suggestion for tv, book, or music leave it in the comments. I think I've wasted enough time talking about watching tv, reading, and listening to music. Time to go do one of those three!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Birthday and Halloween
So Raymond had his first birthday party a couple weeks ago. I know, I can't believe it either. He seems to be growing much faster than Beka did, but probably not. We didn't have a big party or anything, since he won't really know what's going on, but it was nice to have family come in. My mother and father in law came and so did my mom. My mom was planning to drive up with my grandparents and aunt, but they had to turn around because my grandfather fell and hurt himself. He is fine now and I'm glad everything is back to normal there. So my mom ended up flying to Atlanta and driving down for the weekend. Well, weekend is stretching it. 36 hours is more like it. She came in Friday night and left very early Sunday morning. I am glad she was here though and able to share in the festivities and visit with her grandkids.
At the party, Raymond seemed much more aware of what was going on than Beka had. We got a free "smash cake" from Publix since we ordered a first birthday cake there. Kind of cool actually. He was in his glory, I think. We took some video of it and even though my grandparents, step-father, and aunt couldn't be there, they were able to Skype to see the mess that was Raymond's first cake experience. He just went right for it, digging his hands into the middle of the cake and dragging out entire handfuls to shove into his mouth. Most of the cake ended up on him and not in him though. He had to get a bath immediately after the cake fiasco and the water in th
e tub was quite filthy with cake. He then opened his presents and, as you would expect from a one year old, was really interested in the packaging. He did eventually get to the toys and he did like them.
After the party we took the family to the local corn maze (Barnhill Farms) to pick out a pumpkin and have fun getting lost in the corn stalks. It was actually quite a warm day for mid October in Alabama, but we had fun. Beka did great "leading" the family and using her map to navigate us out of the maze. She also enjoyed all the other activities they had like riding in cows fashioned out of 55 gallon drums pulled by a tractor and the "corn box" which is a sandbox, but filled with corn kernels. Raymond was tired and hot when we left, but the grandparents took good care of him while Jen and I enjoyed some time with Beka. It was a good weekend and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.
Jen and I went as Julius Caesar and his wife this year for Halloween. We needed costumes for the Wake the Dead party put on by the local Phi Delta Chi chapter (of which I was inducted as a graduate brother last Spring). That's what we decided on since it would be easy and didn't require me to try on a thousand different costumes. The Wake the Dead party was a lot of fun. We got a babysitter and we were out past 11 pm for the first time in a long time. Even though we don't drink, it was nice to catch up with some of my former students and see how things are going at Auburn since I left. As I've said before, that is the part of my former job I miss the most. Jen and I were also delighted to have some time to ourselves just to talk about whatever without being interrupted constantly by children. It was a late night and I was tired the next day at work, but it was worth it and we were both glad to have gone.
We also had the "Trunk or Treat" at church on Friday night. It is a great way to trick or treat in a safe environment where you know there aren't going to be razor blades in the candy. Jen was working so she wasn't able to go. Usually I would decorate my trunk and handout candy, but if I did that I wouldn't have been able to take the kids around. Anyway, Beka had fun and she had good practice for the main event on Monday. We were joined by a friend and his daughter for the trunk or treat and it was made that much more enjoyable. I was one of the handful of adults dressed up in costume, but it makes it more fun for me. Halloween is my favorite non-religious holiday. However, I was completely unprepared for the chilly night. Beka is dressed up in her Tinkerbell costume and Raymond was dressed up in his spider costume. I figured they would be warm enough while trick or treating, but I was wrong. Raymond didn't have anything on his arms, so he was cold and Beka didn't have anything on her arms or legs. Thankfully, our friend brought some extra clothes for his daughter and I was able to put some pants on Beka. I still had no coats on this blustery night for either child, so I should probably win father of the year. Since it was so chilly outside, we didn't stay very long, but Beka still got her fill of candy.
Saturday night we had a nice party at a neighbor's house. They have a daughter a little older than Beka, but she had a good time. She didn't really know anyone else there and she fell down the stairs leading to the back yard twice (she was fine), but she still enjoyed the games and hay ride. She was overtired though because she refused a nap earlier in the day. This tiredness is probably why she fell.
So now we get to do the main event on Monday. We are just going to go around our immediate neighborhood, but it should still be fun. Raymond still won't know what's going on, but Beka will enjoy being able to dress up one last time before we retire the costume. She'll get her fill of candy yet again. The only problem is that she doesn't really like a ton of different kinds of candy, mostly just chocolate in all its various forms. It's a problem for Jen and I since we end up eating WAY too much candy.
One last thing. A plea for a Miami Dolphins win. I mean I just watched them blow a nice lead last week against the Broncos and this week again against the Giants. Seriously guys, get your stuff together and win one game. That's all I'm asking; just one. As a lifelong Fins fan, I can't stand to see them lose week after week after week. I guess maybe if they continue to lose, they'll get the first pick in the draft and hopefully they'll draft a quarterback. I like Andrew Luck from Stanford, but I don't really have a say. Again, my plea is to win just one game. Thanks, Your loyal fan Ray.
At the party, Raymond seemed much more aware of what was going on than Beka had. We got a free "smash cake" from Publix since we ordered a first birthday cake there. Kind of cool actually. He was in his glory, I think. We took some video of it and even though my grandparents, step-father, and aunt couldn't be there, they were able to Skype to see the mess that was Raymond's first cake experience. He just went right for it, digging his hands into the middle of the cake and dragging out entire handfuls to shove into his mouth. Most of the cake ended up on him and not in him though. He had to get a bath immediately after the cake fiasco and the water in th
e tub was quite filthy with cake. He then opened his presents and, as you would expect from a one year old, was really interested in the packaging. He did eventually get to the toys and he did like them.
After the party we took the family to the local corn maze (Barnhill Farms) to pick out a pumpkin and have fun getting lost in the corn stalks. It was actually quite a warm day for mid October in Alabama, but we had fun. Beka did great "leading" the family and using her map to navigate us out of the maze. She also enjoyed all the other activities they had like riding in cows fashioned out of 55 gallon drums pulled by a tractor and the "corn box" which is a sandbox, but filled with corn kernels. Raymond was tired and hot when we left, but the grandparents took good care of him while Jen and I enjoyed some time with Beka. It was a good weekend and I think everyone enjoyed themselves.
Jen and I went as Julius Caesar and his wife this year for Halloween. We needed costumes for the Wake the Dead party put on by the local Phi Delta Chi chapter (of which I was inducted as a graduate brother last Spring). That's what we decided on since it would be easy and didn't require me to try on a thousand different costumes. The Wake the Dead party was a lot of fun. We got a babysitter and we were out past 11 pm for the first time in a long time. Even though we don't drink, it was nice to catch up with some of my former students and see how things are going at Auburn since I left. As I've said before, that is the part of my former job I miss the most. Jen and I were also delighted to have some time to ourselves just to talk about whatever without being interrupted constantly by children. It was a late night and I was tired the next day at work, but it was worth it and we were both glad to have gone.
We also had the "Trunk or Treat" at church on Friday night. It is a great way to trick or treat in a safe environment where you know there aren't going to be razor blades in the candy. Jen was working so she wasn't able to go. Usually I would decorate my trunk and handout candy, but if I did that I wouldn't have been able to take the kids around. Anyway, Beka had fun and she had good practice for the main event on Monday. We were joined by a friend and his daughter for the trunk or treat and it was made that much more enjoyable. I was one of the handful of adults dressed up in costume, but it makes it more fun for me. Halloween is my favorite non-religious holiday. However, I was completely unprepared for the chilly night. Beka is dressed up in her Tinkerbell costume and Raymond was dressed up in his spider costume. I figured they would be warm enough while trick or treating, but I was wrong. Raymond didn't have anything on his arms, so he was cold and Beka didn't have anything on her arms or legs. Thankfully, our friend brought some extra clothes for his daughter and I was able to put some pants on Beka. I still had no coats on this blustery night for either child, so I should probably win father of the year. Since it was so chilly outside, we didn't stay very long, but Beka still got her fill of candy.
Saturday night we had a nice party at a neighbor's house. They have a daughter a little older than Beka, but she had a good time. She didn't really know anyone else there and she fell down the stairs leading to the back yard twice (she was fine), but she still enjoyed the games and hay ride. She was overtired though because she refused a nap earlier in the day. This tiredness is probably why she fell.
So now we get to do the main event on Monday. We are just going to go around our immediate neighborhood, but it should still be fun. Raymond still won't know what's going on, but Beka will enjoy being able to dress up one last time before we retire the costume. She'll get her fill of candy yet again. The only problem is that she doesn't really like a ton of different kinds of candy, mostly just chocolate in all its various forms. It's a problem for Jen and I since we end up eating WAY too much candy.
One last thing. A plea for a Miami Dolphins win. I mean I just watched them blow a nice lead last week against the Broncos and this week again against the Giants. Seriously guys, get your stuff together and win one game. That's all I'm asking; just one. As a lifelong Fins fan, I can't stand to see them lose week after week after week. I guess maybe if they continue to lose, they'll get the first pick in the draft and hopefully they'll draft a quarterback. I like Andrew Luck from Stanford, but I don't really have a say. Again, my plea is to win just one game. Thanks, Your loyal fan Ray.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Various updates
So, I have been strangely silent on the blog lately, mostly because there isn't a lot going on and I've been busy. Now you're probably thinking "how can you have nothing going on and still be busy?" Well, the answer is pretty simple, I've been busy doing every day things that aren't necessarily blog-worthy. But in the spirit of being true to the blog, I'll provide some updates.
We've been to a couple Auburn games this year already and had a good time at both of them. That means we've also been doing a lot of driving. And a lot of visiting with my in laws who watch the kids while Jen and I go to the game (thanks!). It's nice because we are able to spend some quality time together without the kids to talk about adult things. The games we attended were the Miss State game which went right down to the last seconds and the FAU game which didn't. The next game we go to will be the Samford game and we sold our Florida and Ole Miss tickets. Then I get to go to the Iron Bowl with a good friend who, unfortunately, is an Alabama fan. We should have fun though.
Speaking of driving, my car finally had to have some major work done on it. I was telling a friend a couple weeks ago about how my car was low maintenance, didn't need a lot of repairs, and was generally a great vehicle. Well, the next day, it completely died on me. The air bag light had been on for a little bit, but I didn't really think anything of it. Well, I had gotten home from work and needed to check out a doggy day care place around here for my mom when she comes to visit for Raymond's birthday in a week. So before I pick up the kids from person day care, I stop by to check it out. I come out only to find that my car won't start. Battery is dead, alternator is shot, etc. Well, I am stranded, but I need to get the kids from daycare. So Jen sends her pharmacy student in her car to jump me. Turns out the jumper cables I had weren't big enough to jump my car, but Jen had bigger ones in hers. After successfully jumping my car, I had to leave it running when I went to get the kids and it died again once I got home. Well, I take into the dealership and everything gets fixed, but it was so expensive we had to spend our Disney vacation money to pay for it. Which sucks. But I need a vehicle to be able to get the kids from daycare. Then the check engine light comes on the next day I try to drive it. Yeah, ridiculous, right? Nothing was wrong with it, I guess they forgot to reset the computer or something. But I did have to take it back to the dealership to find this out. What an ordeal!
The new job has been going well and I am enjoying it. I really like using all my clinical knowledge more and actually being able to focus on some research.
We are getting ready for Halloween around here, my favorite non-religious holiday. Every day Beka comes up with a different character she wants to dress up as for trick or treating. One day its a princess, then a cowgirl, then a punk rocker, then a fashion model, then Foofa from Yo Gabba Gabba. We are probably going to make her choose something in the next week, so I'll keep you all posted. Any suggestions for my costume this year? We also don't know what we'll do with Raymond's costume, so any ideas there would be helpful. Speaking of Raymond, he is so close to walking I think he can taste it. Cruising all over the place.
We have a really fun weekend in store coming up. Dinner with friends, bowling, the circus, and a ton of other things. Can't wait, and maybe then I'll actually have something interesting to blog about.
We've been to a couple Auburn games this year already and had a good time at both of them. That means we've also been doing a lot of driving. And a lot of visiting with my in laws who watch the kids while Jen and I go to the game (thanks!). It's nice because we are able to spend some quality time together without the kids to talk about adult things. The games we attended were the Miss State game which went right down to the last seconds and the FAU game which didn't. The next game we go to will be the Samford game and we sold our Florida and Ole Miss tickets. Then I get to go to the Iron Bowl with a good friend who, unfortunately, is an Alabama fan. We should have fun though.
Speaking of driving, my car finally had to have some major work done on it. I was telling a friend a couple weeks ago about how my car was low maintenance, didn't need a lot of repairs, and was generally a great vehicle. Well, the next day, it completely died on me. The air bag light had been on for a little bit, but I didn't really think anything of it. Well, I had gotten home from work and needed to check out a doggy day care place around here for my mom when she comes to visit for Raymond's birthday in a week. So before I pick up the kids from person day care, I stop by to check it out. I come out only to find that my car won't start. Battery is dead, alternator is shot, etc. Well, I am stranded, but I need to get the kids from daycare. So Jen sends her pharmacy student in her car to jump me. Turns out the jumper cables I had weren't big enough to jump my car, but Jen had bigger ones in hers. After successfully jumping my car, I had to leave it running when I went to get the kids and it died again once I got home. Well, I take into the dealership and everything gets fixed, but it was so expensive we had to spend our Disney vacation money to pay for it. Which sucks. But I need a vehicle to be able to get the kids from daycare. Then the check engine light comes on the next day I try to drive it. Yeah, ridiculous, right? Nothing was wrong with it, I guess they forgot to reset the computer or something. But I did have to take it back to the dealership to find this out. What an ordeal!
The new job has been going well and I am enjoying it. I really like using all my clinical knowledge more and actually being able to focus on some research.
We are getting ready for Halloween around here, my favorite non-religious holiday. Every day Beka comes up with a different character she wants to dress up as for trick or treating. One day its a princess, then a cowgirl, then a punk rocker, then a fashion model, then Foofa from Yo Gabba Gabba. We are probably going to make her choose something in the next week, so I'll keep you all posted. Any suggestions for my costume this year? We also don't know what we'll do with Raymond's costume, so any ideas there would be helpful. Speaking of Raymond, he is so close to walking I think he can taste it. Cruising all over the place.
We have a really fun weekend in store coming up. Dinner with friends, bowling, the circus, and a ton of other things. Can't wait, and maybe then I'll actually have something interesting to blog about.
Friday, September 16, 2011
The end of an era
So I have finished my time at Auburn University and have moved from academia to true clinical practice. My last few days as an Auburn employee went by very quickly. I had so much to finish up and transition to other people. If I am honest with myself (and you my faithful readers) I am sad to leave. I am going to miss the students most of all. While I'll still have some interaction with the students on their clinical rotations, I won't have the level of interaction with the underclassmen. I do feel like I have made an impact on the students and hopefully they learned something from me (even if it's how they don't want to be!), but I guess you'd have to ask them. I could be delusional about my teaching ability. I am going to miss my colleagues and friends there as well, but I learned a lot. Not only about academia, but about myself as a clinician and educator. Also, it's the only job I've ever had in my professional career (not counting moonlighting and residency).
While I am sad to leave, I am hopeful for my future career with my clinic. I think I'll be able to make more of an impact on patient care in psychiatry and on pharmacy practice in the state. I guess I am trading my influence/impact on the students for more of a global influence/impact. I know this is the right move for because I got into psychiatric pharmacy to help patients and do the clinical work, not to teach. Teaching was just something that I enjoyed (and thought I was fairly good at, but you'd have to ask my students about that one.) I'll still be doing the clinical education, which is what I truly enjoy. I am excited to start my "new" job and see how I can excel there.
In other news, as I mentioned in my last blog post, a fallen tree destroyed a section of our fence. This time a tree fell in the woods and I may not have heard it, but I saw the damage. Anyone know a good fence repair person in my area? In addition, our air conditioning is fixed, but not fully so they are coming back to fix that as well.
We went to the Auburn game last weekend and it was a great game. I was glad I was there to witness it. I wasn't glad I got sunburned. Apparently, sunscreen was really needed. But now I have a nice tan going on, albeit a ridiculous farmers tan. Jen and I got to go because the in-laws watched the kids for us. It was a nice trip and we're doing it again in a week for the FAU game. I gotta use these faculty tix while I can still get them!
An update about the kids: Beka is loving school and she has started there full time. She now goes to school all week and there doesn't seem to be any end to how much she can learn. I guess this is a good thing, right? She is also in dance which she absolutely loves. She goes to Little Gym dance which is a little bit of dance and a little bit of gymnastics. If she likes the dance portion (which she seems to) we'll probably enroll her in a real dance class. Raymond is also growing more every day. He is so close to walking I think he can taste it. At least that's what I tell myself when he is trying to eat the furniture, toys, and people. More than likely he is teething, but I like to think he is just itching to walk and using his mouth for balance. I know it makes no sense, but whatever. He is also in the Little Gym, but he hasn't caught on yet that he can go away from mommy and daddy to play. He is still adjusting to be able to crawl around and play with anything in sight. Maybe he is overwhelmed, but I don't think so. Raymond is also eating a lot more real food. Well, he's always eaten real food; it's not like we've been feeding him pretend food, but I guess I mean people food. Not baby food. He seems to really like sweets, which I guess is no different from his daddy.
Anyway, I guess that's enough for the updates for now. Hopefully I'll have some more for you soon. I'll end with a question I was asked in clinic by a colleague: how many refills do you want on this Vyvanse prescription? My answer: well, just for this month, we'll won't give him any, just so we're in compliance with the law....
While I am sad to leave, I am hopeful for my future career with my clinic. I think I'll be able to make more of an impact on patient care in psychiatry and on pharmacy practice in the state. I guess I am trading my influence/impact on the students for more of a global influence/impact. I know this is the right move for because I got into psychiatric pharmacy to help patients and do the clinical work, not to teach. Teaching was just something that I enjoyed (and thought I was fairly good at, but you'd have to ask my students about that one.) I'll still be doing the clinical education, which is what I truly enjoy. I am excited to start my "new" job and see how I can excel there.
In other news, as I mentioned in my last blog post, a fallen tree destroyed a section of our fence. This time a tree fell in the woods and I may not have heard it, but I saw the damage. Anyone know a good fence repair person in my area? In addition, our air conditioning is fixed, but not fully so they are coming back to fix that as well.
We went to the Auburn game last weekend and it was a great game. I was glad I was there to witness it. I wasn't glad I got sunburned. Apparently, sunscreen was really needed. But now I have a nice tan going on, albeit a ridiculous farmers tan. Jen and I got to go because the in-laws watched the kids for us. It was a nice trip and we're doing it again in a week for the FAU game. I gotta use these faculty tix while I can still get them!
An update about the kids: Beka is loving school and she has started there full time. She now goes to school all week and there doesn't seem to be any end to how much she can learn. I guess this is a good thing, right? She is also in dance which she absolutely loves. She goes to Little Gym dance which is a little bit of dance and a little bit of gymnastics. If she likes the dance portion (which she seems to) we'll probably enroll her in a real dance class. Raymond is also growing more every day. He is so close to walking I think he can taste it. At least that's what I tell myself when he is trying to eat the furniture, toys, and people. More than likely he is teething, but I like to think he is just itching to walk and using his mouth for balance. I know it makes no sense, but whatever. He is also in the Little Gym, but he hasn't caught on yet that he can go away from mommy and daddy to play. He is still adjusting to be able to crawl around and play with anything in sight. Maybe he is overwhelmed, but I don't think so. Raymond is also eating a lot more real food. Well, he's always eaten real food; it's not like we've been feeding him pretend food, but I guess I mean people food. Not baby food. He seems to really like sweets, which I guess is no different from his daddy.
Anyway, I guess that's enough for the updates for now. Hopefully I'll have some more for you soon. I'll end with a question I was asked in clinic by a colleague: how many refills do you want on this Vyvanse prescription? My answer: well, just for this month, we'll won't give him any, just so we're in compliance with the law....
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Vacation? Part two
Saturday
Saturday was the wedding day so we didn't really do much in the morning except get ourselves ready for the wedding. We did have some real New York pizza, grease and all, for lunch before the wedding, so I was happy with that. The only thing I didn't like was that they used the little pepperonis and not the regular size ones. I don't know why it matters, but it does.
After hours of getting ready for the wedding (remember, Jen, Beka, and I are in the wedding and Raymond was wearing a "cute" little suit), we finally leave to meet up with the rest of the wedding party. We did need to drop the rental off at the reception sire because we get to ride in the limos to the wedding. How cool is that! The groomsmen all got into one limo at the best man's house to ride to the church. Unfortunately, my nightmare was realized: I am in a tuxedo, there is no air conditioning in the church, and it's quite possibly the hottest day ever in the history of time in western New York. So thankfully I came prepared with a handkerchief to mop off the profuse amounts of sweat pouring off my forehead, neck, etc. The ceremony was great and very beautiful. Beka did so well as a flower girl and I was so proud of her. Raymond even did well with someone other than Mommy, Daddy, or Grandma holding him (Thanks Fran!). But he seemed to be as hot as I was! Eventually, the wedding was over and it was picture time. After about 2 hours of pictures not only at the church, but at various other places across Rochester, we arrived at the reception site.
The reception was a lot of fun and we were able to eat, dance, and be merry. They even had a photo booth where you could take funny pictures. Of course, Beka, Jen, and I had to partake. The food was good, but the dessert table was awesome. Candy and cookies galore. It was enough to keep me awake after a long day. Beka had a great time with her cousins and Jen and I were able to catch up with some of our favorite relatives. We partied into the late night, which for us was about 9 PM or so and drove back home to the hotel where we promptly put the kids to bed and passed out.
Sunday
On Sunday, we took our time getting up in the morning, after our big evening the night before. We got to meet some good friends for breakfast at Cracker Barrel who we don't get to see very often. It is always a fun time when we get together with one of my old college roommates, his wife, and their son. I am glad we have such a connection with them, even though we don't visit frequently. The late breakfast was great, not because of the food (which was great) or because of the service (which was awful), but because of the company. We made plans to get together the next day, since Monday was the only day we didn't really have a ton of things to do. The original plan was to go to the pool at the hotel, but as you'll see that didn't really work out.
After breakfast, we met my mother-in-law to drive together to Syracuse for a baby shower for one of Jen's cousins. I was thrilled to be going (not). Apparently, the shower was at 3 and Jen thought it was at 2. So we got there more than a little early. We did get to set up though. I thought about going to one of my uncles' house, but decided against it since I wanted to play video games at an arcade like I hadn't in years. As Jen says, "it's a waste of money", but you could say the same about any hobby really. While at the arcade, I had a couple tweens challenge me to some motorcycle racing game, since I was continuously winning and getting free games at it. I warned them not to bother and really waste their money. There was no way they could actually beat me at since I'd been playing for a good while and hadn't lost, even though I was playing at the hard level. Needless to say, I beat them handily and then they finally left me alone. So after spending a couple house wasting money, I headed back to the shower. Jen had texted me telling me when the other husbands would be back. I get back to the house where the shower is and no one but the wives are there. So, I turned on the TV and watched some football. After everyone else showed up, I got to talk with some of Jen's relatives and catch up some more with them. It ended up being a good day all in all.
Monday
Monday started off with us taking our time in the morning and getting a message from our friends that their son was being a little fussy and they didn't really want to take him out that morning. This was cool so we just went to the pool with the kids ourselves. The pool wasn't heated and I was cold in the water so I didn't last very long. Raymond was also cold (as evidenced by his blue lips) so I took him back to the room and put him down for nap. Eventually, Jen and Beka come back and we decide to hit up the Strong Museum of Play, a literal museum of things that you play with. I probably don't have to tell you Beka was in her glory. She couldn't get enough: running around, playing, yelling, etc. They even had a mock grocery store where she could shop, ring up her purchases, and bag them herself. There was even a small section for Raymond-size babies. Insanity. So, a few hours later (we planned on being there maybe an hour) we get into the car and head over to out friends house for some dinner and good conversation. We didn't want to leave, but our flight was taking off very early and we needed to get back to the hotel and pack.
Tuesday
So we get up so early on Tuesday morning I can't even call it the crack of dawn because it was even earlier than that. We get the kids all ready to go, check out, get to the airport, turn in our rental car, and make our way to the check in counter at Delta. Lo and behold, our flight was cancelled due to weather and changed to that afternoon. Yeah, after having been up at 3:45 am, that's what I want to hear. So we sort through our options and decide on trying to get the rental car back (since the place wasn't even open yet and we still had a whole day) and hanging out in Rochester for an extra day. Doing what, you might ask. We didn't know either. We were all hungry for breakfast so we got the rental car back once the place opened up at 6 am. We couldn't even get through security because our flight was more than 6 hours away and we can't get boarding passes. Also, we only had enough baby formula for half a day since we were supposed to be home by mid-day. So for breakfast we head to Denny's. This was a HUGE mistake. We ordered food, but didn't really eat much of it since it wasn't good at all. But Beka ate, so that was good. Jen and I then went to Dunkin Donuts to actually eat. It was after 7:30 am by this point so we had the idea to see if our friends were home. Thankfully, even though my old roommate was at work, his wife was going to be home most of the morning so we could have a place to hang out. This was a life saver for sure. We're so grateful to have such good friends.
After being there for a few hours, we drove back to the airport and boarded our flight home. The flight home was fairly uneventful, actually, but we wanted to be home already. Our poor dogs had to stay at the doggy hotel for an extra day because we didn't get home soon enough to pick them up. The perfect end to the trip: finding out that the tropical storm that we had here actually knocked over a tree in our yard and destroyed a section of our fence. Fun!
Saturday was the wedding day so we didn't really do much in the morning except get ourselves ready for the wedding. We did have some real New York pizza, grease and all, for lunch before the wedding, so I was happy with that. The only thing I didn't like was that they used the little pepperonis and not the regular size ones. I don't know why it matters, but it does.
After hours of getting ready for the wedding (remember, Jen, Beka, and I are in the wedding and Raymond was wearing a "cute" little suit), we finally leave to meet up with the rest of the wedding party. We did need to drop the rental off at the reception sire because we get to ride in the limos to the wedding. How cool is that! The groomsmen all got into one limo at the best man's house to ride to the church. Unfortunately, my nightmare was realized: I am in a tuxedo, there is no air conditioning in the church, and it's quite possibly the hottest day ever in the history of time in western New York. So thankfully I came prepared with a handkerchief to mop off the profuse amounts of sweat pouring off my forehead, neck, etc. The ceremony was great and very beautiful. Beka did so well as a flower girl and I was so proud of her. Raymond even did well with someone other than Mommy, Daddy, or Grandma holding him (Thanks Fran!). But he seemed to be as hot as I was! Eventually, the wedding was over and it was picture time. After about 2 hours of pictures not only at the church, but at various other places across Rochester, we arrived at the reception site.
The reception was a lot of fun and we were able to eat, dance, and be merry. They even had a photo booth where you could take funny pictures. Of course, Beka, Jen, and I had to partake. The food was good, but the dessert table was awesome. Candy and cookies galore. It was enough to keep me awake after a long day. Beka had a great time with her cousins and Jen and I were able to catch up with some of our favorite relatives. We partied into the late night, which for us was about 9 PM or so and drove back home to the hotel where we promptly put the kids to bed and passed out.
Sunday
On Sunday, we took our time getting up in the morning, after our big evening the night before. We got to meet some good friends for breakfast at Cracker Barrel who we don't get to see very often. It is always a fun time when we get together with one of my old college roommates, his wife, and their son. I am glad we have such a connection with them, even though we don't visit frequently. The late breakfast was great, not because of the food (which was great) or because of the service (which was awful), but because of the company. We made plans to get together the next day, since Monday was the only day we didn't really have a ton of things to do. The original plan was to go to the pool at the hotel, but as you'll see that didn't really work out.
After breakfast, we met my mother-in-law to drive together to Syracuse for a baby shower for one of Jen's cousins. I was thrilled to be going (not). Apparently, the shower was at 3 and Jen thought it was at 2. So we got there more than a little early. We did get to set up though. I thought about going to one of my uncles' house, but decided against it since I wanted to play video games at an arcade like I hadn't in years. As Jen says, "it's a waste of money", but you could say the same about any hobby really. While at the arcade, I had a couple tweens challenge me to some motorcycle racing game, since I was continuously winning and getting free games at it. I warned them not to bother and really waste their money. There was no way they could actually beat me at since I'd been playing for a good while and hadn't lost, even though I was playing at the hard level. Needless to say, I beat them handily and then they finally left me alone. So after spending a couple house wasting money, I headed back to the shower. Jen had texted me telling me when the other husbands would be back. I get back to the house where the shower is and no one but the wives are there. So, I turned on the TV and watched some football. After everyone else showed up, I got to talk with some of Jen's relatives and catch up some more with them. It ended up being a good day all in all.
Monday
Monday started off with us taking our time in the morning and getting a message from our friends that their son was being a little fussy and they didn't really want to take him out that morning. This was cool so we just went to the pool with the kids ourselves. The pool wasn't heated and I was cold in the water so I didn't last very long. Raymond was also cold (as evidenced by his blue lips) so I took him back to the room and put him down for nap. Eventually, Jen and Beka come back and we decide to hit up the Strong Museum of Play, a literal museum of things that you play with. I probably don't have to tell you Beka was in her glory. She couldn't get enough: running around, playing, yelling, etc. They even had a mock grocery store where she could shop, ring up her purchases, and bag them herself. There was even a small section for Raymond-size babies. Insanity. So, a few hours later (we planned on being there maybe an hour) we get into the car and head over to out friends house for some dinner and good conversation. We didn't want to leave, but our flight was taking off very early and we needed to get back to the hotel and pack.
Tuesday
So we get up so early on Tuesday morning I can't even call it the crack of dawn because it was even earlier than that. We get the kids all ready to go, check out, get to the airport, turn in our rental car, and make our way to the check in counter at Delta. Lo and behold, our flight was cancelled due to weather and changed to that afternoon. Yeah, after having been up at 3:45 am, that's what I want to hear. So we sort through our options and decide on trying to get the rental car back (since the place wasn't even open yet and we still had a whole day) and hanging out in Rochester for an extra day. Doing what, you might ask. We didn't know either. We were all hungry for breakfast so we got the rental car back once the place opened up at 6 am. We couldn't even get through security because our flight was more than 6 hours away and we can't get boarding passes. Also, we only had enough baby formula for half a day since we were supposed to be home by mid-day. So for breakfast we head to Denny's. This was a HUGE mistake. We ordered food, but didn't really eat much of it since it wasn't good at all. But Beka ate, so that was good. Jen and I then went to Dunkin Donuts to actually eat. It was after 7:30 am by this point so we had the idea to see if our friends were home. Thankfully, even though my old roommate was at work, his wife was going to be home most of the morning so we could have a place to hang out. This was a life saver for sure. We're so grateful to have such good friends.
After being there for a few hours, we drove back to the airport and boarded our flight home. The flight home was fairly uneventful, actually, but we wanted to be home already. Our poor dogs had to stay at the doggy hotel for an extra day because we didn't get home soon enough to pick them up. The perfect end to the trip: finding out that the tropical storm that we had here actually knocked over a tree in our yard and destroyed a section of our fence. Fun!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Vacation? Part one
So we packed up the family and went to upstate NY for Jen’s brother’s wedding. But naturally, we took some extra time to visit with family and friends. Our adventures follow organized by day. Just a fair warning: I am exceptionally long winded and this is going to be a monster post, so I have divided it into 2 separate posts. Here is part one:
Thursday
We were required to get up so early in the morning it doesn’t even qualify as the crack of dawn, because the sun didn’t come up for hours after we were at the airport. We wanted to have enough time to get through security with 2 kids and the various accoutrements that come with 2 children (stroller, 3 backpacks, etc.) so we didn’t have to rush and miss our flight. It was funny that even though we got there so early, after checking in, going through security, and having breakfast we were right on time to board the plane. The kids did really well on the plane rides. They were tired (me too!) and Raymond slept on the plane a little while Beka watched her princess and Dora videos on the portable DVD player. The only time Raymond got a little fussy was when we were landing in Rochester because his ears must have been bothering him. Jen was a trooper as well since she was a little under the weather with a cold and cough. I love traveling with her since she is so organized and laid back (usually…). After we arrived in Rochester we got our rented car with XM radio (I can’t be without my satellite radio after all) and checked into the hotel. Interesting side note- just because the company website says there is a pull out couch in all the suites, doesn’t really mean there really is. Thankfully, I complained and got a rollaway cot for free! It would have been tough to have Beka in the bed with us since she is a fairly violent sleeper and likes to move around a lot more than I am used to.
After we checked in, we then got immediately back on the road to head to the wedding rehearsal. At the church I realized my first issue- there was no air conditioning and the expected high for the wedding day was 92. I was preemptively sweating just thinking about it. The rehearsal went well and even though we started late, we got done fairly quickly. Then came the rehearsal dinner (great, I’m starved!), but first I needed to go try on my tux for wedding since I was a groomsman. Now I had tried to go try it on before the rehearsal (since I was told it would be ready by 4 PM), but alas, it wasn’t ready (“oh no, we wouldn’t have told you 4, it’s always after 6” but that’s not what I was told….). Another interesting side note- just because you send in your measurements, doesn’t mean the tux shop will actually have your size. The tux they provided me to try on was for a man much, much smaller than me. The only thing that fit was the shoes. Why would they think a guy who wears a size 14 shoe would fit into a size 30 waist pant? Seriously, what did they think I was, a clown? Needless to say, they ordered me a new tux which I was supposed to try on the next day. Then I was able to get to the dinner, which was mostly finished and actually eat some food. I scarfed down the BBQ my in-laws had gotten and then proceeded to be eaten alive by mosquitos. Shortly thereafter, I got a gift: a new Miami Dolphins cap embroidered with my name. The hat is made out of wool and is dry clean only. Maybe not so practical for south Alabama, but still awesome. Then we retired to the hotel for some sleep (finally).
Friday
This day started with us getting up with the kids and getting ready to go to the NY state fair. I have been to the fair only once before, right before we moved away, but I had enjoyed it. I knew Beka was going to really enjoy the rides, animals, shows, etc. We got up and drove from Rochester to Syracuse to meet at Jen’s aunt’s house and get our tickets which we bought ahead of time. When we got there we got to see some of Jen’s aunts, uncles, and cousins who I really like and get along with very well. Then we took a shuttle bus to the fair. Beka was in her glory. She loved everything about the fair from the chocolate milk and ice cream to the rides and the circus. In fact, I was so proud of her because she rode a roller coaster all by herself. Now, it was a kiddie roller coaster, but I am no less proud because she was probably the youngest on the ride. They actually had to stop it to let an older kid off who was crying uncontrollably. She also got to ride a camel with Jen. Beka’s appraisal: “it was bumpy Daddy.” Raymond was just along for the ride really. He did very well with napping and not being fussy, but the fair wasn’t really his cup of tea. We ended up staying there much longer than I thought we would, but my in laws were really helpful with the kids so it didn’t really seem like a very long day. I was actually starving on the drive home, but I was so tired I couldn’t eat. That should tell you how tired I actually was. But unfortunately I still had to go to the tux place and pick up my tux for the wedding. They just handed it to me to take, but after my earlier experience I wanted to try it on to make sure it actually fit. It did, albeit the pants were a little long and didn’t have buttons for suspenders, which I like to wear with tuxes and suits.
Stay tuned for part 2!
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Big news
Before I get to the news of the week, I wanted to give an update about the kids. Raymond has started doing The Little Gym, which Beka started about the same age. He seems to really enjoy being able to crawl around with the reckless abandon that can only be seen in a 10 month old. He also seems to like the interaction with other kids. Raymond has also come down with a little cold this weekend, so we are hoping it doesn't turn into an ear infection. Beka is still doing Little Gym as well, but she has started dance class now. She is so excited to be doing dance and to be able to wear her leotard, tap shoes, and ballet shoes. She actually pays attention and does what the teacher asks. I guess her ADHD only comes out when she is bored, unlike me where it's present all the time. We are also probably going to send her to school full time soon instead of only 3 days per week like now. She says she really enjoys it and she seems to be learning a lot there.
Our air conditioning went out this past week which was no picnic. Thankfully we have a home warranty so it covered the cost to fix it. We had about 24 hours without working a/c and in south Alabama, this was horrible as the heat was absolutely miserable. Although, it wasn't as bad as it had been the week before where heat indices were in the 110's. So I guess we should be happy it was "cooler" than before, but it was still hot as heck. We had to sleep only one night without a/c, but it was not fun. I have a lot of trouble sleeping if it is too warm, so I didn't sleep well at all. Tossing and turning all night trying to find a cool position to sleep in wasn't my idea of a good time. Oh and the sweating. Lots and lots of sweating. Gross I know (and probably way too much information), but if you know me, you know I perspire quite a bit even when the a/c is working. Having the a/c broken only made this much, much worse. Once we got it fixed, we were glad to be cool again to say the least.
So onto the news I spoke of above. If you haven't heard yet, I am leaving my current position at Auburn University. I am going to be taking a clinical position with my practice site. I have not only made a positive impact on patient care there, but also on the psychiatrists and other staff I work with. I am very proud of the work I have done there and my new position will enable me to further advance psychiatric pharmacy in the area. I'll also be able to start a PGY-2 residency in psychiatric pharmacy within the next few years.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Auburn and I have a learned a lot that I'll be able to use in my future career. I will especially miss the easy and continuous interaction I have with the students at the pharmacy school. While I have been their teacher, I have learned so much from them. I'll also miss my coworkers, but since I'm not moving to a different area, I should be able to still see them. I'll still take P4s on rotation with me since I think they will learn a great deal about psychiatric pharmacy and what pharmacists are capable of doing in clinical settings. I will also take a more active role with the medical students and psychiatry residents. Thankfully, I will be able to do research at my clinic and continue to produce publications. I am excited to start this new phase in my career and I appreciate all that Auburn has done for me.
For my new position, I will basically have the same job I've always had, but without the multitude of teaching responsibilities and with more time for clinical practice. As I said, I'll have a bigger impact on patient care, but I traded that for less time with students. At the end of the day, I got into clinical pharmacy because I enjoy clinical pharmacy, not because of teaching. I enjoy teaching, and I think I am fairly good at it, but it's always been an added bonus, not the goal of my career. It wasn't an easy decision to leave Auburn, but now that I have made it, I am glad I did.
I am enjoying having more time in clinic over the past few weeks and being able to use that time to teach my P4s. I feel like having more time in the clinic will make me a better clinical teacher and the students will enjoy the rotation more, especially those that are interested in psychiatry. It's nice to teach students who are interested in your topic area, but definitely not required, since I can probably mold the rotation to make it applicable to any student's future practice. So now that I will have more time in practice, I'll have the time to continue to improve my clinical teaching skills, resulting in a better experience for whatever students I have, be it pharmacy, medical, or nursing.
Well, now that I've gotten everything off my chest, I guess I am done writing for now. Have a good week!
Our air conditioning went out this past week which was no picnic. Thankfully we have a home warranty so it covered the cost to fix it. We had about 24 hours without working a/c and in south Alabama, this was horrible as the heat was absolutely miserable. Although, it wasn't as bad as it had been the week before where heat indices were in the 110's. So I guess we should be happy it was "cooler" than before, but it was still hot as heck. We had to sleep only one night without a/c, but it was not fun. I have a lot of trouble sleeping if it is too warm, so I didn't sleep well at all. Tossing and turning all night trying to find a cool position to sleep in wasn't my idea of a good time. Oh and the sweating. Lots and lots of sweating. Gross I know (and probably way too much information), but if you know me, you know I perspire quite a bit even when the a/c is working. Having the a/c broken only made this much, much worse. Once we got it fixed, we were glad to be cool again to say the least.
So onto the news I spoke of above. If you haven't heard yet, I am leaving my current position at Auburn University. I am going to be taking a clinical position with my practice site. I have not only made a positive impact on patient care there, but also on the psychiatrists and other staff I work with. I am very proud of the work I have done there and my new position will enable me to further advance psychiatric pharmacy in the area. I'll also be able to start a PGY-2 residency in psychiatric pharmacy within the next few years.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Auburn and I have a learned a lot that I'll be able to use in my future career. I will especially miss the easy and continuous interaction I have with the students at the pharmacy school. While I have been their teacher, I have learned so much from them. I'll also miss my coworkers, but since I'm not moving to a different area, I should be able to still see them. I'll still take P4s on rotation with me since I think they will learn a great deal about psychiatric pharmacy and what pharmacists are capable of doing in clinical settings. I will also take a more active role with the medical students and psychiatry residents. Thankfully, I will be able to do research at my clinic and continue to produce publications. I am excited to start this new phase in my career and I appreciate all that Auburn has done for me.
For my new position, I will basically have the same job I've always had, but without the multitude of teaching responsibilities and with more time for clinical practice. As I said, I'll have a bigger impact on patient care, but I traded that for less time with students. At the end of the day, I got into clinical pharmacy because I enjoy clinical pharmacy, not because of teaching. I enjoy teaching, and I think I am fairly good at it, but it's always been an added bonus, not the goal of my career. It wasn't an easy decision to leave Auburn, but now that I have made it, I am glad I did.
I am enjoying having more time in clinic over the past few weeks and being able to use that time to teach my P4s. I feel like having more time in the clinic will make me a better clinical teacher and the students will enjoy the rotation more, especially those that are interested in psychiatry. It's nice to teach students who are interested in your topic area, but definitely not required, since I can probably mold the rotation to make it applicable to any student's future practice. So now that I will have more time in practice, I'll have the time to continue to improve my clinical teaching skills, resulting in a better experience for whatever students I have, be it pharmacy, medical, or nursing.
Well, now that I've gotten everything off my chest, I guess I am done writing for now. Have a good week!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Weekend warrior
It was a busy weekend on the home front. Jen didn't have to work, so we were able to spend some time together as family. Jen's mom and dad came for the weekend to visit the kids (and us I guess), but Saturday before they got here I had to mow the lawn. We've had a good couple weeks of rain and even though we are still in a drought, the yard was starting to look ridiculous. I honestly don't mind mowing the lawn. It was always something my father and I did together and I even though I complained (like I do now) it was a bonding experience. I guess he instilled in me a love of taking care of your own property. I am sure Jen would disagree because she usually has to threaten me to do it, but I really do feel good taking care of the yard, at least when it's done. Maybe I can instill the same begrudging love for the lawn in Raymond. Don't get me wrong though, if I could afford to pay someone to do my lawn for me, I would. Anyway, it was only 84 degrees when I mowed the lawn at 7:30 AM with a heat index of 91, so it was nice and cool compared to what it would be later in the day. After that was done it was time to take Beka to her gym class and Raymond to a birthday party.
The pool party was for a friend's son who was turning 1, so he had no idea what was really going on. It was a good time especially once I got into the water with Raymond. It was so hot outside and the sun was scorching so it was nice in the pool. Raymond really enjoys the water and being able to splash. It's funny though that he doesn't really like the bath tub all that much. I don't know what's different for him other than in the pool no one is trying to scrub him down. Raymond had sunscreen on, but I didn't. I know, I know. I should have had it on, even though I was only out in the sun for an hour, especially finishing an antibiotic which makes you sun sensitive (poor judgment for a pharmacist, of course). So I got a little burn. It wasn't really that bad and it doesn't hurt now, but it was somewhat uncomfortable that night. Raymond even got some ice cream, which he REALLY liked (I guess this proves he is my son...).
When Raymond and I got home after the party Jen's mom and dad had met her at Beka's gym class and then come back to the house with her. I guess they had shown up at our house before I left for the party, but didn't stay. Jen, Beka, and Grandma went to the mall to see if they could find Beka some shoes for the wedding we're going to in the next few weeks. They ended up being out for quite a while, during which Jen's dad and I sat in house and did nothing, except read, watch TV, and look after Raymond. We had Mellow Mushroom for dinner so it was a good afternoon and evening.
Beka has been doing well at school and we are thinking about sending her 5 days a week, instead of only when Jen is working. She really enjoys it and she would probably get a lot more out of it, but the cost may be prohibitive. We'll see. I think Beka is going through a growth spurt since she is eating everything in sight so hopefully she still fits into her flower girl dress for the wedding.
I guess that's all the updating I have for now. Have a good week.
The pool party was for a friend's son who was turning 1, so he had no idea what was really going on. It was a good time especially once I got into the water with Raymond. It was so hot outside and the sun was scorching so it was nice in the pool. Raymond really enjoys the water and being able to splash. It's funny though that he doesn't really like the bath tub all that much. I don't know what's different for him other than in the pool no one is trying to scrub him down. Raymond had sunscreen on, but I didn't. I know, I know. I should have had it on, even though I was only out in the sun for an hour, especially finishing an antibiotic which makes you sun sensitive (poor judgment for a pharmacist, of course). So I got a little burn. It wasn't really that bad and it doesn't hurt now, but it was somewhat uncomfortable that night. Raymond even got some ice cream, which he REALLY liked (I guess this proves he is my son...).
When Raymond and I got home after the party Jen's mom and dad had met her at Beka's gym class and then come back to the house with her. I guess they had shown up at our house before I left for the party, but didn't stay. Jen, Beka, and Grandma went to the mall to see if they could find Beka some shoes for the wedding we're going to in the next few weeks. They ended up being out for quite a while, during which Jen's dad and I sat in house and did nothing, except read, watch TV, and look after Raymond. We had Mellow Mushroom for dinner so it was a good afternoon and evening.
Beka has been doing well at school and we are thinking about sending her 5 days a week, instead of only when Jen is working. She really enjoys it and she would probably get a lot more out of it, but the cost may be prohibitive. We'll see. I think Beka is going through a growth spurt since she is eating everything in sight so hopefully she still fits into her flower girl dress for the wedding.
I guess that's all the updating I have for now. Have a good week.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Insert witty title here
The kids have all gotten over their illnesses and are healthy again. It was a rough couple weeks with both kids (in succession, not at the same time of course) being sick. I also got sick and I'm on the tail end of it, but I have this nagging cough which won't go away, which in turn causes my asthma to act up. I guess I should go to the doctor to see if anything is wrong. Both kids needed antibiotics (Beka needed 2) so I probably should make the attempt. And naturally, Jen didn't get sick at all.
Otherwise, I have been busy with work. Being back in the clinic has been good. I have been seeing all kinds of patients and encountering new problems and issues I get to solve. Every day is different, which is one of my favorite things about this job. I start having P4 students on rotation again next week. I am looking forward to it, especially since it's been a while since I've had them. I had this whole plan worked out as to how I was going to change the rotation because I was doing inpatient. That plan has gone completely out the window, but at least I already have the old plan working so well. I am not only seeing my own patients who were referred by the psychiatrists, but also the general clinic patients. Seeing the general clinic patients will be different for my rotation students. I like to take the time between patients to describe what my thought process was about why I chose to do what I did. It helps them to develop their own problem solving strategy and it shows them how I integrate all the different knowledge I have to make a rational decision. Because the clinic is so busy and usually at least double-booked, I won't have the time between patients to do that. I'll have to come up with some way to have the discussion after the clinic, by having the student take notes or something, but I don't know if that is the best way.
I finally got to see Harry Potter with Jen last week. We had a babysitter come and watch the kids (even the same babysitter who watched Beka for us when she was sick earlier that week. She's some kind of angel or something). We really enjoyed it. It was a great finish to the series of movies. I liked that they included the epilogue from the book, since it really gave the series a solid finish. There were some differences from the book obviously, but I think the endpoint was the same. The books were much more complex overall, and there isn't enough time to hit on everything. That's why people should read the books. I've never seen a movie that was better than the book I read. Some have been as good, but never better. That's my own bias I guess, since my imagination is much more full than any movie.
Another movie I saw recently while in San Antonio for AACP was Super 8. I have to say it was a very good movie. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery of the alien. The train crash scene was very well done and appropriately disastrous.
Jen and I have just started watching Season 1 of Breaking Bad on DVD. So far so good. I like that the chemistry and other information is accurate. I guess only I would care, or even know whether it's correct, but I'm glad it is. The acting is first class for sure as well.
That's all for now. Have fun....
Otherwise, I have been busy with work. Being back in the clinic has been good. I have been seeing all kinds of patients and encountering new problems and issues I get to solve. Every day is different, which is one of my favorite things about this job. I start having P4 students on rotation again next week. I am looking forward to it, especially since it's been a while since I've had them. I had this whole plan worked out as to how I was going to change the rotation because I was doing inpatient. That plan has gone completely out the window, but at least I already have the old plan working so well. I am not only seeing my own patients who were referred by the psychiatrists, but also the general clinic patients. Seeing the general clinic patients will be different for my rotation students. I like to take the time between patients to describe what my thought process was about why I chose to do what I did. It helps them to develop their own problem solving strategy and it shows them how I integrate all the different knowledge I have to make a rational decision. Because the clinic is so busy and usually at least double-booked, I won't have the time between patients to do that. I'll have to come up with some way to have the discussion after the clinic, by having the student take notes or something, but I don't know if that is the best way.
I finally got to see Harry Potter with Jen last week. We had a babysitter come and watch the kids (even the same babysitter who watched Beka for us when she was sick earlier that week. She's some kind of angel or something). We really enjoyed it. It was a great finish to the series of movies. I liked that they included the epilogue from the book, since it really gave the series a solid finish. There were some differences from the book obviously, but I think the endpoint was the same. The books were much more complex overall, and there isn't enough time to hit on everything. That's why people should read the books. I've never seen a movie that was better than the book I read. Some have been as good, but never better. That's my own bias I guess, since my imagination is much more full than any movie.
Another movie I saw recently while in San Antonio for AACP was Super 8. I have to say it was a very good movie. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery of the alien. The train crash scene was very well done and appropriately disastrous.
Jen and I have just started watching Season 1 of Breaking Bad on DVD. So far so good. I like that the chemistry and other information is accurate. I guess only I would care, or even know whether it's correct, but I'm glad it is. The acting is first class for sure as well.
That's all for now. Have fun....
In which a new music streaming service is reviewed
So I promised a review of the new music streaming service, Spotify. This service has been around for a while in Europe, but it has taken a while to reach the States. It had something to do with music companies and copyright regulation. Anyway, it's here now. So here's the deal: You can stream any song you want (well almost any, some songs/artists aren't available yet) for up to 20 hours per month for free. There are advertisements when you use the free version as well which are interspersed in your music. Unfortunately, you can't mute the computer and let the commercial play; it knows you have muted and waits to play the commercial when it's unmuted. Pretty sneaky. You can pay $5 a month which basically gets rid of the ads and the time limit. Or you can pay $10 a month and you can access your playlists off-line and use the iPhone (or other smartphone) app. So you basically "own" any of the songs you play. People are saying that this is going to replace Pandora or even iTunes. I don't think so. Yes, you can "download" unlimited music with Spotify, but you don't actually own it. One cool feature is that Spotify imports your downloaded songs from iTunes so you can mix and match your own songs with whatever you get from Spotify to make playlists.
I think Spotify would be good for people who know what they want to play, since you have to search the songs yourself and build your own playlists, which is in contrast to Pandora, where you don't pick the songs, they are picked for you based on what you already like. If you want to discover new music or have more variety (and are too lazy or don't have time to spend building playlists), I like Pandora better. If you are looking for that lost Jimmy Eat World album that you can't find since your last move and need it to complete your catalog, Spotify is what you want. Another difference is that Spotify has software that needs to be downloaded to your computer to run. You can access Pandora using any internet connection and don't need to download anything to your computer. Spotify also has a social networking feature, which I haven't tried out. This feature enables you to trade playlists with friends and see what other people are listening to (friends and otherwise). You can also use Facebook with Spotify, but I don't know how that works.
I like Pandora for every day listening and Spotify for listening to specific music I don't already have or listening to full albums before buying on iTunes. I'll continue to use both until my free time is up for the month.....
I think Spotify would be good for people who know what they want to play, since you have to search the songs yourself and build your own playlists, which is in contrast to Pandora, where you don't pick the songs, they are picked for you based on what you already like. If you want to discover new music or have more variety (and are too lazy or don't have time to spend building playlists), I like Pandora better. If you are looking for that lost Jimmy Eat World album that you can't find since your last move and need it to complete your catalog, Spotify is what you want. Another difference is that Spotify has software that needs to be downloaded to your computer to run. You can access Pandora using any internet connection and don't need to download anything to your computer. Spotify also has a social networking feature, which I haven't tried out. This feature enables you to trade playlists with friends and see what other people are listening to (friends and otherwise). You can also use Facebook with Spotify, but I don't know how that works.
I like Pandora for every day listening and Spotify for listening to specific music I don't already have or listening to full albums before buying on iTunes. I'll continue to use both until my free time is up for the month.....
Monday, July 18, 2011
Returning to the blogosphere
So I have been remiss in my duties as the family chronicler. It's been a long time since I've blogged. There are a whole host of excuses I could give, but I don't really want to write them. Suffice it to say, I've been busy. Now that I am back, I will try to blog a little more regularly. I find that having an outlet for my creativity is healthy for me so I'll blog to get that done.
So a quick update about the family since I've been gone from the blog so long. Jen and I have a son, named Raymond who we named after my father. He is now 9 months old and it has been quite a ride. He is almost crawling, but he is trying to pull up on everything, so I figure he may be walking before he crawls. Beka is doing great. We have enrolled her in preschool and she really is thriving there. Every day she comes home having learned something new. The school uses a Montessori approach, which I think is really good for her since she is so adventurous and outgoing. Raymond is there too, so we don't have to go to 2 different places. He is really just in the nursery, but he seems to enjoy it as well. We abandoned the nanny as a child care option since it was going to be a hassle to find a new one after Jen took time off from having Raymond. The plan was to put Beka in school anyway, so it worked out.
Jen has recently been moved to a new pharmacy and is working much closer to home. She's still the manager and her boss has a lot of faith in her that she'll be able to turn this store around. I am proud of her and excited to see how she can do this. She has also started precepting students on rotations from Auburn's pharmacy school. She seems to really enjoy it and I am sure the students do as well and learn a lot from her.
My work has been about the same. Still teaching and seeing patients at the clinic. I had a brief stint in the inpatient hospital, but that was short lived. Not because it didn't work. It did actually work really well. But because the organization needed me to be in the clinic more than it did rounding with the docs inpatient. I am OK with it, since I built relationships with the docs there and I could go back anytime, when the need isn't as great in the outpatient clinic. I am able to teach my P4's in any arena, so it doesn't matter. I have been doing a ton of research as well. It's definitely stuff I am interested in and passionate about. But almost no one reading this blog will care what I am researching so I will refrain from discussing it here. If you want to know more, you know how to contact me.
Well, there is a lot more I could talk about, but I'll stop here for tonight since Jen just got home from work. Keep checking back for more updates!
So a quick update about the family since I've been gone from the blog so long. Jen and I have a son, named Raymond who we named after my father. He is now 9 months old and it has been quite a ride. He is almost crawling, but he is trying to pull up on everything, so I figure he may be walking before he crawls. Beka is doing great. We have enrolled her in preschool and she really is thriving there. Every day she comes home having learned something new. The school uses a Montessori approach, which I think is really good for her since she is so adventurous and outgoing. Raymond is there too, so we don't have to go to 2 different places. He is really just in the nursery, but he seems to enjoy it as well. We abandoned the nanny as a child care option since it was going to be a hassle to find a new one after Jen took time off from having Raymond. The plan was to put Beka in school anyway, so it worked out.
Jen has recently been moved to a new pharmacy and is working much closer to home. She's still the manager and her boss has a lot of faith in her that she'll be able to turn this store around. I am proud of her and excited to see how she can do this. She has also started precepting students on rotations from Auburn's pharmacy school. She seems to really enjoy it and I am sure the students do as well and learn a lot from her.
My work has been about the same. Still teaching and seeing patients at the clinic. I had a brief stint in the inpatient hospital, but that was short lived. Not because it didn't work. It did actually work really well. But because the organization needed me to be in the clinic more than it did rounding with the docs inpatient. I am OK with it, since I built relationships with the docs there and I could go back anytime, when the need isn't as great in the outpatient clinic. I am able to teach my P4's in any arena, so it doesn't matter. I have been doing a ton of research as well. It's definitely stuff I am interested in and passionate about. But almost no one reading this blog will care what I am researching so I will refrain from discussing it here. If you want to know more, you know how to contact me.
Well, there is a lot more I could talk about, but I'll stop here for tonight since Jen just got home from work. Keep checking back for more updates!
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