Here we go again...

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

My family should plan parties for a living. (ok, my SIL does but the rest of us should, too)

My cousin's wedding is going to be so cool. and my mother has decided that she's going to sew the flower girl dress. (my other cousin Sarah's 2.5 yo Leah will be the FG) EB (my cousin the bride- Sarah couldn't say Elizabeth so she became EB and there she's stayed) and I have been lamenting the fact that all of the flower girl dresses are a wee bit too JonBenet for our tastes. I called my mom last night to see if she still had the dress that I wore as a flower girl to my aunt's wedding (EB and Sarah's mom). Sadly, she JUST got rid of them when they moved. So, she decided to see if we were exaggerating about how poofy and BIG the flowergirl dresses are these days.

Next thing ya know, she's surfing the patterns on the web and had decided that dammit, there are UGLY dresses out there and SHE can do better.

OK, I say. I guess it's like riding a bike. I think the last thing anyone wore that she made was definitely in the early 1980s.

But, heck, Yay Mom. I love my mom. I still don't know why she gave up her kick ass White House clearance job at NSA (translating Vietnamese- 1966- think about it) for ME, but she rocks.

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

Update on the girly parts:

One Giant-has-it's-own-zipcode Ovarian Cyst of undetermined variety on the right ovary. Apparently that made the left ovary feel inadequate and it's now hiding, because no amount of aiming and pushing via internal or external sonogram could find it. It should be right where I left it. I think I would have noticed had it fallen out, right? So, anyway, I guess big honking cyst would be why I have constant burning/numbness on my right side with the occasional numbness going down my inner thigh. ETA: my NP just called and she's much less concerned about the cyst than she is about my "endometrial stripe". WTF? What-ever.

Just yank it all, already.

Follow-up appointment is on the 15th with gyn.

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

Had my follow-up appointment today. Massively hyper ob (makes me look calm) said that I don't have any fibroids and that the cyst is going to resolve BUT that I'm an excellent candidate for uterine emblation (yay!). The next step is a endometrial biopsy just to make sure that the parts are in fact as normal as they appear. I understand from other people that the biopsy can hurt but I'll do whatever I need to do to get this taken care of ASAP. Next appointment is 3/7.

As for the rest of my life-work is good, Valentine's Day was fine- Rick came home early and cleaned the whole house for my Valentine's day present which was GREAT.

I got a take out meal from the chi-chi restaurant and we had a lovely meal with candles and classical music. and then I practically fell asleep at the dining room table. It's pathetic.

That's it. Nikolai is fine, Rick is not in Iraq, my family is healthy- it's all good.

Jenn

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

So, back in the day (college) I had a HUGE crush on this guy who was a year ahead of me. He was ROTC. We ended up hooking up the last semester of his senior year for basically the ENTIRE semester. Then he graduated and left for Germany with the Army. I did my senior year and went to Germany for three weeks and we hung out then. Then I went to grad school, he went to Iraq I then he went to grad school and I got married (the first time) then I got divorced, and back and forth over years and years and our timing just never EVER was quite right and eventually we parted ways as really good friends.

Anyway, we just talked for TWO HOURS about absolutely everything (as always) and it was great. He's still happily married, I'm still happily married and everything all worked out in the end. Its funny because of all of the people I ever dated, I never have wondered what my life would have been like had things turned out differently, because I know that with him, things would have been great. Different, but great.

It's nice, really. There's no pining away for what might have been. I have a fantastic relationship with my husband and I am completely confident in my marriage and my relationship with him. and Chris (my friend) has an equally strong relationship with his wife and they're doing well. I don't know if I'm explaining it but it's like I got lucky twice- once for knowing him and having had a great (if enormously frustrating at times) relationship with a fantastic guy and then meeting my even more fabulous husband and getting to move on in my life with him.

Actually the person who got the short of the stick was the ex-husband who was the unfortunate rebound guy. He got the raw deal.

anyway, I'm glad that I am able to still pick up the phone every so often (in this case, YEARS) and we can talk like we did when it was costing us hundreds of dollars in long distance phone bills between the US and Germany.

He's still in the Army, too. Have I mentioned that I have a uniform thing? (the ex-husband was a firefighter and in the AF Reserve. I tell you, the uniform thing can be a problem...)

The bottom line is that I'm sitting at my desk at work, about to leave and go pick up Nikolai and go home to see my hottie husband and I'm happy. I guess most people don't have 20 year relationships with exes but in this case, I'm very glad that I do. and of course, I know that in HIS mind I'm probably still the 20-something girl he knew as he is for me that 20-something Army guy. It just makes me smile.

Life is good.

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

A ray of hope for those in the trenches:

So, I played hookie from work today. Just didn't have it in me to go with all of the drama that's being played out with my boss retiring (but still working 20 hours a week w/ the new boss? seriously? you think she's going to go for that?) and my colleagues all realizing that we are all being driven slowly insane by one of my other colleagues who is apparently a lot more nuts that we'd given her credit for...

I built my composter (http://www.rolypig.com) and he's fabulous (and yet another reason why I will never be allowed to live in a planned community with a neighborhood association again.

and lo and behold, who pulled in the driveway but my very own husband. He had one no-show and one cancellation so he came home for some lunch and um, a little dessert (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). Amazing. an NEVER would have happened in the past 9 years of knowing him. Even if he'd wanted to come home at lunch, he couldn't have.

and he's planning on coming home early tonight, too. (it's 85 degrees and sunny and he's going to go for a run.)

Ah, attendinghood, where have you been all my life?

Jenn

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

We're gearing up for a multitude of events over the next 4 months that of course culminate in the Oral Boards. Yesterday Rick went to Austin for a meeting w/ the Texas Neurological society. He called me from a corner of the reception last night and said he was rocking in the corner and self-medicating. (wine) He does not do well with small talk.

Luckily, the drug reps do, so somehow he managed to get 1) a bottle of Moet 2) a steak dinner there and 3) a meal at Bohanan's (rated the number two steak place in TEXAS...which says something). I'm all about the free shit. It's not like he's going to be convinced to use one seizure med over another because some dude gave him a bottle of champagne.

He's on his way home now.

In other news, my renter wants to buy the house in DC when the lease is up. YAY!!! I figured that would happen. I'm going to get the comps from our realtors and find out how to do it with the realtors. I love my realtors but I'd really like to save that 3-6%, thank you very much. I wonder if they'd do it for 1 or 2%. I'd love to not lose several hundred dollars a month. That would be really GREAT! I'd like to make a little money but we don't have a whole lot of equity in the place anyway. Getting out intact would be nice.

and once again, the city of San Antonio has dug up my street. Yes, the street that was just newly paved. Now there are huge trenches going down both sides of the street and dust is everywhere.

oh, and the pool isn't working right and because the street is all dug up, the pool guy can't get in.

and the fence is falling down and the dogs have figured out how to climb through the only remaining whole that we haven't patched. Home Depot, here I come.

Oh well. At least my husband isn't in Iraq and we can pay our bills and everyone is healthy. There's a whole lot of people who can't say any of the above.

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

All tickets have been purchased and the good news is that only one set had to be put on the card but I'll knock it back next month.

I can't believe I'm going to be going to my 20th college reunion. that's NUTS! College was a lot of fun. I wish I could say something profound like I grew up a lot or that I discovered myself but seriously? Not. At. All.

I partied like a rock star for 4 years, had utterly bizarre experiences and passed with a rock solid C average. (I'm so sorry Peggy, if you're reading this- I read your blog about Kate and her math stuff and it's totally me. If it was hard or I didn't like it, I didn't do it and didn't mind failing. Totally didn't make one iota of difference to me whether I passed or failed. I'm not wired like that I guess)

Work is still odd at times. The new boss has started so things are looking up and people are finally realizing that my cohort and I are NOT insane. We really do need to get a bunch of stuff done before this huge expensive detox unit opens up and all eyes are laid upon it.

Physically, I'm fine. I had to reschedule the biopsy for 4/4 and had to go to the dentist on Monday because I had a toothache. She thinks I'll need a root canal but it's not a major problem. That procedure is scheduled for 3/26.

Rick is studying like a madman. Interspersed with online poker, of course. Not that it annoys me at all that he's wasting study time.

Nikolai is hilarious. I can't believe he'll be 4 next week. I always wonder about his birth mother. It must suck for her. At least I hope that she's sad that she doesn't have him. Rick's birthmother said she always got depressed on his birthday so I'd imagine she'd be at least wistful.

I'm so ready to go home for my cousin's shower. Lots of relatives are coming in which is great. I kind of feel bad that the boys aren't coming with me but we have WAY too many trips coming up to pay for those two to come with. Shit- I just remembered. We still need to buy the tickets for the f-ing Boards. Great. Well, that'll definitely be in the latter part of April.

Oh well. I'm hoping that we're still going to be able to go to Germany this year. Hopefully we'll have enough of the rest of the bad debt paid off that we'll be able to go.

Maybe they'll make me go 40 hours a week soon. That would help. (although I do like my off time, too)

Well, that's it for now. time to get back to auditing charts.

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

So, tomorrow I'll be up at the asscrack of dawn to catch a 6am flight- I change planes in Memphis and then I'll land in Baltimore about 11am. UGH. Of course that also means that I won't sleep tonight for fear of oversleeping.

Friday we're cleaning my SILs house, I'm having lunch with my BFF and then I'm getting my hair done by my fab hair person (DC people, if you're willing to drive to Bowie, Sheri is the best!). Saturday is the shower and then we're meeting the boys at the pub down the street from my brother's house. Sunday I guess there's a family brunch and then I'm off to the airport. I don't get home until 10:30pm Sunday night.

I think Rick is excited about having the dude to himself for 4 days though. If nothing else, I think it'll be good for him to be 'on' all the time. Rick is also on-call for the next two weeks so hopefully he won't have to go in and take Nikolai with him. That could suck on many levels.

I changed gyms to the new one in downtown SA. It's so much nicer than the Ballys. I still have the Ballys membership for the next two years though- which is fine because they have daycare and the downtown gym doesn't yet.

and I'm sitting here in the office because I locked my keys in the car and Rick has to come rescue me. Good thing he's not in Iraq!

He's been in a horrible mood lately- I think it's a cross between board prep and he broke or nearly broke a toe and hasn't been able to run. I saw that there was a study that said that exercise didn't improve moods but I call BS on that. My husband needs to workout to run off his evil demons. Man, he's a shithead when he doesn't exercise regularly. Thankfully today he took his running stuff with him. I basically told him that if he didn't exercise before he gets home from work, I was going to force him to do it when he gets home.

So, that's it. This weekend is the first in the long series of weekend events between now and June 20th.

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

In a nutshell-

The bridal shower was a blast. My cousin has herself surrounded by a very funny group of women. It was a good time. I also enjoyed getting a break from mommy/wife duties. I slept better than I have in months.

Work is good. My new boss has started and she seems to understand and appreciate what I've been doing. Whew. In fact, I may have to increase my hours. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it- I like my morning gym routine and I don't know how I'd fit everything in. I guess I'd have to do the lunch time gym routine.

Rick is full on studying for the Boards. This section only cost $1350. For a test. Ridiculous. The good thing is that he has some mentors who have agreed to take him through some practice runs before he faces the 'real' oral boards in June. I hope that helps. He's mostly not all that fun to be around.

Our very good friends are going to Germany with the AF for three years. Great for going to visit but weekends are going to be boring again. Oh well.

Next, we have my cousin's wedding. I'm looking forward to it. My aunt is not a well woman and it's really sad. and my uncle is probably clinically depressed, too. Hopefully, it will be a good time and not a huge downer. My aunt just better f-ing keep it together and not have her weekly trip to the hospital (always on the weekend, oddly enough...).

ah, families.

My parents are coming in on Saturday for a couple days because they couldn't stand having to wait until April to see Nikolai. It's funny, on our post-placement reports we have to dicuss the integration with the family and for three years now we've written nearly the same thing- there is no difference in how Nikolai is treated vs. how any one else in the family is treated. It kind of freaks me out to think that there would be a difference.

So, yes, the post-placement report is in and we don't have to do another one for another five years or so. yay.

anyway, I'm starving- and I already ate my PB & honey sandwich. Time to go find an orange or something...

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

Dumb Ass.

That's what I think of when I think of my husband right now.

The man is incapable of efficient use of his time. He uses ADD as his excuse (he's never been diagnosed, except my himself).

He's getting himself all worked up about the oral boards- studies and then switches over to online poker. and then obsesses about studying and plays online poker. and comes home from work and immediately goes to the computer for online poker. and then watches poker on TV and then stays up until 3am playing online poker. and then gets up at 6am to go to work. and then crashes at 9pm because he's sooooo tired (uh, duh?) and then obsesses because he's not studying. (again- you're NOT studying asshole- you're playing online poker. or his stupid aliens game- but mostly it's poker.

I think I'm going to go online at block all of the online poker sites until after the boards. This is ridiculous. I'm making dinner- he's playing online poker. I'm watching TV, he's playing online poker. I'm talking to my parents who are visiting- and he gets up and goes to play online poker.

Flippin' addict behavior crossed with classic avoidance = straw breaking camel's back.

and he gets annoyed when I'm on the computer. and tells me that I'm 'always' on. right- how many posts have I made on nights or weekends in the last three months? I can't because he's f-ing playing online poker.

So, we're having a little come to Jesus session this evening. If he can't f-ing help cook, clean, do laundry, etc. then he doesn't get to play online poker, either. Study. Sleep. go to work. That's what he gets to do between now and June 19.

I'm so done.

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

Well, I'm taking a week pass, starting tomorrow. I'm heading to Columbus for my cousin's wedding. My entire family is sick- Nikolai managed to infect everyone. My mother sounds horrible and was in bed with a fever at 8pm tonight. She needs to be better by Thursday when they're supposed to fly out.

I'm still coughing up a lung or two but am gradually getting better.

It's going to be a whirlwind of crap to do when I get there. I have to be honest, I'm so tired of dumping money at this wedding that I can't even stand it. I had to buy my dress and my shoes for the wedding. I had to buy something to wear to the reception (and shoes) and the shower gift and a token wedding present. and airfare to the shower and now for the three of us to get to the wedding, and the hotel and the rental car. Rick needed to get new pants, new shoes, a new dress shirt, a new tie and he had to have his jacket taken in because he's lost so much weight. We had to buy an outfit for Nikolai for the wedding and Rick bought them matching shirts for the rehearsal dinner. I had 150 favors commissioned for the reception at $350. I paid for all of the table decorations. (My cousin has offered to pay me for the table decorations, I'm seriously thinking of accepting). and I just coughed up $300 for the dogs to go to doggie storage for six days. (of course, if my husband had control of his schedule, he could have dropped the dogs off Thursday but no- he has no control over his schedule, so I took them before I left.

done, done, done.

It had better be a good time.

Jenn

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

It was GREAT! My cousin was glowing, Don was wonderful, my crazy opiate addicted aunt and alcoholic uncle managed to bahave themselve.

The only downer was that my mom was brutally sick. To the point that I took her to the Urgent Care center and she went willingly. She was dxed with sinusitis. She couldn't talk, she had no appetite- it was BAD.

I still have remnants of the cold thing, too. I'm pretty sure mine is also sinusitis but I have NO time to go see someone about it. So- afrin and tylenol and aleve work well enough.

But back to the wedding. It was great to see everyone. I'll post pictures. My ex-boyfriend was there- he's doing well. My other cousin looks fantastic and her kids are great. Her 2.5 year old was the flower girl. The boys (nikolai and jack) handed out programs and stole the show for a moment or two.

In other news, they're taking me full-time because they (meaning my new boss) realized that I'm only really working on detox at the moment and there are 7 other units, some I've NEVER seen. Interesting as I'm supposed to be the QA manager for the all of substance abuse.

and on that note, I'm off to detox to gather some data on admissions.

Jenn

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

Why it sucks to be very good friends with the local realtors:

They insist on pouring you a Bloody Mary at 9am during the local kiddie parade during Fiesta. (ok- that didn't suck, that was actually great)

They email you out of the blue and tell you that there are people in the 'hood lusting after your house and that they think we can get about 85k more for it than what we paid 1.5 years ago.

and they further add that the dream house around the corner is doable.

Luckily, I'm sane and realize that 1) we still have the DC house and 2) we LIKE our house and 3) it's a lot easier to sell a 500k house than a 1 mil+ house should the Army move us again.

but, I'm going to go torture myself anyway.

The potentially seriously annoying thing about the dream house is that it's across river from the brewery and bars/galleries and they're open LATE on the weekends with live music and loud drunks. That could make me nuts.

Jenn

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

We went to see the house and it's gorgeous. But it just didn't call out to me the way my house does. My house is funky/fun. That house is perfect.

Then we had the neighborhood block party/cocktail hour and watching all of the people who had never been in the house before just ohh and ahh over some of the more funky details made me realize that I LOVE my house. Love it!

We left at 4am Friday for the airport and of course Northwest screwed up again- this time the plane needed a computer part. So, we ended up on Continental flying into National rather than NWA flying into BWI. Oh well. Nikolai and I took the Metro to the end of the line and my mom met us there. Rick went into the city and met up with my brother, father and uncle for the Nationals/Pirates game. The next day the little boys went. They made it through all nine innings. (of course ice cream, hot dogs, peanuts and other bribes were offered and accepted)

Saturday I was supposed to go to my college reunion but my room-mate from college and I decided that the only people we wanted to see was each other anyway so she came down to dinner at my moms. It was hilarious.

Sunday my cousin the newlywed and her husband (my former house-mate) came over for brunch. My dad has a moon bounce that he bought so the little boys played on that. They were both pretty sleep-deprived and got a little cranky. Earlier in the day there was a bit of an altercation that ended with Nikolai biting Jack on the thigh. Of course, Jack's side was that he was just sitting there and Nikolai bit him. My brother's reaction was pretty funny. He strolled into the kitchen and asked what all of the commotion was about. I told him that my son had bitten his son on the leg and that Nikolai was getting a stern talking to from his father and being made to apologize. My brother, without batting an eye turned to Jack and said, "so, what did you do to Nikolai to make him bite you." Jack started w/ the nothing bit but then the story crumbled under cross examination by his parents. Turns out, he'd been hitting Nikolai with the toys. Nonetheless, we made Nikolai apologize since biting is never acceptable. Jack then had to apologize for hitting and then he got in trouble for lying about it.

5 seconds later they were the best of friends again.

Jenn

[DCJenn]

Re: Here we go again...

Today is our 8th Anniversary. Damn. Where did the time go? (wait, I know where the time went)

Yesterday was the 8th anniversary of his med school graduation. and guess what? we're still taking tests and shelling out cash. At least for now training is over. Until the next fellowship.

But, screw the expense, we've got a babysitter and are going to the ONE restaurant in San Antonio that requires a jacket. (it's also not coincidentally, the one San Antonio restaurant that makes the national lists of the best restaurants in the country) Le Reve. I can't wait!!!

Jenn