Tuesday, August 28, 2007
:( :)
So, I bet you didn't know the bible has smiley and frowny faces in it. Jacob pointed a couple out to me in Sunday school this week. Check out Acts 10:36.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Harry Potter and the beginning for Steph
Ok so I know I'm a bit behind the times but this weekend I just finished Harry Potter...the first - ha!
I watched the first movie again yesterday as well and I was so excited I could be one of those HP nerds whose like 'that's not how it is in the book!" ha - good times.
Well anyway, I really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to reading the rest now. On to Harry Potter 2~
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Irish Festival
It's amazing how quickly the summer is passing by. I didn't really enjoy the first two months because searching for a job is similar to waiting for impending doom. Not in the sense that I don't like working - you just can't enjoy the time off because you never know how long you need to make your resources stretch. I feel like the coming of fall will bring the reality that we are really in Milwaukee for awhile. Everyone here talks about how much worse Minnesota winters are - I hope they are right. I officially signed up for my Biochemistry long distance learning class this week so there is no pretending that the summer will go on forever.
We have had almost nonstop rain since Friday. Despite that I still wanted to go to the Irish festival. It's the biggest in the world and the Trinity Irish dancers are well known world wide for producing the greatest dancers. So I got my mom and Emily to volunteer to come out with me and armed with umbrellas we headed out. (Milwaukee is known as the city of festivals. All summer long there are festivals each weekend ranging from music concerts to many ethnic festivals.) We stood in the rain for over two hours watching the Irish dance schools perform. It was definitely worth it - until the dancing ended and I was shivering uncontrollably. We searched for a comfortable tent but only found space on the outsides and finally left soaked. Due to the rain we left our cameras - sorry there aren't any pictures. To add to the excitement I left our lights on (which were on in the middle of the afternoon due to the overcast weather.) After several pleas we finally found a nice gentleman who helped us jumpstart the battery. (Jason bought this super cool emergency car kit so I had my own cables and lots of other stuff if I needed it.)
In other news I began a second job this week. I had a working interview on Monday afternoon and began Wednesday. This clinic is also in Glendale about a mile from our home. The office is two years old and new from top to bottom. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of their digital radiographs - their kind of an awkward transition between the old films and the new sensors but I'll get used to them. All of their charting is digital - I love that! I've been having a great time figuring out the software and trying to utilize all of it. They have an intraoral camera too which I'll get to use. This job compliments my job at the perio office which is Monday morning, Tuesday and Thursday. It makes for a ten hour monday but I still have Fridays off. Between the two jobs and the Saturdays I have lined up for the winter I should be averaging about 32-35 hours a week. Plus I might be able to pick up an occasional Friday temp day. It may have taken much longer than Jason and I would have liked, but I feel like it's been worth it to find offices that I am happy with the people and the quality of dentistry practiced there. (Especially if I end up working there for more than a year.) Due to my part time status at each office I have to carry my own benefits - but there are worse things in the world.
In other news - I'm married to a zombie, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Jason mentioned that he hates the four am shift. For the most part I like it. I actually get to remember seeing him when he comes home between eight and nine pm. Unfortunately, due to the lack of sleep, conversation at the dinner table isn't exactly captivating. It beats the other shifts though, we'll see how we feel a couple of weeks from now.
Here's my dental school update: schools are beginning to send me notification that they have received my first application. Hence, they are politely asking for more money and more essays. Couldn't I just take another test? Actually, that wouldn't be much better. My goal is to have all of these redundant essays completed by the end of next week. Wish me luck, it involves documenting every single extracurricular I have participated in within the last seven years as well as talking about what an asset I would be to the school and the professon. Should be fun.
We have had almost nonstop rain since Friday. Despite that I still wanted to go to the Irish festival. It's the biggest in the world and the Trinity Irish dancers are well known world wide for producing the greatest dancers. So I got my mom and Emily to volunteer to come out with me and armed with umbrellas we headed out. (Milwaukee is known as the city of festivals. All summer long there are festivals each weekend ranging from music concerts to many ethnic festivals.) We stood in the rain for over two hours watching the Irish dance schools perform. It was definitely worth it - until the dancing ended and I was shivering uncontrollably. We searched for a comfortable tent but only found space on the outsides and finally left soaked. Due to the rain we left our cameras - sorry there aren't any pictures. To add to the excitement I left our lights on (which were on in the middle of the afternoon due to the overcast weather.) After several pleas we finally found a nice gentleman who helped us jumpstart the battery. (Jason bought this super cool emergency car kit so I had my own cables and lots of other stuff if I needed it.)
In other news I began a second job this week. I had a working interview on Monday afternoon and began Wednesday. This clinic is also in Glendale about a mile from our home. The office is two years old and new from top to bottom. I can't say I'm the biggest fan of their digital radiographs - their kind of an awkward transition between the old films and the new sensors but I'll get used to them. All of their charting is digital - I love that! I've been having a great time figuring out the software and trying to utilize all of it. They have an intraoral camera too which I'll get to use. This job compliments my job at the perio office which is Monday morning, Tuesday and Thursday. It makes for a ten hour monday but I still have Fridays off. Between the two jobs and the Saturdays I have lined up for the winter I should be averaging about 32-35 hours a week. Plus I might be able to pick up an occasional Friday temp day. It may have taken much longer than Jason and I would have liked, but I feel like it's been worth it to find offices that I am happy with the people and the quality of dentistry practiced there. (Especially if I end up working there for more than a year.) Due to my part time status at each office I have to carry my own benefits - but there are worse things in the world.
In other news - I'm married to a zombie, and I mean that in the nicest way possible. Jason mentioned that he hates the four am shift. For the most part I like it. I actually get to remember seeing him when he comes home between eight and nine pm. Unfortunately, due to the lack of sleep, conversation at the dinner table isn't exactly captivating. It beats the other shifts though, we'll see how we feel a couple of weeks from now.
Here's my dental school update: schools are beginning to send me notification that they have received my first application. Hence, they are politely asking for more money and more essays. Couldn't I just take another test? Actually, that wouldn't be much better. My goal is to have all of these redundant essays completed by the end of next week. Wish me luck, it involves documenting every single extracurricular I have participated in within the last seven years as well as talking about what an asset I would be to the school and the professon. Should be fun.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Chicago and a Day at the Museum
I made the drive down to Chicago and picked up Rachel from the Naval Base along the way this weekend. We decided we would check out the Field Museum and walk through downtown. We were particularly interested in checking out the Ghiradelli and Hershey stores. We spent several hours at the museum - they had some really neat exhibits on Africa as well as man eating lions. I also enjoyed their mineral and gem exhibits - they brought back memories from organic chemistry. When we arrived we asked if there was an increase in visitors since the movie "Night at the Museum". The guy responded yes, even though only a few scenes had been filmed there. Rachel and I were totally surprised - we didn't know that museum had been involved at all. However, after walking a few feet into the main hall we recognized one of the characters from the movie: Rex.
The T-rex skeleton is actually named Sue in honor of the woman who found it. It's a recent find from the early nineties. The actual sex of the dinosaur is unknown. It was cool to find out different facts on the skeleton. For example - I didn't know that dinosaurs had teeth like sharks - continually replacing missing teeth. (Of course I would be interested in that right?) Additionally this is only one of (I think) four skeletons to this completeness. By the way, the skull alone weighs 600 pounds. It was so heavy they created a duplicate for the main display and then put the actual one upstairs on its own. A CT scan was used to evaluate the skull cavities and determine the size of the brain - the olfactory bulbs are gigantic in comparison to the rest of the brain!
The pictures you notice on the slide show with the mannequins are from downtown Chicago. There is a stretch along Michigan avenue called the Magnificent Mile. I think it's similar to the Fashion street in New York. In honor of the hip shops there; a local design school created these mannequins to be placed along the way. The ones pictured were a few of our favorites.
Following our perusal of the shops we ate dinner at Chipotle - a very good burrito place. Unfortunately, everything went downhill from there. I suspect that I got hit with the worst case of food poisoning I have ever experienced. It's hard to say what caused it but I got to know several of the gas attendants in the Chicago area and also did some porcelain bowl worshiping. I also made Rachel think she was going to miss her curfew and have to explain where she was - fortunately we got her back on time. Good news is 24 hours later all is well. I'm so glad we live somewhere where such experiences are an exception rather than the rule.
I wanted to include some other fun pictures - they aren't very good but it's what I have. I woke up last Sunday and found a praying mantis on my window screen. This was odd for two reasons - I didn't realize they were present in the area. Secondly, what in the world was it doing on my third story window?
The other picture is of my new garden. I'm pretty excited to see it coming along. Left to right is basil, chives and cilantro. The mint is a couple of days behind in development but should be coming along.
Tomorrow I have another working interview to fill some of the time I am not working at the periodontal office. I'm really hoping it will go well. The office is beautiful: digital x-rays and charting as well as spacious room s with a view. Instruments seem to be good and the team pleasant. It's also within a mile from my home. I'll be sure to update as I learn more.
The T-rex skeleton is actually named Sue in honor of the woman who found it. It's a recent find from the early nineties. The actual sex of the dinosaur is unknown. It was cool to find out different facts on the skeleton. For example - I didn't know that dinosaurs had teeth like sharks - continually replacing missing teeth. (Of course I would be interested in that right?) Additionally this is only one of (I think) four skeletons to this completeness. By the way, the skull alone weighs 600 pounds. It was so heavy they created a duplicate for the main display and then put the actual one upstairs on its own. A CT scan was used to evaluate the skull cavities and determine the size of the brain - the olfactory bulbs are gigantic in comparison to the rest of the brain!
The pictures you notice on the slide show with the mannequins are from downtown Chicago. There is a stretch along Michigan avenue called the Magnificent Mile. I think it's similar to the Fashion street in New York. In honor of the hip shops there; a local design school created these mannequins to be placed along the way. The ones pictured were a few of our favorites.
Following our perusal of the shops we ate dinner at Chipotle - a very good burrito place. Unfortunately, everything went downhill from there. I suspect that I got hit with the worst case of food poisoning I have ever experienced. It's hard to say what caused it but I got to know several of the gas attendants in the Chicago area and also did some porcelain bowl worshiping. I also made Rachel think she was going to miss her curfew and have to explain where she was - fortunately we got her back on time. Good news is 24 hours later all is well. I'm so glad we live somewhere where such experiences are an exception rather than the rule.
I wanted to include some other fun pictures - they aren't very good but it's what I have. I woke up last Sunday and found a praying mantis on my window screen. This was odd for two reasons - I didn't realize they were present in the area. Secondly, what in the world was it doing on my third story window?
The other picture is of my new garden. I'm pretty excited to see it coming along. Left to right is basil, chives and cilantro. The mint is a couple of days behind in development but should be coming along.
Tomorrow I have another working interview to fill some of the time I am not working at the periodontal office. I'm really hoping it will go well. The office is beautiful: digital x-rays and charting as well as spacious room s with a view. Instruments seem to be good and the team pleasant. It's also within a mile from my home. I'll be sure to update as I learn more.
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Hooray for Six Flags!
So last Thursday I took off work and Lizzy and I went to Six Flags with my lil bros. We got pretty adventurous and decided to get this caricature done. It was a lot of fun and I think it turned out so cute if I do say so myself ;)
Friday, August 3, 2007
Working all over Milwaukee
Great News...I have some "permanent" work. On August second I officially began working with Dr. Nancy Barnett. After many interviews, (most with little to offer as far as hours or satisfaction) I finally find something that seems to fit well. I'll be working an average of twenty hours a week there, leaving Wednesdays and Fridays available to find work elsewhere. The office that I am in is a specialty office focusing on periodontics (gum health). I had worked in a perio clinic in Minnesota and really enjoyed it. The doctor is both laid back but efficient and committed to excellent care. I'm really happy with the way she runs her office and keeps her equipment. I'm also pumped about using digital x-rays.
Another definite perk to the job is that it is less than two miles away, meaning I bike to get there. I would almost describe Dr. Barnett as spunky. She works with her sister who is the receptionist and enjoys biking, swimming and recently finished a triathlon. She is well respected in the dental community which will also help influence my credibility here in Milwaukee. We seem to have the same vision for dental care and patient communication. It's a small office, with two to four people working a day. I think it will be good for me.
On my days off I have aligned myself with a temporary agency. Milwaukee dentists seem to prefer calling them rather than me directly for the ease of scheduling despite the overhead cost. The downside to that is I get paid less, but the up side is that I'm busier. In my travels all over the city relieving hygienists I have seen some scary things. I have been pleasantly surprised in a few offices of course, but it's amazing to me to see where people put their focus. For example; I have seen some beautiful appearing offices who look great but their patient care is less than optimal and the effort they put into keeping their employees safe is below where it should be. My biggest pet peeve has been the lack of essential tools and the poor or non-existence of sharpening of those that do exist. Many tools seem like they would be more effective as daggers than for removing deposit. (These instruments are why I think some hygienists get a bad reputation.) I don't think I could do temp work forever. It is certainly challenging to wake up everyday, go somewhere new and try and figure out how that office and their doctors practice dentistry.
To celebrate my working life Jason set up a rectangular hanging herbal garden for me. I just planted some cilantro, chives, spearmint and basil. Hopefully some wonderful things will start sprouting soon. It would be really neat to grow tomatoes but Murphy has squashed that dream.
As far as other exciting news goes, I just learned how to make a reversible skirt. It looks pretty cool - I'll have to post some pictures soon. It's been rewarding learning to use my sewing machine but I think I better stick to my day job.
My parents are hosting an exchange student from Spain for the next three weeks. We're hoping to meet up and introduce him to some truly American events such as the state fair. What could be more American than something deep fried on a stick? I'll be heading to Madison tomorrow to celebrate my birthday and hopefully play some tennis with my brother Curtis. The weather has been getting up into the nineties and finally feeling like August. I hope your summer is treating you just as well.
Another definite perk to the job is that it is less than two miles away, meaning I bike to get there. I would almost describe Dr. Barnett as spunky. She works with her sister who is the receptionist and enjoys biking, swimming and recently finished a triathlon. She is well respected in the dental community which will also help influence my credibility here in Milwaukee. We seem to have the same vision for dental care and patient communication. It's a small office, with two to four people working a day. I think it will be good for me.
On my days off I have aligned myself with a temporary agency. Milwaukee dentists seem to prefer calling them rather than me directly for the ease of scheduling despite the overhead cost. The downside to that is I get paid less, but the up side is that I'm busier. In my travels all over the city relieving hygienists I have seen some scary things. I have been pleasantly surprised in a few offices of course, but it's amazing to me to see where people put their focus. For example; I have seen some beautiful appearing offices who look great but their patient care is less than optimal and the effort they put into keeping their employees safe is below where it should be. My biggest pet peeve has been the lack of essential tools and the poor or non-existence of sharpening of those that do exist. Many tools seem like they would be more effective as daggers than for removing deposit. (These instruments are why I think some hygienists get a bad reputation.) I don't think I could do temp work forever. It is certainly challenging to wake up everyday, go somewhere new and try and figure out how that office and their doctors practice dentistry.
To celebrate my working life Jason set up a rectangular hanging herbal garden for me. I just planted some cilantro, chives, spearmint and basil. Hopefully some wonderful things will start sprouting soon. It would be really neat to grow tomatoes but Murphy has squashed that dream.
As far as other exciting news goes, I just learned how to make a reversible skirt. It looks pretty cool - I'll have to post some pictures soon. It's been rewarding learning to use my sewing machine but I think I better stick to my day job.
My parents are hosting an exchange student from Spain for the next three weeks. We're hoping to meet up and introduce him to some truly American events such as the state fair. What could be more American than something deep fried on a stick? I'll be heading to Madison tomorrow to celebrate my birthday and hopefully play some tennis with my brother Curtis. The weather has been getting up into the nineties and finally feeling like August. I hope your summer is treating you just as well.
ok. I think i have this figured out. It took me a while. So glad we've got this thing going on. Perhaps i will keep in touch better. Anything has got to be better than before. Whoo. I enjoyed reading everybodys things. I enjoyed the pictures as well. Sorry about your house Colette that stinks. Dirty rotten no good scoundrels. Lucky you had not signed yet. Well, i will talk to yall later.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Ask Red
Ok you asked for it....here's some samples of my weekly 'advice' column...ha ha ha
Dear Red,
A guy called me up for a date and my phone cut out on me right after he asked me, and he thinks I hung up on him and keeps avoiding me now. I would’ve said yes, now what do I do?
Signed,
Confused
Dear Confused.
He’s not avoiding you because he thinks you hung up on him; he’s avoiding you because you have an inadequate phone service provider. I would recommend upgrading your service or switching networks and then you can “reconnect.”
Over and out,
Red
Dear Red,
If I sit with a guy during Sacrament Meeting, does that mean we’re a couple?
~Inquiring Mind
Dear Inquiring,
Well, that really depends on which side of you he is sitting. If he is sitting to your right, then you’ll surely be engaged in no time. If he’s sitting on your left, proceed with caution as this could be strictly friendship.
Hope he ‘chooses the right’,
Red
Dear Red,
I worry that my Sunday School teacher thinks I’m not listening in class because I’m reading my Ward Newsletter. What is the etiquette for reading the newsletter during church??
Sincerely,
An Avid Reader
Dear Avid,
If multi-tasking just isn’t your forte and your cover was recently blown by an outburst of laughter while reading your “scriptures,” you might try politely asking the teacher to allow a moment of silence in honor of the newsletter before class begins.
Read guilt free,
Red
Dear Red:
If a spaceship were to come and abduct you off to a different planet, what would you most miss about Earth?
Phone home,
E.T.
Dear E.T.,
Well that’s a tad dramatic, I don’t think I’d say getting married is the same as being abducted, but I guess I can see some similarities. I think what I’ll miss most are those amazing YSA dances, yup that’s it.
Up, up, and away,
Red
Dear Red,
I’m doing my best to flirt, but this boy is oblivious. Why don’t boys pick up on the hints? I’m a pathological flirt! Am I losing my touch?
Please help!
Flirty McFlirty
Dear McFlirty,
Don’t fret, it’s not you, it’s him. No matter how obvious your flirting may seem, I guarantee the boy has no clue. Guys are just not equipped to pick up on our subtle hints. Try a more direct approach such as announcing your flirtation beforehand. If that still fails, take the plunge and just ask Sherlock out.
It’s elementary my dear,Red
Ok that's enough for now...more to come later ;) enjoy!!
Dear Red,
A guy called me up for a date and my phone cut out on me right after he asked me, and he thinks I hung up on him and keeps avoiding me now. I would’ve said yes, now what do I do?
Signed,
Confused
Dear Confused.
He’s not avoiding you because he thinks you hung up on him; he’s avoiding you because you have an inadequate phone service provider. I would recommend upgrading your service or switching networks and then you can “reconnect.”
Over and out,
Red
Dear Red,
If I sit with a guy during Sacrament Meeting, does that mean we’re a couple?
~Inquiring Mind
Dear Inquiring,
Well, that really depends on which side of you he is sitting. If he is sitting to your right, then you’ll surely be engaged in no time. If he’s sitting on your left, proceed with caution as this could be strictly friendship.
Hope he ‘chooses the right’,
Red
Dear Red,
I worry that my Sunday School teacher thinks I’m not listening in class because I’m reading my Ward Newsletter. What is the etiquette for reading the newsletter during church??
Sincerely,
An Avid Reader
Dear Avid,
If multi-tasking just isn’t your forte and your cover was recently blown by an outburst of laughter while reading your “scriptures,” you might try politely asking the teacher to allow a moment of silence in honor of the newsletter before class begins.
Read guilt free,
Red
Dear Red:
If a spaceship were to come and abduct you off to a different planet, what would you most miss about Earth?
Phone home,
E.T.
Dear E.T.,
Well that’s a tad dramatic, I don’t think I’d say getting married is the same as being abducted, but I guess I can see some similarities. I think what I’ll miss most are those amazing YSA dances, yup that’s it.
Up, up, and away,
Red
Dear Red,
I’m doing my best to flirt, but this boy is oblivious. Why don’t boys pick up on the hints? I’m a pathological flirt! Am I losing my touch?
Please help!
Flirty McFlirty
Dear McFlirty,
Don’t fret, it’s not you, it’s him. No matter how obvious your flirting may seem, I guarantee the boy has no clue. Guys are just not equipped to pick up on our subtle hints. Try a more direct approach such as announcing your flirtation beforehand. If that still fails, take the plunge and just ask Sherlock out.
It’s elementary my dear,Red
Ok that's enough for now...more to come later ;) enjoy!!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)