Sunday, May 23, 2010

Lost

Abe and I started watching Lost about season 3. We got instantly hooked on a car ride across the country in his family’s van and got caught up with all of the past episodes. It is nice that now you can find all of the episodes online.

Tonight is the finale. 2.5 hours of LOST! I have to admit I am really excited (how many days of my life have I given away to this show?), and also worried I will be very disappointed. It will be interesting to see what questions get answered. I know they will still leave us hanging but I am really hoping they wont leave me with that

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Feeling at the end when you didn’t find out what you were hoping to.

I have no idea how it will resolve.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Cardboard

Our place has an interesting smell right now. I think it is a blend of ripe bananas and cardboard. The banana part is kinda gross, I admit, and should be remedied right away with either banana bread or the trash. But the cardboard is here to stay since we have started packing for our move in June.

This month has flown by. I can’t believe it is already 3 weeks in! We started packing as we don’t always have the time we want for these things, so an early start seemed to make sense. It is hard to box up your life, especially a month early. It is also hard to pare down. I am trying not to move things I don’t really want/need into our new house, but it can be hard to say goodbye to my useless junk. (Sounds so stupid).

My brother moves out the end of this month to stay with us for the summer. I am so excited to have some of my family here close by for the first time in Iowa for more than a week. On June 11, we have my “graduation” from internship banquet. I have to give a little speech so if you have any ideas, send them my way! And on June 18 I am officially done with my internship and close on our new house.

Should be a good few weeks!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Another quick thought

Did anyone watch the Mother’s Day special SNL last night? I was pretty disappointed in their lack of creativity. I guess an hour of a 90 year old woman saying crude, sexual, and inappropriate things was too much for the SNL writers and cast to pass up. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!

Quirks

Growing up I thought I had the most normal family ever. I felt very lucky. As I get older, and especially as I have joined a new family, I have started to notice things about us that I thought every typical American family shared only to find out that I was wrong. The funny thing, too, is many of them are things I thought I just did or liked, only to find out it is a common family trait.

  • For example, late high school or college I decided I really liked pie. It doesn’t really matter what kind, for the most part, but I just knew I was quite fond of it. It took me years to figure out that (suddenly) my entire family liked pie. Abe thinks this is quite funny. Before we got married my family had the Sheffield’s over for dessert. Every time Abe had eaten with my family they had had pie. I was pleased to announce that this was not pie, this was custard! However, it basically had a pie crust with a filling and fruit which he argues to this day is a pie, just in a square pan. Oops.
  • In college I suddenly grew a huge awareness of my well endowed booty. Up until that point, I don’t think I even knew I had one. Suddenly, though, it seems everyone had something to say about it. I was shocked when my twin sister told me about how her roommates continued to comment on her cute big butt. As I get older, I can see that this is something I think we all almost share.
  • I love telling stories. In college my friends pointed out to me that I have this quirk of telling animated stories with impressions and different voices. I can’t help it. I don’t even realize I am doing it. Again, I thought this was a unique trait to me until I was home one day and my then 4-5 year old sister started telling a story using the exact same voices. Turns out, every one of us does it.

These are just  a few silly examples. I think the whole discussion about nature v. nurture is fascinating. I have to wonder, who decided they liked pie? Was it an innate trait (I certainly don’t remember anyone ranting and raving about pie to influence me) or did it have to do with the 11 pies my mom made every year for Thanksgiving (for just the 7 of us)? Did my mom or my dad start the funny voice thing, or maybe they were subconsciously attracted to each other for it, or was it one of us kids and everyone picked it up from there? We definitely share some other “Jackson” traits. The “Jackson temper,” the Jackson face, the Jackson love of food.

What are some of the things you share with your family?

Sunday, May 2, 2010

May flowers

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I am so happy it is May! I feel like this month has so many wonderful things waiting around the corner. I feel like with the promise of sunshine and spring that I am ready for more challenges and experiences.

Here are a few of the reasons I am excited for May:

  • It is close to June (but not so hot!)
    • I am again back to thinking about landscaping, decorating, painting, fixing, remodeling for our new house to close in June
    • I will complete my internship! And start orientation to officially begin my residency.
  • A much less busy call schedule. I am so excited to have some time for myself, especially to get caught up on everything I neglected last month.
  • Sunshine—biking, going to the park, living without jackets
  • My brother Colt is coming to Iowa to stay for the summer

I guess mostly I feel relieved for the fresh start of a new month and a new season. I am ready for some added sunshine in my life!