What’s up, Doc?

I find I start to reminisce at the end of the month. Tomorrow is September, which is crazy to think that summer is pretty much over. Not that summer means the same thing now when I work 80 hours per week and hardly get outside than when I was a kid at home for almost three months, but still, it’s a seasonal milestone.

So, what’s new here?-Abe is finishing the last hour (or at least I hope he gets home soon!) of his second month of intern year. He’s been very busy and it makes me feel like I have a lot of free time (gratitude, right?) when I am home for hours before he gets home. This has given me a little more time for myself for things like studying and exercise (and dumb tv shows, sleeping, eating, etc).

--I exercised 5 times in the past 7 days. I know this isn’t a big deal to some people, but it is very hard for me to find the time and mostly the energy to exercise. But, I have a new exercise buddy that meets me right after work for spin class or Zumba. I feel so dead after spin and I feel a little silly shaking my booty (literally) at Zumba, but it’s been fun so far. I hope my schedule will permit me to keep at it.

--I made Quinoa for the first time. And I liked it. But I’m still a little intimidated. Doesn’t it seem like all of the organic, healthy, yoga-ey people eat Quinoa? I don’t know if I fit under any of those criteria but I’m trying, at least in the healthy part. If you have favorite ways to eat it, let me know because I’m still a little unsure of myself on this one.

(Quinoa mac n cheese, source Pinterest)

--After weeks of delay, we finally started our basement remodel. This means after weeks of going without, we finally had an electrician come and fix our oven/stove (hoping for some Labor day baking from my husband!). It also means we have no washer/dryer for who knows how long. Evidently we can only have one important working appliance at a time.

--Costco arrived in Iowa City a few months ago. This was a surprisingly big deal for our town. And a big deal for my wallet. I think I’ve only escaped once with a bill of under $80. Deceptive, when you only have three items in your cart. But when those items are 50 lbs of craisins or 20 cans of refried beans, it really adds up.

--I’m reaping the benefits of finally being a “senior resident.” I am getting to do more procedures and am taking less call. Hooray for real three day weekends! I hope one day Abe and I will be able to do this together. We can’t seem to match up on this.

--I got a “cleaning lady.” Love that term, doesn’t it sound powerful to be able to possess a cleaning lady? Anyway, I finally found someone to come help around the house for a few hours a month. I think calling her a friend who happens to come over to clean for me makes me feel a little better (and her, too). It was nice to come home today to a clean bathroom. I think that will help me overcome some of my feelings of guilt/embarrassment (having someone clean your bathroom just makes me feel a little sheepish) seeing those shiny floors and sinks that I didn’t have to do myself or guilt trip myself for not doing.

--We killed our mole (2 years in coming), my brother left back home to Utah, I chopped my hair last month.

What’s not new?

--No matter how hard I try, I still can’t manage to shave every hair off my knee. Silly, I know, but it’s a real problem for me. My leg hair is so fine I can’t feel it well enough to tell if I missed a spot and I certainly can’t see it until I am sitting in the middle of church.

--Abe’s still working long hours. And he still hasn’t come home from his last day of his second month of intern year.

On to September!