Ahoy hoy??

Alright, it's been awhile, I apologize. I've been lazy and otherwise caught up in real life. thanks.

Christmas was GREAT. I got to go home and see my parents, my brother was home from NYC, and I got to see my cats!! Yay!! I also got to see friends from college and friends from high school...and I realized that you guys are seriously the coolest. I know I always say it, but really...I had no idea. Thank you for being so bitchin'!!

Now I'm back in Wisconsin, back to work, and back in the stress of things. Such is life. Now I miss my family and I miss my friends, but somehow, some way, it's good to be here (although I want my car). Oh-so-frightening.

I really need to go to sleep, but I just wanted to write a little. I don't know how many people actually read this, but I am still alive!!

Currently listening to: Fall Out Boy - From Under the Cork Tree (I am SO punk...)
Currently Reading: Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science by Atul Gawande...damn interesting!!

Hope everyone's HOLIDAYS were faaabulous!

Ambulances and Africa

Okay, mark it down...today was the day the world (aka...the clinic) pooped on Emily and did not wipe. It actually wasn't so bad, just very stressful. I got to call the ambulance (which turned out to be the WRONG thing; what we really needed was a med team..OH, well DUH...of course...neer!!) cuz one of our patients was hypotensive and in SVT (read: her heart wasn't doin so well at all and she was about to drop and hit the floor), so that was exciting. That was just in the morning. In the afternoon, our ER doctor didn't show up to staff with the resident there and my boss had to leave for an emergency, so it was me...the resident...and the patients...oh dear LORD almighty. How we get through these things without killing someone, I don't know.

Tonight, a recruitment rep from Global Missions (part of the ELCA) at the head church office in Chicago came to Milwaukee to talk to us about opportunities to go abroad and do missions work. It was really interesting to hear about what she did (she was in Egypt) and we got free dinner at Beans 'N' Barley, which is a pretty kick-ass restaurant. Hurray! I've narrowed my choices down to Kenya, Egypt, or India. ;) Maybe....

Anyway, that's all the excitement. Top 'o the evenin' to ye.

Me...posing as a reindeer. Tricky, I know.
by emily

Slightly odd, yes, but wicked cool. Luckily I wasn't wearing very flammable clothing ;)
by emily

"Hope" is the thing with Feathers--(254)

"Hope" is the thing with feathers--
That perches in the soul--
And sings the tune without the words--
And never stops--at all--

And sweetest--in the Gale--is heard--
And sore must be the storm--
That could abash the little Bird--
That kept so many warm--

I've heard it in the chillest land--
And on the strangest Sea--
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb--of Me.

--Emily Dickinson

I first read this poem in high school and I couldn't get past the image of a pudgy, little fluffed-up bird, hummering (yes, hummering...those sounds you get when you blow bubbles in water in the bathtub) away, even through winds and rain. Sing on, little birdy, sing on.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

The craptacular weather that I'm so used to back in North Dakota has now infiltrated my sphere of Wisconsin....gaaah! I love the snow, I really do. People I work with keep blaming me for bringing bad weather with me. Fine, go ahead. Bwaaahahahhaaaa....

I went to visit Brooke in Chicago last weekend and it was fantastical. Chicago and Milwaukee aren't so far apart, but they're so completely different. Mucho wacko. The biggest difference I saw (besides more people) was the fact that everyone in Chicago uses the bus system, because my life revolves around public transportation. Rich, poor, black, white...everybody is on the bus!! In Milwaukee, the bus is for poor people, for the majority. It's almost embarassing to say, but it's more relaxing riding the bus in Chicago knowing you're not going to be the only relatively well-dressed 'white girl' on the bus. Shame on me, but it's true! LVC has made me paranoid.

It was crazy snowy and windy while I was there, but still perty-like. I'm really jealous that you're so close to so much stuff, Brooke!!! Not that I have any money to spend on 'stuff', anyway, but still! And your apt is so cute!! We went to see Harry Potter (finally!)..Yay, Harry Pot-tah (British accent, people..work with me) and we also attended a holiday bash for Brooke's grad school. Open bar, my ass...one drink over a period of 3 hours does not fall within the definition of open bar. Oh, well...they had great hors doeurves...mmm...horse dooovers. I also got up early on Saturday to treat Brooke to one of my favorite city delicacies...Dunkin' Donuts! Mmm...scrumptious. Somehow, the strawberry frosted just weren't as I remembered them. We also listened to the Sioux-Gopher series on the radio and had a smashing good time. yaaay!! OH, yeah...Brooklyn, I left my cheese in your fridge! Go ahead and eat that Gouda. Oh, gosh...my snow globe, too!! Merry Christmas to you! And, of course, I brought my camera and didn't take any pictures. Well, freakin' a.

Finally...I'm going home for Christmas!! I'm so excited!!! Never did I think North Dakota would be so damn enticing. I get to see my cats and some friends..oh yeah, my parents and my brother, Ross, too. It'll actually be great to see Ross; I haven't seen him since August when I left for Seattle. I'm taking the train home this Sunday...4 days!.. (I'm leaving a day early so Brooke and I can ride home together!)and I was gonna get a ride back to Milwaukee the day after Christmas with my family, because they wanted to come visit my oldest brother, Ben. Turns out that's not going to happen anymore, so I'm kinda scrambling to find a way back to Milwaukee since I need to be back to work on the 27th. Joy of all joys. Anybody wanna drive me to Milwaukee? HUH??? Yeah, didn't think so. Something will work itself out. Always does. And I will take pictures at home, really.

This week is kinda busy, cuz I have to get everything ready for next week. Really, they're gonna fall apart without me there..haa haa...I'm gonna try my darndest to not worry about work while I'm home. I really just need to get out of here, have a real break from this for awhile (although I did get a hug from a patient today...hee hee).

I admit, Christmas songs can be pretty cheesy, but there really is no place like home for the holidays.

Work

I realized today, as I hung up one phone line (I was on hold for 2 minutes and counting with this pharmaceutical company) so that I could pick up another, that in some ways, I, aspiring life-saver (haa...I like the orange ones), am a glorified receptionist. YES!! My dreams have been realized!!!

Okay, I exaggerate. I do a lot more than answer phones, but really, sometimes, the phones and scheduling drive me nuts...too much ringing!! whew..now that I have that off of my chest...life can go on. In high-pitched lady-like voice: "Hello, Bread of Healing Clinic, this is Emily, how can I help you??" AAHHHHhhhh!!!!! Make it go away!

Work was long today. It went alright, but it was a full day and I was tired. I complain too much. This post sucks. I need to go to work tomorrow. And answer the phone.

Pretty Christmas decorations in the big city. OH Christmas Tree...(sing it with me....)
by emily

Periodic table in a 3-D helix form! Wooo!! Science nerds a-hoy!!
by emily

Cooper at the Space/Flight gift shop at the Museum of Science and Industry....fat man in a little cooaatt....
by emily

My old neighborhood! Hurray!!!
by emily

So, you see those buildings way, way, way in the distance?? Do ya?? Do ya see 'em?? That, my friends, is where we STARTED walking...haaaa!! oh man, we suck. Grant Park to Hyde Park..it's all in a day's work.
by emily

So we went on this really, REALLY ridonkulously long walk...and Cooper had to make a little pit stop. At..dun dun duuuunnnn..THE DROP ZONE. baahhhh!!!
by emily

Cooper and Eric in the strange ball-thingy. Yessss!
by emily

{insert angelic singing here}...it's Mecca, it's Mecca!! Okay, it's really Soldier Field. Know your Chicago landmarks. DA Bears!
by emily

SNOW!!

As is my custom, it's been awhile since I've written. Big surprise, I know, you're shocked. Deal with it. Thanksgiving was actually great, besides the whole not being at home part. I spent practically the whole day with my brother's wife's family in Oak Creek, WI, and it was mostly delightful, indeed. We played board games and card games (it's actually been awhile; who knew these things could be such a blast?)..have you ever played Sequence??? If you haven't, you must!!...and ate lots of good food. Eat like you'll never see the light of day again, kids!! And here come the stomach pains...

This led to uncomfortable momento #1: Apparently they have a tradition in their family where the youngest person at the table says grace before the meal. Lo and behold, that duty fell to yours truly. Technically, Stevie was the youngest, but I don't think he was exactly up to the task (unless you want to him recite all of the trains and their colors from Thomas the Train...brilliant kid, really). So...hello, awkwardness!! Of course, being a pastor's kid and having heard many a before-meal prayer, I knocked the socks off of all present, but geesh...could ya give me some advance warning next time? Really.

It was good to play with Stevie and to have a place to go for Thanksgiving, too. Plus, we found out that another Arthur will be gracing the world with its presence come next June!!! Yaaaay, baby!! This little nugget is due about 6 days before Stevie J's birthday, so let's hope they're far enough apart to ward off any birthday jealousy. I'm excited. Just between you and me, I do hope it's a girl! :)

Let's see, what else?? Well! I took the Amtrak (loooove the train! Greyhound buses can kiss my patootie!) to Chicago on the Friday after Thanksgiving to meet up with Cooper, Eric, and Sarah, who were 'vacationing' in the grand city for the holidays. I woke my sorry butt up at 4-freakin-30 to get on the city bus and go down to the Amtrak station to catch the 6:15 train. NOT a delightful experience. Geh. We had a great time, though. Well, other than, uh, walking about 8 miles. Seriously. I'm not exaggerating. We were a little, let's say, mixed up, about where a certain attraction was. HAAAAA...oh, LORD! Best time ever. It was really good to see familiar faces and to get to hang out for a little while. I took the train back that same night and didn't get into Milwaukee until around 10:00 cuz there was some stupid delay. Of all the people, it just had to be me, right? Of course. Sooo, I missed my bus and had to wait around outside for half an hour for the next one. Amtrak people are heartless bitches.

I also made a pumpkin pie last weekend, to curb the withdrawals I was going through. Although I burned the crust the first time. This caused much stress and panic. I think I called my mom about 4 times (sorry, Mom). And I finally decorated my room with Christmas lights. Very festive. I was going for the Griswald Family Christmas-style lighting, but figured under our 'simple' conditions, that wouldn't go over so well. Still, you may be able to pick out our house when flying over Milwaukee. AAhhh..great.

So I had an excitement-filled Turkey Day weekend. It was hard to go back to work on Monday, but I survived this week, just as I have all the rest. But, of course, our job is never done. Just keep trudgin' along. OH, man...I went with one of my roommates to Target yesterday for the first time in 2 1/2 months and it was grand!! I really don't think I can explain how excited I was to be at Target...without money to spend. heh...cruel and unusual joke, is what that is. So how did I handle it? That's right, folks...I spend money, anyway! Woot. It was fun. And not simple. Hmmm...fun = not simple. Coincidence? I think not...bah ha haaa...kidding. Simple can be fun. When Target is not involved. We also hit up a church bazaar (yeah, church!) at the Quaker place! How bazaar was it, you ask? HHHAAAA...eh. Well, it was dandy, anyway.

And finally to the point of my post...it snowed!! Yay! So beautiful, yet such a pain when on foot. And that's it about that. You thought there was more about the snow? Life's disappointing like that, huh?

DA Bears won today!! 8 in a row! Knock on wood, baby. Must go watch movie now...Polar Express. Gettin in the mood for the holidays. Or something.

Just hafta say, my friends are seriously wicked. I miss you guys!! Mucho love to all.