This is a perfect quote for me...

"The trick is to enjoy life. Don't wish away your days, waiting for better ones ahead."
— Marjorie Pay Hinckley

3 Year Anniversary...and 2 Year Anniversary!

Recently we celebrated two different anniversaries...

The First - As of July 31st, we have been married 3 years now!  I am not big into doing anything big for anniversaries, but we decided to count our Maine trip as our anniversary.  The trip was amazing and I think that was a great anniversary gift for the two of us.  On our real anniversary day we had both forgotten about it.  All I was thinking about that day was calling my brother David for his birthday.  So we were sitting in church, and Scott leans over to me and says "oh, Happy Anniversary!"  I start laughing because I realize that I had forgotten also.  It was a funny moment because it shows how big of a deal we make out of our anniversary:)  I am so grateful to be married to Scott!  I feel like each year we grow closer and closer.

The Second -  We are celebrating is 2 years living in New York City!  We have come so far!   I think I have changed the most living here.  It's funny to read my blog posts from then and seeing the difference.  I remember first moving here and being terrified to leave my apartment, and not knowing how to get anywhere.  Now I go everywhere by myself and sometimes Scott asks me for subway directions;)  I feel like after living here I could live anywhere.  I have to admit that I think my patience has gotten worse since living here.  I also have become more assertive which can be either good or bad.  I am glad we have the chance to live here for a few years at this time in our lives.  It will make me grateful for that day when we have cars, a dishwasher, a washer and dryer of our own, etc. 

Maine Trip 2011

Scott had a one week break the end of July, so we decided to do a road trip up to Maine.  Since Scott is 25 now, we were able to get a rental car for a good price.  We were excited to be able to get out of the city and drive!  We planned things to do while we were there, but also allowed for flexibility.  I'll try my best to give details so if you ever plan a Maine trip you can have some recommendations.  It was a really enjoyable trip, and very relaxing.  Maine is very beautiful!  It was also nice to see Scott for an entire week because that has not happened in a very long time.

We began our trip, and decided one place we would stop on the way would be Salem, Massachusetts.  One thing we discovered is that there isn't really anything there... We ended up finding Puleo's Dairy to have lunch and some ice cream.  The ice cream was very good, the food was just okay.  We decided to have fun and take some pictures. 

After Salem, Massachusetts we headed to Kittery, Maine where I heard about an outlet mall.  In my opinion is was quite a find!  We found some great deals and Scott was also able to find some things.  If you are going through Maine I recommend stopping at the Kittery Outlets. While we were in Kittery we needed a place for dinner and went to Bob's Clam Hut.  It had been featured on the Food Network on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives.  We had read that they have good fish and chips and I'm sure clams:)  We ended up getting the haddock and chips, and Scott also had some clam chowder.

We left Kittery and headed to Portland, Maine which wasn't too far away.  We ended up staying at the Travelodge there.  Definitely nothing spectacular but it was a decent place to stay along the way.  In the morning we continued heading North to get to Bar Harbor, Maine.  We stopped at lighthouses along the way and other things that interested us.  We stopped at a Cape Elizabeth to see a lighthouse.  It was beautiful to walk on the rocks and see the ocean.  The funny thing was every few minutes a loud blaring foghorn would go off a few times.  So we had to keep covering our ears when we walked close to the horn.  Here are a few pictures.

We also stopped along to see a few more lighthouses which I don't know all the names to.  Here are some more pictures: 

Those of you that know me when I see a sign that says "Wet Paint" I have to touch it.  So you won't be surprised that when I see a sign that says "Keep off the Grass" I just cant... and want a picture:)

 We found this random metal lobster and decided Scott needed a picture with it.

We kept heading north and ended up stopping in Booth Bay, which was a small touristy little town with shops and restaurants.  We ended up going to a restaurant and getting a lobster roll, and lobster stew to share.  It was really good.  I can't remember what the name of the restaurant was.

In Booth Bay Scott saw a store that had Whoopie pies and blueberry soda.  Here's a picture with his treats and a random stuffed bear. 

We continued our way to Bar Harbor, where we had a reservation at a bed and breakfast to stay.  We decided to check in and get settled before going out that night.  The bed and breakfast was called: The Collier House.  This wasn't a traditional B&B, as we stayed in a separate building outside of the main house.  We stayed in the "Pond House."  The room was good, and the hostess was really nice to tell us things to do around there.  Breakfast was kind of awkward the next morning because no one was talking, and the people next to us, we weren't sure if they spoke much English.  Other than the awkward breakfast we had a good stay. 

For dinner that night we went to Thurston's Lobster Pound for our first whole lobster dinner.  It was right on the water, and you could see all the lobster cages so we knew we would get some fresh lobster.  Basically you choose the size of lobster you want, and any sides that you want, and when it's ready they call you up to get it.  It's very casual eating the lobster on paper products.  I was amazed the kind of food we got for the price, it was a major deal.  Here are a few pictures:

Everywhere we went in Maine they were so many ice cream places. We had ice cream on a few occasions and it was very good.  I had no idea that there would be so many ice cream places. 

The next day we were going on a Whale Watch through Bar Harbor Whales.  We hung around downtown until our whale watching excursion.  It was quite the experience!  We were able to see a few different kinds of whales as well as seeing the same 3 Humpback whales multiple times.  I was worried going that we might not see anything but we saw a lot!  The only downside was that Scott was feeling sick on the boat but he was a trooper and enjoyed the whales also. 

We checked into our second bed and breakfast in Bar Harbor which was Canterbury Cottage.  This was a traditional B&B being right in the main house.  We met the hostess and she gave us some recommendations as well as showing us to our room.  It was funny because it felt like we were staying at Grandma's house.  The decor was very flowery, with lots of nick-knacks.  We found out there was a honeymoon couple staying there for the week.  I would never have stayed at a place that felt like Grandma's house for my honeymoon!  Breakfast the next morning was really good with blueberry pancakes.  It was also less awkward because people talked unlike the previous one we were at.

The night that we were there we decided to go out to dinner at a place that Scott could get his lobster and I could get some fried Maine shrimp which is what I was craving.  We ended up going to the Fish House Grill.  The food was really good, I especially was very impressed with the cornbread.  I have never had such moist cornbread before.  I had my shrimp and Scott had his New England Lobster Bake which included a lobster, clams, mussels, and clam chowder.  Here are some pictures:

The next day we started our way back home.  We first went to Acadia National Park to drive the loop.  It was a beautiful drive and we stopped to take pictures along the way.  For some of them we got a bit silly and decided to start jumping which made us start laughing hysterically.  I think we were entertaining anyone who was walking by.

 At this point we were talking about "planking" and how weird of a trend it is.  So we decide to get a picture of Scott planking lol. 

 So Scott was joking to me about watching out for bears.  As we were taking pictures I told him there was a bear behind him because there was a dog that looked like a bear behind him.   I thought it was so funny!  Here's a picture of the dog.

We stopped at Toot's for ice cream.  We were really craving ice cream so we typed it into the GPS and it led us there.  It was good ice cream but very funny, seeing all these farm animals while you are eating ice cream.

We also stopped at a beach at Cape Cod on our way home.  We got into our swimsuits, lounged, and waded in the water.  It was very nice and relaxing!  I feel like I never get to feel the sun living in New York.  I am the palest I think I've ever been in my life:)  I think Cape Cod is a place where you could spend a lot more time.  We didn't get very far into it because we were not wanting to get home too late.

It was a great trip and I'm so glad we had the chance to go.  If you ever have a chance to go up the coast, I definitely recommend it.  It is absolutely beautiful.  It was amazing food, amazing views and so nice to be able to see Scott for an extended period of time. 

The only bad part of our trip was driving into the city and dealing with tons of traffic, and finding a parking spot.  We were lucky with the parking spot but driving in traffic was not fun. 

P.S. If you don't like seafood, Maine is not really the trip for you. We ate lots of seafood!

GMA American Idol Concert

I went to the GMA American Idol Concert in Central Park last Friday before work with my friend Lindsay. It was a lot of fun!  Anyone that knows me knows that I love American Idol, and a free American Idol concert I could not pass up.  Here are some pictures taken by Lindsay:

Blogging Confession

I have been having an internal struggle about blogging lately.  I feel like I have been enjoying living my life and not worrying about blogging about every little thing.  When I am planning to blog about an event I feel like the whole time I'm worrying about getting pictures for the blog and not really enjoying what I'm doing.  It's not that I don't like blogging I just don't want it to be a distraction from living life.  I will continue to post on the blog.  I just wanted to explain my absence.  I'm not sure if anyone reads our blog or even cares, but for some reason I feel like I need to explain. 

I do have a few things that I would like to blog about!  We have had a really great summer.  So stay tuned for...

• Our Maine road trip
• Celebrating our 3rd Wedding Anniversary
• American Idol Concert in Central Park (today)

Food, Festivals, Fireflies...

On Saturday, we decided to try a few food carts that Scott's been wanting to try.  We headed down to Madison Square Park to try the "Calexico" cart.  Calexico is Mexican food with a California influence.  We got off the subway stop and Scott says, "We may have to change our plans..."  I said, "Why is there a big line?"  Then I look to see a big street festival with food stands, etc.  We decide to check out the festival and taste some of the food.  We are of course drawn to the BBQ corn on the cob, fresh squeezed lemonade, and beef skewers.  We share everything just to get a taste of the festival.  One of the things I love about the city are the fun things you find along the way to where you are going. 

After the festival we found Calexico and it was very good.  They had a little seating area to eat your food which was nice.  After Calexico Scott wanted to try the "Waffles & Dinges" cart in Central Park.  So we headed up to central park so we could make it to the cart before it closed.  Scott ordered his waffle "the Belgian way" plain with no toppings.  Since he didn't use his free topping, I used his too and had mine with bananas and Belgian hot fudge.  They were both very good, though mine was very rich! 

We sat for a while on a bench and just people watched - one of my favorite things to do.  It was a nice night in the parks.  We had our first experience with fireflies which were so fun to see.  I could have watched them all night - they are very entertaining.  On our way to the subway station we were walking through the park  and watched a goose for a bit in the water. 

After the goose, we ran into the little carnival rides that they have there.  We didn't spend money to get in and ride, but just watched.  They had mostly kid rights so I think it would be more fun for the younger crowd. 

We made it to the train and were headed home and I thought, this is one of those nights where I love living in New York City:)

4th of July

For the 4th of July we headed to Coney Island with some friends for the famous hot dog eating contest.  You can't live in New York and not go at least once, so we checked that one off of our list. We actually took a few pictures, enjoy:)

After the hot dog eating contest we headed home to relax, and recover from the heat.  We got together with some friends for an indoor BBQ and watching the fireworks from the roof - 31 floors up.  It was a very enjoyable 4th of July!  We missed our families celebrating in Utah, but enjoyed another 4th of July in the city.

Half way through med school

Half way through med school today, and since I have an afternoon off, I thought I would give an update on the past 6 months that I've been locked away in the hospital. I finished classroom work in December, and started clinical rotations in January. Ashley is realizing how nice it is having me gone all the time: less dishes to do, less laundry since all my scrubs are washed by the hospital, and extra shower time for her since I have to be up and at the hospital by 5:30 some mornings before she is even awake. Or to think about it another way, I like to think that she appreciates me more when I am home :). In reality though, I really appreciate all she does and puts up with, because I couldn't imagine having to do this school without her support.

Speaking of school, here are some of the highlights of the year.

I started on surgery - very long hours, living in Stamford, CT. I had no clue what I was doing, but I eventually learned how to sew and how to tie square knots with two hands. That's just about all you need to know to be a surgeon. So next time you need your gall bladder out, save some money and call Ashley (she's good with a needle) as well as your local Boy Scout troop to tie those knots!
I got to take care of infected appendices, gall bladders, pancreatic cancer, thyroid tumors, blood vessels, livers, colon cancer, and various other bad things that need to be cut out. Needless to say, it was a lot of fun.

Next, I went to pediatrics. Very nice people. I took care of the usual asthma, RSV, respiratory infections. I also helped take care of Tylenol overdoses, helped diagnose a 12 month infant with a rare blood cancer, sickle cell patients who were losing their eyesight, muscle aches, fevers, stomach viruses, encephalitis, and painful diseases that make your skin shed.

My next rotation was in psychiatry - yes, I am analyzing everything you do and say. And yes, I have thought about what your particular psychiatric disorder is. Ashley thought it was amusing...until I started analyzing her behaviors. Then it wasn't so fun. Remember that kid you went to school with that was always a little crazy? You were right all along, he probably is crazy.
I was assigned to an acute, lock-down eating disorder unit, but also saw the usual depression/psychotic people as well. Anorexia nervosa, Bulimia nervosa, and Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. It was so shocking to see the denial that people had about their illnesses. I saw first time admissions in 16 year old girls who were just beginning their eating disorder journey, and I saw their future (but hopefully not) in 40 year old women who had spent the last 20 years, 12 hours a day, eating and purging. I have a new respect for the physiological power of addictions, having seen it now up close when there is nothing for it to hide behind.

After psychiatry, I moved on to Neurology which was quite interesting. I helped take care of a smiling old man with dementia, taught a scared college student and her mother about her new diagnoses of multiple sclerosis and what her life would be like going forward, took care of a woman who suddenly couldn't walk one day, spoke with a Haitian man via translator about his prostate cancer that had spread to his spine, and helped evaluate patients with Parkinson's disease, among many other things. Many patients get really sick in neurology, and only a select few can slow the progression of the disease or get better. Most continue to get worse.

Lastly, I just finished my rotation on OB/GYN. Screaming women, screaming babies, emergency c-sections, terminal cervical cancer in single women, terminal ovarian cancer in young mothers, cutting out fibroids the size of your head, pap smears, ovarian cysts, infertility treatments, and circumcisions. Catching a slippery baby was, to say the least, really cool.

Next up: Urology and orthopedics.

New Post!

It has been probably 1-1/2 months since I have blogged.  I wish I could say that I have missed it but it has actually been a little freeing - one less thing to worry about.  I have decided though that I would like to rejoin the blogging world.  Instead of feeling guilty that I'm way behind and trying to catch up, I'm just going to start from today.  There are a few old things that I will blog about, but mostly new.  Here's to a new start!  Stay tuned...

Lunch Dilemma

Every morning when I pack my lunch I have a hard time deciding what to pack.  The problem is that lunch food never sounds good.  This is why I usually end up bringing to work cereal for my breakfast and lunch.
When we have dinner leftovers I usually pack them the night before to bring for lunch.  Then in the morning I decide that it doesn't sound good so I pack some sort of breakfast food. 

Monday night we had spaghetti so I packed up the leftovers and told Scott, "Now tomorrow when I said spaghetti doesn't sound good, tell me it will sound good at lunchtime."  He agreed.  The next morning I had a clothing fiasco*, so I didn't even go in the kitchen or have time to pack my lunch.  I had cereal in my desk at work so I didn't worry about it.   That afternoon Scott sent me this picture:

He wrote me a note on our whiteboard on our fridge since he wouldn't be there to remind me to take my spaghetti. I really laughed when I saw this picture! Too bad I missed the note because spaghetti really did sound good for lunch but I didn't have it with me. Then this morning the lunch dilemma started again. I looked at the spaghetti and thought oh I think I'll just pack some cereal.... and the cycle begins again!

*The clothing fiasco:  Picking out what to wear each morning takes me a really long time.  On Tuesday, I decided to wear a green dress and ironed it and everything.  I put it on and was all ready to leave the house when I remembered that I needed to put lotion on my legs.  I pushed the pump on the lotion to get some and it shot out all over my dress!  I thought there is no way that I'm going to be able to get this off of my dress without washing it completely.  So I grabbed the first thing I saw and put it on and left for work.

Side note:  I haven't given a Weight Watchers update in a while.  Here's a summary of my progress so far:

Week 1:  -1.8
Week 2:  0
Week 3:  +.20
Week 4:  +.60
Week 5:  -1.8

So overall in 5 weeks I have lost 2.8 pounds.  It's not a lot but I feel good about it because I've been having a hard time losing weight since we've gotten married.  I'm going to stick with this and get more serious to make it to my goal.  In Weight Watchers they talked about how sometimes weight fluctuates when we are trying to lose.  Sometimes is will go up a little in between the losses, the important part is that overall we are heading towards our goal.  So I am pretty happy that I have a loss overall so far.  Now I just have to work harder! 

P.S. Shyla and Liz do you see your announcements on our fridge?  So excited to see you both get married very soon:)