A WORD

" Giulio said, "Maybe you and Rome just have different words."
"What do you mean?"
He said, " Don't you know that the secret to understanding a city and its people is to learn-what is the word of the street?"
Then he went on to explain, in a mixture of English, Italian and hand gestures, that every city has a single word that defines it, that identifies most people who live there....And if your personal word does not match the word of the city, then you don't really belong there." ....

"Giulio asked, "What's the word in New York City?"
I thought about this for a moment, then decided. "It's a verb, of course. I think it's ACHIEVE."
(Which is subtly but significantly different from the word in Los Angeles, I believe, which is also a verb: SUCCEED....

"What was the word in your family when you were growing up?"
That one was difficult. I was trying to think of a single word that somehow combines both FRUGAL and IRREVERENT. But Giulio was already on to the next and most obvious question:

"What's your word?' "

Eat, Pray, Love Elizabeth Gilbert

I'm usually all about New Year resolutions. I'm very goal oriented and competitive so naturally I like to achieve. Let's be honest, my New Year resolutions usually don't make it to May, probably not even to March. So this year I needed something new to motivate me. I have been intrigued by the idea of having a "word" to focus and drive my actions. My sister Mandy's word is LEARN. My mom's word is PREPARE. I've been thinking about what the year 2008 will bring for Mike and I and several words have crossed my mind, SURVIVE, PERSEVERE, or ENDURE. But I didn't love them. Well now that January is half way over with, I think I have finally come up with my word....

A D A P T

1. to adapt is to make fit for, or change to suit a new purpose

2. to adapt is to change an idea or behaviour to deal with a new situation successfully

3. to adjust oneself to different conditions, environment, etc.: to adapt easily to all circumstances

I'm come to terms with the fact that I can be uptight and rigid. I'm not always good with change. The year of 2008 will bring many exciting changes to Mike and I (location, time, environment, life style). I would like to adapt to make the most out of all situations and experiences that come my way.

Adapt to a new house, perhaps in a new city I have never lived in.

Adapt my lesson plans to meet the needs of ALL my students.

Adapt to my time to train for races- perhaps a marathon.

Adapt to Mike's crazy busy residency schedule come July.

Adapt my needs to benefit the lives of others.

What's your word?

Eyelash Icicles

This is what happens when you go running with your friend, in 20 degree weather, with wind chills of 10 degrees, and it's snowing like crazy!!!! (When it comes down to it, we really are fools for running in weather like this.) Check out my left eyelash, can you see the ice chunk? No, it's not a snowflake, it is actually an icicle!!! My eyelashes were full of them, but they had melted by the time we took the picture. However there are also small icicles on my eyebrows. I've had snowflakes on my eyelashes, never ICICLES! No wonder I had such a difficult time seeing while running. I know this is a lame post, but I needed to document this crazy event.(Thanks to my friend Lauren who ran with me in this crazy weather, and who took this picture with her super cool iphone) 

Gladiators READY!

Is it bad that Mike and I can't wait to watch this? 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We hope everyone has a joyous holiday full of love, laughter and good food!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1670126869
(Please take a moment to copy this website into your browser and view a song from us to you!)

Just about 3 months away....

It's hard to believe Mike is already half way done with his fourth year of medical school! In a little over six months Mike will graduate from medical school and begin residency! It's so crazy to think that when I met Mike he was applying for med school, and now he's almost graduated!!!!! So surreal.

Mike has decided to go into Internal Medicine, and is currently interviewing for residency positions. In about three months we will know where Mike has been accepted for his residency. I have to be honest, it's such an exciting time for us. It's scary but thrilling to know a change is coming in our near future, and not having any idea where that change will take us.

So where will that change take us? Will it be...

PORTLAND, OR


SACRAMENTO, CA


LOMA LINDA, CA


IRVINE, CA


SAN DIEGO, CA


TUCSON, AZ


PHOENIX, AZ


ALBUQUERQUE, NM (I don't know if we can actually live here, because it's so hard to spell!)


DENVER, CO


SLC, UT


or CHICAGO, IL

We change our minds everyday where we want to go. So if you could pick, where would we go?

Ta Ta Ta tagged

This is for Stacy

Here are the rules:
1. Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
3. Tag 7 random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
4. Let each person know that they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

I'm not this totally mysterious person, so most of you will probably know these things about me.

1. When I was little my hair was cut really short and my neighbor repeatedly called me a boy. :(

2. I am a nervous, anxious person. I'm such a worrier. When I was little and we had a school day off, I used to make my mom drive past the school just to make sure no one was there and that we really had the day off.

3. This is part of #2. I have this weird fear that where ever I am living, it will start on fire and burn down. Probably because all I ever see on the news is stories about houses on fires. Seriously I worry about this. Ask Mike, he will tell you.

4. I love to run, but its been very hard to go lately when it's in the 20's and dark at 4:00 in the afternoon.

5. I can "crack", "pop", my big toe on demand. (Fairclough, this is like your elbow thing you do.)

6. I would love to be a meteorologist. I love teaching but I would totally rather be a weather girl. I find weather fascinating.

7. I plan my meals everyweek. I sit down, decide what Mike and I are going to eat each day of the week, then make my grocery list for the week. Little OCD, I know, but it saves us money and it makes to easy to come home after work and make dinner because it's already planned out and I have what I need.

I am not going to TAG anyone this time. But if you would like to do a similar post, I would encourage you to do so if you so desire. It was interesting to try to come up with weird things you think people might not know about you.

VERY NEEDED

In T-MINUS 7 hours and 30 minutes, I will be leaving this:



FOR THIS:



The timing couldn't be more perfect. San Diego here I come!