Memoirs of A Self-Proclaimed Self-Help Guru

Some Bloggy Question...

I just saw some type of questionnaire that asked. "If you could bring back any canceled TV show, which would it be?.

Hands down, without a doubt, no need to even think twice---Frasier.  I even have all the sessions (oops...I meant seasons..maybe it was some type of Freudian slip since Frasier is a psychiatrist and watching this show is a form of therapy for me) on DVD.  I think it may be the psychologist in me but the humor on that show kept and keeps me in tears.   If you have never watched Frasier you just don't know what you are missing out on.

What show would you bring back?

Happy Birthday...to me?

Since I am paying a ridiculous amount of money to have this blog I decided I might as well make a post this year.  I haven't been blogging for the same ol' reason.  SCHOOL!  I am still taking all the prereq's for medical school.  I am taking two summer classes-Trigonometry and Anatomy & Physiology II.  They are not particularly hard in comparison to Chemistry but they aren't for the weak of heart either.  It is super fast paced.  I have four hours of classes four days a week.  Then this fall I will take Organic Chemistry and Physics.    In the spring I will take the second course in each of those classes then I can take the MCAT and apply to medical school.  It has gone by much faster then I ever imagined.  I know you are all so sick of hearing me go on and on and on about this.  For some reason---it motivates me to share it with you.

Yesterday was my birthday.  It was nice except two of the icons of my youth decided to die!  I may be scarred for life. Anyhoo...we spent Wednesday in Raleigh getting my hair done and going to lunch.  I was completely okay with doing nothing else for my birthday except lay around and enjoy the break.  However,  Honey had a different thing in mind.  He awoke me with breakfast in bed.  He made the yummiest blueberry muffins, turkey sausage and scrambled eggs. Apparently he likes to keep me plump.  Next thing I know he comes upstairs with his breakfast except he is holding this large box.  A wrapped large box.  A wrapped large box with bows.  So I asked him, "What ya got there in your hands?"  He said, "Oh, just a table to hold my breakfast."  So I finished my breakfast and let him finish his.  I tried to act completely uninterested in the large elephant sitting in the middle of the room. 

Honey then allows me to open it.  So I did.  He got me a beautiful jewelry chest.  I needed one really bad.  Then I began to open the drawers and such.  He had the prettiest blue topaz necklace and earrings.  I was very surprised!  He did good.

Yesterday evening I had a friend over for dinner.  I decided to cook.  Honey leaves for Iraq any day now so I really wanted to cook for him.  Military food is not the best so he really appreciates any home cooked meals he gets.  He so kindly helped with the meal--he marinated and grilled tuna steaks.  I made a parmesan and cremini mushroom risotto,  fresh succotash with corn, sugar snap peas, baby patty pan squash, and red bell pepper and a nice Riesling. For my cake I decided to have a fruit tart.  It was a very lovely meal. 

After dinner, we were feeling so sophisticated that we pulled out the Wii and played Rayman's Raving Rabbids TV Party. We're a class act.

You're Invited for Tea

So close to the end.

I am just about finished with this semester.  I cannot wait to relax.  I don't think I have posted that I am also in the middle of moving.  This is something we do often.  We loved where we were living.  It is a quaint little beach town with fabulous schools.  However, the commute is just grueling along with my course load and teaching schedule.   My baby is graduating in just a few months so we decided to relocate.  Eliminating the commute is eliminating an obstacle to my dream. 

I can't believe that I have finished my first year of my pre-med course work.  This summer I am going to take Anatomy and Physiology II and Trigonometry.  That will actually be a break after my Chemistry courses this year.  I have to take Physics I and II  & Organic Chemistry I and II next year.  Then I take the MCAT next summer and apply to med school.  I need to take Calculus but I am going to take it after I apply.  I am thinking more about USA (University of South Alabama) as my med school of choice.  There are a few other schools I am toying around with.  However,  I am interested in general practice and family practice so I want schools that have that focus.  If I go the research route,  I will apply to Duke.  They have a joint PhD/MD program.  I still have time to make that decision. 

My life has changed radically since pursuing my lifelong dream of being a medical doctor.  I find that I am just so much happier.  I knew that I was not reaching my human potential before.  Now,  I feel that I am being stretched in so many ways--emotionally, intellectually, and physically.  I won't lie--there have have been so many tears.  If I didn't have such a loving, supportive, giving husband --I would have already quit.  He always props me up when I feel like I can't go any further.  He has surprised me with the sweetest things all year.  I am so blessed. 

Sometimes I Just Want to QUIT

I do not have time to do anything.  I do not have time to even talk to friends on the phone.  For the first time in 21 years of marriage,  I didn't make a big deal about my hubby coming home from an out-of-town trip.  Every time he has spent the night away from our home,  I have always cleaned the house spotlessly, made him a favorite meal and made sure that I looked my very best.  Last night when he came home from a four day business conference, I was in my nightgown (not a sexy one), lying in bed reading.  The house was not cleaned and there was no dinner waiting.  I think he was a little shocked. 

Why?  You all ask.  I am feeling defeated.  I took three classes (all have labs) this semester and I am still working fulltime.  I am just so worn out.  BUT just when I need it--God made His presence known to me. 

I am taking my second inorganic chemistry class.  Same very hard instructor.   But I thought that I had mastered her teaching and testing style.  I worked so hard this past week preparing for the first large test.  I have made 100's on every quiz,  all of my lab reports and all homework.  I felt really good about taking the test.  I studied like 40 hours for it.  I know this material.  I got my grade back and it was an 82.  That is awful.  I was so disappointed.  The sad thing is that it was the 2nd highest grade in my class.  My lab partner made an 84.  AND the teacher doesn't curve. 

On my way home I couldn't even cry.  I wanted to cry but my body just wasn't cooperating.  There was nothing else that I could do.  I did everything right.  I didn't miss a class.  I studied throughout the course.   I met in multiple study groups. I did all I know to do.  The grade is very important to me because I am attempting to get into med school as a nontraditional student.  I must standout from the other applicants and not just my age. 

So I resigned to drop the course and just give up on my lifelong dream.  I am worn out.  So I felt this terrible sadness at deciding to not follow my dream.  I would just learn to be content with all that  I have. 

With all this going on,  I decided to just go to sleep.  Then I had this wonderful dream.  I was in a doctor's office in the exam room.  My son was sitting on the exam table.  The doctor was facing him.  The doctor was foreign but I didn't recognize the nationality.  He looked at my son and said, "Brandon (our last name) you will be a doctor."  Then he turned around and took my face in his hands, he looked me straight in the eyes and said in a very gentle, yet authoritative voice, "Mia (my last name), you WILL be a doctor."  Then all of the sudden I woke up.  I heard the Lord in my spirit say--I woke you so that you will remember that dream.  He showed me that it is His will for my life.  He planted the desire in my heart.  My desire is very pure and not motivated by a need for recognition, fame, or wealth.  It is rooted so deep inside me that it is absolutely powerful. 

So I have a renewed joy and strength.  Isaiah 40:31 …those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

I Am Smitten

Just look at this face...

Is he the cutest thing that you have ever laid your eyes on?  This,folks, is Henry.  He is our replacement child.  Since our babies are growing up and out we had to have another one.  My hubby has always wanted a chocolate lab so when I saw this little guy--I was hooked.  He is a Labmaraner which is a Labrador Retriever / Weimaraner hybrid.  Hubby is in love too.  You should just see the two together.  Let me tell you--this past month has been a month of me doing the "I will never..." things.  Such as:

1. I will never have a rolling bookbag--well my back is breaking from all of my heavy books.  I forgot to tell you I added another course.  I am now taking Inorganic Chemistry II and lab,  Precalculus, Anatomy and Physiology and lab.  With those classes--I have enormous books and with enormous books I need a very big book bag.  I am logging about six miles a day walking so I am now the proud owner of a big, goofy rolling bookbag.
2. I will never be one of those people that treat their animals like children.  Eating my words as I type this.  Henry has so won my heart and my hubby's that we are now those obnoxious dog owners that put their precious pup in Doggy Day Care.  For real--I only wish that I could tell you that I am joking--oh, but I am not.  Mommy drops Henry off at 7:30 am with his favorite toys, snacks and blanket.  Daddy picks him up at 5:30.  He has friends and he can even have "spa" treatments and play in the hydropool.  Why would we do this?  We are kennel training him and we don't want him to stay in his kennel all day long without exercising and going potty.  Doggy daycare is our solution.  Sounds crazy--but it works. 

The lesson here is never say never.  You may just run into a Henry.

It Just Keeps Getting Better

Obama warned Republicans to quit listening to Limbaugh if they want to get along with Democrats, during a White House discussion on his nearly $1 trillion stimulus package.

By NY Post    FOXNews.com

Friday, January 23, 2009

WASHINGTON -- President Obama warned Republicans on Capitol Hill today that they need to quit listening to radio king Rush Limbaugh if they want to get along with Democrats and the new administration.

"You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done," he told top GOP leaders, whom he had invited to the White House to discuss his nearly $1 trillion stimulus package.

One White House official confirmed the comment but said he was simply trying to make a larger point about bipartisan efforts.

"There are big things that unify Republicans and Democrats," the official said. "We shouldn't let partisan politics derail what are very important things that need to get done."

That wasn't Obama's only jab at Republicans today.

While discussing the stimulus package with top lawmakers in the White House's Roosevelt Room, President Obama shot down a critic with a simple message.

"I won," he said, according to aides who were briefed on the meeting. "I will trump you on that."

The response was to the objection by Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) to the president's proposal to increase benefits for low-income workers who don't owe federal income taxes.

**NOTE**  In four days, he has proven to me that I absolutely made the right choice when I did not vote for him.   His lack of tact is disgraceful for a man in his position.  This is why it is so crucial that a president have more experience than 200 days.  He can't handle not being agreed with.  He shuts down any opposition.  He needs to be reminded that he has taken the oath to be a "public servant" and not a dictator.

Makes You Proud to Be an American...

Obama to Lift Ban on Overseas Abortion Funding

President Obama is expected to sign the executive order one day after the 36th anniversary of the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion in all 50 states.

Nothing like knowing my tax dollars aren't just being used to kill American babies--but worldwide killings of all nationalities. 

Biggest Loser "Couples" Starts Tonight

I am a "Biggest Loser" junkie.  I love this show.  It is the only show I watch religiously and the only show that my hubby and I watch together.  We are so pumped about the new season.  Here is a clip with one of this seasons contestants.  He is the biggest contestant they have ever had.  It is really sad to see such a young man that is so obese.  I hope he has great success with learning to turn his life around through hard work and behavior modification.

Welcome Back!

As a little warm welcome back to my fellow instructors in my division I made these.

The mugs are actually painted with chalkboard paint.  In the cup is a package of trail mix, cocoa mix, mentos and some chalk to wirte messages on the mug.  For the tag I used DP by October Afternoon (Night Light) and the stamps are Cornish Heritage Farms Kim Hughes Collection (Making the grade).