Week 2

Yes I know, I skipped Week 1. I had all kinds of good intentions about this list thing and it's just going to heck by my own slacker-ness, but last week was a bit odd and off I'm just going to go ahead and say thank you for your grace in this!

So what have I done towards my list? Well, there's nothing I can cross off the list yet, but as I started to look at the whole thing I've been surprised at what I've already started doing!

I'm working on the whole "getting to bed before midnight" thing, and so far I've been able to do that since Tuesday, January 11th. Monday night I was doing a lot of tossing and turning and not a lot of sleeping, but I was in the bed before midnight! Being on-call is potentially going to get in the way of this, but I'm going to keep trying. I've got two more overnight on-calls this month, but sometimes I am pleasantly surprised, so I'm going to keep trying on this one. I'm not going to let being on-call be my excuse.

I've tried two new recipes (chicken and dumplings and egg drop soup). The goal is six, so I'm on the way! If you have any suggestions for recipes you think I should try, shout them out!

I have gone without flip-flops since Sunday, Jan. 9th. The goal is two weeks, so if I can keep going until Monday, January 24th I can cross that one off the list! The fact that it's been FREEZING has helped (so does having some cute and comfy shoes). It was tough on Saturday and Monday when I didn't have to work, but I made myself put on "real" shoes anyway. I still love my flippers on the weekends, but I don't feel like I have to wear them all the time anymore. In fact, my brand new ones I got for Christmas are still brand new! And my pink pair are on their way to the trash...

I bought the supplies for making my post-it artwork, so now I just have to pull all my stuff upstairs and start working on it. I don't see it happening this weekend (or really for the rest of this month for that matter!) but perhaps I can work on it during my academic break between units.

The only thing holding me back from doing the cuss jar is my own laziness. Actually, I've decided we need two cuss jars in our house. One in the kitchen (because that and the dining room are where I tend to let loose) and one in the garage (where Jeff likes to let them fly!). Mine can be glass, but his needs to be plastic, so I'll have to repo my old rice canister to turn it into his cuss jar!

That's pretty much what has been happening so far. Hopefully by next week I can officially cross a few of these off the list!

I'm Melting

I'm melting. Mentally. Emotionally. Spiritually. And in many ways, it's a relief. I've allowed myself to become frozen solid by my journey. It was absolutely necessary and helpful. Because when I was frozen, all this "stuff" that was floating around without structure or support, trying to find a place, became solid. It combined and held together. A lot of stuff went into the creation of the iceberg.

I was resilient. Stuff could bounce off of me. Even when a portion of me was sinking, I was still able to float. To move. To be influenced. I was solid. I was strong. I couldn't be destroyed. But I was holding on to so much. Some of it was good and some of it was gross. And even when I appeared to be great, there was still all this stuff buried inside. You might be able to see a little edge of something, a little piece. But for the most part it was hidden.

I'll never completely melt. I'll never go back to that state of mess and chaos. But I'm softening. Parts of me are melting. The stuff that had been buried is slowly being exposed. And some of that nasty stuff is falling away. The parts that are melting are letting that water run down and create new paths, new patterns, new ways of appearing and of being.

I got probably the greatest compliment ever today. It wasn't even phrased as a compliment. It was an amusing story. The compliment of it was not just sort of a fact of the story. But it was the first time I'd heard it. And I really thought I was going to cry because I was so touched! And my head is still sort of swimming from it.

I'm melting. Softening. Being re-shaped. It's glorious.

Egg Drop Soup

Recently I've been absolutely loving (and really craving) Egg Drop Soup. Our favorite Chinese place does it so simply yet beautifully that I figured I had to give it a shot!

3 cans chicken broth (or whatever kind of broth you like for a base!)

2-3 splashes soy sauce (you may only want to start with one unless you're using the low-sodium chicken broth)

1 clove minced garlic

chives

1/2 cup beaten egg

Heat the broth with all the other stuff except the eggs. When the broth is thoroughly warmed through (not really boiling, but almost). Then, take your spoon and make a little whirlpool in your pot. Then slowly drizzle your egg into the pot as it's swirling. It'll cook itself in about three minutes. I actually used egg substitute, and while it didn't look as pretty, it still tasted good.

I'm not a tofu person, but if you like it, you could easily toss in some tofu or sprouts or mushrooms or anything else you'd like in there. I'm a no-frills kind of gal (at least when it comes to my egg drop soup) so I like to keep it simple.

The recipe called for ginger, but I didn't have any. It really needs it. It wasn't bad, but it could have been better. I enjoyed it, and I will definitely make it again.

It's a surprisingly quick and easy dinner that I can throw together after work. If you like egg drop soup, give it a try. And as usual, if you try it (and especially if you improve on it!) let me know.

Ridiculously Easy Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and dumplings has always been one of my favorite foods. But I never got it homemade growing up so I never learned how to make it and therefore never really tried.

I found a recipe for chicken and dumplings in the crock pot and was a little hesitant, but I figured as long as it was better than the stuff from a can, it would be counted as a win.

I may actually start making this like once a week. It really shouldn't even count as cooking, but it does!

1 package boneless, skinless chicken breasts (3-4)

2 cans cream of chicken soup

about 1 cup water

black pepper and onion powder (next time I will also add a little garlic powder)

Put it all in the crock pot on low for about 8 hours (or high for about 4) or until the chicken is cooked. Then shred it with a fork.

Now, for the dumplings. If cooking for you requires dirtying more than a single fork you can mix up some dumplings with baking mix. Or you can be as lazy as I was and use a can of biscuits. Just tear them into little pieces and drop them in with the chicken. Make sure you poke them in and put the lid back on for about half an hour!

Yup, that's it! I'm telling you, it's amazing.

Friday Five

Today's Friday Five invites us to share five things that made getting out of bed worthwhile this morning. I'll admit it, it was a tough thing this morning!

My new book: Technically it's not mine, I'm only borrowing it for the week. But I'm really getting into it and there is the distinct possibility that I will finish it during the week I have it. I'll say more about it in a few weeks in my post on my second unit of CPE.

Being on call: I love my job, and I love being on call. It's kind of ironic that, as I started, being on call was the thing that TERRIFIED me the most. Now it's one of my favorite parts of the job.

Music: Driving to and from work (when snow and ice aren't involved) is actually kind of enjoyable for me. I have some good music on my phone that helps give me some good "me" time.

The weekend: I knew that the sooner I got up and went to work, the sooner I could come home to a day completely off!

Bright ideas: I have started keeping a list of things that might make some good research work for me in the event that I do decide to do a Level II residency. It makes it harder for my supervisor to say no when it's a research project that she suggested! I'm enjoying doing some of the preliminary research just to find out what is there (and the more often I find nothing, the more excited I get about the possibility of actually coming up with something to publish!)

Self Care for the Week: Therapy on Wednesday - I really do look forward to my appointments and I hate when I can't engage the way I want to, so I'm glad this week was better than last. I found out about some good things, and there's lots of good stuff on the horizon, so that is exciting.

Wardrobe Basics

Okay all you fashion-savvy folks, this one is just for you! I need your help!

I have decided that the new year is the perfect time to begin updating my wardrobe. While there are some that will swear that I have been dressing like a kindergarten teacher since high school, I feel like my wardrobe is currently more "high school student slouch" than young professional. And that needs to change.

Over the past couple of years I have been acquiring new bits and pieces here and there, but I want to get serious with what I have and what I need and getting rid of the stuff that is simply taking up space! I got a good start at Christmas this year, but there are still some things I need.

Khakis - plain old khaki pants that I can wear anywhere with anything. CJ Banks has been letting me down, but I'm still hopeful I can find some there because I really love the way their pants fit me!

Black dress pants - I have one pair that I'm not digging and don't really wear, so I need some I'll actually get out of the closet!

Denim jacket - preferable something a little feminine. There are a couple on the Dress Barn website that have my attention, but I will need to see them in person and try them on. I'm also open to other suggestions.

Sturdy cardigan - My friend Betsy has one that I have coveted for years but have never been able to find something like it. I don't want something super-thin and clingy, but something that will be a good go-to for a long time! I have found two from Lands End that aren't exactly what I want, but may be what I end up with because they're pretty close!

Shells/Tanks/Tees in lots of colors - Preferably something that is not super fitted/clingy but that is knit and has a little movement to it.

White button down - I know this is one of those things that every person needs, but I simply don't have it because I have yet to find one that fits comfortably and looks nice on me! Perhaps I need to shift simply to a nice white blouse?

No, I don't have a basic little black dress and no I don't want a basic little black dress. I know they're a classic, timeless staple, but my body is so odd right now that dresses in general don't fit me correctly! I have a good black skirt (part of a suit) and that is doing me for now!

And of course please feel free to let me in on any things you know of that I need and aren't on my list!

Who's Up for a Duck Hunt?

WAR EAGLE!