“if you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” January 30, 2007

A lot of people in Michigan hate the weather: unpredictable; too cold; too grey; “when is it going to snow?”; and then, “oh my word, when is it going to stop snowing?” These are some of the usual complaints.

I won’t lie, I miss the sun and am tired of trying to dress strategically so that I’ll be warm enough and be able to shed layers when I (inevitably) get too warm… maybe tear-off, stripper pants are the answer…

The cold, however, helps define the idea of *home* for me. I feel a sense of comraderie with the bundled souls I pass on the street whose thin, quick smiles show just above their scarves. Offering warm drinks to guests turns a perfunctory courtesy into a true act of mercy. And when my car fishtails on corners I’m able to ride it out and not panic…that’s just winter driving and you either embrace it or move to Arizona. My mother always said, “Even if I had as much money as Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis I’d still live in Michigan.”

I read A Civil Action by Jonathan Harr this weekend. It was actually for my Community Health class and I didn’t feel guilty for getting totally consumed by it and ignoring other homework. Harr details the development of a huge environmental lawsuit that took place in Massachusetts in the 80’s. Interesting and thought provoking this is really well written…and I don’t usually like play-by-play accounts of true stories such as Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer and A Perfect Storm by Sebastien Junger, which are written in a similar style, but not nearly as good.

the worst… January 21, 2007

Woke up with a migraine. Took Imitrex and went back to bed where I was unsuccessful in *resting* so I got up and did what anyone would have done: roasted lamb shanks and potatoes. I’ve been reading Nigella Lawson and she has led me to believe that I can deal with cuts of meat I’ve only ever seen hanging in market stalls overseas. I followed the recipe, let the lamb come to room temperature, followed her recommended time/temp/weight grid and 40 minutes later pulled an essentially raw piece of meat from the oven. must. buy. meat. thermometer.

In the end I probably overcooked it but the potatoes were crisp and lovely and it made my Three-Buck-Chuck Shiraz taste pretty good. The point is that I now have enough lamb to make a Shepherds’ Pie that I’m testing for my St. Patrick’s Day party. All that for that.

The book club I’m facilitating started a couple weeks ago and I’m really enjoying The Working Poor by David Shipler, as well as the company and dialogue. So far, Shipler has avoided making the book a battleground of Left vs. Right and I respect that. It seems a fair accounting of how institutional and political imbalances affect and even work against individuals who are active participants in changing their circumstances here in the States. More to follow.

the party on P2 January 17, 2007

Had my first day on the Oncology unit and it was great. I only had one patient and she was a stitch…albeit somewhat confused.

Me: What have you had to drink this morning?

Pt: A shot.

Me: Shot of what?

Pt: Liquor.

Me: (putting hands on hips) Liquor, huh? Where’d ya get that?

Pt: Oh honey, I’m just jokin’. (slapping my arm) But I bet you like to drink it. Come on, you know you do. At the party?

Me: Maybe at a party (thinking)…but I’m not at a party. I’m in a hospital. Do you know what hospital this is?

waiting for the bread to rise…an analogy January 16, 2007

I consider myself a cook, not a baker, so my sudden frenzy of baking this week was a little surprising. The biscotti and pizza dough were pretty good and the brioche was great as long as you like bread that resembles the size, shape, and density of, say, a baseball. Kind of disappointing, but useful for fending off intruders, so not a total loss.

Since my trip to North Africa and the Middle East this August I’ve been on the path to joining one of the teams in Egypt and leaving the US. This included getting approval from my church leadership, my organization, and formally applying to the team. I fasted with some friends in November and was praying for confirmation that this was the best path…and that’s when it felt like my life started falling apart.

The short version of what happened is that after much praying and seeking counsel and some crying I’ve decided to stay in the US and try to get into medical school. I’ve thought about this off and on since I was 19 and always talked myself out of it because I was scared of failing. I have 5 classes and the MCAT left to take, so I’ll be nursing for the next couple years and taking these…who knows, maybe I’ll flunk out of Organic Chem and that will be that, or maybe I’m going to be great at this. I’m looking forward to finding out because I’m tired of wondering “What if…?”

It’s difficult to choose between two very good things. If it had been a choice between moving to Egypt or shooting heroin this would have been a short blog entry and you’d be doing something else right now. I’m disappointed. I want to serve overseas, learn a new language, learn the reasons that God loves Egyptians and love them too. But I can’t do both missions and med school right now, so I’ve chosen.  And I’m hopeful that God is going to produce something good and useful in me and through me.

I need to do an official mailing, but people have been getting supicious and asking questions, so I wanted to get it out there.  If you want more info shoot me an email.  luff, elisse

business as usual. January 9, 2007

I tend to have extreme thoughts when I’m sick (perhaps due to dehydration) and last week was no exception.  While throwing up at 2am I was tearfully lamenting the fact that I was going to die of the bird flu at 31 and that I hadn’t done anything worthwhile with my life yet.  12 hours of sleep and a liter of Gatorade later things were looking a little less dire.  Today I’d go so far as to say I’m wondering brightly about the future (although I still sorta think that bird flu and global warming are going to take us all out).

Classes started back up yesterday and it looks to be a pretty good semester with Community Health, Senior Med/Surg, and a Boards prep class.  I’m not thrilled to be on an Oncology unit for Med/Surg, but I’ll get through it.

predictable January 1, 2007

News Year’s Resolutions:

1. Wear heels more often as no occasion needed.

2. Remove “awesome” from my vocabulary and replace with “super”.

3. Read through the Bible.

4. Listen to live music whenever possible.

5. Take better care of my spine…presents a conflict of interest with #1.

6. Go dancing.

7. Adopt a dog.

8. Learn to make brioche.

9. Put the One Mile Rule back in effect.

10. Be brave.