Moving

On Monday, Pete and I headed to our new home. 2 vehicles loaded with stuff, and altogether too much stuff left at the apartment, basement storage unit and hanger. I had planned on returning early in the week, only to discover that the closets were in dire need of painting and remembering that I don't want to empty the hanger because what-if-I-hit-the-plane... Pete's toy. I would feel awful. Better let him do that job. So off he went early in the week for a turnaround trip to pick up the large items.

So I stayed for the week with nothing but a change of clothes, a puppy that was intent on getting into all things dangerous, and many, many tubs and boxes that needed to be unloaded.

At first unpacking was fun -- much of my kitchen stuff, for instance had been packed away for the last 3.5 years, since leaving the house, so opening each of the tubs marked "kitchen stuff" was a bit like opening the Cracker Jack box as a kid... Who knows what surprise lay in store! After I ran out of space though as I could not unpack to my cupboards, the duty quickly became frustrating... So here I sit in my sea of boxes waiting for cupboards to be complete in order to unpack.

Kitchen stuff that was fun to unpack

More kitchen stuff that was fun to unpack

Curtains that I made for the kitchen (had planned to use the fabric in my last house, but finally got around to making them)

Curtains that we had in a former apt that fit the guest bedroom window... sometimes you just have to use what fits. 

I spent the week fixing the cupboards -- repairing holes in the wall, removing layers of paint, muddying, sanding, taping, priming and finally painting. Most of the cupboard work is now complete, just waiting on shelves to be built for the front closet to make it more functional (the shelves previously were haphazardly nailed into the walls, rendering most of the space unusable).


Living room closet Before -- at time of original posting, closet had not been completed


Master Bedroom Closet #1 Before/After (Duckling card covered hole in the wall)

Master Bedroom Closet #2 Before/After



Guest Bedroom Closet Before/After (most of the shelves in the house had decades old contact paper covering the boards)


It took 4 days for me to break down and buy food for this place -- that long for me to decide that I actually live here now and that my trip here was not a quick stop on my way back home. Bittersweet feelings -- leaving our whole support network / starting something new.The current plan is to head back tomorrow to empty the apartment, hanger, etc and wrap up our dealings in Michigan.

Graduation

This past weekend was graduation. After 4 years of studying, many examinations, and hours of patient care in the clinics and hospital carefully watched/guided/nurtured by caring and compassionate physician educators... there is now an MD following my name from here on out.

This was not a single person endeavor. It was something that took the love and support of my dear husband, our dogs, and family and friends. Without these other people and things in our lives, I would not have made it through intact, whole, and stronger/more resilient for this experience. So thank you all for this support and encouragement, because while I enjoyed the vast majority of this experience... there were times that were hard emotionally/mentally/physically, things that I had to miss, and times I just needed to just "feel human" for a couple hours and the coffee nights, saunas, attending church, etc really helped with that. So thank you all!

On that note...

My family arrived Thursday night -- even grandma came with my parents and 2 sisters! It was so fun to visit with everyone in our home, and have company this last weekend that we live in this apartment.

The party Friday night was so fun. Thank you to all that attended this graduation / going away shindig. It was nice to visit with everyone that was there. It was so nice that even some of my out of town family could come -- 2 of Pete's sister's from MN came with 2 of my nieces, and a sister came en route to home from a business trip despite some airport frustrations!

And Saturday... I don't know how quite to describe the feeling of walking into a crowded stadium with the people filled with those that myself and my classmates all love to celebrate the attainment of our new title of Doctor. I thought I had prepared for this experience -- felt that my excitement had peaked around the time my diploma came in the mail with the ceremony was mere formality and something I should attend/do. But, was I ever wrong. I think the ceremony made me realize that 1) finishing medical school was an accomplishment, and 2) I did earn my MD and should not feel bad/ashamed about using it. There was definitely a part that belittled the work that I put into getting this degree, and had a hard time as recognizing myself as one of "the doctor's" -- I think the ceremony served to make me realize that I truly have earned this degree and that have joined the ranks of the others that have earned this title that have gone before me. And even the speeches were meaningful and sweet... not verbose, fluffy addresses without any substance.

And Sunday, Mother's day was relatively quiet. Family left real early, we got a start on the packing/moving that will be going down this week, and were able to meet my in-laws for ice cream, coffee, sauna in the evening.

All in all, a very nice weekend! So happy to be done! :)

Well, after a long hiatus,,, I figured I better come back to the world of blogging. As some of  you may, or may not know, Pete and I will soon be moving out of our apartment and into another old house in another state which we closed on yesterday! This one is considerably newer -- 100 years newer, in fact -- than the last house. But, an 86 year old house... is still an old house, and so I figured I could again blog from time to time on this site without feeling like the blog title was deceptive!

This house is in considerably better shape, with no projects at the present that "have" to be done... that being said, we have started a to-do list of projects that we would like done in the future. Most of the house has been really nicely re-done, and it will be an easy place to live. But like our other house... features in the bones of the house remind us of its age... the metal mail slot to the left of the main door, the plaster walls on the main level, knob and tube wiring evident in the attic (which appears to be disconnected from the main electrical supply to the house - not pictured below), old doors in the basement, an old ceramic laundry sink. Things that are still functional and perfectly useful, but remind us that the house is no spring chicken!

The interior all looks pretty similar to the picture of the living room below. Tastefully decorated, well maintained, nice and functional. The floors are predominantly hardwood on the main level. The rooms are cozy -- like the bathroom below, but should suit our lifestyle perfectly for the next 5 or so years while I do residency.

This is Amelia, our only dog at the present. She is about 10 months old, still definitely a puppy. 

I will post more pictures of the place in the future... but in the meantime, I'm back! :) This is the beginning to the next part of this adventure!

And... that's all folks!

We listed our house in September, received an offer during the first week the house was on the market... And today, Pete closed on our house (I gave Pete Power of Attorney to sign documents on my behalf as I had difficulty getting time off due to a crazy school schedule). We are done with this project, and are back to being very mobile -- with only the commitment of an apartment contract to hold us to the area. [That being said, we still have significant interest in this area -- church, friends, family, a job that Pete enjoys... just no longer physical ties to this region.]

We went there for the last time last week to pick up the last few remaining items in the house -- a bed and desk my grandpa had made me long ago. I had a few tears -- mostly for the life and wonderful memories that we had there: hanging out in front of the fire on chilly afternoons, having friends/family over, planting things each spring and watching green things grow from the ground (mostly weeds, I will admit -- but proud of my few flowers that came up), among other things. But leaving reminds me of something Pete said multiple times when we moved in: A house this old is never completely your own... you just get to take care of it for a little while.

The apartment suits our life for now -- its easy, low maintenance, and allows us to be mobile -- something that will be desirable when I apply to residency programs in a year. But, its a strange feeling downsizing/regressing in our adult life from a settled life involving a 5-bedroom, 2-car garage house on 2.something acres and most meals being fairly homemade... to a 1 bedroom apartment with most meals being convenience foods (cold cereal, prepackaged salads, etc). However, I am thankful for our current living situation and for having an understanding/supportive spouse as it allows me to pursue my goal of becoming a doctor, and focus on my learning/school right now.

Mortise and tenon joints... I will miss these reminders that our house was unique and old.

Pete moving the last of the bedframe my Grandpa made me from the 3rd floor.

I will miss this magnificent magnolia and its plate sized leaves in all seasons.

Looking back... leaving the house for the last time.

One final good-bye, and "Congrats" balloon for the new owner.

I had opportunity to meet the new owner a few weeks ago when my mom and sister came to town to help us move a few more things from the place. A middle-aged man with a teenage daughter. I am pleased that he is interested in the history of the house and details of the house. I hope it serves them well.

Eta: I am not yet done with the blog. Though it did start out as a way to chronicle the progress of our house projects... it became a way to share what has been going on with our life... and I am not yet sure I am ready to give it up. 

Tourist in my own town

This past weekend, my mom and sister came to visit me. It was so much fun to see them again -- and I totally enjoyed the time we spent together. The weekend was action packed... we did things such as explore the capitol, tour a local town and visit all the gifty-type shops that Pete won't tour with me, went on an airplane ride, emptied the house of furniture and belongings, visited with my aunt and uncle, went out to eat a couple times -- including once for pie, had cider and doughnuts from a local cider mill, among other things. It was fun -- and I believe they had a good time too! But today, its back to reality and I am sad to see them  go!

A few pics from the weekend (photo credits: my sister Emma): 

Another sacrifice

So, I have not updated in a while... but I feel compelled to do so this afternoon. Med school IS a lot of sacrifice.

Sometimes the sacrifices are easier than others, for example giving up weekends and evening to studying some really interesting things. Spending evenings in the hospital evaluating new patients and trying to understand what's the cause for their current symptoms and complaints.

Sometimes, the sacrifices are not so easy -- such as this weekend; I missed my sister's wedding because of a required school activity yesterday and a combination of other factors (lack of commercial flights that met my schedule requirements, it takes too long to get between here/there to drive, and weather was not cooperating to allow Pete to fly us out there). Even though I knew of this possibility from the beginning when the date was set... I guess I had my heart set on going and just *knew* that somehow I would get out there and be present at the activities of yesterday and today. But, that was not to be and instead, I spent the last 3 days tearful and disappointed. And though this sacrifice may seem trivial or silly to some, to me... there is no place I would rather be this afternoon than being part of the activities surrounding the wedding. Instead, here I sit too many miles away typing, studying, and trying to keep my mind occupied to avoid thinking about what all I am missing. And, I know this probably won't be the last time I feel this way over missing something.

Don't get me wrong... I usually love what it is that I do each day. I am privileged to hear the stories of many, and get to be part of their healing. I am fortunate to be entering a career with multiple avenues so that no matter what I go into -- I can always try something new if I get bored (ex. teach, research, patient care, etc.). And, there will always be something to learn.
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On a side note, I have finished psych and am now in my internal medicine clerkship. I am learning the foundation of medicine right now. It is so fascinating and most everything I learned my first two years gets used daily. It is, however, a lot of work. I spend M-F from 6:30/7:00 AM - 4:30 PM in the hospital each day + 6:30/7:00 AM - noonish 1 weekend day most weekends + one day each week in the hospital until 11:00 PM. I come home exhausted, and puzzled by the patients that I have seen and spend hours looking up causes/differentials/treatments/etc. so that the next day I am a bit smarter and know a bit more about what's going on. On top of this, I study and complete assignments.

My mom and youngest sister are coming out here in a few weeks. I am excited to see them. They have never seen where we currently live (post move from the house), so it will be fun to show them around the area.

"Normal" Weekend

Today (with any luck -- we find out exam scores in 10 days) I finished my first rotation/clerkship in medical school -- 8 weeks devoted to learning about psychiatry, seeing patients (along with physicians and residents), and even occasionally attending the patient therapy sessions to learn about what goes on while patients attend these groups. While I can't say that I am an expert in psychiatry, I can say that my understanding and appreciation of psychiatric conditions and addictions improved greatly during this 8 week clerkship.

That being said... I now have 2 days off before I start my next adventure (internal medicine). It feels great to have a "normal" weekend -- a weekend where I have nothing to study and I get to wear "normal" clothes for a change (and comfy shoes)! I am looking forward to having this time to do "normal" summer things -- like maybe visit a beach and enjoy the outdoors (provided the weather holds out)! :)