Ever since I got a copy of Martha Stewart Living in my hands as a first year med student, I had been dreaming of growing things. Hydrangeas, wisterias, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths... Then, Hubby and I went to Victoria, Vancouver, and visited the amazing Butchart Garden. It was seeing all those fantastic plants, that I wanted to give it a go, someday.
Now, let's be clear about something. I hated gardening as a child in my parents' home. My mother adores plants, and loves to plant things by just taking a leaf and sticking it in the ground. To buy plants is for dummies. I don't think she ever visited a nursery. Instead, she went to people's homes, saw something she liked, and picked a leaf/branch and grew it at home. I did not like getting my hands dirty, and I definitely did not like raking up all the leaves. As it turned out, nobody liked raking the leaves- my parents arranged to have all the leaf-shedding trees taken out. Totally not green, but you know, very efficient.
These days, I look out to the garden, and can't wait to grow all kinds of things. I want a vegetable garden, a bulb garden, I want fruit trees, fruit bushes, grape vines. If it looks pretty or if it can be eaten, I want to grow it.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, this house came with a beautiful garden, and to tear up these mature plants would not be very smart. Thus, I am looking at the space, sizing things up, looking at the sun, wondering how I can grow some big watermelons. Thankfully, the previous owners left us lots of great pots and saucers. This afternoon, while the kids ran amok, I scrubbed the ceramics, and got them ready to go. Hubby agreed that it was wise to try for a container vegetable garden before we decide to do something permanent, like moving to Central Valley.
This year, we are going to try to grow cabbages, various herbs, strawberries, watermelons, rainbow beets, carrots, beans, salad greens. We will also try to grow sweet peas, dahlias, tulips, marigolds. What we are going to try to NOT grow would be weeds, but these weeds seem to have taken up permanent residence here...
I will take pictures as we go along. I can't wait!
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Trying to be Green
I am trying SO hard to be green, but not getting very far.
When we got our PG&E bill in our new residence, I was a little shocked. I had never seen a bill this expensive, for utilities, ever. Then I got our water bill! HA!
Oh, I miss the days of living in the dorms- leaving the lights on, blasting the heat, opening the window to adjust the indoor temperature. Fabulous. I miss living in a brownstone- the landlord paid water and gas and electricity. Totally beautiful. I also miss the days of living in a townhome, where you hardly have any exposed walls so that it is so energy efficient.
After reviewing the bill, we decided to take out some of the bulbs, be more aware of un-needed lights...etc. Then the new bill came.
Somehow the gas and electric costs swapped! Yes, we cut our energy cost by about 10%, but how much we spent for gas in the December statement is essentially what we used for electricity in January and vice versa. Seriously. I am concerned: Does PG&E actually keep track of this stuff? Which statement is real? Or did we suddenly use so much more gas, to do what?! And did I stop using all lights?
On the other hand, we are being so green by turning off the automatic watering system for the yards, we are now relying on God's watering system. I can't wait to see our next water bill.
When we got our PG&E bill in our new residence, I was a little shocked. I had never seen a bill this expensive, for utilities, ever. Then I got our water bill! HA!
Oh, I miss the days of living in the dorms- leaving the lights on, blasting the heat, opening the window to adjust the indoor temperature. Fabulous. I miss living in a brownstone- the landlord paid water and gas and electricity. Totally beautiful. I also miss the days of living in a townhome, where you hardly have any exposed walls so that it is so energy efficient.
After reviewing the bill, we decided to take out some of the bulbs, be more aware of un-needed lights...etc. Then the new bill came.
Somehow the gas and electric costs swapped! Yes, we cut our energy cost by about 10%, but how much we spent for gas in the December statement is essentially what we used for electricity in January and vice versa. Seriously. I am concerned: Does PG&E actually keep track of this stuff? Which statement is real? Or did we suddenly use so much more gas, to do what?! And did I stop using all lights?
On the other hand, we are being so green by turning off the automatic watering system for the yards, we are now relying on God's watering system. I can't wait to see our next water bill.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Morbidly Curious
I think I am a morbidly curious person.
What? There is a huge pilonidal cyst (collection of pus by the tail bone due to an inflamed hair follicle) on 2 East? Which room? I will be right there. Hey, when are they going to do an I&D (incision and drainage)? Can I come watch?
There is a incision wound that went bad juju on 3A? I will be right there. What are we going to do about this? Wet to dry? Ooooh, can I do it? Let me peel off the wet dressing, hmm, sticky...
Yup. My curiosity tend to be weird and gross. Now that my work doesn't involve physical aspects of bad, bad things, I sort of miss it all. So sometimes, I close my eyes and remember the days when I retracted someone's neck for hours and hours for a parathyroidectomy, or the really, really big hemorrhoids I saw after this woman pushed out a very, very big baby, and how the ob/gyn guided me to trim all that thrombosed veins off. (I will leave it to you to discern if I am telling the truth or not.)
These days, psychological things are interesting. Yes, I get it all day long at work, but at work, I have to constantly think about treatment plans, and thus, not so much time is spent on, how to put this nicely... watching the train wreck as it happens.
So I turn to The-Reality-TV-Show-About-Lots-Of-Kids. It makes me really, really sad, actually, to see this young family struggle. Because we don't have TV reception, I had never watched this show until this week, when I discovered it on Netflix Instant View. I am starting with Season 1: 10 Halloween Vegetables. Life is hard with one child, life is harder with twins, and I cannot fathom life with 8 kids AND being on a reality show. I have some theories about that, but my theories are neither here nor there.
What is curious about the show is this: As much as it pains me to hear them bicker, I know there are times that I am not so kind in my words with my dear husband. I wonder, what would happen if we were taped, or worse, all my thoughts were broad casted to my sweet husband...
In the end, I gotta say: Thankfully, Jesus already died for my unkind thoughts and words. God, being the just one, could be keeping a record of all the ways I fall short, but instead, Jesus paid for it all, and through Him, I am saved. And these kids are simply His way of sanctifying me.
What? There is a huge pilonidal cyst (collection of pus by the tail bone due to an inflamed hair follicle) on 2 East? Which room? I will be right there. Hey, when are they going to do an I&D (incision and drainage)? Can I come watch?
There is a incision wound that went bad juju on 3A? I will be right there. What are we going to do about this? Wet to dry? Ooooh, can I do it? Let me peel off the wet dressing, hmm, sticky...
Yup. My curiosity tend to be weird and gross. Now that my work doesn't involve physical aspects of bad, bad things, I sort of miss it all. So sometimes, I close my eyes and remember the days when I retracted someone's neck for hours and hours for a parathyroidectomy, or the really, really big hemorrhoids I saw after this woman pushed out a very, very big baby, and how the ob/gyn guided me to trim all that thrombosed veins off. (I will leave it to you to discern if I am telling the truth or not.)
These days, psychological things are interesting. Yes, I get it all day long at work, but at work, I have to constantly think about treatment plans, and thus, not so much time is spent on, how to put this nicely... watching the train wreck as it happens.
So I turn to The-Reality-TV-Show-About-Lots-Of-Kids. It makes me really, really sad, actually, to see this young family struggle. Because we don't have TV reception, I had never watched this show until this week, when I discovered it on Netflix Instant View. I am starting with Season 1: 10 Halloween Vegetables. Life is hard with one child, life is harder with twins, and I cannot fathom life with 8 kids AND being on a reality show. I have some theories about that, but my theories are neither here nor there.
What is curious about the show is this: As much as it pains me to hear them bicker, I know there are times that I am not so kind in my words with my dear husband. I wonder, what would happen if we were taped, or worse, all my thoughts were broad casted to my sweet husband...
In the end, I gotta say: Thankfully, Jesus already died for my unkind thoughts and words. God, being the just one, could be keeping a record of all the ways I fall short, but instead, Jesus paid for it all, and through Him, I am saved. And these kids are simply His way of sanctifying me.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Ironies of Motherhood
Motherhood is ironic, to say the least.
Aidan had a field trip last Thursday, and since I am off on Thursdays, naturally, I said I would go as a chaperon. Did I actually want to go? No. Would any mother want to go ride a big yellow school bus at 8:30, watch a production about "Goodnight Moon" and return to school at 11:00, just to pick up the child at 11:30? I venture to say no. No mother would want to do that, it just doesn't sound like fun. However, a mother would do this trip just to see the face of her child light up because the show is funny for kindergartners.
Anyway, I told Mrs. S that would just LOVE to participate. As turned out, on these trips, only 2 chaperons would be allowed to go. Which two lucky mothers were the chosen ones? The ones that were in the classroom for over 2 hours two weeks ago, tracing and cutting papers for an upcoming class project. Yes, the mothers who had given up their time, had the joy of giving up their time some more. Ironic. Of course, when Aidan asked why I couldn't go, I told him that I simply wasn't chosen. Maybe next time.
Aidan had a field trip last Thursday, and since I am off on Thursdays, naturally, I said I would go as a chaperon. Did I actually want to go? No. Would any mother want to go ride a big yellow school bus at 8:30, watch a production about "Goodnight Moon" and return to school at 11:00, just to pick up the child at 11:30? I venture to say no. No mother would want to do that, it just doesn't sound like fun. However, a mother would do this trip just to see the face of her child light up because the show is funny for kindergartners.
Anyway, I told Mrs. S that would just LOVE to participate. As turned out, on these trips, only 2 chaperons would be allowed to go. Which two lucky mothers were the chosen ones? The ones that were in the classroom for over 2 hours two weeks ago, tracing and cutting papers for an upcoming class project. Yes, the mothers who had given up their time, had the joy of giving up their time some more. Ironic. Of course, when Aidan asked why I couldn't go, I told him that I simply wasn't chosen. Maybe next time.
Friday, January 15, 2010
A Glimpse
I haven't blogged much since the New Year because while life is full, sometimes it isn't all that interesting. However, the moments that are not terribly interesting are the moments, as told by experienced mothers, that I will miss terribly one day. I am not quite sure about that...
6:45 My eyes open to the darkness of our room, "Is it time to get up, or am I just awake?" I look at the clock and decide to do nothing but close my eyes.
7:15 I hear stomping feet. I jump out of bed and run down the hall as quickly as humanly possible and as quietly as a ballerina to make sure that Zoe remains quiet for Aidan to sleep. That child has been so tired that we really want him to sleep in a bit. What do I find, actually, a hoarding Zoe with all her bedding and an awake Aidan who is helping her. I send Zoe out of the room while shushing her, and make Aidan get back in bed. I hiss, "You have been so tired, go back to sleep." "But Mommy, she woke me up when she took her blankets." "Aidan, do you know why she takes all her blankets? Because you showed her YESTERDAY." Clearly, saying things emphatically and forcefully is SO soothing that will surely make him go back to sleep.
7:16 I try to get back in my bed but a very awake Zoe says, "I sleep here like a big girl," as she hogs my side of the bed. I give up and go get ready.
7:50 Feed the cat. Pet him a bit. This poor neglected cat.
7:54 Move the clean laundry into a basket, move the wet stuff into the dryer, and put in another load.
8:01 Make lunch- their schools do not heat lunch for them, so I have to microwave whatever they will be eating in a glass dish and then put them in their metal thermoses (total waste of time!)- today, they have BBQ pork fried rice that I made after dinner last night. Put dishes away from last night's load, settle them down for breakfast, encourage them strongly to not argue with me about what is for breakfast.
8:20 Clear dishes, ask Zoe to please chew her dried apricot before she tries to swallow, direct Aidan to get dressed. Zoe doesn't need to get dressed because her friends are too young to make fun of her unmatched pajamas. I make myself a bowl of super duper fortified oatmeal with Zoe's left over milk and inhale it.
8:31 Remember that Aidan's December reading list is due, was due, whatever. Find the paper in my office pile, run to his room, find all the books we read together, and scribble the titles down.
8:33 Zoe wants to help. "Honey, when you are in kindergarten, I will do this for you. This is my job." My dear child, if you can really write this would be YOUR job.
8:37 Must leave the house in 8 minutes, but oh wait! Aidan has a permission slip that needs to be filled out and turned in for a field trip next week. WHERE is it? Find it in my coat pocket. Scramble for $10. Put it in an envelop and give it to Hubby with specific instructions: Next Thursday is an early start day (we forgot for the last field trip, he had to chase down the bus driver...) and remember to turn this in TODAY.
8:41 Find Zoe's doll, throw it in her back pack. Throw socks at the kids. "Put those on!" Aidan runs outside, Zoe narrowly escapes being hit in the face by the door and runs after Aidan.
8:43 The children are asking, "Who is taking us to school?" After much convincing, they agree with us that Hubby should take them, and I should pick them up.
8:45 Zoe really wants to use the squeegie to clear off the dew of my car. Aidan shrieks that he needs to have a turn. Make the kids squeegie one window each. Encourage them strongly to get into Hubby's car.
8:46 Throw myself in the car, pray that I will hit all green lights.
8:57 Walk into my office, get ready for eight hours of patient care.
9:00 Billable time begins.
You might ask, what is Hubby doing during this time? Well, the poor guy is usually scarfing down some cereal, getting ready, responding to e mails, and occasionally, we make eye contact, and I think, "We used to get ready together, eat breakfast together while browsing the headlines of the Wall Street Journal. That will happen again, in about fifteen years. Please God, let me live to see that day."
Next time, I will tell you what happens at the end of the day...
6:45 My eyes open to the darkness of our room, "Is it time to get up, or am I just awake?" I look at the clock and decide to do nothing but close my eyes.
7:15 I hear stomping feet. I jump out of bed and run down the hall as quickly as humanly possible and as quietly as a ballerina to make sure that Zoe remains quiet for Aidan to sleep. That child has been so tired that we really want him to sleep in a bit. What do I find, actually, a hoarding Zoe with all her bedding and an awake Aidan who is helping her. I send Zoe out of the room while shushing her, and make Aidan get back in bed. I hiss, "You have been so tired, go back to sleep." "But Mommy, she woke me up when she took her blankets." "Aidan, do you know why she takes all her blankets? Because you showed her YESTERDAY." Clearly, saying things emphatically and forcefully is SO soothing that will surely make him go back to sleep.
7:16 I try to get back in my bed but a very awake Zoe says, "I sleep here like a big girl," as she hogs my side of the bed. I give up and go get ready.
7:50 Feed the cat. Pet him a bit. This poor neglected cat.
7:54 Move the clean laundry into a basket, move the wet stuff into the dryer, and put in another load.
8:01 Make lunch- their schools do not heat lunch for them, so I have to microwave whatever they will be eating in a glass dish and then put them in their metal thermoses (total waste of time!)- today, they have BBQ pork fried rice that I made after dinner last night. Put dishes away from last night's load, settle them down for breakfast, encourage them strongly to not argue with me about what is for breakfast.
8:20 Clear dishes, ask Zoe to please chew her dried apricot before she tries to swallow, direct Aidan to get dressed. Zoe doesn't need to get dressed because her friends are too young to make fun of her unmatched pajamas. I make myself a bowl of super duper fortified oatmeal with Zoe's left over milk and inhale it.
8:31 Remember that Aidan's December reading list is due, was due, whatever. Find the paper in my office pile, run to his room, find all the books we read together, and scribble the titles down.
8:33 Zoe wants to help. "Honey, when you are in kindergarten, I will do this for you. This is my job." My dear child, if you can really write this would be YOUR job.
8:37 Must leave the house in 8 minutes, but oh wait! Aidan has a permission slip that needs to be filled out and turned in for a field trip next week. WHERE is it? Find it in my coat pocket. Scramble for $10. Put it in an envelop and give it to Hubby with specific instructions: Next Thursday is an early start day (we forgot for the last field trip, he had to chase down the bus driver...) and remember to turn this in TODAY.
8:41 Find Zoe's doll, throw it in her back pack. Throw socks at the kids. "Put those on!" Aidan runs outside, Zoe narrowly escapes being hit in the face by the door and runs after Aidan.
8:43 The children are asking, "Who is taking us to school?" After much convincing, they agree with us that Hubby should take them, and I should pick them up.
8:45 Zoe really wants to use the squeegie to clear off the dew of my car. Aidan shrieks that he needs to have a turn. Make the kids squeegie one window each. Encourage them strongly to get into Hubby's car.
8:46 Throw myself in the car, pray that I will hit all green lights.
8:57 Walk into my office, get ready for eight hours of patient care.
9:00 Billable time begins.
You might ask, what is Hubby doing during this time? Well, the poor guy is usually scarfing down some cereal, getting ready, responding to e mails, and occasionally, we make eye contact, and I think, "We used to get ready together, eat breakfast together while browsing the headlines of the Wall Street Journal. That will happen again, in about fifteen years. Please God, let me live to see that day."
Next time, I will tell you what happens at the end of the day...
Thursday, January 7, 2010
New Year = Time to do Taxes!
While I was at Costco today, I made a very exciting purchase: Turbo Tax! The super duper version to accommodate 'home businesses'. It was really quite super duper because there was a $10 coupon. AND, the purchase of such software was also tax deductible. So. Thrilling.
Thus, I am now trying to make sense of the business side of my private practice. Tallying up receipts, expenses, blah, blah, blah. You see, I escaped estimated quarterly taxes because Uncle Sam, was so gracious, that he allows people who are just starting businesses like mine, to not pay estimated quarterly taxes for the first year. The rationale is that if one can't forecast one's income, how can one pay taxes on that?' Or something. Anyway, all that is to say: I haven't paid taxes for all of 2009. Nothing was withheld from me. HA! (Just to avoid a myocardial infarction, Hubby did increase his withholdings.) How this number will come about is mysterious, to say the least.
Now you know what I am doing with my evenings: working on my various Excel spreadsheets. That, and watching Big Love. It is totally awesome. Highly recommend it.
Thus, I am now trying to make sense of the business side of my private practice. Tallying up receipts, expenses, blah, blah, blah. You see, I escaped estimated quarterly taxes because Uncle Sam, was so gracious, that he allows people who are just starting businesses like mine, to not pay estimated quarterly taxes for the first year. The rationale is that if one can't forecast one's income, how can one pay taxes on that?' Or something. Anyway, all that is to say: I haven't paid taxes for all of 2009. Nothing was withheld from me. HA! (Just to avoid a myocardial infarction, Hubby did increase his withholdings.) How this number will come about is mysterious, to say the least.
Now you know what I am doing with my evenings: working on my various Excel spreadsheets. That, and watching Big Love. It is totally awesome. Highly recommend it.
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