For Dr Boyfriend and Sancho

Dr Boyfriend is my love. My rock. My best friend. My biggest supporter and as of late also my editor, personal assistant, travel manager and pep-talker. He married me and then I promptly left for medical school. (Thank you boyfriend!)

Right now our is a marriage via Skype, but it works. We have an amazing foundation and we know that we have the rest of our lives together so he supports me in what I want/need/have to do right now which is finish medical school. Even if it means we seldom sleep in the same bed or occupy the same time zone.

He loves Christmas as much/maybe more (is that possible?) than I do. We are so different and yet we share enough that we are happy together. I am sad when we are apart and cry often because I miss him. He is the romantic but I am the emotional sap. These last 3 and 1/2 years have been hard but I am lucky because I never once doubted our relationship, our ability to make it through. And now the end is in sight.

Dr Boyfriend is on a plane and on his way to meet me in NYC for New Year's and we will run our 5K in Prospect Park and cross the finish line before 2013. It is our new tradition and I cannot wait. 2013 awaits and I am in love with my husband...

And we both love our puppy. Sancho is probably the most significant thing to happen to us as a couple in 2012 and it was more rewarding and more fun and more stressful than I could have ever imagined or hoped. I never knew it was possible to love a dog so much. But we do. 

Dr Boyfriend and Sancho do their best to make me happy. And it is enough. So this is for them. The last of my virtual ornaments and an adieu to 2012....

For Sophie

and Elizabeth over at a moon, worn as if it had been a shell

This virtual ornament is the idea that inspired virtual ornaments. I was at the American Epilepsy Society meeting last week and came across this ornament which I knew I had to have. I was originally going to send it to Elizabeth and Sophie but then realized that they live with epilepsy EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. and thus really don't need an ornament to remind them... but I do love me some purple and so why couldn't I have the ornament for my tree? And so I donated some money and took it home... where it now resides.

As you may know I am applying for residency in Child Neurology and a large portion of my future patients will have epilepsy. This is no cure. There are medications and diets and surgeries that sometimes work, for some patients and there there are those like Sophie who are somehow above any treatments the medical world throws their way. My heart breaks, it does. I don't know if we will ever have the ever-elusive "cure" as there are so many reasons for and varieties of epilepsy but I do know that part of my career will be interacting with the families affected. Elizabeth and other bloggers have opened my eyes to the lives that are lived beyond the walls of the hospital or medical clinic. The world of IEPs and wheelchairs and affected marriages but most of all the world of love that they (Sophie,  Calvin, Max, Pearlsky) create as part of being. The compassionate siblings and more patient parents. The better world. And so to Sophie and Elizabeth I dedicate this ornament. One for my tree, one for theirs....

For S

This ornament is hung on my tree at home but today I am virtually hanging it here for S, over at A Thousand Times Over.

Way back in December 2008 when this blog was still only an idea I found her blog and was inspired: by her writing, her dedication and her passion for medicine. It was present then and it is present now. These past four years may not have culminated exactly as S had planned, but she still has a passion and desire to enter medicine and she will make a damn good doctor when she is given the chance. I am thinking of her this match season and I am hoping/wishing that 2013 allows her to finally fulfill her dream and match into IM so that she can show the world what I know is true.

Life does not always work out as planned but I do believe in persistence and I know that S does too. So  to S, please don't ever, ever, ever give up!

Virtual Ornaments

I am not sure exactly why, but I've been thinking of people that I only know because of this blog lately... And well, while we may not be meet-for-coffee or call-up-on-the-phone friends we share a world and we share a community and so this holiday season I've been thinking of them...

And if you know me or have been following this blog for any length of time you know how much I LOVE all things Christmas.

Ornaments are especially one of my Christmas time favorites and so I give you virtual ornaments.  (Ornaments that I would very much like to find wrap and send but I don't even know the addresses of any of these bloggers, just their web addresses.) I will dedicate these ornaments to those fellow blogger that have inspired me this year. Those bloggers that made me laugh or cry or just make me think.

Happy Hanukah, Merry Christmas and good cheer to all this Holiday Season!

Love,
Spice Queen

Grenada Goodbyes with 2 Days To Go...

I  thought this post would be easier to write. I'm done. No more medical school in Grenada. In just two days I fly home. Basic Sciences are over and this chapter of my life is closed. It seems both triumphantly amazing and like a big let down simultaneously. 

Since Thursday there have been parties and more parties, several trips to the beach, a drive around the island and sailing trip to another island. I'm not bolting from Grenada but rather making the rounds and saying my goodbyes.

It wouldn't be a pictorial countdown without a picture or more, so... 

The Shadowfax catamaron sail boat that took us around Grenda and to Hog Island. My third time going, love it!

 Christmas spirit in Grenada. Did I mention I heart X-mas lights?

Belmont Estate and Chocolate Factory. Beautiful plantation and they do a nice lunch if you find yourself on the North side of island. If in doubt, go! (Its worth the trip.)

enough fingers and toes

Okay so there are now less than 20 days until I leave Grenada. I told you I was bad at keeping track... I started with good intentions but then somewhere between day 30 and now I got busy and lost motivation to take a picture and figure out a Grenada memory each day.

But never fear, I'm back and here is a quick recap. I have been trying to stay motivated to study... it has been a loosing battle. However, I've shipped a large portion of my stuff, donated and sold everything I don't plan on taking home. We took the NBME today and tomorrow starts the final week of classes. Yep just one more week of class, and two exams to go. That is all that stands between me and home for the holidays. I literally cannot wait! 

Some pics to make up for lost time...

Christmas comes to Grenada early (this was the week before Thanksgiving at the campus bank.) Also  Christmas carols are now regularly played on the busses. Raggae Christmas of course, gotta love it!

Cheers and sunset from my old balcony with a good friend. I love good friends and Stag and random inspirations to watch the sunset...  I will miss this!

Yep, you read that right- "Don't Hate, Appreciate" on the same van that has a Baby on Board decal along with the Playboy bunny. Gotta love Grenada! And I've been looking and a few other noticed Reggae bus decals to add to the list including: "Street Smart", "Overcommer" and "Not Lucky but Blessed."  See Grenadians are thankful, as am I. And to celebrate American Thanksgiving I made pumpkin cheesecake. Yum!

And now a picture of my Chrismtas lights because I love all things Christmas (almost as much as my husband.) Who I will see in less wake-ups then my fingers and toes. How very exciting!

Happy Holidays!

first signs (leaving 29 days of island pre-Christmas to go)

Christmas is coming~

On my way to the grocery store, walking through the mall... what did I see?
but a wreath and some hollly and a Chrismtas Tree!

On the speakers overhead, carols filled the air-
Old Saint Nick is watching, so you'd better beware!

Here in Grenada, Thanksgiving has past,
so we are allowed to have our pre-Christmas!

Holiday Fun, but Packing is NOT [fun]

What do Minnie Mouse, Santa, Michael Jackson, the Rockettes, Cinderella's carrriage and the nativity scene all have in common? Give up? Just go to Pelham Parkway in the Bronx to find out.... (Or see my pics below.)   They are all part of the mannequin holiday display. I saw it last year and didn't feel my holiday season was complete until I saw it yesterday. So having completed my holiday ritual of seeking out the most outrageously decorated homes I am content. (We also made it to the Grinch House.)  So now the Christmas Tree is down and decorations have been put away. At least THAT box is ready to go to San Diego.... one packed, a few dozen to go.

Oh Christmas Tree...

There is nothing left to do but study. Today was our last day of classes, year one of medical school will be over in a week. There are just three exams between now and me getting on a plane next Friday night.  I cannot begin to explain how excited I am to celebrate Christmas in the city. I have been listening to carols non-stop. My mini Christmas tree is up and tonight I hosted friends for a Yankee Exchange-Holiday Party- Celebration. Gifts were opened, and stolen, we watched "Home Alone", drank rum punch and ate my home-made gingerbread people...

Not a bad way to end the term. Now its study time with no stopping until my first final on Tuesday. Happy Holidays from Grenada! I can't wait to be home...

I love Christmas!

Okay, so I KNOW that is not even Thanksgiving yet but I am far away from my family and I happen to love the holiday, so if it makes me happy to put up Christmas lights then that is what I am going to do! See picture below. It is my balcony with lights.... perhaps in the short time while they burned bright before burning out (I forgot the whole 110V to 220V need a transformer thing).

I also have a mini tree, I have it decorated and I'll put up pictures once I get around to taking them. Until then enjoy this pic which I took at the grocery store last weekend and my very bright lights. I have since replaced the lights. So, in recap, I am now in Christmas mode. I have lights, a tree and listen to Christmas music every day while studying. Also, I am making vegetarian stuffing, vegan stuffing and at least two kinds of Pumpkin Pies for my Grenada Thanksgiving. I  cannot wait.... Happy Holidays!

P.S. Immuno final is on Monday. Two days to study while enjoying all my Christmas cheer. Now if only I could figure out how to get a Peppermint Spice Mocha on the island...

Looking forward....

So, forgive me for not posting much lately. I haven't had anything to say, or at least I've lacked the energy to sit down and type it out. Term 2 is drawing to an end and dragging its feet to get there...  But I can't complain, this term has been good: I did accomplish most of what I wanted (a hash, two health fairs, a nice vacation visit with Doctor Boyfriend) and I genuinely liked the subject matter, even if some of the classes seemed disjointed, unorganized, etc. Perhaps I'll post more about MS1 reflections when its all over.

Until then, I'm looking forward. Just three more weeks of class. Four exams (of which three are finals, the other is a cumulative end of first year exam to show you where you stand as far as class rank, that maybe I'm not looking forward to.) Also I will be celebrating Thanksgiving on the island (with 45 of my classmates!) which I am really excited about. I'm preparing to make pies and vegetarian stuffing. I'm also debating as to when I can put up my Christmas tree. I would wait until Thanksgiving, but since I'm leaving the island on Dec 11th I'm thinking I can put it up extra early so that it can be enjoyed for the maximum amount of time. I mean, I went to the trouble to buy a fake tree, so I should put it up, ASAP, right?  I have heard Christmas music on two occasion around the island in the last 24 hours so maybe that is my go ahead. Now if only I had lights to string on my balcony... I think a study break and visit to the hardware store is in order. So, until next time- I'm looking forward!