Kelly: Yesterday, I was on call, and I got called a lot! I was a bit grumpy about it at first, given that my Saturday was spent entirely at the hospital, but then I realized that the people whom I see are serving our country. They are in harm's way on a daily basis, and the least I can do is give my Saturday to try to help them. So, the contrast to the fast-paced Saturday is compared to today's slow morning. Matt and I lingered over breakfast, drank tea, and looked at real estate...a perfect way to spend the morning. We were looking at homes in Frederick and Matt found an article about the real estate market there in the USA Today...We will have a place there, someday.
We received more snow here last night. I don't know where the forecasted 10 inches went??? We got about 3 inches of snow on top of slush. I happily shoveled the snow this morning...M and I really have switched roles! The neighbors spent about 3 hours shoveling their sidewalk, driveway, and the road in front of their house. I spent my after-shoveling time making gluten-free chocolate muffins in honor of Ava's 1st birthday. Matt surprised me with ice cream, and we had our our celebration. It wasn't the same as being home with family, but she was certainly close to our hearts. Happy Birthday, sweet niece!
My face is still peeling...I had an allergic reaction to something. I've looked like a chemical peel gone bad for about a week now. Matt continues to tell me that it looks better, but I'm not so sure.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Thwarted Weekend Plans
Kelly: Matt and I had planned to explore a new town/city this Saturday after my "short" 7:30 AM call. When I got home much much later than expected at 3:00, stores were closed and darkness was preparing to descend. Bummer. We spent the evening talking to family and watching Rick Steves Europe DVDs...love them and an early night to bed. The DVDs focused on France. The south of France looks amazing...the food, the landscape, the history. It just movedto the top of the travel list...come on spring!!!
We woke to light tapping noises to find sleet hitting our window...no morning walk for me. The sleet changed to light snow which is still falling as I write this. Today we were considering visiting a local town for a red wine walk...even it I were a little tipsy, the cold would still feel cold! So, we'll spend the day grocery shopping at the Commissary, cooking, listening to our favorite radio shows (a health show for me and a political show for Matt) and travel planning.
This week was weird. It was a short week in theory but a bit stressful and long in reality. I presented my program to two tough groups at the hospital, was recruited to move to another program in the hospital only to find out that the recruiter and my supervisor HATE one another...not a good scene. A kind co-worker pulled me aside and warned me that the nice recruiter was more of a snake-oil salesman. And I had to go in at 6:00 for a mandatory unpaid briefing. The politics are ridiculous! Matt and the male part of our sole couple-friendship went to a battlefield in France. I think he had a really good time. I'm so glad that he is pursuing the things that he enjoys, despite the lack of steady work, which I know is constantly on his mind.
I'm trying to be more positive and focus on the present, which reminds me what an education this adventure is.
We woke to light tapping noises to find sleet hitting our window...no morning walk for me. The sleet changed to light snow which is still falling as I write this. Today we were considering visiting a local town for a red wine walk...even it I were a little tipsy, the cold would still feel cold! So, we'll spend the day grocery shopping at the Commissary, cooking, listening to our favorite radio shows (a health show for me and a political show for Matt) and travel planning.
This week was weird. It was a short week in theory but a bit stressful and long in reality. I presented my program to two tough groups at the hospital, was recruited to move to another program in the hospital only to find out that the recruiter and my supervisor HATE one another...not a good scene. A kind co-worker pulled me aside and warned me that the nice recruiter was more of a snake-oil salesman. And I had to go in at 6:00 for a mandatory unpaid briefing. The politics are ridiculous! Matt and the male part of our sole couple-friendship went to a battlefield in France. I think he had a really good time. I'm so glad that he is pursuing the things that he enjoys, despite the lack of steady work, which I know is constantly on his mind.
I'm trying to be more positive and focus on the present, which reminds me what an education this adventure is.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
A weekend in France
Kelly: I love France. There is a palpable difference in the vibe between Germany and France, even though we were no more than 50 miles from the German border. France feels friendlier and more approachable...evidenced from facial expressions to architecture. I loved the "common" stores such as the Cora, which is the French equivalent of a Super Walmart, complete with wine bar and patisserie at the entrance. See, how could you not love France??? And, Monoprix, the smart and chic department store selling everything from fabric softener to bamboo bowls.
We spent the night at Hotel Gutenberg in Strasbourg, France. It was a charming old hotel in the center of town...translation...amazing location with no parking and tiny accomodations for our budget-conscious rate. We had a nice time strolling around the city with intermittent stops back at the teeny, tiny but warm room so that I could regain feeling in my limbs. We ate dinner at a local place...I had salmon...Matt had beef stew (after they sold out of his first choice roasted chicken). Both meals were good. We went to bed early, only to awaken to the sounds of shouting drunk men, reminding us that we were a stone's throw from the vibrant university scene. We woke this morning and Matt decided that my idea of spending 3.5 hours at the spa wasn't such a good idea after he learned that he'd have to be naked for the whole time amongst other naked folks...not to say that I am comfortable with the idea either, but I think it is a once in a lifetime experience. So, I'll be going back...alone. Instead of sitting in a sauna, we sat in the Corolla on the freeways and backroad in France exploring Nancy (an industrial, shabby city) and Metz (a gem with parks and trees). Unfortunately, as in Germany, everything was closed on Sunday, so we will return to explore the shops and cafes.
We went for a walk when we returned, enjoying the sliver of sunlight that poked through the clouds just before the sun set at an astonishingly late 5:05 PM...it is headed in the right direction!
We spent the night at Hotel Gutenberg in Strasbourg, France. It was a charming old hotel in the center of town...translation...amazing location with no parking and tiny accomodations for our budget-conscious rate. We had a nice time strolling around the city with intermittent stops back at the teeny, tiny but warm room so that I could regain feeling in my limbs. We ate dinner at a local place...I had salmon...Matt had beef stew (after they sold out of his first choice roasted chicken). Both meals were good. We went to bed early, only to awaken to the sounds of shouting drunk men, reminding us that we were a stone's throw from the vibrant university scene. We woke this morning and Matt decided that my idea of spending 3.5 hours at the spa wasn't such a good idea after he learned that he'd have to be naked for the whole time amongst other naked folks...not to say that I am comfortable with the idea either, but I think it is a once in a lifetime experience. So, I'll be going back...alone. Instead of sitting in a sauna, we sat in the Corolla on the freeways and backroad in France exploring Nancy (an industrial, shabby city) and Metz (a gem with parks and trees). Unfortunately, as in Germany, everything was closed on Sunday, so we will return to explore the shops and cafes.
We went for a walk when we returned, enjoying the sliver of sunlight that poked through the clouds just before the sun set at an astonishingly late 5:05 PM...it is headed in the right direction!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Differential Diagnosis
Kelly: I'm not too keen on giving my clients a diagnosis. In private praces, yes, I understand that they need a dx to get reimbursement from insurance and am happy to do that. In the system under which I currently operate, a dx is a necessity for acquisition of resources and a guide for treatment programs, but people are not mere dx, and I become rather irritated when people are treated as diagnosis (e.g., Hey bring the TBI back and take the PTSD to his next appointment). Okay, I'm off my soap-box.
Often times, two diagnoses could apply to the client. In that case, you have to ask questions to assess a "differential diagnosis." Let's flip this on me with " sprinkle of humor. I was ready to diagnosis myself with "adjustment reaction" when I read about the cultural adjustment cycle, and now, it is time for the differential diagnosis. The cultural adjustment cycle begins with enchantment (I was in awe of everything), then disenchantment (bitter about everything being closed on Sundays and evenings), then retreat (my current state), then integration. So, am I experiencing adjustment disorder or disenchantment...In an effort to reach the integration phase, I'm going to go for a walk, while there is still a sliver of daylight (at 4:45pm)!
Often times, two diagnoses could apply to the client. In that case, you have to ask questions to assess a "differential diagnosis." Let's flip this on me with " sprinkle of humor. I was ready to diagnosis myself with "adjustment reaction" when I read about the cultural adjustment cycle, and now, it is time for the differential diagnosis. The cultural adjustment cycle begins with enchantment (I was in awe of everything), then disenchantment (bitter about everything being closed on Sundays and evenings), then retreat (my current state), then integration. So, am I experiencing adjustment disorder or disenchantment...In an effort to reach the integration phase, I'm going to go for a walk, while there is still a sliver of daylight (at 4:45pm)!
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Snowflakes and darkness and coldness, oh my!
Kelly: The aforementioned snowflakes, darkness, and coldness have collectively been my archnemesis since arriving in Germany. Alone, each has its place; I enjoy the snow (when it doesn't prevent me from traveling); I enjoy the darkness when I am sleeping and star-gazing; I even enjoy the cold when I'm curled up next to the fireplace with my purring cat and warm-blooded husband. HOWEVER, when all three descend upon me...it is too much to take!
Warning: What follows is a bit of a rant...hopefully a cathartic one.
I leave for work in the dark and return 10 hours later in the dark. The cold has been bone-chilling and unrelenting even for the warm-blooded husband. I enjoy the snow that we've received...the most I've seen since the blizzard in Owings Mills but when the roads are not cleared or treated, we are stuck in our house. My normal cold-weather, snowy, darktime hobbies have been exhausted...I can't bear to make one more batch of lentil soup, drink one more mug of tea, play one more game of Yahtzee, or have one more online store write to tell me that they won't ship my carefully-purchased items to an APO address. This is not why I moved to Germany. Could someone have warned me about this? "It will be better in the spring," my coworkers tell me. Do they know that spring in Germany is still 3 months away? Ugh. When I try to look at the situation positively or therapeutically, I can see that I am lucky to have this job and this experience. Lucky that friends and family have been supportive and have sent packages and cards. Lucky that my husband is turning out to be the metrosexual version of Martha Stewart, and lucky that my cat is happy here. Doctors are the worst patients and therapists are the worst clients, so unfortunately, I'm not buying my happy reframes. On the upside, the griping does make good fodder for blogging....now I'm off to shovel, which I actually enjoy...go figure.
Warning: What follows is a bit of a rant...hopefully a cathartic one.
I leave for work in the dark and return 10 hours later in the dark. The cold has been bone-chilling and unrelenting even for the warm-blooded husband. I enjoy the snow that we've received...the most I've seen since the blizzard in Owings Mills but when the roads are not cleared or treated, we are stuck in our house. My normal cold-weather, snowy, darktime hobbies have been exhausted...I can't bear to make one more batch of lentil soup, drink one more mug of tea, play one more game of Yahtzee, or have one more online store write to tell me that they won't ship my carefully-purchased items to an APO address. This is not why I moved to Germany. Could someone have warned me about this? "It will be better in the spring," my coworkers tell me. Do they know that spring in Germany is still 3 months away? Ugh. When I try to look at the situation positively or therapeutically, I can see that I am lucky to have this job and this experience. Lucky that friends and family have been supportive and have sent packages and cards. Lucky that my husband is turning out to be the metrosexual version of Martha Stewart, and lucky that my cat is happy here. Doctors are the worst patients and therapists are the worst clients, so unfortunately, I'm not buying my happy reframes. On the upside, the griping does make good fodder for blogging....now I'm off to shovel, which I actually enjoy...go figure.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Paralyzed by Possibilities
Kelly: It is no secret that I am not the most decisive person. It is easy to see the genetic link...no offense mom and sister(s) :) Now that I'm in the middle of Europe, I'm like a kid in a candy store...so many destinations...how do I choose...where do I begin? When I realized that I have a three-day weekend in January, Matt and I decided we'd better start planning a trip, but where? I want to maximize every moment and use all of the time...Matt is more rational and has concerns about the weather and logistics. I'm thinking maybe Berlin. Matt was thinking more local like Rothenburg and Strasbourg. After 30 minutes of increasingly frustrating travel talk, we called it a day.
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