Nun, soldier, surgeon

Read article here

She's a healer, and in her unique position as a nun and general surgeon (she also is board certified in family medicine) she's concerned with life here on Earth — and the hereafter.

"I'm not just a pro-life doctor, I'm pro-eternal life," she says. "God makes it very clear that he is working through me. … God gave me the opportunity to be a physician, and he creates the miracles."

Odyssey of the Mind

Well, it is that time of year. OotM time. No, I'm not begging for money for Katie's team :D There is no high school team this year. Of course, I couldn't leave well enough alone and skip OM this year. Grace, Ian and Emma are all OMers. Grace and Ian on the same middle school team (God bless their coach) and Emma is on a primary team that I am co-coaching. The primary team is made up entirely of siblings of the middle school team. Another mom, Wendy, and I figured we might was well keep the littles occupied while their sibs were busy being creative. The other moms thought we were nuts but I think it has been fun and I think Wendy and I are a little less crazy around the eyes right now than Carol (middle school coach).
I snapped some pictures today out at the P. homestead. Don't these kids look like they'd rather be in a classroom?







Of course, a couple gratuitous dog pictures. The OM mascots, Schnitzel and Ranger. I'll leave it to you figure out which one is which.

Time flies..

Then.....





Now......


What a difference 8 months makes.

Ben boxing with the Wii (and Grace)

Not exactly 'float like a butterfly, sting like a bee' :D

Lent begins early

I have developed an intolerance to chocolate. Those who know me, and my sweet tooth, are probably thinking...."How will she survive!!!???"

In all seriousness, I'm going to have to avoid chocolate for the time being. I've occasionally suffered a headache when I eat/overindulge in chocolate over the last few months. Well, yesterday I had a chocolate chip muffin. Not a large one, and not a lot of chocolate but ended up with the type of 'reaction' headache I get but it was absolutely nightmarish. I was vomiting, had trouble seeing, my legs were like rubber, I was afraid I was going to pass out. Eating a little chocolate is NOT worth what I went through yesterday. We had to reschedule yet another dentist appt because I was in no shape to drive. Crazy.
It will be good for me to give up chocolate but it won't be easy, enjoying chocolate is in my genes. :(

The Somerville Circle...how is that for random?

I've been 'friended' by a lot of old classmates from high school lately which led me to a Facebook group "You knew you group in Hillsborough if..." along with "I survived the Somerville Circle." I've had quite a few smiles reminscing about my old stomping grounds although the Somerset County of the 80's was a lot different then it looks now.

For those deprived people who have no idea what I am talking about: the wikipedia article on the Circle

It is a circle (sometimes called a rotary) where 4 highways intersected. It was kind of like a gauntlet. You drove through, white-knuckled, hoping no one hit you and vice versa. It was a bit of rite of passage the first time you drove through yourself after getting your license. There was (and is) a right way and wrong way to drive the Circle and I promise if you do it the wrong way the ever-so-kind-and-loving-NJ-drivers will let you know with supportively mouthed words and encouraging hand gestures.

All he needs is a shoe

and I can call him Kruschev. Tristan has taken to banging on his high chair tray to demand food. As soon as he is in the high chair, he starts banging, if I don't get the next spoonful to him in time, he starts banging, if he realizes he is making mommy laugh, he starts banging.