Photo Blog Survey

Hi all - in my last post, I mentioned that I'd been tossing around the idea of starting a photo blog. I want to make it a good one (obviously) with content that people want and will look forward to reading. So I created a survey with just a few questions to help me decide how I should structure a photo blog, or if I should even do one in the first place. If you have about 3 minutes and you don't mind helping me out, please click here to take the survey. Thank you bunches - I'd give you a cookie, but virtual cookies taste awful.

A Good Week! Yay!

I've seen the best
I've seen the worst
I wouldn't change what I've been through
I've touched the sky
I've hit the wall
But I did what I had to

On my way here
Where I am now
I've learned to fly, I have to want to leave the ground
I've fallen hard
But I've been loved
And in the end it all works out
My faith has conquered fear
On my way here
Clay Aiken, On My Way Here

Part of the lyrics from the first single on his new album that was released Tuesday (May 6th) - I love it. It makes me cry, and it's almost like he's been living my life for the past few years (although I realize he didn't write the song.) Anyway, the whole album is good - his best yet by far, in my opinion. Of course, I will always love that voice, and the production quality and the songs seem better this time around.

So! I finished my first week back at school and I have lots to say, but I just wanted to let y'all know that I have had a GREAT week, and I am loving life right now, and I'm all-over-the-place thankful to my Lord, from whom all good things come. He is so good to me. I'll write more later about what I've been up to this week, for those of you who are interested! But for now, I'm a sleepy girl and I need a nap. :-)

Before I went back to school, I got my hair cut and my hair guy (Ron Wilson from Ron Wilson Hair Gallery, he is fantastic) talked me into highlights:

I decided after awhile that they were too red and were making me look a little washed out (and I'm translucent anyway) so I bought some Perfect 10 at Walmart and darkened the red a little. The red still shows through, but not so much, which is exactly what I wanted. I was scared as I was washing out my Walmart dye, though, because the suds? Were purple. Lavender, actually. So I was terrifed that I'd end up like one of those little ladies with violet hair. To ease your troubled mind - I didn't.

More later.

THIS is the rest of the story

Back in November, I wrote a post that I titled, "The Lord answers prayers, part deux" about Scott's employment and how God really answers prayers and is faithful in taking care of our needs. I thought it was probably best for me not to be very detailed at the time, but I can be now, and I am so so so sooooo relieved and happy about this that I just have to write about it. It's going to take me a little while to get there, though, so hang on. When Scott came back from Virginia Tech with his Ph.D. in 2005 to do a postdoc at the university here, I was ecstatic. (See?) But in the back of my mind, I knew that a postdoc is a temporary position (his was for 3 years.) And after that, what? Like I've said before, I am a total homebody and this area is and always will be home, because this is where a big part of my large extended family is, and this is where I have always lived. It's more than that, though, really - some people enter medicine and feel called to join Doctors Without Borders, or to do missionary work overseas. I admire those who heed that calling, but I see a need here - here, an area that has always been home to me, full of people who have helped and encouraged me along the way. Friends of the family, teachers, church family, on and on - I am an "almost doctor" because of God and because of the encouragement and prayers from my loved ones here at home. It doesn't make any sense for me to grow up here among all of this love and encouragement, get my medical training, and then go to Timbuktu to care for people there. I feel that I should give back to all of those who have been there for me throughout my life - they need healthcare as well, and nothing else makes sense to me. To go elsewhere and use my degree just seems silly.

And also, there's Scott. Scott, who I've given 10 years of my life - the years when I was my prettiest, the years when other guys my age were the most available (now they're all married or engaged - heh) - but I don't begrudge those years at all, because I also gave Scott my heart, at the very beginning, and I'm never getting it back.

Not only do I just love him to pieces, but he is such a wonderful person, y'all - he's crazy brilliant, but he's also country at heart (I'm a hunting widow every fall, there's wildlife hanging on the walls of his house that he once saw alive, and his freezer is a mixture of goodness from the slaughterhouse - deer and pig. Eeeeck.) He's completely adorable with his niece and nephews, and they love him right back. He will spend hours watching sci-fi with his grandma. He loves his mama. He has shelves and shelves of Bible study materials that he actually uses - he teaches Sunday School and teaches Bible study one Wednesday per month, and hasn't missed Sunday school for almost 25 years. YEARS! He doesn't smoke, drink, or curse - he has never tasted beer or been in a bar. He's witty and makes me laugh. He's completely trustworthy, responsible, and reliable. I've never, ever, not in 10 years, been suspicious about another girl (although there is one that I'm irrationally jealous about for no particular reason.) Oh, and he's cute, too. And to beat it all, I gave my heart to his family as well - and they're all here, too. The only thing I can't figure out is why Scott picked ME and seems to have settled on the fact that I'm the only one for him, when he could do so much better. Oh well.

So you can see why I'd want to keep him, and why I want to keep him HERE. And for seven years now, since he left for graduate school, I have worried and prayed about his future employment - prayed, worried, prayed, worried, felt that things were all right, then went back to worrying, and praying, and worrying. I couldn't imagine leaving home and I couldn't imagine saying goodbye to Scott - the thought of either brought a flood of tears and more worrying and praying. But God is so faithful. The worrying was so unnecessary, and all of the tears and lost sleep and anxiety and panic was without merit, because I serve a big God and He loves me, and He loves Scott, and He had the whole thing figured out a long time ago.

Yesterday Scott found out that his application for a tenure-track assistant professorship at the local university, our alma mater (where we met, actually), was accepted. Starting in August, he'll be a professor of chemistry at [BLANK] University. And in about 7 years, when he gets tenure and becomes a full professor, then that's a darn-well permanent position. Not like these chemical companies that are here for awhile, and they hire chemists, and then all of a sudden they'll be like, "By the way, you're moving to Texas tomorrow." Scott has a good job here at home, in his field, that uses his degree. God is so, so good, and I love Him. And Scott. And everybody. I love everybody!

One of my favorite verses applies again:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).

Do you think this means I shouldn't worry so much about getting through medical school, because God is going to work that out too? Hmmm ...

This is Scott and two of his nephews and his niece - when he would come back home from Virginia to visit, they'd all just pile on him. It was so cute.

Life's good.

More love for GoDaddy

Geez, are they SERIOUS? I got this email today:

Dear Sir/Madam,

Thank you for contacting Customer Support.

The files in which appear to be non web related are as follows:

ramblestrip\pictures

If these files are in fact being referenced by your site please provide exapmle URL's so we can verify the content in question, if the files are non web related then they will have to be removed by 11/27/07 at 1:00am MST or we will be forced to suspend the account.

Regards,
Advanced Hosting Support

First of all, I'd like to know who the Sir/Madam is that contacted customer support, because it sure wasn't me and whoever it is deserves a swift kick. Also, do you realize what they're asking me to do? They're asking me to go through EVERY BLOG POST (all 600+ of them, about 3 1/2 years' worth) and document EVERY PICTURE that I used, and tell them the URL of the post so they can find it. This is going to take for-flipping-ever! Anybody want to help? It's about 7:00PM EST now - and I'm serious, if you have a free hour or so this evening, I will love you forever if you email ramblestrip@gmail.com and offer some assistance.

My Elf Self

I've been playing around with ElfYourself (thanks, Trinoh!) and I can't stop giggling at the "Elf Selves" I created for Scott and me:

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9588061433

I'm not sure why Scott's glasses look so ginormous - they don't in real life. But I think we are MUCH better dancers disguised as our elf alter egos than we are as medical students and chemists. Especially Scott. I mean, we've been together over 10 years, and I've danced with him exactly three times (at weddings that I dragged him to.) When I used to clog (boo hoo, I miss it) sometimes we'd be short on guys, and I'd have to dance with my ex-pre-algebra teacher, who is female. So I've danced with my female pre-algebra teacher many more times than with Scott. That's just wrong, people.

Anyway, follow that link. And laugh. (You have to have Flash Player running.)

The Lord answers prayers, part deux

I have had many, many, many (many times infinity) talks with God about Scott's and my future, given that Scott's degree is a doctoral degree in chemistry, and this area isn't exactly booming with opportunities for someone trained as such. When he was away at Virginia Tech working on his graduate degree, and I was here missing him like crazy, I remember him telling me that the chances of him finding permanent employment here at home were like, 2%. (He's speaks in percentages. It's part of the nerdiness that is so "him" that I love so much.) I don't remember if he said "2%", exactly, but it was something that translated into "very, very, very unlikely."

Now, if y'all can't tell, I am a total homebody. I'm from a big family (Mom had 9 brothers and sisters and Dad had 7, and I have 40 first cousins and uncountable second cousins.) Although I'm an only child, I grew up around my extended family and I love them all dearly - and besides, this area is home to me and always will be. I should mention that Scott's family are all here as well. So I've been torn, because Scott is without question the one that God put on this earth for me, and yet he pursued this degree which would almost certainly take him away from here. It has been a huge source of stress for me because I can't imagine a life without Scott in it, forever; nor can I imagine a life lived somewhere else.

You know what, guys? And to segue into this next part, I'm going to have to quote a guy in my class here, after he got his score on Step 1 (hi, Billy!), "Jesus must like me a WHOLE LOT."

I'm not sure how much I can say as far as details go, but God has worked this out in such a wonderful way. And Scott was so perfectly sweet in telling me about it. I never prayed for specific things - I always just told the Lord that He knew my heart, and He knew my future, and I just prayed for His will as far as Scott and employment was concerned. God is so good. SO good. I can't imagine not knowing Christ as Savior, and not being able to claim these verses that I quoted the last time I had a huge prayer burden lifted:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end (Jeremiah 29:11).

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you (John 15:16).

I think my life may actually work out almost exactly the way I've imagined it (or at least the way I've imagined it for 10 years, since Scott showed up and quickly became a positively permanent fixture in my future. Alliteration? It's a good thing.) And for the first time in a long, long, LONG time, I actually feel happy right now. Happy. Huh.

This was in the summer of 2003 - see? I'm actually not so scary on the eyeballs when I don't weigh 4 1/2 tons. I'm on my way back down, though - I'm back at Weight Watchers, eating healthy stuff, and I'm exercising again. That's one thing I'm working on while I'm taking this rotation off. I used to run between 3 and 5 miles every day, and I felt so sane and actually had some self-esteem. I need to get back there - somehow I have let myself get WAY out of control. Oh, and it looks like Scott has a rather large hole in his head. He actually doesn't - his head is 100% intact. Dont' be alarmed.

Reunion Pictures

While I'm percolating a post in my noggin (which will mainly deal with the fact that I'm taking this rotation off to whip my pancreas into shape) I thought I'd post some pictures from my 10-year class reunion in July (eeeep! I'm old.) Because I don't think I've showed y'all yet. We had dinner at Marshall's Hall of Fame Cafe, and then a picnic the next day at a local elementary school's shelter, with kids and the whole she-bang. Behold the pictures, and try to ignore my super-gigantic sausage arms. If you want to see my sausage arms in all their flubbery glory (i.e., a larger version of the picture) just click on it. (If some of them aren't clickable, it means I didn't make a larger version. Too bad for you.)

This is everybody and their significant others. I'm on the second lap from the right, and the lap belongs to Scott.

This is, left to right - Scott, me, Jeremy (who I had a ridiculous crush on throughout high school and who is now married to one of my best friends), Wendy (the aforementioned best friend), Amanda, and Tanner.

Wendy, Amanda, me.

These are three of my best guy friends from high school - Tanner, Jonah, and Lee. Lee and I have a picture from our 7th grade prom where my hair defies gravity. Maybe I'll post it one day - when you LEAST EXPECT IT. Mwahaha.

These are three of my best girlfriends from high school - Wendy, Kelli, and Amanda. And the other one's me.

Father's Day & Mother's Day, both a little late

I meant to do this on Mother's Day, but I had some evil test or another - or, now that I think about it, I believe I had just finished a set of blocks and was still in post-block stupor. (A phenomenon, by the way, with which only medical students can identify - or maybe all professional students in the sciences (dental students, pharmacy students, physical therapy students) - I don't know. Anyway, what happens to me and some members of my class is that after we have exams, we can't seem to form coherent sentences. They come out sounding like Steve Martin's water-smudged "Dear John" letter from Bernadette Peters in The Jerk* - "I meant to tell you that blah bluh blee, and then we can bloo blah." And then one stares into space for about seven minutes. Sometimes we would go out for lunch after our last exam, and I would have a horrible time ordering. "I'd like a guacamole side plate of tomato dressing, I mean, a salad with extra plates and side guacamole on the dressed tomatoes, I mean, a plate of salad with extra tomatoes, dressing on the side and guacamole no. Oh well, that's good enough." Poor waitresses. No wonder we make them run away. And strangely enough, when I'm speaking post-test jibberish, other medical students can understand me.)

Enough about that. Then I meant to do this for Father's Day yesterday, but I was busy hanging out with my dad in between naps. (His naps and my naps!) So, I love my mom and dad to pieces and wanted to say so. Here's some pictures of wee Kim with Mom and with Dad (I think you can figure out which is which.) Forgive Dad's unfortunate hair - it was the 70s, after all. And wasn't my Mom so pretty? That's probably what I was trying to tell her.

Or maybe I was saying, "I want a cat." Or, "My pancreas hurts." Or, "What's an anxiety disorder?" Speaking of anxiety disorders and my pancreas, my parents are so understanding and helpful when I'm hurting, mentally or physically. I know that when I hurt, they hurt, and when my heart breaks, theirs breaks twice as much. I will never be able to pay them back for all that they have given me, and I love them dearly. By example, my Mom has taught me compassion, generosity and the importance of family. (And also how to cook stuff.) And Dad is my definition of hard work, responsibility and sacrifice. He's a great businessman and I am totally going to enlist his help in building my own medical practice if I ever decide to do so.

They both make me feel very loved and cared for, and I hope they know that I love them right back. From then to now ...

* Here's a mp3 if you haven't heard that scene. (Right click and "save target as", as usual.) There's some other great quotes from the movie here at "got wavs?" - man, that's a funny movie. Maybe I should watch it again.

Such a cutie

Every year since he was born, I've done a "photo shoot" with Gabriel for Susan's Christmas card picture. The first year was easy - he was two months old, he had about 2 1/2 facial expressions and the neurons in his legs were not yet myelinated. We put a Christmas blanket on his bouncy chair, put him in the chair, put the chair by the tree, and voila. Not much he could do about it.

The next year, he was mobile and it was a whole other thing. I basically chased him around the living room for an hour and half (sometimes with puppets) and a few rolls of film later, we both collapsed, exhausted. Actually, I don't think he so much collapsed as tripped over his pants for the final time. The next two years, when he could communicate fairly well and understood what we were doing, it was pretty easy. This year was too (despite digressing into a little "I'm the Ghost of Christmas Past!" episode with a blanket) - one hour later, we were done. Here are a few of my favorites - I especially love the lighting on the 2nd one down. Critique if you like: