Holiday

I keep seeing commercials for stores having leap day sales today that talk about today being an "extra" day since it's leap year. Now, I'm not entirely sure I agree with that, since I figure I have a certain number of days on this Earth and it won't matter much what date you put on it, but then I got to thinking...

If today's an "extra" day, shouldn't it really be a holiday so we can do something fun with it? Something we don't normally take the time to do? Maybe go to the zoo, since the weather's nice. Or sit outside and read a book. Or stay home and scrapbook. Or play in the dirt (that's probably just me).

In honor of the Leap Year Extra Day Holiday, I think I'll leave early today.

Well, that and the fact that I've been at work early 3 days this week, worked through lunch twice, and get to come in early again on Monday. My target for escape is 3pm.

The Aliens Took My Forks.

You know how most people lose single socks in the dryer? We've started losing other things around the house. Not so much losing, as things just disappear. Random things. Like forks. We got a brand new set of casual silverware when we got married, but somehow a year and a half later we have twice as many spoons as forks. I don't know where the forks went.

Last night I noticed it was happening to our washclothes. Just a month or so ago I noticed that we had a huge pile of washclothes in the bathroom cabinet. Last night I could only find two. I went through the laundry and only found a handful. Plenty of towels, but hardly any washclothes. Where did they go?

I'm begining to suspect aliens. I think the aliens are stealing random things in my house in an attempt to learn more about our species. I'm not sure what they're learning from my forks and washclothes, but if they come after my pup we're going to fight.

Garden Monkeys

I know that most of you will find this hard to believe, but some people find it really odd that I love to shop at Big Lots. I know Stacey understands, she shares the addiction. But some people don't get it. I try to explain - Big Lots has the most random stuff that you will never find anywhere else, it's almost like being in a specialty store. This hit me last weekend while I was shopping for some random groceries and gardening tools. I was so overcome with this realization that I actually made a list of unique stuff that I wanted to buy but had the will power to resist:

1. Portable Deluxe Spa ($429???)
2. Garden Gnomes
3. Garden Monkeys
4. 6 ft lighted palm tree
5. Metal dog-shaped plant stand

Seriously, where else do find garden monkeys? I exhibited some serious will power, leaving with only my groceries and garden tools. But I'm still considering the portable spa.

Limitations

Last week officially kicked off one of my craziest times of year (the other one being the month of June). Between now and May I will be swamped at work trying to go from 308 applicants wanting a spot in our fellowship program starting in 2009, to four actual new fellows. There are a lot of meetings, emails, planning, and interviews in the between. Ironically, next week will mark my one year anniversary in this job. Yes, it was trial by fire. But luckily I made lots and lots of notes as I went through the process last year so that hopefully things will go smoother this year. Hopefully. So far so good, but we'll see.

Meanwhile, my patience is being tested mightily this week. This is the final week of the monthly rotation for the residents on our service. A new crop comes in starting Saturday, with orientation early Monday morning. The ones leaving the service are required to take an exam at the end of their rotation. It was scheduled for early Tuesday. I was here early to give the exam, nobody showed up. Last week one of the residents had requested to reschedule his exam for today. No problem. I came in early this morning. He didn't show. I have one other who asked to reschedule for tomorrow...

My problem is how to respond to the lack of participation this week. My initial reaction tends to be high irritation followed by sarcasm and bitchiness. Not really appropriate. I'm still trying to decide on the best approach to use while maintaing respect for the fact that they are doctors, but also making sure they understand that my time is also valuable, especially this time of year, and wasting it while making me come in early three times in one week TICKS ME OFF. The good news is that I've learned my limitations and have purposefully not responded to the problem yet in order to cool down and not say something stupid. It's been a struggle, though.

Headlines

Ok, my brain isn't working but Greg just provided me with this headline from our weekly employee newletter:

"Pediatric Urologist Gives Wiener Lecture"

Really, it's just too easy.