Ten years ago today…

…I was getting ready for class (French, I think) when a friend called, frantically telling me to turn on my television.  The first tower of the World Trade Center was already hit, smoke billowing out its side.  As I asked my friend what was happening a shadow from the second plane moved across before hitting the second tower.
My body went numb and it felt like all of the air sucked out of the room.  I calmly told her that I had to get to class, hung up the phone, and while pushing the power button to the remote I asked myself, “What does this mean”…

 

Just Peachy

Last fall, Dave and I rescued an adorable peach tree from the Lowes clearance rack.  It was kind of late in the season to plant the tree, but figured we wouldn’t be out tons of money if it died.

Well, not only did it survive, but it produced quite a bit of fruit this summer!  Unfortunately, someone (or something) in the neighborhood also noticed, because they left me with only three peaches before I could take a picture and pick them.

At least I know they were enjoyed:)

 

A New Neighbor

Last Fall I mentioned to one of my neighbors that I noticed a small bird flying around my back porch that I hadn’t seen in previous years.  Not knowing much about birds I guessed that it was a wren.  As it turned out, I guessed correctly.
She said that they started hanging around the neighborhood  shortly after putting up some tiny bird houses in her trees.  We then walked over to her garage where she presented me with a small wooden bird house.  “They are great bug catchers!  You should hang this by your garden next year.” 
I followed her advice.
This year for natural bug control I have at least one wren taking up residence above the garden, and I have red and pink geraniums planted down in there. 
So far, it seems to be working:)

 

Something New

So I broke my leg back in December on the last day of classes.  I was bummed because I thought I would have to put everything that I had worked so hard for throughout the past year on hold.  Interestingly enough, the time went by amazingly fast, and the things that I thought I would finish during my “time off” weren’t finished.

I’m all healed up, for the most part.  The leg didn’t prevent me from getting the job that I wanted (my ultimate goal), it just delayed my start a bit.  I was hoping to do a new years resolution thing while I was stuck at home, but it never happened, and then I figured it wasn’t a good time to write something like that anyway while I was suffering from a major case of cabin fever.  Anyway…I thought it would be more fitting to do a new years thing when, or shortly after, I started my new job.  So here it is…

What did I accomplish in 2009?  A lot!  I fulfilled some goals, fell short on some others.  But, for the most part, I’m pretty pleased.

• I finished my program!!  I did quite well:)  I made the deans list every semester.  I ROCK!!
• I was offered a job from the institution where it was my goal to work.
• The 2009 growing season was great!  I grew a variety of cherry tomato named “Hawaiian” that was so productive that I eventually stopped picking them because I couldn’t keep up.  The plant became HUGE, eventually vining out and taking up a good portion of garden space.

(you don’t even know!  it was crazy!!)

• I spent some quality time with family and friends.  Maybe not as much as I would have liked to, but it was quality none-the-less.
• I didn’t get a single road race in this past year!  I don’t want to make any excuses for that, and simply leave it to falling short of that goal.
• My hops produced some cones!  It wasn’t as much as I would have liked, but it was something.

So what do I hope to accomplish in 2010?  A lot:)

• This one’s pretty lame as I’m close to achieving it anyway, but I have to put it out there.  I hope to get my leg back to 100%, or normal, before the end of the year.  It was a pretty bad break (left tib/fib fracture…the tib broke through my skin).  I had to have surgery.  I made a lot of progress in a short amount of time, and I hope to continue that progress.
• I hope to continue just loving my job and feeling that I’m here to do this.  The first year will feel just like school (I’ve been told), so I will be a sponge and just soak it all in.
• I would like to grow 6 different varieties of tomatoes this year, and would like to try growing beets.  I’m also planning on putting in another hops plant.  Hopefully the sterling will take this time.
• I would like to brew a coconut beer.  I’m thinking it will be a stout, but it might be crazier or more summery as some sort of light, possibly creamy ale.
• I hope to do the Turkey Trot this year, and maybe the North Liberty Fun Run.  Originally I had planned on doing the BIX again this year, but I don’t want to re-hurt my leg.  Maybe I’m being overly cautious, but I’ve never had to deal with an injury like this before.  So, yeah…
• I hope to get my finances back in order.  This one seems easy too, since I’m working again.

So there it is.

It feels weird saying that I’m excited for Spring to be here because I pretty much missed out on the entire Winter season.  I was able to, for once, see the beauty of Winter unfold and wish that I could be out there enjoying it.  Even though I missed out, I’m still excited for Spring, and excited to see what 2010 will bring.

-H

 

Fear

“I really don’t believe in fear.  I believe in putting in the work.”  -Deena Kastor

This was one of my Runner’s World quotes of the day that is sent to my inbox every morning to inspire and motivate me into being a more vigilant runner.  Funny that I probably haven’t gone for a real run since spring.

I thought of this “quote of the day” when I was spending time with my boyfriends  family.  We finished Thanksgiving dinner (lunch, really) and were sitting around watching the dog show, letting the turkey chemicals do their magic.  Dave’s mom started talking to me about school and some of the things I do in my clinics.  She asked, “Well don’t you get scared”?  It only took me a few seconds to respond, letting the words come out before I had a chance to let everything register.  “No”, I replied, “I don’t really think about it as it’s happening.  I just kind of go with it, do what I’m trained to do, then maybe think about it later.  I usually feel pretty awesome after the fact”.

Truthfully, I surprised myself.  My boyfriends mother just responded by saying, “Well, you ARE a pretty calm person”.  I didn’t argue and just sort of chuckled to myself. 

I realized that a year ago if put in the same situations that I’ve been in, I would have frozen up, never wanting to return to an operating room again.  All of the hard work and sacrifices that I’ve made this year has given me strength and confidence that I never knew was in me.  Through hard work I’m seeing my goals fulfilled.  Through hard work I AM fearless.

Don’t worry!  I’m not becoming one of those uber positive, always having some inspiring story to share, there’s a lesson to be learned in everything,  sorts of people.  I’m just saying that I’m proud of myself and my classmates who have seen this thing through.  This has been an amazing year and in two more weeks we’ll be finished.

Best wishes to all, my fellow hard-workers.  Be fearless in whatever lies ahead.

 

-H