official oscar ballots
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

Happenings:

• I shamelessly stole the picture below from Jason and Missy’s blog. They stopped by the LA area en route to Hawaii last weekend and we got to spend oh, about 14 hours with them? So fun. Telfer and I think we should be neighbors with the Smalls.
• Telfer had an anesthesia conference in Rancho Mirage and I tagged along. While he conferenced, I tanned by the really fancy pool. So not a bad deal.
• Last week was weird. It was not my favorite week BUT it’s over.
• Classically, we tried to do way too much on Saturday. Telfer worked Friday night and got exactly 0 hours of sleep. So what did we try to do in one day? I left the house at 6:40 to pick up my tired husband, I drove us out to Orange County to get our car serviced, we visited Telfer’s grandparents in Long Beach and then tried to attend an NNU alumni event at the Getty. Meanwhile, Telfer’s falls asleep in the car, then on the dealership’s couch, again in the car, and was really fighting sleep at the grandparents…Needless to say, we missed the NNU event. So sad, but what can you do?
• Sunday was just a lazy day. I have had a cold for most of the week and so I just lazed about. We did manage to watch part of the Oscars (before Telfer left for work again). This year I was triumphant in our Oscar party of two. Won the $20 and bought two books to celebrate (a YA novel and a memoir).

missy and jason at our house
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

I must brag on my husband for a minute: Telfer has come a very long way since the Valentine’s Day we were engaged (seven years ago). He had to wait fondue tables that Valentine’s Day, and I think he figured if he had to work, then the day did not exist. Now, I am definitely not one of those women who need flowers, candy and gifts but you know, I think at least a card is in order. That day, absolutely nothing. Not a phone call, a card, a lone hershey’s kiss.

Witness seven years later. We’re calling this the trifecta of Valentine’s gifts:

book
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

mug
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

jewelry
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

my honey
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

My bearded Valentine with wrapping on his head.

crazy elvis
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

So, I went to a conference in Las Vegas last week…Beyond all the professional stuff I obviously took part in, the highlight was definitely the smarmy, leather-clad Elvis impersonator. To be fair, he could actually sing and the middle-aged librarians in the room went wild. Just close your eyes and imagine THAT for a second. Guaranteed to improve your mental well-being.

I flew back from Vegas on Friday afternoon and Telfer and I had an uneventful, but remarkably relaxing weekend. He is busy preparing his fellowship applications for 2008-2009 and I am you know, very busy with all the reading I must do. Well, I didn’t laze around the entire weekend…I did make black bean chili and homemade cinnamon rolls. If you are asking yourself whaaat? Chili and cinnamon rolls? People in my neck of the woods (Eastern Washington and Oregon) eat them together. We dip the cinnamon rolls into our chili, and let me tell you, it is good.

From a pharmacy student, looking for the well-known Red Book from the American Academy of Pediatrics: "what color is it?"

Not kidding. How do you even respond to that? The red book…well, it’s red.

afternoon light
Originally uploaded by telfandrea.

This is not a very interesting observation but I am still in complete wonder that it is nearly the end of the first month of 2008. The month has sped by with the girlfriend visit and its aftermath. Here’s what we have been up to:

• Telfer is back in the main OR as of yesterday after a month of hearts.
• I leave for a librarian conference in Las Vegas early next week – good times.
• We just finished the end of Season 3 of Lost last night. It’s seriously so melodramatic at times but you just get sucked in. Highly, highly anticipating the beginning of Season 4 on Thursday.
• I am almost done with the book for my book club with Anna (finally) – The Air We Breathe by Andrea Barrett. Next on the docket: What is the What by Dave Eggers & One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (book club with Missy).