So I have been very negligent in updating, but here is a new tidbit - i got to help deliver a baby last week. i got to feel the baby's head...you know, way up there. and then i waited with that little suction bulb for the baby to come out. The lady had had an epidural, so there was thankfully no screaming. After a few pushes out pops this little gray shrively thing. I got to suck goup out of his nose and mouth and help clamp the umbilical cord. So exciting! After a few minutes he turned all cute and pink and got to wear a little blue hat, and i took pictures of him with his family. So, for all of you out there afraid of the screaming, crazy delivery part of having a baby, it really isnt that bad and the baby's are so cute (after a few minutes at least). (I left out the whole placenta part because I feel that it would just gross you all out.)
Today, I also got to trudge through the woods and cut down a christmas tree. So, in Oregon, you dont just go to the grocery store, or a christmas tree farm to get a tree. You go and buy this permit for $5. Then you get a map and set off in the woods to the designated "cut area" and pick out any tree you want. Yay! Tromping through the woods looking for ther perfect tree! Of course it also takes a lot longer than going to the grocery store, but it is super exciting.
I will post some pics of it tomorrow!
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Teleconferencing Sucks the Big One...
Yes, today was teleconferencing day. All day. So i woke up at a sporting hour or 5am, got myself some coffee and cereal and figured out how to log myself on. Then for the next 8 hours i was wearing a headset and attached to my computer. It was so awful. The only good thing was half way through when Critter came and laid down with me on the bed. Then I slept for 2 hours. This is the least productive day of my life thus far. On the upside I am thinking of going out adventuring on my own this weekend - that is if it doesnt get too snowy and icy tonight. I might go explore the "big city" of Medford which is an hour and a half away. I think it qualifies as "big" because not only does it have a Superwalmart, but also a Costco. Tonight, I think we are going to go hear a band that one of the residents is in - yes a Rock cover band in small town Oregon. How more classic can it get.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
New places, New Friends
Greetings all! I have successfully made it to Oregon and have finished my first day in the clinic! More importantly, I have made 2 friends (and am working on a third). Critter is the wonderfully sweet yellow colored dog pictured who likes to slowly wander up to you and wag her tail to entice you to scratch her head. My other new friend, Bailey, is slightly less subtle in that he is currently on my bed, attacking me as I type, trying to lick my face. Not pictured is Bean, who is mischevious mut who is slower to warm up to new people and who has a love/hate relationship with Bailey, who always chews on his leg, but in a fun, playful way. So, Klamath is a small town, surrounded by hills, but as you can see what it lacks in urban-ness it more than makes up for the dog-love and a good cup of coffee at the Daily Bagel. Sadly kiddos, I am turning in because I am still on my east coast schedule and it is midnight thirty there. I hope to have more fun stories soon.
Love, c
Love, c
Monday, November 17, 2008
Yee Haw!
So it is less than a day until I touch down in the Wild West. Again, i order to get into character, I decided to get bangs cut. That, and I always seem to get very impulsive about changing my hair this time of year. So, I now have bangs - short bangs. But have decided that this will help me further embrace my alter ego for the next month - Annie Oakley. As you can see from the photo, she also made some impulsive and questionnable hair choices. I must go pack (really when I say "pack" i mean attempt to shove more into my one large suitcase. why dont you just take another suitcase you may ask? well, because I was dared by my husband and mother that i, the chronic overpacker, could not possibly put everything I needed for a month into one suitcase and a carry-on bag. Well, we shall see who wins this battle! mwahaha!)
your loving spike
Sunday, November 9, 2008
1 week to go!
So in preparation and to get into the spirit of my rugged outdoor adventure, I went hiking today. I headed out to Great Falls, VA. Mike and I chose the path closest to the parking lot and just started walking. After a pleasant walk and a round of trying to catch the leaves as they fell, we decided to turn down this little path, marked with a sign with a person on horseback. "ooo...a fun horse path" i thought. So we ventured down this less-used path, which we lost a few times. After about 30 minutes, the path ended at this paved road. We had no idea where we were. We started walking down the side of the road in the direction that we guessed would be back toward the park. The side of the road happened to the through the yards of houses. As we are muttering about how far we think we are going to have to walk, we emerge from these trees face to face with this old man raking the leaves on his yard. He looks really puzzled as to why there are 2 strangers walking through his yard and says, "well hello there." He tells us a shortcut to get back to the park. However, we soon discover that the "shortcut" was a driveway of an ENORMOUS house. So, we run hastily through their yard, hoping they dont have giant dobermans, and follow the stream back to the park....clearly I am ready for the backcountry of Oregon.
After our half hour hike turned into a 2 and 1/2 hour hike, we stopped at an Irish Pub for lunch, which was really cute and I almost ordered a "Buttery Nipple" (no joke) which is Butterscotch liquer and Baileys (I think we will have to have a few buttery nipples over Thanksgiving).
To end, here are some fun facts about Oregon that I learned while looking online. Enjoy!
Reportedly, Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state. Check out Hardman, Sumpter, and Shaniko.
In Oregon it is illegal to use canned corn as fish bait.
The state of Oregon has one city named Sisters and another called Brothers. Sisters got its name from a nearby trio of peaks in the Cascade Mountains known as the Three Sisters. Brothers was named as a counterpart to Sisters.
Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-serve gas stations. According to Oregon state law, an attendant must pump your gas.
Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets.
The Oregon Trail is the longest of the overland routes used in the westward expansion of the United States. The Trail used from 1840 to 1860 began in Missouri and ended in Oregon. It was about 2,000 miles long.
It is against the law in Myrtle Creek to box with a kangaroo.
The hazelnut is Oregon's official state nut. Oregon is the only state that has an official state nut.
In 1905 the largest long cabin in the world was built in Portland to honor the Lewis and Clark expedition.
While it is illegal to buy or sell marijuana in Oregon, it is legal to smoke it on your own property.
In 1880 a sea cave was discovered near what is now known as Florence. Sea Lion Caves is the largest sea cave in the world.
The Nike "swoosh" logo was designed by University of Oregon student Carolyn Davidson in 1964 -- four years after business undergrad Phil Knight and track coach Bill Bowerman founded the company they originally called Blue Ribbon Sports. Ms. Davidson was paid $35 dollars for her design.
In Beaverton, Oregon, you are required to buy a $10 permit before installing a burglar alarm.
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It was formed more than 6,500 years ago. Its crystal-blue waters are world renowned.
Discovered in 1874 the caves located in Oregon Caves National Monument are carved within solid marble.
The Carousel Museum contains the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of carousel horses.
At 8,000 feet deep Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America.
Deadman Creek in Wallowa County was named by James Dale, a sheepherder who said he might just as well be dead as to be in such a lonesome place (1890).
Up until the 1970s it was illegal to show movies or attend car races on Sundays in Eugene, Oregon.
Silver Falls State Park is the Oregon's largest state park. It features 10 waterfalls and contains a wide variety of forested hiking trails
At 11,239 feet Mount Hood, a dormant volcano, stands as the tallest peak in Oregon.
Oregon has no sales, restaurant or liquor tax.
Whorehouse Meadows in Harney County was exactly that during the days of the Old West. Setting up facilities under a canvas tent in the secluded meadow about a mile east of Fish Lake they would then meet up with cattle and sheep herders. In the 1960's the Bureau of Land Management issued a recreation map renaming the meadow, “Naughty Girl Meadows” But in 1971 the Oregon Geographic Names Board took strong objection to the change and brought their argument before federal arbiters. After ten years the old name was restored in 1981.
In Marion, ministers are forbidden from eating garlic or onions before delivering a sermon.
The world’s tallest barber shop pole stands in Forest Grove, Oregon.
In Stanfield, Oregon, no more than two people are allowed to share a single drink.
There are nine lighthouses standing along the Oregon coastline. Five are still being used; the others are designated as historic monuments. The nation's most photographed lighthouse is the Heceta Head Lighthouse located in Lane County.
In Bend, Oregon is a Bowling Ball Garden at a place called the Funny Farm, whee you can actually buy bowling ball seeds in the gift shop. Lots of other odd things here such as an electric kaleidoscope which continuously shows the Wizard of Oz in cascading psychedelic images, a Tire Totem Pole, and the Dead Halloween Mask Burial Grounds
The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, built in 1880, is currently used as the site of the final resting place of up to 467,000 cremated individuals.
Oregon is home to the world’s shortest river. The D River is only 121 feet long.
Oregon's state flag pictures a beaver on its reverse side. It is the only state flag to carry two separate designs.
In Portland, people are banned from whistling underwater.
After our half hour hike turned into a 2 and 1/2 hour hike, we stopped at an Irish Pub for lunch, which was really cute and I almost ordered a "Buttery Nipple" (no joke) which is Butterscotch liquer and Baileys (I think we will have to have a few buttery nipples over Thanksgiving).
To end, here are some fun facts about Oregon that I learned while looking online. Enjoy!
Reportedly, Oregon has more ghost towns than any other state. Check out Hardman, Sumpter, and Shaniko.
In Oregon it is illegal to use canned corn as fish bait.
The state of Oregon has one city named Sisters and another called Brothers. Sisters got its name from a nearby trio of peaks in the Cascade Mountains known as the Three Sisters. Brothers was named as a counterpart to Sisters.
Oregon and New Jersey are the only states without self-serve gas stations. According to Oregon state law, an attendant must pump your gas.
Eugene was the first city to have one-way streets.
The Oregon Trail is the longest of the overland routes used in the westward expansion of the United States. The Trail used from 1840 to 1860 began in Missouri and ended in Oregon. It was about 2,000 miles long.
It is against the law in Myrtle Creek to box with a kangaroo.
The hazelnut is Oregon's official state nut. Oregon is the only state that has an official state nut.
In 1905 the largest long cabin in the world was built in Portland to honor the Lewis and Clark expedition.
While it is illegal to buy or sell marijuana in Oregon, it is legal to smoke it on your own property.
In 1880 a sea cave was discovered near what is now known as Florence. Sea Lion Caves is the largest sea cave in the world.
The Nike "swoosh" logo was designed by University of Oregon student Carolyn Davidson in 1964 -- four years after business undergrad Phil Knight and track coach Bill Bowerman founded the company they originally called Blue Ribbon Sports. Ms. Davidson was paid $35 dollars for her design.
In Beaverton, Oregon, you are required to buy a $10 permit before installing a burglar alarm.
Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. It was formed more than 6,500 years ago. Its crystal-blue waters are world renowned.
Discovered in 1874 the caves located in Oregon Caves National Monument are carved within solid marble.
The Carousel Museum contains the world's largest and most comprehensive collection of carousel horses.
At 8,000 feet deep Hells Canyon is the deepest river gorge in North America.
Deadman Creek in Wallowa County was named by James Dale, a sheepherder who said he might just as well be dead as to be in such a lonesome place (1890).
Up until the 1970s it was illegal to show movies or attend car races on Sundays in Eugene, Oregon.
Silver Falls State Park is the Oregon's largest state park. It features 10 waterfalls and contains a wide variety of forested hiking trails
At 11,239 feet Mount Hood, a dormant volcano, stands as the tallest peak in Oregon.
Oregon has no sales, restaurant or liquor tax.
Whorehouse Meadows in Harney County was exactly that during the days of the Old West. Setting up facilities under a canvas tent in the secluded meadow about a mile east of Fish Lake they would then meet up with cattle and sheep herders. In the 1960's the Bureau of Land Management issued a recreation map renaming the meadow, “Naughty Girl Meadows” But in 1971 the Oregon Geographic Names Board took strong objection to the change and brought their argument before federal arbiters. After ten years the old name was restored in 1981.
In Marion, ministers are forbidden from eating garlic or onions before delivering a sermon.
The world’s tallest barber shop pole stands in Forest Grove, Oregon.
In Stanfield, Oregon, no more than two people are allowed to share a single drink.
There are nine lighthouses standing along the Oregon coastline. Five are still being used; the others are designated as historic monuments. The nation's most photographed lighthouse is the Heceta Head Lighthouse located in Lane County.
In Bend, Oregon is a Bowling Ball Garden at a place called the Funny Farm, whee you can actually buy bowling ball seeds in the gift shop. Lots of other odd things here such as an electric kaleidoscope which continuously shows the Wizard of Oz in cascading psychedelic images, a Tire Totem Pole, and the Dead Halloween Mask Burial Grounds
The Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, built in 1880, is currently used as the site of the final resting place of up to 467,000 cremated individuals.
Oregon is home to the world’s shortest river. The D River is only 121 feet long.
Oregon's state flag pictures a beaver on its reverse side. It is the only state flag to carry two separate designs.
In Portland, people are banned from whistling underwater.
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Sunday, November 2, 2008
2 weeks til I hit the trail....
So it's two weeks til I leave for Oregon, and I have been thinking about all the things I associate with the state.....and all I can come up with is the Oregon trail and an interesting attempt at universal health care. I have been googling the area where I am going, and under "things to do" there is a list of restaurants and various outdoor sports...like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snow hiking...none of which I do of course. So, I am starting to pack my bags and preparing to be open to new experiences. Hope to chat with you all soon!
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