1/09

 Today I am actually enjoying a Sunday where my (daily) to do list is completed. I went to a yoga class and walked the dog. I spent time reading with all the kids, and supervised piano practice. I tried another recipe in my quest for perfect curry noodles (todays from Mark Bittman, is not the winner). I paid the bills. I studied and even read three chapters from A Prayer for Owen Meany. Now it is just a matter of sitting around and playing our new Carmen San Diego game with the kids. I know I only have another 6 hours or so to enjoy it, but it sure feels great to be home and relaxed for a bit.

  I have approximately 20 weeks/450 hours to go before I come close to completing my Masters - I still have to pass boards, but the most intensive work will be done. Ariel and I are both finding ourselves working too much, and it is hard - although we definitely feel grateful that we have work to do. I am going to work hard to finish my clinicals before school ends at the end of June, and am prepared to take some leave from work if I have to.  We are planning a road trip to the Grand Canyon for Spring Break, and I am hoping that I can take Isaac for a long weekend to either D.C. or NYC when school ends. 

 One of the most exciting things that has gone on is a job has practically fell into my lap. About two months ago a friend sent me an email about a local  M.D. who has a micropractice (which means he has no support staff, but takes up to 45 minutes with each patient) and practices Functional Medicine (i.e. naturopathic/alternative)  that was looking for an NP to expand his client base. I decided to send him my resume, thinking I would never hear from him. He rather informally interviewed me, and as it stands, he is going to use some of my clinical hours to train me to do functional medicine and has plans to hire me when I am all done.  His particular type of practice is so much more appealing than the 15 minutes in and out standard practice, and I am allowed to set my own hours. The only thing that makes it less than perfect is  lack of complete health coverage. I can't quite believe such an amazing opportunity has just fallen in my lap -if it works out, I will be 7/7 for being hired at every job I have ever applied for.