answer me this: coffee, fro-yo, and goal-setting

So I've missed a bunch of these, but today I'm linking up with Catholic All Year (who's still hosting this linkup, incredibly, like an hour after having a baby) for Answer Me This!

1. What's your favorite grocery store splurge?

Good coffee. I mean, I don't buy the super-fanciest stuff, but I buy whole-bean coffee and we grind it at home. We love coffee.

2. How's your penmanship?

It's okay. It's not beautiful, but it's decipherable. Which automatically makes it way, way better than most other doctors' penmanship.

3. Do you have a "Summer Bucket List?"

Nope. For one thing, I have all little kids (my oldest is 4), so summer isn't a particularly special/different time of year yet. For another thing, we currently live on Guam, which is the Land of Endless Summer... it's mid-80s and humid year-round. And for a THIRD thing, I'm not big into setting myself lists of "requirements" that aren't actually requirements.

Okay. That last one is a lie. I'm an INTJ; I looooove making goals for myself that I NEED TO DO, that no one else actually thinks I need to do. But only if it's my own idea, or if I think it's a good idea independently. I hate doing things just because someone else thinks I should do it.

(Found this on Pinterest. Source page gone. Sorry.)

4. What's the best thing on the radio right now?

Hm. Honestly, I don't really listen to the radio. I'm kind of a Spotify + podcasts sort of girl.

5. Ice cream or frozen yogurt?

Well, I find this to be an entirely different sort of question than say, "Coke or Pepsi?" "Milk chocolate or dark chocolate?" or "Twizzlers or Red Vines?" (For the record: Coke, dark chocolate, and Twizzlers. Definitely.) This is more like, "Strawberries or watermelon?" I don't know. They're different, and both delicious. 

Now the caveat here is that we're talking about, like, tart yogurty frozen yogurt from a frozen yogurt shop. If we're talking about "frozen yogurt" from the grocery store, aka "fake ice cream," then I'm going to have to go with ice cream. 100%.

Yes.

No.

6. Have you had that baby NOW? (Again, you can skip this one if you want.)

Yup, and he's 3 months old today!

Head back to the linkup!

answer me this: tiny babies and sleeping in public

The Answer Me This linkup is back for the summer! Go join Kendra's linkup!

1. Any big plans for the summer?

Yes! I'm going to the Edel Gathering next month (my Christmas gift from Jack!)... which is slightly insane, considering that the amount of time I'll be in the air will be approximately equal to the amount of time I'll be in Charleston. But... still, I'm excited! Besides, traveling with an under-3-month-old baby is practically like traveling alone, just with, y'know, diapers and nursing and stuff. But it is NOT like traveling with a toddler. So that alone makes it practically heaven.


2. What is the strangest thing you believed as a child?

In my parents' home is a largish copy of a famous portrait of Jesus:

image source

When my childhood best friend Stacy and I were in 3rd grade or so, we convinced ourselves that if we stared at this painting long enough, it would move. And then, being 8-year-old girls, we would run shrieking and giggling out of the room and hide in the closet. And then come back two minutes later to do it again.


3. What is your favorite amusement park ride? (can be a specific one at a specific park or just a type of ride)

I'm totally a roller coaster person. And being from Ohio, we went to Cedar Point every summer of my growing-up years, so I've been on a lot of roller coasters. And I can say with confidence that the Magnum is my thing. It may not be the fanciest or flashiest coaster anymore-- though when it was built it was the tallest in the world-- but it's just plain fun. (Click the link for a POV video!)


4. What's on your summer reading list?

I've got three books that I'm in the midst of reading currently:
- Kristin Lavransdatter-- I'm about 1/3 of the way through. LOVE.
- On Food and Cooking-- a nonfiction book on why and how different foods are cooked the way they are... not so much from a historical/cultural standpoint, but more from a literal, chemical standpoint. Like, you can't just replace cream in a recipe with milk to make it lower-calorie, because the protein composition is different and it won't cook the same way. d I'm also intermittently reading On Food and Cooking. Also on my started-but-not-yet-finished list is The Paris Wife.
- The Paris Wife-- a historical novel about Ernest Hemingway's wife, recommended to me by my sister-in-law and mother-in-law. Pretty good so far.


5. Have you ever fallen asleep in public?

Sure. Let me count the ways:
- in college lecture halls (yep) 
- on the train 
- on airplanes 
- at work in the hospital (not just in my call room, but like... at the nurses' station and in the ER) 
I'm sure there are others, but I'm too sleep-deprived to think of them right now.


6. What is your favorite smell?

Newborn baby head. The amazingness of this smell is scientifically proven.

answer me this: media-consuming and hand-shaking edition

1. What is your favorite room in the house?

This might be a little strange, but I really like the girls' playroom. Not that I, personally, love spending time in there (it's not put together with adult comfort in mind), but I'm kind of proud of it. I think it's a good playroom-- pretty cute, reasonably organized, toys that I mostly don't hate looking at, fairly enriching.

2. Do you subscribe to any magazines or other periodicals?

Well, there's Pediatrics. And Pediatrics in Review. And, um, that's it. Just medical journals. I am boring. (Faith gets High Five, but technically we don't subscribe to it; Jack's grandma signed her up.)

3. How do you feel about the sign of peace in Mass? Enriching? Awkward? Overdone? Just right? Some combination of the above?

Well, I grew up in an Evangelical church where we had a "turn and say hello to your neighbor!" segment every church service, so when I first started attending Catholic Mass, the sign of peace seemed totally normal to me. As I've gotten a bit more orthodox/traditional/whatever, I don't love it as much. But I don't really mind it. I like the origins of it-- how you're not supposed to receive communion if you have anything against your brother, you should be at peace with everyone, and all that. (I just learned that apparently that's not the origin of the sign of peace, at least in the Latin rite, according to this article anyway.) It just seems, the way it is now, in most churches, like kind of an interruption of Mass. So I'm ambivalent, I guess.

4. What is your least favorite sound?

Babies screaming when they should be sleeping. *shudder* I did let them "cry it out" when we were sleep training, and it totally worked (eventually... Josie was persistent). But the sound just.... I can literally feel my blood pressure going up and my heart rate quickening when I hear it, and I truly break into a sweat. Even now, as I sit here just thinking about it!

5. What was your favorite TV show (or shows) growing up?

When I was little tiny, it was Sesame Street all the way. When I was a bit older, I liked watching Star Trek (Next Gen, baby!) with my mom. When I was a teenager and college-aged, I liked crime-solving shows like JAG, CSI, Law & Order, and Criminal Minds. (I still like crime-solving shows, actually.)

6. What are your favorite TV shows now?

The Walking Dead, Mad Men, Doctor Who, Supernatural, Sherlock, Downton Abbey. And Firefly and Breaking Bad, though they're not, y'know, on anymore. That sounds like a lot, I guess, but I generally watch them in Netflix Bursts. A few of them I'm not even "caught up" on, since I started late.

Anyway, head back to Catholic All Year for more folks' answers!

answer me this: awkward bookish introvert edition

1. Do you have a land line?

No. I'm thinking as the girls get older though, we might get one of those land-line-that-hooks-up-to-your-internet things, both for emergencies and for the kids to use. They're less expensive than standard land lines, generally.

2. What is your least favorite food?

I honestly can't think of any food that I absolutely detest and Will Not Eat. I'm not a big fan of beans all on their own, I guess, though I don't mind them in soups and things.

3. What's on your summer reading list?

I'm finishing up Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can't Stop Talking, and Style, Sex, & Substance, then next on my list are Simplicity Parenting and The Ocean at the End of the Lane. My more long-term reading projects are On Food and Cooking and A Book of Saints for Catholic Moms. Oh, and the Catechism. (I'm doing that read-the-Catechism-in-a-year thing.)

My bedside table a few months ago. Several of the books are now gone, but they've been replaced by others. The height of the pile has only increased. Do you think I have a problem??

4. Is there something that people consistently ask for your advice on? What is it?

Well, yes. People ask my advice about medical stuff, particularly regarding their kids. (Not just at work, but obviously there especially.)

5. What's the most physically demanding thing you've ever done?

Aside from giving birth? Working in the PICU during residency. 28-hour shifts, no sleep, nonstop work, stressful environment. Just crazy.

Only tangentially related, but oh-so-true.

6. How do you feel about massages?

Well, I like them in theory. And I definitely like them from my husband. But I feel like getting a professional massage would just be AWKWARD. Am I supposed to talk? Or just lie there in silence? If I am supposed to talk, what would I talk about? Or would it be super-weird to talk and I should just shut up? I'm an INTJ, you guys. Even thinking about small talk stresses me out. I chopped off all my hair yesterday (pics to come!), and I was more nervous about chatting with the stylist than I was about chopping my hair! I think (going back to the massage) I would have too much trouble relaxing, which would kind of defeat the whole purpose.

Click back over to CatholicAllYear for more folks' answers!

answer me this: pretty church pictures edition

1. Do you have a smart phone?

I do. It probably says something bad about me that I feel like I couldn't go back to life pre-iPhone. How else would I solve the argument about "That's the same actor who was in ____" without bothering to get up from the couch? In all seriousness, though, I use it as my planner, timer, reminders, music, primary camera, I look up medical stuff when I'm at work, etc.

It's kinda crazy though, right? Ten years ago we were all "la-di-dah, I'm out on the town, I'll find a payphone if I need to call someone" and now we're like, "OMG WHERE'S MY PHONE DID I LEAVE IT AT HOME I WILL DIE WITHOUT IT."

2. Which is your favorite meal of the day?

Dessert. Once the babies are in bed and I can eat ice cream in peace-- HEAVEN. Or maybe coffee. That counts as a meal, right?

3. Shower or bath?

Shower. Bathtubs are generally too short for me to be able to stretch out comfortably and relax. Oh, the woes of being a tall girl.

#tallgirlproblems (no, these aren't my legs.)

4. Think of a person you love. How many days have you been in love with that person?

2,788 days. Our first date was on October 13, 2006. I guess I don't know if I was "in love" with him then... but I think it counts, seeing as we've been together ever since!

5. What's the best church you've ever been inside?

The most beautiful church I've ever been inside is the Our Lady, Queen Of The Most Holy Rosary Cathedral in Toledo, Ohio. Yes, Toledo!! It's the church we used to attend when we lived there, and it's where I became Catholic-- Easter Vigil 2009!

Jack, me, and Fr. Singler after Easter Vigil

My favorite church, community-wise, was the parish we left when we moved to Guam-- St. Bernadette's in Silver Spring.

6. Happy Feast of the Visitation! Has anyone ever come to help YOU?

Yup. Right before Josie was born, we learned our au pair was going to be leaving a little earlier than we thought, which left us with no one to watch Faith when I went into labor. My parents drove down from Ohio and spent a couple weeks on the sleeper sofa in our guest room to help out. (My dad even sneakily vacuumed the whole house-- which we hadn't done in way too long-- while Jack was at work and my mom and I were out with Faith!)

Click here to head back to the linkup at Catholic All Year!

answer me this: imagine your own embarrassing photo edition

1. Beach or Mountains? Where would you rather be? 

Beach. More relaxing-- especially the beaches here on Guam, which are often empty and have grass and trees ten feet from the water, as opposed to beaches in the States, which too often consist of hordes of people on vast expanses of burning hot sand. 

2. Which is more fun, Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Christmas Eve is more reverent-feeling, but Christmas morning is more fun. So exciting! Such huge irrepressible smiles! So much wrapping paper and laughter! Of course, my opinion is largely due to my Christmas experiences growing up-- we always went to the candlelight church service on Christmas Eve, and opened presents on Christmas morning.

3. What's the most embarrassing childhood outfit you remember wearing?

Oh my gosh, I know exactly the outfit to tell you about. I was about ten, and it was a white, cotton, collared shorts-jumpsuit covered with-- this is the kicker-- huge polka dots in primary colors. If only I had a picture to show you. The best part, though, is that I actually loved that jumpsuit. It was my favorite outfit; I didn't think it was embarrassing at all. It's only now that I look back and cringe. I'm sure it looked awesome with my scrunchies and enormous round gold wire-rimmed glasses.

Picture this jumpsuit (the one on the left):

In this fabric:

On this child (yes that is me):

4. Your house is quiet, you don't have to do any work (housework included). What do you do?

Um... read, duh. And also, eat baked goods without having to share.

5. What movie do you want to watch when you're feeling under the weather?

Pride and Prejudice. Preferably the BBC miniseries with Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, but I like the Keira Knightley movie too.

OMG THAT LOOK. I MELT.

6. Did you have an American Girl doll when you were little? If so, which one?

Sadly, no. But it wasn't for lack of wishing and poring over the American Girl catalogues. I mean, how awesome would it be to have the EXACT SAME NIGHTGOWN (complete with frilly cap) as your Felicity doll?

Okay, now click over to Catholic All Year to join Kendra for the linkup!

answer me this

I don't (yet) follow Kendra of Catholic All Year, but when I saw her weekly linkup over at Carrots for Michaelmas, I decided to join in!

1. What's the scariest thing that's ever been in your yard?

Hmmm... how 'bout a crew of movers, loading up all our earthly belongings into sea crates, which we wouldn't see again for the next 2 months until they arrived on the other side of the world?

2. Beards. Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Thumbs up for my dad, who's sported a beard for my entire life. Thumbs down for my husband, because... beards make me think of my dad.

My parents at my wedding reception, December 2008.

3. If stuff breaks, can you fix it?

Probably. I'm reasonably handy. My awesome dad (pictured above with his awesome beard) taught me well. I don't know how to do electrical-type repairs, but most other stuff I could likely figure out.

4. What was your first car?

Well, the first car I drove regularly was a white 1999 Plymouth Neon, but I didn't technically own it (my parents did). The first car I owned was a blue 2005 Toyota Echo.

This one isn't mine, but it looked just like this.

5. How often do you eat out?

Every couple of weeks. We used to eat out a lot more (well, by "eat out" I mean "get takeout") when we were in residency and both working 70-80 hours a week. Getting home at 7pm after working for 12-13 hours (every day) doesn't lend itself to culinary inspiration.

6. Why is your hair like that?

Basically because I'm kind of lazy about it. It's wavy and kind of coarse and very thick, so it's kind of a pain to "do" anything with it. I periodically let it grow long, then chop it off above my shoulders after 6-12 months, and repeat. Every few days I wash it and scrunch in gel and let it air-dry. Usually I wear it in a ponytail, because, as I said: lazy. I don't dye it, and don't plan to, even though I have a few-- gulp-- gray hairs now. (Partly because I don't have a burning desire to look younger than I am, and partly because-- can you guess?-- lazy!!) READY FOR THE EXCITEMENT??

Short (this is usually the only length at which I regularly wear it "down")

Shoulder-length (pulled half-back with a clip or hair claw)

Long (pulled back in a ponytail)

Long (pulled up in a messy bun)

Those are basically my only 4 hairstyles. Super creative and stylish, amiright?

Head over to Carrots For Michaelmas (this week) to see more Answers!