Random Facts I Learned Today

Patients often tell me random things and today I learned two random facts:

1. One patient told me that her son is a 4th grader in Henrico County and they are not teaching the kids cursive writing anymore.

My thought on that subject is no biggie. I really don't feel like kids will be missing out, but it is kind of crazy that it may be a lost art form.

2. One of my patient's works in research and development for Phillip Morris. I asked what kind of things she researched. She said they are looking at antioxidants with cigarettes. The reason they are looking at that is because they believe that a lot of the reason smoker's get cancer is due to the high levels of inflammation caused by the cigarettes. So they are hoping that by adding antioxidants to their cigarettes it will make them more healthy. Now if that is not wrong, I don't know what is. It is a huge glimpse into the minds of the cigarette companies, "maybe we can market these as healthy and then we can sell more." Also, of note: when I asked this lady if she smokes (before I knew what she did for a living) she told me that she did until she started working at Phillip Morris. Because as soon as she started doing research and saw just how damaging cigarettes are she decided to quit. How is that for Truth about cigarettes.

Fall Stories

My sister posted on her blog that she was starting a tradition of picking the best leaf of the year. I love that idea, so when Rich and I went on a walk at a nearby partk we picked some favorites.

And the winner is:

The primary program was today. I loved seeing the kids do their parts, but even more than that I loved being done with it. I was so worried about how is would turn out and if I needed to be doing more to be prepared. That being said, it really was great! I could tell that they worked hard with their parents. I was so impressed with how many of the kids memorized their parts. My favorite part was the kid whose assignment was to tell his favorite of Heavenly Father's Creations. He said, "animals like T-Rex"


Yesterday we celebrated Richard's Mom's birthday at short pump mall. We went out to eat and shopping. It was great to spend time with them AND it was a beautiful day.

Last story: At work I was standing in the hall and this lady walked up behind me and said "hey, have you been gaining weight?" (I have...dang drug reps and their dang tasty foods) I said, "uhhh yea...can you tell? " She said "yea" Then all of a sudden it occured to me that she was incredibly impudent (as Jane Austen would say). And I told her, "that's not very nice." Really...can you imagine saying that to somebody?!?!?!

Punkin contest

A couple of weeks ago at work they started talking about the pumpkin decorating contest. I love Halloween because it is the only holiday where everyone really wants to be creative. I am always amazed that every year I see a new idea (usually for costumes) that I had never even thought of before. Anyway, I really wanted to do something creative, so I asked Rich to come up with an idea for me. His idea: the ugly duckling. I don't know if you can tell from the pic but the duckies are all pumpkin except the ugly duckling, which is a squash.

They were so awkward, but I really started to like them a lot. I won an honorable mention.

Here were some of the other ideas

Halloween Costumes

So I know Halloween is a week gone, but our computer has been out of commission with a backlight out and our mouse pad malfunctioning, but I wanted to post about Heather's great Idea. She is a GENIUS. Her idea was to go as an eHarmony.com couple. Then, she stepped it up a notch, a big one. She came home one day and said "Richard, what if we shave a bald patch in the middle of your head?" I was unsure at first, but then I realized; HEATHER IS GOING TO LET ME SHAVE MY HEAD, HECK YES I'M IN! So we made some t-shirts that had profiles that looked like we had grossly misrepresented ourselves, dressed up in some goofy costumes, and then shaved me a cul-de-sac. Enjoy the costumes that brought home the first place costume trophy, BOOYAH:

Here's the profile. I was a hot doctor and she was a Dallas cowboys cheerleader. On the front it said "eHarmony worked for us."

Here's our first place trophy.

Chili Bowl of Victory

So last year Rich entered the Chili cookoff for our ward Halloween party. He wrote out the items that he thought would taste good in chili, then he whipped it up with out any recipe. It was truly impressive, then he won 2nd place. This year the person who won first place the last two years in a row had moved so we thought he had first place in the bag. Well ,we didn't count on some other competition and he got third. BUT (and I am not just saying this because he is my husband) in my opinion his really was the best. I think he is really good at making a chili that is sweet with the perfect amount of heat. So even though he won the third place chili bowl of victory, he won first place by my judgement.