Something...finally.

Just a quick update...I had hoped to be a little better a doing regular updates (it doesn't take me very long), but with limited free time I find other things to do--this residency thing sure makes me feel like I don't know much and that I have a lot to learn in not that much time...I have been trying to read as much as possible. Also, we now have to think about the house, the lawn, and all that goes along with these things. There always seems to be something to do.

Anyway, now that I am done making excuses about my poor blog updating performance, I will try to briefly share an update on what has been happening in our lives.
These pictures of our cars were taken as sales tools. "What?" you say? When we started working in the hospital, we quickly learned that we will not be driving often. Stacy walks about 5 blocks to work, and I bike about 7 (we work in the same hospital, but it is very big, and we use different entrances). We decided that it would be very reasonable for us to be a "one-car-family". We posted my Suby (actually "our" car, but much more explanatory when the possessive is added) to craigslist. There was a little interest, but we decided that we should try posting Stacy's car as well to see what would happen. We sold her Saturn the following day. We are now hoping that the Suby will perform alright and that we will not regret our decision.

On Tuesday of this week Stacy and I had our only day off together for the month of July. We went up to the Twin Cities, ate Japanese food, bought Asian groceries, and went to the Mall of America (it is a BIG place). We were able to find some clothes to supplement Stacy's wardrobe. She only wears a suit about half of the time now, but next year she will be needing to dress up nearly daily. There is (at least I am told this is the case) still room for growth in the wardrobe, but we made some headway. Here is a photo of me in the Emergency Department. One of the other residents took this picture during our first week in the hospital. I was really green at this time, so I now look much more professional and knowledgeable while working (many of you have probably guessed that I just wrote with sarcasm, and that this is pretty much how I look every day). If you really zoom in you might be able to read that my name tag reads "Konrad Kessler, MD".
This weekend (8/2-8/3) Stacy is travelling back to Walla Walla, Washington to attend her good friend, Ashley's, wedding. She gets to dress up as a bride's maid (or matron now?), so maybe we will have some pictures of that to come.

Also, Stacy's parents, Steve and Narumi, are back from Azerbaijan and will be driving up from Houston to visit us next week. The are driving a Uhaul to bring boxes of Stacy's childhood belongings. We hope to get to have some fun time with them. I get me schedule for August in a few days, so we should know by then.

Until next time,
KON

Fun with Cousins and Introducing Dr. Stacy

Two weeks ago, my cousins from Arizona - Kyle and Colin - along with their parents my Aunt Kathy and Uncle Bill were in MN for a Boy Scout Canoe Trip in the Boundary Waters. I met up with them at my Uncle John and Aunt Mary's house about 1.5 hours Northeast of Rochester. Kon was working in the Emergency Department that day, so he missed out on the fun. Uncle John and Aunt Mary grilled a 20 lb turkey and made up some delicious fixings -- and sent me home with leftovers, that fed us for a couple nights!

I had my second overnight shift in the hospital this last week. I usually have to wear a suit to work .... but on the overnight shifts, I wear scrubs and a long white coat. Kon met me for dinner in the cafeteria and he was able to take a couple of pictures of me, looking like a doctor.
Today is my day off!! It feels great to be home and relaxing!! Take care!!

Walk-through tour of our house!

Here are some pictures of our house (this is how it looks today...I just took the photos). Lots of pictures...hope you enjoy. This is the front of the house and the front entry as seen from 2nd St NW. You are looking north and a little east. You can see the west and south sides of the house from here. The windows in the middle of the picture are in our bedroom.
As you enter the front door you pass a coat closet on your right and you can see the dining room ahead of you.

We are entering the living room...more furniture on the way.Here is the dining room. Now, back up and look through the living room at the dining room from a different angle.Turn around to look at our office area. Stacy is a big fan of the roll-top desk...I think it is nice too.
Our new chairs. I think they are very comfy.While in the dining room, you can see the kitchen to your left--the living room is on your right.Take a look at the dining room from the other side, and you can see the bathroom.It's kind of tight, but it works well for us.Now back out of the bathroom and look to your left (south of the bathroom). You get to go into our bedroom. Our nightstands are rubbermade containers now, but we are looking for something a little classier.Don't you love our lace over the windows? I think it will be going away before too long. Turn around to head back out of the bedroom. You can see our closet from here. On the other side of the bathroom is the spare bedroom.It is a bit of a mess right now, but we are slowly working on putting things away. It helps to have places and furniture in which to put these things.Now we will walk back through the dining room to the kitchen.On the other side of the kitchen you can see the back door going into the screened porch. This door also leads toward our basement.Down to the dungeon...not really that bad. Let's take a look. This is the laundry area.My workbench and chair for hanging out when it gets too warm upstairs. I like this part of the house.Notice the platform for the washer and dryer? That is my addition, and it looks much nicer than it did before if I do say so myself...and I just did.Now we will head back upstairs for the rest of the tour (notice the storage under the stairs on the way out...very handy).Into the screened porch.A great place for some patio furniture...we are looking for some.The garage is quite a bit newer than the house.A great place for our bikes, not to mention the car.Notice the garage door opener. It is new...I installed it, and it works great.Now we are in the back yard and looking back toward the screened porch.We have a playhouse. Ideas for using this? Let me know.The gate leads out to Cascade Creek.Looking through the gate.I think this area is pretty.

Hope you liked the tour. Stacy and I are doing well. She is in the hospital more than I am right now (she is on a medicine service and spends every 6th night in the hospital, I am in the Emergency Department...not right now, I'm at home today...I work fewer hours, but I will work more in other months).

I hope this update finds you all doing well. I am liking it here, but I do miss seeing many people that I know well and love.

later,
KON