Graduation from Residency

So Residency has come to an end with a commencement ceremony at the Bayou Club. So many emotions! First, we have finished a three year program and are moving on to further training. Then we must leave for Michigan to start fellowship, the next step. We leave behind a lot of friends and family. Overall graduation was great (better than I expected it to be). I was astonished to find out that I actually won a "House Officer of the Year" award - given annually with a plaque and $500. This award was totally unexpected. The next day we started our drive to Michigan. Here are a few pictures. More to follow at Grad 2006

Birthday Party for Maddie

We just got back from our first doggie birthday party that we attended with Ginger. Maddie (Sara's dog) turned 10!!! So we were invited to celebrate. There was doggie music, doggie cake, doggie games. It was GREAT! Maddie loved watching all the commotion.

The attendees were Murphy, Mattox, Julian, Ginger and the birthday girl - MADDIE DOWNS!! Good fun was to be had by all. I think Maddie fulfilled one of her dreams - she got back at a certain someone. Everybody left on good terms. :) Thank you Sara for throwing a great birthday bash. Ginger had a great time. Ginger had a chance to catch up with her boyfriend Mattox. They even snuck away with each other for a time... mostly play fighting though.

See more pictures soon at Maddie's Party

A weekend of elegance

So Michelle & I had the pleasure of seeing my parents for the 2nd time in two weeks: this time for a getaway vacation in Newport, Rhode Island. We flew last Friday into Providence where we were picked up and arrived at our comfortable establishment, Newport Onshore through Ocean State Rentals. I would highly recommend it if a large party is staying for a week or so: http://www.oceanstaterentals.com

Friday we pretty much relaxed and walked around town, which is close to the Atlantic Ocean and Narragansett Bay. A lot of wharfs and cute little restaurants, including this one dessert place that sells sweet fudge ... yummy! :-)

Saturday we hit the road for some serious sight-seeing, which of course involves touring "Mansion Row" on Bellevue Avenue. Many of these were constructed in the late 19th century, each structure has its own history (mostly involving the Vanderbilt family). Awesome ceilings, tapestries, marble flooring, and the like, all kept in immaculate condition (translation: no touching). Of course no inside pictures were allowed, so we had to suffice with some ground shots.



Later that day we had fun sampling wine at a local vineyard ...

... and then afterwards had a nice scenic Ocean Drive off the water ... very windy, btw!!

The following morning we toured some more mansions, but the big event that day was the wedding of a childhood friend: Nicole Gali-Alfonso. She and Brian Strope were married before close friends and family, with a a beautiful ceremony at a church in Middletown ...

and an elegant reception at the Blithewold Mansion in Bristol ...

Best wishes to the newlyweds for a healthy & happy future!!

This was arguably one of our most enjoyable vacations, and we promised we'd do something similar at least on a yearly basis. Sadly, this will be our last getaway vacation until we finish our Internal Medicine Boards in late August. Need to get back to studying!! :-)

The end is nigh...

Well, only three weeks left (acutally a little bit less) of residency forever. Wow. I can't believe all the time that has gone by -- seems like days not years. You never believe people when they tell you how fast time flies by. It makes me feel "old" to say that. Time really has been flying by. I think about our move down to Florida like it was last week. Since then, so much has happened. We got married, finished internship, bought a house, and a number of people have been born and have died... It's time moving on her very way.

So we're moving in a few week. The link we had up for the new condo in Michigan is no longer active. We'll have to send pictures a little bit later. It's going to be home for the next 3 years.

Ginger is constantly filling our house with joy. My grandparents have always had dogs. They are such a burst of energy and light. Even when she is acting terribly, I can't be upset with her.
We cut Ginger's hair again (ultra summer cut), but I'll spare you the endless pictures this time. She's adorable but looks more like a rat (chochina!). We're doing just about anything these days except studying for our upcoming Board exams. We really should start doing more of that! :)