things you should have told me about Minnesota

To all of you who oh-so-helpfully pointed out that Minnesota was cold, here's what you should have warned me about:

• The thunderstorms are long, frequent, and heavy on the lightning. 
• If you ride your bike at night, you'll get hit in the face with a wall of mosquitoes.
• Basements? Terrifying.
• Minnesotans apparently did not learn the art of merging in drivers' ed.
• Your local hardware store chain (Menard's) and your iPhone will not get along. (context: this conversation was about buying a new fan) 

on the first day of residency...

...Y was home by 3 and we spent the afternoon playing croquet and badminton in our friends' backyard. I hear every day is equally as relaxing. 

And then for the main event, over bratwurst and beers we listened to a story about a foreskin procedure. Complete with a demonstration using a bottle and a coozie for all of the non medical people out there (me). 


This is my life. Coozie foreskins and all. 


It's not too bad. 

typical

A typical conversation in our house:


Me: LOOK! A BUNNY!!!!!!!!!!!!!


*silence*


Y: You are almost thirty.

intoxicated

I heard this quote at my brother-in-law and his girlfriend's graduation, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I would argue, however, that the fumes of hardwood floor stain and paint in varying shades of grey are even more intoxicating. So intoxicating that I've started seeing things; in my hallucinations Targets are backwards, TJ Maxx carries runway brands, and everyone sounds like Sarah Palin. 


Since I don't believe in blogging under the influence, I hope you understand my little hiatus. I'm slowly figuring out a routine, and I'll be back here sharing my adventures as a resident's wife (and a lost Southerner in the midwest) as soon as I do. 

life with a scientist

The other morning I got out of bed before Y, leaving him and Ike to spoon for a few more minutes. Soon after, I heard Y's groggy voice coming from the bedroom. 

I've just proven a theory. 

Yawning is, in fact, contagious between species.

He's come a long way in his early morning musings. I guess med school was good for something. 

one more holland post: herring

I get asked a lot of questions through this blog (what's it like being married to a medical student, whether or not I know Minnesota gets cold...) but by far the question I am asked the most is what do you look like while eating raw herring?

Well, I finally have an answer for you.

Obviously I wasn't impressed. I did, however, have several delicious meals while in Amsterdam. If you need recommendations, hit up Liz. She is consistent. Our favorites from her list:

Cafe George

Greenwoods

De Struisvogel

Mangiancora

And here's a video...set to a breakup song. But at least it's an upbeat breakup song that mentions Amsterdam!

Amsterdam

In Amsterdam, we took a self-guided walking tour of the Red Light District. Maybe because I have an idealized view of Europe--and everything is just so much older over there-- I was kind of expecting the prostitutes to look like they stepped out of Moulin Rouge, wearing corsets and bright red lipstick.

Instead, the girls looked plucked directly out of Tigerland (a collection of slightly trashy bars off of LSU's campus) and looked bored. They sat on stools, staring off into space and eating sandwiches or distractedly texting on their smartphones. Needless to say, It wasn't quite as glamorous as I expected.


But that 30 minute walk was the only disappointing part of Amsterdam ( and to be honest, it wasn't that disappointing... I had an amazing waffle with nutella and banana).