Spokane--Week 2

My second week in Spokane went just as fast as the first. I met a friend for dinner on Saturday. Went to Mass with my family and saw old friends from grade school on Sunday before meeting up with some of my extended family for lunch and shopping. After that we headed to my Aunt's house for pie. Monday, we kept busy running errands around Spokane--buying makeup, nail polish and doing girly things. For dinner Mom and I had a girls night with a family friend and her daughters at Catacombs--Yummy! Tuesday, Mom had to work so Dad and I had the day to ourselves. We ran more errands, I met the people at his work, I visited the doctors I worked for before college (which was wonderful!) and we had lunch at The Elk. It was so much fun to have a dad-daughter day. I also played pool with him--a game he loves. I talk big but I really can't play well at all! We met up with Mom for dinner at Clinkerdagger. I has turned into a tradition to have our last meal before I leave town at Clinkerdagger; however, Dad had to work late on Friday so we had to do dinner earlier in the week (The above picture was taken after dinner in the Clinkerdagger entrance). Wednesday, I went down to Gonzaga University to see my friend who is in the Jesuits and we had lunch. I could only stay on campus for a short amount of time because I had to rush home to meet up with Mom in the afternoon. In the evening, I went to see my friend Kelly, her husband and her little girl. We had a wonderful dinner! Thursday was a highlight of the second week. I worked out in the morning--so hard that I it hurt to walk for days. Next, we went to the Davenport's Spa Paradiso . Mom and I both had gift certificates. She chose to have a pedicure and I had a deep tissue massage. It was so much fun and so relaxing--I didn't want it to end. After our spa day, we had lunch at the Pita Pit . We decided to do a little sale shopping and I was able to pick up some great professional clothes at great prices. I don't think I've really updated my work wardrobe since I was working, so I was happy to get some new things. Friday, we had my great-aunt Bernice over for lunch and I had to pack to return to New York. I hate the last night at home. I never sleep well and I hate being at the airport because I cry so much. I miss my family so much when I am away but at least once I am back in school I am, for the most part, too busy to be sad all of the time. When I leave home, however, it is a different story. Farley says that watching my family say goodbye is something to see--we all cry and cry and cry. I think it just shows how much we love each other!

At the airport, I ran into an old work collage. It was so much fun to talk to her again. Her son and son-in-law are doctors so she has had to say many similar goodbyes and understood why we were so sad. We were on the same flight to Minneapolis, but the flight was full and we could not change seats to sit next to each other. We did walk around the airport and window shop (the Minneapolis airport has a mall) before my flight left for New York. Once I arrived in New York, I had to wait about an hour before Farley arrived. It was so nice to have someone to meet up with at the airport. I always find it so strange how I can start one day at home and end up on the other side of the continent before sundown.

Home Sweet Home

I flew back to Spokane last Sunday, the 15th, less than 24-hours after finishing my pediatrics rotation.  I could have left New York at 2:30 and got home at 7:000, but Farley's flight was at 11:20, so I decided to leave at 11:30.  I am glad that I did because I flew out of Laguardia and there isn't too much at that airport.  I had been reading "Gone With The Wind" for a few weeks and was excited about being able to read and sleep all day on the flights. I was about 330 pages into the book and it was so good that I ended up reading the whole flight to Minneapolis rather than sleeping.  When I landed in Minneapolis, I discovered that I made the right decision about where to have a longer layover: Minneapolis has a mall inside the airport!  I had fun wandering around looking in the stores and I grabbed a bite to eat.  However, I couldn't pull myself away from my book.  I ended up heading back to the terminal and reading like crazy.  I thought that I could sleep on the second flight, but again, I was engrossed in the book.  I ended up reading 500 pages of "Gone With The Wind!  I've become a much faster reader since starting medical school, so I guess it shouldn't be a huge surprise.  I landed in Spokane about 30 minutes early and Mom was there to meet me (Dad was still at work).  When I got home, we had our Christmas Eve dinner, since we were not able to be together for Christmas and opened presents (we always open on Christmas Eve).  It was so much fun to see Mom and Dad open the things I found for them in New York City.  I bought some touristy things but I also bought some unique things, for example I bought Dad a print from The Met and I brought Mom a purse from an up and coming leather designer.

Sunday, I was up at 5:30.  I was so excited to be home that I couldn't sleep, which was strange because I was so tired.  We opened stockings (just as if it were really Christmas morning).  Next we headed to the Davenport for breakfast and to see my Aunt and Uncle.  We walked around downtown Spokane, but we couldn't stay long because I had two people come in from out of town to see me, which was very nice.

I have stayed busy this first week being home.  I had to do all of my doctor's appointments for school, I saw lots of family and friends and I have had lots of fun.  I only wish I had a month rather than two weeks.  I was going to school from February 15, 2010 until January 14, 2011 without a break.  I know that a lot of people work harder than I have to and they don't get vacations either, but I was tired and I really missed my family.