a better me

I had off of work today for Martin Luther King Day.  To be honest, I didn’t know it was a day-off kind of holiday other than for schools.  I guess working in a law-firm which bases its holidays on whether federal courthouses are open has its perks!

COOKING:

The majority of my day was spent, surprisingly, in the kitchen.  Generally, I don’t have a lot of extra time and, when I do, cooking is not my go-to hobby.  But, for whatever reason, I’ve really been into trying new recipes today.  Maybe it’s all the delicious looking recipes I’ve been collecting on pinterest!  On Saturday, I tried a delicious brussel sprouts and sausage dish with Rob and the Hackmans.  It was a big hit and we’ll definitely be making it again.

Today, I made a mango and grilled chicken salad I found among the recipes for a Jillian Michaels’ meal plan.  It was OK, but nothing special.  Fortunately, dinner turned out better than I could’ve hoped!  I made turkey and spinach meatballs with an avocado citrus sauce with brussel sprouts on the side.  Muy delicioso!  Rob was so impressed he kept exclaiming how the meal was better than any “restaurant food” and how amazing it tasted.

ETC…

1.  Rob and I finally upgraded to a queen-sized mattress!  We’ve had a queen-sized bed for a few months, since we got our grown-up bedroom set, but we were still just using our full-sized mattress.  Until yesterday, that is.  Our new bed is super comfy and feels so spacious!

2. I know it’s a bit late for new years resolutions, but I’ve just started thinking about things I want to do this year.  A few trips I have in mind:

• Italy–We’re hoping for a two-week trip this Fall, but a lot depends on whether we (mostly me) are able to get off of work for that long.
• Niagara Falls (and Canada)–I’ve never been to either!  This will probably be for a long weekend.
• Boca Raton, FL–a long weekend for my firm’s meeting.
• A long weekend or week in the Poconos at our time-share.
• And, at least a few other weekend trips yet TBD!

I got home from work early today–two hours early!  In fact, I wouldn’t normally be home for almost another hour.  When I arrived home, the first thought that crossed my mind was:  NAP!  And, although I am, admittedly, lying in bed typing this blog entry, I decided against a nap.  I’ve come to realize, since starting work in September, that week-day naps are not a good thing.  Week-day naps just make week-night bedtimes later and the following week-day mornings harder.  So, no nap.

Instead, I decided to make a few calls that I had been putting off for a while.  Starting January 1, I was no longer covered by my parents’ health insurance and, instead, I began coverage under my own work-associated health insurance.  As a side note, it’s amazing that I was covered by my parents’ health insurance for as long as I was (thanks, healthcare reform)!  Anyway, under my new health insurance, I had to choose a Primary Care Physician, or “PCP” for those in the know.  In December, I chose a random doctor’s office that is located walking distance away in the Narb-erhood.  Fast forward to today.  I called to schedule an appointment and found out that my designated PCP isn’t even a normal doctor’s office.  Apparently the doctors have an office there, but spend their time visiting patients in nursing homes.  Not exactly what I was looking for.  What was most shocking to me was the realization I had while on the phone with the pseudo-doctors’-office’s receptionist.

Receptionist (we’ll name her Rita):  Do you have your medical records?
Me:  No.
Rita:  Who was your doctor before?
Me:  …… (*having a realization*)
Rita:  Did you have a doctor before us?  (graciously rephrasing the question she, perhaps, thought I did not understand)
Me:  I didn’t have a doctor.  My last doctor was my pediatrician. (*still having a realization*)
Rita:  You haven’t been to the doctor since you were 21?

“Rita” wasn’t far from the truth.  I think I’ve visited doctors twice since I was 17–i.e., the last time I visited my pediatrician.  Once for whooping cough and once more recently to a lady doctor in order to get a prescription for birth control.  That’s less than once every 4 years!  What I realized was that, I am, by age, if nothing else, a grown-up now.  It’s time to collect my medical records and move on–no more pediatrician for me.  And so, that is what I did.  Well, first I changed my PCP to a REAL doctors’ office, and then I scheduled an appointment.

Look at me go …after 9 years!