ITS ABOUT TIME

Yeah it has been a good two months since our last blog entry. I decided its about time to finally add something. Because I'm just getting back into the habit this is going to be short and sweet.

I'm taking Physiology right now. It's crazy. Between 2 test I had a 30 point swing in grades. That's insane. Taryn loves/hates her job. Yesterday she came in and talked about how much she loved her day. The day before she talked for 20 minutes about a kid from hell. Love my wife. She thought about dyeing her hair. Not really she would never do that. Parents just got back from Vegas. They saw Elton John. Loved it. We listening to him that night in their honor. It was fun. Found a new obsession. The game is called Settlers of Catan. It's German. I love Germany. Especially Dirk's house. You need to buy the game. Sing Song is next weekend. It's going to be awesome. Except that I have a test two days later and will studying in a hotel room all of Saturday afternoon. I love lamp. Not really but that's a funny movie. My computer was kind of broken. I called Dell. It took an hour for them to tell me to reboot my computer. Idiots. I'm going camping. Don't know when or where, but it will be awesome. Taryn has mastered the chocolate chip cookie. Good for friends. Bad for my waist line. More to come at a later date. I really want everyone to learn how to play Settlers of Catan.

Until next time,
Chase Cawyer

Its the most wonderful time of the year!!

I LOVE this time of year. I'm just full of all kind of joy!!! I mean, who wouldn't be? The closer to Christmas, the happier I get:)

This time of year is big deal for Chase and I. I the past 3 weeks we've celebrated my birthday, Thanksgiving and Chase's birthday, all on top of shopping, decorating, studying, writing lesson plans, going to Bible studies and spending our last few days with a couple of friends that are moving. Its just been one thing after another, but its what life is all about- living everyday to the fullest.

Yesterday was Chase's birthday- the big 23!!!! Happy Birthday babe! Thats right 23, not 24 like his better half:) So young....
Being the loving wife I am, I woke up and made him homemade blueberry pancakes- his were perfect, mine a disaster. Stupid burner got too hot! Then I made snickerdoodles- his favorite. Might I just add, that he said they were good, if not better than his moms!!! I was so excited because Kelly seriously makes the best cookies ever. I guess it was just beginner's luck!! We spent the day watching Transformers, which might be one of the most entertaining/enjoyable movies. We then went out to dinner with some friends and visited this way cute neighborhood in Lubbock that decorates their houses for Christmas. It was like walking down a street in South Carolina- colonial, southern homes with wrap-around porches and everything! Beautiful. They had fake snow that I included in some pictures below- not near as cool as real snow, but hopefully we have the real thing this coming Tuesday (I'm crossing my fingers for no school:)) After we left colonial town, we went back to our friend's house and watched my beloved sooners conquer another team. Boomer Sooner!!!!
Such a fun day!!!

Speaking of a fun day, when we were home for Thanksgiving, we went to the ICE! exhibit at the Gaylord. So fun, so cold, so overpriced. I put a few pictures below to show you how awesome it was... and how cold (notice the HUGE blue coats).
Thanksgiving was such a nice break. Bittersweet though- now that we are married, we have to split our time between our families and it really starts to take a toll on us. There's just not a lot of days to celebrate Thanksgiving- just one. At least with Christmas, we can spread it out over a week or so. Don't get me wrong, I love the holidays, I just wish we could have one HUGE gathering with like 75 people- but its definately not a perfect world:)

Speaking of the holidays, we have our first Christmas tree!!!! All I wanted for my birthday was a christmas tree, so being the wonderful woman she is, mom bought me one. Thanks mom!!! And, being the wonderful sister-in-law she is, Christina gave me some ornaments she doesn't use- red a gold, just what I needed!! Thanks Tina! So, I love our tree- its a collaboration of family gifts- so symbolic. Now, if you'll notice below, there are no gifts under the tree... and there probably wont be. We had to leave all the gifts the we bought on Black Friday at our parents house since we couldn't take them on the plane. Maybe I'll just wrap empty boxes to put under our tree...

Speaking of gifts, I thought I would impress Chase with my gift (Ha!) of cooking and make Chicken and dumplings from scratch- thats right, dumplings from scratch!! Well, I was ultra impressed with how the meal looked- perfect consistency! However, I accidentally, put 1 tablespoon of salt instead of 1 teaspoon.

BIG MISTAKE!!!! Poor Chase couldn't even eat it. It really was a very depressing moment. I mean I spent like an hour and a half trying to make those stupid dumplings and they turn out perfectly, I just didn't notice the lowercase "t" for teaspoon. Who would have thought that little amount of salt would have made such a difference?? It made a disgusting difference. So to Taco Bueno we headed...

Well, thats all that's really been going on lately, we're going to Abilene this coming weekend for Mason and Casey's wedding- yay for college friends!!!! I'm so excited.

Until next time,
watch your salt content:)

Taryn's Birthday

So today is Taryn's birthday and what do I get to do in honor of it? Nothing. That's right on the one day that I would be willing to miss class to surprise her or maybe do something special I can't. Why you ask? We'll I had 3 hours of lecture this morning that I really couldn't miss, a boring meeting that I am in right now and not even paying attention to, but attendance is mandatory, I have to go to the clinic and play doctor this afternoon, and I have my stupid MBA class. Wow Happy Birthday Taryn glad I could be apart of your special day.
Obviously I feel bad about this and so I decided to try and make up for it. So I woke up early and ate a little breakfast with my lovely bride, I'm getting her a cake (and that in itself is pretty much the most important part of a birthday to her) and we get to eat Mexican food tonight with friends.
Although not the ideal birthday we're making the best of it and that's what counts. It's going to be great, Taryn is almost half way to 30 YIKES!!!!!! and for the next 16 days she is 2 years older than me. So Happy Birthday Taryn this one is for you. O and if you read this before midnight tonight drop her line and tell her how pretty her red hair his.

Until next month,
Chase

P.S. I'm really nervous about a certain present Taryn might get so if it happens you will be getting plenty of blogs about that.

NOV.4 is Tomorrow!!

Disclaimer: I'm on my political soapbox... so if you choose not to read, I understand:)

I've never really been into the whole political thing, but this year I really am. Last time I voted in 2004, I didn't really feel like it mattered that much, nor did I care. But, now that I'm in the "real world", so many things are important to me. Not only the economy, public education or moral issues, but as a wife of a future doctor, the medical agenda as well.
From the healthcare concious, Cawyer household, if Obama's healthcare plan passes, we're all in for a rough time because the QUALITY of healthcare will dramatically go down. Some doctor's won't want to practice if they are making the same amount of money the accountant next door after being in med school for the last 10 years. Plus, the doctors that practice for the love of the field are going to be booked for months and months because everyone can now receive healthcare. Just not a good plan.

So, with all that being said, I am so Pro-McCain. I mean I know the guy is old, but so are our grandparents and I'm pretty sure they are the wisest people I know. With age comes wisdom and experience.
Experience means more to me than anything else Obama has to say. For example, I am a first year teacher and if my students had the choice, I would tell them to go across the hall to the teacher that has been teaching for 30 years because they will for sure receive a better education than I could ever give them because she has EXPERIENCE!!! It doesn't matter that we were educated the same, what matters is how long you've been on the job and dealt with the everyday challenges that come with the job.
I guess I'm a little heated about this because this is what what said in one of my classes today between two students:
Student 1: "I'm going for McCain because he's knows what he's doing."
Student 2: "He's to old to know what he's doing"

I mean really, what ignorance. I know they are only 13 years old, but whatever the child says, the parent has said at one point. It's not like the man is on his death bed, he's just got a little more life under his belt.

Oh and one more thing, does serving for America not mean anything in this election? On one hand, you have Obama that comes across to me as just a charismatic man that wants to have a powerful role in America. On the other hand, you have a less charismatic man that almost died serving our country and is more of a patriot than many of us ever will be.

Whether Obama or McCain wins, I think I will always have more respect for the patriot that served our country than the man that claims to be a patriot.


Whew... that is all.

Long time coming...

It really has been quite a while since I've tackled the blog. Everytime I sit down to write it, I realize I have papers to grade or lessons to perfect... the wonderful job of teaching.

It has been crazy these last few weeks in the Cawyer household. October is one of my favorite months. I mean football, leaves changing, cooler weather, pumpkins, ACU Homecoming and of course its a month closer to Christmas!!!

Well, let me give you a re-cap of this month:

Shelbi, Preston, Chase and I traveled outside Lubbock and went to the pumpkin festival at the apple orchard one Sunday afternoon. It was such a cute little place, full of warm character and charm. The weather was a little misty, but still fun. We walked around the orchard and Chase and Preston decided to pick a few apples and have a juggling contest- it was quite the entertainment. They mastered 3 apples and tried to go for 4, not as successful:) Before we left, we were sure to get the famous apple cake... and it was delish!

Lets see.... what else

This year my dear dad turned the big 55. I mean thats really not that old, but really it kinda is. I guess because when I really think about my dad being 55, I think, wow I'm getting old too- weird.
I went home to surprise my dad at his surprise party. Ruthie told Dad they were just meeting friends for dinner at a mexican restaurant, but when they showed up, there was about 30 people waiting for him- he was shocked!! The best part was he thought I was back here Lubbock, so when we finaly got to see each other, it was such a nice moment.
I miss him.
So this is for dad- Happy 55th!!

Chase didn't get to come- dang med school gave him a final on a Monday, so he had to stay and study the weekend away:(
But he was missed- I guess we'll have to photoshop him in for family pic we took at the party. I think there was mention that it was going to be our Christmas card photo...

The next weekend we both skipped school on Friday and trekked down to Abilene for homecoming!! WOOOHOO! We met our families there since it is halfway for each of us. It was really good to catch up with the fam. Homecoming is always hard because we want to see our families, but we also want to see our friends that we rarely get to see. Since we live all over the place now, its hard to see everyone at the same time. Thats why I love homecoming!!!! It was a fun-filled, exhausting weekend. Chase and I took a walk around campus to see all the changes that are happening- that about wore me out. Chase, along with Jeffrey and Ryan, had to speak to prospective students to ACU about the pre-med program... which was pure entertainment:) The rest of the weekend as spent at the musical (so fun!), catching up with friends, enjoying the parade, game and dinner with the fam. Oh by the way, right when we were about to leave after dinner at Perini Ranch on Saturday, the Hardin-Simmons band came running through the restaurant- it was awesome!! It was so loud and so much fun to be a part of!!! Love the band!
So, all in all, Go Wildcats!!

As far as this weekend goes, its been so nice. We had a halloween party earlier this week and we went as a Tech sorority girl and an STD. The STD rate is out of control here- one in four people have an STD, so we thought we'd make fun of that. I'd like to credit Jenny Eyer for the idea- thanks Jenny!

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST- the Tech vs. Texas game!!! We didn't get to go, but you better believed we watched every minute of it. Being an OU fan, I obviously always root AGAINST Texas. I mean I like Tech and all, but I really just didn't want Texas to win. So, Go TECH!!!!!!

Here's a few pics of our life lately.

The most disturbing lab ever

OK quick disclaimer: If you are sensitive to the subject of the reproductive system in a completely scientific way, I recommend you stop reading, check out the you tube video of a hermaphrodite singing A Whole New World and drink a nice cold glass of Milk. For those of who don't care I hope you don't hurt after you read this.

So Anatomy lab is divided up into 3 blocks and at the end of each block we switch the body we are dissecting. This block I happen to have a male which is cool because they are usually larger and it is easier to see things. In addition this block is over the areas of the abdomen, pelvis area, and the lower limb. Now the reason you have cadavers is to learn about what the anatomy is supposed to look like, therefore you have to dissect them. Not as weird as you might think...until you get to the pelvis area. 

So yesterday in lab was the day were we learn about this region. Cool I thought, I haven't been disturbed or grossed out in any lab and its something you never really will get to (or will ever really want to) see close up again. Well we walk into lab and read our instructions and I start to freak out. As I said earlier, I have a male and with this lab they want to make sure you cut right down the middle of the pelvic area to get see everything you need to see on the inside. So how do they make sure you cut right down the middle? They make you stick a probe (an 8 inch long metal pen type object) down the urethra to make sure you cut through the middle. Now I know what your thinking, the guys dead, he can't feel anything, and you know what God rest his soul he didn't, but you know who did feel it? Every other guy that had to witness this travesty. Guy's actually imagine seeing what I saw, a girl, with no inhibition, shoving a metal pin into that orifice. If you actually imagined it I guarantee you your guys just shivered a bit. 

Listen I'm all for science and learning about the human body, heck I'm in Medical School, I kind of have to like learning about it all, but to see the amount of force and aggression she used in putting that probe in, it was like she had no idea how squeamish guys get about that stuff. So I write this entry for one reason and one reason and one reason only, guys take care of your kidneys and girls don't go sticking metal probes into dead guys urethra's while other men are watching.  

Where has the time gone?

So it has been over a month since I last have entered my thoughts into this thing we call a blog. Speaking of blog where did that name come from? I'm sure Jesse or Mason knows the answer so if you want to know hit them up. Anyway so I enjoy reading the Edwards blog whenever they write in it. Considering both could have been English majors, the style and enjoyability are great so that's just a plug for their blog. I bring them up because I am taking a page off of one of Lauren's earliest blogs about type A personalities in Dental School/Medical School. Here's a few facts you need to know about my class

1) We have meetings that could take 5 minutes and ends up taking 1 hour
2) We ask questions about the human body that are reserved for God and God alone, they go something like this, "Why does the illioinguinal nerve pass through the superficial inguinal ring and not the deep inguinal ring, while the genital branch of the genitiofemoral ring pass through both the deep inguinal ring and the superficial one?"
a) why we need to ask questions about a fact befuddles me and b) we don't have to know everything about everything, that's not to say Dr's don't need to know important things I just think the answer to that question could go into the 1% of things that we don't need to know
3) We go identify arteries and nerves in lab 6 times to make sure we know them, I think you learned them the first 3 times we went over it.
4) Whenever we vote on which Charity to give to people complain because they don't have enough information to know which charity would be the best. I might be wrong, but wouldn't they all be for good causes?
5) We had our class elections and have 7 positions, I think like 15 people ran and 9 of those ran for President
6) Fun fact but out of the 10 people in my small group 7 are the oldest child.
7) People attend meetings based on the topic of discussion as opposed to the food selection.
8) Those that are there for the food selection get there 30 minutes before it starts to make sure they get food (and the people that are putting on the talk plan for about 3 times as many people actually show up).
And finally I feel like I'm one of the passive personalities in my class.