P.S.

I just took out my contacts for the first time since I've been home from Spain. Dovis and I sometimes argued about this. He would get mad at me for leaving them in so long, and I would retort that my contacts were meant to be worn for a while. He would insist that I take them out every night and protect my eyes. He wears contacts, and takes them out as soon as he walks in his house - ergo, he is always wearing glasses while at home, and while out, he is never caught without contact solution and eye drops.

For some reason, having my contacts out for the first time since Valencia makes me sad.

No art passes our conscience in the way film does, and goes directly to our feelings, deep down into the dark rooms of our souls

If you know me, you know that I love movies. I've always really enjoyed them, but the obsession is relatively new, having blossomed over the past couple of years. I like a number of genres, but my favorite is probably historical dramas/action movies.

I'm writing this now because a couple days ago, I went on a movie spree. I do this pretty frequently, minus the past four months I spent in Spain. I usually buy from one of two places: the used DVD section of Hasting's (which is a hidden treasure - the DVD's are all in mint condition!) or the $5 stand in WalMart. If I really want a movie, I may just buy it full price, but I go to great lengths to avoid that.

The movies I bought the other day are Slumdog Millionaire, The Reader, The Pianist, The Patriot, and Legends of the Fall.

I'm also obsessed with older movies - Casablanca, Breakfast at Tiffany's, A Gentlemen's Agreement - AND all the movies that have won an Academy Award, especially for Best Picture. I have at least 30 of the Best Picture winners in my movie collection.

I couldn't tell you what it is about movies that I love so much. But boy do I love them. I've gotten to the point where I usually can't go to sleep at night without having something playing on my computer.

That's another thing. I prefer to fly solo when it comes to watching movies. Not that I don't like company. I just think it's an experience I would rather have by myself. Not to mention the fact that if I'm with other people, the likelihood of me falling asleep during the movie quadruples (studies have proven).

So, here's a list of some of my favorite directors, actors, and actresses. Just because.

Directors:

Ron Howard

Martin Scorsese

Ridley Scott

Baz Luhrmann

Steven Spielberg

Edward Zwick

Actors:

Gerard Butler

Gregory Peck

Adrien Brody

Leonardo DiCaprio

Mark Wahlberg

Russell Crowe

Johnny Depp

Brad Pitt

Paul Rudd

Actresses:

Kate Winslet

Julia Roberts

Hilary Swank

Amy Adams

Audrey Hepburn

Meryl Streep

Who else loves movies? And what are your favorites? I'm always looking for new movies to watch and enjoy!

How about a hand for cinema!

A Jewish Tradition

I just wanted to share with everyone that I saw 2 circumcisions done today! Is that cool or what?

Don't be too jealous!

Can I Help You?

DISCLAIMER: I am not violating HIPAA by posting the pictures in this blog because they were not taken by me, rather I found them on the internet, as examples.

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I'm definitely a night owl, but as the clock strikes 11:00 on this Saturday night, I am in bed and dozing off already. Why? I just had my first day of work - 7a to 7p!

I started today at EAMC (East Alabama Medical Center) on the 3rd floor. The 3rd floor is the women's department which includes Labor & Delivery, Mother-baby, and Pediatrics. It's actually a perfect job for me because I just LOVE LOVE LOVE little kids.

Right now, I'm working the desk. My job is greeting patients and visitors, controlling traffic between the three departments, and monitoring the HALO infant security system. Hopefully in a few weeks, I will start training to be a tech on the floor in the Mother-baby unit. This will include taking infant and mother vital signs, bathing the infant, transporting the infant between room, nursery, etc.

Still, my desk is not far from the nursery window, so every now and then, I made my way over and just admired the little ones for a bit - felt like Grey's Anatomy or something!

Although my 12 hour shift was at times boring and not really physically demanding, it sure was long and took a lot out of me. Not to mention I went straight to a babysitting job after! But I am very excited about my new employment with EAMC (a company which has been named in Forbes as being in the Top 100 Companies to work for in the US 2 years in a row!). I am elated to be in a medical environment. Even after one day on the job, my choice in a career path was completely affirmed. I love it!

Just thought I would share with you!

Kathleen Bess McClain

Almost two years ago, I got a phone call from a woman I didn't know. Her name is Emily, she and her family had just moved from Fayetteville, and being new in town, she didn't have a babysitter yet. She'd gotten my number from the Moore's Mill Fitness Center childcare department, and little did she know, she'd gotten herself the best babysitter in town ;)

She lined me up to babysit for the Auburn vs. Ole Miss football game. She, herself, is an Ole Miss alum. So I, like the good Auburn girl I am, showed up decked out in orange and blue - I'm talking football jersey and Auburn tattoos everywhere. Keep in mind that I had never met these people before. They, of course, were fun and welcoming, but she later told me that when she first saw me, she questioned her choice in me! Still, being a Southern girl herself, she knows football fidelity is next to godliness.

Since that day, the McClain family, Emily and Guy, with their children Meredith and Hutch, have come to be some of my greatest friends.

Now, this is where you come in.

Last Monday, May 11th, Emily gave birth, 2 months early, to a precious baby girl, Kathleen Bess.

Right now, Emily and Kathleen are in Birmingham. Kathleen is in the NICU at UAB Children's Hospital and will be there until July 13th, her original due date. Emily is staying in the Ronald McDonald house (ADPi!) in the meantime. Guy, Meredith, and Hutch are in Auburn. You can imagine how hard that is on a family. Children to be away from Mommy, husband from wife, and brother, sister and dad away from the newest addition to the family.

I want to invite you to join with me and countless other friends and family to pray for Kathleen. Pray that she grows and develops and becomes strong quickly so that she will be healthy and ready to go home in a few weeks. Pray for the doctors, that they will use all of their training and knowledge to treat Kathleen wisely and effectively. Pray for Emily, that she will have strength and rest, and that the Lord will comfort her when loneliness and heartache threaten to take over. Pray for Guy and Meredith and Hutch, while they are separated from their wife and mom and the new little one, that they, too, would have the strength to keep on.

Here is Kathleen's caring bridge site. I encourage you to visit it, so that in your prayers, you have a more tangible idea of what you're placing in front of the altar.

Now, get to praying, all you warriors!

A Lydia Dance-a-thon Photoshoot

A new story, to whet your appetite for my newest blogging adventure.

Today, Lydia and I are watching TV while we have pizza for lunch, and the Swiffer commercial comes on. Now, I don't know if you've seen the newest advertisement they're employing, but at one point, the estranged mop is outside in the rain, while the song, "Don't you want me, baby?" plays.

If you don't know Lydia, she has a knack for picking up melodies and lyrics unnaturally quickly. True to her nature, she immediately begins singing along. So I join in, and by the end of the commercial, we have choreography and everything.

This inspired me.  So, later in the afternoon, while I am studying up in my room, Lydia comes in all hyped and ready for another dance session. I turn on my iTunes, and Big Lyd just starts to go for it. I had to capture the moments.

Enjoy!