so today i got up at 4:30 AM to get to end up on the treadmill at 5:00 sharp. i ran for two hours and got a little over a half marathon in. then i quickly showered and headed in to work. i had been dreading this workout all week. long runs on the treadmill can get pretty boring. right now, it is dark before and after work for me so it is impossible to run outside. it really wasn't too bad.
i actually have another long one tomorrow too....an hour swim and an hour bike....i'm not really looking forward to the swim, but it is friday! p.s. the rodeo is in town.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
indy
a couple weekends ago, i went to indianapolis quickly to visit my best friend from college. angie and i were college roommates for 3 years and became the best of friends. our friendship really began labor day weekend of freshman year when we decided to run around in the rain and it became mud wrestling. i knew we were meant to be friends after that point!
a good number of my college friends are still in the indy area and they are able to get together once a month. we took the little drive up to taylor university and went to ivanhoe's for lunch. if you are ever in the middle of indiana, it is worth stopping. they have 100 types of shakes and sundaes....delicious!
a good number of my college friends are still in the indy area and they are able to get together once a month. we took the little drive up to taylor university and went to ivanhoe's for lunch. if you are ever in the middle of indiana, it is worth stopping. they have 100 types of shakes and sundaes....delicious!
angie owns a home and it made me a little jealous of the extra space...although i'm happy that i don't have a morgage. angie is a surgical resident at indiana university. she is incredibly gifted and is rocking residency! i respect her dedication so much! we had a great time together. we went indoor rock climbing, talked a lot, and she introduced me to the best salad resturant ever!
hmmm....it won't let me download any pictures right now. crazy internet! i'll add another couple later. have a great week all!
Saturday, February 21, 2009
summer plans
i'm debating what i should do this summer. the fact is that i can travel anytime i want since i'm not a teacher.....so maybe it is a question of what i should do this spring!?!? here are a couple of my options (without giving too much detail):
this is a picture of the desert in morocco. one option is a trip to morocco and france with a mission's organization. that is really all i can say about that one.
another option is to go on a bike ride around a portion of Europe....italy, france, netherlands....something like that. the problem is that angie and i have talked about doing it together and she has to work all the time. (except next week when she is in Mexico!)
i am seriously considering finding the cheapest flight from houston to someplace in Europe and having no plans and winging it. this sounds the most exciting...but perhaps the most dangerous too. i wish someone would be able to go with me! i need to find the most adventerous activities in Europe and try to get to those....i guess that means i would have a few plans!
i also have a bunch of frequent flyer miles....in fact, i could fly to South America, Europe, and Asia for free right now. it is all about timing though---you have to pick the right destination to hold out for. i swear that i should become a travel agent...you must get perks, right!?!?
what i really want to do is spend a month in Ethiopia. i want to practice a little medicine with some missionaries and then do some travelling and take in the whole country. i woul d take amaharic lessons while i was there too. there are a couple problems in this scenerio. 1. i have been refused 4 weeks off from work....even unpaid. 2. i don't know anyone in ethiopia and my contacts have failed me. 3. i can't even find one amaharic book on amazon---not a good sign.
please let me know if you have any suggestions!!
this is a picture of the desert in morocco. one option is a trip to morocco and france with a mission's organization. that is really all i can say about that one.
another option is to go on a bike ride around a portion of Europe....italy, france, netherlands....something like that. the problem is that angie and i have talked about doing it together and she has to work all the time. (except next week when she is in Mexico!)
i am seriously considering finding the cheapest flight from houston to someplace in Europe and having no plans and winging it. this sounds the most exciting...but perhaps the most dangerous too. i wish someone would be able to go with me! i need to find the most adventerous activities in Europe and try to get to those....i guess that means i would have a few plans!
i also have a bunch of frequent flyer miles....in fact, i could fly to South America, Europe, and Asia for free right now. it is all about timing though---you have to pick the right destination to hold out for. i swear that i should become a travel agent...you must get perks, right!?!?
what i really want to do is spend a month in Ethiopia. i want to practice a little medicine with some missionaries and then do some travelling and take in the whole country. i woul d take amaharic lessons while i was there too. there are a couple problems in this scenerio. 1. i have been refused 4 weeks off from work....even unpaid. 2. i don't know anyone in ethiopia and my contacts have failed me. 3. i can't even find one amaharic book on amazon---not a good sign.
please let me know if you have any suggestions!!
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
update
exercising for the triathlon is a great stress reliever! i have spent a lot of time in the pool yesterday and today. i'll admit that sometimes i get pretty bored....there are only so many ways to look at the lane line differently!
it is time that is just mine though and it allows me to reflect, zone, talk to myself or God, think about my patients and/or things that need to get done. sometimes i'm very productive!
tomorrow is charles' funeral so i'm not going to work. i'm going to hit the road at 7 and try to knock out 9-10 miles in the morning. it will be a great time of reflection and preparation for the day's emotions.
it is time that is just mine though and it allows me to reflect, zone, talk to myself or God, think about my patients and/or things that need to get done. sometimes i'm very productive!
tomorrow is charles' funeral so i'm not going to work. i'm going to hit the road at 7 and try to knock out 9-10 miles in the morning. it will be a great time of reflection and preparation for the day's emotions.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Charles
Below is Charles' obituary. Mary came back to the house today and she is looking bruised, but beautiful. She is one of the most amazing women I know. This obituary really represents Charles well. you can see the original on www.chron.com
CHARLES KNOX ALFORD November 30, 1992-February 13, 2009 CHARLES KNOX ALFORD, beloved son and brother, passed away suddenly on February 13, 2009, as a result of a truly tragic car accident. Charles, age 16, was the son of Mary and Gene Alford and the adored little brother of John and Bess. Charles was born at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas on November 30, 1992. He was the third child, the cherished baby of the Alford clan and he grew up encompassed by the love of his family. Charles, known as "Charlie Bear" by his family and "Chico" by his friends, was a kind, loyal and exuberant young man. Charles always had a smile on his face and greeted everyone he met with a happy, positive outlook and warm spirit. He was loved by all who had the honor of knowing him. Charles was a sophomore at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston, Texas. Prior to attending Strake Jesuit, Charles was a longtime student at Annunciation Orthodox School, which he attended from preschool through eighth grade. At Strake Jesuit, Charles was a proud member of the choir and an enthusiastic team player on the lacrosse team. Charles' favorite sport was lacrosse and he was passionate about the sport. He position was "attack" and Charles was on his way to a lacrosse tournament in College Station, when he succumbed to the car accident. Charles was also a proud member of the engineering club and was on the team that recently won the State Engineering Championship. It was Charles' dream to graduate from Strake Jesuit and attend Texas A&M University with his older brother John and older sister Bess. Charles wanted to grow up and be an engineer. He had just been planning his entire high school course schedule with his mother, Mary, so that he would be prepared for Texas A&M one day. He wanted to follow in the family tradition of going to A&M, where Mary and Gene were also graduates. Outside of school, Charles was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas. Charles was a member of the youth group and the Church held an important place in Charles' heart. He participated in two mission trips each summer with the Church, because it was his belief that the work they did was integral to the lives of others. That spirit of giving back to others was a driving force in Charles' life. He was a Life Scout in Boy Scout Troop #55 and scouting was also important to him. In the summers, Charles attended Kanakuk Kamp in Lampe, Missouri. He was a six-year camper and could not wait to go back to camp each summer. Charles also loved to be with his family in the outdoors. He looked forward to family trips at Glacier National Park and he loved to be in the outdoors of Montana. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt with his father, Gene. However, it was the time spent with his family especially in the past year that defined the noble character of Charles. When Gene became paralyzed a little more than a year ago in a tractor accident, Charles never wavered from his father's side. Charles displayed the integrity of a man much older than himself in the time he would take with his father and the care that he gave him. Charles did everything for Gene, from helping him get dressed to pushing his wheelchair. Charles would spend his evenings doing homework and then share meals and memories with both his mother and father. In the mornings, Mary would take the three family dogs, "Dubya," "Hank" and "Bean" into Charles' room to wake him up. Without fail, all three dogs would jump up on the bed and wake Charles up to a new day. The three Alford siblings were as close as any brothers and sisters could be. Over the years, John, Bess and Charles shared the love of their family, admiration for one another and lots and lots of laughter. Mary, Gene, Bess and John loved Charles with all their hearts. There are no words to describe the loss of Charles. He will be achingly missed by all who knew him and loved him. Also grieving for the loss of Charles Alford are his maternal grandparents, Annette and John Long and paternal grandparents, Phyllis and Landon Alford. Charles will also be greatly missed by Norma Salmon, who has worked with the Alford family since Charles was born. When he was a baby, Norma took Charles to the Zoo every single afternoon to see the animals. The Alford family will take Charles and bury him in the family plot in Henderson, Texas. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, February 18th at 2 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77004. There will be a reception in Fellowship Hall following the Memorial Service. Donations in Charles' memory can be directed to First Presbyterian Church in care of Charles Knox Alford, for youth mission trips. On his keychain, Charles had the Bible verse, "Fear not for I am with you," from Isaiah 41:10. The Alford family would like to thank everyone for keeping Charles in their prayers and hearts.
CHARLES KNOX ALFORD November 30, 1992-February 13, 2009 CHARLES KNOX ALFORD, beloved son and brother, passed away suddenly on February 13, 2009, as a result of a truly tragic car accident. Charles, age 16, was the son of Mary and Gene Alford and the adored little brother of John and Bess. Charles was born at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas on November 30, 1992. He was the third child, the cherished baby of the Alford clan and he grew up encompassed by the love of his family. Charles, known as "Charlie Bear" by his family and "Chico" by his friends, was a kind, loyal and exuberant young man. Charles always had a smile on his face and greeted everyone he met with a happy, positive outlook and warm spirit. He was loved by all who had the honor of knowing him. Charles was a sophomore at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory in Houston, Texas. Prior to attending Strake Jesuit, Charles was a longtime student at Annunciation Orthodox School, which he attended from preschool through eighth grade. At Strake Jesuit, Charles was a proud member of the choir and an enthusiastic team player on the lacrosse team. Charles' favorite sport was lacrosse and he was passionate about the sport. He position was "attack" and Charles was on his way to a lacrosse tournament in College Station, when he succumbed to the car accident. Charles was also a proud member of the engineering club and was on the team that recently won the State Engineering Championship. It was Charles' dream to graduate from Strake Jesuit and attend Texas A&M University with his older brother John and older sister Bess. Charles wanted to grow up and be an engineer. He had just been planning his entire high school course schedule with his mother, Mary, so that he would be prepared for Texas A&M one day. He wanted to follow in the family tradition of going to A&M, where Mary and Gene were also graduates. Outside of school, Charles was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, Texas. Charles was a member of the youth group and the Church held an important place in Charles' heart. He participated in two mission trips each summer with the Church, because it was his belief that the work they did was integral to the lives of others. That spirit of giving back to others was a driving force in Charles' life. He was a Life Scout in Boy Scout Troop #55 and scouting was also important to him. In the summers, Charles attended Kanakuk Kamp in Lampe, Missouri. He was a six-year camper and could not wait to go back to camp each summer. Charles also loved to be with his family in the outdoors. He looked forward to family trips at Glacier National Park and he loved to be in the outdoors of Montana. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved to hunt with his father, Gene. However, it was the time spent with his family especially in the past year that defined the noble character of Charles. When Gene became paralyzed a little more than a year ago in a tractor accident, Charles never wavered from his father's side. Charles displayed the integrity of a man much older than himself in the time he would take with his father and the care that he gave him. Charles did everything for Gene, from helping him get dressed to pushing his wheelchair. Charles would spend his evenings doing homework and then share meals and memories with both his mother and father. In the mornings, Mary would take the three family dogs, "Dubya," "Hank" and "Bean" into Charles' room to wake him up. Without fail, all three dogs would jump up on the bed and wake Charles up to a new day. The three Alford siblings were as close as any brothers and sisters could be. Over the years, John, Bess and Charles shared the love of their family, admiration for one another and lots and lots of laughter. Mary, Gene, Bess and John loved Charles with all their hearts. There are no words to describe the loss of Charles. He will be achingly missed by all who knew him and loved him. Also grieving for the loss of Charles Alford are his maternal grandparents, Annette and John Long and paternal grandparents, Phyllis and Landon Alford. Charles will also be greatly missed by Norma Salmon, who has worked with the Alford family since Charles was born. When he was a baby, Norma took Charles to the Zoo every single afternoon to see the animals. The Alford family will take Charles and bury him in the family plot in Henderson, Texas. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, February 18th at 2 pm at First Presbyterian Church, 5300 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77004. There will be a reception in Fellowship Hall following the Memorial Service. Donations in Charles' memory can be directed to First Presbyterian Church in care of Charles Knox Alford, for youth mission trips. On his keychain, Charles had the Bible verse, "Fear not for I am with you," from Isaiah 41:10. The Alford family would like to thank everyone for keeping Charles in their prayers and hearts.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
a difficult day
some of you know my living situation and some of you do not....let me explain. i did a rotation at M.D. Anderson as a student and was looking for a place to stay. a wonderful friend, steve telian, hooked me up with a physician that used to be his fellow at the University of Michigan. they invited me to come stay on their 3rd floor for the 6 weeks. we had a great time together and they offered me a place to stay if i came and took a job here. i don't think they were expecting me to really end up in texas!!! when i told them that i took the job, they told me i was moving back in. so i did!
they live in a house that was built in 1907 in the area of montrose. they have a little house in the back that i'm sure was a servant's house back in the day. it is small, but quaint. the alfords are a major reason as to why i feel more at home in houston. they are my second family.
gene is a head and neck surgeon. mary is a dentist at a government run HIV/AIDS clinic. they are an incredible couple with a lot of love and generousity. john is their oldest son and he is a junior at Texas A&M. i haven't gotten to know him as much since he has been at school since i got here. bess is now a freshman at Texas A&M also. they are both super smart and she was debating going to Vanderbilt for college.
the sad thing about this note is that their third child, Charles, was killed in a car accident yesterday. he was a super cheerful and goofy 16 year old that was on the lacrosse team, sang in the choir, and hunting. he loved Jesus and Honduras. Mary was also with him in the car and she is going to be okay. she has a couple broken bones that had to be addressed surgically.
this is a tragedy for the Alford family because they have lost their son. the blessing is that they can be confident that they will see him again. their hope, peace, and comfort in this horrible time is in Christ. it is wonderful that we do not have to morn for Charles himself. we know that yesterday was his best day because he got to meet his Savior and Creator. please keep the Alford family in your prayers. i don't have my pictures available right now, but will hopefully put some up of the family.
they live in a house that was built in 1907 in the area of montrose. they have a little house in the back that i'm sure was a servant's house back in the day. it is small, but quaint. the alfords are a major reason as to why i feel more at home in houston. they are my second family.
gene is a head and neck surgeon. mary is a dentist at a government run HIV/AIDS clinic. they are an incredible couple with a lot of love and generousity. john is their oldest son and he is a junior at Texas A&M. i haven't gotten to know him as much since he has been at school since i got here. bess is now a freshman at Texas A&M also. they are both super smart and she was debating going to Vanderbilt for college.
the sad thing about this note is that their third child, Charles, was killed in a car accident yesterday. he was a super cheerful and goofy 16 year old that was on the lacrosse team, sang in the choir, and hunting. he loved Jesus and Honduras. Mary was also with him in the car and she is going to be okay. she has a couple broken bones that had to be addressed surgically.
this is a tragedy for the Alford family because they have lost their son. the blessing is that they can be confident that they will see him again. their hope, peace, and comfort in this horrible time is in Christ. it is wonderful that we do not have to morn for Charles himself. we know that yesterday was his best day because he got to meet his Savior and Creator. please keep the Alford family in your prayers. i don't have my pictures available right now, but will hopefully put some up of the family.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
a blurb on pancreatic cancer
so, most of you probably know that patrick swayze has pancreatic cancer. steve jobs had a rare form of pancreatic cancer. the most recent NFL commissoner and Lucianno Pavarotti passed away from pancreatic cancer.
i am so sorry that all of these men have had the disease.....i'm ashamed to admit that i'm thankful that it is getting a little more media attention than it previously had due to the high profile names with the disease.
it needs more attention placed on it. my patients range from their 30's to their 80's. they are black, white, asian, and hispanic. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive types cancers and we need stronger tools to fight this disease. please consider giving at www.firstgiving.com/tri4pancan to support my patients in their fight against this disease!
i am so sorry that all of these men have had the disease.....i'm ashamed to admit that i'm thankful that it is getting a little more media attention than it previously had due to the high profile names with the disease.
it needs more attention placed on it. my patients range from their 30's to their 80's. they are black, white, asian, and hispanic. Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive types cancers and we need stronger tools to fight this disease. please consider giving at www.firstgiving.com/tri4pancan to support my patients in their fight against this disease!
my yiayia
i was just looking through some pictures and i saw a picture of my yiayia. yiayia is greek for grandmother. my grandma doesn't have a smiggen of true greek blood in her, but my grandpa (papou) was greek. they spend a good portion of their lives in greece as missionaries. the greek people are permenantly etched in her heart. 
we never lived close to them growing up. they would come and visit for 3-4 week stretches at a time. they moved to michigan while i was in college when they were in a couple accidents and their age began to show a little more. i took a year off in between undergrad and grad school. it was such a special time for me to get to know their tender hearts and for us to pour into each other--in very different ways. i was the "doctor" and they were the encouragers. papou was always my cheerleader! papou passed away almost 3 years ago and it still pains me to think that he will not be at my wedding or meet my children. i can't wait to see him again!
yiayia is 91 and she lives in a nursing home about 5 minutes away from my parents. she has Alzheimer's disease and is the sweetest confused woman alive. with my last visit at Christmas, she recognized my face but the name has disappeared. it is a dreadful disease, but i really do believe that it is harder on us then her. she is a priceless jewel and i'm so thankful for her steadfastness to Christ even in the midst of a failing memory.
may i grow up to be like my grandparents.
we never lived close to them growing up. they would come and visit for 3-4 week stretches at a time. they moved to michigan while i was in college when they were in a couple accidents and their age began to show a little more. i took a year off in between undergrad and grad school. it was such a special time for me to get to know their tender hearts and for us to pour into each other--in very different ways. i was the "doctor" and they were the encouragers. papou was always my cheerleader! papou passed away almost 3 years ago and it still pains me to think that he will not be at my wedding or meet my children. i can't wait to see him again!
yiayia is 91 and she lives in a nursing home about 5 minutes away from my parents. she has Alzheimer's disease and is the sweetest confused woman alive. with my last visit at Christmas, she recognized my face but the name has disappeared. it is a dreadful disease, but i really do believe that it is harder on us then her. she is a priceless jewel and i'm so thankful for her steadfastness to Christ even in the midst of a failing memory.
may i grow up to be like my grandparents.
Monday, February 2, 2009
hope and joy
some days you just need to think about hope and joy. today is one of those days...thus, the google search. here are some of the quotes i found:
"hope is the dream of the soul awake" -French Proverb
"learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow" - Albert Einstein
"joy is not in things; it is in us" - Richard Wagner (German composer)
"joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself" -Mahatma Ghandi
"participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. we cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy" -Joseph Campbell (American author)
"hope is the dream of the soul awake" -French Proverb
"learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow" - Albert Einstein
"joy is not in things; it is in us" - Richard Wagner (German composer)
"joy lies in the fight, in the attempt, in the suffering involved, not in the victory itself" -Mahatma Ghandi
"participate joyfully in the sorrows of the world. we cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy" -Joseph Campbell (American author)
Sunday, February 1, 2009
weekend
i hope that you all are having a great weekend. my weekend has been quite enjoyable so far. i have been pretty tired, so my evenings have been pretty quite. you know you are tired when you are falling asleep to an episode of Friends.....although it could be because i have seen it a gazillion times!
april and i went to galveston yesterday. i went for a long ride along the course of the triathlon. it was amazing to see all of the disarray that still exists from the hurricaine. i wish i had brought a camera with me. i was quite pleased with the ride. once i got going, i was able to keep a good rhythm going. that really was my goal. i don't want to be wasting energy sprinting and coasting.
the weather was absolutely beautiful yesterday. it was in the 70's and sunny. it was gorgeous. i must say that i have gotten used to the amount of sun that we get here in Houston. the winters in the midwest were much drearier. the sun definitely improves my spirits!
this morning i went to the gym and spent another couple hours on the bike. i must say that i'm ready for a little more running and swimming. this weekend was a lot of saddle time. this afternoon, i'm covering the nursery for church. i had completely forgotten that it was the Super Bowl when i volunteered. oh well....i really don't care about either of the teams. i'll be able to see the end anyway.
i'm also going to work on my taxes....i actually look forward to this. i get a great kick out of filling out forms. granted, i have never had to pay money at the end of doing my taxes...hopefully that trend continues this year!
april and i went to galveston yesterday. i went for a long ride along the course of the triathlon. it was amazing to see all of the disarray that still exists from the hurricaine. i wish i had brought a camera with me. i was quite pleased with the ride. once i got going, i was able to keep a good rhythm going. that really was my goal. i don't want to be wasting energy sprinting and coasting.
the weather was absolutely beautiful yesterday. it was in the 70's and sunny. it was gorgeous. i must say that i have gotten used to the amount of sun that we get here in Houston. the winters in the midwest were much drearier. the sun definitely improves my spirits!
this morning i went to the gym and spent another couple hours on the bike. i must say that i'm ready for a little more running and swimming. this weekend was a lot of saddle time. this afternoon, i'm covering the nursery for church. i had completely forgotten that it was the Super Bowl when i volunteered. oh well....i really don't care about either of the teams. i'll be able to see the end anyway.
i'm also going to work on my taxes....i actually look forward to this. i get a great kick out of filling out forms. granted, i have never had to pay money at the end of doing my taxes...hopefully that trend continues this year!
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