One Decade and Counting…

While this isn’t really related to our travels, I just want to make note that today, September 1st, 2011 is Sarah and my 10th wedding anniversary. It’s hard to believe that we have been married for that long, but I would be remiss if I didn’t note that I have spent the last 10 years with the sweetest, funniest, brightest, kindest, and most beautiful wife imaginable. She has followed me halfway across the world to allow me to pursue my career. And don’t forget that she has given me three wonderful kids, who she has practically raised all by herself for the past seven years.

So we will get you back to your regularly scheduled program, but I would like close by saying I love you so much, Sarah. I couldn’t be doing all of this without you. And I’m looking forward to the next ten decades together!

Sarah and Joe

 

The fastest five years in sports…

[singlepic id=139 w=200 h=150 float=left]So residency has come and gone. It feels like just yesterday that we were gathering in the orthopaedic library at the hospital and learning about ACGME competencies, and how to log hours. So five years of studying, rounding, operating, dictating, splinting, and hardly sleeping have finally come to an end. I said it about medical school, and I’ll say it about residency: “The days are long, but the years are short.”

[singlepic id=135 w=200 h=150 float=right]This past weekend we had our graduation celebration and picnic (including resident roasts, and the always anticipated Skits). Unfortunately my camera was out of batteries for the graduation dinner night, but we got plenty of pictures of the picnic on Saturday (see the gallery below). Saturday started with a golf tournament that was a lot of fun (thanks to Joe M, Kelly and Kathy).

[singlepic id=133 w=200 h=150 float=left]Alas all celebrations must end. Right now my time is filled with studying for step 1 of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery exam. We take the exam on July 7th. It’s around 350 questions and we have 9 hours to do it. Whew! It’s the kind of test you only want to take once, trust me on that. I’m a little concerned about how to decompress from that once the test is done.

After that we get ready to fly out to Switzerland, on July 13th. We have a few family get togethers before we leave, but within less than two weeks we will be in Europe, hopefully with all of our children. And hopefully with our Swiss Visas. Keep your fingers crossed!

Well, I should get back to studying… See you in Switzerland!

Check out the Photo Gallery here.

Oktoberfest 2010

[singlepic id=99 w=320 h=240 float=right]Our third annual Oktoberfest party  on September 25th. was a huge success! Check out our pictures below. We partied until the wee hours of the morning well after the ceremonial kegs ran dry. We had people come from as far as California to experience the Gemütlichkeit! Apart from the authentic Bavarian würsts we enjoyed Hofbrau Beer, traditional Oktoberfest oompa music, and were graced with the presence of at least two authentic Germans (straight from the motherland).

[singlepic id=97 w=320 h=240 float=left]We’ve been thrilled with the attendance of the party the last few years and we really enjoy putting the party together. We regret that next year we won’t be able to throw the party since we’ll be away, but we are looking forward to a return to the party circuit in 2012! We plan on trying to spend 2011’s Oktoberfest celebration at Oktoberfest party headquarters: Munich!

Check out the full Photo Gallery here.