I love the smell of March - Kirsten

Over spring break I decided to head home for a few days. The drive was less than pleasing, to say the least. In what was supposed to be a quick 2 hour drive, I managed to pass 4 wrecks, get rear ended on a freeway ramp, and my windshield got hit with a decent enough rock that there is a growing crack in it. It took me just over 4 hours to drive 130 miles. Cheese and rice. Makes me never want to do THAT drive again.

I went home to visit my family in north north north north north Phoenix. The name of their town was just recently added to the weather map, they live in Cave Creek. Anywho, after practicing being a professional couch potato on their couch for the first 2 days, I attended a less traditional wedding. The reception was held at a bar where the groom and his band played during the reception. I ran into an old friend-of-a-friend from college. It was good to see this Scottsdale boy, albeit randomly at a family wedding.

I drove by the house I grew up in, and stopped for a second to take in the memories that were running through my head. Since I had my camera with me, I also grabbed a picture of the house. I must have been less than conspicuous because as I was leaving the neighborhood a cop pulled in and stared at me intently. Oops, look out for the criminal at large that I am.

My two childhood besties came over for a traditional St Pattys day dinner on my last night, prepared by none other than the famous Hart-household chefs: my parents. Yum yum yum, I am still full. The three of us hung out in the back yard and talked of those fun days we had had in college with no less than a full glass of wine in tow.

While home, I took the opportunity to walk around my parents neighborhood. It seemed that everything is blooming: the orange blossoms, the cacti, and all the desert plants. This reminded me just how much I love the smell of March in Arizona.

I really really really wish Ellen would come back from Seattle. I have managed to plod through training on my own so far this week. As much as I know that she is enjoying herself at home, training is just not as fun without her. Imagine my sad pathetic pouty face here. Boooooooo.

What’s a century plant? Well I did my homework people, and now that I am fully edumacated, let me just teach you!

“The flower spike, which is what looks like a giant asparagus, grows at a rate of 5–6 inches per day, and reaches heights of 30 to 35 feet. Legend says the century plant takes one hundred years to bloom. However, century plants in cultivation may bloom much quicker, and Longwood’s living example took full advantage of the ideal conditions the Silver Garden offers. The century plant uses all of its energy to produce this once-in-a-lifetime bloom. After it finished flowering it dies.”

I’m leaving in an hour or two to head back to Tucson for the remainder of spring break. Since today is St Patrick’s day, I will be rocking the green pants tonight. The plan for the rest of the week is to get my two papers done on vulnerable people, and start on the never-ending list of meds to learn for the ICU rotation coming up in 2 weeks. I’d much rather do the med list than write TWO flipping papers on vulnerable people. Happy St Patrick’s Day, drink lots of green beer for me tonight, as I will just be a fly on the wall enjoying the show.