Bye Daphne the Dolphin :(

Last night I realized that it had been about a week since I had last seen my childhood stuffed animal that I brought with us on our trip (just in case there was an issue with the pod). Her name is Daphne, and she is a really sweet stuffed dolphin that I have had since I was a little kid. When I was little, I brought Daphne everywhere - and sometimes usually still sleep with her.

***Side note*** Yes, I am 27. So what. ***End of side note***

When we had our (many) fire drills at our old apartment, I would always bring her and only her with me (besides Joe, she was all I cared to save). I even told Joe that I wanted Daphne buried with me when I died - this is how much I love that stinkin' stuffed animal.

Well, after looking through all of our stuff for over two hours last night, Daphne isn't with us. We called the hotels we stayed at, and no one has seen her.

Daphne is gone :(

I was so devastated that I couldn't post last night (I was crying too hard). I could barely sleep. When I did sleep, I ground my teeth and had nightmares. When I thought about her today (which was frequent), my heart hurt and my eyes stung with tears.

I feel so stupid because she is a STUFFED ANIMAL - but she is the most important thing from my childhood and I can't believe she is gone just like that. I told Joe that I would have rather had anything else (including my wedding ring) get lost over her. I, honestly, would pay $10,000 to get her back.

I am absolutely miserable, and this feels like it will be a dark cloud over our road trip. I am afraid that whenever I think back to our trip I'll be sad, because I'll know that because of this road trip Daphne was lost.

Yes, I am being dramatic. I had some wine to help drown my sorrows, which was a mistake because wine always makes me cry when I have too much of it. I am so miserable right now. I want to crawl up in the fetal position and cry and cry and cry.

I'll post our stories from yesterday and today later. Maybe tomorrow. Right now, I just want to go to bed.

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A Visit to St. Joe's

It's no secret that I like weird / creepy / oddball things. So a few years ago when I visited Missouri for the first time and saw that there was a Psychiatric Museum (possibly haunted) in an old psychiatric hospital that opened in 1874, of course it was on my list of must-dos.

We never had a chance to go, until today.

The museum wasn't what I expected - you don't troll the old halls of an 1800's mental institution. Instead, it's in (what I think) was the most recent part of the hospital (the hospital was in use until 1997). But they did have some REALLY creepy displays of old "treatment methods." Some well-placed mannequins almost made me pee myself from fright.

Hydrotherapy - used until 1963 to calm agitated or disturbed patients.

Revolving devices (like this) were used for delirious, melancholic, obstinate, and uncooperative mental patients to train them to submit to discipline. The patient was given 40-100 turns per minute and the centrifugal force drove the blood to the brain causing intense sensations, fear of suffocation, nausea, vomiting, urination, defecation, and sometimes brain hemorrhage.

During the 18th and 19th century, dousing patients with ice cold water was common. Patients were placed in tubs and subjected to these ice cold baths. They would often be splashed in the face with buckets of ice water or showered with an ice cold water canon. This was used for severe forms of melancholia and hypochondria - even for those who had a "dissolute past" (had been addicted to drinking strong wine or accustomed to sumptuous eating - oops! I'd be in trouble).

The "Lunatic Box" - used during the 18th and 19th centuries. The "patient" was placed in the device and had to remain in a standing position until calm. A wooden piece could be dropped over the opening in front of the face, leaving the patient in total darkness.

Surprisingly, the museum had a few other exhibits. Our favorite was one on Civil War Medicine. Though just a few rooms of displays and information, it was fascinating!

For example, did you know that the Confederate Army had 750,000 soldiers, while the Union Army had 2 million?! I probably should know that because I took Honors US History (and am obsessed with Gone With the Wind), but I definitely didn't remember that factoid.

50,000 men had a body part amputated during the Civil War. Since we now know that about 2,750,000 men fought in the war, my terrible math skills lead me to believe that means about 2% of those who fought faced an amputation. One in four soldiers did not survive amputation - but that was actually better than the odds if you were a civilian. Half of civilians who had a body part amputated died (usually due to infection). The most common amputations (in order of number performed): fingers, middle thigh, upper arm, lower leg, forearm toes, knee joint, ankle, hip joint.

Cool story: There was a man named James Hanger who (against his mother's wishes) joined his two brothers serving in the Confederate army. On June 1, 1861, he became the first amputee of the Civil War when Union soldiers opened fire on his unit and a six pound canon ball shattered his leg. When Hanger returned home, he set up a carpenter's workshop and asked to be left alone. Using willow wood and barrel staves, he created an artificial limb: the world's first  jointed limb with a metal ankle hinge and leather-lined socket for amputtes above the knee. With it, he could walk smoothly and pain-free. Other amputees requested that he make one for them, and after the war he patented his invention. Today, the Hanger Prosthetics and Orthotics is the world's leading producer of artificial limbs.

We also visited the home where Jesse James was killed. The story of his death is really interesting. I knew he was shot and that he was killed in his home, but I didn't know the details...

I love the shutters. Good taste Mr. James :)

Toward the end of his life, James' gang was nearly annihilated, but his two most trusted members remained: the Ford brothers. James actually allowed the men to live in his home with him, his wife (who was his first cousin and named after his mother - how Freudian!... or is that Oedipal?... it was weird either way), and their two children.

***Side note*** So unclear as to how six people lived in this teeny tiny house. Mrs. James was a kind lady to allow the Ford brothers to move in. I can't imagine that was very comfortable ***End of side note***

One day, James noticed a crooked needlepoint hanging on the wall. Wanting to straighten it, he took his gun off (so the neighbors couldn't see it through the window) and stood on the chair so he could reach.

The Ford brothers knew of the bounty on James, and shot him in the back of the head as he was unarmed and unprepared.

Despite the fact that James was a known criminal, the folks of the time were angry that the Ford brothers would shoot a man from behind. One of the brothers killed himself just two years later. The other died in a Colorado barroom brawl 11 years later.

The framed hole under the needlepoint is from the bullet. It's so large because people would take pieces of the surrounding wall as souvenirs.

Better view.

Another fun day full of history and fun facts! Tomorrow, we are going to the Truman house and possibly the Truman Presidential library (we both have been before, so we may skip it). Stay tuned for more stories :)

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NHSC Scholarship Application Adventure

It was a nerve-wracking morning, as Joe realized he was missing three critical components to submit his application for the NHSC scholarship. He didn't have a copy of his birth certificate, he couldn't find a copy of his Mizzou transcript, and he needed a form filled out by the Penn admissions department proving that he was unconditionally accepted.

This wouldn't be a problem if the scholarship deadline wasn't TOMORROW.

Thankfully, his mom had a copy of his birth certificate and scanned that to him right away. But after frantic calls to the Mizzou registrar's office, he found out that he couldn't be guaranteed an electronic copy of his transcript by tomorrow. And after an e-mail to UPenn's head of admissions, he found out that she was out of the office until tomorrow.

(I guess this is why procrastination is bad.)

Thankfully, Joe scoured his computer and finally found a saved version of his transcript in his application for SFSU's Post-Bac program. Then, this evening, he got an e-mail back from the head of admissions who had happened to check her e-mail and was able to fill out and send him the form.

*PHEW*

He is finishing up the application as I type, and we will both feel a huge weight off our shoulders when he can hit the submit button.

The reason there is so much stress and pressure surrounding this scholarship is because, as I mentioned yesterday, receiving the scholarship would change our lives.

The NHSC scholarship is awarded annually to about 200 students pursuing a primary health care profession (doctor, dentist, nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant). The scholarship covers 100% of tuition, required fees, and other "reasonable" educational expenses. The students also receive monthly stipends.

In short, your professional education is entirely funded.

Of course, you have to give something in return for such a sweet deal ;) A student who receives this scholarship is required to work in a high-need rural or urban community for the number of years the NHSC provides funding for his/her education (no fewer than 2, no more than 4). The student still gets paid a competitive salary for his/her work, the program just helps ensure that there aren't shortages of primary health care practitioners in under-served areas.

Given that a lot of dentists work as associates anyway right out of dental school, Joe's experience and desire to help the under-served, and the fact that you get a lot of say in where you practice with the program, the four year commitment would absolutely be an easy "give" in return for the scholarship.

See - he's a natural. Give him that scholarship NHSC folks. Please!

Now, 200 scholarships each year is not a large number when you are talking about such a great scholarship and the fact that anyone wanting to be a primary care practitioner of almost any kind (not just dental students) is eligible. We are under no illusion that there is a good (or even mediocre) chance of Joe receiving this scholarship, but there would be zero chance if he didn't at least try!

So now all that's left is to wait. And, unfortunately, we don't have a precise date to anticipate since they start awarding the scholarships in July or August and can award them until September 30.

But wait we will - because he just hit the submit button.

My fingers will now be crossed for the next 2-4 months.

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Fun Times With the Brier Family

After a full weekend of fun with the Brier side of the family, Joe is fine-tuning his resume and essays for the NHSC scholarship application.

This is most certainly a foreshadowing of what our life will be like in dental school - he is busy doing important (and not very fun) tasks, and I am sitting next to him in bed playing on my laptop.

Poor dude.

In fairness to me, I am also helping him edit and proofread (in between celebrity gossip, Facebook, and blogging).

Poor me ;)

At least we've had a fun weekend thus far!

Saturday, Joe's aunt and uncle hosted a BBQ at their house in Kansas City - the food was delicious, and they even had a cake for Joe's birthday (which is May 20). I haven't spent much time with either side of his family (just a few trips to MO and our wedding), so I'm glad every time we have get-togethers. Both of his parents are from families of seven kids, so there is plenty of family to see :)

Cake. MMMMMMM.

Afterward, we went to a Kansas City Royals game with two of his uncles and one of his aunts. I told Joe that I'd be the DD and he happily drank several beers - gotta let the (almost) birthday boy enjoy himself.

Pre-gaming. Literally.

Happy boy :)

Too bad the Yankees beat the Royals. Damn Yankees.

Today was Mother's Day, so the family had lunch at the assisted living facility where Joe's 88-year-old grandmother lives. Joe has always been close to his grandparents, so we try to spend a lot of time with his grandma when we visit Kansas City.

Joe and his grandma.

After lunch, we visited "Missouri Town 1855" - a living history museum that has over 25 buildings with original furnishings and equipment from 1820-1860. I wasn't sure what to expect, since this was not part of my roadtrip binder, but I was really impressed and we had a ton of fun exploring the buildings and taking photos. Here are just some of the pictures I took:

Pretty sweet house. I call dibs.

Joe would not have "fit in" during the 19th century.

I love old barns

A lot!

Look what I found! His name is Dusty, and he was the sweetest horse ever. He loved me, and I wanted to adopt him. Joe said no. But he agreed that if I let him get a plane someday, he'll let me get a horse. BOOM!

This was the tavern. Reminds me of downstairs at Downton Abbey.

A teeny tiny schoolhouse.

Tomorrow, we have plans for some more Missouri sight-seeing. Check back tomorrow night for details and pics :)

Now, I've got to go do more proof-reading. We really want this scholarship. Please cross your fingers and toes! This would massively change our lives.

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Full Catch-Up

We are in the car on the way to Kansas City, which means I have PLENTY of time to bring this blog fully up-to-date on our road trip. (Though that won't technically be true when you read this, as I'll have to wait until we get to my father-in-law's house in order to actually post).

We're not sure exactly how long this drive will be, my car's GPS said Denver to the suburb of KC where Joe's dad lives is a 13 hour drive (!!!), but Apple Maps and Google Maps both said 9 hours and 15 minutes. Desperately hoping my car is wrong.

Tuesday, May 7

Tuesday's leg was Las Vegas to Holbrook, AZ (about an hour East of Flagstaff), so we awoke fairly early (for Vegas) and were on the road by 10 a.m. Holbrook was going to be our final stop for the day, because they have a motel called Wigwam Village where you get to sleep in a (concrete) wigwam.

***Side Note*** If you have ever seen Cars, this Wigwam Village hotel is where they got the inspiration for The Cozy Cone. ***End of Side Note***

Just outside of Vegas is the Hoover Dam, which was our first planned stop of the day. Being the cheap frugal folks we are, we didn't want to take the tour of the dam since you not only have to pay for the actual tour, but for parking as well. LAME! (Plus, it would have taken too long.)

Thankfully, as I was putting together the roadtrip binder I came up with an alternate plan (good 'ole roadtrip binder). In the little town of Boulder City, NV there is a museum about the building of the dam from the perspective of the workers. I've always prefered to look at history through the lense of individual experiences rather than just read a string of facts, so this seemed like a perfect way to learn about the Hoover Dam.

The fact that admission is just $2 per person also helped ;)

When we arrived we were greeted by an old man who put the museum into context by bringing us up to speed on why the town of Boulder City was established, why the Hoover Dam was built, etc. It was awesome. The museum, itself, was also awesome. Seriously, one of the best museums I've been in and it was ONLY 2 DOLLARS!

After the museum, we wanted to get some photos of the dam, so we went to a bridge with a pedestrian path and direct view (quite the popular tourist stop). The winds were incredibly powerful, and I realized the fear of heights I've always had (but didn't think was too bad) is, in fact, QUITE bad when I start imagining the wind lifting me like a rag doll and throwing me over the side of the bridge. I alternated from feeling lightheaded, to nausous, to being pretty sure I was going to pee myself. But, as a budding photographer, I had to get some shots.

What I won't do for my "art" haha.

The next planned stop was a cheesy roadside attraction called "Flintstones Bedrock Village." When adding it to the binder, I imagined there would be a few statues and buildings, and thought it would be a fun photo-op. But when they opened the door to let us in, I was blown away. There literally was an entire village back there and we got a ton of fun pictures.

Bedrock Village was about 20 miles or so off our route (sort of ridiculous, but entirely worth it) and we planned to just turn around and get back on the highway. Then we saw a sign that stated the Grand Canyon was 30 miles further. I'm not a huge nature person, plus I figure we'll go back with kids someday, so visiting wasn't part of the plan. But how could I possibly drive 20 miles to see the Flintstones Village and not 30 more to see the GRAND CANYON. How un-American could I be? So we kept driving.

Little did we know, the 30 miles would take 1.5 hours with all of the traffic. Also, little did we know that the skies would be so gloomy that the canyon wouldn't look quite so grand (especially in photos). 

Nevertheless, I whipped out my camera and started snapping away. That was when my hair suddenly started to stand on end. Joe, ever the scientist, declared that there was "electricty in the air." As if on cue, thunder boomed and hail started falling from the sky. I screamed (much to the enjoyment of the rest of the tourists) and ran to the car.

Eventually, we made it to Holbrook and to the cozy Wigwam that was awaiting us.

Wednesday, May 8

My mom's side of the family lives in Colorado Springs, so Wednesday's leg was Holbrook to Colorado Springs (about an 11 hour drive with bathroom & gas stops), so we left at about 6:45 a.m. Before we left, I got some photos:

Much of Wednesday was extremely boring. I quickly learned (as in, day one) that several hours in the car is NOT enjoyable, but am doing my best to have fun by crocheting as Joe and I listen to podcasts and books on tape. I'm brand new at crocheting, but I think I am picking it up quick.

We arrived in Colorado Springs around 5:45 and hung out at my grandma's house a bit. My mom decided to fly from California so she could visit with us when we were there and spend some time with her family, so we got to see her as well.

Around 7 p.m., we went to my cousin Kris' house and visited with her family (she has 5 kids and a granddaughter) and my other cousin Cassie (Kris' sister) and Cassie's boyfriend and son. It was great to catch-up with all of them, and I definitely enjoyed holding the newly born granddaughter (she's just 3 weeks old!).

Thursday, May 9

Thursday morning we went back to my grandma's house, and Joe, my mom, grandma, grandpa, great aunt Betty, and I watched our episode of The Price is Right. That was a riot. We were onscreen quite a bit (6'4" Joe more often seen than me).

We visited some more, and then my mom took Joe and me to lunch and said goodbye. Poor lady isn't a fan of how far we are moving, but I have to give her credit that she is very supportive and not making us feel guilty about it (as I am sure some moms would).

Our next stop was Denver. We had plans to meet up with Ariel from Love Like Enamel (a great blog by another dental school wife) and her husband, Robbie. We were SUPPOSED to get to Starbucks at 4, but it started hailing on the freeway and that basically stopped traffic. Then we hit rush hour coming into the city. Poor Ariel and Robbie had to wait around until we finally got there at 4:45.

It was really great to meet them, and I know that Joe really enjoyed hearing more about what school will be like. If you don't read Ariel's blog, I recommend that you check it out.

After we said goodbye to our new friends, we headed over to my cousins' apartment (I have two cousins who live in Denver). One of my cousins had to work until 10 p.m., so the other entertained Joe and me until the four of us could hit up a bar for some late night pizza and FREE drinks for the gals (uh, can I say that I really hope we find a bar in Philly with a Ladies Night?! Free drinks are awesome haha).

Friday, May 10

With a post of this length I am pretty sure I lost many people along the way, so congratulations to those of you who are still with me. You are either very dedicated, I am more entertaining than I thought, or you have no life.

But now we are 100% caught up, and hopefully I won't get this behind again.

Today is just a driving day, so there's no exciting news or adventures.

Luckily, we'll be getting a good break from the car for the next two weeks. We'll be spending several days in the Kansas City area with Joe's dad's family, a couple of days in Columbia (in the middle of Missouri) visiting more family members, and then 10 days in St. Louis with Joe's mom, stepdad, and more family.

I haven't seen any of Joe's family since November 2011 :( and prior to that, the few trips we've taken to Missouri have been pretty much a whirlwind. I'm blessed to have married into an incredible family, so I am super excited for the next two weeks! Finally, some quality time with the in-laws :)

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Catching Up: Vegas Day 2

Working hard to catch up on our adventures thus far - it's Thursday, but I only have time to brief you on Monday. Tomorrow we have a 10 hour drive to Kansas City, so I'll have some time to write some posts in the car. Until then...

Monday, May 6

Monday morning we got to the Strip around 10:30 a.m. - pretty good considering we spent the night in Vegas ;)

Our first stop was to the ABSOLUTE coolest thing in Vegas: Mob Attraction. This is the cross between a haunted house and a museum. Let me explain. They first take you through a few rooms that are mob themed (Ellis Island, then a dock, then a police station, etc.) and put you in some scenarios to see if you have what it takes to be made (otherwise, you are whacked). I don't want to give anything away, because I seriously recommend this to anyone who is in Vegas, but there are actors throughout testing your commitment to the mob (which is the part that reminds me of a haunted house).

Once you make your way through some scenes, you wind up in an incredibly informative museum that briefs you on several mafia members who were big in Vegas. I took a "History of Organized Crime" class in college (and am a very proud Italian), and Joe has always been interested in mob history, so we loved seeing the stories of people we don't often read/hear about.

Joe at Ellis Island

Multiple mobsters

I'd hitch a ride with the mob... though I'd probably be whacked.

After you are through with the museum, you are led to one of two rooms. In one room you are "Made" (become part of the mafia family), and in the other room you are "Whacked."

Joe and I were whacked.

It was not pretty.

I screamed and buried my head in Joe's shoulder.

Then I felt like I was a let-down to my Italian family.

I was whacked mostly because I am a people pleaser and I can't keep my big mouth shut: two things that do not bode well for a mafia-member-wanna-be.

Nevertheless, the whole experience was a TON of fun and we are so glad we made the time to do it.

After the Mob Attraction, Joe and I did a bit of gambling an earned about $4. SCORE!

We were killing time because we had an appointment at a CBS screening of a pilot that will be released this Fall. CBS has a place in Vegas where you can go and give your opinions on TV shows for coupons. Since they are so close to pilot season, however, they were offering $20 to anyone who would give up 1 hour to watch a show in development and then fill out a survey.

Being the fans of cash money that we are, Joe and I eagerly signed up.

How I rated what I thought about the show.

CASH MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our show was a pilot for Reign - which I would describe as a cross between Gossip Girl and The Tudors. We were instructed to flip our dial consistently throughout the 42 minute pilot. We could flip it anywhere from 0-100 depending on how much we "liked" what was going on during the show. I was around a 75-100 for most of the episode. I thought it was a good pilot and showed some real promise. I will definitely check it out in the Fall.

Joe, being the good student he is, was the absolute last person in the room to finish his survey. He agreed the show was pretty good - but a bit too CW. Funny he should say that, because we found out the show will be on the CW. I happened to love it BECAUSE I thought it would be a good fit for the CW.

I am pretty sure they are going to think I am crazy, though, because there were some pretty bloody parts (which I absolutely rated a 100), and then there were some sex scenes that I rated a 0.

Come on. In one of the scenes a chick was "enjoying" herself in the hall. It was pretty disgusting (especially because the king saw and liked it), so not only did I rate it a 0 on my Neilson dial, but I wrote on the survey that, "I could do without the girl in the hall. It was disgusting and irrelevant to the plot. A family watching this show would turn it off. Totally needless."

Sometimes I am a bit prudish - but COME ON. This isn't the Playboy channel.

(Some of the men in the room verbally announced during that scene that we should all rank it 100 - you'll have to tune in this fall to see who they listened to lol).

After we earned $40 total (SCORE!!!!) we walked down the strip checking out the casinos and hotels. We also had some dinner and a couple of drinks, then made our way back to the shuttle to take us back to the Rio.

We split pizza and...

Some Mac N Cheese. YUM!

When we arrived at the Rio, we were hoping to play video Blackjack (our new favorite game because you can take your time and not lose too much) - but they didn't have any video blackjack machines :(

We played a little bit of Texas Tea (my favorite slot), and actually won about $7 (SCORE!)

I find relaxed gambling is the luckiest gambling ;)

Then we went upstairs, made drinks with our Costco vodka, and watched The Simpsons.

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