Photos

New photos will display to the Left of this text box. You can watch the slideshow, or click on the photo to see more. You can also click on the link below to go to my Flickr site to see photos. Hopefully this will all work out well.....

T-36 Hours

It's getting here......
We just had dinner with some awesome friends and now we're starting our last 36 hours together. I'm actually kind of sad and think I'm going to miss Bry a lot. I've packed and re-packed the suitcase and even added some items. There's still a lot of extra room, I have a feeling that won't be the case on the way home and Bry may have to bring along an extra bag.
Talked to some other girls who I'm going to be staying with and they're all pretty excited. Can't believe it's here already!

Holy Cow

So I just worked out for the first time since Friday. No excuses, I know. Bry and I haven't been very good at working out. I used to think "I'm always on the go, I'm probably burning tons of calories during all my running around." Guess what: I WAS RIGHT. This vacation is killing me! I'm watching what I eat and following Weight Watchers - but I keep GAINING. And I think it's because after my workout, my daily activities have been reading, scrapbooking, watching movies and Law and Order Marathons. It just goes to show me that I'm used to being more active.

Getting Ready To Go!!

Well, my (new and shiny, thanks, mom) suitcase is packed. I've got a lot of extra room. The girls I'm going to be rooming with are trying to figure out what all we can share so we don't have 6 shampoos/conditioners/contact solutions/etc on the counters at one time. I've got at least 5 new books plus my Philippines book (thanks again, Lindsey) in my carry on pack and a new camera accessory is coming in the mail on Wednesday. I've got my electrical converters along too, and a flash light. Just in case.
I have my white coat, stethoscope and gloves packed for the actual hospital stuff.

So far the itinerary is as follows:
Depart Milwaukee 7:20 am on Monday, Feb 1. Arrive 9:30am O'Hare. Depart O'Hare 11:30am.
14 HOUR FLIGHT TO SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA
2-3 hour layover
4 HOUR FLIGHT TO MANILA, PHILIPPINES
Arrive Manila 11:30PM on TUESDAY, FEB 2 (Manila time, which is 14 hours ahead of CST)

Wednesday we're having a group breakfast and then touring the American Embassy.

Thursday we're going to Corrigedor Island - the site of most WWII events and a former naval base.

Friday we leave for the Bataan Peninsula. We'll be on a bus on dirt roads which doesn't sound like fun, but hiking to a remote village of the Ayta people should make it worth the ride. We'll be spending the night on the beach (with Karaoke??!!) and sleeping in tents and mosquito netting.

Saturday we head back to Manila. We'll have Saturday and Sunday to explore some before we all start work on Monday at Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
I will be working in the Emergency Department. Evidently the guy in charge of it is one of the leaders in handling massive natural disasters in Southeast Asia - there should be some good stories there! Plus, in a city with minimal traffic laws and vehicles left over from WWII and 15 million people, I'm not planning on being bored!

Turning 26

Today is my 26th birthday. Not sure why, but this one is bugging me a whole lot more than 25 did. I just feel..... OLD. Now that I've been on vacation for 3 weeks I am feeling useless, flabby and like I've "wasted a quarter of my life", as Callen would tell me. Ah, the wisdom of nine year-olds!

We've been watching "Hoarders" on TLC which has made me go on a cleaning mission. This morning I cleaned my living room, did the dishes, vacuumed and cleaned out our "catch-all" closet. I threw away boxes I'd been "saving' for when we move - I think our cell phones will be able to make it just fine without the original plastic cases. Next up, Jesse and I are using Amy's minivan to pick up my newest present - a piece of furniture to give us some more storage in the living room. I've been HATING the way our desk area looks - so cluttered and no place to hide anything. We found a terrific deal at JC Penney Furniture outlet and got a $1000 TV stand with side cabinets for just $200 thanks to some bargaining. Plus, built in workout getting it into my apartment!

Now I've got to get back to cleaning - not sure that I can "baby proof" my house in 2 hours, but at least I can move the electrical cords that we keep out willy-nilly!

New Year 2010

Lots of things are going to happen this year, and Bry and I are trying to figure out where we're headed and where we need to go.

Bry is struggling with work right now. Despite his new (polarbear-grade) boots, being on a river in December stinks, and next week they're losing the boat and are going to be WALKING on the frozen river --- with a rope tied around their waists! I think he's hoping that 2010 is a little bit more settled - he'll be returning to Watertown in April.

Tonight we're heading up to Green Bay for a NYE party with some of Bry's High School friends. They are having a white elephant gift exchange - and we've got some amazing gifts to give! We haven't seen a lot of these friends for a while now, so this should be fun.

January 2 Abi is heading to MI for a few days with Grandpa Schneider and Emily. I'll head back on Tuesday and get ready for my last interview on Friday. Friday night we're having our Ugly Christmas Sweater Party (UCSP '09) so I've got to shop for an outfit for Bry since this is the first one he'll be able to make it to.

The rest of January I plan on relaxing, packing and preparing for my trip. A week in Tomah is likely going to happen, and we're going to Minnesota too.

Christmas List

Baking cookies - check. Beth and Alex came over and we made countless dozen cookies - four different kinds! Most are hidden in the freezer, but don't tell Bry or Jesse.

Wrapping presents - check. I think I have most of them wrapped and under the tree. No more should be needed....but I keep an open mind.

Tree - check. This one is easy. We have a 24" tree that is pre-lighted and about 15 sad ornaments hanging on it. That's about it.

Christmas music - mom, Bry is also a fan of Mannheim Steamroller and I am being subjected to listening to Christmas music. Every morning he changes the radio station in our room to a Christmas station and turns up the volume so that it blasts Christmas music.

Snow - a disappointing amount is on the ground, and it already looks crusty and dirty. We'll have to work on that before the 25th.

Christmas movies - Elf has been viewed in part at least twice so far. I watched some Sense and Sensibility by myself one day and think it may be time for a 6 hour Pride and Prejudice marathon soon. If only I had "Little Women" on dvd.....

House cleaning - about to happen tomorrow. Along with a Jillian workout to make up for the cookie baking/eating.

December 2009

Well our Christmas cards are in the mail. No letter this year, Bry and I couldn't decide what to write. So I'll post what I was going to write on here.

THE POLZIN HERALD
Marriages

6.24 Beth and Kiah Smith (friends)

7.4 Tadeo and Crystal Balderrama (friends)

10.9 Andy and Klare Mueller (cousin)

10.24 Ted and Laura Lenard (cousin)

Obituaries

7.24 Ralph Polzin, Grandfather of Bryant, passes away at the age of 74. He is survived by his wife, Sandy.

Births

2.24 Addison Scholtes, daughter of friends Bryan and Kelly Scholtes of Indianapolis, IN

11.16 Andrew Nolte, son of friends Mark and Amy Nolte of Howards Grove, WI.

Travel

9.16-29 Abigail and Grandpa Schneider traveled to Sweden, Germany and Denmark. They visited with many dear friends (Gisls, Brands, Reuters and Blyhles) and had many grand adventures on the autobahn.

Upcoming: 2.1-3.1 2010 Abigail will be working in Philippine General Hospital in Manila, Philippines. She will be joined by Bryant during the last week for a tour of Manila and Seoul, South Korea.

They will be celebrating almost 2 years of marriage with a trip to the island of Boracay.

Anniversaries

6.14 Bryant and Abigail’s first wedding anniversary. They celebrated with friends Carolyn and Aaron on a Lake Michigan sailing excursion.

Business

Bryant began work for K. Singh & Associates on June 15, 2009. He works as an engineer in training and is currently working on a Hwy. 26 bypass around Watertown, WI. He enjoys his work and doesn’t mind the long drives.

Abigail has applied to 7 programs for a Family Medicine residency. She has been very busy with interviews, testing and decision making. In February of 2010 she will need to have her rank list ready, stating her preferences for residency. She will be matched to a program on March, 18 2010. She will complete her studies at the Medical College of Wisconsin on May 21, 2010. A ceremony will be held that day, with celebration to follow on May 22.

Religion

8.24 Thomas Schneider was recognized for his 25^th year in the ministry. He continues to serve as a teacher at Michigan Lutheran High School. A surprise party commemorated the occasion in St. Joseph, MI.

Boracay

Google Boracay. It is an island in the Philippines known for having the #7 top beach in the world. It's small, only 3 miles long and 1 mile wide. AND WE'RE GOING THERE!!!!

Bry will be joining me in Manila on Feb 22. We'll leave for Boracay on the 25/26. We'll stay there until the 28th.

We're thinking about staying at Dave's Straw Hat Inn, enjoying the beaches and going snorkeling.

This is a popular tourist destination and should be a lot of fun!

Other news in our lives is not as exciting. Bry is still working long hours, Abi is enjoying 4th year immensely. She is done with her December rotation on the 23rd - she'll be off of "real work" until she gets back from the Philippines on March 1!

This is Bry's truck - or WAS his truck. I promised to post pictures and am just getting around to it.

I should be napping before my overnight shift in the ED, but sadly I'm watching Oprah's Karaoke Challenge and am hooked.

Bry has been working longer hours again, which is good for our wallets. We went to some open houses in Waukesha on Sunday which was kinda fun - but I can see how it will be a challenge to find a home we BOTH like, and can afford.

I'm done with 5 out of 8 interviews for residency. I think I'm getting a better idea of what I'm really looking for in a program, but will need to evaluate the rest of the programs before we make a final decision.

Dad - just for you, dinner will be chicken tacos for me and beef for Bry, I know how much you love to know what we're eating.