Thursday, April 28, 2011

The Glamorous Life of a Doctor

People have been asking me, "So what does it feel like now that your a doctor?".
To tell the truth, I don't feel much different.
Except maybe a little more stressed.

The best laid plans don't usually happen.
You know that, right?

2 days before graduation I took my Louisiana board exam.
The test wasn't that difficult.
They said it took about 7 days to grade them and if I paid my money ahead of time, they could issue my license that same day.
Great!
The doctor I had been doing a preceptorship with was going on vacation for 3 weeks.
He was leaving 1 week after graduation.
Timing, it seemed to all fall into place.
Everyday I have checked the mail.
I have called the Board so much I think they may be screening my calls.

This entire week I have had to turn patients away.
I hate that.
Today, I stayed home a little longer on my lunch break waiting for "Mr. Mailbox".
[Little side note, Mr. Z worked for the US postal service for a little while. At a couple of apartment complexes kids would run after him calling "Mr. Mailbox! Mr. Mailbox!". So now, everytime we see a postal delivery guy we call him Mr. Mailbox. You have been enlightened.]

So I waited for Mr. Mailbox.
When he came down the hill, he headed straight for The Little House!
I could barely contain my excitement!
He gave me a large envelope with some what felt like a binder inside and 2 small envelopes all from the State Board.

I was already going through the mental note of the patients I needed to call so I could see them this afternoon.

I don't know if other people are like me, but for some reason, I have to open the less important stuff first. Maybe it comes from childhood--"eat all your vegetables before you eat your cake".
I don't know. But at that moment I was frustrated because I knew I needed had to open the smaller letters first.

I opened the first letter.
Congratulations! You've passed the board exam. Once you pay $XXX we can issue your license. Stapled to it was a disclaimer: If you paid the license fee at the time of the exam, please disreguard this letter.
Whew!

The next letter.
Thank you for paying for your license. It will be mailed separately certified mail. Your official law book will also be mailed separately.
Hmm... Official law books probably come in a binder...

Yep.
So I got everything except the one thing I needed pronto.

Called the Board. I believe they were still at lunch and not screening my call. Had to wait. Called back at 2.
Yes, we have received everything and your license is in the mail. ... Yes, we mailed it out on the same day as the other. ... I don't know why you received the other before your license. ... No, I can not give you your license number over the phone. ... No, you may not see patients until you actually get your physical license. .. No, I will not accept bribes.
(Just kidding on that last part. ...Maybe...)
Yes, I can give you the tracking number.

Ok, I got the tracking number, went back to the office and as I was coming through the back door the phone was ringing. I ran to answer it. After the phone call I realized I had forgotten the tracking number in the car.
I went to get it.
And closed the back door behind me.
I spun around as I heard it latch.
I stared at it.
I tried to turn the knob. I tried to pull.
Nope. Locked.
I tried again.
Still locked.
I ran to the front door, knowing it was locked, too. I thought just maybe I had forgotten to lock it when I left to go to lunch. That wouldn't have been good, but at the moment it would have been fantastic.
Nope. Responsible me locked it.

My phone, my purse, everything except my car keys were inside. Including the number to the only other person in the country who has a key.

I got in my car, thankful that I had my keys and drove to Mitch's to get a Blue Bell cookies and cream waffle cone.
I found the number to a relative of the only other person who has a key. She laughed at me and gave me the number. Since I was eating Blue Bell, I didn't mind that she laughed.
She was working at another job, but she had the key with her.

Ok, just drive without getting stopped.
As I was leaving Mitch's there was a police officer at the counter placing an order. I had to avoid eye contact.
I made it there safe and without a traffic violation. Which is good because I don't know if Mitch's would have had enough Blue Bell.

I finally checked the tracking number and it doesn't work. It only shows when it is delivered.

If God is willing and the creek don't rise, I will be licensed and working my booty off tomorrow.
I'm not sure if I'm supposed to annouce I am almost a licensed doctor and use 'booty' in the same sentence.
Maybe they have something about that in the official law book I got today.


Sunday, April 24, 2011

Update


Just a little update. 

Graduation was a success.
I wore heels and didn't fall down.

Now I am working at a chiropractic clinic as an associate doctor.

Also, my wireless internet on my laptop is not working. 
Until I get that working, blogging may be difficult and sporadic.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

This is the Day That The Lord Has Made

This day has been one of the biggest, most momentous occasions in my life.


And I will rejoice and be glad in it.



Thursday, April 7, 2011

My Biography

I have applied to get my bachelor's degree.
I have completed all the coursework, but I need to send them a check and my biography.
I have been putting this off because I didn't know what to write.
Finally I sat down and bit the bullet.


I am Rebecca Zeagler. I was born to a mechanic and a housewife home-maker (edited per request of said home-maker) in Louisiana. Together, they gave me a happy and stable home. My father gave me my sense of understanding of the mechanical inner workings of almost anything, including the human body’s biomechanics. He also gave me an ability to appreciate subtle humor and the courage to never give up. My mother has given me perspective, the desire to laugh, and the ability to not dwell on unimportant things in life. She has also guided me and shown me truth as well as making me capable of standing on that truth. My older brother gave me my name and the encouragement to live up to that name. My younger brother gave me responsibility and independence. My paternal great grandmother gave me some of her creativity with the encouragement to use it. She also gave me motivation to never stop learning and to never be afraid of new things. My paternal grandfather gave me the ability to be content with what I have and the desire to never lose my way home. My paternal grandmother gave me the ability to think unconventionally and to laugh at my own shortcomings. My maternal grandfather gave me the capability to command attention when need be and the strong will needed to enforce it. My maternal grandmother gave me the desire to always perform a task as if I were doing it for the glory of the Lord and to know the value of family. My husband gave me the will to put someone else’s needs above mine and the encouragement to see my goals through to completion. My aunts and uncles have given me the vision to see that something that may seem imperfect is actually all together perfect.
My plans are to become licensed in Louisiana to practice chiropractic. I plan to practice in my hometown so I can give back to those people who have guided me along the way.



Wednesday, April 6, 2011

The front yard

Mr. Z and I have missed having a yard over the past several years.

Now we have more than what we know to do with.

This is the front yard.
The yard I played in many times as a kid.
The yard I mowed as a kid.
Where I used to hunt Easter eggs.
Where I would play with our dogs.
Where Mawmaw would take me to show me her new plants or flowers that were in bloom.


I like to think about how Mawmaw and Pawpaw used to take care of this yard.
How they looked at it every day.
How they carved out their little homestead.
And now Mr. Z and I can work in it and enjoy it just as they did.


We've added a lemon tree, a hibiscus, and a humming bird feeder around the front of the house.


Now I can watch the humming birds like I did with Mawmaw when I would come over to visit.


There is something simply blissful about that.



Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Spring Chickens

There are some new additions to Momma's farm.






I had to take this picture quick while the paper towels were still white.
Little chicks are messy.


But oh so cute.


Beaux loves the chicks. He wants them so bad.

(Beaux update: he is beginning to love his country life. He can hunt mice, visit Momma and Daddy, Poochy (his hero) is always around, and he can bark as loud as he wants)