My Going Away Party

Major thanks and shout out to Eric for planning a great farewell party for me and around 40+ guests last week at O'Bryan's Irish Pub!

It's been one week since I left my fare cities of Norwood and Cincinnati and it's only fair to pony up on the total for Eric's bet "on how many dates Alex will have his first week out there... The over/under is 32. ;-)"

Sadly for all those who voted the OVER the grand total is a big fat goose egg (meaning zero).

Thanks again, EVERYONE, who made it out to send me off. I hope everyone had a great time meeting new people and thanks for playing along with the name tags and Eric's ridiculous Over/Under bet. :-)

Enjoy the selection of photos:

A group of us at the O'Byran's Irish Pub

Elizabeth and I

Eric, the main party planner himself

Cristina and I in a great pose.

More of the group.

Phil and I

Michelle and I

Cristina, Patty, ME, Lindsey, and Casey!

Jessie, Steve Miller (not the band) and I

Patty and I - don't we look great with our name tags?

Who's not wearing their name tags?

Oliver, Tricia, and I

Alex with Nick the Barbeque Man!

Shannon, Andy, and I

Jack the future mayor of Norwood 20??, Todd, and me!

Where are all these girls coming from?!?!?

Joe Yoo!

Lyndsay, Kathy, and I, sitting outside on the deck.

See more photos via the Evite for the event.

Thanks for reading,

Alex

New blog? One is silver. The other's gold. Make new friends, but keep the old!

Welcome to the Medicine Man of Seattle blog, a sister blog to the Medicine Man of Norwood blog. Both just so happen to be run by me. :-)

On July 18th, 2009 I'm stepping out from Norwood, OH, and venturing out to Seattle, WA for my first position after residency.

I hope to stay active both in Cincinnati and in Seattle.

One of my first adventures I'm hoping to take on in Seattle is the Green Lake garage sales, found by first visiting the My Green Lake blog. I'll keep you all posted on what I found out here in Seattle.

Thanks for reading,

Alex

My Personal Time Capsule

It's amazing what "stuff" you hide away, only to rediscover several years later, after opening an old bag, kept hidden away under your bed.

Today, I was cleaning out one of my black "businessman like" duffel bags I found a collection of papers that dates back to 2005. Namely, the notes I took on my first interview for along the residency trail, all starting at Rainbow Babies:

Along with my hand written notes, I also found a copy of my resume from that time, and a copy of my personal statement, later affectionately entitled "Uncle Alex" by John Kheir, which helped me get that first interview!

Resume, in three pages

"Uncle Alex" personal Statment

What treasures I found today!!!

Thanks for reading,

Alex

From the Friends Journal

I came across a few saved pages of the February 2009 edition from Friends Journal - Quaker Thought and Life Today that I saved from my interview trip to Philadelphia, and when made a Sunday stop at the Monthly Meeting of Friends of Philadelphia.

The cover caught my attention because of the picture of the sleepy cat and the poem, A Lesson:

My cat teaches me

the bliss

of a square of sunlight

on the floor.

- Christopher B. Fowler

Later in the Journal, Sally Campbell, now member of the Downtown Manhattan Friends Meeting, in her essay "Prayer that Works for Me" describes that she keeps a journal with her and scribes the the songs that come to her if she is "patient and listen them into being." Her most recent "gift song" at that time:

Stillness of stone

Flowing of water

Brightness of fire

Freedom of air

Let me be free

Flowing and bright

Let me be still.

And concludes her essay with: "I have become convinced the beneath the confusion and bustle of the world there is an amazing, subtle but real and loving force that is constantly wanting to work with us if only we let it. So, another of my songs says: 'Slow down, open your heart, rest in the Light, slow down.'"

Lastly, Phyllis Berentsen, member of the Milwaukee Friends Meeting (#2), in her essay "Joy of the Spirit" reaffirms her belief by stating: "I am a Friend - a convinced Friend. I grew up in another Christian church and came to the Quaker faith as an adult. I had friends who went to Friends meetings. I finally got curious and asked them if I could come too. Of course they encouraged me." At the age of 29, Phyllis felt a "magical happening" and a "spiritual centering that the group had created as they waited to experience God's presence." She uses affirmations to help enter into meditation and one that struck me was: "I am healing. God is healing my back and my knee. I will sleep soon. God is here with me."

Couldn't we all uses some healing?

Thanks for reading,

Alex

Big Week for Kiwanis

This week Kiwanis' Amy Zimmeran, 2008-2009 Lt. Governor of the 6th Division of Ohio, asked fellow Cincinnati Club members to attend Interclubs (#2) this week. I was able to make it out to three!

From the 6/30 – Clifton Kiwanis at Lenhardt’s (Clifton)– 11:45 meeting:

Geneva, Here I come!!!! July 7-11, 2001

From the 7/1 – Riverfront Kiwanis at Chez Nora (Covington) – 12 noon meeting:

Stewart won the 50/50 pot... again!

From the 7/2 – Harrison Kiwanis at Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, New Haven Road, Harrison, OH – 12 noon meeting:

Harrison club to have an Interclub at the RMcDH on July 27th with us!

Thanks for reading,

Alex

RE: New Kid on the Block

In response to Courtney in the Queen City's (note: may have limited access) post on Monday, June 28th, 2009, entiled New Kid on the Block, Courtney comments in her blog about moving to Cincinnati and finding herself "adapted to life in Cincinnati," and how "in 10 short months, [she knows] some of the people and places in the West side of Cincinnati better than people who have lived here all their lives."

Courtney then goes on to share her suggestions that "could work for anyone in any city!"

My feelings has been, and still is after three years, that Cincinnati is a tough city to break into if you're not from around here. I too have adopted and used similar ideas to learn my city, to get to know people, and to find events around the city.

Go to church: When I first moved to Cincinnati in June of 2006, I started church hopping on my own, starting off with Crossroads, and then my friend Jackie (#2) introduced me to The Bellarmine and St. Monica/St. George later in my first few months here. In 2007, I found my friend Erica and went with her and her brother to Guardian Angle's Church. Finally, I've attended St. Gertrudes and Holy Trinity Church in 2008. Through these adventures I've found several different 20's/30's groups that have been great way to make new friends and become back involved with ultimate Frisbee, faith sharing, and even a road trip to WV for white water rafting on the New River.

Volunteer: Since moving to Cincinnati, I've joined Give Back Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Kiwanis Club, Norwood Young Professionals, and helped out at a variety of other local agencies. All of which have really helped to make me feel like a part of the community and have allowed me to meet young and active people living in Cincinnati.

Get out and do things in your neighborhood!: My neighbors Wayne, Aubry, and Jamie are fantastic people and I talk with them whenever they are out in their yard! I frequent the local burger joint, the Quatman Cafe quite often, and more so then I really should. Through the NYP, we are sponsoring a plot in a community garden and I participated in The Norwood Spring Clean: Beautify Your Block 2009 event. I've attend local church festivals during the summer and love to run around my block, to the Norwood library branch, to Yagoot, or the Urban Active in Norwood/HP. I feel as though I know Norwood pretty well - almost like the back of my hand. :-)

Join a social organization: How about joining The Greater Cincinnati Penn State Alumni Association, The Fort Thomas Corvette Club, or joining meetup.com and explore your interests in hiking, Spanish or French conversations, a singles group, or a dinning out group (#2) that enjoys new restaurants.

Facebook, Facebook, Facebook: I don't think I'll ever get tired of Facebook. I am glad that there are a lot less quizzes and random games to waste time playing. Staying connected via "What's on your mind?," photos, and responses to people's comments, actions, and uploaded photos has helped me broaden my interests and find new connections with strangers and old friends alike.

Thanks for all the great advice Courtney! I'm sure I'll take it to heart and put it to good use when I head off to Seattle in a few weeks.

Thanks for reading,

Alex

Save the Libraries of Ohio

I've come across a great many sites (#1, #2) asking Ohioans to write to their state congress men/women to continue the support and funding of the Ohio Public Library system, ever since Govern Ted Strickland has purposed a 50% cut in the coming year's budget.


I used this sample e-mail to send to my Norwood State Rep. Tyrone Yates, State Senator Eric H. Kearney, and to Governor Ted Strickland.

The only reply I've received so far has been from State Senator Eric H. Kearney:
This past, Monday at The Pub Quiz night, BZ and I had an interesting discussion over alternative methods for supporting a library system, including a nominal ($1-$2) transaction fee for the privilege of checking out materials, or a small ($10) yearly fee for all card holders. I'm sure there are more interesting ideas out there! Any of these methods can make make the community feel like they are continuing to support the local library system. Another interesting idea in our local area: A Quarter Auction!

Join the Facebook group: Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Thanks for reading,

Alex

UPDATE: July 6th 2009

E-mail from Reprsentative Yates this afternoon:

Dear Citizen:

You sent an e-mail to my office regarding funding Ohio’s public libraries. Thank you for taking the time to write.

Ohio and the nation are facing unprecedented economic times that have not been experienced in decades. While the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio Senate will undoubtedly have to make difficult decisions as the budget process concludes, know that I support the proper funding of Ohio public libraries. As Andrew Carnegie stated, “There is not such a cradle of democracy upon the earth as the free public library, this republic of letters, where neither rank, office, nor wealth receives the slightest consideration.” I will continue to stand with you as we fight for our libraries.

With esteem and best wishes,

Tyrone K. Yates

Ohio House of Representatives

(614) 466-1308

(614) 719-3587 fax

Update: 7/14/09, e-mail from Eric H. Kearney

Dear Constituents:

I want to update you on the status of library funding in Ohio’s Budget, House Bill 1.

Libraries now expect to receive a 10% cut, rather than the 30% proposed in the Governor’s framework budget. My office worked very hard on this issue and listened to many constituents’ concerns.

While I recognize that these cuts are painful, I am glad that much of the funding was able to be restored.

My office was inundated with letters, phone calls and e-mails from library patrons and staff. It is heartwarming to see the love for libraries.

As a regular library visitor, I can assure you that I recognize what an important resource our libraries are. My hope is that these institutions will be around to treasure for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Eric H. Kearney

Senator, 9^th District