Christmas 2018

We were set to have a very quiet Christmas this year. We really did not have any plans at all, apart from going to Jan and Julie's for dinner on Christmas night.  I made dinner for us on Christmas Eve-something I found on Blue Apron.  It was really simple, but good.  We don't very often eat together any more, so it's always a plus when the four of us sit down together.

Cream onion chicken, potato wedges and cabbage with apple.....

Christmas Day was very low key.  We had decided everyone would get one present and then we'd fill the stockings.  Of course, it tends to get to be a little more than that, but it wasn't too much.  I think this was the first year that Maggie got up before Ben.  As usual, he'll never let me take a photo of him, especially when he's just dragged himself out of bed!!!!

We didn't even rush to open presents this year-a sure sign that the kids are getting older!!  We took all the presents into the family room to open them.  We didn't even have a tree to put them under this year

Maggie looks very excited with whatever it is that Sam has in his stocking!!!!

I made Ben a photo book of some of the photos we took in England this past Summer

I managed to surprise him with this Michael Kors shirt, we had argued about buying it for over an hour one night!!!!!

Maggie might be the only child that tells you what she wants for Christmas and then looks completely unimpressed and puzzled when she gets it!!!!  Still, she got some great fidget gifts that kept us all occupied for hours!!!!

My big present was a Michael Kors bag that I can use to take my stuff to work every day.  I think we were all very happy by the end of the morning.  I cannot help buying Sam a bunch of stuff, but we ALWAYS end up taking it back after Christmas.  Wonder how old I will be before I give up???!!!!!

A week in the life (told in pictures).......

I'm like a lot of people these days. We all live and die by our phones on a daily basis. We check them every 5 mins, just in case someone texted us, or we got a "like" on Facebook or we want to see if it's going to rain in the next 20 minutes.  I'm not even sure if half of us would know what to do if it actually started ringing!!!!  One of the major things we use our phones for these days, is taking pictures, we can chronicle our lives by them, so I thought I'd take a random week and see just what I think is worthy of a photo and why I take that photo in the first place.

Last Sunday, I had done my usual massive cooking session to get us (Sam?) through the week.  I thought I'd take a picture this past Sunday to see how much it had changed by Friday.........

We don't see much of Cleo downstairs at the weekends (we are way too intimidating), but Sam caught a glimpse of her on Sunday afternoon, looking super cute.  I guess he thought it was worthy of taking a picture of her and sending to me as proof

This is the third year in a row that I have sent Dad a baby Christmas tree from Bloom and Wild (wish we had them over here, they are the best flower delivery service EVER!!)  It was delivered on Friday, but Marie put it together on Monday and took a picture of Dad and tree to send to me.  She said it's the best one yet

I had told Andy (my faculty affairs admin) that I would make him shortbread as it would be much better than buying it.  It was quite a performance as I bought castor sugar and English flour to make it & then forgot the corn starch.  So, I didn't make it until Monday night.  Then I realized that I have never made shortbread before, I always relied on Mum to make it.  We ate quite a bit of it before it even cooled down (Mum would have been horrified!!).  I sent Andy a pic to prove I'd made it (and it was going fast!) and then forgot to take to work on Tuesday.  He waited very patiently until Wednesday to get a taste!!!!

I bought these beautiful lilies from Trader Joe's on Sunday and they came out very nicely by Tuesday.  Since Shannon and I love Trader Joe's flowers, I had to take a picture of them and send to her.  They don't have a Trader Joe's in Georgia.....

Ben and I usually Snapchat every day (when we remember).  I tried to take a picture of the SLU blue Christmas tree for him.  It didn't come out too well, I need to do better!!!!

Sam, Maggie and I did the 23 and Me DNA testing earlier this month.  My results came in yesterday and Ben wanted to see what they looked like so I took a screenshot for him.  Nothing too unexpected, I'm pretty much British through and through......

Maggie had written a note to Santa on her whiteboard, telling him what she wanted for Christmas and pointing out EXACTLY where it was on Amazon (if the elves were too busy!!).  Of course, I could not resist writing a reply, or adding my own unique spin on things......

.....which inspired me to write a letter to Santa on Ben's behalf!!!!  Whiteboards are so much fun.  Of course, I think I'm so funny that I had to send to a bunch of people I work with!!!!

We had a WIMS meeting on Thursday.  This is what the room looks like when I refuse to send out YET ANOTHER reminder to folks to attend!!!!!  Since I was double booked for meetings, I just left at 7:06 and hoped no one showed up late!!!!!  Had to send this photo to Andy to show him how much (little) people think of the importance of this meeting......

I'm well impressed with me recently acquired ability to keep orchids alive and to get them to re-flower.  I have two in my office that are flowering right now.  The big one has been flowering for weeks already and this small one just started to flower again.  Every time they flower, I have to take a photo and send to Arline, we have a running joke about the lady at MBG that told me they wouldn't flower if I repotted them!!!!

As I suspected, the fridge was empty at the week's end and I sent a before and after picture to Sam and Shannon to show what a week without cooking can end up like......

And, finally, I sent this picture to Sam of my Christmas cactus that has bloomed without fail every year since I got it (and that was a long, long time ago.......

Garden Glow 2018

We go to the Garden Glow every year, although I suspect it's the same every year!!! Still, it's nice to go for a wander around the garden at night and their drinks are pretty spectacular (if a little too alcoholic!!).  The grand basin with its Christmas trees

Trees changing colors

I like this one!!!!

I love the lights, but the lit up trees are the best

Gate House-always looks spectacular and I suspect everyone in St Louis wishes they live here

Gate House entrance

SLU colored tree!!!!

"3 French Hens"

Is this Christmas or Halloween?????

Lights in front of Linnean House

We lucked out this year and it wasn't cold at all when we went.  Downside was that all of St Louis took the opportunity to come out!!!!

November trip to MBG

Ben and I met Arline at MBG on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The Gardenland Express exhibit had just opened, so we were able to visit and stay in the warmth for longer (it was very cold that day)

We always like to find "Dad's train" with its Gramps container

They had some models of the MBG buildings this year, they were really nice to see

The wreaths were not as impressive as in previous years.  This one got my vote as the best, but Arline and Ben didn't even rate this one!!!!

We found these flowers on the ground in the Climatron.  Ben and I picked some up and brought them home, but they had gone completely flat by the next day.  Never mind, it was worth a shot

The Climatron never lets us down....

Temperate House had some nice poinsettias around the fountain

We chanced seeing if there were any blooms on the camellias and we were in luck.  A couple of the trees had some nice flowers, one had even started to go over already

This is what I fight every day (aka "you need to control your faculty"-What? They're not mine!!!)

Women students claim sexual harassment made SLU med school 'hostile'

"They feel their entire career, if they speak up, is ruined," said one doctor who said she was harassed on a near daily basis.  Several women are speaking out about sexual harassment at one of the top universities in St. Louis.  They tell the I-Team the harassment has been going on for years.  "I was shocked. I was shocked it was tolerated," said the woman we’ll call “Sandy”. She is a medical doctor and former teacher at St. Louis University. She asked us not to use her real name out of fear of retaliation.  She's talking about alleged sexual harassment and Sandy claims what the women went through where she worked was sometimes out of control.  "The residents were propositioned and harassed about female anatomy all the time. Comments were made and laughed at," said Sandy.

It's not an uncommon story in the era of the #MeToo movement. But where it was said to be happening is surprising: one of the most prestigious medical schools in the country, St. Louis University.  It’s esteemed, respected, and nationally known for a lot of good things.  But it’s also known for its ongoing Title XI issues, including allegations of on-campus sexual assaults some of which are linked to its basketball and baseball athletes.

At the medical school, Sandy claims she and other women not only dealt with nearly daily harassment, but also felt powerless to change it.  "They feel their entire career, if they speak up, is ruined," said Sandy.  The I-Team obtained a confidential internal report that backs up many of Sandy's claims.  SLU's Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity completed it in April of last year.  It details an investigation of the medical school that was prompted by two women's accusations of harassment and sexual harassment against four of the doctors there.  A SLU investigator interviewed 40 doctors, faculty and residents.  In the report, many called the medical school program "malignant", a "hostile work environment" even an "ole boys club".

The internal report also revealed some men on the medical school's hiring committee created a ballot so they could vote on the looks of two female job candidates.  It included comments like "who cares ...She's hot!!"  Some of the comments, the report states, came in a group text and included: "which one looks better?" and "yah baby!!! We get the brunette....Not the blonde."  According to the internal report, the doctors on the hiring committee told the investigator it was a "joke".

Sandy also claims one doctor made offensive comments to residents about the female anatomy.  "Appearances were often talked about by chairmen even. Talking about how they can imagine them in provocative positions," said Sandy.  In the end, SLU's investigation concluded the four doctors did not violate the school's harassment policy. The I-Team has also obtained a discrimination claim filed with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights.  The claim alleges that after the investigation ended, SLU demoted one of the accusers, removed her from key committees, and eventually let her go.  According to Sandy, that fed fears of retaliation, especially among the residents.  "Residents have left the program but are so fearful once they leave that their board exams will be affected, fellowship and career choices will be affected," said Sandy.

We spoke with several other current and former residents and faculty at the University. All of them say they too experienced sexual harassment at the Medical School. Most of them say they've since left the program because they felt their concerns were not taken seriously by the University and because they feared retaliation.

So how is St Louis University responding to these allegations?

SLU Statement  "Saint Louis University is committed to fostering a workplace and learning environment that is free from any form of harassment. SLU takes any allegations of harassment, including sexual harassment, very seriously and responds immediately to any complaint.  In 2017, the University received a complaint of sexual harassment and discrimination involving four physicians in a medical department. In response, the University conducted a thorough investigation, which included interviews with 40 medical residents and physicians.  Changes were made in this medical department, including new leadership. In addition, physicians in the department have completed mandatory off-site sensitivity training. SLU also established new venues for students and residents to raise concerns, along with procedures to act upon them to improve the school. This includes an Office of Professional Oversight, led by a director who serves as an Ombudsman.  It’s important to note that some of the allegations being made to KSDK-TV have not been reported to the University.

Regarding general concerns about the program working environment, the accrediting body for graduate medical education conducted an institutional site visit at SLU earlier this year. Following the site visit, the University received the organization’s highest accreditation status. Further, the accrediting body for medical education of North American medical schools found SLU fully compliant with all standards after a June 2018 site visit."

Trip to Austin

I am at the AAMC meeting in Austin. It's a pretty nice city to wander around in and the weather is way better than St Louis.  I got here on Friday and walked own to the Capitol building.  Ben was not very happy that I visited a State Capitol without him,but I assured him I did NOT do the tour!!!!

I told him that I'm convinced they all look exactly the same, but he assured me they are different!!!!

Floor and ceiling of the atrium

Library

My hotel is right on Lady Bird lake and they have a trail that runs along side it.  I went walking yesterday and found this bicycle statue, I had to take a picture for Sam!!!!

Tonight, I walked down to the Congress Avenue bridge to see the bats come out

There are about 1.5 million Mexican free-tail bats live under the bridge and they come out to feed around sundown.  It is really amazing to see them all come out, well worth waiting for-they were late!!!!

I love bats, one of my favourite animals/mammals.  I don't think I want 1.5 million living in the house though!!!!