Dr. Schafer goes to Washington

 - To educate our congress about pediatric dental care without asking for extension of entitlement programs

 - To learn about important issues surrounding my career and show the residents to do the same!

- To meet Pat Tiberi and Sherrod Brown in person! Both the Congressman and Senator were friendly, smart and polite, despite probably getting about 4 hours of sleep the night before. 

- To hang out with my friends, Annie & Rusty & Bonnie

- To see Annie's SPECTACULAR 8th-floor glamorous dental office

- To enjoy the cherry blossoms and blue skies

Through all of this, I can't help think how much I wish Jeremy was here to enjoy and experience Washington, DC, too. I can't wait until we can see this city together. Jeremy has done much to shape my political beliefs and educate me on how our country runs. And, in return, I have taught him how important vegetables are in your diet. That's how we roll. 

Pictures to come! 

Urban Life at its Best!

My friends Homa and Megann and I had a whirlwind, wonderful trip to New York last weekend! We buzzed in and buzzed out in less than 36 hours...my feet HURT on the plane ride home, but it was a really good pain; I have so many special memories now. A girls weekend out on the town...the weather perfect, the cocktails cold, and the company superb. Did I mention the exorbitant amount of shellfish we ate? Or Times Square at night? Or great talks with great friends? No? Okay another time...

Also, its official: new camera takes AMAZING pictures and is certainly worth lugging it around like a crazy blogging tourist.  

Wow, I'm out of breath from all this fun! 

For your enjoyment: 

Rockefeller Center...the statue positively GLOWED in the springtime sun...

...the original Saks Fifth Avenue...

...the incomparable Carnegie Hall...

...the storied Waldorf=Astoria, where we laid our heads for a few hours' sleep...divine...

...the Russian Tea Room and obligatory yellow taxis...

...Megann in profile and Central Park...we loved spotting cool urban children and urban pets...

...the lights of Radio City...

...the top of 30 Rockefeller...yes! The same building from the show...

...view from the top of 30 Rock...the Empire State...

...and the park and Upper West Side...just look at all the skyscrapers!

But, the best view of all was this guy's smile, just after his great piano performance at Carnegie Hall. 

Dr. Ted Huter was one of my orthodontics instructors at Nationwide Children's Hospital during my residency. He is retired from private practice in Kettering, Ohio. We became friends due to our mutual admiration of Dorothy Lane Market, Boston Stoker Coffee, his kind wife, Elizabeth, and his sweet granddaughter, Katie--she was my patient under his tutelage. He also gives great life and career advice. Ask me how I know. 

At Carnegie Hall Dr. Huter played a duet with his son, Steven, as part of a lovely concert put on by the Larchmont Music Academy. The Academy is owned and operated by Steve, Steve's wife, Claudia, and several other talented musicians. The concert included Carnival of the Animals by Saint-Seans, children of all ages, and lots of kid-friendly fun and games. It was the only time we ladies sat down the whole trip, it seemed.

I remember when I was a resident, Dr. Huter showed me a picture of him playing at Carnegie Hall with his son. I thought, "If he ever does something like that again, I'm going to go see him."

And I did. Its nice when your dreams work out. 

Hope we didn't make you too nervous, Dr. Huter. It was amazing and you are the best.