Yes, yes. I've been away too long.
But at the behest of certain readers out there (you know who you are), I have come back.
This month has been really busy and ridiculously hectic for me.
So I will try to sum up some of my insights from this past month in my usual list fashion (don't you just love it?):
1. I was on away rotation about a month ago in another state. I will not name said state, only that it was very cold there and I had a ridiculously hard time getting comfortable there. Needless to say, my performance suffered. But it was to my benefit that I have learned several things that I really needed to work on before my internship year begins, all from this one rotation. I can be thankful for that.
2. As much as I enjoy driving, I'm happy to be home. I was quite afraid I was going to get a DVT.
3. I spent way too much money on presents this year (but they all deserved it).
4. The lines this year were surprisingly short and bearable. And I didn't run into traffic at all (Except in Maryland. That just sucked).
5. Once again, Sears comes through for me. I <3 you!
6. Interviews are starting to wear me down. I hate taking time off from my current rotation so I can go for interviews. I wish my school gave us a month off for these things. And I'm not too keen on canceling any of them, but the more I look into it, I might just have to...ugh.
7. Still freaking out about matching into these residency programs.
8. The need to finish Thank You letters is mounting. Like, a lot! I have 3 schools to write for still!
9. Thank goodness, I finished all my bill-paying today. Now if the mailman will so kindly brave the blizzard, I will gladly hand him my posts.
10. My laundry doesn't seem to want to end. Where are all these dirty clothes coming from???
11. Seems like I'll be doing some flying as well in the next month. Miami and Houston, Yay!
12. I need a personal assistant. STAT!
13. Wow, this blizzard is really coming down like mad. This is seriously a white out! Not really looking forward to shoveling all of this crap tomorrow. But I suppose, it's a small price to pay for a snow day.
14. Nothing beats mom's home cookin'! Yum.
15. I seriously need to catch up on my TV. I'm making a Christmas request for next year: DVR, please.
16. It's amazing to see that Barnes and Noble has a whole section dedicated to teen vampires. What has the world come to?
17. It drives me up the wall when my school decides to do didactic teaching that is remotely relevant to our clinical learning. Why they insist on doing some humanities course now instead of something more useful like, oh developing assessment and plans or even being a more coherent/cohesive presenter of patient information, is really beyond me. My teeth hurt because of it. Wait, never mind. That's just the tin foil.
18. I have eczema. In my hands. And I want to peel the tar out of them because they itch so much. Nuff said.
19. And since I have hand eczema, I now have a new bane in my existence...the hospital hand sanitizer. When your hands are dry and cracking, dousing them with alcohol gel does not a happy med student make.
20. Is it spring yet?
Dun.
Song of the day: "Jupiter Or The Moon" - Los Lobos
Ok, that's all I got for now. I'm sure something amusing will
Monday, December 27, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
To the wire
Last week of my current rotation. And this time, it's a doozey. I have call on Monday and Thursday. That translates to two 30-hour in-hospital stays. Yuck. And Friday can't get here any sooner. God help me find the strength to endure and please help me not Fuck up.
It's snowing here and it's making everything look very Christmasy. Still, there's a sense of loneliness that comes with it, being away from home and from everything that's familiar to you and all. Thank goodness for friends. Especially ones that will put you up for the night or the month, or keep you company during the long hours, or cheer you up when things are rough.
This past month has certainly been challenging. It has for many a time, made me question my competence as a new physician. I bemoan much of my school's shortcomings during my training years, but that wouldn't be entirely fair. I have done my fair share of slacking off. So in a way, I am as much to blame for my misery now as my school. I suppose I'm really angry at myself for not being as stellar in this rotation as I thought I would be.
It really sucks when I know I'm right.
On another note, I need to get crackin' on my Christmas shopping. Yet another part of the season that I have been absolutely slack with. I owe lots of people good presents. They've been very good to me this year and I don't think I could have made it in one piece if it weren't for their help, love and supprot.
Thank goodness this rotation is the last of my away electives. I do enjoy the travel, but seriously, being a nomad is starting to take its toll on me. I miss my own bed and being in familiar surroundings. In a way, I can be thankful for the experience of what a bad residency can do to a person. It has shown me the importance of having family and loved ones nearby. It's nice knowing that other people have your back when the proverbial shit hits the fan. On that note, for this Christmas, I wish to find a residency that would suit me accordingly. One that will provide me with great training, but at the same time be supportive and forgiving of my foreseeable iniquities. Oh, and one with lots of cool and helpful new friends. Amen.
Song of the day: "I'll Be Home For Christmas" - Holly Conlan (Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs)
It's snowing here and it's making everything look very Christmasy. Still, there's a sense of loneliness that comes with it, being away from home and from everything that's familiar to you and all. Thank goodness for friends. Especially ones that will put you up for the night or the month, or keep you company during the long hours, or cheer you up when things are rough.
This past month has certainly been challenging. It has for many a time, made me question my competence as a new physician. I bemoan much of my school's shortcomings during my training years, but that wouldn't be entirely fair. I have done my fair share of slacking off. So in a way, I am as much to blame for my misery now as my school. I suppose I'm really angry at myself for not being as stellar in this rotation as I thought I would be.
It really sucks when I know I'm right.
On another note, I need to get crackin' on my Christmas shopping. Yet another part of the season that I have been absolutely slack with. I owe lots of people good presents. They've been very good to me this year and I don't think I could have made it in one piece if it weren't for their help, love and supprot.
Thank goodness this rotation is the last of my away electives. I do enjoy the travel, but seriously, being a nomad is starting to take its toll on me. I miss my own bed and being in familiar surroundings. In a way, I can be thankful for the experience of what a bad residency can do to a person. It has shown me the importance of having family and loved ones nearby. It's nice knowing that other people have your back when the proverbial shit hits the fan. On that note, for this Christmas, I wish to find a residency that would suit me accordingly. One that will provide me with great training, but at the same time be supportive and forgiving of my foreseeable iniquities. Oh, and one with lots of cool and helpful new friends. Amen.
Song of the day: "I'll Be Home For Christmas" - Holly Conlan (Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs)
Monday, December 6, 2010
Exercise in futility
I don't know why but my current rotation just leaves me feeling dumber than when I came in, especially on days when I am post-call.
There were other rotations I had done before that I think were just as rigorous and I was fine, but somehow this one really manages to suck the life out of me. I'm trying my best. I really am. It just seems never good enough for them. I'm not good enough.
The really sad part is just when I was feeling a little more comfortable about treating patients, now I've become more tentative and unsure of myself.
Song of the day: "Lost In My Mind" - The Head And The Heart
There were other rotations I had done before that I think were just as rigorous and I was fine, but somehow this one really manages to suck the life out of me. I'm trying my best. I really am. It just seems never good enough for them. I'm not good enough.
The really sad part is just when I was feeling a little more comfortable about treating patients, now I've become more tentative and unsure of myself.
Song of the day: "Lost In My Mind" - The Head And The Heart
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Good song
Don't you just hate it when you got a kick ass song on the radio on your way back home and you're uber pumped and you're singing the shit out of the tune when all of the sudden, you run out of air and you end up choking on your spit as you gasp desperately to catch your breath? Ugh, now it hurts to cough, it hurts to breathe, and I am not the driving rock star I envisioned myself to be.
EPIC FAIL.
P.S. Still coughing.
Song of the day: "No Such Thing As Love" - Bleu
EPIC FAIL.
P.S. Still coughing.
Song of the day: "No Such Thing As Love" - Bleu
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Give thanks
Happy thanksgiving everyone!
There are always many things in our lives that we can gripe about (please see the previous numerous entries), but we must always remember the few things in our lives that we can be thankful for. These are the things that help to sustain us in our hard times. These are the things that help to put our minds and lives into perspective, knowing that so many more people out there are much less fortunate than us. And perhaps we all should be moved to share such good fortune with our neighbors and fellowmen. Not just so we can feel better about ourselves or prove to others that we are charitable or better than they are or gain brownie points for heaven, but more so to remind us that wishing for a better world doesn't begin with the next person...No. It begins with us. And it doesn't take much to do a good deed...a simple thank you, a smile for the day, a helping hand, hell a simple silent moment so we can listen better to what the other person is trying to tell us. Whatever you can think or do to make another's day a little better does count for a lot. Now, imagine if that simple human decency is carried out by everybody...wow. I think it would blow many people's minds as to how peaceful our race can really be. Perhaps then, we might be recognized by the aliens as a species that's worthy of inclusion in the grand galactic federation of planets. Perhaps.
The point is, it is only too easy to fall into hard times. There is no talisman that can ward off the next illness or the next financial loss or the next catastrophe. Our good deeds may not prevent the end of the world, but we can always hope to inspire a few more souls out there with our humble yet powerful actions, and maybe, just maybe...even at the end of the world, life itself, wouldn't be so bad. Not when we can be thankful for each other.
And so, here are my thank yous...
1. To my family, for being themselves. Despite all my arguing and bellyaching, they are always there for me. Love you and thank you!
2. To new friends. You know who you are. Thank you for your time, support, and most of all, your acceptance of this eccentric, odd duckling. It's nice to know I have a place to stay when I'm in your neighborhood. And yes, you can stay with me when you're in my neck of the woods.
3. To old friends. It's nice to know that we can always pick up where we left off even if we haven't seen each other in a long while. That, and I can always rely on you all if I need to get rid of a body...figuratively speaking, of course.
4. To my health. While it may not exactly be good, it can always be worse.
5. To those who helped me along the way...through med school, rotations, sub-I's, for sharing their couches, food, wisdom and good company...many many thanks!
6. To my car, for being such a trooper after all the miles of driving up and down Jersey and many points outside...way outside!
7. To the hard times. Yes, I know what I said. They always tear me down, but somehow I find myself always built up. Better (It also helps when you have family and friends to back you up).
8. To my Garmin Nuvi, for ALMOST always getting me there. One request...please learn how to navigate through the Philadelphia suburbs. Other than that, you're golden! Thank you.
9. To Haribo Gummy Bears. Even though you chipped one of my fillings, I can't stay mad at you. You're just so good!
10. To Wikipedia. Well, I'm sure many of you can figure out why =).
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! SHARE THE LOVE!!!
Song of the day: "The Elephant Love Medley" - Moulin Rouge (Soundtrack)
There are always many things in our lives that we can gripe about (please see the previous numerous entries), but we must always remember the few things in our lives that we can be thankful for. These are the things that help to sustain us in our hard times. These are the things that help to put our minds and lives into perspective, knowing that so many more people out there are much less fortunate than us. And perhaps we all should be moved to share such good fortune with our neighbors and fellowmen. Not just so we can feel better about ourselves or prove to others that we are charitable or better than they are or gain brownie points for heaven, but more so to remind us that wishing for a better world doesn't begin with the next person...No. It begins with us. And it doesn't take much to do a good deed...a simple thank you, a smile for the day, a helping hand, hell a simple silent moment so we can listen better to what the other person is trying to tell us. Whatever you can think or do to make another's day a little better does count for a lot. Now, imagine if that simple human decency is carried out by everybody...wow. I think it would blow many people's minds as to how peaceful our race can really be. Perhaps then, we might be recognized by the aliens as a species that's worthy of inclusion in the grand galactic federation of planets. Perhaps.
The point is, it is only too easy to fall into hard times. There is no talisman that can ward off the next illness or the next financial loss or the next catastrophe. Our good deeds may not prevent the end of the world, but we can always hope to inspire a few more souls out there with our humble yet powerful actions, and maybe, just maybe...even at the end of the world, life itself, wouldn't be so bad. Not when we can be thankful for each other.
And so, here are my thank yous...
1. To my family, for being themselves. Despite all my arguing and bellyaching, they are always there for me. Love you and thank you!
2. To new friends. You know who you are. Thank you for your time, support, and most of all, your acceptance of this eccentric, odd duckling. It's nice to know I have a place to stay when I'm in your neighborhood. And yes, you can stay with me when you're in my neck of the woods.
3. To old friends. It's nice to know that we can always pick up where we left off even if we haven't seen each other in a long while. That, and I can always rely on you all if I need to get rid of a body...figuratively speaking, of course.
4. To my health. While it may not exactly be good, it can always be worse.
5. To those who helped me along the way...through med school, rotations, sub-I's, for sharing their couches, food, wisdom and good company...many many thanks!
6. To my car, for being such a trooper after all the miles of driving up and down Jersey and many points outside...way outside!
7. To the hard times. Yes, I know what I said. They always tear me down, but somehow I find myself always built up. Better (It also helps when you have family and friends to back you up).
8. To my Garmin Nuvi, for ALMOST always getting me there. One request...please learn how to navigate through the Philadelphia suburbs. Other than that, you're golden! Thank you.
9. To Haribo Gummy Bears. Even though you chipped one of my fillings, I can't stay mad at you. You're just so good!
10. To Wikipedia. Well, I'm sure many of you can figure out why =).
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! SHARE THE LOVE!!!
Song of the day: "The Elephant Love Medley" - Moulin Rouge (Soundtrack)
Sunday, November 21, 2010
RAWR!
One good turn deserves another.
Attention, eligible bachelors in the West Coast (Man-Children need not apply):
::Drum roll::
She's an intellectual without the condescension, shifting from Shakespeare to the Canucks in one effortless turn of the conversation.
She has elegant fashion taste (even with leopard print pumps) and makes it look effortless.
A natural when it comes to all things kitchen. Even with GF foods!
She's a hottie.
She's fit (like, "marathoner" fit).
And she's wicked funny.
Here's a lady that would make your mamas proud.
But of course, I can't drop you the 411, just like that.
So here's a hint: She might swing by in this here Bat Station, if you're lucky ;-).
Song of the day: "Peel Me A Grape" - Diana Krall
(I think this is what you need after today.)*
Attention, eligible bachelors in the West Coast (Man-Children need not apply):
::Drum roll::
She's an intellectual without the condescension, shifting from Shakespeare to the Canucks in one effortless turn of the conversation.
She has elegant fashion taste (even with leopard print pumps) and makes it look effortless.
A natural when it comes to all things kitchen. Even with GF foods!
She's a hottie.
She's fit (like, "marathoner" fit).
And she's wicked funny.
Here's a lady that would make your mamas proud.
But of course, I can't drop you the 411, just like that.
So here's a hint: She might swing by in this here Bat Station, if you're lucky ;-).
Song of the day: "Peel Me A Grape" - Diana Krall
(I think this is what you need after today.)*
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Simmer down!!!
The background:
This past month, I've been having lunch with and getting to know this pretty cute med student. She calls me her "lunch buddy." So yea...
Today:
This afternoon, I was doing a consultation when I see her out of the corner of my eye, walk in to the station. She doesn't say hi, she doesn't wave. She talks to another medical student and laughs at his joke or some other random comment.
Then I feel it. That all too familiar gorge rising, my face feeling flush, and the pulse in my temple pound. I was getting pissed. At her. At him. Seriously, I was getting jealous.
It took me a few minutes to settle down. I thought, "What the hell is happening? I'm getting all worked up, about NOTHING!!! WTF, man!!!"
I seriously never pegged myself to be the jealous type. But here I am, "civil as an orange" to quote an old play.
Wow. Who knew?
Song of the day: "Careless" - Amos Lee
This past month, I've been having lunch with and getting to know this pretty cute med student. She calls me her "lunch buddy." So yea...
Today:
This afternoon, I was doing a consultation when I see her out of the corner of my eye, walk in to the station. She doesn't say hi, she doesn't wave. She talks to another medical student and laughs at his joke or some other random comment.
Then I feel it. That all too familiar gorge rising, my face feeling flush, and the pulse in my temple pound. I was getting pissed. At her. At him. Seriously, I was getting jealous.
It took me a few minutes to settle down. I thought, "What the hell is happening? I'm getting all worked up, about NOTHING!!! WTF, man!!!"
I seriously never pegged myself to be the jealous type. But here I am, "civil as an orange" to quote an old play.
Wow. Who knew?
Song of the day: "Careless" - Amos Lee
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
It never fails...
Just when I think I'm having a good day, something always pops up to check me. Case in point, my last interview. The day went on smoothly, and I had a wonderful chat with my interviewer. By the end of it all, she gave me a very good recommendation. I thought, "sweet!"
After the interview, I hightail it to S.J. to get to my other doctor's appointment. I'm going an easy 80 on the Parkway (the same speed as everybody else, mind you), when Mr. State Trooper pulls me over for speeding. Granted, he's just doing his job, but seriously, there were like, 20 other cars going the same speed as me, if not faster! Regardless, I got a $56 ticket (no points, thank you Jesus!) and to top it all off, my car battery dies (I left the hazards and the radio on too long, I guess). Good thing I had my brand spankin' new automatic jump starter handy. It didn't work at first try, but a few adjustments of the clips and my car was back to life.
I made it to my appointment on time, only to find that my doctor is still clueless about my condition. So, she biopsied a piece of my skin (ouch!) and sent me for more blood tests. Lovely.
In summary:
Good = interview
Bad = speeding ticket, dying car battery (I have to buy a new one, BTW), still unknown malady. There are definitely more things to bitch about, but I figure, I should just limit it to the events of the day. Can't be too gloomy, right? Right!
In spite of all that, the interview I think made up for all of this other nonsense. I suppose we'll know in a few months.
Oh, just an update...I passed the 2nd part of my Boards as well as the PE portion! Woo hoo!! No more big exams until next year! Hahhhhhh...that's me breathing a brief sigh of relief...for now.
Song of the day: "Bug In A Web" - CALLmeKAT
After the interview, I hightail it to S.J. to get to my other doctor's appointment. I'm going an easy 80 on the Parkway (the same speed as everybody else, mind you), when Mr. State Trooper pulls me over for speeding. Granted, he's just doing his job, but seriously, there were like, 20 other cars going the same speed as me, if not faster! Regardless, I got a $56 ticket (no points, thank you Jesus!) and to top it all off, my car battery dies (I left the hazards and the radio on too long, I guess). Good thing I had my brand spankin' new automatic jump starter handy. It didn't work at first try, but a few adjustments of the clips and my car was back to life.
I made it to my appointment on time, only to find that my doctor is still clueless about my condition. So, she biopsied a piece of my skin (ouch!) and sent me for more blood tests. Lovely.
In summary:
Good = interview
Bad = speeding ticket, dying car battery (I have to buy a new one, BTW), still unknown malady. There are definitely more things to bitch about, but I figure, I should just limit it to the events of the day. Can't be too gloomy, right? Right!
In spite of all that, the interview I think made up for all of this other nonsense. I suppose we'll know in a few months.
Oh, just an update...I passed the 2nd part of my Boards as well as the PE portion! Woo hoo!! No more big exams until next year! Hahhhhhh...that's me breathing a brief sigh of relief...for now.
Song of the day: "Bug In A Web" - CALLmeKAT
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Damn you, Nick Hornby! Why do you have to be so right?!!!
I heard this song a while back and I've been meaning to comment about it here, but alas, I've been sidetracked multiple times.
Well, not today.
Anyhoo...this is probably the most honest story I've heard in a very long time. And the saddest.
What do you think?
Song of the day: "From Above" - Ben Folds and Nick Hornby
Well, not today.
Anyhoo...this is probably the most honest story I've heard in a very long time. And the saddest.
What do you think?
Song of the day: "From Above" - Ben Folds and Nick Hornby
Monday, November 1, 2010
Self Dx
OK...after much research, I think I have found a diagnosis for my ailment.
Eczema. Pure and simple. Nummular eczema, I think, to be specific...with matching hand eczema to boot. What pisses me off is that I have no idea what specifically triggered this.
So, I think my dermatologist got my diagnosis wrong, but her prescribed treatment is appropriate for the diagnosis I came up with for myself. The sad part is, I don't know exactly how long I'm to be on the steroids. My skin is drying out: good for the itchy parts, but bad because my skin gets really thin, and it cracks and bleeds. Also, I think I'm having a pretty bad resurgence of acne because of the steroids as well.
The disease process also doesn't necessarily abate like an infection or an injury. I don't have a time frame for how long this condition will last. For now, I'm calling it sub-acute, considering it's been more than a month and it's somewhat under control.
In summary: I'm a poor med student with itchy, bad skin...who owns a car that's making concerning noises despite multiple, costly interventions...and lives out of a suitcase, currently looking for a job. And I'm single. And hungry.
Could be worse.
I could be constipated too.
Song of the day: "Dream About The Future" - The Apples In Stereo
Eczema. Pure and simple. Nummular eczema, I think, to be specific...with matching hand eczema to boot. What pisses me off is that I have no idea what specifically triggered this.
So, I think my dermatologist got my diagnosis wrong, but her prescribed treatment is appropriate for the diagnosis I came up with for myself. The sad part is, I don't know exactly how long I'm to be on the steroids. My skin is drying out: good for the itchy parts, but bad because my skin gets really thin, and it cracks and bleeds. Also, I think I'm having a pretty bad resurgence of acne because of the steroids as well.
The disease process also doesn't necessarily abate like an infection or an injury. I don't have a time frame for how long this condition will last. For now, I'm calling it sub-acute, considering it's been more than a month and it's somewhat under control.
In summary: I'm a poor med student with itchy, bad skin...who owns a car that's making concerning noises despite multiple, costly interventions...and lives out of a suitcase, currently looking for a job. And I'm single. And hungry.
Could be worse.
I could be constipated too.
Song of the day: "Dream About The Future" - The Apples In Stereo
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Disappointed
My faith in the medical field is starting to wane. When it seemed like my condition was beginning to abate on a course of steroids, after the pills were finished, my malady began to surface once more. Frankly, I'm disappointed that the medication only masked my symptoms for a while. And I'm not entirely convinced that the doctor got my diagnosis exactly right.
I'm uncomfortable, I'm itchy, and I'm starting to look like Quasimodo...at least, my hands do, anyway.
And the timing couldn't be any more perfect. For the next 3 months, I will be doing a lot of traveling to different rotation sites and various residency interviews. At a time when personality, board scores, and looks are taken into consideration, I am deathly afraid that I might end up going into one of these interviews all covered in band aids and looking like a psychotic leper.
I need help. And I need it, fast. :(
Song of the day: "Repo Man" - Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs
I'm uncomfortable, I'm itchy, and I'm starting to look like Quasimodo...at least, my hands do, anyway.
And the timing couldn't be any more perfect. For the next 3 months, I will be doing a lot of traveling to different rotation sites and various residency interviews. At a time when personality, board scores, and looks are taken into consideration, I am deathly afraid that I might end up going into one of these interviews all covered in band aids and looking like a psychotic leper.
I need help. And I need it, fast. :(
Song of the day: "Repo Man" - Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Ermmm...sorry.
For being away so long, I apologize.
I have been sick. For about a month.
At first I thought I was having a bad allergic reaction to something I don't know.
Then the hives got worse and then I thought "bedbugs." I know, gross.
I became quite paranoid and pretty much vacuumed and cleaned and recleaned and re-recleaned everything I had.
But the damn hives didn't get any better...that is until I was put on steroids.
Apparently it was an allergic reaction to either a viral or a bacterial infection that I had recently.
Well, so far, the itchiness and hives have gone away for the most part. Lets hope they stay away for good once I finish the steroid regimen.
On another note, I went to a friend's wedding and managed a slow dance with one of her friends towards the end of the reception. Then I asked for her number (my friend's friend). Then she gave it to me. Problem is, she lives in Connecticut and getting in touch with her is a bit dodgy. I called her a week ago, she called me today, I texted back. I'll call her again tomorrow to see if I can make a date happen.
So my Massachusetts rotation is all finished. It was a very mixed outcome at the end of it all. I had an Honors and Pass grade...I guess I wasn't as good in my last rotation as I thought I was. On the upside, I did learn a lot, and I enjoyed myself there for the most part. Now if only they'd send me an invite for an interview.
Speaking of which, I have 11 residency interviews to date. The first one, being done this past week. Not much to go on. Lots of vague questions, and plenty of me, being absolutely nervous and possibly babbling the whole time. That and I was fighting the fatigue from the night before, not being able to sleep properly because I was so nervous. I hope the next interview will be better.
So, that is my update. More to come soon, I'm sure.
Song of the day: "Intro" -> "Crystalized" - The XX (Live)
I have been sick. For about a month.
At first I thought I was having a bad allergic reaction to something I don't know.
Then the hives got worse and then I thought "bedbugs." I know, gross.
I became quite paranoid and pretty much vacuumed and cleaned and recleaned and re-recleaned everything I had.
But the damn hives didn't get any better...that is until I was put on steroids.
Apparently it was an allergic reaction to either a viral or a bacterial infection that I had recently.
Well, so far, the itchiness and hives have gone away for the most part. Lets hope they stay away for good once I finish the steroid regimen.
On another note, I went to a friend's wedding and managed a slow dance with one of her friends towards the end of the reception. Then I asked for her number (my friend's friend). Then she gave it to me. Problem is, she lives in Connecticut and getting in touch with her is a bit dodgy. I called her a week ago, she called me today, I texted back. I'll call her again tomorrow to see if I can make a date happen.
So my Massachusetts rotation is all finished. It was a very mixed outcome at the end of it all. I had an Honors and Pass grade...I guess I wasn't as good in my last rotation as I thought I was. On the upside, I did learn a lot, and I enjoyed myself there for the most part. Now if only they'd send me an invite for an interview.
Speaking of which, I have 11 residency interviews to date. The first one, being done this past week. Not much to go on. Lots of vague questions, and plenty of me, being absolutely nervous and possibly babbling the whole time. That and I was fighting the fatigue from the night before, not being able to sleep properly because I was so nervous. I hope the next interview will be better.
So, that is my update. More to come soon, I'm sure.
Song of the day: "Intro" -> "Crystalized" - The XX (Live)
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Something
2 generalities I stumbled upon tonight that might be important for the rest of the male single persuasion:
1. It pays to be the guy who knows how to fix things.
2. Being funny goes a long way.
Song of the day: "Tonight I Can Write..." - Andy Garcia reading a poem by Pablo Neruda (From the movie "Il Postino")
1. It pays to be the guy who knows how to fix things.
2. Being funny goes a long way.
Song of the day: "Tonight I Can Write..." - Andy Garcia reading a poem by Pablo Neruda (From the movie "Il Postino")
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Hurray +2!!
2, count'em...2 - interviews for residency so far. I hope all of this pans out!
Song of the day: "Angel Dance" - Robert Plant
Song of the day: "Angel Dance" - Robert Plant
HURRAY!!!
Ok, not exactly hurray, but maybe a mini one.
I finally submitted my applications for residencies!
I've made my decision about 9 residency programs so far.
I want to add about 9-10 more.
Pray for interviews soon!
My rotation here in Massachusetts is almost at an end. It's been amazing to say the least. I'm also going to miss living with my old college friends as well. They've been more than gracious and generous hosts. I hope that I get considered for a residency post here.
Now I have to study for another standardized test for next week.
But first, I have to book a hotel near the testing site. It's a pain in the butt to drive all the way from Mass. to Conshohocken, PA on test day.
...feels like all I've been doing is just spending money. Oh well.
Song of the day: "Two Weeks" - Grizzly Bear
I finally submitted my applications for residencies!
I've made my decision about 9 residency programs so far.
I want to add about 9-10 more.
Pray for interviews soon!
My rotation here in Massachusetts is almost at an end. It's been amazing to say the least. I'm also going to miss living with my old college friends as well. They've been more than gracious and generous hosts. I hope that I get considered for a residency post here.
Now I have to study for another standardized test for next week.
But first, I have to book a hotel near the testing site. It's a pain in the butt to drive all the way from Mass. to Conshohocken, PA on test day.
...feels like all I've been doing is just spending money. Oh well.
Song of the day: "Two Weeks" - Grizzly Bear
Monday, August 30, 2010
Epic tech fail
My ipod touch is being a bitch. A stupid whiney bitch. And it's making me into a biotch!!!
WTF! After I updated my itunes, it decides to go all error-y on me and not sync properly. Now all of my songs are without an ipod and it's driving me up the wall trying to figure out what the hell went wrong. What's worse is I can't manually put the songs back into the Touch because of even more "errors" that itunes is telling me about. Weak.
Not cool, Apple.
Song of the day: "Drop" - Cornelius
WTF! After I updated my itunes, it decides to go all error-y on me and not sync properly. Now all of my songs are without an ipod and it's driving me up the wall trying to figure out what the hell went wrong. What's worse is I can't manually put the songs back into the Touch because of even more "errors" that itunes is telling me about. Weak.
Not cool, Apple.
Song of the day: "Drop" - Cornelius
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Hey, remember that time...
I had just finished my first gen chem exam during my freshman year in college.
It was Hard. With a capital H.
All I wanted to do afterwards was eat soft chew cookies. With milk.
So I went to the grocery store and picked up a pack of Chips Ahoy and a quart of milk.
I ate the cookies. The milk, I put in the fridge and forgot about it.
A few days later, I got worried that the milk might go bad, so I bought another thing of cookies and this time I drank the milk with them (and yes, I did check the expiration date...and it was still good).
A few hours later, I had all sorts of stomach problems. Painful and noisy stomach problems.
I thought about the milk being the culprit.
So I called my friend, Chris and told him about how I got gyped by buying fast-expiring milk, even tho it tasted fine.
He said I had lactose intolerance.
I never had problems tolerating lactose-containing foods before. I refused to believe.
I told him that if I did have lactose intolerance, I'll just keep drinking milk until I grow a tolerance for it.
And so I did.
Bad idea.
Really bad idea.
And that's how I found out that I had lactose intolerance.
The End.
Song of the day: "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" - Eric Idle (Monty Python)
It was Hard. With a capital H.
All I wanted to do afterwards was eat soft chew cookies. With milk.
So I went to the grocery store and picked up a pack of Chips Ahoy and a quart of milk.
I ate the cookies. The milk, I put in the fridge and forgot about it.
A few days later, I got worried that the milk might go bad, so I bought another thing of cookies and this time I drank the milk with them (and yes, I did check the expiration date...and it was still good).
A few hours later, I had all sorts of stomach problems. Painful and noisy stomach problems.
I thought about the milk being the culprit.
So I called my friend, Chris and told him about how I got gyped by buying fast-expiring milk, even tho it tasted fine.
He said I had lactose intolerance.
I never had problems tolerating lactose-containing foods before. I refused to believe.
I told him that if I did have lactose intolerance, I'll just keep drinking milk until I grow a tolerance for it.
And so I did.
Bad idea.
Really bad idea.
And that's how I found out that I had lactose intolerance.
The End.
Song of the day: "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" - Eric Idle (Monty Python)
Monday, August 16, 2010
"Like a 45 record in the back of my mind..."
As usual, another band beat me to my own lyrics.
This band is absolutely mining my own thoughts.
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!
But I can't really fault them. They're really good musicians.
And this song just has a really fun retro 80's feel with hints of Spoon in it - and catchy as all hell.
It's been stuck in my head since this afternoon on the drive back home.
The song pretty much describes the kind of crushes I tend to fall for. As sad as how that may come out.
So it's ok to be in my head...this time.
Song of the day: "What's The Drawback" - The Silver Seas
This band is absolutely mining my own thoughts.
GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!
But I can't really fault them. They're really good musicians.
And this song just has a really fun retro 80's feel with hints of Spoon in it - and catchy as all hell.
It's been stuck in my head since this afternoon on the drive back home.
The song pretty much describes the kind of crushes I tend to fall for. As sad as how that may come out.
So it's ok to be in my head...this time.
Song of the day: "What's The Drawback" - The Silver Seas
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Music and the mind
Ok, remember a few posts back when I featured Ms. Melody Gardot in my "Song of the day" portion? Well, just recently, I came across an article that was featured in my school's website and it focused around Ms. Gardot and one of my professors, Dr. Jermyn, who had a hand in helping her to rehabilitate after an unfortunate accident that happened to her a few years ago. Shortly put, Ms. Gardot was hit by an SUV, which left her in chronic pain and other debilitating sequelae. After exhaustive treatments with drugs, physical therapy, etc. with many doctors, Dr. Jermyn finally suggested that she should restart what she used to do for fun as part of her rehab program, which was playing the piano. Sure enough, it helped her to heal, and in a big way too, since she's now a very accomplished jazz performer and recording artist.
Here's the school link and the Elle link as well. It's called "Composing Melody: The Enigmatic Melody Gardot."
Hope you likes.
Song of the day: "Over The Rainbow" - Melody Gardot
...like you didn't see this coming.
Here's the school link and the Elle link as well. It's called "Composing Melody: The Enigmatic Melody Gardot."
Hope you likes.
Song of the day: "Over The Rainbow" - Melody Gardot
...like you didn't see this coming.
Week 1, dun!
One week down, 7 more to go, with call duty, step 2 and step 2 PE. Bring it!
Today, I pretty much tried to be as productive as possible. Got up early, read a bit, went to the local farmer's market, got some fresh produce and hightailed it back to the lair to cook up my catch all before 11am. Not bad.
Once belly was full and amply caffeinated, I proceeded to hit the Q-bank with gusto. Looks like I'm ready w/ peds and surgery questions. IM, however is still proving to be a tough nut to crack. did about 200 questions. Will probably do 200 more tonight if I don't get all comatose-like after dinner.
6pm. Off to Whole foods to get more provisions that I wasn't able to get from the FM. Big shocker: 13 bux for almond butter. WTF?!?! While it is fun to peruse the aisles for all the colorful, organic fare, the prices are just ridiculously out of hand. Looks like I'll be sticking to my good ol' Shoprite for the time being. I tell you what tho, I found this amazing can of butter beans, and I might just be tempted to go back, just to stock up on them.
A 1/2 hour later, it's off to the neighboring liquor store for some cold beverages. This place had a crazy variety of local beers...I was so tempted to buy at least 3 different 6-packs. But, good sense and lack funds did sway me back to sobriety, so I just bought the Sam Adams coastal wheat (wheat ale w/ California lemon peel). I must say, I found a new Sam favorite. This went well with the steak and bean-carrot-tater hash that I prepped for tonight's supper.
So far, so good.
Song of the day: "Rubber Duckie" - Ernie from Sesame Street
Today, I pretty much tried to be as productive as possible. Got up early, read a bit, went to the local farmer's market, got some fresh produce and hightailed it back to the lair to cook up my catch all before 11am. Not bad.
Once belly was full and amply caffeinated, I proceeded to hit the Q-bank with gusto. Looks like I'm ready w/ peds and surgery questions. IM, however is still proving to be a tough nut to crack. did about 200 questions. Will probably do 200 more tonight if I don't get all comatose-like after dinner.
6pm. Off to Whole foods to get more provisions that I wasn't able to get from the FM. Big shocker: 13 bux for almond butter. WTF?!?! While it is fun to peruse the aisles for all the colorful, organic fare, the prices are just ridiculously out of hand. Looks like I'll be sticking to my good ol' Shoprite for the time being. I tell you what tho, I found this amazing can of butter beans, and I might just be tempted to go back, just to stock up on them.
A 1/2 hour later, it's off to the neighboring liquor store for some cold beverages. This place had a crazy variety of local beers...I was so tempted to buy at least 3 different 6-packs. But, good sense and lack funds did sway me back to sobriety, so I just bought the Sam Adams coastal wheat (wheat ale w/ California lemon peel). I must say, I found a new Sam favorite. This went well with the steak and bean-carrot-tater hash that I prepped for tonight's supper.
So far, so good.
Song of the day: "Rubber Duckie" - Ernie from Sesame Street
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Massachusetts: Day 1, noonish
Overslept, but then again, I was up plenty late last night. I hope I don't oversleep in the next 2 months.
As I said, the only snafu last night was the futon not unfolding. Otherwise everything else has been pretty nice up here.
Living by myself these past few weeks (my sis and BIL were vacationing in the the Philippines) has made me realize how much I enjoyed being independent, having my own place to stay. Being here in my friend's condo is making it even more apparent. Aside from the usual headaches of owning your own place (rent, upkeep, utilites, etc), that feeling of independence you get is well worth the price - "a man's home is his castle" is definitely true.
It's peaceful up here. The weather has been very nice and cool. Chris's place has lots of windows and the rooms get really good light, which makes me happy. It's a 3 story condo so I get a very cool elevated view of the street below. Him and his wife Allison have similar tastes as I do (we were all friends in college), so I feel very at home in their condo. There's plenty of eccentricities around this place: books, instruments, electronics, artwork, and lots of gadgets that I need to familiarize myself with (especially their fancy coffee maker), but that's what makes this place fun.
It's a little lonely being here on my own, but never sad. I've been doing lots of remembering, random rehashing of good times in the past few years. Lots of speculation of the near future as well (Step 2, Residency Applications, Interviews, Matching, the "single"ness ). It can get distressing at times, but I think it's a potent impetus for me to get my things in order for now. It also makes me feel busy so I'm not bored.
I'll go food shopping today and later on, take a drive to the hospital that I'll be working in tomorrow so I can better orient myself. For now, It's study time, coffee, and Miles.
Song of the day: "It Never Entered My Mind" - Miles Davis
As I said, the only snafu last night was the futon not unfolding. Otherwise everything else has been pretty nice up here.
Living by myself these past few weeks (my sis and BIL were vacationing in the the Philippines) has made me realize how much I enjoyed being independent, having my own place to stay. Being here in my friend's condo is making it even more apparent. Aside from the usual headaches of owning your own place (rent, upkeep, utilites, etc), that feeling of independence you get is well worth the price - "a man's home is his castle" is definitely true.
It's peaceful up here. The weather has been very nice and cool. Chris's place has lots of windows and the rooms get really good light, which makes me happy. It's a 3 story condo so I get a very cool elevated view of the street below. Him and his wife Allison have similar tastes as I do (we were all friends in college), so I feel very at home in their condo. There's plenty of eccentricities around this place: books, instruments, electronics, artwork, and lots of gadgets that I need to familiarize myself with (especially their fancy coffee maker), but that's what makes this place fun.
It's a little lonely being here on my own, but never sad. I've been doing lots of remembering, random rehashing of good times in the past few years. Lots of speculation of the near future as well (Step 2, Residency Applications, Interviews, Matching, the "single"ness ). It can get distressing at times, but I think it's a potent impetus for me to get my things in order for now. It also makes me feel busy so I'm not bored.
I'll go food shopping today and later on, take a drive to the hospital that I'll be working in tomorrow so I can better orient myself. For now, It's study time, coffee, and Miles.
Song of the day: "It Never Entered My Mind" - Miles Davis
Massachusetts: Day 1
Rolled into town about 1am. Earlier in the day, I was over @ my friend, Chris's family gathering, getting fed to the gills with delicious food and even better dessert (FYI, fresh peaches with a flour crust in cobbler is ridiculously good) and getting absolutely humiliated with Chris and Allison's wedding video of me, drunkenly shaking my booty on the dance floor.
Chris and Al were kind enough to house me for the next 2 months here in MA for my subinternships. While they go on their much delayed honeymoon (about a year or so), I am sorta house-sitting for them at the same time. So far, so good. Seems like the only hitch is the futon, not cooperating with me with the unfolding. Stubborn futon. Oh well.
The ride was good. No traffic and I got travel a new road: the Merritt Parkway. Granted, I can't really see the landscape @ night, but it seemed like the road was flanked on both sides by really big trees and the moonlight made them seem cooler. I guess Connecticut isn't so bad to drive after all.
I'm going exploring tomorrow. I'll bring the camera and hopefully get to snap a few cool pics and figure out exactly what I'm supposed to do come Monday morning.
Song of the day: "Baby I'm A Fool" - Melody Gardot
Chris and Al were kind enough to house me for the next 2 months here in MA for my subinternships. While they go on their much delayed honeymoon (about a year or so), I am sorta house-sitting for them at the same time. So far, so good. Seems like the only hitch is the futon, not cooperating with me with the unfolding. Stubborn futon. Oh well.
The ride was good. No traffic and I got travel a new road: the Merritt Parkway. Granted, I can't really see the landscape @ night, but it seemed like the road was flanked on both sides by really big trees and the moonlight made them seem cooler. I guess Connecticut isn't so bad to drive after all.
I'm going exploring tomorrow. I'll bring the camera and hopefully get to snap a few cool pics and figure out exactly what I'm supposed to do come Monday morning.
Song of the day: "Baby I'm A Fool" - Melody Gardot
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The travails of a poor med student.
Today, I took my car in for a checkup. It's making funny noises, like a helicopter prop, especially when it hits 50+ mph and up. I thought it was the tires. I take it to the dealer and the mechanic figures that my tires need rotating..."simple, cheap fix" is what he says.
An hour later, he tells me, my right-sided tires (front and back) have nails in them, the back right tire is losing pressure because of an old tire patch that was placed there is no longer holding up, and that both tires are thinning on tread. He suggests new tires. Suddenly, my $24 fix has jumped up to $290. What am I gonna do? I came in to get my baby fixed and so, I must pay the price. Another hour and $290 later, the mechanic hands me my keys. So I go home. Not 5 minutes after I got on the highway, the damn noise starts again. Same noise. So now, I'm almost $300 poorer and nowhere near fixing my poor car. And I have to be on the road to Massachusetts by Saturday. Needless to say, I called the dealer back and complained. They said to bring the car in early in the morning tomorrow for a full checkup. I have a feeling that this time, the fix is gonna cost me more than $300. Lovely.
To make things worse, my Financial Aid Office just sent an email about a new tuition increase. Now, I have to pay $1161.50 more by the end of August. Where am I to get that scratch, you ask? No choice but to increase my loan. Again. What's a few thousand more in the grand scheme of things? I'm already 150K+ in the hole. FML.
Song of the day: "Numbers Don't Lie" - The Mynabirds
An hour later, he tells me, my right-sided tires (front and back) have nails in them, the back right tire is losing pressure because of an old tire patch that was placed there is no longer holding up, and that both tires are thinning on tread. He suggests new tires. Suddenly, my $24 fix has jumped up to $290. What am I gonna do? I came in to get my baby fixed and so, I must pay the price. Another hour and $290 later, the mechanic hands me my keys. So I go home. Not 5 minutes after I got on the highway, the damn noise starts again. Same noise. So now, I'm almost $300 poorer and nowhere near fixing my poor car. And I have to be on the road to Massachusetts by Saturday. Needless to say, I called the dealer back and complained. They said to bring the car in early in the morning tomorrow for a full checkup. I have a feeling that this time, the fix is gonna cost me more than $300. Lovely.
To make things worse, my Financial Aid Office just sent an email about a new tuition increase. Now, I have to pay $1161.50 more by the end of August. Where am I to get that scratch, you ask? No choice but to increase my loan. Again. What's a few thousand more in the grand scheme of things? I'm already 150K+ in the hole. FML.
Song of the day: "Numbers Don't Lie" - The Mynabirds
Friday, July 23, 2010
Interview
For the curious...in reference to my last post.
1. Author: Paulo Coelho - "The Alchemist." Musician: Jeff Buckley - "Lover, You Should've Come Over."
2. Lock Picking. I think that would be a really cool skill to own ::sly grin::
3. Two sugars. I used to take it black, but I needed to cut the bitter with a little sweet. Kinda like life.
4. The Heimlich, proper CPR, how to use chopsticks, knitting, how to skip stones, changing a tire, opening a beer bottle with a lighter...
5. Marlon Brando, the younger version of him. Just check out his delivery of this Shakespeare monologue and you'll know why he's in my head.
6. Yes, I do believe in destiny, but more importantly, I believe that the path we take and not our destination is what makes our life in this earth, special.
7. I think I was a grizzly bear, hunting wild salmon in the rivers of the great northwest United States in a former life.
8. Formaldehyde, more specifically, the smell of our anatomy lab. No matter how many layers of gloves you wear, it still gets to your fingernails, hair, scrubs...just gross. On the flip side, firewood burning during a crisp winter evening...there's nothing like it.
9. Ploosh (n.) - state of confusion or disorientation specifically caused by an overload of information, followed by difficult questioning. Ex. Medical students rarely raise their hands after nephrology lecture because they are in ploosh.
10. 12:34am...I'm either super tired or extremely energetic.
11. CYRANO DE BERGERAC - technically, he did exist in real life, but the character in Rostand's play is much more interesting. Poet, musician, philosopher, soldier, duelist, physicist, comedian, and true blue romantic. He certainly tried to accomplish what he set out to do: excel in everything.
12. My inability to rein in my geekish sensibilities.
13. Never really had one. I suppose I should start. I would like to cross out this one in particular: travel ALL the States in the Union by eating my way through them or at least visiting all their famous national parks.
14. I'm currently writing my personal statement for my residency application. EPIC FAIL.
15. Me, flying/hovering over white sand dunes. Pretty much that's all there is to it. It's fun tho, getting the sensation that I'm flying, especially if I'm having a vivid dream.
16. I answered this one before, but I do have others in mind: A Zebra F-301 pen is also a very good choice. I like the weight of the pen and the thinness of the stroke.
17. Midnight picnic @ the beach a week before Memorial Day, when there were few people around. A new moon was out, a bottle of red was at hand and bag full of fresh, sweet cherries was the main course. We sat on the sand, dug in and buried our feet, and proceeded to have a cherry pit-spitting contest. I fell in love that night.
18. See the answer to question 11. Either him or Yoda. I'd like to think that in some ways, I'm slowly figuring out how to be more like them...except for the using-the-force thingy. That part, I can't seem to ever get the hang of.
19. "He loved and was loved in return."
20. My last meal...I really don't want a last meal but the whole course from breakfast to dinner and dessert.
Breakfast: 2 eggs over medium, kalo kalo (garlic fried rice), longanisa +/- daing (dried, salted fish) and strong coffee.
Lunch: White rice, Fried Tilapia with soy sauce (or almost any fish for this matter) and Apan-Apan. Semi-ripe indian mangoes with sauteed shrimp paste as an appetizer.
Afternoon snack: Fruit (Lansones, Santol, Serguilas, mainly asian fruits).
Dinner: Grilled pork or a very large aged kobe beef steak, A1 steak sauce, sweet potato fries (or potato pancakes from the Nevada Diner) and a Sam Adams.
Dessert: rocky road ice cream over pecan pie (I can settle for vanilla).
What can I say? I'm a glutton.
Song of the day: "I Don't Know" - Lisa Hannigan
BTW, check the link I placed in Lisa Hannigan's name. It's the official video of this song and it is very cool.
1. Author: Paulo Coelho - "The Alchemist." Musician: Jeff Buckley - "Lover, You Should've Come Over."
2. Lock Picking. I think that would be a really cool skill to own ::sly grin::
3. Two sugars. I used to take it black, but I needed to cut the bitter with a little sweet. Kinda like life.
4. The Heimlich, proper CPR, how to use chopsticks, knitting, how to skip stones, changing a tire, opening a beer bottle with a lighter...
5. Marlon Brando, the younger version of him. Just check out his delivery of this Shakespeare monologue and you'll know why he's in my head.
6. Yes, I do believe in destiny, but more importantly, I believe that the path we take and not our destination is what makes our life in this earth, special.
7. I think I was a grizzly bear, hunting wild salmon in the rivers of the great northwest United States in a former life.
8. Formaldehyde, more specifically, the smell of our anatomy lab. No matter how many layers of gloves you wear, it still gets to your fingernails, hair, scrubs...just gross. On the flip side, firewood burning during a crisp winter evening...there's nothing like it.
9. Ploosh (n.) - state of confusion or disorientation specifically caused by an overload of information, followed by difficult questioning. Ex. Medical students rarely raise their hands after nephrology lecture because they are in ploosh.
10. 12:34am...I'm either super tired or extremely energetic.
11. CYRANO DE BERGERAC - technically, he did exist in real life, but the character in Rostand's play is much more interesting. Poet, musician, philosopher, soldier, duelist, physicist, comedian, and true blue romantic. He certainly tried to accomplish what he set out to do: excel in everything.
12. My inability to rein in my geekish sensibilities.
13. Never really had one. I suppose I should start. I would like to cross out this one in particular: travel ALL the States in the Union by eating my way through them or at least visiting all their famous national parks.
14. I'm currently writing my personal statement for my residency application. EPIC FAIL.
15. Me, flying/hovering over white sand dunes. Pretty much that's all there is to it. It's fun tho, getting the sensation that I'm flying, especially if I'm having a vivid dream.
16. I answered this one before, but I do have others in mind: A Zebra F-301 pen is also a very good choice. I like the weight of the pen and the thinness of the stroke.
17. Midnight picnic @ the beach a week before Memorial Day, when there were few people around. A new moon was out, a bottle of red was at hand and bag full of fresh, sweet cherries was the main course. We sat on the sand, dug in and buried our feet, and proceeded to have a cherry pit-spitting contest. I fell in love that night.
18. See the answer to question 11. Either him or Yoda. I'd like to think that in some ways, I'm slowly figuring out how to be more like them...except for the using-the-force thingy. That part, I can't seem to ever get the hang of.
19. "He loved and was loved in return."
20. My last meal...I really don't want a last meal but the whole course from breakfast to dinner and dessert.
Breakfast: 2 eggs over medium, kalo kalo (garlic fried rice), longanisa +/- daing (dried, salted fish) and strong coffee.
Lunch: White rice, Fried Tilapia with soy sauce (or almost any fish for this matter) and Apan-Apan. Semi-ripe indian mangoes with sauteed shrimp paste as an appetizer.
Afternoon snack: Fruit (Lansones, Santol, Serguilas, mainly asian fruits).
Dinner: Grilled pork or a very large aged kobe beef steak, A1 steak sauce, sweet potato fries (or potato pancakes from the Nevada Diner) and a Sam Adams.
Dessert: rocky road ice cream over pecan pie (I can settle for vanilla).
What can I say? I'm a glutton.
Song of the day: "I Don't Know" - Lisa Hannigan
BTW, check the link I placed in Lisa Hannigan's name. It's the official video of this song and it is very cool.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Thinkin' of U
Here's a little glimpse into my mind.
I've grouped a few questions together for you to answer (should you choose to accept the task). Your answer can be as detailed or abbreviated as you wish. Of course, the more detailed, the more fun we'll have.
The object is for me to evoke strong (mostly positive) emotions from you. In return, I can gauge how well we vibe together, regardless of the similarity of our sensibilities.
Feel free to come up with your own questions and send them my way or towards your other readers. You can also use my questions too, just make sure you give me credit ;-)
This is just an exercise in connection, nothing more. You don't have to read into this. This is supposed to be fun. I repeat...FUN!
Here goes:
1. What artist/musician/author, etc. helped to define you as the person you are now? Any particular work of art/song/written work, etc?
2. If somebody offered to tutor you in 1 skill of your choosing (towards mastery), what would it be and why?
3. How do you take your coffee/tea? Or if neither, substitute appropriate eye-opener.
4. What can you teach somebody in 5 minutes that could help enrich their life?
5. Who does your inner monologue voice? Why him/her?
6. Do you believe in destiny?
7. Where did you think your previous reincarnated self came from (place/time/any other specifics you can add would also be very helpful)?
8. What is the one smell you hate the most in this world? It's antithesis?
9. Make up a novel word and define it, please?
10. Favorite time of the day/night?
11. If you could bring a literary character to life, who would it be?
12. What do you think makes you weird in the eyes of others?
13. What's the most recent item you've crossed out from your bucket list?
14. Tell me about your most recent artistic exploit/project if any?
15. What's your recurring dream about?
16. Which writing implement are you most fond of (e.g. my personal choice = Pilot Precise V5RT black ink)?
17. What was your most perfect day?
18. If you could emulate one person, who would it be? Are you actively trying to emulate them now?
19. What would you like your epitaph to say about you?
20. You've lived a full and for the most part, a wonderful life. You've written your will, said your goodbyes, made your peace with your enemies, and made love with the love of your life. Now all that's left is for you to have your last meal. What would it be?
I hope you had fun answering these questions. Let me know how it turns out.
Song of the day: "Never Tear Us Apart" - Beck and Friends (INXS Cover)
Thanks, Mike!
I've grouped a few questions together for you to answer (should you choose to accept the task). Your answer can be as detailed or abbreviated as you wish. Of course, the more detailed, the more fun we'll have.
The object is for me to evoke strong (mostly positive) emotions from you. In return, I can gauge how well we vibe together, regardless of the similarity of our sensibilities.
Feel free to come up with your own questions and send them my way or towards your other readers. You can also use my questions too, just make sure you give me credit ;-)
This is just an exercise in connection, nothing more. You don't have to read into this. This is supposed to be fun. I repeat...FUN!
Here goes:
1. What artist/musician/author, etc. helped to define you as the person you are now? Any particular work of art/song/written work, etc?
2. If somebody offered to tutor you in 1 skill of your choosing (towards mastery), what would it be and why?
3. How do you take your coffee/tea? Or if neither, substitute appropriate eye-opener.
4. What can you teach somebody in 5 minutes that could help enrich their life?
5. Who does your inner monologue voice? Why him/her?
6. Do you believe in destiny?
7. Where did you think your previous reincarnated self came from (place/time/any other specifics you can add would also be very helpful)?
8. What is the one smell you hate the most in this world? It's antithesis?
9. Make up a novel word and define it, please?
10. Favorite time of the day/night?
11. If you could bring a literary character to life, who would it be?
12. What do you think makes you weird in the eyes of others?
13. What's the most recent item you've crossed out from your bucket list?
14. Tell me about your most recent artistic exploit/project if any?
15. What's your recurring dream about?
16. Which writing implement are you most fond of (e.g. my personal choice = Pilot Precise V5RT black ink)?
17. What was your most perfect day?
18. If you could emulate one person, who would it be? Are you actively trying to emulate them now?
19. What would you like your epitaph to say about you?
20. You've lived a full and for the most part, a wonderful life. You've written your will, said your goodbyes, made your peace with your enemies, and made love with the love of your life. Now all that's left is for you to have your last meal. What would it be?
I hope you had fun answering these questions. Let me know how it turns out.
Song of the day: "Never Tear Us Apart" - Beck and Friends (INXS Cover)
Thanks, Mike!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
A dart in the map
Am I wrong or even insensitive/selfish for even considering the possibility of applying for a residency somewhere other than NJ? I've had many conversations like this before with cousins, relatives, and the most recent one, my brother-in-law and sister. They site the fact that my parents are getting older and in their golden years, might need a little helping hand or so. Hmmm. Great. So they pad the argument by saying that I've been always "independent" and that I have my "own life to lead," but in the end they get their digs by playing the "elderly parents" card, emphasizing the idea that I should remain within a 1+ hour driving range. They even question the idea of me living in neighboring States like New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
A few things bother me about this:
1. My parents aren't that old. They're in their 50s and are very independent. And aside from the usual old people problems (HTN, arthritis, smoking), they still have a number of good years ahead of them, provided they smarten up and quit smoking/eat better. If they need help, they got my number.
2. I've lived in Jersey for most of my adolescent/adult life. I believe I'm entitled to put down roots of my own in other places in this great country of ours. Places where a sales tax is non-existent and property taxes are actually reasonable. Places where nosy neighbors are very few and so is the traffic. Besides, I go where the work takes me.
3. I'll be damned to let others dictate where I go, considering that I'm the one paying for my med school education. If they decide to cover the 180K+ bill, then I'll go wherever they please. Maybe.
4. One of my mentors told me that there are really good job offers out there if I'm willing to expand my horizons and not be limited geography. I'd apply all over the US if it didn't cost so much.
I understand the importance of family and the feeling of confidence you get when blood is close enough to get your back when you're in the ropes, to be close to your family when an emergency hits, or to just be around and be handy for whatever they need. After all, I am where I am now because of what they've done/sacrificed for me and I should return the favor. But in the end, did they really put me through all of the lessons and schooling and broadened my horizons just so they can have a baby-sitter for when they're old? I have no qualms about taking care of them if they're sick, infirm, broke, or lonely. I'll be more than happy to look after them if they need looking after. But I don't think my parents are so cruel to the point of not actually let me live my life the way I see fit. They lived their lives the way they thought them best and in the process, showed me how to be independent. To live any less would be an insult to their teachings.
Funny how everybody is giving me their two cents about where I should go for residency. The only people who haven't really thought of this as an issue are my parents. Go figure! The day will come when I will do the same for my kids, as my parents did for me. The day will also come when I will look after my parents. For now, however, my life is my own and I don't need guilt trips from anybody about how I aught live it.
Song of the day: "Home" - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
A few things bother me about this:
1. My parents aren't that old. They're in their 50s and are very independent. And aside from the usual old people problems (HTN, arthritis, smoking), they still have a number of good years ahead of them, provided they smarten up and quit smoking/eat better. If they need help, they got my number.
2. I've lived in Jersey for most of my adolescent/adult life. I believe I'm entitled to put down roots of my own in other places in this great country of ours. Places where a sales tax is non-existent and property taxes are actually reasonable. Places where nosy neighbors are very few and so is the traffic. Besides, I go where the work takes me.
3. I'll be damned to let others dictate where I go, considering that I'm the one paying for my med school education. If they decide to cover the 180K+ bill, then I'll go wherever they please. Maybe.
4. One of my mentors told me that there are really good job offers out there if I'm willing to expand my horizons and not be limited geography. I'd apply all over the US if it didn't cost so much.
I understand the importance of family and the feeling of confidence you get when blood is close enough to get your back when you're in the ropes, to be close to your family when an emergency hits, or to just be around and be handy for whatever they need. After all, I am where I am now because of what they've done/sacrificed for me and I should return the favor. But in the end, did they really put me through all of the lessons and schooling and broadened my horizons just so they can have a baby-sitter for when they're old? I have no qualms about taking care of them if they're sick, infirm, broke, or lonely. I'll be more than happy to look after them if they need looking after. But I don't think my parents are so cruel to the point of not actually let me live my life the way I see fit. They lived their lives the way they thought them best and in the process, showed me how to be independent. To live any less would be an insult to their teachings.
Funny how everybody is giving me their two cents about where I should go for residency. The only people who haven't really thought of this as an issue are my parents. Go figure! The day will come when I will do the same for my kids, as my parents did for me. The day will also come when I will look after my parents. For now, however, my life is my own and I don't need guilt trips from anybody about how I aught live it.
Song of the day: "Home" - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Hello world!
Happy 4th of July everyone!
Just a regular update. I haven't been very good at blogging lately, mainly because I just feel uninspired to write. But I'll try to remedy that tonight.
So just to get things rolling, let us review some goings on in my life:
1. Finished Step 2 Board review sessions! Now it's just 2 more months until the big day. Again. That being said, I need to get my ass in gear like a month ago and do some more practice questions.
2. Bought my very first fishing rod and reel combo! Yay! Unfortunately nobody cared to inform me about the number 1 bane of fishing: tangled lines. So far, I've taken my gear out twice since I got it this past Saturday. And both times, I've had to untangle what seems like copious amounts of "bird nests." Yeesh. So far, only 3 fish were caught and all of them were quite tiny, the biggest being about a 6-inch smallmouth bass. Better that than nothing I suppose.
3. I dislike mosquitoes very much. Yet one more reason why I prefer the fall/winter.
4. I start my 4th year rotations tomorrow, unofficially. I signed up for 2 weeks of NICU and 2 weeks of Child Protection Program for the month of July so I could get some more experience for the August subinternships in Massachusetts (I hope). Not being graded in these first 2, hence the whole unofficial business. I start promptly at 7am. Woo. Hoo.
5. My back feels better, thank you.
6. Still on the fence about dating websites. Something about them just creeps me out and personally, I'd feel "desperate" if I were to join one of them. This is just my personal view about myself, not a generalization of those out there who are proponents of dating sites, so please save your snide remarks for some other time. Thank you.
7. I need to begin my personal statement and residency applications this week. Yikes. Kinda scary if you think about it. Just when I was just getting used to being a student all over again, now I have less than 12 months to apply for a job, get a job, and actually work...AS A DOCTOR! Growing up sucks balls.
8. Facebook depresses me. There's just too many people in there that I don't talk to or at one time have been my friends in passing and have since fallen out of touch. And then there are those people who just feel compelled to chronicle the minutes of their lives, which just drives me nuts! Perhaps it's time for an "unfriending" session. And a Settings update can't hurt either. If it weren't for the pics, I would have deleted my account a long time ago.
9. I'm going to a themed bachelor party next week. The theme: 80s. I need a costume. Something that is representative of the decade, but at the same time, easy to put together. Suggestions are welcome.
10. Musical ventilation is in order. That and a few glasses of scotch. STAT!
That's all for now. Stay classy, San Diego.
Song of the day: "When The Stars Go Blue" - The Corrs and Bono (Orig. song by Ryan Adams)
Just a regular update. I haven't been very good at blogging lately, mainly because I just feel uninspired to write. But I'll try to remedy that tonight.
So just to get things rolling, let us review some goings on in my life:
1. Finished Step 2 Board review sessions! Now it's just 2 more months until the big day. Again. That being said, I need to get my ass in gear like a month ago and do some more practice questions.
2. Bought my very first fishing rod and reel combo! Yay! Unfortunately nobody cared to inform me about the number 1 bane of fishing: tangled lines. So far, I've taken my gear out twice since I got it this past Saturday. And both times, I've had to untangle what seems like copious amounts of "bird nests." Yeesh. So far, only 3 fish were caught and all of them were quite tiny, the biggest being about a 6-inch smallmouth bass. Better that than nothing I suppose.
3. I dislike mosquitoes very much. Yet one more reason why I prefer the fall/winter.
4. I start my 4th year rotations tomorrow, unofficially. I signed up for 2 weeks of NICU and 2 weeks of Child Protection Program for the month of July so I could get some more experience for the August subinternships in Massachusetts (I hope). Not being graded in these first 2, hence the whole unofficial business. I start promptly at 7am. Woo. Hoo.
5. My back feels better, thank you.
6. Still on the fence about dating websites. Something about them just creeps me out and personally, I'd feel "desperate" if I were to join one of them. This is just my personal view about myself, not a generalization of those out there who are proponents of dating sites, so please save your snide remarks for some other time. Thank you.
7. I need to begin my personal statement and residency applications this week. Yikes. Kinda scary if you think about it. Just when I was just getting used to being a student all over again, now I have less than 12 months to apply for a job, get a job, and actually work...AS A DOCTOR! Growing up sucks balls.
8. Facebook depresses me. There's just too many people in there that I don't talk to or at one time have been my friends in passing and have since fallen out of touch. And then there are those people who just feel compelled to chronicle the minutes of their lives, which just drives me nuts! Perhaps it's time for an "unfriending" session. And a Settings update can't hurt either. If it weren't for the pics, I would have deleted my account a long time ago.
9. I'm going to a themed bachelor party next week. The theme: 80s. I need a costume. Something that is representative of the decade, but at the same time, easy to put together. Suggestions are welcome.
10. Musical ventilation is in order. That and a few glasses of scotch. STAT!
That's all for now. Stay classy, San Diego.
Song of the day: "When The Stars Go Blue" - The Corrs and Bono (Orig. song by Ryan Adams)
Monday, June 28, 2010
Useless
Now I know I really don't look forward to getting old.
Case in point, this weekend. Instead of being a good medical student and go to board review class, I decided to do a little self review, which is fine and dandy. Benefits: I could multitask and not have to worry about getting caught nodding off. So I bust out the computer. Lo and behold, the internet doesn't work. After a few hours of fiddling around with the modem and the router to no improvement, I gave up. I figured, "I'll do laundry first, get some subject reading done in the interim, and when the load is done, I'll hightail it to the nearest coffee shop fro some free internet. Just so we're clear, the internet is essential for study because I need to to access Kaplan's question bank...and not to surf or blog...but I digress.
So to the hamper I go. I bend over and pick up the colored pile and before I could straighten out, a sneeze overcame me. That's when I realized that something had gone horribly wrong...
It was over in a second and I was Done, with a capital D, down for the count, literally. That little sneeze had sent my lower back into such horrible spasm, that I actually fell to the ground in pain. Sharp, stabbing pain in my lumbar area. Tears welled up in my eyes and I began cursing up a storm, hoping that I could intimidate my sciatica away. It never abated. So for 15 minutes or so, I was on my back, like a flipped turtle, praying that it would all go away. After much deliberation I managed to crawl my way to the bathroom, to the medicine cabinet, looking for some Tylenol. I can't take anything else because I'm allergic to the other pain killers. Wouldn't you know, only 2 tabs are left. Better than nothing. I took them and began making my trip to my room, one agonizing step at a time. I positioned myself as comfortably as possible and passed out.
I woke up in darkness. I check the blackberry: 9:15. I slept the whole afternoon away. I checked my back. Pain's still there. Crap. I tried getting up. It was doable but with great difficulty. I shuffled my way to the kitchen and somehow managed to make a pb&j sammich. I ate in complete silence.
Phone calls to friends/family would have been made, but it was already night and since I'm not one to bother, wouldn't think of calling unless it's absolutely essential (the word 'cripple' came to mind and I just didn't like it at all). So it was like that the whole night. Slow shuffling to the sink, to the bathroom, to my room. I managed to get my study book out and crawled into bed where I read and crashed, till the next day, when my sister came back from her trip and was able to pick me up some extra Tylenol and Capsaicin (try it on sore muscles and joints...works like a charm!).
And there you have it, folks. Another potentially productive weekend, wasted because of a sneeze. Yet one more reason why growing old sucks.
Song of the day: When I'm 64" - The Beatles
Case in point, this weekend. Instead of being a good medical student and go to board review class, I decided to do a little self review, which is fine and dandy. Benefits: I could multitask and not have to worry about getting caught nodding off. So I bust out the computer. Lo and behold, the internet doesn't work. After a few hours of fiddling around with the modem and the router to no improvement, I gave up. I figured, "I'll do laundry first, get some subject reading done in the interim, and when the load is done, I'll hightail it to the nearest coffee shop fro some free internet. Just so we're clear, the internet is essential for study because I need to to access Kaplan's question bank...and not to surf or blog...but I digress.
So to the hamper I go. I bend over and pick up the colored pile and before I could straighten out, a sneeze overcame me. That's when I realized that something had gone horribly wrong...
It was over in a second and I was Done, with a capital D, down for the count, literally. That little sneeze had sent my lower back into such horrible spasm, that I actually fell to the ground in pain. Sharp, stabbing pain in my lumbar area. Tears welled up in my eyes and I began cursing up a storm, hoping that I could intimidate my sciatica away. It never abated. So for 15 minutes or so, I was on my back, like a flipped turtle, praying that it would all go away. After much deliberation I managed to crawl my way to the bathroom, to the medicine cabinet, looking for some Tylenol. I can't take anything else because I'm allergic to the other pain killers. Wouldn't you know, only 2 tabs are left. Better than nothing. I took them and began making my trip to my room, one agonizing step at a time. I positioned myself as comfortably as possible and passed out.
I woke up in darkness. I check the blackberry: 9:15. I slept the whole afternoon away. I checked my back. Pain's still there. Crap. I tried getting up. It was doable but with great difficulty. I shuffled my way to the kitchen and somehow managed to make a pb&j sammich. I ate in complete silence.
Phone calls to friends/family would have been made, but it was already night and since I'm not one to bother, wouldn't think of calling unless it's absolutely essential (the word 'cripple' came to mind and I just didn't like it at all). So it was like that the whole night. Slow shuffling to the sink, to the bathroom, to my room. I managed to get my study book out and crawled into bed where I read and crashed, till the next day, when my sister came back from her trip and was able to pick me up some extra Tylenol and Capsaicin (try it on sore muscles and joints...works like a charm!).
And there you have it, folks. Another potentially productive weekend, wasted because of a sneeze. Yet one more reason why growing old sucks.
Song of the day: When I'm 64" - The Beatles
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Ok...just follow me on this one...
Step 1: Get up and go.
I started the day out right. Had about 8 hours sleep, decent breakfast, Did my 3 S's and caught a little bit of the world cup goings on, all before 1pm.
Step 2: Errands.
Got some groceries, returned a few dvds from the public library (btw, the circulation desk librarian was looking mighty cute today), and even went to my eye doctor to pay my bill, personally. Pretty good so far.
Step 3: Caffeination.
Went to my school library to do a little Boards studying, but first thing's first: coffee. So I met up with one of my friends who's also studying there as well, and we hiked it over to the hospital next door for some joe. Dun and dun.
Step 4: Down to business.
Back to the library wherein I proceeded to crack open the books and fire up the ol' comp for some online tunage and Kaplan study gudnis (if you can really call it that).
Step 5: Cue distraction.
This step once more proves my original hypothesis back in college: I have ADD. And, being a competent student of science, I must have a null hypothesis which is: I'm a slut. To the point, new students for the med school, the nursing school, PT school, and Graduate school just happened to be in the same library with me. It's tough to keep your focus with all these new faces around.
Step 6: The incident.
So, finally going back to the studying, I decided to bust out my traditional gummy bears (my one study vice) as I slogged through the next round of internal medicine questions. As I chomped down on the first gummy bear, I hear my teeth crunch, loudly. A few things ran through my mind: 1. This gummy bear's stale as hell! 2. Since when did Haribo start putting prizes in their gummy bears? 3. I'm pretty sure gummy bears aren't supposed to have crunchy skeletons. 4. I'm rich! I can sue the gummy bear factory for having glass in their product! 5. Am I bleeding? Nope. No blood. Not yet.
Step 7: The realization.
One of my fillings cracked on the gummy bear. Upper right, 3rd molar from the front. This means, I have to go to the dentist. Some people don't like doctors. Me, I don't like dentists. I'm sure they're nice people, but there's just something sadistic about that bunch. I mean, they lay out all their instruments (of torture) right in front of you and they don't even have the decency to put you to sleep. And what is it with them and asking you questions while they're injecting a horse needle into your gums?
So aside from the cracked tooth and the potential visit to the dentist's, everything else was pretty cool, albeit I was quite distracted today. What's a single guy to do? C'est la vie.
Song of the day: "In The Summertime" - Mungo Jerry
I started the day out right. Had about 8 hours sleep, decent breakfast, Did my 3 S's and caught a little bit of the world cup goings on, all before 1pm.
Step 2: Errands.
Got some groceries, returned a few dvds from the public library (btw, the circulation desk librarian was looking mighty cute today), and even went to my eye doctor to pay my bill, personally. Pretty good so far.
Step 3: Caffeination.
Went to my school library to do a little Boards studying, but first thing's first: coffee. So I met up with one of my friends who's also studying there as well, and we hiked it over to the hospital next door for some joe. Dun and dun.
Step 4: Down to business.
Back to the library wherein I proceeded to crack open the books and fire up the ol' comp for some online tunage and Kaplan study gudnis (if you can really call it that).
Step 5: Cue distraction.
This step once more proves my original hypothesis back in college: I have ADD. And, being a competent student of science, I must have a null hypothesis which is: I'm a slut. To the point, new students for the med school, the nursing school, PT school, and Graduate school just happened to be in the same library with me. It's tough to keep your focus with all these new faces around.
Step 6: The incident.
So, finally going back to the studying, I decided to bust out my traditional gummy bears (my one study vice) as I slogged through the next round of internal medicine questions. As I chomped down on the first gummy bear, I hear my teeth crunch, loudly. A few things ran through my mind: 1. This gummy bear's stale as hell! 2. Since when did Haribo start putting prizes in their gummy bears? 3. I'm pretty sure gummy bears aren't supposed to have crunchy skeletons. 4. I'm rich! I can sue the gummy bear factory for having glass in their product! 5. Am I bleeding? Nope. No blood. Not yet.
Step 7: The realization.
One of my fillings cracked on the gummy bear. Upper right, 3rd molar from the front. This means, I have to go to the dentist. Some people don't like doctors. Me, I don't like dentists. I'm sure they're nice people, but there's just something sadistic about that bunch. I mean, they lay out all their instruments (of torture) right in front of you and they don't even have the decency to put you to sleep. And what is it with them and asking you questions while they're injecting a horse needle into your gums?
So aside from the cracked tooth and the potential visit to the dentist's, everything else was pretty cool, albeit I was quite distracted today. What's a single guy to do? C'est la vie.
Song of the day: "In The Summertime" - Mungo Jerry
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Yesterday
I'm turning a corner. In a few days, I finish out another decade...the big 3-0. And there's a good deal of apprehension with my up and coming birthday. Things like, I aught to be fiscally/residentially independent, 30...that I should be in a long term relationship (hell, I'll take a short one at the moment), 30...that I should be a lot more confident in my skills, 30...well, all of these things are still in the works, but I feel like they should have been done a whiles ago. We all have felt the creep of time on us and unfortunately for me, I'm more aware of its pace more than ever.
Last night, I was hanging with some of my high school friends and they so lovingly pointed out that I'll be a "geezer" in a few days (old inside joke, but regardless, the meaning is none too obscure). Seeing as they're about the same age as me, it's almost like they're mocking their own selves with such quips, nonetheless, I am the first of the group to cross over the threshold. Turning 30...it's like what one of my professors said about growing old...it just sounds so bad, as if we've hit our expiration date...TURNING...I'm older so I'm slower, fatter, smellier, like milk TURNED sour after it passed it's prime. Used to be when I was younger that I reveled in the idea of me and my buddies going out to get wasted. Now, I can barely stand it to see them get blitzed on cheap beer, playing drinking games all night and randomly hooking up with the next blond with big tits. I think that way and I instantly feel old, as if the youth that has sustained me just evaporated in the summer sun. I feel so old, that I dreaded the idea that I'm to take 30 shots in my party. No way in hell I'm doing that. I've never been able to do that, but back then I'd at least give it a solid try, then puke all over the lawn. Now I shrink back with my non-tolerant liver against such a challenge. Granted, being able to hold your liquor is not exactly grounds for bragging in my book (millions of college kids might disagree with me on that one), but it certainly doesn't help with bolstering up the youthful image...bold, brash, invincible.
I feel like panicking. I really do. But that would only serve to make things even more pathetic. And that would just be an ugly site. No, I'll turn 30 with a grin and go through my rite of passage with gusto and hopefully not lose my dinner in the process. And if I don't make it to next Saturday's Boards review session, then look for me in my bed or in the hospital, cuz either I'll be hungover like a muthaf***a or dying, or worse. I pray that gin and vodka better play nice with me at my party.
Song of the day: "Vienna" - Billy Joel
Last night, I was hanging with some of my high school friends and they so lovingly pointed out that I'll be a "geezer" in a few days (old inside joke, but regardless, the meaning is none too obscure). Seeing as they're about the same age as me, it's almost like they're mocking their own selves with such quips, nonetheless, I am the first of the group to cross over the threshold. Turning 30...it's like what one of my professors said about growing old...it just sounds so bad, as if we've hit our expiration date...TURNING...I'm older so I'm slower, fatter, smellier, like milk TURNED sour after it passed it's prime. Used to be when I was younger that I reveled in the idea of me and my buddies going out to get wasted. Now, I can barely stand it to see them get blitzed on cheap beer, playing drinking games all night and randomly hooking up with the next blond with big tits. I think that way and I instantly feel old, as if the youth that has sustained me just evaporated in the summer sun. I feel so old, that I dreaded the idea that I'm to take 30 shots in my party. No way in hell I'm doing that. I've never been able to do that, but back then I'd at least give it a solid try, then puke all over the lawn. Now I shrink back with my non-tolerant liver against such a challenge. Granted, being able to hold your liquor is not exactly grounds for bragging in my book (millions of college kids might disagree with me on that one), but it certainly doesn't help with bolstering up the youthful image...bold, brash, invincible.
I feel like panicking. I really do. But that would only serve to make things even more pathetic. And that would just be an ugly site. No, I'll turn 30 with a grin and go through my rite of passage with gusto and hopefully not lose my dinner in the process. And if I don't make it to next Saturday's Boards review session, then look for me in my bed or in the hospital, cuz either I'll be hungover like a muthaf***a or dying, or worse. I pray that gin and vodka better play nice with me at my party.
Song of the day: "Vienna" - Billy Joel
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Food for thought
I'm sure everybody knows by now about the BP eco-disaster in the gulf of Mexico. I figured I'd share this little parody clip courtesy of the Upright Citizens Brigade to illustrate how poorly this catastrophe was handled by BP and how ridiculous its actions are in containing the oil spill in the eyes of the public.
"BP Spills Coffee" - Upright Citizens Brigade
On a side note, the guy who cut his hair and threw it at the spill is John Frusciante, a former member of Possible Side Effects, a college long form improv based in Montclair, NJ and was one of my teachers when I took long form improv lessons with them back in the day. And now, he's on TV. =)
So to sum up: BP = F***ed. Very F***ed.
P.S. Run summary for the day...
Date: 06/10/10
Distance: 3.30 miles
Time: 35:47 (30:31 @ mile 3)
Pace: 10'51" per mile
Calories: 371
Weight: ? lbs (did I forget to mention that I don't own a scale?)
Short-term Goal: Advance to 4 miles running.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
P.P.S.
Did some random running with my nephew last week too. Not timed, but about 4ish miles. Kept up with him considering he's 14 years old and weigh 20 lbs lighter than me.
Song of the day: "How Come" - Ray LaMontagne
"BP Spills Coffee" - Upright Citizens Brigade
On a side note, the guy who cut his hair and threw it at the spill is John Frusciante, a former member of Possible Side Effects, a college long form improv based in Montclair, NJ and was one of my teachers when I took long form improv lessons with them back in the day. And now, he's on TV. =)
So to sum up: BP = F***ed. Very F***ed.
P.S. Run summary for the day...
Date: 06/10/10
Distance: 3.30 miles
Time: 35:47 (30:31 @ mile 3)
Pace: 10'51" per mile
Calories: 371
Weight: ? lbs (did I forget to mention that I don't own a scale?)
Short-term Goal: Advance to 4 miles running.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
P.P.S.
Did some random running with my nephew last week too. Not timed, but about 4ish miles. Kept up with him considering he's 14 years old and weigh 20 lbs lighter than me.
Song of the day: "How Come" - Ray LaMontagne
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
And you are...
Now I'm no overachiever or some shining med student with a "save-the-world" complex that I fill my every waking (and sleeping) hours with numerous altruistic projects. Nor am I a complete slacker (tho some days, I absolutely feel like it and would gladly welcome a slacker lifestyle). I am your average medical student, just getting by, busily and "faithfully" placing my nose to the grindstone, cramming my head with medical minutiae, hoping that in the end, I would understand all of it, that I would be a competent physician and a credit to the medical community, that I was worth investing $180,000/4 years into.
That being said, I always feel so weird trying to get other people to say good things about me. Case in point, my number 1 task this week: collecting letters of recommendation. Some doctors I've asked were easy to approach, especially if I've just finished a rotation with them a few weeks ago. Others, not so much because it was earlier in the year and I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with them. Now, why, you ask, am I asking these other doctors whom I barely got have face time with? Simple: They're good doctors, and I learned a lot from them. The only problem is that, they are so busy with many other students going through their service that it's difficult for them to keep everybody straight, let alone remember. You either have to suck majorly or be Doogie Howser, MD, or be some sort of Extreme example of something in order to stand out in their minds. Fortunately/Unfortunately I'm neither, hence my dilemma. I've put out requests for LOR, but I fear that some of these docs would write an average paper because they barely remember me. Still, I gotta try.
For now, I'll just go back to hitting the books hard and pray that the next time I'm on rotation, I'll be a much brighter student worthy of remembering. Or I could just get a mohawk, dye it agent orange, and call it a day.
Song of the day: "The Curse" - Josh Ritter
An extraordinary song to cheer up an ordinary med student.
That being said, I always feel so weird trying to get other people to say good things about me. Case in point, my number 1 task this week: collecting letters of recommendation. Some doctors I've asked were easy to approach, especially if I've just finished a rotation with them a few weeks ago. Others, not so much because it was earlier in the year and I didn't get to spend a whole lot of time with them. Now, why, you ask, am I asking these other doctors whom I barely got have face time with? Simple: They're good doctors, and I learned a lot from them. The only problem is that, they are so busy with many other students going through their service that it's difficult for them to keep everybody straight, let alone remember. You either have to suck majorly or be Doogie Howser, MD, or be some sort of Extreme example of something in order to stand out in their minds. Fortunately/Unfortunately I'm neither, hence my dilemma. I've put out requests for LOR, but I fear that some of these docs would write an average paper because they barely remember me. Still, I gotta try.
For now, I'll just go back to hitting the books hard and pray that the next time I'm on rotation, I'll be a much brighter student worthy of remembering. Or I could just get a mohawk, dye it agent orange, and call it a day.
Song of the day: "The Curse" - Josh Ritter
An extraordinary song to cheer up an ordinary med student.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Bring it!
Yesterday was kinda fun. Class in the morning, learning about multiple ways you can get sued or get in trouble with the DEA, then off to the Federal Building for a mock trial (pretty scary). Afterwards, fishing with the boys. Went to a local pond where I caught 4 sunnies...and this is only my second time fishing...ever! Now I'm really thinking about taking on fishing as my new hobby. Whaddaya think?
Today was a wrap up of Medical Jurisprudence class. Basically, in order not to get sued, you
a.) Practice really good medicine a.k.a. stick to the standard of care (duh!),
2.) Document EVERYTHING!
III.) Don't steal drugs/abuse/overprescribe narcotics.
D.) NO SEX with your patients (this is a big one)
V.) Come clean if you make a mistake.
6.) Take the time to talk and explain things to your clientele. Believe it or not, this actually helps to reduce the number of angry patients who might potentially sue.
7.) What happens in the office, stays in the office (HIPAA).
SO, third year is a wrap. Officially! (Where's the Easy button?) 4th year starts tomorrow, bright and early @ 0730, with a Kaplan course, on a SATURDAY!
Yay.
But as far as today was concerned, I think I got a good deal of crap done today...registered for an ACLS course, studied for a bit @ the library, ran with my nephew...
The boy is 14 years old and taller than me. Naturally he schooled me in about 1.5 miles worth of warm up. His jog pace is like my sprint pace. I was gassed after all that. Then he wanted to run some more and asked me to start the pace so I could "slow it down" a bit. We did another 3 miles. Made it, barely - 35 minutes, about 8-9 songs worth. I can't wait to shed this excess weight...I hate feeling sluggish when I'm out there hitting the pavement. But it was good, overall. Can't really complain seeing as how today was the hardest I've pushed myself running in a good long while.
OK, 50 more USMLE practice questions and it's off to bed.
Song of the day: "Mistletoe" - Jukebox The Ghost
1. Sunfish - http://tiee.ecoed.net/vol/v4/experiments/habitat_shifts/img/sunfish%5BHR%5D.jpg
Today was a wrap up of Medical Jurisprudence class. Basically, in order not to get sued, you
a.) Practice really good medicine a.k.a. stick to the standard of care (duh!),
2.) Document EVERYTHING!
III.) Don't steal drugs/abuse/overprescribe narcotics.
D.) NO SEX with your patients (this is a big one)
V.) Come clean if you make a mistake.
6.) Take the time to talk and explain things to your clientele. Believe it or not, this actually helps to reduce the number of angry patients who might potentially sue.
7.) What happens in the office, stays in the office (HIPAA).
SO, third year is a wrap. Officially! (Where's the Easy button?) 4th year starts tomorrow, bright and early @ 0730, with a Kaplan course, on a SATURDAY!
Yay.
But as far as today was concerned, I think I got a good deal of crap done today...registered for an ACLS course, studied for a bit @ the library, ran with my nephew...
The boy is 14 years old and taller than me. Naturally he schooled me in about 1.5 miles worth of warm up. His jog pace is like my sprint pace. I was gassed after all that. Then he wanted to run some more and asked me to start the pace so I could "slow it down" a bit. We did another 3 miles. Made it, barely - 35 minutes, about 8-9 songs worth. I can't wait to shed this excess weight...I hate feeling sluggish when I'm out there hitting the pavement. But it was good, overall. Can't really complain seeing as how today was the hardest I've pushed myself running in a good long while.
OK, 50 more USMLE practice questions and it's off to bed.
Song of the day: "Mistletoe" - Jukebox The Ghost
1. Sunfish - http://tiee.ecoed.net/vol/v4/experiments/habitat_shifts/img/sunfish%5BHR%5D.jpg
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Much better
Best run I've had in a long while tonight.
Date: 06/01/10
Distance: 3.95 miles
Time: 43:04
Pace: 10'54" per mile
Calories: 445
Weight: 151 lbs
Short-term Goal: Maintain 3 mile run in under 30 minutes for a week. Then advance to 4 miles running.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
Personal best record: 3 miles in 27:45
Song of the day: "Hit'Em Up Style" (folk remix) - Carolina Chocolate Drops
Date: 06/01/10
Distance: 3.95 miles
Time: 43:04
Pace: 10'54" per mile
Calories: 445
Weight: 151 lbs
Short-term Goal: Maintain 3 mile run in under 30 minutes for a week. Then advance to 4 miles running.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
Personal best record: 3 miles in 27:45
Song of the day: "Hit'Em Up Style" (folk remix) - Carolina Chocolate Drops
Monday, May 31, 2010
Lesson learned
Never ever run with a headache...especially if it was a caffeine withdrawal one.
Nearly puked my guts out after mile 1. And of course it doesn't help if it's 80+ degrees outside with the humidity close to 90%. Yuck.
Date: 05/31/10
Distance: 3.30 miles
Time: 43:09
Pace: 13.02 per mile
Calories: 373
Weight: 151 lbs
Short-term Goal: Shave 3 minutes off of my pace. And maintain caffeination.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
Song of the day: "World Spins Madly On" - The Weepies
Nearly puked my guts out after mile 1. And of course it doesn't help if it's 80+ degrees outside with the humidity close to 90%. Yuck.
Date: 05/31/10
Distance: 3.30 miles
Time: 43:09
Pace: 13.02 per mile
Calories: 373
Weight: 151 lbs
Short-term Goal: Shave 3 minutes off of my pace. And maintain caffeination.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
Song of the day: "World Spins Madly On" - The Weepies
The beginning of the end
K. Pediatrics - dun. Which unofficially marks the end of our third year since Peds was my last medical rotation, btw. YAY! Took my exam this past Friday (hopefully I didn't do that badly) and quickly hightailed it to my friends up in North Jersey to celebrate their birthday! Next day, went home to the Parental units and just hung out for the weekend. It was real nice...and I was absolutely lazy. Didn't have to wake up with an alarm clock, didn't have to fight with traffic...actually got a sit down breakfast, with fresh coffee and later on, a catch-up marathon of the latest season of Dr. Who! Sweet.
So, surprising things in Peds:
1. I like pediatrics! Enough to make it my specialty! Woo-Hoo!!!
2. I have a tolerance for crying babies.
3. I didn't get sick (considering that most of my friends were afflicted with childhood ailments during their own peds rotations). Pretty lucky!
4. I didn't get vomited, peed or poohed on! 3 words: location, location, location.
5. Oddly enough, I got smacked in the face with a stuffed bunny by a 72 year-old demented lady, no less. Really didn't see that coming.
6. For somebody who's an asthmatic, I still have some difficulty with identifying some abnormal lung sounds. Either that or I'm going deaf.
7. I started running again. Awesome.
8. Little kiddies make me feel old sometimes. Especially if I have to chase after them or pick them up.
9. In less than 12 months, I'm going to be a doctor. Scary.
10. 3rd year was definitely better than 2nd year.
Song of the day: "Say Goodnight And Go" - Imogen Heap
So, surprising things in Peds:
1. I like pediatrics! Enough to make it my specialty! Woo-Hoo!!!
2. I have a tolerance for crying babies.
3. I didn't get sick (considering that most of my friends were afflicted with childhood ailments during their own peds rotations). Pretty lucky!
4. I didn't get vomited, peed or poohed on! 3 words: location, location, location.
5. Oddly enough, I got smacked in the face with a stuffed bunny by a 72 year-old demented lady, no less. Really didn't see that coming.
6. For somebody who's an asthmatic, I still have some difficulty with identifying some abnormal lung sounds. Either that or I'm going deaf.
7. I started running again. Awesome.
8. Little kiddies make me feel old sometimes. Especially if I have to chase after them or pick them up.
9. In less than 12 months, I'm going to be a doctor. Scary.
10. 3rd year was definitely better than 2nd year.
Song of the day: "Say Goodnight And Go" - Imogen Heap
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Awkward...
Somebody contacted me a few days ago...an ex of mine from a few years ago. It was nice to hear from her, but at the same time, I couldn't help feeling weird about it. It was a few emails exchanged and in the interim, there was conversation about old relationships, what led to breakups and her most recent relationship or rather, ex-relationship. I get the feeling that she's only contacting me now because she's rebounding from this last breakup of hers.
I hate being rebound, especially if it's a rebound from an ex. I remember she was the one who broke up w/ me during college and for good reason. Both of us were just not clicking well.
And now this...
I don't want to be with her, but I don't want to ignore her either. I hate telling people that I am not interested in them. I told her that I was just over a relationship myself and that I'm not looking for another one. I don't think she got that hint.
There's always this lingering fear in the back of my head that somehow I'd get suckered into a match with the wrong person because I don't know how to tell them that I'm not into them. I wish I was already in a relationship so I can say "no" and not feel bad about it. You know?
Song of the day: "Watching You Sleep" - Bleu
I hate being rebound, especially if it's a rebound from an ex. I remember she was the one who broke up w/ me during college and for good reason. Both of us were just not clicking well.
And now this...
I don't want to be with her, but I don't want to ignore her either. I hate telling people that I am not interested in them. I told her that I was just over a relationship myself and that I'm not looking for another one. I don't think she got that hint.
There's always this lingering fear in the back of my head that somehow I'd get suckered into a match with the wrong person because I don't know how to tell them that I'm not into them. I wish I was already in a relationship so I can say "no" and not feel bad about it. You know?
Song of the day: "Watching You Sleep" - Bleu
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Flying blind
The sister took the Nike sensor so I couldn't exactly gauge how much I ran.
But it was a good run, and I feel I'm getting faster.
Run 4: 05/21/10
Distance: approx 3 and 3/4 miles
Time: 45 min. ish
Pace: ?
Calories: ?
Weight: ?
Short-term Goal: Do 3 miles at a steady jog pace. I got side cramps tonight.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
In other news, it was brought to my attention that I need to write something new since I have been reticent about more personal musings for a while (which is actually a good thing...I hate it when I whine).
So I am writing about the plight of being single, as inspired by a conversation with one of my med school buddies this past week over eggs, toast, and coffee...
For the most part, he and I are in the same boat. Both single, both in their late 20s, both almost out of med school, in debt and have little compunctions about leaving our state of origin for newer locales.
He worries about not finding a girlfriend, specifically somebody that is "wifey" material. He doesn't want to start a family of his own when he's in his 50s. He feels that his life is in a great state of flux - the possibility of getting a job at another state, being in debt, being in residency for the next 4 years, etc. He thinks that by finding a girl now, it would cause a great deal of confusion and drama later on after graduation. He's all sorts of conflicted...he is dating, but he doesn't know for sure about his current date (he feels that she's not the commitment type), to which he discloses his greatest fear of being incompatible with others. Then his resolution comes out - "I'd rather be alone than be with the wrong girl," he says emphatically.
I tell him, "at least you're dating again."
His plight is pretty much the same as mine. I've asked those concerns many times over in my head. And I feel that I won't find the answers anytime soon. Besides, there's no point addressing such questions now. I need to get a girlfriend first before I even think about crossing such bridges. Sometimes I think I've inherited a curse (many aunts and uncles of mine are in their 40s/50s and are still single) and honestly, it scares me a bit.
For now tho, I say to my friend J, "keep your options open. If this girl you're dating feels wrong, then you know your answer. Right now, we just need to concentrate on the task at hand, which is getting through the last year of school and graduating. We'll eventually catch up with life and it's best that we get ourselves together for when we do meet our potential soulmates. These things have a way of working themselves out in the end...or so I'm told."
And so I leave you with a tasty new tune...a nice jaunty ditty with a good bite to wash away the fears of singledom and to keep you all satiated until the next time we meet.
Song of the day: "Next Girl" - The Black Keys
But it was a good run, and I feel I'm getting faster.
Run 4: 05/21/10
Distance: approx 3 and 3/4 miles
Time: 45 min. ish
Pace: ?
Calories: ?
Weight: ?
Short-term Goal: Do 3 miles at a steady jog pace. I got side cramps tonight.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
In other news, it was brought to my attention that I need to write something new since I have been reticent about more personal musings for a while (which is actually a good thing...I hate it when I whine).
So I am writing about the plight of being single, as inspired by a conversation with one of my med school buddies this past week over eggs, toast, and coffee...
For the most part, he and I are in the same boat. Both single, both in their late 20s, both almost out of med school, in debt and have little compunctions about leaving our state of origin for newer locales.
He worries about not finding a girlfriend, specifically somebody that is "wifey" material. He doesn't want to start a family of his own when he's in his 50s. He feels that his life is in a great state of flux - the possibility of getting a job at another state, being in debt, being in residency for the next 4 years, etc. He thinks that by finding a girl now, it would cause a great deal of confusion and drama later on after graduation. He's all sorts of conflicted...he is dating, but he doesn't know for sure about his current date (he feels that she's not the commitment type), to which he discloses his greatest fear of being incompatible with others. Then his resolution comes out - "I'd rather be alone than be with the wrong girl," he says emphatically.
I tell him, "at least you're dating again."
His plight is pretty much the same as mine. I've asked those concerns many times over in my head. And I feel that I won't find the answers anytime soon. Besides, there's no point addressing such questions now. I need to get a girlfriend first before I even think about crossing such bridges. Sometimes I think I've inherited a curse (many aunts and uncles of mine are in their 40s/50s and are still single) and honestly, it scares me a bit.
For now tho, I say to my friend J, "keep your options open. If this girl you're dating feels wrong, then you know your answer. Right now, we just need to concentrate on the task at hand, which is getting through the last year of school and graduating. We'll eventually catch up with life and it's best that we get ourselves together for when we do meet our potential soulmates. These things have a way of working themselves out in the end...or so I'm told."
And so I leave you with a tasty new tune...a nice jaunty ditty with a good bite to wash away the fears of singledom and to keep you all satiated until the next time we meet.
Song of the day: "Next Girl" - The Black Keys
Monday, May 17, 2010
You gotta be kidding me!?!?!
I think Nike Running App is F***ing with me. Last week it told me that I ran 4.44 miles in 51:09 minutes. This time, it tells me that I ran short of 4 miles in about 45 minutes, but here's the kicker...I RAN THE SAME ROUTE AT A FASTER PACE (At least I think so anyways). This app needs to be calibrated right.
Run 3: 05/17/10
Distance: 3.79 miles
Time: 44:47
Pace: 11'47" per mile
Calories: 429
Weight: Dunno...
Short-term Goal: Do 3 miles at a steady jog pace. I got side cramps tonight.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
Not really sure how accurate this run was, except for the time. It was almost a whole Ray LaMontagne Album.
Song of the day: "Flim" - The Bad Plus (orig. song by Aphex Twin)
Run 3: 05/17/10
Distance: 3.79 miles
Time: 44:47
Pace: 11'47" per mile
Calories: 429
Weight: Dunno...
Short-term Goal: Do 3 miles at a steady jog pace. I got side cramps tonight.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
Not really sure how accurate this run was, except for the time. It was almost a whole Ray LaMontagne Album.
Song of the day: "Flim" - The Bad Plus (orig. song by Aphex Twin)
Friday, May 14, 2010
Happy frustration
It's great and all that I finally, actually found what I really want to do in this medicine business, but why did it have to come at the tail end of 3rd year? Problem is that I need to set up elective rotations (5 of them to be exact). Early on in April, I was toying with the idea of going into Internal Medicine (specifically, GI). So I began setting up GI rotations and am almost finished until I got into my Pediatric rotation, where I found out that I actually like working with the little buggers. I tried switching those GI rotations to peds ones, but unfortunately the pediatric elective positions for 4th year are all but taken. Now, I'm scrambling just a bit to look for hospitals with peds programs that can fit my schedule, and are hopefully potential places of employment for me after 4th year. This has become the new thorn in my side. Sigh...for once, can't I have things just a smidge easy?
At least, I'm getting some really nice comments from my attendings, so that's boosting my confidence/ego a tad. I still mess up a little sometimes, but they provide good learning opportunities and the Doctors are nice enough to give important pearls of wisdom.
As for my running, the past couple of days have been fairly cold and rainy. Today was the first nice day so I laced up and hit the pavement. Did a hell of a lot better this time around. I like this running @ night schedule. Not too many distractions, the occasional cat or wild hare crossing your path, and the sweet smell of grass and dew is so much cleaner during this time. Traffic is low, everything dials down the volume and there's nothing but streetlamps and my footsteps keeping time with the soundtrack in my ipod.
Workout Day 2: 05/13/10
Distance: 4.44 miles
Time: 51:09
Pace: 11'31" per mile
Calories: 501
Weight: 152 lbs.
Short-term Goal: Maintain a 10 mile-minute pace for 3 miles.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
Song of the day: "Believe In Us" - Jay Jay Johanson
At least, I'm getting some really nice comments from my attendings, so that's boosting my confidence/ego a tad. I still mess up a little sometimes, but they provide good learning opportunities and the Doctors are nice enough to give important pearls of wisdom.
As for my running, the past couple of days have been fairly cold and rainy. Today was the first nice day so I laced up and hit the pavement. Did a hell of a lot better this time around. I like this running @ night schedule. Not too many distractions, the occasional cat or wild hare crossing your path, and the sweet smell of grass and dew is so much cleaner during this time. Traffic is low, everything dials down the volume and there's nothing but streetlamps and my footsteps keeping time with the soundtrack in my ipod.
Workout Day 2: 05/13/10
Distance: 4.44 miles
Time: 51:09
Pace: 11'31" per mile
Calories: 501
Weight: 152 lbs.
Short-term Goal: Maintain a 10 mile-minute pace for 3 miles.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
Song of the day: "Believe In Us" - Jay Jay Johanson
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
My friend balked at me yesterday that blogs aught to have specific subjects in order to garner support from like-minded readers. This was after I told her that I added a running/workout journal component to "The Scrap Paper Manifesto." She was adamant that I should put this running journal as a separate blog, to which I responded with the following list:
1. It's my blog. I'll do whatever I want with it.
2. I don't want to deal with yet another blog. I have a lot on my plate already.
3. I like to condense things. A running journal is just another subject I use to buff up TSPM.
4. If people are THAT curious to chart my progress, all they have to do is click on the label "running" or "workout" and all my running entries would be chronologically displayed.
5. I don't think anybody cares whatever I do with my blog. I can count the number of my followers in my left hand and they're not complaining.
And with that, we went to Wawa for delicious flatbread sammiches.
Questions? Concerns? Snide remarks? Let'em fly!
Song of the day: "Paradise Circus" - Massive Attack
1. It's my blog. I'll do whatever I want with it.
2. I don't want to deal with yet another blog. I have a lot on my plate already.
3. I like to condense things. A running journal is just another subject I use to buff up TSPM.
4. If people are THAT curious to chart my progress, all they have to do is click on the label "running" or "workout" and all my running entries would be chronologically displayed.
5. I don't think anybody cares whatever I do with my blog. I can count the number of my followers in my left hand and they're not complaining.
And with that, we went to Wawa for delicious flatbread sammiches.
Questions? Concerns? Snide remarks? Let'em fly!
Song of the day: "Paradise Circus" - Massive Attack
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
And...cue training montage!
So instead of using this blog as my bitch post/school progress update thingy, I have decided to put it to better use. I propose to add a physical fitness tracker journal in this piece so I can chart my progress as I get myself back into shape. Tonight is my first night in what I hope to be a long list of days/nights of sweat and hard work. As I told S&P tonight, I want to look good in time for my residency interview. Well, that and I want to look good, naked.
Tonight, I went for a walk/run. Mind you I haven't really worked out since this past fall, so my time wasn't exactly the best. But I did it...mostly walking, but I ran the last mile, so it felt good. Real good. Expect the next stats to be a bit better.
In order to accurately gauge my training, I have employed the help of my handy dandy ipod touch using the Nike Workout App to see how I measure up from day to day. I will post the results here along with my goals and random musings.
Allons-y!
Workout Day 1: 05/10/10
Distance: 3.73 miles
Time: 51:26
Pace: 13'45" per mile
Calories: 422
Weight: 154 lbs.
Short-term Goal: Get to running most of the 3 miles on the next run.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
"The task must be made difficult, for only the difficult inspires the noble-hearted." - S. Kierkegaard
Song of the day: "Hearts On Fire" - John Cafferty
Rocky IV training montage - you know you love it!
Tonight, I went for a walk/run. Mind you I haven't really worked out since this past fall, so my time wasn't exactly the best. But I did it...mostly walking, but I ran the last mile, so it felt good. Real good. Expect the next stats to be a bit better.
In order to accurately gauge my training, I have employed the help of my handy dandy ipod touch using the Nike Workout App to see how I measure up from day to day. I will post the results here along with my goals and random musings.
Allons-y!
Workout Day 1: 05/10/10
Distance: 3.73 miles
Time: 51:26
Pace: 13'45" per mile
Calories: 422
Weight: 154 lbs.
Short-term Goal: Get to running most of the 3 miles on the next run.
Long-term Goal: lose 15 lbs.
"The task must be made difficult, for only the difficult inspires the noble-hearted." - S. Kierkegaard
Song of the day: "Hearts On Fire" - John Cafferty
Rocky IV training montage - you know you love it!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Hmmm
The wind is absolutely ridiculous today and tonight.
It threw a branch at my windshield on my way to the movies this evening! Good thing my windshield is branch resistant.
Saw Ironman 2 with baby brother and nephew. Awesome boys night out. This was a much needed break from doing double duty all week (studying for Peds SHELF exam while reviewing Head and Neck anatomy for the sake of tutoring 1st years effectively does not a happy 3rd year med student make).
I am currently gutting through a mildish stomach ache. I don't know if it is some sort of a viral thing caught from the pediatrics office or some other place (despite my constant hand washing, picking up bugs comes as second nature to me), or the beef w/ broccoli this afternoon, or the pack of Haribo Gummy Bears I scarfed down during the movie...whatever it is, I am not a big fan at the moment.
Peds week has moved from the ER to the office. And I like it! The doctors are nice, the nurses are great, and the babies are ridiculously cute...even when they're sick! One of the docs told me that I work well with kids and that I seem to like what I'm doing and that I should consider Peds as an option. Once more, indecision rears its ugly head. Ugh, why can't I just stick to one thing?
Mom's day tomorrow. The fam is taking my mom and mom-in-law (well, my sister's mom-in-law) to Arthur's steakhouse. Should be delicious and fun.
I still can't sleep. Now I have this song running through my head.
Song of the day: "Sara Smile" - Brian McKnight (Hall & Oates Cover)
It threw a branch at my windshield on my way to the movies this evening! Good thing my windshield is branch resistant.
Saw Ironman 2 with baby brother and nephew. Awesome boys night out. This was a much needed break from doing double duty all week (studying for Peds SHELF exam while reviewing Head and Neck anatomy for the sake of tutoring 1st years effectively does not a happy 3rd year med student make).
I am currently gutting through a mildish stomach ache. I don't know if it is some sort of a viral thing caught from the pediatrics office or some other place (despite my constant hand washing, picking up bugs comes as second nature to me), or the beef w/ broccoli this afternoon, or the pack of Haribo Gummy Bears I scarfed down during the movie...whatever it is, I am not a big fan at the moment.
Peds week has moved from the ER to the office. And I like it! The doctors are nice, the nurses are great, and the babies are ridiculously cute...even when they're sick! One of the docs told me that I work well with kids and that I seem to like what I'm doing and that I should consider Peds as an option. Once more, indecision rears its ugly head. Ugh, why can't I just stick to one thing?
Mom's day tomorrow. The fam is taking my mom and mom-in-law (well, my sister's mom-in-law) to Arthur's steakhouse. Should be delicious and fun.
I still can't sleep. Now I have this song running through my head.
Song of the day: "Sara Smile" - Brian McKnight (Hall & Oates Cover)
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Just remembered something
This past week, I was @ the Jersey Java and Tea and was having my afternoon coffee when an old vet sitting by the window struck a conversation with me.
It happened while I was paying for my drink. I only had the exact amount to pay the barista, but not enough to give him a tip. So I ran back to my jacket pocket and scrounged up enough coinage to give him a buck...looks cheap but it's still legal tender. So the vet says "Those coins sure are a pain in the ass to carry. I don't know why the government still keeps making them." To which I replied "Perhaps they like the sound the coins make when they jingle." And from there, a conversation was struck between us about all sorts of things. Mostly I let him talk because he seemed like he had a lot to say. He had amazing stories, from the time he was kicked out of high school for kicking a couple of racist kids' butts (they started it btw, just because our hero in question was black and was at the wrong neighborhood), to the time he joined the marines and his training days in Parris Island (to which he recounted his experience as being "a peach"), to his tour assignments throughout the Far East during Vietnam and beyond. He recounted his accession into the Navy SEALs, his many promotions and his numerous travels throughout the world in his 35 years of service. He beamed with pride when he spoke of his two sons, both in the armed forces.
He tells me that while in the during his tour in Vietnam, he was exposed to agent orange and from that, how he developed cancer. He says that he's just hanging out @ the cafe before he had to go to his doctor's appointment. To this, I said nothing. I couldn't say anything. What could I say? Somehow, "sorry" just could not encompass the gravity of it all. He spoke of his condition as if it was a random, daily thing, or rather more like an inconvenience. I suppose seeing and knowing what he'd been through all these years in the service, Cancer is just an inconvenience to him, even if it meant his mortality.
He wasn't resigned, sad, or regretful, at least not from what I can tell of how he spoke about his life. He was just an old bloke, happy to be alive, trying to tell a youngblood like me about a really good and honest story...his story; as if imparting to me his most valuable treasures, wishing that I should have such an adventurous and amazing tale to tell when my time comes.
I shook his hand and thanked him for his story and his service. He wished me luck and with a nod, he left for his appointment.
So, to Chief Warrant Officer ______, my sincerest thanks.
Song of the day: "Sawdust Saloon" - The Low Anthem
It happened while I was paying for my drink. I only had the exact amount to pay the barista, but not enough to give him a tip. So I ran back to my jacket pocket and scrounged up enough coinage to give him a buck...looks cheap but it's still legal tender. So the vet says "Those coins sure are a pain in the ass to carry. I don't know why the government still keeps making them." To which I replied "Perhaps they like the sound the coins make when they jingle." And from there, a conversation was struck between us about all sorts of things. Mostly I let him talk because he seemed like he had a lot to say. He had amazing stories, from the time he was kicked out of high school for kicking a couple of racist kids' butts (they started it btw, just because our hero in question was black and was at the wrong neighborhood), to the time he joined the marines and his training days in Parris Island (to which he recounted his experience as being "a peach"), to his tour assignments throughout the Far East during Vietnam and beyond. He recounted his accession into the Navy SEALs, his many promotions and his numerous travels throughout the world in his 35 years of service. He beamed with pride when he spoke of his two sons, both in the armed forces.
He tells me that while in the during his tour in Vietnam, he was exposed to agent orange and from that, how he developed cancer. He says that he's just hanging out @ the cafe before he had to go to his doctor's appointment. To this, I said nothing. I couldn't say anything. What could I say? Somehow, "sorry" just could not encompass the gravity of it all. He spoke of his condition as if it was a random, daily thing, or rather more like an inconvenience. I suppose seeing and knowing what he'd been through all these years in the service, Cancer is just an inconvenience to him, even if it meant his mortality.
He wasn't resigned, sad, or regretful, at least not from what I can tell of how he spoke about his life. He was just an old bloke, happy to be alive, trying to tell a youngblood like me about a really good and honest story...his story; as if imparting to me his most valuable treasures, wishing that I should have such an adventurous and amazing tale to tell when my time comes.
I shook his hand and thanked him for his story and his service. He wished me luck and with a nod, he left for his appointment.
So, to Chief Warrant Officer ______, my sincerest thanks.
Song of the day: "Sawdust Saloon" - The Low Anthem
The lump on the pickle
Yep. This week was nothing but absolute uselessness and a waste of time. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed every bit of it. I'm the "Jack the Ripper" of time-killing. It's just that 2 weeks have gone by in Pediatrics (week 1 = Peds ER, Week 2 - Off with random enrichment lectures), and I've only gone through 4, count 'em, 4 chapters of the review book for step two boards. I told myself I'd read 2 chapters a week which would've gotten me all finished with the review book by this coming Wednesday, but somehow, my amazing ability to procrastinate and the lure of catching up with Doctor Who episodes were all just too much to pass up. I'm weak. I know. To make things worse, PBS just released the Royal Shakespeare Company's BBC production of "Hamlet" this past week, starring two of my favorite actors: David Tennant (Doctor Who, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) and Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: TNG). So like the dork that I am, I went on and wasted more time watching the show and re-reading the play. I guess this proves that becoming a surgeon is not in the cards for me. I have too many other interests I'd rather be doing than cutting people up and being on call 24/7.
One more thing: I feel like I'm about to pop. I ate so much today on account of my Nephew having a Confirmation party. And in true gluttonistic (that's right, I'm making up my own words) fashion, I topped the night off by eating the last red velvet cupcake (made by yours truly, of course) with a side of rocky road ice cream while watching Mayweather beat the crap out of Mosley. Quite disappointing since I wanted Mosley to shut that arrogant SOB Mayweather, up. But I suppose this only sets up the stage for Manny to knock the smile off of Floyd's cocky face later on. We shall see.
So what does the week have in store for me:
1. Doing some schedule changes with my electives.
2. Updating CV some more.
3. READ PEDIATRICS REVIEW BOOK!
4. Review Head, Neck, and Back anatomy for the 1st years (God help me).
5. Trying not to procrastinate so much for this week.
6. Do laundry.
I figure, that's about 2 tasks per day. Hopefully that's doable, even for a notorious procrastinator like myself. Ask me next weekend.
Song of the day: "Berry Picker's Tune" - T. Nile & Joanna Chapman-Smith
One more thing: I feel like I'm about to pop. I ate so much today on account of my Nephew having a Confirmation party. And in true gluttonistic (that's right, I'm making up my own words) fashion, I topped the night off by eating the last red velvet cupcake (made by yours truly, of course) with a side of rocky road ice cream while watching Mayweather beat the crap out of Mosley. Quite disappointing since I wanted Mosley to shut that arrogant SOB Mayweather, up. But I suppose this only sets up the stage for Manny to knock the smile off of Floyd's cocky face later on. We shall see.
So what does the week have in store for me:
1. Doing some schedule changes with my electives.
2. Updating CV some more.
3. READ PEDIATRICS REVIEW BOOK!
4. Review Head, Neck, and Back anatomy for the 1st years (God help me).
5. Trying not to procrastinate so much for this week.
6. Do laundry.
I figure, that's about 2 tasks per day. Hopefully that's doable, even for a notorious procrastinator like myself. Ask me next weekend.
Song of the day: "Berry Picker's Tune" - T. Nile & Joanna Chapman-Smith
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