I'm tired of studying abnormal liver function tests (although I aught to study more). So I decided to do a little myspace cleaning and to my surprise, I found this fun little survey I did for a good friend of mine a few years ago (Thanks again, Mike!). I said to myself, "self, why not update the survey? I'm sure it's a better way to spend your time rather than reading up on the causes of elevated AST/ALT or going to sleep."
And so, here it is...the survey. Feel free to use it yourself in your blogs, should you feel inclined to do so.
Ahem...
1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
Med student loans...GRRRR!! GRRRR, I say!!!
2. Where's the best place to eat a romantic dinner?
The backyard/patio/garden.
3. Last time you puked from drinking?
October 12th, 2009, in my car on the way home after my friends' wedding (Don't worry I wasn't driving), then a rest stop somewhere in Connecticut, then another rest stop on the Jersey Turnpike (exit 7), then the Greyhound bus station in Mt. Laurel. That was a lot of puking...
4. When is the last time you got drunk and danced on a bar?
Never. I think I would cause much puking for others which would then cause me to puke...and the vicious cycle would never end!
5. Name of your first grade teacher?
Don't remember. I think I was sick for most of my 1st grade life.
6. What do you really want to be doing right now?
OK, this is lame, but study or sleep...unfortunately I don't have the gumption to do either just yet.
7. What did you want to be when you were growing up?
As a little boy of 8 - a chef. As a young tyke of 11 - a comic book illustrator. As a strapping lad of 16 - a porn star. As young man of 18 - a porn star. As a quarter-lifer - a rock star. As a soon-to-be 30 year old - 15 lbs. lighter.
8. How many colleges did you attend?
One
9. Why did you wear the shirt that you have on right now?
It was clean and because it was a hand-me-down from my brother-in-law.
10. GAS PRICES First thought?
I wish somebody got me a loaded gas card for Christmas.
11. If you could move anywhere and take someone with you...
Used to be Italy. Now, probably Austin, Texas or somewhere in the Northwest. No, I still don't feel like taking anybody with me. Sorry.
12. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
The first line treatment for scombroid poisoning is Benadryl or some other antihistamine. It's ok...you can Wikipedia it.
13. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
Should I wear a tie tomorrow?
15. Favorite style of underwear for the opposite sex?
Hmmm...I suppose bikini shorts.
16. What errand/chore do you despise?
Cleaning my room. Always.
17. If you didn't have to work, would you volunteer at an art gallery?
Depends on the art gallery.
18. Get up early or sleep in?
Sleep in.
19. What is your favorite cartoon character?
Normally I'd pick Bugs. But more recently, Peter Griffin...you can't help but laugh at Seth McFarlane's creation.
20. Favorite NON sexual thing to do at night with someone of the opposite sex?
Sit down cozy-like on the couch, crack open a few beers or wine, and watch sportscenter or the history channel or AMC until one of us nods off.
21. A secret that you wouldn't mind everyone knowing?
Jeff Buckley is my Elvis.
22. Are you planning on remaining in your current field?
For $150K worth of loans and 4 years of my life I'll never ever get back, EVER...maybe.
23. Do you see yourself married in the next five years?
Probably not. It seems to be the trend.
24. Your favorite lunch meat?
Pastrami or Salami...very close call.
25. What do you get every time you go into a WalMart?
Trident peppermint gum.
26. Beach or lake?
Depends on view ;)
27. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual that was invented by people who died at 20?
Perhaps. But that should not justify divorce in today's society. FYI, the divorce rate has been in its lowest since the 1970s.
28. TV show you miss?
The Muppet Show
29. Favorite guilty pleasure
Haribo Gummy Bears
30. Favorite movie you wouldn't want anyone to find out about?
I don't think I have any. I just don't care about what anybody else thinks about my movie tastes.
31. What's your drink?
Coffee, Yerba Mate, Sam Adams Beer.
32. Cowboys or Indians?
Cowboys
33. Cops or Robbers?
Robbers
34. Do you cheer for the bad guy in a movie?
If he's a kick-ass bad guy.
35. What Hollywood star do you think resembles you best?
That kid that played Data in Goonies.
36. If you had to pick one, which cast member of Lost would you be?
HAHAHA! I'd like to think, John Locke.
37. What do you want when you are sick?
Lots of water and quiet.
38. Who from high school would you like to run into?
Still keep up with my high school friends. Don't really care for those who didn't talk to me.
39. What radio station is your car radio tuned to right now?
88.5 WXPN
42. Norm or Cliff?
Cliff, of course!
43. The Cosby Show or the Simpsons?
Simpsons.
44. Worst relationship mistake that you wish you could take back?
Other than wasted time and heartache in those relationships, I don't think I've had a really bad mistake, thankfully.
45. Do you like the person who sits directly across from you at work?
Lots of people sit across from me @ work. Most of them nurses and doctors. So far, they've been nice.
46. If you could get away with it, whom would you kill?
Next.
47. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Mel Brooks.
48. What famous person would you like to sleep with?
Julie Delpy or Anne Hathaway
49. Have you ever had to use a firearm?
No, but I'd like to know how to use one.
50. Last book you read?
A Farewell To Arms - E. Hemingway
51. Do you have a teddy bear?
Nope.
52. Strangest place you have ever brushed your teeth?
My grandpa's house.
53. Somewhere in California you've never been and would like to go?
Lots of places: Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, Napa Valley, The Playboy Mansion...
54. Number of texts in a day?
Depends on the occasion
55. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or relationship?
My career is pretty much set. I would say relationship, but I don't think I'm up for that mess right now anyways.
56. Favorite Winter Olympic Sport?
Lately, Snowboarding. Before, curling.
57. Pencil or pen?
Both
58. Bueller??? Bueller??? Bueller???
Note to self: Finish Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
59. How many jobs have you had?
Quite a few.
60. Are you where you thought you would be at this age?
Nope. Still working on it, tho.
Song of the Day: "Horchata" - Vampire Weekend
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
Wash, Rinse, Repeat
Ok, so this blog, so far has been my sounding board, more or less, for the trials and tribulations of the surreal (and I use the term very loosely) ride that is med school. In it, you will find my slip-shod attempt at chronicling almost all of bruhaha that goes on in my life amidst countless hours of medical minutiae, wrapped in a pretty $150K+ student loan bow. A good deal of it is bitching...and I feel pretty bad about it, despite this being my own blog. I wish I was a little more cheerful or witty when it came to matters of electronic journaling. I won't try it now, but I can at least make this one entry lean more towards the positive side.
It's been 3 years since I started the Manifesto and I feel that I need to highlight the good things that I have been a part of and experienced this whole time as opposed to dwelling some more on the countless crap that has piled high in my life. Here goes...
- I got into med school (it took me 3 years to get in, and it has taken 3 more for me to get scared shitless about the fact that I will be responsible for a stranger's health in a few months' time from now). YAY!
- I made it to 3rd year so far. OK...
- I made more friends. Always a plus.
- I learned who my real friends are.
- I've discovered many ways to remember the TCA cycle and even more ways to forget it.
- I got into (and out of) a relationship that made me realize that being single isn't so bad at all.
- I learned how to make peach cobbler.
- I got better at playing guitar (and ukelele)!
- I learned how to roll drum cigarettes.
- I stopped smoking.
- I have agreed to disagree with vodka because in a streetfight, vodka IS the street.
- I learned that I suck at public speaking. And that's ok.
- I realized the importance of owning my own domicile in the future.
- I learned the power of saying "I don't know."
- I learned that I look better bald.
- I got glasses (now I can work the Clark Kent angle)!
- I can do OMM now!
- I have memorized 4 Shakespeare soliloquies this past year (2 - Julius Ceasar, 1 - Richard III, 1 - Hamlet).
- I've learned to take things as they come, and with a grain of salt (lots of salt...and tequila).
And there you have it, mas o menos. I'm sure there are other quirky details that I have omitted...they will surface somehow, in time. Before the new year dawns on us, I figured I aught to do a little life accounting just to get the good vibes going for 2010. As always, I can only hope that whatever good comes my way, may it always outweigh the bad. And whatever mistakes I make, that I seriously learn from them, because I hate going through the same stupid shit more than twice.
Song of the day: "Heartbeat Radio" - Sondre Lerche
It's been 3 years since I started the Manifesto and I feel that I need to highlight the good things that I have been a part of and experienced this whole time as opposed to dwelling some more on the countless crap that has piled high in my life. Here goes...
- I got into med school (it took me 3 years to get in, and it has taken 3 more for me to get scared shitless about the fact that I will be responsible for a stranger's health in a few months' time from now). YAY!
- I made it to 3rd year so far. OK...
- I made more friends. Always a plus.
- I learned who my real friends are.
- I've discovered many ways to remember the TCA cycle and even more ways to forget it.
- I got into (and out of) a relationship that made me realize that being single isn't so bad at all.
- I learned how to make peach cobbler.
- I got better at playing guitar (and ukelele)!
- I learned how to roll drum cigarettes.
- I stopped smoking.
- I have agreed to disagree with vodka because in a streetfight, vodka IS the street.
- I learned that I suck at public speaking. And that's ok.
- I realized the importance of owning my own domicile in the future.
- I learned the power of saying "I don't know."
- I learned that I look better bald.
- I got glasses (now I can work the Clark Kent angle)!
- I can do OMM now!
- I have memorized 4 Shakespeare soliloquies this past year (2 - Julius Ceasar, 1 - Richard III, 1 - Hamlet).
- I've learned to take things as they come, and with a grain of salt (lots of salt...and tequila).
And there you have it, mas o menos. I'm sure there are other quirky details that I have omitted...they will surface somehow, in time. Before the new year dawns on us, I figured I aught to do a little life accounting just to get the good vibes going for 2010. As always, I can only hope that whatever good comes my way, may it always outweigh the bad. And whatever mistakes I make, that I seriously learn from them, because I hate going through the same stupid shit more than twice.
Song of the day: "Heartbeat Radio" - Sondre Lerche
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Onward...
OK...time for an update.
Finished Psychiatry about a month ago. Rotation itself was good and interesting. The doctor I was rotating with, despite giving me high marks in individual aspects of the rotation, only gave me a regular pass grade, and she had no bad critiques to back her grade. The messed up part about that was I couldn't even argue because her resident and another student were there as she discussed my grade with me.
Suck.
Next was geriatrics. Lots of old people. Lots of pathology, and kinda sad...lots of talk about dying, hospice, cancer...but lots of good too. I talked to a bunch of senior citizens at the long term care facility I was assigned to and they had wonderful stories to tell, the lot of them that could still talk and tell their stories. Lives long ago filled with stories of love and war, of family and loss, of friendships and everything else in between. And when I was at the hospital, I also learned a lot. And got pimped a lot. I hate getting pimped.
Which leads me to my latest rotation, Internal Medicine. Week one is finished. Quite busy, quite tiring, but good. The only annoying part about this rotation is getting up @ 5:30am to be at the hospital by 7am. Am not a morning person at all. Hopefully I get used to it by the time I do surgery. So far, not as much pimping as possible, but there's lots to learn and re-learn all the time, and it just feels like there's no break. 18 months from now, I graduate and start working as a doctor...scary.
For now, I'm just content sitting here in my room, blogging, watching the history channel, and enjoying the very snowy view outside.
Song of the day: "Wintersong" by Sarah McLachlan
Finished Psychiatry about a month ago. Rotation itself was good and interesting. The doctor I was rotating with, despite giving me high marks in individual aspects of the rotation, only gave me a regular pass grade, and she had no bad critiques to back her grade. The messed up part about that was I couldn't even argue because her resident and another student were there as she discussed my grade with me.
Suck.
Next was geriatrics. Lots of old people. Lots of pathology, and kinda sad...lots of talk about dying, hospice, cancer...but lots of good too. I talked to a bunch of senior citizens at the long term care facility I was assigned to and they had wonderful stories to tell, the lot of them that could still talk and tell their stories. Lives long ago filled with stories of love and war, of family and loss, of friendships and everything else in between. And when I was at the hospital, I also learned a lot. And got pimped a lot. I hate getting pimped.
Which leads me to my latest rotation, Internal Medicine. Week one is finished. Quite busy, quite tiring, but good. The only annoying part about this rotation is getting up @ 5:30am to be at the hospital by 7am. Am not a morning person at all. Hopefully I get used to it by the time I do surgery. So far, not as much pimping as possible, but there's lots to learn and re-learn all the time, and it just feels like there's no break. 18 months from now, I graduate and start working as a doctor...scary.
For now, I'm just content sitting here in my room, blogging, watching the history channel, and enjoying the very snowy view outside.
Song of the day: "Wintersong" by Sarah McLachlan
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Wake up!
Why is it that when I find a task in front of me, I somehow manage to expertly find MULTIPLE WAYS of dodging said work?
Cases in point:
1. Psychiatry paper - Due this coming Friday (or earlier).
2. Studying for the Psych final - Also this coming Friday.
I am dangerously low on motivation.
Send help.
And coffee.
ASAP.
Song of the day: "Electric Surfin' Go-Go" - Polysics
Cases in point:
1. Psychiatry paper - Due this coming Friday (or earlier).
2. Studying for the Psych final - Also this coming Friday.
I am dangerously low on motivation.
Send help.
And coffee.
ASAP.
Song of the day: "Electric Surfin' Go-Go" - Polysics
Friday, October 23, 2009
How do you feel?
2 weeks of vacay, Over. Was very good and very relaxing considering that I did a whole lot of nothing. Just vegged out @ the rents' house, then off to Boston for Chris and Al's wedding, which was amazing BTW, got sick on the way back (short story made long), and did some more nothing! Except sleep. I did catch up on beautiful sleep.
And now, back to the daily grind.
Next rotation: psychiatry.
I started this last Monday. So far, it's been very interesting, although the stories behind a good deal of these patients are downright sad and disturbing (abuses of all kinds starting from when they were young and all along the way, it seems they just collect all sorts of bad luck and trouble). You look at them and think "geez, how are they ever going to get out of their miserable holes?" And unfortunately a good deal of them don't. Either they catch a really bad disease and die miserably, OD on God knows what kind of drugs they do, get murdered, or commit suicide, or get into a horrific accident...or all of the above. And the scary part to me is that at one point in their lives, they were for the most part, like any normal person, and unfortunately something or things knocked them off their even keel. Makes me wonder how closely we skate along the borders of sanity and madness. A few bad days? A few drinks? A puff? A sniff? A snort? A word? A loss? An injury? An action? An impulse?
4 weeks of psych. Lots of talking, reading, drugs, and crazy.
GO ANGELS!
Song of the day: "Crazy (Gnarls Barkley Cover)" - Ray LaMontagne
And now, back to the daily grind.
Next rotation: psychiatry.
I started this last Monday. So far, it's been very interesting, although the stories behind a good deal of these patients are downright sad and disturbing (abuses of all kinds starting from when they were young and all along the way, it seems they just collect all sorts of bad luck and trouble). You look at them and think "geez, how are they ever going to get out of their miserable holes?" And unfortunately a good deal of them don't. Either they catch a really bad disease and die miserably, OD on God knows what kind of drugs they do, get murdered, or commit suicide, or get into a horrific accident...or all of the above. And the scary part to me is that at one point in their lives, they were for the most part, like any normal person, and unfortunately something or things knocked them off their even keel. Makes me wonder how closely we skate along the borders of sanity and madness. A few bad days? A few drinks? A puff? A sniff? A snort? A word? A loss? An injury? An action? An impulse?
4 weeks of psych. Lots of talking, reading, drugs, and crazy.
GO ANGELS!
Song of the day: "Crazy (Gnarls Barkley Cover)" - Ray LaMontagne
Saturday, October 3, 2009
What?
2nd rotation, Done! Radiology was a trip and a half! It started out slow and non-descript (following random techs and doctors, trying to figure out people's heads from their asses and backs, and boobs, and guts...) to something absolutely interesting and downright fun. It's great to see people out there who are just good at what they do and enjoy doing what they do. Kinda makes me want to be an interventional radiologist (IR for those in the biz). The guys at IR know how to shoot the shit in more ways than one, but at the end of the day, they get the job done right, and all without taking themselves too seriously.
What do they do, you ask? They open up veins and arteries, cath and stent, do biopsies, pull out hardware, drain cysts, embolize vessels, etc, etc. and they make it all look too easy. There's definitely something to this type of gig...especially when you can do bank hours. I don't know how realistic I am with this avenue (FYI: radiology is one of the toughest residencies to get into), but it's definitely a sweet job if you can get it.
So by my count...specialties of interests: 6
1. Family Medicine
2. OMM
3. Gastroenterology
4. Physical Medicine and Rehab
5. Psychiatry
6. Radiology (sp. IR)
Stay tuned for more...
Song of the day: "Who's On First?" - Abbott and Costello
What do they do, you ask? They open up veins and arteries, cath and stent, do biopsies, pull out hardware, drain cysts, embolize vessels, etc, etc. and they make it all look too easy. There's definitely something to this type of gig...especially when you can do bank hours. I don't know how realistic I am with this avenue (FYI: radiology is one of the toughest residencies to get into), but it's definitely a sweet job if you can get it.
So by my count...specialties of interests: 6
1. Family Medicine
2. OMM
3. Gastroenterology
4. Physical Medicine and Rehab
5. Psychiatry
6. Radiology (sp. IR)
Stay tuned for more...
Song of the day: "Who's On First?" - Abbott and Costello
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Easy come, Easy go
So either I'm suffering from what seems to be the beginnings of a cold or just a flare-up of my allergies. Other than that, the day was actually pretty good...I suppose I can say that since there's only 5 minutes left of this day and I don't really have to worry about jynxing it anymore. Tomorrow, I will wrap up my first rotation. It's bye-bye family med, hello radiology.
The last couple of weeks have been for the most part, fairly pleasant. Despite the long commute (1 hour from Cherry Hill to Vineland) to my community service site, I enjoyed my time spent in the Occupational Health Office. All the people in there were very chill and funny, especially my preceptor. He was good enough to let me see his patients and allowed me a decent amount of independence. I even got to suture 2 people (with him assisting, of course). I had a great deal of patient exposure and was very thankful for it. I even found a sweet Puerto Rican Restaurant that has awesome Yellow rice and beans because of this rotation. I wish the rest of the year would go as well as these past two weeks did.
In other news, I went to a bachelor party for my good friend CP this past weekend in NYC. It's weird, when I think about it, 8 years ago, we were just on the other side of the Hudson, looking out 12 miles to the east, on a beautiful autumn day, watching the tragedy of the two towers unfold before our eyes. We were so young then...technically we're still young now, but a lot has happened in the past 8 years. He's gonna be married soon, to a good friend of mine. And this past weekend, we celebrated his good fortune in a city that once grieved, but now seems rejuvenated again...but never forgetting. We took him through pub crawls, Chinatown dive restaurants, Irish taverns, Historic hole-in-the-wall joints, the bevy of strip clubs, and faux trailer parks. It's funny how a day can change its meaning if you just give it some time.
My phone buzzed with an email alert as I type this line. About 6 months ago, that same buzz made me swoon in expectation of text messages about mindless prattle, the kind that goes with infatuation. When the buzzing stopped 2 months later, the silence became my torment. The phone, my enemy. The red LED light that flashed when a message was delivered, failed to shine...signifying my neglect...like a forgotten ancient tombstone.
Now it's just a phone again.
You see?
Time.
Song of the day: "Waltz For A Night" - Julie Delpy in Before Sunset
The last couple of weeks have been for the most part, fairly pleasant. Despite the long commute (1 hour from Cherry Hill to Vineland) to my community service site, I enjoyed my time spent in the Occupational Health Office. All the people in there were very chill and funny, especially my preceptor. He was good enough to let me see his patients and allowed me a decent amount of independence. I even got to suture 2 people (with him assisting, of course). I had a great deal of patient exposure and was very thankful for it. I even found a sweet Puerto Rican Restaurant that has awesome Yellow rice and beans because of this rotation. I wish the rest of the year would go as well as these past two weeks did.
In other news, I went to a bachelor party for my good friend CP this past weekend in NYC. It's weird, when I think about it, 8 years ago, we were just on the other side of the Hudson, looking out 12 miles to the east, on a beautiful autumn day, watching the tragedy of the two towers unfold before our eyes. We were so young then...technically we're still young now, but a lot has happened in the past 8 years. He's gonna be married soon, to a good friend of mine. And this past weekend, we celebrated his good fortune in a city that once grieved, but now seems rejuvenated again...but never forgetting. We took him through pub crawls, Chinatown dive restaurants, Irish taverns, Historic hole-in-the-wall joints, the bevy of strip clubs, and faux trailer parks. It's funny how a day can change its meaning if you just give it some time.
My phone buzzed with an email alert as I type this line. About 6 months ago, that same buzz made me swoon in expectation of text messages about mindless prattle, the kind that goes with infatuation. When the buzzing stopped 2 months later, the silence became my torment. The phone, my enemy. The red LED light that flashed when a message was delivered, failed to shine...signifying my neglect...like a forgotten ancient tombstone.
Now it's just a phone again.
You see?
Time.
Song of the day: "Waltz For A Night" - Julie Delpy in Before Sunset
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