I was just surfin' the world wide web, and came across this blast from the past.
I was up in Sitka, Alaska in 2001-02, working with AmeriCorps. It was one of the most interesting and unusual years I've ever had. (I always recommend a year in Alaska to anyone who is not sure what they want to do with their life)
One of the more unusual things that happened was the Episode of the Giant Squid. There I was, in my office, calmly working away (which mostly consisted of e-mail, Solitaire and staring out the window) when I heard about the Giant Squid. I can't remember where I heard it first... I do remember that our entire office decided to take a field trip down to the dock to see it. Our entire office consisted of about three or four people at that time, but that is beside the point. Practically the entire population of Sitka had gone there to see it.
We got to the harbor, got a gander at the giant squid - a big, red blobby thing with really long tentacles - took a few photos and left.
Later, we heard more stories:
- the harbor master had to get people off the docks, because they were starting to sink below the water line, since the ENTIRE town was there
- the squid was removed from the harbor and taken on 'tour' to the schools so that the child/adolescent population of Sitka could see it, too
- when the fishermen caught the squid (tangled in their fishnets), they were so excited, that they gutted it and ate some right there at sea...
- had the squid remained intact, rumors were that the Smithsonian would have wanted it (but Sitka is a small town and rumors run rampant)
I think the most amazing thing about the Episode of the Giant Squid to me was not the squid itself, but the fair-like atmosphere that descended on the town with the arrival of the squid. They practically had a parade.
Things like that don't happen in Winston-Salem. Or Portland.
Dec 30, 2004
I Was in a Syringe
Now I'm in you. (Name the movie?)
Again, apologies, to all my many fans out there for my prolonged absence. I've been in hibernation. Seriously, I have done very little of actual substance in the last one and a half weeks. It has been fantastic! As a result, I've almost completely cut myself off from all forms of communication - blog or otherwise. But I'm back!
Highlights:
1. Vegas: originally, I was going to write a review of all the casinos I saw (casinoes?). Now, I'll just say that I stayed at the Flamingo Hotel and that Paris was my favorite. Vegas was fun and tiring. I gambled a little, lost about $20 total, all on slots (mostly penny). I did earn twenty dollars, though, taking a survey about faucets. Seriously. Danced with Kristin on the bar at Coyote Ugly, cause you just gotta do that (even sober). All said and done, I prefer New York, but I wouldn't say no to another Vegas Vacation. In a couple of years. Oh, the Bellagio fountain thingy rocks.
2. Flu: Arrival back in Winston, I promptly developed a stomach flu, and missed two days of my Family Practice rotation. Yuck, yuck, yuck. My least favorite thing in the world (next to onions and war) is throwing up.
3. Plane ticket oops: Shortly after contacting the people at my rotation to tell them I was sick, I realized that I'd booked my tickets home for Friday afternoon instead of Saturday. Friday afternoon was out test. Yeah. Anyway, I felt like a royal idiot, but it all worked out. And I got to go home a day early! Yay!
4. FOPA: Focused Observed Patient Assessment - our Friday morning test. We were to work on our communication skills, and get graded on that, as well as our basic skills. I flipped out during my patient interview, and completely forgot to ask the things I'd learned about during our FIRST year of school. But I got a 24/25 on the communication. Hmm. Well, at least I learned something.
5. PORTLAND: I heart Portland. No problems on the flight back home. I think my Vegas plane adventure guaranteed that. HOWever, they are calling for snow in Portland on Saturday/Sunday. I leave on Sunday. Portland doesn't do snow well.
6. Lots of sitting around, staring at the wall. Occasional reading, crocheting, playing with dogs and piano playing.
7. Spanglish with me muther. Sehr gut.
8. Christmas party at Elizabeth's. Had fun, but I was still in hibernation mode at that point, so I wasn't terribly sociable or witty.
9. Christmas Eve traditions: church, dining room dinner, open one present, 'go to bed' at ten so 'Santa' can come (the youngest person in the house is 19, but Santa still comes), sneak back downstairs at midnight to play Santa to parents, sleep.
10. Christmas Day traditions: wake up first (after Dad), awaken sisters with dogs, look at stockings (trying to not see what our sisters got, because we all get the same things and want to be surprised), shower, Christmas morning breakfast, help clean dishes (I think my mom gets more help with dishes on this day than any other), open presents. There are five of us, we go one at a time, starting with Lindsay, the youngest. It takes HOURS, but it is fantastic. Opening presents at our house is truly an event. Then we eat and watch movies or whatever.
11. December 26th: Day after Christmas shopping mit Schwestern. I always buy more than they do. Got some goodie-good stuff this year.
12. A Very Long Engagement with Lindsay. Muy bien.
13. New glasses, new haircut (hadn't been cut since March 20th - "THAT" day)
14. Removal of Christmas decorations, and preparation for their removal to new farmstead. My parents call it the 'farm.' I'm going to call it the farmstead. My dad is having a large workshop built, which has these really big doors. I'm pulling for the installation of a large piece of plastic that will make a mooing sound when the doors open. I don't think my dad is really going for that, though.
15. Write blog, during which I get side-tracked by many numerous things on the internet, which was another thing I was avoiding during my hibernation.
I'm sleepy now. But I wrote! Are you proud? :) Happy last few days of 2004 to you all!
Oh, yeah:
16. Tentatively choosing neurology as my career path. Discouraged, however, by lack of neurology residency positions, and complicatedness of residency application process (NEMP vs. NRMP vs. Both; ERAS and SF match... confusing!)
Now all that happy last few days stuff.
Here's to a New Years celebration that meets all your expectations. I'm staying home and watching movies. Hallelujah!
Again, apologies, to all my many fans out there for my prolonged absence. I've been in hibernation. Seriously, I have done very little of actual substance in the last one and a half weeks. It has been fantastic! As a result, I've almost completely cut myself off from all forms of communication - blog or otherwise. But I'm back!
Highlights:
1. Vegas: originally, I was going to write a review of all the casinos I saw (casinoes?). Now, I'll just say that I stayed at the Flamingo Hotel and that Paris was my favorite. Vegas was fun and tiring. I gambled a little, lost about $20 total, all on slots (mostly penny). I did earn twenty dollars, though, taking a survey about faucets. Seriously. Danced with Kristin on the bar at Coyote Ugly, cause you just gotta do that (even sober). All said and done, I prefer New York, but I wouldn't say no to another Vegas Vacation. In a couple of years. Oh, the Bellagio fountain thingy rocks.
2. Flu: Arrival back in Winston, I promptly developed a stomach flu, and missed two days of my Family Practice rotation. Yuck, yuck, yuck. My least favorite thing in the world (next to onions and war) is throwing up.
3. Plane ticket oops: Shortly after contacting the people at my rotation to tell them I was sick, I realized that I'd booked my tickets home for Friday afternoon instead of Saturday. Friday afternoon was out test. Yeah. Anyway, I felt like a royal idiot, but it all worked out. And I got to go home a day early! Yay!
4. FOPA: Focused Observed Patient Assessment - our Friday morning test. We were to work on our communication skills, and get graded on that, as well as our basic skills. I flipped out during my patient interview, and completely forgot to ask the things I'd learned about during our FIRST year of school. But I got a 24/25 on the communication. Hmm. Well, at least I learned something.
5. PORTLAND: I heart Portland. No problems on the flight back home. I think my Vegas plane adventure guaranteed that. HOWever, they are calling for snow in Portland on Saturday/Sunday. I leave on Sunday. Portland doesn't do snow well.
6. Lots of sitting around, staring at the wall. Occasional reading, crocheting, playing with dogs and piano playing.
7. Spanglish with me muther. Sehr gut.
8. Christmas party at Elizabeth's. Had fun, but I was still in hibernation mode at that point, so I wasn't terribly sociable or witty.
9. Christmas Eve traditions: church, dining room dinner, open one present, 'go to bed' at ten so 'Santa' can come (the youngest person in the house is 19, but Santa still comes), sneak back downstairs at midnight to play Santa to parents, sleep.
10. Christmas Day traditions: wake up first (after Dad), awaken sisters with dogs, look at stockings (trying to not see what our sisters got, because we all get the same things and want to be surprised), shower, Christmas morning breakfast, help clean dishes (I think my mom gets more help with dishes on this day than any other), open presents. There are five of us, we go one at a time, starting with Lindsay, the youngest. It takes HOURS, but it is fantastic. Opening presents at our house is truly an event. Then we eat and watch movies or whatever.
11. December 26th: Day after Christmas shopping mit Schwestern. I always buy more than they do. Got some goodie-good stuff this year.
12. A Very Long Engagement with Lindsay. Muy bien.
13. New glasses, new haircut (hadn't been cut since March 20th - "THAT" day)
14. Removal of Christmas decorations, and preparation for their removal to new farmstead. My parents call it the 'farm.' I'm going to call it the farmstead. My dad is having a large workshop built, which has these really big doors. I'm pulling for the installation of a large piece of plastic that will make a mooing sound when the doors open. I don't think my dad is really going for that, though.
15. Write blog, during which I get side-tracked by many numerous things on the internet, which was another thing I was avoiding during my hibernation.
I'm sleepy now. But I wrote! Are you proud? :) Happy last few days of 2004 to you all!
Oh, yeah:
16. Tentatively choosing neurology as my career path. Discouraged, however, by lack of neurology residency positions, and complicatedness of residency application process (NEMP vs. NRMP vs. Both; ERAS and SF match... confusing!)
Now all that happy last few days stuff.
Here's to a New Years celebration that meets all your expectations. I'm staying home and watching movies. Hallelujah!
Dec 25, 2004
Dec 22, 2004
July 16
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince will be released! Can you taste the excitement???
Oh, and I know, I know... I haven't posted. My brain seems to be on hiatus. I'll try to kick it into gear tonight...
Oh, and I know, I know... I haven't posted. My brain seems to be on hiatus. I'll try to kick it into gear tonight...
Dec 13, 2004
High in the Sky
I actually wrote this on the plane last Friday. I didn't get any internet in Las Vegas...
Oh, my, my, my. This was the CLOSEST I’ve ever been to missing/catching a plane. But here I am, mid-air on the way to Vegas.
Here’s what happened:
My first flight was to leave Greensboro at seven twenty five (I’m not using actual numbers because I’m basically typing in the dark, and I don’t want to fumble around with those keys. But look at me go! Typing in the dark!!! Using exclamation points, even!)
Okay, as I said: original flight to leave seven twenty five. When I checked in, it had already been pushed back twenty or so minutes. By the by, I arrived extremely early. Not that that really matters, I just felt like mentioning it. And the phrase ‘by the by’ is not used nearly enough, in my opinion.
While I was waiting for the seven forty nine (seriously, that’s what time it said when I checked in) flight, there was the BRIGHTEST flash of lightning I have ever seen and the LOUDEST thunder I have ever heard. In my ENTIRE life. Susan said it was like an earthquake. Oh, yeah. Susan was also at the airport, flying off to Nashville. But she was driving when the world’s biggest lightning bolt hit.
Yeah, yeah. I bore myself even, but really, the story gets more exciting. Slightly more, anyway.
Waiting and waiting… I am very good at doing that in airports, and I definitely got practice tonight. Finally, around eight thirty, our flight took off to Dulles in DC. My flight out of DC was scheduled at nine forty five. We landed in Dulles at nine forty. I got into the terminal at around nine forty five, and MY FLIGHT WAS NOT LISTED on the “departures” board. I wandered around in circles (literally – I was only covering about a ten yard space, just over and over) Then I went up to ask a flight person where the flight was, and he said “follow me!” and went running to a gate that was closed. He used his little badgy thing to beep in and ran down the breezeway yelling “Holly!” And they hadn’t closed the plane door yet! Huzzah! They closed the door immediately after I got on. It was amazing.
AND I’m in row eight, and I am by myself, and I think I’m in the “economy plus” section or something, cause there is TONS of space. Ahhh…. I am so filled with coolness and pleasurosity. Except that they’re playing The Notebook.
Movies I will NEVER watch:
1. Bridges of Madison County
2. Varsity Blues
3. The Notebook
Luckily, I brought my computer (duh), AND a Katharine Hepburn movie that I haven’t seen. FAN-tastic.
Vegas, here I come…
Oh, my, my, my. This was the CLOSEST I’ve ever been to missing/catching a plane. But here I am, mid-air on the way to Vegas.
Here’s what happened:
My first flight was to leave Greensboro at seven twenty five (I’m not using actual numbers because I’m basically typing in the dark, and I don’t want to fumble around with those keys. But look at me go! Typing in the dark!!! Using exclamation points, even!)
Okay, as I said: original flight to leave seven twenty five. When I checked in, it had already been pushed back twenty or so minutes. By the by, I arrived extremely early. Not that that really matters, I just felt like mentioning it. And the phrase ‘by the by’ is not used nearly enough, in my opinion.
While I was waiting for the seven forty nine (seriously, that’s what time it said when I checked in) flight, there was the BRIGHTEST flash of lightning I have ever seen and the LOUDEST thunder I have ever heard. In my ENTIRE life. Susan said it was like an earthquake. Oh, yeah. Susan was also at the airport, flying off to Nashville. But she was driving when the world’s biggest lightning bolt hit.
Yeah, yeah. I bore myself even, but really, the story gets more exciting. Slightly more, anyway.
Waiting and waiting… I am very good at doing that in airports, and I definitely got practice tonight. Finally, around eight thirty, our flight took off to Dulles in DC. My flight out of DC was scheduled at nine forty five. We landed in Dulles at nine forty. I got into the terminal at around nine forty five, and MY FLIGHT WAS NOT LISTED on the “departures” board. I wandered around in circles (literally – I was only covering about a ten yard space, just over and over) Then I went up to ask a flight person where the flight was, and he said “follow me!” and went running to a gate that was closed. He used his little badgy thing to beep in and ran down the breezeway yelling “Holly!” And they hadn’t closed the plane door yet! Huzzah! They closed the door immediately after I got on. It was amazing.
AND I’m in row eight, and I am by myself, and I think I’m in the “economy plus” section or something, cause there is TONS of space. Ahhh…. I am so filled with coolness and pleasurosity. Except that they’re playing The Notebook.
Movies I will NEVER watch:
1. Bridges of Madison County
2. Varsity Blues
3. The Notebook
Luckily, I brought my computer (duh), AND a Katharine Hepburn movie that I haven’t seen. FAN-tastic.
Vegas, here I come…
Dec 10, 2004
Apologies
To my numerous fans (or maybe really just Ari). I didn't go by to get my computer yesterday, so I still don't know the fate of my novel...
And NOW, it is time to go home and pack, cause I'm going to Vegas, baby! Five hours from now I will (hopefully) be on a plane. The plane will still be on the ground in Greensboro, but at least I will be on it. Hopefully. Yippee!
I've never been to Vegas. I don't even know what to expect other than BIG BIG BIG.
Stay tuned for reports from the front line.
And NOW, it is time to go home and pack, cause I'm going to Vegas, baby! Five hours from now I will (hopefully) be on a plane. The plane will still be on the ground in Greensboro, but at least I will be on it. Hopefully. Yippee!
I've never been to Vegas. I don't even know what to expect other than BIG BIG BIG.
Stay tuned for reports from the front line.
Dec 9, 2004
ACK!
The computer people are done with my computer. Time to go find out if any of my novel was salvaged...
I Can't Really Define Irony
But I know it when I see it.
Presentation this morning:
1. Don't go over time limit - check
2. Don't trip and fall flat on face - check
Sounds like a good presentation in my book! Yippee! Now it is almost weekend...
But, first: an adventure (of sorts).
Refer back to the Flashing Lights incident, and you will realize that I need to register my car. To do that, I need to get someone to verify my Vehicle Identification Number here in North Carolina to prove that my car is NOT in Oregon.
First stop: DMV. They seem knowledgable about... cars and stuff. Plus, I knew where it was, based on one prior foray into the bowels of licensing. I didn't actually go into the bowels, but I did fail the written driver's test, so I felt like... It was after that, though, that I realized that I don't have to sacrifice my cherished OR license (I love it mostly because I have the # memorized. If I got a NC one, I'd have to memorize an entirely new number. Plus I look really funny in the picture) leading to the whole 'verify the VIN' situation I am in currently.
So, DMV lady (very nice, but really weird tie on) said they didn't do it, so sent me to the State Troopers' office in the same building. Who knew that was there? Not I.
Second stop: State Troopers' office in the DMV building. State Trooper lady (also nice, but mumbly) told me I needed to go to the DMV Enforcement Office. Actually what she said was, "Mmph-mmmm-DMV-emmmeomm-ofemm" She gave me directions that were relatively simple, but completely un-understabdable. I pulled out a piece of paper and played stupid to make her tell me the directions slow while I wrote them down. That worked like a charm!
Third stop: Take 52-North to the Patterson Exit, Turn Left and the DMV Enforcement Office will be on your left. But beware! You may get there and, like me, discover that all of the officers who verify VINs are 'on special assignment' until eight tomorrow morning. Grrr. Then, if you, like me, are wearing your badge proclaiming to the world that you are a med student, the clerk at the DMV Enforcement Office may try to get some free medical advice. Oh, yeah, and you may be, like me, completely dripping wet cause it was pouring during the whole experience.
So, no VIN verification for me today. Great. And tomorrow I can't go, cause I'm going to LAS VEGAS. Yeah, baby.
But, not getting VIN verification did leave me time to go home and watch Reality Bites.
I had not seen that since it came out in 1994 when I was 16. I didn't particularly care for it then, but now? Now I really like it. The acting is not always stellar, but the pop culture references are fantastic. Go Lisa Loeb! I recommend it for good rainy afternoon watching. I may even have to add it to my collection...
There is a lady here at the office wearing a purple sequined dress today. I think that means it is time for me to go home.
Presentation this morning:
1. Don't go over time limit - check
2. Don't trip and fall flat on face - check
Sounds like a good presentation in my book! Yippee! Now it is almost weekend...
But, first: an adventure (of sorts).
Refer back to the Flashing Lights incident, and you will realize that I need to register my car. To do that, I need to get someone to verify my Vehicle Identification Number here in North Carolina to prove that my car is NOT in Oregon.
First stop: DMV. They seem knowledgable about... cars and stuff. Plus, I knew where it was, based on one prior foray into the bowels of licensing. I didn't actually go into the bowels, but I did fail the written driver's test, so I felt like... It was after that, though, that I realized that I don't have to sacrifice my cherished OR license (I love it mostly because I have the # memorized. If I got a NC one, I'd have to memorize an entirely new number. Plus I look really funny in the picture) leading to the whole 'verify the VIN' situation I am in currently.
So, DMV lady (very nice, but really weird tie on) said they didn't do it, so sent me to the State Troopers' office in the same building. Who knew that was there? Not I.
Second stop: State Troopers' office in the DMV building. State Trooper lady (also nice, but mumbly) told me I needed to go to the DMV Enforcement Office. Actually what she said was, "Mmph-mmmm-DMV-emmmeomm-ofemm" She gave me directions that were relatively simple, but completely un-understabdable. I pulled out a piece of paper and played stupid to make her tell me the directions slow while I wrote them down. That worked like a charm!
Third stop: Take 52-North to the Patterson Exit, Turn Left and the DMV Enforcement Office will be on your left. But beware! You may get there and, like me, discover that all of the officers who verify VINs are 'on special assignment' until eight tomorrow morning. Grrr. Then, if you, like me, are wearing your badge proclaiming to the world that you are a med student, the clerk at the DMV Enforcement Office may try to get some free medical advice. Oh, yeah, and you may be, like me, completely dripping wet cause it was pouring during the whole experience.
So, no VIN verification for me today. Great. And tomorrow I can't go, cause I'm going to LAS VEGAS. Yeah, baby.
But, not getting VIN verification did leave me time to go home and watch Reality Bites.
I had not seen that since it came out in 1994 when I was 16. I didn't particularly care for it then, but now? Now I really like it. The acting is not always stellar, but the pop culture references are fantastic. Go Lisa Loeb! I recommend it for good rainy afternoon watching. I may even have to add it to my collection...
There is a lady here at the office wearing a purple sequined dress today. I think that means it is time for me to go home.
Dec 8, 2004
I'm an ANIMAL
I have a fifteen minute presentation to do tomorrow on immunizations. I have spent the ENTIRE night working on it. And there is still stuff that I want to change around. I am a person obsessed. Actually, it is quite interesting. I'm looking at reasons that parents would refuse to vaccinate their children - there are so many websites that LOOK like they're all official and smart, that are saying things like
Let's guess what Brenna's opinion is on the matter, shall we?
Though I must admit, I'm a tad wary of the Varicella vaccine. That's chicken pox to all y'all lay people out there. (ha... y'all... I think I'll keep that in my personal vocab even after I move back to Oregon) I had chicken pox (she says, with her nose turned up) why shouldn't my kids? Plus, it was only started in 1995, and I don't believe that they know that it provides lifelong immunity. And chicken pox when you are an adult is MUCH worse than when you's a wee child. I had a horrible time, and I was only ten. I looked like a toad. And I couldn't wear my glasses. And it was about 10,000 degrees outside. Such fond memories...why shouldn't any of my kids have the same?
BUT! Look at me go on still. I must get a grip. I must get sleep.
Nighty, night, y'all.
"It is very clear from reviewing CDC documentation on the National Immunization Registry Plan, that U.S. government agencies and officials are ostensibly using public health to create a massive networked computer database to create a national surveillance and enforcement system. This system will monitor, intimidate, harass, and punish conscientious parents, their children, and their health care providers if they do not conform with every government recommended vaccination health care policy."Boo-yah. You KNOW the government is out to intimidate, harass and otherwise bully people who don't try to protect their babies from horrible, awful PREVENTABLE deaths.
Let's guess what Brenna's opinion is on the matter, shall we?
Though I must admit, I'm a tad wary of the Varicella vaccine. That's chicken pox to all y'all lay people out there. (ha... y'all... I think I'll keep that in my personal vocab even after I move back to Oregon) I had chicken pox (she says, with her nose turned up) why shouldn't my kids? Plus, it was only started in 1995, and I don't believe that they know that it provides lifelong immunity. And chicken pox when you are an adult is MUCH worse than when you's a wee child. I had a horrible time, and I was only ten. I looked like a toad. And I couldn't wear my glasses. And it was about 10,000 degrees outside. Such fond memories...why shouldn't any of my kids have the same?
BUT! Look at me go on still. I must get a grip. I must get sleep.
Nighty, night, y'all.
Dec 7, 2004
Flashing Lights!
Really, there are like ten kajillion things a day that I mean to comment on on my blog here (like the resident saying tes-ti-kyoo-lur cancer yesterday all weird) but then something else happens and I totally forget... Isn't it tragic? I know.
There may have been something that I was going to write about, but then I got pulled over by a police car. (aside: a whole web site for pictures of police cars??? Okay, then.) I knew it was coming - he actually backed up from where he had been turning right to get behind me, and then apparently looked through a little magnifying glass thing on his dash board. Ahh, yes. Light turned green, I started, and he turned on his flashy blue lights.
Question: I've been looking online, but can't seem to find out if there is any difference between red or blue or red and blue flashing lights. Anyone know?
Okay, so I was driving forward, with my blinker on, because I was FIFTY YARDS away from my apartment. Mr. Cop Man followed me into my parking lot, AND left the lights flashing. I'm sure all my neighbors think I'm of the criminal persuasion now.
Why, oh, why was dear, sweet, law-abiding, speed-limit heeding (most of the time) Brenna pulled over? Yeah, my license tags are expired. Since, like, September.
But, listen: I'm working on it! Kind of. I have the papers that need to be filled out to prove that my car is not actually in the state of Oregon, but have not had time to stop by the vehicle registration place to get the signature proving that my VIN number matches. Sigh.
I explained to Mr. Cop Man that I was working on the wholething. That was while I fumbled around trying to find the vehicle's registration. I didn't know what it looked like! I've never been pulled over before! Anyway, he ended up just jotting down my driver's license number and registration or something, then left. I don't think it was because I was so convincing, though, I think it was because he was being called away for a more pressing emergency.
Blah, blah. Ended up being kind of a boring story, huh? My sincere apologies.
Testimonial of the Day: I LOVE Goodwill. I spent (too much) time there tonight, and got: a sweater, a purse, and eighteen books (hee-hee!) for $16.05. How fantastic is that? Really, really fantastic, that is the answer.
Ugh. Research now for 15 minute presentation on Thursday. Blah, blah, blah.
There may have been something that I was going to write about, but then I got pulled over by a police car. (aside: a whole web site for pictures of police cars??? Okay, then.) I knew it was coming - he actually backed up from where he had been turning right to get behind me, and then apparently looked through a little magnifying glass thing on his dash board. Ahh, yes. Light turned green, I started, and he turned on his flashy blue lights.
Question: I've been looking online, but can't seem to find out if there is any difference between red or blue or red and blue flashing lights. Anyone know?
Okay, so I was driving forward, with my blinker on, because I was FIFTY YARDS away from my apartment. Mr. Cop Man followed me into my parking lot, AND left the lights flashing. I'm sure all my neighbors think I'm of the criminal persuasion now.
Why, oh, why was dear, sweet, law-abiding, speed-limit heeding (most of the time) Brenna pulled over? Yeah, my license tags are expired. Since, like, September.
But, listen: I'm working on it! Kind of. I have the papers that need to be filled out to prove that my car is not actually in the state of Oregon, but have not had time to stop by the vehicle registration place to get the signature proving that my VIN number matches. Sigh.
I explained to Mr. Cop Man that I was working on the wholething. That was while I fumbled around trying to find the vehicle's registration. I didn't know what it looked like! I've never been pulled over before! Anyway, he ended up just jotting down my driver's license number and registration or something, then left. I don't think it was because I was so convincing, though, I think it was because he was being called away for a more pressing emergency.
Blah, blah. Ended up being kind of a boring story, huh? My sincere apologies.
Testimonial of the Day: I LOVE Goodwill. I spent (too much) time there tonight, and got: a sweater, a purse, and eighteen books (hee-hee!) for $16.05. How fantastic is that? Really, really fantastic, that is the answer.
Ugh. Research now for 15 minute presentation on Thursday. Blah, blah, blah.
Dec 6, 2004
Threes
Things come in threes, bad or good, right? Here's my latest three. You be the judge of goodness vs. badness.
1. Yesterday was our final Nano gathering of the year, and we all got together to celebrate our writing (did I mention that I'm a winner?) and then went to Arigato, a Japanese Steakhouse for dinner. I had the shrimp and salmon, cause I loves me some little fishy things from the sea. After dinner, I was driving home, and called my sister and realized I was all itchy, which I attributed to an allergy to her voice (cause I loves me some her like that). Anyhow. Once home, the itching intensified, and I discovered that I had HIVES all over my face and arms. HIVES. Yup. Those little fishy things from the sea are apparently harrassing my immune system. Mean little fishy things. So: allergic to shrimp.
2. On Friday, I started my computer, only to get the message "Disk Error. Press Any Key to Restart." I pushed any key several times. Actually, I probably pushed all keys to restart, but no restarting happened. "No worry," I assured myself, "probably some faulty wiring or some such nonsense. The miracle-workers in academic computing will get this all shaped up and shipped out in no time." Fade in to this afternoon:
Well, darn it. Okay,not as big a deal as it would have been when I acutally had all my lectures, etc. stored on said computer (I lost all of those a couple of months ago already) BUT! Guess what is on the computer, that is not completely backed up? Have you guessed? That's right. MY NOVEL. My freaking, 50,009 word novel. I've only posted thirty thousand or so words on my site. They are going to 'try' to recover it.
3. I was driving over to Susan's house tonight to blog about the things that had happened, and to leave spot #3 open, wondering what would fill out the triad. Then Susan called.
Okay, okay, so it wasn't quite like that, but Susan managed to stick her hand in the mouth of her German Shepard as it tried to bite off her other dogs head. She got Susan's hand instead. (At this point, I'd like to remind you all that Susan will be a doctor someday. Possibly yours.)
I called my mom for some Urgent Care advice (thanks, ma!) and finally got to Susan's. The wound itself was not terrible, mostly a puncture wound - three main spots. Her hand was all swollen, though, so brilliant med students that we are, we determined a plan of action: Augmentin and Vicodin. Problem: no pharmacy anywhere would accept our word or our signature.
So we ventured out to "The Baptist" to visit the nice ED docs, as Winston-Salem lacks a good after hours urgent care facility. Being med students did help us get through a little faster, but it still took us nigh on three hours to get (drumroll) Augmentin and Vicodin. (And a hand x-ray and tetanus booster, but we are only third years after all)
I thank Susan for nicely rounding out my triad of the last 24 hours. Didn't affect me personally as much as the shrimp or the computer, but it still fits.
Good or bad?
I guess it depends on your point of view. Example: someone who didn't like me very much (say for instance, a shrimp) might wish the loss of a novel upon me and pain upon my friends. Mean little fishy things.
1. Yesterday was our final Nano gathering of the year, and we all got together to celebrate our writing (did I mention that I'm a winner?) and then went to Arigato, a Japanese Steakhouse for dinner. I had the shrimp and salmon, cause I loves me some little fishy things from the sea. After dinner, I was driving home, and called my sister and realized I was all itchy, which I attributed to an allergy to her voice (cause I loves me some her like that). Anyhow. Once home, the itching intensified, and I discovered that I had HIVES all over my face and arms. HIVES. Yup. Those little fishy things from the sea are apparently harrassing my immune system. Mean little fishy things. So: allergic to shrimp.
2. On Friday, I started my computer, only to get the message "Disk Error. Press Any Key to Restart." I pushed any key several times. Actually, I probably pushed all keys to restart, but no restarting happened. "No worry," I assured myself, "probably some faulty wiring or some such nonsense. The miracle-workers in academic computing will get this all shaped up and shipped out in no time." Fade in to this afternoon:
Brenna: My computer won't start.
Dennis: What happens?
Brenna: It says "disk error."
All three miracle-worker academic computing gurus, in unison: Uh-oh.
Well, darn it. Okay,not as big a deal as it would have been when I acutally had all my lectures, etc. stored on said computer (I lost all of those a couple of months ago already) BUT! Guess what is on the computer, that is not completely backed up? Have you guessed? That's right. MY NOVEL. My freaking, 50,009 word novel. I've only posted thirty thousand or so words on my site. They are going to 'try' to recover it.
3. I was driving over to Susan's house tonight to blog about the things that had happened, and to leave spot #3 open, wondering what would fill out the triad. Then Susan called.
Susan: How far away are you?
Brenna: (thinking, uh-oh) I just left. Why?
Susan: Well, my dog just mauled me, and my hand is falling off in a bloody mess. Hurry!
Okay, okay, so it wasn't quite like that, but Susan managed to stick her hand in the mouth of her German Shepard as it tried to bite off her other dogs head. She got Susan's hand instead. (At this point, I'd like to remind you all that Susan will be a doctor someday. Possibly yours.)
I called my mom for some Urgent Care advice (thanks, ma!) and finally got to Susan's. The wound itself was not terrible, mostly a puncture wound - three main spots. Her hand was all swollen, though, so brilliant med students that we are, we determined a plan of action: Augmentin and Vicodin. Problem: no pharmacy anywhere would accept our word or our signature.
So we ventured out to "The Baptist" to visit the nice ED docs, as Winston-Salem lacks a good after hours urgent care facility. Being med students did help us get through a little faster, but it still took us nigh on three hours to get (drumroll) Augmentin and Vicodin. (And a hand x-ray and tetanus booster, but we are only third years after all)
I thank Susan for nicely rounding out my triad of the last 24 hours. Didn't affect me personally as much as the shrimp or the computer, but it still fits.
Good or bad?
I guess it depends on your point of view. Example: someone who didn't like me very much (say for instance, a shrimp) might wish the loss of a novel upon me and pain upon my friends. Mean little fishy things.
Dec 3, 2004
Dec 1, 2004
Things I've Wanted to Blog About
My novel has been consuming all of my writing abilities lately, so I really have not blogged much, but every day I have a few things I want to mention. Because I really feel that the world needs to know these things. Really, I do.
Okay, not really, but I feel like writing them anyway, so deal with it. Punk.
1. Yesterday, the resident I worked with looked like Ferris Bueller. I couldn't figure out at first who he reminded me of, and then right in the middle of a pelvic exam, it was like WA-POW! You's workin' wit' dat Ferris kid! Thus spinning me off into fantasies of my life being like Sex and the City. (Two points for you if you follow my logic. Only two though, cause it ain't that hard.)
2. I have determined that I do not want to enter a field of medicine that requires me to do pap smears and/or pelvic examinations. Eew. Really, gynecology? Why? There are very important things that go on 'down there,' and, as a medical semi-professional, I do care deeply. I just don't want to be privy to everyone's hoo-hoos. (Does anyone call them hoo-hoos? I may have made that up.)
3. I had lunch today (okay so this was not something I have been burning to blog about, but it happened nonetheless) with the doc who set up a scholarship that I am receiving. Awesome thing to do, set up a scholarship - one of my goals in life is to do the same. (Listen to the class shout "DIGRESSION!" Holden. No one cares about your uncle's farm.) Anyhoo. (Heh. Anyhoo-hoo.) Anyway, the topic of the eighty hour work week, recently instituted for house officers came up.
My opinion: awesome, I only have to work eighty hours a week for 3-5 years. Maybe I'll actually manage to get some sleep and avoid killing a few patients. The doctor's opinion: (keep in mind that he is about five hundred years old) I had to do it, why should they get coddled; how are they suppsed to learn anything in 80 hours - that is losing one third of their educational time (yes, folks 120 hr/week was the preferred method before); and finally: the pendulum of change has swung too far, and needs to swing back a bit towards common sense. In short: 80 hours a week is ridiculous, no one can learn anything in that amount of time. 100 hours makes more sense, obviously.
Why do doctors get God complexes again?
4. I dropped off my crocheted items at the Sawtooth Center for their Deck the Halls event. Gak! People are going to look at my things and decide whether they are worthy of spending money on. Is that not crazy? It is. It is certifiable. If that idea showed up in the emergency room, it would have to be escorted out in the company of a sheriff and driven to the state hospital.
5. I forget everything else. And I gotta go to the bathroom now. Maybe I'll write more later.
HAPPY DECEMBER! Do the Christmas Dance. I'll give you ten points if you do...
Okay, not really, but I feel like writing them anyway, so deal with it. Punk.
1. Yesterday, the resident I worked with looked like Ferris Bueller. I couldn't figure out at first who he reminded me of, and then right in the middle of a pelvic exam, it was like WA-POW! You's workin' wit' dat Ferris kid! Thus spinning me off into fantasies of my life being like Sex and the City. (Two points for you if you follow my logic. Only two though, cause it ain't that hard.)
2. I have determined that I do not want to enter a field of medicine that requires me to do pap smears and/or pelvic examinations. Eew. Really, gynecology? Why? There are very important things that go on 'down there,' and, as a medical semi-professional, I do care deeply. I just don't want to be privy to everyone's hoo-hoos. (Does anyone call them hoo-hoos? I may have made that up.)
3. I had lunch today (okay so this was not something I have been burning to blog about, but it happened nonetheless) with the doc who set up a scholarship that I am receiving. Awesome thing to do, set up a scholarship - one of my goals in life is to do the same. (Listen to the class shout "DIGRESSION!" Holden. No one cares about your uncle's farm.) Anyhoo. (Heh. Anyhoo-hoo.) Anyway, the topic of the eighty hour work week, recently instituted for house officers came up.
My opinion: awesome, I only have to work eighty hours a week for 3-5 years. Maybe I'll actually manage to get some sleep and avoid killing a few patients. The doctor's opinion: (keep in mind that he is about five hundred years old) I had to do it, why should they get coddled; how are they suppsed to learn anything in 80 hours - that is losing one third of their educational time (yes, folks 120 hr/week was the preferred method before); and finally: the pendulum of change has swung too far, and needs to swing back a bit towards common sense. In short: 80 hours a week is ridiculous, no one can learn anything in that amount of time. 100 hours makes more sense, obviously.
Why do doctors get God complexes again?
4. I dropped off my crocheted items at the Sawtooth Center for their Deck the Halls event. Gak! People are going to look at my things and decide whether they are worthy of spending money on. Is that not crazy? It is. It is certifiable. If that idea showed up in the emergency room, it would have to be escorted out in the company of a sheriff and driven to the state hospital.
5. I forget everything else. And I gotta go to the bathroom now. Maybe I'll write more later.
HAPPY DECEMBER! Do the Christmas Dance. I'll give you ten points if you do...
Nov 30, 2004
I'M A WINNER!!!
I don't like to sing my own praises, so I'll let the NaNo people do it for me:
GO ME!!! And SUSAN!!!!
Dear Novelist,
It is our supreme pleasure to inform you that our internationally renowned team of word-counting robots have completed their judicious assessment of your manuscript, and have passed on this final, binding decision:
Winner.
Wow. You've really done it this time, writer. Where the vast majority of National Novel Writing Month participants abandoned ship at some point in the journey, you bravely persevered, continuing your literary quest in the face of ridiculously long odds.
In one month, you have written more fiction than most people create in a lifetime. You have dared to dream big, to throw long, to say: 'Enough of the self-critical crap, and the hemming and hawing. This time I'm going for it.'
And you pulled it off with aplomb. In just four weeks, you built vast worlds and set them in motion. You created characters; quirky, interesting, passionate souls with lives and loves and ambitions as great as yours.
And most admirably, you managed to find time to do it all while juggling the demands of work, school, friends and family. Most people barely have the strength to make it through dinner at the end of a tough day. You dug deep, and found the energy and resolve to make wild, deliciously imperfect art in the midst of a horribly hectic life.
It's an amazing accomplishment, and we're proud of you for seeing it through.
GO ME!!! And SUSAN!!!!
Seventy four
Two and a half hours to go and only seventy four more words to write! Yet here I am, writing words that don't go in my novel.
Figures I'd get to less than 100 words (to the 50,000 mark) and hit the proverbial wall.
WALL BE DARNED! I shall write!
Figures I'd get to less than 100 words (to the 50,000 mark) and hit the proverbial wall.
WALL BE DARNED! I shall write!
Nov 27, 2004
Happy Thanksgiving
Everyone. And Merry Christmas Season.
I'm in lovely Charleston. But it is raining. Still lovely, but wet.
Less than 12,000 words to go on my novel!!! Huzzah! Problem is, I don't think the story will actually be complete in 12,000 words... That's all right. I just need to make the 50,000 word mark by Tuesday. Then I can finish the story at my own pace (which I fear may be snail-like).
Three weeks left of Family Medicine then CHRISTMAS! My little heart is aquiver with excited thrillment.
But that could be because of the incredibly sweet, strong coffee that I just consumed.
I'm OFF! Like... a firework. (I could say like a dress on prom night, but that is just crude.) I'm off like six month old milk... That's not quite right, either. (I did have some once, though, kind of like an unintentional science project. I didn't actually have it as consuming it. I just mean it was there in my refrigerator. In all its gross nastiness.)
I shall inflict the rest of the words in my head onto my novel now.
I'm in lovely Charleston. But it is raining. Still lovely, but wet.
Less than 12,000 words to go on my novel!!! Huzzah! Problem is, I don't think the story will actually be complete in 12,000 words... That's all right. I just need to make the 50,000 word mark by Tuesday. Then I can finish the story at my own pace (which I fear may be snail-like).
Three weeks left of Family Medicine then CHRISTMAS! My little heart is aquiver with excited thrillment.
But that could be because of the incredibly sweet, strong coffee that I just consumed.
I'm OFF! Like... a firework. (I could say like a dress on prom night, but that is just crude.) I'm off like six month old milk... That's not quite right, either. (I did have some once, though, kind of like an unintentional science project. I didn't actually have it as consuming it. I just mean it was there in my refrigerator. In all its gross nastiness.)
I shall inflict the rest of the words in my head onto my novel now.
Nov 23, 2004
Mischa Barton: A Theory
I have come to the conclusion that Mischa Barton has escalated to her particular level of fame not for her extradordinary acting abilities, but rather, for the lack of them. The girl has been made famous for uttering such lines as "I mean, what did I ever do to you?", "Luke? Um... I don't know really.", and "I'm angry." in a stilted, over-acty manner on The OC (one of my fav shows, minus Marissa).
My theory: people assume that since she made it onto television, she must be talented in some way. Since she obviously can't act, she must, by extension, be pretty. Beautiful, even, since she is really quite a bad actress. Just watch her career skyrocket as her acting skills plummet...
(Though, maybe I'm being harsh, and the writers just choose to give Marissa really bad lines. But then why does Summer get to say things like: "The more time I spend with Zack, the less time I have to think about... gah, what's his face? Built like a beanpole, curly hair; runs away like a little bitch on his sailboat, leaving nothing but a note for his girlfriend who cried and cried over him till the 4th of July when she decided she doesn't cry over bitches on boats!" And who can even tell me what the actress' name is?)
My theory: people assume that since she made it onto television, she must be talented in some way. Since she obviously can't act, she must, by extension, be pretty. Beautiful, even, since she is really quite a bad actress. Just watch her career skyrocket as her acting skills plummet...
(Though, maybe I'm being harsh, and the writers just choose to give Marissa really bad lines. But then why does Summer get to say things like: "The more time I spend with Zack, the less time I have to think about... gah, what's his face? Built like a beanpole, curly hair; runs away like a little bitch on his sailboat, leaving nothing but a note for his girlfriend who cried and cried over him till the 4th of July when she decided she doesn't cry over bitches on boats!" And who can even tell me what the actress' name is?)
Nov 15, 2004
Galumphing!
Wouldn't you rather be galumphing around than doing whatever it is you're doing right now? I thought so.
Interesting things happen, and I do fun things, but I have not been motivated to write about them lately because my freaking word count for NaNo is like really behind. Today is the fifteenth of November, so I should have 25,000 words. At 18,000, I'm only 7,000 words behind. But, still. That's kind of a lot.
Weekend recap:
Friday night... Did absolutely nothing. Realized around 11pm that I hadn't even had a real conversation all day, despite going to school for quiz, Y to work out, grocery store for food... Then an old high school friend called at around 11:30, and my day felt much more complete.
Saturday... Um, let's see... Got up. Oh, yeah! Watched NBC's morning line-up of children's shows (I love Endurance: Hawaii - it's frightening to see how evil small children can be), then went to Barnes and Noble and wrote for several hours. Then to Greensboro with Susan and Maripat for Thai food and Bridget Jones. Can you believe that Winston-Salem is not playing that movie??? I can't. I laughed, and laughed. Was it as good as the first? Well... maybe not. I have seen the first one about ten trillion times, though. But still good.
Sunday... Dragged myself out of bed in time to go to the local Nano meeting, where I actually read part of my novel aloud in front of the group. Go me! Everyone else was doing it, and it didn't seem the time to practice my "Resisting Peer Pressure" skills. After, Susan and I went to see The Incredibles. SO good. Much fun and laughing. I love the short (Bounding - ? not sure on the title) that it starts with, too. But then we ran into one (MM)PWHM, which threw a wrench in the rest of my night. I hate hate hate that they still have that much power over me... Anyway, after movie, I went home where I cleaned my living room in preparation for the Arrival of Melissa.
Monday... TODAY!! I don't have to be anywhere until noon. I actually cleaned my bedroom this morning!! Hooray! I go to some infectious disease conference for an hour. That's all. Then I have another conference at four. Two full hours today. I don't know if I can handle it! I'd rather be galumphing...
Interesting things happen, and I do fun things, but I have not been motivated to write about them lately because my freaking word count for NaNo is like really behind. Today is the fifteenth of November, so I should have 25,000 words. At 18,000, I'm only 7,000 words behind. But, still. That's kind of a lot.
Weekend recap:
Friday night... Did absolutely nothing. Realized around 11pm that I hadn't even had a real conversation all day, despite going to school for quiz, Y to work out, grocery store for food... Then an old high school friend called at around 11:30, and my day felt much more complete.
Saturday... Um, let's see... Got up. Oh, yeah! Watched NBC's morning line-up of children's shows (I love Endurance: Hawaii - it's frightening to see how evil small children can be), then went to Barnes and Noble and wrote for several hours. Then to Greensboro with Susan and Maripat for Thai food and Bridget Jones. Can you believe that Winston-Salem is not playing that movie??? I can't. I laughed, and laughed. Was it as good as the first? Well... maybe not. I have seen the first one about ten trillion times, though. But still good.
Sunday... Dragged myself out of bed in time to go to the local Nano meeting, where I actually read part of my novel aloud in front of the group. Go me! Everyone else was doing it, and it didn't seem the time to practice my "Resisting Peer Pressure" skills. After, Susan and I went to see The Incredibles. SO good. Much fun and laughing. I love the short (Bounding - ? not sure on the title) that it starts with, too. But then we ran into one (MM)PWHM, which threw a wrench in the rest of my night. I hate hate hate that they still have that much power over me... Anyway, after movie, I went home where I cleaned my living room in preparation for the Arrival of Melissa.
Monday... TODAY!! I don't have to be anywhere until noon. I actually cleaned my bedroom this morning!! Hooray! I go to some infectious disease conference for an hour. That's all. Then I have another conference at four. Two full hours today. I don't know if I can handle it! I'd rather be galumphing...
Nov 12, 2004
Poll of the Week
Okay, even after the less than resounding response to my "What Are You Going to be for Halloween" poll, I've decided to conduct another. I need advice, and am hoping that you, the internet world-at-large, can help me out here. Read on...
My lovely sister is coming to visit me next week! Hooray and zippidy-do-da! Fun is sure to be had, but how? That is my question. Here is our itinerary so far:
1. Melissa arrives Thursday night (can't remember what time...I'll have to look into that)
2. I pick her up, and bring her back to my place.
3. Melissa sleeps in sleeping bag or on love seat in my living room.
4. I get up and go to Infectious Disease (aka mostly AIDS) clinic on Friday morning, followed by stupid quiz.
5. Early dinner at cheap Mexican restaurant supplying margaritas.
6. Followed by dress-up gathering and cocktails at classmates' house. (We've apparently graduated from keggers! Who'da thunk it. Although, considering its popularity, I can almost guarantee that a game of Beer Pong will break out. I will not play, as I have doubts about the sanitary nature of the game and don't believe that beer kills all germs. Eew.)
7. Here is where I need your help, world! To be filled by one of the following options:
A. Wilmington, NC.
Pros: Haunted Pub Crawl, Comedy Pet Theatre on Sunday, Flaming Amy's Burritos, the Atlantic Ocean, which Melissa has not really seen much of. Oh, and it is also where they film One Tree Hill, providing the opportunity for semi-star stalking.
Cons: Four hour drive; I'm not really familiar with the area.
B. Charleston, SC.
Pros: It is Charleston. 'Nuf said. For those of you not familiar, however: Charleston is one of my favorite cities ever. It is further south than Wilmington, so may be warmer (not guaranteed, though), plus you can pretend you're in big hoop skirts in an antebellum era; Lowcountry Ghost Hunt; Rainbow Row; Atlantic Ocean; Old City Market, Fort Sumter
Cons: Five hour drive, I'm going to be there the following week for Thanksgiving
C. Winston-Salem, NC.
Pros: movie theater, mall, my apartment, I know the area well, I could continue to work on my novel, could save $$$$ on gas and hotel
Cons: It's freaking Winston-Salem, NC.
D. Asheville, NC.
Pros: My favorite NC town that I've been to, Biltmore Estate, pretty fall leaves in the Appalachian Mountains, Chimney Rock Park, Blue Ridge Parkway
Cons: Three hour drive, not the ocean (which Melissa specifically requested), Biltmore estate is more expensive than a day at Disney World, it's already past pretty fall leaf season, I'm actually only including this option so that I'd have four total options.
So, folks. Them be the options. What say you? A, B, C or D?
My lovely sister is coming to visit me next week! Hooray and zippidy-do-da! Fun is sure to be had, but how? That is my question. Here is our itinerary so far:
1. Melissa arrives Thursday night (can't remember what time...I'll have to look into that)
2. I pick her up, and bring her back to my place.
3. Melissa sleeps in sleeping bag or on love seat in my living room.
4. I get up and go to Infectious Disease (aka mostly AIDS) clinic on Friday morning, followed by stupid quiz.
5. Early dinner at cheap Mexican restaurant supplying margaritas.
6. Followed by dress-up gathering and cocktails at classmates' house. (We've apparently graduated from keggers! Who'da thunk it. Although, considering its popularity, I can almost guarantee that a game of Beer Pong will break out. I will not play, as I have doubts about the sanitary nature of the game and don't believe that beer kills all germs. Eew.)
7. Here is where I need your help, world! To be filled by one of the following options:
A. Wilmington, NC.
Pros: Haunted Pub Crawl, Comedy Pet Theatre on Sunday, Flaming Amy's Burritos, the Atlantic Ocean, which Melissa has not really seen much of. Oh, and it is also where they film One Tree Hill, providing the opportunity for semi-star stalking.
Cons: Four hour drive; I'm not really familiar with the area.
B. Charleston, SC.
Pros: It is Charleston. 'Nuf said. For those of you not familiar, however: Charleston is one of my favorite cities ever. It is further south than Wilmington, so may be warmer (not guaranteed, though), plus you can pretend you're in big hoop skirts in an antebellum era; Lowcountry Ghost Hunt; Rainbow Row; Atlantic Ocean; Old City Market, Fort Sumter
Cons: Five hour drive, I'm going to be there the following week for Thanksgiving
C. Winston-Salem, NC.
Pros: movie theater, mall, my apartment, I know the area well, I could continue to work on my novel, could save $$$$ on gas and hotel
Cons: It's freaking Winston-Salem, NC.
D. Asheville, NC.
Pros: My favorite NC town that I've been to, Biltmore Estate, pretty fall leaves in the Appalachian Mountains, Chimney Rock Park, Blue Ridge Parkway
Cons: Three hour drive, not the ocean (which Melissa specifically requested), Biltmore estate is more expensive than a day at Disney World, it's already past pretty fall leaf season, I'm actually only including this option so that I'd have four total options.
So, folks. Them be the options. What say you? A, B, C or D?
Nov 10, 2004
Nov 8, 2004
Rules, part 2
7. Don't even think about hitting on anyone while she is sweaty at the gym.
8. Don't even think about hitting on anyone while you are sweaty.
9. Don't wear a ton of cologne to the gym.
10. Don't get on the machine next to her whilst wearing too much cologne. Especially when she's sweating. Because she's trying to breathe, and, putting this in mathematical terms: fresh air >> cologne. The alligator eats the fresh air because it likes fresh air better than cologne.
You know who could hit on me, even if he was wearing too much cologne and was all sweaty? This guy.
8. Don't even think about hitting on anyone while you are sweaty.
9. Don't wear a ton of cologne to the gym.
10. Don't get on the machine next to her whilst wearing too much cologne. Especially when she's sweating. Because she's trying to breathe, and, putting this in mathematical terms: fresh air >> cologne. The alligator eats the fresh air because it likes fresh air better than cologne.
You know who could hit on me, even if he was wearing too much cologne and was all sweaty? This guy.
Nov 7, 2004
Rules for Hitting on Brenna
Last night, Susan and I spent several hours at Barnes and Noble working on our novels. Susan, being a more prolific writer yesterday than I was, had more to write than I did. So, I found myself wandering around the wonder that is Barnes and Nobel (all those books!!!), and soon found in my possession (temorarily, as I did not purchase it) the best-seller "he's just not that into you." which is even outselling The South Beach Diet and The Purpose Driven Life. (finally)
If you have yet to hear of this new fad book, let me educate you. In an episode of Sex and the City, Miranda has the liberating discovery that if a guy doesn't call her, it doesn't mean that he's complicated or has issues with his mother or pet iguana. It just means that he's not into her. Simple. The whole premise of the book (written by writers from Sex and the City) is basically that men are simple. I like that! If they are 'into you,' they'll let you know.
Which leads me to this morning. I decided that Sunday morning would be a good time to continue my noveling at Panera Bread (which has free WiFi!! I LOVE Panera). Standing in line, David (a self-professed artist) starts talking to me. I did not want to talk to David, which I think I made relatively clear by my lack of intelligible responses. Anyway, this leads me to deliver to you, the internet world at large, some of the rules for Hitting on Brenna. Probably will never be published as a book, but important to know, nonetheless.
Rules:
1. Don't do it before she's had her morning coffee.
2. Don't do it on a Sunday.
3. Don't persist if she doesn't giggle, toss her hair, turn towards you or make eye contact.
4. Don't brag how you just sold a piece of artwork the night before for $350.
5. Don't be in your forties.
and, perhaps most importantly:
6. Don't proceed to sit in a booth where you can see her, pull out a drawing pad and start SKETCHING HER. DON'T DO IT!!!
Creepy, creepy David. Maybe if he looked like an artist, it'd be a bit less weird.
Maybe if he hadn't picked up his cell phone, called a friend, talked loudly about how he just had an 'image of a beautiful woman that was hard to describe, he'd just have to see it' while he was drawing ME it would be less weird.
Maybe, but I kind of doubt it.
Poor David.
If you have yet to hear of this new fad book, let me educate you. In an episode of Sex and the City, Miranda has the liberating discovery that if a guy doesn't call her, it doesn't mean that he's complicated or has issues with his mother or pet iguana. It just means that he's not into her. Simple. The whole premise of the book (written by writers from Sex and the City) is basically that men are simple. I like that! If they are 'into you,' they'll let you know.
Which leads me to this morning. I decided that Sunday morning would be a good time to continue my noveling at Panera Bread (which has free WiFi!! I LOVE Panera). Standing in line, David (a self-professed artist) starts talking to me. I did not want to talk to David, which I think I made relatively clear by my lack of intelligible responses. Anyway, this leads me to deliver to you, the internet world at large, some of the rules for Hitting on Brenna. Probably will never be published as a book, but important to know, nonetheless.
Rules:
1. Don't do it before she's had her morning coffee.
2. Don't do it on a Sunday.
3. Don't persist if she doesn't giggle, toss her hair, turn towards you or make eye contact.
4. Don't brag how you just sold a piece of artwork the night before for $350.
5. Don't be in your forties.
and, perhaps most importantly:
6. Don't proceed to sit in a booth where you can see her, pull out a drawing pad and start SKETCHING HER. DON'T DO IT!!!
Creepy, creepy David. Maybe if he looked like an artist, it'd be a bit less weird.
Maybe if he hadn't picked up his cell phone, called a friend, talked loudly about how he just had an 'image of a beautiful woman that was hard to describe, he'd just have to see it' while he was drawing ME it would be less weird.
Maybe, but I kind of doubt it.
Poor David.
Nov 4, 2004
November 4th
Today marks a special occasion, world. For twenty-three years ago, to the day, I became an older sister. It is a role that many have carried, but few so well as I have done. So good was I at being Big Sister, that I was invited to carry on being Big Sister four years and one month later. I'd like to thank my parents for letting me have the opportunity to be such an accomplished Big Sister by providing me with two young children to learn with.
Through the pulling out of my hair by the fistful, I endured.
Through the square-mouthed, ear-splitting crying, I endured.
Through the stealing of toys, breaking of prized possessions, hogging of the comfortable spot on the couch, I endured.
All without ever losing my temper or being a brat.
I'd like to thank you all for honoring me as the superb big sister that I have been for the last 23 years.
Oh, and:
Through the pulling out of my hair by the fistful, I endured.
Through the square-mouthed, ear-splitting crying, I endured.
Through the stealing of toys, breaking of prized possessions, hogging of the comfortable spot on the couch, I endured.
All without ever losing my temper or being a brat.
I'd like to thank you all for honoring me as the superb big sister that I have been for the last 23 years.
Oh, and:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA!!!!!
Nov 2, 2004
No. 479
I voted!! Number 479 at the Ardmore Baptist Church, thank you very much. This marks the first time that I've actually gone to a real-live voting booth! (Oregon is all mail-in ballots.) You get a little pointy weapon thingy - it's great! I made sure that I poked thoroughly. There were no Pregnant Chads on MY ballot.
I'm taking an inordinate amount of pleasure in the fact that I'm dressed like a Young Republican and just cast my ballot at a Baptist church, flaming liberal that I am. Okay, not flaming, but definitely neither a)Young Republican nor b)Baptist. We Lutherans are quite liberal, thank you very much. And I'm a Kerry girl all the way. Okay, not really. But I am a Teresa Heinz Kerry girl all the way! Out with the pearl-wearing, It-Takes-a-Village-spouting, panty-hosed goodie-goodies in the white house! Bring on the Ketchup Queen!!! At least the scandal wouldn't all fall on the man in charge for once. Bring some estrogen (other than the famed and defamed Miss Lewinsky) onto the battle field of shame!
I didn't vote the straight Democratic ticket. I am registered as an independent, after all, I had to show some creativity. I voted for the Libertarian candidate for Governor. And I voted for a Republican for County Commisioner. Granted, that's because her name is Gloria Whisenhunt, and how can you NOT vote for a Whisenhunt? (And she's already been doing the job for 8 years, and I think the county is being commisionered just fine)
I did not, however, vote for any judges. I did not take the time to study their politics, and felt completely uninformed. Judges are a bit too important in my mind to leave to the choice of a cool-sounding name.
If you have not yet: GO VOTE!!! Make a statement. It's fun.
I'm taking an inordinate amount of pleasure in the fact that I'm dressed like a Young Republican and just cast my ballot at a Baptist church, flaming liberal that I am. Okay, not flaming, but definitely neither a)Young Republican nor b)Baptist. We Lutherans are quite liberal, thank you very much. And I'm a Kerry girl all the way. Okay, not really. But I am a Teresa Heinz Kerry girl all the way! Out with the pearl-wearing, It-Takes-a-Village-spouting, panty-hosed goodie-goodies in the white house! Bring on the Ketchup Queen!!! At least the scandal wouldn't all fall on the man in charge for once. Bring some estrogen (other than the famed and defamed Miss Lewinsky) onto the battle field of shame!
I didn't vote the straight Democratic ticket. I am registered as an independent, after all, I had to show some creativity. I voted for the Libertarian candidate for Governor. And I voted for a Republican for County Commisioner. Granted, that's because her name is Gloria Whisenhunt, and how can you NOT vote for a Whisenhunt? (And she's already been doing the job for 8 years, and I think the county is being commisionered just fine)
I did not, however, vote for any judges. I did not take the time to study their politics, and felt completely uninformed. Judges are a bit too important in my mind to leave to the choice of a cool-sounding name.
If you have not yet: GO VOTE!!! Make a statement. It's fun.
Nov 1, 2004
Out my EARS!
Today is November 1st. It marks the first day of National Novel Writing Month. I've taken it upon my humble self to write a (fantastic, one of a kind, best ever) novel.
Today also marks T minus about twenty days until I'm supposed to have about 20 items crocheted for the art/craft fair I'm attempting to sell my stuff in.
Problems:
1. I have very little in terms of actual plot for my novel. Though I do have a very engaging main character. Not based on me at all. Seriously.
2. Though I have copious amounts of yarn, I only have six items actually crocheted.
I, perforce, will have creativity busting out of every seam of my existence for the next month. Ack!
Meanwhile, back on the farm, I narrowly missed having to work with one of the (MM)PWHM on a presentation for Thursday. Phew. Thank the stars above for that.
TOMORROW IS ELECTION DAY. VOTE! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, VOTE!!!!!
Then have a party to celebrate the END of CAMPAIGN ADS!!! I will personally bring the confetti and silly string.
Today also marks T minus about twenty days until I'm supposed to have about 20 items crocheted for the art/craft fair I'm attempting to sell my stuff in.
Problems:
1. I have very little in terms of actual plot for my novel. Though I do have a very engaging main character. Not based on me at all. Seriously.
2. Though I have copious amounts of yarn, I only have six items actually crocheted.
I, perforce, will have creativity busting out of every seam of my existence for the next month. Ack!
Meanwhile, back on the farm, I narrowly missed having to work with one of the (MM)PWHM on a presentation for Thursday. Phew. Thank the stars above for that.
TOMORROW IS ELECTION DAY. VOTE! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, VOTE!!!!!
Then have a party to celebrate the END of CAMPAIGN ADS!!! I will personally bring the confetti and silly string.
Oct 29, 2004
Halloween
Ack! Somehow it is the end of October, and this weekend includes: 1) Halloween; 2)Daylight savings time. Can you believe it??? No one checked with me - I did not give time permission to fly past like this. Goodness. Before you know it I'll be 64 and toothless.
Halloween costumes. What are people choosing to do this year? I hate being boring, and always rack my brain to come up with something clever or unique. I always fail, and end up being something... Something. In the last few years I never really know what I am. For instance: last year I wore a short blonde wig, and a sequined pink shirt, black skirt and boots. That was my costume, but it had no Title. Nothing to distinguish it from Something Brenna Wore One Night. This Halloween it will be similar. Sigh... My Creative Genious Contract does not cover Costuming (or really much of anyhting else...)
On a brighter note, as of 2:00 am on Saturday night/Sunday morning, the clock in my truck will be correct again! I knew if I stuck it out long enough, I would triumph.
Happy Halloween!!! What are your costumes? Comment, please. I get lonely. ::sniff:: Hey - maybe if people comment, I'll include a picture of this year's costume. Nothing like a little bribe. (Of course, I don't know if pictures of me can rightfully be used as bribes...)
Halloween costumes. What are people choosing to do this year? I hate being boring, and always rack my brain to come up with something clever or unique. I always fail, and end up being something... Something. In the last few years I never really know what I am. For instance: last year I wore a short blonde wig, and a sequined pink shirt, black skirt and boots. That was my costume, but it had no Title. Nothing to distinguish it from Something Brenna Wore One Night. This Halloween it will be similar. Sigh... My Creative Genious Contract does not cover Costuming (or really much of anyhting else...)
On a brighter note, as of 2:00 am on Saturday night/Sunday morning, the clock in my truck will be correct again! I knew if I stuck it out long enough, I would triumph.
Happy Halloween!!! What are your costumes? Comment, please. I get lonely. ::sniff:: Hey - maybe if people comment, I'll include a picture of this year's costume. Nothing like a little bribe. (Of course, I don't know if pictures of me can rightfully be used as bribes...)
Oct 28, 2004
How Novel!
Say if one was going to write a novel (as I encourage all of you to do) - what would be a good idea for a plot? Any suggestions? I'll take any, even bad ones...
Oct 27, 2004
See!
I'm not making this all up. It's bad for everyone.
But, it will go on... Medicine as an institution is averse to change.
But, it will go on... Medicine as an institution is averse to change.
The Life List...
Found this on some high schooler's site. I had to check off my own accomplishments! Some of them are not relevant. I'm curious to know where it came from...
1. Bought everyone in the pub a drink - not yet
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula - no thanks
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree How else are you supposed to get found when you're lost?
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped - no thanks
12. Visited Paris - not yet!
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watched the sun rise Does while I was on call count?
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game What do you suppose is meant by 'huge?' I remember going to MN Twins games in '87 (with Kiiiiiirby Puckett!) and have been to several Blazers games...
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa - not yet
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg - unfortunately, no. I was really close, though...
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby's diaper Thank you, Lindsay. Wait. You should be thanking me!
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon - oooh! I wanna do that!
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity At this point, anything I give is more than I can afford! I'm living on loans, people! Not real money.
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope - I don't think so... Maybe?
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment Me and Elizabeth. Band. Practically every day in 9th grade.
28. Had a food fight - not yet...
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you're not ill - I never take sick days, even when I am ill.
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight Um. Yeah.
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier - hee-hee...
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly could See #32. And other times. Like now: AHHHHHHHHHHH!
35. Held a lamb - Mary had it.
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath - why??
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster Just a few days ago, in fact.
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days - ah, yes, with my amazing time-travelling machine
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking Alllll the time.
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day - not an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - not sure where they were born...
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment Most moments.
48. Been to the top of the World Trade Center - old list?
49. Visited all 50 states - not yet
50. Loved your job for all accounts - haven't had a 'real' job yet
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied Why do I need money to be satisfied? See #25
53. Had amazing friends Every day
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country - not yet
55. Watched wild whales Versus all those tame ones?
56. Stolen a sign Not a sign per se, but a mail box, yes.
57. Backpacked in Europe - only from the airport to transportation
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbed
60. Lied to foreign government's official in that country to avoid notice
61. Went for a midnight walk on the beach
62. Gone sky diving - Not yet!
63. Visited Ireland - home of the Most Depressing Literature Ever
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records/CDs
70. Pretended to be a superhero Every day!!
71. Sung karaoke Thanks to Susan!
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Gone scuba diving - not yet... Snorkeling, but not scuba...
75. Got it on to "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud There was the most amazing clay/mud at the house we lived at in Minnesota. I really loved it. ::moment to reminisce::
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater I remember seeing Gremlins at the drive-in.
80. Done something you should regret, but don't regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China - not yet
82. Discovered that someone who's not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog Hi Mom. :)
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class - no, but I taught at a martial arts summer school. Figure that one out!!
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman - Why would I do that?
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight - Why would I do that?
90. Written "For Sexual Favors" on the memo line of a check - hee-hee...
91. Been in a movie - not yet!
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn't have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Laughed so hard you spit milk through your nose Not as often as Lindsay...
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days - why? Food is good.
98. Made cookies from scratch And made a huge mess every time, right Ma?
99. Won first prize in a costume contest - fun!
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice - Not yet!!! Good Honeymoon activity...
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an "expert" - someday!
105. Got flowers for no reason For myself!
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don't remember anything Not 'anything.' Just SOME things.
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug - never
109. Performed on stage
110. Been to Las Vegas - not yet!
111. Recorded music Not professionally. Not for anyone else to listen to.
112. Eaten shark - maybe?
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand - not yet
115. Seen Siouxsie live - who/what?
116. Bought a house - not yet
117. Been in a combat zone - a FORMER combat zone...
118. Buried one/both of your parents - I don't think they'd appreciate that too much
119. Dyed your hair
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone Verbal only
123. Bounced a check Bank error.
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children - not yet!
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy Actually... Rainbow Brite, anyone?
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars - cool!
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congress person - hmm. Maybe I should...
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over - kind of...
134. ...more than once?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking. Every day.
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds Not all at one time...!
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray.
145. Broken someone else's heart. I guess I did...
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle Thanks, Dad!
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol - no, but I want to...
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild - mushrooms are gross.
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing - I wish!!!
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions - I tried...
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name - I try all the time, but it never sticks! No one will call me Brennafer.
178. Petted a cockroach - does it count if you 'pet' it forcefully with the bottom of your shoe?
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one -important- author who you missed in school, and read their work Not the complete BODY of their work...
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them - no, but I took a spoon from Hogan Bros. because I liked it so much
183. ...and gotten 86'ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch. Does crochet count? Mom started me, but I've done the rest. And I taught myself how to knit.
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating Fish
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions - haven't had any yet!
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language. Dolor = pain; confused looking face = are you having any problems; gross face while pointing at stomach = any nausea or vomiting?
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language - no, but Yuhki and I made up a written language in 6th grade
191. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you - not yet! Ask me again after the first week of December
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196: Traveled more than 200 miles for a hookup
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal/Blogger - huh?
199: Attended a presidential inaugural ball
200: Been arrested - not yet...
1. Bought everyone in the pub a drink - not yet
2. Swam with wild dolphins
3. Climbed a mountain
4. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
5. Been inside the Great Pyramid
6. Held a tarantula - no thanks
7. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
8. Said "I love you" and meant it
9. Hugged a tree How else are you supposed to get found when you're lost?
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped - no thanks
12. Visited Paris - not yet!
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watched the sun rise Does while I was on call count?
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game What do you suppose is meant by 'huge?' I remember going to MN Twins games in '87 (with Kiiiiiirby Puckett!) and have been to several Blazers games...
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa - not yet
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg - unfortunately, no. I was really close, though...
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby's diaper Thank you, Lindsay. Wait. You should be thanking me!
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon - oooh! I wanna do that!
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity At this point, anything I give is more than I can afford! I'm living on loans, people! Not real money.
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope - I don't think so... Maybe?
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment Me and Elizabeth. Band. Practically every day in 9th grade.
28. Had a food fight - not yet...
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you're not ill - I never take sick days, even when I am ill.
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight Um. Yeah.
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier - hee-hee...
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly could See #32. And other times. Like now: AHHHHHHHHHHH!
35. Held a lamb - Mary had it.
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath - why??
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster Just a few days ago, in fact.
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days - ah, yes, with my amazing time-travelling machine
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking Alllll the time.
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day - not an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - not sure where they were born...
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment Most moments.
48. Been to the top of the World Trade Center - old list?
49. Visited all 50 states - not yet
50. Loved your job for all accounts - haven't had a 'real' job yet
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied Why do I need money to be satisfied? See #25
53. Had amazing friends Every day
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country - not yet
55. Watched wild whales Versus all those tame ones?
56. Stolen a sign Not a sign per se, but a mail box, yes.
57. Backpacked in Europe - only from the airport to transportation
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbed
60. Lied to foreign government's official in that country to avoid notice
61. Went for a midnight walk on the beach
62. Gone sky diving - Not yet!
63. Visited Ireland - home of the Most Depressing Literature Ever
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records/CDs
70. Pretended to be a superhero Every day!!
71. Sung karaoke Thanks to Susan!
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Gone scuba diving - not yet... Snorkeling, but not scuba...
75. Got it on to "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud There was the most amazing clay/mud at the house we lived at in Minnesota. I really loved it. ::moment to reminisce::
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater I remember seeing Gremlins at the drive-in.
80. Done something you should regret, but don't regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China - not yet
82. Discovered that someone who's not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog Hi Mom. :)
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class - no, but I taught at a martial arts summer school. Figure that one out!!
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman - Why would I do that?
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight - Why would I do that?
90. Written "For Sexual Favors" on the memo line of a check - hee-hee...
91. Been in a movie - not yet!
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn't have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Laughed so hard you spit milk through your nose Not as often as Lindsay...
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days - why? Food is good.
98. Made cookies from scratch And made a huge mess every time, right Ma?
99. Won first prize in a costume contest - fun!
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice - Not yet!!! Good Honeymoon activity...
101. Gotten a tattoo
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an "expert" - someday!
105. Got flowers for no reason For myself!
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don't remember anything Not 'anything.' Just SOME things.
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug - never
109. Performed on stage
110. Been to Las Vegas - not yet!
111. Recorded music Not professionally. Not for anyone else to listen to.
112. Eaten shark - maybe?
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand - not yet
115. Seen Siouxsie live - who/what?
116. Bought a house - not yet
117. Been in a combat zone - a FORMER combat zone...
118. Buried one/both of your parents - I don't think they'd appreciate that too much
119. Dyed your hair
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone Verbal only
123. Bounced a check Bank error.
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report
126. Raised children - not yet!
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy Actually... Rainbow Brite, anyone?
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars - cool!
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congress person - hmm. Maybe I should...
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over - kind of...
134. ...more than once?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn't stop when you knew someone was looking. Every day.
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn't have survived
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds Not all at one time...!
142. Held someone while they were having a flashback
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray.
145. Broken someone else's heart. I guess I did...
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle Thanks, Dad!
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol - no, but I want to...
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild - mushrooms are gross.
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing - I wish!!!
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions - I tried...
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name - I try all the time, but it never sticks! No one will call me Brennafer.
178. Petted a cockroach - does it count if you 'pet' it forcefully with the bottom of your shoe?
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad
181. Selected one -important- author who you missed in school, and read their work Not the complete BODY of their work...
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed them - no, but I took a spoon from Hogan Bros. because I liked it so much
183. ...and gotten 86'ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch. Does crochet count? Mom started me, but I've done the rest. And I taught myself how to knit.
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating Fish
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions - haven't had any yet!
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language. Dolor = pain; confused looking face = are you having any problems; gross face while pointing at stomach = any nausea or vomiting?
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language - no, but Yuhki and I made up a written language in 6th grade
191. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you - not yet! Ask me again after the first week of December
195. Had a booth at a street fair
196: Traveled more than 200 miles for a hookup
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal/Blogger - huh?
199: Attended a presidential inaugural ball
200: Been arrested - not yet...
Oct 22, 2004
Ashes to Ashes
And so the dreaded surgery rotation ends, not with a bang, but a whimper (that being the sound of me during the test) My favorite part of the test was the last 25 or so questions, that were T/F questions, thus increasing the yield of my full-on guessing to 50%!!! Them are some good odds, when you compare it to the other 140 or so questions. All take a moment to appreciate the gods of the True/False question.
::Moment::
Okay, then. So, I didn't do all the procedures on my little procedure card, but I knew that Susan had dealt with this same issue, in what I thought was a decisive and firm manner. Nope. Card not signed on every line, guess what? You don't get a grade in surgery! Yippee for me. This means that I: a) get to fail surgery; b) have to spend the weekend wandering around begging someone to let me insert an NG tube and get an arterial blood gas; or c) sign the freaking card myself and send in interoffice mail. Hmmm. Wonder which one I'll do. Ridiculous. I pride myself on honesty in these situations, but good grief. I made a point of asking the course director day 1 if we were required to do every single one, and he said NO.
Along with the end of a rotation comes a sense of... let-down, I guess. I felt this way at the end of every section during the first two years, too. I've given heart and soul to the last eight weeks of my life, and all of a sudden, it's over. Just like that. I'm glad, but I want more! I hate such abrupt changes like this. The people that I've gotten to know over the last month or so, that I may never see again. It's just weird. The gloomy weather isn't helping any, either.
I really could see myself as a surgeon, so here is my decision: If I get honors in surgery, I'll become a surgeon. This is an easy , decisive statement for me to make, because I'm 99.9% certain that I won't get honors. And that 0.01% of doubt is in there only because nothing in life is certain.
I saw FNI today! Except, I realized, he's no longer FNI. He has to be FNR now, being that he transitioned into his second year of residency months ago. He was in a full-out suit. And tie. I can't figure out why... Mysterious FNR... Hmmm.
Tonight is Class Party Night. It is a Themed Class Party, too. Red Neck, or some such. Susan and I will be venturing to the Goodwill to attempt to find something to fit the bill. I am not sure whether (MM)PWHM will be there or not. I have heard they are leaving town, so I'm hoping they go now. The party would be more fun if I didn't have to worry about run-ins. I'm sick of the run-ins.
Blech. I need to go do something to improve my mood. Maybe I'll actually make it to the Y today... Or the mall...!
::Moment::
Okay, then. So, I didn't do all the procedures on my little procedure card, but I knew that Susan had dealt with this same issue, in what I thought was a decisive and firm manner. Nope. Card not signed on every line, guess what? You don't get a grade in surgery! Yippee for me. This means that I: a) get to fail surgery; b) have to spend the weekend wandering around begging someone to let me insert an NG tube and get an arterial blood gas; or c) sign the freaking card myself and send in interoffice mail. Hmmm. Wonder which one I'll do. Ridiculous. I pride myself on honesty in these situations, but good grief. I made a point of asking the course director day 1 if we were required to do every single one, and he said NO.
Along with the end of a rotation comes a sense of... let-down, I guess. I felt this way at the end of every section during the first two years, too. I've given heart and soul to the last eight weeks of my life, and all of a sudden, it's over. Just like that. I'm glad, but I want more! I hate such abrupt changes like this. The people that I've gotten to know over the last month or so, that I may never see again. It's just weird. The gloomy weather isn't helping any, either.
I really could see myself as a surgeon, so here is my decision: If I get honors in surgery, I'll become a surgeon. This is an easy , decisive statement for me to make, because I'm 99.9% certain that I won't get honors. And that 0.01% of doubt is in there only because nothing in life is certain.
I saw FNI today! Except, I realized, he's no longer FNI. He has to be FNR now, being that he transitioned into his second year of residency months ago. He was in a full-out suit. And tie. I can't figure out why... Mysterious FNR... Hmmm.
Tonight is Class Party Night. It is a Themed Class Party, too. Red Neck, or some such. Susan and I will be venturing to the Goodwill to attempt to find something to fit the bill. I am not sure whether (MM)PWHM will be there or not. I have heard they are leaving town, so I'm hoping they go now. The party would be more fun if I didn't have to worry about run-ins. I'm sick of the run-ins.
Blech. I need to go do something to improve my mood. Maybe I'll actually make it to the Y today... Or the mall...!
Oct 19, 2004
Whoop-De-Doooo!
HA! 'Tis my last call on the service of Trauma.
ACTUALLY: 'Tis my last call in the year of 2004! Saints be praised!
I am about to embark upon the mythical world of "Outpatient Medicine."
Outpatient Medicine, where the office doesn't open until after 7. 8, even.
Outpatient Medicine, where they actually break for lunch.
Outpatient Medicine, where there is no ER, OR, ABG, CT, MRI...
Outpatient Medicine, where no one pages you.
Outpatient Medicine, where there are no red sheets.
Outpatient Medicine, where there are no daily vitals, labs, CXRs.
Outpatient Medicine, where the day ends before dark. In the WINTER.
Could such a thing be truly possible? Me little brain thinks not, but others swear it is so. I feel compelled to believe them.
Should we, ethically, morally or consciously miss the days where wearing our hair in a side ponytail/bouffant was not only fashionable, it was professional?
ACTUALLY: 'Tis my last call in the year of 2004! Saints be praised!
I am about to embark upon the mythical world of "Outpatient Medicine."
Outpatient Medicine, where the office doesn't open until after 7. 8, even.
Outpatient Medicine, where they actually break for lunch.
Outpatient Medicine, where there is no ER, OR, ABG, CT, MRI...
Outpatient Medicine, where no one pages you.
Outpatient Medicine, where there are no red sheets.
Outpatient Medicine, where there are no daily vitals, labs, CXRs.
Outpatient Medicine, where the day ends before dark. In the WINTER.
Could such a thing be truly possible? Me little brain thinks not, but others swear it is so. I feel compelled to believe them.
Should we, ethically, morally or consciously miss the days where wearing our hair in a side ponytail/bouffant was not only fashionable, it was professional?
Killer Elevators
Do you ever let inanimate objects define your day? Or... I guess in the case of elevators, it would be an animate inanimate object.
So, there are three main towers in the hospital here - Reynolds (named after the great tobacco baron from this area), Ardmore (named after ?) and North (named after the direction?) all of which have two sets of elevators - patient/visitor elevators and the staff elevators. The staff ones are big for the transport of things like vacuum cleaners, patients and unit secretaries (who are, generally, the largest people in the hospital) There is one elevator in Ardmore that makes me want to waltz in it. It is GIGANTIC.
Okay. So, every morning, I get on the North elevators to fifth floor. I've found that the patient elevators are faster in North, so I take those. There is one (of the six possible) that smells like dirty gym socks. Gross. I've found that whenever I end up on the stinky sweat sock elevator in the morning, my day, likewise, stinks. Crazy superstition maybe, but it seems to be true.
Guess which elevator greeted me this morning?
But that was only the beginning of the Attack of the Evil Elevators. Later this morning, an elevator tried to EAT me. For no reason. It openedthenshut really fast. While I was trying to walk thru it.
And, progressively throughout the day, every single elevator I got on decided to inexplicably stop on EVERY SINGLE FLOOR. I had to go to a trauma code - in the sub-basement - from 11th floor. We stopped on 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 1, M, and G. And that is the elevator that doesn't stop on 1 or 2.
Freaking elevators.
Almost made me look forward to the relative emptiness of the elevators while I'm on call tonight.
I really do prefer stairwells. The acoustics are much better for whistling.
Now, ask yourself: why did you bother reading this entire post? Elevators are kinda boring...
So, there are three main towers in the hospital here - Reynolds (named after the great tobacco baron from this area), Ardmore (named after ?) and North (named after the direction?) all of which have two sets of elevators - patient/visitor elevators and the staff elevators. The staff ones are big for the transport of things like vacuum cleaners, patients and unit secretaries (who are, generally, the largest people in the hospital) There is one elevator in Ardmore that makes me want to waltz in it. It is GIGANTIC.
Okay. So, every morning, I get on the North elevators to fifth floor. I've found that the patient elevators are faster in North, so I take those. There is one (of the six possible) that smells like dirty gym socks. Gross. I've found that whenever I end up on the stinky sweat sock elevator in the morning, my day, likewise, stinks. Crazy superstition maybe, but it seems to be true.
Guess which elevator greeted me this morning?
But that was only the beginning of the Attack of the Evil Elevators. Later this morning, an elevator tried to EAT me. For no reason. It openedthenshut really fast. While I was trying to walk thru it.
And, progressively throughout the day, every single elevator I got on decided to inexplicably stop on EVERY SINGLE FLOOR. I had to go to a trauma code - in the sub-basement - from 11th floor. We stopped on 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 1, M, and G. And that is the elevator that doesn't stop on 1 or 2.
Freaking elevators.
Almost made me look forward to the relative emptiness of the elevators while I'm on call tonight.
I really do prefer stairwells. The acoustics are much better for whistling.
Now, ask yourself: why did you bother reading this entire post? Elevators are kinda boring...
Oct 15, 2004
Sloop
I wanna go home.
Though I did get to put in a chest tube this morning. You lose all fear after about 27 hours (along with most coordination...)
Though I did get to put in a chest tube this morning. You lose all fear after about 27 hours (along with most coordination...)
Oct 13, 2004
Airplanes
There are some things that have happened here at the hospital that I find it impossible to wrap my brain around. Situations that I understand to be true, and know how truly horrible they are, yet I am able to keep functioning - almost as if I've blocked out the part of my brain that understands what is really happening. I fear that if I truly understood, I wouldn't be able to function. My brain seems to know that I can only empathize so much before I give all of myself away and wind up in a big puddle on the floor.
When the first patient I'd gotten to know died, I felt like the world should stand still. A life had just ended. That is big. Why was there not a moment of silence, worldwide, for the gentle man who had just passed on? That was a hard day. Today, I was right there in the midst of probably the most tragic situation imaginable. And... I kept going. I've done my job, I'm enjoying it even. Do we become numb to the tragedy? Is that what is necessary to keep going in this field? I'm not sure.
We get snapshots of people's lives, that's all. Especially as medical students, where, except for the occasional random coincidence or 'frequent flyer' (someone who is in the hospital a lot), there is no such thing as follow up. I see people that are sick and broken, and we do what we can then we send them home. Very few leave the hospital 'fixed.' They are just 'stable.' Most of the time, especially on the trauma service, leaving the hospital is just the beginning of an entirely new life. These patients have to learn how to live with their illness or injury. That is huge! And it is really easy to lose that perspective in the position we're in, I think. Hard to understand the tragedy, the changes, the life that is going on around us every day.
Sometimes, when I see planes flying by, I wonder what all the people on the plane are travelling to do - business? vacation? wedding? funeral? It intrigues me that there are all those people up there, unseeable, above my head, and that they all have a reason to be on that plane; they all have lives about which I'll know nothing. The hospital is kind of similar. Everyone here has a reason to be here, they all have lives outside this temporary existence. The difference is, is that I'm privileged enough to get to see a few of those snapshots from their life, and to understand a little of who they are. I guess I never will understand the entirety of any of their lives, I'm just struck today by how difficult it really is.
When the first patient I'd gotten to know died, I felt like the world should stand still. A life had just ended. That is big. Why was there not a moment of silence, worldwide, for the gentle man who had just passed on? That was a hard day. Today, I was right there in the midst of probably the most tragic situation imaginable. And... I kept going. I've done my job, I'm enjoying it even. Do we become numb to the tragedy? Is that what is necessary to keep going in this field? I'm not sure.
We get snapshots of people's lives, that's all. Especially as medical students, where, except for the occasional random coincidence or 'frequent flyer' (someone who is in the hospital a lot), there is no such thing as follow up. I see people that are sick and broken, and we do what we can then we send them home. Very few leave the hospital 'fixed.' They are just 'stable.' Most of the time, especially on the trauma service, leaving the hospital is just the beginning of an entirely new life. These patients have to learn how to live with their illness or injury. That is huge! And it is really easy to lose that perspective in the position we're in, I think. Hard to understand the tragedy, the changes, the life that is going on around us every day.
Sometimes, when I see planes flying by, I wonder what all the people on the plane are travelling to do - business? vacation? wedding? funeral? It intrigues me that there are all those people up there, unseeable, above my head, and that they all have a reason to be on that plane; they all have lives about which I'll know nothing. The hospital is kind of similar. Everyone here has a reason to be here, they all have lives outside this temporary existence. The difference is, is that I'm privileged enough to get to see a few of those snapshots from their life, and to understand a little of who they are. I guess I never will understand the entirety of any of their lives, I'm just struck today by how difficult it really is.
Oct 9, 2004
ED Party!
I had the odd experience tonight (this morning, really) of knowing almost every single doctor in the ED. The ED resident, both medicine consults, the psych consult (hi Maripat!), the neuro consult, the vascular surgery consult, the neurosurgery consult, and of course the trauma guys. It was like a party. For me. I made sure to invite the gentleman who'd had his face slashed WIDE open in a bar brawl. No party is complete without him.
The day part of Friday was awful, but the on call night part has been much fun. It's all in the attitude of those above you. The intern on tonight is fantastic, as is the resident. It makes things so much more bearable - fun even!
And now, at 5 am and 23 hours into the day (I overslept this morning...yesterday morning), I am within shouting distance of my bedtime! Could life be better?
The day part of Friday was awful, but the on call night part has been much fun. It's all in the attitude of those above you. The intern on tonight is fantastic, as is the resident. It makes things so much more bearable - fun even!
And now, at 5 am and 23 hours into the day (I overslept this morning...yesterday morning), I am within shouting distance of my bedtime! Could life be better?
Oct 7, 2004
ER's Coming Attractions
I think I'm offended that ER is making med students cause chaos on the show (in the upcoming weeks)!!!! In reality, we stand there looking confused and occasionally are standing in someone's way. Sometimes we do paper work. I have not seen a single student even come close to causing chaos.
Maybe I should start, though...
Maybe I should start, though...
Annie on ER
Tonight on ER, Abbey is doing chest compressions on what is obviously a resusci-Annie doll. You can hear the clunking sound that the dummies make. Human chests don't go ka-thwump-ka-thwump when you do compressions.
It is kind of fun to know even more about what they're talking about, though! 2L of LR and 2 units of blood going in thru 3 large bore peripheral IVs! That kind of stuff.
We don't rush out to meet the ambulances coming, though. And we don't allow family/friends to come into the ED with the trauma patient.
AND. I don't know why the trauma bays are so dark on the show. Light is generally helpful when assessing a patient.
I need to learn Spanish.
Gack. I'm on call tomorrow night.
Seriously. Go see Garden State if you can. Or rent it when it comes out. You won't regret it. I might, though, if I'm not there to see it with you.
It is kind of fun to know even more about what they're talking about, though! 2L of LR and 2 units of blood going in thru 3 large bore peripheral IVs! That kind of stuff.
We don't rush out to meet the ambulances coming, though. And we don't allow family/friends to come into the ED with the trauma patient.
AND. I don't know why the trauma bays are so dark on the show. Light is generally helpful when assessing a patient.
I need to learn Spanish.
Gack. I'm on call tomorrow night.
Seriously. Go see Garden State if you can. Or rent it when it comes out. You won't regret it. I might, though, if I'm not there to see it with you.
Wonder of Wonder
Today marks the THIRD day in a ROW where I get to go home before I've even worked 13 hours!!! I feel like I'm cheating...
Arg. Now I've got Fiddler on the Roof in my head.
Arg. Now I've got Fiddler on the Roof in my head.
Oct 5, 2004
Good Grief
People are going out of their way to be annoying this week.
It is starting to aggravate me. In order to overcome the nuisance of peoples' existence, I am playing the "What Animal Are You" game, in which I decide (based solely on looks, generally) what animal a person would be. If they were an animal. For instance, this morning, I had rounds with a turtle, a hare, a giraffe and a jaguar.
If I had one big, grand all-powerful wish, I'd wish that I could make a little wish every day. (a loophole the 'no-wishing for innumerate wishes' rule) Today my wish would be that the hospital had a room that one could go to just to scream. It would have to be sound-proofed. Wouldn't that be nice, though?
Is innumerate a word?
It is starting to aggravate me. In order to overcome the nuisance of peoples' existence, I am playing the "What Animal Are You" game, in which I decide (based solely on looks, generally) what animal a person would be. If they were an animal. For instance, this morning, I had rounds with a turtle, a hare, a giraffe and a jaguar.
If I had one big, grand all-powerful wish, I'd wish that I could make a little wish every day. (a loophole the 'no-wishing for innumerate wishes' rule) Today my wish would be that the hospital had a room that one could go to just to scream. It would have to be sound-proofed. Wouldn't that be nice, though?
Is innumerate a word?
Oct 3, 2004
The King and I
(as in "Getting to Know You" and music and stuff)
Music survey...
1) Using band names, spell out your first name:
Bananarama
REM
Eminem
Natalie Merchant
New Main Street Singers
Alison Kraus
2) Have you ever had a song written about you?
No. Nothing rhymes with Brenna.
3) What song makes you cry?
That song, where at the end, the singer hits you on the thumb with a sledgehammer.
4) What song makes you happy?
Depends on my mood...
5) What do you like to listen to before bed?
Silence.
6)Name a song by Coal Chamber:
No.
7) Who was/were your idol/s when you were younger?
I didn't have any musical idols. Unless you count Julie Andrews. She was in musicals. And I really enjoyed her ability to pull hat racks out of carpet bags. I always wanted to have a carpet bag. They make me think of Anne of Green Gables. She was an idol of mine, too. But not musical. Carpet bags also make me think of the post-Civil War days (the post-antebellum?), and the carpetbaggers. Who were not my idols.
8) First album you ever bought?
I got five CDs from Columbia House when I got my first CD player. I don't remember them all, but they included Gloria Estefan and Boys II Men.
9) Name a song that reminds you of someone and why:
That song "Freshmen" by that whiny-sounding guy reminds me of my first year roommate in college, because she played it incessantly. I think she was mourning Kurt Cobain's death or something. Seriously! She had a freaking huge poster of him that would stare at me when I tried to study. Though I don't know how/if whiny-guy Freshmen singer and Cobain were related.
a p p e a r a n c e
HEIGHT: 5'8"
HAIR COLOR: Blonde
EYE COLOR: Blue
PIERCINGS: ears
TATTOOS: one
Hey! Except for the height, I didn't have to change this from my sister's at all!
r i g h t n o w
WHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING?: Good question. I've had a hard time classifying the color of the scrubs here at the hospital. I shall call them seafoam-emerald-misty-mountain-green.
WHAT SONG ARE YOU LISTENING TO?: The melodious sound of "Unit Secretary Yelling at Transporters"
WHAT TASTE IS IN YOUR MOUTH?: Saliva.
WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE?: No freaking clue.
HOW ARE YOU?: SO excited to have some mess-around time to blog... I mean, put my presentation together.
f a v o r i t e s
TV SHOW: I don't know...
CONDITIONER: Dove
BOOK: Again, I can't choose just one.
NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK: Diet Pepsi.
THING TO DO ON THE WEEKEND: Movies.
BAND OR GROUP or SINGER or RAPPER: Why must I have ONE favorite of things? Can't I just love many things? I am a unique and diverse person who cannot be pinned down, fergoodness sake.
h a v e y o u
BROKEN THE LAW: I don't know...
RAN AWAY FROM HOME: Yes. I was 10, and I went to the 'stream' at our apartment complex. My parents, ever-concerned, took my sisters to Dairy Queen in response.
SNUCK OUT OF THE HOUSE: Actually, no.
EVER GONE SKINNY DIPPING: Nope.
MADE A PRANK PHONE CALL: I can't remember if I actually did, or if we only talked about it at slumber parties. If I ever did, it was either to my parents or other friends.
USED YOUR PARENTS' CREDIT CARD BEFORE: Nope.
SKIPPED SCHOOL BEFORE: For a half day in high school. I had to be back for 5th period.
FELL ASLEEP IN THE SHOWER/BATH: Nope. Though I did have a patient that did. But that was because she couldn't get up.
BEEN IN A SCHOOL PLAY: Yup.
LET A FRIEND CRY ON YOUR SHOULDER: Not literally.
l o v e
BOYFRIEND: this is a really long survey.
GIRLFRIEND: gross, thats worse than having a boyfriend even.
SEXUALITY: straight
CHILDREN: blech, thats worse than having a girlfriend even.
CURRENT CRUSH: Dave
BEEN IN LOVE?: oh man! thats worse than having children even
HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OVER SOMEONE: no, n e v e r
BEEN HURT?: i'm bullet proof
GONE OUT WITH A SOMEONE YOU ONLY KNEW FOR THREE DAYS: stupid question, next..
I'm agreeing with my sis verbatim on this one. Though I wouldn't say my crush is Dave. I just don't feel like answering these questions. Cause they're annoying.
r a n d o m
DO YOU HAVE A JOB: Nope!
YOUR CD PLAYER HAS IN IT RIGHT NOW: A Bluegrass mix CD
IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?: Cornflower
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?: So many things.
WHO MAKES YOU THE HAPPIEST?: I control my own happiness, though many people contribute.
WHAT'S THE NEXT CD YOU'RE GONNA GET?: Natalie Merchant's House Carpenter's Daughter. I had a copy of it, but I lost it, so decided to actually get the real thing. Mel- I have White Stripes - wanna copy?
WHO DO YOU CONSIDER GOOD FRIENDS?: People who aren't mean to me.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO?: Laugh (amen, sistah!)
w h e n / w h a t w a s t h e l a s t
TIME YOU CRIED?: Last Tuesday, on call, in the ED CT scan room.
YOU GOT A REAL LETTER?: Ed McMahon writes to me personally every year.
GOT E-MAIL: A few minutes ago.
THING YOU PURCHASED: Coffee.
TV PROGRAM YOU WATCHED: Renovate My Family
MOVIE YOU SAW AT THE THEATER: Garden State. SOOOOO good.
Okay... I quit now. Even I'm sick of getting to know me!
Please, gentle readers, leave your own tidbits of your life. I'd love to know what everyone else does/thinks/believes/listens to. :)
Music survey...
1) Using band names, spell out your first name:
Bananarama
REM
Eminem
Natalie Merchant
New Main Street Singers
Alison Kraus
2) Have you ever had a song written about you?
No. Nothing rhymes with Brenna.
3) What song makes you cry?
That song, where at the end, the singer hits you on the thumb with a sledgehammer.
4) What song makes you happy?
Depends on my mood...
5) What do you like to listen to before bed?
Silence.
6)Name a song by Coal Chamber:
No.
7) Who was/were your idol/s when you were younger?
I didn't have any musical idols. Unless you count Julie Andrews. She was in musicals. And I really enjoyed her ability to pull hat racks out of carpet bags. I always wanted to have a carpet bag. They make me think of Anne of Green Gables. She was an idol of mine, too. But not musical. Carpet bags also make me think of the post-Civil War days (the post-antebellum?), and the carpetbaggers. Who were not my idols.
8) First album you ever bought?
I got five CDs from Columbia House when I got my first CD player. I don't remember them all, but they included Gloria Estefan and Boys II Men.
9) Name a song that reminds you of someone and why:
That song "Freshmen" by that whiny-sounding guy reminds me of my first year roommate in college, because she played it incessantly. I think she was mourning Kurt Cobain's death or something. Seriously! She had a freaking huge poster of him that would stare at me when I tried to study. Though I don't know how/if whiny-guy Freshmen singer and Cobain were related.
a p p e a r a n c e
HEIGHT: 5'8"
HAIR COLOR: Blonde
EYE COLOR: Blue
PIERCINGS: ears
TATTOOS: one
Hey! Except for the height, I didn't have to change this from my sister's at all!
r i g h t n o w
WHAT COLOR PANTS ARE YOU WEARING?: Good question. I've had a hard time classifying the color of the scrubs here at the hospital. I shall call them seafoam-emerald-misty-mountain-green.
WHAT SONG ARE YOU LISTENING TO?: The melodious sound of "Unit Secretary Yelling at Transporters"
WHAT TASTE IS IN YOUR MOUTH?: Saliva.
WHAT'S THE WEATHER LIKE?: No freaking clue.
HOW ARE YOU?: SO excited to have some mess-around time to blog... I mean, put my presentation together.
f a v o r i t e s
TV SHOW: I don't know...
CONDITIONER: Dove
BOOK: Again, I can't choose just one.
NON-ALCOHOLIC DRINK: Diet Pepsi.
THING TO DO ON THE WEEKEND: Movies.
BAND OR GROUP or SINGER or RAPPER: Why must I have ONE favorite of things? Can't I just love many things? I am a unique and diverse person who cannot be pinned down, fergoodness sake.
h a v e y o u
BROKEN THE LAW: I don't know...
RAN AWAY FROM HOME: Yes. I was 10, and I went to the 'stream' at our apartment complex. My parents, ever-concerned, took my sisters to Dairy Queen in response.
SNUCK OUT OF THE HOUSE: Actually, no.
EVER GONE SKINNY DIPPING: Nope.
MADE A PRANK PHONE CALL: I can't remember if I actually did, or if we only talked about it at slumber parties. If I ever did, it was either to my parents or other friends.
USED YOUR PARENTS' CREDIT CARD BEFORE: Nope.
SKIPPED SCHOOL BEFORE: For a half day in high school. I had to be back for 5th period.
FELL ASLEEP IN THE SHOWER/BATH: Nope. Though I did have a patient that did. But that was because she couldn't get up.
BEEN IN A SCHOOL PLAY: Yup.
LET A FRIEND CRY ON YOUR SHOULDER: Not literally.
l o v e
BOYFRIEND: this is a really long survey.
GIRLFRIEND: gross, thats worse than having a boyfriend even.
SEXUALITY: straight
CHILDREN: blech, thats worse than having a girlfriend even.
CURRENT CRUSH: Dave
BEEN IN LOVE?: oh man! thats worse than having children even
HAD A HARD TIME GETTING OVER SOMEONE: no, n e v e r
BEEN HURT?: i'm bullet proof
GONE OUT WITH A SOMEONE YOU ONLY KNEW FOR THREE DAYS: stupid question, next..
I'm agreeing with my sis verbatim on this one. Though I wouldn't say my crush is Dave. I just don't feel like answering these questions. Cause they're annoying.
r a n d o m
DO YOU HAVE A JOB: Nope!
YOUR CD PLAYER HAS IN IT RIGHT NOW: A Bluegrass mix CD
IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?: Cornflower
WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?: So many things.
WHO MAKES YOU THE HAPPIEST?: I control my own happiness, though many people contribute.
WHAT'S THE NEXT CD YOU'RE GONNA GET?: Natalie Merchant's House Carpenter's Daughter. I had a copy of it, but I lost it, so decided to actually get the real thing. Mel- I have White Stripes - wanna copy?
WHO DO YOU CONSIDER GOOD FRIENDS?: People who aren't mean to me.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO DO?: Laugh (amen, sistah!)
w h e n / w h a t w a s t h e l a s t
TIME YOU CRIED?: Last Tuesday, on call, in the ED CT scan room.
YOU GOT A REAL LETTER?: Ed McMahon writes to me personally every year.
GOT E-MAIL: A few minutes ago.
THING YOU PURCHASED: Coffee.
TV PROGRAM YOU WATCHED: Renovate My Family
MOVIE YOU SAW AT THE THEATER: Garden State. SOOOOO good.
Okay... I quit now. Even I'm sick of getting to know me!
Please, gentle readers, leave your own tidbits of your life. I'd love to know what everyone else does/thinks/believes/listens to. :)
Sep 30, 2004
The Longest Day
Somehow, it is Thursday.
Tuesday was the longest day in the world. Ever. It went from 5am until noon the next day. What's that? 32 hours? Something like that. But, oh, wow, was my bed comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that once I laid down at 1:30 to 'nap' for a couple of hours, I didn't wake up until 9:30. (At which point I panicked, thinking I was over four hours late for work. It took me a full 2 minutes to realize that it was dark outside, and, therefore, still night) I got up in time to watch the Boardroom part of The Apprentice, finish reading book the thirteenth in A Series of Unfortunate Events, and brush my teeth. Then, I went back to bed, and got up this morning, refreshed, and awake.
Some things I discovered, after a full 31+ hours of straight working (except for rounds, I only got to sit for about two hours total during that time):
1. It is, indeed, possible to stay up for 30 hours and still make sense.
2. Around 20 hours, you get dizzy.
3. Somewhere around 23 hours, it is really hard to not burst into tears.
4. The hardest part of constant motion: feet and knees. My feet have never hurt so bad. Definitely contributed to the almost bursting into tears. I left the CT scanning room to sit for a minute, and the resident told me to go back in there to make sure the patient was okay. I wanted to slug him. After a good cry, of course.
5. The combination of sleep deprivation and caffeine overload can make you think you're in love. In other news: I've met the man I'm going to marry (not really, but I've always wanted to say that. And wouldn't it be cool if I do end up marrying this guy, and I can say "I said that I was going to marry you the day I met you," and we can put it in our wedding vows and people will cry, cause it's so romantic, and our children will make us tell them the story every night before they go to sleep, and we'll all live happily ever after. In Venice.)
6. It's at about 24 hours that you simply stop caring.
Completely outside the realm of call: On my last day on Vascular Surgery, my attending tried to convince me to go into surgery. He said I have "good hands." Today, one of the interns I worked with on surgery tried to convince me to go into surgery, saying that I have the "character" for it. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE??? I am not a surgeon. Well, okay. I could really picture myself working with these people, and doing this kind of stuff. But I'm too lazy! Actually, I'm not lazy, but I value my free time way too much to give it all away. Surgeons, as a group, are the hardest working people that I have ever met. But as a result, they have no life. I have heard many of the males (from intern to fellow) say that they haven't seen their children awake for days. That is not cool. Which is why there are so few females in surgery, I think. If there wasn't that issue, I definitely would consider it. Scary, huh?
Tuesday was the longest day in the world. Ever. It went from 5am until noon the next day. What's that? 32 hours? Something like that. But, oh, wow, was my bed comfortable. So comfortable, in fact, that once I laid down at 1:30 to 'nap' for a couple of hours, I didn't wake up until 9:30. (At which point I panicked, thinking I was over four hours late for work. It took me a full 2 minutes to realize that it was dark outside, and, therefore, still night) I got up in time to watch the Boardroom part of The Apprentice, finish reading book the thirteenth in A Series of Unfortunate Events, and brush my teeth. Then, I went back to bed, and got up this morning, refreshed, and awake.
Some things I discovered, after a full 31+ hours of straight working (except for rounds, I only got to sit for about two hours total during that time):
1. It is, indeed, possible to stay up for 30 hours and still make sense.
2. Around 20 hours, you get dizzy.
3. Somewhere around 23 hours, it is really hard to not burst into tears.
4. The hardest part of constant motion: feet and knees. My feet have never hurt so bad. Definitely contributed to the almost bursting into tears. I left the CT scanning room to sit for a minute, and the resident told me to go back in there to make sure the patient was okay. I wanted to slug him. After a good cry, of course.
5. The combination of sleep deprivation and caffeine overload can make you think you're in love. In other news: I've met the man I'm going to marry (not really, but I've always wanted to say that. And wouldn't it be cool if I do end up marrying this guy, and I can say "I said that I was going to marry you the day I met you," and we can put it in our wedding vows and people will cry, cause it's so romantic, and our children will make us tell them the story every night before they go to sleep, and we'll all live happily ever after. In Venice.)
6. It's at about 24 hours that you simply stop caring.
Completely outside the realm of call: On my last day on Vascular Surgery, my attending tried to convince me to go into surgery. He said I have "good hands." Today, one of the interns I worked with on surgery tried to convince me to go into surgery, saying that I have the "character" for it. WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE??? I am not a surgeon. Well, okay. I could really picture myself working with these people, and doing this kind of stuff. But I'm too lazy! Actually, I'm not lazy, but I value my free time way too much to give it all away. Surgeons, as a group, are the hardest working people that I have ever met. But as a result, they have no life. I have heard many of the males (from intern to fellow) say that they haven't seen their children awake for days. That is not cool. Which is why there are so few females in surgery, I think. If there wasn't that issue, I definitely would consider it. Scary, huh?
Sep 28, 2004
Snapshots of Forever
I started this on Tuesday night, but as I was RUNNING around the whole night, I never had a chance to finish it. Eh, thinks I, I'll post it anyway.
My first night on Trauma Call. It's an overnight call, which means there is the potential for me to be up all night. I don't think I've done that before... I've gone to bed exceptionally late (8am or so), but there was always the idea of bed. I do not know when I will be reunited with my oh-so-comfortable bed. But, I guess 26 years of age is a good time to pull my first all-nighter.
Things that have happened today:
- I walked past two Asian men in time to hear one say (in an accent): "he had to empty his testicles."
- I have finally become confident in throwing instrument ties.
- I got butt blood on my shoe.
-
My first night on Trauma Call. It's an overnight call, which means there is the potential for me to be up all night. I don't think I've done that before... I've gone to bed exceptionally late (8am or so), but there was always the idea of bed. I do not know when I will be reunited with my oh-so-comfortable bed. But, I guess 26 years of age is a good time to pull my first all-nighter.
Things that have happened today:
- I walked past two Asian men in time to hear one say (in an accent): "he had to empty his testicles."
- I have finally become confident in throwing instrument ties.
- I got butt blood on my shoe.
-
Sep 27, 2004
Facing Fears
Day One of Trauma surgery. When I started med school - heck, when I was pre-med - I knew that the one thing I couldn't do was trauma. Surgery was a bit iffy at first, even. But during an internship in college, I came to grips with how everything in surgery was very contained and depersonalized. It was not a person we were cutting into, it was a yellowish blob that contained pretty neat things. Still, trauma lurked as this very scary, very uncontrolled...thing. A thing that I wanted to stay away from.
But here I am. On the trauma service. Partially because I had almost last pick out of my group. But partially because I know that I can't let there be something this major that scares me in medicine. If I'm going to be a good doctor, I need to be prepared to face things that I don't want to. Just look at what we ask patients to do: Sit still while we jam a needle in your arm; a tube in your chest; you have cancer, and we need to kill your body to kill the tumor, so deal; your father/mother/sister/brother is not going to survive this, do you want to withdraw care? How could we expect anything less from ourselves, than the willingness to boldly face the things we don't want to.
So, by chance or by choice, I found myself in my first trauma code this morning. A woman shot herself in the temple. In a park. A passer-by found her. She. Was. Not. Pretty. I won't go into details here...but this was not a depersonalized surgery patient. This was a person with a face and hands. Just not life.
Suicide patients are tough. What do you do with them? They are obviously trying to end things...why should we have the right to go against their wishes? Then again, less than 10% of people who try once go on to try again (I think...I need to verify that) - perhaps given the drive to go on living after their life was saved. Obviously, we must try to save everyone we can.
It's late, and I'm tired. And I committed a major faux pas today: I let my resident hear me complain. Grr. I NEVER complain. I try so hard - I barely even complain to my friends about being tired or feeling over-worked. I wasn't even really complaining today, I was just making a comment about the call schedule to my fellow student on the service, and she was listening, and jumped in to chide me. Arg. What a great first impression to make...
But here I am. On the trauma service. Partially because I had almost last pick out of my group. But partially because I know that I can't let there be something this major that scares me in medicine. If I'm going to be a good doctor, I need to be prepared to face things that I don't want to. Just look at what we ask patients to do: Sit still while we jam a needle in your arm; a tube in your chest; you have cancer, and we need to kill your body to kill the tumor, so deal; your father/mother/sister/brother is not going to survive this, do you want to withdraw care? How could we expect anything less from ourselves, than the willingness to boldly face the things we don't want to.
So, by chance or by choice, I found myself in my first trauma code this morning. A woman shot herself in the temple. In a park. A passer-by found her. She. Was. Not. Pretty. I won't go into details here...but this was not a depersonalized surgery patient. This was a person with a face and hands. Just not life.
Suicide patients are tough. What do you do with them? They are obviously trying to end things...why should we have the right to go against their wishes? Then again, less than 10% of people who try once go on to try again (I think...I need to verify that) - perhaps given the drive to go on living after their life was saved. Obviously, we must try to save everyone we can.
It's late, and I'm tired. And I committed a major faux pas today: I let my resident hear me complain. Grr. I NEVER complain. I try so hard - I barely even complain to my friends about being tired or feeling over-worked. I wasn't even really complaining today, I was just making a comment about the call schedule to my fellow student on the service, and she was listening, and jumped in to chide me. Arg. What a great first impression to make...
Sep 23, 2004
Sep 21, 2004
Scrubs R' Us
I cannot express how frustrating it is being sent home 7 hours before morning rounds start. I still have to eat, shower and sleep. And pre-round. Ugh.
Sep 20, 2004
Keith Says:
My most recent comment:
keith said...
"If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, then your blog is choking me with my own dirty entrails. I can smell my appendix."
I must admit that I'm perplexed. Let's analyze:
"If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" Okay. Obvious reference to Mary Poppins, as portrayed by the lovely Julie Andrews. In the movie, the spoonful of sugar helps the poor, belabored rich kids complete the magical task of watching their room clean itself. If actually applied to real life, we're supposed to believe that something good, or sweet, will help a bad task be more bearable. If one accepts that making medicine go down is a bad thing, that is. (which I don't necessarily - hello!: cramps and Motrin)
"...then your blog is choking me with my own dirty entrails." I'm imagining at this point that this is not meant to be a compliment. The use of the word 'entrails' rarely suggests warm fuzzies. ('Oh, Linda, your entrails are so...sexy' is not a phrase heard often) Much less 'dirty entrails.'
This is where my confusion starts. Is the fact that he's choking meant to indicate that my blog lacks 'sugar,' or, taken to its extreme - anything good at all? OR - now, follow me here - is the fact that he's reached his entrails with his choking mean that there is, actually, TOO much sweetness, causing the 'medicine' to go down at much too rapid a pace? But, in this second case, what is the medicine in question? AND how did his entrails get dirty in the first place? Last time I checked, my entrails were still...well...in. The actual entrails themselves being, admittedly, slimy, are not actually dirty. Now, what's inside the entrail - the en-entrail, if you will - now, that is dirty.
Now, beyond this, my mind breaks off onto entirely disparate avenues. For instance, was the use of 'medicine' in the metaphor chosen specifically because of my professional aspirations, or was it merely coincidence? Did you intend to get the freaking song stuck in my head as some sort of revenge for forcing you to read my blog? How did you come to feel forced to read my blog in the first place? Where can I get an umbrella that makes me fly?
And, Keith, I have one last question for you: What does your appendix smell like?
Thanks for the laugh, and please do explain if you find yourself in such a torturous position as to be here, on my page (intended for me and my friends) again.
keith said...
"If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, then your blog is choking me with my own dirty entrails. I can smell my appendix."
I must admit that I'm perplexed. Let's analyze:
"If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" Okay. Obvious reference to Mary Poppins, as portrayed by the lovely Julie Andrews. In the movie, the spoonful of sugar helps the poor, belabored rich kids complete the magical task of watching their room clean itself. If actually applied to real life, we're supposed to believe that something good, or sweet, will help a bad task be more bearable. If one accepts that making medicine go down is a bad thing, that is. (which I don't necessarily - hello!: cramps and Motrin)
"...then your blog is choking me with my own dirty entrails." I'm imagining at this point that this is not meant to be a compliment. The use of the word 'entrails' rarely suggests warm fuzzies. ('Oh, Linda, your entrails are so...sexy' is not a phrase heard often) Much less 'dirty entrails.'
This is where my confusion starts. Is the fact that he's choking meant to indicate that my blog lacks 'sugar,' or, taken to its extreme - anything good at all? OR - now, follow me here - is the fact that he's reached his entrails with his choking mean that there is, actually, TOO much sweetness, causing the 'medicine' to go down at much too rapid a pace? But, in this second case, what is the medicine in question? AND how did his entrails get dirty in the first place? Last time I checked, my entrails were still...well...in. The actual entrails themselves being, admittedly, slimy, are not actually dirty. Now, what's inside the entrail - the en-entrail, if you will - now, that is dirty.
Now, beyond this, my mind breaks off onto entirely disparate avenues. For instance, was the use of 'medicine' in the metaphor chosen specifically because of my professional aspirations, or was it merely coincidence? Did you intend to get the freaking song stuck in my head as some sort of revenge for forcing you to read my blog? How did you come to feel forced to read my blog in the first place? Where can I get an umbrella that makes me fly?
And, Keith, I have one last question for you: What does your appendix smell like?
Thanks for the laugh, and please do explain if you find yourself in such a torturous position as to be here, on my page (intended for me and my friends) again.
Sep 19, 2004
Anniversary
It was six months ago today that all that junk happened. It feels like longer ago. So much has happened in 6 months... it doesn't even feel possible that it hasn't already been years and years. Yet, I'm still not completely back to normal after all of that either. I still question my behavior and people's interactions with me much more than I used to. At first, I was sure that everyone I knew was going to see that something had happened between me and those people, and that they'd take the other side. I was worried that people would start to think that I must be an awful person, to have caused my good friends to ditch me. When school started back up in April... let's just say that it was really bad. One of the hardest weeks I've faced.
Six months later, I can almost say that I'm glad it happened. Almost. I discovered (though I did already know...it was just confirmed) who my true friends are. My definition of true friend being 'one who doesn't tell you they don't want to see you any more, even when you are being annoying/mean/grumpy/etc.' It was only after the parking lot incident, and after my brain has had some time to settle down that I'm starting to see how stressed out I was having them as friends. I was never good enough - I spoke my mind too much, I was too concerned about things...I don't even know really how to pinpoint what I was doing wrong. I knew that I was in the wrong, and I had tried so hard to fix myself. But, really, I wasn't broken. No one can exist in a friendship where you're not allowed to be who you really are. So, good riddance. I still wish it had been a natural demise, instead of a brutal, final slash. Because, even though I know this is better, it still hurts. And I still spend way too much time trying to figure out what I could have done differently.
Hey! This also means that it has been 6 months since I got my hair cut! I shall set up an appointment soon...
Six months later, I can almost say that I'm glad it happened. Almost. I discovered (though I did already know...it was just confirmed) who my true friends are. My definition of true friend being 'one who doesn't tell you they don't want to see you any more, even when you are being annoying/mean/grumpy/etc.' It was only after the parking lot incident, and after my brain has had some time to settle down that I'm starting to see how stressed out I was having them as friends. I was never good enough - I spoke my mind too much, I was too concerned about things...I don't even know really how to pinpoint what I was doing wrong. I knew that I was in the wrong, and I had tried so hard to fix myself. But, really, I wasn't broken. No one can exist in a friendship where you're not allowed to be who you really are. So, good riddance. I still wish it had been a natural demise, instead of a brutal, final slash. Because, even though I know this is better, it still hurts. And I still spend way too much time trying to figure out what I could have done differently.
Hey! This also means that it has been 6 months since I got my hair cut! I shall set up an appointment soon...
Sep 17, 2004
Jet Lagged by Life
You know how you feel when you have to get up in the middle of the night to catch a plane and then travel all day without sleeping? That feeling of having lead in your limbs and cotton in your brain? That is how I feel today. And I haven't even traveled anywhere! Le sigh... Actually, le yawn.
I am so horrendously tired.
I am so horrendously tired.
Sep 14, 2004
Bring on the Smelling Salts!
My attending had no cases today (surprise, surprise - I don't know what he does most of the time...), so I decided to go in on the case with the Chair of the Vascular Surgery department. The case was an ex vivo renal artery bypass to repair a renal artery aneurysm. The renal artery supplies blood to the kidney. An aneurysm is a big 'ol 
in an artery (like a balloon), where the artery is weak and can rupture. "Ex vivo" means that they dissect the kidney out, and pack it in ice and preservative material so that they have more time to work on the problem.
This was actually the first big, open abdomen case I've worked on. Most of the things I've seen with my attending have been endovascular - meaning, all I see is a TV screen showing x-ray images of what is going on inside the body. Good for the patient, boring for students to watch... Well, boring for me anyway.
Okay, before I start complaining (cause I'm gonna complain), let me just say: the abdomen - the inside guts part - is pretty! The colors are, I mean. Kind of like this color scheme (don't worry, Lindsay, this isn't a picture of actual intestines). Very pastel-y and pretty. I'd decorate my room in the colors of 'intestine.' Especially if you could add a little spleen for accent. (this one is, so don't click it Lulu)
Did everyone know that Lindsay's new nickname is Lulu? Well, it is. So say I.
ANYWAAAAY. On to the complaining. Well, maybe not so much complaining as...okay, really, it is just complaining.
The operation started at about 7:30 - the first incision, that is. I was helping to prep the patient by 7:10. Let me set the scene:
1. Head of the Vascular department.
2. Who liked asking me questions.
3. Whose answers I did not know. Gerota's fascia for future reference.
4. It was hot. At one point, Dr. Surgeon said: "The patient's temperature is under control, let's turn the thermostat down to 75." Down to 75.
5. I had a granola bar and some coffee for breakfast. At 5.
6. My 'monthly' started today.
7. I had taken four Advil. At 5.
8. The Advil wore off. Cramps. Ugh.
9. There was nothing for me to do but stand there.
10. Until they turned the heat back up, and wanted me to do something with stitches - I'm still not quite sure what...
11. My back hurt.
I lasted until 3. I started feeling bad around 1pm, and awful at about 2. I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did. I decided that I should break scrub when I started kinda blacking out... The annoying thing was that they were done 40 minutes later. I almost made it! Grrr. The anesthesiologist did tell me that the patient had more color than I did...generally not a good thing...
They say it happens to everyone. So far, 2 of the 3 of us on vascular have had to break scrub. We'll see if the other one holds out!
And, as a side note for the girls - if you're ever in a situation where you find yourself saying: "Well, it is only the first day of my period, and this pad is pretty absorbant; plus I'll be standing, not sitting, so less likely to get leaks; plus these scrub pants are enormous, so how could it leak thru to them anyway? And how long can an ex vivo renal artery bypass take? Surely not over 7 hours" Just say NO. And go find the nearest tampon dispenser.
in an artery (like a balloon), where the artery is weak and can rupture. "Ex vivo" means that they dissect the kidney out, and pack it in ice and preservative material so that they have more time to work on the problem.
This was actually the first big, open abdomen case I've worked on. Most of the things I've seen with my attending have been endovascular - meaning, all I see is a TV screen showing x-ray images of what is going on inside the body. Good for the patient, boring for students to watch... Well, boring for me anyway.
Okay, before I start complaining (cause I'm gonna complain), let me just say: the abdomen - the inside guts part - is pretty! The colors are, I mean. Kind of like this color scheme (don't worry, Lindsay, this isn't a picture of actual intestines). Very pastel-y and pretty. I'd decorate my room in the colors of 'intestine.' Especially if you could add a little spleen for accent. (this one is, so don't click it Lulu)
.jpg){kind=link}
Did everyone know that Lindsay's new nickname is Lulu? Well, it is. So say I.
ANYWAAAAY. On to the complaining. Well, maybe not so much complaining as...okay, really, it is just complaining.
The operation started at about 7:30 - the first incision, that is. I was helping to prep the patient by 7:10. Let me set the scene:
1. Head of the Vascular department.
2. Who liked asking me questions.
3. Whose answers I did not know. Gerota's fascia for future reference.
4. It was hot. At one point, Dr. Surgeon said: "The patient's temperature is under control, let's turn the thermostat down to 75." Down to 75.
5. I had a granola bar and some coffee for breakfast. At 5.
6. My 'monthly' started today.
7. I had taken four Advil. At 5.
8. The Advil wore off. Cramps. Ugh.
9. There was nothing for me to do but stand there.
10. Until they turned the heat back up, and wanted me to do something with stitches - I'm still not quite sure what...
11. My back hurt.
I lasted until 3. I started feeling bad around 1pm, and awful at about 2. I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did. I decided that I should break scrub when I started kinda blacking out... The annoying thing was that they were done 40 minutes later. I almost made it! Grrr. The anesthesiologist did tell me that the patient had more color than I did...generally not a good thing...
They say it happens to everyone. So far, 2 of the 3 of us on vascular have had to break scrub. We'll see if the other one holds out!
And, as a side note for the girls - if you're ever in a situation where you find yourself saying: "Well, it is only the first day of my period, and this pad is pretty absorbant; plus I'll be standing, not sitting, so less likely to get leaks; plus these scrub pants are enormous, so how could it leak thru to them anyway? And how long can an ex vivo renal artery bypass take? Surely not over 7 hours" Just say NO. And go find the nearest tampon dispenser.
Sep 13, 2004
Things That Make Me Grin...
...even on a Monday.
* :) *
Since I spent many hours over the past weekend doing the same thing (except not in Wisconsin. And with no guys), I can understand the obsession.
I am so tired. Maybe weekends are bad. I get lulled into a sense of 'having time to do stuff.' So I end up sitting around watching TV and reading, and don't realize that all that 'stuff' that I had time to do didn't get done. So I have to stay up late to do it. Then I'm tired.
My eyes were rolling back up into my skull today during a renal artery angioplasty/stenting. I had to move to make sure that if I just completely fell over, it wouldn't be all over the scrub nurse's clean stuff. Which really wouldn't matter too much, because for all these endovascular things, they don't actually use any of the stuff anyway. Ugh. How cool is it that putting a stent in your renal artery may cure hypertension, though? I think that's cool. Of course, it only works in about 20% of the patients...but who wants to crunch numbers on a Monday? I'd rather sleep.
Ahhh....sleep.....
This may have posted twice. I have no control over the whims of the internet. Wouldn't it be cool if I did, though?
* :) *
Since I spent many hours over the past weekend doing the same thing (except not in Wisconsin. And with no guys), I can understand the obsession.
I am so tired. Maybe weekends are bad. I get lulled into a sense of 'having time to do stuff.' So I end up sitting around watching TV and reading, and don't realize that all that 'stuff' that I had time to do didn't get done. So I have to stay up late to do it. Then I'm tired.
My eyes were rolling back up into my skull today during a renal artery angioplasty/stenting. I had to move to make sure that if I just completely fell over, it wouldn't be all over the scrub nurse's clean stuff. Which really wouldn't matter too much, because for all these endovascular things, they don't actually use any of the stuff anyway. Ugh. How cool is it that putting a stent in your renal artery may cure hypertension, though? I think that's cool. Of course, it only works in about 20% of the patients...but who wants to crunch numbers on a Monday? I'd rather sleep.
Ahhh....sleep.....
This may have posted twice. I have no control over the whims of the internet. Wouldn't it be cool if I did, though?
Sep 9, 2004
Things I Swore I'd Never Do, part 2
So, remember when I did that horrible awful thing back in the days when I was a pseudo-psychiatrist? At that point I swore to myself that I would not let anything like that happen ever again. Well, I must admit that I have transgressed. This time it was not an article. This time it was (brace yourself here) staying after rounds to go to an operation that I didn't need to. I know! Isn't it horrible!!!?!! Especially since I was already hungry. AND I'm not on call Let me outline my reasoning, and you can be my jury of peers:
1. We were minorly chewed out yesterday for not doing enough.
2. It was my attending performing the procedure (IVC filter).
3. The Fellow assisting is the Fellow that chewed us out.
4. I'd been to the same type of procedure yesterday, and knew that it wasn't a terribly long one.
5. I was allowed to stick the femoral vein in yesterday's procedure, so knew that the opportunity was there to do it again today.
I think my reasoning was sound.
My presence was definitely taken as a positive thing. I was allowed to do more than I ever had before - including the femoral vein stick, AND deploying the filter. Doesn't that sound cool?? I got to 'deploy the filter.' It really just involved pulling a little blue handle, while they watched under fluoroscopy. But still cool.
So, I am satisfied with my decision, even though it marks my second heinous infarction, and moves me even closer to the Land of the Gunner.
Now I'm starving. Time to go home and eat, then promptly to bed. I'll do better tomorrow, I promise.
1. We were minorly chewed out yesterday for not doing enough.
2. It was my attending performing the procedure (IVC filter).
3. The Fellow assisting is the Fellow that chewed us out.
4. I'd been to the same type of procedure yesterday, and knew that it wasn't a terribly long one.
5. I was allowed to stick the femoral vein in yesterday's procedure, so knew that the opportunity was there to do it again today.
I think my reasoning was sound.
My presence was definitely taken as a positive thing. I was allowed to do more than I ever had before - including the femoral vein stick, AND deploying the filter. Doesn't that sound cool?? I got to 'deploy the filter.' It really just involved pulling a little blue handle, while they watched under fluoroscopy. But still cool.
So, I am satisfied with my decision, even though it marks my second heinous infarction, and moves me even closer to the Land of the Gunner.
Now I'm starving. Time to go home and eat, then promptly to bed. I'll do better tomorrow, I promise.
Sep 8, 2004
The Walrus Said
Okay. The time has come. I'm starting to get annoyed with people on my surgery team, which means several things: First (and probably most relevant): I'm PMS-y. Happens every month, I should be used to it by now. But not. Second: they should really let me move onto another team now, while I still think that vascular surgeons are worthy and interesting people. Because we all know where this is heading, don't we? That's right. The more annoyed I get, the more I will deny the existence of my patients' vasculature, just to annoy any future vascular surgeons I may happen upon. This is not a good thing.
Okay. I really can only think of two things that my new annoyance means, but I think two is a good starting point. I can expand from there. And, really, the annoyance has just started. It's like...noticing that you've got a quarter in your shoe (why do you have a quarter in your shoe, weirdo?) At first, you're like "Huh. There's something in my shoe. What could it be?" Then you concentrate on it, identify it as twenty-five one-hundredths of a dollar, and then try to put it out of your mind, because you happen to be in the middle of a marathon, and besides, phone calls cost 35 cents now, anyway. What good in dwelling on a mere quarter? Then, after a short period of time during which you delude yourself into thinking that you are SO beyond presence of said quarter, it starts to rub. On your toe. In a really annoying, won't-go-away type fashion. "That's okay." you assure yourself, "I am bigger - literally and figuratively - than any quarter" And you continue limping along, silently seething, yet smiling on the outside, because you signed up for this freaking marathon, and are paying a gajillion dollars, so gosh-darn-it, you are going to finish it, and have fun in the process, even if the freaking quarter is ripping your foot to shreds. Shortly thereafter you let go, and start yelling at the other people in the race with you, hoping to relieve some physical pain by inflicting emotional pain on the people around you. And just for good measure, you shove a few as well. And maybe spit on a bystander or two. Eventually you do finish the race, but you're practically crippled, and have made enemies all around you, so you move to an invalid home in Siberia, because it's cold there (which may make your foot feel better) and you don't speak the language, so no one can tell you to get off your lazy butt and start walking somewhere. Because don't they know you've got a freaking QUARTER embedded in your freaking CALCANEUS!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEE? This is just not a good thing. Which is why I should be allowed to Pass vascular surgery after just a week and a half. I'm only at the 'identifying it's a quarter' stage. There is so much more to come. Let me go now, and we'll all be winners.
I'm on call. But I got sent home before 8pm. Okay... so I like some people on my team. But he's going into urology, not vascular surgery.
Okay. I really can only think of two things that my new annoyance means, but I think two is a good starting point. I can expand from there. And, really, the annoyance has just started. It's like...noticing that you've got a quarter in your shoe (why do you have a quarter in your shoe, weirdo?) At first, you're like "Huh. There's something in my shoe. What could it be?" Then you concentrate on it, identify it as twenty-five one-hundredths of a dollar, and then try to put it out of your mind, because you happen to be in the middle of a marathon, and besides, phone calls cost 35 cents now, anyway. What good in dwelling on a mere quarter? Then, after a short period of time during which you delude yourself into thinking that you are SO beyond presence of said quarter, it starts to rub. On your toe. In a really annoying, won't-go-away type fashion. "That's okay." you assure yourself, "I am bigger - literally and figuratively - than any quarter" And you continue limping along, silently seething, yet smiling on the outside, because you signed up for this freaking marathon, and are paying a gajillion dollars, so gosh-darn-it, you are going to finish it, and have fun in the process, even if the freaking quarter is ripping your foot to shreds. Shortly thereafter you let go, and start yelling at the other people in the race with you, hoping to relieve some physical pain by inflicting emotional pain on the people around you. And just for good measure, you shove a few as well. And maybe spit on a bystander or two. Eventually you do finish the race, but you're practically crippled, and have made enemies all around you, so you move to an invalid home in Siberia, because it's cold there (which may make your foot feel better) and you don't speak the language, so no one can tell you to get off your lazy butt and start walking somewhere. Because don't they know you've got a freaking QUARTER embedded in your freaking CALCANEUS!!!!!!!!!!!!
SEE? This is just not a good thing. Which is why I should be allowed to Pass vascular surgery after just a week and a half. I'm only at the 'identifying it's a quarter' stage. There is so much more to come. Let me go now, and we'll all be winners.
I'm on call. But I got sent home before 8pm. Okay... so I like some people on my team. But he's going into urology, not vascular surgery.
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