Remember a few months back, when I was all into the spinning and animal fiber fair-ing? (It's okay if you don't - I won't be offended.) Well, the friend that I took that class with has continued to spin - she even got a spinning wheel for Christmas, AND she somehow got sucked into the local Spinning Guild. Yes, there are guilds for things like spinning (and knitting, and weaving, and pot-holder-making... well, maybe not the pot-holders).
Through circumstances beyond her control, Heather had to host the local guild meeting today. (Yeah. Weird.) I agreed to attend to provide some moral support for her.
That's how I ended up attending the montly Spin Off today.
To blatantly generalize here, spinners tend to be... older. Poorly dressed. Cat people.
Don't get me wrong - they are interesting and sweet people, too, but not generally people that I'd call up when I'm, you know, well, alive.
So, when one lady - dressed in a huge flannel button down shirt over a huge turtleneck and black, tapered jeans that were folded up an inch at the bottom - mentioned something about her son being the child of a pediatrician, I just assumed that her husband was the doctor. Wrong!
Thankfully, I hadn't said anything before she clearly identified herself as the doctor (she did so several times...). I still felt really guilty automatically assuming that the male was the doctor. Hello? Me? Pediatrician-to-be? Yeah. I guess something about the spinning guild threw me back a few decades. That, plus the horrible outfit. I expect professionals to be able to dress...professionally. Despite the tapered jeans...geez, Brenna, what's the matter with you?
After the Spin Off, I went to the Y, because it is Sunday. Swimming Day. I always mean to go swimming on Sundays, anyway. Haven't done it in, oh, five months. The first swim after a long break like this is always difficult. It took me almost an hour to really get my 'fins' back. Though, I've never really been much of a fish in the water when it comes to swimming laps. More like a starfish - I like to cling to the wall.
The reason I'm telling this horribly boring story, is that while I was swimming, something amusing happened. I was splitting a lane with some guy, as was the girl one lane over. Towards the end of my swim, my lane-splitting guy, and the other-lane girl started flirting. In the pool. Pool flirting! I've never seen such a thing before in my life! I just kept swimming between them...
Part of the reason I love the Y so, is that it is very low key. I can always go there knowing that I won't be the most out-of-shape person there. And, I can go wearing my junky, smelly old work-out things because it is not a meat market.
But apparently the pool is.
Feb 26, 2006
Feb 24, 2006
The Return...
of... Wikipedia Friday*!
It has been a while, but here we go!
*"Wikipedia Friday": where I go on to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia!) click the "Random Article" link, and then comment on the resulting topic here on my blog.
Today's topic: "Tiger Swallowtail."
What I learned: I learned that the term 'tiver swallowtail' can refer to one of three different types of swallowtails, all of the family Papilo. Also, I learned that the swallowtail is a butterfly, not a bird.
Personal anecdote involving "Tiger Swallowtail": I've never seen a tiger swallow its tail. But how awesome would that be?? I've seen lots of different butterflies, but I can't tell you if any of them were tiger swallowtails or not. Let's just say one was. Ready? Hey, this one time? I saw a tiger swallowtail.
Thoughts on Wikipedia's "Tiger Swallowtail" article: Honestly, I don't have a high opionion of this article. Possibly due to the fact that this article is a "a disambiguation page" - a list of articles associated with the same title. What that means, is that all the article is, is a list of links to other articles. And one of those links doesn't even have an article. Shame, Wikipedia. Shame.
It has been a while, but here we go!
*"Wikipedia Friday": where I go on to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia!) click the "Random Article" link, and then comment on the resulting topic here on my blog.
Today's topic: "Tiger Swallowtail."
What I learned: I learned that the term 'tiver swallowtail' can refer to one of three different types of swallowtails, all of the family Papilo. Also, I learned that the swallowtail is a butterfly, not a bird.
Personal anecdote involving "Tiger Swallowtail": I've never seen a tiger swallow its tail. But how awesome would that be?? I've seen lots of different butterflies, but I can't tell you if any of them were tiger swallowtails or not. Let's just say one was. Ready? Hey, this one time? I saw a tiger swallowtail.
Thoughts on Wikipedia's "Tiger Swallowtail" article: Honestly, I don't have a high opionion of this article. Possibly due to the fact that this article is a "a disambiguation page" - a list of articles associated with the same title. What that means, is that all the article is, is a list of links to other articles. And one of those links doesn't even have an article. Shame, Wikipedia. Shame.
Feb 21, 2006
Bona Fide!
This morning, I woke up with a bit of a headache. It wasn't a bad headache - more of a nuisance, really. I got up, as always; said hello to the dogs, as always (I'm dog-sitting); got semi-ready here, then went to my apartment to finish getting ready, as always (for this past week-and-a-half, anyway); then... I decided that I wanted a sick day. My headache hadn't gotten any worse, but I realized that these next few months are really the last time in my life that I'll be able to have a sick day without actually being on death's door. Doctors just don't get sick.
Me being me, I only skipped half a day. I can't ditch my sense of responsibility that thoroughly.
I was worried that everyone was going to jump all over me to figure out where I was this morning, but I was met with an overwhelming indifference. It really makes me see how so many of my colleagues can get away with just never showing up. No one cares!
I had a great afternoon, though (headache-free), so I was very glad I went back. The first few patients were somewhat run-of-the-mill for peds endo - constitutional growth delay (aka short kid of short parents), precocious puberty secondary to excess adipose tissue (aka fat kid going thru puberty too early because of... the fatness), etc. Then, I got to see diabetes insipidus, which is just one of the coolest disease names ever, and as a disease is rather interesting, too.
The last patient of the day was another short kid. I expected same ol', same ol', short parents, yada, yada... but there was something just... different about this one. He was a return patient, and my attending doctor didn't have a good explanation for why this kid was short. I went in, did my little song and dance, and in the back of my head was this niggling little thought... perhaps - just perhaps - I had a diagnosis for this kid.
Long story short, I proposed my diagnosis to my attending, and... he thinks I could be right. This isn't the first time I've gotten a diagnosis (ear infections and the like are pretty simple, after all), and it wasn't the first time an attending thought I was smart. But, all the same, there is this little thrill that you get as a student when you realize that you know something. That you know something that a real doctor didn't think of. I fully realize that fifteen - even five - years from now, my brain power will be leagues beyond what it is now - people will ask me questions not to pimp me, but because they actually want to know my opinion. Those occasions are just so rare as a student, that they just feel awesome.
(Actually, now I wonder if other med students have these moments all the time, and I'm just way behind the curve... I doubt it, though. A few classmates have bucket-loads of stories like this. But we don't tend to like them.)
Tomorrow is a special day. For one, it is my dad's birthday (and without him..., etcetera, etcetera). But, to bring everything back to me, tomorrow is the day that we have to certify our rank lists. By tomorrow at 9 pm, we have to have our list of where we want to go for residency finalized. It isn't a huge deal for me, as I've been pretty certain of my list for a while, but still... There is comfort in knowing that I can change my mind. Until tomorrow.
I need to keep myself away from the certifying website because I am highly tempted to make last minute changes. Partially because whenever I think about the 'future,' I see myself in Tucson. But Tucson is not my first choice. So, I start to think... am I going to match in Tucson? Am I supposed to go there? What if I don't match there, but I'm supposed to go there? Should I make it first? But what if? And how? And who? And... ahhh!?
The part of me that isn't going through that existential crisis is totally caught on the 'certified' phrase that pops up once you do certify. It makes me think of the kid in O Brother Where Art Thou that keeps saying "he's bona fide!" No reason, really. Except that they rhyme.
Certified.
Bona fide.
I bought a bottle of wine at Wal Mart the other day. Bad decision, I know. I'm not a wine connesieur - I've even been known to enjoy a nice box of wine in my day. But, my friends, this wine was the worst I've ever tasted. I think it must have picked up some of the taste of despair that runs rampant through Wal-Mart's aisles. Despair tastes sickeningly sweet and cloying with an aftertaste of burnt-sugar-metal.
Yum.
Me being me, I only skipped half a day. I can't ditch my sense of responsibility that thoroughly.
I was worried that everyone was going to jump all over me to figure out where I was this morning, but I was met with an overwhelming indifference. It really makes me see how so many of my colleagues can get away with just never showing up. No one cares!
I had a great afternoon, though (headache-free), so I was very glad I went back. The first few patients were somewhat run-of-the-mill for peds endo - constitutional growth delay (aka short kid of short parents), precocious puberty secondary to excess adipose tissue (aka fat kid going thru puberty too early because of... the fatness), etc. Then, I got to see diabetes insipidus, which is just one of the coolest disease names ever, and as a disease is rather interesting, too.
The last patient of the day was another short kid. I expected same ol', same ol', short parents, yada, yada... but there was something just... different about this one. He was a return patient, and my attending doctor didn't have a good explanation for why this kid was short. I went in, did my little song and dance, and in the back of my head was this niggling little thought... perhaps - just perhaps - I had a diagnosis for this kid.
Long story short, I proposed my diagnosis to my attending, and... he thinks I could be right. This isn't the first time I've gotten a diagnosis (ear infections and the like are pretty simple, after all), and it wasn't the first time an attending thought I was smart. But, all the same, there is this little thrill that you get as a student when you realize that you know something. That you know something that a real doctor didn't think of. I fully realize that fifteen - even five - years from now, my brain power will be leagues beyond what it is now - people will ask me questions not to pimp me, but because they actually want to know my opinion. Those occasions are just so rare as a student, that they just feel awesome.
(Actually, now I wonder if other med students have these moments all the time, and I'm just way behind the curve... I doubt it, though. A few classmates have bucket-loads of stories like this. But we don't tend to like them.)
Tomorrow is a special day. For one, it is my dad's birthday (and without him..., etcetera, etcetera). But, to bring everything back to me, tomorrow is the day that we have to certify our rank lists. By tomorrow at 9 pm, we have to have our list of where we want to go for residency finalized. It isn't a huge deal for me, as I've been pretty certain of my list for a while, but still... There is comfort in knowing that I can change my mind. Until tomorrow.
I need to keep myself away from the certifying website because I am highly tempted to make last minute changes. Partially because whenever I think about the 'future,' I see myself in Tucson. But Tucson is not my first choice. So, I start to think... am I going to match in Tucson? Am I supposed to go there? What if I don't match there, but I'm supposed to go there? Should I make it first? But what if? And how? And who? And... ahhh!?
The part of me that isn't going through that existential crisis is totally caught on the 'certified' phrase that pops up once you do certify. It makes me think of the kid in O Brother Where Art Thou that keeps saying "he's bona fide!" No reason, really. Except that they rhyme.
Certified.
Bona fide.
I bought a bottle of wine at Wal Mart the other day. Bad decision, I know. I'm not a wine connesieur - I've even been known to enjoy a nice box of wine in my day. But, my friends, this wine was the worst I've ever tasted. I think it must have picked up some of the taste of despair that runs rampant through Wal-Mart's aisles. Despair tastes sickeningly sweet and cloying with an aftertaste of burnt-sugar-metal.
Yum.
Feb 19, 2006
Feb 15, 2006
Entertain Me
Okay. Now... Go!
I'm bored. There were only three patients scheduled this morning - the first one scheduled at ten. Which meant that when I showed up at a quarter after 9, prepared to make some generic "didn't feel good/moved slow this morning" excuse, the lights were off and no one was home. Thankfully, the ten am appointment showed up (randomly) at 8:45, so I had something to keep me slightly busy. But then, the 10:30 and the 11 am both canceled. So. Out of clinic early with nothing to do.
I would go home, but I have a meeting at noon. I would skip the meeting, but there is free lunch.
You don't skip free lunch meetings.
I checked all of my e-mail accounts. I checked all the blogs that I follow. I read my daily comic strip and my daily horoscope. I even read the news. I'm out of things to do!
Granted, I could study. But now there are only fifteen minutes left, and what can I learn in 15 minutes? Not to even mention the fact that I am a fourth year. Fourth years do not study. At least not on their penultimate rotation.
Hey, did I mention that this is my penultimate rotation? Penultimate, penultimate, penultimate! People ought to use that word more often. I think it is neat, because it sounds like it should mean last, but it doesn't. Ultimate is last. Penultimate is second to last. It could be used to give some street cred to slow kids in races - you're either first, second, third, somewhere in the middle, penultimate or ultimate! Dude, why you messin' with me? I was totally penultimate in that race. Get off my back!
We see a lot of 'late bloomers' in endo clinic. Boys, normally, that are just not quite on the average growth curve. Poor guys. It's hard to say to them that they'll catch up eventually (puberty-wise - most of them will still be short guys). How can a 12 year old boy care that maybe by the time he's 17, he'll look like the other guys. That's an eternity. Yet again, I am glad I am a girl.
I'm starving. This had better be a good free lunch.
I'm bored. There were only three patients scheduled this morning - the first one scheduled at ten. Which meant that when I showed up at a quarter after 9, prepared to make some generic "didn't feel good/moved slow this morning" excuse, the lights were off and no one was home. Thankfully, the ten am appointment showed up (randomly) at 8:45, so I had something to keep me slightly busy. But then, the 10:30 and the 11 am both canceled. So. Out of clinic early with nothing to do.
I would go home, but I have a meeting at noon. I would skip the meeting, but there is free lunch.
You don't skip free lunch meetings.
I checked all of my e-mail accounts. I checked all the blogs that I follow. I read my daily comic strip and my daily horoscope. I even read the news. I'm out of things to do!
Granted, I could study. But now there are only fifteen minutes left, and what can I learn in 15 minutes? Not to even mention the fact that I am a fourth year. Fourth years do not study. At least not on their penultimate rotation.
Hey, did I mention that this is my penultimate rotation? Penultimate, penultimate, penultimate! People ought to use that word more often. I think it is neat, because it sounds like it should mean last, but it doesn't. Ultimate is last. Penultimate is second to last. It could be used to give some street cred to slow kids in races - you're either first, second, third, somewhere in the middle, penultimate or ultimate! Dude, why you messin' with me? I was totally penultimate in that race. Get off my back!
We see a lot of 'late bloomers' in endo clinic. Boys, normally, that are just not quite on the average growth curve. Poor guys. It's hard to say to them that they'll catch up eventually (puberty-wise - most of them will still be short guys). How can a 12 year old boy care that maybe by the time he's 17, he'll look like the other guys. That's an eternity. Yet again, I am glad I am a girl.
I'm starving. This had better be a good free lunch.
Feb 14, 2006
Happy Valentine's Day!
My Valentine's gift this year was hearing Ryan Seacrest say my name over and over again. Of course, he wasn't talking to me. Or even about me. One of the American Idol contestants is named Brenna. It was surreal hearing my name on TV. I was like... did he just... no... could he... no... I had to actually see the name written out before I could actually understand what he was saying. I'm just so used to hearing my name wrong.
Beyond the coolness of my name's debut on AI, ugggg. I don't like Brenna. She slapped her butt during her song. The song didn't call for butt slapping. Butt Slapping Brenna won't make it far.
So, this Valentine's Day found me in Peds Endo clinic. Not because I've developed a strange adult-onset pediatric endocrinological disease, but because that's the rotation I'm on. Did you all feel the cosmic shift yesterday? That was me being back where I belong. Despite my occasional complaints, I really, really do enjoy being around sick people... Wait. I mean, I enjoy being in the hospital, and being in clinic, and just... everything! It is nice to realize that again every once in a while. I was just smiling at everyone yesterday - AND I'm PMS-y. That's saying an awful lot.
Today, being Valentine's Day (did I mention that?), it is the day where I release this year's edition of the Valentine's Day CD. One problem... I'm still working on it! It is near completion, though. As always, if you want a copy, e-mail me and I'll send it. Not necessarily any time soon, but... some day...
Happy Valentine's Day! I love you all!!
Beyond the coolness of my name's debut on AI, ugggg. I don't like Brenna. She slapped her butt during her song. The song didn't call for butt slapping. Butt Slapping Brenna won't make it far.
So, this Valentine's Day found me in Peds Endo clinic. Not because I've developed a strange adult-onset pediatric endocrinological disease, but because that's the rotation I'm on. Did you all feel the cosmic shift yesterday? That was me being back where I belong. Despite my occasional complaints, I really, really do enjoy being around sick people... Wait. I mean, I enjoy being in the hospital, and being in clinic, and just... everything! It is nice to realize that again every once in a while. I was just smiling at everyone yesterday - AND I'm PMS-y. That's saying an awful lot.
Today, being Valentine's Day (did I mention that?), it is the day where I release this year's edition of the Valentine's Day CD. One problem... I'm still working on it! It is near completion, though. As always, if you want a copy, e-mail me and I'll send it. Not necessarily any time soon, but... some day...
Happy Valentine's Day! I love you all!!
Feb 11, 2006
::Scene::
For some reason, lately (possibly due to lack of actual thought) my mind keeps coming up with random conversations - they play out like scenes in my head. Maybe I'm subconsciously writing a screen play. Take them apples, Matt Damon.
Scene 1 (for Susan)
Person One: Pompous, know-it-all, 'philosophical' debater dude
Person Two: Susan in ten kajillion years (peds oncologist)
Scene 2 (inspired by an add for the next Apprentice)
Person One: Apprentice contestant
Person Three: Someone else
I didn't say they were good scenes, people. But how fun would it be to have some sort of smarmy comment at the ready when faced with a situation with an arrogant jerk?
Ahh, but all this planning ahead makes me think of another scene, penned by an author much superior to myself (see if you can name it - it isn't terribly hard, for those who are close to me):
Scene 3.
Person One: Pompous, self-righteous, delusional man
Person Two: Pompous, judgmental, but kind-hearted and amusing man
Yeah, so. My little scenes don't a timeless novel make. But they do entertain me!
Scene 1 (for Susan)
Person One: Pompous, know-it-all, 'philosophical' debater dude
Person Two: Susan in ten kajillion years (peds oncologist)
One: Your argument lacks structure, and is altogether too emotional. Didn't you ever bother to study debate in your expensive education?
Two: No, I didn't.
One: I don't think one can call oneself educated without a basic comprehension of the fundamentals of debate. How can you engage in meaningful conversation? How can you advance in your career? How could you do that to yourself?
Two: Well, I guess it is because cancer cells don't debate.
Scene 2 (inspired by an add for the next Apprentice)
Person One: Apprentice contestant
Person Three: Someone else
One: My IQ is among the highest two percent in the world.
Three: Wow. Hey. Aren't there like... two billion people living in China right now? That means that there are like... forty million people in China that are just as smart as you.
One: Well, if you go by the numbers, that would seem true. But it would also be true that there were 1.96 billion people dumber than me.
Three: That's a lot of people. [beat] Guess you wouldn't want to say something to make them mad.
I didn't say they were good scenes, people. But how fun would it be to have some sort of smarmy comment at the ready when faced with a situation with an arrogant jerk?
Ahh, but all this planning ahead makes me think of another scene, penned by an author much superior to myself (see if you can name it - it isn't terribly hard, for those who are close to me):
Scene 3.
Person One: Pompous, self-righteous, delusional man
Person Two: Pompous, judgmental, but kind-hearted and amusing man
One: I am happy on every occasion to offer those little delicate compliments which are always acceptable to ladies [...]
Two: ...[I]t is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy. May I ask whether these pleasing attentions proceed from the impulse of the moment, or are the result of previous study?
One: They arise chiefly from what is passing at the time, and though I sometimes amuse myself with suggesting and arranging such little elegant compliments as may be adapted to ordinary occasions, I always wish to give them as unstudied an air as possible.
Yeah, so. My little scenes don't a timeless novel make. But they do entertain me!
Feb 7, 2006
Whiners
Some may say that three plus months vacation sounds great. 'Some' may even have been me, say, oh, four months ago. But now 'some' would totally be retracting their statement, and wishing that they had something to do that was important or meaningful. (I am on anatomy, and I did do my dissection... it took an hour...)
I'm at school right now because I'm supposed to be going to a meeting at noon. I still have three minutes to get there, but... I think I'm gonna skip it. Somehow, I got involved with this group that gets together to discuss mental health issues in medical students. But the thing is? I don't really care any more! I'm a freaking fourth year! I don't want to sit and listen to the little first and second years whine about how stressed out they are, and why isn't there free counseling available to them 24/7, because 'someone' should make it available, and if it isn't, well then, people are just going to... you know... be depressed, and then they can't function because this is medical school and it is hard, and 'someone' should be making sure that everyone has enough support to... blah, blah, blah.
News flash: Medical School ain't no cake walk. You'll get frustrated and depressed and stressed out. But listen, small puppies, real life ain't no easier. (Ignore the double negative there, and just go with the spirit of what I'm saying)
So, I don't think I'll go listen to them whine today.
I'm also feeling a tad annoyed and whiny myself. I've talked to two people in the fifteen minutes I've been here - one who is in his last three days of short-coat-hood, and one who is in her last three days of being-at-this-hospital-hood. Sigh. I have two months left of each!
If only I had a vacation coming up.
Oh, wait.
I'm at school right now because I'm supposed to be going to a meeting at noon. I still have three minutes to get there, but... I think I'm gonna skip it. Somehow, I got involved with this group that gets together to discuss mental health issues in medical students. But the thing is? I don't really care any more! I'm a freaking fourth year! I don't want to sit and listen to the little first and second years whine about how stressed out they are, and why isn't there free counseling available to them 24/7, because 'someone' should make it available, and if it isn't, well then, people are just going to... you know... be depressed, and then they can't function because this is medical school and it is hard, and 'someone' should be making sure that everyone has enough support to... blah, blah, blah.
News flash: Medical School ain't no cake walk. You'll get frustrated and depressed and stressed out. But listen, small puppies, real life ain't no easier. (Ignore the double negative there, and just go with the spirit of what I'm saying)
So, I don't think I'll go listen to them whine today.
I'm also feeling a tad annoyed and whiny myself. I've talked to two people in the fifteen minutes I've been here - one who is in his last three days of short-coat-hood, and one who is in her last three days of being-at-this-hospital-hood. Sigh. I have two months left of each!
If only I had a vacation coming up.
Oh, wait.
Feb 1, 2006
Tid Bits
* Yesterday, at Costco, I saw a man purchasing 12 cases (not bottles - cases) of Texas Pete hot sauce. First I saw the cases, then I looked up and saw the guy. He had wrist braces on each wrist. Live dangerously.
* If you are going to spill coffee all over yourself, it is really convenient to be wearing coffee colored clothing. (Not that I speak from experience...)
* My least favorite new fashion trend: Bunching up your jeans at the knees. You may not believe that is an actual fashion trend, but it is. Just look at all those people with their fuzzy boots on over the top of their boot cut jeans.
* I also don't understand wearing heels while you travel. Granted, you look a whole lot better trudging through the airport with some sassy heels on. But why - why - add three or four inches to your legs and then sit in an airplane seat for several hours?
* I like italics.
* If you are going to spill coffee all over yourself, it is really convenient to be wearing coffee colored clothing. (Not that I speak from experience...)
* My least favorite new fashion trend: Bunching up your jeans at the knees. You may not believe that is an actual fashion trend, but it is. Just look at all those people with their fuzzy boots on over the top of their boot cut jeans.
* I also don't understand wearing heels while you travel. Granted, you look a whole lot better trudging through the airport with some sassy heels on. But why - why - add three or four inches to your legs and then sit in an airplane seat for several hours?
* I like italics.
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