Two Hundred and Nine, Reactivate

[cough] [splutter]

Life happens. More on that at a later date!

Off to Canada for a week and who knows, I might be better at posting up there where the weather is nice....and hot as well!

One Hundred and Ninety-five, Whoa

I haven't read a blog or webcomic in three or four months...

The thought just floored me. It's not that it's freedom; it's not good or bad; it just is. I do realize I've missed reading some close friends' blogs which I would enjoy. But things are as they are right now and I won't fight it currently. Maybe upon residency and possibly moving to Land's End, USA, I might drag myself more to there to catch a glimpse of what my peeps are encountering and doing.

One Hundred and Ninety-four, Cardiac Arrest

I have been remiss from this forum for quite a while mainly because I did forget about it in the jumble known as life.  This entry doesn't herald my sudden return to all things blog but it is to point out a small event that occurred earlier today.

A patient in the hospital for whatever reason stopped breathing and pumping his own blood.  Doctors rushed in along with nurses, I stood outside the room with my three colleagues.  I hear different orders being shouted through the air, "Get the crash cart!" "You start compressions!" "I'll get the kit" "Push another atropine!" "Stop! Does he have a pulse?" "Rotate on compressions" "We have a pulse!" "Ok, he's stable" "I lost the pulse!" "Quick, start compressions again!" and on and on.

At one point, one of the residents turns to me, points, and beckons.  As I near him, he tells me to leave my white coat outside the room.  I hurriedly rush in sans white coat and grab the gloves he gives me.  

"You're going to relieve the guy giving compressions."

My mind's jaw drops.  My physical body continues as directed to the side of the room where the folks giving compressions are standing and doing their job.  As I stand behind the fellow whose shoulders are heaving as he pushes heavily onto the old gentleman's sternum, someone tells him to pause to check pulses.  They find one!  Everyone relaxes (again) as the people in the room prepare to move the bed to the ICU.  As the connections are dropped, they notice his pulse is gone again.  Matt, my resident, turns to me and points me in.  I step up, place my hands as taught and practiced on rubber dummies, and start counting while doing my job.  I count ~50 compressions when the lady next to me says, "I can feel your compressions, stop so I can see if he's beating on his own."  I halt.  She still has a pulse.  I step back after glancing at Matt as the bed is wheeled off.  As I exit slowly behind the bed and its horde of people, my two colleagues come up to me and congratulate me on saving a life.  I stutter like I always do when I get a compliment.  Jokes continue into the night about using the story to score chicks at the bar.  I'm just happy he lived.  And constantly reminding myself in my mind about how oddly the feel of the elderly gentleman's chest felt just like the mannequins we practice on.  The only odd part was the face staring up at me slowly turning first purple, then pink with compressions, and with a mouth slightly parted in the agony of the situation...

One Hundred and Ninety, Epic Fail

I won't say a game is sucking my life away because that would imply that I am miserable playing it both with people I know and with people I've never met.  That, however, is not the case.  I felt a thrill of joy in the weeks leading up to the release of the expansion and now I have some goals on what I want to accomplish with it.  I've taken my first steps into Northrend and they are thrilling and sturdy ones.

One Hundred and Eighty-seven, Seven Rocks!

It's still the 10th!  So there!  Nothing here though.  Check back another day!

One Hundred and Eighty-six, Patient Continuity

So this daily blogging isn't going to work as is apparent to all who read my last one and then glanced at the date on this one.  Ohwell, ONWARDS!  

Continuity of Care is important in medicine for particular doctors.  Mainly Family medicine, Ob/Gyns, Psychiatry, and Pediatrics.  You see the same patients regularly either for checkups or for sick visits.  Hopefully the former, but the world isn't perfect.  Friday closed a chain of events in which I had interacted with a particular patient through three separate events, as opposed to following a patient stuck in a hospital during my rotation.  The first encounter was during my Ob/Gyn month during clinic where she came in for a 28 week checkup.  I can recall the exacts of her circumstances, older mom, excited that she quit smoking during the pregnancy, and with a particular medical condition which required some vigilance on our part when delivery-time came but was not a major worry.After her checkup that day, I placed her out of mind and figured, like the rest of the patients I had seen during those months, that I would let her melt into the pool of faces and names and diagnoses that collects all the patients I see.

Ten days ago during Newborn nursery my fellow classmate was examining a baby who had just come from the OR where mom had just had an emergency Caesarian section.  I didn' think much of it as I was writing my note on another baby while listening to them talk about a medical condition plaguing some mothers when I happened to hear the baby's last name.  I glanced up and without thinking uttered a first name.  The attending glanced down and read the mother's name.  Perfect match.  Mom was not exactly with it since she was recovering from her operation so I didn't get a chance to congratulate her then.  I felt a little warm inside with this patient continuity but again I figured that this was it, the end of the line.  I was prepared to let her and her child melt into the pool of patients although I figured it would take a little longer due to this second interaction, however remote it was.

Two days ago in my pediatric outpatient clinic, again I found myself sitting writing up a note on a patient I had seen while listening to the residents and attendings interacting and teaching/learning.  This time I heard about how this newborn's mother had a particular medical condition but it had been handled properly and there was no sign of damage to the baby due to it.  This time I glanced over at the folder the resident was working on.  There was the last name again.  This time I did go in to say hi.  

I don't know what I want to do yet, but I do want continuity.

One Hundred and Seventy-two, Day 2

I glanced over at the dog wondering how long his flesh would keep me sated. Then I remembered that I am a vegetarian. [le sigh] Hurricane Ike has struck! These varied entries will log my travails through the land of the powerless.

One Hundred and Fourty-six, A Reprieve

The month of studying has begun! It's odd how I can get myself working hard but on the other hand, I also have to play hard. As many of my friend can attest to, I've been studying my requisite hours a day but I've also been playing games like a madman outside those times (I tried mixing the two and I realized it was a no-go). Hence anything that comes in the middle (like the news, this blog, sleep) suffers. It shall not always be so! But for now I will still be sparse.

One Hundred and Thirty-three, The Antigloaming

I went to bed at a reasonable time last night and while I had some trouble getting up, it was nothing like what I've had to deal with when I'm running on less than two hours of sleep. Today I ended up snoozing for only 45 minutes and then was functioning properly. I even noticed the water deposited overnight on the window next to my bed.

As I pulled out of the parking lot, the sky had that look of starting to brighten. I noticed a junkyard's electromagnet crane which looked like it was illuminated with sunshine but in reality it was a set of bright lights set upon it (so the operators could see the junk they were moving easily?). The drive in was to Wax Fang's "At Sea" and I just floated into the parking lot. The walk to school was to the start of the Nurse Duckett chapter of Catch-22 (and me humming "At Sea"). I put my jacket away in my locker trying to recall which lecture I had this morning at 8:00 AM. If I recall correctly, it was CNS - Reading Time. Oh... I guess I don't have class for an hour. My head's personal April Fool's joke.

To Blog!

One Hundred and Twenty-seven, Glass Houses and Match Days

Some days the muse just isn't with me. Ok, so usually the muse isn't with me but at least the thought-god/dess is. I briefly considered writing about this great speaker we had today who gave us practical advice on working in the hospitals and impressing our elders. He also changed from his professional-wear into a Superman suit during his presentation. But I just didn't know where to go with it despite the interesting point he made about all doctors living in a Glass House and professional manners and perception meaning a great deal. So eventually I threw that aside. A friend suggested talking about the awkward moments created by Tucker's red rocket. I haven't really encountered them personally so I'd have no stories to write about it plus in my mind, it's just a dog with his proper biology working. It wasn't like he was doing anything, it was just there. So that didn't grab my mental thought stream for proper writing. My last attempt was going to be about Match Day (which was yesterday). This magical day is the day in March when all fourth year medical students around the country find out where they were placed for their residencies. In case that was confusing, it's where they get their job assignments as freshly minted doctors. The place where they'll slave away their first couple years as the bottom of the totem poles again. While many got placed at my school, I saw a few far-flung ones associated with names I recognized on the list. My high school valedictorian is off to Dallas and the University of Texas. Other fourth years I know are heading to Portland, Maine and Chapel Hill, NC. And many other places elsewhere. But beyond mentioning that, there was no thought going on about my future with Match Day or where I'd like to be placed. Hopefully you'll be reading more about that in a year and a half.

So I leave you with apologies on the lack of content here. Then again, I did write something, didn't I? And it did give you an idea of what is important enough to me to mention: Third & Fourth Year, my friend's suggestion, Residency Decisions.

One Hundred and Twenty, Giggly

We think a little sip* of the EtOH took over and enforced giggliness upon the young one. She still maintains that it was the goofy evening of playing Swap and Egyptian Rat Screw that brought it on, but the Engineer and I know better [sagely nods all around]. After consulting with the Engineer's All-knowing oracular Spirit, we found the opportune time to go to bed. Good thing I never asked it when I had to go to bed! Here I be away from it all and having a great time with these folks. Others are missed, but I'm taking it all in down here while I can. All too soon, the great sojourn back home will begin. Until then, adieu!

*mixed into a smoothie forsooth

One Hundred and Eighteen, Hittin' the Road!

Spring Break is here! I'm on the road with A Kid...[*sniff*]. Posts sparser than ever!

One Hundred, 100 - Actually It's 101

I just felt an urge really to number these. I tried it out using digits but "0" just didn't look that impressive plus some people would inevitably wonder why I typed "o" or "O" without the actual letter next to it to compare. Some organized part of me enjoys a linear or proper pathway for things I interact with regularly. Thing A happens and that causes Thing B to occur. While I try my mind isn't able to keep track when Thing A makes B, C, & D happen. Each of which, in turn, cause E, F, & G; H, I, & K; and Orangutan, Bubbles, & Somatotropin to happen. You see how confusing it can get?

Three digits now. My titles will be nice and long thanks to just the number. Depending on how it makes everything look when I post longer titles, I might modify the look/layout of this place to better accommodate the new length. For those who've been reading since Entry Zero, I hope you've had an interesting ride.

I went to an improv show tonight for the first time in something close to a year. I almost volunteered for one of the skits where someone from the audience provides the details of their day so that the improv group can act it out onstage. Granted I was going to use Monday as my day rather than what actually happened today. Monday, if you glance back at entry Ninety-six, was the day where I practiced a male genital/rectal exam. Hilarity would have ensued!

Ninety-two, Empty and Full

I don't really know what to write. I have successfully pushed aside myself in the past few days in order to properly cram for my exams tomorrow and Friday. My mind is filled with facts about Baclofen (CNS muscle relaxant), Hyoscyamine (Muscarinic Receptor Antagonist), Pemphigus Vulgaris (one type of blister), Bullous Pemphigoid (another type of blister), Ductal Carcinoma, Bowenoid Papulosis, Multiple Sclerosis, and more. I have spent quality time with some friends, and not seen others. I have talked with my family, but not for any long length of time. I have been playing games when I can, but not every day. I have been putting a lot into these exams. We shall see how they turn out.

Sixty-eight, Names

It's getting a bit confusing probably keeping track of all my good friends. So here I am attempting a listing of them and with names that I chose not by asking them, but based on characteristics that come to my mind.

Valiben - My baby cousin. I love her.

Beatnik - We've known each other since elementary school and our mutual love for video games. He has a English deg...my bad, an English degree and as of this year is pursuing work with AmeriCorps for nine months before starting graduate school. He is the youngest from a family that has welcomed me into their arms as one of their own. I am proud to be called one of their brothers.

Lord Chaos - The next oldest brother to the Beatnik, his propensity to know all sorts of information is well documented by us and well-respected. His steadfast attitude has often been a rock for me during unsure times both during my undergraduate career and currently during my professional one.

Engineer - This is our Texan friend--Texan because he began his post-collegiate career at a job down there recently. I met him through The Beatnik during my middle school years. If there is anyone I can easily identify with at times, it is this fellow. Apparently we hated each other early on but neither of us recall this. Our similar left-brain thinking often leads us to talk to each other since we can quickly grasp the other's concerns.

Alaskan - She went up there for an exchange year and fell in love with the place. She went up to study bears and ended up studying bugs although she has yet to pursue a degree in Entomology. Still, it was wonderful and I even got a chance to visit her while it was cold and wintery with many feet of snow everywhere during the month of...March!

Roommate - Also an engineer by trade, he and I have roomed together since 2003 when I moved into his dorm room. These days we have an apartment and we live well enough with each other knowing each other's abilities and limits. He is strong in his faith as well as in his collection of electronics ranging from the expected television/DVD Player to the exciting multiple gaming systems.

Crazy Blonde - She too is a friend I made during my college years. She has one of the cutest dogs I've known who loves me very much. She's also crazy. My bad, she's willing to study crazies since she has or almost has her Psychology degree.

Chris - I know, it's odd that I'm calling one of them by name, but it will make more sense when I explain it a little bit. I met him during his sophomore year in college and he, for whatever reason, became a permanent fixture on our extra chair in our dorm room (granted we did have an open door policy while we were awake). After one semester of having him in, playing games with him, heading out for some dinner as a group, I returned from Winter Break and promptly called him Chris instead of his real name. I have yet to live this down, so here's some revenge.

The Kids - Two friends who actually met the Beatnik first since they went to college with him (he went elsewhere than the Engineer and I). They're actually approaching graduation themselves but seeing that they began college the year I was finishing...they're kids now and always. One is a calm, wonderful girl while the other is a hyperexcitable flexible boy. They provide us with lot of great joy, both of the nice, "That's pleasant" type and of the "I need to beat something to feel better" type.

BRS (Biker/Runner/Swimmer) - Yup, he's an athlete. And he's a classmate of mine. We have been helping each other pass our exams for the past year and a half and we both realize the difference studying together has made to our grades. He's a married man as of yesterday (Dec 30th) and I wish him well!

Hmm...I'm having a harder time with the next two in-as-much-as their pseudonames are concerned. [thinking]

Woodwind - We marched in high school band together. She played clarinet, I played tuba. I never let her live it down! Hehe, BRASS RULES, WOODWINDS DROOL! She is currently dating Lord Chaos and somehow keeps him in check sometimes.

Amish Girl - I'm sorry, but when I think of a description of her, this pops into my mind. Truthfully there is nothing Amish about her other than there is a drop of that blood that runs in her family. She is one of my more studious classmates at medical school and the one I know best out of all of them.

That is it for the major players. There are others and I'll come up with names as I continue my blogging adventures. I just wanted to take a few minutes to spell them out to those who might wonder who these random "good friends" are in my life.

Fifty-six, DroidCam FTW!

Thirty-six, Collection of Words

I've been reading blogs for years. I can even tell you when I first began reading them: January 2003. I was asked to do some webpage coding and was looking for some online tips. One of the sites had a link to Miss Shauny (what's new pussycat--in the blog links). I think she had an entry up around that time talking about her mom, The Mothership, and I loved it. It sounded like something I would use with my friends in normal conversation. Anyway, from Miss Shauny, I expanded to the rest of her posse and the InterBlog was opened up for me.

I never started a blog though. 4.833333333333333333... years later, I did. Not because I felt I had unbelievable wisdom to impart, or because I felt my writing was great, or because I wanted to brain fart out here, but because I thought it would be neat to participate in something with a friend. I have gone the thirty days. What more is there? I'm not really sure. The world did not begin on November 1st and shouldn't end tonight at 11:59:59 Greenwich Time. I think I will keep writing. When NaBloPoMo ends, I won't cease my daily posting. It has been refreshing to be forced to find something, no matter how minuscule, to write about during these thirty-seven blog entries.

In the end, it's just a collection of words

Nine, Numbers

I like the numbers 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 10. 1 is the bystander but somewhat good--usually above whatever is going on in number-land. I don't like 3, 6, and 9. My favorites are 5 and 7 and in my mind they're the ones destined to be together forever but for the jealous number 6 always getting in the way. Funny thing is, I've disliked 6 since early on, before my exposure to the Christian aversion to the number 6. I just didn't like how it looked. In my mind 6 always used evil tricks to keep 7 out of commission so that it could get extra time with 5. And of course, 9 was just 6 flipped so it was always a cohort. 9's job was usually to restrain 8 if it could because often 8 would team up with 7 to take out 6 so 7 could be with 5. And 4 always seemed like a fierce fatherly or brotherly figure to 5, working hard to keep 5 safe (sorry, 5 was the "damsel in distress" more often than not and remember, back then you saw the Princess once in Mario after defeating 8 worlds of enemies so damsels in distress were pretty useless). 3 was the evil mom or sister of 6 and would usually work on 4 to keep him from helping out 5. You would think all is lost except that 2 and 10 come into the arena. These are the idealized Do-Gooders. They have no relations to the other numbers (well, there are rumors that 4 is 2's illegitimate multiple but it's never been proven who the other number is) but they believe in true love and work to overthrow true evil. To that end, 2 easily keep 3 off of 4's back while, whenever 10 is written down in a sequence, he does a good job of keeping 9 busy.

Today is November 6th and this is the 9th posting. I shall make no more posts this horrid day.

(In other news, who Remembered yesterday?)

Eight, NaBloPoMo

For those unaware, I started this because I was convinced to join up for National Blog Posting Month, aka NaBloPoMo (which I think is a scary acronym). It's a spinoff of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) which I think is a bit beyond my talents despite being asked if I would be participating this year. I think I'll leave that to my English major friend as he gallivants to the Gulf to help build homes for folks.

I've been reading other bloggers since 2003 when I happened up Shauny (what's new, pussycat?) while hunting for info on making websites. Since then, I have expanded my readings to many other blogs some of which are linked to from this site. Shauny's friends mb and Jack were easy to start reading since Shauny hosted them. mb is a writer while Jack flies planes. What more is there to say? American Family relates to me more because she delves into cultural issues that can come up living with two cultures in your home. Somewhere along the line, I happened upon dooce who blogs for a living. Yes, she supports her husband and little girl with the income she makes from blogging. And she has amazing writing that really pulls you in and makes you laugh or sob. Speaking of writing, I have yet to come across an entry by Heather Anne that hasn't left me laughing to some degree or another. There are a couple I haven't mentioned, but they are either on the monthly blog entry plan or they do index cards. Then the rest are my friends from school, near and far whose work I enjoy reading and pictures I enjoy seeing. Life is grand because of them!

Ok, enough sappiness, back to that Half-Life level now!