Black Friday

I'm not sure why I've never been shopping on black friday before, but it was well worth it......
Diana arrived the night before to sleepover so we could plan our excursion and engage in the insanity that so many other Americans enjoy every year.

Coffee maker set - check
Alarm set for 3am - check
Protein bars packed - check
Blueprints of store buildings and mapped layouts with the fastest way to coveted items - check
(j.k. on that last one....we're not that crazy!)

Alarm goes off at 3am.....by 3:46we are on our way (if the pics are blurry that's because this is what things look like at this time of the morning).
By 5:49 (notice the continued blurriness), we have finished shopping at Kohl's, and are just in time for the opening of Target. Local news was there interviewing the massive line up of people waiting to get in. We waited in the warm car.....because comon' we're not that nuts....

While waiting, here is a pick of us- 'bright eyed' and ready to shop! And so, after a quick nip into Target, we made our way over to Circuit City, Macy's, J.C. Penney, and Oakland Mall.

By 10:47, after 6 hours of shopping we decided that maybe it was time for another coffee. After regrouping and planning the final leg of our attack, we made our way over to Dick's Sporting, Sally Beauty supply shop, Kirklands, DSW, Barnes and Noble's, and to complete our cirlce, one last run through Kohl's.

Thankfully Diana drove her SUV over and had the seats folded down in the back.

Our excursion ended around 11:30 am (although it felt like 3pm). I'm not sure if this conveys the extent of our damage. Not all the stores had great sales, we found Kohl's and Target to have the best of what we were looking for.

So as a recap, in 7.5 hours we visited:
1. Kohl's **
2. Target **
3. Circuit City
4. Macy's
5. Oakland Mall (mostly Steve and Barry's **)
6. J.C. Penney
7. Panera (coffee break **)
8. Dick's Sporting
9. Sally Beauty Supply **
10. Kirkland's **
11. Barnes and Noble's **
12. DSW **
13. Kohl's (again)

It was definitely a fun day of shopping, and something I would do again next year.

Thanks Di!
xoxo

Dreams....

I’ve been having a recurring dream lately.  Last night was the second night I dreamt about it.  It was exciting in that my medical knowledge is now starting to even translate into my dreams, but aside from that it was a little eerie considering this was the second time I had it. 

I dreamt I was having a cardiac tamponade.  I knew exactly how it happened, and what had to be done to save me from death.  Somehow a miniscule sized hole had been blown through my left ventricular wall (how, I do not know), and blood was pooling into my pericardial sac.  The scary part in my dream was that no one would listen to me (my fellow students were trying to argue my differential diagnosis), and the paramedics called to the scene refused to treat me.  I knew that I didn’t have much time left to live, and I knew the procedure that had to be done to resuscitate me.  Oddly enough, I had found a faceless inexperienced med student to aspirate the fluid out of my pericardial sac.  When I was guiding this person through the procedure (don’t ask how I knew what to do as I've never seen the procedure in real life), I felt as though I was both people – myself with the cardiac tamponade, and the student with the needle penetrating my chest wall.  Eventually the blood was withdrawn, and only then did the paramedics finally believe me, and took over from there.  I remember feeling just really scared and frustrated in the dream because no one would listen to me or help me…… but it was still cool to have the medical stuff in it.

Back again

After much thought and consideration I’ve decided to start blogging again. I blogged briefly last year on a shared blog, so I transferred a few of the (what I think are) funnier posts I had written. It was interesting going back and reading through old posts I have written and reflect on what else was going on that time in my life. I think I’ve softened up a bit (literally and figuratively, lol), probably still a smart ass, and definitely as quirky as ever (but perhaps better hidden). After going through all the different core clinical rotations I can reflect on how my own feelings towards medicine and patient care have evolved. What I’ve really come to realize is how my empathy towards humans changes depending on how stressed out I feel. The more stressed I become, the less empathy I have for other people. Being a fourth year now I can actually sit back and enjoy my rotations as the majority of them I have chosen for my own learning interests, and not worry about a test at the end. I’ve moved into the student housing by the hospital which is surprisingly nice, and fully furnished. For the first time in my life I am sans roommate, which is neither good nor bad but definitely a change. Although I can be a loner by nature I do miss sometimes being able just come out of my room and have a real person present to talk to. Part of this problem has been ameliorated by a peace lily recently purchased (I call her ‘Lil for short). I still wouldn’t mind waking up and finding a kitten in my closet...

Slasher Friday and a Romantic Evening for One

Originally written March 2nd, 2008

Before I begin this post I just want to start by saying that its absolutely disgusting to hear the noises of your roommate fornicating with her new boyfriend. I would rather give serial rectal exams to 83 year old men complaining of diffuse abdominal pain. Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that the mexican fiance has vamanosed and she's taken a new 'lova'?

'Twas Friday evening, another call night at the hospital. At 5 pm I reported to the senoir, and he promptly sent me off to the operating room....there's nothing like the feeling of having your gloved hands inside the internal organs of another person. By 9pm I was out, and retired to my call room with the hope that I would sleep soundly through the night. Alas, there was no such luck - it was friday night stab night, as we had one trauma victim after another with knife wounds to various parts of their body. There are just so many people who 'mind their own business' when a crazy women comes to stab them.....By 5am, I was exhausted but grossly satisfied with the amount of blood I had seen, and was kindly let off early to go home. As walked home in the cold wee hours of the morning I contemplated how I would spend my Saturday evening after a days rest. So much to do by myself - should I wax my arms or somewhere a little more sensitive? Questions.......questions I could sleep on for now.

As I unwound Saturday morning before I retired I was informed the mutt would be remaining at home for the day. I felt sympathy for this poor ugly creature -to remain caged yet again. I kindly fed it peanut butter and human noursishment as I knew this was exactly what the owner did not want for her precious organically fed dog.

And so with ear plugs to drown out the mutts' whining I slept until 1700 hours, and awoke looking forward to the night ahead. Knowing it would be difficult to fall asleep again at a decent hour I planned my evening carefully for a Cinderella bedtime (before midnight). And so here is the recipe of a romantic evening for one:

1. Red Wine
2. Popcorn
3. Benzocaine (numbing agent)
3. Hot wax and muslin cloth
4. Diphenhydramine (benadryl)
5. 300 movie (rippling Spartan bodies on film)

Estimated time of events: 3hours. Pour glass of red wine. Apply benzocaine to area planned to be waxed. Consume the half a glass of wine while the benzocaine soaks into the skin. Wax numbed area while consuming the rest of the glass of wine. Shower to remove remnants of wax, and microwave the popcorn. Take one tablet of diphenhydramine - note the instructions on the package that forewarn the increased drowsiness effect of alcohol consumption with the medication. Settle into warm bed with the 300 movie, feeling tired again after only 5 hours of awake time, and fall into a lovely drug induced sleep with dreams of rippling Spartan bodies dancing through your head.

Desperate Measures

Originally written March 17th, 2008

It began Sunday morning, after sleeping most of Saturday being post call, and then into Saturday night. I awoke early Sunday morning as most normal people do – with the urge to pee. Quite unfortunately the bathroom was preoccupied with my roommates’ new fornicating friend. “No worries” I said to myself, “I’ll simply use the spare basement bathroom” (really only used in dire circumstances as it’s grungy, never cleaned, and the door doesn’t shut completely). As I walked out to the living room I noticed our door open, and silently prayed no one would be in the basement. Down the first set of stairs I climbed only to realize the basement door was open, and only one thing could be true – the basement bathroom was occupied. Oh the horror! Where was I to seek relief as I had already held out as along as possible for the upstairs bathroom. Desperate urges called for desperate measures…….I could wait no longer……..My eyes spied a glass in my room……did I dare? There was no place else. The unimaginable became a reality, as I was disgusted with what I was forced to do, but left with no other choice. Grossly disturbed and wondering how I should discard of this specimen I contemplated my options – do I pour it into the proper receptacle or………….how about throwing it out the window? Strangely, this seemed like the most satisfying option as I was somewhat incensed by what I was forced to do. And so up went the window pane, and like a mediaeval wench, merely cleaning house as the other bourgeoisie would do, out went my pee onto the grass below.
As for that glass (and the fact that it isn’t mine, and really cannot be discarded), I scratched a small marking on the bottom so I will know never to drink from it again. Even though I’ve bleached it, just knowing what it was used for is enough to make sure it stays in the back of the cabinet.

Buzzing

What a rollercoaster these last seven days have been:
- Got my test scores back – very pleased with myself.
- Competed in my first triathlon – a goal I set for myself and trained for in 1 month (with my mom, who placed first in her age class).
- Started my first rotation at the hospital – words cannot convey how I feel, but I am enjoying everyday, and learning every minute!

And so the next chapter has begun, and many adjustments are being made for the new set points of normalcy in my life:

1) It’s normal to have bags under my eyes.

2) It’s normal to carry 20 lbs of paraphernalia in my pockets.

3) It’s normal to feel that 5 hours of sleep a night will suffice.

4) It’s normal to feel like a moron and have no real qualms about it.

5) It’s normal to be pimped on a daily basis.

6) It’s normal to have a racing heart at least 3-4 times a day while being pimped.

7) It’s normal to sample over 20 different liquid forms of medications and rate the taste during morning report……holy crap I’d rather chug a bottle of the homemade rubbing alcohol whiskey than take a tsp of some of those medicines.

Anyways – the other students rock, the residents are wonderful, my attending is an inspirational teacher………and the patients are priceless. I love it!

MIA

I know I haven't been writing, but not much is going on (that and the fact that its just weird blogging when I'm home, and everyone is a local call away). Truthfully, the only time I really feel like writing is when I have a nice academic stress buzz going on. So instead of boring you with some really inane writings of my day to day activities (sleeping and internet surfing), I leave you with a funny picture of the area in the library I happened to study for the USMLE in.......too bad I didn't actually have time to look through them!

I'm BAAAAAACK

Total cost to write the test ~ $750 USD

Renting an apartment for 6 weeks ~$425

Cost of books, question banks and any other preparation materials ~ $200

Food for 6 weeks ~ $250.00

Hours of my life lost studying in the library and any other waking moment of my day – too many too count (whatever 12-14 x 42 is)

Years aged in those 6 weeks ~ at least 10.

The feeling of walking out of the test centre knowing that it was all over (regardless of how the test went) ~ PRICELESS.

There are many miserable things money can buy, for everything else there’s:

Oh Yeah! Its good to be done – let my summer begin!

Wrapping up my week

I know I haven't been blogging much - its not like I can't fit it into my day somewhere. In actuality, my brain is so tired at the end of the day (and I have no internet access at my apartment anymore), that the only thing I come up with is stuff like:

Today I studied.
I reviewed the kidney.
Acids and bases are cool.

My mornings are marked with bouts of crankiness, and a true lack of desire to get out of bed before 6:45 am (this is highly unlike me). I've been having a hard time falling asleep at night, as all the thoughts that have been pushed aside during the day for study purposes come flooding back to my mind once I turn off the light. But aside from my daily grind, things are alright and I have to admit it is really interesting seeing everything come together at once. So many connections are finally elucidating themselves. I love learning!

Soooooo..... this morning while in the change room after a morning swim I saw something rather odd. I've heard about it and I've known a couple of people to do it (ironically they've both been asians.....). As I came back from the showers next to my locker was a little asian girl with her pants down, shirt off, and saran-wrapping herself. Yep, that's right, she was wrapping herself from her torso to her knees, and then proceeded to pull up her track pants and throw on a t-shirt. Now normally I am definitely not one to stare at people. I don't even gawk at road accidents as most people tend to do. But I'll admit - I got in some good sidelong glances. I didn't know whether to suppress laughter or throw my hands up in the air and cry out "for the love of God!"

Oh the things people do to themselves.

Anatomical Memories

This is what the sciatic nerve means to me:

While reviewing my notes and reinforcing my anatomy, a memory popped up in my mind of my first friend (who I can recall forming full sentences with). He was a boy named James who lived somewhere on my street. I’m not quite sure how we became friends, but I do remember he was the first boy to give me flowers. While receiving one of my booster shots, my pediatrician must not have been entirely in the upper outer quadrant of my buttocks injecting me - hence hitting my sciatic nerve, and leaving my leg in pain for the rest of the day. When James came by to play and I could not, he came back with a freshly picked bouquet of flowers. Looking over my notes for some reason reminded me of that day when James brought me flowers.

Study log 279

Okay that last post was seriously depressing, so I had to write something. I moved into the 2 bedroom apartment that I looked at over the weekend, and I’ll be here for the next 5 weeks. It's location is a 2 minute walk from campus, and definitely a step-up from the couch surfing I've been doing (I can finally stretch my legs out). But apparently I’m getting a roommate – some kid from Belarus coming here to do some chemistry research. Sounds like a barrel of fun…..all I have to say is they'd better be tidy. So here is my study niche, although once Rikin gets here it will probably be some table at the library (no, those aren't all my books in the picture in case you're wondering).

I've come to grips with the August 13th start date, and its benefits (more flexibility for electives hopefully). Anyways, I'm back to my books.....its my favourite stuff right now - Parasites!!!

Just shoot me

I apologize in advance for the excessive punctuation.....

Truth be told, I’m stressed right now. So I thought maybe writing things out will help me, and put a damper on my obsessive mind. Here’s what’s stressing me out:

1) USMLE USMLE USMLE

2) This weekend I’m going to check out the housing I will be living in for the next six weeks…..decisions decisions…..I have to decide between 1 of 2 places – each have their pros and cons. I’ve been living on my brother’s couch for the past week…..and I’m starting to get a little squirrely.

3) I just got my start dates for my core clinical rotations – AUG 13^th! I want to cry right now, its just too early, I thought I wouldn’t be starting until the end of august/beginning of September. This early start date snowballs an entire cataclysmic series of things to stress about.

4) Now I have to really get on the apartment/car/visa issues/getting my life together thing.

5) &*#$! My summer is shot! I need a tattoo on my hand reminding me not to get my hopes up for anything these days!

6) I friggin hate this smog %@& I’m inhaling every time I go outside to exercise.

7) I hate when people don’t email me back…..lazy $&*#ers!

My rational mind is telling me there is no need for the level of stress I’m experiencing. The only thing I should be stressed about right now is the USMLE. Everything else doesn’t need to be worried about until after that event (July 12^th). But damn, reading that start date this morning really threw me off! I just have to breathe right now. Breath and study, breath and study……………………..my mommy is visiting this afternoon, lets hope this decreases the stress (but it could go either way).

Entertaining myself

So I had a routine optometry appointment this morning, and they put the pupil dilator eyedrops in…..so me, being the nerd that I am decided to take pictures of my eyes, looking out the window…….because the eyes are the “windows to our soul”……so I thought it would be a cool pic, except you can see a shadow of my arm and the camera in it…….and yes, I know I’m a geek.

If you click on the pic you can see an enlarged version of my eyeball.

Gearing down and back up

It’s been four days at home. I figure in another two, my eyes will start twitching. Since I’ve been home I’ve gone to Somerset (a posh mall for the rich folk where I peruse the sale racks) in the States, and to the grocery store. After getting over my initial culture shock of the mass consumerism (as I do every semester), and only a minor panic attack from visual overstimulation, I’ve been avoiding making that dreaded trip to Walmart to replenish the toiletry supplies.

Now that I’m home my mind is blank over what I should write about. I’ve scheduled my test date for the board exams, which gives me a little over 6 weeks to prepare. It’s definitely been great taking a much needed break from studying since finishing in St. Vincent’s, but I’m ready to be out of my house and get down to business. I finally unpacked my bags and did my laundry, but it does suck a little knowing that I’m just putting most of my stuff back into the suitcase to leave for London so I can study. Since I’ve been home I seemed to have picked up a lovely mucous filled upper respiratory infection as which seems to be the pattern every time I come back up north. Anyways, here's a pic from a recent jaunt out on the water in a friend's new boat (good times are definitely ahead).

Home bitterSweet Home

Well after much contemplation over what I should do with this blog, I debated over a few different ideas:

I should continue this blog.

I should stop being a narcissist and keep my thoughts to myself.

I should start a new blog so the rents don’t know the url and I can write about what’s really going on - and how I’m actually not in medical school but am a breeder/trainer of the majestic sea horse.

First off, I’ve decided to keep it, and continue with fluffy reflections (as if there were any other type). Perhaps a recipe section will be added or something....i dunno yet (if you have a suggestion you can anonymously post a comment). Given the title of the blog, and where my next location will be (Detroit!) I may have to change it to 65 days of sun instead of 365. Instead I’ll leave the title as a double entendre of what has passed, and my outlook for the future (whoa…..deep thoughts).

Anyways, I have to gear up to study for the next six weeks or so for my board exam....which is why it is a little bittersweet to be back at home.....along with the fact that its friggin cold people!

What I will miss from my time in Vinnies:

A minimum of 3 emails a day from my pharmacology professor, stating his every thought and intent without spell/grammar check.

Waking up and opening my balcony door to the turquoise-blue sea, palm trees, and the wafting scent of cannabis from the neighbors.

The school gym with its ghetto weight selection, boxing bags and a beautiful view of a harbour.

The friendliness of the locals pretty much everywhere you went.

I imagine I’ll start to miss the incessant cat calls/compliments/stares – it really starts to feed a girls ego.

The sun

The warmth

Crazy but relaxed driving style – people don’ honk because they’re angry, they honk to say ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’.

The serenity

The vegetable and fish market – you can’t beat the freshness.

All of my friends

The rum - they don't pour drinks anywhere else in the world like they did there!

Anyways, thanks to all of you who have taken the time to read my blog over these last two years. I want to give a special thanks to all of you who have left me comments (mostly Nick), as it has encouraged me to keep writing.

And so begins my life back on the mainland.........

One more to go

Call me crazy, but I actually felt a tinge of sadness today while I was writing my last pharmacology exam. I'll be honest......I don't wanna go home yet! One more exam to go - pathophysiology, where I try yet again to understand the magic of breathing, only this time in a diseased state.
For the past two days Soca/reggae/50s oldies music has been blaring to announce the start of Vincymas - basically the biggest few weeks of partying on the island of the year. Hearing this definitely does not keep me in the studying mood.

Anyways, I know this is a random and slightly disjointed post, but here is a picture from the health fair we did a couple of weeks ago up at the north end of the island. It was a nice last community experience down here, but it was definitely sad to see how most of the problems were eyed related - nobody wears sunglasses down here, and so many people have diabetes and hypertension.

The End of an Era

Today is the last day of classes. Not only is today the last day of lectures for the two years of the basic sciences component of my medical studies, this completes the end of my classroom life as I know it. I have been in a classroom learning setting for the last twenty years of my existence. Holy #$&%, scary considering I have nothing to show for it other than some abstract paintings my mom kept from kindergarten, and a few pieces of paper with stickers and ‘important’ signatures.

So after thinking about this and its meaning while beginning to pack my things for going home, this was the first thought that popped into my mind:

“So I guess I should probably stop dressing like a 15 year old tomboy wearing cheap t-shirts with tacky pictures on the front”.

Somehow I just couldn’t figure out where a shirt with a Pegasus would be appropriate in the next stage of my journey. There’s always pajamas….

A Letter to My Housemates

It has been an absolute pleasure living with you all this semester. One could not find a more motivating and well-balanced combination of people to live with. You have kept my goals in check, and my health habits on the wagon. Whenever I would feel myself wavering, it was impossible not to notice the dedication of everyone around me. It has been fabulous to be able to share information with you all and learn from each and every one of you. You are the future doctors that others should aspire to, in exemplifying what it truly means to take care of your health. I feel very appreciative to have found myself in such a supportive environment.

To Lindsey (my motivation to keep going) – I am enamored by your energy, and your flawless phenotype for which I will forever strive to achieve.

To Megan (my secret femme crush) - I am inspired by the way you are able to balance all aspects of your life in a non-neurotic way. I will always smile when I think of your ‘free-spirited’ running.

To Augustine (my aspiration when the going gets tough) – It has been wonderful to have someone to communicate health and life philosophies with. You are a wealth of wisdom, and a great listener.

Thank you for helping make this my best semester ever!

Love Dana

So I guess it wasn't the landlady....

Click on the pic to read the article.

Going crazy

So I started the final phase of Alwyn Cosgrove’s Afterburn lifting routines, that I’ve been doing for the last 14 weeks or so. My geeky biochemistry alter-ego likes to refer to it as Cori Cycle Conditioning, as every morning I play the mental game of Dana’s Brain vs. her Liver (basically mind over matter). Every now and then I encounter a group of 5 guys at the gym in the morning whom I scathingly refer to as the “Coffee Shop Boys” (CSBs), because they all sit around and spend the majority of their time hogging benches to chat on. It pisses the hell out of me, and when I’m pissed at the gym, it’s very difficult to focus and get an excellent workout in. Well, the CSBs were there this morning, and I gave them my best “I’m hiding a crow-bar up my pant-leg” stare every time I had to grab weights, and they were blocking the way while chatting it up. Not the greatest way to start off my day….and lets just say it hasn’t improved…my bed and the fetal position is looking really tempting....