Happy New Year’s Eve, my friends! How glad I am that all of you are part of my life! I hope this continues through next year and the next and the next… *hugs*

I’m on home call tonight, which means I have to carry a pager all of the time. My last call on Tuesday went really well. I got sleep and a minimal number of calls. My friends are having a small New Years Party and my church is having a swing dance (!!!) tonight, and I so hoped that it would be quiet enough that I could go for a couple of hours, with pager and cell phone close on hand. Alas, shortly after I got home, the pager went off. Some outside physician was asking me how to control status epilepticus (uhhh…) and that they were transferring the patient to my hospital here. So I’m waiting for the call that the patient has arrived. Hopefully once the child has been tucked in, I can grab my saddle shoes and skirt and get in a few dances.

I’m at the children’s hospital this month. It’s been a month that I’ve been dreading. Home call every other night (which means that even if I get a lot of calls and little sleep, I still have to show up for the entire day the next day. By the end of the month, pretty much everybody is hallucinating from the s. Lots of consults. Lots of patients to see every day. Lots of floppy, fragile babies to examine and figure out what weird two or three name syndrome they have. It’s all diseases that I’ve never heard of: the kids either outgrow them or they die of complications.

So far (it’s only been 4 days), I’ve enjoyed my month. It helps that I really like my attending. She’s funny and we get along really well. Of course, the attending switch on Monday, so I’ll have somebody else to deal with, but I haven’t had to deal with the rounding until 9 pm horror stories that I heard about. I’ve learned more than what my feeble brain can absorb. And the kids are precious. I get to hold brand new babies all the time.

Argh, the kid is still not here. It’s been two hours!! Maybe there won’t be dancing after all. 🙁

• I have asked the last person needed for a letter of recommendation. He was gracious enough to agree. So I’ve got the neurology chair, the program director, the ICU director and my favorite stroke/intensivist writing letters for me.
• My CV is completed. I think that I managed to play up my strengths of teaching and leadership, while minimizing my deficiencies in research. We’ll see.
• Finalized the list of places that I’m applying. All over the country, I think 15 places in total. I may add one or two more to the list.
• Have half-way finished my “statement of intent.” I know, I know, it should be done, but I’m having a hard time verbalizing (I guess writing is the more proper gerund) my ideals of blending the neuro and medical critical care worlds together and how my empathy and interest in doctor-patient communications also fit. I have a few more days to play with it and hopefully will have a workable draft by Thursday/Friday for editing this weekend.

I have Friday/Saturday to finish any secondary applications and get ready to register for the SF Match on January 4th. I’ll submit all of the letters of intent and secondary applications by that Wednesday (mst likely that day). Letters of recommendation should be sent out that week, completely the application and just leaving me with waiting to hear from those who are willing to interview me. I’m not planning on interviewing at 15 places, but do hope to get 5-6 interviews. There are various and sundry other little things that I have to do, but I’ve gotten most of the big ones done. Hooray!

And that’s the update!

The thirty days of sharing became 2 days of sharing. Mostly because it was taking a lot of time. I wasn’t satisfied with just saying “This is my favorite move, tv show, book, etc;” I had to convince you that it should be yours too. And it dawned on me that if I’m wanting to get my fellowship applications submitted by the first week of January, that meant that I had a month to do everything… and a week of that month includes vacation and the last week I’m starting child neurology which will suck my soul into an abyss from which I will be lucky to arise again. So. Two weeks and change. Two weeks to write to programs and get their applications. To get letters of recommendation. To write a personal statement (Becks, can I borrow you again?). To manage to sweet talk my program into doing what I want to do. To put the final touches on my research proposal, which won’t be even started by the time applications are due, but will at least give me something to talk about on the interview trail. To rewrite my CV and describe how not-lame I really am. Not to mention the studying I need to do for the rotation that I’m on and the quality improvement project that I have to do for my clinic which is time-consuming and due the same time as my applications. And did I mention this whole “trying to exercise” and be “down 5 pounds by the new year” thing?

So. No thirty days of sharing. No posting every day. I’ve thought about having somebody change my passwords to my email accounts so they’re not a temptation, but as I need them for actual communication, I can’t do that. But I am going to have to take a break from my blogs and my reading lists and all of my other frivolous pursuits. This may be the last post with substance for a long time.

I met up with Susan downtown in Chicago yesterday for our last bash of the year. The Lyric Opera of Chicago performed The Merry Widow, which is my all time favorite opera. Even since staying up all night to watch it on PBS, I’ve been on a quest to find the perfect version live. The original opera was in German (which it is only rarely performed in now days), so finding a translation that captures the wit, sweetness, and romance of the version that I saw so long ago has been a challenge.

The opera was at 7:30. Susan and I made plans to meet up at the hotel at 6 for dinner. Google maps confirmed that the hotel was 1 hour and 42 minutes away, but in bad traffic, could be 2 hours and 20 minutes. Since it was a weekend, I figured I didn’t need to calculate for traffic and left my house at 4:30, stopping to get gas and heading on my way. I called Susan as I left the toll road (hate toll roads, but I’ll save that rant) that I should be there in about twenty minutes. 30 seconds later, I hit bumper to bumper traffic. The 1 hour and 42 minute drive became 2 hours and 32 minutes. Once I finally arrived, I then managed to get off the freeway and turn into a parking garage structure that had no exit!! I had to go back out the entrance to get out. I’ll skip the frustration that it was to drive in downtown Chicago, mostly because although we had navigation to direct us to the opera house, said navigation didn’t let us know where parking was and all of the roads are one way.

Long story short, we were 7 minutes late. I left three hours before the opera started and was late AND didn’t get dinner. *sigh* Needless to say, it took a while to get into the performance. I was in jeans, instead of the velvet dress I had brought, because there hadn’t been time to change. We had to sit downstairs in their lobby to watch the first part on a television set. The sound quality when the characters were speaking was terrible. But once the first act ended and we found our seats, I was able to relax and enjoy myself.

It was a gorgeous performance. Luscious costumes and lovely sets. The actress who played Hannah had a beautifully sweet voice that lingered over the high notes of “Vilja”, the haunting love song about a huntsman enraptured by a woodland sprite or witch. Danilo was much much more of a play boy that the other version, but this performance seemed to play everything more as a comedy, more lighthearted, more risque, so Danilo suited it and he was redeemed enough by the end. The Merry Widow waltz had a somewhat prominent role, which I appreciated and melted every time the violins played the melody. The third act, which is already short compared to the first two, was sliced in half, which was a disappointment and really left me wanting more.

Overall, a very satisfying opera. Still not quite as good as the Live at Lincoln Center version, but I’ve become resigned to the fact that I was exposed to perfection the first time and have been able to enjoy the different interpretations. I’m so glad that I got to go. Even with all of the irritations (including paying more for parking than I pay for gas for an entire month and not being able to order pizza properly and completely making a fool of myself in front of the hotel concierge (yes, it was a swanky hotel. Suz and I both felt out of our element) trying to pick up said pizza and not getting internet so I could make a dent on my long to-do list because the ridiculous hotel charges $15(!!!)), it was well worth it.

To see pictures and video and hear commentary, you must go to the Lyric Opera of Chicago homepage . I especially recommend the videos, they’re gorgeous.

Day 2 – Your favorite movie.

I love dance movies. Maybe even more so than period dramas, which is saying something. 🙂 Strictly Ballroom, Mad Hot Ballroom, Swing Kids, Dirty Dancing, yes, even Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. There’s something about the swirling of couples in fancy dress, moving to the rhythm of a waltz or tango, of finding love through the mastering of difficult routines. I’m such a sap.

Two favorites tonight. I was going to make picspams, but I really want to get to bed early tonight, so we’ll have to make do with googled images.

“Shall We Dansu?” was a little movie that was made in Japan in 1997, about an accountant who found the passion that he was missing in taking dance lessons. It was later remade in 2004, starring Richard Gere, Susan Saradon and Jennifer Lopez. I like both movies very much, but this one has a quiet charm and a simpler story that I think is just a tad more engaging. I love the secondary characters so much. They all have a different personality and are three dimensional.

You can find it on amazon to buy, or on YouTube to watch in 9 minute segments.

And my all-time favorite. I have watched it probably close to a hundred times and I still love it:

Strictly Ballroom. I think that this was Baz Luhrmann’s first movie, styled as a mockumentary and is somewhat a “Ugly Duckling” retelling in dance. The costumes and acting are over the top (you should watch the movie just to see the main character’s mother’s eyes. Wow). Once again, it’s a movie that really fleshes out the secondary characters. They all have side stories that are important overall.

My friend Becka, when I insisted that she watch it, reported that she felt frustrated with the stores that have the girl take off her glasses to become beautiful, to conform to what society agrees is beauty. While I admit that that is part of the story here, I’ve always felt that the story transcends that. Yes, she removes her glasses, but doing so means that she has to learn to trust in herself and her partner. It’s resisting conformity that’s the take home message. I love that she is feisty and knows her own mind. Even after being ridiculed, she’s out on the dance floor, because that’s what she loves.

It is broody Scott who makes the movie, though. He has the most yummy biceps.

You can’t find the whole movie online, but you can watch the finale in all of its glittery glory here.

A life lived in fear is a life half-lived.

Shall we continue to blogging thing?

One of my LJ friends posted a meme called the Thirty Days of Sharing, which I thought would be fun.

Day 01 – Your favorite song.

I have a hard time with favorites. Except for colors (any shade of purple) I have a hard time saying that Such-And-Such is my favorite Fill-In-The-Blank. My tastes change. I have a variety of interests and likes. Some days certain things stand out sharper than others. And I can never just pick one. So these are my “I really like it and would propose marriage if it would have me” songs, of the moment.

1. The Atheist Christmas Carol – Vienna Teng. I’ve gushed and gushed and gushed about Vienna to whoever will listen to me talk. I’ve seen her live 4 times now and if here was any way that I could go home for Christmas a few days early to catch her performance in Park City, I would (instead, all of my Utah friends must go in my stead). This is the only Christmas song that I listen to year around and although the title may turn some away, this song best captures the hope, the grace, the love that surrounds the holiday.

Lyrics | Vienna Teng lyrics – The Atheist Christmas Carol lyrics

2. Return to Pooh Corner – Kenny Loggins. I always feel silly when I confess how much I love love love this song. But I do. It makes me happy and nostalgic and peaceful all at the same time. The YouTube video can’t be embedded, but here it is if you want to click.

3. Jai Ho – Slumdog Millionaire. I’ve never seen the movie (I know!), but this is my favorite workout music right now.

4. Getting Late – Rob Thomas. I could drown in his voice. I love the way his songs have matured. I’ve always thought that Matchbox 20 was deeper than the other bands that were popular in the 90s. Their lyrics had layers. I love layers. This is one of my favorites from his latest album, Cradlesong.
‘Cause it’s getting late, it’s time to go
The paper moon is fading slow
But the night, it keeps moving on
‘Till it takes you in, it brings you home

5. Lead, Kindly Light – The Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Growing up in my little tiny town, we had the same chorister every Sunday who picked the same songs. I think she had a selection of 30 songs that she rotated through (and insisted they be sung at a snail pace). So there were several songs in the hymn book that I never knew existed until I went to college and gained exposure and experience. This was one of them that floored me with its message. I love the expanding faith in the lyrics, the idea that one can struggle, have problems, but still turn towards the light. This is my favorite arrangement.

6. Right Angles – The Paper Raincoat. I never would have been exposed to this song if I hadn’t fallen in love with Vienna Teng and thus got acquainted with her accoustics friend, Alex Wong, who can play a waterphone as well as the piano, drums, guitar and I think any instrument that you put into his hands. Anyway, at one of the concerts, he sang a song called “In the Creases” which I fell in love with. It was a song he had written in a side project, a duo called The Paper Raincoat. When they released their first album this October, I snagged it as soon as possible. This is my second favorite. (You can listen to In The Creases here.)

7. Sway (Quien Sera) – Dean Martin. I have a hard time picking my between Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin as favorite crooner. I love the sultry rhythms of this song. It makes me want to find a swirling black skirt and a dark corner in Argentina.

Click to listen or download.