It was a rather unbusy night. One new admission, 2 ER consults that my intern saw and I discussed with her. The ICU patients were well behaved, only had slight blood pressure issues that were easy to address. I even managed to read a book and sneak in a web chat with the Plethora for our book club to talk about it. Second book club that I’ve been to this week–I really love our non-structured discussions (and diversions) rather than the painful process of answering “discussion” questions at the end of the book.

Despite that, I only got about 3 hours of very fratured sleep. But I get to go home around 7 or 8, rather than 12 or 1, and that makes me very very happy. That is if the other residents would show up so I could tell them the non-events that happened overnight.

I left my house yesterday with the weather in the high 60s, without a jacket. It’s supposed to be in the low 40s today and rainy/sleety. I had been waiting to rake my leaves until the maple in my backyard finally relinqueshed its load; now I’ll get to rake up soggy wet leaves this weekend. Joy.

Alrighty, everybody finally showed up and now I can go home. Good night!

It was a rather unbusy night. One new admission, 2 ER consults that my intern saw and I discussed with her. The ICU patients were well behaved, only had slight blood pressure issues that were easy to address. I even managed to read a book and sneak in a web chat with the Plethora for our book club to talk about it. Second book club that I’ve been to this week–I really love our non-structured discussions (and diversions) rather than the painful process of answering “discussion” questions at the end of the book.

Despite that, I only got about 3 hours of very fratured sleep. But I get to go home around 7 or 8, rather than 12 or 1, and that makes me very very happy. That is if the other residents would show up so I could tell them the non-events that happened overnight.

I left my house yesterday with the weather in the high 60s, without a jacket. It’s supposed to be in the low 40s today and rainy/sleety. I had been waiting to rake my leaves until the maple in my backyard finally relinqueshed its load; now I’ll get to rake up soggy wet leaves this weekend. Joy.

Alrighty, everybody finally showed up and now I can go home. Good night!

This evening (in between patient calls which have been infrequent and staffing patients with my intern, also blissfully infrequent) I read Randy Pausch’s book, “The Last Lecture.” It made me cry. It made me think. It may be the catalyst to get me over this lingering funk and figure out what I want out of my life. Everybody should go out and buy it, and as a big believer in supporting libraries, that’s saying something.

There are times when I really question if I’ve got the required brain cells to be a doctor.

I was able to get into my friend’s house. Because the key really was on the key ring, I just managed not to see it, despite trying everything for over a half hour and then asking another friend to come over and try as well today. We tried the back door, walked around to the front, I handed her the keys and she miraculously found the right one. Yep.

Cats are fine. Water bowls were changed, litter box scoped. I’m so overwhelmingly relieved; I can stop worrying that her cats are going to die on my care.

I’m utterly exhausted this week and have been somewhat moody and cranky. I almost started crying tonight in the custard shop because of difficulties ordering a pumpkin shake, that’s how ridiculous this is. I really don’t know why I’m so emotionally fragile, but this episode with the cats, combined with the verbal “question and answer” session that I had on Monday with my program director, which did not go well, has just brought my mood down.

But I’m going to bed now, so hopefully, a little sleep will make things better.

I have to go feed my friend’s 10 cats this evening. And clean out their litter box.

….

Oi. Why exactly did I volunteer for this?

Any ideas for making the smell of litter boxes a little less toxic on the nose? I’ve got a pretty strong gag reflex and would rather not add the smell of my stomach contents to the mix.

ETA: The key doesn’t work. I can’t get it to turn in the doorknob or the deadbolt. She’s either given me the wrong key or I’m a moron. I think it’s the former, but I’ll have to see if I can recruit a friend to try it out themselves. I feel awful. If I can’t get it open, I’ll probably have to call a locksmith or something.

I’ve been falling asleep all day long today. Just can not keep my eyes open. I’m not sure why. I did get about 7 hours of sleep last night… and 11 the night before (I LOVE sleeping in). My eyes have been itching all day long, and I think this new prescription for contacts is off, as everything out of my left eye is blurry, so that might be contributing. Oh, yeah, and that daylight savings thing too.

I’m working in the spinal cord unit at the VA right now. Six patients. Rounds consist of walking around and looking at pressure sore wounds, which have definitely surpassed the definition of “sore”. They are usually large, open and somewhat smelly. I’ve never ever liked wounds/skin infections. But as it is something that I will see over and over as a doctor, especially now that Medicare in its infinite wisdom decided that pressure sore were “never events” and won’t pay for the hospitalization if one develops during the stay, I guess I’d better get used to checking, probing, and wrapping these buggers.

In any case, in the afternoons, I have neurology clinic. Today was MS (multiple sclerosis). 2 of the patients cancelled so my attending told me to go do something and he’d call me when the last patient showed up. So I took myself out into the gorgeous 74 degree sunshine and had a nap on the grass. 🙂 Just a lovely break to the day. Likely won’t ever happen again.

And I’m still tired. I’m about to go and put myself to bed. But I really need to go to the gym (another November goal. I swear, I’m treating November like it was January 1st).

Nano word count: 355. Yep. This is going so well.

Lastly, because I love it:

One day more!

So I signed up for Nanowrimo (National Novel Writing Month, for those not in the know, that happens every November. The goal is to write 50,000 words in that month). And I’ve written a total of (*checks*) 355 words. Yeah, I can see that this is going to go well. I did finally strike upon an idea a few days ago, and have gotten a prologue, but not much more than that. I have a feeling that this month is going to be spent doing more research and writing outlines than actual writing, but we’ll see. I’m not giving up yet!

I also signed up for NaBloPoMo as well, so you all are probably going to get very sick of me! What can I say, all of the cool kids are doing it, and I hate getting left out.

Alas, it is 4 minutes to midnight, I have to be up early to do “wound rounds” tomorrow on the spinal care unit (exactly how it sounds, folks), so I’ll have to share all of my stories at another time. Luckily I’ll have 28 more days to do so this month!

For 10 years now, I’ve been a fan of the X-Files. I even accidently called one of my friends “Mulder” in the middle of a conversation once, that’s how deeply the infatuation of the show ran. As a redhead doctor-to-be and later on an actual doctor, well, I related a lot to the character of Dana Scully.

But until now, I had never dressed up as Scully for Halloween. What a waste of naturally red hair!

To complete the costume, I had my hair cut ( a little shorter than what I wanted but oh well, at least it grows) and toted a cell phone (unfortunately not old-school), a flashlight and the badge, which I made myself with the super-helpful assistance of a Office Max copy-center employee. I could not find a plastic gun, unfortunately, and as I thought up the idea late Oct 30, I did not have a Mulder either. If I had realized the number of guys who showed up at the party minus a costume, including way-too-good-looking-for-his-and-my-good-and-thank-heavens-he’s-moving Trouble Boy, I’d have recruited harder. 🙂

About ten years ago, I started using an electric toothbrush. I haven’t had a cavity since. This is my story (hehe).

I haven’t been to the dentist for the last 2 (if I’m really honest with myself, it’s probably closer to 3) years. Inability to predict my availability plus an overwhelming dread (I have sensitive gums; poking them makes them hurt more) contributed to my procrastination, but I knew that I could put it off for no longer. Good dental health contributes to overall good health, and I’d like to keep my teeth well into my 90s. I may lose my red hair by the time I turn 35 (*cries*), but I refuse to lose my teeth as well. So this morning, blessed by a day free, I visited the dentist.

I had hardened plaque along my lower gums and some inflammation of my gums, secondary to the tartar as well as the popcorn kernel that got stuck from 2 weeks back (happens every time. You would think that I would learn better). But no cavities and the majority of my teeth did not require extensive scraping and cleaning. YAY!

On my call days, I often have to go more than 30 hours without brushing my teeth–it ensures that my patients wake up when I lean over them to listen to their hearts (kidding)–because I’ve been rushing from one place to another and literally did not have a three minute break. Sad, but true. Thanks to my electric toothbrush, it hasn’t had any meaningful damage on my pearly whites.

There you go, my testimonial to the power of the electric toothbrush. Personally, I’m a Braun holder with Oral B brush user. I don’t like the heads that had the “gum massage”; they ripped apart my gums, but other than that, I’ve been satisfied.

BTW, I’m also a fan of the ultrasonic technique for cleaning teeth. So much better than the old method with a metal scraper than invariably slipped and made my gums bleed. Going to the dentist was almost pleasant today.

(The following advertisement was not endorsed by Braun, Oral B, or any other dentistry affiliate. Rather it is the opinion of a rather odd girl who’s enthused about her clean and shiny, cavity-free smile)

Who couldn’t be here this week: a taste of Milwaukee in the fall.

More pictures can be seen here

Have I mentioned recently how much I love this city? And having a camera again? And autumn? And time off work? Bliss, I tell you, life is bliss.

Happy Birthday, Karin!

Hope your day was devoid of annoying customers and homework and instead filled with chocolate. 🙂

Love, your sis

(The song was a random iTunes choice. Apt as always).

The list of things I need to do before Thursday at 3:

1. Wash clothes. I think I have 3 more batches to go.
2. Sweep and mop bathroom
3. Dishes. Lots of dishes
4. Arrange and organize all of the papers that I dragged into the living room to organize and arrange, oh 4 days ago
5. Clean my office/den. I can see carpet now!
6. Change sheets.
7. Wash sheets.
8. Buy bed.
9. Sweep and mop kitchen.
10. Replace chair/table sliders
11. Grocery shop.
12. Clean out my fridge so that the pregnant can actually hang out in my kitchen.
13. Look up other activities for weekend.
14. More and more autopsies.

So why exactly am I wasting time writing it all down rather than doing it?

The only thing worse than getting a flu shot, where my poor deltoid muscle develops a knot for days afterwards, is getting the flu. And boy, have I had the flu. Never again.

Not to mention that if I didn’t get the shot, my compassion and my professionalism would have been called into question:

“Remember getting your flu vaccine is important not only for your personal and family’s health, as someone at high risk because of your occupation, but also is important to your patients because of the risk of transmission from you to them, and as a matter of professionalism and courtesy to your colleagues who would have to cover for you if you are out sick because of the flu.” ~ Program Director.

Will do, sir.

BTW, the flu vaccine is now recommended to everybody, especially those with live with elderly people, or those with kids. The deltoid tenderness really isn’t that bad, I’m just a wimp. Promise. 🙂

Once, I danced. Mondays and Wednesday mornings. Thursdays at the Naval Science building. Saturdays at the Murray Arts Center. Beginning ballroom. Latin. Swing. My favorite was the Tango, the sultry dance where the movements came from the hips, the directions from the heart. I never was very good, my moves were too clunky and I never had enough trust in my partners to ever let go of control completely, but during the tango, I could close my eyes and pretend, for just a few minutes that I was a sexy, graceful dancer in the smoky streets of Argentina.

Yesterday, listening to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra perform the Bandoneón Concerto, I felt transported back to those days. The hum of the bandoneon (a modified accordion) blended with the violin and cello and occasional oboe and infused in my veins. My heart beat the time.

Today, I drove my friend to our bishop’s house for conference. He lamented that medical school had drained him from being an interesting person, that once he could socialize, converse on a variety of topics, entertain those around him, and now, he was an introvert, a shell of his former self. It’s true, I sympathized, running through the conversations that I had had with the various other medical students and residents that day. “Hi, how are you, what rotation are you on? Who are you working with? Getting any sleep? Had the day off today?” We ran through the conversations like robots, only venturing out on occasions to talk about something else. We had become absorbed into the culture of medicine that we have lost our personalities. I’ve managed to retain a little of my previous life, a play, a concert, a party here and there and thought until last night that I hadn’t done so poorly.

But, once, I danced.

Dear Boy,

It’s a super good thing that you are moving in a month, because you are trouble. Those laughing brown eyes and dimples are doing me in. Not to mention the fact that you sat next to me and laughed with me though all the performances, catching my eye, leaning over so I could hear you over the performers.

“What was your favorite part of the night?”

“You.” Heart stops. “Running up to the stage dancing.” *wink, broad smile* Heart sorta starts again.

Gah. Don’t. Need. This. You’re too good looking and have never paid any attention to me before two months ago and I know with certainty I am so not your type.

Probably didn’t help that Friend, who I adore but is somewhat crass and loud, leaned over to me and said (in tones I’m certain you didn’t even have to strain to hear) “How old is that hottie next to you?” If you could hear a blush, I’m sure that it would have drowned out a freight train.

Flirting with you was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. Promise me we’ll do it again on Sunday.

Julia

The other surreal experience tonight? Having one girl coming up to me, “do you know my brother Mike? He’s a nerd, well, I mean, he’s into computer I guess, I don’t really know. Anyway, he just wants to hang out. So can I give him your phone number?”

Me, staring at her: “Do you even know my phone number?”

“Your friend Sarah gave it to me.”

Sarah waves. “I thought you should have a good time.”

So apparently, Mike, whom I’ve never met before, is going to be giving me a call next week.

Next year, I’m taking to the stage. I think a little interpretive dance may be in order.

You know what, there is bias in the media, an unfair slant. And it’s making me mad.

With one more loss to the Phillies, CC Sabathia and the Milwaukee Brewers will have all winter to rest.

First it was the coverage of the Mets and how the Mets “helped Brewers earn 1st playoff since 1982”. Um, no. The Brewers won without the Mets help, thank you very much. I don’t recall the Mets players throwing any pitches or hitting a ball in the name of the Brewers. And if the Mets had won, there would have been a playoff game. Then, you could argue that a Mets loss would have “helped the Brewers”.

And I seem to recall Ryan Baun’s grand slam 2 nights before, and nary a mention of it on the Yahoo Sports page.

And now this. Seriously, people, we’ve still got the fat lady and a game to go in home territory. The Brewers are notorious for the last minute saves. So don’t be writing them off yet, yanks, they may surprise you yet.

*wanders off grumbling*

I made an appointment back in August to get my teeth cleaned tomorrow. This was the earliest date they had available. Neuropath is an easy rotation, was my thoughts. And if anything happens, my good buddy Prem will cover for me.

Alas for my poor-not-be-professionally-cleaned-and-detarred-for-two-years teeth, while neuropathology is an extremely easy rotation (I was done by noon today), Thursday’s is the busy day, with going to the VA in the morning and then to the medical examiner’s office in the afternoon and Prem, my back up plan, is not doing neuropath with me this month so he can’t back me up either. I will probably be done by 3, but not in time for my 2:15 appointment.

*sigh* My poor teeth. At this rate, they’re going to be rotted off by the time I can see a dentist.

In good news, I’m spending the month cutting up brains. Wow, have I forgotten a ton of anatomy. I’m going to have to study quite a bit. I rather enjoyed it; it reminded me of when I loved neurology so much that I would spend hours studying the material, drawing out the tracts and nuclei That seems like such a long time ago now. Brain tissue or at least fixed in formalin brain tissue, has a texture that is quite similar to mushrooms. The pathology resident and I were joking about how we felt we were in a cooking class.

Now, excuse me. I’m off to sleep so I can wake up in the morning and not embarrass myself by misidentifying the subthalamic nucleus 5 different times. Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it… yet.

I arrived at work around 8:30 this morning, feeling positively guilty for sleeping in. I wandered over to the pathology department, where I’m supposed to be rotating for the next month. The secretary blinked at me. “Oh, Dr. H doesn’t usually arrive until after 10. I’ll call you when he wishes to meet with you.”

At 10, I found myself in the autopsy lab examining a brain, being asked all kinds of questions that I’m not sure I’ve studied since medical school… and certainly not in the last three months, where my focus has been on treating alcohol withdrawal, pneumonia, and acute renal failure. By 12, we were done and instructed to come back at 3–tomorrow.

*blink*

It looks like there’s about 6-8 hours a week that I’m expected to show up. The rest of it is self study. I haven’t self-studied since med school and I wasn’t very good about it then.

So, instead of studying and instead of doing the 22 clinic notes that I’m behind on and instead of writing out disability paperwork for a patient that I’m not entirely certain should be on disability, I came home and took a nap. I had a migraine from the formaldehyde fumes and it has been a very long month (I flirted very close to the over 80 hours a week limit. I’m sure I went over) and I deserved some time to myself.

Thursday I have an appointment to get my teeth cleaned, the first time in over a year. I hope to get my hair cut and get to the gym on a regular daily basis. I have a week of vacation coming up where my girlfriends are coming out for a long weekend and then my dad and grandparents are driving out to see me.

It’s shaping up to be a very good month.

My friend from medical school, a life long Republican, is making them. He’s become a hard core supporter, it amuses me.

I told him I’d advertise. Any takers?