My sister Susan and cousin Adam came into town for Thanksgiving so I wouldn't have to spend it alone. As the "new" girl, I get to work a lot of Holidays for the next year. I had to round yesterday morning, but was just on call for emergencies afterwards. We decided to have a nice relaxing day at home.
We played games, watched movies, and even got a workout in during the afternoon. Dinner consisted of a great Arugula-Pomegranate salad that I found and all the traditional fare - turkey, sweet potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce. After dinner, we decided to go for a walk around the island before we had our made from scratch pumpkin pie. It was a beautiful night with clear skies and the perfect temperature.
We came back in and turned on a movie. Honestly, that is the last that I remember. The next thing I know my alarm clock is going off this morning telling me that it is time for work. I would argue that someone slipped something in the turkey, but I am the one that cooked it. Susan and Adam must have dozed off too. The pie still uncut this morning.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Surreal Life
I recognize that I live a slightly different life than most, but some days are even odd for me. Yesterday morning, I woke up with the sun. (I had forgotten to close my balcony blinds.) I was sitting on the couch watching a Law and Order rerun thinking about what I was going to wear to church, and the fact that breakfast would have been a lot easier if I had gone to the grocery store when my phone rings.
Phone calls before 8 am aren't usually from friends saying hello. True to form - it was the transplant coordinator. We had an offer for heart/lungs and I was needed to go out for the procurement. I said okay, and started to replan my day in my head. Usually, you hear about transplants hours before you actually leave to go anywhere. Not so much this time. I was asked if I could be at the hospital ready to leave within 30 minutes. After a shower that only included the necessities, I headed off to the hospital.
When I arrive, I ask the perfusionist where we are going to harvest. Puerto Rico he answers. Well, that is different. We jump aboard our little plane and head off to Puerto Rico. A quick word about little planes. Luckily, flying has never bothered me, even on these tiny 4-6 seater planes that we take on harvest. The scary part to me is being able to see and talk to the pilot while he is flying the plane. There are some things I would rather not see and know. For instance, we had been in the air about 15 minutes yesterday when I see the pilot pull out a map. He and the copilot are looking intently at the map and then out their windows. I am not sure I like knowing that we might be lost at 40,000 feet.
We finally arrived in Puerto Rico and headed off to the hospital. I scrub in to take a look at the heart and lungs and realise that I am the only person at the table that speaks English. I am told that theoretically everyone in PR learns English in school. I think they learn English about like I learned Spanish - not at all. Thankfully, some things are universal and we worked it out. We get our organs and headed home. All in all it took 20 hours, but it was a unique experience even for my life.
Phone calls before 8 am aren't usually from friends saying hello. True to form - it was the transplant coordinator. We had an offer for heart/lungs and I was needed to go out for the procurement. I said okay, and started to replan my day in my head. Usually, you hear about transplants hours before you actually leave to go anywhere. Not so much this time. I was asked if I could be at the hospital ready to leave within 30 minutes. After a shower that only included the necessities, I headed off to the hospital.
When I arrive, I ask the perfusionist where we are going to harvest. Puerto Rico he answers. Well, that is different. We jump aboard our little plane and head off to Puerto Rico. A quick word about little planes. Luckily, flying has never bothered me, even on these tiny 4-6 seater planes that we take on harvest. The scary part to me is being able to see and talk to the pilot while he is flying the plane. There are some things I would rather not see and know. For instance, we had been in the air about 15 minutes yesterday when I see the pilot pull out a map. He and the copilot are looking intently at the map and then out their windows. I am not sure I like knowing that we might be lost at 40,000 feet.
We finally arrived in Puerto Rico and headed off to the hospital. I scrub in to take a look at the heart and lungs and realise that I am the only person at the table that speaks English. I am told that theoretically everyone in PR learns English in school. I think they learn English about like I learned Spanish - not at all. Thankfully, some things are universal and we worked it out. We get our organs and headed home. All in all it took 20 hours, but it was a unique experience even for my life.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Treading water
According to lore - when thrown into the deep end, one is supposed to sink of swim. Is it okay if one just treads water for a while? Shouldn't you take the time to acclimate to the water temperature, figure out which side of the pool is closer, and even if you want to be in the pool.
My plan involves simply staying afloat for the next 12 days. If I still want to live after taking my boards, I will attempt to swim to the side of the pool at that time. My plan seems perfectly logical to me, but you have to recall that I am the girl in the pool trying to stay afloat.
My plan involves simply staying afloat for the next 12 days. If I still want to live after taking my boards, I will attempt to swim to the side of the pool at that time. My plan seems perfectly logical to me, but you have to recall that I am the girl in the pool trying to stay afloat.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Random Thoughts
My mom sent this to me, and I liked it so much that I am reprinting here. Not sure to whom it is attributed, but guessing a woman.
* Part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die
* Nothing sucks more than the moment during an argument when you realize you are wrong
* I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger
* There is a great need for a sarcasm font
* How are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet
* Was learning cursive really necessary
* MapQuest really needs to start their directions at #5 - pretty sure I know how to get out of my own neighborhood
* Obituaries would be more interesting if they told you HOW the person died
* I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired
* Bad decisions make the best stories
* You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day
* Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray - I don't want to have to restart my collection . . .again
* I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save changes to a ten page document that I did not make any changes to
* Do not not machine wash means that I will never wash this - - ever
* I hate leaving my house confident and looking good only then to not see anyone of importance for the entire day
* I keep some people's numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call
* I disagree with Kay Jewelers - - I would bet on any given Friday night, more kisses begin with beer than with Kay
* Part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die
* Nothing sucks more than the moment during an argument when you realize you are wrong
* I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger
* There is a great need for a sarcasm font
* How are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet
* Was learning cursive really necessary
* MapQuest really needs to start their directions at #5 - pretty sure I know how to get out of my own neighborhood
* Obituaries would be more interesting if they told you HOW the person died
* I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired
* Bad decisions make the best stories
* You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day
* Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray - I don't want to have to restart my collection . . .again
* I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save changes to a ten page document that I did not make any changes to
* Do not not machine wash means that I will never wash this - - ever
* I hate leaving my house confident and looking good only then to not see anyone of importance for the entire day
* I keep some people's numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call
* I disagree with Kay Jewelers - - I would bet on any given Friday night, more kisses begin with beer than with Kay
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Bored of boards
In high school, I had the SATs so I could get into a good college. In college, it was the MCATs so I could get into a good medical school. During medical school is was the USMLEs (3 different steps) so that you could get a good residency. During surgery training, it was the general surgery boards (two parts - a written and oral) so that I could get a good fellowship. Now the Thoracic boards (again two parts), so that I can keep my license and job.
Things I know for sure: the tests keep getting harder, longer, more expensive and with more risk on the line. The other thing I know for sure: I am SICK OF TAKING TESTS!
Things I know for sure: the tests keep getting harder, longer, more expensive and with more risk on the line. The other thing I know for sure: I am SICK OF TAKING TESTS!
Monday, November 9, 2009
A Monkey?
I have been getting variations of the same experience for the past 10 years - including twice this morning already. Even after all of this time, I am not sure how exactly to respond. When I first meet new patients, or in the case of this morning, new fellow doctors, I often hear: "I wasn't expecting a woman". What exactly does one say to this? I usually ignore it completely, but some little imp inside of me always wants me to say: "were you expecting a monkey?"
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Throwing in the towel
I have argued here before that I don't think women can have it all. I haven't changed my mind, but forget "all" - I would settle for being able to manage a quarter of it. For the last 10 years, I blamed being a resident for my not having a life. I had such plans for my "non-resident" life. I was going to have so much free time to do things and travel. Wrong.
Where was I planning to acquire this time? I have no idea. My days are still generally 11-14 hrs long, and I am still "slow" at work. I do good to go to the gym and have dinner before it is time for bed. I guess you could argue that I sleep less, but I am only getting 6 or 7 hours as it is. I am currently living for the weekend "off". During these 48 hours off I need to unpack the rest of my belongings that were delivered yesterday, do laundry, go to grocery store, clean my apartment, and study for my boards which are happening in 3 weeks.
How do you mom's do it?
Where was I planning to acquire this time? I have no idea. My days are still generally 11-14 hrs long, and I am still "slow" at work. I do good to go to the gym and have dinner before it is time for bed. I guess you could argue that I sleep less, but I am only getting 6 or 7 hours as it is. I am currently living for the weekend "off". During these 48 hours off I need to unpack the rest of my belongings that were delivered yesterday, do laundry, go to grocery store, clean my apartment, and study for my boards which are happening in 3 weeks.
How do you mom's do it?
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The difference a day (or an hour) makes
If at anytime during the last 10 years you told me that I would complain about having to be at work at 7 am, I would have told you to slap me when it happened. I mean from where I came, seven is a luxury. However, I have seriously struggled getting out of bed these past few weeks. I blamed it on the darkness, but was secretly afraid that I had become just that weak.
My fears were laid to rest when my eyes popped open this morning. I felt rested and ready to get up. The amazing part - it was 5:30 am. The great part - the sun was already up. I know that I might feel differently if I had children, but I would MUCH rather have sun in the morning than sun in the evening. Light outside makes it so much easier for me to get out of bed. Now I just have to remember that just because it is dark outside doesn't mean that I can go to bed at 6pm.
My fears were laid to rest when my eyes popped open this morning. I felt rested and ready to get up. The amazing part - it was 5:30 am. The great part - the sun was already up. I know that I might feel differently if I had children, but I would MUCH rather have sun in the morning than sun in the evening. Light outside makes it so much easier for me to get out of bed. Now I just have to remember that just because it is dark outside doesn't mean that I can go to bed at 6pm.
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