1. music: have not picked up my guitar in months and have played by keyboard almost as rarely. It would be nice to get back into playing the violin and even though im in the band I practice on average of never.

2. more gym time. I definitely don't lift enough or do enough cardio for my liking. More than the average joe, but I could improve on this.

3. Reading--whether educational or not educational I really should do this more. I should be reading up on Syphilis now for instance and instead I am updating.

4. Blogging more--then again, part of this is people I just don't want to talk about patients anymore.

5. Chilling out--this is probably the one thing I do get to do. I've started dedicating my sundays to the NFL if im not out with friends. There was a time where this would be the last on my list for how to spend my free time, but now its first. I just find i have gotten lazy and need to unwind more.

6. Travel--I have gone on one, four day vacation since graduating medical school. I need to do better than this. Then again, its so hard to find time or have the leave...

I forgot to mention that when I ran into my colleague at the chinese restaurant he told me about how one of our attendings had the lead role in his church play last night. He was considering going since he had nothing going on and I decided to join him. We tried to get a few other residents, but no one was around. It was entertaining. Our attending and one of his sons both had leading roles and he seemed really excited to see us there. He introduced us to his family and six children. It was a little interesting to see him act. He was very good, but his "acting" was the same way he interacted with patients and others, but at the same time was appropriate in both settings.

I like having more of a weekend off right now. I got a lot done yesterday as far as errands and activities and today will hopefully be the same. I have what's probably the last holiday concert this evening and am determined to spend my day doing something besides sitting on my ass drinking and watching football.

There was a patient on friday who had a positive RPR (screening test for syphilis) and IM had already started treating him, although he might not actually have the diagnosis. Anyway, my attending decided that I needed to tell him anything and everything about Syphilis on monday morning...and that even though I am pretty sure the syphilis's role in his admission is only as an external stressor and not physiologically affecting his presentation, the I should use him as a case presentation for a CME in a few months. I don't think he's the most interesting case I have seen this year, but don't really have anyone all that great for a case presentation either though. I think the past that convinced me that I should was when he said "and since I am going to be supervising you on it I cannot pimp you during the presentation."

Ill think about it. Now to think how I am going to spend my day.

I was eating at the chinese buffet for lunch and one of my colligues walked in. We sat together and chatted and one topic that came up was the inappropriate use of emergency rooms. We shared our horror stories of patient's coming in for the most ridiculous complaints that were truly not emergencies. A few examples:

1. A person will be seen in another ER or a PCMs office and be told that they need to schedule an MRI or CT scan or ultrasound or something. Instead of calling to schedule, he/she shows up at the ER to try to expedite the test getting done. No new complaint. No worsening of symptoms. Just want the test done. NOT HOW TO USE AN EMERGENCY ROOM!

2. A person goes to an ER or his or her PCM and the doctor suggests management that disagrees with what the patient read on the internet. Ie, recommending NSAIDs/rest for chronic knee pain when the patient thinks he needs an X-ray, MRI, PET SCAN, MUGA SCAN, etc. So, the patient goes to the ER for a second opinion. NOT HOW TO USE AN EMERGENCY ROOM! Feel free to get a second opinion with ANOTHER PCM--Dr.s are not always right, but the internet definitely isn't always right. Don't let me get on my tangent of unnecessary tests...

3. "I've had this rash on my face for three weeks and was suppose to see my PCM today at noon, but its inconvienent to I came to the ER instead. NOT HOW TO USE AN EMERGENCY ROOM!

4. "I am almost out of my medications, can I have a refil?" NOT HOW TO USE AN EMERGENCY ROOM!

5. "back in 1962 I...." NOT HOW TO USE AN EMERGENCY ROOM!

6. Chronic back pain that has been no better or no worse for 16 years NOT HOW TO USE AN EMERGENCY ROOM!

7. "I am bleeding from my vagina, have severe abdominal pain, there is pus coming out of my rectum, I have been puking for six days, I am coughing up black sputum and my temperature is 105.9" Actually, this is a pretty good reason to come to the ER...in fact, you would be an idiot NOT to seek medical attention asap...I just hate vag bleeders and rectal pus...

8. "I just wanted a referral to see a psychiatrist" NOT HOW TO USE AN EMERGENCY ROOM!

9. "I got my penis caught in a soda bottle" um, yeah...come to the ER


This really is a serious problem and highly costly on the medical system. I think a lot of it has to do with educating people on what emergency rooms are for. I don't think a lot of people go to the ER with intent of wasting $1000s of dollars just to be told "sorry we cannot help you," although im sure some really don't care. We wondered if simply screening people beforehand in triage might take away from this, or teaching this on TV or in school or somewhere. I could see the problem because it might deter people from going to the ER who really need to, but a lot of this does not need to go to the ER.

First of all, this cinnamon roll oatmeal is really, really, good. I haven't had it in a few years. Yum!

It's the little things, people.

I won 2 out of 3 at club last night. The 2 wins were an interesting challenge. The first one was against a novice player, which normally isn't that difficult for me. However, she literally got every power tile except the J, and I was struggling with junk on my rack. I decided to challenge myself to see if I could win without the power tiles and without getting a bingo. I still scored about 350. Not bad!

My second game was against Whit. I got much better letters and beat him by about 150 points. The real challenge when playing against him is keeping my temper. He's not very nice, and gets resentful when I win, which I usually do. I've been going to the club for 5 years, and studying, and he hasn't. He's been coming maybe 9 months, and doesn't study. He's a good natural player. I don't normally internally gloat about massacring other players unless I don't like them. I always gloat when I play Whit. Maybe if he stopped making snarky comments....

I played Ted again, and he beat me. 3 bingos to my 2. I actually enjoy playing him now, if only because I have to work extra hard to beat him. I learned a couple of new words in that game - URODELE (which I challenged...oops) and NOYADEs, which would have played. I played ANnOYED, because it fit better than ANODYnE, and looked up the other possibilities afterward. It is so nice to have a palm pilot for that instantaneous anagramming answer!

Tags: scrabble

In the military, residents are strictly forbidden from moonlighting. Moonlighting = working outside of your residency at another hospital or something. Its quite common and a good way to earn extra money if you like not sleeping...ever. Well, the military extends moonlighting to include ANYTHING that we could potentially do to earn money outside of our program--medical, flipping burgers, making a quick penny doing whatever. I like to joke and say that prostitution is moonlighting.

Anyway, tonight I accidentally moonlite. I played my trumpet a choir concert. I thought I was volunteering, but then I was presented with $50 that they wouldn't take back. It was cash, so ill probably just donate it so I don't feel like I am breaking the law...or the UCMJ. I kinda wonder if the free food I got or free concert I got to watch was also considered moonlighting?

blah...im tired...

I struggle a lot during the holidays and winter season. Some years seem to go better than others, but this one is hard.

I've really tried to get into the spirit of Christmas this year. I actually put our Christmas tree at our house. I dragged out a few general decorations, strung the only working set of lights around the tree, and made a Christmas mix CD. I went Christmas shopping with a friend. I went to our city's annual holiday parade and partied with my WRFA cohorts for the annual Glogg fest. I went to a friend's house for their holiday party and watched "A Charlie Brown Christmas" while I was there. I went to see my friends in a local production of The Nutcracker.

I've tried, really, but I just don't feel it this year either. It's like this heavy weight of sad tiredness. And that's before I get into dealing with how the season seems make people start campaigning for the childless to procreate.

Since mid-November there seems to be this weird undercurrent of people dropping hints and outright suggesting that I need to have a child NOW. I try to smile and be nice about it.

I've heard, "You would make a great mother!" "You and Matt are too smart to not have kids!" "If you wait too long you'll be 90 when they're in college!" "Oh, you don't have children yet but you WILL!" and other assorted comments.

I don't have plans to have children. I understand that the concept of having children is a natural progression of age, relationships, marriage, and such for many people but it's never been in my life plan. It's not that I dislike children. I have some friends who have children and I think it's wonderful that they've created that kind of family.

Plainly said, having children is the most unnatural thing I could imagine for myself. I know that's an offensive comment, but it's the complete truth.

It hurts to know that what's true for me would offend friends when I say it like that. My husband tells me over and over again that I offend people when I tell them I don't plan to have children. That upsets me and angers me. Why should I be made to feel guilty about something I choose about my life? Is me not having children making your life less happy or fulfilling? Okay, don't answer that if you're my mother, but for the rest of the general population, could you kindly step off?

Christmas is all about the baby. Waiting for a baby, cooing over the baby that's been born, rejoicing in the birth, and all of that. I'm not all about the baby whether a real life entity or a religious symbol of one.

It's a heavy weight. I don't mean to upset anyone with my irreverence for the holiday and my personal preference to be child-free.

Maybe this is why I go home on lunch and scream my heart out to Lady GaGa songs because it's preferable to going home and sobbing. I'm sorry I disappoint.

1. never a good sign if the giants are behind by 14 less than 5 minutes into the game. They have since caught up a little.

2. I drank too much today...but also got some studying in.

3. Think I forgot to mention that I joined a band about a month ago and have had a christmas related or something related gig several nights a week and its preventing my gym time.

4. My roommate is in this holier than thou mood...i hate it when she gets like that

5. I don't want to go to work tomorrow

6. I need a BF...sorta

Wishing you (a day late for the beginning) a Hanukah filled with celebrations, blessings, and light!

Tags: holidays
Current Location: home
Current Mood: cheerful
Current Music: "El Festin de Hanukah," Richard Kaplan

Wishing you (a day late for the beginning) a Hanukah filled with celebrations, blessings, and light!

Tags: holidays
Current Location: home
Current Mood: calm
Current Music: "El Festin de Hanukah," Richard Kaplan

The temptation to sit around in my PJs all day and watch football might be difficult to resist. I even have NY Giants/NFL PJs to carry out said temptation. But, there's a lot I should be doing today. Most notably going to the gym. I've been so bad about this recently. I go once a week, maybe twice if I feel inspired, and I need to go a lot more than that. The band I joined does get in the way of gym time, but im sure I could make more time for it if I really wanted to...but come to think of it, my days have been really packed with work. Hmmm...ill figure this out. I need to get soccer or rugby or some regimented sport back in my life.

I also need to finish my Christmas shopping. I have such awesome friends and am really struggling to get them the perfect gifts. I have heard a lot of people complain about Christmas shopping this week. How its hard to get people what they want, and fighting through lines, and no time. I hate shopping to begin with, but for some reason I like buying other people things for the holidays...I just wish I had more time.

My roommate and her fiancee are in bed...and my cat is scared, if you get my drift.