Unskinny Blog – Just Blows Me Away
Monday night. I’ve updated some things on the old sidebar. New rotation, new books. A whole new me. Sort of.
This weekend was both good and bad. Friday night I was post-call, took a nap, drank 4 beers, and played some Madden. Saturday was cool. I spent some much needed time in my apartment and in the city. MY time for ME. Saturday night Pete’s taint rolled up and we went and ate sushi. He had some good insights on the current drama deal – it helps that he knows all the parties involved. After sushi, we walked downtown and saw “HERO”, the newly imported Jet Li vehicle. I enjoyed it. I found it to be a good if not great film, though I could probably be talked into it. Visually stunning. (At this point, I glance sheepishly at the “Mick Flicks” link and think ‘Someday, oh someday, I’ll update that beast’.)
After the movie, Pete’s taint and I met my friend John from med school and had a few drinks at a local bar. Good city flavor for a good night.
Sunday was terrible. I had to go in to the hospital early. It was my last neurology call, and they made me pay. I was there all day and all night, missed lunch, missed dinner, and basically got bitter. The neurology department essentially uses internal medicine residents to pull call for them, because they don’t have enough residents to do it all on their own. The sad thing is I don’t really like neurology, so my interest level really isn’t there, and every admission is just a big piece of pain, as far as I’m concerned.
Here’s a word on strokes. If somebody gets a stroke, they take aspirin. If they get another stroke on aspirin, we switch to aggrenox or plavix. If they get another one, they’re screwed. In the meantime there are a lot of MRI’s and CT scans done. The classic harp on neurology is that it’s a lot of puzzle solving and very little treating. Basically, a neurologist uses their superior knowledge of brain anatomy to pinpoint EXACTLY where a person had their stroke. This is based on the physical exam (i.e. slurred speech vs right arm numbness vs left leg weakness, etc) and the various MRI’s and CT scans. After that, they proudly pronounce exactly where the lesion is and do nothing about it except give aspirin. It is the king of the “mental masturbation” specialties. So there.
My month in neurology was long and painful, for many reasons. Not only personal drama, but I just don’t like it all that much. The clinic is painful, the write ups (of which I still have a few) are really painful.
Now I move on to pulmonary clinic. Essentially a lot of emphysema (medically this is called ‘Chronic Pulmonary Obstructive Disease’, or COPD) and asthma. It will be good stuff to learn more of, since we see it a lot but I am essentially ambivalent about the rotation. A lot of it will revolve around old people in wheelchairs with oxygen tanks rolling through the halls as if straight out of the Golden Nugget slot section and into the clinic. Not being able to breath is dumb. With the exception of an infrequent joint or cigar, I encourage people not to smoke. Stay in school, kids.
OK, time for some work. I may post again shortly. I would still like to yammer about the Olympics and some old books I read. And update Mick Flicks. Man, it’s not fun to think of blogging as work, but there it is.
Five days until San Diego.
I STILL WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE SEEN MONTANA
Greetings. I’m back. Back again. It’s Sunday night, and shortly I’ll be off to bed to face another dreaded work-week. Vacation is officially over, but before I dwell on the drudgery of returning to the real world, I think it might be nice to hit the high points of my week in Whitefish, Montana.
Please see Adam’s blog for a nice description of most of our events, spread over three posts. (Given his efforts, I think I’ll steer away from a distinct time line of events. Rather – I have some comments).
I really can’t describe how nice it was to get away. I’ve been thinking about it all day, certainly in light of my return to drama here in Seattle, and I think I needed that vacation more than I realized. I was giddy to leave, and even more giddy upon arrival.
I always love how I revert to an older self around my old San Diego peeps (I would say boys, but wouldn’t want to offend Diana – who is clearly part of the group in every way). Within minutes of getting off the plane after touch down (did someone say touchdown? Is it football season already? *Grin*), I was laughing. It feels good to laugh as frequently as I do when I’m around the old crew. My life now tends to be more on the serious side, more of a dramatic nature, and it’s difficult to describe how NICE it was to not take myself so damn seriously for a week. No drama. No over-analysis of my place in the world, no break down of every relationship. Just good old fashioned goofy Mick – at your service.
By the time we were back to the house, I was already singing songs, taunting Iwan, and generally just feeling relaxed. It felt good. It felt really good. I really miss my old San Diego friends – a fact that is incredibly evident every time I see them and get to spend some time with them. I don’t know if I changed or if the type of people around me (currently) have changed, but over the years I’ve consistently felt the happiest in the presence of the old gang. This may be an important consideration down the line.
I’m not sure if I’ve lost a step from my more carefree days or not. It sure seems like that when I’m up here in Seattle. It sure doesn’t seem like it when I’m with the old crew.
Montana helped me realize that a bit. On day 1, it was good to sit outside with Iwan, Adam, and Diana, and just shoot the shit. We talked, we spit cherry seeds (I’m still not sure who was the most accurate), I had a few beers. There was a hammock involved. It was nice to have that vacation feeling – the one where the layers of stress seem to peel away as you sit on a porch and stare out at distant mountains. I was glad to have that feeling again.
I enjoyed my time with everybody. It was fun to walk around rivers and cast a fly rod. I even caught a couple of fish. (Gabe would be proud). I enjoyed sleeping in the car, battling at Euchre, lounging on a river raft, eating too much dessert, not dealing with clocks, singing Mr. Roboto and other songs (as well as my amalgams of songs) all week long. (Adman’s UP-IN-DA-CLUB…) It was nice to be goofy again. Giggily. Playing the game Alibi and watching Iwan stress over the proper “system”. I remember sitting on the porch a few times and staring off into space – my mind was pretty clear. It was like defragmenting the drama out of my brain. Most of all I enjoyed simply talking and joking with my friends. Drama-free. Judgement-free. That’s good stuff.
(Of note, I think my high “nature” point of the trip (given that we didn’t see bears – which is a HUGE minus) was standing up on the glacier overlook at glacier national park. It was a bear (OH!) of a hike to get there, but the view was spectacular, easily in my top 3 views of all time (the others likely in Switzerland and southern Utah).)
I think a valuable lesson from Montana is that I’m tired of dealing with all the drama I’ve created back here. I would like to be a little more care-free for a while. Take myself a little less seriously. Assume that the world is a little less against me. More like my OLD self. I’m hoping the tune of this blog will change a little toward the more positive. It was also nice to catch up on sleep. It’s funny how much sharper I feel when I’m well rested. I’ll have to remember that when I want to stay up late…
Montana is barely 24 hours over, and already I’m looking forward to Labor day, when I get to return to San Diego for 4.5 days. I’m already pumped. I want to feel that way again.
Greetings. I’m back. Back again. It’s Sunday night, and shortly I’ll be off to bed to face another dreaded work-week. Vacation is officially over, but before I dwell on the drudgery of returning to the real world, I think it might be nice to hit the high points of my week in Whitefish, Montana.
Please see Adam’s blog for a nice description of most of our events, spread over three posts. (Given his efforts, I think I’ll steer away from a distinct time line of events. Rather – I have some comments).
I really can’t describe how nice it was to get away. I’ve been thinking about it all day, certainly in light of my return to drama here in Seattle, and I think I needed that vacation more than I realized. I was giddy to leave, and even more giddy upon arrival.
I always love how I revert to an older self around my old San Diego peeps (I would say boys, but wouldn’t want to offend Diana – who is clearly part of the group in every way). Within minutes of getting off the plane after touch down (did someone say touchdown? Is it football season already? *Grin*), I was laughing. It feels good to laugh as frequently as I do when I’m around the old crew. My life now tends to be more on the serious side, more of a dramatic nature, and it’s difficult to describe how NICE it was to not take myself so damn seriously for a week. No drama. No over-analysis of my place in the world, no break down of every relationship. Just good old fashioned goofy Mick – at your service.
By the time we were back to the house, I was already singing songs, taunting Iwan, and generally just feeling relaxed. It felt good. It felt really good. I really miss my old San Diego friends – a fact that is incredibly evident every time I see them and get to spend some time with them. I don’t know if I changed or if the type of people around me (currently) have changed, but over the years I’ve consistently felt the happiest in the presence of the old gang. This may be an important consideration down the line.
I’m not sure if I’ve lost a step from my more carefree days or not. It sure seems like that when I’m up here in Seattle. It sure doesn’t seem like it when I’m with the old crew.
Montana helped me realize that a bit. On day 1, it was good to sit outside with Iwan, Adam, and Diana, and just shoot the shit. We talked, we spit cherry seeds (I’m still not sure who was the most accurate), I had a few beers. There was a hammock involved. It was nice to have that vacation feeling – the one where the layers of stress seem to peel away as you sit on a porch and stare out at distant mountains. I was glad to have that feeling again.
I enjoyed my time with everybody. It was fun to walk around rivers and cast a fly rod. I even caught a couple of fish. (Gabe would be proud). I enjoyed sleeping in the car, battling at Euchre, lounging on a river raft, eating too much dessert, not dealing with clocks, singing Mr. Roboto and other songs (as well as my amalgams of songs) all week long. (Adman’s UP-IN-DA-CLUB…) It was nice to be goofy again. Giggily. Playing the game Alibi and watching Iwan stress over the proper “system”. I remember sitting on the porch a few times and staring off into space – my mind was pretty clear. It was like defragmenting the drama out of my brain. Most of all I enjoyed simply talking and joking with my friends. Drama-free. Judgement-free. That’s good stuff.
(Of note, I think my high “nature” point of the trip (given that we didn’t see bears – which is a HUGE minus) was standing up on the glacier overlook at glacier national park. It was a bear (OH!) of a hike to get there, but the view was spectacular, easily in my top 3 views of all time (the others likely in Switzerland and southern Utah).)
I think a valuable lesson from Montana is that I’m tired of dealing with all the drama I’ve created back here. I would like to be a little more care-free for a while. Take myself a little less seriously. Assume that the world is a little less against me. More like my OLD self. I’m hoping the tune of this blog will change a little toward the more positive. It was also nice to catch up on sleep. It’s funny how much sharper I feel when I’m well rested. I’ll have to remember that when I want to stay up late…
Montana is barely 24 hours over, and already I’m looking forward to Labor day, when I get to return to San Diego for 4.5 days. I’m already pumped. I want to feel that way again.
Hot Times – Summer in the City
It’s Sunday night and nearly time for bed. Given some of the limitations I’ve put on myself for this blog in limiting female drama discussions, I will say that most of my weekend is off limits. And I’m sticking to my guns with it this time.
Tomorrow I start my neurology rotation (“I forgive you – I just hope my neurologist feels the same”). I’m not exactly giddy with anticipation. For internal medicine types, neurology tends to be a little on the dry side. Plus, the rotation is all clinic (and clinic = pain) and there is also some overnight call involved (boo!). It’s “home call” – but that won’t exactly apply to me because I live too far away now to go home and come back. (Neurology residents wouldn’t be allowed to live as far from the hospital as I do as a rule). Oh well, I’ll just spend my call nights at the hospital or at Pete’s house (who lives close), which is just another excuse for me to nestle with his taint. Done and done.
I saw “The Village” yesterday, the latest from M. Night Shyamalan. It certainly deserves a review. Let’s see if I ever get to it or not. (Probably not). For now I’ll only say that I was so amused with the notion that Adrien Brody plays the LITERAL “Village Idiot”. That concept, as is the concept of a “village idiot” in general, has been cracking me up all weekend. Village idiots = good stuff.
Today I got up, made some breakfast. Then I walked up to Volunteer Park (roughly a 15 minute walk from my pad) to check out an ultimate disc game I had found online. I didn’t go to play, but rather just watch and see. Looks like a good group, so maybe I’ll suit up and toss the old disc around when I get back from Montana. On the way back, I stopped off at a bagel shop and read some New York times. Headed back here, worked on the place, worked out, ran some errands, and now it’s time to go to sleep. I wish there were more hours in the day.
It’s Sunday night and nearly time for bed. Given some of the limitations I’ve put on myself for this blog in limiting female drama discussions, I will say that most of my weekend is off limits. And I’m sticking to my guns with it this time.
Tomorrow I start my neurology rotation (“I forgive you – I just hope my neurologist feels the same”). I’m not exactly giddy with anticipation. For internal medicine types, neurology tends to be a little on the dry side. Plus, the rotation is all clinic (and clinic = pain) and there is also some overnight call involved (boo!). It’s “home call” – but that won’t exactly apply to me because I live too far away now to go home and come back. (Neurology residents wouldn’t be allowed to live as far from the hospital as I do as a rule). Oh well, I’ll just spend my call nights at the hospital or at Pete’s house (who lives close), which is just another excuse for me to nestle with his taint. Done and done.
I saw “The Village” yesterday, the latest from M. Night Shyamalan. It certainly deserves a review. Let’s see if I ever get to it or not. (Probably not). For now I’ll only say that I was so amused with the notion that Adrien Brody plays the LITERAL “Village Idiot”. That concept, as is the concept of a “village idiot” in general, has been cracking me up all weekend. Village idiots = good stuff.
Today I got up, made some breakfast. Then I walked up to Volunteer Park (roughly a 15 minute walk from my pad) to check out an ultimate disc game I had found online. I didn’t go to play, but rather just watch and see. Looks like a good group, so maybe I’ll suit up and toss the old disc around when I get back from Montana. On the way back, I stopped off at a bagel shop and read some New York times. Headed back here, worked on the place, worked out, ran some errands, and now it’s time to go to sleep. I wish there were more hours in the day.
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