Day 6

"Joy is the serious business of heaven." C.S. Lewis


1. I'm grateful for:
    a.  My family at the adoption (Aunt Beth, brother, Lisa, Lisa's family)
    b.  Dancing around Ikea with Aunt Lorri
    c.  Rachel cheering me on like a mad woman during dodge ball

2. Today was a big occasion for our family because my brother, Greg, and his wife, Lisa, officially adopted their little girl, Emma.  All around it was filled with nuggets of happiness that will brighten the darkest of days.  One in particular was when I played with my little nephew, Tristan, while the court proceedings were going on.

So, Tristan was in the court room, running back and forth between the tiny gate that acts as a barrier between the audience and the participants of the court.  My poor brother was trying his darndest to keep him still, but that boy was born with an adventuresome spirit like mine.  So brother first picked him up and handed Tristan to his grandpa.  He, of course, wriggled his way out of that hold, came right back, and brother next handed him to grandma, to which he was better for a bit.  But still the little man is born with Houdini blood, and found his way out of her arms and back across the gate.  The third time brother handed the ninja munchkin to me, to which grandma gave me some solid weaponry.  Fruit snacks.  Glorious fruit snacks.

Oh, how I love thee, dearest fruit snacks.

  I'd usually just give him the pouch, but I knew he'd run right back with it to his dad (my brother).  So I sat there taking the fruit snacks, one by one, and slowly feeding it to him airplane style.  Except the poor pilot of the fruit snack plane unfortunately dabbled with the fermented grapes and kept missing Tristan's mouth.  Tristan would grasp at my arm and try to guide the scrumptious morsel in the right direction, but just as it came in for the landing, I'd shimmy the snack onto his cheek. or nose. or next door neighbor.   Each fruit snack bought me about 15 seconds of him sitting relatively still.  Granted, Tristan is a quick study, for he'd bob and weave to catch 'em.  And, boy, does that little guy have teeth.  Ouch! We made it through two pouches before he had enough of that game, but those few minutes I will forever love.

3. Exercise: dodge ball (I really can't count this one, I'll do better tomorrow)

4.  Meditation before bed tonight

5. Random Act of kindness: brought muffins for brother and family to eat for breakfast, Tristan was the only one who could eat something that sweet so early in the day

Day 5

"Happiness, not in another place, but this place... not in another hour, but this hour." Walt Whitman


1.  I'm grateful for:
     a. the beauty that exists with the change of the season
     b. actually having a purposeful fast for Fast Sunday
     c. friends that invite me to sit by them at church

2.  So my positive experience of the day could seriously last me all week.  It was that good.  Two of my dearest friends from Salt Lake came over for dinner, the darling Rachel and Marcie.  I love it when we get together because it's like one huge bucket fest of love.  You know those folks in life that you trust enough to share your struggles, your successes... your worries and fears and fun times and all that makes us who we are.  That's them.  And we love each other not in spite, but because of our imperfections.  We are, as one friend described her daughter, perfectly imperfect.  Tonight we left with challenges to each other; mine are to make a portrait of how Christ sees me, and the other is to work on an improved image of self.  That always could use a bit of polishing up, so... challenge accepted. ;)

3. Exercise: 3 mile walk through the memorial monuments and mountains

4.  Meditation: I have so much to learn in this field... seriously not my strong point.  But I can feel it's a undiscovered gem. What better way than to go to a well renowned source.  Matthieu Richard is Buddhist monk who started as a French molecular biologist and "found my way to the mountains."  It might be a bit tough to understand his French accent at first, but he has some spot on pointers to improve meditation.

5. Random Act of Kindness: sent a little love note to my mother

Day 4

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Dr. Seuss


1. I'm grateful for:
    a. My new friends Julie, Lisa, and Emily taking me fly fishing!
    b. glorious days where the weather is just perfect, nature is showing off its splendorus beauty, and life is filled with wonderful people
    c. always needed chat with Elana and George

2.  Loved every bit of today.  Julie taught me the basics of fly fishing (casting, terminology, etc), Emily rocked it by getting a few bites and she totally shared her delicious homemade grape leather. And Lisa kept me steady whilst I crossed the torrential water (k so it was a simple stream, but those are some slippery rocks).  I was in the water today, working on my throw, when something just clicked.  It was amazing when I stopped over-thinking it, stopped worrying that I'd hit one of the girls with the hook and I just let go, that I found myself in a zone.  Kind of like what I've felt during long bike rides or runs.  Except this time I was wading in water, hearing the breeze rustle through the grass, feeling the float line slide through my fingers as the line reeled out and pulling it back in over and over, drinking deeply of the beauty that surrounded me.  It was a perfect moment.  I didn't catch a single fish, but that really didn't matter because I found so, so much more.  For, I found a place of peace.

3. Exercise: can fly fishing count as exercise? ;)

4. Meditation video about breathing today

5.  Help my new friend Jen M. figure out a few specifics about a chicken coop

Day 3

"Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy "2 Nephi 2:25


Grateful for:

   a. an awesome bishop

   b. James, the checkout guy at the Wal-Mart fish license section

   c. Emma's smile (soon to be my little niece... adoption pending)

So tonight was my new MSA ward's Thanks for Giving dinner.  Delicious!  I met seriously awesome gals, a few which invited me to go fly fishing tomorrow (woot woot!).  I think the part I loved most was actually at the very end when I was heading out the door and sat a moment to chat with the cashier, Diane.  The silent auction bidding closed while we were in the midst of conversation, and there was this massive rush to the check out line.  Seeing that overwhelmed look on her face, I jumped right in and started processing people's orders, and we got through that line in no time.  It felt so good to pitch in and meet a few friendly folks along the way.

Exercise: Last Chance Workout DVD 30 min

Meditation: Endowment in the Timpanogos Temple today

Random Act of Kindness: see above story as a makeshift assistant cashier

Day 2

"The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness.  You have to catch it yourself."  -Benjamin Franklin


1. I'm grateful for:
    a. my Aunt being so flexible with my schedule
    b. friends that support me with my marathon training schedule
    c. a ridiculously adorable nephew and family in Halloween costumes

2.  I watched a documentary today about happiness, something I've absolutely loved studying since I discovered the field of positive psychology.  Working in a military town for the past few years, I dealt heavily with psychological disorders. I consistently sought better ways to help my patients empower themselves to live a healthier, happier life.  Wanting to test out the theories and tools from my research, I was my first test subject.  Yep, I would have totally been that guy that discovered H. pylori caused stomach ulcers by drinking a full glass of the nasty bacteria.  So I implemented the recommendations including balancing my life/work schedule, investing/building my social relationships, exercising consistently, keeping a journal, and developing a more meaningful relationship with my Heavenly Father (it's so funny to see the variety of labels the scholarly authors put on God... Spiritual Being, Higher Power, etc. Call Him what you will, He exists).  It is an understatement to say that these changes empowered me not only in my practice, but my personal life.  There's something to be said about looking a patient square in the eyes and solidly testifying that these techniques actually work.  I will forever be deeply grateful for those years of my life.

3. Exercise: Wii Fitness (Just Dance) for 30 min, trick or treating (counterproductive, no?) ;)

4. Meditation video

5. Random Act of Kindness: sent a letter thanking an old friend who helped me find ways to serve while was in Texas.

Day 1

1. Gratitude:
    a. finding the motivation to hang the rest of the wall photos
    b. friends inviting me to a ball
    c. having the time to paint my toenails

2.  It's amazing how something as simple and unexpected as classical music can be a soothing balm for a wounded heart.  Don't you worry, typical heartbreak.  It is so very difficult to end a relationship to a good man, a worthy man, that you know in your heart of hearts... he's just not the right fit.  At least at this time.  Who knows what the future will hold, but I realized that you marry the man who he is today, not something you hope he will become in the future.  Though I know I did the wounding to the both of us, it still can significantly hurt.  And so I was listening to a TED talk where a violinist started to play, and it was like instant water to desert soil.  No joke.  Needless to say, I was completely shocked; it stopped me dead in my tracks as I was cleaning the house.  I tested it out with Brahms, Mozart, Handel, Bach, even Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.  The only one that was a definite nope was Orff's O Fortuna.  Offenbach's Barcarolle was especially soothing.  And so I am very grateful for this new discovery of classical music soothing a soul.

3.  Exercise: Dancing

4. 15 min Meditation Video

5. sent a text to a friend

I Choose Joy

It's been a minute since you've seen me around the block.  And I'd like to think quite a bit has changed over the years since my last post.  I've moved to SLC, and will be starting with the U of U.  I have a few weeks before my first day, and thought over this next little bit I'd take on the challenge of finding the good in life.  It all started with this TED talk.

5 Positive Points:

1. 3 New Points of Gratitude
2. Journal about one positive experience that occurred over the past 24 hrs
3. Exercise
4. Meditate
5. A Random Act of Kindness

So for the next 21 days I commit to sharing the positive in my little life.  :)

Talking Beaver on the Highway

There's this guy who takes raw footage of animals and adds voices to the clips. I could not stop laughing for like a half hour.

K, so my poem writing skills are no good. But I thought no harm in trying.

The reason why I wrote it was actually because of a patient of mine that made a few crucial mistakes and wound up dealing with HUGE consequences. And it's kind of disheartening to see these young girls where puberty hit so early while their emotional capacity lags behind in childhood. And these girls, usually pressured by hormone filled guys, experiment with adult subjects far sooner than they should. And that leads to worse decisions that leave lasting emotional scars. It really does. Seeing perimenopausal women still become tearful about having an abortion as a teen is literally heart wrenching. To carry that weight for decades... I can't imagine.

well, so next poem will not be as heavy.

hi folks. k, so I'm trying my hand at writing a poem, and I'd like some feedback. a fwe of the lines need some work. I'd love ideas if you'd like to share

(title to be continued...)

I thought I loved you, but I was not sure;
though you seemed so through and through.
For those cliché lines poured from your lips
with such strength and confidence that sip by sip
I drank, and my doubts dissipated as you lured
me cunningly in with each intoxicating word.

Jiggers of promises, like liquid courage, filled
me with drunken anticipation. Yet, oaths spilled
from your soul seeming so honest and true,
in the light of sobriety showed the subtle proof.

The somber realization ensuing the altered sense
Left fixed scars sustained while under the influence.

I've been thinking about this for a bit. Let's see, how to start.

I lead a different kind of life. A veeery interesting type of life. I realized that my last post might have nauseated a few of you, perhaps a little too late. Deepest apologies. But for me, faux pas topics are becoming old hat. And perhaps it's just as well, because I can remember a time were I was so uncomfortable by image issues, the topic of sex, even bowel habits that I'd blush at the mere mention of it. It wasn't so long ago that I stuttered out the words "Ppp-p-p-l-ease describe your f-f-f-feces" and now, without batting an eye, "let's talk about your poop."

A world of difference. PA school really breaks you of that... I can't think of another profession were you see your classmates in their birthday suit on a weekly basis for months on end, or worse, have them see the stretch marks, the spider veins, all the flaws that make the physical you. And guess who was the one who drew the short end of the stick and had to be the patient for breast examination week. And here I should give a mini shout out to Joe, my teacher. Huge thanks for the confidence boost.

side note, shells, I'm working in Killeen for a large company in central Texas called Scott and White, and I'm in family practice right now. I'm really starting to love it.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that at I know I definitely teeter with the "what's appropriate" topic line. As much as my mom wanted me to be, I'm not Jackie O. But I am someone that if you have a question, no matter how gauche you think it is, I've got no problem helping you find all the facts you need to make an informed decision.

A bone to pick with the inventor of the Whiff Test

There are some things in my profession that is, how shall we say, unsavory. Digital Rectal Exams… I must raise a choice finger to the inventor of that. Examining a “rash” to find out it’s scabies… fun for the whole family! Well, one of the least favorite tests I encounter is The Whiff Test. Now you’ve got to assume that any test with the word “whiff” and talking about a bodily function is gonna activate the up-chuck reflex, much like when physicians of yore actually tasted urine for glucose. And I can’t emphasize how true this is.

Obviously an attack on a favored sense of mine, the whiff test forces the examiner to sniff a glass slide prepared with a woman’s discharge from her, as one of my patients called it a “cookie,” sprinkled with potassium hydroxide. Performing the baptism is said to cause a fishy odor to develop if the woman is indeed cursed with this disease. Somewhat less appealing than the marvel of the loaves and fishes, this modern day miracle points the way for the power to heal. At least 70% of the time.

So, dear inventor, my deepest gratitude for the daily assault on my olfactory nerve.

and the decision is...

Number 4!



Yes, yes, i know I didn't mention the number four offer in the last post, but that's becuase I didn't want to jinx the Killeen interview by saying I already had it. So let's see what I've won:



A family practice clinic in a large military town outside Fort Hood with an 8a-530p job M-F, no call. No call means no working Sundays, no ringing in the middle of the night, no exiting a movie to adjust a patient's med. I've got a good feeling about this one.

gimmie a T, gimmie a H, gimmie a Y-R-O-I-D! What's that spell?!

So Mom and I are on a little trip down in Killeen for a few days while I look for housing. Yesterday we were tapped out with touring cookie cutter home after home so we decided to take a little jaunt to Austin. Well, as it happens I forgot to bring my thyroid medicine down with me, so by day four I was feeling a little tired. So much so, that by the time we finished the walking tour of the capital I had to take a little rest on one of the benches outside. And by that time Mom's leg was hurting bad that she needed a respite herself. As we're sitting, Mom turns to me and says:

"Man, getting rid of your thyroid was the worst thing you could do. You should have just left it."

I reply, "Well, if I'd of left it, ultimately my eyes would have started popping out of my head."

"What?! You're joking."

"Nope," I respond, "It's called exophthalmos. And can't you just picture me having to tell my patients good or bad news with HUGE buggy eyes." I continue, " So envision this, you're the patient and I waltz in looking like Rodney Dangerfield, you're gonna think I'm gonna tell you you've got two days to live when you've really got heartburn. And what if you actually have two days to live?! Do you really want to get that kind of news from a deer in the headlights provider. Nope. No good."

We laughed and laughed on that bench as we appreciated the silver lining.

working 9 to 5

Update on the job search. I just finished three interviews this past week, and I've got one more interview in Killeen tomorrow (well, today actually). And I've got three job offers so far.

Door 1: Family practice in Fort Worth. Decent pay, great supervising physician, good benefits. I'd work four 10 hour days M-Th and have the rest off (aside from call once every couple of weeks). Not so great: still using paper charts and old school x-rays, but plans are in the works for an EMR next year.

Door 2: Internal Med in Denton. Crap office, but will be upgrading by September. Very nice attending, but a horrible structure in the office. I'm knocking this one off the list.

Door 3: Dream job working in an emergency room (Level 2 Trauma Unit which was just built last April). Sweet perks, best pay of the bunch. Three 12 hour shifts a week. Down side: it's in Waco. and I'd have waaaaay more responsibility (aka stress).

So what do ya think, 1 or 3?

Happiness is...

1. Old churches with red doors, usually with beautiful stain glass windows. When I lived up east, I'd sometimes wander around the city and walk into a cathedral and just sit there enjoying the ambiance while watching the folks light candles. Two of my best memories were in churches: 1) joining in evensong with Kristi and the boy's choir in London and 2) waltzing into St. Patrick's with the brothers in NY and by fortunate circumstance the choir was rehearsing for their Christmas program. Couldn't ask for more.

2. When my mother is happy

3. When my dad tells a super dumb joke, and I look at him with this "Really?! Did you really just say that?" face and he looks back with that impish grin

4. Learning to appreciate exercise: I have yet to find something more empowering than cycling. Yoga is a close second (Yeah, I never thought I'd be that girl either, but it turns out a gazillion people were right. Exercise does a body good).

5. finishing a project

6. When I can actually make that connection with a patient, when I can explain something and see that it actually makes sense to them, and especially when they make a turn for the better.

7. Very old trees

8. CAUTION, cheese is about to fly: Friends. Especially the ones that know me inside and out, know my quirks, my challenges, my faults, my unhappy days. And still love me.

9. Watching Kristi play Wii fit... this girl is the epitome of calm and collective except for when she tries to conquer the obstacle course. So funny!

10. Something that makes me have a huge belly laugh

I'm tagged!

A friend of mine, Annalise, tagged me in one of those taggy things. Man, that line is just seeping with intelligence. Anyhow, I can't remember the last time I was excited to do one of these (I truly think never), but it must be the season! So I'm gonna have to think about it. Topic: 10 things that make me happy.

I'm officially certifiable

You thought I was gonna say crazy, didn't you? Don't deny it. I know I wouldn't.

I took my national boards to become a Physician Assistant, and good news! I passed with above average flying colors! Woot woot! I love being above average. It's just enough to feel like you've got a little more than your neighbour, but a little less than the Pope.

Point is, I passed.

A little touch of Garland

I love this time of the year when the air turns crisp and the smell of firewood wafts through the sky. Love it! And I especially love take a few moments to knit a stitch here and there while watching Judy's best. Such favorties include The Man that Got Away, The Trolley Song, and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Yep, I'm officially ready for retirement.

I heart Sesame Street

In celebration of the 40th birthday of the most beloved street I thought I'd find a few recent clips. Though they might not be the classics from our time, they are just as entertaining and educational.

I'm officially skilled with counting to the number 4 thanks to Feist.

I love this outtake with Elmo and Ricky Gervais.

Shakespeare just got a little bit better

I love the theater, but it's sometimes tough to go every weekend because the bank account is looking mighty thin as of late. BUT! All across America tomorrow you can get into a show for free! You can even sign up to see a show over the weekend if tickets are still available. Simply visit the Free Night of Theater 2009 website, browse shows in your area, click and reserve. And tada! You're on your way to watching Hamlet's famous soliloquy or hearing Ichabod Crane's heart beat loudly from his chest.

I suggest yo hurry since tickets are going fast!

next to normal

I'm sure you've heard of this musical, but just in case you haven't, take a look. As of late, it's the music that gets me up in the morning. I'm so excited because next weekend I'm taking a little trip up to the big city and this is top of the to do list.

Here's a link to the prelude, and you can see in the related videos on that page you can listen to the entire musical. Favorites include Who's Crazy/My Psychopharmacologist and I, Everthing Else, Aftershocks, and Light. WARNING: swearing may be present.

Overview found at Wikipedia . Here's a video of when they were on the Tony's in June.

Let me know what you think.

you know it's time for a break when...

Tonight in the shower I shaved an entire leg before realizing that I still had the guard on.

a moment to relax...

I'm going to the Georgia Aquarium wit my folks after graduating the end of August. Preview to something I might see.

la cucaracha, la cucaracha, ya no puede caminar

We've all got phobias. Whether it be a wide-eyed china doll whose gaze always seems to follow you or the creepy clown/weather man on channel six, in some fashion everyone has that one thing that upon seeing it immediately causes a TIA.

That thing that gets my amygdala going is the forsaken cockroach. Even as I write this, I'm controlling my gag reflex and trying to keep the instant stress headache at bay. I truly hate the bugs from the underworld.

As an example, when I was in high school I remember one night I was taking a shower and as I stepped out I saw two evil ones staring at me from the counter. Well tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum were much smarter than their names imply, for they knew I was terrified of them. They could sense it. Frozen in my place, with barely a towel, I screamed for my father. He, thinking someone was attacking me, ran up the stairs to find me in my statuesque Venus de Milo pose, and that's when it happened. The little buggers FLEW AT ME! I, of course, ran down the stairs and exited my house, all the while screaming with nothing but my tiny towel on. Let's just say I was the entertainment for the neighbours that night.

My story brings me to last week. I just moved to Reading, PA to finish up my very last preceptorship, and the hospital provides housing for the students in one of their older buildings. I, wanting to save a penny while substantially increasing the amount of nap time I'd get from cutting out a commute, concede to the plan. First week no problems. Second week, I get a new roommate who is a med student from PCOM. Well, make that two new mates. The second came two nights after the first moved in. Sitting in my chair, studying the night away, I see something in my periphery, and low and behold there aroseth from the fiery depths the spawn of Satan himself crawling up my wall.

Again, I'm frozen in my place. Yet, this time the rational part of my brain kicks in, and I actually start to move for the shoe resting next to my foot. And then the dance begins.

Sensing danger, the roach freezes from his course, and I immediately follow suit. Barely breathing, I hold my position till he pushes on. For the second time, I slowly reach for the shoe, and now have it in my grasp and start to slothfully stand. He stops. and I. He starts up again, and here I gather all my strength to move into striking position. I work up the nerve to get mere feet from the bug, and start to swing, when the power of his stare completely deflates my attack attempt, and I gutlessly swing to make direct contact with the wall a good foot away from the target. And that's when he flew at me. F.L.E.W. A.T. M.E.

Oh no you didn't. I'd like to note here I did not scream, but rather doubled my efforts to attack by taking one last pitiful swing before fleeing the room.

And that's when I walked down the hall to get the toughest guy I knew on the floor, Al. He once was a football player for the Miami Dolphins who now happens to be the Chaplin for the hospital (I know, talk about career change). I needed the power of God on my side. Well, he and his friend come down to discover for themselves that the fourth sign of the Apocalypse just arrived in Reading.

They walk in, the bug immediately kamikazes Al, and I'm not even kidding, the two literally dive for cover. The bug makes a bee line for my closet, and the boys quickly recover and take action by digging out my luggage and laundry on the closet floor to see the roach crawl into a crack in the corner.

HE'S LIVING IN MY CLOSET. Well, I should say the wall between my closet and my pansy med student neighbour who didn't have the guts to open his closet door to see where the roach had gone.

Let the nightmares begin.

you seriously need to check out the awkward family site... look for the choker

Woot-Off-Killer Killers: Our Favorite Wastes of Time

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i need this

wax on, wax off

The days are getting longer, the weather warmer. Soon shorts will be popping up like the bulbs in my front yard. And nothing makes a girl feel sexier during this season than smooth, beautiful legs that are ready for the beaches. Wanting to feel a little more sassy, I bought a waxing kit from Wal-mart complete with tongue depressors, sheets of paper, and paraffin wax.

b.a.d. i.d.e.a.

I started with my underarms since I thought I could muscle through two strips without chickening out. First one.... RRRRRIIIIIPPPPPP. And the words still echo in my mind, for though they came from me, I never knew I could speak in tongues. it was something along the lines of Oh Holy Night mixed with By The Power Of Greyskull.


Okay, that's a scorching red right there, as I stare at my sad, hurt armpit. But I thought I can quit now or power through. Just power through, Jackie.

Underarm torture take 2: and ACTION!

Dip, smear, apply strip.





Pause.





"You can do this, you can do this, you can do this," I chant to myself as the piece of paper starts to quickly fasten to the hair and work its way down to the live layer of skin. As I move my free hand into death grip position, I notice something. hmm. I can't lift up my arm I just waxed. What the... oh no.

no.no.no.no.no.

In my hurry, I forgot to use the "soothing oil" after the first strip, and it hits me that I didn't get all of the wax off from the first try. my right armpit is NOW GLUED SHUT.

Panicking, I hop in the shower as I tear off the second strip (MOTHER!) and start dumping the body wash all over my underarms, which seems to loosen the skin stuck together, but now the wax is melting under the heat of the warm water, and spreading and is not coming off at all with vigorous scrubbing and soap. Towel, I think.

nope, not the answer. As the wax cools off from exiting the shower, the towel now becomes one massive furry paper strip. Towel glued to armpit x 2, I finally read the directions to discover that the oil is the way to remove extra wax. I dig through the box, towel draped across chest and securely fastened to body sans safety pins/clips/buttons, to discover this ity-bity bottle of oil, and I just start pouring. worked like a charm. in the aftermath I could somewhat recognize the remnants of what should be the skin under the arms, along the thorax, and even part of the skin around the biceps.

and now I'm pissed. No way in hell some smart-a box is gonna win this battle. I reheat the wax and start on the leg, determined to finish.

Well 3/4 of one leg later, I finally had enough. And since I used the entire bottle of oil during the arm fiasco, I resorted to PAM cooking spray to remove the stubborn tidbits of dried wax sculpted to my poor red leg.

AND SCENE.

bear attack

When I feel I need a break, I somtimes go to Howcast to fill in the void. and I always seem to find myself watching something like this, thinking just in case.

Hershey: the scariest place on earth

So you may be wondering where Jackie has hibernated to, and that lucky place is the great city of Hershey. One sentence describes my entire experience here: I've seen things that will stick with me for the rest of my life. And at the top of that list is the singing cows at Chocolate World. During one weekend after a snowfall I decided to get out of the house and head over to the locally recommended hot spot, all the while operating on the assumption that it's one big candy shop. Heads up, it is not. It is so much terrifyingly more.

As I drive over on the overcast afternoon, I turn into the entrance to see massive empty parking lots covering acres of land and a vacated amusement park looking old and dingy in the poor light, and it honestly feels as if I'm passing through a bizarre ghost town. I park next to the main entrance, which brings the total car count in the lot to a dozen, and as I head toward the faded multi-colored entrance I realize I'm virtually alone.

I walk through the doors and past dimly lit doorway openings to the nearest signs of life, and I enter into the back way of the gift shop. So there I am stepping into this massive labyrinth of chocolate, whose walls consist of 10-16 feet high walls of Reece's and Hershey's milk bars and kisses, and at the top I can see giant pieces of candy fully equipped with eyes, legs and toothless smiles all staring down at me.

Opting to distance myself from the glare, I weave my way to the front where after 10 minutes have passed, I see my first human. The cashier. Wanting to make sure I just didn't fall down the rabbit hole, I ask about the empty place to find out that most things are closed, but that there is a indoor Hershey's ride still open for the day.

Well, not wanting the trip to be a total bust, I waltz my way over to the giant "Hershey's Great American Chocolate Tour" entrance where yet again I walk through to find myself alone. In a dimly lit hallway. Come on, I think to myself. side note to Hershey: has the economy hit you that hard that you're cutting back on lighting? Please.

You can tell these vacant hallways are meant for herding massive amounts of people, and each is peppered with TV sets playing a video on the process of cocoa bean harvesting. I pause a moment to watch, but again I start to notice the void of life made clear by the utter silence aside from the TVs. So I book it through hallway after hallway to find the entrance to the ride all the while thinking to myself that a few of the patients on my psych rotation would have lost it by now. As I reach the pinnacle I find a flight of stairs descending to a circular moving floor with the carpet in the design of a multi-colored brown pinwheel. And on the border of the wheel I see bucket seats in groups of three moving by the edge and then breaking off into the entrance of the ride. Two people were taking their time exiting the ride, so the worker directed me to sit in the second bucket. I climb in and cozy myself down, and after a moment my seat glides me into the opening, and it's obvious that there is no one joining me in my bucket. or my group of three. or the groups in front or behind me.

At this point I consider busting out a few lines of "All By Myself" when before I knew it someone beat me to the singing. Well, I should say something. Three cows, that it. Three massive cloth covered cow heads sticking out from a wall start to soulfully sing three words over and over again, that being "Hershey's milk chocolate!" Thinking that I want a better view, my bucket turns me toward the blasting music to face the cows head on (hardy har har).

My cart continues to carry me on to the next room, which is really a room starting the explanation of how chocolate is made. So from room to room my cart shifts me from left to right to stare at massive equipment used during each step of the chocolate making process (along with actual footage from the factory displayed on large TVs). And all the while a wanna-be spokesman for Rogain with background music from the Milk Chocolate song blasts me away. I went through many a room, and even through the inside of a massive heating oven to finally find myself in the last room. The best way to describe the room is one giant LCD screen with iconic images from cities around the US flashing before my eyes with jazzy music from the 1980s adding the finishing touches to the nightmare I'll be having later on that night. As I exit, a pubescent teen hands me two pieces of chocolate, and looking on the ground I notice carcasses of empty wrappers and even unopened pieces haphazardly tossed on the floor. I imagine that's the chocolate that was chucked away from patrons fleeing the scene.

You know, I completely understand now why small children spontaneously start screaming on amusement rides. I wondered if people who've been abducted would use this as an adequate description of their experience.

sounds like...

I'm currently home in Texas for the holidays visiting my folks. It's been entertaining to say the least,mostly because of the funny slips of the tongue that are oh-so infamous in the Cummings clan.

For example, during Christmas Eve dinner at Macaroni Grill, we started talking about places we've always wanted to visit, and I mentioned how I want to go see the Northern Lights in Canada. I also let them know how I've been taking mini-trips during my rotations, and my Mom chimed in by saying "Well, on one of those trips, Jackie, you can go see the Areola."

A moment passed until the full weight of the comment sunk in at the table, and suddenly an explosion of laughter rang out from the two of us.

Me: "Mom, do you mean Aurora Borealis"

classic Mom.

ornaments and organized religion

I just came home from a night at the Goggleworks, a community arts center in Reading, where I was both academically and pseudo-ecumenically educated. I participated in a hot glass blowing workshop in which I created an ornament to give to my dad for Christmas. Each year he asks for the same thing, that being Peace, and since he knows there's a slim chance of fulfilling the request in its entirety, he asks that the monetary gift be handmade. Well a girl can only make so many scarfs/hats/cards before she runs out of good ideas. Thus, the class. Actually, I love that he asks for that because it gives me an excuse to do something new and fun and not feel a lick of guilt for not studying.

After the class I wandered over to the main building to see what new independent film they were showing, and as luck would have it, Bill Maher's new movie Religious was playing. Since the class ran a little late, I missed the first half hour of it, but the part that I did see was enough to realize that though there were a few quick witted comments and partial truths, Maher wasn't openly looking for alternatives to his view on religion, or lack thereof. He pushed his own agenda with sounds bites and montages from people of various faiths and his diatribe at the end felt completely disjointed and hoaxy. I usually don't love Fox news, but in this case this review of the movie nailed it on the head. My critique: go for a few laughs if you've got nothing else to do, but expect nothing more than to be mildly entertained, and if you're super religious, possibly offended.

guess who's coming to town

My preceptorships are tentatively assigned... and the winners are:

Feb-April: Family Practice at Central Utah Clinic, Provo, Ut

May-August: ED at Reading Hospital, Reading, PA

I'm coming back to Utah!!

nut, nut, who'se got the nut?

I've wrapped up the end of my time served in inpatient psychiatry at Olean, NY and if you've ever wondered where the mullet originated from, you needn't look further. Other firsts in this city include knick-knacks, psychotic patients, and my personal favorite, massive ceramic squirrels. Does anyone else see a correlation?

You may think I'm kidding about the squirrels, and I would've been right on that disbelieving boat with you. But, friends, I have been there. I have seen. I have had nightmares. And here is my proof (I named a few):

Disco Ball Ben: Small Town Bugsy:

Mr. Money Bags:
Incognito Irnia:

Possibly the most terrifying of all the squirrels, whom I call the Godfather:


Vincent:

Honolulu Hal:
Nurse Betsy:
Surgeon Sam:

And of course we can't forget Santa Squirrel:
and his back side:

white girls can jazzercise

wait for the freeze frame... pure laughter

(thanks to Luke for finding this gem)

some interesting sites on my drive up to Olean

A crazy water fountain sputtering water onto the four lane highway. who puts a fountain next to a highway?

A house and lawn ENTIRELY decorated with massive inflatable Halloween ornaments (including a huge ghost castle, five pumpkins, a spider, and a ghost hanging from a tree)

a dolphin mailbox

three kids driving a seated lawn mower whose sum ages added up to 14

ZZ Top reincarnated

A classic car colored sea foam green with the occupants dressed like from The Sting

a good day

I delivered 3 babies on my birthday... couldn't ask for a better present. Not gonna lie, I teared up a little.

growing pains

Today was the day I got my hands dirty during a natural delivery and delivered my first baby. As luck would have it, my first was with a baby who had Meconium stain and nuchal cord x 1. In other words, a very complicated delivery, so much so that the baby was in respiratory arrest and we had to start bagging him. NOT GOOD. The mom kept staring at me and the doctor asking why her baby wasn't crying. I literally wanted to vomit. Thank the lord that my preceptor (the doctor) is completely amazing and knows how to keep her cool in a very tense situation. She guided my hands to where they needed to go when I started to freeze up and helped me stay outwardly calm and collected when all I wanted to do was jump out of my skin. I felt so bad after the delivery thinking I had done something wrong (which I didn't).... she let me know that sometimes deliveries are just complicated, and it happened that my first case was that way. The baby is now fine, and mother is fine, and I'm fine. I guess this is what comes with growing up.

as we say in Alaska...

judging a book by its cover

While walking through the halls of yet another hospital today (this time Kent General in Dover) I noticed a trend in medical marketing. Every place I've worked at so far displayed a sign with children dressed up as doctors/nurses reminding folks to wash hands or be quiet or whatever. Sure, at first glance you think everything's alright, perhaps even a little precious, but after so many exposures, you start to become concerned. Concerns like where the hell do these kids get off telling me what to do? They've got to be no older than 4, sans college degrees and permanent teeth. Unless you're Doogie Howser and can chew through steak, I'm not buyin, even if I know better.

In fact, I'm rebelling. My plan tomorrow... avoid soap like the plague while screaming Yankee Doodle Dandy. See that kids, look at what you made me do. you're bringing me down to your level.

side note: I was actually slapped in the face by a two year old girl who was the sister of an 8 month old baby I was treating. Apparently I was giving too much attention to her brother even though the staff took the time to blow up a disposable latex glove and fashion it to look like a chicken. So she climbed up on a step and took her glove and slapped me with it. I swear, I almost quit right there.

something must be in the air

Today I didn't have to go to work so I started the day by sleeping in till ten, breakfast in bed, and a movie. Since I hadn't yet gotten out of bed at one o'clock I felt a bit like a bum, so I thought I'd have a mini workout. But I didn't want to completely give up my slothful ways, so I went without a bra.

Or pants.

So there I am doing sit-ups on my exercise ball in a very flimsy top and skivvies while listening to my usual exercise music when all of a sudden the song I Don't Feel Like Dancin' from the Scissor Sisters starts up. Now, if you've never heard the song, you might find it hard to understand how the tune posses people to stop their current activities and force them to start wilding dancing about the room. Friends, I was easy prey.

As I flail about, I glance out the window to find the gardner, THE GARDNER, standing outside with his weed whacker, John Deer hat and massive head phones staring straight at me. Yep, I just died a little. And I couldn't help think about Annalise's recent adventures in streaking.

How to Pick Berries of Blue:

Step 1. Find fun friend who enjoys thrusting head into bushes. Encourage such behavior.


Step 2. Fill fun bucket with berries found in bush.

Steps 3. 4. 5. & 6. Pick up berry found in bucket and in veeery slow motion place berry between gargantuan teeth.




Step 7. Make ridiculous face whilst chewing.

Thus completes lesson one of berry pickin' Enjoy!

Wipeout!

I usually hate reality TV, but I absolutely LOVE this show... probably has something to do with the hosts and the genius use of sound effects. My favorite contestant: Margie Stubbs (around 3:48). I know I'm horrible, but I couldn't stop laughing

i'm still standing

surgical rotation has started and not gonna lie, it is rough. no so much sandpaper rough, more like tsunami kind of rough. i know this is a crap post, but really i'm just trying to keep my head above water.

better news: after getting off work this morning (I was on call last night which meant I was at work from 5:30 am yesterday to 8 am today) I drove to Boston and met up with a few friends to watch the Boston Pops/fireworks in action. I've been wanting to see this since I was a little girl and right now I don't care how much homework I have to do, I'm gonna have some fun tonight.

muppet murder

Yesterday Aubrey and I drove to the outlet mall to look for a few birthday gifts for her boyfriend Kyle. Along the highway stood a billboard that displayed a massive head of Elmo perfectly perched to glare at those who passed by. I turned to her and said,

Me: You know, Elmo creeps me out a little.

Aubrey: Me too... I used to watch Sesame Street when he wasn't as popular. It was more Big Bird, and Oscar the Grouch, and Bert and Ernie when they still had Bert.

Me: What? They got rid of Bert?

Aubrey: Yeah, a few years ago. Since some people complained about the two living together. they thought it implied a gay relationship. you know how everything has to be p.c. these days...

Me: So they killed off a muppet?



After hearing the news, I felt sad for the loss of Bert. Out of all the characters, he's the only one I know that had my laugh and a shared fondness for paper clips. I wanted to do something to show my love for him and the thing I came up with was to say a few words.

Eulogy for Bert:



Bert, I loved everything about you from your boring persona to your unibrow. Your sense of fashion said it all. You reminded me of a guy I used to date, and I'll never forget that. The times I remember best were when you learned how to fish by yelling and when you chatted on a banana. Most of all, you helped me through the rough times of 2nd grade, teaching me that I am special just as I am.

decreasing the surplus population one hypothetical patient at a time

I've been taking a Foundations of Clinical Medicine class for the past few weeks, and to understand my story I should give some background info. Each week of FCM is like a mini rotation in preparation for the ones that I'll have this next year. So the first week was Ob/Gyn week, the second Psych week, last week was Peds week, and this week is Medicine week. During each section I've been assigned a different patient with a correlating disease for that field of medicine. I should note that these are standardized patients, a.k.a. actors who play up an illness. You gotta love those safety nets.

So this week I've been working with nine of my classmates on a case of a 54 y/o female with a history of significant alcohol use and Hepatitis B. Colby (one of my teammates) and I performed a complete history and physical on her, and of course her chief complaint was "I just don't feel right" x 1 month. nice. That's like going into the auto shop and saying "Um, there's something wrong with my car. not sure just what, but I can sense it. can you fix that? by tomorrow? grrreat." We got little from talking with her, aside from the fact that the day before she drank "half a fifth" and that multiple times a week she drinks before noon. In fact, when Colby asked if she drank to pass out, her exact words were "Yeah, on Fridays... and Wednesdays" and I chimed in "And Saturdays?" Yup. And Tuesdays, and Thursdays... She's a pro.

Her physical exam revealed acute liver failure. she's got severe jaundice, ascites, caput medusa due to portal hypertension. In other words, her liver has completely crapped out. If ever you are in a poker game where you find yourself betting organs, don't go for the liver. it's important.

Today she's now showing extensive signs of hepatic encephalopathy, which means that toxins are backing up in her blood and going to her brain since the liver can't process them properly. and she has an increasing fever which is difficult to treat since a LOT of drugs are metabolized in the liver. NOT GOOD. this is like One Foot In The Grave sort of news.

update: she's alive! our group rocked the house at treating her, and she pulled through. i knew there had to be a happy ending... after all, it's make believe.

wait. did you just feel that? hell froze over.

I joined facebook

Good ol' San Antonio

The PA national conference was this past weekend, and OMG I forgot how hot Texas is. Before my visit, I considered moving back (possibly Austin), and though I haven't thrown it completely out, I now am looking for a place that doesn't immediately melt my face when I step outside. Seriously, it was like walking through a Dali painting.

I went down with a few classmates and before we arrived I of course couldn't resist talking up Texas. Come on, It's Texas! With Big Tex at the state fair, big drinks of Diet Dr. Pepper, big people. So when we arrived, the manager at the front desk was very cordial and gave us a room with a "river view." Awesome, I thought since the last time I was there as a kid I remembered how cool I thought the river was. We get in the room and I walked over to the window and opened the drapes to find this ity bity trickle of water.

Julia sidles up beside me and says, "That's it?!?"

Me: "Yup."

Julia: "That a creek!"

Me: "Yup. Isn't it awesome..."


As luck would have it, Lark, an old roommate of mine who is originally from the east coast, moved to San Antonio awhile ago and we got together. It was good to see her and meet her very nice boyfriend and tour her new home (she has a home!!).

W. and Arnold give There Will Be Blood a little facelift

best part- listen for the line "that's a weapon of mass destruction!"

medical rite of passage

I performed my first male and female reproductive exams this evening and before walking through those exam room doors I was sure this would be the most uncomfortable experience ever, but after finishing, it wasn't at all what imagined.

There's a group called META whose members specialize in teaching medical students how to do a proper exam by being the patient. Though that sounds liked it'd be so awkward to have the guy that I'm examining directing me what to do, it was probably the best feedback I've ever gotten. and since I was in the room with three other fantastic students, the set up was just what I needed to keep the nerves at bay.

heavy metal with a different kind of hook

Yeah, I just caught myself crocheting to Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven. that's a new one.

nicknames

My friend Aubrey just finished her dissertation in anthropology and it's official, she's now Doctor Baadsgaard. How cool to be completely done with school. While she's wrapping up a few things she's been staying at my place for the past week. So I've been spending most of my days with her either exercising, shopping, exercising, chatting, exercising, or eating (yeah, she's a HUGE gym buff). Needless to say, she's a tough cookie packed in 100 lbs of muscle and bone. She's helping me to be equally as tough, and to start things off she's given me the nickname of "Jack The Smack." no joke. With that, I think I can quit school and try out for a spot on WWF.

On Saturday, we went to get groceries at Trader Joe's and the check-out guy had a name tag with "X-Box" on it. She questions him if that's his real name. He responds with a story of how he and his brother in college stayed up for countless hours playing Halo 2, thus the birth of the nickname. I mention my new one, and I think to get the full picture we need some quotes.

Me, joking with X-Box: Yeah, she gave me the nickname Jack the Smack.

X-Box completely stops scanning the groceries and stares at me like I just erased his high scores. He then turns his shock to tiny Aubrey and I can see him debating in his head whether to call protective services on me or just give her the keys to his getaway car out back.

Me, with a terrified look: Wait! I don't hit people! She gave me that name to toughen me up... If you knew me, you'd know big of a pansy I am... (as I trail off)... really, uh, pansy's my middle name....

Finally, after multiple confirmations from Aubrey that indeed I am a chicken, he starts to warm up to me again. But that look he gave was priceless.

free at last, free at last!

I've officially finished my didactic year of PA school with flying colors! YAY!! I'm done... with the first year, that is. But I think that's not too shabby. Now I get to relax for two weeks, and that includes a book list as long as my foot, a house to clean, a cute shoulder bag to make (I'd like to thank etsy for the inspiration), a little pampering, and lots and lots of naps. like the one i'm gonna take right. now.

a bit about me

I'm not sure where to start this since this is something I usually don't talk about much, but here goes. Today I got the results of another thyroid test and it's good news. I'm normal!

I'm sure most of you don't know that a few years back I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism caused by a toxic multinodular goiter. All that means is that a few lumps in my neck decided to go rogue and released more hormone than normal. The first time I noticed something was wrong was early into my college career, but I simply brushed it aside blaming my changes on the stress of school. I'm a pretty stubborn girl, so I ignored the signs and symptoms for a very, very long time until my levels were six times higher than the amount they should be. So I had dealt with hot flashes, the hand tremors, the overwhelming anxiety, the utter exhaustion, the increase in appetite and weight changes for over a year before my mom finally made me go to the doctor. By this time the heart palpitations were starting to kick in and I'd had enough of feeling so awkward in social situations that I finally went. Fun fact: for such a small organ, the thyroid affects the majority of cells in the body. A few tests later showed the nodules, and that's when I went through a simple treatment where they ablated my thyroid. It wasn't a demanding treatment at all... I just had to swallow a blue pill and stay away from people for a few days while the radioactive iodine flushed through my system. FYI: Your pee does NOT glow in the dark if you've been exposed to radiation. I checked. Well, the treatment of what I had causes the exact opposite problem, hypothyroidism, but it is easily managed with hormone replacement meds. That was the summer of 2006.

My story brings me to a month ago. I started to notice the same change that by now I am very familiar with. I noticed the anxiety return, the tremors come back, the tiredness sink in, the blunted thought process, and the most embarrassing bright red splotchy rash run across my chest, neck, and face. Basically not myself. So I stopped taking the meds, made the appointment with the doc and as I said earlier the results came back normal. AND it looks like my thyroid function is working well enough on its own that I don't have to take anything for it!

Now you're probably thinking, Jackie, that's great! And I couldn't agree with you more. I've never been happier to be wrong. So it looks like there can't be bad news then? And it's true, there can't be much of something bad if the results are so good. The thing that's bothering me is that I'm realizing that the struggles with school, the struggles with church, the struggles with myself, they are all taking a noticeable toll.

So to try and alleviate some of that, I've been getting my house in order, so to speak. I've been trying to take more care of my physical self (and I have some amazing friends here that are helping me stick to that). After a long drought, I now go to church and I'm working on things that I know I need to (a whole other story). And I'm trying to not let the small things get me down so much. Now, this is a new thing for me, being so honest and open and now feeling slightly vulnerable, but I felt like I needed to have sharing time. Not sure why just yet, but hopefully you get something from this.

side note: this week I completed the most dreaded oral exams, where I sat down with one of the faculty members and was grilled for an hour about stuff I've been learning the past year. For one of my diseases I had to explain in detail hypothyroidism. At the end of it I just wanted to yell out, NAILED IT, SUCKA! Apparently, that's frowned down upon, so I settled with a hand shake and a grin.

a look says it all

I was scrolling through pictures I've taken since last May, and I happened to stumble across these gems. I'm thinking I took these during one of my super late night study sessions as a stunt to finagle sympathy from the parents. My plan was to send them the first picture with a ransom note reading "Send $1,000,000,000,000 and a box of Girl Scout Cookies or else her face stays this way."

Since I already had the camera out I thought it a perfectly good waste not to take more.... which led me to this.











I like to believe that one day, when all my little grand kids tenderly gather around, I can show them these and lovingly tell them that Crazy runs in their genes, and they've got deal with it.

cherry blossoms

Let me introduce you to my friend Shelly.


A few weeks back this dear friend of mine from college and I took some time away from our busy schedules and met up in DC during the Cherry Blossom Festival. We spent hours enjoying the perfect weather and perfect timing because ALL of the trees were in bloom. She served her mission in Japan, which made it all the more interesting to stroll along the Tidal Basin while listening to her stories of the times she's celebrated spring with beautiful blossoms thousands of miles away. It was even better to meet Charlie, her baby boy, and get to know Dave, her husband, a bit better. I don't know if you've had the same experience, but when I've had friends that have been pregnant, delivered, and raised babies during which I've known they were expecting but I haven't seen them during any of that time, it somewhat surprises me when I see them for the first time. I think, Here's my friend! Looking just the same as I remember. Who's this tiny person standing next to her?

Photo time:

What's that in the sky? A bird? A plane?


This was something important that I have completely forgotten.
The profound crevices and healed wounds in the bark of the aged trees emphasized the delicate birth of the fresh flora (yeah, one Humanities minor later, I've perfected writing a load of crap).


Hello Myer's Family!

I love this picture of the fellas. Stellar admiration of the flowers Dave. Charlie has a tendency to scowl at anything from grass blades to moving objects, and here's an example of that.

It was so good to see her and her family... a respite that I very much needed.

a note on momma's hair

While talking with my dad tonight, he told me of an actual conversation that occurred over the weekend. Apparently him and my mom were working in the yard on Saturday and since it was a windy day my mom's hair whipped to and fro (so punny!) to form something like this:
Well, our neighbor strolled by and paused for a chat. As the conversation lulled, he must of said the first thing that came to his mind, which was:


Neighbor, turning to my mother: "I really like your hair. It's, uh, fluffy."

Now I don't know if this guy was having a bit of fun with my mom, or if he seriously fancied it. Either way, my mom took it as a compliment and all of us had a good laugh.

for fun, here's the first pic that pops up if you google fluffy:

baby genius pa

In our E Med class today we talked about Ob/Gyn emergencies, and I have never been more entertained, not so much because of the subject (kinda gross), but because of this amazing lecturer. Example: when she was explaining that in practice we have to do a pregnancy test on EVERY menstruating woman that walks trough the door, she follows with "I’ve seen more virgin births than any wise men." so, so funny.

the Lord DOES answer sporadic prayers

The Deseret Morning News published an article today explaining the church's new "Slow-Track" program. Finally, something in the church that I excel at.

the hair cut

Due to the melting of my brain, I've reverted to using excerpts from emails I've written to friends. This beauty comes from part of an email I wrote to Kristi explaining my spring break:

So this past week was way more busy than I expected, but it was all so much fun. It started last Friday when Mandy and I went to get hair cuts at a place called Bubbles. That morning I thought I woke up late for my e med test (my clock said 8:13 and they stop handing out the tests at 8:15). So I got dressed and ran to the school, swung open the door to the exam room to find it completely empty. I had a moment of panic thinking that everyone finished the test in the 8 minutes it took me to get over there, but when I looked at the clock it said 7:21 am. I realized I must of hit the hour button on my clock to set it ahead. By the way, I had fallen asleep with my my hair braided into tiny braids (the night before I was trying anything to help me keep awake while studying) so when I was running to the test I was frantically trying to unweave the dread locks. imagine this white girl tearing out her hair in the city of minorities. My doorman, paper man, and security guard at the school all had a good laugh. To top it off, when I unraveled the last braid, my hair was the size of Bon Jovi's hairdo circa 1987. So I end up going to my hair appointment sporting a muppet on my head. good times. She ended up cutting like 4 inches off (it had gotten sooooo long, down to the small of my back), and it is so much more manageable and still long.

news news news

So today our class celebrated receiving our official assignments for clinical rotations. I didn't realize how big of a deal it was until our director broke out the champagne to ring it in. Personally, I think they just needed an excuse to 1) polish off the left overs from St. Patty's, 2) nurse the hangovers and 3) throw back one before noon. I love it here.

And now, for my official rotations. Drum roll please... And the winners are:

Surgery in New Britain, CT
Peds in Waterbury, CT
Ob/Gyn in Dover, DE
Psych in Olean, NY
ER in Reading, PA
Internal Med in Hershey, PA

Though I'll be living out of suitcases till February 2009, I'm beyond excited to try out these new places to see if I might potentially want to settle down here.

I also found out today that our school is going to be one of the forty eight to compete at the National Academy of Physician Assistants Student Challenge Bowl! And I'm on the team! What's the Challenge Bowl, you ask? No, it's not a jousting tournament with your local crapper. It's a competition against 47 other PA programs, with three people on a team and the winner gets fame, fortune, and... well, pretty much nothing. Which I think is something to drink over, so raise your glasses. Here's to not getting knocked out in the first round!

cry for help

So I've volunteered to cook Easter dinner for about a dozen friends and I've decided to have roasted chicken and honey baked ham (to appease those that must have pork on Christ's day... yeah, he was a Jew). I've got two good recipes for the meat, but I have virtually no recipes for good sides. So here's a plea to all you dear friends for your stellar recipes for veggies/potatoes/anything else that you'd think would be good with los main courses.

Second: my friends Mandy and Soren are getting married and since they plan on having some sort of DJ at their wedding, they are asking for music suggestions. Got any?

I recognize two favors in one post is a tall order, but I know you have mad skills. many thanks.

loved it

Just came home from a concert with Sons of William as the opening for Griffin House. I HIGHLY recommend both... picture Tom Petty meets Travis.

(Thanks to Heather and Andrew for the introduction)

this stuff actually happens

Last night while heading to dinner I watched a car pull away from a gas pump with the hose still attached! And it started to drive off with the handle jetting out from the side and the hose flopping around before finally noticing and pulling over. Jen and I were surprised to see that gas didn't spray everywhere, and even more so that the attendant lazily strolled to the car as if nothing happened... must happen a lot.