Wishing the weather could be like this all the time
me and liz in Central Park enjoying the sun and warm weather
me and lauren at New Years Eve Party
Monday, January 15, 2007
"Rage, rage against the dying of the light."- Dylan Thomas
Time to update everyone on the last few months. I don't really have any excuses for not blogging other than not wanting to sit down and write. Since the last post back in November, lots has taken place.
The most significant is the passing of my beloved uncle Hall. He passed away on New Years Day. Thankfully, I was able to go down to FWB to spend some time with him back in September and over Christmas to say my goodbyes. It is never easy to see someone in such pain but he remained full of vigor and was determined to fight till the end. The time I spent with him over the break was short but i was able to convey how important he was/is in my life and thank him for so many things. He will be missed but he left so much behind. I have some of his artwork in my room here. There was a memorial service held at sunset on the point of the yacht club. I didn't go but I can imagine how beautful it must have been. The marine guards shooting their guns in honor of their fallen soldier.
As for work, the last two months I have been doing my neurology rotation. The first half was ok and the second has been much better. It is a very interesting field and I am glad I have gotten exposure to it. I can't imagine going through medical school without having had some neuro experience. I am due to start my ob/gyn rotation a week from today. Most of the people I know who have done this rotation at my hospital are not happy during the rotation. I am hoping this will not be the case for me. The hours will be some of the worst I hear. We shall see how it goes.
I have been doing a bit more touristy stuff lately too. I went to see the HUGE Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. The place was packed with tourist but worth it. The smell was amazing! Up until a week ago the weather was "mild" here. (Well, mild for NY but still not my ideal.) I was so excited the last weekend when it reached 72! This is apparently unheard of here. I spent the day in SoHo with Liz and then we went to Central Park. Then the next day we went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens to see the cherry blossoms. I will post a picture of them. The trees must be confused with all the spring time weather we had in December! The gardens although mostly barren were still a sight to see and I look forward to going back in the Spring when the rest of it comes to life.
Yesterday, I registered for the USMLE Step 2. I can't believe that in less than 8 months I am going to be studying for that horrid test again. I am not looking forward to it. Also, I am trying to arrange the electives I will do during my fourth year and make sure that I can graduate on time.
Thats all I can think of for now. For those of you out there reading this blog, I am going to try to post more frequently and if I don't please do feel free to pester me to post!
Time to update everyone on the last few months. I don't really have any excuses for not blogging other than not wanting to sit down and write. Since the last post back in November, lots has taken place.
The most significant is the passing of my beloved uncle Hall. He passed away on New Years Day. Thankfully, I was able to go down to FWB to spend some time with him back in September and over Christmas to say my goodbyes. It is never easy to see someone in such pain but he remained full of vigor and was determined to fight till the end. The time I spent with him over the break was short but i was able to convey how important he was/is in my life and thank him for so many things. He will be missed but he left so much behind. I have some of his artwork in my room here. There was a memorial service held at sunset on the point of the yacht club. I didn't go but I can imagine how beautful it must have been. The marine guards shooting their guns in honor of their fallen soldier.
As for work, the last two months I have been doing my neurology rotation. The first half was ok and the second has been much better. It is a very interesting field and I am glad I have gotten exposure to it. I can't imagine going through medical school without having had some neuro experience. I am due to start my ob/gyn rotation a week from today. Most of the people I know who have done this rotation at my hospital are not happy during the rotation. I am hoping this will not be the case for me. The hours will be some of the worst I hear. We shall see how it goes.
I have been doing a bit more touristy stuff lately too. I went to see the HUGE Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. The place was packed with tourist but worth it. The smell was amazing! Up until a week ago the weather was "mild" here. (Well, mild for NY but still not my ideal.) I was so excited the last weekend when it reached 72! This is apparently unheard of here. I spent the day in SoHo with Liz and then we went to Central Park. Then the next day we went to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens to see the cherry blossoms. I will post a picture of them. The trees must be confused with all the spring time weather we had in December! The gardens although mostly barren were still a sight to see and I look forward to going back in the Spring when the rest of it comes to life.
Yesterday, I registered for the USMLE Step 2. I can't believe that in less than 8 months I am going to be studying for that horrid test again. I am not looking forward to it. Also, I am trying to arrange the electives I will do during my fourth year and make sure that I can graduate on time.
Thats all I can think of for now. For those of you out there reading this blog, I am going to try to post more frequently and if I don't please do feel free to pester me to post!
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Sunday, November 19, 2006
I can't believe it is almost Thanksgiving!
Since I last posted nothing too exciting has happened. Things are just moving along. I am now almost finished with my pediatrics rotation. Only two more weeks to go. I spent three weeks on the inpatient floor and last week in the ER. It has been a good experience so far and hopefully will continue. I am gonna be in the clinic this week and then well baby nursery the last week. I think that might be my favorite! The hours were way more intense than laid back psychiatry was and a lot of on call time (on call means your in the hospital working). My hours weren't as bad as they could have been but for two weeks there i was putting in almost 70 hours a week which was not fun. Now that I am off the floor the hours have improved. I had to stay home on Friday from work due to a massive sinus and ear infection. (It actually was pretty nice to have a little more time off too). I have almost fully recovered and am ready to go back for a few days before Thanksgiving. I get the day itself off but not Friday. Good news is though that Pete, Barb and the girls are arriving on Wednesday and I plan to spend lots of time with them! I dont' think I will be having any turkey this year but I'll survive. In the last four years I have only had one thanksgiving dinner so another missed one won't kill me. I'll try to post some pictures of the girls and our activites once they leave. Everyone in FWB is getting together for a big turkey dinner and I do wish I could be down there with all of them. Hopefully I can make it down for Christmas instead.
Since I last posted nothing too exciting has happened. Things are just moving along. I am now almost finished with my pediatrics rotation. Only two more weeks to go. I spent three weeks on the inpatient floor and last week in the ER. It has been a good experience so far and hopefully will continue. I am gonna be in the clinic this week and then well baby nursery the last week. I think that might be my favorite! The hours were way more intense than laid back psychiatry was and a lot of on call time (on call means your in the hospital working). My hours weren't as bad as they could have been but for two weeks there i was putting in almost 70 hours a week which was not fun. Now that I am off the floor the hours have improved. I had to stay home on Friday from work due to a massive sinus and ear infection. (It actually was pretty nice to have a little more time off too). I have almost fully recovered and am ready to go back for a few days before Thanksgiving. I get the day itself off but not Friday. Good news is though that Pete, Barb and the girls are arriving on Wednesday and I plan to spend lots of time with them! I dont' think I will be having any turkey this year but I'll survive. In the last four years I have only had one thanksgiving dinner so another missed one won't kill me. I'll try to post some pictures of the girls and our activites once they leave. Everyone in FWB is getting together for a big turkey dinner and I do wish I could be down there with all of them. Hopefully I can make it down for Christmas instead.
Saturday, November 11, 2006
Monday, October 09, 2006
Alphabet mess
Two weekends ago, I went and met Liz for dinner at the famous Grimaldi's Pizzeria under the Brooklyn Bridge. The trip there tops the lists of "how much worse can this get". I must share this with you all because it is almost comical the trouble I went through to get there. Note this restaurant is less than 2 miles away from my apartment. So I left my place and headed for the subway. I am sitting on the platform waiting for my train, the "F" train. A "G" train arrives, I continue to sit on the platform waiting for my train when I suddenly realize there has been a change and the "G" is running as the "F". So I hop on and try to figure out where I'm gonna
have to get off. I then get off at the place it says to change to the "F" train. I wait for the "F", get on the "F" and realize after about four stops that it is going in a direction completely oppostite of where I need to go. So I ask those around me for directions and come to find out about 5 other people are also in the same predicament as me. Apparently the "G" is the "F" the "F" is the "C" and I am totally confused as to where or how to get to the restaurant. I get off at the next stop and change to the "F" train (really the "C" train) going the correct direction after much up and down and crossing platforms accompanied by the other lost passengers. I ride to station that seems to be the closest to where I need to go and decided to just get out of the subway cause this whole thing is not working. I leave the station and start walking and asking for directions and am told "ohh its a nice day for a walk there" (ohh god, what does that mean). After 15 minutes of walking, I ask someone again and they tell me it is another 20 minute walk! WHAT! So I hailed the first cab I found (not easy to do in Brooklyn). I tell him exactly where I need to go and am relieved to know I will finally get there. I had already called liz like 5 plus times to tell her I was still on my way an hour later! All of the sudden I realize that the cab is about to go OVER the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan. I explain to him the situation and he says, in broken english, ok, get out here (aka in the middle of the major road and cross over the double concrete barriers to the sidewalk). I was like NO, I dont' think so! So we had to go over the bridge and back over the other way and finally after 1 hour 30-45 minutes later I arrived at the restaurant. Thankfully, the food was great and there was even a huge fireworks display after dinner. My trip home cost me $10 dollars and only took 10 minutes.
have to get off. I then get off at the place it says to change to the "F" train. I wait for the "F", get on the "F" and realize after about four stops that it is going in a direction completely oppostite of where I need to go. So I ask those around me for directions and come to find out about 5 other people are also in the same predicament as me. Apparently the "G" is the "F" the "F" is the "C" and I am totally confused as to where or how to get to the restaurant. I get off at the next stop and change to the "F" train (really the "C" train) going the correct direction after much up and down and crossing platforms accompanied by the other lost passengers. I ride to station that seems to be the closest to where I need to go and decided to just get out of the subway cause this whole thing is not working. I leave the station and start walking and asking for directions and am told "ohh its a nice day for a walk there" (ohh god, what does that mean). After 15 minutes of walking, I ask someone again and they tell me it is another 20 minute walk! WHAT! So I hailed the first cab I found (not easy to do in Brooklyn). I tell him exactly where I need to go and am relieved to know I will finally get there. I had already called liz like 5 plus times to tell her I was still on my way an hour later! All of the sudden I realize that the cab is about to go OVER the Brooklyn Bridge into Manhattan. I explain to him the situation and he says, in broken english, ok, get out here (aka in the middle of the major road and cross over the double concrete barriers to the sidewalk). I was like NO, I dont' think so! So we had to go over the bridge and back over the other way and finally after 1 hour 30-45 minutes later I arrived at the restaurant. Thankfully, the food was great and there was even a huge fireworks display after dinner. My trip home cost me $10 dollars and only took 10 minutes.
Time to play catch up!
I haven't posted much in the last weeks. No particular reason other than I just kept putting it off. So since I last wrote, I have finished 4 weeks of my psych rotation, been down to FWB, had Beth, Nana and Felix as houseguests and managed to squeeze in some tourista stuff too.
The rotation is going well. I am pretty sure that I can say I dont' want to be a psychiatrist! I dont' know how people do that kind of work all the time. They should be nominated for sainthood for all they endure. I am glad to get the experience though and feel I can get a thourough history from any patient after this rotation. I have my oral exam a week from tomorrow and the written a week from Friday. Which means I need to crack down on studying!
The trip down to FWB was short and fast paced. I was able to visit with all the family down there and especially Uncle Hall. I only wish I could go down there more often. The trip back from there was a nightmare but after a night in Atlanta, I made it back in time for my morning meeting with my preceptor.
This weekend Beth, Nana and Felix came to stay with me! Felix has grown so much since I saw him last in July. He is an adorable baby and so alert. He looks a lot like Pete. Beth, Felix and I went to the Central Park Zoo on Saturday. The weather was pleasant and I especially enjoyed seeing the penguins. I think I might want to go back again to see them. I will post pictures so you can see for yourself.
I haven't posted much in the last weeks. No particular reason other than I just kept putting it off. So since I last wrote, I have finished 4 weeks of my psych rotation, been down to FWB, had Beth, Nana and Felix as houseguests and managed to squeeze in some tourista stuff too.
The rotation is going well. I am pretty sure that I can say I dont' want to be a psychiatrist! I dont' know how people do that kind of work all the time. They should be nominated for sainthood for all they endure. I am glad to get the experience though and feel I can get a thourough history from any patient after this rotation. I have my oral exam a week from tomorrow and the written a week from Friday. Which means I need to crack down on studying!
The trip down to FWB was short and fast paced. I was able to visit with all the family down there and especially Uncle Hall. I only wish I could go down there more often. The trip back from there was a nightmare but after a night in Atlanta, I made it back in time for my morning meeting with my preceptor.
This weekend Beth, Nana and Felix came to stay with me! Felix has grown so much since I saw him last in July. He is an adorable baby and so alert. He looks a lot like Pete. Beth, Felix and I went to the Central Park Zoo on Saturday. The weather was pleasant and I especially enjoyed seeing the penguins. I think I might want to go back again to see them. I will post pictures so you can see for yourself.
Thursday, September 14, 2006
LOCKED IN
The vacation has come to an end and my exploration of the city will be limited to weekends and the little bit of spare time I find. The break was definetly a chance to get my ducks in a row and now I am ready to start back.
My first rotation is in Pyschiatry. This is apparently an "easy"start compared to other core rotations. This week I was on the inpatient ward with two other students. I spent most of the time trying to figure out what the expectations are and what my attending wants me to do. I am happy with the attending I am following (such a relief). The ward is locked down at all times, I can't even go to the bathroom without someone letting me in. They dont' give med students keys to anything! I have met some interesting patients but sadly cannot discuss them since patient confidentiality must be maintained!
On another note, I am going to be heading down to FWB not this weekend but next! It will give me a chance to visit with Uncle Hall who is not in good health. Please keep him in your prayers.
I will try to post more often than I have been.
My first rotation is in Pyschiatry. This is apparently an "easy"start compared to other core rotations. This week I was on the inpatient ward with two other students. I spent most of the time trying to figure out what the expectations are and what my attending wants me to do. I am happy with the attending I am following (such a relief). The ward is locked down at all times, I can't even go to the bathroom without someone letting me in. They dont' give med students keys to anything! I have met some interesting patients but sadly cannot discuss them since patient confidentiality must be maintained!
On another note, I am going to be heading down to FWB not this weekend but next! It will give me a chance to visit with Uncle Hall who is not in good health. Please keep him in your prayers.
I will try to post more often than I have been.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Friday, September 01, 2006
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Sunday, August 20, 2006
First Week
Hard to belive I have only been here a week. It feels like so much longer. So far, I have managed to get a bed and a dresser. I know, it does not sound like much! I still must get some furniture to sit on besides grandma's card table and chairs. I am gonna go on a massive hunt tomorrow to find a couch! I am still happy with my place and am managing without ac. The picture above was taken from my living room. You can see the statue of liberty in the skyline. I joined a gym around the corner and am finding the other little shops that are in the area. The week ended with a dinner on Thursday with Liz, DT and VG to celebrate both mine and DT's birthday. We ate at this great place with Southern and Jamaican cuisine. 
Would love to go back again it was so good. For Friday, I had arranged for a bunch of us to go to a bar. It was an awesome time. It was so nice to see everyone I hadn't seen since before the boards. I put pictures up from both the birthday events on the right sidebar.My plan right now for the rest of my break is to play tourista. I got some guide books today and am ready to go. I'll make sure to take my camera along to document the sites!
Monday, August 14, 2006
Road trip
The trip to Key West was great. Angie and I managed to travel almost the entire southern part of Florida. 
This included Orlando, Tampa, Key West, Coconut Grove and many other random stops along the way. We met up with EC at city walk Universal Studios the night I arrived. Then it was onto Tampa the next morning. Ang's in-laws live there so we stayed with them for the night and left Foster (the dog) there while we were gone. We saw the Bodies exhibit there too. It was well worth the trip. It is an incredible site to see and thankfully these bodies did not smell like our cadavers we had back in anatomy! If you get a chance definitely go see the exhibit.
Our trip to Keys was a nice road trip. It took us through alligator alley. And yes, finally after much looking I did see about 4 or so gators sunning themselves in the canal alongside the road. I was very excited. After we crossed the 42 bridges we arrived in Key West. We did the standard tourist stuff. We saw the sunset off the Mallory Square, ate at Sloppy Joe's, went to the "southern most point",
swam in the nice and bathwater warm pool and went out on the Western Union Schooner for a sunset sail and ended up staying for the stargazing sail.
On our way back north we stopped over in Coconut Grove (area of Miami). I wanted to see the area where my family had once lived. I wasn't able to see the house because it was recently torn down. It was my Grandmother (Dad's mom) house. It was a beautiful area and I would like to go back at some point. Yesterday we went
shopping at the Millenia mall and ran some other errands.
Now, I am on my way back to Brooklyn to get settled into my place. I ordered a bed yesterday over the phone. I had no idea how expensive this would be! Thankfully, I convinced the mattress man to give me a great deal (or so I thought, 60% off). I will see shortly whether it was worth it. Not sure what I am gonna do with the rest of my break till I start my roations in September. There are lots of ideas floating around in my head. I will be posting pictures on the side bar from all the recent events (keys, dc, jersey shore, etc).
This included Orlando, Tampa, Key West, Coconut Grove and many other random stops along the way. We met up with EC at city walk Universal Studios the night I arrived. Then it was onto Tampa the next morning. Ang's in-laws live there so we stayed with them for the night and left Foster (the dog) there while we were gone. We saw the Bodies exhibit there too. It was well worth the trip. It is an incredible site to see and thankfully these bodies did not smell like our cadavers we had back in anatomy! If you get a chance definitely go see the exhibit.
Our trip to Keys was a nice road trip. It took us through alligator alley. And yes, finally after much looking I did see about 4 or so gators sunning themselves in the canal alongside the road. I was very excited. After we crossed the 42 bridges we arrived in Key West. We did the standard tourist stuff. We saw the sunset off the Mallory Square, ate at Sloppy Joe's, went to the "southern most point",
swam in the nice and bathwater warm pool and went out on the Western Union Schooner for a sunset sail and ended up staying for the stargazing sail. On our way back north we stopped over in Coconut Grove (area of Miami). I wanted to see the area where my family had once lived. I wasn't able to see the house because it was recently torn down. It was my Grandmother (Dad's mom) house. It was a beautiful area and I would like to go back at some point. Yesterday we went
shopping at the Millenia mall and ran some other errands.Now, I am on my way back to Brooklyn to get settled into my place. I ordered a bed yesterday over the phone. I had no idea how expensive this would be! Thankfully, I convinced the mattress man to give me a great deal (or so I thought, 60% off). I will see shortly whether it was worth it. Not sure what I am gonna do with the rest of my break till I start my roations in September. There are lots of ideas floating around in my head. I will be posting pictures on the side bar from all the recent events (keys, dc, jersey shore, etc).
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