Yesterday Luca and I went to the doctor*. Before we went, I went over in my mind whether I cared if a medical student did the history. I decided that I'd be ok with it since it would be an opportunity for my husband to see what I went through when I was a medical student.
It was a moot point anyway, since there were no med students rotating at that site that afternoon. But they did want to know whether I minded being seen by a fellow. I asked which fellow just to make sure, and I didn't recognize the name so I said ok.
She was very professional and pleasant. And then I found out she's starting as a Master's student in my department a week from now. Woohoo!
Here's hoping she won't be one of those fellows who sits in the communal PhD student office chronically annoyed that the PhD students are talking in their own office. But you know, it is OUR office, not theirs, and I have a hard time feeling terribly bad for them since they have their own offices -- often private and with a door! -- someplace else on campus.
I knew the attending from when I'd done a rotation there three and a half years ago. Actually, I recognized a lot of the staff. They were all like, "You look really familiar...." and I kind of just let it go. Except when the attending said it, I said, "I think I presented to you once, and you were nice to me, so I figured you must be ok."
And then I added, "Plus, it would be really weird to see Dr B, Dr. S, or Dr. G because they all work in my department and I see them around a lot. I didn't know you, so I thought that would be better."
She agreed. She told me that she felt that it can be difficult for doctors to find physicians because you don't want to go to someone you know, but you also want to go to someone good. She emphasized that if the doctor knows you as a friend, it's hard for them to remain objective, and you really want objectivity when you go to see the doctor.
This is borne out by the research, of course. Nicholas Christakis found that patients who knew their doctors for longer periods of time and presumably had a closer relationship with them systematically overestimated survival time among patients with terminal illness.
Though, it turns out that this Dr. and I do share a biostatistician. She made a joke about how it was probably a good thing that she routinely skipped Thursday morning seminars at my department, otherwise we probably would have met as colleagues at some point.
At any rate, the visit went well, and now I have 1,000,000 follow up tests to go through. Woo!
This summer really sucks.
*No I am not pregnant.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
How many push-ups did you do tonight?
One of my readers recommended this site to train yourself to do 100 pushups.
I skipped the test phase since I already kind of knew where I was. The less than 5 workout was a little too easy, but the 5-10 workout was a little too much, so I split the difference:
Set 1 -- 3
Set 2 -- 4
Set 3 -- 4
Set 4 -- 3
Set 5 -- 5 (maxed out)
My main issue is not cheating. It's so hard to get my upper arms parallel to the ground. Tonight I did them in front of my mirror to make sure I didn't cheat.
And really, it wasn't bad at all. Not nearly as horrible as I thought it would be. It will be interesting to see how far I get with this and if I'm able to stick to it.
So, how many push-ups did YOU do tonight??
I skipped the test phase since I already kind of knew where I was. The less than 5 workout was a little too easy, but the 5-10 workout was a little too much, so I split the difference:
Set 1 -- 3
Set 2 -- 4
Set 3 -- 4
Set 4 -- 3
Set 5 -- 5 (maxed out)
My main issue is not cheating. It's so hard to get my upper arms parallel to the ground. Tonight I did them in front of my mirror to make sure I didn't cheat.
And really, it wasn't bad at all. Not nearly as horrible as I thought it would be. It will be interesting to see how far I get with this and if I'm able to stick to it.
So, how many push-ups did YOU do tonight??
food for thought
I was talking with my husband the other night about medical specialties. I pointed out that I'd observed that there were basically 2 kinds of specialties:
- Specialties where everyone bragged about how little sleep they needed, how they HAD to skip meals in order to get all their work done, and how hard they worked in general.
- Specialties where everyone admitted that they needed a lot of sleep even though they didn't always get it, that they liked eating, and they had interests outside of medicine.
I'll leave it to you to figure out what specialties fall into each category.
It's also worth pointing out that doctors in both types of specialties DO work hard, it's just the attitude that goes along with it: are you a martyr? or are you a realist?
My husband told me that I should apply to the latter specialty group.
Haha.
We'll see.
- Specialties where everyone bragged about how little sleep they needed, how they HAD to skip meals in order to get all their work done, and how hard they worked in general.
- Specialties where everyone admitted that they needed a lot of sleep even though they didn't always get it, that they liked eating, and they had interests outside of medicine.
I'll leave it to you to figure out what specialties fall into each category.
It's also worth pointing out that doctors in both types of specialties DO work hard, it's just the attitude that goes along with it: are you a martyr? or are you a realist?
My husband told me that I should apply to the latter specialty group.
Haha.
We'll see.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Black Swan
Oh! I forgot to mention, Luca and I saw Black Swan over the weekend. I have to say, I really really liked it, but then, I'm partial to movies and TV shows about female athletes. I love watching their bodies work.
I also am not fond of Natalie Portman as an actress, nor the uptight prissy OCD goody-goody she played at the beginning of the movie. I enjoyed watching her unravel mentally.... not because I think psychosis is cool, but because during that process she also grew a spine and developed a personality, and her art was brought to a new level.
Anyway, I know people either love or hate that movie, and some people were really disturbed by the skin picking (nasty!). Anyone else have an opinion? My husband knows better than to disagree about this sort of thing. :-)
In the same vein, I've discovered Make it or Break it on Netflix, which is a show about bitchy female gymnasts. AWESOME!! I love it. If you liked Bring it On, or other movies in that same genre, you will love this too.
I also am not fond of Natalie Portman as an actress, nor the uptight prissy OCD goody-goody she played at the beginning of the movie. I enjoyed watching her unravel mentally.... not because I think psychosis is cool, but because during that process she also grew a spine and developed a personality, and her art was brought to a new level.
Anyway, I know people either love or hate that movie, and some people were really disturbed by the skin picking (nasty!). Anyone else have an opinion? My husband knows better than to disagree about this sort of thing. :-)
In the same vein, I've discovered Make it or Break it on Netflix, which is a show about bitchy female gymnasts. AWESOME!! I love it. If you liked Bring it On, or other movies in that same genre, you will love this too.
25
Last week, we were talking about working out, and one of my classmates dropped and gave us 25 push-ups. When she stopped she said, "Eh! I guess that's enough."
I was really really impressed. The only time in my life I've been able to do that many push ups was when I was playing water polo in the 11th grade. We did them before practice every day, and I remember the very first day I could barely swim after doing them. Gradually things improved.
I recently started doing push-ups again, and was dismayed that I could barely do one full push-up without cheating. Now I can do about 5, but it's coming back slowly. I have to say though, my friend really inspired me. During her PhD, she has taken advantage of her extra time to work out every day. She is so strong! I want to be that strong.
So in addition to climbing (Luca and I went again this week, and I was able to complete a bunch of 5.5s and do some V0 bouldering problems!), I've decided to start lifting weights. I went last Wednesday -- a week ago -- and this week I've decided to go twice: today and Thursday. Today when I left the gym I could barely move, but I felt like I'd actually done something. It was sobering that my warm-up on the treadmill, which consisted of running/walking for a mile, made me gasp for air and my legs feel wobbly. I really need to work on this!
I don't know if I'm actually going to get to 25 push-ups, but it'll be fun to try! It would also be awesome to be able to run a 5K without stopping again. I guess we'll see if in a month from now I've stuck with it.
Wish me luck!
I was really really impressed. The only time in my life I've been able to do that many push ups was when I was playing water polo in the 11th grade. We did them before practice every day, and I remember the very first day I could barely swim after doing them. Gradually things improved.
I recently started doing push-ups again, and was dismayed that I could barely do one full push-up without cheating. Now I can do about 5, but it's coming back slowly. I have to say though, my friend really inspired me. During her PhD, she has taken advantage of her extra time to work out every day. She is so strong! I want to be that strong.
So in addition to climbing (Luca and I went again this week, and I was able to complete a bunch of 5.5s and do some V0 bouldering problems!), I've decided to start lifting weights. I went last Wednesday -- a week ago -- and this week I've decided to go twice: today and Thursday. Today when I left the gym I could barely move, but I felt like I'd actually done something. It was sobering that my warm-up on the treadmill, which consisted of running/walking for a mile, made me gasp for air and my legs feel wobbly. I really need to work on this!
I don't know if I'm actually going to get to 25 push-ups, but it'll be fun to try! It would also be awesome to be able to run a 5K without stopping again. I guess we'll see if in a month from now I've stuck with it.
Wish me luck!
Monday, June 27, 2011
Obese
One research question that interests me (that I am not currently pursuing) is that of post-operative pain management in obese patients. Not sure what happens at most hospitals, but it always seemed to me like we were always very concerned about over-narcing our obese patients so they don't asphixiate, and not as concerned about relieving their pain to enable them to be more mobile post operatively.
I also have some not-very-fond memories of some undermedicated obese patients taking shallow breaths, with grey clammy skin, gripping the bed rails afraid to move because of their pain. This cannot be good for their recovery.
I don't really know if I'll ever study the subject, but I think it's interesting. And I expect this will be a growing problem in the future.
Anyway, I was talking about this interest with a friend of mine, and suddenly she interrupts me and says, "But don't they piss you off?"
"Who?" I asked.
"Obese patients," she said.
"Why would they piss me off? Oh, you mean because they 'don't take care of themselves,'?"
"Pretty much," she said.
So here's the thing. I know this is a hot button issue for a lot of people for a bunch or reasons. First, a lot of people find fat to be revolting, perhaps because of some subconscious self-loathing of the potential to become obese themselves. Others think obesity boils down to self control and lack thereof. A lot of people also blame spiraling health care costs on obesity. And then there's the race aspect. Many obese people are poor minorities, and I wonder to what extent disgust about skin color/class has been displaced onto body size.
So I said, "Do you have ANY IDEA how hard it is to lose weight?"
No? Well let me tell you. I have never been obese in my life. However, currently, I weigh about 5 lbs more than I have since I worked in the factory the summer I turned 18. I am developing a FUPA. I am not pleased about this. Still, I am basically a skinny person.
Yet, I am finding it im-fucking-possible to change my eating habits. Yes, the exercise-wagon I've recently climbed back on will help some, but mostly I just have to eat less. And I don't even have to change that much of what I'm currently doing. People who are morbidly obese have to change EVERYTHING.
Can you fathom how hard that must be? On top of that, I'm sure they are hungrier than I am, and have limited social support compared to what I have.
You know? We all have flaws. It's just with obesity, they're on display for everyone to throw stones at. I suggest that the next time you find yourself recoiling with disgust when you see an obese person, or internally tsk-tsking when you see an obese person with a shopping cart full of ring-dings and potato chips, you remember all the ways in which you are not perfect either and focus on that instead.
Obese people aren't just lazy tubs of lard with no self-control or feelings or pain receptors. They are people too, who deserve as compassionate and thoughtful care as anyone else. Yes, they probably are harder to care for as patients (and doctors probably should be compensated for this increased complexity), but that doesn't mean they deserve to be treated like shit.
I also have some not-very-fond memories of some undermedicated obese patients taking shallow breaths, with grey clammy skin, gripping the bed rails afraid to move because of their pain. This cannot be good for their recovery.
I don't really know if I'll ever study the subject, but I think it's interesting. And I expect this will be a growing problem in the future.
Anyway, I was talking about this interest with a friend of mine, and suddenly she interrupts me and says, "But don't they piss you off?"
"Who?" I asked.
"Obese patients," she said.
"Why would they piss me off? Oh, you mean because they 'don't take care of themselves,'?"
"Pretty much," she said.
So here's the thing. I know this is a hot button issue for a lot of people for a bunch or reasons. First, a lot of people find fat to be revolting, perhaps because of some subconscious self-loathing of the potential to become obese themselves. Others think obesity boils down to self control and lack thereof. A lot of people also blame spiraling health care costs on obesity. And then there's the race aspect. Many obese people are poor minorities, and I wonder to what extent disgust about skin color/class has been displaced onto body size.
So I said, "Do you have ANY IDEA how hard it is to lose weight?"
No? Well let me tell you. I have never been obese in my life. However, currently, I weigh about 5 lbs more than I have since I worked in the factory the summer I turned 18. I am developing a FUPA. I am not pleased about this. Still, I am basically a skinny person.
Yet, I am finding it im-fucking-possible to change my eating habits. Yes, the exercise-wagon I've recently climbed back on will help some, but mostly I just have to eat less. And I don't even have to change that much of what I'm currently doing. People who are morbidly obese have to change EVERYTHING.
Can you fathom how hard that must be? On top of that, I'm sure they are hungrier than I am, and have limited social support compared to what I have.
You know? We all have flaws. It's just with obesity, they're on display for everyone to throw stones at. I suggest that the next time you find yourself recoiling with disgust when you see an obese person, or internally tsk-tsking when you see an obese person with a shopping cart full of ring-dings and potato chips, you remember all the ways in which you are not perfect either and focus on that instead.
Obese people aren't just lazy tubs of lard with no self-control or feelings or pain receptors. They are people too, who deserve as compassionate and thoughtful care as anyone else. Yes, they probably are harder to care for as patients (and doctors probably should be compensated for this increased complexity), but that doesn't mean they deserve to be treated like shit.
In which OMDG predicts the apocalypse
This study really bothers me. It's a weak attempt to copy the study that came out in the NEJM last week (first author is a friend of mine -- I am so proud of her!! Not to mention a little envious :-)) except on a larger scale and in ALL patients who have government health insurance.
Of course, my main objection to this study is based on the NYT article being accurately reported.... which I have my doubts about since the study is being run by NORC, and they *usually* do a pretty good job.... but still I thought it was worth mentioning anyway.
A little background. In her study, Johanna had fake patient parents call clinics to get specialist appointments for children either with Medicaid vs. private insurance. They found (big surprise) that the time the medicaid patients had to wait for an appt was longer. The conditions the callers were requesting appointments for were chronic -- NON EMERGENT -- complaints. This is important.
In the new study, callers will be requesting new patient appointments with a primary care physician to be seen about "fever + productive cough with blood and shortness of breath that is worsening x 2 weeks." The outcome, again, is whether they can get an appointment, and how long they have to wait for it.
You want to know my problem with this? That patient should be referred to the ED. A worsening pneumonia in a patient who you don't know, who could have god knows how many other medical problems, should be seen in the ED and NOT in your office to get over the counter antibiotics. So, what will it mean if private patients are getting appointments and public ones are not? It could actually mean that the private patients are receiving inappropriate care.
Way to design a solid study, Department of Health and Human Services! Sometimes I wonder if this whole clinical research thing is worth it when there are SO MANY IDIOTS out there conducting clinical research, and it seems that whether you get to run a study is based more on politics than on competence.
But I digress.
The other issue I have with the study is based on personal cynicism. On the face of it, you're thinking won't this be great! We'll prove that there are disparities in access to care based on insurance type, and the government will be forced to fix them. The nirvana of free perfect care for everyone will be reached, and we will stamp out disease for everyone.
Not so fast.
See, you'd THINK that the outcome of this research would be better reimbursement for publicly insured patients. That would make sense, right? However recall that reimbursement levels for these patients have been declining ever since these programs were established. I don't see that trend reversing itself in light of recent federal and state cuts to medicaid.
What's going to happen instead? My guess is that there will be caps placed on what private insurance can reimburse for a visit. The effect will be a leveling of the playing field between people who have private vs. public insurance. Now it will take EVERYONE forever to get an appointment (remember the term pareto efficient -- this is the opposite of that).
It will also drive even more primary care doctors out of business because the changes will lower reimbursement levels for primary care drs even more. Who will absorb that demand? Who knows! And if you say physician extenders.... yes maybe. However I've yet to have been cared for by one who doesn't scare me. But that's just me. Maybe if I didn't know any better I'd mind a little bit less.
(Sorry if that offends my NP readers out there if there are any. It's not that I think Physician Extenders are useless, it's just that they are good at some things, and replacing doctors completely is not one of them.)
The only people who wouldn't get hurt by a policy change like this would be the patients who pay out of pocket for concierge drs.
Anyhow, perhaps none of this will really transpire and I am being paranoid.... but I have grown cynical about the political process.
And while I completely agree on one hand that health care needs to change and that the current system is deeply flawed in ways that hurt everyone in a multitude of ways, on the other hand I have limited faith in the ability of the political process to come up with a system that doesn't somehow screw everyone but the uber rich.
Do you have any thoughts on this?
Discuss.
Of course, my main objection to this study is based on the NYT article being accurately reported.... which I have my doubts about since the study is being run by NORC, and they *usually* do a pretty good job.... but still I thought it was worth mentioning anyway.
A little background. In her study, Johanna had fake patient parents call clinics to get specialist appointments for children either with Medicaid vs. private insurance. They found (big surprise) that the time the medicaid patients had to wait for an appt was longer. The conditions the callers were requesting appointments for were chronic -- NON EMERGENT -- complaints. This is important.
In the new study, callers will be requesting new patient appointments with a primary care physician to be seen about "fever + productive cough with blood and shortness of breath that is worsening x 2 weeks." The outcome, again, is whether they can get an appointment, and how long they have to wait for it.
You want to know my problem with this? That patient should be referred to the ED. A worsening pneumonia in a patient who you don't know, who could have god knows how many other medical problems, should be seen in the ED and NOT in your office to get over the counter antibiotics. So, what will it mean if private patients are getting appointments and public ones are not? It could actually mean that the private patients are receiving inappropriate care.
Way to design a solid study, Department of Health and Human Services! Sometimes I wonder if this whole clinical research thing is worth it when there are SO MANY IDIOTS out there conducting clinical research, and it seems that whether you get to run a study is based more on politics than on competence.
But I digress.
The other issue I have with the study is based on personal cynicism. On the face of it, you're thinking won't this be great! We'll prove that there are disparities in access to care based on insurance type, and the government will be forced to fix them. The nirvana of free perfect care for everyone will be reached, and we will stamp out disease for everyone.
Not so fast.
See, you'd THINK that the outcome of this research would be better reimbursement for publicly insured patients. That would make sense, right? However recall that reimbursement levels for these patients have been declining ever since these programs were established. I don't see that trend reversing itself in light of recent federal and state cuts to medicaid.
What's going to happen instead? My guess is that there will be caps placed on what private insurance can reimburse for a visit. The effect will be a leveling of the playing field between people who have private vs. public insurance. Now it will take EVERYONE forever to get an appointment (remember the term pareto efficient -- this is the opposite of that).
It will also drive even more primary care doctors out of business because the changes will lower reimbursement levels for primary care drs even more. Who will absorb that demand? Who knows! And if you say physician extenders.... yes maybe. However I've yet to have been cared for by one who doesn't scare me. But that's just me. Maybe if I didn't know any better I'd mind a little bit less.
(Sorry if that offends my NP readers out there if there are any. It's not that I think Physician Extenders are useless, it's just that they are good at some things, and replacing doctors completely is not one of them.)
The only people who wouldn't get hurt by a policy change like this would be the patients who pay out of pocket for concierge drs.
Anyhow, perhaps none of this will really transpire and I am being paranoid.... but I have grown cynical about the political process.
And while I completely agree on one hand that health care needs to change and that the current system is deeply flawed in ways that hurt everyone in a multitude of ways, on the other hand I have limited faith in the ability of the political process to come up with a system that doesn't somehow screw everyone but the uber rich.
Do you have any thoughts on this?
Discuss.
Friday, June 24, 2011
dead
Miss Boo recently learned how to play dead. Then we taught her how to roll over, but I think she still prefers doing the first trick.
Now, every time she lies down, she assumes the "play dead" position in order to request a treat. It's not very convincing though, since she's usually also looking up at me with pleading eyes and beating the floor with her tail.
It's really cute. Maybe when I figure out how to compress videos I will post one of that.
*****
Otherwise, today has been a wash. I had ANOTHER drs appointment on the other side of town at 7:30 this morning, necessitating a 5:30 AM wake up. Now, I know that some reader will tell me that they get up at 5:30 all the time, and that as a future doctor I will just have to get used to it.
Well, I am here to tell you to get off your high horse. Getting up at 5:30 sucks. Sorry. Especially when your usual wake up time is 7, and at 10:30 last night you thought to yourself, "Shit, I forgot about that drs appointment tomorrow morning. I should have gone to bed an hour ago. Whoops."
Fortunately I took a nap when I came home.
Unfortunately that basically killed my entire morning.
*****
Now that a draft of my paper is done, I've been trying to review some basic biostats. No practice problems yet, since my quals aren't for another 8 weeks or so. Just going over the concepts, and reminding myself what things like McNemar's test are for so that when I start doing actual problems it won't be such a shock to the system.
I also started reviewing my Designing Clinical Research book. The best part about that is that it's a quick and easy read, with lots of charts and diagrams, big print, headers, and these lovely summary sections at the end of each chapter. It makes it a lot less painful to get through than say..... Baby Rothman. Which makes me want to vomit, if you must know.
Just trying to get a bit more done before my mentor gets my paper back to me, at which point I will have to shift gears again and work on that. I'm really hoping that he won't want a bunch of additional analyses, and especially additional analyses that involve variable creation by our data person. That would take FOREVER.
*****
Tomorrow the plan is to go rock climbing again. I'm so excited!
Now, every time she lies down, she assumes the "play dead" position in order to request a treat. It's not very convincing though, since she's usually also looking up at me with pleading eyes and beating the floor with her tail.
It's really cute. Maybe when I figure out how to compress videos I will post one of that.
*****
Otherwise, today has been a wash. I had ANOTHER drs appointment on the other side of town at 7:30 this morning, necessitating a 5:30 AM wake up. Now, I know that some reader will tell me that they get up at 5:30 all the time, and that as a future doctor I will just have to get used to it.
Well, I am here to tell you to get off your high horse. Getting up at 5:30 sucks. Sorry. Especially when your usual wake up time is 7, and at 10:30 last night you thought to yourself, "Shit, I forgot about that drs appointment tomorrow morning. I should have gone to bed an hour ago. Whoops."
Fortunately I took a nap when I came home.
Unfortunately that basically killed my entire morning.
*****
Now that a draft of my paper is done, I've been trying to review some basic biostats. No practice problems yet, since my quals aren't for another 8 weeks or so. Just going over the concepts, and reminding myself what things like McNemar's test are for so that when I start doing actual problems it won't be such a shock to the system.
I also started reviewing my Designing Clinical Research book. The best part about that is that it's a quick and easy read, with lots of charts and diagrams, big print, headers, and these lovely summary sections at the end of each chapter. It makes it a lot less painful to get through than say..... Baby Rothman. Which makes me want to vomit, if you must know.
Just trying to get a bit more done before my mentor gets my paper back to me, at which point I will have to shift gears again and work on that. I'm really hoping that he won't want a bunch of additional analyses, and especially additional analyses that involve variable creation by our data person. That would take FOREVER.
*****
Tomorrow the plan is to go rock climbing again. I'm so excited!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
1st Draft
I just sent my PI a first draft of my ICU Readmissions paper. This is the paper I've been working on for almost a year.
Woohoo!!
I'm sure he'll have some useful feedback, and hopefully he won't think it totally sucks.
I can't believe I finally got a draft out!
Woohoo!!
I'm sure he'll have some useful feedback, and hopefully he won't think it totally sucks.
I can't believe I finally got a draft out!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The tit doctor, revisited
Had another appt with the breast surgeon today, and it went well. (Though what's up with *quadruple* booking your 1PMs?) She was more pleasant and less talk-down-y. She also had a nurse with her who was lovely.
Actually, the surgeon did very little talking at all. Mostly the nurse made small talk while the doctor did her thing. It worked well. One doesn't become a surgeon because one likes to schmooze after all. If you don't like operating better than everything else (including sleep) you're picking the wrong profession. My doctor has clearly picked the right one for her.
I have to say that despite all my gripes, that office runs like a well oiled machine. I had to have another appt made with another dept, and before I'd even put my clothes on, the front desk staff was all over it and it was scheduled. She also did an FNA in like 2 minutes, and I barely felt a thing.
It was incredible. Given how much I hear patients yell and scream whenever they get poked with any sort of needle (not just when *I* am wielding the needle, mind you), I was expecting a mini-torture session. So either a) she is just amazing with her technique, b) I am very tough (haha), or c) it's not as bad as some patients make it out to be.
So I should have my results in a few days. God willing I will finally be done with the boobs and we can move on to my other various and sundry medical problems that need to be taken care of before I go back to medical school/residency.
Actually, the surgeon did very little talking at all. Mostly the nurse made small talk while the doctor did her thing. It worked well. One doesn't become a surgeon because one likes to schmooze after all. If you don't like operating better than everything else (including sleep) you're picking the wrong profession. My doctor has clearly picked the right one for her.
I have to say that despite all my gripes, that office runs like a well oiled machine. I had to have another appt made with another dept, and before I'd even put my clothes on, the front desk staff was all over it and it was scheduled. She also did an FNA in like 2 minutes, and I barely felt a thing.
It was incredible. Given how much I hear patients yell and scream whenever they get poked with any sort of needle (not just when *I* am wielding the needle, mind you), I was expecting a mini-torture session. So either a) she is just amazing with her technique, b) I am very tough (haha), or c) it's not as bad as some patients make it out to be.
So I should have my results in a few days. God willing I will finally be done with the boobs and we can move on to my other various and sundry medical problems that need to be taken care of before I go back to medical school/residency.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Let them eat cupcakes
Here's a link to the Karen Sibert thing on NPR where she discusses "The Mommy Track" and how bad it is. http://beta.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Honestly, the idea of working MORE kind of makes me want to vomit. I can only imagine what the idea must feel like to people who also have children.
From the NYT article....
On one hand, it sort of seems like she's being lambasted for giving pre-meds unhelpful advice. There was a notable quote where's she's asked by some young lass whether it's possible to balance motherhood and being a doctor and she tells her, "If you want to be a doctor, go be a doctor."
Personally, I didn't find her response offensive at all. I find those kinds of questions from pre-meds kind of irritating, if you must know. Of COURSE you can do both. The question is DO YOU WANT TO. And besides, being a parent is hard work no matter what profession you choose to go into.
I may have trouble to relating to this anxiety because my own mother worked (investment banker), and I have always assumed that I would be a working mom if I ever had kids. I recognize that not everyone comes from the same place, and that lots of young women are bombarded with concerns from well intentioned family members who urge them to give up their professional dreams because someday, sometime, they might eventually have babies. I am really glad I don't have to deal with that pressure's all I have to say.
But other things in the column did bother me. Quite a bit.
I think it was that part where it came out that Dr. Sibert believes that all doctors should be workaholics who bury themselves into their careers, and that anyone who wants to split that life with something else (babies, hobbies -- god forbid) is selfish and shouldn't go into medicine.
Seriously? I don't know if I ever will have children, but I know I don't want to work 80 hours a week caring for patients for the rest of my life. I guess that makes me a bad person. Maybe I will work that hard doing research, but that's another issue entirely. And it's not patient care, so I wonder if that counts.
Furthermore, how can you expect a 22 year old to have any idea what he/she will want his/her life to be like at age 40? Priorities change. Life happens. To expect a contract of martyrdom along with your MD doesn't really seem fair. And to blame the primary care shortage on part time mommy docs sounds like something Ann Coulter would say in order to get attention.
Fortunately, we can have the lives we want no matter what Dr. Sibert thinks. Medicine is heading towards flexibility, not the other way around. If you want to make your kids cupcakes and work 3 days a week, more power to you. Go for it. And just ignore the people who say you should be living your life in some other way. There will always be naysayers no matter what you do.
Honestly, the idea of working MORE kind of makes me want to vomit. I can only imagine what the idea must feel like to people who also have children.
From the NYT article....
On one hand, it sort of seems like she's being lambasted for giving pre-meds unhelpful advice. There was a notable quote where's she's asked by some young lass whether it's possible to balance motherhood and being a doctor and she tells her, "If you want to be a doctor, go be a doctor."
Personally, I didn't find her response offensive at all. I find those kinds of questions from pre-meds kind of irritating, if you must know. Of COURSE you can do both. The question is DO YOU WANT TO. And besides, being a parent is hard work no matter what profession you choose to go into.
I may have trouble to relating to this anxiety because my own mother worked (investment banker), and I have always assumed that I would be a working mom if I ever had kids. I recognize that not everyone comes from the same place, and that lots of young women are bombarded with concerns from well intentioned family members who urge them to give up their professional dreams because someday, sometime, they might eventually have babies. I am really glad I don't have to deal with that pressure's all I have to say.
But other things in the column did bother me. Quite a bit.
I think it was that part where it came out that Dr. Sibert believes that all doctors should be workaholics who bury themselves into their careers, and that anyone who wants to split that life with something else (babies, hobbies -- god forbid) is selfish and shouldn't go into medicine.
Seriously? I don't know if I ever will have children, but I know I don't want to work 80 hours a week caring for patients for the rest of my life. I guess that makes me a bad person. Maybe I will work that hard doing research, but that's another issue entirely. And it's not patient care, so I wonder if that counts.
Furthermore, how can you expect a 22 year old to have any idea what he/she will want his/her life to be like at age 40? Priorities change. Life happens. To expect a contract of martyrdom along with your MD doesn't really seem fair. And to blame the primary care shortage on part time mommy docs sounds like something Ann Coulter would say in order to get attention.
Fortunately, we can have the lives we want no matter what Dr. Sibert thinks. Medicine is heading towards flexibility, not the other way around. If you want to make your kids cupcakes and work 3 days a week, more power to you. Go for it. And just ignore the people who say you should be living your life in some other way. There will always be naysayers no matter what you do.
Other ways in which fb is annoying
Those stupid "drop-ins."
Yesterday, a friend from out of town "dropped in" to a local Philly place. So I commented, "Hey, what are you doing in Philly?"
She commented back, "Oh I'm only here for a VERY SHORT time." (emphasis mine)
I wanted to reply, "No worries, sweetie. I didn't want to hang out with you either. I just wanted to know what you were doing in town. Have fun!" But I thought that might be misconstrued as bitchy.
(So instead I am posting it on my blog because I am mature that way. Haha.)
:-P
Add this to the list of 1,000,000 ways facebook is annoying. Or maybe I just have annoying friends.
Yesterday, a friend from out of town "dropped in" to a local Philly place. So I commented, "Hey, what are you doing in Philly?"
She commented back, "Oh I'm only here for a VERY SHORT time." (emphasis mine)
I wanted to reply, "No worries, sweetie. I didn't want to hang out with you either. I just wanted to know what you were doing in town. Have fun!" But I thought that might be misconstrued as bitchy.
(So instead I am posting it on my blog because I am mature that way. Haha.)
:-P
Add this to the list of 1,000,000 ways facebook is annoying. Or maybe I just have annoying friends.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Climbing
Yesterday Luca and I went to Go Vertical for a climbing lesson. I figured I needed to be reminded how to tie in and belay since it's been 12 YEARS since I last went climbing. My old shoes still fit (I love my 5-10s!), but my harness was shot.
Luca used to climb back in his youth as well, and our climbing stuff was in some box in the basement. It was pretty easy to find since a few months back we'd converted an old chalk bag to a treat bag for the Boo, and we'd had to dig the equipment out of a box to find it. Yesterday I was laughing because part of the reason we'd converted the chalk bag was because we both assumed we'd never actually use it for *chalk* again. haha.
And my, things have changed. First, for top roping, you don't actually *tie in* anymore. At least not at this gym. However, the class was still useful in that I was reminded how to do the 6 point check and belay, and I didn't suck nearly as much as I feared.
I remember the first time I climbed back when I was a 22 year old lass. I think I made it up two times and I shook the whole way. I was scared of the height. Scared I would fall.
Yesterday, we made it up 5 (?) times, actually did some real routes, AND did some bouldering. I'd forgotten how much I missed bouldering. I did a V0(-) first try. Yay me! It turns out some of my technique is still there. And I didn't shake, and while my hands and arms eventually gave out, it took most of the full two hours. And even though I still freak out when hiking in the mountains (fing vertigo), I had none of these problems yesterday. It didn't even occur to me to be scared.
Luca also did really well. He's 6'5 and not especially built for climbing, but did everything that I did. It probably helps that he is very light. His technique was still intact as well.
Our lesson includes 2 free passes for climbing to be redeemed over the next two weeks, so hopefully we can go back next Saturday and get belay certified and climb for a couple of hours then too.
Admittedly, both of us kind of passed out when we got home for a few hours, but it was totally worth it. The good kind of tired that you feel to your bones. I kind of lay there with my arms extended because my forearms were sore. It was very satisfying. And I don't even feel that bad today! Ironically, I think I am more sore from this dance workout video I did two days ago (don't ask) than from climbing.
The only real negative is that I have and always will hate the way chalk feels on my skin. It was the only thing I didn't like about gymnastics when I was a little girl. I know some people who actually love this feeling, which I find totally and utterly shocking. But it's all good. I got over it before, and I'll get over it again.
I can't wait to go back. I just wish either a) I had my own car, or b) the gym was closer, so I could make it more than a once a week thing.
And, maybe.... MAYBE when we go to Cortina at the end of the summer we'll be able to hire a guide to take us climbing in the Dolomites. That may be a long shot, but it's definitely worth fantasizing about. :-)
So, honey, can we get another car???? PLEASE?
Luca used to climb back in his youth as well, and our climbing stuff was in some box in the basement. It was pretty easy to find since a few months back we'd converted an old chalk bag to a treat bag for the Boo, and we'd had to dig the equipment out of a box to find it. Yesterday I was laughing because part of the reason we'd converted the chalk bag was because we both assumed we'd never actually use it for *chalk* again. haha.
And my, things have changed. First, for top roping, you don't actually *tie in* anymore. At least not at this gym. However, the class was still useful in that I was reminded how to do the 6 point check and belay, and I didn't suck nearly as much as I feared.
I remember the first time I climbed back when I was a 22 year old lass. I think I made it up two times and I shook the whole way. I was scared of the height. Scared I would fall.
Yesterday, we made it up 5 (?) times, actually did some real routes, AND did some bouldering. I'd forgotten how much I missed bouldering. I did a V0(-) first try. Yay me! It turns out some of my technique is still there. And I didn't shake, and while my hands and arms eventually gave out, it took most of the full two hours. And even though I still freak out when hiking in the mountains (fing vertigo), I had none of these problems yesterday. It didn't even occur to me to be scared.
Luca also did really well. He's 6'5 and not especially built for climbing, but did everything that I did. It probably helps that he is very light. His technique was still intact as well.
Our lesson includes 2 free passes for climbing to be redeemed over the next two weeks, so hopefully we can go back next Saturday and get belay certified and climb for a couple of hours then too.
Admittedly, both of us kind of passed out when we got home for a few hours, but it was totally worth it. The good kind of tired that you feel to your bones. I kind of lay there with my arms extended because my forearms were sore. It was very satisfying. And I don't even feel that bad today! Ironically, I think I am more sore from this dance workout video I did two days ago (don't ask) than from climbing.
The only real negative is that I have and always will hate the way chalk feels on my skin. It was the only thing I didn't like about gymnastics when I was a little girl. I know some people who actually love this feeling, which I find totally and utterly shocking. But it's all good. I got over it before, and I'll get over it again.
I can't wait to go back. I just wish either a) I had my own car, or b) the gym was closer, so I could make it more than a once a week thing.
And, maybe.... MAYBE when we go to Cortina at the end of the summer we'll be able to hire a guide to take us climbing in the Dolomites. That may be a long shot, but it's definitely worth fantasizing about. :-)
So, honey, can we get another car???? PLEASE?
Friday, June 17, 2011
To do for today
- Model fit stats for both models
- Read 3 background articles for presentation Tues
- Read 1 hr biostats
- Revise paper 1 hr
EXERCISE!!! (dammit)
I was being really good about exercising before vacation in early May. Then I went to NC, caught Luca's cold (thanks honey!), went to my conference in Denver, and continued to feel under the weather for another couple of days. At that point, it had been about 3 weeks of no exercise, and I had officially fallen off the wagon.
I've found of late, falling off the exercise wagon is easier and easier to do. I used to like going to the gym. I've never been a huge fan of running, but I do like swimming, it's just really time consuming. I also used to derive motivation from feeling myself improve.
I don't derive motivation from that anymore. I'm slower than I used to be by a lot, and it would take more work than I have time for or desire to do to get back to where I was. So when I go, I feel disgusted with myself and my slowness.
Working out to "stay healthy" or "remain thin" have never been good motivators for me. Thinking about exercise in those terms makes it seem unbearably unappealing to me. I really can't imagine how those work for anyone else either.
Blah.
Any suggestions?
I will warn you that "find a friend to exercise with" is most likely not going to happen since most of my friends either don't exercise, exercise way too much for me to keep up with, or exercise on a schedule I have no interest in adhering to. I go with Luca, and that helps A LOT, but he's not always around and has been having problems with motivation himself.
- Read 3 background articles for presentation Tues
- Read 1 hr biostats
- Revise paper 1 hr
EXERCISE!!! (dammit)
I was being really good about exercising before vacation in early May. Then I went to NC, caught Luca's cold (thanks honey!), went to my conference in Denver, and continued to feel under the weather for another couple of days. At that point, it had been about 3 weeks of no exercise, and I had officially fallen off the wagon.
I've found of late, falling off the exercise wagon is easier and easier to do. I used to like going to the gym. I've never been a huge fan of running, but I do like swimming, it's just really time consuming. I also used to derive motivation from feeling myself improve.
I don't derive motivation from that anymore. I'm slower than I used to be by a lot, and it would take more work than I have time for or desire to do to get back to where I was. So when I go, I feel disgusted with myself and my slowness.
Working out to "stay healthy" or "remain thin" have never been good motivators for me. Thinking about exercise in those terms makes it seem unbearably unappealing to me. I really can't imagine how those work for anyone else either.
Blah.
Any suggestions?
I will warn you that "find a friend to exercise with" is most likely not going to happen since most of my friends either don't exercise, exercise way too much for me to keep up with, or exercise on a schedule I have no interest in adhering to. I go with Luca, and that helps A LOT, but he's not always around and has been having problems with motivation himself.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
the tit doctor
Over the past month, I've been undergoing (another) assessment of what is likely (again) a benign breast lump. Fun way to spend the summer, running all over the city to see the breast surgeon, the radiologist*, the breast surgeon AGAIN, and AGAIN. You get the idea.
What's been interesting about all this is that I know the breast surgeon from my heme-onc rotation two and a half years ago. As you may recall, I despised that rotation. I despised the way the oncologists in the practiced talked to their patients (don't ever call me "Sport." EVER.) But the breast surgeon was ok. True, she was unbelievably bougie, with her perfectly coiffed blond helmet hair and her Chanel suits, but I didn't mind her manner.
It turns out that as her patient? I mind*.
She talks to me as though she thinks I'm trying to get away with something. I've tried to give her concise, complete, direct responses about my history, and have always responded to her demands by saying, "Yes," "Ok," or "I understand." What gives?
Case in point, after I saw the radiologist last week, she called me with the results (which were good). I was cheerful. She said, "Well, you KNOW you're STILL going to have to come in for another follow-up, since it IS a palpable lump."
Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Perhaps I'm too prickly. Perhaps what she was saying came across badly because it was over the phone, and I was subconsciously (or consciously) annoyed because I don't want to deal with trekking all the way across time for 1,000,000 doctors appointments. But the tone kind of made me not want to come back at all, if you must know.
(I said, "That's fine, I'll call your office tomorrow morning to schedule an appointment," in the same cheerful tone of voice. F-her.)
In the end, I'd rather have a competent doctor than a doctor I liked, but God! Is it so much to ask to have both??
I guess the moral of the story is that it's possible to like a doctor as a colleague, but then not to as their patient. Maybe their manner changes. And maybe their manner *should* change, but doesn't.
*The radiologist was completely lovely, as usual. A young woman who told me to go into anesthesiology and not internal medicine. (ha!) So much better than the resident I got four years ago before my clerkships started, whom I proceeded to see in various places throughout the hospital over the next two years as I did my rotations. Hello, awkward!
*I am positive she doesn't remember me.
What's been interesting about all this is that I know the breast surgeon from my heme-onc rotation two and a half years ago. As you may recall, I despised that rotation. I despised the way the oncologists in the practiced talked to their patients (don't ever call me "Sport." EVER.) But the breast surgeon was ok. True, she was unbelievably bougie, with her perfectly coiffed blond helmet hair and her Chanel suits, but I didn't mind her manner.
It turns out that as her patient? I mind*.
She talks to me as though she thinks I'm trying to get away with something. I've tried to give her concise, complete, direct responses about my history, and have always responded to her demands by saying, "Yes," "Ok," or "I understand." What gives?
Case in point, after I saw the radiologist last week, she called me with the results (which were good). I was cheerful. She said, "Well, you KNOW you're STILL going to have to come in for another follow-up, since it IS a palpable lump."
Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Perhaps I'm too prickly. Perhaps what she was saying came across badly because it was over the phone, and I was subconsciously (or consciously) annoyed because I don't want to deal with trekking all the way across time for 1,000,000 doctors appointments. But the tone kind of made me not want to come back at all, if you must know.
(I said, "That's fine, I'll call your office tomorrow morning to schedule an appointment," in the same cheerful tone of voice. F-her.)
In the end, I'd rather have a competent doctor than a doctor I liked, but God! Is it so much to ask to have both??
I guess the moral of the story is that it's possible to like a doctor as a colleague, but then not to as their patient. Maybe their manner changes. And maybe their manner *should* change, but doesn't.
*The radiologist was completely lovely, as usual. A young woman who told me to go into anesthesiology and not internal medicine. (ha!) So much better than the resident I got four years ago before my clerkships started, whom I proceeded to see in various places throughout the hospital over the next two years as I did my rotations. Hello, awkward!
*I am positive she doesn't remember me.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Who else is annoyed with facebook
I culled my friends a while back, reducing the # from the 600s to the 400s. The people I removed were people I didn't think I'd recognize in real life at first. Then I removed the ones I didn't WANT to recognize.
Most wall updates that people post are really annoying. As a result, I've blocked the news feed of over 50% of my friends. I didn't want to start thinking of them as annoying people in real life, and reading their annoying wall posts was beginning to do that.
I found that surprising people keep me interested with their wall posts, but it's usually not anyone I know especially well. There's a woman I don't think I ever spoke to in hs who posts about her 4 kids, which I find interesting. Another friend from elementary school who posts about her dog, cousins, and apartment follies. Boo's foster mom is interesting sometimes. Maybe it's because I don't know them that well and don't ever see them in real life that I find their wall posts interesting.
And then there are the people who I feel I have to remain friends with or else they'll hold a grudge since they're THAT kind of crazy. So I block them completely. I wish I could just totally unfriend them but I worry that this will somehow bite me in the ass.
I suppose on the positive side, it's the only way of contacting some of my friends, so I'll probably keep it for that reason alone. But other than a giant Rolodex, it's just not that interesting to me anymore.
Am I the only one who feels this way?
Most wall updates that people post are really annoying. As a result, I've blocked the news feed of over 50% of my friends. I didn't want to start thinking of them as annoying people in real life, and reading their annoying wall posts was beginning to do that.
I found that surprising people keep me interested with their wall posts, but it's usually not anyone I know especially well. There's a woman I don't think I ever spoke to in hs who posts about her 4 kids, which I find interesting. Another friend from elementary school who posts about her dog, cousins, and apartment follies. Boo's foster mom is interesting sometimes. Maybe it's because I don't know them that well and don't ever see them in real life that I find their wall posts interesting.
And then there are the people who I feel I have to remain friends with or else they'll hold a grudge since they're THAT kind of crazy. So I block them completely. I wish I could just totally unfriend them but I worry that this will somehow bite me in the ass.
I suppose on the positive side, it's the only way of contacting some of my friends, so I'll probably keep it for that reason alone. But other than a giant Rolodex, it's just not that interesting to me anymore.
Am I the only one who feels this way?
Why is it that I always feel unproductive
Yesterday I got up at 7, walked the dog, revised my methods and results section with all the new data I had to run, did all my readings for class this morning, went to the vet to pick up the Boo's interceptor, went to a community meeting, went for a swim, and watched an episode of Dexter.
And still I feel like I accomplished nothing.
Today I had class for three hours, completed an IRB continuing review, and worked on my discussion section. And I'm beating myself up because I had promised myself I'd read an hour of biostats, but just didn't get to it. Because I socialized too much at school.
In reality I accomplished kind of a lot these past two days.
On a positive note, the community meeting went well. Someone bought the abandoned building across the street from our house, and allegedly plans to turn it into "market value" apartments (as opposed to section 8 or halfway housing for homeless people). He has some other buildings in the neighborhood that are quite nice and well maintained. As with anything having to do with developers, I'll believe it when I see it, but at least he's not *actually* a felon, unlike the last guy who came to talk with us. And he's already bought the property, so it looks like something might actually happen with it!
Fingers crossed.
And still I feel like I accomplished nothing.
Today I had class for three hours, completed an IRB continuing review, and worked on my discussion section. And I'm beating myself up because I had promised myself I'd read an hour of biostats, but just didn't get to it. Because I socialized too much at school.
In reality I accomplished kind of a lot these past two days.
On a positive note, the community meeting went well. Someone bought the abandoned building across the street from our house, and allegedly plans to turn it into "market value" apartments (as opposed to section 8 or halfway housing for homeless people). He has some other buildings in the neighborhood that are quite nice and well maintained. As with anything having to do with developers, I'll believe it when I see it, but at least he's not *actually* a felon, unlike the last guy who came to talk with us. And he's already bought the property, so it looks like something might actually happen with it!
Fingers crossed.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Cell Service
Anyone in the Philly area have a cell provider they're actually happy with?
We've been using AT&T for years now, and have found that the service has deteriorated significantly in the West Philly area over the past year. I have at least one dropped call per day, the reception in my house is terrible, and I walk in and out of bad reception areas all the way to school. Plus even when I'm actually able to talk on the phone, the sound quality is static-y and horrible.
I tried getting a new phone since the old one was 4 years old, but there wasn't much of an improvement.
Is Verizon any better?
Any other carriers that don't suck?
We've been using AT&T for years now, and have found that the service has deteriorated significantly in the West Philly area over the past year. I have at least one dropped call per day, the reception in my house is terrible, and I walk in and out of bad reception areas all the way to school. Plus even when I'm actually able to talk on the phone, the sound quality is static-y and horrible.
I tried getting a new phone since the old one was 4 years old, but there wasn't much of an improvement.
Is Verizon any better?
Any other carriers that don't suck?
Ugh
I'd forgotten until just now, but this week we have not one but TWO community meetings.
Originally when I moved here, I was excited to get involved in this sort of thing. I wanted to see my neighborhood develop and prosper, and I wanted to have a part in deciding how.
What it's turned out to be has been a series of corrupt developers coming to tell us their plans for several abandoned properties in our area and the parking lot at the end of our street. Of course nobody is permitted to talk at the meeting except the people who have lived here for 30+ years. And they want the neighborhood to stay exactly as it is now.
It's not that I want what's been proposed either....
Some of the projects proposed include:
1) Housing for "veterans" and "the elderly" with a "pan-Asian" restaurant and "doctor's office" on the first floor of a brand new 6 story building at the end of my block.
2) A supermarket (Bottom Dollar Grocery, which as far as I can tell are only located in the ghetto).
3) A Walgreens (I am now warming up to this idea, not that it matters)
4) A guy who is under indictment and who builds halfway houses for HIV patients wanted to renovate one of the local abandoned buildings for housing for displaced veterans. Maybe if we put a methadone clinic on the first floor, out neighborhood will truly have EVERYTHING it needs!
Look, I don't want any of these things either. The problem is that nobody can agree that things can't just stay exactly as they are. The only alternative anyone is willing to consider are condos, which just ain't gonna happen in this housing market, or community gardens, which also ain't gonna happen because the city needs to make money.
So anyway, we have one meeting a month in the evenings to attend, however THIS week we have two. One general community meeting, and one extra meeting to meet with another likely corrupt developer (is there such a thing as a developer who is NOT corrupt???). And they take forever, and nothing ever gets done. And each time we leave with this impending sense of doom that our neighborhood is about to go down the toilet.
It's really depressing. And it takes up a crapload of what little free time we have.
Yay community politics.
Originally when I moved here, I was excited to get involved in this sort of thing. I wanted to see my neighborhood develop and prosper, and I wanted to have a part in deciding how.
What it's turned out to be has been a series of corrupt developers coming to tell us their plans for several abandoned properties in our area and the parking lot at the end of our street. Of course nobody is permitted to talk at the meeting except the people who have lived here for 30+ years. And they want the neighborhood to stay exactly as it is now.
It's not that I want what's been proposed either....
Some of the projects proposed include:
1) Housing for "veterans" and "the elderly" with a "pan-Asian" restaurant and "doctor's office" on the first floor of a brand new 6 story building at the end of my block.
2) A supermarket (Bottom Dollar Grocery, which as far as I can tell are only located in the ghetto).
3) A Walgreens (I am now warming up to this idea, not that it matters)
4) A guy who is under indictment and who builds halfway houses for HIV patients wanted to renovate one of the local abandoned buildings for housing for displaced veterans. Maybe if we put a methadone clinic on the first floor, out neighborhood will truly have EVERYTHING it needs!
Look, I don't want any of these things either. The problem is that nobody can agree that things can't just stay exactly as they are. The only alternative anyone is willing to consider are condos, which just ain't gonna happen in this housing market, or community gardens, which also ain't gonna happen because the city needs to make money.
So anyway, we have one meeting a month in the evenings to attend, however THIS week we have two. One general community meeting, and one extra meeting to meet with another likely corrupt developer (is there such a thing as a developer who is NOT corrupt???). And they take forever, and nothing ever gets done. And each time we leave with this impending sense of doom that our neighborhood is about to go down the toilet.
It's really depressing. And it takes up a crapload of what little free time we have.
Yay community politics.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
First Quals....
Then Italy!!
I haven't been to Italy to visit the in-laws in almost two years, so Luca and I figured that right after my qualifications exams would be as good a time as any. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and we'll get to go to Cortina again. Maybe my vertigo will even cooperate too!
Ah! Something to look forward to in addition to getting these papers out!
I haven't been to Italy to visit the in-laws in almost two years, so Luca and I figured that right after my qualifications exams would be as good a time as any. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, and we'll get to go to Cortina again. Maybe my vertigo will even cooperate too!
Ah! Something to look forward to in addition to getting these papers out!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Pretty Damn Good
Someone, I think it was Maren, asked me to opine on the recent NYT article in which 4 woman scientists were interviewed about their careers. All 4 were extremely successful, and at the top of their professions. Most had children who were in their 20's and 30's. Areas of specialty ranged from Physics to Biology.
So what do I think?
I think I've heard most of it before. It's always sobering for me to read these articles and to hear about how hard these people work. The truth is, to reach the pinnacle of your profession in ANY field, man or woman, you have to work your ass off and be very lucky.
Some of these women talked about how they discovered the middle of the night as a great time in which to get work accomplished. The others talked about how tough you have to be. So, basically, in order to be successful you have to a) not sleep, and b) be immune to criticism from others.
The thing is, I'm kind of tired of reading about these people. Thinking about the amount of work and sacrifice that lies ahead in order to achieve what they've achieved can be pretty daunting. It could make me want to give up before I even start. I'm tired just thinking about it.
I figure, I'm just going to keep plugging away at what I'm doing, trying to do good research, and doing good science. I'm going to keep doing my best, and working hard, and I will see where it all takes me. If I end up at the top of my field, cool. If I end up somewhere in the middle, that would be cool too.
I guess I just think it's a mistake to have the goal of "winning a Nobel prize" or "being the best person doing XYZ research" or "tenured faculty at Harvard." You just have to go out there and give it your best shot and be happy where you land. It's going to be good no matter where that is. After all on the way to awesome you pass through pretty damn good.
And pretty damn good, is pretty damn good.
In the end if I end up as pretty damn good, I'll be happy with that too.
So what do I think?
I think I've heard most of it before. It's always sobering for me to read these articles and to hear about how hard these people work. The truth is, to reach the pinnacle of your profession in ANY field, man or woman, you have to work your ass off and be very lucky.
Some of these women talked about how they discovered the middle of the night as a great time in which to get work accomplished. The others talked about how tough you have to be. So, basically, in order to be successful you have to a) not sleep, and b) be immune to criticism from others.
The thing is, I'm kind of tired of reading about these people. Thinking about the amount of work and sacrifice that lies ahead in order to achieve what they've achieved can be pretty daunting. It could make me want to give up before I even start. I'm tired just thinking about it.
I figure, I'm just going to keep plugging away at what I'm doing, trying to do good research, and doing good science. I'm going to keep doing my best, and working hard, and I will see where it all takes me. If I end up at the top of my field, cool. If I end up somewhere in the middle, that would be cool too.
I guess I just think it's a mistake to have the goal of "winning a Nobel prize" or "being the best person doing XYZ research" or "tenured faculty at Harvard." You just have to go out there and give it your best shot and be happy where you land. It's going to be good no matter where that is. After all on the way to awesome you pass through pretty damn good.
And pretty damn good, is pretty damn good.
In the end if I end up as pretty damn good, I'll be happy with that too.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Pill
One of the hardest pills to swallow when I started my clinical rotations was that when you get a question wrong on rounds or wherever, nobody cares about your thought process that led to that wrong answer. Not really. I suppose the occasional attending who's really into teaching cares.... but really, most people don't. There is no partial credit for having the right thought process.
That particularly goes for nurses. If a nurse tells you that you're doing something wrong, then just stop. Don't ask why. Figure out why yourself later.
It's overwhelmingly tempting though. Imagine the following interchange:
Attending: What is the most common cause of acute interstitial nephritis.
You: NSAIDs
Attending: Wrong. It's penicillin.
The appropriate response at this point is either silence, yes ma'am, or ok. It doesn't matter if the attending is wrong. It doesn't matter that you thought it was NSAIDs because of an article you read last night, and you really want to share that to show that you're not actually a shitty student after all.
The the problem is, if you say anything other than what I told you, you will come across as annoying, whiny, a know-it-all, and a time waster.
This goes double if not triple for residents and nurses. They are even less likely to be interested in humoring your attempts to prove you are anything less than dead weight that you are.
So,
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.
And do a ton or reading so you get your questions right.
That particularly goes for nurses. If a nurse tells you that you're doing something wrong, then just stop. Don't ask why. Figure out why yourself later.
It's overwhelmingly tempting though. Imagine the following interchange:
Attending: What is the most common cause of acute interstitial nephritis.
You: NSAIDs
Attending: Wrong. It's penicillin.
The appropriate response at this point is either silence, yes ma'am, or ok. It doesn't matter if the attending is wrong. It doesn't matter that you thought it was NSAIDs because of an article you read last night, and you really want to share that to show that you're not actually a shitty student after all.
The the problem is, if you say anything other than what I told you, you will come across as annoying, whiny, a know-it-all, and a time waster.
This goes double if not triple for residents and nurses. They are even less likely to be interested in humoring your attempts to prove you are anything less than dead weight that you are.
So,
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD JUST KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.
And do a ton or reading so you get your questions right.
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
Rapid Response
I had a drs appointment this afternoon, and while I was waiting a patient passed out and a rapid response was called.
Since we were in a hospital, there were immediately two doctors by his side, assessing him, staying with him until more help arrived, getting more help, etc.
One of the patients who was sitting in the waiting room with me turned to me and said, "Well, this is pretty embarrassing. Here we are in a hospital and there are NO DOCTORS ANYWHERE." I pointed out to her that the two people right there were actually doctors.
Then she said, "Well, they aren't DOING anything."
I told her there wasn't anything they could really do until the team arrived with a rapid response cart/ defibrillator/ stretcher.
She then complained that it was taking forever for the rapid response team to arrive. In reality it took about 2 minutes. I thought that wasn't half bad. I told her sometimes it seems like it's taking forever, but really they were actually pretty fast.
I'm really hoping that the reason she didn't realize the first two doctors there were doctors wasn't because they were black women, and was because in her mind a doctor would be *doing* something different. It would suck if it was the former, but I wouldn't be surprised either.
Since we were in a hospital, there were immediately two doctors by his side, assessing him, staying with him until more help arrived, getting more help, etc.
One of the patients who was sitting in the waiting room with me turned to me and said, "Well, this is pretty embarrassing. Here we are in a hospital and there are NO DOCTORS ANYWHERE." I pointed out to her that the two people right there were actually doctors.
Then she said, "Well, they aren't DOING anything."
I told her there wasn't anything they could really do until the team arrived with a rapid response cart/ defibrillator/ stretcher.
She then complained that it was taking forever for the rapid response team to arrive. In reality it took about 2 minutes. I thought that wasn't half bad. I told her sometimes it seems like it's taking forever, but really they were actually pretty fast.
I'm really hoping that the reason she didn't realize the first two doctors there were doctors wasn't because they were black women, and was because in her mind a doctor would be *doing* something different. It would suck if it was the former, but I wouldn't be surprised either.
Dog Park Meeting
Luca and I went to a dog park meeting last night. Why would we subject ourselves to this, I know you are wondering. Well, for one it is hours towards our volunteer requirement for the year. And two, we get to feel righteously indignant for at least the next couple of days. That alone is worth something.
Haha.
So the big problem with the dog park is that it is managed by a core group of people who have been around since the park was founded who ask for, but don't really want input from the rest of the members. Last night was no exception.
Example #1 -- They are thinking of starting an "incident reporting system" where if an "incident" happens at the dog park, then it would get reported to the group, and after something like three strikes, you could get kicked out of the dog park. It's weird though. An incident could be anything from forgetting to lock the gate to failing to tell a non-member that they had to leave to a dog fight where people and dogs have to go to the emergency room.
I raised the following point: Really? We're going to wait until a dog potentially sends three people to the emergency room before we kick them out of the park? REALLY? I think this resonated with a lot of people. Still, the overriding concern seemed to be what if people abused the system? What if people were "unfairly" kicked out of the park. One person was concerned that people go to the emergency room when there is nothing really wrong with them, and that it would be unfair to count that against people.
Ok, reality check here -- REALLY? Are you freaking nuts? Luca made the point to me privately that if a person had a vendetta against you and your dog that was so strong that they were willing to sit in the emergency room for 12 hours waiting to be seen for a trivial complaint, then they must really hate you and you should get kicked out anyway.
The truth is that nothing is ever going to come of this since one of the park founders has an aggressive dog who has bitten her owner multiple times (when he is trying to pry her off another dog) at the park. The dog will NEVER get kicked out, even though she is dangerous because he is one of the founders.
Yet another reason to limit our visits.
I kind of couldn't believe that people were more worried about their own dogs getting unfairly booted than they were about protecting other members from getting bitten/attacked. If my dog bit a person or attacked another dog, I can assure you I would be incredibly concerned/horrified and I would happily give up my membership. It's just a dog park. It's completely unfair and selfish to put other people/animals at risk just so your dog can have a place to play fetch.
Example #2 -- We talked about whether children (especially toddlers) should be permitted in the park. This has been a problem because people will bring their kids to the park, and let them toddle around while the dogs run around completely crazy. Not even considering the fact that a toddler could pick up parasites or get his/her face bitten off, the dogs could unintentionally trample a toddler very easily. It's a liability risk that I'm not willing to deal with, and I leave every time I see one of them coming (which kind of sucks since it's a DOG PARK, and there is a child park that allows dogs not two blocks away).
The person chairing the meeting was unwilling to even suggest to members that bringing toddlers to the dog park was a bad idea. Why? Because her best friend sitting next to her is currently pregnant.
(And this is the sound of me tearing my hair out.)
ANYway.....
The meeting was still going on when we left and it had already been going on for 90 minutes.
I think the funniest part of the meeting was when someone asked how voting was done, we were told that it was always just a vote among the people who were present at the meeting, even though less than 25% of the membership ever comes. The rationale given was that "these are the only people who care," and therefore the people who don't come shouldn't get to vote because they are obviously not invested in the park. The reality is that these people don't want to risk losing what little power they have over the park by opening up the vote to everyone on the listserv. If the vote remains among a group that consists mostly of their friends, then they can keep managing it (or not managing it) the way they want.
It cracks me up. GET A LIFE GUYS!! It's just a dog park!
Haha.
So the big problem with the dog park is that it is managed by a core group of people who have been around since the park was founded who ask for, but don't really want input from the rest of the members. Last night was no exception.
Example #1 -- They are thinking of starting an "incident reporting system" where if an "incident" happens at the dog park, then it would get reported to the group, and after something like three strikes, you could get kicked out of the dog park. It's weird though. An incident could be anything from forgetting to lock the gate to failing to tell a non-member that they had to leave to a dog fight where people and dogs have to go to the emergency room.
I raised the following point: Really? We're going to wait until a dog potentially sends three people to the emergency room before we kick them out of the park? REALLY? I think this resonated with a lot of people. Still, the overriding concern seemed to be what if people abused the system? What if people were "unfairly" kicked out of the park. One person was concerned that people go to the emergency room when there is nothing really wrong with them, and that it would be unfair to count that against people.
Ok, reality check here -- REALLY? Are you freaking nuts? Luca made the point to me privately that if a person had a vendetta against you and your dog that was so strong that they were willing to sit in the emergency room for 12 hours waiting to be seen for a trivial complaint, then they must really hate you and you should get kicked out anyway.
The truth is that nothing is ever going to come of this since one of the park founders has an aggressive dog who has bitten her owner multiple times (when he is trying to pry her off another dog) at the park. The dog will NEVER get kicked out, even though she is dangerous because he is one of the founders.
Yet another reason to limit our visits.
I kind of couldn't believe that people were more worried about their own dogs getting unfairly booted than they were about protecting other members from getting bitten/attacked. If my dog bit a person or attacked another dog, I can assure you I would be incredibly concerned/horrified and I would happily give up my membership. It's just a dog park. It's completely unfair and selfish to put other people/animals at risk just so your dog can have a place to play fetch.
Example #2 -- We talked about whether children (especially toddlers) should be permitted in the park. This has been a problem because people will bring their kids to the park, and let them toddle around while the dogs run around completely crazy. Not even considering the fact that a toddler could pick up parasites or get his/her face bitten off, the dogs could unintentionally trample a toddler very easily. It's a liability risk that I'm not willing to deal with, and I leave every time I see one of them coming (which kind of sucks since it's a DOG PARK, and there is a child park that allows dogs not two blocks away).
The person chairing the meeting was unwilling to even suggest to members that bringing toddlers to the dog park was a bad idea. Why? Because her best friend sitting next to her is currently pregnant.
(And this is the sound of me tearing my hair out.)
ANYway.....
The meeting was still going on when we left and it had already been going on for 90 minutes.
I think the funniest part of the meeting was when someone asked how voting was done, we were told that it was always just a vote among the people who were present at the meeting, even though less than 25% of the membership ever comes. The rationale given was that "these are the only people who care," and therefore the people who don't come shouldn't get to vote because they are obviously not invested in the park. The reality is that these people don't want to risk losing what little power they have over the park by opening up the vote to everyone on the listserv. If the vote remains among a group that consists mostly of their friends, then they can keep managing it (or not managing it) the way they want.
It cracks me up. GET A LIFE GUYS!! It's just a dog park!
Monday, June 06, 2011
A tale of two (agility) instructors
In our latest agility class (Beginning Contacts and Weaves), we have two instructors:
One is the loveliest, nicest lady, who makes us want to come back every week.
The other lady is a total troll.
Last week we were having trouble getting the Boo to understand that she was supposed to stay in the 2 on - 2 off position on the A-frame even when we walked away, which we'd been doing successfully the week before, and troll lady came by and announced that our dog was obviously not ready to do the exercise (which she'd done with us last week).
She then took us back to the contact board, which was fine, and asked us whether our dog knew the command target. We told her yes, since this is one of the Boo's favorite games. She will race across the house to put her nose on a target, and we've been doing this skill for almost a year. She is solid.
Well, Ms. Troll held the target in her hand, and asked the Boo to touch it. Of course the Boo had no idea what she was doing since she learned to target on the ground. Ms. Troll then announced that Boo obviously had no idea how to target, and that we needed to start with that. I tried to explain that she didn't know how to target in the air, but she could do it on the floor. Troll-lady totally ignored me. I asked if I could demonstrate, and she yanked the target rudely away.
Finally, the nice instructor came up and suggested that we try targeting on the ground. So we put the target on the ground and yelled "target" and the Boo came running over and touched her nose to it. Troll said, "Well, that's obviously only because your body position indicated that that's what you wanted. She still really doesn't know the command. Stand over there and do it again and let's see if she can do it," she sneered.
So we stepped about 10 feet away and repeated the exercise without moving, and the Boo touched the target successfully on the first try.
Luca told me that throughout this exchange, he felt like strangling the troll. And WTH! Why couldn't she just listen! It's just agility class for goodness sakes! It's supposed to be fun!
Anyhow, we worked with the nice instructor for the rest of the class and things went really well. I need to act more enthusiastic when training the Boo (I sometimes concentrate too hard, and fail to act excited enough), but she's doing great otherwise. We even added a second pair of weave poles to go through this week. If only we had more space in our living room!
Troll lady tried to engage us in conversation at the end of class, extending the olive branch ever so slightly, but we decided that in the future, but it was kind of too late. Hopefully she'll be better this week, but I'm not counting on it.
I asked Luca what I'd done to make the instructor not like me, and he said nothing. She was just a troll. Thank you Luca! You are awesome! I think she thinks it's weird that I bring my husband to agility class with me. Maybe that's what it is. In any case, if we sign up for another class, we will be avoiding classes taught by the troll in the future.
One is the loveliest, nicest lady, who makes us want to come back every week.
The other lady is a total troll.
Last week we were having trouble getting the Boo to understand that she was supposed to stay in the 2 on - 2 off position on the A-frame even when we walked away, which we'd been doing successfully the week before, and troll lady came by and announced that our dog was obviously not ready to do the exercise (which she'd done with us last week).
She then took us back to the contact board, which was fine, and asked us whether our dog knew the command target. We told her yes, since this is one of the Boo's favorite games. She will race across the house to put her nose on a target, and we've been doing this skill for almost a year. She is solid.
Well, Ms. Troll held the target in her hand, and asked the Boo to touch it. Of course the Boo had no idea what she was doing since she learned to target on the ground. Ms. Troll then announced that Boo obviously had no idea how to target, and that we needed to start with that. I tried to explain that she didn't know how to target in the air, but she could do it on the floor. Troll-lady totally ignored me. I asked if I could demonstrate, and she yanked the target rudely away.
Finally, the nice instructor came up and suggested that we try targeting on the ground. So we put the target on the ground and yelled "target" and the Boo came running over and touched her nose to it. Troll said, "Well, that's obviously only because your body position indicated that that's what you wanted. She still really doesn't know the command. Stand over there and do it again and let's see if she can do it," she sneered.
So we stepped about 10 feet away and repeated the exercise without moving, and the Boo touched the target successfully on the first try.
Luca told me that throughout this exchange, he felt like strangling the troll. And WTH! Why couldn't she just listen! It's just agility class for goodness sakes! It's supposed to be fun!
Anyhow, we worked with the nice instructor for the rest of the class and things went really well. I need to act more enthusiastic when training the Boo (I sometimes concentrate too hard, and fail to act excited enough), but she's doing great otherwise. We even added a second pair of weave poles to go through this week. If only we had more space in our living room!
Troll lady tried to engage us in conversation at the end of class, extending the olive branch ever so slightly, but we decided that in the future, but it was kind of too late. Hopefully she'll be better this week, but I'm not counting on it.
I asked Luca what I'd done to make the instructor not like me, and he said nothing. She was just a troll. Thank you Luca! You are awesome! I think she thinks it's weird that I bring my husband to agility class with me. Maybe that's what it is. In any case, if we sign up for another class, we will be avoiding classes taught by the troll in the future.
Sunday, June 05, 2011
Vacillate
I work most days, but how hard really depends. Some days I really work my butt off trying to get these papers out, and my studying done, and feeling really guilty about how little I'm accomplishing. Other days I feel I should be taking advantage of the flexibility that grad school (as opposed to med school) affords me, so I take the time to go swimming, or to take the dog for an extra long walk.
This weekend was more the latter. Luca's cousin was in town, and we hung out, ate pizza, took walks. Luca took him to the art museum and made of video of him running up the stairs (like Rocky) and then they went to the Eastern State Penitentiary while I "studied" (a.k.a. passed out for 2 hours). I did get a little work done, but obviously not as much as I wanted. It never is. :-)
Today we took a walk with the dog on the Wissahickon. I was a little surprised at how uncrowded it was. Miss Boo discovered the joys of chasing geese. We refrained from letting her do it though. It probably would have been pretty horrifying if she'd actually caught one of the baby geese. There were children around. You know. Not really appropriate.
Anyhow, I'll probably do a bit of work before I go to bed tonight. I'm ALMOST done with baby Rothman. I have to say, it got much better once I finished the part on case control studies. O.M.G. that part was totally soporific. So next I'm thinking I'll read some stats.
I'll really miss the 80 degree weather we've been having these past few days. It's supposed to be 99 on Thursday. Everybody say it with me: EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
And for all who are curious, the Italian cousin is doing very well, has a new American girlfriend. He looked happy and relaxed, and his work in the lab seems to be going well. We tried to convince him that really he needed to take the USMLEs and come to the US to be a doctor here. Heehee. His mother may never forgive us!
It was really nice seeing him! I hope Luca and I didn't completely horrify him.
This weekend was more the latter. Luca's cousin was in town, and we hung out, ate pizza, took walks. Luca took him to the art museum and made of video of him running up the stairs (like Rocky) and then they went to the Eastern State Penitentiary while I "studied" (a.k.a. passed out for 2 hours). I did get a little work done, but obviously not as much as I wanted. It never is. :-)
Today we took a walk with the dog on the Wissahickon. I was a little surprised at how uncrowded it was. Miss Boo discovered the joys of chasing geese. We refrained from letting her do it though. It probably would have been pretty horrifying if she'd actually caught one of the baby geese. There were children around. You know. Not really appropriate.
Anyhow, I'll probably do a bit of work before I go to bed tonight. I'm ALMOST done with baby Rothman. I have to say, it got much better once I finished the part on case control studies. O.M.G. that part was totally soporific. So next I'm thinking I'll read some stats.
I'll really miss the 80 degree weather we've been having these past few days. It's supposed to be 99 on Thursday. Everybody say it with me: EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
And for all who are curious, the Italian cousin is doing very well, has a new American girlfriend. He looked happy and relaxed, and his work in the lab seems to be going well. We tried to convince him that really he needed to take the USMLEs and come to the US to be a doctor here. Heehee. His mother may never forgive us!
It was really nice seeing him! I hope Luca and I didn't completely horrify him.
Friday, June 03, 2011
Ok
The last episode of 6 Feet Under was AMAZING. I totally cried. I can't wait to watch it again tonight/this weekend with Luca. Maybe I'll watch it again by myself AND with Luca. ABB, You are totally doing yourself a disservice by not seeing it, even though I understand never wanting the series to end.
Also, it is 80 degrees and beautiful out today. The only downside is that it was too cold (for me) to go swimming last night. The upside is that I don't have to go to campus today so I can go in the afternoon when it is warm out. I'm trying to decide whether bringing baby Rothman to read after a swim will "spoil" the swim club for me, but I think it should be ok. So, after I swim I can read in the shade.
Luca's cousin was *supposedly* visiting from Baltimore this weekend. I don't know if this is a cultural thing, but in the US it is considered VERY RUDE not to give firm plans until the hour you arrive, especially if you're staying overnight. So, he could be arriving tonight. We do not know. He could not be coming at all, we do not know. He could be staying 2 nights, he could be staying 0. He could be coming Saturday, or Sunday, or both! We have no idea. All this because he said "Yeah next weekend sounds great, maybe I'll come. I'll let you know later this week," about a week ago, and we haven't heard from him since. Italian relatives, take note: We have better things to do than wait around for you to decide whether we're cool enough to show up for.
So I'm going to work on this paper from hell all day, and hopefully at least partially extract it from purgatory. And possibly I will work on it all weekend as well (depending), while sitting in front of my open window with a light breeze and sun shining on me.
Also, does anyone else have "friends" who act all nice to you, and then when you start to reciprocate, start trying to "fix" you and tell you all the things you do that annoy them? How do you handle this?
Ok! I'm off to take the Boo for a nice long walk. She's been cooped up all week because of the heat, and she totally deserves one.
Also, it is 80 degrees and beautiful out today. The only downside is that it was too cold (for me) to go swimming last night. The upside is that I don't have to go to campus today so I can go in the afternoon when it is warm out. I'm trying to decide whether bringing baby Rothman to read after a swim will "spoil" the swim club for me, but I think it should be ok. So, after I swim I can read in the shade.
Luca's cousin was *supposedly* visiting from Baltimore this weekend. I don't know if this is a cultural thing, but in the US it is considered VERY RUDE not to give firm plans until the hour you arrive, especially if you're staying overnight. So, he could be arriving tonight. We do not know. He could not be coming at all, we do not know. He could be staying 2 nights, he could be staying 0. He could be coming Saturday, or Sunday, or both! We have no idea. All this because he said "Yeah next weekend sounds great, maybe I'll come. I'll let you know later this week," about a week ago, and we haven't heard from him since. Italian relatives, take note: We have better things to do than wait around for you to decide whether we're cool enough to show up for.
So I'm going to work on this paper from hell all day, and hopefully at least partially extract it from purgatory. And possibly I will work on it all weekend as well (depending), while sitting in front of my open window with a light breeze and sun shining on me.
Also, does anyone else have "friends" who act all nice to you, and then when you start to reciprocate, start trying to "fix" you and tell you all the things you do that annoy them? How do you handle this?
Ok! I'm off to take the Boo for a nice long walk. She's been cooped up all week because of the heat, and she totally deserves one.
Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Lemons/Lemonade
Oh my God it is so hot out!!! The annoying part about this is that it is too hot to walk the Boo at any time of the day besides 7AM. So, yesterday I got up at 6:30 to take her to the doggy parky.
Of course when we got there, she started acting like an asshole, barking at the other dogs and generally pissing them off until they would tell her off. We had to leave after less than 5 minutes. I don't understand why she does this. It uniformly results in her getting attacked.
So we went for a walk around Clark Park instead, and it was actually really lovely. We practiced attention skills by the side of the dog bowl, where several very sedate dogs were "running" around.
Then we walked home with the sun at our backs. We looked at the gardens in the morning sunlight, and it wasn't even too hot yet. It was a very relaxing was to start the day.
I don't think we'll be going back to the doggy parky in the morning.
Our walk put me in a good mood for the next several hours. I think it will be a great way to start the morning this summer.
Now, if only I can get myself to stay asleep, then everything might just be perfect.
Of course when we got there, she started acting like an asshole, barking at the other dogs and generally pissing them off until they would tell her off. We had to leave after less than 5 minutes. I don't understand why she does this. It uniformly results in her getting attacked.
So we went for a walk around Clark Park instead, and it was actually really lovely. We practiced attention skills by the side of the dog bowl, where several very sedate dogs were "running" around.
Then we walked home with the sun at our backs. We looked at the gardens in the morning sunlight, and it wasn't even too hot yet. It was a very relaxing was to start the day.
I don't think we'll be going back to the doggy parky in the morning.
Our walk put me in a good mood for the next several hours. I think it will be a great way to start the morning this summer.
Now, if only I can get myself to stay asleep, then everything might just be perfect.
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