And it was a good day August 18, 2008

Thank goodness. I’m relieved to be closing my first day back from a couple of weeks away from clinicals.

I’m so tired. I worked hard! Woke up at 4am. Quick shower. Quick breakfast. Hello to the kitties. Toothbrushing done and scrubs on. Out the door and car in reverse…realize my badge isn’t with me. Rush up to the door & unlock frantically, search in the places it SHOULD be, find it under the couch (thanks kitties!).  Bust down the stairs and back to the car, hoping to reach the hospital before 530am.

Room setup is slow business for me. Despite how much I try to hurry, I always keep a steady pace. I think it’s my own way of preventing mishaps. I’d rather be slow than to mislabel something critical, like a paralytic labeled as an analgesic. That would be bad for my career.

Crap time with my first case. I was supposed to place a spinal, but since the surgeon forgot to order the antibiotic we  couldn’t take the pt to the room till after our planned time, leading to a delayed start. The anesthesiologist quickly placed the block as I looked on. Ah well. Observation is still a learning experience.

Good intubation with the second case. Third case I chose the wrong blade because I was rushing, and though I could’ve landed the tube with a blade change, the -ologist wasn’t in the mood to wait on me. *sigh*

We finished early today. Noon. But they’re so slow to address our assignments each day. I waited around till 4pm to find out what cases I’d have tomorrow. Can you believe it? 4 hours of waiting. I could’ve had a nap. Or SOMETHING.

Now it’s bedtime so I will have some wits about myself tomorrow morning when I again fall out of bed at 4am and pry my eyes open long enough to drive to the hospital and make it to the coffee pot.

Such is the life of a student. Here’s hoping for a good Tuesday.

Dr. Horrible August 17, 2008

If you haven’t seen the beautiful musical web short by Joss Whedon you really must. Beautiful. Three main actors. Two awesome voices. Fantastic songs and harmonization. Wow. I love it.

See it in its entirity at fancast.com (http://www.fancast.com/tv/Dr.-Horribles-Sing-Along-Blog/101392/808106036/Dr.-Horribles-Sing-Along-Blog/videos?autoPlay=false&cmpid=FCST_votd_dr_horrible)

Not ready to return August 16, 2008

I don’t want to return to college town. I don’t want to get back to school, to clinicals, to vicious competition, to overeating, to sleep deprivation. I want to stay here in the safety of my parents’ home. I need a few more weeks of relaxation. If only my profs were willing to negotiate for a later start date for fall term. *sigh*

I head back tomorrow morning. I’m not keen on flying again. The past few experiences – regardless of the carrier – have included flight cancellations, long delays, rerouting, and even sick flight attendants causing more delays. Note how all of the businesses grow less impressive as the years pass? It’s not only my opinion. It’s visible all over the world.

These companies are scraping to save by cutting corners, which is understandable since their goal is to make a profit. They are cutting the wrong corners though. Poor customer service, inadequate staffing, overbooking, and the biggest problem seems to be staffing with people who are not willing to do their jobs. Recent reports that indicate a lack of compliance with maintenance checks on aircrafts means that people aren’t doing what they were hired to do. Right?

Look at the FDA and all of the products from China that contain lead. Now, during shopping trips if I want a vase (for example) and I see that it’s from China, the comment is “It’s really pretty. But don’t lick it!” Yes, I laugh because every product I pick up that states, “Made in China” is now fodder for jokes. But it really isn’t funny.

Consider the customer service industry – remember when the biggest problem was waiting on hold for 4 minutes? Now the issues include waiting on hold for 15 minutes AFTER wading through the automated portion – hoping that if it is voice commanded that it will understand my southern drawl - and then finally reaching someone from India calling himself “Mark” or “Zac” to sound more American. I don’t feel relieved when I finally reach a person. I feel stressed!!! That isn’t the way it ought to be. I should not need to worry whether Zac can understand what I mean. Is his English strong enough to understand the issues I’m experiencing with whatever the product may be? I have to speak more slowly, pay close attention to avoiding slang or regional verbage, and hope that Zac has more knowledge about the product than that which is provided to me in the instruction booklet. It is absurd.

The McDonalds a few blocks down from where I live in the suburbs is our “Mexican” McDonalds. I recall when teenagers were able to find summer jobs at fast food restaurants. Interesting that illegal immigrants are breaking the law, receiving free heathcare, lobbying for free college education, and making summer jobs a more difficult acquisition for law-abiding teenagers. There’s something very wrong with this country.

Of course, these are all opinions. I wouldn’t claim to be an expert on any of these topics. But I am frustrated by what I see around me. Why have children in a world like this…which has only grown more complicated and dangerous in my 30 yrs of life? A new president or a different political party will not solve these issues. I truly don’t know what will. Ugh. I’m done with writing for now, as I drifted far off-topic and into things that upset me. Plus, my tummy is growling. Now that it’s back to normal I think I’ll have some brunch.

Post-nap and TiVo’d gymnastics August 15, 2008

I look forward to the Olympics gymnastics competitions. It’s a pity that this year I’ve been too busy to enjoy them. I’m watching the bits that my TiVo captured, but it isn’t quite the same. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, because at least I am able to see some of it! But I missed the team events completely, so I’m left with men’s individual competition. Harumph. It’s still interesting. One more gripe…whatever happened to the scores from each country’s judge being shown on the tv? And why do the commentators talk incessently? It’s so annoying. Shuuuut up and just speak if the gymnast is doing something in the routine that requires a description.

The nap helped a bit with the way I’m feeling. But I’m definitely suffering from a virus. I have felt this way before, in Feb of this year I think. Achey muscles, heart racing when I reach the top of one flight of stairs, unable to tolerate much food even though I feel hunger, not digesting my food as quickly as usual. It’s yucky. I want to get up and do things! This is my one week off from school till Christmas. Would’ve been nice to visit friends, practiced some yoga, enjoyed mom’s cooking. But ugh. Being awake is a workout enough for today.

Alexander Artemev – the gymnast from the USA (and Russia) – has terrible posture! So do I…but I didn’t expect it from a young gymnast. His pommel horse routine was beautiful!

My toes move and move and move. I think it is hilarious that MDs are calling it “restless leg syndrome” just as they label all bowel issues “irritable bowel syndrome.” Give it a name and we can throw meds at it!!!! LOL! Yes my toes (and often my feet) move constantly while I am sitting and lying in bed, but maybe they are supposed to! We know it’s a natural way to help the blood return to my core. It helps burn calories, too. Maybe those of us that have this constant wiggle are supposed to have it for some of these reasons!

I enjoy thinking. I enjoy being by myself. This evening of writing…despite how unimportant it would be for an outside reader…has been so nice. Maybe I’ll start a new post a bit later. I want to get into the problems. But while watching gymnastics my attention is divided. It is so nice to have this brief moment without classes. Without clinicals. It isn’t long enough, but I will take what I can get.

To do list: August 15, 2008

There’s a list of topics I want to hash out on this screen. I’ll forget them…most of them…if I don’t jot them down now. I’m not feeling healthy right now. I’m exhausted actually. But let’s see what I can remember.

Celebrities, popularity, security, happiness.

Mean people in classes, clinicals, in public.

Politics ruining friendships, our country, my calm.

Does anyone really read magazines cover to cover? And if so, where do they find the time?

Is speed-reading bullshit? I read slowly and I still can’t remember.

I don’t breath enough. I’m talking about frequency and depth.  I think it adds to my anxiety level.

Why does heartburn also make me feel like I am starving? What kind of cruel joke is that? I can be totally full and feel starving from that sensation. Ugh.

I feel rotten. I need to go for a nap. Maybe I’ll get into some of this later today.