On the phone

I should have known that the day would be filled with the horror of the telephone when my cell abruptly went off at the very moment I began presenting a new patient at rounds this morning...

HOLIDAY

WELL, NOT TOO MUCH TO REPORT HERE, JUST THE SAME OLD, SAME OLD... SPENT THE DAY AT THE HOSPITAL, NOW I'M STUDYING, AND AS YOU CAN SEE, DOING A WONDERFUL JOB OF IT!

I HOPE EVERYONE'S READY FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY WEEKEND.

AND APPARENTLY IT'S INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY.

LTD

Well, I'm just hanging out, still making my way through the wide world of pediatrics (which, unfortunately does not have an iconic opening video montage), currently on the edge of my seat, hoping to avoid flu of any kind (swine or otherwise).

Not to worry though, I was pretty ill in September. Well, actually, all the time, but that's beside the point.

Anyway, the big news here, is that I've finally started my "externship" in one of the emergency rooms here in town. So, I had my first shift this past Sunday. They kept me busy for sure, and while it was definitely a typical "first day" experience (how do I clock in?, where is everything?, who's in charge?, etc.), I think it went pretty well. I'll keep you posted on whether I continue to like working there as time goes on, since emergency medicine is something I'm considering for a career. Anyway, I'm scheduled to work this Sunday as well. (Yeah, it's a very part time gig)

That's about it. Otherwise, I'm enjoying the fall (currently very happy to be living in an apartment so I don't have to rake leaves) but dreading the winter... I had to scrape ice of my windshield for the first time a couple of days ago. I don't think I'm quite ready for all of that yet!

So here's the deal. I don't think I'm gonna be a pediatrician when I grow up. But there are a few things about it that could convince me to change my mind.

So, why wouldn't I want to be a pediatrician? Well, for starters, having to use the term (notice I didn't say "word") "kid-o" in the workplace is kind of a dealbreaker. And apparently pediatricians LOVE that term (again, didn't say "word"). So, if that's part of the job description, then I think I'm out.

Why else?

Now, I hope I don't offend anyone here, so just hear me out on this. Pediatrics is a lot like veterinary medicine. That's right, I said it. And I'm not just trying to say that kids are 'little animals' or something. What I really mean is there are some real similarities. For starters, most animals can't talk to the veterinarian, just like most infants can't tell you what's wrong/where it hurts. Also, animals are usually brought to the veterinarian by their owners. Likewise, kids are usually brought to the pediatrician by their parents.

There's a couple of reasons not to be a pediatrician. Now on to what might change my mind...

First off, kids are pretty cool for the most part. Maybe it's just a psychological byproduct of K selection or something, but I have actually been liking the little kids, especially the babies. Its pretty satisfying to see a kid that comes in to the hospital with croup or something fully recovered, and walking out the door.

Second, and probably more important, is that if I was to be a pediatrician, I've come up with an outstanding band name for the rock and roll band that I'll obviously be starting once I get out in practice... This, like all works of genius, just came to me. So, are you ready for it? Really? Ok, get excited, cause I am...

Here it is: "Babies with Scabies"! How is that not awesome?

Anyway, that's all I've got.

Kids these days...

Here's the update: I'm doing my month of inpatient pediatrics. I'm on the pulmonary (lungs...) team. Oh, by the way, have you ever heard of swine flu? In addition to that, I'll be spending the rest of the month learning all of intricacies of taking care of kids with pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, asthma, etc. Can't wait!

At any rate, this clerkship is a bit more laid back than surgery, meaning, getting there WAY later in the morning, and leaving WAY earlier at night. Meaning now I have time to do things like eat, sleep, work out, study, and pay bills. Hooray! But seriously, third year has 3 "blocks", and I've finished the so-called "hardest" one.

Unfortunately, I ain't got much to write about beside school. Just trying to learn what I can, avoid going too crazy in the process, and also figure out what I want to be when I grow up

Also, I've learned that some of you are possibly related to the inventor of potato chips.

The Answers!!!

While I could leave you all in limbo as to the answers to life's biggest questions, I will not. As promised, here are the answers to the test. Also, I'm giving you some rationale for the answers, so there better be no complaining...

Pop quiz (Addendum)

Saturday is finally here, and you all know what that means... football! Well, that and my constant state of elation about being done with Surgery! Not that I don't like it. But I also like sleep. And eating on a regular basis. I'm pretty happy for a break.

At this point, I'd love to go through and make a "top 10 list" of things that happened over the past month, but I'm afraid I might get extorted. So instead of that, and in honor of the exam I had yesterday, I'm gonna let you all re-enter the academic realm, and take this pop-quiz I've put together. So, print this out, get your #2 pencils ready, and let's go!!