That's the Sound of the Men Working on the Chain Gang

Hello Hello,

Long time no update.  Anywhoo, right into it.

 Friday I was in the hospital from 7:30 AM to 1 AM and I was NOT even on call.  Needless to say I wasn't a very happy camper.  Pathology is supposed to have an easier schedule than most other specialties and most of the time it does.  Just so happened we were short 2 folk on Friday and I paid the price for it.  By the time I got of out there I was hating everyone and everything.  I worked so much that day the last 2 nights I've been having dreams of pathology.  Not good.

 I took my medical licensing exam 3 weeks ago.  2 days, 400 questions and 9 computerized patients.  Obviously it was hard.  Especially so for me since as a pathologist I don't see patients anymore and the test is geared towards patients.  Oy vey.  Another 3 weeks of sitting on my hands and praying that I pass before I get my scores.

Today I am just trying to relax and enjoy some down time, so I'm cutting this off here.  Oh yes, it feels very good to be writing again.  Now that the test is over and done with my creative juices are once again flowing, so let's see what I can wring out yes?

So, until my next nightmare day at work, whatever you do wherever you do it, keep it real.

 

You Make the Call

Long time no update.

 I apologize.  My life has the unfortunate habit of fooling me into thinking I have more free time than I really do.  So, to catch you up on what's going on in my life.

 1.  I have started my Pathology residency, and in reference to the title of this entry I had to make my first executive decision today, which was terrifying.  And even though I've had some (OK, a lot) of experience in the lab previously, it doesn't stack up to what they expect you to know as a resident.  Nevermind no one actually learns anything during your last year of doctor school.  Literally, as soon as you get your MD people expect you to have all the answers, whether you've ever heard of the disease or not. 

 2. I now have been studying for the *next* big exam, my Step 3.  Passing Step 3 allows me to have my medical license and prescribe drugs on my own, instead of relying on my senior residents and attendings.  You get the impression that my test taking never really stops?  Good. 

 3.  My writing has ground to a halt.  For awhile it was because I was having serious rig problems.  Then came the problems with getting the house going, the residency going, and don't even get me started on #4.

4.  I got married. 

 Yes, MARRIED.

 She's a lovely girl that I dated for about a year, and if that took you by surprise believe me, I was just as shocked.  Learning how to live with someone (permanently) has been an experience for both of us, but we're trying our best but I can honestly say I'm happy that I married her. 

 Now, if I can only convince to work and support me for the rest of my life.

 So, until I decide to ignore my blog for a few more months, remember: Whatever you do wherever you do it, keep it real.

Home Sweet Home
Long time no update.

Let me first apologize, oh faithful readers (If there are any of you). My life is...how shall I describe it...periods of mundane punctated by moments of terror-inducing, sphincter-contracting, ampethamine-taking business.

Obviously, up until now it was the former.

To bring you up to speed, I'll FINALLY be graduating from doctor school in about 2 weeks. I'm both excited and sad at the same time. Medical school was by far the hardest and most arduous thing I've ever done in my life, so I'm glad to see it end. But by the same token, I've made a lot of friends and had some good times despite the schedule. Also, you can be SO lazy as a 4th year medical student. You can always cop out of something and say "I'm the medical student" and they'll go looking for your resident or attending. It's great.

Secondly, I've bought a house. Since I know where I'm going to be for the next 4 years of residency it made sense to try to make some cash in the long run by buying a place instead of paying rent. The first few years of residency will be tough, since the mortgage will eat so much of my paycheck, but it's still better than coughing up for rent for 4 years and having nothing to show for it, I guess. Should be moving in next week.

The last event in my recent life is very...personal, and if you know already you know. If you don't, I'll let you in on the secret in about 2 weeks. ;)

Just started to write again, and I've missed it. But it's hard to shake off the rust and get back on the word processing wagon.

That's all for now. I'm hoping I'll have more interesting info to post about from here on out, so we'll see. So, until I decided to update this site again, remember: Whatever you do wherever you do it, keep it real.

God's in his heaven, all's right with the world
Well, figured out where I'm going for residency...

Nowhere!

And happily so. Yes true believers, I get to stay in California, most specifically Loma Linda.

90% of me is very happy, the other 10% is slightly sad. That's because I've already been at Loma Linda for so long already I would've liked a change of scenery to another part of California. Of course, since my only other interview in the state was at UC Irvine, a program with a better name but worse everything else, well...What can I say?

But I will get to be a pathologist, thank goodness. If I had to do anything else I think I'd have to quit medicine entirely. Those of you who know me know why.

Anywhoo, that's all for now. So, until I graduate, remember: Whatever you do wherever you do it, keep it real.

The Truth Hurts-But Not as Much as a Vasectomy
OK, time for moi to hop on the Johari
bandwagon.

Or, for the Dark Side version, go here


Go for it and have at me.

Hurry Up and Wait
Well, my interviews are done.

10 interviews in 6 states and how many miles through the air and the season is over.

Whew. Now, all I have to do is put together the "Rank List", the order in which I would choose the hospital I would work at for the next 4 years. Ideally, I want to stay in California but it's not looking good. I only had 2 interviews in the state and 8 out.

Trying to write right now, and it's hard as ever, of course. I thought I would have more time to write this year, and technically that's true. But the problem is, I keep finding other things to keep myself occupied with. Namely, anime, video games and reading.

Boy, can I manage my time.

You scored as Deep Space Nine (Star Trek). You have entered the dark side of the Star Trek universe. The paradise of Earth is far from you and you must survive despite having enemies on all fronts. But you wouldn?��t have it any other way because you thrive in conflict and will know what needs to be done to take care of those around you. Now if only the Founders would quit trying to take over the galaxy. Deep Space Nine (Star Trek) 81% Serenity (Firefly) 81% Moya (Farscape) 75% Babylon 5 (Babylon 5) 63% Andromeda Ascendant (Andromeda) 63% Millennium Falcon (Star Wars) 63% FBI's X-Files Division (The X-Files) 63% SG-1 (Stargate) 56% Bebop (Cowboy Bebop) 44% Galactica (Battlestar: Galactica) 44% Nebuchadnezzar (The Matrix) 38% Enterprise D (Star Trek) 13% Your Ultimate Sci-Fi Profile II: which sci-fi crew would you best fit in? (pics) created with QuizFarm.com

Home Sweet Home
Came back 2 nights ago from a 7+day interview trip. Didn't go as well as I'd hoped, but then again that's how the cookie crumbles.

It's really rather ironic. I want to stay in California (Only 2 interviews here), yet almost all my interviews are on the far side of America. Go figure.

On a personal note, I'm back in the writing groove, and it feels good. Not sure I'm as efficient as I should be when I write, but the ideas come to me when they come to me, and I actually do most of my writing driving in the car in my head, not sitting down in front of my computer.

So, until I can defrost from my East Coast interviews, remember: Whatever you do wherever you do it, keep it real.

Ho Ho Ho
Christmas is only a few days away, and I'm rather looking forward to it. Will be out of town for a week and a half starting on Sunday, and I need the vacation.

In good news, I passed Step 2 CK! That removes the sword of Damocles that was hanging above my head, and I can pretty much enjoy the rest of the school yeah. Fourth year is so nice compared to the last 3, I don't want it to end. Residency...*Shudder*

And you're probably wondering how my interviews went. Well, half down, half to go. I was fairly well received no matter where I went, but they see so many applicants that it's hard to say how they see you.

As for my writing, my project is progressing, albeit slowly. After being out of the loop for so long it was hard to get back in the rhythm. And as for my reviews, I keep thinking I should go back and write some again. I think that's why some of you have come to this site before and if that's the only reason you come here I'm flattered but I also somewhat apologize. If someone REALLY wants me to start doing more reviews fire me an email and I can start up again, otherwise I'll spend more time on this writing project. I've been trying to get this thing going for years, and now that I've finally started I want to finish it. Of course, I have no clue on when that will be...

So, Happy Holidays everyone, and until Santa brings me everything I want, remember: Whatever you do wherever you are, keep it real.

Let me tell you about myself
Well, interview time. The first one's tomorrow at my home school, and I am nervous, but not too much so.

Not sure if that's good or not.

Whole thing is, I spent 2 months in the path department, so they already know me pretty well. Not sure what else they're gonna want to know.

As for my other interviews, they're all back East, like New York/Boston way. And considering I've never lived anywhere besides sunny southern California, well...That would be an experience.

Speaking of the back East interviews, I'm going to do 3 days, 3 cities, 3 planes, at least 2 trains and I don't even know how many cars.

And when it's all done, I go back to work the next day.

Wish me luck. Going to need it.

So, until I get a position someplace, wherever you go whatever you do, keep it real.

"Trusted Traveller" My Sweet Asian Ass
If you know me, you know I don't like to curse, and that should tell you just how much I hate this idea.

For NOW, it's voluntary. How much longer until it's required?

You don't think it's going to happen?

You read 1984 by George Orwell? You watch an old Denzel Washington movie called The Siege, where martial law is declared in New York after a terrorist attack?

You rememeber 4 years ago when people wanted Muslims thrown into internment camps like Japanese-Americans in World War II?

The Patriot Act was supposed to expire this year. Instead, it's been extended another 10. "Temporary". Sure.

King George's handlers did a masterful job: They engineered the war on terrorism, a war you can't win, only fight on endlessly.

And with such a nebulous goal, you've frightened people into approving ANYTHING you want in the name of public security. It's happened before. Look up the Reichtstag (sp?) fire and Hiter.

Enough said. I already have an FBI file, thanks to the American Society for Micrbiology and my prior membership in it. I'm just giving the Feds more work to do. Justifies their bloated accounts and fascist policies.

But then again, what do I know? I'm only a man who believes in personal rights and freedoms after all...