Two posts to check out if you like:
Summer Vacation
Moments When Mothering and Medicine Don't Mix
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Monday, June 3, 2013
Eight is Great
Happy happy 8th birthday to my wonderful, handsome, sweet Jack, then and now.
Favorite Fruit
Watermelon eating contest at Berenice Gardens Farmer's Market
Winning Smile
Sister Cecelia's Komen Day wig and puppet hedgehog
Easter '08
Harvest Fest '12
Getting clean
Dry Ice Experiment
Captain Jack
Last Day of School 2013
May you always grow, but never change too much.
I read this poem this year, and fell in love with it. He's a little young, but I cannot wait to share someday when appropriate. At 8, I already see signs that he's not the type to set down on the stairs. That sweet smile hides a fierce inner drive, burning bright, already trailblazing.
BY LANGSTON HUGHES
I read this poem this year, and fell in love with it. He's a little young, but I cannot wait to share someday when appropriate. At 8, I already see signs that he's not the type to set down on the stairs. That sweet smile hides a fierce inner drive, burning bright, already trailblazing.
Mother to Son
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
A Summer Visit From the Boston Yankees
Evening boat ride (dance?) on the Arkansas River
Cecelia and Uncle Mike - talented and handsome food scientist/chef bro.
Always Pretty in Pink Sensory Scientist Aunt Effie with Jack
Dad, Effie, Jack and C. Enormous, priceless fun.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Last Day of Fourth Grade
Congratulations to my lovely, intelligent, talented daughter Cecelia. Welcome to summer.
Face paint from beautiful future Aunt Sarah.
Lantern Festival.
Movie theater parking lot. Style knows no boundaries.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Happy 5th Anniversary to MiM
Fearless leader KC talks about her inspiration to start MiM on radio rounds: HERE. Beautiful, intelligent, articulate. A true leader.
I talk vehemently (well, it felt vehement, and turned into a post last Sunday night) about how important general medicine is: HERE.
Happy 5th anniversary to my second home, MiM.
I talk vehemently (well, it felt vehement, and turned into a post last Sunday night) about how important general medicine is: HERE.
Happy 5th anniversary to my second home, MiM.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
ABC's of Arkansas
I was helping Cecelia with her project tonight and a guest post was inspired. This is mainly a recording for myself and my family of this wonderful 4th grade project. She handed me this to type yesterday, and I did over my lunch break. Her teacher will print them in a book and she will illustrate. Priceless treasure. Some of the poems made me laugh. It is wonderful overall. If you are an Arkansas native, like myself, you will really enjoy. If you have never been to our fine state and have the time to read, hopefully it will inspire you to come visit. Our favorites are A, B, C, G, K, N, T, Y, and Z. Enjoy if you desire. The formatting was tough to regulate after copy and paste. Hope it comes across ok.
A
is for Arkansas River
It
is very dangerous to swim in there
Cause
if you get sucked in by the undertow
You
will be as lifeless as a pear
B
is for Blanchard Springs
Do
you know how cool it is to be there?
But
there are lots of bats so beware
There
are stalagmites coming from the ground
And
stalactites traveling down down down.
C
is for Cottonmouth
They’re
usually found in the South
Their
fangs are sharper than a knife
They
can take away your life
Arkansas
is where they strike
D
is for Diamond State
Our
diamonds shine so brightly
It’s
the perfect gift for your mate
If
you screw it on a ring tightly
But
if you want to dig for your haul
Come
on down to Arkansas
E
is for Episcopal
Who
did know school could be cool
To
go to school here would be no fool
They
teach you more than just the rules
Over
all this, the best of schools
F
is for Fayetteville
If
you go watch the Razorbacks play
You’ll
really really really want to stay
Because
the roar of the crowd
Gives
you a chill under the clouds.
G
is for geese
They
are everywhere in Arkansas during
springtime
They
doo on others property
It’s
a terrible pooping crime
They
need to regulate their society
H
is for Hogs
The
mascot of our football team
Woo
Pig Sooie is what we say
When
the game begins to play
I
is for Indians
The
people who named our state
Did
you know that Arkansas means South Wind?
Our
name is really great
J
is for Johnny Cash
Johnny
is from here in Arkansas
He
sang many songs like
I
Walk the Line and Ring of Fire
But
trust me that’s not all
K
is for Kappa Village
Kappa
was a Quapaw community
It
was like a little Indian city
When
the population declined it was a pity
L
is for Little Rock
Little
Rock is here in Arkansas State
This
is where I live it is great
The
things you can do here are filled with fun
You
can rock climb and swim in the sun
M
is for Mockingbird
Mock
Mock Mock is all that they do
You’d
better be careful
Or
they’ll do it to you
Arkansas
is the main place they fly
Their
wings help them go oh so high
N
is for Natural Resources
Oil,
forests, and water too
They’re
all in Arkansas and that is true
But
if we aren’t careful
They’ll
all be gone soon
O
is for Land of Opportunity
It
used to be our state logo
But
when it was time for that name to go away
We
decided the Natural State name should stay
P
is for Pinnacle Mountain
There
are lots of trails to climb
Bring
your family you’ll have a great time
There
are lots of bugs and room to run
There
are so many trees you can barely see the
sun
Q
is for Quick Quick
Go
to Arkansas at least take a visit if you
haven’t been at all
Quick
Quick go to Arkansas
If
you give it a chance you’ll have a ball
R
is for River as in Buffalo River
Something
to do there is canoe
It’s
an awful lot of fun to do
There
are lots of pretty fishes that swim
But
be careful sometimes snakes fall from limbs
S
is for Suck, Toad Suck that is
I
know the name sounds kinda weird
It’s
in Conway Arkansas
To
get to go is just your luck
Make
sure you stop by Toadsuck
T
is for Tyson Chicken
The
company was founded in Arkansas
It
is the perfect snack to eat
If
you are on the go
It
has 100% white meat
U
is for University of Arkansas
College
is made to make you smart
And
if you want to go
I
would recommend
University
of Arkansas
Before
you can say tart.
V
is for Valleys
There
are lots of valleys in Arkansas
Many
animals live in them
Like
Bobtailed bunnies and birds that caw
Eating
flowers down to their stems
W
is for Water
There
are lots of bodies of water in Arkansas
Like
the White River and the Buffalo River
But
that’s not all
Mississippi
River and Lake Ouachita too
The
very last River’s name is Arkansas
X
is for XOXO
There
is lots of love in Arkansas
We
care for each other, we care for our state
So
if you come to Arkansas don’t bring any hate
Y is
for Yarnell’s Ice Cream
Yarnell’s
ice cream comes from Searcy
They
make sweet treats for kids like me
Last
year it almost got shut down
Thank
goodness that was turned around
Z
is for Little Rock Zoo
Lions
and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!
Giraffes
and Elephants and Monkeys
Parakeets,
Penguins, and Parrots too
Those
are some of the animals at the
Little
Rock Zoo
Monday, May 6, 2013
Friday, May 3, 2013
Eggs
I love eggs. Call me Elizabegg. It's apropos.
I used to do hard-boiled eggs on toast. I did that for years. Kids like scrambled eggs better. So now we do scrambled eggs on cheese toast in the morning. Cheese is variable - sliced smoked Gouda is wonderful on the weekends but really sliced sharp cheddar will do in a pinch. Add a bit of salt, Arkansas honey, and Louisiana Hot Sauce or diced red pepper and you are done.
I've never really liked fried eggs, until I read Catherine Newman's recipe for vinegar eggs. Google it - you won't be disappointed. It's amazingly wonderful in its simplicity. Cook toast, make fried eggs (I'm becoming an expert, despite having never liked fried eggs before this recipe), deposit eggs on toast, and make sauce with shake of salt, grind of pepper, tablespoon of butter, and tablespoon or two of vinegar. Sherry vinegar imparts a wonderful smoky taste. But good luck finding it! I finally found it at a grocery store in Crested Butte, CO. Before that, I used a tablespoon of red wine vinegar and a tablespoon of basalmic. A little sweeter, but still oh so good. When the butter and vinegar hit the hot pan and mix to a tangy, frothy goodness pour over your eggs and enjoy. Five minutes to heaven. Eggscellent.
Enjoy.
I used to do hard-boiled eggs on toast. I did that for years. Kids like scrambled eggs better. So now we do scrambled eggs on cheese toast in the morning. Cheese is variable - sliced smoked Gouda is wonderful on the weekends but really sliced sharp cheddar will do in a pinch. Add a bit of salt, Arkansas honey, and Louisiana Hot Sauce or diced red pepper and you are done.
I've never really liked fried eggs, until I read Catherine Newman's recipe for vinegar eggs. Google it - you won't be disappointed. It's amazingly wonderful in its simplicity. Cook toast, make fried eggs (I'm becoming an expert, despite having never liked fried eggs before this recipe), deposit eggs on toast, and make sauce with shake of salt, grind of pepper, tablespoon of butter, and tablespoon or two of vinegar. Sherry vinegar imparts a wonderful smoky taste. But good luck finding it! I finally found it at a grocery store in Crested Butte, CO. Before that, I used a tablespoon of red wine vinegar and a tablespoon of basalmic. A little sweeter, but still oh so good. When the butter and vinegar hit the hot pan and mix to a tangy, frothy goodness pour over your eggs and enjoy. Five minutes to heaven. Eggscellent.
Enjoy.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Winding Down
Today I:
Read and released a record 170 plus blocks.
Successfully completed Her2neu Dual ISH training. I guess that's not CISH. Or FISH. It's DISH. I imagined counting too many copies of the offensive, aggressive gene on a satellite on my roof, beaming into space. Watching the latest movie releases while staring at colorful breast cancer nuclei. Chromogenic antibodies - anti-goat, anti-rabbit, anti-mouse - floating in the ether. I passed with flying colors - 92%. Isn't that an A minus or a B plus in my previous life?
Had sushi dinner with my fabulous friend Laurie.
Comforted my son who had a busted lip bicycle injury. Hugged my daughter to sleep - she has as much difficulty as I do winding down.
Read and released a record 170 plus blocks.
Unsuccessfully downloaded latest software on my Zeiss microscope camera. I've got a help desk number to tackle in the a.m.
Had sushi dinner with my fabulous friend Laurie.
Worried over my sciatica from my recent running injury on the beach last week (large spinal tumor? Metastatic disease to the spine?). Ran at 5:30 a.m., pre-conference. The tide was too high, the sand was too soft. My foot is still numb. At least I can finally sit still without agony.
Comforted my son who had a busted lip bicycle injury. Hugged my daughter to sleep - she has as much difficulty as I do winding down.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Topic Week at MiM
Yippee! It's been a long while. Topic week again over at MiM. You can read my post about being imperfect here, if you want. Strange that I was able to keep that topic from stretching to novel length.
There are going to be a ton of great posts this week - guests and regulars.
I also posted this over at MiM. Forgot to provide link here. Good potty humor.
There are going to be a ton of great posts this week - guests and regulars.
I also posted this over at MiM. Forgot to provide link here. Good potty humor.
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
On Fainting
After my comment on MiM mail last night I got mail from a reader who wanted to know more about my experiences in passing out. I've got volumes in that category. Here is what I wrote back to her.
Thanks for your e-mail. I was always a fainter. I fainted every time I got my teeth worked on - pulled, new braces, etc. It was crazy. Oh and in college when I got my belly button ring (long gone era). In med school blood draw lab, I did fine when I drew my partner's blood (first, quick and well) but when he was sweating and sticking me multiple times it was just too much and the next thing I knew I woke up on the floor in the arms of a nurse. I wasn't the only one.
Thanks for your e-mail. I was always a fainter. I fainted every time I got my teeth worked on - pulled, new braces, etc. It was crazy. Oh and in college when I got my belly button ring (long gone era). In med school blood draw lab, I did fine when I drew my partner's blood (first, quick and well) but when he was sweating and sticking me multiple times it was just too much and the next thing I knew I woke up on the floor in the arms of a nurse. I wasn't the only one.
I sought advice from my sister, a PA in anesthesia (physician's assistant) who is much tougher than me but had similar issues early in the morning before surgery, before I started clinicals. She learned that was when she was the most hypoglycemic and started keeping small juice packs and sugar candy in her backpack or scrub coat pocket. I emulated and never once passed out during an early surgery. I found it pretty easy since the patient's head was all draped and you only saw the one part you were working on - I could mentally separate it from the person and pretend it was arts and crafts. Which is how I got through autopsies, too.
I know a guy that got queasy and had to leave the room after watching his first pelvic exam. If I remember correctly he was the president of our class and is now a cardiologist at Duke. So it happens to the best of us.
I passed out - almost anyway - needed cold washcloth and head between legs - during the bone marrow because that is an archaic, painful as hell procedure - the patient was prone and miserable, and moaning, and I was 8 weeks pregnant, so low blood pressure already - BTW, do you know your blood pressure? I have very low, good blood pressure, and I think that is sometimes the culprit of the passing out. At the private institution I work at now, patients are sedated for marrows, thank goodness.
Gross anatomy - if you still do that these days I hear it is going by the wayside - will be a nice segue to test your waters. I might encourage you to try to volunteer, if you have time, watching a surgery or a birth or an autopsy or something during your first two years - so it is less stressful since it is not your grade. Your being a med student will gain you access to many different areas and if you do need to leave the room no one will remember in a year or two. It happens to a lot of people.
Remember even the toughest cops lose it (vomiting, etc.) during particularly nasty crime scenes. That's what got me in the crime lab the first day - all those dead bodies and blowflies. The stench and the bad karma was overwhelming. Peanut butter crackers and M&M's restored me to a normal state, and I was able to continue.
Once I had a mole removed by my family doctor, right before I started med school. I passed out. I woke up so embarrassed, especially having just excitedly told him about my new adventure. He told me a story that made me feel much better. "It's an evolutionary behavior. Soldiers that passed out on the battlefield were assumed dead, and passed over. When the battle was over they woke up and lived. You should not be ashamed." True or no, that was one of the best things I could have heard. Made me proud to faint, ha ha. And put my head in a better state around it.
Good luck, R - Keep me posted when you get there.
Best, Giz
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Drilling update - I'm Sweating Now
With the four year replacing all the brick on the entire hospital plan, the drilling is quickly becoming the backdrop to my job. On loud days I use my earplugs. This week, insult was added to injury.
I arrived at work Monday morning and noticed that it was a stuffy 74 degrees in my usually chilly lab office. I cranked down the temp on my thermostat, but a couple of hours later I was sweating and found the temperature had creeped up to almost 78. It didn't help that I was drinking my mid-morning coffee. I called the head transcriptionist and she called maintenance. They hemmed and hawed and talked about needing to do some duct re-working/this might take some time/there is no quick solution. So I propped my door open to get some hallway air.
I got hit up for directions twice. The cacophony of a screaming child from the lab waiting room/ED overflow 10 feet away competed with the brick drilling noises that seem to miraculously find their way into my office from 16 floors above, as if they are right next door. I saw the guys from maintenance puzzling over a large set of hospital blueprints they had pinned against the wall by their hands. A woman stopped in the door of my office while I was dictating a long, complicated colon cancer case. She hovered, holding up a large piece of paper, undeterred by my attempt at focusing on my task. I finally paused and glanced at her to acknowledge her nonverbally. "Do you have any scotch tape?" I mumbled no and shut the door as soon as she walked away. I don't like to lie. But I felt justified, in that instance. My thermostat reading dropped down to 73 with the door open, but at quite a cost.
Two days later and still no action - I borrowed a partner's fan and plan to buy my own this weekend. Luckily I am cold-natured - I can't wait to see what happens when my hothead part-time partner arrives tomorrow to occupy the office he houses next door to mine - we are the only rooms in the lab that are affected by the faulty ducts. They say they are working on it. They say . . .
Hopefully the massive thunderstorm/temperature drop tonight will help. But it's Arkansas, so that fix will be very temporary.
I arrived at work Monday morning and noticed that it was a stuffy 74 degrees in my usually chilly lab office. I cranked down the temp on my thermostat, but a couple of hours later I was sweating and found the temperature had creeped up to almost 78. It didn't help that I was drinking my mid-morning coffee. I called the head transcriptionist and she called maintenance. They hemmed and hawed and talked about needing to do some duct re-working/this might take some time/there is no quick solution. So I propped my door open to get some hallway air.
I got hit up for directions twice. The cacophony of a screaming child from the lab waiting room/ED overflow 10 feet away competed with the brick drilling noises that seem to miraculously find their way into my office from 16 floors above, as if they are right next door. I saw the guys from maintenance puzzling over a large set of hospital blueprints they had pinned against the wall by their hands. A woman stopped in the door of my office while I was dictating a long, complicated colon cancer case. She hovered, holding up a large piece of paper, undeterred by my attempt at focusing on my task. I finally paused and glanced at her to acknowledge her nonverbally. "Do you have any scotch tape?" I mumbled no and shut the door as soon as she walked away. I don't like to lie. But I felt justified, in that instance. My thermostat reading dropped down to 73 with the door open, but at quite a cost.
Two days later and still no action - I borrowed a partner's fan and plan to buy my own this weekend. Luckily I am cold-natured - I can't wait to see what happens when my hothead part-time partner arrives tomorrow to occupy the office he houses next door to mine - we are the only rooms in the lab that are affected by the faulty ducts. They say they are working on it. They say . . .
Hopefully the massive thunderstorm/temperature drop tonight will help. But it's Arkansas, so that fix will be very temporary.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Conquer Me - Blues Traveler
I remember buying a J.Crew shirt just like hers based on this video. Minus the midriff action. I was too conservative for that.
But I love this song. I like to think that the singers of my favorite songs are singing just for me. This one is a good example. Harmonica? He can blow.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Here's to Baby Goats
Baby goats can rescue us from our worst pre-teen moods. Even I had no idea they were so other-worldy beautiful. This one is two weeks old. Cecelia wants to take her home if she will stay like this forever (wish!). Nice segue into my next chapter book choice - one of my faves - Tuck Everlasting. We got three chapters in tonight.
Brave minds wrestle alligators.
Experienced magicians are sometimes surprised by brother-sister bonds. I was lucky that both of mine were chosen to be in the 20 minute kid section of the two hour show. I won't subject you to my multiple videos - saving that for future embarrassing high school graduation and rehearsal dinner moments. Not that I am attached to either one of those happening. Jack chose not to chop off his sister's head. After he decided not to subject his own head to the guillotine. Cecelia stole the audience when I encouraged her to go for it "I thought you loved me, mom!!" Here is Jack, reveling in the late night after magic show dinner. The magician Maxwell Blade made him look pretty awesome.
Here's to a wonderful Hot Springs weekend with Alligator Farm, fish, and Magic Show. Much gratitude to our sponsor.
Brave minds wrestle alligators.
Experienced magicians are sometimes surprised by brother-sister bonds. I was lucky that both of mine were chosen to be in the 20 minute kid section of the two hour show. I won't subject you to my multiple videos - saving that for future embarrassing high school graduation and rehearsal dinner moments. Not that I am attached to either one of those happening. Jack chose not to chop off his sister's head. After he decided not to subject his own head to the guillotine. Cecelia stole the audience when I encouraged her to go for it "I thought you loved me, mom!!" Here is Jack, reveling in the late night after magic show dinner. The magician Maxwell Blade made him look pretty awesome.
Here's to a wonderful Hot Springs weekend with Alligator Farm, fish, and Magic Show. Much gratitude to our sponsor.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
Comfort Me - Feist
This is dedicated to Amber's sister-in-law's children. They are on my mind tonight. May she rest in peace.
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