Mistress Angela's Daily Dose

Still Won't Fly...

2011-05-14T07:31:00.000-07:00

There are plenty of commercials on TV on travel destinations, airlines (oh boy, you're only going to charge me that much extra to take some clothes in a suitcase? how wonderful!), and sites like kayak.com and priceline.com. Hey, you wanna take your kids to Disney World, don't you?? (I do, actually.) It seems a cruel taunt considering that you have to spin the roulette wheel of bad touches and radiation before you're allowed to board your plane to your destination with your kids. What decent parent would ever proceed with a trip under these circumstances? You prove to me why our country isn't looking more like Nazi Germany every day.

Shocked: What is happening to my America?

2010-11-21T11:33:00.000-08:00

For Tony and I, blogging takes a back seat to so many other things these days. But I've always seen blogging as a release from stress. So, when I don't blog for months, there's often more to it than that I'm just busy. In the past half year, the things foremost on my mind are also all over the news (at least the news we watch and read) and, unfortunately, they're of the more unpleasant variety, unpleasant enough that it becomes heavy and redundant to repost on on my rather light-hearted blog. But it's become overwhelming just how many jaw-dropping, ire-evoking, mentally and emotionally disturbing stories have surfaced this year and how their frequency is only increasing in pace. I feel like I'm watching the death of my nation and the decay of my freedoms every day. And at the top of the list are all the new abuses being put forth by the TSA under the guise of "protection". I've never seen anything more resemble the Nazi offenses in WWII movies than what they're doing now to men, women, the elderly & children. The videos and stories are of scared, paralyzed parents watching their children in distress and of modest, decent people leaving airports true victims of sexual assault. And the perpetrators are protected and revered by our government officials. They're allowed to mock, ridicule and commit crimes with their hands. Many have proven themselves bullies and predators and have not attempted to mask their enjoyment of their new power.

And I'm even more interested in what awful longterm consequences we can expect to surface from forced irradiation by body scanners.

Where are the doctors? psychiatrists? mental health professionals? These are our patients, our familes and friends. We have to stand up and be vocal. We are not sheep to be lead.

Stand up!

Boycott flying!

Read http://wewontfly.com/ and its blog posts and links, especially this one:

http://www.ourlittlechatterboxes.com/2010/11/tsa-sexual-assault.html

and

http://mytsahorrorstory.com/

and, if you're on facebook, join the "Boycott Flying" page!

Pooplet at 22.5 Months

2010-04-09T23:39:00.000-07:00

~ Strawberry Pants Forever ~

Greater Pursuits

2010-04-09T23:18:00.000-07:00

It's not hard to believe that it's been 8 months since my last blog post. In the layer cake of priorities that is my current life, there was barely enough room for facebook, which is at least somewhat related to real life activities and relationships. And anyway, it's really not easy for internship and anything else to coexist. And then, the same could be said for motherhood or marriage, I suppose. Then you add the time it takes to keep up with what's going on in this mixed-up world of ours and blogging really falls out of the top 10 spot it used to occupy.

This week was a staycation week. The 2nd week I've taken off since starting residency last July. It really took an entire week to feel rested again and get back to any semblance of normal family life in our house. And suddenly there are a few extra minutes to sit down and revitalize the blog. I wouldn't be so foolish as to declare that posts will be coming more frequently, but with 8 months of as yet unblogged photos and topics, there's no shortage of inspiration.

Getting Edumacated

2009-08-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

I've recently been attempting to learn more about how our economy works and I have come across so many things that confuse and infuriate me about practices and policies that squander our country's wealth but are allowed to continue unchecked. Things that, if more were widely known about them, I think would confuse and infuriate everyone else who loves this country too. I used to believe that our country was kept relatively safe from corruption by a series of checks and balances. I am realizing that so many of these have already been eroded long ago, leaving us with a system devoid of reason, fairness or control.

I was excited to learn about a bill designed to target the source of some of these corrupt practices, the Federal Reserve. The same mysterious Federal Reserve that is mentioned daily in the news but that few Americans truly understand. I didn't. I was shocked to learn that the bank that runs our entire economy is not a government agency at all. It's run by private bankers who have no built-in incentive to make choices that are in the best interest of anyone but themselves. They may inflate and deflate our money at will. And they don't even have to allow anyone to audit their books.

Bill HR 1207 would open the Fed up for audit. As it stands now, many Fed meetings are secret and audit is not allowed. I shudder to think of the tumult that an audit would cause and the staunch resistance it would likely create on its way to implementation. But the thought of the status quo continuing for another 10, 20, 50 years is even worse. This isn't the first time such a bill was proposed. Unfortunately, 1993's version was brushed aside by Alan Greenspan, the Fed president, and denounced by President Clinton as dangerous to the stability of our economy.

Learn more about the Fed below and see all the representatives and senators who support the bill to audit the Fed here.

New Linky

2009-08-13T19:31:00.000-07:00

The future of American liberty may depend on ordinary citizens joining with organized movements like Campaign for Liberty that have the power to make real changes in Washington. I hope folks will begin channeling any anger they're dealing with into a quest for education and a desire to support like-minded folks in the House and Senate.

Sleep Bank, Cloudy Weekend

2009-07-26T21:32:00.000-07:00

My sleep bank bled slowly throughout the week, only to dump me into my call-free weekend feeling wiped. It's taken a couple naps to really top off my tank and get me ready to take on the next week. Having said that, I suppose I'm squandering some of that by being up til 12:30. *sigh*

It was a strange, choppy weekend. Our parents were either working or traveling and so that meant the Pooplet remained with us at all times. Perfect for family reconnection, bad for the to-do list.

And I believe she's cutting a new tooth on the top. I'm happy that it'll round out her existing 5 teeth and make her smile more symmetrical. But heaven sakes, the child is fussy. Cuddly, but fussy. She'll be our delightful, smiley giggly Isabella one minute, then *flash!* here comes McFussikins and her Pouty Lip or McGrumpikins and her disconcerted squeal.

I have a great picture of just such an expression.

It just so happened that the Michigan weather had a similar dark and brooding mood this weekend. Though it only rained hard once all weekend, it always looked like it was going to storm or rain anytime. Don't you get the feeling Isabella could liberate a bolt of lightening and a clap of thunder at any time too?

My First 10 Days as an Intern

2009-07-11T06:38:00.000-07:00

So since graduation, I've spent 2 weeks in Spain, a week moving, 2 weeks of orientation/moving and last Wednesday I started on the inpatient floors at Helen DeVos Children's. And the way my schedule fell, today is my first day off! It felt amazing just to sleep in until the Pooplet alarm went off.

Internship's gotten off to an encouraging start. It's overwhelming to start any new job, let alone one where your performance and picking things up quickly effects other families so much. But it's gone really well. My 2 nights of call were at opposite sides of the spectrum with 2 admits and 3 hours sleep one night and 4 admits and no sleep the other. Ack!

I'll work on posting some Spain pics next.

Done!

2009-04-24T23:23:00.000-07:00

Last day of med school rotations! On to graduation in 3 weeks!

Send This Guy To Washington

2009-03-26T19:05:00.000-07:00

Is anyone saying this to our president? How much debt does each American child bear?

Isabella & GR Update

2009-03-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple months now since we stayed overnight at the epilepsy monitoring unit at Children's and got our diagnosis of Benign Paroxysmal Torticollis squared away. Since then, Isabella's development has been nothing but normal. She hasn't had any more seizures and hasn't worried Mommy and Daddy with any new symptoms. She continues to have BPT spells occasionally where she'll drop her head to the side and fuss a little just like before, which only strengthens my confidence in that diagnosis. I get the sense that she's perhaps dizzy or nauseous when she has her spells and she seems to have some mild trouble with balance and coordination during those times but between episodes she's progressing right on target with her motor milestones, if not a little advanced in some areas. She's saying "mama" and "dada" and sometimes seems to use them correctly depending on who she's with but she's still saying them pretty nonspecifically at this point. But that doesn't make it any less exciting of course. :)

After our news of the match in GR, our focus has shifted toward real estate hunting and planning our spring/early summer with internship activities starting on June 15 and the real action (first real day on the job) starting July 1. April will be my last rotation in medical school, pediatric infectious disease, here at Vanderbilt and then it's off to a couple weddings, moving, graduation, Isabella's first birthday (yeah, already!) and a 2 week honeymoon in Spain. Caramba!

Matched

2009-03-24T21:49:00.000-07:00

Pediatrics in Grand Rapids!

MaMaMa!

2009-03-10T21:43:00.000-07:00

MRSA Beware

2009-02-17T18:38:00.000-08:00

Hooray for hardy ocean sponges. Check this out!

Puzzle Me Pooplet

2009-01-29T21:35:00.000-08:00

Little Pooplet's had an eventful last month and a half for being an overall very healthy 8 month old. Some friends and family have heard part of the story here or there depending on which point in the process you spoke with us but overall there hasn't really been much to tell until now because we didn't know much.

It began on December 14, a Sunday morning, over in Gatlinburg, TN, where we had taken a short weekend trip. Pooplet had just woken up and I was feeding her when she lost eye contact with me and became less responsive, then proceeded to have 2 short seizures. We called an ambulance and ended up in the ER in Pigeon Forge. By then, she had come to but was very sleepy and confused by everything that was going on. Vitals were normal in the ER. No fever. She had labs drawn, xrays and a CT scan. Nothing.

When we got home, we followed up with neurology at Vanderbilt. The big question was: was it an isolated seizure or was there some cardiac event that caused it? She got an EEG, normal.

Now, thinking back, she had had 2 episodes prior to the one on December 14 with no seizure, but where she became somewhat floppy for seconds to minutes. We shared this with the neurologist, who said they could very well be syncope, or fainting, spells of some kind, which can be a periodical and benign occurance in some kids. We agreed to do nothing and observe unless it happened again.

It did happen again, about a week later. Got an EKG to see if there might be something wrong with the electrical conduction of her heart that could be giving her an arrhythmia. Instead, the EKG showed interference (Tony said she was really wiggly) and possible findings consistent with heart enlargement, which prompted an appointment with cardiology this week.

Well, before we could get to that, there had been one more thing going on in the background with a very gradual onset, becoming obvious at around the end of December. Suddenly and with no apparent triggers, Isabella would drop her head to the left and turn it inward, then go back to normal. Well this had become much more frequent during the time I was gone interviewing (I was gone January 5 - 26) and was happening many times each night by the time I got home. I was very worried. My experience with one particular patient, a baby, whose head dropped over to one side (though he could not straighten it like Isabella could), who turned out to have a tumor at the back of his brain, did not help. I talked to the neurologist again and this time sent him a youtube video I'd taken of Isabella's head drop. He wanted to make sure there was no associated seizure activity and was also very concerned, so we went into the hospital last night to the inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit so she could have a continuous EEG overnight and be videotaped.

Well, she did do it many times and it was witnessed and thankfully, there was no associated seizure activity. Also, in lieu of this week's scheduled cardiology appointment, Isabella also got an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the structure and function of the heart) in order to rule out a cardiac cause of her fainting spells. That too was normal.

I wish I had more time to write but I really need to sleep (Vanderbilt interview tomorrow!). So I'll skip to the end. At this point, we're probably 75% confident that she has something called benign paroxysmal torticollis of infancy (BPTI), something she'll most likely grow out of. That explains her head drop. We're still not entirely sure about her fainting spells but at this point, what really matters is that we've ruled out the serious causes.

We're so so thankful that our Pooplet is healthy!

More on BPTI later. Or Google it. It's fairly rare and as such, the residents asked me to present her during a morning conference. Hopefully I'll be around when it's presented. What a week! Off to sleep.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!

Pic of the Day

2009-01-23T23:35:00.000-08:00

Mommy's coming home soooon!

Pics of the Day

2009-01-18T21:18:00.001-08:00

Pooplet emerges from Monte Juego, Jan 4 2009

There you are!

Pics of the Day

2009-01-17T00:22:00.000-08:00

At the pediatrician's, January 2009

Reading with Daddy, January 2009

Pic of the Day

2009-01-14T22:09:00.000-08:00

Pooplet, November 2008

Re: Shenanigans

2009-01-11T22:12:00.000-08:00

Yet again
I'm missing you
won't be long
O' coming home
Until that distant time
I'll be moving on
I'll be moving on

YouTube of the Week

2008-12-23T07:41:00.000-08:00

No getting around it, I can't get Love Story out of my head. I blame MT and the sunny South.

In other news, Pooplet turned 7 months yesterday and at the end of the week we're coming up on our 1 month anniversary. Christmas will be low key this year at DM. I still have some shopping to do and I now might have a couple hours to throw a Christmas tree together.

Might see a few more posts since I have a month off here but I'll be in the car a lot interview hopping.

Got a flat tire to change and go get fixed. Meh.

To Do List for October and November:

2008-11-25T20:29:00.000-08:00

x Move from Grand Rapids to Nashville
x Have USPS forward mail to my new address
x Reacclamate to doing my own dishes and laundry
x Tackle new hospital system
x Peds Surgery rotation at Vanderbilt
x Take Boards
x Find reliable childcare for Pooplet
x Help provider of reliable childcare for Pooplet move in with us
x Campaign for Vanderbilt peds residency interview, call in favors with surgeons
x Get much sought-after invitation for Vanderbilt interview
x Schedule Vanderbilt interview (January 30th!)
x Plan Wedding
x Realize that some of the most important online wedding purchases hadn't arrived up in Michigan yet
x Realize that both expected packages were sent USPS to my Michigan address, subject to same mail forward
x Have tantrum
x Visit post offices in Nashville to track down packages
x Set up elaborate plan to have packages overnighted to Michigan should they arrive after our departure
x Resolve myself to plan for the worst: no flower hairpiece, no flowers for Pooplet, no veil
x Parent the always lively Pooplet McFussikins in the evenings until she collapses into bed
x Collapse into bed myself
__Drive to Michigan
__Hope parents don't drive me crazy
__Attempt to center myself and find happy place in the midst of the chaos
__Remember how wonderful it is to be marrying Master Tony
__Get married!

YouTube of the Week

2008-11-13T19:48:00.000-08:00

I know the posts have all but stopped here lately. I have much to post. But for tonight, the youtube of the week will have to suffice. Find it here.

Pics of the Day

2008-10-06T19:25:00.000-07:00

I can almost turn the pages myself!

Working on my back strength so I can roll over soon!

Mademoiselle Squigglette

Daddy's girls. Just three more weeks until we return to Donelson Manor!

Poetry Corner, Revisited

2008-10-05T19:54:00.000-07:00

First posted on April 17, 2007, this piece reveals in verse what I couldn't bring myself to express verbally at the time. I hid behind metaphors for fear that the possibilities I glimpsed on the horizon would simply vanish. There is overriding emotional turmoil and an impatience for my life to begin--but there's also a hint of unexpected joy. Soon (54 days), the source of this joy will become my husband. All my love, MT.

Vantage Point
by Angela C

when the hillside
so long sought
then rises under
foot, its
petals cradling
soles and soul
in welcome

tell me,
what then?

great Someday,
you evade me
stretching on
and painting
the next horizon
an alluring
shade of
possibility

i dare
press beyond

Clarity, you're within my reach
Simplicity, you regard me from a distance

anonymity and
emptiness
have become the
white noise
by which i sleep,
their comfort
baseless and
incomplete

but somewhere
beyond this
valley of shadows,
a far off melody,
mesmeric
familiar,
stirs my soul
unexpectedly
to dance

Best Pics of the Weekend

2008-10-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning with Mommy.

I...

...love...

...my...

...bath!

Bundled for a fall walk outside.

So cuddly squeezable!

(Extra) Pic of the Day

2008-10-05T12:33:00.000-07:00

4.5 months old?!

Quote of the Day

2008-10-05T12:31:00.000-07:00

"If you want to start throwing fire bombs, you don't send out the fluffy bunny to do it."

--Jenny Backus, Democratic strategist, about Sarah Palin's attacks on Obama.

*giggles*

Best Pics of the Weekend

2008-09-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

How many wonders can one cavern hold?

Ol' Blue Eyes 2.0

Enjoying the last days of summer with Mommy. Daddy, we miss you!

Ah, such leisure!

I do detect an early dash of sass!

I spy three, three, three little monkeys!

Ooooeh, Grandpa! Ooooeh!

YouTube of the Week

2008-09-01T19:15:00.000-07:00

In tribute to my time at the feelings hospital.

Many Thanks

2008-08-31T12:33:00.000-07:00

...to the kids, for affording me vivid examples of substance intoxication symptoms on which I could readily draw during my psych shelf exam. That's at least 2 questions right!

Co-Sleeper Recall

2008-08-30T09:52:00.000-07:00

How scary is this. :(

On Repeat In My Head

2008-08-28T19:52:00.000-07:00

Pic of the Day

2008-08-28T18:08:00.001-07:00

P8200016, originally uploaded by thekidakc.

Who loves Daddy?

Childbirth Connection Study

2008-08-21T09:42:00.000-07:00

The overall picture is of recent mothers engaged in a juggling act, carrying
multiple and sometimes conflicting responsibilities while experiencing high
levels of social, physical and emotional health challenges.

I have to say, it's disheartening to read the results of the new Childbirth Connection study summarized here and have to agree that they are right on par with what I experienced as a new mom. That leads me to wonder if there's really any effective way to prepare young, pregnant, starry-eyed moms-to-be for their new role as parent of a newborn if their heads are filled with visions of cute nurseries, easy breastfeeding and 50/50 division of newborn duties with their significant other. Truly, it may not be possible for the message to really sink in at that time. But if it could, I think we may see moms better able to cope with the demands of a new baby and better able to advocate for themselves and what they need at home and from medical professionals.

If anyone has a recommendation for a book or video that properly prepares pregnant couples for new parenthood, I'd love to hear about it. And I'm not talking about a "What to Expect" book. I'm talking about a realistic portrayal of modern parenthood in America, especially when it comes to the first few weeks of caring for a newborn.

Perhaps even reading about preparing for the change wouldn't do any real good but if there's a good one out there, I could at least recommend it to my pregnant friends and save them from having to figure it all out from square one.

Pic of the Day

2008-08-11T19:41:00.000-07:00

P6260044, originally uploaded by thekidakc.

Summer will come again
and bring with it
a new voice.
With autumn, new waters.

Take heart in Change.
Take heart.

YouTube of the Week

2008-08-11T19:29:00.001-07:00

For Master Tony!

Pics of the Day

2008-08-10T03:42:00.001-07:00

Smiley, smiley Isabella!

Another of little cupcake in her carseat.

More fun under the sea.

Baby Gear of the Week

2008-08-07T14:20:00.000-07:00

When I started shopping for travel systems (combo carseat/stroller packages) for Isabella, I felt the need to pick a gender neutral print and found myself wondering if the parents choosing pink prints (they do exist, I've seen such parents pushing pink strollers at the mall) could

a) afford to buy a whole new travel system if and when they someday have a boy
b) have confidence in their future son's unwaivering sense of boyhood and aren't worried about putting him in a pink stroller
or
c) perhaps be too short-sighted to think of any of this in the fog of future parenthood and pregnancy.

Well I read some useful info today on Graco's blog. They're willing to work with parents and sell them a new set of coverings for their system to make the boy to girl or girl to boy transition. Neat!

Would this have changed my choice of travel system? Nope. I think my Kasbah pattern is perfectly gender neutral and fun without being too kiddish. But let's not forget what really matters. Ease of use and safety. I'm equally happy with it, function and fashionwise.

Pic of the Day

2008-08-06T23:31:00.000-07:00

P7220020, originally uploaded by thekidakc.

Look how long she's getting--we measured her this past weekend at 22 inches (she was 19 at birth)!

Flickr

2008-08-03T05:04:00.001-07:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Pics of the Day

2008-08-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Naps have officially replaced full nights of sleep. She's gotta start sleeping through the night soon--Mommy exhausted!

Still fitting into most of her newborn clothes but definitely not for long!

Little Angie Is

2008-08-01T09:09:00.000-07:00

1456 weeks old today!

Pic of the Day

2008-07-31T18:59:00.000-07:00

Isabella @ 8 weeks old (she turned 10 weeks today!)

Pic of the Day

2008-07-26T14:04:00.000-07:00

Your girls miss you, MT.

I fell asleep amid the flowers on a beautiful day.

9 weeks old!

Under da seeeea!

Pic of the Day

2008-07-17T21:46:00.000-07:00

Sometimes Isabella strikes me as one of the most graceful little creatures I've ever seen. Her little ballet slipper socks suit her well (thanks, Auntie Lynne!).

First Video!

2008-07-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been getting to know our new video camera, a JVC Everio GZ-MG330, a zippy royal blue midrange hard disk model, mainly experimenting with different lighting and settings. It's produced a clear sharp picture even in low indoor lighting and the controls are pretty smart and intuitive, which is what I was hoping for. And of course there's no shortage of video ops with Miss Isabella, who's all too eager to perform. Here she and her mirror get acquainted.

Pic of the Day

2008-06-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

Anyone for enchiladas?

Pic of the Day

2008-06-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.

- Winston Churchill

Strollin'

2008-06-13T15:00:00.000-07:00

With a full belly and a cozy ride...

I snooze the afternoon away.

Enter Jacques Peacock

2008-06-12T20:49:00.000-07:00

Who's this new and colorful visitor to my crib?

Daddy's Little Pibber

2008-06-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

Sweet dreams, little one.

NOW It's Official

2008-05-23T03:46:00.000-07:00

Surprise! Little Isabella's here!

Born May 22 at 5:02 am at 36 weeks and 5 days gestation, she was just over 3 weeks early! She weighed 5 lbs and 6 oz. and is wonderfully healthy.

Labor and delivery took all of 4 hours!

She and I are doing great. Thanks everyone for all the well wishes and congrats!

It's Official

2008-05-19T19:43:00.000-07:00

Too big for love.

Pic of the Day

2008-05-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

Kick, kick! Happy Mother's Day! Bladder punches!

Pic of the Day

2008-05-07T19:21:00.000-07:00

There will never be such a thing as enough time.

Pic of the Day

2008-05-06T17:25:00.000-07:00

Have I told you lately that I love you?
Have I told you there's no one else above you?
Fill my heart with gladness, take away all my sadness,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.

For the morning sun in all it's glory,
Meets the day with hope and comfort too,
You fill my life with laughter, somehow you make it better,
Ease my troubles, that's what you do.

There's a love less defined,
And it's yours and it's mine,
Like the sun.
And at the end of the day,
We should give thanks and pray,
To The One, to The One.

N3 on NPR

2008-05-06T17:18:00.000-07:00

Wtg, Tres Crow!

Hacked!

2008-05-05T19:07:00.000-07:00

Who could it be now?

2008-05-04T00:33:00.000-07:00

DIAGNOSIS: YUCKY!

What part of that is entertaining?

2008-05-02T22:34:00.001-07:00

PIC OF THE DAY

I screamed aloud to the old man
I said don't lie, don't say you dont know
I say you pay for your mischief

2008-04-29T17:11:00.000-07:00

PIC OF THE DAY

Dr. Angela says in these times of higher energy costs, save water by re-using that bath water. The family that bathes together shares their immunities together so don't doubt that fact because I'm a doctor.

2008-04-26T09:14:00.000-07:00

PIC OF THE DAY

When Master Tony says "I do," he'll be doing for the rest of his life. And that starts with no more spider-candle.

Pic of the Day

2008-04-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

What Nashville adventures lie in store for Mistress Angela this week?

Pic of the Day

2008-04-22T20:21:00.000-07:00

Hail, hail! I see a glimpse of the future.

Pic of the Day

2008-04-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

Here comes the Learning Puppy!

Pic of the Day

2008-04-09T18:51:00.000-07:00

The coolest thing I've ever experienced in medicine? Creation.

Pic of the Day

2008-03-31T19:13:00.000-07:00

Some days, the enjoyment of medicine comes down to the inherent humor in bodily functions. I maintain a straight face, but inside I'm giggling like a 5 year old.

Pic & Lyrics of the Day

2008-03-25T19:51:00.000-07:00

Mushaboom
by Feist

Helping the kids out of their coats
But wait the babies haven't been born oh
Unpacking the bags and setting up
And planting lilacs and buttercups oh

But in the meantime we've got it hard
Second floor living without a yard
It may be years until the day
My dreams will match up with my pay

Old dirt road,
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
knee deep snow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
o-o-o-o-old

I got a man to stick it out
And make a home from a rented house oh
And we'll collect the moments one by one
I guess that's how the future's done oh

How many acres, how much light
Tucked in the woods and out of sight
Talk to the neighbours and tip my cap
On a little road barely on the map

Old dirt road,
mushaboom, mushaboom)
knee deep snow
mushaboom, mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow,
mushaboom, mushaboom)
o-o-o-o-old
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
Old dirt road rambling rose
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
Watching the fire as we grow
(mushaboom, mushaboom)
Well I'm Sold...

Pic of the Day

2008-03-17T22:25:00.000-07:00

Neither pesky write-ups
Nor anal residents
Nor sore tummies
Nor sleep deprivation
may disturb my sense of giddiness this week.

Master Tony's coming to town!

Pic & Lyrics of the Day

2008-03-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

Two Worlds
Phil Collins

Put your faith in what you most believe in
Two worlds, one family
Trust your heart
Let fate decide
To guide these lives we see

A paradise untouched by man
Within this world blessed with love
A simple life, they live in peace

Softly tread the sand below your feet now
Two worlds, one family
Trust your heart
Let fate decide
To guide these lives we see

Beneath the shelter of the trees
Only love can enter here
A simple life, they live in peace

Raise your head up
Lift high the load
Take strength from those that need you
Build high the walls
Build strong the beams
A new life is waiting
But dangers no stranger here

No words describe a mothers tears
No words can heal a broken heart
A dream is gone, but where theres hope

Somewhere something is calling for you
Two worlds, one family
Trust your heart
Let fate decide
To guide these lives we see

Pic of the Day

2008-03-11T20:03:00.000-07:00

I had no idea how thankful I'd be for scrubs this year. Expandable pants, purchased and laundered by someone else. Maternity wardrobe perfection.

Pic of the Day

2008-03-09T17:29:00.000-07:00

Every creature under the sun looks innocent when it sleeps.

The Vaccination Debate

2008-03-06T17:33:00.000-08:00

Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it.
-- George Santayana

I know there's a lot of information flooding the news about childhood vaccinations and the risks associated with them, namely the fear that they could cause autism in some susceptible children. I cringe a bit when I hear the disjointed bits of information that most parents (and parents to be) are able to glean from the news stories being presented on this. And it's not their fault at all. Much of the information that's out there isn't misinformation so much as it is incomplete and limited in scope. And what results is a blind fear that parents don't quite know what to do with. They're scared to vaccinate and they're scared to not vaccinate. It can also shake their trust in the medical community and make them wonder why docs insist on these shots if they have the potential to hurt their children.

For me, this is a non-issue. The diseases we're preventing through the administration of these vaccines are that potentially life-altering or deadly for children that I could never risk my child's health or life by refusing to vaccinate. But because we don't hear of children getting these diseases in our country, we don't have a natural fear of them. And this contributes to parents' consideration of non-vaccination as an alternative to worrying about side effects. So what we really need to do is reintroduce a bit of that fear through education.

The CDC happens to publish a free Parents' Guide to Childhood Immunizations, available either in print or downloadable form. It's full of helpful but unsettling reminders about what it means to be infected with these diseases and why choosing not to prevent them would be such a mistake. We've made so much progress as a country in eradicating childhood infectious diseases. It'd be one of the biggest tragedies imaginable to take steps backward now.

And the question of association with autism? Trusting the research that says there's no association may not be at all reassuring for parents, but it's all we've got. We're left with a strong, evidence-based case for vaccination and not much to the contrary, save for some anecdotal evidence. Dr. Steven Parker, a Boston pediatrician, writes a great article for WebMD that appeals to parents' sense of logic rather than spouting volumes of medical information they can't mentally assemble in a meaningful way. It's not an elegant piece, but it's direct and it puts the most recent media coverage into perspective.

Pic of the Day

2008-03-02T21:15:00.000-08:00

In spite of the distance, every day, there are plenty of reasons to smile.

Examinaciones

2008-02-27T16:48:00.000-08:00

Oral exam down (went well!), written to go. Friday's the big day. Then Jackie P's gonna be in town this weekend. :)

Pic of the Day

2008-02-24T09:07:00.000-08:00

As fun as winter is, I was happy to see some sunshine and a hint of a spring thaw in the air today. Of course we probably haven't seen the last of snow angel weather yet. ^_^

YouTube of the Week: Tribute to Michigan Winter

2008-02-21T16:53:00.000-08:00

Who needs a fish finder? Just stick a video camera underwater and watch the action unfold. Poor lil minner.

When I Grow Up

2008-02-20T03:47:00.000-08:00

After each clerkship is finished, I usually have to reassess my thoughts on just where it is I'm headed on this medical map. After nearly 7 weeks spent in the crazy, bloody world of general (and this week trauma) surgery, my feelings need some sorting through. Rather unexpectely, I really enjoyed surgery. I wouldn't say I thrived in it (yet), it felt like a constant uphill trek. But I liked it. I loved the challenge and I loved the hands-on healing aspect. And I got some good feedback from residents and attendings that let me know I'm at least not too clearly ill-suited for a career in surgery. Last week, I even dared to check out some prospective surgery residencies at Vandy online for giggles. Problems I have with surgery? Very demanding residency, leaving little time for my new family and my kid(s). Difficult to be pregnant as a surgery resident, as I most likely will be again if not a few times during the next 7 years. So for those reasons, it falls a distant second to peds at this point, but I can't rule it out either. Next up, ob/gyn and babies, babies, babies!

Pic of the Day

2008-02-14T18:30:00.000-08:00

Even if he showed up cursing in Olde English and brandishing a mace, lucky me.

Pic of the Day

2008-02-12T18:05:00.000-08:00

Just for you, tucked away for next winter in Tennessee.

Pic of the Day

2008-02-10T19:16:00.000-08:00

I can't see me lovin' nobody but you
For all my life
When you're with me, baby the skies'll be blue
For all my life

Making Time Out of Nothing At All

2008-02-06T17:35:00.000-08:00

Surgery is keeping me from doing much at all, including blogging. *grumbles* Though I'd still say I'm enjoying myself. I wouldn't expect the steepest portion of the 3rd year learning curve to be anything less than exhausting, especially whilst 5 months pregnant.

At the moment, it's snowing like crazy and folks on the tele are predicting worse overnight. Too bad there are no circumstances which could keep me from being expected to risk life and limb to make it to the hospital in the morning. And with that, I go to bed. It's actually, at 8:43 pm, it's already past my (surgery rotation) bedtime.

*Yawn*

Weekend Full of Suprises

2008-01-27T18:14:00.000-08:00

This weekend easily slid into the top spot on my all-time greatest life moments countdown. We found out we're having a baby girl (we'd guessed boy the whole time) and shortly after the ultrasound, Master Tony proposed in the kitchen at his parents' house. It was lovely, as is my new band of (white) gold. The blue sapphires on either side make this ring a perfect blend of classic and unusual, better than I could've ever thought up on my own. Just like us.

Electronics Catastrophe of 2008

2008-01-21T08:29:00.001-08:00

In 1999, my first laptop was rendered out of commission for a year or so after a glass of milk tumbled out of my hand and onto its keyboard, seeping into the crevices and corroding everything it came in contact with. Same with my first digital camera in 2002 after a vodka and fruit juice fiasco. Both were colossal oops's that'll go down in history as some of my dumbest moves ever. Both were sent off to the manufacturer and fixed at barely worth fixing vs. replacing costs but were salvagable in the end. Amazingly enough, they're both still around and functioning today.

Can't say that brand of fortune will extend to my latest electronics disaster. Both Firedog and the Geek Squad agree (PC diagnostic services at Circuit City and Best Buy), my latest two and a half year old HP laptop is now a paperweight. This time it wasn't beverage-related, thankfully, but I was still responsible. After shuffling around in my bunny slippers doing this and that, I simply touched the keyboard and *ZAP* the static electricity I discharged went on to fry both the motherboard and the hard drive. They couldn't even get the hard drive to respond long enough to do a data transfer to my new machine. Luckily I backed up everything important (good Angela), but only as far back as the end of June '07 (bad Angela). Among the losses, all my photos of my August trip to Vegas and of Kristy's wedding. But fortunately, I happen to have stored the best of those online. All in all, nothing devastating was lost (that I can remember thus far). The hardest loss to swallow has really been all the music I'd accumulated in 10 years' time. *tear*

You can bet I'll be enstating two new practices this year:

1. Actively discharging static on an object other than my laptop, and
2. Investing in an external hard drive back-up.

Second Dose

2008-01-16T15:33:00.001-08:00

How 'bout that! Dr. Ron Paul's campaign headquarters blog is also called The Daily Dose. Exciting that he beat out Giluiani in the Michigan primary. Not so suprising to see him bypass ol' Fred.

Top 3 Olfactory Adventures, First Week of Surgery

2008-01-13T15:55:00.000-08:00

3. Stagnant hospital air punctuated by fresh poop vapors
2. Electrocauterized blood and leg fat
1. Thigh ulceration oozing brown pus

I'm sure that's just the beginning. I'm sure there's a lot worse to come.

Giggles for Friday

2008-01-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

Ah, the smell of cooking flesh. Though not from boiling babies. From the OR. The cauterizing tool is just one of many sources of great olfactory adventures of surgery. Wish I had time to elaborate. Maybe tomorrow...

Goodness Me

2008-01-07T16:29:00.000-08:00

Ack! Be at the hospital at between 5 and 5:30am every day? Stay til 5 or 6pm? Surgery's gonna get crazy. At least I have some blissful holiday memories to hang on to while I slave.

Holidaying in Tennessee

2008-01-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Pic of the Day

2007-12-21T09:46:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or does anyone else feel like they've already had too much roast beast before the real holiday feasting even begins?

Christmas Approaches

2007-12-19T19:11:00.000-08:00

I'm nearly finished with family med! The last month of outpatient actually went pretty fast. It was a great month. Tomorrow's off for studying. Exam Friday. Then Master Tony comes to town. And I'll even get to see Miss Jackie Sunday night. Then, after the holiday, it's off to Nashville til Jan. 6.

Feliz Navidad!

December 17 2007 Playlist

2007-12-17T21:36:00.000-08:00

It's been two and a half months since I bothered to burn a new cd for my morning commute. Up until early October, I'd been making a couple a month. There was a good reason for my hiatus (distractions galore) but tomorrow it'll be nice to finally have some new tunes for the car. Of course I have to thank Master Tony for turning me on, in one way or another, to the songs with a **. The man does have great taste in music (and women). ^_^

Cambiare Pagina (Paola & Chiara)**
Un Emozione Per Sempre (Eros Ramazotti)**
Io Canto (Laura Pausini)**
Me Enamora (Juanes)
No Estamos Solos (Eros Ramazotti & Ricky Martin)**
Use Your Love (Katy Perry)
Piece Of Me (Britney Spears)
Hold On (KT Tunstall)
Break My Fall (Tiesto feat. BT)
Falling Down (Duran Duran)**
Whiskey Lullaby (Brad Paisley feat. Alison Krauss)
Lullaby (Emmy Rossum)
Don't Stop Now (Emmy Rossum)
Glosoli (Sigur Ros)**
My Rifle, My Pony & Me (Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan & Dean Martin)
If I Only Knew (Tom Jones)**
Party Crashers (Noble Three)**
Be Good To Yourself (Journey)

Last Week of Family Med

2007-12-17T21:18:00.000-08:00

Just putting the finishing touches on the family med rotation before I have to take the shelf exam on Friday. And of course, like all final weeks, it's full of deadlines and must-do's, some of which I'd really rather not. For instance, even though I had a lovely time researching and learning about my community resource (really, pretty enjoyable as projects go), a Catholic Social Services program called Healthy Start, I'm not even getting graded for the presentation I spent about 3 hours on tonight. *Sigh* Here's the powerpoint I put together. It's really a great program, I'm just grumpy because tonight I had to "work for free" in my off hours too. My sense of altruism is already on vacation.

New Linky

2007-12-16T22:11:00.000-08:00

I saw fit to add Dr. Ron Paul's campaign to the list of linkies (right) today. I'm really excited about him and his ideas, which center on refocusing on the Constitution and preserving individual liberties. Plus he was a flight surgeon for the Air Force and a practicing ob/gyn in Texas! Who better than a doc to lead health care reform? Of course there are many other issues in this election but health care is going to be huge and it's going to change, for better or worse, in the next presidency. He's breaking fundraising records and causing quite a stir. Go Dr. Paul!

Pic of the Day

2007-12-16T18:23:00.001-08:00

It's a personal holiday record. Never before have I had all my presents ordered early and in transit a couple weeks before Christmas, not to mention nearly all my gift wrapping done the weekend before. I do believe, just maybe, I'm becoming properly organized. Next thing you know I'll be ditching my procrastinating ways altogether...ok, maybe that'll have to wait til New Years'.

YouTube of the Week

2007-12-14T18:04:00.000-08:00

Last year's run as a Bath and Body Works salesgirl brought me, in addition to closets full of delicious smelling bath products, a new favorite Christmas song. It's Dino and it's all about desserts. What could be better?

Pic of the Day

2007-12-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

Under the right circumstance, that which is most ordinary becomes extraordinary. For a moment, the clouds part and the sun streams through. This is what life is about. But as the moment stands still, time passes, and then it's gone. I would share these feelings if I could, but like the melty sensation of chocolate on your tongue, words only dampen magic of experience. For now, I'll have to keep it to myself.

Pic of the Day

2007-12-11T19:09:00.000-08:00

These icy days have me daydreaming of warmer places.

Pic of the Day

2007-12-08T08:51:00.000-08:00

The warm and fuzzy holiday spirit has gone straight to my giddy head. Time to plant my feet firmly on the frozen ground and accomplish the tasks at hand.

If you haven't already, visit the Daily Rant and check out the spider mausoleum. You don't see one of those every day. And those buggers are all huge.