Here in center frame, here there's only air... and just enough space to fit

Clarity, Jimmy Eat World’s release in 1999 (before they exploded into the pop music scene) is my favorite album of all time. I remember in high school hearing this great song on the radio that went something like “you’re not bigger than this, not better, why can you learn?” and I fell in love! But what was the name? Who was the band? The mystery song made it onto a mixtape I took to college, radio static and all.

Skip forward a few tracks to junior year of college. I remember being at KWUR and popping in an old Jimmy Eat World CD. I thought, “wow, I like their new stuff, I wonder how their old stuff sounds.” The last DJ who reviewed it gave Track 2 the most stars so I cued it up. Just as it started playing I had the most awesome flashback to when I first heard it. That was when I fell in love with Jimmy Eat World, and their album Clarity became timeless to me.

And I’m not alone! Last year Jimmy decided to play Clarity in its entirety at five shows across the country to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its release. Unfortunately, the last show was last March and I realized this last June. Blast. But... yesterday I found out that they recorded that show, and it’s on sale! Since April of last year. I may be the worst die-hard fan of my favorite band ever.

Go here to hear/see/buy it!

And for your listening/dancing pleasure:

One Truth

I just had a week so rough it's almost delicious, the kind of week that if almost anyone around you complains about anything you're perfectly justified to say "I understand, you'll never believe what my week's been like" and then suddenly everyone is silenced. But, not in a bad tearful soul-sucking kind of way... more like "yep, you win the unfortunate contest today" kind of way. (There's also something delicious in how vague I'm being, isn't there?) :)

Here's something lovely that helped reset me that I'd love to share.

And another Enjoy!

Rainbows

Hello world! It has been a while.

To update on last year’s resolutions… lets just say it was not meant to be! I’ve seen lots of bunnies and continue to celebrate their existence. This year has flown by, I’m hoping the next 4 months will continue to fly by. My weekly pediatric neuro clinics feel like getting dunked in the most refreshing pool of water and coming up to sunshine!

True, some of the kids are really sick and some of the moms are (understandably) basketcases but it’s so different from taking care of adults. This year we have to watch so many people slowly die. I have nothing but respect for Adult Neurologists, but man does it tug at the heartstrings. I still get a little weepy when I have to explain to a family that a patient has Parkinson’s, or ALS. Or a giant brainstem stroke where they likely may not recover any function. And I get even more weepy when the 90-something year old patient’s 90-something year old spouse (with a little dementia of their own) says they’ll do everything they can to help the patient through this. This is Love!

What really made me write was this gorgeous scene I saw on my way home from work. It was right after my in-service exam and it had poured all day. A really nice steady rain. It eased up as I drove home, and I saw an opening in the clouds with sun rays lighting a part of the highway about a mile away… the road looked like it was glowing! with a rainbow coming out of it! As I got closer, the water on the road sprayed up from the tires of the cars in front of me, and the water caught the rays so there looked like there were about ten miniature rainbows coming from the tires of the cars. After a lot of googling, I found this pic... it's kind of close:




Of course it was more beautiful being there... picture the above with more cars, a road that looked almost metallic, brighter light, and a bigger rainbow! Where's a camera when you need one!

And finally, This year's Resolutions (it’s never too late!):

1. try not to be so cranky post-call.
2. stay on my surfboard!
3. learn Spanish
4. juego mi guitarra mas (see #3)
5. cook more (things that involve more than two steps)
6. visit the newborn nursery more often. I have just gotten clearance from the nurses that I can feed all the babies I want!

Peace out!

Thanks King George!

Many of you acquainted with me know that I'm a strong supporter of A1 Steak Sauce, and hold that it's the only condiment that can make anything better. It beats out ketchup by a long short, and narrowly passes Salsa. (Salsa is good and yummy too, I wonder if they can be combined to a super-condiment.) I never really questioned the origin of A1, but CNN had a fun story on condiments today.

Isn't that the coolest? My sauce has history! And I have no idea what hollandaise sauce is, but now I kind of want to try it.

Bunny count has been restarted, it's now at 8. The bunnies here in California are different from St. Louis and San Antonio bunnies... they're a lot less poofy. With longer ears.... but they're still cute! Especially when their noses twitch while nibbling grass, and even more when they start hopping around. Next time I'll try to stick a picture in. Yay!

PICU Playa'

I was a little surprised at the pain meds neurosurgery ordered for a kid they admitted to the PICU last night. He had just had his skull opened and grids placed to help figure out the location of his seizures. Our ICU team was consulted to help with pain management overnight. I figured it was probably just me not being used to adult doses—he was 16—so I thought I’d try it out and follow their plan. It was this combination of frequently scheduled Toredol and Valium… and if he still had pain he could have 5mg of Morphine (big adult dose!) or Tylenol with Codeine. Neurosurgery does not mess around!

Turns out, they worked a little too well… I woke him up before examining him and saw him looking at me kind of funny while I was introducing myself. I asked him to follow my light… but instead, he just said “Woah… doc! You’re beautiful!” His mom started laughing pretty hard while I just went on with my exam, but he was like “no really—you’re really beautiful!” Nice. I had to cut back on his meds a bit. The best part was watching the reactions of any female nurse or resident who came out of his room… they all had smiles on their faces!

Countdown to California… 25 days!

Bunny on Easter!

Today at work was brilliant. I found an Easter egg in my pocket, had homecooked lunch, talked smack to my favorite 5 year old CF friend who had to be readmitted. She likes to make funny sounds to herself in between ordering everyone around like a little diva. Kinda reminded me of that scene in Garden State when Natalie Portman's character starts talking about doing things to feel unique... that's so much like this little one- last time she was admitted I caught her dancing by herself in her bed! Hopefully she won't be in too long... she needs to be home more!

One family also brought a surprise with them... Bunny! They um, crashed their car on the way home after just getting the bunny. So all afternoon there was a baby bunny hopping along in various areas of the pediatric ER. The nurses found carrots (I wonder if bunnies actually like carrots or are resentful of that stereotype), a cup of water, abandoned wagon and blanket and we set up bunny camp. Good news- everyone was ok! They even let me take some pictures of the bunny. He was sooo tiny. :-)

Gonna hit the sack. Updates: turns out that patient's dad was just really confused, and no real damage control needed to be done (or so my colleagues tell me... maybe they are just protecting me...) My new years resolutions are doing ok: 1. I am reading. 2. Can't anymore- out of stock. 3. haven't been put to the test yet. 4. played with bunny today. 5. Holy goodness has the news gotten interesting lately. PIRATES!

m

A lovely Easter to all! :-)

"Thanks for makin me feel like a real [idiot], doctor..."

No more explaining things that already should have been explained to semi-confrontational angry dads while leaving the ER especially when I've already stayed 30 minutes past my shift. The funny thing was that I actually was starting to question his mental competence... at least he didn't punch me. I owe another resident for digging me out of that hole. It was a deep, deep hole. (I woulda punched me.)

I met my new little hero today! He was a three year old who was wandering around an appliance store, when someone opened a refrigerator door in his face. He had a pretty deep laceration on his forehead that needed stitches. If I knew enough Spanish, I woulda said to him, "Aw, buddy I know exactly how you feel! I get accidentally whacked in the face all the time!" But no need- he looked so happy to be getting all this attention. Can you believe it- he sat through lidocaine shots AND three stitches. Those parents should give classes... the whole family helped keep him calm but had to keep switching off because they'd get lightheaded.

I love being in the Pedi ER! Things seem to come in themes. Today was head vs. hard object day. Yesterday was appendicitis day. Looking forward to swallowed foreign body day (those have fun X-Rays.) And things don't "come in three's" here, more like fives or sixes in a row... all at once. Unfortunately we also seem to be having sexual assault week. I hate that theme.

But here's something super awesome- we're giving away stuffed bunnies now in honor of the holiday! We've also been having an easter egg hunt every morning for the staff. The hunt isn't the fairest of hunts since when I have trouble finding normal things like tongue depressors, how am I supposed to find eggs? Luckily, my confusion seems to be winning me some jelly bean donations. Mmm! Just like FAT BUNNIES! ;-)