Not a cardiologist
The med school has corrected my badge. Due to a clerical mistake in Summer of 2004, my badge read 'Cardiology Medicine' instead of 'College of Medicine' for over 2 years (and 2 clinical rotations). This error has been corrected, and in an act of revenge by the system, I am now the only Med 3 whose name is all lowercase letters.
Death of a harddrive
On Monday night, my harddrive stopped working. A diagnostic trouble-shoot revealed that it was DEAD DEAD DEAD. It is still under limited warranty, but it will take me some time to get everything reinstalled onto my new harddrive. (And to relearn all my passwords to everything)
I was offered the chance to spend about 2000 dollars to get send the harddrive out and get all the information removed. Was my Seasons 4-5 of scrubs, Season 2 of Veronica Mars and Grey's Anatomy worth that much? Or possibly my very random selection of 800 songs?
The only fortunate thing was that I had backed up my research project and all of my photos through May 2006. The unfortunate thing is that I am was behind on my EValue diagnosis and stuff for school - and now I won't have internet access from my house for a while.
OSU judo attracts tornadoes
For the second Wednesday in a row,
OSU judo practice has been cancelled mid-throw because of the weather. Stupid tornado warnings getting in the way of my fun. Two Wednesday in a row is a weather conspiracy!
(And now it's back to studying)
Non-productive behavior
With my library trip over, I absolutely recommend
The Olympians by Rick Riordan.
Here is the premise: Percy Jackson is a dyslexic 6th grade troublemaker with ADHD who has been getting trouble since birth. Trouble, in the form of weird events that no one else seems to understand, seems to follow him and keeps finding a way to get him expelled from multiple schools. A few serious monster attacks later, Percy finds himself holding the Minotaur’s horn and at Camp Half-blood, a summer camp charged with training and protecting half-god children like himself. All of the children in attendance happen to be the illegitimate children of the Greek gods with mortals and have had similar life courses. Of course, Percy, who happens to be the son of Poseidon, may or may not be the demi-god of prophecy that will prevent the world from descending into chaos before he turns 16.
And you guessed correctly, you sense a quest being born here. Will Percy, accompanied by a trusty satyr and a daughter of Athena, fulfill his destiny and be a tool of the gods? Or will he suffer the fate of many demi-gods before him
(
Heracles, Castor/Pollux, Theseus) getting killed in some in some spectacular fashion - poisoning, murder, eaten by monsters . . .
While I did enjoy the
Harry Potter books, I like this series better. The similarities of all magical school training stories cannot be avoided - wise conflicted mentor, clumsy best friend/smart best friend, giant prophecy, the appealing part of this series is that it interprets the Greek myths against American culture with rather hilarious results. Most of the action occurs with our heroes roaming Western Civilization in ways that anyone born in the US can relate. For example, what would Medusa do if she moved to America – open a garden gnome store. The sea Odysseus sailed through in the Odyssey has been moved to the Bermuda Triangle and Circe changes men into guinea pigs for kindergarten classes. The gate to the underworld is in Hollywood at a record producers house eternally playing Barry Manilow.
Our heroes’ personal situation is closer to home because every half-blood is the equivalent of a child of divorce, since their literal ‘god’ parent is absent. Some of the kids resent that parent, some of them eternally try to gain their favor, and some of them don’t even know which god is their parent. Percy, when he didn’t know his father was the sea god, had to ask himself why exactly he was gifted at canoeing rather than archery, swordplay, or smithy. Even two books into the series, he still thinks its great and all that his father is an all powerful god, but couldn’t he stop by his mom’s house to say ‘hi,’ take his son out to the mall, and maybe pay some child support?
Other good points, what J.K. Rowling takes 30 pages to say - often with far too much effort - what Riordan says in one very subtle paragraph that you will often catch on the 2nd reading, yet does not detract from the storyline for younger readers. Since Riordan only uses Greek myths, you aren't wondering if you missed that Muggle related joke because you weren't up to snuff on your Norse, Celtic, and Hindu mythology. I'm not trying to knock the Harry Potter series - I am looking forward to the final book, but I find this series more enjoyable.
Incidentally, the books weigh in at 200 pages paperback and are fine for a kid to read for the adventure or for the adult who enjoyed Greek Myths, but doesn't want a brain aneurysm trying to decipher all the jokes.
Beware of public libraries
Oh med students, beware of public libraries. Especially if you happen to be visiting one in the middle of the day.
Let me explain. I have recently had some trouble concentrating on learning medicine at my own home. So there is a huge public library right across from my hospital and I decided to study there. I wandered in, and honestly, this was the most books I have ever seen in my entire life. Yes, I have never been to a true city library (the
Smithsonian doesn't count), but, again, that is the most books I have ever seen. It just is.
I set out my books and tried to study. Unfortunately, all the books outside my cubby were very clearly looking at me, just asking to be browsed and read. (As you can see, this did not bode well for my studying) I at least showed some restraint and went home with merely 9 books - limited to
Foxtrot and 3 other books I had previously read.
Avoid libraries with real books in them, is the lesson of the day.
The saddest thing
This is the saddest thing I have read for a long time.
Brian has been missing for six months.
This week on Grey's
It has been two episodes, and I realize that I didn't have a post about
Grey's Anatomy. While
Ene has been on the ball, I have not. My apologies.
So my favorite interns are still interns, and in the past two episodes, potentially 3 days have passed since Season 2's season finale. However, this has been long enough for Derek and Addison to split(hello McSteamy), Meredith still not pick between McDreamy and McVet, Christina to meet Burkes mom (apparently 3 days after he was shot), Chief's wife to leave him, and George to continue to be George with Callie. And also Izzy go from living on the bathroom floor to muffin making to Bailey forgiving her to get her back in the program.
The second episode worked better for me than the first because the first episode had too many flashbacks and not enough hospital centric drama. While I have nothing against flashbacks, most of them didn't serve much of a purpose. They physically showed us events we had already heard described - like Meredith meeting McDreamy in the bar for the first time. The only flashback I truly appreciated was the fight between Derek and Addison after he caught her cheating. Fortunately, in episode II, we were back at Seattle Grace for the frontal lobe tumor guy and non-compliant lung cancer lady. (And stripping, panty claiming, and one drunk Addison)
As for Meredith's non-choice, I love McVet. He's hot, he's nice, and he appears to be a great kisser. Unfortunately, he is also a guest star, so this does not bode well for the chances of him staying on. Oh the sadness.
Also very key, and not Grey's Anatomy related -
Veronica Mars returns for Season 3 this week. It will be right after Gilmore Girls on the new CW Tuesday at 9pm.
