McKinley

I have to say, the McKinley street fair was underwhelming at best. There were a lot of booths that seemed to revolve around Jesus. There was less art and more tchotchkes. No derby girls as far as I could see. However there was a person in a bee suit (below) and lots and lots of dogs. It might be because I made the mistake of going too early, but while I was there, I have to say this street fair did not make me want to return next year. The music, however, was pretty good - bluesy stuff - but it was overshadowed by the guy with the CD-back track playing hymns on his saxophone flanked by two lions with crowns and a speaker plastered with God and Jesus-related bumper stickers. The best part of the fair: The pirate and the Hawaiian Ice (a.k.a. SnoCones - see the remnant at left).

Afterwards I hit up Proctor again to go buy some of that tempting lavender I photographed last time. I also bought myself a jump rope with the intent on exercising. Much to my dismay, the lavender never bloomed and my downstairs neighbor came up to complain about the jump rope only 6 minutes after using it. (note Pirate Booty at left)

Now I am on Internal Medicine. This rotation promises to be harder, longer hours, and overall more grueling than most others. It lasts a month and a half - lucky me, my month and a half seems to be 7 weeks long instead of the usual six. But, really, I can't complain too much, I do like in-patient work. More than your average FP bear, I suppose.

Typical day for me: 6 Am arrive, pre-round until 7, report at 7 (where we hear about overnight admissions for the three inpatient services: peds, FP and medicine), that ends around 7:30-8 then we round until 9 when we have EKG rounds that last until 9:15 when we then have ICU rounds, ICU rounds vary in length and afterwards we usually get to do a few things until medicine rounds. Rounds try to end around noon when there is usually teaching of some sort. Then sometimes there are even more meetings and teaching things at 12:30. Then the afternoon we can actually start doing our work for the day beyond rounding. When on call I cover for all three services: peds, medicine and FP. Legally we are supposed to get 10 hours off between shifts and work no more than 30 hours in one chunk. The 10 hour rule has been the most difficult since M-Th calls "end" at 8 but, for most, the work is rarely done by then and I have to be there by morning report at 7 the next day at the latest.

Overall I'm liking medicine. Yes, it's long hours and the cross-cover is rough, but I like the to-do lists and the team approach to patient care. We'll see if I feel the same way after a few more weeks (1 week down, 7 to go).

Randomly, I went to Walgreens to get new contact lens solution (according to a new study, ReNu is incompatible with Acuvue contacts- FYI) and on the way there saw a drunk man in a baseball jersey stumble comically on the sidewalk and fall in a grand way - arms flailing, legs going up in the air. He was in a busy area with lots of bars and clubs and looked to be fine (other than his drunken state) but it was one of those moments where I felt a little less than enthusiastic about people in general. This reminds me of an AWESOME movie I saw about how people are stupid. It's called Idiocracy (written by Mike Judge the genius behind Office Space). Click on here and read about it. Then watch it and realize, that while you laugh at the TV-sofa/toilet and WWF star President, it's a bit too close too true to not be scary. Definitely one of the more fun movies I've seen in a while.
(tug boat pulling big ship out my window the other day).

Proctor

Proctor arts festival was quaint. Typical folk art was there - birdhouses, painted stools and chairs, landscapes, metalworks. I think one of the reasons street fairs are so great is that they are events that are rather conducive to solo exploration. You don't particularly need another person to explore. However, it is much more fun to have company and I was lucky enough to go to Proctor Arts Festival with the divine little Sofia and her mother, Luci, my co-intern (us by the street sign at left).

It was a gorgeous day. The start of it threatened cold and rain. I was bundled in layers at home, battling off the chill through my windows. But by the time we arrived at the artsfest, the sun was shining and I was wishing for a tank top!

The artsfest coincided with the Proctor Farmers market which was particularly awesome with it's plethora of locally grown Rainier cherries, tart apples, freshly caught salmon (yay for free tastes) and flowers galore. Luci and I contemplated the idealistic concept of buying exclusively locally grown produce. I've recently been thinking more about globalization of food products and wish I had the time and money to support local products. If I could be free every weekend to hit up the farmers markets it would be so much easier. (Pics: fresh lavender at farmer's market and candid of random guy eating yummy Taste of Proctor food.)

On a less serious note, we got to see people in animal costumes! Always a sign of kid-friendly fun (all references to Furries and that scary subculture notwithstanding). I was particularly excited to see a Panda bear and princess hanging out and a dalmatian in fireman's gear (left). Nothing like a little bizarre interspecies confusion to please the kiddos.



One of the best parts of this street fair was the dog show. They had various fun competitions: longest tail, hairiest dog, biggest, smallest, and look-a-like dog-owner (see pic of two contestants). At the end of the competition (winners were chosen by applause) there was a parade with all the dogs.

It was a great day off. I even got more freckles for my trouble - a sure sign I got my RDA of Vitamin D.

This weekend is yet another street fair. The McKinley Street Festival. I'm really looking forward to this one since there's a chance the Dockyard Dames may be there.

V8 philosophies?

I read a lot. Or, rather, I used to read a lot - before med school. Point being, when I'm walking down the street, and some old guy (shuffling with his trucker hat and smile, a wise-looking complete stranger, with whom I've yet to even have eye contact) starts talking to me, and I'm feeling rather open-minded, I half expect some sort of life lesson. An unexpected message that will have deeper significance when I look back on what the stranger said. It happens all the time in books. So when he started talking I started listening:

"That spicy V8 juice is really spicy." He said. I stopped walking and looked back at him as we had passed each other by a few feet. I was expecting a comment on the nice day, or some such hello-type introduction.
"Oh?" I asked, when I finally figured out what he had just said.
"It's really spicy! I had to eat a banana to get the spice out!"
"That spicy, eh?"
He nods. He's very excited to share this information. "I like regular V8, though!"
"That's great!" I offer. Then we are on our separate ways. Me, somewhat dumbfounded why he decided to share this with me. I must look like someone who requires the most up-to-date V8 information.

I'll be sure to let you all know when and if this V8 message becomes deeply significant. Until then, the lesson learned is that eye contact is not required to have random street conversations, and no topic, including Tabasco-infused vegetable based beverages, is off-limits.

I've been promising to put a few links on here:
1. A funny music video a comedian did about gay marriage (even has special effects): click here
2. The resident biographies for those of us at TFM. You can read my brief bio and those of my classmates if you click here.

And on a related note. I think it was last week? Or maybe the week before when we met over at Liza's for pasta. Liza has a ferret. So I snapped some pics that were all very bad (ferrets aren't the most photogenic) but Liza took a picture of me and Beth scrunching the ferret (left).