Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Lions, Lambs, Four-fingered mice and cannons

As I examined my droopy fender today, I started to wonder if I've been spending too much time on I-5. It rattles quite loudly when I'm driving over 30 mph and I wonder if a big gust of wind might not rip it off entirely. However, like the other droopy side, I am pretty confident I can fix it with some string. My fender dangles because my car has lived a hard Midwestern life of salt and snow and is so rusty it seems just a few years from turning to dust.

So, I was thinking about I-5 today. While my rusty bumper tick'tick'ticks in the breeze I work hard on I-5 to navigate left lane drivers, mysterious traffic slow-downs and the ever-present construction. Of all of these, it's the left-lane drivers that really get me. Something about Washington State compels people to pick a lane that seems to be the least occupied, pick the speed they feel most comfortable with, hit their cruise control, and hope no one gets in their way. Unfortunately, they pay no heed to anything going on beside them. Or, for that matter, the entire line of traffic behind them, begging for them to move right! It's a WA phenomenon, one that would earn blasted horns, flashing lights, and possible a wielded semi-automatic weapon on I-696 in Detroit!

But, I only have 30 minutes to blog tonight and didn't want to spend it whining about I-5 traffic woes. There are numerous websites devoted to this left lane driving evil. Please explore the links for more info.

This month, maybe even more than others, has really been one worth blogging about.

You may remember that this month was cardiology. Which, you may also recall, that like any outpatient rotation really means lots of back-up duties and continuity deliveries. I worked a few half days with a cardiologist but wound up being called in as back up, covering some of my out residents, and delivering a number of patients and rounding on them in the hospital. Same old FP stuff as usual.

My activism got a much needed jolt of life when I travelled early in the month to Anaheim to present at AMSA's 60th convention on the LGBT history of the org. My co-panelists were two great guys who helped revolutionize LGBT provider visibility and competent patient care even before the DSM was revised in 1973! It was an honor to sit among them. I think that may have been my 6th or 7th attendance and 5th or 6th time presenting. While there were still some national leaders I can still call friends, I definitely felt old and somewhat more disconnected than usual. But, nonetheless, it was an exceptional conference and not only did I get to participate with AMSA, but I got to meet up with a local buddy of mine I haven't seen in ages and see the new Alice in Wonderland Movie (not so great) have yummy creole food (very good) before my flight back to Seattle. Plus, I got to enjoy the total and utter creepitude (yes, new word, you may steal it if you want) of all things Disney (see above for the Bosch-like incarnation of a Tweedle). Am I the only one who sees twisted things in just about everything Disney?

Mid-month I played a killer concert with the Rainbow City Band where I got to play a terrifyingly exposed solo (Pictures at an Exhibition) and hear my sweetie play a wicked concerto AND the cannon for 1812 Overture. The entire performance was amazingly difficult and rewarding featuring Tschaikowsky, Moussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakow, Shostakovitch, Stravinsky and more! We played two shows and at the end of the weekend I got to celebrate with my 80 closest friends/bandmates at the after party and toast a major milestone: 100 days left of residency!

The weeks around the concert were also colored with a shooting schedule for our class senior video. I have written another song (the last one performed at the TFM's Got Talent Show) and am working with my class in filming a video to go with it to entertain all at graduation and have as a keepsake for the grads and interested staff/faculty. I would tell more but I can't give away the secrets because the contents of the video will be a surprise at Graduation (shhh).

This month wrapped with Passover in San Francisco. Every 3-4 years my family makes an effort for everyone to come to a big family seder. It's a big Jewish Family Reunion. Complete with gefilte fish and bitter herbs. The event this time was particularly fun for me as I had Karin as the newest addition to the family seder. The first full day we had there we spent mostly exploring San Francisco, walking about 10 miles and wearing ourselves out just enough to then spend the next day and a half saturated with loving family.

One of the bigger events of our family passover is the family talent show. This passover, while sadly missing a few of my cousins and their families, was still very well attended. I didn't take a head count but I imagine it was well over 30 folks. The talent portion consisted of sing-a-longs, dances, sneezes, jokes and a reenactment of the RCB Thriller Dance by myself and Karin accompanied by my niece, Zoe on guitar. It was fun and I look forward to the next one. It also reminds me how much more often I would love to see my family. If only we weren't so spread out! They should all move to Seattle and make it easier for me. (at left is a grainy cell phone pic I took in SF)

Amazingly, the adventure didn't end there, the day we flew back from SFO we managed to just squeeze in and make the first marching band rehearsal (which started a mere 30 minutes after our flight touched down). I mention this because the music is really exciting this year! It is quite possible that my band will be adding to its usual marching fare such songs as: Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire and Bad Romance by Lady Gaga. Nothings set in stone quite yet, but Magic 8-Ball says "outlook is good"! I can just see Jai Ho now at Solstice and Gaga at Pride!

And, now, I must wake in 7 hours and start my last in-patient rotation of residency. The notorious, "we never cap" Family Medicine Service. The rotation on which I spent my unforgettable intern Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's a rough one and although I'm sad I'll be missing Honkfest, my favorite thing ever, Spring, time with my fiance, sleep, eating well and all those little things... I will surely be happy it's the last month like this.

2185 hours and counting...

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