Friday, February 06, 2004

Is it wrong to apply to a program simply because I think the name of the city is cool to say? I mean, think of it, how fun would it be to say, "I'm doing a family medicine residency in Menomonie, Wisconsin." Yeah, yeah, I know, it snows in wisconsin and it's freaking cold there but the name rocks! And then I can visit the Osh Kosh b'Gosh factory. I mean, if Walla Walla Washington had a program, I'd apply there too! Sure, there's a federal prison there but prisoners need doctors too. Or if I want to relive the memories of Space Camp, I can go to the program in Huntsville, Alabama. I suppose Northern california is an option though I'd like to avoid that state. Or Portland...Maine! Oooh! Kalamazoo in Michigan is cool sounding too. Or hey, there's always Creighton...they seem to like to admit me every time I've applied there...sure that's twice but that's a pretty good record. Oh wait, I remember January in Omaha...I feel cold just thinking about it. Or Niagara Falls, New York. Or Schenectady, New York. Or even Yonkers, New York. One thing is for sure, i'm staying away from the eastern seaboard...I really don't need 3 more years of living in hurricane prone states. And it seems like those states get more storms than where I currently live and now, that wouldn't be too smart of me. Other natural disasters I need to research are Tornados. So that wipes out another bunch of programs. Sure, the states of Oregon and washington are predicted to suffer a huge earthquake that will put the states into the sea but I currently live below sea level and am in danger of being hit by a hurricane that will bury the city so really, I'm only exchanging one disaster for another. Yep, anyone know of maps that show the various natural disasters so I can rank some of these programs? You know, in case there's a tie for program qualities.
~me~ at 6:21 PM

Thursday, February 05, 2004

By the way, because I know you care about me...it stopped raining in time for me to go to school and come home from school today.
~me~ at 6:13 PM

here are the stats:
There are 24 spots total available in the state of Oregon for a Family Medicine residency. 6 are in Milwaukie, by the way.
There are 76 spots total available in Washington for a FM residency, 2 are in small underpopulated towns that may not even have cable internet (say it isn't so pa! say it isn't so!)
There are 10 spots total available in Hawaii for a FM residency, 1 is in mililani, the other is at kuakini and they haven't filled all positions every year. That could be a bad predictor of program quality.
There are at least 15 ulcers currently forming in my GI tract as a result of thinking about residencies and licensing exams...I can feel them, I swear I can!

well, time for dinner
~me~ at 6:11 PM

Wednesday, February 04, 2004

It's raining. With thunder and lightning and you know how much I hate thunder and lightning. I hope it's all done by the time I have to go to school tomorrow.

I get to go home for spring break! Yea! I'll get to see my gramps and my parents and my friends.

I saw Jess today. We haven't seen each other for so long so this weekend we're going to hang out for a bit since we both don't have to work on the weekend.

Neurology is kind of fun. I presented today a new patient that I thought had an aphasia but Dr. S said it's probably a combo of old age and old strokes. Oh well...It's interesting though since when you think of the VA, you usually think you'll only have male patients or at least the old ones would be male. Well, I had a 43 yr old female vet who was in alcohol withdrawal. 43 isn't too old to think that she could have been in maybe the later wars. But my inpatient is an 83 year old woman. Now, there's no way she was in any war. She worked for the VA at one point in her career so I guess if you work for the VA you get to go there? Doesn't seem right but what the hell do I know about this anyway. My classmate who's on my team actually had this same woman as a patient in november when she was on medicine at another hospital (oschner - the one I didn't like). Weird huh!

Ohhhh...the weatherman just said the rain won't end until friday.
~me~ at 10:17 PM

Sunday, February 01, 2004

Ugh! I'm so tired of self riteous people protesting the use of ritalin (and like drugs) for ADHD simply because of it's classification of a stimulant. And yet, they say this with a big steaming cup of coffee in their hands. Come talk to me when you have quit coffee and other caffeine sources about how bad stimulants are. Or the people who bitch about public schools being bad and that teachers aren' t doing their jobs. You try doing your job without enough resources and being constantly told that more cutbacks are expected. These people then decide that homeschooling is the solution. yeah, good luck buddy. It's harder than you think and then who's to blame if your kid still is messed up and stupid. You! Ha Ha Ha fine then, go screw your kid over so the limited resources can be redistributed to the kids that remain. So I just say my peace, walk away, and come rant and rave here about their ignorance.

time to self medicate my own adult onset ADD with a nice big glass of Chai tea, my caffeine source of choice
~me~ at 2:20 PM