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| Now, I'm not one to write notes as most of you have already seen by the lack of them. However, I don't know why but something has compelled me to write one today. There have been a few things in the past couple of weeks that have stood out in my mind as abominations against the rule of the law. These mainly involve Saudi Arabia's lashing and subsequent imprisonment of a rape victim (not to mention the disbarrment of the lawyer who defended her) and the actions of the Sudanese people calling for the execution of the British teacher who had a teddy bear named Mohammed (keep in mind that it was one of her students who named the teddy bear Mohammed, yet she is taking the fall...i don't mean to offend, but its probably because she is white and female). Why am i bringing this up? Well, sadly enough, for most people this is the only kind of exposure they get to "Islam." Aside from the fact that i honestly believe there is no true Islamic State in the world (partially due to the colonization and "divide and conquer" tactics of the European forces after WWI and the fall of the Ottoman empire), these so called "Islamic countries" are in essence following these laws, most of which are man-made, and placing the name of Shariah on them in order to have the religious backing of laws (and for some reason this makes the laws ok). Look at Saudi Arabia...a corrupt country that is ruled by a single family that runs almost all aspects of daily life. You cannot look me in the eye and tell me with a straight face that this is a country that deserves to call itself an Islamic State. Yes, it does have 2 of the 3 most holy mosques in Islam, however, that doesn't automatically make the country Islamic. A country that has so much oil & money it has no idea what to do with it. Why doesn't it help its Arab/Muslim neighbors who need it (I.E. palestinians, jordanians, lebanese), or does islam stop at the borders of saudi arabia because they don't practice islam the same way you do?? or is it because their great-great-grandfather said something to your great-great-grandfather and because of that you can no longer deal with them?? I find it hard to believe that the Saudi gov't considers itself "holier than thou" just by putting on a traditional Islamic/Bedouin dress, growing out a beard, and wining and dining (that's right, wining) with foreign dignitaries. Apparently they must have skipped the part in the religion where it says that the outside doesn't matter, its the inside (good intention) that counts. To be continued....because i have to go to class | | |
| Its surprising just how easy it is to get swept away by the normal rigors of daily life. I've felt that every day that passes is another day that has made me stronger, but it seems that the exact opposite is the case sometimes. Everyday that passes is another day that i must try and get through in order to succeed in life. However, I'm currently listening to something on Pandora and staring outside at the pouring rain and i can't help but think what makes the rain come down?? What's sad is that i know exactly why and how it comes down, but we still have no idea what makes the weather do what it does...it truly is the final frontier (along with the ocean). But its just surprising to me how something so natural and unwarranted can be the worst thing possible for people as well as confound millions of scientists figuring out what makes it "work." Basically what i'm trying to say is that i'm bored with studying and this seemed like the most perfect time for a break....and you know what?? It worked. | | |
| So for the past 3 weeks, my entire life has been inundated with the heart. That's right, the cardiovascular system. It seemed so easy learning about it in grade school, high school, and college. Who would have thought that the heart is perhaps one of the most fascinating and complicated organs in our entire body. Med school is weird. Its like you have a great appreciation for everything in the body every single day you learn something new. In essence, my appreciation for the heart is like my appreciation for water (i wasn't in my right capacity when i was in said "hot" tub).
Anyway, the heart...i'm somewhat speechless at what it does and what it can do. Its not like i can think about anything else when i'm blasted on all sides by things relating back to the heart. I never really considered cardiology or cardiac anesthesia until this past block, but now i have more than enough reason to do either one. I'm still not sure at this point, but i think its safe to safe that i would be happy either way.
On a side note, I've been shadowing this urologist for the better part of a month and i'm glad i've been doing so. I had thought about urology in the past, but never really considered it as an option. Right now, I think its tied as my first option...along with anesthesia. There is something about urology that has instant gratification. For those that don't know, a urologist mainly deals with penises...and sometimes vaginas and kidneys, but mainly penises (and the whole plumbing system associated with it). But when thinking about it, you are gonna have a constant workload and you are damn sure your patients are going to be compliant...more than not, if a guy has a problem with his penis, he is going to see a doctor and probably listen and adhere to whatever the doctor suggests. The gratification comes from knowing that you've helped an individual/couple in perhaps their most intimate of encounters and you are the one who is directly responsible for that. The only reason i bring this up is because i'm going to the OR in the morning to shadow the urologist again...guess whose excited??? Thats right...this guy.
These past couple weeks have been interesting outside of school. It seems that I'm back into the grind of constantly working and trying to fit as much info as possible in the shortest amount of time, while still trying to have a life. I sometimes wish their would be more hours in the day...but then i realize that those extra hours would probably be taken up by studying, and so i wouldn't be too happy with what i'd wished for.
On a side note, I found a new place to live...its uber-nice and relatively cheap. I'll maybe put pictures once i get it all setup and ready to go.
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| For about 99% of everyone out there, you are on summer vacation. Welcome to the long, hot days, muggy nights, and bikini laden beaches for the next two months. Sit back in your lawn chair, cut that grass, or start up the old charcoal grill because its summer and thats what we do doing summer damn it. We hate the mosquitos and the sunburn, but yet we continue to go outside into the sun and unforgiving mosquitos...and we hate roadtrips, but inexorably there are millions making those trips.
Well, my summer has come to a premature end. Its ending almost as anti-climatic as its beginning. Good things were done and so were the bad. The trip up to Austin was a good reminder of past years and how nice it was to be back among friends who respect me, however small it may be. It was good to get away from the Galveston funk with the trip to Baltimore and catching up and getting my last fling of fun before settling back into life of no return.
So, i've come to the conclusion that I'm not going to like this upcoming year. Aside from the obvious fact that we start much earlier and end much later than we did last year, there is a lot more information and a lot less direction from the professors. Its basically going to be one whole year of self-instruction, or so i've heard, which many of you know is not my strong point. I have to force myself to get this knowledge into my brain somehow...i'm not sure but i'll figure out a way.
I'm also planning on moving...not sure where, but its happening
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| I just got back from being in Baltimore, MD for the past five days and I'm fairly exhausted from the entire experience. Mind you, it was great to get out of Galveston and not be surrounded by idiots and humidity, but I felt constantly tired and sleep-deprived, most likely because i would have to be ready at 7am...which is no earlier than i'm usually up, but for some reason I felt more tired and achy.
I got to catch up with old friends, read a couple of books, find some new acquaintances, and thoroughly had a vacation during my summer. I ended up in Baltimore for the Shock Society, which i ended up submitting an abstract for back in early March and i got to present my poster for all the people to see. I didn't get a whole bunch of feedback which is rather disconcerting, but i did bug my mentor enough to have him go over my manuscript...which i plan on submitting within the next week or two hopefully. It'll be good to get this shit over with and get it published...however, behind it stands more publications/abstracts/research. It's getting to be a little more manageable but I'm still fairly certain i could never do research for the rest of my life. Currently, i'm trying to get through the rest of the summer unscathed, but that's not going to happen either.
Overall, the trip was a good break from the humdrum of daily life and work. I got out of my daily habits of ill, which i needed to get out of my system before starting back up the new year, longer and harder than the year before. I'm still not ready to start back up here in a few weeks, but i really don't have a choice do I? Its still a pain in the ass considering my ankle is still not fully healed. I still think it needs a good 3 more weeks to at least be somewhere manageable whereby i can start running some more. I'm trying to get it back loosened up by swimming, walking, and putting more weight on it. Unfortunately, it just tires it out and makes it hurt more in the afternoon. This is why I've decided to take up yoga a couple days a week and just slowly begin to build up the smaller muscles and the ones that help balance me out. It'll eventually get there, but not as fast as i would hope for. Alas, i'm tired and I will report later.
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