Hi! How is everyone doing. Today is Thursday, and thankfully tomorrow is the last day of this rotation. I am quite excited. My doc gave me a great evaluation, as he does all of his students (unlike the last one who did not care just gave them at random). Right now I am trying to decide to how to get people to comment on the blog. I realize that I probably should not be so hung up on it, especially now that I have the tracker that tells me who visits. However, I like the interaction. Anyways, I will keep blogging regardless. Maybe when we have kids and their pictures are plastered on my page, I will get comments about them. I think that is how it is anyways, right? Once you have kids, no one really cares about you anymore. They are more concerned with the kids....like you don't get the presents anymore but the kids do.

We went to our play last night, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It was fabulous! James Earl Jones (Darth Vader's Voice and Mufasa's voice), Terrence Howard (was in Crash, The Best Man, Hustle and Flow), Phylicia Rashad (Claire, the mom, on the Cosby Show) plus all of the others were great. James Earl Jones is just fabulous. I would recommend it to anyone visiting the city. You do not get to see an all-star cast like that everyday. The box seats (the ones on the sides overlooking that only seat a few) were full with men in suits and the ladies with their fur coats and hats (as it is 25 degrees here).

I guess that is all for now. Jt is in his auto/home insurance liscensing class this week and takes the test next Wednesday. Our running schedule has been severely altered because of his work and my schedule (and will get worse with my new rotation). I don't know what we are going to do about that. I hope you all stay warm. Have a great day!

Feeding the Hungry.....

Sometimes living in NYC, you become "gloomy with the state of the world," to quote one of my favorite movies, Love Actually. Today, I saw something that reminded there is still good in humanity. Let me preface the story....Recently at church, we have been talking giving money, and one example was giving to the homeless. The point was, we often make excuses to not give money to homeless or begging people------excuses like "they are going to use it for drugs, alcohol or otherwise." Well, today, I was walking down the subway platform and saw an elderly white gentleman sitting on the benches begging for food or money. He said that he had not eaten in days....I felt in my pocket for change or dollars and found none. Sadly I kept walking then realized I had a bottle of water and turned to give it to him just as another young guy gave him some leftover cake. I handed him the water and continued walking. With my hand in my purse, I felt a package of tuna. I turned to walk back to him and saw something that made me realize good exists. I saw a young guy, about thirty, with arms full of shopping bags, stop, set everything down, open his bag, and give this old man his entire sandwich in a ZipLock baggie and some other food. It just made me feel good reminding me that there are people out there, even in this enormous city, who feel the pang when seeing someone hurting. I just wanted to share this with you. I hope it makes you smile or something.

The Brooklyn Bridge after Friday's snow taken by my friend Kim

Today is the day after my birthday, a Saturday. JT went to work and is still there....who would have thought he would love State Farm so much. I am watching the Georgia vs. Vandy game right now. It is truly entertaining.....Dennis Felton, our favorite coach, got a technical in the first eight minutes for being outside the box and then running his mouth about it.... And then one of my and one of JT's least favorite people are at the game....Mine is Vince Gill and JT's is Amy Grant....don't ask why...I just don't like his voice. Anyways, I found great humor it, especially watching alone. When we watch stuff alone, we typically laugh more because we are not self conscious about those around us judging our reactions. Surprisingly, Georgia is winning at half time.

The picture above is the cake I made for myself yesterday...I know, sad. But it was fun enough. We did not do anything really for my birthday. The weather was cold and wet...we did go up to a store so I could use my gift cards. (I got four tops for work.) Afterwards, we made an oven pizza and watched American Gangster with Denzel Washington. It was a great movie. I was surprised that it was not overly violent or polluted with sex scenes. There was some nudity and violence but in comparison with movies like We Own the Night and The Departed, it was mild.

Thanks to all of you who called me and wished me happy bday! I appreciate it all. Have a great day.

~SNOW DAY BIRTHDAY~

Well it is snowing like crazy here so I thought I would share a pic! The City is beyond that white sheet of snow....Enjoy.



And, well, today is my birthday and I feel yucky. I did not go to work. You know when you have a heavy head like the sickness is setting in. Well, it sucks on your birthday. Yet, there is some good to come of it....My handsome husband got all dressed in his suit and such and took off to work in the snow. I can imagine his frustration. Well I get a call about an hour later. Because of the weather, their office is shut down, but the agent did not have his cell number....SOOOO JT is coming home, which is exciting that I won't be alone on my birthday. It is strange for me. The last two years I have been in the ole Dominica for my birthday; I turned 23 and 24 there. And, ironically, it is snowing today. How crazy! Last year, Lisa Foody, my lovely friend, decorated our classroom and we went to eat lobster at this Dominica restaurant playing 50 Cent music and we went out to a little party. This year....I am snowed in sick in NYC alone (until JT gets home). I just think it is interesting how life changes in a year...not for the worse at all, but just differently. I got two gifts yesterday...JT's mom sent me this specific lip gloss I love, some cookies, and a great gift card from New York and Company. My friend Lisa also sent me a gift card there....I wish the weather was better so I could use the gifts!!! My dad gave me money, which is awesome. I am waiting for my mom's gift that she mailed....with the weather, I don't know how long things will take to get here...for some reason, I get mail slower though I am in the biggest city in the world. I think it is also funny...Jennifer Lopez delivered her twins today, on my birthday, in a NYC hospital. Funny huh? Me, George Washington, and her babies.....the most important people around.....Just kidding. So now I am a quarter of a century, half of fifty! Kind of crazy. I remember turning 15 and thinking, how much fun! And thinking how old thirty was..... Man, that seems like forever ago!

As for yesterday's blog, when I asked what you all thought.....I meant what do think about the perfectly healthy lady ending up on death's bed after a two week rehab stay. I am torn up over this poor lady and I just wanted to know what you all think about it.

Well, have a great day and a great weekend.

Patient Presentation: What do you think about this case?

A five foot, seventy nine pound 92 year old female with a past medical history of osteoporoesis, osteoarthritis, and congestive heart failure, presents in the emergency department with shortness of breath, tachycardia (fast heart rate), tachypnea (fast breathing rate), and vague abdominal pain following a two week stay in a rehab nursing care. The patient says the pain started "a few days ago" but she can not quantitate the pain. She denies chest pain, dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or any other significant symptoms. The patient initially presented two and a half weeks prior with a sprained ankle and was thereafter discharged to the nursing home to recover before returning home. The patient lives alone and has two home attendants that spend the days with her. She does spend the nights alone, which is the reason for sending her to the rehab facility. NOTE: The patient is alert and oriented to time, person and place. She signed a DO NOT RESUSCITATE (DNR) and a DO NOT INTUBATE (DNI) on admission.
Social, Family, and Past History are non contributory. According to the patient's daughters and her private physician, she has been ill for a few days but the nursing facility did not notify the physician until the evening prior to admission.
On physical exam, the patient is an underweight, ambulatory, elderly female, with shortness of breath, tachycardia, hypotension, and generalized discomfort. Heart rate is 118, BP is 96/48, Oxygen saturation is 94%, temperature not taken, Respiratory rate:35. Total bilirubin is 4.9 (high), AST: 101 (high), LDH: 328 (high), WBC:15.8 (high) Bands: 20% (20x normal)....Overall the labs reveal through WBC and Bands that there is a severe infection present. The other values demonstrate that her liver enzymes are elevated and the vitals (BP, HR...) demonstrate the likelihood of sepsis.
Assessment: The patient is suspected to have an ascending cholangitis or possibly an acute abdomen because the lungs are clear bilaterally and urinalysis returned normal. The plan for this patient is to administer labetalol to decrease the heart rate and thus increase diastolic filling time of the heart, give levaquin, flagyl, and vancomycin to cover gram +, gram -, and anaerobes that could be causing the infection. The patient will be followed by her private physician as well as infectious disease.

This is a real patient. What do you think?

So have you heard of killing time....well that is what I am doing. Who ever thought that internal medicine, the crux of the medical profession, would afford me so much 'down' or useless time? We have mandatory daily sign in and out. I understand the principle, but on days like today when we finished at twelve thirty, staying until five is ludacris (I spelled it like the rapper and not necessarily how it should be.) Anyways, normally we take turns signing one another in and out to avoid needlessly torturing all of us (meaning my few friends) at once. Today is my day to stay, which stinks because I was supposed to do my run this morning and over slept...And we have 7:30 bible study tonight. At least if I could leave here, I could work out in the meantime. I guess I could go home, work out and come back...but it is an hour each way making it an hour home, an hour at the gym, an hour back down here, and another hour home....making it four hours. That would just waste time, but in a different way. So I am going to stay. I will go to the phlebotomy lab and take urine for the pregancy tests of 14 year old girls happy to be pregnant, draw blood from ladies whoe think the tag "medical student" = moron (which it sometimes does), and have to listen to this girl in lab, another student, talk incessantly about nothing....and she knows EVERYTHING! She is what I like to call a "one-upper". She has always done it better, longer, smarter than you.

I don't like to complain about the rotation, but I am at my wit's end. I pay $13,000 every four months and this is how I spend my time. At least I could be at home studying or at the gym or something. I am thankful for this rotation so that I could go ahead and get started. I have no one to blame but myself... I am the reason I am at a Caribbean school who does not have great rotations...so that is that I guess.

Another good thing to come of it may be a meal at Morton's Steakhouse Thursday night in Great Neck (which happens to be the town where JT is working). There is a pharmacuetical sales guy that invited our attending and his students----that means me----and since JT will be working, I think me and a few of the others might go. I mean, seriously, who is going to pass up a free Morton's Filet, wine, dessert....Again, I pay 13k every four months....free food sounds great!

I start my next rotation in the Bronx as soon as this one is over.... I got an email today from the director of the program. We have two weeks of night call..are you serious, and Saturday calls are 24 hours. I know residency is that way and I will get used to it...but can you guys see me on two weeks of night call. It will be funny at any rate.

JT is two days into his job and likes it so far. I know, it is still early but that is a good sign for now. He looks so handsome all dressed up in his suit, tie, and cufflinks! I hope he continues to like....I am from a State Farm family.

Today is my brother-in-law, Daniel's, birthday, so happy birthday to him. Tomorrow is my friend Maria's birthday and then Friday is mine.

Okay, I have officially run out of things to talk about. Have a great day!

Hello everyone! We are off of work today for President's Day. It is a laughing matter now, the random days we have off. It is okay, thought, because I have nine days left in Internal Medicine. Friday, February 29 is my last day at Wyckoff Heights....at least for now. I have hematology/oncology and OBGYN there this summer, but those, however, will be much more useful of my time. I am just ready to shed these useless days in IM, where I am learning just a bit here and there. This week is looking up though. On Wednesday, another girl in my group and I will be going to our attending's private office, and on Thursday, we get to tour the new radiation/oncology machine. Then Friday is my birthday. We don't have any plans for Friday as we are going to a play a week from Wednesday.

I have spent today as a true off day. I have been wanting to watch the show called "The Tudors" on Showtime OnDemand....JT has no real interest in it, so that is what I am doing today. I read the book, The Other Boleyn girl in anticipation of it coming to theater (with Scarlett Johannson and Natalie Portman). Then I heard of this series, on tv, about the same family and with basically the same storyline. I am enjoying this day of quiet and solitude.

JT is at work today. It is his first day and he is enjoying it thus far. He does not know what time he will get off today or any day. This is only a problem on Tuesdays when we have small group, which starts tomorrow. Though I did speak to a girl in the group and she told me, laughingly, that I can come single to a couples group!

Have a great week!

I am going to post a real one later but I wanted to post this video.... For those of you that appreciate basketball, enjoy this beautiful dunk from last night's NBA All-Start Dunk contest. This is the only one I could find but enjoy. It is fantastic! It competes with Jordan's championship dunk! I love it!!!

Good Saturday night everyone.....For those of you that know us, this will come as NO surprise. We are watching the NBA three point shooting contest and DUNK contest while flipping back and forth to the Indiana basketball game. Are you surprised? I think not. Though I must give JT credit, he offered to take me both to the Metropolitan Museum of Art or a movie. I was LAZY and did not want to get cold. That is the thing here....you have to walk where ever you go. You need groceries, you walk. You go to work, you walk to the train or bus. You want to go to see a friend, you walk.... And though it is not Saskatchewan cold, it is quite cold. I am still a little Dominica spoiled. I remember 85 degrees in February....Last year on my birthday I was dripping in sweat. So, yes, I am spoiled.

We finally got our desk with the idea to motivate me to study. The furniture place we went to uses the motto "You pay cash, No Tax!" So guess what, we paid cash.... Here are a few pictures "office" is in a 4 x 8 of our living room. At least I can of it and our new arrangement....Haha... like you need to see three pictures of our new desk...I just get bored without pictures......please forgive the size....our look out from the desk and see Manhattan.


Still not much going on here. JT still starts his job on Monday, I am still at the same rotation for two more weeks, and tomorrow is our long run again...4 miles. I will eventually add up to 13....just not anytime soon. I am still trying to lose weight. I know what you are thinking. "how can someone able to run four miles not lose weight?" Well, I am not always perfect on my diet. But even when I am, I don't lose weight easily. It is always a struggle. I will not give up, but nevertheless it is a daily job. After our run is church. The subject this month is called "simplexity"...basically, how to live simply in a complex city and world. We are also starting our Bible study/Lifegroup on Tuesday night. It is a couples group in a nearby neighborhood, and we will be studying the book of Hebrews. I really hope we can meet some new people and make some new friends to help us with the rest of our time. I don't really have any good friends here and neither does JT. My old roommate Kim is here, but long story, she leaving in two weeks. My friends, Maria and Kyle, are in my rotation but I typically do not see them much on the weekends. Otherwise, I have lost touch with other people I know here. So, my good friends like my sis and Emily and Lisa and Sarah and everyone else are at home.....and we need some new friends here...

My 25th birthday is week....So old, eh? Just kidding. IT is weird though. I was 22 when I left for Dominica, and that seems so long ago. We are going to see "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" the Wednesday after my bday...it is a Tennessee Williams play with some great actors and actresses. I am quite excited about it. My friend Maria's bday is two days before mine so we may go to dinner on the Thursday between our days...if not, we may go "out" on that Saturday night....which for me and JT means one cocktail since the going rate in Manhattan is 10$ and up.
As you can tell, I am not engrossed with the three point shooting contest. However, I think the dunking is quite amazing, so I guess I should go. I love you guys and miss you. Please comment and let me know that you guys are really out there...simply an anonymous hello or any message would be great. I see the locations of people that check the blog but not who you are....though I have an idea...have a great Sunday and a great week!

Happy late Valentine's Day....I hope everyone, single, married, or otherwise had a great and special day. Initially JT and I contemplated going away tonight (Friday) since JT starts his new job (a long story)...but on short notice, it was not cheap enough for us. SOOO...we made a 930 reservation for dinner, which actually got to eat at 10....which is way too late!!! But it was very good. I got JT some ties and he got me some pretty earrings. No flowers...too pricey and it is too close to my bday.

So Jt's job situation. Like I told you, he was originally hired by a State Farm agent in the city. Well, after JT quit Old Navy and waited to start for two weeks, the agent decided not to stay in business. It was a very frustrating few weeks. Well, he began looking again. And this week he was offered a job with another State Farm agent on the border of Queens and Long Island (not in the city). He is really excited about this opportunity and has high hopes for it. I hope everyone has a great weekend....
Since I really like sharing videos now....I find this one ironic...Cocaine addict Amy Winehouse who won five grammys somehow...is in the video singing "I don't wanna go to rehab" but is now in drug rehab!!! JT calls her the British Britney Spears.

Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday. Why do I know that, other than the fact that I am a nerd? Because we have today off....from some unknown reason... Yesterday we, I, were off. I was busy at the gym and doing our taxes and handling my schedule for school. So right now, I am laying the bed watching Rachel Ray (which is actually annoying) and eating heart shaped sweet tarts... In actuality I should go to the gym and eat egg whites and listen to "I like the way you move" while I run three miles....Haha. I plan to do that later today....just not now. I did watch "A Baby Story"....reminding that I am crazy to like OBGYN because of the hours....and making me want a baby (JUST NOT NOW).

I do have to do my FAFSA today, which reminds me how much debt I will have just to be doctor...so if there are any wealthy people out there reading and looking for a good cause, my student loans are probably a tax deductible donation ;-)

I have mentioned Patrick and Sarah before (http://fingerposts.blogspot.com/)...well Sarah just finished her second round of chemo and is having some pain, hair thinning, and nausea. Please keep her in your prayers.

We are supposed to get a dusting of snow today...It IS 23 degrees right now. Who knows since we have not had any snow this year and only an inch in December. My dear friend Lisa in Chicago has had tons of snow. She said that she woke up the other day and twelve inches of snow had come overnight.

Anyways. Have a great day!

Hello! As I promised, ESPN's top ten moments from Bobby Knight!!! I think it hilarious. Sorry if you are offended but curse words are bleeped and it is so funny!



I hope everyone is having a great week. Not much is going on with us. We oddly have two days off and next Monday. No complaints here, though. JT and I ran four miles yesterday, not fun, but part of the half marathon training. I thought it would take me over an hour but I was able to finish in 46 minutes....YAY! But it was hard as......heck! OH!!! I know most of you do not watch every airing of Sports Center like we do....however, did you see the hockey clip from yesterday???? Yeah yeah, I know....you are thinking "hockey, seriously?" Well I don't know the team or player but a pro hockey player had his carotid cut by another player's blade....and HE LIVED. How crazy is that? Just thought I would share.

So for Lent...I have given up Starbucks! I have not had starbucks lately but it is a luxury that I enjoy very much. This is good for my health and wallet! I know it is simplistic but nonetheless, it is something! Have a great week and I would love to hear from everyone.

Me standing in front of the wild boars...I looked stunned because JT snapped without telling me.
The main hall of the museum named for Teddy Roosevelt
JT's favorite, The Zebras, and below, my favorite pic, JT waiting for the subway not knowing I was taking a picture.
One of the tents at Fashion week, and below, the main entrance

All of the tents, from a distance, at Bryant Park
The T-REX skeleton at the museum....cool huh
One of the exhibits
some more dinosaurs
Isn't the gorilla cute

So JT and I finally went to a museum. I got off work early after doing early rounds. We decided to do something different! We went to the American Museum of Natural History. I took pictures because I have not added pictures in awhile. They are random and funny but at least it is something.....Right? The museum was so big. It would have taken a full day, and personally, I think going on a tour would be more effective. All fo the animals above were merely displays, in case you were wondering. We then took the train/subway to Bryant Park. At Christmas, ice skatings and shoppes filled the park. I actually took my mom there....it is where we hate huge caramel apples. However, this week was the New York Fashion week where all of the world's top fashion designers bring their new lines for shows....Obviously it was invitation only for the world's most but we did take pics and see some random models.

(This is me before we left.....like my yellow shoes....
I hope my friend Emily recognizes the pose.)

So there are a few things to celebrate today...well, I must say HAPPY BIRTHDAY (yesterday) to my little and favorite sister (and only), Gretchen. I miss her so much. I probably don't tell her enough but I love her so much. We not very much alike, and that is really the beauty of it. I need her to come see me again so we can see The Little Mermaid on Broadway together. So since I was late sending her card and forgot to say it yesterday, Happy Birthday to Gretch.

Secondly, JT's friends, Jason and Ashlee Piercey, had their second son on Monday night. Jackson was 8 pounds 10 ounces and 20 inches long.....Poor Ashlee, he was a big little boy. (Is saying 'big little boy' an oxymoron? I am not sure.) We are very happy for them. Also, some of JT's friends from high school, Patrick and Sarah, had some good news yesterday. Sarah is suffering from cancer and is undergoing her second round of chemotherapy. Luckily and thanks to God, she still has her hair and thus far in this round, her pain and nausea are much less.

Last night was Super Tuesday....and I still do not know who I am voting for...BUT, one thing is for certain....nothing in this election has been as exciting as this....(this goes out to my husband and mother-in-law who love this clip just as much as me.)






As you can tell, I am very excited now that I can add video....tomorrow I might add the "best of" Bobby Knight clip, so if you are easily offended, don't watch. However, it is sad to see him leave the game. He was a great coach and had some of the best lines to reporters in the history of basketball.

Lastly, today is Ash Wednesday. Though I am not Catholic and never have been, I have been in the practice of giving something up for lent...in college, I gave up sleep so that I would get up an hour early, do my Bible study and go to the gym. The last two years on the island I gave up all forms of Soda, diet and regular, as well as last year giving up gossiping. I was not 100% perfect for sure, but it sure pushed my limits because we do not realize how very much we gossip. This year I am not sure yet. I want to do something that will be beneficial to my health, whether spiritual, physical, or the like. Whether you are Catholic or not, I think the policy of sacrificing something for 40 days is a way to demonstrate your appreciation to Jesus for the sacrifice he made for us. No matter how insignificant the sacrifice may be (ie....not drinking wine, chocolate, candy, carbs, money) it is still a statement to yourself and to God, if done with the right state of your heart, that you are appreciating His gift to you. Again, with all of that being said, I do not know what I am going to "give up" as yet. I will let you know once I decide.

Have a great day!!! Miss you guys!

"Top of the Morning to you"


That is for JT. It is from one of our favorite commericals. I think it is a cell phone commerical, but the guy is calling a girl the day after a date. He leaves all of these ridiculous messages and keeps erasing them....It is hilarious. I even looked for the commercial on youtube.

And here it is. I hope you like it. This is the first time i have tried to post a video. Let's hope it works.


Shawshank Redemption was great, btw. Have a good week!

Well, Dad and Terri left this morning and JT is coming home. I had a great visit with my dad and Terri. Friday I took them to Gradisca, my favorite Italian restaurant. Other than my poor choice of an appetizer, the dinner was fabulous. My favorite, of course, was the creme brulee, which had bits of pear and chocolate mixed in. Delicious, if I must say so myself, though not suitable for my diet....but we make exceptions for special weekends....Saturday we went to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Afterwards, we had a low key afternoon hanging out and watching old movies together. I watched Legends of the Fall, and oooohhhh Brad Pitt. It was a nice movie, despite Brad Pitt. On Sunday, Terri and I went for a walk around Astoria, did a little shopping and picked up lunch. I got Dad and I some sushi from one of my favorite places, JJ's here in Astoria. However, on Sunday night, last night, we went to a Broadway show. We had drinks at Carmine's before the show and ate dinner there afterwards. The play was really great. It was so much of a spectacle performance. The music was not like that of say Phantom but the entire performance as a whole was amazing. We had a great time...I enjoyed the entire weekend. I know JT enjoyed his time home....I am just looking forward to hear about once he gets here.

I got off work early today so I went to the gym and came home. I thought JT would be earlier but his flight was delayed for some reason or another. So I thought I would watch a movie rather than mindless TV. And, even more, I decided against a mindless movie....I have never seen Shawshank Redemption so I thought it was about time...I am about an hour into it and it is good thus far. My friend David Hafley always tried to make me watch it in high school but I never did or wouldn't....regardless, I am doing it now. I am nearly in tears, though, because Brooks hung himself and I just have a huge knot in my throat.

Times Square was really interesting last night...as you could see, the Giants WON!!!!! So they were showing the game on the huge jumbo-trons (is that a word?) on both ends of Times Square and every screen in between. There were a lot of people cheering and carrying on in the streets...it was very "New York"....

I hope everyone has a great week.