Bird's-Eye View

Doozers

2007-02-27T15:35:22Z

Does anyone remember the Doozers from Fraggle Rock? If you do, imagine a bunch of human doozers driving little vehicles in the basement of a hospital, and laugh with me.
Seriously.

Because of our frigid winter temps, the hospital has a underground network of tunnels that connect each building within the health sciences complex. The basement is also home to the inner workings of the hospital: laundry rooms, boiler rooms, multipurpose rooms, etc.
And there is a constant stream of workers driving little buggies or trolleys transporting this, that, and whatever to wherever.
And for whatever reason, they wear hard hats. And most of them are decked out in either blue or yellow suits.

AND, they have horns that they use constantly.. every time they reach an intersection or doorway they have to stop and sound their horn so that us pedestrians are aware of them.

They're doozers. It's hilarious.

Positron.

2007-02-12T00:20:28Z

I'm in a very positive mood today; weird because yesterday was almost the opposite. It's difficult to explain.
I'm back in Winnipeg, which is definitely a plus. It's nice to see friends and family again.
Now I'm off to a "job fair"... not exactly sure what to expect of it, but it will nice to mix with my friends and colleagues again.

Only bad thing about the day, is that I have to finish an assignment on community health medicine before tomorrow. It should really only take 30-60 min, but it's quite dull busy-body work.

Off!

Exam results.

2007-01-05T02:33:33Z

I just received my Pediatrics exam results back today. And sadly, I can't even interpret the results. So I don't even know if I did well, badly, or average! Stupid American exams!
And the NBME site doesn't help at all.

Malaise...

2007-01-04T03:50:36Z

–noun

1. a condition of general bodily weakness or discomfort, often marking the onset of a disease.
2. a vague or unfocused feeling of mental uneasiness, lethargy, or discomfort.

The second definition is word for word what I have been feeling for the last two days. There is absolutely nothing (ie. no symptoms) that suggests the onset of an illness as suggested in the first. No fever, no nausea, no vomitting, no headache, no cough, no runny nose.. Nothing!

It's a horrible feeling.. and I can't even attribute it to fatigue as I have had my regular amount of sleep.

I leave for Minnedosa on Sunday... which at this point, really sucks!

There goes my New Years day..

2007-01-02T01:18:00Z

I made the mistake of accidently stumbling upon a Band of Brothers marathon on TV today. And as a result, my afternoon was completely written off.
I guess it's not that big of a deal when everything's closed today, and the city is still shoveling itself out of the 30cm of snow we got over the weekend.

That, and it's a very incredible mini-series.. quite hard to pry yourself away.

Happy New Year everyone. Hope your night was fun!

Tall stories are funny.

2006-12-23T00:05:45Z

I walked down to the corner grocery store next to my apartment and was commented upon/asked how tall I was at least three times while there.

The best one was from this very elderly guy who looks at me at exclaimed: "You're the tall guy!" in a way that made me feel as though I somehow had a reputation in this foodfare grocery store.. or almost as if his wife had seen me while shopping at some other time and gone back to tell him about this really tall guy she saw.

(My response.. "well... I am tall"). Honestly, what do you say to such a comment?

Then he asks (of course) if I play basketball, which I reply positively even though I haven't picked up a ball since this summer..

Before he walks away he tells me: "Well, you're a wonderful young man."

Thanks?

Je suis tellement fatigué!

2006-12-15T08:25:38Z

But.. I had an awesome ending to a very loooong day.

I'm currently doing Ambulatory Pediatrics (so a bunch of clinic). My day started at 8am, with a two hour Newborn tutorial, then I had to make an hour long presentation about painless hematuria in kids at 10am.

Then Children's Clinic at 1pm. That went until 5:45! (Scheduled to finish ~4:45).
And tonight I was scheduled for a Pediatric ER shift from 6-midnight..

Definitely very tiring, but so far my experience in Peds ER has been really great, so I didn't mind too too much.

I saw my last patient of the day at ~11:45pm: A 4 yo boy with four day history of high fever (>39), congested cough, tearing eye, and decreased PO intake. Really cute kid.. super shy. Didnt really talk.. just nod or shake his head in response to questions. Anyways, interviewed the mom, examined the kid.. turned out it was a R Otitis Media likely with some background run of the mill coryza.

But after the Attending had left, mom says to me: "You did a really good job, your bedside manner is excellent!".

Can't believe how nice that is to hear. Makes one's day, however long it was. :)

Best laid schemes gang oft agley

2006-11-09T05:12:52Z

I always have the best intentions in trying to get to bed at a decent time... and then time seems to get away from me. I officially start Pediatrics tomorrow... 7:15am. And I'm on call, Yippee. Wards call on my first night. On a service that only has one person on call per night. Meaning I'm going to be alone (sort of) on my first day of peds. Yippee.

I wanted to be in bed by 11. : (

It's 11pm and I need a coffee.

2006-11-07T05:07:49Z

I think I'm going to walk down to the sev and pick up a coffee, some other caffeinated beverage, and a snack. How sad.

It's 11pm, and I haven't finished my paper yet. It's due tomorrow at 1pm, along with a 10 minute presentation on the topic. Good news is that I'm essentially finished the powerpoint, and I'm totally going to wing it.

Bad news is that I still have at least 1 1/2 single spaced pages to write for the essay and I'm having a total writer's block. Lacking organization in the latter portion of the paper.. not good.

More good news is that I don't have to be at school until 11:50am tomorrow, which means I can sleep in until 11. More bad news is that I am pretty sure I will be up until at least 2, 3, or 4am procrastinating (and maybe writing). so I'll only get 6 hours of sleep anyway.

Crazy thing is, that's how much sleep I normally get.. going to bed at 12:30 and waking up at 6:30. weird. Hopefully my body will let me sleep that late.

Pediatrics starts Wednesday... at this point, I'm really looking forward to anything and everything after 5pm tomorrow. Even 1 in 4 call with crying kids and distressed parents.

Note to self.

2006-10-31T05:24:11Z

Crocs are not good winter footwear. They are neither snow or cold proof and have absolutely no traction. Obviously right?
Well, when I was rushing out the door this morning to get to work I forgot completely about the 10-15cm snowfall warning for today. We didn't get quite that much (yet) but still enough that it's sticking around! And one day early too... poor kids tomorrow.

Otherwise.. 4 successful intubations, 2 Spinals, 2 IVs. Fun times.

I am very negative at the moment.

2006-10-29T02:11:02Z

And I'm sure it has something to do with being smack dab in the middle of working 12 days straight, not being able to go out with any of my friends for Hallowen because of it, having to write a paper that's due in less than 10 days without having started it, having a messy apartment and not having the energy to do anything about it, being single for too long and not being able to do anything about it, not being able to lounge around on a sunday afternoon and watch football...

Boooo! It really sucks!
I think I'm going to get myself some comfort food (read: junk food), spend 30 min or so doing some general cleaning, and then watch the Bomber game.

On a bit of a more positive note. I saw for the first time today a DKA patient. Quite interesting.

And I'm trying to grow sideburns... so far, not very successfully.

...

2006-10-27T04:52:15Z

Could I see myself as a greying middle aged bachelor physician working for MSF in 10-20 years?

So much so that it's a little frightening.

By the way. Add Anaesthesia to the list of possible career choices. Scratch off ER.

I'm without costume!

2006-10-26T01:08:51Z

Dangit.. it's impossible to find a Waldo costume! I mean honestly, where the heck would one find a red and white striped sweater and toque?

I guess it's not such a big deal. I shouldn't really be going out this weekend considering I work ER shifts on both Saturday and Sunday days.

_wembley_ @ 2006-10-19T23:22:00

2006-10-20T04:23:28Z

Am I too picky?

My wheels are spinning.

My ball and chain.

2006-09-21T23:53:39Z

We got assigned our pagers today.
My life as I knew it is now over.

1 in 4 call.

Good times.

We officially start next week, but I have the first four days of the rotation off for the annual general meeting I'm going to. I get to see Niagara Falls for the first time in my life!

Just a quick note.

2006-09-15T14:28:06Z

I'm leaving for Minneapolis this afternoon to go see the Panthers-Vikings game! Sweet, three years in the making and we're finally doing it. So I won't be back until late Sunday night. Will hopefully post some pictures.

Another new phase in my life (and more pictures!)

2006-09-07T23:02:53Z

So I just got the phone call today that approved us for the new apartment. We take possession tomorrow which means I'm paying rent in two places, but it's well worth it to be able to leisurely move in over the next three weeks. Especially with me being away for two of the next four weekends.

So I'm officially roommates with my best friend of um, let's see.. 15+ years now. We met in grade two and stuck together ever since. Acutally he has a twin, so we were a bit of a three headed monster. Still are.
Hopefully it works out... I'm pretty sure it will. I'm pretty easy going and patient.. two attributes that have certainly helped over the years with their struggle of trying to find individuality while constantly having a mirror image to reflect in and on.

I will try to take pictures before the move.. perhaps during, as well as afterwards.

Three pictures from the international medical student meeting I went to in Serbia at the beginning of August. The meeting is an absolute riot. It's a week long affair, with 750+ medical students from 80+ countries. Brought together for a common voice in global health. And yet somehow, the meeting always turns out to be a huge party. Absolutely insane. I guess that's what happens when for many it's their only vacation of the year.

First, this is me and Mags, an awesome girl from Montréal, Québec. Yes, I am on my knees. No, that red thing on my neck is not a hickie (like some thought) it's a temporary tattoo of a maple leaf. It was in preparation for later that night, which was the international drinking party. Just imagine what happens when you bring together dozens and dozens of different kinds of alcohol from around the world. Yes, it gets absolutely silly.

This is us soon thereafter, now standing. Neb, another awesome person from Montréal is on his knees. I think Mags is 5'2 or less.

And here's a pic of me and two of my favourite girls at the meeting. Both from Poland; both very Polish, and both absolutely gorgeous.

(Back story: I have soooooo many pictures of this type: Me standing in the middle of two people. A lot of people ask for a picture with me, which I respond to with: "As long as I can have a picture with you" as I take the camera out of my pocket. Seems to work well.)

Life is hectic.

2006-09-07T05:58:35Z

And it's not even because of school. It's everything surrounding it.

So, I got two quotes for new glasses today. One is $281, and the other 271$. The unfortunate part is that I want them both. The people working there were wondering how it is I picked out two completely different frame styles. Little do they know that I like using glasses as accessories as much as anything else. One is a silver half-rim, and the other is a complete dark rim.
And I want both! : (. I can take off an extra 25% ("for being such a good customer") plus my dad's insurance would cover about $175 so I would end up paying about $300 incl. taxes for both... which is more than I've ever paid for glasses!

Random pictures of the day

The beautiful Bruges. An absolute gem of a town in Belgium. Had a fantastic time there (and everywhere in Belgium ;) ) with consider_this_

A shot downwards from the highest point in the centre of town (again!) towards one of the facades of the main square.

And a shot of one of it's canals lined with pretty European buildings.

Franz Ferdinand in Budapest

2006-09-05T05:43:10Z

Backstory: I spend three days in Budapest. Another really fantastic city built up around a river. Coincidentally, I timed my stay with Sziget, an annual week long open-air rock festival. The site was a big island in the middle of the Danube River between the Buda and Pest sides of the city. There was something like 8 stages and camping for what seemed like thousands of party-goers (way more than folk fest!).

The big names (at least for me) were Radiohead, Prodigy, and Franz Ferdinand, along with Scissors Sister and Placebo. Unfortunately I missed Radiohead, they were headlining on the day after I left Budapest. But I did manage to see Franz Ferdinand, who headlined the first night I was in the city.

Wow! They put on a good show. I've always heard that they do, but I was thoroughly impressed. I realize that most of the video is entirely dark, but watch it and let me know what you think.. it was lots of fun!

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v713/Wembley21/?action=view&current=MOV02848.flv

I decided to put the camera away because I was getting knocked around.

Funny Story:

So I went to this concert alone, because for some reason I couldn't find anyone from the hostel I was staying that was going and I told myself I wasn't going to miss the chance (since I wasn't able to see FF in Winnipeg) just for this reason! I always feel bad at concerts because I undoubtedly create a small triangular wedge of space behind me as everyone strains to see the stage around me. With that said, I never let it stop me from getting close to the stage.
So I was walking through the crowd towards the stage and see this really tall guy standing above the rest. So I make the decision that I'm going to go stand behind him, since a) He was 6'8 and I could still see over him and b) we would only create one disruption in the crowd as opposed to two. We strike up conversation as we're waiting for FF to come on to stage and it just so happens he's from the Netherlands (imagine that! But actually, he was the tallest guy I met from the Netherlands and I was there for three days!).
Along with his girlfriend, we discuss the usual stuff about height and how he's never met anyone taller than him. And I'm like, me neither!

And then along comes some other bloke, streaming through the crowd. And he must have saw us just as I had seen the first guy, because this guy was 6'7". And so he stops, and we chat for awhile. Turns out he's from the UK and he's never met anyone taller than him either. So there's these three really tall guys all bunched together watching Franz Ferdinand and everyone scrunches by makes one comment or another (eg."Holy shit! I thought you were standing on something").

And I guess because I was the tallest (even if it was only by a couple of inches) almost all of the comments were directed at me! And this two guys kept telling me how nice it was to have all the questions and comments deflected away from them.. meanwhile I was sitting there thinking: "Just once, do I want to experience that!"

Then this random girl from Ireland comes up and asks if she could go on my shoulders. And off course, you can't say no...

Crocodile Hunter dies...

2006-09-04T14:52:40Z

That Steve Irwin guy died today.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/09/04/irwin-obit.html

How random and bizarre.

Select pics from Florence

2006-09-03T23:01:35Z

Firenze was one of my favourite cities in Europe. The city is gorgeous and there is plenty to see and do. I'm a big fan of the European cities that are built up around big rivers, and Firenze fits the bill as it lies along the Arno River. The skyline of orange roofed buildings is interrupted only by the domes of the city's numerous churches.
The only setback are the sheer number of tourists that crowd the streets. But then, all of Italy seems to be clogged with tourists.

One side of the skyline from the top of the Duomo in the centre of the city. (One of the first things I always tend to do when traveling is go to the tallest point possible for a 360 degree view of the place!)

The Ponte Vecchio is the most famous bridge in the city. It's actually lined on either side with a bunch of shops and always has tons of tourists crossing it. Either way, it makes for a pretty good photo.

The Duomo. Biggest church in Florence, and I believe it's the third largest dome behind St. Paul's and St. Peter's. Either way, you climb a whole bunch of stairs to get to the top, which is just out of view of this picture.

Florence is home to a lot of famous Italian art. It hosts both the Uffizi Galleria and the Accademia which happens to hold Michelangelo's David (which you aren't allowed to take pictures of -- oops!)

Another skyline shot from a hill showing how big the Duomo really is.

And lastly, a night shot of the bridge (Ponte Vecchio)

Few more pictures.

2006-09-01T05:34:50Z

Here's a couple of pictures from Dubrovnik (in Croatia) behind the cut

The first is of the old town. It's a reconstructed medieval walled town (they're all over the place in Europe). Dubrovnik was actually bombed to smitherins by Serbia&Montenegro.

This is Eric and I. Does he look like my brother? ; ). Eric and I were able to meet up in Croatia for five days together. We spent three days island hopping on the Dalmation coast and two days in Dubrovnik. Both are absolutely recommended!

And here's just a shot of me. Still with my shades on!

(Back story on my Brother and I traveling in Europe at the same time but not really together. It's actually a long story, but the gist of it is that he had planned his trip well in advance of me. He was going on a 10 day cruise with a friend in the middle of June and then traveling mostly via air to different destinations in a clockwise fashion starting in Copenhagen. I decided on the trip after much deliberation and after I could really join my brother. I bought a rail pass and travelled in a general CCW direction from Paris. We were able to meet up twice: In Croatia, and in Amsterdam.. both times were a blast!)

One word...

2006-09-01T05:17:54Z

Responsibility

And I am certainly not ready for it. It is really scary actually. The learning curve is going to be steep, I just hope I can climb it.
I spent the evening with a student that's a year above me (senior clerk, med 4) and seeing how much responsibility she has is crazy. The nurses turn to her for direction and I'm definitely not ready for that.

It looks likely that we're going to be able to get the apartment we were original looking at. The tenant had every cleared out by today and it was cleaned as well. Brendan went to check on the place and gave it the tacit-ok. So it looks like I'll be handing in the application tomorrow at lunch.
The only thing that's a bit concerning is that I think Brendan is a little over-excited as this is his first apartment, and we may be rushing into it. We haven't secured a parking spot which is a huge issue for me, but last week tuesday there were three spots available on a first-come first-serve basis at an adjacent building. Hopefully we can call tomorrow and already start paying for September to reserve a spot.. if there any left!

The place is a two Bedroom apartment on the corner of Grosvenor and Lilac for $667/month + elec, internet, cable, phone. And plus $35 in parking for me. Either way, it's a huge bonus for me.. I would be saving quite a bundle compared to my current place.
It's an older apartment with mostly hardwood floors. Pretty big living room and attached three season sunroom and I get the bigger bedroom (which is super sweet!). The bathroom is a bit of a question mark, but otherwise it's a pretty decent place I think. Only unfortunate part is that our furniture is going to be some mismatched because we're still in the "hand me down" stage. Oh well.
Excited either way.

Forgot to add to the list:

2006-08-31T03:28:16Z

- Suit jacket.
I'm finally breaking down. (Yes, I've gone this long without my own suit... damn expensive things!).

In other news, I think I pulled an intercoastal muscle this morning... and it still hurts to breathe deeply. Dang.

Picture(s) of the Day.

2006-08-30T03:35:08Z

Before I head out to my best friends' younger brother's 20th birthday night, I thought I'd put up a couple more pictures in the Cinque Terre series. I'm quite happy with these two as well.

The first is of Corniglia, the middle village of the five and the only one that is not directly on the coast:

The second is of Vernazza, the fourth town that we hit on our hike and arguably one of the most picturesque:

Tomorrow I've got a morning of "Self Directed Learning" (hence the reason I can go out tonight!) and an afternoon of Pharmacology, which I'm actually looking forward to. I just hope it's not Dr. Sitar doing the lectures.