Starbucks Philosophy

So, I popped into my local buckeys last night, with the intent to do a bit of reading. I caught up with the crowd who works there, and was happy to hear that a big starbucks is being built, which is close to the area that I'm going to move to in June. Convenient, huh? Anyway, I normally get my coffee in a ceramic mug, since I stay there and have my java. But the accidentally gave it to me in a togo cup. Have you looked under the sleeve recently, now that the xmas cups are gone. They've had some quotes recently. And they are pretty cool. This is one:

The Way I See It #61
Imagine we are all the same.
Imagine we agree about politics,
religion and morality. Imagine
we like the same types of music,
art, food and coffee. Imagine we
all look alike. Sound boring?
Differences need not divide us.
Embrace diversity. Dignity is
everyone's human right.
--Bill Brummel (Documentary filmmaker)

Pretty cool stuff, if you ask me.
Cheers,
B

Grocery Store

Ok, I should be committed. I got up way early this am (615) to go to the grocery store. I have a love/hate affair with the grocery store. Heather could give you stories on how I feel about grocery shopping. When I first moved out on my own, it was so exciting to go the the store. Buy my own food etc. Now, I have to be in the right mood to grocery shop. Ideal conditions involve either bopping and shopping with my ipod, sipping coffee, people watching and taking my time. Or, sometimes I decide on a spur to get groceries, get about half way done, decide I'm over it (no ipod on these trips, and usually feel like I have a million and one other things to do), and make a bee line for the check out! (Thus, forgetting important shit like toilet paper). But, my last favourite is to go damn early (like this morning), bopping to tunes and going up and down every aisle :)

I just got back from viewing another apartment, in the complex I have been eyeing. It's half-way between work and my gym. One bedroom, for a bit less than I'm paying now. Space may be a bit tight there. The woman says she will definitely have a place for June 1st, and I'll have to give first months rent when I put in the application. I dunno, seems kind of weird to me, unless she knows that she'll have that much turnover. I called a resident who lives there and she said it sounded legitimate..

I was out with Jay and Jen last night, we went to Spoleto for dinner last night. Food was killer, service was mediocre, but we had a great table. That's about all that's going on. I'm going to pay bills and read a bit for work.

Cheers,
B

Back in MA

I had a great, restful, trip to the Midwest. Forgot how damn nice people are out there. Yeah, that's a slam against the East Coast. What can I say, I had a bunch of random conversations with strangers; at the store this morning with my grandpa, buying a Carhart shirt, at the pubs with my uncle, and at the airport tonight.

It's kind of late, I don't know why I'm up. Everybody in Chicago will comment on how sleep deprived I look, when in fact I was just coffee deficient. One of the pedi ER Docs I worked with has a funny saying about kids with fevers, "Know what that kid's diagnosis is?" No. "Ibuprofen deficiency." I finally got caught up on sleep (more than 8 hours one night), and caught up on email, and even read a little bit for the NICU.

I've included a new link, one for Stop TB.org. They are launching a global campaign to eradicate TB. Of course TB is an issue that is very important to me. I still kind of hate the stigma associated with having had TB. For instance, I went to a new dentist a few weeks ago, and had to fill out one of those medical history forms, which, of course asks about TB. And I always debate checking the box, I mean I'm cured (or so I hope I am). Well, the dentist thought I was mistakenly checked the box saying, "oh, were you exposed to TB?" To which I replied, "Well yeah, I guess I was. And then I had full blown pleural TB." The look on her face was priceless. If I could describe it, it would be: Healthy white boy resident doctor had that disease? Stigma. Stigma. Have a look around on the web site. It has lots of great information. Also, FYI: March 24th is World TB Day.

Well, I really should go unpack now. And get some sleep. I'm in clinic all day tomorrow. I'm eager to see the kiddo I wrote about earlier. I hope he shows up. I have good news for him and his family.

Chicago

Surprise, I made a quick escape to Chicago to visit family. Left one cold place for another, albeit with more wind.. Going to chill for 2 days. Read a bit, catch up with family.. ahh.
B

Snow and HIV

So, I woke to snow this morning. It snowed because I had a bunch of errands to run, including making a special trip to the clinic to fill out a bunch of forms for a patient of mine. Damn, should have done them on Friday! But... My motivation to get out and run errands was knowing that the JEEP is so much fun to drive in the snow... Anyway, the snow should be lightening up a bit as the day goes on. It's a wet snow, I had to resist the urge to throw snowballs :)

At our hospital they run HIV tests on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I saw a kiddo recently who had an infection that he shouldn't have at his age. In fact, when I saw this kid, my heart sunk, and I was immediately back in South Africa. I have seen this before, and on those kids we didn't even bother to test for HIV since there wasn't any treatment. So there I was, trying to explain to Dad that while this is most likely not a big deal (I used better terms than that), we needed to check for HIV. And Dad didn't even seem to flinch at the mention. Hmmm. Anyway, when I get to work this afternoon, I'm going to check on the results.

Sunday Brunch

Last night started off pretty mellow in the Pedi ED, and then out of nowhere it got crazy busy, and I realized that I was seeing 5 of 7 patients at one point. That screwed up the rest of my night cause I ended up being at work til 2am, waiting for surgery to come down and see 2 of my kids. Argh.

I'm back in the Pedi ED tonight and Monday. I don't know that I'm enjoying this month as much as I thought I would. Not too sure what I'm meant to accomplish this month. Have seems lots of kids, lots of viral illnesses, lots of head injuries...

Today is going to be kind of busy as well. I'm headed to the gym in a few minutes, and then we're having our monthly Med-Peds intern gathering for brunch. Sunday brunch is my favorite thing in the world! (next to a good cup of coffee and my nieces and nephews)! We're going to Zoe's . They serve a KILLER brunch. With a traditional and a Fish brunch buffet. Hence the gym first :)

Cheers!

White Coats

I've been pondering the need for white coats for docs. Originally, I was against them. But, I do like the pockets. I keep them well loaded with small reference books, which are essentially pacifiers for my lack of knowledge. That being said, I think they kind of set up this power differential. But, I know that a few of my mentors (who are kind of the old school docs, and that's a compliment-really) wear them. I'm in the Pedi ER this month, so am not wearing one this month, and won't be next month when I'm in the NICU. I've bought a fanny pack (or Bum Bag for you across the pond), so that I can hopefully ditch the white coat, and still have the comfort of knowing that my panic guides are close at hand.

Ona!

Ona made me do this. I had to create a profile so I could respond to her Blog. I was so sad to read that she bought one of those coffee makers with a timer to make it before you get up in the morning.. she's selling out. For the record, I had espresso this morning. Worth the wait. Made in my $5 IKEA espresso maker that makes this horrendous sounds as it nears the end. It sounds like it is about to croak as it sputters making the last few drops of my morning gogo juice.

ps, I'm a coffee whore. And proud of it.