Yo estoy jangueando con mi primo!

Another weekend.  Another visitor.  My cousin, Luke, came from Illinois for an extended weekend.  Weather-wise, he hit the jackpot.  Warm and sunny all weekend.  And today as he leaves it's returned to gray, rainy and chilly.

 The Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island are still closed, so we took the Staten Island Ferry.  On the way back to Manhattan, appeared as if the US Coast Guard was escorting us.  They did eventually leave our side, but not until right at the end.

 We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge just so we could have Grimaldi's for lunch.  I don't think Luke knew he was in this picture.  Grimaldi's is the white building in the background below the Brooklyn Bridge.  You can't really see it, but the line is well out the door.  We waited in that line, and it was well worth it!

 George Washington at Federal Hall.

 The Occupy Movement, the last two going strong. On the steps of Federal Hall.

 Luke and I at the Top of the Rock, looking North.  We got in line to go up shortly before sunset, went up, and then waited for the city to light up as the sun disappeared.

 Two sun sunset of Tatooine!

 Looking North. Central Park. Hudson River on L with GW Bridge in the distance.  Looking towards the Bronx.

 Looking South towards Lower Manhattan/ Downtown. Empire State Building.

 Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Temple of Dendur.

 Wasn't expecting this when I saw it.  Kind of freaked me out.  So thought I'd share it...of course! :)

 Some of these heads were labeled "woman" and others "goddess". There is no signifying artifact that I could tell that would label a random head as one or the other.  So if you come across a random head how would you tell if it's a woman's head or a goddess' head?  Apparently there's a difference.  Luke came up with, perhaps where it was excavated makes a difference, as a reason.

 Museum Mile, The Met is on the Left.

 Riding Bikes in Central Park. Pausing for a picture at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. Looking East.

 Pausing on the other side of the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.  Looking West.

 I told Luke that his jacket made it look like he was wearing a cape! Batman?

"Look Ma!  No Hands!!"

Hasta!

Yo estoy disfrutando mis estudios!?!?

Celebrated a beautiful Spring Monday (perhaps a little chilly when the sun hid behind the clouds) by going into the city with Ashley Luginbuhl, and Julianne Gottier from CT.  Got to make a few more checks on my list of things I want to see/do in the city!!
 

 We took the tram from Manhattan over to Roosevelt Island. Which is in the middle of the East River between Manhattan and Queens.  At one time in history, the hospital on Roosevelt Island was where they stuck all the small pox patients in NYC.  Now it's just residential.

 

 Walking along the river's edge on Roosevelt Island.

Enjoying the blossoming trees on Roosevelt Island. Ashley and Julianne.

 I was so excited to visit the island because I thought I'd finally get to explore this old old building on the tip of the island.

 But we got there only to find no way in and a sign saying something about "structurally unsound."  Pshh!

Looking back at Lower Manhattan from Roosevelt Island.

 Good place for a break to enjoy the sun! :)

 Taking the Tram back from Roosevelt Island (R) to Manhattan (L).  Looking North up the East River.

 We were gonna head to Central Park, but got distracted by the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.  Someplace where we obviously don't belong, makes it that much more fun to explore!!  Judge a building by its lobby bathroom?!  Waldorf-Astoria was just too much!

 The Waldorf-Astoria.

 

 The Waldorf-Astoria x 3.  After amusing ourselves amongst the mirrors we set off in search of the ballroom.  Tried a couple of different approaches, but there was always someone watching.  So we made our way back onto Park Ave.

 Since we had already detoured away from Central Park we decided to just go with it and headed in the direction of the High Line.  At one time an elevated railroad, it has now been transformed into an elevated park running above Manhattan.  This cracked me up when I saw it.  I don't know who lives there, but I appreciate their humor.

 Just in case you missed it in the above picture.

A view from the High Line!

 Another view from the High Line.

 Pausing along the High Line to enjoy the benches.

 The High Line

 The High Line.  On the left artists are hand painting a mural advertising the Met.

Hasta!

Yo estoy al principio.

Yesterday was my last day at the hospital.  Normally last days and finishings carry with them at least some semblance of pomp and circumstance...normally.  This time there's not even a feeling of completion.  I had to remind myself this time of the significance of the day.  I'm not going to be in a hospital again for quite a few weeks.  And I'm not going to be taking care of patients for even longer than that.  New York Medical College does hold a completion ceremony for us.  And this year I'll be able to put initials behind my name.  But to me, my graduation was in Mexico.  I actually finished something there.  It was a symbolic "escaping" the grasp of UAG, although I'll never actually escape I suppose.  Just a couple weeks ago, emails started circulating of some paperwork that we had all signed a year ago before leaving Mexico that now no longer exists.  So we all had phone calls to make, payments to make (of course), emails to send, and papers to sign and snail mail to them as they needed the originals.  So even though. .....You know, I think I'll just stop that tangent there because I'll just spiral into a rant which will do no good for anyone.  Back to my original thought,  it doesn't feel as if I'm finishing anything this year.  Just the opposite in fact, I feel as if I'm back at the beginning, starting all over again.  So here's to detours, paths less traveled, a bend in the river, new beginnings, a new adventure or simply tomorrow becoming today however you want to call it.

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Hasta!

Yo estoy andando.

Scrubbed into a hysterectomy case this morning.  She was a big lady.  She blamed her weight on her uterus and was under the impression that in the time we were back in the OR she was going to magically lose 30 lbs.  As we were rolling her back from pre-op to the OR she was talking about the deal McDonald's had yesterday.  BigMacs, 2 for the price of 1.  So of course she had gotten 4 for the price of 2.  I think she's in for a rude awakening.

I need to make a confession about something.
When I'm in clinic and call a patient back to an exam room, first question I ask them is usually English or Espanol?  I know most of them are going to be Spanish speaking, and I don't mind.  I actually prefer to have them because I want the practice.  But a tiny part of me, asks because I'm curious of how they will answer.  Those answering, "uhh English little...not good."  We can then smile and move on.  I can understand that, they prefer their native language, no problem.  Like I mentioned, works favorably for me because I want the Spanish practice.   In their response they told me a lot about themselves, they at least try, willing to attempt to work with me if need be.  But once in awhile I'll get a flat, "no ingles."  We then move on....but it's without a smile.   That tiny part of me, almost immediately judges them.  And when they pause in responding to me even in Spanish, that part of me hopes it's because they're somewhat embarrassed.  We both know that they know English, enough at least to say "English little...not good."  And their refusal at least meet me there, quite frankly turns me off.  I'll go all the way to them, as I do with all the Spanish speakers, just not as willingly as had they first offered to meet me halfway.
I don't like that little part of me.  If we were in Mexico this would not be an issue for me.  So why should it here?  I suppose the best way for me to avoid this is to change my first question. 

Went hiking in CT this past weekend.  Hiked up Soapstone.

Up the last bit to the tower on the top. That red dot in the center is Bekah.

Perhaps not the best time of year for a pretty view.  But the weather was actually quite perfect for hiking. And it was clear that we could see for miles.  

Hasta!

Yo estoy empezando.

When I moved to New York, I was taken aback.  I thought I liked city living, but this place was beyond huge.  It makes Chicago look small.  I had never seen anything like it before.  New York City is so big that if split up into its five principal Burroughs, Queens alone is big enough that it would be the third largest city in the US.  And the people; so many people!  Citizens from all 208some nations world-wide live in NYC, more than even are represented by the UN.  Providing diversity enough to make your eyes bug, and your jaw drop.  Seriously, from the last four hippies on Occupy Wall Street, to the Jews populating the diamond district, to the Naked Cowboy in Times Square, to Lady Liberty herself.... people by the millions and yet each so individually interesting.  Just as it is the city that never sleeps; it is the city that seemingly never ends. 

It has grown on me.  The more I went into the city.  The more I saw of NYC. The more I explored. The more I became comfortable with where I was.  And it has indeed grown on me.  I've grown to really like it here in New York.  Even with its less than desirable weather, and more than desirable prices. 

I would have been sad to leave, and move on to the next place just as I've always been.  Sad to leave yet excited for the next place.  My program ends in May, and yet there is work for me to do here in New York.  For the time being I'm to remain right here. Well...not literally.  I'll have to find a new place I suppose, but right here as in NY, Westchester County, TriState Area, etc...  I'll be doing research.  And via said research, getting my name on publications, making connections and networking.  This was one of the main areas lacking in my CV (two years of unpublished research in Mexico doesn't quite cut it in the US). 

So is my work in New York not yet finished, or is New York's work on me not yet finished?  Either way God still has something in store for me here.  No pressure....who am I kidding.  I'm feeling a lot of pressure.  Granted I'm putting it on myself, but there's no room to mess anything up now.  I suppose I should make it a practice to stop at regular intervals throughout my day, to close my eyes, and remind myself not to live by sight.

Praising God for His faithfulness. 
Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Hasta

Yo estoy girando.

One of the OB/GYN doctors left for the Dominican Republic this morning to do 4 days of surgeries.  I made an extra trip to the floor yesterday when I heard he was there to go talk to him.  Ask him if there was room for one more.  He smiled and said "sure!", but accompanied by a look that told me he wasn't taking me seriously.  Trouble for me, because I was very serious!  I tried to gracefully push the subject a couple more times to no avail.  So I let it be.  Unfortunately, no Dominican surgeries for me this weekend.

I was sent a pep talk the other day.  This little guy makes me smile, laugh even.  And since we all need encouragement from time to time I thought I'd share it!



Not cool Robert Frost!!

Are we all dancing?
Hasta!

Yo estoy flotando.

Today was day 3 of my OB/GYN rotation and so far I’m 3 for 3 at spending my days in the OR.  Unfortunately clinic can’t be avoided forever; I’ll be there tomorrow.  Today was a difficult total hysterectomy.  The surgeon never really had a good view, but I still had to keep trying to give it to him.  It’s like playing tug of war with a brick wall, for 60 minutes straight.  Talk about hand cramps!

Now that my weeks have returned to their usual relatively quiet state, I’ve finally renewed my attentions towards what happens 6 weeks from now.  Following up leads I made a few weeks ago.  Starting new inquires. Etc. Etc. Etc.  Not a day goes by that I don’t grasp at a strand of hope just to have it slip through my fingers. Sigh.  If I close my eyes, it feels like I’m floating.

"Walking In The Air"
Walking in the air,
Floating in the sky...
Floating in the air...
….
Far across the world
The villages go by like dreams
The rivers and the hills
The forest and the streams
….
We're walking in the air
We're dancing in the midnight sky
And everyone who sees us greets us as we fly

This isn’t the first time God has kept my path unknown to me.  It was almost 5 years ago now that I got on a plane with a one-way ticket to a foreign country, with no plan beyond that.  a.k.a. I HAD NO CLUE WHAT I WAS DOING!!! I spent the first couple of days lugging my two bags around Guadalajara unsure if I’d have a place to lay my head that night.  But God provided just as he promises.   Phillipians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  And then there were many more instances between then and now, and I’m sure this won’t be the last either.  But it is the first time I feel so free.  Free enough that all I need is a light breeze to blow and I’ll float any which way.  At first I told myself that once the wind blew I’d eventually land somewhere, and well, then I’d get on with my life.  But then I realized, maybe this is exactly where I’m supposed to be.  This willingness to simply follow where the Spirit blows.  I have nothing to hold onto in this world.  Nothing, except for debt.  But trusting that God will supply all needs perhaps I can trust and give that to Christ also.  This must be what living by Faith is.  So the question is, that when that day comes and the wind blows and I finally land somewhere, can I continue to float?  If I start to trust my eyes again will I have the wisdom to close them and live by faith instead?

FOOTPRINTS

Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking down the road together.  For much of the way, the Lord's footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.  

But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns.  

For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently...

You and Jesus are walking as true friends!  

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus' are now walking precisely in His steps.  

Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles, but gradually you notice another change.  The footprints inside the large footprints seem to grow larger.  

Eventually they disappear altogether. There is only one set of footprints. They have become one.

This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place.  Stops.  Starts. Gashes in the sand.  A variable mess of prints.  

You are amazed and shocked.  Your dream ends. Now you pray:   'Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But You walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk with You.'

'That is correct.'  

'And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in Your steps, following You very closely.

'Very good. You have understood everything so far.' 

When the smaller footprints grew and filled in Yours, I suppose that I was becoming like You in every way.'  

'Precisely.'  

'So, Lord, was there a regression or something? The footprints separated, and this time it was worse than at first.'

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice.  

'You didn't know? It was then that we danced!'   

Are we dancing now Jesus?  I'm pretty sure I know the answer.

And will there be even bigger dances in the future?  I'm pretty sure I know that answer as well.

Hasta!