Yo estoy viviendo.

Literally rode out the storm in bed.  Snuggled under the covers with a book and read until I feel asleep.  Worst I felt the whole night was some random swaying of the building.  Kind of caught me off guard as I wasn't expecting it being on the 6th floor...I really wouldn't consider that high, but sway it did.  I woke up Tuesday morning completely shocked at what I saw out of my window.  Except for the lack of power on the street below all was still and calm, barely a leaf was moving. I checked my own lights and had power.  I had planned on the aftermath to be awful inhibiting me from going to the hospital, but what I saw was the exact opposite and I felt guilty for not going to the hospital. So Wednesday I was half expecting  someone to say something about my absence the day before.  No one said anything, in fact many were still missing on Wednesday, and talking with those who were there......I now understand how blessed I am.  It's literally as if I was in a little bubble and all around me was destroyed.  Everyday at the hospital I overheard new stories of this destruction.  Someone's neighbor had a tree go through the roof of his house and land on his head, wife and children survive.  No power, no heat and no hope of its return for yet another week.  And then Thursday gas started running out.  The tiny corner gas stations had 4 hour waits round the clock each with their own police supervision.  At the beginning of the week people couldn't get to work due to the downed trees and debris. Now they can't get to work because there's no gas to get there.

When I heard that Mr. Mayor of NYC was pushing with the New York Marathon I was honestly a bit upset.  He said that NYC needed to "go on." Tell me, how can you "go on" when you're not even standing again?  I mean its common sense, thousands of angry runners or millions of angry citizens still without permanent shelter, heat, and now gas.  What do YOU think the priority should be?  I later heard that Mr. Mayor cancelled the marathon due to receiving pressure to do so.  I felt a little justified at having been upset earlier...I hadn't been the only one.

I have no pictures to show, but just go to any news source and you'll find plenty.  It's the only thing on the TVs in the break rooms...I'm already getting sick of it.

Hasta!

Yo estoy esperando la tormenta.

I've still got power this morning so figured I better make use of it.  Many tried to convince me to just stay in CT to ride out the storm but a combination of factors brought me back to the city last night.  Heading South on 95 had never been so empty.  What has been bumper to bumper traffic on a Sunday night before was wide open last night.  I don't know how much of the hype to believe.  Could be that the residents just remember the storm that slammed the area last year this time and are reacting accordingly.  Gas stations were being drained starting back the end of last week.  Or could it be just that I've never actually experienced a storm like this and am underestimating the power it creates.  Either way I knew that even if I stayed in CT I'd constantly be wondering what was happening back home.  Plus I'd left a window open....probably not good for the inside contents during a hurricane.  Had contemplated going to the hospital for the morning at least, but then lost motivation for that when everything else seems to be closed/cancelled for today and tomorrow so emailed them a 'see ya later and be safe.'  So I'm at home, window shades all up allowing me a good 6th floor view of the gray cloud coverage tumbling West and of the trees begin to dance as the winds pick up.  I saw sparks fly once across the street and rolled my eyes thinking, "Really!!! The storm hasn't even "started" yet!!"  I brought a guitar back with me from CT this weekend so figure if I lose power I can switch back and forth between studying and playing...all by candlelight!  Que romantico!

The clouds just changed direction!!! Oh boy!

In church on Sunday, common theme was 'preparing for the storm'.  Rather fitting! ;)  And for demonstration A.....Hurricane Sandy!

Hasta!

Yo estoy azul.

Today I did my first successful esophageal intubation.

In case you were wondering, Yes, that is an oxymoron!

Whoops! :-/

Yo estoy aprendiendo.

Anesthesiology: The medical study and application of anesthestics.

Cocktail: A mixture of substances or factors

For the past two weeks I've been using the first definition above to create the second definition above. The goal effects of my cocktails being sedation, amnesia and anesthesia (sleepiness, forgetfulness and painlessness).  I choose this particular elective due to Anesthesiology being a very important part of the OR and in many ways works symbiotically with Surgery.  Plus it's almost like a backdoor to the OR.  I'm not doing the surgery, but at least I'm in the OR.

It's taken me a while to post because to be honest...I've been a bit of a 'debbie downer' lately.  Being back in the hospital again I'm around all the other students who are talking about all the interviews they've gotten, etc..whereas not only have I not received an invitation for an interview but in their place I've received denials for interviews.  The whole business just makes those jagged rocks far below look dangerously close.  Sigh. Anything can still happen, but it doesn't make the now any less scary or any more fun.  But on with life...

So far my general concensus of Anesthesiologists is that they are very smart lazy people (with the exception of course).  They are really busy at the beginning and at the end, but if the case is longer, it's not uncommon to see them sitting back in a chair on their ipad or smart phone in the middle of a case.  I was explaining this to someone last weekend and at the end he concluded..."So...you don't want to be an ipad doctor then?"

One of my main goals has been to become successful at intubation (sticking a tube down someone's throat).  After my first unsuccessful attempt it was concluded that I hadn't completely dislocated the jaw :/ which I found believable because the guy's teeth were super sharp, and I hadn't found the idea of prying them open attractive.  To encourage me I was told it usually takes at least 20 to get a successful intubation.  Which was encouraging at the time, but now I'm starting to wonder if they were just saying that because I ended up being successful on the 3rd patient I tried and have had 100% success rate since.  New goal: maintain success rate...a.k.a. get really smooth and swift at it.

Since I've last posted I finally received the score report for the USMLE step 2 CS I took back in July.  It was a pass which I was so relieved to receive.  I very strongly disliked the CS and just dreaded the idea of having to do it again.

I've also had another birthday.  I had spent the whole day in the hospital which was fine until I was finally leaving and realized I had just spent my entire birthday in the hospital. :(  Had planned on dinner with Kevin and Cheryl Ryan so at least there was something different and special already planned and I wouldn't have to resort to McDonald's to celebrate! ;)  As we were waiting for the lasagna to finish baking the Viens and Lis Ballasy from CT all of a sudden showed up turning the small dinner into a surprise birthday party!! It was very humbling.  How am I so blessed to have friends and family such as these? :)  Bekah took video and photos perhaps I'll have a video to post of the night soon! :)

Pictures from today:
Walking up Horse Barn Hill.  UConn campus Storrs, CT  (Bekah Viens and Amanda Virkler)

Looking over UConn campus from Horse Barn Hill

Hasta!

Yo estoy individual.

I like driving.  It's relaxing for me.  I don't do nothing very well.  But with driving...you get to do nothing while doing something.  It's a productive way of doing nothing that my brain somehow accepts.  Time passes quickly especially when you have someone to talk to.  Kaleigh Schlipf made the drive out to NY with me.  Below is our adventure.

 Echo Bay from Hudson Park in New Rochelle.  We started our Friday by walking down to the Sound.  Unfortunately I kind of led us on a detour on the way there...a longer detour.  We were almost all walked out before even getting downtown.  Whoops!

 

 

 In Central Park.  Very nice...and Kaleigh says she's not artistic.  My camera is well on its way to really broke....currently only kind of broke.  So the majority of these pictures were taken by Kaleigh with some from my cell phone.

 

Since we hadn't really planned anything for the day we didn't have tickets for anything, so instead we hopped on the Staten Island Ferry taking us right by Liberty Island and on to Staten Island.

 

 

View from the Staten Island Ferry leaving Manhattan.  To the Left is the Statue of Liberty (looks really small in this photo). In the center is the South tip of Manhattan and to the right is the West edge of Brooklyn

 

Arriving at Staten Island I really loved this light house. (situated at Bayonne Golf Club in Bayonne, New  Jersey)

 Return trip from Staten Island we enjoyed the setting sun as our background. :)

 

Times Square. The lights. The people. The traffic. The noise.

"Sea of Faces" by Kutless

I see the city lights all around me

Everyone's obscure

Ten million people each with their problems

Why should anyone care

And in Your eyes I can see

I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world

Lost in a Sea of Faces

Your body's the bread, Your blood is the wine

Because you traded Your life for mine

On Saturday we headed to Connecticut. And from there onto Massachusetts adding Bekah to our adventure.  We hiked Mt. Tom and throughtly enjoyed the fresh New England Fall.

 

 While thumping through the forest and after a fair number of slips sending rocks rolling we had to admit we'd make horrible Native Americans.  Had we been Indians our family would be so ashamed.  And we took on the names of Heavy Foot, Thunder, and Pound Cake. You can guess who's who! ;)

a view from Mt. Tom

 Kaleigh and I while hiking Mt. Tom!

Bekah was asked to bring cupcakes to young group Saturday night.  Are you fooled? Quite a few were completely confudled how we kept the ice cream cones from melting.

Me, Kaleigh and Bekah

Hasta!

Yo estoy regresando.

Welcome to the World Peter Benjamin! 

Such a tiny precious miracle!  Dark hair and dark eyes. 

Having the luxury of not really having plans for these two weeks I was able to stay with the little bear and help out his parents. So for the past couple of days I've completely spoiled my nephew by holding him as much as I could and sparing no few kisses

Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes!

And now I've already got to head back.  These two weeks have just sped by.  I am so thankful God sees fit to gift random surprises.  Cause what a blessing this random surprise gift of two weeks has been.  And they aren't over yet!!!!

Hasta!

Yo estoy en vacaciones.

I'm starting to think that this random study break was more than just an accident of rescheduling.  That God, in His omniscience, had me take a step back from living my daily life, knowing the bigger picture would become clearer. Being able to be with Regg, Bev and Tucker Beer for a few days, and now being able to be here for the birth of my biological nephew...it's all very reassuring.  For some reason that I can't quite put into words. I keep coming back to that adjective.  Reassurance.

And for those of you wondering how my "studying" is going.  Let me reassure you, it's easy to study something you're interested in.  Something you want to know.

But....I must admit. It's nice to have the freedom to study while allowing distractions.  And if you have distractions, what a plus that this little guy was the culprit. :)

Hasta!