fall the ($*#&$ back

trick’s on me
ohhhh, it’s finally here. the day that i’ve been dreading ever since i saw it on my schedule months ago!

long weekend night shift . . . in the ED . . . on halloween . . . AND IT’S FREAKING DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME!

which means that while you get to roll over and enjoy a luscious extra hour of snooze-time, i get to watch the clock on the computer monitor click from 2:59 . . .

back to 2:00.

i think this pumpkin sums up how i feel about this whole situation:

but wait!
yeesh, that was negative. the truth is that it could be much, MUCH worse. case in point:

✔ this shift is 13 hours . . . not 30!
✔ i am bound to see some humorous costumes
✔ i will have a good attending on with me
✔ it will be nice to get the hardest shifts of the month out of the way
✔ candy will be readily available should i need a sugar fix
✔ time goes by quickly in the ED when busy
✔ i’ve actually been enjoying my shifts!

i forgot that i actually i like the ED. it surprises me, because of my distaste for emergencies and procedures. but i actually find it fun in a variety-pack sort of way, and it has just the right degree of autonomy. it’s full of surprises, but for the most part ones that we are equipped to deal with, using pharmaceuticals, brute strength, or a well-scripted phone call to the right person. and the schedule really isn’t bad, overall.

last night i had one of the most entertaining experiences of my residency career, involving pseudoseizures. because of privacy laws, i don’t want to go into any more detail, but let’s just say our patient had not exactly read up on how to put on a convincing spell, which took the pressure off. then, there was a twist halfway through the visit that explained everything. as our attending said, “you can’t make this stuff up!” sorry for the vague reference — wish i could write more! only in the ED . . .

today
lest i get too ahead of myself, i should point out that i also have most of an entire day to enjoy before my shift starts. unfortunately, i haven’t been able to sleep a full 8 hours after arriving home at 2 am — my body clock just doesn’t let me. hopefully, that means i will be able to nap at some point today, because i’m destined to be up until tomorrow AM.

if not, there’s always coffee. but my plan for the day is to mostly just relax and enjoy it! after my 9 mile run, that is, which i will head out on soon. hopefully that will put me in just the right fatigued state for a long, strength-rebuilding nap.

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10.30.09

workout: 45 minutes elliptical + weights
– 2 x 12 pushups
– 2 x 12 squats with ball, 10 lb weights
– 2 x 12 lat pulldowns, 55 lbs
– 2 x 12 walking double lunges, 8 lb weights
– 2 x 12 seated rows, 40 lbs
– 2 x 11 tricep pushdowns, 15 lbs
– 2 x 12 ball tucks for abs

doin’ time: i’m getting a little sassy with martha. meaning: i know her pretty well by now, so i kind of “get” what she’s doing with her recipes. therefore, i feel more confident in modifying them to suit my own needs.

this tortilla pie looked good, but rather involved. and impractical, considering that it was going to consumed just one serving at a time:

page from martha’s book

so instead i created a single-serve version. i made the filling as specified, but turned it into a topped quesadilla for one. a delicious and satisfying late lunch, without a pile of soggy-tortilla leftovers

mmmm melty cheese . . .

chobani creation: chobani to the rescue at work! mixed with some trail mix, this vanilla sample was a perfect late night snack, munched between patients. the vanilla flavor was quite intense, but it wasn’t too sweet. i was impressed with how smooth the texture was — i HATE lumpy yogurt.

thanks again, chobani!

reading: i wrote up my Research Month proposal for december. yes, i get to spend a month researching, writing, and not really feeling like a doctor, all on my own time. it is going to be quite an odd experience!