The Rat Race

Well, today is Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving, all. Not much happening over in the Windy City. Just going to hang out at a friend's house and bring some potluck.

What I really wanted to touch on was the Rat Race. No, not the movie. I'm talking about life. It's something that I've been caught in for the past decade or so, and I'm sure millions of other people are as well. Yesterday, I popped in a CD and listened to some music. I just sat there and listened and enjoyed, for the first time in about...gosh, I can't even remember. When was the last time you put the brakes on, stopped running the rat race, and just enjoyed life? It's sad how life seems to jump in to warp speed when you get out in to the world. There's never enough time to study, to read, to shop, to finish working, to clean. Eating a sit-down meal with friends/family is a special occaision; usually you just woof something down and run on to the next task. I bet I can beat some of those world class walk-racers. Not to say I'm a lazy bum who would rather lay on the couch and drink beer in front of the TV all day. But I think every now and then we all have to slow down and enjoy life, otherwise what's the point? What's the point in working, working, working, running here, running there, studying, seeing patients, making appointments, running errands, doing chores and then in the next hour...Why do all that if you're not going to take the time out to be happy and enjoy something about your day?
God didn't put us on Earth for the sole purpose of working and I think I've finally realized that.
Which makes me wonder how/why people in NYC do it.

I think from now on, I'm going to try and take time out each day to just enjoy something about it. Whether it's listening to a song (just the chorus - no time for a whole song), or enjoying the view from my window( car window - as I frantically drive home through Lincoln Park through rush hour traffic so I can get home to work out, then study, then eat, then study). Well, at least it's something.

End of an Era

Well, today was the LAST time I would ever hear lectures given by the guys from Scheck and Siress down in Hickory Hills about orthoses and prostheses. I won't miss getting up at 5:45am just to beat traffic to get down there. But it does mark the end of an era, and furthers the realization that hey! I'm graduating this year! Yes, scarey thought. Even more so for my future patients. j/k I'll miss that kick-butt breakfast they serve every week, too.

Now, back to the real world, to the world of EMG. Whoever thought taping metal stips to someone and giving them electrical shocks, then poking them with needles would ever help anybody? What kind of mind does it take to come up with something like the EMG? Not that EMG is a bad thing, but it's kind of like coming up with the thought of using horses for glue. Or better yet, as odd as coming up with the thought of stapling someone's stomach to help them lose weight. I guess while we're at it, we might as well start cutting sick people open to let the evil spirits out.

Richel and me at the WWII memorial in downtown Indianapolis. Hmm...Is smiling at a memorial inappropriate? 

Downtown Indianapolis. Even though it was small, I still have no idea where I was. Where was I, Virgil? 

One of drive-by shootings (photographic) of downtown Indianapolis 

Indianapolis

Well, I just came back from a 4 day trip that was spent in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have a number of thoughts about that place:

1) It does have a number of skyscrapers. Unfortunately, you can count them all on one hand, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, I guess. But it's quite a change from Manhattan or Chicago.
2) Traffic is practically non-existent compared to what I'm accustomed to. I'm more accustomed to the hundreds of cars jam-packed bumper to bumper all on one street while drivers are honking each other, giving each other dirty looks, and the Finger.
3) Where are all the malls? Doesn't anyone shop in Indianapolis?
4) People are friendly: another novel concept in the city.
5) Chinatown consists of the one Panda Express restaurant in the city.
6) Doesn't sound like a very politically correct state. I mean, just look at the name of it. Indiana? I think they should change it to Native-Americana and Native-Americanapolis after 150 years or so. j/k
7) Houses are gargantuan.

Anyway, just a few interesting things from my trip. I'll post some pics that I took later.

EMG's - Hey! They really DO hurt!

Well, today was the first time ever that I had an EMG done on me. Why? I was having some numbness and tingling in my right hand in the C8 distribution (that means my 4th and 5th little fingers). So I had my attending do some nerve conduction studies on me, today. Boy, do I have to say! I take back all those comments I muttered about the wimps I saw in EMG lab. Well, okay, not really. I do have to admit that it's an uncomfortable test and the experience is quite...shocking. But it's not agonizingly painful. Like I wouldn't be hollering at the top of my lungs in pain-stricken anguish and crying consistently for an hour straight like that lady did the other day. But that's just me. Interesting though....I thought my arm was going to jump up and punch me in the face.

KB contemplates his new age. 

The Bhats 

KB cuts....himself! 

Surprise!

Today was KB's b-day, a good buddy and co-chief resident. It was a surprise party that was concocted by his wife, and I was one of the conspirators. It was Big Bird's and my task to keep KB occupied for 7 hours while his wife frantically cleaned and prepared the house, food, cake, and welcomed guests, all the while sounding perfectly calm and blasee over the phone when talking to KB.

But holy smokes! 7 hours? I don't know what to do with myself for 7 hours; what were we going to do with KB? In the end, Big Bird, KB, and I went to the Fox and Hound in Schaumburg and played some pool. And it was a darn good thing that Big Bird and I both suck at pool; one game takes us 30-45 minutes, and we're actually trying. Needless to say, we had no problem killing enough time for Roxanna to get all prepared.