Wow just stumbled across this blog site today, honestly I had forgotten about it. I am currently finishing a pulmonary/critical care fellowship at Ohio State University, the last post was written about 8 years ago as I was finishing my first year of med school! I plan on practicing in the northern KY area. Oh and in the past 8 years I've also gotten married and had two kids, boom. Maybe I'll post some more interesting musings later.

almost done

Well friends, summer time has come and started to wither away, and I am still possessed by the need to finish up arbitrary course work. OK so it's not that bad, I just enjoy making excuses as to why I'm not having as much fun as could be potentially had within this timeframe.

On a separate note, saw my friend Matt Grushon tie the know the other day, kind of surreal to see a childhood friend engaging in such mature activities. I recollected our times from 3rd to 6th grade; biking between McBee and Carpenter road, playing basketball in the barn, sleeping over at his place while staying up late playing games in the basement, him dragging me outside to play basketball when all I wanted to do was play my super nintendo, going to cap'n bogey's, my wild birthday party...

While the dive was a pain, I had great company so the trip turned out pretty nice. Rather subdued tone at the wedding, no shenanigans... Anyway, procrastination is fantastic. Still doing Tony Horton workouts, the One on One series is awesome. Need to rock out a little more, I suppose it goes back to the eternal issue of time management. Holla back

Word up

Hail friends, and well met. Spring is officially here, as evidenced by the egregious amounts of mucous emanating from my nasopharynx. This past week marked the end of neuroanatomy, and more importantly the last time I'll have to deal with certain professors whose logic sits with me like a stir rod in an uber strong magnetic field.

The current agenda calls for me to catch up on my patient centered medicine course, essentially a social studies component to add to all the science shiza. Due to my habit of procrastination, I must at some point compose about 40 1/2 page reflections of events that in some cases took place several months ago. A part of me just wants to hammer it out stream of consciousness style since the grade is entirely based upon completion, and not merit. However, I've been lead to believe that composing the portfolio should be a meaningful experience during the first year, hmmmmm....

Otherwise back at the home crib currently, things looking good, certainly nice to be home. Physiology starts this coming Monday, looks to be a nice way to round out the year, although things have been known to be thrown askew before (re: genetics course), so nothing is for certain.

Well I've managed to say nothing for a few paragraphs, perhaps this is how my PCM write ups will go. Holla

Still here

Hey everyone, well I guess everyone that used to look at this has moved on to bigger and better things, no matter. Since August I've been attending the University of Kentucky Medical School, after a rough start I've become quite fond of my new home. Speaking of home, I can't get over how nice it is to be only an hour drive from my parent's house, a new luxury that provides ample opportunities to see the family just about every weekend. Not to be redundant here, but speaking of family the friends I've made here at UK are among the best I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Happenstance brought us together and I'm confident we'll be mates through the next four years and beyond. Well I better get to bed, I will sincerely try to post the occasional update, just to keep this blog alive and kicking.

Rewind

Well I've managed to fall behind quite again, what talent. So last week in the lab was really chill, not too many people were around and most everybody checked out early. This week marks the 'official' start of the new year here in Brasil now that the whole Carnaval thing is over. As such people seem fairly eager to jump into things anew. As I don't have that much time left I've been journeying around the Vitoria/Vila Velha area, especially the beaches. I'm continually struck by how beautiful this country really is. However, I should point out that it is extremely hot right now, about like it was in the Philippines. I'm having trouble falling asleep again, as you can perhaps tell by the fact that it's somewhere around 2 AM for me right now as I write this.

So all that's really left for me to do here is to say my goodbyes, I'm pretty anxious to get back to the US and find out where I'll be going to medical school. I've got plenty of ambitious projects I'm planning out in my head, so we'll see what happens. OK I'm too tired to write coherently. Before I sign off I do want to point out how marvelous all the people at the Nucleo here in Vitoria have been. Friendly doesn't begin to describe their attitude towards me, it made being in a strange land all by myself much easier, and I learned how to speak Portuguese! Well OK, when people talk fast I still can't understand, but that takes some serious time.

Another hiatus

Whew, it's been awhile since my last post, sometimes I just forget about my little blog spot here. Anyway, I had a great time at my parent's home in KY over the holidays, got to ride my horses, play with my dogs, and make several improvements around the house. I also went to a couple of medical school interviews, I should know by around the beginning of March where I'm headed for sure. It's a pretty nerve wracking wait as the outcome will affect where I'll be spending my next 4-5 years.

As you may have guessed I am back in Brazil for the time being. I'm here for another month or so to wrap some things up and contribute in any way I can. The town of Vitoria where I'm staying is basically dead, I guess everyone is still out in places like Salvador and Rio doing the whole Carnaval thing. The holiday will officially be over this Thursday, so that's when I'll head back to the lab. I'm looking forward to seeing my friends in the Nucleo and asking how they've been.

The weather here right now is surprisingly temperate, although there has been a lot of rain which I'm sure is cooling things off for now. These next few months are supposedly notorious for some brutally hot weather. Well if I've survived the sweaty jungle of the Philippines I think I'll make it through these next couple of weeks. I'll post again and let you all know how the lab situation is, I'd ideally like to get out and see some more of Brazil, so we'll see.

Potential Projects?

Well I have less than a week left here before I go home for the holidays and I am still scrambling to find a project to do for next year. I've spoken with several 'higher-ups' here about prospects and think there's definitely things that could turn into a solid manuscript for me. The doc here that is in charge of the clinical microbiology has some ideas about analyzing the drug susceptibility of M tuberculosis strains over the past several years in Vitoria, so that might be it.

In other news, they have decided to move the Christmas extravaganza to next week, which means I will not be able to partake in the festivities. I still need to go buy some sort of wrapping for the gift I bought my 'secret friend' and also write a speech. It's unfortunate that I won't get to go, I've heard that it's a really good time. I'm still having a hard time getting into the Christmas spirit here when I'm continually sweating like crazy under the intense heat, although there are a few houses that have put some lights up. There's also a quaint fake Christmas tree placed by the entrance to the 'Nucleo' that occasionally emits some cheer.

I have to mention something strange that happened last night. Some random guy with a gas mask was out spraying the sidewalks with some unknown chemical. Smoke filled the street and wafted into our apartment. Fearing a terrorist attack I ran to find my roommates to advise them of the threat. When they were nowhere to be found I ran outside, only to encounter the house owner lounging with her family while the smoke drifted overhead. So I guess it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Finally, there are only two days left to have the lab techs here become pros at the BioNumerics software, I've been working with them over the past week and they seem to be getting it quite quickly. Other than that things are slow and laid back around here as usual, I'm alone right now in my section of the lab. I have no idea where people sometimes disappear off to in the middle of the day. Until next time, wish me luck in the 100 degree heat!