Life Update

I'll try to keep this short. For those who always check here looking to see what one-sided nonsense I may produce, or to see what is going on in my life, thanks for your patience. It has been a crazy several months.

1. Match
-Firstly, I updated my completed interview manifesto (below). If anyone was curious of my thought process at these places or of my experiences, take about 5 hours and read through it. It's only about 50 pages double-spaced. Seriously, why am I so long-winded?
-San Mateo remains my top choice. I am supremely confident now in my match after the training director called me on ranklist submission day to tell me I was in their top four. If he screws me here, oh man...Christine and I are looking into the details of the move and are super excited.
-We ended up bumping Cambridge-Harvard for UC-Irvine in the #2 spot. Lifestyle issues. Hopefully this is a moot point.
-Match is March 15th. If anyone not already planning on being there (read: med students) would like to join us, just let me know.

2. AHEC
-I finished up my "rural" medicine rotation today at Mercy Hospital in downtown Baltimore, where my preceptor only accepted insured patients. So much for an experience with the medically underserved. Alas, he was a great guy and though I did not have to go in often, it was always enjoyable when I was there.

3. Family Medicine Sub-I
-Starts on Monday with overnight call every fourth night. I already want it to be over.
*note: now this is medically underserved.

4. Step 2 Clinical Skills
-Scheduled for Philly on April 28th. This and the sub-I are all I have remaining in med school, or school in general. Ever!

5. Marathon
-Training is going well. No significant injuries to this point. Up to 15 mile runs. 17 miles this weekend. Fundraising is not going well. Need help with the website. Any volunteers?

6. Spring Break
-We looked into Europe, Hawaii, the South Pacific, the Caribbean, the Southeast US, and the South America. Since we know we're moving though, and could probably use the money, we think we might get a hotel in DC and do all the touristy stuff we've never done or would like to do again--Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art, go up the national monument, tour the White House, etc; then party in DC at night and go out to restaurants and stuff. Should be fun.

7. Book Chapter
-My part of the chapter on Diabetes in the Mentally Ill is focused on litigation issues currently and recently in this patient population. My manuscript is due in mid-March and I recently started researching it somewhat seriously. I need to pick up the pace.

8. Other
-It's great to be playing soccer again. It's great to be in decent shape again. I feel like I've regained my fire, my edge, my passion for life; and see that this is linked to my need for the pursuit of achieving some goal. Shame...I really wanted to be a beach bum too. :( In other news, poker game at my house this Saturday at 7pm. DVR'ed Caps game with our infamous college drinking game: "Shots On Goal" to begin around 4pm.

Everyone be well. Good luck with Match stuff. Good luck with job, house, and pregnancy stuff. Neil, try not to come back from India with eighteen brides. Mormons aren't outsourcing yet.

vibrance of youth

This looks a lot better blown up with its fully vivid colors, but anyhow...

I took this pic in San Francisco as I wandered about Battery Park. I took it with the intention of giving it as a gift to a mentor of mine who inspired my interest in child psychiatry. My hope is that in times of frustration, he--and perhaps I--will be able to view this and be reminded that the vibrance of youth will remain with you always when helping a child in need.

Life itself

The Pacific is life itself.

Known for its strength, it crashes, pounds into the earth, unabashedly, without apology. Yet it has charm, grace, and as such is forgiven. At times we struggle in its ebb and flow; no sooner feeling sweet control in our grip before finding ourselves once again loose, thrashing. The Pacific is like life itself in its reminders of our challenges, and of our achievements, our relative smallness, and of the times others gave selflessly to help us over the next swell. The Pacific is like life itself in its cycles. And though we may wander, its vitality, its innate presence of peace, draws our return. As its beauty closes into darkness, we think of the tides, of the cycles, of the strength, and we are once more reminded that though alone we struggled, with help we thrived. And we come to understand the Pacific, as we understand life: to be conquered by togetherness. And therein we find peace, and see the Pacific as life itself.