New Beginnings

With the new year came a new clinical rotation. It is one that has of yet been untested waters for me, so that is always fun. For the months of January and February, I'll be trauma chief for the first time.

Trauma surgery is one of those experiences that is both quite envigorating and very, very melancholy. There is very little as stimulating as having a patient roll in the door, usually by some over-excited EMT's, with no labs done, no physical exam, and no radiographic studies. You never know if you'll be cutting them open in a minute or two to do an open heart massage, or if you'll be sending them home from the ER. Its also very sad too. What is a stimulating diagnostic pursuit to me, or a very cool surgical case is someone's life that will often be forever changed, or perhaps even ended, because of the injuries they've suffered.

It does make you put your seat belt on and slow down a little bit whenever you hop in your car. It also makes me watch any motorcycle that I see like a hawk. They have a way of getting into somebody's blind spot and then paying us a visit. In medical school, a forensic pathologist once told us that he was, "So afraid of motorbikes I won't even get on a parked one." Its a sentiment I've come to share.

We really are fragile creatures who feign indestructibility.

A Yew Norker goes South

Sign language for "no more pictures"






I wish Hans would have Kleenexes.







Way too much coffee.






Not enough coffee.



Immersed in bleeding heart liberal propaganda



So many books and nothing to read.




Scenery without the nose pickers.



Scenery with the nose picker.



So Darren, why did 'Jenny' just buy chandelier crystals on EBay?



"This kitchen is filthy!!"



Phew! Glasses are for the birds!



Must not show teeth when smiling.



And then, like, we went hiking, and like some birds that were like singing and like flying around in the trees and stuff. And it was like really, really cold.