Day 7 - Throwback Thursday

Over the last several weeks, I've noted that

Throwback Thursday has been happening on Facebook.

Several friends have posted old photos

they have and shared them with a little back story.

I recently came across a box I had at my mother's house

full of negatives, slides, photos and proof sheets...

I can't tell you how many, but I have literally

hundreds of photographs here.

From journalism subjects

to travel

to family events

through high school and college.

The picture I posted at the top of this post

is of Tio Blas.  He lived in Guadalajara

and owned a stand at the local market.

This was on one of the last trips I took there,

and he's in his late 80's, still working at the stand.

 Everyone in the neighborhood knew "Don Blas."

His brother owned the neighborhood store,

and I can remember as a kid sometimes working the counter

when we would go visit.

I've bought a slide and negative scanner,

and over the next several months, as I get my office set up,

I plan to start going through this pile and finding more hidden treasures...

I can't wait...!

Day 6 - Will You Still Love Me...?

"Do you still love it?"

I was sitting in the atrium at the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum in Seattle during the national conference for ACEP* enjoying a glass of wine and some fine appetizers, so it took me a moment to think about what

my colleague was asking me.  And, to be honest, I wasn't sure if I could answer her question.

I joked back, "Love is such a strong word..."  But, her question really put me in a pensive mood.  Did I still love it?  At a time when more patients are going to the emergency department because they can't find a primary doctor, or don't have insurance or have just gotten insurance and have put off having any routine medical care until today, and at a time when government fund cutbacks mean stricter measures for payment of fees (i.e., if you don't get good patient satisfaction scores, we're not going to pay you) it's hard to be an ED doc and not develop a certain level of cynicism.

I've already written about my decision to return to Emergency Medicine after having trained in Surgery in prior posts.  I wanted variety, continued challenges, the ability to go home at the end of my shift knowing I wouldn't get called back into the hospital just as I was getting settled in for the night.  And, for the most part, I do enjoy my job.  But there are those days when I wonder if I wouldn't be happier as a cashier... or a waitress... or....?  I think about what my application would look like... Prior Work Experience:  dealing daily with irrational people having unrealistic expectations and demanding all their problems get solved promptly.  I guess maybe they'd tell me I was over qualified.

Then I think about those moments of pure chaos, when you weren't sure if you were making the right decision at the time, and you relied solely on pure guts and instinct with whisperings of medical knowledge;  when both you and the patient came out slightly bruised and beaten on the other side but alive to fight another day.  Those are the moments when you truly feel you have made a difference; that those 10 years of  post-graduate education weren't a waste of time.

Those are the days when I do love my job.  And, they're the ones that keep me going...        

Find a job you enjoy, and you will never have to work a day in your life.

- Confucius

*American College of Emergency Physicians

Day 5 - As You Wish

I love the movie (and the book) "The Princess Bride."  

If you've lived a cave for the better part of your life

and haven't heard of this movie (and book by William Goldman)

it's about a grandfather who comes and reads

a book to his grandson who is sick.

The story is about the "true love" between

Wesley and Buttercup.

There's giants, and swordfights, and miracles.

And, there's the classic line:

"Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya.

You killed my father.

Prepare to die."

I recently had a chance to visit the EMP Museum in Seattle, Washington,

and they had on display the famous sword.

And, the glove of the "six-fingered man."

I was a little disappointed to see what looked like

electrical tape on the handle...

I'm sure you don't find any of that in Florin...

Day 4 - That's My Name, Don't Wear It Out...

Random things on the internet...

Like this website that turns anything you write

into Cat Font that you can then

incorporate into your blog posts...

Or copy and paste and place on anything...

but, then of course, who doesn't....?

This is "Waste of Time" from Urban Fonts...

isn't it fun...?

What are your favorite wastes of time...?

Day 3 - Where's Ty Pennington When You Need Him?

We bought our home in April of 2011

and soon after developed the "Five Year Plan."

The house was built in 1980,

and had not been updated since.

We knew we were going to have to put a lot of work

into it, and we have slowly been progressing.

The next phase of work has started,

and I am about ready to hand someone a bunch

of money and say, "Just make it livable."

This is the future mother-in-law bathroom...

Put in a new shower, sink, light fixtures and paint...

Sounds simple right?

These are the tiles I picked 

after THREE HOURS in the tile store...

Aren't they lovely..?

Yeah, three hours of my time sorting through

hundreds of cards and trying multiple combinations.

And we haven't even gotten to the point of paint swatches

or deciding what kind of trim I'm going to want...

I almost had a coronary today when the contractor

asked me about lighting fixtures:

How many light switches do I want?

Where do I want the electric outlets?

Recessed or standard lights?

Would you like sconces with that..??

AAAHH!!

Don't even ask me what I'm going to do with this fireplace...

Day 2 - An Apple a Day...

“And when you crush an apple with your teeth, say to it in your heart:
Your seeds shall live in my body,
And the buds of your tomorrow shall blossom in my heart,
And your fragrance shall be my breath,
And together we shall rejoice through all the seasons.” 
― Kahlil Gibran

My friend had his annual Apple Crush Party today.

Everyone picks the apples from their trees and brings them to his home,

where they are crushed in this press...

Everyone joins in and does a part...

From washing apples to loading them into the grinder,

turning the crank,

then collecting the juice and bottling it up...

And there's food...

and home brew cider...

and more food...

and more cider...

It was a fun afternoon....

Honey Crisps are my favorite...

what are yours...?

Day 1 - It's That Time...!

Over the last couple of weeks, I've thought of a bunch of posts

I should write...

Then I remembered that NaBloPoMo was starting again!

So I saved them all for this month...

Hope you come along on the journey and enjoy!

Cheers!!