Tuesday night we ventured with our 11th grade Bible study girls to Hope Lodge for the annual dirty santa Christmas party with the residents. I had never heard of Hope Lodge until a few weeks ago, so for those of you who are as curious as I was, Hope Lodge is offiliated with the American Cancer Society and offers free lodging to cancer patients and their families who are being treated at hospitals here in Birmingham. Cancer treatment can be financially straining and such a burden for those who are far from home and suffering. At the lodge, patients and their families are able to receive support from the other residents, as well as the staff and volunteers.



Each year the Bible study girls take one night of the week and bring gifts, snacks, smiles, and tacky Christmas attire to Hope Lodge. It was such a humbling experience to spend time with these people--to hear where they're from and mostly to just see their faces light up and forget the real reason why they're there. It was a special night and I am thankful for the opportunity to have met them.



P.S. If you don't subscribe to Southern Living, then check out this recipe for Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate-Chip Cookies here I made them for the party--they are divine and super easy!!

{no pun intended}

The Beatles now on iTunes




AND word that Prince William is engaged [sigh]













I'd say it was a BIG day for the Brits.

Vaccinator [vak-suh-ney-ter] n.: one who vaccinates.

Somehow, I always end up with this designation during my shifts at CVS. Yesterday I had the lovely privilege of attempting to vaccinate a 63 year old woman who was verbally skeptical of my abilities. I approached her carrying a tray of the vaccine, alcohol swabs,a sharps container, and a nifty CVS band-aid when she immediately inquired:

"Are you a pharmacist?" [translation: I will run for dear life if you take one more step towards me. Get lost. There is no way you will ever poke me with that needle.]

"No mam, I'm an intern." [translation: How dare she underestimate my vaccinating skills. I've done this 1,000 times before. Come on, it's only a pinch. You'll get a cool band-aid.]

By this time, crocodile tears are welling up in both of her eyes and she is literally shivering as if we are camped out at the North Pole. I am now regretful of not being more sympathetic in my translation previously mentioned.

"Mam, would you be more comfortable having the pharmacist administer your vaccine today?" [Silence. Dead silence. Shivering. Leaky tears. Attempts at consolation. Squinty eyes. Wrinkled nose. Head turned in the opposite direction. Shirt sleeve raised.]

After a couple of minutes of shear panic, here I am administering the flu vaccine and mortified of what's coming next. Just like that it was over. She was fine.

"That's it?" Yes, that was IT.

*photo available from here

Vaccinator [vak-suh-ney-ter] n.: one who is to blame for incessant anxiety.

I've been debating on whether or not I should delete my blog. I'm a slacker when it comes to updating. Until I make a firm decision, here we go again...

Friday afternoon I finished up a 5 week {felt like 5 years} rotation block. I was more than elated to be wrapping things up, and even more excited about heading south for a weekend with my family. July was the last time I set foot in the house I grew up in, and for me that's just unacceptable. I was in dire need of some time well spent at home.

Weekend positives
+ Waking up in my own, comfy bed
+ Coffee and a homemade breakfast
+ Picking pumpkins from the patch for mom's porch {say that 5 times fast}
+ Receiving sound advice from my parents on what the heck I should do with my life
+ College football ALL DAY LONG. Rammer Jammer???
+ Dad's burgers fresh from the grill
+ Watching mom attempt to figure out ichat on her new MAC computer and then proceed to ichat with my brother....on the other end of the couch
+ Church & Sunday lunch
+ Yummy leftovers sent home with me

It was a much needed, restful weekend. I still get teary-eyed when I leave and I'm not sure I'll ever grow out of that. Weekends like this make me so grateful for a family that loves and cares for me, even when I'm un-lovable. We certainly aren't perfect, but we have tons of fun when we're together.

Do you ever find yourself longing for a simple life? Sometimes I just want to get back to the basics. What's been taking me there lately?


RURAL HEALTH.

Monday starts my 4th week on a rural health rotation that I have absolutely grown to LOVE. I've encountered human beings who, in my opinion, are sweeter than sugar. I'm borrowing this phrase from them since I hear it on a daily basis. I'm quite sure they won't mind.

Twice weekly I travel to two tiny rural clinics in two tiny West Alabama towns. The pace slows down a bit, each word is pronounced with at least 5 syllables, and not takin' care o' folks is out of the question.

At these clinics, life is simple (and sometimes blount):

*No matter how many times you encourage smoking cessation, you're informed that it just isn't possible because "my cigars keep the skeeters away while I'm fishin'."

*Medical services are often paid with a 5 gallon bucket of fresh squash, tomatoes, cucumbers, and okra from the garden.

*Blood sugars tend to run high after mass consumption of fried pig ears on the 4th of July.

*The county sheriff informs you that his exercise routine consists of "throwin' a hefty lady in the back of a cop car 'cause she tried to hurt 'er husband."

*When glancing out the clinic window, you can't miss the mile long corn field.

*On your first day, your virginity may be questioned by a 64 year old woman who will proceed to list all of the reasons why her husband has been with her for 45 years {yikes}.

On a more serious note, it has been such a blessing to work with these people, co-workers and patients alike. I appreciate their honesty and the fact that they never meet a stranger. They are genuine, loving, thankful, and would give me their last penny without thinking twice. Through them the Lord has shown me what it means to live a life of selflessness, to be content, to be thankful no matter your circumstances, and to give freely. Mostly, the Lord has shown me what it means to spend time investing in others--even if it is only by listening. I'd like to stay on this rotation forever...can I order a salary?

Proverbs 30:7-9

7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
do not refuse me before I die:

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.

9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God

Better late than never...Happy Father's Day to my dad! In reference to last year's post, he still grills a mean hamburger and loves golf more than anyone I know. And if you're wondering, yes, he still quotes Napoleon and The Office on a regular basis and is a fan of all things strawberry. Since this time last year, he has also learned to text message. In the beginning his text messages were always signed "Love, Dad" as if I didn't already have his digits. Ok, I'll cut him some slack. His messages are now top notch, short & sweet. He's become a pro in a short amount of time.


On a more serious note, I am so thankful for his patience, his leadership, his selflessness, and his love. His example of Christ is one that I long to follow.

Happy Late Father's Day!

...you're on an Internal Medicine Rotation WHEN your text messages to your fellow medical interns look like THIS:

me: I'm calculating vanc dosing for your patient but don't have his info or hx. how old was he?

fellow student: he was 58 with a SCr of 1.82 and wt of 97.9 kg

me: I had his SCr as 1.08 today

fellow student: are you sure? ok well we should use the most current one

me: would we consider him obese? we don't have record of his height.

fellow student: i just assumed he wasn't from when we saw him today

me: yea, he didn't look it. i'm using the 0.62 L/kg Vd

fellow student: yea me too

me: i got 1500 mg IV Q 12 hrs with a trough of 13.3

fellow student: i got the same thing

me: what do you think about dosing it Q 8 hrs to get a trough of 19?

fellow student: sounds good.

me: perfect! see you tomorrow!

If this sounds foreign to you, I wouldn't try to figure it out. I'm pretty sure whatever you're doing right now is way more fun.

Otherwise, I'm having a blast in BHAM!!!