Pontificum Scriblerus

So, incidentally, Munchkin turned one. It was about a month ago that this happened. And I still really can't believe it. It is completely and totally cliche to say this, but, oh my god, where did the year go?? I mean, forgive me, but cliches do come from somewhere; they come from things that happen over and over. And no matter how many people told me, over and over, that time flies by, and that they grow up too fast, I still cannot believe HOW fast! I had a squealy little meatball, and over the last year, he has matured into an intelligent, fully functioning, very opinionated infant - toddler, now! - with likes, dislikes, and a distinct personality. For example, when he was about 7 weeks old, my mom and I dressed him up in a little red suit and took him out to Zaftig's. I put a little red sox hat on him, because it matched his red jumper, and I'm one of those crazy moms who matches her infant's clothes to, like, his receiving blanket. (life is better when esthetic...

I have a cold. Actually, this is the mother of all colds. We've met before - at least twice this year - but I was under the impression that the mother of all colds takes a vacation during the summer months. I guess I was incorrect. What happened was, we went to a party this weekend. Well - no, first, there was an insane heat wave, and air conditioners took over the world. Then, there was a party. I got all dressed up in a fuscia cocktail dress and espadrilles, did my hair, and put on the fancy perfume. I don't even remember the last time I did this, so I was pretty excited to recall that I have a fun-loving, let's -get-out-of-the-house side. I had probably about 3 glasses of sangria, which was probably enough to put me over the edge and make me do some embarrassing things, like laugh really loud and make inappropriate commentary about perfectly innocent strangers. And, of course, immune system-wise, the sangria almost surely made susceptible to legionella's eage...

It's July 15th - originally, before baby, I would have been 15 days old as a full-fledged gastroenterologist, my fellowship having ended. I keep thinking about the same time 4 years ago, when residency was ending, and comparing it to now. Back then, it felt like the world was ending, and now, I'm sort of just... floating along. Relieved, almost. I was also talking to someone this week, and I exclaimed at one point: Man, I miss being a resident. And the other person said, Wow, that is a really sad statement. But it's true, residency was fun. Fellowship, on the other hand, has sucked. So, this led me to think and compare and contrast some more, and try to figure out exactly what has made this so bad, hard work and personalities notwithstanding. There are just so many things. First of all, as a resident, I solidly felt backed up by the attendings. We had their trust and benefit of the doubt, no matter the issue, be it a crazy ER attending trying to admit everyone, an unreasona...

My husband is one of those people who naturally assumes control of everything in the situation around him. He gets it from his mother. It's a nurturing quality that stems from his desire to take care of everything, especially his loved ones, but that is inevitably embellished with his natural tendency towards compulsiveness. The compulsive side of this instinct of his sometimes drives me nuts. It also drives me nuts that his desire take care verges on the absurd: "When you go to the bank, don't forget your bank card." "I will pack the car for you, but I will put the things you need to remove immediately on the seats, and the rest in the trunk I will remove when I get home, so don't worry about it." Stuff like that. It leads me to answer with haughty comments, such as "You know, I survived before you, and I would survive without you!" However. My track record would lead one to believe otherwise. A few months ago, hubby traveled off to Sp...

Leaves fall, lights dim, mice die. Why try when I know No- vember brings failure? A swatch of sky and rain. How you throw dirt over a sinking feeling! The sun, a magic number, arbitrarily looms in the distance... The clock is ticking, wasting time, what harvest will I reap? How foolish! It's dark, where am I, how did I come to be here? Don't know. Will I stay?

Everyone should read this article in detail. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/12/opinion/12sibert.html Opinion Don’t Quit This Day Job By KAREN S. SIBERT Published: June 11, 2011 For female doctors, the decision to go part time isn’t just personal; it has consequences for patients and the public. Afterwards, should read http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/wont-hurt-bit/201106/the-mommy-wars-medical-edition. The bottom line is this: the top article's writer, a female anesthesiologist from California, asserts that the fact that female physicians are choosing to work part-time is hurting patients and the economy, and has a negative impact overall on a societal level. She plainly suggests that women need to choose between being a doctor or being a mother, and that both is not possible. The bottom article writes an intelligent response. I applaud Dr. Au, the latter writer, for keeping her wits about her enough to write an eloquent response, when the only thing I could say after I read Dr...