Nostalgia 2010 - Volume 2: When Music Was Fun

When music was fun...CDs were bought at the store...not downloaded.


When music was fun...A rockband was something that sent you home with your ears ringing after a blistering set...not 5 buttons and a whammy bar.


When music was fun...

It was all about the "One" solo


When music was fun...

Alice In Chains' "Would?" made you stop doing your math homework to bang your head


When music was fun...

The first three chords of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" raised the Angst-Meter to the max


When music was fun...

Tool's 46 & 2 kept you awake at night, kept you digging for the meaning.


When music was fun...

Pantera's "Cowboys From Hell" made you turn the volume to 11 (R.I.P Dime)


When music was fun...
There was nothing in your head behind the starting blocks but the opening to "Motorbreath"



When music was fun...
"Machinehead" made you drive fast and "Comedown" slowed the speed

When music was fun...

Janine Lindemulder graced the cover of albums.


When music was fun...
You had the time to listen to Billie Joe whine


When music was fun...

"Chinese Democracy" was a fantasy...NOT a reality


When music was fun...

"Ride The Lightning" helped you fade to black every night.


When music was fun...
You wished you understood what Jeremy said in class today
(and then you watched the video, and wished you never new)



When music was fun...
Music was your aeroplane



When music was fun...
"Nothing Else Matters" was how you got together

When music was fun...
"Interstate Love Song" was how it fell apart.



When music was fun...
"Spoonman", "Outshined", and "Black Hole Sun". 'nuff said.



When music was fun...
One stage. Four guys. 2 hours...non-stop. July 14, 2000. Summer Sanitarium. Candlestick Park...The last time music was fun.

Nostalgia 2010 - Volume 1

Nostalgia has crept silently into Your Humble Observer's mind recently. A wave of realization washes over me: not ten years ago high school was a time gone by. The fantasy of flying away from the nest toward new horizons rapidly evolved into reality. The years to come would bring new, exciting, daunting, and humbling experiences. All on the path to making me the person that I am today, and the person I will become in the future. Let's examine some of those warm fuzzy feelings from the past over the next few posts. Let us begin with the soundtrack of my life...

A Tribute

Some things never change.

A tribute, this Father's Day, to my hero and role model.

This year I achieved my dream thanks to your love, support, and unwavering faith in me.

And a Happy Father's Day to all the other fathers out there.

In Texto Veritas - Rules Are Rules

Rules Are Rules
Between: YHO and V.K.
Date: 05/24/10
Time: 15:41

A recent exchange between Your Humble Observer and his brother:

YHO: "V., I think as your older brother and mentor it is my duty to tell you... The hotel room has two beds and a couch. A. and I have already called beds. Standard shotgun rules."

V.K.: "YHO, I think as your younger brother and source of comedy it is my duty to tell you... The hotel room has two beds and a couch. I have already called the couch. Standard little brother rules.

UAE Healthy Kidney 10 K

Results from the race last weekend:

In Texto Veritas - What's In A Line?

What's In A Line?


From: A.K.Date: 04/14/10Time: 12:42

"So I'm SITTING in a CHAIR at Starbucks and some very intelligent creature walks up to me and asks me if I'm in line and I say no so she goes and stands in the line...

Interaction Rating: Fantastic"

Hangin' Up The Speedo

I was lucky enough to participate in an alumni water polo game at my old high school yesterday. It was a wave of nostalgia as I walked onto the campus of the old Alma Mater. Warm greetings from old teammates and coaches complimented the sunny and warm California day (I have the sunburn to prove it). Meeting the next generation of water polo players was a comforting thought that the hodgepodge, motley crew team that we put together back in 1997 had progressed to a legitimate program.

Of course, I had to make myself feel like an old man with stories like, "When I played here, we only had PVC pipe goals that were held down with sandbags and broke by the second game of the season" and "We played the game with only seven guys, not twelve like you spoiled brats!" Then I realized that if I continued trying to play this game, I might break a hip.

As for how I felt after the game...well, I'll let Iago show you.

So, it is with much emotion and a humble heart that I announce my official retirement from the game of water polo. A game that has given so much to me. A game that I hope I have given back to.

And as a special retirement bonus, here is a shot of the sexiness that was Your Humble Observer circa 2000 back in the true water polo days.



Eench eyeenk, eench yeghank.

Emm...Dee!

Two letters have driven me all my life. Two letters are now mine.

Mind Boggling Phenomena - Wishing Well

Apparently New Yorkers need more outlets for their wishing needs!

A Face Only A Mother Could Love

Not quite an ITV, but an e-mail from Your Humble Observer's mother. A glimpse into the origins of YHO's humor.

Responding to a photo and caption from the recently completed half-marathon:

"GOOD JOB [son].

You became an M.D.
Ran a marathon.
Lived in many cities...
AND NOW IF YOU TEACH YOURSELF HOW TO KEEP A PROPER FACE WHEN TAKING PICTURES IT IS THEN I CALL YOU A WINNER .

Sirov ,
N."

...

...

...

...

...

Caption: "Face of a winner"

Empire State Of Sandwich

This is how NYC does a tuna sandwich. Just thought you'd want to know.

Happy Easter

Writing On The Wall - Stupid Is As Stupid Does

Someone needs to tell Diesel that we don't need the "Stupid American" stereotype perpetrated any further...we have enough morons that do that for us.

In Texto Veritas - The Brick That Breaks The Phone's Back

The Brick That Breaks The Phone's Back


From: A.K.Date: 03/18/10Time: 12:55

"Brickbreaker will be the reason I smash my phone/fail college."

Between A Pie And New York City

There are raging battles amongst the folks in NYC regarding their pizza. On Your Humble Observer's brother's recent trip to the Big Apple he decided to do his own personal Man vs. Food: Pizza NYC, with visits to various Manhattan and Brooklyn pizza joints. YHO accompanied him on a few of those trips.

On one such excursion, we visited Bleecker Street Pizza where YHO enjoyed a great slice of their original Nonna Maria pizza.

YHO's brother indulged in a fantastic meatball hero...

When all was said and done...

...

...

...

Well...you know.

Holy Wha?

And you're offended as a Christian?

NO! I'm offended as a medical professional!

In Texto Veritas - It's A Moo Point

It's A Moo Point

From: A.K.Date: 03/18/10Time: 11:04

"Only in Fresno [CA] can you listen to a radio station's traffic report and hear three (3) different occasions of cows blocking the roadway."

Athens, Here We Come

Just wanted to remind the readership that tomorrow Your Humble Observer will be out to accomplish a goal that began less than a year ago: running in the NYC Half-Marathon.

The race begins tomorrow morning at 7:35 am and should take YHO about 2 hours 20 minutes to complete. It begins with a loop around Central Park, down 7th Ave to Times Square, then along the West Side Highway to lower Manhattan and the finish line. The course is shown off to the right.

All are invited to come out and cheer us on. See you at the finish line!

RACE INFORMATION

LIVE SPLITS

WATCH LIVE

Mind Boggling Phenomena - Why I Love Technology

LIVE BLOG: Match Day #2

Up-to-the-minute Match Day information.

Monday, March 18, 2010

Match Day #2

Matched Program Information

13:07 - Oh my God! So many emotions right now, hard to pin just one down. I am very happy that I will be getting excellent training at my new home at Downstate. Looks like NYC and Brooklyn are going to have to deal with me for a few more years! WOO-HOO!
Again, as always, thank you to all for being my support, my cheerleaders. Love you all!

13:03 - *fist pump* Matched at SUNY HSC Brooklyn (a.k.a. Downstate)!

12:38 - Don't forget folks, YHO is running in the NYC Half-Marathon this Sunday, March 21, 2010. You're welcome to come cheer me on PRN at any time during the grueling 2-hour race. Or you can sign up to get my race splits via email by clicking HERE.

12:23 - So...how's everyone's day going?

12:12 - Didn't start with the early posts today because, well let's face it, how many times you can hear me say that the anxiety is building before you tune me out. Results technically due by 13:00.

LIVE BLOG: Match Day #1

Up-to-the-minute Match Day information.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Match Day #1

Matched/Unmatched Information

15:19 - Thank you all for the outpouring of congratulations and support. This is a huge relief to know that on July 1 I will be employed. Now the real waiting game begins, to see where I will be for the next 3+ years of my life. Sam blog format three days from today. See you then!

Cheers,

YHO

11:57 - MATCH!!!

11:47 - 13 Minutes. That is all.

11:41 - I want to take this time to wish my beautiful girlfriend a very happy birthday, and to let her know I haven't forgotten despite all the excitement. She's been incredibly supportive through everything.

11:26 - Ok, at this point, I'm just writing to alleviate anxiety. If I focus on where commas, semicolons; periods. And apostrophe's go, then the Match doesn't exist. 34 minutes.

11:19 - Set up shop here at The Brooklyn Hospital Center's medical library. 41 minutes and counting. I'll probably be posting every minute from here on out.

10:21 - Holding up, but the butterflies are beginning. Mind is starting to wander to contingency plans...so far I have non. Eep! Plan to get out of here in the next 40 minutes or so to go establish myself at a wifi location to get results.

08:00 - GOOD MORNING WORLD! It's a bright new day here in NYC...well, it's a new day at least. Nerves are there, but I'm hanging in. Off to my rotation for now. Periodic updates will come. Also check Twitter feed to the left for more information.

The Interview Chronicles - It's Kind Of Like Superman's Phone Booth

Well, all the preparation paid off. Here's roughly what the finished product looks like...



Another productive day over, another interview done. It's time to head back whence I came. I would like to take this opportunity to warmly thank each and every hotel proprietor for ALWAYS refusing to give me late check-outs so that I may return from my interview and change in a proper setting. No, no...instead, they all shoved me into some random toilet stall to make the transformation. So here goes...







Oila! Back to the airport and homeward bound. Hope all of this pays off on Match Day!

The Interview Chronicles - The Layout

Thus far Your Humble Observer has survived a landing in four feet of snow, rude taxi-stand workers, and late-night hotel front desk employees to begin the next part of the trip. Settling in. In case you haven't noticed, I'm a little...particular...about the way I do these things (go ahead and insert whatever word you want in there). Generally I'm not comfortable until I've done one last inventory to make sure everything is where it needs to be.



Here we are. The hotel room that will serve as HQ for the next 6 hours of my life.



First up, make sure the suit gets out of that folded bag and hanging properly. Then we start laying out the various components for easy access tomorrow morning.



Toiletries come out of the bag and are arranged according to their particular use. We've got:


oral hygiene,

facial hair removal,

eye-care,

and finally hair and scent,



Ok, looks like everything is in order here. Whew! I'm spent. Time to get four hours of sleep. Big day tomorrow.

On The Softee Side

Most exciting day of the year...

...first Mister Softee sighting of the season.

The Interview Chronicles - Defying The Laws Of Gravity

The next step of the journey usually involves some sort of flying apparatus which usually becomes airborne from a central hub known as an "airport".



Here is Your Humble Observer patiently awaiting the opportunity to strap himself to a metal tube and hurl himself at 600 miles per hour* through the air in one of the greatest projectile feats known to man.



The airport often served also as a dining area for YHO since rarely did the opportunity arise to eat a proper meal. And, Lord knows, a flying man needs his energy. Very healthy choices by YHO, might I add. (Gummi Bears are a way of life. Deal with it!)



Once the captain has indicated that we have reached our cruising altitude, the flight attendants will be by to serve a complimentary beverage...and if you're peasant-ass is lucky, you'll get the whole can instead of just a crummy little plastic cup filled 3/4 of the way with ice...



Also once we have reached cruising altitude you may use all approved electronic devices. Please note that cell phones and two-way pagers may NOT be used at any time during the flight...YOU HEAR THAT ROW 26D?...STOP TEXTING AS WE ARE COMING UP TO THE RUNWAY!



The flight usually provided a great opportunity to get the initial prep done for the interview, including brushing up on program information, highlighting pertainant points, and summarizing it into my neat pre-made worksheet. (Don't act so surprised...it's like you don't know me).

Ok, see you all when we're safely back on the ground.


*Shout-out to H.A. who first brought that description to my attention.

The Interview Chronicles - Pack It Up, Pack It In

Proper preparation prevents poor performance. Call me what you will, but ill-prepared is not a description of my interview season. With all the traveling, you have to expect the unexpected and be prepared to handle the situation. Thus...my pre-travel prep.

Of course, it all begins with looking good. And, mmm...I look good. I look REAL good. Hey everyone come and see how good I look.

The central component is, of course, the suit, complete with a freshly dry-cleaned and pressed white french-cuff shirt.



And then, of course, the over-stuffed bag of toiletries to make the magic happen.



Naturally, preparation does not end with just looking good. Though the package may be pretty, the insides must have some content as well. Here we have the pre-interview prep folder. At the beginning of the application process, each program was designated with a folder and filled with all the information that could possibly be gathered regarding the program. The portfolio contains all supplementary information that might suddenly become necessary, including copies of resumes, personal statements, and passport photos, not to mention enough pens and highlighters to choke a donkey.



These three make up what I call the "Pocket-Must-Haves". Interview day gets long and filled with onions, so we must make sure that the lips are not chapped (let's not forget the cold places YHO traveled), the eyes are not dry, and the breath ain't stank.



Ok, everything's packed and ready. And off we go...