Let's Talk About Me

Far be it from Your Humble Observer to keep his readership out of the loop or, perish the thought, allow them to become bored. So here we go...what's going on in the life of YHO?

Well, a lot and not much all at once.

As you'll recall, I do this little thing called medical school. And for all the fun it brings, let's face it, all good things must end. Although it's nice to be the medical student who can get away with ignorance, spend real time with patients, and rock a groovy short white coat, the world needs... doctors...and I am to be one of those...doctors...

Ok, back from my little emetic spell there. It's fun, exciting, anxiety-causing, and nauseating all rolled into one neat package. The last of my core rotation exams was completed last month and I can proudly say that I am officially done with ALL medical school tests. Graduation looms in early June, while Commencement ceremony will be May 29 back on the ol' island of St. Maarten (for those who don't remember, no I have NOT misspelled the name of the island. There really are two 'A's). Most exciting of all, however, is the fact that in less than eight weeks, I will be completely done with all rotations. Give me a 'Y', give me an 'A', give me a 'Y'! What does that spell? FREEDOM!

And what does the next step involve? Well, there's this little thing called the Match. The Match determines what you'll be doing with the rest of your life. So no big deal. And all of this will come to pass on March 18. On that day, I will know whether I matched or not, and if so, which program I matched at. More to come on this maddening process...

In sports news, I continue to train for the New York City Half Marathon on March 21. YHO's training progress may be tracked in the 'To Athens' section of this blog. If you're in the big city and you care to spend an entire Saturday morning watching endless throngs of people run for 2 consecutive hours, then come on down and cheer us on. More to come on this maddening process...

(Geez, what a nice easy way to cop out of writing a lot)

That's the quick and dirty. More informative, insightful, and witty posts to come. I can hear the collective inspiration as you all hold your breaths. More to come on this maddening process...

Beace!

NYC Blizzard 2010_Part 5 - Footprints And Fun

Part 5 - Footprints And Fun

And now...a little fun...

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And quite possibly the best picture of YHO...ever.

NYC Blizzard 2010_Part 4 - After & Before

Part 4 - After & Before

Pile 'em on high atop the cars and street

The shrubbery of 85th Street covered in snow

A shot down my block

NYC Blizzard 2010_Part 3 - Snowy Streets Of Brooklyn

Part 3 - Snowy Streets Of Brooklyn

NYC Blizzard 2010_Part 2 - A Moving Tribute

Part 2 - A Moving Tribute

A video from the streets of Brooklyn during Snow-Day 02/10/2010

NYC Blizzard 2010_Part 1 - Inside Looking Out

A running photoessay documenting Snow-Day 02/10/2010:

Part 1 - Inside Looking Out

These were the sights that YHO awoke to early this morning.

A Long, Long Time Ago

I can still remember how that music used to make me smile.

The Day The Music Died

2/3/59

R.I.P. Valens, Holly, Bopper

In Texto Veritas - Revelation (on a Psych Ward)

Revelation (on a Psych Ward)

From: YHO
Date: 02/02/10
Time: 11:00

The following is a text message to M.R. that spiraled out of control:

"So...TID, BID, QHS, and, yes, even QID are fine abbreviations. In fact, they are preferred. But the dreaded QD elevates you to the level of heretic. Abbreviation-Which-Shall-Not-Be-Named. Commonly known as "You-Know-What". PURE evil. The Adversary in word form. Shaitan himself. Capable of pillaging women and raping horses. Belongs in Dante's 7th circle. Fire and brimstone. Gnashing of teeth. That which bears the mark of the beast. 666. 7 trumpets, 4 horsemen. Destruction of the earth, coming of The Kingdom.

AH-HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!"

(Ok, so maybe an unwarranted level of drama there. Whatever...you try spending 5 hours trapped inside a glass bowl being tapped at like a goldfish and not resorting to these histrionics.)

Medical Code - Let Them Take Shots

READ it. Love it.

For those who know Your Humble Observer well, you are aware that few topics get my blood pressure up to the "Cerebral Aneurysm" level faster than that of childhood vaccines and their alleged (yes, Jenny...alleged) causal relationship to the Autism Spectrum Disorders. So forgive me if I bask in the glow of the recent article above for a few moments.

Some day (ahhh, the elusive 'some day') I intend to explore this topic in greater detail and with a REAL review of the medical literature and scientific evidence (yes, Jenny...real science). Until then, I hope that you can all begin to see that this irresponsible blight on modern medicine, Andrew Wakefield, has been widely discredited (yes, Jenny...discredited) by every medical institution. His work is junk science. Pure junk (yes, Jenny...JUNK!).

Now, for the naysayers out there, I say this. If you're going to come at me with conspiracy theories of government cover-ups, deceiving physicians, and evil pharmaceutical companies...save it. Your position is that I'm lying and there is no argument I can make against that. I won't waste my breath on you. If you'd like to have an intellectual conversation and open discussion about possibilities, probabilities, cost-benefits, and the like...let's talk. Until I'm just going to kick back, relax, and love the fact that I never had MEASLES as a child.

(Gee, I wonder why "measles cases were at the highest level in more than a decade in 2008" This is what happens when we don't immunize, folks.)

26 & 7/32 - Runner With A Cause

So much to catch up on, might as well start here...

As mentioned earlier in the year, Your Humble Observer is in active training for a half-marathon race coming up on March 21, 2010 in New York City, along with his running partner, M.A.

While the task is daunting, having someone training with me keeps me motivated and focused. But the motiviation goes far beyond the physical, as M.A. has decided not only to push herself to the physical limits, but she is selflessly running in the name of a fantastic cause - The American Cancer Society. Her goal is to raise $1000 for the organization, and she can get that much closer to reaching the goal with your help.

Please help this awesome cause by clicking on the link below and donating to her running fund.

$13 FOR 13 MILES