The Kitchen

“We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand... and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it is too late.”
Marie Beyon Ray

That picture is from a NY Times article here is the link
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/world/asia/12afghan.html?_r=1&ref=todayspaper&oref=slogin

Welcome to my blob. We had a good time today. One of the boss’s young son came to visit so I lent him my digital camera and iPod for the day. He had a good time going around the clinic taking all kinds of pictures. I think that it was the first time that he ever used a digital camera.

Today the inpatients from the old hospital moved in. It was a little amusing seeing the train of patients in their gowns and foley catheters walk slowly through the front door and up the stairs to their rooms. A lot of them were in pretty bad shape and had to be carried up the stairs in their wheel chair.

The ER is an interesting place. It almost reminds me of when you have a party, no matter how big your house is, everyone always ends up hanging out in the kitchen. That is what the ER is like. Even though they have a big hospital all of the specialist bring their patients into the ER. I think that it has to do with its location and that it is well stocked because we have been focusing on it.

The surgeon brought a patient in with a pretty bad ingrown toenail. Toenail removals are pretty routine and fairly easy procedures for Family Practice doctors to perform in their office. This definitely was the most interesting one that I have seen. First of all, when you numb up the big toe you usually have to give it a good 15 minutes before you do anything because it takes a while for the digital block to take effect. Immediately after applying the lidocaine the surgeon went right to work and you could tell that the patient felt it. The surgeon was as sympathetic as the Ortho doc was the other day. I am a little less assertive when it comes to mentoring the specialist only because I do not have the experience and knowledge to back me up. Towards the end of the procedure the assistant proceeded to splash water onto the patients face and body and then the surgeon lifted both of his legs 90 degrees, I think in am attempt to get more blood back to his face. Everyone was laughing (the patient had a smirk on his face). I just looked on and smiled wondering how to even start the mentoring process.

A cute little boy that was six years-old came in with his father. I make a point of keeping candy and toys in my pockets and I hand them out whenever I see some children. I gave the little boy a lolly pop. After a little bit I asked the ER doc what was wrong with the little boy. He said, “He is here for a circumcision.” My eyes got really big in surprise. I said, “Are you kidding with me?” He said,” No, male Muslim children need to get circumcised by age 7.” I asked how they planned to do it. He said that the surgeon planned to use local anesthesia. I replied, “What will you use for pain?” He replied, “Ibuprofen.” I looked at the poor child thinking in my mind, he has no idea what he is in for.

We visited Phoenix today and I was able to get a new hard drive. I should be up and running after I install all of the new software. It was snowing really hard over there. If you stood in one spot for longer then 10 minutes you looked like a snow man.

I came back to a ton of packages, everything you can think of, candy, beef jerky, movies, toiletries, batteries, games, books, all kinds of great stuff. I also received a really nice Santa suit and 3 more Christmas trees. We will be moving offices soon so I think that I will set it up over there. We also got a few boxes full of new winter clothes for the VCR program. I plan on going on a trip this Friday. I will be sure to take a lot of pictures.

Take care.