One day more.

Today is the day before I will find out officially what I will be doing next year. It is quite exiting to look at all my classmates as they eagerly await what will happen next. We all have grand aspirations to be this or that but this is when we find out what will be, at least for next year.

As with any potentially life altering information people have different reactions to it. I have chosen not to think about it, though it creeps up in my dreams in which I never get what I want. Others get a kick about telling others how they were able to find out the results of the match early by whatever means, inevitably getting a rise out of someone who is not expecting the joke.

I, Alas, am in a situation that is not to be envied. For even now I am not sure that Pathology is what I really want to do. Though I am sure of many things that I don't want to do. In the event that I get pathology I will be exited and relish in the opportunity. In any other endeavour I will have a degree of skepticism over the result.

So it is one day more. For those of my fans who indulge themselves in these words I wish you the best. Give me a call tomorrow and I will be delighted, or perhaps not, to tell you what I will be doing next year. You in turn can celebrate or mourn with me. I am told that the day of match brings unremitting happiness to some and deep dejection to others. So it is with life.

Tomorrow is Christmas in the match. So I leave you with little prose:

Tomorrow is another day just like all the others,
The sun will rise, the stars will fall
Rain will come and the wind will blow.
The tides on distant shores will rise and fall:
Someone will die and another someone will live.
Tomorrow is just another day.
Just live it better then all the others.

The Wonderful World of Medicine

Over the past few days I have had the pleasure of being entertained by a myriad of intelectuals imparting wisdom on the practice of the art of Medicine. The topics vary from how to interprit the nuances of an EKG to treating toxidromes. In these lectures I have also had the opportunity to study the archetecture of my inner eye lid. That is not to say that I haven't learned things. For I have.

The number one thing to remember is that a physician makes a living by deciding to treat patients the best that we know how and to research new ways to treat patients better. The practice of learning all this information is daunting, which leads to point number two: understand what you know and don't be to proud to ask for what you don't. More damage is done when a physician thinks that he is doing the right thing when in reality they haven't a clue. Point number three: All of our patients will die. Unfortunately in the end all of our interventions have not cured death. So it is that we make our money by extending the life that one does have. We also like to think that we increase the quality of life by relieving suffering.

In three little points I have summed up the basics of being a doctor. I suppose that 4 years of medical school should have been enough. As it is my books will be warm and my consultants will be busy.

Thanksgiving

This is a time of year where we take a look at all that we have. We have a myriad of things that we are grateful for. One of the observations that I have made over the last year through my travels is that the thing that makes us happier then all others is our relationships with others. The things that we have and the food that we eat give us pleasure, but in the end all of things things will rot away. The relationships we have have the ability to grow over time. By the same token if the relationships we have are not nourished they too will slowly rot away.

At this time I would like to express my gratitude for Emily. She has stood by me through 6 years of marriage and has borne 2 children and is carrying a 3rd. When this life is over the relationship that I have with Emily, Caleb, Charlotte, and the new one will be what I take into the next life. What we do here and now will help determine how these relationships last and whether the promise of eternity with each other will be realized.

So again: I love my family, especially Emily. Let us pray that through the trials of this life that this relationship will continue to grow throughout eternity.

We've been tagged!

This is Emily and Sam in their true form.

It would seem that we have been tagged by Kara and Katie. This is the bloggospheres version of the of the chain letter. We have never been good at replying to this stuff and so I must apologize for not sending our favorite recipe to all of you who have attempted that. I also haven't sent any money. Believe it or not I did not fall off of a cliff, drown or go bankrupt and I have broken the chain every time. However; I can at least post the 6 habits of a highly successful me. (Or at least 6 things that are unique to me.) The first set will be Sam and the second set will be Emily's.

1. I have the ability to wake up extremely early in the morning, go to the hospital, and wake up sick patients, perform physical exams, write notes, and read on pertinent topics, all before rounds at eight o'clock in the morning.


2. I have been in the army for over 3 years and I still haven't had anyone tell me to drop and give me 50. (Though I may have deserved it sometimes.)


3. I am the father of a rambunctious pair of Caleb and Charlotte. I have developed the uncanny ability to change from a calm voice to my "Daddy" voice in less then a nano-second.


4. I make a mean orange onion sauce. (A marinara sauce with onions.)


5. I can give a fabulous discourse on Tithing: just the right amount of upliftment and guilt. (I just gave one and it was the same topic as the last time I talked in church.)


6. I have the uncanny ability to make money disappear. If you don't believe me just give me some of yours and I will show you how I can personally make it disappear. (Just leave a note on where and when I can pick up your cash and I will get on it.)

1. I secretly love the warmer weather in November. I complain because my clothes, specifically the maternity ones are winter clothes. I really don't like being cold.


2. I gave in this year and played Christmas songs, on the piano, before Thanksgiving. I broke one of my own cardinal rules. Generally the only Christmas thing that can be done is Christmas shopping. It was after Halloween.


3. I love that my little girl can hold her own with all of the neighbor boys and even match Caleb, then turn around and talk about all things princesses.


4. I only like to go shopping if I can buy stuff or have something to scout out.


5. Sam and I discovered we have an affinity for square plates, we don't like to conform. We just got a new set of dishes and even the cups and bowls have a square shape.


6. I feel much more comfortable introducing myself to kids than adults. I feel I relate to them much better, I still can't believe I'm a grown up.

Halloween 2007

Here are some pictures of our little Cinderella and Cowboy.

Sea World

We had the opportunity to experience Sea World San Antonio yesterday. We were blessed to be able to go for free because I am in the military. We had a great time seeing killer whales, dolphins, water skiers and going on rides. I hope you all enjoy the pictures.