You know you're a band geek if...

Eva, my fluting friend, sent me this:)

So true. The funny thing is, this probably doesn't make any sense to most of you :)

1. Band is your favorite sport.

2. You hum band songs in other classes.

3. You've ever done roll-step while walking with a full plate or glassto keep things from spilling.

4. You've never been on a Friday night date, thanks to the football games.

5. You walk in step with any music you hear.

6. A snake is a favorite activity, not an animal.

7. You would never go to a football game if not for band.

8. "Hey Baby" really is the only pick-up line you know.

9. You hear the phrase "tongue harder" on a regular basis.

10. You know that "one more time" actually means "four or five more times".

11. You can't watch Pirates of the Caribbean without wondering what formation you should be in.

12. It bothers you when the person walking next to you isn't in step.

13. Your band director's phone number is on speed dial.

14. When you retell some of your favorite memories of summer, you start with the phrase, "This one time at band camp..." and mean it.

15. All your friends are in band.

16. You've actually been to band camp and consider it the highlight ofyour summer.

17. You know how to play 10 popular-stand tunes, but know the words to none of them.

18. You point out key changes and dynamics when you listen to the radio.

19. You've never had to pay to get into a football/basketball game.

20. You've never sat in your class section at a pep rally because you're always playing.

21. You start humming a showtune from three years ago and your friends join in with their respective parts.

22. You listen to band demo CDs in your car.

23. You know that "push in" and "pull out" are regular tuning phrases and are in no way sexual.

24. You see no pervertedness in the words tongueing, blowing, and fingering.

25. You are late for band because you were at another band rehersal.

26. You think there should be horn pops in symphonic band. (for marching band geeks)

27. You laugh at all of these because you know they're all true.

28. You realize you are out of step with the song in your head and you adjust your step.

29. You have constant arguments as to why your instrument is better.

30. You insist (no, KNOW) marching band is more physically and mentally taxing than football.

31. Even after you graduate, you still go to every competiton and sit with the band.

32. Someone asks you who your favorite band is and you say "High school or college? DCI? Which division? I, II or III?"

33. You have a mnemonic for the different modes... "I Don't Punch Like Muhammad A-Li" (Ionian, Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian,Locrian).

34. The entire floor of your trunk is littered with sheet music.

35. You're walking to class to the tempo of the ballad, the late bellrings, and you suddenly walk to tempo of the 3rd movement.

36. You carry a metronome in your pocket.

37. You feel the overwhelming compulsion to tap out a drum cadence onthe nearest hard surface, even if that means tapping it out on thestranger standing next to you.

38. You know what it's like to have a reed frozen to your lips.

39. You know just how many people can fit into a band locker (fromexperience).

40. You get upset when an audience can't clap in time or on the right beats.

41. You use the excuse, "I can't, I have rehearsal" more than five times a week.

42. You can tell what someone plays just by looking at them.

43. You only know how football is played because you are forced to sit through the games.

44. You know your school song by heart, backwards, in the dark, sleeping, and in every key because you have played it so many times.

45. When you hear a school with the same fight song, you want to join in and play.

46. You can look at a little kid and guess what instrument they are going to eventually play... and guess right.

47. You get excited when you hear songs in movies that your jazz band or any other band played.

48. You automatically go to attention when you hear a whistle...including the refs'.

49. You continue doing band in college even if you are not majoring in music.

50. You get annoyed when you are listening to the radio and the car's blinker is not in sync with the beat of the music.

51. You subdivide into 8ths, 16ths, triplets, and quintuplets a turning signal, walk pace, song on the radio, or just about anything that keepstime.

52. You once drove back to your house going 60 mph because you forgotyour music, or part of your uniform, or other essential item, before a practice or concert or competition.

53. You describe distance in 8-to-5 steps.

54. Someone threatening to kick your instrument is worse than someone threatening to kick you.

55. You have a favorite key and/or time signature.

56. You listen to a song and think about how cool it would be to arrange it for a field show.

57. You only date people who are in the band (or orchestra or choir).

58. You have most, if not all, of the songs your band(s) has ever playedon your MP3 player.

59. You've ever suggested having a lock-in in the band hall.

60. 95% of your pictures in your scrapbook or photo album are pictures of things you did with the band.

61. When your friends call you a band geek, you don't deny it, and infact, take it as a compliment.

62. You've ever tripped with your instrument and sacrificed your body toprotect your horn.

63. You tap your foot to elevator music and the radio.

64. You don't go home on the day of a football game.

65. Your band locker is your personal space for anything and everything.

66. You rarely see your family during the fall because you are always doing marching band things.

67. When you're walking along with a friend, you automatically get in step and in time with their footsteps.

68. Your marching show is your ring tone.

69. You skip other classes due to weather, but then go to band.

70. You hear a slight beat and rhythm to everything around you... i.e.,the air conditioner, the fan, the pencil scribble sound, and the squeaky desk.

71. You like the way reeds taste.

72. You wonder what it would be like to play the music in basically every movie you watch.

73. You can listen to a song and figure out the time signature, andoften consult with other bandies who are doing the same thing at the same time.

74. You trade instruments when there's a substitute teacher for band class.

75. You've learned the hard way not to walk through the brass section without shoes.

76. You know that getting to a band event early means you're on time, on time means you're late, and late means you're in trouble.

It DOES get better

So I just finished my first week of "OB, round two." As the title indicates, it is not nearly as painful as round 1!! Even though I had Saturday call this weekend, which makes me post-call today and without a day off until October 27th, I feel so much more comfortable (and faster) with things on L and D.

I was really actually very disappointed earlier in the week as, as I am on days, there are lots of people who want to get "in" on deliveries-- me of course, Brenden (although he doesn't really like ["hate" might be a better word] OB and probably would gladly give me all his deliveries!). an FP second year, medical students, etc. I remember that, as a student, I was so frustrated b/c the interns wouldn't let me get deliveries. However now, as an intern (and being considered the OB intern when I'm on), I realize the pressure to get numbers and build my delivery skills, so I'm finding it hard to "give up" my deliveries to the others! The OB residents get to go do rotations at Kaiser, where they get a lot of volume and autonomy, but I don't, so UCD is my turf and my chance to catch babies!

I think it's partly being selfish, because deliveries are what keep me going! When all you are doing is rounding, paperwork (this hassle has multiplied exponentially! Now you have to fill out, among tons of other stuff, a form indicating whether the woman wants a pneumovacc ]NO INDICATION!!] or flu shot while hospitalized! Yeah- like when women are coming in in labor, they really are going to care to discuss with you their vaccine schedule), dictations/discharge summaries, taking care of postpartum issues on the floor, cross-covering on gyn-onc patients, following up on things, and clearing out triage (the ED for pregnant women over 14 weeks), life and work are pretty miserable without the thrill and joy of helping babies be born now and again! It's just plain fun!

Luckily, last night I did 3 NSVDs of my own (good [or bad!] thing about weekend call is that you are on as the solo intern), as well as watching forceps (and I missed a vacuum). So I'm a bit more heartened-- I need repetition to feel as though I'm reinforcing my skills! I have probably done close to 30 this year, but I would love to have many more than that (I really think I could do deliveries all day long :)).

Anyway, so I'm pretty tired. There was no sleep to be had on call-- it was crazy as usual, and my legs ache from running around and being on my feet so much. I've slept some and, after taking care of Lefty for a bit (Kate's in Vegas!), I will probably go to bed pretty soon. I'm due back on L and D around 5 a.m. tomorrow :)

aMAZEing last weekend of freedom

So I had a fun last weekend flanking BLOCK TIME, before I have to go back to the *real* life that is internship. Much of it was spent trying to actively avoid thinking of having to go back to my upcoming 96-hour labor and delivery week (Aline commisserated with me saying, "Yeah. I always got really depressed after vacation/block time and having to face going back to work." This is exactly what I have been feeling underneath everything this weekend. Just this dread of imminent anxiety.) Don't get me wrong, I love OB and happened to pick this residency for that reason, but the hours and stress are terrible. But let's forget about that for a brief moment while I recap the weekend.

• Friday night, saw The Heartbreak Kid with Amy. Definitely some uncomfortable parts as often come along with Ben Stiller movies, but overall, it was very funny and light-hearted.
• Saturday: went to the Del Paso Heights (my FP community) farmers' market and Health and Fitness Fair with Anika. I found some interesting fruits and veggies, including persimmons, which I (somehow, making me ashamed of my nickname "Mrs. Fruit") have never tried (apparently the ones I picked were not ripe, and I have to wait until they get "waterballoon-consistency" soft before eating them). I also did laundry and other misc. errands that needed to be accomplished before I have no hours of daylight/business hour-time to do them (i.e. registering for step3 of the USMLE, the cost of which I won't go into here because it makes me very unhappy.)
• Alex (OB co-intern) and I headed to Dixon, CA in the evening hours to visit the WORLD'S LARGEST CORN MAZE, (40 acres of fun corn tunnels). I was really in the mood to do something fall fest-like, involving pumpkins and the like, so I'm glad she was game. A friend of hers suggested we go at night because it was supposed to be "scarier." This one wasn't haunted (there is also one nearby in Woodland that is, i.e. with people jumping out at you and saying "boo" and things), but it was still kind of creepy. We wandered around with a flashlight and a map; there were periodic flags to mark where you were. Here are some pics I stole from the website to show you the expanse of it.

No, you don't have to be in MN to have corn! This is 15 min. outside Sac:

The middle bridge that we found our way to (with only one cheating short-cut through the stalks)

Pic I took of the pumpkin patch... With Alex and a scary Scarecrow. Sorry for the poor pic quality, as it was dark What our shoes looked like after traipsing through dark corn paths for over an hour after a big rainy day on Friday

• Today, after I lay in bed for a good long while savoring my last morning of getting up after 4 a.m. for the next 2 weeks, I joined the other FP/OBs (our team name was "Baby Catchers"!) for the Heartbeat Run, a fundraiser that the UCD med school puts on to benefit their various student-run community clinics. 5Ks are much easier than half-marathons, that's for sure :). Kyla took pics and should be sending them, so when I get 'em, I'll post 'em.
• Went out for breakfast (I LOVE breakfast) to La Trattoria Bohemia, a Czech restaurant in East Sac, with Sarah, Kyla, and Kyla's parents, who are in town from MN.
• Watched My Cousin Vinny on Erin's recommendation, which I had never seen before (good flick!) and did some reading at Butch 'N Nellies, a nearby indie coffee shop (there are a TON here!)
• Went to a evening (more hip) service at St. John's Lutheran Church which I attended once back in June, as I missed the Arcade Service this a.m.

Well. That was that. In some ways, I don't want to go to bed because it means that the party is OVER and the slaving away begins. On the other hand, I should probably hit the hay soon so I'm not dead and dropping babies my first day back :) Sigh. When will residency ever end??

Bunch o' gamers

I have fun classmates who like to have game nights!!

Monday: Susanna and Mike's lakeside house in West Sac.

Holden (their oldest of three) showing off on the swingset

Holden with the hula; Cade trudges around behind

Betza, Tom and (not their) Sawyer (#3)

Phi knew Mexican trains, too; however, he plays with some crazy rules, like you have to draw to start and there's no "being mean" on the double if you HAVE one to cover it.

"Get one from the boneyard, Holden"

Brenden smiles as he gets it (I have never seen anyone pick up this game as fast as this group!!). Either that, or he is smiling along with us laughing in response to his question:

"So, at the end, you count off your dots on BOTH halves of the pieces??"

Phi, in response, "No, man, you only count the LEFT half. OF COURSE you count both sides!!"
Stole this artsy one from Brenden

I'm still slow in moving sometimes :)
"Goodnight," waves Sawyer (with mama Susanna)
Enraptured with the sports on (we watched the end of the exciting Cowboys-Bills game, too!)
Betza and Holden, wrestling

Then it was on to Rick's Dessert Diner for Anika's bday!
Could YOU decide amongst all these choices?




I love this. A "small" piece :)
We could pick songs from this mini-jukebox; the place was decorated like a 50s diner!

(Anika, the bday girl, and Phi)

with Adeel on the cute stools

Thursday night: Game night at the Kunkels'

Phi, Mahsheed, Brenden

On the porch: with Tom, Betza (hosts), and Michelle

Michelle taught us some hilarious games including rhythm ones where you had to think of word associations soon after clap/snapping as you went around the circle. Hard to explain, but I'll have to show you sometime!

Betza, Brenden, and MichelleMichelle, Mahsheed, and Phi

Michelle coaches "Team Apple" (Brian, Phuc, Tom, and John) in another slapping/clapping game (they required some remediation)
Team Mango: Mahsheed, Rocky, Amy, and Phi

"Now we get it!"

Ooh! The losing team members have to write their name in the air with their butts (this is HYSTERICAL if you have never seen/done it! Michelle was incredulous that none of us had ever heard of this as a punishment for losing something!)

Then we moved onto "Choo-choo charades," which is charades where one person acts but where the actions are passed down, telephone-style, so the final product performed by the "guesser" of the team can be way different than what actor #1 started with. This, too, was unbelievably funny to watch.

Phuc performing what was (originally) "Terminator" for Betza
Betza, in turn, acts for Michelle, who is trying to read minds....

Bunch of fun!!!!

Today, while back in our last day of "block time" (sniff, sniff-- real rotations start up again Monday!), we ended up playing 'Mafia' inbetween lectures. These are serious gamers!!! Now, we need to just get "Time's Up" for the mix. :)

"Anger Management"

This is an e-mail that Cathleen got during our freshman year of college as roomies; she was cracking up across the room and then forwarded this to me; from that point on, we kept calling one another "jackass," giving gifts of donkey parphernalia, etc. I had actually forgotten the whole story of the e-mail but, interestingly, she was reintroduced to it while at work and re-forwarded me the story. It still makes me crack up! Here it is (just slightly censored; don't read this if the word "jackass" offends you):

"When you occasionally have a really bad day, and you just need to take it out on someone, don't take it out on someone you know, take it out on someone you don't know.

I was sitting at my desk when I remembered a phone call I'd forgotten to make. I found the number and dialed it. A man answered, saying "Hello."

I politely said, "This is Chris. Could I please speak with Robyn Carter?"

Suddenly a manic voice yelled out in my ear "Get the right number!" and the phone was slammed down on me.

I couldn't believe that anyone could be so rude. When I tracked down Robyn's correct number to call her, I found that I had accidentally transposed the last two digits.

After hanging up with her, I decided to call the 'wrong' number again.

When the same guy answered the phone, I yelled "You're a jackass!" and hung up. I wrote his number down with the word 'jackass' next to it, and put it in my desk drawer. Every couple of weeks, when I was paying bills or had a really bad day, I'd call him up and yell, "You're a jackass!" It always cheered me up.

When Caller ID was introduced, I thought my therapeutic 'jackass' calling would have to stop.

So, I called his number and said, "Hi, this is John Smith from the telephone company. I'm calling to see if you're familiar with our Caller ID Program?"

He yelled "NO!" and slammed down the phone. I quickly called him back and said, "That's because you're a jackass!" and hung up.

One day I was at the store, getting ready to pull into a parking spot.

Some guy in a black BMW cut me off and pulled into the spot I had patiently waited for. I hit the horn and yelled that I'd been waiting for that spot, but the idiot ignored me. I noticed a "For Sale " sign in his back window,so I wrote down his number.

A couple of days later, right after calling the first jackass (I had his number on speed dial), I thought that I'd better call the BMW jackass, too.

I said, "Is this the man with the black BMW for sale?" He said, "Yes, it is. I asked, "Can you tell me where I can see it?" He said, "Yes, I live at 34 Oaktree Blvd, in Fairfax . It's a yellow rambler, and the car's parked right out in front."

I asked, "What's your name?" He said, "My name is Don Hansen."

I asked, "When's a good time to catch you, Don?" He said, "I'm home every evening after five."

I said, "Listen, Don, can I tell you something?" He said, "Yes?"

I said, "Don, you're a jackass!"

Then I hung up, and added his number to my speed dial, too. Now, when I had a problem, I had two jackasses to call.

Then I came up with an idea.

I called jackass #1. He said, "Hello." I said, "You're a jackass!" (But I didn't hang up.)

He asked, "Are you still there?"I said, "Yeah." He screamed, "Stop calling me!" I said, "Make me." He asked, "Who are you?"

I said, "My name is Don Hansen." He said, "Yeah? Where do you live?" I said, "Jackass, I live at 34 Oaktree Blvd, in Fairfax , a yellow rambler, I have a black Beamer parked in front."

He said, "I'm coming over right now, Don. And you had better start saying your prayers."

I said, "Yeah, like I'm really scared, jackass," and hung up.

Then I called jackass #2. He said, "Hello?" I said, "Hello, jackass." He yelled, "If I ever find out who you are..." I said, "You'll what?" He exclaimed, "I'll kick your a**"

I answered, "Well, jackass, here's your chance. I'm coming over right now."

Then I hung up and immediately called the police, saying that I lived at 34 Oaktree Blvd, in Fairfax, and that I was on my way over there to kill my gay lover.

Then I called Channel 9 News about the gang war going down in Oaktree Blvd. in Fairfax .

I quickly got into my car and headed over to Fairfax . I got there just in time to watch two jackasses beating the crap out of each other in front of six cop cars, an overhead news helicopter and surrounded by a news crew.

NOW I feel much better.

Anger Management works!!"

Worth it?

Sometimes I wonder.

Firstly: Thanksgiving. I don't know if I'd mentioned a while ago that I had bought tickets to go to MN for Thanksgiving to see grandma and the clan ('rents and sis are coming too). I will be on peds ER that month and, while I have to work on Wednesday night, I actually get Thursday, Friday, and Saturday off (a very, very, very, very, very, very, rare thing in residency). I thought about sticking around here-- Kate's brother and new wife will be in town, and I'm sure there are many residents without close family and without a schedule permitting travel, who would be up for having something of a celebration (if not on call). However, since it is so rare to have consecutive days off and I don't know when the next time I'll get to travel (or see family) is, I thought I would make the trip to MN (Yes! Even though I swore I would always avoid MN in the winter, i.e. btw Sept. and May!).

Since I work the nightshift and Northwest Airlines has limited travel schedules, I don't end up leaving Sac until about noon on Thxgiving. Then, I have like a 3 hour layover in Minneapolis before my connecting flight to Grand Forks, which (with the time change) puts me there around 10 p.m., which will be well after everyone has finished stuffing themselves at the lake house. My Dad will then still have to drive to the airport to get me. Worth it? Probably. I will get to see family for about a day and a half before, on Saturday, I have to turn around and fly back b/c I work Sunday morning. But 36 hours is better than 0 hours, right?? (Anyone want to have Thanksgiving dinner in the Minneapolis airport with me?? :))

Cable
Although I did without cable tv during 2 years of med school, it was fun to get it third year, when (I felt) there was more time to chill out vegging and watching such quality shows as American Idol. Scrubs (no, Wendi, not your dog) is my favorite and I also really enjoy the Tonight Show. However, since being in residency, I hadn't turned on the TV since Wimbledon, when I was very grouchy b/c the reception was terrible. I have NOT been impressed with the Comcast service. So I decided this week that I would do away with the cable service and save whatever $14/month I was paying. I still have the blockbuster online dealie, which is quite reasonable (assuming you have time to watch movies!!), so I'll stick to that. But I may just have to go over to Phi's house (if you recall, LARGE screen) if I ever want to watch *real* tv from now on.

Meds are expensive!!!
I went to the pharmacy at UCD the other day to fill this Rx for ocps as I still am free from the joys of spontaneous ovulation (sorry if that was TMI). HOLY COW. When the person rang me up and said "That'll be $20," I nearly had a seizure. For one month?! I thought this was crazy. I mean, maybe I was spoiled with Mayo insurance or whatever, but this seemed exorbitant and definitely NOT worth it... That's like almost a dollar a pill! I know I'm overall very cheap, but I was not going to be paying that price on a monthly basis. Again, I repeat, NOT worth it. I definitely am sympathizing with all my patients now!! Anyway, so I did some research into my health plan and decided I needed to have a different generic/"preferred" rx in order to not go into debt each month, so I'm working on getting that filled. But seriously, who has this kind of money??!

The Y?
Always a gym-goer, I do not belong to a gym here. When I started residency, I just didn't know how much time I'd have to work out (I soon learned that it was not much) and figured that the weather is so mild that I can run year-round. However, I do know that I get easily bored with running and have been thinking that I need more variety to keep me motivated to drop and keep off the pounds that have been plaguing this first residency trimester. There is a YMCA approx. 4-5 blocks from my house, so I checked it out the other day to try to help me decide if it's worth the joining fee and $46/month membership. I'm still on the fence. That seems like a lot (esp. when compared to cheap Healthy Dan's in MN!), especially since I have NO IDEA how committed I will be to going, particularly going onto OB again (I already checked out my schedule and the first two weeks are already going to be miserable with 95-ish hours... yuck, yuck, yuck). But maybe if I pay, I'll feel obligated to go, and I will be good. Advice??

Okay, that was a lot of complaining for one day; sorry. But I gotta decide if things are worth it, don'tcha know? (in the spirit of MN-- there were a lot of MN references in this post!!)

Cowtown Half-Marathon

Yesterday, I joined runners across the nation for various races, including half- and full-marathons going on-- Rachel ran 10 miles (super quickly) in the twin cities, Mindy ran CHICAGO (she said it was hot but hasn't filled me in on much more), and I'm sure there were others.

Now, when I moved out here, I was a bit intimidated because it seems like everyone is a runner, running all kinds of ridiculously-lengthed races year round because the weather is so awesome. It seems like everyone has done at least one marathon, triathalon, mega bike race, iron man, or other super-difficult race. I, on the other hand, had not.

I was never a runner and just really in med school started to increase distances (thanks to friends like Molly :)). I don't even particularly like running all that much, nor am I particularly coordinated or smooth-looking doing it. I always preferred to chase around some sort of ball (or frisbee!) in some sort of organized sport which is less isolating and less boring. But I now do it with some frequency for good exercise, esp. when I'm short on time, and it's nice that you don't necessarily need equipment (I realize I am, relative to these other serious runners, quite gear-deficient) or lots of people to do it with you.

But people are nice! It was neat to go to the start of the Cowtown, or the Sacramento race held yesterday, and be with 4000 people running with you! I was like, "If he/she can do this, I totally can!" My training for the event had been a bit horrendous, mainly secondary to the horrific intern schedule-- and consisted of pretty much just going for a long(ish) run on my one day off a week! Kate and I had signed up for this biweekly running group through Fleet Feet and, while she went quite often, I only made it (less than) a handful of times.

But we run at about the same speed (I'm a bit scared to post exactly what speed because it's way slower than Rachel and other real runners) and, along with Denise, another woman from the group, stuck together for the whole 13.1 (don't forget the point-one!!!) miles, yapping away, which made it seem like no problem even though it was the farthest I'd ever run in my life! The course started in Land Park, and then went up to run up on a levee paralleling the Sacramento River, which was very pretty. We also couldn't have asked for better weather (unlike, I hear, the midwest, which had some mugginess!)-- it was in the 40s when we started, around 7:30 a.m. (well-- this could have been warmer, but Kate the Minnesotan was like, "This is GREAT weather") and was up to 60s at the end for a daytime high in the 70s (gorgeous).

We finished in around 2:05 (you can do the math), and it felt great!!! Although my joints started bothering me around mile 10-11, I think I could have run for longer (so perhaps another half- to improve time, or a longer race might be in my future... .I can see how this is addicting and gets to that competitive side of me!). And (the best part), there was free stuff at the finish line! We were around to see the top marathon finisher (a second year UCD med student) roll in about half an hour after we finished, putting him at less than 6 minute miles (these people are crazy!!!! Did I mention that I think these people are crazy?!) and--get this-- the best part is that this was his first marathon. Wow!!! So here are some pics of this monumental event:

Kate and me with the "cowbell" we each got for finishing (she's not as proud of hers as I am :))
Denise, Kate, and me (running buddies)

Here with my classmate Jeremy (who also ran the half, finishing in like 1:38) and his wife Noelle, who ran the 5K

... and here is a random funny pic of Kate's back yard, which has turned into something of a dog-park with the neighbor doggies coming over freely from their yards to keep Lefty company :)

Today, I'm actually not too sore. I may even go for another run tomorrow :)

Oh! P.S. JB, if you read this, please call Nicole and Ajit. I am apparently now (along with Wendi) your message service so that when anyone wants to get in touch with you, they call me and tell me to tell Wendi and you. Or Wendi, if JB doesn't read this, tell him. Thanks a million :)