LIFE IS A SINE WAVE

cpt_ricard @ 2009-10-09T02:30:00

2009-10-09T08:03:23Z

It's been a while and I should write here, but what I'm feeling shouldn't be written.

Honestly. Vancouver? 10 Months? Seriously?

cpt_ricard @ 2009-02-03T11:54:00

2009-02-03T17:58:01Z

So due to my grandfather passing away I am so far behind that it is incredibly hard to catch up. I'm taking some extra days that I hope will not be a problem to account for them but jeeze . . . .. especially since it's memorizing drug names which to my "concepts" brain is SOOOO hard. Ugh.

Made some delicious sauteed mushroom and turkey breast eggs this morning. Fantastic. That's totally a test-day meal.

In other news I'm having some money issues - due to the car crashes that have ocurred (ALL while my car was stationary!) and the super high cost of books for third semester (I think they got close to $800 for the one semester) I'm going to run out of cash sometime in March. But at least rent is paid here in my little shack until then.

cpt_ricard @ 2009-02-03T11:35:00

2009-02-03T17:36:41Z

I think I've balanced the ability to study and keeping myself awake by intermixing some video games in. Crazy.

cpt_ricard @ 2008-09-29T17:57:00

2008-09-29T23:02:32Z

Ok so here's how it's gonna go down

Obama wins in 2008 with what is slowly seeming to be a joke from the other party.

Obama gets in office and sees he's WAAAAaaaay over his head with the crap that Bush left by doing nothing but screwing things up for 8 years. think about it - how much damage can one brainless person do in a day as commander in chief? Well, this guy was there for almost 3000 of those days.

Then Obama'll wish Hillary won, but try really really hard. Without success, the US still has major problems.

With that, the republicans point to his failures and get reelcted in 2013, to continue the cycle of mediocraty and lack of leadership that the largest, wealthiest nation in the world should have.

Why should you care? It affects the world 100% who's the big dog. We're in for some dark times ahead.

The only cure, at any leve?: Time to work harder.

cpt_ricard @ 2008-07-26T02:31:00

2008-07-26T07:33:29Z

I had a dream two nights ago about Randy Pausch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo

Rest in peace, my hero and mentor. He died this morning.

cpt_ricard @ 2008-07-22T00:50:00

2008-07-22T05:51:10Z

Why is it that this is the most screwed-up schedule ever? Seriously. It's all over the place. Did someone see this before they printed it? Wow.

In other news, it's nice to get randomly asked for your number. mm-hm!

cpt_ricard @ 2008-07-12T00:50:00

2008-07-12T04:51:12Z

How would you feel if you found out a friend of yours had an abortion without ever telling you?

cpt_ricard @ 2008-06-29T01:56:00

2008-06-29T07:00:16Z

I find it really interesting when I'm reading things with regards to medical ethics in this day and age (and I'm considering doing a mini-stint in toronto at the medical ethics centre at UofT) but most interesting of all is the hippocratic oath. There's so many people at school that are whining and complaining and some didn't even say the oath when it came up during the ceremony at the beginning of the year. Which I feel is wrong.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oath_010330.html

This is really interesting in that the guy who wrote at the bottom is actually right on with what I'm feeling, and the interesting thing is that he has the exact same initials in his name as me, which freaked me out a little bit. It's a little uncanny when you see someone in the world, in the past, explain things exactly how you feel them and also have that weird, superficial connection. Makes me feel I'm not that far off.

Thanks for listening

2008-06-22T05:03:49Z

Well, after many setbacks including messed up things in the Mexican administration system, giving up more than my fair share to the Medical School Gods including what young Ms Hawke went through, and the messy Immuno exam from hell, I slightly questioned if there were any positive sings of me risking and giving everything just to be out here in Guad.

Apparently someone was listening.

Not only do I now have internet access since a neighbour moved in, which gives me unparalleled access to learning (and canadian TV! CBC for goodness sake!! And more blog updates now!!), but the washing machine I ordered arrived and am now able to have clean clothes without me standing over a machine design from the 30's for two hours and then have my clothesline break while I dry.

Listen to what I'm complaining about!; these are truly trying times.

And then, out of the blue, a sign. I had three neighbours come in because the young lady from apt. 4, and she said she went to a hospital but it took too long to treat, and she saw me wearing whites and assumed I was a doctor (or at least a medical school) and came down to see if I would at least help her out by taking her pressure. So I made it clear that I was a med student but would do everything I could. Everything looked totally normal (and I won't get into details for protection) but eventually I told her she should go to the hospital anyways with the diagnostic physical I wrote down for her because it was above what I could do - but definitely needed attention.

They thanked me as almost all Mexican people do - with sincere thanks that, even if I didn't do anything, I did what I could and they were very thankful for that.

And I, for the first time in my career, thanked my University for at least providing the "you gotta teach yourself" method, because I could rely on myself. This program doesn't do you any favours, but in the end, if you survive, you can do anything since you have to mostly teach yourself. Mostly. Until I get in the hospitals, that is. That's apparently where all the amazing events happen. Until then, I'm thankful I could at least provide minimal comfort and info to people that live near me.

It's a great time to be me, and I sometimes forget to enjoy it.

cpt_ricard @ 2008-06-21T18:51:00

2008-06-21T23:51:58Z

I am the only one I know that buys a Pierre Cardin tie and a nintendo DS game at the same time.

cpt_ricard @ 2008-06-12T17:09:00

2008-06-12T22:30:37Z

Well, the hardest exam of first year has come and gone, and even though I missed a massive chunk of it (and scared them due to the military nature of it - which is why they let me do it) I did AMAZINGLY on the final. I mean, I nailed it. Now it's just two more exams to go and the certification for a physical exam and this semester will be over. First year will then officially be done.

This is going really fast and I'm now starting to enjoy it a lot, especially since the sucky parts are finally finishing and the awesomeness of learning how to do and learning in general begins.

Good times, if lonely times.

cpt_ricard @ 2008-05-30T23:29:00

2008-05-31T04:29:15Z

"There's an old saying about those who forget history. I don't remember it, but it's good." [Stephen Colbert]

Picked up from an awesome blog I'm slowly really liking. It shouldn't surprise me a smart cookie would like Colbert too, no?

cpt_ricard @ 2008-05-22T21:40:00

2008-05-23T02:41:49Z

I just saw Indy 4 and it's like the took a fantastically awesome, cherished book. . . .
. . .and pooped on it.

. . . .and smeared it on the pages.

cpt_ricard @ 2008-05-21T22:38:00

2008-05-22T03:40:37Z

Well we randomly have these visiting professors and for renology we have this awesome Brit from Illinois who's teaching. He's super awesome and animated and most importantly makes clear pictures in your head and can answer questions! It's almost like we have a professor!

The only other issue is that the university apparently is removing the sixth year, so now it's a five year program . . .. meaning that if I transfer or stay here, it's the same time overall. The only issue now is how to get a residency spot once I have my degree.

Anybody know any doctors in high positions in Ontario teaching hospitals?!

cpt_ricard @ 2008-05-13T17:11:00

2008-05-13T22:15:37Z

Okay, so believe it or not I'm in a starbucks in Guadalajara and I'm trying to figure out how to deal with these new situations in my life. The entire program that was established here to head back into the states has been destroyed and as a result I'm finding myself having to transfer out of the school to another one, quite probably in the caribbean. Not to say I haven't learned, but if I stay here it'll be six years total, plus another year of taking exams in Canada plus probably another year ater that of "observation."

So, no, seven years is too much for me.

Even if I have to start all over from the beginning, I'll still only be three years and a bit before I head back to Canada and start that challenge.

I've also learned a lot while here, especially working for the red cross, as the classes here stink generally.

Which is sad, really, since most subjects could easily be the best to talk about and absolutely interesting.

cpt_ricard @ 2008-03-11T11:02:00

2008-03-11T17:10:09Z

It's amazing how much what you eat and how much you sleep alters how you feel and act. You think you're in control? Only partly. A lot of what you do is based off of what you did yesterday.

cpt_ricard @ 2008-02-29T16:50:00

2008-02-29T22:53:44Z

I am addicted to Juno and it's all good.

ALL good.

Apart from the having to transfer thing. . .but I think that that will be better off in the end.

In other news, I just watched a woman open her garage door, yell at someone inside, and then have her garage door close on her car midway through entry. Golden karma, thanks for the shot of irony. But I guess you could swap those two nouns around, no?

cpt_ricard @ 2008-02-12T18:45:00

2008-02-13T00:48:54Z

Things are annoying.

But we rage against the dying, no?

Why can't the focus be the main focus?

cpt_ricard @ 2008-01-17T21:44:00

2008-01-18T03:47:01Z

I'm quite happy that the Sarah Connors Chronicles turned out so well. Go Summer!

cpt_ricard @ 2007-10-25T19:47:00

2007-10-26T00:49:36Z

Bad days suck. But it's good to put into perspective.

cpt_ricard @ 2007-09-12T22:34:00

2007-09-13T03:35:36Z

On 10 Sep 2007, I was driving near the Minerva traffic circle in Guadalajara, Mexico, en route to take my first partial Anatomy exam. Yikes! I was stopped on the way out the side lane, when at 1236 I heard a large bang behind me. Looking into the mirror, I saw that problems were going on and then I felt a hit on the rear of my car. Thankfully, I took lessons from my dad and immediately, reactively, I let go of the brake (though the force was so much that I think it gave way a bit too) and then immeidately slammed on the brakes again, absorbing the damage. I barely hit the car in front.

What had happened was a young guy had not payed attention and hit the car in front, totalling it (about 13k CAD worth of damage) and then that car hit me (rear totalled but front only fairly damaged) while I hit the one in front.

The best part was that I had clinic duty that evening so I was all in white and wearing my lab coat, so when I emerged to ask if everyone was okay, everyone figured it was a good sign to have a doctor-looking guy in the mixup. No one was hurt, thank heavens above.

The way the system works here too is that they assume there's gonna be an idiot, so as soon as the cops arrive it's a crime if you dissappear. I called my insurance company and they arrived in about 7 minutes (Take that, Canadian Insurance! I pay $600 a year here!), made sure I wasn't hurt and immediately started taking care of business, recreating the event. Since no one was hurt, and he was the first responder (on a pretty awesome speed bike) he handed me off to a secondary agent who then took video and pictures of the entire thing and prepared all the paper work for me.

Anyways, the kid didn't want to pay anything. His insurance guy showed up and then took off after a little while. Turns out his family hadn't payed insurance the last couple of months, so he was on his own. Eventually his dad arrived and said he would take care of everything; his brother (the driver's uncle) had money to pay. So off he went, and came back with the brother who basically exploded on everyone and went on to explain how the insurance system was destroying the world.

Six hours had passed after this point, mostly because since all the parties could not come to an agreement, they had to legally take the cars into custody, until the pre-trial.

That was this Wednesday morning, and after everyone explained their situation and their view of events, it was deemed that the rear car was at fault (it was very clear). As soon as that was said, our insurance representatives talked to the kid (who had a lawyer present) but all they said together was that they wanted to go to court, since they wanted a judge to decide instead of the insurance companies how much he should pay.

So they're keeping all of our cars until trial.

Thank goodness no one was hurt though. Not only that, but the guy that I hit is a violinist and violaist in the Guadalajara Symphony Orchestra. how crazy is that? Now it's just a big inconvenience since I drive 1/2 hr to school every day. Yuk!

But it could've been much worse. Photos when I can get them.

Perfectionism bites

2007-08-28T19:31:40Z

ARGH! I just finished my first med school exaam and I am pissed off in that I got a couple of questions wrong that I knew. The worst part about it wasa a specific question which the professor asked in class and I answered out loud before he finished. It was right too, and everyone came away saying how awesome it went.

EXCEPT I got it wrong on the test! I totally went for othe wrong answer. To make it worse, a friend of mine outside said (while I continued to torture myself) "Had you not answered him so fast in class, I wouldn't have remembered the answer on the test."

Man! This sucks. I'm hoping for a great mark, but if I get a 7 I'm taking the optional second test. 8 or above! I'm already going to start studying for next week's exam.

Life goes on! It's just study study study.

cpt_ricard @ 2007-08-07T22:21:00

2007-08-08T03:32:34Z

What an incredible day. I wore my whites for the first time and man they are comfy and make you look profesh. I went to a couple of places afterwards, and I got looks and a feeling that are very similar to when I first got my uniform for the military. It's fantastic!

But the incredible news:

I'm taking anatomy and, although I'm sharing a body with about 20 other students, it's this way because the professor I was assigned to is one of the few people in the world to be certified by Gunther Von Hagens, the guy in charge of Bodyworlds:

And yes, it's a lot of work. It's day 2 and I already am behind, because I had to do some errands to get things done. In fact, I have to get back to books right now.....I'm essentially waking up at 0630, and getting home at 1700 whereupon I nap for half an hour and immediately hit the books.

It's go go go. And I've been assigned a clinic on Monday, so I'll be helping people starting next week from 4 pm until 8 pm. Life's fantastic.

cpt_ricard @ 2007-08-03T23:37:00

2007-08-04T04:43:46Z

So I finally got here, and took some tours around with my aunt, who runs the Mahatma Gandhi school here in Guadalajara. It's really fantastic! And she's the principal! After getting a tour of the place, I made it to the university where I'm surrounded by really great peers, it seems, and we were given the "lab coat ceremony" which a lot of people were sneering at at first, sarcastically, but by the end of it I think they won everybody over. The head of faculty would put on your lab coat! This week, we got a speed reading course, which was interesting and fun, but sadly the time to practice these techniques is rather large, and you're going against techniques learned and practiced for however long you've known how to read. But it is interesting. Tomorrow I'm off to see if I can buy a printer and the books I need, and then classes on Monday! Whee! This roller coaster is just getting started. I'm so glad Picassa works. Now I can upload all my pics and easily transfer stuff over to LJ. It gets so much more interesting with pictures, don't you think?

cpt_ricard @ 2007-07-21T20:54:00

2007-07-22T01:09:34Z

So it's finally happened: there's no going back now and it's becoming completely real. I've made my first purchase towards going to medical school. The actual title of the program is "Medical Surgeon," which is awesome. And because of my crazyness over the summer, it really hasn't sunk in yet, until today. Today I bough a pair of shoes that were very specific (unlike here where at hospitals they wear the incredibly inappropriate "crocs" ) they had to be formal-looking and white. I went into a nurses' shop here in Hamilton and picked it up along with a colourful top-of-the-line stethoscope. In electric blue of course.

Marx was right: the weird thing is, this $150 total purchase makes med school feel a lot more real than the $22000 USD I paid for first year.