Shaking in my space boots....

I did my rural placement in Millmerran for 6 weeks, and it was fantastic. I really can't tell stories, for privacy's sake, but let's just say Alcohol and most things don't mix well, and usually end up with me practicing my suturing technique. But I had a most excellent preceptor, and met some fantastic people. All in all the best rotation of the year so far. And they race sheep. How can you not love that?

http://www.millmerran.catholic.edu.au/documents/sheepraces.html


I am about to start surgery rotation on Monday. I am PETRIFIED.

  Firstly, My anatomy foundation is pretty shaky. Yes, I can tell my ischium from my olecranon. But some of the teenier intricacies got...glossed over in the UQ curriculum. Surgeons love to pick on us for that. And secondly, surgeons love to pick on us. Most of us already seriously question our competence and knowledge on most days. Having someone confirm that from the outside just makes us even more self-doubting. Thus, I am not sure I am ready to dance with the size of egos that comes with being a surgeon. If I admit already that I'll never be as awesome as they are, can I skip this part? I don't want to be a surgeon anyways, they have insane lives, and as a female surgeon, you always have to be better than the boys, put in longer hours and be that much more committed to the profession. But I actually LIKE my husband, and want some sort of life besides just work. So, apparently, not "cut out" to be a surgeon (OH, SO PUNNY). I just have to keep breathing, and tell myself it's only 8 more weeks...only 8 more weeks...None of it is personal.

School Holidays

Both Barb & I have a few days off. Now is the break between term 3 & 4 at school so I'm only going in for a few days this week and next. Barb is on the one week break between her rural and surgery rotations. This evening we are sitting on the balcony enjoying a glass of wine. The kitties are wandering around and the lorikeets are flying around, heading for their evening perches. Life is good. Best staycation ever.

FOR I HAVE EATEN THE SLAW!!!!

Maggie Season

Well, spring is here. Which also means magpie mating season is here too. The magpies here can get a little aggressive. They will swoop and clack their beaks. People have been attacked and had eardrums perforated and faces lacerated.(Remember how everything in Australia is trying to kill you?) This is an official warning sign about them. I've seen the same sign near Southside Education where I work and at Windsor Road Baptist where we go to church.

It should be noted that although they share the name "magpie" with North American and European magpie, they aren't related to them at all.
If you want to have a look or listen, try this link:
http://ibc.lynxeds.com/species/australian-magpie-cracticus-tibicen

This is a video outlining the amazing things Aussies actually do to their bike helmets to avoid attacks!

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Science ruins all the inane storylines!

Chasing Ned Kelly

I don't know why I care so much. But the story of Ned Kelly, a notorious bush ranger, hanged in 1880, intrigues me. His story weaves itself into the Australian mythology and psyche even today. There lingers a distinct mistrust of authority and hatred of bureaucracy, as well as an admiration for independence. I absorbed the whole Wikipedia article (which afterwards led me on an evil 3 hour path of interesting connections, when I should have been studying pharmacology). I read that the armour that was bush-forged and worn by Ned was at the Victoria State Library. So naturally, when it was decided that our holiday would include Melbourne, I wanted to see it for myself. I became obsessed with it, really. I HAD to see that armour, and thought about it often. We arrived in Melbourne on Monday morning, and made our way to the Library.
Imagine my disbelief and disappointment when we arrived at the gallery and all that sat there was his gun, a boot, and a plastic cutout of the armour where it SHOULD have been. There was a small plaque which apologized for the incovenience, but that the armour had been lent to Canberra (National Museum) until August 5. This is not inconvenience, this is unbelievable. I had just driven 1700 kms to see this and you GAVE IT AWAY???!!

It just so happened that the next day we were to catch the ferry to Tasmania. Unfortunately our car and Royal Auto Club Victoria had other ideas. The battery was very dead when we arrived back at the car to drive to the ferry terminal. RACV (the equivalent of RACQ or AMA) took THREE hours to come to our assistance. Thus we missed the ferry. At this point we had the choice of attempting to fly out to TAS the next day, or start back to Brisbane.

We decided the later would be cheaper. So we wound our way from Melbourne via the Snowy mountains to Canberra. Mom Bradshaw and Rob humoured me, and we went to the National Museum. I saw the armour of Ned Kelly. I am satisfied. I don't know why I care so much. But I do.

PS. I am now reading The True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey. Delicious book. My brain is going "Om nom nom nom"