Geek pics

Our "official' portraits from the Calgary Expo.  The first is Tavia and I with Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher).  The second is Jonathan Frakes (Will Riker), Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi) and Micheal Dorn (Worf)

A Little Rant from the Bottom of the Totem Pole

Some people you will succeed because of, and other people in spite of.
I have had yet another encounter with a consultant who sees students a bothersome and burdensome or bug-like, not worthy of talking to. I started by introducing myself, and she stared coldly and snipped "we're not starting yet."  OOoookay. So the other student and I sat and waited half an hour until she called me in and assigned the other student to another Dr. She then proceeded to see several patients, not once explaining to me or the patient what she was doing, or why. No teaching moments happened in an hour and a half.  Since I have much more interesting ways of wasting my time, I left halfway through clinic.
This is not an isolated incident. Last year in Internal Med, I was assigned to a consultant for 8 weeks. After 3 weeks of daily scribing and ward jobs, he looked up and said, "Yes, can I help you?" with no remembrance of me. Way to make me feel like part of the team.  This same guy then YELLED at a patient for not knowing she had the atrial fibrillation which caused her stroke. The poor woman was aphasic from the stroke (lost her ability to speak), and could do nothing but shake her head as tears rolled down her cheeks. I spent most of the morning after rounds comforting her and explaining what was going on with her treatment.  I have seen registrars just not show up with no explanation, or not prepare anything to teach for sessions because they "don't like students" (yes, she said this. At least she's honest.) I have seen more senior staff rip strips off junior staff, or like my experience today, just ignore them.  Just about everyone I know has been reduced to tears at one point or another in their training.

Why does everyone think this acceptable behaviour??? I think there is no level of education at which being a jerk of a human is OK.  I understand that the consultants are not paid to take us on at teaching hospitals (Even though the school of med still thinks it's OK to charge us full tuition for the free service they're getting). I also realize that not everyone is Chatty Cathy or uber-teacher.  But why can't there be competence AND kindness, or at least civility? ARRRRRRGH!
OKAY, getting off the soapbox. I have to say in all honesty that I have had more GOOD teachers than bad ones. I just had to get the grump off my chest.

Thanks, Dr. Douche, for at least teaching me how I don't want to practice (WHICH INCLUDES TEACHING). I'll remember it. And thanks, Drs. Decent and Still-Cares: I'll remember your lessons too.

"Dr. D" at Ask An MD addresses the Jerk Factor:

Why are so many doctors jerks?

Excellent question! As any nurse will tell you, doctors are notoriously difficult to work with. We doctors have a much higher percentage of jerks among us than the general population. Even Doctor D (on very rare occasions) has been known to be downright ornery towards patients. There is a epidemic of condescending, difficult, foul-tempered doctors, and you the patient are the one who suffers!

Some doctors have been jerks their whole lives. Maybe they weren't hugged enough as babies. These docs just love having a position of power so they can make others feel small. Such natural-born jerks can be found in any profession, and just one of them (especially as a customer service representative) can make anyone's day miserable. Such doctors will never change. It is best to avoid them whenever possible (unless you need surgery).

But the relatively few natural-born jerks in the world just aren't enough to explain the over-abundance of jerk doctors. This only leaves one explanation: many doctors become jerks by becoming doctors.

The number one reason everyone says they want to go to medical school is "to help people." Believe it or not, we were all once innocent wide-eyed young medical students who really cared about you.

Then they fed us through the decade long meat-grinder of training involving sleep deprivation, endless memorization, calling patients by their diseases, and getting yelled at regularly by our jerk-doctor teachers. At first we hated those other jerk-doctors, then we felt sorry for them. We worked till we were dead tired, and then got told heathcare is cutting back so we had to do the same work twice as fast next time. Patients expect us to work miracles after watching too much TV, and don't see any reason for dieting or quitting smoking since our purpose in life is to cure everything. Despite our good intentions people keep destroying themselves with bad habits, and nice people keep dying, and everyone is angry we can't turn them back into twenty-year-olds. Add to that lawyers promising irritated patients that they can hit the jackpot, if they just sue jerk doctors--It is enough to turn even the nicest medical students into misanthropic bastards.

As a patient that just wants to get your check-up none of this is your fault, but you are going to bear the brunt of this. Your best bet is to look at your doctor, and try to imagine him/her as the kindly, altruistic, and terrified student that showed up on that first day of medical school. Somewhere in your doctor lurks that annoying humanitarian impulse that doesn't die easy.

Getting my geek on.

For the first time in several days I have a decent Internet connection. I can now tell all you fine folk what I have been up to.
  Today was the first day of the Calgary Comic & Entertainment Expo. This wasn't the only reason for my trip to Canada, but it was the reason I am doing it now.
  My friend Tavia and I where able to meet several of the Star Trek The Next Generation actors. First was Wil Wheaton. He was at a convention last weekend in Gold Coast, so we were able to chat about Australia.  He loved the Koala Sanctuary and Morton Island. He's not such a big fan of the Gold Coast, but neither am I.
  We were also able to meet Marina Sirtis, Jonathan Frakes and Brent Spinner. Brent was very chatting.  We also got a photo taken with Wil Wheaton.
  Tomorrow is our big photo op day.  Hopefully we will also get to see a bit more of the expo.
  Most of this week was in Deadwood. I spent some time with Mom and was able to fix up her computer.  I was also able to scan a pile of my baby pictures which I'll post later. Wednesday night I spent with my sister Barb visiting and sorting REA contracts by land location.  The rural electrification area was having a big meeting the next day and she had taken some work home.
  Also visited Tavia where I got to bottle  feed a lamb and haul firewood.  The lamb was more fun.
  Last weekend was spent visiting my inlaws.  I helped Susan buy an new computer and set it up for her. (I'm seeing a computing theme).
  The mid week was spent in Martensville, Saskatchewan.  I went to visit my adorable 3 year old niece Hunter. My brother Rick happened to be there too. ;-)  It was a good chance to see Rick, Tracey, Jackson and Hunter. While in the area I got to visit the Krahns; Aunt Carol, Uncle Neil plus Christopher and Daniel.  My Brahma hat barely escaped Neil's clutches.
  The first weekend in Canada was spent visiting old friends.  We even had a Skype party at Barbra's so Barb could get in on the action.
  So far everything is going so fast.  I haven't been able to see everyone that I wanted to see, but it has been great to see so many.
  We are planning to both be coming back to Canada next June for my nephew Trevor's wedding to Amanda.  Hopefully we can see you all then.

(Photos and videos to follow as soon as I can)

I think I found breakfast Nirvana....

I think I have found the most awesome pancakes in existence. Check out Recipe Girl's page for this and other yummy indulgences. I tried them on my housemates this morning, and three out of three people agree: we all agree. And for those interested, Polly seems to be doing ok....whew!

I made a few changes from her original: a little sugar and vanilla in the pancake batter, and upped the cinnamon in the swirl. I also make a different glaze.

Having toothpaste consistency in the swirl is really important, or else you get cinnamon splort. Which is not the worst thing that can happen. It's just not as pretty.

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Ingredients:

CINNAMON FILLING:
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, baaaaaarely melted (not boiling)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Mix and scoop the filling into a  zip baggie and set it aside. Squish the bag to remix before you start swirling.letting it cool will thicken it, warming will thin it. Isn't science fun??

CREAM CHEESE GLAZE:
2-ounces cream cheese, warmed
2 tsp milk
1/2-3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
use the microwave to warm (cautiously) and mix until it is viscous liquid, about honey consistency.

PANCAKES:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch of sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup milk
1 large egg

1 tablespoon canola or vegetable oil or melted BUTTER!! (Thanks, Paula Deen!)

My (Barb's) rule of pancake batter is beat with a whisk/fork 100 strokes. Don't be lazy and use a mixer!

Directions:

 Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium-heat and butter that baby up. Use a 3/4 cup measuring cup to add the batter to the pan. Reduce the heat to medium low. Keep the heat low or your pancakes might cook up too quickly, and the sugar will burn and smoke. Snip the corner of your baggie of cinnamon filling and squeeze the filling into the open corner. When your pancake begins to form bubbles, start at the center of the pancake, and squeeze the filling in a swirl (see photo below). Cook the pancake 2 to 3 minutes, or until the bubbles begin popping on top of the pancake and it's golden brown on the bottom. Slide a thin, wide spatula (shout out to my buddy Barb D for the most awesome spatula EVER) underneath the pancake and gently but quickly flip it over. Cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes, until the other side is golden as well. When you flip the pancake onto a plate, you will see that the cinnamon filling has created a crater-swirl of crunchy cinnamon awesomeness. Wipe out the pan with a paper towel (or else you have that carbonizing sugar problem again), and repeat. Re-warm the glaze briefly, if needed. Serve pancakes topped with a drizzle of glaze.  After consuming, go directly to gym and start walking it off.

Source: RecipeGirl.com

Homemade Kitty Hospital OR Expensive cat is Expensive

Apollyon has unfortunately become unwell. It began two nights ago when we noticed she wasn't being social, just lying on my bed. Then she became hot, wasn't eating or drinking or going to the litterbox unless I picked her up and put her there. She wasn't grooming. Her eyes became rheumy and she looked miserable. She became uncoordinated and weak. And I became anxious about it, so off to the vet we went. The lovely vet did an examination, which included a rectal temperature (Polly was NOT cool with that). Apparently a normal cat runs at about 38 oC. Polly was at 40.1 oC. They admitted her, did some blood tests and rehydrated her with IV fluids. They also gave her an antipyretic to bring down the fever and some pain meds to ease her discomfort.

Poor baby! with IV fluids, feeling crummy.

$510.00 later, the picture was looking like "feline acute supperative choleangiohepatitis" Which is an impaired liver due to bacteria that have ascended her bile ducts, invading the ducts into the liver. the immune cells that are attacking the bacteria work somewhat like a landmine, and cause indiscriminate damage with inflammation- this kills the bacteria, but the healthy liver cells are collateral damage. This will cause her bilirubin to rise, and the skin of her ears was turning yellow (jaundice). This could possibly lead to liver failure, which can be fatal.   Because the local vet would not be open Sunday, and Polly needed more care and monitoring, they referred her to an 24 hr emergency vet, or Kitty ICU. That doesn't come cheap- $475 for the continued care plus $150 per day just to be there. They also recommended a $450 ultrasound to look at her liver to better understand the type of problem she was having. Being in medicine, the vets and  nurses and I could shop talk, and it was fascinating to see how processes I understand in people play out in cats.

Rob and I agree that vet care is something we budget for. But we have set the limit at $500 per episode, and the condition has to be reversible, not progressive. So I had to decline admission to the kitty ICU and the imaging. Instead, the emergency vet and I worked out a plan- I would give her subcutaneous fluids at home, as well as oral antibiotics twice daily (liquid, at least. Giving a cat a pill is a Herculean task!)And we would try and get her to eat.

Homemade Kitty ICU. Polly is getting fluids subcutaneously. After getting antibiotics down the hatch. She is definitely NOT a happy camper, but she is starting to perk up a bit.

 The debate about refusing pet treatment due to financial constraint can be a heated one. Some call it "economic euthanasia". The vet did give me a rather expectant look when she gave me her quote. I'm sorry, I won't be handing that kind of money over, but Polly is not ready for the Euthanol yet. We will give this a chance to work itself out with supportive therapy. I did some digging in the literature regarding feline cholangiohepatitis. Apparently even if correctly diagnosed and treated, there is a 50% mortality rate in the first year. The remainder will usually live from 1 to about 5 more years, and a fraction will have normal lifespans. So there we are. I will do what I can to help my kitty, whom I do love. But I will not spend a fortune diagnosing something just to know what it was that killed her or that we didn't need to know because we took care of the symptoms and it went away (granted, in people, I JUST WANNA KNOW!). I am also unwilling to fight an expensive losing battle in which she suffers for no good reason. Two excellent opinion articles at Salon called "What I wouldn't do for my cat"  and "How to say No to your vet" lays out the controversy and echoes my feelings pretty well. Except I don't think most vets are inspired by money. I think they are inspired by what is now possible to do in order to help an animal get better. And I admire that.  They deserve to be paid for their work, too.

So here's hoping Polly will pull through.

WANT. SO. BAD.

Ooooooh Mylanta.
A coffee faucet. I will own one before I die.