I Finally Finished It

I've been reading this book since I met Megan, mostly fitting in chapters on long plane flights. During the years reading it, I managed to finish two emergency medicine textbooks and other fiction books, as well as journal and magazine articles. The plot covers several decades in the lives of its main characters, and I felt like was reading it in real-time. In the second to last chapter, a character discovers several old sketches, notes and photos in a crate, and literally, a feeling of nostalgia for the distant past came over me. Now, it's time to start another book. Any suggestions?

As for other long-term projects, I've finally ripped all my CD's onto my hard drive. In the process I've rediscovered The Real Ramona by the Throwing Muses, particularly this single. Notice how the stop/start drums and weaving guitar lines foreshadow what Radiohead would do on "Airbag" years later.

A Scheduled Induction

Apparently, Megan's tired of being pregnant. Her size has become very annoying to her and she just wants this baby out. In her appointment today, she asked Dr. Chou for an elective induction and the obstetrician happily obliged. The plan is for Megan to be admitted on May 4th for a likely delivery before noon on May 5th. One more week and we're going to have a new housemate!

What does this do to the betting pool? Well, if it goes as planned, Hue wins. I'm not calling off the pool, because she can still go into labor and deliver before the 5th. As you can see from the schedule, that still leaves some dates available for you gambling types.

Ten Favorite Album Covers

In the age of file-sharing, this art-form may be dying. I grew up on records and then later cd's, so I still get enthusiastic about album art. This list was hastily compiled, but I believe, still representative of my taste in album covers. Can you readers name them all? Of course, the covers with the actual album name on them will be easy to identify.

Yesterday Was An Important Day

Our friends the Wangsters held a ceremony for Samuel Abrams Wang. Megan and I wish we could be there, but Megan is in the "time-bomb" stage of her pregnancy. Now past 36 weeks she could deliver at any time, so we're staying close to home. I'm blogging this to remind myself that despite everything going on in my life right now, my friends continue to heal after Samuel's saga. Over time, scars may change shape and size, but they never go away.

This past Thursday, my coworkers threw me a daddy baby shower. Sorry, no pictures, but they completely surprised me. Well, not completely, I accidentally walked into the E.R. breakroom when they were still setting up. I caught a glance at two cakes with "Congatulations Mike" iced on them and a big sign that said "It's a Girl!" My jaw dropped, I was speechless, and Kelly (the other doctor working that day) kicked me out while urging me to act surprised when I would walk in an hour later. I should also mention that it was also Kelly's birthday that day.

Special thanks to Jana who came in on her day off. One of my favorite gifts was a blanket, hand-quilted by Becky. Thanks also to Cheryl, Cherry, Pam, Debbie, Dawn, Rose, Donna, Joan (wassup, fast track!) and Drake (gotta have cigars.)

Looks like I'm falling behind on my postings (a day late about Samuel and three days late on the shower.) What else have you guys missed? A ski trip to Vermont, the baby shower my mom threw, Kaitlyn's first birthday, and our trip to D.C. I haven't even gotten a chance to rave about Tapes 'n Tapes. Christine really likes the song Cowbell but you can hear some of their other stuff on their website.

Did You Know...?

My sister is pregnant again! Yes, again! This one is due in October. This makes three babies in three consecutive years for her: Alexander in 2004, Kaitlyn in 2005, and new baby in 2006. Mary, are you nuts?! Chasing after three babies?! And what are we going to do about skiing this year? You've missed out two years already! Also, looks like Paige is going to have to share everyone's attention for Christmas.

All kidding aside, I'd like to congratulate you, Mary. You are going to busy, but you'll have a wonderful happy family.

It's a Real Disaster

The unit clerk had to assure everyone she called that we were not having a drill, but in fact, having an actual disaster. Otherwise, no one would have believed that a C5 transport plane from the Dover Air Force Base had crashed nearby. Despite how horrible the wreckage looked, everyone on board survived and we recieved 14 of the 17 patients. Apparently, our disaster response was pretty good and we processed everyone in about 90 minutes.

We had enough physician coverage that I got delageted to the most glamourous job of all. I did not see a single crash victim. Instead, to keep the E.R. flowing, I saw all the regular patients. So if you ask what I did when I plane crashed, I saw a drunk who cut his finger, a kid with the flu, and a guy with a rash. Ahhhh.... the exciting job of an E.R. physician.