Today, the residents and I spent the afternoon practicing cardiac surgery on pig hearts. The resident I'm following has connections with the farming community and was able to procure 9 pig hearts. The drug companies 'donated' various valves, and various staff would drop by to see how we were doing. We installed a ring around the pig's mitral valve, and then I anastamosed a drinking straw to one of the coronary arteries! Truly super fabulous. I'm beginning to understand why the staff are so nervous about letting students do things. It's never as simple as 'tie a knot'. There are structures to avoid, and tissues that are particularly fragile, and sensitive surrounding structures etc...

I sent my stethoscope to be refurbished. It was my Uncle Alex's old stethoscope, and I had broken the part that holds it in your years. I requested that they give me purple tubing. I'll be the coolest doc on the bloc.

Things are exciting as ever at the hospital. I just got back from an emergency case. The surgeon bought us all take out Vietnamese food while we waited for the patient to be prepped. It was quite nice.

Yesterday, I got a needle stick. I put down a suture and when I reached for it again, I accidentally put it in my thumb. I had to go to the emergency room to get blood work done. Tomorrow, I'm going to go to employee health where both my blood results AND the patient's blood results will be waiting. I'm not too worried. I went over his chart, and I think it's a very low risk patient. Not like the patient we did earlier... who had had multiple incarcerations.

It was my sisters' birthday yesterday! Happy Birthday little ones!

I am having the craziest time on this elective. First of all, the resident I'm following around is absolutely awesome. This is a very good thing. Second of all, the hours are stinking ridiculous. I got home at 3am yesterday. I went in for 6:30am this morning, and I just, just got home. I'm sure this can't be legal.

People say that cardiac surgery is all bypasses. And I agreed. All I saw the first day was bypasses really. But things have hit the fan huge lately. I saw a guy with bacterial endocardititis whose brain got fried by the clots being thrown into his head. Today, during a supposedly routine double bypass, our patient got an aortic dissection! A lady got her LAD perforated in the cath lab, and started to do some serious bleeding in the ICU. She was bleeding from her femoral artery as well as from the drain they put into her chest. (She had cardiac tamponade.) I was the one pressing onto the femoral artery as we wheeled her into the OR. But my role in the surgical team is more than that! I also sew up legs. Yes!

I really like the cases when things go crazy. This probably isn't so nice of me. I'd imagine that everyone else (certainly the surgeon and the patient at least), hope for a mundane 'normal' case.

Anyways, I'm going to run off to choir. My brain is sincerely fried.

Today was the first day of elective. It's neat to think that across the country and indeed, across the world (I have some friends going to Uganda.), my classmates and I have all spent the day out and about playing doctor. I wonder what my classmates have seen, who've they've met, what they've learned. My first day was long and arduous. All in all, a good time.

As I'd imagined, the week we had off between the OSCE and the start of elective was good and relaxing. The night after Hairspray, the rheumatologists threw my class a dinner party. After this, a whole bunch of us wandered over to a Karaoke place. It was crazy ludicrous fun.

I also spent my week off reading a good many graphic novels as well as a novel about an assassin. Not a bad book. I liked it.

Finally, I'd like to issue my sister a formal apology for missing her phone call. The karaoke was too loud.

Hairspray.

I can't even describe.

I was sitting in the second row. There was literally ONE row between me and the stage.

You could smell the hairspray and see the sweat on the performers. My heart felt too big, like it was going to beat through my chest. I felt like climbing out of my skin.

It was too overwhelming to say it was 'fun' or 'enjoyable'. It was exhausting. I felt each beat too acutely and followed each melody too keenly.

A head-spinning, spine-tingling, stomach-churning event.

Yow!

Today my friends, is a wonderful day.

Yesterday's OSCE went alright. There was a huge emphasis on the cardiac system, which took a lot of people off guard. There was also a case of anorexia that everyone missed. It was an atypical presentation, and the evaluator at that station was distractingly good-looking. Overall, I'm pretty happy with how I did. There was a trauma case which I pooched pretty badly. Under pressure, I forgot to test for both extraocular movement AND the babinski reflex! silly Simon!

Either way, it's a tremendous learning experience, and a great opportunity to review. It's also kind of fun. McMaster has a reputation of being test-less, and for the large part this is very true. I think that a lot of us were secretely relieved to have a test-like situation, where we were given numerical grades. It was nice to have something concrete to study for. It's also a very positive environment. My classmates and I shout encouragements to each other between stations, and it's generally a happy, bustling event.

By the time the OSCE was all said and done, it was already midnight. The class headed out to a local place for good times and fun. This isn't particularly newsworthy, except for the fact that basically ALL the quiet, studious, 'good' girls in my class got completely and utterly sauced. It's the quiet ones you have to watch out for.

Anyways, because of the way my group planned our tutorials, I have absolutely nothing to do until elective starts on Monday. But because this is the only time I've ever had this "post-exam, feel like you deserve it" kind of break since I've come to Mac, it's extra special. I'm happy just thinking about it.

Tonite is Hairspray!

We lost in the semi-finals today in soccer. I must admit that the team that beat us was clearly better. The final score was 3-0. Time to look ahead and prepare for the indoor soccer season!

My roommate has cleaned up my hair a bit for me. The back is just too hard to do. She also kinda flattened the top. Actually, I think I liked the way I did the top better. I'll know for next time.

My class is in study mode right now because we have an OSCE on Tuesday. You rotate through ten stations, and at each one you do either a history or a physical exam. It should be alright.

I'm seeing Hairspray on Wednesday. I can not even describe my excitement. I've been looking forward to this for too long. This is the first musical where I've made an effort to become familiar with the music beforehand. I can't imagine why this has never occurred to me before.

I'm getting a palm pilot soon! Prepare yourselves for organized Simon. I've been thinking that I used to be a bit obsessive-compulsive, and that this trait may have attributed to some of my past successes. I'm probably a bit too mellow right now. Time to let the pendulum swing back to other way.

So the pre-clinical half of my medical education is over in one week tomorrow. We've had just over a year of tutorials, large-group sessions, small-group sessions (McMaster can't bring itself to call ANYTHING a lecture), and presentations. The next phase (which lasts another year and a half) is clerkship. From here on in, it's all hospitals all the time. The 'hands-on' part of medical education, if you will.

Yesterday my class gathered (some 140 of us) for a "Get ready for clerkship" presentation. It reminded me strongly of orientation week, just one short year ago. This time next year, I'll be completing my applications to residency programs. Sometimes it feels like I'm living life in fastforward.

I've been helping out my niece with some physics. I wish there was more math in medicine. It makes me think back to when we're young, and they expect you to learn math, English, history, music.. Everything! I miss those times. Now, I only ever study one thing at a time. You really DO end up knowing more and more about less and less.

My choir has our first performance on the 20th. It's a Christmas concert I think. I'm singing better this year. Or so I believe. And darned if I'll believe anything else.

I cut my hair this afternoon.

The horror! The horror!

It's becoming more clear why people pay to have their hair cut by professionals. It all seemed so very easy when I watched the barber cut my hair, but cutting your own hair is very, very tricky. I didn't do too bad a job with the sides, but the back is kind of odd looking. I'm hoping that my housemate can help me tidy it up when she gets home from the library. I've noticed that it doesn't look as bad if I put enough gel in it. I have a feeling that I'm going to be wearing gel or a ball cap for the next little while.

The good news is that my hair grows quite quickly, so I'll have another crack at it in another couple of months. In retrospect, it was probably unrealistic to expect that my very first attempt would be super successful. I figure I'll be decent at it by my fifth or sixth attempt. I must admit that initially, the mangling I gave my hair was almost enough to make me give up on this venture and just go humbly with my tail between my legs to the barber. I've decided that I will not wimp out so easily. No one ever learns to ride a bicycle without skinning their knees. I will persevere!

There's also a very odd sense of pride that comes with cutting one's own hair. I'll be holding my head up higher, so the world can see my handiwork!

I'm twenty-three today.

My friends from school threw a joint suprise party for me and Sunita (A classmate. Her birthday is on the 2nd. She plays varsity tennis and is a dance MACHINE!) a couple of days ago. We both thought we were going to review sessions. It was quite a surprise. I got some window markers, and my housemates got me a razor. I'm going to cut my hair this weekend. I hope it goes alright.

Today, I went over to dinner at my cousin's restaurant. It was a party as usual. There was a cake and everything. A very fine birthday indeed.

My Life as a Travelling Entertainer

oct 004
Originally uploaded by chan_siu_man.

I was a proud member the Highland Dance troupe of the Bands throughout my time at Queen's University. Now it occurs to me that some of you might not realize just what this entailed. Indeed some of you might be under the (false) impression that it is all fun and games and parties. Essentially the Queen's Bands performs at the half-time show of all the Queen's football games, as well as at a variety of parade and alumni type events throughout the year. It's no small commitment, but I really can't imagine what Queen's would have been like for me without it. Anyways, this is a photo of the current Queen's Bands gathering at the edge of the field right before halftime at a Queen's-McMaster game.

oct 010
Originally uploaded by chan_siu_man.

Here they are marching onto the field.

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Originally uploaded by chan_siu_man.

The drum major yells "Tap on the dancers." The dancers march out in front of the band and get into formation.

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Originally uploaded by chan_siu_man.

There's a bow before the dancing begins.

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Originally uploaded by chan_siu_man.

And so, they dance. I think this is a strathspey and reel. I used to get nervous, but this goes away when you realize that as long as you hop around and smile, the crowd really doesn't seem to care what you're doing.

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Originally uploaded by chan_siu_man.

Finally, I wanted to include a picture of the cheerleaders. They do fun things like human pyramids and whatnot. I actually tried out for cheerleading as well, but the dancers wanted me more. Or so I'm told. Our school mascot, Boo-Hoo the bear is also in the photo. I was Boo-Hoo in a Christmas parade once. There's no explaining how much kids love a big bear. It's a very hot and sweaty job though.

Grease Lightning!!!

oct 027
Originally uploaded by chan_siu_man.

I got wheels! My cousin had an extra bike which he has kindly allowed me to put to use. I can scarce believe my good fortune. It's possibly the coolest bicycle I've ever seen.

My cousin's family also had a 'seafood bonanza' this past weekend. The highlight was most definitely an ENORMOUS Alaskan King Crab with a reported value of $200. Each of it's legs was like a lobster tail. It's body was bigger than my head. Personally, I think that it was stolen from an aquarium.

Are you happy?

Are you rooted? in family? in community?

Do you receive unconditional regard and respect from those closest to you?

Is it all a matter of perspective?

Do you choose happiness?

can you? will you?

si

I met my nephew for the first time today.

During my presentation on Huntington's Disease, I noticed a new face amongst the familiar ones of my classmates. The face was somewhat familiar. During one of the breaks I asked my classmates who the new guy was. My suspicions confirmed, I went to introduce myself. It went something like this:

"Hi, I'm your uncle."

"What?"

Turns out he was here doing an elective in neurology. Seems like a very nice guy. He told me I owed him at least twenty years of lucky money. Being an uncle is not so easy sometimes.

The presentation went alright. I was bit nervous. I should have practiced a bit more perhaps.

I have a presentation to give today on Hungtington's Disease. I think I have a good grasp of the concepts, so I'm cautiously optimistic about it. I'm just about to leave for school now (It takes awhile on foot.) for a last second bit of preparation.

My housemate seems to have withdrawn into her shell. I use to joke about how she goes home every weekend just to avoid me. I'm starting to wonder now if this is really the case. I'm also wondering if whether I had unwittingly created a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The good news is that choir is still going very well. I may take it upon myself to transcribe some of what we sing. Currently, we do EVERYTHING by ear. I have no problem with this, it's just that I'm almost certain that we sing something slightly different each time, and it's confusing to figure it all out. Plus, we have a new pianist, and the poor girl has very little idea of what to play.

I better truck off to school. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as my old statistics prof used to say!

Heartbreak in Hamilton

Heartbreak in Hamilton
Originally uploaded by chan_siu_man.

It is a thought that haunts the hearts and minds of commuters the world over.

Yesterday, as I approached the bicycle rack outside my apartment, I could sense something was amiss. Where amidst the rusty metal abominations was my trusty silver steed?

My friends have been victims of bike theft in the past. Indeed, my own bicycle had been targeted before! Notice the lack of black rubber on my lock? Shorn away by a would be bicycle felon.

I don't think there has ever been a boy more devoted to his bicycle. It's been my primary source of transportation for just under a decade. It has taken me faithfully to school and to run errands in three different cities. No fair weathered friend, it's been there for sunny jaunts into the gatineau hills as well as cold wet trips to the grocery store.

I know I did not always show it the care it deserved. In particular, I regret a few especially trying winters spent in the sleet and snow of Kingston. But still it trundled on. Inspite of, or perhaps because of, my neglect, my bicycle refused to be broken. As long as I had strength of body, it would bear me without complaint.

I did not love my bicycle initially. The gears were finicky, the braking difficult. But I became accustomed to its quirks. And I came to appreciate the qualities that made it so uniquely my own: the silly sticker I had put on it's handbars in high school, the special seat I had installed, the black bicycle bell that adorned it. Who could have known that I'd come to depend on that bicycle so fully, or that it would still be with me ten years down the road? In the end however, true appreciation of my bicycle must be understood through the thrrringing of that bell. A coal-black, little-used contraption that sat on the right handlebar.

I was in ninth grade. I had a bowl haircut and grass stains on my jeans. The sun had gone down, I think. I have memories of the moths collecting around our porchlight. My father presented me with a bicycle bell. The father who believes that suffering is character-building, and that my life is too soft, hands me a bicycle bell and asks,

"Do you want to see the accessory to this bell?"

And there, standing proudly on our deck is my new bicycle. New and unnaturally shiny to my disbelieving eyes. Little unnamed bugs dart around it's fat tubing. My mother laughs and my sisters chatter. And me? What is the appropriate reaction to such an event??

To my shame, I remember my keen sense of displeasure. I wasn't thrilled; I had wanted something else, a different model. I think my father knew. I was transparent. I regret that now. I regret not realizing the significance of the gesture. I regret not properly appreciating the thought. I regret focussing on the mundane, the details. I wish I could have loved that bicycle then, like I loved it's later, worn down, incarnations.

That bicycle, whatever else it may have been, was first and foremost a concrete symbol of a father's regard for his only son.

and now, it's gone.

Medical school applications were submitted yesterday evening. I could not be more relieved. I have read enough application essays to last me a lifetime.

I was at a dinner party yesterday. Because so many of my classmates are female, the conversation was decidedly biased towards knitting, while pressing issues like the NHL lockout were left at the wayside.

This is not to say that girls only talk about knitting, or that boys can't talk about knitting. Whatever makes you happy. Is it pc for me to say that there was more talking about knitting because of the high female population? You gotta watch what you say in the crazy world of today.

Anyways. My point... and I do have one.
Midway through the evening, one of my friends brought up the concept of there being Five Love Languages. Essentially, there are five ways to show you love someone:

1. Gifts
2. Acts of service
3. Physical touch
4. Quality time
5. Words of affirmation

The idea, is that everyone has one or two preferred ways of communicating their regard. Clearly, misunderstandings can arise if two people speak different love langauges. As an example, someone may show they care by spending a great deal of quality time with you. However, if quality time isn't really a big deal for you, and gifts are in fact the way into your heart, you'll be forever oblivious to his/her feelings.

What do you make of a world with such products for sale??

Instead of cloistering myself in my room, or joining the crowd at the university library, I took my studies into the public library just down the street. Immediately upon entering the library I found myself in the middle of a raging book sale. I exited the fray an hour later, the proud owner of one Archie comic (for my housemate), and a Sesame Street songbook (for myself). Never has $1.25 been better spent.

The library itself provided just the right level of ambient noise (thanks to the chess club I found myself sitting next to.) for me to study to. Before I left for home, I visited the piano practice room and played some Brahms.

I am always rediscovering my love for libraries, and I'm really starting to like Hamilton.

I feel completely and happily wrung out.

Shermeen and I had accumulated quite a bit of music for the wedding we'll be playing at on Friday. The task for today was to try out pieces and just get back in the groove of making music. For almost three hours today, we whipped through the varied works of many a great artist. We played everything from Mozart to the Backstreet Boys. The bottom line?
1. Shermeen is an incredible musician.
2. I have not really played piano since the summer of 2000. It shows.
3. I don't think there is anything that requires the same speed of thought, fine motor control, co-ordination and timing as music. And to do it all with feeling! If only I had more talent. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!

It's looking like we'll play a piece by Massenet, some maritime fiddle music, a kicking concerto by Accolay, and an assortment of classical music. It's going to be fantabulous.

On an unrelated note, when was the last time you learned something new? Assaulted your senses with information so foreign and novel that your world paradigm was stretched, torn, tattered! Keep those brain cells firing. Go HERE and get learning!

I'm definitely leaning towards cutting my hair myself. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

My class is going to see Hairspray in November. I've just spent the night downloading all the songs from the musical so I can prepare myself. I think I'll enjoy it a lot more if I know the music before hand.

I'm trying to convince a friend to date someone because he's rich. This makes good sense to me.

A girl in my unit two group is getting married next week. Shermeen (Also another med student. A link to her website is in the sidebar of this page) and I will be playing at the reception, she on the violin and I on the piano. We went today to the library and then to a music store to scare up some sheet music. I really enjoy a good music store. It's a place overfilling with possibility. I almost bought a violin, but decided that it is a purchase I should sit on.

This wedding could potentially derail my plans for a self-haircut this weekend. I had intended to buy a razor and cut my hair myself (It's convenient, cost-effective, and quite a cool skill to have.), but now I worry that I'll look like a right fool at the wedding. On the other hand, my confidence is such that I genuinely believe that I'll be able to do a good job. To cut or not to cut?

There have been a great number of birthdays of late. I scarce leave one birthday party that I find myself at another. Amidst all the festivities, the late nights, and the bowling I am busy trying to learn all I can about the musculoskeletal system. Still, I found time tonite to make a watermelon sorbet! It's freezing as I write.

And I'm finally back and connected again!

I've been at school for two weeks, and I just got internet and phone late last week. It's been hectic trying to run errands and do schoolwork without them. My dependence on technology is startling.

The good news is that I'm finally more or less all settled into my new place. I now live on the 7th floor of a cool, hip apartment in downtown Hamilton. I live with another medical student. More on that some other time.

It's a bit late, so my thoughts are a wee scattered. I have quite a bit of family here in Hamilton. I will try and see them more this year.

I returned my fiddle today.

Over a span of 7 weeks, I had two fiddle lessons and learned three songs (two jigs and a waltz). I also managed to pick out "Waltzing Matilda" and the theme song for "Angel" as well. I was also referred to some fiddle teachers in Ontario. I wonder if I should continue with the fiddling?

I'm not too much in the mood for writing. A friend of mind just fell in love. I'm not sure if this makes me more or less optimistic about true love. not so sure at all.

This past Friday, as I lounged about in the residents' lounge, I got to talking to a medical student from Memorial, who happened to be driving to Fredericton that very day. Naturally, I seized upon this opportunity to visit my Uncle and his family, since it may be some time before I return to the fair province of New Brunswick.

We visited the science museum where my little cousin Jennifer made a kaleidoscope in a mirror, while her brother Francis and I set up a domino train. We also played many games of Life and badminton. I also learned how to wrap an egg roll.

I've decided that there really is no easy way to make a living.


In other news, I was at my first cardiac arrest this past week. I found the sprinting through the hospital bit to be quite thrilling. The gentleman was resuscitated well and good.

If this doesn't make you happy, I don't know what will!

Between the forested hills of New Brunswick and the Francophone hills of Quebec, winds the mighty Restigouche river. As I discovered this past weekend, a map can't hope to convey the beauty of her waters. At times idyllic and at times tempestuous, she bore my fellow paddlers and I along with an easy, careless grace.

We spent Saturday night on the river and it rained like I've never, ever seen it rain. I spent the entire evening in my swim trunks and life jacket and laughed at people in rain jackets. At a certin point, you've got to let go of this quaint idea of being dry and just accept that mother nature would rather you be soaked. to the skin.

In spite of the rain (which I'm told may have been due to the blue moon), we saw two bald eagles, lots of jumping fish and parades of ducklings. I caught tadpoles, skipped stones and swam rapids. 'twas glorious really.



As you may have guessed, I just figured out how to put links in this blog. I'll leave you all with a fun one.

Things are keeping busy here in the maritimes.  I went to PEI two weekends ago, and to Fredericton last weekend.  Both lovely trips and I will write more about them at a later date.

My lifestyle here in Moncton has taken a drastic change, and it's the purpose of this posting to tell you all why.

Firstly, I'm now doing emergency medicine.  So far, it's been good fun.  I was stitching a lady's finger up (power tool incident), and she was telling me about a fashion designer named Simon Chang.  She is now proudly sporting a Simon Chan original bit of stitching on her finger.  As an incidental thought, it occurs to me that if I were to buy Simon Chang clothing, I could remove the 'g' and have personalized items.  My genius is a burden sometimes.
Anyways, the real point of the story is that in emergency medicine, I only get three shifts a week.  This has given me much more free time.

Secondly, ALL my housemates have left.  I'm living all alone for the next 3 weeks.  Previous to this, the longest I've ever spent by myself is a weekend back in OAC when my parents and sisters went off somewhere and left me to practice piano.  Already the isolation is affecting me.  I never close the bathroom door and don't use my vocal cords at all outside the shower.

The bottom line is that extra free time + lack of distractions is gradually making me more eccentric.  I fiddle at odd hours, I take rambling walks in the surrounding neighourhood, I watch muchmusic video countdowns.  And my housemates just left this past Sunday.

If a medical student goes crazy in Moncton, and nobody is there to hear it... does he still make a noise?

That made no sense, even to me!

simon

It's 3am. We just did an emergency laparotomy followed by a small bowel resection. I had my hands in some poor fellows intestines. Truly a trippy feeling.

Earlier today, I tied my first one handed tie on a person. The first time I tried it, I froze up and forgot what to do. Luckily, I went outside and practiced on my pants before the next case.

This weekend, I finally made it out to Fundy national park.

On Saturday, some of my classmates from McMaster and I went for an extended (5km) hike along the shore. That evening we went to St. John, where we feasted at Suwanna, a Thai restaurant of grand quality. Who came on this trip?

Mike- He's from just outside Fredericton and is spending his entire summer elective time there. He was an engineer in a previous life. Big, tall friendly guy who sings with me in the Gospel choir at McMaster.

Charisse- She is doing a month of internal medicine in St. John. She went to Western before Mac, and does Kung Fu. I did latin dance with her this past year.

Usha- Also doing internal in St. John. She went to UT where she studied neurscience. Her performance at one of our more recent Improv nights was truly loopy.

It was wonderful to see my classmates again, although in truth I have not left them long at all!

On Sunday, I went with my housemates to Hopewell Rocks and then again to Fundy national park, where we did a short hike to a waterfall. On this trip:

Kate- Going into 4th year at Dal med school. She played varsity basketball. She was the 'big man' in the paint. And you can tell.

Genevieve- Going into 5th year med school in Ireland. She's got 3 sisters and a brother, and her dad's a sheep farmer. My primary tutor in Irish slang.

Connor- Also going into 5th year in Ireland. A sci-fi nerd to the max. Has seen all Star Trek episodes and is the only one outside my friends at Queen's who watches Farscape (another sci-fi show).

There was surprisingly little overlap between the two days. The weather was sunny on Sunday, but I really don't think the overcast of Saturday was detrimental to the experience at all.

If I can figure out my digital camera, I'll endeavor to put some pictures up.

Nothing too exciting in the hospital. I saw some fistula creation (It's when you stick a vein to an artery in your arm so you can do dialysis), and a pace-maker insertion. I'm hoping I'll get to see the trauma side of general surgery before my elective is done.


simon

Today, I went with the vascular surgeon I'm following around (Henceforth to be referred to as Dr. Poopy-pants. explanation to follow.) to Sackville for a day of surgical fun.

Sackville is really a beautiful little town, and I wondered as we drove past Mount Allison how my life would be different had I chosen to pursue higher education there instead of in Kingston.

The hospital is very small and had a very nice fountain in a courtyard at it's centre. By far, the most unique feature about this hospital was the fact that it's nursing staff seemed to be the happiest, funnest bunch of nurses I've ever met. The spent the breaks telling stories about the tricks they use to pull on the mean nurses. Tricks that involved laxatives and corpses. A crazy bunch.

Throughout the days cases (lap. cholecystectomy, hernia repairs, and vericose vein removals.), an easy-going and relaxed atmosphere was maintained by all.

At the end of the day, the anaesthetist and Dr. Poopy-pants bought everyone pizza, since Dr. Poopy-pants is leaving the Moncton area in the coming weeks. We all trooped back into the OR at the end of the pizza-fiesta where I was to take some pictures of the happy group. It turns out that Dr. Poopy-pants was so nicknamed by the nurses after some iodine had stained his clothing in unfortunate locales. As I was readying to take the picture, one of the nurses suddenly burst into the room with a bottle of iodine cleaning solution and a very messy iodine fight ensued. Medical professionals are a varied bunch.

Dr. Poopy-pants also showed me how to do a one-handed square knot. I've been given silk to practice with. i also have been practicing with the ties on the top of my scrub pants. i will be a knot machine. my dad says that surgeons are in danger of becoming just a pair of hands. i think i might be ok with this.

It's 3:34am and we just finished the emergency appendectomy. It also marks my very first successful intubation! I'll remember it forever. Little boy with brown hair and green eyes, me with a #6.5 endotracheal tube. truly a moment for the ages.

i find i don't get tired while in surgery. i can't say i'm always edge of my seat excited, but if they're playing good music, there really aren't that many places I'd rather be.

It's 1:48am, we just finished doing a artery bypass operation in a fellow's leg. The man was a francophone, and I got to play the part of interpreter, first in speaking to the man himself, and then later on when I called his wife on the phone. I need to develop some medical French. I don't even know the names of most of the body parts in French!

We'll be doing an emergency appendectomy soon (ie, we're taking out a little boy's appendix). It's going to be done laparascopically (through small incisions), and I get to hold the camera.

I saw my first amputation today. We removed an unfortunate fellow's leg. Amputation is not one of medicine's more delicate arts.

I also heard my first bruit today. It was in a lumberjack's femoral artery. The lumberjack and I had a good chat. His dad and his son are both lumberjacks.

I'm still homeless for next year. My housemates and I thought we had a house, but it turns out to be a false alarm. Some other people beat us to it.

I'm currently following around a vascular surgeon. Because Moncton is smaller place, his practice encompasses much more than just vascular surgery.

Today, we did colonoscopies, varicose veins, ultrasound and an emergency surgery for a hematoma. This Friday, I get to go to Sackville, because the surgeon I'm following does operations there as well.

I saw Fahrenheit 911 with the people in my house yesterday. It makes you quite pessimistic about America. I won't know what to think if the Republicans 'win' again.

The other two guys in the house are huge Trekkies. They sit and quote Star Trek. It's crazy.

To welcome the new residents, and familiarize them with the Moncton area, an 'Amazing Race' type event was held yesterday. The Irish and I joined along for the fun. We were all placed in groups of four, and then let loose on the city. We were given a clue to start, which lead to a location where a fun and wacky task had to be performed to get another clue. It was all brilliantly run and great fun. Some of the tasks were: canoeing around a lake looking for a little blue buoy, a relay race, drinking a slushie as quickly as possible (The medical secretary brought her son along with her, and this task made him cry, it was so painful) and sliding down the 'kamikazie' waterslide at a waterpark. The game ended at one of the doctor's houses for a barbeque. My team took the game VERY seriously (They really, really wanted to win. First prize was green fees.), but we came second by literally 5 seconds.
That evening we went down to the water, to watch the fireworks, which were spectacular.

Today, in the world of medicine, I successfully inserted my very first venous line! I got it on my first try, on a little boy getting his tonsils removed. I followed this up by inserting my second ever venous line, also on a little boy about to get his tonsils out. The anaesthetist that I work with gives the kids some sedatives before they come to the OR. This makes the kids very...loopy. Drugged up kiddies are funny in an odd kinda way.

Last week, we performed a lobotamy on this cheerful old lady with a brain tumour. I had chatted happily with her in French while she was in the waiting area, so I decided to go and try and find her in the Neuro-Intensive Care Unit. I must admit, I was curious as to whether she'd remember me, what with the brain surgery and all. Anyways, I don't think I've ever been so cheerfully received by anyone in my life! Not only did she remember me, she told me that she knew that I'd visit her, and that my smile helped her through the surgery. Now I know that she was exaggerating and all(especially because I was wearing a mask in the OR), but it's still one of those rare moments where I've felt useful as a medical student.

We have a full house!

Two third year medical students from Dalhousie have just moved into our house. They seem very friendly, and their addition has made our house even livelier.

Tonite, we (the house) went to a Surf and Turf dinner hosted by the education department at the hospital to welcome their new residents. I ate two lobsters and two steaks. It's an obscene amount of protein, isn't it? I'm told that there was roughly $600 worth of lobsters and $400 worth of steaks at this soiree.

Tomorrow, the Irish and I are taking part in some sort of scavenger hunt type activity with the new residents. It should be good fun.

In other news, I inserted my first naso-gastric tube today. 'Twas a snap!

Today was a good day.

I was on-call for Friday and Sunday, so I had today off. I feel quite deserving of this break, seeing as I came home no earlier than 4am on both my on-call days. I don't think I'll be an anaesthesiologist. There's a good deal of prodding people with needles, and I'm not sure I have the stomach for it.

I had my first fiddle lesson today! It was terrific. I asked my fiddle teacher to conduct my lessons in French. It turns out she has the STRONGEST Acadian accent I've ever heard, so her French is quite difficult to follow. Still, it makes the experience that much more authentic. I learned how to play twinkle twinkle little star, as well as a Gig. Really tremendous fun.

On my way home, i passed a store called 'Treasures and Trash'. never has a store been so aptly named. I bought the first "Ninja Turtles" movie. no doubt i will return to peruse their collection of musical instruments and medieval weapons.

Today I inserted (with some assistance) two laryngeal masks. They are airway maintenance devices. I also tried to insert an IV line, but after three attempts, I decided to give the poor patient a break and let the anaesthesiologist have a go.

It's also my first day on-call. It's currently 9pm, and we just finished and emergency appendectomy and an emergency cholecystectomy. The gallbladder was absolutely massive, and was filled with pus and little hard bits. It's neat how everyone seems very much more efficient when on-call.

I'll be on-call for the next 12 hours. I'm told my chances of being awoken tonite for some sort of birthing type thing are very high. Either way, I'm off to home now, where my Irish housemates are sitting with their beer and delightful conversation.

I bought a pair of running shoes the other day. It was quite an involved process. They watched me walk and run barefoot, and with all 8 pairs of shoes they had me try on. Now that I have runners, I will start running. In fact I've just finished running on the treadmills in our hospital gym. Walking on land after having been on a treadmill for awhile is the oddest thing. You feel like you're moving.

To get from the gym to the hospital, you can either take the stairs, or ride a very old school elevator. The outer door opened vertically. The inner door opened horizontally and was essential and iron grating. You had to open both doors via brute force. I'd seen these elevators in movies before but never in real life.

One of the Irish students, Genevieve, was following along with my preceptor and I today. When muscle relaxants are used in anaesthesia, a little machine is used to administer mini shocks to the patient's hand. This way, they can measure how much the hand spasms to get an idea of how well the relaxant is working. Naturally, we attached electrodes to ourselves to experience this 'spasming' for ourselves. It is the ODDEST sensation. The current causes your muscles to twitch, and it feels ... weird. We were in the OR while doing this, and I got to laughing so hard that I drooled all over my mask and had to leave the room to change it.

I hope you all caught the England-Portugal soccer match. I watched it with my Irish housemates and then went out into our backyard (There's a soccer field in our backyard. It belongs to a school.) to kick around a ball. I've learned quite a bit more Irish slang, and have since been promised both Irish songs (which they apparently sing in Irish pubs), and Irish dancing!

Today was my first day of Anaesthesia. The anaesthesiologist whom I'm following around is quite a character. He jokes around quite a bit. He also calls me 'little grasshopper', like they do in kung fu movies. There's more to anaesthesia than one expects.

Anyways, today I got to see 3 c-sections, a hysterectomy and an aortic aneurysm repair. It's really something how a little human can just be pulled out of a woman.

Hello and welcome to the second incarnation of Simonscapes!

The first year of medical school ended just this past Friday. My tutorial group had the foresight to finish tutorials ahead of time, so I was able to spend the last week with my family.

Since all members of my family are currently gainfully employed, it seemed inevitable that I would be by myself at home for the majority of my week. To avoid this, I spent my week at the Ottawa Heart Institute, where endeavored to soak up all things cardiac. Highlights: CABG, Valve repair, CABG, Electrophysiology, CABG, Nuclear medicine, CABG, congenital, CABG, Angiography, CABG. And that, my friends, is cardiology in the 21st century. All in all, an excellent experience. Many jokes where made at my expense wherever I went, because it appears that I am the son of quite an echocardiographer.

Anyways, I awoke this morning to fly to Moncton where I will be spending my next two months of elective time. It looks like it's going to be a brilliant time. I'm living in a house right next to the hospital. It's quite a lovely house. It has full cable AND a piano! Currently living with me are two Irish students. They are trying to teach me as much Irish slang as possible, and seem to be very fun kids. It's brilliant really.