Point of View

Sometimes you stand in one place, but the perspective changes. When I looked through this 'viewfinder' I could see houses on the hills that I had thought were barren. Earlier this weekend, I was surprised to find the Catalina's as green as Ireland (but with different foliage).

Over the past few weeks I feel my perspective shifting in every way, microscopic to telescopic, climbing on a cliff or hiking down a ravine, insider and outsider, anatomy and psychology, histology and patient interviews.

When you look at the stars you feel small and time is large, while studying ants and butterflies just makes our lives seem impossibly long and our bodies enormous. Medicine is both of those views at once...and I am also the stars and the ant and the butterfly.

Catalina

I love the storm passing over the Santa Catalina Mountains...incidentally, this little range is named for St. Catherine of the 'Catherine Wheel" (torture device) fame. Before that unfortunate incident, however, she was known as a scholar. These mountains, named in 1697 seemed to know in advance a university would be nearby...Catherine would be proud.

Even though I don't officially believe in Saints and Angels, I choose to pretend that I do. Much like medieval scholars with their dual maps of the world - the 'True map' with spiritual meaning, and then the one you use to sail or travel by. My maps of the world include what I see and what I enjoy considering....Really, science and medicine is like this, so much of what we are learning are possible maps or belief systems superimposed over the body we know. The missing places or the mythological ones perhaps as important as they well-charted regions.

Humid, hot and cloudy, strange weather, but normal for Tucson.

Put your heart into it

Clearly, all those years of art are coming in handy in med school...

I love drawing, I love anatomy, this was perhaps the most fun study moment today.

I like remembering that our first good anatomists were artists - thank you for bothering to check out the real deal my friends Vesalius, Michelangelo and Da Vinci.

And, by the way, dear artists, thanks for reminding us that all that fabulous anatomy comes together in expressions and gestures.

Callisaurus draconoides rhodostictus - Western Zebra-tailed Lizard

I did not take this picture - this is the only exception to the rule of all images are mine.

So let me explain why I am including this handsome fellow (he is male). I was riding my bike, quickly, along the river bank, when suddenly, beside me, appeared a little dude who looked just like this, and he was keeping up! It was astonishing, he moved like a water skipper across the desert sand and gravel.

He was gleaming white with green and black markings.... like a race car all painted to impress.

Pure exhilaration to ride next to him for a bit and see him fly along on delicate feet.

I think he did it just for kicks.

Power Play

Feeling a little weak? Frightened of what the future (exams) may hold? Why not ride this beauty down the sidewalk, and watch pedestrians run in fear, car drivers slow down and stare in awe.

I took this picture in Boise, Idaho, my home town. Now that you have seen this, you will not be surprised to learn that we have the most women small-business owners per-capita of any state. (reasoning: the little girl that drives this will likely grow up and own her own businesss, she already 'owns her own bizness, $!%@#")

I wish she would pick me up Monday morning and take me to my exam in this vehicle, this would be a recipe for success. (Either that or study, sigh).

Guess it's a long drive on the open road for a small girl in a plastic vehicle to get here from Boise, so I'll go study now.

Poetry In (loco)motion

I like this image because the lights are blurred, as though they are moving...life is really more like this than a focused still shot.

The Sufi's known as 'whirling dervishes' believe that if you can plant one foot in one secure spot, then the rest of the world (and you) can spin and spin without losing your balance.

Med school is a film, not a still life painting. In fact, life just won't ever sit still (that condition is usually known as death)

Where do you plant your toe?...

Whirled Peas

Who knew that one of my classmates and his med school 'Big Bro' would find the solution for peace in the Middle East, possibly the world. Clearly illustrated above is the fact that an Israeli Jew and and Egyptian Muslim have only negligible differences once they both put on matching tiny pink tank tops, black boxers and low-ridin' jeans. Leaders of the world, take note.

In other fashion news, I went roller-blading this afternoon in the park. My housemate received this news with...silence....followed by shock and chagrin and promptly said "who rollerblades?...that is so 90's". Well, I rollerblade. Derby Queens, be kind to me, I am not ready for the hairspray or tattoos just yet, but I do look awesome in knee pads (yeah!).