The heart has ears

In no particular order, some facts:

My housemate is a great cook, see photo to the right for the proof of his fabulous tacos. The way to study is hearing these being made while reviewing some histology and pathology of major organ.

Our enthusiastic guide to the previously-living bodies preserved for our eager viewing told us several interesting facts. I like that the right and left atrium of the heart have ears (auricles). I picture the inner self walking into a glass-domed, plant-filled atrium. In this space, you can hear what only the heart hears, plants growing, the beat of other hearts (this is not just poetic language, put cells from two different hearts in their own test tubes - they keep their own beat, put them next to each other, they assume the same rhythm).

Another fact, my big bookcase is falling apart. The sun is setting orange and purple behind black tree outlines and slivers of rain chipped off of clouds by abundant thunder and lightning.

Annie likes to watch the computer screen.

and I still live Med school.

Even more dangle

This lovely item speaks for itself -worn by an equally lovely Zambian woman. One of the unexpected joys of medical school is meeting people from all over the world. I am inspired by the colors, decorations and stories. My little house will be glad I met these people, so I will bedazzle this space, poco-a-poco.

Speaking of Spanish, what a great little taco shop I discovered this weekend in South Tucson: Taqueria Pico de Gallo. The tacos are the thing to order, with handmade corn tortillas that are about 1/4 inch thick! MMm, you can smell them as you drive up! Not greasy, but baked or roasted, perfect for the desert any time of year.

I used to think I had a good imagination, but all of this proves me wrong. I never thought to have such interesting classmates, such delicious food, dramatic monsoons, (and so many fabulous earrings!)

Zapotec creation

Found this rug at Old Town Artisans in Tucson and love the warm and texture - you can feel the lanolin in the wool fibers still. It will live on the wall in my little place. It should feel at home above the saltillo tile floor.

Small dreams fulfilled are delicious - and the tile floor and rug are just that - like pomegranate seeds in the salad of life!

By the way, buying locally grown Canary melons and putting them next to the same deliciously yellow baby pear tomoatoes is also pure joy.

White lights,old city

Dinner under the stars, courtesy of generous housemates. A cool breeze transforms a hot day to a warm evening.

How do we transform ourselves from awkward med students into the people you trust with your life? Somewhere in our lectures, and first patient histories and physical exams are the seeds.

What will we become if we are more worried about remembering OPQRSTADA*for a patient history then the pain they are presently in, the cancer they may be dying of?

Dinner with friends while the patients I saw today are likely still in the hospital..I hope they had some moments of joy, somehow, today.

*a mnemonic for remembering the type of questions to ask a patient about their illness.

Polydactyl Pollyanna

You don't often think of Pollyanna and Hemingway in the same sentence, but with my kitty you can. She has extra toes on her front feet..Hemingway was particularly fond of cats with this genetic mutation and filled his island in Key West with them.

I have a coat

About 4 years ago I tried to imagine my life 5 years in the future in pure images (no words). I pictured myself putting on white to go to work. I was not planning at that time to go to medical school any time soon. I kept puzzling over why I had pictured myself wearing white and tried to think of what job it was I had seen myself doing.

It seems obvious now. But there were plenty of twists and turns and a great deal of help and inspiration on the way to this white coat.

Pretty in Pink

Pink Oleander and pink Adobe on my bike ride to class this morning. It was overcast today, the air cool after last night's pyrotechnical thunder and lightning show. We worked on our class Mission and Vision, a worthwhile pause for reflection in the dash towards medical knowledge.

Rock climbing at the wall and cooking dinner just rounds out the day, along with my beautiful stethoscope arriving in the mail!