Lost and Found

I found this shiny item between the couch cushions tonight. Anyone missing a harmonica? or would anyone like to provide a loving home for this fun-filled little guy?

Amanda's Bachelorette Weekend

This weekend we celebrated Amanda's upcoming wedding with a weekend at my parents house on the lake in Michigan. With 9 ladies, the rain didn't stop us from having an incredible time. We grilled, had a bonfire, water skied, tubed, drank, played board games and laughed hysterically. Here are a few shots, but more to come as I get the photos from the more skilled photographers.

Yep. I'm a dork.

That's right Dad. You can be proud of my new and perhaps highest level of nerdiness. Now that I am near full time in the lab, I am really embracing the well known family trait.

My work station:
But don't worry Mom, there is something for you to be excited about too! This lab is insanely organized. Everyone has been assigned a color and their color tape is on everything that belongs to them. Yes. Everything. Including the stapler.

Here is a shot of my samples, labeled appropriately in the -80 degree C freezer.


I am really loving the lab so far. On the other hand, I'm thankful that I still see patients two days a week!

Tour de France

The Tour is one of my favorite things to flip on the TV during summer nights. It occurred to me tonight that many of my friends have no idea what this fabulous event entails- other than the fact that Lance Armstrong won several years in a row. Most people I've asked didn't even realize another American won the year after Lance retired! Thanks to an old boyfriend for introducing me to the event and my parents brief stint in France to keeping me inspired. Dad even went to watch a climbing stage in 2001.


So here are the basics for the 2008 Tour de France:

Course Map


The race runs from July 5th to July 27th.
There are 21 stages.
The total event is 3500 kilometers
Today was Stage 6.

I by no means consider myself even slightly knowlegable on the subject, but I do love watching the mountain stages. The scenic views are spectacular, athletic feats unbelievable and who doesn't love a bunch of guys in biking shorts?!?! My least favorite is are the time trials. I can't get over the creepy space helmets.

Old Commercial- Still My Fav

Someone Buy Grady a Breathalyzer

EGR alumni and Michigan football player Kevin Grady was arrested yesterday for driving while intoxicated. He was pulled over on 44th street in Wyoming, driving a Denali with a blood alcohol level of 0.28. Pretty impressive level, especially for a guy his size. I'm going to guess that is about 10 drinks for him. Although this all depends on how frequently one is intoxicated; we are all farmiliar with tolerance, right?! 0.28 can lead to impaired sensation, stupor, black out, loss of consciousness. First time or rare drinkers with a BAC of> 0.1 may be at risk for death. In the ER the highest I have ever seen is 0.38 and the patient was unconcious. Amanda has seen a 4 month old baby with a BAC of 0.4- now that is scary. But in a baby it might just be a tiny amount of alcohol. On the other hand, I have seen alcoholics fairly functional with BAC of 0.25 in the past.


Blood Alcohol Concentration Basics For MOST people (ie. social drinkers)

0.01 — 0.06
Relaxation, Sense of Well-being, Loss of Inhibition, Lowered Alertness, Joyous
Thought, Judgment Impaired, Coordination Impaired

0.06 — 0.10
Blunted Feelings, Disinhibition, Extroversion, Sexual Pleasure
Reflexes Impaired,Reasoning Impaired, Vision Impaired

0.11 — 0.20
Over-Expression Exagerated, Emotional Swings, Angry or Sad, Reaction Time Slowed, Gross Motor Control Impaired, Staggering Slurred Speech

0.21 — 0.29
Stupor, Lose Understanding, Impaired Sensations
Severe Motor Impairment, Loss of Consciousness, Memory Blackout

0.30 — 0.39
Severe Depression, Unconsciousness, Death Possible
Bladder Function, Breathing and heart rate affected

=> 0.40
UnconsciousnessDeath
BreathingHeart Rate


Long story short, if you are lucky enough to own a breathalyzer (check out thinkgeek.com) and you are not an every day drinker, shoot for a BAC of 0.10 or below. That should give you a good buzz without emotional liability, stupor, coma, motor dysfunction and death. Certainly don't hop into your car and cruise around. Not only because it's dangerous and against the law, but because it is selfish.


http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/07/judge_found_kevin_grady_unable.html

USA Olympic Water Polo Team

I just found out today that one of the girls, Betsey Armstrong, I coached the first summer she ever played water polo is now on the 2008 Olympic Water Polo Team!!! I was coaching at U of M to make a little extra cash over the summer months. Obviously she was coached by many more qualified coaches after me, but I remember helping her learn the basics of playing goalie!! Her older Katy and I both played goalie together at U of M and spent countless hours treading water in the same lane. I'm so excited that the US Team will have a University of Michigan Water Polo Alum on the team. GO BLUE.

http://usawaterpolo.org/index.php?customernumber=90783653348949&pr=BioWSNTBetseyArmstrong

Happy New Year!

July 1st is here again. The hospital is filled with interns with freshly pressed white coats and frazzled looks on their faces. I'm so happy to be staying at the same hospital, which makes the transition to GI fellow pretty smooth. Today started with me pulling into my normal parking spot, exchanging my resident coat,badge and pager for a newer "fellow" version of the same. The day went pretty much without hitch. Nevermind the fingerprinting that I had to undergo today at the VA hospital to avoid being handcuffed and put in federal jail. Interestingly, this is the same hospital that I was aloud to walk around freely yesterday. Nothing but the best for our veterans.
I'm looking forward to a great new year and even made some resolutions this morning.