I am feeling tremendous guilt at the lack of posting towards the end of 2011. However, I am not really a fan of new year's resolutions, so I'm not going to make any promises that it won't happen again this year. I have been thinking of you all though, and "update blog" has consistently been an item on my to-do list. Unfortunately, I will not be able write a proper post tonight about all things I have been up to in the past 2 months (travel updates! reuniting with friends! crazy clinic stories!). But I feel like I owe you a post that is longer than 4 sentences, so I will share some things that have been on my mind lately. I don't really think that any of them are particularly earth shattering or worth posting on the internet for all eternity (because once you post, it can never be entirely erased), but here I go anyway.
1. On New Year's Eve, I watched a live Coldplay concert on TV, and it totally reminded me of the fact that they are truly my favorite band. I really wish that their tour stopped in Phoenix this year, but sadly it doesn't. I WILL see them live someday. My birthday is next month and if you are looking for present ideas, I would love a copy of their newest album, Mylo Xyloto. Until then, I will be listening to all their old albums on iTunes...on repeat. (Maybe with some Florence and the Machine thrown in for good measure. I got her new album Ceremonials for Christmas and it is also very good.)
2. I have lukewarm feelings about technology and social media. As much as I love facebook (and the fact that it helped me spontaneously reunite with some sorority sisters while I was home over break), it really bothers me that I am constantly checking profiles and status updates. When we are constantly thinking about what to put on our next status update or tweet, we might be missing a really cool opportunity to be involved in the here and now and the people we see face to face. When I was on vacation, my cell phone was turned off for an entire week, shoved in a closet, and forgotten. And it felt GOOD to be without it. Visiting some truly beautiful places reminded me that there is so much to see other than what is on my tiny smartphone screen. There are places (like those I visited in the Caribbean) where people aren't attached to their phones or can't even afford them. And they do fine. I need to remember this. Ironically enough, one of the things that is helping me put life into perspective is a twitter account @FirstWorldPains that posts about ridiculous problems that only happen in first world countries. I think they are meant to be funny, but I find them to be striking examples of how extravagant and excessive life can be. Some examples include: "I can't find any of my 6 chapsticks."; "I've already seen this episode."; "I can't think of what I want for Christmas."; "The heater won't go above 68 degrees." and so forth. If you have twitter, check it out. And come follow me @DrDana5, although I tweet even less than I update this blog so...
3. I have some really nice patients. A husband and wife couple that I absolutely adore sent me an In-N-Out giftcard for Christmas. Those of you that haven't had the opportunity to try this west coast chain are truly missing out. It is pretty tasty. I went there tonight and ordered my favorite: hamburger - animal style without tomatoes. It was delicious. And the one thing that I noticed? In-N-Out is consistently very generous with their pickles. There were at least 5 pickles on my burger tonight. As a pickle-lover, I appreciate that. (You hear that Culvers? Two pickles are not enough!)
4. Ugh, now I feel like a blob. (An entire dissertation on burgers? My trainer would NOT approve.) I need to get back on the fitness/healthy-eating bandwagon.
5. currently reading: Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
-So far, it is very good. The story revolves around a pair of twins that were born to a nun(!) working at a hospital in 1950s Ethiopia. The plot is very slow moving, but the characters are so well developed and explored that you really don't notice the lack of action. The writing style is a little more eloquent than I am used to, so it takes a few minutes to get back into the story once I pick the book up again. Some parts are a little more graphic than I was expecting but obviously medical guts and gore don't really bother me. I'll let you know how it turns out.
just finished: A Faithful Place by Tana French
-This is the third novel I've read by this author (Into the Woods and The Likeness being the other two). Overall, it was a good murder mystery that I definitely recommend. However, I think I liked the other two books better because I related to the characters more. Rob and Cassie appear in the first book, Cassie reappears with Frank in the second, and A Faithful Place involves Frank. Rob and Cassie felt like old friends and I missed reading about them. That being said, I did enjoy this novel, with its look into a dysfunctional family and the murder rocking their hometown. I love how the books revolve around a murder, but how the real focus is on the people trying to solve them. I can't wait to see what this author publishes next.
6. When did it become 11:15 PM? I was supposed to be in bed asleep by this point. Oops...
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