What I Did Today At School

Today, for part of our clinical experience, my classmates and I went with our professor to a charter school in DC to do physicals for some of the students there. We saw a big age range, from first to ninth graders. The little ones were super cute and even the older ones were pretty fun. All of them were well behaved and cooperative. It gave us a great opportunity to get practical experience and gave the students a chance to get a physical they might not have otherwise gotten. This semester I am doing my clinical rotation in a long-term care setting and have gotten a lot of experience with the elderly. I really like peds though and I'm hoping that I'll get to do a peds rotation next semester. Although I've realized this semester that you still encounter some of the same problems with both age groups. When I was an undergrad I worked in a pediatric clinic and we often had to deal with obnoxious parents of children. This semester, in my clinical, my preceptor and I have gotten to see the other end of the spectrum, the obnoxious children of elderly patients.

Dagens Namn -- 29 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is Sune.

Is it wise...

...to be talking on your cell phone and smoking a cigarette at the same time as you are driving a motor vehicle? This is what I saw some idiot doing yesterday. And mind you this wasn't some little sedan, this was a big delivery truck/van thing. At least it wasn't on the highway, although I'm sure that wouldn't have stopped him.

Dagens Namn -- 28 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is Malte.

Dagens Namn -- 27 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Asta or Astrid.

Dagens Namn -- 26 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is Linus.

Dagens Namn -- 25 November 2005

Yesterday was your name day if your name is: Katarina or Katja.

Just a few things

1) Just more evidence that Tom Cruise is certifiably crazy...he has bought Katie Holmes a sonogram machine. Apparently the couple will do sonograms of their baby to watch its growth and development. Now of course since good old Tom is an expert on the history of psychiatry, he is probably also an expert sonographer. I'm sure he knows how to do a femur length, a biparietal diameter, and an abdominal circumference to ensure that his baby is growing appropriately.

2) In other celebrity news, Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson have finally announced their separation. Oh come on now, you knew it was coming. No need to cry!

3) The first official pictures of baby Sean Preston Spears are being published in the newest issue of People Magazine. I haven't seen all the pictures, but I have to say that at least in the one of the cover he looks pretty darn cute. I'll have to check out the rest to solidify my opinion.

4) I had to work last night and I have to work again tonight. This was kind of depressing to me, because I love Thanksgiving food. So, I got all domestic and made a feast for myself and all the people I worked with last night. The menu included: roasted turkey breast, country mashed potatoes, sausage and apple stuffing, glazed carrots, potato rolls, and gravy. I also made two pies (not from scratch), but someone else also brought a pie, so we are saving my pies for tonight. Yummy! Apparently we are also supposed to get dinner from the hospital tonight, so we'll see how that turns out. I think it will be from the conference center over in the student center, so hopefully it will actually be halfway decent. Better than hospital food or Lean Cuisine anyway.

5) It was slow enough last night that we got to play a game. We chose to play Hello Kitty Uno. This version is better that regular old Uno because it has fun Hello Kitty cards and the ultra special "Love Me Love Me Not" card. You should try playing it some time!

Dagens Namn -- 24 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Gudrun or Rune.

Dagens Namn -- 23 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is Klemens.

Dagens Namn -- 22 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Cecilia or Sissela.

You Just Have To Laugh

I know it isn't nice to laugh at another person's "misfortune," but I couldn't help myself after reading this story about our beloved president at a press conference in China.

Georgia Aquarium

I've been watching the Today Show this morning and they've been featuring the new Georgia Aquarium. It opens on November 23rd and will be the world's largest aquarium. Check out the stats of the main tank:

1) Holds 6.2 million gallons of water
2) Measures 263’ long x 126’ wide x 33’ deep, at its largest points
3) Main viewing window is 61' wide x 23' high x 2' thick
4) Holds 100,000 animals representing 500 species from around the globe

I've never been to Atlanta, but it looks like it might be time to make trip!

Dagens Namn -- 21 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Helga or Olga.

Off the Beat at DCAF

I went to the DC A Capella Festival at Georgetown on Friday night. It was pretty good, although there was one group that was far and away the best group...UPenn Off The Beat. I had seen them before and knew that this would probably be the case. The following are the reasons why UPenn Off The Beat was the best group:

1) Their arrangements were creative and complex without being busy.

2) Their harmonies were clean and tight.

3) Their soloists consistently had strong voices and sang on pitch without screaming (unless called for).

4) Their song choices were current and not boring or slow.

5) They had a powerful and full sound because they are coed and have coverage of every single part (bass to soprano).

I bought their new cd Float and have listened to it a couple times already. Very good! I highly recommend seeing this group if you ever have the chance. Check out their website for more info (including sound clips).

Dagens Namn -- 20 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Marina or Pontus.

Dagens Namn -- 19 November 2005

Yesterday was your name day if your name is: Lisbet or Elisabet.

Just a few things

1) I was supposed to work last night, but I got to be on call all night. Thanks to my excellent charge nurse Molly for her consideration in this matter. I’ve been running myself ragged with school and work lately and I needed a “day” off.

2) Because I was on call last night, I had time to watch a lot of TV. I watched CSI, Without a Trace and ER. All of which were good, but for it being sweeps time, none of them overly impressed me. I also watched the end of Human Trafficking. This was a Lifetime miniseries about unfortunate women and girls that are lured into an international sex-trafficking ring run by ruthless criminals and the American FBI agents who are trying to break the ring up. While the movie wasn’t great (acting, etc.), it really was pretty disturbing and eye-opening. The people that enslave these women are disgusting, but the men who, with their patronage, allow this practice to continue are even more repulsive. According to the UN, an estimated 2 to 4 million people are trafficked worldwide every year. The US State Department estimates that 80% of victims trafficked across international borders are female and 70% of those women and girls are trafficked for sexual exploitation. The revolting individuals who are responsible for this despicable practice make an estimated $7 to $13 billion every year. Interested in finding out more? Check out the following links:

HumanTrafficking.org
MTV Exit Campaign
UN Office on Drugs and Crime

3) Because I got to have a lazy morning today, I had time to watch the Today show. I caught the tail end of some guy skating out on the Rockefeller Center skating rink. It then occurred to me that the Winter Olympics in Torino are actually coming up in February. I really haven’t seen much advertising for the games yet, but maybe that will start in December or January. Or maybe I’ve just been watching the wrong shows/channels. Check out the official websites of the 2006 Winter Games and the US Olympic Team.

4) I went to see the new Pride and Prejudice over the weekend. It has gotten very good reviews from fans and critics alike. Those people either have not read the book or are mentally deficient in some capacity. All I have to say about the movie is boooooo! Jane Austen is probably turning over in her grave in England somewhere. The characters were not well developed. Some characters vitally important to plot and character development were practically cut out (e.g., Wickham). Certain important relationships were not portrayed well (e.g., Jane and Lizzie). Way too much time was spent on pointless scenes (e.g., Lizzie spinning around on a swing), when the time could have been spent on plot and/or character development. I mean you only have two hours here, think about what’s really important! Dialogue that was beautifully written by Jane Austen, was unnecessarily changed (for the worse):

Movie:
Mrs. Bennet: But don't you wish to know who it has been let to?
Mr. Bennet: What I wish is immaterial, my dear, as you so obviously wish to tell me.

Original:
“Do not you want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife impatiently.
"You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”

Some people have complained about the casting, but I have to say the casting didn’t bother me too much. Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen were pretty good, although nothing can really compare to Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth from the 1995 BBC version. The most absurd of all, however, was the last scene in the movie. It was completely out of character for Jane Austen and should NOT have been put in. Apparently Joe Wright (the director) and Deborah Moggach (the writer) had a meeting with John Hughes of Sixteen Candles fame or something. I mean I’m all for happy endings and everything, but that scene was just stupid and their weak weak weak attempt at giving the movie a Hollywood ending. I have decided that I must reread the novel for my own edification, to make sure that I am not being unfair to this movie, but I have a feeling I will find I am not. If you really want to do this wonderful story justice, please buy/rent/borrow the 1980 BBC version and/or the 1995 BBC/A&E version. Or even better, READ THE BOOK!!!

5) Clementines are back in the stores!! I love these sweet juicy little treats which are cross between an orange and a mandarin orange. If you haven’t tried one before, you should!!

Dagens Namn -- 18 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Lillemor or Moa.

Dagens Namn -- 17 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Naemi or Naima.

Dagens Namn -- 16 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Vibeke or Viveka.

Dagens Namn -- 15 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is Leopold.

Dagens Namn -- 14 November 2005

Today is your name if your name is: Emil or Emilia.

Emil is one of Astrid Lindgren's most famous characters after Pipi Longstocking. Well in Sweden anyway. Here's a picture of him.

Dagens Namn -- 13 November 2005

Yesterday was your name day if your name is: Kristian or Krister.

Ben and the BSO

My sister and I drove to Baltimore tonight to see Ben Folds in concert with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. I have to say that it was pretty freakin' awesome. I love Ben Folds already, but it was just extra cool to see him backed by a full orchestra. Many of his songs lend themselves very well to orchestration. Our seats were right over the stage left. We were very close to the musicians, but unfortunately we were looking at Ben's back instead of his face or from the side. It was cool all the same. The people sitting behind us were a little obnoxious. They were screamers and liked to scream stuff like, "Ben we love you!" It was funny the first few times, but after that it got annoying. Some of the members of the orchestra even started looking our way with looks of disdain on their faces. The crowd was certainly younger and most were big Ben fans, as evidenced by much singing along. There was even one guy in the first few rows of the orchestra who totally flipped out when Ben came on stage. Think teenage girl at a Beatles concert in the mid 60s. I think the most amusing part of the whole thing, however, was watching one of the percussion guys play the crap out of a cowbell during One Angry Dwarf. This was Ben's first symphonic concert in the US. His first symphonic concert ever, was back in March of this year when he played with the West Australian Symphony in Perth, Australia. That concert comes out on DVD in December. The DVD will certainly make it onto my Christmas wish list. Hopefully he'll do more concerts like this in the future, because while the DVD may be cool, it would be much cooler to see it again live.

Click here to read an article in the Baltimore Sun about Ben's collaboration with the BSO.

Dagens Namn -- 12 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Konrad or Kurt.

Dagens Namn -- 11 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is Mårten.

Dagens Namn -- 10 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Martin or Martina.

Dagens Namn -- 9 November 2005

Yesterday was your name day if your name is: Teodora or Teodor.

Just a few things

1) My neck is killing me. I really think I need to get new pillows. Good thing I planned to go to Target today. I was thinking about getting one of the memory foam pillows, but I’m not sure yet what I’ll actually get.

2) My dad is supposed to go on a business trip to Jordan next week. Now with the bombings I’m not really sure that is such a good idea.

3) I just had to write up an incident I overheard at clinical which involved a nursing assistant yelling at one of the patients. Now granted most of these patient are old and don’t hear well, but that’s not why this person was yelling. It is really pretty sad the quality of nursing care that some of these place provide. Especially since I’ve heard that the facility I’m at is one of the better facilities.

4) I had my last clinical ethics class discussion group this week. The discussions really turned out a lot better than I expected. I actually had a lot more to say than I expected. I was pleased because the discussions that we had were spirited without getting hostile. Many of my friends who were in other groups said that their group leaders were horrible and no one in their group talked. So I think I really lucked out. Thanks to my group for being so good!

5) I still haven’t gotten my flu shot at work. I was supposed to get it last week sometime, but they cancelled the clinic due to short supply of the vaccine. I really have absolutely no desire to get the flu this year. They better come up with some supply soon. They really can’t afford to have nurses calling out sick with the flu.

6) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire comes out next week. Will I be at the midnight premier? No, no I will not. I will be WORKING. But not to worry, I’m sure I’ll get over it. I’m not sure I really want to deal with all the crazy midnight crowds anyways.

7) In other movie news, Pride and Prejudice with Kiera Knightley comes out tomorrow. Now, I have read the book and seen the two older mini-series versions numerous times and I’m not sure how this new one will compare. I will be interested to see what parts they cut out or change to make it fit into the two hour feature film, instead of the six hour miniseries. Also, from the previews it doesn’t really seem like the dialogue is true to the book. I’ll hold final judgment, however, until I actually see the movie.

8) Tonight my sister and I are going to see Much Ado About Nothing at the Folger Theater. I’m excited because Much Ado is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. I haven’t been to the Folger since fourth grade when my class performed Romeo and Juliet for the Children's Shakespeare Festival. Our teacher, Ms. Zolbe, made use ride the Metro in our costumes. It was pretty funny.

9) Next Friday my sister and I are going to the DC A Capella Festival at Georgetown. It is hosted by two Georgetown groups: the Phantoms and the Grace Notes. The other groups will be G.U. Superfood, U.Penn Off the Beat, and the Johns Hopkins Octopodes. U Penn Off the Beat is one of the best college a capella groups I’ve ever heard, so it should be good!!

Dagens Namn -- 8 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is Vendela.

Dagens Namn -- 7 November 2005

Yesterday was your name day if your name is: Ingegerd or Ingela.

Dagens Namn --6 November 2005

Sunday there is no nameday.

Dagens Namn -- 5 November 2005

Saturday was your name day if your name is: Eugenia or Eugene.

Triplets

My sister and I went to visit my little triplet friends today. They are more adorable than ever. They now all walk and kind of babble. Very cute! I took some pictures, all of which I uploaded to my Yahoo Photos website. Check them out! Below are two of my favorites.

Ben Folds

Recently my friend Angela convinced me to join MySpace.com. Primarily this was just because she wanted to have more friends listed on her page. Now of course she hasn't signed on for like a week. Whatever. Anyway, I was looking around for a fun song to add to my page today. I came across the page for Ben Folds, whom I love, and added his song Landed to my page. My sister and I saw him a year or two ago when he played at GW. My sister also saw him in Australia this spring (lucky duck!). I wondered whether he would be playing around here anytime soon. Went to his official website and found that he is actually playing three days next week with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Wasn't sure if I would be able to go, because it looked like the performance I could go to was sold out. Luckily I called and they did have some seats left, allbeit expensive ones. So, my sister and I will be going to Baltimore on Saturday for the concert!! Hooray!!! Should be a great show. I think his music would lend itself quite well to orchestration. If you have never listened to Ben Folds before, you should!

Dagens Namn -- 4 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is Sverker.

Dagens Namn -- 3 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is: Hubert or Hugo.

Random Stuff

1) My morbror (uncle) Sven and moster (aunt) Lena are in town from Sweden. They came on Monday and got to witness the American holiday that is Halloween. They were so enthralled by the whole thing. It was pretty cute. They wanted to take pictures of the kids that came to the door at my parents house.

2) I hate commuting. When I go to work, I usually miss rush hour traffic because I am going to work before it starts or going home after it is over. Now that I have class one day a week and clinical one or two days a week, I have to experience it with the rest of creation. I don't know how people do it on a regular basis. It would drive me crazy. I think I'm kind of an angry driver though, so that probably doesn't help. Of course there really just are a lot of stupid people and things out there. Why can't people use their turn signals? Why do people think that common traffic signs and laws don't apply to them? I have to go through 25 traffic lights on my to clinical. Why do at least a half to a third of them have to be red? Why can't progressive stoplights be more coordinated in an effort to reduce backups? Why do people insist on driving like IDIOTS and causing accidents during rush hour, leading to major backups? Just because you decided to switch lanes at the last second without looking in your rearview mirror, it takes me almost an hour to drive the 5 miles to school. SUVs should be banned. Not only are they gas guzzlers and entirely to large for most people's needs, but they ride higher, so when they are behind me their ridiculously bright headlights almost blind me in my rearview mirror.

3) We had a work happy hour at Whitlow's On Wilson tonight. Not a huge turnout (Dr. Moxley, Kathy Born, Linda, and Molly). We had a great time all the same. The $2.50 drafts and 1/2 price wine bottles were a nice added bonus.

4) I got an email from my clinical faculty member today. Every week I have to turn in my clinical journal to her. The journal is basically like a 10 to 15 page paper on what I did/learned in clinical the previous week, plus an indepth analysis of one patient's case. Anyway, she sent me email saying that the one I turned in yesterday was "exceptionally well done" and wanted to know if she could use it as an example for other students. How cool is that!

Dagens Namn -- 2 November 2005

Today is your name day if your name is Tobias.

Dagens Namn -- 1 November 2005

There is no name for today, but it is Allhelgonadagen or All Saints Day.

Dagens Namn -- 31 Oktober 2005

Yesterday was your name day if your name is: Edit or Edgar.

Dagens Namn -- 30 Oktober 2005

Sunday was your name day if your name is: Elsa or Isabella.