Monday, October 31, 2005

Feminism, redefined.

After reading this article by Maureen O'Dowd, I am convinced that I am a staunch feminist in some respects (I like to use "Ms.", I will keep my name after marriage, I don't mind paying for my own meals, and I hate playing games) and I wonder if that will change if I'm not married with 2.4 children and own a house with a white picket fence within 10 years.

Thursday, October 27, 2005

Whiners

Why is it that people from cold climates (i.e. New England) complain so much about the cold. I mean, it's barely below 50 and everyone's complaining about how "freezing" it is outside. Do people forget that we still haven't reached mid-autumn yet? Do they have a collective amnesia every year about zero degree weather and blizzards?

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Snow? In October?

Isn't that crazy?! Well, I guess not considering I'm in Maine.

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Creatures of Maine




Can you spot the two moose? Or are they mooses? Or meese?

Local businesses



Found on a house, off Route 15 in Maine. Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

What am I?

Being the token Asian in Maine, I have come to realize that people really are ignorant (and crazy). The only people who have commented on me being the only Asian in Maine (can that become a title?) have been patients.

One, when meeting me for the first time, yelled out (to no one in particular), "Why are there so many Chinks working here?" (Ok, so there is one more Asian person in Maine, who happens to work on the same floor of the hospital.)

Another patient today asks, "Are you Oriental?" to which I respond, "Yes, I am Asian." Then, he began to accuse me of having "Oriental mind reading abilities" and when he began guessing what "kind of Oriental" I am, named Chinese and Japanese and said, "I can't name any more countries."

In summary, I am apparently one too many "Chinks" in the hospital and have recently acquired mind-reading abilities.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

"Maine"

What is wrong with just "Maine"? Everything that deals with "Maine" is preceded by "The State of." Why is that? "State of Maine this," "State of Maine that," "State of Maine!"

What happened to plain old "Maine"?

Monday, October 17, 2005

Bubble Rock, Acadia National Park




However precarious this rock looks on the ledge, I wanted to push it off with all my might because my friend and I took the hard way up, climbing up the side of this mountain to get here.

Gnarly tree, Acadia National Park

Sunrise on Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park

Maine foliage


Posted by Picasa

Maine-ers

I went for a drive around the wonderful Bangor area this last weekend and realized one thing about Mainers. They like their lawn ornaments. I have seen such a collection of lawn ornaments, it's crazy. I have seen a cow made out of an old gasoline thingy. One lawn even had various farm animals, which looked real at first glance. Another had metal sculptures. I always thought lawn ornaments were things you saw in movies, but alas, I have found the inspiration for the cinema.

And the leaves were wonderful, too.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

Again?

Enough said.

Dorm living

I just looked at pictures of my brother's dorm at UCLA and, however much I miss college, I did not miss the dorms. That room was tiny! (Sorry, Tim)

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

It is just me?

I'm in the middle of my psychiatry rotation and having a grand old time. My first two weeks were rather laid back, with an attending who gave me a lot of teaching, and the patients weren't all too "crazy." Now, I'm with a different attending and different patients and it's altogether weird. My attending, however nice, sort of ignores me. On the upside, I don't have to be in until 9 and out at 3 or 4 (and I think that's because he doesn't know what to do with me). Also, the patients are just weird. Granted, I am at a psychiatric hospital, but I am either ready to bolt out of the room or ready to defend myself. I just don't think I'm built for life in psychiatry.

On the other hand, after my surgery rotation, I am not built for life as a surgeon either. I'm starting to worry if I'm built for life as any kind of doctor. Er.

Sunday, October 9, 2005

Nightlife

Last Friday night, a friend and I wanted to grab ice cream from a local ice cream stand. We set out around 9:30 and are disappointed to find it closed (at 9). We then decide to head to the supermarket to get some ice cream and waste some time. As we're joking and laughing in the ice cream aisle, a man comes over and informs us that the store closed 10 minutes ago (it was 10:10 at this time). So, we got kicked out of a grocery store (though they were kind enough to let us buy our ice cream).

What did we do for the rest of the night? Watch trashy Friday night TV, eating ice cream, and drinking wine.

City of Bangor

Now that I have sort of settled into Maine, I have been exploring a little bit. Bangor isn't such a bad town after all and it can be fun at times, if it's before 9PM. I have gone wine tasting at a wine store (where all the wines made me wince). I have gone to a party with other Bangor-ites (where everyone was engaged/married). I have gone to Acadia National Park (I have pictures, if you want to view them, email me).

But alas, this weekend was boring as could be. I had great plans to go to the farmer's market on Saturday and see the famous Bangor Public Library, but the pouring rain made me lazy and I just managed to go to the farmer's market (where I bought an empanada to die for). Today, I was going to take a day-long drive along Northern Maine, to go "leaf-peeping" (aka see the foliage) and hike in Baxter State Park, but the rain has kicked off all the nice leaves and leaves the trails disastrously dangerous. So, now my zeal for Bangor has subsided and I am stuck inside, still in my pajamas, and with nothing to do. I suppose I could study, but that's another problem altogether.

The mighty have fallen

Why, oh why, does it always have to happen like this?