Maine foliage

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.

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)

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.

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?

Bangor.

You may ask, where is Bangor? And I could answer, it's somewhere in Maine. Very far into Maine. Very, very far. Ok, maybe not that far, but it does seem far. And, I live in a dorm. With other medical students. This will be interesting.

I'm back!

So, my surgery rotation isn't quite over yet, but I'd just like to announce the return of me! Ah, I know you all have been holding your breaths in wait of my return. But alas, this is a short entry as I still have to study. More will come.

[And, I'd have to say that I'm rather sad that I had to take a sabbatical during this time of great news articles (e.g. Hurricane Katrina, changes at the Supreme Court, some awesome articles on healthcare in America).]